And a Dress Becomes Wall Art

I guess it's obvious by now that I love to decorate. For the past few weeks, I've been working on the entry way (I've been told that it is actually a "mud room") from the garage into my house ~ the room is basically a pass through that no one really uses but it still needed "something."


So I started thinking and thinking and thinking... Then it came to me, the room needed wall art. By the time this lightning bolt hit me, I was already in my pajamas so running to the store just wasn't an option. Anyway, I didn't want to spend anymore money in this room because it's really just a walk through to get to the rest of the house.

So what to use? My dress!

I have this beautifully funky bohemian dress that I absolutely adore but can't wear. I love that dress but upon further reflection I have accepted that it is not the most flattering shape for my figure. So rather than toss the dress, I decided to hang it on my wall!

It was very simple to do and took about 30 minutes to make all three panels.


Needed supplies:

Fabric (it's best to use something that has a little weight to it, like a stiff cotton ~ I used a thin stretchy material that was a little difficult to manipulate)

Scissors

Spray Adhesive

Cardboard

Picture Frame


Simply stretch the material over a piece of cardboard (use spray adhesive to keep the material in place), cut off excess material and frame. I used clear acrylic frames so the material is visible from all sides. This is a quick and easy project that makes good use of fabric that you already have.

Creative Self Discovery

Growing up, I was an artsy kid. My dad was a talented artist and I like to think that I inherited my creativity from him. I used to decorate envelopes with elaborate drawings ~ some were abstract, a few were of every day scenes. My mother loved receiving letters from me, she would decorate her day care center with them, pointing out each new one to parents as they came to drop off or pick up their children. For me, the thrill came from figuring out how to integrate the addresses and the stamps into the drawings.

After I had kids, I started to focus my creativity less on my artistic pursuits and more on how to get four kids under the age of five to walk in the same direction. As they grew older, I became more and more focused on them and their lives...the things they needed to grow and develop. Slowly I lost myself and all the things that used to make me happy. I'm not complaining, just stating a fact that is the truth of any mother's life.

A few months ago when I became unemployed, one of my biggest fears was that I'd go nuts from boredom or, worse, get shlumpy. Part of me is going a little stir crazy and I have been known to stay in sweats and a tee all day, but the other part of me is enjoying the opportunity I've had to rediscover my creative side. I've been doing all sorts of fun stuff like staining wood, redecorating rooms, sculpting food and hand sewing pillows. I'm hoping that some day soon I'll get the nerve to pick up the pencils again but even if I don't, it's been fun and exciting to find that I haven't been totally lost, just temporarily misplaced.

Your Blog is a Verbal Portrait...

And it will hang on the walls of the internet forever. For that reason, you need to make sure that the picture you are hanging up for public view is of you looking your best. No spinach between the teeth, uncontrollable cow licks or other weird things that can mar a picture...

Yes, this is a rant about misspelled words and bad grammar on blogs. It drives me insane. I understand that some people blog for fun while others blog as way to share their thoughts or feelings and a few others blog for profit. Whatever the reason, understand this, people are reading your words and they are forming opinions about you based on those words. You want that impression to be a good one, right? Think about it, you wouldn't post a picture of yourself with crusties, would you? It's the same thing. Trust me.

When I was a librarian, I used to read blogs written by some of my colleagues and wonder what were they thinking? How do they expect to be viewed as professionals when they can't even be bothered to use spell check? If I saw too many obvious misspellings or grammatical errors, I'd just delete them from my reader. It's pointless to read the blog if I'm just mentally swiping with my red pen. I have now taken this attitude towards mom bloggers.

Maybe it doesn't bother you that I'm removing your blog from my reader (especially when you're getting over a hundred hits a day) but if I'm taking this attitude, how do you think potential advertisers might feel? I pay attention to the discussions on Twitter and I know that there are mom bloggers out there who are trying to figure out how to get paid for blogging. In order to draw companies, your writing has to be clear and easy to read.

Here are a few tips that may help you out:

1. Read your post out loud to make sure that it makes sense
2. Use spell check - If you're unsure of the spelling of a word, there are plenty of online dictionaries (or go old school and use a book)
3. Don't be afraid to rewrite something (even after you've posted it - I'm constantly editing)
4. Check your grammar
5. Have fun

Remember your blog is a work of art, so make sure your masterpiece is finished before you hang it on the wall.

Transitioning Thank Yous

When I decided to transition from relaxed to natural hair, I knew I'd have bad hair days. I had them when my hair was chemically treated so why not now? When I had bad hair days with my relaxed hair, I'd just pull it into a pony tail and go. Now I'm dealing with wavy hair at the crown and near the scalp with bushy hair at the ends, not so easy to pull into a pony tail. So I had to come up with something quick and easy that would minimize damage, temper frustration and still leave me looking simply mah-velous.

I decided to start wearing a braid out with a headband. I also decided to go online and seek out support from other sistas who are in the process of transitioning or who have already transitioned. This is a long, hard process and each day I'm faced with the "do I just break down and buy a relaxer" or "do I suck it up and press on" dilemmas. I'm grateful that there are resources for African American women who want to make that change because if they weren't available, I don't know what I'd do.

I'm learning how to take care of my natural hair through the use of natural hair care products. They're also talking about natural and protective hairstyles....things I wouldn't know about without the assistance of the interwebs. So to you ladies out there who are rocking the natural looks and telling the tales - Thank you!

Three Thanksgiving Traditions I'm Sharing with My Children

TwitterMoms and Target wants to know what three Thanksgiving traditions I'll be passing on to my children. If you'd like to participate in the contest for the chance to win a $50 Target gift card, just go here.

Thanksgiving is a big deal around our house, it's the one time the family gathers together and puts aside the craziness of the past year to enjoy some good food, great conversation and fun family traditions. My family loves to eat so naturally our biggest family traditions center around food.

We usually start the celebrations a week early with me baking loaves of Orange Cranberry Tea Loaf and Banana Nut Bread. This fills the air with warm, comfy smells that usher in the autumn season. Every year, the kids settle in around the kitchen table and regale me with stories of their school day, while eagerly awaiting the spoons. Ok, I know they shouldn't lick the spoons with the raw dough but, omg, it's soooo delish... Now my children are old enough to join in the fun and they've already started asking me when we're going to get started baking. Soon, babies, I promise!

The baking continues until the day before Thanksgiving (this way all the dessert is finished ahead of time, afterall, that is the most importan part of the meal, right?), that's when we get down to some serious cooking. Every year, my family likes to add something new to the Thanksgiving meal. One year, we had an orange glazed turkey; this year, it's going to be fried turkey. The fun part is that we never know how things are going to turn out and no matter how they do turn out, we have fun experimenting. Are y'all ready for the turkey frying?

On Thanksgiving day, the family gathers around the table, clasps hands and thanks Our Heavenly Father for all that He has given to us. Then, while still holding hands, everyone takes turns telling what they are most thankful for. The gratitude list covers everything from the silly - "I'm thankful for my braces" - to the sentimental - "I'm thankful for my family." Hmmm, I wonder what will top the lists this year?

So I guess it's fair to say that the three Thanksgiving traditions that I have passed on to my children are:

1. A love for good food and the fun that can come from experimentation
2. The excitement that comes from family gatherings
3. An appreciation for the many gifts from Heaven, be they big or small

What traditions do you plan to hand down to your children? Are they culinary? Does your family veg in front of the tv? How about boys vs girls touch football? Don't be shy, share with me...

Small Talk Six Places I'm Registered, So Buy Me Something!

Today's topic is to list six places we'd like to register for Christmas. Well, I decided to go a step further and list the items I'd like too (because I'm helpful like that).

1. Disney 3-Night Bahamian Cruise - My kids are old enough where they'd not only remember this but they'd have so much fun

2. Manolo Blahnik - Size 8.5, 'cause those SITC ladies aren't the only ones who can rock a stiletto

3. Louis Vuitton Luggage - A sista needs some classy luggage to take on her trip

4. Novelty Cashmere Sweater - I love cashmere ~ so warm and cozy ~ and this one's so funky cool

5. Starbucks Franchise - Every since they closed the one near my house, I have to drive about 15 or 20 minutes for an Espresso Truffle, so not cool

6. Brahmin Handbag - Louise Rose in the Pecan color because, well, it's leatha and it's soooo pretty

Thank you in advance for the gifts...

If you'd like to join in the fun, go here and leave a link to your post (don't forget to grab the badge and check out the blogs of your fellow participants). You can find the list of topics right here.

My Four-Legged Shadow

When I first became a stay-at-home-mom, the dog really didn't pay me that much attention and I returned the favor. As far as I was concerned, he belonged to my kids. Isn't it enough that I feed and water them? Do I have to take care of their furry little beast too? That was the deal when we bought him five years ago, the kids would take care of him ~ not me and not my husband. Sometime over the last few weeks that has changed...

For the most part, Squeekerz (yeah, really. Did I mention that he belongs to my kids?) doesn't like people. He doesn't like kids (seriously) and he most certainly doesn't like strangers invading his territory (even if they're "strangers" he sees on a regular basis). He'd sell out the family for a slice of bread and he'd toss in the house for a box of Girl Scout cookies (we keep Shortbreads in the house just in case we need him on our side in an emergency).

Lately, though, Squeekerz has taken to following me around the house. Everywhere. If I go to the bathroom, he sits outside the door. If I go into the laundry room, he's click clacking right behind me. If I sigh deeply, his ears perk up. I haven't had this much shadowing since the kids were toddlers. When I leave him to run errands, his whimpers serenade me as I walk down the stairs. And when I return home, his tail wags and he runs from one end of the house to the other.

I'm not sure what has brought on this sudden obsession (really, it can't be considered anything less ~ he goes nuts whenever someone touches me) but I'm pretty happy about it because when the zombie apocalypse happens, I know I'll be safe....

....Unless they have Girl Scout cookies.