Another Chair Makeover...

I finished another fun little chair I thought I would share with you.  I got this little beauty at a junk store for the bargain price of $2.  It was a pityful looking thing, but it was very sturdy. 

After some sanding, painting, and whipping up a sassy cushion, this little chair has a new lease on life. It is living at my in-law's River house.

Walker chose this fish fabric, and since it was going in his room at the river then I thought it would work.  I opted for a stripe on the other side though, so the cushion is reversible.

I love this little chair now, and for the time and money spent I couldn't have come close to buying a new one. Nothing like a bargain!

Thankful...

Psalm 127:3 "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. "

I have so very much to be thankful for, and I always seem to think about it most during this time of the year.  I took this picture of the boys swinging recently, and every time I look at it I realize how fast they are growing up.  I am so grateful that these dirty little boots are mine to clean, that they belong to 2 of the sweetest boys around, and that God chose me to raise these 2 little ones.  Now if I could just figure out how to freeze time and keep them this size!

Changes to the Picture Wall...

One of my most treasured possessions is family photographs, and while I have several places I display them, my favorite is the picture wall in my living room.  This wall has evolved over the past few years, and continues to change.  I have posted about it in the past, but have made some recent changes.  I love sharing this idea because it is affordable and unique.

This time around I took down all of the pictures and painted a tobacco color inside the molding.

I then changed out the pics that were in color to black and white, and arranged how I thought I wanted them on my dining room table.

Next came the hard part, putting all those pictures back up without a real guide.  I more of an "eyeball it" type of girl.  That whole measure twice cut once thing doesn't apply to me.  I just hammer, move, hammer again, etc. 

And there you have it.  My family picture wall.  I'm sure it will eventually change again, but for now, I love it!

What do you think?

Halloween Recap...

Well another Halloween is over, and I think I have recovered from the sugar rush. I intentionally did not keep all the extra candy bars that the boys don't eat this year (my hips are already thanking me), and I have managed to hide most of the candy they do eat so that I can bring it out a little at a time.

It was another typical Halloween in that we had school parties, trunk or treat, and then trick or treated, but it was not typical in that Walker actually dressed up this year. He is not a fan of costumes, and he has refused to wear one since he was 2. He has always worn a Halloween t-shirt, this year though he decided he wanted to be Billy the Exterminator. If you are not familiar with "Billy" and have an hour or so to spare, you should check him out on A&E Tuesday nights. He's an exterminator that dresses like a rock star. Walker loves him, and I have to admit he is rather entertaining. Here's Walker rocking his Billy outfit.

My friend said I needed to inquire about Walker wearing the shades to school because he was a different man walking around in them. HA! Here's the real "Billy".

Connor decided to be a pirate, again. He actually "decided" on several different costumes, but the pirate was what we went with. He insisted I put a parrot on his shoulder. The only parrot I could find was a cat toy (filled with catnip). I cut the bell off, stuck it on with velcro, and prayed we didn't run into any cats while trick or treating.

I didn't make a lot of treats this year since I am now working full time, but I did manage to make some Candy Corn Bark for the boys' teachers. It was extremely simple and they all liked it. If you're interested in making your own I just melted white chocolate, and then added candy corn, oreos, and peanuts. Spread it on wax paper and then after it cools break it into pieces and bag it up.

I hope you had a great Halloween. I am still struggling with the fact that Christmas is only 48 days away and I haven't even thought about my shopping or crafting!

Happy Halloween!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Chair Turned Nightstand...

If you have visited my blog often, you know I love to make trash into treasures, and one of my favorite spots to look for stuff to re-do is on the family farm.  On a recent trip I discovered 2 little chairs sitting under a tree.  After asking my mother in law about them, I found out they were hers when she was a little girl.  I immediately asked for them, and as she typically does, she gave them to me with a shake of her head (like I was crazy for wanting them!)  Walker and his little buddy Wyatt were with me, and even Wyatt said, "Ms. Mandi, what are you gonna do with  those junky chairs?" 

Oh ye of little faith!  I took those little chairs and gave them a new lease on life!  I simply peeled off the paper seats and sanded a little, primed, and spray painted them.  I used Rustoleum Red spray paint and modge podged some paper for a new seat.  I have been looking for Connor a small side table for his bed, and the chair worked perfect. 

I used some little hooks I found at the hardware store to hang it, and the other one sits beneath it when Connor isn't using it. So what do you think?  Have you turned any trash into a treasure lately?

The Boy That Cried Wolf

Hi.  I am officially the "boy that cried wolf" in the blogging world.  I was looking over my past few posts (spanning MONTHS) and in every one I apologize for being gone for so long and try to explain where I have been. I also say things are finally slowing down and I am gonna begin blogging again.  I think the reality has finally settled in that things are NEVER gonna slow down, so if I want to blog I'm just gonna have to squeeze it in amongst everything else.  I have missed all my blogging friends so badly, and I often wonder what is going on with all of you.  I am gonna have to play catch up to find out.
As for us here are a few things that have changed.  Lon is still working up a storm, and I have gone to work full time as well.  I am working at a little place in our town called Clarity Spa as a hairstylist, and I LOVE it!  Walker is in kindergarten and doing great, and Connor is in preschool and loves it.  It's soccer season here, and between that and church our evenings are booked.

                                                      (Walker in his soccer uniform)
The boys seem to be growing like weeds.  Every time I turn around I feel like they have grown an inch.  We finally made it to Disney World this summer, and thanks to all your suggestions last year the trip was awesome!

(Here is Connor sporting his ears.)  

Not too much decor has changed around the house.  I've accomplished a few projects and they will probably be the subject of my next few posts.  Which leads me to right back to where I started, posting on this blog... I will be posting again.  I am not going to promise how often, but I am gonna do my best to stop in even if my posts are very brief.  I loved blogging for so many reasons, but one major thing is that it was such a great memory bank for me.  I need it to be that again.  What is it they say?  Something like, "your memory is like swiss cheese, it has a lot of holes."  That is me!  I look back over the past year and can't remember half of what we did, so I will be doing a lot of personal posts.  If you want to follow along with us and see what we are up to, feel welcome.