Wall Decor Ideas

I have this spot above my bed that I have had a really hard time finding something that I think will fit there. I saw some framed photos at Ikea that I liked, but I just couldn't spend the $50 bucks they wanted for it. I'm a do it yourself kind of girl, so I decided to go out today and just take a few snapshots of some landscape near my house and see what I could come up with. The photos themselves weren't anything special, but I found this really cool editing technique on Photoshop Elements that I thought I would share. It is so easy and it makes just an ordinary picture of a tree seem special.

So this what you do: Open your picture in Photoshop editor(by the way if you don't have a photo editing program and are looking for one Adobe Photoshop is definitely the way to go), then in the photo effects section find the old photo icon and drag and drop it onto your photo. You can stop there, but in the photos below I also dragged and dropped the Sepia tint on it as well, because it matches my room. You can get a 16 x20 print at Costco for around $5. Of course you also have to have it framed, I plan on keeping my eyes open for one at Ross or I might just make my own frame, (I know how I just don't want to). Costco is now printing photos onto canvas, so you wouldn't need a frame but it is pretty pricey, but I think it is a great option for family photos because it has a cleanable finish on it. I plan on getting our next set of family photos printed this way.

Here are a few of the photos I took today:

This tree was just in the parking lot of the place I went to take photo's. Who knew it would be one of my favorites.

Cancun

Shaun and I celebrated 15 years of marriage last week in Mexico. It wasn't our official anniversary, but we wanted to go to Mexico in the spring, so we decided to go now before it got too far into spring break season. I don't know if it was the hotel we chose, or I was right about going early, but it really wasn't too crowded. We had a great time our Hotel was nice, the food was okay. It was all inclusive, so it was nice just not to have to worry about trying to find somewhere to go to eat unless you wanted too.


Our first day there we went to Salvatica. They have zip lines through the canopy, and then at the end they take you to a cenote (cave filled with water) to go swimming. Here I am at the cenote ready to zip line into the water.

Day two we drove to Telum to see the ruins, we were close to a place called Xel Hah so we decided to go ahead and go snorkeling there. This is Shaun at Xel Hah, he doesn't look too thrilled about getting his picture taken. We had fun snorkeling. There are tons of cool fish to look at out there, but we kept getting sea sick and having to take breaks. Who knew you can get sea sick snorkeling.

Everywhere we go Shaun is wanting to steal fruit. In Florida it was oranges, in Oregon its the black berries, and in Cancun it was coconuts. Here is the thief running with his prize. He opened them in the hotel of course they were still too green to eat.

It was suppose to be cloudy the whole time we were there but the last day cleared up and we had a great day on the beach. We played in the waves, which were actually quite big because it had been windy, found some really neat seashells, even a large conch, and then rented jet skis. We had fun on the jet skis, but I got really sea sick and Shaun had to finish up on his own while I recoverd on the beach.

Our last morning in Cancun we got up early enough to see the sunrise. This was the view from our hotel room balcony.

Spring Show

I made the long drive to Idaho by myself to set up for my Spring Show. Both Nancy and my mom were gone, so Shaun decided it would be easier to babysit at home than in Utah. So I just drove down in the morning, set up, then drove back home, all in one day. I moved to a smaller booth, so I had a little more to do than usual. I had some new shelves to hang, and the big shelve I made to put in. Everything fit fine and looked good, and what a relief to have this checked off my to do list.


My new booth at the show, I told Nancy I would post this picture so she would have an idea of what it is suppose to look like when she comes to clean up for me. Thanks Nancy.



Here is a semi new item. I discovered some new chalk board vinyl and it has been fun figuring out ways to use it. This is a chalk board and a magnet board.


Another use for the chalkboard Vinyl. These cute clip boards can go on a refrigerator or a wall.


Mini initial blocks, the smaller size is a little more manageable.


My eggs were popular last year so I did them again and the candles are on a block that says "spring has sprung."


I got a little crazy with flower hair clips. I made some cute vintage look flowers, crochet flowers, frayed flowers and some really unique zipper flowers. I am excited to see how they do.

Saying Goodbye
We have a sad day tomorrow. We have to say goodbye to our good friends the Moulton's. They are moving to North Carolina and we have to say goodbye to them tomorrow. Each of us are loosing a good friend, Kaylee and Maddy were best friends from almost the moment we moved in, and Isabelle and Brianne are practically like sisters. They have been friends since they were two, even before the time they can probably remember. And Audrey has been one of the best friends and neighbors I have ever had. Even Sydnie will miss her little buddy Micheal. Needless to say it will be a hard transition for our family. We wish them luck in North Carolina, but not too much because we still have are hopes on them coming back in a few years.


I got to finally use my digital scrap booking on a going away present for the girls. I made a little miniature book of all the pictures of them together throughout our four years together. This was the cover page.

Look what I did!!!!

Do you ever have those moments when you wish you were a little kid again, when you thought you did something really cool like tying your shoelace for the first time, or drawing a really cool picture. You show your mom and she gives you a big hug, or raves about your picture and hangs it on the refrigerator. Well sometimes as adults we still have those moments, only now we have to pat ourselves on the back and just be satisfied with our own sense of accomplishment. I had one of those moments this week, and I can't help but show off a little. I sell crafts for a boutique, so I know my way around most power tools. However, I rarely attempt to make furniture. But I needed a display piece for my booth at my boutique where I sell crafts, so I decided to give it a try. I was pretty excited about the results, and no Shaun did not help me, except for at the beginning when I had to cut the strips of wood for the shelving on the table saw, and only because it is a two person job. Other wise, I came up with the plan, measured, cut and nailed everything together on my own. I was pleased with the results other than a few misplaced nails, (nail guns are hard to aim), and the finish is a little below my standards (but I will blame that on the cold weather and really horrible polyurethane). Oh well, its just a display piece for my crafts.

Here is the finished product, try not to look at the messy garage in the background. Mom you can print this picture out and hang it on your refrigerator if you want.

Happy Birthday Kaylee!!

Kaylee turned 9 yesterday. I can hardly believe my first little baby is getting to be so grown up. We always make birthdays a big deal around our house. Usually birthday's end up being more like birthweekends. And Kaylee's birthday was no exception. On Friday night we had a big friends birthday party she invited 16 girls and I think all but one showed up. We had a very noisy house that night. Lots of laughing and screaming. She had a Valentine themed party. We decorated giant heart shaped sugar cookies, had a heart shaped pinata, and made heart shaped flowers for their hair. On Saturday we went to Chuck E Cheese with just the family. We spent about and hour there, about as long as the parents could stand. Sunday was here actual birthday, we didn't do too much except open presents and have her favorite thing for dinner, tortilla soup.

All the crazy girls at her birthday party!

Kaylee taking a whack at the pinata.

Tortilla Soup

(Kaylee's Favorite, and one of mine too because it is so easy)

1 family size can of Campbell's chicken and rice soup

1 can corn

1 can ranch style bean

1 can Rotel brand tomatoes Mexican style

2-3 chicken breast cooked and diced or shredded

Precook chicken, I like to cook a bunch of breast in my crock pot, shred the meat and store in cup proportions in my freezer for recipes like this one.

Then just dump all the cans into a big pot add one large can of water, add chicken and heat through. Top individual bowls of soup with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and a couple drops of Tabasco sauce if you like heat. I like to add tortilla chips to my bowl, but some people prefer to dip.

The perfect Fries

We decided to save a few bucks and make french fries instead of going out. I looked up how to cook french fries on the Internet, because I had heard there was a trick to getting them crispy and cooked all the way through. I tried it out, and it was a little more work, but the fries turned out perfect. I know a lot of my friends and family have gotten deep fryers recently, so I thought I would share the recipe here.

This is what you need:
Russet potatoes cut into 1/4 inch fries (with or without skins)
A large bowl with ice cold water in it
1-2 cookie sheets (depending on how many batches you make) line them with paper towels

First heat oil to 350
In the mean time cut your fries and throw them into the cold water as you are cutting them. The cold water keeps the fries from sticking together and ensures maximum crispness. Leave in water about 10 min, then take out a batch at a time, (aprox. 2-3 handfuls) dry and put in fryer.

blanch in oil at 350 for 3 min. When done, they will still be white and soggy, don't worry. Place on cookie sheet and put somewhere cold like the refrigerator or outside.

Repeat for all batches.

Now heat oil to 365. Take the first batch out of the refrigerator and fry again for 2-2 1/2 min. They should come out golden brown crispy and delicious. Repeat for all batches. Salt dip and enjoy!

New years resolutions

So I have been thinking over the last few weeks what I would like to accomplish this year and this is what I came up with:
1. Finish my spring cleaning, before spring is over. Last year I started in the spring and didn't get done till the end of summer. So this year I am going to start in January and hopefully it will get done before June.
2. Run a half marathon. This is a resolution I actually accomplished last year and it was actually a lot of fun. I would like to run a different one this year just to switch things up a bit.
3. To get my death in order. Okay, this last one takes some explanation. I just got done reading "Tuesday's with Morrie", over the Holidays. This book has some good basic life lessons from a man who is dying. One thing that jumped out at me was, when he talked about getting your death in order so that you can live. So, that is my new years resolution: to get my death in order, meaning: write a will, and write letters to my children and husband, you know just in case. Not that I think I am going to die or anything, but I have already gotten started by writing letters to each of my kids, and it really does ease your mind. Now I won't be sitting up in Heaven (hopefully) thinking, "I wish I could tell them them how much I love them."