I'mmmmmm Baaaccckkkkkkkk!!

Ya, caught me. I was five blogs in and I took a hiatus! Things have been pretty busy here. Working later than normal, getting the wintery blues, getting a horrible cold....uhhh...excuses, excuses... BUT I'm back. I'll try to do better. I have received several compliments on my blog, so that is reassuring! :) So anyway, this is the "official" announcement that I'm not goin' anywhere!

Something I HAVE been working on....

A Recipe Box! :D I'm SoooOOOOooooOO excited about this! Anyone that knows me, knows I love food  (pshh..who doesn't?) and I love cooking (especially for more than 2 people, lol). I didn't take pictures of the process..dur-da-dur right?, but I can walk ya through it! :D

Okay. So I bought a plain old box from Michaels that looks like this:

Nothin too fancy or anything, and REALLY cheap--like $3.50 cheap. Yeah! I also picked up another medium sized sponge brush to paint with. By the way, I like painting projects with a sponge brush because It doesn't leave stroke streaks like the bristle brushes do.. Then.. I went to our local Westlake Hardware Store. I LOVE Westlakes..I think I like this store so much because 1. It has stuff for men and women! I'm drawn to stores with dual purpose ;)..and 2.It reminds me SO much of my Grandpa Virgil who passed away almost 2.5 years ago..sniff sniff...yeah..kinda hard to get me to leave..Anyway.... So, I went to Westlakes and bought a small can of Flat "Black" (It was more like a smokey black--not BLACK Black) paint. They have cans that are used for small projects or sampling for just a few bucks..so I got that.. I have plentyyy left over for my next planned project! (Yay!) And while you're at the hardware store you'll want to pick up a piece of sandpaper--or one of those neat sandpaper blocks( like I had on hand because of the hubs :) ). You'll want a medium grit like 150 or so..-- by the way I did have to consult my husband about that--I totally don't know what I'm talking about when it comes to sandpaper.. and actually, what I had on hand was a finer(?) grit that's used for finishing, but it worked, so..what-ev...So! I got it all home, sat down in front of some Dr. Phil, and started paintin. I painted a couple of really light coats and let it dry. No primer or anything, I was too lazy, just 2 coats of paint. I painted the hinges and all..After it dried I took that sandpaper and a standard screwdriver to it and got busy. I mainly sanded around edges and knocked it a few times with the screwdriver to give it that distressed look --which the hubs also suggested--I think he needs a blog, ha! ;) --and now it looks like this!!

Brad liked the look of leaving the inside unpainted, so I left it :) Now my next project--organizing it! HA!! Hope y'all keep checkin' in on me, I'll try not to leave you hanging for the next one! 

xoxo 

Follow Along Folks, We're Makin' a Wreath!

Like I've said in my past posts, I've been blog stalkin'--meaning--I've been searching high and low for easy craft ideas that will; 1. Give me a hobby to do after work (So I can break the routine of Work, Eat, Clean and Sleep) and 2. Help me use up or transform some of those old dull things lying around. My first project was inspired by a lady who loves crafting, and is an "expert" (in my eyes) at making wreaths! You can check out her blog here.  


I'll start by letting you know all the materials needed for the project, and the price of each as well. Most of the products I purchased came from one stop at Michael's
Grapevine Wreath--On Clearance for $2.50
Assortment of Flowers --$6.55 for 4 bundles (These were only going to be $3 but I couldn't do without the Cat-Tails)
Wooden Numbers--Only $2.42 for all 3!
Sponge Brush--.05       
Outdoor Acrylic Paint--.69
Hot Glue Gun/Glue Sticks--Since I just began crafting, I don't consider these to be part of the project cost because I'll be able to use them on other projects.  
White Primer--I will also be able to use this several more times, so the cost of it was pretty cheap.

***Total Cost : $12.21***

First:

I cut the assortment of flowers apart and began placing them on my Grapevine Wreath. I just stuffed them between the crevices in the vine, and with the thickness of the stems they all seamed to hold pretty well. 

Second:
I took a break to prime the numbers, that way they could be drying while I was working with the wreath. I laid a bag down and did it inside under our vent in the kitchen. -- Bad, Bad idea. I don't recommend doing this. You would think the fan/vent would help with fumes...not so much.. ;) Anyways.., I just applied 1 coat of primer to front and back.

Third:
I finished plugging all my flowers into the wreath. I just kept placing them until I got the fullness I wanted.

Fourth:

I painted the wooden numbers an Antique White. I applied 2 Coats to front and back.

Fifth:

I waited for the paint to dry and then hot glued  the Numbers to my wreath! I decided that I want to add a Plaid Print Ribbon Bow to the top corner, but haven't been anywhere to get what I want yet, until then, This'll Do! 

So there you have it! Not exactly rocket science, but I'm proud of myself!! In 5 steps, less than $15, and 1 short night, we now have a nice, warm wreath welcoming our guests! Try it out! :)

xoxo

Just Before Your Bedtime Prayer..

I just about forgot to share with you the beautiful view that the hubbs and I had on our way back to country Friday night. Warms my heart.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

xoxo

Crafts for the Future!

After a short weekend break, I'm back into the ol' grind. But, in every spare moment I've been searching for some cool crafty ideas to use up some of those, ugh, things laying around. Blog stalking, if you will. And boy do I have some winners for you! But, I've been sooo sucked into my Google domain, and blogs, and Bachelor Pad..., that I've run myself short on time. So I just thought, I'll throw this little teaser out, keep ya' on your toes, leave ya' wantin' more. And make you PROMISE to stay tuned! Deal? Okay, 'Night Folks :D

xoxo

I have no plans, and no plans to plan....

So, since this is a blog that follows what's going on in my life, and there's not a whole lot going on in my life, I guess I should do something about that! ;) I've been craving a good hobby. I've thought about so many different things that I could just run with; jewelry making, scrapbooking, photography, restoring old furniture, crocheting, sewing, couponing--but man, just as soon as I get sucked in and right before I'm about jump in with both feet, something makes me stop. Have you ever walked through the aisle's at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Target, or any craft store and looked at the prices of the jewelery making stuff. Man-oh-man!! THAT's an expensive hobby. Wouldn't be so bad if I could sell some of it, but I don't want to turn something enjoyable into a job. ..And you know,.. I don't know too many people who make scrapbooks of their cats? And honestly I'm not sure I want to venture to find those individuals.. : |


Oh! Meet Balu! He sure is a cutie, isn't he?

So I guess I'll hold off on scrapbooking until I have human kids :)
I do looooovvvveeeeee repurposed old furniture, I'm not sure what's holding me back there..Space? Time? Places I would put the finished pieces. I'm kinda a bag of excuses..
I AM in the process of the whole crocheting/sewing hobby. I've been looking for a nice sewing machine for awhile. I don't want too many options, but I would like a heavy duty machine to patch work jeans with and stuff. ANY useful information there would be lovely!
I think I've decided to throw it all in a hat, and just go by the seat of my pants. Be a lively gal. No schedule, no normality here. Guess if you were looking for that same ol' same ol' blog, that goes week by week with the same planner, pass on by. You KNOW I'm not that type of person! (teehee) I'm a no rules type blogger. (Whoa, on Post #2 can I even call myself "blogger" ?) Heck ya, no rules remember?! Anyways, enough rambling. Plan for this blog--No Planning. 'Nuf said. End.of.Story. Expect the Unexpected.




**Do any of YOU have blogs? Please feel free to share your thoughts, comments, and blogs in the section below! I LOVE feedback!

xoxo

Welcome! Have a seat! Have a drink (of water)! And Have Some Fun!!

SoooOOOOoo... Here I am. Joining the Blogging world. Jumpin' on the bandwagon. Taking a leap...Hoping that someone, somewhere out there just may really care what I have to say ;) If not, may I direct you to the perty little "X" at the corner of the page.(just kidding!!) All kidding aside, I'm super excited! I can't wait to get into the swing of things with this blog! To let you all be a fly on the wall of my house--or apartment?--if you want to be. Did I mention that the life I lead is kind-of a double one--in only some aspects of course! But if you're here, you probably already know that! For those that aren't familiar, let me get you up to speed. We have a farm back home, in good ol' Unionville. With cattle, a garden, a perfectly "un-perfect" farm house, stars, signature farmer 1-finger waves Hello, slow moving tractor signs, curvy roads that make you sick,...... FRESH AIR....ahhh..I miss home. AND we allsoooo have an apartment in Columbia where my dear hubby is going to school. We're bringin' country to the city, and this here blog will follow along in our journey.


Okay, okay.. So I'm juuuussssttt alittle late getting this blog up--since we have been here for a year now, I'll catch ya up REAL fast with where we are since we moved here..Ready?
Brad started school, I found a job, We missed the country so we got a cat (named Balu), Brad still in school, I still at work, traveling home most weekends, back to the grind during the week, Brad decides he likes the cat (Ehahahaha---evil laugh :D ), I say get another--he says don't push it.. School, work,school,work...we lead pretty boring lives? Well amongst all of the excitement we of course check out the city. Try new places to eat, go see movies, meet new people..you know...then I decide to BLOG about it..and a few months later....here we are!


SO this is it! I've thought quite awhile on what I would like to say in this blog. I've decided it will just be a daily (or weekly--or whenever I get to it) look into the Hines' Homestead. I'll post about the Simple Pleasures of our life. Good fun, good friends, and good food. I really hope you'll enjoy this as much as I plan to. :)

xoxo