week nine: painted wall pocket organizer

This weekend we had some beautiful weather and I took the opportunity to finally paint the mail organizer I got at 1st Monday a few weeks ago. It was such a steal!

 When the rain started, outside vendors were desperate to get rid of their inventory. He sold it to me for $15. I immediately knew what I wanted to use it for and began planning a DIY project for it. I decided on a mint color from Pantone. Our kitchen is dark wood paneling (renter probs!) and I'm constantly looking for ways to lighten it up,

The guy at Lowes also told me I needed an additional primer since I wasn't planning on sanding it. This is what I used.

There were these cool hardware labels on the pocket organizer and once I discovered they were stickers, there was really no way to salvage them. I ended up scraping each label on with a razor blade. I planned to add my own chalkboard labels anyway! 

I laid a drop cloth outside (the one I used for this project a few weeks ago) and primed it up. Then I had to wait an hour for it to dry. When I finally was able to paint it mint, it looked so light, but thankfully it darkened as it dried. 

After it dried, I brought it back inside. All I had left was touch up and taping off chalkboard labels. 

Once that is complete, we will bring my roll-top desk into the kitchen and I will set it up. I think I'm really going to enjoy a stack free kitchen since I pretty much have a slot for anything and everything. Here's to a more organized 2014! (I'll post a picture once that's done, just was anxious to post already!) 

Still needs touch up before it's ready to go! 

Hope this week is off to a good start, friends! 

Final product::

I'm so in love with how it turned out! 

social media sabbatical

Photo Credit:Artifact Uprising

So lent technically starts March 5th, but sometimes you just need to do things before then with the same intent.  A week or two ago, I knew the Lord was calling me to give up social media. I've never been good at keeping Lent commitments. But at the same time, I knew I needed to be obedient in this. Because how in the world did we ever live before smart phones could enable us to share our every thought, justify our desire for approval, and keep us all so interconnected with the click of a button?!

Photo Credit: Resolute Woman tumblr

I long for a break from my phone. In some ways, giving up facebook would be too easy...it already gets on my nerves as is. We have a love-hate relationship.  I love keeping in contact with people.  I hate that it brings out the worst in people.  I've decided to take a break from facebook, instagram, and pinterest.  Hold the phone.  It's gonna be difficult because I've become so accustomed to using those 3 things to filling any time void in my life. I've noticed I tend to let my phone be the last thing I check at night and the first thing I check in the morning.  This must change.  Looking forward to growing closer to the Lord during this time and also to my dear friends and family.

Goals during my time away:

1.  more intentional prayer and bible study
2. being all there with those I love (not with my face ever glued to my phone screen)
3. intentional handwritten correspondence
4.  a tidier home
5. more crafting

They're simple goals, but I look forward to achieving them.  I will be checking my email a few times a day and continuing to weekly blog.  Would love to keep in touch during this time!  There's no telling how many engagements and pregnancy announcements I'm gonna miss doing this. . . so text me, dear friends, if one of these exciting life events happens to you!  

Alas, I've asked Shea to change all the passwords (&deactivating fbook) and not tell me what they are until after Easter. Within the next 48 hours, I will be taking the plunge.  Just wanted to give you all a heads up!

Photo Credit: Plum Pretty Sugar Blog

Don't worry..you can keep up with me via email and this blog here. You can subscribe via email if you'd rather.  After Easter, I will begin posting my updates on facebook again.  Who knows though?  I may discover life is so much better without it.

week eight: all my friends are having babies...

and if i'm being honest, i'm ready for people to stop asking when we will too. When we do, you will know and you can celebrate with us. Until then, please just enjoy us baby-free.  I really do love babies and I'm so excited to have so many friends that are having so many little ones.  Its such a blessing to be able to celebrate and pray over them. I've also been able to make most of their gifts.(That's been more of a priority this year.) This weekend I had 2 baby showers, so you can imagine my busyness. I set out with a plan to spread projects throughout the week, but honestly most of it got done Saturday morning before the 1st shower.  Now my house needs to be cleaned..lol. Such is life.

For Brittany's baby, Zander Ki:
I made an alphabet print, a nursery door latch cover, 2 onesies, and a pretty sweet pillow.
For Megan's baby, (surprise name):
I made an alphabet print, a nursery door latch cover, a onesie, a tag blanket, and some framed art.
Last week in review:

Obsessed with this detail on the arrows!  

Finished pillow

In the middle of this, I also decided to make a valentine shirt to wear to our party on Friday.
We nixed the moustache due to awkward placement.  

I ended up using the left over moustache for this onesie. Turned out pretty cute!  

This was super fun! I'll definitely be doing more of these!  So easy too! 

I tried my hand at tag blankets using a chip wrapper for the crinkle effect.
Definitely need to work on this some more. 

How fun is this outfit I found at 1st Monday for 50% off!  Too cute to pass up!  

I found this awesome tutorial here for the nursery door cover.

And then I made some of my own, along with a tag showing them what they were for.  Honestly, they were the hit of the party. Everyone loved them and the best part is that they're such an easy and practical gift!  

And I got inspiration for alphabet print via C.R.A.F.T. and this photo here.

Since I didn't post last week, you will be getting 2 posts this week.  However, the post on Thursday is to inform you about a break from social media.  I will have more of an explanation on Thursday as to why I'm doing this.  But in the meantime, make sure you subscribe to the blog because I won't be posting updates on social media.  I will still do email and the blog until Easter.

Also, since you made it to the end of this blog post, enjoy this wonderful video!  Happy Monday, friends!  Praise Jesus its over!

week six: the one i almost forgot

I'm not gonna lie, I'm writing this from my bed on Saturday night because I seriously almost forgot about it.  Sure, I thought about it a few times, but it slipped my mind until tonight that I needed to actually do it. Whoops.  Guess my humanity is showing. This week has been long.

I participated in 2 instagram valentine swaps. One was a package swap where we sent goodies to another person. The other was where we created handmade valentines and exchanged with 4 other individuals.  Both equally fun and a neat way to meet people.

My craft this week was handmade valentines [while I caught up on Downton Abbey and New Girl]  Side note: can I just say Julian Fellows is really getting on my nerves right now?  To quote Shea, "There are no happy endings at Downton"  sheesh

This morning I finished up my class valentines for my kiddos. They are absolutely obsessed with Despicable Me 2 and all things minion. Needless to say, its the perfect thing to give them.  I just wrapped a twinkie (or a cloud cake because Twinkies are impossible to find) in free printables via here and here and Viola! Cute valentines!  p.s. Free printables are my friend.  They're the best!

Also picked up this book today!  I'm so beyond excited about reading it.

This evening we hung out with the Strouds and their cute baby Hannah.  Love her!