Sunday, January 31, 2010

New Hair


The Last day of January Crazy Crazy....Well I felt like it was time for a new look. I did not want short hair so I changed the color and put in a lot of layers. I feel like when you live in a cold state sometimes you just need something new every now and then. So I went way out side of the box and Colored my hair a red/brown. I wanted the color that Addison from Privet Practice has(if you watch the show you know who I'm talking about) so with a deep breath I took the plunge...Here are the pic of before and after....


The Before Pic: brown with some highlights



Step 1:
color on and eyebrows have to be the same


Step 2:
Time to wash it out


Step 3:
All washed and ready to get it cut


Step 4:
All done with the layers and of course a hair thing...


All done up with my fav flower and lip color


I love getting a new look. It makes you feel like a new woman...

Till Next time....

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Being a Step mom


Hi my name is Erin and I'm a step mom....

I don't tell people that. When I talk about my boy I'm talking about my step kids. I have never been blessed to have my own kids. a little over 2 years ago I went to a great OBGYN because things were not working right down there(really they never have) after lots of blood taking and test, come to find out that I can't have kids.....

That was a hard day for me. I always know in the back of my mind that it would never happen but that day I found out that it would never happen. Its hard to tell your husband that you can not give him children when two other woman have done it.
Its hard to tell him That we will never have a little girl with his smile and my eyes with the love of glitter and big rings or a little boy with his freckles and my butt chin with a love of baseball and being in the woods...I know God has a big plan for everything that happens in your life but the pain is always there, the wonder is always there.

After it being confirmed that I will not be able to give my husband kids I looked at my life and thought how blessed I was that God gave me two wonderful step sons. I love them like they were my own so I talk about them like they are my boys. I tell people story's of the things we do and I have picture's of all of us together. I always put the Hall family, even though we are the Halls, Scmittcka and Duhl family. But when the four of us are together we are the Halls. No one ever asks if they are my kids or why they don't look like me. So I let people think what they want to think.

I love those boys like they are my own. I have always wanted my own kids ever sense I was little and I believe that God gave me the boys in my life to fill that spot of not having my own kids.

Now I know I'm not there mom. Muff has a great mom and I'm so blessed to have such a great friendship with her and to be a big part of his life. She is so selfless to let another woman love her child the way she lets me love him and let him love me back...Thank You so much for that SD..You are a great friend and a great mother and I'm so blessed to have you.

Little Bit is different his mother is not open to me having a relationship with him.I wish that his mother and I could have a relationship but I respect her it is her son. Even thought his mother and I don't have a working relationship I still love him so much and wish the best for him...I wish that all of his hopes and dreams come true and i hope that he know how much i love him and think of him.

Being a step mom is such a wonderful thing to be and also the hardiest thing, because you love the kids like they are your own but the number one thing you have to remember is that you are NOT their mom...You are step in mom...The every other weekend(if your lucky)mom.

So what I would have to say to the world..If you are a step mom or if you are dating someone with kids and you may become a step mom

1. You have to love the kids and treat them as your own...I hate when I hear story of kids that are not treated the same because they are the step kids...My mom grow up in a house like that. She always tell me that if I don't treat the boys great she will kill me(not really kill)I know that i don't have my own and I know that the love you have for your own kids are so strong but you love the man you are with and you need to love his kids also

2. Be friends with each other....I'm not saying have BBQ's or sleepovers but let everyone be apart of the child's life. You don't have to love each other or even hangout but say hi, when you see each other. I'm so sorry that I did not do that..I have let my personal feelings get in the way a lot and I'm sorry for that

3. Work with each other to have the same rules in each house then its not well my mom lets me do this and my dad lets me do that...If everyone has the same rules life will be so much happier.

4. Be as much of a part of your step kids life as you can....If there is something going on at school try and help. If they do something out of school try and help..Let them know that you want to be apart of there lives and that you love them

God has really blessed me with two very cute kids. I love my boys so much. It has not always been easy and it has been heart breaking, but I would never pick for them not to be in my life...

I love you muff and little bit(not real names)I hope all of your dreams come true and I can't what to see what man you grow up to be

love you,
Your Erin


To both of the moms SD & CD I want you both to know how much I love and care about your boys. They are always at the top of my thought and I would do anything for them. I would also do anything to make sure that they are safe and I would never hurt them. Thank you for the gift of fatherhood that you gave to hubby so that I could be a mom in a way to two great kids. I love your boys so much and I hope you know that.



Till Next Time....

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Erin Marie Designs


Well today is the day that I opened Erin Marie Designs.

For those of you that know me and those of you that don't I LOVE ACCESSORIES. I love everything Rings, Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and Hair accessories. I always say two things about Accessories 1. they won't make you look fat and 2. Even if you walk out of your house in old jean a better and flip flops but you are rocking the right accessories you will look like a million bucks. When it come to accessories I always say the bigger the better....And if you are reading this and you know me I always have some big crazy ring on or some kind of flower or feather thing in my hair.

One of my dream has always been to have my how Hair accessories line and today I started it.


It is just a etsy account but I'm hoping that it will become much more soon. I just love making things in life look more beautiful in life and this might be my way to do that.

So if you would like to check out my Accessories Line go to
www.erinmariedesigns.etsy.com

I would love to hear what you have to say about what I have made and also always be looking back at it because with all the creative juice that is in my head you never know what will be going on up there...

Here are some picture's of some of the items.







Who knows maybe one day my other dream of SJP having a Erin Maire Design in her hair will come true...

Till Next Time.......

Monday, January 25, 2010

Monday Madness with Martha


On this getting very cold and starting to snow Monday. We all know that it is Monday Madness with Martha the letter of the day is

So in our great Encyclopedia of Crafts the letter c is for
1.Calligraphy
2.Candlemaking
3.Clay

We are going to look at Candlemaking. Now this week I will be cheating because I have NOTHING to make candles so I went on Martha's webpage and pulled up 2 ways to make sand Candels..Now my goal is that in the next few weeks that I make my own real sand candels and i will post them and the way I make them so check out....When it happens.

Sand Candles

One of the best sources for distinctive candles may be your own home. With a few easy-to-find materials, you can create an array of candles that are every bit as beautiful as any you'll find ready-made. This project is inspired by the charmingly irregular, free-form sand candles of the 1960s.

Tools and Materials
Beeswax, 1 pound per candle
Candle dye
Candy thermometer
Scissors
Wooden spoon
Assorted molds with flat bottoms
Sand
Paintbrush
Wooden craft sticks
Large plastic container or bucket
Square-braided cotton wicking, number 4

Sand Candles How-To
1. Place beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat. Each 1-pound piece will yield a 4-inch-tall, 3-inch-wide pillar candle. Monitoring with a candy thermometer, heat beeswax to 175 degrees. For a heavier coat of sand, heat the wax to 190 degrees.

2. Add about 1/8 of a cake of dye per 1 pound of wax. Blend with a wooden spoon. To test the color, dip a wooden craft stick into the wax, and allow to dry. Add more dye in small pieces until you achieve desired color, remembering the finished color will be slightly darker than the stick.

3. Combine sand with water by mixing with your hands until sand packs firmly enough to hold an imprint. Cover bottom of container with several inches of sand. Set mold on top, and pack additional sand tightly around it, making sure mold stays upright. Grip mold firmly, and carefully ease it straight up and out of the sand. If the sand wall crumbles, mix in a little more water, and begin again.

4. Cut a piece of cotton wicking to several inches longer than the height of the candle, and dip it into the melted wax to stiffen it. Use a pencil to make a hole in the bottom of the mold. Place one end of the dry wick in the hole, and bury it, using the pencil.

5. Making sure the wick stands upright and centered, pour the wax into the mold in a slow, steady stream. Don't pour too fast, as the wax will make a dent in the sand. If you are making more then one candle, return the wax to the stove between pours. Let the candle set until completely cool (overnight, if possible), and remove it. Dust off excess sand with a paintbrush, and use scissors to cut off the excess wick and wax at the base.

Copyright 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.


Easy Sand Candles
Pay tribute to the Stars and Stripes (emphasis on the stripes). Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Sand is available in a variety of colors at art-supply stores; designing a candle is as simple as pouring layers into a glass. Make several, and create a patriotic centerpiece to coordinate with china or linens for outdoor dining.

To make a sand candle, fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim. Set the glass inside a clear glass vase or jar. With a funnel, fill the gap between the two containers with layers of colored sand, using enough to reach the rim of the drinking glass.
Copyright 2010 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

I hope you have fun making Candles this week. Check out Martha's Encyclopedia of Crafts it has a ton of ideas for candle making

Till Next Time....

Sunday, January 24, 2010

The Pound for Pound Challenge


One of my New Years Resolution this year was to loss weight or what I would like to call a life change. So knowing that when I'm all better I'm going to do my "life change" I wanted to find a way I can also help others that have a hard time with Weight loss like I do, Part of why i started a blog so if I find something that works for me I can pass it onto the blog world.

My Aunt Chris has a book about how food a addiction and this book is like doing AA for food. Well I know that I'm addicted to food and not just any food junk food. If it has the word chocolate in it I have to eat it.
I know that this new life change is going to be a hard one, and its going to be even harder with rehab of back surgery but I'm ready to have a body like Karate and I'm ready to be healthy. So now it is time to do the research of what I need to do to be a healthier fitter Erin. First I joined a gym can't go and use it but when i can Planet fitness here I come... If you are looking for a place to go work out this place is great...it was only $1.00 to Join and $20.00 month and I get a trainer, tanning and massage with it. I'm so ready to start working out.

One of the things that I love doing is giving back in some way, so to help stop hunger I signed up for the Pound for Pound Challenge.



The Pound for Pound Challenge is with the biggest loser. All you have to do is put in your birthday,zip, and how much you want to loss. They will give you a list of food banks in your area and you pick what one you want your food to go to...for every pound you lose 1 pound of food will be donated to the food bank you picked. Here is a video that tells you a little more about it


I feel so blessed to always have food to eat. When i was a kid I never went to bed hungry and there are so many kids out there that do. So with my life change not only am I helping myself but now I'm helping others.

If you would like to sign up for the pound to pound challenge go to http://www.pfpchallenge.com/Default.aspx
You can also join their Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/poundforpoundchallenge

I really hope that you will check this out. I think its a really great thing. I'm excited to have you come on this journey with me after I get the green light from the DR. to start working out....

Also just for a side note...I love Jillian Michaels and I would love for her to come and kick my butt

PS. Beyonce is doing something like this also here is her video talking about it...check it out


Till Next Time....

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

The Power of Family


I would like to tell you about the great ladies that are in my life.

My mom
Aunt Cathy
and Aunt Chris

I think that these ladies are the strongest ladies I know. No they are not famous or rich but they are fabulous, and God has blessed me with them

Let me give you a little history of these wonderful ladies. When my mom was little, two days before she turned 10 her mom died(sadist part of it was that her moms funeral was on her birthday). This is a picture of my Grandma Betty. I have been told that she is a wonderful woman and I would have loved her so much. I'm almost 30 and I'm so sad I was never able to know her.

After the death of my Grandma my Grandpa remarried. The woman he remarried had a black pointed hat and a wort on her noise(aka evil stepmom). With the power of God and the power of sisterhood they were able to grow up to be 3 of the strongest ladies I know. I thank God everyday for these ladies that give me inspiration, love, they make me laugh, give me advise when I need it and also when I don't want it ;), and try to guide me to be a strong woman myself. I also know that if anything happened to my mom they would be there for me.

I think that because of the love that their mom showed them even if it was for a short time, it has made them into the great moms they are now. And with that I'm so lucky to have wonderful cousin that I feel are more like my sisters.





So to the strong wonderful ladies in my life Mom, Aunt Cathy, Aunt Chris, Sina, Laura and Anna I love you all very much. Thank you for everything you give me. I'm so blessed and lucky to have you in my life.

Till Next Time.....

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

What do I know of Holy


Today was a big day....I got to go to the Library(with Tom holding my arm the whole time) and then the bank and to the gas station. As I was sitting in the car at the gas station a song come on the radio off my mix CD we were listening to called What do I know of Holy by Addison Road.
This is the song with the words


As I was sitting in the car when Tom was pumping gas this song just really touched my heart, and really made me think What do I know of holy. How many times do I make a promise to God and always giving him everything in my life, but all I do is talk all the time, and how I tell people how big God is in my life but is he really that big? Have I really kept my promise to him? How big is God in my life or is he so small...One of the things she says is If You touched my face would I know You? Looked into my eyes could I behold You? What do I know of You Who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood But the shore along Your ocean? Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

For me I would have to say some days I know of Holy. Some days I can feel God so Strong in my life. The days were I'm not scared of everything and I know he is with me. Then there are the day that I feel like I talk to much and I have lost the knowing of Holy. The days when satin just knows how to work me and make me feel like everything in my life is hopeless. I look at things like not having money to be able to take care of myself, the hard time I'm having with my husband, My husbands family and how they have kicked me out of their life, How I can't have kids and how badly I want to have my own family, How I have no money so Tom and I can't live on our own. What do I know of Holy? What do I know of Holy? What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame? And a God who gave life "its" name? What do I know of Holy? Of the One who the angels praise? All creation knows Your name On earth and heaven above What do I know of this love? How can I feel this way or think this. I know that Satin can get to me more when I think I know everything another part in her said says it perfect. I guess I thought that I had figured You out I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about How You were mighty to save Those were only empty words on a page Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knee.


That song really makes me think about what Jesus has done for me. How even when I'm a shamed that I have doubts about if he is still here with me its OK because Jesus is holy and he is always with me. He is the one that gave me life and that all creation knows his name. I'm so thankful for the healing power of Jesus Christ and how he forgives me even when I think he is to small and I talk to much.

One of my resolution's for this year is to grasp most of God so far I have done more talking then doing....I need to know more Holy. When I'm having days of doubt I need to drop down to my knee and stop talking. I praise God and everything he has given me. My Parents...If you have never meet Don or Connie they are 2 of the best most caring and giving people you could ever meet, My husband this is a man that for 5 years I have never really let into my life, never really trusted with my heart because I'm so scared that he will hurt me and all I have done is hurt our relationship more, for Logan(my step son) I know he is not my real blood child but he helps fill the spot that I have in my heat for being a mom, I also thank God so much for my Youth Group kids...If you have never worked with Teens they are the best thing you could have in your life. I thank God for loving me even when I don't deserve to be loved.

I hope that you will get to know more of Holy that is all God wants for you. He wants you to know that he made you in his image and that he loves you.

Till Next Time....

Monday, January 18, 2010

Monday Madness With Martha


Welcome to Monday I know for most of you this is the worst day of the week but for me I love it and the reason why is because on Fabulously Erin Marie blog Mondays are all about Martha. As in another blog I talked about the book Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. And this week its all about the letter

In Martha's Encyclopedia of crafts she gives us lots of crafts that start with the letter B
1.Beading
2.Block Printing
3.Botanical Pressing
4.Botanical Rubbings
5.Botanical Printing

So the one that I picked was Botanical Printing. The reason for this is because my dad gave me some flowers after I had surgery and I wanted something cool to remember the beautiful flowers he gave me.
Here is a Picture of the flowers my daddy got me, and I'm so happy that I found a way to save the flowers in a very cool way.... So lets get started

First from the words of Martha " Few things in nature are more effortlessly beautiful than the details of a fallen magnolia leaf, the regal outline of Queen Anne's lace, or the wispy image of a willow branch"

So the basic supplies for Leaf Prints are
1. sponge or paint brush
2. Paint the paint that I used is Basics

This is my set...I love Basics paint but use what paint you love to use.


3.Flattened Leaf

So to make a Leaf Print it is so easy and fun. If you have kids this would be a really fun thing for them to do with you also.

Step One: find out what you want to put your prints on and what leaf and/or flowers you would like to use.

Step Two: Paint your leaf or flower. Don't put to much paint on the leaf or flower because it will just look like a glob on your canvas. Then press down and life the leaf up slow so you don't smudge the print.

After you have put all the prints you want on your canvas your done.

This is my Leaf Print. I now have something to always remember the beautiful flowers my dad gave me after my back surgery.

Till New Time....

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Down in the dumps



Well I know it has been sometime sense my last blog. So much has been going on with me over the last couple of weeks.

1. My church is giving me my local license. In the Nazarene church what that means is that my very cute little church in Ortonville, MI feels that I have been called into ministry. The ministry that I have been called into is Youth Ministry...As you would know if you are reading my blog that I'm the Youth Pastor at my church.

2. Back surgery....That is the next big thing that is going on in my life. Today is my 4th day after surgery and I'm not having a good day because the pain that I have dealing with down my leg came back today...even talking about it right now is making me cry. I know I have so many prayers going on to me, but I'm really down in the dumps right now. So many things are going around and around in my head. All I know is that I can not live with the pain for the rest of my life. This is were my faith in God really has to come in strong. I know that some people that read this might roll your eyes at this but I really feel like God is trying to show me something with everything that I have been going throw for so long...I guess I need to open my ears and lesson and my eyes to him more.

I'm also a little disappointed at myself for not keeping up with my blog but next week is a new week and we are starting a new. So get ready for Monday Madness With Martha are craft is going to be on the letter B..lets see what we make...I need to get back on track and keep my head up...I did not know if I should put a none up beat blog on, but this blog is about me and like I said my up, downs, and crafty days...

I hope there is someone out there reading this and maybe I can help someone out there..

Till Next Time.....

Thursday, January 7, 2010

TARGET


Well for the last couple of day I have been feeling really down. I'm in so much pain and my medication is not taking the pain down. So I have been laying in my bed today thinking about my surgery that I'm having on Wednesday. My dad walked in the door and told me I had mail so I got up and walk to the kitchen. In my mail there was a big yellow envelope from My Target store I work at. I was thinking this was going to be about health Insurance because it is time to start signing up for it again, but to a happy surprise it was a Target Red Book.

For all of you who don't work at Target. Target puts out a magazine called Red Book for Target team members. It talks about things that are going on with Target like New designers, new things going on, Volunteer events that stores have done, Team Members Anniversary's etc...

Well the reason why this Red Book made me so happy is because I'm in it.

The reason why I'm in the Red Book this month is because I was a Best in Community Nominees. My store manager nominated me and I made it. Also I was super excited because the Library Makeover that I set up was also in the same Red Book.


I love doing community work and I love that one of my jobs at Target is running that. I always try to give back because I grow up in a great house with a great family and I'm so thankful for my mom and dad(I have the best in the world) They are always giving people and they tough me to be the same...

Till next time...

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Monday Madness With Martha


In the light of Mondays when the weekend is over and everyone has to go back to work. I thought it would be great to donate the worst day of the week to my Favorite crafter Martha Stewart.

Now you see I have always loved Martha. Maybe not so much her show, but I love her ideas. So lets add her to my love list,(love list God, My Hubby, The Boys, My Family,My Youth Group, Glitter, Rhinestones and Martha). So with Martha being on the love list you can just imagine how happy I was, when I was at the Brandon library the other day and there it was the Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Crafts. An A-to-Z guide with detailed instructions and endless inspiration.....

So of course I had to check it out when I got back to the house I had to show Tom what I had found (being a none lover of Martha, he was not has excited as I was..maybe that's why I like her so much more)so I sat down and read the book cover to cover, and that is when Monday Madness with Martha came into my head. So this weeks Monday Madness with Martha is all about the letter
and in the Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia Of Crafts A stands for Albums, Scrapbooks, and Memory Boxes....Now I don't know about you but I love making Albums and Scrapbooks. Martha gives us lots of great idea's to use when making Albums, Scrapbooks, and Memory Boxes.
Over the years I have been working on Albums for both of the boys. I want Aidan and Logan (even though I am there step mom) to have the memory's that their dad and I have had with them, and its also something to have when they bring the girlfriends over...One of my Favorite alums I ever made was Logan's ABC Book. Here are some pictures of it.

The way I made the outside of the book was with black paint and A-Z stamps. I dipped the stamps in the paint and them put A-Z all over the cover. Them I took a funny picture of Logan on the cover to make it fun for him.



Then as you can see I filled each page with a letter. I found things that Logan loved and put that in his book. Now that Logan is almost 7 he still loves to look at the book. Most of the time he likes to see how little he was and how different the people in the book looks now.

So if you have a little one this is a great & fun way to help teach your little one their ABC..Next Monday will be about the letter B I wander what Martha has in store for us them...

Till next time....



The Famous actor Alan Alda says this
Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You can't get there by bus, only by hard work, risking, and by not quite knowing what you're doing. What you'll discover will be wonderful: yourself. --Alan Alda...I hope you will be able to do that today..