My idea was featured!

Okay, for anyone who blogs, you know that this is kind of a big deal. Like, huge! (Okay, maybe that's me...I need to be validated.) Anyway, Somewhat Simple featured my Christmas neighbor gift idea over at her blog. Head on over there and check it out, along with other fantastic ideas. And, as it turns out, I will only be using that idea on one neighbor. My wonderful new neighborhood has a tradition of taking the money that you would have spent on neighbor gifts and collecting it to donate to someone in need. This year is a single mother who lives in another part of our neighborhood. I'm excited about it, but a little bummed that I won't be able to use more of the ladel idea! So use it for me, everyone! :)

Little Aprons

I love aprons. It's because of my husband. Is that weird? My husband actually started the apron trend at our house. You know how when you're first married, your husband actually helps sometimes? (I joke, he still helps, almost 7 years later...just not as much!) Anyway, he liked working in the kitchen, and I didn't mind the bathroom, which he detested, so I did the bathrooms and he did the kitchen. And he always wore an apron. I have actually made him one and bought him one. I like to personalize, so he's got two aprons with pictures of the kids on them. The first one has definitely seen better days, so that one may be going soon. Anyway, on to what I was actually trying to get to. My kids love helping in the kitchen. And they've grown. It makes me sad to see them outgrow all of their old things, but it's probably a good thing. So the latest thing for them to outgrow was the aprons they've always had. Very cute aprons. Okay, one was cute. One I decorated when I was ten and you can't wash it because it bleeds all over your brand new clothes (thankfully the shirt was on clearance, so it wasn't too bad to replace it!). So I broke down and made them new ones for Christmas. With them in the room. Out of fabric that the older one picked out for them. Yup, I don't get a lot of time away from them. So here's the reveal.

As it turns out, I’m about the worst photographer in the history of blogging, but I can sew a straight line fairly well, so I figure it evens out! :) On the Thomas apron on the right, I used navy blue bias tape for the edges and the straps. One the princess one on the left, I bought white bias tape, which I neglected to realize was single fold not double, so it was not going to work. And I was not going to Walmart the day before Thanksgiving! So I improvised and made my own. It took forever and a day to iron it all, but I actually really like it, so it worked out well! The kids are way excited for their aprons, even if they have to wait until Christmas!

My recent project

So I decided to go ahead and make a present for my mother-in-law. (So, if you’re reading, Tina…skip this post!) Anyway, I’d seen this eyeglass holder online, but it was way more than I wanted to spend, especially when my dad has taught me how to make jewelry. I know, I know, it’s a little weird that it’s my dad, but I also have an uncle who quilts. Our men are just very secure in their masculinity! :) Well, I decided to bite the bullet and make it myself, sans help from Dad! I don’t know that I’ve ever really done anything without his help before (jewelry-wise), so I was really excited that it turned out well! Here it is:

The idea is that she can put the earpiece of her reading glasses through the washer. For now, the washer is plain, but I figured once I gave it to her, I would give her the option of leaving it or me stamping it (which will be another first…maybe I’ll have to make myself one first, to practice!).

$15 gift certificate!

No, not from me. I wouldn't know what $15 was worth of my stuff. But Inspire Your Walls does! They're amazing! I've won stuff from there before and love it. So head on over to Readaholic for the chance to win a $15 gift certificate to Inspire Your Walls. They're awesome and you'll be upset with yourself if you miss out. The giveaway ends 11/25.

My Pet Peeve...

AKA my kitchen. Sad, I know. But, honestly, who does this?
Yup, that's my dishwasher so close to my kitchen sink that there's no possible way to do the dishes without having to do this...

All of my dishes sitting on the other side of the sink, completely washed, just waiting to go into the dishwasher to be sterilized. Because, let's face it, at the point where you have to do this, they're just going in there to be sterilized. It's almost more work than it's worth. Currently, we have a 'U' shaped kitchen. As soon as we save enough for new flooring for the first floor (because it's hideous and they carpeted the dining room! The dining room! Yuck!), then we'll be rearranging the cabinets. The peninsula we have right now is exactly the right size to be able to turn and fit along the wall perfectly. It will mean getting new cabinets for the wall, most likely, but that's okay too, since we can't reach the top shelves of our cabinets now. (I'll have to post a picture later, cuz Blogger won't let me move pictures and it's frustrating!) We'll also have to get a new countertop and sink since the counter is a solid-surface with built-in sink, so it's all got to go once part of it does. Darn it. Oh well. At least I have this sight to make me feel better.

My kids got very upset when I wouldn't let them do the dishes by themselves. But I did let them wash the cups they were drinking out of as soon as I was done with the rest of the dishes. I'm so grateful that they love to help right now! That lasts until they leave the house, right?

Christmas Idea

So, I love Christmas. I loved Halloween and now I love Christmas. I'll love Thanksgiving in between (especially since it's right next to my birthday!), but for now, this is a Christmas post. My neighbor had a Halloween party a few weeks ago and had soup for everyone and did not have a ladel! The funny part was that she asked her husband where it was and he told her it was in the sandbox in the backyard! :) I thought it was funny, anyway. So, I figured for my neighbor gift for her this year, I'd get her a ladel, fill it with Hershey's Kisses, wrap with cute cellophane (or cheaper, yet just as effective Saran Wrap) and a ribbon and put a label on that says, "Have yourself a merry 'Ladel' 'Kiss-mas'." What do you think? I thought it was pretty clever and would fill a definite need that I know she has, instead of adding tons of sweets to her house!

Mud Room Reveal!

Alright, I might be in love with this room in an unhealthy way. But it makes me so happy to have it done (for now at least!). Keep in mind, I'm possibly the world's worst painter (at least when it comes to walls...oh who am I kidding, I'm not a painter at all!) so don't you dare blow this up and look at the job around the trim, etc. It looks awful when you look too close. So I don't! But I think the paint gave it a good beachy-cottagey feel and it makes me happy. Also, if you look too close at the mail holder in it's "finished" state you'll notice it's missing a hook. The hook is there on top, but the screw somehow got misplaced, so I'll be looking for that for a while I'm sure. Overall though, the room only cost about $75 for all of that storage and places to hang things! I'm thinking about putting a little cubby or something under the light switch in the big empty space, but it'll take a while for me to decide exactly what I want. Until then, enjoy the reveal!

Winner!

Ha...I figured I'd see if the one person who left a comment on my roll call is still reading! :) Anyway, you won something Jen! If there's a project you've seen on here that you'd like me to make for you, let me know! You even get to pick...what a great prize, huh? I can do hats, aprons, holiday decorations, just let me know. To anyone who didn't leave a comment...see how nice I am? You should leave a comment next time. ;)

Project in progress!

Hopefully sometime this week I can post the pics of my completed mudroom! I'm so excited! I picked a color and then couldn't find anyone to mix it for me (gotta love the Walmart paint desk!) so I headed over to mis-tints and found the exact same color in another brand, thus cutting the price in half! I love paying less than $10 for a gallon of paint!

Also, we're working on potty training Chubs this week, so it could be a long week! Wish us luck!