Crafting with Beer Cans

In my family we make a big deal out of birthdays, even the adults birthdays.  

My brother James'  birthday is Sept. 11th.  A horrible day to have to celebrate your birthday, right?  

James not only has to share his birthday with one of the most horrific days in our country's history but in 1984 just 2 days before his 16th birthday our oldest brother was killed in a car accident.    So needless to say ever since then he really has a hard time around his birthday.  He actually hates it.  

My mother, sister and I always try to make his birthday extra special.   Every year we make him some sort of goofy kid-like cake just to make him smile.

Last year I made him a cake with a Bud Light beer can on it.

This year I decided to make him a cake using actual beer cans!  Of course I first got the idea from Pinterest. (where else?)  I mean what was the purpose of life before we had Pinterest?  Really?

First I got all the supplies...
* Cheap plastic tray from Goodwill for $1 to use as the base
* Elmer's foam board
* X-acto knife
* Clear packing tape
* Ribbon
* Beer.. lets NOT forget the main ingredient in this cake! (44 cans to be exact, it's his 44th birthday after all and I'm all dorky like that)

 It was  so simple and way fun to do.  I just know my brother is going to LOVE it.  How could he NOT?   I wouldn't mind getting one of these for my birthday. 

                              FIY:  44 beer cans, yeah that was the HEAVIEST cake I ever had to carry.

The only thing I would do next time is.... USE MORE TAPE!  I mistakenly thought the cans would miraculously just stay together with that pretty sheer ribbon wrapped around them.   Not-so-much.
The first turn out of my driveway and the whole thing tipped over and came apart in the back of my truck.

Beer Can Cake  FAIL.....

One can exploded all over and I  prayed the whole way to my mom's house that I didn't get pulled over.  

My car stunk like booze, big time!   When I got to my mom's we fixed it all back up like new and even took a beer can from her fridge so there were still 44 all together.   Wouldn't want to jinx his B-day in any way!  Duh

I wish I had gotten a pic of his face when I brought the cake/present out and put in front of him.  His smile was worth it all! 

Now I'm sure you're wondering what's in the cute cake carrier marked "Celebrate."  Well, that is James' actual birthday cake that I made.   It was a Long Island Ice Tea cake.  I know, I know... that must sound weird, but like I said we try to make my brother's birthdays "extra special."   The long story short of it is, that while on our Family Cruise in July my brother drank Long Island Ice Teas from sunrise to sunset and let's just say even though he is a BIG guy, those suckers got him, shall we say, a little tipsy.  (ps. you can also find anything and everything with a quick Google search)      

Do you make adult birthdays extra special?  What's the funniest/ most unusual cake or gift you've ever made?   

September 16th... Wife Appreciation Day?

Did you know that today, September 16th is known as National Wife Appreciation Day?
Yeah, neither did I.
I happen to catch a post on Facebook this morning by Duncan Hines mentioning it.    Of course I had to check out Google to see if it was a "real thing."   Why? I don't know!  It's not like anything about the day would change if it was, but when ya gotta know, you gotta know!

The first website I found was DaysOfTheYear.com  their definition was... "There are few cultural cliche's quite as entrenched as the supportive, caring, considerate wife. But believe it or not, it’s not all a big con; the bond between husband and wife runs deep, and it’s important to recognise that level of commitment and dedication to a partner. Wife Appreciation Day encourages husbands and partners to surprise their wives with gifts, recognition and above all, appreciation."   

I've been stressed-out and not feeling too great lately. So I decided I was going to celebrate the day and appreciate myself!  Hell,  if I don't who the hell else will?
While out on my weekly pilgrimage to the store for the Sunday newspapers (coupons, coupons, coupons) I grabbed myself a bouquet of flowers.   I went home put them in a vase, made myself a cocktail and put my feet up. (for 5 mins... then it was time to start dinner)   *Sigh*

Did you know what today was?  Did you know there is something to "celebrate" everyday?   Like Wednesday is "Talk like a Pirate Day?"  or that  Friday is "Miniature Golf Day?"  I'm going to try to celebrate more in the future.  Why not?

Wordless Wednesday

1st Day of School 2012

                                                                Thomas 7th Grade          Tyler Pre-K 

#BagItFoward 2012

I was so excited to be able to be a part of Elmer's #BagItFoward campaign this year.   When I found out I was chosen to donate some quality school supplies to a teacher or student of my choice, I knew exactly the person.  
I have a friend Dora who is a Special Education teacher in our middle school.   She has a classroom of about 15 kids (6th-8th grade) who mostly have behavior issues and can't be main streamed all day.   Her job is a tough one.   The students in her class not only have behavioral issues and learning disabilities, some of them don't have good home environment.  Dora is GREAT with them, she loves them all like a teacher, mom, big sister and an aunt would and should.
I emailed Dora to let her know I was donating supplies to her, she was so overwhelmed and grateful.  I asked her to make a "wish list" and sent her the link to the Elmer's website so she could get some ideas.  She said she really needed things so she and the kids could work on projects together.    She loved the Painter's Paint Pens (and so do I), glue sticks and glitter glue.  The rest was up to me... yay!

I went to Walmart to check out what I could get.

Glue, Glue and more Glue....  Perfect for any and all kinds of projects.   

 On Dora's "wish list" was glitter glue, Painter's paint pens and stencils so her and her students could do projects together.    The swirl glitter glue is so cute, but I think we all know what my favorite Elmer's product is.... the Painter's Paint Pens!  love, love, love, love, love...

  Here's Dora (Mrs. Carr to her students) with her basket of goodies.   We delivered it right to her classroom while she was getting it all ready for the 1st day of school.   If you want to read and see more photos from this shopping trip, you can check out my Google+ story.

Now, I have to tell you a few more things about Elmer's new App called "Elmer's 1st Day of School" 

For every photo uploaded, Elmer’s will donate one product to The Kids in Need Foundation

(KINF) up to 200,000 products.  When I uploaded my photo of my son and grandson on their 1st day of school this was the number of donations to date.    I'm sure it's way more then that by now!  

I urge you to go download the app and upload your photos!  It's an awesome and easy way to give to kids in need.    

Here's a list of links that you just HAVE to go check so you can see for yourself 

 how awesome Elmer's is! 

• BagItForward.org http://bagitforward.org/
• Elmer’s on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Elmers
• Elmer’s on Twitter http://twitter.com/elmers
• Bag It Forward on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/cbsocially/bag-it-forward/

• 1st Day App download http://the1stday.com/walmart

Happy 1st Day of School Everyone! 

“I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and and Elmer’s.  #BagItForward #CBias #SocialFabric”

Wordless Wednesday

The Unexpected Lunch Date 

  

The only time I go out to lunch is with my girlfriends.  But today I got to "lunch" with my oldest son Nicholas.   It was really nice to just spend some one on one time with him.   He is an amazing, smart, funny (hate to say it) young man.  

What's Your Decorating Style?

I get email newsletters from Better Homes and Garden almost every day it seems.  I save them until I actually have the time to read them and click on all the links that interest me.  

Well, today was the day I was able to check out a few.  I saw a link for "what's your decorating style?" and figured what the heck.   

I really do like most decorating styles, except super modern.  I'm just not a fan of it.  

I was curious to see what this quiz would say my style was and the answer .... Cottage.
I do love Cottage Style, but I'm not sure I could live with it.  It's a lot of white if you ask me, and I'm just too much of a slob to be hanging out on a white couch (slipcovered or not)
I did wonder if that's because I chose hydrangea as a flower you would find on my coffee table, or that I chose the slipcovered chair?  I didn't really hate any of the options it gave as answers, So I went back and did the quiz again.  
The 2nd time it said my style was..... Polished Casual
That sounds more like my true style. Although,  I don't think that if you walked into my house right now you would call it "polished" anything!

What is your Decorating Style?  Do you know?  Do you want to know?
You can take the quiz yourself, as many times as you want til you get the answer you like best! LOL

 

Getting Back Into The Swing of Things

 My son Thomas and niece Abby in San Juan

I got back from an 8 day family vacation on Tuesday and I'm still not back into the swing of things just yet.

My father decided he wanted take the whole family on a trip before the kids get too much bigger. We had an awesome time on a Carnival Cruise Ship that left from New York, stopped in San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and Grand Turk.
It was the first time my husband, sons and myself have been on a cruise. Which was part of the reason why my dad chose that type of vacation.
I knew it was going to be different.  Of course in normal "Tina-Fashion" I freaked out and was very anxious about being trapped on a boat in the middle of the ocean for that long.   I also knew I wasn't going to be able to use my phone or bring a laptop and the thought of being "out of the loop" was just as terrifying. 
I have to say, being unplugged wasn't that bad.   I missed talking to a few friends who I talk to every single day, but other then that, the withdrawls just weren't there.  Shocking, I know!    
I'm glad my kids got to have that experience and see places they've never seen before.  Although going on a cruise with a group of 12 people isn't very relaxing.  It's hard to keep track of everyone all the time.
Don't get me wrong, it was great and we had a lot of fun and sun!   I'm just more of a beach house girl, Chris likes to fish, Tom loves to play in the sand and Nick loves the ocean waves.   Next year for sure! 

I'm happy to be home. I do miss Lenardo, he made my bed everyday, then turned back my sheets and left a towel animal every night.   I miss Watson and the other waiters at dinner.  They were all so nice and cute with their foreign accents.

 
Now it's back to my reality of laundry, cooking, cleaning and getting this blog back on track for BlogHer!
(which is in exactly 2 weeks)  Holy Cow, that's scarey!

Have you ever been on a cruise?  I would love to know what your thoughts are on the whole experience.