Getting to Know Me #1

I'm want to do something so that you can
get to know me a little better.
I'm not sure how many of these I am going to to do, 3? 15?
I guess it doesn't matter, just as long as you get to know me.
The real me.
The Good. The Bad. The Ugly.

In trying to write this,
I am having a little trouble thinking of things about me.
Maybe I don't want to confess the bad stuff about me.
Maybe I don't think anything is special about me.
I don't know,
so I just chose some random things about me and my family

1. My Hubby and I started dating 11 years ago

  Well I am only 27 and we started dating in 2000. We were only 16!

We knew each other long before that, but I didn't fall head over heals, madly in love with him until we were in High School. Summer going into our Junior year. Most people would think, OK, so you started dating then and were on again off again for years, right? Wrong! We only broke up for 1 week after we had only been dating for a month. Been together ever since. Doesn't mean we haven't had our ups and downs but we have stuck by each other's side the whole time.

2. From 6 weeks to 4 months was a Nightmare

When Boogs was born he was a happy healthy little boy. We had a little trouble breast feeding but I thought, what mom doesn't? Well after 6 weeks and him being almost back at his birth weight, the doctors were greatly concerned. We had been noticing him not breathing in his sleep. We told the doctors about it and they said, until he stops breathing for 15 seconds, its not a problem. Boogs was not breathing for 11 seconds, every couple of minutes, every time he slept. It would make this squeaky, squealy sound every time it started. It would haunt me at night.

I will NEVER forget that sound!

We were looked at like NEW parents that didn't know any better and we were frightened for our little boy. After many, MANY, stays in the hospital and numerous tests, and thousands of dollars later, they finally figured out what was wrong. He had extra skin in his throat that when he would relax it would move over his wind pipe. There was still a little room for air to get by but not enough. They said it was something that he could eventually grow out of but it would be 3 or 4 years. That would have meant that he would have not had a full, restful, night sleep until he grew out of it. Imagine what that would have done to his development and learning.

Well, thanks to a wonderful, amazing doctor at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, my baby boy is smart and very intelligent. He had to have a surgery called epiglottoplasty to cure his Laryngomalacia (Lots of big words, I know. I always have to ask my husband what is called). You can read about everything here. I couldn't imagine him not having the personality that he does. We are so blessed and thankful that things were made some much better. He still has some issues but nothing like he did. As you can see in other pictures, he is growing just fine.

3. What I Carry Around Everyday

(I will spare you a picture. If you really want to see, Google it, but it's not pretty)

Speaking of children...

I have had -I guess you could call it a "condition"- since I was about 18 years old. It is quite painful and some days really hard to deal with. I have Endometriosis. For anyone that doesn't know what that is, it's a condition resulting from the appearance of endometrial tissue outside the uterus and causing pelvic pain (the medical description) , but you can find out more here. There are many levels of this from hardly noticeable to extremely sever. That's right, you guessed it, I'm the extremely sever case. I don't know if you have ever walked around with continual pain, but let me tell you, it is not fun. It can totally change the "you" part of you. I do have medicine that I can take for the pain but a major side effect of the medicine is moody/ mean-ness. Who wants to deal with that?

I have had multiple, multiple surgeries to take care of it but it just comes back faster, stronger and more painful than before. In most cases once you have a child it goes away. Well in my case, that is not the case. Nope, still have it. Still pumping strong. One major thing that results from Endometriosis is not being able to conceive or carry children. God blessed Hubby and myself by beating the odds and gave us Boogs without even trying. Now we have been trying for baby #2 for a year and a half with no luck. The thing I have to keep telling myself, it's on His time, not ours!

4. Interior Design Associates Degree

When I went into college I didn't know what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted to do radio science, then I thought I wanted to do accounting. Nothing was fitting and nothing was motivating me to want to be there. I didn't have a desire for anything. In my sophomore year at Northern Kentucky University, thanks to the help of my husband, I figured out that I wanted to do design. I transferred to University of Cincinnati and wanted to join DAAP. Well, unless you are an incoming freshman, they don't really want you. As devastating as that was, I still knew that's what I wanted to do. Doing some research I found Antonelli College. I did a tour and from then on I was sold. It was downtown (which I loved) it was hands on learning, not just in a book. Most people say, why would you only want an associates degree, a bachelors is so much better for you. Honestly, I knew that my desire was to go to college, get married, work for a while and then have children. When I had children I didn't want to work. We had Boogs a little sooner than expected so I do still have to work but work is not my focus or priority. It's just what I have to do. Boogs is my priority! I don't use my degree now but I'm OK with that. I have the degree to fall back on and if I need to go back to college I will. As for now, I'm all set.

I really want to do 5 at a time when I am doing this Getting to know me, but since these first 4 were so long, I will let you get back to your lives. Thanks for listening to me. I hope you get to see a little more into my life. I hope in NO way do you feel pity on me or think that I did this as a pity party. I just want you to get to know me better. I want to get to know you better. Comment here or go to my Contact page and email me. I would love to know more about you!

I {HEART} Antiquing

It is not very often that I get to be completely by myself.

Often it is because I have Boogs with me, which I love.

Sometimes it is by choice because the time that I can get away,

I choose to spend it with girlfriends.

Plus, there aren't a lot of fun things to do by yourself.

However, there is one thing that I truly enjoy when I am by myself.

ANTIQUING!!!

It is just so nice to walk around and see all of these great old items.

Wondering what their journey has been,

where they have traveled, what they have seen.

I also love looking for things to use in the house.

To decorate with or repourpose.

Not that I don't already have a ton of projects going on,

that I haven't touched in weeks, I still pick out more things to do.

Like these:

Last year we grew herbs in our back yard

and we really enjoyed that. It was calming.

Haven't started this year (which means we probably won't)

But I want to have the herbs in their own container

rather than gathered in two or three large containters.

I want to hang them on latice and lean against the fence.

They were a great buy, 3 for $1!

Next item I found was a total steal!

Normally windows are about $20 to $50 a pop.

This one was with a bunch of other windows.

I had been looking for a window that

I like and so was a girlfriend, so we bought them together.

$7 a piece!! Can't beat that.

It was the only one with all the panes of glass still in tack.

I need to clean it, very carefully, but I Love it!

Great color and style.

Now, What to do with the mantel?

This is where you come in.

Give me some suggestions on what to do. 

The fireplace is really deep

(which is very annoying because there is a lot of space to fill)

I want to stack and stagger things up there but what?

No Sew Bolster Pillow

Once again, I am bringing you a No Sew Project

You can check out my other no sew project Here

This is also a continuation of the Surprise {Room Makeover}

Which you can check out Here

I don't have a sewing machine and even if I did

I wouldn't know how to use it.

Therefore, I bring you, No Sew Bolster Pillow
It is super easy.

This is a picture of the way the bench started out.

(Not looking so hot)

These bolster pillow covers were super easy to remove.

They had a Zipper. Lol!

I was also very lucky that the pillow its self was a solid piece of foam.

If you don't have a pillow like I do,

You can use towels!

That's right, towels, isn't that cool.

Get the tutorial for that at The Red Chair Blog

So anyways, I started out by measuring how much

fabric I needed. I was short on fabric because I used

it for something else so mine was a tight squeeze.

Next I took both ends of the fabric and gathered them up with

the fabric inside out. I put a rubber band on both ends to make it

look like this:

Next, I placed my pillows inside my gathered material.

Then I just had to pull the fabric around the outside of the foam.

Then I tucked the rubber banded ends inside with the foam.

Viola! New Pillow!

As you can see below, the bench is a different color than the

picture at the top. I just spray painted it with an ivory color.

I did also recover the bench seat by using a staple gun

and my fabric. Super easy. I will show you that in another tutorial.

Happy No Sewing!

Photo Shoot {Not Professional}

So, I'm not sure if you know this or not
but I didn't grow up with boys
I only had a sister.
So trying to raise a boy has been a little hard for me.
When he was a newborn up till he was about 2 years old,
He needed me.
He wanted me.
Now, I'm not needed/ wanted nearly as much.
Hubby is the fun one for him.
They wrestle.
They play Lego's.
Basically do everything together.

Don't get me wrong,
I love that Boogs wants to be a Mini Me of Hubby.
He is an amazing man,
Mommy just feels a little left out.

So when I get a chance to have fun with him,
Boy oh boy do I take full advantage!

We have a wedding to go to this weekend
(more on that later)
and Boogs is going to be joining us.
First one that the whole family
will be attending together since last year.
It should be a blast!

Anyways, I needed to try some clothes on him.
He normally hates trying on clothes so I thought it
would be a complete NIGHTMARE.

Instead, he loved it!
He kept calling it his "Suit Costume"
He wanted to pretend he was a Business Man.

I wanted to take a picture for my mom and sister
and from there, it became a modeling session.

(Not sure what the pose was here but he still looks cute.)






















His close up was next.

It wouldn't be a photo shoot without a little Monkey action!

{Sorry for the bad Picture quality,

How are you going to get a 3 year old to stand still}

Next, Was the Thinker!



It seems legit!

Of course we have to act shy. 

Lastly....

My angel!

Isn't he just adorable. I am a little bias though.

Just remember, cherish every moment.

Large or Small!

Oh Organizing, How I love thee.....

...Let me count the ways.

More like the ways that I don't organize.

I consider myself a very organized person.
I like things so-so, in their place.
I like schedule and planning.

What I have come to realize over the years,
is that I am this way with work or other areas of my life.
Just not at Home.
So sad, I know.

I try.
I start out with the best intentions.
Get things in their place,
organize it in my head,
But never fails, less than 2 weeks later,
it like a tornado hit it and doesn't look like I ever touched it.

Well, inspite of my chaois,
I thought I would bring you some great blogs that have
Organizing down pat.

This first one is something that I would love to accomplish
but lets be real, I don't even take all the pics I need for the blog.

Summer Photo Checklist @ Tip Junkie

So many times I have wanted to get a meal plan together

for my family but our lives are so on the go.

Here is a woman that has her stuff put together!

Flip Meal Planner by Positively Splendid

Heck, I would LOVE to just be as organized as this next one

Recipe Index @ Seven Sisters

Ok so I have to admit something,
Part of the reason I am so dis-organized is because
I DON'T HAVE A CRAFT ROOM.
There, I said it.
I know, super depressing and hurts just to think about it
(Hint to my Hubby)  ;-)
Anyways, but if I did, this is how I would Love for mine to look

Color Cordninated Paper @ I Love my Three Sons

Lastly, this Blog is the Queen of Organization.

I could literally post about 20 pictures from her blog.

She has so many great solutions to problems

and makes them look so easy.

Art Caddy

Cleaning Caddy

These were both from the wonderful Blog of IHeart Organizing

I hope all of this inspires you to be a bit more organized,

But I'm sure you are doing better than me.

My First Painting

So let me start out by reminding you, in case you haven't been following for long, why I started writing this blog. I wanted to start this blog to encourage others to do projects and crafts that they wouldn't normally have the encouragement to do. I have been a little creative throughout my life but always very timid to try anything new, afraid that I might fail at it. Well, guess what, sometimes I do fail, and sometimes I am able to redeem myself. The final project may not have turned out the way that I had intended it to but I still love it and at least I know that I accomplished it. So back to the project:

For so many years I have had a strong desire to paint.

I have always wished I could be one of those people that could just pick up a paint brush at any time and just start painting. When they finally take a step back, it looks amazing.

As for me, I am not that kind of person. I took at few painting classes in College and trust me when I say, I did not want to save a single thing that I did. Part of it was because I would take to much time on things but still, they were never good.

Well, since I started this blog to try things I never had before whether I fail or not, I decided that I was going to take the plunge. Almost 3 years ago I saw a JcPenney ad with a piece of artwork designed with a tree that was cut between 2 separate wall hanging pieces (I hope that makes sense).  Well, I had the intention of recreating that (from memory because there is no way I would keep something for 3 years).

I started out with 2 plain canvases from Michael's. I painted them the same color at my bedroom wall color because I wanted it to blend and just the tree part stand out.
 

I wanted to be creative with it and just started painting. I started by just drawing single lines to get an idea on where the branches would go. I thickened up the base of the tree and then tool a step back.

This is what I saw:

This looked NOTHING like the AD and I got really discouraged. I wanted to repaint the entire thing gray again and just start over. I decided to walk away for a few days. Just let it sit come back another day to see if I could fix it.

Well, I am so happy that I did. I changed what my original idea was (which was to have the whole tree top to bottom on these canvases but then realized [thanks to the help of my Hubby] that I made the trunk to big so that was not going to look proportional)

I abandoned that idea and just wanted to have branches coming off the tree and didn't care if was the top or bottom.

Again, I am not a professional painter. This was my first one, but I was very happy with it and again, felt very accomplished. Like I had conquered a fear of mine.

Here is the final result:

I even hung the canvas myself (which is probably why they look crooked) but non the less, I am very happy that I was able to do something like this myself.

Last Week Link Ups

Hey all!

I am going to be starting this thing where I show you all the link parties I joined from the week before. I am trying to figure out if I want to do it on Fridays (but those are a little hectic around here) or on Mondays. Let me know your opinion.

 

<a href="http://365days2simplicity.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t58/izzo_ad/linkypartybuttoncopy.jpg" alt="http://365days2simplicity.blogspot.com/" width="125" height="125" /></a>

<a href="http://makingtheworldcuter.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Making" src="http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo119/tiffhewlett/plain-button.png" /></a>

 

<center><a href="http://sewchatty.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uP3_tVjSjfQ/TNrQCLROS9I/AAAAAAAAAUU/sJmD6CZrR7E/s320/button.png" /></a></center>



<center><a href="http://nightowlcrafting.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i1097.photobucket.com/albums/g354/lesliejorgensen82/NightOwlCraftingwhobutton.jpg" border="0" alt="NightOwlCrafting" /></a></center>



 <a border="0" href="http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4020/4703356483_b9cf849751_o.jpg" /></a>  

<br /> <center><a href="http://thirtyhandmadedays.com" title="Thirty Hand Made Days"><img src="http://thirtyhandmadedays.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/pitypartybutton1.jpg" alt="Thirty Hand Made Days" style="border:none;" /></a></center>

<a href="http://www.thegirlcreative.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img alt="The Girl Creative" src="http://i456.photobucket.com/albums/qq286/happielife32/grab_button_150.png" /></a>

Ring Bearer Pillow Upgrade

***So I am going to start out by telling you the pictures aren't great. They turned out a little grainy because I took them on my phone (since my camera is still not working right), so please forgive me for that.***

Now onto the project.
We had some friends of ours that were getting married.
If you have ever planned a wedding you know how crazy
things can get when you get close to the date.
Well, like most bride and grooms they had some last minute
things that needed to be done and not enough time in the day
for them to complete everything.
Since I simply LOVE weddings and doing everything for them,
I offered to help with whatever what needed.
They needed a ring bearer pillow.

I knew the wedding was going to be quite simple but classy.
Being so excited to help out and do wedding stuff again,
I ran to Hobby Lobby and got a basket full of stuff.
After calming down and coming back to reality,
I put things back and just ended up getting these items:

The item in the back was their invitation

so I could get the right color.

I also picked a plain and simple pillow,

I did want to add a little something to the stark Ivory pillow
so that is where the ribbon came in.

I wrapped the ribbon around twice since it was sheer.

I wanted to get a pop of color rather just subtle.

Next I was trying to decide what to do,

Where to put the E pin and the flower.

I tried the E in the lower left hand corner

but it didn't show very well.

Then I tried it in the center.

I knew that I still had the flower to put on so I wasn't sure

if it was going to be exactly the look that I wanted.

As soon as I placed the E on there and stood back to look at it, 

I knew that was it.

I couldn't even place the flower anywhere because it was

perfect with just the bit of "bling".

So after much deliberation on making sure it was complete,

It finally was.

The Bride and Groom were very happy with it and I

was happy to be back doing Bridal stuff, which I LOVE.

Did I mention that I LOVE IT?

Have any bridal stuff you need done, let me know!!!!

Behind the Scenes {The other side of Crafty}

If you are in to reading other blogs,
like I obsessively do,
then you know that you get to see these horrible,
broken, run down objects, rooms, and materials.
Then miraculously they are turned into these beautiful
items that you wish you could go and
buy off the shelf for your own home.

The one thing that most blogs normally don't
show you is the process to get it there.
What your house looks like while you are
doing those projects or how long it takes
to complete the projects (which means that your
house stays like that till the end).

I'm here today to show you the
side that you normally don't get to see.
The behind the scenes of good deals,
great projects and big headaches.

The first is a project that I (really my Hubby)
 is almost finished with. (I'm not going to tell you about the
finish project yet because I will post about that later
(again, still working on it).


This next picture is to show how I start a project and get busy
with the week and this is how my family has to live with it

till I can get some time to get back to it.

(yep, that's where my family is supposed to be eating dinner)

Lastly, I get this from my mother

and also evidence I need to get an SUV.

(Yes again, that is the front seat of my husband's car.)

Again, another project I am needing to do but it was such a good

deal that I couldn't pass it up and I paid for it so I had to pick it up.

My poor family and things they have to deal with.

Hubby loves all the money I save though, so he deals with it.

Anyways, he has always known I was a little different. ;-)

P.S. Giveaway coming soon so be sure to check back!