St. Patty's Day "Pot O' Gold" Nail Polish Gift

Have you ever been laying in bed at 2 o'clock in morning trying to get your mind to shut off so you can get some much needed sleep because you stayed up way too late the past two nights binge watching too many episodes of Scandal when out of nowhere craft inspiration hits?!?! This happens to me ALL of the time. It's like my brain finally clocks in for a productive day of work when the sun sets when it should be working on getting me some serious REM time; and then clocks out and screams "I'm tired" when the sun comes up. Go figure!
Anyways... I was finally able to muster up the energy and time to make one of my latest late night craft inspirations.

A cute little St. Patty's Day gift for my daughter's teacher who is an amazing person! She is fun, trendy, energetic, passionate, a Fashionista, and a lover of all things Pinterest. She ROCKS! If anyone can pull off gold fingernail polish, it's her! This would also make a great gift for any special lady (big or small) in your life.

This was super easy and inexpensive to make. Here's what you need:

Gold Fingernail Polish - I found mine at Walgreens for $1.99; it's SINFUL COLORS Gold Medal
A Sturdy Tag - I made/printed a shamrock print on regular paper, used a glue stick to apply it to a circle I cut out of green cardstock, & punched a hole using a paper punch.
Ribbon
clear tape - to secure your ribbon

Super easy! I hope Mrs. M likes it!

I know St. Patty's is just around the corner, but I'll try to get the tag printable posted soon.
That is if I can limit my Scandal episode intake and get a good night's sleep;-)

Until next time!
~Brooke

Linking up to:
Living Well Spending Less: Thrifty Thursday 
The NY Melrose Family: Whimsy Wednesday 
Sugar Bee Crafts: Weekly Link Party

Getting back in touch with my FUNctional self

This post is a reminder to myself that it's OK to set aside some time to do the things that make me ME.
I can't be the best me unless I take time for myself to do the things that I really enjoy doing.
And late-night (when I'm too exhausted to do anything else) nonsense time fillers don't count as meaningful ME time. (That's right... I'm talking to you Netflix, People, and USWeekly!)
No more reading about and watching other peoples stories. Time to get back to writing my own.
I can live a balanced life. I can take care of my family and still make time for myself - and I will be a better mother, wife, daughter, friend, person for it.
I will live my life as I have always wanted to:
I will enjoy the simple pleasures in everyday life.
I will make every day count - even the quiet days.
I will get back in the habit of reflecting on three beautiful things about my daughter, son, and husband every night before bed.
I will continue to thank god for every day, every day I get to take part in my loved ones lives.
I will enjoy life for what it is, life.

Until next time...
~ Brooke

FUNctional craft: Cardinal & Birch Tree Pin Cushion

an upcoming birthday for a grandmother who loves sewing and cardinals

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a 7 year old granddaughter, "Mom, I really, really want to sew something with you for grandma for her birthday"

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felt, scissors, stuffing, hand sewing, machine sewing, and love

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A super cute cardinal on a birch branch pin cushion. <3

Until next time!

~ Brooke

Linking up to:

Living Well Spending Less: Thrifty Thusday Link Party

FUNctional craft: Perler Beads Project

bored kids on a lazy Saturday afternoon

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bucket of perler beads

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dust off the iron and ironing board 

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Super Mario

Butterfly

Until next time!
~ Brooke

(Belated) Fun, Colorful, Make the Kiddos Smile Easter Decor

Here's a follow up to my last post. More pics of what I managed to take a picture of during the 2 weeks of sickness not including my dining room Easter tablescape which I forgot to take a picture of my Easter decor.

Subway Easter art print I made using Google Picasa

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"Happy Easter" Banner I printed in 2009 from a blog that, sadly, I can't remember the name of nor find by searching the web

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Thread wrapped eggs I made back in 2007 (or before) following this tutorial that was in the Martha Stewart Living magazine that year.

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The little chicks in the o's make me smile

Fun, Colorful, Make the Kiddos Smile Easter Decor

In the first picture, you can see a number of brightly colored objects lying on the white table runner. Those are Easter eggs that "Sis" made all on her own accord. She sat at the table for hours drawing egg shapes and "decorating" each and every one with a unique design full of brightly colored zigzags, polkadots, stripes, flowers, and anything else her sweet little heart desired. I was one proud crafty mama : )

 Until next time...

~ Brooke  

I'm Late! I'm Late! For a very important date!

Just to be clear... Yes, I totally realize that Easter has come and gone like almost two weeks ago gone :) but I never got around to posting pics of my Easter decor mainly due to two straight weeks of strep and a stomach bug in our house :( I wish it had been a case of "buttosis" like my little guy likes to diagnose me with after watching an episode of "Doc McStuffins" on Disney Jr, but unfortunately, this sickness wasn't one to be cured with a hug and kiss and a jellybean ;) So, now that everyone is healthy and back in action and the house doesn't look like the Tazmanian Devil tore through I can post my pics! There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late, right?!

Yellow planters

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White plastic eggs

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Prints 

yellow & white stripe bunny print made in Microsoft Word 

"Keep Calm and Hop Along" print made in PicMonkey

yellow egg on gray background made with scrapbook paper

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 Easter "Hoosier"scape

Don't mind the almost empty jar of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs : ) 

I needed something to keep me going these past couple of weeks! Plus, I swear the eggs are like 100 times more addicting than the original Reese's cups, right?! 

Until next time...

~ Brooke

FUNctional activity for kids: Bowling for Chicks

10 empty mini-raisin box chicks (find tutorial for raisin box chicks here)

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plastic Easter egg 

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small rock or bouncy ball

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Bowling for Chicks Game

Your "littles" will love this game, mine do!

Directions:

Set up empty raisin box chicks like bowling pins. Place a small rock or bouncy ball inside the plastic egg for added weight. Bowl away! This is a great way to show your kids that recycling can be fun!

Until next time...

~ B. Lynn