My one true love

Yes it’s true… In February, I’m on my way to the Blissdom Conference in Nashville TN. I’m so excited to be going with my gal pal MJ from One Nutty Girl and PIC in Seek the TRIAD! We are of course going for business to “work” on Seek the Triad and learn how to make it even more fabulous (that’s no lie!). But the fact that Harry Connick, Jr. is going to be there live and in person for me to drool on watch in concert and maybe even lick his face get a picture of? Now that’s what I call divine intervention!!!

Here are a couple videos I found of HC… I could post weeks worth, but I have to go dig up ALL my CD’s so we can brush up on EVERY song on our 9 hour trip (UGH… but worth it!!!). I’m posting a couple oldies, but goodies of my man Harry… isn’t his name just dreamy?!?!?!

Harry will be a participant (both speaking and performing) at the closing keynote session at the Blissdom ‘10 Conference in Nashville, TN on Saturday, Feb. 6th, 2010.

From the Blissdom website:
And to help tie things up in celebration, we’ll tie one on with a very special guest whose community efforts in his hometown of New Orleans helped Katrina victims keep the spirit of their community alive. Help us welcome an accomplished performer, a dedicated philanthropist and a consummate family man, the one-and-only Harry Connick Jr.! Because BlissDom will never be without exciting entertainment, we’re so incredibly honored that Harry Connick Jr. will join us and perform a few songs!

Harry fully grasps the power of community by conceiving the Musician’s Village in New Orleans along with his friend and fellow New Orleans native, Branford Marsalis after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. As of September 2009, 72 homes were built for the Musicians Village by Habitat for Humanity.

Harry’s new album ‘Your Songs’ was recently nominated for a Grammy and so Harry will be heading to BlissDom after he hits the Grammy’s in LA on January 31. (Um, yeah, seriously…how amazing is that?)

For more information about the conference, visit their website: blissdomconference.com

Oh and by the way… I’m linking up to one of my favorite sites over at Melissa’s, The Inspired Room! I’m super excited to be hanging with a few celebes other than just Little Harry” (and no I’m not talking bout my husband!). She just wrote a post today about what to wear at Blissdom, winter bliss and her ADD moments. Oh my word… I didn’t even fathom this thought till this morning that we’d have to have some great outfits… I was more worried about getting the laundry done and what snacks to wear!!! So I’m off to grab a few great tops to go with my, regular ol jeans and black pants (definitely staples in any girls closet). And P.S…. I do have great new blog cards to pass out to whoever thinks I’m cute too!!! It’s going to be a HOOT!!!

You're gonna love this stuff!!!

Okay… I don’t, in ANYWAY pretend to be a semtress or know what I’m even doing most days! I did however, complete this No-Sew Burlap Curtain project ALL on my own! I didn’t read any books, or watch any U-Tube videos (I’m sure there are plenty tutorials to view) or have someone do it for me! I just decided I needed curtains in my NEW “Big Girl Room” and wasn’t in the mood to spend $40-$50 a panel at Ballard Designs (even though they were my inspiration and my fave catalog).

Love Ballard Designs!!!

Step 1: Head to your closest fabric store (Joe Ann’s for me) to get 5 1/2 yards of Burlap and a pack of Stitch Witchery. They will have several colors of Burlap to choose from. If you don’t know which one is best, just close your eyes and point. I went with the standard lightish beige color. Does that help?  Don’t know what Stitch Witchery is? Just ask the store your in to point you in the direction and grab a roll that is about 3/4 inch wide. Your going to love this stuff too!!! But a little goes a long way and it only costs a couple bucks!

Note: I’m an eyeballer… meaning I measured the approximate height of where the curtain rod and rings were going to go and cut my fabric length from there. I always over guess (which is good if your lazy at measuring like me)! You will have a small puddle of fabric after hung, but we will fix that later. I have 8 ft ceilings is this particular room… so there.

Also note: my burlap was ONLY $2.99 a yard, so I added and extra yard to play with… so glad I did, I can’t get enough of the stuff.

No Sew!!!

Step 2: Get out that dusty old iron and the iron table (mine hasn’t seen the light of day since the children were born. (Has it really been almost 8 years? Certainly not!) You will want to iron out the wrinkles and lines on the burlap. Make a fold about an inch wide at one end of the panel. Tuck the Stitch Witchery in between the folds and follow the directions to iron the SW.

Note: Again, I just guessed how much SW to cut by measuring the width of the fabric.

Dusty Old Iron

Step 3: Put curtain rod clips on rod and clip on curtains! (Wow can you believe it? You’re almost done!!!) Now mark a place on the bottom edge of your burlap where the curtain should touch the floor.

Simple

Note: At this point you have two options.  1.~Cut the fabric (straight line please). Start pulling the horizontal strings and you will have a frayed edge. 2.~Make a hemmed edged to match the top (with Stitch Witchery of course)

I love a fray!

Step 4: Clip the backs of your curtains together so they will have that “Curtainey Wave” look (I know Mom, “curtainey” is not a word). Otherwise, they will hang more flat and boring. Leave for a couple days to help “set” the fabric. Easy Peasy

Clip Em Good from the Back

Step 4: Take a picture and send to all your friends to show them how fabulous you are. Oh Yeah… you will want to wash your cloths and take a shower when you’re done because this stuff sheds like an unkept retriever dog!!!

A Complete Project is a Happy Project

As 2009 is winding down today, It got me thinking of what a great year it turned out to be. Thought I’d share with you what a whirlwind it has been and how you never know where you’ll be. I didn’t plan on most of these things, God just has a way. I also didn’t put all the bad the year had brought, seems no point to focus on that.

I’m usually am not good at making New Years resolutions (not good at keeping them either). I’d pre-fer the “Winging It” method and see where I land most days. Thanks to ALL my friends and family who have enjoyed the year with me… can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for us!!! Please note: this list is in no particular order… too much work to make my brain choose!!!

1. Spent ALL day at home for Christmas!!!

Home Sweet Home

2. Started a new business venture,

“Seek the Triad“.

Seek the Triad Logo

3. Have learned to take better photos

(not perfect, but better).

why not?

4. Helped start a new fundraiser,

“Blasting for Boobs“.

what a hoot!

5. Week trip to Vegas

Vegas Baby

6. Went to Disney on Make*A*Wish with the Family!

7. Raised almost $60K

for the GSO CP through the DNI.

DNI logo

8. Learned to “let go”

of what I have no control over.

Jer 29:11

9. Have given up scrap-booking

Nice and Neat

10. Bought my first Coach Purse

(I know, I know… it’s a real shocker)

A True Classic

Do you have a “Top 10″ for 2009? It’s a great way to look back and focus on the good! Start one for 2010 if you want to have a little more fun… I’ll probably wait till December 31, 2010 to try this again ~*~*~

I’m in a mood… well actually, I’ve been in it since early this past summer. I can’t help it, they make me feel a little “wild” in my not so wild life. I think “Leopard Spots are the New Polka Dot”. What do you think?

I painted this myself!!!

Can you spot the spots?

What fun to use a piece of furniture I already have, toss a pillow on it and… wola it’s instant Christmas themed decoration! I tend to decorate at Christmas using a lot of what I have already, then add my holiday goodies in the mix. Don’t get me wrong, I put plenty of red/green Christmas trinkets out, but I tend to have them mix in the atmosphere instead of screaming… “LOOK AT ME, I”M A TACKEY CHRISTMAS DECORATION”.

I spot joy!

I did finally break down and buy this from Ballard Designs Catalog. I had been eyeballing it for a couple years and it just seemed too appropriate for my 2009 decor. When I win the lottery, I’m buying a cottage somewhere secluded and decorating EVERY room from this awesome catalog! I guess I would choose a couple thing for the boys rooms from Pottery Barn, but the rest comes from Ballards!

Ballard Designs

WOW...a tree with spots!

And this little jewel is from my sis-n-law, Tana Mills and C.D.I.! She painted several of these after seeing them in a Christmas show case of homes one year (at least 5 years ago, not sure). All we did was take a picture and she made the magic happen. She’s just talented like that! want to know more about Tana? We will be featuring her on Seek the Triad this month! Her work is impressive and I know you’ll love her as much as I do!!! I could do a post alone on Tana and my favorite things from her.

I spot Santa

Some times words just aren’t needed. Enjoy my first fall fun pics!!!

First Signs of Fall

Yumminess!!!

Bake Sale Fun!!!

fit to be tied

Ribbons of fall

Candy Fun!

what Dog doesn't love a little sweets too?

Just a quick post about a dear friend who has a son with “special needs” too. After reading her post on “Normal” I had to share my picture I did on picnik with you! Please go and read what Monica has to say! She writes fun, truthful and heartfelt posts about her son Conner. We have so many of the same thoughts on the whole “special needs” world.

A couple days ago she wrote about how the word “special needs” can give such mixed signals and how the old term “retarded” is so inappropriate and wrong! I’m still waiting for the day that my oldest son hears others say those things about Drake. It’s hard to explain to the younger ones what the term “special needs” means. I had a friend’s son the other day make a comment, “I know Drake is more special than me, but…”. I found my self explaining that Drake isn’t “more” special, but that his needs, like feeding, medicines and walking are different than his. By the time I had all that out of my mouth, he and the rest of the kids were on to another subject.
Her question to you is do you have another word that can be used that might not sound so “special“?