tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76003657011158995982024-02-19T00:35:14.331-05:00SaysTheCraftyGirlPart time craft junkie with a full time job.Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-86528039899975555822014-11-07T09:12:00.000-05:002014-11-07T09:12:30.407-05:00Halloween!I didn't do anything overly crafty for the girls Halloween costumes. It's good that I didn't pan anything elaborate because we had another bad sleep week so I was struggling anyway. I think I'm learning my limits, maybe? Months ago I ordered these shirts from <a href="http://www.zulily.com/invite/acampbell883">Zulily</a> (affiliate link). R.Soup's is actually a onesie, but close enough. <br />
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<a href="http://cdn-s3-1.wanelo.com/product/image/5392306/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn-s3-1.wanelo.com/product/image/5392306/original.jpg" height="200" width="172" /></a><a href="http://www.lookhuman.com/render/product/5880/5880068054008628/2001blk-w800h800z1-12216-tweedle-dum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.lookhuman.com/render/product/5880/5880068054008628/2001blk-w800h800z1-12216-tweedle-dum.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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I had a red tutu for L.Soup from a party and a pair of pants (0-3 months and a little short - but definitely still fit... thank goodness for tiny babies) with a tutu attached for R.Soup. I ordered these socks from Amazon and made them into <a href="http://www.poofycheeks.com/2013/09/5-and-15-minutesbaby-leg-warmers.html">baby legs</a> for L.Soup so their bottoms will match (minus the heels).<br />
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/716HFmkIPOL._UX385_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/716HFmkIPOL._UX385_.jpg" height="320" width="251" /></a></div>
<br />
I put long sleeve under shirts and stockings on each of them for some added warmth. I asked my grandfather to knit them each a red hat to keep their heads warm and my mom made them bows to attach to the hats.<br />
<br />
<br />
We didn't go to many houses, but I figured it would be more fun for <strike>me </strike>them if we went in the wagon instead of a stroller.<br />
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4M_9ikyGfIY/VFWUOXHaX0I/AAAAAAAAFqw/PvyDNpeFMbo/s1600/20141031_185356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4M_9ikyGfIY/VFWUOXHaX0I/AAAAAAAAFqw/PvyDNpeFMbo/s640/20141031_185356.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">I don't know how many times I'll be able to do this matching thing before they start rebelling against me. </span></div>
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<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J9aDh0sKciQ/VFWUUDXfGGI/AAAAAAAAFq4/6o46KxdCSE0/s1600/20141031_184955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-J9aDh0sKciQ/VFWUUDXfGGI/AAAAAAAAFq4/6o46KxdCSE0/s640/20141031_184955.jpg" /></a><br />
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So I'm soaking this all in.</div>
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Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-66209986022694722172014-10-09T14:47:00.001-04:002014-10-09T14:47:34.855-04:00Already?I have a 6 month old.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking about it all day and I'm still having a hard time with it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFniWqwHie332qiypjw-gKCkke1nejEOEJpnvpWJz0y7vhe_tSKte7F6q40XHraKSb8PiAADE4iqZuqKs9NyrVgO6dceeuI9S2ptF37Zj9QvKt7SigMHRyY7dyy0vfeSIEe9QAdla8-c/s1600/day1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFniWqwHie332qiypjw-gKCkke1nejEOEJpnvpWJz0y7vhe_tSKte7F6q40XHraKSb8PiAADE4iqZuqKs9NyrVgO6dceeuI9S2ptF37Zj9QvKt7SigMHRyY7dyy0vfeSIEe9QAdla8-c/s1600/day1.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
This tiny little nugget is 6 months old.<br />
<br />
She's trying desperately to figure out how to crawl. <br />
<br />
She's getting more balance and is now able to sit up on her own for a few minutes.<br />
<br />
She's interested in absolutely everything.<br />
<br />
She's so serious, but so completely silly sometimes.<br />
<br />
She LOVES her sister and laughs at everything she does.<br />
<br />
<br />
She's starting to make more than just "ahh" sounds.<br />
<br />
She's chewing on everything.<br />
<br />
She's tried three foods - avocado, banana, and pumpkin.<br />
<br />
SHE'S SIX MONTHS OLD.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRbW_DdSDmaj28CIRLJuaN9eh8f3f_gnYd_Lh3bPPscjGRiexP3ges4Nt_2QLs4chckBwsao1SrUXEN-_sEPKUHmMyghx0DrH-5PPVCwGNpsRfSJzVCJKOR_DhVTxmVP35NJ80V9GpU/s1600/6months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPVRbW_DdSDmaj28CIRLJuaN9eh8f3f_gnYd_Lh3bPPscjGRiexP3ges4Nt_2QLs4chckBwsao1SrUXEN-_sEPKUHmMyghx0DrH-5PPVCwGNpsRfSJzVCJKOR_DhVTxmVP35NJ80V9GpU/s1600/6months.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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I don't get it.</div>
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Happy Half Birthday baby girl.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-28158991256890372282014-10-06T16:43:00.000-04:002014-10-06T16:43:31.713-04:00Starting from scratchThings have been at a complete stand still in the Soup household the
last few weeks. We moved R.Soup over to her own room because she kept
waking up at 3:30 in the morning to hang out with her mama. <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/09/milestones.html">No thank you my dear sweet baby love</a>.<br />
<br />
She
hasn't been having a hard time going to bed. Some nights she even
sleeps all the way through to morning. But then there are other nights
where she wakes up multiple times throughout the night and I'm the only
one that she wants to see.<br />
<br />
I've spent the last few weeks trying to recoup from the the previous weeks when I was being allotted approximately 3 hours of sleep during the night. <br />
<br />
We've been making a point
to go to sleep as soon as the girls are asleep, so that I'm not dying
the next day. Mess has been piling and piling and piling, and I haven't
even thought about the projects going on in the basement. On nights
that we don't go to bed, we sit on the couch and watch some TV and hold
our breath (well at least I do) waiting to hear crying coming through
the monitor.<br />
<br />
I finally broke down last week and invited
people over to the house for a Sunday get together. Which forced us to
frantically clean the main level of the house in prep for them coming
over. I wouldn't care if it was a normal level of mess. But this was
hoarder style disgusting mess and was starting to affect my daily
outlook.<br />
<br />
So now the main level of the house looks...
better. Like 1000 times better but still not what I think it should
look like. But as long as we can keep up with this level of clean, we
can work towards my dream clean. Minus toys. Nothing ever looks clean when its covered in a rainbow of baby toys. Honestly I'm not (always) bothered by them. Its the <strike>inch </strike>fine coating of sand under them that bothers me.<br />
<br />
Upstairs on the other hand. Disaster area. Our <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/08/mattress-in-box.html">old mattress</a> is still standing up in the hallway outside our bedroom. The cats have
claimed it as their new climbing tree since its the highest place they
can be. I'm afraid at this point they might revolt when we move it
out. There's boxes of hand-me-down baby related things (mostly clothes... MORE clothes) that need to be washed and sorted. I have a ton of things lying around currently that I want to put into the bathroom, but haven't had any time to actually WORK on the bathroom.<br />
<br />
In addition to THAT - because that's not enough
and I want you to truly understand the state I've allowed our house to
get to - there's four... FOUR loads of clean baby laundry. We also
have one or two loads of our laundry. <b>We only have 4 laundry baskets</b>.
That means one of the "baskets" is dumped on the floor somewhere. And
the dirty clothes hampers are starting to fill up again. It never ends.<br />
<br />
Okay. But enough about clothes mess.<br />
<br />
Sometime in the last month, the light in our ceiling fan stopped working. So the majority of the time that we spend in our bedroom we have to use our phones as flashlights and have the hall and bathroom lights on so we can actually see things.<br />
<br />
D.Soup bought a kit to fix it the other day, but accidentally bought the ceiling fan kit instead of the light kit. So now we are back at square one.<br />
<br />
I think I'm finally finding a groove (and the energy) where - if R.Soup stays asleep - I can get things done. I did what felt like a million things on Wednesday night when I got back downstairs. I'm hoping I can keep that pace up.<br />
<br />
Also, I need to be starting back over on an exercise regimen. Once I stopped sleeping, I stopped caring about my 30 day challenge. Which is unfortunate because I had made it to day 14. I'm going to start that back up here soon, and hopefully stick it out for the entire 30 days. I'd also like to pick up with some "running" sometime in the near future.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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Here's hoping I can get back on some kind of schedule soon.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-55469988225722794012014-10-03T10:21:00.001-04:002014-10-06T16:41:31.525-04:00Some paper crafting!I've had a few Silhouette paper cutting projects recently. That I've used a few of my "free nights" to work on. It's taken forever to get some of them done but I'm glad I can finally make time for some sort of crafting again. <br />
<br />
Two of my good friends are getting married (to each other) in 15 days! A few months ago <a href="http://eatloverunrepeat.wordpress.com/">she</a> asked me if I could help with some paper things for the wedding. First up was a sticker to attach to the welcome bags that she had for hotel guests and the bridal party. She gave me a general idea of what she liked, along with some examples for inspiration. I came up with a few samples, but finally ended up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zeg5cApJyldzRhGCjE-w0rIWEeoYeXDhrqOVfhafsCdR1OTqSjsq7H6D_98WzAEmAye3zTTlzKGC74RfIm-Y8WHZiuqXY5OR2TJC94IIxPNhAmkdFDwYO6jdNP0kvWnrr01RQFoiDeE/s1600/sticker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zeg5cApJyldzRhGCjE-w0rIWEeoYeXDhrqOVfhafsCdR1OTqSjsq7H6D_98WzAEmAye3zTTlzKGC74RfIm-Y8WHZiuqXY5OR2TJC94IIxPNhAmkdFDwYO6jdNP0kvWnrr01RQFoiDeE/s1600/sticker.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(font is <a href="http://www.dafont.com/janda-elegant-handwriting.font">Janda Elegant Handwriting</a>)</div>
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I printed them onto some full sheets of sticker paper that she had purchased and brought to me, and she said it almost looks like they were printed directly onto the bags! <br />
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<a href="https://lh4.ggpht.com/-ibAcTdm0ZGQ/VC4Nr6IKZEI/AAAAAAAAFjk/6TmOLgf4m4Y/s640/IMG_9038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ibAcTdm0ZGQ/VC4Nr6IKZEI/AAAAAAAAFjk/6TmOLgf4m4Y/s640/IMG_9038.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Next up, my mom asked for some help with developing a new business card for her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/everyshadeofpretty">Etsy shop</a>. She wants to completely remodel and streamline the look of her page, including the paper that she sends associated with her orders. She wanted something on Kraft paper, so I came up with this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFvQSGC6xawuAtKaED-C0_5RdSwGxyThI5xPku3FwmnsC-v2n2xkJTVxpj8neD90BGubitA-3HQrmQs3_a68ioutIVzza2wmZJOQ26eREBelsrCosDBxRGb19qXdKyVZl2POHwYCS9kM/s1600/cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFvQSGC6xawuAtKaED-C0_5RdSwGxyThI5xPku3FwmnsC-v2n2xkJTVxpj8neD90BGubitA-3HQrmQs3_a68ioutIVzza2wmZJOQ26eREBelsrCosDBxRGb19qXdKyVZl2POHwYCS9kM/s1600/cards.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a> </div>
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(Fonts: <a href="http://www.dafont.com/young-beautiful.font">Young & Beautiful</a>, <a href="http://www.dafont.com/geo-sans-light.font">GeosansLight</a>) </div>
<br />
She loved that they looked like bows.<br />
<br />
In looking for new ways to decorate my house for Halloween, I kept coming across this picture.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.enterny.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Mysterious-Garage-Door-Decals-Ideas-Balck-Bats-Fake-Ghost-915x575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.enterny.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Mysterious-Garage-Door-Decals-Ideas-Balck-Bats-Fake-Ghost-915x575.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://melancholysmile.blogspot.com/2011/09/this-is-halloween.html">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
I desperately wanted to do this
on our garage, so I searched through the image options for the
Silhouette and found a group of bats that I thought would work well. I
set them up (all 60 of them) and cut them out on some black vinyl. <br />
<br />
Here's what my version looks like:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lChNvPw8nIU/VDAVYXD5TiI/AAAAAAAAFlo/cgbC2IDAMq8/s1600/20141004_113014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: sans-serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lChNvPw8nIU/VDAVYXD5TiI/AAAAAAAAFlo/cgbC2IDAMq8/s640/20141004_113014.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I feel pretty good about the very little bit of crafting I've been able to accomplish lately. Hopefully soon I will be able to increase my level of production.<br />
<br />
<br />
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Cross your fingers.</div>
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But don't hold your breath.</div>
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It's been an interesting few weeks at the Soup house.... <br />
<br />
<b>D.Soup now has a red meat allergy.</b><br />
<br />
My self proclaimed "meatatarian" husband can no longer eat beef, pork, or lamb. His hands and feet start to swell, rashes form up his arms, and he has terrible stomach pains.<br />
<br />
Also, pork being "the other white meat" is a lie. Rude.<br />
<br />
<b>All because of a tick bite.</b><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amblyomma_americanum">Lone Star Tick </a>has been spreading across the country, and if it bites you there is a chance that you will develop an allergy to red meat. The tick carries a sugar called <span style="font-weight: normal;"><span dir="auto"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose">Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose</a></span></span>(alpha-gal) in its belly. It transfers the alpha-gal to you and your body starts to fight it like it would a disease. Alpha-gal is also found in the fatty parts of all non-primate mammals. So when your body processes the fat cells of any red meat that you have eaten, you have an allergic reaction.<br />
<br />
...That's my very dumbed down explanation of this whole shenanigans.<br />
<br />
<b>What does this mean for us?</b><br />
<br />
We will now be a fish and fowl loving family. We are only in the first week of transferring over to our new lifestyle and we honestly don't know how much he will be affected by different scenarios. A lot of people with this allergy have issues eating out because of cross contamination. We will have to take it day by day. He has been prescribed an Epi pen, and we now have Benadryl stored in every vehicle and multiple areas in our house.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>The good news.</b><br />
<br />
He doesn't (so far) seem to have any feelings of his throat closing up during a reaction.<b> </b><br />
<br />
We already eat a decent amount of chicken. So transitioning isn't going to be TOO hard for a majority of our meals. <br />
<br />
The other good thing is that turkey is much healthier than beef, so it will help us in our weight loss endeavors.<br />
<br />
There is a chance that the allergy will go away on its own (3 weeks to 5
years is the "average"), he has to be careful not to get another Lone
Star tick bite, because that will bring the allergy back, or make it
worse if he is still allergic at the time of the bite. <br />
<br />
<b>The bad news. </b><br />
<br />
D.Soup hunts. Deer meat is included in the list of no-nos. We haven't tested it, and some people say they can still eat it so we are feeling hopeful at the moment. We shall see.<br />
<br />
We also have bags and bags of beef - hamburgers, steaks, ground beef, cubes - in our freezers. I'm going to have to package everything up and give it away. At least we know people around us that will take it, so we don't have to throw everything away.<br />
<br />
It's also possible that we could deal with cross contamination in our own kitchen. We use cast iron pans to cook a majority of our meals. Those could very easily have remnants of meat that might affect him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
There's so much more. I start thinking about it and I end up in a rabbit hole of stress and panic. We just don't know everything that he will react to so its a strange and slightly scary time for <strike>us</strike> me. He is less panicked than I am, at least externally. I think if I wasn't so stressed about it he would be more stressed, but for now he has to deal with all my craziness so he's taken on his job as the confident one.<br />
<br />
I can't believe that a tick bite can do this to people. Hardly anyone knows about it either. Almost everyone that we've talked to has been completely dumbfounded that this is even a thing.<br />
<br />
The allergist that D.Soup saw to get tested for alpha-gal was actually excited (for herself, not for him) that he was there. She told him "I've studied this but have never actually seen a case of it before! I'm going to have to do some more research!"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
I will continue to post any changes.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-27902017409672224282014-09-10T10:36:00.000-04:002014-09-10T10:36:09.533-04:00MilestonesR.Soup has hit a few milestones in the last few weeks. She's scooting backwards all over the floor. She's so close to sitting up on her own. She had her first taste of real food a few days ago.<br />
<br />
And then, just Monday night... This: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.ggpht.com/-GDehE9TXQJ0/VA5VCv9FgTI/AAAAAAAAFio/8vAXf31AqR8/s640/20140908_203736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GDehE9TXQJ0/VA5VCv9FgTI/AAAAAAAAFio/8vAXf31AqR8/s640/20140908_203736.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's my baby. All alone. In the CRIB! Gah.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I almost couldn't lay her down because I was so sad. It couldn't be time for this already! But then I remembered the night before. Her waking up quite a few times just to hang out. With me. Her father wasn't cutting it.<br />
<br />
So I plunked her down in the crib and ran. And then stared at the monitor for the rest of the night.<br />
<br />
She did great! Slept from 9ish until 3:30. It took until about 5 to get her back to sleep. And again she only wanted me (...yay). But when she went back to sleep again she stayed asleep until 8.<br />
<br />
Last night was not as great, but I think it was more my fault than hers. I honestly am not completely sure, but it took 2 hours to get her to sleep finally. Then she woke up around 3 and again around 5:30. That second time I had D.Soup go get her because I just couldn't convince myself to get out of the bed.<br />
<br />
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We have been soooo late to work this week.</div>
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Her face looks less and less like a baby every day. Her attitude screams teenager. Sometimes I forget she's only 2, because she already seems so much older than that. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ypaV2CEMQNUfJf7ZVA7Xt2V7STKEWAv3A2d2Z9kO2HbiqJn8qvuAJYTgTy8yWNbwW_hsZUgkgzQt0UlabAHNg3dekbZ3cL7kz32j2YKGqVqRwVdMZwcvCz3LrvXVL0sUxUsIC6kUjo/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7ypaV2CEMQNUfJf7ZVA7Xt2V7STKEWAv3A2d2Z9kO2HbiqJn8qvuAJYTgTy8yWNbwW_hsZUgkgzQt0UlabAHNg3dekbZ3cL7kz32j2YKGqVqRwVdMZwcvCz3LrvXVL0sUxUsIC6kUjo/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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I watched her one night this week take off running through a field full of other children. Instead of just watching them, she joined in. They taught her how to do a cartwheel, and I watched her try to maneuver her tiny arms and legs in the same way these bigger girls were. She followed them around the rest of the evening, and they played with her. Last month girls the same size ran around her as she tried to figure out how to include herself in their games.<br />
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A part of me wanted to follow her around, keep close to her. But instead I watched her from a distance. She would come running back to us to tell us what she had done, and with a smile take off again to find her new friends.<br />
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My beautiful big girl.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-46932734492176905522014-08-29T08:31:00.001-04:002014-08-29T08:31:28.395-04:00Mattress in a box<br />
We moved out of our old house right when RoomStore was going out of business. It was perfect timing for us because we were in desperate need of a new bed, since we had trashed ours when we moved out of our old house and had spent the first few months sleeping on a deflated air mattress on the floor. It was almost like camping. Sort of. Not really.<br />
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We ended up with a king size pillow top mattress that at the beginning felt like magic. It was so soft, and comfortable. And then a few months went by, and you could only sleep in two places on the bed because any time you moved anywhere else you rolled right back into the hole. It was annoying, but we dealt with it because its ridiculous to buy a new bed after less than 2 years.<br />
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Like I said <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/08/not-quite-sleeping_27.html">before</a>, D.Soup was gone for work all last week. While he was gone someone recommended the<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sleep-Innovations-SureTemp-Mattress-Warranty/dp/B00B9JIGOS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409159968&sr=8-1&keywords=Sleep+Innovations+10+inch+mattress"> Sleep Innovations 10 inch mattress</a> from Amazon. They personally had purchased multiple forms of this bed and were very pleased with it. That was enough to get D.Soup debating on making the purchase. Once he got home and slept on our bed again - waking up in the morning with a sore back and knees after a week pain free - the deal was done. That night he placed an order and Monday afternoon our bed was waiting for us when we got home.<br />
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What is that, you say? That doesn't look like a bed? Well don't be fooled....<br />
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That right there is a genuine king size foam mattress. <br />
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I wish I would have gotten video of this sucker opening up when we cut the vacuum seal open. It was hilarious. It reminded me of those little shapes you would get as a child and when you put them under water they turned into wash clothes. <br />
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I don't know these people, and this is not my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTrXnwUHR-o">video</a>. But this is the mattress we ended up with, and they took the step that I didn't think of and recorded opening the mattress. This is exactly how ours went too.<br />
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We a few nights in to sleeping on the bed. More like "<a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/08/not-quite-sleeping_27.html">sleeping</a>" for me, but D.Soup seems happy with it so far. I got a better nights sleep the last few nights and I'm feeling pretty good today, so I'm happy with his purchase.<br />
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Now I just have to figure out what to do with the king size mattress in my hallway.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-21032170655217241192014-08-28T13:49:00.000-04:002014-08-28T13:49:06.498-04:00Where Mz.Soup gets to make (most of) Dinner<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I don't get to make dinner often anymore. A baby with hunger cries you could set a watch to and a toddler that wants to "help" me do everything puts a damper on that whole leisurely making dinner thing. Even if I start making dinner I usually have to pass the torch over to D.Soup in the middle so I can give my attention somewhere else. </div>
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We had some chicken in the refrigerator, and I had some fresh tomatoes and green beans from Pappy's garden. So I headed to <a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/">Skinnytaste</a> for some recommendations and ended up landing on these two recipes:</div>
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<a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/11/roasted-parmesan-green-beans.html">Roasted Parmesan Green Beans</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/05/grilled-chicken-bruschetta.html">Grilled Chicken Bruschetta</a></div>
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Both recipes only took about 15 minutes each once the vegetables were prepped. It was a perfect quick meal that allowed D.Soup to grill the chicken and me to deal with the vegetable portion while passing R.Soup back and forth. Luckily, L.Soup didn't take a nap yesterday so she had passed out in the car on the way home. She slept on the couch through the entire dinner making process.</div>
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Not so luckily, she was not very friendly for the rest of the evening. </div>
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L.Soup attitude issues aside. This was by far one of the best dinners we have had in a long time. Definitely both options will be added into our dinner menu mix frequently from here on out.</div>
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Why do kids fight napping so much? </div>
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I would nap every day if someone let me. </div>
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And I wouldn't get fired.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-90439188446096610082014-08-27T13:09:00.005-04:002014-08-27T13:10:21.194-04:00Not quite sleeping<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The last few nights, R.Soup has not exactly been sleeping. I'm pretty sure she's in the middle of a growth spurt because the only way to comfort her when she wakes up is to feed her. I know this is a fact, because I had D.Soup take her for a little while at 3 am on Monday night, and she just stared in my direction and screamed the entire 15 minutes until I gave in and took her back. The little angel.</div>
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The last two nights were poorly placed (for me) since I'm still trying to recover from last weeks 5:30 every day wake up call culminating with Friday's no-sleepathon.</div>
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Let me start over.</div>
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D.Soup went away for work last week. So while he was gone, instead of trying to get the girls and the dog into the car every morning on my own and still make it to work before 10 am, I stayed on my parents couch. Each day I got up at 5:30 and snuck out before anyone was awake. </div>
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(Side note, is snuck not a word? I'm getting yelled at by spell check)</div>
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The problem with this is that I would still stay up until 11 or later each night, so I wasn't getting much sleep to begin with. Then the last day we were there, L.Soup decided she didn't want to go to bed, and laid in her bed singing the ABCs until about 11:15. I waited a little while, and went to bed around 11:45.</div>
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At midnight I heard R.Soup. Of course. And OF COURSE, every time I tried to put her back down, she would wake up and cry again. So she and I ended up snuggling the rest of the <strike>night </strike>morning. When I went to tell my mom I was leaving, I noticed L.Soup wasn't in her bed. I had a moment of panic, before I found her snuggled down in between my parents in THEIR bed.</div>
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So it wasn't a good sleeping night for anyone. </div>
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I got a little reprieve Friday and Saturday nights, and some extra time in bed both mornings while D.Soup handled the girls downstairs and made breakfast. But I was finally coming back out of my haze when Sunday night hit and she woke up every 2 hours on the dot. And then Monday night was basically the same. I was in the middle of staining a crate in the basement when I heard her. I had D.Soup go try to rock her back to sleep, and it worked for a while. Just long enough in fact for me to get the stain off my hands (more on that later).</div>
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I pretty much spent the whole night sitting up in our brand new bed. Until that 3 am situation, and I just couldn't muster the energy to sit up anymore. So then I woke up to this:</div>
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Last night I didn't have the energy to even think about anything but sleeping by the time the girls were in bed. I managed to make my way back downstairs, only to trudge right back upstairs and pass out.</div>
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At least she's cute.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-39523722903949283532014-08-22T14:25:00.000-04:002014-08-22T14:25:47.417-04:00I need a systemThe biggest thing I forgot about having an infant is how much time you have to dedicate to just being with them. Between feedings, diaper changes, playing, and just holding them in between activities, there's no time for me to get anything done until she's in bed. I love playing and spending time with her so I'm not really complaining, there's just a ton of things that I need to get done around the house. <br />
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The few times I'm not holding her during the day, I don't really want to work on cleaning up the house. I either want to relax for a few minutes, or more often, play with L.Soup. <br />
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Needless to say, any amount of housework either gets done by D.Soup, by me one-handedly (always entertaining) or in minimal amounts after the girls are asleep. <br />
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I've tried to make a daily to do list of things to accomplish on the cleaning front each day, but I always end up behind. Or distracted.<br />
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I did a little googling, and I found <a href="http://todoist.com/">Todoist</a>. This site allows me to build to do lists, set due dates and even recurring due dates so I can set up a cleaning schedule for myself each week. There's even an app so I can look at and check off action items on my phone as I'm doing them. <br />
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I've transferred my regular document full of things to do over, and I'm going to test it out for the next few weeks to see if it actually helps me stay on track. Its nice to be able to assign specific dates to everything, so I only have to focus on what's up that day when I look at the list in "calendar" format.<br />
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I've also scheduled in those "once in a while" tasks, like adding a cleaning tab into the water tank of the toilets and running a cleaning cycle in the washing machine once a month. Those are things that I always think about doing at the absolute inopportune time. So hopefully this will help me to be better about actually keeping up with them.<br />
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D.Soup is coming home today from a work trip. So I'm going to really start keeping up with it tomorrow. I've been trying to do some stuff here and there this week, but we'll see how it actually works out starting tomorrow.<br />
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In addition to a cleaning list, I've created a "Projects" list. I've listed out all the steps I need to complete for all the different crafting projects I've got planned out currently. I'm hoping this will force me to actually finish (or start) the projects I currently have going before I decided to start working on something else.<br />
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For example, I currently have 31 steps listed out in the Projects list. </div>
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Reel yourself in MzSoup, just stop.</div>
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<br />Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-48903395164959386612014-08-19T14:10:00.000-04:002014-08-19T14:10:55.465-04:006 month recapIt's been so long since I've written here, everything is blending together. So I'm just going to make a list of the things (that I can remember) that have happened over the last few months and quickly recap them.<br />
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<b>1. <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/08/lsoups-new-room.html">We finished getting L.Soup's room together</a></b><br />
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<b>2. <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/08/shes-here.html">We had a baby!</a></b><br />
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<b>3. D.Soup took L.Soup and his mom on a road trip in May. </b>My mother in law's best friend had a daughter graduating from high school. They live in North Carolina. She really wanted to go be a part of the celebrations, but didn't want to go alone. D.Soup decided it would be fun to take L.Soup and spend some time with his mom. He also thought it would be nice for me to spend some quality alone time with R.Soup. It was definitely nice to have just one baby for a few days, but I was so happy when they got home.<br />
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<b>4. While they were gone my mom and I attacked the girls rooms, and the computer room. </b>We took advantage of having only one baby, and spent a majority of the 5 days they were gone frantically cleaning and organizing the upstairs in my house. It had turned into a complete disaster area - all the girls clothes were in laundry baskets or on the floor, boxes were piled everywhere, things got carried upstairs and just left in the hallway. A. mess. And the worst part of everything was the computer room. There was a single path of walking space in that room. It took most of the time to clean, but we got it 95% accomplished. I have big plans for that room in the near future.<br />
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<b>5. I went back to work. </b>I got an awesome 3 months at home with my girls after R.Soup was born. I'm happy to be back at work, if only because I have adults to talk to again.<br />
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<b>6. I started making time to work on crafting/house stuff again.</b> It may only be an hour after the girls have gone to bed, but I'm sure soon I'll be able to devote more time to working on my crafting projects. Currently I'm working on four crates - two for the girls bathroom and two for the bottom of the pantry in the kitchen. More on that later.<br />
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<b>7. I decided to decorate my bathroom.</b> When we moved in, all the rooms in our house were the same color. For the most part I'm okay with that on the main level. Most of that level is one large open space so the consist wall color isn't terrible. Upstairs though, every wall in every room is (other than the girls rooms) the same and it was starting to wear on me. Additionally, I had put no effort into decorating the bathroom other than a few (black - what was I thinking) rugs on the floor and a pretty shower curtain. I'm over it.<br />
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Hopefully this will be a good kick-off point for me to start writing here again.</div>
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Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-13854264146339135772014-08-15T16:09:00.001-04:002014-08-15T16:09:24.404-04:00L.Soup's New RoomWhen I disappeared, I was in the middle of clearing out the new space for L.Soup's room. So I'm going to try to pick up from there. Months of time have passed and I now have double mommy brain, so bear with me.<br />
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What had become a disastrous mess in that room ended up being an even more disastrous mess in the new computer room (a completely different conversation). I finally got enough maternal nesting into my system that I got myself in gear and motivated. We moved the rest of the stuff out of L.Soup's future room. But the only place (other than the trash) for it to go was into the new computer room. At this point I didn't care, it was time to move.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaXf2UiShvotXnQs1XQjxQHSOpqv4dNmV1zqxXRqMM3iU5X-C4nt5J123CXoaDvvISCohtsz8fdDr2sPyJ5xS2FA-h_alIzEtt_-C_WuAsVhJgO5TVeAPPaxMse5PTPybv7HZhVZLCXw/s640/20140310_202503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaXf2UiShvotXnQs1XQjxQHSOpqv4dNmV1zqxXRqMM3iU5X-C4nt5J123CXoaDvvISCohtsz8fdDr2sPyJ5xS2FA-h_alIzEtt_-C_WuAsVhJgO5TVeAPPaxMse5PTPybv7HZhVZLCXw/s640/20140310_202503.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn274Ts8nJ7UQ8KYITfZqusY2_sxbFaZHM6L_FsbKWSiIusAtCxDnm3WL0YTnUMIRpwSlhCln7PnSn-TyePPqjuW9QdbjgevsOvEBrKf_NafN-X8P98Xydl3YUUMLK9mawi_fiUL1D9aY/s640/20140310_202435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn274Ts8nJ7UQ8KYITfZqusY2_sxbFaZHM6L_FsbKWSiIusAtCxDnm3WL0YTnUMIRpwSlhCln7PnSn-TyePPqjuW9QdbjgevsOvEBrKf_NafN-X8P98Xydl3YUUMLK9mawi_fiUL1D9aY/s640/20140310_202435.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VOsxBCK-p0vJgzJw7ZdvqiW2J0dYz9BpmM096ZRKz_WIn3qQQE7d5hYtJiXpddDqNhtLIunqmu7YPKMMq9_iDnqAsGwZpO9G2dAtYfBCrFpVFAXsQc59wOfhm_QDpA6v4XoSONYm-Oc/s640/20140310_202450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VOsxBCK-p0vJgzJw7ZdvqiW2J0dYz9BpmM096ZRKz_WIn3qQQE7d5hYtJiXpddDqNhtLIunqmu7YPKMMq9_iDnqAsGwZpO9G2dAtYfBCrFpVFAXsQc59wOfhm_QDpA6v4XoSONYm-Oc/s640/20140310_202450.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Months ago, during a trip to the fabric store, I found this cute white curtain fabric with blue, pink and green circles all over it. It became the center piece for all decisions made about the bedroom. Interestingly enough, the curtains have not yet made their debut in L.Soups room yet. I'm working on it.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><picture of fabric></span> <br />
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Once we had pulled every last piece of mess out, we made a trip to Home Depot for paint and supplies. All the walls in our house were a bone color when we moved in. Considering I was putting white furniture into the room, I didn't want the walls to look dirty. So the walls and ceiling in L.Soup's room got a fresh coat of white satin paint (for easy dirty removal, which has come in handy more than once). I had D.Soup help me with the ceiling, but I did most of the walls. We left the trim alone because it actually didn't look bad once the white paint was up (its also a bone color).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL5838kk4Xo-s4S-KpNOAdg73dgO2wXBZ5hYUiU0uJxWI3ULzuvF7T98xK9lyBgnQguCTPnNlOb9NaJhQuSTZIXaV1ygEGKpgegLwnU2UOwVsEo9rvUXXU-sgjk5tzZqc17WR_vGKZig/s640/20140315_130140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL5838kk4Xo-s4S-KpNOAdg73dgO2wXBZ5hYUiU0uJxWI3ULzuvF7T98xK9lyBgnQguCTPnNlOb9NaJhQuSTZIXaV1ygEGKpgegLwnU2UOwVsEo9rvUXXU-sgjk5tzZqc17WR_vGKZig/s640/20140315_130140.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPEe8SB7ixvQodyfU74C-hvjgyure4kPlS0VfapF7qBwQrvllJ9NtJAj9VVVcbKR6QZacHgioeyyKbcxtzOJy94yGqn9k7ifE54M9JmepgBe8BuCg1vegIuIAefvNlkv0H44MjK6qGpU/s640/20140315_124336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPEe8SB7ixvQodyfU74C-hvjgyure4kPlS0VfapF7qBwQrvllJ9NtJAj9VVVcbKR6QZacHgioeyyKbcxtzOJy94yGqn9k7ifE54M9JmepgBe8BuCg1vegIuIAefvNlkv0H44MjK6qGpU/s640/20140315_124336.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpr9H23JPOCQq2J2MkqVir6uWbvFRQwPD-OdprBlLyojl5sQDIZGUDX05fmFMTeev1otPAixVjMX82x_TWPvFCoBR-_UMt7Hw6eJZsDT1cvXfnEUP2gm95TUSA2w0VfuoWwXNgELYatA/s640/20140315_221559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNpr9H23JPOCQq2J2MkqVir6uWbvFRQwPD-OdprBlLyojl5sQDIZGUDX05fmFMTeev1otPAixVjMX82x_TWPvFCoBR-_UMt7Hw6eJZsDT1cvXfnEUP2gm95TUSA2w0VfuoWwXNgELYatA/s640/20140315_221559.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHFqjD6l3nZCOwXtFlBPkJFmW_RGYGOZGaXLG4T6GgHWB2LUKzSWe9pMl_F3N3H0UdpNu1Hq_8wIjsTi410ld8HYU1WJYn1MatLBIYy-FObHcSOy7v9nS6PcPHJLzq3FoTuSuemsbYSk/s640/20140315_221548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHFqjD6l3nZCOwXtFlBPkJFmW_RGYGOZGaXLG4T6GgHWB2LUKzSWe9pMl_F3N3H0UdpNu1Hq_8wIjsTi410ld8HYU1WJYn1MatLBIYy-FObHcSOy7v9nS6PcPHJLzq3FoTuSuemsbYSk/s640/20140315_221548.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvOYuF2qLTup0DlhwdCxQetKeMb_x-cK40mp6HdpNQufVHDlzu2pWlXGP9SgH5gTN395EmCdBTMlw3d1byau6RgNV8S2YgyYM93vBK78TGrBReyWcztRxwUoyTfBoMYMVpotPG3yGHo/s640/20140315_221540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGvOYuF2qLTup0DlhwdCxQetKeMb_x-cK40mp6HdpNQufVHDlzu2pWlXGP9SgH5gTN395EmCdBTMlw3d1byau6RgNV8S2YgyYM93vBK78TGrBReyWcztRxwUoyTfBoMYMVpotPG3yGHo/s640/20140315_221540.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
I then took pink, green and blue paint and painted three different size circles onto the wall.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><color names?></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XV9a76QY-AruQlTxGuq9CXYJTIre_iDo9AsA9gpB8XoLZ8GmWXmpoIzfbonsmQyl6YyKOq5-cDqXvc02tIZph1hmb7zcH4BdSDHm56opDjkLTI59eYprHcWy0esdpv376YNs2RrQq9g/s640/20140316_121417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XV9a76QY-AruQlTxGuq9CXYJTIre_iDo9AsA9gpB8XoLZ8GmWXmpoIzfbonsmQyl6YyKOq5-cDqXvc02tIZph1hmb7zcH4BdSDHm56opDjkLTI59eYprHcWy0esdpv376YNs2RrQq9g/s640/20140316_121417.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKI86VVtxZiWWkm5E-2k7MERLti_sOzdCOWK4bNDdUF4EwthU5KqccrnxmC5vq2qBFPKI-vs-NnTaCtV7Ud_uRROvGg_2NkDgOICNkjiQCMHLWEng_jXsOL1qleY4vPUHnZSEKsP0Om4/s640/20140316_124319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKI86VVtxZiWWkm5E-2k7MERLti_sOzdCOWK4bNDdUF4EwthU5KqccrnxmC5vq2qBFPKI-vs-NnTaCtV7Ud_uRROvGg_2NkDgOICNkjiQCMHLWEng_jXsOL1qleY4vPUHnZSEKsP0Om4/s640/20140316_124319.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyXWPHAvQRZW5-rDh-omW_XM9GsfMHAyqgnsAoaAe1HFRdsgTwZP57JnXrn2U6VCej2NIzksmUQt-7t8UcnXCAf0tSNLhDlOzsvo_qwvVDVw8zSW7zRe4w7PN_obpbhkrVepvDuatK_c/s640/20140316_220107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyXWPHAvQRZW5-rDh-omW_XM9GsfMHAyqgnsAoaAe1HFRdsgTwZP57JnXrn2U6VCej2NIzksmUQt-7t8UcnXCAf0tSNLhDlOzsvo_qwvVDVw8zSW7zRe4w7PN_obpbhkrVepvDuatK_c/s640/20140316_220107.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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I snagged my old dresser from the basement at my parent's house...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdhQDVPuk6i3Ds8rDoioOaaik9c8JzU4Ux19BpdBU4H6ikm5jzLDONBiMTFtDUwUOdLGbFJSjnB7fpVlX4Er2c6lhG1ddYpu1cvf4JOnBeFBtNs7jxDLfmNZylklkCAQes4XO6DycxrU/s640/20140310_210713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGdhQDVPuk6i3Ds8rDoioOaaik9c8JzU4Ux19BpdBU4H6ikm5jzLDONBiMTFtDUwUOdLGbFJSjnB7fpVlX4Er2c6lhG1ddYpu1cvf4JOnBeFBtNs7jxDLfmNZylklkCAQes4XO6DycxrU/s640/20140310_210713.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">D.Soup doing some sanding</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCqCpSdDw4opN6SbzsPaQiQhR_wy5Rgu47wnk6WGrhVE7_T1RdPrp3mSXgizGqrSck140N1uQc3z1oynuiJxz03AYJX9YTZfERagMTxFGIj6b-kW4A3AqHVwrZDwSrICHb4z6x7_lsek/s640/20140310_210702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCqCpSdDw4opN6SbzsPaQiQhR_wy5Rgu47wnk6WGrhVE7_T1RdPrp3mSXgizGqrSck140N1uQc3z1oynuiJxz03AYJX9YTZfERagMTxFGIj6b-kW4A3AqHVwrZDwSrICHb4z6x7_lsek/s640/20140310_210702.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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(One of the feet on the dresser had been severely damaged over time, so we took some wood filler and basically created a new leg for it. I wish I would have taken pictures of it in progress, but I guess I forgot. Pregnancy brain.)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRveM0k13qZBfQZL6xazkex_tEN9VYHK3YhBv0rs8wzhSDDPeQ0Wglo_G-1e-3KTug9gcEbSLj8TrYQA7ysya2TGvyoHLNfRXl9P_VLmjTUVSiIJEX5OTjnxz2tR0wyaxdWPVwRu6lXOM/s640/20140314_224726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRveM0k13qZBfQZL6xazkex_tEN9VYHK3YhBv0rs8wzhSDDPeQ0Wglo_G-1e-3KTug9gcEbSLj8TrYQA7ysya2TGvyoHLNfRXl9P_VLmjTUVSiIJEX5OTjnxz2tR0wyaxdWPVwRu6lXOM/s640/20140314_224726.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnarly foot from water damage</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mOlcTkgyoHy_iqvbujeMj_yfcT6r_etA63KEpgNCM-CpqUX70FZUzlBRXI7lWz3FczACbcLmMEWU__aXcug3oo6hgQUTHk2wCFKzEPdOJam-4Q4knNC5SXd8o1C5NQ7td9o23ieT6B8/s640/20140314_224735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mOlcTkgyoHy_iqvbujeMj_yfcT6r_etA63KEpgNCM-CpqUX70FZUzlBRXI7lWz3FczACbcLmMEWU__aXcug3oo6hgQUTHk2wCFKzEPdOJam-4Q4knNC5SXd8o1C5NQ7td9o23ieT6B8/s640/20140314_224735.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
...and spent some time painting that white with pink, green, and blue
dresser drawers. I also covered the top of the dresser with some
wallpaper that matched the color theme as well. I have the mirror that
goes with this dresser as well. But I figured L.Soup doesn't really
need it just yet, so I can hold off on that for a little while.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YvEfEbSbf1VfGR1xD2m32AwyUsXHCqhD5aKU-0c2z1j8ZSynAh1WE40Lgy40DI4HThH-5oSv4VB5JMTlNDZWoG3QDSg87h05Fq_OYm-vpPkFUq02yskgKMKdcV0OACTkl1Q57F_ndOw/s640/20140319_224539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YvEfEbSbf1VfGR1xD2m32AwyUsXHCqhD5aKU-0c2z1j8ZSynAh1WE40Lgy40DI4HThH-5oSv4VB5JMTlNDZWoG3QDSg87h05Fq_OYm-vpPkFUq02yskgKMKdcV0OACTkl1Q57F_ndOw/s640/20140319_224539.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White drawers before taping and painting the colors</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.ggpht.com/-ryzfAycVKEY/U-gy2b0FTuI/AAAAAAAAFdA/YgKJ-Zf9Q88/s640/20140330_233759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ryzfAycVKEY/U-gy2b0FTuI/AAAAAAAAFdA/YgKJ-Zf9Q88/s640/20140330_233759.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New hardware from Home Depot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVO0HLgQtRU3r6PeEx1piRgoNd8wVQ804oUkmOQf5rcxPhypY3mI5Yh3Ihs3VMKPVtLmkXHo7MsD0JLZ4Mor2N3pGDTmdW252aNqlpTiSzJ9XG9wzFJblcMU4-RVOIwf-wvZCfExo9so/s640/20140529_144215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVO0HLgQtRU3r6PeEx1piRgoNd8wVQ804oUkmOQf5rcxPhypY3mI5Yh3Ihs3VMKPVtLmkXHo7MsD0JLZ4Mor2N3pGDTmdW252aNqlpTiSzJ9XG9wzFJblcMU4-RVOIwf-wvZCfExo9so/s640/20140529_144215.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/York-Wallcoverings-DK6092-Paisley-Wallpaper/dp/B004J4X23K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407766255&sr=8-1&keywords=Disney+Kids+DK6092+Paisley+Stripe+Wallpaper">Disney Kids Paisley Stripe Wallpaper</a></td></tr>
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<br />
We also picked up this <a href="http://www.target.com/p/closetmaid-cubeicals-12-cube-organizer-white/-/A-13908813#prodSlot=medium_1_7&term=closetmaid">ClosetMaid Cubeical</a> from Target, along with some color matching storage bins for books and trinkets. Her shoes go in one bin, bathing suits in another. At the moment most of the bins are empty, but that's a good thing.<br />
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<a href="https://lh5.ggpht.com/-RzLj2aWl_Gc/U-gy1SLjpAI/AAAAAAAAFc4/bLJIMPWII8g/s640/20140330_161410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RzLj2aWl_Gc/U-gy1SLjpAI/AAAAAAAAFc4/bLJIMPWII8g/s640/20140330_161410.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
Once all the painting was finished, we headed out and got L.Soup her
very own BIG GIRL BED! Her twin size mattress is currently sitting on
the floor, which is probably for the best because she continues to fall
out of it on a regular basis. We made a point to pick out some fun
sheets for her, to help convince her that the big girl bed was the place
to be. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be to
transition her to the new room.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNZBtZA3fFqIOhvv40_8i7ZKarIsbf1PfVazLBC_lVOMdStTv4AMhA_b6zuklp_-j7AsGxPHhWMrM2y6BTRDVgRT0DY0WwAFboqqwFzd-LZi8gIPy_qJveeB5K27NBzBRyZ7yUThzfgM/s640/20140406_093351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNZBtZA3fFqIOhvv40_8i7ZKarIsbf1PfVazLBC_lVOMdStTv4AMhA_b6zuklp_-j7AsGxPHhWMrM2y6BTRDVgRT0DY0WwAFboqqwFzd-LZi8gIPy_qJveeB5K27NBzBRyZ7yUThzfgM/s640/20140406_093351.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladybug sheets! (<a href="http://www.target.com/p/circo-ladybug-sheet-set/-/A-13576423">from Target</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
There's still a few things that need to be done before I'm calling the room complete, but it's working out well for her right now, so I have time to work on the other things. First, and most importantly, finish the ceiling fan. We got it 95% of the way up, and the electrical box started wiggling around, so now D.Soup has to climb up in the attic to fit that back against the beam. I was also trying to paint the blades to match the room, and I messed them up, so I have to fix them before they can go up. Secondly, hang some paper lanterns above the bed. Third, the curtains. They should be easy, I just have to find some one on one time with the sewing machine. <br />
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She loves her room, and that makes me happy. </div>
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"https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFL5838kk4Xo-s4S-KpNOAdg73dgO2wXBZ5hYUiU0uJxWI3ULzuvF7T98xK9lyBgnQguCTPnNlOb9NaJhQuSTZIXaV1ygEGKpgegLwnU2UOwVsEo9rvUXXU-sgjk5tzZqc17WR_vGKZig/s640/20140315_130140.jpg" -->Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-28405091958864085882014-08-14T12:53:00.000-04:002014-08-14T12:53:23.516-04:00MigratingSo this post is from 6 months ago. There is too much that has happened between now and then, so I'm just going to post it as is...........<br />
<br />
2/5/14<br />
<br />
I've spent the last few weeks slowly getting everything situated in my new craft room. I miraculously "finished" sorting and boxing up all the millions of baby clothes that had littered the floor in that room for months. Then I promptly found MORE clothes that needed a home. <br />
<br />
Sigh. <br />
<br />
It never ends. Those clothes are currently stacked on top of the mountain of boxes, because there is no more space for them in said boxes. Of course.<br />
<br />
Once that was done, I had a whole new world of space open to me. I have a few of <a href="http://www.lifetime.com/gallery/tableschairs/rectangular/6-foot-folding/2924">these</a> tables hanging out in my garage, for parties and whatnot. I figured I could just use two of them and make a nice long wall of just table space. Previously, I had everything in my craft room set up on one of them, and the Silhouette and sewing machine had to share space. It was not really working for me. Especially considering <strike>I don't clean up ever</strike> the other things that have taken up space on the table over the last few months.<br />
<br />
I had D.Soup lug one of the extra tables upstairs and we set it up. Then we decided to measure to see if two would fit. The wall is just over 11.5 feet long, the tables we had were 6 feet each. So putting two in that space was not an option. The next idea we had was to buy one 5 foot table. But the width of the tables is different, so that would have driven me insane.<br />
<br />
So I bought two 5 foot tables at Sam's Club (because they had them for the cheapest price). Now I have separate areas for my sewing machine, and my Silhouette. And I have a the perfect size gap between the tables and the wall for a tall storage cabinet! I'm so excited! We've got the plans all set out for how it's going to get built, just need to find the time. Considering we still haven't finished the other <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/building-with-friends.html">nightstand</a>, we'll see when it actually happens.<br />
<br />
The plan is to build the cabinet with enough storage spaces for each color family of paper to have its own space. I'll also have a bunch of extra space underneath for anything else I want to put down there! Compared to where my paper has been stored in the past (all over the floor), it's going to be AMAZING!<br />
<br />
I also cleared out the closet in that room in preparation for all my fabric. The goal is to put a shelf in there and have the fabric stored neatly on the shelf. Again, compared to where it was before (all over the floor... are we seeing a pattern here?) its going to be like heaven.<br />
<br />
But, more importantly. The goal here is to get everything cleared out of what is to be L.Soup's new room. Progress is slow, but its happening! All of my big craft stuff has been transferred, next up is the actual office supplies. During this migration, we are downsizing. We hardly used the computers that we had set up in the old craft/computer room. One of the two has been moved to the new craft room, because I use it for my crafting. The other one is most likely headed for the basement. D. Soup sometimes does crazy workout video things, and could use it for those.<br />
<br />
This also means that the actual computer desk is no longer necessary. We're probably never going to need it again, so we'll pack it up and save it for whenever we decide to yard sale. Or something. After that is gone, its really just finding new homes for all the small stuff in my new craft room. Simple. Yeah. Right?<br />
<br />
Well, we're going to take our time, and slowly shuffle through the mess. But I feel like we're on the right track for moving L.Soup. I have the plan for her bedroom in my head, and I can't wait to start working on it. I have so many things that I need to get together for her space.<br />
<br />
I feel a little in between a rock and a hard place in this moment. I want to get L.Soup's room finished before the baby gets here. But I need to get the craft room organized in order to get things ready for L.Soup's room. Not that my old craft room was organized in any way. I think it's just that now I know what I want, but I have to choose one room over the other.<br />
<br />
Of course I'm going to choose L.Soup's room.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
But the picture of my craft room in my head is soooo beautiful.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-8066216996391786852014-08-13T14:13:00.001-04:002014-11-07T09:16:37.422-05:0030 Day Little Black Dress Challenge from 30 Day Fitness ChallengesYesterday, Pinterest kindly sent me an email full of 30 day challenge workouts. I guess it noticed I had been pinning things to my "If I ever get motivated to work out" board and decided to help me out a little.<br />
<br />
Well, it worked, and today I decided I'm going to start a 30 day challenge, mainly this one:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/30-day-little-black-dress-challenge-chart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/30-day-little-black-dress-challenge-chart.jpg" height="640" width="497" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/30-day-little-black-dress-challenge-chart.jpg">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://30dayfitnesschallenges.com/">30 Day Fitness</a> website is pretty cool. They have a bunch of these challenges. They even include videos of all of the workouts included in the challenges so you know exactly what you're supposed to be doing. They even have an app! Which I think is awesome. Hopefully it helps keep me motivated.<br />
I'm going to track my changes, so I'll try to be good about posting when I'm done. I may even take pictures.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
But that's a scary thought so we'll see. </div>
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</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-9211533462757550112014-08-12T14:14:00.000-04:002014-08-12T14:14:31.554-04:00She's here!Yeesh, I've been gone for months. In that time span I got my house spectacularly cleaned in preparation for the baby. Then I had the baby (more on that momentarily). Then I watched as my house quickly degraded back to and then worse than its former self. We're slowly getting back on our feet, but it is a painful process.<br />
<br />
Anywho, on to the important things. BABY!<br />
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<br />
Little Ms. R.Soup entered the world at 1:47 pm on April 9th.<br />
<br />
8 lbs. 7.5 oz<br />
19.5 inches long <br />
<br />
Exactly one week before her sister's 2nd birthday. L.Soup is an AWESOME big sister. She's super sweet and so good with the baby. I'm actually really impressed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Eq33EA1E0PXeqX_dl2SNJYaZ4T2b4lG1-y9KZXpIJjIo4TKtpQz4dHON9BlfzkNuHk9I2wf6BA463rHPuhLoBTUO0S2jpShIPqU51h3kbHE-ffhepDhkzpDVN3indAlml5xaesTzo1U/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8892-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Eq33EA1E0PXeqX_dl2SNJYaZ4T2b4lG1-y9KZXpIJjIo4TKtpQz4dHON9BlfzkNuHk9I2wf6BA463rHPuhLoBTUO0S2jpShIPqU51h3kbHE-ffhepDhkzpDVN3indAlml5xaesTzo1U/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8892-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-018.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
She is 4 months old, and I still haven't gotten birth announcements out yet. The saddest part is I have all the pieces, just no time to put them together. Who has time to do anything when there's teeny babies around??<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDyVhErEy7lj9gZg2gK7E3DLVfFhCBWI85s93i773yaAWNkjjHxcd3dnhzvC3NIIQ-PvpKODTazxaJ1u49OsedGDjirqaEfMfIe8BgPdRCYdW_laDUhY0HVtM3JQzA0To2qrTj5sCO3Q/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8939-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDyVhErEy7lj9gZg2gK7E3DLVfFhCBWI85s93i773yaAWNkjjHxcd3dnhzvC3NIIQ-PvpKODTazxaJ1u49OsedGDjirqaEfMfIe8BgPdRCYdW_laDUhY0HVtM3JQzA0To2qrTj5sCO3Q/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8939-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-030.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPhXxXNMBHmYGjNCVndlx30Nacga9MDWertg-p_qmmHq5lBjTdQs63lrV_DYERR4W50D-gi3oM9kiMt1pdEJ23vtNEXey8rLQhIT2qlenTPduCmEEBZpmT3YTT9dkVhVe8LATtrl80Jc/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8857-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPhXxXNMBHmYGjNCVndlx30Nacga9MDWertg-p_qmmHq5lBjTdQs63lrV_DYERR4W50D-gi3oM9kiMt1pdEJ23vtNEXey8rLQhIT2qlenTPduCmEEBZpmT3YTT9dkVhVe8LATtrl80Jc/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-8857-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-005.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9UKvbFY4rRtfMdHRmNn929LNwnAQepeD1oI-GCX0gjB01SVV_FCmoAC_0_8GKL5djnknfOoMvTz4O-5V0fhPkfO4xBKBEcfIndMuuhJTq0ouCtBXauNDXIIAzyekk3RQxIDyqRQcOKo/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9107-2-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9UKvbFY4rRtfMdHRmNn929LNwnAQepeD1oI-GCX0gjB01SVV_FCmoAC_0_8GKL5djnknfOoMvTz4O-5V0fhPkfO4xBKBEcfIndMuuhJTq0ouCtBXauNDXIIAzyekk3RQxIDyqRQcOKo/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9107-2-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-088.jpg" height="400" width="285" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkrO5W1po89pWylNS9C6u_sJJW2OtDEWb6lTvEuWyS5Im9Khyphenhyphenb2aoqz_e_Y1CwvkVDxoO3eIZKqxaqZNToNFk44S7brHotGC7ZPQjMmsMygEkqE6p9lVySaSMpDqLE1GH5vbypLAPJmo/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9090-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgkrO5W1po89pWylNS9C6u_sJJW2OtDEWb6lTvEuWyS5Im9Khyphenhyphenb2aoqz_e_Y1CwvkVDxoO3eIZKqxaqZNToNFk44S7brHotGC7ZPQjMmsMygEkqE6p9lVySaSMpDqLE1GH5vbypLAPJmo/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9090-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-081.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
...not us. <br />
<br />
<br />
Everyone is adjusting to being a family of four. I forgot how difficult it is to do anything when you are attached to a small person for a large majority of the day, so there was a bit of a learning curve there for me. Especially when dealing with L.Soups needs while I was home on maternity leave. We got it figured out though.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvQ6LHdnqpTZPsca8y3Gt8tGnGk4_KOoGzPQMXORcMAUBROqoWi0OkYMCUkiHV5oa8zWNKxeaxiRmUCWXd_KN63KSZVMAjj1hnoMCOJRH2Wxdgn3bFNlwyGI7qmhJKUv5qT1EYSBOHuQ/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9075-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvQ6LHdnqpTZPsca8y3Gt8tGnGk4_KOoGzPQMXORcMAUBROqoWi0OkYMCUkiHV5oa8zWNKxeaxiRmUCWXd_KN63KSZVMAjj1hnoMCOJRH2Wxdgn3bFNlwyGI7qmhJKUv5qT1EYSBOHuQ/s1600/Rosaline+Newborn+Photos-9075-ZF-6323-33742-1-001-079.jpg" height="406" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
She is perfect and beautiful and we love her.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-38727453526436009102014-01-30T10:02:00.000-05:002014-01-30T10:02:59.361-05:00Shelf support and storage!<ol>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2012/09/overachieving-list-and-antique-store.html"><strike>Find antique TV stand</strike></a> and refinish it.</li>
<li>Build bed frame. </li>
<li><strike><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/building-with-friends.html">Build matching night stands.</a></strike></li>
<li>Refinish dining room table.</li>
<li>Refinish bedroom furniture to match bed and night stands. </li>
<li>Build computer desk for D.Soup.</li>
<li>Refinish wing back chair. </li>
<li>Build floating shelves.</li>
<strike>
</strike>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/our-little-garden.html"><strike>Build outdoor planters.</strike></a></li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Install cabinets with clothes folding space into laundry room, with cat door. </b></span></li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/11/finishing-touches-to-nursery-part-4.html"><strike>Paint L.Soup's bedroom.</strike></a></li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-new-foyer.html"><strike>Paint foyer.</strike></a></li>
<li>Sew pillow for L.Soup's bedroom. </li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
After getting the <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/another-shelf-for-laundry-room.html">shelves </a>put into the laundry room, we knew we needed to get a support underneath the larger shelf between the washer and dryer, because it wasn't completely stable and the boards would start sagging otherwise. Originally, it was just going to be a bracket type of support, but as we continued to think about it, we realized there was enough space there for some storage as well.<br />
<br />
Of course I love storage, so I was all in for that plan.<br />
<br />
Once we decided on that, D.Soup couldn't think about anything else. So a few nights later after L.Soup was in bed, we mosied down to the basement and got to work. The plan came from D.Soup's brain, and we're not master pattern makers or anything, so it's not a finished piece by any means. But it will be perfect for between the two machines.<br />
<br />
We knew the height to the bottom of the shelf was 37", and the space between the two machines was 13". We had some spare 2x4's hanging around that would be the perfect skeleton...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFIfC5Faon_X6k0uVpnceS9_F1tp4mNmjP1KU_4hZoP5yuEc8o_X65lVklfYKrHzJgkhS9-JwR2g9J0Oq7xUDFj8cau1Ajl1VHOCgUzfhTEnSQnQPt0SjnNSs_zNZtND-xox49QUApMU/s640/20140117_221751.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Testing out the Kreg Jig.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFIfC5Faon_X6k0uVpnceS9_F1tp4mNmjP1KU_4hZoP5yuEc8o_X65lVklfYKrHzJgkhS9-JwR2g9J0Oq7xUDFj8cau1Ajl1VHOCgUzfhTEnSQnQPt0SjnNSs_zNZtND-xox49QUApMU/s1600/20140117_221751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaVRLBypX0tlx7qcCN8NpGPZ0sjTLHljgbCVveQpL_Wc7qTiEwVTfW9dKLVfdFqrSPQz-6rShYcGgsoJP7T1woSnfL9R6hWAbUnqbxEXmw-FVuy-qNvBM4WpPgDEQfCUPi4sFyO2ZeYo/s1600/20140117_221823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaVRLBypX0tlx7qcCN8NpGPZ0sjTLHljgbCVveQpL_Wc7qTiEwVTfW9dKLVfdFqrSPQz-6rShYcGgsoJP7T1woSnfL9R6hWAbUnqbxEXmw-FVuy-qNvBM4WpPgDEQfCUPi4sFyO2ZeYo/s640/20140117_221823.jpg" /> </a> </div>
<br />
We wanted to do a trial run on the Kreg Jig before my <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/building-with-friends.html">bedside table building session</a>, and I also didn't want to be able to see any screws in the finished product. After a few rounds of listening to D.Soup grumble about not understanding what he was supposed to be doing, I found a "how to use the Kreg Jig" instruction <a href="http://www.prettyhandygirl.com/2012/07/how-to-use-a-kreg-jig.html">blog post</a>. Things seemed to go much more smoothly after that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44x8kOBmmu1QfuXxaBmGsXJjUkcpV3D2Ari9TFMv3n7k8GbcpJtWkLpqTKMgb04Yvr94_9ggPrCXpbv_nhh3oEN2cIOGXpab9fYjoPjGJsVnRy_DX7MgOA2TND4yLxZ2wEcxverqpblE/s640/20140117_221851.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">One side</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44x8kOBmmu1QfuXxaBmGsXJjUkcpV3D2Ari9TFMv3n7k8GbcpJtWkLpqTKMgb04Yvr94_9ggPrCXpbv_nhh3oEN2cIOGXpab9fYjoPjGJsVnRy_DX7MgOA2TND4yLxZ2wEcxverqpblE/s1600/20140117_221851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Box Shape</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLZGRjqQcQUIYRKvs6NV8Y1AdnroQQeRODli2mc4GHAIlyTngL1pfcjyByXEnuaFsHRHpyu3V1VV6kyfqUOG23CKalkpGjIaCJv4_BhperASUjA_VoJvfyQD78rNVBN8IGoGi4Oqbi6E/s1600/20140117_231001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Leveling out the last piece</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNes5VULcaIaY0mNthlKnf3xSTqek_zZo-gqvcwz23NEoxwQB8v-HEoQIcnS8hvSIS7xJDolh6rGmzeBl0PGUrfkyW3d8wk03pB-TlQNdi_7TY3do75WPbBX68I8rH8k9ULhsMGaPlUs/s1600/20140117_231110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We didn't have any plywood, so we picked some up the next day when we took our trip to the hardware store. Unfortunately, D.Soup didn't account for the width of the plywood when measuring for size, so there is no space to put outside walls up that we had intended on doing. I'm planning on getting baskets to use for storing things anyway, so the walls probably aren't completely necessary.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5LkYiygiBLEqbplPnxpxdx9Sc84qvHxlWLapIWhLj78KTUvQi1s40Oqrp2Jg9ah1YJvP8gdDmWGZI_gmN6mbBqUhHnpUSMsgl3CSi4Hgwg7bjrhdfSI2Y-KC3Rht85s1f-Z0KzL4lCY/s1600/20140117_231153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All done!</span></td></tr>
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The more I look at it, the more I think we should have put the front 2x4 in the middle the other way, to allow that bottom shelf to have a little more space in the front. It's easily fixable, but we'll see if it actually happens.<br />
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A few days later, we decided to put the cat door in, and finish up all the goals for the laundry room right now. I sat on the floor in the hallway with my hands over L.Soup's ears while D.Soup cut a hole in the bottom of the door. She's basically terrified of anything that makes a loud noise (except herself). So whenever possible I try to let her experience loud noises from the protection of my (or her father's) arms. It seems to be helping her get more and more brave around things she shouldn't be scared of. Like a screwdriver. Or the vacuum. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpT45wQ7thV9OfkhqSzTBfPhxqGL2ByV0s5bQ_87xuuUO7QT_NGzaSU9D2SNW2zhmNqcT5KAYO2Wq8xLoktkuVQOYKfVOQuRnNiGMvnN8rxHb7kd8mWioionNNYxmNEbIYZtqmF2lyJT0/s1600/20140120_133402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bonus!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'm so happy things are getting done around here.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-35343327979610275082014-01-28T09:38:00.000-05:002014-01-28T09:38:27.200-05:00Building with friends<ol>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2012/09/overachieving-list-and-antique-store.html"><strike>Find antique TV stand</strike></a> and refinish it.</li>
<li>Build bed frame. </li>
<li><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Build matching night stands.</b></span></li>
<li>Refinish dining room table.</li>
<li>Refinish bedroom furniture to match bed and night stands. </li>
<li>Build computer desk for D.Soup.</li>
<li>Refinish wing back chair. </li>
<li>Build floating shelves.</li>
<strike>
</strike>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/our-little-garden.html"><strike>Build outdoor planters.</strike></a></li>
<li><strike>Install cabinets with clothes folding space into laundry room</strike>, with cat door. </li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/11/finishing-touches-to-nursery-part-4.html"><strike>Paint L.Soup's bedroom.</strike></a></li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-new-foyer.html"><strike>Paint foyer.</strike></a></li>
<li>Sew pillow for L.Soup's bedroom. </li>
</ol>
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Our bedroom has basically been the most ignored room in our house since we moved in. There are so many plans that I have for this room, but we just haven't made the time to work on them. It's a beautiful sized room, but we have filled it with things that are not exactly screaming bedroom sanctuary.<br />
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Originally, I had a whole description of the room written here. But it was confusing and I kept forgetting to include the pictures that would help it make more sense, so I'll do a before and after soon.<br />
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But, until then....<br />
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We need night stands. <b>Badly</b>. I can't have the baby sleeping in the co-sleeper with my jewelry and the monitor for L.Soup and my phone all hanging out in there with her. I also need the room to start looking more like a place that adults sleep, and less like a college dorm room.<br />
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My friend and I made a deal that if she helps me build <a href="http://ana-white.com/2013/05/plans/mini-farmhouse-bedside-table-plans">these</a>, I'll help her build an entertainment center in a few months when it's warmer. So the plans were made, and a few weekends ago it was happening... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2sbVSz9viUbZqnu0x7YyLjMRX2bbdXjHWr6cCAsFmjYc2-oCI8MxHnKmtWmadzXYfFa_C4wpnFcFNlOTtbaRBAGL035CwGtNXQ7T6EWdMEs4DJUDAA9y656i8KzYayuZ8GStNk7hl9g/s640/20140118_101244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2sbVSz9viUbZqnu0x7YyLjMRX2bbdXjHWr6cCAsFmjYc2-oCI8MxHnKmtWmadzXYfFa_C4wpnFcFNlOTtbaRBAGL035CwGtNXQ7T6EWdMEs4DJUDAA9y656i8KzYayuZ8GStNk7hl9g/s640/20140118_101244.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">When mom takes too long putting the cart together, dad decides where we ride.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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D. Soup and I made our way to the hardware store on Saturday, and Sunday was the day! They were finally getting done! She got to my house around 10, and we hung out for a little while and then got to work. We got through the cutting part pretty quickly and efficiently. This was the part I was more worried about, but apparently my friend was 100% confident in our cutting abilities. We actually did much better than I expected, considering D. Soup never lets me cut anything.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHsTju1TOS264xjQqVD68dqcnj1NOu3O8a1TfPjY2yOsUyTpvqG5LXgjkCDNAg8JPeXExFseoHpK8gPQ78izJio0Yn145qtd7wJbugmGCg-Q00M7YK8dRVSHZuFl9Dfo9fZ7S6l5lhps/s640/20140119_120222.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">All our wood cut up</span></td></tr>
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The next step was assembly. I was far more confident on this part, because I know how to use a drill and hammer. We hit a few snags when instructions weren't completely clear, or when we discovered that our assistant (my friends mom) had not provided us with all the cuts we needed, so we had to steal a few pieces from the pile for the second night stand. Not a huge deal, but it was confusing for a little while.<br />
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We also used the Kreg Jig to connect most of the pieces together, which took a bit of a learning curve. But we got it figured out eventually. It's actually really awesome!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjT_EC5BXBTmF9vddlhMhRiBdiYQBrs_d_4ZdbUbGJCQ0f4KO4lmnpeUyNbq1NzHvCZd9kPAPXHz7dNCloD66ObnhtVZiodN2kIDy_V357ojmM-Z8x66QEUkEPkBWnIpFUwOoczmlpxs/s640/20140119_140847.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Halfway there!</span></td></tr>
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The other issue we ran into was the pine 2x2's we were working with were warped. The nice wood in the lumber section at the hardware store was only available in 3 foot sections for 2x2's, and I was NOT paying $5.50 for a 3 foot section, especially when I needed 13 of them. No thanks.<br />
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Luckily D.Soup found 8 foot pine 2x2's in another section, but they aren't as nice as the other materials. Not a huge deal because I can easily sand them down to look nice. The biggest issue was the warping, like I said. It caused us a little trouble when putting the front bottom piece on. It actually pulled the screw out of the board directly under the drawer. We had to cut another board for that section that was a little longer and replace it so that it stayed attached. That was frustrating.<br />
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For full disclosure: We also had a slight mishap with the top boards. We tried clamping all 3 pieces together and then screwing them together, and that caused the top piece to curve in the center. I think I'm going to take it back apart and try again so that its more even across the top.<br />
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But in all honesty, you can hardly tell anything is wrong with it unless you are very seriously inspecting it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNq9U1QPaj3lZVEnNf_XJiYWW8dhNHEUPK6MDKY9vndLNcq47bC-W8vz1EHF2dyQaK3DNJc1BDuELU2W31qXZOUPgajn3v_XHrAP_sTEy2yULSqKPYM1DbceMxn2ags72OcAocAgujcc/s640/20140119_182445.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Finished (unfinished) product!</span></td></tr>
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I'm so happy with how it turned out. Everyone was super impressed (and surprised... thanks a lot) at how good of a job we did, considering we don't use power tools very often. Unfortunately we only got one done, because we had a few minor delays and we had to stop for eating and for babies and things of that nature.<br />
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The other one is in the works still, it's been a busy few weeks. I'm hoping that it will get done soon so we will have a matching set.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;">
I love mine already. </div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">wash 1 load of laundry</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">put away all clean laundry</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">take measurements in bedroom</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">measure space for counter in laundry room</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">bring laundry basket from landing upstairs</span></span></span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Laundry is pretty much a constant on the list, and we never seem to get around to putting it all away. Like on Wednesday. We ended up working later than we expected, so by the time we got home and ate, it was too late to put any of L.Soup's clothes away before putting her to bed. Which was unfortunate, considering most of the laundry that hasn't been put away at the moment belongs to her. I think there are currently 2.5 baskets sitting around our house dedicated to her stuff.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So obviously #2 on the list didn't happen. But we did get one full load of our laundry done and put away, along with another load that was waiting to be put away. (#2 got moved over to Thursday's list, and we actually got all of L.Soup's clothes dealt with before bed time. So that's progress!)</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">While I was reading to L.Soup, I heard D.Soup doing some measuring. So I figured he was getting #4 done. #3 was my job, since I'm measuring for the nightstands my friend and I are building on Sunday (!!). As I was putting L.Soup into her crib, I heard the saw running. So did my girl. So that jacked up our whole night time routine, since we had to talk about daddy being NOISY a million times before she would settle down.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So we over achieved on one step of our to do list, which took away from a few other parts. But it means that the big <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/next-project.html">shelf in the laundry room </a>is done! We added a leg to the other shelf, but its covered in stuff and ugly so I didn't take a picture of it. For this shelf, we used two longer sections of ready to stain panels <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_72884-99899-179367_0__?productId=50089206&Ntt=96+in+stain+panel&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3D96%2Bin%2Bstain%2Bpanel&facetInfo=">similar to this.</a> We only needed about 77 inches of actual board, but the options were 96 or 72, so we had to go for the longer pieces and cut them down. Unfortunately, as we discovered last time, the walls are not square, so it called for some special measuring that I did not get to be a part of, since someone didn't want to wait until I was done with the bedtime routine. No big deal, he did a spectacular job without me and didn't even have to go back for a second round of cutting.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">He had to notch out a section for the tubes that run to the back of the washing machine, you can see them on the left hand side of the picture below. A little stain and a little molding around the edges and these shelves are done! I can't stain while I'm pregnant, but D.Soup said he's all over it, so it can actually get done soon! Woo!</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAngIga4tjoHaoU3mDgrxoRw5myjXiBGrwXl2kw1dugN1Ou1e0U9EsuvI8irVhTGZqiXkKFBTnwT0MdrlRN6S2xHZ-ybRUBYGNudQu66axjm6fwvmRh-LXJdGzd6kK_dO2uSUcvop03gQ/s640/20140115_211118.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It's so beautiful.</span></span></td></tr>
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I have been using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Country-Save-Laundry-Detergent-100-Ounce/dp/B00155YL6S/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1389900188&sr=8-7&keywords=country+save+laundry+detergent">Country Save liquid detergent</a> for the last two years. I really like it, and the fact that my clothes don't have any specific scent to them anymore. D.Soup decided he wanted something that was specifically HE, so we switched over to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Country-Save-Laundry-Detergent-160-Load/dp/B001561MWS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389900188&sr=8-2&keywords=country+save+laundry+detergent">powdered version</a> to give it a try. Which means I now get to display it in a pretty glass jar on top of the new counter!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAngIga4tjoHaoU3mDgrxoRw5myjXiBGrwXl2kw1dugN1Ou1e0U9EsuvI8irVhTGZqiXkKFBTnwT0MdrlRN6S2xHZ-ybRUBYGNudQu66axjm6fwvmRh-LXJdGzd6kK_dO2uSUcvop03gQ/s1600/20140115_211118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZPqTnOyFSV0bzxCZO6tPFyR_Acw0l4_TwMKQSuXh_G_pnHg1JkNxJA59PQvaNe-Dx7sk5fVyWgzSI-uelJpVw0P437F7nuwSC4F1bQbKaW1_iW09ZiDKK2HYcKfZWKkR9xaQqaJAreI/s640/20140115_212500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My new laundry detergent container!</span></td></tr>
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It also means that I shouldn't have to buy laundry detergent for
another 4 years. We've been using the same 4 bottles I purchased in
March 2012, and we're almost done the last bottle. That's including
some leakage we had due to one of the bottles having a crack in the
bottom.<br />
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The powder came in another pack of 4, but each box is supposed to cover 160 loads of laundry. Amazing.<br />
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To round things out, I also got a little trash can to stuff all the dryer lint into. This is a step up for me considering before we were just piling it on top of the dryer until it got out of hand. Which was frequently.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZPqTnOyFSV0bzxCZO6tPFyR_Acw0l4_TwMKQSuXh_G_pnHg1JkNxJA59PQvaNe-Dx7sk5fVyWgzSI-uelJpVw0P437F7nuwSC4F1bQbKaW1_iW09ZiDKK2HYcKfZWKkR9xaQqaJAreI/s1600/20140115_212500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG57w4ndQF4qM4RbLnnIHFIs9TiCq84LTyZS2FtjISLH-SN-OPTwDH8mBYQZxirh8kbpydQtwh02L4K8TyMlFrZjutIFAVPklkZgDDF6aKGKahBQXdcRKlde-C0wQR6EU2XRn14vWfVc/s640/20140115_212449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">New little trash can for lint!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG57w4ndQF4qM4RbLnnIHFIs9TiCq84LTyZS2FtjISLH-SN-OPTwDH8mBYQZxirh8kbpydQtwh02L4K8TyMlFrZjutIFAVPklkZgDDF6aKGKahBQXdcRKlde-C0wQR6EU2XRn14vWfVc/s1600/20140115_212449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
After taking these pictures, I emptied out a laundry basket and sat it on top. There's still so much room! I love it so much.<br />
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The laundry room work is probably going to go on hiatus pretty soon, in lieu of the <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/all-crap-that-needs-to-get-done.html">attic stairs</a>. I'm going to try to get the curtains up while D.Soup is working on other things, so if that happens there will be another laundry room post.<br />
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I'm just happy to have this much done this quickly.</div>
<br />Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-387641359879639592014-01-16T13:19:00.002-05:002014-01-16T13:19:21.992-05:00Pillows!I have a few pillows that I've been wanting to put back into my living room. I could have easily used the current cases, which matched perfectly in the living room at our old house, until I had time to redo the whole living room to make everything match...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYzvc2hYR1Ul5IG14TArgiSGzmeQAhoaiwLmv_W8LB_3UCeCh80T3uPI6-ByehUlaI6Gwbu2vo9GbHKE-KSfFWtobOndA2OB8iISDlCgv1ugjYPMZgdUuoqd9QJaqN0fYrToaTCjzrMc/s640/20140110_213531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYzvc2hYR1Ul5IG14TArgiSGzmeQAhoaiwLmv_W8LB_3UCeCh80T3uPI6-ByehUlaI6Gwbu2vo9GbHKE-KSfFWtobOndA2OB8iISDlCgv1ugjYPMZgdUuoqd9QJaqN0fYrToaTCjzrMc/s640/20140110_213531.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, they all look like this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmupsVmlZi7FNuvv1UDXWX5z7ZLdJjYybFDiTfYQ5fI-uoP6-9u_e1U-YNHz4eLvNULSa4rlp42EzT98AUn7speby8lipNbOvPqbc4lgGlO11k7Ac-yRCoSQiUEKw8-lLz3d6JCTgodKE/s640/20140110_213523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmupsVmlZi7FNuvv1UDXWX5z7ZLdJjYybFDiTfYQ5fI-uoP6-9u_e1U-YNHz4eLvNULSa4rlp42EzT98AUn7speby8lipNbOvPqbc4lgGlO11k7Ac-yRCoSQiUEKw8-lLz3d6JCTgodKE/s640/20140110_213523.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Damn puppy teeth!</span></td></tr>
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Every corner on every.single.pillow. Adult Calli is lucky that Puppy Calli was so cute. <br />
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So, a few months ago, I bought fabric to make some new pillow cases. My vision for the new living room is blue accents, which will match the shades of blue I hope to paint the furniture sometime in the (far distant) future. These are two of the fabrics I ended up choosing:
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP9bWk_PbYMKaGIZBeiKHmUWb2LVFvkFa_329WBBC1B03HJnFCwPDg9MlP6VNTFEhRkpXHx13AyQDqkw1ZK65WAhzzIABxwc7jVT3jRO3AGPbU9HbY9AuJ7UUtl4XD0VnuW0Fyb5VeDY/s1600/20140110_223918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXP9bWk_PbYMKaGIZBeiKHmUWb2LVFvkFa_329WBBC1B03HJnFCwPDg9MlP6VNTFEhRkpXHx13AyQDqkw1ZK65WAhzzIABxwc7jVT3jRO3AGPbU9HbY9AuJ7UUtl4XD0VnuW0Fyb5VeDY/s640/20140110_223918.jpg" height="400" width="225" /> </a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3om1T65jmnpES45ASChC4Fwu3brS1L3QCopxZ7rIhhT3XF1Ys4pRH37NMoFIkPqdvf6G1zqhA1I2HpYwQkohnokPU_Mtd_IPrnptJXtaO_cewrnDO0kbcsqrCk59ISYXwU28DHnskWk/s640/20140110_233452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3om1T65jmnpES45ASChC4Fwu3brS1L3QCopxZ7rIhhT3XF1Ys4pRH37NMoFIkPqdvf6G1zqhA1I2HpYwQkohnokPU_Mtd_IPrnptJXtaO_cewrnDO0kbcsqrCk59ISYXwU28DHnskWk/s640/20140110_233452.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
I originally picked out three fabrics, because I was absolutely sure that I had 6 pillows. But apparently that was WRONG, because I can only find 4 pillows total. I might just leave it at that, and use the other fabric for something else. I'm going to let the pillows settle in over the next few days before I decide.<br />
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I asked for a yard of each fabric, and I'm not sure if the cuts were off or if they shrank that much when I put the fabric through the drier, but both sheets were much shorter than I expected them to be. Unfortunately, the pillows were also slightly larger than I expected them to be too. Pillow inserts available for purchase at the fabric store are approximately 16" square. These inserts came with the cases, and ended up being 17.5" square. So I was cutting it pretty close (no pun intended) when I was measuring everything out.<br />
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I followed the measurement guidelines from <a href="http://www.danamadeit.com/2014/01/made-everday-episode-2-how-to-sew-a-pillow-2-ways.html">MADE </a>on how to sew a slipcover for a pillow (second half of the video).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXxkwQwKaybaslSMxNiSbpEENnLFwFyBq5e5EtkBKlLJ2yS8Q97LG4ujFVK98U3G1Ut8gmmy5kPsd0I04GtayDcUT5EOccOugNy69MVFdJOE7jkxkVoNXakHtyhQ9e-AWJt1nXTjaBNk/s640/20140110_224134.jpg" height="225" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Front</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXxkwQwKaybaslSMxNiSbpEENnLFwFyBq5e5EtkBKlLJ2yS8Q97LG4ujFVK98U3G1Ut8gmmy5kPsd0I04GtayDcUT5EOccOugNy69MVFdJOE7jkxkVoNXakHtyhQ9e-AWJt1nXTjaBNk/s1600/20140110_224134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMw9f2yeLyb2JX55KfqItPzfr1raWWYOKZQPsdxtAzwbwFjDE6K-Yhn8wokRr30Z8QcJfDQlqkgXn6SJdcJGscFxHCspDgZOY4piUbEpSBmPOqg8LXtkj2P__B6zeqW-GGuc4P8M_nE8/s640/20140110_224437.jpg" height="400" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="225" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Back.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMw9f2yeLyb2JX55KfqItPzfr1raWWYOKZQPsdxtAzwbwFjDE6K-Yhn8wokRr30Z8QcJfDQlqkgXn6SJdcJGscFxHCspDgZOY4piUbEpSBmPOqg8LXtkj2P__B6zeqW-GGuc4P8M_nE8/s1600/20140110_224437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </div>
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Overall I'm very happy with how they turned out. If you want to get into sewing, pillows are a good place to start. Four straight lines is the easiest thing I've ever sewn.<br />
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I've noticed a few times that you can see the insert along the opening on the back of the pillow. So apparently some of the cases are a little snug. I'm sure it will work itself out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1dbT5eDe6nhg47kX2rvJHH5v1aLmnL1AFfXbYG8E_wR-QU7zSUaspu8v3A81xttWHERK0Kw12mOwFG4qu_9EAI0rRL-CDHNHT4FeodJk6KN-ZtFImjYUNFc-gVjL82d6f6g3xjw-_0/s640/20140116_065244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi1dbT5eDe6nhg47kX2rvJHH5v1aLmnL1AFfXbYG8E_wR-QU7zSUaspu8v3A81xttWHERK0Kw12mOwFG4qu_9EAI0rRL-CDHNHT4FeodJk6KN-ZtFImjYUNFc-gVjL82d6f6g3xjw-_0/s640/20140116_065244.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not sure what's going on with the weird coloring here...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xp5EPL5nLGyo8Qi9I09govps0mP6ORxcR6xWIgereeJQUcqWm2yZkMbL60fwBoWGpKgISWlS146I9rTLU35xgZhQz45jnxP301-X0L5pDLOWcZ0AvqQjKsR1OzkjLWnAQc8OdGkQufo/s640/2014-01-16%25252006.53.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xp5EPL5nLGyo8Qi9I09govps0mP6ORxcR6xWIgereeJQUcqWm2yZkMbL60fwBoWGpKgISWlS146I9rTLU35xgZhQz45jnxP301-X0L5pDLOWcZ0AvqQjKsR1OzkjLWnAQc8OdGkQufo/s640/2014-01-16%25252006.53.46.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I obviously need to stop taking pictures with my cell phone.</span></td></tr>
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The fronts sure look pretty though.</div>
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<br />
D.Soup enters the weekly raffle through his company for tickets to the Capitals games, and we lucked out when he scored a pair for Tuesdays game against the Sharks. We scheduled an extended day with my parents and made plans to leave straight from work to head to DC.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzCue3jMTX36maD4JKGWwEBy5PVDr9hb_cxiopF8RuuXsBTYO115bBT80PRP3aS3dAJeV8y-_P1SIrF89MvGRaM_TuOnVzl8lH7uZFFdf5SJSf-cU_MPAUqs-Cmqq665UxAprCyw-_Wg/s640/20140114_184242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjzCue3jMTX36maD4JKGWwEBy5PVDr9hb_cxiopF8RuuXsBTYO115bBT80PRP3aS3dAJeV8y-_P1SIrF89MvGRaM_TuOnVzl8lH7uZFFdf5SJSf-cU_MPAUqs-Cmqq665UxAprCyw-_Wg/s640/20140114_184242.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
Originally my mom offered to just have L.Soup sleep at their house, but that plan was changed when I admitted I wasn't emotionally ready to not see her at all between Tuesday morning drop off and Wednesday afternoon pickup. She will be 2 in April, and I have never been away from her for more than a work day. I didn't want my first night away from her to be one where I was coming home to sleep in my own bed.<br />
<br />
We got to DC around 4, and decided just to eat at the Greene Turtle. It's attached to the Verizon Center, and it was a little gross outside last night. That, and I wasn't terribly hungry, so I didn't want to go somewhere nice and not actually eat anything.<br />
<br />
We split two appetizers - the Mozzarella Caprese and Crab Dip. After that I was full. We sat for a little while and just enjoyed each others company, while also people watching. Of course.<br />
<br />
D.Soup decided he wanted to get some wings before we went in for the game. So I took that opportunity to order something I've been craving for the last week or so. ICE CREAM. On top of a brownie which was a definite bonus in my book. It was delicious.<br />
<br />
I was surprised at the number of people that would look at me, and then look down at my belly. I guess the hockey jersey was throwing them off. I don't think it was that hard to tell that I am pregnant even through the larger than average shirt. But apparently some people were having difficulty what exactly was going on under there.<br />
<br />
There were some older men sitting behind us, and while two of them were obviously interested in the game, the other two were absolutely not. They spent the second and third periods gossiping like two little school girls. It took everything in my red haze filled pregnant brain not to turn around and tell them to shut the eff up. I couldn't stop myself from loudly complaining to D.Soup about them though. There's only so much I can do to contain the anger. At the end of the second period, I actually heard one of the two of them say: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"wait, why are there 0's up on the time clock?"<br />
"It's the end of the second period?? Already??"</blockquote>
<br />
Sweet Mary. How do you miss an entire <b>20 minutes</b> of game time?!<br />
<br />
Anywho... The game was really good, but sadly the Caps ended up losing in the shootout.<br />
<br />
We had a great time, AND I got to see my girl this morning when she woke up. Double bonus.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgt0rJFXFWig62h0l_xwI_3ja9KORqUPjKO21WbgKpTKNQsYM4ptCxW50PD6nvkBg4lM5wMSGAfoiLZnaGp4FpKRT9PW7RtOh2qYkuOLzVyd7LzZTyoByE3Jki0x8_F9IwRFgfleIZCs/s640/20140114_184127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgt0rJFXFWig62h0l_xwI_3ja9KORqUPjKO21WbgKpTKNQsYM4ptCxW50PD6nvkBg4lM5wMSGAfoiLZnaGp4FpKRT9PW7RtOh2qYkuOLzVyd7LzZTyoByE3Jki0x8_F9IwRFgfleIZCs/s640/20140114_184127.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thanks again, mom and dad!!</div>
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<br />
The plan is to move L.Soup into what is currently the computer/craft room. Preferably before we are ready to move the baby into the nursery. That means we have to move all the of <strike>disastrous mess</strike> stuff from that room into the other spare room above the garage. <br />
<br />
I wish that we could just move her into that room, and not have to shift all the rooms around, but I'm worried that if one of us has to run out after L.Soup is already in bed for the night, the noise from the garage door opening is going to wake her up. Its fairly loud when you're in that room and the garage door is moving. So that idea got nixed.<br />
<br />
THAT room is currently full of about 8 million baby clothes. I wish I was exaggerating. My dearest sister <strike>dumped</strike> gifted all of her kids clothes to us when they were done with them. I've spent the last few months <b>slowly </b>going through the 22 trash bags that arrived at our house and organizing them into large storage boxes. I'm almost done. Once I found out we were having a girl, I focused more on finishing up that stuff so it was well organized and mixed with what I had from L.Soup. The boy stuff has kind of been brushed to the side and I need to focus back on finishing that up.<br />
<br />
Once all the clothes are actually organized, they need to be moved up to the attic. At least all the boy stuff. Some of the girl stuff can stay down and get put out in prep for our new girls arrival in April. Before anything can go up into the attic, we need stairs to the attic. The builder grade attic access (which is in our closet) is a joke. Even if the floor of our closet wasn't covered in shoes (whoops) the hole is just big enough for an adult to shimmy through, there's absolutely no way any kind of storage box is fitting through it.<br />
<br />
We are looking into something like <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_212396-45008-AA2510_0__?productId=3824153&Ntt=attic+ladder&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dattic%2Bladder&facetInfo=">this</a>. D.Soup still has to get up in the attic and make sure it's possible place everything where we want, but if so we will have ladder access in the hallway heading into the laundry room.<br />
<br />
Let's recap:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Cut gaping hole in ceiling.</li>
<li>Replace gaping hole with attic stairs.</li>
<li>Create flooring in attic.</li>
<li>Finish organizing 8 million baby clothes.</li>
<li>Move boxes of baby clothes into attic.</li>
<li>Clean out room over garage completely.</li>
<li>Move computer/craft room into newly cleaned out room.</li>
<li>Create awesome new room for L.Soup.</li>
<li>Move L.Soup into awesome new room.</li>
<li>Move baby into nursery.</li>
</ol>
All before October (ish)? With a 2 year old and a newborn. Cake.<br />
<br />
Ha.<br />
<br />
So obviously, once the shelves are finished in the <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2014/01/next-project.html">laundry room</a>, that project is getting put on hold for a little while so we can focus on some of these steps. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Help.</div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7600365701115899598.post-15004664464391203232014-01-06T15:44:00.003-05:002014-01-06T15:47:42.525-05:00My only Christmas craftMy in-laws (almost jokingly, I think) asked for a new mailbox for Christmas this year. Something that represented them better than the falling apart mailbox that they currently have. I thought about buying one already made for a little while, but decided I would try my hand at it instead.<br />
<br />
D.Soup's family loves anything Disney, so I knew that was the direction I would be going in. I found some cute images that expanded nicely (they are about 7 inches tall I think) and got everything ready in Silhouette Studio. I purchased some black vinyl (how did I not already have black!?) and some clear printable vinyl for the characters.<br />
<br />
I had purchased red and orange acrylic craft paint about a month ago for a project that never ended up happening with L.Soup. I guess that will be a present for everyone next Christmas. At least we have a whole year to get it done now, yes? <br />
<br />
The only other things I needed were a mailbox that I had D.Soup pick up at the hardware store one day, and some sponges which I stole from my mom's crafting supplies.<br />
<br />
Here's the finished product (<b>PLEASE </b>ignore the disgustingness of my craft room, ugh):<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFTh2Z9-XutiOe8fCyDs6X-KeQhrUActKPtVpLQfb_Zb2_SD2eydq6XDntnlwVDlsN9grrsiyHF77bOOtNlQf5Yf2D-ymtfYm7uo2xHhF_WBJvyfeVdyLEVwrNwvosZHoaS0MvCewqE/s640/2014-01-01%25252020.17.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAFTh2Z9-XutiOe8fCyDs6X-KeQhrUActKPtVpLQfb_Zb2_SD2eydq6XDntnlwVDlsN9grrsiyHF77bOOtNlQf5Yf2D-ymtfYm7uo2xHhF_WBJvyfeVdyLEVwrNwvosZHoaS0MvCewqE/s640/2014-01-01%25252020.17.18.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Super fancy star because I didn't ask if they were okay with their name being on here</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYlUyALXnKHzRodW7et6Fka9K6st7ng7iOxML6rDat2gSuXXwZt9puQCXmmmTxIObyGIhqnX5lGbsh5agb2_m1muUePFRc5c7M3LseEaVTSYJy0hmtyDkYbz9AC_CX5Acv_OyQJxq_MA/s640/20131218_223842.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Other side</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u_eip8mgczEasa-k7ZJ_ZaAFZHkJk78VHR5qeIrV5gg4R9lF2blQ2NLYzQi4wTH6uy0ngrcDr6oFAx9h8flJJgXCsXk8O5lUKC32w7SjfjPT1rTLmIQ20F5CEJFTGdHSGBkr4R0aQ_0/s640/2014-01-01%25252020.18.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8u_eip8mgczEasa-k7ZJ_ZaAFZHkJk78VHR5qeIrV5gg4R9lF2blQ2NLYzQi4wTH6uy0ngrcDr6oFAx9h8flJJgXCsXk8O5lUKC32w7SjfjPT1rTLmIQ20F5CEJFTGdHSGBkr4R0aQ_0/s640/2014-01-01%25252020.18.24.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Front. Same deal.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYlUyALXnKHzRodW7et6Fka9K6st7ng7iOxML6rDat2gSuXXwZt9puQCXmmmTxIObyGIhqnX5lGbsh5agb2_m1muUePFRc5c7M3LseEaVTSYJy0hmtyDkYbz9AC_CX5Acv_OyQJxq_MA/s1600/20131218_223842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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After everything was done drying, I had D.Soup put a few coats of clear UV protectant polyurethane over it. I was standing with him for about one second as he was spraying, and then had to run away. I really appreciated his help because I never would have gotten that done. That stuff is stinky! And I'm not supposed to be around fumes like that, while I'm growing another person and all. </div>
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Overall I'm super happy with how it turned out. It didn't really take that much work. I'm a little unsure about how the printable vinyl stuck to the mailbox.
There was one section on Mickey's arm that seemed to not stick as
nicely as everything else. D.Soup's mom asked when we were coming to install it, so I guess I'll check out that arm when we go over for that. make sure it's up to standards and whatnot.</div>
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His mom was super excited about it. She asked where we got it from. Always a good thing for someone to think your work is professionally done. :)</div>
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I sent the pictures to my mom and she thought I should make and sell them. And then I laughed, because who has time for that??? </div>
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I'm trying to decide what I want on my mailbox.</div>
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<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2012/09/overachieving-list-and-antique-store.html"><strike>Find antique TV stand</strike></a> and refinish it.</li>
<li>Build bed frame. </li>
<li>Build matching night stands.</li>
<li>Refinish dining room table.</li>
<li>Refinish bedroom furniture to match bed and night stands. </li>
<li>Build computer desk for D.Soup.</li>
<li>Refinish wing back chair. </li>
<li>Build floating shelves.</li>
<strike>
</strike>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/07/our-little-garden.html"><strike>Build outdoor planters.</strike></a></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Install cabinets with clothes folding space into laundry room, with cat door. </b></span></li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/11/finishing-touches-to-nursery-part-4.html"><strike>Paint L.Soup's bedroom.</strike></a></li>
<li><a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-new-foyer.html"><strike>Paint foyer.</strike></a></li>
<li>Sew pillow for L.Soup's bedroom. </li>
</ol>
<br />
First and most importantly:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy New Year!!</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
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I'm so happy my energy, willpower and motivation are back! I'm ready to get back to work on the house. Especially now that the <a href="http://saysthecraftygirl.blogspot.com/2013/12/our-new-foyer.html">foyer </a>is done! Woo! I don't have to feel guilty starting a new project when that's still sitting around sadly.<br />
<br />
D.Soup and I decided that for Christmas this year we would work on getting some of the stuff in the house dealt with, instead of buying each other presents. We have a lot of plans for this house, and haven't made much time to get anything done (obviously, see list above). <br />
<br />
For the last our laundry room has been a wealth of unused space. We threw the washer and dryer in there, along with any laundry and cleaning supplies would fit up on the single wire shelf that came pre-installed. We also hid the cat's litter box in there.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yj5yIDWF7rNvRWWLIjKlzq6lB2VdvTyQPJpUdqsjpWDWZFifu6mWsp4C8uZVH-hZNcpyWj3XQYQKMYEPITqivxvOxmQ58IJK-mmQKSIAGDA_y1Wd69oqXT8PDCr73WnBIcSls8JCOL0/s640/20140101_184702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yj5yIDWF7rNvRWWLIjKlzq6lB2VdvTyQPJpUdqsjpWDWZFifu6mWsp4C8uZVH-hZNcpyWj3XQYQKMYEPITqivxvOxmQ58IJK-mmQKSIAGDA_y1Wd69oqXT8PDCr73WnBIcSls8JCOL0/s640/20140101_184702.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Hate this mess.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL40NdpFajKBJhor-ErwmAXURZRq8tf1A_wV3V194Z9S6ZKYF411JxYzh612PlI9iHQ7Ysopi8LgB_TMp7g9XbcEwcZKUd9eUlhzIyR38KEks_aJ65AZxOOJflwYmUCBkroSy7OFAAG1c/s640/20140101_184658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL40NdpFajKBJhor-ErwmAXURZRq8tf1A_wV3V194Z9S6ZKYF411JxYzh612PlI9iHQ7Ysopi8LgB_TMp7g9XbcEwcZKUd9eUlhzIyR38KEks_aJ65AZxOOJflwYmUCBkroSy7OFAAG1c/s640/20140101_184658.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Of course I waited until the work started to take pictures.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IhzlE4iSjbq6pT0qHIRB7V02LcHo5v_oWgPZeZipQaVLkl8vtFJcTyW6lxXvAlTJnP3uvpMG-LY6kBrJjHi6068XTvWuVHjb_KF8N_sKiPMjXUBlzvy3peDMyhXucfRYp-zMHI3vD8w/s640/20140101_184653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IhzlE4iSjbq6pT0qHIRB7V02LcHo5v_oWgPZeZipQaVLkl8vtFJcTyW6lxXvAlTJnP3uvpMG-LY6kBrJjHi6068XTvWuVHjb_KF8N_sKiPMjXUBlzvy3peDMyhXucfRYp-zMHI3vD8w/s640/20140101_184653.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gross</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">It's a mess. There's litter all over the floor (gross). I can hardly reach any of the stuff on the shelf. There's no where to deal with the clothes once they are finished in the dryer, which means they end up piled up in our room until we deal with them.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><b> </b></span><br />
Originally our plan was to purchase a ready to finish cabinet to put in the open space and hide the litter box inside, and a cat door for them to have access to it. My only worry was that the prefabbed cabinets would be too small for the litter box that we have. <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">As I was perusing the internet one day, I came across <a href="http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2013/08/laundry-room-updates-a-500-home-depot-giveaway/">this</a>. I immediately knew that this would be such a better route for us, and sent it to D.Soup to look over. Now the plan is to have two counter tops, one over the washer and dryer, and one in the opposite corner over the litter box. That counter will get the curtain treatment, to hide what happens in the litter box from sight. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The other change is that the laundry room door will be getting a cat door on it. That way it can stay closed all the time. L.Soup will be moving to the room closest to the laundry room within the year, and I don't want any late night laundry running to keep her awake. Having the ability to close the door completely should help with the noise problem.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Another addition to this room will be wall cabinets! I hate wire shelves, especially ones that are way to high for my short self to reach without excessive stretching. A set will go over the washer and dryer, and another over the cat box. Storage everywhere!</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I found <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/150730406/large-graphic-herringbone-shuffle?ref=shop_home_active">this great stencil</a> that I also have big plans for. I ordered it, along with a stencil brush and can't wait for it to arrive! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We got started putting the braces up for the two shelves while we were off work after New Years. We discovered L.Soup is NOT a fan of the drill. She threw an absolute fit every time it started up. That was fun. So far this is our progress:</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkI8lKavre9LQ1rT7IPm0FWtY1DTuhF6ivZ78cbix7VLppoNQQAPa88eiabdxUG4pegCvhOjd8JEOjmyoUJxz9q01nrIGFz6zKGDeclgpJkWZXULtaN4j_4LCfFwgkq2Zquj4qabJh4A/s640/20140101_185719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkI8lKavre9LQ1rT7IPm0FWtY1DTuhF6ivZ78cbix7VLppoNQQAPa88eiabdxUG4pegCvhOjd8JEOjmyoUJxz9q01nrIGFz6zKGDeclgpJkWZXULtaN4j_4LCfFwgkq2Zquj4qabJh4A/s640/20140101_185719.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">First board up! Another one runs down the wall on the right, but I forgot to take a picture.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">After we got the two boards up for this corner, D.Soup grabbed the actual shelf piece, so we could see how it looked. He sat it on the brace, and said "<i>Well, good news and bad news...</i>"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Good news, is it fits... Bad news, our room isn't square! What the heck! So it looks like this:</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04y3I4CCWrSEFiANYHCdYbOCi_020sD0vGnZG3mNeUQw_6b1DizrpPcJ3oWoDtF9KvYsgOyIPTkvoI4whtMqlng9oa0ctakqW_RcW6L5x5VaKoQ5b7HdSvBWEylu-Gqv_nJycbfvA6Wk/s640/20140101_201258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04y3I4CCWrSEFiANYHCdYbOCi_020sD0vGnZG3mNeUQw_6b1DizrpPcJ3oWoDtF9KvYsgOyIPTkvoI4whtMqlng9oa0ctakqW_RcW6L5x5VaKoQ5b7HdSvBWEylu-Gqv_nJycbfvA6Wk/s640/20140101_201258.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Rude.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We are going to get some trim and cover that mess up...Then we have to figure out what we're using for a leg on the side that's not butted up against a wall. That's on my to do list.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We came across the same issue with the other walls too. Above the front of the washer and dryer, the distance between the walls measures 76.75", but in the corners it measures 76.25"! That was fun for D.Soup, who cut the board you see below at 76.75" while in the basement. He then had to run the stairs 4 times to get it cut the correct length. He was planning on just cutting and eighth of an inch each time, then wised up after the third trip down two flights of stairs and measured the distance between the walls in the corner.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpmBWOepoefeAwd8XsyTm5i3OS5IQaNnXzm2nq51HYcQq0vj9r-jdNf1xeiZYCu79G5ptJkit8tF2GdzaHL8hvnIIUa8sM-UzPvyOnQsJWqdcrbvIjNOSL-ncOefcegYK8VyuIBSFOeQ/s640/20140101_201306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpmBWOepoefeAwd8XsyTm5i3OS5IQaNnXzm2nq51HYcQq0vj9r-jdNf1xeiZYCu79G5ptJkit8tF2GdzaHL8hvnIIUa8sM-UzPvyOnQsJWqdcrbvIjNOSL-ncOefcegYK8VyuIBSFOeQ/s640/20140101_201306.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Boards up around the washer and dryer!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Next step is to cut the boards for the top so they fit around the tubing you see on the left hand side. We also now have to take into consideration the change in distance and make sure to cut the boards on a slight angle so we don't have another huge gap.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">I bought a little flip top trash can to go on top of the counter over the washer and dryer for dryer lint, which is much better than it just sitting on top of the dryer like it normally does (as you can see in a few of the pictures). I also bought a <a href="http://www.target.com/p/heritage-hill-glass-jar-2-gal/-/A-10620266#prodSlot=medium_1_9&term=glass+canister">glass canister</a> to put my new powdered laundry detergent in. I've never used powdered before, but I like the brand (I've used the liquid for the last 2 years) and it should last FOREVER, since I bought <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001561MWS/ref=oh_details_o04_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">this</a>. So now I have a pretty place to store it. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Obviously I'm pretty excited about this getting done so quickly.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">The cabinet part of this deal might not happen as fast, but I'm okay with that. We decided to use these plans from Ana White and build our own cabinets:</span></span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ana-white.com/2013/12/plans/36-wall-cabinet-double-door-momplex-vanilla-kitchen">36" Wall Cabinet</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ana-white.com/2013/12/plans/21-wall-kitchen-cabinets-momplex-vanilla-kitchen">21" Wall Cabinet</a></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://ana-white.com/2013/11/plans/12-base-cabinet-doordrawer-combo-momplex-white-kitchen">12" Base Cabinet</a> (without the drawer)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">We'll need 2 of each of the wall cabinets, and 1 base cabinet to squeeze in between the washer and dryer. To purchase the cabinets that we need, it would cost us well over $400. If we build our own, it will cost us around $200 according to my calculations. Making them ourselves also allows us to tweak the sizes slightly so they fit perfectly in the spaces. Also, I'm completely okay with it taking a little longer to save that much money. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">Heck, I'm still sleeping on a mattress on the floor.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">So obviously I don't mind waiting, </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: black;">and not paying out the wazoo for something.</span></span></div>
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<br />
....It was only 2 things. The Happy Birthday sign I had made as part of the decorations, and a small section of our living room wall dedicated to pictures of her from each month of her first year.<br />
<br />
I had been fighting taking them down.<span id="goog_1126257932"></span><span id="goog_1126257933"></span><br />
<br />
I mean, who doesn't want a wall shrine dedicated to their infant baby who is now a walking, talking, almost 2 year old machine? That was the hardest part.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7XSFLm26VTwDe7EvgYGZAEBnlVrQ5mTaAEG6NgrQmUvz3a0M6PqL6T_rmt45Vyp75GTHXdXwwd2R7dS4B9zdfEkrXXATntarlxrRXWNE2um8IOUIdvV4DWv6xcIVaxYd4ZJoiBHqhPo/s1600/20131219_215803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7XSFLm26VTwDe7EvgYGZAEBnlVrQ5mTaAEG6NgrQmUvz3a0M6PqL6T_rmt45Vyp75GTHXdXwwd2R7dS4B9zdfEkrXXATntarlxrRXWNE2um8IOUIdvV4DWv6xcIVaxYd4ZJoiBHqhPo/s1600/20131219_215803.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasZOsjaicW4GkwHr5gOlvdkwX52au4RKz6obGwOqzEGH4Kt1gwIyuPgoQerXxVs2YCj_brFlWOjYw_x2VK-egiFwJkXAAeGWsq5EQyRQidO-upSursqfIuzju3JovwFB24VP8nb8d2A8/s1600/20131219_221311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasZOsjaicW4GkwHr5gOlvdkwX52au4RKz6obGwOqzEGH4Kt1gwIyuPgoQerXxVs2YCj_brFlWOjYw_x2VK-egiFwJkXAAeGWsq5EQyRQidO-upSursqfIuzju3JovwFB24VP8nb8d2A8/s1600/20131219_221311.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I gently removed all the pictures from the wall and folded the tape over so that it was not visible. Just incase I wanted to save them. Forget about the fact that they were just printed on regular paper. Or the fact that the pictures are all saved on my computer and I can easily print them again whenever I want.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxueZa3Su1KlYIiNGIg8TAvOaRziDgLQHI7dD1W_k-Gs8SenC-lePDVTcVs5FEwdIVKZg6Smuy3E-sNycnLuwyBC2eGvHu1cCH42odQjgiCi7iqlmx2bBHZJGbNBe_kKAHSz6cSJqmno/s1600/20131219_221130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxueZa3Su1KlYIiNGIg8TAvOaRziDgLQHI7dD1W_k-Gs8SenC-lePDVTcVs5FEwdIVKZg6Smuy3E-sNycnLuwyBC2eGvHu1cCH42odQjgiCi7iqlmx2bBHZJGbNBe_kKAHSz6cSJqmno/s1600/20131219_221130.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIpSZfIB1D6ZI1863YG87PwPfy1w6lBsMIyBeE86CWBYlCAQUh16viyrFi7pAW9Al8cw3pwuvXZusGWOqXBfPu_xarhqLzCWg5miQKGu5D13bS0BMbqkvnMTugtQimhpWOKEo_pAgq8/s1600/20131219_221318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAIpSZfIB1D6ZI1863YG87PwPfy1w6lBsMIyBeE86CWBYlCAQUh16viyrFi7pAW9Al8cw3pwuvXZusGWOqXBfPu_xarhqLzCWg5miQKGu5D13bS0BMbqkvnMTugtQimhpWOKEo_pAgq8/s1600/20131219_221318.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had D.Soup pull the sign down. Because I'm short and shouldn't be climbing on the couch trying desperately to reach the little <a href="http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Catalog/~/Command-Clear-Decorating-Clips?N=5924736+3294737335+3294529207&rt=rud">Command hooks</a> that were holding the sign up. (PS. Those things are awesome for party decorating!) I carefully folded it up and put it with the pictures to be stored away somewhere.<br />
<br />
So the walls are clear. I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad about that fact. The first night was definitely a sad moment for me. But mid takedown I turned to D.Soup and said "I'm thinking..."<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
D. Soup: You're thinking you want to paint what?</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Me: How did you know I was going to say that??</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
D.Soup: You always want to paint something.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Me: Well I'm thinking about chalkboard for this little section of wall.</blockquote>
<br />
So there might be another project looming in my future. After Christmas. And New Years. And everything else that I've already got on my list.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
Aka Never </div>
Ashley Chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01274820388497431194noreply@blogger.com0