DIY Fails....Hits and Misses

Looking back at this post about my dining, room, I have to laugh now (long term changes...yep..it's no longer the dining room!)   But boy, what a good change:

 From this:

To this:

To this: Ahhh....finally!

I posted about the easy valances that I saw on Pinterest.  While I think it could be a good idea somewhere, it was the wrong fabric, color and scale for these windows, and definitely ranks up there as a DIY Fail.  These windowns are long and narrow, and putting that little square at the top just made them look like Q-tips! 

Enter longer, wider and just basically cuter.  And store bought.  That kills me, but after searching for fabric for months at $22 yard, I settled on these for $20 each.  And I like them. 

Live and learn.  I am an accountant after all, not a designer.  And no, the really cool "pooling effect" is just that they are too long, and I hate to hem.  Maybe the pooling effect isn't so bad...

I have a few more projects for this room, and it's turning into a really useful space in the house.  I love how flipping the rooms downstairs is going so far!

My little ski man

I am so impressed with this guy:

 We have talked about taking a family ski trip for the day and it only took us 11 years to get there.  This was his first trip, and he did awesome!!  

 

 

The views were breathtaking as the clouds took over the sun and the snow started...and I enjoyed part 2 of the day with this view from the lodge. 

 

We all had a great day, even with different results.  Here is my view with him saying..."see ya later mom..have fun!"

 

He spent three runs down the "bunny slope", and only struggled on the first run down.  Then he moved on the the green slopes, and then on to the intermediate slopes.  I was told he was "fearless" and a "maniac" on the slopes!

 

Me? I was hoping to get down the green slope once without falling (dang little 3 year old that cut me off with her 'this is so boring' little attitude).  OK, she didn't cut me off, but I was so out of control I was worried I would take her out. She was as cool as a cucumber.  I was left to get up, count my bruises and head to the lodge after lunch. 

 

But I'm ready to go again, bruises and all. Oh to have been able to learn when I was 2 feet tall on  2 feet long skis like my little pink friend.

 

As we head to the first day of spring, I shoveled out the walk to get the boy to school this morning.

 

Science Fair, Day One

Do parents ever look forward to the science fair? My hypothesis: I think, no. 

This year does have its perks though for this mom. 

 I have loved flowers since I was small, planting my own gardens each April around the time of my birthday.  But no...I didn't have anything to do with this idea!

His cousin Sarah is living with us and planning a wedding in the next few months.  He has listenened to us chat about flower arrangements and how to keep the flowers the freshest, and how long they will last.  He decided to help us figure it out, in the form of this year's science experiment.

Day One!

 

He decided to have 5 tests:

• plain water (as a control group)
• vinegar
• sugar
• pennies
• bleach

The test subjects are one long lasting flower (daisy) and one short lasting flower (roses)....mom helped with that part. 

I think this is the best science fair ever.

A bracelet of coins

What happened to the last month??  Oh I remember now: a month of snow, sickness, sickness and snow.  Yesterday was an idyllic spring day, and then we head back into winter and the possibility of now.  I'm going to stick with spring in my mind and my organizing and spring cleaning mentality.  My quick trip to Lowe's for paint yesterday ended up with $100 of projects and a new to-do list....I can't wait!

 I give up on trying to finish this post in it's entirety, but still want to share the end product of my coin bracelet job:

 

I loved making this bracelet.  It has a story, used power tools and just made me happy.  It's new owner was very pleased, and now has a wearable memory of her years in Europe while her husband was in the military. I was honored to share in that.