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 | 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

Baseball | DIY Laces bracelet

I enjoy ripping apart baseballs and making something from them [of course the whole time my son is watching in agony, as if he feels the pain and anguish from each ball as it's being torn apart, and questions my motive the entire time].

Once I figured out how easy and kind of fun making bracelets out of the laces was, I became a laces bracelet machine.

I keep mine simple but I've seen some that have their child's number on them, or bedazzled somehow.

[The next go around my baseball mama bff, Jeanne, and I are going to make cuffs out of the leather and bedazzle the heck out of them!]

First, I always make sure the baseballs I'm using are genuine leather.  That synthetic type, I don't know if this is just me, or what, but it doesn't seem to wanna work with you as much, not as pliable, etc.

Grab that exacto knife and CAREFULLY cut the leather around the lace, leaving enough room to where you can trim it down at the end.

Once you've cut the lace from the ball, cut the lace in half and cut off maybe an inch of the leather from the ends, so you have enough thread to 1) make a loop on one end, and 2) tie on a button of your choice.  Make sure to play with the placement of each as best as you can so it's not too loose and not too tight!  Before you put the button on and tie the loop, I soak the laces in HOT water for a few minutes, then in Vaseline for a couple days.  I did mine for a week, I'm sure you can do take it out in two days.  Wipe off the Vaseline as best you can, then pin it to a cork board, or something you can use to stretch it out straight for another day or two.

Once it's stretched out & straight, you're ready to decorate how you will, and show your support to your little league baseball or softball player!! 

Simple as that!  Enjoy!!

♡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.