Easter Stuff

Here's our Easter Decor

I went pastel this year, lots of pink.

Sweet!

Here's all of the candy and sweets we collected from the Holidays.  I love the gingerbread couple the kiddies decorated.  Since we took this pic I'm sad to say, Mr. Gingerbread is leg and headless.  We also managed to eat all four cupcakes.  It looks like I'm going to have to add a few extra workouts in over the next few weeks to help me deal with all this candy.  I have a major sweet tooth, and find these all too temping.  How do you cope with all the Holiday goodies?

Oh My: Hair Bling

To celebrate the holidays, we got Hair Bling tied in our hair this week. Hair bling is like tinsle for your hair. It's tied at the roots and grows out with your hair. We'll be all sparkly for a few weeks. Who ever thought I'd be able to glitter my hair.

Oh My: Holiday Mantle

This year I decided to go very minimal with the holiday decor. Less is more in our very small home. I love the little sparkly forest of trees on the mantle. Bambi and the California Bear, ornaments from my childhood, fit right in with our winter forest theme. The only thing really missing is some stocking holders. I only have one, and need three more. I'm so picky, so it may take me a few more years to find the perfect ones. Until then, thumb tacks will do the trick.

Craft Lab: the flocked tree

I've always wanted a flocked tree, like the ones we had when I was a kid. The kind they spray on at the tree lot. I researched and decided to go with the homemade version this year. All you need to make snowy flocking is ivory soap bars, liquid starch and hot water and vanilla.

I made 4 batches total.

2/3 c liquid starch
2 cups of Ivory Soap bars grated
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon vanilla

I had the kiddies grate the bars of ivory soap. In an electric mixer, combine, starch and soap flakes. After the soap is dissolved, it will become light and fluffy. Then, I added the water and vanilla. The vanilla was for the smell.

I wanted the tree to be thick with snow. We basically just rubbed big handfuls of the soapy whip cream like mixture all over the branches. The kids did most of the work and made a nice mess too. But the mess was easy to clean up. They had a blast! I'm going to let the tree sit for a few days, and let the flocking dry. I can't wait to put the decorations up.

Craft Lab: Valentine Wreath

Here's a super easy Valentine's wreath even a child could do. I followed this tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets. I happened to have everything I needed. I think this could also be done by cutting up an old red t-shirt too. You'll need: a Heart Styrofoam wreath, fabric cut into 2" squares, glue (Elmers or Mod podge), sharpened penicil, 24" ribbon and sissors. You basically use the pencil to make a point in the center of the fabric and dip that point in the glue, and poke the pencil into the foam. Repeat until wreath is covered on the front. I used pinking shears and trimmed off any pieces that were hang out too far. Then, I simply attached the ribbon and hung on my Front door. Good Luck!

Craft Lab: Thrifted Stocking Holder

I found this really ugly stocking holder at the thrift store and thought I could really make it sparkle. Being super picky about the Holiday decorations, I have never found any stocking holders I like. This one is super heavy and has lots of potential. I painted the whole piece in white acrylic paint two times. Then, I glittered each tree a different type of silver glitter. I even broke out some vintage glitter. It's perfection. I can hang all four of stockings on it.

Craft Lab: Thrifted Metalic Trees

I picked these wooden gold bottle brush trees at a local thrift shop for a buck each. They really needed some help and I knew I could tweak them a bit. I was going to spray paint them white, got everything out and ready, but it began to rain. I really wanted to craft, so I dragged my stuff inside for another project. I decided to glitter the base of the trees and leave the tops gold. So, I slapped on some glue and sprinkled a little glitter on and voila, they were beautiful. I think they look great in the entry flanking my little RV.

the Nutcracker

To get in the holiday spirit, went took the Daisy scouts to see the Ballet Etudes 13th Annual full-length Nutcracker Ballet. The girls did great sitting through this full length version of the ballet. The production was fabulous. I loved all the great costumes. This is one holiday tradition I really enjoy.