A Garden Party Baby Shower

A Garden Party Baby Shower for my sister's good friend.  I only helped with the invitations and decor.  I can not take all the credit for these designs.  But the diaper cake is 100% mine.

(Diaper cake wrapped in receiving blankets and topped with a pot of flowers (far left); handmade invitations including a fabric flower (top right); name/advice cards with light pink flower background (middle row, far left); fabric flower on the diaper cake (middle row, 2nd to the left); random shot of spring flowers (middle row, 2nd to the right); top view of diaper cake (middle row, far right); closeup of diaper cake fabric flowers (bottom right)

'Drop your drawers' Sunday

Today has been a day full of drawer cleaning.  I will be the first to admit that organizing is not a cheap project.  Totes, shelves, and organizing accessories are expensive.  But totally worth it!

I didn't do any before pics because I was so ashamed of the state of my kitchen junk drawer, but now I am proud to say there is not one "junk drawer" in this house.  :)

Kitchen Desk Drawer

Kitchen Junk Drawer

Bathroom Junk Drawer



Happy Valentine's Day!

My husband has finally learned that I don't need diamonds or shoes.  I just need a simple repair job done!  This Valentine's Day I got the best gift I have ever gotten!  Granted, I loved this gift the first time around, but the fact that my husband actually listened to something I said, and acted on it, is truly amazing!

I came home after a long work day to my two men shoveling the driveway.  As I gathered my purse, bag, etc. from the car, Andrew told me there was something inside for me.  I love surprises, but I was really just expecting the typical roses and a card.  To my surprise, I walked in to find that Andrew had fixed a cedar trunk I had gotten from my parents.  A few weeks prior we had rearranged the kitchen and had a large open space by our back door.  We both agreed that we needed something that could store my purse and diaper bag along with his work boots.  I told him we had that cedar chest in the basement but the hinges were broken and the lid wouldn't shut right.

Well... tadaaaaahhh!  I came home Valentine's day to find my trunk in PERFECT working condition in my kitchen.  (A special thanks to Grandpa May who helped with this project.)  It only took a few extra screws in the hinges to fix it.  But I am proud to say that my husband is the greatest man ever.. and has finally learned how easy it is to please this girl!!

THANK YOU ANDREW JOSEPH MAY!!  I LOVE YOU!!

Blessed beyond our dreams...

     Lately, I have been reminded of how simply blessed we truly are.  We have a roof over our heads and food on the table, which are miracles only skin deep.  Our true blessing lie deep in our faith.  We are blessed with the health in our bodies, love in our hearts, and an unfathomable belief that there is a God in heaven that has a plan.  It's not always 'our' plan or in our time, but God has a plan.  If we can put 100% of our trust in him... he delivers 150% of the time, in His time. 
     Patience is a virtue that I struggle with all the time.  I want everything now, now, now!  So, as I tell a friend to just trust in God's time, I must reflect on myself and remind myself to be patient and understand that God has a better plan. 

     I remember growing up and my mom telling us that "prayers never expire".  The prayers that you pray today, may go on forgotten by mankind, but they never expire in heaven.  So, what I prayed for 3 years ago, God has not forgotten.  And I have witnessed the riches of his blessings, years down the road, and they are always more magnificent then my mind could have imagined.  So now, ever morning in the car (as I remember my mother doing),  I pray for my child that he has wisdom beyond his years, that he may grow into a strong man, full of honor and integrity.  That his children and grandchildren go strong and healthy;  I pray for all the people at my workplace, that the owner of my company has wisdom and strength to make wise decisions so that he may prosper; I pray for all those that I know are troubled or in a hard spot;  I pray for the leaders of this country, that they make intelligent choices that benefit this nation. 

     I know that these prayers are small, but God hears everyone, and he will answer, in His time.

Bubble bath baby... then and now.

While giving Ethan a bath tonight I realized how much he has grown and decided to capture the moment. 

9 months old.

Goodbye sweet baby.

20 months old.

Hello sweet boy.

New kitchen sink light fixture...

In a trade-off with my husband I agreed to find/install new music download software in exchange for his "light fixture" hanging expertise.  I definitely got the easier end of the bargain.

So here is our hideous, fluorescent light that used to be above our kitchen sink.  Anyone that has a home built in the 1960's has probably seen one of these bad boys.

It actually used to have a cover but I broke it right before taking these photos.  I got a little excited to get the stupid thing down that I forgot to take a good "before" pic.

Here are the results!  This is an oil-rubbed bronze track light system.  It was marked $20 brand new, in the box at Restore.  Steph and I went on 25% off day and I got it for $15.  I found similar products at Home Depot ranging from $70-$150.  Talk about a bargain!

Here's a close up.  It's a great fixture!! Each of the heads can swivel in any directions.  It brings so much more light to our kitchen and it matches my favorite feature of my kitchen (another Restore bargain) my faucet.  I love it!

Please ignore the ugly ceiling where the light is mounted.  It needs patched and painted from the holes the other fixture left. I'm thinking about trying out a new paint color.  What a perfectly hidden spot to test it out!



On to the next project!

Oh where oh where is your Hair Flair??

I've always been one that was not afraid to try something new with my hair.  Ask any of my hair stylists!  I don't get too offended if I do something I don't like.  It's just hair... it will grow back! 

So, a few weeks ago my mother-in-law asked if she could try out a new product on me. (She is a licensed cosmetologist.)  So, I gladly obliged.  As long as you aren't turning my hair purple.. I'm happy.  So she brought over what looked like a keychain of tinsel.  And she told me that we were going to insert these 'hair flair' strands into the roots of my hair.  Um.. ok???  My questions... "Is it going to wash out?", "Will it only last for tonight", "Is my hair going to fall out?"  LOL!  And the answer to all my questions surprised me.  The 'hair flair' strands are tied directly into the root of 4-5 strands of hair.  They will stay in for 2-3 weeks.  They can be washed, dryed, curled, straightened, etc. Amazing!  So she put 5 strands in and here are the results.  Sorry... this would be much cooler if you had longer hair but.. I guess you have to deal with the models available!  bahahaha...

"Hair flair" comes in every color and length imaginable.  Check out there website http://www.glamstrand.com/

It would be a great product for highschool dances, cheerleading, etc.  I am a witness that you can wash/dry/straighten it and it will stay in for over 2 weeks.  It's a really fun product!

Contact me if you are interested in having it done.  My mother-in-law is charging $2 per strand.

Who else met my spray paint can?

This is the old ugly, brass light fixture in Ethan's room after a new coat of paint.  :)

.... and this is the door knob to our kitchen/garage door.  The results are amazing.  Sorry I didn't upload the results of how the doorknob looks on the door.  Let's just say it's quite an improvement!

And to keep you interested for other future posts, my spray painting has caught the attention of a friend who is tackling a much larger 'spray paint project'.  Details to follow!!