Little Gator Designs

How CUTE. what a great idea. 
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LilGatorDesigns?ref=seller_info
http://www.etsy.com/people/LilGatorDesigns

http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/

http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/

http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/

look what I just purchased from {Sweet Pickens}

Cannot wait to pick them up!!!!!!!!!

baked cheese sandwich

Baked grilled cheese sandwiches are awesome, easy, and include minimal clean up. When I did in-home child care i used make two sheets of them once a week for lunch.  BIG hit with kids. they are not scorched, blackened or greasy.

here is what to do-
line a cookie sheet with tin foil or parchment paper. DO NOT GREASE the foil or paper. 
lightly spray butter one side each bottom slice of bread.
Add your cheese (also good to add sandwich sliced dill pickles).
Top it with another slice of bread spray buttered on the out side.

Bake is a hot 400 degree oven for about 9-10 minutes, turn over half way through and press down on each sandwich a bit.
crust will be slightly golden and crisp.
clean up is as easy as throwing away tin foil or parchment paper.

Lunch is easily completed with a few chips and a yogurt. See how kids will love this? No more complaints about burnt bread.

Board & Batten Bathroom

used 3/12" MDF horizontally to bridge the slats and the counter back splash

trim that will be flush on one side with the existing base board and equal to or larger that thevertical board

decorative trim on top of the framed mirror

5 1/2 " MDF on top and framing the mirror

my little hand tool made nice clean cuts around switch plates and such

Board & Batten Bathroom

I did the thin lattice strip version, like Shelley Smiths Kitchen not the bedroom. See the links for more ideas. I did the thin ones because the space is small and tight and a lot of precise cuts were required.

 I put a strip of trim above the base board so that the base board would look taller and the vertical board would not hang over.

All the horizontal trim and mirror trim is MDF. I put a decorative strip at the top of the mirror to make it a little fancy.

I did not make the slats exactly equally spaced apart either. My walls are curved and rounded in that room so I place them to accommodate that.

Paint a couple coats of white on the wall before installing things, let dry at least a day before installing anything.

Prime 2 times and paint 2 times the slats before you install…note this is not to make them pretty just to make them easier to finish on the wall.

Once up paint with foam rollers, brushes and or a combo. Have good light a low running fan and stay on the project.

Sand the edges of you MDF wipe off the dust and pre-paint before installation. Pre-paint all trim before installing too. Note this paint job is THE paint job so the goal this time is to be pretty.

You may think you will never do it again after doing it once…like childbirth you forget the pain and just do it again anyway. YES it does get better. 

check out these posts on B&B and using MDF as trim
http://houseofsmiths.blogspot.com/search/label/Board%20and%20Batten%20Wall

http://showandtell-sausha.blogspot.com/search/label/bathroom

Frame Ideas

I took a wall mount cd holder flipped it over and use it in Westons room to display family camping pictures with camping rocks.

Mini Frames

clear polyurethane frames

frame magazine prints or other theme items for a tween theme. More grown up than what can be found in the stores.

frame fabric swatches

frame sayings

High School Registration

OMG I have a high school student. I took Natalie to her high school registration. her learners permit will be issued soon. She is going to be 15 in April.

I am so excited for her and her new upcoming experiences.

Kitchen Decor

I painted, glazed & decorated this little baby

little jar for corks and champagne caps

Before & After

the safe hidden key

Contractor key boxes are available at small and large home improvement centers for about $25. Hang them in a nice secure location so when you get locked out you can use the code and get in. great for kids after school too.  The code can be changed easily.

puppy update

She is still CUTE and good. She drags her toys all over my house and leaves them on the stairs. She sleeps out of her kennel now overnight. She eats and is no longer skin and bones. The bottom photo is of her watching me leave. she Still does not like it when I leave. Loving her!