One More Link Up

 
Hope you visit 30 Hand Made Days!
 
Hugs!
Kim

Linking Up!

Morning!!! Today, I am going in search of my creativity...I don't know where it went...while I'm looking for it...I have linked up my button tree to these two wonderful blogs. : )

Have a wonderful Friday!!! Go show these ladies some love and visit a bunch of talented other blogs too!

Hugs!

Kim

 

 

Deal of the Week

Morning! I don't know about you but I had a terrible year with sunglasses! I have to wear them almost all the time, during daylight hours, outside or I tend to get a migraine. I am very photosensitive, probably because my eyes are blue. Anyway, I broke 2 pairs and lost a pair in the last 2 months! Well, Thursday, my last pair broke in the IKEA parking lot. So...off to Carson Piere Scott or better known as Parisian in Michigan.  

I found these cute Fossil glasses. They were priced $35.99 and then they were on sale 30% off. Ok, not bad, better than migraines, right? I get to the register and these CUTE sunglasses ring up for $1.99...YES $1.99!!!! If I had had more time, I would've ran back and scooped up a few more pairs! What a deal!

See how cute they are on the side??? I love them!

Find any good deals lately???

Hope you're having a great day!!!

Hugs!

Kim

Adding Turquoise To Our Christmas

Hello!  With turquoise being the accent color for our apartment, I thought I really should add turquoise to our Christmas decor. I am bringing a slim tree, from home, that I use in our dining room. It will fit perfectly between the television and the computer armoire. I bought some tiny turquoise balls for it and some other small ornaments with turquoise.  Now the rest of the apartment needs some turquoise Christmas, I found this magazine at Joann's...

There are some really great ideas in this magazine!

I fell in love with this turquoise button tree. So, I bought some wool felt from their resource , I ordered buttons from Etsy (I wish I could remember which Etsy store, sorry!) and I wanted an inexpensive oval frame. I found this at Michael's... 

I, obviously, took it all apart and I spray painted the frame ivory. This frame only cost me about $4.

Here is my tree in progress, it's actually getting close to being done. I love how the buttons shine!

All set in it's frame. I decided to leave the tree completely ivory and white and didn't add the colored ornament buttons.

I found a shimmery organza turquoise ribbon to use for the hanger.

What do you think? What are you working on?

Have a great day!!!

Hugs!

Kim

Today, I'm linking up with Embellishing Life's Craft Catwalk!


Linking up to:

There's No Place Like Home

We went back to Michigan to finish some end of the season yard work. We sure miss being home and really miss living in our house. We know it's time to get it ready to go back on the market and to think about buying a home in Illinois. Please pray for the housing market to continue to improve in Michigan so we can put it back up as soon as possible. Right now we're looking at putting it up in a year. It sounds like a long time but it will go pretty quick while we do a couple things to make the house attractive to buyers. We will paint the outside, touch up the inside, change a couple of light fixtures and clean up the back landscaping. Quite a bit to do to pass the time. Here are some photos from the weekend...

Our daughter put our pumpkins out and added my fall wreath.

One of my most favorite landscape ornaments.

This is the first year that our Fire Bushes got berries. Very cute!

Little Miss Emma loves coming home so she can run without a leash, sniff around and explore. Here she is laying on her favorite hill in the yard. This is a family favorite hill. She's so happy at home. She has no freedom in our apartment. She can't run free or do much in our tiny place. At the house she can run up and down the stairs and down the long hallway. We cannot wait to get a new home so we all feel less squished. We know things could be worse but it has been 3 and half years now. Wow, that's hard to believe!

Hope you're enjoying your Monday!

Hugs!

Kim

We Have Matching Flowers

Morning!!! THANK YOU for hanging in there while I fried my brain cells, lol! I decided to challenge myself and prove to myself that I could learn how to work on my blog...ALL.BY.MYSELF! Although, not completely professional looking like a lot the great blogs out there...I am pretty proud of myself, if I do say so myself. So...over on the right, you will see my new blog button, Facebook page (Won't you LIKE me today?) and a Twitter Feed. Now the next challenge is to learn to link up to some of the fun parties around blogland. 

When I took breaks, to let my brain cells cool off, I did have some fun. Yesterday, I spent the whole morning and most of the afternoon at IKEA! I met a friend there, yep, I have a new Illinois friend. She use to be my SIL's neighbor in Collierville, TN. We had a great time! I came home with lots of ideas for the apartment and for my future new home...just how far in the future is all dependent of MI's housing market...SIGH! But it could be worse.

I, also, made Emma and I matching twisted flowers. When I bought some dishtowels, they came wrapped in a long piece of white twill tape. There was enough there to make a flower for Emma's collar and for my headband. These were the first flowers that I've made. I think they turned out really nice...

Emma modeling hers.

I was having a bad hair day so mine is hanging out in this little pitcher.

Hope you're all having a wonderful day...I am off to mail Michelle's giveaway win (sorry Michelle, I kept forgetting to bring it with me) and back to IKEA for some more magazine holders. I bought 4 yesterday but I needed 6 for my shelf.

Hugs!!

Kim

More Blog Updates!

Hello!

It took me FOREVER but I finally found a tutorial that I could actually understand and I made my own blog button! I haven't picked up many from you all in blog world, I sometimes don't notice them on the side but I will take the time to check and pick them up. So...in case you're like me and don't notice them either...I am pointing mine out----> over there on the right! ; )

I, also, started a Facebook page for my blog. So, if you like me go back over there to the right---> and click LIKE!

I think I fried my brain with all this technology! Next up Twitter as soon as my brain cools off! I just technology challenged, what can I say!?!

Hope you're having a great day!!!
Hugs!
Kim

Hello! Here's an awesome deal that I'm taking advantage of...

Julie at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss is offering but only until midnight Oct. 21, 2010...

For a limited time, Julie is giving away a FREE 11x14 thin profile canvas to anyone and everyone in the continental U.S. All you have to pay is shipping. (And her shipping cost is always only $9.95, compared to their price of $14.95!).

Get in on the deal while it lasts!

Hugs!
Kim

Golden Cornbread, YUM!!!

Hello! I've been busy crafting, baking and waiting for repairs at the apartment. Yesterday, we lost power to half of the apartment and the electric company itself had to come out and check out the building. Fortunately, the power returned in time to make dinner. I tried a new cornbread recipe from Pillsbury...YUM!!! Here's a picture....

Beatutiful golden brown cornbread!

I served this with a chicken casserole that had lots of oozy gravy. Hubby put the casserole on top of the cornbread, I ate the cornbread with lots of butter (oh yes I did!).

Here's the recipe:

Golden Cornbread

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 450. Grease 8- or 9-inch square pan with shortening or cooking spray.

2. In large bowl, mix all ingredients. Pour into pan.

3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm, if desired.

I'll spare you the calorie count...it's almost the holidays, right? Calories don't count! ; )

Hope you're having a fabulous day!

Hugs!

Kim

Please Excuse the Mess

While I give my blog a makeover. One of these days, I will either win a super blog makeover or have enough extra cash to pay for one. Until then, I will play around with what Blogger has to offer.

Thanks for the patience as things change a bit in appearance!

Hugs!
Kim

Emma Says the Winner is...

According to Random.org....number 3...Michelle Whitlow of Me and My Scraps!!! Congratulations!!! Here is watch she wins..

A pair of pink gloves, a Breast Cancer Awareness key chain, a Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet from Coldwater Creek and an orange scarf from my stash of goodies to wear with the yo-yo pin if she chooses! Hope you enjoy your prize, Michelle!!!

Hope everyone enjoys their Monday! Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!!!

Hugs!

Kim

Think Pink Yo-Yo Giveaway!

Happy Friday and Happy Think Pink Yo-Yo Giveaway!!! I know these aren't fall colors but they are 2 of my favorite colors together! Plus, it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month so I have pink on the brain right now. In honor of my sister-in-law who has been a cancer free for 2 years now, I am having a pink giveaway!

Pretty pink and orange bag with a double yo-yo! It's a magnet pin too! So you could wear it or use it on the bag!

Yo-yo closeup : )

I will be adding one or two pink goodies for inside the bag...I'll post those later (I still have to go get them).

To enter is easy, just leave me a comment by Sunday night at 10 pm CST. I will pick a winner Sunday night and post the winner on Monday morning. Good luck! Hope you like it!

I'm off in search of a goody or 2!  Have a great day!

Hugs!

Kim

Yo-Yo Birthday Card

Hello! Yes, indeedy, another Yo-yo! This time on a birthday card for one of my besties back in Michigan. Hope she loves it, I know I do but, of course, I am a bit biased!

All the paper is Stampin' Up, along with the stamp, ink and metal flower. The gemstones are from Hero Arts. The tag comes out so she can use it for a bookmark, if she chooses.

 A closeup of the yo-yo and, metal flower and gems.

 The inspiration card from Paper Crafts, Nov/Dec 2010 issue.

The front of the magazine, just in case you go to look for it at the store.

Tomorrow, I will have the giveaway announced. Just a little something from me to one of you! I appreciate everyone who sticks with me and my little old blog.

Have a great day!!!

Hugs!

Kim

Wrinkles and All

Well, I found a new hairdresser and I really like her. She was fun and made my nervousness of having moved and having to find someone to do my hair go away. I am sharing, wrinkles and all...ugh! Taking your own picture is HARD! I'm not happy with it and where did those wrinkles come from any way!?! Yikes!

If you look at my profile picture you can see the before, much blonder. Now my hair is even darker than the picture shows with red in it too. I really like it with my skin color. I haven't styled it myself yet, I touched it up with a flat iron today. So there I am in the mirror of my bathroom. I'll try to get a better pic taken by my hubby.

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Kim

Yo-Yos and Hand Sanitizers

Morning! The cold and flu season is coming quick! Some of us have already been suffering from these. I like to send my husband's secretaries little goodies once in a while. I thought I'd send in some hand sanitizer for their desks but I wanted to jazz them up a bit. Here is what I came up with...

I found these 40 oz. hand sanitizers at Costco for only $3.99.

 I jazzed them up with scrapbook paper, ribbon, buttons and yo-yos. I removed the front sticker and used alcohol to remove the sticky. I modge podge the paper on and used glue dots for the ribbon, buttons and yo-yos.

I like how they turned out. I'm sure the guys in the office will just love the prettiness of it all...lol!

Hubby said he did like them. Hope the ladies do too!

I am still working on the giveaway and some Christmas projects. I'm feeling better today and actually getting something done. Now, I'm off to find a new hairdresser...sigh! I still haven't found one, haven't really looked. I don't know about you but I'm a little scared to find someone new in a new state. I don't know anyone really to ask who they go to. Wish me luck! The gray is getting out of hand after 2 months, I'm thinking of going less blond and more brown this time.

Hope you're all having a good day!

Hugs!

Kim

I'll Be Back Soon

Hi all! I'll be back soon...I just got home from a trip back to our house in MI. I now need to figure out what to do with the stuff I brought back with me. We, also, came home sick....no fun! Hubby has a cold...I have some stomach/head thing.

I'll be back with a couple projects and a giveaway. I haven't done a giveaway in a while so I thought I'd come up with one.

Have a great day!
Hugs!
Kim

Blogger Reading List, Messed Up!

YAY!!! It's FIXED!!!



From what I can tell, this is a new feature on Blogger. I found you can read everything in Google Reader but so far I haven't found it to be user friendly, at least to this user. If anyone knows otherwise and knows how to get my Reading List back to the way it was Please let me know. Thank you :-)

Is anyone else have trouble with the Reading List of the blogs you follow? I can only see some of the posts and the pictures are huge. If I don't get around to everyone, sorry! I have no idea if everyone has posted or not.

Hugs!
Kim

Yo-Yo Kitchen Towel

Hello! I am making yo-yo's again!

My girlfriend, Kelly has a purple kitchen. I decided to make her a pretty towel, for Christmas, to hang on her stove...

Please excuse the ugly white apartment stove! I made the yo-yo detachable for easier washing of the towel and she can place it where she likes on the towel.

I used one of these heavy duty badge magnets to attach it. The beauty of it is is that she can, also, wear it!

Isn't it pretty on a shirt, too?

A close up of the yo-yo.

One thing done for Christmas, still waiting for an order to arrive to start working on new Christmas decorations for the apartment. We have a space for a small tree, thank goodness. Plus there are surfaces and walls to put things on.  Anyone else working on Christmas gifts and/or decorations???

Have a great day!

Hugs!

Kim

Halloween Box

Hello! I've been busy crafting! My girlfriend's 17 year old daughter is very crafty and very talented at art in general. She loves decorative tape right now. She and I were talking about decorative duct tape and I asked her if she had seen the decorative packaging tape at Michael's. She said she hadn't so since we are going back home soon, I thought I'd surprise her with a box of goodies. Not only does Michael's have decorative Christmas packaging tape but I found a teenager "Whatever" packaging tape on clearance and thin decorative tape in the dollar section there. She is going to love it!

I started with the box that contained the soap dispensers from IKEA. (See last post)



I covered it in retired Halloween paper from Stampin' Up using Modge Podge. Then I tied a pretty ribbon from last year's Christmas Sundance Catalog collection. Added a tag too.



I took some raffia ribbon to tie the tape rolls together and tied the tag to that. There was a little space left in the box, so I added a pair of Target's Dollar Spot Halloween gloves and some Oreo snack packs.

I used an old cereal box to cut a piece of cardboard for the tag. Modge Podged the reverse side of the Halloween paper onto it and used Target's Dollar Spot's (Last year, they have the letters this year too) letter A and Halloween chipboard cat decoration. Added more of the pretty ribbon and tied it on.

I'm working on a few more things here and hope to have them done soon. I'm waiting for some things to come in the mail to finish them. Hope you're enjoying the fall day! It's pretty here in Chicagoland!

Hugs!

Kim



Turquoise

A big color for my tiny kitchen in Chicagoland. The apartment faces north and we have count them...one doorwall and one window...that's it! I knew I had to bring some color in. Hope you like pictures! (You've been warned!)

IKEA has a 3 pack of bottle, 2 turquoise and one clear for about $8.  I am going to fill this one with dish soap.

IKEA, again, a 2 pack of cutting boards for just a few dollars.

Cookie jar from Marshall's.

Cute sign, partially hiding the unused phone jack. I love this verse. This was found at a super cute shop in Collierville, TN, wish I could remember the name.

A portion of a metal wall hanging, hiding the fuse box. Found at Marshall's.

Marshall's, again. Love how bright and cheery these are.

Marhsalls, again! This little pot was $4.99, it contains my sugar. The cute little sugar spoon was my grandma's.

Gotta love Target! They had the cutest polka dot glasses this year and these cute mugs. I found the plates on clearance for $2.50 for 4 plates. Hubby said I had enough plates, hmmm...maybe I'll go see if they're still there.

 Turquoise seems to be the color this year, found this bowl or baker at Marshall's. It holds my tea bags on top of the microwave with my sugar pot.

Marshall's clearance deal...only $3.00!!!

Bright and cheery rag rug from Marshall's.

Even my slippers are turquoise. These were a re-gift from my daughter. She received them at her personal shower but she didn't care for them. I love them! (They were in Target's summer collection).

Are you still with me!?! Congrats and thank you, if you are! Hope you're have a bright and cheery day!

Hugs!

Kim