Friday, March 22, 2013

Personalized Plates

I love it when a friend calls me up and says
"Let's make a craft today."
It really is one of my favorite things. I will drop whatever I am
doing to join in on the creative fun. 
So, last week during Spring Break when my friend Valerie called, 
 and asked if the kids and I wanted to make something,
I was thrilled.
She brought over her trusty Martha Stewart 
craft book, and we flipped through till we found something
that appealed to us.
{Painting on Glass and Ceramics}

We took off to Michael's, and the dollar store
to get our supplies, and went to work.

The kids made personalized plates. 
Okay, I actually made Carmella's, and Adelaide's plates.
Addie decorated her own, but didn't like it so she asked me
wash it off and make it for her. Emilie and Ivy did theirs though.
Now the paint is nontoxic, and it does say you can eat off of it, but it is 
hand wash. Of course my sweet hubby has put them through the dishwasher a few times
already, but so far so good.

My bowls I pick up at Big lots and I love them!
I keep putting little snacks like grapes and pretzels in them to snack on while I work.
I'm thinking I may buy some more to use as birthday gifts. 

Here are the results of our Spring Break Craft Day.




Wednesday, March 13, 2013

So much goings on ...


Where do I start? This past Monday I met with my academic advisor, just to see if I was on track for graduation. I have been thinking I would be graduating in December of this year, but worried that I may have overlooked something and would have to wait till next May. After my meeting, it is confirmed, I will be graduating with my Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in December 2013. WooHoo!
 I am super excited if you can't tell.

This little bit of news seems to have lit a fire under me. I have been putting off starting on the road to my professional career because it has felt too daunting with all my school work, church work, and lets not forget parental and spousal responsibilities. Now that I feel the end is finally in sight, I am excited to break into the grown up world of working as a professional photographer.

 So what does that mean?

Well, I have finally begun building a Face book page for my professional self. It is simply ...
Sara Poyfair Photography. I kicked around a bunch of cutsie names, but finally my art education got the better of me. Best to go by my own name; I am an artist after all! Right now my goal for the page is to update it with examples of my work. I'm super happy to have a working oven again (#thatsanotherstory) so I have been baking like crazy lately, and photographing my delectable delights. I love food photography, but because I have been focusing on school assignments for so long, I haven't branched out there as much as I would have liked. That is finally changing, I will be doing more of the photography I like to do, and exploring a few new techniques. Check out my page and "like" it. You'll make my day.

I am also gearing up for a month long trip to Florence, Italy with my photo department's study abroad class. I will leave June 2nd, and return on July 4th. I am so very excited to go, and even more excited that Jason is so supportive of me going. In order for me to afford this trip I am looking to set up some photo shoots. I need to do 7 shoots at my current price of $130.00 to pay for my housing. I am praying that everything will work out since I already paid my non-refundable deposits. yikes!

That's about all that is going on for the moment. As if that's not enough! I'll be doing a Florence Photo of the Day while I'm gone, and look for my website in the near future. I'm working on getting that up and running too. 

Friday, March 8, 2013

A Home for Birdies

I went to the fabric store the other day to get some fabric for a baby shower gift,
 and what do I see ...
Wooden birdhouses on sale for $.50. How could I not get one for my two little darlings
at home? I spent more time than necessary deciding from the variety of styles available, and 
brought a couple home. 
Addie, I think, was more excited than Ella at first, but once Ella realized how much
 fun Addie was having without her. She joined right in. Though I think she spent
more time stuffing ribbon roses into the little hole than actually
coloring her house. 
Addie went right to town coloring her birdhouse a nice bright red, so the birds
would be able to see it. She was rather concerned 
about the small size of the houses. "What kind of tiny bird
can fit in here." I told her
they are more for decoration than actual use, but maybe a hummingbird would make
a home in there. That seemed to satisfy her.

They were both so excited to hang them in our tree, I had a hard time getting them to wait for the glue
on their flowers to dry. 

So without further ado ... 
The Birdhouses.







I wonder what our next arts and crafts day will bring.


Thursday, March 7, 2013

Pursuit of Excellence - February Edition

I chose to work on new goals in February, and found it a bit harder
this last month. Maybe because February always seems to get away from me.
I know going in that it's a shorter month than the rest, and yet I am 
always surprised by how quickly it passes me by.
I do hope to be more diligent in March.

Spiritual -  Strengthen my testimony through fasting, prayer, and study.
I decided to make my experiences on the fast Sundays in February,
 and March more meaningful. I pondered more on what
I should fast for, and spent time reflecting
on those things during the fast. I also had
some great conversations with Emilie about what 
testimonies are, and about how to bear your testimony. 
She is shy and won't bear hers on fast Sunday, so we are 
working on gearing her up for doing that.

Intellectual - Read uplifting literature.
I spent more time on my scripture reading this month, which is always uplifting, but other than
that I'm afraid I didn't do so well. Emilie has been begging me to read
the Percy Jackson books. She just finished the series, and has been dying for me
to read them too. I decided to do that. While very fun it is not exactly uplifting literature, but it did create a bond 
between Emilie and me that wasn't there before. 
This month I would like to read a classic I haven't read before. I haven't decided what 
that is ... yet.

Physical - Make progress toward my weight loss goals.
This challenge is coming along. I've lost 7lbs. since the beginning of January, but 
that leaves me with the last 7 to go. Which as we all know is the hardest to lose. I am fighting for every ounce.  I seem to have hit 
a plateau for the time being, but hopefully now that the weather is
turning warmer I can get out of the house more and that will help.

Service - Give service outside of my family.
 I enjoyed this challenge very much. I was able to take dinner to the family of a 
friend in my ward who had a really rough month. I also hosted a mommy lunch and play date for 
a few of my mommy friends. I know that sounds more like fun than service, 
but two of my friends have children with special needs, and aren't able to get out much in the
 winter months. My family has been unusually healthy this winter, so it was nice to be able to provide
a fun healthy environment for them to go for a few hours.
I also participated in our Relief Society's Enrichment Activity for the month of February.
Many of us made cookies, and frosting, and several of us went to a homeless shelter in Ft. Worth where
 the residents were able to decorate the cookies, and have a fun evening with us. I made several dozen sugar cookies (one of the last things my oven baked before dying on me) , and provided a batch of frosting. I also went to the shelter and took some fun photos of our wonderful sisters, and the sweet folks whom we served. I had such a wonderful time participating is such meaningful service; I am 
hoping to make it a more regular activity.

Character - Only speak kind words to and about others. 
I must admit I have turned into quite the complainer. I usually just gripe to Jason, but I have noticed in
recent months that I will vent frustrations about people and situations to friends. This month I made
an effort to zip my lips. It felt really good. I found myself feeling lighter, and easy going. Instead of being weighted down by my frustrations. I also made an effort to say kind words those around me.
I often keep good thoughts to myself instead of sharing them with others, but this month, if I liked your
 shoes I told you so. 
I also spent time writing letters to some really neat ladies who just got released from our Relief Society Presidency. I am so amazed by the amount of time that calling takes up in a person's life, and these ladies, esp. our former President did an amazing job, and I felt prompted to let them know that. I'm so glad I did.

Well, there it is. I have already chosen and begun working on my March goals. I am so glad I have chosen to participate in this program. I am seeing some great changes in me already.





Friday, March 1, 2013

Easter Sensory Box, hours of fun for about $6.

 I have said before that sensory boxes are my new 
favorite play thing for the little girls, this 
still holds true. I made Carmella and Adelaide
an Easter sensory box, and the results are in ...
They Love It!

I am so happy with how easy and inexpensive this one
was to put together. 
I found some green paper Easter grass. One pkg. for $1.25 was all I needed. 
I got the girls some new plastic eggs $.88 for a dozen.
One pkg. of  8 Easter erasers $1.00
One stretchy rubbery bunny $1.00
And box with 6 chenille chicks $ 1.99 

I filled our box with the grass, then 
I put the erasers, bunny, and chicks inside the eggs.
I then laid the eggs in the grass. 
The girls had so much fun opening the eggs to see what was inside, and then
playing with all the little goodies. 
Carmella loves putting the chicks back into the eggs, and 
pretending they are hiding.
Addie has been making nests for the eggs to sit in.

The box has occupied them for over an hour today, and 
as a busy mom that is a wonderful thing.

The big secret I have found to making the boxes work for me, is to not let them play with 
it everyday. I bring it out about once a week, and only keep it out for part of the day. 
That way they don't get used to it being around, and
it is treat for me to bring the box out.

When a season has past and we are ready to move on to 
a new box, I put all the contents into a 
gallon sized ziplock bag, and store it away with the 
other themed bags. That way the box is ready to be used as a new
sensory box. I also have a set of 
measuring cups and spoons that I got at
the dollar store. I keep them with the box, 
that way they aren't using my good ones when they play.