CLOSED-New Years Resolutions with Big G Cereals! And a GIVEAWAY!

Hey all!

How many of you have yelled Eeeeek when you got off the scale to checked how much you weighed recently?  That was my reaction when I got on and off the scale last night. I have gained a ridiculous amount of weight in the last year. I was seriously in shock by how much I weighed. I'm not 500 pounds or anything, but it was just the highest I have ever weighed in my adult life.

I know it's a typical for every to say I want to lose weight in the new year, but I honestly will be on a strict diet and exercise regimen for 2011 to lose the weight. I want to be healthier and back to my old slim self by the end of 2011.  I've been wondering why my health has been poor as of late and it's because I've gained so much weight and my body can't handle it! I know I can do it! I need to do it before I get even older and it get's even harder to lose the weight. It's already hard for me to lose the weight, but I know waiting and doing nothing will only make it harder.  I digress...

I know I need to live healthier in 2011 and I know I can accomplish my goals with the help of Big G cereals!

With many Americans like myself making New Year's Resolutions to live healthier, it's never been easier to get the whole grain you want without sacrificing taste. Every Big G cereal contains at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving, with more than 20 General Mills cereals delivering 16 grams or more. (At least 48 grams of whole grain are recommended daily.) Big G cereals are America's number one source of whole grain at breakfast, providing America with more whole grain at breakfast than any other breakfast food from any other manufacturer. 

On a side note, Did you know that 95 percent of Americans don't get enough whole grain in their diet?

According to the 2010 Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, only five percent of Americans get the three full recommended daily servings - a shocking statistic.

Only whole grain gives you the vital nutrients from the complete grain. The health benefits of whole grains can't be pinpointed to one particular component of the grain. It's the "whole grain package" that makes the difference. In addition to fiber, whole grain contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients that help ensure a healthy diet. A diet high in whole grain has been found to help with diabetes and weight management, and it may help reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

Get into the whole grain habit by just looking for the big white check on Big G cereals! Cereal is already one of the healthiest breakfast choices you can make, and the entire Big G cereal line is made with whole grain, making it a great choice. Big G cereals have the brands and flavor your family will love, including Cheerios®, Lucky Charms®, Cinnamon Toast Crunch®, Honey Nut Cheerios®, Fiber One® and Total®.

To be sure the other foods you are choosing have the healthy whole grain you need, just follow these two easy rules:

1. Look for a whole grain symbol like the big white check on Big G cereals or the Whole Grain Stamp developed by the Whole Grains Council
2. Scan the ingredient list and choose foods that list a whole grain near the top of the list

Visit www.WholeGrainNation.com for more tips, additional information about the benefits of Whole Grain and how Big G cereals can be a convenient and tasty way to incorporate more whole grain into your day.

NEW YEARS GIVEAWAY!

Enter to WIN a Prize pack to help fulfill healthy living goals, including a VIP coupon for one Big G cereal, a cereal on-the-go bowl, lunch bag, walking enthusiast kit and a digital jump rope.  Basically everything you see in the PICTURE ABOVE with a Big G Cereal of your choice can be yours!

Let's lose the pounds together in 2011!

TO ENTER:

MANDATORY ENTRY:

LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW Telling me what is your favorite BIG G cereal? Is it Cheerios, Lucky Charms? What ever it is let me know!

That's all you have to do to enter...but if you'd like additional entries:

For Additional Entries after the main entry is completed, do the following and PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELLOW FOR EACH ADDITIONAL ENTRY YOU DO:  

-SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG BY EMAIL OR VIA READER! SCROLL DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE BAR OF MY BLOG WHERE IT SAYS "SUBSCRIBE TO ME"

- “Like” The Queen of Swag! on Facebook at Facebook.com/thequeenofswag (or click on the Facebook Like button found on the right side bar).

- Follow The Queen of Swag on Twitter @queenofswag4u or by clicking on the twitter buttons that say follow me on the right side bar.

-Tweet this Giveaway! 

Feel free to make up a Tweet about this Holiday Giveaway with @queenofswag4u and #MYBLOGSPARK and http://thequeenofswag.blogspot.com or this shortened link http://bit.ly/ahoOgH so I can see it or use the tweet I created below.
 
Happy New Years #Giveaway! WIN A Big G Live Healthy Prize Pack from @queenofswag4u & #MyBlogSpark http://bit.ly/ahoOgH - ENDS 1/15/2011

-Leave a LINK to your Tweet in a Comment Bellow.

(This is limited to 4 tweets per day, spaced apart not one right after the other PLEASE. I don't want anyone to be called spammers or blocked by twitter.)

- Become a “Google Friend Connect Friend” with The Queen of Swag! found also on the (right side bar of the blog)

- Connect with me on NETWORKED BLOGS found also on the (right side bar of the blog)

- Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to post.

- Add my GIFT GUIDE BUTTON OR REGULAR BLOG BUTTON to your blog and leave a link to show me you did.

- Use any of the social networking buttons found at the bottom of this post underneath my NAME/Signature to promote this giveaway. Be sure to tell me what you did and if possible provide a name and/or URL so that I can check it out.

-On any future Wednesdays, Participate in my Wednesday Hump Day Slump Day events by Posting a comment and leave a comment here saying you participated.

GIVEAWAY WILL END Jan. 15 TH, 2011 at 11:59pm pacific time! Winners will be notified by email, twitter, or facebook and winners will be announced on this blog, on twitter, and on facebook.

This GIVEAWAY is open to USA ONLY! SORRY.

PRIZE WILL BE FULFILLED AND MAILED TO WINNER BY BIG G CEREALS AND MY BLOG SPARK!

**PLEASE SEE RULES AND DISCLAIMER FOR MORE PRIZE INFO. AGAIN WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM USING RANDOM.ORG FROM ELIGIBLE ENTRIES.**

Good luck to All who enter! And THANK YOU so much for following my blog! 

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy, Joyous, and Prosperous 2011 New Year!  

Let's get healthier in 2011!


**Disclosure: I was given a Big G coupon, prize pack, information, and a giveaway prize pack for my readers by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.**

How to silk screen

Learn How to make your own silk screen. For more Printmaking How-To Videos & Articles, visit WonderHowTo.

Crocheted Baby Hat

Easy Crocheted Baby Hat

 Judith Prindle

This measures 6&1/2 inches long to the eylets and 11 & 1/2 inches wide without stretching before it is stitched together.
Hook Size G
Redheart Baby Soft Yarn or Bernat Softee Baby Yarn
Always working in the back loop of each stitch for ribbed effect.
You also will be working in the same stitch as your turning chain through out. You just "ignore" the chain when you come to it, working only in the actual half double crochet.
Chain 36
Row 1: Half double crochet in second chain from hook and next 29 chains, single crochet in next chain, half double crohcet in last 4 chains. (34 half double crochet and 1 single crochet stitches).
Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Half double crochet in same stitch as turning chain, half double in next 3 stitches, chain 1 and skip the single crochet, half double crochet in next 30 stitches. ( 34 half double crochet and 1 chain) .
Chain 2 and turn.
Row 3: Half double crochet in same stitch as turning chain 2 and in next 29 stitches, single crochet in hole made by chain 1 loop, half double crochet in next 4 stitches. (34 half double crochet and 1 single crochet.)
Chain 2 and turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 for a total of 34 rows, except on last row do a slip stitch in the single crochet. Sew up seam.
Make a chain of 50-55 stitches or cut a length of ribbon to thread through eyelet holes. Tie in a bow. This opening can allow for wires if needed while baby is in the hospital.
Easy Newborn Baby Booties To Match the Hat
 Judith Prindle
Size G Hook
Redheart Baby Soft Yarn or Bernat Softee Baby Yarn.
Measures about 3 & 1/2 inches square before it is crocheted together.
Working in back loop through out.
Chain 21 stitches.
Row 1: Half double crochet in second chain from hook and each chain remaining. ( 20 half double crochet stitches) Chain 2 and turn.
Row 2: Half double crochet in same stitch as turning chain 2 and in each half double crochet remaining. (20 half double crochet) Chain 2 and turn. Just ignore the chain 2 when you come to it, same as the hat.
Repeat row 2 until you have a total of 20 rows.
Turn your piece and working across the end of the rows, single crochet in the end of each half double crochet row. (total of 20 single crochet stitches)
Round One of top:
Fold the bootie in half , turn, and single crochet the toe together across the top, for a total of seven single crochet.
Now working in the one side of the bootie, half double crochet in the next 13 stitches continue around the other side of the bootie half double crochet in next 13 stitches on the other side. The back of the bootie will be open. Join by slip stitching around the beginning chain 2.
Round Two of Top:
Half double crochet around front of next half double crochet,
half double crochet around back of next half double crochet,
repeat this pattern to end of round, slip stitch around beginning
chain 2.
Round Three of top: Repeat round two. End off. Sew up the heel seam.
Either crochet a length of yarn to fit around bootie or use a ribbon. Thread this through the first round of the bootie top and tie.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! AND THANK YOU!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Thank you for making it the best year ever for me and my blog. I appreciate all the support you have given me from the moment I started this blog.

I lover hearing how the giveaways help your families or helped your family have a Christmas. Those are the reasons why I started this blog now a year ago to begin with. I wanted to help people and my family and to know this blog is actually doing what I set out to do makes me only want to do better for all of you who are loyal followers.

I thank you for sticking with me through out the year and for making my blog such a success.

I hope you will stick with me in the new year. I promise to do my best to keep this blog growing and getting better through out 2011!

Big Things to from The Queen of Swag! in 2011!

Have a happy, prosperous, healthy, Lucky, and Fun New Year!

I wish you and your families nothing but the best!

MUCH LOVE AND APPRECIATION ALWAYS!

MiniMonos.com and great organization and Learning tool for Kids!

Hey All!

Have yo heard of MiniMonos? No well I highly recommend you check out this amazing site. It's is a  virtual world for kids so they can literally have fun monkeying around in! PUN INTENDED!  Monos means monkey in Spanish! You're child will have a blast on this site with their own MiniMonos monkey avatar and they can choose a treehouse to live in, explore the beautiful island, and chat with other monkeys aka kids playing on the site.

They offer various eco friendly themed games that include catching clouds to create wind energy, cleaning up the trash in the water, and recycling into the right bin. Kids are encouraged to provide feedback in an effort to make it their world and take special care of it. It truly teaches your child to be environmentally friendly in a fun way. They also have a Gold membership that gives you lots of great benefits, including t-shirt and fur colors for your avatar, hairstyles, free chat in speech bubbles, and 1,000 bonus banana chips! (And if you'd like more banana chips to decorate your tree house, you can get them CLICKING HERE.)

MiniMonos really cares about making a positive impact on children, saying, “It’s important to us that our MiniMonos kids recognize how to look after the planet we live on and help others who are affected by climate change.” So for every six-month Top Banana Gold membership purchased you and your child gives a week’s worth of clean drinking water for a child in India. So please get a gold membership everyone!

How amazing is that? I know it makes me feel great knowing that I can contribute towards a year of clean water for 20 children in India, thanks to Meridian Energy, Buy1Give1 and the Bird India charity.

The MiniMonos community is saving the lives and is a great learning tool for kids at the same time. They have a handy App for all your Apple gadgets as well that makes playing with MiniMonos super easy as well. I hope you’ll check out their App and the MiniMonos site with your child!

I promise you will love it just as much as I do.

Thanks so much for following everyone!

**Disclosure: I received a promo code for a gold membership to this site to review it. I was not compensated or paid in any way for this post.**

The Stylish Blogger Award!

Hey All!

I just got my first Blog award! Yay! Thank you very much to Crystal, from The Crafty Crystal for giving me the Stylish Blogger Award!

Thanks so much for this award!

I now will nominate other blogs with this award! Here's how it works...

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Here goes! ....

Seven things about me:

1. I love to BAKE and decorate cakes and cupcakes.

2. I went to film school.

3. I have a New York accent that comes and goes.

4. I love the show EXTREME COUPONING!

5. I LOVE THE MOVIE DIRTY DANCING. I've seen it over 100 times!

6.  I watch MTV with my teen. I'm ashamed to say I love Jersey Shore

7.  I love High School Musical more than my neices!

 I nominate the following blogs for the award!

This-n-That Boutique I'll follow back! The Frugal Free Gal Staying Me. . . Retail Therapy TwoClassyChics Joan's Reviews RacingandSavingMama Contest up! Dealicious Mom Harvest For Tomorrow Mom's Focus Luxury Living Frugal Married to a Geek The ShoppinQueen

I'll be commenting on all the blogs I nominate to let you know you've been nominated!

Congrats!

THANK YOU DELTA! A PLUS FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!

Hey all!

I just wanted to quickly share something about the lovely folks at Delta.  I have to say in times of emergencies and need it's nice to know that there is ONE airline that doesn't lose it's customer service when times are rough! I did try to get through on the phone to Delta to get a flight after my Horrible experience with Jet Blue but couldn't get through, but luckily their website was still working fine and I managed to get us flights easily to get us home.

I went online today to twitter to tell Delta of my ordeal and to check and see if they had any non stop flights and to learn about the Free wifi they are offering on their flights and unlike @jetblue that took 2 hours to respond, the amazing Jeff at @DeltaAssist quickly responded within like 2 minutes and he managed to get me an aisle seat, since I had a procedure done to prevent me from getting cervical cancer that makes me go to the bathroom so I need an aisle seat, and Free wifi with no problems!

He treated me sympathetically and like an actual person and that's all anyone can ask for right. I look forward to flying with them once again and I'll be tweeting and blogging from the plane thanks to them!

Everyone should Fly DELTA AND FOLLOW @DeltaAssist and @delta on twitter for the latest deals!

Thank you Delta!


**Disclosure: I was not contacted by delta to post this, I simply wanted to share Delta's great customer service with my readers.**

I can't Wait to Say Goodbye to NYC! I MISS CALIFORNIA!

Hey All!

So my family and I came to NYC to visit my parents for Christmas and it was amazing to see my family and to see the Tree at Rockefeller Center and All the windows at Macy's and fifth avenue. My family and I were having a great time here until the Blizzard hit.

At first it was fun to see the snow, since it's been so long since we've seen snow and we had fun playing in the snow. We had no idea New York was expecting a Blizzard since we were so busy trying to get ready for the trip and getting a Nanny for the dog and it's the one thing I forgot to check, THE WEATHER! And my parents didn't bother to tell us until we got here.  Which was perfect!

I grew up in NYC and I figured the City has always taken care of the snow perfectly and we will get out on our flight on Monday just fine since the storm will be well over by then. Well I WAS WRONG!

Folks just so you know we got here December 22nd and it is now December 29th and WE ARE STILL TRAPPED IN NYC and it's no longer fun. We are trapped by the snow with NO ONE PLOWING THE STREET, ABANDONED CARS BLOCKING THE STREETS, AND PLOWS TAKING ONE LOOK AT MY PARENTS BLOCK AND JUST TURNING AROUND.

It's unacceptable! My parents are apparently unlucky since they live in QUEENS, NOT MANHATTAN. It seems like the city only cares about whether MANHATTAN AND THE TOURISTS CAN GET AROUND THAN THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THIS CITY. THAT'S NOT EVEN THE START OF IT!

This is my parents block IN THE PICTURE BELOW. We haven't had any snow since MONDAY and NOT ONE PLOW OR CITY WORKER HAS BOTHERED TO PLOW MY PARENTS STREET or EVEN CHECK TO SEE IF ANYONE IS ALIVE IN THIS SECTION OF QUEENS.

As you can see that GREEN Mini Van to the right of the Picture was abandoned in the middle of the street since the oh so smart person went out driving in the blizzard and got stuck there and STILL HAS YET TO COME BACK TO TRY TO GET HIS CAR OUT 3 DAYS LATER!

And We tried to dig our way out but my dad seriously almost had a heart attack! And god forbid you have an emergency NOT ONE AMBULANCE CAN GET TO YOU SINCE THERE IS 3 FEET OF SNOW OR MORE ON THE STREET! I kid you not as you can see the snow in the street BETWEEN the two cars reaches almost to the top of the cars. So there is NO WAY you can dig your way out!

I can't wait to get back to California! CAN'T WAIT! It's not paradise, but compared to here but at least it's safe and PEOPLE HERE ARE ANGRY AND BECOMING SUPER MEAN!!! And I don't blame them since I find myself becoming SUPER ANGRY AS WELL, hence why I took to my blog to VENT! But I'd like to get US out of before the riots start! Since it seems like that's where it's going since people can't get to food! People are seriously dying in their homes and I want to take my parents with me out of this city!

BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY! I digress...

We COULDN'T GET A FLIGHT OUT SINCE IT WAS CANCELED BY JETBLUE THE DAY WE WERE TO FLY OUT!

And let me take a MOMENT to RANT about JET BLUE! I WILL NEVER FLY JETBLUE AGAIN! Flying here was NOT FUN since we flew JETBLUE because it had the cheapest prices for round trip tickets to NYC for us.

I have to say you truly do get what you pay for with Jet Blue! And when I say GET I mean you GET nothing but BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE, DIRTY PLANES, and Stranded in NYC!

First off...we got on the plane and it was dirty! They didn't really bother to clean it. There was URINE on the bathroom floor and it smelled that way, there was ONE ROLL OF TOILET PAPER IN ONE OF THE BACK BATHROOMS, WITH NO OTHER TOILET PAPER TO BE FOUND IN THE STALL FOR A 5 HOUR FLIGHT WITH A PLANE PACKED WITH LIKE 300 PEOPLE. SO you were lucky if you got the bathroom with toilet paper.

YES FOLKS ONE ROLL!  THEY CHARGE $7 FOR A PILLOW NOW AND BLANKET NOW. And when it came down to getting something to eat, they tell you to pick from a menu ONLY TO TELL YOU we only have 2 things left on the MENU since they ran out of everything else AND NO one bothered to REFILL the plane before it took off! Thankfully we got to NYC Safely at least which is the most important thing!

But trying to get out of here is another story! I had to be at work Tuesday, And we were supposed to fly out MONDAY, we were packed and ready to go to the airport some how, but THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELED THE SAME DAY. So AFTER SPENDING THE WHOLE DAY TRYING TO GET THROUGH ON THE PHONE AND I WAS TWEETING EVERY FIVE MINUTES TO @JETBLUE FOR HELP TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT OUR CANCELED FLIGHT,  Seriously I was on hold on the phone to get some one to speak with through out the day over 7 hours and I finally get through to a HEATHER, who tells me she HAS A FLIGHT FOR the 30th to fly back and I tell her OK and she goes let me check for something sooner and I go OK, And she says there is NOTHING and BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TELL ME TO BOOK THE TICKET FOR THE 30TH IT'S NOW GONE.

She didn't bother to hold the ticket and then tells me the NEXT TICKET ISN'T UNTIL JAN. 3RD!!!!

I WENT NUTS! I have to get back home to go to WORK. I can't afford to lose my JOB, especially not for JET BLUE! She basically started blaming me for losing the flight! I have never HAD A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TELL ME THAT BECAUSE I DIDN'T SAY "I WANT THAT FLIGHT" WHILE SHE DECIDED TO CHECK FOR OTHER FLIGHTS ON HER OWN THAT I lost the flight.

I have always flown DELTA and American Airlines, and Virgin American and if they want to check to see if there is anything else to offer you THEY HOLD the FLIGHT FOR YOU THAT THEY ARE INITIALLY OFFERING YOU while they check to see if they have anything else, since THEY ARE THE ONES DECIDING TO CHECK FOR OTHER FLIGHTS! I couldn't believe it. And @JETBLUE ON twitter finally responds and I tell them what's happening and all they can say is sorry she's rude, but she can't offer you flights we don't have, AND I'M LIKE BUT SHE DID OFFER ME A FLIGHT SHE SAID SHE HAD, BUT DIDN'T BOTHER TO BOOK ME ON IT. AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED AGAIN ON TWITTER CAUSE THEY TOO DID NOT CARE!

The people running their TWITTER AND PHONE CUSTOMER SERVICE ARE  HORRIFIC, HEARTLESS, AND DID NOT CARE about me or my family or the fact that I could lose my job! HEATHER was like I'll just give you a REFUND and you can go find a flight some place else. I ASK HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET A REFUND, SHE SAYS HOLD ON AND PUTS ME ON HOLD AGAIN AND COMES BACK AND SAYS "IT WILL TAKE 7 DAYS FOR THEM TO GIVE ME A REFUND, AND THEN ANOTHER 7 DAYS FOR IT TO SHOW UP AT MY BANK.

SO 2 WEEKS IT WILL TAKE TO GET OUR MONEY BACK! GOD Forbid you were low on money and needed to find another ticket at another airline to get back home you'd be out of luck since you won't be getting your money back from JET BLUE IN SOME TIME!

THANK GOD MY POOR MOM Took pity on us and helped us pay for a flight on Delta! DELTA.COM still had flights available for the 31st and I booked it ASAP! I now DON'T HAVE A NON STOP FLIGHT, I have a flight that stops in Cincinnati and then connects to California. Delta has been great thus far. I PRAY THEY STAY GREAT AND GET US HOME SAFELY FRIDAY!

And I AGAIN I WILL NEVERRRRRRR FLY JET BLUE AGAIN! EVER! I HAVE TO GET BACK TO CALIFORNIA FRIDAY BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO WORK! I have to work saturday and since I have already missed one day of work, I can lose my job if I don't GET BACK. It's terrible and my family can't afford me losing my job. So it will take us 8 hours instead of 5 to get home to California and that's if there are no delays. And it's on NEW YEARS EVE! So we may potentially ring in 2011 at an airport or on a plane. I pray by Friday we are not delayed. PRAY FOR US!

WE had to cancel our new years dinner with friends and have now lost money on flights and stuff we bought for the party.

I'm sorry for ranting like this, but I JUST wanted to share my experience with you so you can BEWARE of JET BLUE and to not make the mistake I did and check your WEATHER reports before you TRAVEL! And to tell you about the horrors that are actually going on in a CITY AS BIG AND PROSPEROUS AS NEW YORK CITY. This storm should have not have been handled the way it has been by the city.

The mayor literally was on TV saying oh well it's a storm and it's an emergency and a huge city and people die every day, and basically was saying OH WELL, that people were dying because ambulances can't get to the people in need because their streets weren't plowed.

I can't wait to get back to CALIFORNIA, Cause at least they actually care if the residents LIVE OR DIE!

I hope if you're in NYC at the moment, you're having a better experience than we are at the moment and are safe and healthy.

Thanks for allowing me to vent this with you and thank you for following!

WEDNESDAY HUMP DAYS SLUMP DAY & BLOG HOP! SORRY LATE WEEKLY EVENT!

<a border="0" href="http://thequeenofswag.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7g1NSnQOqaCSjfLJhCVGIF1KYcEswWO4lEMznAMHttw64fevikzytOWqkgv58u0OQqkXzCsbzseuvTLa2kkDlRFFgy1n98NFlmZ6Q8_bxEiW7ImnfScfTSn49Uwvif-_GmKPFIONpjWvF/s1600/wednesdaybutton.jpg" /></a>

Hey All!

Welcome to once again to my WEDNESDAY HUMP DAYS SLUMP DAY event! Sorry it's semi late. This is a WEEKLY EVENT that I will be doing every Wednesday just so you and I can can have a place to share our midweek experiences and also if you'd like to share your BLOGS AND feel free to leave the link in the linky below for you BLOG, or Wordless Wednesdays or Wednesday events you'd like to share from your blog!

This week I'd like to make Wednesday Hump day Have a Thankful theme and have everyone Share what they are thankful for!



If you'd like to share great or if you just want to share a link to wordless Wednesdays or Wednesday EVENTS. What ever you'd like to share in the comments feel free!

I'll start I'm thankful that my family and friends were safe and healthy during the Blizzard here NYC. Some were not so lucky and lost their lives, and I'm thankful that everyone close to me is healthy and OK.  I hope we have a safe trip home and have a very happy healthy new year and I wish the same for all of you.

So leave your comments and LINKS below. Please no inappropriate words or posts! The posts will be monitored so be advised! Keep it PG and clean! This is a family blog you know.

So let's get chatting!

Thanks for participating in my WEDNESDAY HUMP DAYS SLUMP DAY everyone and I look forward to reading your  blogs and comments!

Ella's Jewelry Box

So, I found this jewelry box in my local thrift store. It was $4.00. I thought about its potential while I walked around the store, and then I left it there. An ugly, lonely little thing, sitting on the shelf. 

The thought of fixing up that jewelry box tortured me the entire night. The next morning, I rushed back to the store, grabbed that hideous little jewelry box and held it tightly to my chest as though someone might take it from me. But they didn't, of course, because look at it! It was a special kind of ugly.

But the lines! The shape! The doors and the drawers! I loved them all. And the $4 price? Well, I loved that the most.

What I didn't love was the color of the wood. And all the scratches. And the painted flowers. And the nasty old flocked felt stuff that lined the drawers, oh my.

So I stripped the drawers:

And James and I filled the scratches and gave it about 100 coats of white paint:

And I mod podged some dark brown paper on the front (it's not yet dry in this picture):

And I mod podged on some pretty paper:

And I lined the drawers with matching paper from the same paper stack:

The back of the jewelry box refused to take paint, so I covered it with paper, too:

I filled it with new clippies and bracelets (and wrote a little note to Ella on the bottom of the box) and gave it to my sweet daughter on Christmas. 

She loves it.

And then today, because "We share in this family!" (as Ella is so fond of screaming at her brother when she wants something), it was also turned into Peyton's Droid Tri-Fighter landing pad:

So, here's the BEFORE:

And here's the AFTER:

Go, little jewelry box, go!