Pinterest Challenge Week 3

I made a few of these for family members for Christmas this year. I found a picture of one on Etsy and decided to figure out how to make them.

The letters can be found at JoAnn Fabrics or Hobby Lobby (don't forget to use your coupon!). I purchased the jute at Hobby Lobby, as well as the felt.

Start in the back of the letter, place a line of hot glue where you want to start laying down your jute, and then place your jute down. And that's about it! I chose to put hot glue down before every line of the jute to make it extra secure, but I'm sure if you wanted the project to be a little less time consuming, you wouldn't need a line of glue under every piece.

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Leave the ends and middles for last, winding around until they are covered.

I hot glued a piece of jute to the back for hanging. I didn't think to take pictures of how I made the felt flowers but I'm leaving the link that I used at the end of the post. Here is the finished product! For anyone who would like to give as a gift or would like one for their own home, but do not have the time to make, I am selling these myself. Small letter for $20.00. Large letter for $25.00. Custom made felt flowers in any color! If interested please email at: mhyde15@hotmail.com

Felt Flowers Tutorial

 

 

Today I gave in and changed my Facebook profile to the Timeline format. Not that it was that big of a deal...I just hadn't gotten around to it yet. Like many others that have made this change, I spent (wasted) a lot of time this morning looking back at pictures from the last year. I'm discovering that this is not a wise thing to do unless I want to end up in a sloppy, crying mess on the couch. I can not believe how fast time flies. So many people told me this before the boys were born, but I didn't know how true it was until I became a mom. No, I don't wish that the boys were babies again...I love this time in their lives. And I am thankful that they are healthy and growing. But there is something about looking at baby pictures of your children that inevitably causes a lump in your throat. 

These pictures also reminded me of how blessed I am to have so much family close by. My pictures were filled with aunts, uncles, grandmas, cousins, etc. Not everyone is so fortunate. When Jack and Caleb were born, I had people everywhere wanting to help in any way they could. What else did these pictures remind me of? How much I didn't want any of that help. I wanted to do it all myself. I wanted everyone to see and understand that I could do it on my own.

Why was it so important for friends and family to know that? I have no idea. Kyle and I were talking the other night and I was trying to express how thankful I am for the people in our lives who love our boys and want to be with them. I asked if he remembered how I was at the beginning. He said of course he did...that I didn't even want him to help sometimes.

How foolish I was. I was so tired...so confused...so overwhelmed...so tired. Looking back, I know now how wrong I was for being so....I guess, prideful. I could do it by myself, and I was going to show everyone I could. I realize now that there was not one person who thought I couldn't do it. They just loved me and if they could help to make things a little easier, they were going to try.

It is safe to say I am over it. There is NO WAY I would turn down an offer of help. How wonderful for someone to take a moment out of their incredibly busy life to help me out to the car or put Jack's coat on while I'm putting on Caleb's. I guess I felt compelled to write to give advise to any new moms who may be feeling like they have something to prove. Yes, we know you can do it yourself. Accept the help! It's ok to take a nap. It's ok to sit in your pew at church and close your eyes and sing because someone else is holding your baby. It's ok to just carry the diaper bag out to the car because someone else is carrying your baby out for you. They're not worried that you can't do it without them. They've been in your position and know that it's just nice to have help.

Now please don't hand your baby to someone and go to Target for a couple hours...unless of course they're with their grandparents. :) But for heaven's sake, don't turn down someone who wants to make your life a little easier, if only for a few minutes.

Pinterest Challenge Week 2

  

As I have probably mentioned before, I am not a great cook. The Lord knew what He was doing when he brought Kyle into my life....the man could eat hotdogs every day and be perfectly happy. I, on the other hand, can't eat the same thing every day. I would go crazy.

I really want to learn more about cooking and it would be great if I could cook more than just a couple things (spaghetti and chicken pot pie). So I've dusted off my pitiful little recipe box and am determined to start trying new things.

I found this recipe on Pinterest and really wanted to share because it was super easy and super yummy. And when I discovered there were only three ingredients, I knew it was the right recipe for me.

Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

1 envelope Taco Seasoning

6 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I only used 4 large chicken breasts)

1 jar salsa (16 oz.)

Dump everything into a crock pot and give it a little stir to blend the seasoning with the salsa. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 6 to 8 hours. When done, the chicken should shred easily when stirred with a fork.

For tacos, serve the chicken with soft flour tortillas, lettuce, shredded cheese and sour cream. This is very versatile and can be used for enchiladas, nachos, tostadas, etc. Any leftover chicken can then be used for tortilla soup (make it the next day or freeze the chicken to use at a later time).

Pinterest Challenge

Like most women (and a few men) I know, I have discovered Pinterest. I have spent many nights falling asleep at my keyboard, telling myself I will go to bed just as soon as I look up Valentine's day crafts or recipes for chocolate desserts. Yes, it can be a huge distraction and can be a waste of time....but it is also a great resource for recipes, crafts, organizational tips, etc.

I don't know about you, but I spend A LOT more time pinning ideas than I do actually making or cooking anything I find on Pinterest. If pinning makes me a crafty, organized super mom then I've arrived. But sadly, this is not true.

A few months ago my mom and aunt challenged themselves to make something they found on Pinterest every day for 30 days. They did really well and made several super cute things and yummy recipes. I've decided to challenge myself to something similar. I know myself well enough to know that committing to something everyday would be setting myself up for failure. Isn't it important to know ones limitations? :) I've decided to try to make something that I've pinned on Pinterest every week. This could be a craft or recipe. I'm hoping to tackle something every week for a year. Hopefully posting it here will keep me accountable.

Last week I completed my first project. I'm hoping to begin meal planning in the next week, so I thought a menu board would be perfect! I used a frame I already had and painted it red. The fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics. I used hot glue to attach the fabric on the card board that came in the frame. I printed the words on red cardstock and used hot glue to attach the cardstock on the fabric. After this, the glass goes on top and a dry erase marker works perfectly on the glass. I completed the whole project in about an hour while I watched Project Runway. Easy and I love it!

Cherish Every Moment

How many times have I said, "Ok, just let Mommy finish this, and then I will....".

Anyone who has ever had a child understands that children are a gift from God. There is no way to accurately describe the feelings of love that I have for my boys. Night after night I prayed for these children. I have no idea why God chose to bless me this way, but I'm thankful that He has.

So do I cherish every moment I have to spend with these precious gifts? I don't know that I could honestly say that I do. Sometimes I get so caught up in the things that need to be done, I forget to stop and focus on what is really important. My husband told me about a call that an EMT friend answered recently where a dad woke up to find that his son was not breathing. Those parents lost their precious gift. My childhood friend had a baby girl yesterday. This miracle came a year after their family suffered a miscarriage. I don't know that my human mind will ever be able to understand why these things happen. But I do know that stories like these make me hold my boys just a little longer at night while putting them to bed.

Many times I've had to make myself stop whatever I'm doing and read that book or build that tower. I don't know what will happen tomorrow.  But I do know that the load of laundry I'm folding will still be there in 10 minutes. And if I was really honest, dinner is probably going to burn anyways because I'm cooking, so it's ok to race cars with Jack instead of worry about the pasta.

Cherish Every Moment.