Semi-annual new frocks

Twice a year, Easter and Christmas, we all get new clothes. All the way from new shoes to hairbows or a necktie. I try to do get the Christmas clothes together while the weather is still nice, because we also take family pictures this time of year. Of course, there are other times throughout the year when one or another of us gets a new article of clothing, but those purchases are usually based on needs, these more for fun. =)

I have a thing for men's clothing. Love it! Upper halves at least. Not so fond of pants--they are so boring! In particular, I love shirts and ties. Colored shirts, most of the time. =) Shirts and toes, however; can be quite expensive. To pay $40 for a shirt is nothing. $30-$40 for a tie as well. I scored this one at Kohles for $19. It's sort of a pin-striped gray. The tie is black, mustard, and gray and was $15.I'll not tell you what I paid for mine. It was my big splurge of the year, and will probably last many years to come. Seriously, I have found that buying nice things sometimes pays off. I have some timeless fashions that have been around my closet 5-10 years. Purchase justified.I made Kayla a gray skirt and got the mustard shell at Target. I happened to run across the sweater at Saver's thrift store and knew she would love it!I made Kalli a skirt as well. The top is from Children's Place and I made the mustard colored flower pin. Children's Place had a great Colombus Day sale. 20% off--even sale items.I made Kammy a circular skirt. I didn't have a pattern, but I figured if you fold the fabric in 4's and measure an equal distance from the middle corner all the way around then cut, it would work. I got lucky, it worked. Then I cut a small circle in the corner for her waist. Hemmed it and added elastic to the waist. Done, and very cute. =) Her shirt is from Children's Place as well. I just added an inner ruffle to the neck, waist and sleeves. I also made her a sweet little fabric headband.Kaite's little outfit is all from Children's Place. Mommy is praying that everyone will cooperate on picture day. After that, the outfits hang back in the closet until Christmas Sunday. Thanks for joining our little sneak peek at new semi-annual frocks.

Finished Object Friday

I always enjoy Charity's Finished Object Friday so much and always mean to link up...usually I get busy and forget. Today, I remembered...so I'm sharing a "few" things I've completed over the last couple of weeks. I love the inspiration I recieve from reading these and other blogs.

The girls remembered the candy pumkkins we made a few years ago and wanted to do them again. They are so fun and easy for kids. You just need candy circus peanuts and some sort of gum drop or tootsie roll (depending if you want brown or green stems on your pumpkin. Cut the candy peanut in half and "stick" it together- cut side down, with a small cut piece of the gumdrop. Let part of the gumdrop stick out the top for a stem. Draw pumpkin lines on with a toothpick or small knife.

Today, we did up a big batch of salsa. I have a great recipe that I shared here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2010/10/some-like-it-hot.html

(Sorry, sometimes my computer won't let me link a word, and sometimes it will). Strange.

To kick of the Autumn season and the soon arrival of school, we made a Autumn looking cake. Chocolate Cake with Cappuccino Icing was a HUGE hit at our house!

We've also had an eventful week of Potty Training Boot Camp. This is one thing I have definitely been putting off and am so glad to have it an (almost) finished object. The story is here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/potty-training-boot-camp.html

With school just around the corner, we have been busy paining and decorating our new classroom! Read about that here. http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/wisdom-knowledge-and-understanding.html

And finally...I FINALLY completed the shower curtain in the girls' bathroom. Read that post here.http://rickarennkids.blogspot.com/2011/08/raggedy-red.html

Raggedy Red

I finally just completed a project that has been itching me ever since we moved into this house. Six months ago. No...almost 2 months ago. Crazy when it feels like it has been that long. Anyway, I had a white eyelet shower curtain in the girls bathroom and it was just not speaking to me.

Too pain.

Too bland.

So, I thought I'd be the smart one, save money and dye it dark demin navy.

I tried.

In fact, I tried twice and still ended up with a washed out purple blue color.

Not good. I finally gave up on it and it now rests in a small "donate pile" in my garage.

I had some white eyelet leftover from another project several years ago, so I paired it with some red gingam from Walmart. So happy that our Walmart carries fabric again, btw. It was so easy. Just 3 yards, right sides together with a ruffle between. I added a row of eyelet to to bottom, turned down the top, hemmed up the sides and there you have it.

I am finally happy with this room!The Raggedy Ann decor is stuff I saved from Kalli's baby room. Raggedy Ann is one of my favorites and I knew it would come in handy someday.Here is the "before" picture. Don't you think the added color really makes the room pop? In hindsight I see that I should have just picked up a yard of the red gingam and added ruffles to the existing eyelet curtain, but...too late now.

I have a good friend who picked up the enesco figurines where she works at Ben Franklin clear back 9+ years ago when I was expecting baby #2.

I love them!

While I was in here today, hanging the curtain, inspiration struck.

(Don't you love it when that happens?)

You'll see the empty hooks on the little shelf in the before picture. I was at a loss what, if anything to hang on them.

Inspiration: fold the tiny napkins from tea set to hold tiny plates from tea set.

I priced one new shower curtain that I did like at $45, so I feel pretty great about the $8 I spent here.

Post Valentine Briefing

Hubby sent me these beautiful roses. Speaking of flowers, I have noticed a disturbing trend--an idea that sending flowers is old fashioned or un-fashionable--that being romantic is out of date. I disagree. No, I don't get flowers every year, and I don't have to, to know that he loves me. At the same time, I think a true gentleman will (at least occasionally) go out of his way to express to his lady her value to him.
We humans are so strange. Too often we wait until it's "too late". Personally, I don't see the point of flowers covering my casket, if they were trivial or too expensive while I was alive.
I LOVE the vase he chose. Believe me, it will come out of storage every year to join my valentine decor.

Having girls is so much fun! Here we were having a bit of fun with our hair.
We really came up with some doozey's! :)

These little sweeties rank right up there with the best of my valentines ever! I made Kammy's little valentine t-shirt dress. You know it had to be horses!

I saw this quote the other day and loved it, so I added it to a picture including my valentine vase.

16 years ago, I got roses from the same man. He was a lot younger then, but I guess I was too. Actually, I don't really find it fair. Men seem to age so gracefully. The gray streaks in their hair looks distinguised and the wrinkles speak of maturity and wisdom. :)

Maybe you remember my thrift store treasure frame? I'm waiting until after our trip to Europe for something permanant, but I did add a few lovey-dovies for the time being.

I thought this 'pencil sketch' of my babycakes was pretty cute.

"Oh love of God! How rich and pure! How measureless, and strong! It shall forever more endure, the saints and angel's song!"

We had a special valentine banquet at home last night, with the kids! I made beef roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. We also had steamed veggies and fresh hot rolls. For dessert, I made the hubbies fav. Coffee & cream brownies!

Memory Monday

The other day someone asked about making doll clothes and it got me to thinking about all the doll clothes we have. I don't think I realized how very lucky I was to have a Grandma who sewed for me...and my dollies. I wonder if my girls realize how lucky they are to have them handed down?I think every dolly has a complete wardrobe!
I found it rather funny though--that when I went in their room to take some pictures, this was the only dolly that was actually dressed. They must be girls. You know how it is..."a closet FULL of clothes, and nothing to wear!" :)
I did not want to spend my day dressing baby dolls....I mean, I just finished dressing the real dolls....so I just grabbed a handful from the drawer and took a picture.

Most of the dresses have little matching panties, and a bow on the back so little mommies won't get confused!

There are lots and lots of little blankets too!

There are also Barbie clothes, including wedding dresses & veils for the ladies and overalls for the farmers!

Memories are special and something no one can take away. Some are better than others, but I have learned that time can even make beautiful memories out of hard circumstances. I am going to try and post several "Memory Monday's" throughout this year. Monday's are busy days here at the Pink Parsonage, so don't expect one every Monday.

20th day of Christmas

Christmas Sunday is always a special day. This year we had the special blessing of softly falling snow throughout part of the day. The kids have been practicing for a special program which will be on the 26th. It's always a little sad when Christmas is over, so this year we have extended the celebration by one day.One little tradition we have is new clothes for Christmas. The girls love to visit the fabric store and ponder all the choices. Usually we match, but this year they each wanted to choose their own. It turned out a little more casual then usual, but this is the 'farm' after all. Kayla and Kalli picked out some real pretty plaids. Kammy had to have horses of course. She will hardly wear anything these days unless it is western or has horses on it. Kaite picked out a cute cordoroy piece with owls on it. She was sooo proud to wear it!

9th day of Christmas

Once again, I can't take credit for the idea of this 'painting'. I copied Centsational Girl. I have to say that it was one of the easiest, fastest and funnest projects I've done in a while! Maybe I will have to buy some more canvas....MUCH better than sewing!!! I had most of the paints on hand, so I just picked up a cheap canvas and a few 39 cent holiday pics. The rest of the little vignette was made with stuff I already had.

Okay, now that I have drawn your attention to the painting, I have to show you the mantle. Hubby decided that I needed a mantle to decorate and hang stockings from, so he made this without my even asking him! I think it may have had something to do with Kammy asking where we were going to hang stockings this year. He is an old softie when it comes to any of his girls! He used a fence post scrap for the front and other wood scraps he had lying around for the rest of it. I LOVE the color he stained it!
Then, I found these scraps of Christmas fabric for a buck a yard and was inspired to make new stockings. They are smaller than the old ones, which means I won't have to buy as much 'filler' and I love the old country look they have!

And now, I am off to finish another little project. Have I mentioned that I don't like sewing? Well, when you have four daughters who love fabric stores and plead sweetly for new Christmas skirts...you sometimes do things you don't like so well. Sigh...

A Window of Opportunity

I have been wanting an old window for a very long time, but if you hadn't noticed, what some people were so happy to get rid of a few years ago, has become a very hot item...with a price tag to match! I'm not one to justify spending 3 times the original value for an item just because it is ancient, so I kept waiting. The other day, my dream came true and my good friend Heather came to see me bringing with her a very old, dirty, ugly window. I immediately saw a window of opportunity. :) I actually think it has a beauty all it's own just the way it is pictured here.
I couldn't leave it quite so wretched looking, so I took it to the garage and washed, sanded, primed, painted and then sanded some more. (Oops! better give the hubster credit for the first hose washing and some of the sanding...just in case he reads this). He receives no credit for any of the painting, and he did not make the little window valance where the broken glass came out.
He did help me hang it though, and yes...I know I am mixing styles a bit here, but we are moving soon and I really didn't want to go to too much trouble re-decorating. Besides, I rather like it...and I hear that 'matchy-matchy' is not all so 'in' right now anyway. :)
I love the character of the old, chippy, peeling paint look.