Little Blessings

Another dark and rainy day at my house today....my car is heading to the shop on Monday...stuffy head.....blah, blah, blah...not really anything to complain about, if I keep it in perspective, right? But I am so thankful for children who say and do things like:
(I posted some of these on facebook recently, so forgive the repeat! I have some facebook holdouts in my family, so this is for them!)

Mr C shows off his dance moves, inherited from his dad...

Miss M, in response to the question 'do you act this way at school?' "Of course not Mama. I can't help it - I used all my goodness up at school!"

Mr C, upon coming to the table for lunch yesterday: "This looks delicious!" It was just grilled cheese and apple sauce that I had colored blue for fun. I didn't even know he knew that word.

Miss M, in Kidzone at church last week, in response to the question "who is the best person you know besides Jesus and your mom or dad?" Her response....My Nana.

Mr C is starting to say "that's just how me roll". Miss M was complaining about dinner and asked why I was so mean to make her eat it. "That's just how me roll!" was my response.

Christmas Catch Up - Part 2

As the coordinator of my MOPS group, I like to give my steering team a small gift at Christmas. With 12 ladies I can't afford anything too expensive. I learned about Wordle from a fellow blogger. It's a free site that constructs a "word cloud" using text you type in. For my gifts, I asked each steering member to list a few words or a phrase that either describes each leader or is something you admire about her. They had about a week to do this and then I typed in the text. I printed them out on glossy white cardstock and framed them in simple frames. They were originally unfinished so I gave them a quick coat of glossy black. This gift idea has lots of possibilities (grandparents, end of year teacher gift...) and I am sure I will be using it again. I found Wordle incredibly easy to use and enjoyed playing around with the colors, fonts, and word arrangement. Hubby helped me size them to a 5x7 - which took some work on his end. They actually print out 8x10 directly from Wordle.

Here's a shot of my finished project, tied up with ribbon left from Christmas past. I presented the gifts to my leaders at a luncheon at my home just before Christmas. We decided it was both encouraging and humbling to know how others saw us.Next up...gifts for the women who graciously care for our children during our MOPS meetings. Again...small budget but unlike the above gifts, it doesn't come out of my personal pocket. I learned about a great deal from author Richard Paul Evans on Money Saving Mom.(Check her site out....tons of free deals, coupons, and thrifty ideas in an easy to read list.)For a limited time, he was offering 20 copies of his book The Christmas Box at a cost of only $15. This fit our budget perfectly. I even ordered a box myself to give as gifts to other folks. The little silver charms you see are elastic bookmarks. If you can cut string and tie a knot, you can make these. This link will give you specific directions, but basically:

1. Cut a length of elastic beading cord to 15 inches.
2. Slid your charm to the middle of the cord.
3. Tie a knot above your charm.
4. Tie a knot to secure the ends.

That's IT friends! I found a pack of 10 heart charms 50% at Hobby Lobby ($1.50) which made these little beauties ring in around $0.65 EACH! Can't hardly beat it! There are lots of charms to choose from, making this easy to personalize for any reader you know. The motorcycle one in the picture was one Miss M made for my dad.
There you have it...two economical and easy gift ideas. I also learned that LOTS of people like homemade fudge. I should know...I made and gave away 6 pounds of it last month!
Coming to a blog near you....Mr. C's thrifty Cars 3rd birthday celebration!

Christmas Catch Up - Part 1

Well, yet another trip back to Arkansas for the second funeral in a month...with a sick little boy...who shared his germs with mama....it's been a long January. This time we mourned the loss of Cupcake Daddy's paternal grandfather. Again, illness took a toll on his body and Grandpa Doug left this life on his 86th birthday. He and Grandma Dee treated my like family from day one. I will miss his silly jokes and songs but enjoy seeing that talent in both of my children. It was a life well lived.

Enough with the melancholy...Now, to catch up on a few things! I just have to share few ideas that you might want to file away and use some day. So that this post won't be SOOOO long, I will split it into two. This one will focus on decorating ideas and the next one will feature some easy gifts that you will LOVE, LOVE, LOVE and want to try soon for yourself.

First up...I found this super cute Christmas cupcake fabric on sale on Hobby Lobby a few weeks before Christmas. I used my super handy iron on fusible webbing and turned out these matching shirts for Miss M and myself. A little ribbon detail (the bow is removable for washing) plus some hand-stitching around the edges for added detail and this is what you get... (You can click on the picture to see the details better.) I already have plans for a Valentine shirt for Miss M.)
Remember this post, where I shared with you a blog that inspired me to make seasonal banners for the mantel? Here's another one I made...
The peppermint candle in the corner is super easy to make...take a pillar candle (mine is red) and place a thick rubber band around the middle. Then slip your candy canes under the rubber band. Finish it off with ribbon to cover the rubber band. You can also use the J shaped candy canes...putting the crook at the bottom, facing out. I told you it was too easy!

Next up...larger than life suckers! I painted a few dowels cut to various lengths white. Then I stuck the rods into styrofoam circles, wrapped the circles in cellophane and wired them closed at the bottom. I then covered the wire with ribbon. I bought a roll of mylar wrapping paper at the dollar store and covered a cashew can that I filled with sand borrowed from the kid's sandbox. I think I will change a red to green for next year...just used materials I had on hand. And I think I want ribbon other than white....again used what I had. (Ignore how groddy my porch looks...it was below freezing when I took the picture!) The little wooden peppermints were something I clipped off an ugly swag I picked up while thrifting.
Last up....the mailbox...I found the cute ribbon at the dollar tree and added it to a floral something that was 50% at Hobby Lobby...making this cost a grand total of $3!
Now, just a few random Christmas pictures...

Stop the insanity!!!
"Oh brother!" she seems to be saying....literally!Cupcake Daddy showing his GQ side in the Razorback snuggie that he received from Aunt J.

Where In the World Is Cupcake Mama?

So it has been over 1 month since my last post. My computer was ill for a bit, plus I was busy making Christmas gifts, decorating, baking, traveling to see family, and above all else celebrating the birth of my Saviour. Plus Mr C turned 3 on January 3! Whew!! I do have some pics to post at some point...just a few ideas you might want to stash in your brain for next year. (Or you may just dump them in the trash!)
We returned home from Arkansas last Wednesday, after being there for one week. Then over the weekend we received word that the hubby's grandfather has passed away. So, back to Arkansas we drove....just one week after we left. He was 93 and had been in fragile health for a few years now so we were not surprised. His wife passed away about three years ago. A friend lost an aunt and uncle earlier this week in a freak accident that took the family by surprise. The friend has two preschool children and they made the decision not to tell their children. The friend's wife commented that even though they were special people and loved my many, their two young children won't miss them now that they are gone. Isn't that sad, but true? That is how it will be with my children and their great-grandfather. My last grandparent died 2 years ago and even though Miss M was 5, she rarely speaks of my grandmother. So my words to you....make each day count for something and live IN the moment - not by the clock.
Now, I am off to live in the moment with Mr C...or at least see what he is yelling about!

Deck the Halls (Dollar Store Style!)

Sorry it has been over two weeks since my last post. Church commitments and a trip home to Arkansas for the holiday filled me weeks! But I am back with a few samples of what else I have been up to lately. I have really been trying to reuse and re-purpose items this last year...like my grandmommie's vintage jewelry and my summer mailbox decoration. My Christmas decorations are no exception!

I have never been pleased with my dining room centerpiece and have tried several different styles. Our dining room opens to the kitchen, so it needs to be casual. Also, it is our only table upstairs and is used at every meal, with two children, so it must also be easy to move around. This only cost $4 and I am SOOO pleased! I saw the idea for a pottery barn rip-off here.

This is my creation, using my glass container from Halloween (which was purchased on sale several years ago at a discount decorating store.) I picked up 4 packs of bells, but might stop in for just one more. They also have brassy gold and a pewter-like finish but I am a traditional red/green gal.
My next little project involved two 10 inch wreaths from the Dollar Tree. I used some leftover adhesive red felt letters to spell out "peace" and "joy" on a scrap of brown lunch sack. I then added a few of those cheap apple ornaments ($2 for a dozen) that I found left in the basement from my teaching days. I used to personalize one for each student as a part of a Christmas gift from me. I did have to pick up a spool of ribbon, but it was only $1 and I have some left for other projects. The little mini-cookie cutters were a gift; I think I might tie them on with a little solid red ribbon because they don't show as well as I would like. If I get really ambitious, Miss M and I will try those applesauce/cinnamon ornaments with the cutters....that would be so cute in the kitchen and smell good too!Anyway, 3o minutes and $4 later (plus the things I already had) and I have a sweet little decoration for the kitchen windows.

I have a few other little things to show you, but it is dark and rainy here..calling for flurries....so my pictures are all turning out too dark. I will leave you with one little photo of Miss M and some children from school though....
About 70 children earned a hummer ride to Incredible Pizza on Monday. Mr C and I were able to go too! Miss M said she felt like Hannah Montana! Check back soon and I will show a simple and whimsical front door decoration.

Thanksgiving Banner

I saw this cute banner over at Magnolia Manor and decided to try my hand at it. All it took was

• a few sheets of scrapbook paper
• one package of stickers
• ribbon I had on hand
• a few cuts using a borrowed Ellison machine. If you don't have access to a die-cut machine, you could always free hand your letters or just print, trace, and cut them out.
  
• glue (I used glue dots.)
• mini-clothespins

This should be easy to store - just unclip the cards and place in a ziplock with the ribbon and clothespins.
The inspiration banner used only the word thankful and I think that less letters would have been better than the longer version I created. I scored several sheets of scrapbooking paper, ribbon and stickers ALL at 50% off today at Hobby Lobby! To really make my money go even further, I am planning to use the same ribbon for several banners. The little rolls in the scrapbook supply aisle are the perfect length for shorter banners. They were only 50 cents today! I am already thinking about making one for several other seasons.....
"JOY" for December
"SNOW" for January
"LOVE" for Valentine's Day
"SPRING" or He is Risen" for April, depending on Easter falls.
"USA or AMERICA" could be used for several holidays.
Lots of possibilities, don't you think? I also forgot to mention that I was the winner of a contest sponsored by whiMSy love's etsy store. I used a portion of my gift certificate to purchase a special custom mini-banner that is so cute and cheery. (It says "celebrate") She is in the process of moving to another state right now, but you can contact her about purchasing a similar one here. Banners can take so many forms, but it is easy to get a ton of decorating bang for your buck. Have fun and let me know what you create.

Totally 100% Free Holiday Tip

Looking for a TOTALLY free holiday spirit idea that works for any special day? It's genius I tell you and totally cute if you have young children who speak clearly. Simply change the outgoing message on your phone. Last fall, the wee ones and I started switching ours up to coordinate with holidays and seasons. For our summer message "It's summer and we are probably working in the garden. Please leave a message" all Mr C got to say was "bye!".
In October, he graduated to saying "Happy Halloween" after Miss M leaves her bit. (You have reached the _______ family; no tricks and no treats - just leave a message.) This month he got to add "Happy Thanksgiving" after Miss M's introduction.
It only took about 5 takes to get it just perfect, except for the happy squeals you can overhear at the end because "we nailed it that time Mama".
One little suggestion: If your little ones can't or won't speak clearly, do your friends and family a favor and do not use this idea. As the coordinator of my MOPS group, I call lots of preschool families. If I am calling you for the first time, I want to hear either the name or number clearly so I know I am leaving a message at the right place! Have fun and let me know what messages you come up with! Gotta run now....it is a dark and rainy in my city today - a perfect day for baking pumpkin/chocolate chip muffins!