Back to school time

I absolutely love this time of the year. Back to school time when the sales are amazing and there is just such a nice change in the air. We all know that fall and the holidays are right around the corner, and summer really starts to slow down. This year I was a little more than excited that Noah will be starting Pre-K. I probably shouldn't be excited, but instead sad, but the fact of the matter is, he needs a school setting. He is a really bright kid, and no i'm not just saying that because he is mine. He absolutely LOVES doing projects and crafts, and reading stories. Pretending he's a cowboy, or a bear, or a ghost. He's just all over the place. He loves going to school, and use to BEG to go when he was in pre-school.

I'm looking forward to a more structured school setting that pre-K has to offer, and of course being that I graduated as a special ed teacher, I am very thrilled there will be some type of curriculum this year. So with that said, I was excited to some what have a purpose this back to school season! My own child would be attending school, for the first time! So of course what do I do, start planning all the shopping I "have" to do. ;)

I got lucky and hit some good sales at Gymboree, Gap, and Marshall's. My kids really don't need any more clothes or shoes, I keep them pretty stocked, even for the next size and season, but there were a few things that I thought Noah should have some extras of, such as t-shirts and what not. The number one item that he for sure needed was a backpack. I've gone back and forth with whether or not we should let him just use his little tiny Thomas one and then get him a big good one for kindergarten next year. But from fear that he will be bringing home papers and notebooks, which won't fit in his Thomas one, I'm thinking I might just have to splurge, buy him a nice backpack, and hope it lasts for kindergarten as well. The 3 sites I was debating on was LLBean, Lands End, and of course Pottery Barn Kids. Well I can't seem to convince myself of any of the prints on the LLBean site. I know they are suppose to have good quality back packs, but I can't stand all the prints. So I've narrowed it down to Lands End and Pottery Barn Kids. I was against PBK at first because some of the things I have ordered from there before weren't good quality, but then I saw a little boy at our gym with the exact PBK back pack Noah wanted and it was amazing! It looked extremely sturdy, and I have no doubt it would last him through kindergarten. So what do you think? Which should I go with? And since lunch is provided for him, he wont be needing a lunch box till next year, which means I wont feel so bad for splurging on a nice back pack :) Score for Mama!

Here is Noah's number one pick! Found HERE, and this is the one I saw in person and it's just as impressive in person as it is on the site.

Or this is the other one I'm looking at on Lands End. Wondering if their backpacks are as sturdy as LL Bean? Found HERE.

Paint and Decisions.

Everyone has trouble picking out paint colors right? I hope so. I have wanted to paint our kitchen since the day we moved in. I just cannot stand the flat, boring, light brown paint it is painted. I do so much cooking and the kids are always in there, that the flat paint is a recipe for disaster. My real dream is to put a backsplash up after we paint, but again I am getting ahead of myself. Especially because this is not our dream home, and we don't plan on staying in it much longer. Ok back to paint.

I dont know why, but I am so so picky about paint colors in kitchens. I feel like kitchens are so creative and beautiful in magazines and blogs, but whenever people try to re-create that in their own kitchen it turns disastrous. For example, red. The few red kitchens I have seen in person, and no one I know specifically, it's been YEARRRSS since I've seen a red kitchen in person, but they drive me up a wall!!! I'm just not fond of red paint to be honest. But then I see pictures on Pinterest of red done in kitchens so beautifully, and I think, yeah right, that would never happen to me. Then there are blue kitchens. Blue kitchens are getting a little warmer, but I just feel like it has to be the right shade of blue. I think some people must spin the dial, win the paint lottery, and bam get the right blue that happens to be all over Pinterest. Then people like me fall in love with it, paint their kitchen blue and it ends up looking like a daycare center. Same with yellow. I think it has something to do with the tones. Yellow can come out very bright and cartoony, and for fun and funky furniture I love that color, but for kitchen walls, not so much.

So where do i even begin???

From ONE picture, and you will see it soon below, I decided on yellow. I thought it would look great with our dark cabinets. Here is a picture of our kitchen in case you forgot, give or take because this was taken a year ago. Also, I know we need some bar stools, I'm waiting for a specific, unique pair to find me. I'm picky.

Here are the paint swatches I've been eyeing

I still did not know where to begin. I wanted yellow with some brown undertones, because I am afraid it will turn out too bright. So for the first time ever, George and I got 2 samples of 2 that we agreed on and put them on the wall. What do you think?

At first I was dead set on the top one. It's more mustard-y, the look I was going for. But in the evenings, the color really fades into the brown we already have. It's also very dark, which I'm afraid it will make our kitchen feel darker instead of lighter. And with our dark cabinets we don't need that. So then I was telling George I was starting to lean towards the light one, and he broke the news that he thinks we need more samples. UGHHHH seriously?? I wanted to start on this ASAP! Here are some pictures that I can't stop looking at of beautiful kitchens.

Kitchen #1

Here is the forbidden red, looking so absolutely beautiful. Seriously, I wish I had the guts to do a color like this. Isn't this kitchen SO cheerful? I love it. Check it out here.




Kitchen #2


And here is the picture that inspired my yellow phase. The furniture is brown and neutral, so it reminded me alot of our kitchen now.  

HERE

Kitchen #3


And lastly, this kitchen is starting to make me think that George and I may need to get some blue swatches and put them on the walls to compare to the yellow. What do you think?? SO serene right?

HERE

And here we go!

Wow, 7 months since I dusted off this old blog. I feel like I've been to the moon and back since that last one. I went on to complete my student teaching, and final semester of school. With 2 small kids of my own, I really did not know how I was going to finish, but I did! During the time of my last post I was going through some changes within myself as well. I decided to go after a dream and goal of mine that I had for a really long time. I didn't know how it would all pan out with my last semester of school, but I am proud to say that it all somehow fell into place. What is meant to be, will certainly find a way!

In 5 weeks I will be competing in my very figure competition. I started a new blog, more fitness oriented, which details my journey called Mamamuscle.wordpress.com. Check it out if you're interested!

The last month of my training has been extremely hard on me, not physically, but I guess you could say mentally. I hit a wall where I started to look around and felt like I had really lost myself in the weeks and months of training. I was so committed and devoted to this goal of mine, and really motivated to say the least, that I had forgotten about all the other things that made me happy. Once I let myself take a deep breath and realize that it was ok to have many different interests and hobbies, I began my love for crafting, house projects and cooking again!

Cooking is a bit of a challenge right now due to my diet, but I realized that it didn't mean I couldn't cook fun, healthy, homemade meals for my family. If anything it made me feel a little more normal with all the changes that are going on in my body. So with that said, I've decided to bring this old blog back to life. I'm in the process of changing Belle's room over to a big girl room. I have some painting ideas in my head for the house, as well as projects for the laundry room ect ect. I've been experimenting with some fun new recipes, and re-creating old ones by substituting healthier ingredients. And I want to share that all with you!

Also, Noah starts pre-K in 3 weeks! eeeeek! Where has the time gone?? Belle is pretty much a toddler now and acts older than Noah. With a kid in school and one I want to start potty training soon, I will need a mama outlet :) I've been having SO much fun staying home with them and not having to worry about homework or papers. I missed this part of my life, and promise to update alot more! Especially in time for the holidays :) Stay tuned!

Let's get this party started....

So before the holidays attacks me and the new year begins i need to update with some fairly old things we have done to our abode! I have mentioned before that i was adding a new mirror to our master bath and that we were also installing hardwood in our living room. With 2 kids and 2 dogs, hardwood is a must. Our carpet shampooer actually broke right after we installed the wood lol. So that should tell you how much we used it. Here are some pictures from our projects. If i'm not mistaken both of these projects were done at the end of summer in August.

Bathroom paint drying :)

Belle finding it amusing as i struggle to get the new mirrors hung.

I got these mirrors at Ikea. They came as a pack  of 4 and i thought they would look fabulous in our Master bath as one big mirror. I think one pack cost $19.99 so i bought 2 to cover where our old mirror use to be.

I had to tape them as i fastened the hardware to the wall. Each mirror required 4 pieces of hardware on each corner so it took some time. Especially because i was planning on putting all 8 mirrors up but then realized only 6 would fit. So i had to start over. 

Here they are all put up before i removed the tape. Will take a better finished pic soon, but i love how unique and different they are. They definitely add a more modern feel to the bathroom. 

Now onto our next project which was installing hardwood floor. George started at night after the kids went to bed, and basically just prepped by pulling out all the carpet. 

By morning this is what it looked like. He started a small section that night as well, to get a feel for how it would be. 

Besides our patio this was George's 2nd big project in our house! He has been learning so much just by looking around online and i couldn't be happier and prouder of the outcome!

The first things we bought was a new vacuum and a shark. Both work GREAT on keeping the floors extra clean from the kids and dogs!

I.Am.Alive

Yes i am still alive. Barely. The last few months have been a whirlwind. School was my number one priority, i feel awful saying that, but when you're this CLOSE to graduating you gotta start taking things off the plate to make sure you finish! BUT fall semester is NOW over!!!!! Student teaching starts Jan 2 so you will have me for one WHOLE month! :) A lot has happened around here. George put in wood flooring downstairs, like 10 years ago it feels like. And other than decorating for the holidays NOTHING else has happened house wise. BUT, of course i have a few things up my sleeve! So i will take you all along with me in the next few weeks while i get my house, crafting, holiday on!!!

The kids are getting SO SO big. I look at Belle and can literally see her maturing EVERY day. She acts like such a little girl now and runs and plays. It's so sweet to see her and Noah play together and hug. They are VERY wild and rambunctious, but make life SO happy here. I cant believe Christmas is already here. Why does time have to fly by when kids are so little. Makes me sad. Winter time is such a special time to me here in Georgia. It holds so many good memories. Memories of when i first moved here after a long and hard year stationed apart from George. Then the winter that he was in Iraq and i was pregnant with Noah. Then we moved into our first home the winter of 09. And of course my favorite, Belle was born just last winter. As soon as the leaves change colors and the cold crisp airs arrives, the nostalgia hits me and i cant help but walk around in a haze remembering such good memories. With that said, i will update and post some new pics tomorrow!! Eeeeek SO excited to have a month off!

Guestroom/Craftroom!

Since our entire family has been hit like a plague with stomach bugs, colds, and bronchitis i feel like it has been FOREVER since i've blogged, and even longer since i decorated my guestroom/craftroom. It is still in the works, i need to find some lamps for the nightstands, a work table to replace that black bookshelf, and i think i am going to get the bigger expdit shelf and put this smaller one in the playroom for toy storage. BUT here is is THUS far! In case you didn't know what it looked like before..........let me remind you.

And here is the room now!!!!

I have to say that the curtains are my all time favorite thing about the room. I scored them at Joann's in the clearance section for $3 a yard! I'm kicking myself for not getting more yardage!

Here are 2 mirrors that were left over from my Master bath project that is next on my blogging list :) And this SUPPEERR cute shelf i scored at the Goodwill for $10. Haven't fully decided what i want to do with it yet. I've just been placing jars and other random containers in it to hold craft supplies. 

So there you have it, my little cozy sewing haven. I dont know if we will get to the small changes i mentioned i wanted to make, by the end of the year. I have the holidays, my crazy kids, and of course school to focus on till then. But i will be blogging my master bath project, master bedroom alteration, and a big project we did in the living room!

This craftroom is now, by far, one of my favorite places in the house. Since it is upstairs with the kids, it feels so nice to be near them while they play during the day. They lay on the floor and make messes while i sew, and last week i even napped in our guest bed while the kids napped. I've even been known to hide out in that bed with snacks and gossip magazines as well. It's starting to feel more and more like my mom "escape" cave :) Nothing wrong with that.

Recap!

So i know i have been gone for about 2 weeks now but a lot has been going on over here. For one my computer crashed and shut down completely. so i had to turn it into apple to get fixed. Then i had some medical issues i had to take care of, and then my dad came to visit for a week! So with that said, i will be playing catch up the next few weeks and sharing what little i've done around the house and project wise.

The kids are literally growing like weeds, doing SO much it's amazing. School is going good, it is a pretty easy semester compared to the last 2, and senioritis has set in full force. I need to snap out of it though before my student teaching starts January 3rd, because the Spring is going to be the busiest time of my life. Here are 2 pictures of 2 main projects i was working on before my computer crashed. I will do full posts on these as well as a post on one BIG project George did to the house while i was away as well :)

My new sewing space :)

Our new bathroom mirrors :) Excuse the tape, that's what i used to get them up there perfect. Full post will have the final picture.

ATL!

Last weekend two of my best friends and I traveled to Atlanta to throw one of our dear friends a baby shower. This is the same friend that i took maternity pictures for just a few months ago. Bobbi wanted her baby shower at a tea room and we all thought that would be a great idea since we all LOVE a good excuse to get dolled up! Bobbi chose Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Room in Atlanta, GA and let me tell you, it was one of the best experiences we have all had together. And we have had many!

The place was in the cutest little neighborhood with the Flying Biscuit practically next door. In case you dont know what the Flying Biscuit is (because i didnt either until my girls took me) it is a fab restaurant that has many locations all over Atlanta. The tea room was small, but perfect for what we wanted. I organized a party of 10 to receive high tea with danishes and sandwiches, and then we also had a dozen strawberry cupcakes ordered from the bakery. The food was to die for. Here are a few pictures from our time there, and i can tell you that we will definietely be going back.

And since we're on the topic of Atlanta, let me tell you this........ i had to stop by Ikea on the way home. I have some AMAAZZZIINNNGG posts coming soon of my master bathroom and craftroom/guestroom makeover. Both rooms are coming along SO well :)

Happy dance!!

I said before that i had been working on the guestroom/craftroom and that i was re-doing my desk. This desk to be exact. I had plans of lightening it up a bit and painting it a pretty pastel yellow with little glass knobs for the hardware. Well my pretty ideas of a more feminine desk vanished when i started sanding all that awful green off and let me tell you this, i NEVER want to see that color green again. At least not in a paint can. It took me FOREVER to get that paint off! I took an hour almost EVERY evening for a month to work on it, since it was cooler in the evenings and when i started school i was also off in the evenings.

BEFORE:

Well yesterday after priming it upside down, i flipped the bad boy over and suddenly had a great idea! I had bought a can of beautiful wood stain to sand and stain the chair that went with the desk (already changed my mind on that one), and instead thought it would be SO pretty to stain the top of the desk and paint the rest.

So that is what i did. I was SO excited once it was done that i rushed to get it in the house, damp and all. I know that was a HUGE risk, especially moving it upstairs on my own. What can i say, i'm super woman. But here it is! These cell phone pics don't do it justice. I need a new memory card for my good camera so tomorrow after i get one i will take some new pics. And i will be working on the curtains i have for the room too! I am SO excited to get them up and then i will only need a few more things that i might be picking up at Ikea this weekend to complete the room!

I don't know why the yellow looks so much brighter in the first pic. It is a VERRRYY light yellow. It was actually called Creme Yellow by Vaspar.

Can't wait to get my sewing machine back up there and start on many awaiting projects!

I'm still alive......barely.

Well last week was my first week back to school. Literally back to school. I have to complete a 10 day "August Experience" in order to graduate next year. This is so i can experience "pre-planning" and setting up a classroom in the room where i am going to do my student teaching. I am working with a GREAT special education teacher that i really admire and think i will learn a lot from student teaching with her. So last week was filled with 8 hour days and then i would come home to my 2 adorable kiddos in enough time to cuddle and then dive straight into dinner, bathtime, and then betime. Last week was busy to say the least. And this upcoming week will be a repeat except that friday i will be heading to Atlanta with my girlfriends to throw one of our good friends a baby shower!

Since so much has been going on i haven't had time to work on all the projects i would love to, or to blog, or to even run. Bah humbug! No wonder i've been so cranky! So yesterday my neighbor and i decided to have a yard sale and clean out both our houses and post up out front and see what we could get for random stuff we no longer use. I only made $40 but spent a lot more lol. My neighbor was selling some great stuff, and stuff that we actually need! I scored this BEAUTIFUL solid wood buffet that she doesn't have room for, but looks like it was MADE for my dining room. We also got a Kirby and since her son is a few years older than mine, i got Noah's fall and winter wardrobe taken care of. I was SO excited!

*And how amazing does my old window look on the buffet??? I was working on it and planning on painting it blue and hanging it in our downstairs bathroom, but i set it on here to get a visual and George LOVED it. We are planning on leaving it there and adding a big long shelf higher up across the top of the wall.

Pumped from my goodies yesterday i took today to start organizing a bit since i got rid of some crap and have some space in our home. I cleaned out and swept the garage. *Side note, i have taken about an hour every night this past week to sand my desk and i JUST finished today. So priming and painting is on the agenda and i'm hoping i will have some pics of our guestroom/craftroom this weekend.* I moved a bookshelf from Ikea that we had in the garage into our closet which gave us so much more space and helped me organize our closet a little better. Here are a few pics from my closet work earlier this afternoon.

I know it doesn't look like much, but the shelf adds space for belts, bags, and shoes that otherwise get thrown every where else. There is also space for folded sweaters or winter things that George and I might not use during the spring and summer. 

I'm excited to get my desk done this week, FINALLY, and start working on more sewing projects as the fall holidays approach :)

Too good to last

Although we have had a "jumpin" summer, it is time that all the late nights come to an end. My last and FINAL year of school kicks off tomorrow. I want to give my school work all of my attention and really finish off my senior year with a bang. I'm shooting for straight A's, so we'll see how i do! I hope to keep up my blog, there may be weeks when i keep it up and weeks when i'm nowhere to be found. A lot of that has to do with my projects, crafts, and time with the kids as well.

I'm still patiently working on my desk, i was hoping to have it done by the time i went back to school but it looks like it was a bigger project than i was ready for. I will keep you all updated as i finish it and the craft/guestbedroom throughout the next few weeks.

I also have been wanting to do a running post. A post where i can write about all the things i love and cant live without in my 3 years of running. I cant believe this October 1st will only be 3 years since i took up the sport. It was the best thing i ever did. I hope everyone had a great summer and are ready and re-charged for fall and all the festivites that come during this time of year!

Bobbi Jo and baby Stella Rose

As if i don't take on enough extracurricular activities, here is my FIRST shot at taking some pictures of my beautiful friend Bobbi Jo who is 8 months pregnant. I've ALWAYS loved pretty pictures, and most my time out is spent looking at different and unique places where a picture could be captured. Don't get me wrong, i am in no shape or form a photographer, i am simply a girl who is having fun with her camera and capturing shots of someone i love and hoping she will look at these pictures and see herself the way i see her, simply beautiful, inside and out.

I've wanted to try something like this for awhile now, i just never had the guts, and someone close enough to me, to actually let me try what i wanted to, in regards to pictures. I have to say i was pretty impressed with myself. I was SO nervous that they would turn out horrible and i would hang my head and walk away with the satisfaction that i at least tried. But instead i was EXCITED, and found myself starring at some of the pictures i took hours after i took them. I am sticking with my major of teaching special ed, but i would love to learn more about photography and hopefully take more pictures of people i love, especially my own 2 kids. So here are some of my favorite pictures i took of my dear friend Bobbi Jo, her husband Gary, and their soon to be baby girl Stella Rose :)