7.20.2012

Friday morning coffee...



Hey guys!
I wanna invite you over 
for coffee at my house this morning
figuratively,
of course...
If you really came over I would be embarrassed because I am watching
Doc McStuffins
because lets face it
that show is adorable!
I love Lamby...

So grab a morning beverage,
get comfy,
and lets talk about stuff...

My friend Sheryl sent me this link this morning
by Redeeming Creations
Such a super cute idea
and great if you need to save space
or hate clutter.
Or you just like to decorate houses
and a real one is just too expensive.
Dollhouses are great
because you can pretend they are for your daughter
but actually they are completely for you.
I can't wait to play with my dollhouse,
errr,
Charlie's dollhouse...

Speaking of Charlie-
can we talk about the park?!
Me and Charlie have discovered the park.
Actually, it was Ryan's idea
but it was such a good one I am stealing it.
We have a park just a couple blocks away.
Charlie loves to swing.
So we walk down to the park.
Swing.
Walk back.
It kills so much time 
and she loves it.
She will swing till she can't hold her head up anymore
and she passes out.
I love being able to add new things to our routine.
You know, doing stuff besides watching entire marathons of Real Housewives and doing laundry during naps.
Anything will do really.

Ryan started a new job this week.
It has been fantastic!
It is really hard to watch your husband come home
every day from work
frustrated
and unmotivated.
I am so proud of him
for taking a risk
and telling himself he deserved better.
The new job,
so far,
has been a great fit.
So happy.

We are going to Ikea soon!
My brother and Lainey
are buying their first home.
Actually my dad and brother
 bought the house.
Moved it.
Remodeled it.
And NOW he is taking over ownership of the house.
It is so cute.
Shake Siding.
Hardwood floors.
Ikea kitchen.
Sounds kinda dreamy huh?

I am scheming up a pretty awesome business idea.
Much to early to share.
But
am pretty excited about it!
If you are a local crafter, artist, maker of something-
email me!
eastchic906{at}yahoo{dot}com

And last but not least,
I leave you with a great little DIY...

I love redoing old lighting.
Have you ever seen some ugly, old brass lamp or chandelier?
And think, I love shape but hate that tacky brass color?
Spray paint it!
It is so easy.
It just takes some painters tape,
old plastic grocery bags,
spray paint,
and sealer.
It will change you life.
Or at least your wallet.
I made the grey lamp pictured about for $25.00
The lamp cost $5.00
The shade cost $15.00
The spray paint cost me $5.00
Bam.
Great new lamp!
The one I liked at Target that was similar
was $50.00.
I did the same thing in my kitchen.
Old brass chandelier.
Spray paint.
Bam.
Farmhouse kitchen!
Try it.
Go to Restore,
support Habitat for Humanity 
and get some great new lighting for your house!
People will ask you where you got it.
And you can say,
Oh that?
I made that.
Bam.

Thanks for coming over for coffee this morning.
Hope everyone has a great weekend!



7.13.2012

A tale of one small crafter and big Anthropologie...

The other day I was on 
twitter
cause twitter is awesome
and if you are the people out there mocking twitter-
I know it's just because you don't understand
so
where was I?
Oh yes, 
I was on twitter
just twitter tweeting around
checkin' out how everyone was starting their day
when Bam!
I see this tweet from my friend Bethany 
about this mini cake plate that BHLDN
is selling for $78.00
!!!




Now if you don't know
BHLDN is owned by Anthropologie
It sells wedding stuff
or
as I like to call it- "Stuff we knock off from Ashley's brain"!
Cause here is what I made OVER a year ago!!!!



I made this for like $3.00 and BHLDN is selling theirs for $78.00!

All you need to make your own:

Small vintage plate
A small pretty glass or candlestick - I prefer little glasses you would serve liquors in
Silicone Adhesive

Instructions for making Mini Cake Stands that are so cute
you could charge $78.00 when you are done

+ Clean the plate and glass with soapy water- dry thoroughly

+ Apply small ring of silicone adhesive around the bottom ring of the glass {you will want the drinking edge of the glass to set on the table}.  Place carefully on the bottom center of the plate.  Hold firm for a minute or two and try not to move around.  You want a good seal.

+ Wipe any extra that might have squeezed out of an edge.

+ These will need to dry over night in a protected area.  


*After the adhesive dries you have a seal strong enough to be put through the dishwashers!  Although I still recommend you hand wash them for safe keeping.  Some vintage plates will chip and lose paint in the dishwasher.




7.09.2012

Postpartum...



I want to have an honest conversation.
About something I think LOTS of woman experience
after they have a baby...

The Baby Blues
Postpartum Depression
Anxiety
Guilt
Shame
Worry

There is so much more emotion going on after having a baby besides happiness.
Don't get me wrong
there is a lot of happiness
a lot.

But there are another range of emotions
that can hit you like a freight train.
They can be isolating 
and scary.
They can be small things
or big things
real 
or 
imagined...

I can admit right now-
I struggle.
I am afraid
of doing something to hurt my baby
or making a mistake.
Doing something or causing something irreversible that I can never undo.

Ryan tells me this is because I love her so much.
He listens to every stupid fear and worry.
He tells me he loves me
and lets me know I can always talk to him
no matter what.
He believes the best in me
and tells me everyday what a great mom I am.

Are you struggling with emotions after baby?
Don't be afraid to talk about it!
The worst thing you can do 
is hold it all inside.

Talk to your husband,
your mother,
your sisters,
your doctor,
even a counselor 

I did.
It was scary until I let it out.
Until I realized this was normal-
Not crazy.
That right now with my hormones
my thinking is not always rational.

I am going to share something I never have before on this blog.  

I have OCD.
No, I don't have to wash my hands a million times
or hoard
But I have it
and for a long time it scared me to death.
I had panic attacks
and was so overloaded with anxiety and worries
that I had a hard time dealing with anything else.
No one on the outside could ever tell,
I hid it so well.
Except that I was kind of angry and mean.
That I wasn't happy.
I think partially because I didn't know what it was
but also because I was ashamed.

I thought something was wrong with me.
I would have intrusive thoughts
Scary thoughts
that I didn't want to have.
All people have scary or discerning thoughts
the difference for me with OCD is like this:
Imagine our minds are like and email inbox.
Most people don't open spam.
They don't open messages that are trying to sell them something
they don't want
unless they really want to open it.
I feel the need to open every. single. email.
Whether I want to read it or not I feel like I have to open it.
Why else would someone send me an email?
I am afraid that every thought I have
is true. or a desire. or a inner bad person just waiting to come out.
Scary huh?
Ryan always tells me my mind is a scary place.
I agree sometimes.

But once I realized I had OCD
and I started working on fighting it
life was so.much.better!
It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.
I still had to manage my anxiety
but the worst was over.
Or so I thought...

For years
I had no problems at all.
Every once in a while
it would try to creep back in
in one form 
or another
but I was too good for it now
I knew how to fight it
I was strong.
So very strong.
This was in part to my own actions to deal with it
and also checking in with my counselor every month or two. 

I knew when I got pregnant
that the baby could trigger new fears and obsessions.
I tried not to dwell on it.
I would face it when it came.
I would be prepared.
I talked to Ryan about before the baby even came.
We were on guard
keeping a careful eye out 
and checking in with one another.

For the first six weeks
everything was a dream.
 I had no mood swings
I did worry
 but it was about normal new moms things.
Then due to allergy problems
and reflux we had to switch to a special formula.
My milk dried up
and my hormones began to change.
My hair started falling out 
and I was worrying about everything.
Real things.
Imagined worst possibilities.
OCD rearing it's ugly head.

But I told you
I was prepared.
Ryan was prepared.
I already had appointments set up with
my counselor to check in.
So here I am fighting it again.
Some days are really easy.
I am happy and calm.
I don't worry
-well
I don't worry too much.
But some days are hard
and I get scared
but then I tell myself
this is life.
This is the real stuff.
The scary stuff you have to face that makes you who you are.
It's not the fears that define you
but rather how you face the fear.
I know it will get better.
I know that giving up to the feelings of panic and fear
won't make me the mommy I want to be.
And I also know I could never do it alone.

So if you,
who ever you may be,
don't try to do it alone.
New mothers can go through a range of emotions, fears, and anxieties
after pregnancy.
OCD, Baby Blues, general anxiety
Take good care of yourself.
Talk about what you are experiencing.
Share it with someone who will help,
encourage,
and love you through it.

The more we talk about it
the less scary it becomes.

Suggestions for dealing with Postpartum Issues

01. Stay active!  Get out of the house and get some fresh air every day.  Stay moving.  Go for a walk, pick up the house.  Keep your mind busy.

02. Talk to your partner about your emotions.  Knowing you have your partners love and support will do wonders for your mind.  Even though you may know deep down they care- hearing it can make all the difference sometimes!

03. Take care of yourself.  Even if it is just a shower.  Feeling clean and good about yourself will help your mood. Set aside time everyday to pamper yourself.  Have the husband watch the baby while you take a long bath or read for a little while.  Investing time in yourself, is investing in your baby.  Your baby needs the best mommy possible and a happy mommy makes for a happy baby.

04. Talk to other moms!  This one is a no brainer.  Talking to my mom about my fears made me feel so much better.  Even moms who do not have postpartum blues or OCD have fears sometimes need to talk.  We are responsible for another life- that's a scary but beautiful business!

05. Eat the good stuff.  Eating right can make all the difference in your mood.  Eat lots of fruit and veggies.  Don't skip meals.  Keep taking your prenatal vitamins.

06.  Don't make your life all about baby.  Keep crafting if you enjoy it.  Go out for a girls night if you need it.  Sometimes as a new mom it's easy to become obsessed about your new little life but making time for other things in your life helps create balance. Balance is good.

07. Keep your postpartum doctors appointment!  Duh! These people are trained to deal with new mommy stuff.  Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about what you are going through.  They were trained to handle these sort of emotions.

08. Go easy on yourself.  This is a hard one for me.  But you have to cut yourself some slack sometimes.  There will be mistakes and it will not be perfect.  That is unrealistic and you have to be able to let go and realize you are doing the very best you can.  Worrying about making a mistake isn't going to make it not happen.  You have to trust yourself.

09. Don't be afraid of medication.  If you need it you need it.  It's ok.  This was also a hard one for me.  As of right now I don't take medication but if it comes to that I will do it.  It's not that something is wrong with me as a person, with my character.  It's a chemical imbalance.  Some chemical imbalances can be fixed with therapy and sometimes medication is needed.  It doesn't make you any less of a good mom.

10. Enjoy your baby!  Don't let fear keep your from bonding.  Fight for that bond.  Don't let fear of making a mistake or doing something wrong keep your at a distance from your baby.  Cling to that love you have for him/her.  Whenever I hold Charlie I know how much I love her.  I know that it is a pure love that never ends. I know that I would do anything for her.  She is precious to me and that gets me every time.




7.07.2012

Kitchen Mood Boards...







Which one do you like?  I am having a hard time narrowing it down!



7.05.2012

BBQ Chicken Nachos {in my kitchen series}...

This picture may not be pretty but it is pretty yummy...

So a couple weeks ago me and Charlie hit the road. 
 I mustered up all my gumption
 and took Charlie almost 7 hours in the car {with my mom and sister of course- not alone! Do you think I am crazy?!}to Kansas City to visit family. 
 Out of the 14+ hours we spent in the car- she only cried for 10 minutes.  It was a dream. 

While we were there my cousin made the most delicious BBQ Chicken Nachos.  
I knew this would be a recipe that I was gonna have to make a regular
at our house.

How to make:
  Jaci's Delicious BBQ Chicken Nachos

You will need:

BBQ Sauce
2 Chicken breasts {cooked and cut into bite size pieces}
Tortilla Chips
Green Onion
Cilantro
Lime
Cheese

How to assemble:
Preheat your over to 350 degrees
Place chips on backing sheet and sprinkle cheese liberally over them
Sprinkle the pieces of chicken over the cheese
Bake for about 5 minutes until cheese is melted
Drizzle with BBQ sauce, chopped green onion, and chopped cilantro
A squeeze of lime completes the dish
Enjoy!




7.03.2012

If we build it, they will come...



We are considering building our next home.
I know, I know,
you are tired of hearing me talk about moving.
I know I am tired of talking about me moving.
We should just freakin' move already!

But alas, 
here we are at 906
and while our list of projects 
has dwindled down to one 
final
thing
to 
do
....

What now?
Are we going to buy land?
Are we going to buy in town or in the country?
Are we going to live in a house we build
or a house we remodel?
Are we going to list our house with a realtor?


There are so many choices
and we are slow decision makers.
Very
very
very
slow.

I think we are driving my father-in-law crazy : )
not in a bad way
just in a hurry up and live closer
and in a better school district way
which we totally intend on doing
it's just a matter of when and where.

A matter of when and where...

I am starting to hate when and where.
I don't want to think about when.
I don't want to think about where.
I want to think
Bam.
Done.

Right now we are pricing it all out
land
floor plans
upgrades
And figuring out what exactly 
we want in a home.

So here is our Must Haves

* Eight ft {or higher} ceilings
* Ceiling fans in all the bedrooms
*White trim and doors
*White cabinets
*Stainless steel appliances
*Walk-in closet and bathroom in master bedroom
*Big windows
*Island in the kitchen


Here is the Wish List

*Soaker tub in the master bedroom
*Big closets in all the rooms
*No formal living space
*A dining room
*laundry room with a sink
*Desk area
*4th bedroom
*Basement
*Granite countertops
*Attached garage

I am sure both of those lists will grow
and get smaller
as we manage our budget
but I am excited to see where this process
takes us
more to come on building your own home
at least I hope ; )

What would you have on your want/need lists?  Let me know cause I wanna do this right!


7.02.2012

Thoughts on friends...



I joined this Pen Pal Project 
and you know what?
I'm pumped.
Like 
super pumped.

Can I be honest with you?
When it comes to maintaining friendships
it's really hard for me.
We have sucha large family 
and so many obligations
that alone time
is kind of hard to come by
and I need me some alone time
So I can be flakey sometimes
I don't mean to be a flake
I just am 
I hope that it doesn't come across 
that I don't care
because I do
now more then ever
 I care
because
raising babies is hard
and you really need friends,
other moms going through the same thing

To talk about worries and fears,
that only moms have.
To have someone to sit with at the playground with
so you don't lose your mind singing that one Barney song
over and over and over
and over
and over
again.

So in the next six months
I am going to be working on my friendships more...

If you are a reader leave me a comment
I would love to get to know you better

If you are a friend
then let's hang out more

If you are far away
let's keep in touch more.

Let's all make the most of our friendships this summer.

Watch out-
cause it's about to get all friendly up in here.

Who knows what can happen when you put a little more effort into the people you care about...


So what do you say?
Wanna be my friend?




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