This one's for you....

So Spencer said yesterday, "You haven't blogged in a while." FINALLY...he has admitted that he likes to keep up with it (plus I think it makes him feel special when I go on and on about how handy he is!) So this one's for him because I haven't updated everyone on our recent projects. Plus, I think maybe he needs a little ego boost with the big 3-0 coming up in a couple of days!

We've been meaning to refinish this cool antique high chair that was a gift from my dad since CE was born....so, we (yes, I helped!) sanded, stained and sealed it to match our new dining table. Couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Claire agrees.

Before

After

This next project has been driving us crazy since the day we moved in....we despised our back door. It was a hideous, "privacy," faux plexi-glass, textured monstrosity, and we've finally replaced it with a basic fifteen panel, classic patio door. In a few short days, Spencer's new fancy pancy birthday grill will be the view from in front of it!

We've officially grown tomato trees...they're extending almost two feet above the cages and we popped the first few super-sweet cherry tomatoes last week.  We also have basil, romaine lettuce, jalapenos, bell peppers and the beginnings of zucchini, yellow squash and cucumber. The gardens are out of control, but you have to learn somehow, right? Next year, folks, next year.

SJ built a rolling gate for the deck entrance...no more worries of escaping rugrats! The things we get excited about these days.

I can't get enough of this (soon to be more and in a couple different sizes for the deck!) cedar planter that SJ created. It was super cheap and easy, made from cedar fence boards. Smells good too!

We have a busy July and August with birthday celebrations, baptisms, a beach vacation and hopefully some much-needed R&R, so we may be on a project hiatus for a few months. Who knows what kind of handyworks September may bring?!!

Twenty eleven craftiness

I'm behind on sharing my recent craftings so thought I'd just spare you numerous boring posts and include them all in one. Drum roll please.....

Pickle jar soap dispenser:



Remove label, wash off label goo, paint top, drill hole, insert new dispenser and soap...voila! See the rest of our finished half bath here.

Baby lovie and paci keeper:

3X3 fabric scraps, minky fleece, ribbon, metal snap, sewing machine, a cute baby to snuggle with it...and there you have it!

Hand towel pullover bibs:

Seasonal hand towels that were a gift but I have too many already, knit scraps from old shirt, sewing machine....maybe not the most stylish {kind of 1986ish if you ask me}, but easy to use and easy to wash so who cares?

Framed baby silhouette and hallway collage:

Profile photo of C.E. traced onto black paper, sharpie for hair tuft and eyelashes, magazine article for background, black frame, favorite blog for the idea! 

Family photos, black frames, cardboard monogram painted black, and inspiration from, yep,

you guessed it...here again....I'm now on a vintage key search.

Throw pillow covers:

I swear I don't have all of these pillows on one couch...just lined them up there so I could get them all in one shot. They are mixed and matched in different rooms with pillows I already had. We went a little outside of our comfort zone with the animal print but it was a risk worth taking, if you ask me!

Stay tuned for more DIYing....we've got something BIG in mind!

New Fav

This Food Network reversible aluminum griddle is my new favorite kitchen "extra". I had received a cast-iron one for Christmas but took it back because it was oh-so heavy and not safe for our glass cook-top, so I just now have found an even better replacement! It fits pefectly over our left two burners, is lightweight, non-stick, can go in the oven, was on sale at Kohls for $42 plus an extra 20% off {imagine that, right??}and made from recycled aluminum cans, bonus! We've had it three days and already used it for eggs, veggies, grilled PB&J {yep!} and grilled chicken. How in the world did we ever live without it?

How I Spent my Snow Day

I didn't have to work yesterday and Spencer's office was closed, so here's how we spent our Snow Day.

Claire and I both ate breakfast...Oat Revolution oatmeal and coffee for me! You have to try this oatmeal...you can get it for 10/$10 at Kroger almost every other week, there's tons of fiber and Omega-3's, natural ingredients, recycled packaging and it's uber tasty.

We played with, read to, tickled, loved on Claire. Check out the peek-a-boo footage.

 

Little laundry...little dusting...little vacuuming...little floor moppage...

{Yes, beach towels...Spencer uses them at the gym, don't judge}

{Look at all of that dog hair and dust....ick!}

Claire took a nap...Spencer and I had more coffee...

{And, no, my Summer Infant Slim and Secure monitor was NOT part of the recall, and no, I couldn't live without it}

Put some chicken tortilla soup in the crock pot for dinner...here's the recipe I used:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/chicken-tortilla-soup/

Great website, btw.

 

The ice began...

{Yep, that's my Christmas winter wreath still up outside my front door}

I blog-stalked for a little while...here are a few of my favs:

http://www.thepleatedpoppy.com/

http://www.younghouselove.com/

http://www.cinnamonpost.blogspot.com/

http://www.littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/

Nothing like reading about the lives of people you don't know!

Claire tried some rice cereal for the first time...it went pretty well for about 4 bites then she decided that she was more interested in the dog who was sitting under her high chair, waiting for droppings.

Claire took another nap, Spencer went to the gym, and I did yoga on ExerciseTV, OnDemand...I'm obsessed with this Body by Bethenny video {and with her, in general...I think she's hysterical.}

We ate our soup, had a bottle glass of wine, watched Inception with Leonardo DiCaprio {good, not great...kinda crazy} and all went to bed.

It was a normal and simple but  FANTASTIC family day!

It's in the BAG

So if you know me very well, you know I'm a mega bargain shopper. I pretty much don't buy anything for full price or without a coupon...from groceries to clothes to toilet paper, if it's not on sale, I rarely buy it. So you can imagine my excitement when I found out about the grab-bag sale at Once Upon a Child...fifteen bucks (per bag) for everything you can cram inside. So here's what I scored for $32:

11 pairs of jeans (6mo- 2T)
1 pair of overalls (6-9 mo)
3 skirts (24m)
5 dresses (12m-2T)
13 tops (6m-2T)
2 hats

And, might I say, mostly high quality brands...BabyGap, Carters, Hanna Andersson, Tea Collections, OldNavy, Children's Place, and Gymboree to name a few. Worth the crowd fighting and hour-long check out line??Absofrigginlutely!

"Love the new threads, mom!"