This “spring” has been anything but and I have had to get really creative in ways to keep the kiddos busy.

It is the end of March and we literally have 3 feet of snow still (one of them we kindly received last week).

This momma is OVER IT!

Did you hear that mother nature???

While I do my best to avoid really messy projects during my work hours (I have learned this only creates frustration since I end up spending more time doing clean up than what the activity itself occupied) playdough is sort of a “go-to” in our house.

I stopped buying playdough years ago and now only use my super top-secret recipe!

In the spirit of transitional seasons my gift to you is to let you in on this super top-secret recipe .

It will save your life and the life of your young.

I swear.

2 Cups Boiling Water

3 Tablespoons Baby Oil

1/2 Cup Salt

1 Tablespoons Powdered Alum

Gel or liquid Food Coloring (gel gives a more intense color)

Pour water, oil and salt  into a 4 cup measuring glass and microwave until boiling and salt dissolves.

Add several (the more you add the brighter it gets) drops of food coloring to your liquids after the salt has dissolved.

Put flour and powdered alum into your mixer (I use my KitchenAid because I am lazy and just love that thing to death).

Mix the wet and the dry until they are combined.

You may find you need to work a little flour at this point because it tends to be a little sticky.

I suggest doing this with your hands (careful though it is HOT).

Once it cools the texture changes a little so don’t add too much flour or over work it.

I did try this recipe over at The Crafty Collaborative but just didn’t love it as much as my go-to.

You might though so check it out!

You may have noticed some changes on my site and social media pages.

Call it a little spring cleaning!

I have been a little indecisive but I think I am getting close to making final adjustments and getting back into the groove.

I would love to hear your feedback on the new look!

It has been a rough few weeks…well really all of 2012 in our world. In order to cope with it all I have thrown myself in project after project. Just now it occurred to me to actually DOCUMENT a project and share my wisdom with the masses.

I have mentioned in the past that we live in an old house (1957 to be exact) and have had to make a LOT of updates. While this can be very fun it can also be VERY overwhelming.  To add to that, we moved from a tiny two bedroom condo into a massive rambler and really didn’t purchase much (or really anything) for new furniture so we have been trying to make what we had in our condo work in a much larger space.

Let’s just say this has resulted in no particular look just a bunch of stuff thrown together. While we don’t have immediate plans to buy new furniture, I do feel like we are making GREAT progress with other details that will really update the overall “look” of our house. We are aiming for a rustic yet chic look that can stand up to HIGH traffic and destructive children.

A padded room might be best but since that is not an option I am making due.

Last week I decided to spruce up the dining area to inspire myself to get rolling on our kitchen cabinets.

Exhibit A

I have gotten as far as spraying the hardware and removing the cabinet doors.

Clearly they are very sad and badly need a makeover.

 I ordered this fabulous stencil from a really great Etsy shop OMG Stencils.

I have read up a little on stenciling and am very OCD about detail so I figured how hard can this be?!

Well 8 hours later I completed my wall. I am definitely THRILLED with the look but it was a lot more work than I thought.

Partly because I have to work around a door and the ceiling.

So let me give you the details on my little project that turned into a BIG project with even BIGGER results.

Maybe you will be quicker than I was but I moved as fast as I could pour wine….maybe that was my issue??

 Supplies needed:

1 Stencil

Spray Adhesive (I used Elmer’s and you can purchase it at Amazon)

Painters Tape

 Foam Roller

Paint (I went with a latex paint Valspar Semi-Gloss in Argent purchased at my local hardware store)

Press and Seal

Painting tray or in my case a baking sheet

Plastic or a drop cloth

Not pictured here are the baby wipes and paper towel. These were key in quick clean up between applications.

Almost forgot – PATIENCE!!!!

Start by covering a surface where you can set the stencil down in between applications. I used my table covered with some plastic.  Spray a light coat of spray adhesive onto the back of the stencil before putting it on the wall. This will give it a little tack. Not enough that the stencil will complete stick but enough to help it lay flat. I found that after the first couple of applications on the wall the tack sort of went away and I had to hold the stencil down a bit as I applied the paint. Not the end of the world but I had more hope for the spray adhesive. I think you could actually go without unless you happen to have some lying around from another project.

 I found it very stressful to actually attach the stencil initially as I was worried about starting off crooked. So I really took my time getting it just right before getting started. After my first row I did get a little off because working around the door was a challenge. To correct the issue I got back on track and hand painted in to stretch a couple of the shapes. It worked fine and overall you can’t tell at all. That is the beauty! As you work you will need to overlap the stencil with the area you have painted so it is important to make sure that previous area is mostly dry.

Tip: when working at the ceiling remember that you won’t be able to get your image flush so you either have to decide to start it lower with a space up top or you can hand paint to connect the image to the ceiling. That is what I chose since I wanted it to make the room look taller.

Also, don’t load your brush with too much paint. All that will do is cause more to seep underneath the stencil and it will make your image fuzzy and make for more cleanup.

First stencil in progress.

This is what it looked like after I applied paint over the entire stencil.

First one done!

After each application I would flip the stencil upside down on the table and wipe the side that makes contact with the wall to avoid any mistakes in paint getting on areas that were supposed to remain the background color. This is where my baby wipes came into play. They are just so darn handy!

 Full row almost complete.

 Before

After

My hubby hasn’t seen this yet but I know I am excited and hope he feels the same way.

Either way this is STAYING!

It makes me smile just looking at it.

Do you have a project you have loved or maybe one you hated? Please share!

Happy decorating !!!

XO

Poo in the shower
Poo in the tub
Poo in the toilet
Rub a dub dub

Okay maybe I am not a poet but seriously this is where things were going lately! I badly wanted to include a pic of the remnants of what my youngest left behind in MY shower but felt y’all might not continue on if you were subjected to that.

I mean, I have cleaned poo out of many places but in a shower? MY shower?

That I was not expecting.

My youngest is really proving to test my strength as a human AND a mommy. He pushes the envelope and then smiles one of his life saving smiles.

We have had our moments recently that is for sure.
Take this for instance.

The kid is VERY creative!

Sometimes that is good.

Sometimes it is very, VERY bad.

What makes me cry laugh is that this kid is the one that has truly made me a parent. He has completed the “you know you are a mom if….” ten fold.

Repeatedly.

Everyday.

In the end I think that is all that matters but I hope I survive until the end!?

There has been a whole lot of busy in our house in the past few weeks. My hubby and I completed our first 5k together. Certainly not something I expected to cross off my bucket list let alone to do it with my hubby.

Feels good to have actually accomplished something! Something NON-mommy related at that.

Fall is upon us and winter is on its tail. We have gone from Halloween and fall decorating to winter in the blink of an eye.

SNOW the first few days of October.

Man Mother Nature is a cruel lady sometimes.

I plan to share with you more in the coming months. Winter is hibernation for the body but time for the mind to thrive!

I have been busy contributing to The Crafty Collaborative and TRYING to get a style happening in my home after allowing myself to be “okay” with hodge podge for far too long.

Brace yourself for some serious crafting and bad-ass cooking folks!

This is a sweet little DIY screen print I did for my niece.

I am pretty sure I need a hot pink unicorn on my t-shirt now too.

Don’t you?!

 Stay tuned to The Crafty Collaborative for how you can make one too!

Happy Seasons!

XO

This past week brought summer and the start of long afternoons at the beach and a whole lotta sand EVERY WHERE! Sand and all it is a good shift in the universe and we welcome the change of pace. 

Enjoying the smell of a campfire somewhere nearby. It is amazing how long that warm, cozy smell can linger.

Feeling annoyed that my hubby needed to sleep in this morning granted he did get in late, this mommy could have used a bike ride or a brisk walk with some jamming tunes to start the day. Instead I settled for breakfast on the deck.
Planning an overnight trip to visit a cousin. Just me and my cuz shooting the breeze. Not often can I “shoot the breeze” so it will be a nice reprieve.
Craving delicious grilled veggies and meat. Tis the season right?!
Holding onto my patience by a string. Some days are just like that. I think I can. I think I can. 

Thinking about our upcoming annual Father’s Day camping weekend. It will be a ridiculous amount of work but such great memories. Lots of changing this year that is for sure.
Grateful for the sunshine that has taken my brood outdoors this week. Pretty sure I would not have survived otherwise.
Anticipating the news of a new little one for a close friend of mine. Sweet little baby girl will be entering the world at any minute. Pure magic!

Wishing I could muster up the energy to get my office demolition started so that when the time comes we are ready to get to work rebuilding it.
Reading  The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I know I will likely not sleep well while reading this book because it is all sorts of creepy but well written so I will continue on anyway.

Wondering when I should start shopping for my Vegas trip in August….probably should not procrastinate since there is a good chance most swimwear will be long gone by the time I need it! Anyone have great tips for Vegas attire??

Have a beautiful day and even better weekend!

XO

You know that moment.

Most of us have been there and some are soon to be.

The moment you realize your adorable little babe is now edging into the ugly waters of two-dom.

Yes.

I said it.

Two-dom, two-ness, two-hood or commonly whispered by defeated mothers every where the “Terrible Two’s”. 

Well my little Eli is there. He may only be 18 months but he is most definitely there.

Cue cute, sweet, adorable (slightly messy) baby.

Now you must be thinking “How could this baby BE anything but cute, sweet and adorable?”

Oh I will tell you how!

Something in their chemical makeup actually switches these tiny creatures into the “Terrible Two’s” mode.

They start to whine about everything and anything and any ability they previously had to wait is gone.

They need it NOW!

They need food NOW!

They need a nap NOW!

They need that toy NOW!

They do things like throw themselves on the floor and scream and flail.

They hit. EVERYTHING.

People.

Toys.

Walls.

You name it.

I am not gonna lie, sometimes I think the Terrible Two’s resurfaces when they are teens but in a much more serious manner.

I feel like I may not survive round 3 of the “Terrible Two’s”.

Someone tell this kid that the key to survival is being kind to your momma, not causing her to have a twitch in each eye and to pull muscles while trying to man-handle you.

Remind little monster that the way of the world is to “Do unto others as you would want done unto you” or whatever that saying is.

Someone stop this kid before he sends his mother to the funny farm!

See! Do you see it there?

Yes, there in his dark little mischievous eyes.

He is plotting to send me away to another mental plane.

A place where mothers go until their children have left home.

A mental state of numbness.

I hope his “Terrible Two’s” go as fast as they came and we can return to something like this instead.

I wonder what it will be today?

Jekyll?

Or Hyde?

Happy Whino Wednesday!

Pick your poison and stick with it.

Good luck and God speed.

XO

Yesterday I finished a beautiful book written by Kelle Hampton  called Bloom (I actually wrote an entire post that was lost due to technical issue upon finishing said book and it was epic really).  It is Kelle Hampton’s memoir about how she found beauty in the unexpected gift her daughter Nella gave her when she was born with Down Syndrome.

Here is a little description of her book on Amazon:

“Love me. Love me. I’m not what you expected, but oh, please love me.

I am linking up with Shell at Things I Can’t Say