Wednesday, November 23, 2011

DIY "Anthropologie" Mason Jar Snow Globes!

My Country Living magazine was here!!! My 8 year old daughter loves to check the mail every day, and she had announced my magazine had arrived. I of course was awaiting it's arrival...as usual. I mean, who could really not, all those fabulous country images, ideas, inspiration to drink in. So with CL in hand, I kicked my feet up, grabbed my hot cup of Chamomile tea, and dove in. I had a hard time getting past the cover this month...
.
See what I mean...simple, casual living, starry eyed, I decided I had better at least open it up! Inside I read the story of a lovely couple who decided to forsake city life forever and live their "country dream." 7 acres of fertile land, a refurbished farmhouse, and a lot of diy has made them the proud owners of this living room! (yes, someone ACTUALLY lives here:) So back to snowglobes...
I spotted 3 on a mantle that looked so cute, rustic...and WHAT $55 from Anthropologie!!? A little inspired, and challenged to make some for our home, along with the innovation of my kiddos (they're smarties:) Off thrifting we went to get the supplies we didn't have, out of the garage came the canning jars we had intended to use for that fresh fall applesauce, that never got made (oops;) and the hot glue gun got plugged in to warm up...with a little help from this tutorial from Arielle at a beautiful journey DIY MASON JAR Snow Globe Tutorial and a glittery, sugary, gluey mess later...VOILA!
                                         
                                      We have our own "Anthropologie" style snow globes! From there I continued my decorating, and prepping for Thanksgiving...the way I move things around no guarantee it will look like this come dinner time:) but here's what I've been up to today, with all the extra energy I have lately...thanks to a little help from my Isagenix products! (www.montanavictory.isagenix.com)
Giant nut cracke! It works! 


Buffet will be all decked out for Dining!

I even got the menu together...googled somethingeruther, and made it even look cute!

mmm....it's gonna be epic!
That's all folks, at least for today, gotta say this time of year is full of all kinds of daily adventures waiting to be had! CHEERS to a thankful lovely Thanksgiving feast time at your place! ( I know it will be at my house:)
Blessings,
Megan oxox

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

DIY Thanksgiving Banner

I set out each day to be thankful, thanking God for his blessings, love, friendship...but this time of year with Thanksgiving just around the corner, it's nice to be able to put it out there in big bold print everything I am grateful for. And being inspired by a few pictures of lovely fireplace mantle banners...
(scroll down for my inspiration:)
I made one of my own...a little scrap of drop cloth, old chocolate colored ribbon, sharpie marker, and some "No Sew" Whowouldathunk? What are you grateful for?
pendant inspiration banner.

simple scrapbooking banner.

Ah, what a Cricut can do! 

country chic

tater tots and jello

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

How your OLE Rake can double as a organizer for your necklaces

Vintage Rake Necklace Display from Twig Home

I love re-purposing. I also have a giddy love of all things old, vintage, rusty, chippy...you get the idea. I had seen this lovely picture, that inspired me, and knew it was going to find it's way into my own home...
Here's the one I found at the local REstore! 
LOVE IT! 


Thursday, September 29, 2011

Organized My Home Business Office

I was not born an organized person, and it takes great focus and INTENTION on my part to stay organized...I recently started a business that I can work around my 4 children, homeschool, family, & from my home! Talk about needing to get organized, sheesh! So I took a corner of our "side"room a 2nd bedroom off of our kitchen area, and organized a space for me to make phone calls, organize my day/week, catch up on e-mails and facebook, and call my own "PRODUCTIVE SPACE":)
Since I can invite people to use the products I am marketing from anywhere, in the USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK...I thought I should know the time differences...haha, so I've got my little USA map, (first the USA...next THE WORLD!) so I am being courteous of dinnertime and bedtime to the people I am calling...got my product catalogs, all neat, some little clothes pins I decopaged with scrap paper for notes, and important info...My business cards are on a fun plate I found thrifting that has all kinds of fabulous global vintage stamps!!! And some Isa Snacks, a little chocolate wafer that helps with cravings and sh-tuff:)

 I've got my goals written with wipe marker on my mirror (did you know you could do that?? LOVE it!) Printer, "ego wall" with my most recent promotion award...yahoo! Extra sharp wooden  pencils with NO eraser...because they are the best! My planner, and cell! Love that I can just grab them both and take this business wherever it takes me! Ready for my new business adventure!!! Check out my new website to see what I am up to! www.montanavictory.isagenix.com

P.S. I have lost 15 pounds so far using these products and it's only been a month!!!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Hobby Farm.

I grew up on a hobby farm of sorts, a few acres, chickens...
basket of spring chics!
 ... big garden, mom always canning and preserving, and the occasional bottle fed bum lamb, pigmy goat, and horses we would stable for friends.
bottle-feeding a baby (bum) lamb

farmhouse kitchen with fresh cut flowers from the gardens!

the barn

greenhouse, perennials, lovely farmhouse nearby where we live I have been "oogling:)"

 The slower pace of life, drying our own herbs for cooking, medicines, and teas...safe country roads for running, biking and enjoying nature all around us! The bird singing, the gentle rain, and bubbling of the creek nearby...ahhh...


The old Farmhouse is drawing my eyes and heart too...probably reminisent of the old folk victorian farmhouse I called home the first 18 years of my life. The clawfoot tub for a good long soak after a long day working in the garden, or painting the old barn.

I loved being able to roam around the property, "jump the creek" swing on our rope swing across (as long as I didn't miss and fall in:) Lovely memories. Lately I have been wanting this for my own family. Seeing my children collecting eggs, helping me plant, weed and harvest a larger garden than just our little backyard corner...Seeing my husband fix things around the house, chop wood, be able to relax and fish in the creek! He' s also quite a cook and has been baking artisan sourdough bread from our year old starter we've been keeping and it has been a treat, I have done some canning, refinishing furniture, and decorating our home on a budget, tried herbs from our little herb patch for tea and soups this winter, the girls and I will be making applesauce from apples at a local orchard soon, and maybe pickles, and canned peaches, and raspberry jam too!  I feel like we are just scratching the surface, and the lifestyle we desire could be right around the corner!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Drying Herbs from the Garden...


Dill, Sage, Oregano, and Coriander (Cilantro Seeds) Drying on my twine rack


The potting station by my herb garden, drying the first of the herb winter stash! 
September came with a  lovely chill in the morning air this morning, beckoning my old cotton gray sweater out of the recesses of my closet. I grabbed my green scarf off the hook, and a warm drink in hand I headed to meet a friend at a local community-type garden. After chasing kids around, picking loads of peas, admiring the height of the mint plants gone wild, I decided to sit down with the small herb cottage-style herb garden. The rocks were scattering, so I re-stacked the small wall barrier around it. Began to pick weeds, and "volunteer" herbs that had decided to grow where they were not welcome:) The patch looked fantastic, and inspired me to come home and give my own little herb garden some love...so after a little picky-picky and hand raking it looks fantastic! I even got to bundle up some herbs for drying! I found a simple little article I thought I'd share if you are new to the ancient practice of herb drying for kitchen and medicinal use! http://www.marthastewart.com/270025/dry-your-own-herbs?czone=home/herb-garden/uses-for-herbs

There's tons of great info. on herbal teas, herb infused baths, herb honey, cooking, getting well, and thriving with the wonderful herbs and plants God has given us! Such an fresh and wonderful time of year to see the garden in full bloom, and getting ready to plant bulbs for the spring!!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Vintage Cruiser Bicycle...from the Richest Hill on Earth!

After scouring the thrift stores, looking high and low in the local ads...there it was! A lovely blue vintage bicycle, and only a hop skip and a jump away in Butte, MT (the richest, silver and copper mine on earth.) I found the little treasure I was looking for!
Now for a little shining up, and maybe a coat of paint, and it will be ready for some scenic cruising in my neighborhood, and maybe a couple pedals to the farmer's market on Saturdays!



I love the little original details!

Tiger Hand grips! Yeah, it's original! Grrrrr:)
Anyone want to start a vintage bicycle gang? Keep me posted...if you change your mind;)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Daily dose of Vinyl Quote Inspiration!

I've had this quote for almost 3 years!! It didn't have a permanent home on my wall until today! ( Due to moving, selling house and what not:) I am happy to say it is now in my home office, right above the inside of the door, encouraging me daily to Go Confidently in the direction of MY dreams! Gotta love vinyl quotes!:)

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Almost time for pencils and chalkboards!

click on the box to register and join me for this great ONLINE homeschooling conference! 

Before I had children, I had a friendship with God, and in our conversations:) I knew I was going to choose to teach my children...at home. I have to say once Kindergarten rolled around I felt like I was starting all over in Kindergarten too! There was a lot of questions I had, anxious thoughts, doubts that I could home school at all. I knew God would see me through, direct our steps as a family, so we jumped in as a leap of faith, did tons of research (thanks Google!:) and my husband and I have learned so much about ourselves along the way. This year marks our 3rd year homeschooling our first daughter, and the first year that #2 will be hopping on board (officially:) The world is our classroom, and we are always learning. I have had to "unlearn" a lot too, namely that learning doesn't have to happen one specific way for everybody. I love to have my kids experience, make, do things...dive right in to the middle of it all, and be immersed in discovery and curiosity. We have been using Five in a Row a classical "Charlotte Mason" approach to learning, using Horizons for math workbooks, watching some fun documentaries, "Drive Thru History" DVD's for a biblical historical teaching,visiting the local children's science museum regularly, and "Field Trip Friday" It's refreshing being open to changing directions, having the flexibility to have one on one learning with my kiddos or just pushing pause if my children find something find they want to explore and dig a little deeper into. I have discovered for myself the joy of taking on the responsibility to parent, teach, love, correct and enjoy my children! It is a way of living, not just a lecture style classroom, and it's amazing! I am hoping to encourage other local moms who are home educating or looking into home education to put their whole heart into it, God gave us these specific children because he knows we have what it takes to help them become who they are as HIS sons & daughters. Never doubt that it is on purpose!;) So to kick off this year in the right direction, we are going to all memorize the fruit of the Spirit and see them begin to grow in our lives more and more this year! Seems like a good foundation for a happy school year, don't you think? Got it up on our chalkboard door in the kitchen to help remind us!

A Rainy Sunday Showcase.


It's raining sheets out there! I love the rain, not that we get a lot here in Montana, so I'm reveling in it...while it lasts. And with it being Sunday, grocery shoppings done, fun at the lake has been had, casserole is bubbling away in the oven, laundry's done and  it's the last day of the beautiful month of july...It's the perfect storm for me to take a minute, sip some hot chai, and look back on this month and all that's happened in our little part of the world...We kicked off the month of July welcoming my husbnands parents for a short overnight visit on their drive to Florida and  some dear friends to stay at our home for 4 days...


...three little curly top boys, and their talented musician parents! We enjoyed many meals together, late night deep conversations, laughing at our children playing together, and lots of loud guitars and djembe drums as we sang our hearts out to our Father. Even little E. was joining in the merry-making! (above pic) We prepared our guest room which is something I have always wanted to be able to do...to cheerfully extend hospitality and create a cozy atmosphere in my home for guests to come on short notice.



I wanted to make a cozy space with all the details taken care of, so I made sure there were 2 pillows each (one feather squishy and one firmer one:) Fresh linens, towels just for the guest, all tied together so they know which ones are for them. Bedside table equipped with alarm clock, fresh flowers, and some fun old books. I also put a pretty glass bottle of spring water with two glasses, and a little lidded  bowl with cashews in it, in case they were a little "peckish" from travel. I am planning on making some fun vintage pics of old hotels around the area to make it a personalized guest room...Some other little decor upcycles I've been up to this fine month...

I spray painted my "texas" license plate star white, and like how it turned out! 
With the guest room getting an upgrade, I got our bedroom done too! New drop cloth curtains hing on a double rod, and a fun old "serving tray" travel bar makes it's debute as my new bedside table, with all the late night reading I've been doing scouring the pages of Ben Pasley's new book, let's just say it's come in handy:) 

I found a fabulous roll of late 1800's advertisments printed on some sepia tone wall paper, and had a great time, cutting them to fit some frames I already had, giving our stairway a nice cottage historic look, complete with skeleton keys! (for the dungeon of course!)

This chippy sign was salvaged from a compost pile! I love it, and am do glad my hubby rescued it so  I could give it a new loving home on our wall! It's from historic Reeder's Alley, and a "Reserved Parking Employees Only" for the original Pioneer Cabin on the gold rush gulch...:Last Chance. Glad to offer this chippy cutie a "Second" Chance!
My bookshelf still happily resides inside the fireplace for now! And atop the mantle are all the fabulous radishes that went to seed without producing a radish...grrrr. But don't they look pretty! (always a silver lining, right?)


Close up of one of the fabulous vintage print ADS this one is for No. 4711 Crab Apple Cologne...Love!

Ok, not risque, at first glance you may think this is a nude-y but NO, it's a cutie little girl getting ready to soap up in a little river waterfall. CUTE:) Pears Soap, the captions says "Our Baby" This is an actual 1891 photograph of the creators of Pear's Soaps daughter. Lovely.


There's definitely  more that I've been up to with my family, but that's all for now!