Terra Cotta Christmas Tree

I had seen several variations of Terra Cotta Christmas Trees on Pinterest and this year, I decided to make one of my own.

I started with three different size pots that I found at Home Depot called "Polyclay White Washed Terra Cotta Finish Scalloped Rim Pots". For some reason, at the time I was looking for regular Clay Pots, all the stores I visited only had the bases and no pots. My daughter, Traci, and I came across these pots and she decided these would make a better Christmas Tree. In the end, she was completely right. The scalloped edge is perfect to separate the layers.

I started with the three different size pots to make up the tree. Because I couldn't find a regular Terra Cotta Pot to use for a Tree Trunk, I opted to go without one.

I mixed a Dark Green and White Acrylic Paint to a desired shade I liked and painted all three pieces. Once that was completed, I used a Wine Cork to paint white dots on all three pieces to represent ornaments. If you have little ones, it would be adorable to use their thumb prints for the ornaments.

After completing the Base Paint and Ornaments, the scalloped edge provided a perfect place for glittered snow. I first applied DecorArt Snow-Tex I purchased at Hobby Lobby by using a large paint brush and just started dabbing clumps all around the scalloped edge. 

While it was still wet, I sprinkled Extra Fine Crystal Diamond Glitter all over the snow.

 I located this ornament at Hobby Lobby that I felt made the perfect Tree Topper.

And here is my finished product. It fits perfectly on my Dining Room Table.

Do you have Velata?

I am so excited that for my Grandaughter's Birthday party, we are going to set up a Velata station with lots of yummy things to dip! Two of my grandaughters are having a birthday one month apart and so it will be a combined party with a CandyLand Theme. Velata will make an awesome addition!

Now you ask, what is Velata?

Scentsy has a sister-company: Velata!  Taking a step away from the scent of smell, Scentsy looked at another of our senses – taste – but still utilized their knowledge of warmers. Using a special Velata Warmer made with a patent-pending silicone dish, Velata allows you to microwave your chocolate and keep it warm all in the same warming dish AND with the use of a temperature controlled warming system, you can keep your Belgian Velata chocolate at a consistent, ooey gooey delicious temperature for hours. Well, if the chocolate lasts that long!

What's the difference between a Scentsy warmer and a Velata Warmer? Unlike Scentsy warmers, Velata's silicone dish is suitable for warming and serving food, is microwave-safe and dishwasher safe. Velata warmers use a patent-pending technology that keeps the melted chocolate at the perfect temperature - warm enough to stay melted, but not so hot that it scorches.

Of course, you don’t need to have a bunch of people over to have a chocolate fondue. With strawberries on sale throughout the summer, you can make chocolate covered strawberries in advance and have a treat ready to go for dessert!

Velata has a variety of flavors of chocolate for dipping (White Chocolate being my personal favorite :) ) all delicious, pure and smooth chocolate - just the way you want it to be!

Some items you can serve for dipping:

• Pretzels
• Marshmallows
• Strawberries
• Angel Food Cake
• Cookies
• Bananas
• Pineapple

Stay tuned for photos of the party setup after the birthday party. If you would like more information, contact me at: cultivateagoodlife@gmail.com

Scentsy's Whoot

Whoot is a piece of art, a finely detailed warmer that glows golden when on. Flip the switch and watch this symbol of wisdom come to life -- perfect for the coming autumn days or as a clever night light.

This piece will be available August 1, 2012. I have one and he is awesome!

I love having him lit up at night as the light glows through his body.

If you would like to get one, check out my website on August 1, 2012 to get yours.

www.cvick.scentsy.us

Three-Tiered Planter

I have seen several tiered planters on Pinterest and decided to give my hand a try at one. I purchase 3 different size planters from Home Depot. They were a plain beige and I puchased Rust-Oleum Painter Touch Ultra Cover 2X spray paint to make them colorful. That paint is awesome. It goes on so easily and no run marks. I painted the large and small ones in Green Apple

and the middle size in Cinnamon.

 

To add a little more to the planters, I purchase Vinyl Pictures from UpperCase Living.

And here is my finished project. I think it turned out awesome. I have it on my front porch which doesn't receive direct sunlight so I planted low light plants.

  

Now that I have completed this project, all my other planters looks boring and I am putting them on my list of getting an overhaul.

Organizing in My Kitchen

I just put up an organizer in my kitchen on the size of my refrigerator and I Love it!

This is the ultimate way to organize your home. It's easy to hang on a wall, on a door or on shelving. A great way to organize a calendar, note cards, homework and more.

I have found that keeping a calendar on the side of my refrigerator always keeps upcoming events, Birthdays, Anniversaries in quick view. We pass by it everytime we walk in to the kitchen and my husband has gotten in to the habit of looking at that calendar before agreeing to any plans. As soon as we have an event planned, we immediately put it on the calendar so that we don't forget or double book. It has kept us on track for remembering birthdays as its always in view.

The upper right hand corner has a clear pocket that I fill with my menu of items to cook for the week and as soon as one item has been cooked, I use my Dry Erase Marker and strike through it.

My sister made me some decorative clothes pins that use to hang my Grandchildren's art work. There are several pockets that I still have to determine what I want to put in them.

Organizing My Life

In an effort to organize my life, I decided to purchase this Erin Condren Life Planner. Now I can get my birthday and anniversary cards ready to go and just place them in the week when I need to mail them. That way, when I turn the page for the current week, anything I need to mail will be right in my hands and ready to hit the mailbox. For the longest time I've tried being a digital planner, but there’s nothing like actually writing down something and crossing it off. I feel more accountable when I use pen and paper.

You will know its your planner by the awesome box sitting on your doorstop.

Your planner comes beautifully packaged!

There are several styles of covers to chose from that you can personlize. I chose Zen Gems. I was so excited to get it ordered and received that I didn't go with the style of adding personal photos. I will definitely allow myself more time so that I can add some of my favorite photos to the cover on my next Life Planner.

 There are pages for special dates to be filled in with birthdays and anniversaries so you can see them at a quick glance.

Each month comes with a Month-in-Glance layout and then behind it follows Weekly layouts with the days broken down into Morning, Day and Night.

Each weekly layout includes a Goals and To Do Column.

The monthly tabs are colorful and laminated.

You will receive one snap-in page holder that I use as a place holder for the current week.

In the back you will find 10 lined pages for list and note taking and also 10 designer blank pages for doodling and sketching.

You will also find one page for important numbers and on the back an area for additional addresses you want to have on hand.

I used the handy folder for my stamps and receipts.

Your planner will come with 3 pages of stickers for birthdays and special events. It also includes 1 page of blank stickers that you can write whatever you need.

Also included is a zip lock pocket for small items you don't want to fall out.

The binding is awesome and feels so sturdy

Each Month-at-Glance has an inspirational quote.

You can order extras for your planner. One of the items you can get are fun photo stickers.

Matching personalized notepads

and colorful pens.

I am still organizing myself in my planner and deciding the best way to use it that works for me. There are so many options and once I get it figured out, I will be making plans on getting my next one. These planners are constantly being improved every year and keeps you coming back.