The Toy Box Years: Five Project Challenge Update and Giveaway #6

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Well, the challenge goes on. I'm just one project away from meeting the Five Project Challenge given to me by My Marine. If all goes well, I should be back in the craft stores this weekend.

The Big Three** are probably a little worried about their sales goals for the month since I wasn't allowed to shop last weekend!

(**The Big Three are Michael's, JoAnn Fabric and Hobby Lobby)

Here's a few pictures of what I've been working on:

(I found this cross stencil at JoAnn's on clearance for $1.97. I got the tile (it's 12x12 with the stones already attached) at Lowe's for $2.50. I already had the paint. I'm just not sure what to do with it now!)

(This project just popped into my head one night. I got the tiles for .35 at Lowe's, the stamp I got at JoAnn along with the fan stencil. My original plan was to make these for the childcare workers at my MOPS group. When I posted the pictures on my FB page, a friend of mine asked me to make some for her kid's teacher appreciate gifts. So I did. Some acrylic, cork, and paint later, I made a couple extra bucks! I also made thank you cards too, but forget to take a picture of them)

I had so much fun making these hair clips for Nani and Nudgie. Already they've gotten some compliments. But I'm not sure if I have the courage to sell them. I think there are so many out there so much better than mine!

So, as you can see...I've been pretty busy. One more project to go!!!!

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Now for Giveaway #6!!

I still love to handwrite notes. I think it's slowly becoming a dying art, but there's nothing I enjoy more than writing someone a thank you card or a note just because.

This giveaway will be this:

A little picket fence basked filled with floral note cards and a matching heart wreath (to serve as a reminder to always write a note from the heart!)

Here's how to win:

1) Leave a comment saying if you still write handwritten notes and for what occasion (1 entry)
2) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or let me know you're already a follower (1 entry)
3) Follow me through Networked Blogs or let me know you're already a follower (1 entry)
4) Blog about this giveaway (2 entries)

Giveaway ends on 5/13!

16 comments:

Ioana May 6, 2010 at 6:10 AM: i still write hand notes, on birthdays especially. but i still write letters, by hand! And like hand written notes very much.
Annette W. May 6, 2010 at 6:19 AM: I still write notes...and make my own cards. (I just saved a bundle by making four Mother's Day cards!)

I write them for well wishes, birthdays, and just because.
Annette W. May 6, 2010 at 6:19 AM: I follow you with Google.
One Photo May 6, 2010 at 8:12 AM: I only hand write thank you notes and cards - my writing is horrible and no one can ever read it! As for the hair clips, people would definitely buy them, I am forever trying to find pretty inexpensive clips for my daughter but fail - the inexpensive ones are anything but pretty and the pretty ones are too expensive ($10 for a hair clip in Nordstrom is ridiculous!)

My daughter loves Hobby Lobby - it is her favorite place to shop, she just loves looking around there and we always end up with some fun projects to do at home
Kimberly May 6, 2010 at 8:19 AM: I'm ashamed to admit I haven't crafted anything for a very long time. I should tho.

I am in love with Hobby Lobby. I always get so lost there. :)
Mozi Esme May 6, 2010 at 8:33 AM: Those hair clips are lovely! And the clip part looks like the only kind I can get in my daughter's hair (for a short period); she hates barrettes and anything that snaps. Sell 'em!

I use notecards for thank you notes and gifts. I keep thinking of other uses, but that's really the primary use I've got right now...

janemaritz at yahoo dot com
Anonymous May 6, 2010 at 8:56 AM: Ah I'm bad about leaving a project through halfway!!!

I hand write notes to my parents once a week since I've been at college. And I am a follower through Google Connect
Gen May 6, 2010 at 10:57 AM: very cute! love to write lil notes...and i seal them with wax stamps!
Margie May 6, 2010 at 1:25 PM: I send many handwritten notes...particularly for birthdays and special occasions like Valentine's Day. I love to get handwritten notes; they seem more personal.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Margie May 6, 2010 at 1:25 PM: blog follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com
Steffanie May 6, 2010 at 6:42 PM: I do write notes if I think of friends for no reason, but not often enough. Many times I think I need to write that person and don't get the ink to the paper, sadly.
Crystal Escobar May 7, 2010 at 12:45 AM: Hey, I'm brand new to your blog, I love it!!! I love your clips you made, so cute!
I stil write hand written notes, sometimes :) I actually did it today, I do it for thank you notes.
Crystal Escobar May 7, 2010 at 12:46 AM: I'm a follower.
Fawnda@Fireflies and Jellybeans May 8, 2010 at 9:08 AM: I write out thank you notes and cards!
I♥thesecrazykids May 10, 2010 at 8:47 AM: I still write handwritten notes on birthdays, and randomly to my kids just for fun. I also write them to online friends that live away. And now that my mom moved far away I will be writing to her as well.
I♥thesecrazykids May 10, 2010 at 9:28 AM: I blogged about it http://atrioofboys.blogspot.com/2010/05/make-best-of-situation.html