About Me and A Call For Assistance

If you don't want to read about me, please scroll down and read under the second picture.
I have received a few awards from fellow bloggers and I have to say "Thank You" to everyone who reads this blog. Thanks to all of you who comment, who pass on awards, who submit ideas, who join my parties, who include me in their blogroll, who cheer me on...... the list could go on and on! I am honored to have the following I do! I apologize that I can not keep up with every blog, and every person I have "met" through blogging. Somedays, when I feel like quitting, I remember all you amazing people and your kind comments and decide to give it another month or two.

With many of these awards, I'm supposed to write something about myself (not my kids.) I don't write about myself much for many reasons, but for today I will!!! I will list 10 things that will help you understand more who I am and what is important to me!

1. Growing up, I came from a sports family. All five of us kids played basketball. I played soccer, and ran track and cross country too. We NEVER did anything crafty, we played sports, worked outside and served others. (that's partly why I am not creative.) As the youngest of the five, I attended A LOT of basketball games!!!

2. Growing up, I never wanted to get married or have kids. I was too afraid of it (and I was always "just one of the guys.") My dad died of cancer my last year in college. It broke my heart seeing my mom alone. I started to soften my stance towards men. Now, I am married to a very patient, inspiring man!

2. I have two kids - ages 3 1/2 and 19 months - that keep me very busy and are the loves of my life!!!! They are my world. I'm so thankful to be a mother!!! Gratefully, I overcame my fear!

3. I do daycare in my home for a few other kids, 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Our house is the house where all the kids on our street congregate. We have 2 bikes, 4 big wheels, 1 scooter and a few other toys on our front porch that get used very often by the neighbors. It's nice that kids feel comfortable coming to play!

4. I'm a nerd (thought most people would never know it because I act too crazy). In college, I graduated with a degree in Special Education (emphasis on Severe) and Elementary Education. I earned a Master's in Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling. These degrees were from Utah State University. I earned scholarships all five years of my undergrad and received many awards for my nerdiness and involvement in school. I served in student govt. three of my five years! Education and service are paramount to me.

5. I work 3 hours a day in a SPED classroom. I LOVE people with disabilities!!!

6. I have run two marathons (both under 4 hours). That is a big accomplishment to me! After taking a long break from running (6 years), I have just recently decided to start running again. My plan is to run either a half marathon or marathon this summer.

7. When I got married, we bought an old fixer-upper house. It is a bigger project with more problems than we knew about when we bought it! My sanity is going quickly!

8. We are landlords. You can find us cleaning up and fixing things for our renters much too often:( I have to keep the long-term perspective of what being a landlord means (being able to retire someday) or else I would sell our other properties tomorrow. Some days, it is not worth the headache or stress!

9. As a family, we feel it important to reach out to others and show our support and love. We have families and individuals over for dinner usually at least once a week and have large parties five or six times a year. People are the most important "things" to us.

10. I am a church go-er and work with the little kiddos in the nursery at church. I love it! I love kids! I believe in a loving Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ and I respect people of all beliefs systems. Humanity is important to me!

Ok. I think that is 10 things about me that might help you understand me more. Whoops! I just realized that I wrote #2 twice. I hope you don't feel that I was bragging. I wrote the following so you could know my core and as an intro to the following paragraphs.

As you might be able to tell, I am busy. I feel like I am stretched too thin some days. There are days when I think about quitting this blog. I actually love blogging and love highlighting other people. I get great satisfaction in seeing other people have days with high stats or gaining new followers because my blog spotlighted their creativity. I like helping people feel important, needed and included. I care about your success.

There are A LOT of ideas I have for this blog, but I can't do them because I don't have the technical knowledge to do it. (I am NOT a computer nerd.) I don't want to quit, but my priorities seem to be a little out of alignment right now. As I have thought about my predicament, I thought of several options. I am going to open one up right now and see if anyone is interested!

I am looking for someone who would be interested in helping me run this blog. This person would need to know the technical side of blogging. That is my biggest requirement for a partner. I need someone who can change the layout, create a button, create link bars, change codes, etc. The perfect assistant would also be someone with creative ideas for growing this blog and maybe even someone who knows about making money through blogging. You also must have an eye for what is "hot, hip and cool" in craft blogland. Are you interested in assisting me? If you are, please shoot me an email at somedaycrafts@gmail.com.

If I don't get anybody who is interested and who fits what I need in a partnet, I will keep blogging and try out the other options I have. I'm not quitting yet! Don't panic.

Our Own Personal Greenhouse!!!

I've always wanted a greenhouse and now we finally have one!!! We are getting a jump start on our garden. Usually, we buy starter tomato, peppers plants, etc. from a locally owned seed and garden store. They come in packs of 4-6 and are a couple inches tall. The starter plants usually cost us around $30. We decided this year to attempt to grow our own "starters" from seeds for tomatoes, peppers and a few other types of plants. This will be a fun spring activity for our kids, will save us some money and will hopefully make it able for us to eat veggies before August!


We bought a "Jump Start Vented Green House" from Andersen Feed and Seed. (My husband threw away the label before I could get a picture of it.) It cost us about $13 and will probably be good for a couple of years. It comes with these little round fertilized potting soil discs(?). I'm not sure what to call them. My husband bought seeds of the plants we want to grow. The kids laid the discs in the bottom of the greenhouse in the forms.
Then we pour a little bit of water on the discs to start the expanding and loosening of the soil process.
The kids carefully put the seeds in the middle of the disc where the pre-formed hole existed.
After that, we carefully covered the seed with the loose soil.
And we put it in the window so the sunlight can perform it's magic!!! (Yeah, it is night time!)
I'll let you know how this green house works as the time goes on! See the moisture! It is already working!!!

Anyone else got a headstart on their gardens? What do you do?

Monday Parties
Linking to BNOTPMet Monday, Cottage InstinctsMake it for Monday, It's So Very Cheri, DIY Show and Tell, Made it Monday , Pink-Room a Month, Made by You Monday , Making The World Cuter ,
The Girl Creative , Dare to Do It Yourself ,
Sumo'sMarket Yourself Monday, Make Your Monday , Keeping It Simple - Motivate Me Monday, TDC Before and After

The Evolution of Plastic Pop Bottles (updated)

There is an evolution of plastic pop bottles going on. See what I see coming!!!

First, I saw that Craft-Werk has two different plastic pop bottles over her mantle! They look pretty just painted. Can you spot them? Check them out HERE.
Next, Anthropology is using plastic pop bottles in their window display. Quite impressive! See these pictures at Grace Violet. Go HERE.
Then Tatertots and Jello created this whimsical spring wreath with plastic pop bottles. How cute is that? Go HERE to see more.

The Feminist Housewife made this cool chandelier with pop bottles. Isn't this funky and cool? Check it out HERE.

What can you do with plastic pop bottles? If you have a project, leave a comment.

PB Paper Mosiac

Remember when Remodelaholic guest posted with that amazing screen room divider (see it on the side of that picture)? Well, she added that beautiful Pottery Barn knock-off mosaic to her room. The best thing about the mosaic is that it's paper (not tile.) Go see the easy and inexpensive tutorial HERE (guest blogging at Ucreate.)

Double Washer Necklace

HERE is another take on a washer necklace. I love the double layer of washers - one stamped and the other with cute paper- held together with darling ribbon. See it at Under My Umbrella.

Family Name Sign

This would be such a fun picture to have in your house or to give to grandparents. Whether kids are grown or still at home, I just love this idea!!! Great activity for a family reunion! Visit My Mix of Six to see more about it!

Go HERE.

Layered Knit Skirt

Ya gotta love what unfinished knit looks like. That is what makes this skirt so cool! Find out how to make it at Make It and Love It! Go HERE.

Lucky Crafts and Pinch Proof T-Shirt

If you have the game of Scrabble, you are in luck for many crafts. This one is one of the favorite Scrabble uses I have seen. Make this Lucky craft by visiting Lulu's Tiles HERE.
I want a "Pinch proof" shirt - especially since I work in a school. I get pinched all day long (regardless of whether I green or not.) Go see this shirt HERE and check out the back of it at Lulu's Tiles again!
Make all four of these centerpieces at Lulu's Tiles. Don't they all look amazing together. Go HERE for the shamrocks on sticks, HERE for the Irish tile, and HERE for the bottle wrap.

Flower Petal Bows

I've seen these flowers with petals around and wondered how they were made. Thanks to That's So Cuegly, I now know.

You can know the secret too by going HERE.

St. Patty's Ideas!

Here are a few more ideas that were linked to the St. Patrick's Day Categorically Crafting Show. The links are still open HERE and will be until St. Patty's Day. Feel free to add more and check more out HERE. I was definitely hoping for more than 24 links! Create a lucky pot of gold wreath by following this tutorial from Icing on the Cake. Go HERE.

Visit Under the Table and Dreaming for some awesomely fun activities for kids. My kids will love making these fingerpainted shamrocks. Go HERE and HERE.

Make a darling ruffled rainbow ending with a pot of gold at Salty Pineapple. Go HERE.
Make a glittery shamrock with Wacky Whimsy! Wouldn't this look great hanging inside a frame! GO HERE.

Categorically Crafting - "St. Patrick's"

Yeah! Today is the first Categorically Crafting "Show." That's right! Add your crafty post if, and only if, it corresponds with the category and theme of ST. PATRICK'S DAY! (If it doesn't fit in this category, please link it up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.) Link up crafts, recipes, decor, clothing etc, that has to do with St. Patrick's Day! I'm excited to see all the exciting ideas out there. Here are a few cute ones I have seen recently!

Even though this is for St. Patty's day, it could be an everyday decor item. Why I'm Lucky!!! So cute! I was lucky to find this at Curly Q Designs (via Simply Designing.) Go HERE.

Isn't this the cutest little shamrock tree you've ever seen? Love it! Go to Inspiring Creations to see how it was made. Click HERE.
I have a crush on this lucky shamrock wreath made from hearts! See more at Majestic Street. Go HERE.
Why not decorate a table with a St. Patty's Day topiary! See this one at Because I Can. Go HERE.

As usual lately, I'm behind. I'm behind on life, my blog and my plans. A little depressing! I have a generic "Categorically Crafting" button for you to save and paste onto your blog post (if you want.) Of course, I would love to see these floating around. Someday I will get a tool bar across the top of my blog with a "Categorically Crafting" link. (ANYONE OUT THERE WANT TO DO THIS FOR ME? I WILL RETURN THE FAVOR.) I will leave this linky post open until St. Patty's day. Keep checking back for more ideas!!!

The next 4 Categorically Crafting Shows are as follows:

March 12 - Beadboard

March 19 - T-shirts

March 26 - Easter

April 2 - Nest

Let's see your St. Patty's crafts! Luck of the Irish to you!!!!

Girls Skirt and Vest from Old Pants

I'm a sucker for little girls clothes. I love this fun vest and skirt made out of one pair of pants. Visit Until Wednesday Calls to see how to make it! GO HERE>

Washi Tape Vases

Aren't these vases beautiful? They are made with washi tape! Don't know what that is? Go HERE to To Be Charmed to learn more about this project!!! So colorful and springy!!! (I wonder if you could use ribbon instead.)

Chalkboard Flower Pots and Spring Wreath

Another chalkboard paint idea I haven't seen! This is a great idea for your home or for a gift (think a teacher or friend.) Chalkboard Flower Pots are super cute! Visit Lanie J. and Co. to see more. Go HERE.

I want to buy some flowers like that and make a bright wreath like this. Simply gorgeous! Go HERE to Living My Life On Purpose to see how it was made.

Glue Gun Dress and Felt Wrist Corsage

Salty Pineapple makes this kids t-shirt dress without a sewing machine. How? She uses a little hand stitching and a GLUE GUN!!!

Head over HERE to see how she created it!

.While you are at Salty Pineapple, check out her sweet wrist corsages.

They are fun and cute! Go HERE

DON'T FORGET THE FIRST EVER CATEGORICALLY CRAFTING TOMORROW!!! It is "St. Patrick's."

How do I Decide?

So I haven't even seen half of the links at the party yet (I had to work), but I am loving all that I see. How do I decide what to feature? I don't know. They are ALL so good!!! It looks like I will be featuring quite a few of these from the party over the next few days! The links are still up, please keep partying while I highlight a few.

I love food and especially ice cream. I am totally making this CAKE BATTER ICE CREAM! If I gain 20 lbs in the next month, I'll be thanking (or cursing) Something Wonderful. Go HERE to gain weight! You've got to check out this Ballard Design knock-off bird from All Thingz Related. Gorgeous! To see how it was created, go HERE.

If you like crayon rolls, you will love this crayon purse. Perfect for the Little Miss Princess in your life. Go HERE to My Craft Discovery.

There's something endearing about this mobile of circles! Love it! See it HERE at Organize and Decorate Everything.