recycled plastic tote bag

I finished my friend's gift yesterday, just in time to take it over to her with a potted narcissus. It turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself, I've decided that I really need one in my car to put the trash in.

Thanks, Dana, from made, for the great tutorial!

coffee filter wreath

I always love a cheap, cute, easy project. I found this one on nesting place and had to try it. It's just one of those straw wreath forms, coffee filters, and hot glue. I made it while watching TV one night.

My girls made a more natural colored version by using unbleached filters. I love it even more than the one I made. Gotta love a project that anyone can make look good!

as if I didn't have enough to do....

I have a very dear friend who is hard to buy gifts for. She's in her 70's, retired (yet volunteers 25+ hours a week) and lives in a small condo. She lives alone, and has one of the most immaculate homes ever. She doesn't like clutter.

Since we moved to Ohio almost 4 years ago, she's been like an adopted Grandma to my kids - taking them to the movies, taking the girl's shopping, coming to see their concerts and plays, etc. And she's always so thoughtful when buying them gifts.

She insists that nobody buy her anything, she doesn't like having a bunch of stuff around. She's diabetic, so homemade goodies are out. So I never know what to do when Christmas rolls around and she's so great about remembering us.

I found the perfect homemade gift to make for her and I'm working on it today. I got the idea from Dana over at MADE. Check out her tutorial.

image via MADE

I think she'll love it. It's made from plastic shopping bags, fused together and then sewn to make an ADORABLE reusable and waterproof tote.

I'll try to remember to take pictures before I give it to her, but no promises.

the lonesome gods

My mom read Louis L'Amour a lot when I was a kid, but I had never read anything by him until I read The Lonesome Gods in October. It was on the Thomas Jefferson Education reading list, and I loved it! Yes, it is a western, so there is a certain amount of gunfighting and horse wrangling. I loved it, and Erin loved it.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

I usually take my time decorating for the holidays, doing a little bit each day. This year, my friend Angie was in charge of the annual Christmas dinner for the ladies at church, and asked if we could use my house. I said of course, and then panicked when I found out that it was scheduled for exactly a week after Thanksgiving.

So, with the help of Eric and my sister and her family, we busted out the garland and lights and ornaments and got it done!

My entry way, with my very favorite Goodwill purchase, the peacock front and center. He inspired my dining room ceiling and niche paint over. And I love these battery operated candles from Costco! They turn themselves off after 5 hours!

I used burlap liberally. It's cheap and chic and doesn't need hemming.

My living room. This room is very hard to take pictures of during the daytime, because of all the sunlight (not complaining!) It's my favorite room in the house.

I am frequently accused of having too many decorative pillows, but I don't think there is such a thing.

My favorite new Christmas vignette. I bought the moravian star online, then Eric rewired it with this cool pendant adapter I got from Lowes, then I spray painted it to match. It was a tight squeeze getting all the wisemen, shepherds and beasts in the picture, but we managed.

Another wreath in the dining room and some plug in candles.

And my mercury glass ornaments in glass bowls on the dining room table.

The hand I got in St. John decked out with some holiday ribbon and since I needed something to go in the other cloche...

I took two of my little bird ornaments off the tree (they were very hard to see) and hot glued their little clips to the base. I think they're adorable.

A few more mercury glass ornaments and some tiny old books I found on ebay in a basket on the coffee table.

My mantel. Burlap stockings, two turtle doves (actually, quail from Eric's grandma) and capiz shell garland.

The tree. It's hard to get a good picture of a Christmas tree. I have a love/hate relationship with mini-lights.

I have a few more little things here and there, but keep forgetting to take pictures. Although it was stressful getting it all done in a short amount of time, it is so nice to be able to focus on other things and really enjoy the holiday season! I think I'll set myself an early deadline from now on!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving weekend! It was so busy, I totally didn't take any pictures!

Wednesday, I had to have a cavity refilled, and it was so huge and hard, that my mouth was open for two hours and when I was done, I had sprained a muscle in my jaw and couldn't open my mouth more than 1/2 an inch, suffering a critical injury right before the most important game of the season. So, I was hungry and grumpy, my girls went to the indoor water park with some friends, so my helpers/babysitters weren't around. Eric had to work later than expected, so I didn't get much done.

Thursday, Eric and Erin did ALL of the Thanksgiving cooking (YAY!) while Annie and I cleaned and decorated and set tables, etc. for when our guests, the Cook, Frankman and Marlowe families came. Everything was delicious and beautiful, and we had so much fun!

Friday, my sister and her fam came down from Columbus and helped us hang lights and decorate. We had a TON of fun, besides the 72 hours of nonstop video games induced meltdown that some of our (my) children had. And we got so much done! Thanks, Marie and Fletcher and kids! Eric and I went shopping for a few little things that evening (and got it mostly done!)

Saturday we went to get our Christmas tree and that afternoon had some more friends over for the BYU-Utah game. Sadly, BYU lost, but the constant pressure of having people over has spurred me to be almost done with my Christmas decorating.

Sunday, early meetings, choir practice, church, and then hurry and decorate the tree before BYD here.

Monday, I suggested we invite someone over for FHE. Just kidding.

Happy Birthday to MEEE!!!!

I have been EVER so busy lately, and have not blogged in a very very long time. With all of the traveling and stuff going on this fall, it has been 3 months since I've worked out, and almost as long since I've had my legs waxed (TMI? Sorry.) So that was my birthday present to myself. Treating myself to an hour of excruciating agony. Oh, but, since today was sheet-washing day, I am going to be loving it at bedtime tonight. There is really nothing better than freshly waxed legs on freshly washed sheets, and on one's 38th birthday, too.

And I was so confused as to how I could have 47 new messages in my inbox, but they were mostly from facebook buddies wishing me a happy b-day, so thanks all! I am loving it!

The church ladies are coming over for a dinner on Thursday, so I have been busting my hiney getting the house all Christmasified, (except for the last hour or so that I have been reading blogs, after all, it's my birthday). I've still got some work to do, I just have to remember to take pictures on Thursday day so I can show them!

Eric and I are going to a fancy schmancy black tie thing in NYC this weekend for important people like him. So I have to go get my now modest dress from the tailor. And get a mani-pedi.

The gift shopping is pretty much done for the kids, but I will worry about all of the holiday things to do after this weekend.

Chinese food for dinner, yay, no cooking and no dishes!

Thankful for....

(in no particular order)

my wonderful husband

my awesome kids

amazing friends

good health and dental insurance

my Savior

my sister and brothers, mom and dad, in-laws, cousins, aunts and uncles, EVERYBODY!!

good schools for my kids to go to

great kids for my children to have as friends

music

art

beauty

creativity

good books

a wonderful ward with awesome people

a warm, beautiful, clean, joyful home

cars that work

electricity

running water

HOT running water!!!!!

my treadmill

my sewing machine

opportunities - everywhere I look, I am growing and learning!

Wow, I could go on and on. I tend to grumble a lot more than I thank. I think the thing I am most grateful for right now is abundance. Sometimes it takes the form of busy-ness, clutter, laundry, meetings, appointments, homework, stress, dishes, distractedness, a messy car, unfixed hair, runs in my nylons, but it all boils down to the abundance that I have in my life. I have people to love, places to go, things to do, and thoughts to think.

My cup runneth over.

the chosen

This book was on the list of the first five books to read in the Thomas Jefferson Education. I read My Name is Asher Lev when I was in college, and it was really good, but a little darker and sadder than The Chosen.

I highly recommend this one - Erin finished it last week, and Annie is reading it now. It is appropriate for all middle schoolers and above, although younger readers may miss some of the subtleties and may miss out on some of the history and politics that is referred to throughout the book.

I'm a frugal housewife...

Annie was in the middle school's production of Charlotte's Web last weekend. She played a teenaged townsperson, and her costume was a poodle type skirt with white shirt, bobby socks and flats, and ponytail. In the midst of my flying to California twice, she needed to show her director her costume, and had none.

I didn't have time to go all the way to JoAnn's, so we headed to Goodwill to see what we could find. No skirts, but I found a tablecloth, round and purple, and I cut the middle out of it and made it into a skirt, per the super easy directions I found here. Actually, it was even easier than that, because I didn't have to hem it!

And it only cost me about $4 for the tablecloth and $2 for the elastic!

thomas jefferson education

Two of my sisters-in-law homeschool their kids, and this book outlines a large portion of their curriculum. I've looked for it at the library, but wasn't able to find it, but as luck would have it, my father-in-law had two copies, so I brought one home for myself.

I recommend reading it, and then supplementing your kids public school education by reading and then having them read the books listed.

A Thomas Jefferson Education

I don't homeschool, but I've decided to implement this at home, nonetheless. The purpose is to teach our kids to be great thinkers and leaders. A lot of the time, the things they learn at school are just facts that are memorized and then regurgitated for a test. Or, they are trained how to do a job, but not how to think and form opinions.

So, I've started reading the books suggested, and I've had the girls read them too, in addition to their regular homework. They both love to read, so I've just asked them to alternate one of these books with a book of their choice in their recreational reading. We don't have formal discussions, but we talk about the books as we are driving in the car, etc. I've also started reading some of the books for younger kids to my boys, and they love it.

GO BEARCATS!!!!!

I've had a lot going on for the last few weeks. I've been very busy reading, sewing, crafting, painting, and last but not least, getting ready to go back to school in January. I guess that explains why I haven't blogged.

So, yeah, I'm going to UC (the University of Cincinnati) part time in a few months. I'm a little nervous, and really excited. I'm going to start off just taking two classes per term, just to see if we can survive around here without me being at home all the time. It just seems like the right time. I've put it off for 15 years, because of money, babies, moving, babies, husband's school, babies, moving again, babies. Now that all those babies are old enough to make their own quesadillas if need be, it's my turn again.

The sad part is that even though I'm transferring in over 100 credits, many of those won't do me any good, because they are music and/or dance credits, which count towards my Fine Arts requirement (3 credits - haha). But, oh well, I'm really not doing this so that I can graduate super fast (although I need to do it before we have to move again!) but more so that I can meet a goal set a long time ago, set a good example for my kids, keep my brain stimulated and active, and learn some cool things that I've always been interested in. I'm not the kind of mom who spends her days getting her nails done and having lunch with her friends. I'm also not the kind of mom who goes to work at a job or who runs for PTA president and volunteers at the school 3 days a week. I AM the kind of mom who loves to sew, decorate and do crafts, but as fulfilling and fun as that is, my brain was starting to turn to oatmeal.

So, wish me luck!

Jim's Obituary

Contra Costa Times

James Burlew Ellis 1941 - 2010

Erin's room

Ahh, if only it was this clean everyday.....

Well, after an emotionally exhausting and yet uplifting weekend, I am back. I've noticed I've had a bit of trouble dragging myself out of bed the last few days, which is probably understandable, but have bribed myself with a Cherry Coke Zero before 6 am. Nobody every felt better about life while lying in bed.

I just want to thank all of you who have shown support for my family (Eric's parents and brothers, and our sister-in-law Justine) over the last week or so. I have never seen so many people at a funeral before, it was truly amazing to see just some of the people whose lives Paul has touched over the years.

And I've learned a few things that I hope to remember from all of this.

First of all, don't wait until someone is gone to let them know how much they mean to you. One of Justine's friends said that for her next birthday, she's going to send out invitations that say "You would come to my funeral, so why not come to my party?"

Second, don't wait until someone passes away to get to know people. I got to know Justine better in the 2 days I spent with her than I have in the last four years since she and Paul have been together. And that's really sad, because she's an amazing person and it shouldn't take a tragedy to bring us together.

Thirdly, everyone grieves differently. Some of us wear our emotions on our sleeves, and some of us keep everything deep inside. But just because someone isn't crying doesn't mean they aren't sad or touched. And I think it's healthy for us to feel things the way that comes naturally to us, without forcing anything. We will all heal in our own way and time.

Lastly, but most importantly, families are forever. Losing Paul has been the saddest thing ever to happen to this family, but I know he is with our Savior now, waiting for the rest of us. He is being taught, he is serving, the Lord has a special purpose for him where he is, just as he did while he was here on earth. The atonement of Jesus Christ covers all of us, and this wrong will be made right. Knowing this has made all the difference.

Paul Stewart Ellis

Our family is in shock at the sudden loss of Eric's youngest brother, Paul. As I've been looking through old photos and letters, I am struck with what an impact he had on all of us. I don't think anyone who knew Paul could help but to love him. He had the purest heart of anyone I know.

If you knew Paul and would like information about the funeral, etc. just email me or comment and I will let you know.

Here's a link to the photos I have of Paul on Facebook:

Paul Stewart Ellis

Homecoming 2010

After a very frustrating and disappointing dress shopping trip, I broke down and decided to make Erin's dress for Homecoming. As I know from lots of experience, it is very hard to find a modest dress for a teenage girl. It is even harder to find a modest dress for a very TALL teenage girl. Especially since we are not good at planning ahead and ordering something from Utah.

I don't really enjoy making clothes (sleeves and zippers should be glueable) but I DO enjoy being able to create the picture I have in my head rather than spending eons searching for it. I guess that's called being creative.

Anyway, here she is, the dress is so far from perfect its not even funny, but luckily, dances are held in dimly lit school cafeterias, and usually at this age everyone else is too concerned about themselves to notice one's little flaws (at least that is what I tell my kids all the time).

Annie's room

While my girl's were away at YW camp this summer, I finished up a few projects and fixed up their rooms. Here's Annie's.

The pinboard that I made way back when.

I think she needs a full length mirror on that bit of wall.

This wall art is another easy project that I've been meaning to show. Maybe later.

Dresser from IKEA.

And remember our super easy paint idea?

Cute tissue paper lantern. We just cut out circles of tissue paper and glued them onto an IKEA light fixture.

I love this room! I hope she does, too!