Blogging has taken a backseat...as has everything else...

Easter mantle

 I used to think I wasn't a very good blogger...keeping up with what's going on in my life.

But now...

Now I think I'm a HORRIBLE blogger.

You see, since I started going back to school full time, not just blogging, but EVERYTHING seems to be taking a back seat with school.

School has kept me so busy (and work), it almost feels like anything else I do in life is almost a "treat".  Decorating my mantle for the holidays, doing new chalkboard art, making cookies...shoot, even folding laundry feels like a treat because I get to GET AWAY FROM SCHOOLWORK!  I've been horrible stressed with this science class.  It has been a science class nightmare.  Lord willing, (I'm trusting you God!), I will pass this course SOON!

I did manage to get my Easter mantle done (see pic above).  I framed some free printables, strung some bunnies in a banner, and added some of my old decor I keep stored away.

 My Easter chalkboard turned out really nice I think.

I love that song by Nicole C. Mullen, so when I saw the verse on this pattern, I had to have it.

 Nate had a band concert last week.

It was his last middle school concert.

 We still have some more parades, but this is it for the concerts!

Here he comes high school!

She thinks SHE is the baby of the family

 Katarina is doing well.

She had a small procedure at the vet and has made a perfect recovery.

She is our sweet little stinker.

We love her so much.

 I have a cookie convention I'm going to next month.

And I wanted a t-shirt with my logo on it to represent.

I decided to get some blank iron-on transfers and have a go at it myself.

I just played around on a photo editing site and then printed it on the blank transfer.

I am always fearful doing iron-ons.  Rightly so.  This one gave me some fits.  See how it's lighter in some areas and darker in other (in the pink areas).  Well, when I went to peel the paper backing off, it stuck. Yes, it stuck.  Ugh.  I did manage to get it off after much stress, borderline tears, and a phone call to the craft store where I bought it.  Thankfully, I don't think it looks that bad.  Hubby says it kind of looks "vintage"/"distressed"...LOL!

Yeah...yeah...that's right everyone...I did it on purpose.  I was going for the vintage/distressed look, hehe!

Well, I think that's all that's going on around here right now.

What are you doing for Easter?
I hope you have a very blessed Resurrection Sunday with your family!

TTFN!

Well hello!...

 Hello!

I'm alive!

I know, it's been a while...but I haven't given up the blog and left you hanging like many do, haha!  I've just been buried in schoolwork, not to mention working 55+ hours a week.  It seems all I do is work and study.  But here I am back to let you know what's going on in our lives (not much).  I have already decorated for St. Patrick's Day.  Yes I know, it's still February.  But when you're Irish...ya just can't help but get excited over the shamrocks and color green.  I think my mantel turned out pretty cute.  My mom showed me how to sew "yo-yos" and I connected them all together in shades of green to lay across the top of my mantel.  I think they look really cute.  Then I printed a "LUCKY" banner.  I also printed off some free printables from Pinterest (so perfect for decorating) and framed them.  Last year, I scored some shimmery shamrock garland for...(drumroll)...47 cents a roll!  I got three and laid them across my mantel with white lights.  I love the look.  Added a few green and gold candles and voila!  St. Patty's Day style!

 I did a quick St. Patty's Day chalkboard today too.  Not my best work.  But hey, I was in a hurry and...it works.

 Katarina is doing well.  Mischievous as ever.  She is the little princess of the house.  We recently were having issues with her scratching (she has all of her claws) and so we took her to the groomer and had SoftPaws (caps) put on.  I have mixed feelings.  I really like them over all.  She can't snag up the furniture anymore.  But because our carpet is so thick, she can still hook the rubber caps into it and pull the fibers out.  So we're still trying to figure out a remedy for that.  Otherwise, she is doing great and we love her to death!

The boys and I are doing great.  We've all been healthy.  The boys are doing fantastic in school (as am I).  We all have our challenging classes (for me, math and science)...but we're managing and doing well.  Hubby recently had a health scare.  He spent 2 nights in the hospital.  We found out he has an ulcer.  He will be having a scope done next week to find out the best treatment plan and more about it.  We appreciate your prayers.

Other than that, things are going well at our house!

How is your winter going?  Are you surviving the frigid temps?
Stay warm...

Until next time...

Mantels...

Christmas 2014 mantel

 I've been having so much fun with my mantel!

Yes...I wanted a fireplace for the warmth, ambiance, coziness, etc.

But decorating a mantel is so much fun!

Winter/Snowman 2015 mantel

 So far I've done Christmas, Winter/Snowman, and Valentine's Day themes.

I already have ideas for St. Patrick's Day!

I just think it brings so much festivity to the home.

Valentine's Day 2015 mantel

Do you decorate your mantel for each holiday/season?
If so, where do you get inspiration and ideas?
Pinterest has been my go-to thus far.
Share your blog link if you have photos!
I'd love to see!

Merry (early) Christmas To Us! (And some Christmas decorations!)

 I started whining mentioning to my husband how I'd love to do a DIY faux fireplace.
In the 21 years we've been married, we've never had a fireplace in any of the homes we've lived in.  I was telling him about all of the cool faux fireplaces on Pinterest that I had seen and how we could create something really unique and fun.  I've always wanted a mantel to decorate for all of the seasons and holidays.  I knew a "real" fireplace was out of the question, as it would cost a lot to install a gas one, so I thought "faux" was the next best thing.  We could light lots of candles and make it lots of fun.  Well...dear hubby says, "Why don't we look for an electric one instead?"  Well I never even considered that!  We looked around...and although electric fireplaces HAVE come a long way...we were still really wanting that "real flame".  Soooo...
We got a "gel fuel" fireplace!  It uses small cans of gel fuel and you get that real flame!
Yay!

 It is so awesome.  I love the ambiance it gives the room.  So cozy!
We already decorated for Christmas and I'm loving the warmth the fireplace adds to the room!

 I FINALLY got my mantel to decorate!
I set out a crystal bowl and put some marbleized glass Christmas bulbs in it.  Then I set out my "HOPE" plaque that my momma made for me.  A little reindeer votive holder.  My "JOY" milk bottles.  A glass vase of candy canes.  And I also added my brand new cashmere winter mittens that I got last year for my birthday!

 We decorated for Christmas early this year.
Normally, I say, "The tree does NOT go up before Thanksgiving!  We have to give Thanksgiving its do time!"
Well, with Thanksgiving falling so late this year, and as much work as it is to put out all of the decor, I caved and we decorated early so we could enjoy it for longer.

I put up two trees again this year.  One in the living room and one in the family room.
The one above is the living room tree. 

Knick-knacks on our end tables...

 My momma made me the JOY bottles and the HOPE plaque.

 My snowmen...

 The tree in the family room...

 Momma made me the JOY plaque too...

 Mom and dad made the "For unto us a child is born" tree...they're such DIYers!

 More table decor...

 Coffee table...

 Living room...

 Kitchen...

 Patio...

 Entryway...

Half wall between upper and lower levels...

That's just "a little" taste of it all.  I have stuff everywhere...every room of the house.

Even the bathrooms get decorated.

Do you decorate every room of your house?
Do you set up more than one tree?
What are your favorite decorating traditions?
I hope you all have a wonderful time preparing for the upcoming holiday season!

Will try to post more during this joyous season!

Merry Christmas!