Shooting / Keeping the Faith

Hi everyone. My heart goes out to all those who lost their little children and loved ones this past week in that terrible shooting in the USA. This is often times a most difficult time for some. I cannot express how deeply saddened I am. We are praying for those who were left behind. I am certain there were angels there to comfort those little ones in their passing over to the other side, but that does not replace them in their homes and in the tender hearts of their loved ones.

This past week has been a somber one at netshappyplace. We too are remembering our lost loved one- his birthday is this week. It is hard sometimes to keep faith strong in our Savior Jesus Christ. I must remember that He has felt my pain and the pain of those in Connecticut (and all of you around the world). That He willingly died, a sacrifice for sin, so that we can be cleansed and forgiven and come back home to our Heavenly Father, and our loved ones who have passed. His Atonement is also for our pain. We wait (most times impatiently) to see Daddy again, to feel his gentle hugs and tender words of love. Let's hang on with prayers in our hearts for each other.

Here are a couple videos that you may find helpful. 

I'm holding you

My Burden was Made Light

NEWS RELEASE —  14 DECEMBER 2012

First Presidency Expresses

Condolences in Wake 

of Connecticut Shooting

SALT LAKE CITY — 

The First Presidency of The 

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement Friday:

"We are profoundly saddened by the events this morning at a school in Connecticut. We grieve with all those affected by this tragedy and especially for the families of these little children.

"In this hour of great sorrow we pray the Spirit of our Father in Heaven will provide comfort and peace to all."

I know it is hard to soften our hearts when we are so hurt. I work through these feelings often. Here's hoping we (me) are not too stubborn to get on our knees and ask for help. Wishing you all the best no matter what you are going through. Hang on.

Christmas Ideas

Hi again! Ok…so we all know that I am an Arbonne International Consultant…(and that I love my products and use them daily_, okay…so here is some exciting news and maybe a little holiday helper.

Shape magazine reviews our Pamper-mint Foot Scrub

I use it. I love it. (and the socks are super cozy too) Check out the reviews on the link above.

Here are some other reviews on the make-up primer.

total beauty reviews Arbonne's primer

Our make-up primer comes out at number one! (Above Clairns, Mac, Smashbox and HD) And you only need the size of a raindrop!

Remember we do NOT have:

• gluten
• soy
• whey 
• Sucralose 
• animal by-products
• no harmful chemical fragrances 
• no chemical dyes
• SLS's (Sodium Lauryl Sulfates)
• phthalates (These are perfumes and a binding agent. These soften plastic and are not by law required to be removed from our skin care. Yuck. But they are by law required to be removed from our water bottles. Whaaat??!!)
• parabens (harmful preservatives that are in almost ALL skin care)

But we ARE: 

• FSC certified (Forestry Stewardship Council. Everything is recyclable right down to the vegetable dye labels)
• botanically based
• PH correct
• PETA approved (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)
• Vegan approved (we are free of gluten, whey, soy, Sucralose and animal by-products)

Here's my link. Contact me and I can tell you how to get a fantastic discount! 

myarbonne.ca

Daddy's wall

The girls and I decided it would be a great idea to have a vinyl quote on their wall of what Daddy used to say to them. Here is a picture of the first wall we did. (This was completed during the family wall project)

We like this on so many levels. Firstly, the lettering looks like stairs that climb to heaven where Daddy is. Secondly, the words are a heavenly colour. Third, the words are light which represents how gently Brian spoke, never harsh or loud. Fourth, at times you can see the words and depending on the light, they become faint. We believe this is like Daddy in is Spirit/angelic form. He is with us and sometimes we feel him and sometimes we can't tell if he is there or not.

In case you can't read what it was that he used to say - it's, "Have you heard the news? I love you." He used to always say that to his little girls. They would giggle and say "We already know that, Daddy!"

On our other daughter's wall we have finished the vinyl but are working on finding the perfect picture. That will be posted at another time.

I hope everyone is getting on well over the holidays. I know that times can be hard. Please hold on to your faith and wait it out.  I wish everyone all the best. Let's remember to be happy in our journey. =)

Daddy's wall

The girls and I decided it would be a great idea to have a vinyl quote on their wall of what Daddy used to say to them. Here is a picture of the first wall we did. (This was completed during the family wall project)

We like this on so many levels. Firstly, the lettering looks like stairs that climb to heaven where Daddy is. Secondly, the words are a heavenly colour. Third, the words are light which represents how gently Brian spoke, never harsh or loud. Fourth, at times you can see the words and depending on the light, they become faint. We believe this is like Daddy in is Spirit/angelic form. He is with us and sometimes we feel him and sometimes we can't tell if he is there or not.

In case you can't read what it was that he used to say - it's, "Have you heard the news? I love you." He used to always say that to his little girls. They would giggle and say "We already know that, Daddy!"

On our other daughter's wall we have finished the vinyl but are working on finding the perfect picture. That will be posted at another time.

I hope everyone is getting on well over the holidays. I know that times can be hard. Please hold on to your faith and wait it out.  I wish everyone all the best. Let's remember to be happy in our journey. =)

DIY Picture Wall

Ok, so this took me aver a month to complete, what with deciding which size frames to buy and which pictures to use, then colour choices and placement.

Here are the tools I used for putting up the frames. 

So, here are a few pictures on how I did our family picture wall. There are a lot of pictures coming up, but if you need help on this DIY wall, browse through. I hope it will help.

Once you have ordered your prints, you may be very surprised to realize that you may need to reorder and reorder until you get it right. Frames and placement play a major role.

My supplies…If you look on, you will see that I did order some 'petal' painted frames from Restoration Hardware. (These are pricey and very large, so I took one frame and had it colour matched at my nearest hardware store. I'm a Rona fan.) 

Use a very fine grit sand paper to gentley ruff up the frame so that your new paint will stick.

My newly painted frames.

Other frames were a very hot pink, so that would not do. Our eldest daughter helped me to spray paint them. (This is an art. Shake the can, spray a little before your project and a little beyond your project, then shake and repeat. If you stop and shake periodically, and keep the coatings light you will not get the drips and spits.)

Here is a Restoration frame. On the back is that little arm that needs to be removed in order to lay flat on the wall.

First, pop off the back.

This little stubborn piece needs to come off.

Take your hammer and screwdriver. Wedge the screwdriver into the edge by the plug in the back and give it a whack with your hammer.

Sometimes it is necessary to use those pliers and give a tug.

Pop out the plugs.

I did lay my pictures out on the floor but found that I changed it dramatically on the wall. I started with my centre picture first and worked somewhat symmetrically around it as I went.

Place your frame on the wall, put your level on top of the frame & mark the corners. 

Measure the back of your frame where the nail will go.  (How far in from the corner and how far down from the top)

Draw your lines where the two measurements meet.

Put your hook at the bottom of where the two lines meet. Ta da! Erase your lines and hang your picture.

Ok, on to the vinyl. 

Take a long level and mark where you want your vinyl. I drew a line on the bottom of my vinyl and had it match where I wanted it on the wall. As you can see, my lines match up.

Take a clean white eraser, (although I probably should have tried a magic eraser by Mr. Clean, but I didn't have any handy. An eraser can leave marks so press lightly.)

I purchased some other letters to make my wall a bit more interesting; spray painted them and attached them to the wall to create an amazing collage.

my second quilt ever

Oooh boy! Have I been keeping busy! You? Here is a picture of my second quilt I have ever made (completed one, almost completed this one)

My work space isn't exactly as great as my Mom's and Mother-in-law's (the helper behind this btw)

I love these colours and patterns

We laid it out and ended up playing with it for quite some time before we figured it was "right", but then my inexperienced self sewed it wrong in the end. However, my 8 year old daughter says she doesn't care and is just glad it is made with love from her mommy. (Yay me! What a great moment with her)

Don't look too closely now ;) Next comes the middle, bottom and outer edge. (those are my special non-sewing terms, of course)

I had a great day with my youngest girls the other day and after all our running around we had a date at Starbucks: a little white hot chocolate, regular hot chocolate and some cute yummy shortbread(?) snowmen cookies for my girls. 

my second quilt ever

Oooh boy! Have I been keeping busy! You? Here is a picture of my second quilt I have ever made (completed one, almost completed this one)

My work space isn't exactly as great as my Mom's and Mother-in-law's (the helper behind this btw)

I love these colours and patterns

We laid it out and ended up playing with it for quite some time before we figured it was "right", but then my inexperienced self sewed it wrong in the end. However, my 8 year old daughter says she doesn't care and is just glad it is made with love from her mommy. (Yay me! What a great moment with her)

Don't look too closely now ;) Next comes the middle, bottom and outer edge. (those are my special non-sewing terms, of course)

I had a great day with my youngest girls the other day and after all our running around we had a date at Starbucks: a little white hot chocolate, regular hot chocolate and some cute yummy shortbread(?) snowmen cookies for my girls. 

Chocolate Shell Recipe

Oh ya Baby! We tried this at home, I think I will tweak it will a yummier chocolate other than chocolate chips, but it really worked!

I read this in Oprah's magazine while at the hair dressers. (August 2012 issue)

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
• Cheater soft serve ice cream, in cones

Directions

Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave on high 30 seconds. Stir well, then microwave 15 to 30 seconds more, until just melted. Stir and set aside 10 minutes to let cool. Working quickly, turn ice cream cone upside down (making sure you've pushed the ice cream inside the cone) and dip in the chocolate mixture, letting any excess drip off. Roll in toppings, if desired, then allow coating to harden. Serve immediately.

http://www.oprah.com/food/Chocolate-Shell-Recipe

Chocolate Shell Recipe

Oh ya Baby! We tried this at home, I think I will tweak it will a yummier chocolate other than chocolate chips, but it really worked!

I read this in Oprah's magazine while at the hair dressers. (August 2012 issue)

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil
• Cheater soft serve ice cream, in cones

Directions

Active time: 10 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil. Microwave on high 30 seconds. Stir well, then microwave 15 to 30 seconds more, until just melted. Stir and set aside 10 minutes to let cool. Working quickly, turn ice cream cone upside down (making sure you've pushed the ice cream inside the cone) and dip in the chocolate mixture, letting any excess drip off. Roll in toppings, if desired, then allow coating to harden. Serve immediately.

http://www.oprah.com/food/Chocolate-Shell-Recipe

The Un-Birthday

As most of you know, I haven't truly planned a birthday for my youngest, (especially since Her Daddy passed away weeks from her birthday when she was 3) and when we would plan her bday party, either we were on holidays or her guests were. But, we made it! We planned a surprise un-birthday for her!

(Looking back though, I think it is best NOT to plan a surprise for a little girl. I see now that she could have had so much more fun getting excited in the planning of her party)

Here are some pictures from her special day. I did get most of my ideas from Pinterest. (Which I am trying to find a way to have that tab on my blog, but I am not so savvy at the computer, so if you have any pointers, please let me know. )

Yup, little bunny…poops….;)

This super duper yummy cake was actually a custom job done at FUSS CUPCAKES here on the west end! 

FUSS CUPCAKES again.

Little bunny grahams, and doughnuts. Kids love these.

Funny how our clock from Pottery Barn just fit so perfectly with White Rabbit's "I'm late!" I used my mother-in-law's Cricut for the cut outs. Look in the right corner and you'll see a 3D tea cup and saucer!

I printed off some colouring sheets, wrapped Oreo Cakesters in "Cheshire Cat Cookie" tags, found the Alice In Wonderland book, pencils, erasers and glow sticks at the dollar store, and added the White Rabbit Surprises. I printed the paper bags with White Rabbit pictures found on the internet. As this is an older story, the pics were free. Just measure your bag, type it into your file print request and voila! 

Have to have a doormouse.

Thank you to Martha Stewart on the garland and ceiling decorations.

My cookie and treat bag set up.

These hats came from Sunny by Design

Thanks to my family and friends for the extra  tea set and white rabbit party donations!

All the little dishes I found at Ikea and were hers to keep afterwards.

Very true. It was an unbirthday indeed.

These tags came from Indulgy

My daughter's hat was a bit fancier than the others. SHe loved it.

Games we played:

1. "Switch Places!" - while at the table, prior to eating the older kids and their friends would yell to switch and the tea party guests would move one to the right. They thought this was great.
2. Queen of Hearts - "Off with their heads!" - played like Simon says, those who would mess up would be told "off with your head"
3. Hat throwing. All the guests kept their hats, but first they had to throw their hat and see who could get theirs in the hoola hoop.
4. Mad, Mad Hatter - played like duck duck goose. However, as we played we switched it up a bit and had two "it's" running, so that three children were running for a spot in the circle.

Foods we ate:

1. White sugared doughnuts as bunny tails
2. Bunny Grahams
3. bug noodles with homemade cheese sauce- (everything went around being outside at a tea party.)These noodles were not a hit as they were whole wheat and not many children enjoyed that.
4. Red Foods like strawberries and grapes
5. Apple juice was the "tea"
6. Bread and Butter cut like butterflies - hence the Bread and Butterflies
7. Cake and Cupcakes.

Have fun if you plan your own unbirthday!