Kiev, Ukraine journal - 11-15-94 and 11-16-94

*Disclaimer: Please remember that I wrote these when I was 12! I could be a snarky brat! I also am typing these journals exactly as I wrote them, bad spelling and all, except I have abbreviated names to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent.

11-15-94

Today we went to Fs for supper. R came to spend the night, too. I had to call F to ask if R could eat thier too. She said it was ok. F fixed a disgusting meal of tastless cornbread, tastless macaroni and cheese, and gag me tea. We stayed around and talked for a little while. The adults talked about boring little thing while the kids looked over Tean magazine. R and us went home and went to bed. I fell asleep when R and M were talking about boring thing.

*Seriously? 12 year old Lisa, I hang my head in shame that I was ever like you.

11-16-94

Today I woke up when R hit me in the head with her hand. I couldn't get back to sleep so I just laid their until R woke up. R and I put this wild make-up on and we made ourselves look like nerds. We really did look like nerds. Then we went to church. We had to go to dads class because the other classes were in russian and they were not transulated. R started writing a song about the lovebirds (Michelle & C). They did not like that. They got mad and tried to be mean to us, but oh well.

*I can't imagine why they wouldn't like a snarky song written by their younger sisters...

Goodbye Evil Carpet Stain!

Now you see it...

Now you don't!

Ever since we moved in 4 months ago, there has been a nasty carpet stain in the entrance to the guest/craft room. I have fought that stain and fought that stain and it just would not come up.

Enter Pinterest.

I know. You guys are tired of all of my Pinteresting, yes?

But, yaaaaaaaa'lllllll, seriously, Pinterest is fantastic! You should follow me! Click here!

Anywho.

Where was I?

Oh, yes. Evil carpet stain.

I have been looking for a carpet cleaner that would actually work and I kept seeing a homemade recipe that called for hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish detergent.

I have been reading the comments and I can't find a single negative comment on any of the many articles/blog posts I have read about this stuff.

And they weren't kidding. This solution took the stain right up! It took a little bit of muscle and a lot of patience, but I prevailed. So there, evil carpet stain!

Magic Stain Remover

1 part Dawn dish detergent

2 parts hydrogen peroxide

I also added a little bit of baking soda per several comments.

I poured all of this in a clean spray bottle and really saturated the carpet. I then took a small scrub brush and scrubbed it a bit to really get it in the carpet. I left it to soak for about 10 minutes. I then laid a towel over the spot and stepped on it until the fluid came up. It will leave the carpet soapy feeling. Per several other comments I read, I then saturated the carpet with a half water/half vinegar solution (which I had on hand because I clean just about everything with it). I put a clean towel over the spot and stepped on it until the liquid was soaked up. I did that about 3 times. I then rubbed the spot with the towel until the rest of the soapy feeling was gone.

Also used for:

clothing - if you have a high efficiency washer, make sure you rinse all the Dawn out!

furniture stain remover

grout cleaner

car upholstery cleaner

So other ugly carpet stains that have slyly come up since we moved in, be ready to accept defeat! Yeah, I'm talking to you, too, strawberry slush stain in my car!

Bubbles

I have seen so many fun activities on Pinterest for kids. There are so many in my "Ideas for Chloe Jo" folder that I don't really think I'll ever get them all done. Hey, at least we have options!

So Tuesday morning I decided we would do colored bubble art.

I separated bubble mixture into 4 containers and Chloe Jo helped me put a few drops of food coloring in each. After we stirred the mixture up, Chloe Jo used her bubble gun to blow the colored bubbles at paper that we had taped to a board.

This was a fun project and it turned out really pretty. We used neon food coloring and it made the bubbles and splatter look very pastel when they dried.

We'll have to try it again with primary colors!

I think Chloe Jo and I are going to head to the dollar shop and see if we can't find some ceramic dishes to color on with Sharpies. Yep, it's another Pinterest pin!

String Art (With Tutorial)

There are tons of string art pins going around Pinterest these days. I remember doing something similar in grade school. We used construction paper, but the idea is the same.

The pins I have really liked are the states with a heart over where you live. I was inspired to do four, one for each state Russ and I have lived in (I know! We've lived in 4 different states and have only been married 8 years...ah, the life of a preacher's family).

I really liked the way they turned out, but I can't seem to find a good place to put them. I thought I would hang them in the craft/guest room but didn't end up liking it like I thought I would. I'll figure it out sometime!

My state string art consists of Arkansas, Missouri, South Carolina and Oklahoma.

So, for this project you will need:

Backboard (I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby in the unfinished wood section. I'm sure you can get these at any craft store or you can cut your own if you have the tools)

Spray paint (primer and whatever color you want the backboard to be)

Sandpaper

State and heart outlines (or whatever your string art is going to be. I'm planning on doing one for Christmas with a football team logo)

double sided tape

nails with heads on them (otherwise the string will slip off and it will be very frustrating for you)

hammer

string (I used crochet thread)

The first thing I did was give the backboards a good sanding.

Then I gave them two coats of primer. I'm sure one would have been sufficient, but I went ahead and used the whole can of spray paint.

I chose to paint my backboards yellow. I did two coats of the paint, too.

Before I started the project, I googled "state outlines" and printed off the states that I wanted. I used the double sided tape to tape the heart on the state right over where I live. I then taped the state to the backboard.

I started by nailing around the heart. Because the heart is small, the nails had to be very close together. After finishing the heart I started on the outside edge of the state. Unfortunately, the Oklahoma board split around the nails. It doesn't show up as much in person, but I tried to take a close-up where you guys could see. I don't have the knowledge to know how to fix that. I'm thinking that it was the fact that I bought cheap wood.

I then pulled the paper out.

After pulling the paper out, I started winding the string. I did the heart last. I liked this pattern, but you could do it many different ways. I saw one that was random that turned out great.

I nailed a picture hook to the back and then I was ready to hang them up.

And what do you think Miss Jo was doing while I was crafting?

Bowling of course!

Pumpkin Patch!

Last week I worked on a lot of sewing projects that have been on my list for a while. I had bought a few shirts to applique on in the summer and just hadn't gotten to the last one, yet.

I decided to make it a fall outfit so I printed off a pumpkin picture, traced it onto orange check gingham fabric and made a pumpkin applique out of it. I also had bought two pairs of jeans that were on clearance for $3.00 each. I decided to add a ruffle out of the same material the pumpkin was made out of. I am pretty happy with the outfit. I do need to work on my ruffle skills, though!

On Wednesday Russ and I took Chloe Jo to the pumpkin patch! We met Aunt Chelle and cousins Brianna and Brenson there. We sure had a lot of fun!

The girls loved this spider tunnel!

There were a lot of different activities for the children. Brianna loved the petting zoo. Chloe Jo...eh, not so much.

This is a hay bale maze. We tried to get the girls to hold hands and smile for the camera at the exit. This is the best we could do.

Chloe Jo enjoyed the obstacle course. Erm, let me rephrase. Chloe Jo skipped everything else and just played on the hay bale part of the obstacle course.

My sweet girl!

I think the best part (if you ask Chloe Jo) was the train. Our group was the only one there at the time so everyone, adults included, rode the train.

I'm kind of surprised we all were able to get out. You can just see the top of Miss Stinker's head in the red car.

And, of course, what is a day at the pumpkin patch without a family picture. This one turned out pretty good!

I am so loving this time of year!

P.S. This is my 1000th post!!!

Kiev, Ukraine journal - 11-13-94 and 11-14-94

*Disclaimer: Please remember that I wrote these when I was 12! I could be a snarky brat! I also am typing these journals exactly as I wrote them, bad spelling and all, except I have abbreviated names to protect the innocent or not-so-innocent.

11-13-94

Today we went to Centre Church. Dad preached and a guy named Andre transulated into Russian. Also RC transulated into Chinese for a man who was baptized yesterday. We rode the metro to a place and went shopping and the keoses. Mom & Michelle bought a few Metrouskas. The metrouskas are real pretty. Then we rode the metro home and we actually got the bus to ride home. Around 7:00 p.m. F and J L invited us over to have popcorn. I though it was real good.

*keoses = kiosks

11-14-94

Today went shopping at the bizzare. We got some bread and apples. F taged along behind. Then we went home and ate some tuna, ritz crackers, peanut butter, & bread. It was very good. I did most of my homework. I did social studies, science, math, and a drew a picture for art. Mom said the picture was good but I did not think so. I drew a chuch with a bunch of little crosses on it. It had gold peaks on it too. I thought it was a pretty church.

*I love how everything is "real good."

Happy October!

Meant to get this up on the 1st. Whoops!

I sure love this time of year and dressing Chloe Jo up in holiday clothes!

A Shabby Chic Baby Shower

My sister's bestie, Kendall, is due to have twin girls in November. My sister and her other besties all decided to throw Kendall a baby shower. Kendall loves shabby chic decor so they decided to do a shabby chic tea party for the shower theme.

My sister is very busy so she recruited me to help her with the decorations. We got together a few times and I helped with what I could. In the process I learned how to make several different kinds of fabric flowers! I'm always up for learning a new craft!

I have to admit that shabby chic is not my favorite, but the more I made flowers and helped with other party decor, the more I liked it!

These are some of the fabric flowers we made. I have no idea what the final tally of flowers was, but it was a ton! These flowers were made for corsages for the mom-to-be and her family.

I also helped with this wreath. I. LOVE. IT.

I have been thinking that I need to make one for me. Except without the "baby love." Maybe "Welcome" or our last name.

I don't have any more pictures from the actual shower, but it turned out beautiful and the shabby chic tea party theme was lovely and terrific!

FB Launch!

For the past several months I have been thinking about reopening my Etsy Shop.

Today I made the decision to open the shop back up, but on Facebook instead!

I want to mainly sell hair bows and blankets, but there are other products on the page as well.

I am so excited to start my store back up and I am hoping to help my family out in the process.

If you would like to "like" my page or purchase anything, go here.

I do everything custom so the products I have on the page are just to show my work. If you would like anything specific, just message me and I can work with you so you get exactly what you want.

Here are a few of the blankets I have made in the past.

And here are a few of my bows.

I just made this one on Monday.

Please go "like" my page and share it with your friends!