mother's day

my 3 favorite things about mother's day this year...

1) my gift from jaymin :)

2) jett coming into my bathroom where I was getting ready for church

and saying, "Um, I yuv you and um...uh... (thinking really hard, hands on hips, looking up)

...Daaaad! What I sposed to say to mom?...oh yeah, happy mudder's day." :)

3) adding some color to my front porch.

our landscaping is still a mess but at least I have some potted flowers to deflect from it. :)
(also LOVING our new paint job. maybe one of these days i'll post about it :) )

and of course, the 3 faces that made me a mama :)...




just trying to remember each one, where they're at and who they are, right now, in this moment.

modified wardrobe: eyelet trim shorts

top: target // shorts: target, embellished by me // necklace: vintage pearl

These shorts were one of the first items I modified

{and actually documented} last summer.

I'm just now getting around to posting them.

I thought it might be a good time with summer {hopefully} around the corner. :)

I got these denim shorts from target on clearance.

But they had two problems.

They were pretty short and the bottom hem was really scratchy and uncomfortable.

Adding cotton eyelet trim fixed both problems.

Okay. So they're still pretty short. But at least they're better.

Just grab some trim from a fabric or craft store and stitch to the inside of the hem,

pretty quick and easy! :)

mother's day goodies

I thought I'd share some lovelies I have my eye on for mother's day.

I need a new apron and anthro always delivers in that department.

I think this one would be pretty hanging in my mint and white kitchen. :)

{photo}

I want to fill in an area by our soon-to-be fence with lilac bushes.

Growing up we always had them and I looooooove the scent and the blooms.

Mother's day would be a perfect time to plant some. :)

Now that my kids bathroom is done is time to turn my efforts onto our master bedroom.

This wheatfield print is a must. :)

Our new porch cries out for adirondack chairs.

These are from home depot but I think they also sell them unfinished for cheaper.

I can't get over this mason jar drink dispenser from pottery barn.

Lots of places are selling them now but I still think this one is the cutest.

our home: kids bathroom

I always take my instagram "selfies" in my kids' bathroom.

They have a big mirror and its the only bathroom we've painted so far.

I finally finished it last week and am ready to share it!

Here's the before...

Yikes.

It reminds me of a crummy apartment bathroom.

Our house has only ever been a rental so that makes sense.

And here's the after...

There's no natural light so you'll have to bear with these photos.

rugs: jcpenny

step stool: ikea

I painted it yellow.

I made Jia a hooded towel like the boys'.

I really loved this print by the wheatfield.

I'm kind of obsessed with her work and have tons of it on my wish list.

But I really wanted it to say "Rise and Shine and give God the Glory",

the most important part.

I also liked emily's at the jones design company,

but it wasn't the right size.

So I made this one myself.

I love these showers hooks that look like old fashioned "hot" and "cold" faucet knobs.

I've had them forever and have no idea where I got them.

oil can soap dispenser: target

So here's what we did:

1) painted

I knew I wanted a fresh breezy/beachy blue color

but I could not, for the the life of me, find what I was looking for.

I had a bunch of old blue paints that I had used on other things

and just started painting them on the wall and ended up mixing my own combination

and taking it to home depot and doing a color match. :)

So this is a custom "chelsea" color. :)

2) added white beadboard/wainscoting, trim and hooks

{we used emily's tutorial}

3) painted the vanity white and changed the drawer pulls

{see kitchen post}

4) framed the existing mirror

It is ginormous, spanning the length of the whole vanity,

and we couldn't get it off the wall if we wanted to.

So we bought some trim, mitered the corners and used silicone to attach it to the mirror.

At first I thought it might be a waste of money but then I saw the difference it made.

It really adds so much and makes the bathroom look a bit more polished.

5) added toilet paper holder and hand towel ring

Our house was first a rental but then a foreclosure

and therefore stripped of every single toilet paper holder, towel rack, appliance

and even some knobs and light fixtures!

So we've got a lot of replacing to do.

The plus is getting to pick them out myself. :)

6) changed the nasty yellowing "white" plastic shower head to a shiny silver one

7) gave it a good scrubbing

Again. Rental plus foreclosure plus vacant for months.

'Nuf said.

Eventually I'd like to replace the faucets.

They're kind of awful.

And maybe the light fixtures.

Someday.

Again, thankful for the neutral tile.

Even if it is ev. rey. where. in this house.

motherhood.

This post is my life lately.

Not gettin' a whole lot done around here

other than keeping children alive, fed and {somewhat} clean.

I'm wrapping up our kiddos bathroom so hopefully

I can share that soon! :)

If you follow me on instagram these photos are old hat.

If not, feel free to! :)

Things found in my son's pocket.

Flashlight on.

Sucker unwrapped.

Yep.

She's stuck. And screaming. :)

Coloring time is over.

Freakishly warm day this winter.

Jia thought she was big stuff riding in the wagon.

Self explanatory.

Ditto.

Story time.

Headed to target with all 3 littles on a rainy day.

Trying to hide the fear in my eyes. ;)

Baby doll all tucked in for naptime.

This one's gonna be a good daddy. :)

Sure why not.

I still have a few cash clutches for sale!

I took a chance with the chambray fabric

and think I struck out on that one.

Leave me some feedback!

Let me know what you like and what you don't like! :)

for sale!

cash clutches now for sale!

click on the "shop" tab!

cash clutch giveaway winner & update!

Thank you to everyone who entered my cash clutch giveaway!

I loved reading all of your money saving and budgeting tips.
It's amazing how many of us use the cash system and how much it really works!
Something about spending "real" money and not just swiping the card mindlessly. :)

A couple weeks ago I was looking around our home
and realized almost all of our furniture was either given to us,
thrifted or found on craigslist.
And I asked myself why I would ever buy anything new! :)
So that's my favorite tip.
Get creative.
Furnish, decorate, revamp your home diy style
by shopping at thrift stores and on craigslist
and turn it into what you want it to be!
We have saved so much money that way!

I also use a similar approach to my wardrobe.
Check out my "modified wardrobe" series
for ways to modify or alter things already hanging in your closet! :)

Now for the winner...

dgeo6748 

this little cash clutch is all yours!

Email me your info!

For those of you that didn't win

this is what I've been up to the last couple days...

More cash clutches comin' your way!

I hope to have them ready to sell by the end of the week!