Reflections

5/16/13: Today I'm guest posting for my dear friend, Mandy at This Girl's Life, as part of her Blogging Moms @ Home series.  Mandy & I have been friends for years, starting back in our pre-kiddos days when we connected over decorating our homes--our friendship has just snowballed from there & I just adore her!  She's a full-time working mom to amazing twin boys, tackles DIY & decor projects regularly, & runs her own etsy shop selling fun handmade accessories--all on top of blogging.  Girl, stop it, you're making me look lazy  .  Mandy: thanks so very much for having me; you inspire me to no end! *****************************

A few things that have crossed my mind in the past 17.5 months of motherhood.   Honesty ahead, prepare yourselves (I don't do sap). #mommybloggerNO #boozedupbabymamaYES 
{all pics via my Instagram}

• What did I do with my time before Quinn came along?  I was never one to sit on my laurels but seriously......what did I do with all that free time?

• Before Quinn, I used to think "I would never {insert parental act here}". I wish my current self would've traveled back in time to bitch-slap my pre-baby, judge-y self's face.

• Parenting has taught me infinitely about patience & time management.  It has humbled me.

Helping/not helping

• When I used to blog about how 'busy' or 'stressed out' I was pre-Quinn........well, those posts are simply embarrassing to read now.  So naive, so spoiled.

• How I wish Quinn's grandparents live in Colorado.  I think this every time they visit & then have to say good-bye.  They love their granddaughter to pieces; the love brings tears to my eyes.  Selfishly: duh, it's hard, this parenting thing.  Especially with faraway grandparents.  Especially with a hardworking husband who commutes & occasionally travels for work (but he's ALWAYS hands-on when he's here).  There, I said it.  I know, I know-- I have only one kid...........don't punch me, moms of multiple kids.  It definitely makes me appreciate family even more!

• It's insane how I love my daughter.  I love the Mr. beyond measure, but my love for my girl takes my breath away at times.  Believe me, I was never a baby lover. Dog lover yes, baby lover ehhhh.

• Quinn has a whole lot of nice, but she has a whole lot of spice, too.  She gets it from me.

• I make time for a shower. Every day.  It is my zen moment.  Even if that means showering at 10 pm & having to jump out, drenched & clutching the baby monitor, because I have a feverish baby who just woke up.

• I cringe when I hear moms say "Well now that I'm a mommy, I don't _________________."  Not judging, just saying.

• I'm fully aware that just because I think my kid is adorable, it doesn't mean you should think she's adorable.

• I chuckled whilst perusing a friend's baby registry recently.  Especially when I saw the pacifiers (Quinn hated them), soothing swings (Quinn hated them), Aden & Anais swaddles (Quinn hated them), bottles (Quinn hated them), cute headbands (Quinn hated them), & sound machines (Quinn hated them).

• It's hard for me to ask for help, especially when it comes to parenting.  Not just because I'm Type A (I can do it all myself!) but I feel terrible inconveniencing others.  Again, humbling.

• Never brag about how well your kid sleeps.  It'll bite you in the ass.  Or the sleep-deprived mom you're bragging to will bite you in the ass.

• I know I'm very lucky to have a kid who eats adventurously (sushi, veggies, fruit, fish, ethnic cuisine).  It helps to remember this when I want to give her away for various reasons. 

Dinner at Auntie & Uncle's

• After 14 months of nursing a baby who never took to bottles (i.e., needed my boobs), I still catch myself watching the clock when I'm out & about w/out her.  For so long, I was so used to having to beeline it home after a couple hours.

• Mommy groups make me feel out of place (not just because there's usually a lack of wine #kidding #maybe).  Thank goodness for friends with babies, story time at the library, toddler ballet class, etc.

• Every day is a new normal......that's never normal.

• Instagram is really just a way for moms to brag about their kid(s). #guilty

• I might be of the "one & done" camp.   Sorry, ovaries.  No offense, Quinnie Girl, if & when you read this. 

• Quinn's the center of our universe but it's vital that she's not our whole universe. We're I'm still working on this balance.  Am I making any sense?

• Still, she's my favorite ever.  I love her with my whole heart & soul.

*I've learned that sarcasm isn't a universal language, so please don't email me about how I'm not a fit parent based on this blog post.  Of course I'm kidding about the boozed up baby mama part. #maybe  

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, FRIENDS!

DIY personalized doormat

Over a year ago, I happened upon this DIY personalized doormat & loved it.  I thought hey, I could knock that project out during one of Quinn's naps!
Then I promptly forgot about it, because I discovered that we had a baby who rarely slept the first 10 months of her life.  Stuff like making a personalized doormat made me panicky & sweaty (& I still hadn't showered so I was just sweating over old sweat).  
Anyway, Quinn's way more awesome now & she sleeps sometimes.    Also, now that we've adjusted to our new-normal-that's-never-normal, little projects like these are back on my radar.
I got the same coir mat ($7) to personalize.  It's surprisingly a pretty decent doormat for that price & the simple border frames any initial/monogram nicely.  

1. Print letter(s) on cardstock.
2. Cut out & trace on to mat (a Sharpie works just fine).
3. Using a brush, fill in with paint (a 'stippling' technique worked best for this mat's texture).
4. Allow paint to dry/cure as directed on bottle (48 hrs for mine).

I used an outdoor acrylic paint ($2, Walmart or craft stores).   This one is UV/weather resistant & self seals.

The doormat's been in use for about a week & so far so good; even with the muddy aftermath of a Colorado spring snowstorm.  It probably also helps that we have a covered porch to protect the mat from some of the elements.  Just a quick spray with the hose & it's good to go.

Looks like Target's Smith & Hawken aisle puked on my porch, doesn't it?!?!

I think this is a preserved boxwood wreath (this one) & is intended for indoor use only.  I took a chance by hanging it on our front door because our porch is covered & doesn't receive direct sunlight.  It's very dry here, so I mist the wreath every week or so.  It's been 1.5 months & it has held up......so far.  
I hope it's preserved boxwood (the box doesn't say) otherwise I've been misting plastic all this time & that is just awkward.

Copper chalkboard plant stake also from Target.

Not much else decor-wise will be happening to this little porch of ours since we're enclosing it to turn it into a (very mini) mudroom very soon.  How come a mudroom isn't mandatory for every house?!  They sure are useful.
Obviously it will be very mini.  Some ideas that I hope to incorporate on a smaller scale.  {For sources, please visit my Pinterest Mudroom Reno board}:

Operation Mini Mudroom starts early summer, hell yes.
Hope your weekend was grand! Springlike weather popped in for what I hope will be a long stay & we did a lot of lawn lounging:

{ via my Instagram }

Thank you for stopping by!
**see how the exterior of our house has changed here**

Where I'm at..........

I'm guest posting for my friend Cassie at Hi Sugarplum (while trying not to be jealous of the fact that she & her Mr. are in Italy eating tons of cheese & gelato).  Cassie needs no introduction, as she's sort of a big deal.  Our blog friendship goes back a few years.  She's classy, sassy, & a bit  lot smart-assy.   I think we have an unspoken agreement to one-up the other with the most ridiculous Instagram hashtags (she wins every time).  An email or comment from her never ceases to make me burst out laughing.  Hard to find a funnier, more talented, honest, down-to-earth, caring blogger than her. 

So I'm partaking in her {20 Questions} Series.  It's probably more than you ever wanted to know about me (sorry you won't ever get those minutes back).  If you thought I was just a boozey baby mama........well, that part is still true.  Click on over!

Also, check out what these awesome gals had to say in their guest posts.

Thanks for having me, girl!  Your blog was in good hands while you were in Italy.  (Except for the day I guest posted for you, sorry.)



***** Have you entered the Urban Walls $25 Store Credit Giveaway yet? *****

Giveaway: $25 store credit to Urban Walls

And the winner is: Sarah at Life On Virginia Street (wowza, check out her gorgeous blog/home!)  Congratulations, gal!  I will be getting in touch with you shortly.  Many thanks to Urban Walls for sponsoring this giveaway!
Thank you to all who entered!   Remember, you can still use the 15% off discount code:  freckles15  (expires May 22, 2013)  


I adore wall decals.  They can easily transform a room without the mess & hassle of paint.  In fact, I've used them in our master bedroom & Quinn's nursery. So when Urban Walls got in touch with me about their wall decals, I was thrilled to check out their offerings.  To say that I was/am incredibly inspired by their chic line of decals is an understatement!  Coincidentally, I had unknowingly Pinned one of their decals not too long ago as I brainstormed a revamp of Quinn's room.  

Danielle Hardy is the founder, owner, designer, & creative force behind Urban Walls.  She & her husband Paul (entrepreneurs as well as busy parents) have created a company that offers stylish wall decals, chalk decals, & prints.  Let your "walls become your canvas"!

Time to flex those creativity muscles. Urban Walls is kindly giving away a $25 credit to their store, to one winner.  To enter & for further details, simply see the box below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't wait to start decorating those walls?

Urban Walls is offering a 15% off discount code to all my readers:

 freckles15 

expires May 22, 2013

**** U.S. & Canada entries only. Winner will be contacted by email and must respond within 72 hours or I will select another. Good luck & thank you for entering!

Quinn's art table (an Ikea LATT hack)

We recently dropped down to one nap a day around here (Quinn, I mean, not me).  Which means more awake time......which means I usually scramble for activities to round out Quinn's day.  When the library or playdates or playing outside doesn't quite cut it, the art table comes through for us (you know, for the 10 minutes Quinn tolerates it).

Clear acrylic book ledges are from here (we have the 24 inchers).

A while ago, I was inspired by this art table project, an Ikea LATT hack.  The LATT kid's table & chairs set is a total steal at $19.99.  At that price, Quinn can wreak some serious havoc on it & we wouldn't cringe (much).  

So I showed Husband the inspiration table & he made it happen.  A few minutes at Home Depot & $15 later, he was all set to amp up Quinn's art table.  Guided by the inspiration table, he free-styled his own version.  I couldn't be happier with how it turned out & it's worked beautifully so far.

Supplies

*Ikea Latt table

*dowel rod holders/screws (Home Depot)

*dowel rod to hold drawing paper roll (Home Depot)

*trim pieces for table top, to hold drawing paper in place (he found trim that was the perfect width for the Latt table & he just cut it to length, Home Depot)

*nails to attach trim pieces

*shims (to elevate trim pieces to allow space for the paper to slip under)

*drawing paper roll (Ikea, Michael's)

*adhesive chalkboard paper (Michael's)

This is what we started with.  I painted the wood Benjamin Moore White Dove (we have vats of it from when we painted all the trim in our renovated basement), semi-gloss finish.  It's great for the wipeability factor.  Of course, it helps that all of Quinn's crayons, markers, color pencils, & paints are of the washable variety.

Husband added a holder to the underside of the table for the drawing paper roll.

He also added two narrow trim pieces (from Home Depot's trim/moulding section) 
to hold the drawing paper in place.
Necessary when you have a spirited artist who likes to flail her crayon-laden hands & finger paint wildly.

A bonus is that the trim pieces not only hold the paper in place, but one side also helps w/ tearing off whatever toddler masterpiece was just created so that it can be displayed.

I spy toddler toes.

Is she flipping us off.........

These are cheap acrylic containers attached using 3M velcro strips. They work well for now & can be easily removed when there are a few kids around the table, but I'd like to switch them out for a sturdier system eventually.

I stuck on a piece of adhesive chalkboard paper (underneath the drawing paper).
It's a hit w/ Quinn when she's not trying to lick the chalk.

I converted tiny Target clearance pillows ($5/ea) to chair pads by removing some of the filling, stitched them back up, sewed a tuft to the center, & stitched on ribbon ties.
Perfect for tiny toddler butts that sit still for 30 seconds.

I couldn't leave well enough alone, so I embellished the trim pieces w/ gold dot washi tape (that stuff clings to surfaces so well).  I know she's going to mark these up in a hot minute but so far so good.

There's a tote for the bigger art supplies.
Paints, coloring book, little carrying case for crayons when we're on the go, & an "art smock" (a button-down shirt a couple sizes larger that I found on clearance)

And that is Quinn's art table--fun, functional, & not too precious that it can't face a toddler tornado.  It currently resides in her room & will be moved to the basement play area once that space gets pulled together.

Until then, we've been enjoying being artistes..............

via my Instagram @freckleschic4

............until Quinnie decides her time is better spent pulling her shirt over her head & running full speed, arms flailing, into whatever room happens to be on her itinerary.

P.S. I'm too buzzed up tired to watermark my photos tonight, so I thank you for crediting me if you Pin or borrow any of them. 

************************ Thanks a million to the following blogs for mentioning Quinn's art table & for the link love.   You gals are the best!!    Shannon (see her rad Lack hack here)
Michelle (thanks for the mention!)
Kim (thanks for the mention!)