September's Thought of the Month

Act as if it were impossible to fail.

Dorothea Brande

Day at "Grands" House

William came to spend the day. He found it much more comfortable sleeping on the couch than his bed.

He is so cute!! We had a good time

School Notes Blackboard

This fun countdown to the first day of school blackboard can be used all year long. Use it to jot down notes about tests,sports practice,after school activities, and even chores !

You need Wooden tray with raised outer edge/blackboard paint/paint/sealer/crayons/pencil/glue/chalk/alphabet tiles to spell "school notes"/sandpaper

How to
Sand the tray
Spray the interior of the tray with blackboard paint
Paint border green and let dry
Cover the black area to protect and spray with sealer
Glue the alphabet letters onto the green border
Glue on pencil and crayons to desired placement

Grandma's Helper

I thought this was a cute one !! Abby looking on while I changed William. Abby does not like to hear William cry.

Creative Ways to Organize Crafts

Digital Storage-Protect your CDs of photos from harm by creating your own holders from decorative paper. A covered box will keep the dust out, and you can decorate it with fun prints and patterns. Create subject dividers too, so more than one theme can be stored in each box. Photo Finish - Pictures need to be stored in a safe place so they won't get bent or damaged. Place them in a traditional office file folder, and sew up the sides to keep them safely tucked in. Make sure you label them clearly so you know what's inside. And instead of simply handwriting a label, get creative. Print out a re sized picture from the folder and glue it to the label tag.

Tins for Trims- Some containers don't allow you to peer in and see what's inside without removing the lid. Save time searching for the right pattern or color by wrapping the outside of each tin with a piece of the ribbon tucked inside. And don't hide these cans in a drawer or closet; leave them out for easy access and as part of the room's decor.

Decorative Containers- It's easier to find things when they're out in the open. But you can't leave your kitchen table sprinkled with stickers and tags. Glass jars make the perfect holders for all of your pretty trims. And to make sure you know what's inside each one, craft your own labels with customized tags.

Decorating with Quilts

On the Fence- Ladders are a great way to display your quilts, but here's a new idea. Stand a section of an antique picket fence on its end and drape the pickets with quilts. There are more pickets on a fence than rungs on a ladder,and since fencing is usually wider than a ladder,you can see more of your folded quilts.

Added Dimension- Secure curtain rod brackets above your bed at headboard height and add a curtain rod. Fold your favorite quilt to fit and drape it over the rod for a one of a kind custom headboard. When you're ready for a change, swap the quilt with another one

Key Ring Cardholder

If your wallet is bursting with plastic cards you don't need every day,here's an idea. Hole punch the upper corner of your gym ID,library card and grocery and drugstore discount cards, then slip them onto a key ring and drop them in your bag. When you need one,just pull out the ring and flip through.

DIY Project

Display hand towels in a window box -- You have worked for hours keeping those plants alive, but to no avail. It's time to throw in the towel-literally. A standard window box, installed inside, just below the sill, proves fertile ground for storing a colorful array of hand towels and washcloths. Stick to one shade or mix it up and you'll have your own version of a window garden.

How to Speed Clean your Kitchen

I thought this was a simple approach and something to keep in mind, it might help you on a daily basis.

The best time saving tips, techniques, and to do lists for polishing off the kitchen.

EVERY DAY

Wipe down the sink after doing the dishes or loading the dishwasher
Wipe down the stove top
Wipe down the counters
Sweep or vacuum the floor

EVERY WEEK

Mop the floor
Wipe cabinets, back splashes, and appliances
Wash the dish rack
Wipe the switch plates and phone
Wipe the inside of the garbage can

EVERY SEASON

Empty and scrub down the inside of the refrigerator
Empty and clean the insides of the utensil drawers
Scrub down the cupboard exteriors
Clean the stove hood filter

Job Jar

In summer, the mere mention of chores can evoke reactions usually reserved for dentist appointments and haircuts. To make tasks less tedious for everyone, print them on strips of paper, color coding to distinguish "grown up jobs" from " kid jobs" One chore day, have everyone draw and complete a job.

Pictures from Birthday weekend

Over the weekend Ben and I celebrated our birthdays. The kids brought over a delicious steak dinner for all to share. Baby William got all dressed up for the occasion(check out the shoes)

He looked adorable in his new outfit and tennis shoes.

My multi tasking daughter.

Jennifer made us a delicious chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting! Yum !

William entertaining Grandpa. Look at the smile !!

Grandma and William

Too much party for him !!

The birthday couple!! Did I mention that the kids bought me a WII !! OMG !! Was I surprised. That is going to be alot of fun this winter when we cannot get outside to play.

Happy Birthday!

This is Jennifer, Helen's daughter. Today is my mom's birthday and I just wanted to wish her a very happy birthday and let her everyone know how good of a wife, mom, and grandma she is!

No one every wants for anything when she's around and she's always there to take care of baby William. We all love her very much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Signs for the Modern Woman

My Cousin Pat sent me this email today, and I thought you might get a kick out of them.

Easy Greeting Cards to Make

Sticker Sentiment Card- Place sticker sentiments in a grid to create a clean everyday card. Fill the middle block with a paper flower to add interest.

Simple Greeting Card- Place rub-on sentiments atop cutout circles to make a quick card. Finish the simple design with a ribbon border on one side

Girls' Catchall

A girl may own two hundred barrettes and ponytail holders, but inevitably she wants the one that's nowhere to be found. This one was made from a picture frame with spools and ribbons attached and can be hung from a picture hook. Spools hold necklaces, rings, and elastic bands;the ribbons hold barrettes, clips and earrings.

Choose an unfinished frame with a wide flat front. You will not need the glass or backing. Paint the frame and some small, medium,and large wooden spools with acrylic or latex paint. Glue the spools in lace with wood glue. Turn the frame over and with a staple gun , attach lengths of 1/2 and 3/4 inch wide grosgrain ribbon to the inner edge of the frame,pulling the ribbons taut. Hang the frame from a nail.

6 Things to Do Every Day

Get into the habit of completing these basic tasks daily. With just a few minutes' work, you'll be able to keep chaos at bay.

1. Make the bed - A made bed makes the whole room seem more orderly.

2. Manage Clutter - Whenever you leave a room,take a quick look around for anything that isn't where it should be . Pick up and put things where they belong.

3. Sort the Mail- Take a few minutes to open, read, and sort mail as soon as you bring it inside. Keep a trash bin near your sorting area for junk mail.

4. Clean as you Cook--Instead of filling the sink with pots and dishes, wash them or put them in the dishwasher as you prepare a meal.

5. Wipe up Spills While they are Fresh- Whether it's tomato sauce on the cook top or makeup on the bathroom counter, almost anything is faster and easier to remove if you attend to it immediately.

6. Sweep the Kitchen Floor- Every evening, once you've finished washing up after dinner, sweep the floor. This will keep tough to clean dirt and grime from building up, which will make the weekly mopping much quicker.

These tips are brought to your by none other than Martha Stewart. !! I thought they were really helpful maybe you will too.

Home Office Storage on a Dime

Corral with Cans - Use empty cans for wall storage in your home office. Then can organize sewing essentials or corral writing utensils, scissors, and other small office items. To make this wall storage, clean the cans, then spray paint them the desired colors. Attach each can to the wall with a single screw through the bottom or with a heavy duty wall mounting tape.

Mail Center- Use unexpected containers, such as these simple mailboxes, for desk side storage. They're perfect for organizing mail,takeout menus,and bills. Plus, they'll keep your desktop paper free. Dress them with pretty motifs from wallpaper remnants or decorative paper, and adhere with decoupage medium.

De clutter a Desktop- Re purpose a toothbrush holder and soap dish to round up office essentials and keep your desktop and drawers clutter free.

Rosey Stationery

Leafy vegetables make great tasting salads-and sumptuous floral shaped stamps, too. Here, the end of of a head of radicchio yields a rose like print. Cut off stem end with a sharp knife, and stand stem on a paper towel to dry. Press cut side onto a large stamp pad, then onto cards, stationery and more, blotting on paper towel between presses. Vary stamp shapes with other vegetables, such as romaine lettuce stems or even Brussels sprouts cut in half.

William and Pooh

William was busy entertaining him self while Mom was busy working.

Pooh Bear was given to him by his Aunt Pat.

Memorabilla Tins

Keep your favorite vacation ephemera,such as maps, menus, and fliers, on display by using them to decorate tins. Begin with a tin,such as a soup can or spice box. Remove any paper labels. Measure the height of the container, and cut a long strip of your paper keepsake to the same height. Wrap the paper around the tin and mark it with about 1/2 inch of overlap. Cut away excess. Attach one end of the paper to the other, using a glue stick

Textured String Bracelets

Use leftover string from crafts projects to make textured bracelets. Purchase plastic bangles from a jewelry or craft store. Using craft glue, attach 1 inch of the tail end of the string to the inside of the bangle. Wrap string around bangle until bracelet is covered.

Cut the string,leaving a 3 inch tail;thread through a needle. Thread the tail under strings on inner side of bangle to secure. For a striped look, alternate string colors as you work

Name that Bulb

Once flowers fade and bulbs and tubers are dug up for winter storage,they pretty much all look alike. To ensure that you';; replant them in the right location next spring, write the variety or color of the plant directly on each bulb with a permanent marker. Then store the bulbs in peat moss or newspaper in a cool, dark place.

William and the Hammock

Grandma and Grandpa bought William a swinging hammock , so that when he is here he can kick back.

Abby getting a little closer, trying to figure where the music is coming from. Oh, I forgot to tell you it has music and vibrator

He seemed to enjoy the ride.

Baby Update!!

Jennifer took William to the doctor today!! He weights 9 lbs 10 oz !! Can you believe that.? He is a very good eater, obviously !!. He is having alot of trouble with colic, if any of you readers have any suggestions we are open for them.

The doctor gave Jennifer a prescription for some drops that might work, but if not there is nothing they can do for him. Gosh, I hate to see that little guy in so much pain. It's hard to believe that he is 5 weeks old.

Uncle Chris's Visit

Williams "Uncle Chris" came to visit him for a couple of days. It is Uncle Chris's first nephew. They had a nice visit and Chris promised to come back real soon

William 's Mom and Dad bought him this bouncy chair Saturday, and he loves it !! He fell asleep in it at nap time . It's hard to believe that William is a month old, the time has gone so quickly. I hope it slows down just a little so we can enjoy this beautiful baby.