Stop and Smell the Roses

Today the girlz and I went to our favorite place for lunch, The Pink House in Claremore. I asked "A" why she liked it so much and she said, of course, "because it's pink!"

"M" had the grilled cheese sandwich...

"A" had a ham and cheese sandwich...

and I don't like having my picture taken...

I mean, I had the chicken tortilla casserole. DeLiCiOuS and absolutely no fat calories - yeah, right!

Unfortunately, we stuffed ourselves pretty good and didn't have room for our favorite dessert, baked fudge.

Then we did our next favorite thing after eating at the Pink House - antiquing!

Since it is a school day, I thought we better tie something "educational" into our outing and since we've been studying the Colonial time period, we were on a search for colonial pieces. We actually found lots of colonial style hats, shoes, and kitchenware - not to mention these Avon perfume holders.

Hey, this bicycle can be yours for the mere price of $700! What a bargain!

And our last stop was the doll shop...

Today is one example of why I love homeschooling so much - getting to experience life with my girls because life passes you by so fast. Blink and you'll miss it, so take time to slow down and smell the roses!

Hollenbeck Family Reunion

How to Paint Straight Lines - Tutorial

I've had several people ask me lately how I paint straight lines. I've painted a lot of borders and stripes in my day and have developed a few tips I'd like to share. I wouldn't say I'm a pro, by any means, but this is a really simple technique and gives a great finished look. I did this recently in my girl's rooms and the lines turned out so straight - I didn't have hardly any touch up to do. And it works especially well on textured walls!

Supplies needed...

* Level

* Painter's Tape

* Chalk pencil (Found in the sewing isle at Wal Mart or the fabric department of stores like Hobby Lobby. I prefer to use chalk pencils instead of regular pencils because you just wipe away with a damp cloth any marks you don't want and you don't have to worry about erasing.)

* Paint brush - I prefer to use a thin, 1 1/2" angled brush (easier to control)

* Paint & paint can opener (duh!)

First, paint your base coat...

Second, mark your lines with a level and chalk pencil...

Third, use painter's tape to tape off along your drawn chalk line. Be sure to press down on the tape pretty well. A credit card works really good.

Fourth, using a small amount of your original base coat on an angled brush, paint the area into the grooves of the wall where you want the stripe or line at the tape's edge. This will fill the grooves from the texture with the original base coat paint and is the big "secret" for getting super straight lines. Let this dry well - at least one hour.

Fifth, paint the area you want striped with a different color. You could also use the same paint color but do a different gloss - i.e., flat paint as your base coat then do the stripes in high gloss. You may need a second coat if the first coat didn't cover very well.

You do not have to wait on the paint to dry. After you have good coverage, carefully peel off the tape and reveal your BeAuTiFuL work!

I just made this stretched canvas for one of my girlz on Artscow.com - one of my new favorite sites for creating photo gifts. It was very simple to make and I purchased it on sale for only $15 with no shipping!

Good luck with your next painting project! I'd love to see pics! :-)

Art 2010

Our homeschool co-op just began our Art classes for the fall season. We have a new teacher, Mrs. Kuhns, who also taught the girl's Art Camp this past summer. She has many, many years of experience in teaching Art and is a very skillful and talented artist. The kids have really enjoyed it so far and have learned so much. Here's a few pics from the last class we had. I'm thinking we have several very talented artists here!

Remembering a Kind Soul

One of our favorite homeschool co-op activities last year was Art. We had an AmAzInG teacher, Miss Ann, who was a brilliantly gifted artist who also worked really well with children. She was a family friend and the mother of one of my best friends. Sadly, she passed away unexpectedly in her sleep one night this past July.

We were all so saddened by her sudden death. She will be remembered for her spunkiness, encouraging attitude, giving spirit, unending patience and her passion to teach others about art and creating things.

Ann, you are a kind soul who touched many, many lives while you were here on Earth. As I get older with each passing day, I am realizing just how very short life is and to treasure every moment. Goodbye for now - until we meet again at those pearly gates!

Gilcrease Museum Tour

The Gilcrease Museum has a "free day" on the first Tuesday of every month so of course, that's our favorite day to go! The girlz had a great time making things in the craft room, looking at western art, creating art on the computer and we shared a yummy brownie dessert at their restaurant.

Then we went outside to their beautiful grounds and finished our school work then snapped a few pictures. It was perfect weather to be outside and enjoy the day!

Visit to the Little House on the Prairie

The girlz and I decided to make an impromptu trip to the Little House on the Prairie today. It's only about an hour and twenty minutes from our house and the girlz always love to go there to visit. We got to visit with "Ma", see the post office, log cabin and school and we spent a lot of time petting the horses and donkeys at the barn. Here's a few pics and a video from our visit...

Little House on the Prairie

Making new friends

Our Master Bedroom & Bathroom Makeover

After we redid the girl's rooms last month, Steve and I started in on our bedroom and bathroom. I began thinking about ideas back in June and posted pics of all the changes our bedroom has already seen in the last 12 years. Poor Steve - he puts up with so much.

So here's pics of the finished rooms. So glad to be done!

The Master Bedroom...

The Master Bathroom...

I promise to refrain from painting another room for at least a month. Can't go much longer than that - I have a hideously painted utility room calling my name!

Kids Helping Kids

Our church is very active with mission work here in our city, but beyond our state, as well. About twice a year, they take a team to Juarez, Mexico to do medical and construction missions. According to DBF's website, "In 1997, Discovery partnered with a non-denominational missions organization, Missions Ministries. Since then Discovery teams have built 17 homes and helped build 2 clinics and a team center. Each trip includes pulling a trailer full of much-needed food and supplies for the local evangelical pastors to distribute. Our pastors also encourage and equip the pastors of the small churches."

Another medical and construction team is getting ready to head out to Juarez in about a week. The areas that the teams visit are very poor and are in need of good medical care, decent homes to live in and clean water to drink. Monica Wakley, one of our Sunday School teachers, has gone to Juarez for three years and shared with the kids at church this morning her past experiences in her travels there. She couldn't help but get emotional in telling the children of the huge needs families have there. She said that most of the families live in very tiny, plastic or wooden crate make-shift homes with dirt floors. (You can see photos of typical homes here.) They are very hot in the summer and very cold in the winter. She said that some people have even died in their homes because they didn't provide enough warmth during the cold seasons.

After Monica shared about her experiences, we prayed for the Juarez Mission Team, which also includes several children who are going with their parents. Then, the kids decorated sacks and filled them with goodies for the kids in Mexico. They really got into making the sacks and were so excited they were going to take part in helping someone in need.

We are all reminded to pray for their safety and well-being on this trip and that God will use them in big ways while they are there.

Farewell Summer!

Last night, we attended the last concert series for the summer at Utica Square. One of our favorite musicians, Grady Nichols, played and did a fabulous job, as usual. We met some friends out there and enjoyed the music and beautiful weather. Sad to see Summer go but I am so looking forward to Fall!

American Girl Club

We just began our (drumroll, please!) fifth year of homeschooling! (Happy Dance!) Last year, the girlz were way into Little House on the Prairie, so the curriculum we used was based on the Little House on the Prairie books. We blogged about our studies here.

This year, the girlz are way into American Girl, so our curriculum for this school year is also based on the AG books. We have begun another blog here that will go along with what we are studying throughout the year. We have some great friends that we'll be doing this study with and we've even begun an American Girl Club with them. We'll meet once a month and we'll take turns hosting.

Yesterday was our first AG Club meeting and it was at our sweet friend, Emily's, house. She had a tea party for the girls and was the perfect host! She served yummy treats and delicious tea/lemonade. They also did a fun craft and squeezed in a little play time, too. The girls are all so cute together and will be even better friends by the end of the school year, I'm sure.

Here's pics from our fun meeting...