My Happy Thought

My Happy Thought.  SUCH a cute blog because Gavin and Lauren are SUCH a cute couple!

She totally said that better than I could.

One of my very favorite posts of Lauren's is the date night she and Gavin did together.  Check it out here.  The Bookstore Date.  Brian and I totally need to do this.  I've been gone for nearly two weeks, a good "getting to know you" date would be good for us!

Go check out Lauren and Gavin at My Happy Thought and make sure to link up with her Thankful Thursdays link up party!



Really, are they not the cutest couple ever?

Oklahoma part I of II

Ooooooooaaaklahoma where the wind comes sweeping' down the plane!

SUCH a fun trip!

Here's the first week of my favorite pictures.  We left on the 21st at FIVE in the morning.  Boston was such a trooper on the plane.  I had the whole first season of The Mickey Mouse Club House on my iPhone so I was set.  Turns out he wasn't interested in Mickey- which never happens.  Luckily I bought one of those magnetic coloring boards from Walmart.  Best three bucks I've ever spent!

Quick 5 second video.  We were at the airport and Boston wanted to ride this motorcycle they had there....



Getting to Oklahoma!

This picture defines the whole week.  Greyson's on the left acting like a total GQ model.  Then you have Boston who is being a little stinker.  He was so fascinated with all the toys and new bikes that we could not get him to happily do anything else!  Then there is Hudson on the right.  The most beautiful blonde haired mischieveious three year old EVER!  Look at that face.  He's about to do something naughty!

 The pumpkin patch.  Boston kept running around pointing and yelling "PUNKIN"!
Don't mess with him, I am not even kidding!

 My sister is on the right.  Love her.  Isn't her family cute?  Both boys are adopted and they have been such blessings to our families.

 Let me DOWN!  I see Punkins!

 In every picture.  Ha!  Boston's all upset we're making him sit still.  Hudson's about to do something naughty (throwing his pumpkin at Boston) and Greyson is just cheesing it!

There will be a few more pictures next week and then I've got some fun hair advise for you if you're growing your hair out.

So stay tuned!

A Mommy's Life... with a touch of YELLOW

 Hi, My Yellow Sandbox Readers My name is Whitney and 

I am the momma behind the blog
A Mommy's life...with a touch of YELLOW
I feel so honored and am so excited to be guest posting today

I LOVE Abby
Love her blog
I Love her hair ideas and know they are to die for right?!
and I love our friendship
I hope we can all get to know each other a little better

I am a mommy to this crazy little 18 month old adorable little man

and a wife to the love of my life

 I live in Salt Lake City, Utah
I change my hair probably more than anyone you know
and get asked if I do hair all the time
(I guess just cuz it is always different...maybe I should)
I have my bachelors in Physical Education and Health Education
 and will one day be out there teaching your teenagers
For now I love to keep myself busy with PROJECTS of all sorts
while the hubby is at law school and the babe in napping
everything I do is on a tight budget and when it is cheap but amazing, it is even more exciting

Over at my blog you will find DIY projects, knock offs, Holiday, redoing, chic n' fresh tips,
a little about health, fitness, pinterest loves, recipes, a little about my family,
learning new things and this is all rolled up in my mommy adventures

Now on with the fun tutorial

I have been loving the Keep Calm and Carry on plaques 

that I have been seeing everywhere

especially on some fun etsy shops

But...I thought instead of buying one I would take a stab at it 

and make one for cheaper

I made one...as a trial for FREE

I had everything on hand 

then when I decided to make some more
to sell and give as gifts it was about $20 for 12 of them
Sweet deal right!

These are the supplies you will need:

-A roll of vinyl (or already cute vinyl if you don't have a silhouette)

-A silhouette or cricut or access to one

-Paint (colors of your choice)

-Sponge brushes

-Sand paper

-the MDF board

And anything else your cute, creative self wants to put on it

Make it yours

Make it fit you and your home and the room you want it to go in

Don't be scared to try something new

Here is what I did....

First I got myself a piece of wood

I had this one on hand from another project 

for the rest I went to home depot and got
a slab of 3/4 inch thick MDF board
and it cut to 12 inches high and 7 1/2 inches wide
so I got 12 out of one slab
Thanks hubby for cutting the boards for me
I love having a handy hubby it helps a lot

Then I painted it white

This is the color I want the letters 

"Keep Calm and Carry On" to be

so I paint that color first

Then you let that completely dry

I know I know I hate waiting to let the paint dry too

I am so impatient when it comes to painting projects

because I just want them to be done!

I just want to see how much I am going to love it

But we all have struggles

and mine is patience 

Once the white was completely dry it was time to do the crown

I decided to add a little YELLOW here

So I just painted a small area big enough for the crown to fit

Then you let that completely dry 

While the paint was drying I hoped onto my computer 

and cut myself come vinyl and a crown

I  used the font Arial Bold Size 144 

Since I wanted all of this to be painted 

with no vinyl 

I am only using the vinyl as a stencil

So once it is dry I placed all the vinyl on using transfer tape 

to keep it all strait

The next step is to paint over all the other paint and vinyl 

the main color that you want your sign to be

I chose Green

 for my first one
Then again you put your patience cap on 

and wait for the paint to completely dry

I probably put 2 coats of paint on

and then

I let this dry over night

Then ya know what is next!

It is time to peel off the vinyl leaving the white exposed for the lettering

and the crown yellow

Isn't it kinda cool how that works

And the very last step 

is to sand the edges, corners and lightly sand the top

I wanted a kind of shabby chic worn look 

and sanded the top so the green bled into the white letters a little bit

So all you FAB My Yellow Sandbox Readers

KEEP CALM and CARRY ON!

 I gave this baby to my mom as a gift
It matches her room perfect
 I also made another for my room in White, yellow and turquoise
and made a bunch as gifts and to sell at a Boutique this weekend

 I seriously can't wait to have one up in my room

I want to see it everyday

be reminded to enjoy life

count my blessings

Calm down and just be happy

Remember you can totally make these
and the holidays are coming up
so these would make awesome and unique gifts 

If you have any questions never hesitate to email or comment

I hope I have given you the tools and confidence

to be able to make these fun signs

Mix up the color, the sayings and just have fun with it

It really is so much fun and you will love them when you are done

Make sure to check out my blog for more of what I do

You can also follow me on facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

Lets be friends :)

Thank you so much Abby for this opportunity!

It's An Adorable Life

While I was sitting outside watching my kids play yesterday, I realized something. 

I realized that they are growing up. 

I was watching Lexie run down our long driveway......she looked SO tall!!

 When did that happen??

Last night, Ethan was reading a book to me. He read the whole book.....big words and all.

He didn't need my help.

 When did this happen?

I started thinking......Do I really take it "ALL" in EVERY. DAY? 

 The way that their little voices sound. 

 The way that their little hands feel in mine. 

 The way that they fit perfectly, snuggled in my lap. 

 The way that they want to shower me with hugs and kisses. 

 The way they say "I love you" a zillion times a day. 

 The way that they are at this very moment in time.

Do I take the time to sit and just be present EVERY. DAY??

Or am I too worried about the dishes. the laundry. the other stuff??

If I died tomorrow, what would I want my last day on earth to look like??

Do you ever REALLY think about that question?

Are you living your days doing the things that you love, with the people that you love most??

Or are you waiting for another day??  

A day when the housework is caught up?  

A day when all your obligations are met?  

A day when everything else is done??

Respect the people that find time for you in their busy schedule.

But

LOVE the people who NEVER look at their schedule when it's important to you!!!

I spend WAY to much time saying... 

"Not right now."

"After I get finished with this."

"Maybe tomorrow."

"Maybe next weekend."

When I should be saying...

"YES!"

"I would LOVE to!"

"That sounds great!"

Source: sayingimages.tumblr.com via Kristy on Pinterest

What would your world look like, if you didn't even have to think about it, and you just said, 

"YES!!"


Read more over at It's An Adorable Life

Candace Kane Designs

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Candace Kane makes the most beautiful hand stamped personalized sterling silver jewelry.  

And she is offering a $50 Gift Certificate to her shop!

Do you not love?  I think I need all of them!

To win:   GIVEAWAY CLOSED

1. "Like" Candace Kane Jewelry on Facebook

2. Visit her shop and leave a comment below letting me know what piece of jewelry you would choose if you win!

During the giveaway Candace is offering a 20% discount to my followers!  

Enter SANDBOX at checkout

Really? Full on JUMPED.

Funny story

I was making some zucchini bread.  The best zucchini bread in the entire world.  It's actually our third time making it out here so I thought this time I'd take some pictures of the steps and make a little post out of this YUMMY bread.

So I have my iPhone out and I'm taking a picture of the eggs, oil and sugar... as if you need to see a picture of the eggs oil and sugar.

Well.  My iPhone JUMPS.  Yes, it jumps into the bowl of oil.  Not even kidding.  I didn't even know what to do!  I yanked it out of the bowl as fast as I could and just started drying it.  My sister and I were laughing our heads off because it seriously just jumped out of my hands!

It's sitting on the counter in a bowl of rice.  The speakers weren't working well... super muffled.  Anyway.  If it doesn't work tomorrow I will cry.  I will sit down with a bowl of Halloween candy, shove my face full of chocolate and just cry.

On another note, I think I'm going to start parting my hair down the center...  It's been a popular style forever now and I have been completely in love with it.  Just not on me.  I think it's because I have loved my bangs so much.  But I'm going to try it.

This picture was taken from my iPhone this morning... oh my gosh I just might cry.  Luckily I sent it straight to blogger right after I took it.

It's not a complete center part but I'm working on it okay!  I need my bangs to grow out just a little bit more.  You should see my sisters hair.  I'll sneak some pictures of her!

--------------------------

We've got a Chicken Little and Tater T-shirt winner!

Jamie, send me an email to claim your prize!  Thanks Gabby for such a fun giveaway!!  

Check out more of Gabby's designs here.  

Oh yeah- HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  Silly me.  Hope you guys are having a blast!  If you take some pictures you just love of the kiddos, tag me in it on FB.  I'd LOVE to see them!