Life is Better with Spunk

It seems that we live in a world of constant turmoil. If it isn't war inundating the media then it is Mother Nature waging her own battle. The aftermath of each of these disasters is often jaw dropping because we witness the absolute control of Mother Nature and the lack of control that we have over such catastrophes. 

But through each of these disasters we often see that the kindness of humanity prevails. A friend of mine is currently in Joplin delivering supplies to families affected by the Tornado. Her photos portray a picture of hope, strength, and the true desire to help those in need.

 once a subdivision in Joplin

 

 Operation Stormy Weather is a relief project put together by caring citizens in Wyoming

 This picture shows half of the supplies delivered from Wyoming

 Because of bad cell service citizens wrote notes on their homes to tell others they were safe.

Once a Home Depot.

 I feel so proud to live in a world where generousity still prevails.

If you would like to donate to the Joplin Relief go visit the American Red Cross

May our thoughts and prayers be with those in need.

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It seems kind of silly now to transition to another challenge after seeing those pictures, but the show must go on.

Right-e-o!

This week's challenge is to do a family technology detox for one weekend. 

*gasp*

I know crazy, right? It can be done though. No television, internet, video games, facebook, twiter, computers, nintendo, ipods, blogging, or Angry Birds.

Don't think you can do it? Well, here are a few helpful tips  for starting and maintaining a family tech detox.

I would love to hear what you and your family plan on doing with all your free time once the tv is off and the video games are put away!

I am thankful for...

Good Morning sleepy heads. How was your Memorial Day weekend?

Ours was spent doing yard work, shopping, fishing, Pirates of the Caribbean #4, and lots and lots of watermelon eatin', oh yes, and rain. For those of you that don't live in Montana you may or may have not heard that a large portion of our fine state is under water. This coming from a place that is usually considered a drought area.

It's quite sad to look at all the pictures, and to know that many of these people have been without homes for nearly a week and will continue to be without a home for most for who knows how long. During this time though, it has been amazing to witness the sense of community that has come from this devastating event.

Even with all of the flooding many put down their shovels and sandbags to honor our military and venterans yesterday.

 Last night I shed a few tears when I was on Facebook (crazy hormones still), my cousin posted some pictures of a Memorial that has been built to

honor the war veterans from my Mom's hometown in Utah.

My Grandma's name is engraved on the Memorial--he was an amazing person who often told stories about his time at sea, and once told me that a pirate tatooed his forearm. Now, that I am older I am guessing that wasn't true.

;)

This memorial was an uplifting reminder of why I have my freedom today, and I want to thank all those that are still fighting to uphold our values and way of life so that we can still be free.

I am so thankful that we live in a place where we take time to honor and praise those that help to protect our basic values and way of life and even though we only celebrate Memorial Day one day a year I want to try to be more diligent to thank those individuals on a more regular basis.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and took some time to honor those that have sacrificed so much.  

Feature Friday my Friends...

Okay, so I am starting to fill alive again, I even managed to get out of bed and do my hair today. Then I called Hunk and told him I looked hot and that he should take all this hotness out to lunch. He shot down my offer.

**silence**

Anyway, feature friday? Yep.

So this week's features happen to be things that are on my "to-do" list. Seriously, though, these ladies have some talent. Make sure to check out their projects and give them some of that love that I didn't receive from Hunk.

winkin' at your Honey.

;)

My Life Planned in Pencil-Red Mirror

V Spot-Spray painted pom poms

Bugaboo, mini, Mr and Me-Matching dresses

Rindy Mae-Specimen flower art piece

Awesome job ladies!

Link Party Rules:*Link to a specific post, not your homepage, or a giveaway. *Post something that you have done in the last month and not something that you have posted previously on SJ*Check out at least one other lovely and give them some sugar! Everyone loves comments and compliments.*Grab my button and put it somewhere on your blog! *Come back next week to see the featured projects!  

The before mentioned church pew...

My child is a terror.

More specifically, he is a terror at church...and our church is three hours..and from 1-4 on Sunday. 

Which seems to aggrivate the Terror aka Punk. 

 During the first hour we go to sacrament meeting. This is where we partake of the sacrament and listen to talks given by members of our congregation. We are "suppose" to be reverent and quiet during sacrament meeting, Punk is neither. He is loud, obnoxious, and completely emotional.

When he gets emotional, I get emotional. 

 Hunk then steps in to grab our terror who is often screaming/crying/growling/yelling and leaves the chapel to let our terror run amock in the halls so I can come down from my emotional high. 

It's a very dramatic experience.  

Recently, we "inherited" a church pew from the above mentioned church building. I have high hopes of making Punk sit it on with his arms folded...for an hour.

I know that no amount of briding will make him sit that long, but I am going to try.

If that doesn't work then I will make him sit there every morning for breakfast. This lovely is going to become a breakfast nook bench.

Isn't she a beaut'?

If you can, try to see past the orange-tastic fabric and image this fabric adorning her seat cushions.

My current dillema is trying to decide what color to paint the wood. I can't decide if I should go with simple barn wood white color or something more bold like tangerine or mustard yellow.

Any suggestions...

I am also planning or revamping our plane-o kitchen table as well so it matches the bench. I want to do something bright and fun with some soft white touches.

Here's some of the ideas that are inspiring me....

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If you can't tell Pinterest has become my new best friend. If any of you are interested in starting your own Pinterest account send me an email and I will hook.you.up.with an invite.

spunkyjunkyblog (at) gmail (dot) come

Or if you want to see what I am lovin' check me out here.

Life is Better with Spunk

Long time no see my friends!

I fill so elated from all of your wonderful comments and emails. The out pouring of compassion we have received over that last few weeks has been amazing. So many of our friends and family have delivered meals, stopped by to check on us, watched Little B at all hours of the night, and have even cleaned our house when we've been gone (sly lil' buggers).

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Yeah, I was mortified when I realized someone cleaned our pigsty-of-a-home. "Thank you" to whoever braved that awful project.

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Last week's Life is Better with Spunk challenge was to hand out at least one compliment a day.  I fill as though I get so caught up in my own life that I sometimes forget to recognize others, so this challenge was a real motivator for me.

I am sure I am the only one that gets caught up in my own life. Right? 

 For this challenge I tried to make a sincere effort to compliment strangers and it seemed like with every nice gesture I handed out there was a smile or a gracious "Thank you" I received in return.

Not only did I try to compliment strangers, but I also started to compliment Punk. At first it felt silly to compliment an 18-month-old, but then I realized at some point he is going to realize what I am doing and I want it to be a habit that reinforces positive behavior in his little life.

I think handing out compliments is one of those challenges I need to keep doing because it helps me have a more positive attitude, which heaven help me I need at times.

:)

Are you ready for this week's Life is Better with Spunk? 

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This week's challenge will also be a bit inspiring--help someone in need.

It could be as simple as watching your neighbor's children, delivering a meal to a friend, helping someone garden, visiting a sick friend--you name it!

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How did last week's challenge go for you? Do you enjoy these challenges or are you wanting something different?

I would love to hear your thoughts...

A few thoughts about what we are going through...

If you haven't noticed I have been neglecting my blog lately--late posts, missed Feature Fridays, no giveaways, and less then stellar tutorials. 

Recently, we found out we were preggers.

Bells and whistles rang out in our house that day.  It was bells and whistles of terror when we began to realize that we I would be pulling double duty on diapers, tantrums, feedings, throw up messes, and sleepless nights.

Once the terror finally wore off it was replaced with thoughts of pink and blue, white crib or brown crib, boy name or girl name. Delightful thoughts began to fill my mind of a cooing little snuggler, then I started to bleed and thus began the daily visits to the doctors office which meant multiple check ups and lots of needles.

When the pain started to set in the thoughts of a miscarriage were then replaced with the words ectopic pregnancy. Luckily, the doctors figured out what was wrong with me before a rupture occured.  So for the last two weeks I have been poked and prodded more then a few times.

While I am so grateful for wonderful doctors and kind nurses, the medicine they have injected me with, which by the way is given to chemo patients, now makes me feel nauseous at all hours of the day and has made me so tired that sleeping is no longer something I enjoy.

And if that weren't enough the cramping and gut wrenching pain has made me somewhat immobile for the last two weeks--and when I have gotten out of bed my slow movements resemble that of Quasimodo.

Yesterday, was the first day I was able to move around without pain shooting throughout my every movement and I am thankful that for the time being the pain has subsided. Now, I am just trying to come to terms with the emotional and mental portion of this ordeal.

Really I am fine, but there are a few things I am still trying to sort out in my mind.

 I realize and know that the pregnancy would have never been viable, but I think what I am having a hard time with is knowing that pregnancy will always be one of those trials I will have to overcome. For those of you new here, Punk was born at thirty weeks and between the two of us we spent nearly three months in three different hospitals. It's a story for another time, but the point is, so far pregnancy has not been easy or enjoyable.

I always imagined how wonderful of an experience it would be, and that I would be one of those pregnant women who would gush my growing tummy and my soon to arrive stork flown package. I then imagined kissing my little snuggle bug in the hospital and bringing home my bundle of joy to a wonderfully prepared house. None of those dreams happened--which is life and I am fine with that.

What I am having a hard time grasping is that I have no control over my body or the situation. It will take time for me to come to terms with the fact that I will never have a house of ten kids. I must clarify, I never wanted ten kids, but the thought that if I wanted to I could would have been nice.  

I am not planning on writing a book or a mini series (hahaha) on my feelings, but I just wanted you to know that my neglect has nothing to do with a lost desire to blog anymore.

Quite the contrary actually, once I feel well again I have major plans for grand home decorating projects, fun new summer tutorials, and lots of great guest posts and features.

For right now, though, I am going to keep writing posts about my family and feelings because those seem to be the things that are making me feel better.

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I hope you all have a fantastic weekend and know here in the Bishop house we hope you can find some comfort for all your trials as well!

Life is Better with Spunk on a Thursday

I hope you all had a great week and were able to get out and enjoy the sun...and visit some kind of park. To be honest with you, we didn't get to really go outside until yesterday. Punk and I spent most of the week at the doctors office. I felt horrible keeping him inside when the weather was finally starting to grace us with some sun and green grass.

He did, however, enjoy the great outdoors yesterday. He had his first haircut yesterday morning and after that tramatic ordeal he needed to recooperate by playing with his cousin. It was so fun to see him play in the sandbox, throw rocks, and follow her around like a little puppy dog.

It was also nice to finally get out of my bed. Punk and I have been cooped up watching Nemo--over and over and over again. 

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For this week's challenge I want to do something inspiring.

 I am in need of some positive ju-ju so this challenge will hopefully benefit all of us. For this week's challenge give out a random compliment a day. The compliments could be given to a cashier, stranger, friend, family member, mailman, waitress--just give some positive ju-ju to someone else, I know it will brighten their day and yours day too!

Fakers...

I have heard from a few reliable fashion sources that fake glasses are hip and cool. Like who wants to have two eyes when four eyes is way better kind of cool.

Because I love my little man so much I decided that he must also become hip and cool. Obviously, his charismatic personality and devilish charm is not cute enough that I must compensate.

;) 

So one afternoon I got my guy all gussied up and tried to take pictures of him with fakers adorning his knocker. The fakers of choice happened to be kids 3D glasses with the lenses knocked out, they were also painted red with finger nail polish.

Yes, red finger nail polish.

Anyway, after dancing like a baffoon and quacking like a duck I was finally able to grasp his attention for t-minus 30 seconds, it was just long enough for me to snap a "few" shots.

Once I started looking through all the pictures I couldn't help but think about how much the glasses reminded me of the Don Draper-esque era.

hmmmm.

Just hope my guy has more concern for moral integrity and the use of seat belts...

Leather Bow Headband TUTORIAL

Good Morning all!

I hope where ever you may be that the sunny is shining and the birds are singing. Wow, that sounded corny.

Anyway ;)

Today I want to show a simple tutorial for a rather simple headband.

 See? Simple even with my not so good picture.

For this project you will need a long scrap of leather (I got mine from my Dad's saddle shop), but I am sure you can find scap leather at Johann's, Hobby Lobby, Roberts, Michaels, or even Tandy Leather Supply.

You will also need fold over elastic (FOE) which can also be purchased at any craft store.

Finally, you will need scissors, a sewing machine, and a glue gun.

Capiche?

 I already gave you the dimensions for all your pieces so lets get to work on making the bow.

1. Take the 1''x5'' piece and fold it in half. On the "half" crease put a dab of glue, then fold the two ends over onto the glue. And voila, the bow is formed.

2/3. Take the 1''x4'' piece and cut the ends so it looks all pretty and such.
Then find the center and put a dab of glue. Take the bow that you made in the first step and now put it on top of the dab of glue.

4. Now take the small skinny piece and wrap it around the center to create the "knot" of the bow. Make sure to pull it tight so it begins to gather in the back, this will help to give more dimension to the leather bow.  

 While the bow dries take the long leather piece and the piece of FOE and sew them together. Note: I made mine length to fit my head, you may adjust the length as needed.

Also, make sure to make the long leather piece a little smaller then the actual size of your head because you will want the elastic sewn in so that the headband may be adjustable in size.  

Hopefully that made sense...

 Now that the bow is dry it can now be glued it to the headband. I off-centered it so it the elastic would be under my hair and the bow would be off to the side.

I promised it would be simple.

This project would be great for little girls too!

So grab your glue glue and make some magic happen....

(was that corny too)? 

Enjoy my friends!~

Small reminders:

Have you linked up to the Spunky Junky Feature Friday Party?

Have you check out Groopdealz to see what Spunky Junky is selling?

I am also partying here!

Spunky Junky is hijacking Groopdealz

Have you heard of Groopdealz?

It's this awesome site where boutique shops and "mom based" businesses can sell their handmade items for a fraction of their original price.

Pretty awesome, right?

Well, Spunky Junky is being featured on Groopdealz today and man oh' man am I going to hook you up!

Today, I am offering my cabochon chrysanthemum earrings for only five dollars a pair--that's a 50% discount from their original price!

You'll have your choice of four fun summer colors:

Raspberry Red

Cornflower Blue

Jade Green

Sun Yellow

Each earring set will come in a hand crafted jewelry box and will be made with love by moi!

So treat your daughter, your sister, your momma, your girlfriends, or even yourself with some new ear candy!

They're yummy--I pinky promise!

Check it out here!