Halloween Costumes for $12

Shiver me timbers!

They both decided to be pirates this year.

So, of course I made them matching outfits!

I spent less than $10 for the stripey red fabric and the gold used for sashes.

The black felt we had on hand, an entire trash bag full!

It made vests, hats, and eye patches.

The ruffles are just strips of old t-shirt, gathered and sewn onto white felt

 that we pinned onto K's collared shirt.

We also had the lace and black tulle that trimmed her skirt.

The hook and sword came in sets from The Dollar Tree.

There you have it, Halloween on a budget.

snow?

Here it is, just the end of October.  Dragging myself up the steps this morning, I heard the weatherman say, "Tomorrow, we'll have rain with a mix of rain and snow in the afternoon."  Are you kidding me?  I'm not ready yet!

Every time I go to Wal-Mart, the jumbo can of hot chocolate is not out yet.  You know, the one that makes 6,857 cups of cocoa?  Almost literally.  I've not seen hide nor hair of it and I've been keepin my eye out.  We get one, or two, every winter and it sees us through all the cold mornings and late night sleigh-riding.  This can't be happening!

Rest assured I've got some ol' favorites to rely on.  Cinnamon Plum.  African Honeybush, Mandarin and Orange.  I do love them, we all do and so, we'll survive. 

But really? 

Snow already?

Say it ain't so?

Freebie Friday!

Hello again, it's Freebie Friday.  So, without further ado...

DOWNLOAD NOW!

Go to MyMemories and use Promo Code STMMMS74641 to get $10 off. And don't forget to leave a comment here to enter to win a free MyMemories Suite of your very own!

soccer on thursday

It was just another regular day at soccer.

Until I caught a glimpse of this...

Boys at their best.

 

A little friendly WWF amongst comrades.

These boys, they rock my socks.

Even the obnoxious ones.

~ That'd be mine. ~

And he's not really obnoxious.

Promise.

another freebie!

I'm falling behind here, but I promised to show you K's Christmas page...
(K is ten and she did this herself!  See, you can do it too!)

Now, I usually have "Freebie Friday", but just for the fun of it, let's mix it up and have Freebie Tuesday!  This week, I have a couple of great quick pages for you. 

Today's page is all about polka dots...

Download now!

Q:  What are quick pages, you ask? 

A:  They're pages that are already setup and you just drop in some photos and voila!  You're done!  

Q:  Can you add more? 

A:  Of course!  You can add other embellishments, words, etc.  A little or a lot.  You choose!

Q:  Does this require cutting, pasting, or gluing?

A:  NO WAY!  It's all digital.  So, in the software, you place things where you want and print.  Insert the printed page into your scrapbook and it's that easy!

Go to MyMemories and use Promo Code STMMMS74641 to get $10 off.  And don't forget to leave a comment here and enter to win a free MyMemories Suite of your very own!

Disclosure: I received the MyMemories Suite digital scrapbooking software referenced above for free in exchange for a mention of their product on my blog. Regardless, the comments and opinions in these posts are my own, I have not been paid to give positive feedback of their product. Additionally, you're email address will NOT be used by the company, sold, leased, or given to anyone other myself. It's sole purpose is to contact you if selected as winner, so that you may receive your free code for the MyMemories Suite.

MyMemories quick pages

Since I was gone all day on a field trip with K to Pamplin Historical Park, I decided to customize the "Partini in Paradise" quick page from MyMemories.  Our theme for the Food Services Crew was Luau.  So, I inserted a photo of our crew from the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure and added pink flowers, lace, ribbon, stitching, staples, and a quote box.  I was tired and didn't have a lot of time on hand, nor much attention span for staring at the screen.  With that in mind, I think it turned out pretty well.  Proving that even the most novice can succeed at scrap booking with this easy-to-use program. 

Here's the before...

And here's the after...

Tomorrow, I'll be sharing a page that my 10-year old created. I opened the program, gave her minimal instruction and let her go with it.

Also, don't forget to leave a comment here to enter a chance to win a free MyMemories Suite.

Copy and paste Promo Code STMMMS74641 to receive $10 off your purchase at MyMemories.com.

Disclosure: I received the MyMemories Suite digital scrapbooking software referenced above for free in exchange for a mention of their product on my blog. Regardless, the comments and opinions in these posts are my own, I have not been paid to give positive feedback on their product. Additionally, you're email address will NOT be used by the company, sold, leased, or given to anyone other myself. It's sole purpose is to contact you if selected as winner, so that you may receive your free code for the MyMemories Suite.

adversity

It promises to be another busy weekend, but in ways I'm not quite sure of, I am ready.  Today was a staggering reminder of uncertainty and God's mercy.  After an early phone call from Dr. B, our outstanding vet, I cried the morning away until I was forced to get it together in the shower so I could venture off to take my almost 96 -year old grandad to an eye appointment where I was sure (and even hopeful) that he would not pass the test in order to renew his license.  Let me set things straight here, before you go callin' me the bad guy.

1. He backed into our little car (you know, that's how we refer to things here) and didn't even know it because he drives so slow. 
2. He has a ton of accumulating scratches on his back bumper where he adamantly claims that other people have hit him.  Imagine that.
3. He is deaf as a doornail.  Even with his hearing aids.  In the car, crowds, any where there is background noise, he can't hear worth a fart (my dad would say, pardon my french).
4. Lastly, the first time the sweet lady at DMV said, "Grandaddy, you cain't see those letters.  I'm sorry, I cain't give you your license unless you can read 'em.  You'll have to take this form to the eye doctor and have 'em fill it out.", he exclaimed to me, "Well, I couldn't read the d*$@ letters the last time and it doesn't matter if they give it to me or not, I'll just drive to the store anyway."  I admit, that ticked me off a little bit a lot.  What if some blind, deaf ol' coot backed over top one my kids in the Food Lion parking lot?  I bet grandaddy'd have a lot to say about driving without a permit then!

Anyway, he passed by the skin of his teeth, only in ONE eye, which is passing according to DMV's requirements.  Waiting for these tests to be completed, I did keep myself busy, quietly catching up on David Platt's "Radical Together".  So, there.  That's a positive bit.

Then, we were off to the dreadful DMV.  Shoot me now!  I pleaded inside my head.  We sat and sat and sat there some more.  I was already emotional, and somewhat irritated.  I hate it when people that come in after you, get to go before you.  Does this make sense to everyone but me?!  This made me even more cross and I began to fidget.  I swore that if any of those clerks even batted an eye at me the wrong way, this God-fearing woman would come across that counter before they could blink an eye, rip their head off and punt it like a football all the way to Minnesota.  I swore it.  Now, that's very godly, wouldn't you say?  I think not, but anyway, I was havin' a moment and the devil was havin' his way with me.

Once out of there, I drove home as fast as illegally possible, dropped off my grandad and parked my butt for awhile to decompress.  Eventually, I wound down, things were OK and I even accomplished a couple of things, but boy, it was a morning in the face of adversity.

I have since prepared a pumpkin cheesecake for the reunion tomorrow, soup for our fellowship at the farm tomorrow night, and have one apple pie left to make.  I picked up and straightened a few things and I do mean a few, but life will go on.  Tomorrow, the sun will rise on a brand-new day, filled with God's promise and maybe this feeling of having a ping pong ball stuck in my throat will go away.  It comes with sorrowful moments.  You know, when you'd like to cry all day, but you're holding it back.  In Chapter 3, David Platt says "that God is indeed sovereign and that in their suffering he may actually be plotting their satisfaction."  Hmm, now that's something to think on, wouldn't you say?  God is still good.  ThankyouJesus.