Buh-bye 2013! Hello 2014!!!!

So as the year comes to close tonight at the strike of 12, I guess I should write a quick post.  Seeing that it has been MONTHS since I have chatted with y'all, I figured I would end the year with a quick hey and a project of glitter!!!  Has this year been as crazy for you as it has for me?  There have been both good and not as good memories made this year.  Thank God more good than bad.  So, I finished level 2 of nursing school which means only 2 more to go.  I can't tell you how ready I am for this to be over.  My life comes to a screeching halt when classes start up.  That's not easy since it is me and little man the majority of the time.  I am so blessed to have such a patient side kick!!! 

What are your exciting plans for NYE???  Mine are wild and crazy this year....little man and I are renting a movie from Redbox and making pizza....oh and a bottle of Mommy Juice (as he likes to call it)!  The hubs is out in the oil patch and won't be home to celebrate.  So, looks like my date is a 5 year old who can probably out last any adult if given the chance. 

In an ode to the glitz of New Years Eve, I have a glitter project that will surely get you giddy.  A friend of mine pinned a glitter monogram, but when you click on the link it was just a pic.  Soooo, I decided to look at the supplies they showed in the pic and said "Hey, I can glitter with the best of them".  Screech.....I have NEVER used Mod Podge before.  Did you know this stuff is like crack???  I love it!  MP used with glitter sent me into a craze yesterday.  I ran to Hobby Lobby, which by the way has all Christmas stuff 80%, to get my supplies.  I picked up a bottle of Mod Podge, a jar of glitter, and a black wood letter (this way I wouldn't have to paint the natural wood).  We rushed home in the rain and swept everything off the table so I could get to glittering!  I used a sponge brush that I had in my craft closet. This is what I used to apply the Mod Podge.  I also had a can of acrylic coating used from previous projects.

Let's do this...

 

The letter is 12" and I used a couple old juice glasses to set it on in the box to balance it while I got my glitter on. I used an old paper box lid to catch the glitter 'cause I knew it was going to get a little messy.  The same reason I used the old towel underneath the box.  Mama didn't raise no fool!

 

I brushed the Mod Podge on evenly over the front and sides of the "B" making sure I got the inside of the "B" as well.  This is wear it gets fun girls!!!!  Next, sprinkle the glitter all over making sure you didn't miss any spot.  I found I didn't have enough Mod Podge is some areas.  So, I just dabbed a little more on and the scooped some glitter from the box and covered the sticky spot. 

 

Once I had covered the whole thing, I let it sit for a few minutes just to set.  I have no idea if you need to do this, but it made me feel better. 

 

 You can see for the most part I kept my mess contained.  Good thing 'cause you know nobody is going to clean this fun up except for me!  Are you as excited about seeing this glitter as me?  I mean I can't hardly contain myself looking at it.  OK... back to the project. 

After I left it alone a few minutes, I put a bucket on the back porch and set the wet "B" on top.  This is when I sprayed it with this acrylic clear coat.

I gave it a pretty good spray and then let it sit to dry for a couple hours. 
Here is the final product!  I set it on the pallet shelf the hubs and I made earlier this Spring. 

What do you think???  I absolutely love it!  In fact, after I put it up, I decided to "glitterfy" a few other things around the house.  I have a bin in our guest room that has ALL the candles from our wedding reception (almost 9 years ago).  I grabbed 3 glass votive holders in the tote and sprung to the table to Mod Podge and glitter them up.    They are now on the shelf as well.  Wanna hear a sappy side note???  The monogram and votives are done in the same blue my bridesmaids wore many moons ago.  Awe.......

Anyway, Happy New Year dolls!  Hope it brings you everything you want and more!  Cheers!

I'm Back!!!!

Soooo it has been forever since my last post.  I have been running around like a crazy person down here!  I have been studying like a mad woman, had a birthday, had family portraits taken (good Lord I need to invest in airbrush makeup), enrolled Little Man into karate and got ACCEPTED into nursing school!  WHOOP!  WHOOP!  So, as you see, no rest for the weary!  Ooh, I forgot to mention it has FINALLY started to cool off here in South Texas.  Although, we hit a record of 90 degrees on my birthday, which is November 11th.  Crazy, right?  As I celebrated breaking out a couple of long sleeve tops, I decided we had waited long enough to start making "cold weather" food.  So, what better dish to kick off the cooler weather than Creamy Potato Soup. Thank you baby Jesus for potato soup!  I probably could eat this at least once a week.  Along with cooler weather comes the beginning of holiday events. Being that it is close to Thanksgiving, Little Man's pre-K class had their Thanksgiving feast last Thursday.  Since I obviously have plenty of time on my hands, I signed us up for dessert.  I didn't want to do a pie, so I decided to do something a little more creative.  I got the idea to create sugar cone cornucopias from Pinterest.  So, I will show that below as well!  So, I guess I should correct myself and say "Thank you baby Jesus for potato soup and Pinterest!!!  Let's talk potato soup first.  I have worked this recipe over and tweaked it to my taste.  I hope you find it as comforting as I do!

Creamy Potato Soup

4 cups cubed potatoes (red)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup celery (I use the frawns/leaves at the top of the stalk too)
64 oz. chicken stock (I use 32 oz. low sodium & 32 oz. regular)
Pepper to taste
1 Tbs. seasoned salt
1 Tbs. dry parsley
1 stick of butter
1 cup flour
2 cups half & half
shredded cheese (4-6 oz)

In a dutch oven, combine first 7 ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer 15 mins or until veggies are tender.

In a small saucepan, melt butter and add flout to make a roux.

Once at a boil, add cream. Add mixture to dutch oven. Add cheese and simmer for 20 more mins. I let mine simmer for the first 20 mins then put it on low and let it simmer for a few more hours.

Tada!!!

For the cornucopias, I got the idea from the blog Makelifedelicious.  These are super simple and create a really cute presentation.  When we took them in last week, the Principal stopped us and took a pic of our little creations.  Needless to say, they were a huge hit!

Sugar Cone Cornucopias:

 

To start, in a deep saucepan, bring 2" of water to a boil.  Place a steamer on top.  Drop a few cones in at a time (otherwise they will steam faster than you can reform them).  Cover and let it sit for a minute or until the cones become pliable.

 

 

Take one cone out a time.  With a wooden spoon, curl the tip of the cone around the spoon and let cool for a few seconds until it holds its form.  You also may have to reshape the top of the cone back into a circle.  Place on a cookie sheet to cool.

 

 

Once you have made all your cornucopias and they have cooled, fill them with chocolate candies (like M&M's) or a candy mix.  To wrap them up, cut a piece of plastic wrap and then secure with ribbon of your choice.  Told you it was easy!

My name is Stacy and I am a Pinterest addict

My name is Stacy and I am a Pinterest addict.  I am not sure what has come over me this last year. I keep pinning away all the projects I plan to do in the future.  I don't deny I have a creative side that rears its head every now and then, but it seems to be a permanent resident now. Now, don't get me wrong.  Mama always had some kind of hobby.  She is very creative and was the BEST room mom a kid could have.  Now in a world with Pinterest, she would have to fight hard for that title. 

It's no secret I like to drink wine.  OK, I really like wine.  It's something I inherited from my daddy's side of the family.  My uncle makes his own in the basement for crying out loud!  It's only natural I love the stuff.  I have to tell you a funny story.  I ran into the corner store with my little guy to get him a juice before a road trip.  As we walked toward the back of the store, we had to pass the wine display.  My sweet child looked up at me and so innocently asked if we were getting me my "juice" too.  Ha!  Now that makes you a little uncomfortable.  OK, back to Pinterest.  I collect wine corks.  I keep all of them.  I like to use them as a display in the kitchen, but now have found I can be crafty with the excess that I can't fit in my vases on the shelf.  I came across  a handful of pins with the idea to glue used corks onto a letter.  As any southern girl will tell you, we LOVE monograms!  We have been known to monogram anything we can get our hands on...sheets, towels, wine glasses.  You name it...we monogram it!  So as you can see, this had to be a great idea.  Let me share my new found craft:

What you need:
a flat wooden letter (I got mine at Michael's...don't forget your coupon).
80-100 corks (don't judge me)
hot glue gun

I didn't have a method or layout for my corks.  I "free handed" gluing them onto the letter.  Your final product should come out something like the picture below.

 

 

As you can see, it makes cute wall art out of something most people throw away.  So, not only are you crafty, you are saving the earth one bottle of wine at a time.  Cheers!