Faux Wood Heart

While out and about shopping for Valentine's Day decor, I've been really disappointed in what I've seen.  I guess I'm just not a bright red/pink heart with lace/glitter fan. As I was driving home after another disappointing shopping trip, I decided I should just make myself a decoration. I began thinking about what I already had in the house and devised a cheap, non-glittery idea for my mantel.
One thing I had on hand was cardboard and plenty of it. I also had some sheets of scrapbooking paper.

In a predictable move for me, I didn't even remove the packing material, I just started cutting into a box that was being used by the kids, then I just threw the box back in the pile ready to be used in more fort building. This was a very confusing development for Jellybean who couldn't figure out why one of her boxes suddenly developed a heart-shaped hole.

I glued my scrapbook paper heart and my cardboard heart together. Then I grabbed some twine (left over from the pine cone bird-feeder project) and some red felt circles (left over from my felt circle belt project).

I stitched the felt circles into some flowers and glued them on top. Okay, it's obviously not real wood, but there is something about a blue Valentine's heart that makes me smile. I don't know why. Plus, it still looks cute on my mantel. At least it was basically free and there wasn't any lace or glitter involved...

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Western Redbud Beauty

Happy WW! 

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Can you tell the good plants from the weeds?

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather here and there is so much green coming up in the garden. I've been out with the kids for a little while each day weeding our flower beds.  Mostly, the kids will play while I weed, but occasionally, they come over and want to help.  This has brought up some interesting discussions on which plants are good plants and which plants are weeds.

Buddy thinks the concept of good plants and weeds is funny and makes a game out of it.  "Mama, you're a weed, I'm going to pull you out because I'm a good plant."

Jellybean, wants to help, but doesn't yet have enough understanding to do so.  Today, in her efforts to "weed," she plucked every bud off of a little plant that was just about to bloom.  After that, I kept a better eye on her and handed her the weeds I had pulled to place in my trash bucket.   

My gardening buddy.

While I've been weeding, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm trying to teach my children about the good plants and the weeds that they'll encounter in life. Each day, I am teaching them what is important and what isn't; What is good and what is bad.  It is sometimes hard to distinguish between the the good plants (things that will bring joy into our lives) and the weeds (things that will diminish our joy and drag us down). Sometimes, the weed is readily identified, has shallow roots and can easily be plucked out. Sometimes it is difficult to identify the weed before it has sent runners out and has taken over half of the garden.

This plant no longer has buds. :(

As a parent, I want my children to be able to see the difference between what will be valuable in their lives and what won't be.  I want them to have joy in their lives and not be hindered by the weeds that will inevitably pop up.  I guess the teaching starts with my example.  I imagine that a little weeding in my own life would be beneficial.

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

Signs of Spring

The snow is falling outside and all I can do is long for the Spring-like weather of last week. The weather was so mild that I donned my new shoes and went hunting for the signs of Spring in my garden.

My New Shoes!

It is so fun to see what is coming up in my garden this year.  We moved to our new house last Fall when most everything had died back for the year. I'm finding all kinds of little surprises coming up. 

Besides the tulips beginning to peek out, I'm finding lots of pretty early flowers that I don't recognize.

Some surprises that I do recognize and am happy to discover that I didn't kill when I cut it to the ground last Fall.

Glad to see I didn't kill you, Russian Sage!

Maybe I should have cut you back more, Vinca.

I even took a little time and began to Spring-up my new porch. Which seems a little silly right now with snow on the ground.

There's my front porch looking slightly Springy.

I also bought a little backyard friend. Meet my new solar powered owl from Target.

Hi, little owl!

It's time to say goodbye, Snow.  Go away and let us enjoy a little more of that Spring weather!

Have a Happy Day!

~MJ

This post is participating in:

Friday Finds

I'm a big fan of products that are both attractive and useful. When I have the fortune to find something that meets both criteria, it is hard for me to pass it up.

My first find is a great example of form and function:

Authentic Japanese Eco-Tawashi; Magic Scrubbers from Beaded Wire

Aren't these just so cute and springy? They are so cute, I think I'd feel bad about using them to scour my pots. I also love the story behind these sweet little flower scrubbers. Pick up a pair for yourself or these would make a great Mother's Day gift.

My next find looks simply delicious and you can't beat the name:

Death By Rum Ball from Brown Bag Bakery

I've never had an alcoholic beverage in my life, but I have a real weakness for rum when it comes to chocolates. These look like they'd put me in a rum/chocolate coma. :)

My very favorite chocolate is called a Rum Gracie. The Gracie is basically a rum cream dipped in chocolate and then rolled in nuts. It is a little piece of heaven. I'll be honest though, I'll take any rum/chocolate combination. Maybe it's a good thing that I don't drink...

Have a Happy Weekend!