Basement Update

 

 

It has been a while since I posted our progress in our basement. To tell you the truth, with the kids home for the summer, progress slowed up a lot. My husband and I were busy going on vacation, going to the pool, movies, bowling and entertaining family and friends. However, I did start looking for frames to put family pictures down the stairs. I saw great idea on Pinterest.

I already had the black and gold and all gold frame. I will be adding more family pictures to the wall. I found this cute metal family sign at Hobby Lobby. As you can see my hubby still has to complete the trim to the stairs.

Our family finally decided to have a movie theme for our basement. My daughter suggested a Paris theme, but the boys would not go for that. 

I found this sign that will be on the wall as people walk down the steps. I purchased the sign at Hobby Lobby. This montage of pictures was a present my mom gave us for our 20th wedding anniversary in April.

 

 

Even though I still have several more boxes to open, you won't believe all the stuff we have donated or thrown away. I still have a lot more things to go through.

 

The left side of the room behind the bookshelf will be my studio space. The right side is the game area and workout space.

 

 

 

Here is a close up of my two sons sports teams photos. I put these Mickey Mouse ears just as a joke, but the family likes them since the color matches.

 

I purchased the sign and reel at Hobby Lobby as well. They had a great sale on the signs.

My junkie studio space that I am trying to organize.  I found a bookshelf with baskets at Target that I think will go great for my space.

 

How does it look so far?

Birthday celebrations

Every July my mom flies up from Florida so we can celebrate her birthday with the family. A few days before her special day, we had family and friends over for a cookout on the weekend.

 

 

I had not seen my cousins in a couple of years, but my mom hadn't seen a couple of them in over twenty years.

 

 

 

 

Cousins battling it out on a Wii game.

 

My moms birthday was actually on July 22nd. Our family took her out for dinner at Longhorn. This restaurant is one of our favorite places when dining out.

Growing My Own Lettuce

A friend of mine posted on Facebook, an article on how to regrow vegetables that you purchased from the grocery store. I thought why not give it a try! However, my first attempt totally failed. I did not see any growth for the entire week. The lettuce would not thrive. It was totally dead. I was surprised because I got it from the farmer's market. I also had some lettuce from the grocery that was big and full. I was at the end of the Romaine lettuce with only just a few tiny leaves in the center. I decided to keep them to see if it would grow. All I did was place the stalk of the lettuce in a clear plastic cup, and filled it with water and placed the cup next to my window. The very next day I thought I noticed it grow just a little. On the third day my husband noticed some substantial growth. I have had the lettuce in water for a little over a week. All I do is add fresh water every other day.

I think I am going to plant the lettuce, so it will grow further. Here is a link that shows you other vegetables that can regrow again.  Regrow Your Own Groceries

Let me know if you try it.

New Magnets

Since the kids are home my creative time is almost nonexistent. However, I decided to make these little magnets one morning. I plan on exhibiting in a few shows this fall.

Can you give me any suggestions about some other images that would make good magnets?

Pretzel Time

To say that my daughter Bethany loves pretzels, is an understatement. Every time we go to the mall, without fail, she ask if we can go to Pretzel Time.

 

 

On her last week of school, she decided to make her very own pretzels. She had been looking at recipes over the internet and in my cookbook. I suggested to use the break maker, but she wanted to do it the old fashioned way.

 

 

 

 

 

There are a several steps to allow the dough to rise.

 

 

Bethany rolled out the dough, then made an egg wash before putting the pretzels into the oven.

 

 

She sprayed down the pan with a lot cooking spray before putting the pretzels into the oven.

 

 

 

As you can see they turned out very well! They were all gone by the next day.

House Clock

 

A couple of years ago I started thinking about making a house shaped clock. I actually have had the piece of wood to make the clock for about a year or so. A few weeks ago I decided it was about time to put this idea together. Get it time!

 

I first painted an abstract image, then used my computer to alter the house a little and digitally create the roof design. I have a couple more designs that will be finished soon.

 

What do you think?

Our Trip to Florida

The new station is so pretty.

 

 

Usually my family treks down to Florida for spring break, or just after the kids get out of school for the summer.  This year we headed to the sunshine state a few days after the end of the school year.

 

My mom lives in the Orlando area, in a city called Winter Park. She told me about the new Sun Rail that just opened up about a month ago. It is a light rail that goes by several towns north of downtown Orlando and a few exits south of the city. The plan is for the light rail to go down to the airport. We decided to take a ride for half of the route.

 

 

 

The station is also where the Amtrak comes thru.

 

 

 

 

 Michael and Jordan enjoying their ride.

 

 

After the train ride we strolled the shops of downtown Winter Park. One my absolute favorite galleries to visit is the Timothy Gallery. They have several local and national known fine arts and fine craftsman.

 

 

 

They have glassware, jewelry, clothing and all sorts of goodies.

 

 

 

 

My second favorite gallery is the Scott Laurent Collection. They have a lot of large paintings and other beautiful home décor.

 

 

 

 

The downtown as several hidden walkways with more wonderful stores.

 

 

 

 

Todd always knows I want to come to my old stomping grounds when I visit.

 

 

 

We also went to Cocoa Beach for the day. My daughter Bethany is enjoying the sun.

 

 

 

 We were just south of Port Canaveral. If you look off in the distance you will see two cruise ships. The first is a Carnival Cruise ship and the second a Disney Cruise ship.  The ships were literally only three miles away from us. It was neat watching them go further out to sea and head south to the Caribbean.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting my mom!