Copy Cat Project - Moss Letter Monogram

I love anything with a MONOGRAM, so here's the latest thing that has taken my eye......Moss Covered Letters! I looked them up on Etsy, and the going rate there is around $50 bucks, I don't think so!! Of course, Pottery Barn has their own version, but you guessed it...too pricey @ $135.50. Yikes!! Then, I searched through several blogs found the DIY version, averaging about $12...that's much better! I'm a bit too busy for craft projects at the moment, but add this to my to-do list for the fall. I plan to make one to hang in the kitchen. In the meantime, I'll be on the lookout for all the supplies and the perfect cute ribbon to hang it by.

I found this DIY tutorial on Livvy Loo Who's blog- go check it out.
http://livvyloowho.blogspot.com/2010/08/moss-covered-monogram-tutorial.html

Moss covered monogram- tutorial
I love how this turned out...and I love the price even more. The whole thing cost me less than $5, thank you Dollar Tree:).
Here is what you will need:
*12" letter- mine was from Hobby Lobby and was $1.99, near the unfinished wood products.
*paint- I used spray paint, Krylon's oil rubbed bronze.
*Spanish moss sheets- from the Dollar Tree. I used 2 sheets.
*Ribbon of your choice- for the letter shown I used 48" total, 24" on each side. The Dollar Tree has this too!
*Hot glue gun
Step 1:
Paint your blank letter and let it dry.
Step 2:
Get out your moss sheet and dry letter.
Step 3:
Cut the moss in the shape of the letter. I needed two sheets due to the width of the "M". I would imagine other letters may only needs one sheet. Now learn from my mistake. I put the moss under the letter and free cut around the letter. The BETTER way to do this would be to hot glue the sheet(s)to the front of the letter then turn it over and cut around it. Duh!
Step 4:
Examine the back of the letter and trim as needed.
Step 5:
Attach the ribbon. Fold over first then glue pretty side up on the back of the letter. You are going to want to glue the ribbon near 45 degrees to avoid puckering once the bow is tied.
Step 6:

Hang it on your door (or anywhere) for all to admire!

Happy Birthday Peter!!!!!

June 29 ~ Happy Birthday!!!!! Peter turns 49!! It's so hard to believe that you are just 1 year shy of 50. Just remember, there are some advantages of growing old{er}. As you often say, you don't mind getting older, because if you don't have birthdays....well you know. Also, we can now get an AARP discount at all the hotels we stay in. :O) LOLOL Hope you have a very special day! I'll be making the Lemon Meringue Pie you love so much! Hope to spend many, many more birthdays with you!

Love you!!! xoxoxo

Good Ole Summertime......

Summer~~~~what a great time of year! I'm very busy at the b&b, but busy means that business is good! I know I've said this before, but I really do enjoy my job. We get so many nice guests, some of which I've become good friends with and alot that return each year to stay at our inn. Summer also means SCHOOLS OUT!!!!! Sorry, didn't mean to yell, but Nathan ( & I) were so ready for summer break. He does have a summer job though -taking care of 4 yards {mowing/trimming}. The rest of his time is spent playing basketball, playing games on his PS3, watching baseball with his Pop, or riding his new Zuma scooter.
Nathan giving Logan a ride.One of my favorite things about summer is the food.......softshell crabswatermelon, icecream & pineapple ice, and yummy desserts like Lemon Lush! Nathan usually asks for Lemon Lush instead of a cake for his birthday{Happy 16th!!!}. It is sooooo good, the perfect summer dessert. I'll post the recipe later. Another favorite summer food is tomatoes. Peter {loves} them! I finally talked him into planting his own little garden this year, and it is growing nicely. He is getting big, ripe tomatoes off the vines everyday. Dinner today: fried soft shell crabs, coleslaw, potato salad, tomatoes, watermelon, & sweet tea...YUM!
I can't talk about summer and not mention how much I love the beach. I've just been too busy to go much so far, but I hope to fit some time in for it soon. After all, summer will just fly by and it'll be fall again before we know it. Can you believe the 4th of July is only a week away?????

5Q Friday 6/24

1. What is your current favorite tv show? There isn't much to choose from during the summer months, but I do love Rookie Blue. I watch alot of stuff on HGTV & Food Network too. 2. What's the worst haircut you ever got? Worst haircut: I was about 25, short hair was in style and I tried a different hairdresser. I told her what I wanted and I thought she understood.......She kept cutting & cutting, and finally took out a razor cutter thingy and cut the back really close & short. When she handed me the mirror, I almost cried!!! It wasn't at all what I wanted, but had to live with it for a few months. Needless to say, I never went back there again.....:O(
3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing? The first thing that popped into my mind was the summer I was 12, my cousin & I went to Ocean City, MD and we walked the boardwalk in our bathing suits & shorts, and we bought these big floppy straw hats and sunglasses. Think Charlie's Angels {Farrah Fawcett}!! LOL We were obsessed with her!
4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips? Nothing is coming to mind, except maybe, make your own pizza night and rent a movie! 5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly? I wouldn't mind driving across country, only if we had plenty of time and could stop whenever we wanted and do a little sightseeing along the way!! :O)

Happy Birthday Nathan!!!!

Happy 16th Birthday NATHAN!!!!
I can't believe that you are 16!! What a sweet, loving, smart, handsome young man you have grown to be. It seems like just yesterday we were bringing you home from the hospital. Dr. Lindsay decided to put me in a week early( since your brother had been so big and came so quickly). You weighed 9 lbs. and you were 21.5" long. What a big boy!! Your Dad was in the delivery room when you were born, and your Gran, Pop, & Logan were waiting to see you. You looked just like your Bub. You were a very good baby (except for those few weeks of colic). For the first year or so, you were very quiet and easy going, but by the time you hit your 2nd birthday, you came out of your shell! You had the sweetest personality, but boy could you get fiesty! You have always been strong willed and let's not forget your schedule! You have lived by the clock since you were old enough to read the time on the microwave......at 3 yrs. old!! Your favorite toys were TY Beanie Babies. You had hundreds of them, which you ripped the tag off as soon as you got one (you said they didn't look real with the tag on). :O) You loved the Lion King, and animals of any kind. For several months, you went around with a string tied to the back of your belt loop, letting it drag behind you. You said it was your tail. LOL So cute!!! You lived in your pjs and were contented to stay home most of the time. You were 4 when you learned to ride your little bike. You said "Mom, I'm going to ride my bike to Gran's house", I told you that you hadn't learned how to ride without training wheels yet, but guess what, after a little push, you rode your bike to Gran's that day! Once you started Kindegarten, you found out there was a whole big world out there that you wanted to see......this ended your wanting to stay at home and you were constantly on the go, wanting to be outside all the time. You loved to go fishing and crabbing. You had a pet turtle and later you got your own kitty, Jaxson, who you love to death!! You are a very determined and concientious child. You respect your Dad & I, as well as others you are in contact with. You love your family and show us every day. Even though there are 7 yrs. between you and your Bub, you have grown so close, especially after our family trip to FL last year. You love sports...I know you must be the biggest Bears, Orioles, Lakers, Flames fan in the world. When I close my eyes and picture you in my mind, I see my sweet boy with an Orioles jersey on and a glove & ball in your hand. You love spending time with all of your family, and really enjoy going to your Gran & Pop's house. You have even gotten Pop into watching sports again! You have been such a joy to us! You keep us on our toes at all times, when we tend to go with the flow, you are the one who keeps us straight, you always have a plan. You are silly one minute and super serious the next. You tell us every day how much you love us and always kiss us goodnight, what a way to end the day! Nathan, I hope you know just how much we love you!!! Hope today is special, just like you!! Happy Birthday!!!!

Father's Day 2011

Happy Father's Day!!!

Nathan picked out and wrapped Peter's gift......

as usual....trying to guess what it is :O)

The card got Peter a bit teary eyed......

a Markakis jersey!!!!!!

Logan and Peter - winter 2010

Logan gave Peter a new VHF radio, which he loved! Another great day...best of all, he got to spend it with his 2 boys!!! :O)

21 Day Organizing Challenge - day 3

day 3 - laundry room
As you enter through the back door, you pass through our laundry room. It's small, but very functional! We bought a front load washer a few years ago, but haven't replaced the dryer yet, because it still works. My initial plan was to stack the washer and dryer, but may just keep them side/side and add the riser underneath w/ drawer. Love the {he} washer, can't wait to add the dryer! The laundry room is just off the kitchen. I painted it Olive Sprig Green and did the trim in white. I added a Longaberger Orchard Park Plaid valance to the back door, and bought some coordinating red/green stripe bins for the shelves.
Swiffer Wet Jet & Vacuum......great investment for keeping the ceramic tile clean!
This thing really gets a workout....I average 2-3 loads per day.
Hello Kitty....Jaxson's favorite spot to nap in the sun!
On the back of the door that goes into the kitchen: hats and my cloth grocery bags.

Storage boxes: greeting cards in one & my stenciling supplies in the other.

Laundry supplies {I always mark the date when I open a new bottle of detergent- to see how long it lasts}

Bought the catfood container from organize.com. Keeps the food fresher!

I labeled the bins.

MISC: tape, batteries,candles, etc.

Iron/Lightbulbs

Pet Supplies {and frequently used tools}...

This sign hangs over the door that leads into the kitchen.

This room was pretty organized. I didn't have to do much organize it for this challenge, but I did give it a good cleaning for the pictures! :O)

6-17-83

Happy Anniversary!!!!!!
June 17, 1983, just one week after my high school graduation, Peter & I got married. That was 28 years ago!!! WOW! Where does the time go?? I am so thankful for a happy marriage, two sons that we adore, and our wonderful home. I am truly blessed. Happy Anniversary Peter! I love you!! Looking forward to the next 28 years.....

5Q Friday 6/17

1. What is your favorite summer time activity? Going to the beach, although I haven't gone much yet...definitely need to fit some time in for the beach! 2. Do you have one laundry soap you stick to, or do you buy whatever's on sale? I usually get whatever is on sale or I have a coupon for.3. What is your favorite dinner to make in the summer? Anything grilled!!! 4. Do you have any talents? Not many talents here....
5. If you could instantly be an expert in something, what would it be? Why? I'd love to be an expert in time management and organization.....it would really help keep me on top of things better!!