Cardboard City and Roads

 Because of all we had going on this month, I missed the Celebrate the Boy event. But no worries, we are always celebrating boys around here!

On our recent trip to Ikea, we bought some shelves to organize my "craft crap" (more on that later) -we had this large cardboard laying around. What else to do- than turn it into a place for the boys to drive their cars on?

I drew the main parts for them, and they added their own extra stuff- stop lights, lines in places, coloring, etc. It was fun- since we don't get the markers out very much around here. (one of my kids always colors the walls...)

The best part for me- is while I worked on sorting and organizing the craft room, they had a blast playing with this!

p.s. Today is the day we find out if we will add another boy to our mix- or perhaps a girl. Any guesses? I'm hoping for a healthy baby, and whatever it is, that I will be able to be the best mommy I can! :)

Have a great day!

Changing My Sofas With Slipcovers

Despite all that has been going on in my real life....it is time to post some stuff. ☻

After reading about making your own sofa slipcovers, I decided I was going to take that route.

Dear Genevieve actually convinced me that sofa slipcovers were the way to go. With all we want to do to our house, buying new sofas is not an option. :)

Plus you can wash the slipcovers if they get dirty- bonus! Perfect- when you have kids who think they have to touch everything with their sticky fingers.

WELL...leave it to TARGET for finding another amazing bargin!! I can't even begin to list the Target clearance bargins I find!

 I saw these slipcovers several times, while they were being marked down from $60something, to $40 something. I wasn't sure if they would fit our sofas. Plus, I really wanted white, not cream. But for $22.48- are you kidding? It is totally worth a try- especially after calculating that the fabric would cost me about $100, not to mention the time it would take to make them. I had to go to 2 Targets to get 2 of these- but again- worth it!

And here is how they look now:

It is a work in progress. One is ironed, and one isn't. They look 100% better ironed!

This room was just a boring box....and I am slowly working on making it look a little more custom-on a tight budget of course! So many things in here I want to tweak, replace, and change.Genevieve might not like my furniture arrangement...but still working with that.  It also holds a keyboard/piano, and a treadmill- one big multipurpose room.

What do think? Should I stick with the cream? I think it really brightens the room. It was seeming a bit heavy and dark. More changes to come. I must be in "nesting" mode, because I am re-doing everything in the house...little by little. A fun crazy process- that I love!

Thanks for reading.

On the Mend...

 After surgery....

We are home and going through recovery with this little guy..... I feel like I have a newborn again.

He is constantly crying and wanting to be held and comforted. Hopefully it is just for a short time, and we'll be back to semi-normal life soon! A big thanks to all who left such sweet comments, all who prayed and sent their thoughts and prayers, the phone calls from friends, and to my mom for coming out and watching the kids!

the kids are in bed...so maybe I'll schedule a few posts while watching A.I. and Modern Family :)

oxoxox

Surgery for our Youngest

There is no doubt that blogging has not been a priority of mine the last several months. For you avid blog readers, I apologize. I have a list projects/things I could blog about-I have a ton of photos of recipes, decorating,  ideas, kids projects that I have not blogged, because I have other priorities these days. So I apologize....but you know there are 5 million other bloggers out there blogging cool things everyday. It just isn't me these days. Family first. End of story. 

On top of being pregnant, teaching preschool, and taking care of the family, we are headed to surgery #2 for this little guy. It is a big one this time, and I'm hoping it goes well. Thinking about what he will have to go through, makes me sick. Like any mother who loves her kids, I hate seeing my kids suffer. We had someone arranged to watch our  other kids and now at the last minute, with plans changing, we are frantically trying to figure that out too. So we have our hands full.

Anyway, thanks for reading, commenting, and supporting me in my "creative" efforts.

Wish us all luck- hoping everything ends up going well for our little guy.

OXOXOXO

1/2 Bath Powder Room Make-over

We finally got around to finishing {almost} our 1/2 bath/powder room.  This was the standard builder's bathroom- nothing fancy, white walls. Basically functional, but very boring.

We bought the paint over 6 months ago and finally got it up on the walls in January.  The paint color is called Ocean Breeze from Sherwin Williams. (I'll have to find the paint can and double check but I think that was the name of it.)

Using things I already had, I did a little "beach" themed decorating. Since it is a really small bathroom, I'll show you wall by wall what I added. 

Wall 1: This is my favorite. I put photos on canvas from our recent a (and first) trip to the beach this past fall. I made these 11 by 14. I have ordered photos on canvas from about 4 different companies. So far, I am the most pleased with Costco. The wrap the photos using thick edges- probably 1 1/2 to 2 inches, and do not charge extra for it. You can also add effects to your photo at no extra cost. Right now they have a coupon for $10 off each canvas (limit 2) that you order. You can do the entire thing online, and pick it up at the store- so no shipping charges. They have pretty good prices too.

 Wall 2: This is one of those things I already had. I just changed the photos to my favorite family beach photos. I used scrapbook paper for the other frames.  This wall could probably use something else, but it is behind the door, so you don't see it much. I do plan to add a small hand towel rack to the wall by the counter.

 Wall 3: The curtain was made from fabric in my stash.  The little thing below the window is old- from forever ago Target find- it was black and we spray painted it white.

And the last wall...White Ruffle Towels are from Target- on clearance. My husband hates them. He thinks they are too "girly". So I told him, I'm adding ruffles to every towel in our house. ha ha ha....hey- I am the only female in this house. :)

The frame above- had forever- just added a coat of white spray paint to make it look fresher. The BEACH sign is from forever ago too- a Home Goods find.

STILL TO DO: Frame the mirror, and add hardware to the cabinets, new light fixture, and crown molding. I don't think I'll be doing any of that fancy ceiling stenciling you are seeing everywhere. Love it, but can't do a stencil...reminds me of when I stenciled my room in 9th grade. :)

So now, I have a little reminder of the beach in my house. :) OK so it is a beach bathroom. I still can't feel that ocean breeze, and sometimes it stinks and is covered in sticky kid fingerprints.

 At least, it is a more pleasant experience to clean this bathroom. :)

Hope you had a fun Valentine's Day! Thanks for reading! oxoxoxo

Last Minute Valentine's Idea-100 Things I Love About...{YOU}

 This is one of those crafts from the past- that perhaps you have already made- - years ago. However, I think it is one of those that still has some charm, - even years later. {these pics are blurry on purpose- to preserve some privacy}

To Make:

1. Think of 100 things and list you love about your spouse, your family, growing up a {insert last name}, your grandparents, your child, etc. These could be anything from traits about the person, places, events, activities, etc. 

2. Make a list, and then type them in a variety of different fonts, different sizes. Make one that is larger that has the title-example-- "100 things I love about Grandpa and Grandma......"

3.Pick a color scheme- use about 3 colors.

4.Using some 12 by 12 scrapbook paper as a base, layer at least 2 sheets- cutting the top sheet down 1/4 of an inch on both sides. I then stitched the two sheets together-using my sewing machine.

5. Next, you will need lots of charms, small items to add that personalize your 100 things. You can find these at scrapbook stores, or even small sewing notions- like buttons,etc. might work.

6. Cut up your 100 things. I inked the edges of many of them.

7. Start compiling your 100 things. Lay it out and arrange it so it is just how you like it. Then you are ready to glue it all down. I believe I used a glue stick, and glue dots for the charms.

8. Frame! Find a 12 by 12 frame, frame it, and give it as a very thoughtful Valentine's gift. This works for any occasion-of course- but I thought I would share it with you! It has been treasured for many years by grandparents, great-grandparents, and my husband.

Have Fun!

Finishing the Backyard

We have been working on plans for our backyard for a while. We finally found a great swing set. And because CSN stores are so great, and offer free shipping on almost everything, I think we might just have to add a trampoline. We'll see- I grew up with one, and would love to have one again. :)

Stay tuned....we are working on getting a patio in, and grass!! {can I just tell you that I am absolutely dying to have grass!- Living in the desert, grass has become a total luxury! Can't wait for the day I have grass in my yard!}

More End Table Makeovers {in yellow....again}

Remember this lovely little thrift store table?  I liked it and could not find another octogon end table- for the life of me....so I settled for some others.

Here is the first one:

This one cost $6 at a local thrift store. The top was a solid slab of marble, but the corner was chipped. This was PINK. The entire thing was pink, and I forgot to take before photos. :)

I plan to glaze it, so it looks like the other one, but alas, I haven't done it yet. We turned the marble over, and painted it black with chalkboard paint.

I like it, but think it needs the glaze to add a little something. My youngest thinks the top is a great place to drive his cars. {hee hee}

Here is the other one:

 This one was $8 from a local thrift store. It was a oak color, and I did take before pics, but now it is a matter of finding them! We used the same yellow paint. I re-did the top several times, and think I will keep it just yellow- while the legs and sides have been glazed. {I'm not the best with the glaze- it seriously is messy stuff and takes some practice :)}

I bought this one because I really liked the detail on the sides. I still like it.

So...none of my end tables match- but they are all the same color. And they were all thrifted! {yay for that}

Here is the thing about decorating.... I change my mind a lot. But I just don't have the energy- since I'm no spring chicken this pregnancy- and so it will just have to do for now. BUT... I am working on adding a few other things around here- just trying to figure out my style- or lack of style- or whatever it is--- Anyway- it is a fun process! I'm thinking of slipcovering my sofas. I kind of want some white in the room. It feels a little dark. Not sure if I want to try this though- but wow- it looks so good! I am loving it.

Thanks for reading! And thanks for hanging in there while my posting is so-so these days!

OXOXOXO