Crafts / Decorating / Food and Drink / Holidays
A few things catching my eye, on the day of LOVE!
To Eat:
To Drink:
To Give:
To Decorate:
I plan on hanging out at home, cooking my VALENTINEa yummy dinner, and maybe watching a movie on netflix.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope it's a most FABULOUS day! Leave me a comment telling me what you did on this day of love! I would love to hear!
Ali
I began crocheting last fall during road trips and plane flights back and forth to California, to watch our son play college football. I just needed something (besides reading & crossword puzzles) to occupy my time. Crochet was the perfect thing! I learned to crochet years and years ago as a child, and I picked it up again when I was pregnant with my first child….then put it away for the next 20 years. Picking it up again was easy-peasy. I decided to crochet dish cloths/wash cloths. It was an easy project, and fairly quick to complete. It’s now almost six months later, and I bet I’ve crocheted 75+! It’s addicting! I sold quite a few at a boutique my friend Pam and I had in November, and I’ve given some away as hostess gifts. Everyone seems to love them! When I get my etsy shop back up and running, I will mostly likely stock my shop up with these. In the meantime….I continue to crochet!
Anyone else addicted to crocheting? Knitting? What are you making? I would love to hear!
Ali
Crafts / Decorating / Holidays
I finally got out my Valentines Day decorations. I had been meaning to bring the bin up from the basement last week, but life got in the way. I always seem to switch things around from year to year, never keeping things the same as the year before……oh well! Keeps it interesting, right?!?!
First up, my cupcake liner wreath. Super easy, but super cute! I have it hanging in our entry way.
The mantle this year – similar to last year's mantle, but a little bit more simple.
And the big shelf in our breakfast nook. Nothing too spectacular, but it makes me happy to see some red/pink and hearts!
Do you decorate for Valentines Day? If so, I would love to see what you've done!
Ali
I’m back! Back in the {blogging} saddle again! I guess it’s been long enough. I’m not even sure why I was away from the blog for so long. I think I needed some time to just step back and remember why I started blogging back in 2005 (has it really been that long?).
Anyway…….I’m ready to get back at it! Hopefully, I still have a reader or two!
Tomorrow, I should have a post up regarding some Valentines Day decorations around the house. And maybe a craft or two to finish of the week. We’ll see.
It’s good to be back!! Hope to hear from you!
Ali
The first episode of Design Star on HGTV, aired last Monday night, and I can tell you I am already a huge fan of this season! I am loving the fact Tanika Ray is the host, and she did a FAB job last week. The three judges, Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and Candice Olsen were much more supportive and encouraging this year! I love it!
The first episode started off with a huge challenge this year! The designers were paired up and, each team was responsible for decorating a room in an empty three-story New York penthouse. My favorite room of the night was the great room, decorated by Leslie Ezell and Cathy Hobbs:
My favorite part of the room was the tire tread coffee table, which Leslie picked out! Check it out:
The winner of the challege was Karl Sponholtz, who created an awesome bonus room with Kellie Clements.
It really was a great room! The loser of the challenge and the first designer to leave the show was Blanche Garcia, who designed a bedroom with Mark Diaz. Her random "doily"votive holders on the wall, and botched wallpaper frames, contributed to her demise.
I really think this season started off with a bang and a HUGE challenge! I can't wait to see what is next!
Design Star episode 2 airs tonight at 9pm/8c on HGTV
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign by Crafterminds and HGTV Design Star. My opinions are my own.
Ali
Crafts / Decorating / Parties
Well, technically the party was almost 2 months ago, which was about the last time I posted. What is up with that? I think with all the excitement and festivities during the month of May, I needed some time to decompress. Yeah, that's it. We'll go with that! So to play a little catch up, I need to post about Madison's Graduation Party!
We held the party in the backyard of my brother's gorgeous house, the Friday night before her Sunday graduation, and it worked out perfect. We did have a few rain sprinkles, but for the most part the weather held.
First up, the decorations. Madi's favorite color is purple, so I knew that would have to be on of the colors in the color scheme. Since yellow seems to be "in" right now, I thought that make a nice choice to add to the purple. I made the usual tissue paper flowers that you see all over blog land, and added some paper lanterns
We strung some white Christmas lights from the fireplace to the trees, over the stone patio.
I made a purple and yellow bunting banner from scrapbook paper to drape from the covered patio
I also used my trusty Silhouette to cut out some vinyl in a celebratory message for the wall of the garage, under the enclosed patio. I surrounded the message with a bunch of pictures of Madi throughout the years
I also strung picutres of Madi witht he friends from the last 4 years of high school Lot's of dance pictures, cheerleading photos, etc. It's hard to tell, but they are hung from ribbon with tiny clothes pins.
I bought two large bouquets of flowers from Costco that morning, and split them up in to several different vases. One on the food table, the stone fireplace, the wine table, and the entry table. They were gorgeous yellow and purple flowers with some white daisies too!
I also had a small entry table as guest arrived in the back yard. It had Madi's yearbook, for friends that hadn't signed it yet, as well as advice/memory cards for friends and family to fill out for Madi. Giving her advice for the years to come, or a favorite memory.
The menu was pretty simple and easy, which worked out great. We had pulled pork and roast turkey from Sugarhouse BBQ Company which was delish! Along with rolls, a yummy pasta salad, fresh fruit, chips and salsa, shrimp, and cupcakes for dessert.
The cupcake toppers were made from scrapbook paper, my giant scallop punch, and were glued to toothpicks. Super easy!
We also rented a cotton candy machine (Madi loves cotton candy), that was a HUGE hit with the kids AND parents!
At about the time the party actually started, I put my camera down and never picked it up again! What was I thinking? Too busy hostessing and visiting, I guess. Thankfully Madi took a few photos!
It was a super fun night, and we all had a great time! We had the fireplace going, another firepit lit, and dancing in the garage! Just wish I would have taken more photos!
Thanks for hanging in there through all the photos! And for being patient with my blog-vacation! Guess, what? It's friday! TGIF! Hope you have a great weekend!
Ali
A whole lot of envelope addressing is going on at the Moll house!
Madison's last day of high school is today. Really? How is it, that my baby girl is old enough to be graduating from high school already? It can hardly comprehend it all!
We've been busy tying up loose ends (end of year projects, extra credit and studying for finals), as well as getting the graduation announcements (courtesy of Jostens) and graduation party invitations (courtesy of Shutterfly) addressed and out in the mail.
Starting tomorrow, things will begin to get out of hand! The first of the graduation parties that Madi has been invited to (and some that we are invited to as well), begin. No school for the kids next week, but there is the Activities Awards Night on Monday, and then the Athletics Awards Night on Tuesday, along with several rehearsals for both Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation thrown in throughout the week. On Thursday night we celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which is beautiful! Definitely one of the things I love about my kids attending a Catholic High School! ALSO, Tyson will be home from college on Thursday! Woot Woot! Can't wait to have everyone under one roof again!
Friday night is Madi's big graduation party! A time to celebrate with friends and family! I have been busy making these
Tissue paper Pom Poms to hang from the trees in the backyard! I know, I know….as you can tell from Madi's graduation announcements….Puple and Yellow are NOT her high school colors! LOL! She LOVES the color Purple, and wanted that to be the "theme" of HER night! I also rented a Cotton Candy machine for the night! Hoping to serve Purple cotton candy! Fun, right?
A few more graduation parties on Saturday, and then Madi's Graduation on Sunday at Abravanel Hall.
Such a crazy time for all of us! But, what an exciting time for Madi! Her facebook status last night said:
beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but its everything in between that makes it all worth living…♥
I love it! Perfect for her and this time of year!
Thanks for sticking with me, and allowing me to document the personal stuff that is going in my life!
Happy Friday!
Ü
Ali
Crafts / Decorating / Weblogs
Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!
Today, I want to tell you about 5 FABULOUS blogs that I visit every single day! I visit all of them for a variety of different reasons and inspiration. Check them out!
Nie Nie is EXTREMELY inspirational! She and her hubby (Mr. Nielsen) are recovering from a horrific airplane crash. Her story and her will to live is just plain fabulous! Her blog is also full of lots and lots of eye candy! Lots of fun colors and style!
Talk about MORE eye candy! Ashley's blog is full of inspiration in her photos and decorating! Check out her fabulous bedroom and chicken wire wall HERE. Awesome! Also, her darling little Firecracker is recovering from a broken leg as well, and it has been inspiring to read how Ashley spent so much time in the hospital with her, yet continued to inspire all of her blog readers!
Another fabulous blogger! Shelley is HILARIOUS! I love her posts about her adorable "chicks", and I love her style! She has done some serious decorating! Check out this FABULOUS photo gallery wall HERE. I LOVE IT!
I absolutely love what these DIY'ers do! They recently purchase a "new" to them home and are slowing but surely redoing it! Check out their new patio HERE, which they finished just in time for their little bean's (Clara) FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. These two even DIY'd their WEDDING! Check it out!
Jen @ Tatertots and Jello ALWAYS has the best ideas! Whether it's CRAFTING, or DECORATING or RECIPES, Jen has got it covered! Her blog is a daily does of creativity! You MUST check her out!
What do you guys think? Do you read the blogs above? What blogs are your must read blogs? I would love to hear!
Also, if you aren't already a follower of my blog, I would love you to be! 😉 Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.
Ali
How FABULOUS does this salad look? Something very similar to this, was my lunch today! Oh my, DELISH! I made it for dinner last night, and brought the leftovers to work with me today! I didn't have a recipe, so I just winged it!
Mix the above ingredients together and top with creamy poppyseed dressing!
SOOOOOOO good and fresh!
Let me know if you try it, and if you do…what you think!
Happy Wednesday!
My daughter has 2 days (and a few hours!) of school left, before she graduates. Oh my! I cannot believe my baby is done with high school! I am freaking out, just a bit!
Ü
Ali
For the last 13 years, this girl of ours has been playing baseball or softball. She started at the age of 5 playing baseball with the boys, and then started playing Bonnet Ball at the age of 6. From then on, there was no stopping her. After playing Bonnet Ball for a few years, she began playing "Comp" softball. What fun times! Some highlights:
BUT, after all is said and done…..Madi has decided to hang up her cleats, put away her mitt and say goodbye to the sport that has brought so much to her life. It is time to move on to a new chapter for her now. And while, it is bittersweet and we (the whole family) will miss seeing Madi on the softball field, we are so excited to see what is in store for her.
Thanks for all the softball memories you have given us Madi! It has been so much fun to travel around with you and watch you play over the years!
Ali
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