Memory Jar for Mom

Since Mother's Day is this weekend, I thought I'd share a couple of easy DIY gifts I made for my Mom for past Mother's Day.

This memory jar was easy to make and it was fun for my brother and I to sit with my Mom and re-count some of our fond memories.

To create this gift, my brother and I each wrote about 10 memories of things our Mom did for us or with us from childhood to present day. I also asked Noah a few of his favorite Nana memories. I printed them on plain old white copy paper and cut them a part into strips. I rolled them up and tied mine with pink ribbon, Noah's memories with orange ribbon, and my brother's with purple ribbon so my Mom would know whose memory she was about to read just by looking at the color of the ribbon.

I created a tag explaining what was when the jar and what color each of our memories were tied up with. I put them all in the jar, decorated it with a few stickers, and ribbon.

My Mom loved it!

(Linking to the parties listed in my sidebar)

Weekend Wonders: Blog Planners

I was looking for a good blog planner to help me keep track of the multiple bloggers over at the BirthMom Buds blog which I manage and found some cute, free printable blog planners that I thought I'd share.

And Cutie.com Blog Planner

Basic Blog Planner at Organizing Home Life

Blog Planner Printables at My May Sunshine

Blog Planner at Portland Bloggers

Blog Planner at Home School Creations

Monthly Blog Planner at Confessions of a Homeschooler

Do you use a blog planner?

Noah during the National Anthem

As a team Mom for Noah's Miracle League baseball team, I have been able to be on the field with him while the National Anthem is being sung. Until last week, I was usually far away and quite honestly not paying much attention to what he was doing during the song.

Last week, I noticed that towards the last line of the song, he begins to get SO excited by kicking his legs and bouncing because he knows the song is almost over and he gets to play baseball.

So this week, I decided to try and video it hoping he wouldn't be distracted by me standing there with the camera. And he didn't disappoint! I love his excitement. It makes my heart smile.

"This is the Stuff"

Do you ever have those days where absolutely nothing goes right and everything seems to go wrong? Today, seems like one of those days for my little family complete with massive Noah meltdown and seizures. Followed by a mini Momma meltdown once Noah was asleep.

But even in the midst of the "stuff" I'm reminded that in the middle of the mess (food on the floor thrown there during the meltdown, dog barking, messy kitchen, crying Momma) that it could be SO much worse. And I'm blessed.

And so I choose to find joy in the midst of it all. I find joy in the texts and notes from friends, from songs that feel like they were written for me, for outlets, an understanding husband, parents who will listen when I vent, amazing friends, and a God who loves me in spite of it all.

I leave you with this song which felt like it was written for me tonight.........

JOY Prom and Special O.

Last week was a big week for Noah as he had both Special Olympics and JOY Prom. 

At Special Olympics, Noah competed in two different wheelchair races. He goes soooo slow but has a huge smile on his face the entire time and thoroughly seems to enjoy himself and that's what it is all about! As soon as he stopped racing each time, he would sign "more race." 

Two days after the Special Olympics, Noah attended JOY Prom.  JOY Prom is a prom for special needs teens. Noah went for the first time last year. To be completely honest, I didn't plan for him to attend this year as it seems to me that prom would lose it's specialness if he goes each year but he already knew about it and really wanted to go. So, he went! He chose the orange accents of his suit himself! So handsome!

Paint Chip Spring Ornaments

I have this little tree that I decorate in different ways each season and it either sits on the side table in the living room or on the mantel. I didn't have any spring "ornaments" for my little tree so I decided to make some. 

I have quite a pile of paint chips building up. I don't know why but every time I am in a store with paint chips, I grab a couple. My stash is quickly growing so I decided it was time to use some of them. (And that photo is only a very small sampling of my collection!)

I got out my Silhouette machine and found a couple of springy shapes I liked; a flower, a butterfly, and a bird. I placed my paint chips on my mat and cut out a bunch of the shapes. Even though my mat was plenty sticky the paint chips were sliding around so I put a little piece of re-positional tape on the back of each paint chip and that held them in place perfectly. 

After all my shapes were cut, I just took some white twine and glued it in between 2 of the shapes. 

It was a easy and pretty quick project and now my tree is good to go for spring and early summer!

This post is part of a monthly Silhouette challenge created by Lauren at The Thinking Closet. Check out the links below for more projects by some talented crafty ladies using their Silhouette machines.

Budget-Savvy Spring Sihouette Make - We Love Cards

D.I.Y. Canvas Date Art - The House on Hillbrook

D.I.Y. Vertical File Folders (Martha Stewart Home Office Knockoff with Free Cut File) - Whole New Leaf

Anchor's Away! A Fabric Applique Silhouette Tutorial - Lil' Mrs. Tori

D.I.Y. Subway Art Canvas & Free Cut File - The Thinking Closet

"Different Is Good" Autism Awareness Tee - Tried and True

A Gift! - For 'Just a Little Nutty' - An Elegant Touch

Mother's Day Celebration - Creative Turn

Interested in joining us for our group posting event next month?  We'd love to have you.  Simply contact Lauren from The Thinking Closet by email.

Quote of the Week: Hope

"When the world says give up, hope says try one more time." 

- Unknown

We're Still Here!

I promise we are still around! I actually have a couple of posts in the works for you guys. 

I think I am coming out of the slump! I am feeling better mentally and although it's really cold and rainy outside at the moment, spring is on the horizon  At any rate there is more sunshine now that the time has changed and I can see a difference in my mood. I'm entering my busy season as we plan for the annual BirthMom Buds retreat. 

It's spring break this week. We are surviving. Noah's had some meltdowns and really rough moments but there have been some good moments too. Noah has some big things coming up: baseball, JOY prom, and Special Olympics. 

For now, I thought I'd leave you with a collage I made of Noah and Granddaddy dyeing eggs on the Saturday before Easter. 

Pinch Proof Shamrock Pin

We don't really do a whole lot for St. Patrick's day. But I decided that I needed a little something green to make me pinch proof on St. Patty's Day so I whipped up this little pin.

I started out by downloading last week's free shape from the Silhouette store. I un-grouped the file so that I could use just the shamrock.

Then my Silhouette machine cut out a perfect shamrock out in both the patterned paper and the green cardstock. I then glued the patterned clover on top of the green clover just to give it a little extra support and weight.

Then I used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to give it a dimensional glazed effect. Tip for working with MP Dimensional Magic: Start from the middle of your project and work out. Keep a straight pin handy to pop out any air bubbles that may appear.

I let it dry overnight then attached a pin back to the back of it with hot glue and voila! A cute shamrock St. Patty's pin!

This post is part of a monthly Silhouette challenge created by Lauren at The Thinking Closet. Check out the links below for more projects by some talented crafty ladies using their Silhouette machines.

Gender Neutral Onesies & Free Cut Files - (The Thinking Closet)

Personalized Kindle Fire Cover - (Daily Dwelling)

Vintage Numbered File Organizer: Office Organization - (Whole New Leaf)

Make Montessori Sandpaper Letters with Silhouette - (Tried & True)

Steampunk Lime Fog Plus Free Stuff - (Creative Turn)

Their WORD for 2013: A Gift - (An Elegant Touch)

Lucky - (Sugar Bee Crafts)

How to Not Lose Your Sunglasses - Silhouette Style - (Crafty Jac)

Interested in joining us for our group posting event next month?  We'd love to have you.  Simply contact Lauren from The Thinking Closet by email.

Spring Definition Tile (and free printable!)

I'm really wishing spring would hurry up and get here. Slowly, I'm trying to get out my spring decor and came across my spring definition tile. The writer in me loves anything with quotes, definitions, or words really so thanks to Mr. Webster I used the definition of spring on this tile. 

Items Needed:
6 x 6 inch Ceramic Tile (You can find these pretty inexpensive at home improvement stores.)
Spring definition file (I'm sharing mine here.) 
Mod Podge
Foam brush
Scrapbook paper of your choosing
1-2 Decorative flowers 
Rhinestone or pearl (for the center of your flower)
Sanding block or fine sandpaper
Glue gun
Acrylic sealer (optional)

What you'll do: 
1. Print out the definition on the scrapbook paper of your choosing. 
2. Center the definition on the tile and then using the tile as your guide, cut it out. I always leave a little extra which we will take care of in a later step. 
3. Brush a thin layer of Mod Podge over the tile. Smooth your paper down on the tile and press down firmly with your fingers to get rid of any air bubbles. Let dry for awhile.
4. Using the sanding block or sand paper, sand off any excess paper. You could omit the sanding step but I just like the more finished, adhered look that it gives to it. 
5. Glue on your flower and the rhinestone center with hot glue. I used two flowers to give it more fullness and a pink pearl center. 
6. Spray with acrylic sealer for added durability. (You also use additional coats of Mod Podge instead.)
7. Sit it on a stand (or add ribbon and hang it somewhere) and admire your pretty work! 

Linking up to the linky parties listed in my sidebar 

End the R Word Pledge

Today is the national day of awareness to Spread the Word to End the R Word.

I know so many people think the "r" word is NO BIG DEAL. It's just a word, right? But when you and your baby have cried tears because because of that word, it's more than just a word. Words hurt. 

And I know, you are probably going to tell me that you are just calling your friend the "r" word instead of calling them dumb or stupid or something else equally insulting. So aren't you in essence then calling my precious boy and others like him dumb and stupid? 

There's a gazillion other words out there - choose another one!

I encourage you to sign the pledge in honor of Noah. And let us know you did!

In a Slump

So, you have probably noticed I've been a little quiet lately. I am just in a slump. I haven't crafted much either - though I am starting to work on some projects for the 9th annual BirthMom Buds Retreat.

I'm ready for winter to be over. I'm hoping the upcoming time change and having more sunlight will help with my mood!

I'm tired of Noah having seizures (they have increased) and we don't have a cause for the increase. We are subsequently increasing the anti-seizure meds but just have to wait and see if they work.

Just wanted to let y'all know I'm still around and I'll be back as soon as I have something that isn't just whining (like this post) to say or I have created something to show you!

Edited to Add: As soon as I hit published I noticed that THIS is my 999th post! That means the next post will be my 1,000th post. WOWZERS!