tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25507779700335017082024-03-18T09:55:02.778-07:00Loving Lifea blog about adventures in early marriage, the effort in making a house a home on a budget, the unexpected struggle of infertility, an exciting twin pregnancy, a surprise second pregnancy, adventures in doing preschool at home ~ really this is just a blog about where each season of life takes me! Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-74248084217293764952017-02-20T17:30:00.000-08:002017-02-20T17:34:43.690-08:00I lub you, Mommy<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I lub you, Mommy.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is power in those words when my little boys say them to me.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When those words come out of their mouths, they can make me forget the morning messes, the toddler impulsiveness, or the all-boy play that can quickly escalate into an injury before </span><st1:time hour="7" minute="0"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7:00 in the morning</span></st1:time><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are the words that I get to hear first thing every
morning, before the sun comes up, from my rambunctious, bright-eyed, little guy.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He greets me every morning with a big hug and
those four precious words, and then he takes off running like a ball of energy
until his head finds his pillow once again.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As soon as those words are spoken, my other little guy
slowly makes his way to me, only awake because his brother does not know how to be quiet when others are trying to sleep.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He pipes in
with an “I love you too, Mommy”.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He
speaks this with a big grin on his face, in a higher pitched voice than his
brother’s, and an emphasis on the “too”. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the second time in my very early morning, my
tired eyes are momentarily overtaken by my melted heart.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These
moments are short-lived, I assure you, as spilt milk and twin bickering inevitably
occur in the first twenty minutes of my day.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nonetheless, the melt-my-heart moments make all of the mundane-mom
moments worth it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As my day goes on, I will randomly hear more “I lub you’s”
and “I love you too’s” from my two little guys, for no other reason than I am there
mom and they are my babies.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a
beautiful thing really, these two year old “I lub you’s”. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If I could bottle those words up, spoken just
like I hear them everyday, I absolutely would!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For all too soon the “I lub you, Mommy” will turn into “I love you,
Mom”. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this reason, I’m trying to soak up all of the two year old
boy-love that I can get these days!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May
I never forget how sweet and innocent those words sound to me when spoken from
the mouths of my babies.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May I never
forget that when I am having a bad day, those words can change my day.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May I never forget when I am feeling a little
unloved, those words remind me that I am very loved.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And may I never forget that as great as the
love is between a Mama and her baby, the love of God is even greater! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So tonight as I’m cherishing the “I lub you’s”, I’m taking
comfort in the unconditional love I have for my babies, knowing that I too am unconditionally loved by Heavenly Father. Such a comforting thought to ponder on as I put my kiddos to bed tonight. May it be a comfort to you too, dear friend, knowing that the love of God is an unconditional, sacrificial, life-giving love for all to receive.</span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-68003519557907901062017-02-02T19:01:00.000-08:002017-02-02T19:32:00.203-08:00Finishing what I started.....<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">There are some things that I am content to never finish. Take the Whole 30 diet, for example. I started it January 2, and lasted all of nine days before calling it quits. I assure you, I had no issues with not completing the intended thirty days, as I felt miserable the entire nine days I tried it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><i>{No offense to all of you hard-core Whole 30 people. It just wasn't for me.}</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Books that don't hold my interest for more than a few chapters would also fall into the "I'm ok with quitting this" category. And Monopoly would definitely fall into this category. Has anyone ever really finished a game of Monopoly? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">While there are some things that I feel I do not need to complete, there are other things that I feel compelled to finish, for no other reason than I want to finish what I started. <span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Seven years ago, I started a process that if I could do over, I probably wouldn't even begin. This past week I submitted a project confirming that in just a few short months, I will finally be able to say that I completed this thing that I started so many years ago. As much as I disliked spending the last several months of my free time completing something I currently have little interest in, being able to say that I am going to finish what I started feels incredibly freeing! In many ways, it feels as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
A little over ten years ago, I graduated college with a degree in education. That statement alone makes me feel really old. How has it already been more than ten years? I spent the next three years teaching in a small, private Christian school. For various reasons and opportunities, I chose to leave the classroom in 2009 after I got married, fully intending to go back to teaching after a few years.</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">In 2010, a</span>s I was waiting to figure out what to do next, I thought it would be a great idea to begin work
on my masters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Now I read that
sentence and laugh, wondering what on earth I was thinking!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Back then, I told myself that while I had
the extra resources and time, it would be a fabulous idea to be a life-learner
and continue my education at my own pace through online classes, even if I never used the degree!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Such noble thoughts I had nearly seven years
ago!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Someday, I may thank my
former, noble, thoughtful self. The problem is that I never finished my degree
before I got pregnant with the twins in 2013. A</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">s close as I was to
finishing back then, with only a few assignments for a class and a
thesis paper to write, once I got pregnant and those babies came, it was
game-over!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I no longer cared about how
close I was to the finish line.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I was in
survival mode, up to me knees in dirty diapers and baby bottles.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">After the twins turned one year old,
I did finish that last class, leaving me with only a thesis paper to write before I could say I finished the task I set out to achieve. <span style="margin: 0px;">But then I got pregnant again, a</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">nd for the
first half of that pregnancy I was taking care of twin toddlers, all while being exhausted and nauseous.<span style="margin: 0px;"> On</span>ce again, finishing what I started
got put on hold.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">At the end of my pregnancy,
I got a phone call from my professor, reminding me how long I had been
enrolled in the program, how close I was to finishing, and how much time and
resources I’ve already put into the process.<span style="margin: 0px;">
By this point, I had had only taken one class in 2-3 years. </span>She told me that I needed to make a decision to finish what I started,
or to be content to never finish.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;">At this point in my life, it would be easier for me to write a paper about potty training, breast feeding or cloth diapering, than it would a paper about education! Nonetheless, th</span></span>is past fall, I submitted
a thesis topic and outline for approval. I confess that working on this project in my free time has not been ideal. The truth is that the only reason I’ve spent the last few months researching and writing about something I’m not currently interested in, is because I didn't want to have any regrets. I didn't want to always wonder if I should have or could have finished. I wanted to tell my kids that their mom finished what she started. That's it. Plain and simple. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">As I write this today, I don’t know if teaching is a vocation I will ever return to. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m not the same person I was ten years ago.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My dreams are different. My interests have broadened.<span style="margin: 0px;"> The </span>passions that help drive me today are pointing me a different way. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">No matter what my future holds once my babies are grown, this I know. I know that, at least in this area of my life, I will never wonder if should have or could have. I know that even if it took me twice as long as it should have, I completed the task before me, and for that I am proud.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-16543099639713944132017-01-24T15:30:00.003-08:002017-01-24T15:49:08.054-08:00Slow down child, I have something better for you ahead....<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">One
of my January goals was to read and write more.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>My writing is not the most fluid or articulate, but there is something
about my fingers methodically tapping this keyboard that brings comfort.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Whether on a computer screen or a piece of
paper, taking the thoughts from my head and making them both tactile and visual,
has always been somewhat therapeutic for me. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">As
for my reading, I’m finishing up book number three, and have three more books on
my “to-read soon list”. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This past week’s
book was one of those “good for my soul” books.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>The kind of book that I picked up, because I knew it would be beneficial
to me in my current state of life. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Entitled <u>Wait and See</u>, it is part a
memoir about the author’s own season of waiting in her life, and part a study
on the life of David and his season of waiting, the years he was fleeing from
Saul before becoming king.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">As
I had anticipated, this book has at times made me cringe.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not because it was poorly written.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I cringe because there are things written on
those pages, that at times are piercing and feel as if the words were meant for
my eyes to read, to remind me of where I have been and all that God has done
for me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Not
tool long ago, I was sitting around a table with a group of peers and was
sharing with them that if I could sum up my adult life in one phrase, it would
be God whispering in my ear “Just wait child, I have something better for you ahead.”
<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>At the time of that conversation, my
life was looking very much how I thought it would look in my mid twenties, only
as I was sharing this story, I was in my early thirties.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Here
I am nearly a year later, yet again in a place where the next big thing I had
planned for my life is not going the way I thought it would go.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>My plan, this plan that is a good plan – even
a God-honoring plan, is in the process of being delayed, being redirected, or
being completely derailed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Over
the past few months, as I have had to watch my plans unravel, I have once again
found myself in a place where I realize I have to let go of all control.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>This is sadly a reoccurring theme in my life,
and for this girl who likes all things orderly, letting go of the control will
probably always be a life-lesson I will need to learn over and over again.<i><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></i><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
confess that it has been harder to trust the truths that I know to be true this
time around, as this change of plans was not a clear closed door and came about
due to circumstances that brought wounds to my soul.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Things that once seemed safe and secure,
instantly felt shaky and unstable.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>What
I thought I knew, in an instant became an unknown.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But these things I do know.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
know my God is good.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He is good all the
time, regardless of my circumstances.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
know my God loves me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He loves me, even
if I don’t feel loved in life’s moments.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
know my God allows the hard things, not to hurt me, but to help heal me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I fall, He wants to pick me up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I feel lost, He wants me to look at Him
for direction, to be my compass when the winds of life blow and I don’t know
where to turn next.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
know He wants to fight my battles for me. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And when I am wounded and feel I can’t go any farther,
he wants to carry me to a place where I can be healed. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I
know that I have walked through seasons of waiting in my past.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In hindsight they are sweet seasons.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seasons where I grew.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seasons where I was made better.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Seasons where when I look back, I can see God
had bigger and better things for me ahead.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>Everything from my husband, to our vocations, to our home, to our
children – they all came to me later than what I had planned. Over and over
again, I can see that in waiting on God to bring into fruition the right time
and circumstances for me to move forward, my waiting has been a sweet time that
He has always used to bring me closer to Him.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">The
ring on my finger at age 20 wasn’t the right ring, because it wasn’t from the right
man.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A good man, but not the man for
me.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The right ring from the right man
would come along five years later at age 25.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>In that five year wait, I gained an independent lifestyle, but at the
same time learned to depend on God for my every need.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I had to come to a place where I was content
to never marry, before<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God brought the
right man along in the right time, in the most unexpected ways. A man that was
more than I ever expected. God’s plans were better than my plans.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">The
house in the subdivision down the street is a nice and lovely house.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s a house we almost bought.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But things fell through in a painful way with
that house, and for a full year we had to wait, watching so many houses sell at
all-time lows in a buyers market, before our house would finally sell. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I finally accepted that we didn’t have to
move, that our small house was just fine….well, that’s when our house finally
sold.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I walked into our current
home for the first time, I knew it wasn’t just a house, but a house I wanted to
make our home and raise our family.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It
was a bigger and better home than the house in the subdivision down the street.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was more than I was expecting.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s plans were better than my plans.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">When
my husband lost his job, and I could not understand why, there was a time of
waiting for him to find a new job.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When
he accepted a job that I did not want him to take, I could not see at the time
that with that decision, the time would come for me to want to stay home with
our children, and that job would be the job that would give him opportunity
after opportunity to finically provide for our family in bigger ways than I
could have ever expected.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>God’s
plans were better than my plans.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">When
we struggled to conceive children, I had to come to a place of accepting the
fact that even if I never conceived a baby, God was still good.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>When I finally got to that place of
acceptance, God went over and beyond my expectations.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>He gave me two babies, when I only asked for
one.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>And just because sometimes He wants
to show me how good He really is, He naturally opened my womb again and gave me
a baby girl.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>More than I ever expected! God’s
plans were better than my plans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">And
so now here I am again, accepting that even though my plans are good and noble
plans - plans that I will not give a name or description to in this specific
post – it’s either not the right timing for my plan, or it’s not the right
plan. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">So
for now, I wait, and <span style="margin: 0px;">I thank Him for what He has given me, for it is much more than I deserve or ever thought I would have. </span>And I learn from the lessons
that need to be learned during this wait, a<span style="margin: 0px;">nd I</span> grow in ways I need to grow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> And I focus on the important things in life that mean more to me than my plans - like being the best wife and mom I know how to be. And I</span>
watch God do work in the circumstance around me, and in doing so, I witness His grace in my life, and know that
He is good even in the hurt.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">And
I trust.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I trust His ways are better
than my ways. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That God has a better
plan.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>A plan that might not look
anything like what I thought it would look like, or perhaps like in times past, a plan that in time may be even better than what I originally desired.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I trust that in a couple of years, when I look back at where I am now, I
will still be able to say that even in this moment I sensed God whispering in
my ear, “Slow down child, I have something better for you ahead.”</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-33422147499039512992017-01-17T17:57:00.000-08:002017-01-17T18:29:57.768-08:00I want a legacy like Hannah's....<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">There are few things in life that I undoubtedly know. One of those things is that motherhood changed me, and it changed me for the better. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Motherhood makes me second-guess everything I've ever known about raising children. Makes me question if I'm doing or saying the right thing. Makes me wonder what impact my choices will have on my children. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Motherhood makes the love I feel for my children greater than the anger I feel when they make poor choices. It is a love that is unconditional. It is a selfless love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Motherhood brings me to my knees when I feel overwhelmed and need grace to get me through my day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">And motherhood brings me to my knees again </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">when I feel overwhelmed with gratitude and can't help but thank God for each day He has given me with my three precious gifts. These three little ones He has given to me to love and raise up. What a gift! And yet, what a responsibility!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Yes, without a doubt, motherhood has changed me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some might say that motherhood is their purpose in life.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps it is.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or perhaps it is just our purpose for a
particular season in life. </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This past week,
my mind has wondered from what my purpose in motherhood is, to what my legacy
in motherhood will be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think that both my purpose in motherhood and my legacy in
motherhood are intertwined, but this morning, I want to focus on the latter, as
it has been on my mind quite a bit this week with a study I've been doing on the book of 1 Samuel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you've grown up in the church, then chapter one of 1 Samuel is
oh-so-familiar</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hannah’s story is one
where her desire to become a mother was so great that she found herself
heartbroken, desperately pleading with God for a child. I </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">can relate.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Perhaps that's why I love Hannah's story so much. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My eyes
still get teary-eyed every time I read verse 27 of chapter one.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">God answered Hannah's prayer, and Hannah was faithful to give the
child back to God after he was weaned.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hannah’s
legacy has lived on for thousands of years.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> She </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is known for being a faithful mother of prayer, and the mother
of a great man of God.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She is the mother
of Samuel!</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What a legacy she has!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But then in the next few chapters, there is a less familiar
story.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another parent will have a legacy too.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this case it will be a father.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His name is Eli.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His legacy looks nothing like Hannah’s
legacy.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was a priest, the same priest
who found Hannah praying in the temple in chapter one. Unlike Hannah, who is
known for being the mother of a righteous man in Israel’s
history, Eli is known for being the parent of two vile young men who disgraced
the holiness of God.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no idea what kind of a parent Eli was.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He may have been a great dad.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Bible doesn’t say. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What the Bible does tell us is that Eli was aware of what
his sons were doing, but nowhere does the passage read that Eli addressed these
issues with his sons. In fact, the story reads that Eli enjoyed some of the physical benefits of his sons' wrongdoing. As a result, God took His blessings off of Eli and his family. His sons were killed in a great battle that Israel thought they would win. Not only did Israel lose the battle, their enemy took Israel's prized possession, their holy grail if you will, the Ark of the Covenant. When Eli heard the news, the passage reads that he fell over dead. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> I </span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">realize that I</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> can not make life decisions for my children, as we have all been given free-will. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What the future
holds for my children is still unknown and will be determined by the choices
they make along the way.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter what my children's lives look like over the next 20-30 years, I</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hope I leave a legacy for them that can someday be described as: a faithful mother
of prayer who loved her children with her whole heart, but loved God more.</span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s what I think of when I think of
Hannah. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eli and Hannah both left behind a legacy of their parenthood, as will all of us who have been given the gift of raising children. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope I have a legacy like Hannah's. How about you?</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-82315102768955331412017-01-09T19:41:00.000-08:002017-01-09T19:43:51.398-08:00Seeking slow and simple.....<br />
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">When I was a kid, I
hated the post-holiday season.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It was as
if there was all of this hype that led up to one special day, December 25, and just
like that it was gone as soon as my head hit the pillow Christmas night.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Like a
needle pinning a balloon, the day quickly disappeared, and with it the
excitement and nostalgia of the season.</span></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Truth be told, I probably hated this time of year as a child, because I hated winter. I hated January. It always seemed painfully slow, bitterly cold, sadly dark and dreary. And after the fast-paced excitement of whimsical wonder that November and December bring, it always felt like January would never end!</span></st1:place></st1:state><br />
<st1:state><st1:place><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></st1:place></st1:state><st1:state><st1:place><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></st1:place></st1:state></div>
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<st1:state><st1:place><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"></span></st1:place></st1:state><st1:state><st1:place><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Indiana</span></st1:place></st1:state><span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;"> winters are long and rather unpleasant, filled with overcast skies and barren trees
and fields. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Even now as a grownup, I
still dislike our winters.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But unlike when
I was a child, there is something about January that my adult-self now looks
forward to.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>More than just a fresh start
and newfound resolutions, January seems to grow on me with each passing year,
simply because it is the SLOWEST month of the year.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The very thing that I despised about this
month as a child, has now become a breath of fresh air to me as an adult.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>The thing about adulting is that it has led
me to not only crave slow on occasion, but to genuinely NEED a time for slow.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">And so this
January, I’m reveling in the slow.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I’m
seeking out the simple and sublime.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Because
the past few months, I have felt a little tattered and worn.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>More than just the usual tired from holiday
festivities and events, but tired and worn from life events.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">As 2016 came to a
close, I was feeling beat down, and I knew that every part of me,
mind-body-soul, needed to take a step back for a time of rest and
reflection.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Not the easiest thing to do for
a mama of three little ones, but a necessary thing for me to do to be the best
mama I can be for my babies.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Can I tell you that
it has only been nine days, but I’m already feeling better.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Feeling a little more energized.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Feeling a little more joyful.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Because on occasion, simple brings joy.
Choosing slow and simple allows my mind to focus on what is important, and my body to
do what is important.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">This week I have
said no to running errands<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>with the
kids, and yes to pajama days with the kids.<span style="margin: 0px;">
</span>I have said not now to household chores, and yes to play time with my
boys. <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have said no to cooking big
meals all week, and yes to eating simple, healthy meals.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have said no to some social outings, and
yes to alone time.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>I have said no to my group
Bible studies, and yes to solo studies. </span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">Is there anything
wrong with the above list?<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Nope.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In fact, I don’t really recommend never
leaving the house, staying in pajamas and becoming a hermit.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>That’s actually a great way to become
depressed.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We were designed to need people and to need a sense of community.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>However, the introverted part of me needed a
recharge, and I find that January is a perfect time to recharge. </span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">January will come
and go, and my calendar and commitments will fill up.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>But I hope in 2017, I don’t allow myself to
get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of day to day living, that I overlook
the joy found in the simple.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">This year, I want
to DO less each day.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">I want to read
more, write more and play more.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">To enjoy more.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>To enjoy my kids more!<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">To live in the
moment more.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">To stop and see
gratitude in the little things.</span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">While slow-paced is
not who I am, this year I want to slow down enough to see the joy in the simple
moments, without having to seek those moments out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span dir="LTR" style="font-family: "arial"; margin: 0px;">This year, I want
slow and simple.<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>How about you?</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-5979900484179704952016-08-26T13:21:00.001-07:002016-08-26T13:23:21.279-07:00Roasted Garlic and Basil Marinara Sauce from Garden Tomatoes.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The end of summer is here, and that means tomatoes are in season! I had seven pounds of tomatoes sitting on my counter for a little over a week and was wanting to make and preserve a huge batch of marinara sauce. I was hoping to have 20 pounds or more of tomatoes before endeavoring on such a task. Unfortunately, we have had a lot of rain the past several weeks, and all of the remaining tomatoes on the vine are still green. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This misfortune ended up working out for the better, as when I went to look at the new pressure canner I ordered, I realized I was missing a piece and was going to have to call the company to have the missing part shipped to me! So even if I had 20-30 pounds of tomatoes sitting on my counter, I couldn't pressure can marinara sauce if I wanted to!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o5yGRoHAwtZsgdnObWpluZkh5ZPDu0sKWavSmO4kFgq_8BKw_Sqz-FcZ6JWjFI1NKpiWMAsbWyoKvSpMYTWuUqsOGY8TUwE8aQLCUn6aojlWcLeux3Ocnm_h9YRPBa2YkWNcjMryxJtH/s1600/IMG_5065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-o5yGRoHAwtZsgdnObWpluZkh5ZPDu0sKWavSmO4kFgq_8BKw_Sqz-FcZ6JWjFI1NKpiWMAsbWyoKvSpMYTWuUqsOGY8TUwE8aQLCUn6aojlWcLeux3Ocnm_h9YRPBa2YkWNcjMryxJtH/s400/IMG_5065.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I really couldn't keep my tomatoes much longer without them spoiling, so a few days ago I filled my house with the aroma of fresh marinara sauce from roasted tomatoes! To do this I did the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) I cut 5-7lbs of tomatoes in half, after cutting off the stems and placed them into two glass pans.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To the tomatoes I add: <strong>a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper, garlic cloves with the skins on from a whole head of garlic, a chopped onion, and a few handfuls of fresh basil. </strong> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) I then roasted everything uncovered for <strong>40 minutes at 375 degrees.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) Once roasted, I peeled off the skin from the garlic cloves and the skin from the tomatoes before pouring everything into a strainer and <strong>straining the juice</strong>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5) From this batch I was able to get one quart of tomato juice that I will can by processing with boiling water. The juice can be used in soups or stews at a later time. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Setting the juice aside, I <strong>blended everything else in the blender</strong> with another handful of fresh basil. A food processer would work just fine for this too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6) From there, I<strong> poured the mixture into a pot and brought it to a simmer, adding about a tbs. of Italian seasoning and sweetener to taste</strong>. Most people would use sugar, but I am on a no-sugar-kick whenever possible. Instead of sugar, I used Gentle Sweet from my THM supplies. I have no measurement on the sweetener. I just sweeten to taste, as it depended on the flavor and ripeness of the tomatoes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">7) When ready to use, add meatballs or seasoned ground beef, and then pour over pasta!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>This made about a quart of marina sauce</strong>, which was more than enough to use with a spaghetti dinner. This is not enough to preserve, but it is enough to go over one pound of pasta, which is two meals for my family. It's also good to note that roma tomatoes are usually recommended for marinara sauce, but I've only grown big boy tomatoes and have found these to work just fine for marinara!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Last year was my first time making homemade marinara, as I made a large batch and froze the excess in quart size freezer bags. I personally didn't care for the marinara as much after I froze it, which is why I was looking forward to canning marinara sauce this year. To make it worth my time and effort, I'd want to make a large batch and I would probably need about 25 pounds of tomatoes to preserve 4 quarts of juice and 8 pints of marinara sauce, which unfortunately, I do not have from my garden at this time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>TO PRESERVE:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freeze in quart size bags</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">or use a pressure canner and can for 40 minutes at 10 pounds PSI</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There are mixed views on whether or not it is safe to preserve marinara sauce by processing in a boiling water system. Some say that once you add seasonings and sweeteners you lower the acidity lever, and therefore a pressure canner must be used. Others say any kind of tomato is acidic enough for boiling water canning. To be safe, I planned on using the pressure canner, since I added seasonings and sweetener.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong>To make one quart of marinara sauce/one quart of tomato juice you will need:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">5-7 pounds of tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">small onion, chopped</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">head of garlic </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">couple handfuls of fresh basil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">drizzle of olive oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">salt and pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">1 tbs. Italian seasoning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">sweetener to taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Roast first six ingredients for 40 minutes at 375 degrees, and follow the above directions to create the marinara sauce.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>NOTE:</strong> You can always add the juice back into the marinara and add a small can of tomato paste to thicken the sauce. This would give you more marinara if you have no use in preserving tomato juice. Although to do this, the seasonings and sweetener may need to be adjusted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">As I stated above, I made a large batch of marinara last summer, of which I used all of the juice and thickened it with tomato paste. I even made homemade meatballs and homemade garlic spread that day. I must have been feeling very Susie-homemaker at the time, as I did not put in that kind of effort this past week! Here are pictures from last year's marinara making, and what I learned from that first experience:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">1) Be sure to use deep glass dishes that are sprayed with cooking spray. Last year I roasted the tomatoes on baking sheets. Bad idea. Lots of juice. Lots of mess. Enough said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">2) It's easier to cut off the stems before roasting. I even roasted the tomatoes whole last year, but found that slicing them first was a bit easier this year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">3) Don't forget to take off the tomato skins after roasting. They come right off. I forgot this step this year, and although it didn't taste bad, you could find tomato skin fibers all throughout my sauce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">4) It's my personal preference to drain the juice and not add it back to the sauce. Even with the tomato paste in last year's sauce, the end result was still runnier than I'd like. This year, I had a nice thick sauce without the juice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-65239674764425878042016-08-22T18:45:00.001-07:002016-08-22T18:45:19.492-07:00Tips for Vacationing with Young Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We recently got back from our annual family vacation. I thought I'd post a few tips about vacationing we kids, as vacationing with kids is nothing like vacationing without them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our annual vacation of choice is southwest Michigan. Matthew and I were drawn to it when we first got married. We woke up one Saturday morning, found ourselves with nothing to do, and decided on a spontaneous beach day. Packing a picnic and beach bag that contained nothing more than a book, sunglasses and sunscreen, we put on our beach attire and drove north. We crossed into Michigan and ended up in New Buffalo for the day. With the sand in our toes and the sun kissing our skin, the view of Lake Michigan was only topped by the relaxation of a beach day getaway and the company of one another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Several years and three kids later, I can assure you our annual Lake Michigan trip is nothing like the first time we dipped our toes on that southwest Michigan water. Now we make the drive up in our minivan, full of kids and all of the "stuff" that comes with kids. There is nothing relaxing about our trips to the beach anymore, but somehow the memories we make are just as sweet as the first time we drove up there years ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So how do we make such sweet memories with kiddos? Here are few tips that I've found help make our annual vacation as stress-free as possible. Although let's be honest, with kids it will never be completely stress-free!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Short and Sweet</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I try to remember that vacationing with children, particularly young children, is not really a vacation! What it is, is a lot of work! For us, four days is the right amount of time to be away from the comforts of home with kids in tow!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's a long enough span of time to do all sorts of fun things with the kids, yet short enough that we aren't completely exhausted when we come home. Not to mention, only doing a 4 day/3 night vacation helps keep our lodging cost at a minimum. I personally prefer to go Tues- Fri, allowing plenty of time to prepare before the trip and unwind after the trip. Or if for whatever reason we are limited on paid vacation days that year, a four day vacation gives us the option to do an extended weekend and only use up two vacation days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Not too far Not too Close</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We live in the Midwest. For us, we could drive 3-5 hours in any direction and have a place to vacation. St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Gatlinburg ~ These are all places that we could get away, without being too far away. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">The idea is to drive instead of fly with kids to keep cost down, yet we also don't want to have a crazy-long drive with kids! .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Time everything around Naps!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seriously! We plan our drive around naps, as the kids always sleep well in a vehicle. We plan our itinerary around naps. We plan everything around naps! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year, the boys typically nap from 12-2, so I planned the beach for one part of the day and an outing with a meal the other part of the day. Last year, the boys were taking two naps a day. This meant that we did the beach every morning before going back to our place of lodging for morning naps. And we went out an about during the afternoon, before coming back to take afternoon naps, and then finishing the evening with parks and walks on the pier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Make a plan - a kid-friendly plan!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I wouldn't be me if I didn't do my research and make a detailed plan of what to do and when to do it when we are on vacation! It's just the way I am wired! </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">With kids, I'm researching kid-friendly places to stay, places to eat, and activities and beaches. Every part of the plan has the kids in mind! Once I've researched, I make a basic itinerary and do my best to stick to the plan!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong>Try to stick to a budget!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Although the average American thinks you have to spend a lot of money to go on vacation, that's really not true! We have never spent a lot of money n "things" when we travel. Rather, if we splurge with money, we try to spend it on an experience. Whether that is an adventure or a place to eat that we can't get back home, we'd rather spend our money on making memories, not on souvenirs or a local shopping mall.<br />
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To keep the budget down, w<span style="font-family: "arial";">e stay somewhere with a kitchenette. This allows us to bring our own food and only splurge on eating out once a day. And of course we </span>are always looking for free things to do. So for our annual Michigan trip, most of what we do is free. Beaches, parks, splash pads, piers, blueberry picking, visiting Chicago.....all free! The only thing we pay for is parking in Chicago, which is outrageous by the way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Expect the Unexpected</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Even with the best plan, when taking kids anywhere you can expect the plan to not go as planned! Whether it's weather, cranky kids, kids not napping or kids getting sick, you can expect something not planned to happen!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">For example, last year Ethan took off his diaper in the car before the blueberry patch, unknown to us of course, and peed all down himself while we were picking blueberries! And of course, I didn't bring a change of clothes! This year Charlotte decided she needed to eat, so I found myself breastfeeding while picking blueberries. Or one time on our way back from TN, one of the twins was vomiting the entire five hour drive back home, as he picked up some sort of virus while we were away! Talk about a long drive home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Take lots of pictures!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">As the saying goes, <strong>when you vacation with kids you are not vacationing, you are just making memories!</strong> There is 100% truth to that statement, so take lots of pictures to remember the memories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I even invested in a tripod and a remote for the camera this year for our annual beach picture. My boys are two years old and impossible to photograph, so I thought the remote would be a good idea. It was a good idea, but it didn't really make them any easier to photograph! Even so, my pictures are my memories! I wouldn't want to vacation with a camera to capture the memories!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong>Organization is the Ke</strong></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong>y to Success</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I firmly believe that organization is the key to success. Here are some things that help me stay organized.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">~ </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Make lists! Lots of lists! List what to pack. List food items to bring. List what to buy last minute. List baby/kid gear to grab last minute. If you want to get really organized you can even keep a master vacation list for the following year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">~ Research before you go and have a written itinerary of what you are doing and when you are wanting to do it. And then stick to the plan!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">~ Pack light and pack early! I try to be packed and ready to go a few days in advance.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">~ Pack the vehicle with items that need to be nearby in mind. In other words, don't pack the diaper bag on the bottom of the van!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">~ Bring a few toys, books and electronics for the kids. Just enough to entertain them when you are stuck inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">~Unpack and do laundry right away! This helps me feel less stressed out when we get home, knowing everything is ready and back to normal!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-21028049573898501532016-08-14T16:30:00.000-07:002016-08-14T16:35:30.617-07:00Canning Stewed Tomatoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Second year gardener here! I was thrilled to finally see lots of red in the garden this week! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's right. Tomato season is upon us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our garden did fabulous last year, with the exception of tomatoes, as we tried planting them in pots that didn't have good drainage. We planted three tomato plants in a raised garden bed this year, and have found that to be very successful. Ironically, tomatoes are one of the only things coming up well in the garden this year, due to pests that have completely taken out some of our other crops in mid-season. While I'm still sad that I've lost more than half of what we planted this year, for now I will relish in the fact that I have tomatoes to eat fresh and to can for the winter!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Even though I didn't yield tomatoes from our garden last year, a friend gave me their extras, so I was still able to enjoy fresh garden tomatoes last year and for the first time put up salsa, sauce and stewed tomatoes by teaching myself how to preserve vegetables using a canning system. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Yesterday, I put up my first big batch of canned stewed tomatoes from this year's garden. I use stewed tomatoes most often when I make vegetable beef stew, which in the fall and winter, I make frequently. Some people like to add onions, celery, garlic, celery salt and more to their stewed tomatoes before canning. For me, I season my stewed tomatoes with salt and pepper and nothing else, that way I can use additional seasoning for specific recipes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">When I can stewed tomatoes, I process them without a pressure canner, using a large pot and boiling water. Last summer, I invested in large canning pot that came with all of the necessary canning tools. My canner holds seven quart jars and was purchased from Amazon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Certain things are not safe to can without a pressure canner. Tomatoes are one of the few things that I will can with boiling water. When canning with boiling water instead of a pressure canner, you need to be careful of the acidity levels. This is why lemon juice is added to each jar before processing. The lemon juice helps raise the acidity level of the tomatoes, making them safe to preserve with boiling water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">To can seven quarts of stewed tomatoes you will need the following:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">15-16 pounds of tomatoes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1/4 c. salt, or more depending on taste</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2 tbs. pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">any other additional seasonings </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7 tbsp. lemon juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7 quart jars, sanitized in boiling water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">large canning pot and tools</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first thing I do when preparing to can is to get organized by making an assembly line of sorts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">15 pounds of tomatoes ready to be weighed....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Big pot and strainer filled with boiling water....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bowl of cold water....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cutting board for peeling tomatoes....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cutting board and knife for chopping tomatoes....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Giant bowl for chopped tomatoes....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Canner filled with water on the stove boiling.....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Clean jars and lids nearby.....check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Canning tools and seasonings nearby...check!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wearing an apron to catch any tomato splatters.....check!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ok, I'm ready to can!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step One:</strong> Weigh 2lbs of tomatoes on the scale. I do 2lbs batches to make things easier. That's about 6-8 sm-med tomatoes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Two:</strong> Place weighed tomatoes into boiling water for a couple of minutes, or until the skins begin to crack. This will allow the skins to peel off effortlessly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Three:</strong> Strain tomatoes and place in a bowl of cold water or ice water.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Four:</strong> Peel the skins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Five:</strong> Rough chop into bite size pieces and pour into a large bowl.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Six:</strong> Repeat steps 1-5 until 15-16 pounds of tomatoes are chopped. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>Note: I usually do an assembly line, so once I pull the first batch out of boiling water, I put the next batch into bowling water....and so on and so on, so I'm always busy doing something and never waiting.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Seven:</strong> Once all tomatoes are chopped, empty boiling water and remove strainer. Fill the pot with the chopped tomatoes. Add salt and seasonings. Cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Eight:</strong> Put one tbsp.. of lemon juice in each jar and fill each jar with cooked tomatoes, leaving 1/2 inch of headspace. Add a little water to each jar if necessary to leave 1/2 inch headspace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Nine:</strong> Put lids on jars. Process in boiling water for 25 minutes. Listen for the "pop" to make sure jars are sealed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is only my second year having a garden and trying my hand at canning. Canning has already been easier this year, just because I know what I need to do to be organized. I'm hoping that our small garden yields enough tomatoes this year for me to can another big batch of stewed tomatoes, some tomato sauce and some fresh garden salsa! If so, I'll be sure to keep you posted. Until then, happy canning everyone!</span><br />
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'Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-3109560847558478272016-08-08T18:49:00.001-07:002016-08-08T18:49:49.334-07:00RIP Squash and Zucchini Plants ~ What you need to know about Squash Vine Borers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last summer we decided to start a garden for the first time. We built our own boxes of raised beds in our small backyard garden. We found it required very little maintaining, and we didn't seem to have any issues with garden pests. I shared some of our first-time garden experiences on my blog last year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the exception of fungus issues in early summer, from an over abundance of rain, our garden was very successful. We tackled the fungus issue, and found ourselves reaping the benefits of planting for months to come. We had an abundance of cucumbers, squash and zucchini all the way through the first freeze in October, and we got two yields of green beans! It was fantastic!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">And then there is this year. Year two started out great. It wasn't very wet, so we didn't deal with the fungus. Everything looked great.....was growing great....and was producing great fruit! We had several weeks of squash, zucchini, cucumbers, green beans and peppers. Even the tomatoes were looking good this year. But then, something happened around the mid-July. It would be the first of our garden issues this year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">About a month ago, I noticed my beautiful squash and zucchini plants that had been producing much fruit, all of sudden starting to wilt. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">We had just had a bad storm the night before with high winds and hail, and so I thought that maybe the damage was a result of the storm, as it almost looked like the stems were exposed and starting to uproot?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Not realizing I had a much more serious problem than storm damage, I had my husband cover up the base of the stems with more soil. As a result, new shoots started coming out of the soil, but the original plant was dying. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on? Then the following weekend, the new shoots started to wilt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">When I finally went out to examine the plants, I noticed we had an infestation of squash bugs. Ok, so that was not good, but it wouldn't kill the plants that fast? So I started researching, and discovered my plants had the symptoms of squash vine borers! As I examined my plants further, I noticed that the bases of the plants did indeed have the "saw dust" type residue from the larvae entering the vines. And sure enough, when I cut open a stalk, I saw these disgusting looking white larvae eating away my plants!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Squash vine borers? What the heck was that? Well, it's not good, I can assure you. When you read terms like "gardeners worst nightmare" or "gardeners loath squash vine borers", you know it's bad stuff.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Basically, I was dealing with moths that lay eggs at the base of squash plants in late spring/early summer. The eggs hatch a few weeks later. Once hatched the larvae eat their way into the base of the plants. These caterpillars feed on the plant for 1-2 weeks, killing the plants, then return to the soil to cocoon over the winter, and the vicious cycle starts all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I was heart-broken, as I knew from my research all I could do at this point was to tear out my plants and try to clear the soil for next year! I tell ya, I was taking this personally! No more zucchini breads, cookies or cakes! No more zoodles! No more fried squash, sautéed squash, squash cakes! And it was still July! This pests took two months of my gardening season away from me! We eat zucchini and squash every week, so I'd have to start buying them again, which I was not a fan of doing! I was determined to learn all could about borers and try to prevent them from invading my garden next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I spent an entire day researching squash vine borers. I quickly discovered that my plants were far too gone to help them. However, I did gain much knowledge on this dreaded garden pest, that some would call a gardeners worst nightmare, and learned three important bits of information:</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><em>~ getting rid of these pests is near impossible, due to the fact that once they are discovered the damage has already been done.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em>~ once you've had an infestation, they are likely to return the next year, due to the fact that they overwinter in the soil each year.</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><em>~ preventing the pests from attacking your garden is the best way to avoid and control squash vine borer.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are six preventative measures I plan to take in my garden next year to lower my risks of having a repeat infestation of squash vine borers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>1) Plant in a different area each year....</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We have a small back yard garden with raised beds. The entire garden is close together, but I do plan on planting my squash and zucchini in different boxes next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>2) Clean up soil in the fall....</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />One of the problems with these pests is that they overwinter and come back each year, by cocooning a few inches below the soil. Plowing the soil in the fall is supposed to help kill them. I think we are going to go a step further by completely digging out our soil in the infested boxes and having new soil and fertilizer delivered next spring. That's a bit of an expense, but I am willing to do anything necessary to not have to deal with this nasty infestation again next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>3) Protect new plants with garden tents until the first bloom.....</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because there is only supposed to be one life cycle of these garden pests in the northern states, gardeners can protect the young plants with garden tents. Be sure to take the tents off once the plants start flowering, so they can pollinate and produce fruit. Supposedly, the moths only lay their eggs in early summer before the first blooms, so ideally, by the time the plants are unprotected, the moths would have already laid eggs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>4) Cover stems with aluminum foil or nylons......</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Covering the plants with garden tents won't protect the plants if the moths have already cocooned in the soil. Even though we will be cleaning up our soil this fall, there is still a chance we may have some eggs laid at the base of our plants next year. The idea is that covering the base of the plant with aluminum foil or nylons is supposed to protect the plant from any larvae hatched from the eggs that eat the plants from the base.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>5) Sprinkle black pepper and <a href="http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html">diatomaceous earth</a>......</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I plan to sprinkle both of these at the base of each plant and reapply after it rains. This is supposed to deter the pests from the plants.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>6) Keep of bowl of soapy water out to trap moths.....</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Soapy water is supposed to attract and trap any moths, hopefully before eggs are laid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>7) Plant intermittently....</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do not plan on doing this, as my garden is small, and I only plant two yellow squash plants and three zucchini plants each year, which produce more than enough for my family of five. But they say that if you plant a few plants, and then a few weeks later plant a few more plants, and so on and so on....that you should be producing some fruit all season, even if the borers infest your garden?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>If for some reason my preventative measures fail, there are a few things I can do to help save the plant, but the trick is to catch the borer problem early, which is very hard to do. In my case this year, my plants were too far gone.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) Cut the larvae out with a knife.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gardenfork.tv/squash-vine-borers-damage-treatment-gardenfork-tv/">http://www.gardenfork.tv/squash-vine-borers-damage-treatment-gardenfork-tv/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) Inject BT into the vines of the plant to kill the larvae.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.gardenfork.tv/squash-vine-borer-treatment-3-gf-video/">http://www.gardenfork.tv/squash-vine-borer-treatment-3-gf-video/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">3) Keep adding soil around the damaged base for new shoots to come through. The only issue with this is that if you still have an infestation, the new shoots will also become infected and die before they produce fruit.</span><br />
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<br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-36015969108392329852016-07-31T17:40:00.000-07:002016-07-31T17:40:05.970-07:00Seven Tips for Decorating on a Budget<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'ve finally made it to the last blog post about Charlotte's nursery! This evening I'm sharing seven tips on how I put a room together in my home, particularly how I put Charlotte's room together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here's the thing with making a house a home. For me, there is always a budget. That budget varies depending on where I'm at in life. When I was 22 and making my first apartment a home, I only had a couple hundred bucks to work with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">When I was married and working outside of the home before we had kids, we had a little more money to work with. When we were expecting the boys, I think our budget for the nursery was a little over $1,000. That was for EVERYTHING. Cribs, furniture, supplies, bedding...EVERYTING. And if I recall, we still went a little over the budget.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For Charlotte's room, we planned on spending a few hundred dollars, knowing that we didn't have any new furniture to buy. I'm happy to say we stayed within the budget for this room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Here are seven ways I put a room together while maintain a budget.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgMUjwQljJr4QLPYEmcjfFVgujM4wJZf95XTQPmpedBYAuCH76Ovc2pBLZBaCEzvaxOkLx8Xck1z9ZBuyym9ntrmkLZeqxStJdc-zDj3WPqKwRAwIkViPzMGRT6YRU8xMSKP6mlNVBbxK/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgMUjwQljJr4QLPYEmcjfFVgujM4wJZf95XTQPmpedBYAuCH76Ovc2pBLZBaCEzvaxOkLx8Xck1z9ZBuyym9ntrmkLZeqxStJdc-zDj3WPqKwRAwIkViPzMGRT6YRU8xMSKP6mlNVBbxK/s400/DSC_0906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Rehome:</u></strong></span><br />
<strong><u><span style="font-family: "arial";"></span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first thing that I do when I begin decorating or furnishing a room is to look around my house for things that I can rehome!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For example, Charlotte's crib and glider came from the boys nursery. All of the lamps and the tall dresser also came from different rooms in my house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, would I have rather had an expensive white girly iron crib and a pretty white armchair for her room. Sure, I would have! But budget is my first priority! My goal is to make every room in our home look good, while keeping cost at a minimal. We already had a glider and a crib, that I specifically bought gender-neutral when I planned the boys nursery, just incase we were blessed with more babies. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o0sAGgn9wjHBpJQaZ3FxVSzPJ-srZug0Rl9Fi_aCv1CROkoFaYEW7wUQrQqlz_KudM9pZRT7kLm1NYWZ5HnPKImjbRQq0PpZJWRMKHOgv3kqgDg01rJzuqYeLyvfRKdmwYb9ASW1Es2q/s1600/DSC_0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3o0sAGgn9wjHBpJQaZ3FxVSzPJ-srZug0Rl9Fi_aCv1CROkoFaYEW7wUQrQqlz_KudM9pZRT7kLm1NYWZ5HnPKImjbRQq0PpZJWRMKHOgv3kqgDg01rJzuqYeLyvfRKdmwYb9ASW1Es2q/s400/DSC_0913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Repurpose:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes ordinary things just need a different purpose. Like the <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/upcycled-goodwill-dresser-repurposed.html">dresser</a></strong> that is now multi-functional as a diaper station, the <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/baby-girl-bow-and-headband-frame.html">bow holder</a></strong> that was once a picture frame, or the candle holder that is now the base of a headband holder. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9uLkf_ekfRT3rq7PyIAk0nMpyU3KYPcTRSA_vFFKuUU3k1bZwUFhal_zL61R9OrSlMtN6ePLgZ9LvnrEvzLW4j3tSe0s9_337zS8T4wtV83FbLW6Mqa_7k2DDFrlerZFIitOxGg4_dAf/s1600/DSC_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9uLkf_ekfRT3rq7PyIAk0nMpyU3KYPcTRSA_vFFKuUU3k1bZwUFhal_zL61R9OrSlMtN6ePLgZ9LvnrEvzLW4j3tSe0s9_337zS8T4wtV83FbLW6Mqa_7k2DDFrlerZFIitOxGg4_dAf/s400/DSC_0718.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Recycle:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I try not to waste materials when I'm doing a project. I also try to think of ways I can recyle scraps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Charlottes room, <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/whimsical-fabric-banner-for-girl-nursery.html">the fabric banner</a></strong> was just scrap fabric from other projects in her room. The <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-distressed-nursery-sign.html">sign above the dresser</a></strong> was made from scrap plywood from the feature wall. The <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/upcycled-ruffle-lampshade.html">ruffled lampshade</a></strong> was scrap fabric from the curtains. The <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/easy-paper-banner-for-girls-nursery.html">paper banner</a></strong>, bow holder and <a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-ribbonpaper-mobile-and-tissue-paper.html"><strong>mobile</strong> </a>were all made from the same pieces of scrapbook paper and ribbons. An oatmeal container was even recycled for the <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/headband-holder-from-oatmeal-container.html">headband holder</a>!</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Refinish:</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">One of my favorite things to do is to buy used furniture pieces and refinish them. Both <a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/refinished-pink-and-white-dresser.html"><strong>dressers</strong>,</a> a <a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-flower-lampshade.html">lamp</a> and a shelf on the wall were all pieces that got a makeover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Remember:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not so sure that remember is that accurate word, but I was looking for an "R" word! I try to incorporate a few memories and sentiments in my kids rooms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Charlotte, I used my childhood tea set, a piggy bank and a few stuffed animals to decorate her room. All were mine as a child. My mother-in-law also made her a quilt and a blanket for her room. Gifts from other people are also nice to display.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And of course I have some special pictures on display in her room, along with a shadow box of her special hospital items.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Reuse:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always try to buy used whenever I can. I'm pretty serious about buying used! All of Charlotte's clothes were from consignment sales or FB garage sale sites, with the exception of a couple of pieces! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Charlott'es room, the table and chairs, book shelf, child's chair, books and toys were all bought used at garage sale prices. In fact, all of the child's furniture that I just mentioned were bought years ago from the family I nannied from. I knew I wanted to have kids someday, so when the girls outgrew certain things, I bought items from them and kept them in my basement until I had kids of my own!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Research:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> don't buy everything used or make it myself. Somethings I do actually by brand new. For those things, I'm always looking/waiting for a sale or a coupon, or I'm comparing prices. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Of course, I have my go-to places like Hobby Lobby and Home Goods where I always seem to find the best deals on things. All of the storage bins and baskets for Charlottes room were Home Goods and Hobby Lobby finds. The picture frames were from Hobby Lobby. The wall art and the bathroom rugs were from Home Goods. Amazon is also my go-to online store. The rug, diaper changing pad cover, crib sheet, vinyl decals and shower curtain were all from Amazon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For the crafts and DIY projects that I make myself, researching online tutorials and Pinterest boards is a must! And then shopping for supplies is usually done at Hobby Lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For things that I buy used, I'm always scouring the online F/B garage sale sites, Craigslist or eBay, and scouting out Goodwill's while I'm out and about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Bottom Line. I research to find the best deals and cost-effective way to get a look I want.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Create:</u></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Ok, so I know the word "create" doesn't start with an "R", but it kind of has the "r" sound in it. Does that count?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sometimes the cheapest way to get something I want is to make it myself. I don't know about you, but I would love for my house to look like it belonged in a magazine, only I don't want to pay what it would cost to have my home look like it belonged in a magazine!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">My solution is to custom make things myself. I can't afford that fancy crib bedding or curtains? The answer is to try to make them myself, or be content with cheaper things from the big box store. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I think I paid around $60 for all of the fabric in Charlotte's room. With that cost, I made a <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/an-almost-no-sew-ruffled-crib-skirt.html">crib skirt</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-no-sew-crib-bumpers.html">crib bumpers</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/no-sew-pink-ruffle-and-bow-curtain.html">2 window panels</a></strong>, 2 sheer curtains, a ruffled lamp shade and a fabric banner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As for my husband's creations, all of the work he did on the walls cost us around $100 for paint and supplies. With that money, we got more than a pink room by adding the <strong>chair railing</strong> and <strong>planked walls</strong>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether it's my child's room or any other room in our home, I always follow these tips when I want to achieve a certain look in my home but don't want to spend a lot of money.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-822737282695095982016-07-30T16:37:00.000-07:002016-07-30T16:53:28.940-07:00An Almost No-sew Ruffled Crib Skirt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Happy Saturday friends! It's been busy around here the past few days. I'm very close to finishing blog posts about all of the projects in our nursery. I really wanted to have today's post completed yesterday. I was working on it five minutes here and five minutes there, or whenever I had a few minutes to myself really. Sometime late last night, I finally gave up and accepted my reality. Completing this blog entry was going to have to wait another day</span>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this post, I wanted to share how I made the no-sew ruffled crib skirt for Charlotte's crib bedding. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I feel like every time I share a no-sew project, I shame the world of excellent seamstresses everywhere! Truth be told, I just don't sew. I will say now that I have kids of my own, sewing is on my list of hobbies to learn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yesterday, I shared the no-sew crib bumper for our baby girl's nursery <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-no-sew-crib-bumpers.html">in this post</a></strong>. I explained that I made them the exact same way I made my twin boys' crib bumpers. That tutorial for my boy bumpers can be found <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-no-sew-crib-bumper.html">here</a></strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the crib skirt in Charlotte's nursery, I used the same concept as when I made the boys no-sew crib skirts. As in, I made three pieces, a front and two sides, and then used adhesive Velcro to attach it to the crib frame to make it look like a traditional crib skirt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The difference between the boys' crib skirts and Charlotte's crib skirt, is that the crib skirts for the boys were incredibly easy to make, because the finished product was straight crisp lines, made with a thick chevron material. You can find the tutorial for those crib skirts <strong><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-no-sew-chevron-crib-skirt.html">here</a></strong>. Using the Heat n Bond and a hot iron to make those crib skirts was easy. Overall, I was very happy with my no-sew version of a copycat navy/chevron Carousel Design crib skirt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">For my girly crib skirt, I wanted ruffles and lace! I discovered that no-sewing a ruffled crib skirt was going to have challenges. For one, this is not completely no-sew, hints the title of this post. I did have to do a little hand stitching, but nothing fancy, time-consuming, or with the use of a sewing machine. Secondly, I could not use my go-to no-sew technique for this crib skirt, my secret weapon that is Heat-N-Bond. To be honest, I pretty much "MacGyvered" this entire project, and guessed my way through each step. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Considering the fact that I didn't really know what I was doing, I'm happy with how this crib skirt turned out. I achieved a ruffled crib skirt, without using a sewing machine and I was still able to use the Velcro to stick it to the crib frame. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here's how I did it......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step One</strong>: Choose three different layers of fabric. I purchased all of my fabric during a sale at Hobby Lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Two</strong>: Decide which order you want your layers of fabric to be, and tear or cut the fabric into 4 inches for the top layer, 8 inches for the middle layer and 12 inches for the bottom layer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><strong>Note</strong>: You will not have to hem the bottoms of each piece of fabric if you are cutting in from the sides of the fabric. When you buy fabric by the yard, the sides will already have clean finished stiches or a hem. Save yourself time, and let that be the bottoms of your ruffles. Buy enough fabric for the length of your crib plus 12-18 inches for pleats. Then you can divide that fabric in length, using half of it for the front of the crib and half of it for the sides of the crib. I know, I know. Now would be a great time for a diagram, but my attempt of explaining in typed words will have to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Three</strong>: Cut a piece of thread the exact length of the front of the crib. This is where I really wish I had video to show you what I did. Basically, I hand-sewed the three pieces of fabric together at the top of the crib skirt, using a basting stich. Description can be found <strong><a href="http://www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/sewing-tips-tricks/hand-stitching-basics">here</a></strong>. Unlike a traditional basting stich, I did lock the stich at the beginning and end with a knot. The purpose of stich is not for beauty or perfection. It's simply to keep the three pieces of fabric together in order to move onto the next step.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Four</strong>: Hand stitch a pleat every six inches or so. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLa2OEjdO8F-zRk0VEJ2kY_a9p0osJxARjT3gftCdsI5sJ5zzwDsJakKPSP5vmWmQ9yxqhMFeIBO7EdtdV7YGrPPCHJt8YBqchTj1Ca3gycebk_jNKkH_KRIXF2pmgqG0kbL-sJ8N-nhre/s1600/DSC_1003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLa2OEjdO8F-zRk0VEJ2kY_a9p0osJxARjT3gftCdsI5sJ5zzwDsJakKPSP5vmWmQ9yxqhMFeIBO7EdtdV7YGrPPCHJt8YBqchTj1Ca3gycebk_jNKkH_KRIXF2pmgqG0kbL-sJ8N-nhre/s400/DSC_1003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This doesn't have to look beautiful or be exact. I did not measure, but rather I eyeballed the spacing of my pleats.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZilxJkBgznuMqp5Jk1tW7Sv8GgkekQ_c11uF1gDvQ12L8BJK4yFScb1QY83wc6dsuWxxPFNM4O2wLCkYVQHOlowmNrDA6JlAmS1vk7-YelwTQ7Cqc56WqmLYj1rvE1oFxPDmWjvxJY5zB/s1600/DSC_1010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZilxJkBgznuMqp5Jk1tW7Sv8GgkekQ_c11uF1gDvQ12L8BJK4yFScb1QY83wc6dsuWxxPFNM4O2wLCkYVQHOlowmNrDA6JlAmS1vk7-YelwTQ7Cqc56WqmLYj1rvE1oFxPDmWjvxJY5zB/s400/DSC_1010.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step Five</strong>: Hot glue a piece of ribbon to the top of the crib skirt....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t3ZWpMoU9T3cMfhVvdasEtXdoJHGXgJsRP_2P90whqia8ERaKX2SkdzRKEtCkUADy8vX1in7TPZl3z1dZizzHpCmG8IA9r83Nxg5p844yYwvQo6GhDqZtIM-ggLaT3cfd7n1eQsS1G6D/s1600/DSC_1011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t3ZWpMoU9T3cMfhVvdasEtXdoJHGXgJsRP_2P90whqia8ERaKX2SkdzRKEtCkUADy8vX1in7TPZl3z1dZizzHpCmG8IA9r83Nxg5p844yYwvQo6GhDqZtIM-ggLaT3cfd7n1eQsS1G6D/s400/DSC_1011.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ....and to the back of the crib skirt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step six</strong>: Cut pieces of Velcro that are adhesive on both sides. Every few inches Stick one side of the Velcro to the mattress frame in the crib....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> ....and the other side to the back of the crib skirt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><strong>Step seven</strong>: Repeat the above steps for the two sides of the crib. If your crib is against a wall, you do not need to make one for the back.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WlKZlgnBNjOX97vfG4X4g2jOKoAEXCHwQ6Xd9DMlWjukHQMCNYL5eMloIb9D2bBUJlaMCdRX8HJ_m8KsSPsfS9vqgs-kykDTfDvvs1lS_Zi1pO2nIeckr7KXRLoqg1tAvTyhyphenhyphenORG7Hey/s1600/DSC_1027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WlKZlgnBNjOX97vfG4X4g2jOKoAEXCHwQ6Xd9DMlWjukHQMCNYL5eMloIb9D2bBUJlaMCdRX8HJ_m8KsSPsfS9vqgs-kykDTfDvvs1lS_Zi1pO2nIeckr7KXRLoqg1tAvTyhyphenhyphenORG7Hey/s400/DSC_1027.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">And that's my version of an almost no-sew ruffled crib skirt! For those of you who do sew, this would be just as easy to make if not easier using a needle and thread and a sewing machine! I just made the cheater's version, that's all! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM46XgUmnBkJXCFGdmJNOUlzSuWagJ2cnqJrdTQdPcwM28FOJW1aEvrqzMqCFS3QumW226gphwNGVmzrb_te3AV7As0Vkbu-bQ1LDlk8FBd0Z6qSCp5nBpOvonV59ElKORRzBaeFc_ggrU/s1600/DSC_1033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM46XgUmnBkJXCFGdmJNOUlzSuWagJ2cnqJrdTQdPcwM28FOJW1aEvrqzMqCFS3QumW226gphwNGVmzrb_te3AV7As0Vkbu-bQ1LDlk8FBd0Z6qSCp5nBpOvonV59ElKORRzBaeFc_ggrU/s400/DSC_1033.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I have made no-sew crib skirts and bumpers for all three kids, my mother-in-law does sew, and she has made all three kids special crib quilts. That's something that I would never try to no-sew. She not only makes them a quilt upon my request, but she even cross-stiches all of the grandchildren a special blanket when they are born. She's obviously much better with the needle and thread than I am! I'm thankful that she has made our children such beautiful childhood sentiments for them to enjoy! </span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-34166034200497257742016-07-28T16:37:00.001-07:002016-07-28T16:39:10.857-07:00DIY No-Sew Crib Bumpers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoMxszN7LUUE3AyX-Ce6AfPPHR1bD1HLdgFPFsTUikgiVEHkJaXPhHFMQuENGE74x9AGOfvGh3vjUXQPX6iw7KnH7cQxSZni5C54sC3_4WwCs6HQSXPF7dx6rNdSEXwLC9umxb4MILkuK/s1600/DSC_0990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoMxszN7LUUE3AyX-Ce6AfPPHR1bD1HLdgFPFsTUikgiVEHkJaXPhHFMQuENGE74x9AGOfvGh3vjUXQPX6iw7KnH7cQxSZni5C54sC3_4WwCs6HQSXPF7dx6rNdSEXwLC9umxb4MILkuK/s400/DSC_0990.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have a few important facts to share regarding the crib bedding for my kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) I LOVE the crib bedding from Carousel Designs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) I can't afford, nor justify spending hundreds of dollars on crib bedding.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) I can make my own for a fraction of the cost.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) But I don't sew!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you recall, I fell in love with the navy chevron crib bedding from Carousel Designs for my twins, but refused to pay close to $500 for two sets. And so I attempted no-sew bumpers and crib skirts, and to my surprise they worked! My boys were in cribs till 22 months of age, and the no-sew crib bedding held up just fine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I made Charlotte's bumper exactly like I made the boys' bumpers. I'm not going to rewrite the tutorial, but you can find it <strong><u><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-no-sew-crib-bumper.html">here</a></u></strong>. Please check it out for a detailed description of no-sew crib bumpers, as well as why I chose to use bumpers when they are somewhat controversial these days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The only thing different for my girl bumper is where I bought fabric and supplies. I bought everything from Hobby Lobby this time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Overall, I'm happy with the outcome of my DIY crib bedding for both of my boys and now for our little girl.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-34463714331716213492016-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:002016-07-28T16:40:28.155-07:00DIY Ribbon/Paper Mobile and Tissue Paper Pom-Poms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbuSbsKcxI0pNZZEpGpCPxAykEgEEWFHKe05HERMNsJ-y3efxVdZiFAE5JTUEuR2BSKuUUOUI-SNbsOY3T1PYju5jnSnHNQCczi5NH9xbVCO9nX-_ahQLg4lOs4rAeGhT2FOg5VT3_85J/s1600/DSC_0971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbuSbsKcxI0pNZZEpGpCPxAykEgEEWFHKe05HERMNsJ-y3efxVdZiFAE5JTUEuR2BSKuUUOUI-SNbsOY3T1PYju5jnSnHNQCczi5NH9xbVCO9nX-_ahQLg4lOs4rAeGhT2FOg5VT3_85J/s400/DSC_0971.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are nearing the end of this series on Baby Girl's nursery. Today, I want to share with you two easy DIY projects I made to hang in this space. Tissue paper pom-poms and a ribbon/paper mobile were two of the easiest projects I made for her room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tissue paper pom-poms are very easy to make. I've made them for all sorts of festivities. Anyone can find numerous step by step tutorials of how to make them online. I'm going to talk ~ or in this case, type ~ my way through of how I made these two pom-poms, but if you need something more visual, <strong><a href="http://www.hgtv.com/design/make-and-celebrate/handmade/how-to-make-tissue-pom-poms">here</a></strong> is any easy tutorial with step-by-step pictures. Nonetheless, here's how I made mine to hang in the nursery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) Buy supplies. I bought a pack of gold tissue paper and a pack of gold polka dotted tissue paper while I was at Hobby Lobby</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) Fold several pieces of tissue paper (I used the entire pack) long ways like an accordian, making each fold about an inch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3) Take the long bunch of accordion-folded tissue paper and fold it in half, as if you were folding a book or a card.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4) Secure the fold using floral wire or a large paper clip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5) Using scissors, trim the ends of the folded tissue paper into "v" or "u" shapes. I used a "u" shape to give my puffs a rounded look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6) Begin to fan out the tissue paper to make a ball. Puff or scrunch the paper with your hands as needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7) Attach a piece of fishing line or clear string to the floral wire or paper clip and hang from the ceiling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This mobile is a somewhat primitive construction! I've seen a few DIY mobiles using these wooden hoops on Pinterest, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's not fancy, but I think it works in this room. Here's how I made mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) Buy a small wooden cross-stitch hoop from the craft store.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">2) Cut three strips of leftover ribbon from the DIY Bow Frame, about 12in each, and hot glued the pieces symmetrically to the hoop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">3) Cut three strips of leftover lace from the crib skirt, about 12in each, and tied the pieces symmetrically to the hoop</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">4) On a piece of cardstock, I sketched a basic bird template, then cut out the template. You could find a free template online and print it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">6) On the back of a piece of scrapbook paper, I traced my bird three times, then folded that piece of paper in half before cutting the birds out. What I ended up with was six birds that could be glued together as three birds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">7) Cut out wings for the birds and glue them to the birds.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">8) Using fishing line or clear string, hang the birds from the hoop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">9) Take three pieces of fishing line or clear string, the length that you want hanging from the ceiling, and tie those pieces together on one end. That end will hang from the ceiling. The three loose ends will be tied symmetrically to the hoop.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvesAz1JS_Z_MunMveu2DmweKJPqpvvE0ubkSl3yYZMwlFUuXCK-8EZk3dh0MAvzThqEDlZFl9KBFigJBtHdP1eDqejubLzuNU42OQa_7TXfeotqpxNWTftmieJWvoMkmzf2GCntxoi16/s1600/DSC_0975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvesAz1JS_Z_MunMveu2DmweKJPqpvvE0ubkSl3yYZMwlFUuXCK-8EZk3dh0MAvzThqEDlZFl9KBFigJBtHdP1eDqejubLzuNU42OQa_7TXfeotqpxNWTftmieJWvoMkmzf2GCntxoi16/s400/DSC_0975.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The hardest part was figuring out where to hang these projects in the room. I ended up choosing a place near the crib and rocking chair. It was one of the few places that worked to maintain a visual balance in room, but it also ended up being functional to hang them in a place where the baby can spot them from the crib or rocking chair.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G16ZtqYVSdi26oMCgc5-1HqEKcSQ42X4rWygW4eDkkB9mAJI4In_qLhjUONjF_0ZhIvLshXS3GAav5H-QkFC61SM752Q2vj43tJDONATh_7yCSgMjd0Vz8PeBCyLbRpeuR2Mc9nac8Oy/s1600/DSC_0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7G16ZtqYVSdi26oMCgc5-1HqEKcSQ42X4rWygW4eDkkB9mAJI4In_qLhjUONjF_0ZhIvLshXS3GAav5H-QkFC61SM752Q2vj43tJDONATh_7yCSgMjd0Vz8PeBCyLbRpeuR2Mc9nac8Oy/s400/DSC_0967.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And there you have it, two easy projects that can be completed with out much time, money or effort.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-87540517043186326742016-07-26T17:42:00.002-07:002016-07-26T18:42:42.290-07:00Gold Stars and Chair Rail 3/4 the Way up a Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeq1pyC-9VgRDTeKXJ_-oP7BmwCFRtS1sq_tctPyjiKaVF7PdW2YoIfzrwF2S-k05jNX94VR85wXhtt4LtmOMP6Vre0xM_VCqe7gzH8ML5KsZ5ric6K90FQhVLF_ifj5wJtWhhyphenhyphenAEfdln/s1600/DSC_0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeq1pyC-9VgRDTeKXJ_-oP7BmwCFRtS1sq_tctPyjiKaVF7PdW2YoIfzrwF2S-k05jNX94VR85wXhtt4LtmOMP6Vre0xM_VCqe7gzH8ML5KsZ5ric6K90FQhVLF_ifj5wJtWhhyphenhyphenAEfdln/s400/DSC_0913.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two of the best tools we ever invested in is a miter saw and a nail gun. We purchased those when we ripped out all of the carpet in our home and installed laminate throughout the house. Those two investment tools have been used in numerous projects ever since. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The floors were our first BIG DIY project. Since then, we've figured out how to install chair railing, wainscoting, bead board and all sorts of trim throughout the house to help add character to our home. And when I say "we", I mean my husband. I've said it before, but if it involves power tools, I'm usually the brains and he's the muscles. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MvAUVYL8_T_ftRlTtsU1rnGLkPVQy93JWdjLkPwvdwEbd9R97RpdbWvS-V3w5kht_8t6Rj9GKn5hrZf2eTGRov8gfPlXOdM4lAFHERIoX84Uwp4UVgIQ4OX9m_pA_scrhje1kTIiAIr6/s1600/DSC_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MvAUVYL8_T_ftRlTtsU1rnGLkPVQy93JWdjLkPwvdwEbd9R97RpdbWvS-V3w5kht_8t6Rj9GKn5hrZf2eTGRov8gfPlXOdM4lAFHERIoX84Uwp4UVgIQ4OX9m_pA_scrhje1kTIiAIr6/s400/DSC_0914.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For Charlottes room, I decided on a trim that would draw the eye up, and went with chair railing 3/4 the way up the wall. Our second floor has 8ft ceilings, so we painted the bottom 6ft. pink and the top 2ft. white.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">To make this room look a little more whimsical, I bought <span id="goog_1222883704"></span><strong><a href="https://www.blogger.com/">these gold star decals</a></strong> <span id="goog_1222883705"></span>from Amazon for $30. They were very easy to apply. I eyeballed the spacing of the them, but they could measured if someone wanted to be exact.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqsi36ET-ess4AfrKCL3Z8-CgjPDGZi2yH0g5KjL9YRM9OJ-Hs5zOni4enz4QqEUXkC7h5GsmO0TpOjrUhHFTvI0E34mJlforSV_aicq7Ro-73Oe5RXsKupMJwdWi1IvXoBRh3A5Dztk_/s1600/DSC_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqsi36ET-ess4AfrKCL3Z8-CgjPDGZi2yH0g5KjL9YRM9OJ-Hs5zOni4enz4QqEUXkC7h5GsmO0TpOjrUhHFTvI0E34mJlforSV_aicq7Ro-73Oe5RXsKupMJwdWi1IvXoBRh3A5Dztk_/s400/DSC_0912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are basic rules when making cuts for trim. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) cut pieces at 45 degrees</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) unless a piece is against a door/window or end of a wall, then make a straight 90 degree cut</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I'm going to attempt to explain how we put up chair rail, but just incase I'm not clear, <strong><a href="http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/carpentry-and-woodworking/how-to-install-a-chair-rail">this</a> </strong>is a fairly easy link for a tutorial. The only thing we don't do that they say to do is use wood glue before nailing. Our reason for that is incase we decide we want to take it down someday.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixD4dfRBKnOgDUzN0g2c5_mv273CYYbzaBSXxyhuiFRm2d_ccnyu58616EEgureIIimDB32RBbET62gf27q5Pd64VzCiz2l3r3bTBFO5-L8kmvnnf4VXFvaUzqv0Rc3apIPZIIkXu8Y-b/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixD4dfRBKnOgDUzN0g2c5_mv273CYYbzaBSXxyhuiFRm2d_ccnyu58616EEgureIIimDB32RBbET62gf27q5Pd64VzCiz2l3r3bTBFO5-L8kmvnnf4VXFvaUzqv0Rc3apIPZIIkXu8Y-b/s400/DSC_0906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is how we did this project:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step one: Measure the room to see how much trim is needed. Go to Lowes, or another lumber yard, and buy an interior chair rail of choice and any other supplies needed. We always buy 8ft pieces, so they can fit in our vehicle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step two: Measure 2ft from the ceiling. With tape or pencil, mark off a line across the wall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step three: Paint the top 2ft. white and the bottom 6ft. pink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step four: Using a miter saw, make appropriate cuts on the first piece of trim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step five: Using a stud finder, find studs in the wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step six: Using a nail gun, nail the piece of trim 2ft. below the ceiling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step seven: Repeat steps 4-6 until room is complete.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step eight: Fill in nail holes with nail filler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step ten: Sand down the nail filler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step eleven: Touch up trim with white paint if necessary.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step Twelve: Apply gold star decals to the wall once paint is completely dry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm very happy with the character that the 3/4 chair rail gives this room. I love it even more with the gold stars! This really is another one of those posts that I wish I had some real photography skills to capture everything about this room!</span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-83926328156541001122016-07-25T10:35:00.001-07:002016-07-25T18:01:05.081-07:00DIY Planked/Shiplap Feature Wall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILer6Et_BHzMEf3G5Fg89SavAK26uKMx4yE7UFdGx9-_1VcfUCb18IXthKlx0IrcUap1DGxvqO6gIOuBLIA3kvlTfCCWgiuabF-4_CTf1d0FxkIPZa9v34GtB8_Xqq1Mu54_n9i1OiXGh/s1600/DSC_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILer6Et_BHzMEf3G5Fg89SavAK26uKMx4yE7UFdGx9-_1VcfUCb18IXthKlx0IrcUap1DGxvqO6gIOuBLIA3kvlTfCCWgiuabF-4_CTf1d0FxkIPZa9v34GtB8_Xqq1Mu54_n9i1OiXGh/s400/DSC_0906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good morning, and happy Monday to you! I'm continuing nursery projects on the blog this week, and chose to start Monday off by sharing the feature wall for this room. It's posts like this one that make me wish I had some photography skills. It seems like I couldn't get a clear image of the boards and spaces that shiplap creates, no matter which setting on my camera I used. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I debated doing a planked wall as a feature wall in this room. I love the look of shiplap, but it is such a personal taste that I hesitated. With a wall like this, you are looking at a bazillian nail holes, and I immediately thought, "What if we want to sell, and a buyer doesn't like the look of shiplap?" or "What happens when this look is outdated?" Taking these boards off of the wall would be a pain. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">None the less, I decided that since it was such a small wall, it wouldn't be a big deal and decided to move forward with the project.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhophGkLhGp6HnB89RIehB9IHEYfG9Ppg2UHoTxDRxewiFEK00XR36qeu-USXnVYmrOD1EZcARr7ZPcVNv8v1q68RXciqkzHTRVXdmmXKE2kDTmUylKVKlTz876DoXpRd36zaiyO4pa-BUQ/s1600/DSC_0896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhophGkLhGp6HnB89RIehB9IHEYfG9Ppg2UHoTxDRxewiFEK00XR36qeu-USXnVYmrOD1EZcARr7ZPcVNv8v1q68RXciqkzHTRVXdmmXKE2kDTmUylKVKlTz876DoXpRd36zaiyO4pa-BUQ/s400/DSC_0896.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">To be completely honest, I didn't do any of the work on this wall. This was all my hubby's labor. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Here's the thing about my husband. He hates doing these kind of projects. But do you know how many times he's picked up power tools to help make our house a home? Too many to count. And do you know why he does it? It's not because he loves doing it. It's because he loves me. And I love him for loving me enough to do something he doesn't love, just because he loves me. Now that's true love! Seriously though, if I ask him to help me with a project, he always comes though for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">When it comes to miter saws and nail guns, he usually does most of the work anyway, but in the past, I've helped along side him. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Not this time. This time, I did all of the smaller DIY projects, and he tackled all of the walls on his own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The reason for this is because this was the first full room we've completed since we've had kids. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Let me tell ya what I learned this time around. Having kids makes everything 10x slower!!! This </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">wall alone was a stop and start project for weeks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">If you decide to shiplap a wall...or two...or a whole area of your home, y</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">ou can find DIY tutorials for shiplap/planked walls all over the internet. I had no problem doing a google search and finding easy tutorials. Here are the basic steps for creating a planked accent wall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fair warning, the pictures of the process, are not the best. I wasn't exactly thinking about taking pictures for the blog at the time, so they are just grainy cell phone pictures. I also did not think to take pictures of each step.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 1: For an accent wall this size, go to Home Depot, or another lumber yard, and buy two sheets of 1/4 inch thick plywood underlayment. Home Depot will cut the boards into six inch strips for you, or you can cut them yourself if you have a table saw.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 2: Starting at the top corner of the wall, begin nailing the boards from left to right with a nail gun. Always nail on the studs. Use a stud finder to find studs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 3: As you come to the end of the first row of boards, you will need to measure the space for the last board and cut the board to fit the space using a miter saw.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 4. To begin the next row, use the leftover piece from the last row. Do this process with all of the following rows.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 5: Using pennies, space all of the rows. Literally place pennies in between the boards of rows before you secure the boards to the wall. The space from the pennies is what will make it look like shiplap or a planked wall once you've painted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 6: Fill all of the nail holes and sand down once dry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Step 7: Paint the completed wall white. It will probably take two coats of paint.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvZmPsDP2lAC4jAeS4DV3neTMJxqkaOnMmmwPlWkIYUoYLxF0VacIx8L6hHqPwQ0usuA3bn0LSfIRTLdPlpFaMMfi6MqeO7PqatEPwEv9kvYjxp00OakljDZZkPMLk8Jta6chK9Ke5Sro/s400/IMG_1948.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WALLS WITH WINDOWS: Because we had a window and did not have a table saw, Matt started around the window. His reason for this was that he would have a clean line to continue to work above the window. Then as he ended the project, he only needed to take the last few boards back to Home Depot and have them cut it at the appropriate measurement to fit the top row and bottom row. If he started at the top, he would have only gotten a couple of rows finished before needing to use a table saw to work around the window.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">UNEVEN WALLS: As he finished the last row at the top of the wall, he discovered we had a bit of an uneven wall. He make the boards fit, but he couldn't fit a penny in between the boards of the top left corner. It is what it is. I'm ok with it. We didn't have a table saw to correct the problem, so we just went with it. It's a minor flaw, but it's not that noticeable</span>.<br />
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBeWpWv10sO7wrolg2yhGU0u7gWI6dN0O6hhAekTspImS1K1ipzfKJ2XM0WHNO_mM_sy3eRICVaHLXKbetuGhbVg_4tx5GbrBcsn-66oozlQN68PxGVTiaBXF5ob_UzTANOWUHXX779ubc/s400/IMG_2290.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Originally, I was just going to do the trim at the top of all four walls and paint the bottom of all four walls pink. Once I saw my pink paint color against the curtains, I changed my mind and decided I needed a feature wall to balance out all of the pink. And that's how I came up with doing this wall in Charlotte's room. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">This wall truly is my favorite part of the room. I'm glad I decided to go with it. Even though it wasn't part of the original plan.</span><br />
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-25533188578697202532016-07-24T19:12:00.002-07:002016-07-24T19:18:24.822-07:00No-Sew Pink Ruffle and Bow Curtain Panels <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's talk curtains! If you've been around my blog for very long, you know I do a lot of things, but sewing is not one of them. You'll also know I've done a lot of DIY curtains ~ all of them being No-Sew curtains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, curtains are strictly décor. We have blinds for privacy, and I see no need for blackout curtains in every room of the house, as I need sunlight in my home. The boys' room is the only room that needs to have some form of blackout to help them sleep during naps. To solve that problem, I custom-ordered them a navy blue blackout pull-shade that can not be seen underneath the no-sew navy chevron valence I made them. The shade gets pulled down at naps and bedtime, but the rest of the time is hidden. I say all of that to say that when it came to curtains in the nursery, I was strictly thinking looks and cost, not function.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Ok, so now I need to address how I no-sew. I use a product called Heat-N-Bond. You can find it in any store that sells fabric. Directions will be on the box, but basically, if you can iron, you can use Heat-N-Bond. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Sometimes, for fabrics that do not take well to ironing, I'll even use.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">....w</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">ait for it....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">....hot glue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I know, I know. Say it ain't so! I can see all the faces of real seamstresses now, giving looks of displeasure!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Here's the thing though, if you do sew, then you can make these curtains just as easily as my no-sew version. Instead of using an iron, you would use a sewing machine. But if you're like me, a person who has yet to invest in a sewing machine or the time to learn how to work one, then this no-sew version will work just fine for you too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I have done no-sew panels or valences in just about every room of our home, and when it comes time to do my seasonal cleaning, I have had no issues tossing them in the dryer on tumble low to get the dust off of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now let's talk fabric. All of the fabrics that I chose for the curtains were on sale from Hobby Lobby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As far as the amount of fabric I bought, I can't remember exactly. I can tell you that to determine how much I would need, I measured from the floor to six inches above the window, where my curtain rod would hang.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For each sheer panel, I needed that amount plus a one inch hem at top and bottom, and a two inch space for the curtain rod.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the other panels, I was able to divide my pieces of fabric into two pieces and get two panels out of each piece of fabric. For the pattern fabric, I measured six inches above the window down to the bottom of the window seal, plus a one inch hem at the top and a two inch space for a curtain rod (although I didn't end up needing it, as I tied ribbon to the rods). For the ruffle fabric, I measured from the bottom of the window seal to the floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I purchased the fabric, I rounded up to the closest yard, to make sure I had more than enough fabric.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now let's talk assembling the curtains.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The sheers were really easy. I gave a one inch hem on top and bottom. Then I fold the top over two inches to make a gap for a curtain rod. Because each panel is a complete piece of fabric, I did not need to hem the sides. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the other panels, I tore my fabric into two pieces. A one inch hem at the top, bottom and inner side was all that was needed, as the outer side was already hemmed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To add the ruffle fabric, I carefully cut it in half, making sure to have clean even cuts. Then I hot glued the fabric to the front part of the panel, before I hot glued a piece of ribbon on the top of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lastly, I decided dress it up a little by tying bows to the curtain rod. To do this, I carefully cut one inch slits at the top of the panels. Then I inserted strips of ribbon and tied bows to the curtain rod.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you were wanting to block out more light, you could always add liner to the back of the fabric. You could also use an entire piece of fabric for each panel, instead of cutting the fabric in half.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like I said though, my goal was looks and cost. So for me, I achieved my goal. I was able to give this room beautiful curtains without breaking the bank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm pretty happy how they turned out, considering the fact that I'm not a girl who sews:)</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-31466301907615146042016-07-22T07:46:00.001-07:002016-07-22T07:46:27.406-07:00Refinished Pink and White Dresser <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This dresser has been around for awhile. I've had it for at least ten years, and it has served many purposes in my places of living.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was given to me by a friend when I had my very first apartment, and given to her before that. I painted it black, distressed it, added hardware and used it in my living room of that first apartment that I made my home for two years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The dresser came with me to my second apartment and was used in the tiny breakfast area </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to display my coffee maker and coffee cups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I married my husband, it came with me to his bachelor pad, and was used in our bedroom ,as I attempted to turn the barren spaces of his first house into our starter home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When we bought our first home together, the one we live in now and have fixed up on our own, this dresser was given glass knobs and used in the dining room once again to display dishes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And now, as we've grown the family by three kids, it's getting a makeover and being used in Baby Girl's ro.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My point ~ free can go a long way! A good solid piece of furniture has a lot of life to give!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5kpSMZVPoR1IDiApJxQ78OI1XgnaO_4pKv5XJp6JTrQNm90Cnko72W7Pxz5CSG9xcU165epY0lV26e0sK1Ubl6T8SQGD5RZWdeXHDGK2Jeq1SqE0gowtRfHXC5Gdecl0kXkoKiutlhw_/s1600/DSC_0810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5kpSMZVPoR1IDiApJxQ78OI1XgnaO_4pKv5XJp6JTrQNm90Cnko72W7Pxz5CSG9xcU165epY0lV26e0sK1Ubl6T8SQGD5RZWdeXHDGK2Jeq1SqE0gowtRfHXC5Gdecl0kXkoKiutlhw_/s400/DSC_0810.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I decided to paint this dresser pink and white. I have a lot of pink in the room and was careful not to overdo bold pink pallets. With the other dresser in the room being pink, I felt like just having pink drawers on this piece was the right touch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I refinished this piece the way I refinished the dresser I shared yesterday, and the way I refinish most pieces, with no sanding required……<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I started by cleaning the dresser with </span><st1:stockticker><span style="font-family: "arial";">TSP</span></st1:stockticker><span style="font-family: "arial";"> cleaner. It can be found at most hardware stores. I buy mine in a powder and mix it in a spray bottle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">Using a foam roller I primed the dresser with Zinsser Cover Stain primer. It took two coats to fully cover this piece of furniture. I keep this paint on hand for when I find furniture to refinish. The white on this dresser is the primer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the drawers,</span> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I chose the color "Jaipur pink" from Sherwin Williams. I've used Sherwin Williams paint on several pieces. I like that I can buy a sample of paint for a decent price, and it gives me more than enough paint for two coats on a piece of furniture.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I kept the glass knobs I found at Hobby Lobby several years ago. Sometimes I replace the hardware, but for this dresser I liked the look of the glass.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">Tip: Always take out the drawers when painting and let paint dry completely before applying a new coat. The primer and the sponge roller are key to getting a streak-free finish without needing to sand, so don't skip those steps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">6) Note: This method is only recommended for solid wood pieces. The paint will peel on laminate pieces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To accessorize the dresser I displayed my DIY headband holder, a gold giraffe and gold polka dot jar for pacifiers (both found at Hobby Lobby), a Dollar Tree teddy bear, a piggy bank that was a gift and a Goodwill lamp and garage sale lampshade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mirror above the dresser was a garage sale find and was used above this dresser in the dining room. It came upstairs with the dresser to be used in the nursery.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGmOuy0kgUccVuk_FxWNy9wOYE0f4nT-jJm7i4Lr7jSqpQ_7q1mjhJgxuZJdN1-f-qcWiKLEVGK9FkNeQgkGegTnzM_WTTU6it31ZMbhYBWqt0ENnJdtbUWVyxSDH63znHdD-urRMTzyc/s1600/DSC_0813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGmOuy0kgUccVuk_FxWNy9wOYE0f4nT-jJm7i4Lr7jSqpQ_7q1mjhJgxuZJdN1-f-qcWiKLEVGK9FkNeQgkGegTnzM_WTTU6it31ZMbhYBWqt0ENnJdtbUWVyxSDH63znHdD-urRMTzyc/s400/DSC_0813.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm happy with the new look of this dresser. I think the white and pink of both dressers go together nicely and work perfect in this room!</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-54447752775783151642016-07-21T13:59:00.002-07:002016-07-21T13:59:51.860-07:00Upcycled Goodwill Dresser Repurposed into Nursery Changing Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvnbfRr05gJJDQkalPM538BFBY0b2BZFc_2aaeeUeZmPeVZyXT-MzjCupnkJfPCBpYhoSMvI9ZofJ_99szjE5_4r-stmlIew_LsRu122KcGYwmJSa1Kx2lYbgC_iT34a481Y2cQ_UTc5m/s1600/DSC_0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvnbfRr05gJJDQkalPM538BFBY0b2BZFc_2aaeeUeZmPeVZyXT-MzjCupnkJfPCBpYhoSMvI9ZofJ_99szjE5_4r-stmlIew_LsRu122KcGYwmJSa1Kx2lYbgC_iT34a481Y2cQ_UTc5m/s400/DSC_0773.jpg" width="266" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you've been around my blog for very long, you'll know I love a good furniture makeover. You'll find everything from dressers to tables in my home that have been upcycled and given a new life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've upcyled garage sale pieces....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">....thrift shop pieces....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">....and yes, even curb alert pieces!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This particular piece used in Charlotte's room was a Craigslist find.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3p_oRmbL0-ZU2gslptBGsUn34NJSNfvgD9QqEslxgK2N0Vufb6jOGFHmTSN4rUCpqm6HAtPGLpjffSm3FJx4poigIV9OF-au7Hr9eG1GJ9wmOPf1m7-tiBh6orEmUMCRpTT0d_AnCCLy/s1600/IMG_2557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3p_oRmbL0-ZU2gslptBGsUn34NJSNfvgD9QqEslxgK2N0Vufb6jOGFHmTSN4rUCpqm6HAtPGLpjffSm3FJx4poigIV9OF-au7Hr9eG1GJ9wmOPf1m7-tiBh6orEmUMCRpTT0d_AnCCLy/s400/IMG_2557.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I knew I was going to upcycle a dresser for the nursery and use it as a changing station. I found myself searching FB garage sale sites for weeks. I was wanting something specific and wasn't having much luck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the past, when I would look for a furniture project to complete a certain room, I would search online daily and scout out my local Goodwill's several times a week on my way home from work. I'd often leave Goodwill empty-handed, but if I was patient enough, the right piece of furniture would stand out to me as if it was saying, "BUY ME! I'm here just for you!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now that I'm a SAHM to twin toddlers, there was no way I dragging them to Goodwill several times a week. My goodness, getting them in and out of the van is a task all in itself, let alone doing all of that work just to spend less than five minutes in thrift store!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznDyjhIoT5I6h-vLCjJNFadcaUe3IduKsI1PW7uZQYDn653oNsW6CH2Jbn4CafL_72TSpY6SYQKtLGIUVlmozJDDBBbgnTJ8PocY8yFUEazanDTlu7YaQQE51OTyc1gj8_m49DWveHf0/s1600/DSC_0785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMznDyjhIoT5I6h-vLCjJNFadcaUe3IduKsI1PW7uZQYDn653oNsW6CH2Jbn4CafL_72TSpY6SYQKtLGIUVlmozJDDBBbgnTJ8PocY8yFUEazanDTlu7YaQQE51OTyc1gj8_m49DWveHf0/s400/DSC_0785.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I finally found something on Craigslist that I thought could work. With only a couple months before the baby was due, I arrange to pick it up as soon as I realized it met all of my requirements: perfect size, solid wood, plenty of storage, $50 or less and could fit in the back of my van.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">The only thing I wasn't sure about was the fact that it had a cabinet door on it. It ended up being my favorite part when I finished with it. Once I decided to take off the door and display baskets for both cloth and disposable diapers, I was in love!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BekDKSQ2PestD4HSy-OnqjopVm5vY_iQiZuNZLwzmpvlYgIo4y40sWpPe7aO4I-99NR_1DN8hWRqgMS2daWTC4u7Ud7bQQrtGpccxRZyoDGDhp_e2zYzuEh6vkrhScvDK2FqL4-HfJxv/s1600/DSC_0788.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BekDKSQ2PestD4HSy-OnqjopVm5vY_iQiZuNZLwzmpvlYgIo4y40sWpPe7aO4I-99NR_1DN8hWRqgMS2daWTC4u7Ud7bQQrtGpccxRZyoDGDhp_e2zYzuEh6vkrhScvDK2FqL4-HfJxv/s400/DSC_0788.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">As soon as I found someone to help Matt carry it upstairs, I began the process of giving this beauty a facelift! I refinished this piece the way I refinish most pieces, with no sanding required……<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">1)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I started by cleaning the dresser with </span><st1:stockticker><span style="font-family: "arial";">TSP</span></st1:stockticker><span style="font-family: "arial";"> cleaner. It can be found at most hardware stores. I buy mine in a powder and mix it in a spray bottle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">2)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">Using a foam roller I primed the dresser with Zinsser Cover Stain primer. It took two coats to fully cover this piece of furniture. I keep this paint on hand for when I find furniture to refinish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">3)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I chose the color "Jaipur pink" from Sherwin Williams. I've used Sherwin Williams paint on several pieces. I like that I can buy a sample of paint for a decent price, and it gives me more than enough paint for two coats on a piece of furniture.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">4)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">I updated the hardware by spray-painting it white. Sometimes I replace the hardware, but for this dresser I liked the look of the original hardware and painting it white contrasted nicely with the pink.</span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">5)<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial";">Tip: Always take out the drawers when painting and let paint dry completely before applying a new coat. The primer and the sponge roller are key to getting a streak-free finish without needing to sand, so don't skip those steps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">6) Note: This method is only recommended for solid wood pieces. The paint will peel on laminate pieces.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAjFn2l2ewiKCP8HOZwT5CU4Kp-ebWUqV0g9gDaptvOCrULeDvR0_ziV2nmthUaOlYMankS-_qZObPO2M5KN0xSo6BGyCRcbbZqxfTNsOAO7MQewiGRwIWCOwV82hFH3lGiQgw2aP4rvO/s1600/DSC_0787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAjFn2l2ewiKCP8HOZwT5CU4Kp-ebWUqV0g9gDaptvOCrULeDvR0_ziV2nmthUaOlYMankS-_qZObPO2M5KN0xSo6BGyCRcbbZqxfTNsOAO7MQewiGRwIWCOwV82hFH3lGiQgw2aP4rvO/s400/DSC_0787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm very happy with how this piece turned out! By adding a lamp, some baskets (found at Hobby Lobby), a changing pad (cover found on Amazon) and a few accessories, I had a beautiful dresser/changing table for a baby girl's nursery! An original piece, upcycled with love, I prefer this to an expensive bedroom set from a big-box store.</span></div>
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-64090786714058638082016-07-21T07:48:00.001-07:002016-07-21T08:03:43.650-07:00DIY Distressed Nursery Sign<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyyG01NaFFqux83mjteQJkWlk__qRFju-oBxSrXF1ZlhbAhPiiAgf7BFgRq1JiRQf_41mKK-Amq2GM6w8fm4lFGL3D0VFJeAfKLu92vrnvH3hyN3qqywFAq0ffLiad61TUX6P43-bBycK/s1600/DSC_0776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbyyG01NaFFqux83mjteQJkWlk__qRFju-oBxSrXF1ZlhbAhPiiAgf7BFgRq1JiRQf_41mKK-Amq2GM6w8fm4lFGL3D0VFJeAfKLu92vrnvH3hyN3qqywFAq0ffLiad61TUX6P43-bBycK/s400/DSC_0776.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the last projects I completed for Charlotte's nursery was this sign to go above the diaper changing station. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My original plan was to make some sort of pallet sign, however when I saw the decal I ordered to place on a pallet surface, I realized I was going to need a completely flat surface in order for the decal to look right on a DIY sign.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj-99EwekbqCp3pOcZvF4rcnUMiuGzQw_mvmHG2Prfw4eJIO1PAjCOAowC-a0IDgO6_XzVUuTSRkbIDAFeFXyKciExzqrgzfprD3SWbpammdsiD8lLsl88V0Q6e7QIyPmI2jOSf9CY4kj/s1600/DSC_0774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj-99EwekbqCp3pOcZvF4rcnUMiuGzQw_mvmHG2Prfw4eJIO1PAjCOAowC-a0IDgO6_XzVUuTSRkbIDAFeFXyKciExzqrgzfprD3SWbpammdsiD8lLsl88V0Q6e7QIyPmI2jOSf9CY4kj/s400/DSC_0774.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">And so I came up with plan B. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">I discovered I had just enough plywood left over from our DIY planked/shiplap wall. The width fit the decal perfectly. All I had to do was load the boys in the van and make a trip to Home Depot. I waddled my 34 week pregnant self into the store and asked them to make one cut in length for me. And just like that, I had a piece of plywood ready for painting.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7X_oN6swfSqTP1kQ6lxRrQnosSeCm5Y34kg2wDS3l2xMtTycrAfAK3pE3zFiUhWu-XPD4rmviJGv_g5wzjFKq2R5FNxc0pLIhQsxnutetL2qzzYtz_MMjDR8NLH5rW7Nn5DLfncWh_oH/s1600/DSC_0775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7X_oN6swfSqTP1kQ6lxRrQnosSeCm5Y34kg2wDS3l2xMtTycrAfAK3pE3zFiUhWu-XPD4rmviJGv_g5wzjFKq2R5FNxc0pLIhQsxnutetL2qzzYtz_MMjDR8NLH5rW7Nn5DLfncWh_oH/s400/DSC_0775.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From there, I put the boys down for naps and had this project complete before they woke up. Using some leftover Annie Sloan chalk paint in the color "old white", I brushed two coats of paint on the plywood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once dry, I took a rag and very gently wiped a coat of Annie Sloan dark wax over the paint.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me personally, I found the dark wax to be too much for this piece, so I went back over and lightly brushed white paint over some of the wax until I got the look I wanted. I let it dry, before doing a little sanding for finishing touches, and then I was done!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To officially make it a sign, I applied the decal I ordered from Amazon. I'm not very good at hand lettering. Applying a decal is much easier for me than painting my own words onto wood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lastly, I tacked picture brackets on the back of the plywood. Before dinner that night, I had my new piece of art hanging on the wall, and my diaper changing station was complete.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91137oRX6TwLDHmRik2YcmpBYt6RfFZazKGbrKSas_2G5uqqotVbqQzrJkEfgtcCkMO9AIbKjuf7pJSqSIZr0Pn7wa-GhQr8coHQLQG2AtW6dUXTrPz2EqGvdQMaJEs3Qh3Fk-OIJ2wrR/s1600/DSC_0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91137oRX6TwLDHmRik2YcmpBYt6RfFZazKGbrKSas_2G5uqqotVbqQzrJkEfgtcCkMO9AIbKjuf7pJSqSIZr0Pn7wa-GhQr8coHQLQG2AtW6dUXTrPz2EqGvdQMaJEs3Qh3Fk-OIJ2wrR/s400/DSC_0773.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The decal I ordered was from Amazon. You can find it <strong><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Top-Selling-Decals-Reduced-Available/dp/B012F35SW4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1469112077&sr=8-8&keywords=such+a+big+miracle+decal">here.</a></u></strong> I fell in love with this quote when I saw it, as Charlotte truly is our miracle baby, conceived without any fertility drugs!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I could have very easily just applied the decal to the wall, but I envisioned a specific look. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Again, it's all about the details for me. You can see that applying the decal to a painted piece of plywood, instead of applying it directly to the wall, makes this decal visually more attractive and gives a nice focal point above this large piece of furniture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Because I used supplies I already had, my only investment in this piece was the decal and the brackets on the back of the sign, making me a happy mama!</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-26927119114769859812016-07-20T10:27:00.001-07:002016-07-20T17:56:07.362-07:00DIY FLower Lampshade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTSzC4c0RTii8XEfIG0ZI4acbKO5BhFse25LroJfPu0h4AGcyBicBELktwZvo2lCc9LU4wHJSjMvsFRZ0rutKaQjM2b8VDqdopx7Z5WFbYhuIsq4kcG4vhEbts2ETXOAx-W-oSA5uOKPi/s1600/DSC_0781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTSzC4c0RTii8XEfIG0ZI4acbKO5BhFse25LroJfPu0h4AGcyBicBELktwZvo2lCc9LU4wHJSjMvsFRZ0rutKaQjM2b8VDqdopx7Z5WFbYhuIsq4kcG4vhEbts2ETXOAx-W-oSA5uOKPi/s400/DSC_0781.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm going on day three of meeting my goal to post two nursery DIY blog posts a day, until I complete the task of getting all of my nursery projects up on the blog. Pretty proud of that fact, considering how I rarely take the time to blog anymore. Today, I thought I'd post both lampshade projects that are being used in the nursery, this being my second post of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This morning's blog post about the ruffle lampshade could have not been easier. The repurposed lampshade I'm sharing with you in this post ~ not so much.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWF86LkDp4Td8XVLrFevNW2JYyPLSzNReTAgw0FpUuT09LLEeINDLbJ86SSgTnqEuvBfkdzGr-LZ3kWnPcK-hrQd9VR-Uv87fcKdJFzDF6WAgtsp628TIqvqhNlmcq6izWv9qqCCgMMq6/s1600/DSC_0782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWF86LkDp4Td8XVLrFevNW2JYyPLSzNReTAgw0FpUuT09LLEeINDLbJ86SSgTnqEuvBfkdzGr-LZ3kWnPcK-hrQd9VR-Uv87fcKdJFzDF6WAgtsp628TIqvqhNlmcq6izWv9qqCCgMMq6/s400/DSC_0782.jpg" width="323" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The good news...well good news for me anyway....is that I didn't actually have to make this for the nursery after I found out I was having a girl. I find this to be fortunate, as I recall this project to be a little tedious and time-consuming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember there being lots of tearing of fabric....and rolling of fabric....and rolling some more...and hot gluing....and more gluing....and burning my fingers from gluing...and then doing this cycle all over again for serval hours. In fact, I actually ran out glue to do the back side of the lamp the day I worked on this project. Several years later, I still have not finished the darn thing! It's on my distant list of things to complete. I think subconsciously I know this will be a time-consuming task and am content with the naked part of the lamp being against the wall and out of everyone's eyesight for now! Shhh! Don't tell!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkip_9pPzFQ8h5_rzRvLEIBSxOSxWE0IWDIGjcEearNaoD5qfJpaV-9M4E5MP1-SPlvChYra0kQVmWK4CpbbSh1hWM3P6jKCOP7nTW4BQVLTVdUuU41rhk6lU8plFzD9eSxKuHqnKP7Ky/s1600/DSC_0784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkip_9pPzFQ8h5_rzRvLEIBSxOSxWE0IWDIGjcEearNaoD5qfJpaV-9M4E5MP1-SPlvChYra0kQVmWK4CpbbSh1hWM3P6jKCOP7nTW4BQVLTVdUuU41rhk6lU8plFzD9eSxKuHqnKP7Ky/s400/DSC_0784.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I actually repurposed this lampshade a few years ago for our guestroom. Once the upstairs guestroom was turned into a nursery, I kept the shade for the nursery and spray painted a Goodwill lamp base white from my "pile of things I might want to save and repurpose someday".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">To find the original tutorial that was posted to my blog back when I shared my guestroom DIY projects, you can go <strong><u><a href="http://absolutelylovingmylife.blogspot.com/2014/07/diy-flower-lamp-shade.html">here.</a></u></strong> In that blog post, you will find a step by step guide to how I made the fabric flowers, and then glued them onto an inexpensive Goodwill lampshade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm always happy when I can find things around the house to repurpose or rehome in other areas of the house. This lamp is a perfect example of that. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">It pays to see what you have around the house before buying something new! You never know how you might be able to rehome or repurpose something!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"></span><br />Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-61634674758034706142016-07-20T07:24:00.000-07:002016-07-20T10:31:05.382-07:00Upcycled Ruffle Lampshade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYonUTOHJ7XPWIyEQCP8BQeS3WBqV5hHDhBt7ktKfS8xf1pj4iKIt8ZW9GEHD6mwvZ1nE5QU2RHh_dbzzB9_ulhPjdT4kbZe6hV7b5h2CfK5vHTN4bHe7U4UwNjm0Nkv_flEvuUPOuPtmt/s1600/DSC_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYonUTOHJ7XPWIyEQCP8BQeS3WBqV5hHDhBt7ktKfS8xf1pj4iKIt8ZW9GEHD6mwvZ1nE5QU2RHh_dbzzB9_ulhPjdT4kbZe6hV7b5h2CfK5vHTN4bHe7U4UwNjm0Nkv_flEvuUPOuPtmt/s400/DSC_0756.jpg" width="277" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Good Morning! I'm starting my day by sharing an easy lampshade makeover! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lampshades can be pricy, easily costing $10-30 for one lampshade. For me personally, I have a hard time justifying the high-end of those prices when:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1) I can find lampshades at Goodwill or garage sales for $5 or less. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2) I think lampshades are one of the easiest things to give a new look to by simply recovering with fabric or paper.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And so that's exactly what I did for the floor lamp in Charlotte's room.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOjta62fxy_UBWVGDUZnwsvjsNFpRCmBLsgm8gKcZ3c5mfPD2W_V2Bl3pcH7IAbgaC85xqr0WRamonANlt6CTsAI3PgQEn_aYNxnSdIVOHDN3cJYqLRL5HlC2C6oF5KVhmMl86h5bW4jT/s1600/DSC_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOjta62fxy_UBWVGDUZnwsvjsNFpRCmBLsgm8gKcZ3c5mfPD2W_V2Bl3pcH7IAbgaC85xqr0WRamonANlt6CTsAI3PgQEn_aYNxnSdIVOHDN3cJYqLRL5HlC2C6oF5KVhmMl86h5bW4jT/s400/DSC_0758.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Using leftover fabric from the curtains I made for her room, I covered a drum-shade that was being unused in my collection of "things I might want reuse someday pile" in the basement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yep, I'm one of "those" people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Certainly not a hoarder by any means, but I keep things stored in a place downstairs if I think I can repurpose it in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The lampshade actually came with a lamp that I purchased from a garage sale. I ended up using the lamp and not the shade.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAREzVpvP0V3WJzeEnMkErzuujQ6dkrj3l2qoVlcMCFXWJtZfjQmSldDWBuDwWpc-8hgTj1hRTnFTpYavIYoS7klDcfRKdouaqOlwV7K4_3UJ5yHJLQ2BX29nDdjrlLW23yo87oX7eq0Mw/s1600/DSC_0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAREzVpvP0V3WJzeEnMkErzuujQ6dkrj3l2qoVlcMCFXWJtZfjQmSldDWBuDwWpc-8hgTj1hRTnFTpYavIYoS7klDcfRKdouaqOlwV7K4_3UJ5yHJLQ2BX29nDdjrlLW23yo87oX7eq0Mw/s400/DSC_0754.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fabric could not have been more perfect for this project! I found it at Hobby Lobby in the seasonal collection for spring. It comes just like you see it, hanging beautifully with pink ruffles.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All I had to do was cut the fabric to fit the lamp, and then hot glue the fabric to the top of the shade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">My only complaint is that because the fabric is semi-sheer and my shade had a pattern on it, when the lamp is turned on I can see the silhouette of the pattern. A solid color shade, preferable white, would have been better for this project. If I come across one for a few bucks, I'll replace the drum under the fabric.</span><br />
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<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IJXY5eic0kC9mpCZco5_Sdj9EE2TqPZNARxJHOhIyvOGdVpWWRa4unUq4-Qq0h6MFdLqaTVKVoeNWtqycoZPxgJnAHnW7zUU7VuudVfxqoCdA5G0HgrkW30UT1dn0SHVesIsapZMUZ1z/s400/DSC_0763.jpg" width="288" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As for that beautiful lamp base, I found that at Goodwill for $5 a couple years ago. I was using it in this room when it was a guestroom. All I did was give it a new look before using it in the nursery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">With a little repurposing and recycling from things I already had in my home, the floor lamp in the nursery is both functional and beautiful, and it didn't end up costing me anything.</span></div>
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Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-11617688763980586632016-07-19T10:24:00.002-07:002016-07-19T10:24:49.785-07:00Easy Paper Banner for Girl's Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c-C-QwCwvaPeR2ieizr3jgRzOACZdkep6Y6pfWaEnwoYZ4cgDvDxwGIPZtMXeUM4MCkBsxZ2uxILlRtQLAcNeSyL43HydSv0soKK9FzUMi7-X6cmCSlyXPF2aucWv4J8PKkNQWhqDiQu/s1600/DSC_0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1c-C-QwCwvaPeR2ieizr3jgRzOACZdkep6Y6pfWaEnwoYZ4cgDvDxwGIPZtMXeUM4MCkBsxZ2uxILlRtQLAcNeSyL43HydSv0soKK9FzUMi7-X6cmCSlyXPF2aucWv4J8PKkNQWhqDiQu/s400/DSC_0741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This afternoon I want to very quickly share an easy project I did for Charlotte's nursery that only cost me a couple of bucks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes it's another banner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know I shared a fabric banner this morning. Adorable banners are all the rage lately, and both of the banners I'm sharing today are visually different from one another in several ways.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNK1h3VpnIpeneySN23nOyM-y5GeqOOIWGO4J0FAhzGf8o9BmrxW-vJRWSn6scODbVJqlQa6VE1xjv3ivNPw3mcH9A_iN7Pf7IWCYZoo5iFXkG0wpWxLn5_W_Wzn_74eWGK4EiZuFGU9M/s1600/DSC_0745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRNK1h3VpnIpeneySN23nOyM-y5GeqOOIWGO4J0FAhzGf8o9BmrxW-vJRWSn6scODbVJqlQa6VE1xjv3ivNPw3mcH9A_iN7Pf7IWCYZoo5iFXkG0wpWxLn5_W_Wzn_74eWGK4EiZuFGU9M/s400/DSC_0745.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unlike the banner I shared this morning, this one is more of a traditional banner with triangles made from scrapbook paper. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To make this I simply used a triangle template, traced the triangle on the back of scrapbook paper, cut out the triangles, folded the top edges of the triangles over a piece of twine, taped the folded edges to the twine, and spaced the paper triangles evenly on the twine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Triangle or banner templates can be found for free on the internet. Anyone can do a Google search and print a template that can be cut out from computer paper or cardstock. For this particular banner, I just used one of the banner pieces I had from the boys' birthday party.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z13Rrhd-qsuhzritYf37AuY6s4n5mXOluhaLH3bmrwlAuPhVbhdAEkK0h8URsxd54o2MRTa6MgzabyUPLl03FpBCGQRjO0kYY2hNMGhOAmEZXAKgxYnu3PqkKLhI6oHq2IUp9UGB_99b/s1600/DSC_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6z13Rrhd-qsuhzritYf37AuY6s4n5mXOluhaLH3bmrwlAuPhVbhdAEkK0h8URsxd54o2MRTa6MgzabyUPLl03FpBCGQRjO0kYY2hNMGhOAmEZXAKgxYnu3PqkKLhI6oHq2IUp9UGB_99b/s400/DSC_0743.jpg" width="288" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once complete, I nailed the banner underneath a chalkboard that I purchased from the clearance section of my local Home Goods, and later wrote the phrase, "Dream Big Baby Girl!" on it before hanging it on the wall.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25r3WRRZKyIfMy_FV6kcrR3wbRtDHFNq42w8E-LW7NbHEgEyGCkw0PAOU6i03lrZrQRU7nBxlYh1019fFwPeKqrQ-43bk_WmCrUP_u1iIT-QhWpxiSSnKWEaElc4RCzDncaD-AO1X2Lsw/s1600/DSC_0746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25r3WRRZKyIfMy_FV6kcrR3wbRtDHFNq42w8E-LW7NbHEgEyGCkw0PAOU6i03lrZrQRU7nBxlYh1019fFwPeKqrQ-43bk_WmCrUP_u1iIT-QhWpxiSSnKWEaElc4RCzDncaD-AO1X2Lsw/s400/DSC_0746.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is such an easy project that I sometimes feel it shouldn't even be called a project. But it's the little details like this that, in my opinion, help complete the look of a space. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">his little corner of the wall wouldn't quite be the same if I only hung the chalkboard on the wall but didn't hang the banner underneath it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because, for me, details are important. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's those finishing touches that help enhance what was already there.</span><br />
Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-25759505980677930702016-07-19T05:22:00.001-07:002016-07-19T05:22:13.984-07:00Whimsical Fabric Banner for Girl Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitKgHCKiJ1bRwbfvrd3m4-MUt8g7dHYVRIDihkpMScq9I39hIibA4jKaMjLy_nus2szjBZfmrh4z1edlXTAW-WEZr9nlrr2S9eWfam1SVhqiVQdJXOjRSs27S1QcInBpyi91zz7B0kV3q/s1600/DSC_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitKgHCKiJ1bRwbfvrd3m4-MUt8g7dHYVRIDihkpMScq9I39hIibA4jKaMjLy_nus2szjBZfmrh4z1edlXTAW-WEZr9nlrr2S9eWfam1SVhqiVQdJXOjRSs27S1QcInBpyi91zz7B0kV3q/s400/DSC_0750.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good Morning! It's day two of posting about DIY projects that were completed for our little girl's nursery. I'll start the morning off by sharing an easy fabric banner that looks both rustic and whimsical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I love about this is that I just used scrap fabric from all of the other textile projects from this room! Extra fabric from the curtains and bedding, along with pieces of ribbon from other projects, were recycled to make this piece.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To make the banner, I simply tore fabric into approximately one inch thick pieces. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then cut several pieces of fabric and ribbon into approximately twelve inch length strips. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From there, I just tied the pieces onto a long piece of twine, arranging the pieces in somewhat of a pattern.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did not measure anything. What makes this look whimsical is that it is perfectly imperfect. I just eyeballed the width and length of the pieces. Perfection is not the goal here. Getting the banner completed in 15 minutes or less was my goal!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lastly, I nailed the banner above the crib and under a wooden monogram that I spray painted gold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really like the simplicity of this banner and how it looks in combination with the monogram over the crib. It makes a great focal point on the wall and helps tie the room together by using all of the different colors and fabrics from the room.</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-25236098245552458072016-07-18T13:17:00.001-07:002016-07-18T13:19:03.303-07:00Headband Holder from an Oatmeal Container<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my last blog post, I mentioned how I planned on sharing several DIY projects over the next few days that were completed for Baby Girl's nursery. This morning I posted about the DIY bow and headband holder made from a Goodwill picture frame. This evening I'm blogging about the DIY headband holder made from a Goodwill candle holder and an oatmeal container.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Yep, that's right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Another bow holder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Because what I quickly learned about resale shopping for a girl, is that baby girls can never have enough accessories!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I love about this project is that it was cheap, easy and the outside displays headbands, while the inside can hold more bows and accessories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To make this project, I took piece of scrapbook paper and cut it to the size of an empty oatmeal container, before gluing the paper to the container. Using gold spray paint, I painted the oatmeal lid and a Goodwill candle stick base. Once dry, I hot glued the candlestick holder to the bottom of the oatmeal container.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that's all she wrote, folks! Another easy Pinterest project complete for a baby girl nursery!</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2550777970033501708.post-83377538546891607962016-07-18T11:24:00.000-07:002016-07-19T11:00:08.870-07:00Baby Girl Bow and Headband Frame<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial";">When I found out we were pregnant with a baby girl this past February, a lot of things went though my mind. I found myself excited about having a girl for several reasons. One reason being that I was going to get to create a space for a little girl to grow up in, by turning our guestroom into a girl's room. To do this, there was much planning and DIYing that had to be done before Baby Girl's arrival.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I plan on spending the next several days posting about all of the DIY projects that were completed for Baby Girl's nursery. </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'll start this morning by sharing a simple bow and headband display made with a cheap Goodwill picture frame, spray paint, ribbon, hot glue and hooks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For this project, I simply bought a frame at Goodwill, took the picture and the glass out of the frame and spray painted the frame gold. Once dry, I cut four strips of ribbon the length of my frame, and hot glued the strips of ribbon to the back of the frame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I then tied a piece of ribbon to each bracket on the back of the frame, and then I tied those two pieces of ribbon together, creating something that could hang on the wall from the ribbon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Lastly, I bought a pack of small gold hooks from the hardware store and screwed them into the bottom of the wooden frame. This would be a good time to say that this worked only because my frame was wooden. A plastic frame would not have worked for this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">I</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial";">'m very pleased with how this turned out. Thank you Pinterest for the idea, as this was super-easy and displays bows and head bands.</span></span></div>
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</span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04778693374483211184noreply@blogger.com0