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

Baby 3 to 6 months

3 to 6 months is such a great time for new Mommy's, you'v mastered the diaper change, and can make a bottle in your sleep (if your child lets you sleep). Your baby has grown out of that awkward cone head, wrinkly old man stage. And you'v now realized that yes, in fact your adorable baby DID look like that, cause lets face it, every baby does. Since my baby girl is 8 months now my memory is a little fuzzy of the milestones they hit, but here is a few of my favorite that my fried Mommy brain can remember, as well as a few of my picks of what to buy.

Milestones:

1. Laugh.  I think Paige was about 4 months old the first time she truly laughed. We had gotten a few small giggles out of her before, but the first true laugh was about 4. And it was glorious! There are few things better than the laughter that comes out of that cute little bundle of joy. Still, months later I cant help but giggle myself when she laughs.

2. Rolling over onto side. My determined little girl did this really early, for most though it happens around 3-4 months. And while they may not be rolling across the floor yet, make sure your not putting them alone on the couch.

3.  Razz berries. My little girl spent countless hours sticking her tongue out making razz berry noises and then laughing about it. She would end up covered in drool because of it. Now is the time to break out the bibs.

4.  Sit like a big kid. By 6 months your baby should be a pro, with a few tumbles every now and then. And another milestone they have most likely grown to love (or be obsessed with) is standing with help from Mommy or Daddy.

What to Buy:

What to Expect the First Year  Its a great book to have on hand, because it really does tell you almost everything.  I try to read one to two months ahead so I can prepare myself for whats coming, or at least pretend that I'm prepared.  Thankfully I also have a great friend that bet me to the baby making game, her son is almost two now. So I go to her for help for EVERYTHING. Lets face it, things have changed alot since I was a kid, so while grandparents mean well, they might not always know, or remember what work's.

Bumbo: They come in lots of colors and and even have little high chair like trays you can put on the front and cute little cloth covers you can buy.  My wonderful Mom got Paige a used one when she was about 3 months old. At first I thought it was kind of a waste because she would out grow it too fast. 5 months later though it still gets used all the time. The are great for those early days when baby is just getting used to sitting up, allowing them to see the world a whole different way.  They are also great as mini highchairs. I take it with us on day trips to Grandma's house as a travel highchair, And recently even packed it in my suitcase for our week long trip to Colorado.  They can be a little pricey in my frugal opinion, so I recommend keeping an eye out for them used.  But even paying the $30+ for one might be worth it because you will get some use out of it.

Sophie the Giraffe:  This was purchased by my wonderful boyfriend, after I hinted for weeks, about how much I loved it (Boys are so smart)  I love Sophie for her vintage charm, Paige loves her for her loud squeaks  and lots of chew-able parts. As funny as it might sound this is one of the few silly "splurge" items we have. It usually costs about $20, which is a lot for basically a chew toy. However I might not recommend this if you have dogs that like similar squeaky toys. You might end up with an over priced chew toy, for doggy. But hey, I guess that all Baby's used it for, maybe they can learn to share!

Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair:  There are a few reasons I picked this chair over a traditional high chair.  Just like the name says it saves space. It attaches to a dining chair you already have and on many tables even with the highchair it will still tuck in under the table out of the way. That right there alone sold it for me!  But if you want more features, it also transitions as baby grows. It reclines for ease of  feeding little ones, and sits upright for older babies. And, for when the day comes when your Baby turns to a Toddler, the tray can be set aside and you can use it as a booster seat, sliding the chair right up to the table.  The price is comparable to most high chairs (about $50) and it can be found just about anywhere baby products are sold.  Oh, and another added bonus? The tray is dishwasher safe and the seat cover machine washable.


Ok, now what not to buy.  A crib bedding set  really this is the only thing that sticks out in my mind that I wish I wouldn't have wasted my money on, thankfully I got a brand new set from craigslist for dirt cheap (from another mom that realized how silly they are.)  I know, I know they are hard to resist, so cute and fluffy. and they really make the nursery feel complete. But are also a complete waste. Now, Im not one of those paranoid moms who thinks kids should never touch dirt and baby proof ever square inch of my house and turn it into a padded cell at Fort Knox.  My reasoning for never actually using a crib set is this:
1. The blankets that usually come with them are often stiff and, well, not cuddly for baby. They are more for show, something to hang over the crib when friends come over so they can Oooh and Awww about how cute the babies room is.
2.  Bumper pads, while pretty, are still dangerous.  Maybe it was just my kid, but as soon as she learned to roll, she was ALL over that crib in her sleep. I often wonder if she will be a sleep walker when she gets older, but thats besides the point. The point is, that there was several times I snuck into her room at night to watch her sleep (yes parents really do that) and her cute little face would be smashed against the crib bars, fast asleep. While She might not have smothered herself in her sleep, Id rather not risk it. I'll take the red marks on her smiling face in the mornings any day over the sleepless night of worrying.
3.  It doesn't take long before they figure out how usefully their finger are. And all those pretty strings used to tie the bumper pads on are going to be their favorite new crib toy.
4.  As mentioned above, sometimes you cant resist the urge to go check on your little one and watch to make sure they are sleeping soundly. Without the bumper pad obstructing your view of the crib your able to see how your little one is doing from the safety of the doorway. No risk of trying to sneak into their room and hoping not to wake them. If you have a particularly light sleeper you'll really appreciate that!
5.  Less laundry. Trust me, you'll have enough of that without all the extra bedding. Between the spit up/vomit and pee/poop on you and your baby, you'll have plenty to keep you busy.
6.  My own bedding set didnt even cost $150! And we will use that for YEARS. Why does crib bedding cost upwards of $100?! Because Moms everywhere think its a must have while in nesting mode. Yes Im guilty too. I didnt know any better. But now you do. Your Welcome.

Random Acts of Kindness

Ok, I know I promised to tell you all about my trip to Colorado and I will I swear, but I haven't had a chance to upload and look through my 300+ pictures ( not an exaggeration at all, in fact it might be an understatement).  I'm hoping to get that taken care of this weekend, and I'm hoping to work on my never ending house painting project so hopefully I will have that post for you soon. Also, since I do not already have enough going on I have a few new craft projects I'm hoping to get started.

 Any who, I was reading a wonderful blog earlier today and it brought back some wonderful childhood memories for me. When I was young I raised rabbits for 4-H and would also sell them through out the year to people in the community. And A few times a year I would load up a few rabbits in a cage, go to town with my mom and bring my little red wagon. I put the cage filled with cute little bunnies in my wagon and would spend the afternoon wheeling it all around the retirement home.  Those elderly people where so happy to see those bunnies, and me. It was so sad to hear the stories people would tell about not getting to see family or friends often, many would tell stories about long ago pets they used to have too.  Every room I was allowed to go to was always thankful to have someone to talk to. Being a kid I probably never truly realized what that might have meant to some of them. But I do remember I would leave those days feeling both sad and wonderful. Sad for those who spent day after day alone, but wonderful for the few moments of joy I was able to bring. It didn't cost a dime, that's the great thing about smiles. Sometimes the best ones don't cost anything.

But today what I really wanted to do was take a minute to share a wonderful post from another blogger that I stumbled across.  I dont know her personally but she seems like a wonderful lady, and I think her birthday idea of spending the day doing random acts of kindness with her kids is great! Check out this post at  Tickles to Giggles to see her wonderful list of ideas. I hope that someday I can do a similar list with my little girl. I think every now and then we need a reminder that our lives are not the only ones that matter. I want my little girl to not only be smart, determined and to concur the world. I want her to be kind. I want her to draw others to her like a moth to a flame, I want everyone to love her like I do. I wish for her to fill everyone's days with smiles and happiness.  I would consider myself  a slight failure as a mother if I found out one day that my kid was 'The Mean Kid' I want her to find out how to stand up for her self with out pushing others down. Is it too much to ask that she poop magical rainbows? Yeah I was afraid that was pushing it, oh well.

Happy Easter!

I will be out of town for a week, but thought I would leave you with this adorable face.

Daddy's and Their Baby Girls

                                                 
What is it about Daddy's little girl that manages to turn them into over protective softies? Who even  knew those two polar opposite adjectives could describe the same man?  Every little girl needs her Daddy. She will look to him to guide her, to make her tough. If he is a good man (which thankfully mine is!) he will show her how she needs to be treated by other men in her life. Daddy's are the best at reminding them that getting dirty can be fun, but they are still often the first to be dragged to the tea party she is having.  They can often be the most confused  when those dreaded teenage years make their little girls life complicated. But they love when those same little girls stand up for themselves for the first time and tell the boy that hurt them most to get lost.  No matter the age, a Father will always be there, A silent shoulder to lean on.  Little girls love to go to their mothers to talk about everything in there lives, which can make a Dad feel left out. But girls always know, you go to Dad when things are so rough, and words just don't seem possible. Daddy's can sit in silence, waiting. Knowing that when they want to talk they will. And If they don't want to, they wont. Sometimes a mother is just too determined to understand and give solutions. We forget that our child might not need solutions. They might need silence. Time to think and reflect. Daddy's are great for that.  Every girl needs a Dad to take them fishing, camping, shooting, hiking, exploring. They need to be shown that they can do everything a man can do. There is no better way to teach them how strong they can be. Strength is not always in your muscles. It can be in the determination you have, the fight you have in you when everyone tells you that you cant. Mothers can do all these things, and should with their little girls. But something about doing it with him, makes them realize how strong they are.  Little girls need to be able to hold their fathers hand. No matter how big and scary the world is, Their father is right there, holding their hand. And he is bigger and stronger than any boogyman could ever be.

Its not just a mother's maternal instinct that kicks in when a baby girl is born. From their birth a father knows to protect. It might be something that could hurt them today, or something that wont happen for years to come. You may think that Mom's are the worry wort's. And we are, but a father worries too, just maybe not about the same things.  Case in Point-

Within the first few weeks of my little girls birth I was concerned with:  Is she eating enough? Is she cold?  Is she hot?  Will she ever sleep?  Pretty typical thoughts right? Want to know what my Boyfriend thought of?

We awoke one morning in those first few weeks of her life, And the first things He said to me was
"I had a bad dream, a really bad dream about Paige."
"A bad dream about Paige?" The worst thoughts came to my mind. Even the thought of her hurt, abused, helpless or taken from us makes my heart freeze. Even though I didn't really want to hear what this "horrible" dream was about I had to ask.

Turns out he didn't dream about any of those things.
"I dreamed that it was the middle of the  night and I heard a noise in Paige's room. I was worried someone might be in there. So I got my work gun, and a flash light, I crept slowly down the hall. By this time I could hear several male voices in her room"  The fear in me grows that this is not a dream i want to hear the end to.

"I threw open her door, ready to shoot anyone I see, Im a split second from pulling the trigger. When I realize that she had snuck some guy friends into her room.  I was so mad. I wanted to shoot them anyway and tell them to get the F out. I even woke up mad from my dream" I gathered at this point that this dream was much farther into the future then I originally might have thought, (or that Paige has amazing social skills for a one month old) AND that daddy's worry too.

"Well Babe, Im sure you scared those kids shitless. They wont be back to haunt you in your dreams again"
I just had to laugh and walk away.


If you have the time, check out this list 50 rules for Dads of Daughters by Michael Mitchell.
I couldnt have made a better list myself.

My New Mommy Must Haves

Holy Crap. I'm officially a Mommy. Holy Crap.
Did I mention Iv NEVER changed a diaper?
Iv never fed a baby.
I have only ever held one maybe two other newborns in my life.
Iv never babysat or cared for this small of a child. Not EVER.
Holy Crap.
Iv read about it. But lets just face it, you can READ about Nuclear Physics and the reactions of nuclear cold fusion. But that does not mean you can do (let alone understand) how to do above mentioned craziness.

Thankfully you don't need a PHD to clean a smelly butt or make a bottle.  They also have tons of books to help you out these days as well as full prof baby products.  But some of these products make you feel like you need to sell your kidney to pay for them.  I work hard for my money. I don't like to feel like I'm wasting it, and I know there are lots of people out there just like me.  So you'll find I don't have any problem buying some items used, on sale, cheap, and that I know can be used for years to come.  You will never see me posting a crib that cost $500. Lets get real, baby's grow fast, some items will be used for a matter of months if not weeks. Why shell out 50.00 for an Easter dress that they will wear once, AND get a stain on it?

What I read-

While pregnant I read What to expect when your expecting both the book and this website. The website is handy for alot of reasons. You can sign up to get email updates to learn what you should be doing and also how your baby is growing at that stage. It has articles as well, everything from what to eat to what to buy for the upcoming baby.

What to expect also as another handy little book called What to Expect the First Years.  Another great book for those who may not know much about raising a child. There are a lot of pages you can skip over because lets face it, like I said before its doesn't take a genius to change a diaper. but other things, like when is your child old enough for solid food was helpful to me. The website I linked above also goes on to baby's third year so you'll have help for years to come.

What I bought-

Aquatopia-Safety Bath Time Thermometer
This little guy was handy because it eliminates the guessing game of what temperature is baby safe.  In addition to the reading it gives you on the top it also beeps when the water gets too hot AND too cold (something those little rubber duckies with the heat sensors don't do). I purchased mine at Walmart for $10.00 but you can find them online too.

Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System
While you don't have to purchase this system exactly I do recommend purchasing something similar. These systems are great because the car seat clips directly to the stroller for use when baby is too small to sit in the stroller seat, but easily converts to a regular jogging stroller. It does fold down for easy storage in your car truck but still takes up a fare amount of room. It comes with the car seat base for your car as well.
I think I paid about $175 for mine. Trust me its worth it. Car seats alone can cost that much.

Playtex VentAire Bottles-
These come in a standard bottle, and a wide bottle. The wide mimics the shape of nipple better if you plan on supplementing with breast feeding. And they come in 6oz and 8oz sizes for both types. The thing I love most about these bottles is that they come completely apart for easy cleaning.  The base unscrews and makes it so much easier to shove a bottle brush inside to clean.  I read some reviews complaining about this feature, stating it has too many parts, but I loved these bottles. I never had any problems with them leaking either.  You can buy them in gift pack for a shower gift, packs of 3 and individually.  They are BPA free and said to reduce ear infections (my child has never had one) and should help with gas, colic and spit up. My baby still had a terrible time with gas though.  Prices vary depending on where and how you buy them but are similar to any other bottle out there.

Gas drops-
I tried several brands and they all seemed to work the same for my baby. Just a drop in the bottle helps eliminate air bubbles for a much happier munchkin.  I had a horrible time with my baby and gas for the first 4 months. I changed formula and tried every trick I could find to help her (pumping  her legs, fussy gassy formula, soy and more). Nothing was 100% but these at least helped more than anything else I found.  They are cheap too. I would buy it a Target and could usually get a two pack for about $6.

Medela Quick Clean steam bags-
The reason I choose these bags over a traditional microwave bottle steamer is they don't take up space on my counter or cabinets (I HATE having things cluttering up my counter tops).  They come in a box with 5 bags and each bag can be re-used 20 times, I  would use mine more though. Fill the bag, add 2 oz water, seal the bag and microwave for 3 minutes. I would scrub my bottles after each use, and steam them at the end of the day to make sure they were good and clean.  I have only been able to find these online and at Target and usually cost between $5-$10

As a side note I recommend buying big ticket items such as the car seat, stroller, highchair and swing in a gender neutral color if you plan on having more than one child.  You may get excited that your having a girl and want everything pretty in pink for your little one but think to the future. Your next child might be a boy, and you might be strapped for cash the second time around. You cant blame every passerby that see's your little boy in a pink car seat and say's "Oh what a darling little girl you have!" Trust me you'll appreciate your smart thinking down the road. Its also is easier for resale too. Craigslist is often the first place a mommy strapped for cash will shop. You'll appeal to a wider range of shoppers if your items are neutral.  Don't be afraid of second hand items but be smart. Buy only things that can be washed and sanitized. Big ticket items are great to keep an eye out for too. I purchased a great matching crib, dresser and changing table on craigslist for $200. I recommend steering clear of car seats though, you never know if they have been recalled or in a crash.  Another thing to keep in mind is you dont need to rush out and buy everything all at once. Think about what your baby will need right away (like the items listed above) and the items that can wait a few months, like a walker or fancy toys.

I will be posting new products every so often for you guys to check out so keep checking back!

Tips for your hospital stay

These are just a few tips and ideas to keep in mind if your getting ready to have your little bundle of joy.

1. Sleep. You wont be looked at as a bad mother if you ask the nurses to take the baby during the night so you can get a few precious hours of sleep. They will wake you up when she needs fed (if breast feeding) and care for her in any other way they may need.  You have to remember what you just put your body through.  You deserve and need rest.  You have lots of sleepless nights ahead.

2. Speak up to the nurse's. If you feel that something is wrong with either you or your baby you need to tell someone. If its truly bothering you speak up and make sure you are HEARD. Don't let them brush you off just because they are busy.  I wanted to breast feed my child, but was having some trouble. I told the nurse's when I first arrived at the hospital I was going to want to see the lactation lady for help when Paige was born. Thinking this heads up would help them schedule a time for her to see me. The first morning there I again asked to see the lactation expert. I was told she was very busy but she would try.  In the mean time the nurse tried to "help me".  The second day at the hospital I told them again, My breast/nipples were really tender at this point (which I knew meant she wasn't latching on right) and again the nurses "helped" and said they would try to get the lactation lady in to see me.  When I finally did get some time with her (very rushed time) she basically said I was too sore, and yes my child was not latching on correctly. But that I need to take a break for a few days and try when I wasn't so tender.  I never was able to get her to latch on correctly.  And I left the hospital pretty frustrated.  Also make your preferences known too.  If you do not want your child to have a pacifier tell them.

3. Speak up to your friends/family. You want to share your bundle of joy to the world, but you also just want a moment of piece with your new little family. Often people get so caught up in the excitement of the new baby they don't realize that you perhaps too might want to hold your baby! Dont be afraid to kick people out and just take a moment to be with your baby.  I choose to not have anyone in our delivery room except my boyfriend. This was the very first moments of our life together with this baby. We are the people that matter most at the exact moment. I think it helps bond you to go through that together as a family. We allowed everyone in soon enough to see the baby, but that moment was just for us.  We also made sure to have time alone just the 3 of us in the days to come.

4. Take everything. Im not saying to steal everything. And I do recommend asking a nurse first, but most hospitals have a policy where when you leave you can take everything that cant be washed or sanitized.  This means you can take the diapers they have in the changing table, Snot sucker (Guard this with your life! You might even see if they will give you an extra one to take home too, these ones work 100% better than any one you can buy. Trust me) "Diapers/pads" (the ones for you, as gross as it is you will be needing these for at least the first few days)  If your like me and tried breast feeding and borrowed a pump they may even give you the tubes and attachments needed to use the pump. Yep, those are yours to take too (the pump has to be returned of course).  And if bottle feeding, any formula they may have left in the room. Sometimes the bottles can be taken as well- again just ask.  In addition you can also usually take the newborn beany as a memento, but not the blankets.

5. In the weeks leading up to your due date make sure you take the time to strap the base of the carseat into the car so its ready to go. I also put the seat in my trunk so it would be on hand and ready. Pack your over night bag and leave it by the door ( I also just put this in my trunk so it was there waiting)  When packing your bag there are a few things to consider. You will NOT be fitting into your size 2 jeans when you leave the hospital (and if you do, mothers everywhere hate you) many women opt to take sweats to wear home. I took a maternity dress and flip flops. It takes up little space and you dont look like a total bum when leaving.   You also sadly, will not be wearing cute, sassy underwear when you leave. Pack the granny panties.  Entertainment, a book or laptop will come in handy for both you and the daddy. A camera, and of course baby clothes and blanket. The hospital may provide shampoo and such but lets face it, it usually sucks so bring your own bathroom kit.

6. Enjoy, try not to stress too much. there is plenty of time for that later.

Drinking my way to more crafts

So my boyfriend decided the other day to try a new beer. Bud Light Platinum boasts being triple filtered with a smooth finish and having a 'top shelf taste'. Well I could care less about all that junk. Don't get me wrong, I'm a beer girl. Cant stand wine.  But the reason I bring this up is because after having drank before mentioned beer, we set our empty bottle on the counter and went to bed. While I wish I could report I awoke to small cleaning fairies coming out of the bottles and cleaning my kitchen and making breakfast, something else slightly less wonderful happened. As I rounded the corner to my kitchen the sun happened to be streaming in through the window and hitting the beauty that is these glorious cobalt blue bottles.

 It was like seeing them with new eyes. My little crafter's heart screamed out "I must use these!" I promptly washed them and removed the labels, and set them in my kitchen window... Where they sat for a month. What?!  Iv been busy! and I wasn't quite sure what I even wanted to do with them. I thought about breaking them and using the glass for something. I also thought about cutting them and using them as candle holders (which may still be the fate of a chosen few).  But neither ideas seemed to fit my life right now. I need a fast, simple, nap time craft.  I want a craft that can be completed in the time it takes for my beautify little girl to take a nap.

So I have my inspiration. Without a clue what to do with them. As pretty as they are I didn't really want them to scream "I'm a beer bottle" at me every time I looked at them. I also happened to have a wine bottle (not sure how or why). I clustered this all together and...TA DA!

Pretty great right?!  You dont have to lie, its far from great.  Technically it could even be called trash. But it will be great. I promise. It just needs a little...something.  I dug through my mountain of crafting supplies for my trusty glue gun and some twine, called a friend over with some bottles of her own and we got to work.

I started at the top of my wine bottle and glued the twine around the bottle so it was fully covered.  I recommend using a lot of glue at the start so its secured good.  As you go you can use just a dot or two of glue after every 3-4 wraps around the bottle. Then use more glue again towards the bottom to make sure it wont come undone there too. After covering my wine bottle I realized I needed another bottle of a different size/shape to cover in twine.  Off to the Man Cave I go to see what I can find. Hmmm, beer while crafting? Don't mind if I do.  After drinking and cleaning the bottle ( I don't bother to remove the label since it will be covered anyway) I continue the same process as with the wine bottle.


Finally a cluster them all together, tie them with some more twine and, TA DA! Ok, NOW their pretty. :-)

Time needed for this craft? about 45 minutes.

Pregnancy, Holy Crap here we go

As many of you know I'm a new mommy, and as every new Mommy likes to brag, I thought I would dedicate a page of my blog to the little girl that holds my heart. I will try to update this at least once a month with her accomplishments, new baby product reviews, and my successes and flops as a new mother :-). So with that in mind I thought I better go back to the beginning and get you all up to speed.

I actually had the joy of finding out I was pregnant for my birthday. I went out to dinner with friends and had a drink, not knowing at this point I was pregnant mind you.  Everything was fine until I went home that night, it felt like a had several drinks.  I thought it was odd but didn't think too much about it right away. The next day I was laying in bed still feeling like hell and it dawned on me. I did a mental count in my head and sure enough I was late by a few weeks!

After taking an at home test and going to the Dr. for confirmation sure enough, I was preggers.  I was both excited and unsure. We hadn't planned this, it wasn't even really on our radar for the near future. So I was unsure what my other half would have to say.  I knew he wanted kids. I just didn't know if he was ready right now.  I sat down with him and basically said something along the lines of, " Hey baby, so ummm, well, I think, well no, I know that I'm pregnant."...long pause...He just looks at me with this shocked face and can only muster out a "Really?" I was a little unsure how to continue until he busted out in a rather cute grin and just jumped up and hugged me.

By the end of our conversation it was clear we were equally freaked out and excited.  I feel like this is the one true thing that will change your life forever. I mean if you think about it, everything else you do practically can be changed. Get a tattoo and don't like it? Cover it up or remove it. Buy a house? You can sell it. Get a puppy and realize you cant handle it? Find it a new home. Choosing to have a baby changes everything you'v ever known in your life, not just for a little while. Forever. And in 9 months we were going to jump on that parenting roller coaster and hold on for dear life.
H o l y C r a p.

My pregnancy went well, I gained weight, I grew a belly, then I grew a bigger belly. I cant say I had any crazy cravings or weird prego dreams that I can remember.  I was torn between wanting a boy or a girl. I grew up with an older brother so I liked the idea of hopefully having a boy then a girl. Big brothers are the best thing a little girl can have I think. But part of me also wanted a little girl pretty bad. My boyfriend of course wanted a boy. Don't all guys want a boy?!  Anyway As you now know we had a little girl so I cant kill you with suspense and drag it out before telling you . My pregnancy was really pretty easy. I didn't have much for morning sickness or any unusual swelling or pain. Really what I remember more than anything was the point when I hit the wall.

For months you plan and prep and dream of life with your baby. And I did all those things. Then it was like I flipped a switch and I was just done. I did not, repeat, DID NOT want to be pregnant any more. I think it was about the 8 1/2 month mark. I turned into an angry, grumpy, leave me alone or I will hurt you pregnant lady. I was tired of feeling like a blimp. Tired of getting out of my car with a massive belly in the way. Tired of Dr. Appointments every week. I was just done. My poor co works would cringe when they saw me coming. I tried everything I could think of to get my labor going, spicy food, exercise, walking, I even rearrange the whole garage (for the second time during my pregnancy, Nesting is a very real and strong pregnancy urge people). 

Nothing happened.

Nada.

Zilch.

Whoever said that any of those things could bring on labor lied through their teeth. And I was feeling like punching them in those teeth.  It was the day before my Dr. appt and just 4 days before my due date. I had every intention of strapping myself to the exam room chair and refusing to leave until my Dr. agreed to induce me. I was at work, just finishing up my day in fact. When surprisingly my water broke. I was surprised for a few reasons: 1. I had already bought the rope to tie myself to the before mentioned chair. 2. that my water even broke-did you know that only about 15% of women have their water break on its own?  3. It wasnt like in the movies where a giant puddle appeared below me. It felt much more like I had just peed my pants (oh the joy of pregnancy!).  So I told my co worker I was leaving early, called my boyfriend and told him I was on my way home.  I was so excited! Finally it was time. I went home and took a shower, didnt want to go to the hospital feeling like I just peed myself after all.  At this point I wasnt having any painful contractions, the nurse checked my vitals and told me they were going to monitor me and the baby.  She pooped and inside me and they were concerned about Meconium Aspiration.  But all I could do now was sit and wait.  Damn. Not the waiting game again.

Several hours passed with nothing happening so they finally agreed to give me Pitocin to get that baby movin. Again I was told to wait. 

I hate that word.

Finally things started moving. I was giving my epidural (I didnt feel the need to put my pain tolerance to the test.) And....I waited. Again. The nurse told me to relax, get some sleep and she would let me know when it was time to push. Relax?!  Sleep? Who can sleep at a time like this?!  Apparently my boyfriend.  So I laid in that hospital bed til 4 in the morning glaring at my sleeping boyfriend, Listening to the clock tick. 

4 AM, ok now I can push. YA! I think any minute Im going to be holding my baby in my arms and NOT be pregnant anymore.

4:30 AM pushing

5 AM still pushing

5:30 AM Still Pushing

6 AM Visions of Dory from Finding Nemo pop into my head...Just keep Pushing, Just keep Pushing

6:30 AM  Yep. STILL pushing, and getting pretty tired I might add.

6:45 AM I have come to the realization that I will be pregnant forever. Im doomed.

7 AM Dr. decides to have a little chat. Paige is stuck. My epidural is wearing off and they wont be giving me another one. I have 3 options. 1. I can have a c-section (I did not run this marathon just to get almost to the finish and have you tell me sorry, you wore the wrong t-shirt) 2. I can keep pushing through the pain (Did I mention Im also tired?) 3. He can suction the little baby right out (Downside, possible conehead baby).

Suction it is! And at 7:10 on a summer day in August I FINALLY was holding my baby. AND I wasnt pregnant anymore! Added Bonus? No Conehead baby either.And yes, all baby's come out this pretty and clean with pink bows in their hair.

Rock Hot Plate- a nap time craft

I recently came across a super cute idea for making a trivet (hot plate). And what makes it even better is there are only 3 things you need to make it.

• Hot Glue and Gun
• Felt
• River rocks

First you need to decide if you want a circle or square hot plate, as well as what size. And cut your felt accordingly. I made mine a circle, and about the size of an average sauce pan. I also decided to glue two pieces of felt together to hopefully help make it a little sturdier.  It will also help the over all look if you get your felt in a color similar to the stones. I have black stones the I purchased at my local craft store. You can also make it more personal by using stones you and a loved one have collected or even small sea shells from a trip to the beach. The main thing to keep in mind is they need to all be a fairly uniform height. You want to be able to actually set things on this and not have it too wobbly .

Plug in your trusty hot glue gun and let it heat up. In the mean time lay your felt and rocks out on the table. You'll want to take a moment to make sure you have enough to fully cover the felt. There is nothing more frustrating in the crafting world then when you are in the zone and have to stop everything to go to the store for something.

Take your glue and start by putting glue on your felt and sandwiching the two pieces together. Next put a small glob (very technical crafting term) on in small sections. Enough to put on 1-3 stones maybe. You dont want to get too ahead of yourself because the glue will harden before you get a chance to add your rocks.

Keep repeating until the felt is covered. You can try to do a pattern, or simply place them wherever. It might even turn out well to do a pattern with different colored stones.  This was super easy to do and took maybe 45 minutes. Which makes it a perfect Nap Time Craft.

Obviously this is not a spill proof trivet, so some care will be needed when using it. But for the cost (about 3 bucks) I think while it last it will look lovely on my table. 

Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Its SPRING! Don't let the snow on the ground the last few days fool you, the official first day of spring has come and gone. And to many people that means cleaning is in full swing. One of the best things about this time of year is throwing open those windows and letting the fresh spring air flush out all the stale winter air you'v been breathing inside your home. And of course it also means nicer weather, and if your like me, you may want a clean home but don't really want to spend those beautiful spring days cooped up inside cleaning.  Lately Iv been seeing tons of tips for cleaning that I thought I would share with you today. If you have any of your own handy tips please feel free to comment below.

Living room-

• Pet hair on the couch or car seat? Instead of vacuuming it simply get a rubber dish washing glove and a bucket or bowl of warm water. Dunk your gloved hand in the water, remove and gently shake off excess. Then wipe your hand across the couch/chair/car seat.  The pet hair will collect on the glove and off your furniture. Ya! To remove the pet hair from the glove just dunk it in the water again and gently swish around. When done just dump your water outside or down the toilet (I do the toilet because it wont clog like a sink drain due to the hair)
• Clean your baseboards with dryer sheets. This will help repel dust and hair, so you can crawl around less often cleaning them.
• Remove candle wax that has melted onto a wall by pressing tissue against it with an iron set on low. The wax will melt and adhere to the kleenex.

Kitchen-

• Want to make your stove all shiny and new again? Bust out the car wax. After giving your stove a through cleaning apply some car wax. Not only will it make it shine, it will also make messy spills easier to clean up.- just a note, I have a gas range and this works great. I do not recommend for an electric range. 
• Also great for making your gas range look new again. Take the dirty grates off, put in a large ziplock bag (you can probably only fit 1-2 grates per bag) add a few tablespoons ammonia and seal. Resist the urge to add more ammonia. Its not needed, its the fumes off the ammonia, not the liquid its self that holds the power. Set them in a garage or outside overnight. In the morning pull them from the bag and scrub with warm water and scrubbing sponge. Arn't they purdy?! 
• Coffee Pots need a good cleaning every now and then, but lets face it when was the last time you remember'd to put the cleaner for them on your list? Have no fear! All powerful vinegar to the rescue! Pour a solution of vinegar and water ( I use 1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water) into your machine and brew up a pot. When Its done, Dump out the pot, pour another one in of just water and turn on again to filter out any remaining vinegar. 
• Polish your silver using a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 quart boiling water. Just soak silver and dry. 
• Remove streaks from Stainless steel with olive oil. Wipe on with a towel and buff to a shine with paper towels or newspaper. 

Laundry room-

• Make your dryer work better and last longer. We all know to empty our lint traps regularly but do many of us vacuum it out as well? Give it a try, you might be surprised by how much lint slips past the screen. Speaking of the screen, a few times a year its also a good idea to remove it and scrub it gently with hot soapy water. Dryer sheets tend to leave a waxy buildup that clogs the screen. Its also said that doing both these things on a regular basis could lower gas bills. Who doesnt love that?!
• Washing machines also benefit from a good cleaning every now and then, and it couldnt be easier! Dump in about 1/2 cup vinegar into your machine and turn on the hottest setting. You can either run it empty or add in a load of towels. It wont hurt your towels, in fact its good for them. It can remove odors and buildup in your machine.  It also removes odors from towels or anything you may have left in the washing machine for too long after running it.

Bathroom-

• Polish the chrome on your sinks after you clean them with baby oil. makes them shiny and new! 
• Want your bathroom to smell fresh without spraying air fresheners or lighting candles? Buy some essential oil ( I like lemon, coconut or sweet almond personally but there are tons of great choices). Whenever you put a new roll of toilet paper out put a drop or two of oil on the inside of the cardboard tube. Everytime someone uses the bathroom the scent will fill the room....the good scent not bad.
• Remove soap scum from a shower door by scrubbing with a damp dryer sheet. 
• Toilet stains can be removed with Coke or vinegar. Just pour into the bowl, let sit for an hour, scrub then flush.

One crazy concept to me that Iv read online is to get completely dressed (shoes and all) to clean your home. Why? Its said this will help motivate you to get moving.  If this works for you great. Go ahead, put on your heels and makeup and act like a good retro house wife and get to cleaning!  Or you could be like me, I like to clean in the mornings. I roll out of bed in my PJ's and no makeup, and clean the house first thing. I can get sweaty and dirty and having cleaning solution on my hands. Then I go upstairs, take a shower and start my day. That way, I emerge from the shower fresh and clean to a fresh and clean home as well. Its one of life's little pleasures.  Besides how many of you cant help but look at your hands all day after cleaning and wonder  if THEY are clean.  Maybe it is just me but even if my hand never touches the toilet bowl, and I wash my hands after cleaning everything, I still feel... well, dirty.

Spring Cleaning

Hello everyone! Bet you thought I was dead right?!  I know its been a while since my last post. What can I say? Life takes over and Im just along for the ride.  It seems like everything and nothing happened all in the span of a few months. We have been crazy busy, but not so much with anything I felt you all would be interested in reading. I started painting the base boards in our home (hopefully a tutorial with tips coming soon). My little girl was sick for almost a month, then was teething, got a tooth (ya!) and promptly started working on the next tooth (sigh). No rest for the weary I guess.

My next few posts are going to mostly be dedicated to the super exciting, always fun topic of cleaning ( you're laughing right?) Ok, so maybe fun and exciting are not the best word to describe it.  I also apologize in advance that these posts are probably going to be lacking in fun and exciting pictures too. But hey, I didnt think anyone wanted to see my messy house anyway.

Sadly its a fact of life that house's get dirty and we (in my house that's 'I') end up needing to clean. As you know we recently purchased a home. Where we used to live was maybe 1200 square feet of space to clean. Now its almost double that. And while I love our home, I feel like its a constant battle to clean. I felt like I was just running in circles, without a plan. I would clean the same things all the time and then one day look up and realize I hadn't vacuumed the stairs since....well since we moved in. If you have any pets you may have the joy of knowing that their hair loves to accumulate in the carpet of the stairs.  Let's just say, Ewww.  I hate stairs with carpet. When house hunting it was one of the top things on my do not want list. Some how we ended up with them anyway. Its not so much that I hate the stairs, or the carpet. I hate vacuuming the furry creatures that start growing on my stairs.

I needed a plan of attack. I searched the web for cleaning schedule that worked for me and found, nothing. Maybe its just me but so many of the schedule's I found were over kill. I mean who needs to clean their baseboards every week?! While I would agree cleaning your bathroom often is a plus, I also dont think it needs a deep cleaning every week either. Once a month or so seems good enough to me. Besides, who wants their hand shoved in a toilet every time they turn around? Not me. Dont get me wrong, there are things I do almost everyday. I try to clean the kitchen after every meal, sometimes easier said then done though. And I try to walk around and pick up clutter a few times a week too. But I needed a plan for the bigger jobs.I wanted things to be spaced out. A few jobs a week would be perfect, after all I also have a child to take care of (as many of us do) and a dog, and a boyfriend, and cooking, and work and projects to finish and... well you get the idea. I like to live life as it happens.  Not clean constantly.  Also my week nights are already slammed enough with things to do. So the last thing I want to do is break out the toilet scrubber on a Tuesday night.

So I made my own schedule. It goes something like this-

HOUSE CLEANING CHECKLIST
	WEEK 1		WEEK 2
	Laundry		Laundry
	Vacuum upstairs		Sweep/Mop
	Clean Kitchen		Clean bathroom(s)
	Wash bedding		Vacuum downstairs
	WEEK 3		WEEK 4
	Laundry		Laundry
	Dust		Wash Bedding
	Clean Kitchen		Sweep/mop
			Vacuum downstairs
	WEEK 5		EVERY 2-3 MONTHS
	Laundry		Clean oven
	Clean Microwave		Clean windows
	Clean Kitchen		Clean dishwasher
	Clean Fridge		Clean (inside and out) cupboards and drawers
			Vacuum edges and stairs
			Wash throw blankets
			Clean window coverings
			Clean out closet Move Furniture and vacuum

Fresh Breath Doggy Treats

In case you missed the memo, I love my dog. I often refer to him as my first born child.  My boyfriend and I even call him our son and cant plan a family trip without him...yes weird I know.  Not that weird however if you knew my fuzzy little guy. He thinks he's a person, and is very attached to us. So since I love to cook, and love my son, its only natural that I would combine the two. I have to admit I don't make homemade treats for him as often as he would probably like, but that doesn't mean that he isn't spoiled. I mean have you seen his bulging belly? Not to mention the monster hair all over my bed?!

I have a few different recipes Iv used but we will start with the all important breath fresheners.

Ingredients you will need:

• 1 cup dry oats
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 1/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy is fine)
• 1 egg
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup dried parsley (or mint)

1. preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine all your ingredients and mix well.





 3. Lightly flour your counter and rolling pin.  Roll the mixture to about 3/4 inch thick. Cut mixture using a cookie cutter of your choice or simply cut into squares.The ones made here were for Christmas, thus the ginger bread men...

4. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then flip them and bake for another 20.  Remove to cool.  By the way don't worry about spacing these out on your cookie sheet, they don't really expand much at all. So cram that pan full!  Your puppy will thank you.

These keep for about a month in an air tight bag or container.... though Iv never had them stick around long enough to find out!

-Also as a side note, making these dog treats for Christmas presents are a great idea. Practically everyone I know owns a dog, and they all complain about their little friends bad breath. I make a few batches and give them to Monsters furry friends as a gift from him!

My favorite websites

Well since finishing the Baby's room Iv been kind of taking a break at home, My boyfriend is working hard trying to get the flooring done in the garage, (I will try to post some pictures of that sometime soon) which means that my handyman is currently busy. I think my next project will be to paint the kitchen walls, and I might start that this weekend... like all things in life it depends on the cooperation of my little girl.
Today I though I would share with you where I often get inspiration. I often get asked what my favorite blogs or websites that I go to for ideas. There is no simple answer for this since I often spend alot of my time googling and find random ideas on countless websites but these are afew that I constantly return to. 

I love love love this site for random decorating and crafting supplies. Save-on-crafts
They have everything from garlands and feathers to apothecary jars and wedding supplies.  They have great prices too.

Click on this site if you dare. It is Highly addicting. I spend hours. (no joke. hours!) People are constantly posting new things. Its alittle frustrating at first to use but once you get used to it its great. I strongly recommend opening an account, its free and easy. The biggest draw back to this site is if you find something you like you better save it, because you may never find it again.  Pinterest's members are able to post new items (ideas, recipes, crafts, DIY projects, cloths, locations, pictures....the list goes on) on to their boards, which I can then look at and us for inspiration! Every picture is linked to the website that the item is found at.

I few fellow bloggers I like to follow are The House of Smiths. I just love the style she does her home in.

Another one I love for simple craft ideas is U-Create crafts. They usually have great holiday ideas.

I also love Jenn over at Clean and Scentsible. she has lots of cute craft ideas.

Baby Room

ok, so I must confess. I wasn't able to get EVERYTHING done this weekend in the baby room. There is still some finishing work to be done, like putting up a few shelves and making curtains but for the most part it is done. So I thought I would stick to my word and show you the "finished" product today.

I know its hard to tell in the picture but the walls are actually painted a light purple that almost has an iridescent quality to it. Very pretty in person!  The tree is painted in a flat dark brown (color is actually called Bark... prefect right?!)

I love this glider! So comfortable and it is made out of a fake sued. I got it a Shopko for around $75! they go on sale a few times a year for that price so keep you eye on it. And the pillow I actually made. Just a basic shape to fit right in the small of my back.  Those who lug around a baby know how much that back could use a break. I cut out and sewed on some simple butterflies out of felt. And I actually only sewed the bodies on, leaving the wings to "fly" gave it a neat effect. I also used 3 different shades of purple felt. Darker butterflies on the top fading to lighter.

The butterflies on the wall are not painted. I made them out of heavy card stock in various colors/ patterns that went with my theme. the smaller ones shown are punched out using a Marth Stewart punch I got a my local craft store. I stuck them on the wall and bent the wings alittle, giving them the appearance of flying.

The crib bedding I got from Craigslist for $15 and it was brand new... yes I know Im a cheapskate but I just cant justify spending $100+ on bedding that they don't really use.  The shaggy rug I made ( check here to see where I got the instructions). I wanted it to look similar to grass so I used shades of green fleece... again because Im cheap and it was on sale.

Next to her closet I hung these cute little butterfly prints.  Made from canvas, finger paint and her cute little feet. I plan on doing them every few months to show how they grow.

I love this wreath! It hangs above her dresser and is made out of a grapevine wreath, some fake greenery (same used in the mobile below) more paper butterflies as well as a green dragonfly I actually got from a floral arrangement, a cardboard letter and some flat moss from the craft store. I found a great website with the idea and just tweaked it to my needs.

This is probably my favorite thing in the whole room. Its her mobile I made that hangs above the changing table. Its a grapevine wreath, fake greenery for color, some fishing line, a few small beads for accents and weight, and the same butterflies on the wall from the Martha Stewart punch (well worth the money!)

If you want an idea how I made this check out this site. Instead of Pennies for weight I added the beads (no painting needed that way!)

My daughter seems to love it, as soon as I put her down she zones in on it and gets happy when I bump it to get the butterflies moving and flying above her.

So there you have it, my garden/ butterfly nursery. I think its a perfect mix of nature and girly-ness with only a small touch of pink in sight!