{Ali}

Design Star on HGTV ~ Do you watch?

The first episode of Design Star on HGTV, aired last Monday night, and I can tell you I am already a huge fan of this season! I am loving the fact Tanika Ray is the host, and she did a FAB job last week. The three judges, Vern Yip, Genevieve Gorder and Candice Olsen were much more supportive and encouraging this year! I love it!

The first episode started off with a huge challenge this year! The designers were paired up and, each team was responsible for decorating a room in an empty three-story New York penthouse. My favorite room of the night was the great room, decorated by Leslie Ezell and Cathy Hobbs:

My favorite part of the room was the tire tread coffee table, which Leslie picked out! Check it out:

The winner of the challege was Karl Sponholtz, who created an awesome bonus room with Kellie Clements.

It really was a great room! The loser of the challenge and the first designer to leave the show was Blanche Garcia, who designed a bedroom with Mark Diaz. Her random "doily"votive holders on the wall, and botched wallpaper frames, contributed to her demise.

I really think this season started off with a bang and a HUGE challenge! I can't wait to see what is next!

Design Star episode 2 airs tonight at 9pm/8c on HGTV

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign by Crafterminds and HGTV Design Star. My opinions are my own.

Posted on July 18, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Party Time!

Well, technically the party was almost 2 months ago, which was about the last time I posted. What is up with that? I think with all the excitement and festivities during the month of May, I needed some time to decompress. Yeah, that's it. We'll go with that! So to play a little catch up, I need to post about Madison's Graduation Party!

We held the party in the backyard of my brother's gorgeous house, the Friday night before her Sunday graduation, and it worked out perfect. We did have a few rain sprinkles, but for the most part the weather held.

First up, the decorations. Madi's favorite color is purple, so I knew that would have to be on of the colors in the color scheme. Since yellow seems to be "in" right now, I thought that make a nice choice to add to the purple. I made the usual tissue paper flowers that you see all over blog land, and added some paper lanterns

We strung some white Christmas lights from the fireplace to the trees, over the stone patio.

I made a purple and yellow bunting banner from scrapbook paper to drape from the covered patio

I also used my trusty Silhouette to cut out some vinyl in a celebratory message for the wall of the garage, under the enclosed patio. I surrounded the message with a bunch of pictures of Madi throughout the years

I also strung picutres of Madi witht he friends from the last 4 years of high school Lot's of dance pictures, cheerleading photos, etc. It's hard to tell, but they are hung from ribbon with tiny clothes pins.

I bought two large bouquets of flowers from Costco that morning, and split them up in to several different vases. One on the food table, the stone fireplace, the wine table, and the entry table. They were gorgeous yellow and purple flowers with some white daisies too!

I also had a small entry table as guest arrived in the back yard. It had Madi's yearbook, for friends that hadn't signed it yet, as well as advice/memory cards for friends and family to fill out for Madi. Giving her advice for the years to come, or a favorite memory.

The menu was pretty simple and easy, which worked out great. We had pulled pork and roast turkey from Sugarhouse BBQ Company which was delish! Along with rolls, a yummy pasta salad, fresh fruit, chips and salsa, shrimp, and cupcakes for dessert.

The cupcake toppers were made from scrapbook paper, my giant scallop punch, and were glued to toothpicks. Super easy!

We also rented a cotton candy machine (Madi loves cotton candy), that was a HUGE hit with the kids AND parents!

At about the time the party actually started, I put my camera down and never picked it up again! What was I thinking? Too busy hostessing and visiting, I guess. Thankfully Madi took a few photos!

It was a super fun night, and we all had a great time! We had the fireplace going, another firepit lit, and dancing in the garage! Just wish I would have taken more photos!

Thanks for hanging in there through all the photos! And for being patient with my blog-vacation! Guess, what? It's friday! TGIF! Hope you have a great weekend!

Posted on July 15, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Graduation Time!

A whole lot of envelope addressing is going on at the Moll house!

Madison's last day of high school is today. Really? How is it, that my baby girl is old enough to be graduating from high school already? It can hardly comprehend it all!

We've been busy tying up loose ends (end of year projects, extra credit and studying for finals), as well as getting the graduation announcements (courtesy of Jostens) and graduation party invitations (courtesy of Shutterfly) addressed and out in the mail.

Starting tomorrow, things will begin to get out of hand! The first of the graduation parties that Madi has been invited to (and some that we are invited to as well), begin. No school for the kids next week, but there is the Activities Awards Night on Monday, and then the Athletics Awards Night on Tuesday, along with several rehearsals for both Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation thrown in throughout the week. On Thursday night we celebrate the Baccalaureate Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, which is beautiful! Definitely one of the things I love about my kids attending a Catholic High School! ALSO, Tyson will be home from college on Thursday! Woot Woot! Can't wait to have everyone under one roof again!

Friday night is Madi's big graduation party! A time to celebrate with friends and family! I have been busy making these

Tissue paper Pom Poms to hang from the trees in the backyard! I know, I know....as you can tell from Madi's graduation announcements....Puple and Yellow are NOT her high school colors! LOL! She LOVES the color Purple, and wanted that to be the "theme" of HER night! I also rented a Cotton Candy machine for the night! Hoping to serve Purple cotton candy! Fun, right?

A few more graduation parties on Saturday, and then Madi's Graduation on Sunday at Abravanel Hall.

Such a crazy time for all of us! But, what an exciting time for Madi! Her facebook status last night said:

beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but its everything in between that makes it all worth living...♥

I love it! Perfect for her and this time of year!

Thanks for sticking with me, and allowing me to document the personal stuff that is going in my life!

Happy Friday!

Posted on May 20, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Five Fabulous Bloggers!

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous!

Today, I want to tell you about 5 FABULOUS blogs that I visit every single day! I visit all of them for a variety of different reasons and inspiration. Check them out!

Nie Nie Dialogues

Nie Nie is EXTREMELY inspirational! She and her hubby (Mr. Nielsen) are recovering from a horrific airplane crash. Her story and her will to live is just plain fabulous! Her blog is also full of lots and lots of eye candy! Lots of fun colors and style!

Under the Sycamore

Talk about MORE eye candy! Ashley's blog is full of inspiration in her photos and decorating! Check out her fabulous bedroom and chicken wire wall HERE. Awesome! Also, her darling little Firecracker is recovering from a broken leg as well, and it has been inspiring to read how Ashley spent so much time in the hospital with her, yet continued to inspire all of her blog readers!

House of Smiths

Another fabulous blogger! Shelley is HILARIOUS! I love her posts about her adorable "chicks", and I love her style! She has done some serious decorating! Check out this FABULOUS photo gallery wall HERE. I LOVE IT!

Young House Love

I absolutely love what these DIY'ers do! They recently purchase a "new" to them home and are slowing but surely redoing it! Check out their new patio HERE, which they finished just in time for their little bean's (Clara) FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY. These two even DIY'd their WEDDING! Check it out!

Tatertots and Jello

Jen @ Tatertots and Jello ALWAYS has the best ideas! Whether it's CRAFTING, or DECORATING or RECIPES, Jen has got it covered! Her blog is a daily does of creativity! You MUST check her out!

What do you guys think? Do you read the blogs above? What blogs are your must read blogs? I would love to hear!

Also, if you aren't already a follower of my blog, I would love you to be! ;) Don't forget to enter the 50 Fabulous Wishes contest for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous. I was selected for this Tropicana Trop50 sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do. I received compensation to use and facilitate my post.

Posted on May 19, 2011 in Crafts, Decorating, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (1)

Strawberry Poppyseed Salad

Photo credit

How FABULOUS does this salad look? Something very similar to this, was my lunch today! Oh my, DELISH! I made it for dinner last night, and brought the leftovers to work with me today! I didn't have a recipe, so I just winged it!

One bag of mixed greens (mine had carrots, snap peas and radishe)
Fresh Strawberries, cut into halves (or quarters, whatever you prefer)
Can of pineapple chunks (or fresh pineapple)
Can of Mandarin Oranges
Fresh Blueberries
Toasted almond slivers

Mix the above ingredients together and top with creamy poppyseed dressing!

SOOOOOOO good and fresh!

Let me know if you try it, and if you do...what you think!

Happy Wednesday!

My daughter has 2 days (and a few hours!) of school left, before she graduates. Oh my! I cannot believe my baby is done with high school! I am freaking out, just a bit!

Posted on May 18, 2011 in Food and Drink, Recipes | Permalink | Comments (0)

The End of an Era.....

For the last 13 years, this girl of ours has been playing baseball or softball. She started at the age of 5 playing baseball with the boys, and then started playing Bonnet Ball at the age of 6. From then on, there was no stopping her. After playing Bonnet Ball for a few years, she began playing "Comp" softball. What fun times! Some highlights:

Madi has played for 3 different comp teams (Sting, Sliders and Extreme), and 1 high school team (Judge Memorial Bulldogs)
Made countless friends, both teammates and on rival teams
We've taken MANY trips as a family to tournaments (Steamboat Springs, CO ~ St. George, UT ~ Las Vegas, NV ~ Portland, OR)
She is the ONLY Pitcher on her high school team and has never played in a JV game
She has usually been one of 3-4 pitchers on her comp teams, and primarily played 1st base, and occasionally 3rd base
Played in every Triple Crown World Series, since playing comp ball
Had swim parties and sleepovers with teammates
Played on the Sting soccer team with her softball friends
Pitched almost every game as a high school pitcher on the varsity team, even as a freshman
Played most of her sophomore high school season with a "boot" after having surgery to place a metal rod and 6 screws in her ankle
Countless BBQ's and dinners out after games with teammates and their families
Received several scholarships and offers to play college softball

BUT, after all is said and done.....Madi has decided to hang up her cleats, put away her mitt and say goodbye to the sport that has brought so much to her life. It is time to move on to a new chapter for her now. And while, it is bittersweet and we (the whole family) will miss seeing Madi on the softball field, we are so excited to see what is in store for her.

Thanks for all the softball memories you have given us Madi! It has been so much fun to travel around with you and watch you play over the years!

Posted on May 17, 2011 in Family, Sports | Permalink | Comments (3)

A Month of Milestones

This is a bittersweet month for me.

Lot's of different milestones for my baby girl, Madison.

She is a senior and will be graduating from high school at the end of the month.

While I am sooo happy for her and excited for her future, I am still sad that it is the end of an era. She has attended a fabulous Catholic High School (as did Tyson), and it's sad to see our time at the high school end.

The first milestone she (we!) celebrated this past weekend, was her last Prom!

We used my brother's backyard to host a group of Madi's friends/dates and their parents for pictures. It was a lot of FUN!

It was so fun to see the kids and how excited they all were....and yet a touch sad as it was their last prom.

Next milestone? The last softball game of Madi's career. Should happen today, weather permitting. This girl has played baseball/softball since she was 5, and this could be the very last game ever for her. She has elected not to play this summer at all. Carl and I won't know what to do with ourselves!

Thanks for letting me take a break from craftiness, to record some personal stuff, here on the old blog!

Happy Tuesday to you!

Posted on May 10, 2011 in Family | Permalink | Comments (6)

Life

It seems that a little thing called LIFE has gotten in the way of this ol' blog of mine!

I've got a jillion post ideas knocking around in my head, but just haven't had the time to make any of them happen.

Some things keeping my busy right now:

My father-in-law passed away last week
We took a camping trip over Easter...and we are "city folk" who don't camp, so it was a bit of an undertaking to get ready for it!
Madi is trying to finish her senior (and last) season of softball, but all the rain and snow delays, have put game on top of game, on top of game! It's crazy!
Madison is also graduation from high school next month (what? really?), so we are dealing with all things related to that! Not to mention her last prom!
My day job seems to be much busier than normal too!

I just can't seem to get my act together right now! Do you ever feel like that? Like life is just too frenzied sometimes? I'm hoping to get some posts together this weekend! I've got lots of stuff to share...just no time! Please be patient! Things should be back to normal soon!

Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend!

Posted on April 29, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (2)

Another Easy Vinyl Project

As some of you may know, we are HUGE

fans at our house! We try and make it to as many games as we can, and we always tailgate before the game! We have a FABULOUS tailgate group! Sooo much fun!

Anyway, as some of you also may know...I love to get my craft on! Hence, the name of my blog! :)

Soon after I got my Silhouette , I whipped up these glasses for tailgating