Coasters (another DIY Gift)...

I've known for a while now that for all the "little" gifts I need to give this year, I would probably end up making something rather than trying to actually shop for all my coworkers, school staff, etc. I tossed around the idea of baking something (ha!), or making something with a clever tag like "Merry ChexMas" with Chex Mix or something. (Yes, I was reduced to the cheesy depths of Pinterest-inspired gift captions.) I reaaally wanted to make these chalkboard mugs but apparently finding the right paint required an act of God (actually it just required ordering it online but, as I like to say, "Ain't nobody got time for dat!") so I had to pass. My next choice was coasters. My friend Andrea gave these as gifts last year and I thought they were darling. I used mine as a spoon rest because it took me two years of marriage to purchase one, but they are intended for drinks, obviously. =) 

 I perused a few tutorials but they all called for the same basic materials. After a quick trip to Michael's and Lowe's, I was set. And since there is a decided LACK of DIY coaster tutorials on the old WWW, I thought I'd contribute my inexpert instructions. (Not really.)

You need: tiles (I bought the finished 4-inch white tiles for 16 cents each.)
Modge Podge (I chose glossy finish)
clear spray paint (also glossy)
scrapbook paper (I got mine at Hobby Lobby a couple months ago for another project and had a bunch left over.)
ribbon (I think mine's from Walmart, last Christmas)
sheet of felt (Walmart for 23 cents)
paint brush or sponge brush (I used a sponge brush)


First dab some modge podge on the tile...


Then use the brush to smooth it all out, wiping off any excess.


Lay your paper on top and use your finger to smooth it out. Do this a few times so you don't get any bubbles underneath!


Be smarter than me and pull your hair back so you're not picking glue out of it.

Somehow I skipped taking a picture of the next step, but add some ModgePodge on TOP of the paper and use the brush to spread it around, making sure you get the edges of the paper. Then use your finger AGAIN to smooth down the edges.


Let the ModgePodge dry for a while and then spray with clear spray paint. Let it dry for a few hours. (And I would recommend spray painting outside unless you want to get high on fumes feel a little dizzy.


Cut little felt squares and hot glue them to the bottom corners of each tile.


I decided to do two coordinating coasters instead of matching ones, but you do whatever your crafty little heart desires. 


The finished product! Tie a couple of candy canes (or not) and you're done! All that's missing on mine is the gift tags, but our printer is under the weather so those will have to wait. 

I did learn a few things... 
-Don't trace the coasters in order to cut out your paper, because your squares will be slightly bigger than the tile and hang off the edges. Then you will be forced to make your husband trim them all trim them yourself. 
-Thin coats of ModgePodge are better than big globs. You can always add more, but if it's thick and goopy then the paper starts bubbling up and maybe even shedding a little.
-If you DO get too much ModgePodge on your brush, just squeeze it off onto the next tile... just make sure you lay down the paper before it dries or it won't stick.
-If you were the kid in kindergarten who liked putting glue on your hands just to peel it off, you'll love this. I washed my hands about a million times just to get all the ModgePodge off.
-A paper cutter would be super helpful in this situation, especially if you're unable to cut a straight line, like me. 
(Don't worry... these aren't as complicated as I'm making them appear. I'm pretty sure it took me longer to type this post than it did to make the coasters. Just trying for the most-detailed-and-wordy-tutorial award.)


There you go... a (pretty) fast and easy (obviously, I made it) project. I think they turned out really cute! I made about a dozen sets of two and the whole thing cost about $15 (not including my hot glue and glue gun, or ribbon. Even if you had to go buy everything it would still only cost about twenty bucks which is not bad considering this is covering gifts for so many people.) There are so many beautiful Christmas scrapbook papers out there, and I am definitely doing some of these to match my living room that I can leave out all year. Although I  wouldn't mind Christmas coasters year-round, but the other (Scrooge) living here might. 

Oh, and if you are reading this post and happen to receive coasters from me in the next few days, do me a favor and act surprised. Thanks.


Ash





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High Five for Friday...

The best thing about today is that one week from now, we'll be having a Christmas party at school... when the last kid leaves, my Christmas break starts. A-men. Of course, I'll have the Christmas program to direct after that, but hey... I don't mind clearing my plate one thing at a time. =) This week has been busy (as usual) but it was good, too. And it's hard to be grumpy when you hear Christmas music everywhere! Here are five of my favorite things from this week... linking up with Lauren as always!

1. Homemade salsa- the best. Here's the recipe in case you missed it.
2. Just a little deep reading during my free hour yesterday. Don't act like you didn't want to be Nancy Drew.
3. This face... seriously? How can you not love it.
4. Breaking out the Christmas hat I've had since 8th grade for many years. Hey, it's festive!
5. We took the Awana kids Christmas caroling, and Mrs. Jo happened to bring REAL jingle bells. Fun times.

Just a few more days, tests to give, and parties to throw, then it's Christmas break for me! Have a super weekend, everybody! Merry Christmas!


Ash

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DIY Presents for the Kiddies....

As a rule, I don't usually plan on making gifts for people... while I don't have a ton of money, I have even less time and usually it just works better to buy something than wrestle with my feeble attempts at crafting. However, thanks to Pinterest and my own misguided confidence I decided to attempt a few (not all, silly) DIY gifts.

A few months ago, I saw a DIY Christmas tree shirt posted on Pinterest (which I cannot find for the life of me, since apparently I didn't repin it at the time) but I have had it on the back burner for a while now to try for my little people (Emily, Leslie, and Steven). Finally I got around to buying the stuff, fired up the hot glue gun, and went at it Saturday afternoon. (This was AFTER I perused a few tutorials that all called for sewing which I don't do so the glue gun was option number only.) 


I got the little spools of $1 ribbon from Target and the black shirts from Walmart for less than $4.


I just eyeballed the length of the ribbon before arranging it into a tree shape. Oh, the glittery buttons were from Walmart too ($1.97 for about 10 of them in various sizes... I used the largest size.) Oh, and if you use a lighter to singe the ends of the ribbons, it helps keep it from fraying. Neato, huh? I actually managed not to set them on fire. =)


Baby Steven's is masculine... no glitter here! =)


The three of them together! I really like how they turned out!

I went with black shirts because I knew that the munchkins would ruin white in about .4 seconds but after a few minutes I started to regret the choice of black to because it draws in lint like a magnet. Maybe red or green would have been a better choice? Oh well... hindsight and all that. 

I actually enjoyed this project and it cost less than $5 per kid so that's not bad... they sell on Etsy for a lot more than that! Of course, those are made by skilled seamstresses who don't have to stop every few minutes to blow on their singed fingers due to their inept use of a glue gun. They'd look a lot better if you can sew (how cute would your cherubs be in these, Grace? =) but even if I only get one good use out of these I guess it'll be okay. Now if I can only get all three kids in the shirts, smiling, and with no snot or crumbs anywhere.


 Perhaps that's wishful thinking? I believe it is. (Though constraining them in makeshift cages formed from laundry baskets helps.)

Any Christmas crafts out there that you're itching to try? 

(Auntie) Ash 
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Bittersweet Christmas...

Tonight, our Awana groups went Christmas caroling at two different nursing homes. I always enjoyed caroling as a kid (especially going to Mrs. Mitchell's house at the end for hot chocolate... I still remember her beautiful white piano!). Anyway, I've known about this activity for a few weeks and didn't really think much about it, other than knowing it would be fun for me and for the kids.

 We got to the nursing home tonight, sang to a few people, and I was still okay... until we reached the room of an old man who started singing along with us. That doesn't sound too unusual, but all of a sudden I was missing my Papaw so bad I could barely finish the song. The next few minutes I tried to keep singing and smiling and not make it obvious that I was about to have a little meltdown right there in the room, but being there brought back so many memories. The hospital beds, the gowns, the elderly people that were once bursting with life who are now curled up in bed and seemingly unaware of what is going on around them.

 Papaw loved Christmas...even during his last Christmas season he'd light up when he saw the tree decorated. He'd still respond to the reading of the Christmas story, and he would ALWAYS sing along with Rudolph and Jingle Bells and Joy to the World. It made us laugh that he couldn't remember our names but he could still sing "Santa Clause is Coming to Town." =) 

 Seeing those people tonight reminded me of Papaw the way he left us... which wasn't really "him." I quickly tried to remind myself of the good times... Christmases years ago when he would put on reindeer antlers and "eat" the popcorn strands off the tree, or dress up like Santa, or the year he refused to shave the entire vacation because he wanted to have a "Santa beard." I can still hear his voice reading the Christmas story, and not just because it was the thing to do. He would always explain very carefully to us kids why we read Luke 2, why Christmas was about more than a baby in a manger but about the Savior of the world. 

Not sure what year this is... maybe 1990?


Christmas 2009

Everyone who loses a loved one says the second year is harder, since the "foreverness" of the situations starts sinking in. I agree... last year was hard, but this year it's hitting me that he is really gone. I don't wish him back, because I know he's so much healthier and happier now, but I would love to sing carols with him one more time. =) I wonder if they sing Rudolph in Heaven? Probably not, but I know he's having a great Christmas and feeling wonderful!

Sorry to be all depressing tonight... but I know the rest of the family is probably feeling the same way. Any good Papaw Christmas stories? Let's cheer each other up. =) 


Ash




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What I Wore Wednesday...

It's Wednesday... otherwise known in my life as "nine days til Christmas break." Have you ever tried to keep 30 12-14-year-olds calm and focused three weeks before Christmas? It's impossible not the easiest job in the world. Anyway, on to the outfits... I was lazy this week (and forgetful) and didn't take pictures every day. I know you're heartbroken. (Not.) Linking up with Lindsey, naturally.
Young Couple's Class Christmas Party
Top: Loft
Necklace: Target
Shoes: Belk

I love this shirt. Seriously... totally worth fighting the crowds at Loft on Black Friday. And it was 50% off! 



I didn't take a picture of my whole outfit, but the point was that I got to wear this hat. I got it last year at Target and I love it!
 We went to see some of our students perform at the lighting of the Christmas tree downtown New Bern (didn't stay for the whole thing because it was cold and we're wimps, plus some lady started singing "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon, which has nothing to do with Christmas.) 


School:

Chambray: Target
Cardigan: Target (old)
Skirt: New York and Company
Scarf: stolen from sister
Shoes: Macy's

I shamelessly copied this outfit from Audrey, who is adorable always. 


Church:

Ruffle shirt: New York and Company
Skirt: Walmart
Cardigan, shoes, and scarf: Target

The first look (top left) I wore for a little while, but I changed to the scarf and cardigan. Here I go with the infinity scarves again! I found this the other day at Target for less than $6! Woohoo! (And I may have told my husband it was for a Christmas present and then sneaked it out of the bag. Bad Ashley.)

Thanks for stopping by, friends! It really does make my day to hear from you and see your awesome outfits, too.... definitely a little bright spot in the middle of my week =) Happy Wednesday!

Ash

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Homemade Salsa...

When Jonathan and I were dating, I would go to his parents' house and hope and pray that there would be chips and salsa, because a) it's pretty much my favorite snack and b) his mom's homemade salsa was really good. (I was, however, dismayed at the tiny "salsa dish" that he would give me to eat out of, since at the Baines house we used cereal bowls. I wasn't sure what to do with the itsy-bitsy serving size, other than refill it many times. That's still a joke of ours, though... the "petri dish"-sized bowls at their house.)

 Moving on... I have since made this salsa many, many times (with great success, making it a winner in my book!) and I think I may have posted the recipe before but I couldn't remember, and when I made some last night I thought about posting it again. Then Janssen, Merrick, and Landen chose a "real food" topic for their Sisters Share It All series/linkup, so I was inspired to go ahead and post/repost. This isn't a "meal", per se, but give me a big bowl of this stuff and a bag of tortilla chips and I don't need anything else. 

 Homemade Salsa

 1 cup onion, finely chopped (you can make the pieces bigger if you like it chunky)
1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
2 cans Rotel (I use mild or original, but you can get the hot kind if you like it hot... I don't)
1/8 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 tsp each)
I also throw in some garlic salt or even fresh garlic, but that is up to you!

 Mix all ingredients and refrigerate (you can eat it right away, but it tastes better after all the flavors have mixed for a few hours.) Serve with tortilla chips and inhale like a ravenous beggar eat them slowly, savoring the flavor. (Ha) I know Rotel is sort of cheating, but you could use fresh tomatoes and chiles if you really wanted to. I just happen to be the lazy sort.
\

Nom nom nom!

 This is great to dip quesadillas into, or to stir (a couple of tablespoons) into pasta sauce for a little zing. I love putting it into glass jars to give as gifts. Who doesn't love salsa?


 It would be a super easy Christmas present... maybe a basket with a jar of salsa and a couple of bags of "fancy" chips (aka not the $2 kind I buy)? Add a cute bow and you're done! Just make sure you do a double batch, because if you "taste" the batch for your gift there may not be any left. So do enough for the other person, and yourself. Tis the season for giving, after all! =) 

 Happy eating!
Ash

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Christmas Wishes...

Don't we all have a few items that we'd love to get for Christmas, even if we know they're impractical or way out of our budget (or both)? I always have a wish list in my head of those kinds of things, and I usually don't even bother telling Jonathan (unless I'm feeling particularly squirrely and/or optimistic.) But this year a few things have crossed my materialistic little path and I thought I'd share them with any generous benefactors lurking out there among my followers. =)


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This sweater is awesome. I first saw it a couple months ago and have waited impatiently for it to go on sale (simply because of my cheapo principle that I don't pay full price for anything.) Finally I got that blessed email that said Target's sweaters were 30% off this week. I love the color, the cable knit on the front, the subtle waffle knit on the arms, and the khaki-ish color that will be a welcome break from black or gray with my colorful skirts. And it's the least pricey (by far) item here, so I'm pretty sure I can sweet-talk Santa (aka my husband) into letting me have it.


(Show Now!)

Let me start with a little disclaimer... I have never been a fan of Uggs. Maybe it's seeing them paired with shorts in the middle of summer one too many times, but they're just not my favorite. However, that changed after I saw a couple of my friends (Lauren and Brandi) wearing these "sweater" Uggs and I love them! This version that can be worn as knee-high or folded down and buttoned short is adorable, and I love that heather gray. Cute and cozy... but wearing with shorts is forbidden. 


(Shop Now!)

How adorable is this Alice+Olivia luggage? I was pretty excited about the Neiman Marcus collection at Target, if only because it's cool to see things by designers I've only read about (and yes, they're not exactly the quality and yes, they're still more expensive than what Target charges, but still...) Anyway, I checked out the new line this weekend and I thought this black and white (with neon trim!) luggage set was so cute and would be so snazzy to carry through the airport. I could use an update from my tapestry, looks-like-everyone-else-including-your-grandma's luggage and would definitely love to replace it with this set.



(pinned here)

Okay, can we say BLING?! While I've never been one of those women that just has to have expensive jewelry (which pleases my husband to no end), I received an email recently about the Forevermark "Center of My Universe" collection that is going to be represented exclusively at a few select Reeds Jewelers locations, one of them being Triangle Town Center in Raleigh! (So close... I may have to go see these beauties in person.) This Forevermark series is absolutely beautiful... if you follow that pin you'll see several more pieces that are just to die for. Stocking stuffer, anyone?


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I don't know if you're into "it" bags or not... I appreciate the quality of a nice purse, but I'm not really interested in having the initials of a particular brand emblazoned all over my bag. That's why I love this simple leather Coach tote... the shape, color, and style are just classic. Definitely an investment piece, but one I would be happy to carry around (and maybe be motivated to keep clean of clutter, as I'm fairly certain I wouldn't want the bottom of a $500 bag to be full of my Hershey's Kisses wrappers.)

So, there are just a few things that I'm "wishing" for (aka drooling over but not really expecting to get)... I'd say that I've been good enough this year to convince Santa to drop off a diamond earring set or two, but we all know that's far from the truth. Oh well, anything's better than coal, I suppose!

What are some of your big-ticket Christmas wishes?

Ash

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