Feeling a little crafty

Lately I have been feeling a little crafty!

A few years ago I was on a kick of making these for all the little ones in my life.

How fun would it be to start my own Etsy store! I may have to run to the craft store tonight.

Click to enlarge

I need Hot Roller help

I got a set of hot rollers around the holidays and I need some help/advice on using them.

My hair is super long and dries very straight and I really want to keep it long but I am not sure how to do something other than long and straight.

I would like to use them to make spiral like curls not just curl my hair.

Can anyone please help me!

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Update

Wow you girls are amazing!

I never thought I would get 11 comments with help in 5 hours. I put my hair in them tonight right after I posted and I can't wait to use them again now that I have all your little tips.

I think for me the tip that Pretty Peony left is going to be my key. She suggested to wrap the ends in a little piece of tp. I tried it when I got home and it made a world of difference as well as so much faster.

I will show you pictures soon!

Fireproof

Today Firefroof comes out on DVD! I can't even tell you what an amazing this movie it is. It will change your marriage after you see it.

There was so much attention in the blog community when this movie was in theaters. I think everyone would agree this is a must see for any relationship. I can't even begin tell you the emotions that just watching the trailer brought up.



We were able to rent this from Redbox, the rental box in McDonald's.

Wow! I can't believe that I went all weekend without post on either of my blogs.

I wish I could say that we spent tons of time doing exciting things, I was pretty busy working instead. We did celebrate my Mother's birthday yesterday evening though. While she was there she shared one of her birthday presents with me!

A coupon for $20 off any purchase at Vera Bradley!

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I found some great placemats, the color is so much better than my phone camera captured.

The thing that really sold me was the print on the backside!

It is also a better color in person.

I would like to find some really cute green napkins to compliment them!

My cute gift with purchase!

Thanks

I wanted to thank all of you for your sweet comments about our place. It has taken over three years but I finally have it organized. I just want to give all of you hope who live in a place that doesn't seem complete yet. My husband bought our condo right before we got engaged. He was set on getting it but I cried and begged him not to buy it. He saw past the stark white boring apartment feel and saw the amazing potential. When we first bought it everything was white and the kitchen and bathroom cabinets were a terrible light tan laminate that was peeling in the corners. It did however have great bones and flooring so the day we closed he went to work. We have redone the kitchen ourselves, the cabinets are from a kitchen warehouse place. They sell ones that were ordered incorrectly or were overstock and it saved us a ton. It took a little while to find all the right pieces but now we have an amazing kitchen. We have painted all the rooms and the bathrooms cabinets as well as replacing the towel racks with hooks and added the shelves in both baths. We have added little finishing touches here and there, like the brackets under the kitchen counter, it really feels like home now. I am so excited/nervous to sell someday. I know it is one of if not the nicest place in our complex, I tour the ones that are for sale every few months. I am hoping someone will fall in love and offer our asking price. This is all me dreaming though because real estate is so expensive here, it will be a while till we move. I am guessing our condo costs as much as most starter homes elsewhere.

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I have been thinking all day about the ottoman I found the other day. It's hard not to when I was getting comments all day about how cute it is! I even sent the photo to hubby and he said I could get it! I am just praying there is still enough room to walk past it at the foot of our bed. Hopefully it will still be there two days later.

Retail Therapy

Yesterday I needed some retail therapy and found some great items.
$99 at TJ Max Homegoods

I would love to get this and place it at the food of my bed. It is too wide though, I would have to squeeze by it to crawl into my side of the bed.

The rest of the things I found were at Target. I have been looking for flowers just like these. It was such a bonus that they were only $12!

I found this for only $5, it is much darker in person.

I think I will wear it with a black top and black tights.

They have tons of stuff on clearance.
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It is a good thing that I don't know if we will have boys or girls someday. I think I would have a whole room full of clothes and shoes if I knew.

Aren't those just the cutest little shoes!

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I learned not to leave my salad unattended. Ridley doesn't like the lettuce, just the extra stuff.

Our first home

Ladies, I have been talking about giving you a tour of our home for months now and I am finally ready!

I set it up so that it the pictures would progress as if you were actually going on a tour of our home. The pictures were taken at night and on my iPhone so they aren't amazing but they will do.

The view of our kitchen when you come in our front door.

living room to the right of our door

another view

my typical view when I am blogging

view from the hallway

another kitchen view from the hallway

our 2nd bathroom just down the hall

another view

Hall view from our bedroom door complete with wedding photos

(open door is 2nd bath).

I purchased these frames from TJ Max, they will one day hold kids portraits.

I may even have each child's name or monogram written on the coordinating mat.

Our laundry room

(located across from the above photo)

I LOVE baskets.

Our bedroom

We will someday get the photo mat monogrammed and add our wedding date.

Another view of our room

(our doggies bed is in the corner)

Linen closet aka my bonus closet! More baskets!

My side of our closet, hubby has the same thing on the other side. I love having my shirts organized by sleeve length and then color. It really is easy to keep that way and cuts down on how long it takes to get dressed.

Our bathroom, those hooks are the key to getting your husbands to hang up their towels.

There is a double sink in there.

Hubby freaked out when I brought home leopard print towels when we were first married.

I think he knows better now though.

I love those Stephanie Johnson travel bags! Pricey but amazing. I have had mine for almost 5 years now and I would buy them all over again if I had to. My favorite one is the Tribeca, I take it on every trip I go on.

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We also have a huge guest room that I didn't take photos of because it isn't quite yet perfect. There are some photos in previous posts though.

2 Captains and a Mascot

I heard two great quotes this week that I thought I would pass on, they were just too funny not to mention.

The first one was from my darling husband.

"We already have two captains and a mascot, why not add some players to the team? "

The second was on 7th heaven, I still love that show!

"Do you want to be right or do you want to be married."

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We took our little mascot this weekend to the park while we threw around the lacrosse ball. She was quite confused and not super happy that she was tied to a tree. She spent the entire time going nuts when anyone would walk by. It was such a nice day and so great to finally spend some time outside. Today while it is snowing where most of you are the high in Denver today is 64! Don't worry though we are getting snow later this week.

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We also went to the mall this weekend which caused quite the discussion.

I picked up some new Bare Mineral concealer and the husband didn't even blink. The next day this conversation followed.

"How much was that makeup you got yesterday"

"$20, why?"

"Good" as he goes back to his computer. "I just won a new shaft for my lacrosse stick for only $30!"

We had just had the discussion the day before that he couldn't get the new lacrosse head that he wanted until we had gone to the park at least 5 times and then I would get it for his birthday in May.

What is the difference between a necessity and a want?

I consider replacing makeup and skincare that had run out a necessity, Hubby doesn't see it that way though. He sees spending over $110 a 4th lacrosse stick the same way I see my purchase. Does anyone else's husband do the same thing?

When did January get so busy?

I thought it was going to be a time just to hang out and not be over booked.

our future baby room

I just got the best idea for a baby room! Not pregnant yet but since we already own the furniture it makes it hard not to dream of the day when I finally get to put the room together. It was my goddaughter's and they were going to sell it when they moved and she got big girl furniture, we have had it in storage for almost 2 years now. I have shown you it before but here is a picture of the changing table...

One of the pictures that they have on Pottery Barn Kids.

I have been thinking about what to do in the open space. They had a mirror there for my goddaughter and she love it but that really isn't my favorite idea.

How cute would it be with a monogram!!

It would be RKS for a boy and SKM for a girl!

Yes, we already have a girl name and a boys picked out! Our boy name is strong but a little unusual and a family name. Our girl name is so southern and cute, I LOVE it so much.

I will tell you if you are able to guess them.

**Update**

Kebi Cedawna was the only one to guess so far but she did guess our girl name! It is Savannah!

Mrs. Brown guessed our boy name! It's Reid!

So funny because in trying to guess our first picks you guessed two of our other names. (We want four so we need lots of names.) Russel and Riley, Russel was my Grandfathers name (it would be a middle name) and Riley we would use for a girl not a boy! These names are just ideas for now though.

Girls I swear I should have been born in the south.

Fashion randoms

I was watching What Not to Wear the other day and decided that I need to be nominated. I will even wear some terrible clothes for a week while you get your hidden camera footage if any of you would like to nominate me! If for nothing else than getting a $5,000 shopping spree and a trip to New York. I am just so tired of my current clothes. I just have to make it to spring since I have a huge box of summer dresses and skirts packed away.

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I was looking at my most recent People Style Watch last evening and was so inspired to try some new things. I may even try to wear my skinny jeans without my uggs one of these days. I fell in love with that magazine from the first issue I picked up but they have been slowly getting worse, until the most recent issue. It reminded me why I loved it so much before.

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I finally fit in my Citizens of Humanity jeans again, great news! Bad news is they ripped right in the butt. They were the perfect pair of jeans, the length was perfect for my brown and black boots or flats. When I bought them at Nordstrom they said they take back anything, for any reason. I am thinking I may return them for a new pair. Has anyone done this before?

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I am loving all the braids and twists that people are doing with their hair right now. My hair is getting so long and I am always looking for new things to do with it. I haven't gotten it cut or colored since the end of October and I am looking for ways to do something interesting since it is no longer blond. I am excited to see what I will look like with only my natural hair color.

Have any of you ever seen the infomercial for the bump it? The hair accessory to help you get the perfect hair bump. I don't think I would order it but if I saw it at the store I may pick one up for something new to try. Has anyone actually tried it?

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Ladies I almost forgot to tell you... Any bra at Victoria Secret bra in the sale bin is $15 and all the underwear is $3 right now. It doesn't matter what price the tags says!

Weekend update

We have had a busy day preparing for a very special event tomorrow! We are going to have one of our favorite families over to spend the night so that the parents can have a free evening alone without kids, our holiday present to them (I say holiday because they are Jewish). I have been watching them for almost 5 years now so we have grown super close, since hubby and I have been dating.

It is a big deal since we charge $150 just to spend the night at their house for an overnight. This isn't including the hourly rate for when the kids are up.

There is a reason why I am still doing nanny work, the pay is just so great and tax free. It's always nice to walk with a $100 bill for a few hours work.

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We watched them for a weekend this fall

I am guessing there will be lots of this and lots of...

Eli LOVES hubby and snuggling with him. He was laying there first and she came and layed next to him. He loves her just as much as she loves him, just mention her name and he smiles and says it back to me as if he were her saying it!

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Back to being busy though, we have been cleaning up a storm. When you have spent thousand of hours at their amazing house you lots of pressure to measure up to their million dollar house. We have even been steam cleaning our carpets since they are coming over. I may take some photos of our clean condo to show you! I will for sure take photos of our sleepover though!!

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Also I have a new follower from Denver, Julie can I be invited to read your blog?! I feel like we have so much in common.

My heart is breaking

Girls and prayer warriors, we need to send up some special prayer right now for Kelly and her new little girl Harper. Kelly delivered her today and Harper is having trouble breathing/heart trouble. Please visit here to get up to date info on how they are doing.

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Kelly is one of the most amazing people that I have gotten the privilege of knowing through blogging. She prayed for a child and had a rough time getting pregnant and now has started a pray list of women who are trying to get pregnant or to find a Godly man. I added my name and a friends just this this week to her blog. It is crazy how attached you get to the other bloggers out there but I am in tears right now as I type this. Please keep this family in your prayers.

It's a two post day

I had to wish my little goddaughter Happy Birthday!

This was taken today at her Chick-fil-a party! She would eat there everyday if you let her.

She is four today and I am praying that 4 is so much nicer to her than 3 was. She truly is the best little girl!

Adventures with triplets

Yesterday I did some nanny work for a new family. It was a family with 4 kids, the youngest were identical triplets. It was also in one of the most amazing custom built houses I have ever been in. The entire house had a great brown gray neutral color for the trim instead of white. It really warmed up the house and made the rooms that were white not look stark. I took a ton of photos to share with you. They don't even start to show how amazing it was though.

S, A & L
Each girl had their own room that complimented the other rooms but each showed their different personalities. Each room has roughly the same built in with a window seat but it was figured for each room.

L's room, the best in my opinion. It even had a huge loft with super tall ceilings, they were at least 20 feet in only her room. The window coverings reached to the ceiling and were so beautiful. It was a great yellow and not as bright at my photos show.

I loved the color of A's room, the perfect pink for a little girl! Her bedspread was pink with white damask on it!!

A close up of the window coverings. I loved the little beads that were sewn on, they looked like little pearls.

S' room. Look at the build in! I love how the sides are shelves and the front sides are shelves with decorative doors. The light fixtures were very sweet but didn't photograph well. Each bedroom (7 in all) had it's own bathroom and a walk-in closet as you can see below.

The girls rooms were off in by themselves in sort of a separate wing. These are the paintings in the hall.

Now on to the rest of the house!

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The grand foyer. Aren't the light fixtures so interesting?

Side view of the kitchen

Long view, love the window over the sink.

View from the living room.

The back staircase to the girls wing

This is the craft area in the basement.

One of the two guest rooms in the basement, very Restoration Hardware.

It was so great to know that I can handle 4 kids at one time (sorry I didn't feature the older brother). We want four kids and people always tell us that we are crazy and have no idea what were are in for. I just laugh at them.