Coffee Filter Wreath

I follow like, 100, different blogs (okay - that might be an exaggeration...maybe).  A lot of them are craft blogs and have inspired me to attempt some craftiness.

One thing I found was a coffee filter wreath.  I decided this would be a good project for me to attempt since a) it was cheap, and b) it was easy.  For the life of me I can't remember which blog had the version I used, but I did also see it at TheLittleBrownHouse.  For my version I used the following items:

The Little Brown House uses a foam floral wreath and pins to stick the coffee filters in.  I knew I wanted to use hot glue to stick them on (a la the mystery blog), so I bought a flat flat wreath at Michaels, along with some ribbon, a letter R (for Rowe), and some paint for the R.  I visited 4 different grocery stores before I found the "natural" coffee filters. 

To make this I simply took a coffee filter, folded it in half (gently - no need for perfect lines), twisted the end of the filter, put some hot glue on it, and stuck it to the wreath.

I did one row along the outside leaving enough room between each for another filter.  I then went back and added one in the empty spaces.  Then I did one more row kind of on the bottom, kind of on top of the first rows.  Also, about halfway through I tied some ribbon around the wreath so in the end it would be hidden under the filters.

After all the gluing this is what I ended up with:

I LOVE IT!!!  Here's another shot:

I intended to put the R in the bottom right part of the wreath, which I tried, it just didn't turn out so well.  It was a little heavy to stick to paper.  My other dilemma came when it was time to hang it.  I thought I'd use one of my Christmas wreath holders.  However, the only one that will work with the front door (allowing it to still close) was gold with jingle bells.  Um, no.  But I couldn't stand to wait to get something for it.  So, cue the duck tape.  That's right, folks.

 I pulled the ribbon over the top of the door and duck taped it in place.  You can only tell from the inside, and if you're in my home, I'm probably okay with you knowing my sticky secret.

All in all, I made this project for less than $10, and I totally adore it.  Which to me is a win.



Fun and Busy

This weekend was a nice one in the Rowe house.  Here's some highlights:

• We picked up pizza from Domino's for dinner Friday.  Nothing fancy, just one of those $5 ready to go pizzas.  It was yummy.  I got extra pepperoni though - the kids picked all theirs off.
• I have recently pulled out my bread maker again.  It's funny - we love the fresh bread, it's cheap, and I still never use it.  This time I made Apple Bread.  I didn't really like it too much.  Actually, I don't guess anyone did since there's still some left (last weekend I made cinnamon raisin bread and it didn't last a day).
• I made a no bake cheesecake "for Joey".  I might have eaten a little bit, although I can guarantee the kids didn't get any.  Not really on purpose though, just worked out that way.
• I hit up some stores (The Dollar Tree & Michael's) as well as the park to get some items to finish my fall decorating. I'm super excited about how it turned out.
• Saturday I took the kids to our local library for the first time since we moved here four and a half years ago.  That's right - my kids love books and I'm just now taking them to the library.  It's a lovely library with computers preset with games for kids, a little reading area, and puzzles and games.  They had a great time.
• While at the library, my friend from work called and asked if Grace would like to come to a birthday party for her next door neighbor at The Little Gym on Sunday.  Knowing Grace would love that, I said yes and we headed to Wal-Mart to buy a gift.  As I was dropping her off on Sunday, the birthday girl walked out of her house with her dad and Grace held up her present and yelled "I've got a Barbie!"  It was hilarious.  Later that evening, Grace looked at me and said, "Mommy, I was just telling her I've got a Barbie doll at my house, you know?"  She's pure rotten, I tell ya.
• Also while at the library, Joey's friend from Kentucky called and was pretty close to Charlotte visiting his girlfriend's family.  After dropping Grace off for the birthday party, Logan, Joey and I met them for lunch at Mac's BBQ.  They had the Carolina Panthers game on the big screen which Logan got a huge kick out of watching.  He cheered and jeered right along with all the drunk guys. 
• After hitting up four different grocery stores over the weekend, I finally found some natural coffee filters to make a fall"ish" wreath for our front door.  It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.

So that's it in a nut shell.  I'm going to do some posts this week about my cool fall decorations, so come back soon.

Quote of the Week

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.

Helen Keller

For the Little Ones

A long time ago, I was browsing through The Dollar Tree when I came upon these frames.

I quickly came up with a plan and snatched up eight of them.  You see, I have 5 nieces and nephews and 2 children of my own...7 total.  The eighth frame was for the next child my dear sister has.  However, the glass broke in one of the frames, so I was back to seven.  Not sure what that means for you and your future children, Catherine.  Sorry.

I decided I didn't really care for them as white frames.  It made them look even cheaper than they were.  And the ribbon?  Yuck.  So after dwelling and dawdling for a few weeks (er, months?) I stopped at Home Depot and grabbed a can of spray paint in my favorite color - burgundy.  Well, I didn't know it was my favorite color, but it closely resembled the paint in my old kitchen which I loved dearly.

After a coat of primer (I'm not sure it was really necessary, but I didn't want to screw up and have to start over) and two coats of burgundy spray paint, I was left with this



Okay, I'll admit.  I didn't do the best spray paint job ever.  I'm choosing to blame it on the cheap frames instead of my impatient self, though.  I'm probably going to pick up a few more next time I'm at The Dollar Tree to replace a couple that turned out especially bad.  But overall, I'm thrilled.

They are hanging just to the left of the fireplace/TV niche and are in age order (Dalton, Logan, Kaleb, Breanna, Grace, Chastin, Molly).  I originally wanted to hang them going up the stairs but decided it would be too dang much trouble.  However, Joey reminded me that we have a laser level that would make it pretty smooth to do, so I may change it later.

So there ya have it, a pictorial representation of the little ones in our family.  Any other ideas floating around out there?

P.S. I need some cheap photo editing software.  Well, I really need an awesome camera too, but software is probably a bit more affordable.  Any suggestions?

Walk to Conquer Chiari

This past Saturday was the Walk to Conquer Chiari here in Charlotte, NC (this is the disease Joey has). 

(Grace, Joey, and Logan right before we went in)

We registered when we got there and were given t-shirts to wear.  I was not expecting this and had let Grace wear a dress that day.  The shirt she got was just as long as the dress she already had on.  It was an interesting combination.  We also got beads (and we didn't even have to flash anyone for them).  Joey got purple beads since he is the one with the disease, and the kids and I got gold beads since we are the supporters.

We had gotten there very early (cause that's how Joey rolls) so we killed some time playing on the football field.  Logan loved "playing" football.

(running in for the TD)

And Grace had fun trying to figure out those weird purple things that looked like people.

The kids were also amused by the bleachers so they ran to the top and said "Mommy, when we go to a real game we want to sit at the top cause it's the best."  They crack me up.

Finally it was starting time.  The event coordinator spoke a bit and then the mayor pro tem read a proclomation from the mayor declaring September 18, 2010 Arnold Chiari Malformation day in Charlotte. (Fancy, right?)

We all then began walking.  Joey's goal was to get at least halfway around the track, which I tried to discourage because I was afraid he couldn't do it.  However, he complete a whole lap making us all proud.

All in all, it was a fun day and nice to be able to support a disease that most doctors, let alone peoople, have never even heard of.  Of course, following up the walk with lunch at Bob Evan's was pretty sweet too.

(me and Joey)

Falling...

So the calendar says fall is here (well, on the 23rd, but it's only 3 days away).  And you can sort of tell it when you leave the house.  I mean, it's not as hot as it has been, and there hasn't been much humidity, nor rain.  We could really use some rain.  And of course, I do live in NC, right on the border of SC. So my hot does not equal the hot in KY, nor the hot if FL.

Anyway, I've been wanting to change my layout to feel more fallish.  But when I started looking, I fell in love with the happy face pumpkin you see on the left.  So I went more toward a Halloween background.  But I think it's okay since the Sunday sale papers came with lots of ads for Halloween costumes.

So welcome to fall!  I'm going to make a wreath for my front door soon to help it (fall) feel more welcome.  And I'm also thinking I'll update the decorations on our piano to have a more "fall" feel (if I can get my son to move his race cars for a minute).  And this past week I spray painted some picture frames to add some style to the living room which I'll post about later this week (since I forgot the camera memory card at home today).  That little project has also made me think I'm going to spray paint all the other frames in the living room so they match.  I tell ya, I have become a major blog stalker of some super creative people and they have infected me with inspiration.  So stick around...I'll at least lead you to some super inspiring blogs!

Quote of the Week

If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?

Shantideva

High School Literature

When I visited my sister Catherine in August, I stayed in the guest room/office/library.  Of course I couldn't resist browsing the many bookshelfs in the library and came home with 4 books (they have an extremely long check out period).  A couple of them were books that I had originally read in high school, but was interested in reading again.

The first was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  The male part of the radio show I listen to in the mornings had gotten married recently and had a Gatsby theme.  Since I couldn't remember much about the book, I was excited to read it again.  I actually didn't particularly care for it.  It was okay, it just didn't keep me interested in that 'can't put it down' way.

*Side note: Joey, seeing the book on the end table, said "Isn't that a high school book?"  Why yes, dear, it is.  But you know, you can read it anytime.

The other one (which I'm currently reading) is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.  I get a ton of magazine subscriptions and in one they did an article about Harper Lee.  It piqued my curiosity so I was pleased to find the opportunity to read it again.  It definitely qualifies as a 'can't put it down' book. 

I would also like to reread Of Mice and Men so I'll probably have to hit my local library sometime soon to find it.  Unless Catherine's library ships...

Quote of the Week

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

Quote of the Week

Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.

J. Petit Senn

Run For It!

Recently I decided to change my so-so "taking care of me" habits into unquestionably good habits.  I started by watching what I eat and tracking my nutrition at http://www.sparkpeople.com/.  However, to really improve myself I knew it would take more than eating better.  I would need to exercise, too.  Scary words, right?

I started by getting in the walking habit.  I drove around the block to see how many miles it was (0.4) , then one block larger (0.8), and one block larger than that (1 mile). This way I could track how far I was walking as well as how long it took me to do it.  I set out a plan for myself that I would walk a minimum of three times a week - Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.  I was already used to walking the 0.4 mile block (since this was the route we used to take Molly for walks) so I decided to start by getting comfortable walking the 0.8 mile block.  Now I have moved on to walking the 1 mile block, and plan on adding the 0.4 mile block on to the 1 mile block.

However, I have also decided that I want to be a runner.  It looks like something that could be so enjoyable.  I mean, walking is fine, but running just looks so athletic and healthy.  So I want to do it.  I've tried small bits of it while I'm walking, but it's just not something I find comfortable to do.  Which is definitely the big obstacle to overcome.  I'm not ready to give up yet, though.  I'll let you know how it goes.