10 Months!

10 Months!

Long gone are the days of trying to get E to lay on his back and take a picture. This is the best I could get from the big guy. I can't believe in 2 short months he will be a year old! I already have a really fun themed birthday party in the works. It's going to be a party the gods will envy. (this is a hint BTW) I can't wait!!!  But at the same time, I am not in a hurry for E to turn a year old. Day by day he is less like a baby and more like a little boy. sigh. 
I had a total cheese ball momma moment the other day at our ECFE baby class. I was just watching Ev play and he was such a big boy, playing on all the equipment and being so active. When he was sitting at the snack table in a little chair and eating his cheerios like a big boy, I literally had to fight back tears. Some days just fly by in a blur, so it's nice when you can stop and take it all in. I am a blessed mommy! 

Homemade Washi Tape

I love washi tape!! I'm starting to collect quite a few rolls of my own. They are so pretty and fun to use for craft projects, letters, and gifts. One day I saw this tutorial at Just Something I Made Blog for handmade paper tape and I was so excited!!!

So here is my tutorial version of washi\paper tape...

• Collect a variety of vintage old spools. These ones were actually from my Grandmother's sewing box. But you can find them at thrift store and probably ebay. Or else you can just use an empty ones you have on hand. 
• I bought a box of 3M Positionable Mounting Adhesive from Amazon. It is about $46 a box, so it's not cheap. Luckily, I had some Amazon credit so that was a big help. But you get a ton of it and you can use it for other project too. This stuff is super sticky so watch where you put your fingers!
• Find scrapbook paper or any decorative paper you like. I had a ton of scrapbook paper that I loved with pretty patterns, So I cut it into long strips with a paper cutter. 

• Once you have the strips you want to use, roll out your adhesive tape. Carefully lay the strips onto the sticky side of the tape and lay the strips end to end. 

• Once you have your strips laid out, use the smoothing tool that comes with the tape. Smooth it down completely because this will really help the adhesive backing to stick to your paper. (This is especially important for when you are rolling it up on the spool.) 
• Since there will be breaks in the tape from where your paper strips meet. You could use contact paper and cover your strips. I did not do this step, but it is a suggestion if you would like a more cohesive paper tape. 
• Take an X-Acto cutter and a ruler and slowly cut out the strips you want to use for your tape. (Remember to us a cutting mat underneath). You will be cutting all the way through to the other side of the tape. You will want the protective backing on the back of your tape, so don't pull that off. 

• Cut a small bit of the protective backing off the tape, so you can stick it to your spool.
• SLOWLY!!! Roll your tape onto your spool. If you notice the white backing starting to bubble or pucker, just smooth it out as best you can as you roll it. (When you go to use the tape you end up pulling it off and throwing it away anyway, but keep it as smooth as possible on your spool)
• When you get to the end, I secured mine with some Scotch Magic Tape, but in the other tutorial she used a wire to hold the tape on the spool.

And there you have it, your very own collection of handmade paper tape!! Very easy and the possibilities are endless!! 

Linked up at these rad places:

It's Overflowing, Five Days...5 Ways, Tatertots and Jello, House of Hepworths, The 36th Avenue, Crafty, Scrappy, Happy, The Shabby Nest, My Romantic Home, Finding Fabulous, Bubbly Nature Creations, Tip Junkie

What's in Your Purse?

My bloggy pal Christina at Sweet Lavender Bake Shoppe, did a post about things she carries around with her. I love when people show what is in their purse. As women, we tend to carry the things we absolutely need on a daily basis. Some women are more organized and have just a few essentials. And then there are those of us who are more like Mary Poppins (I am the latter). So here is a look inside my bag. 

1. Purse. I got it at Target right after I had the baby. I wanted something that was big enough to hold all my stuff and lots of pockets for the baby's stuff. 
2. Sunglasses. I cannot be without sunglasses. My motto has been the bigger the better, but these ones are pretty tame compared to some of the ginormo ones I used to wear! The best place I find cheap sunglasses are TJMaxx and Target.
3. Wallet. I used to have really big wallets but I found this one and it's made a huge difference. I got this one at Marshall's. It's great because it holds everything I need and yet, when I don't want to carry my purse somewhere I can just grab the wallet and go. (That's my cutie husband in his school picture! 8the Grade Math teachers are so hot!)
4. Sequined Pouch. I got this from Sephora with some stuff I bought. I carry lots of essentials including way too many lip glosses (more on that later)
5. Bath & Body Works Hand Creme. I have been wearing Warm Vanilla Sugar for years, and I like this because it goes on soft and makes my hands feel so much better. 
6. Rosebud Salve. I use this for everything! Lips, nails, hand creme, and  diaper creme in a pinch. It's pure genius and it smells like lovely roses!
7. Papaya Enzymes. The tin is from GNC, but when I ran out I just filled it with Papaya pills I have at home. My mom has been giving me these for tummy aches since I was a little girl. It's just a natural way to help my upset stomach. (like when I eat too much dairy! eeek!)
8. Hair ties. With my long curly unruly hair, I need to get my crazy locks up and out of my face! I'm lost without them! 
9. A picture of my sweet baby boy. This one was from Christmas, but I just love his smile!

My purse has this awesome front zipper pocket that is perfect for holding some diaper essentials! I really dislike carrying a diaper bag with me, so if I don't have to carry one, even better! My baby pocket holds a couple of diapers, a little thing of wipes, burp cloth\changing pad and a Onesie and pair of socks for an emergency clothing change.

GUILTY PLEASURE!!!

I admit I have a thing for lip gloss and lip products. I'm trying to get better, but somehow I just keep accumulating more! Stop the Insanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (The Aquaphor is great for both chapped lips and diaper rash!)

This is so wrong! Help!

1.  Erin Condren daily planner. I was fortunate to get a discount and I was able to buy the planner. This planner is AWESOME! Keeps me organized and on schedule. Plus it has lots of space to write out goals and ideas for my blog and home. 
2. Magazines. I love Bon Appetit because I love cooking and baking so much! I drool when I read this!
3.  Books. I love to read! So I like to have a book on me at all times. Not that I ever have any down time with the baby, but sometimes when I'm waiting at the doctor, dentist, DMV, etc., I like to be able to read. I am currently reading March by Geraldine Brooks. It's a fictional perspective of Mr. March (The father of the Little Women by Louisa May Alcott) during the Civil War. It's fascinating! 
4.  Smart Phone. I recently jumped on the smart phone bandwagon. We would have never been able to do this, but my mom said we could be on her family plan. It was actually cheaper to get a smart phone with all the data, text and unlimited calls, then it would've been to have cheapy junky phones with no extras on our own plan. I really wanted an iPhone but TMobile doesn't carry them. But I like what I got (Galaxy S) and it works pretty swell. I got the cover for $2 on Amazon! 

A Minnesota Winter Must!!
(Target)

So... What's in your purse? What is something you ALWAYS have to carry with you at all times? Any guilty pleasures????

Bring on the Snow!

Today my little monkey pal and I went to Trader Joe's to gear up for Blizzard Storm 2012. (I doubt it will be anything special) 

We stocked up on our favorite things and my mom was there and she paid for our cart! She even got me tulips. I heart my mom! 

I pretty much do all my shopping at TJ's now. I mean it's reasonably priced, yummy food and lots of organic options! (and no, Trader Joe's is not paying me to write this)

We love their Turkey Meatballs & TJ's Marinara, Veggies Samosas, Goat Yogurt and Gorgonzola Crackers. And their Strawberry Yogurt O's cereal is killer! I could eat a bowl for every meal! 

There is a whole website dedicated to Trader Joe's. The blog is called What's Good at Trader Joe's.   Lots of great reviews! 

What do you like at Trader Joe's? Any favorites? 

Speaking of favorites, who was your favorite last night at the Academy Awards. I thought Michelle Williams looked so gorgeous! Love that dress! 

I thought it was awesome she went to the awards with her Dawson's Creek pal, Busy Phillips! I secretly was hoping that Katie Holmes would pop out of the crowd and join them! 

source

I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up!

Head first into the toy chest.

Urkel in the house!

Bathroom Makeover Is Finished!

So the bathroom is finally finished with all the little touches that make it cozy. I'm not even sure what you would call my decorating style. I find so many styles to be beautiful so I tend to throw quite a few together. I love Country, Vintage, Modern, Eclectic and Shabby Chic. My decorating style is evolving and this bathroom, to me, encompasses all the styles I love. 
But really, anything is a HUGE difference compared to what it used to look like!!!! 

You all remember the before:

And now the after:

I still need a rug and maybe some fun accent towels. And it would be great to paint the trim white, but I just don't know if that is going to happen anytime soon. For now though, I am pleased as punch at the changes!

Hometown Canvas Art

Recently, I took part in a Valentine Exchange with some bloggers. I got matched up with Jennifer over at Finding My Way in Texas.  Jennifer told me that she was from Canada, but was now living in Texas. And she was getting married! So of course I wanted to make her something that symbolized where she is from and where her husband is from. I've seen these made all over the internet, so I thought I would make my own. 

I used vinyl on my Silhouette Cameo machine to create Texas and Ontario. I made sure that when it cut out the State\Province that it would also cut out a heart located where they were from. Once I had the cut outs, I put them on a canvas and painted over them. When they were dry, I pulled off the vinyl and I was finished. 

This was so fun and easy to make and I already have some more of these projects up my sleeve for friends and family. 

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