IT"S PINK!

Being surrounded by testosterone almost 100% of the time (even my dog is a boy) I was THRILLED to get to host a baby shower for one of my Sister in Laws.  Very rarely do I get to have my house all girly and pink.  I had such a fun time decorating for the event.  Beware this post is picture heavy...
Here is a picture of my living room all decked out:

So those pom pom thingys in the corners were really easy and cheap to make.  I made a total of 9.  To find out how to make those just google tissue paper pom poms.  That is what I did and they turned out perfect.  They don't take up much time to make either.  No baby shower is complete without the "clothesline."  I made all of the onesies and this little reversible outfit:

This is an awful picture but this outfit is adorbs!  Since I sell baby clothes and accessories I can't very well show up at a shower with a store bought baby blankie so I made her this one:

Here is a picture of my dining room:

Those two ball "topiaries" are just made out of cupcake wrappers.  I just pinned them onto a foam ball and stuck them on some candlestick holders.  Super easy peasy.  The diaper cake is actually recycled from my baby shower for little Nick.  I just changed out the ribbon and put it on top of my DIY cakestand.  I bought a piece of pink satin fabric and just draped it over the table.  I didn't even hem it.  I'm ghetto like that.  I'm sure everyone left the party appalled?  It was perfect to incorporate some Easter decorating since the colors of Easter are pastel and feminine.  I just threw a bunch of jelly beans and pastel colored M & M's on the table to make it not seem so boring.  Next is a pic of my mantel area in my Hearth room:

I just threw up some pink tulle and used some Easter decor I had.  Of course I had to use my Mason jars to display some baby pink and white roses.

I made this garland using bias tape and doily's:

Here's a closeup:

All you do is cut a doily in half and sandwich in between some bias tape a sew a straight line and you are done.  I love how it turned out and it was so easy. 

  I offered to make a cake or some sort of dessert but one of my Sister in Laws insisted on making this masterpiece and I'm sure everyone is glad she did! 

It's called a hummingbird cake.  The only way I can describe it is it is sort of like a carrot cake but more tropical.  There was pineapple and banana in it.  She dehydrated the pineapple herself and decorated the cake with them.  It was delish!
Two of my Sister in Laws (I have 6) may or may not have gone out late at night and ripped these off from some one's yard. They said it was sort of a "common area" where they got them but I am suspicious.  Aren't they beautious?

Lucky for me I still have them adorning my dining room table:

One last pic of the beautiful mom to be:

Anna is such a blessing and I know she is going to be an amazing mother.  I can't wait to watch her journey!

Jules

BELIEVE THE HYPE

I have been on a health kick lately.  I haven't ever mentioned it on the blog but I am really working at being healthy.  I have already lost 12 pounds and have another 5 to go.  On my health quest I am always looking for healthy snacks.  Most of my snacks these days consist of a fruit or a veggie.  I have seen on several websites about how delicious baked Kale is.  Baked kale?  Sounds weird I know.  I think kale is the stuff at restaurants that they garnish your plate with.  It is a thick green that in my opinion sort of tastes like broccoli.  It has to be healthy because it is green.  Anything green is healthy right?  I followed directions and I got my kale and separated it from the thick woody stems.

 I just broke them into bite size pieces.  I put a tiny olive oil on and a sprinkle of sea salt.

 I baked them at 350 for about 15 minutes.  I took them out and tasted and I couldn't believe what I was tasting.  I couldn't believe that this was health food.  It was so crunchy kind of like a potato chip.  It is a delicate crunch that is really addicting.  You HAVE to make it and try it.  I can see myself baking up a pan of kale for my next movie night while everyone else is eating popcorn.  It is salty like popcorn too.  I just can't say enough about how good this was.  To further support my argument on how tasty this is my extremely, annoyingly picky 9 year old crushed a whole pan of this stuff!  He had a buddy over and they went to town and loved it.  My son's friend went home and told his mom about it and wanted her to make some too.

Seriously, if you have problems with your kids eating vegetables try this!

Jules

CHALKBOARD PAINT PLATTER

I have been really trying to come up with ideas to use up the rest of my chalkboard paint.  As much as I would love to take credit for this one I will give credit where credit is due.  I saw this idea on a blog that I read called http://www.thenatos.blogspot.com/.  It is a GREAT blog.  I get alot out of it.  Anyway...I got these two silver plates/platters at the dollar store:

I taped off the edges with painters tape and foam brushed on my chalkboard paint like so:

I used one of them for the baby shower I just had.  Yes, I understand that a wishing tree is a little cheezed out but I did this in lieu of any ridiculous baby games like guess how big mom's belly is or a silly word search or something.  No offense if you are into that sort of thing-I just hate baby shower games.  At least with the wishing tree the mom to be got to take home a memento of sorts.  Here is the final product:

After posting this picture I just realized that my handwriting is atrocious!  Geez..embarrassing!  If you are confused about a wishing tree here is a picture of the whole shebang:

I just used scrapbook paper and cut it up and tied a little ribbon to it so people could hang the note on the tree.  I have sooooo many more pics to share regarding the baby shower.  Stay tuned!!!

MOCK MILK GLASS

I really love the look of milk glass.  Hopefully you know what that is?  It is just a thick glass that is a beautiful milky white color.  I don't even own one piece of milk glass.  I sometimes see it at flea markets and thrift stores but I never buy it because I really don't have the storage space for it.  I hosted a baby shower yesterday and I really wanted some milk glass vases for my mantel.  I thought it would look pretty and girly for a baby girl shower.  I wanted to put a single pink flower in each one.  Of course when you are looking for something specific you never can find it.  At least I never can.  I attempted to make my own mock milk glass vases.  I bought these three cheap glass vases at the Salvation Army for 99 cents a pop:

Nothing special but I thought the details might be really pretty once spray painted.  So here is what I had after a few coats of heirloom white paint:

It most definitely wasn't milk glass quality but these little guys served their purpose.  I really like how they turned out.  They will also be perfect to use for Easter decor.  Hopefully the EXTREMELY bright pink flowers weren't to obnoxious?  I really liked them but I am gaudy like that.

Jules

ANOTHER UGLY PICTURE FRAME

While shopping at the local thrift store I found this real ugly mirror:

It's actually not that ugly.  I just don't really like the black/gold combo going on.  I thought if I painted it white and distressed it then it would look beautiful on my living room wall which is a chocolate brown color.  I have a bare spot above a chair in that room that is screaming for some attention.  So I painted this bad boy white or heirloom white to be exact after removing the mirror and this is what it looked like. 

 I sort of liked it until I tried to distress it a little with some glaze in which it turned out hideous.  Evidence as proof:

 and another up close and personal just to clarify:

I hated how it turned out.  A little bummed and defeated I decided to spray it back to it's original black but no gold:

 I thought it was kinda cool?  I couldn't replace the mirror because it started chipping at the corner and I was scared to hang it around the kids.  So I just put a piece of burlap in it and hot glued an L in the center and now it has a happy home on one of my bare kitchen walls:

Eh...not that cool but I guess it was worth the $9.99 price tag and it puts something on my bare wall.

Jules

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIEE!

Spring break is upon us.  We usually NEVER go anywhere for spring break but this year my husband had to go to St. Louis on business and suggested that we go with him for a few days.  It sounded better than sitting around home trying to entertain my kids for a few days.  We left on Tuesday and were back today, Thursday.  It always sounds like such a good idea to do a road trip but you quickly realize how tiring it really is to attempt such a fete with 3 kids in tow.  We did have fun but needless to say I am exhausted!
Some highlights of the trip were going up in the arch which we attempted 3 times!  The first time all the trips to the top were sold out.  The second time my oldest started throwing up as we were in line to go up.  It is NEVER a proper road trip without someone vomiting or having explosive diarrhea.  Seriously.  It. Never. fails.  Anyway I am happy to report that this vomiting session was short lived.  We had to alter our plans for the day but Jake was feeling fine the next day.  Some other highlights of the trip were little Nick locking us out of the bedroom about 4-5 times and we had to call hotel maintenance to unlock it, Brady while showering fell and fell out of the whole tub/shower.  How in the hell that happens I'll never know but we are still laughing about how he kept saying, "it's just so slippery" in a whiny Brady voice, visiting the zoo, eating at a really old school Italian restaurant, eating ice cream in the trunk of the van with the kids, and beautiful weather.  I really wish I got more pictures but I just wasn't so diligent this time around.  Here are some pics from the last couple of days:

The "Hill" is where the delish Italian food was.

We had to sit in the car because the place was ridiculously crowded. 

Looking out the windows of the arch.

At the zoo.  I know this picture looks dirty but that is only because I have a dirty mind.  Haha.  Brady loves cobras and really wanted his picture with this guy!

We had some good family fun.  I am glad to get in bed with my hubby and not my restless two year old tonight though!

Jules

A REASON, A SEASON, AND A LIFETIME

Wow.  Isn't it amazing how things pop into your life when you really need them.  I have been struggling recently over some lost relationships for some reason.  It has been occupying my thoughts alot lately and miraculously I found this little poem (if that is what you call it) on the Internet.  It was so healing for me to read this.  I didn't realize how much I needed these words until I read them.  This poem has helped me let go a little more over my losses.  Here it is:


People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

I just really enjoyed this and wanted to share it.  I do feel very blessed to have a handful of people that I have been friends with for 25 plus years.  I truly think that is a rarity.

Jules

PAYING FOR A LITTLE R & R!

The other day was a rough one.  Only rough in the sense that I have a 2 year old who is real attached to his mama.  Not that it is necessarily a bad thing but there are times in the day when I seriously need just a small break or a breather from fetching "ju" (juice), "nack" (snacks) and "B" (blankie).  Little man quit taking naps so therefore there is no respite.  I usually beg him to go play with his brothers in the basement but he usually simply says, "no".  Well the other day both big bros were in the basement and little Nick decided to join them for no apparent reason.  I didn't question nor did I go down to check on him thus risking his return to my hip.  Call SRS if you must but for my mental heath I just kept telling myself that he was safe in the basement with his big brothers.  I poured myself a cup of hot mint green tea, sat down with my feet up and proceeded to watch food network in which Paula Deen was cooking something with loads of butter.  After about 10 minutes I felt myself relaxing more and more and enjoying this small but needed alone time.  My alone time lasted about 45 min!  When he came up wanting more "ju" I was more than happy to oblige and I was thrilled to see his cute unkempt little head.  About an hour later I went downstairs to tell Jake and Brady that they had played Xbox enough for the day and this is what I encountered:

Every single one (well almost) of our board games or any games for that matter were all disassembled into a thousand pieces all over my basement floor.

Yes, that is every single lightbright piece on the floor.  Not just in one small spot mind you.  They are all over the basement including under this heavy table that almost gave me a hernia just trying to lift it.

Evidence of a short person getting into stuff.  Only the bottom two shelves were touched.  Thank goodness he isn't any taller!
As I was cleaning this atrocity I wondered was my 45 minute down time worth the one hour and 15 minute clean time?  My answer was a resounding HELL YES!!! 
It is spring break here and let's just hope the rest of my house doesn't get like this before the break is up.  Odds are it will!

Jules