The Chalkboard Wall

So back to this monster chalkboard wall.  I must share this awesome work from these two budding artists - This is exactly why I thought painting them a huge chalkboard in their playroom would be better than any toy I could buy them at Wal-Mart! 

These two are so gifted and our family has encouraged them in every way with music, art, and their schoolwork.  (You may recall Joe's Elvis impersonations...he's sort of famous for it locally). We are very proud of them and are enjoying watching them blossom into wonderful little dudes!

I hate to admit this but I erased this entire wall so I could set up my Week 23 shot. They were cool with it though.  This mural has been up for many months, so once my little project was over and erased, I'm sure they started a new masterpiece. 

 

I love the little details they have included.  Joe (the older one in white) has his stuff on the left and Jake's is on the right.  They are so clever, they traced the shape of the guitar from a real guitar!

The only part of the wall that I was not allowed to erase was "Crazy Man" which is Jake's piece.  He said he really liked "Crazy Man" and really didn't want to lose him.  (obviously, Cousin Kim obliged!)  

Excuse the quality of this one, it was a quick phone shot.  

I totally recommend the chalkboard wall - I would however use a wall that doesn't have as much texture as their sheetrock.  I purchased my paint at Home Depot and went through almost 2 quarts after a good primer (there was a painted mural on the wall). 

I gave them each a box of white chalk and colored chalk and I think it has really inspired their creativity on a large scale. 

5211-23 - Inspired Image challenge

This is a challenge I've had on my mind for awhile - well, since Jen posted her week 3 photo waaaaaaaaay back in January. (which feels like it was just yesterday, by the way!)
Here it is:

Isn't she just beautiful!?  

Yes, I knew you would agree.  Well, although I have never met her in real life, I think we'd be great friends.  :)
I have linked up her blog, but she is going private for the summer so she can journal for herself.
Anyway, this photo has been in my mind and I knew I wanted to do something similar utilizing the huge chalkboard wall that I painted as a gift to Joe & Jake for Christmas. {sidenote: They are my young cousins who have a huge playroom and tons of stuff - so I thought this would be a clever gift for them. I was right.. I'll post some of their artwork in another blogpost.}

 Here is my shot which was completely inspired by Jen's:

Join the challenge this week - you don't have to participate in all 52 weeks, just be inspired to take some photos! :) Here are more details: 52 Week Project.

In other news...I got some wonderful happy mail today!!!  It may or may not be something from >here<

5211-22 - Creative light challenge

I so excited about the new twist over at 52 Week Project!  I was needing a boost of inspiration and when Jill contacted me about an idea I was thrilled!  She proposed to try some weekly challenges for the self-portraits during June AND she wanted to guest post.  {Um, Bonus!}

Jill already inspires me with her fitness infused photos each week so I knew her challenges would be a hit.

The first post went live on Friday.
Challenge: Use lighting to express yourself.

Here is mine...

Taken with natural light through side and front windows in a dark room. The bonus when I looked through the 2-3 frames I took was the little cast shadow from the bill of the cap (borrowed my little cousin Jake. Yes, he is super cool.) 

Go check out the challenge and see the fun examples Jill has posted over at the 52 Week Project site and in the Flickr Group. 

This would be a good time to try out your own self-portrait. 

5211-21

I usually am not a dress or skirt person (especially when my legs are so transparent looking)
but I do dig a good twirly skirt. Don't you?

Saw this quote - probably on Pinterest - and thought it fitting:

When in doubt, twirl. -Anonymous

I love having no inhibition and feeling free like a kid and spinning and twirling
will definitely make you feel that way!  

Try it! 

WARNING: it will also make you dizzy and possibly nauseous so twirl with care! ;)

There will be a little something new over at the 52 Week Project site. Just some new inspiration for the weekly challenges.  If you are not participating, I urge you to give it a try for kicks and giggles.  There will be a wonderfully driven and inspiring guest blog post so I'm super excited to see her ideas. 

Friday.

Morning.

Be there:

52 Week Project

5211-20

Well you knew this week would include the most precious little sweetheart ever!

Excuse me but I am still high on Carlee Love! 

This was just a few hours after she was born and she already has me wrapped around her finger!

Carlee is here!!!

Thursday changed our lives forever!

I really don't know what else I can say except to show you:

I present Carlee Claire Whitten

 

Words cannot begin to describe how perfect she is. SERIOUSLY....I really am not just being biased because she is part of the family.  She came out NOT looking like a newborn.
Don't you agree????

Carlee's stats:
Born 8:23 AM, Thursday, May 12, 2011 @ White River Medical Center in Batesville, AR
HERE is the link to her hospital pictures: WRMC Babies
Dr. Keith Harville
She weighed 7 pounds 2.2 ounces
She was 18.75 inches long
She has fuzzy blondish hair with a hint of strawberry
Long fingers
A sweet little dimple when she purses her lips
Beautiful dark eyes
She can poop with the best of them!  (I know TMI, but it's for posterity's sake) ;)
Amy (her mom) had a c-section and although sore and exhausted is doing well.
She already has her Daddy wrapped around her little finger!

If you have followed my blog at all you may remember me posting about Case Lee Whitten, who would be 5 years old this summer. I know Case is watching his little sister from heaven and will be her guardian angel.

It's been a rough few years on my stepson and DIL, Cody and Amy after losing Case at 5 days old with a serious and rare genetic disorder, but the amount of prayers that have been lifted for them is probably not measurable on this Earth.
 
I honestly had no doubt that God would make this child completely perfect and I am so full of pure JOY that Carlee has made her debut and all apprehension that our family and friends had completely melted away Thursday morning when this blessing arrived.

I just give thanks to the Lord for his mercy and rich blessings on our family for allowing us to spend many years to come with our angel on Earth, Carlee Claire Whitten.

5211-19 Happy Mother's Day!!

You knew I would do my self portrait this week with my mom of course!

I decided to do something a little different and non-traditional this time.

 I am truly blessed with a wonderful mother! Her unconditional love for me is amazing!

Happy Mother's Day to you one and all. Since I am not a "real" biological mother but have had quite a hand in raising stepchildren, I leave you with this wonderful poem I found. I truly feel these words!

Not flesh of my flesh,
nor bone of my bone,
but still miraculously my own.
Never forget for a single minute,
you didn't grown under my heart - but in it.

5211-17 & 18

Well, once again I have neglected to post. :(

Our weather has been totally crazy with storms, floods, tornadoes and such and ironically my Week 17 pic was a capture of an oncoming storm and my little cousins and I doing a little acting!  We were fortunate right where we live, but others around...not so much. I pray that our storm season is nearing the end for the year!  Those tornadoes in Alabama are truly sickening. I also pray for those being affected by the flooding rivers. The Mississippi is expected to crest in the next several days and it is heartbreaking how many people have had to leave their homes and belongings behind.  

I guess this photo will also remind me of what has occurred during the Spring of 2011.

Last week's photo was just the typical bathroom mirror shot with a little fun post-editing. I think this particular editing utilized Coffee Shop Photography blog action. {Have I mentioned lately how much I love her actions? Well, I do!}

If I don't get back Sunday, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to you all!!! 

Heart-shaped-strawberry-pink-ice cubes.

This is a sort of tutorial. I mean really you probably don't need a tutorial to make ice cubes with fruit, but humor me if you will, I felt like a genius for doing this!

Last weekend was my stepson and daughter-in-law's baby shower for Carlee Claire who will be here soon! I helped with said shower and was in charge of punch, decor, and tableclothes. Well, not only did I get a little crafty with the decor (enter tissue paper pom-poms) but I decided to jazz up the sherbet punch.  I chose raspberry by the way so the punch would be girlie and pink!

I had some strawberries on hand and thought I could make some ice cubes for the punch for a little added fun.

Wasn't wanting to use ice cube trays as that would be boring (plus I didn't have any) so I opted for a muffin tin.

Told you I was genius!

I then decided the ice cubes needed a little color so I went digging for some food coloring to mix with water...then it hit me....pink lemonade!   Which I didn't have on hand, but I did have these Crystal Light pink lemonade packs that you mix with a bottle of water.

Shazam! pink ice cubes!

Thought if I cut the strawberries just right they would resemble hearts. 

(these would be cute for a Valentine dinner or banquet too, don't you think?)

So I added a heart-shape slice and added a little lemonade - 

I probably filled up my tins one-third or so. 

I put my tin in the freezer and waited till they were frozen. 

Then voila....I had my sweet little pink strawberry ice cubes! 

They popped out of the muffin tin super easy and I just stored them in a plastic dish in the freezer. 

Little strawberry hearts frozen in pink! Can you get any more girlie and sweet? 

And here is the final product...pink sherbet punch for a pink girlie baby shower! 

The ice cubes ended up in the cups and were a nice surprise for guests

Oh, I didn't mention this is served in my Grandmother's antique milk glass punch bowl.

Thanks Mom!

How awesome did this shower look with all the delicious food, decor, friends, and family!?! 

Since a baby girl is coming into my life real soon, 

I welcome any links to other projects and baby-girlie DIY's.  

I have started a new board in my Pinterest called Baby Delights 

so I can keep all my found baby inspiration in one spot. 

Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest? 

I do, it is the most visually inspiring thing ever!

I hope to have another cute tutorial posted soon for a simple and fun idea 

for a baby shower gift that was inspired by something I found on none other than Pinterest!

It has a cupcake theme. 

wheeeee!

5211-16

Week 16 is a tribute to my family that I married into...the Whitten's
That lady there in the middle probably shouldn't even be alive right now, but her strength and faith has given her more life to live.  The other reason she is her is that baby bump you see over on the right...that would be Ms. Carlee Claire Whitten, aka "peanuts" and she is coming very soon and making me into a grandmother! {it's really weird to type that!}

This was taken at Amy's shower last Sunday and represents the majority of the women tied to the Whitten family.

And since we are talking about this baby shower event, I thought I'd share some more photos from the day:

 

 

 

 

We cannot wait for your arrival Carlee Claire!!!