Step Stool

Our niece, Macie, just turned ONE in January. I decided to make her a step stool that I decorated. I think it turned out super cute and I had so much fun making it for her. Here is what I did:

I bought the wood step stool from Hobby Lobby. It was baout $8.00. I also bought scrap book paper to cover it with.

I covered the step stool with the paper and used the Mod-Podge to make put it on. I ended up using chip clips to keep the paper on while it dried.

Some pictures of it before it dried.

I also bought some wooden letters that spelled out her name. I traced and then carefully cut out the letters with an Exacto knife. This was a little time consuming.

I then used the Mod-Podge to glue on the letters. I did her name on each side of the stool and then on the top.

Here is the picture of what the top ended up looking like. I thought it turned out so good and Macie ended up playing on it the night I gave it to her.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake....MMmmmmm

I have been on a cooking kick. Recently I have made cake pops and cake balls and have also made cakes for some family birthdays. Next up... Molten Chocolate Lava Cake. My brother-in-law, Garrett, just LOVES this stuff. We have to fight him to have a bite when we all share one at Chili's. So, I decided that I am going to try and make it. Seems really easy. I even went out and bought custard cups today so that I could make them.

I found the recipe on The Pioneer Woman, www.thepioneerwoman.com. She has some great stuff and is amazing at step by step pictures of the how to process. I also have a recipe from the new Martha Stewart magazine. I wonder which one is the best..... what a bummer that I might have to make both to find out.

I will let you know how it all goes when I make it!!! Doesn't it just look YUMMY!!!!

Ideas.......

As the crafts have been flowing, I have been checking out some blogs that have some of the best ideas. Here are some that I just love and don't think would be so hard. My niece, Macie, is turning 1 in a little over a week. Hopefully Marisa and Macie will be moving soon and then Macie will have her own bedroom that we can decorate so CUTE! Some of these are decorations and some are just fun ideas. Love them all :)

A wreath that is just the green foam wrapped in yarn. To make this a holiday wreath they added ornaments. I can see this in bright orange with some fun summer/spring flowers on it. So cute and easy to do.

These are canvas' that are painted and then buttons are put in any pattern to create a fun picture. Perfect for a little girls room.

I don't have an herb garden yet, but these can be made from paint stirrers and then letters are glued on. This is such a fun and inexpensive gift for the gardener.

Scrap wood can be turned into ABC blocks. Take pictures around the house or of everyday objects that correlate with each letter of the alphabet. On one side mod-podge the picture and on the other mod-podge the corresponding word.

We have all seen these puzzles. Mod-podge a picture on the blocks and then cut them. Then have fun putting it together!

Crafting

Recently, I have been releasing some stress and creativity by making some letters for one of my good girlfriends. She is due with her first baby boy in the middle of March. Non of us can wait to meet Joel. These letters are the "first draft" for his bed room. The room is sports themed. I showed Jess her options for the letters. The first that I did was the "blue theme" and then I showed her different sport themed paper. These are the pictures of the "blue theme" which I think are sooo cute. Jess and Tyler ended up choosing the sports themed letters for Joel's room. I will post pictures later on what the new letters look like!

Bridals in STL!

When Matt and I started planning our wedding we had a dilemma that we had to work out before everything. One of Matt's best friends, Jeremy Cavness, is a professional wedding photographer. He takes AMAZING photos and I so wanted him as our photographer. BUT Matt also wanted him as a groomsmen. We gave Jeremy the two options of either being in the wedding or taking the pictures. Of course he choose being in the wedding which was what we knew he would choose. Eventhough I had to hire someone else to take photos, Jeremy still helped us out with our engagement pictures and my bridals. While we were in STL a few days before the wedding we went to Downtown STL and took my bridals. They turned out AMAZING as I knew they would. He even got his shot of me and the arch in the background. We love Jeremy and are so blessed that he could help us with our pictures as well as being a part of our wedding. You can check him out at www.jeremycavness.com.

MEXICO

I can't believe that is has been 2 months since the wedding and honeymoon. It seems like years ago now. I thought I would share some of our honeymoon pictures. We went to Riviera Maya, Mexico. We had perfect weather and the landscape was amazing. We went to Cozumel one day. We took the water ferry over to Cozumel from Playa del Carmen and spent the whole day filled with snorkeling and sight seeing. A few days later we went to Cancun and took a personal boat through a lagoon where we parked and then snorkeled. It was our favorite thing to do there. Here are some pictures of our trip.

Our Resort.

On rainy days games are brought out. We played until the rain stopped! So much fun!

Matt and I on the ferry to Cozumel.

A lagoon in Cozumel.

Where we snorkeled in Cozumel

The view from the top of the lighthouse. Breath taking.

Matt and I in our personal boats in Cancun.

Snorkeling in Cancun.

After a nice dinner at the resort.

Sunset.

Post Wedding

I thought that I would share some of my favorite pictures that were taken during the wedding. The professional pictures have not come back yet, but I have seen them and they are amazing. Thank you to all of you that were there during our special day. We had a TON of fun and enjoyed every bit of it.

My Dad and I during the rehearsal.

My bridesmaids and I before we left the house.

Dacia and I

The groomsmen and I after we had a dance party right before the ceremony started.

Matt and I

Father-Daughter dance

The Bentonville Gang