v a l l e y - m a m a

Amy's Banana Bread.

2013-05-28T09:08:00.002-05:00

this is my sister's banana bread recipe and one of the only recipes i use. its easy and always yummy. {my tip} use whole wheat flour instead of regular

or add some chocolate chips for an extra treat!

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

3/4 brown sugar

2 eggs, beaten

3 mashed overripe bananas {i actually usually use about 5 bananas!}

preheat oven to 350. grease a loaf pan. in large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt. in another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar. stir in the beaten eggs and mashed bananas. mix with flour combo until well moistened. pour batter into pan. bake for 50-60 minutes. cool 10 minutes, remove from pan and enjoy.

washing my windows with Norwex.

2013-05-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

a year ago i got my first Norwex cloths. i had heard lots about them prior to owning them and now as a Norwex user, i am obsessed! they do a great job cleaning and minimizing the amount of paper towels i use. you can clean with only water - eliminating the need to purchase antibac sprays from the store. i use mostly all natural cleaners {lots of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice}, but i appreciate that these cloths really do the work {and kill the germs!} with only water.

{my Norwex collection: two Enviro cloths, a Polish cloth, and a dusting mitt}

one of the tasks i hate the most is washing windows. seriously - i am NOT good at washing windows. we've been homeowners for about 9 years {three houses} but i've never found a great way to wash my windows. i always felt like it took so much time and so much work, leaving me with a mediocre result.

enter Norwex.

at the Norwex party i went to, people raved about using their Norwex products for washing windows. i didn't try it until this spring. in fact, i just finished washing all 25 windows in our house with the Enviro and Polish cloths. it was an amazing experience with stellar results! i washed the windows in a few sessions - half hour here, half hour there. i think my total time spent washing 25 windows was probably 1.5 hours. inside and out. with only water. it was awesome.

and my windows are so so so clean. no streaks, no residue.

{step 1}

wet your Enviro cloth with water and wring it out. then wipe down your surface. wipe away whatever needs to be scrubbed off your window.

{step 2}

use your Polish cloth to go over and dry your surface. the Polish cloth wipes through any grime on your windows - its really amazing! all the water spots and scum come off with ease in this step.

we have double hung windows throughout our house {only a couple years old, thanks to the previous owner of this home!} so i was able to do inside and outside of each window all at once. each window probably only took 5 minutes or less. when my cloths seemed to be dirty, after a few windows, i washed them in a delicates bag in my washer. it took a couple washes, so that is why my window washing was in a few sessions.

{wet Enviro cloth}

{Polish cloth}...repeat.

{step 3}

step back and admire your new sparkling, shiny, steak free, clean windows!

i also use Norwex to clean my kitchen counters and bathroom counters and mirrors. they are my go-to cleaning cloth. wash once weekly in a delicates bag with your regular wash.

{un}crafty - coffee filter flowers.

2013-05-22T09:47:00.000-05:00

we got to host our moms here for mother's day! {read more about it on our family blog here}

it was a great day to spoil them with a lovely lunch after a pretty amazing church service. i feel like now that my "baby" is 14 months old, i am finally getting my wits about me again - it was fun to plan and craft! i tried to make the day special for our moms, so i started planning {and crafting} early. i wanted to help the kids make something for their nana & baggie, so we went with the flower theme and made some super easy coffee filter flowers and painted glass vases for them to take home with them on mother's day.

{our flower themed mother's day lunch}

supplies you need:

coffee filters

markers

spray bottle with water

straws {or pipe cleaners}

empty and cleaned glass jar

craft paint

i'm certain we have all seen the method of pour paint into a clean glass jar and swirling it around inside until it is covered...that's what i did here. i just used some paint left over from other projects.

then i used some metallic pearl white and gold paint on the end of a pencil eraser to make some random dots around the outside of the jar. it was easy. i did the jars while the kids were coloring their coffee filters. {but kids could totally do the paint in a jar thing - easy and fun!}

just scribble around on the coffee filter until its pretty much covered. it doesn't have to be all colored in {although my very thorough 5 year old made sure to cover every inch} because when you spray with water, the colors with bleed.

once the coffee filters are colored in, spray with water and let them sit to dry {i set our on paper towels in the kitchen while the dried}. then to add stems, fold your filter in quarters and either glue the tip into a straw {striped paper straws would be so cute!} or wrap with a pipe cleaner.

this is such a quick and easy project! {and no mess!} the flowers are so fun because each is so unique. i think this would make a cute teacher gift too {maybe add a little gift card to their favorite lunch or coffee spot}.

happy {un}crafting!

diy board and batten.

2013-04-25T07:56:00.000-05:00

we moved into this house knowing it would need a lot of love from us to make it a place that felt like "us". after removing carpet from the front entry and adding more of the bamboo hardwood featured in the rest of the house {in place when we purchased - not what i would have chosen!}, the entry needed a little something else. i had been watching board and batten pop up around blogs and magazines and love the look. so i mustered up the courage to show my husband and ask him if he would be willing to tackle a board and batten treatment on one wall of our entry. he loved it and we went to work planning it out right away!!

{ta-da!}

i don't have any great photos of it - these {in progress photos} are all iPhone pics, but it give you an idea. the finished product photos were done at night, so they aren't great, either {such is life}. we used these two {really great} tutorials for guidance along the way:

{the natos board and batten}

{casa de lewis board and batten}

here is our version. it was a Memorial Day weekend project last year. i left the house with the three littles so my husband could start and complete the project - all in two days!

here is what we started with. before i left town, we ran painters tape along the wall where we wanted the ledge above the paneling to reach.

john sent photos all weekend to show me his progress.

we also fixed up the baseboard trim with shoe moulding along the bottom {something we will continue as we work on rooms around the house}.

primed & painted paneling. primed and painted walls.

finished. then we just added hooks from target {of all places!}

how i got the streaks out of my stainless appliances.

2013-04-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

we moved into this house 18 months ago and it was not clean {not even close}. so, being 4 months pregnant, i hired a woman to clean the house. but, that didn't go so well. even after her service at the house, it was not clean {not to my standards}. so, i had to take matters into my own hands.

my stainless appliances had crazy streaks that i couldn't remove with microfiber cloths or stainless steel cleaner. so, i searched for ways to remove streaks and found an easy solution that worked for me!

drumroll...

plain old olive oil and a paper towel!

first, i clean up the appliance {get rid of any spills or drips}, usually using my norwex cloth.

then i {and my little helper} drip some olive oil on a paper towel and rub it over the stainless, in the same direction as the grain of the stainless steel. that's it! sometimes there is a little lint from the paper towel or a little excess oil so i go over the appliance again with a dry towel.

my range had purple streaks going against the grain and i thought for sure there was no hope, that is was damaged and i wouldn't be able to fix it. after about 3 applications of olive oil, it looks perfect {seriously}. amazing!

{un}crafty - no sew fabric strip garland.

2013-04-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

here we go: another super easy, no skill required, fun little craft for you!

i made this fabric garland to hang in our toy room

{this is a live action shot from a sick day at our house - "Dolphin Tale" anyone?}

its fun, festive, and so easy to make.

supplies you need:

rotary cutter & cutting mat {or just a plain old scissors!}

ruler

fabric scraps {anything will do}

ribbon

i had some cloth napkins in bright colors that were screaming for a re-purpose, so i finally decided to do this craft. i followed some advice from Joy's Hope blog to get me started.

i started by ironing out the napkins. then i used a rotary cutter and mat to measure and cut. i measured 1x18 inch strips and cut accordingly. it was a lot of cutting! i think the strips could be longer if your fabric allows - my tassels ended up being pretty short once they were tied on.

i lined up all the fabric strips and got out my ribbon.

i followed a pattern, but random would be really cute, too!

to tie the strips onto/around your ribbon, i followed the steps shown above.

kind-of a loop, more than a traditional tie.

i just kept going until i had a length long enough for the wall i intended the garland to hang on. i used command strips to hold the banner up and we like it!

i'm thinking of making another for my living room using an old tablecloth, some burlap, and ribbon...

happy {un}crafting!

easy pumpkin muffins.

2013-04-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

i only do easy recipes. here's one we always enjoy!

1 spice cake box mix

1 small can pumpkin

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 water

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

preheat over to 375. mix ingredients together. grease muffin pan and fill {i only fill each space with about 2 tablespoons of mix} and bake 25-30 min. makes about 30 muffins {and lasts about a day at my house}.

enjoy!

{un}crafty - faux metal letters.

2013-04-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

of course we have all seen anthropolgie's metal letters that are awesome. but i was looking for a cheaper way to make metal letters in my boys' room. i had previously covered letters in scrapbook paper for my oldest son's room in our other house. but i wanted something more modern and more boyish for this room. so, i set out to fine a way...

forgive me, but i found this idea somewhere online. i have no idea where. if you google "faux metal painted letters" you will find a million tutorials.

just a reminder: the crafts you find here don't require any artistic skill or crazy tools to complete. just a little patience and some post-bedtime minutes {and a glass of wine...ok that's up to you}.

supplies you need:

paper mache/cardboard letters {joann's has sales or use a coupon}

black craft paint

silver craft paint

foam brush

paint your letters black and let them dry.

then brush silver over the black running your foam brush in all directions. you can't even mess it up, just brush like crazy with the silver paint until you have covered all the black.

this whole project took only a part of one evening for me. i had 12 letters to paint and it was super quick. one coat of black, then by the time i was done with all 12 letters, the first were ready for a crazy coat of silver. i hung them up using 3M command velcro strips - easy!

your letters will look like galvanized steel. voila.

happy {un}crafting!

the boys' room.

2013-04-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

aka {the fraternity}.

aka {where the wild things are}.

i gave you a tour of the nursery, so here's a little look into the boys room. i'm proud of the boys' room and its been a long work-in-progress. i've been adding to the room for over a year and i still don't feel like its quiet to the finish line. but sometimes tweaking over time is the best method for me...i have to try things out and then decide how to change them up.

of course there is a pennant on the door...obsessed, i tell you.

now, this room was inspired by a layout in the Land of Nod catalog. in fact, we had some paint color matched to a Mythic paint sample we ordered from Land of Nod. then i found sheets, comforters, throw blankets {at Target, of course!} to mimic some of the colors and layering from the catalog.

my super crafty mom made the chevron valances for us. just like in eden's room.

my dad even got in on the project.

parents rock.

this dresser is from the nursery at our old house and i finally changed out the knobs. of course, now i wish i did different knobs, but these will do. pretty sure the boys do.not.care. inside the drawers are always a disaster. truth.

the shelves hold some special things that don't have another home right now. this whole wall is so-so...it looks ok, but i'd like to add more interest...

the locker bins hold lots of junk! usually if the boys have something that we don't want little sister to get or if they get a trinket somewhere, i tell them they can keep it in their bin. then, periodically we have to go through the bin and decide what to keep and what to throw out.

i recently made this art out of paint chips. i originally wanted photos in these frames, but i didn't have the right size on hand. i decided something that i don't need to update or switch out would be good in these frames. so...i cut up paint chips and pasted them onto cardstock and framed them. easy.

this is my favorite corner of the room. we don't use the chair a lot and it takes up a lot of space, but there isn't another place in our house for it right now. at bedtime if the boys ask us to sit in their room for a few minutes, or if we are telling a story, we will use the chair. maybe it won't be in there forever. the bookshelf was made by my grandpa and my dad and then assembled and stained by my dad. its great!

more pennant, a world map, and their names.

my sneaky helper.

we really lucked out on these Room & Board bunks we found on craigslist! the storage drawers underneath are a life saver and the quality is awesome. the boys love them. of course, bunk beds are not easy to make - the sheets and blankets are a pain. {here's a realistic approach to making bunks} but we are easy going about that - making beds isn't a priority around here...yet. also, i don't think bunk beds are a "forever" solution. when the boys are big they are probably not going to want to be bunked.

the final little corner of the room. their chalkboards/corkboards.

props to my husband who has to do lots of the dirty work when it comes to re-doing any room. we did the majority of this makeover in a 48 hour period when i was 5 months pregnant. enough said. he did a lot. the walls and ceiling of this old room were pretty damaged and by the time he was done with joint compound and a sander, they looked brand new.

i'm sure i'll be making small changes in this room...i'll keep you posted.

{un}crafty - easy kids art.

2013-04-12T07:07:00.000-05:00

its not always easy to get the kids painting. trust me {i know}. as a stay at home mom, making the mess of painting with little kids can sometimes be the last thing you want to do. but its ok to let go of that fear and help your kids create something they are proud of and had fun making. it doesn't have to be a {huge} mess!

supplies you need:

garbage bags

acrylic paints {kids crayola paints work great}

paint brushes {or foam brushes, or old sponges}

paper plates

canvases {cardboard, paper - anything to else to frame}

i cut open a garbage bag so it lays flat to cover our table and pour paints onto a paper plate for each child.

then i let the kids use paint brushes and old sponges to make a masterpiece. we used small canvases i had on hand, but any piece of cardstock or paper would work in a frame.

kids love to be creative and with the paper plates and garbage bag, my only clean up is washing out and paintbrushes or sponges i want to keep. easy.

this particular project was painting canvases to hang in baby sister's room. she was about to arrive and the boys wanted to make something special for her brand new nursery. its probably the most special part of her room!

let your kids create something for a new sibling, grandparents, or neighbors who are sure to love the special gift!

happy {un}crafting!

{un}crafty - fabric flower pom poms.

2013-04-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

every craft you see her is do-able by everybody. no skill or special tool needed {just patience and a little me-time}. this is the tutorial i followed to make the pom poms in my sweet little daughter's room.

i call it a nursery, but i hope she loves the room for a long time! after my best friend, mollie, and i completed these poms poms {long hours and late nights pre-baby!}, i joked that eden has to have these somewhere at her wedding. kidding-not-kidding.

supplies you need:

paper lanterns, styrofoam balls, or anything else that you want to use for your pom pom {consider size and shape when you choose your object}

fabric {iron our your fabric - doesn't have to be perfect}

scissors

circle pattern {trace a circle on a cereal box or piece of cardstock}

pencil

hot glue gun

iron

use your circle pattern, trace with a pencil, cut out with a scissors...just keep going.

then glue those circle to the lantern over and over again until you get the finished product!

mine were originally paper lanterns with a wire in the top, so i tied ribbons on and hung them from hooks in the ceiling.

happy {un}crafting!

*photo credits: mollybaileyphotography.com

eden's baby girl nursery.

2013-04-10T14:10:00.001-05:00

its one year later, but i'm sharing the nursery we decorated for eden. happily, one year later, i still like it and i think eden does, too. part of my vision for the nursery was something that would still look good when she is no longer a baby. i also wanted something not-too-girly, but i'm not sure that was accomplished. its pretty girly, glitzy, and a little glam.

i guess i really love pennant/banners because i have them everywhere in her room! i got a big block of scrapbooking paper from Michael's and made a template for a pennant shape i liked out of cardboard. then i traced the shape onto all different patterns of paper. i cut them out with a pinking scissors, punched little holes and just used yarn from wal-mart to string them together. adding some little ribbons on the end is a cute little detail.

above eden's ikea crib {which we have really loved}, i hung her glitter letters from rose mille from another banner with more pennants. we hung some knobs from anthropologie to tie the yarn onto. then i did a big bunch of ribbons from each. pretty.

i took a thrift store frame and spray painted it and added chicken wire. we can hang cards or hair clips. i made the canvases by covering some old art with fabric and cutting out paper, then glueing it to the fabric in the shape of a peacock and the eiffel tower. classy, right? easy. the biggest project {one of them} were the pom poms. they took forever. and ever.

lucky for me, i have awesome friends who helped me complete these. my sister found the tutorial and i knew i wanted to make them for eden's room, but i didn't think through how {totally} huge they were going to be! i found paper lanterns for cheap that were bigger than i wanted, but i thought that would be ok. then i bought some cotton broadcloth from a textiles outlet, cut {about a million} circles out of it, hot glued them to the lanterns - voila! giant poms. i like them and they look good in her room, but i would opt for small styrofoam balls next time.

one of my favorite parts of her room are her little ikea shelves that hang behind her door. they are full of special things: art by her brothers, photos, special keepsakes - even a card of "wishes for baby" that i framed from her baby shower {baby shower post with photos coming sometime soon!}.

eden's room is fun and special. the boys have a fun and special room, too {which has been a loooong work-in-progress} and i will share that soon. its fun to make the nursery a place that both you and your child will love {mamas spend a lot of time in there!}.

to see more about how we created this nursery, visit our family blog.

for a more details list of sources for items in this room, email me :

jilleiselt@gmail.com

*photo credits: mollybaileyphotography.com

how i cured my baby's cradle cap.

2013-04-09T10:05:00.001-05:00

news flash: i'm not a doctor. so, this post is my opinion and my own experience, nothing more. but maybe if it worked for us, it could work for you, too.

my two youngest have had cradle cap. it showed up at just a few weeks old for both of them and was most noticeable right after a bath or the day after a bath when their skin was very flaky. with the benny, i used baby oil and tried to kick it that way. it improved, but seemed to persist. i'm sure its different for each child.

with my baby, i used California Baby "tea tree & lavender" Shampoo and Bodywash. i bought it at Target. i had heard that tea tree oil was supposed to help with cradle cap, so i thought we could give it a try.

first, i used a little olive oil while she soaked in her puj tub in the kitchen sink. i held the oil in my hands for a minute to warm it up. then i rubbed it onto her scalp and let it sit while i scrubbed her up a little and we played with ducky. then i took our little scrub brush and really went after her scalp, gently giving it a good exfoliation. you could also just gently scrub with your fingers. the brush is the one the hospital gave us, its super soft but still good for gentle scrubbing. then i applied a dime's worth of the California Baby shampoo (smells so good!) and scrubbed again. the soap got super bubbly and foamy and i let it sit a bit longer before carefully rinsing her head.

after a couple times of this process - her cradle cap was g.o.n.e. i was super excited because benny's lingered so long. and that was it {no more problems with cradle cap for this baby}!

the story of this blog.

2013-04-08T17:18:00.001-05:00

this blog started with a couple good intentions {to encourage moms: you don't have to be perfect; to be an outlet for me: creative; and to share some easy projects: un-crafty, if you will}. it hasn't always stayed true to it purpose. when we went through something hard, it felt like a place to share some of our trials and tears and joy. this blog is about the everyday for a mom and i've sometimes maybe shared too much about my everyday. i'm coming back to this blog after a long break and a lot of thought. its going to be a place of encouragement, moving forward, fun, and joy - the way i try to live each day. of course bit about life will be sprinkled in, too.

i have projects to share and you don't have to have skill to do them. i have no skill. just an urge to be crafty every-now-and-then.

i have three awesome kids so i'm sporadic at posting, crafting, {and showering}. but, i will do my best to keep things updated.

who knows where life {or this silly blog} may take us...if there is one thing i've learned in the last couple years, its that God has us on a journey {and i'm happy to follow}.

my {super fun and silly} family.

Our girl turned ONE!

2013-03-20T10:56:00.001-05:00

We had a little party at my parents house. Here's a peek at the fun. And the cutest one year old ever.

We had fun that day and its been such a great year with our little Eden. She is so much fun and we're just looking forward to more!

On another note, I've been away from this blog forever, but I'm just feeling like getting back into it...stay tuned.

Happy Mother's Day

2012-05-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

This commercial moves me and I remember a similar one in the past.

Our children may not all be olympic athletes, but we are always our children's biggest cheerleaders in whatever endeavors - big or small. Being a mom is tough, but it really is the best.

Plans can change...

2012-03-21T15:57:00.000-05:00

One year ago, I planned to take my husband here for the first week of March...just the two of us.

But actually, we were here...at home, loving our new baby girl.

You could say our plans changed...just a little. We were happy to welcome Eden Olivia to our family on March 6th. She was 22 inches long and 10 lbs 4 oz (no surprise there - just another big strong baby for this family!). We are blessed beyond belief and loving life as a family of five.

Cabo can wait.

Blog Break

2012-02-15T15:48:00.002-06:00

Even with a lot of fun projects to share, this blog has to take a break. I'm not sure when I'll get back to blogging here, but with baby arriving so soon, I'm anticipating no time to keep up around here. I'll be back when life feel a little more under control!

New Baby Must Haves

2012-01-24T08:34:00.001-06:00

I'm in major nesting mode as we wait for baby girl to arrive in about 6 weeks. Just saying that makes my heart rate jump! We are soooo not prepared. We are ready, excited, and thrilled to have this baby coming so soon, but as far as being really prepared...that's another story.

Someone asked me last week if I'm just buying diapers and getting small things ready...

NO! We still have baby's whole room to re-do and lots of big projects. This time around, hubby is nesting right along with me. We are tackling projects each day, trying to get this house in order before we add another human to the family!

A lot of the reason for the chaos and rush is because of our move this fall and how much time it has taken to get the house cleaned up and in order from the previous owner. We didn't expect to feel so unsettled for so long...well, time is up! This push to get ready for baby is a great push for us to get the house in a state we are pleased with - at least for now.

We had a garage sale last spring and got rid of some baby stuff that was too bulky or we didn't think we would lose. Some of it wasn't very functional anymore so we got rid of that too. Most of what we sold won't be replaced (the high chair: you don't really need a bulky high chair - a Bumbo works for a while and then a portable booster is great!).

There are a few things I am feeling the need to purchase, though. I bought a cute DwellStudio for Target bouncer from Craigslist since ours broke down after baby #2. I knew this was something that would be handy for setting the baby in while I am busy with the boys or with housework. Check.

Aden + Anais Swaddle Wraps

These swaddle wraps are just so soft and so pretty. Ok, they might not be a "must have", but after having two boys, I don't have anything girly, so besides a new wardrobe for the bambina, a few girly accessories will be nice, too!

Moby Wrap

The Moby Wrap didn't get too popular around here until after my second boy way born, but now all my friends swear by it. We still have the BabyBjorn, which we have used like crazy, but this seems like a great way to wear baby girl around the house, at the library, at playgroup, etc.

Puj Tub

I mean, really, how adorable are these Puj Tubs?! In our old house, I didn't have a great sink for one of these small, space saving tubs, but in this new house every sink would work great. I never had a separate baby tub because of the bulkiness of it. I love the portability of this little tub so I can bathe the baby wherever we are in the house.

Fisher Price Rock n' Play

These new little bassinets have ratings off the charts from consumers. Everyone seems to love them for babies to sleep in at night by the bedside or for naps during the day. We got rid of our pack n play because one of the sides no longer latched. Major safety issue. So, I am thinking one of these super portable little bassinets would be great to let the baby sleep in our room for a while.

What other new baby must haves am I missing? Of course, we're not interested in breaking the bank because this might be the final addition to our family... But I'd love to hear your favorite baby product feedback!

I've got a feeling...

2012-01-06T07:28:00.000-06:00

about 2012.

I've got a feeling that 2012 is going to be a great year. The year we've been waiting for.

I think we were happy to put 2011 and all the roller coaster of events behind us. A new year gives us the chance to start clean, start fresh, start over. We started over fresh with a new life last March-April, but putting those numbers: 2-0-1-1 behind us feels good.

I've felt this way before...

I felt this way when I turned 30. That year ended up being the toughest year yet. But it wasn't all bad because it brought us to this place where we are now. A good place. A healthy place. A place where we are supported and loved for who we are. That terrible year made the rest of our life better.

So I'm thinking 2012 is going to be great. We have a new ministry, a new life, new jobs, a new house, a new little baby girl who will join our family in just 8 short weeks. But I'm prepared for this "great year" ahead to make us better again, to improve our character, to deepen our relationships, to grow us in ways that might not be easy. But, I can still see that as great. And, for that, I am thankful.

Happy 2012 to all you mamas and your loves. I hope its a great year for you, too!

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T09:06:00.000-06:00

Its looking like Christmas...

2011-12-08T09:09:00.000-06:00

Its beginning to look like Christmas in this house! I am more excited than usual about decorating for Christmas because in this new house, we haven't had a lot of decoration going on. Christmas was a great kick-start to getting out some of our decor and making the house feel festive and homey.

One of my favorite features of this old house is the buffet, or piano windows. I made this pom pom garland with my friends, Mollie this fall. It was an easy but time consuming project. I will post a tutorial later! I got the "Joy" letters at a country store in Northern Minnesota, but I've seen them all over since. The mercury glass holders are a combination of Michaels, Target, and Crate & Barrel.

In the dining room, I created a display with items I dug out of boxes, etc:

My sister gave me the small apothecary jars and I filled them with whatever I had that was festive. I also taped red ribbon to the topiary pots (I pulled the stem out of the topiaries for a new look).

I added my subway art for some height and for now, I like the look!

A little sparkly garland goes a long way to help make some ordinary look fun and seasonal! We remind ourselves to look for "Zippy", our Elf on the Shelf.

I love this colorful tree behind the kitchen sink and the little pots I just tied a ribbon and put some holly in the tie.

Where is Zippy anyway?

This is our entryway for now...I had fun decorating and putting the boys' stocking up. Where to put stockings without a fireplace?

The Christmas Countdown has been working beautifully...

the boys love running to the bin of wrapped books to open their books for the day!

How is your decor coming along? Its a process...adding little bits along the way. Holiday cards we receive and the kids artwork is another great way to add to any holiday decor!

My Brand New Bag

2011-12-04T09:33:00.000-06:00

I love these diaper bags...

so much that I shredded my last one from so much use!

Well, I contacted PPB and they asked me to send in my old bag. Then they contacted me again to ask me which new bag I would like! They replaced my bag after 3 years - now that's great customer service!

My new bag is the glazed version, so its water resistant and will hold up better for baby #3. :)

Thanks, PPB!

(Un)Crafty - T-Shirt Scarf

2011-12-02T09:14:00.000-06:00

I am not a Black Friday shopper, so on the day after Thanksgiving, my sister and I decided to do a few projects. She was more ambitious than me and made some cute glittered votives, but I just came away with this super easy to make t-shirt scarf.

We bought XL size cotton t-shirts and used my mom's rotary cutter and mat.

Step 1: Cut off the bottom hem.

Step 2: cut off the top of the shirt from right under the sleeves. Then you are left with a tube.

Step 3: Measure and cut into strips. I did about 1-inch strips.

Leave about one inch (or more) of the tube uncut at the top - this will be how your loops stay connected.

Step 4: Stretch our each loop - this will cause the cotton to curl.

Voila! Ours are bug enough to double up around your neck and are pretty cute! I'm thinking of making more...it took up only about 10 minutes!

(Un)Crafty - Christmas Countdown

2011-12-01T08:35:00.001-06:00

Happy December! Can you believe it? The fall was beautiful and it went by so fast! We are busy: still moving into our new house and preparing for our new baby who will join our family in just three short months!

Since today is the first day of December, it was the first day to put our Christmas Countdown, or Advent Calendar, to use! The boys were so excited when they woke up! Of course, they would love to go through each day this morning and enjoy all the fun and treats. Waiting each day will be the hard part!

With our life circumstances feeling super crazy, this is an especially (un)crafty project! I pulled out all the Christmas and winter-themed books (about 40 in total - whoa!) and wrote the titles on popsicle sticks. The sticks fit well in the felt calendar I made a couple years ago.

This project took over the dining room table for a couple days.

I wrote the titles on each stick, leaving room at the end for a treat!

Then I wrapped up all the books in some wrapping paper from the Target $1 Spot. I used 4 rolls to wrap all the books. Each book is numbered so when the boys take the sticks out of the "December 3" pocket, they can find the books with a "3" in the basket under the tree.

Most days have two books, which is perfect for two kids. They each get to pull out a stick, have a treat, and open a wrapped book. Do you have any great advent calendar ideas? You can find some seriously crafty calendars at Hi Sugarplum's link party.