Independence Day!

Happy July!  I have so much going on right now I could ramble on for several paragraphs.  Instead I will share with you some of our July 4th highlights.  We had a really great weekend.  Busy but great!  On Saturday my cousin and her husband and 2 children came to stay with us.  They are so much fun and we love to just hang out with them and enjoy the great weather.

They arrived on Saturday mid-morning right as my niece was sent to the hospital to be induced.  Huh?  Yep, my niece was due to have her first child on July 1st and ended up being induced on the 2nd.  (More on that later!)  The fellas were suppose to go golfing but it was toooooooooo hot and humid...so we stayed home and hung out by the pool.  FUN!   The kids were so happy to have their cousins here and the 4 of them virtually only surface for food or drink.

Meanwhile, my sister was at the hospital with my niece and her husband keeping us posted with frequent updates.

Saturday morning (early)  I got the call to pick up my mother and head to the hospital.  It was a treat to have my cousin there with us.  We sipped coffee and waited.  At 10:22 am my brand new niece made her way into the world and let me tell you...she's gorgeous!  Mother and Grandma and Daddy are all doing well.

                                  

By 1:30 on Sunday we had experienced the miracle of new life and were in our suits zipping around Lake Essex watching our kids knee board.  (whew!)  It was a beautiful day to spend in a boat and the kids had a blast!

                                    

                                   

                                      

We finished the day in our pool, cooking out burgers and roasting extra large marshmallows over a very smokey fire (the best plans!)

These are our "Adult Juice Boxes"  Found at the local Jewel for $1.99.   YUM!

Which brings us to Independence Day!  We woke early...ate homemade pancakes, baked and prepared and welcomed more family and neighbors around 2:00.

                                   

                Here are the girls making our 4th of July cupcakes...gotta love little helpers!  They made and decorated the cupcakes all by themselves!  Way to go girls!

                                    

                                      

                                      

                                    

                                

                                    


 Lots of swimming, eating, drinking and fun was had by all.  The kids had a blast!  The fireworks were incredible.  The weekend was a success...and I was TIRED!  I can't believe the 4th has come and gone and summer is chugging away.  It always goes too fast!  I hope you enjoyed the holiday and I hope we all remember how lucky we are to live in this country.  

                                     

                                      

                                      

Here We GO...............!!!!!

Summer has officially begun around here.  These past few weeks have been a blur of end of the school year events, yard work and work!  But it has arrived...school is out and we are trying to "wind down" from our busy spring.  I am so happy to start work on our Master Bedroom Makeover Project!  I think I should give some background information before I delight you with some before pics and hints to future fun!

When we built our house we were quite excited but I had a 4 year old and a 1 year old so I think I made some decisions that seemed "easy" at the time and now?  Well, now I regret some of those decisions and need to make some changes.  One MAJOR mistake is that I agreed to put the same cabinetry in every bathroom, laundry room and kitchen.  They're nice, don't get me wrong but..WHAT WAS I THINKING??  I am so SICK of looking at them!  This summer some changes will happen!  

When we built our house I was bound and determined to bring COLOR into our home.  I grew up with a mother who has EXQUISITE taste but everything is a shade of beige or cream.  My parents TRULY believe that painting a wall a real "color" will ruin your walls.  REALLY!  But I needed color so I went for it.  I hired a great decorator to come and help me select colors for my home.  I had pictures from magazines of dreams for each room and she was wonderful in coordinating my dreams with rich, lovely color.  The point I am making is that my bedroom is a color.  "Of course it is Amy," you say.  But when I say a "color" in my family it means something other than a shade of beige.  I chose Benjamin Moore's Georgian Green because it went well with my brand new Pottery Barn bedding that I LOVED!  I decided to splurge and get a beautiful quilt with reds, golds, greens and blues.  I got 3 Euro shams and even had monogrammed shams made from their hotel style linens.  I LOVED my bedroom!  

Fast forward 7 years and...my bedroom has been the sight of many camp outs, family TV viewings and naps.  The dog and the kids REALLY love my big, soft bed and they've REALLY broken in my quilt.  Now, I am well aware that bedding really isn't suppose to last THAT long.  Especially with the kind of wear and tear and the number of washings it's gotten.  I've gotten my money's worth out of my bedding. With the current national economic crisis directly affecting my husband's career (real estate appraiser...ugh!)  we are tightening our belt and room makeovers have not been in the budget for 2 years.  

I went into a period of denial with my  bedroom.  King sized bedding is just too expensive and I didn't have the money to hire a painter...besides, our paint looks fabulous and it would be a waste to repaint since I still like the color.  What to do?  What to do?  Suddenly it came to me...MY SISTER!  Melissa's home is RIGHT out of a magazine.  SERIOUSLY!  (I will have to give you a picture tour some time soon!)  And she loves working with a budget...it's the challenge!  I asked her a few weeks ago if she'd be willing to help a sister with a shoestring budget, and she jumped at the project.  We talked about many options and she agreed that my paint was great and we should work with it.  Just under a week later I get a message from her to check out OverStock...she'd found a new quilt.  Let's just say it fit the room beautifully (and my budget).  So now we are off and running!  YEAH!!!  We have thoughts, we are scouting out sales and we've snagged some new furniture (FREE)!  It's moving forward with great speed but I need to share some befores with you so here we go....

Love the IKEA chair and pillow...hubby hung the frames too far apart but it was such a project I let it go.  They will be coming down, chair will be recovered, nightstand is being painted and new hardware purchased.  We also found CHEAP new lamps (oh is THAT a story for another time!)

Please note the vibrant color of the Euro Shams...that is the color the quilt USED to be...look how FADED!  Too sad!  The monogrammed pillows are missing because they have been laundered and pressed and are part of the new bedding 

I found some sale plain white curtains at Target and used some stitch-wichery (sp?) to add some ribbon detail at the bottom.  Done with it!  The curtains will be coming down and we are dreaming up a whole new window concept.  The shades, however, will stay.  They are room-darkening and I like it dark when I sleep.  Sometimes function trumps fashion around here....just sometimes!

This washstand is from the main level of our home.  My sister and I did some furniture swapping before we got started with our project and I like this size piece better than the dresser that was there.  In all we moved 3 pieces and it made my house feel like it got a face lift.  I will have to share those pics soon too!  And I feel like I am about to share a naked picture of myself...this is BAD...really BAD...look at my pathetic quilt!  I've NEVER in my life worn out bedding...so sad...but look...holes!

And look at how FADED...ugh!  (Hide my head here!)

OK...on to the NEW AND FABULOUS!  Here is just a sneeky peeky (can you tell I've read too many Junie B. Jones books this spring?)  We did some budget shopping and found some yummy items...

Polka dots...of course!

also the OverStockoooohlala!)

Wait til you see what we found for this wall..."Bye bye picture...hello dazzling!"

Last but not least...I leave you on a humorous note...my hubs idea of home security!  Seriously?  I feel so much safer now!  (LOL!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!  Also, if you haven't yet...become a Follower!  I'd love to have you!  Come back soon....updates to follow!  

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I'm Still Here...

I'm still here...just busy with kindergarten and opening the pool and planting flowers and being a Mom (the BEST job!)  But...here is a quick peek at what's been going on around here.  Please come back in early June because I have some projects I have been working on that you might like to see...and...BIG NEWS!  I am "sprucing up" my master bedroom with the help of my uber talented sister...you won't want to miss this!  I have been busy ordering and taking "before" pictures so this will be good!!!  Enjoy this lovely weather (oh how I hope you are having some nice weather where ever you are!)  See you SOON!!!  Amy

My before garden pictures are missing mulch...that is being delivered next Friday.  I was bound and determined this year to plant EVERYTHING before we spread mulch so hopefully I am now DONE!  I planted some green bean, broccoli, tomatoes, herbs, flowers and even some pumpkins and watermelon as an experiment behind the pool.  We shall see.  I think I will be waking early to water before school..only 9 1/4 days left until SCHOOL IS OUT!!!   See you soon and thanks for stopping by!

"Hoppy" Easter...and Other "Stuff"

I was very excited about a long weekend this Easter.  After not working full time for 11 years I am REALLY enjoying being back in the classroom (way more than I thought I would) and I am COMPLETELY enjoying those little kindergartners!  But...the crazy schedule and trying to do my VERY best at school as well as at home was taking their toll on this 40 year old Momma...I needed a break!  Especially since the last 2 weekends were JAMMED with kid activities, chores and have-to-dos...didn't leave Momma any "down time".  I am starting to recognize that I am a girl who desperately NEEDS down time!  So...I was quite please this was a 3 day weekend!

It started off with a bang...both kids were having a friend spend the night.  Not a huge deal but truth be told I am NOT A FAN OF THE SLEEPOVER!  I like just my family, tucked into their beds at night.  End of story.  But...the friends in question are GREAT kids and we had a plan.  Since boy child is getting older and half the fun of a weekend is "staying up late" we decided to let him and his bud take over the basement.  They slept on the couches...had snacks in the fridge and there's a bathroom down there....add the king sized television and a Wii system and they were set...no need for me to stay awake and they could get us if they needed anything.  I had already informed the girl child that she is 8...not 11 and she still has a bedtime with sleepovers...when we go to bed at 10...so do she and her buddy!  End of story.  She was fine with that...so fine that at 10 she was asleep already...I should have known that was too good to be true!!!  With everyone hunkered down for the night...bellies full of pizza and ice cream hubby and I settled in for a good nights' sleep...WRONG!  I was awakened by the girl child at about 1:30am complaining of a tummy ache....then she threw up a little...I took her temp...and she had a fever...here is where I insert apology to other parent!  She showed NO SIGNS of being sick on Thursday but low and behold...when I took her to the doctor on Friday...she has strep throat!  

So...Thursday night's rest was rough...Friday I went back and forth about whether or not to take her to the doctor on Friday or wait until Saturday.  This time my Momma's instinct was 100% correct!  Good thing I didn't wait because by Saturday she'd have been miserable!!!  We started the meds on Friday and she had 2 full doses before bedtime...she woke up on Saturday with a little sore throat but no fever and feeling better...whew!  

Friday was to be "errand day" so I could take it easy on Saturday and maybe have some "me time" but...after a trip to the doctor, McDonald's, CVS and completing a writing assignment that was due the same day...Friday was a BUST!

The good news?  Saturday was better!  The girl spent most of the day working on a cardboard dollhouse with egg carton furniture she found in this month's Family Fun Magazine...with some help from her Dad!

It turned out REALLY cute!  (Forgot to take an "after" photo...I was just enjoying the process!)

Then...in the afternoon...after I finished baking for Easter Brunch (aka...ordering yummies from Panera because I had no intention of spending what was left of my "break" in the kitchen) we decorated Easter Eggs.  Hubby informed me that maybe this would be one of the last years boy child would want to decorate eggs...WRONG!  I informed him that decorating eggs was a REQUIREMENT for this family and even when he is home from college on break, there will be egg decorating before there is partying and girlfriends!  Momma has spoken!  Boy child laughed...maybe he thinks I'm kidding?!

So...here we are...Easter morning.  I've been awake since before 4am (why???) and the boy child has already broken into his basket and hunted down the hidden eggs to have the annoying big brother advantage.  Girl child is all snuggley in her bed getting her beauty rest, hubby is also getting his beauty rest and I am on the bed in my scrapbook/craft room (thank you Patrick!) writing my blog and snuggling my dog.  I plan on picking up the bakery goods around 8am  and then spending some time communing with God outside while exercising and taking in all the beauty spring has to offer.  I may top it off with some Joel...who knows!  Either way I will spend brunch time with my sisters and their families enjoying some yummy treats and then come home and maybe...just maybe... get some of that "down time" I've been craving for weeks!  I wish anyone kind enough to visit Polka Dots and Stripes a very blessed and happy Easter...be sure to count you blessings!  (I know I have too many to count but I certainly try!)

Handmade Flower Headbands

                                     

Where do I start?  Ok...it all started last summer.  My sister and I visited the French Hens' Farmers Market in Morris.  Adorable town with adorable shops with a Farmers Market?  We were there!  As we wandered the quaint sidewalk booths we came upon an adorable booth with big paper pom poms and bright colored head wear in familiar patterns.  This was a booth of headbands and barrettes for little girls made from ribbons and Amy Butler fabric (being scrapbookers we'd recognize Amy Butler anywhere!)  Of course we HAD to go in her tent and check out her handmade items.  Here is where it all went wrong.  My sister...the perfectionist...started asking the owner HOW she made these headbands.  The woman was very nice but was honest enough to tell us she glued the ends because she didn't know how to sew.  My sister was asking a LOT of questions but it's not unlike Kiki to be a bit...inquisitive...shall we say...so I didn't pay too close attention.  I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN!  Once we were a safe distance away...and $20 poorer...my sister pulled out a headband she'd purchased for my daughter and informed me that although the idea was good...WE COULD MAKE THEM BETTER!!!  Now...at this point it's only fair to share with you that when my sister gets something in her head everyone better watch out.  It means she's on a mission....it means she has a one track mind...it means no one at her house would get dinner for a few nights because she was in project mode.  And this trip to the Farmers Market was no exception.  Although we saw some other really cute booths my sister couldn't stop talking about the headbands and how we could make them better...cuter...much MUCH better!!!  


She did.  She made them better.  She found a way to make them even more darling and even better quality...and WAY CUTER!!!  And she was making them faster than she could embellish them.  So she called in the troops (me).  I instantly became her chief headband decorator.  I glued...I embellished and we created some pretty GREAT head ware.  But I was JEALOUS!  I want cute head-ware.  Why do the little girls get all the fun?  They didn't have princess dresses and play shoes and tiaras when I was little.  I want a "re-do"!  I want sparkles and pretties and fancies.  WAIT...what about head-ware for Mommas?  Something I would wear.  Something cute and sassy but sophisticated.  Not something that looked like I snagged it out of my daughter's dress up bin.  So we started creating some GREAT Momma's head-ware that I will soon be selling on Etsy.  (If you're interested leave a comment with your email and I will be sure to contact you when my Etsy shop is up and running.)

Now...fast forward to this past October when I turned 40 and got an AMAZING sewing machine from my parents.  Who would want a sewing machine for the big 4-0 you wonder???  ME!!!  I've always wanted to learn how to sew!!  My sister's though of EVERYTHING to go with it (including a CUTE sewing box!)  My new machine is amazing....

                                                

and it came with a lesson!  So, I called and went to the FIRST possible lesson time.  All I have to say is HEAVEN!  New hobby!  Anyway, on to the headbands.  Months later my talented sister has abandoned our headband making...but not me!  I have fine tuned our process even more and I am going to show you how to turn a dollar store headband into a cutie, boutique-worthy headband!

Step 1:  Supplies.  You will need:
1.  inexpensive headbands (I get mine from several local dollar stores)


2.  ribbon
3.  matching thread
4.  adorable flowers (the fancier the better!)


5.  embossing gun (if you have it...helps make the headband look more "finished")
6.  E6000 glue (best choice) or hot glue gun works too...

Step 2:  Cut your ribbon into strips that will easily cover the headband with about 3/4-1" extra at each end. This is important because these headbands are COMFORTABLE!  They don't tend to give the headband-wearer (is that a word?) a headache while wearing it...BIG PLUS!

                                           

                                               
                                          

Step 3:  Sew the 2 sides of the ribbon together making a tube.  When you finish trim loose threads.

Step 4:  Insert headband and leave extra ribbon at each end.

                                                    
                                            

Step 5:  Trim the end of each ribbon so they are smooth with no stray threads or frays.

Step 6:  Emboss the edges of the ribbon just slightly so that they are melted and the thread and ribbon won't fray.  Good step to make your headband look more Boutique-worthy!

Step 7:  Fold one edge at a time and machine sew.  I run it through and then back-stitch once to ensure it will stay finished.

                                                      

                                                          
              
Step 8:  Glue your flower in the desired spot.  I like the flower off to the side...looks so CUTE!  I apply glue to the center of the flower at first. Once it's in place I use clothes pins to hold the flower in place as it dries.  I usually let it sit overnight to ensure it's dried.

                                                             

There you have it...a CUTE...handmade flower headband.
                
                                           

                                               

                                                

                                                   


 If you're not up to making these or you don't sew you can order them from my Etsy shop as soon as it's opened (busy covering a maternity leave in kindergarten and shuffling the kids to their activities so free time is limited these days...maybe first thing in June?)  If you're interested in purchasing my headbands please email me with  your email address and information and I will contact you AS SOON as the Etsy shop is up and running!  Either way, thanks for stopping by!!!!

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