52 in 1: WEEK 1 - easy bulletin boards

My mind has been just a big swirled jumble of thoughts and ideas lately. There are SO many projects that I have either half finished, have the supplies needed for but haven't started, or have intentions of starting (and completing!). Pinterest has further filled my brain with ideas, as have all of the amazing tutorials I have run across by so many talented bloggers out there. I'm overwhelmed! My mind is just is overflowing with plans, along with my dining room table.

Case in point:

I really need a sewing/craft room but the dining room must do for now.

So for something fun, and since this is my 200th (!!!) post here on the old blog, I've resolved to do a project a week for the next year and document it here. Whether it be completing something around the house, making a gift I make for someone, showcasing a shower or event I've put together (I have a few showers coming up this summer!), or finally attempting a tutorial I've been planning to tackle forever, I will make it happen. It will be a stretch I'm sure, but I'm hoping having accountability to all who read this (all 5 of you :)) will keep me going. It's ambitious, but I'm up for the challenge! I think one a week sounds doable, much better than the lists and lists I have that just sit there and taunt me! Plus I know I will love looking back and seeing all that I have accomplished. Anyone want to join me? Anyone think I'm as crazy as I'm feeling right now?!

For the first week, I decided to do some easy bulletin boards that I have been wanting to make for the kids' rooms. I've been wanting a place in their rooms to hang up special little notes and pictures. I started out with 4 12"x12" cork squares that I got at Staples on sale for $5. For each bulletin board, I hot glued two of the cork squares together and then hot glued my fabric of choice on the back, carefully stretching the fabric taut. Then I added picture frame hangers (I guess this is their technical term?) to the back.

Easy and cute. I may add frames and/or borders to them in the future, but for now they'll do. :) I also made the pushpins pretty (pushpins... shudder) by gluing pink flower cabochons on pins for B and buttons on pins for M.

Brynlee's:

*B's picture taken at the 77Kids photobooth... I could not love that store more!!!*

Next up for Brynlee's room is PAINT! I finally decided on the perfect color for her walls, and since we are definitely signing another year lease here (hopefully ONLY one year) I'd like to make her room a little more "finished". Also, please ignore the totally unmatching armchair that desperately needs a slipcover! I definitely can't overlook Brynlee's GORGEOUS new bookshelf, made by my dad and designed and painted by my mom. Brynlee is one lucky girl (and so am I)!!!


Mac's:

*The "Party Animal" and "Goof Ball" pins on the right are Jane Jenni Personality Buttons. I got the "My Deer" and "Fairy Princess" ones for B's spring coat as well. Although, I probably should have gotten THIS one for her as well! (Ha, ha. Kidding. Sorta.) * :)

I thought this was also the perfect opportunity to show off the window treatments and bedskirt my mom made for Mac's room. His room is definitely coming along! I searched far and wide for the perfect red, patterned fabric for his room, and about passed out when I came across this Robert Kaufman Metro Living Lattice fabric while browsing in fabric heaven the Franklin Mill Store. I ordered yards and yards of it off Etsy. Hello, my name is Ashley and I am addicted to buying much more fabric for a project than I actually need. I'm also a fabric hoarder. Whew, glad I could get that all out in the open.

So, 52 projects in one year. 52 in 1. Lame name, but I'm so excited and motivated to do this! Feel free to join me!

Linking up at I heart naptime!

road trippin mommas

I did not mean to sound all weird and cryptic on my last post. Despite the air of mystery, all I really meant to do was bide my time a bit until I could catch up on posts and fun projects that I've been meaning to do! It's funny how sometimes simple daily life overwhelms me and other days I am able to accomplish more than I did in combined weeks prior. Anyway, today was NOT one of those productive days but I did want to share a bit about Carrie and my awesome road trip to Virginia (which was two weeks ago now)!

We had a wonderful few days with Bethy and Haley. We wore poor (very pregnant) Beth out shopping at the outlets, had some fun meals out, and even had a rebellious (kid-free, thanks to Matt) late night trip to Wegmans... seeking delicious treats free of gluten, soy, and dairy of course! Carrie, Beth, and I are quite the group when it comes to dietary restrictions. Trey and Mac were angels, and Carrie and I would constantly forget they were in the backseat during the six-hour-each-way drive. Those boys went with the flow the whole time. Sweet baby boys! This trip was just what I needed. LOVE those girls!

*Note: any of these pictures that look incredibly amazing were stolen from Carrie!*

good intentions

I'm not really sure why I let my daily and weekly to-do lists get so excruciatingly long. Especially when all I really want to do is sit down for a minute and get lost in these:

I did stay up embarrassingly late last night organizing my mess of a dining room, aka my sewing/craft room, and now I feel like I will be able to (begin to) tackle my projects and not be so overwhelmed by the clutter. Ohhh, I have some good plans up my sleeve. Now it's just a matter of execution.

working outside with Mammie and Poppy

Brynlee had so much fun running around outside at my parents' house a few weekends ago. She loved helping Poppy rake and pick up sticks and picked flowers with Mammie.  (The little wheelbarrow pictured just slays me!  And makes me feel old because I clearly remember my brother receiving as a birthday present 20 years ago...)

All the while my little boo boo played inside and celebrated his 6 month birthday! How is he 6 months old already?!  He is just the easiest, happiest, sweetest baby.  Little love.

whirlwind trip home

my sweet family : : Mother's Day 2011
our kiddos just love the camera, don't they?

We just returned "home" to MA on Sunday after the kids and I (and Ryan for part of the time) were "home" in NY for almost two weeks. Our trip included a bonus road trip to VA, lots of family visits, missed naps, and even a pedicure. I'm still trying to unpack and catch up, but I'll have a fun recap soon!

puncture wounds

Yesterday morning I heard a crash downstairs.

I had just gotten up and was slowly getting ready for the day while hanging out with Mac and waiting for Brynlee to wake up. I ran downstairs to inspect (even though I was scared of a robber or something) and found nothing out of place. Hmm. So, later when we all went downstairs you can imagine my shock when I stepped on something in the kitchen... something that hurt my foot for a second, then REALLY hurt. I was carrying Mac at that moment, and Brynlee was not far behind me.

I scanned the room, and saw thumbtacks EVERYWHERE.

I gasped and shouted, "Brynlee, FREEZE!" (Thank you Little Gym.) Brynlee sat down in the playroom in a panic and I looked down at my heel. A pretty little tack head was flush to my skin. I was horrified! I pulled it out (ICK), set Mac down in his exersaucer, and bandaged myself up.

As soon as I had seen the tacks all over the kitchen floor, I realized that the crash I had heard was my cute little thumbtack holder that I had fashioned out of a little business card holder thing and stuck to my new bulletin board frame with strong (not strong enough, obviously) double sided foam tape. I had even prettied it up with some cute rub-ons. The stinkin thing had fallen to the ground and the tacks exploded everywhere.

So of course I started worrying about when my last tetanus shot was, and then GOOGLING tetanus (PS- never do that, EVER!), and I called my doctor to get an opinion on what I should do. I figured it had been just a little over 10 years since my last shot (during high school) so into the office I went. Double ouch. My arm is so sore today (as is my foot) but I'm so relieved that I'm in the "clear" and IMMENSELY thankful that I had walked into the kitchen before Brynlee!

*****

We've had some nice days lately... enjoy the pics of my babies and always scan your floors before walking on them! Sheesh.

What's for dinner?

Why, I'm so glad you asked.

I finally got a chalkboard up in the kitchen after months of doing so being on my to-do list. I had originally planned to find an awesome frame and paint the inside with chalkboard paint. Then I found a $10 chalkboard at AC Moore and decided to just sand and paint the (again, fake wood) frame and call it a day. I used this tutorial (I could not love this blog more) to make the words pretty. Ryan hung the chalkboard and only eyeballed the levelness. Afterward he checked it with the level~

Whatta man.

So now I have a simple chalkboard to write out our weekly menu or whatever else I deem worthy on. Chalkboard pens are WAY fun, too.


Speaking of dinner, the other night I whipped up a little something something for a certain little *almost* SIX month old.

Delicious organic peas.

"Delicious?! I'll show you delicious, mom!!!" *GAG*

He was highly offended and did actually throw up after I shoved another bite in his mouth.

But he still loves me!

*Note: not sure how cute a bug's ear really is. Strange. But I sure do love those bibs so I'll deal with the odd phrases!*

hard at work

Brynlee just loves working on her fine motor skills. :)














Her daddy does the exact same thing when he's focusing on something!