Trouble Maker and Tae Kwon Do

When I became pregnant with my first child I knew I wanted a boy.
I wanted to be a soccer, football, baseball, any type of sport mom.
I wanted my Saturdays to be full of going out to games and cheering on my pride and joy!
However life is fairly funny as I have come to find out.
My oldest 'Trouble Maker' doesn't like playing sports.
I have put him in everything I swear!
Nothing has really grabbed his attention I guess you could say.
On a whim I asked him if he wanted to take a Tae Kwon Do class that our city offered at the beginning of the Summer.
I was shocked when he was excited about it!!!
I was surprised to find out that Tae Kwon Do is MUCH more than just kicking and punching around.
Trouble Maker has taken to it like a uhhhh I don't know what a good analogy would be.
So instead of sitting on the side of a soccer field, I sit in a Dojang.
Watching my lil mister doing kicks, blocks, and punches.

This past Saturday I watched him move up his first belt.
I am just so proud of him!
You will have to excuse the poor picture quality.  I let my 4 year take pictures while I was video taping for the SSG since he is on TDY.

Getting ready to start testing...  He was REALLY nervous!

Breaking his very first board!

VICTORY!!!!

Getting his NEW belt!

It is funny how life gives you something you didn't expect.

I never expected martial arts as something I would enjoy.

BAM! Crafting Again!

If you didn't know, I am pregnant. 
With my fourth baby boy!
And even though I was in  pretty good shape before this pregnancy, it still drains me.
I usually spend most of my energy trying to keep my house up and taking care of my other boys.

As I enter my third trimester I found some extra energy.
Maybe it is making my children actually help with some of the chores I wouldn't normally ask them to do.
Maybe the baby has decided not to take all the energy.
Or maybe I just know I don't have that much longer in my pregnancy.
Either way, I am fine with it! :)

So I dug into the chaos of my new craft room.  (I will have to show you a picture sometime.)
I got out some paint and the mod podge and made something purdy!!!!

Kinda last minute on the whole Fourth of July thing.  Good thing in Utah we have something called the 24th of July.  It is celebration of when the pioneers came into Utah.  So I have a good excuse to leave all the flag flying goodness up!

Here is a close up!

So I hope this energy continues and I will start to feel like myself again!
Also I would LOVE to actually show you what I have been doing to our new home!

Linking here!!!

Where Have I Been?

So ya I kinda suck at life with this whole blog thing.
I do really well for a while and then, nothing...
One reason is that shopping, and buying a home takes up much more time than I thought.
Also we found out that we are expecting our FOURTH little baby BOY!
YAY! No girls just boys!
But now that we are in the house and most major (boring) renovations are done.
I hope that I can get to the fun stuff.
I miss blogging about crafts.

Winner of Wood Connection Giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!
Another big thanks for all the sweet comments on the post!

Now I plugged the numbers into Random.org and received our big winner!
It is actually pretty wierd!
I have never seen a giveaway where this has happend.
But the winner of $25.00 dollars to the Wood Connection is the VERY FIRST comment!
Rachel McArthur! You are going to have fun spending some free money!
So email me your info and I will get this out to you!
MandiBeingCrafty at gmail {dot} com

Thanks again to all that entered!

Guest Post and a Giveaway {Wood Connection}

Today I am guest posting over at my favorite wood craft supply store 'The Wood Connection'
Please go visit them and read my post on my first project in our new home!
Yes we are 'moved' in!
Living out of boxes, but in our own home!
No more ugly rental!!!

To visit click here Wood Connection Guest Post

Also for all my Utah peeps!
I have a $25.00 gift certificate for the Wood Connection!
Since this is a Utah only contest the only requirement is to comment saying you read my post!
This contest will end on Wednesday!  Short and sweet if you ask me!

Thanks lovlies!

Valentine's Wreath {Tutorial}

Valentine's day is such a cutesy holiday.

With all it's lovey dovey non sense.

If you can't tell I am not really the 'romantic' type.

I don't like getting fancy jewelry.

I don't care of covered chocolates.

I enjoy getting flowers, 

but I would much rather them come out of the blue than a holiday where it's is expected.

We have been anxiously awaiting hearing about a short sale we have an offer on.

I have kind been ehhh I don't want to decorate in our rental anymore.

I kinda got sad.

I got to thinking about how this will be our last January here.

Our last Valentines in this house we have called home for almost 4 years.

Decided to kick myself in the butt and made something.

This is what I made for the last Valentine's wreath that will hang on the ugly rental door!!

Made out of love and coffee filters!

Here is the quick how to:

Supplies needed:

Package of coffee filters

Food coloring

Baking sheet

Glue gun and glue

Wreath form.

First put a couple of drops of food coloring in a bowl and fill with water.

It looks kind of orange.

I did this at night and the lighting in our rental is baaaaaddddd!

Submerge coffee filter into water.

Squeeze out the excess water.

Place on baking sheet.

Repeat until your baking sheet just can't take anymore!

I set my oven to 350 degrees and baked them for about 5 minutes.

Then repeat, repeat, repeat!!!

Once you have enough coffee filters dyed and baked (I don't know how many I lost count)

Get out wreath form and glue gun and glue filters to the wreath.

Oh my cutesy!!!

Oh AND in case you didn't hear!  I have entered to win a free ticket to SNAP the Conference!

I would REALLY appreciate it if you would vote for me!

Click here and I am link number 14!!!

Thanks a bunch lovely!

I will be linking this project to these ROCKING parties!

Strange Things Be Happenin'

 Have you ever been to a blogging conference?

Do you know what one is?

I have never been to one.  

And let me tell you how much I would love to go to Snap's three day of awesomeness conference.

SNAP the Conference is a craft and DIY social media conference.  

Which is right up my alley since that is mainly what I love to do!

The best part is, it is close to home at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah!  

Only 45 short minutes away.

I have been mulling over forking out the money to go.  

However we are buying our first home soon.  

SO every extra dollar bill is being saved for that!

Then weird things started happening!

First it started with getting my breakfast this morning!

 Inside my oatmeal box (YES I eat oatmeal, it isn't just for old ladies!!!)

 I found this note....

 Yes, I would love to go to this conference.

Three full days, of girl time?!?!
Ya who wouldn't want to do this!!!

I sighed and went along my day.

Then looking over the local ads today.

This somehow magically appeared in the middle.

 Feeling a little freaked out now.  

That a random piece of paper is following me.

I decided to go to the store.

 Getting into my car... there it was...

right above the steering wheel.

 Alright this was getting creepy!

Yes I want to go to the conference and hear all the amazing speakers,

Like Mandi for Vintage Revivals,

Ashley from Lil Blue Boo,

Cindy from Skip to my Lou 

and SOOO many more!!!

Oh and in case you were curious where my speedometer and such were at...

Didn't you know I drive a space ship around?!?!?

Check out my van's 'Control Panel'

 

Ya that is how I roll.

In my mommy mobile space ship!

What what!!!!

Anyway back to my totally realistic and not made up story...

I had to sit down and explain to the random piece of paper.

That while I would trade my kids LOVE to go to SNAP.

It just wasn't in the cards this year.

I drew it a picture...

I think I missed my TRUE calling of being an artist!

I mean really that pictures just SCREAMS pay me millions to make you artwork right???

Now I am not saying you have to be a Donald Trump employee to be able to afford to go to SNAP.

I always joke that we don't make much money compared to Donald Trump employees.

I am in luck though!

SNAP the Conference is doing a giveaway for a free ticket!!

Please vote for me!!  I am link number 14! Click here!!

*Disclaimer alert!  This post was made in good fun.  I do not believe a piece of paper is following me around. True facts in this post are: I would LOVE to go to the conference, I am terrible at drawing, oh and I TOTALLY drive a space ship!*