Happy PROM Day!

After several months of being MIA, I'm back and trying to get my creative MOJO flowing again. To kick things off, I'm diving in head first. Tomorrow is my daughter prom and tonight I'm trying to finish a few "homemade" details. That includes an embellished pair of shoes, 1 cocktail ring and one wrist corsage. 


My daughters dress is going to be vintage pink, with creamy, white lace. Pearls are usually her number one choice for jewelry, but she decided early on, she wanted something different. Before going shopping, we dove into my jewelry box and found the perfect pink rhinestone pieces. Only thing missing...ONE RING! So after a quick trip to Joanne's, we came home with a bag of ring bases (3.99) and a 3 inch strip of pink chiffon ribbon (.41 cents). We raided Bryon's beads and I found the strip of off white chiffon ribbon, I used for her belt at Homecoming. With those 4 things and some glue, I whipped this out. 

Next are her shoes. Months ago, I found an awesome pair of Vintage Pink,  Rhinestone, Clip On Earrings. I knew immediately they needed to go on her Prom shoes. Back then she wanted heels. Today she came back down to reality and realized flats are still her SAFE choice. We found these basic glitter slip on shoes and added the earrings as an accent. I tried clipping them on and that hurt to much, I tried sewing them onto the shoe and that proved to be a bit difficult to knot off. Currently I have them attached with glue and a clamp and hope that they will dry sufficiently over night. Once they are dry, I think I'm going to go back and put a simple thread knot for back up. 

My last piece is a wrist corsage for one of Ciara's friends. She's going with a big group of friends, so they exchanged names so they could buy each other a corsage. Ciara and her friend, decided to make their own, rather then buy regular flowers. Ciara picked out a beaded bracelet, a black flower pin and a teal rhinestone pendant. We started brainstorming and once I attached the pin to the bracelet, my creative juices were flowing, so I kept going. This is what I came up with and I love the Black and Teal together.

Here dress is still a work in progress. I told her to think of it as a Project Runway competition. It might be down to the last minute, when she puts it on, but miracles will happen!

First Rudy Day of 2011...

For my first Rudy Day of 2011, I'm choosing to start my morning off with a cup of hot chocolate and listening to a few Christmas songs on YouTube. While doing so, I came across the fantastic version of Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt.

This song is a favorite to remake, year after year. Although I enjoy the Eartha Kitt version he best, there are some others worth listening too. 

Kellie Pickler: 

Other items on my agenda today: 

-Transfer some of my Christmas bookmarks to my Pinterest account. 

-Pull old items out of my Christmas notebook & note swap info and   other things into my Past Years section. 

-Print off the agenda and Calender for redoing my Christmas journal for 2012

Project Valentine Info and Donation Opportunities

 

Valentine Card making is currently in full swing at our house and many of you have heard me mention Project Valentine and wonder exactly what it is and how you can help. The deadline for this years event is coming up soon, but below are some ways you can still help. Ciara and I will have the privilege of delivering to the Thornton Cancer Center this year, so we're feeling very blessed.  My friend Carrie, was blessed to receive a bag several years ago and has been delivering to patients ever since. Here are a few pictures from last year. 

________________________________________________________________________

Project Valentine was founded in February of 2002 by Colleen Anderson, with the mission of making Valentine's Day a "little sweeter" for individuals in the Denver area undergoing cancer treatment.  Since that time, Project Valentine volunteers have created and donated items to assemble hundreds of gift bags.  These gift bags are hand-delivered to men, women and children undergoing cancer treatment on Valentine's Day.

Delivery Stats for 2011: Our best year yet! At 607 bags delivered, we were able to personally reach more than 244 women, 172 men, 124 children, and had 81 additional gift bags that were appropriate for adult women or men.

Ideas for bags are endless! Handmade gifts are not only appropriate; they are often the most appreciated items we distribute. Remember, we serve cancer patients from all walks of life: young and old, male and female, and those of all faiths.  Since cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy are susceptibility to infection, all items must be NEW or newly made.

Need ideas? Here are some items we need for 2012:

• Crossword, Sudoku, or Word Search books
• Decks of cards
• Puzzles or Travel Games (played by 1 or 2)
• Journals
• Note cards
• Bookmarks
• Unscented or slightly scented lotions*
• Hand sanitizers
• Water bottles
• Gift cards ($5 & $10)
• Candy, gum, mints - individually wrapped**
• New CDs of comforting and inspiring music (suitable for all religious faiths)
• Hand made or purchased knit scarves and hats
• Fuzzy, warm socks or Stretch gloves (one size fits all)
• Handmade jewelry or jewelry kits
• Simple craft kits

*  We cannot accept home-made food items.
** Please package handmade items (scarf, hat, jewelry) individually in a ziplock baggie. 

If you can give one item, ten, or a hundred - we will be delighted with what you give!

           Give your donations to a Project Valentine board member or  volunteer.  Or you can deliver them to us:

·         Jan 14 (1- 4 pm) Valentine Making at Colorado Community Church, 3651 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood

·         Jan 28 (10:00 - 4:00pm)  Inventory Day at Colorado Community Church

·         We'd love to have most items received by our Inventory Day (January 28, 2012), but will continue to   accept donations through 11:00 am on Assembly Day (February 11, 2012) at CCC.

Project Valentine is a 501-c3 non-profit organization so your donation is tax deductible.   Visit our website at www.projectvalentine.org for more information.

My Word of the Year: Rejuvenate!

Rejuvenate: "To Bring New Life To"

For the past 3 years, rather then choose a New Year's resolution, I've chose a word of the year. Last year, my word was "Resolve". The year before that "ME". Both took some thought, but were easy compared to my decision this year. For several weeks, I've pondered and just couldn't think of the right word. Some of my friends have serious words and other online buddies chose fun words like "Rainbows" and "Bubbles". With a little explaining, what appeared to be fun on the outside, actually had some deep, rooted meaning. 

This past year has brought trials for many around me. Trials can be like a double edge sword. Some make you stronger, but some break you down piece by piece. Those small dents aren't all noticeable at once, but over time you become worn and a little neglected. That's when you need to step back, take notice and make time to REJUVENATE.

When I think of the word REJUVENATE, it goes far beyond mental and physical needs. I have relationships that need to be rejuvenated, my home needs to be rejuvenated, my career path needs to be rejuvenated, my hobbies need to be rejuvenated and most importantly my faith needs to be rejuvenated.

I've been enlightened by my word now for 24hours. The first step in taking action is to sit down and take notice. Have you done that recently? If not, I encourage you to take all the time you need to pick your "Word of the Year" and then Take Action!

A New Year Ahead!!

As much as I hate to see December and Christmas go, I do love the new clean slate that the New Year brings. I don't know that I have an actual Resolution, but I do take the time to sit down and evaluate things in my life. Taking the time to write down my concerns, my goals, my wish list and my To-Do list are absolutely necessary. I strive to do these things all year long, however come November and December they seem to be put aside and life goes into survival mode.

I also try and pick a WORD of the year to focus on. In the past years I've chosen "ME" and "Resolve". This year, I haven't come across or been able to think of the perfect word yet. It's more like, I'm still focusing on what exactly I want my year ahead to look like. 

In the mean time, I always refer back to Benjamin Franklin and his Governing Values. In his 20's after struggling with both family, failing in business and becoming a single parent,  he sat down to write a list of values and virtues he would focus on daily. It amazes me, how this list is still so pertinent today.  Since discovering this list, I still find it very ironic how it mimics my moral and religious choices.

I do suggest you take the time to evaluate these areas in your life.  Even taking the time, to mentally note which you will work on during a weeks time, will make a difference and make you just a wee bit more aware of what's going on around you and with your choices.

Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. 

Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. 

Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. 

Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. 

Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. 

Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation. 

Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. 

Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.

Humility: Emulate Christ and Socrates in all things.

 

The Christmas Sweater.....

For our Christmas lesson in Young Women this past Sunday, we all chose a Christmas book to read to the girls and then had a gift to give the girls that went along with the story. 

My choice was
The Christmas Sweater; The Picture Book by Glenn Beck.

This book was adapted from his original novel, The Christmas Sweater. The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book is the story of a young boy who finds the true meaning of Christmas in the most unlikely of places. Eddie wants a bicycle for Christmas, but his mother knits him a homemade sweater instead. His disappointment is obvious, but a magical journey makes Eddie realize that the sweater is far more than it seems. Ultimately it teaches him that the true meaning of a gift is that it is given with love. 



The obvious gift choice was a sweater. After debating how I'd make them, I decided making felt sweaters would be the easiest route. For embellishments I picked up some rick rack, mini pom poms and buttons. Then I pulled some beads and sequins out of my crafting stash. My friend who makes jewelry, used his tools to make the hangers and when all was done, we had some incredible designs.

The Wrapping Bug is Catching in our Home!!

Hi everyone, I thought this Holiday Junkie better jump in and get this ball rolling. Circumstances haven't allowed me to post anything since Thanksgiving, but with some free days ahead of me, I'm back and ready to spread some cheer. And that cheer I'm talking about is catching. It slowly creeps up on you..year after year..and before you know it, you're a full blown wrapping junkie..JUST LIKE MOM!  Yes, I'm talking about my daughter. She has found Etsy to be her new gift store of choice. With some money from her summer job and absolutely NO direction from me, she proceeded to do all her shopping on her own. It's just one more piece of parental control I have to give up on, but at the same time it makes me bean to see her enjoying herself. 

Here theme for wrapping this year...OWLS! Owl paper, owl tags she designed, owl goodies, owl bags and whatever else she might find in the pile. With the addiction comes the mess. In my house, wrapping required hauling out tub after tub of goodies.  

 

 

Here she is in the center of the mess....

She was very proud of this one. Shes says it's Mom inspired! 

This is her pile of small goodies under the tree! Notice they are all her goodies...and no wrapped gifts from mom yet. NADA! 

Tonight she's wrapping her fathers gifts and getting them ready to ship to California. We have to keep those gifts flat, so here she used a recycled Christmas card from last year. 

Remember, I'll be back to share my  new lights in the front yard, our new Christmas Village and all other kinds of goodies.