Love and prayers from the dirt road…

16 Sunday Dec 2012

I actually had something else to visit with you about today. I am putting it off. It’s not important enough to share today. Not in light of recent events. Today I just want everyone to know that our hearts are breaking for the parents and the families in Connecticut. In times like these, I think as a whole, we feel horrified and dismayed. We feel broken and scared. We feel the need to do something. The thing that I am choosing to do…is to ask our Father above to strengthen and heal. I am asking Him to bring peace because He is the only one who can. I have seen Him do it in times past, so I believe that He will again. I am asking Him to hear the prayers from our stretch of the dirt road and I want to send our love along with it.

We have hope, my sweet Dirt Roaders. Let’s share it.

Oh Bottle Brush…Oh Bottle Brush…

14 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in fluffin' the nest

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Hey Guys! Are you absolutely crazy about those tiny bottle brush trees? I am! They are so much fun! Matter of fact…I just bought another one. It’s lime green and glittery. (Surely not.) If you don’t have any yet….throw down your computer and run out the door to Wal-Mart, just like you are right now! Run back to the Christmas stuff and there they are. Sitting there on the shelf with a heavenly light around them. (Insert heavenly music.) They are so cheap and so fun! Also, don’t forget to pick up an apothecary jar and some Epsom salts on your way to the check-out!

Okay, if you just did that…you deserve a prize. I will send you my latest recording of “Oh Bottle Brush.” (I’m kidding…I’m kidding.) I just wanted to share with you, just how much fun that cheap decor can be. This year, these bottle brush trees have been at the top of my list. They just look like Christmas from yesterday…you know? I knew that you would understand. 😉

How fun is that? Ikr? Pretty fun.

Have a great weekend, Dirt Roaders! May your day be merry and bright!

Gifts from the garage floor…

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in Gettin' all Crafty

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Okay…okay. So now…none of you want a gift from me. Just hang on and let me explain. Yesterday, I spent the day running out to the garage (freezin’ my poor little self) and spraying layer after layer of chalkboard paint. Have you noticed that chalkboards are all the rage right now? (Do people still say “all the rage?”) Well, if you haven’t dear one…they are. Thus, gifts from the garage floor. Several of our recipients are getting chalkboards this year. I’m soooooo excited the give them. (Now the ones that read my blog will wonder if it’s them.) 🙂

It’s very easy to do. I just pop the glass out and paint it, write on it, then I pop it back in. No prob, Bob. I usually do at least three layers of paint. I use spray chalkboard paint. It’s easy peasy. I think that most people recommend that you wait to write on them for at least twenty-four hours.

So, those are my gifts from the garage floor. It would make my little junkin’ heart happy to hear about gifts that you are making for your friends and family. Personally…I love to give those the best. It’s fun to have these special people in mind while you work on their gift.

I will leave you with a chalkboard that I made during the summer. Lovity, love, love this frame. (Thank you TJMaxx!) I will take pics of the chalkboards that I am making and share with you after Christmas. I don’t want to spoil any surprises.

Ta-ta Dirt Roadies! Have a wonderful Kelli’s Fav Day! 😉

p.s. When I call you guys Dirt Roadies…my spell check suggests “toadies.” I would never call you all “toadies.” Maybe. 😉

Dear Cranky Faced Lady,

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

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Dear Cranky Faced Lady,

When you were coming toward me with your cart, you looked a little scary.

I was trying to be all “I’m Christmas shopping…and being nice at the same time.”

I wonder if you had been in the store too long.

You were coming closer and closer.

I was expecting to hear a grunt or a grumble.

I’ll bet that you didn’t know, that I heard what you were really doing.

I heard you humming that Christmas song under your breath.

I’ll bet that you didn’t know, that you taught me a lesson or that I would blog about you.

Thank you, Cranky Faced Lady…for telling me to mind my own business and to stop judging books by their cover. Thank you for showing me that even the most stern looking person in the crowd can still have a song in their heart. God is good to send you my way.

Kelli

Thanks for learning with me today, Dirt Roaders. I will leave you with a Christmas tree from our bathroom…for your trouble. Hey…everyone needs a tree in the bathroom. 😉

Mom gave this little tree to me. I love it.

p.s. Comments welcome!

A sprinkle of glitter…

11 Tuesday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in fluffin' the nest

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Hey Dirt Roaders! I have a question for you: Are your homes covered in glitter? I went to a Christmas party the other night and the little piece of glitter that I could see on my face, out of the corner of my eye, was driving me insane! That said, I love it anyway. I love a sprinkle of glitter in our home. It feels so festive. I also love those “icy” branches that you can buy now days. Give me some glitter, some flocked trees and a dash or turquoise and I’m good to go! Woot!

A little glitter in the kitchen.

ahhh….mercury glass. Be still my little junkin’ heart.

One of my favs.

I hope that you have a wonderful day, Dirt Roadies! Go forth…and sprinkle glitter…like the little elves that you are. 😉

p.s. Leave me a comment! It will tickle me pink!

Being good…..for now.

10 Monday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in livin' a little healthy

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Happy Monday Friends! I hope that all is well. We had a wonderful weekend full of treasured little moments. I love to be quiet and enjoy those. They fill my emotional tank up with warm fuzzies. 🙂 BUT…we are talking about being good today. The reason that I say “for now” is because I know that we are human and we love to party. ~~I always make good, healthy, choices every day of my life.~~ The Christmas season is tough on us in that area…ain’t so? 😉 The goodies are too ~~good~~ bad to resist.

What are we to do? What is being good? Even at church yesterday…my Sunday school class had a party. We had doughnuts and cinnamon rolls and biscuits w/apple butter. ( Our town has this new little doughnut shop that is going to be the death of us all…if we aren’t careful.) Well…this is the thing, when we aren’t at parties…we can make good choices. It’s actually not a hard thing. Don’t eat a block of Velveeta for lunch if you are going to a party that evening. (So…I don’t always listen to my own advice, not that I eat a block of Velveeta for lunch…that’s just gross.) Most of the time though, I try to make good choices about what I eat. If I do that during the holiday season, I don’t wind up with scales that cry out in agony on January 2.

One example of being good. Egg white omelet with roasted red peppers, left-over asparagus, turkey pepperoni and a sprinkle of cheese. YUM!

I love you, Dirt Roaders. I want you to be around forever! Let’s all enjoy the season together…in moderation.

Simple Christmas Decor

08 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in fluffin' the nest

≈ 2 Comments

Hey Friends! How are you? I usually don’t post much on the weekend. Today you are getting a bonus. 😉 So…simple things to use as decor for Christmas? Yes…I have a few of those tricks up my sleeve. I will share a couple with you today.

I lovity..love…love these clip on, bird ornaments that we got a few years ago. I think that they were clearanced out for like .29 or something like that. How fun! They just add a little festive glam to your ordinary things. I just used this candle ring on one of those suction cup hangers, on a mirror. Then I clipped the little bird on. SA-WEET!

So….how easy is some frosty garland, yarn balls and big ol’ pinecones in a bowl? Pretty easy and looks great on our coffee table.

After so many years of too much stress during the holidays we have decided to make wise choices. As much as I love decorating it can be overwhelming this time of year. I have also discovered that I enjoy it so much more when it is simple and clean-looking. Simple Christmas decor is… the new me.

Last night we blocked out a whole evening to drive around with our kids and look at Christmas lights. We also did a little secret santa delivery…that was so much fun! Wow…I think that I am getting it… after all these years. (Wait…that makes me sound old.) 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, Dirt Roaders! Don’t forget to stop and smell the garland! 😉

p.s. I would LOVE to hear you thoughts on this. Your comments make me HAPPY!

Because I love my readers…

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in heart and soul

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Hey friends! How are you today? It’s Friday. You did it. Good job.

Okay, so…because I love you…my faithful readers, I have made an executive decision. I loved the turquoise theme that I tried out on you this week but it didn’t seem like a comfortable read. The font was pretty small and since I am trying to stay frugal with this blog at the moment, and I would need to pay for a different font, I decided to go back with FREE! I read several other blogs and the ones that I visit the most just have a good “feel” to them. Ya know? Yes…I thought that you would understand.

So…while it’s “change it up” week…why not change the header on the blog? We have had the first one for a few months…now how about a little cloche, mercury glass, “burlap” ribbon and a blue Ball jar? (We got our turquoise in there after all.)

I’m sorry if this caused any confusion or irritation. Well…of course it DID NOT. I have smart and easy goin’ readers don’t I. Yes…I do. Once again…I love my readers. 😉

May you have a wonderful day filled with mahvalous junk, Dirt Road friends. You guys are the best!

(I would love to hear your comments…let ‘er rip tater chip. 😉 )

What’s the scoop at the coop?

06 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by Kelli in everyday stuff

≈ 2 Comments

It’s Thursday…..YAY! Okay…enough of that. We are going to take a little breather from Christmas decor today. Let’s check in at the coop and see what it going on. Sometimes I like to totally change course for a bit…and regroup. Plus…I don’t want to bore you. I’m just nice that way. 😉