The Most Amazing Mirror

First I want to start out with the fact that my sister-in-law just recently had a birthday and she is super cute and amazing. I love her (along with my other sister-in-law), but Kristi tends to have home decor styles that mesh with mine. She is the sweetest most tender hearted woman i've probably ever met and i'm so blessed to be a part of her life. She is such a joy and i love her dearly.

More than that she's pretty crafty herself and so I always like making her something special for her birthday. Last year it was a vintage mirror that i refinished, destroyed, and then etched the glass. It has a beautiful home on her living room wall :-)

Not long ago i came across a couple ideas on Pinterest, the website sweeping the female nation. See, aren't they pretty?

So i decided to attempt it. But i did it different.  It's hard when you KNOW you're giving it as a gift, because you know the things that would get you by in your home my not work in theirs. Maybe they have rowdy kids that knock things over, maybe they move things around alot, maybe they don't like certain types of woods, maybe they only like white, or hot pink... so when making it i knew i wanted it to be bold but neutral. Strong by not a million dollars.  Heavy but not overwhelming. Big but not overrtaking to a room, and to look expensive but not be... lots of details to keep in mind. 

So here we go... step by easy step...

So first, we went to lowes and found the backing wood. Because plywood is too yucky and tends to soak up paint i didn't want that... but regular sheets of wood are really pricey... particleboard is too bendy... so we went with a weird particle/wood. $18.00 and it was 4 x 8 .  Enough for 2 of these bad boys, or sexy lady.. whichever your pleasure. Best part?? LOWES CUTS FOR FREE!!  So just take your peice over to them and tell them you want two 2ft by 6ft. You'll be left with a scrap.

Then you need some moulding. Any that you want. I wanted a little "embelishments" if you will and did some mantle peices for the top corners and bottom corners ($10.00 for the trim, $5.00 for the corners, the trim will also do 2 mirrors). 

In the mantle section there are gorgeous wood embelishments.. i did a single one along the top of the mirror ($6.00)...

Of course your paint (I buy Valspar samples, $2.98). And a cheap mirror from Walmart ($4.50)

And if you will, some glaze ($10 that will last you a lifetime haha). 

Looks about like this when you gather it all up.

(Far left is the board, center is the trim, and far left is my cheap mirror)

So you start with your measurements... cut everything down and then glue it on. Super technical right?

 

Normally i would have just filled that gap right there, but since it was a gift i just recut a peice of trim. 

Once i glued it all down i left it to dry [note my super techy "holding tape" haha] Once its all dry you can paint. The sample i got was GORGEOUS! It was called Magnet Dapple from Valspar. The sample i bought was MORE than enough, i could likely do two!  It turned out much more blue than grey.. but it worked perfect for my Sis in Law since she's a "blue" girl right now.

This little embellishment was the hardest thing in the world to paint!

Once it was painted i went ahead and tried out a glaze. It was my first time... a glaze virgin if you will. And let me tell you, she is my going to be my new love affair. So easy.. wipe on, wipe off, to your taste of course.

(click for an enlarged photo)

 

 

So here she is in all her glory.  Isn't she gorgeous??  Feel free to try your own and let me know what you did differently or what ways you found to make it unique to your home! 

 

As always a special thanks to my amazing husband who not only helps but contributs significantly in the idea and structure category.

First day of school!

Up until this last month i have been lucky enough that Trey has not had to be in daycare because my loving sister, "Beezy", has been the dudes at home nanny.  We've had to make adjustments here and there to accomidate her schedule -- she went from 4 days to 3 and we've had both Trey's grandma's lend a hand on 1 day too.  But alas, all good things must end and my sister had to move on to a real person job.

I stressed and stressed and had some serious meltdowns about daycares. I wanted one with a preschool. With good funding. Not too pricey but not poverty either. I didn't want to be over crowded, i didn't want to have TV. I wanted good meal plans and structured classes. I wanted somewhere that had a routine and somewhere that was really advanced educationally. Oh the standards i had.

So after much deliberation i found a place that was funded by a college and the State. That was all the things i thought it needed to be. And best part?? It was very reasonably priced because it was through the local community college. "Trey will love it", i said. "he'll ajust like a dream", i said.

Boy was i naive. 

The first week was a nightmare. Day one was bad, but nothing compared to days 2 & 3 which were total spider monkey cling-on scream like a banshee meltdown days.  Followed by meltdown pick ups. Followed by awful mommy baby nights. By Friday i couldn't do it anymore and called one of the other places i had looked at. Luckily they would let Trey "try it out" for a day on Monday.

First day of school

And although we had a hard time on day one, his teacher (sweetest girl ever and the only person who could have made this transition for me as easy as it was) would tell me how he was doing. Now Trey is asking in the mornings to see his "teacha tayla" haha.

Boy oh boy the ups and downs of this child. He is doing much better but it was awful while we were getting used to it all. Mom cried about as much as the dude cried. Not the easiest mom moments for sure.

After the first day at the new school, while his dad was out of town, we had a yummer dessert.

Now, please take note that his hair is TOOOOO LONG!!  I was going for a beachy surfer dude hair style... unfortunately he is his fathers son and his hair grows straight forward no matter how much we swoop it. Because he's so blonde i wanted to keep a full head of hair... but nope... we ended up getting a haircut.

Handsome boy!!!  

How the time is flashing by...

This last weekend for the Hubbin's birthday we had a little getaway with our great friends to Mesquite, NV. My in-laws have an AMAZING house down there that they were kind enough to let us borrow for 3 days.  We went down with Kade, Stef, Cody, Pyp, and Derek... it was a great group and we all had a great time.

By Sunday, however, i was ready to get bookin it home to my dude who i missed terribly. The hardest part these days about leaving is that every single day there is something knew with him and i hate to miss out on even a minute of it! 

When i got home he already felt like he was bigger, looked like he was taller, and was telling my stories about his weekend like he was a big kid. And the minute he heard me and daddy come in he booked it out of his room and down the hall to scream and jump and pretty much have an anurism from the excitement of seeing us. It made coming home that much better.

August is a big month for us, Trey will be 2 ten short days. My little baby boy, not so little anymore. He is just so busy and so wonderful, and i've been blessed with such a smart little guy. He is so easy, so happy, and so perfect.

That all being said... i figured it was time to jot down some of his accomplishments before his second birthday hits.  

As of TODAY, the boy who i consider the smartest baby ever (biased much, am I?) is jabbering like crazy --he just pretty much says anything and everything these days. There isn't much left he says that you can't understand and he's speaking in sentences now. He can always tell you what it is he wants to eat, or drink, or to do. He knows who people are and is always happy to see new faces. He can even connect one name to another person. If you say "Nana's house" he'll ask if Shauny will be there. If you say "Aspyn" he knows to ask about "Pyper". If you say "Beezy", he usually goes on and on about "Uncle  Mitch motorcycle". It's pretty amazing.

If you ask him his name, he can say Trey. He can tell you what letters T-R-E-Y are if you point to them even. He also knows O, B, M, A (It is not lost on my what that has the possibility of spelling... we will just follow it up with "sucks").  He can sing 1/2 his ABC's as well... he will do A-E, then jump back in at "W" which he yells and then thru Z. 

He can also sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, or as he says it - "Issy Bissy Baller", and patty cake, and the nai nai song (it's a Japanese lullaby). 

Bringing a little heritage into it -- the boy loves gohan (rice) and umeboshi. Nori (seaweed) and gohan are pretty much his favorite snack. 

He can dress himself, undress himself, wash his hair and his face (although it's not done very well haha). He can do a summersault now too!   He is pretty wild and crazy and i just love him. He has always loved motorcycles and cars/trucks, but now he has a new obsession with Spiderman and airpanes.  He has just been sucha  good and easy kid -- he doesn't get into things he isn't supposed to, he doesn't touch things he isn't supposed to (with the exception of the photo albums in the no no room), and he doesn't really ever cry or get awnry. 

He does have his moments tho -- like his refusal to potty train, he insistance on having a mimi (binky) still, and i cannot take that boy shopping if i plan to be more than 10 seconds.

These last 2 years have been a trip!  They have been amazing and hard and wild and i have loved every single minute.  I can't wait for all the little milestones and wonderful things that are to come!  Being a mom is something that i could never describe, never could have anticipated, and there is no way i could articulate the way it makes me feel. But i love it, simply put. He is my world and i cant wait to give him everything that i can and be the best mother and family to him. He is a lucky dude... his mom and dad love him, and he has so much family that adore him as well. Trey has taught Brian and I a whole different level of love, affection, selflessness, and devotion.

Trey has not only made our lives better by being himself, but he makes our lives better becuase he made Brian and I stronger, more confident, and has given us a completely different aspect of our lives and whats important.

I love the boy and cant wait for his birthday!  

Tasty Cakes -- My "Brag" moment

SO i have a sister, my little sissy pants Devan. Hopefully you'll all remember her from my earlier post about the "Love Coasters" here.  She is just a beautiful, fun, amazing and talented young lady that has a real passion and love for baking. I know, i know, one day i'm going to be 700lbs because her "passion" is my weakness... ugh. Any excuse i get i have her make me cupcakes!!  Recently Pyper and I hosted a bachelorette party for our friend Mo. PERFECT DESSERT IS CUPCAKES, right?   

I had Devan make the desserts of course.. and she the turned out just fab!

We had a very naughy theme since the bachelorrette is relatively young and naive.  She had never even owned any lingerie!!  So of course i went past my regular limits to push into her comfort zone... and she loved every minute of it!

She put a condom on each one and a little lube. They were so cute and it was so much fun for each of the girls!  The Bachelorette Party was so much fun... Mo loved it all.

We did a couple fun games, and we had a good turn out.

Devan does cupcakes for anyone local that needs some for whatever occassion!! 

What a find i have found...

As i posted yesterday... my library bookcases are finally complete. Now all that i need is the furniture. You know, the expensive parts.  It's important to note that i have had my bookcases done for a few months now, since March actually, and have been on the prowl ever since.  I have found a few things that i liked here and there.... however.... yesterday while cruising amazon i found a beaut!! 

Isn't she gorgeous!?? I love her legs.. i love her tufts... i love that she has arms but that she's not overbearing and gigantic. Just a skinny little pleasure that would fit PERFECTLY.  Black and grey and white accents?? Yes please... i could even add a little teal.... like say maybe this little treasure??

My sister, the doll that she is, made a trip to the local DI in WVC yesterday and found this bad boy... obviously he's gonna need a little TLC. Definately some new skin... but maybe a teal? an off white? Something bolder?!   To top it off... my sister also found this little lady (yes my new projects are all either "he's"or "she's")

Oh the things i can do with this gorgeous curvy, leggy, crowned little number. I'm thinking something sexy... maybe a pretty white, a pretty silver?!  BOLD B&W STRIPES?!  Mm.... or even a dainty super soft pale pink??  

Best part?? Each chair was only $20. A bit pricey considering i'm gonna tear them both down. But it's the price i pay living in Utah with all the crafty-est nifty-est awesome-est women in the country i'm sure.

TO THE FABRIC STORE WE GO!!

My Newly Acquired Paradise

Since we moved in last April there is one room we have absolutely NOT TOUCHED. It's been hard because this room is just RIGHT there when you walk in the front door, off to the right. But even before we signed on the dotted lines I knew EXACTLY what i wanted to do with it.

LIBRARY!!!

I have acquired a vast collection of books in the last 7-8 years. And in the old house they were just in piles all over the place -- or in closets -- or in boxes -- some in shelves. Just chaos!! (here in the new house they all live in boxes upon boxes) So when there was an empty and available room i knew i needed it for a library. Now... i didn't want just regular old bookselves, i wanted the ENTIRE WALL to be bookshelves. And i wanted them beautiful. And i wanted them built in. After having a company give me a bid, i realized that they were going to be a pretty penny to build. Soooo to pinterest i went -- hoping to find something cheap and easy me and Brian could do ourselves (never EVER tell my husband i got a professional bid, he'd kill me. Brian thinks he can build or do anything i could possibly need -- and he proves himself right alllllll the time).


I found this idea -- it used some Ikea shelves and crannied them together and looked nice. At about $400.00 i thought that wasn't that bad. 

But after much thought and consideration Brian came up with a brilliant plan... and here's how they turned out.


With about $250 worth of supplies we have an entire wall of built in shelves. But not just shelves, he also made a display center for a photo, artwork, sculpture or whatever.

Because they were so inexpensive and SO PROFESSIONAL LOOKING AND GORGEOUS  i figured i'd pass along the info in case someone else wanted a little mental sancuary from the job, the kids, the animals, you know.. the GRIND.


First things first, take off the trim and cut back the carpet. NOTE: Save the trim, you'll want to put it back on the front of the unit to make it look truly a part of the house.


The shelves are all 12" apart -- 9 ft" tall -- and 12" wide. To make this the most stable and aesteically pleasing we used some corner trim as our shelf stablizers. We used just cheap wood because i wanted to paint them instead of stain them. I am painting them the same high gloss white as the mantle as you can see here and the trim and accents of my whole house. I figured it would look that much more natural if it was all uniform.

After we got it all up (after HOURS of leveling, cutting, leveling, nailing, screwing, and the like) we had to fill in all the holes and gaps to make everything even and smooth. Using the woodfiller/mud Brian slapped it on and smoothed it out...


Then to the primer.... and then paint. Easy peasy.  Took us about a FULL weekend and VOILA!!  We have this.... I still need to get some bookends so that they are not so symetrically placed along the edges.  Any ideas??

It was so much fun going through all my books, seeing what i have in hardcover and paper. My favorites are J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Christine Feehan's Dark series Ghostwalker series, and recently i've fallen in love with Gena Showalter's Lord of the Underworld series....

Happy Anniversary to Us!

On May 24th Brian and I celebrated 4 years of wonderful togetherness. We were married 4 years ago in a gorgeous wedding that i can barely remember because all i could think of that day was that Brian was going to be mine forever and ever. After being together 4 years, 3 of which we were "living in sin" it all just seemed so surreal and perfect.

2 years after we were married -- in August, we had our beautiful son. Our lives have never been the same and have only gotten better and better.

This year Brian was out of town for our anniversary -- although i was sad he was gone i wasn't too terribly hear broken since it was on a Wednesday and I  have an amazing California trip planned for us this month in celebration.  To me this was a GREAT way to celebrate 4 years to total perfect-ness. Ha.

Brian as usual has to 1 up me and had a special delivery made.... and Upgrade if you will...

Boy oh boy was i floored by this beauty!!  I love the vintage classic feel to it with the modern white gold and holy cow does this baby sparkle!!!   I must say he is one special man and i'm very lucky to be saddled with him till death do us part. I don't know what i would do without him.  

Along with the ring -- which is totally OFF THE WALL AMAZING -- i also was delivered flowers and an iPhone 4s.   I must say, i was quite spoiled this year. How do i even top that or come close??   The man baffles me..