the mayes five

tacklInG thE bOys rOOm

2011-11-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

painted the boys room grey, i just feel it's the best color out there! every color you add to the room just pops! ive yet to find a headboard that i like, so the low hung pictures seem to take it's place for now. got some ideas from pintrest for a mobile, i love it! it just adds a little something! i also found the drip pan idea from pintrest. the best $12 magnet board.cade loves playing school, i've been the student many of times! im loving my thrifted globe as well! still looking for some finishing touches, which i'll find when i'm not looking ( isn't that always the case?)

hallie's requested a mobile for her room, which i'm happy to oblige! i think it's gonna be a little funky and random!

FaMily TrunK oR tReat

2011-10-31T15:02:00.000-06:00


no big surprise, cade's a cop this year

hallie & evan

sophie & lynn

my kiddo's

my sister in-laws cute shirt!

my brother & sister in law

hallie & kitty

olivia & sophie

mY faVorite cOOkBook

2011-09-26T17:20:00.000-06:00

so remember my love for pioneer women's cookbook? i've pretty much made everything in that book! (chocolate sheet cake & chicken spaghetti are my fave) so how excited am i for her show on food network... sat. @ 12:30. she had this yummy fun idea on her blog.

so guess who got husband to paint another room in the house??
you'll never guess what color.... if you truly know me,you will :)
yep, moving right along. pictures soon!

wReatH lOvE

2011-09-18T19:15:00.001-06:00

it's time for the summer wreaths to make thieir way down to the storage room! time to make some new ones! i made this wreath a bit ago... and this one has been adoring my front door.

as much as i love these wreaths they are quite time consuming! i decided wrapping them in thick ribbon instead of yarn would be quick and still just as cute! i use the straw wreaths which are cheaper. just make sure you keep the plastic on, less mess! i made this one with a black & white houndstooth print, and finished it off with a felt bow. instead of gluing on the ribbon i used straight pins, that way i can reuse the wreath & just store the ribbon with my halloween stash.

i've also got my little kitchen nook done....
winco candy never disappoints!
i've been known to drive to winco just for their bulk jordan almonds!
they go really good with a fountain diet coke... just sayin

its' starting to look a little halloweenie in these parts!

thRiftY fIndS

2011-09-14T11:56:00.001-06:00

some thrift shopping days are better then others! take last saturday, shopping at the good ol D.i. and i spot a globe, mind you i've been searching for one of these babies forever...everywhere i go they are like $30 buck. this baby set me back $3 bucks. then what do i spot? a lovely hounds tooth dress for hallie. now if i could only find an old stand up bubble gum machine.... keep an eye out for me, k?

LeMon PaRty

2011-09-09T12:41:00.000-06:00

my friend kim & i put together a lemon party/ favorite thing swap. we had a blast putting it together. between the two of us we really didn't have to buy much! & if we did we hit up our favorite second hand stores

for the favorite thing swap we used this idea

thanks to my party planning partner kim ( thanks for letting me steal your pics)

lAke PoWell...

2011-09-07T15:08:00.004-06:00

me & kitty

the awesomely hot sand hill

me & the girlys

waterweenie fun

kate&me,&kitty

it was a good time. a good little break from the daily grind.
got myself a tan & lots of fun memories with the fam.
kate, kitty and i are funny gals!

lookie what me & hallie came home to.... enough said !

biTtersWeet

2011-08-29T11:13:00.006-06:00

so cade starts school tomorrow, it's just been me and him these last five years.
it's weird... all my kids in school, no more babies at home, definitely bittersweet!
were gonna spend the day together... just me and the boy!

tEn

2011-08-24T15:46:00.006-06:00

sophie's turned ten last week!
(shirt made by mindy...i even got one for my birthday last yr. :) )

i had this rule once ... friend parties were only to be held every other year. well, i can't help myself...party planning is just too fun. to celebrate we kept it simple and had a ice cream party in the back yard.

of course i broke out my trusty & heavy chalk board. i made the ice cream cone headband, found the idea over on pintrest.

i love decorations i can use for multiple parties. i m constantly making a new little something to add to my stash. i made this garland out of a white flat sheet. i ripped one long piece the length of the sheet then tied on 3 inch pieces. i then dyed it this aqua color. it cost me 4 bucks for the whole project and i'm sure it will show up at all future parties.i did the ol ice cream in a mason jar thing & had them add what ever toppings they fancy. i found this cute ice cream pic on etsy. i pulled out the happy day pendant i made for hallie's birthday. they do take a bit to make, but it's worth it when you can use it over & over.

i was looking for something to tie dye instead of shirts... i thought the bags turned out great.

look who showed up to the par-tay... my sistas

glad they did! katie entertained them, and the girls thought she was all that (which she is :) )
we ended the night with glow in the dark out door chalk. i'm surprised how well it worked.
no more birthday's to plan til february... what a bummer.

mY apolOgiEs

2011-08-22T22:21:00.005-06:00

some of you are saying that you are sick of seeing my mudroom redo.... sorry bout that! i keep meaning to start up again! it's kinda like a journal, once you stop its kinda hard to start up again! but i'll give it a try!

three things to leave with you
#1.there have been multiple robberies in my neighborhood, one of them 4 doors down
#2. it freaks me out!
#3. it really really freaks me out!
#4. all doors / windows have been triple checked! stay away mean robbers!

beFore & aFter # 3

2011-04-14T11:23:00.008-06:00

i was beyond excited when i saw this house had a mudroom right off the garage. somewhere to store all the book bags, coats, gloves, shoes, hats, ect. it's small but adequate. this mudroom of ours has a bonus, a safe built into the wall, not sure how i feel about it. im glad to have one, just wish it would of gone somewhere else. whatever, i'm making it work.

before: boring white walls, gold hooks, no storage, just plain blah!

after: painted walls, storage,spray painted hooks,and the favorite chalkboard i've been promising would find it's way out of the garage.
i'm laughing at these after pictures, 2 book bags and one pair of boots... who am i kidding? it's back to the dumping ground...but a pretty dumping ground!

rooms done... hallie's room, sophie's room, main family room, main living room, and mudroom!
half-done.... kitchen, kids' bathroom, craft room
not done at all... cade's room, master, master bath, main floor bathroom, laundry room

next up main floor bathroom. just bought these for the wall, love them
slowly but surly we are getting there!

rEpLeniSh

2011-04-12T13:21:00.006-06:00

lately the bow drawer has been looking rather sad! it needed some major attention. working with felt is my favorite... easy to work with and quite cheap. these i made with a sewing machine. figured they would be a great accesory for easter outfits (bow tie for cade).

there are some tutorials on the web if you need. it seriously took less then 5 minutes a bow.

here's some i made with my trusty glue gun. it's just a little folding and gluing. thought i'd share... thought it may be something fun to do while the weather is acting up.

PeRfecT pOPPy seeD PanCaKes

2011-04-07T16:56:00.000-06:00

over conference weekend i made these yummy poppyseed pancakes, the strawberries paired with syrup was yum! they were a major hit with the family. kids are begging for them again, i'm happy to oblige.

deLightinG in ThE sMall thInGs

2011-03-28T20:44:00.003-06:00

a few reasons i'm smiling

*went to the general young women meeting w hallie & some friends. scored great tickets row 13 on the floor. it was great to spend time with miss 13!
*pinterest...it's addicting
* took lots of good stuff away from testimony meeting, just what i needed to hear.
* brooke & i scored major at thrifting today!
* winco's bulk easter candy
*catching up with some favorite friends later this week
* went out for a friends birthday & watched her husband play the piano & sing to her at the restaurant. it was lovely.
*conference weekend coming up
and the best news
my dear friend is prego! with twins no less! we've all been praying for this news.

biRthDay inVites

2011-03-17T21:00:00.010-06:00

if your looking for a cheap easy invite give these babies a try....
all you need is
*mini match boxes (you can get a 10 pack for a buck)
*paper, stickers, ribbon...ya know all the crafty stuff hanging around your house

glue the paper over the match cover & embellish. i put some mini m&m's inside with the invite folded up. thought it was kinda fun & different.
for a party favors i rolled some paper into cone shape and filled with goodies

ProDucT rEview

2011-03-14T19:13:00.005-06:00

the product... sally hansen's salon nail effects
cost $8 at wally mart
look at some of the fun options...

they last about a week on nails and forever on your toes. comes off with nail polish remover. it's basically a sticker that you stretch over your nail. you finish of the edges with a file that they provide. a.maz.ing!

iN hOnor...

2011-03-13T12:08:00.007-06:00

of hallie's 13th birthday
a list
of why i think she's the bestest!

1) she always thinks of others feelings, she will stand up for those that need it... always!
2) she never complains when asked to babysit.
3) she's very honest
4) i hurt my back real bad last summer & she took care of me.
5) she surprises me by cleaning the whole house...beds made, toliets clean ect.
6) she likes to hold my hand out in public
7) she still thinks i'm hip.... i'm asked to pick out her clothes still
8) she seeks out good friends
9) she keeps her dad in line
10) she invites cade to sleep with her. i can't help but listen to them chat about the day. luv it!
11) she let sophie attend her boy/girl birthday party. she tries to always have soph feel included.
12)she's very appreciative for everything she gets.
13) although she is my daughter she is my best friend...though i do know when to pull out the mom card ;) ....but rarely have to.

happy birthday hallie-girl

my awesome cousin nyree always takes pictures of her girls the day before their birthdays, highlighting the last day of that certain age...i loved that idea.
*pics by brooke pitcher

i've Got RooM noW...

2011-03-09T15:12:00.003-07:00

so i've always been envious of those who had a entry table, i dunno why. i just did! old house didn't have enough room...but guess whaT?? new house has plenty of room. in fact it's been asking for one :) so i found this beauty at down east.

if you look carefully you can see my d.i. owl all spray painted up.
and my savers suitcase...too cute to put in a closet.

my little kitchen nook....ready for st. patty's day.

thriFtY tHurSday + a WrEaTh

2011-03-03T10:34:00.003-07:00

spent some time thrifting with some of my gals...and boy did i score. wanna see???

-my suitcase from savers [$6] dying over it's beauty.
- brown owl [$1]from d.i. now just imagine it when i bathe it in white spray paint.... :)
-small gold mirror from savers [$1 ]can't decide if i should keep it gold or not.
-my scale from abby's antiques [$8] i can't believe i found one for so cheap. i've seen them around but they are usually $40. my kitchen already adores it!

i made myself a spring wreath. it's time spring, it's time! probably spent $8 bucks on everything. butterflies found at hobby lobby, everything else at joann's.

***when in doubt, use a doily as a filler :)

*****thanks hallie for letting your mamma use your camera.

laugH

2011-02-27T23:18:00.002-07:00

my sister showed me this and well i think its hilarious.

boY iS fiVe + a FeW lEtters....

2011-02-16T10:24:00.003-07:00

boy turned five over the weekend....he requested a dinosaur cake, then on the morning of his birthday boy decided he'd rather have a cowboy cake....so a dinosaur cake it was :) there's no mind changing the morning of. this is how it turned out. i decided i like decorating cupcakes better, less surface area. though it is amazing what 2 eight inch round cakes can do.
now if you don't mind a few letters...

dear anonymous child of mine,
why did you play with my camera when you know that your not allowed...you dropped it & broke it, it was just a year old...sniff, sniff. good thing i love you! love, your camera-less mom

dear blueberry waffle @ hotel,
i really wish you weren't so dang tasty. it really would be best if i could resist eating you. i'll try harder next time. your friend, jaclyn

dear family room,
your new blinds and paint job look good on you! all you need is a new light fixture....then you'll look fab. your owner, jaclyn

dear canyon crest ward, i will be speaking soon, i'm not a great speaker! my talk will be awesome....but my delivery, not so much! don't say i didn't warn you. on a different note, thank you for my new calling. i'm beyond excited! -sister mayes

ChOOse yOUr baTTles

2011-01-27T13:34:00.005-07:00

the second we got home from errands cade changes into this....

the kid loves his pajamas & his sisters many boots. joe cut down one of his old belts so he'd have plenty of room for game boy, guns, bubble gum machine, walkie talkie & any other accessories and yes, i have taken him out like this, sometimes you just gotta choose your battles. plus what cade says is true, jammies are more comfy.

on another note, made this for hallie's room. all it cost me was some mini clothes pins, the rest i had on hand. thought it was kinda fun. i may just make one for the kitchen. loving all the wall space i have in this house.

reAdy fOr V-dAy

2011-01-13T14:11:00.004-07:00

i 'm thinking it's not to early to bring out the ole v-day decorations. here's the nook in the kitchen. these little candy jars are super easy to make & only costs you 2 bucks each. head to the dollar store and grab your self a glass candle stick & and a glass vase. you can paint the candle stick or leave it. glue together with some e6000 and your good to go.
here's the mantle, the x & o was another easy cheap project. grab yourself a coupon & pick up what ever size letters you fancy. paint the letters with paint that matches your glitter. coat letter with modge podge in small sections, then add your glitter. i was able to do both letters with a small glitter container. see the white wall in this picture? it's getting it's self a paint job next week....yeah!

or you could make some pins to adorn your winter coat. made these a few yrs back. you just need some felt , needle & thread. easy-peasy!

this really has nothing to do with v-day but i'm loving my silhouette pictures. if you want some done, let me know. i'll send you in the right direction.

pLayIng iN thE whiTe stUFF

2011-01-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

feLt, PapEr & fAbrIc

2010-12-19T13:53:00.004-07:00

so i love to craft (shocker). i especially love cheap crafts. i especially love, love cheap crafts that don't send me out to joann's. :)

here's a few of my fave's
i love felt! and i have tons left over from my headband obsession. i made these pins for me and my girls to wear to church today. i still had to throw in a little felt flower ;)

wrapping gifts is like the best thing ever! this year, it will cost me next to nothing to wrap gifts...i'm going with the newspaper and yarn look, you know just whatever i can find around the house. one of the things that will be adorning my gifts are these gift topper thingies. i made them out of extra christmas paper and brads.who's ready for the annual wrapping party...me!

this idea came from brooke, and i love it! so, when i was a little girl santa always left his gift unwrapped & he still does the same for my kidlets. but i get so nervous that they will start sneaking down stairs. so to insure the kids won't peek, we made santa bags. right now they are just full of filling but soon santa will put their gift inside.... i found some cute ornaments and ribbon to jazz them up a bit. super cheap to make. it just excites my kids, knowing that their anticipated gift will soon be inside!

befOre & aFter nO.2

2010-12-14T12:15:00.005-07:00

lots of painting and re-purposing going on here....

besides the oak chest i also wanted the old owner to leave this gem...

hallie's been desperatley wanting a desk in her room. so she was super stoked about it!
with a little sanding, painting, & a little bit of love this is how it came out...
found this school chair at the old south jr. high. got myself a little spray paint (meant for plastic) and gave it a new life....yeah, i'm thrifty like that :)

as soon as i get trim around her chalkboard and a few more wall hangings, i can check this room off my list. and that's always a good feeling.

TrAnsferRing

2010-12-02T07:52:00.006-07:00

my family moved when i was in eighth grade. transferring schools was the worst. so, when it came time to pull my girls out of the schools they loved, and leave behind all their friends it brought me to tears many of times! i cried when i checked them both out of their schools... all the teachers & secretaries looked at me like i was crazy!

who would of known that hallie would of found this group of about six girls who she runs around with. they are a good group of friends, and i love having them at our home...constantly :)

sophie on the other hand was a different story. she sobbed every night going to bed. i felt guilty, she is the most happy go lucky girl and she was down in the dumps for days. i talked her new school into putting her in a certain class, so she could have one close friend in her class. i could tell the teacher was over whelmed with another kid in the already full class, but i appreciated him for letting her be with a friend. (my happy go lucky soph)

fast forward to parent teacher conference.... her teacher was raving about her being a great addition to the class and wishing he could clone her, and have her every yr. after being there only a month she got citizin of the month for her class. sophie was stoked. she got tons of perks because of this. she's adjusted to school, but not the neighborhood. there are lots of older kids around us. i know there's younger kids way down the street, we've just yet to venture that way. it's hard moving in the fall-winter. everyone hibernates & you don't see people out and about. i'm thankful that she still gets to see her old friends from time to time, i think they enjoy it more, knowing that it's not an everyday thing.

a couple days ago while dropping off a s.weber friend i decided to go into the old house with the girls, they've never seen it completely empty. i was completely surprised to see hallie cry. i think old memories came flying back at once. sophie on the other hand was commenting on how small everything was...i think she's finally back to her happy carefree ways. i think the kids are adjusted and happy here. which is all i could ever want.

the girls looking at their old rooms...happy & sad.

bEforE + afTeR

2010-11-23T16:25:00.004-07:00

one of the three things that were included in the purchase of this house was this OAK cabinet . i just imagined painting it a fun bright color & putting it in the front room...

i was chicken and painted it white, but i'm happy with my decision. i had joe paint my front room the same color as my old family room (twinkle from kwal) which i've always loved.

i'm telling you my best friend these days has been paint in both forms...spray & canned :)

A fUnny

2010-11-18T14:49:00.003-07:00

why husbands shouldn't take messages.

olD bOOk + staPleR=

2010-11-17T13:38:00.005-07:00

a thanksgiving paper wreath!
all you do is cut a circle (about 6 inches)out of cardboard . roll up a book page diagonally, then staple it onto your cardboard circle. staple each page pretty close together so it looks full.

for the next layer, cut out a smaller cardboard circle & staple pages on the circle, but this time you can space them out quite a bit. don't worry what the middle looks like (it will be covered)

glue the 2 layers together.

there are few options for the middle medallion... you can make-up your own little design or take some help from the craft store and buy pre-cut images and letters.

i'm gonna be sneaky and make a christmas medallion and trade it out with the thanksgiving one.

now you have something to make tomorrow during 30 rock & the office :)

graTefuL trEe 2010

2010-11-15T14:30:00.003-07:00

here's my grateful tree for this year. this house of mine has lots of nooks & crannies, which i love! i was determined to make my tree fit in this little crannie in the kitchen. it also gave me the opportunity to use a banner, & that my friends is always a good thing! joe's even gotten into this year...he's thankful for my pumpkin cookies. i'll take what i can get :)

i coUld of wOn thIs iF...

2010-11-12T14:07:00.004-07:00

i would of kept up on the blogging. i entered to win this necklace. well i guess i won, they told me in a comment...and well since i stopped blogging for awhile, i never saw it! major bummer

came across this... i love it! don't you hate when people won't give you recipes or won't tell you how they made something. we all know people like that :)

thriFtY tHurSday

2010-11-11T16:07:00.007-07:00

i've recently realized how much i love going to thrift stores. i love old retro, vintage things. i want to go for a vintage modern look to the new house, which kinda sounds odd... but i think i can marry the two nicely. so if anyone want to go thrifting, give me a holla.

so i'm dedicating every thursday to my thrifty finds. (aren't you glad i'm back :] )

i was dying inside (in a good way) when i saw these! got 12 of these owl napkin rings for $2.

on a different note: i no longer have to look at this out my back windows....

i get to look at this.... can anyone say upgrade! although it doesn't come with all the old neighborhood kids, which is super sad.

it's tiMe...

2010-11-10T12:52:00.003-07:00

i feel it's time to resurrect the ol blog!
it took me a couple minutes to remember how to get in to blogger
i realize that lots of my blogging buddies have left the blogging world for facebook.
i'm seeing lots of people making their blogs into books, and i'm feeling bad i left blogging for so long.
even if this little blog of mine isn't read by many, i've got it forever and that's all that matters.
and now that i've moved away from some of my besties, i figure this is as good of time as any!

piCs of the gIrlS

2010-04-10T23:48:00.003-06:00

i'm a lucky gal, brooke is always excited and willing to take pics....... sometimes i have weird concepts, but she just rolls with it! i wanted to take fun ones to hang in their bedrooms, loving the outcome

thanks brooke!

boWling sCores....

2010-04-10T23:33:00.005-06:00

it's true, cade beat us all! i'm teased frequently about my bowling because
a. i was on a bowling league back in the day
and
b. i had access to a bowling alley anytime of the day.
we had such a fun time! i'm loving that cade's older and we can start doing different activities together!

eAster duDs

2010-04-10T23:16:00.003-06:00

i depend way to much on brooke and her camera, these are the best shots i got of the new easter duds, sadly i have no picture of hallie. let's just say, i've got a pre-teen on my hands :)
couldn't convince cade to get off his bike, whatever i'm flexible!
sophie sporting my newest love/creation corsages.
loving this simple headband, ribbon, some felt shapes and a sewing machine and there you have it.

cArdiGan lovE

2010-03-25T23:29:00.003-06:00

i know this isn't a big shock to most.... but i love me a good ol cardigan, especially those cardigans that have the 3/4 sleeve.... they make me happy! these are from forever 21, i'm especially diggin the aqua one with the black ties. a must!
came across these toddler cardigans found on targets website..... oh the wonders of a cardigan!
few more of these butterflies left.... perfect for spring/easter, let me know!

twElve

2010-03-14T20:50:00.005-06:00

lil hallie girl turned 12 over the weekend! i'm i really that old?....wait, don't answer that!

she's super stoked to be in yw's!

my obsession with flag pendants continues.....

her birthday invites

New gOOdies.....

2010-02-27T16:41:00.003-07:00

in the shop! perfect for spring. there's also st patty day clips! check it out, over there on my side bar------>

grey avenue also inspired this awesome freebie! thanks kim

thE bOy is FouR

2010-02-22T14:32:00.002-07:00

i'm not gonna lie, this boy of mine is a handful.... but i wouldn't trade him for a thing, i think.

found this on the web, no source attached...... it made me smile.

tHe tIme Has cOme.....

2010-02-15T19:04:00.002-07:00

to announce the big winner!
random. org says the winner is anniebobannie.... email me and i'll get your info.

thanks to all that supported me!
i truly am blessed.

one more little tid-bit of information, shipping is included in the price of the headbands. if your able to pick it up from me then take $2 off the price.

eVery sTore NeedS a GrAnd oPening..../ aNotheR gIve-aWay

2010-02-11T12:02:00.010-07:00

so, my online store is open! i've gotta thank brooke and austin for putting it all together! brooke took the pictures and put the site together! i'm very grateful. her talents & patience amaze me. brooke and mindy are kindly donating to this awesome give-away! which includes......

*this plate with vinyl lettering, perfect for spring! thanks mindy

*this boo baby & boo monster made by brooke

*a scentsey plug-in

*a chalkboard plate, made by me

*and finally a headband of your choice!

to put your name in the drawing, do one of these things. each thing you do will give you an entry. just let me know which one(s) you did either my e-mail or in a comment.
this give-away is open to everyone.

-grab the button off on my store site and put the link on your side bar.
-mention the online store on a blog post of yours
-mention it on face book
-have someone you know enter my give-away that is not one my side bar

thanks for the support! ♥
drawing will be held monday night.

wE GoT a WiNNer

2010-02-09T21:18:00.006-07:00

went to random. org for the drawing and it shows that aleesha is the big winner.....whoo-hoo :) i'll bring it by tomorrow.

some thoughts on all your comments....

yes, stacy c. i totally rock the heart attack headband, i think you could pull it off as well!

sara, thanks for commenting, it was nice to hear from you

and yes my online store featuring my headbands will be up by the end of the week....
if anyone is interested in a heart attack headband shot me an email at themayes5@yahoo.com

another give away on thursday morning, this one will be the best one yet. it requires you doing me a little favor though :)

i jUst Can'T GeT eNouGh / a GiVe aWay!!

2010-02-06T14:31:00.012-07:00

i'm totally digging garland right now....so with the left over scraps from my hanging heart i made this....

all you need are paper scraps, adhesive, a ♥ punch, and some ribbon / string / bakers twine. go ahead make yourself some, it's fun :)

so on to the giveaway....this is what you could win:

- your own heart garland, made with love! :)
- this heart attack headband.... it's fun right?

- and last but not least... my favorite valentine treat

so just leave me a comment, it's that easy!
it's open to everyone... bloggers i know, bloggers i don't know, bloggers who live far away, bloggers who live down the lane... you get the drift!

winner announced tuesday night. ♥♥♥

cHalkbOard LOve

2010-02-02T22:44:00.005-07:00

it all started when i was a kid, i wanted to be a school teacher just so i could write on the chalkboard....i spent many of recceses doodling on the ol chalkboard. this past summer i threw the kids in front of a chalkboard & had brooke take pictures, which i love!

so i decided to give the chalkboard spray paint a whirl, and see how it works. the spray can says you can use it on basically anything so i tried it on a plate and a clipboard. the fam is loving this plate in our kitchen. all of us including hubby writes on it, sometime funny things or sometimes things like this...

it says: have a good day, don't wash anything expensive in the washing machine. he wrote me this note a couple days after i washed his i-pod..... oops. the clipboard turned out great as well, i decided to make those for any b-day parties my kiddo's go to.

GiVe aWay....

2010-01-31T14:43:00.002-07:00

check these out, they are so cute! everyone is welcome to comment. even if you don't win, you can purchase one. the money made from the first fifteen sold will go to the heart project, take a look. tell her i sent ya :)

qUick anD eaSy heArt daY cRaft.....

2010-01-23T16:19:00.012-07:00

cut your self some hearts out of cute paper and attach to string with double stick tape.
to make it even easier and almost as cute, you can grab the heart dollies at dollor tree and save yourself the cutting! the cutting doesn't seem so bad if your watching the golden globes in st. george with your best gal pal, lots of treats, and a pot full of tortilla soup simmering away on the stove.... :)

or you could make these

NaMe CaLLIng / SopHie

2010-01-23T15:41:00.009-07:00

joe & i have always been firm about not letting the kiddo's call each other names, so sophie decided to make up new names to call her siblings.... the sad thing is we've now adopted these names into our everyday vocabulary......
-flapbob, cade's favorite!
-flarge
and
nostril

soph is one crazy weird girl

another example

she love to make weird concoctions in the kitchen, when i open the fridge i'm always greeted with something similar to this. my favorite is when she used my whole jar of olive oil :) i've been forced to limit her ingredients. i hope when she makes it big on food network, she'll remember my patience through all of this!

hUbby heArts PiOnner wOMen

2010-01-07T09:12:00.002-07:00

i've never been one to make new years resolutions. i've always just done some type of project, so my goal for 2010 is to cook every recipe in my new cookbook of mine. sunday i made 4 recipes of hers and at the end of the day hubby tells me that he loves this project of mine! it could be because of her chocolate cake..... it's life changing! i'm thinking that at the rate i'm going i could possibly move on to another cook book. next up mocha brownies....who wants to come over?? :)

cHristMas 2009

2009-12-30T16:27:00.000-07:00

a fEw LeTTErs....

2009-11-30T18:49:00.004-07:00

dear nordstrom worker #1,

when i asked you if you had my miss mooz shoes ( the ones over there--------> on my side bar) i wish you would of taken the time to look! thanks for the blow off! i should report you, but i won't.... it's almost christmas! :) -me

dear britney,

you found them on the sales rack! sorry i scared you by jumping up and down! i can't help it... i love them so! -me

dear mysterious nordstrom worker #2,

thank you for putting the wrong tag on the bottom of my shoes, the shoe's were marked $33.00 but should of been marked at $59.00! you rock! they gave them to me for the price shown! -me

dear me,

your patience paid off! you got a $ 109.00 shoe for $33.00. you also rock! now what the crap are you going to wear it with??? you have nothing that color! -me

fiRsts

2009-11-25T19:55:00.008-07:00

so, i'm making my FiRst thanksgiving meal! we always go to in-laws for lunch but not this year. my sister mikell got invited to cheer in the maceys day parade so mom and sister are in n.y.c. having a blast (slightly jealous). so that leaves dad and katie home. so i invited them over... i feel like i've been living in my kitchen all day! i've never made turkey or stuffing or yams or homemade crusts... so i'm feeling a little nervous about this whole feast of ours. i'm confident about one thing though, my napkin rings....i had to find something to do while the pies were baking! here's hoping my turkey is moist, my rolls raise, my pies flaky, my yams... yammy??? not sure what yams should be, shoot...can i mess up a yam, not sure we will see.

loving these thought/quotes:

** god gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~william a.. war

**the pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving. ~h.u. westermayer

** If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get. ~frank a. clark

** he is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~epictetus

** not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. ~w.t. purkiser

** gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all. ~william faulkner

** we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. ~cynthia ozick

** hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel. ~author unknown

anD YoU thOught YoU hAd a BusY dAy....

2009-11-17T20:33:00.001-07:00

sophie to-do list for after school.... i love #2 work on song with guitar, didn't know she wrote songs, must ask her about this! :)

Why I dOn't haVe tiMe to BloG.....

2009-11-12T21:31:00.004-07:00

so i've often listened to my book-loving friends discuss these books and inside i'm thinking, gees my pals are true-blue nerds! :) until the book was chosen for book club, and thought i better give it a chance... immediately hooked! which is rare! i've got like 15 pages of the 2nd book left and i don't want to read them.... because i have a feeling it's gonna leave me guessing, and the third one doesn't come out till the middle of next year!

Go pEEta!

i'm pRetty sUre....

2009-10-26T13:24:00.005-06:00

* someone was missing my blog posts
* i've just been through a horrific trial
* i'm gonna be triumphant.... i think
* a fresh start is in order for all aspects of my life
* i've got the best gal pals
* i make the best pumpkin cookies, not to brag or anything it's just true :)
* i've never dvr'd so many shows in my life
* the office episode of pam & jim getting married was the best yet
* i've never known my own strength
* i found the best pair of jeans ever
* i'm over the cupcake pic's on my side bar
* i'm addicted to almond steamers at the family fresh supermarket
* i've conquered my addiction to diet coke
* me and tanya rocked our costumes .....

*and last not but least i'm pretty sure cade will continue wearing this outfit everyday for the rest of his life!

EiGht

2009-08-20T21:54:00.004-06:00

sophie turned eight yesterday.... we will cap off the festive week with her baptism

more fab pic's by brooke

WeDDing DaY

2009-08-06T22:58:00.004-06:00

this was me and my little bro clint 12 yrs ago

and now us on his wedding day, i still love this kid!

pics from the day:

me & katie-lynn

clint and britney

lynn & sophie at the luncheon, thanks m

such an awesome way to spend a day!

p.s. so stoked janine won, my fave from the get-go!

deAr coUsIn,

2009-08-02T11:04:00.003-06:00

thank you for sending me the 30 percent off coupon to gap yesterday.... you probably didn't know that i've had my eye of this jem

though sadness did hit when they didn't have a medium.... none online, yet 2 at the murray location! those who know me, know that i don't know how to get to murray! i will not give up this blazer will be mine! i did find some other things to keep me occupied! thanks cousin! heart -j

lAtley....

2009-07-21T23:23:00.004-06:00

hallie received her first paycheck... she helped my sista's clean rooms, she had small little jobs like folding the toilet paper in the hotel triangle
so i'm guessing thats why the toilet paper roll looked like this at our house :)speaking of hallie, she's been such a big help lately that i had her invite 13 of her school mates over to my mom's for a swim, just a small way to show my appreciation for all she does!
last saturday a bunch of us took the kids down to the kids parade, 2 out of eleven looking at the camera... good times

got my picture disc today, wow it was so easy just shooting the pictures in the backyard! i wanted it to be way kick back! just the kids, a chalk board and a great photographer!

suMMEr pIcS

2009-07-16T09:58:00.002-06:00

here's 2 of the many pictures that brooke took, i'm loving the vintage look she adds to them! i can't wait to get my paws on the finished disc. no pressure brooke :)

AnY exCuse foR a PaRtY!

2009-06-29T00:01:00.007-06:00

it all started with hallie.... i was in the middle of potty training her when my mom gave her an incentive, a potty party.... complete with cake, balloons, and lots of new undies

fast forward to sophie's potty party, notice the barbie potty that i found for the cake topper??? it was funny because not only did people bring new packs of underwear but people brought her actual toy gifts!

can't do a potty party for the first 2 and not the last so here's cade's potty party...

min's toilet paper cake, yummy!
cade checking out his new undies
a gift from aunt mindy,

who will never buy another box of diapers again???? that's right! ME!

eVery giRl neeDs One...

2009-06-10T22:39:00.003-06:00

i deleted my last post because frankly i'm over it! i should of known better to post it because all i needed to do was call my venting buddy :) she always knows what to say, and i always feel a ton better after our conversations ..... every gal needs a venting buddy cause frankly husband doesn't always get it. i found this pic on the web, and i like it. it makes me happy!

laSt dAy, trAin RiDe, & oPen iNvitE...

2009-06-07T19:50:00.004-06:00

last day of school has come..... it's been a great year for the girls, they both had awesome teachers!

we new lagoon would be super crazy on a saturday but joe was insistent that we go! we pretty much just went on the not so popular rides!

so i'm taking over stacy's s.y.t.y.c.d. viewing parties! i know these are big shoes to fill but i'll try! so it will be this thursday, my house, 7:30 p.m. bring a treat if ya want!

sPoKe to sOOn...

2009-06-01T22:05:00.002-06:00

i'm laughing at myself, how i expected cade to be potty trained after 1 day! i started my potty training adventure on thursday afternoon & here it is monday night & he's only had 2 accidents since saturday.... i really didn't give cade or myself enough credit! i think i've heard alot of horror stories about boys. today i took him to the park to play, he told me he needed to go potty, with no bathroom in site, i asked him if he wanted to water the bush, he thought it would be fun, so the bush was watered... dad was so proud!

thiS toO shAll paSS.......riGht???

2009-05-28T21:25:00.004-06:00

so i'm in the midst of potty training hell! i've been dreading this day! i just started at 4 p.m. with 3 accidents and 1 success. um.... it's not looking very promising.
any boy traing advice???

whY diD 'nt I thInk of ThiS soOner??

2009-05-24T22:44:00.005-06:00

so i've been dealing with not being able to load pictures on blogger & then it hit me after all these months of problems... what if i turn the computer off then on??? well folks it worked. i'm back at it. i have a feeling brooke's laughing at me! she gets a kick out of my computer/ camera drama's :)

any-hoo, had a awesome week! it was the big grand opening....

me and mindy having a cookie break
the chamber of commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony......
my dad let my lil sista cut the ribbon... it was awesome!
me and sistas with the big ol sissors
and thanks to sams club for the donated cake... it was delicious!

we had an awesome turnout. thanks to all that came!

i hiGhLy rEcOmmEnd mY phoTograPher....

2009-05-14T13:33:00.007-06:00

want some family pictures done without paying a butt-load??? check out my sister in-laws site, she's awesome! my favorite pic of sophie is on the second page... check it out!

also happy birthday mom! love ya!

{weeK sEvenTeen & eIghTeen}

2009-05-12T14:32:00.003-06:00

week 17 : what i know for sure....
week 18: my mom......
and my version of a cupcake planter i found on wimsey love

2009-05-09T13:25:00.003-06:00

went to woman's conference with these gals... i always come home feeling like i can take on the world, and i'm still feeling it today. so glad i went!

my sistas after their night to remember.....

came home from running errands to this... an early m-day gift. got a back rub, a hair style, and a foot massage... even got my nails painted. what can i say i'm loved

a moTher's Day cArd, foR dAd

2009-05-06T20:33:00.002-06:00

so giving this to my hubby, i love him and all, but sometimes he's just down right clueless! :)

download it for free HerE

ThE boY

2009-04-27T21:23:00.002-06:00

the boy lining up toys??? not sure why he does thisthe boy chillin with blue and green
the boy as batman & his buddy superman
the boy & his latest craze tools!

{weeK fiFtEEN & SiXtEEn}

2009-04-27T20:54:00.005-06:00

week 15 prompt: i just can't get enough, all those things in life that i love & can't get enough of!
one thing i've had enough of... joe being taking advantage of because they know he's too kind to say no! it's so old! enough already, sorry venting :)

week 16 : talking about joe, my main squeeze!

{wEEk thiRtEEn & fOurteEn}

2009-04-15T10:49:00.008-06:00

week 13 journal prompt: i chose to discuss another one of my children, it's all about the boy.

week 14 prompt: spring break, yeah it rocked!

i'M bAcK.... i ThInk

2009-04-13T22:17:00.004-06:00

i've kinda been diggin the whole flower band trend but i'm not paying the $14 people are wanting... made mine for 2 bucks! my girls are diggin em! mikell even offered to babysit for free if i made her one.... sold!

you know me and my brooch obsession..... made some for easter and then flower ones. i'm thinking this would be a good mother's day craft for my activity day girls!
we usually do my parents easter hunt on saturday, but bad wheater moved it to sunday...
the best picture of the boy:
the sisters that love each other :)
playing jumprope with aunt katie
me and my sistas.... i don't look 15 yrs older then them... right???
i'll be back with my 2 tags, didn't know people were waiting on me, sorry! been in a funk lately, which bring me to saying thanks to all that have been there ( you know who you are).

{ weEk TweLvE }

2009-04-01T14:48:00.004-06:00

journal prompt.... weekends, wrote about our favorite family activities to do, places we like to go, and just the typical mayes' weekend.

sophie's little april fools joke for the family... changing out the cereals. i was wondering why she was so excited for me to eat breakfast!

{weEk eLeVen}

2009-03-24T13:40:00.004-06:00

journal prompt: collect

talked about my favorite little things i'm drawn to, which turns into a mass collection....
****ric-rack * cupcake toppers, sprinkles, liners ect. * brooches * scrapping paper but only if it's under 75 cents (i refuse to pay more!) * bowls, serving platters... * inspirational talks & thoughts * american craft ribbon * polish * lip gloss * hair clips * felt * stationary * new crayons* crafty ideas for the ol idea book ****

may i just end by saying that i love the end caps at target, you know the place where they put all their discounted items, that have that little red sticker telling you the original price with the new sale price! that sticker on something fab makes me happy!if anyone see's this on an end cap with a red sticker, let a sista know! i'm diggin it!

{week tEn }

2009-03-17T17:39:00.005-06:00

journal prompt: guilty of..... were all guilty of something right???

hallie turned 11 last friday.... it was a great day! she wanted a nintendo ds and new bedding for her bed, preferably something with butterflies. joann's had the perfect material!

and my new favorite thing to play with... crate paper.

{ WeEk niNe }

2009-03-08T20:13:00.006-06:00

journal prompt: hallie.... her birthday is later this week so it seemed fitting to talk about her and all the great things she brings to the family. felt flowers, just can't get enough of them! did you know you could cut them out using the sizzix machine?? if anyone wants some for bows or just for crafting let me know! i'll be sharing my latest crafting obsession later this week, i'll be putting it in hallie's room (i'm re-doing her room for her b-day)..... i've been hitting up the d.i. just to get the look right! they had exacly what i was looking for, so i'm pretty stoked!

mY laSt wEEk-enD to sLeep IN....

2009-03-07T11:06:00.004-07:00

before i'll be here, laying out breakfast for guests, it's been so awesome seeing it all come together! we can hardly believe it, but our first reservations are this coming friday! it's an exciting time for the family.

{ wEEk eiGhT }

2009-03-02T12:46:00.007-07:00

journal prompt: home... wrote about my home, my favorite spots in my home, things i still want to accomplish with my home...yada, yada, yada, you get it.

so thursday i was cleaning my office, saw my memory card, thought i put it back in my camera, then realized the next day that it didn't. i just knew i threw it in my office garbage, that would be the end of that, but then i realized that i had dumped that garbage in the outside garbage! the horror! realizing that christmas & cade's b-day pics were on there, i knew i'd have to pick through the garbage.... what would you know it was there, at the bottom! it was a major stinky situation. good times.

{ WeeK seVen }

2009-02-25T18:29:00.006-07:00

here it is, a few days late.... due to a nasty cold. better now!
journal prompt: don't forget....
i knew i had to write about cade's made-up word which is "flap-bob"
whenever he's upset with someone he calls them this name. the funny part of this
is that we've kinda started saying this name as well! he called g-ma mayes this when
she did'n't take him home with her..... he yells to her as she opens the door to leave, "grandma, your a flap-bob" g-ma starts laughing. not good to encourage name calling, i know. but it's just to funny.

fun find of the day....

matching mother/daughter zebra flats, SenSationaL!!

{ wEek SiX }

2009-02-15T10:36:00.002-07:00

journal prompt: hope. one of new favorite things are the white reinforcement circle things ( the center of the flower) you can paint those babies any color you want & use them in many different ways. i know... your in awe! :)

one of my hopes... the snow will go away & spring will be on it's way!

[ thRee ]

2009-02-12T10:48:00.001-07:00

my babies three today....

does this mean the terrible two's are over???

HeArt pINs

2009-02-10T18:53:00.002-07:00

got this crafty idea from purlbee, it's basically felt and thread, and a safety pin for the back. made mindy do it with me, way more fun to do it with a gal pal! notice the zebra print one?? pretty awesome right?

{ wEEk fiVe }

2009-02-08T14:03:00.002-07:00

in honor of valentines day, i felt my prompt should be love....

speaking of love, today i'm gonna go cuddle with my new little nephew, tyler!

orGanIzE iT!

2009-02-06T15:08:00.005-07:00

i feel like i want to keep everything my kids create, bring home from school or get from loved ones... my solution: a file box for all the kiddies. i realize i can't keep everything they bring home from school, so i just keep a few things from each grade.

i even saved a piece of hallie's wallpaper from her old room, why not???

{ wEEk FoUr }

2009-02-02T17:07:00.002-07:00

journal prompt: right now... talked about what was going on with me lately, different activities going on and different emotions i'm feeling. i've already gotten sick of the kraft colored tags so i painted the tag, added the prompt with the date, easy-peasy

thanks for the suggestions on my picture problem.

cAn't fiGure iT ouT

2009-01-29T22:10:00.003-07:00

has anyone ever had a problem posting a picture, when i click the browse button it doesn't do a thing! ........why do computers confuse me? i'm annoyed.

bloGGing cHalleNge daY 1 & 2

2009-01-27T22:04:00.008-07:00

totally forgot to blog yesterday! i feel like it should be looked over though, it's been rough these last two days. so, this really is all i have to blog.... i'm thinking 3 pic's will make up for monday.

i'm one of those people that when i see something cute in a magazine i rip it out or if i hear of a cute baby shower game i write it down and throw it in a file folder, i've been meaning to organize all this stuff so i got myself a binder and organized it....

baby/ wedding showers
birthday party ideas, games, themes
cupcakes/ cakes
crafts
gift wrapping
ect.

i was going to put holiday stuff in there but man there's tons! so a separate binder will need to be made.
on another note.... couldn't find cade the other day, after searching for awhile found him asleep in hallie's closet. blue blanket is still going strong, yummy.

{ wEEk ThRee }

2009-01-25T10:54:00.002-07:00

week three prompt: friends....on the back i wrote about my best girlys! girlys i've known for years, girlys in my family, girlys that i've just gotten to know... i'm a lucky gal. thanks friends :)

hiBernatinG

2009-01-23T20:23:00.005-07:00

if anyone's dropped by the last 2 days they would tell you that i've been in my jammies...let's just say i'm feeling scrappy, getting a lot accomplished! i've got the girls caught up to fall of '08 but the family album is still back in feb. '08. as of right now there's nothing more to scrap until i get to sam's to print more pictures! i may need to do mindy's challenge she's got going on, i bet it feels good to see a number displayed! scrapbooking anyone???remember the days of stickers?? you'd walk into a scrap store and there would be rolls of stickers... well i pulled out all my stash, that kept cade busy for 5 minutes or so. he seriously walked around like this for hours.

look at me 2 posts in two days, gearing up for the blog challenge.

WhAt's a MoTheR tO dO?

2009-01-22T22:43:00.003-07:00

when she sees this on her couch?

a. spank
b. calmly explain that this should never be done again
c. run over to ray's for a diet coke
d. make p-nut butter bars and inhale 3
e. move the cushion over in the corner of the sectional where a blanket usually lays
f. all of the above

what do you think i did? and what would you have done?

{week two }

2009-01-18T17:14:00.002-07:00

journal prompt: i am...oh the possibilities of this little tag! i love it because it's not a big surface, so it takes no time at all!
i think i've got me enough prompts to last me through the year, i keep them in here...

{ wEEk OnE }

2009-01-11T19:28:00.003-07:00

- it wouldn't seem right if the first one didn't have something to do with goals for the new yr.

so this is basically all i'm doing, every sunday i'll have a different journal prompt, write the journal prompt on one side and the answer on the other. super easy! i'm know just realizing i didn't put the date on it, i'll have to fit it in somewhere... you can make it as simple or extravagant as you want! i'll end up with 51 of these and i'll probably take the string off and put them on one of those ring things :)

i want to do a title tag, but not sure what to call it, any ideas??? also if you have any good journal prompts along the way let me know, i've got a few written down, but i'm sure down the road it will get hard to think of good ones. i've got hallie doing it as well...

opEn InVite....

2009-01-10T01:15:00.003-07:00

to the temple, were thinking of doing initiatory and or sealings. dinner will follow! meet at the fisher's house at 6 p.m. to car-pool. please leave comment or give me a call so we can get an idea of a number, hope you can come! ThE mOre The MeRrier!

2009 proJecT in ThE woRks

2009-01-08T12:33:00.008-07:00

i'm so fighting the urge to stop blogging, i know, never thought i'd say this! maybe a new project will get me going again... any-whoo... been finishing up my project from last year. pretty happy with the results... i can't lie... missed quite a few days mainly because my old camera was just hanging on, it was quite the feat to just take one picture the last couple months.

so i've been trying to figure out my 2009 project & i think i found one....it's amazing all the fun projects you can find out there! it's a Q & A type of mini-journal, maybe you'll want to do it along with me! all you need is 1 mannilla tag per week.... you can find them at office max, staples & maybe even wally-mart. i'll probably be getting the bigger ones.... check back on sunday! i promise you can make this as simple or outrageous as you want! it's only once a week so you shouldn't feel over-whelmed! no matter what, it will be a great keepsake at the end of the year!

chRisTmas

2008-12-28T22:56:00.012-07:00

christmas eve.... yummy food, prime rib, shrimp, crab legs then topped off with the annual talent show and of course the the jammies! we all got best western tee's with flannel bottoms.
the granddaughters:
christmas morning the kiddos woke up at 7:45. cade was so fun this year! he was spoiled with 2 train sets.
sophie & her fur-reals she wanted, thats the closest thing to a pet she'll ever get.

sophie (still sporting her p.j. top) & peyton at grammie m.
cade lounging in his jammies from g-ma p.
the girls in their cheer uniforms from g-ma pitcher, mikell has some serious competition!:)
hope yours was as merry as ours!

fiGurinG it aLL ouT.... aGain!

2008-12-28T15:59:00.001-07:00

thanks b & a for coming to my aid and helping me figure out my new camera and how to get it to work with my computer... i was so close to closing the ol blog down! what's the point of a blog if there's no pictures to be seen?? i love getting new great things for christmas but i hate figuring out how they work! christmas pictures soon.... i just couldn't help posting this pic!

2008-12-23T22:00:00.006-07:00

to many times i tell myself i can't.... without ever trying. after getting tiff's caramels i new i needed to give this one a try! after one hour of tending the stove, to my shock they turned out! i do enjoy a recipe that tells me a temperature that needs to be reached.... i can't do the ol drop the caramel in cold water trick, ( i still don't know how you do that d) to see if it's done.

i've been thinking alot about talents lately & have talked to a few friends about this subject... something i've been struggling with lately & well i found this talk by pres. uchtdorf...i share it in hope that it may benefit someone else....

"the desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. no matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. everyone can create. you don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. we develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. you might say, 'i’m not the creative type. when i sing, i’m always half a tone above or below the note. i cannot draw a line without a ruler. and the only practical use for my homemade bread is as a paperweight or as a doorstop.' if that is how you feel, think again, and remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative being in the universe. isn’t it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate god? think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination. if you are a mother, you participate with god in his work of creation—not only by providing physical bodies for your children but also by teaching and nurturing them. you may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. the bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter."

i love this talk, it's so inspiring.... i'm in a family of very creative women & even though i'm no where in their creative range, dang it i try, and that's most important! sometimes we measure talents by things that can be seen...(scrap pages, crafts, cooking, ect.) but we need to remember that there's so much more! and that's exactly what i needed to hear!

oh yah... had lunch with these lovely ladies.... missed ya a! feel better.

our card for the year..... happy holidays! props to brooke for the pic & design.