Gone too long

WOW, has it really been since last May since I was on here? Yes.. A crazy long time..
What kept me away? Just life and raising kids I guess..

I felt that I was spending too much time on the computer and wanted to just spend the summer with the kids and my family..It was fun but man, it went by way too fast!

My kids are getting older.. Jake is 15, Carly is 12 and Macy is 11..I am amazed at how busy I am now and how busy I use to think I was when they were little... not that I was not busy, it was just a different kind of busy, one that I catch myself missing a lot at times..(sigh)...

But now that summer is over, Fall is actually here.. and the kids are back in school.. I have  a lot of great projects up and going and I felt it was time to get back to blogging.. I have missed it.. It's funny the friendship you make on here and how you find yourself thinking of these ladies while doing your daily chores..

I'm going to be switching things up a bit too.. So there is lots of new and fun stuff to look forward too..

Have a great night..

Mechelle

Finally Back, how have you all been?

Well after a few months off to take care of house stuff, kids stuff and just life.. I am back to blogging, crafting and stocking the shop with new items. 

My new favorite bird house.. which I am keeping in the house.. Sorry birds...

Moving a few things around in the house

Here is Macy with her head in an Alligator skeleton.. Needless to say we are HUGE fans of Swamp people.. are you?

Jake played JV baseball and loved it.  High School sure is different than select ball.. which is about to start up this weekend..

WE went to the Aquarium and petted Sharks, yes sharks...

Wow saying NO is a powerful thing and really free's up your time.  I have lots of great before and afters coming up, but for now.. here a few things we have been up too.. How have you all been?
It's nice to be back to blogging.. I have missed you all sooooooooo much!
Have a great Day,
Mechelle

Catching my breath

I have not fallen off the face of the earth, but rather into a very long over do organizing of my life and my home.

I sorta took the month of January off to organize the house.. You know.. go through closets that you "say" your gonna do but never get done..Well I did them.. and we also did some things in the kitchen as well..Let me say after that, my husband is NO longer a fan of Ikea.. as my living room looked like their stock room for a while...

It seems we have had one sick kid after another since Christmas and lots of family stuff going on too. 
I miss blogging, I miss crafting, I miss sewing.. I miss reading all your blogs that I am sooooo behind in reading, heck I am missing junking too.  I am sooooo behind on my pinterst list, it's just to crazy to talk about..:)

All of a sudden it was February and next week Valentine's Day.. why does it seem the days go faster and faster all the time?  I have one child left who has Valentine's Party at school.. I am planning that and having mixed feelings about it being the last party that I will be room mom of.. I am so gonna miss that Elementary School next year :)

Well I have been reading one blog.. my dear friend Tracey  If you want to remember why you should slow down and enjoy life.. stop over her blog.. First grab a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, tea.. some kleenex and get ready to laugh, cry and just be inspired by my dear friend.

I on the other hand, am done catching my breath and cleaning.. We have 5 basketball games this weekend, but starting Monday, I am back at crafting, sewing, blogging and having some fun!  I mean for real, a girl can only organize so much.. I sorta like the crazy mess we live in.. I feel like my house is to be "lived in" not just a show place for pretty blog pictures.  So next week I am back! 
I hope you all Have a great weekend!!!
Mechelle

Learning to say NO

WOW, First off, Happy New Year to all of you!  I sorta took a LONG time off from blog land, because I do not know how to say NO when asked to help at school or anything else :)  I am learning to say NO, let's see how that goes.. Anyway.. with saying NO, you learn that you "free" up a LOT of time to do the things you want to do, and that are on your list... and your project table.. and every other table in the house, in my case :)  I am putting my house back to gether from what looks like a crazy person was living here, with way too many projects and way too many "sure I can help with that".. So I have been busy getting new things to the shop, working on Valentine's Day things and I have to say.. saying NO is NICE!

Here are a few things I have been able to do since learning the word NO!

A few new items at the shop

I LOVE those old school house lights.. I have three of them...

More vintage sheet music..Framed.. $12.00 a piece.. if you want one, let me know :)

Crammed Full.. with lots more to come!

Here are a few waterless snow globes I had left over.. I LOVE making these!

A peek at my booth in the shop next door to my furniture..It needs to be re-stocked too.

 

And the best for last.. This is Sam.. he is the brother of Macy's friend.. Since it was too cold outside to "sell" lemonade.. he brought out his piano and decided to play for tips.. Isn't that too cute?

He plays beautifully and is the sweetest kid around!

Well back to saying "NO" and getting things done.. I need a good organizational blog.. Any suggestions? My life and house could use a good organized sweep!

~Mechelle~

BEST Cinnamon Roll Recipe EVER!

This is the BEST Homemade Cinnamon Roll Recipe EVER! This is from The Pioneer Woman and your family will have a new found respect for you after you make these!

My sweet dear friend Tracey made these for my family and dropped them off the other day, they were warm, smelled like what I think Heaven smells like :) and they were super yummy!  What I did not tell her, is that they were gone in minutes.. mostly by me and my husband.. I am making these today and I have to tell you, they will become a favorite in your house like mine.  I have had this recipe for a while, and have The Pioneer Woman's book, but never have I made them.. DUMB! They are sooo good.. So go try them, trust me you will be in love!

Hope you all had a wonderful Holiday with your families.. We sure did and were so busy, that I just dropped out of blog land for a bit to enjoy the family. 

I am back now and ready to re-stock my shop, and my online store too.. I have started to work in Valentine's day, as I am learning you cam't start early enough!

Well back to the cinnamon rolls.. Hope you all have a great day!

Mechelle

Pinterest Lampshade and Shows

Well here is my first Scrap Fabric Lamp Shade.. Found this on Pinterest and loved it.. It was a little more time consuming than you might think.. but I think it turned out great.. My 10 year old daughter's friend is dying to have this, so I guess it really must be "cool"

I have to say, it is really colorful and it was fun to make and a great use of scraps!

I also have been making a few of these little gift sets for little girls.. A purse and a scarf out of fleece

Made these years ago and thought I would bring them back again.

Fleece is soooo pretty! I will have these at the upcoming shows I have this weekend and next week.

Since Desperate Housewives was not on Sunday night I sat and made about 50 of these little things.. Some are for headbands, some for purses and some for pins They are not finished yet, but close to it!

I also made about 70 of these little things.. I love them.. Soon to be headbands. as well.

Well back to sewing.. I will post some new things tomorrow.. If you live local, Stop by Madeira Elementary School at 7840 Thomas Drive, Cincinnati Ohio  42243 between 10 and 5 on Sunday.. we have a Homemade for the Holiday Show going on, with some beautiful handcrafted items!

Have a great day!

~Mechelle~

Be Thankful

Just  few things to reflect on this Thanksgiving...

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

I don't know if you are hosting dinner or going to someone's house.. Trust me I know it can get crazy with kids in tow, trying to clean your house, run to the store for 10 things you forgot and trying to make it nice for others.. we forget to stop and enjoy the day.. I do this and I was doing this, until today. I am choosing to slow down, trust I will get done what needs to get done and just be happy.  I want my kids to remember fun Holidays, not the ones where they say "oh, yea, my mom was a complete nut during the holidays :)"  So I am slowing down and having fun too.

I want to wish all who read my little blog, a very Happy Thanksgiving.  If you know of someone spending it alone, invite them over, or make a plate of food for a neighbor that is alone and take it over to them.  Start a new tradition, go around your table and have everyone say 3 things they are Thankful for.. We have done this for a few years and it is my favorite time of the day.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful day, great food and makes some fun memories to look back on.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

~Mechelle~

Sofa Before

Well here is my "new" project.. An antique sofa..

She has the BEST lines ever! When I saw her, I fell in love.. I had an immediate "vision" of what it look like when it was completed..