This IS My Happy Place

As I've confessed, my back porch is, well... my happy place.  Shall I say, it's our happy place.  Much like the kitchen being the heart of the home - this space is a necessary center of our lives when the weather is great here in the south (most of the time).  As I type this, I'm sipping a glass of red wine, covered up in a snuggie, catching up on my tivo .... on my back porch! 

 

The space is a constant decorator's challenge.  Part dining room, part sitting area and always being decorated for whatever holiday is upcoming.  A few weeks back, before church on a Sunday no less, I whipped up this cutie little sign proclaiming my space. 

 

Here's how I did it. 

 

You need:

• Puffy scrapbook sticker letters. 
• A canvas
• Two colors of acrylic paint (small bottles do the trick)
• A small bottle of crackle paint (same aisle as acrylic at the craft store).

All of my materials, plus a few on hand paint brushes, were sourced from Hobby Lobby and can be found at most any craft store.  Note, the puffy sticker is key so you can find it once you start the paint process.  And, all of my materials were sourced for under about $12. 

 

Here's what you do:

1.  First, decide what saying you want.  Note, you should really do that BEFORE shopping for the letters so you get the right ones!  They come on a sheet and usually provide ample options.  But ... if you are heavy on "S" or "E" or any other letter, you may need a second set!

2.  Using a pencil, draw (very light) straight lines on the canvas.  This is your guide for the letters.

3.  Start in the middle and work your way out placing the letters spaced evenly to spell out the words on each line.  If you start in the middle and space (I used my finger between the letters) you will be happier with the balance of the overall end result.

4.  Once all letters are in place, you begin with the paint process.  Start with a coat of your first coat of paint.  I used a khaki as the base coat.  For the crackle paint to work, according to directions, you should make sure this first coat is pretty thick coverage.

 

 

5.    Let this dry (we went to church here). 

 

 

6.  Once dry, apply the crackle medium according to directions.  Let it get tacky to the touch - a few minutes.

7.  Cover over the crackle with the second coat of a different color of paint.  For this, I used black.  Only do a reasonably light / medium thick cover coat and try not to go back over sections if you can help it. 

8.  As it dries, the crackle appears.

9.  Paint the sides of the canvas to finish it out - I did these in solid black just so I have a finished edge instead of a sloppy paint look.

10.  To make the crackling more significant here's a trick ... apply a hair dryer heat to the paint as it dries.  This will make deeper looking cracks. 

11.  Once this is dry, begin removing the sticker letters.  The area under should still be solid white. 

12.  There will likely be areas where you need to "clean up" the letter outline.  Your paint may have peeled slightly or coverage wasn't quite right.  That's ok.  I used a black sharpie to "fill in" the spaces and you can't even tell. 

 

Now, the canvas proudly fills a cute little corner of the sitting area.  The table, plant and concrete bunny are complimented by another little DIY, the twine basket that I explained back over here. 

 

 

Get happy y'all!  See you on the porch!

 

xoxo

~b

DIY White Ghost Pumpkins

I've had the fall bug for decorating for weeks now.  A few posts back, I showed a quick snap of one of my dough bowls filled to the brim with neutral pumpkins, acorns and other fall festive goodies. 

 

And here's some additional beautifully simple, neutral pumpkins in my fall vignette in the dining room.  This time, festively decked out with black crows for a spooky Halloween feel (for the month of October) and topped off with some celebritory adds for our anniversary celebration (more on that later).

 

To make the pumpkins ... for SUPER cheap .... I took these terribly neon, tacky dollar store pumpkins and added a few coats of Annie Sloan chalk paint and voila ... a much improved ghostly white pumpkin for a dollar a piece! 

I used Old Ochree paint and it did the trick just to paint a few coats on for full coverage. On a few others, I added Coco paint to the mix to give some depth and contrast.

In just a few easy minutes and some drying time in my garage ... there are white pumpkins a plenty now that can be enjoyed year after year!

Crafty cheap fall decor, y'all!
xoxo, b

 

The Table's Last Leg: Back Porch Edition

Fact ... I love, love, love my screened in back porch.  It just wouldn't be fall (or winter, or spring, or summer ...) in the south without it!  We entertain here, nap here and hang out in this space more than any other spot.

Another fact ... I can't stand the legacy dining table that calls that porch home.  A year ago, we invested in lovely furniture from Martha Stewart for the sitting area but that darn table that Dear Hubs and I purchased over TEN year ago STILL remains.  I want so badly to put that dinosaur out to pasture.  Ok ... you get the point.

I've tried fabric runners ... cute but not full coverage.  I've tried floor length burlap ruffles.... cute but itchy and not effective to put your legs under.  I've tried ... faux mercury glass finish on the glass inset top ...cute, in theory but let's just keep going.  I've tried ... ok, you get the point, again!

Here's my latest and promised last attempt to salvage this table.  They say you find a lost item in the last place you look, well this is much the same.  This chalkboard finish worked like a dream!  I think she just might stay a while longer because I'm in L-O-V-E!  The chalkboard finish is just perfect for us and makes a whimsical touch for all our friends to leave notes after our porch parties!

 

 

Here's how I did it:

• I started with a basic patio table - you know the kind; glass top, metal frame. 
• After cleaning thoroughly, I applied a few coats of chalkboard finish to the top and frame. 
• For me, the finish wasn't deep / thorough enough, so I added a coat of flat black paint (left over on hand) to the top of the glass, the bottom side of the glass and also the frame. 
• Once completely dry, I went back over the top with another layer of chalkboard paint.  That did the trick.
• Easy as a few coats of chalkboard paint; the table is now adored!

 

I rounded out the decor with a cute message, a vintage sugar mold filled with white candles and two oversized Mason Jars.  I treated the Mason Jars with an at home diy mercury glass finish (I'll explain another time) and filled them with wheat husks.  All tied together with a burlap runner, we are in business!

 

Here's to yet another chalkboard adventure that saved the day!

 

Check out my other chalky antics creating chalkboard containers, oversized boards here and here, an impact wall in the kitchen, giving new life to an old playroom armoire, wine glasses and now this beaute!

 

Geesh ... word to the wise, if you stand still around me; there's a good chance you too will be coated in chalkboard paint!

 

Chalkboard love, y'all!

~xoxo, b

It's Pumpkin Time

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Back from a restful week at the beach ... heavy sigh, I guess all good things do have to come to an end!

Now that we are back, it definitely feels like a delayed close to summer and fall is in the air.  As part of that, fall tennis is in high gear.  As those ALTA Betty's in Atlanta tennis know, home matches mean food duty.  As the host team, it's your responsibility to provide some delish treats, cold water and bevvies for the two teams that are playing.  To kick off our season, I was assigned "chip and dip".  I did my tennis duty and brought a yummy Greek veggie dip and pita chips.  But ... I just had more hospitality that needed direction. 

So, I tried my hand at making tennis ball chocolate Oreo cookies.  You know, those cute choco melts in a form (available at Michael's) that cover an already tasy Oreo with even tastier choco bark.  I know you have seen them all over our dear fave pinterest.  Well, trouble is that I was using Wilton melts that were mint flavored and they already had a beige tint.  When I added the yellow food color gel ...well, they turned a lovely peach.  So, I added more and just went with it!  Orange was the color it was.     

So ... now that my yellow tennis balls turned orange, it was time for plan B. Festive, all be it a bit premature, it felt like pumpkins were in order. And Plan B took form. I barked orders (literally I'm pretty sure) to ask Dear Hubs to head back to the nearest grocery to pick up some green pre-made frosting in a tube (no time to spare) and a bag of pretzels. Voila! Pumpkins. They couldn't have been cuter!

To make these, I melted a bag of Wilton candy melts (mint) in the microwave.  Just a minute will do it.  I added food coloring to find the "perfect orange" (forget that this was originally supposed to be yellow!).  I piped a blog of green frosting at the top and then drew the green frosting down a bit to look like a leaf.  I affixed a pretzel stick piece onto the green blob.  So easy and just so darn cute!

So, morale of the story ... sometimes Plan B works out!  These pumpkins might be making a repeat visit this fall!  Pumpkin time - let's go!

xoxo

Back for S'more

Ah ... the fall is upon us.  Well, I can't be too excited - things don't technically cool off around these parts for a few more weeks.  But, on with it already!

I mentioned over here that Baby B started school.  Perhaps that is a grand statement given that he only attends one day a week, and it's for a few hours when he does ... but ... again ... on with it already!  Here he is all decked out in his Cali finest (Vanns and a bowling style shirt) before heading off to school.

 
This boy is a total flirt and a complete charmer when adults are around.  But, you put him in front of other littles and he, well ... clams right up.  He's used to being the only little and likes it just that way.  So, the first week or two of school caused a bit of a camotion around these parts.  Let's simplify the story by saying he did NOT want anything to do with school and cried his precious little eyes out in attempt to get his way and go home.  Ms. T, K and L were so patient and sweet as honey to give some extra care and make Baby B feel welcome.  They even suggested sending him a few times the first week or two just so he acclimated.

Well, their plan worked.  And just a short few visits later, Baby B is a hit on the preschool playground.  He laughs, giggles and comes home with a school report of "cheerful" and "happy" each time!  We will certainly take that!

To thank these sweet teachers for their extra help and to celebrate the fact we (finally) made it through a full school day without a meltdown, I packaged up these sweet treats and sent them along with Baby B back for another day.

 

 That's right ... just as the label suggests ... each little box was full of an individual s'more kit that was a sure hit!

 

I printed labels and punched them with an oversize round punch.  The round was affixed to a square of patterned paper.  Burlap ribbon wrapped the box (from Michaels).  Inside, paper shreds lined the bottom and kept the s'more supplies in place.  To ensure they stayed fresh - I wrapped the marshmellows and crackers in plastic favor bags that I had on hand (always!).

 

 

Dear Hubs and Nanny McD thought I'd lost my mind for doing this, but I was just so darn appreciative of the sweetness these ladies showed that I thought a s'more was in order!

  

Happy Friday, ya'll!

 

xoxo

Fall Y'all

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I suppose the time has come ... it's fall y'all!  As if the farewell of Labor Day didn't tip us off... the signs are all around us; the school bus picks up those littles off of the front corner by our house each morning, football was on the big screen this weekend and in chatting with any of the gals you can just tell that their crazy schedules are in full swing! 

I just love the fall and know we have fun in store over the coming few months! 

Last weekend, I swapped out a few front porch doo dads and have layered in our first pass of fall. My signature Yellow Jacket wreathes were promptly displayed in time for the first kick off. I did an elaborate burlap pillow shuffle and added these two cream linen pillows to the pile. 

Pardon the multiple pics, but it's tough to get the entire scape included in a single shot.  The pillows are basic 18 inch square and purchased at Ikea.  I swear, I don't make it there often but when I do, I come crawling home with a truck load!  First, I used a pencil and sketched what I wanted the words to look like.  Yes, y'all ... freehand.  I wanted a swoopy "f" and "y" and so I found this the easiest option.  It really was a snap.  Then, I took pumpkin orange acrylic paint and a flat (small) paint brush and just painted over my pencil markings.  You may have to brush over certain areas a few times for full coverage.  But, in less than 10 minutes my pillows were ready for drying.  After a day or two sitting outside on the porch, they made their debute!

Happy Fall Y'all!

 

In A Flash

Well, since Baby B is off to school one day a week (and actually made it through an entire 4 hour day ... sigh), it was high time we do our part on the homefront to make sure he's not just playing and having fun every day but getting a little educated at the same time.  Yes, spoken like a true Tiger Mom, I know.  Hey, if this boy is going to Stanford we better start now!

I picked up some basic preschool flashcards at my dollar store.  Shocking, they are 5 times the price at toy stores!  To ensure Baby B doesn't spread these all over the house like he does his Little People and Weebles, I grabbed a few household supplies and make flashcard flippers.

I started with a few packs of the cards and then sorted them into the various stacks of similar cards (note - some boxes can actually be split up based on the content).

 

Just simply punch, using an oversized craft punch, a hole in the top corner of the card.  Then, slip all the cards on an extra shower curtain ring.  You can pick up plastic ones like this one for a few dollars for a set of 10 at any Target, Walmart, etc.  I favor the metal rings, but they actually don't click tight as well as the plastic.  Plus, the plastic is bigger and less of a choking hazzard!

 

 

 

 

Tied up with a cute piece of polka dot ribbon, voila!  Flashcard flippers for baby B! 

The Great Frame Out

The diva is a few weeks delayed in sharing the world's most so-simple chick project that will strike fear in the hearts of you man when you do this without him.  That's right ladies, this one involves power tools.  Well only one, but we can embellish?  It could have required a second but I cut that corner in favor of a good glue staple I'm familar with instead!  I'll warn you that power tool thing is over rated.  It's much simpler than you would think and not only will you (a) impress your beau and (b) feel like a super diva when you complete this solo, you will (c) get the job done when you want it instead of waiting for you know who to assist.

That's exactly what I did when I framed out my ever so boring bathroom mirror.  I did a sneak preview reveal of the overall look back here.  But, really, I glossed over the entire reason the project started ... the mirror!

When we moved in, we were told the standard builder grade mirror MUST be installed for some elaborate code defense.  Candidly in hindsight, this was a move the builder pulled so I wouldn't push him for another necessary upgrade and Dear Hubs wouldn't tell him we need a discount :).  For years, I masked the basic mirror with a semi cool floating mirror hung over the existing backdrop.  I liked it, but it was ....well, busy. 

I must pause and note here that this work item just didn't rank on Dear Hubs list.  One thing is certain, that man is a talented handy.  But, if he doesn't value the project he will get to it ... never.  So, with options of outsourcing the fiasco of ripping down the wall and framing it myself without Dear Hubs, I voted for option 2. 

And when Dear Hubs was away, I swooped into action!  I have previously evaluated the frame options and settled that the kits you can buy are overpriced.  The same look could be accomplished with some supplies from my fave big orange store (Home Depot).  The best tip I can offer ... a standard door frame kit solves all of your problems and makes this a snap!

That's right, gals!  Instead of bringing home giant pieces of framing wood and worrying about all sorts of what ifs, I simply bought a framed door casing kit for under $20.  Here's exactly how I did it... saw and all!

Here's how I did it.

What you need:
For a standard, single sink bathroom mirror size - adjust as needed.

• One standard door casing.  This includes corner fenials and trim.
• Paint
• A saw to cut to size
• Tape measure
• Liquid nails - note, I tried wood glue ... don't waste your time!

  How I did it:

1.  Start by measuring.  I'm terrible at details, so I measure 85 times and cut once instead of the old addage to measure twice and cut once!  You will want to reduce the piece of trim length by the size of the fenials. 
2.  Cut the wood.  I used a super simple miter saw.  I've learned that these tools LOOK intimidating but are SO EASY.  And, you feel so cool when you use them :).

3.  Once all pieces are cut, you begin by laying out your rectangle form; fenials in corners and four straight sides.
4.  Smooth out the edges with a little sand paper, then start glueing.  Warning, I started with wood glue to join the pieces together.  Truth be told, the south is too sticky humid in the summer and this stuff just isn't strong enough so it didn't do much in the way of drying to a firm hold.  I peeled it apart and cleaned it off, then opted for my trusty Liquid Nails.  I swear, what would I do without this stuff???

5.  Once the glue dries at least overnight, completely, check to make sure your measurements were correct by holding it to your mirror.  The, simply paint.  I repurposed a plastic dollar store table cloth as my drop cloth, so resourceful ... I know!  I used a fab old gold color by Ms. Martha Stewart.  It's a big pricier than a standard color, but worth the few extra pennies.  To paint it perfect, I did the sides of the frame and the front very thoroughly.  Then, when dry; I flipped over and brushed a thin coat on the back.  I'll explain why in a moment.

 

6.  Once you are pleased with the coverage of paint, it's time to apply some velcro backing.  You can buy this by the spool at the big orange HD.  Simply attach to the frame by removing the sticky backing.
7.  To hang, just simply smush (yes, smush) the velcro side to the existing wall hung mirror.  Note, this is when it's important that you put some color coverage on the back; you will see that the color shows in the reflection a bit.  Voila... framed!

First Fete: Balloon Topiaries

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We took a short break from first fete "how to" postings, but scroll on back with me and check out the fun party dish on this post here and here.  One of the perfectly functional and festive details of the party were the balloon topiaries. 

After picking up a few balloons for the photo shoot with Baby B, I realized helium balloons weren't going to cut it for this fete.  Not only do the stores near me charge OVER A DOLLAR per balloon for helium filled balloons but those pricey party makers don't last too long in the Georgia heat and humidity.  The balloons were only perky for a few hours; I knew there had to be a better way.

The answer required some dollar store balloons and a few supplies from my fave Home Depot.  With a little Maguiver style skills, the balloon topiary was born!
These balloon topiaries outlined the lawn and were placed in a few decorative spots to add a punch of color and fun.  I also made smaller topiaries and used them on the sweets tablescape.  They really did round out the space well.
Here's how I did it.
First, you need a few simple supplies:

• Balloons
• Twine
• Long dowels - available at craft stores or home improvement stores
• Painters tape

To assemble:
1.  You will need a bunch of balloons, so start puffing!  Luckily, I enlisted the help of the fam and we zipped right through this step.  For each large topiary, you need about 6-8 balloons depending on size.  Be sure to make a few extras just in case you have a pop!  The shadowy figure in the pic below is Baby B apparently flexing his little muscles as he played in the balloon patch!

2.  Start by tying a piece of twine (about 1-2 feet long) around the base of a fully blown up balloon.  A simple knot will do.  Then, grab a second balloon and tie it to the first.  Keep attaching and knotting.  I tried wire, pipe cleaners and a series of other supplies.  All were too rough for the delicate balloons.  Note, if you have an extra set of hands this step is a breeze.  For my topiaries, Dear Hub's dad; Pop Pop, was my assistant and we flew! 
3.  To attach the dowel, it works best to again have a helper.  For this step, tie the two tails of the twine to the dowel.  This attaches the balloon bundle to the stick.  Then, we used painters tape to run around the knot area to secure it in place.  Painters tape worked perfect because our balloos were mostly blue. 
4.  We finished them off with some paper streamers as ribbons and voila, complete!
Tips and Tricks:
For the table top version, I used very thin dowels and placed them in floral foam that filled my old paint cans.  For the yard version, we used thicker dowels that were a few feet tall.  To actually get these in the ground, we used a hammer and an extra dowel to make a hole in the ground and then simply added our cute topiary to the existing hole.  Yes, Dear Hubs almost had a fit when I announced I was putting holes in his yard.  But, in the spirit of the fete, he went along with the idea!

So y'all remember this trick next time your party calls for balloon overload!  xoxo

The Rule

I ooh'ed, ah'ed and added a few versions of this to my "must do" list when I saw the idea on pinterest.  I swear y'all ... I could spend days on there! Trouble is, most of the things I pin are so aspirational that there just isn't time in this busy diva's day to pull them off.

In this case, I found the adorable pics I'm sure you have all seen ... the giant life size ruler that you make and put on the wall to measure the littles each year on their birthday.  Y'all, I must apologize for the poor pics to follow.  Quite simply, it's the foyer entry way from the garage and let's be honest ... not super lighting! 

Anywho, this was something on my to do list, but actually finding the time to "do" ... well, that was a challenge.  Just a few weeks before the babe's first birthday, I visited creative, crafty bestie M's home and saw that SHE ACTUALLY MADE IT.  After she explained the steps, I knew I had to kick my booty into overdrive and ensure I had mine ready before Baby B's first year checkup. 

Best part ... this was actually a really easy craft.  The most challenging part is ... well, getting it right the first time!  Trust this diva, I'll explain.  It was a snap to craft and such fun.  I had the best time updating the big ruler to proudly report Baby B's birth and year 1 stats this week.  This may be the only reason I'm ready for Baby B to turn two!  Keep him this sweet age forever.

Here's how I did it:
Here's what you need:

• A long 1x6.  In our case, we expect tall littles ... so we went for a 6+ foot board and then offset it on the floor so it was almost 7 feet when complete. 
• A small container (sample size) of stain
• A Sharpie - the newer the better!
• A ruler
• Sandpaper

Here's what to do:
1.  Begin by sanding the wood.  It's important that it's smooth.
2.  Apply the stain to the wood.  Note, I went with a provencial wood stain and it looked medium tone on the sample.  The wood absorbed the stain very quickly and it was much darker than expected.  I did this project after Baby B went to sleep and did the staining on my porch.  A dollar store table cloth served as a drop cloth.

3.  So, going with the flow ... I sanded off some of the top coat of the wood and actually found myself using what was initially the back side of the wood.

4.  After letting the stain dry entirely, the only step left is to draw the ruler.  To draw all of the tick marks, I used a ruler.  For my ruler, I pre-measured that the board would stand about 9 inches off of the floor, so I started the tick marks just shy of a foot.  That way, my 6 foot board would measure up to about 7 feet tall.  I first tried paint and had the bright idea to paint cream colored tick marks.  The reality ... that was a messy disaster.  So, plan B... I used a Sharpie marker to make the tick marks and complete the next step.
5.  For the numbers, I used the same process I explained here.  I just traced the numbers onto the board and filled them in.
6.  If you desire, apply a clear top coat. 

In just a few easy steps, my board was ready for hanging.  As for Baby B, he's measuring in just shy of 33 inches for his first year check up.  That's right folks, over 97% for the height on this little fella! 

xoxo!

Sitting Pretty

I've professed my love for all things oyster before and twine, well... that's kin to burlaps which I've talked plenty about.  Using the technique I described here.  I took an old lantern down from an old storage shelf and gave her a prized new spot in the main floor guest bedroom suite. 

This is a simple black lantern that was gifted to me who knows how long ago.  Trouble is, it was a tad too modern for my taste and would be stored high up on a laundry room shelf unless the perfect party called for her presence.

Now. with a little lipstick (aka oysters and twine), she's sitting pretty every day!  I wrapped the bottom portion of the glass in twine.  Then, added just a handful of oyster shells that were on hand from previous crafts and apothocary jar fillings (I may have stolen one or two from an existing display!) with permanent glue.  Since the shells are so uniquely shaped, I added some floral moss between them. 

Oh, and that chair in the pic was one of my fab finds from the Ballard outlet. Months back, it was marked with a crazy low price and with all the discounts they offered - it was mine for under $20!  I was just giddy to find it.  Dear Hubs thought I was crazy when bestie A and I did a quick "run through the shop" while he and R sat in the car with a cast of littles.  We surfaced promptly with this chair and a few other finds.  Let's just say it was a cozy ride home with this extra loot in tow.

This previously empty corner of the bedroom is now sitting pretty! 

Golden Look

It all started with a hankering to overhaul the mirror in the main floor bathroom.  I didn't hate, nor did I love this room ... overall, it just felt in need of a redo.  That mirror has been my personal Everest for years now.  I've tried just about everything.  You see ... when we built the house, the builder was insistent on putting those mirrors up and claimed building city code required it. What.ever.  Gasp, I know.

For a time now, I had a cool mirror on mirror solution for my flat drab situation.  I liked it, but didn't love the cluttered look it gave.  So, my initial plan for a redo here was to simply to trick out the existing horrid flat wall mount mirror with a cute frame.   When Dear Hubs was less than supportive of my plan, I waiting until he left the area for a short while and I swooped into action! Yes, I realize that sounds super sneaky ... and it totally was!

The trouble was, first, I wasn't sure exactly what to do, where to start and how on earth I would craft this dity.  After snooping for ideas high and low and even considering one of those dreadfully expensive Mirror Mate solutions, I opted for a creative but functional solution from my very have Home Depot. Here's the trick ... I had to learn to operate a saw to pull this off. Yes.  True story.  And I did. Bam! This diva knows how to saw and I'm proudly adding that to my resume!

With a plan in progress, the creative juices were flowing.  I identified the must have paint for the frame and just kept going like wild!  Miss Martha Stewart saved the day.  Darn her time.  Her style crisp and classic.  Her decor divine.  Her paint ... well, her paint is tops and gets two thumbs up after this delicious redo!

Once I finished the mirror and coated it in Martha's lovely metallic in a neutral, gold tone it is picture perfect and totally fitting with the already loved bath curtain treatment. 

From here, I just couldn't stop.  That paint was going on a wall... hell or high water.  After the purchase of an oversized stencil on Amazon, I was in business.  I stenciled the accent wall as you walk in and I'm just pleased as punch with the result.

To round out the look, I gathered the pair of neutral paisley curtains (made by yours truly a while ago) that previously surrounded the bath like panel curtains and instead brushed them onto one side.  Next, I created a pull back from burlap ribbon.  My house is a lovely perplexed confusion of burlap and fancy touches and so this is just perfect for moi!  The mirror frame was hung (details later) and I just L-O-V-E the result.  The framed series of oil paintings over the toilet are a grouping I actually commissioned, designed and painted a few years ago.  They are simple, elegant and I really like them.  Plus, they look fancy and no one knows I actually made them!

Couldn't be happier with the finished product!  xoxo

VBS

I have such fond memories as a child of attending summer Vacation Bible School at the churchs' of my youth.  It was a fun time to learn stories of the Bible, participate in fun games, sing Christian songs and have a good ole' time.  Of course, Zsa Zsa was in the throws of it all coordinating carnival style games, themes and everything imaginable on a shoe string church budget. 

Well, have times changed.  The gals of my Sunday School class signed me up to help out at our recent VBS and boy was I in for a rude awakening!  Instead of popsicles ... these kids had a snow cone truck TWICE.  Instead of a sprinkler or water balloons ... these kids had a GIANT inflatable water slide.  Yep, my my how times change. 

Each night the sweet girls behind all this madness would give out treats to those of us doing hard time with the littles.  The theme this year was the camping and outdoors related and so this little treat was a great snack to tide over the hungry appetites that can only come from wrangling the wild ones after snow cones!

From the front ... a simple granola bar.... a fitting snack for our wilderness excursion....

On the flip side, a sweet note that fits with the theme.  Too cute! 

These girls made managing this many littles look like a breeze.  Loved every minute of our fantastic, service filled week!