Weekly Challenge: Accept My Age

In my head I'm 28, but when I look in the mirror...reality slaps me in the face. I'm getting old(er) every single day. All through my twenties I heard that when you hit your 30's you become comfortable in your own skin. You know who you are and become more confident. Now that I'm in my 30's, I hear that all of that wisdom comes in your 40's. Really? I'm currently reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore and I am beginning to believe that this security we seek can only be found in Him and recognizing His creation as beautiful.  It's a journey and I think it may very well be a choice that I will have to make and fight for daily!

In a world of nips/tucks and loads of Photoshop (see image below) how are we suppose to look in the mirror and see those wrinkles, spots and grey hairs as signs of wisdom and beauty well earned without fighting for those positive thoughts?

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This week, I've been thinking about the Proverbs 31 woman a lot. She was respected by many, seen and thought of as beautiful; a treasure to her husband. This was not because of her lack of wrinkles, but because of how she loved and served the Lord and her family. I long for this. I strive for this. I will attain this before I die (and hopefully a lot sooner)! I am choosing to: 

*look away from magazine covers in the checkout line.

*pray truth into my heart to fight my temptations to see myself as anything other than a beautiful creation of God.

*embrace my wrinkles - most have been earned by way of laughter anyway and that's a good thing, right?

*choose to see my adult acne as a part of my youth that is hanging on. (Can't figure out why it's the only stinkin' part that is...hello frustrating!)

*not compare myself to other women, especially those 10 years younger than me without kiddos.

*realize that after 2 babies, an addiction to sugar and not working out, my body is NOT going to look like it did 10 years ago when I look in the mirror - even if it still looks that same in my head. 

*keep my littles close to me and let them keep me young at heart. Bring on the wrestling matches, imaginative play and races to the car!

*laugh at myself and go with the flow.

Embrace your beauty ladies, whatever your age...you've earned it! xo

DIY "Flowers"

Billy-buttons are the cutest flowers. Ever heard of them?  I see them in home-decor magazines all the time, but never knew what they were called. When my friend Alli of Hooray posted this little tutorial on billy-button flowers (see image above), I was instantly inspired. We have these seeds that fall from trees here in Dallas that my MIL and I call gumballs. While my youngest little could spend hours throwing them into the street, I could spend hours finding creative ways to use them around the home.

Materials:

gumdrops

skewers

spraypaint

floral tape

add a few paper flags and let your imagination soar

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I think mine look like dandelions. I was out of yellow spray paint, but I like the end result of the white. I made a couple more flags and put them in plants/herbs as markers. Here's a look at what some other have done with their gumballs and flags.

pompom

winter wreath

name holder

After looking at all these wintery versions... I'm feeling the need to pick up some yellow pink spray paint and make things more Springy! xo

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Paper

twinkle lights

I had every intention of showing you all the wonderful reclaimed lovelies I scored this week at my local thrift store. Alas, I ran out of time and sunlight. I'll keep that in my back pocket until next week's RRR post. For now, let's take a look at some pretty fantastic uses for paper. It's amazing how people are taking something so basic and turning it into jaw-dropping lovelies. I'm inspired.

NY Times to lanterns/globes

sewing patterns to gift tags

paper sack to candy pouch

old greeting cards to memory game

If you're not up to making your own gift tags or memory game, go over to Etsy and pick up the ones pictured above. Genius. Simply genius. I'm always amazed by just how creative people are in their recycling endeavors. As my Father-in-law says, "We can respect the Creator by respecting His creation." When you see all the lovely things to be made, why just toss things in the trash? xo

MMMM....

 Most of you know, if you've been hanging around this little blog of mine for any length of time, I HATE cooking. Not just cooking, baking too. All of it. I do, however, love to eat! So when I found this simple little dessert on the back of the graham cracker box I was super stoked.

Chocolate-Banana Graham Cake! It kind of tastes like banana pudding and it might even be better.
Ingredients:
chocolate pudding
bananas
cool Whip
graham crackers

Funny thing, I didn't even have any box pudding so I took the boys single pudding snacks and used those. I simply layered my pan with the graham crackers then pudding, then banana slices then cool whip. After doing this three times, I added graham cracker sprinkles to the top and chilled. DELISH! xo

Around the House: With Kiddos

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I've been seeing a ton of inspirational images in blogland for kiddos. I thought I'd share some of my faves with you today, like the ultimate playroom above! Sigghh...

Shared Spaces:

those wings!

bunkbed

multiples

Book Storage:

vintage goodness

on the go

ikea spice racks

Loft Livin':

blue

boyz

Outside play:

fenced

2 story

There ya go!  A little inspiration for your Monday Blues! xo

Easter Sunday

It means everything. xo

Weekly Challenge: Decorate for Easter Already!

This week I finally got around to decorating for Easter.  Part of me thinks this is a good thing because I don't want the boys to think this holiday is all about bunnies and candy. The other part of me wishes I had taken more time to pour into them the importance of Easter and what it really means. Oh teachable moments are all around.  This weekend we will make Resurrection Rolls and have a flashlight Easter egg hunt. 

When I was growing up, my Mom would make a Easter Bunny cake with fresh coconut every year.  She used two round cake pans and created the bunny from them. She dyed coconut green and poured it all around the bunny, adding jellybeans for more color.  This was one of my favorite traditions.  To honor that (and her) without the sugar, my youngest little and I made a bunny for the boys door. It's so easy.

 grab two paper plates, cutting one as seen above

 color the ears and bow from the cut plate

 create your bunny face on the remaining plate (we hotglued pom poms for eyes)

 last, glue on the ears and the bow - add whiskers if you like. (I think this would make a great mask too - just cut out the eyes and add ribbon/elastic to the sides!)

I finally made a banner for our front porch.  It reads, "He is Risen." I have it facing backwards now and will flip it Easter Sunday.

The boys and I also made little Easter gifts for their friends on our block. This little craft is so easy and just came to me one morning while I was getting out of the shower. I think it turned out great.

Materials:
Empty soap boxes
Scissors
Cotton Balls
Tape
Glue
Brown craft paper (or brown paper sacks)
Green construction paper - run through the shredder
Candy
Pen

 cut end flaps off one end of box

 "wrap" box leaving the open end unwrapped

hotglue cotton ball for bunny tail

 stuff shredded paper and candy into box opening

 write message on box! we used this as an opportunity to share the Easter story with our friends.

Hoppy Easter peeps. I pray yours is filled with lots of love, grace, remembrance, family and friends. xo

Harper Gets Her Pinwheel Mobile

I recently went down to my favorite Texas city, Austin, to get some baby lovin' and help my oldest and dearest friend decorate her sweet girl's room. Seeing as my house is overrun by boys, I was delighted to help and immerse myself all things girlie. So fun.

I found this little Christening gown in an old piece of salvaged furniture. So sweet.

I got baby snuggles, changed diapers, built shelving, and had a delish tex-i-tini with my homegirl. I got spit up on a ton and had to change one serious blowout, but who's counting?

Remember that mobile I told you I was making and that I'd show you how?  Well, it was for this sweet room. Harper's mommy's favorite color is cream. So I made the mobile as natural as possible while still trying to create something that would capture Harper's attention while laying in her crib. I think it turned out perfect.

love.

Using my new Paper and Craft book and the trusty tutorial from my friend Kim at Yellow Songbird, I completed 5 pinwheels in no time flat.

 

 

my squares are 5"x5"

1" wide muslin fabric strips to wrap around my embroidery hoop

here's Harper's view. I have never understood why manufactured mobiles cater to those outside the crib.

The entire project was so easy and fun to make.  Give it a go. xo