When Your Favorite T-Shirt Gets Bacon Neck

Transform a favorite t-shirt into a throw pillow.

You can't see it as well in this photo, but this t-shirt has been pulled on by a toddler one too many times and the neck is all wrinkly.

This was one of the original Mercy House Kenya t-shirts and I love what it says, and what Kristen and Terrell have allowed God to do in their lives through opening a maternity home.

 
So, just grab some sidewalk chalk and a box lid to draw a template (hey, it was within arms reach and it works).  Sew right sides together on three sides. Slide your pillow form in and realize you are a little short. Cut the bottom off the shirt, which is already hemmed (yay!) and add a quick ruffle to extend the length (no pinning, just fold every few inches and shove through your machine).

 

There you go, your favorite t-shirt is now your favorite pillow.

Laundry, Spread A Little Love On It

I love doing laundry for my family.  I love knowing they have clean undies, their favorite shirt, and outfit choices instead of defaulting to what's clean. Along with laundry I also happen to love wrapping presents and going to the grocery store.  I know, I'm weird like that.


My friends and family know that Monday and Thursday are my laundry days.  I love these days because I don't have to go anywhere, I feel a huge sense of accomplishment when it's done and by doing it twice a week it keeps the laundry pile from ever getting too big.


We use cloth napkins around these parts and I will admit that folding them can get tedious.  So recently I had a stroke of genius and taught the kids how to fold napkins and now they do it for me. And they do an amazing job. Which is saying A LOT because I tend toward OCD on how things get folded.

In the video Chloe is folding some of our favorite napkins from Katherine Rally Textiles. We have had them for two years, use them everyday, they are so soft, and they still look new.

A Party For My Love

February is one of my favorite months.  It's my Mr's birthday month, and he is a mighty fine reason for a favorite.

Each year I ask Alan if he wants a party and each year he says no.  But this year he agreed to a Super Bowl birthday party.  We invited our shepherd group and we pigged out on appetizers. 

Appetizers are one of my favorite party foods. Anything else is too much of a commitment {name that movie}.

A football cake is pretty much the easiest cake I have ever made.  I used a Wilton oval pan and my favorite chocolate ganache frosting.  {the cake is always from a mix}

 What is your favorite month?

 

Christmas Starts Early This Year!

I was just talking with Tiny Twig yesterday on Twitter about the desire to start decorating early. And then this beauty showed up on my front porch from Dayspring!

The decorating has officially begun.  I can see this piled high with Christmas cookies or finger foods or Christmas Cards.

The Dayspring Jesus is the Gift line is one of my favorites.  It is bright and cheery and communicates the message of Christmas I hope I never, ever forget. 

*Disclaimer, Dayspring sent me this platter for review, opinions are my own--I really love it! I have just joined the affiliate program with Dayspring and any purchase you make by clicking on links in this post will generate income to support this blog and my family.

Bless Your Neighbors

Last year I delivered pineapples to our neighbors for Christmas. This year, I had help from my sweet boy.

Thank you, Meredith for this wonderful gift idea. We plan to keep up this tradition.

My Favorite Restaurant

Is the Cracker Barrel (or the Crackle Barrel as my cousin Kim calls it.) Just look at my sweet family enjoying the down home goodness.

We were on our way home from Indiana and after passing 68 Cracker Barrels over the course of 7 days, and being completely tortured each time we didn't stop for fried catfish, or blueberry pancakes, we finally stopped for dinner on our last night away. I got catfish and my boys got blueberry pancakes. Mmmm, butter.

Don't Forget!

The Season Premiere of Ice Road Truckers is tonight on The History Channel! Sweet, I love man TV.

Don't Wear Earrings to a NASCAR Race

You might think wearing earrings to a NASCAR race is a fine idea...until you put on your radio headset and they push into the side of your neck for 4 hours. Ouchie.

Last week some great friends from our church gave us tickets to last nights race in Richmond. We immediately scheduled my mom for babysitting, filled the fridge with breastmilk and headed to the race. Here is the view from our awesome seats, right across from the exit of Pit Row in turn 1 and right in front of the pole sitters pit box (Denny Hamlin, in case you were dying to know who was on the pole.)

During the national anthem the Blue Angels did an amazing fly over. This part always takes my breath away and makes me so proud to be an American.

Not everyone gets as excited about racing as I do. This little one was fast asleep before the first 100 laps were complete.

And this lady (click on photo to enlarge image) was so beside herself with excitement she started knitting...she was a pro too, one of those that can knit without ever looking at her needles. Unlike the guy on the left, who smoked 1,050 cigarettes during the race. At one point he was half on my seat cushion and ashing on my leg too, but it was worth it.This is us walking out of the track listening to the final laps on the radio. We are smiling so big because we weren't getting pelted with beer cans the fans were throwing after Dale Jr. got wrecked, just as he was about to win the race. And because we were going home to our nice cozy bed.

Monogrammed Coffee

Thanks for sticking with me during these postpartum days...I know my posts have been few and my topics brief.

I promise I am visiting your blogs, which is why I don't have time to post on my own! For now, you will just have to enjoy this photo of the breakfast my Mr. Incredible made on Friday. Ask your husband to make you one, and make sure he puts your monogram in the coffee.

No Rack Spice Rack

For years I have had daily fights with my spices. They would usually win. I would dig through the cabinet, some would jump out and spill, others would hide in the back, some would stay front and center...and the one I needed was never front and center. Well, no more fights. I bought these spice jars at World Market, broke out the P-Touch and lined them all up marching band style in a drawer. I smile at these guys everyday, and I'm pretty sure they smile right back.

Envelope Beautification

Remember a few posts ago when I told you about my new favorite, Vista Prints? Well, because their stuff is so cheap and they are always offering free stuff, I just got these note cards *FOR FREE* after shipping.

Then I did a little envelope beautification ala Martha Stewart using scrapbook paper. (Because I have this problem with buying scrapbook paper, so I have tons, even though I have never once made a scrapbook.)

Now, who wouldn't want to open an envelope full of daisies?

I also beautified the first set of note cards like this:

First it looked like this mess:

I thought this paper looked like dead flowers until I paired it with these note cards. I love using up ugly things and making them look pretty. Lined envelopes are so much nicer than plain. I am so fancy.

Pioneer Woman Addict

"Hi, my name is Tracey, and I'm a Pioneer Woman addict."

"Hi Tracey, welcome."

There must be a 12 step program for this, because it appears I am not the only one who is an avid reader of PW. I don't even bother commenting on her posts because by the time I read them she usually has over 300 comments, or if the post is a chapter from "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story" she will have over 600 comments or if it is a "Give That Photo a Name" post she will have over 3,000 comments! Crazy blog readers.

I like thinking I have things in common with my favorite bloggers. But, this one is different. We really do have MANY things in common. I know we would be BFF's if I lived near their ranch. Observe:

1. We both think our husbands are the greatest things walking on this earth.
2. We both love to cook, talk and think about food and aren't afraid of butter.
3. She claims to be the #1 Loather of Vomit on the planet, I am actually #1.
   
4. We both love burps and seem to think they are an acceptable way to show affection.
   
5. We both gave birth to a baby 5 weeks premature and had emergency c-sections
6. We both love Martha Stewart and hydrangeas and are proud of it.
   

I could go on, but you get my point. And this, dear friend is why you have not seen a post from me in a week. I have been reading Pioneer Woman's blog. I finally read all 31 chapters of Black Heels to Tractor Wheels and now I will wait patiently for the next chapter...and write some posts for my own blog before heading to the hospital next Friday to birth another baby.

I am an addict. Gimme another hit of that P-Dub goodness.
.

My New Favorite

Have you heard of Vista Prints? Well you better click here right away if you love to personalize as much as I do. I just ordered these cute note cards, note pad and some even cuter return address labels. It all came within 7 days (even though I chose the cheapest shipping and it said it could take 21 days.) The quality is great, no cheap flimsy cards here, this is nice card stock sister. The stuff is super cheap and they are always offering freebies where you just pay the shipping. I got 10 note cards, one note pad and 280 return address labels for under $15...and they made it my way. You can get specific about every detail, it took no time at all, I did it online while watching Idol.

Welcome Back NASCAR!

We have missed you and look forward to many great naps with you in the months to come. Ahh, the roar of the engines, the excitement of the crashes and the joy of seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon on the same team! I have always liked both those guys and think they are both great race car drivers. Now maybe all the Gordon haters will relax and enjoy the show. I can't wait to see how Jr. is going to do this year with his new team.

p.s. Not all NASCAR fans look like this, I'm just a good ol' girl from Indiana that loves racing! Oh, and a little people watching is always entertaining.

A Girl and Her Gun

Last week, my smokin' hot husband took me on over to Sears to buy a staple gun. It's my new favorite thing. I know some girls like their glue guns, but I make a mess with hot glue and rarely get the results I am looking for. I had several jobs in mind that justified the purchase and we even popped for the fully loaded electric version...he spoils me and I love it. As for the black eclipse at the bottom of the photo, it's my 7 month pregnant belly. I saw another prego that accidentally got her belly in a picture and I was absolutely amazed at how easy this was to do, without trying.

Here she is in all her glory...I think I will call her Stanleah