Object of Maya*ffection

Love is in the air....

....I went and met this little handsome man...Sweet baby Blake is my crafting partner Tia's newest addition....Maya and I loved all over him on Sunday.... Isn't he the sweetest?!?! Friday Tia and I got together for our 1st PB (post Blake) craft session....it was a total success, I think, you be the judge... And then we made these sweet little cupcake cups with crepe paper and other love trimmings...I had a difficult time figuring out how I was going to display them once I got them home....so they sat for 3 days and FINALLY, I came up with this... I have been feeling pretty crafty these days...working on things for my shop space as well as stuff for home (being inspired by the blogworld)....Here's what my 'coffee table' looks like right now... I was at Velvet Strawberries blog today and was inspired by her current paper project (you have to go by and check it out...vintage sewing patterns and twinkle lights)...I made a few of these tonight... Vintage sewing pattern paper roses...I am thinking of suspending a few of these from fishing line in my booth space in a few weeks...when I set up my spring display...what do you all think? On that note, I am signing off....have to let the dog out and get ready for bed (you know, after I check out a few of my fave blogs!)

"L" is for.....

....my LOVE of LEOPARD!! (which you guys already know) My new kitchen rug...from Marshall's...a steal at only 10.00.....Ballard style on a Beer budget I recevied this cutie from Robin at www.billiebeans.etsy.com in the mail yesterday...notice the leopard trim along the bottom....check out her store...lots of cute things!! Hot off the press...I just finished making these...the question now is...should I embellish them further? If so, with what? This is how "X" and "O" started out....(I found them back in October in the clearance bin at Michael's for $1.00 each....of course once I realized how great they would be for Valentine's Day - 4 months LATER, they were all gone...it was just a mish mash of stuff anyway) In Target's World Bazaar section I found this WONDERFUL poof...leopard print soft covering OVER the poof that makes using it heavanly...and of course it was on sale for $1.74! I have my eye on the leopard / tortoise print glassware line BUT I am waiting for it to go more than 30% (where it currently is) off! I was feeling a little creative today and decided to work on something for my booth space....a little sneal peek as I have to wait for that 36 degree weather we are promised tomorrow to finish!! This was a pair of resin framed bird images from Home Interiors (in the shape of hearts). I tore the image carefully from teh first layer of cardboard which left me with a natural craft paper looking finish. THen I got out my vintage jewelry and buttons and got to work... And the almost finished (I plan to spray the frame white tomorrow...it looks black in the pic and if it WAS, I would leave it BUT it's really hunter green). The "empty" looking spaces are vintage chandalier crystals and glass buttons... Phew, it's been a busy day...now I'm off to get the kids from school and some groceries! Good thing I made the beef stew WHILE crafting, so dinner is done!

Blog, blog, blog

This post is a mish mash of stuff!! I missed my 100th post, my 1 year blogaversary....where does time go?!!? I'll have to put some kinda contest together for the 177th post?? Why 177? Cause 7 is my lucky number and we can't wait until post 777!! Friday I braved the -12 temps we had in Chicagoland to meet a girlfriend for lunch and a little shopping. The only place I SCORED was HL (Hobby Lobby) there Christmas stuff was 90% off and there were 3 aisles of 66% off - YAHOO!!! I got all this from HL... In case you can't see it all or decifer what is it is: * A tin leopard print bucket * A leopard print picture frame * 2 packages of silver hearts (for a total of 8...from the Christmas aisle) * Package of black ornaments (for Halloween next year) * Black chenille ribbon * 4" Terracotta Tin Cross * Horse Stocking Hanger (the black thing...I plan to repaint for my daughters room...she LOVES horses) *red glitter "ribbon" *Miniature pink tree topper and ornaments (not pictured BUT exactly like the green one pictured) *Miniature green tree topper with green and pink ornaments *3 pack Scotch tape *pack of gum for a grand total of....drumroll please....$23.00 and some change! Here's what I did with those hearts (that broke out to .99 a pack of 4)... Yesterday I went to a girlfriends for our girls brunch / craft and we made these... (not a great picture lighting wise....but you get the idea) I got the great little Urn at Michael's yesterday for $2.99 - what a STEAL!! Last but not least is a project that has been nagging at me for over a week now and I FINALLY tackled it today...easy peasy, don't know why I waited so long! I found this pillow / wall hanging at Dollar Tree last year and I am a SUCKER for anything leopard....but it looked kinda brothel-ish to me (not that I've ever been to one to know, but like how they look on t.v.) with that introduction, here is the before... And AFTER....just printed the words out and cut the penant style edges and VIOLA! Gotta go...The Bachelor just started!!

"L" is for.....

....the way you look at me....I used a dry erase marker on this great milk glass platter I found at Goodwill....I can change out the sayings / messages for seasons, inspirational quotes, etc. I got this AMAZING idea from Em at Bunch of Scrap (her blog is a great read...check her out!). I put my Valentine's decoarations out last week because we were having the neighbors over for a progressive dinner and I wanted the house to look all jazzy for their visit (plus once we took down all the Christmas stuff Maya said "mommy, our house looks so plain now"...that's my girl!!)....anyway, I am not really satified with the way my decorations are looking....so you know I"ll be tweaking from now until February 14th!! In the meantime, here is what I have so far... Another dry erase masterpiece... Fresh flowers

Journaling...

....seems to be a priority to a lot of people that I talk to these days....I think with a New Year, we all feel a renewed sense of life and living....talking instead of texting, writing down your thoughts hopes and dreams so you can remember....keeping track of your new healthy lifestyle.... ....making a list of those beauty necessities that you see advertised in the magazine, that you mean to try out BUT forget the name of when you're at the store.... ...to keep track of birthdays, anniversaries and special dates, so you never forget them again!! To find all these jornals for the bargain price of $3.00 - $4.00, (insert shameless self promo here) please visit me at www.etsy.com sellername: mx2mommy

Welcome 2009!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had a fabulous New years Eve and rang in 2009 with a bang!! In all honesty, I don't like New Years Eve, not even one bit....never have...probably never will! However, I do like the fresh start that is offered on New Years Day. I know a lot of people make resolutions...some stuck to, some fall by the wayside and others are simply adjusted to more realistic goals. With all that said, I have to admit I have been on the "healthy" lifestyle bandwagon since Monday (not a resolution of sorts, just a plan to strt eating better and getting my body into a helathy place...maybe that has something to do with the fact we are heading off to Disneyworld in March....YAHOO!!! As Miguel would say...the kids are excited about returning to Disney as am I....after enduring the cold, snowy Midwest winter, I need something warm and wonderful to look forward to!). With all that said, I would like to take the time to reflect on this year....Things have been difficult in many ways; this year has brought struggles to my marriage (Not something I have openly talked about here on my blog as I like to keep this the "happy place" and wonderful world of decorating),struggles with the housing market which has kept us tied to an outrageous mortgage, health issues for loved ones around me, layoffs for myself and family members....it has been hard times in 2008 BUT with the bad comes the good - right? We are very blessed my husbands business has been steady and prosperous (he owns his own roofing / siding company), I have 2 wonderful children (who try my patience on a daily basis, and it is at those times I remind myself how fortunate I am to have two miracles from God), a daughter who is kind and genrous, a son who says I love you mommmy several times a day, both of my parents involved in our lives who are only a hop, skip and a jump away a roof over my head, food on our table and Uggs on my feet (certainly not a necessity BUT a wonderful "gift"), WONDERFUL friends who take the time to lend an ear, offer advice and help in anyway they can. my health and many other small daily blessings...onward and forward to an AMAZING year!!