THE HAPPINESS PROJECT:) WEEK 26

I've recently become a blogger friend with Leigh, of Leigh vs. Laundry, who is on a mission to spread Happiness through-out all of "blogger-dom." Every Tuesday, she hosts a place to link up a photo of something that makes you happy.

This is what makes me happy this week...

Over the weekend, we did some MAJOR moving around in our house... we put both boys in the same room and made the nursery into a home office. I'll blog more about those projects later.

Yesterday, while checking my e-mail, Luke wandered into the room carrying his little Elmo laptop. I asked him if he needed to sit at the desk to do his work and he said yes, so I happily obliged.

It absolutely cracks me up when he copies what either my husband or I are doing.

FAMILY SILHOUETTE

My Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Don't you just love it? I found it through my new Blogger friend Leigh's cute blog.

Be sure to go to WiddlyTinks and get yours.

NEW NEIGHBOR

We have a new neighbor, and I'm not liking him so much. This morning, when I was coming out of the bathroom, after taking a shower, I caught him looking in the window of our front door.

See him... he's in the upper middle of the window.

His home is quite impressive. Too bad, it will have to be torn down.

I'm glad I was able to take his close up from inside the house.

PHOTO EDITING

This evening, during bath-time, I took this picture.

It was cute, but I wanted it to be "Adorable".

So after some quick editing using the free online service Picnik,

I think it became "Adorable".

"Tiny Butts"

A "LITTLE" LAUNDRY ROOM PROJECT

I originally posted this project on my other blog back in January.

In the Summer of '06, I worked on the following project. It was my last, before the pitter-patter of little feet could be heard.

Could you tell it was miniature before you saw the last picture?

I'm linking up here.

Be sure to go there to see all the other great projects.

FIRST DAY OF PRE-SCHOOL

His expression is priceless.

Yesterday was the Big Day - Luke's first day of Pre-School, so of course we had to take the infamous "First Day of School" picture. We went outside to take them, but my camera was fogging up due to all the humidity. I took these two, but wasn't sure how they would turn out...

... so then we headed inside, and got these two adorable ones.

When we dropped him off, I don't think he even noticed we had left. I admit, I got a little choked up. Once we were outside, Marc said he had gotten choked up seeing him sitting at the little table. Then he said... "next thing you know, he will be leaving for college".

I said... "don't say that. My baby can't grow up"

SCHOOL SUPPLY VIRGIN

We JUST found out this past Friday, that Luke got into a nearby Pre-School. Honestly, I didn't even start making calls about getting him into pre-school until two weeks ago. We live in the country, I figured it would be easy... not so much. Anyway, he got the last spot - at the last minute. He starts to Pre-School this Wednesday, so I only had a few days to get everything ready. I was quite surprised that there was a Required School Supply list for a three year old... I mean, Really??

This is what he needs...

12 large Glue Sticks

1 Watercolor tray with brush

1 box of Jumbo Crayons

1 bottle of Elmer's School Glue

and these...

3 boxes of Baby Wipes

2 containers of Clorox Wipes

1 bottle of Hand Sanitizer

1 box of Tissue (I bought an 8 pack of travel size... hopefully that's okay)

1 box of Ziploc Sandwich Bags

1 standard size Bath Towel

Don't you just love a new box of Crayons?

I have to say, I really enjoyed making these purchases, and I know I will look forward to this tradition every year. The best part of having to buy all these things, was that it was the Perfect excuse to Finally purchase a Label Maker. Everything has to be labeled with Luke's name, so I really put it to the test last night after I got home and had all of his supplies organized.

Check back Wednesday, 'cause you know I will be posting a "First Day of School" picture.

IKEA

About 3-1/2 years ago, three weeks before our first child was conceived, my husband and I made some significant furniture purchases. We visited one of the Greatest stores EVER... Ikea. While there we bought the Ektorp sofa and chaise, which came with the standard White slipcovers. If at that time, we knew children would be arriving 7 months later, we probably would have spent a little bit more money and gone for a darker color for the slipcovers.
However, the White slipcovers served their time well.

This is our living room back then...

Yesterday, I made another trip to the Greatest store EVER... Ikea. While there, I picked up some new slip covers... NOT White.

Red for the sofa...

and Khaki for the chaise. The reason I had to buy two different colored slipcovers, is that Ikea no longer produces the one arm chaise, therefore, they had a very limited supply left of slipcovers for it. The great thing about that though, is that the slipcover for the chaise was only $19.00... so I bought two. So for the next 6-8 years, the chaise will be Khaki.

Whenever I go to the Greatest store EVER... Ikea, I always meander through the entire store - absorbing it all in and looking for inspiration, which isn't hard to find. Yesterday was no exception... the inspiration was overflowing.

The one thing that got me the most excited, was this...

a Modern Kids Kitchen. How freaking cute is this? I knew right away, this is something the boys will be getting for Christmas. I love that it's not "kiddie" looking, and it's on the small size, which works great for our small house. Being that I was a Kitchen Designer in my past Real Life, it really spoke to me.

I will be sad if we ever move somewhere where there is not an Ikea within a short driving distance... because I really love the Greatest store EVER!!

FINALLY... A BLOG BUTTON

Amazingly, I finally figured out how to create a Blog Button - thanks to some great tutorials here, here, and here.

Check it out at the top of the right hand column. Be sure to grab one to add to your blog. If you need to know how to add a button to your blog, go here

CITY SLIPS

I bet you're wondering what's in this cute little silver pouch...

...well, have you been in heels and on your feet all day - at work, or shopping, or maybe church, and your feet are just dog tired?

All you have to do, is reach in your purse and pull out the cute little silver pouch...

... and put on your City Slips.

Inside the cute little silver pouch, is a pair of light-weight ballet flats with durable rubber soles...

... and once the pouch is opened, it turns into a tote for you to carry the pair of heels you just took off.

City Slips - Perfect for the City Gal or the Country Gal. When you just can't take another step in your heels, pull your City Slips out, put them on and you can keep on going.

Go to my OpenSky shop and pick yourself up a pair. They come in Black or Silver. I absolutely LOVE mine. I always keep the pouch in my purse, so when I'm out running errands, and my feet are hurtin', I can slip my City Slips on and continue with my errands in comfort.

Today through August 16th, OpenSky is offering free shipping - just use the coupon code FREESHIPPING at checkout.

Black - Medium (7/8) $28.00

Silver - Medium (7/8) $28.00

WITH LOVE... FROM SCRATCH

Today is my Wedding Anniversary. Five years ago, on a carribean beach, I married the man of my dreams. Today, as a surprise for this amazing man, I attempted to make his Grandma's recipe for Red Velvet Cake.

I made the cake AND the icing from SCRATCH!!!!!

To jazz the cake up a little, I added some embellishments.

I served it for dessert after a yummy dinner of Steak, Cauliflower Au Gratin and Salad with homemade Ranch dressing.

Marc said it tasted just perfect.

Our youngest seemed to really like it.

Happy Anniversary Babe!!

I Love you Always & Forever!!

I'm linking up here

Be sure to go check out all the other great ideas.

CAKE STAND

Look at this Beautiful Cake stand I bought over the weekend.

I got it at a store called "Home Goods". It recently opened in Richmond, which made me very excited. I had been to one last year while visiting friends in Kentucky and absolutely fell in love. It's a home accessories store at discount prices. This gorgeous stand was only $7.99. Can you believe that?

Check back on Thursday to see what I make to go on it to celebrate my Five Year Wedding Anniversary.

DECORATIVE FELT KOOZIE

I'm sure over the past year, you have all seen these beautiful containers that Clorox now has for their cleaning wipes.

I always have a container of wipes on the kitchen counter, because with two boys under the age of three, there are a lot of messes to clean up. So, after I first saw the commercial for these gorgeous containers, I ran right out to buy one. Once at the store, all excited to pick just the right pattern, I almost passed out when I saw the price. Needless to say, I never bought one.

Instead, I came up with this idea.

Using Felt, I created a Decorative Koozie for my Clorox Wipe Dispenser.

Now, doesn't this look much better then just the standard Clorox packaging?

Due to the fact that I now have a little person using the potty, who doesn't have ANY aim, I am also keeping a Clorox Wipe dispenser in the bathroom. I will be making another Koozie to compliment our bathroom decor. When I make that one, I will be sure to do a tutorial for it.

Stay tuned.