Queenies Little Kingdom

Over Christmas break, I worked on some blogposts that I don't normally have time to deal with and it was great.  The problem?  Now they won't post!  I can't even find my publish button!

Curses to you, WordPress!

I'm definitely not a blogging expert and I certainly can't do anything fancy with my blog but NOT PUBLISH A POST?  Come on!  I'm typing this post with the hopes that when I hit the publish button it actually pops up on my feed.

I posted a cute story about how much we love our dogs…only it placed it back on January 1st.  Huh?  What?  How in the world?  I think I might be going crazy!  See what happens when I try to help myself out?  I ruin everything!

I hope this snafu doesn't keep me from blogging but if it doesn't straighten up….I'll be MIA!  I can't work & rush around all day then try to blog on a broken WordPress blog.  I'm just not wound that awesome.  So, if I'm not posting…you know what happened people.

Before I go.  Today was Gates last day of school.  I took it like a champ!  The reality….will set in soon and I'll let you know how lonely I am for — running late mornings, clothing disasters & lunch dates in my classroom.  I'm officially an old mom.

I’m experiencing mean ole blog issues! I have a detective working on the case but until then….nothing will be posted on Queenies Little Kingdom!

On a good note? My baby finished her last day of HS today and I survived a Monday after Christmas break. It was a great day!

I'm pumped about my latest "creation". It's no secret that my girls and I have a crazy boot collection. A perk of having daughters around your size… Is sharing shoes & clothes! I borrow from them and they dig in my stash too. But taking care of boots can be important to their last-a-bility.

My hubby kindly uses the good stuff (leather cleaner/polish) on our boots which cleans them up and keeps them looking new. But when you're not wearing them…they flop over and the leather can crack. While shopping recently, I found boot shapers at TJ Maxx. I loved the idea but hated the price, $12.99!  I had a EUREKA moment –> I can make those!

Who wants to pay that much times multiple pairs of boots? Not me, y'all! So, I created my own version… Well, along with my sweatshop assistant.  Trust me, you can make these.  There isn't any fancy techniques involved or complicated measuring….honest!

Here's our white-trash DIY tute:

Fabric (any cheap or what ya have stuffed somewhere will do). Once I had my vision, I thought of old clothes that I don't want anymore that I could cut up to use.  Think:  an old plaid shirt!  Cute huh?

Printer paper.  I know, this is very scientific.  I used a piece of paper to measure how wide I needed to cut my fabric.  Told ya, white trash!

Now this is a fancy move….I placed one of my boots down to give me an idea of how long to cut my fabric.  You can do the same.  Your boots may be longer or shorter and this way you can customize.

And BOOM!  There you have it.  2 pieces of fabric ready for the sewing machine operator.  Oh, and if you have no sweatshop employees or refuse to touch a sewing machine (I loathe threading the needle)…I don't see why you couldn't HOT GLUE these babies!

We used all stuff we had on hand.  That includes thread.  Color will not matter.

Fold them backwards, of course and hand them to him (my angel).  Sew them straight up and then across on bottom.  He sewed the top 1/2 way (just to help me) not have so much to hand sew once I stuffed them.  That's totally up to you though.

Sorry, I have no picture of this part but all I did was rip open an old pillow (I save them for stuffing reasons) and pulled off bits of stuffing.  I shaped it and filled it as I felt would fit best in my boots.  You can do yours however.  Also, see that ribbon?  I used that to sew into the top (by hand) in order to have pully handles to grab them out of my boots.  Again, totally up to you if you want them or not.

And there you go!  Awesome boot shapers that cost….nada!  I had everything I needed to make mine.  I bet you do too!

Tada!  Don't you just love them?  So easy!  And if you're like me and have diva friends who wear sweet boots too, they make terrific gifts!

I can't get over the guy who helps me do all the crazy ideas that pop into my brain.  I believe that God knew I'd need a guy like him.  He's so dang cool and willing to try anything!  Plus, he's awesome in everyway.

 [THANK YOU, WORLD’S BEST MOTHER IN LAW]

This whole new year stuff is getting more awesome by the day!  Being snowed in is the number one contributor to all that is happening cool in my house.  I mean, what else can you do…but clean stuff out & up?

Hello, organization! You are my friend!

We are packrats!  I hate us!

We have too much food & junk!

What is this guy….an ANGEL?  Yes, yes he is!  He's cleaning out my horrible pantry.  The one that each family member walks up to and says, "I can't find anything!".  It was packed full and piled high with junk that no one wants or ever will use.  It might have resembled a scene from a Hoarders episode.  Food, mixers, dog treats, storage containers, lunchboxes and old brooms/mops had taken over residence and the clean out proved that I CAN LOVE MY PANTRY AGAIN!!

Thank you, precious hubby!  There really isn't another man on this earth that can love me like you!  LOVE LANGUAGE:  ACTS OF SERVICE

I didn't even mention the scrubbing of my bathtub (and the horrible hair cleaning out that takes place with that job) or the help making THESE—>

White trash tutorial coming soon.  Promise!

HE IS ALL MINE!!!  Now, I gotta go.  He's cleaning out a storage room and it's only fair that I go boss him around while he works!!       

On Christmas day after all the presents were opened and the delicious turkey & dressing was eaten…my family jumped in the car and headed to the movies.  Our excitement for Les Miserables opening day did not disappoint!  The movie is amazing!  Now, if you haven't heard — IT IS A MUSICAL!  Just about every word, is sung…sang err sungded!  Whatever…

AND I LOVED IT!!!

What did I love about it?  Hmm, everything!

The Story

Written by Victor Hugo and published in 1862, the story revolves around doing the right thing even if it costs you.  Jean Valjean is a prisoner.  His crime?  Stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's starving child.  He spends 19 years serving a sentence of punishment & pain for his crime.  Upon his release, he runs into rejection after rejection (further punishment for ever being arrested in the first place) until he runs into Bishop Myriel.  The Bishop offers Valjean a place to sleep and a hot meal to eat in the "house of Jesus Christ".  An offer that closely resembles the night of our Lord's birth.

Valjean ultimately steals the silverware from the church and is brought back to the Bishop for shame & prosecution.  The Bishop hands him the silver candlesticks and says, "You forgot these".  This act of grace forever touches and changes the heart of Jean Valjean.  From here on the story takes an adventurous journey through Valjean helping others and finding deep love in raising an orphaned girl, Cosette.  His battle between who he was and who is now continue as the law (Javert- the prison guard) chases him all over Paris.

The Message

While Valjean has served his sentence, his sins continue to haunt him.  As it does for many of us, everyday.  The mistakes we make along life's journey threaten to invade our peace and rob us of our joy (satan at work).  Each of us face dilemma's that if not given to God and thrown as far as the east is to the west, cripple us and keep us locked in a prison of our own demise.  The ever popular judging on outward appearances or past sins remind us that only God can see our hearts and that it is HE who provides true redemption.

I can't tell you everything (no spoilers, right) because you really need to see it for yourself.  The theological parallels will surprise you and the story will touch your heart.  Run, don't walk to see Les Miserables now!  It is the best movie I've watched this year!

Here is another interesting post about Les Miserables.

I guess we do a lot of this —>

This is my mom's little punk.  She's so tiny but big on kissin'!

It's just who we are….dog lovers!

Ok, so maybe they're a little spoiled.  They're just so danged lovable!

With Christmas break ending, both of these girlies are in for a big slap of reality.  Back to long days home alone with no laps to sit in or people to follow room-to-room.

I wonder if they'll miss me as much as I'll miss them.

Goodbye Christmas break, you were awesome!!  Hello to routine, wearing make-up & real clothes and DOWNTON ABBEY Season 3!!  My heart is full up, y'all.