I have always been a creative person

I have always been a creative person.  I often lovingly remind the Hubs.....

"this is what you signed up for, you knew what you were getting when you married me"

When I came across this saying today I thought it 100% fit!

Being creative is incredibly fun and gratifying but also can be a bit overwhelming for others.  I am hard to carry a conversation with because I think of something and I jump topics then remember what I was saying and jump back (maybe an hour or so later).  I am a free spirit who loves to try new things.  This is one of the things that the Hubs loves most about me AND DRIVES HIM CRAZY!!!!  Not that I blame him.  At times I have to be a blast and other times I cause stress because I didn't always think things through before I begin or I didn't plan my time the best.  I get wild ideas while sitting on the couch in the evening next to him,  he is ready to head to bed while I am coming up with ideas for a new project.  

For instance When I painted our entry....

I was getting new carpet for our living room the following week so I was peaking under our old carpet.  We never had an entry so when I pulled up the carpet and found we had a few feet of GROSS wood floor in front of the door my mid started spinning with ideas.  So the next day while the Hubs was at work I painted the floor. You can read more about the floor here. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and gearing up for a FABULOUS New Year!!!

Are you setting New Years Resolutions/Goals?

The Cutest Christmas Coop in Town

I know I have been slacking at blogging lately.  

To be honest I have not been that busy.  I have just been enjoying my family.  

It has been nice to just slow down and enjoy.  
It also does not help that I dropped and broke my phone while decorating outside for Christmas.
The hubs was not impressed, he does not understand the importance of taking pictures for Instagram.
But I now am an iPhone user!

I’ve been doing projects so I have a bunch to blog about I just need to set down and do it.  Which I WILL

But it has been brought to my attention that posted on my Facebook page 

about putting Christmas lights on my chicken coop but I had not posted any pictures yet 

{if you're not following me on Fabebook yet click here too, 

and also follow me on Instagram @chores_chandeliers}.  

So I headed out and snapped a picture.....

It’s pretty darn cute huh?   

Yes my coop also has stockings, a wreath, candy garland,bows, tulle, AND a lighted snowman.

Doesn't yours???

It makes me happy and to be honest the ladies of the coop must love it too.   

They have been thanking us with a mass production of eggs lately. 

You can see other pictures of the coop HERE

Merry Christmas

rusty tin and turquoise cross ornament

I am super excited to share my rusty tin and turquoise cross ornaments with you!!! 

A fellow blogger and friend of mine is doing a 'Handmade Cowgirl Country Christmas Tree".   

This is Kacey and she blogs over at Fancy Ewe.  You need to head over and check out all the amazing ornaments she has already made for her tree!  She is super creative {and fashionable} so I was very flattered when she asked me to do an ornament for her tree.  I was SOOOO EXCITED!!!!  My mind started spinning!  I decided on using some old tin that is out in the Barn. It was an easy project.  It only needed tin, some beads (that I kept aft a necklace broke), and some tin shearers.  Last year for Christmas the hubs gave me a DeWalt drill and tin shearer attachment.  I WAS SO EXCITED!!!!!  Really I was.  I am pretty practical when it comes to gift giving!!! Never heard of a tin shearer?  Here is what it looks like!  You could use tin snips and cut by hand to do this project but this saves a ton of time!!!!

I have used it to make wedding shower decorations (you can see here), 

 stars for my mantel (you can see here), and other various projects.  

 

I decided to do different shapes and sizes of rusty tin crosses.  

I am trying hard to keep the reason in the season.  

So why not fill my tree with crosses?!?!?

Making the crosses were easy.  Here is my step by step picture tutorial. 

Here is my entire tree.....

• The tree topper is left over flowers, stick, and a burlap bow.
• I found the big cross propped up in the tree at Hobby Lobby.
• Aluminum horseshoes.
• Turquoise bulbs.
• Silver bulbs.
• Silver snowflakes.
• White lights.

Holiday Traditions

We are flexible with family holidays and traditions {changing every year}.  

Whenever we can get together we celebrate.  

BUT one tradition holds true....Christmas pictures on Thanksgiving!!!

Every year on Thanksgiving I make my younger brother take my families pictures for our Christmas card.

{I set it up, hand him my camera, and he snaps away}

This year was no exception. 

It was cold {like REALLY COLD!!!!!} so we didn't go far,  

we just walked across the road from parents to an old shed and snapped a few quick shots.

 

You can see in some of the expressions that they are COLD.

Everyone was a trooper though and no complaining {but we kept it short and ran in for coco and cider}

Now which picture goes on the Christmas card?

Well I couldn't pick just one, So this is what I chose.
V

V

V

V

V

V

V

What do you think?  Good choices for the card???

Rural Housewives of America

 I have recently been introduced to the an amazing group of Rural Housewives.  

They have a blog devoted to rural women and everything they deal with.

I am honored to be a contributor and did my first post today.

I shared a Suzi Homefaker Style recipe

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheescake Bars

Click here to see the recipe.

While you are there check out the other amazing contributors and posts.

30 days of gratitude {week 3}

This week I am thankful for......

Monday: My grandpa
...and all others who have served for our country. Happy Veterans Day

Tuesday: Farm Fresh eggs
Mmmmmmm.....our hens have been working over time!

Wednesday: My job
I love subbing and the flexibility I have! I was told this week by a Para that I did a great job.  That meant a lot to me.  She sees a lot of teachers and subs.  For her to take the time to tell me I'm doing a good job made my day! 
{this is a picture of my sub bag, it is a 31 bag I LOVE IT!!!!!  I have 3 of this style!}

Thursday: Days off 

....and morning snuggles with the cowgirls

Friday: Pretty nails
I have recently decided I need “me time” and once every 2 weeks I get and get my nails done.  I am really enjoying spoiling myself.  I'm loving Shellac, If you haven't tried it you need to!!!

Saturday: "S" got his deer (4x5) 
Opening morning he shot his deer!!!  Atta boy...

Sunday: Will power
I have lost over 40 lbs.  {I hope to post some before and afters when I hit the 50lb mark}

Check back next Sunday to see my "Thankfuls" for the week of November  18^th. 

Feel free to join in and share what you're thankful for!

metallic painted fireplace gourds

I finally finished putting out my Fall decorations last week.

One of my favorite parts is my metallic painted gourds.

2 years ago we had gourds growing in the pasture and I used them to decorate.

Then I threw them in a 5 gallon bucket 
and let them hang out in the barn for a year.

Then last year I spray painted them.

They had dried out.

All I had to do was wash them off and spray paint them.

Now all I do is store them in a tote in the basement.

They are so fun and PERFECT in the fireplace!!!!

I love the metallic colors with the candle light.

Our fireplace is no longer a working fireplace.  

I keep an old iron chandelier {from my grandparents} in the fire place with taper candles in it. 

I LOVE FALL!!!!!

30 days of gratitude {week 2}

I am linking up again with Kelsey over at "Keeping up with Kelsey"

She is hosting a weekly link up for us to share our daily "Thankfuls" 
{I'm sharing on Sundays}. 

This week I am thankful for......

Monday: Freezer meals

I currently have 4 casseroles, Cheesy taco soup, browned Hamburger (to put in the crock pot to make chili) and Meat Marinara sauce froze waiting for those busy nights…like Monday.

Tuesday: SNOW  

Even if I did get stuck.  This photo was my view as I sat on the road waiting for the hubs to come help me (and the girls) out.

Wednesday: Cubbies

The 5 year old cowgirl LOVES it and is learning so much every Wednesday night!

Thursday: My parents

I love that we live closer to them now (2 hours, compared to the 5 that we use to be). They are also amazing grandparents!!!!

Friday: Our home 
It is not perfect and not my forever home.  But I am so thankful for it and I LOVE THE LOCATION.

Saturday: Coffee!!!

Mmmmmm….Coffee  Nothing is better on a cold Saturday then some warm coffee, candles and family!

Sunday:  Having the whole family together. 

S (my stepson) was able to come up this weekend.  We had a wonderful weekend and the girls are so happy to have him around again, we have all missed him. 

Check back next Sunday to see my "Thankfuls" for November 11th-17th.

Feel free to join in and share what you're thankful for! 

30 Days of Gratitude {link-Up}

I am linking up with Kelsey over at Keeping up with Kelsey.  

She is hosting a weekly link up for us to share our daily "Thankfuls" {on each Sunday}. 

This week I am thankful for......

November 1: The hubs

We had a much needed night out Friday, it was "One Box weekend". What is One Box Weekend? It is so hard to explain;they have a big banquet and pheasant hunt. Teams are sponsored by people around town and each sponsor hosts a party. We all get OVER DRESSED and party hop around town. It is a GREAT TIME!!!!  Ya know the typical small town celebrations that no one gets till they experience it and then they are hooked.....AND to be honest living in rural Nebraska there isn't many reasons to get all decked out. So we take full advantage of this!!!! 

November 2: THE KIDDOS
They teach me something everyday and make me a better person. {This picture was taken over the summer}

November 3: Cowboy boots
They are so cute and can be worn so many ways! I have a bit of an obsession.  Here is a fun shot I did with {some} of my boots.  I have an addiction.....

Check back next Sunday to see my "Thankfuls" for November 4th-10th.

Feel free to join in and share what you're thankful for! 

Also linking up with...

Farm {fabulous} fresh eggs

Farm fresh eggs are pretty darn fabulous however they are packaged.  I was thinking last week about how I would like to gift eggs as a hostess gift (we are part of formal dining club) but I wanted them look special, not just in a left over egg carton.  I feel that presentation is important, NOT necessary but still important.  I think my art and design background has a lot to do with this.  I looked online and you can buy egg cartons that are blank and in boring colors but they are kind of $$$ (and really not that neat).  So today I decided to make my own Farm Fabulous Egg cartons.  I used {you guessed it} spray paint.  It doesn’t get much easier then spraying on a few light coats of spray paint and wrap a bow around it.  I think they turned out amazing and look more like a gift when presented this way.

Is it necessary? 
NO 
Do they taste better this way?  

Of course not
Would people be disappointed if they got delicious farm fresh eggs in an undecorated up-cycled carton?
 Absolutely not

But....I enjoy putting a farm fabulous spin on everything {even my eggs} AND I would feel better about giving eggs as a hostess gift, house warming gift or neighborhood Christmas gift when they are packaged like this.  Just think of all the fun {spray paint} colors and ribbon choices you could do for holidays and events!

Remember my coop?  You can see it here 

Have a wonderful week!!!! 

And if you don’t yet follow me on Instagram you really should be!  ;) 

Chores_chandeliers

Keep on keepin' up

You can now be notified in your email of new posts.

Simply type your email address into the box under "follow by email" 

(located on the top of the right hand column)

You will want to "keep up" with whats going on because I have some exciting news I'll be sharing soon.

My 5 year old cowgirl took a new photo of me yesterday
 for something new and exciting I am super proud to be part of!!!!
I plan to share the deats soon! 

She did good huh????
{and I was having a good hair day, ha ha}

Fall in the Sandhills

Today was a beautiful Fall day in the Sandhills of Nebraska. 

I took my camera out to capture it....

I am SO BLESSED to be living in such a beautiful place!!!