In His Grip

Three Word Thursday

Love this movie!

Melting Beads: Kind of Retro

Today I tried a craft that I have never tried before and it is just the perfect thing to keep tweens busy this summer.  I know I do not have any tweens in my home any more, but I do have a niece, Judiann, and I just know she and her friends are going to love this project.  While browsing on Pinterest, I found this idea of melting plastic craft beads and making sun catchers and my personal favorite, artsy bowls.  These  melted bead bowls end up looking a little retro to me and remind me of the mixing bowls that look like this.

Which then reminds me of my other niece Amanda, who is just beginning a business call RETROspective by Design.  She is into creating and repurposing all things retro.  I made my bowls with mostly clear beads, but I am thinking if you use the solid color beads and split them into colors you will come up with bowls that even more closely resemble their old time counterparts.  Here is how I made retro bowls.

I covered a round pan with foil and filled the bottom with beads, making sure that there was only one layer and all spaces were covered with beads.  Place the pan in 400 degree oven for 20 minutes or until the beads have totally melted.  This is really, really hot.  I would suggest adult supervision for this part.  I know tweens think they can do it, but dang, spilling hot, melted plastic on yourself would probably require a trip to the ER and keep you out of pool for a couple of weeks.  Not a good start to Summer. 

You end up with disc of plastic which is what I originally found on Pinterest as a sun catcher.  But if you cover a bowl with foil, center your plastic disc on it, and place it back in the oven it will begin to melt down the sides of the bowl.

This does not take very long, so you can literally watch this happen.  It’s pretty cool.

This was my first try, I used clear pink, clear red, clear iridescent, plain clear, and a sprinkle of solid pink.  All of these colors turned out great except the iridescent, they kind of look yellowish.  I would not used them unless your color scheme was yellows or oranges.

My second try I used mixed clear with a sprinkle of solid white and instead of a bowl to melt the disc over I used a square tin can.  These are so fun, easy, and I love the end result. 

I am participating in the following link ups:  Somewhat Simple, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Gluesticks, Beyond the Pikcet Fence, Momnivore's Dilemma, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Blooming Designs, Bubble Nature Creations, Liz Marie, Addicted 2 Decorating, House of Hepworths, Stuff and Nonsense, Finding Fabulous, The Shabby Nest, Truly Lovely, Simply Sweet Home, Bubbly Nature Creations, The Answer is Chocolate, Sassy Sites, I Gotta Create, The CSI Project, Sisters of the Wild West, Boogieboard Cottage, It So Very Cheri, DIY Showoff, Natasha In Oz, I Should Be Mopping the Floor, Between Naps on the Porch, Skip to My Lou, Todays Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings, Domestically Speaking, The Thrifty Home, Blue Cricket Design, Fabric Bows and More, My Girlish Whimms, Seven Thirty Three, Sew Much Ado, Someday Crafts, Lil Luna, Mama Hens Coop, {Primp}, Vintage Gwen, Frugally Sustainable

Fascination With Glamping

All my life I have loved camping.  Camping was the only vacations that we knew as kids.  We camped for weeks at a time, yes, and it was in tents.  None of that RV camping for us.  If fact, one of our favorite camping spots was in Joshua Tree National Park.  Joshua Tree National Park is located in Southern California and is in the middle of the Mojave Desert.  I have many memories of riding in the back of our dune buggy with my sisters as our family explored the desert.  But this craze of “glamping” seems to be a bit more upscale that what I remember as a young girl.  How fun would it be to hike into the woods and come upon your campsite fully set up like this one.  You are in a tent but still have the modern conveniences of electricity, bed, and beautiful decorations.  Although, there is just something about being in a tent that is the definition of camping.  I think it would be fun to camp in this little camper too.

You gotta love a vintage trailer like this one. Its my kind of camper.  Not sure how Jeff would feel about pulling this pink beauty behind his big tough SUV.  But then again this is a man that loves me and is okay with a pink front door.

Maybe I could pull my “glamping” trailer with this cute pink baby.  I have always wanted a delivery sedan and making it pink would be the perfect choice.  Okay, so enough of the dreaming. 

Our “glamping” is limited to this pop-up trailer that we own with three other families and I am not sure they would continue to allow me in their pop-up co-op if I painted our trailer pink.  I am looking forward to a “glamping” trip or two this summer.  Let the “glamping begin. 

Memorial Day

This day has always been a day that has meant the beginning of Summer, one of picnics and spending time with friends and family. This year Memorial day has taken on a whole new meaning for me. I do not need this one day to remember the sacrifice that our military has offered to be able to live in a country of freedom. Daily I remember the pain of what it takes to defend the country I am proud to call my home. The road that has been traveled since August 6, 2011, with very dear friends has helped me know the real sacrifice of not only our lost soldiers but that of their families and the men and women they served with. My heart now knows part of the pain of the loss of an American hero and I will never forget. Hearing the “Star Spangled Banner” and seeing the American flag flying with pride will never cease to bring a tear to my eye. My thanks goes out to all the American heroes and their families who gave the greatest sacrifice of all.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ~ John 15:13

Three Word Thursday

Last college graduation!!!!!

 

Vote For Skate For Change

Our son, Ryan is invoved in a community service project called Skate For Change. SFC has applied for a grant through State Farm Youth Advisory Board in the value of $25,000 to $100,000 to an organization or school that has a great idea for a service-learning project to impact student achievement in their community.  Here's where you come in and can help Skate For Change make an impact on thier community.  Click here and vote 10 times a day for Skate For Change through May 17th.  

Skate for Change is a local group of skateboarders who skate around the inner-city and metro areas with backpacks handing out food, water, socks, toothpaste, etc. to the homeless and less fortunate in our area. They are fully committed to helping better someone else's day. Even if it's sparing a few quarters to each person waiting at the bus stop to get to a job that they are about to lose. Or giving a few extra blankets or fresh milk to a family with a new baby living under a bridge. Instead of just walking by these people we are helping, sitting down having a conversation, making them feel special and cared regardless of their circumstances.

Getting more people involved is key. $25,000 would address the community's unmet need by providing more services, buying more socks, more food, and stocking up so we never run out. The lasting impact is more people getting involved in "Good" in our city instead of "Bad".

Remember you can vote 10 times each day.  Ready, set, vote.

No Problem, Mon

Jeff and I are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this year and decided to take a trip.  We never took a honeymoon but went to the Riviera Maya in Mexico for our 21st year and thought it was about time to celebrate once again.  After all, we have been married for 30 years, our youngest child graduates from college next week and is employed along with the rest of the adults in the family.  We think we have a lot to celebrate.  This was our view for the last six days in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  No problem, mon, was what they say about everything.  I’d like an extra towel, no problem, mon.   Can we get extra bottles of water delivered to our room each day? No problem, mon.  We literally sat and did nothing for the entire time we were there.  We allowed the folks at the resort to totally take care of us.

 When we arrived they greeted us with a chilled glass of campaign with a cherry in it and from that moment on we had no problems, mon.  

 Omar took Jeff out on the catamaran each day and taught him how to sail. No problem, mon.  If you look very closely you can see a boat way out in the ocean, they went out and talked to the fisherman out there who was fishing alone and had a huge fish on the line and could not get it in.  He had it attached to a marker buoy and was going back and get some help to haul in the fish.  No problem, mon. Boy, how Jeff wanted to be a part of that one.

This is how I spent most of my time reading and drinking the pretty drinks that they brought to me.  No problem, mon.

Every afternoon, our beach and pool side activities were interrupted by a rain shower.  No problem, mon.  “Dirty Bananas” and “Mudslides” can take care of any kind of disappointment a little rain might make. No problem, mon.

The sun always popped through the clouds again and back to the pool or the beach, no problem, mon.

On our last evening at dinner we were surprised with a very special dessert created just for our celebration.  Thanks to the chef and the wait staff for making that last evening very special. No problem, mon.