Midwest

We are visiting my sister/parents/grandma in Iowa this week, so I am not blogging!  We are soaking up every minute together even though we are freezing!  I think it is supposed to be 88 degrees in TX this week, but we're not complaining. :)  We got some snow and Drew is dying to play in it.  Kate has already been to urgent care with an ear infection, and I had to get stitches the day we left to come here.  Whew!   We are all on the mend and having a great, relaxing time.  Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

Playroom "Art"

My sister just finished up construction on her basement renovation.  New walls, carpet, paint, etc.  More pics to come on that!  It will serve as a TV room and a play space for her two kiddos.  She is currently decorating it and putting all the final touches and I can't wait to see it!  My sister has great taste, so I know it will be cute.  Hopefully she will share some of her projects with little ol' me, so I can share with you!

Anyway, this prompted me to think about my own playroom and what changes/updates I want to make.  We don't have basements in Texas.  Boo!  I am just thankful that we have a space upstairs and away for toys.  I don't need my guests (or myself) tripping over tiny lego pieces and baby strollers!  It is amazing how much  junk, I mean stuff, you can accumulate when you have small kids!

I have already posted about where the bulk of our smaller toys are stored and last fall the kids helped me make a piece of art that is currently hanging in the playroom.  This is an inexpensive and personal touch, which I love.  Here is what we did...

I took an old canvas print I had and wasn't using and painted it with a pale blue/gray paint.  

I gave each of the kids a plate of different colored craft paints in bold, bright colors and basically told them to just have fun with it.

They thought this was the best project because they got to be included for once!

This is the finished product.  I love it and it makes me smile every time I look at it!  The kids are so proud to have their own work hanging in their play space.  I included the date in the bottom corner and I think I will repaint the surface again every year and have them update their canvas.

Chalkboard Cabinet Door

I found this old cabinet door and was drawn to the scalloped edge at the top.  I also loved that it had the hardward still attached.  I knew I would be able to do something with it!

I started out by cleaning the door and doing a light sanding.

I taped off the inside and painted the outer part a robin's egg blue (found a quart for 2.99).  I think I gave it about 3 coats of blue and carefully removed the painter's tape.

I then painted the inside section with chalkboard paint and let dry over night.  My hubs added some brackets and picture wire to the back and hung it from a nail.  I had to move my "blogs and coffee" print to a different spot in my kitchen, because this was the ONLY space for my new chalkboard!

I just love the way it turned out and I love the pop of color!  Now you know what we had for dinner and dessert on Saturday!

A Fun Little Award

To my astonishment, I received a "chain" blog award from Sherry at http://funkyjunk202.blogspot.com/.  Thank you for reading and enjoying my little blog!  It has really become a fun hobby for me!

In the spirit of keeping up with the "rules" of receiving this, here are 7 things about me:

1.  To know me is to know that I have a special relationship with my sister.  We are 15 months apart and have always been close.  And though we have not lived by each other in 11 years, she continues to be my bestie and I am so thankful to have her in my life.  Distance schmistance!

2.  My husband and I (and now our kids) move a lot.  Born in IL, college in IA, moved to TX to FL to NC to SC back to TX!  We always say "yes" to a move opportunity and we always make every place work for us.  We love the south, though I am, and always will be a Midwestern girl!

3.  Three things I look forward to every day:  hot coffee, hot shower, hubby coming home. 

4.  I have two Great Danes.  It is as if I have four toddlers instead of two!

5.  I'm left handed.  I love popcorn. My hair is starting to turn gray-yikes!  I drive a 6 year old car (don't you just love a Honda?)

6.  I have a degree in social work (and student loans!).  I am currently employed by my kids and it is my dream job.

7.  Every day I turn more and more into my mother!  If I have to be like anybody, I chose her!

I also have to pass this award along to some other bloggers!  Here are a few (among many) that I enjoy reading, though I am sure they have probably already received this award! :)

http://onehautekid.blogspot.com/

http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/

http://mylittlehappyplace.blogspot.com/

http://blog.effortless-style.com/

http://danielleoakeyinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.ourhappylittlenest.blogspot.com/

http://chriskauffman.blogspot.com/

I also wanted to say thank you for the mention (and for posting a link to my blog):

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

http://www.centsationalgirl.com/

http://www.everythinghasahome.com/

A Few Overdue Pics...

We went to the rodeo twice this year.  It is a big deal here, and for good reason!  We had a blast!  The first trip was just the 4 of us - we putzed around the grounds for a few hours, ate greasy food (yum!), looked at all the livestock, rode the carousel, and then went in for the actual rodeo itself.  I was amazed at how much I enjoyed it (except for the part where they do the "you know what" to the bucking horses and bulls to get them to buck)!

Kate slept through half the rodeo and Drew's eyes were peeled the entire time.  As soon as the rodeo was over, Lady Antebellum played.  They were so good live, and we were so close, it was awesome!  Kate and I danced in our seats and Drew decided it was his turn to nap.  We will definitely be going back next year.  Drew has convinced us that he wants to sign up for the "Mutton Bustin'" contest next year.  Hilarious!

Our little cowbgirl doing some ropin'!

Carnie rides and food in all their glory... :)

She ate on this gigantic corn dog for about an hour!

They must go through A LOT of tylenol, those cowboys!

Lady Antebellum-definitely worth seeing!

And now a little brotherly/sisterly LOVE!

Bedside Table Makeover

I was on the lookout for a little bedside table for Drew's room and I happened upon this little beauty.  It was the perfect scale and it actually looked fit for a boy's room.  So many little tables have edges that look girly, so I loved that this one had straight, clean lines.  The BEST part is....drumroll please...it was only $7.99!!

I had previously painted a chest of drawers for his room, so I just painted the bedside table the same shade of blue.  I used a sample of Valspar paint in Navy (a shade of Laura Ashley Home).  Fitting for a boy whose favorite color is blue! 

Love the legs on this little guy...

We made a trip to Hobby Lobby to chose a knob.  Drew was adament on picking the knob himself.  So, after some careful persuasion from mom, he chose this adorable red/white one.  This completely finishes it off!  Good choice for a 3 year old!

He already has this reading lamp on the other side of his bed, so this table is just for extra storage.  I snatched up this globe light for $3.99, and it adds an extra bit of color to the table.

 Here is the breakdown:

Table:  $7.99

Paint:  $3.00

Knob: $2.99

TOTAL COST:  $14.00

What do you think?

Grandma Visits!

Steve's mom came in town  for a few days...we strolled the mall, ate, played, went to the rodeo, and she got to see Drew's preschool.  The kids love having visitors, especially when they are of the Grandma sort!  I am sure she is exhausted from all the requests to play, build, "take me to the potty", etc.  Thanks for coming to visit-we had a great time!

Drew chose to ride "Dr. Pepper"

Kate picked "Tex" to ride



Corn dogs seems to be a reoccuring theme...



Drew and Gma went to the actual rodeo and we took Kate to the petting zoo.  She was not afriad of any of the animals...

A little too much excitement...

The lego obsession continues...

We love to "lunch"!

Another Lamp Makeover

I had a pair of old buffet lamps sitting around in my pile of stuff to donate or sell.  Because I like to look at old and ugly things in a new way, I decided to add a little personality to both of the lamps and use them in two different spots in my house.  Here is what I did with one...

The before...I really love the shape of this lamp, but the colors are just not working for me...

I got out my handy dandy, trusted friend, spray paint!  I chose a peacock blue color from Rustoleum for this one and gave it two good coats (taping off the top and the cord).

I also decided to jazz up the plain creamish shade I was going to put on it (from another lamp I had in the same donate pile).  I bought 1 yard of this trim from Hobby Lobby for $1.44/yard.

I hot glued the trim to the edge of the shade...

A cheap way to spruce up a old, dated lamp!  I love the added pop of color as you enter my front door!  The trim gives it a touch of sweetness and personality. 

More on this entry table in a different post coming soon!

Two Things I Thought...

...I would never do...

1.  let my daughter wear anything that said "princess" on it
2.  let my daughter wear a tutu out and about

Alas...both things are happening today, and I am perfectly okay with it. I have a 2 year old girly girl, and that's just the way it has to be.  She instantly starts to twirl with a tutu on and she looks so adorable doing it!  How can I resist?  She can't resist herself as she takes quick glances at herself in the mirror...

AND...not only does the shirt say "princess" on it, but it also says "daddy's little princess", which I am especially not fond of!  At least the shirt looks a little Sporty Spice, so we will let this one slide  :)!

Visitor from KC!

My friend Allison came for a short visit recently and we had a great time catching up, eating/drinking, playing with the kids, shopping, and doing some sightseeing.  We worked together at our first jobs out of college (in Dallas) and we had some good laughs about being so green in our field of work!  I am happy to say that Allison still works in the social service sector...we need more people like her in the world, thats for sure!  Don't you just love when you can pick right back up where you left off with an old friend, even if years have gone by? :)

Having a drink at The Friendly Spot (yes, they have a playground for kids so the parents can drink-don't you love it?!!)

Allison has recently started her own blog and  is currently planning a walk/run in KC to benefit Myasthenia Gravis (amazing how she is putting this all together!).  To read more about Allison and Myasthenia Gravis, and/or to donate to this great cause please click here.



Kate having her own "drink" in between play breaks



Had to show her the Alamo!



Thanks for coming to visit-the kids loved having you here!