I’m Baaaaaaack!!!!! With a new little one!!

Oh good heaven’s, where oh where has the time gone?  i can’t believe that I have not posted anything since mid January!!!  Things have been K-R-A-Z-Y around here!!!  Ever since my Mother-in-Law passed away it seems like it has been one thing or another taking up my time.  We have been busy trying to settle her estate and clean out her condo.  We are now in the process of getting it painted, carpet cleaned, and then “staged”.  I’m getting all the things together that I will need to take over there to update it a little bit. Don’t exactly want to sell a place that looks like an 81 year old lady lived there.  Seriously, the decorations were ALL from the time she moved into her place 16 years ago.  Country blue and mauve… need I say more???  The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy as we (attempt to) get everything done and get it on the market.  Wish the housing market was a little better right now, but we don’t have time to wait.
Now for the BIG news – the thing that is making me take time out of my busy life to FINALLY post on my blog – I’m a grandma again!!!!  WAHOO!!!! 
Yep, Phil and I are the (very) proud grandparents of a new little Grandson.  Evan Scott Franz (yah, we’re kind of proud of the middle name!) was born on Monday, April 11^th at 3:23 pm.  He decided to make his appearance a little earlier than planned.  (Mommy – my daughter Angela - was scheduled for a C-Section on the 17^th). However, Evan is very healthy and is doing well.  He weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz, and was 20 ½ inches.  Mommy and Daddy are doing great.  Big brother, Noah, has a pretty nasty cold and cough right now, so he has not been able to get close to his baby brother yet.  Thank heaven for Skype – he has been able to at least see him that way.  Noah is staying with Phil and I this week.  Oh my, I've forgotten what it's like to have a 4 year old in the house while trying to get ready for work. Especially when "said little one" wakes up on the wrong side of bed, doesn't want to get up, doesn't want to go potty, doesn't want to dress, doesn't want to go to school, has a cold, AND is missing Mommy and Daddy!! Regardless, we are loving every minute!!
Anyway, I thought I would include a few pictures of this precious little one.  Now I know that I’m his Grandma, and just MIGHT be a little prejudice, but I do believe he is just the cutest little guy ever (along with Noah of course)!!!!  There are pictures of Noah as he sees his little brother for the first time.  He was smiling from ear to ear!  Also, if you remember, back in October my Mom turned 90.  This little one makes her 19th Great Grandchild.  You can tell from the pictures below she has not lost her touch!!


And here's the most precious picture ever - Matt and Angela snapped this when Evan got to go home.  The hat and blanket are extra special because they were made by my Mom - his Great Grandma (or "GG" as they call her).

Being a grandparent is one of the BEST things ever!  Noah is getting to be so much fun to be with, and now we have a new little one to cuddle.  We praise the Lord for this precious new life and are so thankful that he came into this world perfect in every way! 
Thanks for allowing me to brag just a bit.  Of course I would be more than happy to hear all your comments about just HOW PRECISIOUS he is!!!  LOL

“Blinging Up” My New Chandelier

A couple of weeks before Christmas I was walking through Goodwill and was about ready to walk out.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw something big and shiny sitting on a table.  I glanced over and low-and-behold I saw a beautiful light fixture.  Price?  $19.95!!!!  I can’t believe that I almost walked away because I was afraid my hubby would kill me.  I stood there and debated, then I picked it up.  Oh good heaven’s… that thing was HEAVY.  I was a GOOD fixture and in perfect condition – not even any dust on it!!!  The thing I didn’t really like were the metal shades – which I knew could be removed.  I was beginning to see the potential.  Well, at that point I said, “I don’t care if my hubby rolls his eyes when he sees this or not, I’m gonna get it!”  I’m telling you, that thing was so heavy that I could hardly carry it to the register and then out to my car.  I DID get a slight eye-roll from my hubby, but he also knew we wanted a new light for our dining room, PLUS even he knew it was a GOOD fixture.  This is what it looked like when I brought it in the house… see how it shines?
 
I just “casually” mentioned to my hubby that maaaaybe we could install it sometime in the near future… hopefully before Christmas???  You know what?  He said, “Well let’s do it!”  Well knock me over with a feather!!  I got the tools together before he could change his mind and quick as a wink we had that baby installed (with a “dimmer” to boot!!!!!). 
Why is it that I don’t see things are crooked/upside down/etc. until I post pictures??  I also forgot to take a “before” picture of the light.  Trust me, it was a very basic CHEAP builder’s quality fixture.
Now this was quite an improvement, and I was already loving it, but of course – never to be satisfied – I felt it could be improved upon.  I seen so many different people post on how they improved a chandelier.  One in particular that inspired me to try was Diane (http://inmyownstyle.com/2010/11/dining-room-chandelier-make-over.html).  I thought... could I???… should I???…  “bling” it up????  But of course I should!!  Besides, with it being Christmas time I figured I might be able to find some crystal items to use.  I was right.  Not only did I find crystal items, but they were half price!!!  WAHOO!!!!  The beaded garland was a little larger than I wanted, but it would do.  I thought that maybe these crystals might look “cheap”, but they really don’t.  Everyone that has seen it thinks it is beautiful, so I guess price doesn’t really matter.
I didn’t want to do anything that would be “permanent” or damage the light in any way, plus I didn't want the beads to slide, so I wanted to use some hooks to hang the crystals.  The light itself had perfect areas to hang hooks.  I found some brass ornament hangers at Hobby Lobby which I knew would work perfect (1/2 price!!!).  I cut them and made new hooks out of them.
They work so well that they blend right in with the light.
I figured out how much of a drop I wanted between hooks and started hanging them and then hot-glued the two ends together.  I did this several times in different areas.  I also made some drop crystals to hang down. 
The top portion had to have a little different hook, so I worked with them a little more and made a perfect little hook for that as well.

The only place I had to use glue (hot glue) was on the crystals that dropped from the top portion down to the “candle light-bulb” area (or whatever you call it).

One final thing and I would be done… the center drop crystal.  I had a beautiful REAL crystal that my boss had given to me a couple of years ago.  I made that into another drop that would hang below everything else.  Oh my gosh… this thing was looking AWESOME!!!!
I had a bit of a hard time getting good pictures, because the crystal garland wants to reflect so much, but I think you’ll get the general idea.  Between the cost of the light, and all the crystals, I have created a beautiful Chandelier for about $35!!!!

One more time… here’s the “before”
And here’s the “after”.

I’m really happy with it!!!  The nice thing is that if I want to change it, get tired of it, or even want to clean it, all I have to do is unhook everything. 

So what do you think?  Do you like the “Before” or the “After” better?????  I really WOULD LOVE to hear what you think!!!

I think I'm going to find a few parties to link up to...

Saturday Is Crafty Day! (Along for the Ride)  /  Saturday Nite Special (Funky Junk)  /  Flaunt It Friday (Chic on Shoestring Decorating)  /  FAB Friday (Frugal & Fabulous Design)  /  Feature Yourself Friday (Fingerprints on the Frig)  /  Frugalicious Friday (Finding Fabulous)  /  Motivate Me Monday (Keeping it Simple)  /  Making the World Cuter Monday  /  The DIY Show Off  /  Metamorphosis Monday (Between Naps on the Porch)  /  Making Monday Marvelous (Creating Really Awesome Free Things)  /  Made By You Monday (Skip to my Lou)   /  Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays (Costal Charm)  /  Mad Skills 

Goodbye to my Mother-in-Law

Today's posting is dedicated to my dear Mother-in-Law.  On Friday, January 7, 2011, Roxie Darlene Scott went home to be with the Lord.  She had been suffering with COPD for about 8 years.  During the last couple of years we have been in the process of that "long goodbye" as she slipped further from us with Alzheimer's. 

She went to the hospital in early December, was there for two weeks, and then on Christmas Eve was transferred to a nursing facility.  The final two weeks there in the nursing home were difficult, so we knew things were beginning to come to an end. 

The family that she left behind... 2 sons (2 daughter-in-laws); 5 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren, will truly miss her smiling little face.  She had been a widow since 1984, and especially enjoyed time with her friends and family.

We are so thankful that Mom was a born again Christian and loved the Lord.  We know that as she slipped from her earthly body she was immediately in the presence of the Lord and was rejoicing with friends and family who were awaiting her arrival.

Today is the viewing, and there is a snow storm hitting us right now.  Family and friends are traveling here right now, so we ask for prayer - that they may have traveling mercies.  Also, a number of people - including myself - have the flu right now,  We would appreciate it if you would keep our family in prayer during the next couple of days.

Skates Makeover – A Winter Decoration

Early in December I came across a new blog “Forever Decorating”, (well, new to ME anyway) and fell in love with one of her projects.  When I saw her pictures of some skates she had decorated, I knew that was a project I wanted work on right away.  Check out what Terry did with her skates… http://foreverdecorating.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html   I had JUST gotten some skates (my daughter found them for me at a thrift shop for $3), so my little brain started rolling.
The first thing I did was to stamp and emboss some snowflakes onto the skates.  (I have fallen in love with embossing lately.!!  It makes something plain into something really special.)  I then added a little bit of “bling” in the center of each snowflake.

I removed the shoestrings and replaced them with some pretty ribbon and added some shiny silver bells.


Of course I NEVER do anything nice and simple.  I decided to add some lights to the skates.  I purchased the real small mini lights, figured out how many little  lights I needed for each skate, as well as enough to go between the two skates, and then hot glued the lights into the skates (hope they don’t burn out any time soon!!).



I cut and added a soft feather boa to the top of each skate – hot gluing it in place.  The final touches included adding another beautiful ribbon to hold the skates together and hang the skates with, some greenery and beautiful red berries. 


I then took the skates outside, sprayed the bottom portion with spray adhesive, and sprinkled it with some shimmering glitter to make them look like they had just been brought in from ice skating.


The final touch was to add a pretty little white bird – landing on top of the skates.
 
Last thing I needed to do?  Hang them of course (and plug in the lights)!!!


 

Don’tcha just love ‘em??  I think they are so pretty that I’m just going to leave them up as a Winter decoration. 
I would love to hear what you think of this little project.  I found Terry (my inspiration) because she had come to my site and left a comment.  I returned the favor by visiting her blog… so the love just goes on and on!!!  Thanks Terry!!
NOTE:  I loved these skates so much that I decided to make a pair to bring as my "Exchange Gift" for our ladies Sunday School Christmas Party.  Let's just say that they were fought over quite a bit, but once my friend (who LOVES "bling") got hold of them she just "dared" someone to take them from her!!!  It was quite funny.  Anyway, I obviously did not want to give MY pair, so we (actually my hubby did it for me)  started looking on Craigs list and found a pair without any problem at all.  Sooooo, check your local ads to see if you can find a pair.  Good luck!!

I'm gonna go "party" now!!!!