The Toy Box Years: The Only Plants I Can Keep Alive.....

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!!

The Only Plants I Can Keep Alive.....

>> Wednesday, June 9, 2010

I've given up on planting flowers. I just can't do it. I have a hard enough time keeping my kids and my dogs alive. I just can't add one more thing to keep alive to my list.

Last summer, Nani and I painted thumbprint butterflies on some small terra cotta pots.

The flowers we planted didn't last long at all. I just kept forgetting to water them. So, this summer, I just decided to recycle the pots for a different craft.

I found these cute little wooden flowers at JoAnn Fabric in their dollar bins.

Then Nani and I spent a Sunday afternoon painting a couple.

Once they dried, I cut the stems down so that they would fit into the pots. I put some rocks in the bottom of the pots for weight and then added some floral foam that I had laying around and then topped it off with some moss that I got at a garage sale for .25!

And viola! The finished project! Flowers I can keep alive!!

12 comments:

Anonymous June 9, 2010 at 5:04 AM: You n me sista, I'm terrible with plants!
Evonne June 9, 2010 at 6:56 AM: I need to get some flowers like that!
Dina June 9, 2010 at 7:59 AM: you are too talented i am so jealous...on the other hand i can keep plants alive...lol. if you wanna donate any pots I would always take them.
Julia June 9, 2010 at 8:24 AM: That is such a cute idea! I really love the thumb print butterfly pot!
Christy Killoran June 9, 2010 at 8:25 AM: Very cute alternative to real flowers! I'm not very good at keeping plants alive either. We'll see if my flowers make it through the summer!
Leslie June 9, 2010 at 10:59 AM: I am not a good plant caretaker either! These turned out so cute! I love the finger prints on the pots and the adorable flowers! Thanks for linking up to Hoo's got talent!
Liz Mays June 9, 2010 at 11:40 AM: Well, those are just adorable!
One Photo June 9, 2010 at 7:27 PM: Every houseplant I have ever bought dies a quick and painful death so anything more than that is beyond me. But my father will be here next week so I am hoping he can help me get my garden started!
Anonymous June 10, 2010 at 12:42 PM: very cute! =)
and we thank you & your husband for his faithful service.

connecting from MBC!
Personalized Sketches and Sentiments June 10, 2010 at 4:29 PM: Cute! Cute! You two did an awesome job with your beautiful blooms!

Blessings & Aloha!
(thanks for stopping by! :o) I love to read your comments. Oh...also love your profile picture of you and your girls.
Anonymous June 10, 2010 at 4:57 PM: Thats a very cute idea! Those are the type of flowers I need. Lol! Thanks for sharing.
Leah - Custom Pens June 12, 2010 at 5:37 AM: You and your daughter are very creative. The outcome of your work looks beautiful. This is a nice project for kids especially during summer time. They will enjoy doing this kind of stuff and will be happy to see their artworks everyday.
The kids can even customize their works by putting their names on the pot. Thanks for the great idea. I might by the materials to be used for this project. I already have their pens, paints, brushes and pencils. Tomorrow we will buy flower pots and start the project right away.