31 Days to a Better Me day 31

WAHOO, we made it 31 Days of me rambling!!!  Thanks for sticking with me.

I did learn a lot from writing a post everyday for 31 days:

I should have chosen a topic to write about that I am passionate about.  I am passionate about my house, design, and beautiful things.  Not so passionate about improving me.

I got great practice at posting often, I think that it will make my blog better.

My blogging skill base has increased 10 fold.  A month ago I had no idea how to do anything.  Now I can do a lot of nifty blogging stuff.

I am now in the habit of taking my camera with me everywhere.  Not only am I prepared for bloggy inspiration, but I am getting a ton of beautiful pics of my kids.

So today for my last idea for me becoming a better me, I am going to take a nap!

I am exhausted by all of the seeming constant blogging, so today I am taking it easy and taking a nap.  Becoming a better me!

I want you to know that the things that I talked about this month I really took to heart.  I am still working on all them.  I just appreciate all of you who stayed with me on this journey!!

I told you that I would show you all of my minions together today, so here they are.  We went to Trunk or Treat at church last night and the "Minions" were a big hit.

Thanks so much for reading!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, I'll try and read them before my nap.  If not I will read them when I get up!! :)

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 30

I have to tell you that my big boys were out of school Thursday and Friday for parent/teacher conferences.  And my husband is out of town with the military.   So by last night we had all been in the house with no breaks from each other for 3 days.  I tried to work on projects and my boys tried to "help" with those projects. 

I was talking on the phone with my sister last night, and I think she just recognized a mother who needed a break.  She said "hey, why don't I come get the boys and we can have a sleep over!!"  At first I thought "No, I am fine"  (shhhh don't tell anyone but, I have a hard time accepting help...don't tell)  Then I thought "hey why not".

I used to spend time alone all the time.  I like it.  I have been surrounded by my little people so long that I have forgotten how much I enjoy being alone. 

I did a little shopping (for more projects), I finished a quilt that I made for my niece yesterday, I watched TV, it was great. 

I think that it is good sometimes to let someone else take the reins and just do me for a minute.  You know what else... I miss my kids!

Spending some time alone made  me a better me!

                                                         Bring on the sweat pants!

Thanks for coming by and looking, feel free to leave me a comment.  I am just hanging out!!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 29

Listen, I have to be honest I am out of inspiration.  I feel like I am at the end of a marathon, where you want to quit running but you're commited so you just keep going. 

Today I was thinking about something.  Something that I guess could make me a better person.  I was petting my dog, and realized that I just don't pay my furry children enough attention.  I mean I talk to them and tell them to get off whatever project I am working on, but not the kind of attention that I used to pay them.

I have two dogs.  Winston a dachshund (weiner dog), and Hunter a German Shorthair Pointer.

I decided to write this post on my pets and set out to take the cutest pet pictures ever.  I got 1 usable shot of Winston (I now know why they say never work with kids or animals, they just will not cooperate!)  Then I went to find Hunter, he was no where to be found.  I was panic stricken. 

We got Hunter when we were 18 (my pre-husband, and I) he was our child before we had children.  There were big consequences that came along with owning him, but we gladly paid those prices.  He was worth it.

Then as child #1 came he got push out a little, and so on for #2 and #3.  It was only natural as actual children came and needed my attention, they got it.  I am sad about that, but it is what it is.

So today when I couldn't find him, my first thought was that something had happened to him. He is 13, it is not out of the question.  I found him and he was fine but it just reiterated to me that I must make them a bigger part of my day!

I think that I would be a better pet owner, a better me.

Thanks for reading, feel free to leave me a comment!  I am just petting the dog.

I tried to get a picture of Hunter but he just kept thinking that he was in trouble.  So a picture was not worth torturing him over.

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 28

I don't really feel like talking about myself today. I have so much to get done today that it feels a little silly for me to spend my time thinking of yet another way for me to improve myself.

Maybe that is the idea for today. Maybe instead of thinking of lofty ideas of how I could become a better me, I could just get going and get some stuff done.

I think that getting to work could make me a better me!

So I guess that I am off to clean the kitchen, do the laundry, and mow the lawn!!

                                                                                        source If this is your first time looking, thanks for coming!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, I'll read them after I finish the lawn!

Sunny

I made Minions

Okay, I love the movie Despicable Me.  Honestly I love those little minions.  I think that they are so funny and I love to hear them talk.

I also have 3 boys, sooo what would be better than having 3 minions for halloween?   So that is why I made 3 minion costumes.  They are adorable!

Okay so what you will need:
Roll of 1 inch foam (I used 2 rolls for all 3 of my minions)
Bright yellow spray paint
2 packages of black pipe cleaners ( I cut mine in half)
Velcro
Hot glue gun
100 Hot glue sticks (not really 100 but you need a bunch)
1 Round cardboard container (I used an oatmeal carton)
1 Sheet of white felt
1 Sheet black felt
Scissors
Fleece (black, blue, and yellow)

First you must put on the movie, for two reasons.  Reason number one, inspiration.  Reason number 2, keep the kids entertained while you make the costumes.

I started out by wrapping the foam around a boy to see how big of a piece that I needed.

Then just cut it out.

Next you have to notch the top of the head so that when you glue them back together to make a rounded dome shape.  I found that 7 points is really good.  You figure out where the tips should be by taking the  length of you foam and dividing it by 7, measure that out.Then I measured down 3.5 inches in the center in between the points so that I had a reference point of where to cut down to.  I took out some of the excess on the inside corners so that it would be a little easier to glue together.

Glue them together.  Only glue down about 5 inches from the top on the back seam, this way your child can enter the costume from the back.  The points wouldn't stay perfectly together, and kept leaving gaps at the very top.  I used a little duct tape on the inside to hold it all together.  I am not too proud.  This bothered me at first, but turned out to be a very happy accident later.  Love that!

I took my oatmeal container and cut it into round strips.  This I later used as reinforcement for the eye openings,  It also gave me a template to use to cut out the eye openings.

Then I used the duct tape to mark out arm holes, which I then cut out.

Out in the back yard, I used the seed spreader to hold my creation while I spray painted it yellow.  (Remind me to apologize to the Hubs for the spreader!!)

Yeah, I spray painted my wedding ring too (Sorry about that too babe)

Anyhoo, back inside I started to make sleeves.  I didn't have a pattern or anything.  Sometimes you just have to go all commando and figure it out.  So I measured the length of his arm from shoulder to wrist.  Then I took the yellow fleece and draped it around his arm where a sleeve would go and pinned leaving plenty of room for movement.  Then I just stitched it up.  It was not rocket science.

Then I just eased it into the armhole with hot glue just as I would if I were sewing sleeves into an armhole.  Although it was  a little more difficult without a basting stitch though I am sure that you could baste it first and it would be a lot easier.  I am impatient and just winged it.

For the pant I was a little more intimidated to sew these without a pattern, but I was too far in at this point to back out.  Plus, I am pretty sure that McCalls does not have a pattern for the project that I was making.  So I just went at it like a tailor and figured it out.

I figured out the circumference of my minion divided it in half, and added a little for seam allowance.  I cut 2 pieces of the blue fleece to the dimensions that I figured out.

The nice thing about foam is that the fleece sticks to it so it made it a lot easier to eyeball my cuts.
So I stuck the two pieces of fabric to the foam with the seam in the middle.  I put the kid into the costume so that I could make sure that the crotch would work out and to pin up the legs and to check for length.  After I pinned everything up and left the back partially open (for costume entrance) I sewed up the pants.  It worked really well...surprisingly!

Then I glued the pants to the foam top.  I made a little overall flap out of a rectangle of fleece.  I cut out the black and white Gru emblem out of  felt and glued that on the front of the overalls.  Then I cut out 1 inch strips to be straps of the overalls and glued those on as well.

The picture above shows the next step already done, I trimmed out the eye hole.  I cut long strips of black fleece and lined the opening.  I also glued on strips to make the strap of the eye goggles.

Now all you have to do is add velcro to the back opening.  Then just glue on the hair.  Remember how my points wouldn't stay perfectly together?  Well I used the gap to glue the hair into.

That is my pipe cleaners laying by the gap before I glued them in.

I have two done, and the third is half way.  I will finish it up in no time, seeing as I have already made two I pretty much know the steps now.  I will post some pictures of all three of my minions on Halloween!

In the movie the Minions are all different, so I was not too concerned with them being exactly alike.

I can tell you that my boys love these costumes!!  And who do they think is the coolest mom ever?

This girl right here!!  What is better than that?  Nothing!!  Totally worth the hours, and the 53 hot glue gun burns!
If you have any questions, or if I left something out feel free to leave me a comment and I will try and answer them.
If this is your first time here, Thanks a bunch for coming!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, I have my Minions read them to me :).

Sunny

I linked to:

31 Days to a Better Me day 27

We are almost there people!!  Wahoo!

Anyhow, todays topic is near and dear to me.  I want to talk about reduce, reuse, recycle.   I am practically a hippie when it comes recycling, and reducing (as in not wasting), however sometimes the reusing is  a little harder for me. 

When I look at a used soup can, I don't automatically think about awesome path lanterns.

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Okay, so I really just throw it in the recycle bag and move on.  But maybe I should spend more time thinking about what I can reuse otherwise discarded items for.  I am cheap and reusing items that I have already paid for seems to fit the bill.

Look at some of the other cute things that I found while out looking for inspiration.

                                                                       salvagedgrace.com
Those are old light bulbs...so cute.

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You know because everyone has stacks of burlap coffee bags laying around the house!

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That light is made of recycled paper, maybe not for my house but still cute!

There is so much inspiration out there, there is really no reason not to reuse.  Well, other than laziness/business which may also be my problem.

I think that reusing will make me a better person!

If this is your first time here, Hey thanks for looking!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, especially if you have the low down on some great recycle/reuse projects.  Also go an check out salvagedgrace.com  that girl has some great ideas on how to reuse!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 26

Today I want to talk about something that I have struggled with maybe all of my life.  It is diligence. 
I find that I make goals to do things and then I get side tracked by one thing or another.

I want to remember to be diligent in a few areas.  I should be more diligent in my faith.  I want to be a more diligent friend/ family.  I really want to be more diligent with my children, saying what I mean and meaning what I say. 

I really have been talking about this the whole month in a way, but those have been goals.  I feel like diligence is more of a life style change. 

I think that if I learn how to be more diligent, I will be a better me!

Spent the day at the pumpkin patch with my youngest, this is the kind of cuteness that I must deal with on a daily basis.

Since there really isn't an image that deals with diligence, I thought that I would show you my baby!!

If this is your first time here, Thanks for reading!  Feel free to leave a comment, I am diligent about reading them!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 25

The flu has come to town.  My youngest had it on Saturday, then yesterday afternoon I started to feel queasy.  I knew immediately that I was in trouble.

By 4pm I was in full blown flu mode, which wouldn't be such a big deal except my husband is gone with the military and I have to do it by myself.

So I was texting my hubs (looking for sympathy) and I told him that I just didn't have time to be taken out by the flu.  I have halloween costumes to finish, errands to run, laundry, house...  He texted me back something that really took me by surprise.  He said "it is pretty sad that we are so busy we don't have time to get sick".  You know what it is true! 

I had not planned on talking about "lessening the load"  but here I am thinking about it. 

I don't know how I am going to get less busy,  I don't know what I can cut out and still feel good about myself.  But I am going to give it some thought now that it is on my radar.

I think that a less busy me would be a better me!

My tummy trouble started to settle down at about midnight, just in time for my oldest to come into my room and tell me that he was sick.  We then spent the next 6 hours in the bathroom...yay!

He is finally sleeping!   Wish me luck, there is still one more boy who hasn't gotten it yet.

If this is you first time here, thanks for coming.  Leave a comment, it doesn't take too much time!!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 24

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Take a leap of faith.  It sounds so easy and intimidating at the same time.  I have a hard time taking these leaps, I find it much easier to stay in my comfort zone. 

Starting this blog was a huge leap of faith for me.  I thought that if I open up to the world that I would also be opening myself to criticism, and judgement.  I felt called to do this so here I am, blogging.  I don't know where I will land, but I feel like I will be a better person by taking the leap. 

Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to grow, and I feel a growth spurt coming!!  So bring on the new experiences.  You can't fly, unless you catch some air.  Right?

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If this is your first time here, Thanks for looking.  Feel free to leave a comment, its not like a leap of faith. 
Tune in later this week for the all time best halloween costume tutorial!  (Maybe not the best, but cute!)

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 23

So today I spent the day with my sister, her husband, my brother and wife, mother, and all of the children and nephews and 1 niece.  I know that I am way late with this post, but I think that you will understand.

My mother raised my brother, sister and I as a single mother.  When I was 12 she remarried and things were supposed to be happily ever after.  But 4 years ago shortly after buying a new house my step dad was diagnosed with cancer.  Two years ago he lost his battle. 

My mother is still trying to turn this house into her forever house, single handed.  Sometimes I get so involved in my life that I lose sight of her needs.  Sometimes she needs help, to accomplish her dreeams.

Thankfully, my sister recognized the fact that my mom needed help.  So today we all descended upon her house for a full on work fest! 

I spent the day priming, staining,  painting, sanding, and busting the chops of my siblings.  It was nice to be working as a unit.  I love being with them, and their children.

My mother was so thankful for the help, but I was thankful for the opportunity to spend more time with my family.   I need to make more time to spend with my extended family.  I realize as life goes on that nothing is guaranteed.  There is no guarantee of one more christmas, family dinner, or even tomorrow.  I want to spend as much time with them as I can.  I think that it would make me a better person

Since I can't post without a picture here is a picture of my hand. Do you ever feel like your hands are in a perpetual state of splattered paint, stain, spray paint etc.?  Or is that just me?

Yeah I am picking paint off as I type this post.  I know I am a weirdo.

Thanks for reading, feel free to leave me a comment.   Especially if you know how to paint and have a nice manicure too!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 22

The next idea for me to become a better me is to be in service of someone else. 

There are several ways to do that, today I am in service of my 3 year old.

He woke up this morning sick.  So today I will spend the day watching him sleep, hurrying him to the bathroom, and cleaning up vomit.  Mostly though I will love on him, and make him know that he is loved.

As wives and mothers we spend most of our time in the service of others.  But I would like to be in service of those that are less fortunate than I am.  I already donate food and money, but my husband and I would like to take it to the next step and physically serve people. 

                                                                             source No that is not my husband or me. 

In our neck of the woods, before you can serve food to anyone you have to take a class.  It is called the Food Handlers Course.  I have taken it before, in my younger waitressing days.  Let me tell you it is riveting!!

The hubs and I plan to take the course so that we can give our time to those who could benefit from it.

Ultimately, I think that when you humble yourself to others it is you who benefits.  I also want our children to see the importance of giving of yourself to the service of others.  Not only will I be a better me but hopefully my kids will be better people too!

If this is your first time here, Thanks for coming!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, it humbles me!

Amy from PrimandProgress give me a shout.  I tried to leave a comment and it doesn't seem to be working, I also tried e mail to no avail.  Thanks.

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me Day 21

Only ten more day til I can stop going on and on about myself and start to get to some serious housey goodness!!  I can hardly wait.

Today I want to talk about something that I do (unintentionally) all the time.

I rarely stop to take it all in.  I know that life is going faster and faster, and my kids seem to be growing at an even more accelorated rate.  However, I get to going so fast just trying to keep up that I rarely take the time to enjoy it. 

Today, on our way home from school the sun was bright the temperature was nice and it was a perfect autumn afternoon.  I rarely give my children candy, but today I bought each one of the boys a push pop.  As we were driving and they were happily enjoying their candy I saw the true beauty of the day.

The sweet candy smell, 3 shiny happy faces enjoying the comradery of brotherhood, the sun on my skin, this life that we are given is a true blessing!  I want to notice it more, I think it would make me a better person!

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If you have not checked it out go over and check out Stacy at Conspicuous Style and check out her inspiration post here.  The photos are to die for!!  I want it all!

Also the Nester had a great  post that should be missed!  It really spoke to me.

If this is your first time visiting I wanted to say thanks for coming.  Feel free to leave me a comment,  it is like stopping to smell the blog roses!!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 20

So the other day I told you that I became a better me by treating myself.  I got myself a new pair of yummy boots.

Well, today I am going to become a better person by treating someone else!  My mother is coming here to watch my sons school program and I am going to treat her to dinner!  Sometimes, it doesn't take much to make someone else know that they are special and that you care about them.  So I am going to take her to her favorite mexican restaurant and get her some awesome steak Quesadilla(?)

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By the way,  I became a master boat mechanic today.  Lets just say that I am not going to quit my job!!

Thanks for visiting!!  Feel free to leave a comment...its like leaving me a treat!!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 19

Today has been an adventure. 

My husband is gone with the military.  It is my job to be the Mom, Dad, mechanic, problem solver etc.  Todays issue is that I need to take my boat to be winterized, frost is coming. 

I am not the one that tows the boat.  That is my husbands job!!  But being a military wife you sometimes have to do things that you are not comfortable with, today is my day.

So after dropping the kids off at school, I got in my husbands big diesel truck and set off to get the boat.  We store the boat in a cover storage facility near the lake so that we don't have to tow it so far.  It takes about 45 minutes on the turnpike to get there.  I was so nervous the whole way there!!


My little assistant

See I was nervous for a few reasons:  I have never hooked up the trailer by myself,

The space that I have to pull the trailer out of is tiny,

I was really worried about rubbing the side of the boat down the support beams (that would be a bad day!)

So I got the trailer all hooked up, the last thing to do was to put up the motor so that I could tow it away.

So I hit the button to put the motor up....nothing happened.  Huh, now what do I do?

So I borrowed one of these from my brother in law.  Yeah...nothing.

So I bought some of these, hooked it up to that great big diesel and.....nothing.

Frustrated and on the verge of tears, I started to drive home.  Then I decided that I could not give up that easily.

I pulled up my big girl pants and called the boat people.  I explained the situation, and now after visiting with them for a while I have diagrams of what to do.

I have no idea how this is going to turn out.  Tomorrow I will head back to the boat and play boat mechanic.

The moral of the story is that I tend to think that I cannot do things like this without my husband.  I assume that he will take care of it.  I want to be more capable.  There were about 15 times today where I wanted to give up and say that I cannot do it.  Sometimes we have to keep pushing forward, and make it happen for ourselves!!  I feel this is a lesson that will serve me in many areas of my life.  Around the house things stay broken until my husband is home long enough to fix them.  I just assume that I cannot fix them myself. 

On this road to a better me, I want to force myself to be more capable.  More confident in my own abilities!!  Ultimately I will be a better person.

If this is your first time here, Thank you for visiting!!  Feel free to leave me a comment (especially if you are a boat mechanic with advice)  it makes me more confident!

Sunny

31 Days to a Better Me day 18

I just got home from a field trip with my middle sons class.  We went to the pumpkin patch and it was cold, windy, and great to spend some time with my firecracker! 

I have to tell you that I am painfully shy around people that I do not know, especially women.  So being in situations like today; surrounded by moms that I don't know, can be awkward for me.  I tend to stay to the side and not talk to anyone.  I guess I feel that if I don't open up to people then I am safer. 

This series has me evaluating myself, the things that I like about me and the things that I don't love so much.  One of the things that I would like to change is I would like to participate more.   Participate in conversation, groups, and activities.  I think that putting myself out there and participating would make me a better me.

So today I made it a point to put on my most personable face and engage in conversation with the other moms.  You know what I found, they are nice and wanted someone to talk to also.  We had a much funner time talking and laughing about our kindergarteners!

I am trying to join in at the PTO group (Parent Teacher Organization), and at church too.  I still have a long way to go but someday I think that it will get easier.

I think that having this blog has helped too.  I participate in a community of women that are supportive of me in a way that I haven't experienced before.  Thank You!  You have helped me in ways that you don't know!!

So to wrap it up I thought that I would throw in a picture of my little man with his perfect pumpkin!

By the way, I got all excited thinking that I was going to be able to buy a beautiful blue, green, grey pumpkin like the ones that I keep seeing around blogland...apparently no one told the Kansas growers that they are cool.  They didn't have any.  Sad Face! 

If this is your first time here, Thanks for coming!!  Feel free to leave me a comment, it is fun to participate!!

Sunny