DIY Gudetama Valentine's Box

I just had to share this awesome Valentine's box. My son is obsessed with Gudetama(the last egg). This is made out of styrofoam, felt and foam. Every year Ty comes up with these amazing ideas and we are left trying to figured out how to make it happen. I hope you like it as much as we do❤.

Bring The Music Back

I know it has been a very long time since I've posted on my blog.  I think time has had a lot to do with it but today I'm feeling very reflective.  I'm afraid that in an effort of building a new life I have lost a part of myself.  I found myself listening to a new talent on you tube and it brought tears to my eyes.  I have somehow in this chaos of my life I lost the one thing that made me ME! I lost my voice.  I lost the ability to feel.  There was a time that the only thing I could think about was singing.  How I could get my next fix. lol.  Singing gave me such an exhilarating high.  I would open my mouth and the feeling of release was everything.  I'm not sure how to describe it.  I can't put into words what it did for me and all of my emotions.  I have always had a flare for the dramatic but with age it has subsided so very much.  Today I find it raring its ugly head.  Is it a bad thing though? My life slowing down enough to deal with some of the unpleasantness of my life?  Maybe not.  I have been through so very much pain and change in the last seven or eight years.  I've lost count. Autism. Divorce. Bankruptcy. Infidelity. Sociopath. Forgiveness. Through all of this I've tried to remain true to myself. Owning up to the mistakes I've made and trying to help those around me.  Giving back so maybe others wouldn't make the same mistakes.  I've tried to come out the other side unchanged but my life has completely changed me. God brought me to my knees two years ago.  He brought me to a place where all I could do is look up.  I really learned how to stand on my own. There are a lot of aspects that have greatly improved.  My ability to surround myself with genuine people.  Loving people.  It was just brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago that it seems as though I'm punishing myself by not singing.  Are they right? Maybe half right.  What most people don't understand is that when I open my mouth to sing.....the only thing that comes out is PAIN!  Pain that is almost unbearable. Like a knife in my heart! As I sit at my computer writing this the tears flow uncontrollably.  I want to give my son the gift of music but I don't know how to anymore.  The one gift that God gave me and I don't know how to use it anymore. How has this happened?  Couldn't music be the one thing that changes Ty's life as it has mine?  Why does it have to hurt so much?  I find myself wanting my son to know who his mother was not just who she is now.  Why does becoming a grown up mean losing parts of yourself?  I do have so many questions that I don't have the answers to.  All I know is that it is time for me to be transparent.  I've learned showing vulnerability is showing strength.  I suppose its time to bring my piano back in the house.  Dust off what was and bring it to the surface.  Walk where its not quite so comfortable to walk.  Start a journey to bringing the music back.  I can do this.

What's the old saying "Time Heals all Wounds"?

Wow its been a while since I've posted on my blog.  Today I was watching a movie I haven't seen in 10 years and I was reminded of just how much I love it.  I love it so much that I wanted to share with you my favorite scene.  There is a very good reason that this movie strikes such a chord in my heart, my mother.  As a daughter, I have always looked back on my childhood with joy but also with tears.  The bond I have with my mother has been the rock and foundation on which I've shaped my life.  My childhood had some pretty good little bumps in it.  In my 30's, I started to realize this perfect life I had placed in my head wasn't exactly the truth.  One part my fault but also one part my mothers.  We spent a lot of my time trying to convince everyone that our life was perfect.  I've found that now I'm dedicated to living an authentic life.  The truths are that there is NO perfect life. 
     I sit here at my computer just a few days after my 42nd birthday and realize that I am a very blessed woman.  I have come full circle.  I'm so blessed my best friend is my mother.  In the last few years, our relationship is real.  It makes me smile.  The band aids have all come off to reveal a life time of hurt.  When we finally talked as genuine and as real as we could, we could heal.  I no longer blame my mother for all that is wrong with my life.  lol.  I did that all on my own.  I'm so happy that we could move through the past because the joy I have being with my parents is insurmountable.  My 20's I spent a lot of time on myself.  Concentrating on who I thought I should be.  I was just trying to figure out who I was.  My 30's was spent living my life.  Doing all of the things that I set out to do in my 20's.  Living a pretty selfish life.  Learning that all that I wanted in my 20's wasn't what I really needed.  My 40's have just begun and so have I.  I'm starting over, a redo.  I would be lying if I told you I knew what I was doing.  Lol.  I don't have a clue but I will let you know when I figure it out.  I'm learning what a creative person I truly am.  I'm learning that I have a lot of love to give.  I also have a lot of life to live.
Sorry I seemed to have strayed of topic a bit;)  I just want to share with you this wonderful scene where the mother and daughter are healing their relationship.  The mother is speaking to her daughter and having an a-ha moment.

And then it dawned on me, all those years that I prayed, that I begged on my hands and knees for God to make me more.  Make me better.  Make me stronger.  Make me saner.  Make all my dreams come true.    Right there in one person.  All I’ve ever wanted to be and there you are.  You came right through me and I never even realized.  I hate it when its right there in front of your face, don’t you? 

What a wonderful moment when God reaches through the muck and the mess of our lives and blesses us.  I have been so lucky to get to hear some of these same words come out of my sweet momma's lips.  Thank you Lord for healing our family.  I don't think I could feel any closer to my parents than I do today.  My mother now takes the time out of her day to tell me all of those things that a daughter longs to hear.  "I'm proud of you."  "You have turned into a wonderful mother."  She lifts me up when I'm down.  My number one cheerleader.  I love you mom.  I will be thanking God for you in my prayers tonight. 

Mason Jar Chandelier

I couldn't wait to share these photos with you of my new light fixture for the dining room.  I'm so excited that Chris is so talented to build this ideas I have.  I saw this light fixture on Pinterest and fell in love with it.  He saw and said "I can build it".  It has turned out truely amazing.  It was NOT as easy as the blog we read said it was but we improvised.  The original light fixture was done with clear mason jars but I really wanted a vintage feel with the blue jars.  It took a couple of days of junkin' to find the jars we needed.  The hardest part was mounting the chandelier itself.  Once it was hung we still weren't happy with it because it just wasn't hanging like we thought it should so a little adjustments.....shortening some of the wires.......we now absolutely love it.  I hope you like it as well.  Now Chris has ladies wanting him to make them one too:)  He is actually flirting with the idea of selling mine.  I don't think I like that idea........BOO!



Simple and Functional Craft Space

I don't have a lot of space in my house for my crafts.  Therefore they have to be Incorporated into the house.  Here's how I try to make it look nice but still functional.  I went to my local flea market(Riverside Antiques)and found mis-matched old shelves.  One of my shelves is a drawer from and old desk and one is an old painted window box.  I'm still collecting unique glass jars.  I put all of my scrapbook brads in the jars.



Penne Alla Vodka

Here I go, my very first food blog.  Most of my friends know that I love to cook.  In the last few years, I've found a passion for cooking.  Chris and I have actually gotten spoiled because we are now cooking things better at home then we get in the restaurant.  I wanted to share this recipe with you.  I did find the basic recipe online but I have tweaked it to my liking.  I hope you try it and you love it as much as I do.  You will definitely be in a carbohydrate coma after eating this meal.  lol

Penne Alla Vodka

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of olive oil

8-10 cloves of garlic(finely chopped)

1(28 ounce) can of whole peeled tomatoes

1(14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes

1/8 cup(heaping cup) dried basil

1/4 cup of citron vodka

1 pound penne

1 pint heavy whipping cream

Salt and pepper to taste.

1.  In a large skillet over medium heat, cook finely chopped garlic in olive oil until its tender.
Watch your heat so that you don't burn the garlic.  Cook a couple of minutes.
Stir in both cans of tomatoes.  Break up the whole tomatoes a bit.
Stir basil and salt & pepper simmer for about 15 minutes.

Your sauce will reduce down and look similar to this.
I did go a little heavy on the basil on this day. 

Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
Don't forget to salt your water or your pasta won't have any flavor.

 Add pasta and cook for about 11 minutes or until al dente.

Stir in vodka and cook 10-15 minutes more. 



Stir cream into sauce and cook 10 minutes.
Be sure to keep stirring during this time so tomatoes don't settle
on the bottom of the pan and burn.



Your sauce will thicken a little while it cooks the last 10 minutes.

Drain your pasta.  (like my vintage strainer?....just like my mother had.)

Toss sauce and hot pasta in a large bowl.

Serve and enjoy.  This is a quick and easy meal.  Its low in cost.
You can buy the ingredients for this recipe for around $8.00.(not including the vodka)
Once you buy the bottle of vodka($15 a bottle) its a very cheap recipe.

Vintage Angel Carousel Chimes

I just saw a picture on television of one of these chimes.  The show was taped in Toronto so not local.  When I saw the angels it thrust me back in time when my mom put ours out every Christmas.  My parents always made Christmas such a magical and special time.  I wish I could go back in time to feel the joy I had at Christmas when life was much simpler.  I would love to be able to find one of these chimes.  I want to be reminded of everything my mother did at Christmas from the homemade candies, old tattered ornaments, tinsel garland and a card board fireplace.  I love you mom and dad.

Coffee Filter Wreath Centerpiece.

This was my first attempt at making a coffee filter wreath.  I think they are so beautiful.  Mine is certainly not perfect but it will do for this Christmas.  I hope this will inspire you to do your own.  It took around 200 filters to do this much of the wreath.  I also had some old Christmas supplies which I repurposed for this project.  aka the hurrican lamp:)

Glass Ornament Wreath

I just wanted to share my latest pinterest projects.  I attempted to make a glass ornament wreath.  I hope you like it.  It certainly didn't cost me much.  The ornament wreath I have only $3.00 in it.  I went to our local thrift store and bought a garbage sack full of ornaments.  Came home.... tore apart a wire hanger and started stringing the ornaments.  Oh I did glue all the hangers to the ornaments so they wouldn't come apart before I put them on the hanger.  I still had a few casualties that broke before I could get the wreath finished.  I think it turned out pretty.  I'm very happy:)

I found these necklace holders on Pinterest and just had to have one.  Chris found some old wood and made them for me.  They are so creative.  Just using simple items and making them beautiful.  I always like having one of a kind items in my house.  Hope you like them as well.  Here are the ones we've made so far.



Ribbon Tree

For those of you that don't know, Christmas is very big at my house.  There's usually not an ounce of doorway or railing that doesn't have some form of garland and lights on it.  I was looking on facebook the other day and one of my DYI sights had a picture of a ribbon tree and I thought it was just darling.  I showed it to Chris and a day later this is what he brought home to me.  He went and bought the ribbon and everything he needed to make the tree and poof!!!! Here it is.

He's tree is even cuter than the original one.  I can't believe how very talented this man is.  I'm so proud of him.  This is a part of himself that he really doesn't let too many see.  It doesn't go real well with football, basketball and baseball oh and wings and beer.  LOL.  I will be posting more of his crafty creations soon so keep your eyes out for the next post from my blog.  Hopefully he doesn't care that I am sharing this with the world:)

We will be selling these at the craft fair this weekend if you are interested.  The best part is we can customize the tree to fit your taste.  If your color scheme is pink, then we will make it with pink ribbon.  I told him I wanted him to make a brown and light teal tree.  I think those colors would be beautiful.

Creative juices are flowing.........

Here's my official first project I've made using my Cricut Imagine.  I do love this machine.  It is amazing on the capabilites it can do.  I just decided to make custom gift bags for those that purchase some Tickled Pink Bath Product. 

I thought the claw foot bath tub would be a nice touch;)

What I love the most about Chris is that he realize my ideas.  I saw these awesome necklace holders on Pinterest and I just had to make them.  Well two days later and lookie lookie......he did it.  I would've never thought to use this old barn wood.  They look amazing.  We still need to put the hangers on.  I'm going to attach silk ribbon to hang it on the wall.

We tried to make a variety to suit all different taste.

I think the turquoise and clear knobs are my favorite.

Last but certainly not the least is this vintage door hall tree.  Chris is doing an amazing job on this project.  Now he's waiting for me to finish it.  I have to do the painting.  I'm just so nervous that I will screw it up.  I'm going to try and match the finish on the door.  I also still need to get the basket that fit under the bench for storage.  



Tickled Pink Bath Company Holiday Craft Fair

Ozark South Elementary 1st Annual

Craft Festival

December 3, 2011

Ozark South Elementary

8:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

Tickled Pink Bath Company

Holiday Craft Fair

 Come by and receive a free hand treatment with our decadent sugar scrubs.

 Lotion bars, bath salts, bath fizzies and gift baskets.

 Ooh La Lollipops.  Bath fizzies for the kids.

 Sugar Scrub Shakers in Black Raspberry Vanilla, Monkey Farts, Carribean, Spiced Chai,

Peppermint Patty, Fruit Loops, Pearberry, Coco Mango, Margarita and Bite Me.

We also have Organic Sugar Scubs, Lemon Spearmint Bath Salt

and Pucker Up Lip Balm in Grapefruit Spearmint.

Bath bombs in Bermuda Triangle, Carribean and Monkey Farts.

Autism Has Silenced Me

This evening I have been watching Sandi Patty on Gaither Gospel Hour.  Bill Gaither asked her if she would share one of her favorite hymns.  What song means the most after all of these years, after life being kicked around and she started singing "His Eye Is On The Sparrow".  She spoke about that there was a time in her life that she felt like singing publicly was over for her.  As she spoke those words, my eyes filled with tears because I haven't sang since Christmas and before that was July 2010.  I have so many friends ask me "are you singing anywhere?"  I am so embarrassed to say "no".  I am 41 years old and have been singing since I was 13 years old.  Music has been a part of my life ALL of my life.  I don't know why I stopped singing.  There wasn't one thing in my life that silenced me.  It was a series of events that has silenced me.  The biggest reason AUTISM.  I can't tell you the pain I feel in my heart to know that the sound of my voice causes my son so much anguish.  He can't handle the sensory part of it.  He has to plug his ears because its just too much.  I once was doing a sound check at a church and he was sitting by the monitors.  I was singing his eye is on the sparrow and when the song was wrapping up I looked at Ty and he had this sad mournful face.  I had never seen that look before.  I went to him and held him and he just wept and told me that the song was just too sad.  He was touched deeply but he didn't know what these emotions were that he was feeling.  I just held him.  I didn't know what else to do. 

My singing has always been so theraputic for me.  You would think that music would be what gets me through the hardest part of my life but it can't be.  I know God has a plan for me.  He always has.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am right where he wants me to be.  There is a time and a place for everything.  My place right now is to be where my son needs me.  God placed this wonderful little man in my life and I am commited to his every need.  I feel that when the time is right and I go back to singing that I will be singing from a different place.  I think for the first time in my life I will have the soul behind the voice.  An old jazz musician once said to me in the recording studio when I was 23 years old......"you haven't lived long enough to sing jazz".  I now know what he meant.  There is a time and a place and a season for everything:)