The Best of 2011

I started this lovely little blog early this year and created 98 different posts.  My hope is that at least 10 of them may have had some valid/usable ideas.  Based on number of clicks and overall popularity with my followers and friends here are the best posts of 2011

The butterfly pillow tutorial was my very first feature on a few big time blogs.

 The pasta recipe from the Pioneer Woman is a huge hit at my house and it is the best comfort food EVER!  I posted lots of family favorites under my recipes tab.

 Thanks to Pinterest my flower ball tutorial has been viewed more than 3000 times.

 The most popular post I have to date is my Mother's Day Subway art with 3000 views and 2500 downloads....crazy!

 My funky polka dot pots are just plain cute... but make me really hate that spring is so far away.

 This year I was blessed to become the mother of 4 healthy babies.  I did a birth announcement using shirts I created for the kids.

 Making my own Salt Scrub was a treat especially to my feet!

 Speaking of feet... how cute is the "Friendly Reminder" post I did...

 These wooden pumpkins were quite the stars in blogland as well.  They were featured many times and they were super easy to create!

 My last success of 2011 was my Etsy store. It started to take off with the Holiday rush creating close to 30 sales.  Below is one of the custom print styles for sale.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  2011 blessed me so many times over and I hope to make 2012 even better.

Follow me on Pinterest.

Check out my Etsy store...

Or go create something!!!

Tearing into things! The flipperuski post #3

First things first, the ceiling in bedroom #2 is now hole-free.  For whatever reason at some point many years ago people decided to hang false ceilings.... why I must ask???  Anyhow, to our advantage the ceiling in bedroom number 2 is/was false and therefore was drywall.  Pretty easy fix... hang new drywall.  Which is done!  Now for the taping and mudding part....blahhhhck!

 Before #1

Before #2

Above is the after!

Unfortunately there wasn't a super awesome flag pole story to tell this week or anything like that.  In fact really little progress to report except that Carrie and her family survived the stomach flu.  Our family survived the stomach... (I barely did, gosh I hate puking)  Carrie and her family spent a week in Georgia.  I had stupid stinking hammer toe surgery....ewwwww! (Pictures below since I'm a nurse and a storyteller)
Progress is about to take off shortly though!  I think I'm out of excuses, so we better just get to work!  Christmas break is almost here and that means we have babysitters!!!  Stay tuned for more...

So above is basically what my toe used to look like.  I luckily didn't have a real bone deformity... just an extremely tight extensor tendon of my second toe.  The toe rubs and bears weight in an abnormal way and causes discomfort and pain.  Mine wasn't awful but I had hit my deductible this year already so I HAD to get this taken care of:) Don't worry I'll take after pictures of my pretty little toe once the sutures are gone!!!  oh... you are all very welcome for this mornings Anatomy lesson.

Hanging Dress Hair Bow Holder Tutorial

I love little girls and all things girl.  It is so much fun to put fancy stuff in their hair and doll them all up in super cute duds.  I love decorating little girl rooms, and painting toes, and little girl photos, and dollies... AND thank goodness b/c I have three!  Below is a super long tutorial on how to make this cute hair barrette and clip holder.  It is a great addition to any little angel's room with a crazy OCD organize-happy freaky mom like me!

Supplies:

-8 x 11 piece of cardboard

- 15 x15 piece and 5 x 14 of cotton fabric and 15 x 15 piece of batting

- two coordinating pieces of ribbon at least 40 inches long each

-1.5- 2 yards of matching tulle (I used two colors @ 1.5 yards each)

- 4 old stud earrings

-hot glue and gun

-scissors

-minimal sewing skills and sewing machine with matching thread

-4 straight pins

-download THIS pattern

 For a great fabric flower tutorial click HERE!

Sweet Baby Burke and his beautiful baby blues...