i CANDY chronicles

Club Project girls are famous!

The Club Project girls and I were featured in AZ magazine recently! It was a beautiful, funny, heartwarming article that was done by Kara Morrison, who works for the Arizona Republic newspaper. She actually contacted Jilly & Mia from their blog, (who are much better at efficiently posting about our club project days), and asked if we would be willing to spend an afternoon with her doing what we love....Club Project. 

She arrived on our planned date in the beginning of August at Minda's house bright and early where we were all ready to work. The tasks at hand: re-purpose my kitchen chairs (tear off old ugly fabric, paint & recover), cover cornice boards with fabric for Cara, and make some adorable numbered "butt coasters" for G's chairs that were reupholstered recently, to keep any stains from getting on the actual seats. :)

It was a fabulous day, we truly enjoyed Kara's company, and went on about our usual day, laughing, telling stories, eating an amazing lunch and working hard. 

Well the article recently came out, and Jilly happily strolled into Gabrielle's house (where we recently finished another project day...post to come soon) with the magazine in hand. 

I have to say, it was quite exciting to see it in print...and I feel like I have a sort of keepsake to remember the good ol' days when we were young enough to be tiling floors and painting ceilings. :)

Here is a picture of some of my "before" chairs...they are all mismatched which I love, but needed some serious TLC. (see my ugly chairs above??)

I have yet to finish them all...other projects have taken front seat. Here is the final product though...I'm loving them. I found a place on-line to buy some used burlap coffee sacks & have been dying to use them. 

I'm still undecided on whether or not to distress the chairs...what do you think?? Now to finish the rest...without getting sidetracked with another project. :)

Now for some exciting news for those who saw the article, or follow our blogs!

The six of us came up with an idea for the magazine we think is pretty exciting; This article will also run in the Arizona Republic this week, so keep an eye out for it!!

The women of Club Project believe that service to others is important and we would like to give one workday to a deserving someone who needs our help.  If you are interested- or if you know someone else who needs the assistance of six we-can-get-it-done-women, send an email to [email protected] and tell us about the project you need help with.  Please include a little about yourself.  Deadline is October 1st.  Entries are limited to those who live in the greater Phoenix area. We plan to give our services as if it were a regular Club Project day, which means: you provide the projects, and supplies to get things done, and we will show up with smiling faces & hard working hands. 

**Thank you Mia...for most of the above photo's. I really need to bring my camera more often**

Some random things that caught my eye today...

I am going to make this!!

I love the simpleness...I need a cute bedroom.

I want to find a door like this & paint for my loft...

My girls need a spot for their jewelry...I like these:

I always want cute wreaths for my front door, and have always been too lazy to make one...love this.

and last but not least. I want to take pics like these...so cute.

love me some Pinterest!!

Abbey's 8th birthday & baptism

I'm having a hard time with blog *vs* facebook. I feel like everything I would normally put on here, and maybe even more....ends up on there. Although, this blog has been going for quite some time, and I hate to end it. Also, this seems more permanent to me. Like a journal.

Anyway, it's been bothering me that I haven't blogged for awhile, and I can't let something as important as Abbey's baptism pass me by without being written down. 

August 13th, 2011

 

I have yet to take some good individual shots of her and her dress...so the pics aren't fantastic. :) Plus, she had just come out of the water a bit earlier...so her beautifully curled hair I spent so much time on was limp....haha. 

I found her dress at a local boutique, and then my mom worked her magic on it, and made a sash out of champagne, I had the big grey flower, and then she stitched little pearls to the skirt. LOVED how it turned out. Thanks Momma!!

Abbey was able to choose someone to give a talk on baptism, and she chose her buddy, Aunt Camie. She did a fabulous job!!

It's always so nice to have most of the family together. I know Abbey felt so loved!

A few more shots from the day...

She really digs her big brother. Thinks he's pretty cool. :)

 She told me this was her favorite picture...I think she felt like a queen. LOL

Some things about Abbey at 8 years old:

-She LOVES her friends more than anything...if she gets invited to a birthday party, or her friends show up at the door, she is truly giddy.

-She often, and I mean often says "This is the BEST day ever!!"

-She loves to watch movies...she would pick a new movie at the store over a toy any day.

-She sits so reverently, and quietly listens in primary. I know, cuz I sit behind her a few rows. Wait, maybe that's why. :)

-She loves to write notes, and cards to people. When she wants to show someone she cares for them, or is concerned for them, that's the first thing she does.

-She loves her panda pillow pet.

-She changes her outfit about 3 times a day. OY!

-She has a major sweet tooth.

-Her love for M&M's has been going her entire life.

-She LOVES to help me cook, or bake. When she sees me in the kitchen, she's on the counter ready to help in a matter of minutes. 

-She has the cutest giggle.

-She likes to sit on her dads lap & have her arms tickled.

-She has a crush on a boy...and tells me about it.

-She bites her nails....a lot!

-She says very sweet prayers.

-She loves to go to her aunt's houses & grandma's houses.

-She doesn't want to learn how to ride a two-wheeler.

-She loves to paint.

-She just started 3rd grade....wow, how she's grown.

-She's missing her two front teeth.

-She still asks to be tucked in every night. 

I'm so proud of my baby and the choice she made to be baptised. She brightens my life each and every day. I love to just sit and stare at her, trying not to let a moment pass without enjoying her. I sneak in her room every night after she's asleep & kiss her cheek. I feel a pang in my chest everytime she looks bigger, older. She makes me laugh every day. She adores her dad & has him wrapped around her finger.

I love you abbey! I'm so very glad you are mine!

 

 

Gotta Love the Honesty of children...

If you were at church on Sunday, and were sitting anywhere behind us...you may have been wondering why my shoulders were shaking uncontrollably through most of the meeting. 

I wasn't cold...

I wasn't having a seizure....

I wasn't crying....

well, sort of, I was laughing SO hard I couldn't breathe. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. 

Curtis is famous for making me laugh till I cry ALMOST every Sunday. This time though, it was Abbey. 

We were singing, and Curtis looks over to see what Abbey is quietly writing down in her cute little Baptism notebook she got. She keeps looking up at me every few seconds....I thought it was to listen to my beautiful voice singing the hymn. Nope.....she was observing things about me.

Please Enjoy:  (written exactly how Abbey wrote it)

MOM

blond hair

blueish, greenish eyes

wears lip stick

skirt and shirt

has watch

braclets

tan skin

has ring on

wears boots

fat nose (yes, you read that right) here's where the uncontrollable laughter started

beautyful voise

has a dimple

wobly arm  (boo hoo)

laughs funny

has a husband

cracks nuckles

wears maskarah

OUCH....fat nose? Wobbly arms??? 

Curtis is laughing so hard now, he is crying. We were being SO irreverent. So, I quickly grab the notebook, and look to see if she happened to have observed dad too. Oh yes....she did.

Curtis

black hair

has wife

never brush teeth

yellow teeth

laughs like mom

brown eyes

pointy nose

he is hairy

almost have berd

mohock

scerach my back

wears tie, plaid

tan skin

white shirt

black stripe pants

goes to work

he snors in bed

has cupcake in room

I could barely contain myself....gotta love kids and their honesty. That notebook is a treasure. :)

 

What's new...

I'm reading this right now...and LOVING it!!! I'm about halfway through, and dont want it to end. 

and...I REALLY want this:

or this...

and this...

the end.

A little LOVE...

Something tells me that in the future, I'm going to want to remember this Valentines day. I'm new at the whole "teenager" thing...but from what I've heard, getting a special, heartfelt surprise like I did yesterday, is epic. :)

Curtis and I have always known that Bayley was a special breed of boy. He is such a good, good kid, and always has been. I've been told more than once, that they must have broke the mold in heaven after they made him, because he's one of a kind. I believe that is true. 

When I got up to make my special Valentines Day waffle breakfast for the kids and Curtis...

I found a surprise waiting for me on the counter:

Brings a tear to your eye doesn't it?? Well...maybe just to mine. LOL Curtis didn't even know he was planning it. He ALSO used is very own money, which is a precious thing to a teenager. I love that he was so thoughtful...it meant the world to me, and will keep a smile on my face for days to come when I think about it. 

Thanks Bay, I love you!!

I know I'm a day late...but wanted to post a few of the things

I LOVE:

<3 My sweet, husband who makes me feel smart, sexy, happy, and loved on a daily basis.

<3 My teenager Bayley...who also goes out of his way to make me feel loved every day. He still likes to cuddle (sorry Bay), he talks to me about ALMOST everything, he's never embarrassed of me, he appreciates my cooking, he likes to lay in bed by us and watch TV at night...I love my Bay.

<3 My Sydney...who has the sweetest, most loving heart. She gives me hugs and kisses several times a day, that's how I know she's happy. She's good to her sister, and a very good friend.

<3 My little Abbey...she makes me laugh daily. She is so loving, and snugly. She is so good natured and sweet. 

<3 My parents. I love living so close to them, I love going to lunch with them, I love crafting with my mom, and going on trips together. They are awesome.

<3 I love my Project Club friends. They are all amazing in different ways & I am a better person for knowing them. 

<3 I love my "Bachelor" viewing group on monday's...we have so much fun, eat too much, and laugh till our stomachs hurt.

<3 I love my bunco group...I look forward to it every month, some of the girls I only see that often. It's been going for three+ years now. Love it. 

<3 I love Diet Coke. Enough said. 

<3 I love cooking for Curtis...it makes him happy, which makes me happy.

<3 I love reading, and the new book club I'm in....so inspiring, and fun.

<3 I love my sister Camie. She is my best friend, I don't know what I would do without her. It's so nice to know I ALWAYS have a friend.

<3 I love netflix

<3 I love Etsy

<3 I love project days with my mom, sister and Lettie. It feels good to get so much done in one day. 

<3 I love my Savior, and the Gospel. I'm glad to know who I am, and where I'm going. 

<3 I love my far away friends...we don't talk often, but they are always in my heart and thoughts. They are friends for life. 

<3 I love my sister Shellie...we went to lunch a couple weeks ago, and it was SO much fun. She is so strong, and inspiring. She's an amazing mother and wife. 

<3 I love chocolate covered strawberries.

<3 I love that Curtis and I are creatures of habit. It makes me laugh that we are like an old couple already. Friday nights right now= Carrabas for bread, Caesar salad & zucchini fries, a movie, and then home to watch some tv. 

<3 I love the excitement I feel for decorating my house right now. 

<3 I love my car

<3 I love Vans...I want every color.

<3 I love Photoshop

<3 I love my husbands family...they make my life complete. They make me laugh. They are AWESOME!!

<3 I love my brother Patrick. He's so loving, sweet & helpful. He has the biggest heart ever. He's such a good guy.

<3 I love my kids friends. I love having them in my home, and am so grateful for their part in my kid's lives. I want them to always feel our doors are open to them. 

<3 I love tomato basil pizza from The Deli

<3 I love cupcakes

<3 I love H&M

 My "LOVE" list could go on and on...I'm grateful for all the love in my life. 

My new obsession....yum!

Have you tried these yet?? If not, you are missing out and need to go find them now!! They are soooo yummy alone, or with your favorite salsa recipe. Here are two of my favorite salsa recipes;

This one was shared with me by my good friend Lettie.

 

Salsa-

-2 -14 oz or 1- 28oz cans of (Glen Muir brand) fire roasted tomatoes

-1 bunch of cilantro with ends cut off

-1/2 yellow onion

-1 yellow chili

-1 Serrano chili

-1 green chili

- 2 pieces of fresh garlic

-pinch of lime juice

-garlic and parsley salt to taste

 

I mix together all these items on the food chop setting in my blender.

If you aren't a hot salsa person make sure to take out the chili seeds.

Next, is a total fave:

Veggie Salsa

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed

1 can corn, drained & rinsed

5 tomatoes chopped

3 avocados chopped

bunch green onions

cilantro to taste

1 package Good Seasons Italian dressing mix (prepared according to package)

 

I dont like super chunky salsa, so I put the onions, cilantro, tomatoes, and avocados in my food chopper, then add to the corn & beans. After it's all mixed you add in the Italian dressing, and refrigerate. YUM!!

I usually end up making a meal of it. :)

enjoy!!

My super creative, fun friends are giving away some great stuff for the holidays on their blog! My mom and I gave something too. Go check it out for a chance to win!! You DO NOT want to miss this!

http://www.meandjilly.blogspot.com/

Check out this adorable giveaway!

My good friends Jill and Minda are giving away these ADORABLE velvet pumpkins!! Check out their blog....they give away lots of cute stuff, and have the BEST inspiration on there!! You have to post by 10pm for this one!

jillyandme

Jonas brothers/Demi Lovato concert

I had so much fun taking the girls to the Camp Rock 2 concert! We were able to get lawn seats for $10 a piece, and it was awesome! The girls could run around, and dance....I think the lawn is the best way to go with younger kids, we knew it would be SO hot, but it wasn't horrible...not nearly as hot as the John Mayer/Owl City concert for Bayleys birthday. Hey, where are those pictures?? Haha, I'll have to look for them.  

My girls before we left:

 
We took them all to In-n-Out burger first for dinner...why is it so hard to get Abbey to look at the camera??

It was obviously horrible conditions for picture taking...there was NO light, but I did the best I could. We started out pretty far from the stage, Sydney had a few friends there, and Abbey had her little friend Maddison there.

 
 
Then we worked our way up to the fence which was a lot closer. We could see Demi & the Jo bros pretty well. It was so much fun watching the girls dance, and get excited to see them.

Kylee, Sydney, Candin

 

Syd & Reagan
 
 
Abbey and Maddison were HILLARIOUS!! They were screaming when the Jonas Brothers came out, dancing, singing, playing the "air guitar". It was quite comical whatching them shake their little booties.

 
My sister Camie, and Reagan:

 
My friend Alisha (who I work with) and her daughter Candin:

 
My friend Emily, and her kids Parker & Maddison:

 
I'm SO greatful to have such great friends who will do fun, crazy things on school nights!! :) I'm also feel so blessed that my kids have found such amazing friends!!