Saturday Blog Shoppers Final Sale!

Welcome Saturday Blog Shoppers!

Click here to find other sellers and their amazing sales!

Everything in my shop Belle Rose Designs is 50% off!
This sale is for today only so check it out while it lasts!

Featured Flower Friday #7

 

When I saw this project at Postively Splendid I knew I had to feature it! I love this!

Amy has a great tutorial for these and I just love her blog.  She always has something special to share!

Happy Friday Everyone! Have a great day!

Beachy Crafts

I found some beachy crafts that I am in love with right now.  I can't stop thinking about the beach and the sand and the seashells.  This weekend I went through all the shells we brought home.  So many! I have so many ideas!

Isn't this lovely from By Little Hands! 

I love her blog.  She has so many ideas for being creative with kids.  

This is a great idea for all those seashells for The Shabby Chic Cottage!

And we could use some more magnets!

I can't wait to share with you some of my ideas!

Do you have any beachy crafts! Let me know!

Saturday Blog Shoppers: July 24th! Everything 50% off!

Welcome Saturday Blog Shoppers!

Click here to find other sellers and their amazing sales!

Today I am having an amazing sale myself!

Everything in my shop Belle Rose Designs is 50% off!

This sale is for today only so check it out while it lasts!

Featured Flower Friday #6

Hi! I have been catching up on my blog reading! I am so far behind.  I've managed to stay away from my computer for awhile and it actually felt good to unplug.  I'm trying to not stress out about my email and reading every blog post to all of the hundreds of blogs I follow!

Anyway, I found these great flower projects while I was browsing and I just had to share!

I Heart Naptime with Chocolate Sundaes shared these fire flowers a little while back! I don't trust myself to make them without burning my house down but they are lovely!

Mandy's Yellow Corner made these adorable felt flowers and I just love how they look!

Thanks ladies for letting me feature you!

Happy Friday! Have a great day!

Beach Decor

I've been dreaming of the beach! We had such a wonderful time and I have been thinking I need to do some redecorating.  Wouldn't it be great to bring all that relaxation to our home in Pittsburgh. So, I want to turn my bedroom into a beach house and redecorate my bathroom. 

Here are a few ideas.

I found this website called My Beach Decor which gives a lot of great hints on how to use beach decor in your home.  From what colors to pick and what window treatments to use. 

Another great website I found is Home By The Seashore a lot of beautiful beachy items.

The Beach House Store also has some really great items and ideas of for inspiration.

I love this sign...perfect for me right now...

Does anyone have any ideas for me?

Any great websites?

 or even better any beachy craft projects for your house?

Let me know!

Blog Swap with Meet Virginia

Hey Guys!

I'm Morgan!!!
From:

First off I have an awesome giveaway going on right now!!

Hop over and enter! The giveaway ends Thursday July 22nd!

Now A Little About Me:
~I LOVE to be creative in any shape or form! I started Meet Virginia as an outlet for being creative and to share ideas with everyone in the blogosphere!
{Plate Mural}
~I love fashion! I graduated from a Fashion Merchandising program in the fall and loved every minute of it!!
{Funky-O Scarf Tutorial HERE}
I also do a weekly posting called: Weekend Wear. It's fun, and full of great tips on current trends, and how to dress for your body type!
{Check out the latest Weekend Wear HERE}
~I am a TV fanatic! Some of my favorite shows are: Survivor, The Big Bang Theory, Project Runway, Design Star, The Hills (it's the hubs and I's guilty pleasure!), and so on and so on! I also LOVE to crochet while I watch TV it's so relaxing to me!
{Crocheted Bib Necklace}

~I Love thrift shopping! Taking old things and revamping them is my favorite, and also saves money another one of my favorite things!!
{New Plaques with Personality!}
~I Love blogging and getting to meet new friends like Julie!! Isn't she the best!

Today am showing you how to make:

Paper Quilt Art!

Here is a before and after:
Before:
{Thrift store frame for around $2!! Needed some love though right? Kinda "Blarf" ;).}
After:
{Ba-da bing awesome! This little lady hangs above my sink in the kitchen, yes my kitchen color scheme is: Red, Yellow, and Blue! A little childish and kinda crazy but I LOVE it I was inspired by a new rug I was gifted by my wonderful mother for my birthday which I will show in a future post ;) (don't let the suspense kill you k).}
My initial thought when doing this project was to take a quilt pattern I have, and scale it to size....uh then I quickly realized yeah I am so not a math genius! So squares in a random pattern will do just great!
Want to make your own?
Here is what you need:

~Old frame in need of a face-lift
~Paper in various colors and patterns
~Paint
~Primer (Optional)
~Paper cutter or scissors
~Mod Podge
~Gloss poly (Optional)

How it's done:

1. Dis-assemble your frame (take the glass out, the backing, and the print).
2. Prime your frame (this is optional remember if your frame is the way you want it just leave it or if your frame is already a light enough color that any color will take to it just skip this).
3. After allowing primer to dry, apply a paint color of your choosing to the previously primed frame. Apply as many coats as needed.
4. After allowing previously painted frame to dry, apply a gloss poly for sheen and to seal. Allow to dry. (Note this step is optional.)
5. Measure your in-laid mat that was in your frame, if your frame didn't come with a mat measure the inside of the frame and cut a piece of cardboard to fit.
6. After measuring your frame mat, determine how large or small you want your squares to be. I did mine 1"x1", after finding a measurement that is pleasing, cut your squares out to fill the frame mat completely. Take into consideration how many different patterns you are using into the cutting of all your squares.

7. Arrange your squares in a way that is pleasing and adhere them with Mod Podge. I arranged mine by setting up one row gluing it down, and taking the third print up from the bottom of the first row and repeated the pattern on from there.
8. Apply a layer of Mod Podge to your finished "Paper Quilt" to seal.
9. Re-assemble your frame, hang, and ENJOY!

Super fun huh! This project makes such an impact I love the various prints and colors that adds great visual interest! I was able to make this customized art piece for under $5 bucks, get creative when making art for your home, it will make it personalized and no one else will have one like it! Love that!! Thank you Julie for letting me swap with you today girl! I had such a blast posting for you guys and can't wait to get to know you better! If you have any questions about anything or just for fun please let me know I am more than happy to help! Hope you all have a great day!! Thanks again! Love, love.

Back from the Beach

And I wish I was still there...

If only to see this little guy smiling in the sun...although ten minutes before we left to come home he fell and bit through his lip. We had to rush to finish packing and get him to the ER. The Outer Banks Hospital Emergency Room was fantastic! I only wish it wasn't the last place we visited on our vacation!

Other than that we had a fantastic time!

We created such wonderful memories together!  

Hope you all are having a great summer and are creating your own memories!

Favorites: Featured Flower Fridays

So this isn't actually one Favorite post but a recap of several posts.  I love flowers and seeing all the pretty flower craft projects out there.  I began Featured Flower Friday a month or so ago and have had such a great time doing it.  There are so many great projects out there that sometimes it is so hard to decide what to feature!

Here is a recap of all of the Featured Flower Fridays so far! Enjoy! I'll be back next Friday!

First Featured Flower Friday: Zipper Flowers

Featured Flower Friday #2: Fabric Flowers

Featured Flower Friday #3: Two Great Blogs! Another Day in Paradise & The Salty Pineapple

Featured Flower Friday #4: Kid's Crafts

Featured Flower Friday #5: Necklaces

Favorites: My #4 Favorite Post

I'm back with my #4 Favorite post! This is a funny one because Dashiell still isn't sleeping through the night and I'm so over it! But at the time I was getting sad about nursing being close to over and having to say goodbye to the middle of the night wake ups.  Now! I can't wait to say goodbye to them! When will I ever sleep through the night? Not soon enough!  

Anyway, this is what I had to say about it back in February when he was just 10 months old. He's getting better now, usually only up once and quickly back to sleep!

Dashiell is almost ten months and not sleeping through the night. Not even close. Last night he was up three times. Usually he's up 2-3 times and I nurse him to sleep and I'm back in bed in twenty minutes.

This is completely intentional and I was reminded yesterday as to why.

I picked him up from daycare and as soon as I walked through the door he fell on his butt and started crying. I ran over to him and swooped him up and gave him kisses galore.

Then he reached his arms out to his teacher.

I won't lie and say this didn't bother me. It did. If this wasn't my second child I probably would have driven home in tears.

I told myself that this was a good thing. He is happy there. He spends a lot of time there and this particular teacher is wonderful and kind and loving. We spend a lot of money to give our children the best possible care.

I also told myself that she's not there at midnight to hold him when he cries, I am.

She's not there at 3AM to rub his belly when he has gas, I am.

She can't nurse him to sleep, I can.

I'm not ready to give that up. I would miss stumbling down the hall and swooping him up out of his crib and comforting him.

I don't get to do that during the day, she does. I get him all night and I'm not about to let that go. Especially when I saw him reach out to another woman.

I should say I have very strong feelings about "crying it out" and teaching your child to soothe himself. I don't think it needs to happen in the first year. When my babies cry, I go to them. I did the same with Annabelle and I don't regret it at all.

I would have regretted the torment of letting her cry when there was something I could have done to stop it. I would have regretted missing out on those middle of the night feedings because it was what I thought I needed or should have done.

I have a couple of months until I will start weaning. Just a couple more months of pumping in the bathroom at work. After that I know he won't get up as much and eventually not at all. I know I'll miss it.

One day he won't need me at all.

Favorites: My #3 Favorite Post

Okay guys here is #3! I made a bunch of necklaces back in March and posted each of them but this one is my "recap" of the ones I posted about.  It's fun to look back what I was making back then and how those pieces compelled me to open my shop.

This one was my favorite and I still wear it all the time! Click to see the other ones!

Favorites: My #2 Favorite Post

Hello! I hope you are having a great week! I know I am!
Here is my #2 favorite post.

I was so proud to say I made my daughter's Easter Dress and Annabelle still talks about it.  All day she said, "Mommy made it!" And she looked adorable!

Favorites: My #1 Favorite Post

Hi! I'm at the beach right now enjoying some relaxation and spending time with family! I hope you are enjoying my scheduled posts! That is I hope Blogger didn't fail me.  Oh well, I guess I'll find out when I return!

This week I'm giving you my top 5 favorite posts.  This is my #1.  The original post is here.  Hope you like it!

Woke up this morning


I was in the shower this morning thinking about projects, crafts, blog posts, birthday parties, children's stories. I get some of my best ideas at 3AM. I hardly remember half of them but occasionally I wake up with 2 or 3 good ideas and half a dozen bad ones. Sometimes I wake up forgetting my best ideas and then I walk around all day racking my subconscious for that lost idea.

Smiled at the rising sun

I woke up to a beautiful day. My husband ran back inside and told me not to put coats on the kids. He was giddy with the excitement of it. Both of the little ones were happy when they woke up and I got the kids out the door smoothly. I even remembered to bring in an extra change of clothes for both since the weather was so warm.

Three little birds sat by my door step

I heard the birds singing this morning. I probably hear them every morning but it is only some mornings were I stop and notice it. I stopped and notice my kids faces, their smiles, the way Dashiell claps when I turn the radio on in the car, how Annabelle runs outside with joy and fearlessness. I tried to stop and notice it all.

Singing a sweet song, a melody pure and true

When Dashiell was a new baby I sang Three Little Birds to him while I got him dressed. One night Annabelle asked me to "sing Three Little Birds." It became her song. She quickly learned all the words like she has learned so many songs.

This is my message to you. Singing don't worry...about a thing...

She started singing it last fall. My husband and I were pretty stressed then. I faced losing my job and he did lose his job. The hospital he worked for closed. The library system I worked for faced closures. My husband was waiting test results after a medical scare in the summer. But when I heard her sweet voice singing I knew it would all be alright.

cause every little thing...is gonna be alright!

It was. My library stayed open, my husband got a new job and his results came back fine.

This morning I caught myself singing Three Little Birds. I knew it was going to be a good day! And guess what? I remember that good idea I had at 3AM!

Blog Swap with I am Only One Woman

I am happy to have Bobbi here with us today for I am Only 1 Woman. I've been a fan of her blog and her amazing quilts! Be sure to check her out!

I am so excited to be Blog Swapping today with Julie! Doesn't she have such a cute blog?!?

I am the author of A Vision to Remember. I also have my own etsy shop, where I sell many of my creations. I am a stay at home mom of 2 awesome girls and one dog. They are my inspiration for sure. Everything that I have made has been for them in some way.

Here are a couple of things that I have made over at my blog:

I love making rag quilts. I sell many in my etsy shop, but this pattern is available for download on my blog here.



This was a fun pleated headband that I made for myself (one of the few times that I craft for myself, if you know what I mean :)


I also made this fun Ribbon skirt for my daughter (Part 1, Part 2)

I also have many other tutorials on my blog. Make sure to stop by and check them out.


I also have my own Etsy shop. There I sell rag quilts, car seat tents, and lots of patterns. Some of the patterns I sell are rag quilts, belly band, and fabric flowers.

Peach Mellow

Image was borrowed from here
Ingredients:
1 package small marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
1 pint of whipping cream
1/3 cup butter
graham crackers (crushed) you need enough to cover the bottom of your pan
Peaches

Melt the marshmallows and milk in the microwave. Then place in fridge to cool down. Whip the whipping cream until peaks form.

Melt the butter and add to the graham crackers and squish onto the bottom of to make a nice crust.

Peel and slice the peaches and place on top of the crackers (there really is no set amount just however many you would like.

When the marshmallow mixture is cooled then add the whipping cream and fold together.
Then pour over the top of the peaches.

The above picture is one I borrowed from a website, and if you did not notice the items are in a different order. It really would not matter either way. Also if you have extra graham crackers you can sprinkle over the top of your marshmallow mixture.

Today I made some of this dessert, but I did not have any graham crackers so I crushed chocolate covered flake cereal. It was delicious. This recipe would also work with other fruits. So give it a try

If you love to cook then I am looking for contributors for a 30 day Food Challenge. For the month of August I will be making 30 different meals and none of them the same. If you want to join it let me know. More details can be found right here

Thanks again for swapping blogs with me and make sure to stop by tomorrow and link up to Check ME Out Saturday Link Party Have a great day!