Christmas Crafts

My family traveled to Kansas City for Thanksgiving, which meant two 15 hour road trips. I am lucky to have a husband who works in the magazine industry and supplies me with lots of free magazines! So, while not entertaining our 2 year old, I read through all the magazines that he gave me. I came across some of the cutest craft ideas, cookie ideas and decorating ideas. I could not wait to get home and put some of them into practice. My first attempt are these Christmas trees. They were super simple. You just need scrapbook paper, scissors, glue and a wooden dowel, or in my case chop sticks. I had trouble getting my trees to stand up on their own so I ended up hot gluing them into these little white bowls. If I had floral foam, I would have used that. You simply cut out three graduating circles, fold them in half four times and clip a tiny hole on the tip to thread the dowel through. For the topper, I made two circles and glued them together, allowing space for the top of the the dowel (chopstick) to go through. So cute, right!

Trial Run

I still consider myself new to the world of baking. I enjoy baking, so that is why I keep doing it. Plus, K is more than eager to help and it is a fun and easy way to get some good quality time in with her. Next month I am hosting my first cookie decorating party and I am excited about that. I have all kinds of ideas stirring around in my head! This morning, I thought I would do a trial run cookie baking experience. Good thing I did because the sugar cookie recipe that I chose was not that great for cookie cutters. It was too sticky and the cookies would rip while moving them onto the cookie sheet. But, they still tasted pretty yummy. I decided to package a few to take to my Mom and then the rest are going to MOPS club meeting tomorrow. Last week I did not feel like cooking one night, so we ordered take-out Chinese, I saved the containers because they are really nice and I knew I could use them for gifts this season, so that is what the cookies are packaged in. (I add that because so often I see people post pictures of their baked goods in super cute packaging and wonder where they got their containers.) Hey, if you have a good sugar cookie recipe to share please do!

Generations

Last night I was washing my face and loathing the fact that I still get zits on a regular basis. I have fought them all my life and I am SO SICK of it. I was doing my twice a day, daily regime and just wallowed in my despair for a few minutes. Then today we went to CVS to get a few things and I needed to get some M&M's for a cookie decorating party next month. I knew that if I brought home chocolate, I would most likely eat some. Just another familiar battle for most people. The daily struggle with how you look. So, then this afternoon I check my mail box and the new InStyle came. I looked through it a little during lunch, but decided to put it away. Like most Mom's with daughters, I want to protect and empower her to look past all the ads that tell us we are not enough. It is a struggle that I do not want to pass on. What are you doing to teach your daughter? Please share. I came across these very familiar Dove Campaign videos that are so powerful. I hope they encourage you too.

Dove Campaign Videos

Again....a Christmas Scene

I put my tree up tonight. Mainly because we are going out of town on Friday for a week and I will have enough to do when I get back, so I decided that having a cozy, decorated home to come to would be, well, cozy! I also attempted another drawing. This one is okay in my eyes, not as sweet as the first. Mostly because I stink at drawing faces. Nevertheless, it was fun.

Christmas Scene

I drew this other day while looking online at Christmas scenes. I am going to try to draw it again but make the little girl look more like my little girl. I think it captures the joy and non-stop movement of little kids. Do you like it? I may try and use it for my cards this year. Really make a homemade card.

Craft Wednesday

This week's project was homemade play dough. It was not a kid friendly process, but defintiely a kid friendly result.
Cooked Playdough (flour and salt)
3 cups flour
1.5 cups salt
6 tsp cream of tarter
3 tbsp oil
3 cups water
Dissolve salt in the water.
Pour all ingredients into a large pot.
Stir constantly over medium heat until a ball forms by pulling away from the sides.
Knead the dough mixture until the texture matches playdough (1-2 minutes).
Store in plastic container. Should last for at least 3 months.

**I added food coloring to make colored play dough.

Making Music

Last night I was playing around with Garage Band. My purpose was to try and record a song that I wrote with my Mom and Doug. That was unsuccessful, however I did come up with this fun little tune and was pretty excited about it. I wanted to find a way to put it on the blog. The only way I could do that was to make some kind of slideshow or movie and add it as background music. I am going to a Girls Movie Night tonight with some friends and we are supposed to bring a snack to share. I just went shopping yesterday and did not want to go out and buy anything, so this morning I decided to make pumpkin cookies. I asked K to help me. She was happy to help. Then I decided to film us as we were making cookies. We made a lot of cookies! I ended up put some in a jar to send to work with D tomorrow to give to the nice ladies who always send little toys home with him for K. Remember, this is really about the song. Tell me if you like it! It's my first composition.

Cookies and Music from Samantha Harris on Vimeo.

What A Steal!

Yesterday we bought a new floor lamp for the family room. It used up three of our light bulbs. So, I needed to get some more. I clipped my coupons today for the second Sunday in a row. I found a coupon for $1.00 off the GE Energy Savers light bulb, so I clipped it. Then, I saw in the CVS flyer that the same light bulb, which is regularly $6.19 was on sell for $2.99. So, I decided to go to CVS for the light bulb and a few other things on sale. I scanned my CVS card and what would you know, a coupon came out for $1.00 of that same light bulb! After two coupons and a sale price, I paid $0.99 for a light bulb that will last me SIX YEARS PEOPLE! Now, that is a deal!

This Makes Me Happy

Fashion

I enjoy fashion. I would not say that I love it, but I do like to keep up with the trends and be "in style". Like most people, I also like that comfortable yet fashionable look. I don't wear high heels everyday and skinny jeans don't look good (on me) or feel good to me. A few times a week, I look at this blog. She put together a few looks for the Fall that I like. See below



The looks are practical and I like them. I could see myself wearing them. But, most days, I find myself wearing something more like this.

It's cozy, right?

I'm Famous

I was happily surprised when I opened my mailbox today and saw the most recent edition of Adoptive Families Magazine. I was even more happily surprised when I sat down to read it and saw that I had been quoted! Okay, okay, you can have my autograph.

Autumn Breakfast

I look forward to getting out of bed when I know this awaits me. No, really, I do!

(steel cut oats, brown sugar, raisins, milk and honey. coffee :)

First True Couponing Attempt

After clipping, comparing and planning on Sunday afternoon, I went shopping today. Between CVS and Kroger I spent $56.54 and saved $17.80. Not too bad for my first time.