True Life: I'm a Pinterest Skank

So, for the past few months, I've been having a great love affair with Pinterest. I honestly feel like it is the ultimate website that has been missing from my life for years. Whether it's by fashion, home decor, exotic travel locations, or humorous life quotes, Pinterest can keep me entertained for hours....Yes, I am completely aware of how sad that is.

I was a Pinterest skeptic at first. My sis Kelly kept raving about it, and I just brushed her off, thinking I had better things to do. Needless to say, I shamelessly joined one day and haven't looked back.

Several of my Christmas presents this year consisted of gifts from ideas from Pinterest. Crafty Laura is my new alter ego. I got so crafty I had to get a craft organizer. Pause for your laughter. It even rolls like those awesome rolling book bags. Pause for more laughter. Judge all you want-- Just be appreciative when you receive one of crafty gifts.

Here are some pics of my gifts. I had seen an awesome tutu picture to do for little girls, so Abigail and I took on the project as a gift for Matt and Kelly. I have pictures from the finished project and in the process. It was so much fun to have art time with Abigail, even though we completely demolished Mom's kitchen. The counter, the sink, and I were completely covered in pink paint by the end of it. Seriously, completely covered.

All smiles for art time!!

Are you sure you know what your doing, Aunt Laura? You do realize what happens when you give a 2 year old paint, right?

Oh, boy! That pink paint looks fun!

Hurry up, Aunt Laura. Let's get this thing started.

Practice- Round 1

We had 2 pieces of paper- one to play on and one for the real deal. Notice we also ended up shedding clothes to avoid ruining them with the pink paint.

The finished present (a little blurry because I took it on my cell phone)

Matt and Kelly loved the finished project. They are currently in the midst of redoing Abigail's baby room into a big girl room. The tutu picture will find its home in there.

Another Pinterest project that I did was for Nanny, Granny, Mama, and Kelly. Each got their own tailored for their own houses. It's a joke with my family how much I hate dirty dishes. I mean I really do. Doing the dishes and unloading the dishwasher are my least favorite household chores. I saw a little kitchen quote on Pinterest relating to dirty dishes, and since I have read it, I have looked at dirty dishes in a whole new light. Here is the quote:

Dirty Dishes 

Thank Heaven for dirty dishes.

They have a tale to tell.

While other folks go hungry,

We’re eating very well.

With home and health and

happiness,

We shouldn’t want to fuss.

By this stack of evidence,

God’s very good to us.

So, I decided to make the ladies a little quote of this to put in their kitchens. I did one for me to sit beside my sink, so I thought why not do one fore them. Here are some pics of one of the finished projects.

Mom's- Hanging on the windows over her kitchen sink

Mom's

Mom's

That is all my craftiness for now, but I definitely have some more projects up my sleeve. So, stay tuned.

Post Holiday Depression

It's like Postpartum Depression, except Holiday style. Thanksgiving passes, then Christmas, then New Years. All of the holiday goodies are on major clearance, and stores start stocking the shelves for Valentine's Day and Springtime. It makes me so sad!

This year my family was the center of my holiday celebrations, which was just right! Our Christmas together was fantastic. Mom, Dad, Matt, Kelly, Abigail, Granny, Grandpa, Nanny, Papa, and me. Oh, and Lexi and Koop de Doop. I could not have asked for a better crowd! I just love it when you are in a room with family, and you lose all sense of time! Opening presents, eating a Christmas day feast, watching the joy in Abigail's eyes...we were all just wrapped up in the awesome moments. I think my favorite gift was one we actually gave Grandpa (Dad's dad), even though it was a gift for us all. Dad is in the process of building a bridge between our properties Carr Farms and Kinchafoonee Forest. Well, the bridge had to have a name. So, we came up with "Stephen's Crossing." Dad wrapped up a mock-up of the sign for the bridge, and when Grandpa opened it, we all took a moment of silence for our sweet Stephen, who we all seem to miss even more than normal (if that's possible) this time of year. Before we all knew it and looked at our watches, it was well into the afternoon. Time for grandparents and Abigail to catch a nap. Time for Mom and I to start clearing away the boxes, paper scraps, and shiny bows. Christmas was absolute perfection.

With the  Christmas decor cleared away, it was time for New Year's Eve. I spent the evening with all my girls in Atlanta. We decked out in sequins and glitter from head to toe for the Buckhead Ball at the Grand Hyatt. It was a better time than I could have even asked for, ringing in the new year with the best friends a girl could ask for. I don't believe in setting yourself up for failure, so instead of making a new year's resolution, I'm making a new year's wish. A wish simply for something magical to happen this year. I love those rare moments in life where there is no other explanation other than God's magic...so, I have high hopes for one this year.

I hope everyone's holidays were as enjoyable! I hate we have to wait a whole year for them again, but I hope for a year full of laughs, smiles, hugs, successes, and sweetness for all.