A Life of Perpetual Probability

Headband Holder

2011-12-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

My step sister asked about headband holders for her girls. I'm so glad she did, I never would have thought to go looking around for such a practical idea. We e-mailed back and forth a few ideas that we found out in blog land and then decided the oatmeal container headband holder looked like the way to go. I told her I would make them for the girls for Christmas this year. I was a little nervous because I was not sure how these would turn out...but I LOVE THEM! I looked at a number of blogs to discover that I liked the clean look of the ones made with the scrap booking paper over the fabric ones. Maybe it is because I have all boys, but I just was afraid that the paper would get scratched and tear and just wouldn't last. Having covered lampshades before, I thought why not try using that method? After I finished, I thought these are so fun and simple I have to share so others can make them too!

So here is what I did:

Materials:
Fabric the width around and height of your container
Ribbon - cut 2 the width around your container
Can of Spray Adhesive, find at craft store or store with craft section
Large Ribbon to make bow for top
String
Large needle
Rotary cutter if you have one or good scissors and ruler.

Measure around the oatmeal can and measure the height from bottom to the lip edge. You are NOT going to have to wrap fabric under or inside of the container. Make sure to use a rotary cutter or to cut VERY straight! If you get the cut right, it will wrap around like a dream. LIGHTLY iron the fabric you just cut. On one side fold the edge over and iron the fold, this will be the seam that goes up the side of the container.

Don't worry about the top and bottom, the ribbon will cover those edges. Take the fabric outside and lay on a paper bag. Using spray adhesive go to town. You don't want to saturate it till it is soaked, but you want a really thick layer especially around the edges and that folded seam. Wait a few minutes so it gets nice and tacky. Match the top corner to lay right under the container lip. Make sure it is making a straight edge down the length of the container and wrap. I did mine in the air and let gravity help me wrap the fabric as I rolled the container and smoothed out the bubbles and lines as I went.

Then I did the same spray adhesive on the ribbon and attached the ribbon to the top and bottom to cover the edges. I saw a number of ways to decorate the tops, but some kind of looked messy or were trying too hard.

So I left it alone for a cleaner look and just attached bows. I was not sure if they would like that or not, but I did not want to leave it plain and the nice thing about this project is if they hate the lid....they can swap it out the next time they buy oatmeal;0)

For the lid I used string and a super huge needle to stitch through the lid and the bow.

I just separated the string into two pieces to tie the knot at the end. I made sure to tie it off three-four times.

There you have it a super fun, easy craft for little girls that little girls can even make for their friends birthday's too...

Drop Cloth Curtains, with Tutorial

2011-10-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Alright, I am about to attempt my very first tutorial. Writing this is harder than I thought, I hope this makes sense. If not please feel free to email or comment. I might be making it sound harder than it is. This EASY, and cheap way to make back tab curtains must be shared with the world. This is NOT a professional way to make a drape. If you are looking for classy professional sewing instructions, please leave now. I am not proud of the way the back of these curtains look. The pride lies in the EASY, FAST and frugal aspects of this project.

I believe I have stated in other posts how I have been blessed to have very large windows in our home. Sunlight is hard to come by in the Pacific Northwest during the winter, so I welcome any and all that wants to trickle in the windows. Curtains to cover these windows cost a fortune! Our bedroom has two enormous windows that almost fill two walls. We want curtains that not only provide privacy but that are a little heavy and can block out some of the cold air that seeps through the old window above the headboard. Because of this, I decided to do drop cloth curtains. If your windows are small enough, or you don't need your curtains to close, you could use one drop cloth and make two panels out of it. Our windows are large enough that I needed two drop cloths per window. Good thing a 6x9 paint drop cloth from Lowes is only $10. I've been asked by a few people how to determine the width of your curtains. Measure the window and multiply by 2. Thats ALOT of fabric, so I usually pretend. If your curtains are going to remain closed though, you really want that extra fabric to provide some pleating, or "give" so it doesn't look like you hung a sheet over the window. The stripped curtains in my living room are not functional, so there is not nearly enough fabric, but I don't care because I never close them, I use blinds. I would rather not have all that fabric take up wall or window space out there. Its really up to you, and what you want for the space...thats what I think anyway.

Ok enough rambling...
The first thing I did was take the drop cloth and wash it! Use a little soap and a little bleach. Drop cloths are stiff and this will soften it a little. Once its dry, hang it over the rod till you get your desired length. I wanted my drapes to hit the floor. Then I took into account seam allowance for the top (mine was 4.5 inches of what was hanging on the back of the rod. Then I measured how much I needed to cut off.
Cutting. A lovely friend gave me a cutting board with a rotary cutter for Christmas one year. If you sew and you do not have one of these, you have no idea how much easier your sewing can be!!! GET ONE! It makes ALL the difference! Ok, so I measured and used my rotary cutter to cut the tops off the drop cloths. I did not touch the side or bottom hems on the drop cloths...ever!
Get your iron as hot as it will go, these guys are tough to iron. I love short cuts so I only ironed the first 9 inches or so since I was not doing anything with the rest for a while.
I ironed down about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch. This is the part to turn under. Then I folded over and under again but this time I did a 4 inch fold, this makes the rod pocket. Now, it is at this point you must make a decision. You can stitch the top and bottom and slide the curtain rod through the pocket and be done, or you can add tabs and make a curtain with back tabs which is what I chose to do.

When I cut up my old curtains to make my stripped curtains. I cut the old tab tops off and saved them. I now want to add them to the back of these curtains so these will be back tab curtains. This is not going to look pretty, I'm warning you ;0) ( No old tab top curtains? You could use ribbon or the portion of the drop cloth that you cut off the top if need be).

Start pinning on your tabs. So in the picture you hopefully can see that we have not stitched anything yet. The tab is pinned to the right side and it is even with that first fold that we did.

I did my tabs just over 4 1/2 inches apart, I thought I was going to do 3 inches apart when the photo was taken, but I wanted bigger space between them. Once they are pinned in place. Sew them.

I just sewed the whole width of the drape, because I didn't want to cut threads all night. Then sew the top side of the tabs.

When you are done, fold down that 4 inch fold you ironed in and sew on the fold, this makes the top of the rod pocket. Then attach the bottom of the rod pocket to the drape, by sewing along that 1/4 inch fold, but this time you are attaching it to the front of the drape as well.
You should end up with tabs and four seams on the back and two seams on the front.

Finish up with the iron...we have to iron the whole thing this time, which actually takes more time then all the sewing.

I know my room is getting more and more beige, but I have plans to change that real soon with a new fun color - not on the wall...stay tuned!

Fake Spider

2011-10-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

Last year Hudson got this fake spider that was small enough to look real. Since I like to prank with spiders a little, I kept him. I put him in a jar up on the shelf where I keep my canning jars.

Every once in a while, I look for something on that shelf and spook myself out. Each time I think, "Man, I really need to move that guy to a drawer". Well today, one of my canning jars was in the living room (it usually holds colored pencils), there was that little spider.... only he wasn't fake. I looked closer to make sure he was real, thinking maybe the boys moved the fake one? Nope. He's real and he put himself in a jar, very convient to get tossed out the door. Now I really need to move the fake one before I get completely creeped out next time he surprises me!

Looking at Christmas Decor

2011-10-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

So I KNOW it seems early, but it comes so quickly! We (the ladies of the family) usually sit down before Thanksgiving and decide who has which Holiday and how we are all splitting up the food duties. I take Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, usually Christmas Day. It gives me a reason to get out all the decor, because some years, I wonder...... but I do like the kiddos to have memories of mom going all out! We decorate the tree and then have candy canes in hot chocolate, just like when I was growing up. Here are some pictures from our Christmas decor last year...

After being inspired by the "Homespun Christmas" look that I was seeing in the Christmas catalogs. I got some ribbon in red and grinch green and tied it to all my green, gold, red and silver ornaments to update my colors a little. It cost $3 instead of going and buying the current color of ornaments. (The colors were inspired by Ballard Designs, and the ribbon hangers by Pottery Barn). Pottery Barn even had ribbon attached to bells hanging on the tree. I had some of those bells from a previous year that I had bought at the dollar store.

I could not justify paying 20-30 for a cheaply made tree skirt. So I made this one after reading a tutorial over at Shanty2chic. It added to the "homespun"feel along with my brown paper packages. (we did have some brightly wrapped ones appear later for the kiddos)

Again with the catalogs: Ballard Designs had the burlap stockings. I loved them instantly, but again why pay $30 when burlap is so cheap? So these guys were made.

I have some sort of complication with making a wreath. 'Grandma' Connie came over and in less than a minute she fixed my disaster. I still don't know how, despite her patient explanation.

When she came over she brought me this cute little ginger bread man. He moved from room to room with me so I could look at him! I LOVE this little guy, he looks great no matter where you put him! (Connie is a lady in our Church, she is fabulous at all kinds of things and we all call her Grandma Connie. She has her own grandchildren, but we just kind of adopted her as another one of our grandmothers.)

Kitchen...

Dinning room... Funny to see the old catsup catsup and mustard paint colors... maybe it's more PB&J?

We went a little rustic to match the rest of the house. The napkin holders were actually a wedding gift 10 years ago. We still use them.

And what is Christmas Day with out Cocoa and goodies!!! Once everyone came there were alot more goodies of course!

Teacher Treats

2011-10-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

I have been having more fun on Pinterest! I found a few ideas that inspired some teacher treats the first week of school.

It started when I saw these three pins.

I found these teacher treats here

and then this cute apple card here

When I stumbled upon this idea for homemade microwave popcorn here.

I just had to pass this idea around!

Put them together and what do you get....

These guys and maybe some happy teachers. Inside the bag was another bag with 1/2 cup un-popped popcorn, along with microwaving instructions from the above mentioned blog.

Don't forget our secretary!

~ Give a teacher a snack and feed them for snack time. Show a teacher how to make their very own Microwave Popcorn and you give them snacks for life.

An interesting conversation with the 3 year old.

2011-09-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

My son was playing with his messy markers and he decided to paint his hands. The markers are washable so it is not that big of a deal, but we try to teach him we color on paper only. The washable markers are really great, but since they wash off easily they also wipe onto furniture easily too. So I just told Easton we needed to stop and wash his hands. He was very upset by this and was pouting and fussing while we washed. As he was drying his hands I asked if he wanted to go back to coloring, he told me he did not and then he said to me, "then I'm not going to live here!" "What?..." I said, "well, ok where are you going to live? Outside? Its very cold out there and it does get dark, but if that is where you want to live I guess that's ok. I will miss you though". He paused and said, "no I'll live here because I am your boy". I agreed and told him I would've really missed him, but if he did want to live outside I would help him pack. He assured me he wanted to live at home and I said ok. He then went and laid down in his room since his plan backfired. I went in and told him that I was so happy he decided to stay at home as I would miss him just terribly. He let me know again he was upset and that he was just going to take a nap. So I said night night and closed the door. 2 minutes later he is sitting by me on the couch as chipper as can be. I'm not totally sure what happened here today, but I am happy that my son is living at home warm and happy and that his hands are clean. I also pray he never leaves home on bad terms and NEVER lives outside unless camping or doing mission/charity work;0)

The Evening Journey

2011-09-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

The air is damp and the night is quiet, but you can feel the excitement down at the pond. All the frogs are beginning their evening journey. They come by the tens (maybe even twenties and thirties). They begin the journey by hopping up the bank of the pond through the first field, up the hill and through yet another field. All this traveling is worth it to the frogs for the feast that awaits them. They make this journey nearly every night. Someone might look at this mob of frogs and be concerned that it is one of the 10 plagues of Egypt. Alas, the frogs are traveling for a purpose, the Great Feast! A feast so delectable, bugs of all types and sizes everything a growing frog needs- even a baby tree frog. Their little legs begin to get tired from such a long journey, but they muster up strength to cross over the pavement into the yard and finally into the flower bed. And so begins the frog neighborhood potluck! You see Danielle left the porch light on again tonight! The frog community is so grateful to their hostess that decide to thank her with a serenade! There is a tenor who stands out from the rest, he's a little off key, but he means well. Most of the frogs go back to the pond before morning. As for the few gluttons who were not able to make the journey back home, we wish them well tidings and safety from accidental death by shoe.

Fall Decor...

2011-09-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

I used to really get into the fall decor. Fall was my favorite time of year! I have a friend, who I still consider very dear, even though we have not seen each other in years. This friend does fall so amazing! I wish I could post pictures. Even though I have not seen her house, I know it is just amazing as always and smelling good with just canned goodies. Every fall I think of her and her wonderful home! We used to chat about all things cozy and crafty over hot drinks while she was baking. Ahhh! Hope you are enjoying fall Sarah!

Anyway, for some reason I just have not been able to grasp onto fall the last few years. I have really been drawn to summer and I don't want summer to be over yet. My house still feels like summer and I like it. I'm going to have to start cozying things up soon here and I have been looking around for some inspiration. Actually, just writing this post about Sarah's home made me excited about fall decor. Currently I am loving twine, shipping tags, numbers, pillow ticking and wool. That sounds cozy and fall like right? The challenge, to get my new stripped curtains to fit in through fall and the holidays.... I'm going to MAKE it work somehow...or maybe just give up and swap them out with the bedroom curtains? We shall see...

Curtains!

2011-09-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Not sure when these curtains will actually get finished, but here is a teaser. I thought I should at least post something up. I have not decided if I am going to line them or just hem the edges which is part of why they are still hanging there unfinished. The other reason is well...I have not gotten around to it.

Not the Perfect Mom.

2011-09-22T01:16:00.000-07:00

Ok a very awkward personal post here. Every so often I hear/read comments like, "Oh, you are just the perfect mom!" or "I can tell you are a really wonderful mom". While these comments REALLY ARE very encouraging to me, it also causes some discomfort. I am not the perfect mom. People who know me and see me on a daily basis know better. Feels really conceited to even have a post like this, but some people seem to have gained a skewed image of who I am because of my posts on Facebook (perhaps the blog too?).

Here's the thing: I read blogs and think WOW these women are amazing! They are super heros!!! Perfect, clean houses, lovely children the whole family does craft projects and fun activities together. They always make yummy, healthy food too! They are PERFECT MOMS! They are PERFECT HOUSEKEEPERS! Then they post a picture of how their house really looks and it's so refreshing to know they are normal. Blogs and Facebook posts are not the complete picture- they are just a piece of it. The piece of life that we want to share and remember.

"Oh but Dannie, you always are doing so much, you do all of these projects". First of all, they take me forever to finish because life happens. Second, projects help me get through tough days! Sometimes it's why I get up in the morning. I have Fibromyalgia and therefore many days it would just be easier to stay in bed so the projects help me get excited enough to get going and make breakfast and lunches and do something besides sit on the couch all day. (Although, somedays being a good mommy is sitting on the couch for me because my youngest is big on cuddles and if he has a day where he needs cuddles then I just have to sit and hold him--which is my most favorite day.) I could list all the things I do bad and the things I need to do better. The point of this post is not to depress myself about who I am, but to let those people who might have a misconception know that I am just like the other mothers out there who want the best for their children, but fall short of their goals. Maybe that is being a good mom- TRYING. I would hate for someone to think they need to measure up to me--as anyone who lives near me can attest I'm just treading water like the rest.

Kids Say the Funniest Things...

2011-07-30T01:53:00.000-07:00

My little E, likes to look at my wedding picture on hubbys night stand and tell me I'm a princess. I KNOW! I LOVE IT! He's so sweet. The thing he has a hard time understanding is that I really am wearing a dress and not the white sheet on my bed. He always (this has happened at least 3 times now) grabs the sheet and says your wearing this dress!!! I pulled out the wedding dress to show him, "Mommy is wearing THIS dress!" He curled up his face and shook his head and calmly said "no" and walked away. I'm not going to win this one, but I'm so glad I'm his princess!!!

Bedroom Makeover~the next stage.

2011-07-29T12:15:00.000-07:00

Well here it is my new Ballard Designs quilt! I posted before about my $0 bedroom makeover here. Well I am going to start spending a little more $'s and finish up the room. My first inspiration was this Ballard Designs quilt that I ordered (click here for original post). I bought an old brass lamp that I plan to paint and add to the side table and I'm on the hunt for a second one. I'm still a bit undecided about the color for the lamp which is why it is not currently in the room. I also plan to do some stenciling on the wall which I found over here. Then I am going to convert the tab top window panels to back tab panels and maybe add a touch of color to them. I'm also on the look out for some new sheets and yellow and grey throw pillows and possibly navy blue ones to add some more color. I also have a door I found for free that I could use for a new headboard if I want. I have not decided if it is going to be for us or my son. Depends on if we get bunk beds or not. I have lots on my mind for this room. It may take me awhile to get it finished as I have an ever mounting pile of sewing orders that need to come first ;0) I figured I better put down all my thoughts so that I can remember exactly what I was planning in the first place. There is no reason I can't post a picture of the new quilt while I am working away on everything else. ~Um please excuse the blue lamp still lingering there, he doesn't realize he is no longer welcome.

I found really great bed making instructions over here. When I followed them I realized I have everything in solid colors so it kind of looks like stripes of brown and white, hence the shopping for new sheets and maybe a blanket. We need a little more pattern to tie this quilt in. I am really color and pattern shy and I'm working on breaking out of that!

Busy Summer

2011-07-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

Summer has been flying by and I realized I have many projects to post. I will try and work on that this week. Teaser: I have curtains now for the living room, Easton's Letters are painted, progress on the bedroom makeover, some other spray painting projects are finished as well as some sewing projects and links of new inspiration to share.

Today I got set up on to Pintrest and got lost all evening pinning things to my boards. What a fun way to keep track of your inspirations! Now I need to go and clean up all my bookmarks and add them to my Pintrest boards! If you have not checked out Pintrest, I highly recommend it! My sis-in-law is the one who introduced me to it-such inspiration!

The other thing I have been up to is spending a little time on Ancestry.com! We originally got on to help Micah's Grandpa find some family names and then I started looking for everyone related to me. As I began to find more interesting information, I decided to really get into looking up my mom's family tree and share it with her for her birthday. She has always been keeping track of documents and family history and it was so fun to tell her all the information I was able to find. I even saw WWI draft cards for two of my Great Great Grandpas! Apparently, one of my Grandparents lied to make himself younger so he could serve? How cool!

Fall Teaser: My plans for the fall include...well soccer for Hudson so that might take up some time ;0) But decor wise... painting and organizing of the sewing room, finally painting that china hutch (ran into some snags there, so it will be tricky), possible bathroom makeover? Another Christmas of hand-made gifts, and some hand made Christmas decor and tree ornaments. Them is some pretty big goals-we will see how many I can accomplish.

I have been learning to not get too crazy with trying to keep my goals-especially blog/decor related. I begin to get stressed out with my to do list, which is silly because it is all fun unnecessary stuff. Sometimes I am a stress junkie and I have allowed it to take a toll on my health at times. I have to constantly ask the Lord to help me hand that back over. Its a real pain. So I'm beginning to see the unnecessary stress I place on myself for things and try and cut back. My blog suffers for it and so do many other aspects of my life. But I'm learning balance and that's what life is-balance. Balance with food, exercise, standards, time, relationships, stress you name it too much of anything isn't good -even too many carrots (just ask my son).

Finished!

2011-06-24T22:12:00.001-07:00

It's done! The quilt is finished and E should be able to open it tomorrow for his Birthday ;0) I'm kinda surprised that I got it done, especially considering all the trouble I had today while trying to get the layers to lay right. I think posting my progress made me more motivated to stay on track. Ahhh, it will be awhile before I attempt anything larger than a baby quilt!!!

Here is the finished product....

Learning about fEaR!

2011-06-24T12:33:00.000-07:00

So we took a trip this week to the Seattle Science Center. We had so much fun!!! Anyway, they had the goosebumps exhibit where you learn all about the science of fear. You can try out little fears too. You can put your finger in a little holder and wait for a shock, or get strapped into a falling wall like thing, or put your hand in a little box that might have spiders. Everyone was trying all these things out...NOT ME! Are you kidding! I know there is no spiders in that box, but I don't want to find out what is in there that might feel like one! I hate the anticipation of a shock. Fear of needles? Not me! I could go to the doctor a billion times and I never look away. Doesn't bother me at all. Why? I know what to expect. As soon as it goes in you feel a pinch. No big deal. We go further through the museum and I find myself realizing I have a fear of everything! It's not that I'm actually afraid of everything. I don't like things I can't control, the fear of the unknown or unexpected. Wow, I'm Mr. Monk! I don't like surprises or scary movies. It's not that I'm scared I just really don't like it. In life when things come up that are unexpected stresses, the whole family gets stressed, but it completely takes a drastic toll on me!

We went to the exhibit to help the boys learn more about fear and maybe learn how to over come some of theirs and what I discovered is that I need to REALLY lighten up!

The exhibit further talked about how fear gets you all worked up just like stress and how the two are related in how they can take a toll on your body. So my new goal: lighten up so I don't shut down too early in life.

Progress...

2011-06-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

Day 3 progress...the squares are finished! Despite my greatest efforts to make things look random, I have found numerous patterns that were not intended. Oh well, this is why I do not sew quilts for a living ;0) I think E will know it was made with love. I have to run out tonight and get backing so I can put it all together tonight and stay on schedule. Here are the pics so far...

Easton really wanted the "tires" fabric to go in his blanket too.

You can really see the "pattern" in this one. All the CARS fabric is at a diagonal. Too bad it is only for half the quilt or I could have made it intentional. Oh well, if I aim for perfection, he would never have his blanket. I'm embarassed to post a picture of the whole thing, but here it goes...

CARS 2

2011-06-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Our youngest little man is VERY into the movie CARS. Luckily our eldest already had the movie and the toys when little E came along. Easton rolls the cars everywhere. He carries them in his pockets, takes them to bed, and wants them to come in the car when we leave the house. Needless to say, we were beyond thrilled to find out that CARS 2 was coming out on E's Birthday!!! He is so excited! We are going to see the movie and then out for lunch. What better day for mom to give him his CARS blanket! We found the CARS fabric last fall and I have not been able to get this quilt started. Now with this BIG weekend coming, I had better get it finished. Here's the crazy plan: Monday, wash and iron fabric. Tuesday cut 40 large squares and 32 small squares. Wednesday sew together squares and top stitch. Thursday assemble blanket and stitch the ditch (really thats all I know how to do at this point, maybe I'll try something brave?). Friday, binding. Saturday present the soon to be beloved quilt! So far I am right on track! I will try and post progress pictures. Here is where we are at so far...

Good Things

2011-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life just seems to fall apart all at once and other times everything seems to be falling in place. Many times -for me at least- these "seasons" are only a few days apart. Is it a matter of outlook? attitude? testing? I don't know. The nice thing about them happening back to back is it seems easier to remember that I need to try and practice thankfulness in both "seasons". Just like the song, "When the darkness closes in Lord, still I will say, 'Blessed be the name of the Lord'!" Today I am just SUPER grateful for all those things that are falling into place. Answers to prayer both so small in insignificant, they hardly seemed worth His time, and those so incredibly huge it seemed impossible! Many thanks for the answers to my prayers! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

New Bedding!

2011-06-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well I did it! I made my first order from Ballard Designs! Usually I try and just make it myself when I see something I like. This time it was different! I can make a quilt, but these fabrics, for this price! Not a chance! AND it is all the colors I have been drooling over. Apparently, I'm not alone in my admiration of this quilt, as they are sold out in the King and the Queen is on backorder.

My walls are brown and my bedding is white and I love grey and yellow. This piece ties it all together... Here it is, my new quilt that will ship....later because it is on back order.

http://www.ballarddesigns.com/lorraine-quilted-bedding/linens-fabrics/bedding/204166

Finding bedding I like has been difficult ever since I got married. Maybe I am jus super picky, but I have trouble with prints. I can always find something I don't like about everything! I have never made an impulse buy like this. As soon as I finished looking at my new catalog I placed my order. I guess it is actually, not too impulsive when you have been looking for bedding for about 8 years!

Now I'll need to go Thrifting to find me some nice old lamps to spray paint mustard yellow!

Links

2011-05-07T22:33:00.000-07:00

Some lovely rooms I found over at Annettes Hus. I'm not sure if these are the right links to the site, because I had to use the google translator and it might be linking just to the translator and not the picture??? So I will include both links and see how it goes.

I love this blog, it is full of fun inspiring pictures. I believe these are two links that she had on there from another site, but it was lost by the translator so I am just trying to do my best to give credit ;0) If you get the chance go get inspired by Annettes Hus! ** Update, yeah, these links don't work. I'll try and figure it out. I do have a link to the blog on my side bar until then.

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=no&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anetteshus.com%2F

I just think these rooms are so fabulous! I could spend hours looking at these pictures. Just the two of them. When I think of the perfect bedroom, I always envision this dark four poster bed with white bedding and suitcases, white drapes, and a vintage fan. I don't know why. I think I saw it on an Ethan Allen commercial about the time I was getting married and it just stuck with me? It always makes me think it belongs in an Indiana Jones movie. Like some 1940's hotel in a tropical land or something. Same with the picture above I guess. That masculine leather with the white wood work. I just love it! Probably why I'm a fan of the new Restoration Hardware vintage collection. Ok seriously, check out the white wood floor! Can you handle it!?!! I'm gushing!

Loving Yellow and Grey!

2011-05-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yellow

Houzz- Kitchen Design, Bathroom Design and More»

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I found Houzz

2011-05-05T20:21:00.000-07:00

Ok everyone has been talking about Houzz and I finally checked it out. SO much easier than clipping out articles and putting them in a binder. Anyway, I had fun dreaming of white cabinets and posting my inspiration photos. Here they are...

White Kitchen Ideas

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Home Design and Decorating Ideas:

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My China Hutch...

2011-04-14T21:04:00.000-07:00

Still thinking of ideas for the china hutch I purchased on Crags....Ever heard of Somerset Bay? I love this site. I come back to it all the time for inspiration. I love the style, the colors and the way they accessorize!! I enjoy blog land too of course, but I've noticed most sites paint furniture blue or white. Granted, I personally feel just about anything looks amazing either blue or white. However, every once in a great while, I feel like I need something besides blue. This site inspires me to think outside my box. I would love to be brave enough to do one of these muted tones of green or yellow. I can't even express how much I love the photos on this site!

(source)

I don't know why, but I'm a little afraid of soft yellow. As I look at my new craigs find and decide what color to paint it, I am drawn to this yellow cabinet.

(source)

Ahhhhh...doesn't it just make you feel like vacation!? It wouldn't go in my home unfortunately. I could maybe FORCE it to work, but I fear, its just not practical for me. Some more faves from Somerset Bay...

Soon I will post pictures of my new hutch for you (before and afters), but it is not painted yet. Here it is in it's current condition...

As we brought it into the house we noticed that this $50 find is a Thomasville hutch in almost perfect condition. The people who sold it probably should have sold it for $300-500. I am shocked at how nice this piece is, I could never go out and purchase something like this. What a blessing! I have wanted one for so long and prayed that just the right one would come. It even has a pull out for silverware! Why am I surprised when God answers prayer? It is so nice that He cares about the little things.

Now that I have the perfect piece... what to do with it? The wood finish is great. It's a little outdated, but not bad. Actually, I've noticed this finish becoming more prominate again. Paint would really make it look amazing, but for how long? Once we loose that wood finish, it's hard to get it back. Mmmmm, do I paint something this nice!!!??? What to do!?!

I'm leaning toward painting it white and sanding it down. I found this over at a linky party (she has a great tutorial)....

Photo from Twice Lovely

I would LOVE to do something like this on the front. Maybe, down at the bottom, coming across just the one side... but I do have artistic limitations and, it looks HARD! I think I want to paint the inside with a blue-grey and white graphic pattern, so my white dishes pop. Something maybe like this....

(photo from Waverly.com)

I would love to hear any comments, suggestions, criticisms...well within reason ;0)

Curtains II

2011-04-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

So after much anticipation of getting my curtain fabric, I received an e-mail that my order was cancelled. My heart sank. I looked so hard for that blasted fabric! Then I thought maybe God is saving me from a huge mistake!!! Most of my room is window and therefore would be stripe! So after spending a few more hours looking online, I still have not found anything that I like. Since my windows are so big, I REALLY have to like the fabric! Well, someday....soon I hope...I'll find the perfect curtains. As for now, I'll just have to go and paint my new china hutch I got for a STEAL on Craigs List! It was EXACTLY what I was looking for! I don't want to go and buy paint since we just painted the main rooms and spent more than we expected. I'm going to try and mix a few leftovers and come up with a "magic" color. I have some new found inspiration that I'm planning to work with, but I'll save that for another post...if it turns out!

CURTAINS!

2011-04-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

So, I have admired Nesters blog for quite some time and I know that many other blogs LOVE her curtains and try to replicate them. Well, I can't seem to get them out of my mind either! I LOVE these curtains.

I have VERY large windows and it is so hard to buy curtains because I would need six panels just for the living room windows. So, I decided to venture out in search of large striped fabric and get on the Nester curtain bandwagon. Finding fabric was harder than I thought it would be. Last week I found some I liked and I ordered 13 yards!!! I nearly hyperventilated after. I buy fabric alot but I never pay that kind of cash at once let alone on one fabric, that I have not seen in person !!! I did get a great deal though! It would have cost me alot more to buy panels!

I'm so excited/nervous to see how they turn out. We have a formal leather sofa and I think striped curtains would add a little fun into the mix.

Now for some more color...

PROJECTS!!!!!!

2011-04-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

Apparently, I go through blogging spurts. After which I go through project spurts. We decided to paint the main rooms of the house. They kind of all connect so it was more of a requirement than a desire. That must be why it is taking so long ;0) What a huge improvement though!!! We have been painting trim too. I have a few teaser pics to share.

Here is the before color, kind of a gold color.
The entry way before (we never painted it).

Here are the afters... well almost afters...still alot of work to do ;0)

Like the shirtless, baby and the basket of Laundry ;0)

Well that's where I have been lately, painting. We've had alot going on so we have been taking the project very slow. I mean REALLY slow, we lived like this for almost a month....

Sad. As, much as I love projects, decorating and blogs. Real life happens and real life comes first ;0)

Gift Giving

2011-02-06T18:39:00.001-08:00

A few years back I thought I would like to try making gifts for Birthdays and Christmas. It seemed to go over pretty well so we have been doing that now for about three years. My son (six) gets upset sometimes and wishes I would just buy something for his friends parties (I do for boys, but not for the girls). I told him we can give them a better gift if I make it because I can use alot of things I already have and we couldn't buy them as nice of a gift. So he is slowly getting the picture, I hope. I have really enjoyed it. I try to put alot of thought into them and it has really become a joy to give little homemade pieces of myself. Too sappy I know! This year I made aprons, aprons and more aprons. For the ladies I made bags and make-up bags, pot holders, kitchen towels ect. Here are some pics of this years gifts, hopefully they provide someone out there a little inspiration. Sorry about some of the photos -- I usually remember to take the pics right before putting them in the mail.

Here are two happy little apron models...

Men's Tactical Apron. My dad likes to hunt and cook, so I made him this apron that says "I've got Game in the Kitchen". I wish I had a better picture of the whole thing.

It was a little tricky getting through all those tuff fabric layers....

These next ones are not from this year, but i love them so I had to share...

Week of Craigs

2011-02-04T08:49:00.001-08:00

I have not been blogging this week because I have been Craigslisting. We rent the upstairs of our Church Parsonage. The church preschool is in the downstairs. There have been some minor inconveniences to this arrangement, like the time we found a strange truck in front of our house and the night ended with a heat seeking helicopter flying over head, (I know I, know! that's not a life of perpetual probability, well, my mom was here so the Law of Perpetual Improbability was in full force). Mostly we have had advantages to having the preschool downstairs like gabbing with the teacher before and after school. I have really enjoyed visits with the teachers...oh, and parents too. I will miss that. The preschool will be moving into the garage which will hopefully get renovated this summer, and allow me to continue gabbing. Our downstairs is now getting converted into the Youth Room which is REALLY great since my husband is the Youth Pastor and we host youth group every Wednesday night! I am so excited to see how our youth room will turn out. So far our first night worked great!!!! There were some old play clothes from preschool that the teacher said I could give to the teens. So they were all dressing up. One of the guys had a skirt around his ankles and was jumping around with his feet stuck together? I don't know, I just work here.

ANYWAY, this conversion required us to sell lots of old preschool things on Craigs. We got a couch and loveseat donated for the youth room, only to find out after much turmoil that the couch was too big to fit through the door. We put it on Criags and it was gone in 1 hr! We have two people coming tonight to look at things and had two people last night. It has been a busy week! Hopefully, I can get a few projects done this next week. I am in process of choosing a new paint color and trim color for the upstairs. There are sample splotches painted all over the walls...so I REALLY NEED to get some project time this week!

+++ Oh yea, not to leave you hanging. The truck incident consisted of two guys parking in our driveway because it said "Preschool" so they thought there was no one there as it was after business hours. I came home from Bible Study and thought we were being robbed. We called the police. They came and searched the truck and found a warm subway sandwich and a wallet. Since people generally don't leave that in their truck after they searched the house, they began to look all over the church property and in the woods and swamp. I was tucking the kids into bed when my mom began telling Hudson that the helicopter outside was looking for the guys in the truck. (she also told him he better pick up the toys so the police don't think he keeps a messy room). I laughed and said what!? Thinking she was trying to tell Hudson a cool story. She said no I heard them talking about it. So I went out side and sure enough they were looking for the owners of the truck with a heat signature helicopter. The helicopter happened to be out on a training session so they came over to look for these guys. They guys finally came back. They had been at the neighbors house up the road. There was a party and no parking, so they parked at the church. They must have heard the helicopter. Our life is not like this, but my mom's is so I laughed and told her it was all her fault. She comes out for a visit and we have crazy impossible things happen-- The Law of Perpetual Improbability strikes again!

My New Lamp

2011-01-26T07:57:00.001-08:00

Of course I got too excited about this project to bother with a before picture (ugh!) I picked up this lamp at Goodwill. It was a very ugly old brass lamp. The Goodwill out here is a little frustrating. Usually there is not much there because the DIY-ers pick through it all pretty fast, and they are also pretty expensive believe it or not. Ugly old pictures are like $30! So I was surprised to find this lamp for 4.99. There is a before and after of the lampshade though...

We decided to name him Steve. He brightens up our living room - oops haha -no pun intended.

This is a super easy project! Get a lamp, get some spray paint. Tape off the cord and top socket. Spray in light layers so you don't have drips. Do a few coats..

For the lamp shade get ye some spray adhesive! (amazing stuff never be at home without it!!!) Get a lamp shade and a chunk of fabric. Spray the lampshade outside and slowly roll the fabric onto the shade smoothing out bubbles. Trim anything that is hanging over, or fold it under. Add trim if you like. You can also use some more fabric and fold it on itself to use as trim.

Here is a picture of my friend Naomi's lamp. She had all these beautiful vintage clothes, and she just loved the fabrics. So we took one of the dresses, an old lamp and made this lamp shade. Now she has some funky 60's inspired lighting.

Stuffed Hearts

2011-01-25T12:24:00.001-08:00

This past week, I tried to be thinking of something I could do for Valentine Decor that I have not already seen on everyone's blog. I have purposefully steered clear of looking at Valentines decor posts so that I would not be inspired by someonelses project. Now I realize that a few people probably came up with the same original idea as I did, but as far as I know of this one is mine ;0)

Easy project:

1. Get some fabric scraps.

2. Cut a heart out of paper to use as a pattern

3. Cut out your hearts

4. Sew them up by hand or machine. Don't worry about stitching perfect. They should look scrappy. Let the stitches get crooked. Don't forget to leave an opening on the bottom side for stuffing.

5. Stuff them, not too full - they are stuffed hearts not pillows. Let them be kinda flat.

6. Sew up the opening, (again why it is handy not to over stuff them).

7. Stick them around the house. On a skewer in a flower pot or plant. On a dresser. In a bucket or basket. Grab some clothes pins and hang them on twine, string, ribbon or even your Christmas bead garland.

You can even add a ribbon loop to hang them, or make a door hanger attaching two hearts together with ribbon and a loop for the door handle.

And because boys like Valentine's too...Cut some out of boy fabric! (my boys love fireman so we have lots of fireman fabric scraps). I used pinking sheers on the banana fabric.

As I was cutting these out, I told my 6 year old we were going to put them around the house until Valentine's Day and then give them away as the Valentines for his class. He informed me that the boys would rather have candy. Once they were finished both my boys wanted to have them in their room (the 2 year old wanted to cuddle with them... ALL of them). Now the 6 year old keeps telling me who he wants to give each one to. I keep reminding him that they are all going to have candy and I'm keeping the hearts LOL. I have had some company over and the stuffed hearts are getting rave reviews. We'll soon know if they are a hit when we see the 1st Graders reaction to their Valentines.

If you like these.... I LOVE comments and respond to them all! I also ADORE all my followers!

Dinning Room Getting Closer!

2011-01-24T13:14:00.001-08:00

Last spring I painted my wall to look like wallpaper, using leftover paint. I absolutely love how it turned out, but I have been having trouble finding something to hang on it and accessorizing the buffet bellow the wine rack.

It has been very frustrating. I still need to figure out how I want the buffet accessories, but hopefully that process will be easier now that that huge old mirror is not sitting on the surface. I went brousing over at Nesters blog, and I noticed her "dwell" chalkboard and I just love it! For some reason I always think kitchen for chalkboard. Why have I never thought of hanging one in my dinning room? Seems so simple, they do it all the time in the PB catalogue. A few months ago I spray painted some old frames white to have a wall of empty white frames (which did not end up working out for me, what a blunder...lets not go there). So off I went and grabbed the largest of the frames and sanded it down some.

Then I took the old picture that was in there (which was stuck to cardboard), I turned it around and sprayed chalk board paint on it and slapped it on the wall. I still need to work on the buffet accessories, (as you can see my children don't want the candy canes to leave yet).

Maybe down the road I will find something I like better for this wall but for now my 5 minutes and $0 solution makes me smile. That is my new design philosophy. I only want things in my house that make me smile or have some sort of emotion or attachment to them. I also have great emotion when I see the bills and so they are soon going to be finding a nice out of sight home in my entryway at the bottom of the stairs where I will never see them or pay them. Well...unfortunately not never.

$0 Bedroom Makeover

2011-01-21T12:00:00.000-08:00

Maybe I should call it the "I finally cared what my bedroom looks like" makeover? I was visiting Nester and gazing at pictures of her fantastic home. I came across her write up of the importance of your Master Bedroom. Well...lets just say it was something I really needed to hear. So begins the journey to a decluttered, relaxing bedroom. What better decorating project for me do in time for Valentine's Day! Of course, if I am going to go and spend decorating money it's going to be on something for a main room of the house. Therefore the bedroom is going to have to be a $0 makeover. Please keep in mind this is still in some need of help. I did not pick up or buy ANYTHING. I might go and do that later, but for now this is what I had on hand....

Headboard before... (of course I forgot to take one of the room before...)

After...

The pillows are from the living room. I really only use one of them on the bed because my Hubby hates lots of pillows, but in my mind THIS is how the bedroom looks and occasionally I will move the pillows over to free up the couch;0)

I am going to cover the bench in this stripe fabric and add some more ribbon to the other set of curtains.

I ran out of white spray paint - sinful I know! So I used blue paint on the lamps, but I don't like it. I couldn't decide what color to do the headboard in. I wanted it to be white but the curtains are white and right behind it. I have a greenish tan color in storage I might try later but for now we went with Coffee Bean. I never would have picked this color, but I asked my sis-in-law what she thought as she is braver about color than I. She suggested a dark brown, sure enough a past project allowed me to dig up this color. Although, I mentioned I am not sure if I like it on THIS headboard. I might go paint the door in the basement and use it as the headboard instead because I really do like the contrast of the darker brown. And I LOVE the brown side table.

As you can see in the above picture, the lamp shades looked terrible in this room so... I made some petals out of an old sheet, sewed them in a line and wrapped it around the shade using glue on the corners. Again, $0 was the key here.

Here's a picture with both the side tables...Um I am still working on that last lamp shade ;0)

We still have some decluttering to do, but it is already beginning to be more peaceful in there since we got the computers out! I now have empty dresser tops and I can't decide yet what to put on them. Once I get everything done, I'll post a little update.

Newest Blog to Follow!

2011-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

My dear friend sent me a link to her sis-in-law's new blog. WOW! What a creative girl! I had been hearing from my friend how her brother married this incredibly talented woman. In all honesty, I facebook stalked her pics before she had a blog, but now I get to follow her blog ;0) Which is probably less creepy. I suggest you take a peek you will love her ideas too!

http://www.littlethingsbringsmiles.blogspot.com/

Here is just a sampling of all the greatness she has to share...

I love that her ideas are new, fresh and frugal!

Technical Difficulties

2011-01-19T21:02:00.001-08:00

Apologies for the disappearance of all my photos. We have no idea what is going on with my site at the moment, but hope to have the issue resolved soon ;0) Please try back again later!

*** Update apparently photos are gone for good. I will try and dig them out and slowly put them back up.

My creative brother

2011-01-19T20:23:00.001-08:00

My brother the creative type LOL! He comes up with the most original ideas, I love it. It's crazy too that we have completely different ideas and takes on things. Like day and night. He wanted to do a nice display as a gift for a friend and he asked my help. It feels so good when someone who is more creative than you asks for your advice. Anyway, here is our joint effort (he really did all the work, I only made some minor suggestions). I wish the photo was more clear, but you get the idea. Isn't it great! He was trying for a kind of Juicy Couture meets Christmas kind of feel. When he sent me this pic of the final product, I couldn't believe how it turned out! He did a fantastic job!!!

He found everything at the dollar store, or the thrift store! Except that little flower ring in the jewelry box which I found online for him at Forever 21 for 3.99!!! (my contribution LOL)

Fall Decorating

2010-10-07T09:49:00.000-07:00

Fall is usually my favorite time of year, but this year I got so caught up in the beach wonderfulness that I just didn't want to decorate for fall this year. Fall seemed to come really fast here in the Pacific Northwest. So I decided not to do alot. Then I remembered that I signed up to decorate the Church Alter for October, so.... out came all the fall stuff, which is good because I need to get it all out anyway. I have done the same decor for the alter for the last 5 years, so I wanted to do something different. Here are somethings I did around my house.

My attempt at a mercury glass pumpkin, it doesn't look like glass, but it looks old and I like that. I might paint it white next week. I like it on the pillar, seems very Edgar Allen Poe? Especially if it was white Mmmmm.

This one I rubbed a copper paint on, its hard to tell in the picture but it gives it a slightly different tint than the other so they have some dimension. I'm thinking to use these on the Church Alter this week. I don't really have a place for them in the house yet. I might just move the apples and leave them on the buffet.

Coffee table with my pumpkin candy jar.

Dinning room center piece.
Ballard Designs inspired burlap vase. I didn't get a chance to run out and get burlap so I used a bit of leftover paint drop cloth.

My good old standby branches and leaves. I still feel caught off guard this fall, just not feeling it. Anyone else having this trouble??

linking to these parties...

Color Prediction

2010-09-24T22:14:00.000-07:00

A few years back I came across the Pantone Color Report. This report predicts home and fashion colors. It is the report designers use while they are creating for fashion week. It has been a huge help for me when shopping for my home or clothing, but most importantly, picking paint colors. Now, before I paint my house I check to make sure the color I choose won't be going out of date in the next few seasons. So I thought I would share this inspiration.
This fall 2010 colors here.
Spring 2011 color prediction you can download for free here.
Hope this helps you as much as it has helped me!
Linking up to this party...

Drop Cloth Mania

2010-09-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

So I have been reading various blogs with all these wonderful ideas for paint drop clothes! Christmas Tree Skirts, Chair slipcovers, Curtains, Pillows, rugs and Table Runners. I have inspired to think of as many things as possible for drop clothes. I found these pictures and I am in love.

Calvin Klein Home and below are images from the new H & M Home line. Can you say Paint Drop Cloth!!!!!

or even this one from Ballard Designs, with help from a stencil....

Again Ballard Designs with some trim...

I found this one over at Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss. I love her projects!

You can see her tutorial here.

Shanty2chic tree skirt here.

Anyone else out there with some great creative uses for a drop cloth?

Toy Closet

2010-09-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

So when my oldest was two years old, I made a toy cabinet, but as the birthday's and Christmases brought us more and more, we grew out of the cabinet and the toys took over the house. Then I saw this post at 320 Sycamore and thought hey, we could fit in a closet!

Thus... our new toy closet.

We moved all the coats out and put them in the sewing room closet. This closet is more of a central location and the boys can take the bins to the living room, their room or the sewing room and play. I already had a bunch of the bins, so we bought a few more. The shelving cost $16.

For the labels, I just printed on scrapbook paper I had and used packing tape to stick them on. Now we have organization (if not slightly OCD).

The Kids LOVE IT! They can see everything!

They have to ask to get things down, but they don't seem to mind it. When Mom takes things down she takes time out and helps them set up the road or whatever they need and they like that (and so do I). I like that we have less on the floor. We try to pick up one thing before we get another. (I am not strict on that, but I try to keep no more than three open at a time, because they are little boys and we are learning to pick up ;0) Some day I am going to paint the inside so it looks really cute .... Mmmm what color??? Suggestions welcome ;0)

linking to the Shabby Nest

Happy Birthday Bro!

2010-09-14T11:16:00.001-07:00

Today is my baby bother's birthday. He's 24 now!

He is such a sweetie, a little boy on the inside and I just love it!

He is one of those creative types LOL! More so than me. He isn't just crafty and able to copy things, he is a true artist.

Anyway, he LOVES Alice in Wonderland and told me he wanted his kitchen to have labels on everything saying drink me and clean me and so on. He asked for some rags that said wash me. So here is what I made him for his birthday.

Now that I made it, I want one to hold my keys or kitchen towels.

This was the easiest project. Frame from Michaels ($1). First I used craft paint and painted it brown, Then I used an Ivory spray paint and sanded it down, I mean REALLY sanded it down. Then I bought some antique bronze hooks from Walmart. They came in a pack of 2 for under $3. The screws that came with it were too long,so I got some 1/2 inch screws. The only problem was that they were silver. So I used antique bronze spray paint and sprayed them to match. Here is a close up picture, you can't tell the difference.

I just printed the verse on scrap-booking paper. The rags (he wanted them to look old and scrappy) are cut pieces of paint drop-cloth. I edged them with a decorative stitch on the machine (because I was hoping to get them to look intentionally scrappy). For the words I just used a sharpie marker. I thought about using my machine for the words, but I was afraid it would not look hand written like the movie ;0)

2010-09-06T16:02:00.000-07:00

So my attemts at keeping up on my blog have been thwarted by vacations and illness. Grrrr

Hubby and I took a vacation (by ourselves!) to Oregon for our 10th Wedding Anniversary. We had so much fun! I saw the ocean for the first time! WOW! We live in the Puget Sound area, but it isn't the same...

We also stopped and the Fabric Depot in Portland. AMAZING!!! I have to go back. I bought fabric and have so many plans of things to make I am just bursting! HOPEFULLY I will be able to get back into the swing of things here now. I have oh, so many projects lined up and ready to start. I can't wait!!!! First up, our toy closet. We bought the supplies today and this week sometime I should have our hallway closet converted into a wonderful organized toy storage system. Hopes are high anyway!!! Then, a few headboard projects, some lamps, and tables...

Silhouette Digital Cutter

2010-08-26T19:15:00.000-07:00

Wow I have to get one of these! I happened by the Shabby Nest and saw this

I would love to win one so I could get it in time for Christmas gifts!

If I won I would first make some shirts for my kids (hubby too). Next, I would make some shirts for my etsy shop. Then I would experiment with decals for the walls, decorative pillows, tote bags, lamps, napkins and cards which I would use for Christmas and Birthday Gifts. Last, I would Blog about it all!

Kid Canvas

2010-08-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

In April 08 Hudson painted a canvas for his school's Art Fair (you can see original post here).

He has since made me another canvas of an airplane and submarine. We have been able to proudly display them in the living room kid's corner. I know I am partial - but I love these originals!

Such a fun cheap, and easy project: canvas from Michaels with our 40% off coupon, acrylic paint that we had on hand, and a pint sized artist.

I'm posting this to The CSI Project...

Buffet and Painted Wall

2010-07-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

I purchased some black paint and painted the dresser a few years ago, then recently I used some leftover dark blue paint from my kitchen and painted a wall in the dinning room. I used my 40% off coupon at Michaels and bought a stencil and used a light blue paint left over from a project for the stenciling. So the hand-me-down dresser cost only a can of paint and the dinning room wall cost only the price of the stencil.

Buffet Before...

Buffet after:

Wall After...

I'm linking this project over at the Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday! This is the first time I have ever tried this, so hopefully I can get her button to show right ;0)

Folding Screen

2010-07-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

I have been looking for a screen to hide the exercise bike in the family room and found this one on Crags List.

I thought it would look good in white and sanded-I mean really, what doesn't. I wanted more than a distressed look, more of that reclaimed vibe.

First, I tried some leftover paint and well.... hey, there are ALOT of spindles here. So then I decided to just use ivory spray paint. After QUITE a few cans I realized this was not the cheapest way to go, but once the sanding step began I was glad I used the spray paint, because it gave a nice chippy paint finish that I was looking for. Toward the end I didn't worry so much about full coverage with the paint (not wanting to purchase another can of paint). Then when the sanding began I just sanded over the spots where the paint went on thin. Those spots ended up being my favorite as they looked very "reclaimed". Total cost for this project including paint was $50.

I have not fully decided on the placement of the screen, and I have a hanging lamp project that I am working on behind it-so please forgive the 70's vibe going on in these pictures.

I am linking up to these sites...

Dinning Table and Chairs

2010-07-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Table and Chairs Before...A Little Sanding and alot of stain and polyurethane later and

Table and Chairs after...

Table and Chairs now... I sold the other chairs on Craigs and used the cash to purchase some slipcovered chairs for easy kiddo clean up (now I just need to paint the walls, trim and figure out some curtains)...

White Chairs

2010-07-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

Chairs before...

Chairs in transition...Chairs after...Two in this fabric...

Two in this fabric.

I loved these chairs! When they sold it was bitter sweet...

Second Time Around...

2010-02-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Ok so it has been about 6 months since I last blogged. I know that is a lifetime in blog land. Oooops! But better late than never. I am hoping to get back to posting more. So much has happened, I just didn't have a chance to write, but I miss it. Blogging gives me the chance to record everything so I don't forget. It's my mommy journal ;0) So hopefully this time around there will be more faithful posting, new recipes, projects and of course family adventures. That's the goal anyway. And to my one faithful reader--hope you come back!! LOL

Swim Lessons

2009-07-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

When I was in Jr. High School my family was visiting my grandma who lived on a lake. My brother (about 3 years old) and I went out on the dock to look at the water and then we turned around to come back in. I heard a small splash and turned around and my brother was gone. I ran up onto the dock and found him floating face down in 2-3 feet of water. I jumped in and pulled him out and he was fine. But the image of his hair floating in the water still creeps me out! So that is why I am so paranoid bringing my kids down to Grandpa's boat on the Marina. This summer we decided to do swim lessons. Both the boys are afraid of water. Hudson hates getting his face wet and Easton just hates water ;0) They both made GREAT progress, but they both still need to be more comfortable. We definately need more lessons ;0)

Birthday Madness!

2009-07-11T20:52:00.000-07:00

Well it's that time of year... I say it like that because we have the Christmas season, and then six months later the Birthday Season. So many people with summer birthdays! My boys included. This year we had a joint party since the boys are so close together.

On Easton's actual Birthday we had Micah's parents and my Grandma Bev over for dinner. Grandma Bev made a FAB turkey dinner for us, I think I made the corn. Hoot hoot for Grandma's!!!!

Then on Sat we had the Holtzinger Boys Birthday Bash or "the pretend Birthdays as Hudson called it". Family, friends, water, cake, ice cream and gifts. Need I say more? Uncle Christian flew in the night before and Grandma Bev was still with us. SO we had quite the blast with a full house ;0) The Bennetts let us use their jumping house for the party, how fun!

Then all the company left and life started to be normal again and Hudson had his real Birthday! He was so excited to have another party....oops! So after I got him to stop crying and explained that we were not having a party, but still having a super fun day. We went to a movie with friends, then McDonald's play land, then Hudson got to pick dinner Teriyaki of course. Easton got cranky so Dad and Hudson went off to TOYS R US. Where they gave Hudson a crown, balloon, and he bought a toy. Next they had to run an errand at Trader Joes and they guy there heard it was Hudson's birthday and gave him a tub of cookies and box of Jelly Bellys for free! Hudson was so happy when he came home he was talking in octaves only dogs can hear ;0)

Healthy Eating...

2009-06-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

So I have been trying to change our menu to a more healthy. I have been finding some really great resources and thought I would share.
Eat this and Live! - Don Colbert, MD
The Clean Eating Diet -Tosca Reno

Sites:
Yogga is Yummy
Dani Spies

Super Man!

2009-06-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

So the other day I was feeling really tired. Not capable of going out errand running or park jumping. I thought hey, lets watch the old Super Man! That will be fun! I don't remember it being that bad!

Well, I probably would have waited a little longer for him to see it had I remembered it all, but it did bring up ALOT of questions. I forgot that in the beginning the whole planet dies. And that it does not just show it blowing up, but people falling off of cliffs with this red scary haze. It was a little intense. So once the questions about why the people were all dying were over. We see baby superman in the space ship and the Kents find him and he is naked, yep complete frontal. Hudson thought it was funny and seemed a little weirded out. I was too. Here is a naked two year old! So I explained that he is just a baby and that he didn't have clothes that fit. So next Jonathan dies. Can open worms EVERYWHERE! What happens after you die? Why is he going in the ground? I was happy to take this opportunity to explain what a soul is and why it does not matter where our body goes when it dies, because the soul never dies. So I dont know what I think about watching Superman. It turned out ok? But it is hard to watch your little one discover the sad facts of life. But I would rather him discover them with his parents than with kids at school or video games? I don't know? Thoughts anyone??

He only had one more question, through out the movie he was counting Superman's resuces. When the plane was about to crash he asked why it was happening. Realizing that we fly home occasionally to visit my family I told him, they needed to pretend alot of things were going wrong so Superman would have something to do for the movie. Too honest??

Birds and Strangers...

2009-06-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

So this past Monday, I let Hudson go on the deck and paint father's day presents for dad and grandpas'. When I went out to check on him after getting fresh water for his brushes, I noticed the deck had been painted. He told me that while wringing out the paper towel it got on the deck. I could see drops where this had happened, but I explained that it did not explain the brush strokes. He said a number of things and I kept pressing for the truth. I said did a bird do it or something. We laughed and then he proceeded to assure me of the truth of the paper towel story. Knowing that he was lying. I explained how that was impossible. So he told me a bird came by and did it, "and that's the truth mom!" I tried to keep my composure. A Bird! Right! Try again Mr. I told him to go to his room. Then he said ok I'll tell you the truth. A person came up here and did it! THAT is the TRUTH mom! By this time, as funny as these stories were getting, the sadness of a little sinful heart was more than enough, so to his room he went. Crying all the way I'm telling the truth!!!! What on earth?!!? So there you go, Birds and Strangers are painting my deck!

A Refreshing Read...

2009-06-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to a site I like to frequent. I love what she had to say about parenting today, also the comments others made were outstanding! Sometimes it feels like we are the only parents with restrictions for certain things, it is nice to know there are others out there!!

Vintage Parenting

Dinner by the seat of my pants!

2009-06-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

So I wanted to try a new recipe for dinner and got a few of the ingredients at the store. Everything else I usually have on hand. Tonight I thought it would be fun to try that new recipe out. Then I realized that I ran out of my staple pantry ingredients that the recipe called for and had to get creative. I just figured this would be one of those dinners we would not want to remember. But Hubby really liked it so here it is...

Dinner by the seat of my pants!
1 cup uncooked orzo
1 cup uncooked veggie orzo
2 poached chicken breast cut in LARGE chunks
3 cloves crushed garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 can black beans.
2 roasted red peppers (canned)
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
3 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tbsp ginger
salt and pepper

Poach the chicken and save the "stock". Cook orzo and strain and set aside.
Put oil, garlic, chicken and half of all seasonings in skillet to season the chicken. Add a cup of the reserved chicken "stock" and the dried fruit, pepper and beans. Keep moist with more "stock" as needed. Once all is coated well and flavors have blended some add the orzo and remaining seasoning. Add more "stock" to prevent from getting dry. Once all the seasoning is blended and hot. Taste add salt pepper, or more seasonings as desired. ( I added some additional, but wasn't measuring, just did it to our taste).
(I didn't have onions, but I think it really would be better with onion).

I think it looks pretty, but while those first seasonings are cooking, it sure smells weird! The smell gets better once everything blends. I really thought there were going to be too many flavors going on, but Hubby really liked it ;0) Then again, he has eaten raw horse and rotten squid while in Japan, so maybe you should think again before trying this ;0)

Crafty Solution

2009-06-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

I was out looking for a blue candle for my living room, and wanted something with some texture, because my other candles have texture. After searching a few places, I was disappointed to realize I couldn't find anything. Target had some candles with flowers carved in them, but nothing in blue. So I thought maybe I could carve on my plain candle with a needle, fill it in with paint, and have it look close. So here is a pic of the final product.Here is a closer look....Then I looked around and found another candle I had that was cracked, and was able to carve over it too. So there you go. Before you throw out a perfectly good cracked candle, carve something on it and fill it in with craft paint.

linking to...

Beef and Barley Stew

2009-05-31T21:15:00.000-07:00

1 ½ lb. Stew Meat (browned)
1 Med Onion (browned)
3 Large Carrots
1 cup Pear Barley
1 Celery Heart with leaves and 1 stalk celery
2 Red Potatoes Peeled
1 Cup Frozen Green Beans
1 Tsp Oregano
1 Tsp Parsley
1 Tsp Thyme
2 Small (15 oz) Cans Tomato Sauce
4 Cups Water
2 Beef Bullion Cubes
1 Can Low Sodium Beef Broth
Salt
Pepper

Brown the meat and onions. Season the raw meat with using half the seasonings.
Throw browned meat and all the other ingredients in crock pot on low for 4-5 hrs. Cook on high for another two hours or until veggies and meat are tender. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a slice of whole wheat artisan bread.
Good source of protein and fiber!

Gross!

2009-05-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

I cleaned out my fridge. And that's really all there is to say about that.

Blogging

2009-05-29T23:09:00.000-07:00

So I usually get to do my blogging when the kids are in bed. It is always fun to discover that not only were you tired and having a brain freeze and can't spell anything in your post, but you also forgot to use spell check. So my apologies to those who suffer through those late night posts, I do go back and correct them once I realize what I have done. I know I have some writers who read my blog. So... this one is for you...SORRY I butcher the English Language!

Memorial Weekend

2009-05-28T21:12:00.000-07:00

So this past weekend the guys have been hunting and the gals have all been hanging out. Every year my husband and his dad, grandpa, uncle and the brother and cousins-in-law go varmint hunting. Yep, I said varmint, like the old bugs bunny cartoons. Anyway, the gals don't usually all hang out, but this year we did and it was really fun. We would meet up for lunch or dinner and all eat and Great Grandma's and visit.

I got some good video of everyone singing (my 11 mo. old is also joining in). It is so precious to me to see this great heritage. Here is a Ministry Family who has produced Ministry Families, who have also produced Ministry Families and they are all together singing hymns. It just kind of makes you think, 'man, it is all worth it to see this'. I'm so grateful that my kids are part of this family heritage.

And Great Grandma sitting there in the middle just singing away like she is the only one in the room. After all these years, still loving the Lord.

After our days at Grandma Dar's my sister-in -law Noelle, has been coming to our house for a few nights to stay with me and my boys. Usually when she comes to WA to visit she stays with her parents so we don't get to have her here, but this time she got to spend some time here. What fun it was to have her! Hopefully, my kids didn't scare her away. She was kind enough to watch them while I did the bulletin for church and they were being a little difficult (Sunday is our toughest day of the week!) They get loud and mommy gets cranky, it's a real fun time! Ok Ok, I'm difficult too. But thanks to Noelle the bulletin was finished and mommy had a minute to get her attitude in check before church ;0) Which was good, because after church the clan came back to my house for lunch. We threw together a pasta salad with ingredients on hand and everyone seemed to just love it! I think most of us had thirds ;0)

Here is the Salad:

16 oz. Fun Shaped Pasta

1 Roma Tomato

1/2 Cucumber (with skin on)

1 can Garbanzo Beans

1/2 can Black Olives (cut in thirds)

1/3 c. Asparagus (cut thin on the diagonal)

1/2 Red Pepper

1/3 c. Sheep's Feta

1 tbsp Italian Seasoning

2 tsp Lemon Juice

~Drizzle with Olive Oil and Balsamic vinegar to lightly coat add more vinegar to taste.

~Salt and Pepper to taste.

The House

2009-05-27T22:21:00.000-07:00

So we have picked up a few pieces of furniture and have been trying to incorporate the old with the new and have it look somewhat cohesive. I have been cohorting with friends over the phone and e-mailing pictures asking advice and what not. So here is what it looks like to date. I stopped in a local shop and asked some advice and they told me to just keep adding layers, so here is layer 2? or maybe just 1-1/2 . The biggest challenge has been finding a place for everything since we got rid of all our storage pieces. We still have a few things stacked on the floor, but most of it seems to be finding a new home slowly. I'm posting these mostly for Nome so she doesn't have to get 15 e-mails from me with pics asking what she thinks ;0)

Kitchen: Just realized I have my broken pizza stone in the picture, oops.

Grandma's Secretary Desk:

The Kid Corner:

The TV:
Window Seating:

Loved it so much!

2009-05-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

So I was Blog surfing and found this video. I just loved the crafting and music together as well as the mood of the music. I don't love all the lyrics...it is such a cool video I just had to share...

Quote of the Week!

2009-05-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

To live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable,

and wealthy, not rich;

to study hard,

think quietly,

talk gently,

act frankly;

to listen to stars and birds,

to babes and sages,

with open heart;

to bear all cheerfully,

do all bravely,

await occasions,

hurry never.

In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,

grow up through the common.

This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing

Truly a blessing...

2009-05-24T21:07:00.001-07:00

So this morning in Sunday School we were talking about Memorials and people got the opportunity to share their testimonies (memorials) of when they were saved. What a blessing! So fun to hear from so many people in our church who I admire, and then to hear about their life and how God used little seeds planted over YEARS to draw them to Himself. What a loving and patient God. I was truly blessed by this weeks Sunday School. And no one got into icky details of their sin before they found God. It was all focused on Him and just a really uplifting time.

Quote of the Week!

2009-05-18T15:39:00.000-07:00

"THESE are the Good Old Days"

~Unknown

Just about fashion...

2009-05-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

I get the opportunity to see alot of teens in the area. I really love the artistic ways they are expressing themselves with clothing. Really, if you cant wear it at 16 then your out of luck!

But some people can wear the strangest things and look like they are just expressing themselves and another person can wear a mainstream trend and look like a complete fashion victim. Why is this? Today I was in a "nicer side of town" and saw a lady in a nice sweater with cute tweed capris and heels. In theory this would work on someone. I have seen it look amazing on some people, not sure if it is still a really current trend, but anyway, it can be cute. This woman just looked disheveled and all wrong. The ensemble screamed GETTO! I felt so bad for her. She was pretty, of normal weight, but her feet were sliding out the toes of her shoes and her pants were wrinkled and the sweater was nice, but it just didn't seem fresh. i figured she just must work in the area. But then she had a killer bag! Next in line there was another lady wearing cream snake skin flats, with grey leggings, grey above the knee Jersey dress and a light grey sweater. Just a simple outfit, but she looked like she came off the runway. Such a cute outfit I wanted a picture to take home so I could study it. So I began thinking (I was waiting in line while my friend was in play-land with my boys, that is why I had all this time to think).

Why is it not what you wear as much as how you wear it and how can I keep from looking like the first woman or any other fashion victim and look more like the second lady, effortlessly simple elegant. And the terror how do I come off? Like the tired disheveled carcass that I feel like almost every day?

Hmmm...

2009-05-11T15:38:00.000-07:00

"When things go wrong,

Don't go there too!"

Self-Esteem

2009-05-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

I am on a new mission to learn about Godly Self-Esteem. It is every where now. Think of yourself, do something for you and you owe it to yourself, have a good self image and LOVE YOURSELF. I know you should have a good self image, but how far is too far. Is today's LOVE yourself philosophy even Biblical at all? I thought I was to put others first. And how as a mom can you keep from letting yourself go and at the same time put yourself last. Luckily, I seem to be among the masses of moms trying to find the correct balance, but in doing so I had to look and say wait! The encouraged emphasis on taking time for myself seems to be all about self. Is this nothing more than humanism? And the need to purchase something nice so I feel better about my self image, materilism? Where is the balance? How can I live as a Godly woman and still take time to present myself with care, and love who God made me to be. How thin should I really be? How "maintenance" is "high-maintenance"? How how much is vanity and how much is self preservation?

So far on my journey not many answers just questions. But I am on a mission now to find the answer to which I think is nothing more than BALANCE, but how much?

Submission or Not Submission THAT is the Question...

2009-05-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

Submission is not being in agreement. Submission is doing what another wishes in spite of your will to do something else. Then doing it with the right attitude.

So I know the whole uprising of people who freak out about women submitting to their husbands, but we as Christians are to submit to one another anyway right? So who cares. But for the sake of argument I just want to talk about submission to my fellow brother in Christ who I happen to live with, is that going to be a crime? Now that we settled that....

I have this theory on the wife's role that keeps growing and mutating to various depths and it is very awing to me. So part of the curse is that the wife would want to be over her husband? Of course most women have accomplished that. But when you think about submission you think about this small women in an apron (probably a cute vintage one...) ...anyway, this woman is being forced to do things against her will and does them with out thinking or having a mind of her own. What a weak person, we think. But really when you think of the phrase "behind every great man is a great woman" What does that mean? What is that woman doing? Having no opinion in life? Hen pecking him to death? The more I learn about submission, the more I see that God not only gave us ladies the specific purpose of being a help meet (that great woman behind the great man) but he gave us tons of POWER by doing do. Yes we have POWER! More than we know or want! Think about it, hen peck and nag your hubby to death. You have just stripped him of his self-worth. You are now the contentious woman behind the shell of a man. Yep, your in control, so if he has no spine, you better take credit. I think I get to be that blunt, because I spent countless hours our first few years of marriage "training" my hubby. Much of which was at the encouragement of other Christian wives! Let your husband walk all over you and everyone, never telling him your opinion or being the iron that sharpens him, wow, you helped create a control freak. Countless times I have seen women truly be a help meet to their husband. Helping them to fulfill their calling in life. I have seen women dress their husbands because you dress for the job you want not the job you have. Left to himself the poor man might have got a demotion, not because he is an idiot with out a woman, but because he is focused on the one thing at hand, learning his craft. God knew this and gave the poor man a help meet to make sure the little things didn't fall through the cracks. Did God give him a slave? NO! Did God give him a commander, NOPE. A mom, well yes but her job is pretty much done, it is not time for a new model. I get so frustrated with commercials these days. The man is the stupidest person in the whole family. Good thing his wife and kids are there or the poor man wouldn't know how to use a paper towel.

So the submission thing, I have it pretty easy, Micah does not really ask for alot of things. Although today, I decided that I should do something his way just because he asked. Now before you think I am a martyr I should say. I was upset about the result (not about doing it, but about the possible side effect). So looking back I realize my attitude should have been better to actually call it submission. I know I feel much better when he has a submissive attitude in doing things for me, it feels more like he is doing them out of love. So this got me thinking about some other recent decisions I have made to do things around the house. I decided one should be a priority because I know it is important to him. He has never asked me to do it (he knows his place j/k), but that is what I have come to love most about my hubby. Much like my Creator, I find more hints at things he would like or that please him, not a demand to fulfill a request I am not ready for. And if I have the heart to just see that and do it, I am not really asked to do it, it just happens. So doing something without being asked, is that submission or agreement? Well, I don't know. I still hate doing the chore, but I know Micah likes it so much when it is done and it makes his life easier. Since he is out winning the bread, maybe it is about me making his life easier?

What a correlation. Ruin people's idea of submission and ruin their idea of God. If submission was mindless obedience, wouldn't that just make God a terrible tyrant? BUT if submission is actually showing love by doing something that pleases the other without being asked. Well, that paints the picture of a loving and patient God who gently cares for us to grow closer to Him. Now of course there are times that something needs to be said, but really God has never come at me with judgement, but a still small voice. Sometimes that voice is so right that my guilt makes me feel just wretched, but God just loves me as I am and little by little is growing me by letting me know what pleases Him.

That's my boy!

2009-05-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hudson has this way of reasoning things out that cracks me up!

ME: "Hudson, no playing in the mud. You have school today..."

HIM: "Ok. I'm not. I'm just making mud."

Recipes

2009-05-07T21:44:00.001-07:00

Ok Ok from the high demand of the one person that might read my blog. I am going to link the Greek Week Recipes when my hubby has a minute to show me how ;0)

One of THOSE days..

2009-05-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today was another one of THOSE days...we have been having them all week. The kiddos are super, super cute doing things that I have to just tell everyone about. Then the next minute it is like war broke out. They are growing again and when they grow they get smarter and their will gets stronger. The oldest thinks he know more than mom and dad and he is not always wrong. He has caught me a few times recently. I thought this was supposed to happen around the age of 8?!?! Now I'm dreading the age of 8! He has picked up some "smart mouthing" from some kids at school and I can't believe the daring attitude he has now. I nearly fell off my chair last night when he said to Micah "You DONT KNOW DAD!" or something to that effect. On the flip side, when he says it he realizes by the look of shock on our face that it is unacceptable and he repents of it right away. In fact, he has been really having a sensitive heart about all sorts of things. Really, coming and telling me something he did and then apologizing for it. I LOVE that! Training him to understand for himself what is right and wrong-that is the goal! So I love this new tender heart I see. But when war happens it really does. And boy did we have a war today!

Bad parenting? Too strict? Not strict enough? I just hate this kind of week.

I end up not enjoying the cute things they do as much because I am feeling so wretched for the bad stuff. Wondering did I do the right thing, or knowing that I was lazy and let too much slide.

No one's parents are perfect. As you get older you realize some faults in your parents, most are small and you just try to learn from them. Occasionally, one might see a battle that needs picking. But after a day like today, and realizing the pressure of last minute parenting decisions and having to do them for 18 years. I say if our parents want to run through the streets naked, eating chocolate covered whatever on a stick, while playing a banjo. Then let them! They have earned the right to have some eccentricities! And I plan on stacking them up if I ever succeed that far!

Sorry for the rant. Just one of THOSE days...

GREEK WEEK!

2009-05-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

So I have decided that it might be cheaper to grocery shop by cuisine. Last week we found this to be the case as we had Mexican all week, Burrito Bowls, Enchilada Lasagna, Nachos and Tortilla Soup. This week GREEK WEEK! I'm so excited to try a cuisine I have never made before! Last night we had Beef and Feta Orazo with flatbread and then made Feta Flatbread Pizzas for an appetizer and of course we had to kick off our greek week with Baklava! And I am being kind of absurd about it too. You know randomly shouting GREEK WEEK! Micah was not acting excited, so I told him if he was not into it I could just skip all the work and make him boxed mac and cheese. He joined in the excitement and seems to genuinely be loving GREEK WEEK!!! He even ate tomatoes tonight on my Greek 7 Layer Dip. I have no idea what we are eating tomorrow. But if I can't think of anything... "that's ok, I make Lamb".

I just think they are too cute!

2009-04-25T16:32:00.001-07:00

I love that they are starting to play well together. Although, it is very hard to get a good picture of the both of them. They both move around so much ;0)

Science and Art Fair

2009-04-25T16:13:00.000-07:00

Last night our school had their Science and Art Fair. This was Hudson's (age 4) first year entering a project. He decided to do a painting of a fire truck (surprise, surprise). Here is his painting on canvas....

There is a red road, red fire truck, black police jeep (complete with siren),

a helicopter and the sun.

Here he is standing by his picture...

Here he is explaining his art to Kadence and Mr. Tom ;0)

He got many requests for paintings from a few of the teenage girls,

Grandma Dawn as well as Great Grandpa Perry.

Mom also wants a few more ;0)

We love your picture kiddo, and can't wait to put it

on display in our house.

Dawn's Birthday

2009-04-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

This year for Dawn's (my MIL) Birthday she wanted an apron.

So here are some pictures of her and her new apron ;0)

Sorry this next picture is a little fuzzy, but you get the idea at least of the little pleats where the apron strings attach. I used Amy Butlers Pattern from her book In Stitches.

The pocket...

YOU ARE LAZY!

2009-04-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

The message was heard loud and clear. I try to read a Proverb each day, although I miss more often than I like. Anyway, last night I was reading Proverbs 20 and what a slam. I realized that I am just plain being lazy in more than one area of life. I have used the "still getting back into the swing of things" excuse too much. Time to get on top of the cleaning and bill paying and cooking good food! How am I going to accomplish this revolution? I'm going to try and keep a list of the activities I have done through the day so I can see where my time goes.

Today: Change Diaper. Load of Laundry. Make Pancakes. Clean Baby. Clean High Chair. Clean Floor. Help Hudson with Art Project. Paint Bookshelf. Freak out because 2 flys came in house. After three attempts to find the last fly: Do Dishes. Empty Trash in All Rooms. Fabrize Entire House. Mop Floors.

Give Hudson a Bath after he found the mud in backyard. Change Another Diaper, Feed Baby Again. Clean Baby Again. Nurse Baby Again. Clean High Chair Again. Load of Laundry. Baby's Nap. Second Coat of Paint on Bookshelf. Put Video on for Hudson. Blog.

It's 1:00PM and I'm ready for bed. The house looks like I have not done anything all day, toys everywhere because the bookshelf is in the driveway drying. After Easton wakes up I will vac and look at the bills. Then we are going out for dinner. The spirit is willing but the flesh is too busy picking up after the baby ;0)

We have an eater.

2009-04-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Our baby has started to eat real food. "Finger Foods" they call it. RIGHT! I have never seen such a mess. I know every parent goes through this, and it is cute how messy they get. But this morning I stepped in pancake, not ON a pancake mind you, IN IT! Yep, somehow this deceptive mass, looked like a pancake but when stepped upon, it was actually some sort of mush that smeared all over the bottom of my foot. I let out a yelp and my bright blue -eyed babe squealed with delight. Gross, and yet very cute. At least the pictures we have of our "eater" make the mess worth all the clean up ;0)

You know your a mom of boys when...

2009-02-09T01:34:00.000-08:00

These are all true events, but not just with my boys, but brothers and cousins too.

You sit down to use the bathroom and find a booger on the shower curtain.
You sit down to use the bathroom only to realize he DIDN'T LIFT the seat.
You have to explain that your legs are not the interstate for hot wheels.
You are folding CLEAN laundry and find a sand filled sock or two.
You have to make the reminder that after bath we need to wear clothes.
You have uttered the words "We don't answer the door naked!"
You are constantly reminding them to wear pants.
You understand that Legos are the greatest invention of all time!
The bathroom sink always looks like there is some form of science experiment taking place that involves any combination of the following items; food, toilet paper, toothpaste, lotion or toilet water.
You have to explain the dangers of booger eating. (I don't know them so I made some up).
You hear constant mouth sounds such as; truck sounds, clapping, hooting, and roaring.
You reach in your purse for your keys and pull out a monster truck.
Can't understand the need to break things to see what will happen. Hello! it broke!!!!
Finally, you know your a mom of boys when you find all of these frustrations endearing and know you will miss them all one sad day. God bless our little men!

The Un-argument

2009-02-09T01:24:00.000-08:00

The Un-argument Definition: Making a point about something only to realize that although it was worth mentioning, you didn't notice all the progress being made in the area mentioned. In other words Hubby was two steps ahead of me. The lesson learned: Mention it sooner, I would have had a better attitude and he would have had an easier time knowing what exactly I wanted. Sounds like Newlywed 101 when you put it in basic terms, maybe the principles are the same, but just different subjects as you are married longer ;0) Just had to post, because my guy is a trooper. Just giving you props babe.

Hmmm "props" maybe one of those phrases that I use that makes my 22 year old brother burst into laughter. Like when I say "holla" or "yo what up dog" while sounding like a mom. My poor kids! I have the knack for making catch phrases sound so uncool. They are doomed. The worst part, I am so going to enjoy using them in front of their friends;0)

There's a rabbit trail for ya!

Random Thoughts

2009-01-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

Why do all of my interesting thoughts occur after I go to bed? The whole day goes by and I can barely remember where I have put the baby down. Then it is time for bed, and not only can I think again, but I have these great epiphanies and I can't shut it off. I need sleep, but my brain won't let me! Maybe because it is only at night when everyone else is asleep that I can actually hear myself think and then it is too loud and keeps me up ;0)

So it is Time...

2009-01-08T22:26:00.001-08:00

...I cannot resist the force any longer. I'm blogging now. I have no idea why, but maybe that is the point. I'm convinced that I am the last person on earth to blog. This is not one of those things I do because everyone does it (yep, I still do that). I just have been thinking about it because every now and then I have a great thought and want to share it. For example, why do people think leggings are pants? We made this mistake in the 80's everyone knows it was a mistake. I thought we were free, but here I see a teenager wearing leggings with a shirt and puffy vest. It doesn't look good, its not cool unless she is pretending to be a linebacker. Free yourself you fashion victim!!! And the number one shocker...skinny jeans don't work on everyone!!!! Yes, it's true, you people out there getting confused by this fact.

Now I have my chance to share those things. Except the first thing I did when I began to set up my blog... Freak out that my name was on it and people would know the inner workings of my brain! I pride myself on the fact that I think I am mysterious, even if I am the only person who thinks so. Which is most likely the reality of it since I talk so much ;0) I thought I grew out of the excessive talking but I can always tell when I talk to much because my husband and my son both get this look on their face like they have no idea what I am saying. It is at this point that I know I can stop. Even mid sentence, because it is all garbled at that point. But here, I guess I can ramble on and on... and on. So here is to the blog and my desire to converse needlessly about endless things!