Tori has a habit of asking me, "Mama, do I look FABULOUS?" She's got a whole lot of attitude in that little body of hers. So the other day, I found these denim totes at HobLob for 50% off which made them $2 each. I thought they would looks super "FABULOUS" if we just added some fun fabric to them. Luckily, I had some left over scraps from a previous project left over that would be perfect. Well as usual, my wheels start turning and I end up doing much more than I intended, but in the end... they are "FABULOUS!!!" What do you think??



So I start with this... plain Jane denim tote.



Then I found a "peace" symbol online and cut and pasted in into a Word document.




Printed it and cut it out. Then I traced it onto the fabric and cut it out...(sorry I didn't take a picture of that.)

Then I glued it (yes glued since I didn't have any of that sticky iron on stuff that you put on fabrics). But I did use fabric glue, so at least I wasn't totally off the wall with that. Anyway, back to my story, I glued and then stitched the "peace sign" on the bag.



Then because everything is so much more "FABULOUS" when it is blinged out even more, and because I just can't stop at mere cuteness, I decided to go on and do the inside too. So I measured (professional seamstresses turn away from the monitor and cover your eyes... I am about to do something that may make you spit!) This is my way of measuring... I put the bag on top of the fabric and just eyed it.



Then I added in some pockets for water bottles, crayons, stuff...



I then sewed up the side that was open and the bottom and made a little pouch, that then slips into the tote like this...



Then you pin the inside pouch to the outside tote (again, you seamstresses out there, just close your eyes and save yourself the frustration. I know, I know, just breathe in and breathe out!)



oh, and one more thing... don't forget to change out your bobbin thread (is that what the bottom circle thing is called? I forgot and had to go back and remove all the "white" thread that was showing on my denim bag... aaahhhh!!! So yeah, don't forget to do that.



Then you sew, sew, sew and in the end you have a fun tote that is lined with fun fabric...



and a little girl who thinks it looks "FABULOUS!!"



My girls like their bags so much, and Bella is even asking if she can use it as her back pack this year. Guess I saved myself some bucks with that one.

Have a great afternoon.

*ciao*
deb

(Okay, I'm editing this... just pretend that this was posted on Thursday... originally, as this will be part of my Thrift Store Thursday post. More thrift store pictures to follow. For more fun Thrift Store Thursday ideas visit Homebody.)



I often find things at my local GW, and don't know what I will do with it, but know that they have potential. My hubby sometimes thinks I'm collecting junk, but I assure you... it all has a purpose. So a while back, my sister and I went thrifting. She has lots of really good thrift stores by her (I'm super jealous) and I found lots of treasures. Well my pile of "potentials" has been growing and low and behold I found some mojo this morning to do something with some of my pile. My poor master bath has been in need of some beautification and I thought this was the perfect thing for it.


Notice the pretty print. I'm sure someone thought this print was pretty at some point. I'm sure some people still have it hanging in their homes and it may totally work with what they have going on. But quite honestly, it just didn't fluff my feathers. So I redid it. I used this...



and some of this...



then added this...



and finally came up with this.





What do you think? And all it cost me was $4 for the frame. I had the cross, and the scrapbook paper, plus the glues, so this was a relatively pain free project for my husband. "Don't spend" he says... so I didn't. I'm feeling more projects for that bathroom now...

Have a great evening.
*ciao*
deb

Okay, I have a confession...I love my girls...but sometimes they can make me crazy. I mean really, is it necessary to take out every blanket we own to lie down on the floor for a movie night (during the day)? Especially since I'm the one who will end up folding them. Is it sooo hard to remember to keep the food and drink in the kitchen... believe me red koolaid does not come out of carpets! How many times do I need to ask them to put the clothes away that have been sitting in the laundry baskets at the foot of their beds? I realize now that my mom was not bitchy as I was growing up, she was just tired. Tired of repeating herself. I have honestly considered buying a tape recorder so that I can just replay the last thing I said to them, because frankly, it is just too exhausting to say it over and over. So what to do, what to do?

I decided that I needed them to understand the importance of doing their part in the house while at the same time feeling the burn of being penalized for their selective hearing habit. So after looking on the internet and visiting several blogs, I came up with our chore charts.





I designed them and then printed them out on magnetic paper which you can find at Staples, HobLob, etc. I then typed out and printed on magnet paper a list of chores... some they do everyday, and some they can draw for (two bigger ones a week). I also printed out some happy faces in three different colors. The yellow mean they did everything correctly without having to be told. The green mean the chore was done, but not done exactly right, and the red mean it either wasn't done, or in the case of "whining", we just had too much of it today. Basically with that one, it is a three strikes you're out kind of thing.

The results, well I have to say it has been rather quiet in our house lately... which with our girls means a whole lot less drama. They are really interested in how much they are earning for their chores, and are careful not to get fined. In addition to "earning" for doing their chores, they are also "fined" for breaking rules. (hitting, fighting, being disrespectful, taking food out of the kitchen, tattling, making us repeat ourselves, etc.) They aren't earning a huge amount for doing their chores... in all honesty I really low balled it, but that isn't the objective. At their age it isn't about making a huge amount, it is the fact that they are earning it. So if in the course of a day they do everything perfectly, they could earn $.50, but if they fight then they have to pay $.25 each. I explained to them that if mommy decides not to follow the speed limit, then I have to pay a fine, so they will have to do the same if they choose to break a house rule. So far, so good.



Oh, one more thing. We also have a "Help Wanted" list. These are some extra chores that they can choose to do... or not, but if they choose to do them, they can earn extra happy faces, which means extra money. Of course my little Tori decided that she didn't need to do that, but I'm sure when she sees that it is taking her a looooonnnnggg time to save up money for whatever she may want, that will change quickly. Anyway, these chores are changed out weekly depending on what I don't want to do that week. Man, I can hardly wait for them to be old enough to iron... I hate ironing.



I'm hoping that the enthusiasm for this will continue throughout the summer... REALLY hoping!! I'll let you know.

Okay, I'm off to cuddle with my hubby. Have a great evening.

*ciao*
deb

So now that school is over, I can show the rest of the teacher gifts I made. They were a hit, and from what I heard would be a money maker if I make them and take them to the school. What do you think??






So I have been collecting sayings for these projects, as well as some other little ideas I have. I'll be working on these this summer so that I will have enough to take to the school in late September. I will be taking custom orders as well. I'm super excited about this. I love being creative and being able to make money from it. What do you all think?

Okay, I'm off to watch a movie with the girls. Have a great day.

*ciao*
deb

Lately, it's looked like this...




We got a whopper storm last night, which totally took me by surprise. My mom called to ask me how the weather was, because they had heard in San Antonio that we were getting some monster storms and were under tornado warnings... where do you think I get my weather obsession from? I was totally oblivious to what was going on outside. So I check the weather and turn on the weather radio, and then the sirens start to go off. They must off gone off and on for about 45 minutes. Poor Belle kept saying,"Mom, it's June! This isn't suppose to happen in June! Just in April and May." I wish that was true. There were a couple that touched down but luckily not terribly close to us. There is still rumbling as I type, so picture me sandwiched by two little ones with covers over them... not that it is cold, but blankets tend to make them feel safer when they're nervous. I never thought about that, but I guess it's true.

Speaking of nervous reactions... the girls had their first swim lesson yesterday. They did great and were so excited about it... afterward. Before we got there, Tori starts to tell me,"Mom, I have to fart." HUH? WHAT? Why did I need to know that? I'm a little shocked as I turn to ask what and why. She tells me again, very matter of fact, "I need to fart." So I ask why, and she proceeds to inform me that when she gets nervous she farts. Okay... so in my warped mind I start to imagine her embarrassment when she goes out on her first date. Can you imagine the sound effects that will be going on? Or when she is walking down the aisle? I know, not very nice, but seriously you have to wonder. Luckily for Belle and I, her nervousness ended quickly. Thank goodness I just put a new air freshener in my car.

Anyway, back to what I was going to say before I got sidetracked, so what does summer look like when it isn't threatening to storm with destructive winds? Well, something like this...







As I sit here typing, the girls are in their bathing suits counting down the minutes until swim lessons. I keep telling them that they have 4 1/2 hours to wait, but they insist on staying in the suits all day. They may decide to change when they have to undress every time they have to go to the bathroom. Or not. I really hope for them that these storms don't hang around all day. How much would that suck? Bathing suits and no pool weather available. Ahhh, could be a long day.

Okay, I'm off to finish folding clothes and cleaning out closets... fun, fun!!

*ciao*
deb