Felt Christmas Tree DIY

There are few things I love more than Christmas and finding new tactile activities for our toddler, this super easy DIY combines both...um, YAAASSS girl!

I made this felt Christmas tree last year, it took about half an hour to make and cost around $10 for the felt and double sided scotch tape, both of which I found at Michael's craft store.   

What you'll need:
1 Large Piece of Green Felt
5-10 Squares of Felt, Various Colors
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun
Double Sided Scotch Tape 

I used a hot glue gun to attach the star to the top of the tree, then used the double sided tape to attach the tree to the wall (don't worry, it doesn't damage the paint!).  Then I cut out various shapes for the felt ornaments - felt sticks to felt so she can rearrange the decorations easily and of course, without mom's help!

She had so much fun with it last year and this year has been so proud to show it off to our friends, "I made that!"

It really is the most wonderful time of the year! 
~D & H 

I don't call her princess.

I don't call her princess because she isn't one.

I don't call her princess because she is so many wonderful things - smart, hilarious, sweet, observant, earnest, that the pretense of princess can add nothing to her worth. 

In the Bible, God calls us sons and daughters. There is no greater calling than to be a child of God.  I believe Jeremiah 29:11, that He has a plan and a purpose for her life and I believe that plan is far greater than anything I could even begin to pray for.  I know that as her mom, I am simply the steward of a wonderful gift.  I call her mine but I know she is His, and before I ever called her, He did.  So I will act accordingly.  

I call her to come with me to church and I call her to come with me to the mundane, the exciting, and the challenging situations of everyday life, and there, I call her kind, I call her compassionate, I call her loving and I call her intelligent.


     

Scriptures of Encouragement: Expecting Moms

There are so many unknowns for expecting moms, it is easy to worry and fear for the future of our babies.  

It is important to guide our natural curiosity about pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood with wisdom. 

What do I mean by that?  I mean that as we read about what to expect when expecting, we also read about the promises of God.  The journey of pregnancy and motherhood is a gift from God and as moms it is important for us to guard our hearts and minds, to not only lean on our husbands but rely on the promises of God for our family.  

Let's make it our goal to have an education on childbirth and motherhood that is not only empirical and scientific but spiritual as well.  Below are some of God's promises to us and scriptures for each of them.   I want to encourage you to focus on the promises of God, to find rest and peace in His perfect plan for your life. 

Peace
Philippians 4:6-7, Deuteronomy 31:8,  Psalm 23:4, Romans 8:28, John 16:33


Strength
Isaiah 40:29, Isaiah 40:31, Joshua 1:9

Rest
Exodus 33:14, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 26:3,4

Wisdom
James 1:5, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 3:5,6

Hope 
Jeremiah 29:11, Job 11:18-19, 1 Cor 15:58

Love
Zephaniah 3:17, Isaiah 54:10, Psalm 86:15

Freedom & Forgiveness
1 John 1:9, Psalm 86:5, Isaiah 58:6, 2 Chronicles 7:14, John 8:36

It is so easy to get caught up in the daily challenges of motherhood. The struggle is real y'all, but so is the Word of God!

Hold on to the promises of God like a toddler holding onto an iPhone.  Repeat the scriptures like a kid asking for another trip to the park.  Be relentless in pursuing God's plan for you and your family's health and peace, settle for nothing less than the promises of God! 

~D & H 

   

Second Birthday Party Easy DIY: Ohhh "Two"dles!

For our little girl's second birthday (oh my goodness we have a two year old!) we went with a theme based on the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" show.  The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse helper, Toodles, is summoned by the phrase "oh Toodles!" so you guessed it....Ohhh "Two-dles!"   

Below are a few of the easy DIY projects I did for her birthday party. 

Minnie Mouse Ears:
I found these Mickey Mouse ears on Amazon for $14 and had a little too much fun creating different Minnie Mouse ears for our guests to wear.  

I used hot glue, ribbons and flowers all of which I had lying around the house.  I left some of them as Mickey ears and it was so cute to see everyone, even the boys, wearing mouse ears during the party! 

Flower arrangements:
I made simple flower arrangements with touches of Mickey added using chenille stems  and styrofoam balls glued together and covered in glitter. 

List of Favorites: 
I created a little summary of her favorite things in Microsoft Word, using the same font that I had used for the invitations (links are below), printed it on light pink card stock and put it in a frame I already had in the house.  

This was super easy to do and I still love looking at it. (I did edit her "Favorite Songs" list, because if I was totally honest "Body Like A Back Road" is definitely in her top 3)   

Here is how it turned out:

 
Invitations:
We loved what an intimate gathering her first birthday party was, and chose the same for this birthday as well, so I took the opportunity to make the invitations since there weren't a ton to make. 

I printed each invitation in the center of light pink card stock (8-1/2 x 11), created using both the Waltograph and Walter fonts which were super easy to download and use in Microsoft Word.  I resized this Mickey Mouse Stencil to fit into one 8-1/2 x 11 page then cut the invitation around the stencil.  I used hot glue to add a small bow and mount it onto a piece of scrapbook paper, similar to paper from here, that was cut to fit inside these envelopes. 

I also made a few little flag banners using the scrapbook paper, ribbons and flowers to hang around the house.

The outfit:
We found her an amazing minnie mouse dress by Zara kids, I way overspent on it ($25!) but it was just the cutest Minnie dress I had ever seen and was perfect for her two year photos as well!    

It is just incredible that another year has gone by, I am always amazed at the blessing God gave us through our little girl. 

We've got ears, say cheers! 
~D & H

 

Be content.

 

Our phones and computers give us immediate exposure to practically any commodity on earth as well as access to money to pay for these things - often with credit cards that we can't afford.

People today don't talk about stewardship, about living within their means or about being content with what they have.  This is compounded by social media which gives us the odd opportunity to view other people's lives and worlds through a filtered lens and compare them to our own.

The continual comparison of our lives to other's and the perpetual consumer mentality will keep us from being content in our everyday lives.  
   
Cars, clothes, jewelry, vacations, gadgets and homes can't make people happy.  Attitudes can.  That is why there are poor, sick and unfairly treated people who can still be content - their attitude, not their situation keeps them content.

I have two challenges for you:
1)  Reevaluate how you spend your free time - especially if you spend it online.  
If you catch yourself looking at items you want, set your phone down and go invest a few minutes in your home, yourself or your kids.  "The grass is green where you water it" rings true. So go water your lawn, literally. Stop pinning a beautiful yard on Pinterest and go cultivate one.

2)  Spend the next thirty days without a luxury - your morning Starbucks... something...pick anything, go without it and be content. That's it. Don't think about the money or the time you'll save, and definitely don't think about how it can be used elsewhere.  It's not about saving money or time, it's about being content.  Just go without it, and be content.  

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. " Philippians 4:12-13

~D & H

     

Wife Hack: Clogged Sink Drains

If your sink is draining slowly, odds are the long locks clogging it aren't from the husband.  All you need is five minutes, a few paper towels and this cool hair snare and you can fix it yourself!  

You'll need to pull out the pop-up stopper in the sink, clean off all the gook then just cram the hair snare into the drain and pull up whatever has been clogging that sink drain.  Run the water to see that you have normal draining, then go on girl, show off a little butt crack, get that plumber vibe on! 

Home Depot sells this sink hair snare and Lowe's has some tips on removing the pop-up stopper for cleaning.  I swear, it works better than Drano.

No honey-do list here!
D & H

Ranch Home: Master Bedroom Remodel

Prior to remodeling the master bedroom in our 1950's ranch home we went through several design ideas to address heating & cooling issues as well as the challenge of making the room feel like a master bedroom even though it is roughly the same size as the other rooms in our house.

Because our ceiling is the roof line of the house (i.e. no attic) insulation was a concern and visible wiring for the ceiling fan we wanted to add was also an issue.  D came up with the idea to do coffered ceilings with styrofoam insulation and it was such an effective and elegant solution.

He also added crown moulding, reading lights above where our bed would go, additional outlets and insulation in the outer walls.  While remodeling our room he also changed out the doors and door frames in our house which were originally wood doors with metal frames (i.e. different expansion when it gets hot/cold making them impossible to open and close!)   

I thought I would share what he did, although this is definitely not a DIY post - because D ripped our room down to the studs, remodeling everything from electrical to trim, there are tools and expertise that are difficult to DIY!   

 Before

 

After

During

Building the boxes

 Drywall hung

 "Imperfect Smooth" Texture

Flooring

 Crown Moulding

Hope that you enjoyed the pictures and they provide some inspiration!

~D & H

Laundry Room - Easy Redo

I decided to change up our laundry room (yes, again) to add functionality and make it feel more cozy. 

This room is definitely more girly than I would typically do for our home, but I absolutely love it. 

I repainted the cabinets in Behr's Violet Vista and Glidden's Miller's Cove Sage, both of which I found at Home Depot. 

D modified an over-the-door folding ironing board so hangs hidden behind the curtains on the wall.

Functionality:
1) Add hidden folding ironing board
2) Clean out all cabinets
3) Create organized storage space in cabinets for greeting cards & gift wrap in cabinets for easier access  

I also used this cabinet to store vases, disposable plates/silverware & printer paper.  Seems like a random mix of items, but all are things I use on a regular basis. 
 

The cabinets over the washer I use for laundry detergent & cleaning supplies.  It may not be Pinterest worthy, but it is REAL LIFE, also it keeps the cleaners out of the reach of kiddos!  

Small changes in a home can make a big difference.   It is even more rewarding to use things you already have in a new way, and simplify the space to fit your needs.  The total cost for this redo was around $30 for the new ironing board and took me a few hours to complete.

I'm not expert, but here are my tips:
1) Clean out all cabinets and drawers.

We have a small home, so using the space we do have wisely is crucial. 

2) Consider how the space could be used better.  

For me, I'm always digging through my craft/wrapping shelves in the garage which is not ideal.  So I used containers I had around the house to organize my greeting cards, ribbons, etc and now I have easy access for when I need to throw together a sweet gift or send a thank you card. 

3) Pick a color palette for inspiration.  

I had some color ideas and (no exaggeration) D and I have > 20 sample paints in the garage, so I really didn't have to look far.   If you don't have paint on hand, the sample sizes are only a few bucks at your local hardware store and are great to have around for little projects. 

4) Use what you have.

Raid your house/garage/closet for pieces that fit along with your color palette or that are good candidates for being painted (i.e. picture frames, wood boxes, glass vases, planters)  

Paint the pieces to go with your color palette, use varying textures to create an interesting space.  

5) If you have pieces you love but don't fit in with the decor, use them anyway! 

There are a few signs in our little laundry room (i.e. "Laundry...Drop Your Pants Here...") that are adorable but not really my style, things like that make a cheerful addition to the inside of a cabinet.  Yep, you read that right. I am suggesting that you decorate the inside of a cabinet.  

6)  Don't be afraid of messing up. 

If it takes a few revisions to get it right, who cares. Repaint it. Reorganize it. Rethink it.

Change is good, 
D & H

  

vodka cake.

We all have that one friend that when you ask her what gift she wants for her 1 year old's birthday she says "vodka in bottles that will fit in my diaper bag".  Alright fine, maybe we don't ALL have that friend, but I do, and I adore her. 

Regardless if she was or not, I decided to take her seriously and I made a little change to the baby shower classic diaper cake....

That's right kids, VODKA CAKE!  

 Below is my quick how-to for a three tiered "cake", here is what you will need:
-Mini vodka bottles (15 total)
-Empty vodka box
-2 colors of ribbon 
-Hot glue gun & glue
-Scissors

 1) Cut three circles from the box - one for each tier, I used the bottles as a rough outline. 
 

2) Assemble the bottom layer by dabbing a small drop of glue onto the bottom of the bottle and placing it on the center of the cardboard circle.  Glue and place each of the other six bottles around the center bottle.

 A small dab will do. 

3) Place a large drop of glue onto the center of the second layer's cardboard circle and attach to the top of the center bottle of the bottom layer.

4) Assemble the next two tiers in the same way, starting from step 2.

5) For the decorative ribbon, begin by adding a thin strip of hot glue to the perimeter of the cardboard circle and attach the ribbon, do this incrementally since the glue cools very quickly.

 Cut 10-15 smaller pieces (3-4 inches) of ribbon 

Place a small dab of glue in the center of the ribbon and fold in half, repeat for all small pieces

Attach folded ribbons around the top layer (facing down) and around the bottom layer (facing up).  

Add another layer of the other colored ribbon around the each layer to secure, tie the top layer with a bow.   

6) Done. 

 Cheers!
~ D & H

 

Hopes

I've heard people say things about "hopes for their kids" so many times and I've always misunderstood it. I don't think it is just about what you want them to grow up to become, but rather it is about the world you want them to see, what you want them to value and the version of yourself that you want to become for them.

It is the hope that they see the wonder, generosity and beauty in the world; but also that when they see the want and despair they don't shrink away but step in to act in generosity. 

The hope that regardless of their education and experiences that they value faith; that when life violently turns against believing, their faith grasps with white knuckles and refuses to relent. 

The hope that they love and respect their parents and, when they realize that their parents are just people too, the simple human that raised them is still worth that love and respect. 

The hope is not that storms won't come, but that when they do sails will swivel with steady hands and bows continue straight. 

I read a speech Supreme Court Justice John Roberts gave to his son's graduating class and it resonated with me, below is an excerpt -

"From time to time in the years to come, I hope you will be treated unfairly, so that you will come to know the value of justice. I hope that you will suffer betrayal because that will teach you the importance of loyalty. Sorry to say, but I hope you will be lonely from time to time so that you don’t take friends for granted. I wish you bad luck, again, from time to time so that you will be conscious of the role of chance in life and understand that your success is not completely deserved and that the failure of others is not completely deserved either. And when you lose, as you will from time to time, I hope every now and then, your opponent will gloat over your failure. It is a way for you to understand the importance of sportsmanship. I hope you’ll be ignored so you know the importance of listening to others, and I hope you will have just enough pain to learn compassion. Whether I wish these things or not, they’re going to happen. And whether you benefit from them or not will depend upon your ability to see the message in your misfortunes."   

Link to the full speech here

With high hopes, 

 D & H

Cheap Frills: Current Favorite Drugstore Beauty Buys

First, let me start by saying that I am not really a makeup person.  Most YouTube makeup tutorials baffle me - the time, money and sheer volume of products that one can shellac on the face really is mind-blowing (caveat: I do love Cara from Maskcara Beauty, a tutorial all moms can relate to here.).  

Second, I'm not a model, so any attempt to pile on enough makeup every morning to look like one seems like a crazy way to start the day.

Lastly, I'm going to play a little fast and loose with the term "beauty" here. I use the term beauty when what a really mean is something similar to a weekly lawn mowing or enough clothing to avoid indecent exposure. 

So here they are, my favorite drugstore "beauty" buys. 

Shaving Cream
Do people still use shaving cream? I use a cheap conditioner like Suave's Tropical Coconut. I have very sensitive skin, so it is a much more gentle alternative that doesn't dry my skin and smells wonderful. 

Eye Makeup Remover 
My sister got me hooked on using Nivea's Soft lotion on a q-tip as an eye makeup remover, it is an easy way to remove makeup without drying out the skin. 

Pencil Sharpener
The Sonia Kashuk sharpener is perfectly sharpened and gets the job done well. Nothing like the right tool. 

Lotion That Smells Like Summer
I think there may be a moisturizing theme happening here.  Well, if I were marooned on an island, I'd hope to have this lotion with me because it feels amazing and if it tastes as good as it smells, dinner is served kids! 

Nailed It
The absolute BEST nail polish, hands down, or up, or frantically waving back and forth to quickly dry the polish.  Orly's French Manicure in "Rose-Colored Glasses" is elegantly simple & chip concealing, um, yes please!

Raising Eyebrows  
I've used more and less expensive brow products, this Ardell one is great and is a great bargain. I typically blend it in the palm of my hand before applying it, and go with the blonde shade even though my hair color is dark. 

Pucker Up
I love this Revlon Matte Balm "Striking Spectaculaire" giant crayon thing, the orange tone is just beautiful. The NYX matte lip liner in "Cannes" has a dusty pink color that is as current as it gets. 

Didn't Bat An Eye
My favorite mascara since...well ever & it is waterproof. Enough said. 

So here I am blogging about beauty buys. 

I'll just go laugh at myself now, 
D & H