Patio Flower Beds - part 2

Still working on the flower beds around my patio.  You can check out part 1 HERE. 

Here are some before shots:

Inspiration For The Weekend - 16 (Mother's Day Crafts/Cards)

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I've been busily working on my flower beds.  You can read more about that here, here, here, here and here.
And speaking of flowers, they are a very popular Mother's Day gift.  How do you like that segway?

Mother's Day is coming up so I've started to look for ideas.  Here are a bunch of craft and card ideas that any Mom would love to get from her little ones.  These could also be given to Grandma from the grandkids.
Stay tuned for next weeks 'inspiration for the weekend' where I'll post about some more Mother's Day gift ideas that would be great for older kids and adults to make for their Mom.

Check out Brilliant Beginnings preschool for this cute Mother's Day card.

A Day In My Life has created this Father's day card, but I think it would work just as well for Mother's day.

 

Here's a custom newspaper from MarthaStewart.com that the kids can color and fill in the blanks to make mom feel extra special.

Amy at Our Daily Obsessions received this cute poem for Mother's Day last year.

Here's a simple and quick Mother's Day bouquet from The Trendy Treehouse:

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Front Flower Beds

I'm still plugging away at my patio flower beds, getting a little bit done each day.  I realized I showed you the side flower beds but forgot to show you the front flower beds. 

Here is the front east flower bed before:

Patio Flower Beds - part 1

Yesterday was sunny, chilly and windy, but I managed to finish off one section of the patio flower beds.  I am slowing working my way around the house.  I optimistically thought this project of weeding, pruning and mulching the flower beds would take a week.  Now that it's been a week, I am revising my deadline and hoping to get it done by May.

I titled this post:  Patio Flower Beds - part 1.
I am not sure how many parts to this story there will be, but I'll be sure to keep you posted as I go along.
This part took a while but the results are pretty dramatic in my opinion.  Plus seeing before and after pictures keeps me motivated to keep on working.

Here's what the area looked like before.  Weeds, overgrown bushes, ivy climbing up underneath the siding of the house:

 And now for the after:

Flower Pots

It was a cold rainy day around here yesterday and I didn't feel like working on the flower beds.  Not to mention the weed infested and overgrown patio flower beds are a bit overwhelming.  I need a bright, warm, sunny day to tackle those. 

So instead, I worked on the flower pots I have sitting on my front porch.  I have some large pots sitting on either side of our front door.   Right before spring, I posted about these tiered flower planters by Amy at Positively Splendid.

I liked the idea so I made a two tiered planter for my porch.  Mine is not nearly as colorful and cheerful looking as Amy's but I worked with what I had and it matches the rest of our earth toned house.  My front porch looked like the end of last summer.

Side Flower Beds Before and After

So I didn't get as much done with my flower beds as I had hoped to.  I still have most of the back and patio area to do which seems to be slow going.

Anyway, I wanted to show you what I did accomplish.  I didn't have a true before picture of the side flower beds, or weed garden as it grew to be.  But here it is after being edged  and before weeding and adding mulch.

standing at the front of the house looking towards the back


And here is what it looks like now:

Inspiration For The Weekend - 15 (flower beds)

Since I've been doing a lot of work to our flowers beds, I thought I'd share some flower bed pictures.
Hopefully you'll be inspired to beautify your outdoors, and hopefully I can finish up my flower bed project soon.

Found on Pinterest HERE

I like how the large rocks create a border for the flower beds, and how the small white flowers cascade over the rocks to soften the look.

Found through Pinterest HERE

This flower bed has a border around the rock wall.  I like the continuity of the pink flowers and how they add a pop of color to all the green shrubery in the flower beds.

We had a landscaper edge out our flower beds.  I think it gives them a cleaner, more finished look.  If you'd rather do it yourself, check out this great how-to article found HERE.

Happy Gardening!

Getting My Flower Beds Under Control - Finally!

The weather has been great for doing yard work these past couple of days.  Warm, but not too hot and even though there has been some light rain, it hasn't stopped me (I gotta work when the Babes naps).  We've lived in this house for about 5 years.   The landscape can really grow in that time.   We have lots of flower beds which means lots to maintain.  I think there are at least 10 flower beds, or areas that need weeding, pruning and mulching.  

Keeping up the landscape has never been my strong suit.  And then it just gets to be too weed infested and overwhelming for me so I don't even know where to begin.  But this year, I'm finally getting it under control.  I'll start by showing some before shots, then some in progress shots and I hope to update you next week with the beautifully dramatic after shots.  What I'm really saying is that I hope to finish this project by next week.

 Here is the front of our house right after we moved in about 5 years ago.

No Sew Adjustable Crib Skirt

I mentioned in this post about matting pictures, that I also DIY'd a super easy no sew crib skirt.  Well, for those of you who've been anxiously awaiting the details, today is the day.

I bought a flat sheet and used that for the crib skirt.  I wanted the crib skirt to match the rest of the room which is why I used a coordinating sheet since I couldn't find any crib skirts I liked and that matched the color scheme I had going on already.  Remember this used to be the guest room and now it's the nursery and guest room.  I kept the curtains so that dictated my colors for the room.

Taxes

I went to Walmart on Thursday to buy TurboTax.  Yeah, I know it's late in the game, but that's how we roll around here.  Every year we file the day of or if we are lucky, a couple of days before the deadline.  It's not like we don't know tax day is coming, we just put it off.  I blame it on our selective procrastination.

Anyway, I knew they had it since I checked online the night before.  It said it was in stock at my store and the online price was $42.43.  I could have bought it online and picked it up at the store but figured since I would be out that way, I'd just buy it at the store.   Once I got to the store, I had a hard time finding TurboTax.  I figured there would be some display or end cap with a bunch of them.  Nope, just a few copies left tucked away in the computer section.  I got the one I needed which is the Deluxe version and noticed the price of $54 and some change.  Hmmm, that's not as cheap as it is online.  I asked an employee to verify the price and he did.  I told him online it is about $42, can I have it at the online price, could they do a price matching?  He said Walmart doesn't price match with their own online prices.  How weird.  Anyway he passed me off to a girl who said she couldn't help me, she'd have to get the manager.  So I said, yes, get the manager.  The manager needed to verify the online price and so he passed me off to some other guy.  This guy was able to verify the online price and then he passed me back to the girl who had in the meantime gotten the OK from the manager to give the product at the online price if that was verified.  So after 4 people and 10 minutes I was able to buy TurboTax.  Phew!

Luckily it was not crowded and all the people I dealt with were friendly and the Babes was being good.  I know that's not always the case when shopping.  However, I still think it is ridiculous for it to take 4 people to help me buy a product at the online price which is cheaper than the in store price.  If I would have know that in the beginning, I would have bought it online the night before I went to the store.  Ugh!

OK, that is my rant for the day and here's my lesson learned - buy it online before going to the store just in case it's cheaper that way. 

Anyone else wait to the last minute to do taxes?  One year we had to take them to the post office on the day they were due, it was about 10pm.  The people working at the post office were having a big party with all kinds of food and music.  Guess they are making the most of working late and supporting the procrastinators.

Inspiration For The Weekend - 14 (scooter boards)

I love it when blogs have link parties.  Maybe I'll have one someday.   Last Thursday, House of Hepworths had a link party like they do every Thursday.   There are a lot of crafty people out there and I love to see what they've done get some ideas for myself.

Amy from Permanent Kisses linked up this scooter she made for her kids:

And here's a different take on the same concept from Lauren over at CrumbBuns:

Lauren suggest rubber wheels so you don't scratch up your wood floors - good to know.

What a cool idea.  So easy to customize the size, shape, color, and wheels.  You could cover it with carpet for a softer ride or even attach a rope for pulling.  What a fun toy for kids of all ages and it doesn't take up much room to store either.  Kinda reminds me of an old fashioned toy.  Hope this post inspires you to have some good ol' fashioned fun with your kids this weekend!



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Perfect Picture Mats (continued)

Yesterday I wrote about how I made the perfect picture mat for Sweetie Pie's room HERE.
Today I'm back to share how I made the picture mats in the Babe's room perfectly match her bedding and curtains.

We have a four bedroom house and before the Babes was born, the fourth bedroom was a guest room with a queen sized bed.  We often have our moms or other family spend the night so getting rid of the queen sized bed was not an option.   We just added a crib to that room, but as for decorating it, I didn't want to make it overly baby-ish since it is also a guest room.  I also didn't want to do anything permanent like paint, or anything too expensive like get new curtains and bedding.  So I worked with what I had.  And what I had was sage green curtains on the three windows in this room.

 
I also loved this children's book

and since it was gender neutral and not overly baby-ish, I decided to incorporate that into the decor.

Perfect Picture Mat

Here is just a quick little post about how I made the perfect picture mat for a pair of pictures in Sweetie Pie's room.  Her room is painted in a light pink.  I have accents of white and light wood (except for her bed which bugs me because it doesn't match).

Easter, a mini Christmas?

Does anyone else feel like Easter is a mini Christmas with all the toys and candy the kids get?

They are just as excited to find their Easter baskets as they are to wake up on Christmas morning to a bunch of presents under a tree.   We had a fun filled Easter weekend seeing family and doing lots of fun activities.   I love the holidays so much more since having children.  Seeing their excitement and enjoyment is the best part of the holidays.

I am thankful for this Easter season, a new beginning and new hope because of our Savior's love for us:

Inspiration For The Weekend -13 (Easter Eggs and Baskets)

This week's Easter themed Inspiration will hopefully give you some ideas of what to put in those plastic eggs and Easter baskets besides candy.

puzzles
games
card games
books
drawing paper, construction paper, word searches
coloring books, activity books
crayons, markers, pencils, erasers
notebooks, journals, stationary
stamp sets
paint by numbers set
paint your own sun catchers
paint your own pottery or ceramic
stickers
silly putty, play-doh, modeling clay
a new toothbrush and kid flavored toothpaste
kids watch
stuffed animal
a new outfit, swimsuit or pajamas
rain coat, rain boots, umbrella
shoes, sandals
fancy or funny socks
sunglasses
sun hat
action figures
army men
legos
cars, planes, trains
squinkies
gift cards
DVD’s
CD’s
movie tickets
magazine subscription
wall decals, artwork, posters
purse, tote bag, wallet
hair accessories
jewelry such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings
make up, nail polish, lotions, lip balm
fun character band aids
silly bandz
bubble bath, bath toys
pool toys
sand toys
sidewalk chalk
bubbles
jump rope
building blocks
balls
kite
yo yo
flashlight
seeds and gardening tools/toys








Looking for some fun egg hunt ideas and games?  Check out HERE and HERE.


Or what about a Jellybean Date

Ideas For A Christ Centered Easter

Easter is more than egg hunts, bunnies, and baskets of candy.  Easter is a time to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For today's post I'll share some ideas about how to make Easter about Jesus.

1.  Resurrection Eggs (ideas found HERE and HERE)




I've seen several versions of this but basically you have a bunch of eggs, each with a different scripture verse and corresponding object inside.  When opened up in order they tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.

2.  Egg Hunt that tells the Easter Story


 15 eggs are hidden, each one with a piece of the puzzle.  Once all the eggs are found the children put the puzzle together in order as a passage that correlates to each puzzle piece is read.  Click HERE for the printable story and puzzle

3.  Handprint Easter Lamb

Trace you child's hand, glue on some cotton balls and add a scripture verse
John 1:29 about the "Lamb of God"








Jocelyn over at We Talk of Christ We Rejoice in Christ has a long list of other great Christ Center Easter crafts and activities.  Check it out HERE and HERE.


How do you celebrate the true meaning of Easter with your kids?  I'd love to hear some new ideas and start some new traditions.

Tomorrow I'll share some ideas for what to put in the eggs and baskets besides candy.

From Reading To Writing

I am working on yet another project in Sweetie Pie's room.  I finished her reading corner mentioned HERE and now I've moved onto her writing area.  Sweetie Pie not only loves to read books, but she loves to write and illustrate her own books too.

Here's the before of her desk area:

Framed Book Covers

OK, here is the last project (for now) in Sweetie Pie's book corner that I've been working on HERE and HERE.

It is only fitting that the artwork in the book corner be book related.  So I framed the book jackets (or dust covers) from two of her favorite books:

Fancy Nancy

Pinkalicious

Autism Awareness

Today, Monday April 2nd is the fifth annual World Autism Awareness Day.

Having my son diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at age 4 was a bit of a relief.  We were  having difficulty disciplining him and he was having difficulty interacting with other children.  When I was told that he thinks differently, I felt relieved.  I no longer felt like a bad parent.  Realizing that the traditional way of doing things just won't work for him made me want to find what does work.  We have been very proactive in getting our son involved in all sorts of programs and working with all sorts of personnel.  I believe it is because of this early intervention that he is so much more social and interactive.  We still have issues, sometimes HUGE issues  but I have hope for his future and love having him as part of our family.  Autism makes Spencer who he is and I love him because of it.

I just wanted to share some things that have been helpful for us.  As the saying goes, "if you've met one kid with autism, you've met one kid with autism."  Each child is different and you have to find what works for you, your child and your family.