Blog Headers: Too Many Choices

I seriously have too many options right now. And if you know me well, you know that I am the type of person who goes into a store and carries an object around hemming and hawing about buying it until I get to the counter only to change my mind and walk it all the way back. Or I will buy it and then return it in a week after having buyer's remorse.  I think I get this trait from my grandma. Sorry, Gram...it's true.

So when I figured out how to make my own blog header I played. And played. And played.  I can just hear my dad now. "You need to get a life." But hey, when you have small kids who go to bed at 7:30 and your husband is gone 4 nights a week for work (only in the summer, thank God) there isn't a whole lot to do.

Well, I guess I could bake, decorate, craft, read, sleep, do laundry, twiddle my thumbs, drink wine. But right now, this is my obsession. And hey, this is a cross between crafting, decorating and reading, so there!

Then after I made these, and even a couple for Christmas that I am saving for December, I figured out how to make a collage. And I think that maybe, just maybe this page is as it should be (for now).

What do you think? Did I pick the right one or is there a different one that you like better? 

I hope I haven't scared anyone away with my indecision. Thanks for being patient with me.

Happy Crafting, Decorating, Reading....Designing!

~Trina

Tuesday Teaser:  Nightstand Cutie

OK, just a little teaser for you today.  One of the Little Painters and I have been making a few Miner adjustments to a new-old piece of furniture.  It is taking a bit longer to finish then I wanted.  Between the humidity and going to the beach...well you get the picture.

We found this nightstand at the Salvation Army for just $10! Quite honestly, the before isn't that bad.  But Monkey wasn't crazy about the color. So we'll change it from cutie to beauty.

Will get the entire project up for you soon....real soon. Promise!

Happy Painting!
~Trina

How to Make Your Own Favicon for Blogger

When I started this blog I had no clue how to do most of this stuff.  It was all trial and error.

I researched and researched and realized that if I didn't want to use a free template or pay someone up to $200 or more to make a header for me, then I would have to do it myself.

I found this really great info from BlogHer, in case you are interested in designing your own blog.  It was so easy!

Now about that favicon.  What to heck is a favicon, anyway?  

I had never heard of one either.  

When you open a window for the internet, the favicon is the little tiny picture up next to the webpage you are on in the tabs.

Pottery Barn has a PB.

Facebook has the famous  f.

So, after I created my header, I started working on the little tiny favicon.

       

How did you spend your summer vacation?  

      Going to the beach and turning into a beach bum blogger.

Steps to making a favicon

• Go to picmonkey. (It is an amazing free photo editing website that I use all the time.)
• Upload the picture/ background color you want to use.
• If you upload a picture and just want to change it to a colored background...click on "canvas color" and pick your color.
• Go to "resize" not crop (on the left side of the page). I made my background 50 x 50 (uncheck both boxes for proportion and percentage).
• Here is the fun part...accessorize! Make it your own...experiment with colors and overlays and fonts {remember it is going to be very small, so keep it simple}.
• Save it to your desktop.
• Open up your blog and go to "layout" and click on "edit" by the word favicon.
• Upload your picture.

I did all this and was getting ready to jump for joy as I figured out another web-geek thing, but noticed that my page still had the orange blogger symbol next to my address.

I told the hubs about it and he said, like it was nothing at all, "Refresh your page." So I did. Low and behold, there it was. There it is. And now I am jumping for joy at figuring out another web thing!

Like I said before - it was easy. Hope these steps save you some time.

Enjoy the thrill (no matter how big or small) of your accomplishment!

Happy designing!

You can find me here:

http://www.brassyapple.blogspot.com/

http://www.craft-o-maniac.com/

 http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2012/08/making-the-world-cuter-2/

http://jembellish.blogspot.com/

http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2012/08/tutorials-tips-link-party-72.html

My first feature!

I am beyond thrilled!  One of my projects (a sad, not so perfect, down right terrible project) is being featured on

                                 

pinstrosity

This is a funny site that showcases projects completed by motivated pinners who searched for "great" projets and recipes to try, only to have them fail.  

Sometimes we fall flat on our faces, but we always get up, dust ourselves off and blog about it!

Check out my pinstrosity here.

Happy Pinning and Projects...hoping they go better for you than this one did!

~Trina

My Week in Review - Water, Water, More Water

source unknown

It was a  whirlwind of a week. I was going to blog about some other things today, but I was overwhelmed with all the photos and videos that I took this week.  Just needed to share some with you, my friends.  So here is our week.

On the way to the beach the boys started singing. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the concert!

We had a major torrential thunderstorm on Wednesday evening.  We unplugged all TVs and computers it was so close.  Luck for us, we were home because there was a flood in our basement at our crappy scape well window.  So glad that we haven't gotten around to finishing this room yet. (Time to make a few Miner adjustments).

And so after that stressful evening, we headed back to the beach the next day.  A little vitamin D and water fun does the soul good.

I had more videos...the basement waterfall, the boys swimming, and a battle between a very cute Batman and Spidey, but alas they would not upload.  (Sigh).

Anyway, Happy Weekend! We will be at the beach.

~Trina

Pantry Makeover (Part 1) - The Snack Shelf

I live with boys, all boys. So let's face it...this place is a mess a lot of the time and they eat everything in sight. I swear they have a hollow leg.

Most of the time when you open my pantry (which I very much dislike, but it isn't changing for awhile) it looks like this.

The chaos before

That is an instant headache right there. I just need to walk away. Anyone have a glass of wine?

I decided yesterday that it is time to organize it. It is time to make a few Miner adjustments. So I put on my big girl panties and got to work.  Since the boys ask for snacks constantly and I am lazy and don't want to always cater to their every whim  (Hey, we are trying to make independent little people here), I made the snack shelf easy for them.

What you need:

Sandwich bags

Containers large enough to hold said bags

I took out all of the snacks and read the serving size on the boxes/bags.

Then I made baggies with the serving sizes for each food.

It was just that easy.  Plus, now the snacks should last longer, because the little people are not pouring too much into a bowl at one time.

This is what the snack shelf looks like now. It is progress.

I didn't think it looked quite finished though.  So of course, I went to my old stand by...the Cricut and labeled the bins.

And now let my assistant show you what the shelf looks like...

I am in love (with that guy). The shelf is pretty awesome too!

After - for now

Making school lunches will be a breeze in September.

Ways to get the Little People involved:

1. Have them count out the serving sizes (counting practice)

2. Let them earn a penny for every piece they count. (money)

3. Put the bags by type of snack (sorting)

How is your pantry working for you?

Happy Organizing!

~Trina

This post is partying at:

http://www.thenatureofgrace.blogspot.com/2012/07/reading-spot-and-homeschool-havens-link.html

http://www.houseofhepworths.com/2012/08/01/hookin-up-with-hoh-110/

http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/08/best-diy-projects-and-link-party-67.html

http://kraftykat76.blogspot.com/2012/08/gimme-five-for-friday-back-to-school_3.html

2012 Summer Olympics

The opening ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics are tonight. Aren't you excited?  The summer games are so much fun! 

Go America

Enjoy the games!

Happy Olympics!

~Trina

7 Tips for Hanging a Gallery Wall and 5 Walls that You are Sure to Love

running lawyer

I love gallery walls. LOVE! 

I have three in my house and am working on a fourth.

Can you say obssessed? 

I'm glad my hubby just rolls with it when I get ready to make another one!

Teaching Tuesday:
How to get your child to write over summer vacation

Being a teacher I always worry about my students over the summer.  I know that they are not reading (at least not as much as they should) and that causes the backward slide when September rolls around. Then we play catch up for the first month before we can actually move forward. It is frustrating to say the least.

So, now that I have a child who is in school (B-Bear is going into 1st grade) I knew I had to do something to continue his reading and writing practice over the summer.

This is what we did...

First we bought a super cool notebook together.

Then I started with a letter to my dear son. I made sure to use words that he could read easily. I also ask a couple questions, so that he would have something to write about back to me.

B's writing at the beginning of the summer.

Here is the best part...or at least B. thinks so. When the letter is finished the writer puts it under the pillow of the other person. A little surprise to find later.

So we started this and at first, B. protested. He didn't want to write or when he wrote I needed to sit with him and help him. I knew this would happen too...come on, he is a boy after all. 

Write instead of ride my bike, jeez, mom!

A few Miner adjustments....we write at bedtime to avoid missing out on any outdoor fun and to avoid any arguments.

Now, a couple weeks in he is asking me to leave when he writes.  That is progress! It is just as much fun for me to get a letter as it is for him to get one.

And I have changed it up a little on a couple letters.  Instead of having him write a response to me, I will have him practice spelling some sight words that he is having trouble with or have him make a list or draw a picture.

Someday, we will look back at this together and get a laugh out of the misspellings and pictures and I know that I will get choked up thinking about the little boy that he once was.

Look how much he has improved just after a few weeks!
Don't you just love the way he spelled "friends"?

PS...Here are some other ideas for writing with your kids

1. Make grocery lists.

2. Keep track of all the books you have read together and hang it up.

3. Write postcards to grandparents.

4. Practice sight words with chalk on the driveway.

Happy Writing!

~Trina

It's my party and...

I won't cry, but I am not...I repeat...I am not turning 36.  We'll call it 35 and holding or how about 29 again...that is even better.  And I am not changing ages because now I am on the down hill slope to 40.  And we all know how fast time goes when you are facing the down hill.  

someecards

So today, while I have the privilege of celebrating my day (I love this day...not the number), I will leave you with a few of my favorite birthday pins and a couple of pictures of my past birthday celebrations.

2011

 

stylish correspondence

2009

1997 - My 21st birthday with mom and dad...those were the days.
My dad is such a goof!

source unknown

And if it is your birthday today as well...

Have an amazing day full of love, laughter and maybe a present or 2!

Happy Day!

~Trina