ChrisEllen going on Vacation from the Shop!

Actually I am having baby #5 soon!!  Real soon!  

Yippee!!

Receive 15% off this Labor Day Weekend!

  Stop by my Shop and use the coupon code: CELABORDAY to receive 15% off your purchase! Coupon code will be good to use today, all weekend and Tuesday Sept. 6th!!

I hope ALL enjoy the Labor day weekend!  Lots of fun with family and friends! Also enjoy those good shopping sales!
www.bychrisellen.etsy.com

New Styles in Shop!

I am back to work! Here is a preview of the NEW styles in my SHOP!

 Check out ALL the NEW styles in my SHOP!

Visit www.bychrisellen.etsy.com

Halley Ann Photography!

 Click on Halley Ann Photography! What talent! Halley took some GREAT pictures that I got to add in my SHOP to show off some of my headbands! I was so excited about that!  THANK YOU Halley! Thank You moms, dads and their adorable babies! Visit Halley Ann's website and check out her beautiful work!  Just click http://halleyannphotography.com/   
or visit her facebook page..Click HalleyAnn Photography

What a sweet baby!!

Warm Hot Cereal Breakfast Smoothie!

  RECIPE:

4 servings size Malt O Meal

2 Bananas

9 graham crackers

a little milk

   Cook Malt O Meal as directed for the 4 servings size. Cream of wheat would work too. After hot cereal is cooked, pour into a blender. Put bananas and graham crackers in as they fit.  You can also adjust to taste..more or less graham crackers and bananas. You may need to add a little milk if too thick. Thickness depends on how you desire it. Depending on how thick you make it, you can eat it with a spoon or a straw. Add fruit toppings if desired or different fruit into the mix..create it how ever your taste buds would like. Eat it warm or cold! The malt o meal/cream of wheat cereal sure does make that tummy full!

Makes about 4 8oz mugs 3/4 full.

FREE shipping!!

 

  CELEBRATING this 4th of July weekend! Receive

FREE SHIPPING on ALL hair accessories in

MY SHOP! 
Last day for FREE SHIPPING is Monday!

Natural & Simple Fabric Wreath

I see so many wreaths that are so adorable! I thought I should make a new wreath to hang on my wall. I found this great natural fabric called osnaburg. I like the clean, natural, simple country look it gave to this wreath.

 Materials needed: 2-2.5 yards of fabric, wire hanger, ribbon, wire cutters
 1. Cut fabric into 5" wide strips. I got the strips wet and stuck them into the dryer. Don't iron the strips.You want them to be wrinkled. This makes the wreath look more full.

 2. Leave the edges raw, but cut off the long strings.

3. Open your hanger. Form it into a circle. Poke the fabric onto the hanger. Weave each strip onto the hanger. Make it as full as desired, until you have it complete. I used 2 yards of fabric. I also cut a few inches off both sides of my hanger. You may need to cut the hanger ends shorter to make the circle (wreath) smaller.

 4. Twist the hanger at the ends to connect the wreath. make sure to squeeze it tight enough to stay closed.

5. Tie a piece of fabric on the center top. This way you can hang your wreath. Try other fabrics like burlap, linen or fabric with print. Try different sizes too! I am. :)

 Decorate it any way you wish!

New Items by ChrisEllen!!

 Check out my SHOP to see more!!

Father's Day Thoughts and Ideas!

Below is a song that I got from the Children's Songbook about fathers.  I thought it was tender and sweet..describing the special role of a father.

The father of our home

Leads our family

With wisdom's light in all that's right

My father's good to me

Fathers are so special

With a very special love

They watch us and protect us

They guide us and direct us

Back to our home above!

Fathers are so special! They have an important and vital role to play in the family.  Like the mother, a fathers  influence is most powerful..for good or for bad. What a responsibility to be a father! With the responsibility and challenge of fatherhood comes an overwhelming joy and love for those he has steward over. His unselflish acts of love and the service that he renders, changes and shapes the lives he touches. A father who honors his role, holds a special place in the hearts of his loved ones. My children LOVE their daddy! He is hardworking and gentle! What great things we learn from him!

The Family A Proclamation To World states:

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. 

In a book by Marjorie Pay Hinckley entitled Small and Simple things, She points out how important it is for wives to support their husbands. She says:  

 "Let the children learn from your attitude that he is important. Encourage him. Be kind. It is a rough world, and he, like everyone else, is fighting to survive. Be cheerful. Don't be a whiner."

Along with the special meals that accompany this special day, it's always fun trying to surprise daddy...Trying to think of things that will help him feel extra special and honored on Father's Day!

The kids are always making sweet little notes and cards for daddy! This year for a father's day gift, I asked each child to tell me a word that made them think of daddy. I painted and sanded a frame that my husband made a while back. We thought it had some defects then, but it still turned out. Then, with vinyl lettering, I put the words the kids and I chose to describe daddy, on the frame. Finished it with some sealer and it was done. I thought it turn out pretty cute.  Now, I just need to find a picture for the center! 

 You can make several gifts using words to describe your wonderful dad or husband. Make the words into a poem and laminate it, making a bookmark. You can even buy a frame, paint it or use a frame you already have and put the words inside. You can even embroider the words. I have a vinyl machine, which made it simple for me, but if you don't have a way of getting vinyl lettering, paint or stencil the words on the outside of a frame. There are so many options and ideas! The possibilities are endless!

Fathers are so SPECIAL!!

Being Prepared!

There are many ways in which one can prepare..emotionally, spiritually, temporally etc...In case of emergency or disaster, being prepared can help relieve fear and keep us calm. Below are different lists that can help us collect items that can be useful and necessary in an emergency situation. My mom sent me this list that she was given. It came from a list at a grocery store. Although lists may vary and differ depending on what we need..I thought this had some good ideas on it.

Provident Living

Here is a short message on becoming provident providers:

To listen or read the whole talk this message came from click HERE!

My husband is taking a class right now in which they have been discussing the different aspects of provident living and becoming better provident providers. I love talking with him about the good things he is learning. It helps us to look at our family and see how we can improve and be better. There are many areas in which someone can practice provident living. Once again our family is looking inward and finding ways to improve ourselves. It is always a constant goal for us to become good provident providers. One area that has blessed our family, is being sure that we have food storage.  Being prepared in this way has helped us when things get tight.
There may be times in our lives when we are not the ones who are in need, but what a blessing it can be to someone else because we were prepared. We can share and bless others when we are prepared. Prepared temporally and spiritually. The Lord is able to use us as instruments to help those in need. There are many people in need..especially with all the natural disasters that have been happening. There have been many helping hands out there giving. On the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints website www.lds.org there is a page dedicated to provident living. Click link below to go to it:  

 Provident Living

 There are so many great links on that page regarding self-reliance and provident living. There are many resources to find out info on what is needed to become self sufficient. There are different links, where you can find ways to help those in need around the world. It is a very informational sight. Here is a sample of what you can find:     

Click FOOD STORAGE CHART

There are many good websites and books that can give us good ideas and information on provident living. 

Years ago when looking for ideas I came across this book that I think is very useful. This book has emergency preparedness ideas, food storage ideas, How to store and how long to store, different ways to enjoy eating your food storage, recipes, etc.

This is a good store to find helpful products: Just click link below to go to website

Basic Living

I have been looking at manual grain mills for a while now! :)

Thought I would share some things that I found. Hopefully something on this post will be helpful to you as it is to me!