Buttons, Buttons, Everywhere!

Woot! Woot!  I finally figured it out!  I can now make a blog button!

For months I haven't had one because every instruction manual out there left me with a, what the bleep?!, sort of response.  In other words, I have been completely clueless, and just couldn't seem to figure out how to make this stupid little button.

That was until Maryann over at Domestically Speaking spilled her secret about this eHow site which provides (at least for me) very clear instructions on how to add a button to your blog.  Easy peesee!  

Check it out right here.

The only problem is that the art work for your button is something that ya gotta figure out all on your own.  Remember, I'm pretty computer illiterate?  I didn't even know what html code was before I got started blogging.  Haha...I hate admitting stuff like that.

Soooo, this is what I did.  I copied one of the many photos I've taken and saved for my blog and downloaded it to Photobucket.  I then used the nice little editing package on Photobucket to resize, crop, and add text to the photo so it would work as my button.  I know you all probably already new how to do this, but it was my first time.  It took a few tries, but I think I came up with something that I can live with for a bit.

Tada!  Here IT is!

I know it ain't fancy, but it works!  If you haven't figured out how to make a button, try this quick set of instructions.  If I can do it, I think almost anyone can.

Sam the Cat

Today Sam the Cat has become a H.E.R.O in our house!

Now, I need to explain Sam's history. He is the first pet I ever owned.  He came out of a vets office as a mangy, yes maybe even ug.ly kitten.  (I know ugly kittens aren't supposed to exist, but he did closely border on this description.)

The thing that saved him is he's always been extremely smart.  He acts more like a dog than a cat, which is why we clarify what he is by stating he is, in fact, Sam the Cat.

This 15 lb. cat has a few nasty habits.  He can't resist peeing on things.  He pees on clothes piled in laundry baskets, sheets that are balled up on messy beds, and for some reason, he can't resist soaking plastic bags sitting on the floor with his bodily fluids.  Also, he HATES, HATES, HATES my husband.  Said husband happens to be mildly allergic to cats so Sam sees it as his mission in life to lay on his pillow in the bed just to see the reaction, I'm sure.  As I said, smart cat?  For this reason, my husband doesn't love Sam so much.

We've controlled some of these bad habits by locking Sam up in the storage room at night which is when he likes to practice many of his obnoxious tendencies.

Despite all of this, he earned his place today...after 13 years.  Just kidding, he's always been wrapped around my heart which is why he still lives.

Today he killed the stove mouse.

Doesn't he look positively nasty?  Well, he really is most of the time.

The stove mouse has been living in the crack in between my stove top and the digital controls on the back of it.  We have been trying for 2-stinking-weeks to get rid of this little bugger with a couple of traps that we thought were strategically placed, but he has avoided them.  Aaargh!

It just gives me the heebee jeebies to think that a mouse is scurrying over my counter tops  where I COOK FOOD, PEOPLE!  Gro-oss!

Well this morning, after Sam was released from confinement, my husband heard a couple of high pitched squeals coming from the family room right off of the kitchen.  He investigated and there was a dead mouse on the floor with Sam strutting away from it, like he was the man!  At least, the cat.

For the first time my husband sang Sam's praises instead of loudly cussing him out!  I knew there was a reason I loved this ornery old cat!  Plus, he didn't even make a mess with the mouse that I had to clean up, other than body disposal, of course.

Piece of Junk

Do you remember this ugly, old pile of junk?

Well, I finally decided to do something with one piece from the pile.  

You may have noticed that some of my posts have been about outside projects.  Well, I just had to do another one since the temps have been in the 70's for the last two or three days.

That ugly old tool box became this fun chippy planter.  I used a can of sample paint which I can't remember the color of...sorry.:( and set to work with my old paint brush after giving everything a light sand.  Afterwards, I sanded a little more along the edges although this planter still looks old and decrepit well used all on its own.

I think I'm liking the light green color and know the plants will pop off of it when they actually start to bloom.

I ended up taking out the drawer along the top of the toolbox.  It was covered in a veneer that was peeling off and just wasn't worth saving.  I found a board laying around the garage and painted it the same color.  I still haven't decided what should go on the shelf.  Maybe new seedlings or starts?  We'll see, I'm sure eventually I'll find a good use.

I did drill some holes in the bottom just to make sure it would all drain well.

I now have a cute new/old toolbox, no wait, I mean planter, for my back deck which always needs more color!

Linking to:

Under the Table and Dreaming
Fingerprints on the Fridge
Tatertots and Jello
Shabby Nest
The DIY Showoff
The Stories of A to Z
Today's Creative Blog
Not Just a Housewife 
Dittle Dattle
Pinkapotamus
The Tattered Tag

Teacher's are Awesome!

Newflash!  At least it was for me!  This week is teacher appreciation week.

My two oldest boys have GREAT teachers this year.  They both started the year a bit behind after transferring from another school and these two women have caught them both up, and I just can't thank them enough. :)

For this reason, I had to do some type of gift (it needed to be within my budget too).  I came across an adorable idea over at Less Cake (More Frosting).  Go and check out  her version!  She has a ton of other great ideas and hilarious commentary that makes her blog a great read.

Thanks to Target, I was able to do a bit of copying.  I can't believe that I found all of these matching materials in the dollar section.  It made my life pretty easy.  I mean, the buckets, pencils, ribbon, and post-it notes coordinate.  That kind of thing just doesn't happen in my life!  I like it when I can look good through no effort of my own, other than buying the stuff of course.

I think these are pretty sNaZzY!  Plus, I put them together this morning before school.  I mean, where is the excitement without a little procrastination?  I'm hoping the teachers think they're as cute as I do!

Linking to:

At the Picket Fence

House of Hepworths

The CSI Project

My Repurposed Life

Tatertots and Jello

Outside Projects

This weekend record lows occurred. 

Saturday the temperature was in the 40's...crazy eh?  (This coming from my Canadian hubs.)

So what did we decide to do?  Outside projects, of course. I did just mention we're a little crazy, right?  I just couldn't help it, it is supposed to be spring, and I hounded my husband into doing this little project for me.

 

You guessed it!  Elevated garden beds.  Not just one, but two!  Am I sounding like an infomercial yet?  Each bed measures 4 X 8 feet.


He got the structures built, now we just need to get them placed and fill them up with dirt.  I am so excited, I haven't had a garden in almost two years, and now I get one!

While he was busy all day with construction, I decided to get a start on expanding my flower bed.  You can see where I started to the back of this bed.  And yes, this was a pain in the buttakis (I know this isn't a word, I'm just used to talking to kids 7 and under all day.) to dig up the grass.  

This bed will extend from my little flower garden in the front around to the side of the house. 

We also need to work on getting the lawn reseeded, it looks awful!  My husband and I have a ton left to do which makes him grumpy and me excited.  :)

In fact, I really should be outside working today since we are supposed to hit a gorgeous 64 degrees!

Linking to:


Between Naps on the Porch
Pinkapotamus
House of Hepworths
 Dittle Dattle
Delightful Order
At the Picket Fence