DIY zebra print rug

This mommy is in the process of re-doing her living room.  We decided that we wanted black and white accents for the room, and what better accent then a great rug?!  Black and white of course!  The daddy and I looked everywhere for a rug and this mommy fell in love with a zebra print rug, it would be perfect, but looking at the price tag this mommy sadly had to walk away.  Looking everywhere for a rug that would be great this mommy couldn't get that zebra rug out of her head!  I could just see it fitting perfectly in the room and everytime this mommy walked into that room she pictured it in her head sitting there happily on the floor....... Sigh.  This mommy was about to give up when a trip to wal-mart brought this mommy to a plain low pile black rug, pretty boring but the $20 price tag was a perfect price, so this mommy decided to take it home and rework it to make it into that perfect zebra print rug! 
Almost frolicking back home this mommy had a plan!  The daddy helped lay it out flat for a while so that I had a nice flat work space, and guess what?  It was a perfect fit in the floor space we wanted to cover!  After this mommy let the rug flatten out from its rolled up state for a couple hours she was ready to get started! 
This mommy started with some masking tape and a picture from the internet (gotta love searches!).  Taping around the edge of the rug to form a border for the print and then taping a straight line down the center of the rug for guidance this mommy got to work!  Looking at the picture this mommy taped off some stripes on the rug, making sure to work both sides to make it somewhat symmetrical (not perfect but all zebra stripes are different so its ok!).  After about an hour of taping, this is what this mommy had........

Curving the stripes with masking tape ended up being harder than this mommy had anticipated, but after a while you get the hang of it!






This mommy was tired at this point, an hour of taping and only half way taped!  Time for a soda and cookie break!.......
After the much needed break this mommy came back and went back to work!  And about another hour later this is what she had......

Ah the finished taped project!  Oh if only masking tape were permanent, then this mommy could have been done!  But alas, this mommy continued.....






Going to the storage closet this mommy pulled out some leftover white house paint that she had left from another project, poured some in a pan and got her paint roller out and got to work!  This mommy is telling you though that those carpet fibers sure soak up the paint! (plus I'm sure that painting white on black was the harder choice than painting black on white but the black rug was cheaper!)  This mommy slowly rolled on the paint in each section making sure not to catch and pull up the masking tape.  Once the first coat was done this mommy started again with the second coat...... and the third....... it took 4 coats to get it as bright as I wanted it to be but it finally got there (you could stop after a couple coats if you wanted it to look a little more faded and not as bold but that's not the look this mommy was going for).  4 coats of paint done!  Now was the hardest part for this mommy, waiting for it to dry!  This is what I saw for several hours while I waited........

Oh, the torture! 







Finally it was time!  The paint was dry!  This mommy giggled with anticipation!  Excitedly this mommy grabbed at the tape!  The daddy helped pull off all the tape, and as we pulled the finished look started appearing and this mommy was so happy that the paint didn't bleed through at all! We kept pulling and pulling and pulling (my couple hours of taping gone in just a few minutes!)  This mommy smiled from ear to ear!  It was perfect!!  We put it in a different room for the night to make sure it was completely set before we had it where we would be walking all the time!  And this is the finished look........

Perfect zebra stripes!  It was just as pretty as any of the expensive ones in the store!  This mommy was so excited!







Well that's how this mommy made her own zebra print rug!  Feel free to try it yourself!  Its really rewarding when you get to the finished product!  This may be the start of an addicting hobby for this mommy...... hmmm..... well here's what it looks like in our half-done living room (complete with the princess playing around on it! Don't mind the mismatched pillows, the power wheels in the back, and the random stuff sitting on the chairs, like I said the room is only half done and those things will be fixed before its all done!)........

Can't complain one bit!  :)  For $20, some paint and some time you can have a one-of-a-kind rug!  This mommy loves it!

25 Things I want my son to know as he grows!

This mommy has seen many a post about things people want their daughters to know but not so much about what their sons should know, and while this mommy will probably make a post like this for the princess as well there are definate things this mommy would like her son to know.  Thinking about life, even though the boy is not even 3 yet, and how I want the boy to grow up and the type of man I hope he becomes makes this mommy write this, you never know what life will throw at you and hopefully I'll always be around to watch as the boy grows, but no matter what these are things I want my son to know!

1. You are more loved than you could ever imagine.

                - I never knew what real love was (no matter how much I thought I knew) until you were born.  The day I looked at you, my beautiful son, was the day that I felt what true love really was.  There are times that you drive me crazy and times when I get mad, and sometimes even disappointed, but through it all no matter what, you are my first true love and I will love you forever!  One day when you have children of your own I hope you will realize how much my love is for you. 

2. It is ok to cry.

                 - No matter what anyone else tells you, it is not "girly" or "inappropriate" for a boy to cry!  Crying shows feelings and everyone has feelings.  Even the toughest of men cry!  Never, ever, be afraid to show your feelings and cry if you need to!

3. Don't be afraid to stand out and be you!
                 - You are an idividual, not a clone of other people, please act as such.  Stand up for what you believe in, follow your own dreams no matter what others try to say, find your own passions, like what YOU like, and most of all don't let others define you!  True strong men are ones who lived their own life and never let anyone tell them who to be!  Never follow the crowd just to be "one of the guys".  Whether you are popular, or the "nerd", or whatever anyone else says about you, you are YOU and that is the greatest gift of all!

4. In a relationship you are only as strong as your other half!
                 - Your partner is your best friend, your equal.  You should always treat them as that.  Never put them down, never underestimate them, never take them for granted.  Hold them up when they are falling, believe in them and their dreams, be their strength, and most of all love them with all your heart!  Being compassionate and loving to them makes you a better man!

5. Accept others.
                 - There will always be people different than you.  Hopefully throughout life I have taught you that there is nothing wrong with different.  No matter who the person is, accept them, know that they too are creations of God and never judge them.  This can be hard, but know that you will live life more fully if you accept the differences!

6. Be creative!
                  - As long as you are respecting others and their possessions feel free to create art of your choosing!  Following your creativity will lead you to great places in life and will ever expand your mind.  You are never too old for creativity!

7.  Enjoy nature.
                  - Go outside!  You live in a beautiful world, take the time to see it!  The small things make the world beautiful, never overlook the small pebbles, or the ripples it makes when you toss it in the water.  Sit and watch the clouds go by, or go crazy and rock climb or go rafting!  Just do it safely and enjoy the time!

8.  Be a kid!
                 - Run, jump, play, get dirty, explore, even dig a hole to try to find China!  Have fun and enjoy your youth!

9.  Be a good brother, friend, and protector.
                 - There are people who depend on you and who love you.  Your sister will always be your sister, and there will be times she needs you, be there for her.  Family is the most important thing, they will be there for you when the world has turned its back on you, please never forget about them, and always protect them when you can!  You are a superhero to some!

10.  Please wear your clothing appropriately.
               - They say clothes make the man, so dress for who you want to be!  Please never wear your pants around your knees, and please don't wear vulgar sayings on shirts.  Its not attractive, or "cool".  Feel free to express yourself but do so appropriately.

11.  Take care of the Earth.
               - Its not just a trend to be "green", we should all do our part.  This is the only planet we have and you live here, take care of it.

12.  You are a genious.
              - Never quit learning, your potential is limitless, and you can do anything you set your mind to.

13. Know that some rules were not made to be broken!
              - There are times when its ok to follow your own rules, but some rules should always be followed!  There are rules you may not like but they were put in place to protect you and others, please think carefully before you act.

14.  You will always be my son!
              - No matter where you go or who you are with you are my son and I will always be there for you!  I will always love you even if you make wrong choices.  I'll be there to offer support and advice and to be a shoulder to cry on.  I will always believe in you!  I will always want the best for you.  I will drive you crazy at times, but i hurt when you hurt and cry when you cry, and no matter what you will always have someone who loves you, and I hope our bond grows stronger and stronger!

15.  Its ok to make mistakes.
               - Its how we learn.  Don't be afraid of mistakes just make sure you learn from them.

16.  Be a man of God.
              - You are a miracle, sent to us from God.  Always praise him and live your life for him.  If you live for Him life becomes more clear. 

17.  Be careful of what you put out there.
              - In this technology filled age its easy to get in trouble.  Be careful of anything you send to people, unless you want the world to see it don't send it.  Its easy to be careful if you take the time to think, and please please please never get involved in "sexting".

18.  There are no jobs that should be left as "woman's work"
              - Yes you are a boy, but that doesn't mean you don't need to do laundry, dishes, vaccuum, cook, clean, grocery shop, sew, or take care of the kids (when one day you have them).  You are capable of doing these for yourself, and its ok to do them.  There is nothing un-manly about it, in fact you will be greatly appreciated for it, and I'm sure your future wife thanks me already for teaching you this!

19.  Tattoos are ok, but think!
             - Tattoos are permanent, think long and hard about it before you get one!  I don't want you waking up one day with a name or picture that haunts you forever. 

20.  There is no shame in asking for help.
             - We all need a helping hand sometimes, don't be afraid to ask if you need it.  This includes asking for directions before you get entirely lost!

21.  Your penis is not a toy.
             -Use it responsibly.  I do want grandkids one day but please do it under planned circumstances.  You are responsible for your actions.

22.  Keep moving forward.
            - Sometimes in life you may feel like you are in a rut and are going nowhere, but know it is your choice to keep moving.  Keep pushing and you will go far! 

23.  Travel.
            - You want to take a summer road trip to see the country?  by all means, take the car and explore, but do so responsibly!  Soar through the world and enjoy it!  But just know, I do not want to have to come see you in the hospital!

24.  Always say thank you.
            - Others will help and guide you throughout your life.  Teachers included.  Always say thank you to those who help you!  And forgive those who do you wrong.

25.  You can always come home, no matter where you are in life.
            - I will be here, always.  I love you!

Yogurt Muffins!

This mommy found a recipe that has made it to the top of favorite lists in this house!  Both the boy and the princess are addicted and this mommy doesn't mind, I mean, who can deny the little ones a midday snack of muffins that are made with yogurt and applesauce!?  I found the original recipe at JCasa handmade blog which she adapted from The joy of cooking!  It was love in just one look!  You can check out her blog but I'm also adding the recipe here, and instead of canola oil this mommy uses regular applesauce!

You will need:
1 egg
1 cup yogurt (or 2 individual containers) -you can use any kind you like but this mommy uses the store brand vanilla yogurt
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbsp. applesauce
2 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
whatever add-ins you want (fruit, chocolate chips, etc)




Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.
Either line a muffin tin with liners or spray a generous amount of non stick cooking spray into the muffin tins. (this mommy doesn't use liners as the boy is allowed to get a muffin himself and sometimes he forgets to take off the liner!)
In a bowl combine the egg, yogurt, vanilla, and applesauce.  Stir until it is all evenly combined.  In a seperate bowl combine the sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  Slowly stir in the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined, make sure you don't overmix the batter as it will result in tough muffins!  Pour in your add-ins and stir until evenly distributed in the batter.  The boy loves it when I add chocolate chips! 
Fill the muffin tins 2/3 full in each cup (this recipe will yeild between 12-18 muffins depending on how big you make them!)
Bake for 12 minutes or until the tops are golden brown!  12 minutes works beautifully for this mommy and her oven!
Take your yummy muffins out of the oven and cool!
Enjoy! 
But this mommy does warn you they are good! And they are addicting!  Be prepared to be making these a lot!  We have to have a supply of these on hand at all times, its the all time favorite snack for this mommy's house!  The princess has gotten to the point of pulling down the container of muffins and pouting until it is opened and she can have one, that's how much she loves them! 
Experiment with different add-ins and different yogurt flavors!  There are so many yummy possibilities! 

The princess turns 1!!

This mommy is in disbelief..... the princess turned 1!  Where, oh where has the time gone?  How could it be that my little baby girl is now an active, energetic 1 year old?!  The last year has flown by!

This little baby girl......

Has become this big girl........

Oh how this mommy wishes time would slow down a little! It seems like only yesterday we were about to welcome our little princess into the world!

We celebrated with our friends and family with an owl themed birthday party!  A good time was had by all! 

Here's a look at our decorations!  Tons of balloons, hanging decorations (handmade by this mommy), owl pinata centerpiece (again made by this mommy), and a fingerprint tree for guests to sign.  This mommy was pleased by how it all came together!

This was this mommy's first time making a stacked cake, and boy was she nervous!  But after much thought and a little luck this mommy was able to pull off making this cute as can be owl cake for the princess!  And of course the cake inside was pink as well!  :)

Of course just one cake wasn't enough so this mommy made of bunch of these owl cupcakes to match!  We also had a matching owl smash cake just for the princess to destroy!  :)







We couldn't have asked for a better birthday party!  Here's a look at the day......

We started the day in an adorable petti romper and flower hair clip (the clip was made my this mommy).  This mommy was excited that the princess finally had enough hair for the clip to stay in!

The flower clip made it through the morning before she was done with it.

Right before the party we had an outfit change into a handmade tutu dress (again made by this mommy, seeing a trend? lol)  :)

Although leary at first, once she got a taste of the cake she dug right in!

She loved it!!

Opening presents began!  (note: the painted fingernails, especially for the party, her first time getting her nails painted!)

The boy of course had to help his little sister open the presents!

She got pink everything, and this castle (found at my local Michael's) was painted and walpapered by this mommy for her princess peg dolls.

She loved being the center of attention all day!

New toys are awesome!

Officially 1!!

The tutu suprisingly made it through the entire party pretty much clean!

The day ended back in her petti romper!  A quick picture with mommy! (please ignore how horrible this mommy looks!)

And the day wouldn't be complete without the boy giving the daddy some love too!  Oh how I love my boys!








So whether this mommy likes it or not the princess is growing up!  Soon she will be walking and this mommy is in for trouble!  :)  How sweet it is to be the mommy to 2 amazing children!

How I spend my "free" time

I thought I'd share with you how this mommy spends all her free time..... between work, 2 kids, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, sewing, family outings, craft shows, fixing up the house, and refurbishing old furniture this mommy needs to fill the gaps  :)  This is what she does...... she runs a photography business known as S&F Designs!  This mommy goes out and takes people's portraits (or pet's portraits in some cases), and also enjoys taking photos of all the beautiful nature around her!  I thought I would share a small peek into this mommy's "free" time work!

People:

Pets:

Nature:

So there ya go, a very, very small peek into all my works!  This mommy would run out of blog space if she posted everything  ;)  Hope you liked the peek into my art!  And now you know what this mommy does in all her free time  lol!  :)

Easy-Peasy Glazed Donuts!

This mommy again must admit that she has a pinterest problem!  She found this on there from http://www.littlebitfunky.com/ and instantly had a mouth full of drool!  Donuts that take about 15 min to complete and are simply amazing!  Plus this is super easy and this mommy loves that!  Here's what it is......

Donuts made out of canned biscuits!  Yes you read that right, canned biscuits!  You can check out the littlebitfunky blog and see the whole thing but basically you will take your biscuits (non-flakey kind) and press them a little flatter than they are, then cut a hole in the center of the dough.  Put 1/4" vegetable oil in a pan, and put your "donuts" in the oil.  Cook on one side til its golden brown, flip and cook til that side is golden brown as well!  Take donuts out of oil and place on a paper towel lined plate.


Here is where this mommy did things differently!

On the littlebitfunky blog she then dipped her donuts in butter and then covered them in sugar/cinnamon mixture.  This mommy changed it up, they were good with the butter but this mommy found that the butter made the dough a little soggy so instead this mommy glazed them!  Here is what you will need for your glaze....

2 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
-Mix these in a bowl until it is well mixed (be patient and slow as this can take a little work, the powdered sugar doesn't always want to mix well with the milk but it will, just be patient!)

Now take your donuts and you are going to dip each side into the glaze.  You can leave it as just a plain glazed donut or you can immediately dip it into powdered sugar, or a cinnamon/sugar mixture...... just make sure you dip in these while the glaze is still wet. 
Then set these aside for the glaze to dry. 
Once the glaze dries place them in an airtight container to keep for breakfast (or a midnight snack if you are anything like this mommy).
These are oh so good and I think the glaze keeps the donuts from being soggy.  Try it both ways and see what you like the best!

Don't forget to use the donut holes as well, they make just as yummy treats as the donuts  :)  Just cook them the exact same way!

Here's my donuts cooked and ready to glaze!:

They look so yummy already!!










And here's the final product:  I did a little bit of plain glazed and some powdered sugar ones:

Yummy!!










And because I ran out of room on one plate...... here's the other plate:

We are going to have such a yummy treat here in this mommy's house at breakfast time!









So there ya go, make some donuts!!!  :)  They are so good!

Big Dining room makeover reveal!

This mommy has been working hard with the daddy to do a complete room makeover on the dining room!  It needed something, and this mommy must admit the new room is FANTASTIC!  This mommy knows that some of you have been anxious to see the new look and I've been making you wait, well the wait is over, this mommy will torture you no more, the big reveal is here!  The best part of this whole thing was it was all done for $200!!

To be fair for those of you who hadn't seen our dining room before this mommy will post the before picture so you can see the difference:
Before:

As you can see this room had potential but this mommy and the daddy had other things to fix up in our house before we worked on this room.  So it sat this way for 3 years!









And now.............
After:

Much better!!  This mommy is in love with her new dining room!  The mixture of grey and yellow makes this mommy smile!  Even the unsightly dog and cat food bins got a makeover to match the room!  This mommy made the curtains, the curtain rod, the lampshades for the chandelier, and painted the food bins!






The details make the room..........

These shelves (which this mommy is planning on adding more to as soon as she figures out what she wants to put up there) originated as part of a flat door we pulled out of our house 3 years ago when we replaced the doors with 6-panel doors!  They were a dark wood look, this mommy thinks it looks much better cut up and painted white for shelves!  The vases were painted by this mommy to match the room color!

This mommy covered the lightswitch covers with the same fabric the curtains were made out of to bring it all together!

The artwork (which this mommy noticed you couldn't see from the first picture) is on the right side of the room and is a photo taken by this mommy.  I made it black and white, then blew it up to a large size, cut it into fourths, mounted it on MDF boards and hung it up on the wall.  This mommy's very first sunflower grown in the front yard is now forever hanging on the wall  :)

This has got to be one of this mommy's favorite parts of the room (the chairs will soon be replaced with chairs and a bench that match the look better, but for now these will do!).  This table was handmade by the daddy and this mommy! (mainly the daddy but hey this mommy did help stain and measure!)  :)  So this is an original piece of furniture and this mommy loves it!!  Very time consuming but it looks fantastic!  Ahhhh!  I could sit at it all day!



So there you have it!  The big reveal!  A whole lot of work and planning but an amazing room to spend our family time in!  Hopefully you love it as much as this mommy does!  And just because I love it sooooo much here's the picture of it again.....

I'm so in love!!  I could look at it all day!  This mommy is one happy girl!