You Made That!?

Why yes, I did!!  And trust me....you can make one too!  :))   

A couple weeks ago I was scrolling through one of my favorite blogs:  www.tidymom.net

And she had posted about this cute and easy scarf she found instructions to on another blog she visits....

everybody is just passing this idea along...so thought I would join the club so that you can do it too!!

So here is the scarf I am gonna show you how to MAKE out of a T-SHIRT!  And also, here is my sweet handsome two year old...that I love to pieces ;)  Okay, okay...moving along....

 

(Note:  This was the day UK played in the final four game, so therefore I made a royal blue scarf, in hopes that they would WIN....well, it turns out my blue good luck scarf had no pull :(((  Oh well....we are Dodgers baseball fans around here, so it can serve two purposes!) 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

XL T-Shirt

9-inch Paper Plate

Pen

Scissors 

I want to apologize once again for the TERRIBLE lighting in these photos, because my dining room lighting is sooooo dark at night.  So these pictures are kind of orange -- and the blue shirt does not look truly blue.  

First you need to go to Wal-Mart (or your husband's drawer ;)  and get you an XL T-shirt.   I have a feeling husband's are gonna be searching the house for missing T-shirts after this....sorry men!  I found a sleeveless shirt, because it's the only thing royal blue I could find, so I used it and it worked just fine.  

Then, lay it flat, and take your paper plate and trace around it.  You will want at least 4 circles.  I did another one with 6 circles, and I like that one better, it's more full.  

Once you have your circles traced, cut the circles out.  You will want to cut though both sides of the shirt, so that when you finish with a circle, you actually have two circles.

Next, you are going to cut this circle in a spiral pattern...

Take your spiral and pull both ends straight and tight -- not too hard to where you will rip the fabric....but tight enough to make the fabric "spiral".

Repeat all the steps until all your circles are spiraled :)  Once they are all done, put them together, and tie around your neck...and VOILA!  A new scarf that's lightweight and good for any kind of weather :)

And it's super easy!  My sister who claims herself as "uncrafty" and swears there is not a crafty bone in her body, made one with me the other night.  She made a cute orangey-melon colored one, and I made a kelly green one, which I love.  The one pictured here is made with just 8 circles, that includes the front and back of the shirt.  And the green one not pictured, I used 12 circles, which was including front in back...in other words 6 circles traced instead of 4...and it turned out fuller, which I like.  Also, I made my spiral a little thinner, and it made the scarf a bit longer, which I like too :)  

If any of you are confused at all about how to do this, here is a link to watch the tutorial that TidyMom posted on her site, she has a link of a video that helps you to understand it even more :))  She also makes a cute flower you can attach to your scarf, if you like that kinda thing!  

Here's the link:  

How To Make a Scarf

Hope you try this at home!!  Please, let me know if you do....I LOVE feedback!!!!

Have a GREAT Tuesday :))

LOVE & HUGS-

Lindsey

  

  

  

Out With Green - In With White!

Cabinets, that is!  I am so excited about how our kitchen turned out.  It took A BUNCH of hard work, but in the end, it is so rewarding.  I honestly feel like I live in a different house, just because I love my kitchen now!  I tried to take pictures along the way so I could show you all exactly what we did and how it turned out.  Keep in mind, we do not like our kitchen lighting, it is not very bright, and these pictures were taken at night, so it kind of gives off a yellow hue to the photos.  Also, I hate that these pics can't be bigger, so if there is one you want to get a closer look at, I'm pretty sure you can click the picture and it will show you a bigger version.

  

Let's get started!  Here is before picture of how the cabinets looked green. 

It's not that the green cabinets were ugly per se....they just weren't me.  They were dark, and I am kind of going for bright and airy.  Also, I did not care for the way they had the counter top material as backsplash, everything I would put on my counter, just faded into the background, nothing stood out, which made it no fun to decorate. 

Okay.  Now you know the before.  First thing we did is take all the doors off, and my handy hubby added a small trim to the doors to make them look more "custom".  In the end, this made a HUGE difference. 

Once we got the trim on all the doors, Clark started to work on the bead board backsplash, which was quite complicated to get right, but so worth it.  And in the meantime I started to paint all the doors.  The Lord blessed us with about five sunny/warm days right in a row, it was perfect.  I had to put three coats on these babies, and I learned after using a brush on the backs of all of the doors, that rollers are my new best friend.  I will never paint a flat surface without a roller again.  It was much quicker and much smoother, although I still had to use a brush around the trim areas. 

Just so you know, this is what my house looked like three days before I had everyone over for Griffin's second birthday!  I don't know what we were thinking, but it was motivation for sure!

I sat all doors up on something when I painted so I could get the edges, and wait for each coat to dry.  It was quite a process.  Clark said I was the definition of barefoot and pregnant, and let me tell you, I wore the same thing every night that week, it was my painting uniform, and yes I'm big and pregnant, and yes I walked around all week without shoes, there is a reason there are no pictures of me to be found during this journey ;)  We did not go to bed before 1:30 a.m. the whole week.

It was hard work, but if felt good, and once it was all put together...ahhhhhhhhh, I was in heaven.  Everything looked so good, except the windows were bare, which just wasn't cutting it.  I am so picky about my curtains, and have waited to do the kitchen before I would spend money on them, because I just don't like to buy them unless I love them.  But the kitchen looked so pretty in white, and I needed something to go on my windows!!!  I looked through my pile of fabric that I have had stashed away for a rainy day :)  One of the fabrics I used, I had literally had for like three years...it was just meant to be!  Got out my trusty sewing machine, and made me some curtains.  

I know how to sew just enough to get me in trouble ;)  My grandmother taught me when I was young, and I would make Barbie clothes and Barbie sleeping bags...that sure has come in handy!  But I am such a winger -- I completely winged this.  I didn't have a pattern, so I used some curtains I already had in my bedroom, and just tried to copy.  I'm really pleased with how they turned out, so I'm glad I was impatient and went for it!  

I have white fringe with the cute little balls to go all across the bottoms of these curtains, but didn't have time to add it before Griffin's party, so I will just do it later.  That's another post for another day!

Okay.  Ready to see the final product!?  

Here you have it!  White cabinets :)  

Something cute will find its home right above our stove in that free spot.  I have some ideas ;)

We added this detail to the front of the fake drawers right under the sink since they don't open, just to add a little extra something :)

And we added new pulls and knobs.

We took off the two small cabinet doors above the stove to make it a shelf, they were cabinets we didn't use anyway, and thought it would be nice to display stuff in. 

Now, I love my countertop, it looks completely different against white.  And when I decorate, I don't feel like everything gets lost in the background, since we have bead board now.  I found the "Fresh Eggs" sign a the Peddler's Mall that week, it's actually worn and had been used, and I just fell in love with it when I saw it!

I also pulled out Clark's late grandmother's rooster dish, it's an antique, and I love it.  Filled it with sweet-tart jellybeans for easter.  Mmmm, so addicting.  The lamp is at Lowe's for $10, and the frame I made with scrapbooking paper and a wooden frame from Michael's that you can buy for just $1.  -- All my MOPS ladies, this is the frame I made at MOPS, I just added a little scrapbooking sticker that says "smile" :)

Well, that's all folks!  Took us seven days, and we were dog tired, but we got done just in time to party for Griffin's 2nd birthday (can't believe he's two).   It seems so overwhelming to think of doing a project like this, but you just have to go for it, and you surprise yourself with what you can do, for so much cheaper than buying new cabinets!!!  Hope you like them!!!

Gotta go -- gotta get some sleep AND eat a whole bottle of TUMS, at the moment I have heartburn so bad I feel like I could blow fire...oh, the joys of being pregnant :)  

LOVE AND HUGS - 

Lindsey    

More Than Just a Pretty Face

Meet my sister.

Jerica Danielle Tudor.

17 years old. 

Oh...to be 17 again...

At first glance, you think..."wow...she's gorgeous!"

True, she is. 

But to me -

She's more than just a pretty face. 

See those big blue eyes?

Those big blue eyes

have cried thousands of tears on my shoulder when 

growing up was tough

when things were hard to understand

They have lit up with laughter when 

we'd have dance parties in the middle of the night

when we would sing at the top of our lungs

I'm sure she's even rolled those big blue eyes at me a time or two ;)

But they have been there...at every moment of my life that I felt was important,

they have always been there.

Those eyes saw me the day I was baptized.

They saw me the day I graduated high school.

They saw me the day I was married.

They saw my very first baby boy come into this world.

See that big smile?

Ever since she was a little girl, 

that smile has been waiting for me every time I came home.

Every time I picked her up from school.

Every Christmas morning when Santa would come.

Every birthday.

Every surprise along the way.

That smile has lit up my life a thousand times over.

I sure am blessed.

See those hands?

Those hands, once little bitty

Colored lots of pictures

Played ball

Touched lots of fishing worms

Got dirty

Even fixed her own food 

and picked her own clothes

And they would usually end up on my face in the middle of the night, since we shared a bed.

But over the years those hands have hugged me tight.

Helped me up.

Wiped my tears.

Held onto mine, as we have prayed powerful prayers.

Oh, and that heart of hers?

That is a heart that is real.

A heart for God.

A heart that hurts when others hurt.

A heart that delights in helping others.

 A heart that has been broken time and time again by the evil in this world, 

and the hurt others love to give to someone.

We all remember high school, right?

And because of that,

If you win her heart, you should be proud -- it's not easy to do.

And I'm certain, 

if she could wear her heart on the outside of her body

it would be even more beautiful than the rest of her.

It's a heart that has always loved me - no matter what. 

So...you see, to just say, "She's a pretty girl."  

Well, that would just be the understatement of the year, in my book.

She's so much more than just a pretty face.

Jerica, 

Seventeen.

One of my favorite ages, like I've always told you :)

And here you are!

Such a scary, bittersweet and exciting time.

I know lots of things are about to change.

Lots of decisions to make.

Graduation.

You're standing at the edge of everything-

Life as you know it, and the unknown future.

I can remember being 17 like it was yesterday, never had I felt so much emotion at one time,

so much love

so much joy

so much pain.

Stuck in the middle --

Not a child, but not yet a woman.

But one thing is for certain,

you have the world at your feet, and your whole life ahead of you.  

This is one of the most exciting times of your life.  

Savor it.

Remember it.

The world NEEDS to see those 

big blue eyes and bright smile.

and God has lots of plans waiting

for your hands and your heart.

Plans that you can't even think up on your own.

Trust in him.

Plug into His will.

Use this time to talk to Him

Grow in Him.

Let Him shape you and mold you into the woman he wants for you to be.

Because let me tell you, He always knows what's best.

He always provides.

And He will continue to bless you.

So my only advice to you, the most important advice I could ever give --

Surrender

It all

To HIM.

THE ONE WHO CREATED YOU for a SPECIFIC purpose

and the only one who truly knows the desires of your heart,

and can make them come true.  

THE ONE WHO GIVES exceedingly, abundantly,

above and beyond, all that we could ever ask or dream!

You have always made me proud.

You have gone through life, and made your whole family proud.

You had stood up for what you believe in, even as a teenager, when it is hardest.

You have known right from wrong, and you have chosen right...time and time again.

You are so smart -- I mean, seriously, who even has a 4.3 GPA?  I didn't know that was possible.

You are so tough.

And one day...you are gonna make the greatest wife and mother.

But as for now, you have been such a great daughter, and such a great sister to me and to Jaylin.

And life without you would just be gray.  

Thank you for being beautiful you.

I love you more than life itself.

Lindsey

Before The Trees Are Bare....

I should probably take a moment and post a few pics of my fall decor before fall bids us farewell :)  Don't ya think?  I did very little fall decorating this year, because we have just moved into the new house, and we had much bigger projects to tackle.  I will say though, the inside of our house was an absolute and complete disaster, and somehow I managed to decorate the porch for fall....my priorities are in order, right? 

People driving by would have no idea our house was such a mess inside!  That was kind of the plan.

Plus, I just love fall, and though it would have been easier to just skip it all together this year, I couldn't dare leave it out!  The weather, the leaves, the pumpkins, the mums....ahhhhh, love it!

Inside I just dropped in a few pumpkins here and there :)  Nothin' much.  I love how these three little guys looked on top of these candle holders on top of our hutch.  I love the colors and sizes.   And the "Give Thanks" was a gift from my mother a couple years ago.  It's perfect leading up to Thanksgiving.  

These two wooden pumpkins found their home on my shelf in the living room. 

And a few goodies in the kitchen too ;)  On top is a fake pumpkin that I just cut open the top, and stuck some cute leafy branches in...next to my old antique enamel coffee kettle that I swiped at a yard sale this year.  A pumpkin sign, and a basket with mini pumpkins and gourds that I bought at the pumpkin patch.   

For those of you who are looking at this picture and thinking, "Oh, green cabinets, I love them!"  Well, don't get too attached, they are getting ready to be white :)  And for those of you who are looking at this picture and thinking, "Hmmm, not really liking the green cabinets."  Well, they're getting ready to be white :)  I do like the green, BUT it's just not me.  The backsplash is going to be beadboard, and everything is getting painted white, with new knobs.  Can't wait.  

But in the meantime...Clark is currently building shelves in the laundry room and storage room.  We are refinishing the dining room table (almost done!) and we have primed the chandelier his mom gave us, that is going to be painted black and hung in the dining room.  We are also planning to decorate for Christmas this weekend!  So there will be lots more projects to post very soon! 

Well, gotta run....Griffin decided to come home today and scatter about 100 pieces of tupperware throughout the house.  Gotta go collect it all!

Love and Hugs -

Lindsey   

  

"I love fall! Fall is exciting.

It's apples and cider.

It's an airborne spider.

It's pumpkins in bins.

It's burrs on dog's chins.

It's wind blowing leaves.

It's chilly red knees.

It's nuts on the ground.

It's a crisp dry sound.

It's green leaves turning

And the smell of them burning.

It's clouds in the sky.

It's fall. That's why...

I love fall."

-   Author Unknown

   

Oh Darlin, Don't You Ever Grow Up

Tip of the Day:  Do not, and I repeat, DO NOT start a blog right when you move to a new town and buy a new house.  Your life will be a crazy, whirlwind of events, and more than likely you will have to wait two months in between posts ;)


Well, folks, sorry it's been so long since my very first post.  We have been super busy trying to get un-busy.  Slowly but surely things are coming together :)  The new house is really growing on me, and I promise, I will post pics soon.  In the midst of all this craziness, we have tried to find ways to relax physically and mentally.  I treated myself to a new coffee maker last week.  

It's a KEURIG and I'm obsessed with it.  It makes a single cup instantly, and there are all different flavors.  Clark loves it because it makes hot chocolate :)  Oh, it's the simple things.    


But what has helped me more than anything, is making time to be alone with God.  Things had gotten so busy, that I had started neglecting the most important thing in my life.  I was worshipping my problems instead of my God who is BIGGER and more POWERFUL than any problem I may ever have.  And sure enough, as I have started to spend time in His Word daily, He has started to restore me.  He is SO faithful.  I don't know why I ever doubt Him.  


Throughout this whole change/moving process, we have made it a point to spend lots of fun time with Griffin.  It's just crazy how fast the time has flown.  I look at him and I think about how fast he is growing, and how I don't want to waste one single minute of soaking every cute/onery bit of him up.  I am convinced this has been the fastest year yet.  I had a talk with Griffin about him not growing up, but I understand that is just not gonna happen :)  The other day, I heard this song by T-Swift, and oh my goodness....she was singing my song to Griffin:

NEVER GROW UP

Your little hand's wrapped around my finger

And it's so quiet in the world tonight

Your little eyelids flutter cause you're dreaming

So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light

To you everything's funny, you got nothing to regret

I'd give all I have, honey
If you could stay like that

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

I won't let nobody hurt you, won't let no one break your heart
And no one will desert you

Just try to never grow up, never grow up


You're in the car on the way to the movies

And you're mortified your mom's dropping you off

At 14 there's just so much you can't do

And you can't wait to move out someday and call your own shots

But don't make her drop you off around the block

Remember that she's getting older too

And don't lose the way that you dance around in your pj's getting ready for school

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

And even though you want to, just try to never grow up

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room

Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home

Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
and your little brother's favorite songs

I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off

It's so much colder that I thought it would be

So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up

I could still be little

Oh I don't wanna grow up, wish I'd never grown up

It could still be simple

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, just stay this little

Oh darling, don't you ever grow up

Don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple

Won't let nobody hurt you

Won't let no one break your heart

And even though you want to, please try to never grow up

<

Oh, never grow up, just never grow up.

Click the link to hear the song on youtube :)

Next time I won't take so long to post again!  I have some projects and recipes to share :)  

Love and Hugs - 

Lindsey