No more eye sore

 

Darn it! I forgot to take a "before" picture! You will have to picture what I say in your mind.

 

In the home we are renting {for some reason} they just stuck a piece of plywood on the wall, drilled a small whole bottom left side, with the telephone hook up coming out. The plywood wasn't painted, just stuck there! probably to cover a big whole, they didn't want to fix the right way.  It was a eye sore. Since I am renting, I wanted to do something cheap that looks cute that wouldn't destroy their ....plywood.

 

So I decided to cover it with scraping paper. I glued the paper on, using a glue stick in the corners. This way it can be removed easy and I wasn't out a lot of money.  I bought the key holder at Hobby Lobby for half price :)  I am so happy how it turned out!

 

Garbage Man

I grew up in Arizona. I don't remember seeing a garbage man pick up the trash cans and dump it into the back. The garbage men I remember drove big trucks with a fork on the side that lifted the trash cans to the top.

 

I have great appreciation for the garabage men here. Depending on area, there are 2 or 3 working together. Usually there is the driver and then the other(s) picking up the trash and dumping.

 

They work hard and quick. They are efficient. I imagine my kids growing up with that same work ethic!

 

If I happen to be outside when they are around, I say 'thank you' with a smile and eye contact... {not creepy eye contact to indicate I'm stalking them...  because I'm really not}. I appreciate their hard work and service for a non-glamorous job! 

Upcylce baby dresses

Happy Wednesday friends! Spring is almost here... I can feel it and my allergies tell me so.

 

Babies go through clothes fast. I love trying to upcycle clothes. My daughter is almost 2 and I still have her 3-6 month old dresses. WHY? Because they can be easly turned into a cute shirt.

 

You can add a little fabric to the bottom or add some tulle if you want the dress turned shirt to be longer.

{She is not too happy that she had to stand still. She kept on sitting down.}

Teaching my kids

I am a stay at home mom. I have the time to make lunches, make beds, pick out clothes, clean rooms, pick up toys {you get the idea}... I take on the responsibilities that my children are capable of doing. I always thought that since I had the time & to show my love, I would do everything for them! I mean, isn't that what a mom does?!

 

I was reading an article in the Ensign several nights ago about raising resilent children. I started thinking of the things I do for my children, even my older boys 10 & 13. I do a lot! Two things that I don't do, is teach them how to do things themselves and the responsibility.

 

That's changed! {I know, it's only day 2, but learning that I needed to change was BIG!} My 10 year old wasn't happy with the idea of making his own lunch. He pleaded that he didn't have the time. I cheered him on. He ended up having 15 minutes to play on his Kindle. My 4 year old threw a fit when I wouldn't put his shirt on for him {not on me, on him}. I tried to talk him through, but he threw the shirt on the floor & stomped off mad. Today I taught him how to deal with failure and to retry. And when that didn't work, I taught him how to stick to something until it's accomplished {ie., to stay in his room until he put his shirt on}. He was able to work through it and get that shirt on under a minute. Such dedication! 

Shutter turned holder

While I was at the thrift store I came across this shutter. It was ugly brown, paint was chipping. It wasn't pretty, but I knew it could be. You know the saying "Don't judge a book by it's cover", that idea applies here. You can't look at something and take it for face value. Everything can be fixed up, painted. It came home with me for $2. I spray painted 3 coats of yellow. I love the sunny color!

 

 

I love the rustic, used, beat up look. To do that, I used an acrylic paint in brown and light sponged it on. You can also wipe off with a damp cloth for a different look.

 

 

 

 

 

I drilled two holes at the top for the ribbon to run through. I love the sunny color!

 

This is a central spot for my kids to hang up their books they are reading for the week. It also holds their spot in the book for next day reading.

 

Did I mention I love the sunny color it adds to my home?! 

Tetris with the dishwasher

Happy Monday friends!

 

I have a confession... I secretly enjoy loading and unloading the dishwasher. Okay, really, it's not that exciting. However, it has to be done, so why not make it fun. I love making neat rows with the bowls, plates and cups. Am I OCD?! Maybe. Just a teeny bit!

 

Another fun thing I do... I have blue and white plastic bowls. When I'm unloading, I stack them in a pattern... blue, white, blue, white... you get the idea.

 

Maybe I spend too much time unloading. It makes me giggle that I take extra time to be creative with loading and unloading. I mean who does this besides me? Please tell me I'm not crazy!

We are back together

I was eating my chocolate Power Bar this morning, kind of sad that I wouldn't be drinking a Pepsi today. I've been trying to give up Pepsi because I would like to lose my pooch and little love handles. I tried giving it up several weeks ago. I was good for 4 hard days! On Monday, I thought, 'I can do this!' No Pepsi for 2 days.

 

Pepsi makes me happy. It's the reason I get up in the morning... okay, not really. I get up because I have kids to get ready for school.

 

Pepsi is a memory. Many fabulous memories. My earliest memory is when I was 10. My aunt Sherry and family were living with us in Arizona. My mom & aunt would stay up late toll painting while us kids were supposed to be sleeping. My mom & aunt would allow my cousin and I to stay up tickling their backs. They would share a couple sips of Pepsi with us.

 

Another moment is when my oldest son was 7 months and could sip out of a straw... his first taste of soda. I called everyone in my family excited!

 

Chilled over ice in a glass, sharing one with my youngest brother on his lunch break at my parents home in Mesa. Sharing one with my mom while eating homemade salsa & chatting. Going over to my grandma's house. My grandmas & my aunts 32 ouncers on the kitchen counter, country music blasting on the stereo.

 

Ahhhh, Pepsi! It brings me back. I love the special moments shared with family over a cold Pepsi.

 

So back to eating my Power Bar. That is when I decided I wasn't going to give up Pepsi. At ALL! I will simply drink more water throughout the day.

Yeup, picked this baby up today!