Easter

Easter snuck up on me this year.  I really don't like when it's so early...it feels like there's not enough time to get it all done!

I just barely pulled out of a few of my Easter decor items.


These eggs are my favorite.  I bought plain white eggs from Hobby Lobby and modge podged green and white tissue paper to them.  I also used old book pages.  Nestled into the cage, I also have various colored (plastic)eggs. 


I also tucked some eggs into a nest on a pedestal.


My most favorite thing to decorate with throughout the entire spring is wheat grass.  I usually keep this growing right up until the summer.  I'll do a post about wheat grass (and how simple it is to grow) soon!


As for how we celebrate Easter, we have our little family's egg hunt on Saturday. My kids are very competitive so to combat this, each child gets one color of egg.  That way, they are only looking for their own color and don't have to beat anyone else to the eggs. I fill each of their eggs with exactly the same things.   My kids really aren't into candy or little trinkets, so this year I will fill their eggs with coupons- like 15 min later bedtime or a treat- and good old $$.  I'm sure they will love it.  

I think it's perfectly fine to celebrate the fun traditions of  Easter.  But all this week our family has also been talking about the true meaning.  It's the sweetest thing to hear my little 5 year old talking about Jesus, His death and His resurrection. 

May each of you have a wonderful and peaceful Easter!!


linking up to:  The Shabby Nest, Whipperberry


How to do it all!

My kids are always perfectly dressed, they never misbehave, they always pick their underpants off of the bathroom floor and they never fight.  I too am always perfectly dressed with trendy clothing that's artfully styled, my house is always spotless and decorated for each holiday/season,  I work out for an hour each day, I make my family paleo meals every night, I give 110% to my church calling, I volunteer in my children's classes at school and my car is well maintained with the interior impeccably cleaned.



YEAH RIGHT!!!!

Just this morning, my older kids were fighting like maniacs before they left for school, I had to clean underpants up off the bathroom floor after tripping over my son's instrument he left in the middle of the hallway.  I usually take my kids to school in my pajamas- no make up, no hair do, no bra.  Right now I am sitting here in my sweats with my hair wet and hanging in my face (at least I've showered before noon which is rare).  My youngest is downstairs watching tv, eating a ham and cheese sandwich with no fruits or veggies of any kinds because the apples I gave him were "icky."  I can't remember the last time I worked out, other than lugging the vacuum or laundry up and down the stairs and I think a small animal could live off of crumbs on the floor in my van, which by the way has terribly squeaky brakes.




I know you don't come to this blog (the few of you who do come here, I totally appreciate and love you!!) to read deep thoughts by me.  First of all, I'm not a great writer (that is what it is) and most of the time I would rather post fun projects and other ideas, not in-depth knitty gritty life stuff.  But I've been thinking a lot about mothering and woman hood.  Probably because there have been quite a few articles in the media lately about judging others.  Like this one to the mom on the Iphone.  Then I read a different post about the holidays being totally out of hand and a friend on facebook went on a tirade about all the guilt she feels because she's not one of "those moms" who likes to do holiday craft projects and make homemade valentine's etc. Also, a friend at church made a comment about how alone and judged she feels at times.  So because of all of this, there are a few things I want to say.  

I am by far not someone who has it all together.  For the most part, I embrace my imperfections.  We are all in different seasons in our lives.  Mine right now is being a stay at home mom.  My older kids are in school but I still have a little guy at home. Being a mom is HARD!  It's exhausting. Being home all day, entertaining and taking care of my little one is hard.  Then carting my big kids around, dealing with attitudes and emotions, working on projects, taking them to their practices, etc is hard too!!   Most of the time I feel stretched in so many different directions.  I know can not do it all.  So I have to prioritize.

I insist that we have family dinner together every night.  It takes juggling to get us all here at the same time and we stop for take out or go out for dinner often, which is something I'm working on.  My goal is to cook more meals then we eat out.  The most important thing to me is that we eat together!

I like to decorate for holidays and do fun themed craft projects so I usually try celebrate most holidays.  And that's not because I feel pressured, I do it because I enjoy it!  That being said, if we are too busy and don't put up St Patricks Day decor, it's ok.  My kids liked the Lucky Charms, the shamrock straw glasses and green sugar cookies(that I bought the night before) just fine.  



As I said before, I don't work out formally.  I do a small routine (sit ups, plank, push ups) occasionally, but for the most part my exercise is from vacuuming, playing tag with my kids, riding scooters, sweeping and doing laundry.  Someday I will take the time to go to Zumba at the gym.  But it's just not a priority for me right now.  If it is a priority for you, then great job!  Way to take care of yourself!!

The main point I'm trying to say is that we need to prioritize our time- figure out the things that are most important and do them.  Then let go of the guilt for not doing things that aren't as important to us.  We also should not judge others because their priorities are different than ours. Let's grant ourselves grace that we are doing our very best.  Because then we can extend that grace to others and give them the benefit of the doubt that they are doing their best too! 

Fun Finds Friday 3-22-13

Here are a few things I've found that I'm loving this week!


Look at this cute little cupcake stand I found at Hobby Lobby.  Isn't it so darling??!!  It was only $3 so of course it had to come home with me.  I'm thinking of perching a little bird on it for a cute spring display.


Did you know that Krispy Kreme gives out free donuts for A's on report cards?  Yesterday was report card day in our county so we made our trek to the donut store for some yummies!  The donuts were right out of the oven and still warm.  Yum!!




Walmart has really stepped up their game!  These scarves are so cute!  I may have picked up a few striped infinity scarves to perk up my spring wardrobe!  


Have you seen this recipe going around Pinterest?  Oh My Word, stop what you are doing and go make these cookies right now.  They are killer!!!  I've eaten an embarrassing amount of them since I made them last night.  So so so good!  I added a little bit of almond extract to the frosting.  I might marry these. So delicious!! 

Speaking of recipes, have you ever made chicken pillows?  I have before and didn't love them.  That is until I found a new recipe on Pinterest (of course) and made these last night too.  They are scrumptious!  The parmesean sauce on top is the best!   


And last but certainly not least is this adorable owl kitchen timer!  My son bought this for me for my birthday.  It is from World Market.  I love it!

As for the projects I'm working on: 
  •  I'm still trying to put the finishing touches on my boys' room.  I had a great wall collage going until one of the frames fell off the wall and broke.  So I need to replace that and finish up a couple of odds and ends.
  • I'm also trying to find a new jewelry organizer.  My space is limited in our bathroom, but the current solution of hanging all of my necklaces on a few hooks isn't cutting it.  So I'm on the look out for something to fix that.  
  • I'm also planning a few updates to my master bedroom.  I'm going to tackle this project after I get a new miter saw.  (I got a gift card to Home Depot from my dad for my birthday- woo hoo!!!)

Have you found anything fun this week?  What about new recipes?  What projects are you working on? 

Spring Mantle 2013

Are you tired of seeing the way my mantle changes for the seasons?  No?  Good!!!  Because I love to change it and then show you what it looks like.  If you would like to see last year's spring mantle, here it is.




I'm loving the springy colors of yellow and green and wanted to incorporate that into my mantle.




I mostly shopped my house and used what I already had.




The only purchases I made were this little yellow yarn bird from Target and the small green bowl (turned upside down) from World Market.  Other things pictured here: an S from Pottery Barn, via Good will; the grey cement bird is from Home Goods; and the glass candle holder is from Hobby Lobby.




I've had the bunnies for a while, they were originally from Goodwill and were brown and scary looking.  I gave them a fresh coat of white spray paint and now they aren't scary!  I used a doily and some paper and ribbons from my stash to decorate the vase.  The vase is full of dried yellow flowers I bought at a craft fair last fall.   And of course my chevron art.  I'm still not over the chevron trend.  I have to hold myself back so we don't have chevron over load in our house!




I used some vintage itemas and other odds and ends to decorate the silver platter. I filled my glass apothecary jar with faux pears.




Happy Happy Spring to you!!



striped bulletin boards

My boys have cork bulletin boards in their room to hang their art and other treasures.  They were just plain and super boring- which is no bueno.  So I gave them a makeover.  You saw a preview of these bulletin boards in the DIY arrow art


Here is how is how I did it.


I started with plain 12 x 12 cork boards.


I taped off lines with blue painters tape.  I matched them up so the lines would look good when the boards were hanging on the wall together.


Then I painted over the taped lines with semi gloss latex paint.  It took 2 coats to get good coverage.


When I removed the tape, the lines were perfect!


And (for the most part) the lines on the boards match up.  Yay!!


I still haven't let my boys hang anything on them yet.  I tell them it's because I haven't made the pins yet- I've got an idea to use ephemera and other trinkets to put on push pins.  But the truth is, I like the boards just like they are- as art work!




Spring Vignette

It's starting to feel like Spring around here. Even though it's still a bit chilly outside, the sun is shining and
 if I get really close, I can even see buds forming on trees.   And of course I know spring is coming by the increase in allergies in our house.  My poor kids!


This little spot in my living room is a favorite area in our house!  I found the large grain strainer at at antique store many years ago.  I love the rustic, graphic nature of it! Over the past couple of years I finally picked up a few smaller strainers and it became a collection.   Underneath is a blue chest that has lived many lives in our house.  Currently it houses our many, MANY video games.



I found the cute topiary at Pottery Barn.  The lamp base is from Walmart and the shade is a clearance Target find from a few years ago.  The jars hold some of my spool collection and some moss rocks.


I added some boxwood from my yard to a small white berry wreath.


The topiary rests on top of a lock box from my grandmother, a covered book and an antique children's book from my husband's family.



Are you starting to see signs of Spring at your house?  

To get you even more excited for Spring, check out all of the fun projects on this blog







DIY arrow wall art

I have had the hardest time finding things to go on the wall in my boys' room.  The look I'm going for runs toward: vintage, eclectic, graphic and unique.  I want the room to look like we've collected things over time.  It's next to impossible to find things I like in stores.  So I've spent a bunch of time racking my brain for ideas.  When I found some scrap pieces of wood in my garage (ok they found me- a piece fell on my leg as I was walking by) I came up with this graphic arrow art.  




 I used 2 pieces of wood to go above each of my boys beds: pre-primed mdf and birch plywood.  I didn't pre sand the wood.  I simply wiped all the gross cobwebs and gunk off.




I free hand taped off an arrow shape.  I didn't measure or do it exactly since I like the hand made look. I used leftover black latex paint and a sponge brush.




Once the paint was dry, I gave everything a sanding with 150 grit sandpaper.  I also sanded the edges really well, since they were still raw and splintery from the wood being cut down.




Then I hung it up using 3m velcro (amazon affiliate link).  Super simple!!!




I made an arrow in a different shape to go above my other son's bed.



Seriously, this was super simple, took about 10 minutes (not counting paint drying time) and was free since I used things I already had!