{sassy camera strap}

So y'all know that I got a new camera a few months ago {and NO I have NOT mastered it yet}. In fact... I felt a little silly carrying it around- until now {although for completely different reasons- ha ha}! I have had my eyes on a fancy new strap, but they are averaging around $30-50 dollars + shipping... I found a Jersey knit {perfect for ruffling} t-shirt on clearance for next to nothing @ Wally.... And well the rest is history!

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I didn't think it was possible to like her {camera} anymore... but I do!!!

And what craft project of mine would be complete without a flower??-

I know it's a sickness- ha ha ha!!!!!!!

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p.s. I did take these pics with my phone {sorry they are a bit out of focus}... I couldn't bring myself to take off the new strap to take the pics- just yet!!!!!

{ruffle lampshade tutorial}

Okay y'all here it is.... the Ruffled Lampshade Tutorial! Prissy has given me the go-ahead to transform EVERY lampshade that we have.... but Joey thinks we should stop @ 2 {but maybe I can convince him when he sees that they are going for a fortune in Etsy stores??}.

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Anyway here is all you need:

Fabric {I used crib sheets- I know that sounds ridiculous, but that was all I had on hand in white}, a sewing machine or just thread, a ruler, and scissors {unless you have one of those really fancy wheel cutters & mat- which I DON'T have & would LOVE... hint hint wink wink}.

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First- measure your lampshade. This little one in my sewing room was 8 inches. I decided to do 4 ruffles with 2 & 1/2 inch strips, but for the bigger shade in the foyer {9 inches and much wider} I went for 3 ruffles with about 3 & 1/2 inch strips.

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and NO I am NOT breaking any child-labor laws.... she genuinely likes being with me {despite this expression} & helping... I {love} that about her!!!

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Next cut your fabric into strips and iron {I know that sounds old-school, but it makes ALL of your projects look more professional}.

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Then without back stitching, sew a straight seam right down the middle of the strips

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Next gently pull one string end and gather it until they look something like these...

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Finally start from the bottom of the shade {so you can overlap easily as you go} and hot glue the ruffles on your shade.

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here is what 2 layers look like...

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and this is what perfection looks like! Isn't she precious? All in about 30 minutes {and that includes fixing some Lego catastrophes during the ruffling part}...

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Now go cut up your sheets... or at least cut some fabric...

I know you can do it & that's NO fooling!

~Good Luck~

it's not even like- it's {LOVE}!

Okay I am dying to show you the latest furniture re-do around here..... Do y'all remember the little table that I bought a couple of weeks ago? If not here it is...

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~before~

I fell in {LOVE} with little table at first sight. It had the most precious curves & was just the right height for where I wanted it to go {and it has hidden wing storage that makes me love it EVEN more}!!!

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First take a look at the furniture placement before. It's a little dark for my taste now. I have had this same lamp, cream lamp shade, clock, & mirror paired here together for almost 10 years.... I think y'all agree it was a change for the BEST!!!!

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now..

~after~

Isn't she just fabulous!!! I put her right inside the foyer- just where she belongs- I'm all about first impressions!!!

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Want a close up?

Okay.... I have NO shame & I do so love a DIY project that turned out better than I expected. It's not even like- I tell y'all... It's {LOVE}. I really think she's my favorite piece in the whole house... {for now- ha ha ha}!!!!

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And how do you like the lamp shade re-do? I couldn't bare putting that drab cream lamp shade on her new white paint.... So I made this one. I'm gonna show y'all how later this week. It is SUPER easy & I love the chic/soft look of it- just in time for Spring!!!

{nothing new under the sun}

Today we {A-man & I} were going to stay in- because break is over & we are missing our little Prissy. We had BIG plans to do the usual Monday stuff like- laundry, Legos, toilet swishing, Legos, and then perhaps some more Legos.... but then I got the call.... "Can we show your house today?" "Sure", I found myself saying.... YUCK!!!! O-well... at least it's getting shown- right??? But did I mention that my garage looks like a furniture re-finishing warehouse & that's not easily tucked away in a laundry basket when a perspective buyer comes to your house..... Anyway we have nothing really spectacular to share except some beach pics....

Here is my little sand bird whisperer...

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A-man so LOVES to play in the sand {so un-like my little Priss who only recently walked barefoot on the beach. Boys take a little getting use to, but Oh what pleasure they bring!!!

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and this is him running after the birds & diving down onto the sand dunes to hide from them.... I could have watched him for hours!

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{beach stuff}

We are back!!!! {just in time to run to the market & put fresh sheets on for our company coming in today::YEAH!!! Cooner, Travis, & his kiddos are coming to spend a few days with us & possibly to persuade us go back to the beach with them... "Okay- you twisted our arms, we will!"- ha ha ha! I saw some of the cutest things there this weekend- I can't wait to show Cooner & see what she thinks???? I {still} like her to {like} something before I buy it... it's the little girl in me I guess! But- here are some finds that I knew she would approve of & some pics from our week so far....

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First off-

this is A-man staying under water for 30 seconds at a time! YES- he loves to keep the lifeguards are their toes... Ah www the joy of having a little "thrill seeker"!!

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and this is Prissy at the Scoops Spa

{I really think this pic speaks for itself- she was right at home!!}

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This is what the boys did MOST nights

LEGO LEGO LEGO!

{aren't they precious!!}

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and I went plundering....

and found a few little treasures like this!!!

{I snagged it up for $25. a little more that I usually pay, but it is a great mahogany piece & I can't wait to see it in white!!!!}

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and I have been looking for bell glasses for my plants for awhile now...

so I got one for Cooner too!!

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...and I found the perfect little place for this...

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O-ya & I kept seeing these fancy jars with a squares of chalk board paint on them for like $30.00 @ pottery Barn & Restoration Hardware.... I already had this one in the sewing room- so I taped off a square with painter's tape & sprayed it with my all-time-favorite chalk board spray paint! So how do you like mine? I do so {love} using what I already have- cause it's free!!!

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I bought some material for the curtain in the sewing room {actually Prissy picked it out & I agreed- "perfect". We whipped up this little curtain this morning and added some popcorn fringe to make it a little tiny bit girly!!

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and I also have a recent obsession for wire baskets... They are in every little shop & magazine at the beach....

So I scooped this one up for the porch...

and decided to use this one that I had in the garage in the sewing room too... {it makes my glue gun look fancy- ha ha ha}

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Hope your having a great Spring Break too!!!

{the Nile}!

We are pleasantly in the middle of spring break here- although we have yet to "break"! We went for a quick trip to the Great Wolf Lodge {I'll post later on that} & now we're off to the beach soon. And... due to the fact that Cooner's e-mails are being held {and I can in NO way help her with computer issues & I keep forgetting to have Joey call her}.... Here is a LONG over-due update for her! Prissy finished up her semester long Egypt project last Friday.......

and... when Mrs. Stone said "costumes are optional" during one of Cooner's visits- it became MANDATORY!!!!- {and now it should be getting clearer to you- why I'm the way I am....}

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Prissy reading her report about the Nile River

{and I must say you can ask her us anything about it & we can tell you!}

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this is her asking for questions at the end

{I could have killed her- I barely took a breath during the presentation & then she took questions???}

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We made: a salt flour map {with Cooner's help- A LOT of it}, a report, a fact sheet- including fully illustrated pages :), & made Egyptian cookies to share- shoooooo weeee I'm bushed all over again just thinking about it... But she got an A+ & Joey made me a cheesecake- I'd say it was a win/win!!!!!!!!

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and this is a little cameo from

Moses & Pharaoh

{aren't they precious- ALL of the presentations were MOST enjoyable!!}

now I gotta run & judge a Lego building contest!!!!!!

{planting a seed}

I just saw this on a blog I love... The video is from the "Seeds Family Worship" band. Prissy & I did some corny versions of songs for her Kindergarten memory verses {like: "my son if your heart is wise then my heart will be glad... Proverbs 23.. 23:15"}- all to the tune of Lo ca Motion- hey what can I say it worked & we BOTH will never forget it!!! Songs are a great way to impart scripture into your children... I love this one on Philippians 4: 6 & 7 ... Although I have already committed it to memory- THANK GOODNESS!!! And if you buy the cd you get 2- one for you & one to share.... So you get to bless someone else too!!!!!!!!

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Happy Birthday

to my sweet nephew

Tyler!!

{who couldn't be any MORE like my husband.... bless your little heart- ha ha ha}