Spooky Strawberries

I found these at Little Ant Design:

You need to check out all of the FUN Halloween stuff she has on her blog, but I had to post about these strawberries because they were way too cute to pass up. My only question is where do you find good strawberries in October?

Star Spangled Monograms

I have always been a fan of these large metal barn stars:


Beth from The Stories of A to Z added a monogram to a couple of them and I love them even more:


And you have to check out her tip on printing your own scrapbook paper. Smart and thrifty.

Scrolling Button Marquee

So, I thought I would share how I made the buttons on my blog scroll. I found the magic code at Project Create a Home:

The code was on their blog. Right here. And I copied it. There's goes up, mine moves sideways. So you can copy the code off of their site you can cut and paste this code:

<br /><div align="center"><br /><marquee direction="left" onmouseout="this.start()" onmouseover="this.stop()" loop="true" width="250" scrollamount="3" height="250"><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com/"><br/><img border="0" width="175" src="http://www.rememberthemoments.com/images/blog/button2.jpg" height="175" /></a><br /><br /></marquee></div><br />

Just go to your Layout Tab, Add a New Gadget (HTML) and paste this code there. Then in before the /marquee (which is in between these < >) put the code for your buttons. When you have saved it, you can view your blog and you should see my button:

scrolling on your sidebar. You can then add more buttons by copying the code for the button and pasting it in front of the end tag (which is < and then /and then marquee and then this > again.

(if I were to type it out it wouldn't show because it is HTML code. If you need help, shoot me an email and I can email the code to you)

After playing with it a while, I found one on Katie's blog that scrolled up, but showed more than one button at a time. And I think I like that one more. So I did a little tweaking and I am now trying to decide which one I like more. They are both on the right column of my blog, so let me know what you think.

Here is the code for the vertical scroll:

<br /><div align="center"><br /><marquee direction="up" onmouseout="this.start()" onmouseover="this.stop()" loop="true" width="250" scrollamount="3" height="500"><br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.blogspot.com/"><br/><img border="0" width="175" src="http://www.rememberthemoments.com/images/blog/button2.jpg" height="175" /></a><br /><br /></marquee></div><br />

So hopefully one of those will work for you. Happy scrolling blog button making!

Oh, and totally off topic. Do you remember when Bob Barker hosted the price is right and at the end of each episode he would remind you to spay or neuter your pets. Well at the end of each 'Let's Talk About Blogging' post I am going to remind you to add your email address to your blogger profile!

Growth Chart

There is something almost romantical (yes, I know that isn't a real word) about marking your kids heights on the inside of the pantry door. The only problem is that when you pack up your house and move to Texas you can't take your pantry door with you.

I knew I should have made a cute growth chart on a long 1x6. Or, used this cute idea from Becca at Blue Cricket Design and used an old cabinet door:

I know what my first project is in the new house.

Chalkboard Eraser

If you have a cute chalkboard in your house, then you should have a cute chalkboard eraser. Maya*Made takes care of that for you with a tutorial on how to make this:

with just cotton batting, a sewing machine and some pinking sheers.

Where the Wild Things Are

I love the book (but who doesn't) and I really hope that the movie is good. But I can tell you one thing for sure. These cupcakes are WAY TOO CUTE!

Image by Claire Isa

Ric Rac Lampshade

I can't decide which I like better. The ribbon lampshade:

Or this Ric Rac Lampshade from Cratzine:

Haunted House

Oh Janiepie, how I do love you. And your really cute Halloween decorations:

Some old birdhouses, some black paint and a little distressing and you have yourself a haunted house and a VERY cute Halloween decoration!! And she is selling them on her Etsy store!

The boy has a birdhouse that he made at Cub Scouts. He hasn't painted it yet. I wonder if I can talk him into painting it black?

I just asked him and he said YES!! Hee Hee! I am so excited!

Fall Marshmallows

Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie made some more CUTE decorated marshmallows:


And then she put them in a vase:


And there they could sit happily and decorate her house for months. If I could make mine look half that cute I have about a million apothecary jars I could fill them with! Maybe I should let Lou La decorate some.

Magical Scrolling Buttons

So I added a new toy to my sidebar. Magical Scrolling Buttons. I really love this feature because there are SO many blog buttons that I want to add to my site, but I knew if I added a million that my blog would load slower (and you would have to scroll down 3 miles to see them all. So I found this and thought I would give it a shot.

I am the WORST judge of slow loading blog pages because I have been putting off buying a new computer FOREVER and everything loads slowly for me. So please do me a favor and let me know if you notice a change. If it slows things down then I am going to have to come up with a new solution.

Also, if you have a fun button you want me to add, shoot me an email or leave me a comment. I would love to swap buttons with you.

Vinyl Window Art

I found this on The Finer Things:

Who says vinyl is only for the walls? Of course, I couldn't use a monogram because it would drive me batty that it was backwards on one side. But there are about a million other vinyl decals I could use. Of course my windows usually have hand prints on them. That is sort of the same thing, right?

Desk Cover Up

Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful found another great use for drop cloths:


She made a skirt for her desk/table to hide the cords and whatnot that sits underneath. And she used upholstery tacks to give it this great nail head trim:

Beautiful! I actually have a drop cloth I bought to make a curtain and it wasn't long enough, so now I need to figure out what needs a skirt in my house.

Halloween Bottle Stickers

I saw these cute Halloween stickers on Little Ant Design:


You can buy them here, but I bet they would be pretty easy to make!

Old Door Message Board

Rebecca from Older and Wisor turned this:

into this:

and then added this:

and these:

Go can check out the details of the transformation here. Who needs shutters when you have an old door!

ABC Pancakes

I wish I would have found these before the first day of school:

Or at least come up with the idea myself! She used the same technique that Kendra used for the tie pancakes in this post. Well, almost the same technique. Kendra used a mustard bottle (the kind you buy empty) and Jackie used a Turkey baster.

I am seeing some BOO pancakes in my future!

DIY Coffee Table

I often find a new blog that I love and don't have time to go through the archives. Which is a shame because most great blogs have a great history. So when I found Joanna's blog Waiting for Two, I emailed her and asked her to send me a link to her favorite projects. I figured who better to ask, right?

And she sent me this cute, funky, rustic coffee table in her living room:

I love it!! First, it is CUTE! It would look really good next to a horse gate coat rack!! Second, who doesn't need a lot of storage in their living room? And third, she made it for about $11.00. She bought some MDF and the rest are packing flats that she got for free!!

And you see those cute pillows on her couch. She made those from place mats and napkins. You can check them out here.

The round one is my favorite. I am a sucker for color:

My Three Obsessions

I giggled out loud when I found this:

image from Bliss in a Teacup

An embroidery hoop, chalkboard paint, and a silhouette all in one. I think I have found my soul mate.

Pumpkin Butter

Have you ever had Apple Butter. It is delightful stuff. Better than jelly or jam any day of the week. I used to eat it on toast with my Grandpa. I keep a jar in the pantry at all times to remind me of him.

But besides Apple Butter, I have never had any other type of butter. Other than butter butter. Well, that and honey butter, but that is just honey and butter mixed together, so that doesn't count. You could just put the two on separately, but if you are lazy you have someone mix it together for you first.

When I started posting about Fall, Caitlin emailed me and sent me a link to her pumpkin butter recipe. And I don't think anything screams Fall more than pumpkin butter.

Pumpkin Butter Recipe
6 cups pumpkin (either canned, or fresh from your own baking pumpkin)
4 cups sugar
4 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger

Mix all ingredients together and cook for 20-30 minutes or until thickened. Ladle into pint jars and process for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

(I did add some water while making this, just so the butter would be a little less thick, but make it according to your heart's desire)

YUM! But she didn't have a picture of her pumpkin butter! (Too good that you eat it all before pictures are allowed to be taken. So I Googled Pumpkin butter and came up with this picture from Dinner with Julie:

and yet another Pumpkin Butter recipe:

1– 28 oz. can pumpkin puree
1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice (or a juice box)
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. finely grated fresh ginger
1 Tbsp. dark molasses
¼ tsp. ground allspice or cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1 Tbsp. lemon juice

Put everything except the lemon juice into a medium pot and set it over medium heat. Stir until it is well blended and bring to a boil; as soon as the thick mixture bubbles turn the heat down to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for about an hour, until very thick and smooth.

Makes about 4 cups.

So now I have to make two types of Pumpkin Butter!! I think I know what people are going to be getting when they come trick or treating to my house.

Headboard Coat Rack

If you can't find an old horse gate:

image from Funky Junk Interiors

You could always use an old headboard like Kate (aka Centsational Girl):

Ribbon Scrap Belt

Ashley (Lil Blue Boo) made this very cute belt out of scraps of ribbon:

And I need one to wear with jeans and a white t-shirt. NEED I tell you. I knew I was saving my ribbon scraps for something!!

You can check out her tutorial here.

Princess Clips

Every Fall my in-laws take a family trip to Disneyland. We are in the planning stages and everyone is getting a little obsessed. So I wasn't surprised at all when I found these cute clips on my sister-in-law's blog:

You can buy the directions to make a set of your own at No Bow No Go. I feel a craft day in the works!!

Don't Mess With Texas

I am moving. (not my blog, just me!) to Texas!!! Well I guess technically my blog is moving to Texas too, but the address will still be the same.

The Hubby got a promotion at work and we will be relocating to Texas. I am sad and excited and anxious and about a million other things. But mostly what I am is packing. Actually, my Hubby will be back and forth for a few months and I will probably stay where I am until Christmas break, but I have already started packing things up.

What does that mean for the blog? I am not sure yet. I think I may slow down to two posts a day (*gasp* the horror) for a bit, but then again I may not. I am just playing it by ear and thought I would let you all in on the news.

All I know is if I am moving away from my entire family I better be able to find old windows and shutters to hang in my house in Texas because I sure never could find any here!!

PS - anyone that has tips on moving out of state send them my way! The farthest I have ever moved was 20 miles.

More Embroidery Hoops

Char from Crap I've Made (can I just say I LOVE the name of her blog!) posted this link from Country Living:

How cute would that fabric be polka dotting the wall of a little girls room! So fun!

Art Apron

Exactly a year ago (okay, exactly a year ago from a week from now, but that doesn't sound as cool) so exactly a year ago I posted about this cute art apron from Grace Violet:

Well yesterday I found this cute art apron on Craftzine:

Care from Obsessively Stitching made it out of a dishtowel! And not only do I want the apron for Lou La, I want those dishtowels!

Go check out her picture tutorial here. It looks REALLY doable! Like if you have a sewing machine but are afraid to use it, I bet you could do it! And Christmas is right around the corner, so if you have a little artist in your house, this apron along with one of these really inexpensive easels ($14.99 at Ikea and the other side is a chalkboard!!) would be a pretty great present!

Mmmmmm...Candy Apples

I wasn't quite ready to put up the pumpkin blog banner, but I thought candy apples would work for both Fall and back to school. Because what teacher wouldn't love getting a candy apple better than just a regular old apple!

Embroidery Hoops

Last year I posted about this idea:

Betz White used embroidery hoops to display old t-shirts on a wall. David Gomez-Rosaldo used the same idea (but I am guessing he just used pieces of material and not old t-shirts) but hung them from the ceiling:

Another great idea I found on Design Dazzle.

Silent Sunday. Mmmmmmmm....Autumn

*squeal* look at the candy corn in the lantern. (said in my quietest voice since this is supposed to be a silent Sunday post!)

images from Pottery Barn

Spider Web

I wonder if my daughter would wear this cap from Tot Toppers:

for the entire month of October?

Glass Cabinet Doors

Susie at Bienvenue turned this cabinet:

into this:

You need to go check out her tutorial and her pep talk! You will never be afraid to start a project again!

Candy Corn Cookies

Regular sugar cookies (with a little orange food coloring), cut into a triangle and dipped in chocolate on both ends. Really easy (you can even use refrigerator cookie dough...do they still sell that after the whole salmonella scare?) and just kneed in some orange food coloring. Really easy and SO CUTE!!

image from Country Living

Speaking of Magazines

Mathew Mead (also know as the guy that published this book:



Has himself a new little magazine:


And that magazine has a BLOG:

Hopefully they update it a little more often than he does his blog!!