Sugared Pecans, YUM!

So I have an all time favored recipe at the holidays. It is so easy and fast. I am thankful to an old friend of mine that share it with me years ago.
It is Sugared Pecans.
Here is the recipe

Dump
2 1/4 cups of pecans

Good times in Indiana with my Mom

The first of November my youngest and I had an opportunity to fly to my moms in Indiana. We did some shopping in a little town called Roanoke.
The weather was amazing, then the day we had to fly home it snowed. Adelynn got to see snow she was so excited. I was excited to see my mom. My dad died the month adelynn was born so she never met him. My mom loves it when we come she gets pretty lonely. I thought I would share some photos of our little trip.

25 days of elf-magic

Magic Elf Fishing Party

A year ago while visiting my sister in Alabama. My kids and I discovered elf-magic elves. These little
elves come from Santa and stay with the children till Christmas. They bring a sack and magic snow with them. The kids put the snow on them at night so the elves come alive and do things at night, usually mischief. Sometimes the elves put presents in their bags. Oh and the kids need to leave crackers and water out because they love that. On Christmas Eve Santa will pick up his special elves to take back to the North Pole. Last year out youngest hid hers

Bragging rights

I just gotta brag on these little guys. My youngest and were making cookies and all the dogs came to see if they could catch a crumb. They are too cute.

DIY Crate for a Christmas tree

This year when we pulled out the Christmas tree my wonderful

husband said, "hey honey, I can make a crate for the tree to sit in".

I loved the idea.

So he went to work using some lumber that was left over from other

projects.  You could easily take a pallet apart and use that too.

After he built it.  I sanded it down. 

Then applied a cream colored semi gloss paint.  I applied 3 coats.

After it dried, I sanded it to give it the distress look.

I could of left it like that but the wood looked to new and fresh.

So, I took some dark stain and applied it using old rag.  I just wiped it 

on the distressed part.

Refinishing a shelf

So I decided to do 2 projects this weekend. We have had such beautiful weather this week I just has to start a project.
I enlisted the help if my 15 year old son. He loves to help. He loves having a task. He did a great job of sanding this shelf, that I am wanting to use in our bedroom.

Little farmers at work

Luke and adelynn decided to go rake up straw for our little goat. They worked so hard and as a team. Gotta love team work.

Decorating for a dollar!

I love Saturday mornings!
Just because it is Saturday, but also it is my day to go to yard sales. It is my shopping fix. I was able to decorate my kitchen window for a dollar. Yay!
You never know what you will find.....

Amazement on the farm today

This morning the kids just happen to be looking out the back doors. All of the sudden a hawk swoops down and tried to take a chicken! Adelynn yelled "hawk". They were probably 3 feet away and eye level. We ran outside and it was trying to get another one.
We have never seen such a thing! So thankful my puppies were in the house. We have been told by neighbors that they have has hawks and coyotes take their dogs. I tend to always be on guard with my puppies.

Cleaning tip - battle soap scum

 I was scouring the internet for cheap cleaning tips the other day. With 3 kids and a husband forgetting to wipe down the shower it can build up fast. To be honest it is just hard to keep up with cleaning it. I have a hard time paying a lot for those expensive soap. Scum products and I haven't found one I just LOVE.

Just another awe moment on the farm

Our son espen has special bond with our goat "sweetie"

Flea market days Marburger farms

I have heard about how wonderful the flea market is at Marburger farms. It is only twice a year, so the pressure to go was on.
It was miles of flea markets! A little overwhelming but such an experience.
The only thing is kids poop out fast.
Here are the pictures of our time there.
Of course I had to get a pumpkin! Ah so cute.

Vintage Doors

Stay tuned...... See what will become of these wonderful doors.

Beauty tip from a household item

So my daughter shared with me that Jennifer Anniston puts Vaseline around her eyes at night. I don't know if she really does but I tried it and I love the results! I want to share this with everyone, it's something everyone can afford. I always knew Vaseline was multi purpose. Go ahead try it tonight.

Instagram Fun

J.D. Waiting for everybody to go to bed.

Saving Money and the World One Baggie at a Time

We don't really have a lot of money.  We do ok and I'm not complaining, but sometimes my friends will say "I don't know how you do it".  I'm guessing they mean, "I don't know how you do so much without being rich!"  HaHa.

I wanted to share this post as a way to answer "How I do it".

Notice the baggies drip drying on the utensils?  Yep, I wash and reuse my baggies (except those that have had raw meat in them.. they go in the trash).  This is just one of many small ways that I save money.  Also, notice that they are Christmas Holiday designs?  This photo was taken in July.  I go the day after Christmas and fight the lines to stock up on discounted holiday items.  I rarely run out of holiday baggies.

The Dresser Make Over

The Dresser Make Over

Before

After

My parents gave me this dresser and nightstand, 16 yrs ago.

I wanted something different, but felt that the pieces had character

and sentimental value. And now that our house had wood 

walls I had all the motivation I needed.  

Its not Christmas, Its Romance.

It was an ordinary tree... Now it is a romantic center piece.

Big Bulbs, 2 strands = $20 from Target

Little Bulbs, 4 strands = $3 from a yard sale.

Total Cost $23

I need a pillow; Let's see what I can make!

So here's the material I found in my stash.  An old shirt, a skirt and three pillow cases.  I knew I wanted a bird on my pillow, so my wonderful husband sketched one out for me.

Wicker Coffee Table Project

Exciting find; I see so much potential with this coffee table.  Someone was throwing this wicker table
away and my son brought it home and said, "do you want this?" I said,"oh, thank you, so much". I just knew it would be perfect on the front porch with a glass of tea sitting on it.

Testing the first post

I haven't ever blogged before.  This first post is simply a boring test of the blog :)  The photo is my first profile pic for Google+