Canvas Bag {Teacher Appreciation}

Teacher appreciation is quickly approaching.  This year I am actually trying to plan in advance for what I want to give my boys teachers, rather than rushing out to the store and buying something impersonal.  I decided every teacher normally has a bag that they carry their daily supplies and book in, so what better gift than a bag?  Here is how I did it.

I bought a medium sized canvas bag at the store.  And picked out a scrap piece of fabric from my stash.

Sew all the way around your fabric so that you will not have any threads or raveling happening in case they have to wash it.

Pin your fabric on the top and bottom so that it will not move when sewing.

I sewed on all sides so that the fabric would not separate from the bag.  I started with the top and bottom straight across.  Then I moved to the sides and just gathered the fabric as I went down.

It's not perfect, but it was thought out and made by my hands.  I hope the teachers will love it.  And I think it's pretty cool that on the bottom of both sides, the fabric goes in a little.  Kinda makes it look like it's supposed to be that way, right?  HA!

Have you started planning for teacher appreciation yet?  Leave me a link to what you plan on giving, I would love to see!

I like to party over here!

Make it a GREAT day!

Feature Friday {Freaturing YOU}

Happy Friday!

Have you entered my current giveaway for $20 Thrifty and Fabulous Etsy Shop??  Super cute things, and you could even get a few things for $20!

You all probably realize how much I love Mandy from Sugar Bee Crafts by now.  But seriously, I LOVE these Color Run outfits.  I have committed to The Color Run that will be in Nashville in October.  It will be my FIRST 5K.  And I am SO EXCITED!  I think I need to make a knock off of these sweet kids outfits. LOVE!

I would still consider myself a "newbie" to re purposing and being crafty.  I would have never thought about doing what Ruffles and Stuff did with these suspenders.  Head on over and check it out.  I'm amazed!

Creatively Living made a fabulous Yarn Lamp Shade.

TaDa! Creations showed how to make this super cute ruffle pillow.  You know I love me some bright pillows.  This would fit right in at my living room. ;)

Being Brooke made an awesome White Picnic Table.

If you were featured, feel free to grab a button!

<center><a href="http://christyscuties.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m617/yourfavoritelizard/Christys%20Cuties/ChristysCutiesFeaturedButton.jpg"/></a></center> Have a great day!

GIVEAWAY {Thrifty and Fabulous}

Hi Friends!  I hope you all are having a great week.  Last week I hit my one year in blogging, and promised a giveaway to celebrate!  Well, Erika from the Thrifty and Fabulous Etsy shop offered to have one for me.  If you've been around my blog for a bit, you know I love the Thrifty and Fabuous Etsy Shop of Erika's.  Here are a few things she has in her shop.

Owl Charm Necklace

I have a thing for owls right now.  I've been eying this. 

Rosette Necklace

Who doesn't love a cute rosette necklace?

 Bronze Ring with Pink Flower

You know I hade to include something pink!  I LOVE this flower ring.

Want to know what you will win?  Erika is so kindly giving away a $20 credit to one of my awesome readers!!  YAY!!

Birchbox: April

It's that time of the month again.  I received my Birchbox for April and I LOVE IT!!  Here is what I received.

The box included:
Befine Face Cleanser (2)
Befine Face Moisturizer (3)
Amika Hair Mask
dirt. Salt Scrub
Vapour Organic Lipstick
Le Palias Tea Bags (2)

Amazing, right?  I am loving Birchbox.

This is how Birchbox works.  You sign up and pay $10 a month, and once a month Birchbox will send a cute pink box with large samples.  The number of samples are normally between 4-5, but as you can see, I got a lot more than that this month!

If you already receive Birchbox, I would love to know what you think about it, and if you received different items. ;)

Friday Faves {Featuring YOU}

Happy Friday everyone!!  This day is beginning to be my fave of the week.  I love being able to show off other people, just as much as I love other's showing me off. ;)

Bullfrogs and bulldogs shows you how to make your own stenciled pillows. 

Life on Mars spray painted her curtains.  Hello??  Genius!  I would have never thought about that!  LOVE!

Sweet Floweret is the best at Baby Skirts and matching onesies.

Creme de la Craft must be a GENIUS for how she did her iPad case.  Think bubble mailer.  You have to go check it out!  I don't own an iPad...but I want to make one of these!  lol

Craft-O-Maniac has a super fun way to re-use all of those plastic eggs left from Easter!  Look at her egg snake.

That's all for this week!  I hope you noticed something you hadn't see yet this week!  Have a great Friday, Y'all!

Pinterest Make Me: Container Garden

Happy Wednesday Friends!!  I have a great Pinterest post for you....or....I mean me today!  HA!  I NEED HELP.  I seen this pin on Pinterest.

Source: alifesdesign.blogspot.com via Erin on Pinterest

Looks great, right?  A container of veggies and such.  Outside. not in the ground taking up space.  No having to weed eat around, or pulling weeds from. 

Well, it would be great if I had a green thumb at all.  I don't.  I kill everything I touch.  Seriously.  So, I need help.  I wanted to start small so I planted a cabbage plant in a container "garden".  It is in a big pot, by itself.  So I know it has plenty of room.  BUT, this is what it look like....

Seriously??  It's dying.  The leaves are already turning.  Do you have any advice??  Is there not enough soil?  Not watered enough possibly?  Too much sun?  This photo was taken at 530 in the afternoon, so it is getting sun literally all day.  Can anyone help?  lol 

Sorry this isn't a cute, fru fru post. HA!  Next week will be back to regular scheduled programming.....hopefully. ;)

Have a great week!

Tasty Tuesday: Paleo Jumbalaya

Good Morning, Lovelies!   I have a new recipe to share with you all today.  It was SO GOOD, too!  It's definitely going into our family's food rotations.  Ready to see it?

Now for the good stuff, the directions.  Here ya go!

1 package of sausage
1 small onion finely chopped
2 green bell peppers, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1tsp paprika
1tsp salt
1tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried thyme
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 (28oz) can organic diced tomatoes
1c chicken broth
½-1 head cauliflower
1lb shrimp, shells and tails off

Cook sausage in large deep pot. As it browns, add a little more oil to the pan and then saute yellow onion and bell peppers until onion becomes soft. Add garlic and spices then tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer with lid on for 10 min.

While it simmers, cut the cauliflower into small florets and grate in a food processor so the texture resembles rice. Add the cauliflower to the post and simmer another 10 min. Add the shrimp and simmer until cook through and pink, about 5 min.
All that's left is to serve it up and EAT!  YUM!  Makes me want more right now.  I would love to know if you try it, and what you thought. :)

I like to party here.

One Year Blogging

WOW!  I can not believe I have been blogging for one year.  Today, one year ago I had NO IDEA what I was getting myself into.   I knew blogging was out there, but did not realize how in depth it actually was.  I didn't realize how many different things were blogged about, or the connections that could be made with others around the world.  It's amazing to me that other's from another Country read my little blog.  I'm in awe of how many friends I have made in the last year.  We may not know each other in real life/face to face, but there are a lot of you that I do consider friends.

THANK YOU all so much for visiting, reading, commenting, friendship building, everything.  You all have changed my life in more ways than you know.  I hope you have a fabulous day, and I will try to figure out a proper thank you with a GIVEAWAY soon!  And I look forward to getting back to the regular scheduled programming this week!  I have some things planned....finally! ;)

Feature Friday {Featuring YOU}

Happy Friday everyone!!  I hope you all are having a great day! I am. ;)

First, I want to show off Sister See, Sister Do.  My friend Julie joined her blog with her sisters and they are off with a BANG!  Julie did a re-visit of an older post of hers and I love it just as much now and I did then, so I wanted to show it off!   The Prickly Posie.

Giggles Galore did a fabulous DIY Mud Pie Kit.  With summer right around the corner how amazing would this be for kids birthdays??  Love!

The Diary of Daves Wife has me wanting her Peacock Feather Wreath something serious.  How amazing is this??

The Little Giggler never disappoints me, either.  Look as this Fold Over Ruffle Clutch.  I'm making one, and soon!

Thanks so much for reading!  Have a great weekend.

Happy Late Easter

Happy Late Easter Y'all!

I am so sorry it is late, but I was spending some serious quality time with my kiddos!  You see, sometimes you get so caught up in the "happenings" of life that you forget to show the ones you love most all of your attention.  So this weekend I did.  We were jammed packed with FUN! 

Saturday the hubby and I took the kiddos to Rock City in Lookout Mountain TN.   Here is a quick pic.  A must see if you are near the area!  I will do a post soon with what you can expect to see when there.  ;)

 Then of course, Easter!  We woke up super early, so that we could have a full day to celebrate our Jesus's life!

 Next was an awesome time at our Church, Awaken.  LOVE IT!  Our children's ministry is top notch.They do the best they can to show all of the children the Love of Jesus.

 Last, but certainly not least, we had a blast at our friend's house with their families.  One of the hardest things about being in the Military is being away from your own families during holidays.  We are so blessed to have friends that treat us as family and invite us to be with theirs.  As you can see, they were very blessed with TONS of candy.  So much so that we had to dump their baskets so they can get more eggs. lol  ;)

I hope you all were able to have as great of an Easter weekend as we were able to. 

Have a great day!

Pretty Pillows

Guess what?  I made a few new pillows for the living room re-do.  If you remember This Friday Faves, I found this pillow from Pink Stitches.

I told you I wanted one for myself, so here is mine.....along with another one.

For my quilt pattern pillow I only used two different kinds of fabric for the squares, then a fabric for the back.  I didn't have quite enough fabric for the front, so I just gathered the back fabric around all sides on the front.  I LOVE the way it came out!

You are able to see the gather on both sides....and it gives it another extra special detail I think.

The second pillow is just a front of one of the fabrics, and had the same back fabric as the other.  I closed it with a zipper.

I love them and they are going to look awesome in my living room! ;)

I like to party here.

Have a fantabulous day!

Feature Friday {Featuring YOU}

Good Morning everyone!!  I love this day of the week.  Today I am going to show you what I have found on blogs that I love while blog hopping.  I love Pinterest, but we need to remember to blog hop as well.  I mean, we all love comments and check our page views, right? ;)  Here we go!

Lindsay over on Artsy-Fartsy Mama never disappoints.  Look at this adorable Easter Egg Wreath.

Little Bit Funky did this amazing reclaimed wood art.

See Kate Sew never disappoints with her kids clothing.

Last but certainly not least, Torie Jayne did some fabulous Easter Jars.  So inexpensive, and super cute!

What about you?  Are you still blog hopping and leaving love, or only using pinterest for your inspiration?