Dont you dare pinch me

Ok, We have officially been in our new home for over 6 months now! Absolutely crazy for me to think that. Some days I wake up and never even think about the fact that its ours.  I cook, I clean, I play with baby on the floor with out giving it a second thought. But other days I wake up and just stroll through the house and think its mine (well OURS, :-) love you babe) We can do anything we want with it.  This will be Paige's first home. Our first home. I am in awe of everything wonderful in my life, and how its all changed SO MUCH in just a years time basically. I became a Mom and a home owner. Still amazes me. I dont even feel like an adult somedays, let alone a mother and home owner!  When we signed the papers on our house I expected to wake up the next day and feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. I thought I would be stressed every day about what will break that we cant fix, what project will be next, will we be able to pay the bills... And some days I do stress, but not like I thought it might be. Everyday I look at my smiling little girl and think she cant really be mine. Surely someone will realize she is too perfect to be mine.  I keep thinking Im going to do something horribly wrong. I have no clue how to raise a baby. But some how it all works out. Bills get paid, things get done.  Everyday Paige wakes up and smiles at me. Reminding me that Im doing something right.  I would ask someone to pinch me, but I wouldnt want to wake up.

Sometimes I look at some of my friends lives and think how great they have it. They can leave their house at a moments notice, pack a bag, get on a plane and go to Vegas for the weekend. I couldnt leave my house for an hour without packing a diaper bag with toys, food, diapers etc. (Iv tried and it ended badly for all involved!)  I have friends that go and get their nails done every week, Go to the spa, and never think twice about spending a night out with the girls. I cant buy a $15 shirt without feeling guilty that maybe I should buy something for baby instead.  And a night out with the girls? Yeah not even sure what that is at this point. I know I could do all these things, but i cant bring myself to. After spending 9 hours everyday away from Paige for work, I hate giving up what little time I feel I get with her in the evening and weekends. Maybe if I was a stay at home mom I wouldnt feel so guilty stealing a few hours to myself every now and then. But she is growing and changing so fast, I hate to miss out on anymore than I have to.

I dont lead a glamorous life by any stretch of the word. I look forward to the days that I dont even have to get out of my PJ's.  And while I might look at my friends sometimes and wish I had a reason to wear that cute little dress out and get all dolled up. I know if it came down to it I wouldnt want the hassle of getting ready. Id rather play on the floor in my PJ's with Paige. I can happily say there is very little I would change about my life these days. Id love to be a stay at home mommy, and Id love to have my pre-baby body back :)  I can dream for one and work for the other. My life is far from a fairy tale. But Im all grown up now, I'll leave the fairy tales to my little one now. And Im just fine with that.

Holiday Reminder

Please drive safe, Paige reminds me texting and driving can be dangerous!

Table Runner

Condisering the dining room was one of the first rooms I started with when we purchased our home, you would think after living in our home for 7 months it would be finished right? Oh ye of too much faith! Im trying, really I am. But life has a funny way of getting in the way.  I was however able to finish a project to make my table purdy, which was then promptly covered over by stuff from another project. That's besides the point though, the point is Im slowly getting closer, I can put a check mark next to one of my 10,482 projects on my list of things to do. Ya! 

If I haven't mentioned it before in my dining room my plan is to use old letters and books, news clippings and things to give it a slightly vintage feel. I happened to fall in love with this old book at an antique store one day and thought of a wonderful way to use it. 

I purchased some basic contact paper from Walmart, the color or pattern wont matter, I actually grabbed this particular pattern because it was the cheapest at only $2 a roll

For those of you book lovers you may want to avert your eyes, a lovely book was harmed in the process. But in all fairness it was already falling out of its binding and I do have a plan for the rest of the book that was not used for this project.  

May you rest in peace.

Should we have a moment of silence?

*******

Ok, I started out by cutting and measuring my contact paper. Or I guess I should say measuring and cutting...

The measurements are totally up to you, if you want a fat table runner or an extra long one its up to you, and of course the dimensions of your table play a factor as well.  Once you figure out the size you want just cut the contact paper, lay it right side down and remove the paper backing.  Take your lovely pages you ripped out and start laying them down on the sticky side of your paper. I wanted mine to look a little half-hazard and random.  I started from the two ends and started working my way in, layering and pressing the pages down to the paper for a firm hold. 

I was thinking as I made this that it would look great with song book pages or even old books with pictures. This is my "Finished" project. I say it with quotation marks because for now it is done as far as Im concerned. To make this a longer lasting and more usable craft project I plan on covering the top with a sheet of clear contact paper.  This way I will be able to wipe it clean whenever life's little messes end up all over it.  I was having a hard time finding clear contact paper at the time of this project so its been sidelined for the moment.

Time spent on this project: about 15 minutes