Gasp! I bought white couches!

Yes, I did it.  I am guilty of breaking the cardinal rule for moms with three kids; three young kids who are five and under, who have sticky hands, dirty feet, and holes in their mouths (that is the only way I can explain the amount of food that misses their mouths!!!).

I BOUGHT TWO WHITE COUCHES!!!  For my family room!  The room that we often eat it, the room that we live in.  See, I have wanted that white, shabby chic look for a long time.  I drooled over the Pottery Barn couches since my first son was a baby.  I thought I'd be old and gray before I could get them.

Then, I went to Ikea and found them--white SLIP COVERED couches and my heart did a little pitter patter right then and there!  They were cheap and on sale and SLIP COVERED!  That means, if I hate them in a year or two, I won't cry that I spent a fortune on them.  My husband and I scooped them up right there and brought them home.  We held a moment of silence for our sagging, stained, 8 year old couch and then chucked it to the curb.

This was three months ago, three summer months ago.  And guess what, the couches are still in almost perfect condition!  There is a spot or two on them, but they wash right out! These couches have been eaten on, jumped on (they became a gymnastics playground during the Olympics for my 3 and 5 year olds), and abused.  And I am still in love with them! Sigh...

I have my eye on a beautiful mercury glass lamp at Hobby Lobby to replace my pidly little lamp from the old house.  I also bought some curtains from Target that are way too short--see them folded up on the table??  Just haven't mustered up the energy to wait in the return line with three kidlets.

Long Ago, In a Galaxy Far Away...

A little boy was born, six years ago to be exact.  Now this little boy is a little obsessed with Star Wars and legos. And when his Crafting Mama asked him what kind of birthday he wanted, he looked at her like she had just lost her mind and said, "Lego Star Wars, of course!"  So, with a little over a month until the party date, I got my booty in gear!

My first project that I started on were for the take home favors.  I needed something affordable, cute (Star Wars can be cute, right??), and that matched the theme. So, I hopped in my car with my littlest in tow and headed to good old Wallyworld, where I found these bubble wands for a dollar each.  Inspiration struck.  They look like light sabers, right???

I rummaged through my garage until I found the black spraypaint and then picked up some silver at Walmart for less than $5.

First, I unscrewed the lid and stood the bubble wand up in a cup.  Then, I spray painted the top part black.  I used a paper towel to cover the actual white plastic wand part.

When that dried, I put painters tape over the middle and spray painted the two ends silver.  I took the tape off while it was still wet.

I let them dry overnight and then added a little red jewel as the on button.  I love how they turned out, and most importantly, my son loves how they turned out!

One project done, a million more to go!

Template Love

Back in my pre third child days, I use to have a bit more time on my hands and became a photographer.  I loved taking pictures of everyone, from newborns, to families, and even seniors!  My clients would often ask me to design their Christmas cards, birth announcements, and birthday cards. many of them I would design myself, but sometimes it was just easier to buy templates.  Why re invent the wheel, huh?

As I was searching for templates made with photographers in mind, I hit GOLD with Birdesign!  I think I swooned over their cards for hours and now have many of them in my stash.  If you have, oh say lots of time to fall in love, go take a look at their new website! Have your wallet ready, though, because I warn you--you will find so many things you LOVE!

If you're not in the market for a birth announcement, they have a ton of other things to offer : blog banners, accordian style book templates (which make great Christmas gifts to grandma), and storyboards, just to name a few!