Girlies Birthday Party

So I know its been way too long since my last post yet again.  OH boy have I been busy.  I have started working for a monogramming and embroidery company, Tiny Tulip. Her stuff is sooooo cute you have to check out her site.  It has been a definate adjustment after not working in 15 years.  I'm still getting used to when I'm home and when I'm not home.  I am working two days a week while the boys are at school.  I have some juggling to do this summer but we have also had a nice two week vacation so we will see when I go back on Monday how many plates I can juggle.  lol.

Well the reason for my post is to show you the outfits I made for the twins for their first birthday.  I know right can you believe it, they are one already.  Their mother had sent me links to several things she was thinking about purchasing which were a bit pricey then multiply that times two, it turns to outrageous.  So this is what I came up with.  I bought two white dresses from Children's Place at easter time, $9 each. Then added rosettes and a ruffle to the bottom, added a cupcake and name at Tiny Tulip to the bloomers,, then some bibs, headbands, tshirts and tutus.  They were the best dressed little birthday girlies ever.  Of course I'm very objective,lol.

Zyleigh was not feeling well and wasn't havin it playing dress up so only one twin in the picture. lol

More pictures to come of the rest of the stuff when I figure out how to get them from their mothers facebook page.

I"ll have some pictures of graduation decorations we did for my 5th graders graduation and some other things I have going on.

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Double Trouble/ twin gift

I never did get to introduce you to "Double Trouble"   They were born on May 27th, 2010.  A few weeks early but ready for the world.  They are now nine months and actually a little overweight but that's ok.  I'm sure once they start cruisin around that baby weight won't stay on long. lol  I've never actually met them only through pictures and video chat.  :(

Zyleigh and Sophia

this was taken soon after they first came home

and this is them now

I think the one on the left is Sophia and the one on the right is Zyleigh but I'll have to check with their Momma.  I can't wait for the day to kiss their little cheeks. 

So a month or so ago I found these shirts on clearance and had to get them.  If only they had shirts with "Great" Aunt on them.  Oh well.  Anyhow I searched and searched and racked my brain trying to figure out what to get to go with them.  I didn't know whether to go frilly and over the top or sweet country calico.  After seeing some really cute tutorials online for tutus I thought what the heck how often do I get to make "girly" things.  Like Never!  

So here they are 

I could not believe how easy the tutus were to make.

Made some cute little headbands to match

 I was so excited that I found the little tites at the Gap on clearance



Here they are in their pretty ballerinas in their pretty outfits!!

 

Take a look around if you like what you see you can always follow me:) 

click on the "follow" button on the right. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Bathroom Organization

Score!  I finally found something to corral all my bathroom counter beauty utensils.

Im not blessed to have a vanity with a drawer in it so my most used things seemed to always be all over the counter top of my sink.  I found it at my favorite store Marshalls for $14.99, which was a little more than I wanted to pay but I've looked high and low for something for months and come up empty handed.  I figured the sanity it will save me was worth the 15bucks.

  I used old canning jars that we had left over to stand my hair brushes in and another one for my toothbrush and toothpaste.  A votive cup for my makeup brushes.  I'm still on the search of some sort of try to put my eyeshadow, powder foundation, blush, etc in, a somewhat shallow curved tray would be perfect.  I suppose even a stylish small pencil box would work. 

Week #9 of my organizing challenge

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Let the Sunshine In!!!/ Bridal gift.

" He gives strength to the wearyand increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:29

Oh Happy Day, Let the Sunshine In. 

Thought I would post a picture of myself before you thought

Whoa! she's a gonner, :)

Whew do I feel better after that release yesterday!!!

I woke up today refreshed, put on my happy green shirt, made myself a happy headband and got to work, :) 

I figured I would go with the old saying if you don't know what to do then just do something. 

So I know I need help processing my grandmother's death, and I can't do it alone.  I am in the process of finding a bible study to help me through that. 

And on the business side of things I figured I would go with what I know right now. 

So here is a few things I made up some time ago and never got to share with you...

My sister in law was going to a bridal shower and asked me to come up with something. 

Here is His and Her Aprons

"His" is a barkeeper style apron, comes below the knees. 

"Hers" is the "Leah" apron with a few added touches. 

 I added a cool jean style pockets to "His" with a button closure waistband.

I added lace trim, pleated waisteband and flower rosettes to the pocket of" Hers"

Along with it I made a set of  six napkin rings.

They were made out of white vinyl with

 crystal and pearl beaded rings. 

The centers were bejeweled with rhinestones and mother of pearl beads.

Be on the look out I am going to be adding these to my etsy store by the end of the week.

Take a look around if you like what you see be sure

to click on the follow button on the right.   :)

Praise God for YOU!!!

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What do you want to be when you grow up?

     This post is going to be somewhat off the beaten path but hopefully you will stay with me.  I've done a lot of contemplating lately.  I have been searching for some time now on ways I can bring income into our home.  That was one of the reasons I started Doris Today, I was hoping to sew and create a few days a week while my kids were in school.  I have had a little, well a long one, lull in my creativity at least from a making things to sell stand point.  My grandmother, who was a substantial part of my life growing up, passed away a year and a half ago.  From that point on I noticed life kind of happening around me while I was standing still.
      Fast forward a year and half to today and I'm having a conversation with my oldest son that is starting high school next year.  That in itself is traumatizing enough, could I really be old enough to have a high schooler?  yikes  Anyhow back on track, our conversation was about what classes he might be taking next year.  He has taken some survey at school to help guide him in class choice process.  You know if are on the creative side you may want to take writing, or art related courses, if you are excited about science then what kind of science and gearing you toward those classes.  Mind you I told him you have to take some of it somewhat lightly because how many of us knew what we wanted to do when they were in 8th grade?  My suggestion was to him to take things he thinks he might be interested in and let his path form from there, but keep in mind things you might be able to do with those courses.  For instance he took a class called "Teen Challenges" in my day was called Home Economics because all his friends were taking it and they all said it was really fun that you got to make cookies and was overall just an easy course.  Well in the end none of his friends ended up being in his class and he hates it.  Mind you he is learning some life skills but in the end it is nothing what he thought it was going to be.  So my point was for him to take courses that might have spark some interest of  his and not just because all his friends are taking it. 
     Which had me thinking deeply in what I was doing as well.  I am finally seeing some light and my passion is starting to churn inside me again but for what?  I don't know.  Should I take a "job" outside the home part time?  How much do I want to disrupt my home in doing so?  Is it worth taking just any old job or should I try to find something in a creative field?  Or should I continue pusuing sewing acccessories and gifts to sell?  Is this really going to be profitable enough and where is that going to take me in the long haul?  Is this blog thing for real?  will it really bring in an income?  or should I take my creative juices and focus them into something that appears more profitable like textile design or interior design?  All of these questions are fueled by a life halting four letter word "FEAR"
     For most of my adult life I felt like I had a definate direction.  I knew I wanted to move out of my small town in upstate NY when I graduated, and I knew I wanted to something in the art field.  Fashion design kind of came out of the fact that I knew how to sew and putting garments together kind of came easy to me.  Which brought me to the Art Institude in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Then when I graduated I took entry level positions where I could still in the industry.  That was my direction.  I got married and had my first son and that was my direction.  We knew we wanted a more family friendly area to live so we moved up to Tallahassee, that was my direction.  I soon became lonely without family or friend around so I joined a ministry called MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers)  I not only joined as a member but as a leader instantly, God had dropped me smack dab in the middle of a group of women that encouraged me as a mother, a wife, a woman and for the first time as a leader.  That was my direction for the next 8-9yrs.  Then my baby started kindergarten, my oldest started middle school, and the economy went in the toilet.  My direction moved toward bringing some income in our household.  But what, where, how?  I haven't been in the work force on a regular basis in 15years.  I have not filled out an application let alone made up a resume.   Then my grandmother passed and without realizing it I became stagnant, stuck in one place.  Losing all direction. 
    Have you ever asked yourself some of these questions?  Have you ever felt like you don't have a direction?  Have you ever been totally crippled by fear?  Have you ever wondered what you wanted to be when you grew up, when your were already grown up? 
   So I am going to take the first step to letting this fear go.  I'm giving it up to God, the last thing I want to do is let it keep me from becoming closer to him and letting his light shine through me.  The next step is I'm admitting it to you all that I am scared, and I'm crippled in fear.  It may not be the best business decision to bear my soul but I felt I needed to share for some reason, and it was time to release my fears. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Sillouette Envy

Oh my gosh I know I have written about it before but I just can't get over how many things the Sillouette can do.  I really don't know how I am funtioning without one.  I was recently at Ted's Montana Grill and love their "saloon' retro type decor.  They have frosted glass on the doors to the bathroom with of course Gentlemen or Ladies on the door.  I thought how cute would it be to make a little retro like sign to hang on the boys bathroom door.  And how easy it would be to make with one of these Sillouette machines.  I have drooled over so many cute projects made with it, I just can't take it anymore.  I am not one for gadgets, well ones that require alot of parts or ones that require continually buying pricey cartridges that you make one thing with and never use it again.  I love the versatility with this one.  Enough said it is just AMAZING!!! 
So I thought I would share a few sites (and some new bloggy friends) that are giving one away this week.

My Repurposed Life

Vintage Revivals

C.R.A.F.T.

Sugar Pop Ribbons

Happy Money Saver

My Sweet Savannah

The Bragging Mommy

The Domestic Diva

    

From the Sillouette blog

I thought this was hysterical

They have endless tutorials and free images each week

AHHH I am in LOVE!!!

Look at this one using fabric, how stinkin cute is that. 

Yes it cuts fabric too. 

Amazing right?

  So you need to go over and check out this machine on the Sillouette site even if you dont' win the giveaway each one of the sites hosting the giveaway are offering a discount code. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Spring fever

I know for most of you in this country you can't wait till spring, cant wait to see green grass and frankly no more white stuff.  I know too well how you feel, that's why I moved south.  Ha! Anyhow we do have a change of seasons here in Tallahassee, everything gets brown, trees lose their leaves and it rains alot during the winter months.  I have been cooped up with two sick children as well as myself this week so I've been really jonesin for some spring weather.  Well it has arrived the sun is shining, temperatures are hovering around 70'.  Oh but I'm still cooped up with the sick kids so what better to do on a day like today. 

 Window shop on the internet. 

Take a look at what I found just waiting to be knocked off. 

Couldn't you just see a cheapo pair from Target all bejeweled?  Bet I can beat 80bucks, yikes!

Loving the turqouise and brown, I think I might add some turqoise goodness to my brown wedges. 

and these were just fun and sasssy!!  Love the red ones with a yellow polka dot dress.  Mmmmm now where to find a yellow polka dot dress that doesn't make me look as huge as the sun itself. 

 

and these well they are just wrong, are they sandles? are they a boot?  Yuck they are just ugly, sorry if I offended anyone, that's just my opinion. 

Well that's all for my window shopping for sandles now onto sundresses.  I may just have to break down and something for myself for a change.  I"m thinking some pretty springy printed fabric (possibly polka dot,huh?), maybe in yellow, or celery green.  Ohh or a pretty cornflower blue, or bright coral.   Its been a while since I have been fabric shoppin, I bet Michael Miller has something just waiting for me.

What style???? Some sort of wrap dress, full at the bottom, maybe halter top, or maybe strapless with a retro bolero jacket, cute little cap sleeve.  Oh maybe I'll make two, hehe.  One at a time Kirsten, one at a time. 

Ok back to reality I have to actually be able to find my thread in my studio right now so it off to purge and organize. 

Ahh I will embrace spring for all it has in store.  It will be 100' degrees before I know it.  So I open my windows and let the sun shine in. 

Praise God for YOU!!!

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With a little love

I have a new system to keep me motivated to get my house under control.  I have a tendency to doing things 150%, which is a good thing sometimes.  But most of the time it means something is always lacking majorly in my life.  When I am creative I am 150% creative, leaving cleaning, organizing, even bill paying to wayside.  When I'm on a cleaning kick that is all I do and burn myself out completely.  So I'm trying to find the balance in my life, work on things a little at a time instead all or nothing mentality.  With that being said with my organization challenge under way, 52 Weeks of Organizing, I have decided for every organizing project I do I am going to do something creative.  Since I got all those cords under control last week I put together this Valentine mantle as well.  I'll apologize in advance, I tried really hard to get a good picture but the lighting in this room is less than desireable.  Its warm and cozy but not much for picture taking. 

 With a little organizing..... with a little love

I printed these out from Tip Junkie free printables, two of them are 1Chorinthians, the one on top written in scroll I did on word, don't remember what font though

added our wedding photo (wow we were so young), a tin heart I had laying around, and my Willow angel

added a LOVE banner out of cardstock and fabric that I had

I was inspired by Tater Tots and Jello for this, I'm thinking it needed a little more of the black damask showing, maybe the ruffle heart a little smaller.  All made out of scraps of home decor fabric.

Don't ya just want squeeze her face.  Of course I had to add our baby "Lucy"when she was a baby.  Oh how I miss those days

and a photo of our three sons when they were small and loved each other. lol  No looking through all of our pictures as they have gotten older it has been harder and harder to get a picture of them all together. 

With a little organizing .... With a little love

Praise God for YOU!!!

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Organization Challenge

Well my organization challenge is not starting out the best.  I made my list but as usual life has gotten in the way of my planning.  Guess thats why I don't plan that much, lol.  Anyhow I'm not going to dwell on that I"m moving forward.  I was going to start in my bedroom but the office demanded attention.  We were having major problems with our phone line and needed a technician to come work on the line.  Well I couldn't have him come out and look at the tangled mess that was border line health hazard.  Like always I forgot take a true before picture but here is a sample of the mess I had

So in an attempt to corral all those cords I took a shoe box and covered it with some contact shelf paper I had laying around. 

This is the final product, not perfect but it hopefully will keep all the dust, dirt and unknown objects from getting tangled. 

Please excuse my very worn and outdated vinyl floor that needs to be replaced.

While I was on a roll I also covered a bottom of a cereal box to add to the front of my silver ware drawer.  I was tired of things slipping under the drawer organizer and not being able to shut the drawer. 

Well happy organizing, let me know if you have taken on the challenge too.

Praise God for YOU!!!

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