Finding the magic

4:15. Woke early to cat crying. Fed him, gave him meds and let him out. He’s happy and free. I probably won’t see him until the afternoon. Lay back down. Mike wakes and changes into dry undies out of a wet pull-up. Tuck him back in bed. I lay down to listen to the sound of rain… uh oh rain.

4:30. Tater wakes, terrified of the storm. Soothe both boys. Bring Tater downstairs to “sleep” in my bed. No sleep, just questions about rain. Frustrated. Get up to mop the floors (again) after cat peed yesterday. Not his fault – he was scared. House stinks. Bad. Cat pee is gross.

Make banana bread for breakfast. Chocolate banana bread. Batter tastes heavenly. Put the walnuts on top so kids can pick them off. Check calories. Don’t want to blow it at breakfast. What?! 200 calories for 1/12 of a loaf. Oh man, who eats 1/12 ? I could eat half of it. Vow to not eat half.

Tater wakes again, crying. “I’m not in my bed!” “No you’re in my bed,” I answer. He whine-mutters something I can’t understand. Pick him up, wipe his nose and make him promise not to wake everyone upstairs. Bring him back to bed. Text Dusty the story because it’s cute. He tells me it’s cute.

6:15. Good I still have a few minutes before everyone wakes. Hop in the shower. Read devotional. Start typing. Emma wakes… she smells banana bread. Her excited smile tells me I did good.

I know there’s something awesome in this story. It’s a season that I’ll one day want back. So many times it feels more like an annoyance. I just want the kids to leave me alone so I can “get stuff done.” Or maybe sleep past 6 a.m. once in a while.

What’s more important than this? I think today I’ll choose to see the magic in it, instead of the nuisance. Today I’ll find joy in the mundane. Peace in the chaos of sticky hands and runny noses. Today I’ll pray when I feel frustration rise up in me. At least I hope so. Because this mommy thing can only be faced one day at a time.

Yep, typing time is over. Mike peed on Tommy… oh my. 

Decorating (and Living) with Guts

I love changing things around in my house. Always have. Even as a kid, I loved to decorate. I still remember most of my bedrooms (and there were a lot).

 

Remember when this house was amazing.

My 80s bedroom had a matching country blue comforter set complete with a ruffled pillowcase and ruffled curtains that framed our white vinyl mini blinds. I even remember buying it. My sister got the pink one, and I wanted the blue. They had other colors, but I liked the blue. My mom even questioned it, "Are you sure you want blue?" The wallpaper was a subtle stripe adorned with peach and country blue roses. I loved my room. It was inspiring... so much that I colored on everything (wallpaper included). 

Similar to my country blue curtain.

Later I wanted something more grown up, which meant bright, matching New Kids On The Block (or NKOTB to their biggest fans) sheets, comforter and curtains. 

This is actually it! I remember tracing their signatures and staring into those black and white faces!

I shared a room with my sister while we lived at my mamaw's house. It had a matching white eyelet comforter set with small satin ribbon bows in the trim -- so fancy! The room had white wicker furniture that actually matched and mirrored closet doors. 

In the 90s I still liked the country, antique style. I had another comforter set with mauve roses and vines. I remember lots of baskets and pictures of flowers and cute baby animals...

Later, I decided to paint my room sage. It was really more of a mint though, and after a year of it, the color completely grossed me out. To this day, if any color hints at that awful sage mint I have to change it. Right then. Finally, I painted my room a soft cream. It was pretty. I opted not to do curtains over my mini blinds. Instead, I accentuated the half-window with a scarf and old-world sconces. I loved the old world look... way too much. 

In college it was zebra print pillows and a khaki duvet cover with purple sheets (Go LSU!). Great choices until I saw the peachy-beige color of my dorm room walls. It clashed in the worst way. 

It's funny to think about all of those rooms. I spent so many hours there! It gets me thinking... what will I think of when I look back on my current style? 

So much of what I do is limited by my budget, but I also limit myself by playing it safe. When I chose that blue comforter set, I didn't doubt it. I knew what I wanted. I liked blue. Gosh I wish I could be that decisive now. I wish I didn't care so much what was in style, expected or in everyone else's homes. 

And come to think of it, I want to live my life more like that too. I want to go for the unexpected. Not worry about others' opinions. Just go with what I love. 

How about you? Do you remember all of your childhood bedrooms? Do you wish you could decorate and live life with more conviction?

I have a board on Pinterest called "Design with Guts." I hope one day, some of my rooms will look more like them. My life too. 

My Spending Fast

It's been 17 days since I last went shopping. Holy Moly! 17 days! And can I tell you, it's been hard!



A while back I read this post about The Small Notebook's "No Spend Month." I was shocked, impressed, inspired, but I did nothing.

Until a few weeks ago. When a dear friend pointed out that I'm always buying stuff. Who me? (in my most innocent voice) I don't shop that much. But it got me thinking. Hard.

It is unfortunately true. Even when I don't buy, I shop. A lot. I love shopping online, in person, you name it. I never met a store I didn't want to explore.

This, combined with a heart-to-heart about our financial goals and bloated credit card bill, gave me the push I needed to set a goal: No buying for 1 month.

For many people this isn't too hard. But for me, it's been quite a challenge.

For the first two weeks, I didn't buy, but I did shop. I quickly realized that shopping and not buying isn't very fun. Plus, think of the time I was wasting looking at stuff I had no intention of buying. And I do not like to waste time!

So, for the last two weeks of my spending "fast," I'm not going to shop either. Well, much. (some things are unavoidable)

I did buy groceries, but with a much smaller budget than usual. I'm also sitting in a coffee shop typing this. And, yes, I did buy a snack. But it's a far cry from my regular habits.

There are moments it's easy, but most of the time, the money is burning a hole in my pocket! I keep a mental (sometimes written!) list of all the wonderful things I'm going to buy when I can spend money again. But it has opened my eyes to just how much stuff I spend money on that isn't really necessary.

I even talked with my husband about it last night, and we're planning our own No Spend Month next year.

So how about you? Would you try a spending fast? Have you done it?

Grocery Store Come-Backs

Most days I avoid the grocery store with my three monkeys. If I do happen to go, the comments are inevitable. With three kids under three, I've heard some good ones. I thought I'd share a few and what I wished I would have said (or was thinking) at the time.

Oh they are so cute! And what are their names? How old are they? My sisters cousin has twins... a boy and girl... and they weighed... Honey, did you see the babies? Come look...

Thank you for showing an interest in my adorable children. We have exactly 23 minutes in this store until one of them poops or has a meltdown. I have 17 items left to purchase. Please let me continue my shopping!

Wow, you're going to the grocery store with all of them? You're brave!

Yes, I am brave. I gave the maid and nanny the day off and thought I'd take the children for a stroll in the market. Really... I'm in Walmart. I don't have a maid. I also don't have any diapers, bread, toilet paper or milk in my house. And, last time I checked, you couldn't purchase those items at the McDonald's drive thru and the Walgreen's pharmacy doesn't consider those items over-the-counter medications. :)

I bet they're a handful!

Yes they are, but they are also a blessing. 

My absolute favorite:
They are beautiful. How do you do it?

I'm so glad you asked! I don't really have a choice. (Usually this is where I chicken out...) I am so dependent on the grace of God. I rely daily on the Holy Spirit to give me the patience to care for these precious children. I am nothing without him. On the days I try to do it in my own strength, I fail. They are a daily reminder of my inadequacy as a mom and human being. And I'm so thankful for it. They keep me on my knees. I have to trust God to get me through this season. 

Chalkboard Paint on Kitchen Cabinets

The chalkboard trend... by now everyone has at least pinned one of these babies on pinterest. (Hopefully one from my etsy shop... hee hee) They're fun and so useful. I just love 'em.

A couple of months ago while finishing up a chalkboard project, I had a moment of brilliance... aka I got distracted. On a whim, I painted the inside of the cabinet doors on my pantry. I didn't sand or prime it. I painted the cabinets last year, so I knew it was a good surface. After two coats and about 15 minutes of work, I have a simple, hidden surface to jot down my weekly menu and grocery list. 

The best part: it's super convenient!

I have an iphone app to manage my grocery list, but many times that's too inconvenient. I end up forgetting what I was supposed to write before I can find my phone. I may be in the middle of fixing dinner and realize I need three things. I just jot it down (usually in my messiest handwriting) and add it on my phone later. The menu is great because I just open the pantry and see what meals options I have. 

Here's another shot of my gorgeous cabinet. I did organize it for these photos... in case you were wondering. :)

I buy my chalkboard paint at Lowe's, but I've also seen small cans of it at Walmart in the craft section. Just make sure you have a good surface for the paint to adhere to. I use a disposable sponge brush or roller and apply two coats.

*Before you use the chalkboard, "season" it by rubbing chalk over the entire surface and erasing it with a dry paper towel or cloth. This will make it easier to erase items.

Let me know if you give this little idea a try!

Repainted Foyer

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you know that a couple of weeks ago, I repainted my foyer... for the fourth time. The problem is that there is so much going on in the space: crazy black/tan patterned flooring, too many doors and chair molding.

I originally painted it yellow-gold on top and grey on the bottom. I liked the color combo, but it didn't flow with the rest of the house. So, on a whim, I took out my leftover gold paint and painted the bottom half. Better. 

I lived with that for a few months. On another whim, I whipped out some Valspar Belvedere Creme that was left over from a furniture project. I painted the bottom half again. Better still. It stayed like that for almost a year. 

I just wasn't feeling the yellow-gold. My living room is a greenish-bluish-grey, the kitchen is a darker blue-green shade, and the study is green. It was too much. My house felt choppy.

So, I started taping up swatches. I tried everything, but nothing looked right. Add the crazy floor tile and a chair rail... ugh! I knew what I had to do, but wasn't painting a room white considered chickening out? Seriously, out of every color in the rainbow, I couldn't find one I liked?

I hurriedly picked up seven swatches of cream/ivory/white at Lowe's while my monkeys attempted to escape the confines of the shopping cart. I selected Muslin Wrap by Valspar. Another trip with the monkeys yielded paint (in an eggshell finish) and a roller. 

Two days of naptimes, and I have a pretty, ivory foyer. I really love it. It's light and airy. 

I'm loving how my Valentine's flowers looked in there. I now want hot pink flowers in every room. 

Here's how it looks from the door. That's my great-grandmother's buffet. It's terribly beat up and scratched. One day, I will get around to refinishing it. My other grandmother gave me a 100-year-old frame that I'm going to have made into a mirror. It will eventually go in here.

Here's our new family sign. I like the way it turned out, but the letters are too dark. Being the perfectionist I am, I always find flaws in my own work. Still, I love the verse, Col. 2:7. 

I also have a chalkboard hanging in there. What do you think about painting the inside of my front door that same shade of blue-green? Too much? I just can't stop...

Here's the whole room. Sorry it's a little blurry. We're eventually going to replace the tile with the same wood that's in the living room. And that popcorn ceiling's gotta go. One thing at a time... At least I like the wall color!

Mom Advice Part II: What to read

This is the second post in a two part series on mom advice. Like I said earlier, I'm not an expert yet, these are just some thoughts on the subject. I do not have it all figured out!

1. The Babywise books


I didn't do absolutely everything by the book, but this was such a huge help in the first few months! When I had my first child I didn't know anything. I kid you not. It's embarrassing how little I knew... like babies eat all through the night. Whaaaat???? I have to wake up in the middle of the night. Seriously... I had no clue!

So, a friend recommended this book. When my little cherub was 5 weeks old and not sleeping at all. I desperately ran to the bookstore. As I read each chapter, I implemented it. She was sleeping in her own bed for 2-3 hours at a time at night within two days. She slept through the night at the appropriate age and has done so ever since. It works people!

Babywise 2, Toddlerwise and Preschoolwise are also good.

2. A New Kid By Friday, by Dr. Kevin Leman


I seriously think this guy is a-maz-ing. This book is more about older children, but it's good stuff. His parenting advice is brilliant. I want him to be a little angel on my shoulder telling me how to parent my kids. All his books are full of great advice.

3. Making the Terrible Twos Terrific, by John Rosemond


This is a great book about the 18 months to 3 years age range. His advice is also great. It's reassuring. It's low-stress. It helps you realize that this too shall end. And when you have two 2-year-olds, you really need that! I leave this one out and go back to it often.

So those are my top three. I've read other good ones, but these are my favorites. I also highly recommend Focus on the Family's daily broadcast. They have an iphone app too. It's so encouraging to parents and gives godly wisdom on how to raise your kids.

Now a word about what not to read.... There is a lot of bad advice on parenting out there. And a lot of it comes from people who are supposed to be "experts" on the subject. And maybe you think mine is too. But since you're still reading...

Here's two things to remember. 1. Take parenting advice from someone who has been successful at it. 2. God gave your kids to you. You get to decide how to raise them.

I hope this was helpful. If you have an awesome parenting book to suggest, please share it in the comments section. I can always use the help too! :)