Another swap following party

Homemaker on a dime is hosting another swap following party.  I really enjoy the blogs I found on there last week like J and J Home.  This week I found more fun blogs like My Creative Escapes.  Such a great way to explore the blogging community!

The Incident

Today I had one of those mommy days that is going to stay with me forever.

I have been a mom for nearly one year and I can say it has been much easier than I thought it would be.  I don't know if it is because I was a nanny in college or that my child has a very happy disposition but I have never really felt overwhelmed in the new mother process.  (I know a lot of people might be rolling their eyes but just wait for what's coming next.)  Today "the Incident" blew that out of the water.

I was at the mall with my mother and Pyper doing some last minute vacation shopping and my day was perfectly ordinary.  We had lunch, bought some things, Pyper was in a great mood and then It happened.  In the middle of American Eagle my daughter threw up.

Not a little spit up, not even a big throw up, a full on projectile Exorcist disaster.

It looked something like this ( don't you love my amazing skills in paint? I know, masterpiece)

In moments her whole body was saturated, her stroller looked like she was swimming in throw up and the floor was covered.  I dunked (not even exaggerating) my hands into her stroller to release her straps as quickly as I could and picked her up.  Now not only is my child head to toe vomit, but now my entire front side matches her.  I was completely overwhelmed.  There I was standing in the middle of a packed store during weekend shopping covered in filth, holding my not crying but pathetic looking child and I had no idea what to do.  I ended up using my jacket as a make shift towel and had to strip Pyper naked in the middle of the store.  Then I went across the way to Gymboree to buy her a new outfit while my mom bought me a new shirt at American Eagle.  I think we felt like we needed to buy something there since we just turned their store into a horror movie.  Pyper found the experience exhausting and proceeded to take a nap within 10 minutes of the whole thing happening.  I on the other hand was completely distraught and panicked.  Between trying to figure out how to get our disgusting clothes and stroller home without making the car smell for weeks and calling her pediatrician to get to the bottom of what caused it in the first place I was a mess.



 I finally get it.  When Pyper was born people I knew who were already parents were always making jokes about what I was in for, telling me how challenging and overwhelming it can be.  I always knew what they were saying was true but I didn't KNOW it until today.  My mom says I finally had my initiation.

Today reminded me that no matter how prepared I try to be I can't plan for everything.  Life is going to throw me curve balls and I just have to roll with it.  At least I have a good story to embarrass Pyper with when she gets older.  The pediatrician says Pyper most likely just caught a stomach bug and that most children recover in 12-24 hours. She is already back to her perfect happy self like nothing ever happened. Maybe this was all just a bad dream...wait...just saw the laundry....definitely a nightmare.

The Blog Guidebook

I just stumbled upon The Blog Guidebook.

 It is a place where you can go to find new blogs to read.  They are listed by category.  Of course I had to check out crafting/ DIY/ design.  There were some blogs I recognized and other new to me blogs I had never seen.

 The cool part is you can also list your blog for free.  Most of the blogs I read are in the same category so it was fun to find some new ones in categories I otherwise probably wouldn't have found. Something fun to check out and another great way to get your blog out there!

Potential and Possibilities # 3

For my new followers Potential and Possibilities is where I find pieces on Craigslist that others might pass by and  show inspiration examples that help show their hidden potential.  Here are my finds this week.

This locker is only $5!



I think it could look great painted in a bright color.  Perfect for a boys room or mud room storage.



I love campaign furniture!  This hutch is only $15.  I might have to get this one for myself, but then I still haven't painted the campaign pieces I have already. hmmm....



It could look great black.



or maybe white?



I have seen white parsons desks all over design blogs lately.  This desk could be easily made over for a similar look.



$25



This brass bed is $30.



This nearly identical bed sells for over $1000 at Pottery Barn!



I hope these give you some ideas and inspire you to take a second look and see the potential.

Bench Makeover

I found this bench on Craigslist.  It has had many lives.  Originally it looks to have been stained a very orange color. Then it was painted bright blue.  Then someone must have debated between painting it brown and antiquing/ distressing it.  By the time I got my hands on it there was definitely an identity crisis going on.

I have a very small front porch that needed furniture and color.  I wanted a bench so basically my bags and shopping would have somewhere to land while I unlocked the door.  I also wanted a fun color out front especially since we are going into the spring/summer season.

First I started by priming the whole thing.  Sometimes I skip this step but with all the finishes this piece has had I thought this step was crucial.

this is the first coat of blue after priming

After I primed it I lightly sanded the whole piece.  This is really important to get a smooth finish.  I found my paint color in the oops section at Home Depot.  It is an exterior paint so hopefully it will hold up being outside (my porch is covered though).  It was $1.00 for the quart, my favorite price!

 It took two coats to get the dark even finish I was going for.  I sanded between the coats to make sure my finished product was smooth.

After it was painted I wanted to add a fun detail to the front and top of the seat.  I used my cricut to cut two different birds out of vinyl.  I used the outline as a stencil.  They were really simple, stick on, paint over, peel off.    Fast and easy.  I did the same for the leaves and freehanded the branch.

I like how it turned out, bright and a little whimsical.  Just what I needed to get me ready for warmer days.  Plus I love that the seat lifts up and has a good amount of storage.  Perfect for Pyper's outside toys.

Up next I think I need a fun door wreath to match!

Linking to these parties!

My top 3 projects so far

So with my first month of blogging almost under my belt I thought I would say a big thank you to the nearly 50 of you who have joined me on this fun journey.  I am so excited to be a part of this great blogging community.  You and your creativity continue to inspire me everyday and I am so looking forward to what the rest of the year will bring.

My favorite projects so far include...

My circle chair makeover

The big green transformation

My stenciled wallpaper copycat

These were fun projects to complete and even more fun to share with all of you.  I appreciate so much your positive feedback and encouragement.  Thanks for welcoming me with open arms!

Another get your blog out there idea

So I was having my nightly read through all the blogs I subscribe to and came across another great way to spread the word about your blog.  Thrifty Decor Chick is going to be highlighting some up and coming blogs while she is away at Blissdom.  Her only requirement be that you be a DIY/decor/crafty blog and that your blog be less than a year old. ( and you can't be attending Blissdom)  If you would like to be considered write a post highlighting your top 3 projects so far and email the post link to her at thriftydecorchick@gmail.com, subject NEWBIE.  Nice to see veteran bloggers sending the newbies some love!

Swap Following Party

Homemaker on a Dime has come up with a fun idea to help new blogs find followers.  She is hosting a party where you can link your blog so people can find and hopefully follow you.  The idea is that you also follow others blogs so everyone can get a chance to get more followers but more importantly find fun new blogs to read.  As a new blogger I think this is a great idea and a chance to make a connection with other people, which is the reason I started blogging in the first place.  So go check it out.  I know I will be exploring some new blogs tonight.

Packing and Projects

We're 10 days out from our trip and I am trying to get organized.  This is our first trip with Pyper and it is sooo clear that our traveling styles will never be the same.  As I am attempting to fit clothes, diapers, bottles, beach play toys, a ton of baby equipment and 10,000 other things into her case I am reminded just how far my life has come in a few years.  I spent over a month backpacking through Europe and southeast Asia ( 2 different trips) with just a small backpack.

Hiking in the Swiss Alps.

Riding elephants in Thailand.

 Everything I needed fit on my back and now I feel we will be lucky if everything fits on one luggage cart at the airport.  I was definitely taking my previous jet setting life style for granted!

I am also trying to complete as many birthday projects as I can before we leave.  Today I started by embellishing some fairy wings for Pyper to wear at her party.  They were originally Tinkerbell wings that I purchased from the Disney Store on clearance.

I thought they needed more pink and I wanted them to look more garden fairy than Tinkerbell.  I bought a stem of silk flowers from Joann's.  I pulled the flowers off and stitched them onto the wings.  Then I glued some rhinestones over the centers to cover the holes left from the stems and the stitches.  I think they look great and are much less expensive than some of the other wings I found online that were $25- $35.

I also worked on the tablecloth for my food table.  I was inspired by a wall of fabric I saw in a booth when I was at the wedding show.

I love the ruffles and thought it resembled a tutu.  I chose to make a table covering with a similar fabric panel in the front.  I made mine out of pink and orange fabric I purchased on clearance for $2.50 a yard.  It took 2 yards of pink and 1 yard of orange.  If I had it to do again I would have purchased more to make more dense ruffles but I was too lazy to go to the store again so I used what I had.  I also added pink tulle I had over the orange to add a little more fun.  

To make it I cut a piece for the top of my table and hemmed the edges.  Then I cut the remaining fabric into strips.

To ruffle the fabric I sewed a long stitch through the top of my fabric.  Then I just pulled one of the threads to make the fabric ruffle.   I attached the strips to a panel I made to hang down the front. 

 I chose to only make my ruffles in the front and not the sides or back.  The way my table will be positioned at the party you will only really see the front.  I did add a rod pocket on the back to slide in a dowel to help weigh the tablecloth down because the front is pretty heavy.

I left the edges unfinished because I liked the threads plus the fabric doesn't fray much.

I like how the finished project turned out and it cost less than $10.  Just a few more party projects to go!