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Thrifting Treasures

November 23, 2012 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday.  We had an amazing day!  It was our first time to host, and we had Matt’s extended family over.  It was a lot of fun with lots of laughter and family!  The benefit of hosting was we hardly had to do any of the cooking.  Sweet deal in my book.  I can’t wait to share some of these pictures with you! I hope you enjoy the rest of this holiday weekend.  I did a little Black Friday shopping last night with my sister-in-law and am now gearing up for my son’s birthday tomorrow.  It is crazy busy times, but it is all so fun and full of love.  I am truly blessed!

Even though its been a busy week I didn’t want to ignore my Friday Project Spotlight. I wanted to share a quick chair makeover that my sister, Olivia did last week. Olivia is the other half Dancing Zebras, our Etsy craft store.

Olivia, and my niece, Charleigh, were in town for a week.  We crafted and did all sorts of fun thrifting shopping adventures.  It was a perfect week!  My mom was so sweet to watch the boys one afternoon and finish up “school,” so I could have a girls day!  So, my sis and I loaded up our girls and went to four thrift stores in a row.  It was so fun!

We found lots of good deals and fun things to re-do/re-vamp!  Don’t you love Reagan’s Baby Gap hat we found for $1.00?? I love brainstorming with Olivia and dreaming of how to make ugly things beautiful again.

One of Olivia’s amazing finds was this old chair that she redid with a little paint and a pretty piece of fabric!  I love it and might secretly be wishing I had bought that chair!

The chair folds up, and it would be so easy to store and yet bring out when you need that extra seat!  I love the colors she choose and combined together!  She unscrewed the seat, spray painted the chair, then recovered the seat with some fabric she had left over from another project.  She then went back and gave it a light sanding job.  Didn’t it come out so cute?! It always amazes me how quickly these thrifting finds can become treasures.

We had a lot of fun on our shopping trip.  I found some fun things that I was able to use this week to decorate for our Thanksgiving feast.

I got that little pumpkin holder for $1.00 and those glass vases for $.80 each.  I simply filled them with some acorns I had collected.  I just adore that wood bowl I found for $1.00!

Thanks for stopping in and seeing my Project Spotlight item.  Thanks Olivia for letting me feature your chair makeover!  Do you have a project you would like me to spotlight?  I’d love to hear from you and share one of your creations!  Message me and we can work it out! Enjoy the rest of your weekend and I’ll be back on Monday with more from my Tidbits of Me series.

 

 

 

 

**Linked up at Miss Information.

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I am 1 of 9

November 12, 2012 By Erica Deuel 14 Comments

I am excited to begin this series of “tidbits of me”.  I hope you find it interesting in hearing a little about my story and what has made me…me.  A huge part of who I am is where I came from.  I have a big family.  I am one child out of nine.

This picture is from a family trip to Washington DC in 1999. I was a Sophomore in high school.

I have five brothers and three sisters to be exact.  This is not a blended family or made up of step siblings.  We aren’t Mormon and we aren’t Catholic.  (Those are answers to a lot of questions I get when I mention my siblings to new people.)  We are just the good old fashion family of nine children from the same two parents.  Who, by God’s grace, are still married today.

Hearing it that simply and plainly makes me feel like one incredibly blessed girl.

This picture of me with my sweet parents was taken last night.

I am the second oldest.  My older brother is 32 (sorry Nathan for spitting that out there ;)), and my youngest brother just turned 16 last month.  We are all two years apart, and alternate turning even and odd numbers every other year.  This was the year we all turned even numbers (32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, and 16).  Knowing this trick has really helped me keep everyone’s ages in check!

Growing up in such a large family was a lot of fun.  There was always some kind of commotion and excitement going on.  There was never a dull moment.  I have fond memories of being at the ballpark all day on Saturdays as we had baseball and softball games literally back to back or overlapping.  We went to them all too.  It was embedded in us to support one another and go to each other’s events.  All our extended family lives in Ohio, so it was just us around and we hung on to that.  It is still like that today, and I feel so blessed to have that kind of family behind me.

This picture was taken on a family trip to New Orleans in 2002. I was a freshman in college.

We were all homeschooled at one point or another.  I was homeschooled first grade through fifth.  I have dyslexia, so it was hard for me to learn to read.  My mom pulled me out of first grade to give me the attention I needed to learn to read.  She had to teach me to read by memorization and then went back and taught the phonetic way.  This began our family down the homeschool road.

After studying Hawaii, we created a Hawaiian themed dinner with costumes and decorations.

I loved being homeschooled.  We did LOTS of fun activities and outings.  This of course, has played a large role in us venturing down the homeschooling our kids road.  One of my favorite memories of being homeschooled is of my mom.  One day we were driving home and there was a freshly killed raccoon along the road.  It was obviously dead, but not squished.  We had been studying native American culture and had just seen a private talk about their heritage and ways of skinning.  My mom pulled the van (which lets be honest was a 15 passenger van) over and scooped that thing up and brought it home.  She read up more on the process and showed us all how to skin a raccoon.  No joke.  She did it, and the “fur” hung on our wall for several years after.  My mom is awesome, and I often think she should be the writer of this blog other than me.  So many of my creativeness or boldness in doing different things with my kids stems from her.

A few things that pop to my mind when I think back to my childhood are these memories:

*Being in seventh grade, it was not “cool” to get picked up in what looked like a “church” bus.  I remember crying when my mom told us she was pregnant with my youngest sibling, Gus.  Her steady reaction was “Erica, ok.  If you had to get rid of someone, who would it be?”  I didn’t have an answer.  So, from there on, although it was embarrassing at times to get “counted” by your head at stop lights or when you walked into a restaurant, I think my complaining was less.  I loved every one of my siblings.

*Every family meal, that we were all sitting around the table, would have about five different conversations going on at once, and every one was a part of them all (at the same time).  It was loud, and I would say I am still loud to this day.

*My siblings and I  tried to build a tree house out in the backyard, and the “danger” of our invention led my dad to making us a HUGE gorgeous tree house that we played in like every day.  I even tried to swing a zip line from it across the yard.  That was a complete failed attempt.  I’m pretty sure my handle bars shot into the air and almost landed on me when I fell straight to the ground.

*Playing outside for hours on end with my siblings is the stem of so many of my memories.  We played hide and seek, made dirt paths in the back yard for our bikes, and even tried digging tunnels across the yard to “hide” in.

*I always shared a room with one of my sisters, and I remember talking way after the door was shut and “good-nights” from our parents were said at night.  We also had lots of “girly” fights over the bathroom, which ultimately had my parents take the bathroom door off the hinges for a time.  We couldn’t bang on the door and yell, if there was no door.  There is nothing like having to shower in your bathing suit.  Lesson learned.

This was taken at my sister, Annie’s, wedding in March 2008.

I could go on and on with memories and things that we did as kids, but I know that would easily lead to a book.  We were blessed to grow up close-knit with parents who were devoted to us, and wanted to give us everything that any other kid (from a smaller family) might have.

My dad ran (and still does) his own landscape design company and his hours were flexible.  I remember him coming home for lunch, and how often is that the case in any family to have lunches with your dad everyday?  We were blessed.

As we have grown up, we are starting to slowly spread out across the country, and that is hard.  I remember a few years ago processing with Matt that we were so lucky to all be living in the same town and how it was going to get harder to have everyone together for birthdays and holidays.  We are now there as two of my sisters live in different states.  Insert: Tear, tear…lump in my throat here.

This was at my brother, Tony’s, wedding last fall.

Are you too from a big family?  I’d love to hear what your take away is from living and growing up with so many under the same roof.

Thank you so much for reading a little bit about me.  Next Monday I will open up a little bit more with information about my Formative Years in becoming an adult, but until then I have some other fun posts planned for this week!

 

 

 

 

Update:  Click on the following link to be directly taken to the next post in this series.

Tidbits of Me part II:  The Formative Years

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Dancing Zebras and Dreams

July 25, 2012 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

Congratulations to Tiffany, Nina, and Angela for each winning one of the three hair clips from last week’s giveaway!  Thank you so much for entering this giveaway and I hope you LOVE your clips!!

If you are sad to have missed out on this giveaway, please check out my store, Dancing Zebras.  There are more cute hair clips over there that you could get, and I am trying to upload even more soon!

Here are a few of my latest items…

Green Flower Bobby Pins

Creme Lace Hair Clip

Button Earrings

Retro Black and White Hair Clip

Red Flower Earrings

Dancing Zebras has been such a fun little hobby for me.  I love creating things and watching others enjoy them as well.  About three years ago my sister, Olivia, and I dreamed this idea up of doing a business together.  I remember sitting on the beach and staring out at the ocean as we brainstormed names for our company.  There were LOTS of things thrown out and good laughs till we came up with Dancing Zebras.

This endeavor has been so fun.  As stay at home moms, we loved the idea to be able to be home with our kids and still be able to craft (a passion of ours) while getting a little money in the process. We’ve had a few craft shows and private orders that don’t show up on our etsy store, and all of this just fuels us and keeps as dreaming.  Someday, I would LOVE to have a boutique little store.  In my city, Roswell, Georgia, there is a little street called Canton Street.  It has all kinds of cute stores and restaurants.  This part of town is called Historic Roswell.  I think my house is actually considered to be part of this area as well.  It’s all old buildings with exposed brick walls and little sidewalks.  Anyway, I dream of having a cute little shop out in a place like that.  Someday, right!?

It’s really hard to get enough inventory for a craft show with three little kids, let alone the risk in having a real store.  I think there is value in knowing my limitations to my dreams.  I dreamed of being a mom and I am, so I choose to enjoy and soak in this season of my life.  One day I will have all the time in the world to craft and try to start a store and I will miss this season.  It’s a constant conscious process to be fully present in the present.

In about thirteen days, Olivia and I will be back on another beach together.  I’m excited to catch up and brainstorm in an environment that does our souls good!

What are your dreams!?!

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Summer Stuff (with pictures)

June 16, 2012 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

Highlights from our summer so far (literally the last few weeks)

*legoland: Our boys are obsessed with legos right now! They have been wanting to go for weeks, and they loved it!

*zoo: I took the kids for a few hours before picking Matt up from the airport the other week. They wanted to do the playground more than seeing the animals:). Do you think we go too often!?! #seasonpass

*aquarium: We got season passes! The kids loved going! We’ve already gone twice now!  Plus, Centennial Park is right next door!!  It’s so nice to let the kids run there (after having to stay close and not run in the aquarium) before driving home!

*my sister, Joni’s high school graduation: I’m so proud of her!! She’s going to UGA in the fall!

*time with my sisters in town: Annie and Olivia came in town for Joni’s graduation. We literally were at the my mom’s pool five days in a row to hang out! So fun!

*hanging with my nieces: Two of the cutest girls I know!! I can’t believe they are both turning one so soon!

*our air conditioner broke: There were a few really hot days around our house, but God so graciously provided us with a replacement!!  There were a number of pool days in there too 🙂

*I think there’s been six family member birthdays!?  Haha I feel like I am always trying to think of a gift to buy or make that would be sweet and special.  Coming from a big family definitely keeps me on my “deal” look out while shopping!

*running: since a bird, her nest and four eggs have taken home in my jogging stroller…I’m getting to enjoy some runs without pushing my cute kids! Haha although the run is easier, I kind of miss that time with my kids!?!  Here are some pictures from my Memorial Day run with my sis and niece.  We might have bought tanks from Old Navy to be our “race shirts”…cause we are fun like that! 🙂

*the pool: the kiddie one and my mom’s pool, have both been enjoyed!! Caleb is obsessed and would swim all day everyday if he could! I love it!!

*water spray grounds: I love that this is right by our house! I should probably get a membership there too!:)

*sewing: I have been working on two rag quilts! Here are a few pictures of one I made for Emily’s Reese.

*playmates with new MOPS friends: I have been so blessed by this group in the last few months!!

*two college students coming in town for the summer to work with us and Broken Voices: there’s a team atmosphere and our kids love, love all the excitement of people coming and going all day.  One of Katie’s first jobs was organizing the office!  What a horrible task, and she did an amazing job.  She’s incredible!

*we got new floors in two rooms! They are gorgeous! No more dog “accident” stained carpet!  Here are two of my cuties dancing together on the new floor!

*we went to the lake for a day/night with some close friends who live in Iraq: It was so good to see them and get extended time to catch up!

*Traveling:  Matt and I both have been traveling!  Our poor kids are all out of whack from having solo parents on duty at different times.  Matt was gone for a week, I was gone for five days, and now Matt is gone for another week.  Can’t wait till Matt is HOME and our next trip will be a FAMILY trip all together!!  Whenever one of us leaves, we write each family member a note and hide it somewhere in the house.  The kids literally run looking for their letters.  It is so sweet.  The person leaving usually finds hidden letters in his/her luggage too.  It’s so good to know you are loved and missed:)  We usually put a recent picture of us with that child/spouse at the top of the letter.  Plus, we write about whats going on and any new milestones we are so proud of.  I guess these letters could be like a collection of love letters that are like our family diary?!  Here is our sweet set of letters from Matt’s first trip away.  I save all these in a shoe box…one day I hope to make a book with them!!

Whew, that is a lot and I couldn’t be more excited that it’s only the beginning of the summer and there is more fun to come!!  I hope you are all having a wonderful summer too!!

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