Boys' Bathroom Reno

the BEFORE

So I imagine you thought we had given up on this blogging venture.  Nope, still here.  As it turns out, life happens and you have to take time to do other things sometimes.  I have enjoyed many date nights with my boys, long weeks at the office and fabulous pregnancy naps.  But, we're back, and with our return is my promised post of our boy's bathroom makeover.

The above "before" picture is literally stolen from MLS and features everything I loathed about this bathroom from GO.  One piece shower, wretched below builder-grade, non-descript colored paint that stains if you breathe wrong near it, poor tiling job and hidden linen closet behind the door (Truth: when we moved in, I honestly thought there wasn't one.  Since I never went in and shut the door behind me, I didn't discover it until I went to hang the towel bars.  Yep, smart girl.)  While the granite is nice, everything was installed very shoddily, including paint on the mirror edges and the stunning brass light fixture that very obviously does not match the chrome fixtures everywhere else.

All of that said, I am not Nicole Curtis.  So, my aspirations leaned more toward touch ups and kid-friendliness.  My inspiration came from these adorable printables that I found on Etsy.

I fell in love with the color scheme, and built the rest around it!  Now, my husband will tell you, aqua is NOT a boy color.  I, however completely disagree.  It's cool and calming, and when coupled with a nice blue and green, certainly masculine in my book.  And, what mom doesn't like filling the rooms their children occupy with reminders of their manners?  Here's how my turned out with kid-reachable, monogrammed towel hooks below:

Ok, so theme in mind, I had to start pulling out all of the things that had accumulated in this bathroom previously.  And since the "hidden" linen closet happens to be the only linen closet in our house, this was quite a lot of crap, evidenced in the picture below:

Bet you wouldn't guess Ms. OCD lives in this house.  Yeah, out of sight, out of mind.  So, between thisc nightmare closet and under the sink, procrastination (and prego naps) got the best of me for a couple of weeks.  Once I finally got my act together and moved all of the unneeded items to either the trash or laundry room shelving and reorganized the medicines on a high shelf there, I was able to start the major undertaking of painting.  I quickly realized this was not going to be a one-woman job and employed not only my husband, but big brother Colin in taping, painting and replacing the light fixture and hardware.

Once we were back to a clean palate, I could add in all of the goodies that would make this the perfect space for my boys to function.  I had to start at my go-to store and the one we can all get lost in for hours...Target (bathroom boycott nonsense notwithstanding).  While I wasn't too crazy about the color choices in towels, I did manage to find a great shower curtain, some storage bins for under the sink and in the closet and cute little curtain rings.  All of these items kept with the color scheme, with the exception of the curtain rings, but I liked the design and decided to do a mini-diy and make them what I really wanted.  A little bit of paint and mod podge and voila, no more gaudy orange and pink!

To pull the colors together more, I grabbed some manly aqua bath mats from Home Depot, along with new nickel towel bar, toilet paper holder and towel hooks.  My walls were looking bright and clean, but lacking some serious color, so I went searching for a few more printables to coordinate.  Never underestimate a search on Pinterest.  I went with these three for my boys:

sweet brother art, good clean fun, and the potty chart

Simple, clean, cute and coordinating.  Missing items for these include, a name for baby boy #2, which we are having a rather difficult time deciding on (as you probably noticed above in the post, the lack of a monogram in the same vein), as well as the training involved in utilizing the potty chart.  I'm frankly terrified of starting the process and keep delaying the inevitable.  But, when we're both brave enough, it's there!  :)

              Martha Stewart provided the perfect colors for towels (of course) through Macy's.

So, this brought me down to organizing.  Y'all this is my favorite.  I need my mommying to be efficient so I have to set myself up for success, even when it comes to bath time.  And, while I found some great storage at Target, there were countertop items that needed homes.  As luck would have it, the new and extravagant outdoor shopping area that they just built less than two miles from my office, happens to include a little place called The Container Store.  Um, guys, go here (I'm talking to you, Amanda!).  You will not regret it, whether you have OCD like I do, or you just plan to organize anything, anywhere in your house.  I could have moved in.  I'll say this, my lunch break was not very much within it's one hour limit that day, but I did get out of there only spending $45, which I counted as a victory!  Below are the items I grabbed to keep this bathroom in check (all of which happen to be plastic in order to avoid broken glass around the kiddos).

Cute little foaming soap bottle, to keep the sink mess-free, bamboo containers for q-tips and flossers on the countertop, plastic trash can for easy cleaning, mesh laundry bag for convenient laundry disposal and coordinating, reversible bin which I flipped upside down and sliced to use as a tissue holder (seen in printables pic above).  

Shopping complete, I had to bust out several of my "crafty things," as Jordan so lovingly refers to them: my Cricut and my laminator.  I cut vinyl lettering to label the bins under the sink to keep everything in its place (and to be sure everyone else does the same.).

And printed some cutesy labels for the upper bins in the linen closet, on the shelves kept away from tiny people.  But, I needed them to last, so I fired up the laminator and tied the labels on those with coordinating twine.  The results turned out much nicer to look at than the previous contents and ultimately easier to find.

Again, there was little reno done here, and mostly reorganizing and decorating, but the results are definitely easier on the eyes and more kid-friendly.  Here's the finished product:

the AFTER

Let's hope the new digs add to the enticement when we finally buckle down and start the potty training process!  Wish us luck!

                                                                                xo

Spring Things - Yarn Pom Pom Bunnies

My mind has been on all Spring things lately. Seeing daffodils blooming, hearing birds settling back into our neighborhood and finally feeling warm weather have all been such happy changes! The official start of Spring is just around the corner and I keep seeing these little yarn pom pom animals popping up on my Pinterest feed so I thought it would be a cute and easy craft to do with the kids. As darling as the baby chicks and lambs are, I decided we would start with the bunnies.

 
My favorite part of starting a project is gathering my materials- especially when I realize I need some supplies and get to take a trip to Michaels! These sweet little bunnies require only a few things:

-Yarn (I picked up a fairly thick and super soft acrylic)
-Felt (one in a coordinating color to your yarn and the other a light pink- these will be the bunny's ears)
-Mini pom poms for the tails
-Hot glue gun/sticks
-Scissors
-Glass beads (black and pink for the eyes and nose)

There are probably a half dozen or more ways to make yarn pom poms. Some use cardboard discs, some use toilet paper rolls, some use forks, some use actual pom pom makers (they're real things!) I chose to just use my hand. Because I'm lazy. And I like things to be simple. Because I'm lazy.

• To start, decide how big you want your pom pom to be. They will vary in size a bit depending on how many fingers you wrap your yarn around. I started with three for the body of my first little guy. 

• Wrap the yarn around (I didn't count or measure- just eyeballed) until you have a good amount to get "fluffed" later, then cut. 

• Cut another strand of yarn about 10 inches or so to wrap around the center of the yarn. I started on my palm and ran the yarn strand down from my fingertips, then through my first and second fingers. I needed a little help so I used a candy stick that was randomly in my crafty stash to push the yarn strand through.

• Once it's through, tie a tight knot, then loosen the yarn off your hand. 

• Flip it over and tie another tight knot on the other side. 

• Take your scissors and start cutting through all of the loops in your yarn circle until you reach the other side. 

• You'll have a shaggy little yarn pom on your hands at this point.

• Grab the scissors again and give it a trim to make a neat little pom pom.

• Once you have the first one, you can make another in a different size so you have both a body and a head. With your hot glue, assemble the two pom poms together. Cut some ears from your felt and glue those on the smaller pom. Glue the glass beads for the eyes and nose. Grab one of the mini store-bought pom poms and glue it on the larger pom for the tail. 

That's it! You have a fluffy pom pom bunny! 

You can make these just about any size and any color using any type of yarn you prefer. The thicker the yarn and the more you wrap around, the fluffier your pom pom will be. I have seen some with googly eyes rather than the glass beads, some with whiskers, some even wearing clothes. You really can do whatever you like with these. In hindsight, I wish I had used the original felt color I had picked out for the ears and I may go back and add some whiskers. And maybe trim their chubby cheeks. Hopefully mine will start to look better as I make more (my husband said "What are those? Snowmen? Cool.") But I think they're fun and pretty cute. I can't wait to see what the kids do with theirs!

I made a few of these scraggly little guys today so I thought I would add them to our Spring mantel, which I kept pretty low key this year. Over the years, my Aunt DeeDee has given me beautiful Longaberger baskets for my collection. I love how pretty these baskets are but they're also really functional! She has given me three St. Patrick's Day baskets which I usually display above our kitchen cabinets along with some others. This time of year I like to show them off on our mantel to add some St. Patrick's Day fun and break up the Easter-y feel. I tucked a bunny into one of these little baskets. He likes it up there. He's close to the jelly beans.

I added another guy into the top of my Longaberger Easter basket which, incidentally, is the same basket I used every Easter growing up. Lots of 80's and 90's gear has nestled into this bad boy over the years (I'm especially referring to you, New Kids on the Block book. Jordan Knight always.) and "The Easter Bunny" still puts fun treats into it for me to this day. I sat one more bunny next to a sweet Spring printable I found here which I printed and framed.

They all look pretty cozy hanging out among the other Springy things on our mantel. As an insanely sentimental person who is "nostalgic to a fault" I love to display things that are not only aesthetically beautiful, but which also mean a lot to me. Obviously the baskets are special to me because they remind me of my Aunt DeeDee, my parents and many Easters growing up. That little yellow bird cage on the far right was part of the decor my family added when they surprised us and made over a room in our house for Leah's nursery. The white bunny next to it was given to Connor by his Gigi when he was upset about having to go back home after a fun day playing with family we don't get to see very often. The small pink tulip votive holder and candle were a gift from sweet Kate for Mother's Day a few years ago. The glass bead garland was something I bought at a store in Lenox Mall near our old house in Atlanta when Nora was our only baby and it had been lost through the years until recently. Finding it just brought back memories of being a new mom and my oldest being a tiny little miss. 

I'm looking forward to making more memories with my sweet kiddos this weekend when we work on this little bunny project together. I think we'll make a bunch so we can gift them to our cousins on Easter Sunday.

I hope your weekend is filled with sunny skies, good company and happy memory making! 

xoxo 

Diaper Cake Decadence

Ohh how I love hearing there's a new baby on the way!  I'll never forget when my sister found out she was pregnant with her first (the first of our generation).  Such excitement!  At the time, I had never heard of diaper cakes, though her shower was exquisite and pink perfection.  Second baby showers are not too common, as the first one supplies mommy and daddy with much of the needed gear that babies require.  However, when you are decked in pink and a baby boy is due, a Sprinkle is the sure answer for pulling some of the necessary blues into the equation.  A Sprinkle is a lighter version of a baby shower; much less elaborate and meant to supply only the essentials for a second baby.

Annie's Sprinkle did afford me my first opportunity to try my hand at diaper cakes.  The process I used then was fairly tedious, as I used an older technique that requires rolling, for every diaper.  I have to say, the result was adorable and a great addition to the nautical decor in the theme, but the process left me with three problems to solve.  1. Rolling an entire package of diapers takes forever  2. Holding said diapers in rolls takes a ton of rubber bands (and frankly, they smell awful)  3. When mommy goes to use the diapers, they have to be unbanded and unrolled individually (which any mommy with a poopy infant knows is SO not efficient).  

So, while I knew it wasn't the ideal way to go about things, I had one more go before changing the process.  When my sister Denise was having her first baby, we threw her an elephant themed shower, complete with matching treats and of course, a diaper cake.  Again, cute and matchy, but not perfect.

And so, recruited to co-host a shower for a dear friend years later, I took to Pinterest to discover a new process that was easier, wouldn't produce ruined diapers, and still looked precious.  A new method discovered, I found that I could make them with more ease, fill them with more treats and produce some lovely cakes.  This method makes a smoother edge and does not damage the diaper!  Here are a couple more examples, followed up with my supply list and method for the ideal diaper cake for a new mommy.

Polished Diaper Cake DIY

supplies:
1-2 12-14" cardboard cake board
2-3 sizes cake pans (depending on amount of layers)
twine
1/2 yard desired fabric (ironed)
assorted coordinating ribbons (multiple widths)
75-90 size 1 & 2 diapers (preferrably white, no prints)
glue gun
glue gun sticks
coordinating paper shred
assorted baby goodies to hide inside or decorate with (pacis, bibs, toiletries, etc.)
coordinating decorations/topper
roll of cellophane wrap

Let me begin with saying that making a diaper cake can be as inexpensive or expensive as you'd like.  I tend to get carried away with a theme, as you know if you've read our blog before.  But, I will say, the most expensive one I've made did not exceed $65 for all supplies.  So, that is left to your discretion and is mostly dependent on what you stuff inside and decorate with.

So, you'll start with your cake board, the base to your cake.  Take the fabric and stretch it flat onto the cake board.  Start hot gluing the fabric to the bottom of the cardboard and continue smoothing and gluing around the base.  Now, this can look icky on the bottom.  In truth, this won't show, but if you're a spaz, like I am, you can cover a second cake board and glue them together to hide the bunching and glue.

Now that you have your base, you'll start filling the cake pans with diapers.  I find the best way to do this is to grab a handful, seat part showing at the outside and fan them inside the circle until they meet on the other side.  Tuck in the end of the last one and be sure to leave some space in the center to hide goodies for mommy and baby (I usually work around a toilet paper roll and then remove once I'm ready to stuff).  Use your twine to secure the diapers and pull tightly to create a firm layer for your cake.  Depending on the amount of layers, repeat this process for each.

Once the layers are complete, you can move on to the stuffing and decorating part.  The tough part about these cakes is that you really don't want to secure the layers to the base with glue, since the intention is for the diapers to be usable.  So, again make sure that once you stuff, each layer is pulled tightly.  Take your assorted ribbons and wrap around the layers at your discretion, securing with tiny dots of hot glue around limited spots around the outside.  I usually add some embellishment to each layer, whether it be a character or something personalized.

Then you're ready to assemble your layers!  With the bottom layer placed on the cake board, sprinkle with paper shred to cover the hidden goodies and add a little "frosting."  Continue layering up from here until you have reached the top layer.  This is another opportunity for a great personalized topper and something a little bigger for impact.

Generally, I'm pleased with the results from here, but I have to put in an extra step that I usually wouldn't, purely for transportation reasons.  I'm not a big fan of how diaper cakes look wrapped in cellophane, but given that you cannot glue them completely together, the cellophane will allow for easy transport to your shower and can be quickly removed if need be.

See?  Easy!  And, as I'm getting ready to start the task of potty training my little guy, I'm anxious to be rid of the diapers.  Not sure who might need a diaper cake with size 4's in it, but I'm SURE there's someone, somewhere...right??  But, seriously, who can resist a gorgeous cake?  Especially when it smells like a teeny tiny baby?!  Happy "Baking!"

Rainy Day Activities

So we all know the song..."Rain, rain, go away..."  This fall here in Georgia has been rainy and miserable.  I can definitely amuse myself during these onslaughts with a good book or nap, however, there are only so many hours a toddler can take of it.  My poor Colin has been inside for the better part of the week and I knew I needed to distract him from that fact or risk meltdown.  So, I went on a search on Pinterest for activities to keep us both occupied!

Not knowing how long the rain would last, I found two perfect distractions that I knew would be at his level and fun.  Being a crafter, I started there.

This sweet little guy was adapted from a similar one by Mainly Homemade.  Her spin was a dry-erase version, equally adorable, but not necessary for our purposes (at least not until we master writing letters).  I just loved the idea of tracing our hands as a family and having this dated keepsake that we can look back on and cherish.  Colin's hand print is so teeny and I look forward to the day when we look back at this guy and giggle at how it's changed!  The supplies were pretty basic (Cricut excepted) and all things that I had on hand.

• assorted fall colored cardstock
• rubber cement
• scissors
• 2" circle punch
• 8 1/2 x 11" frame
• Cricut die cutting machine (if you're like me, it's the old version)
• Calligraphy Collection Cricut cartridge

I chose a cardstock color for each of us and traced our hands for the layering of the turkey's feathers.  This sounds simple enough, but I assure you, if your child is young, like mine, please have a diversion.  I suggest candy, as that was the only way I was able to get a tracing that was close to the shape of his actual hand.

After that it was cutting each traced hand, eyes, a teeny beak, a gobble, your 2" circle for the body and what I think looks like a bowling pin shape for the head.  Follow that with the simple assembly using the rubber cement.  This stuff stinks to high heaven, but I find that there is less mess and better adhesion with it.

The process was fun to show Colin and keep him occupied, especially since he was able to color and play with the extra (unusable :)) hands!  I wrote in the date with my Sharpie, to ensure we remembered when it was made.  And the final step was to cut out the letters.  Plug in your cartridge and keyboard and you have them ready to glue in less than five minutes. (If you don't have a Cricut, or other die-cutting machine, you could just pick up some letter stickers from your local craft store too!)

The results are adorable and Colin does not go into the dining room without saying hello to his "churkey."  Cabin fever averted!

The second distraction had to be baking!  I love to bake and from the reaction that follows when I pull out the Kitchenaid, so does my son.  With my teeny assistant on a chair beside me, I set to work on some Fall themed Snickerdoodles.  Simple and delicious, and made in small batches, these are definitely crowd pleasers.  Your list of ingredients is as follows:

super-cute assistant

ingredients/supplies

Dough:

• 1/2 c unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 c granulated sugar
• 1/3 c light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 tsp salt (optional - but I always love salt)

For Rolling:

• 1/4 c granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon

You will start with your sugars and butter in the Kitchenaid until they are creamed.  Eggs and vanilla go will follow, mixing until fluffy.  The remaining dry ingredients are the final addition to the dough (and if you need more explicit instructions, they are available in the link above!).  Your results should look like this:

helping!

finished dough

You will want to chill your dough before working with it, for at least 2 hours.  Simply wrap your dough in plastic wrap and place the whole bowl in the fridge.  We did ours overnight, since it was past baby boy's bedtime!  

Once you've chilled the dough, preheat your oven to 350° F.  Set up your "rolling station" with a mixing bowl containing the sugar & cinnamon mixture, your dough bowl and a cookie sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper.  

rolling expert

Roll your dough into 2-inch balls and then cover with your sugar mixture.  Place your sugared cookie balls on your tray several inches apart and slightly flatten them with your hand.  And, if you're making these with your toddler, decorate them with Sprinkles because, who doesn't LOVE sprinkles??

Bake your cookies for 9 minutes and be sure your little one's fingers are far from the oven.  My little guy loves to peek inside while they bake, but knows how hot the contents are!

I use a cooling rack, cause I think the cookies tend to cool faster on one.  Once cooled, they are ready for snacking.  THIS is the hardest part of the cookie process!!  But they were certainly worth the wait and looked so pretty with Colin's Fall Sprinkles.  He was so proud enjoying his little treat!

So, if the rain is keeping you indoors this Fall, pull out your scissors and glue or your mixer and ingredients and beat that cabin fever!  And remember, though it can seem dreary, the rain is needed and can sometimes even be pretty...especially with a mouthful of Snickerdoodles!

Baking Therapy

I have to be honest. I've been in a bit of a funk this week. Maybe because the weather has been a little icky, maybe the time change has thrown me, maybe because three out of four kids have been sick, or maybe it started with closing two of my fingertips in the garage door. But it isn't really the blues. It's more of an anxious yet exhausted feeling that is hard to explain. Like a rung out towel. As Holly Golightly puts it, it's a case of the Mean Reds. "The blues are because you're getting fat, and maybe it's been raining too long. You're just sad, that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid, and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?" No matter the reason it began, after moping around for a few days I've decided to get myself out of it.

Whenever this happens to me, I don't go to Tiffany's. Unlike Holly, I bake. One of the best methods of therapy for me is baking. It rarely even matters what I bake, I just love to do it. There is something so comforting to me about the whole process. Gathering the ingredients, measuring them, putting them all together and the smell that fills the house while waiting for everything to finish in the oven.


There are a few things I need to have before I get started. First of all, music. While I love many different types of music, standards from the 40's and 50's have my heart. There's such a strong sense of nostalgia for me (which makes no sense since I was born in the '80's), something so familiar that just always feels like home. I started with Nat King Cole. If you don't have The World of Nat King Cole, well...you should have it. Seriously, buy it on iTunes right now. You Stepped Out of a Dream and Walking My Baby Back Home. You're welcome.

 Another thing I love to have while I bake is a good cup of coffee. Honestly, I love to have a good cup of coffee just about any time, but especially while I bake. My husband gave me a beautiful French Press for Christmas last year and THAT is the way to brew coffee. Coarsely ground coffee is poured into the bottom of the press, then nearly boiling water is poured over the grounds. About four minutes later, the plunger is pushed down filtering all of the grounds through to the bottom, leaving the best coffee you've ever tasted. Whether you like light or darker roasts, flavored or unflavored, regular or decaf (Mom...), you will truly achieve the best flavor using a French Press. I leave mine black because, well, I love the taste of coffee, not sugar and cream.


Ok, so once I have my music on and coffee brewed, I can start collecting my ingredients. This is something I never used to do. I thought it was a bit of a waste of time so I used to just grab what I needed as I went. I have found it to be really helpful and much less of a stressful mess to set everything I'll need out beforehand. It's all just a part of the process now.

I decided to make one of the ultimate comforting baked goods- banana bread. Even if you don't like bananas, I have to believe you like banana bread. The two just aren't even in the same category. I have tried countless recipes, some without the brown sugar, some with whole wheat flour, some use melted butter rather than creaming softened butter. One thing I've decided for sure is that banana bread has to be made with sour cream. I mean, it feasibly can be made without. It just won't be as good. So after plenty of trials, I've come up with my favorite banana bread recipe. Here it is if you want to try it out!

Banana Bread

·         ½ cup butter

·         ½ cup sugar

·         ½ cup brown sugar

·         2 eggs

·         ¾  teaspoon vanilla extract

·         ¼ teaspoon almond extract

·         2 or 3 bananas, mashed

·         ½ cup sour cream

·         1 ¾ cups flour

·         1 teaspoon baking soda

·         ½ teaspoon salt

      Start by sifting the flour, baking soda and salt together in a small bowl and set aside.  In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until light. Add the eggs and extracts followed by the mashed bananas and sour cream. Stir the dry ingredients in just until incorporated. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. Cool on a wire rack before cutting.

It's always fun to package up baked goodies and give them to family or friends. But it's nice to have some treats around for our own family sometimes too. Every time I bake something special, my sweet husband asks "do we get to keep this or are you giving it away?" Last night was one of those times that I could tell him to help himself! He only had one piece so I hope he hurries home from work today. Because I may have to have an extra piece. Or two.

So if you find yourself with a case of the Mean Reds, here's what I recommend:

1. Turn off Adele's new song. Don't get me wrong. It's beautiful. Heart-wrenchingly beautiful. But this song will not help you out of a funk. Pinky promise. Turn it off for now. "Hello?" No. Goodbye.

2. Turn on some happy music. Whether it's Nat King Cole, The Who, Tears For Fears, Edith Piaf, Bunny Berigan, Glenn Miller, Outkast or even Christmas music (you know how I feel about this- it's always a good time for Christmas music). Whatever makes you happy. 

3. Make yourself a good drink. The perfect coffee, a dry martini with extra olives, a good dark beer, club soda with lime, raspberry lemonade, chocolate milk. Whatever is your favorite. 

4. Bake something! It doesn't matter if it's from scratch or straight out of a box. Just mix some good ingredients together and throw it into the oven. Even if you typically don't like to bake. There is just something so comforting about all of this. Trust me.

Sometimes I still want to Kool Aid Man straight through the front door and take a quiet walk...for about a week. But I can't tell you how many times this has pulled me out of that kind of slump. I'm not a therapist and obviously this personal remedy isn't a replacement for actual, professional, long-term therapy. But for a quick fix to help your general well-being, try it. Even if the process somehow doesn't help you, eating whatever you bake surely will!

Next time, I plan to get all dolled up in a fun swingy dress and heels (like Ann Miller's in On The Town) with a ruffly apron and the perfect shade of red lipstick, put on some olllllld Frank (the Tommy Dorsey days), pour a talllllll glass of red, and bake something absolutely spectacular. I've got your number, Mean Reds.

xoxo