Dresser redo

I snagged this dresser from a Facebook friend for FREE. They were planning to burn it if no one took it. After a little tweaking, it will get lots of use in our big boys' room.

The drawers weren't worth keeping, so those got tossed. They stuck a little & were nailed in multiple places.

I removed the hardware & took Husband's sander, & sanded it all down lightly...

This is the same pint of  paint I used for the lamp redo http://mccl4.blogspot.com/2013/06/fun-friday-project.html so for less than 4.00, this dresser got a brand new look.

I took the runners for the drawers off & painted it with a foam roller-I don't have a pic but I've found they give the smoothest finish, if you're rolling the paint onto furniture.

I prefer using paint & primer spray paint, but if I already have paint on hand that can be rolled on, it just doesn't make any sense to buy more :)

 

The final results turned out great.

I did not paint the interior(laziness on my part).

I bought some inexpensive canvas baskets at Wal-Mart to take the place of the drawers & the boys had fun filling up their "new" dresser.

The boys wasted no time in making it their own.

D has inherited a little of his Mamma's decorating gene & knew exactly how & what he wanted displayed on 'his" side of their dresser.

I love all the little boy treasures...dices, star fish, fossil rocks, trophies...D has also inherited his daddy's pack rat gene...but that's a whole other story :)...

 

Happy Monday-I plan to make it a good one!

 

 

 

Fun, Friday project

Last night I made a rare trip to Massillon. Target is always a must when in that area! And I found some good stuff, at great prices!

Among my finds was a cylinder shaped lamp shade(try saying that 5times really fast) that I've been looking for & just hadn't found quite the right size.

I taped off the stripes. Nothing perfect, I just eye-balled it. Then painted on the black with Glidden 2in1 paint & primer that I purchased at Wal-mart on the half-price shelf. I rarely go into Wal-Mart that I don't check the paint shelves for blooper mixes. I've found some amazing deals already.

After the 2nd coat of paint, I took off the tape strips & the finished project turned out great!

I love it!

 

this project took me all of maybe half an hour & cost me about 6.00!

 

Living room redo coming soon!...I'm excited about this one!

Happy Friday Y'all!



summer-ready!

The last four summers I just dove right in with out a plan, rhyme or reason to what our summer would consist of, then struggle to reach the surface to catch a breath by the time the summer ended. But not so this summer. This summer there IS a plan!

Last night I had to make a Wal-Mart run to pick up a vaporizer for a snotty congested little guy & I happened to be alone, so I decided to do some extensive shopping for this summer. On the list were items to make finger paint & moon sand. scoops, shovels & molds to play in the moon sand. Items for a 'GOOD BEHAVIOR' prize box, art supplies...& the list was looonng.

The Moon Sand was the easiest thing to make, 8 cups white flour & 1cup baby oil. That's it!

I made 3 batches & it filled this tub with just the right amount that I was hoping for. Molds & shovels cost me all of .98 for two!....I made this after the children had gone to bed, & let's just say, it really is the coolest thing to play with, I know cause I spent about half n hour playing with it myself! ;)

Little man is dreaming up all the messes he could make with this finger-paint :)

Also, so easy to make. 1 cup flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water...mix thoroughly & add food color.(I did add a little more water though to get the consistency I liked). I also made 3 batches of the finger paint & it filled 4 ketchup bottle perfectly.

200 sheets of construction paper, coloring books, new markers, colored pencils, & crayons=hours of fun & creativity for my munchkins!

This is something I think I will end up loving!

At school each class has their plan for the day, a special activity for that day, chores for the children etc....when I hung this up for the first time this morning, the children got super excited! They know what to expect for the day. They know what is expected of them, & I believe we will have much less chaos through-out the day...each day it will change & through-out the summer I want to get really creative with their specials, make it fun & interesting & possibly even have them learn something in the process...think, treasure hunts-scavenger hunts-library visits, nature walks....I'd be open to suggestions too;)

THIS...is the prize box!

 For every 7days that they have good behavior, they get to choose something from the prize box.

There is some GOOD stuff in here! :)

-glow sticks

-jumping ropes

-candy bars

-note pads

-bubble gum

-bubbles

-activity packs

-stickers

-pens & pencils

-water guns

-silly putty

We have a large desk calendar on the refrigerator where I keep track of activities  & the calendar will also be used to keep track of good behavior. Each child picks a color they will use all summer & at the end of the day, if he/she has practiced good behavior all day, they will make a line with their color on that day. when the have 7 lines a prize may be chosen!

 

Here's to having a good, creative, fun, summer vacation!

How do you plan for summer vacation?

Happy sunny, Sunday to you!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Hospitality

Tonight I said & did something that I could still just kick myself for (If that would change matters, that is).

While walking the trail in Fredericksburg, we met up with Friends of ours that we haven't been in contact with for a very long time, despite the fact we live in the same town.

After standing around & visiting with them for a few minutes, I made the comment, "If my house wasn't so trashed right now, we would have you guys over to sit around the fire & make S'mores."

They looked as if they wanted to accept, but my comment didn't leave any room for an acceptance! boo!

Am I the only one who does this???!!!

Since when does a clean or not so clean house have to be the deciding factor for a fun evening reconnecting with friends?!

Have good impressions become so important in my life that it trumps friendship?

In reality, they probably would have taken one look at the mess & said their house looks just like this too-really! why does it even matter?

 

"People will forget what you said.

They will even forget what you did.(or how your house looked).

But they will never forget how you made them feel."

 

Awhile back I took dinner in for a family that had just had a baby, that we have since become good friends with. Their house was a mess! truly-toys everywhere, crumbs stuck to your feet when you walked through the house. There were no apologies made for the messy house(that's probably all I would have done in the same situation).

But going into their home & sitting there visiting with them & snuggling their new baby, I have probably never felt so comfortable or at ease in any other home. And since then, when they come over, the pressure is totally off in regards to making that my home looks perfect.

Again...am I the only one who does this?

I have been challenged today. To put people first. don't stress the little things. They won't matter in the end.....

How do you show Hospitality? Is a clean-picked up house on the top of your list?

I tend to suck at Hospitality, I believe it is a gift & if you have it, BLESS YOU!

For me it is something that I need to work at & practice, God help me! :) I obviously need it!

 

 



Magic

So...It's been a really long time since I've come to put my thoughts here, but today I've been inspired!

Magic happened in my kitchen today. That's the only way I can describe it. There are days when I spend the whole day in my kitchen & everything flops, but then there are rare days like today, when it all goes RIGHT!

 

I had raw-whole milk yogurt in the oven by 7:30 to work it's magic. By 3:30 I opened the oven to find I had rich, creamy, thick yogurt! That has never happened for me before! other recipes I've used all called for gelatin & I often used 2% milk to make it & it always turned out more like a watery jello. GROSS! The recipe I used today I found here rollermillfarms.blogspot.com

I flavored mine with 2T. real vanilla extract & 1/2c. honey. It is amazing!

I also made homemade whole wheat bread that actually rose to the occasion :) Although I did go a little overboard on the split tops ;)

the bread got rave reviews from the children when they came home from school.

I also took the leftover bread that I made yesterday, cut it into cubes, drizzled with olive oil & seasoned them with garlic & seasoned salt, then toasted them. The children have been eating them like some people sit & eat a bowl of chips. Although they were meant to top salads.

 

In other news..

There are only 16 more days of school left. 16!!! I can't wait! As much as I'm ready to resume a schedule in the Fall, I'm also excited for the late-lazy Summer evenings & late-sleeping kiddos in the mornings.

We are slowly letting the children stay up later & later each week & that is resulting in mornings where I get lots done before they wake up & they take long afternoon naps!

 

 

Also keep my Friends Heidi & Donavon & their precious baby boy Kasen in your prayers tonight. They are at Altman Hospital with him due to a really high jaundice count.

 

Have a happy Thursday night!



Perfect Snow Day!

So far today it's been one of those days that goes down in the books to be remembered for a long time to come.

Andy didn't need to go to work, and the children didn't have school due to the weather.

Our day started with brownies & chocolate milk & playing Legos in jammies.

As soon as Asher went down for his 1st nap there were Easter eggs to be colored...

Waiting for the eggs to change color:)

Excitement is barely contained:)

The boy who never wears a shirt...

After the eggs were colored there were snowmen to make, so the kiddos got all bundled up & headed outside with Daddy...while I got Dinner prepped & ready.

Smoked sausages, potatoes & banana peppers with a little garlic & seasoned salt & parsley flakes.

Tossed salad with bacon, eggs & cheese with cheese-garlic croutons...YUM!

Meanwhile 2, very large snowmen were being built outside...

 

 

 Now the babies have been put down for naps, laundry is almost done, & Daddy took the 3 older children to Lowes, to dream of projects that need to be completed this Summer:)

Happy-snowy Monday, Thanks for stopping by!



A new normal...

I painted today!...painted!

for any of you who really know me, knows that this is me in my happy place!

there are few things I enjoy more than slapping a fresh coat of paint onto something. I've had people tell me that if my children would stand still long enough I'd probly paint them too:)

Being able to paint today proved that things are finally returning to some sort of normal & a schedule is somewhat in place again, and that makes me one happy mamma! Not to mention I have time to Blog about it:)

delightfulmomstuff.blogspot.com,this lady has been a sanity saver for me!

I know it's not linked up right but if you click on the link then scroll down her blog list to Sleeping Babies, you will find what I'm talking about.

She explains how to sleep train your newborn, & I've been doing this for a week now & only having to wake up for 2 feeding vs. the 5-6 that I had been waking up for-EXHAUSTING! (the 5-6x,that is).

I'm actually enjoying my baby boy now instead of just tolerating him, that may sound cold but it really was as bad as all that, there were times when Andy would come home from work & I just wanted to hand the little guy over to him & run in the other direction as fast & far as I could, I will be forever grateful for the sleep teaching method!

With his schedule in place he sleeps longer,he eats when hes hungry & not just because hes fussy & wants something to soothe himself,there are no bellyaches because hes not over-feeding & over-all I have a brand new baby! To put it in a nut-shell...he is a gem! there are days when I can't wait for his 2hr. nap to be over so I can snuggle with him,his smiles are limitless & I know that when I lay him down,he falls asleep peacefully...

 

Aannd, here is where I would've placed a precious sleeping photo but blogger is once again NOT letting upload pictures:(

 

For any of you bloggers that use Blogger & know how to fix this,I would be forever grateful for the advice:)