Holiday project

So, we finished project #1 and I have a few new crafts up my sleeve.  Some of them cannot be shared because they are Christmas gifts, so I will share what I can share now!

I am not sure on a timeline for this next project, but it shouldn't take too long (Since it's already been on the 'to do' list since September/October).  We got the supplies last week and I may give it a try tomorrow after B's therapy and running some errands with my mother and sister.

I found this idea on Pinterest, which is a huge timesucker.  But totally worth it, in my opinion.  Honestly, who doesn't know about Pinterest?  Where have you been?  If you know about blogs, you should know about Pinterest.  How many times can I write Pinterest in this paragraph?  Pinterest is a place for people to "pin" websites and ideas in a virtual place on the internet.  (answer: 5)

We used this with ideas for the desk:

http://www.pinterest.com/Lauraoneyear/desk-dining-room/

I also have a craft ideas board, which is where I placed our next project:

http://www.pinterest.com/Lauraoneyear/craft-ideas/

Source-It's a Shabby Thing

I am going to create a holiday decoration that I can change as needed.  I actually have Halloween clings and Thanksgiving clings.  So, I have been meaning to do this for a while, but...life happened, yet again!  Hopefully I will have it here for you guys to see before Thanksgiving!

*If you would like to do this project, Target has clings in the 1 spot

Project #1-DONE!

We finished the project!  It has actually been done for a while, now.  I just didn't really have take the time to blog.

So...behold...The new desk!

The improved file cabinet.  I can write on the top drawer with dry erase marker. :)

The desk with the old chair.  Stay tuned for an update on those, too!

There were quite a few steps to this, and before we started, we had not really taken on a project like this together.  I mean, we installed my mom's microwave and went camping and put the tent together in the dark and that made me realize, that maybe we shouldn't do these projects together anymore.

However, with the invention of Pinterest, I looked around my house and felt...well...blah!  It needs some personal touches.  And I don't mean the toys that are EVERYWHERE!  How many toys can an almost 2 year old own?  Don't answer that, because Christmas and her birthday are coming up and I do not know where I will put everything!  (Stay tuned for organization posts!)

We started with this file cabinet.

The lock...so you don't steal my stuff!

I put all of the hardware in a bag. 

primer for the file cabinet

The top of the desk.  Poplar plywood with quarter-round

We also used gel stain...it's old, but it worked!

Table, with the legs

My fancy camera work

We finished with Poly and put three coats on.

Now, we need to fill up that wall space!

The desk is in the corner of our dining room.  We chose to make it ourselves because we just couldn't find a desk that fit our style and the space.  I am very happy with how it turned out.  I am excited to share our future projects!  I have lots of crafts to complete and of course we have to find something to put on those walls above the desk!

Where have I been?

Well...I don't know what to tell you.  I stopped blogging for a bit.  We were still working on projects and I was still working on losing weight, but somehow, I'm back up!

I would tell you that I don't know how that happened, but I do.  Sometimes, life can get a little bit overwhelming and you just have to take a lil' break. 

My sister in law told me this weekend that the blog inspired her and she noticed that I hadn't been blogging.  How sweet!  So, thank you Amy for the push to start up again! 

We DID finish our first project!  I will post pictures this week, I promise!

Learning when to say no...

This is something I need to work on this year.  I've always been a person that wants to do as much as possible, but sometimes it is okay to just be.  Today, however, was not one of those days! 

This morning we went to our local Habitat ReStore.  I did a lot of volunteer trips with Habitat and loved it!  Some of my best friends were made through these trips and I am so thankful for that.  Although I don't always get the time, or take the time, to volunteer (yet another thing to work on!), anymore, we like to support the mission as much as possible.  So off we went on an adventure to see what we could find!  My husband was looking for some shelving or storage for the basement.  We found two upper cabinets for $25, so a total of $50.  Pictures will follow when we get them installed.

My husband said he could make the cabinets and I knew that was a road I didn't want to go down.  We haven't even finished project #1!  And by the time he was done, I am sure it would be close to the cost of these cabinets and we could take them home today AND help a wonderful organization.  Win-win, in my book.  And I get my husband's handyman help with my projects, instead. 

To find a store near you, visit Habitat ReStores. 

After that adventure, I went to my mom's to help clean.  She has MS and is also recovering from breast cancer surgery and treatment, so she appreciates any help she can get.  It was nice to get to spend some time with her.  Our little family then went to run errands and ended up not eating until 7!  We even gave our daughter lunch meat that we had not purchased yet in the grocery store...I felt a little like I was stealing!  But we obviously paid for it.  No harm done.

I am hoping to continue my post from yesterday sometime soon.  If you missed it, please visit B's story 1

Oh, and project #1 is thisclose to being done!  Hoping to share it with you early this week.  I can't wait!!!

Have you ever volunteered for Habitat?

 

What hidden gem would you look for today?

I'm baaaaaaack!

I didn't mean to neglect you for so long!  I am so sorry my loyal follower(s).   There should be a little button over there -------> for those of you that would like to follow and keep up with the blog! 

Life has been a little hectic around here.  I just started watching a beautiful little peanut whom both B and I adore.  But it has limited my ability to get 'er done during the day-we have made progress on our project, but it is not quite finished, so you will have to wait another day.  I am not complaining at all!  This is part of what is allowing me to be able to stay home and work on things with my family and home.  I think today is a great day to share our whole story.

I always thought this looked like she was saying "YES!"

When we found out we were expecting, we were ecstatic!  We wanted to tell our families together and I happened to be graduating with my masters in Education the same weekend as my 30th birthday.  After graduation, we gave my mother, and my mother and father-in-law a present as a thank you for their support during the two years of getting my masters.  They were Brewers booties and it took a second, but they quickly realized what we were trying to say!

The pregnancy was a little rough on me.  I gained A LOT of weight and I was sick a lot, so I felt pretty miserable.  However, it wasn't until August of that year that was really difficult.

We went for our ultrasound at about 20 weeks and we were meeting with our doctor immediately afterwards for our appointment.  The tech took what I thought was a long time taking pictures and then after waiting quite a bit, they sent us on our way.  I had read that the doctor would come talk to you if there were any issues, but they didn't, so I was relieved.  The relief was short lived, to say the least.

When we met with the doctor, whom we love and has been absolutely amazing, she said something that I will never forget.  "Did the doctor come talk to you?" I quickly looked at my husband, panicked.  "No."

"They found something in the scan.  It looks like your baby has water on the brain, or hydrocephalus."  I knew someone that had this, he went to my mother's church.  He did not lead an independent life, but had lived much longer than doctors thought he would.  His head was very large and I remembered having a conversation with my mom about it when I was little.  I remembered the words 'water on the brain' and that was all I could think of.

The doctor told us that she wanted us to meet with the perinatologist and the nurse would come and set up the appointment.  There were more words and discussion, but I don't really remember many of them.  I do remember that the nurse came in and immediately had an appointment set up for the next day.

The following days and weeks were filled with heartache and tears and anger and confusion.   I will continue this story, but in the interest and respect for your time, I will stop here for today.  But one more picture of our beautiful baby girl and let you know that we are building our happy ending, day by day!

Happy baby!

Progress?

It is tough to remember, but very important!

Sometimes it is difficult to see progress.  For me, today is one of those days.  I started this blog to keep track of our projects and our home and looking back at the past week, I find myself getting discouraged.  I know Rome wasn't built in a day and our house isn't going to change over night.  I just feel like I want so many things for my family and I don't want to waste a moment on nonsense, but sometimes I feel like that is all I do...

Today, I am happy that I did the dishes and washed the cloth diapers. 

Anyone else feel like this today?

Sunday in Packerland

Before you continue, I have a confession to make.  I live in Wisconsin and I am a Packer fan.  That is not the confession.  The confession is that today, my family and I went to a 49ers fan's house to watch the game.  I am so ashamed!  Luckily, his wife is a Packers fan!  Too bad the Packers lost.

At least Clay Matthews represented

Okay, so if you are still reading, thank you!  Know that Project #1 is a little bit closer to completion.  I am hoping to have it finished by the end of this week and then I can tell all of you all about it!

This morning, I added another coat of paint to Project #1 and then we headed out to the Watermelon Festival at Swan's Pumpkin Farm.  I remember going there growing up and we have started the tradition for our daughter as well.  We had not been to the Watermelon Festival and this may be the first year that they did it.  They had a lot of the same events that are there during the fall season, but it was fun to go.  We are still going to take our daughter during October, for sure! 

Can't wait to carve our pumpkin this year! 

I also would love to go apple picking at some point.  Mmmm...love me some Macintosh apples!

What are some fall traditions that you and your family partake in?  

Do you decorate for Halloween?

Saturday=productive

One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog is because I want to be able to look back at this year of staying home with my daughter and see all of the amazing things we did together.  So far, this "One Year" project has been all my husband and myself.   However, I do have some mommy and B projects up my sleeve, so stay tuned!


We put some more touches on our first official "One Year" project.  I am slowly starting to declutter our house and this project will help us tremendously!  Another sneak peek:

Hm...what could we use this stain on?

I can't wait to share this with my one follower all of you!

This morning, my family went grocery shopping together....something we often do as a family, because my husband doesn't let me out by myself actually likes going.  The past couple of months we have used a meal planning sheet that I created, but today we did it a little differently.  I am planning a post to share all of the details on this and which way worked better.  Chalk this up as our "One Year" project #3.

So far:

Project #1- Secret...but it is really cool, and I feel really artsy, so stay tuned, k?
Project #2- Lose weight (always ongoing)
Project #3- Become a menu planning guru

Any menu planning tips?  

Does your family shop together?  Or, are we weird?

Losing weight...How much can I lose in a year?

One of the things I want to work on this year is losing weight.  I have been overweight for almost my entire life and I have been successful losing weight...I just haven't been successful in keeping it off!

Here are some pictures of me at different stages in my life...

One of my heavier times.

Wedding!

While losing weight

After completing our first half marathon with JoMo!  

 Did I mention that I used to run...well, run/walk?  I am not what I would call an athlete, but I played tennis in high school.  I love  hate  love to hate running!  I would often struggle and want to quit, but love the way I feel afterwards!  I love the sense of accomplishment.

At my smallest...right before I got pregnant

 I gained 80 pounds during my pregnancy.  I didn't even know that was physically possible!  I was sick and miserable the whole time and used food to comfort myself, I guess.  I also stopped running and doing much physical activity of any sort. 

And...now?  Our daughter is 20 months old and I still am up there!  Not quite where I was when I was pregnant, but close enough!  I am hoping that after I am finished with this year, I will have found success with weight loss again and I will be running.  I did start Couch to 5k last month, but then...I don't know, I lost the habit.

And I should mention, today is weigh-in day!  My husband and I are actually starting a competition to see who can lose more weight in percentage.  Feel free to offer him candy and steak if you see him!

What do you to stay in shape?  Have you ever tried running?

Life is short...embrace it!

I didn't work on the projects today, but my husband did.  

Today I visited a friend whose husband died at the end of August.  I certainly cannot imagine what she is going through, but she is handling her loss with such grace and strength that I am in awe. 

Reach out and call someone you have been meaning to see.

Not only is this a lesson in remembering to embrace your loved ones, it is a lesson to me to not sweat the small stuff.  You see, this friend and I weren't really talking and I wasn't there for her husband's funeral.  Today, we very quickly got through the issue.  The issue was real and I think it was valid, but what wasn't valid was how I handled it.  Instead of calling her or going to see her, I sent her an e-mail.  If I had handled it differently, I think we could have gotten through it without the huge lapse and more importantly, I would have been there for her in her greatest time of need.   

The point I am trying to make is that this year, as one of my projects, I am going to work to call and visit more.  If I have a problem, I have always been one to share how I feel, (take it or leave it-some have left) but I need to do it with more grace and strength, like my friend. 

Day 2-Why now?

Today was beautiful out!  It felt like fall and I hear Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available at Starbucks!  YUM!

Trying to pace myself...

I have a confession.  I do feel that this is a little early for me to be confiding in my blog audience, but here goes nothing...

Ready?!?

I have wanted to start a blog for a really long time.  I just didn't think I had anything interesting enough to say.  I was a teacher for six years and I always felt like there was something better for me to do, like grading (blech) and planning (eh).  Sitting down and blogging wasn't what I thought the best use of my time. Oh, and did I mention that we have a 20 month old?  It just didn't fit into the life plan.

Sometimes, we have time to eat or sleep...not both.  This is our beautiful daughter, B. 

 
Fast forward to, well...now.  Why now?  I am staying home to be with our daughter and I have some time to do those projects that have been nagging at me for so long!  We have lived in our house for a little over 4 years, and it definitely looks lived in, but there's no style, no pizzazz!


Here is a little sneak peak at the first project that we are completing in these 365 days! 

I will just say this...it does not look like this anymore!  

 

 

What do you do with your paperwork?  

We used to keep it in piles...well, everywhere!   Stay tuned to see what we do now!

Starting....now!

What can someone accomplish in a year?  Have you ever kept track?

That is what I am setting out to do!  I am starting this blog to remember the household and personal projects that I am attempting going to do. 

Have you ever pinned something as inspiration and then never looked at it again?  Come on, we are ALL guilty of that!  Unless you don't have a pinterest account, and in that case, stop reading.  We are no longer friends. (Hey, check out my pinterest for some possible upcoming projects! http://pinterest.com/Lauraoneyear/)
 
Have you ever started a list and then, well, lost it?  No?  Well...me either!

source

This is the place that I am going to keep track of all the things in my life that I have said, coulda, shoulda woulda in the past.

Keep watching!  You may learn something or you may get a good laugh along the way!

Upcoming posts:
Toy storage
Dining room desk
Filing system

What is one project you want to accomplish in the next year?  What is stopping you?