Photo collage and a review

When Lauren from Cardstore contacted me and wanted to know if I would like to do a review
of one of their cards it was not hard to say yes!

I quickly clicked over to their website and found so many fun cards to choose from. From birthday
to anniversary to just because and more.

My subject was also a no-brainer! I would make a card for our two little granddaughters who just moved
over 1200 miles away. These are the two that we saw often since they lived close to us and it just isn't
the same without them here. It is quite an adjustment and it is taking time. I find myself throughout the
days just reminiscing about the fun times we have had over the past few years. Thank God for skype
and telephones, but is isn't the same as holding them close!

As you can see from the photo, I choose a photo collage card with a chalkboard background and I love
how it turned out. I hope that every time they look at the card they remember the memories we made
and the fun times we have had. I realized later I should have added a photo of me and hubby
also, but I thought about that a little too late. :(

I chose to put my own saying on the inside of the card. Rather cute huh? Well,
truthfully I googled and found part of it. 

I thought it was very easy to navigate through the process of making this card online.  There are several
different styles and themes that you can choose from and it was fun deciding what one to pick.

I really enjoyed the process, but this being my first time I had to edit and edit and edit some more. ha!
When I was satisfied with the card and all my edits, I could have chose to have it shipped directly to my
grand-girls or to myself.  I had it sent to me so I could personalize it and then I sent it on it's way.

{Side note: It was really hard not to keep it for myself and hang it on my refrigerator!! *Smile*}

It arrived in a couple of days in a nice sturdy cardboard envelope along with FOUR envelopes!
I expected a couple envelopes in case I made a mistake while addressing it, but not four. I would
 say that was very generous. I was also glad that the cardboard envelope was as sturdy as it was
 because sometimes my post office bends things right in the middle that should not be bent
 before delivering them to me. Even magazines!
WHO does that?? 

Here are my sweeties with their card!  According to their daddy they were very happy as I
 am sure any grandchild would be to receive a fun card like this. They asked their daddy about
 each photo and I so enjoyed making it for them. I would highly recommend this site and I
can't wait to make another card.

Click on over to cardstore.com and see for yourself...you will have fun like I did!



Note: I was compensated the price of the card for providing this review. The views expressed
are my own views only and I would highly recommend this store.

I am in LOVE with our latest project...is that possible??

If you follow me on facebook you know that my hubby's factory closed in November of last year with no
warning. He found another job in the middle of January of this year. We JUST got health insurance after
his probation period of 90 days, had it for a week or two and then he got laid off again. He didn't find
another job until about three weeks ago so...I say all that to say this. We TRIED to keep busy to keep
 ourselves sane, but on the other hand we had no extra money to spend so we set out to do a project
with things we already had here.

We just finished up this piece yesterday that we started when he was laid off. I guess you could call it
 a potting bench, but I doubt I will do much if any potting on it as I have a garden shed also.

 I LOVE how it turned out, don't you?

It all started with this piece that we picked up at a garage sale for $2.00! You can't even buy one board
for that price so it was well worth it. I wish I had a before picture as it was a blue gray color with a LOT
of grease on the top and inside. It was previously used for a work bench and was a MESS to say the
least, but I saw potential. Didn't have a clue what I would do with it, but I am so glad we put it in
our jeep that day!

Fast forward a few weeks.   I was browsing PINTEREST and was inspired to make some type of  bench
 with it. If you google "potting benches" you will find one that is similar in nature as far as the top of it,
but more of a creamy color with a tin valance. That was my inspiration.

{My genuine antique English watering can...there is a repro of it sitting on one of the bench
shelves also...but I digress...} 

After we finished it yesterday I initially thought I would put it on the front porch, but there
wasn't enough room where I wanted it. WHO KNEW?? ha!

So we ended up putting it on the back deck for now and I moved plants etc. here,
there and everywhere trying to find the best look.

{I am loving how my tiered herb garden turned out this year!}

This is a side view of the piece. One day I got inspired for hubby to add a window and then another
day I said, "Hey , let's put some shelves on the side of the window". We did that and it sat a couple
more weeks or so. Yesterday, I figured I better get this done or it would be winter before long!!
So we cut and old post in half for the front and added some shelves on the side that I had laying
around along with the brackets.

{The post came from my grandmother's house when it was torn down. I acquired three of them and
love using them for something to remember her by}

When I look at the finished photo, I think I would like one of the shelves that are on the sides a
 bit lower than the other side so it doesn't look so "matchy, matchy", but we can do that
 anytime.

We added old table legs on each side of the window to add more character and they
were the perfect length! We couldn't have planned that if we tried.

I had the "valance" laying in my potting shed for a few years and had no clue what I would
ever do with it, but now I know why I kept it.

A bit of paint and distressing and WA LA...it was done and ready to be decorated!

I didn't want to spend one dime especially since hubs was laid off,  so we just used stuff we already had
except the $2 we spent on the initial bench. I am thrilled with how it turned out and now we can move
on to the next project...whatever that is. I am sure I will come up with something! *SMILE*

This was the photo that I put on facebook this week.
What have you made lately? I would love to know!!
Blessings~

National Ice Cream Day!

In honor of

National Ice Cream Day 

{which was yesterday}

I give you:

PEANUT BUTTER CUP ICE CREAM.

YUMMY!

A local brand called Homestead.

We are hooked!

If you missed all the hoopla yesterday,  you have my permission to go out
and celebrate today. *SMILE*

{ I added the little chocolate and peanut butter candies}

St. Francis of Assisi among the Hydrangeas

I love this time of year when my gorgeous pink hydrangeas
put on a beautiful show!  These are the easiest bushes I have ever grown.

I purchased them at the end of August in 2011 and they have performed for me amazingly
ever single year since then. They have very tiny and delicate florets that make up each flower
so they are definitely different than most hydrangeas.
They are certainly a show stopper!

I paid $5 each for huge bushes at the end of the season and I wish I had purchased
every single one of them. I went on a hunt for more this year and haven't found
any yet.

Don't you just love them in my metal Basil basket? 

I also added a few in this cement piece and it added the perfect punch of color.

St. Francis of Assisi hanging out in the middle of the beauty. I also have another St. Francis statue
that is cement and I love them both.

My daughter gave me this statue as a birthday gift or Mothers Day several years ago.
I don't remember which. lol

I looked up St. Francis of Assisi and here is what I learned. He was the patron Saint of animals.
I am sure you knew that as did I, but I also found out more information some of which
 I didn't know.

"He was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the church by taking the gospel
literally-not in a narrow fundamentalist sense , but in actually following all that Jesus
said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a mite of self-importance"...

"From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano , Christ told him,
"Francis , go out and build up my house , for it is nearly falling down".
Francis became the totally poor and humble workman."

He was never ordained into the Catholic priesthood, but he is one of the most venerated
religious figures in history.
His father was a prosperous silk merchant and Francis led the high-spirited life of  a
typical wealthy young man even fighting as a soldier for Assisi. While going off to war
in 1204 Francis had a vision that directed him back to Assisi, where he lost his taste for
worldly life. On a pilgrimage to Rome he joined the poor in begging at St. Peter's
Basilica. The experience moved him to live in poverty.

Very interesting! I didn't type it all so if you want to read the whole story you can
click here and here or just google St Francis of Assisi.

Have a beautiful Thursday!

Two of our precious granddaughters...

If you are facebook friends with me, you know by now that these  two  little sweeties of ours along with
 their mommy and daddy moved to North Dakota a few weeks ago. That is a LONGGGG way from
Michigan!  We miss them sooooooo much! They are the only ones of our grandchildren that lived
real close so now they are all spread out. {not sure how long they will be gone}

Grandpa and I took them on a walk to the park a few weeks ago and I snapped a few photos that
I wanted to share with you.

Don't you just love the way they dress? They love to wear pretty, sparkly dresses!
I didn't ask Annika to pose for me, but she sure did a good job.

Sweet little Ainsley.
We walked uptown to the BBQ place for lunch and they were closed.
The girls were disappointed...This sweet little face says it all!
She wanted BEANS! HA!

Beautiful little sisters.

HELP Grandpa!! HAHA!!

I was right in front of her getting ready to grab her.

I just LOVE the expression on Ainsley's face. She sure is tickled about something.

They loved sliding down this bar...with a little help of course.
I think Grandpa enjoyed it as much as they did.

They love to swing...and swing...and swing. It was hard to move on to something else
for little Ms. Ainsley, but we did. Notice her eyes are closed? lol

"Grandpa, this is the way it is..."

Even snuck a photo of yours truly in here.

The girls brought their kitty's up to stay at our house while they are gone and they are doing
pretty well finally! We didn't see them for days initially, but they are adjusting nicely.
This is Maive. I haven't gotten a photo of Merida yet , but they look a lot alike as they are
sisters.

Hand in hand with Grandpa.

I just wanted to share these photos today as I am sure missing these little gals.
Love them so much!!!