A Needed Crafternoon

Sometimes, you just need a craft day.  I used to be a crazed scrapbooker- from 2001-2009 my oh so exciting life has been documented in scrapbooks with awesome glitter flowers and double sided tape.  And then I graduated college, got a full-time job, left the full-time job and had a baby.  Therefore, no more time for scrapping.  Luckily, my mom has been scrapping Delaney's life, so she's not forgotten.  Yes, I have a jewelry business, so everyday might sounds like a craft day, but swinging a hammer and oxidizing silver is not really my idea of a crafty hobby.  I think for a true "craft" you have to either include glitter, a glue stick, scissors, felt, paper, or maybe the occassional popsicle stick.

Brodi and I were both needing a crafternoon on Wednesday.  I have decided to remodel my "office", so that when I have another baby [eventually] the room will be all ready. I'll just need to remove the desks, move the jewelry into the kitchen and put in a crib.  I'm going with a yellow and gray color scheme [my new fave], but more about that later.  So, we moved some carseats around and went to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's for some needed craft supplies. 

My project was some hoop art for my soon to be new office/future baby room.  {I know it's weird since I am NOT pregnant, but I figured I could paint the room gray and yellow and in the future, if I have a girl, I'll throw in some coral and if I have a boy, I'll throw remove the ruffles, and maybe throw a baseball in or something.  It will same me some nesting time}.  You can see the finished project in the bottom right corner, BUT I didn't have a glue gun {I know what kind of crappy crafter am I?}, so when I glue the ruffles I can tighten the gray hoop a little better.

Brodi's crafternoon project was a yarn wreath for Harper's door.  I have to admit- It came out A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

I will have to make one for Delaney's room as soon as I get the materials. 

Isn't it cute?!!  She looked up online how to cut the felt for some of the flowers.  I'd do a tutorial, but I didn't exactly make it and she finished it at home, so if you have questions just ask and maybe I can take some pics when I make one for Del. 



Embrace the Camera!

Okay, I feel like a total cheater this week.  I realized that I already posted all of my Easter pics on Monday, and didn't save any pics for Embrace the Camera.  So...since those were the only pics I took of the fam this week, I am reposting the same pics.  BUT,  I threw them in a collage, rounded the corners, and clicked the sixties button on Picnik, so I feel like they're as good as new. 

Okay, no I don't, but it's all I got...

 

 

Whistle While You Work

I've mentioned before that my 5 year-old nephew always takes his shirt and socks and shoes off as soon as he enters my house {this is normal, right?}  So, he was just chillin' and watching TV shirtless when the conversation went something like this

"Kelsey, can I do something to get $5?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know- I just really want $5"

"Well, I'll give you one dollar to fold my laundry"

"Hmmm...no...I'm gonna need $5"

Turns out Brodi told him that if he saves up $5, he could get a small Transformer at Wal-Mart.

I don't know if this is great "aunting" or not, but I agreed to pay him $5 to wash my windows, wash my glass sliding door, sweep the floor, swiffer the floor, dust, and fold my laundry.  He worked over an hour, so I guess he earned close to minimum wage.  I wish I wouldn't have taken a picture of the clothes after they were folded, but I'm sure you can imagine...

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P.S.

Easter Sunday 2011

I hope you had a wonderful Easter!!  We enjoyed a great church service and some delicious food at my grandma's house.  The Easter egg hunt was a bit chilly and overcast, but I think the focus for the kids was on the candy anyway. 

I know from growing up how itchy and uncomfortable panty hose can be, but when it is Easter Sunday, my little girl will be in white tights with white shoes- Is that not a requirement?:)  Sorry Delaney, you have many more white tight Easter's ahead...but you do look awfully pretty!

 I think all of the eggs have been found...

Full Moons...

Our necklace sales seem to go in trends.  Right now, the trend for our shop seems to be the Love You to the Moon necklace.  I recently started reading Guess How Much I Love You to Delaney, which is the book that inspired this necklace and know that this phrase also holds a special place in many mommies' hearts.    

The Love You to the Moon necklace has been on the Craftgawker.com list quite a few times.  For crafters out there, if you haven't heard of it, I'm in love with craftgawker.  It is a great place for inspiration and diy ideas.  I actually found this pic on the site this morning that inspired this blog piece.

  

What is inspiring you today?

Don't forget...Use the code "FREESHIP" in our etsy shop for free shipping on domestic orders!!

Awkward Family Photo...I Mean...Embrace the Camera

alright, it is EMBRACE the CAMERA thursday.  although, i entitled this post awkward family photo, rather than embrace the camera because i thought it was more appropriate.  this photo includes me and delaney {she's hidden behind isaac} along with my sis {brodi} and her son {isaac}.  her daughter {harper} is missing from the picture because she was napping.  a nap is much more crucial than an awkward family photo.  anyway, this is us...this is the tag...you're it team at it's finest...:)

Yay for fun mail!!

Don't you just LOVE going to the mailbox and finding a special package?  After all the junk mail I get, it is always a nice surprise, even if it something I ordered.  I was so excited to receive my order from lillypieaccesories.  I ordered a headband for Delaney to match her Easter dress, a necklace for myself and some hairpins for...um...well we'll probably share them to be honest- once Del gets a little more hair:)  I should have taken a picture of everything packaged up, but I was too eager to rip it open. 

Also, check out Lillypie's blog HERE to see Delaney featured in the "Meet the Name" series.  She's practically famous already:)

My Weekend in Review...

Here is my weekend in review:

1. I spent some time this weekend working on jewelry.  Also, spent some time cleaning up the "studio/office/jewelry room." 

2. My church moved and had our first service in our new location- it is currently in a gym inside a fitness center.  It is not the building that makes the church, but the people:)

3. So...I started "juicing"- I use the term loosely because I'm not hard core or adding a days worth of veggies yet.  My first recipe was spinach, frozen fruit, water, and ice.  It was....DISGUSTING.  I had to remove the ice and add a half a banana and now it is DELICIOUS!

4.  And Delaney started sucking on her toes this weekend.  Quite an accomplishment if you ask me.

Embrace the Camera- April 14

It has been a beautiful week here in Indiana.  The sun has been shining and it is finally nice weather for the park.  Have you been enjoying the weather and embracing the camera lately?

 

So, I was patting myself on the back when I made homemade babyfood for Delaney the other day.  I made peaches and blueberries.  She loved the blueberries, but here is how she felt about the peaches...

Now imagine a gagging sound and you'll get the whole picture.  I guess for some foods I'll stick with the jars.

Isaac's Baptism!!

My nephew, Isaac {Brodi's little boy} is 5 years old.  And he is ALL BOY.  The moment he steps into my house, he throws his shoes off, then his socks, and then his shirt (yes, his shirt).  He has to- he gets very hot running around and jumping pretending he is a Power Ranger, or a Ninja Turtle, or the Karate Kid {p.s. after seeing the movie he insisted that they move to China so that he could take karate lessons}.

On Oct 18, 2010, Isaac prayed and asked Jesus to come into his heart. If you are Christian, you know what a big deal this is- it is THE biggest and most important decision you'll ever make in your life.  It is the decision saying that you are going to put your trust in Christ and that you will follow Him.  On Sunday, he obeyed God's command in the Bible to be baptized as a symbol of the decision he made.

Right before church was about to start, Pastor Bill came up to Brodi with a huge grin on his face.  He asked her if it was okay if Isaac was baptized without his shirt on.  She asked why, and Bill said that he was sitting behind the stage without his shirt on.  When Brodi found him, he told her that he was going to get wet, so of course, he needed to take his shirt off {makes perfect sense really}.  BUT, his mom made him get baptized with a shirt instead:) 

My Weekend in Pictures

Happy Monday!  I hope you a had a great weekend!  Here is what I did:

1} Made some homemade baby food- blueberries and peaches
2} Some serious Daddy & Delaney time- Mr. Halsey works full time and is finishing his degree and going to school in the evenings- which can  make finding time with the baby hard sometimes.
3} Me-cleaning out my closet and putting my heavy winter clothes in tubs. Delaney- intently watching Sesame Street
4} Our church on the move- My church, Grace Bible, moved about ten miles down the road to our new location!
5} Enjoying the sunshine and 80 degree weather after a LONG winter.


***Also, be sure to check out the post below about the Indie Business Launch Party today!!!***

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Time to PAR-TAY!

A few months ago, I mentioned I was taking the Indie Biz 3.0 class and how pumped I was to get started.  Well, I fell super behind in the class, but the material stays online for a year, so the procrastinator in me told myself that I have a year to catch up. Right?!  (Good thing I'm not getting a grade!) 

Anyway, one of the classmates had a great idea for an end of class "launch party".  A lot of people have just "launched" their shops recently (including tagyoureitjewelry.com).  So, we're throwing ourselves a party!!! (sorry there's no ice cream cake, which I know is disappointing)

Instead, you can find links to new etsy shops, new blogs, new products, giveaways, and blog parties from students in this class.  I was going to link them all on here, but since another classmate already put in the work, I'm just sending you over to her at 11th Monkey!! 


Spring is HERE....In celebration of Spring and Mother's Day, we are introducing our dainty heart design.  It is a simple and classic statement that can be personalized on a dainty, 1/2" sterling disc.  Perfect for jeans or that little black dress... 

Embrace the Camera!

I haven't really taken a lot of photos this week, so I'm sharing a pic from a few months ago.  My sister and I took the kids to "free" night at the Indianapolis Children's Museum and Delaney didn't make a peep the entire evening.  We had a lot of fun together and here is a picture of me giving her kisses while we waited for Isaac to excavate a dinosaur.

What I Want Wednesday...

Mkay, I think these soaps would make a REALLY cool guy gift.  Rocky Top Soap Shop  on etsy sells handmade soap geared towards the burly man who is tired of using Dove or smelling like Herbal Essence.  Now, I will say that I was given a handmade soap once and it turned into a goopy puddle in my shower that I had to scrap off with my fingernail (ew).  BUT, the website says that if you keep it on a soap dish with draining slats in it and kept it out of the way of running water, you'd be good to go.

via

Now I would LOVE to order this for my hubby, but Mr. Halsey wouldn't want me to spend the money on special soap for him.  Once, when I told him there was a special shampoo that could prevent him from going bald and that it was $30 a bottle, he laughed and told me he would just lose his hair because he was not willing to spend $30 a month to keep it.  He's not a cheap-o, he's just practical and not overly concerned with his hair follicles, and I love him for it.  ...BUT if you know a manly guy who also likes to use a manly soap, I think this stuff is so cool.  OR order it for yourself because the activated charcoal is supposed to be great for the skin and makes a great facewash.  They also have a coffee shampoo bar, that sounds amazing! 

{I've always thought that it would be easier to just let the caffeine absorb through my skin anyway.}

Something like that...

This one is a little long...

On Saturday, we were sitting at the craft show bored out of our minds.  I usually L-O-V-E selling at shows, and although this one went well, we were in a location where we couldn't really see anything around us and the hours went by super slow.  They kept playing this horrible classical music that sounded like wedding music or Christmas songs.  It kept getting stuck on the same note and it was like this never ending
plink plink plink plink plink...

...I don't know how we got on the subject of it, but I mentioned how old I feel since we used to rock out at Tim McGraw concerts and now we are selling jewelry together at craft shows (even though I love our jewelry and think it is way cool!). 

Sidebar- Brodi and I LOVE Tim.  He holds a special place in our hearts.  I think we have been to at least five concerts together and our dad would find us THE very best seats at the venue.  We have seen Tim in the sun, in the rain with ponchos and outdoors.  And if you have ever been to a Tim concert, you know that the proper thing to do is to sing along as loud as possible and clap until your hands until they are numb. 

 Back to the show- I mentioned that Tim concerts felt like a lifetime ago and it was long before babies came along.  The conversation changed and we went back to being bored...about an hour later we were still sitting there bored, when all of a sudden we hear a familiar tune coming out of the speakers loudly and much clearer than all of the other horrible music they had been playing before.  We both recognized the song after the first note:
Something Like That!!!!!!!!  (I had a barbeque stain on my white T-shirt, she was killing me in that mini-skirt, skipping rocks on the river by the railroad TRACK...)

The ultimate, all-time best Tim song in history (with exception of maybe Don't Take the Girl, of course).
 Since we are complete dorks, we sat there and sang along to every note bopping our heads like we were at a concert.  After that song, the music got quiet again and went back to weird plinking.  It was the strangest, funniest, most ironic moment and we both agreed it was the best moment of the weekend.  Here is an old photo of us and Tim together probably around 2007ish:)

Feeding the Birds...

I guess I'm getting addicted to blogging- the time I blogged was on Thursday, and I feel like it has been months. 

I wanted to introduce The Birdman! 

It looks like he's missing a finger, but he's not. lol

We had a "craft" show this weekend and this is the 3rd show that we have run into this guy.  I really don't know his first name, we just call him as the Birdman.  He sells these super artsy, unique, birdhouses made out of rustic metal finds.  They are so fun to look at and everytime we have seen him he has more clever designs.  This guy is a hoot and loves to come and tell us stories of the past 11 years of making birdhouses out of stuff he finds at garage sales, old barns, etc.  He's a super unique guy with a super unique product.  I'd link his information up, but he doesn't have a website and only sells at shows.

  I dream of living in an old farmhouse with a huge backyard and I'll hang one of these birdhouses from my tree that has a tire swing on the other side of it. 

  (Right now my backyard is a fenced in postage stamp, so I'll have to wait a bit...)