Elbow Patches are the Easiest.

I know Valentine's Day has come and gone, but I still wanted to share this craft with you all, so bear with me!

I found the original idea over at the Night Owl Blog .

Heart elbow patches for Valentine's Day!

I didn't take step-by-step pictures this time.  Normally, I modify a craft I find to suit my tastes/needs/supplies.  But Kimberly at the Night Owl Blog makes this craft SO easily and so easy to follow that I didn't need to modify anything.  

If you don't want to hop on over to the original tutorial, here's the steps I followed:

Supplies needed: 

--Felt (I found mine at a craft store in individual 8 1/2" x 11" sheets...every color imaginable was available)

--No Sew Fabric Glue

--Paint pens

--Scissors

--Tshirt in the color of your choice

1.  On the felt, draw the shape of a heart.  Cut original out and then trace to draw the second heart.  You do want them to look the same, afterall.  

2.  Once both hearts were cut from the felt, I took the paint pen and mimicked stitches all the way around the edge of the heart.  

(this isn't the best picture in the world, but it gives you a better idea of what I'm talking about....)

3.  Decide where you want to place the hearts on your child's shirt.  To do this, I put the shirt on my daughter and then made a dot on each elbow where I wanted them to go.  She thought it was the funniest thing that Mommy was marking on her shirt.  Insert lecture about how Mommy can draw on her shirt to make something pretty, but Avery isn't allowed to.  That was fun. 

4.  Follow the instructions on the back of the glue bottle and glue the hearts onto the designated spot. 

5.  Let the glue dry for 24 hours before wearing the shirt.  A full week before you can wash it.  

And there you have it.  You can literally do anything your little heart desires with this project.  Have a son that's into sports?  Make baseball, basketball, soccer or football elbow patches.  Or just do a regular circle on a printed shirt to add a little flair.  I'm loving this project.  And it took all of 5 minutes to complete. 

And it's Avery-approved too. Note:  I didn't tell her to pose like that.  I just asked if she would stand still so mommy could take a picture of her new shirt.  *sigh* Can we just all stop for a second and be in awe of how my 2 1/2 year old looks SIX in this picture??

And then she was over it. 

Ahhhh.  Life as a toddler mom. 

Getting Personal.

I'm going to go ahead and apologize for this post....it's kind of a downer.  The last four months have been a really......weird time of my life.  As most of you probably know, I had a miscarriage on October 13th.  Since then, it's been difficult to talk about.  Not because it hurts too much, but because miscarriages are such a taboo subject.  People don't want to talk about it.  Listen, I completely understand.  It's depressing, it's talking about a significant loss in someone's life.  How do you talk about it and make it not seem completely awkward?  And until you've been through it, you don't really understand. Not that anyone has said it to me, but I feel like society expects mothers that have miscarried to just move on.  You had a miscarriage four whole months ago?  Why are you still talking about it?  

It's been four months and it still hurts insanely bad.  I cry some nights, thinking about how different things should be.  I had to stop following one of my favorite blogs recently because she announced she was expecting.....and that's all her posts have been about.  It's not that I'm not happy for people.  I have a friend that recently told me she was expecting.....and I'm very genuinely thrilled for her.  It's just hard not to feel jealousy mixed in with the happiness when I see infants or hear people talk about their pregnancies.

I've read a lot of blogs that have dealt with miscarriage and how to handle it.  And most all of the writers talk about how they've found a way to deal with their loss.  For awhile, I thought that my "outlet" would be a painting.  But the more I thought about it, the more I was uncomfortable with the idea.  How awkward would that be if someone walked into my home, noticed the painting and asked about it??  "Well, I had this miscarriage and I felt like I needed to paint something for it."  Talk about a buzzkill.  So I wanted something a little more personal....a little less noticeable.  A little more "this is for me, not for the entire world to notice."  That's when I thought about a bracelet.

First, I knew I wanted the date to be remembered.  It may be an insignificant day to everyone else, but for me, it'll always be a day that I'll remember.  Just like April 28th, my expected due date, will never just be "another day" to me.  I know I'll forever look at the calendar on October 13th and April 28th and remember the significance.  A date bracelet made sense.  I didn't really love anything I was seeing on Etsy, until I found Brin and Bell.

Her bracelets are so dainty, so minimalist, SO perfect for what I was wanting.  I contacted her with what I was hoping for and she was so sweet and accommodating and made EXACTLY what I was wanting.  Thank you, so much Lindsey at Brin and Bell for being part of such a personal piece of jewelry.

 I'm in love with it.  It's exactly what I had imagined in my mind when I first decided on a bracelet.

Next, I want to add a bracelet with the verse, Jeremiah 29:11 on it.  "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"  This verse, Marty and my momma were the only things that got me through those first few weeks.  As much as my miscarriage hurt me, scarred me and left me feeling broken, I know that God's not done with me.  A lot of days, it was helpful to put my name in.  "I know the plans I have for you, Devan. Plans to give YOU hope and a future."  He has a plan for me.  He has a future mapped out.  That future may not include another baby.  It may include another miscarriage.  Or it may include a healthy brother or sister for Avery.  It's not my job to know.

All I know is, for now, I have a bracelet that helps me to remember and gives me comfort.  It's kind of my own little way of "talking about it."  Of having my own secret way to honor that baby and what he or she meant to me.  And remembering that my story isn't over yet.  God's still writing away on my pages.

More Raving about Hobby Lobby.

This is my confession.

I have ZERO self control when I walk into a Hobby Lobby.  For some people, it's Target.  I can control myself, for the most part in there.  For other people, it's a clothing store.  I have a super low self esteem about my body image right now, so I have NO problem turning down the idea of trying on and buying new clothes.

But Hobby Lobby?  It gets me.  It's probably a very good thing that the nearest one is 45 minutes away.

On Tuesday, my addiction paid off.  I literally walked in to check and see if they had one item in stock.  They didn't.  I still walked out with a much lighter wallet.  How do they do it?

With things like these:

This clock.  It's GIGANTIC.  And heavy.  Like heavier than my kid, heavy.  Not entirely sure how it's going to hang on the wall.  Good thing stuff like that is Marty's job.  :)

I got this hugantic clock for.......$40.  It was originally $200!!  In fact, my sister and I saw one just like it on the regular shelf for $199.99.  The difference is, mine is missing a piece at the top that would resemble the wind on a pocket watch.  Win for me!

I really want to hang it on my dining room wall, which currently looks like this:

We've been in our house for almost a year now and I'm just over the window wall.  I think the giant clock would be an awesome focal piece for a gallery wall.  Problem is, I'm scared of gallery walls.  I love the look of eclectic gallery walls where homeowners have put a mix of pictures and items together to look cohesive.  I don't think I'm that decoratingly gifted to be able to pull something like that off.  At the same time, I don't want it to look too perfect either.  You know, like clock in the middle, three pictures on one side, three pictures on the other.  That's not my thing.  So, for awhile, the clock may be the only thing I hang until I can figure out what kind of "look" I'm going for and can accomplish.  

Next Hobby Lobby find.....

I know it doesn't look like much, but I'm absolutely drooling over this one.  I've been wanting and looking for a piece of art to go over my mantle for a loooooong time now.  Everything I find isn't exactly right for my decor or it's INSANELY expensive.  I love art, but I'm not paying $100 for something to hang on the wall.  Call me crazy.

So, when I found this for $30, I knew it was made for my house.  The picture doesn't do it justice at. all. because it's got flecks of gold on the flowers and navy in the stems that I think pop out when I put it up against my navy accent wall.  I'm so in love.

*sigh*  How do I love thee, Hobby Lobby?  Let me count the (numerous) ways......

Photo Dump.

I'm really self aware of one fact about myself.  I'm an oversharer.  I tell more of a story than probably needs to be told.  I post to Facebook too much.  I share more about my life than probably most people care about.  And I share more pictures of my child than most people want to see in their lifetime.

I just cannot help myself.  She's so darn cute.  And even though people think I post a ton of pictures of her, I still have just as many pictures on my phone that I've never posted.  I know I drive people crazy with my over sharing.  But I know there are people out there that love Avery pictures and stories and encourage me to share as many of them as I can.  For those people, this post is for you.  A photo dump!!

1.  I am blessed to have a little girl that looks just like her daddy.  Except for the fact that she MAKES looks that are just like her daddy's.  This, ladies and gentlemen, is known around the house as the "Gaddie Scowl."  

It's most definitely two against one in our house.  Feel sorry for me yet?

2.  Avery's Aunt Kristen bought her a Disney Princess hair styling kit.  Avery insists that her blow dryer and her "snapper" (aka straightener) sit right next to mommy's.  And when mommy fixes her hair, so does Avery. 

3.  Unlike her momma, Avery doesn't really mind winter.  JUST like her momma, Avery loves her accessories. 

4.  Speaking of accessories, Avery's Aunt Day Day bought her a Dora the Explorer toboggan.  When worn correctly, the bottom part of the hat folds up.  This is how Avery likes to wear it: 

I cannot. stop. laughing. 

5.  Avery and her Granddaddy, when together, are pretty much the epitome of silliness.  My dad basically turns into a big kid whenever she's around.  A couple of weeks ago, they slipped out of Cheddars and ran to Granddaddy's car....to draw in the dirt.  

If you can't read it, it says "Granddaddy -n-Avery." 

6.  Avery loves the Danimals yogurt that comes in a little bottle.  She calls it "baby milk."  She was drinking one the other day and got it all over her hands and face.  Surprisingly, instead of doing her normal "I'm dirty!!" freak out, she thought it was hilarious. 

"I has baby milk on my nose!!" 

7.  When it's bright outside and you don't have sunglasses, improvise. 

8.  She's going to kill me for this one.

9.  My girl and I in our matching Mickey Mouse ear hat shirts.  Stupid blurry iPhone.

I could literally take pictures of her every single day.  She never ceases to do something funny.  Unfortunately, my phone storage wouldn't like that very much and I'm afraid I'd drive you all insane.  :) 

Find of the Day.

You know when you find something just amazingly amazing, you feel the need to tell the entire world about it?

That happened to me just now.

Find of the day?  DISNEY PRINCESS PAPER DOLLS.

I don't know about you guys, but my mind was blown when I found these.  

Wanna know the best part?

THEY'RE FREE.  As in, no money for you.  As in, all you have to do is buy the paper to print them on.  

They're from the brilliant mind of Paper Dolls by Cory on Facebook.  Check out his photo albums under his page and you can see all the characters he's done so far.  Click on the picture you want, then hit "Options" at the bottom of the page, and then "Download."  Simply print on cardstock, cut out and you have brand new, FREE dolls for your little to play with.  

Since Avery is only 2, I'm playing with the idea of putting these on magnets.  Avery wouldn't fully appreciate the idea of a paper doll whose clothes you attach with paper flaps.  Plus, I can see those little flaps getting ripped off pretty quickly.  Magnets would be so much more durable.  I'm honestly picturing something that can go in a book and travel with us.  Details aren't entirely clear yet.  Or, if you wanted to go the paper route and wanted them to last longer, laminating is probably a good idea.

Anyway.  Hop on over to Paper Dolls by Cory, download your own princesses/characters and show the creator some love.  

You're welcome. 

Homage to our Old Home

I love our new house.  It's got a ton of room, it's better suited for our family and it's finally back in Etown, with our families.

But I miss my old house.  It was new.  It was small and homey.  It was adorable.  It felt like home.

This house doesn't really feel just like home yet.  We bought this house from my aunt and I worried for a long time that it would just feel like I was pretending to live in my Aunt Denise's house.  That I would never feel like it was my house.  Well, I don't feel like it's my aunt's house anymore....but I still don't feel like it's mine yet either.

So I've been feeling a little nostalgic and missing my adorable little Bardstown house.  And I've been wanting to somehow display a tribute to it.

I'm loving what my sister has done in her house:

The numbers on the wall are all the different addresses she's lived at during her lifetime.  Adorable. 

But I was thinking more of a picture and the numbers of our first house.  But I didn't love the idea of just doing a regular picture and hanging it up.  I wanted something more........artsy?  I scoured Pinterest and didn't really find any ideas that I loved.  And then the Heavens parted and I found....

Waterlogue.

It's an app you can download to your phone.  Once downloaded, you pull up your photo in the app.  For me, it was the picture of our old house.

When you upload the photo into the app, it automatically makes your photo..........into a watercolor photo.

This may not seem like a big deal to anyone else, but I'm totally geeking out.  This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.  

In fact, I got so excited, I changed another photo over for Avery's new big girl/subtly themed Disney room:

I am so ridiculously excited about this to the point that it's a little sad.  I've sent these babies off to be printed up so I can hang them up.  I can't wait for you to see the actual photos!! 

The horror story that is my basement.

Earlier in the week, I told you all about how I cleaned and organized Avery's horrifically messy playroom.

What I didn't tell you is that there's an area in my house that is so messy, so disorganized, so panic-inducingly messy, that the playroom looks like something out of a magazine in comparison.

*sigh*  This is what I'll be tackling this weekend (and probably the next 5 consecutive weekends from now).....introducing, my basement.

Sweet Cheese and Crackers.  This is my basement y'all.  Once upon a time, it was full of packed boxes.  Stuff that wasn't immediately needed or didn't have a place in our new house went straight down to the basement to be unpacked later.  As the time has gone on that we've lived here, instead of slowly unpacking these boxes, we've just rifled through the boxes to find what we needed and left the mess sitting.  *double sigh*  I'm ashamed.  

And I'm sick of it.  I'm sick of having all this space that I could be using for organized storage, for a giant play area and, most importantly, as my area to craft.  So, from now until as long as it takes, my sole focus is going to be cleaning and organizing this madness.  To donate crap to Goodwill.  To pick stuff out for yard sales.  To organize what will stay.

For your further enjoyment, more pictures of the madness. 

Avery's toy and things she's outgrown.  Goal:  turn this corner of the basement into a downstairs playroom (temporary playroom, until we can finish this area).

Part of my craft room stuff.

More stuff from my craft room.

Even more craft room/office stuff.  Okay, this is just getting sad. 

Marty's poker table and the remains of a desk who's screws were lost in the move and now we can't put it together.  Lovely. 

Odds and ends crap that has no place.  Goal:  find a place.

Wish me luck.

Playroom MADNESS.

Would you like to see what's been the primary source of my anxiety for the last SEVERAL months?  Steady yourselves.  It's a doozy.

Right now, sound effects would be reallllly useful.  I'd insert that creepy sound from horror movies that sounds like someone's coming to stab you.  Because that's basically how I feel.

Ugh.  It's an assault on the eyes.  I apologize if you feel violated now.  I know I do.

Listen, I get it.  It's a playroom.  It's supposed to be an explosion of toys.  That means my kid is having fun, right?  But all of my clothes are in this room, since I've been exiled to the extra bedroom closet.  So I had to walk through this crap every single day just to get dressed.  INSANITY.  I would have to toss toys and dress up clothes and stuffed animals out of the way just so I could open the doors to my closet.  Honestly, it was to the point where I was getting mad as soon as I walked in the room.

I guess you could say that I asked for this to happen.  I had all of Avery's toys basically piled up in three plastic bins.  In my new-mom-naivety, I assumed that my kid would get the toy she wanted out of the bin and play with it.  Hahahahahahahahahahahah.  Geez, I was an idiot.  Instead, just as you expect, Avery would come in the room, decide she wanted the toy at the very bottom of the bin, and dump the entire thing.  THE ENTIRE THING.  EVERY SINGLE TIME.  And not just one bin.  Oh no.  If one bin was dumped, they all three must be dumped.  It was like an unspoken rule to my two year old.  After almost a year of this madness, I decided I'd had enough.  I was sick and tired of coming into this mess.  I was tired of picking this crap up every other week or so, only to have my kid come in and undo it all within a matter of minutes.  No, it was time to get serious about organizing this stupid playroom.

Note:  Marty and I have future plans to finish our basement, which will include a playroom.  The current playroom will hopefully, Lord willing, be a nursery soon-ish rather than later.  So, instead of go all out and decorate this room like I would a "dream playroom," I focused on organizing rather than decorating.

After!

Did you hear the Heavenly chorus?  Because I can.  Can we focus on one single thing right now?  I can see the floor.  

No toys and junk cluttering up a pathway to my closet.  I can walk straight into the room, open my closet doors ALL THE WAY open, and not hit a single toy in the process.  It's glorious.

Everything is in storage bins and they're all organized in a specific way.  One bin is dress up clothes and jewelry.  One bin is Little People.  One is all balls....ball pit, basketball, softball.  One is animals.  One is "pretend stuff"....plastic food, cash register, musical instruments, play makeup.  One is all baby dolls and their junk.  My thought behind doing it this way?  If Avery decides she wants to play with her Sleeping Beauty dress, she goes to a specific bin, opens it and plays.  Even if she decides to dump the entire bin of dress up stuff, that's just a small amount of stuff to be picked back up.  Before, they were open plastic bins that she could easily dump.  Now, I have actual storage containers with lids.  If she wants to get it out and play with it, it takes effort to get the box, open the lid and then dump.  Hopefully that will discourage her from dumping every single toy out of every single box.  It's been a week and Avery's done really, really well with this set up.

Now, when we do finally finish our basement (you know, ten years from now), I would love the "official" playroom to look something like these....

Decorated, fun, functional...and an obvious playroom.  But since this room will hopefully become something else in the next couple of years, it seemed silly to do too much of a decorating job on it.  I can live with it for now.  Heck, it's organized and clean.  I'm THRILLED with it for now.