Christmas Wreath

Well this Christmas season I've been behind on my decorations but I thought that I would not let that stop me.

Despite getting our tree two weeks ago, putting it up and decorating it I never used the cut off branches to make my wreath so tonight I finally did.

I was also babysitting tonight so I had a helper, Allie Adams!

So below is the tutorial on how to make a Christmas wreath:

First, here are the items that you need:

     - Wire Wreath Frame

     -  Green Floral Wire (I used 22 gauge)

     -  Wire cutters

     -  Wire Edged Ribbon

     -  Accent Decorations, you can use anything you want (I got mine from the dollar store)

Grab a group of tree sprigs

Place the springs on the wireframe

Secure the sprigs to the frame with the floral wire making sure that it's very tight

Continue the top three steps overlapping each group on the one before again and again until you get around the entire frame

Now you have a wreath un-decorated, looking something like this

You may want to flip the wreath over and using your cutters or needle nose pliers, lightly grab the floral wire and twist which pulls the wire just a little bit tighter

If you do need to tighten the wire in the back it'll look something like this

Okay now for the decorations!

I like to start with the bow.  Use wire edge ribbon to create your bow.  Thanks to the CookingAndCrafting video for refreshing my memory.  Check out the video if you need help!  

Place the bow on the wreath where you want...on the top, the bottom, the side, it's up to you.  I placed mine on the bottom

Evenly place your decorations around the race however you want.  You may need to use the floral wire to secure your decorations. I use decorations that had wire in them and didn't need to use the extra floral wire

Then hang your wreath and show off your finish product

Blog is Back!

Thank you Google for reinstating my blog! I have had someone hacking and posting on my behalf and it is now fixed! I also am once again on the iPhone and will have blogger mobile...so Expect some more postings from me! haha

Philadelphia Zoo

JJ's 3rd grade trip to the Philadelphia Zoo

Gabby, Scott, & "Tripp"

Had a great time today celebrating the upcoming birth of my nephew "Tripp" short for Triple as he will be the 3rd Scott R Childs!!!

I love you guys and was so glad I am part of your lives! I can't wait to meet my little buddy! March better get here quick!

Here are some pics:

Relax

This is what I try to remind myself everyday!

Being Honest

As most of the readers of this blog know, each blog posting is few and far between. This is now the 3rd posting in three days which is a new record for me! I thought I would share why that is. This will require me to be honest!

There is the saying "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all!" We'll that's why I don't blog. Not because I try to live by that rule but because I have realized that I am usually in a negative thought pattern and I don't want to post things that people will read and judge me for.

Yes I know as a Christ follower I am not suppose to be negative! That is so false! I am human just like every other person on this earth. Being a follower of Christ does make me different because I choose to make different choices and I can have faith and I can trust in God to help me along. Doesn't mean my life will be perfect or that I won't suffer.

So why am I negative, you might be thinking? I am a sufferer of depression and anxiety. My negative thoughts come from my depression and those thoughts in turn cause me anxiety at times.

Back to how this effects my blogging. When things don't go right in your life and you are talking with someone you don't really know your tendency is to smile and make the impression that life is good even if it's not. If I blog when feeling down or negative it is extremely hard to keep a "smile" on my words. I have realized this is why I have not blogged much.

I have decided it would be helpful to blog regardless. It will be helpful for me to express the real me, to be honest. Possibly get encouragement from those that read, but it may also be helpful to those reading. Maybe someone else needs to hear that they are not alone! That they are not the only one that struggles!

Thank you all for letting me be honest and not judging me! :)

New Year Pics

Can't Sleep

Well...I have been struggling with sleep the last couple of weeks. I have always had problems falling asleep and so I have a prescription for Ambien. I usually try not to take it, as there are times when I'm just flat out tired and nothing would keep me awake. This is not one of those times!

After the holidays my sleeping schedule was off a bit (not uncommon), however this time I just haven't been able to sleep properly since.

It started with everyone being sick and so you sleep all day and all night....as much as possible. Then your up all night cause one of the kids are sick. So when you finally have a chance to go to bed and take an ambien it doesn't seem to kick in because your body is now on a different schedule.

I finally thought that I was getting it all worked out when I threw my back out just enough to be annoying and keep me up all night! So here it is 1:12am and I am laying on the couch because this is where my back feels the best at the moment...I have already taken my sleep aid but does sleep come? No!No! I'm stuck here to suffer!

I will go try warm milk now! Leave comments of other ideas I could try! I can't continue this way!!!