Here is what I used.  I thought I would make it easy for you to simply click and purchase if you see a furniture makeover in your future.  Did I mention using these tools was the BEST DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE?!?  You can thank me later! ;)

Here is my table primed...  I used the Paint Sprayer for this of coarse!  So fast and so easy!

You know all those cute, lovable quotes from the new Disney movie Frozen? I gathered them all up and made a few printables to share with you for Valentines Day! There are 14 different and adorable quotes you can print right from home. And what do you think about these fun stickers? Maybe, just maybe, the kids at school will flip out with excitement.  Here is just a sample of what my daughter will be sharing with her class come February 14th.






I bought these stickers from Amazon - just click the picture below to go directly to Amazon to purchase.


And now it's time for the free Frozen printable! Feel free to grab all these lovable quotes from Frozen and print them for your kids so they can share the love on Valentines Day.




Happy Valentines Day everyone!

-Steph

Do you all have a few maxi skirts from last summer hanging around in your closets? I did too, until today, when I took a few out and made them into pajama pants. You can turn your maxi skirts into any sort of pants - yoga pants, sweat pants, pajama pants, skinny pants, regular pants, whatever! Look, I even turned my maxi dress into a romper a few years ago. It's just a way to turn old clothes into... sorta new clothes, and hopefully save a buck in the process. Here's how you do it...

Take your favorite pair of pajama pants and your maxi shirt.


Pull them both inside out and fold them in half like so. On the pants, they are folded as if the bum cheeks are smack together with the tag in the middle of the fold, like so. On the skirt, the sides seams are now smack together and there is a fold down the left hand side.

Put the pants right on top of the skirt, the fold of the skirt is hanging out to the left. Line up the bottom so you don't have to hem anything when done.

Grab some chalk and follow the pant line about .5" away leaving room for seam allowance. Stop at the crotch seam.

Cut off the fabric.

Unfold the pants and pin the inseam.

Since my fabric is stretchy, I zigzag stitched the pant legs. Serging would be best, but I don't own one of those wonderful machines.

 There you have it! Now it's time to cozy up to the fire and drink some hot chocolate, because I'm staying in tonight.

-Steph

Today I did a little experiment that actually turned out really well. My stools needed some major updating, but I didn't want to spend a lot of time sanding. I also wanted the nice smooth finish that spray paint offers, so I got a few cans of this Krylon. I call it chalk paint spray because it requires no sanding or priming, you can use it on almost everything, and it dries in just 15 minutes. It sounded too good to be true.

My engineer has done it again! This time he used a pattern to make this fine looking, solid wood beauty. Christmas 2013 was definitely one to remember mainly because of this horse. My kids were in Heaven! On Amazon you can get this rocking horse pattern for only $14.00! Just click the image below...





This is not an easy project and it requires several hours to complete. My engineer used Ash wood, 19' by 10" wide boards. The hardwood store (where we purchased the wood) planed the boards down to 3/4" thick. Here's a little of what went on...


He used a piece of Brazillian Cherry for the hair accent pieces. Using a band saw, he split the 5/8" thick board in half leaving about 1/4" thick boards for the accent pieces.
He used spray polyurethane to seal the wood. This was his first time using the spray poly and he LOVED it!

So, once you are done, you will have a piece of your heart to pass down through each generation in your family (because the reality is, it will most likely outlive you-wink).


 To make the ears and straps, we used scraps of leftover leather from the messenger bag I made a few years ago.



And there you have it! Good luck to everyone who does this project! It really is worth it!

-Steph

This morning, as I was quickly spraying my hair with dry shampoo, I decided then and there I would put together a list of Mommy Must-Haves. This list contains items I just can't live without and that help me keep being the mom I want to be. Any of these items would make a great gift for a new mom. I'm not affiliated with any company or product for this post; all opinions are mine.

1. Dry Shampoo. This is my #1 Mommy Must-Have! Dry Shampoo has so many benefits. It saves you so much time and leaves your hair feeling fresh-not greasy, and allows you to go days without washing (which is actually good for your hair), saving your hours of "getting ready" time. LOVE it!! I'm using Dove right now because it works so well and I'm not breaking the bank to have it since it's only about $4.





2. Blush. This must-have can make a tired mommy look refreshed and alive. Sometimes we moms feel like we are dead to the world, but just adding a little blush can perk you right up (or at least give you the appearance of being alive). I'm currently using the Maybelline Dream Bouncy blush because it's creamy and vibrant! This particular color is my FAVORITE!!




3. Stain Remover.  This mommy must-have will save the "little" clothes from all the eating eating eating the kids go through. And let's face it, the big clothes need it too since we mommies hold and clean our babies. This is currently my favorite stain remover.







4. Gap Card. Speaking of clothes, get a Gap card! I like to dress my kids pretty well, and this card is the card that keeps on giving. Card holders get special discounts which makes clothing super cheap and there is always something for you and the man in your life.

5. Hand Sanitizer. I keep a bottle in my car at all times. Call me a germaphobe (I'm ok with that), but I use this after grocery shopping, when my daughter gets in the car after school, and when I have to do an emergency diaper change in the middle of nowhere.




6. Wipes. These are a must in my car more specifically. They come in handy so often, I don't know how any mom could go without them. Just put them in your car and thank me later.  I like Huggies and Target brand wipes.




7. Lavender Oil. Sometimes we moms need help shutting our brains down. I turn to Lavender oil to help me relax and sleep. I rub it on my chest or put a few drops in my bath at night. Lavender also soothes ear aches - no kidding. Just rub around the ear for relief.


 

8. Blender. I have used my Blendtec for years, and I LOVE it! But any blender will do as long as it gets the job done. You can make morning shakes and pack in all sorts of nutrition. You can also make your own baby food and freeze it for later, or make a yummy, healthy soup and puree it so the kids don't know what's in it.


 

9. Freezer Bags. Here is another BIG time saver. Usually when I cook, I double the meal so I can freeze half of it and have a quick meal on hand for another night. These not only save time, but money since we aren't running out to eat as much.




10. Amazon Prime. Sometimes I feel like my cart is more full of kids than food. Since I got Amazon Prime, my life has changed for the better. Diapers, wipes, laundry detergent, toiletries, anything bulky and big, and all christmas and birthday presents come right to my front door. No more loading up the kids in the car to get those items. It shortens my time at the grocery store and makes my cart manageable. I also use the Instant Movies they offer, which are almost as good as Netflix (in some ways better because you get Jillian Michaels workouts).  We don't use Netflix anymore because I'm a Prime fan!

11. Hot Pad. After having a baby, this is just so relaxing. And then, when your period starts up again it can be a bear! Hot pads are just a little comforting in those times of need.




12. Nail Polish. This stuff can make you feel so put together (it's weird how that works). You can keep it in your car so while you are waiting to pick up kids, just put some on. Who says there's no time for such things?
 
**Bonus** 13. Dr. Pepper or your drink of choice... It just keeps you going on the though days. I like mine fresh with pebbled ice.



Hope this list helps you beautiful moms out there! My list could go on, but I'll have to save them for another day.

-Steph