Homemade & Personal | National Police Week 2015

This years National Police Week fell May 10-16. Thousands gather in DC and pay homage to the fallen Kevlar clad heroes at the National Police memorial. Festivities go on all week, including a candlelight vigil that I imagine is an experience like none other. One day, we will make it there to celebrate and honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. For more info, check out www.policeweek.org

This year, I did what I could to make sure my LEO and his platoon knew, beyond all the negativity in the media, beyond all the hatred from common citizens, beyond just sheer ignorance, how much they are truly appreciated and needed. I'm took to Pinterest and found some super cute ideas and gave them my own spin. 

When my son and I went to roll call with my basket full of goodies, it was like Christmas morning for these officers, as I was told no one has ever done anything for them (for this week of honor or for Christmas). It was rewarding to see and hear how proud my LEO was to show me off with my basket full of goodies, and to see the officers faces light up and to be told how much they all appreciated the gifts.

I started off with black bags, and used a permanent double sided glue tape to put blue ribbon lines on the bags. The blue satiny ribbon really popped on the black bags. I then wrote in the officers code and last name on the bags.

My favorite was the pocket, one decade rosaries I made for them. I managed to find a tiny Catholic store close to where I live and she had the crucifixes and St Michael medallions I needed. This is the one project my boyfriend helped me with, and without his help, I may not have completed them. I included the St Michaels prayer for police officers and a small homemade badge with thanks for their service.

Not to toot my own horn, but I LOVE the rosaries! And the badges. In fact, I plan on making more in bulk to keep handy to hand out throughout the year instead of just once a year!

Next, I bought a ton of donuts, and rebagged them with a note saying "Donut you know we appreciate you 2015"... Yea, see what I did there?

I also, last minute, decided to make magnets out of the officers last name initial. 

Other things included in the bags: 

Blue & black coins (for their raise, or lack thereof)

A slim jim

A whoopee cushion

Hand sanitizer

A fake moustache

Tissues

A squirt gun

Gum

A pen

A bouncy ball

Powerade 

I included silly things to give the guys something to take the edge off, something to make them smile. It's a thankless job... a stressful, thankless job.

And it's important to me that they know how much they are lovedand supported.

For LEO and family support, here are a few sites:

Wivesbehindthebadge.org/about-us/testimonials 

Policewives.org

Behindthebadgefoundation.org/support/law-enforcement-family-network

And two books I love:

Bullets in the Washing Machine

I Love a Cop

Homemade | Police Thin Blue Line Ornaments

Christmas has come and passed, along with NYE, so I finally  have a chance to sit down and blog this!

These were the Christmas gifts to my boyfriends platoon this year. I had a blast making them, even though it was extremely tedious and time consuming. I think taping them and waiting for the paint to dry was the most nerve wracking! 

But the officers LOVED them, and for that very reason I am very proud of them, and myself. 

Once painting was done, I filled them with fake snow and a handfulll of .22 bullets. 

I'm already planning next years gift, and I'm hoping to get an earlier start! 

💙tlee

Homemade | Brown Sugar lip scrub

I am cursed with constant chapped lip syndrome. Winter, spring, summer, fall.. It doesn't matter what season! It probably also doesn't help that I'm a lip biter. Nervous, happy, whatever I'm biting my lips.

I'm trying hard to find natural remedies for such things. I had came across sugar lip scrubs and how beneficial they were for your sensitive lips. The scrub exfoliates the surface layers of your lips and removes the dead outer layer leaving behind beautiful, soft, smooth and (my favorite) kissable lips! Used once a week, twice during the winter will really help keep your lips healthy.

Here's the recipe I use after figuring out what I needed/wanted from my lip scrub:

1c. Brown sugar

1/2c. Coconut oil organic

1/2c. Honey

Mix well, then store in air tight container (I've found the 4oz jelly jars work great!). 

Enjoy your luscious lips!

Personal | hashtags and other sorts

I completely skipped an entire month of blogging. Although the excuse is legit, I don't like excuses.

I recently (late August) got a new job. I went from accounting/bookkeeping to... Ready for it? 911 communications officer. I have been in training pretty much since day one, which let me just throw it out there, is stressful. I was released on the phones Monday Oct 27th. So until I begin police radio training, which will probably take place in a few weeks, I've been able to catch up on some projects. 

We have periods of downtime during the 12-hour midnight shift, so I'm using that downtime wisely, between reviewing work related stuff and getting my projects out of the way (such as this beauty)...

And since starting this job, I'm home during the day, which is a totally new experience for me. Between catching up on sleep I've also managed to work on some of my "at home" projects. 

Here are a few I've been able to accomplish...

I bedazzled some acorns (super cute)

We carved some pumpkins

I made my sons werewolf Halloween costume

I made some cute and warm ear warmers 

I made a tiny hippo

I painted pumpkins 

I created a Halloween wreath out of ribbons

I made a baseball leather key ring for my sons fall ball baseball coach

I started to play with Christmas gift ideas for my boyfriends platoon

Needless to say I've been busy..

I also just opened up my new (and always improving) Etsy store:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/fiveohlove

Right now I just have a few things listed but will add upon that once I see an interest. 

Also, if you are on Instagram, look for the following hashtags to find either of my pages and follow me...

#craftingadhd

#loveyourpopo

#firefliesandsweettea

And that's about it for now. I'll probably be doing another DIY project with coconut oil and essential oils for a Christmas gift giveaway and/or the sugar scrubs. I might also be doing one for the gifts I end up making for my LEO's platoon for Christmas. Last year it was an Officers Survival Kit, which I think ill do again this year along with a nice ornament, but we'll see.

For now, goodnight and good morning.

 <3tlee

Homemade | DIY Whipped coconut oil body butter

It's not even truly autumn yet and already I'm hearing people complain about dry, itchy skin. I started doing some research on a natural solution, and looking for something I could make with what oils and natural stuff I have and decided on a whipped coconut oil body butter that was super easy and quick to make!

I'll admit it smells more like Christmas but I'm going to make another batch with a more "autumn" like scent.

Here we go:

1c, extra virgin coconut oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops argan oil (or jojoba)

Take your coconut oil in a medium size bowl and mix with electric mixer fit about 8-10min, until whipped and forming peaks.
Add your essential oil and argan and mix for about another 2min.
Store in a glass container with a tight lid,  and refrigerate until solid.
Afterwards, store at 75 degrees or cooler.
Use a large popsicle stick to get body butter out as to not contaminate the whole jar.

Enjoy!!!

♡tlee

Crocheting | Lucie's BALLZ

Making these was something I stumbled across while making something completely different. 

I was looking for crochet patterns on making little monsters for my son, and my guys children.  I found a great, easy video and before long, I had created some adorable little monsters [to which I will post and give credit to coming soon]. 

But, in the midst of creating these monsters, I had figured out how to make a ball.  I know that sounds simple enough, but after showing my creation on my Instagram account, a friend asked if I could make one for her cat, Lucie.  I started getting cute ideas of filling them with catnip and jingle bells [which actually didn't make the final cut on the original BALLZ].

I happily went to town making these cute catnip balls, mixing the plush with catnip in a lunch baggie, stuffing the balls, and then allowing the balls to "soak" in the lunch baggie filled with catnip.  I soon shipped them off... three BALLZ and a short handwritten note to Lucie.

Introducing: Lucie's BALLZ

A few days later, I got a picture of Lucie and an adorable video of Lucie and her mama opening up her package! 

[Please watch the video.. it's so sweet!!]

All tuckered out after all that excitement!!

Lucie's "glazed over" look ... silly (and beautiful) cat!!

 

If interested in having some made, email: firefliesandsweettealee@gmail.com

 

♡tlee



Crafting | DIY Ombre painting and song lyrics - fun personalized crafts!

Hands down one of my all time favorite songs is Van Morrison, Moondance! And although it was Morrisons version I fell in love with, my favorite Irish singer, Ryan Kelly of Celtic Thunder did an amazing cover. I had that song stuck in my head ALL day last Thursday.

Digging through my crafts, I realized I had this fantastic piece of wood from Michaels that I've yet to do anything with. All of a sudden it dawned on me!

"It's a marvelous night for a moondance."

Yes!

I had had a similar epiphany with a blank piece of canvas. I got out my paint and brushes and went with the flow.. light to dark orange ombre with the lyrics You are my Sunshine in a bright blue. Brilliant!

(Most everything I hang is crooked bc I have a 7yr old who hardly ever walks lightly, and in case you were wondering, that heart picture is super easy and fun to make, I love to work with buttons!)

And it was after that painting that I realized ombre painting is fun and simple. You grab 2 or more colors and just paint and blend. I don't even rinse out my brushes, which I think helps the blending process. I am a bit messy when it comes to painting but especially ombre! I had paint on me, my son (who insisted on sitting beside me as he read), the table, the floor, wall and dog.

I sometimes free hand words/letters but I knew I wanted this more "elegant" than "laid back" so I printed the lyrics, scribbled with pencil on the back then taped the paper to my project and traced away. This idea I picked up from this lovely blog.

The end product, in my opinion, is gorgeous and I absolutely love it.

From start to finish I want to say it took round about 5 hours. I was up until a little after 1am completing this.. mostly due to the fact I have OCD and it's hard for me to stop something that I've started and that I'm super excited about.

I had a friend mention I should custom make these and sell them around the Christmas craft circuit. 

Hmm, I just might. 

If anyone is interested, email me at tlcawthorn@gmail.com and please put CRAFTS or something in the subject line!

♡tlee

Personal & hi y'all | Crafts! And a little about me.

Ever since I was younger, I've always enjoyed crafts.  That was something my mom inspired me to do, and something that I continue to this day with my son.  Sometimes when I'm feeling silly, I'll grab a blank canvas and my paint brush, or if I'm just feeling quiet, I'll grab my crochet hook, and attempt to create something wonderful [I say "attempt" bc I'm still getting the hang of crocheting.. but I can make a pretty awesome scarf].

First, a little about myself?  I'm a mother, first and foremost.  It's the best, and hardest, job I've ever done.  How cliché, right?  It's true.  I would never trade that for anything.  I'm also a "baseball mom", to be more exact, which is a very specific and important title [more on that later].  I'm a girlfriend.  To a super wonderful guy.  He helps come up with ideas for me to try next, mostly with my crocheting.  He won't like me saying he's sweet, and he'll deny it, but he is.  I'm a bookkeeper.  How drab.  But, it pays the bills.  And it's something that [sometimes] keeps me on my toes.  I have two fur babies, Tessa [border collie mutt] and Joe [half Maine coon].  And I love my friends and family, close and extended.  Without all the above mentioned, I wouldn't be who I am today.

So here it is.  My simple crafty musings from a simple, crafty [baseball] mama!

Enjoy :)

Oh and PS. The background picture was taken late summer 2013 in Shenandoah National Park.