How to make a Tassel Tutorial--Cheri Style, a FAUX caramel apple tutorial, 4 more WINNERS, and the KNOCK OFF party and more

I am so excited to show you fun DIY projects.  I am so excited that it is almost time to decorate for Christmas--My birthday is Christmas Day and I just love the season.  I love creating the magic for my kids.

I want to share a really fun tutorial--2 tutorials all wrapped up in one post.

Help--post bench ideas and it's time for the Knock Off Knock Out

I know one project I am working on for my Knock Out Knock Off and that is my bench--please post any cool bench ideas--even if they aren't made from headboards at my mcklinky post.  Do a search, if you find any post them, look at the other great ones that have been posted so far--PLEASE click on  help me find benches  I will leave this up for a couple of weeks.

Show me your knock offs:
Rules:

What is the Knock Off Knock Out party?

You see something you like, it can be at a friends house, a magazine or your favorite store but it is over priced and so you Knock it off and make it look so amazing it is a Knock Out. It doesn't have to be exact. You may be inspired by something but the colors are wrong so you change it and do a knock off that fits your style and color and it is a Knock Out. Maybe you have something at a restaurant and re=create it and it is amazing you just had a Knock Off Knock Out moment, share those with us. If you have a picture of the original great, if not just share about it.

ANYONE is welcome to join the party.

How do you join?

**You need to create a post about your item. (I suggest opening 2 browser windows so you can go back and forth-it just goes faster.) In your post you need to add my KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT button (copy the code in the scroll box under the box and copy it into your post) or add the link to my post so people can find the party.

**You need to add the permalink (NOT your blog address). If you click on your post title, copy that code that appears in the address bar and then post it to MckLinky.

Remember, if you sign up as a follower I will do the same.

I will be posting to:

DIY showoff

Met Monday

A Soft Place to Land

twice remembered

Knock Off Knock Out

I have to tell you that I am totally shocked at how few people have signed up for the HUGE give-a-way. I just thought it would be in the hundreds so be sure and check it out, tell everyone you know and come back each day to put your name in.

I need your help.  Does anyone know how to set up a newsletter?  Not so I can send out a "newsletter" but so I can have you gals sign up and then I can send out an IMPORTANT message for something BIG like this give-a-way.  It just takes so long to go through each one of you leaving a message.  If there is another suggestion better than a newsletter let me know.  I just feel like my followers should know about this kind of news and I have been so busy with this huge give-a-way I haven't gotten through every one.

We are leaving for Kansas City to go back for my Brother-in-laws wedding.  October in Kansas City can be beautiful in the afternoons and evenings or it can get chilly.  Living in Florida, we don't have Fall clothing.  My kids, like all kids keep growing and so nothing fits from a year ago--of course.  I hate to buy too much fall stuff  (and the picking is slim here) because they won't get to wear it much and that's a waste but I don't want them freezing either.  I talked to my Mother-in-law the other day and she said it was getting down to 32 degrees that night.  YIKES!!!

I got each of the kids a few thigs.  I was going through G-3's (4 yr ol boy) old stuff that no longer fits and getting ready to donate it to Goodwill when I decided to redo some of his jeans for Miss G4, so they look  girly.  So my Knock Off is girly looking jeans--What do you think? (Don'tcha love that bedding--I had so much fun doing all of her bedding, curtains etc.  I adore my 3 boys and have fun decorating for them also but having our first girl and getting to do all the girly things has been so fun.)

Then I pulled out a pair of her hot pink overalls from last year.  They definitely needed some length added and I have to lengthen the strap a little but I think these are cute.  As you can see I am still working on them.

I need to finish her dress.  Work on a few things for the big boys.  Give all three boys a hair cut, trim Miss G4s bangs.... The list goes on and on....

I know it's not this

from sweet plumes etsy shop but mine wasn't $145.00 either.

Tomorrow I will do my favorites.  Wed will be the Celebrate the Holiday party (I may change the name, someone else named a party that.  There's just starting and I just don't want people to get confused--so stay tuned.)  Maybe I should do something like Its So Very Fun to Decorate.  That could include decorating projects as well---Ooohh I like that  -- what do you girls think.  Now, maybe I should rename the Knock Off to be Its So Very...   WHAT???

I will be on a plane early Thursday morning but I will do my best

to have my favorites up before I go to bed that night.

I may get to enjoy this:

AND this

Our favorite pizza--Minsky's  gourmet pizza

And this

And this

Margarita's Salsa

And this

Our kids always want to go to our old home town

downtown has adorable quaint decorating shops

We are also going to go to Branson and spend 4 days with my sister, brother-in-law and nieces at their lake house.  I will see if I can do a home tour post of my sisters adorable cottage and their lake house and my friend Michelle's adorable home in a sweet little town with cobblestone streets.  I will be take care of my blog from ABROAD, so keep checking in.

Oh I can't wait to show you some of my projects.  I'll show some of them this Wed.

Don't forget to put your name in for the Give-a-way--30 gifts-- and tell all of your friends.

Cheri

What is the Knock Off Knock Out party?

You see something you like, it can be at a friends house, a magazine or your favorite store but it is over priced and so you Knock it off and make it look so amazing it is a Knock Out. It doesn't have to be exact. You may be inspired by something but the colors are wrong so you change it and do a knock off that fits your style and color and it is a Knock Out. Maybe you have something at a restaurant and re=create it and it is amazing you just had a Knock Off Knock Out moment, share those with us. If you have a picture of the original great, if not just share about it.

ANYONE is welcome to join the party.

How do you join?

**You need to create a post about your item. (I suggest opening 2 browser windows so you can go back and forth-it just goes faster.) In your post you need to add my KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT button (copy the code in the scroll box under the box and copy it into your post) or add the link to my post so people can find the party.

**You need to add the permalink (NOT your blog address). If you click on your post title, copy that code that appears in the address bar and then post it to MckLinky.

If you come back and your post is not here, it is because you forgot to do one of the above things, just fix it and re-post. I have been trying to come by and let people know if they forgot something but with our home school year underway, I can not guarantee that I can do that this week. We enjoy every new post and I appreciate everyone who has posted the party buttons on their side bar. You guys really do inspire me.
I can't wait to see your projects:

Susan has a lovely give-a-way this week

A Soft Place to Land

twice remembered

DIY showoff

Remember, if you sign up as a follower I will do the same.

REMEMBER:The Celebrate the Holidays party, come show off your decorations for the season-We also love those special recipes that are presented for the party. I hope you will all come back on Friday for the FIRST Home Tour event. I will be showing someone's home each Friday. We will take a tour of their home and they will show us a DIY project if they have one to offer. Vote for your favorite name idea up towards the top on the right--it's the poll. I forgot to add one of the name ideas-Welcome to the Neighborhood-Oh well.

Knock Off Knock Out

Hello my lovely ladies.

I hope you had a wonderful Sunday. Put your feet up and relax and browse around for awhile. If you missed the Its So Very Cottagey home tour Friday you must go check it out. We will have this event every Friday.

Grab the button to pass the word--it is so fun and you gals are going to love this more

and more as we get to tour so many homes.

I want each of you to know that I do not take any of you for granted for a single minute. I feel very blessed to have the BEST supporters in the world. It is very humbling and I am honored to be here for you. I read every comment you post and sometimes I even read them to my hubby.I am trying to create THE FUNNEST blog on the block.

It has been a super crazy week and it isn't going to let up for awhile.

It does have something to do with this

and you might just want to come by each day to catch the CLUE. I want to let you in on a big, no Huge, maybe GIANORMOUS is big enough, announcement. This is bigger than ANYTHING I have ever done to date.

Be sure to MARK THIS DATE, OCT 1 and come back to see what is going on. Grab the button and place it on your side bar as your reminder (all your friends will be glad you let them know as well.

Beginning today you will get CLUES through Wed then on OCT 1, I have a really fun week-well 8 days planned and you will find out all the details -- Just Remember It's like nothing I have ever done before. I am so excited for all of you girls. I am so full of excitement, for you, I am giddy. Can you see the huge smile on my face.

The CLUE today is: I have to have my toe nails painted all the time. Before children it was my toes and finger nails. A quick funny story. When I was in High School and had time to primp, I would take my polish off every night and repaint my nails to match whatever I was going to wear the next day. I went to a Christian High School and walked into class one day, not realizing anyone noticed that I painted my nails or not. I had been up studying past midnight the night before and had taken my polish off earlier in the evening. I was tired and didn't stay up to polish my nails and let them dry. Fast forward to me walking into class, with my arms full of books, and this girl announces as loud as she could, "OH MY GOODNESS CHERI DOESN'T HAVE HER NAILS PAINTED TODAY. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HER WITHOUT POLISH ON". I realized that day you need to watch everything you do because even the little things may be noticed by someone and you have no idea they are watching you. One of my favorite quotes is:

Your walk talks and your talk talks but your walk talks louder than your talk talks. Bob Jones

My Knock Off today is a Yummy recipe from a Kansas City restaurant (Tippin's) that is now closed and has been for some time.My kids love this. I will serve them chicken pieces with a side of rice and a veggie, we eat it as a Salad. We don't measure this-we just eye ball it. I am giving you approximate amounts but keep in mind you are eye balling it.

HONEY BAKED CHICKEN SALAD

4 chicken breasts, cubed

a bowl full of nice mixed green lettuces

1 red onion sliced very thin

a handfull of carrot sticks

1 pkg of bacon cooked and crumbled

a cup or 2 of grated chedar cheese

1 pkg og Italian season salad dressing-made according to the directions

1 bottle of honey

Make the salad dressing then add enough honey so it almost fills the bottle, leaving enough room to shake it.

Place your chicken on a jelly roll pan and pour the remaining honey over the chicken and bake till done.

Make your salad, adding in the carrots, onion, cheese & bacon. When the chicken is done, serve salad on each plate then top with the chicken and pour the honey italian dressing over the top.

This is so yummy and it is on my menu plan for this week.

What is the Knock Off Knock Out party?

You see something you like, it can be at a friends house, a magazine or your favorite store but it is over priced and so you Knock it off and make it look so amazing it is a Knock Out. It doesn't have to be exact. You may be inspired by something but the colors are wrong so you change it and do a knock off that fits your style and color and it is a Knock Out. Maybe you have something at a restaurant and re=create it and it is amazing you just had a Knock Off Knock Out moment, share those with us. If you have a picture of the original great, if not just share about it.

ANYONE is welcome to join the party.

How do you join?

**You need to create a post about your item. (I suggest opening 2 browser windows so you can go back and forth-it just goes faster.) In your post you need to add my KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT button (copy the code in the scroll box under the box and copy it into your post) or add the link to my post so people can find the party.

**You need to add the permalink (NOT your blog address). If you click on your post title, copy that code that appears in the address bar and then post it to MckLinky.

If you come back and your post is not here, it is because you forgot to do one of the above things, just fix it and re-post. I have been trying to come by and let people know if they forgot something but with our home school year underway, I can not guarantee that I can do that this week. We enjoy every new post and I appreciate everyone who has posted the party buttons on their side bar. You guys really do inspire me.
I can't wait to see your projects:

Susan has a lovely give-a-way this week

A Soft Place to Land

Southern Hospitality blog

twice remembered

DIY showoff

Remember, if you sign up as a follower I will do the same.

REMEMBER:The Celebrate the Holidays party, come show off your decorations for the season-We also love those special recipes that are presented for the party. I hope you will all come back on Friday for the FIRST Home Tour event. I will be showing someone's home each Friday. We will take a tour of their home and they will show us a DIY project if they have one to offer. Vote for your favorite name idea up towards the top on the right--it's the poll. I forgot to add one of the name ideas-Welcome to the Neighborhood-Oh well.

Awesome FREE give-a-way and the KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT party

I have a Give-a-WAY and it is a really cool Give-A-Way. I am so excited for you girls.

Tamara Denke from Celebrating Home sent me a big box with some very pretty items for serving

and a candle and a box of the fruit cobble. Did you see the cute handles on the appetizer spreaders? The pretty tray with the dip bowl will be such a lovely way to present food, especially if we are going to someone's home. I will arrive in style. Now, Tamara didn't just offer me some gifts she is offering, to my gals (and guys if you want to sign up) the Veranda set (tray and dip set) and the fruit cobbler. Isn't she so nice? The fruit cobbler is so yummy. I made mine with fresh peaches instead of canned.

Everyone be sure and leave sweet comments for Tamara and I will make sure she gets them all.

HOW DO YOUR REGISTER?
1. Sign up as a FOLLOWER (you do not have to have a blog to sign up as a follower, if you are already a follower tell me in your comments.

2.Click on Celebrating home: Celebrating Home and then come back over and tell me your favorite piece. I also want you to leave me your e-mail and if you have a blog your blog address. There are still several of you I can not reach. This will insure I can get to everyone. Even if you think it is set up correctly, please leave it so I can get to the winner, otherwise your name will not be entered.

You can sign up till this Thursday. I will close the party at 10:30 p.m. EST

I have been busy working on Miss Goo's outfit for the wedding but it isn't done yet. I was working on her bolero inspired shall jacket. I did not buy a pattern for the redo of her dress or the jacket I just eyeballed it. Making clothing isn't my favorite thing, I can do it, I just don't enjoy it like I do if I am making curtains or something for my home but this has been fun to do. The sparkle in her eye and the huge smile on her face made it all worth it.

I looked on line and everything I found was between $30 and $95 and I am sorry as cute as it would be, I could make it for less and none of the ones I found were a Knock Out in my opinion.

From Zone 4 kids
From One of a Kind

Here is what I have done so far on my Knock Off but until it is complete I can't call it a Knock Out. I just have the lining left and this piece will be done.I have her dress pieces cut out and I will get that put together and finished up and show you when it is all done.
(I will download my camera and add pictures of her jacket, so far and the Give-a-way pieces. If you look close, you can see Miss G4s 1st black eye. She bumped it on my night stand.

I added this roses patterned faux fur to the bottom of the jacket



REMEMBER:The Celebrate the Holidays party, come show off your decorations for the season-We also love those special recipes that are presented for the party. I hope you will all come back on Friday for the FIRST Home Tour event. I will be showing someone's home each Friday. We will take a tour of their home and they will show us a DIY project if they have one to offer. Vote for your favorite name idea up towards the top on the right--it's the poll. I forgot to add one of the name ideas-Welcome to the Neighborhood-Oh well.

Remember, if you sign up as a follower I will do the same.

Grab my Buttons and spread the word.

What is the Knock Off Knock Out party?

You see something you like, it can be at a friends house, a magazine or your favorite store but it is over priced and so you Knock it off and make it look so amazing it is a Knock Out. It doesn't have to be exact. You may be inspired by something but the colors are wrong so you change it and do a knock off that fits your style and color and it is a Knock Out. Maybe you have something at a restaurant and re=create it and it is amazing you just had a Knock Off Knock Out moment, share those with us. If you have a picture of the original great, if not just share about it.

ANYONE is welcome to join the party.

How do you join?

**You need to create a post about your item. (I suggest opening 2 browser windows so you can go back and forth-it just goes faster.) In your post you need to add my KNOCK OFF KNOCK OUT button (copy the code in the scroll box under the box and copy it into your post) or add the link to my post so people can find the party.

**You need to add the permalink (NOT your blog address). If you click on your post title, copy that code that appears in the address bar and then post it to MckLinky.

If you come back and your post is not here, it is because you forgot to do one of the above things, just fix it and re-post. I have been trying to come by and let people know if they forgot something but with our home school year underway, I can not guarantee that I can do that this week. We enjoy every new post and I appreciate everyone who has posted the party buttons on their side bar. You guys really do inspire me.

I can not wait to see all the wonderful projects.


I will be posting to:







Southern Hospitality blog










twice remembered




DIY showoff












Thrifty Thursday