Why I Blog

The whole hullabaloo with Pinterest and "ownership" has caused me to think about why I blog.  I blog to share.  As my blog title suggests, my cup really does runneth over, and from that overflow (even if it's only fresh thoughts in my own mind) I will share.

"Everyone likes to see their name in lights."

You know it's true.  So, I won't lie and say that it doesn't tickle me when ya'll get an idea here, and pin it, giving credit back to me... the original sharer.

 

On the other hand, I'm not going to police the internet for "my stuff."  (This statement is in no way meant to be derogatory towards those who have copyrighted merchandise and/or ideas that are being stolen.)

But me?  I started this blog as a creative outlet... A way for me to share:

• my recipes (which are nothing fabulous, just family favorites)
• my crafts (which are usually inspired by someone else)
• my thoughts (which are usually my own - ha!)
• and my life (which is uniquely mine)

I'm so thankful for each one who has joined me along the journey, and for the gracious way in which you share your thoughts in the comment section.  I treasure each and every one of them.

You are why I blog. True story.

"What a great idea!  I am new to your blog and am so glad that I found it!"

"Ohhh I just got a new crock pot last weekend & this is perfect to break it in!  Thanks." 

"I am loving this album.  I have four trips worth of photos, I'm thinking maybe I could combine them in one album.  It's a fantastic idea!  Keep on sharing!"

"I enjoyed reading your post.. I would love to live what I believe!!!

and put all my trust in God."

"Thank you for reminding me to turn my concerns to God....

You're right, he has never let me down!"

"That's a lesson I need to keep in mind every single day & it sure puts things into perspective, doesn't it?  ...thanks for this, I needed it!"

If you're a blogger, why do YOU blog?

Project Pinterest: Storing Cupcake Liners

You may remember me telling about my silicone cupcake molds.  They are a new fav around here.  They are so bright and cheerful, and yet, I had them stored in the cupboard. One day on Pinterest, I happened to spot cupcake liners stacked up and stored in a spaghetti holder LIKE THIS..  I thought it was a really cute idea.

But then I saw and pinned THIS, knowing that I had a jar almost exactly like the one shown. I traced the pin back to THIS ORIGINAL SOURCE on Flickr.

So far, my silicone molds are only in Christmas colors -- but that's okay.  My little Easter Bunny (there he IS again!) doesn't seem to mind.  I love it when something useful can also be decorative, don't you?

Another successful Pinterest idea!

Cost: $0.00

Here are the rules:
1. Decide which pin on Pinterest you’d like to recreate.
2. Create it!
3. Flop or success, create a blog post about your re-do and include the original pin’s url.
4. Add the Project Pinterest button to your post so others can join in too!
5. Link up and check out other bloggers’ posts!

Springtime Crafting - Put a RUSH on it!

I'm telling you what...  You have to get up pretty early in Northeast Ohio to find spring-time craft supplies before they're gone.  After a mild winter, Ohio crafters were apparently chomping at the bit to get everything they might ever need to complete their spring-time crafts.  By the time a foot-draggin' crafter like ME got there... things were sadly picked over.

For example:  try to find a paper mache egg to craft with.  Go ahead.  Try.  I finally found one bag of six small ones at Michaels.  Then, the other day when I stopped in at DrugMart, there was a small pile of larger ones.  I grabbed one of those to throw into the mix.

Inspired by THIS, my goal was to use my old hymnal pages to decoupage an egg or two.  I'm not gonna lie: this was a cinch, but it was also more time consuming that I thought it would be.  I couldn't accomplish much in one sitting simply because there was not much dry space on the egg where I could easily hold it.  I ended up using strips from my hymnal pages to complete the large, and one small egg.  I did two more small eggs with tissue paper.

Here's what I have so far.  Isn't it nice of this bunny to be my spring-time model?  The poor guy hops all over this house trying to help me out.

I do like the look of the eggs.  The larger one has a flat bottom on which to stand, but is also weighted with a little loose sand, so that it doesn't roll if you want to place it on it's side.

And... the yellow one has a sweet little surprise on one side!

Now, if I had only shopped early enough to find a NEST for them.  Maybe next year?

Linking with:

  

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For last year's spring-time inspiration,

click HERE.

For more crafts I've done with old hymnal pages, see

• a decoupaged plate HERE
• a vintage paper chain HERE
• an ornament HERE.

A Little Spring In My Step

Time to do a little decorating for spring!

I've had my framed "Love is..." piece and the mirror here before,

and I really like the combination.  So, I came up with a collection of green accessories

to accent them for spring-time.

A pair of sweet ceramic birds, some old books and and a doily.

Do you like how I used the split green peas?

Guess where I got the idea?  Pinterest, of course.

The Secret Garden belonged to my mom, and I snagged the two

Bobbsey Twins books while on vacation in North Carolina one year.

It was time to put a little spring into the cloche as well. 

I love that sweet little rosy bird.

I'm on the lookout for a nest for her.

I'm linking up with: 

Project Life Update 3.26

This has been an interesting project for me.  I have tuned into so many of you on Pinterest to see how you do Project Life, and have received great inspiration.  However, I've gotten to the point (this is me) where instead of gleaning ideas, I'm COMPARING projects.  You know... mine to yours.  And so, until I finish my project, I'm not looking at others so much. I don't want to feel bad about the techniques that I noticed after the fact, and therefore did not include in my album.  I love my album.  It's mine.  It's unique.  Would I do things different the next time?  Perhaps.  Probably.  But, I'm not going to worry myself over re-dos or anything.  I'm content with my results.

That said, here's the newest installment of finished pages:

CLOSE-UP

More random Disney words from Mom's leftovers...

CLOSE-UP

I used a lot of tropical accents here...

CLOSE-UP

I used some summer/vacation elements too.

CLOSE-UP

Here are some non-Disney words that fit the bill.

I'm so glad that I didn't go crazy buying for this project.

I've been able to use up so many things that I already had on hand!

Stay tuned!

Lots more to come... more cruise,

some WDW, and Epcot too!

You can see all of my Project Life posts HERE.

Scripture and a Snapshot 3.25

As a follower of Jesus Christ, I can reflect the light that comes from him,

and be a light to the world as well.

I'm linking up with Katie @ Katie Lloyd Photography for:

Free Paint on Saturday

8:18AM
Walked through the doors of Ace Hardware with my "FREE QUART" coupon.

Turns out the neighborhood was having a party -- waiting in the aisles of Ace for free paint. Patio chairs on display were pulled together and put to good use.

The man at the door handed me a paint-mixing stick with the number "53" on it.  Looked like it was going to be a long wait.

I had already picked out a couple of colors (the week before, when they ran out of the "FREE" quarts), so I took 43 minutes (while I waited my turn) to decided between the two.

"ROSSLAND" won.  I don't know why.  I'm not a blue person, but this is a shade of turquoise that's been calling my name lately.

9:01AM

I was walking out the door -- me and my Rossland.

What am I painting you ask?  Well, I reckon I don't know.  But... the paint was free, so I'll find something.  I'm thinking I hear some kind of summer project calling my daughter's name. *wink*

What's the best "freebie" you've gotten lately?

p.s. Here's the link for GMA's Friday Freebies for March 23rd.

What's Up?

Meaning...

What's sprouting at your house?  This unbelievable heat-wave has started all-things-spring on an early course.  For goodness sake - even the weeds are up and taller than any flowers. Shouldn't their schedule run slightly "behind" so that we can appreciate the spring-time flowers before they are overtaken?  I'm just sayin'.

Anyways, here's what's up at our house.  The muscari, the coralbells, the hyacinths, the pear trees, the...

Wait.  Would pictures be better?  Okay.  (Of course they would, I'm joking!)  Enjoy!!

A "Diamond Princess" peach blossom in the early evening sun.

I bought a little pot of Muscari at the grocery store last spring.

When they were spent,

I planted the bulbs out under a tree,

and Taadaa!

Remember those Forsythia branches I was going to force?

Too late!

The Cleveland Pear tree.

I'm not sure about this little beauty.

They're something that my sweet hubby found for cheap

on the garden center clearance rack

and brought home to fill an area out back.

And not to be left behind... this sweet little Coral Bells bud.

What's up at your house?

I'm linking up with Beki over at The Rusted Chain for Fingerprint Friday.

Link up a post with your interpretation of God's fingerprints.

I'm also linking with:

Project Pinterest: Homemade Foaming Hand Soap

Liquid hand soap is a great thing.  I love the convenience of the pump.  We use it in our bathrooms, and also have one in the kitchen -- which is great for cleaning up after working with raw meat.  I prefer the "foaming" kind -- since it seems to leave less soap residue in the sink.  Also -- because the (end result)soap isn't as thick, the tiny bit that's left at the end of the bottle can easily be transferred to the new bottle so that there is no waste.

I like Dial's line of fragrances - none of them too over-powering.  (The guys in this house don't like to smell too flowery, you know...)  But, now more than ever, we're trying to find ways to pinch a penny around here.  So, the day that I pinned THIS, I knew it would be an idea that I would really try.  The Dial foaming soap pumps that I usually buy (7.5oz) run between about $1.88 and $2.29 a bottle.  So, when I saw this 52 oz. bottle for just $3.97 at Wal-Mart, I knew I had to take the chance and try making my own foaming hand soap.

UPDATE: The kind of soap used for this project is the thick kind.  It doesn't really POUR, it kind of GLUMPS.  (Is that a word?)  Anyway, don't buy the real liquid-y kind.  Won't work.

Any way you look at it, this 52oz. bottle is saving me money.
But, if I make my own foaming hand soap, I'll really get my money's worth!

My original pin is HERE.

I pinned the idea from TheFrugalGirls.com,
where you can find complete instructions.

Thanks to Heidi for sharing a wonderful idea!

Here are the rules:

1. Decide which pin on Pinterest you’d like to recreate.
2. Create it!
3. Flop or success, create a blog post about your re-do and include the original pin’s url.
4. Add the Project Pinterest button to your post so others can join in too!
5. Link up and check out other bloggers’ posts!

A Note Card Party

If you were going to create a set of notecards

from those photographs used on your blog,
which four would you choose?


That's the premise for a new linky party:

Here are my choices, linked to their original posts

(just click on the photo).

What photos would YOU choose?

Link up your "note card" post with:

Happy Spring!

Even though today is the first day of Spring, Spring "officially" arrived at our house on Friday, when these daffodils (which I've been keeping my eye on) opened.  Last week was an amazing week of warmth and sunshine in NEOhio.  Early in the week, I went out to check out the Forsythia to see if there were any branches worthy of "forcing" yet.  No such luck. However, just a few short days later, you can see that the trees and the lilac bushes are budding!!!  And today, the Forsythia are actually blooming.  I guess there's no point in "forcing" anything!

Enjoy your day!  I hope that evidence of Spring's arrival surrounds you!