How Boys Do

Only having a sister growing up, I knew absolutely nothing about little boys. I remember holding Jonathan for the first time and thinking, "I'm not sure what to do with this handsome little love." It took only a few seconds for me to be smitten. There is something so special about my little boys and they completely have my heart. 

I have learned so much from them and I feel like they teach me something new everyday. 

I have to remind myself all the time that they are boys and that they have different needs. I'm grateful to have a husband who is constantly reminding me of what those needs are. One of them is wrestling, I had a hard time adjusting to this one. It's loud, rambunctious, and someone always ends up getting hurt, but I have learned how much they need it. I have come to see their intense need to beat the crap out of each other as cute. They're just like little puppies wanting to play. 

We introduced Legos into our home for the first time last week. I was thinking, "This will be great, something constructive for them to do that will distract them from beating each other up for a little while." They do love the Legos, and it holds their attention, "For a little while." But, for these boys it will always come back to the basics... dog pile.

I love these boys, and seriously, how cute are their new teeny tiny boxers!?!

Easter In Our Jammies

I really love the days when we have an excuse to do absolutely nothing. Jammies are mandatory, yummy food a must, and the only to-do on the agenda is the nap that’s been planned since ten that morning. That's what Easter looked like for us this year... the day couldn't have been more perfect! 

Grandpa and Grandma Wilt were in town. We had a great time laying around, watching the kids sugar level go up and down all day! Of course we dyed eggs and hunted for them, which is always a fun Easter tradition. The Easter bunny came and spoiled the kids with an abundance of cavity inducing treats and we spoiled ourselves with a prime rib dinner... yum!

Week Three of Project 52: Inspiration

Week three of "Project 52," take a picture a week for one year! Each week there is a theme posted that you can use or you can just take a picture that represents your week and explain why. It's a way to grow, document the year, and collaborate with a wonderful group of photographers! If you would like to join us you can check out the information here. Sarah, at My Four Hens Photography, is heading it up. Here is the link to the flickr group if you would like to jump in on the fun! 

Here is the link to my flickr project! 

inspiration

week 3

I think this week was so hard for me because I am inspired by so many things, narrowing it down became difficult and trying to capture that in one frame was also challenging.

When I think of inspiration a phrase comes to mind, “success through adversity.”

There are so many things in this life that inspire us to keep going and make it through the challenges, to succeed even though times are tough. For me inspiration comes through being challenged, the big and the small trials. Inspiration is the breath that gives us strength to overcome.

A form of inspiration for me is music; it defines my day, my memories, and my seasons in life.

We are going through a challenging time right now in our family but this image embodies inspiration to me. My family, all together, full of joy, dancing around the living room while daddy plays music! 

A Month of Martha: Ruffle Goodness

I'm no Martha Stewart, but it's fun to pretend sometimes. The sense of accomplishment that you get after creating something is so rewarding. You come up with reasons that allow you to walk by your creation just so you can take another look at what you've done. "I made that? Wow, I did a great job! Oh my goodness I love it!" You're trip from one end of the house to the other takes you longer than normal, just so you can smile as you walk by the cuteness.

We all know everyone's recent addiction to Pinterest; I am no exception. I get on there and I am exploding with creativity...while I'm sitting on my butt starring at the screen for hours on end. It's like a really good book, one where you become the main character of the story.

I sit down, flip open the thriller and instantly get sucked in. I can't put it down, it's just too good. In this story I become Martha Stewart. The possibilities become endless and I become the mastermind behind it all. The problem with that is the minute you close the book, you are back to reality. When will I have time to create that? That would just cost to much money? There just aren't enough hours in the day. All those wonderful projects that had me bursting with ideas now get put on the back burner...forever. I walk away from the computer and I am no longer Martha, she only resides in my fantasies. Oops, strike that, that came out wrong. She only resides in my dreams? No. She only resides in my story? Whatever...you get the point.

I have decided to make December a "Month of Martha." A cheaper, less-meticulous, less-complicated, more of a copy-cat style of Martha...Martha, on a shoe-string budget. 

First up:

A gorgeous ruffled tree skirt!!

I love ruffles...always have!

Ruffled shirt and ruffled bangs, wowzers!

Ruffles weren't really in style after the sixth grade, so I had to layoff of them for awhile. I am so glad they're back!

My pin from Pinterest

Source: mycrazylife-lauren.blogspot.com via Linsey on Pinterest

Here is what I did

Items I used:
- painters canvas drop cloth, the one closest in size to 4 1/2 by 4 1/2 (purchased at Home Depot 7.99)

- 4 yards of fabric ... to save some money I used a cotton fabric. Actually a king size flat sheet from the thrift store (1.00)

- I also used a shiny curtain panel (i know there is probably a correct term to describe this type of fabric, anyone?) to add some bling between the layers of cotton, again, from the thrift store (.50)

- hot glue gun and glue sticks (about 5.00 worth of glue)

- fabric scissors

I also purchased some ribbon to tie the slit together with some cute bows. But, it's not necessary. I like the way it looks all gathered up under the tree and found I didn't really need to tie it off, but of course you could. I was picturing three bows down the length of the slit. Does sound cute doesn't it? Okay, maybe I will add the bows when all said and done!

Total cost so far: $14.49

I'm going to say that the final cost will be about $18.00, I still want to purchase some more sheer fabric to finish between the layers, I ran out.

First thing you need to do is make your drop cloth a 4 1/2' square.

Fold it over two times making a smaller square,

then into a triangle.

Cut off the bottom and top,

making a big donut.

Make a slit.

Then when you realize you've cut the center hole way to big, you will need to do a little damage control,

by glueing back on some of the canvas. It will all be covered by gorgeous ruffles, so no worries!

Take your fabric and cut 2'' strips. I started off by being meticulous with this, but then just started eyeballing it. This type of project is very forgiving!

Then just start creating ruffles by laying down a stip of hot clue and pinching the fabric into it. You will start to get a rhythm.

This is the curtain panel that I used. I just cut out the shiny strips and put them between the cotton layers.

I really love what this does for the skirt, gives it a more chic look! It's also off-white in color so it balances out all the white.

Even though it's not finished yet, you get the idea. Just picture the bottom portion all the way up!

Isn't she gorgeous, I love her! I'm hoping to make a trip to the fabric store this weekend so I can get this lady finished!

I'd love to hear about any projects you've accomplished lately? 

Art Owner

I finally made my very first art purchase. What I mean is, I have something else hanging on my walls besides my pictures. Don't get me wrong, I am fine with having my walls covered in my families faces, but it is also good to give a room a little balance.

I have this space, in my living room, that drove me crazy every time I walked by. I purchased some floating shelves last year off of Amazon. Very poor quality, they did not even sit flush to the wall, and it bugged me so bad.

I know I am a little OCD, but this would bug anybody, right? I mean look at that, it's horrible!

I would turn my head as I walked by them, just to avoid the confrontation and the anger that stirred within.

I love the pics of Erik and I when we were little, but they will need to find a new home.

My big package from Hawaii arrived!

I am overly excited about my paintings, done by Lindsay Wilkins, from Aisle to Aloha studio. I love her, her blog, and her amazing artistic abilities. She opened up her Etsy shop in August. I knew I would be ordering a painting from her for our downstairs, whenever we got around to finishing it. But then one day, as I was sitting on my couch getting mad at those shelves that were in my line of site, I decided it was time now. I thought I'll ask Lindsay if she would do a custom painting for me, for this space, to rid me of this shelf burden!

Now, this girl is all about color. Her paintings are filled with beautiful color. So, I was wondering if for me she would make an exception. I asked her if she wouldn't mind doing a boring black and white one.

When I first got married I was all about color. When we registered for our dishes, we registered for one of each color that they had in stock.

But, over time my taste has changed to, well, boring. I just love black and white, the simplicity makes me happy!

This is what my cabinets look like now.

She said sure and I did a little dance! She asked me to send her an idea of what I wanted. I sent her my vague ideas and told her I really wasn't all that creative, but I trusted her and what she thought would work.

I said I wanted two paintings hung apart from each other, but as if they were painted as one. I had seen some of her past work where she had done this and loved it. All I said was damask, elegant and the background as black. But really I had no clue what I was even asking for and could not envision what it might look like. When she sent me the first progress pictures, I was elated!

She perfectly captured what I didn't even know I wanted.

The dreaded shelves are down and the wall is ready for it's makeover.

Thank you honey, for hanging it for me right when it came! It would have killed me to wait.

Doesn't it look great with my finished pillows?

I absolutely love it and it works so perfect in this space. So much better. Now, I smile as I walk by!

We might have the same initials, but I certainly can't paint like her. Not even close!

Thank you Lindsay, I love them!