Thursday, March 31, 2011

My Family's Newish Hangout

Welcome to my spruced-up Family Room!  This has been my major project for months now.  When you are painting a room this size (trim and walls)...then sewing six lined curtain panels...and you're working on it in intervals ranging from 20 minutes to an hour...yeah, it takes a while.  But I am "done" enough now to show you some pics, and I am excited!

Here's the Before (previous owners, although that is my Hubs checkin' it all out):


Note the yellowish trim and the gray, gray walls.


Gray, gray gray.  Apparently I really didn't like this room because I could not find a single decent picture of it taken since we've moved in.

And here's the After:



Paint and curtains...what a big difference those two things can make!  I love that my room feels way more like "me" with this new paint, and I really love the way the curtains soften the space and give it a completed feel.


Another thing I am loving?  Having decorative items on my coffee table.  I haven't had anything but tissues and a breast pump on that table since January of '07, so I am thrilled my boys are finally able to keep their hands off something like this.  Plus, having it on a tray means I can move it in a heartbeat when I need to.


Isn't my little chalkboard pot so sweet?  Love it!


A closer view of my whimsical, ephemera-filled mantel.  I've just been having fun injecting some color and randomness in the room.


The paint color is a true greige...a medium-toned, warm gray that never appears pink, green, or gold.  Here's a view of the entry into this room, so you can see more painted walls:


The last time we talked, I showed you my inspiration room and talked about painting my room the same color (Pismo Dunes by Benjamin Moore).  Turns out, that beautiful beige turns totally pink in my house.  After trying almost 20 different beige colors I ended up mixing the color I wanted and getting Sherwin-Williams to match it.  If you would like to experience "That Mommy Greige" you can ask them to mix some up for you, using this formula:


If you use it, let me know how you like it!

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Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Family Room Sneak Peek

Remember a thousand years ago when I talked about trying to choose the perfect beige?  Well, the painting is done.  The curtains are done.  And I am almost ready to show you my spruced-up Family Room.  Until then...here's a sneak peek!


I'll see ya tomorrow for the full reveal!

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Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday Funnies

This Sunday's Funnies come courtesy of a four-year old's sense of propriety.  Which is nonexistent.  Which is to say, I have been humiliated by my child.  We were getting out of the car at good old Target.  About three cars over there was an older woman loading her bags into her car.  All was well.

Then Biggest says, at top volume (is there any other way?), "Wow, that woman looks very OLD to me!"

I quickly look over to see if she heard, and see that she is either a little hard of hearing or tactfully ignoring us.  I immediately turn red and whisper-shout, "Shhh!  We don't talk about how people look!"

And he says, "But MOM, she does look very, VERY, VERY OLD!"

At that moment I resolved that if I ever am the target of a comment like that, I'll just smile and say "Kids say the darndest things!"  I certainly won't think the child is a heathen being raised by an irresponsible and morally corrupt jerk of a mother.  Will I?

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Friday, March 25, 2011

Organizing: Child's Play?

This week's challenge from Simple Mom was kids' stuff, and when I first found out about it I groaned so loudly my whole street heard it.  I *hate* organizing kids' stuff because it feels like the Neverending Story.  Just as soon as the toys are put away, they are all pulled out again.  Just as soon as I get the right clothes in their drawers, they grow out of them.

Ya feel me?

But I did manage a measly effort this week, enlisting Biggest to help me pull some toys out of the playroom.  We did this right after Christmas out of sheer necessity.  We did it again in January, and now we've done it a third time in three months.  He loves it!  He starts pulling out toys he played with 5 minutes ago and saying, "I don't need this anymore!  We should sell it!"  (Yep, even my child is down with Dave Ramsey).


So another box of stuff has moved out of the playroom, never to be seen (or even missed) again.  Still, I'm light-years away from where I would like to be with this room.  It used to be my office/craft room.  Then my baby's toys started exploding.  Exponentially exploding (say that three times fast).  So, as my Realtor predicted, it became the playroom.

Yes, this is what I look like when I am clean.  You should see me when I'm messy.
You can't because That Mommy forgot a "Before" picture.  Sorry.
I have yet to paint the walls, really decorate it as a kids' space, or fill up that shelf with more bright bins to replace the worn-out beige ones.  When I do all those things I will post a real "After" picture.  I keep reminding myself that Tsh challenged me to organize, not decorate.  I do like these labels I made a couple of weeks ago:

Supplies: 29-cent wooden circles, a can of chalkboard spraypaint, ribbon, and a drill.  Easy peasy.

And a couple of years ago I made the letters that spell the word "PLAY."  Those are the only two things I love about this room.  Therefore, my favorite view of the playroom is this one:


I know I am lucky to have a playroom with doors, so please forgive my moaning.  I don't mean to be so whiny, I just am.

As for clothes, I was able to do just a little organizing in Biggest's closet this week.  Have a look at the Before:

Yeah, it's bad.  And I hate it that this is the first picture I have ever shared of his room!
The rest of it is slightly cuter, I promise.

And here's the After:


Yeah...they're not so different really.  BUT I did take out all the clothes that don't fit my big boy anymore, as well as several things that really didn't belong in his closet anyway.  Those bags have items that he will grow into any day now, and the sweater-organizer holds his clothes that fit but are more wintry (all his Spring & Summer has been moved to his dresser).  Blankets are neatly folded on his shelf.  Behind him is his luggage.  I couldn't resist showing you my cutie and the outfit he picked out for himself yesterday.

Next up: Littlest's closet, and it is even worse.

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P.S. You know I'm lovin' the Linky at Simple Mom!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Vintage Canning Decor

The other day I was making a salsa which requires three cans of black-eyed peas, and as I was going to recycle them I wondered if I could do something fun with them instead.  And these cuties were born!


All I did to make these cute "vintage" cans was remove the original labels, then print and attach cuter ones.  I found images online using the search terms "vintage canning labels," and just printed them on regular paper, making sure that they were at least 9.5 inches wide (the circumference of the cans).  I didn't worry about how tall they'd be, and the different heights doesn't bother me at all.

"See, we're just boring old cans."

The Lazy-Woman's How-To: one picture with all the supplies laid out.
I thought about using Mod Podge or even a spray-on sealer, but instead I decided to go with "easy" and simply tape them on (I always use a scrapbook adhesive roller for this type of thing).  If I spill water on them I can always make new ones.  Right now they are sitting on my "vintage" kitchen cabinet:


Speaking of which, I don't think I ever showed you this fun project!  I bought this cabinet for $5 at a yard sale.   It was white with a yellowed lace in the cabinet door...and was beyond yucky.  When I decided to use it in my kitchen, I painted it black and created a punched tin panel for the door.  I used tin flashing, a template I found online, and a hammer and nail to punch the design.  I wish I had pictures, but --sigh-- this was a pre-blog project. Oh well.


With all these "vintage," goodies, I should call this little wall in my kitchen the General Store!  Can't wait to fill those cans with roses this Summer!

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P.S. Lovin' the Linky's at:

Beyond The Picket Fence
Beyond the Picket Fence
The Shabby Nest
Homeroad
Designer Garden Button

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Happy Birthday Littlest!



Happy Second Birthday to my sweet Littlest Boo!  LB, you are my angel.  You fill our home with your sweet giggles and make my heart burst with love.  You and your brother are the sweetest things in my life and I love you both soooooo...MUCH!

Love,
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Monday, March 21, 2011

Sick and Sicker

We've been sick, and by "we" I mean my children.  I have been fine so far, but we all know what that means.  I am not really fine, because no one is fine when their children are suffering.  The worry, the sleeplessness, the hard work (yeah, I have changed one boy's sheets 5 times in two days).  Fun.

We've had snot, fever, vomit, and now strep.  Fortunately, one day on antibiotics and things are looking up again. And it gets me thinking about how my mood, my attitude, my perspective on everything is so affected by what is happening with them.  If they're happy and healthy, life is great.  If they aren't, life sucks.

This up-and-down roller-coaster over which I have no control is my least favorite thing about motherhood.  I have deep issues surrounding loss and fear of loss, and every little sniffle taps into those.  It's brutal, but it's what we all go through all the time.  I would like to think I am pretty spiritually mature, but going through a rocky patch like this one show me I've got some growing to do.  Because God gives me each day, even the days we find ourselves at Urgent Care.  (Someone please tell me why we are always sickest on Sundays?  Why???)

I know there are moms and dads out there who have problems so much bigger than strep throat.  I am friends with a few of them, and knowing what they go through makes me feel ridiculous for panicking over a sore throat.  I just wonder if I will ever be able to keep my perspective, even on those days when my children are feverish and hurting. Will I be able to feel God's love in those moments, just as I do when I feel blessed?  I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer, which I learned a long time ago but seem to "forget" a lot:

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change, 
the courage to change the things I can, 
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Have you ever heard that one?  How do you keep perspective when your kids get sick?

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Sunday, March 20, 2011

Sunday Funnies

The other day all four of us were playing board games.  Since Little Boo thinks board games are actually "grab everything you see and make a nuisance of yourself games," I was spending pretty much all my time deterring him.  Pulling him off the board, giving him his own game pieces to eat, that kind of thing.

So what did he do?  Smacked Mommy on the top of her head, that's what.  Hubs just got done saying, "He just smacked you on the top of your head!" when the little guy smacked Daddy on top of his head.

So I put on my serious face and said, "Oh, Little, we do not hit our family.  It is not nice."  Daddy said, "Say sorry, please."

So Little said, "Sorry Mommy!"

Then he said, "Sorry Daddy!"

Then he turned, smacked his brother on the top of his head, and shouted happily, "Sorry bwuhther!"

So much for lessons learned.

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Friday, March 18, 2011

Cleaning up the (Paper) Clutter

We're two weeks into Simple Mom's Project Simplify series, and when I first found out about the series I was so excited!


Then BAM!  The very first challenge was the Master Bedroom Closet.  Well, seeing as how I just finished organizing my closet, I kinda skipped out on that one.

Then came this week's challenge: Paper Clutter.  And I thought, "Well, Tsh, you already inspired me to clean up my paper clutter."  Since January I have added a basket right by the door to recycle paper, I created a Mommy Notebook to hold important (and less important) paper clutter, and I showed you how I organize my child's growing artwork portfolio.


Just when I was thinkin' I would have to skip another week of the party, I got to the section about something near and dear to my heart: magazines.  Oh yes, I might have a slight issue with magazines.  Without further ado, here's the dilly:

The "light reading" basket in the powder room.

My end-table, which now sports only a few most recent mags.

The corner of my office, aka "Magazine Purgatory" turned blessedly empty corner.

Wow, I let it get bad.  Fortunately I have a system. And now, with further ado, I'll show you what it is.

Step One: Let your magazines pile up until they threaten to topple over and block all exits.  Just kidding.  Kinda. I have been getting more magazines thanks to all the points programs I use (thank you, My Coke Rewards).  I love them, but I may need to draw the line somewhere soon.

Step Two: Set aside some time to tear those things apart.  This is key: set a time limit!  Last week I went through an entire diaper box full of Real Simple in 10 minutes, because that's all the time I gave myself.  If I don't limit myself I sit and read the magazines, which quite clearly I don't have time for.  Here's everything you'll need:


Just tear, staple when necessary, and create one big stack.  Actually, I usually create two stacks: recipes and everything else.  It is easiest to do only minimal amount of sorting at this stage. Your couch is only so big.

Step Three: Take your stack someplace roomy like your kitchen counter and sort it into categories.  You might want to wait and create your categories after you see what you were drawn to and what you collected.  Mine are:


Then you are ready to file your articles by category into an accordion folder.  I got this one at Target a few years ago and it is still treatin' me right:




Another option?  Years ago, I tore every page out of every issue of House Beautiful and put them in binders like these:

Because everyone needs every page of House Beautiful from 1993 and 1997...right?

Step Four:  Further categorize your recipes and file them in your "Recipes" accordion-file:

I'm so full you can't even see my dividers, can you?  They're there, I promise!!!
Told ya so!

Step Five: Bask in the glow of your semi-annual magazine purge!  Good job lady!

Anyhoo, those piles I showed you?  I got rid of those in a couple of hours.  A couple of hours while watching TV that I otherwise would have just been watching TV.  So, hey, wasting my brain offset by being productive...yay me.  To me, that time is worth it to be able to reference all these great ideas.

Or...you could just carry your piles of magazines directly out to your recycling bin.  Then you get to bask in your clutter-free glow without giving up any of your time.  Hmmm...that just might be simplicity nirvana right there.

Maybe someday.

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P.S. You know I'm lovin' the Linky at Simple Mom!

Monday, March 14, 2011

Super Easy Silhouettes

Seems lately I am playing "catch up" with all the popular online crafts.  First came the coffee-filter wreath, now it's on to silhouettes!  Honestly, I have looked at a lot of tutorials on how to make silhouettes, and had been brainstorming ways to use my Silhouette to make a silhouette (funny me), when it just hit me the other day.  Use what you have, dodo.  They're called scissors.  And I was able to make these in about 10 minutes:


I promise you can do this too--it is so easy!  The only thing I will say is that you will want to use craft scissors--smaller scissors with a very sharp tip.  Mine came from Target, or you can get them from any craft store.

First, I took pictures of my boys staring into space.  Then I just printed them on computer paper in a 4x6 format.  I then taped that picture (top and bottom) onto a piece of plain white cardstock, and just started cutting around the edges, like so:

Freaky!  I *hate* this picture!

A little better?  Well, he does need a haircut.
When I was finished I had this:


You can see here that I fudged a little to create an eyelash for him which wasn't in the original picture due to the angle.  But this boy has ridiculously long and beautiful eyelashes, and I love how they look in silhouettes I have seen, so I just was mindful of that and added it in when I was cutting.

I used spray-adhesive to attach the silhouettes to scrapbook paper, and framed 'em up!  Speaking of frames, can I just brag on the steal I got on these for a sec?  Got them on clearance at (again) Target:

See the damage?  I used wood filler and spray paint on them when I first brought them home and it's barely noticeably now.  Too bad, I liked the green.  But you can't go wrong with white, either.

So, I'm lovin' my little boys in silhouette!


Happy crafting, peeps!

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