"before & after"

before:

I picked this little beauty up along side the road @ a tag sale on the way to get Priss.... She was only $20.00- (you should have seen my poor childrens little legs pushed up against the seats to fit her in- don't worry... they got rewarded for their bravery!!!!!)

after:

My sweet Joey painted & distressed her for me (he really has gotten quite good @ it!!!). I ADORE this little side-board & she looks perfect next to my "new" table that Joey finished last month.... ahhh I am starting to get addicted to WHITE furniture!!!!!!!!!

p.s. I took my antique dining room chairs to get some repair work (hopefully one day we can actually sit back in them & if you've ever eaten with us you can testify with me). The man just kept going on & on about "how old they were & did I know if they had markings?" - I felt like I was on Antique's Roadshow! He about died right there when I said "I just need them to be sturdy, I'm gonna paint them white." I can't help it- I love me some white!!!!!!!!

"thursdays with Beth"

A-man & I are headed out to my Esther bible study this morning. We are taking an assortment of muffins to share with the girls & their little folks (he adores playing @ Ms. Therese's house). My heart has been so blessed through this study- I encourage ya'll to get into one of Beth's groups if you get the chance (she is AWESOME). This is one of my favorite quotes from our homework:

"When we trust our lives to the hand and pen of an unseen but ever-present God, He will write our lives into His story and every last one of them will turn out to be a great read. With a grand ending. And not just in spite of those catastrophes. Often because of them. Don't just wait and see. Live and see."

p.s. I had one of those conversations with Priss yesterday that I NEVER want to forget...

Priss: "Momma I have to tell you something that's gonna make you cry!"

me: "O-kay.. do I need to pull over (we were driving home from school)?"

Priss: "NO ma'm, but are you sure Momma- you'll cry?"

me: "YES I want to hear... Just do it fast like a band aide Priss- what is it?"

Priss: "Momma... unicorns are NOT real (in the saddest little voice that ya'll have ever heard)! I know... it made me cry too today, it's sad isn't it?"

me: (relieved & a bit sad too- I love her imagination & the fact that she sometimes really is 6 and not 26) "That is sad, but I think that maybe there are horses with corns, maybe just not the Pegasus part?"

Priss: "REALLY Momma- I'm so glad you told me that! I knew that they had to be sorta real..."

"Happy Birthday Cooner!"

When my Priss was little- I made her little "match-book-stories" just the right size for her little hands (and they conveniently fit perfectly into her little handbags). She loved them (and still does). Today I made one for my other favorite girl- Happy Birthday precious Cooner. This is the true story of the beautiful woman who gave me my life's blood. She is my teacher, advisor, & greatest inspiration. She can understand things that I dare not say & she loves me even when I am NOT lovely. For these & many MANY more reasons- I adore her among women!!!

We
LOVE
YOU
COONER!!!!

"I like & I do NOT like..."

I like...beautiful kitchens that make me want to kick up my heels & make homemade cinnamon rolls (Cooner made them this weekend & my hubby is begging me to make some...) and- I adore farmhouse sinks!!!!!! ahhh I love to dream...


I do NOT like... getting my house ready (including, but not limited to -closets, toilets, gutters, the itty bitty space between in washer & dryer, my microwave- who knows what/where they will look.... and COUNTLESS other things!!!! Only to hear "they were not serious buyers"!!! I say.. "YUCK!" I don't think that people should be able to do that to people? But that's just me....... Good Night sweet friends!

"a bit of this & that"

Yesterday was a bit of a whirl-wind.... Much to do & NOT enough time to do it. We showed the house, went to a meeting, started a new bible study with some new/old friends- that is AMAZING!!!

"It's Tough Being a Woman- the book of Esther"

On a side note... Priss & I have been making these little roses- they are addictive & quite a "little conversation piece". Here is how we made them-

start by cutting a circle shape out of felt


then rip/cut strips of 1 inch wide fabric into strips


tie a knot at the end & hot glue it into the center of your felt circle. then roll, twist, & glue...


Wa- LA
you have some fabulous new little accessories!!!



I glued one onto a headband like the one I loved from J Crew... tres chic!!!

and while we were crafting....

little A-man was patiently putting together his car & truck puzzles!!! He has now mastered his complete collection (total of 8) 12 piece puzzles. And he is VERY proud of himself.. but not as much as I am of him!!!!!! GOOD JOB lil' Mr.

p.s. We (as in Joey & the kiddos- I will be @ work) are showing the house tomorrow! PLEASE pray that it goes well.....

"wordless Wednesday...."

"fat-Tuesday & some white stuff"

Today is "fat Tuesday"... and the name speaks for itself! We are getting fat & sassy here @ Harris House from YUMMY cheesecake. Joey makes me 2 a year (1 for my birthday & 1 for Valentine's day). They rival "Encore Cafe" in B-town's version (the absolute BEST in the world). If you are ever downtown Bloomington- go & get dessert- you won't be sorry!!!

on another note.. we got 4-6 inches of fluffy white (snowman) snow Friday night!!!! The kiddos had a ball (all 3- ha ha ha). I had to go to work & fix all of the boo-boos of the people who fell playing in it YIKES!!!!

blessings ya'll!!!!

"the POM POM tutorial"

O-kay Cooner this little tutorial is just for YOU! I made some of these little beauties for Prissy's Valentine Party @ school. The only thing that I would suggest is... make A LOT because everyone will LOVE them!!!!

I used 10 sheets of 18 x 26 inch tissue paper...(just the target brand).

Fold accordion style, with about 1 1/2 inch folds. Crease with each fold.

Fold a piece of floral wire in half and slip over center...twist. Trim the ends of the tissue into rounded or pointy shapes...(I prefer round).

Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

This part was somewhat difficult, and required a gentle hand...tissue paper is very delicate and tears easily! Just fluff & puff until you get the look you're going for.

Now run on out and get ya some tissue paper.....

p.s. Michelle- I think these would be perfect for sweet Paige's 1st birthday party???? and I LOVE this color....

"happy VALENTINE'S day!!!"

~a little MONKEY business~

heart shaped cranberry scones are the perfect breakfast for today.... (I made an extra batch when I baked them for Prissy's class party.) They are perfectly delicious alone, but I prefer some strawberry jam.... YUMM-O!!!!!!!


I found this little Valentine from Prissy on my vanity this morning...
(I am keeping it FOREVER!!!!!)

some more pics from this week....

Priss & A-man getting their Valentine package from Grandma Harris- YUMMY chocolate.. A-man got a race car & Prissy got a pink heart & a super-fancy sucker!!!!

Joey opening up his Valentine from his Momma- he is the BIGGEST duck on the puddle when it comes to packages... (by the way- we got 3 all @ once)!!!!!
THANK YOU Jean for my sugar-free treats- I adore them (adored I guess I should say??? they are gone....)

Priss calling Aunt Kristy to say "thank YOU" for the super-fun Valentine package- We LOVED everything!!! thanks Uncle Dean, Aunt Kristy, & baby Corbin!!!!!

(A-man, Lucy D (yes Papaw sent her one too), & Priss opening their Valentines- they were over the moon about the $- thanks Cooner & Papaw!!!!

Happy
Valentine's
DAY!