Lil Football Fan

A friend of mine, whose husband is a coach at Athens, sent me a few pictures and asked if I could come up with an outfit for her little girl to wear for their family picture for the football program. I was excited and couldn't wait to start! There are so many cute things out there...but I narrowed it down. I found some fabric that would be perfect (maroon and white) and decided on the pillow case dress. Here is what I came up with:

Here are some close ups:

They are the Athens Hornets.

Aren't these adorable?

Just one more picture:

Thanks Kristin for letting me make this for Reagan...I can't wait to see a picture of her in it! Any one else need a custom football outfit? Now's the perfect time to order to have it ready for Football Season!

Shiny, Sparkly, Special Something

There is an item that I have worn everyday for the past two years and I didn't know how much I would miss it until it was gone...my engagement ring and wedding band! It was not gone for good, just took a trip to the shop to get checked, repaired, cleaned, etc. I am so happy to have them back! Not only did my ring finger feel lonely, but on several occasions it would have been nice to have, but just look how sparkly and shiny...definitely worth the wait!!

Our rings.

My rings.

Matt's ring.

Do you need your rings spruced up? I know an A-MAZING jeweler! We've referred several friends and we are all so happy with their work! Gary (father) and Darin (son) have both helped Matt and I in picking out and designing our rings. They are both so pleasant and patient. Gary has retired and Darin recently opened his own boutique jewelry store with his sister. I strongly urge you to check them out, you can do that here. We've been so pleased with everything, including their very reasonable pricing. So give them a call next time you're in need of something special, or just need to have your something special spruced up, you will only be pleased! Oh yah, and tell them Matt and Nikki say "Hi!".

**Cheesy story: I picked up our rings today while in Dallas, so when Matt got home I held his ring out in my hand and asked him to marry me...he said yes!** (I love that man for putting up with me!)

Green Egg Review

For Father's Day, my Honey (grandmother) got my dad a Green Egg. He and my mom have wanted one for a long time, so they were super excited!! On Friday, we packed, loaded and moved Honey from Tyler back to Palestine. When we were all finished, we decided to go to the lake and go swimming and have dinner (cooked on the Green Egg). Mom and Dad took the U-Haul back and stopped at the grocery store, while Matt and I took our nephews with us to Loren's in Elkhart for steaks. We all met back home and swam and cooled off and then started dinner!

The Green Egg!

We put charcoal in the bottom and lit it, let it burn for 10 minutes and then closed the top of the egg and opened the dampers. It got to temperature quick!

Looking through the open damper on top.

It was 400 degrees and still cool to the touch.

Once it reached 500 degrees, we put the steaks on:

Yummy!

We let it get back up to temperature and cook for 2 minutes, then flipped them.

Dad was the genius behind the Green Egg...Matt was a good helper too!

Flipped and ready to cook the other side.

We let it get back up to temperature and then cooked for another 2 minutes. It was a waiting game!

Uncle Matt, with the boys (and Dutchess the dog) waiting patiently!

Once the timer went off, we took the steaks off the Green Egg and put them in a foil pan with a foil "tent" over the top. We let them sit for 10 minutes...

We had a photo session while waiting...all I can say is "Boys will be boys!!" You can see the facial expressions and just imagine what the littlest one did! I love my nephews so much...they are so clever and hysterical! We had a good day together!

After the ten minutes, dinner was ready:

...and it was delish!! Consensus was the Green Egg was a success, we can't wait to try it out with other new and exciting things!

Just had to share this picture:

the Boys, Mom, Dad and Matt

We had a wedding in Tyler the next evening and all went to Wasabi's for dinner...the sushi was wonderful, and such a fun experience! =)

Flag Fetish

Looking through pictures recently I've noticed I have a bunch of flags...some random, some Texas, but mostly American flags. I don't know what it is about the "Stars and Stripes", but every time I see an "Old Glory" I feel the need to snap a picture! The meaning behind the flag, the flag itself, and what it stands for, just gives me a boost of patriotism, honor, and awe. So, I thought I'd share a few of my "Star-Spangled Banners" with you! It just gives me goosebumps to see these, from:

Talladega, Alabama to

somewhere in Tennessee,

on a random road in Oklahoma

and running errands in Tyler, Texas,

some where I don't remember,

and especially at the Ranger's Game,

even our front yard,

but certainly crossing the Mississippi River,

 just gives me a sense of pride, seeing all the places represented in this Grand 'Ole Flag! Thanks for humoring me and looking at my flag fetish!

DIY: Patriotic Frame

Here lately it seems that every where you go, decorations are out for the Fourth of July (except Hobby Lobby...they are starting to put out Christmas stuff...yes, seriously)! I've looked at some different items and haven't purchased anything yet, but I have made a few items. Today, I'm going to share one of them with you.

You will need:

• A picture frame - 5"x7" opening
• Paint & Brush (if your frame isn't finished to your liking)
• 1 sheet of white card stock (8 1/2" x 11")
• Printer
• Small Decorative Brads (I got mine from Hobby Lobby when they were 1/2 off)

First, go to our good friend GOOGLE and search for your favorite patriotic song in sheet music. Once you find it, print it on the card stock. (You could also search in a music store for sheet music, or copy it out of a hymnal.)

Measure the opening on your frame and cut your sheet music to size (it should be 5"x7"). I forgot and did this after the brads, and it worked, but it would be easier to do it before! Now, take the brads you selected (I used red, white and blue, with a few stars mixed in, for the Holiday), and carefully place them through the music notes.

Cutting the paper to the size of the frame.

Finished insert.

For my frame, I had a lime green one that was still in the packaging and I decided to paint it myself. You can get frames from the Dollar Store, unfinished from a craft store, or you can spend $8-$10 dollars and get a nice one already finished. It's your decision on how involved you want to make this.

I wanted the rustic look, so I crackle glazed parts and distress sanded others.

Now, leaving the glass out (you can save that for another project), place the music sheet in the frame and secure the backing. Voila, an easy decoration!

Finished product.

What I love about this is how quick and simple it is...and you can make one for every Holiday. Hope you enjoy your frame. If you have any questions, just leave a comment and I'll try my best to reply ASAP.

Rangers Game & Wedding Weekend

 This weekend was jam packed and a BLAST! It started off on Friday with a trip to Arlington with some great friends, Clint & Nicole Herring. Nicole and I have been friends since elementary school and Clint and I have been friends since high school. Clint and Nicole started dating in high school and then we all went to TJC together after graduation (Matt was at TJC at the same time, we just hadn't met him yet). They got married and have 3 beautiful kids now and I'm blessed to say that we are all still friends! We had made plans to go to a Rangers game a couple of months ago and were so excited the time had come!

Matt, me, Nicole and Clint

We had so much fun together...Matt and Clint are two funny fellas! The game was a good one, and the Ranger's won! Yay!!

It was also a Friday game, so they had a fireworks display after the game to 80's music...it was awesome!

We got home about 2 AM on Saturday and got a little sleep then got up and headed to Lakeview for the Lightfoot Family Reunion. We stopped at the hospital on the way to see the Paul's and 'lil Presley again, and took some food out to their house for when they got home. Then it was fun, fellowship and family. It's good to get together and visit with people you don't get to see often. We enjoyed lunch and then headed home to finish a project and take a nap!

Then it was up and at em to get ready for a wedding Saturday night. It was a sweet ceremony and Ricky and Samantha like to have a good time! There were so many friends in attendance, and we all had fun!

Our Family - Kristen, Hank, Matt, Me (sitting: Mom and Dad)

Hank's Family - Kristen, Mary Beth, Hank, Kent (MB's boyfriend) - sitting: Mr. Steve & Mrs. Effie

Both Families together - with Aunt Mary (in the middle, black dress) - Mother of the Groom!

This group of folks are so much fun, we look forward to every get together! It's such a blessing to have amazing (in-law) families to share fun events with!

Also, our friend, Tarah (aka Tootie) was there! She was our neighbor growing up for 15+ years, so she might as well be a sister! Today also happens to be her birthday...Happy Birthday!! =)

Sisters - Me, Tootie & Kristen

 Here's a flashback for ya...

Still best of friends!

And us girls with mom!

Then on Sunday we celebrated Father's Day with my dad and then with Matt's dad...it was a great weekend!

My other quilts...

So, yesterday I shared with you my first quilt to make to start, and told that I had finished 3 other quilts in the process. Well, here are the other 3 quilts and a little bit about who they were for. They are in the order they were made!

First, we have a quilt for Miss Bentley Eleanor Frederick!

Welcome to this world 'lil Miss B!

Meet Miss B:

Isn't she a doll?

Oh, and meet Miss B's older brother, Mr. Bennett:

I have known Bennett and Bentley's mommy since I was in the 3rd grade! They had a lake house on Lake Mary where I grew up and would come up on weekends (they lived in Pasadena, TX) and holidays. We were the best of friends...and still are! I was blessed to be a part of her wedding when she married Will. Now we are all good friends, and even though time and distance keeps us apart more than I would like, we just pick up where we left off the last time...which I LOVE! Here is Bentley's Mommy:

Me learning how to bustle Katie's dress at her last fitting before the wedding! =)

Quilt #2 went to Miss Katelyn Snider:

Happy Graduation from A&M sister!

I made her an Aggie quilt to celebrate her remarkable achievement! Meet Miss Katelyn:

This picture sums up Katelyn - beautiful, full of life and always happy!

How do I know Katelyn? Well, how did it start? Her mom and my mom were friends and she is a year older than my youngest sister. She was pretty much adopted into the family when she was starting High School and has been with us since! I have watched her mature into an amazing young woman, and can't wait to see where life takes her! I love you Katelyn!

Last, but certainly not least we have a quilt for Miss Presley Marie Paul!

Welcome to the family Miss Presley!

Here she is:

Isn't she precious?

Presley was just born yesterday...and my heart is already smitten! This little girl might as well be my niece...here's how I know her. Her dad, Josh (aka Possum) was my neighbor from when he was born until I moved out and went to college - 15+ years. We grew up together and I consider him a brother from another mother! His dad and my dad have actually been best friends since middle school! Here he is:

We were always on adventures together with Jerad (his older brother) and Jake (my older brother)!

And then, Josh met Peggy when she moved to town with her family and they have been together since then (I think 8ish years?). We hit it off and have been friends every since (she's my BFFE)! Here she is:

She and I on her wedding day!

I'm so blessed to know each of these fabulous families! The quilts were made with love and stitched with prayer for each recipient! The thing I love most is no matter where we are, or how long it has been since we have talked, I know I could pick up the phone and call any of them and they would be there as fast as possible, no questions asked. And of course, I would do the same for them. That is the true meaning of friendship...and these friendships are a blessing from above! Love you all!