SCRABBLE ART

I have been working on a gallery wall for my stair way, it is almost ready to show you all!! I just finished making scrabble art. Scott and I play words with friends all the time so I knew this would be a fun addition. This is such an easy project. 

You will need: 

Scrabble tiles (I found a game at Goodwill)

cork (fabric would work too)

a frame

spray adhesive 

hot glue

The how to:

Play with your letters to get the right lay out. Take a picture of it to revert back to. Using grid paper works well also. Cut cork to fit the backing of your frame. Use spray adhesive to attach it to the back piece of wood. This prevents and ripples or bumps. Lay out your letters in the frame. Hot glue them down one at a time.

This cute, easy project would be fun for holidays, a babies room, or a family motto!

Makin' Memories

Last week the kids and I headed to Green bluff to pick cherries and raspberries. We also go each fall  to get pumpkins and apples. We feel so fortunate to live so close to this amazing farming community and love the tradition of going out to support or local growers as well as some fabulous family time.

Scott got stuck at work so the kids and I were alone on this adventure. Would you believe there was no fighting!! ;) It was a fabulous day!

First up was Walter's fruit ranch. The kids came here for field trips to get pumpkins in preschool so it is usually one of our stops. My back window says "wash me please" My daughter writes that on there often. I live down a dirt road so she almost always has the canvas. We did wash the car on the way home! ;)

A tractor ride to the cherry trees is always fun. A spot to sit and cool off with a cup of cool water is a nice touch! :)

Makin' memories!

Next up was Hidden Acres for raspberries. This place is beautiful... I need an afternoon alone for their gift shop and an event to hold in their event space!

I love taking picture of my people walking ahead of me. Yes, my sweet thing is sticking her tongue out in one... she is being silly. It was a perfect day with my kids. I am so thankful  for days like these to connect and enjoy my kiddos!

For the love of bacon

Good Morning All! I am linking up with Silly Happy Sweet today for Favorite Things Thursday! Here is one of my favorite tips. It is actually from my husband... the bacon lover! ;)

When you fry something (like bacon) you almost always end up with a bunch of messy grease.  I never knew what to do with it,  the garbage was always a mess, and the sink is bad for your pipes. So.. here is how we handle that messy grease from our beloved bacon.

We keep a jar in the freezer, a spaghetti or salsa jar with a lid. After the grease cools a bit we pour the grease in and pop it back in the freezer. When it is full we toss it in the trash. No mess!

Winning the fight with dog hair...

Good morning all!


Today I am linking up with Silly Happy Sweet for Favorite Things Thursday.




Let me formally introduce you all to Doyle Brunson Johnson. He is named after our favorite poker player. 

He is the sweetest, most well behaved Golden Retriever around. He just so happens to be one the hairiest. I have always said that if you have a dog that you allow to live in your house as part of your family you must lower your standards. And I have believe me,  I vacuum the carpet a couple times a week and get an insaine amount of hair every time. Recently I have been feeling like I couldn't keep up with all the hair pooling under the table and in corners on the hard woods... so gross!!! My lifesaver... and maybe his too....... ;)


 The Swiffer SweeperVac.  My new BFF...

I love all swiffers products but this is by far my favorite! It picks up dog hair, crumbs and what ever other kind of chunks are laying around on your floor... instead of just pushing it into a pile. It is only $25-$30 bucks at Target, and worth every penny. It uses the swiffer dry cloths, that I think work great for dust and dirt. They sell replacement filters but I have just cleaned mine really well after each use and it has held up well so far.

 It works like a charm, saves my sanity and makes me love my lovable pup even more!

Swiffer didn't pay me to say this... I wish they did, but... I endorse them free of charge!

 I am feeling better today... sometimes just letting it out there and finding you are not alone helps! Thanks for the kind words! Love you all! ~Shelby

Happy 4th of July Mantle

Happy 4th of July!! In honor of the 4th and due to the fact that I have had a house full of guests and took no WIWW photos,  I am linking up with Honey We're Home  for the 4th of July link party

I love to style my mantle with the seasons and the holidays. For me it is some what therapeutic. I have this blank space that I can play with. Usually with out spending any money.

In my new house I have red walls in the family room and I am amazed at how well they coordinate with most holidays and seasons. This mantle is one of my favorites yet!

Take a look..

I love how the red walls look with all my red. I worried because sometimes red on red doesn't work. The previous home owners chose this color. Most of their decorating choices I don't like, but this was a home run. If I can find the color, I will share it!

The fireworks were a craft show find. They would be so easy to make.  I found a bunch of great old jars at a garage sale and used them here.  I used cheerful daisies in the blue glass jars and filled the others with shells. I am a beach lover!

My mom went to the Oregon coast and brought me back some star fish... they tie in the beach and the 4th of July theme.

The books are from around the house. I use books in decorating they add the color and the height you need. Peek under the jackets of your hard back books.. you might be surprised at the colors you could use in your decorating.

The horse is a favorite find from TJ Maxx. I left him twice and when he was still there the third time I knew we were meant to be together! ;)

Some milk glass and a blue candle and the mantle is complete!

In between the apple pie and the fireworks today please stop and remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom. I am proud to be and American and I am so thankful for those who serve our country. My grandfather was a POW in Japan for almost 2 years. Tomorrow I will share his story of heroism.

This year my niece is in Afghanistan. She is a nurse in an ER unit. She will be away from her husband and two baby girls for a year. Talk about sacrifice. Thank you to Nichole and all the men and women over seas and all the heroic men and women that have come before them who serve our country and make sacrifices most of us couldn't even imagine and would never even consider.

Here is a picture from her  face book yesterday from Afghanistan. Proud Americans? Absolutely.

God bless America!!! Have a safe and happy 4th!

Milk bottle faker

A few weeks ago at the Farm Chicks show I found this great old milk bottle holder. I thought it would be great as a drink carrier.

After getting it home I decided it would also look so very cute on my table with milk bottles in it, filled with daisies. I only had one old milk bottle and it was to fat to fit. I knew I could scour garage sales and antique stores and find some but I like instant gratification and didn't want to pay very much.

 My solution .. Starbucks frappachino bottles.

(this was my day 7 on the photo a day June from fatmumaslim.) So fun, check it out! It's never to late to join!

 I showed here how to get labels off of bottles and jars.

Cute, cheeerful little center piece.

 I am shelbyjojo7 on instagram, follow me!! Also I'd love for you to be a follower on my blog so I can get to know all of you too! ;)

Farm Fresh Eggs

 My neighbor  has about 30-40 chickens and whenever we need eggs I send one of the kids over with money and our egg basket. The other night I walked over with Maddie to get eggs for breakfast. There is something simple and almost peaceful about going and collecting your own eggs.

It was a beautiful night...

The barn..

She also has a huge, beautiful garden

Meet a few of the girls....

The black and white ones are my favorites.

this girl is busy..

Maddie and I collected eggs. I was so impressed at how she moves around that barn, she owns that place. I think she is a wanna be cowgirl like her Momma! She knows exactly what to do in there and isn't the least bit intimidated.

                                                               simple and beautiful...

We took them all to the office and did a tally..

We  collected 34 eggs. I should have brought my big egg basket!!

We left our $4.00 and left with a dozen fresher than fresh eggs!!

I know some of you are gasping that we spend $4.00 a dozen on eggs. Let me tell you, these are no ordinary eggs. The come from the chicken to my kitchen.

 You can see and taste the difference. Fresh organic eggs have a clearer white and a bright orange yolk. The taste is amazing. They are fresh, I know that the chickens have adequate space, clean environment, are feed well and cared for. I would purchase organic eggs at the grocery store for around $3 and they would not be as fresh as these. I buy all my animal products organic. Milk, eggs and meat always, most of my dairy is organic but cost wise I can't do it all. I do make sure my dairy is from cows not treated with the rBST hormone. "They" say it makes no difference, but... I don't want any artificial hormones in my families diet if at all possible.

I'm sure it grosses some people out that my eggs are just left in a basket on my kitchen counter. Let me explain.... 

Eggs stay fresher if you don't wash them at all. When hens lay eggs, there is a natural coating on them called the "bloom" that helps keep out bacteria. When you wash eggs, you drive some bacteria in through the pores of the shell, so you really shouldn't wash them at all. If the nests are clean, your eggs should be clean.  I do wash our eggs right before using. 

Fresh eggs don't even need to be refrigerated if they're going to be used soon. They can be kept at room temperature. Refrigeration will keep them fresher longer, but we eat our eggs rather quickly.

I make the kids eggs most mornings before school and we always have boiled eggs in the refrigerator for my salads, Conner and I eat boiled eggs for snacks or a quick breakfast. I do keep boiled eggs in the refrigerator.

Thanks for visiting the farm with me today! ~Shelby

Family Prayer List

I told you last week about how Maddie decided we should have a spot in the house to write down people who are in need of our prayer.

I was delighted with this idea! I love that it makes us think of others and makes us thankful; remembering those who are less fortunate or dealing with tough times. As soon as she mentioned it we got busy writing down names on the pantry chalkboard.

I felt our list needed a more special place, so I created one. I used word to type out a verse and a quote on card stock.

My first plan was to have it laminated but I decided to put it in a frame. My frame came from the dollar store, they have lots of  8.5x11 frames to choose from. We just write on the glass with a dry erase marker. The menu was a gift from a friend, you write on it with a dry erase marker also. That's where my genius idea came from! :)

I am in love with this project!

 ~ Shelby

Office recap and a few of my favorite things!

I did it! I knocked off every office goal on my list yesterday! My husband even went through every thing in his pile. (Thanks baby!) Wish I had taken before pictures! Here is the after...

You can actually see the floor!!!

A spot for each kiddo's school work.

Cut down on the books... again! At least they all fit in the basket. I did box some up to save for my Grand babies!! :)

Ordered my CD boxes and I got a waste basket!

A few of my favorite things!!

#1. The office! It is clean and organized. It is such a satisfying feeling to complete a project!

#2 Thankful that I can be here for my sick little kiddos, Maddie was home Thursday- Wednesday. She went back today and now I have Conner home. Thankful to be a stay at home mom.

#3. Signs of Spring!!! A few robins were in my yard this morning! The pussy willow tree up the road is in bloom! Spring is on it's way and I'm ready!!

#4. I'm a sky watcher. When the sun goes down, the mountainside behind my house is breathtaking.

I love the rosy glow and the way the trees become illuminated.

#5. Basketball. Conner has had a great season. He has improved so much. I'm also thankful this is the last week!! I'm ready for a lull before spring sports start.

                                                                                      
Think Spring!!! ~Shelby

A few of my favorite things.....

I love Christmas! I love the lights, the decorations, the music and the warm, fuzzy, loving  feeling in the air.
Right now I am LOVING my Keurig coffee maker, a just because gift from my sweet hubby!! I have a fresh cup right when I get up then get to enjoy another fresh cup after I get the kids off to school, no more reheated coffee for me!

The holidays are great for yummy coffee flavors!

I love all the options Keurig has!

 I set up a cocoa station with marshmallows in a cute jar, and crushed candy canes in a vintage syrup dispenser! So cute!

How perfect to sip on a tasty beverage while listening to this...

my favorite Christmas CD.
While maybe doing this...

Snuggled up in front of the tree with a Christmas book!
Enjoy the day! ~S