How do you show your thanks?  This week I will be sharing an idea everyday to help you and your family share your gratitude.

You may remember from a few years ago, my Gratitude Garland.


The kids and I cut out a bunch of leaves out of pretty scrapbook paper.  We then glued the leaf cutouts to a piece of ribbon and attached it to the mantel.

Then every night before we went to bed, we would gather up together and pick something we were thankful for.  We would pick things from our toys (my kids were little at the time) to the Temples.  It was such a great thing to do to discuss everything we were thankful, and for the kids to recognize our many blessings!

What do you do to celebrate your blessings?

About six years ago my hubby and I decided to make a game out of Valentine gifts for each other.  We decided we could not spend more than $5.

It's been so fun to see what we each have come up with.  But I tell you, it's hard to think of something creative each year.

This year I was watching a movie and it had a couple carving their initials in a tree.  It's that cliche' romantic thing, and it's timeless.  I thought "hey, that would actually look cool on a table or book shelf!"

So the hunt started.  I wanted a birch log, because of the white bark.  I searched and then found the perfect log.  I cut the bottom so that it would be level.  Then I found a screw driver and a hammer, and I carved out a heart, and our initials.  All in all the project took about an hour and I really LOVE it.

I can't wait to give it to the hubby.  I think it will be right up his ally!

Do you have any favorite gifts you have given or made for your man for Valentines Day?

My kids LOVE to be creative.  In fact, we are known to turn off the tv, the computer, the xbox and the phones and just sit around the table and have drawing contests.  When my kids were younger, and the Hubby was working much longer hours, sometimes the only moments of sanity I could get was when I would sit down with the kids and color.  They seriously would do it for hours.  And of course, each piece was a masterpiece!


I used to try to keep as many of the papers of color and imagination as I could, but seriously, we had millions!  I tried keeping just my favorites.  We tried displaying them in frames in the playroom, I even caved and put some on the fridge.  ( I have issues with cluttered fridges!)  My oldest drew an amazing picture of The Salt Lake Temple that I had framed in my house for a long time.  He was only 8 when he drew this.

I feel it very important to instill in my children that desire to be creative.  To use their minds, and their hands.  To learn to think outside the box, and to think for themselves.  Nothing makes me happier than when I am making dinner, and one of my kids is sitting at the counter, coloring, painting, play-dohing or writing a story as we chat and create.

We are all creative souls.  Some of us can draw, some of us can bake or cook, some of us dance, some of us make furniture.   I don't want my children to forget how to use their imagination.  I want them to indulge in the fun of play.  When they are older and have to pick a career, I hope they have the courage to pick something they love to do, and have the confidence to know they can do anything.  I really think that helping them now with their creative learning, will help them to always dream and strive for the best as they get older.

As important as I think this is, I realized that I want to show them how important it is.  So I went to Hobby Lobby and bought a big canvas, I used a 40% off coupon, so it was really affordable.  I picked a dozen or so colors of paint that the kids could choose from, that would coordinate with my decor.  I also bought half a dozen different sized paint brushes.




I gave the kids free reign.  No directions, no suggestions, the only rule was they had to create something TOGETHER.


I LOVE what they came up with.  They named it OUTSIDE FUN.

We hung it right up, and they love when people notice it and talk about it.  I believe that a home should have pictures of your life's journey, not just your portraits of your Sunday best.  I love family pictures of a family being a family,......... of a soccer game, a 5th birthday, a family vacay.  I also believe the home should have a piece of every member representing themselves.  Not just a perfectly put together living room that Mom doesn't want anyone messing up!  What could be a better way to show your children how important they are, than to have them feel and SEE it!

How do you showcase your family in your home?

A few years ago I made a gratitude garland for my family.

I used my favorite fall scrapbook paper and cut it into the shape of leaves for everyday in November up to Thanksgiving. Then I attached it to a pretty ribbon. Then every night, we would sit as a family and come up with something we were thankful for.

It was so good to see the kids excited to talk about what we were thankful for. We came up with a variety of things. From Transformers to the Temple.

I think it's important to get our kids thinking about what they are thankful for, and to have it displayed so that we can see it on a daily reminder.

I saw a black rose wreath at Target for Halloween that I just loved, but I was too cheap to pay the $30 for it. So I decided to come up with one of my own.

It cost $6!

I bought 4 pieces of black felt, a wreath at the dollar store, and a spool of black ribbon for $3. I love me a bargain!!

I hot glued the black ribbon all around the wreath, then I made a ton of the posy flowers to glue on.

I love it!!

Oh ya, I also made that adorable lace covered pumpkin.

I cut the bottom of a lace pair of stockings and then fit it around the pumpkin and hot glued it neatly around the stem.

You could make these wreaths for LOTS of different holidays!!!

So fun!

I try to add at least one new holiday decor every year to my collection. This year I decided to make a banner. I've seen them all over the web and I thought they are just too cute. Plus, I had my flower making class, so I wanted to be able to add a few flower embellishments to my banner.








I picked the word "treats" because I hung the banner in my kitchen. I am addicted to making banners now. I want one in my house very every holiday now!!!

I love this time of year. Fall is my absolute favorite season.

It's not hot, but it's not cold. The air smells good, the leaves are BEAUTIFUL, and everyone seems to have a warm happy energy.

I also like this time of year because I turn into a craft maniac!!
(Funny story about the term "craft maniac." I said that one time and my youngest son thought I said "crap maniac" and got all offended. It cracks me up every time I think of it. Maybe it's not that funny, but to me, it's HIL-LAR-IOUS!!)

Anyhoo, so this month I'm teaching a class for my church group on how to make fabric flowers. So I have been busy making samples of things they can make once they know how to make the flowers.

I came up with this super cute pillow.


I used an old sweater for the pillow. I LOVED that sweater. It was a cute camel color cowl neck sweater from Express. It met its doom in the dryer, and for some reason I still kept it. I guess I was hoping I could fit into someday, when I shrunk like a foot. So anyways, I cut it up and I LOVE it.



I added these cute fabric felt flowers, and it's one of my favorite things in my living room now.

And you know what? I almost like that sweater better as a pillow!

The kids have started back at school. I have to admit, it's really wierd. I have had a kid at home with me for the last almost 12 years. It's going to be an adjustment getting used to this house being so quiet, for so long.

After finding all those cute "back-to-school" wreaths, I just had to have one of my own. I scoured my house and found enough hot glue, school themed paper, and an old wreath to come up with a version of my own.

I kinda love it.

So it's that time of year again. I have to admit that I am one of those crazy mom's that actually LIKES having my kids home for the summer. I am really not looking forward to them going back in a week and a half.

BUT, I do get a little excited about the getting ready part of going back to school.
I'm a nerd when it comes to school supplies. That is my favorite kind of shopping. We have all the back-pacs, the lunch boxes, the socks and underwear, the pens, pencils, crayons and pencil boxes. We are almost ready, just a few more outfits to go buy next week while we are away at soccer tournaments.

But I got to thinking, What else can we do to get ready for back to school?

How cute is this wreath from The Ballard Bunch?



Or this one from The Polkadot Chair.


I think I totally need to make me a back to school wreath!!!