GACK!!

I happened to marry into one of those families where everyone is good at everything, and everyone is so incredibly creative. I love it! I've learned so much from all my in-laws and one of the funnest things I've learned (from my oldest sister-in-law, Shannon, who is very creative) is a sort of slimy craft that my children just love to play with. It's called Gack, yes you read that right, Gack! I would like to share that with you today.

^This is the Gack!^

All you need is:

a small bowl

a large mixing bowl

6 drops any color food coloring

2 cups water

1 teaspoon Borax (a mild detergent, you can get it anywhere)

2 cups (4 bottles) of Washable Elmer's White School Glue

In the smaller bowl combine Borax with 1/2 cup of the water and stir till dissolved.

In the larger bowl stir the glue, the rest of the water, and the food coloring together and mix till well combined.

Once the glue and the water are all mixed together, Add the borax/water mixture.

Knead together with hands till it is no longer sticky.

Store in an airtight container.

^My youngest didn't quite know how she felt about this stuff lol^

This is a great indoor craft to do with your kids while they are out of school to keep their imaginations fresh and it also makes a great science experiment! It's completely solid, but it melts when it sits untouched for too long into sort of a solid liquid hybrid.

Enjoy!!!!

Homemade Jack Daniels Hookah

Never in my life did I think he would be able to make this work! My hubby can be so creative when he wants to be. No money spent, he made a Hookah out of an old Jack Daniels bottle, a few old spare hookah parts from a broken pipe, and some junk he found in a tool box from our shed. The thing that amazes me most is that it works!! I just had to share some pictures of his hard work. Enjoy.

No scolding allowed dear mother-in-law. (Hehe, love you:)

The French Braid

Let me just start this by saying that I love my mother. She is one of the kindest, loving, most generous people you will ever meet. That being said, she's always been kind of lacking in the "girlie things" department, so growing up I never learned how to do make up properly, how to French braid, or how to properly coordinate outfits of any nature. I've pretty much been self taught on most of these things and my newest thing to learn has been the French braid.

I tried it on my own hair first (after watching several "how to french braid" videos on Youtube) and it just looked funny, so I started over and it fell out before I could get the elastic in. Not really that great.

So I made my daughter sit down so I could practice on her and it looked a TON better, but was falling out by the end of the day so needless to say, I need lots more practice. But I'll get it down eventually.

My "Next Step" Camera

For the past 2 years I have been using a 12.1 Megapixel Sony Cybershot which I have loved.

It has taken some great photos, including all the photos on my blogs, and all around it has been a great camera. It has definitely been well loved and well used at my house! Birthday Parties, Family outings and group pictures, Newborn pictures, all sorts of things I've been through with this awesome little piece of technology. It'll be hard and easy at the same time to see her go.

I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a cute, compact digital camera. I think I am ready for the next step though! And this, my friends, is my next step!

The sort-of-affordable 14.1 Megapixel Nikon CoolPix L120.

Oh yes, it's she a beauty? Comes in red and blue too, but I think I'll stick with black, looks more professional, right? Anywho, there's no way I can afford this right now so I was thinking... charge it on my credit card and think of it as an investment in Photo-taking future. The problem is convincing my husband . . . . . . . .

Any thoughts?

Happy Tuesday :)

Adding a little 70's flare

So I've been trying to think of some low cost ways to add some "prettiness" to my bedroom lately. It's had bare walls and a boring bed since we moved into this house last September. Needless to say, it's time for some pretty stuff in the bedroom...

A few weeks ago I got 2 cheap black full size flat sheet and turned them into curtains using a curtain rod I already had. I tied them together at the center using some red ribbon since the colors in my room are red, black, and cream. Curtains add so much, even when there is nothing on your walls.

Then 2 weeks ago I found a dry erase/cork board made out to be an erasable calendar for $2.00 at Deseret Industries. The frame around it was black wood and had words such as "memories" and "love" written around it. So on the blank part of the dry erase section I taped up a couple of our family pictures and it really adds to the room. I also happened upon a throw pillow that matched my bed set perfectly (it was creepy how perfectly it matches) for only $3 at the same place so I got that as well. I love throw pillows, so much so that I may actually start collecting them one day. hehe I will inevitably be one of those women who has a dozen throw pillows on her bed that her husband gets enraged about because he has to throw them on the floor every night and doesn't see the point in having them there. Men just don't get it! :)

Last week's project was our bedside lamps. They are small, plain, and black. While I was cleaning out the drawers in my room I found some dark red beaded ribbon and thought, huh... that would look really cute around the bottom of my lamps! So I pulled out my handy little glue gun and glued the ribbon around the bottom so that the beads hang off. I think they turned out pretty cute, but my husband says: "They look like something out of the 70's." Anyway, I wanted to share a pic of my cute new lamps.

Easter is Just around the corner!

My oldest daughter's fifth birthday just happens to fall on Easter this year and we are so excited! Today we are going to the dollar store to buy some Easter eggs and then we are headed to this amazing park (went for the first time yesterday and we're hooked) to take pictures of both my girls in their adorable matching Easter dresses. Hopefully the baby cooperates! Post of the Easter Photo Shoot soon to come! Don't forget to check back :)

I just love this time of year when everything outside starts to bloom and turn green again. It makes it so easy to take beautiful pictures outside.

First NewBorn Photo Shoot

Today was my first ever attempt at taking photos of someone not in my family. This adorable little guy is 3 weeks old and these are the best shots I got. He was so good, the poor little guy was born 6 weeks premature and is so tiny. This makes me want another baby so bad! I hope you all enjoy the photos, he will melt your heart :) I would enjoy your feed back, positive or otherwise, as well as any advice any photographers out there have. Keep in mind that I'm working with a 12.1 mpxl Sony CyberShot with a lens that does not know how to stay clean. Thanks for your time! I had so much fun doing this.