More Home Decor plus Organization

So after seeing this idea on pinterest: using a wine rack for a towel holder,

it began to make my creative juices flow.

Since wine racks like this one are easily $50-80 or more, I instantly vetoed the wire rack idea.

In doing some searching, I found that the cheapest places to find wine racks still required a $15-20+ investment that I thought was a bit outlandish for my personal frugality. Plus some looked a little difficult to convert. And in looking at towel racks the prices weren’t looking better.

So I kept thinking and let it sit on the back burner while our kid towels took up bulky space in the linen closet and were a bit difficult to stack due to their cute hoods.

Then I saw it on the thrift store shelf. With a tag on it for $1.99 plus it was 25% off day. =)

So I bought it, brought it home and cleaned it up.

Then painted it (already had the paint) to match our shower curtain/turqoise bathrub (seriously, we have a turquoise bathtub and toilet) with some much-needed supervision and assistance.

Then I found this lonely space on the bathroom wall.

Mounted our new friend.

And stuffed him with kid and baby towels alike.

We’re not going to store any wet towels in this guy since the active towels are stored on our single towel rack. There are currently two sweet critter towels (a duck and a butterfly) and will soon be a sweet newborn towel as well. But for the remaining towels with great character, this rack will work wonderfully.

And it brings more life and joy to the bathroom.

Total project cost: about an hour in research, $0.69 at the thrift store (after 25% off applied), and 2 hours from cleaning to painting to drying to mounting/stuffing in the towels.

Wins all around! =D

July 10, 2012 0

Wordless Wednesday: Worst Prize Ever

It screams work crazy hard, making huge sacrifices,

… to only be a hopeful and go home.

LOL.

June 27, 2012 0

A Trick of the Trade.. or Two

I have found reusing your old baby bumper on the twin bed keeps stuffed animal friends and lovey blankets from fall in the crack between the bed and the wall.

Seahorse makes his blog modeling debut.

I also just learned that freezing a toy beanbag animal makes a nice and comforting ice pack for those little one ouchies that need much love. Plus your little friend is washable.

Now who wouldn’t want one of these friends on their boo-boo?

– Suddenly a Congo line breaks out! –

– Hope these are helpful to you. =)

June 25, 2012 0

My Rachael

I didn’t get a chance to write to you on your birthday. So I wanted to take and make the opportunity now to write to you.

I know you’re three years old and even if I read this to you, you’d probably be on to playing before a paragraph was complete. But some day later, if you want to make the time, you can look back and see and hear and read.

Rachael, I adore you.

You are my little Mommy look-alike, with Daddy’s nose and character. Your patience blows me away sometimes. You have taught me so much in giving someone time to work through something, without pushing them to “get over it” at your own speed. I admire that about you and am really challenged by that in you.

Your nurturing heart is so alive that you just can’t help but care for others. This precious little person in you finds such joy and contentment in serving and caring for others, especially those younger than you. I could not ask for a better “first child” to lead the way by example and grace. But even beyond that, I hope and pray that your compassion never changes as you view others with love, respect and delight.

We have found our clashing in three years old too. You challenge me to learn how to love you, while letting go and letting you feel and sometimes be “in control.” Your autonomy is blooming. You’re trying to find your identity outside of us – while still remaining tapped into the family. It’s like the budding of your teenage years as you try to figure out leadership and followship. Sometimes your autonomy comes off as disrespect, flexing your wills with a selfish motive. But sometimes that autonomy has opened my eyes to the little girl you are becoming and the independent little character that has become alive in you. Even in the moments of fluctuating balance between “your wild side” and your need to be quiet and calm, I want you to know that I am working hard to love you from a confident distance. It’s a new learning curve for me too. I want you to feel my confidence in your ability to try hard, even if the success is variable at this point. I want you to feel my love in me letting you go to make your mistakes and celebrate your successes. You don’t want me to do things for you anymore, unless you’re in a pickle, and I am trying to learn what it means to bless and release. Sometimes it’s more hard than at other times. But loving you the way you understand love is well worth the challenge.

Oh and the delight of your joy – your raw, utter joy. Rachael that joy is so contagious. I just want to soak it up and delight in those moments to their depth with you. Life is so vibrant and exciting for you. Your little body wells up until you explode with uncontrollable delight. Thank you for running to me to share those moments with me. I’m so blessed to be your playmate in those times of excitement to the full. That kind of thrill makes me want to work harder to come up with surprises and ways to make even the ordinary extraordinary. Your energy and light on your face… that is just plain fun.

And then there’s those shy, quiet moments. The timid, reserved Rachael that we have known since birth. Your contentment to take it all in and then choose your time to participate. Sometimes it’s just a bit overwhelming to watch all the business. Sometimes I can see you studying and deciding where you fit into the play group. And while your ambitions tell you to dive right in with confidence, sometimes your calm preferences over-ride. Your ability to sit and be fascinated by books, learning, and wanting to know more. Your desire to accept the challenge of learning a new skill, observing the world around you and figuring out how something works. Sometimes it’s curiosity that fuels your quietness and other times it’s just your desire to study life, and absorb your world. I am thankful for those times of “just sit with me” and “just experience this with me”. I will try to see those more in the chaos of caring for my responsibilities. Those times that are so contrary to your loud independence catch me off guard sometimes and remind me that the difficulties of autonomy come in phases. And even in the toughest looking, most confident looking child is a small person seeking affirmation and quiet love. I love that you are learning the balance of reckless abandonment in a project and reservation. Life calls for both.

Oh Rachael, there is so much depth to your character. There is so much life in your “big girl” world. Your changing and challenging needs followed by your “that’s just our Rachael” consistencies. And even in the most friction-built, power-struggling moments, I see my Rachael in your eyes…

My Rachael whom I delight in. My Rachael whom I love to be with and find such joy in studying, learning and watching. My Rachael who has such passion for life, drive for discovery, and fascination with learning the depth of your own abilities. My Rachael who “needs space” away from and cannot play without her sister in the same moment at the same time. My Rachael who seeks independence, while clinging by Mommy’s side in the same moment. My growing, thriving and delighting Rachael…

I love you so,

my Rachael Elizabeth.

June 24, 2012 0

WITH Chocolate!

The other night we decided to make some cookies. We had some free time so why not add in some chocolate, right?!

Here’s my THRILLED helpers who highly enjoyed the process. And are still enjoying the eating process. =)

Adding in the right amount is fun work.

Stir the flour and backing soda and salt together.

Sugar, sugar sugar.

And more sugar of course! =)

Thrilled to be a “big helper.”

(Abi vetoed the scary blender noise help part.)

“Stick your tongue out…”

Could she open any wider? hehe.

Mmmmm, chocolate chips!

Concentration helps to hold the gigantic spoon.

I didn’t grab any pics of the eating part cause *ahem* my hands were preoccupied. But let me tell you what, the 14 minutes of excited waiting was well worth the yummies.

Good times had by all.

June 8, 2012 0

From My Monkies to Theirs

We had the privilege of going with Aunt Jes to the Zoo last week. [Thank you again, Lauren, for the tickets]. The girls had a blast and were quite good for staying up hours past their nap times.

We started our adventure early, having breakfast in the car to try to get down to the Zoo and utilize our morning energy stock. After bathing in sunblock and stuffing the stroller with dryer sheets (keeps bug away without the need for bug spray on skin [motions to eczema kids]), we hit the zoo. We organized a plan of attack when looking at the map and show times.

Abi was initially QUITE nervous about the animals themselves moving unpredictably. But with Mommy holding her, she only shuddered a little bit and eventually warmed up to the fact that the animals were in cages and not free to, say, bite her toes. It’s funny but while that little girl ADORES animals, the actual things make her nervous and she comes a little unraveled at first. Security is found in the trusted’s arms, though.

Rachael was her regular all-in three year old self. She took an extra step of independence in wanting to walk for most of the Zoo, with some stroller breaks. [Now, I’m a fan for her walking and she’s on the verge of being too big to ride in a stroller at “walking events” but for now if I have the option of getting her red-head skin out of direct sunlight under the stroller’s extended hood, I’ll take it.]

We re-slathered on sunblock throughout the day (Matt would have been so proud, Mr. Apply hourly to avoid 3rd degree white skinned man) and paced outside viewings with inside AC rechargings for this pregnant Momma. But I must say, while the on had some hot moments found behind the double stroller of 66+lbs of kids…. on hills, the breeze and the temperature when not “working out” were perfect! I was thankful. And the baby animals – especially the baby fox? A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

The Zoo Park: YAY for burning energy with JOY!