Tie Onesie And Tangle Spray

So Charlie has been gone for about a week and I am trying to find things to do to keep myself from going nuts! I have been recycling tons of things around my house to help with the before mentioned issue. Today I made Jayce a pillow case out of an old changing table cover and it turned out great! Why buy fabric when there are tons of reusable things around the house?

After that I made my own tangle spray for Lula Mae. With her curly hair it is a must! I took my old empty bottle of tangle spray and gave it a good rinse. Then I filled it up with water and added two small squirts of conditioner. After giving it a good shake it was ready to go. Just that easy!


The last thing I made tonight was a cute little onesie for Jayce. I took an old t-shirt and made a tie with some of the scraps. I sewed them on and ta-da, an outfit perfect for my handsome boy! I can't wait for him to wear it to church on Sunday!

Later this month I am going to tackle recovering the dining room chairs, if the budget allows. Quality fabric is not cheap and I do feel like I need good quality fabric for this job. I will be sure to post pictures when I get around to that!

Confessions....

Confession #1: When Charlie is away I have trouble getting out of bed.

Confession #2: I thought I took my shampoo to the gym today but I took Charlies shampoo instead. It's a body wash shampoo combo. Now I smell like a man.

Confession #3: Every time I get a whiff of my hair it makes me happy because it smells like Charlie.

Confession #4: When Charlie is gone it shows me how much I take him for granted. Distance really does make the heart grow fonder.

Confession #5: I can't stop thinking about Oreo cookies. Why does junk food taste so good?

Confession #6: When I am alone I notice how incredibly weak I am. Charlie being gone makes me see how much I need God.

Confession #7: I'm going to get a couple of Oreo's....

Confession #8: Jayce can say only a few words. He "talks" A LOT, but words are not so clear. He says two words perfectly..... mine and no ..... yep, it's just great fun hearing those two words all.day.long.

Kitchen Makeover

When we bought this house, we knew the kitchen would eventually need to be... gutted basically. I'm not kidding when I tell you I have stayed in hotels with bigger kitchens. One bedroom apartments have more counter space! However Charlie and I are both good at seeing potential. We saw potential all over the yard, all over the playroom... and most importantly, all over the kitchen. Gutting our kitchen is going to be a big project, financially and work wise. That project is probably a good 3 to 5 years down the road. Knowing that I will have to live with my one person kitchen is not so bad, it is much more than some people have and I am grateful for it. Can you remember the kitchen when we moved in?




Yes, the cabinets are purple along with the knobs. The tile around the top is orange and the decorative tiles have different herbs and spices on them. The boarder has grapes all over it. It was a very specific design, but it did not fit our style at all. Also the crazy mini fridge microwave combo thing made for a very awkward set up. Those closet doors? That is the pantry.

Interested in seeing how it looks now, at least part of it I guess... please excuse the horrible lighting....


I made this shadow box thanks to Hobby Lobby. Charlie and I took a Disney behind the scene tour and got a special key pin. So I displayed that and our name tags from the tour, paired with a Disney sticker. Ta-da Disney shadow box!


On our last trip to Disney I picked up these post cards for a dollar or so. Then I grabbed some dollar framed and hung them up. Disney art for a fraction of the cost of actual Disney art.


Last I hung up my Mickey Mouse oven mitts. Adorable right? I know! I also painted the tile white. Much more fitting I think. Did you know you could paint tile? I paid roughly $8.00 for the can of paint where as new tile would have cost much, much more!


My last detail was the small Mickey head stickers on the nail heads. They are my hidden Mickeys ;-)

The cabinets are also white again, the knobs are nickle, the weird mini fridge is gone, the regular fridge is there now.... all these little changes have really made me enjoy my kitchen much, much more.

Letters Of Intent

Today is FRIDAY!!!! And guess who is off today? My Hubster! We have been getting a few things done before he leaves. It is a BEAUTIFUL day and we are trying to enjoy time together before we have to live apart for a month. sigh. Oh it isn't as bad as I make it out to be. He will get the weekends off which will be wonderful, but still.... those nights alone are just not fun. Plus, the kids really miss him and it is hard for me to be Mommy and Daddy for them. Well enough of my rambling and onto some letters of intent! Be sure to visit Julie for more letters!



Dear Daughter,

I know you think it is cool that the truck you saw had on a "pizza hat"... but I am a tad bit offended that you want me to have one on my van. You are my job. Your brother is my job. Our home is my job. Not so sure I have much free time to be wearing that "pizza hat" too. Just saying.

Love,

Your Mom Who Is Busy Enough Without You Trying To Find Me A Job

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Dear Allergist,

I have a right to be nervous about bringing my baby to you. You are about to run a very extensive test on my child. The child that I carried for 9 months praying that he would be healthy and not need visits to people like you. Be nice to me, but more importantly, be nice to my baby. Please have answers for us.

Sincerely,

The Nervous Mommy

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Dear Insomnia,

You are like that kid that gets picked last for kick ball. You stink and everybody knows it. No one wants you on their team. This girl is kicking you off the team. Take a hike!

Best Regards,

Exhausted

Dear Goodness I Just Can't Stop!

I just can't stop crafting! Everyone out there in bloggy land has given me the bug! Lately I have been working on fabric flowers. I want to use them to embellish some pillows for the playroom so I need to practice them. To practice them I decided I would make a few headbands. Here is the first one I made.


My technique was not that great on this one, plus I made it bigger than expected.


To make the band I cut my fabric strips and braided them. I left the ends long so that it could be tied and worn that way. Then I attached the flower to the band.


Here is the thing.... I don't accessorize. Like, at all. If I am going to wear earrings I have to put them on and then not look at myself in the mirror. So when I saw this big thing on my head I was just not happy. I was happy with the headband, just not on me. So I gave it to my sister, because she is someone who accessorizes.

So here is my latest flower. It is much neater and my technique is better. I made it smaller because I did want a headband for myself. This time I took a headband and wrapped it with my fabric, securing it with hot glue. Lastly I attached my flower.



This one is much more my size. I am pretty happy with how this one turned out! Plus the orange is very fall :-)


People, if you stand still too long at my house I just may turn your shirt into a fabric flower then use your pants to make you a headband with it!

Letters Of Intent

Friday..... FRIDAY!!! I'm pretty glad it is Friday because it has been a wild ride around here! I need a weekend. At any rate, Friday means Letters Of Intent so here we go! Go link up with Julie and join the fun.



Dear Hobby Lobby,

I'm super excited that you have graced our tiny town with your presence. However, I need you to be less.... how can I say this.... less..... amazing. Really, the ideas that you give me are just driving me nuts! Maybe I need to let one of my kids make a huge scene and then I could get banned from you? hmmmm.....

Love,

The One With A Small Budget

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Dear Craft Bug,

Is there a medication I can take to make you go away? You are worse then any flu, worse than any head cold, worse than any sinus infection. You are not draining me physically.... but financially.... well that is a horse of a different color! I'm hurting and I need you to STOP! Thankyouverymuch.

Sincerely,

Hating You And Loving You At The Same Time

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Dear Jayce,

Seriously son, a reaction to peanut butter? Are you kidding me? I love you dear but please tell me this is the LAST thing you are ever going to be allergic to for the rest of your life? I'm begging you! You are a sweet, cute baby but man oh man are you high maintenance. Oh and by the way, Daddy can call your tu-tu a "kilt" all day long.... but someday when I show these pictures to your fiance I don't know how well that story will hold up. Just saying.

Love,

Your Worried And Very Tired Mommy

18 Months And Counting.... Thing 2

My little boy is nearing the 18 month mark.... can you believe that??? My goodness is that possible??? A week or so ago I noticed some pretty rough behavior from Jayce. I knew he was still teething a molar, but this was different. I just couldn't figure out why he was throwing so many random fits and testing so many limits.

Then Charlie said... "Don't you remember what Lula Mae was like at 18 months?"

I was confused. What in the world did 18 months have anything to do with it? Hes just a baby. Oh dear......

HE IS ALMOST 18 MONTHS OLD!!!!!

Lula Mae was harder at 18 months old than any other age. Literally. So right now we are there with Jayce. We are in the midst of what is one of the hardest stages of parenting in our house. We don't back down, God didn't call parents to back down. Our kids probably think we are too tough, but we are here to lead them and teach them. The fits over nothing are hard, but the giggles and smiles are worth it. He is trying to be more verbal so we are spending lots of time helping him with that. Still, fits happen.... crying over nothing happens.... screaming out of frustration happens.... and we just stay strong. This too shall pass. And if he is anything like Lula Mae from about 25 months old until 38 months old are much smoother sailing. I can't say too much for 38 months and on because Lula Mae has been tough lately.... sigh....

Right now consistency is key. We have to be consistent so he knows what is expected and what the consequences are for certain things. This may be an up hill battle, but it is not one that Charlie and I are willing to just give up on. Our kids mean too much to us to let them "win" certain battles.

Anyone else tired? ;-)

Wordless Wednesday: Monkey See Monkey Do!

Monkey See...

Monkey Do...

But not without a little help from Daddy and his #1 helper ;-)

Yes, Jayce is wearing a tu-tu.... don't judge us!

DIY Bow Holder From Clay In His Hands

A few days ago my friend Sarah from Clay In His Hands posted a great DIY project. Not only is it a DIY project but it is one most people can do for little to no money spent! How great is that? Anyway, let me show you what I made, thanks to Sarah :-)


I started with an old picture frame (that I already had)


Then I spray painted it white (with spray paint I already had)


Then I wanted to go buy some ribbon. Instead I thought "what would Sarah do?" and well Sarah is one of the most frugal people around and she would dig and dig and dig in her craft box and find any ribbon and be content with it. So I did. I dug and dug and dug. And I found some ribbon!


Well I found some ribbon and rickrack. And magically they are perfect for Lula Mae's Disney room!


After my frame dried I placed my ribbon and got my glue gun ready.


I used an old coaster to help me secure the ribbon snugly to the frame.


This is my finished product! The ribbon was not perfectly straight, but that is the beauty of homemade.


Lula Mae has a few bows.... we like bows okay.... even when we hang out in our footie pajamas we like bows....


And it wouldn't be me if I didn't throw in a crazy amy-trying-to-be-artsy-photo :-)

This project cost me nothing and I am really pleased with it. Sarah is quite the crafty one and can always do it while pinching her pennies. I love that she finally pushed me to do a project!

I have a birthday gift I am going to be working on soon and I can't wait to share it with you too! How awesome are homemade gifts?!

Letters Of Intent

Today is FRIDAY!!! Are you excited? Well then you must not have a husband who will be at drill all weekend :-/ I'm glad the week is over, but I don't have much of a weekend to speak of. Can't complain though.... and if I did it wouldn't help anything. Julie is the host of this link up, but I am not sure if she will have any letters up today. I am linking up with her in spirit... until I notice if she has anything posted :-)



Dear Fall,

I don't say this often but.... you smell amazing!

Love,

Taking Deep Breaths

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Dear Onlookers,

I know my son shrieks at the top of his lungs at a pitch that can most accurately be described as "blood curtailing". Trust me, I know he sounds like an injured elephant. I hear it all.day.long.every.single.day.non.stop. I am aware that loud kids in a store is not fun for other shoppers but giving me and my kids dirty looks isn't going to change anything! Would you rather me stay locked in my house until he turns 7 or 8 years old? He is going to scream no matter where we are, no matter what we are doing, no matter what I do to try and stop him..... sorry. Keep your nasty looks, loud whispered comments, pointing and huffing and puffing to yourself! I am doing my best.

Sincerely,

"That" Mom Who Can't Stand Being Looked Down On

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Dear Christmas,

I see you trying to sneak up. You stay right there! Don't you move on step closer! Not yet! I want to enjoy fall before you come! I know the stores are already gearing up for you but I am not. You hold your horses.

Love,

The Girl Who Loves You But Doesn't Want To Miss Fall

These Things

The glow of the baby monitor cutting through the darkness of the night

The sound of the mobile music playing softly through the monitor

The loads of tiny clothes

The toys strung all over the house

The smell of baby powder

The look of wonder on their face as the discover something for the very first time


The semi toothless grins

The tiny feet and tiny hands

The swiftness to forgive and forget my wrongdoings

The feeling of a little head laying against my chest

The magic healing power of a kiss and a fun band aid

The footie pajamas

The giggles brought on simply by a game of peek-a-boo

The look of somber stillness of their sleeping face



The endless hugs and kisses they offer

The love/hate relationship I have with reading the same book 6 times in a row

The mess that is "eating"

The sheer determination only a child can have when mastering a new task

The mess that is "bath time"

The excitement that fills the house when Daddy gets home from work

The mess that is "I can do it!"

The profound trust they have for me over their life

The pure blissful innocence



These are the things I will miss when my babies are not babies anymore. God willing there will be more babies down the road, but that is not in our hands. These are the things I want to cherish and soak in while they last. In the blink of an eye most all of them will be gone.

As parents we only have a few short years to influence our children. Take the time now to show them you love them, to tell them that God loves them, to tell them that God made them perfect. While you are influencing them, cherish them. I doubt anyone has ever laid on their death bed and thought "I sure wish I wouldn't have spent so much time with my family". Once these precious years are gone.... they are gone. You can't get them back. Soak them up while they last! Enjoy each season of life as it comes, regardless how tiring, messy, loud or chaotic that season may be.


Dear Lula Mae and Jayce,

I love you so very much. Stay little for a while, okay? Just a little while longer please.

Love,

Mommy

Oh The Life of a Cat

Everybody take a moment to look at my number of followers! 40! I hit the big 40! Say hello to Esther and welcome her!

I must admit something.... on Mothers Day we got a cat. And I am just now telling you about him. Ops! His name is Roman and he is the most laid back animal you have ever seem. He lets the kids play all over him and just loves it. He will even play with their toys. It is pretty funny. He and Jayce are best buddies. As rough as the kids have been with him he has never once scratched or nipped at them. I think he clawed Lula Mae's foot once by mistake, but that's it. He is a great addition to our family. I must admit I am jealous of him....








The cat sleeps ALL THE TIME.... not to mention EVERYWHERE!!!! Must be nice! So now you have met Roman, the most laid back craziest cat ever.