LAYOUT PARTY

We're having a "Layout Party" at Maple Memories!! No, that doesn't mean that we're all grabbing our swimsuits and lawn chairs and basking under the sun all day. That would certainly get the neighbors attention wouldn't it!!?? :)

We want to see your SCRAPBOOK layouts!! So, add your link to MrLinky below. Remember to insert the link to your POST showing the layout, and not to the main blog. Send your blog viewers over to see others work for inspiration!

"MOM, can we please play with the rice buckets?"

Ribbons and Stickles have become some of my favorite embellishments. What are yours?

"it all leads to a TICKLE FIGHT!"

There was such an odd combination of colors in what the people were wearing and the carpet they were on. A multicolored patterned paper tied it all together.

Don't forget to add your link so that we can see what you've been up too!!

Home Office Makeover

Sarah, over at Thrifty Decor Chick, is having a Before and After Party!! I love looking at the projects that people are working on and are continually amazed by the transformations. Head on over to her blog and be prepared to be inspired!! Keep reading to see our addition to her party!!!

Here's our home office BEFORE picture.

My husband works from home and I was feeling guilty that he had to work under these conditions. When we moved, we spent all our time getting the kids' and their rooms settled that the adults were kind of neglected. His office became the room to throw all the stuff we weren't ready to deal with. So, one weekend when he went on a hunting trip, I enlisted the help of my Dad....24 hours later my husband's office went from THAT to THIS...

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."

When my husband returned home, he was so surprised (we had kept the whole thing a secret)!!!

Friday Feature - McPherson Water Park

After spending a majority of the Summer at the McPherson Water Park, I just can't say enough good things about it. I mean where else can you still get in for the day for $1.00 and get candy at the concession stand for 10 CENTS!!??? No, I'm not kidding!!

The McPherson Water Park offers fun for all ages. There is a 500 foot lazy river, Giant Water Slide, deep diving area, and an 8 lane 50 meter pool. There is a zero depth entry pool, Bulldog slide, and the children's spray area for the little ones.

Zero Depth entry pool. The colored lines underwater indicate a depth change. It's great because you can figure out where your child STOPS being able to reach and let them know that they shouldn't go past the blue line or the red line.

Kids Squirt Park area. They love the anticipation of waiting for the buckets to fill and dump on their little heads!!

Don't the colors just make you happy!!?? Yes, I've seen many an adult stand under them with the giddy anticipation as well!!

Lazy River. They also offer Water Walking in the Lazy River two times a day. You can walk AGAINST the current. I'm telling you, it's more of a workout than one might think!! If you need to stretch your legs while staying at Maple Memories, this would be a great activity for your group!! I think it's just a dollar a person if you come just for Water Walking. Check it out!!

Last, but not least, BIRTHDAY PARTIES!!! You can rent the party shelter for 2 hours for only $10.00. My daughter wanted her birthday there this year...it was a blast!! She wanted a "Water Park Cake" with the water slide and Squirt Park and diving boards and swimmers and lifeguards...OH MY!!! I did my best...

and had LOTS of fun being creative, and eating candy, while making it!! ENJOY SOME FUN AT MCPHERSON WATER PARK!!! Come on Family Night (Fridays) and the WHOLE family gets in for $5.00!!!

McPherson Water Park, 511 Lakeside Dr, McPherson, KS 620-245-2578

Drab to Fab

This spot in the master bathroom has been looking a little drab. It was missing something.


That is when I remembered this...


A plain brown frame, with no glass, that I had purchased for 50 cents at a garage sale. Painted it with a little black spray paint (2 coats). Discovered that Kansas wind makes spray painting...ummm...interesting!!??


Let it dry (this is my LEAST favorite part...I get antsy!) and then distressed it just a bit with sandpaper. The cross is brown with a little black showing through, so I decided to show the opposite affect on the frame. It's painted black with the brown wood of the original frame peaking through.

I am so excited about the way that it turned out!!! Amazing how the cross suddenly seems bigger and is no longer "lost" against the wall. Not bad for a $2.00 Hobby Lobby cross and a 50 cent garage sale frame!

Now for some new towels and a shower curtain to add that extra splash of color!! Do you think a little spray paint would do the trick!? HA!

I'm addicted...

to my Dymo. I confess. Lock me up if you must.

I asked for this fun little label maker for Mother's Day in hopes that if would get me motivated to organize. It worked! I knew exactly what I wanted to tackle first. The PANTRY!!

When we were house hunting, I instantly fell in love with everything about this house. OK, really I fell in love with the pantry. It was love at first sight. Well, actually 2nd glance because I didn't even SEE it at first.

Isn't that clever!? I opened the cabinet doors expecting to see rows of shelves and instead I am transported into my own secret room!! Seriously, it is the best thing EVER!! HOWEVER...this is the sad part...after a couple of years the clutter of the rest of the house started creeping into my beloved pantry. It didn't bring me that "feeling" anymore, the "spark" was gone. It was time to put some time and effort into the relationship. Time to reconnect, but we needed some outside help. A 3rd party to get us out of this mess...DYMO to the rescue!!!

It was so fun (really it was) and only took me a couple of days to complete (yes, this is WITH the interruptions that come along with having 3 children in the house). I started by grouping like items together...canned food, baking goods, cereal, drinks. THEN, I divided them into even more specific groupings. Canned food was put on the shelves and labelled as "Canned Veggies", "Canned Fruit", "Cream Soup", "Beans", etc. Cereal was labelled as "Cold Cereal" and "Hot Cereal" (oatmeal, cream of wheat, Malt-o-Meat). Baking goods ended up with labels such as "Sugar", "Flour", "Pie Filling", "Boxed Cakes, and "Pudding". You get the idea.

Another suggestion is to use plastic containers and baskets to store items in. I put all of our cookie cutters into a small plastic bin. Sprinkles and food coloring in one and spice packets in another. I used a basket to store bread, which keeps it from getting smashed. I also used a basket to store our dry pasta that comes in bags instead of boxes.

As I was doing this, I thought about which items we used the most and put them at eye level. The items that weren't used on a daily basis (cookie cutters, cake pans, jello molds) were put on the top shelves. I also put items that my kids could help themselves to (snacks, crackers, juice boxes) down on their level. Speaking of kids, they really enjoyed "helping" with this as well. Hence, the "PB&J" label as seen below.

Oh, looks like we are out of jelly. Better write it on the shopping list. Yes, all this crazy obsessive labelling has made it so easy to figure out what we need at the store. We just walk in, find a space with nothing in it and read the label to see what we are out of. AND when it comes time to put away the groceries the kids can't WAIT to do it. Not kidding. They love reading the labels and knowing EXACTLY where to put something. It's like a game to them. Who knew all of this was wrapped into one little label maker!!?? It's so great to have that "spark" back again!!

Play dough Recipe

Kids successfully off to a new school year. My older two started school yesterday and my "baby" started Kindergarten today. The afternoon was quiet. Really quiet. It's weird. Really weird. BUT I think I can get used to it!

The Kindergartner brought home a recipe for playdough that they made at school today. We made it together after school. Quick and easy. My kind of recipe. All 3 kids are playing with it at the table. No fighting. Enjoying time together. Making memories together. You should make some.

Play dough Recipe

1 cup flour

1/2 cup salt

2 tsp cream of tarter

2 Tbsp oil

1 cup water and 4 -6 drops of food coloring

Mix all ingredients together in a skillet over low heat. Stir until mixture thickens. Cool and knead. Sculpt and have fun.

We have "Playdough Placemats" at home. They're great. Have the kids draw or paint a picture. Cover it in contact paper (after the paint dries if you painted...I know, you know, but I'm telling you just in case you didn't), front and back. Set it on the table and have the kids keep the playdough on the mat. Doesn't stick while they are playing and it's easy cleanup!!!

Friday Feature - Main Street Deli

Soups, Salads, and Wraps, OH MY! This is what you will find on the menu of the Main Street Deli in McPherson. When you walk in you will find chalkboards hanging above the counter with a variety of mouth watering choices!! There is another chalkboard to the left with the daily specials and soup choices. The glass cabinets in the front are stocked full of bakery items that are made from scratch daily...yep, you heard me right, made from SCRATCH!! I hear that the Chocolate Almond Coconut Pie is to die for, although I have yet to try it (the fudge gets me every time!!).

There is also a cute little gift shop in the front, where you can find some fun and unique items. Adorable little tutu's with matching flip flops, Initial luggage tags, mugs, purses, wallets, jewelry, stuffed animals. When I was in the other day, a little onsie caught my eye...it had a picture of the Earth with letters that read, "Hi! I'm new here." How cute it that!!??

Main Street Deli
108 S Main

McPherson, KS 67460

(620)241-1888

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 10:30AM - 9PM and Sat 10:30AM - 8PM

CLOSED SUNDAY

AND ONE OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT MAIN STREET DELI...YOU CAN WALK THERE FROM MAPLE MEMORIES!!! WE LOVE THAT!!!!