Project Number 2940384

Done!

I got the idea for this project from a wonderful blogger when she did her own bed like this.

Here is the before...

And the after!!

I've always wanted an upholstered bed....

I'll wait for the ooo's and ahh's to stop....o thank you, your too kind.....Aaaand now to the steps it took to make my boring, very dark bed into this cute, exciting, inviting new bed!

First I measured the inlaid parts of the headboard and footboard, and how deep it was to see how thick of plywood I would need. Next, I measured again, and again, and again. Seeing as how I wanted to do this all on my own (which I did, minus some touch up sawing by my step-dad, and tool borrowing from my dad) I did not want to make any glaring mistakes!

When I finally had the measurements, I headed to Lowe's and decided on the 1/4" thick plywood, I didn't want it too heavy to stay put. I had them cut it and brought it home and tried it...It didn't fit, so my step-dad cleaned it up for me.

Next, I got out my batting, put a double layer in between the fabric I chose and the wood, and wrapped it around the back and started stapling it on. The only problem I found with this step was that most of the staples went through the board and poked through the fabric, so I just hammered them down so you couldn't tell where the staples were on the fabric side.
This is the finished product of one of the 4 panels. :) I also realized this would make for a perfect "tack" board (the ones with the ribbons tacked on and people tuck pictures in it....anywho....)
And to put the panels in place I got some of the Command strips from Staples that are for hanging picture frames, that way I don't damage the wood (hopefully...), and I used the handy trick of toothpaste! You put the strips where you want them on the back of the panel then put a small dab of toothpaste on the strip to mark it then put it where you want it, and the toothpaste marks the perfect placement for the matching strip! It saved me a HUGE headache!

The footboard I did not however use the command strips because I made sure to make all four panels fit VERY snugly in place so I really didn't need them but I used the strips on the headboard so they wouldn't by chance fall on anyone's head while they slept. (My mother laughed at me as I put in the footboard panels because they were a bit too snug and I had to push them in sort of...shall we say....awkwardly. :) but let's face it. I'm awkward.)

And there you have it! All in all that project cost me about $50 for everything. Not too bad for a seemingly brand new bed!

I can't stop staring at it...

The Reveal

Well my diligent followers here it is...
My chair that started out like this...


Not really knowing how to get the ideas from my head to the chair it came out like this...But that was a little too child-like for my tastes. So I spray painted it white and started over. It sat like this until inspiration struck...

And then it did :)This is a celtic tree of life symbol, and I. Love. It!!!

And here is the finished product!

I used acrylic paint, which I wouldn't choose to use again, it streaked a lot, it didn't cover very well, and it got scratched too easily. After the final coat of paint I let it dry completely and applied a varnish with low shine and now I am currently sitting on it! :D O and the design I found online, printed it out, colored in the back with pencil and drew over the lines with pencil so it transferred beautifully, and then filled in the lines with a permanent marker! I tried paint but it just didn't create those clean lines.

I absolutely LOVE this chair! I can feel many creative things coming to mind while using it :)

More Projects AH-HAHAHAHA!

So during my week long media black out I spent a lot of time doing/finishing projects :)

Like an apron... (actually 2)

(I found an awesome tutorial on how to make a bandana into an apron and after I made that one Aiden stated he did not like that color, so I used it as a template for something I knew he would like)

And a new nursing cover!

Again used my old, very used one as a template.

Crocheted a coin pouch...

Started a granny square to make a clutch and got tired of crocheting so I quit early and thus the coin pouch was born...


And whipped this baby up in about 30 minutes!

I found the idea on pinterest from an etsy shop, and I thought 'Hey! I could make that!'

I'm starting to think about starting an etsy shop for the finished products....what do you think? Would people buy this stuff from an amateur like myself??

More to come :D

O by the way....I made ALL of this with stuff that I already had just waiting to be used... O except the nursing cover....but it's been sitting on my desk for ages just staring at me...FINISH MEEE...FIIIINNNNISSH MEEEE.... (enter zombie voice)

Let me know what you think!

Media Black-Out

For the past week my sons and I have undergone a feat. A feat of large proportions if you know me at all.

I have a problem.

With TV, Facebook, and now Pinterest.

And Aiden has been absorbed into the TV and playing on my phone lately.

So I decided to shut down the system and have a reboot.

Last Tuesday at 9pm we did it, turned off the TV, I deleted all apps from my phone that I've been overusing and said good-bye to the social media world for one WHOLE week.

And don't you know my pastor was right at one of his recent sermons....when you're doing something right there will be opposition.

Not only did everyone get sick, even my cat!! But tons of people said "Huh?" "What?" "Why?" But I just kept explaining that I was tired of being sucked in, and most people finally understood and gave me praise for doing it. :)

So what the heck did we do all week?!

We played. I read. We talked. Ate dinner at the table. Took Tristan to the doctor. Accidentally consumed fries contaminated with gluten, then proceeded to fight off the symptoms for 3 days....and I started and completed many, many projects!

(O by the way, I used to think 'O maybe these food allergies are just in my head'
They aren't. Not at all.
O and cats are expensive...like $200 for shots and to find out he has pink eye...awesome.)

I signed back on to Facebook last night, and really wasn't that impressed so I think I'll forever delete the app from my phone. And I remembered just how annoying technology can be when it doesn't work like it's supposed to. It was so nice not to be tethered to my phone...*sigh*

Mind you I'm writing this after hugging my computer.... :) I'm happy to be back writing.

Adventures in WeekendLand

So Aiden has been sleeping in his bed pretty often all night long

(pause for happy dance....o yeah.....raise the roof....o wait they don't do that anymore....
ok I'm done, return to blog....),

so I decided to take him to the zoo as a "Yay You"

(I don't like "rewards" persay because we are not dogs.)

and as a special surprise, just because I love him so much,
I took him on a real train ride on a real Thomas train!

At the zoo, which was also Tristan's first time there,
we got to see the new elephant enclosure and we got to feed giraffes!Right before feeding the giraffe.Right after...see the leaves in her mouth :)He was skipping along merrily, ecstatic that he fed a giraffe :)
I'm so happy I could give him that experience!

And I am so thankful that Littlest was completely content to people watch the entire time!




Next up, we went to see Thomas the Train.
Aiden was so excited he could hardly sit still :)
He got a balloon animal, a 'James' tattoo (which he is still proud of),
and best of all was the ride.
I can't begin to describe the light in his face when that train started moving.
I am just thankful I was mindful enough to catch every moment.

Another successful adventure was had. And many more to follow!

O and I just have to say my kids crack me up! Aiden learned how to use his new toy to turn on my dome light. And Tristan is learning that he can spin on his belly and squirm all over the place. And likes to pretend to drive.

T-Shirt Scarf

Just in time for football season!!

I found this idea on Pinterest (evil pinterest)
and followed it to a blog which I now cannot find....

It calls for 4 old t-shirts of your chosen color
(I chose orange, black, gray, and white...Go Pokes!)
And since I'm running low on t-shirts as it is I went to Goodwill
and picked up some in the right colors for less than $4 :)

And it only takes about an hour or so to do depending on if you have children that is....
it took me about an hour and a half broken up to get mine done.


So first you cut off each bottom hem and set it aside-you will be using it later...
Then you cut 8 strips about 3/4 or 1 inch wide from each shirt.
You should have 32 by the time your done cutting
(ha imagine that 8x4=32, math does come in handy!)

Here is my pile.
Next, you stretch each strip one good wide stretch,
then wrap it around your hand-like so...

Here's the almost-there look.
Alright you know those hems you cut off and saved? Time to put them to use!
Cut them in about 5 inches pieces,
I ended up having to cut a couple of hems off the sleeves of the shirts to have enough,
so I think it depends on the size of shirt you're using.
Next you'll use those hem pieces to tie it all together!
Simple, yes?
I can't wait to wear mine to football homecoming!

Let me know if my instructions were unclear,
this is the first time I'm writing out instructions :)

Well, Hi There!

This is the new and improved blog of yours truly. Hope you like the changes!

One of the projects that I have been o so diligently working on is this....
I searched high and low for just the right chair to inspire my crazy creative mind.

I paid way too much for a beat down chair but I had had enough of back breaking work--meaning carrying around my now 22lb 5 month old...

So I started sanding...
And sanding.
And sanding.

And finally I got started painting it just yesterday,
which I will take pictures of when it's all done for 'the big reveal'.

I'm pretty excited about it.

Ready, Set, Go! to bed.... :)

Projects

I've been busy with new craft projects, which I'll be posting pictures soon :) But my most important project is myself.

I've been discovering who I lost 4+ years ago. The woman who was confident, creative, imaginative, and positive.

I have new dreams of raising my boys in a cottage filled with projects I've completed (for once), with eclectic furniture, and driving a car I bought with my own money.

I'm sure of myself again. I feel good about who I am and how I look. I have a renewed look on relationships--I don't need them (with boys that is...). And even more importantly I have a renewed thirst for God again.

I still have down days but they are fewer and farther between. I finally have control over my emotions and my life. And it is ah-mazing.

I love my new life. I'm enjoying my projects. And I'm enjoying being me again.

I can finally smile without faking, and I can finally be free.

What A Wonderful Lady

My 5 generation of women photo shoot :)

On this past Saturday, late at night, a wonderful soul departed this world to be with our Heavenly Father.

She left behind slews of children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and many more family and friends.

Right up to the very end she kept everyone on their toes with stitches in their sides from her sassyness.
She even had even umph left in her to pop her 40+ year old son on the arm and told him to get going!

My wish is that somehow we can carry on her legacy and that maybe I can be a little like her one day.

Great Grandma, I love you and I'm sorry I couldn't get to know you even more because from what I hear you were one hell of a lady. :)

Sacrifices

We mommies get a bad rap. We are disciplinarians, chore-assigners, meanies, and giver of unwanted life lessons. But mommies give up so much to do what we know is right for our children.

Sacrificing for mommies start from the very beginning of life-pregnancy. Man, it does one over on us. Not only are we giving away our nutrition, blood supply, and energy to form these mini-me's but we're also giving away our freedom of movement and comfort and sometimes our health itself to house them.

We sacrifice our "perfect" boobs to feed and nourish and grow these little babes and as a result we get perfectly-life-giving boobs that most can see as imperfect in this shallow, image obsessed world.

Instead, we should look at our stretched out tummies, stretch mark covered bodies, and sagging boobs as a complete and total sacrifice we chose to give so that our children can have life.

This is real life people. It is messy. It is beautiful. No matter the shape, size, or look.

Mommies sacrifice "being cool" by choosing to do what is best for their children-not letting them have whatever they want and sticking to their guns. Choosing to nurse-on-demand rather than have their social life immediately back. Choosing to alter their diet so they can nurse for as long as their babe needs. Even choosing to know all the characters on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, the songs, and the Hot Dog Dance in place of knowing what is happening on True Blood this week.

Mommies even sacrifice their own needs/wants/desires for the sake of their children. I've put more food on my son's plate than my own when we're running low, I've put aside my tears to put a smile on his face, I've said no to dating to make sure I give my sons the attention they deserve, I've even put off fixing my own emotional downfalls to protect their own.

Time, energy, bodies, sanity, good furniture, nice "stuff", pets, travel, clean cars, dreams, and ambitions all have different meanings when you become a Mommy to someone.

These are the sacrifices we make but we make them in hopes that we are bringing up children that are just a little better off than we are.

I am not a good writer, although I dream one day my words will affect someone positively but if you get one thing from what I've said today its this--If your a mommy reading this...GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. You are an amazing woman and an amazing mommy. That little baby that you gave life to looks to you for support and love and many many other things that we don't even know we can give until they require it. You can do anything! No matter how tired you are or stressed out---take a deep breath, now look at your child. Look at the features they got from you. Look at their smile. Look at how amazing they are. Look at what you did! YOU GREW THAT BABY!! You are awesome.

Now go out with your head held high with that baby in tow and give another mommy a hug, they might be having a rough day too.

One Small Crawl At A Time

The pain has been unbearable.
Sometimes I don't think I can handle another minute.
There are days I take a shower just so I can cry without the kids seeing any more of my tears.
There is so much fear, rage, and hurt that my body actually aches from the weight of it all.
I can't even get reprieve during my dreams- they are filled with legalities, court room scenes, and demeaning talk from him.
Even if I want to curl up in bed and never move again, I know I can't which makes the feeling worse.
Knowing I have to be strong makes me feel even more weak.
There are moments in my day that everything will be going perfectly then one thing passes through my mind and crushes me.
It hurts beyond words to think that someone can be disrespected as much as I have been.
It hurts beyond words to know that this is happening, that this is happening to me and especially to my children.
It hurts beyond words knowing that I gave everything I had and it was worth nothing to him.
You can't understand how devastated I feel.
There are no words.

I have "can not survive another moment depression" moments but I have to limit my time in the pits of despair-for myself, for my children, and I can't give him that satisfaction.
After my moments, I pick myself back up. I feel a little taller, a little stronger, a little more angry.
After my moments I tell myself, "This is not your fault." "I will not let him control me anymore." "I will be better." "I am a good person despite what he has made me believe."

I get so angry about what he has done to me, not just leaving me, not just leaving my children. But what he has done to my mind. He has made me feel worthless. He has made me believe that I am. He has made me doubt myself and my abilities to even think clearly. He has made me feel ugly and stupid. He has manipulated. He has called me a bitch. He has yelled in my face, literally.
It terrifies me how extreme the emotional abuse has been. It has made me terrified of other men, future relationships, and even watching other relationships around me. I feel like a shell of my former self. That scares me more than anything. Can I get "me" back? Will this pain ever stop? Will I ever find forgiveness for him?

I've hidden my feelings for so long, I worry if they are just in my head. I've hidden from the world for so long that I don't know what's normal. I've hidden what's really been going on in my relationship for so long that I worry what other people think.

I'll continue to try and move forward.
I'll continue to work on sorting everything out, one naptime at a time.
I'll continue to reteach myself.
I'll continue to crawl until I can walk.

Long Absence

Hello to my faithful friends and family...

I have a few new projects in the works so I hope that you'll join me on this little adventure.
Here are a few updates to satisfy as well...

Tristan is now 11 weeks old and is a healthy, happy, chubby baby. He's smiling a lot and trying really hard to act older than he really is.

Aiden is handling the separation alright. He's back to sleeping in my bed every night and cries randomly but I'm trying to be strong enough for all of us during this time.

I'm doing alright as well. There are definitely hard times where I don't think I can function another minute. But then I remind myself that I have to be strong and push through to better myself and my children.

I also have realized how good I do have it. I have AMAZING family and friends who have supported me not only financially but emotionally and with the boys as well. I truly am blessed.

I Have Been Blessed

3 weeks and 3 years

The other day I had a rough one.
Aiden was being good but very touchy, talky, and in my space.
Tristan wouldn't stop crying screaming his head off, throwing up, or just be ok with me not holding him while...you know...I peed.
I cried a little, got really frustrated and finally just went to bed.

The next day I had a counseling appointment and a holistic healing appointment
and when I got home I felt A-MAZING!

Then when my boys were clingy I could actually appreciate it.
Especially in the midst of a local family losing 2 of their 3 children in a violent storm.

I soaked in every moment of my oldest holding onto my arm
and my youngest nursing and sleeping cuddled in my arms.

I try to remember to love when my son comes in at 7am to crawl in the now empty side of my bed and relax in the dark with me until I finally drag myself to an upright position.

And I do.
I love having cuddly boys.
They make me feel complete.

I love the messes they make, their cries, their little hands that seem to get every where, I love their smiles, and I love knowing they are all mine.

I'm trying to soak in every moment I can because I know that they are passing way too fast.

And I don't want to miss a thing.

Life Like I Never Knew

My life has now imploded on top of me.

My husband left me.

Gone as of Saturday.

Don't get me wrong he's still in the picture, seeing his kids, helping pay for bills, but he's not in our home any longer.

I have no idea where things are going next but I don't have much hope right now.

I started seeing a counselor but he says he will not see or talk to anyone--that we can work this out ourselves. I have to say...if we haven't worked ANYTHING out in the past three years...we aren't going to-without help.

I'm more concerned about how this will affect our kids, we're adults and we'll manage, but they are too young to fully understand. Especially Aiden, he's old enough to know something is different but not why.

Please pray for my now-broken family. Pray for healing, understanding, and for whatever God thinks is best to happen.

Hello, My Name is Tiffany and I have ADHD

Yup, that's right Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. I have known I've had it since I was very young but only now do I realize the havoc it has wreaked on my life, every single part of it.

I have a hot temper which gets set off very quick.
I speak/act before I think.
I overreact to things said to me and actions of others.
When I leave a social situation I beat myself up for possibly sounding stupid or acting a certain way.
I can't finish projects I start (I have 6 crochet projects going on right now...).
It feels like there's about 10 things going on in my head at once. (Which is why I get overwhelmed with noise easily.)
I can NEVER sit still.
I talk a lot. A LOT.
I have to do at least two things at once most hours of the day.
And as an adult I have to have things scheduled, organized, and planned to death, just to feel like I have some sort of control. (Which also explains why I have to have my way all the time, which makes me look like a controlling wife)

All this explains soo much! It explains why when Mike and I have an argument I seem to only make things worse, and I overreact, and just why we butt heads to begin with.

All of this makes me feel incredibly crazy. Like I might go off the deep-end crazy. But I know I can control it, and without medication. I know because I know I'm strong enough, that and there are people around me who can help and support me.

So if any of this sounds like you, it might be worth looking in to. Just know you're NOT crazy. This is a daily struggle for me and at times I can feel very anxious and even depressed which explains some of my posts here and on Facebook. But here are some sites for help.

http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm
http://www.adult-adhd.com/

My Mother's Day

Well Mother's Day for me was a special treat,
especially after the horrendous disaster of my birthday...

Hubby had to work the night before and morning of Mother's Day so I was alone with those that made me a mother in the first place,
and I woke up with both boys in my bed and it was wonderful but as soon as I got up
I got grumpy.

It was because all I saw was the mess ALL around me, and as I was sitting on the couch holding my youngest and having a pity party I realized my sweet older one was outside playing on the patio
by himself on a glorious morning!

I thought to myself:
Why am I sitting in here when I could be spending time with him outside?!

So out I went. I got out our new lawn chairs, got my favorite coffee, and just sat. I watched Aiden play and nursed Tristan and texted with my husband until it got too hot.

Then when Hubby got home he managed to get a card AND gift to surprise me.
Now when it comes to gift-giving my husband tries hard but I am a hard woman to please...He gets me things he thinks I want instead of what I actually ask for.

But this time he nailed it!

He got me a Willow Tree statue of two brothers. I have been wanting to our collection of one for a long time now and what better one to choose than one that represents those that actually made Mother's Day for me!

Then he told me I could order the rings I've been wanting for awhile (Handmade with initials from Etsy) and that he would have but he didn't know how I wanted them made. No problem :)

THEN he said he would either make me dinner or we could go out, I chose go out since I don't get that option too often. :)

And while he took a much needed nap (after working 16 hours straight) I took the time to relax, watch a movie I'd been wanting to see for sometime, visit my dearest mom, and took one more longing look at the messiest house ever and said "Eh, that's what tomorrow's for."

And that was that.

Happy Mother's Day.

Update Time!!

Alrighty sorry for the LONG absence! Wow life with 2 kids is crazy! Here's what has been going on...

After coming home from the hospital very late the day after little Tristan was born we spent a few days recovering and introducing everyone to our newest edition. On day 5 of his life we had a normal checkup with the doctor-that turned into soo much more. They realized he was very yellow/orange looking so they tested him for bilirubin and found that it was 18.5, so they decided to admit him to the hospital. We stayed there for 4 long, excruciating days while waiting for his levels to go down. The whole time he got 7 tries for an iv (finally getting it on the last try...), over a dozen heel pricks, and a whole days worth of bili-lights. His levels got as high as 21 while we were there :( but by the time we left it dropped to 15.3. We did have some follow up appointments with the doctor and to get his blood drawn to watch his levels, which ended up climbing again! So we finally made the sad decision to put him on formula for 24 hours to see if it was my breastmilk pumping bilirubin back into him (I did supplement with breastfeeding though!). And a day later it was down one whole point so the doctor gave us a day off of getting blood drawn and by the time we got it tested again he was at 12! So he's finally in the clear!

Since then we've just been trying to adjust, spend time with Aiden, and keep up with everything going on in the real world. :)

Here are some pictures!! I'll be posting the birth story soon :)

I tried to organize the pictures but I got tired of shuffling them into just the right order...

Our cat and Tristan :)

Big brother holding Tristan for the first time.

After his first bath...

I just thought this was cute ;)

First cloth diaper!

This is when we were at the doctor's office before getting admitted to the hospital. See...very pumpkin-like.

My poor baby in the hospital, at one point he had 5 wires attached to his little orange body.
Under the bili-lights.
Getting better! Look at those big hands! All the nurses talked about how big they were and how strong he is. :) He was working on holding his head up at 11 days old!

Well I hope I didn't bore anyone too much. Thanks for sticking with this proud momma. :)

Welcome To The World...

Tristan James!
We ushered our new little boy into the world Thursday, April 7th at 12:49pm!

He weighed in at a whopping 7lbs and measured in at 20.5 inches.

Birth story and pictures to follow.

Whoa! It's been awhile!

I have been putting it off and putting it off, but it's about time to update this thing, huh? Here's a quick run through of what's been going on, with some pictures to share.

*I am now one day away from 37 weeks preggers. I had an appointment the other day where the midwife told me I was already 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced!! Woo Hoo! (Mind you Aiden hung out at 3 cm also for weeks and came right before he was due, it just means my body is doing what its supposed to). O and I'm measuring right where I should be with this baby, unlike Aiden who measured at least 3 over what was "normal."

*I had an absolutely beautiful, joyous baby shower!! It had a bird theme, which I loved since it wasn't too- THERE'S A BABY COMING!! type of theme. :) Plus I had amazing ladies there to share it with, along with my best friend who flew in from out of state. And all the ladies said how tiny I looked, which made me feel very good!

*I've started making crochet animals for some friends (for a little extra $ on the side).

*Hubby got to take a much needed mini vacation over spring break where he got a new tattoo. Sometimes it can get a little stifling of RESPONSIBILITIES when your the only one working, so I sort of forced him to go to take a break. ;)

*There are some big changes in our future looming just ahead, including majors in school, career paths, financial situations...and of course the whole--adding-another-baby thing.

*Aiden started soccer! He's pretty excited about it, as am I! He can finally do boy things!

*I finally splurged on myself and bought a Vera Bradley bag! And I love it!

*We got to go to a very large kids clothing resale event in the "big city" and bought the new baby tons of gender neutral clothes, Aiden is also now stocked up on clothes until fall, I even found Melissa and Doug toys for super cheap! But the best purchase I found was a Vera Bradley diaper bag for $35!! (New ones cost between $60 and $110)

Ok enough babbling...here are some pictures I hope you enjoy!

Here I am at my baby shower...34 weeks pregnant!

The shower favors I made :)

Just some of our stash of cloth diapers for the new baby! Our outside clothesline wasn't quite ready to be used yet so the bathroom had to be ok :)

Hubby's new tattoo.

Aiden working hard at practicing :)