Cricut.....oh Cricut!!

Many of you know that I have recently discovered my inner Martha Stewart and have started making my own holiday decorations. Not only have I made several things I'm proud of but I have also proven to Phillip that I will actually make the stuff I keep showing him on Pinterest, even when he keeps acting like he is not interested. For some reason Phillip thought I was going to buy all the stuff and never make anything. I don't know where he gets this stuff from. It's almost like I have a history of starting things and not completing them or something. On top of all of that I have also had a revelation. I now know that I want to be (insert your own drum roll here)............ a crafter. Try to contain your excitement. I realized while I was doing these projects I was having fun!! It was calming and helped to relieve my stress. But for those of you that know me, you know that I can't just be regular anything. So if I'm going to be a crafter then I want to be the best crafter that I can be.
To achieve this goal I need to have crafter tools. I have the everyday tools like scissors, ribbon, glue, and mod podge, awesome stuff look into it. But if I want to be more than just average then I need the coolest crafter tools there are. Enter the Cricut!! (Do you hear the Hallelujah Chorus too or is that just me?)
I have been reading tons of blogs by Do-It-Yourselfers and they all have a Cricut.This is the the most awesomeness, not sure if that is a word but it should be, machine and does SO MUCH. There are many different versions of the Circut but the one that caught my eye was the Cricut Expression. It is a bit expensive an investment and it is totally worth it because it does so much! This little beauty can cut letters and pictures from as small as 1/4 of an inch to as large as 23 1/2 inches. It has tons of different cartridges with all kinds of pictures and cute fonts. Plus if I had one of these I wouldn't have to ask my in-laws to cut stuff for me. They are so busy running their store,Sports of All Sorts-Great for all your sporting needs, embroidery, and screen printing (yes and I did just promote their business....they're my family), and they don't have time to cut stuff just so I can make my pretty crafts. So really I'm thinking about them and how I can take some burden off their shoulders. Wow, I am such a considerate and compassionate person. Always thinking of others. I mean how sweet am I?........No, seriously you can leave comments I don't mind.
Okay back to the topic. To prove how I could use the Cricut, because I'll have to be able to do this to convince Phillip I need it, and to show you some of the things I've made already I've posted some pictures and how I could use the vital, indispensable, and must-have Cricut.

I could add a pretty C on the front of the vase.

I could add The Carters to my bucket.

Wouldn't some cute black polka dots be cute on the C?

No Cricut ideas I just wanted you to see the monster mason jars I made all lit up. Isn't our mantel pretty?!?

So my one and only wish this year for Christmas, if I can wait that long because I'm not exactly known for my patience, is for a CRICUT!! Oh my goodness there is that music again!  

Veggie Tales and my IPhone

You may wonder about the title of this post so let me explain. As every true southern woman knows decorating for the holidays is a must. Since I have found a love for making my own decorations I needed to run to the store to pick up some supplies. So today I met my mom and Belle Ann at House to Home, which by the way is my new favorite store, so that I could buy some mesh to make a new wreath and to also show my mom what a great place this store is. Well, as soon as we got out of the car I got down so that I could look at Belle Ann and explained that we were going into this very nice store and she was not allowed to touch anything. I asked her if she understood and she very politely answered "Yes Mommy. I won't touch." Well as soon as the words were at of her mouth she was grabbing a wind chime and swinging it around. I very quickly asked her to stop and reminded her that she was not to touch. She dropped her hands and with all her southern charm she answered, "I know Mommy. I won't touch." We walked into the store and Belle Ann immediately found a basket that she could push around. I thought this was the answer to my problem until I realized she couldn't see over the cart and was running into everything!! I tried to redirect her attention to the beautiful colored mesh, but she wasn't paying me the least bit of attention. After a few minutes of Belle Ann telling us to march and follow her up and down the aisles she became bored. Next to the display of mesh was a table with rugs and Belle Ann decided this would be a great place to hide, and as long as she was touching anything breakable I was happy to let her play. After a few minutes I noticed it was eerily quiet and I started to freak. When I looked under the table you will not believe what I found. Belle Ann had found some purple ribbon, her favorite color, and had it wrapped around her. She looked like some deformed Barney wannabe. When she noticed I was looking at her she quickly blurted out  "I'm not touching Mommy! I'm not touching!" All I could do was laugh. Yes I know she was lying and she had done exactly what I told her not to do but I couldn't control myself when I saw her sitting there wrapped up looking like a teeny bopper mummy. While I was untangling her from her purple cocoon I was thinking about how I could keep her entertained for the duration of our trip. Then a light went off, actually it was someone's phone ringing but it is basically the same, and I remembered the greatest invention of all times........my IPHONE. Thanks to the wonderful people at Apple I have my own portable TV. I pulled out my phone, pulled up You Tube, and searched for Veggie Tales as fast as I could. As soon as Belle Ann heard the first few words of Silly Songs with Larry she was hooked. She sat down and began singing; really its more of a screeching but what mom doesn't think their child has talent. All over the store you could hear "Oh where is my hairbrush......oh where is my hairbrush." I usually would be embarrassed by this very loud behavior but she was FINALLY not touching anything so I just went with it. A woman walked up and was watching Belle Ann and I was waiting for her to start mumbling under her breath about me not being able to control my child but she just smiled and said, "She sure is having a great time." And she was right. Belle Ann was completely happy sitting there, singing along with Veggie Tales and not touching anything! So basically this entire blog was to say THANK YOU to Apple, You Tube, and Phil Vischer and Marc Nawrocki (the creators of Veggie Tales.)

The Beginning

I decided to start this blog because I wanted to document all the entertaining, cherished, and very comical days of raising our southern belle, Belle Ann. I also wanted to be able to share our daily lives with our family that don't live close so they can be amused, and sometimes bewildered, by our girl.

Let me start by giving you some background information on each member of the Carter Family.

 Tori Carter-the Mississippi Magnolia Mom. I am a very outgoing, social, and some would say a bit high maintenance, I don't see it but everyone uses this word to describe me so I've decided to embrace it. I tend to jump to conclusions and maybe talk more than I should. My husband is the exact opposite of me which is  why we compliment each other so well.
We have just moved into our new house and while I have always enjoyed decorating I have recently discovered a LOVE for making my decorations, thank you Pinterest! I am also learning how to sew. Another favorite pastime I have is reading. I'm actually kind of a big nerd when it come to reading. The only way I know how to describe it is to say I have a passion for reading. I would much rather spend my time reading a good book than watching TV. My sweet husband does not understand this way of thinking at all! There have been many times he has come to investigate why I am laughing hysterically only to sadly discover it is because of a book.
I graduated from MSU with a degree in Elementery Education. I taught my first year in Louisville, MS as a third grade teacher. After Phillip finished school the following year we were able to move back home to Hernando, MS and I have been teaching at Horn Lake Intermediate for the last five years. Three years as a third grade teacher and for two years I have been the Reading Coach and Title I Coordinator.

Belle Ann and I at the Christmas Parade

Phillip Carter- the love of my life and my very best friend. You know that saying "opposites attract?" Well that describes Phillip and I. Phillip is soft spoken, easy going, and it takes A LOT to upset him. He is the opposite of me in so many ways, but I think that is exactly the reason God chose Phillip for me.While rereading the words I chose to describe Phillip it kinda sounds like he is a pushover and this is not the case at all. I have learned that when my loving husband voices his opinion that I better hush up and listen. I have a tendency of thinking I always know what is best and don't always listen to others,a characteristic any true southern belle has, so I learned the hard way to make sure I listen when Phillip talks.
  Phillip and I met in high school, Hernando High School, and it was love at first sight, or at least I like to think of it like that. Phillip's version is a bit different. He thought I was a crazy person that tells really bad jokes. However, he did fall for me and that is how our story began.We both attended Mississippi State and my honey is a true Bulldog fan and loves everything MSU. Phillip graduated with a degree in Agronomy and is the Superintendent at Memphis National Golf Club.

Belle Ann-our southern belle. What words best describe Belle Ann? Hmmm.....hilarious, sweet, smart, stubborn, adorable, creative, sweet, headstrong, independent, and my favorite just down right hardheaded. Did you see a pattern there? Belle Ann blessed our lives on February 13, 2009. This was a Friday the 13th and I think God was having his own little joke because boy can she be a terror sometimes. Don't get me wrong I love this little girl, as I tell her, to the moon and back. She is the light of my life and in so many ways my mini me. Whenever people meet Belle Ann they always say how much she looks like my husband. After spending some time with her they very quickly comment on how she has my personality. I think it is because she is my mini me that causes us to have some of the very entertaining and highly emotional occurrences that we do.

Belle Ann  2/13/09

 Little Miss Firecracker

Poppy watching over her little sister.

Precious Princess Popadopalous Puppy- our black lab. Her nickname is Poppy but to Belle Ann she is sister. Phillip and I started discussing getting a dog soon after we got married. We had a difference of opinions when it came to the type of dog we wanted. We knew want breed we wanted, a lab of course, but Phillip wanted a dog and I wanted a baby. My mom called Phillip when she found out a friend had some lab puppies for sale. Phillip finally gave in and we got our first child. Poppy is a very important and loved member of our family. She is the sweetest, friendliest, and most hyperactive dog. Poppy loves Belle Ann and is very protective of her. Whenever someone new comes to the house she guards Belle Ann until she feels comfortable. She is not aggressive by any means but she does let you know that she is watching you. Poppy and Belle Ann spend every afternoon playing and when we leave for school Belle Ann always tells Poppy "Bye Sister!" We love our Poppy and our family wouldn't be complete without her.

I hope you enjoy reading all about my family and the wonderful adventures we have raising our southern belle.