grateful...sick and finally biten

• grateful to be able to go to guatemala with my friend... i kissed on lots of kids and teachers.
• came home sick. came home sick to two kids with the flu and strep throat.
• i picked up twilight last wednesday on the flight home from guatemala and just finished the 4th book...in 6 days, i read all 4. yes i've been biten. i keep looking out back waiting for Edward to stroll out of the woods. he's probably afraid of getting the flu.
  

Kids in Guatemala

I leave tomorrow to go visit these kids in Guatemala.

I'm part of a non-profit that supports a school on the railroad tracks of Guatemala city. The children aren't allowed to go to the public schools because they live on the tracks. So some volunteers got together and started a school for the children. We will be there for the 7 yr. Anniversary of the school.

Teachers of the Hope School

We have an adopt-a-teacher program (making sure the teacher's receive some salary, so they can continue to teach the kids). We're taking down a ton of donations/school supplies. Even in the economy that we're in, people are still willing to give to those even less fortunate. For that I am grateful. The kids and the teachers will steal your heart...I promise! If you're interested in helping or taking a trip down, please visit our website Friends of Guatemala.

Artichoke Dip

This is my "Go-To" Dip! It is a no fail...even my kids eat it. A friend in California gave me the recipe years ago. It is fab-u-lous!

Need:

1 can artichoke hearts in water or 2 small jars marinated in oil (chopped)
1 block cream cheese
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese (NOT grated)
garlic salt ( a few dashes)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients with mixer until well blended. Pour into oven safe dish and cook for 30 minutes. We eat it with white corn tortilla chips. Pita chips and carrot sticks are also yummy with this dip. When I'm going to a fairly large party, I just double the recipe. I'm tellin' you that everyone who eats it will fall in love with you. Let me know if you try it.

Spring up your cut-off jeans

Get those jeans ready for Spring.

Do your kids have jeans that look like this? My girl's, pretty much, crawl around on their knees. Recycle and make the most of what you've got.


Cut your jeans...as long or as short as you want. Get your fabric, pom pom fringe and ric rac. Fat quarters are perfect for this.

Measure across, then double it and add 2 inches...or so. I cut my fabric 14" Long x 6" Wide.

Fold in half lengthwise and iron.

Fold one side to the crease line and iron. Do the same with the other side.

Should look like this.

Then attach to the bottom of your jeans with pins...like a cuff. Half goes underneath and then comes up over.

You'll have to remove a part of the machine in order to fit the leg on. I added the green ric rac as I sewed.

When you get all the way around, make sure to sew up and down where the seams meet. You can spring up the ends of skirts...or make yourself some capri's. Have fun!

Blog Makeover Winner!

The lucky winner is C-re from Blue Ride Mountain Mama. Congrats! To everyone who played...I loved reading all the reasons we blog and I love this community. Thanks for all your comments. Come back tomorrow to see how we spring up our cut-off jeans!

How I beat the homeschool blues

"Mock" Cafe Mocha

First get out your cutest coffee mug! If you don't have one...I just happened to have listed some in my etsy shop.

Need:

• coffee
• sugar
• hershey's chocolate syrup
• REAL half & half or whipping cream
• whipped cream
  
• milk frother or your handy dandy whisk

Make coffee...decaf or caf...your call. Put a heaping spoon of sugar in mug, fill mug almost 1/4 the way with cream. Add some hershey's chocolate syrup. Put in the microwave for about 30 sec. to warm up the cream. Froth with your milk frother OR put your whisk in your cup...hold it between both hands and go back and forth until your milk is frothed. Make sense? Pour coffee. Stir with spoon and top with whipped cream. Enjoy!


Then go frolic in the sun with your kids.

Take pictures of lizards, turtles, mallards and tree info and call it a nature walk.

Blog Makeover Give-Away

I can't believe it's been a year that I've been blogging. I started this blog March 7th one year ago...as an outlet to post pictures of all my creative, sewing and thrifting endeavors. I have truly gained so much more!

• New friends
  
• Encouragement from other homeschool moms
  
• Lots of great ideas for decorating, sewing, crafting & cooking
• Did I mention...encouragement from other homeschool moms?
  

I love being able to help and encourage people. I love sharing what I do at home. I get to vent my creative ideas here. And, I hope in this next year I can give back as much as I've been given.

One of my new found friends lives 5 minutes from me and is my blog designer. She is adorably sweet. We met via Mrs. Fussypants ...she made over her blog. We rode to the Blissdom conference together and chatted the whole way...when we weren't peeing in our pants...laughing with Dara. We both lived in California and are verified California Food snobs! Always on the search for that most perfect mexican cuisine. So, because, it's my blog-o-versary, Carrie has agreed to give one of you lucky reader's a Blog Makeover! Yippee! She has re-designed mine twice...because I'm persnickety and undecisive like that. Just ask my her.

<a href="http://www.sweetfaeriedesigns.com"><img src="http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s272/carriesue425/sfdmarbuttoncopy.jpg" width="125px"/> </a>

To enter:

1. Leave a comment on why you blog or why you read blogs. (1st entry)
   
2. Post to your blog or twitter your group to spread the word for a 2nd entry. You must comment again for a 2nd entry. (2nd entry)
3. Grab the Sweet Faerie button and include it in your blog post for a 3rd entry. Again, you must come back and comment that you did so. (3rd entry)
   
4. This contest runs until Wed. (3/11) midnight Eastern Time.
5. Winner will be drawn via random.org and announced the next day.
6. You must be on the Blogger (blogspot) platform to win the package that includes a new template and installment.
7. Graphics can be awarded to any blog platform.
   

Blog Prize Package includes:
2-3 column template (Blogger platform)
Header (Blogger and/or graphic only)
Sidebar titles (Blogger and/or graphic only)
Blog button promoting your site (Blogger and/or graphic only)

Good Luck! I look forward to reading all the reasons we blog and read blogs.

Love this little face.

Oh...how I do heart this little face.

Fake your monogram

If you love the look of Monograms, but dont have an embroidery machine...you can fake it with a little freezer paper and some paint.

Print out your monogram and tape it down on the freezer paper (NOT the shiny side). I cut out each letter seperately to adjust them.

Use your exacto knife to cut out the letters.


Position your freezer paper on your shirt and iron-on. Make sure to put a piece of cardboard or stock paper between you shirt's front and back...to prevent paint through. I used craft paint or you could use fabric paint. Using a small brush...paint in your monogram and then let it fully dry before peeling off the freezer paper.

After, I wanted to dress up the monogram a bit. I printed an oval shape from the computer, taped it to the freezer paper and cut it out. Iron on the oval shape (shiny side down) over the monogram. Use a small brush to paint the outline along the oval. You could just cut out the oval and then cut the monogram letters out of the oval shape. Let it dry completely before peeling off the oval.

You could also monogram a pillow case or a piece of fabric and frame it. The options are unlimited...