Spare time

One of the things I promised myself in 2014 was to have more fun. While I hope this year has an exciting adventure or two, part of having fun is a desire to relax and just enjoy what I have right now... whether that is reading, organizing my home, spending time with friends, or clearing my head. 

One of my friends started selling jamberry nails this year, and praised them. While it reeks of frivolousness I thought it would be fun to try it out. Decorated nails is something I've never done before- but I want to be that person!  I ordered four sets, including one for my girl. 

I tried out the mint colored chevron last night. It was a little time consuming my first try, figuring out sizes, getting all my manicure tools in the same place, learning how to handle them... But it was also really easy. Each kit covers at least 2 applications for both your toes and hands, and can last on your fingers for about 2 weeks. At $16 per sheet, getting me 2 "manicures" and 2 "pedicures" applications each sheet, they suddenly don't seem so frivolous anymore.

Overall I really like them. They feel a little like window clings that you decorate with at Easter, which I'm still not used to. I'm waiting to see if they are as durable as they claim to be (and if I correctly applied them!)

 

DIY Basement Racking

On Saturday I picked up a great racking system for $60 so I could move our Christmas decorations to the dirty basement. The rack is ~45" wide, 72" tall and 18" deep. Each shelf can hold 350 lbs.

On Sunday while my mom watched the kids I assembled the racking myself in about 30 minutes, and then hauled the rest of our stuff up and down the stairs. 

Before:

After:

(I couldn't pick up the big air conditioner by myself to get it out of the picture and off the floor.)

I love the result, and am probably going to get another rack or two- one for the craft room to handle all the kids clothes and my fabric supplies, and the other for our basement coolers / tools / odds and ends. When we move, they'll be perfect for a basement pantry or garage storage. I really can't believe I didn't do this sooner! 

We already had the book shelf that is now under the stairs (a freebee from my aunt) it fit perfectly, and while I had planned on using it at my moms for some toy storage, it fit so well here I couldn't find something better. 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

On Saturday, while the kids were napping and the husband was dutifully in his role of daddy-daycare, I popped out to check out our local Habitat ReStore. There was a clinic there and I had missed the last few I had heard about.  I wish the clinic had hands-on exercises - but overall the ReStore was great! I usually shop for furniture at another local shop that has decent prices, but I could see how much more reasonable the prices here were! And they had a very similar mix of quality pieces that the other thrift store does. They also had a huge number of old window panes, used doors, lighting fixtures and the typical books / decor / pictures. Needless to say I was very excited. 

My husband would hate if I brought home another project I didn't finish or have a purpose for.  On our third floor, we have two large totes next to our guest bed that are filled with my husband's sports jerseys and other clothes. Those ugly totes are covered with another ugly sheet. I started looking for something that could replace them. 

While I was there, I ran into an antique sewing machine desk which was calling my name for $40 (can't believe I forgot to take a photo!).  It had five skinny drawers on the right, and what looked like two large doors on the left.  Those two large cabinet style drawers were actually a disguised pull out chair! If I were in a bigger house or knew someone else who would love it as a gift I would have walked away with it in an instant.  However, I knew I already had a craft table and a regular desk upstairs that don't get enough use, so I sadly walked away.  And then I came up to the piece I ended up buying: a metal dresser. Its metal - as in filing cabinet metal (so very heavy) - with a few paint drips on it and a two-inch diameter circle where the paint had been worn off to the original metal finish. It was different enough and fit the space I wanted.  Refinishing this was not only easy, but also would help me get rid of the totes!!

The dresser was originally $40, and they had a 25% off sale for the St. Paddy's day holiday - coming down to $30. Before I got home I stopped at Lowes and bought three cans of spray paint - two of Valspar's Luscious Green and 1 of Cobalt Cannon. The total project cost came back up to $40.  My husband sanded it down and my daughter helped me with the clean up and taking off the handles.

(the handles before)

I had previously pinned a photo of a green cabinet I liked on Pinterest from Apartment Therapy (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/carly-chips-home-house-tour-165184#gallery/35554/24) and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do something similar.  It was also a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!  I spray painted (on a very windy day, I wouldn't recommend that!) the dresser green and the handles grey.  I'm really, really terrible at spray painting, though I love the way it turned out. 

This is a photo of it in our kitchen - not in its new permanent home upstairs.  I can see using this nearly anywhere in our house if I designed around it- a kids room, a future man cave, even in a dining room or study; but for now it will house those jerseys and rid me of the terrible totes. 

 

I'm still considering some things for a future iteration of this dresser: the first is clear coating the top to protect it from scratches... it chipped really easily when I was scratched it putting on one of the handles.  The second is putting some of those vinyl wall decals on it for a sports room or something funky like an octopus or maybe a giant anchor. I just went to one of those house parties for the vinyl decals and have so many ideas of projects to do running through my head now. One thing at a time I suppose! 

2014 Recommittment

I miss blogging. I miss my alone time, my memory sharing, my sense of accomplishment that comes with capturing my exciting projects, random thoughts and all the weekly attempts at improving my life. 

I've done a lot over the past three years that I haven't captured here since I have had my kids. Sure they're on Facebook or on my camera, but they're not surrounded by my thoughts and the trials that went with them. Much of the past three years has been dedicated to finding the new balance of becoming a mom of two while still improving my existence as a full time working woman, a wife, a friend, a daughter, and a sister.  Much of the remaining time has been spent on myself: reading, exercising, showering (people with my full-time-work, full-time-mom situation know what I'm talking about) watching tv, praying,  learning to cook, praying more as I learn how to cook, thrift store shopping, painting furniture and painting my nails, and on the rare occasion lighting candles and relaxing with a glass of wine. Unfortunately somewhere along the way I cut out the bloging I love to do, and I'm sorry for that.

I know I've made this resolution before, but just for myself I want to make it again now: I will go back and blog regularly. I'll be back here doing what I love, making time for myself again. 

Thanks for the encouragement from my friends who've told me they miss this blog. 

Pancakes

Two years ago for Lent I gave up processed foods. It was then that I really started looking at labels on food products. I'm still getting to know what's really in my food, but a big change was buying real maple syrup. I didn't know that the log cabin I grew up on and loved had no actual syrup in it!!  

Next, they stopped selling our favorite box pancakes, and the others just didn't taste as good to us. We went through a lot of different from scratch pancake recipes, but this one has to be our favorite. 

http://pocketchangegourmet.com/old-fashioned-homemade-pancakes/ 

My husband always doubles the recipe, and adds a tough of vanilla extract to the batter. It takes maybe 30 seconds longer than the original box recipe. I love knowing exactly what's in everything!! 

Lastly, what really changed our weekend routine was the electric griddle my mom got my husband for Christmas. For the first time, pancakes are done before the first ones are cooled! He also makes bacon, sausage, eggs, and French toast on it. It's a little bulky, but it is THE BEST if you like any of those things. We now eat a hot homemade breakfast most days throughout the week with the leftovers.