The projects: part I: subsection A

Okedokey, I didn't realize the above the bed space filler project was going to be such a hit!

Glad y'all liked it! And here is the 101 on styrofoam:

When I first purchased the stryrofoam a couple years back it came in a 12" by 36" sheet. It's about an inch thick. I think there are thinner versions, but I liked the thickness for this project.  (I was just in Hobby Lobby and I know they still have it there.)

I just made two cuts, leaving me with three 12x12 squares'o'foam.  I used a serrated kitchen knife - there are fancy, but completely unnecessary styrofoam tools...don't be a sucker.

For the edges, if they're a little rough, you can actually use another piece of styrofoam to smooth them down. I know, why do I know so much about styrofoam?!

Then I used some random metallic bronze spray paint for the edges.

The first time around I glued on each sheet of scrapping paper, this time I was even lazier and just used sticky glue dots in the corners and wherever else the paper was sticking up a bit. If you choose to glue everything, don't get too crazy with the glue, it ends up making the paper crinkly. Trust me, I tried many a glue that promised no crinkling, it still happened. I also attempted to modg podge the whole thing...but I failed at that as well.

So yeah, that's about it when it comes to this project.

Happy crafting! I hope you post a picture of the finished product!!

The projects: part I

Ok, so I've been talking about this damn Pinterest for long enough, let's see what it has inspired me to do.

I told you already that I'm in the process of revamping the bedroom to include my new love for grey and yellow.  The sheets and pillows were purchased and then it was time to figure out the space above the bed.

I feel like I'm about to get a little Young House Love up in here.

Here is what was above the bed before. Easy peasy and super cheap way to fill up a lot of space. Styrofoam + 12x12 scrapbooking paper glued on + some paint around the edges. Done and done.

Yeah this is the only photo I have of the wall. Let's reminisce on that sweet little peanut.

Styrofoam. Who knew you were so spectacular? 1. How easy is it to hang styrofoam? Really easy. Put in two nails and push it on. A breeze to get straight and move around as needed. 2. No worries about heavy objects falling on your head while you sleep (Andy's fear, not mine.)

So I figured I would just search out some new scrapbook paper and update the old look to grey and yellow. And in line with all of my other rhetorical questions: Do you know how hard it is to find grey and yellow paper? Basically impossible. There is NOTHING in Fargo/Moorhead, fyi.

Finally I found a pack of greys. Different designs, all grey. I guess it would have to do.

Then, I had myself a little idea. Why not just paint some yellow onto the paper? There were numerous sheets of the same design, so if it failed miserably, I still had extra.

Um, yeah, totally worked!

Here is the final project! I'm happy with the results (and our new grey sheets are phenom). I'm not quite sold on grey enough to get rid of the beige walls, but we'll see what happens.

And a close up of the yellow pillows and sequined pillow...that I bought a couple years ago and promised Andy would only come out at Christmas...and it's been on our bed ever since. :)

Baked potato baby.

Oh man. Having a sick baby is not fun. Not that it sounds fun at all, but I just wanted to make sure you knew it's really not fun at all. Even the calling into work with a sick kid excuse, I've been looking forward to that for years now...also not that fun.

Saturday morning Paciface woke up and just wasn't herself. Oh yes, she is still in LOVE with her pacifier. Which in the sickness weekend was really an amazing little tool.  So anyways, normally baby is bright eyed and bushy tailed in the early AM, but not this time. We just laid on the couch and watched tv. Definitely something not right in her world.

Then the temp came. Ugh. She was literally on fire and we were in panic mode. We did the "doctor dance" as my sister in law so perfectly phrases it. Do we take her in, do we not, will they send us home, will they give us drugs. So we did the motrin, we did the baths, we did the cuddles and loves, and lots of naps...all weekend long.

Things were starting to perk up on Sunday night so we figured she was on the mend. It was Andy's turn to get up Monday morning and then...she puked on him. I know, it's funny looking back, but it certainly pushed us to run to the doc.

I used to get up early and stand in line to be the first at the Victoria's Secret Semi Annual Sale....now I get in line to be the first at the walk in clinic.

Anywho...she had fluid in her ear. I'm assuming that means an ear infection and we've got antibiotics now.

She is totally feeling better and that means mama is too.

Oh and this makes me so very thankful for a sleep-through-the-night baby. She's only been up once a night through the sickness but these parents, we need sleep.  So again, I'm so thankful she's a sleeper!

if she jumped off a bridge would you too?

Background:

1. Emmie has never liked a pacifier. Well not in the conventional way. Since teething began she has been using a pacifier as a chew toy...but she has never sucked on a pacifier in a normal way. We've tried, but she's never been interested.

2. Daycare told me earlier this week that Emmie has a new best friend, her name is Avery. I've never seen Avery without a pacifier in her face.

The story:

I picked up my kid today and she was sucking on pacifier. And she did all night. And she's now sleeping with it.

What is that about??

Is she already doing things just because her friends are? It's just the weirdest thing. I'll be so curious to see if she still loves that thing tomorrow...or if it was just a day long love fest.  Or is this totally normal, like do babies just do what other babies do?

Let me know if I need to have the "be a leader, not a follower" talk.

And we've decided to name her pacifier Wilson. But you have to say it like Tom Hanks says it in Cast Away when the volleyball floats out into the ocean - Wiiiiilllllsonnnnnnn - because that about sums up the look on her face when she drops the pacifier.  (Side note: Andy and I went to that movie on our first date...in 2001.)

If mama taught me anything, it's that thread count is everything.

In the attempt to overhaul my house, of course our bedroom is high on the list of makeover wants needs.  And because I bleed white and beige, changing the sheets and pillows pretty much does the trick. I'm hot for grey and yellow right now...move over green there's a new color sheriff in town. 

So in my lunch hour escapades, hitting up every store trying to find the right items for all of my projects, I stumbled upon a pillow winner at Gordmans. No offense to Gordmans, but I usually only buy hard objects there...you know, picture frames and vases and whatnot.  But the pillows were pretty much what I was looking for...and on sale. Two words that, well, sell me on anything.

Now here's where things got a little dicey. Next to said yellow pillows: clearanced out grey sheets. I scoffed at the thought of buying sheets at Gordmans, but the clearance sticker, it's like I'm a fly to that light up buzzy death trap. I read a little closer, 600 thread count...hmm...sateen...hmmm...half off...hmm...they are the right color...they can't be bad right? So in the cart they went.

And in the wash they went.
And on the bed they went.
And in the garbage they will go.

Holy hell. Worst sheets eh.ver.

Andy woke up in the morning, looked at me and asked if they would get softer. I said yes, knowing full well there isn't enough fabric softener in the world to make these better.

We crawled in bed again the next night and it wasn't even pleasant. After a long day, you just want to climb into something soft and inviting...we however, were climbing into a bed of sandpaper. Andy said his skin hurt just laying there.

600 thread count my ass. Maybe they use the metric scale or something?

Needless to say the new, new sheets are in dryer.

i can actually feel my heart melting when i look at her.

 We spent Sunday enjoying every glorious sunny, wind free moment. From pooling on the deck to a quick swing at Dave and Kristy's park, it was a perfect day. Emmie enjoyed her new favorite game of rolling over...and taking the blanket with her:

There are some days that I don't think I could love her any more than I already do...and then I do. I mean, she is the sweetest little thing I could ever ask for. 

Happy Father's Day!

It's Andy first Father's Day! I'm so happy that he can finally celebrate Father's Day, not that Emmie is going out of her way to make him breakfast or draw a picture for him or anything...but still.

This Father's Day I'm so thankful for Andy. As is Emmie. And Tuck.

Andy knows what it takes to be a good dad and he does it every day. It's the little things. Being goofy, being silly. Singing songs and reading books. No, he doesn't always pick out the cutest outfit when left in charge of that decision, but it's usually the most comfortable option, so the kid is happy anyways. She gets hugs and kisses all day and an I love you every night.

 And she loves him. So much. And she loves his full head of hair:

Dear: you're a great dad. You know what a miracle this baby girl is and you treat her like it everyday. We are both so lucky to have you. As we celebrate our six year anniversary and now your first Father's Day, I hope you know what an amazing husband, father and man you are. 

How many strike does a parent get over the lifetime of their child?

So in my attempt to be sporty spice I guess I’ve broken some rules. Like, the don’t endanger or try to kill your baby rules. Oopsiedaisies.

As you saw, we didn’t have a helmet for Emmie’s little noggin while on our bike ride. Strike one. It was a short little spin around the block, but I figured going forward we better put something between her mind and the pavement. It was a hunch that was quickly confirmed by every mother on the face of the earth.

So I googled some baby helmets and wouldn’t you know…strike two…you’re not supposed to even have a baby under one ride in a bike seat. Shoot. Even though she sits unsupported and has a super strong neck, apparently she’s still not big enough to ride on the ol’ bike with mom and dad.

It’s even illegal in the state of NY. Hmm. Interesting.

Back to the stroller.

Sorry kid.

like crack to Whitney Houston.

Like spray tan to Lindsay Lohan.
Like publicity to any Kardashian.
Like Pinterest to Me.

I know. Another post about Pinterest.

I'll explain a little more though.

You see, craftiness is in my blood. And for the past few years, that crafty part of my brain has been consumed with baby making, well strike that, every part of my brain was consumed with baby making.  And now, I have the baby and the brain is slowly starting return to its natural form.

And Pinterest has helped to recharge that creativity and I'ma likin' it.

I've got so much inspiration and so many ideas running through my head I can hardly stand it.

But of course, like the baby making thing, I want it now! I've got ideas for the bedroom, the kitchen, the entry way...and well, it's not all happening as I sit and type this, so I'm going nuts. Patience, still not a virtue.

But I'm just happy to be in the crafty frame of mind.

And I hope Emmie has inherited the crafting genes along with those blue eyes of mine.

I was at Michaels and I noticed I was surrounded by moms and daughters. And I cannot wait until that's Emmie and me! I remember doing crafty things with mom growing up and I always loved it (I mean I hope our craftiness is cool and not puff paint related...but you never know, trends seem to return).

So until my side kid can accompany me to Michael's, Hobby Lobby, and JoAnn's...I'll just keep pinning ideas and hope they're still cool one day.

just a nice little saturday

It was a beautiful Saturday here in Fargo and we took full advantage...around Emmie's long afternoon nap that is. Why is it she takes the longest naps on the most perfect windless, we should be out enjoying this afternoons? 

 

We spent our morning on the deck. Emmie in the shade, me and Tuck in the sun, and Andy behind the mower. And ended our evening with a little bike ride, blue cheese burgers and beer.

 

Look at us being all Sporty Spice!

 

Pam gave us this cool little bike seat for Emmie to use...who doesn't like a free bike seat...and then we went out and bought a new bike to strap it to.

Photos just because...

6 months!

Where has half of a whole entire year gone? Emmie spent her half birthday at Lake Sallie with Alicia, Matt and the fam.  The six month photo shoot went from the floor to outside...who could resist the sun and the grass?

At six months she has one tooth, can sit, roll over and loves her toes.

She does not however, love the grass.

conversation with a coworker:

Me: I like the color of your jeans.
L: Thanks. I like how they're tight on my thighs and loose at the waist.
Me: Are you being serious or facetious?
L: Well, I'm not being serious, because I don't know what that other word means.
Me: Google it.
L: I'll see what urban dictionary has to say.

facetious:
an asshole's word for sarcasm.

Well, that pretty much sums it up.