Pinspired!

One thing I collect is crosses. I love them. To me they are just beautiful and I have a wall dedicated to my collection. I'm obsessed with Pinterest (who isn't?). So when I came across a DIY cross [original site here.] made from magazine strips (which I had a ton of unread magazines laying around) I decided I'd take a shot at it. Turned out, it was a little longer of a project than I was hoping for and didn't come out exactly like the one I found but I love the finished product anyhow.

 I'm planning on making another one only the second will be much smaller.

DIY Chalkboard table

Another Pinterest find that I have been meaning (I seriously have a million projects in mind at any given moment) to make. 

I had Ryan make a table from a pallet he got from work.

I painted the sides and legs a burnt orange (LOVE!)

After painting the top with chalkboard paint and waiting 3 days (suggested wait time), I think Nicolas is pretty happy with his new table! ...and I am too :)

Car seat canopy

Lately I've been on the hunt for a tutorial for a car seat canopy for little miss and I found one that was pretty simple here. My first thought when I registered for Nicolas was to look for gender neutral items (for the big things like stroller and car seat) however, once I had that little scanner in my hand (actually that was the hubs job) I decided that I would go with "boy" designs. Why? Because he was my first child and I wanted to look back and know that I chose stuff with just him in mind. He was my only thought and my only concern. Not future children or what I would "recycle."

Then I found out I was having a girl...(I rethought the whole "boy" patterns and knew we couldn't just purchase a "girly" car seat.) I know, I know, it doesn't matter. But I do like to see my little girl surrounded by sweet pinks and purples and all the other lovely prints they have for girls. So off I went to get some fabric so I could spruce up baby girl's seat.

Things I used for this project::

Two different cotton fabrics 1 1/4 yard each (I chose one print and one matching solid)

I grabbed a spool of thick ribbon in a matching color (don't ask what size or measurements I used with the ribbon because I "eyeballed" it)

After I went to Hobby Lobby to select my fabric, I came home and got to work! First I lined the fabric and trimmed the edges so they matched perfectly.

After that, I draped the fabric over the car seat and pinned up the sides corresponding to the handle then cut off the excess fabric.

I traced the corners with a bowl and cut off the excess.

After running it through the sewing machine I yet again cut off the excess fabric

(side note: I left one corner open so I could turn the fabric right side out) Once that was done, I ironed out the edges and ran it through the sewing machine again to get a nice clean look around the edges.

After placing the fabric over the car seat, I "eyeballed" where I wanted the ribbon to go for the handle. Pinned them in place and ran them through the sewing machine. (not perfect but I'm not too worried about it.)

I pinned the sewed (is that the correct word??) the edges of the ribbon so they wouldn't fray.

I draped it over and tied the ribbon and there you have it my little lady, your canopy!

I AM SO HAPPY WITH HOW MY PROJECT CAME OUT! (and not to toot my own horn but I did get this done during nap time today!) 

life lately...

I feel like I haven't blogged lately..I guess it hasn't been a long stretch from my previous to last (which was what 10 minutes ago) but I feel like a lot has since then happened..

I was getting into the habit of taking Nicolas for walks around our neighborhood (which was great for getting out of the house and keeping him entertained) buuuuuuut since my appointment where I found out I was already 3cm dilated, we had to stop that for a while..at least so I can hold off until Tuesday..(I'll tell you why in a minute..)

Nicolas was even getting little tan lines from his flippies from all our walks.. sooo cute!

OK..back story.. My husband since probably the beginning of the month knew he would be leaving this weekend to work in Tahoe (2-3 hours away). He'll be back Monday either late afternoon or early evening..not sure but in the meantime I need to take it super easy. After all I do want him here for the birth! (No brainer!)

So we've been doing a lot of this..

and TONS of this..

and of course other things too like coloring and catching up on the latest Bubble Guppies :)

Mom however, once naptime hits, has been super crafty/organizing queen/ultimate preper..

Thanks to YouTube, I finally learned how to crochet a baby beanie! I have been whipping these suckers out like no one's business! I have so many ideas of how I can decorate them and maybe even sell them..we'll see though..

Goodwill find ALERT! I've been meaning to find a way to organize my jewelry in a way where I can see it because "out of sight- out of mind" and I won't think to wear any of it when I have tons!

(Pinterest inspired of course) I spray painted (a long time ago) some beer bottles for my bracelets, I already had my earring holder but just no where to hang it until..I found this beauty for $4! Now I can SEE all my necklaces! LOVE IT!

One thing that I had been meaning to get done (along with baby's nursery which you can read about here. ) was to get Nicolas' swings from the garage all cleaned and dusted off.

But of course once "you know who" saw what I was doing..

Product Find!! My mom bought these disposable placemats for me Nicolas for when we go out to eat. I must say, I've only used them once but I am very pleased with them. They stick right to the table and I can just gather it all together when he's done for easy cleanup. He likes the characters too!

I know that I just got done putting together baby's little area, but since I picked out her crib bedding the other day, I cannot wait to get her side of the room all prepared for her!

Not really too fond of the owl, I mean it's cute but I like the flowers so that's why I went with it. It's exactly the color scheme I wanted to go with so I'm happy with it.

I've been feeling really pregnant these days and I guess I should..but I cannot stress enough to you how badly I will miss this baby belly of mine. I'm in no way exaggerating how much I love being pregnant..I honestly feel a million times more beautiful when I rock this bump! Can't wait to be pregnant again!

Random Thoughts Thursday

Yesterday I bought probably THE BEST THING for Nicolas!

 Whenever we go out to a resturant, Nicolas LOVES to color his kiddie placemat. When I saw these at the store I knew I had to get them! On the opposite side of them is the same thing just without color.

It's turned out to be my secret weapon. Today, when Nicolas was getting just a little out of hand..I busted these puppies out and...

Well as you can see he was content! (I know you're wondering..yes, he wrote out his numbers..all by himself..I DID NOT HELP AT ALL..haha)

I had to indulge in my sweet tooth just a bit..so I made this..

I haven't had any yet..but man o man I cannot wait!

Today I FaceTimed with my sister and her boys and it was FANTASTIC! It was so great seeing my nephews play and talk to me face to face. My oldest nephew is so smart, he hurt his leg and said "Mommy, I hurt my skeleton." Silly boy. I can't wait for Nicolas to say silly things like that!

BABY SHOWER SNEAK PEAK...

 My house is literally going to be ALL pinked out! With a litte sass here and there! Those jars ore baby food jars that I wrapped streamers around them so when I put the tea light candles in them they light up ..PINK! (Pinterest inspired)

DIY to-do-list (part 2)

I saw a craft project (a super inexpensive one) on a blog I follow From Mrs. To Mama and I just HAD to duplicate it. Of course put my own little tweaks here and there.

Things you'll need::
Old frame or one from the dollar store (free/$1)
Bouquet of fake flowers of your choice ($5 from Wal-Mart)
Paint colors of your choice ($1ea from Wal-Mart)
Letter block ($1-$2 from ::again: Wal-Mart)
Ribbon I had in my craft box
Of course a hot glue gun and TA-DA!

I decided to paint the frame only one coat to give it kind of a vintage look. I love these colors together!

I still have to purchase a thing-a-majig to hang it on our front door but I LOVE HOW IT TURNED OUT!!