Were you ever into using Carmex lip balm?  Remember those tubs?  I hated putting my fingers in them (still do), so I boycott Carmex products…until now.

I found a Carmex Moisture Plus STICK the other day at Walgreens and LOVE it!  It smells like Carmex and has the feel of Carmex, but you don’t have to put your finger in a tub to get it on your lips (hallelujah!).  Just wanted to share this with you (in case you’re a closet Carmex fan too, but hated the tub).

And, I also just saw that they have tinted ones as well (pink and peach colors…sheer).  I’d love to get my hands on one of those to try it out.

Finally, something I made.  It’s about time, right?

It felt so good to use my sewing machine again.  I have missed it.  I always feel so creative, at peace, and having fun when I’m creating something.  I just love it (wish I had more time to do things).

My friend just had her little boy (Noah) and we’re taking dinner over to her and her family tonight.  She and her husband are huge Beatles fans, so I found a cute Beatles onesie on Etsy (and after getting it, I think I could have done a better job…the image is blurry and I am quite disappointed over that).  I had planned to make her a couple of burp cloths using the two brown minky fabrics I have on hand (diamonds and dots).  Then yesterday, I came across a tutorial on how to make a swaddle blanket for a baby.  I just had to try it out, so I did.  Perfect timing and it made my gift complete (frog not included).

The tutorial is very descriptive and easy to follow.  It’s so simple, but just takes a short bit of time to make the cuts and sew it all together.  I’ll be curious to see how it works with an actual baby in it.  I only wish I had found this tutorial before Brody was born.  We swaddled him in receiving blankets for just over a month.  This would have worked so much better (it would have stayed on him better without falling off).

So, there you have it…a creation I made (finally).  Hopefully you won’t have to wait that long again before I show off something else I’ve created.  Click on the image below to see how it works.

Jason and I are gearing up to volunteer in the kid area at our church.  We start Labor Day weekend and will volunteer every other weekend.  The coordinator sent out a verse this past week that I just love and wanted to share with you.  Read it, let it soak in, and live it out!

Colossians 1:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Ok, I admit it.  I suck at blogging on this blog.  *sigh*  I had every intention of putting something creative on this blog once a week or even doing several different things a week.  I have failed and for that, I’m sorry.  My friend (thanks Danielle) gave me a little pep talk today and encouraged me to just get something (anything) out on this site, so here we go…

I’ve managed to keep up on my other two blogs and if you haven’t checked them out, please feel free to do so:

Brody’s Blog (all things that have to do with my son)

THF Girl (my weight loss journey, where I’ve lost over 30 pounds already)

I do have several projects that I hope to get to so I can post about them.  I just haven’t had any time to do anything with them.  My project table is piled high with several things to do.  I’ll do my best to get something out on this blog at least once a week.  It may not be something I’ve created, but I’ll post about something.

I have so many things lined up to create in my office (one being those toilet paper rolls and the bleach pen). :)  Anyway, here are two quick things I made this past weekend.

Here is a headband holder for little girls headbands (too small around for adult sized headbands to stay on, so mine were having a hard time staying in place for the picture).  Headbands can store around the tin and if you take the lid off, you can put bows, barrettes, and hair ties inside.

I made this for my friends daughter who was looking for a way to store headbands.  I used one of Brody’s cereal canisters, although the tutorial I followed used an empty oatmeal canister.  I used what I had on hand, but an oatmeal canister would certainly allow for more storage inside and headbands outside.

The next thing I made were flowers out of napkins.  I had so much fun with this one.  I want to make so many more, but have no clue where I’d hang them or display them.  They’re SO easy to make and the tutorial I used had wonderful step-by-step directions.

I ended up making a few more after I took this picture, but you get the idea.  If you see colored napkins at the dollar store, pick some up and try this tutorial out.  So fun and so cute.  I keep thinking that if we have a little girl one day, I’m using these flowers to decorate her room.

For the past five weeks, I’ve been involved in a Mommy’s Secret Sister exchange. It’s been so much fun! I love this group of women, but hadn’t had the chance to meet a lot of them yet, so this was a great way to meet people.

Last night we ended our five weeks with a “reveal” night. Dinner was provided. We handed out our week 5 gift and then also had to give a thank you gift to the Secret Sister who had us (very unique twist on this). I can’t wait for next year to come. I had so much fun buying for my Secret Sister and receiving from my Secret Sister (always finding fun surprises in my mailbox or on my front porch).

As my thank you gift for the person who had me all five weeks, I gave her a gift certificate for a pedicure and made her a recipe album that stores 40 recipes. She said she enjoyed cooking and scrapbooking, so I thought I’d scrapbook her a place to keep recipes. It was fun to “create” again. Now I just need to get to my toilet paper rolls which are adding up in front of my eyes. LOL!

Enjoy the pics!

So, I’m guessing you’re all wondering who I chose to take with me to the spa. I had so many choices and went through each person in my mind and thinking how each and every one would enjoy and have fun visiting the spa with me.

It was going to be a tough choice, so I sat on the thought for a while. Then one night Jason asked me if I had picked anyone yet. I told him a person kept coming up in my mind and he mentioned that he had an idea for someone as well (this I had to hear). Wouldn’t you know it that he mentioned the person who I had been thinking of. That was definitely a sign from God and my search was over.

I chose my friend Danielle. We hardly know each other and this was a great opportunity to get to know her better. I met her through Etsy (I ordered something from her, then found out she lived about 15 minutes from my house…crazy, huh?). We’ve emailed over the months and found a common ground in God. We both love the Lord! What better foundation for a friendship than that? On top of everything, she had never been to a spa before or had a pedicure (perfect choice).

Danielle has had a rough past couple of years. Her husband is working night and day (several jobs) so she can be a stay-at-home Mom (what a husband!!!). She just found out a couple of weeks ago that they were moving to TX. Her husband found a job there and would be making enough to just have one job, be home at a decent hour each day to enjoy time with his family, and housing is cheaper. They’ve seen God in such a big way throughout this opportunity to move. She moved this past Thursday (yesterday). While I was just starting to get to know her (and loving every minute of it), I’m so happy that she’ll get her husband back and that they’ll have more time as a family. We’ll still keep in contact via the web (thank goodness for modern technology).

Anyway, that’s who I chose. We went to a spa I had never been to and wanted to try out. It’s called Synergy Spa.  It was incredible!  The people were so friendly.  I had Layla and loved her!  I highly recommend if you go to this spa for any nail services, to see her!  I even received a call afterward thanking me for trying them out and asking how my services were.  Very impressive!

And if you’re wondering, we just went for a manicure and pedicure.  I’m not much into the massage, facials, and other foo foo things, but love the atmosphere of a spa and prefer keeping my clothes on for my services.  LOL!

The bonus was visiting the place right next door to the spa.  It was a French bakery and to die for.  It’s called, Hereghty.  They had so many coffees, desserts, croissants, sandwiches, etc…  Everything tasted amazing.  I had the Vanilla Cheesecake and the Liquid Brownie coffee (yep, just as good as it sounds).

Danielle and I had an amazing morning/afternoon together (you will be missed).  I thank God for giving me her friendship and for putting her name on my heart to take.  I’m so thankful for my loving husband who wanted this day for me and for a friend of my choice and for taking care of Brody while I was away (two feedings, two play times, two naps….).  What a husband….what a father.  Thank you Jason!

I came across this video last night and fell in love!  We’re huge Chick-fil-A fans!  They have the best chicken around and their breakfasts are amazing!  Wish I could go now, but I doubt it’s on my diet. :)  Enjoy this video and YouTube has a ton of videos by this guy, Tim Hawkins (all hilarious!).

Ok, so this is not something to be proud of, but I still had a good laugh and wanted to share this.

Apparently I have either purchased or sold (combined) a total of over 500 things on eBay since we’ve been “members”.  This entitles me to a “purple star”.  I was even given a link to download my certificate, which I did print out and scan in to share with you all.

I cannot even begin to tell you how honored I feel to have the right to a purple star and to have a certificate (which they encourage you to display with pride).  LOL!

I had a bit of free time during one of Brody’s naps and went through all of my scrap paper trying to find coordinating papers. I created a few cards (just testing the waters).  I’m not too thrilled with them, but not completely disappointed either.

Just thought I’d display them since I hadn’t put anything creative on my blog lately (still need to get to the toilet paper rolls (I keep adding to my pile) and the bleach pen).