Chevron Purse

I cannot believe that I have not blogged in almost a year!  Really, where does the time go?!?!

It almost feels awkward to be sitting down and writing a blog post.  I have not even been really crafty lately.  However, I did want to share a sewing project that I FINALLY completed recently.  

When the chevron phase hit big, I bought several yards of material with then intentions of making a cute purse or bag with it.

A couple of weeks ago I whipped up this cute chevron purse.  I absolutely LOVE it!  I am glad I was not disappointed with the outcome, since I waited so long to make it!
I know there are some people out there who are DONE with the chevron craze.  But, I am still totally in!  What are your thoughts on chevron?  Still like or are you done?

Oh Christmas Tree!

 I saw this idea on Pinterest and fell in love with it!  I knew that this would be a great art project for my Kinder Kiddos!

I was so thrilled with the way they turned out!  

I drew out and copied triangles on white construction paper.  I gave each of them a half sheet of white construction paper triangles.

Then I had them Mod Podge tissue paper squares to the back of  the triangle paper.  (I actually just mixed Elmer's Glue and water for the Mod Podge) 

(I'm sorry I did not get a pic of this step.)

They painted a white piece of construction paper blue and cut out the triangles once it dried.

After the blue paint dried, I had them paint snow on the bottom half of their paper.  They glued their trees and stems on and then added snowflakes!

Pretty simply, but messy when you are doing that many artsy things with 16 five year olds!

They had fun creating their snowy tree scene!  I love art that lets children create and explore using a variety of mediums!

Sharing here:

Happy Holidays!

DIY Laundry Soap & The BEST cleaner for your front loading washer!

 My skin has been randomly breaking out in red bumps and I had scratched them so much the looked HORRIBLE!  I am pretty selective with EVERYTHING I use to bath in and wash clothes in.  So out of process of elimination, I started wondering if there could be a change in the TIDE that I have always used.  Yes, I could run out and buy a 13.00 bottle of a free and clear organic type detergent...but there are not guarantees that would even work.  So in my desperate and itchy state, I turned to Pinterest to find a DIY Laundry Soap for sensitive skin.  

Let me tell you....there were SO many options!  I found one rather quickly and just went with it!

 This one stated that it was for sensitive skin!  That sold me right there!  I ended up running to Wal-Mart and grabbed the much needed ingredients.  Can you believe I actually found all of the ingredients at Wal-Mart?!?!  Usually, I go in and get frustrated with their lack of products that I need! 

Anyway, I have been using this mix for several weeks now, and I am generally impressed and not so itchy anymore!!  Yea!!!

 

Here is the recipe:

1 tbsp washing soda

1 tbsp baking soda

1 tbsp grated Castile soap (I used Kirk's Castile soap)

1/2 cup-1 cup of distilled white vinegar in the fabric softener compartment

1 tbsp of Citric Enzyme Cleaner or Citric Acid----I have not used this in my mix. 

But here is the blog that I found the laundry soap recipe on.  She has a recipe for making the Citric Enzyme Cleaner.  I hope to try this soon!

I have not mixed them together, I just quickly scoop the 3 ingredients into the detergent compartment of the washer.

OKAY....

This recipe doubles as a WASHING MACHINE CLEANER!!!

SO, after 3-4 loads my washer was cleaner than ever!!!!  My once gross and smelly front loading door was clean!!!  Can you tell I am THRILLED!!!  The residue ring around the inside of the front  door wiped off easily with no effort at all! I have used many commercial products to clean this washer!  NOTHING cleaned it better than this laundry mix!

NOW, GO CLEAN THAT WASHING MACHINE! 

 

It's All About TIME

I cannot believe that I have not posted since the end of JULY!!!  Really?!?!  Where does the time go?   I never intentionally meant to leave my blog hanging like this.  I started getting my classroom ready the 1st week of August and my school life pretty much takes over everything at that point.  I really miss blogging and having time to keep up with and interact in blog land.  I know that every year it takes tons of time and so much extra energy at the beginning of the school year.  It is just hard to make time for school, my family and keep my blog going.  So I am hoping I am almost to that point where I might be able to squeeze in a post or two each week! YEA!

On a positive note, I did not spend my entire Sunday at school today!  WOO HOO!   I was up there for about 2 hours and decided I would do the rest of my school work at home.

This has been a great weekend for rest!  The temps were mid 60's-70's (LOVE) and rainy off and on.  This kind of weather makes me HAPPY! 

It just makes me want to curl up in my big, cozy chair and read a book!

I do have several school projects that I am going to share!  So happy to finally get them finished!

Stay tuned! 

 

School Ideas

Days are quickly passing and my summer break will soon be over.  By this point in my summer I start thinking about what new things to include in my classroom.  I have been seeing a ton of stuff on Pinterest that I plan on using in my room. I thought I would show you a few of my favorite ideas so far.

I love these!  I really want to make one of these using just two crates for my reading area.

I could so see making this to put in my 4-yr. old's room.  I am sure she would have those bins filled with stuff quickly!

 

 (source)

Cooking With Kids--Potato Chip Cookies

When I saw this recipe in the Martha Stewart Living Magazine I knew I just had to try these!  My daughter LOVES chips and cookies!  If she had anything to do with it, all she would eat is chips!  My kids and I whipped these cookies up yesterday morning.  They love cooking/baking and had a lot of fun making these cookies. I think their favorite part was smashing the chips into crumbs!

Crafty Choas

Do you ever feel like you are living in Crafty Choas?  That is where I am right now.  I have several things started, but for some reason I just can't get anything completely finished.  I have all of these wonderful ideas and even have the materials to carry them out...but I am just not really all that interested in doing them. 

I have spent tons of time over my summer break organizing.  But for some reason I still have tons of piles and add those piles to the choas of the crafty projects lying around....Umm, I think I am just overwhelmed with STUFF!  

Today, I am going to set a couple of SMALL goals and get them finished!  I do SO much better when I have a list and can cross out things that I have finished.  So I am off to figure out what my goals for today are!

Please tell me that I am not the only one that gets to feeling this way?!?!

Hopefully, I will get SO much accomplished today that I will have an awesome project to share with you! 

 Thanks For Reading!