Sneak Peek

I think it's going to work!

Keep your fingers crossed. . .

I'm working on a little project.

And if it turns out well, then I think I might just have another {giveaway}!!!

But you need to keep your fingers crossed.  And say a little prayer that I don't singe my nose hairs on ammonia fumes, again.

It will take at least 24 hours to know if it's been successful.

I promise I'll tell you all about it.  

But, please, keep your fingers crossed.

{While we're waiting, go send some comment love to my sister.  Maybe she will update her blog.  I know for a fact that all of her boxes are unpacked.  Let's demand that she put up more pictures of those cute girls!}

100

Oh, Let me tell you something funny.  

Are you ready?  

This is my 100th post.  

But that isn't the funny part.  

I thought this was my 105th post, and I was very prepared to do a post about totally missing my 100th post.  I even went back to check and see when I started my blog, so I could do the math and let you know that I have a pathetic average of posting less than 3 times a month in the past three years.  And that's when I saw them--my drafts.  Those lovely little half-finished thoughts that never completely made it to blogland.  Ironically, there were six of them, and as I deleted them I watched my total slide down to 99.   Which makes this my 100th post.  Whoohoo!

But that wasn't what I was really going to blog about.  I was just going to tell you I'm back.  Yeah, I'm sure you didn't realize that I was gone, but I didn't really want to advertise that my house was going to be vacant for an entire week.   

Mr. B had to go on a business trip for the week, so I spent a busy and eventful week back and forth between my sister's and my mama's house.  I got some good crafty time in with my mom, and helped my sister get settled into her new home.  Of course I got some good niece time in too! My week went by way too fast though!  

And just so I don't have a picture-less 100th post, here is the only picture that was taken on my trip.    (We are in the middle of target and my Bitty niece was in a happy mood and talking to her Auntie Lib, & I just had to get a picture!)  

So, Happy 100th post!  Finally.

Stretching my boundaries

As a jewelry maker, I have a hard time trying not to keep all the jewelry that I make for myself.  It's not always easy to put a new rockin' cool pair of earrings in the sale pile.  So I limit myself to only the earrings that will fit on my frame.  Simple boundaries, right? My necklaces live on these two crosses that sit on top of my dresser.   I like my system.  It is a very good system.  But I decided to change it anyway...  

I had an epiphany in the middle Ikea the other day.  I found these simple place mats and knew that they were destined for something amazing.  Something glorious!  So I bought three, {odd numbers people!} and couldn't wait to get them home.   

After I spray painted them, {and anything else that I could get my hands on to spray paint} I oohed and ahhed over them.  Seriously, the colors are rocking my face off.  Especially the red.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  And then I set out to give them the amazing, glorious life that they were destined for.  

You can't tell it from this picture, but they are hanging in my bed room.  Let's pretend like I took a picture of my entire bedroom, and in this picture you see my bed that is made up, curtains are actually hanging up and they match this made-up bed.  {I can't find curtains anywhere on this planet to match my quilt!} Also, the basket of socks has mysteriously disappeared because all the socks have found their match.  And you can see my yellow, blue, and red circles hanging in the corner in all their glory.  Ahem.  Let's pretend ok?

Now, if anyone from the housing department asks, my fabulous circles are magically hanging in mid-air. Magical, I tell you.  But if you really must know, I used these little guys.  They are probably my favorite thing that I've discovered in the Hubs' tool box.  

I used my bare hands to screw them into the ceiling.  Be impressed (or don't be, it was easy smeasy.)  

And then I used fishing line to suspend the aforementioned gloriousness in mid-air.

So that I could hang my earrings on them.  And stretch my boundaries a little bit further.  I think I am gonna like this new system.  

A day with my girls

I got to spend a day with my two oldest nieces by the pool last weekend.  Their mommy and daddy were house hunting, and I needed some Auntie time.

For those of you who don't know, this is Austin Kate, or AK (my sister's middle nugget).  She is currently sporting a snaggle-tooth smile that melts my heart.  

This is Averie Elizabeth, or Ave.  She is almost eleven years old! {Gasp!}  Sometimes I want to put my hand on her head and push down to see if she will stop growing.  Her sweet and maturing laugh takes my breathe away.  

A day by the pool was just what the three of us girls needed.  

We only had to have one discussion about manhandling little sisters.

Then, we were very silly.  

We laughed and giggled.  A lot.

We tried to see how many pictures we could take mid-air.

And we got a little better each time.

This day made my heart so happy!

Peace out.