Ella Mae Designs

So who do I have to thank for my new header, topic tags, and button???

Just the cutest most talented girly ever!

My long-distance friend Alli is the creator and mastermind behind Ella Mae Designs.

She normally does save the dates, wedding announcements, baby announcements, grad announcements, and holiday cards. For me (probably because I begged and harassed her) she made individual pieces for my blog.

I love her work...here are some of my favorite examples of it beautifulness (totally a word)--


Save the Date:

Wedding Announcement:

Baby Announcements:

Holiday:

No go and check her etsy shop stuff out. Seriously, she is amazingly talented, plus she is cool.

Remember...

As you bust out the lemonade, fire up the grill, enjoy your fair share of potato salad, and gather with family and friends...remember...all of those who sacrificed to give us this awesome country and this beautiful world. 

Be grateful today for the liberty we share and for those who fight and give their lives for us.

I will come back tomorrow and let you know who I have to thank for my updated bloggy terrificness...ps it's not me!

My Dream To-Do List

I have a dream to do list. You know the list of things that you would accomplish if money and time were no object...oh and if I didn't need to do that whole motherin' thing.

My dream to-do list grows pretty much by the second, but here are some of the things on it RIGHT now.

MY DREAM TO-DO'S

Replace all the ugly doors in my house with these lovelies...

Jeld-Wen Doors

Organize all my shelves and closets so that everything is pretty and so that I don't have to gasp in horror if someone besides me has to open said closets.

source unknown aka this has been in my to-do folder to long to remember

Make my stairway look like this...okay so I would have to knock down a wall, but seriously have you checked out this molding!!!!! Sigh.

source unknown aka my brain FORGOT where I JUST got this

I would love to make myself one of these. I heart this.

tutorial for Ucreate by At Second Street

Go shopping and buy myself this pretty stylin' dress...

Boden

...to go with these stylin shoes. OH and since I am all dressed up maybe I could go on a date with hubby.

Boden

Or maybe I could just stay home all dressed up and make this AWESOME little number.

I am a Baker

Alas, instead I am doing this today...

WEEDING

Uggg....

and maybe I will get to take a shower.

BUT...tomorrow is Saturday. That means hubby is home. We might still be weeding but we will be doing it as a fam. Good times.

MONDAY will come soon enough and will be glorious I am sure...AFTER ALL I might have another giveaway and it might be from someone pretty cool...no not me, although I am pretty cool. 

The Best Medicine

Yep. I got the bug. I am sick. Ugh. The movie theater drama lives on.

The best medicine besides my hubby staying home to take care of the little men...

is being given a little party shout on from Leigh Ann from Your Homebased Parties.




Remember this--

She highlighted this whole little carnival. 

You should go stop by today and see the great post she did. Tell her how amazing I am and how much you love me how great her site is. Then you should browse around and see the other great party ideas she has. 

PLUS she has another awesome site called Your Homebased Mom where she has tons of fun stuff AND the best part is all the recipes...

                                                         Lemon Crumb Cake

                                                         Hamburgers Teriyaki

                                                         Seasoned Potato Wedges  

                        Cowboy Calzones

             Key Lime Pie Bars

See what I mean. Good enough that I could even post their pictures in the midst of a tummy sickness. I look forward to feeling better and whipping some of these recipes up.
Now I sleep, yes and it is noon.

Just Another Fabulous Blog Friday

I have two blogs today. Both of them are jammed packed with useful stuff.

First: Kevin and Amanda,  I first read about through my friend Amber's blog Collectively Genius, in a how-to-make-your-blog-fancy post she did.









I went to Kevin and Amanda for a simple font change and came away with TONS more. They have TONS and TONS of free fonts... yes I said FREE. My post titles are in one of their fonts. She also has tons of blogging how-to's. Thanks to her I have fun fonts in my titles and a signature. Her tutorials are super easy to follow. Seriously go and check out her site out. You might want to set aside some time to browse and then put her tutorials into action. You will be addicted...at the very least to the FREE fonts....yes I said FREE.

SECOND:

I found The Girl Creative just today. I heard about her through her link up New Friend Friday. I mean really who couldn't use another friend or follower...hint hint...I love you...hehehe.



She also has some bloggin' helps. There have been a couple of things on my make-your-blog-fancy to do list, and one of them was right there on her blogging secrets. My heart sang a little with joy. Guess what is on my weekend to-do list????

On top of her blogging helpfulness, she also has some really cute crafts. All together she pretty much seems completely delightful. So go over and say hi to her, and hey join her New Friend Friday, 'cause like I said, who couldn't use another friend.

I know you will find these blogs just as delightful as I do!

Fridays "Just Another Fabulous Blog" Showcasing Blogs I Love

So Fridays are going to be set aside for me to spread the love for some of the awesome blogs I love. Some Fridays I may link up to the blog specifically, sometimes it might be a fabulous tutorial by a blog, sometimes it will be a new blog on the block, or sometimes it might be one that is an old pro and everyone knows who they are...so basically Fridays are all about others...aka the people I want to be like when I grow up!

Today I want to spread the love about these couple sites...

Maryjanes and Galoshes 

She has super cute ideas. Go and check her blog out. No, seriously, just do it. She has a boy and a girl, so she has cute ideas for both genders.

Like these super cute tattoo barrettes (ps there is a coordinating little boys shirt to go with)...

What about the ingenious bank idea???? When I get a break in the crazies, I am totally making this.

Isn't her stuff wonderful??? I told you that you would be happy if you went to her blog!

NEXT...

A Lemon Squeezy Home

Doesn't the title of her blog say it all! So cute. This is a fairly new blog, but jump back you would think she was always blogging with all the awesome stuff she does. I might heart this shirt that she came up with to go along with homemade by Jill's car caddy. 

Every time I go check her blog to see what new things she has come up with, I smile. Go and check her blog out now...I know you had things to do today didn't you, like clean or something. Sorry to ruin your plans!

NEXT...

Thirty Handmade Days

This blog is just wonderful because she gathers tons of great ideas, plus she adds her own too. I love, love, love, all the ideas she puts in one place. Plus I love reading her stuff...I kind of feel like we are long lost friends even though we have never met.

Not only does she compile great ideas, but she also has great giveaways. 

I might also heart this blog because it was one of the first to give me a creative blog shout out with my Valentines Polka Dot Pillow and Banner.

Next...

seven-thirty-three

This is a great crafty blog. What I really LOVE about this blog is the What are little boys made of weekly round up that happens every Thursday. Everyone pretty much knows we have a house full of little men here. So between this and of course the Celebrate the Boy happening at Made and Made by Rae I have been gathering plenty of crafting ideas for my little men. So go and check out the crafts for boys, and hey link up an idea of your own.

Last...

The Train to Crazy 

I think I have tickets for that train...

Anywho...here is another blog that shares crafts, tutorials, and the general thoughts of a fellow mother. What caught my eye was this fabulous part of her blog...Make it, Wear it. Another way to link up with fellow crafters about what we make for the purpose of wearing. Super fun. Go and check this out and hey, take another chance to link up something you've done.

Like I said earlier, I will be doing this every week. If you know of a blog that I need to check out, leave the link in my comments. If you have a blog that you think is blog love worthy, leave me your blog address. 

I look forward to increasing my blog must-read list, which will undoubtedly decrease my hours of sleep.

Hah...sleep, it is highly overrated anyway.

Can I Be Like You When I Grow Up?

I love the blogging world for many reason. I love that I can have an online journal. I love that I can keep in the know with my friends. I love that I can share/get great ideas. I love seeing how really creative women spend their time.

I might also envy quite a few of these awesome individuals...which leads me to a little bit of blog stalking.

Here are three new sites that I pretty much adore.

Sensibly Styled - A site that puts together some really cute modest outfits AND then tells you where you can buy them.

Made - super cute sewing site

My Food Storage Deals - pretty self explanatory

I am only 20% jealous that these woman have managed to put together a blog that is is so useful and allows them to share their talents. Some day I too will grow up and get my creative blog on to get a main stream following and become a guru in something...how to look good in your pjs all day maybe?

Like Lightning I Tell Ya

I got this thing up and running pretty quick. It helps that the way I edited the HTML I didn't have to re-type in all the links...WHEW! Still might tweek it a little, but for now that'll do pig that'll do.

No if I can only figure how to format my post (pictures and spacing) how I would like...eventually.

In Progress

Not like I think everyone is keeping track of this thing minute by minute, but I am in the process of changing this blog thing up. It will take me awhile since, oh I have no time. Plus I am trying out some HTML stuff AND I have been trying to figure out our new photoshop elements (talk about feeling technologically stunted). Oh and I have to retype in all the links.

SO over the next little bit hopefully I will get this thing punched out.

I Just Need Time/Money/Skills

In a brief moment of silence (one kid downstairs/one napping/one being rocked by Richelle), I was coupon hunting and decided to splurge on some blog stalking time. I came across The Purl Bee. How cute and quaint some people are! I really wish I were one of them...but I decided I wanted to accomplish one of her projects...I can do it!

Check out this tutorial on little boys ties. I will let you know how it goes...now in reality don't expect this anytime soon. I lose all my helper bees tomorrow. However, a project often gives me an outlet for all the crazies, so maybe it will happen sooner than I think.