Spreading The Love

 

I am so honoured that Jill of Creating My Way To Success has awarded me the "Great Blog Neighbour Award"!!!!  She is so sweet!  She has a great blog that I just happened to come across one day and i'm glad I did. 


 Thank you Jill...You Rock! 

Upon receiving the award, here are the rules one must follow:

1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2. Pass the award to 5 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.

3. Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

4. Tell us about your favourite book

My favourite book is "100 Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is a Columbian born Nobel Prize winning author.  He wrote 100 Years in 1967, but this book is timeless.

 The book chronicles 100 years in the life of Macado, a small village founded by  José Arcadio Buendía. You are introduced to his descendants and experience their pain, joys and eccentricities.  An excellent read.

Now onto my awardees (In no particular order)...All of these blogs, I have recently discovered and think you all should check them out:

Frou Frou Decor

Sumo's Sweet Stuff

C.R.A.F.T

Me Making Do

The Craft In Me

Leaf Print Pillows

As I've mentioned on this blog before, we've been at Sapphire Ridge for a year now and haven't really decorated with the exception of the kid's rooms.  I have since made slipcovers for both couches and I am now making pillows to add a bit of pop.

As I was browsing the great queen Martha Stewart's site, I came across this lovely tutorial for "Leaf Print Pillows".  I had a bit of canvas left after covering the couches so I decided to use the leftovers for this project. This is my first try and I've only used one color.  Next time I'm going to use at least three.

 First I had to pick the leaves.  I decided on Sea Grape leaves.  Sea Grape is a fruit tree that grows along the shore and resembles grapes in size and purple color.

They also grow in a clusters similiar to grapes. 

Hence the name.  Their leaves are broad, have deep vines, and are perfect for this project.

First I gathered my supplies:

• foam brush
• fabric medium
• acrylic paint
• paper towel
• rubber roller (I didn't have this so I used a large cup)

 Prepare the paint and medium. Then with the foam brush, paint the underside of the leaf. Do not put too much paint on the leaf, you want to be able to see the details (I did a few practice runs). 

Next, place leaf painted side down onto fabric.  Then place a paper towel on top of leaf.  

Roll the brayer/cup back and forth on the paper towel, making sure you get all of the grooves. Carefully lift up your leaf.

Continue to add leaf prints in a pretty pattern until satisfied.  Let dry. Heat set with an iron. Sew your pillow together.   

      

Linked To:

Blue Cricket Design

Sew Much Ado

Someday Crafts

Oops I Craft My Pants!

Today's Creative Blog

My Frugal Family

Creative Itch
The CSI Project

Just Take A Minute

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet some special people.  They all live at a government run facility for those who need assistance as a result of mental or physical incapacity or drug rehabilitation. 

We visited the children's wards. Some of these children were abandoned by their parents and family members because they are mentally or physically disabled.  Linda is in her early thirties, has the mental capacity of a child and has lived there for more than 15 years.  Her family just left her there.  She greeted me with a wide smile and a long hug.  She had never met me before today, but she called me her niece.

I also met a group of boys and girls ranging in age of 12-16.  They are in there for behavioural problems.  They were all polite and listened intently to us.  They quoted Bible scriptures and prayed beautiful prayers.  When I left, all I could ask myself was "Why are they there?  What went wrong? Will they be okay?"

For most of us, we live a good life.  We are secure in the knowledge that we are loved by someone.  We take so much for granted.  Family, friends, the abilty to read, write, use computers, cellphones, ATM's etc.  We have it so easy, and complain so much. 
Just take a minute to look around, really look at what you have and then thank The Lord.

End of Summer Birtday Party...Theme Water!!!!

 

Both my son and nephew, who has been visiting us for the summer, were born on August 18th. We  decided to celebrate with a water party!
My brother and SIL flew over from Florida and brought all of the decorations and big toys.
We had:

Water Balloons


Water Guns

Toys and Prizes

Lots of Confetti

A Slip n' Slide

A pool

And most importantly, happy kids.  It was great having family and friends come together and enjoy each other's company.

Bahamian Fruit Punch

Whenever you attend a party here in The Bahamas, you will find great food and lots of drinks.  One drink that is always available is Fruit Punch.  

It's a great alternative to soda and is a hit with all ages. It can be served with or without alcohol.  Most of the local restaurants also make this Bahamian Fruit Punch available on their menus.

The ingredients are simple and can be made at the last minute.

All you need is:

 3 cups Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red

 3 cups 100 % Orange Juice

 3 cups 100% Pineapple Juice

Makes 1/2 gallon of punch

Directions:

Combine equal amounts and serve cold or with ice.  If you want it a little sweeter, add a bit more Hawaiian Punch.  For those who like cocktails, add some Bacardi Gold Rum to individual glasses.

 

Linked To:

All Thingz Related
Someday Crafts

Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper

I threw a birthday party for my son's 7th and nephew's  5th birthday.  I had no wrapping paper for gifts and did not want to buy any.  I'm really happy with the way they turned out!

 

All you need is newspaper and hemp chord.  It doesn't get any easier than that!

I'm still recovering from the festivities.  I will post about that soon!!

Linked To:
It's So Very Cheri
The Girl Creative
Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Creating My Way To Success
Keeping It Simple
Simpsonized Crafts
Craft-O-Maniac
Skip To My Lou
C.R.A.F.T
Super Stinky Boys
All Thingz Related
Tip Junkie
Silly Little Sparrow
The T-Shirt Diaries
Blue Cricket Design
Someday Crafts

How to De-Oxidize a Tub

There was a horrible clog in the bathtub.  With three teenage girls who constantly shave and wash hair, as well as two young boys who think that anything can survive in water, it was bound to happen. 

I knew I had something under the kitchen sink that should work.  The bottle had a skull and crossbones on it. The main ingredient, Sulphuric Acid.  So, with just skimming over the directions, I poured it down the tub's drain, knowing it would work.

An overwhelming odor eminated from the tub.  I held my breath.  It had to work I thought, it was so stink!  Then to my horror, I slowly saw my tub turn from dirty soap scummy to ORANGE!!!  What??????? But Why?????  I looked on the bottle again to see if I missed something. There is no warning that this product may turn your tub orange!!

 

I ran to my husband and tell him about the tub in a panic.  He nonchalantly says, "I guess you need to buy a new tub." A new tub?  Tubs here are expensive here! We can't buy a new tub.
 

So, like any other person in a panic would do, I looked up "Sulphuric Acid turned tub orange" on the Internet.  To my relief, I wasn't the only one who did this.  Apparently the Sulphuric Acid oxidizes the tub, and turns it orange.  After reading a few suggestions, I settled on using Hydrogen Peroxide.  It was cheapest and had some good reviews.

 

Simply, get a roll of paper towels, soak them in the peroxide and apply to the tub.  You can wipe the tub with them or let them sit on it.

 

In less than ten minutes, my tub was back to normal. 

 

Thank Goodness!!! I have to host a birthday party on Saturday. I'm not confident enough to think that no guests would look behind the shower curtain.  There's always a snooper.