I threw the littles in the car and started driving away when the other mom called me wondering where her kids were at. When I told her I’d forgot, she just laughed at me.

I found them walking home. They’d made it about a mile out of the 1.5 walk home. Of course when I picked them up they gave me the business. “We are so mad! What’s your excuse? I can’t believe you forgot us!”

I told I’d take them to get ice cream cones to make it up to them. I drove all the way to Arctic Circle and realized I didn’t have my purse because I had ran out in such a hurry.

I turned around (while listening to all their exclamations)  and drove back home and grabbed my purse.

I then drove back to Arctic Circle and ordered cones for all the kids. Got to the window and realized I didn’t have my wallet. It was sitting at home by my computer because I had been budgeting my remodeling receipts last night. The lady at the window laughed at me and I told her I’d have to come back.  I could barely believe it myself.

Drove back home (while listening to all their exclamations which were even more outragous) grabbed my wallet and drove back to get the ice cream cones.

Drove home in peace while everyone had ice cream in their mouths. I almost drove straight into our circle and forgot to drop the boys off until Emma said “The Boys!” I quickly corrected and finally dropped off the carpool.

Where is my brain today?

All this happened while I was bra-less, barefoot, hair in a mop top and sporting my hot pink Victoria secret pajama set.
Awesome.

Now that I have freshly painted walls I figured I needed to get the frames and things off my floor and back onto my wall even though I was enjoying that clean wall feeling. My family needs their house back.

I’ve been wanting to change things up on the big old wall in the great room and now was the perfect chance. I’d seen so many cute wall collages and wanted to do something simillar.

Here’s some inspiration-

or something like this-

I tried really hard to find a Before picture of my wall because, of course, I didn’t snap one when I took everything down. The only thing I could find was a silly video that Emma and Isaac made back in the summer. If you watch in the beginning you’ll get a glimpse of my wall. I was super tired of the hanging vase and dusty shelves.

From 2011-07 (July)

I gathered all the frames that I thought would look decent in my gallery. I started by arranging and rearranging the photos on the floor. I’d seen this method but was too lazy to cut out a bunch of paper. I just went for it.

I was afraid of it looking too cluttery since this great room can get so messy is such a well used room. I took out the smaller frames and thought it looked much cleaner. I dunno, is less more or is more better?

And here’s the finished product. I made a few last minute changes once I had everything on the wall. I used velcro command strips so I didn’t have to bother with nail holes. Loved them although they aren’t the cheapest option. I bought some craft paint and painted the wooden frames and rubbed a little stain on them. The white scalloped one had 4 different colors happen to it. It was a bit frustrating because my little craft paint was the wrong color and I repainted it 4 times. It took up my whole afternoon but I’m happy with the way it all turned out.

Even the hubby made all the “appropriate noises” (as my mom says) when he came home from work.

I had an empty frame that I wasn’t sure what to fill with so I printed out a Valentines Subway Art. I thought these colors worked great with my new color scheme. I’ve always had my eye on subway art but had no where to put it. Now I can switch it out for different holidays.

You can grab it here too if you like.

I whipped up some mock photoshop versions to help me get a visual idea.  I have this vaulted ceiling and partial wall on the left that make it difficult for me to know how it’ll feel in the room. Ideas?

Low: about  anywhere between 32 to 40 inches high, just enough to see it above the couch. Actually when I look at this picture, maybe lower.

High: 63 inches high, about my eye level.

or grid: still high but with the grid look

Whatcha think? Are you laughing at my photoshopped board and batten walls? Are you thinking about doing it too?

Want to vote because I’m such a poor decision maker?

Thanks very muches.

So when I started paint my front room on Friday and was a bit hesitant on the paint color Erin and I had decided on, classic gray. I had to get every girls opinion on the planet. I had 2 neighbors come over, a friend who was dropping off her daughter for a play date and my mom all come in through out the afternoon and give me their options.

It should have been a clue that I was so unsure because later that night when I had finished painting, I hated it. It was just too white (lacked enough contrast with the trim) and gave off a blue cast. I had thought that it was a warmish gray color from the paint chip and couldn’t tell that it was going to glow blue from the samples I’d painted on the wall. I guess I should have done more research than just looking at paint chips.

So after some tears and a restless night of sleep, I decided that the worst decision would be to live with it. So back to the paint store I went the next morning. I bought 3 more paint samples.

Honestly, looking at this picture I feel a little ridiculous. I understand that it’s hard to tell much from the picture. I know the paint looks tan. Comparing apples to apple, yes?  But first of all, it’s crappy light and secondly, I need someone to tell me to stop using my junky 2 megapixel cell phone camera. (Where on earth is my real camera? haven’t used it in ages.) But have you ever had a paint disaster? It’s an awful feeling. Money wasted. Body super tired. Kids grouchy from mom painting all day. And husband not wanted to help anymore. Sigh.

With the paint samples, we, meaning only me and Jeremy (despite the fact that I wanted to call all my neighbors, sister’s and mom (again)), decided on Edgecomb Gray. (The far right square on the wall.) I had seen it in real life on a friends wall and it had great reviews online. It must be a good, safe, proven choice.

After a very long day of painting, I’m very happy with this beautiful, warm grayish neutral. It was a ton of painting. Not only did I paint the front room but the wall wraps around into the great room and includes the entry way. Big vaulted ceiling. Gosh, I’m tired and sore.

I do feel a little silly painting a neutral over with another neutral. Especially after all this work of doing it twice. I’d really love for it to look noticeably different and improved to others. In real life I think it looks different. My beige/tan color had a bit of a pink hue to it that I wanted to get rid of. The new paint does look great in my house, works with my blue/gray walls and really freshens things up despite the lack of drama. It feels so good I hardly want to put pictures back on the wall.

Before:

After:

My forearms are sore, my back hurts and I’m desperately tired.

On to the next project: Board and Batten wall.

So what have I been doing? you might ask.

I have been completely and totally obsessed with redecorating my front room. It all started with joining Pinterest. Have any of your lives changed because of Pinterest? Sheesh, mine has. Not only does it give me another reason to be on the computer but it gives me great ideas for cooking, sewing, things to wear, things to do with the kids, and of course decorating ideas. Lots things to keep me distracted from my blog.

So, after hearing that my sister in law found a very affordable interior decorator to help her get that put together look to her own house, I couldn’t resist checking her out for some of my own decoration dilemmas.

My front room has always been place for yard sell furniture and dusty old things that I don’t care to much about. The problem with that is that it’s the first room you see when you walk into my house. I don’t mean to be vain but I want people to have a good first impression when they walk into my house. I want it to be fun, inviting and well put together. I felt like it was time to spruce things up.

My house is very earth toned. I love earth tones. I am naturally drawn to browns. But I really want to add some fun color in the mix. I’m dreadfully tired of burgundy. On the internet I see lots of fun turquoise and oranges, bright yellow and greens. I can’t help but want that. Ahh.

This whole thing actually started in July when I was wanting a bright, fun painted old piano for my front room.

I was a bit stumped, though, on how to do that in my very warm, earth tones house. If I had one room all bright and colorful how would that look or flow with the other rooms. I didn’t know. I thought I’d have to pull down everything off the walls and start all over with a clean slate.

That’s why I enlisted the help of Erin.

She came over, checked out my room, talked about what I was wanting and created a vision board for me. Now before you look to closely at it, I think the hot pink art work is very distracting. It is not going to be like that in my room. You have to try really had to imagine those green. I told her I was happy to do things myself to save money and so she found some art work I could easily make my self. We’ve also picked out a different rung that I think is cuter and the modern chairs are going to be Grandma’s wingback chairs reupholstered for a little more classy look.

Things I’ve done so far:

1. bought a cheep beat up round mirror and painted the frame silver.

2. bought a new lamp, which I’m not loving and might return (unless I decide to do this to the lampshade)

3. I have also stressed and stressed over the pillows. I like her suggestions but was not in love. I have looked and looked all over the place. You can’t imagine what a big ordeal I’ve made out of it. Maybe I’ll write up a whole post about my pillow drama, but in the end I made a pillow inspired by this one and now am ready to get on with some of the other details and coordinating pillows.

The things I’m really excited about getting going on:

1. the board and batten wall against the couch wall.

2. painting the walls a warm gray color.

3. If I ever acquire a piano, painting it a cheery yellow.

4. I might attempt making my own curtains. Maybe something like this but in white.

So that’s it for now. It’s crazy how consumed I’ve been with it all. I’d love to have it all done in a month or so. Perhaps I’m nesting. Ya, let’s blame it on that. I always enjoy seeing before and afters so I’ll keep you posted about it if you’re interested. And maybe a anthro-inspired pillow tutorial. How about that?

Ta ta for now.

There was no doubt as to his gender. The sonographer joked that he’ll come out a boy unless his parts shrivel up or fall off somehow.

His little face was buried in my placenta so it was hard to get a good face shot. Here is his profile.

His little legs were swimming all over the place. It’s always fun to see them kick and feel them kick at the same time.

This little guy was frank breech. I know it’s not time to worry about having a breech baby yet (plenty of time to turn) but he’s my third baby in this position. I must like to cook them head up. I’m going to have to start thinking about doing pelvic tilt exercises (again) and visiting a chiropractor so he doesn’t get stuck head up like his biggest sister.

Fun stuff. We’ve got a little pattern going on here. Girl, boy, girl, boy.

I had fun looking back on this past year as I made my Year in Review scrapbooking pages. It’s crazy to think about all the things that have happened in a year.

Of course I made you all a template so you can do the same too. Download it here for a limited time.

Here are my pages. Credits at flickr.

And if you are looking for a different design for your Year in Review pages I have this one…

and this one in my shop. Images linked.

Have fun looking back over the past year.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

seen frost quite like this?

This was my backyard on the 15th. I’d never seen anything quite like it and it lasted all morning because the sun couldn’t power through the thick, low clouds. My mom, who lives 10 minutes away, had nothing like it at her house.

fainted?

I mean a real full on faint. I had my first experience with it when I was kneeling in the temple listening to a dear, sweet old man share some of his wisdom to me and Jeremy. I was listening to him though I was really uncomfortable and wanted to sit down. I felt a hot flash coming and then a sense of queasiness. I thought about the location of the nearest garbage can and hoped that I could make it there in time. I then felt that tingly feeling of blood rushing to my head and tongue, kinda like a head rush after standing up real quick. I closed my eyes and titled my head forward in order to let the head rush past.

I then had a sense of relief and forgot about being uncomfortable.

Perhaps I had a dream or went somewhere else. Someone called my name, I think it was Jeremy and I said “What?” like he had just awakened me from a nap and I didn’t want to be bothered.  When I looked around  I could see a beautiful gold trimmed ceiling and sweet old man that I didn’t remember, kneeling over me.  I had no idea where I was. Jeremy could tell by the look on my face that I was completely confused and trying to figure things out. How I ended up on the floor was a mystery until someone complimented Jeremy on his nice catch.

Then I remembered where I was and what I had been doing. I was pretty embarrassed but recovered quickly with a glass of water. I was only out for 3 or 4 seconds but had felt like it had been hours and had lost all memory of where I was. What a crazy experience that was!

had to clean up after a child who ran down the hall vomiting on the carpet as they went running for your help?

I just did and it wasn’t pretty. In fact I’m really hoping this isn’t how my Christmas turns out.

reupholstered a wing back chair?

I’m just getting started with this project and I’m surprised how long it is taking just to take the chair apart. I’m being super careful because I was to reuse most things and use the fabric as a pattern but, sheesh, after millions and millions of staples my hands get pretty tired.

witnessed a birth of a child other than your own?

My sweet little sister just had her first baby. She went in for a scheduled induction due to her Cholestasis at 37 weeks. She only needed Cytotec gel to put her into labor which was a miracle in and of itself because she wanted a natural child birth. It was such a wonder to watch her handle her contractions. I just loved being there and couldn’t help but be touched in my heart over it all. In just 6 hours, she pushed her tiny baby girl into the world. Miracle, I tell you!

Great.

So we started off our holiday break with a candy eating fest, er, I mean a (faux) ginger bread house making session.

I started with the wonderful and original idea to buy one of those kits from the store and simply have the kids assemble. Easy peasy. Then I thought, why do that whey I can probably make home made ginger bread and not have to get out of my jammies? I looked up some recipes and thought it was totally do-able. But then something died inside of me when I realized I’d have to go to the store for molasses and cloves.

So I went with the easiest route I possibly could.

Graham Cracker Houses

Have you ever made them before? You might miss out on the wonderful smell of gingerbread wafting through the air and having cute windows and doors in your house but when you are 8, 5, and 2 you don’t care. Heck, you don’t even know. Really the fun is licking the frosting off your fingers as you make them and looking forward to eating the houses after you’ve waited 3 whole hours to show your daddy when he gets home from work.

To make your own Graham Cracker House you’ll need the following:

cut cardboard covered with aluminum foil for your base
graham crackers
sandwich bags for squirting icing
a candy assortment such as jelly beans, smarties, licorice, sprinkles
and royal icing

Here is the royal icing recipe I used. It worked like a champ.

ROYAL ICING

3 egg whites
1/2 t. cream of tartar
1 lb. confectioners sugar

I let each kid take a turn using the beaters. Maybe a minute each until the icing was fluffy and getting stiff.

I taught the kids how to squeeze the icing out of the sandwich bag (cut a tiny bit of corner off one of the bottom corners) and helped them build their houses without interfering too much (hard for me.) Then I let them go to town with the decorating. If was fun to see the things they came up with. Bird nests and exploded bombs in the front yard. Ha.

I did help Leah quite a bit with building her house but I was surprised with her house decorating abilities and soon backed off to let her at it. Good job you cute frosting face two year old!

Ta da! Day one of Christmas Vacation down.