Just a Little Crafting

I'm a sucker for rugs. What I'm not a sucker for, their price.

Why do rugs have to cost so much? Even little runner rugs, um hello... Fifty dollars?

No thanks. It's not like we don't have the money but I don't want to shell out that kind of cash for a floor decoration. And, we don't have the money ;) 

So after making Sawyers teepee we had quite a bit of drop cloth left. 

I instantly thought, "rug!" And after searching the World Wide Web, I realized I wasn't the only one! 

It was great having a tutorial, no matter how easy the project may be.

Let me just tell you this right now.... I was not disappointed with the finished project! 

And I actually took pictures along the way! (Because there was a lot of disappointment when I didn't while making the teepee.)

So, Here we go! A quick and easy DIY drop cloth rug.

First I measured out the area and cut my drop cloth, it was a really rough measurement and even rougher cut lol then I ironed.

Next I serged the edges. I was originally going to serge and iron down the edges and sew a top stitch but with a little one super interested in my sewing machine and Blake out playing basketball I just serged it. (And I am so glad I did!) 

Next I taped my fabric. First I was going to do 5 inch painted stripes with 4 inches in between but I wanted there to be a bigger difference so I did a 3 inch gap between the paint stripes. (Again, so glad.) It also wasn't as hard as I thought it would be with Sawyer. He just 'swept' the kitchen/rug almost the whole time I taped. That's why he photobombed half of the pictures.

Like I said it was a super rough cut so the end was pretty lopsided. No worries! After I painted I cut off the reminding fabric parallel to the last painted stripe. 

Next, I flipped a black garbage bag inside out and taped it to the counter top (for bleed through purpose). I flipped inside out so when I was done I could flip it the right way and still use it without getting paint everywhere. Once my workspace was ready, I got some tea, a granola bar, some music, and started painting! 

P.s. The rubber band around the paint can trick realllllyyy works! For the color I went with a more universal one, gray, or Behrs Antique Tin. That way I can place the rug anywhere and it still works. I purchased two of the 7 oz sample jars for $3 and two of HDs cheapo paintbrushes. I ended up only using one jar and one brush, so now I can make another one! 

Keep painting until it's done and let it dry.

After ten minutes I took it off the counter and laid it on the floor to dry with minimum wrinkles.

Because I did mine so close to bedtime my impatient soul didn't have to pace and wait for it to dry, I just went to bed :)

The next morning I ran down stairs and marveled at my work! It was beautiful but, not perfect.

I quickly cut of the uneven part and the top, went back to my serger and re-serged the WHOLE thing, took less than 5 minutes. I did that only because I love the way the white thread looks on the gray painted area. Because serging over the already serged, it ruffled the edges making it more beachy feeling, which I adore.

Because, I do have a little one that likes to romp around in the kitchen I went out to big lots and purchased a liner. It is originally shelf lining but it works great under the rug and for $2 you just can't pass stuff like that up! 

I cant decided if I want to go in and sand a few painted to spots to give it a more wear and tear look or leave it crisp. But for now I'm going to throw it in the wash to soften up the fabric where the paint is, re-iron and enjoy!

The whole project from start to finish (minus drying time) only took me a few hours. All conjured up while Blake was out playing his weekly basketball game with my family. It was seriously level::easy! I'm totally in love with the finished project and for $6 for cost of paint, brush and liner and left over fabric, I'll take it! Seriously loves, if you need a simple rug, this DIY is perfect, and even more perfect with little kiddos, I mean... WASHABLE!! If you do make one and have questions, feel free to ask. You won't regret it ;)

Xoxo: Mrs. T

Another quick DIY? Pots and pans taking up to much space in your cupboards and you have left over space on top of your pantry?

Hang them! 

All you need is a current rod some S shaped shower hooks and for weight issues a set of plastic pole sockets. That little package is only $1.50 at HD. It's worth getting, my first time around I didn't have them and in the middle of the night the whole rod, pots and all, collapsed. Making a huge boom and I almost wet the bed thinking we were being robbed haha. Just get them.

I stole my hooks from our shower curtain, it's looked like this for a month now, don't worry though, I just bought new hooks for my shower 

The lids you ask? Easy, a drying rack from the dollar store. 

Happy weekend loves!

 

where did november go?

geeze.. how the time flies

my mom left to peru before thanksgiving came around

+ we knew she was going to be gone for christmas as well

so we combined the two + had a feast

of course my son is holding a knife.

mitchie-fu (the mouse catcher)

the gorgeous girls

the boys watching a game

where we dine



the gang (look at liam smile **swoon**)

my sweet colby



mick + her fiancé troy



yup

my crazy gorgeous sis vanessa... boys, she's single ;)

our little family

 after we ate dinner we gathered round + had my mom open her gifts

then we ate yummy dessert

+ headed to the movies

where we watched Delivery Man

 

not to shabby

by the time the movie was up it was pretty late so we all said our goodbyes + headed home

all around our thanksgiving/christmas bash was a grand success

 

for actual thanksgiving day

we were in saint george spending it with blakes family

we weren't there very long, just a couple of days but it was good

lynell always makes yummy food the whole time the family is there

i'm talking breakfast, lunch + dinner.

so delicious

thanksgiving day we went to gran + granddads per usual

where we caught up with cousins

+ indulged in a yummy feast



just missing nick + clenece + their cute family



amber + her family



our whole november was pretty great, probably our best!

hopefully yours was too..

 

one last thing...

i have so much to be thankful this year as i have years past

but this one was a little bit more important

this one we had sawyer

he is our greatest blessing

unconditionally is how much i love that boy

just as most of you love your little ones.

i'm so grateful the lord has blessed blake + i with him

each morning we're able to look in those innocent little eyes + marvel at all he has to offer

many days we have asked ourselves what we have done to deserve him

now is when we live our lives TO deserve him

everyday.

to deserve the happiness he brings us

the joy

the emotions

the love.

i'm thankful for those chubby fingers + toes

his milk smelling breathe + snotty kisses

i've never been so thankful for snotty kisses

it's a whole other world being 'mommy'

one that is cherished in my life

+ sawyers.

i'm thankful for the desire he instills in our lives to be better parents, better people

the  deepened desire to go to church + raise him with a strong foundation

as both blake + i have been raised

i can say that background saved us a lot of hardships growing up

the church has held blake + i together through thick + thin

+ even though at times we take it for granted, we know it is always there

that, i am thankful for this year.

 

right beside my gratefulness for sawyer is blake.

i would not be who i am or where i am without him.

i would not have my precious boy.

i would not have the love i have every day.

without him i would not have warm arms to wake up beside each morning.

or strong hands to wipe away my tears.

i'm thankful for how this year has brought us so close

for his faith in me + in us + our future

i've never been so thankful for the happiness + light he brings to my every day

( even when he is being a pain in the butt)

i'm thankful for the patience he has as i grow up

i'm thankful for the sacrifices he has made to be where we are today.

i'm thankful for him,

mind

body

+

soul

 

these are my thankfuls + my gratefuls for this year.

for no matter what happens in years to come

or what has happened in years past

these are my constants,

my forever + always.

 

happy thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiatus

just a note: i wrote this post one morning, two months ago, on my tablet

it's dated.

but it is still love.

...

we've been hiatus. i know.

dont worry we only moved... once again.

hopefully this move will stick for a while.

after looking back on it i realized, we've moved once for each year we've been together.

not a bad track record if you ask me.

honestly not a wwhhooleee lot has happened since ive been gone.

biggest news...

i had another nephew, + he is gorgeous.

little liam eli lara, such a doll

other news...

happy Halloween!

this year we hit up cornbellys.

 

we did the maze + the hay rides + the family time, it was fun!

 

sawyer was a very last minute abominable snowman

 

 

 

 

Baby S is now eleven months old, sigh, where has the time gone?

he is very picky with his steps but everywhere with his crawls

he is the definition of lil' piggy

he adores music

+ he is all together just a happy bouncy baby

im still in awe that hes ours.

blake is ((very gratefully)) enjoying his job

+ i am enjoying him basically working from home just as much

we save a gazillion dollars in gas + commuting time

because we live so close to center street its an easy 5 minute walk to stores + the city activities.

my current favorite store is the encore thrift store. beautiful is an understatement.

also on center is guitar co. they make guitars right in front of you and the smell is beyond euphoric. the guitars and ukelelles hang on the walls looking like yummy pastries from the most notable cake store. its delicious.

a few stores down and youll hit the delectable pizza parlor, two jacks. i highly recommended stopping by with a friend + getting the sidewalk special. literally pizza + cheese sticks to die for.

+my last favorite stop is unhinged. this store is unreal. a little over my price budget but the clothes + decor are great eye candy. picture urban outfitters with a positive twist. beautiful.

sometimes we venture a little further down the shops but those are the basic hitups.

its something nice, finally figuring out who you are.

thats what im doing now.

im finding out that im surprisingly good at being sawyers momma

i have more patience + love then i ever thought possible.

its so much fun watching him grow into himself + find his own little personality.

i more often than not find myself creepily<-- a="" font="" is="" nbsp="" that="" word=""> hovering over him 10 minutes longer than the necessary 5 when i put him down for his naps.

is that normal?

mostly because im in awe of his beautiful skin + features.

his pitchfork fingers + his eight teeth with nickel sized gaps.

his deliciously yummy meaty thighes + hearty tummy.

i stare at him + replay the sound of his laughter + mamas + dadas.

ill never get used to being this beautiful boys mommy.

that... i am figuring out.

im learning that i can actually cook, decently.

....every sunday my sister comes over to watch walking dead,

one makes dinner + the other dessert, the next week we switch.

ive been getting pretty good + less frustrated when it comes time for me to be in the kitchen.

its a nice change.

im enjoying church more, making more of an effort to get ready + pay attention.

which means something when church is at nine am.

my organizing skills are getting better + turning out to be theraputic.

+ i was born to be a couponer. there is something thrilling about literally watching your grocery bill be cut in half. the time spent is totally worth it. who knew.

this new life of ours is suiting me quite well + im sure its only going to get better!

Sure honey, it'll be fun...

"it will be fun", he said
"we can do it for FHE," he said
"you'll love it!," he said
"the water will be warm," he said

the other day blake really wanted to go fishing at the provo river.
that man sure loves to fish.
you see, i'm not very fond of being eaten alive
+ although i have a pretty sick pole, i'm not very good.
i wasn't sure how it would go with the babe
standing in the water, with an 18 lb. baby strapped to me trying to cast across a river that is the equivalent temperature of antarctica, wasn't so appealing
but... "it will be fun", he said

so i bucked up, strapped on my fishing attire (swimsuit, a raggy old shirt + 10 yr old boardshorts), + went to "have fun"
our first stop was cabelas because although I had a sick pole it had no line + blake had to upgrade his gear + supplies for provo river status.
i couldn't believe it, he was a little kid at christmas!
cabelas to him, is joanns to me, it was slightly adorable.
i couldn't believe that by the time we had escaped the store, it was almost FIVE
we we're finally ready to fish. with all our new gear + baby in tow we headed to the river
we we're almost there when "CLUNK" + warm air spitting out our vents
our car sputtereted to a stop + we pulled it over
i couldn't believe it! our      had broken + the car was now undriveable
we called my sister Mands + she showed up to the rescue
bummed by our adventure that never got to play out Amanda turned left + headed towards the river
SHE WAS COMING WITH!

we got there a little later than desired but had a blast none the less
we tried a few spots, no bites
a few more, no bites
then finally, on our last lap BOOM! a fish!!
+ then another one!
it was amazing!

the water was freezing
+ sawyer was heavy
but i did have fun
+ i loved snuggling my little guy close
as i watched my man do what he loves
while i laughed + chatted with my sister.
it was one great family night!

it's hard + a thought

it all goes back to that weekend 15 months ago 
when my sister + i had decided to take a short vacation to las vegas. 
just her, i + some much needed bonding time.
it was a blast.
we had a blast.
we saw some shows
did some dance dares
played a guitar for the passerby's
swam our hearts out
dined like champions 
+ shopped till we dropped
i had a blast

one thing i've always cherished about my family is our closeness.
we are a crazy family + we don't always get along (surprise) 
but we love each other, we do.

my sisters + i grew up close. 
we we're each others best friends
+ we we're always each others confidants

that one weekend 15 months ago, amanda + i talked
about our futures
our hopes
our dreams
our lives

it was then i had told her that blake + i were seriously trying for a baby!
it was then i thought i was pregnant.
but it was mixed emotions
we wanted a baby sooo badly.
3 pregnancy tests before that trip
3 pregnancy tests (-)
3 breakdowns with blake telling me, 'shhh, it will happen'

there were many times on that trip when i confided in my sister 
+ many times on that trip when she told me it would happen

the weekend ended + we drove home
she dropped me off + we cried as we said our goodbyes
i love my sister

that night i wasn't feeling to hot.
i was nauseous 
i had a headache
i didn't want to eat
i was beyond exhausted
.... could i be pregnant?

we drove to the store and purchased another lot of pregnancy tests
we came home + i did my thing + i waited the 3 minutes
+ the stick came back positive!
i could here blake pacing on the other side of the door 
so i thought i would put him out of his misery + slid it under the door
i washed my hands + saw the door crack open.
with tears welling up in his eyes 
+ tears welling up in mine
we embraced in one of the best hugs of our time together

we were going to be parents.

the following weeks were filled with an overload of emotions
excitement
nervousness
unsurity
love
fear
etc...
but we kicked into gear.
we got the crib, the clothes, the soaps + towels, the blankets, the diapers, the wipes, the creams, the toys, + the everything else.
we went to the appointments, the doctors, the hospital, + everywhere else we needed to be.
together we got it all done + together we passed the nine months + together we had our bouncy boy.

now here we are, i am, more than a year from that weekend + i am, well, content.
in the perfect state of peaceful happiness.
life isn't to hard, but hard enough.
i know that being sawyers momma is what i was put here to do.
but being a momma is so much more than i ever thought it would be.
i love him so much that at times it hurts.
many times throughout the day i look at him + against my will, start sobbing.
many times throughout the day my mind starts to run at mach 80 with thoughts of 'what ifs?' + 'why hasn'ts?' + 'why, what, why?'
many times throughout the day i worry that sawyer may be a bit behind.
many times throughout the day i reassure myself that sawyer is right where he needs to be.
many times throughout the day i run away to the bathroom and take a quick breath to recharge my batteries.
many times throughout the day i laugh because sawyer +/or blake do something delightful.
many times throughout the day i feel i couldn't love my husband any more.
many times throughout the day i'm grateful for blake, for his help, his wisdom, + his strength.
many times throughout the day i love being momma
many times throughout the day i am exhausted
+ many times throughout the day i just sit back holding my little boy + recognize my life for what it is, purely beautiful.

like many others around me
my life can be crazy
my life can be messy
my life can be surprisingly calm
+ my life can be just right

it's just a matter of thinking, "this is my life today + tomorrow will be even better"

Xoxo: This little Momma