Teacher Love - Gift Ideas

Yes, Valentine's Day is tomorrow but in case you need a last minute idea, here it is! You can purchase all of these items at the grocery store. The mini-pearls and I just finished putting together little sussies for their teachers. I got the idea from Country Living magazine. So, it isn't original but it is so fun and you can change it up so many fun ways! Have a wonderful evening. Mr. Pearl is preparing a special dinner for us all and we are going to enjoy a little "family love" one day early!

Supplies:

a cylinder vase - make sure the sides are straight and not angled (mason jars work, too)

2 - 4 dozen colored pencils (Sweet Pea picked-out all of the dark colors from hers, so they are nice and bright!)

colored hair bands (2 per vase)

flowers

for the tags: I used some long pieces of floral wire that I had and wound them into a spiral to hold the card. I used vintage Valentines that I already had, but you can make your own!

Sending you some love!

Krissy

A Valentine Box

Look at what my girl made! Sweet Pea, out of the three mini pearls, is the most interested in my studio and all of my art and crafting supplies. Bless her heart, she gets so frustrated when she tries to create a masterpiece and can't make it look like something I would do. I keep telling her that I have been practicing for forty years and she needs to give herself a break, but at nine, that falls on deaf ears. I have to work really, really, really hard at not interfering and doing her work for her. Am I the only mom that practically has to sit on their hands and bite their tongue to let their child be free to create herself? I want her to learn and grow and I know that this only comes from doing it herself. So, with the good Lord's help, she is growing darnit and look what she did!

Sweet Pea has the assignment to create a Valentine box for her class party on Monday. (side note: this is MY favorite assignment of the year making it even harder to step away) She spent time this last week pondering a theme for her box and bouncing ideas off of me, Mr. Pearl and her brothers. The creative process! I saw her mind at work! Sweet Pea settled on a garden theme for her box which she would title Garden of Love. She was under the weather yesterday when I had some time to pop in to Hobby Lobby to purchase the supplies that she would need. As she couldn't be there herself, she gave me detailed instructions as to her list of supplies. I did as I was told. I really did. I brought all of the supplies home and let her go. I only stepped-in when asked and well, the pictures say it all and my girl, she is proud of herself and so am I!

I totally dropped the ball here and did not take any pictures of the supplies before we got started but I will give you a list if you want to try and you can get creative!

Supplies:

1 8" cube of green foam (the crunchy kind, not florists foam)

1 package of Easter grass

1 foam mailbox from craft store

1 paper towel tube

assorted pics with hearts and flowers

assorted Valentine stickers

assorted felt flower stickers

assorted small rolls of Valentine ribbon

metallic heart garland

letter stickers

decorative straight pins

assorted craft paints

Alleens clear, tacky glue

sturdy cardboard to attach paper towel tube to mailbox

Cover the square with glue and stick the grass to it, putting most on the top and letting it spill over. Then, stick the floral pics all around top and sides of cube. Next, use the straight pins to adhere the small felt flowers to the grass and use them to hold-up the grass. Adhere fun stickers and letter stickers for your name to the mailbox. Paint the paper towel tube in fun colors and let dry. Have a grown-up cut a circle out of the foam on the top of the cube the size of the paper towel tube. (Our tube fits snugly into circle about 2 1/2 inches) Glue the cardboard to the top of the tube (ours is in a heart shape) When dry, snugly insert paper towel tube into the cube. Glue the mailbox to the top. Now, take the heart garland and ribbons and droop and loop them over everything for a little fun. (totally Sweet Pea's words)

Love,

Krissy

Flashback Friday - 70's Design and a Party

Hello everyone! Mr. Pearl and I braved the cold last Saturday night to attend a disco soiree for a dear friend. The much-hyped party lived-up to the talk. We had a blast! The entertainment was a band aptly named Le Freak. They are all disco, all the time baby! I don't know what was more fun: getting all gussied-up as a disco diva, seeing all of my friends dressed-up as disco dudes and divas or dancing to the awesome music. Here is proof of the fun.

When I walked out to go to the party, Fisherman looked at me and asked, "Is that a wig?" No dear, this is what the good Lord blessed me with in all its glory. My hair had it's night in the sun. Mr. P sported the fake stache but he wouldn't go without the undershirt for a little chest hair action. He said the ruffled shirt (yes, it was ruffled) and tight plaid pants were enough!

The seventies really isn't a time I care to revisit. Did anyone look good during that era? Did any one's home look good during that era? I mean, avocado green, harvest gold and orange - alone they are bad enough, but together? I really think that is some one's idea of a joke that went a little too far. Thank goodness the eighties came along to save the world from bad design (insert sarcasm).

Stayin' alive,

Krissy

photos via: www.prairiemod.com , www.st.houzz.com , http://4.bp.blogspot.com , www.zoezombie.com

Monday Smokey Blues and Reno Memos

This is amazing. The floor is genius. The change in color and direction of the floor planks -

love it.

This banquette - the soft gray, tufted velvet upholstery - I'd never leave the dining room!

This warm nook makes me smile. The warm creams and the gentle pops of soft blue on the chair and rocks from the fireplace are perfection.

Love this classic mix of blue fabrics.

This kitchen is too fun - I love the play of the modern glass tile mosaic with the rustic inserts of planks in the cabinetry. The soft blue/green of the cabinets and the white wash on the paneled walls and ceiling; this is going in my idea book.

Howdy everyone! Yes, it is Monday once again. I am feeling anything but blue though, as the sun is shining here and the mini-pearls are back in school after a four day snow break last week! I am back to working on the house reno plans and ran across these wonderful shots of spaces designed by Sarah Richardson. I love the smokey blue colors in each of these spaces and the fact that, although the blue is a cool color, she strikes a perfect balance with the rest of the space to evoke a warm, inviting mood. My color palette is starting to take shape. Do you see it? Have a great one!

Krissy

All pictures via www. sarahrichardsondesign.com

The Gift That Keeps On Giving - Ice Day 4

I woke-up this morning to the majesty of a winter's morn to find that Mother Nature had bestowed yet another gracious gift on my yard... four inches of fresh snow. The scene was absolutely beautiful and peaceful (I love the "quiet" of snowfall. There is nothing like it.). However, this wintry weather is starting to feel like the jelly of the month club or a visit from cousin Eddie - it just won't end! The mini-pearls have snowball fights and snowman building on tap for this afternoon. It is still snowing, so we are letting it pile up before we tackle it. Well, snow is white, and I love white. This is my new mantra, "I love white. White is good." This is keeping me going while I prepare for another day of cooking, keeping cold, wet clothing dry and constantly wiping the murky mess deposited by the front door from snow and ice-caked boots. How do my friends to the north handle this for months on end? Well, Mr. Pearl has made pancakes and eggs and I am going to enjoy a meal that I didn't prepare. Happy Friday all!

This white is what I prefer and my "dream" today!

Oh, to curl up and read a book here.

Aahhh! Now we are talking!

Heaven...

I love white. White is good.

Krissy

Cousin Eddie via www.60s.com, all White Beach photos via www.coastalliving.com

Kick Ice - Ice Day 3

The craft - Sweet Pea and I made this garland with scrap booking paper and a sewing machine.

We cut out hearts from the paper and layered them in groups of three. We had eight to nine groups of three. We then sewed the groups of three together on the machine. Pull out a lead thread of about eight to ten inches, then sew the groups of three hearts every four to six inches. Fold the hearts when you have finished sewing and the result is a fun three-d garland. I saw this on a blog that I can't for the life of me remember, so if you do, please let me know! The post I saw made the hearts out of vintage book pages. Very cute!

Yes, the mini pearls are home again today. This is day three of The Ice Storm of 2011 and yes, I am counting. I have run out of "fun" ideas and I am ready to take my children to school, but alas, school has been cancelled again tomorrow and we are supposed to get more snow! I live south of the Mason-Dixon because I like the token winter snow once a year and I like to visit snowy places to ski, but I don't care to live with it. Oh well. The minis are having a blast and have turned the neighborhood into one big, icy sledding course. I hosted a craft day for Sweet Pea and one of her friends yesterday and made a yummy cake last night, but enough already!

Cardboard box sled races.

The winner - Sport Cort



They came, they saw, they kicked some ice!

My enterprising neighbors and the "ice, donut cart"

No, not so smart to turn donuts on the ice in a golf cart, but oh so fun!

The weekend is looking balmy at forty degrees. I can't wait! Wishing you a warm and happy, "kick ice" kind of weekend!

Krissy

Good Day Sunshine

I sure could use this sunny, yellow kitchen right about now. Anyone else? I am really hoping that Punxatawney Phil was right about an early Spring. It just doesn't seem possible when it is seventeen degrees outside and school has already been cancelled for tomorrow. (That is day three, but who is counting?) Anywho, this cheery kitchen with its fabulous wallpaper, salvaged tin ceiling and exposed brick wall was on Extreme Home Makeover two weeks ago. I must admit that the show isn't really my "go to" for style ideas, but this one is divine! A little sunshine for your day!

xoxo,

Krissy

photos via - http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition

Freeze Frame - Ice Day 2

I am writing this between rolling blackouts, so we will see how far I get. I had planned on a warm, sunny kitchen post today, and I still may get to it, but right now, we are freezing and the minis are out of school for day two of the Ice Storm of 2011! You see, we woke-up yesterday morning to this...

What looks like a light dusting of snow, is actually an inch of frozen rain and sleet! We have Packers and Steelers fans in town for that big football game this weekend and we were supposed to provide warm weather and a "big ol Texas welcome". I blame this on them. They brought this misery with them! They are laughing at us though, as what is nothing to them, has paralyzed our entire state! Sand trucks had to escort their team buses to media day yesterday! You see, we Texans are a strong, proud bunch. We have a history of staring danger in the face and winning. We do have an Achilles heel (as soon as the ice melts, Texas Rangers will be knocking on my door to arrest me for revealing this). What is that weakness? ICE! It stops us in our tracks, occupies every second of tv news time, causes widespread panic and a massive delay of everything.

My Texan dogs and children adjusted quickly, making the day a fun one. We started out with board games and hot chocolate by the fire, but the frozen, steep driveway across the street beckoned. Some neighborhood child (certainly not one of my intelligent offspring - said with sarcasm) got the genius idea to try and ride bikes down the ice ramp. I pride myself on being a "fun" parent, but I had to nip that one in the bud. I had to explain that head injuries do NOT equal fun! Solution? Trash can lids, as no self-respecting Texan actually owns a sled. As the frigid temperature took its toll, they came in and made Lego ice cars. They launched the cars and had races on the ice ramp. Yes, that idea I will claim for my offspring!

So, what is on tap for today? Even colder temps, these annoying blackouts and the minis have asked for crafts. Uugghh! I have to come up with something. I want to suggest mommy's favorite game - "sit by the fire and quietly read a book." I'm not sure it will go over well.
We'll see.


Stay warm and safe!

Krissy

Vintage Valentines

Monday, Monday...it feels like one to me. So, I thought I would share some "happies" with you all today - vintage valentines. I have been collecting old postcards for quite some time. I have little collections for all of the holidays and seasons and I love to tuck the cards around mirrors and in my bookshelves to celebrate days throughout the year. Each little card is a work of art on the front and back, as I love the words penned on the back of each postcard to loved ones. This is a glimpse into the lives of those who lived before us. To me, they are so much more meaningful than the emails and You Tube videos of today. What will people say about our society when they use these as a glimpse about how we lived back in 2011? I shudder to think. Antoine Dodson will be the poster child for our society. Obviously, that is a problem. We are better than You Tube, aren't we? I'll pray about that answer.

Anywho, here are my little valentine sussies tucked here and there. I do love Valentine's Day and sending and receiving cards. It's just so fun to hold a big red or pink envelope in your hands and see what is inside. I wish you all a happy Monday!

xoxo,

Krissy

Reno Memos - Parlez-vous francais?

I have decided that I need to light a fire under myself. We are supposed to be starting the renovation of our new home next week and I have nary an idea hammered-down. I know what I want and I am so excited to have the opportunity to do this, so why am I so behind? I have decided to post on my "Reno Memos" and let you all in on the process. I will start with the outside today. The exterior currently resembles a white "Pizza Hut." All it is missing is some red paint and we could go into the pizza business. This old girl speaks French to me and from the first moment I saw her, I knew that French was the way to go.

First things first, we must add more windows. The interior is quite dark and dreary, as the previous owners had an aversion to windows. Next, a gable over the front door and some dormers to break-up that massive roof! Shutters, yes, shutters would be wonderful. I also like the idea of some decorative, zinc lighthing rods - very French indeed. To cap it off (pun intended), some cast stone accents. So, here are a few of my ideas and inspirations.

What do you think?

Current exterior - we can only improve from here!

Ca c'est bon. This one really speaks to me. Can you see it?

Ooh la la! A little formal but I love the roof lines and dormers and the color of the shutters.

These next two really won't work with what I have, but I love the feeling of these homes.

The roof on this one is similar to my vision. Also, love the front doors.

Au Revoir,

Krissy

My sincere apologies about the pictures. They are ones that I have saved on my computer and have no clue where they came from. If they look familiar, please let me know!