Guest Feature: Homemade American Flag

Check out a DIY project from one of our readers, Robyn Caruso from New Jersey!

For years I’ve wanted to make my OwN American Flag out of a fence, but always pushed it to the end of my to do list. Robynn recently posted her inspiration for making an American Flag and that was all it took to get me going. With my little ones birthdays both approaching this summer, I am feeling the need to “fReeZe” time and just take in every minute of them being little. My idea for my flag included their little HanDprinTs so that in years to come we can look back and remember how special this time was. Next came a trip to Home Depot where I convinced the lumber crew to cut down a broken fence that originally cost $24 into the size that I wanted. I walked out of the store sMiliNg ear to ear after they rang it up for $4.04! I guess it’s not every day they have a mommy on a crafting kick with 2 toddlers throwing fishies out of a double stroller in the lumber department! I got home and went through my stash of paint and got to work.

Picture #1 – My son Nicholas helping me sand all of the edges.
Picture #2 – Nicholas concentrating on painting the field of blue.
Picture #3 – I used painters tape to keep the colors from running together and then imprinted Nicholas handprints on the first and third rows of blue.
Picture #4 – Mommy and Nicholas.
Picture #5 – Abby gets her turn on the second and fourth rows of blue. 
Picture #6 – Painting the year, kid’s names, and ages on the back of the flag.
 
Picture #7 – After the names were finished I sprayed the front and back of the flag with an indoor/outdoor sealer and was ready to tie the rope through the metal screw eyes that I screwed into the top of the flag.
Picture #8 – My finished keepsake flag!
Thank you Robyn for sharing this with all our friends on the SuedeSofa!!
~Lara & Robynn

If You Feel It Say It

How often have you thought of something NiCe about someone but didn’t tell them?  Maybe you ran into an old friend and you thought how GrEaT they looked, but failed to mention it…or perhaps someone said something nice about your spouse but you didn’t take the time to pass the CoMpLiMenT on to your loved one.

Many times we don’t stop to share a GOOD WORD because there wasn’t that right “break” in the conversation to bring it up, or maybe we fear the situation could get awkward.

The thing you have to remember is how GREAT you feel when someone says something nice about YOU!  Doesn’t that just make your day?  If a customer emails me saying how much they LOVE their blocks or a person mentions my new outfit, I have a JuMp in my step the rest of the day!  How would you like to have that same effect on someone else?  If you feel it, say it!  Don’t let another opportunity pass you by!

~Lara

Rude for you. Ok for me.

Have you ever left a message for someone who didn’t return your call/text/email and thought, “HoW RuDe!”?  I have to admit, this has happened to me on numerous occasions.  The main problem with this attitude is that I do the very same thing, but I don’t consider myself being rude or inconsiderate.  Instead, I’m “busy”, or I’ll eventually get around to responding.

The last time I was indignant with someone not returning my call I was reminded of my double standard and I vowed to make a change.  Very often all that is needed is a quick reply such as:

 “S o u n d s   G o o d”, “O k”, “=)”, or “I’ll get in touch with you when I know more.”

So that’s my my goal.  Hit that “RepLy” button immediately, return the call, or text an answer back and do as the GoLdeN RuLe says:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Ouch.
Robynn~

SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE

When I was a first year teacher I wanted to be the best at EVERYTHING.  After a month I ended up being the exact opposite because I was burnt out and exhausted all the time.  It finally dawned on me when I pulled out the “quote of the week” that read: SIMPLIFY.  We’ve all read that word numerous times, but how often have we actually applied it to our everyday lives?

Simplifying your life may mean cancelling dinner with friends because you haven’t been home with your family all week.  Perhaps it is buying a treadmill so you don’t have to drive to the gym.  Maybe you’ll aLLoW your kiddo to wear clothes that don’t match because it isn’t worth the extra stress to get them out the door!

Make it your goal to simplify your life.  What is iMporTant?  Is it TIME? Is it reducing stress?  StRip AwAy the unnecessary elements that are causing problems in your life and only focus
on achieving the “have-to’s” today!

~Lara

“Smokin’ Hot!” – The Challenge (Wk 12)

Like it or not, the people you are hanging out with play a big role in regards to wHeRe and WhO you will be in 5 years.  Are the people in your life raising you up to help you fulfill your potential or dragging you down?  Are they inspiring, positive and motivating or are they negative and critical?  Do they seem to suck the life out of everything or are they LiFe-GiVinG? 

My husband recently shared this quote with me:

“SmaLL pEopLe talk about other PeOpLe, AvEragE peOpLe talk about ThiNgS, GrEaT pEoPle talk about IdEaS.” 

That’s one thing I really appreciate about Lara.  She’s an IdeA PerSon.  As a result, I get inspired.  Everytime I talk to her I feel like I am leaving “smokin’ hot” with new ideas!

Who are the people in your life who make you a better person?  Is it time for some new relationships?   Time for a new CiRcLe oF FrIeNdS?   Because you’re gonna blink and your 5 years will be up.

Robynn~

Strawberry Shortcake

 

 

This is my family’s All-TiMe FaVoRiTe summer dessert.

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Ingredients:

SwEeTeNeD StRaWbErRiEs

  • 2 Quarts Strawberries
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

WhiPpEd CrEaM

  • 2 Cups Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar

ShoRtcAkeS

  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 1/2 Cups Pancake and Baking Mix (such as Bisquick)
  • 3/4 Cup Milk
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar

Slice strawberries.

Add 1/2 cup SuGaR to strawberries and refrigerate.

Pour heavy whipping CrEaM in metal bowl.

Place whipping cream in freezer for 15-20 minutes.

MeLt butter in mixing bowl.

Add pancake and baking mix to melted butter.

Add milk.

Add sugar.

StiR ingredients.

Form 6 shortcakes and place on greased cookie sheet or tinfoil.  Bake for 13 minutes.  Cool shortcakes before assembling.

While shortcakes are baking take heavy whipping cream out of the freezer.  (It will be forming crystals and freezing to the sides of the metal pan.)

Add 1/2 cup of Powdered Sugar to whipping cream.

With an electric handmixer beat whipped cream for 5 minutes or until peaks form.

Slice ShOrTcAkEs in half.

Add strawberries to bottom layer.

Add strawberries to the ToP of the shortcake.

Add a DolloP of whipped cream and EnJoY!!

Robynn~

Modern-Day Penpal

Did you ever have a penpal? Back in elementary school I remember our teacher assigning us one as a class project.  My penpal’s name was Alexis, from Pennsylvania.  The thrill of running to the mailbox to see if there was a letter from her (and maybe even a picture included!)  is a memory I won’t forget.  How cool it was to have a conversation and friendship with a person whom I had never met living life a thousand miles away.

I’ve had the fortune through my internet business to develop similar “penpal” relationships with people all across the country.  Shauna is from Utah.  She helped me get started with my block business.  When I was going to be featured in Baby Talk magazine, Heather from California gave me tips on what to expect with the increase in customers.  I was even a bit of an inspiration to Robyn from New Jersey, to encourage her to start her own craft business on the internet. 

Similar to my elementary school days, these are my modern day “penpals” who I visit with on occasion and we share our thoughts and successes.  I consider these women my friends, even though I am in the middle of the country and they are states away in opposite directions.  Technology CAN be such a wonderful thing!

~Lara

Move On Baby. Move On.

Sometimes you just have to CuT YoUr LoSsEs and move on.  Easier said than done, I know.  But I’m working on it.  My friend, D.J. says to “ReFLecT nOt ReGrEt.”  That is how we are to view the past.  I don’t know about you, but I get those two switched around from time to time. 

Here is what I have come to learn:   When you reflect on the past it becomes your TeAcHeR.  When you regret about the past it becomes your ToRmEnTeR.  The beauty is that we get to choose the setting:  cLassRooM or pRisOn CeLL.  That choice is our’s alone.

Are you having a hard time reconciling the past?

Let it go. 

Its time to MoVe On BaBy, MoVe On.

Robynn~