Burlap Banner tutorial

I bought a beautiful Valentine's Day banner on etsy.  I loved it and was so sad to take it down.  I looked on etsy for a St. Patrick's Day banner but I hesitated buying it because I knew that I had all of the supplies to make my own. So over the weekend I made one! 

Here is the Valentine's Day one that I bought.  I love it but it was $20 and I thought it would be fun to try my own. 

I looked online for a tutorial and I found this simple one here. 

I printed the word  lucky in 425 pt Georgia font.  I cut out the letters and taped one letter to the back of each of my burlap that I cut into triangles.  I just painted where the letter was.  I didn't take a picture of this but the tutorial that I used has a picture of this :)

I also added polka dots using a circle craft brush.  I hot glued the burlap to jute and added green ribbon that I had. 

I think it's cute!  I do wish my paint was a little brighter.  Maybe next time I'll do two coats of paint instead of one. 

Here is a close up so you can see how I folded the burlap over the jute. 

This project was FREE because I already had everything I needed and it took less than an hour from start to finish!  I love quick and easy projects like these!!

Our day in pictures!

I took pictures on my iphone of our day today!

My day started out at work.  This is my to do list and a pile of work that I needed to get done today.

Brock and Ava are on winter break this week so Ava came to work with me for a little bit this morning!  Graig also took her to an orthodontist appointment early this morning.  Brock is finally getting his braces off next week and Ava is probably going to need braces or a retainer.  We will find out for sure next week. 

Ava loves going to Starbucks when she comes to my office.  This is my favorite breakfast-an everything bagel with chive cream cheese and a diet coke :)

I ordered some fabric key rings from Very Jane.  They came in on Saturday and I added them to my keys today!  I got some extra so I can give them away as little gifts. 

After work Ava and I went to Dairy Queen. She got a blizzard and I got an Orange Julius.  I love these!  Our Dairy Queen opened for the year on Saturday and we've been there twice already.  We are very good DQ customers!

After work Brock and I watched the CSI from last night .  He loves snuggling on the couch and watching TV. 

Here's a picture of our mantle.  I updated it for St. Patrick's Day and I made the burlap banner.  It was SO easy to make, I'm going to do a tutorial on my blog later this week. 

Tonight I have a meeting at work and the rest of my family is just going to hang out at home. Happy Monday!

Graig's big game!

This was the most relaxing weekend that we have had in ages.  We didn't have ANY plans.  It was heavenly!  The only thing we did do was go and watch Graig ref in a basketball game.  Graig refs in 3-4 games a week during the basketball season.  We hardly ever get to watch him but Saturday night we were all able to go.  This was a championship game so it was held in the gym at the College where we work.  We are really proud of him because the coaches from both teams have to recommend refs for championship games.  This is the third year in a row he's had this championship game. 



Graig in a pre-game huddle with the captains from both teams

Graig trying to look tough before the game

The game was pretty much a blowout so thankfully no fans (at least that I heard) yelled at him.  I know that happens in games but I hate when fans yell at the refs. 

Graig's knees have really been bothering him but no one even knew.  He ran up and down the court like a pro!

 All smiles after the game!

 This weekend I worked on a few craft projects and made some freezer meals for our family.  Brock and Ava are on winter break this week so they are really excited to have a week off of school.  I am going to take a couple of days off to be with them.  I hope you had a good weekend! 



Thursday catch up!

Here are some more pictures from my blogging break.  I thought I would share.  After this post I will be all caught up!

Last week Ava had watch week at her ballet studio.  After we watched her class I took a picture of Ava and her friend Mary. These two are such good friends and are so sweet together. 

I wanted to show my Valentine's Day mantle.  I know I'm a few days late but since I have been sick Graig and I are going out to dinner tonight.  So we are celebrating Valentine's Day week at our house!

Here are my Ballard Design jars.  Imagine these filled up with candy because they did have candy in them for about a day and then my family (and me!)  ate all the candy. 

I love this love banner I got on Etsy!  I'm sad that I'm going to have to take it down until next year :(

I made the red and white candy cane wreath for Christmas. I just kept it up for Valentine's Day.  I'm going to take out all the red and replace it with white felt and use it for St. Patrick's Day and Easter!

A close up of the top of our mantle.  I got the white pitcher at TJ Maxx. 

I ordered some pillow covers on Very Jane before Christmas and they FINALLY came in!  I love how they look in our sun room.  I really like the gray and red together. 

Here is part of our Valentine's Hutch in the dining room.  I put little treats in Brock and Ava's mailbox for a few weeks before Valentine's Day.  They liked checking in their mailbox every day to see if they had a treat!

We are really trying to eat more at home so Ava helped me make this menu board for our meals this week.  Tonight the kids are eating leftovers and Graig and I are going out to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Happy Thursday!!

Hello Friends!

Things have been crazy busy for us these past few weeks!  I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks since I've updated our blog. First of all the spring semester started so Graig and I have been VERY busy at work!  Brock finished his first JV basketball season and Ava has been busy with her new puppy!   Yes, you read that right we got Ava a new puppy as an early birthday gift.  She is thrilled! 

 I have also been very worried about my niece Ainsley.  Her doctor thought she might have a genetic hearing loss. We  have been worried sick about Ainsley but thankfully it seems that she only has a mild hearing loss.  My sister wrote all about Ainsley and what they have been though these past few weeks on her blog. 

Here are some pictures from my iPhone my blog break!

These are the Gamma Rho Chi's that I worked with during sorority recruitment

I participated in a zumba thon with my friends Anna, Sabrina and Sara.  Here is a picture of Anna and me. 

 I also went to a Casino night fundraiser with my friends Rebecca and Allison.  We had so much fun!

Graig and I took Ava to get her new puppy.  It's a cockapoo and after about 1 week with no name we finally decided to name her Lily!

Lily is such a great sleeper!  She likes to cuddle up and sleep with Ava.  Here is Lily with Ava and her friend Olivia. 

My sister posted this picture of Ainsley on facebook today.  I think it's the cutest picture.  She is the happiest little girl.  She is always laughing and smiling!  I love her so much and I am so thankful that we got good news about her precious little ears!

Happy Wednesday!

Graig's 40th Birthday!!

Last Friday was Graig's 40th Birthday!  I wanted to surprise him by throwing him a suprise party at work!

Because I wanted it to be a surprise I didn't tell Brock or Ava until they arrived at the party.  We carpool picking up Ava with our friends Dan and Jenn.  Thankfully it was Dan's turn to pick up the girls so he brought Ava with him to the party.  Ava was so confused when she first arrived.  This is me trying to explain to her what was happening.  Brock had basketball practice and didn't get to the party until late. 

Graig's Mom Janice came to the party and brought pictures from when he was little.  They were a big hit!

I was SO happy that Graig was surprised!  He had no clue we were having a party for him! Here is Graig hugging his Mom and Ava when he first came in. 

I had the party on campus so I ordered campus catering for the cake and other snacks.  It made things SO easy!  Everyone in our family loves the cakes from campus!  I get them for our birthdays and other speical occasions. 

I love this picture of Graig and his Mom and of course the big 4-0 sign in the background!!

Here's a group picture of everyone from the party.  I invited mostly his co-workers.  I love how some of them are holding up his baby pictures-ha ha!

I think his 40th bday is one that Graig will remember for a long time!  Happy Wednesday!

Our week!

I have been SO busy I haven't had a second to post! Last week was crazy busy for us!  Friday we celebrated Graig's 40th birthday!  I had a surprise party for him so I spent a lot of time working on the party.  My talented friend Rebecca took pictures for me.  She just gave them to them to me today.  This is one of him just coming in to the party. He was SO surprised! 

Here is one of our little family (minus Brock because he had basketball practice)

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Our birthday's are exactly one week apart.  My friends took me out to celebrate on Wednesday night. Here is an instagram picture of us.  I am so thankful for these ladies!  We had a great time. 

We went to my favorite restaurant and we ordered my favorite spinach artichoke dip as an appetizer.  I had to take a picture of it because it's so good!!

Brock has mid terms this week and he's been busy studying.  Yesterday we were watching football and he turned my desk in the living room around so he could watch TV and study at the same time.    Our friends Dan and Jenn came over to watch football with us.  Their son Marshall (in this picture) is 5.  He loves Brock!  . 

 

Ava and Marty decided to put Marshall up in a cheerleading stunt. 

I also started my project life scrapbook last week! I got the Clementine set for Christmas and it's been one of my favorite presents.  Project Life makes it so easy to scrapbook.   I have a ton of pictures to organize.   So far I've done 4 pages and I have about 400 left to go-ha ha!

I am a total loser it's 8:30 and I'm headed to bed because I have a cold :(  I can't be sick tomorrow because I have an all day retreat with my Greek students and then classes start on Wednesday.  I'll post pictures from Graig's surprise party later in the week.  Happy Monday!