{almost there}

Today we begin Day 4 of the Great Road Trip!! 

{which means we'll be there tomorrow, yayyy}

Monkey Man is doing really great ---

14 hours down ... only 10 to go!

He has all his toys in a bucket beside him.

Barney in the DVD player.

Milk & Juice in his sippy cups.

and LOTS of snacks.

and when he gets bored ... 

we take our snack cup, dump it out and pretend it's a hat.

hey, whatever works, right?

Oh and I splurged on an audio book - best.idea.EVER! :)

The Great Road Trip.

Woo.

I'm tired already - and all I've done is the laundry.

The car still needs to be loaded up.

with.all.our.junk. 

{have I mentioned I'm husband-less and 8 months pregnant?}

This week is a busy one. 

It's just me, monkey man and the open road.

and of course by open road, I mean mainly boring interstates.

Our plan is to be in Texas by Friday --

Just in time for the 4th of July celebrations!

so over the next week, i'll be somewhere between South Carolina and Texas!

{with SEVERAL stops in between}

because we have two things working against us ...

 I have pregnant girl bladder.

Monkey Man is an impatient Toddler that can only watch Barney for so long.

and of course it's not all business --- 

{how boring would that be?!}

We're taking a FUN detour tomorrow!

I'm hanging out with this awesome girl -

crafting & chatting the night away! :) 

We have some fun things planned --- I can't wait to tell you about it!

Wordless Wednesday - Summer.

This is what summer is all about --

Juicy Watermelon on the back porch in the scorching heat.

TV Stand Make Over

Monkey Man and I are currently staying at my mom's "vacation cottage" in South Carolina! It's the perfect vacation house.

Cozy and on the Coast!

Only thing is that since my mom & step dad bought it -

they have been there twice.

and both times left zero time for decorating!

It's become sort of the dump pile for furniture.

Nice furniture. Just not matching! :)

So while I'm here ... I'm doing a little decoraring!

Nothing major -- just some painting, some decorating, etc.

Project #1: TV STAND

My sister has had this TV stand in college.

We really liked the shape - but it just didn't match the other furniture!

No problem -- Paint fixes everything!!

I primed it!

Let me add - PRIMER IS IMPORTANT!

I'll be doing a whole post on the mistakes I made.

Seriously - it was a nightmare but I finally got it right!

Then I used SEVERAL cans of RustOleum's Heirloom White!

The white really freshens up the room!

I also removed the bottom shelf to make room for the bin.

I am also working on throw pillows, the coffee table and some artwork!

I can't wait to show you more!

and just because I LOVE it's new look ---

here's the before:

and the after:

What do you think?

We're enjoying our mini-vacation in Nashville -

but I hope y'all are having a great week!! 

Easy Travel Chalkboard

Monkey Man and I are headed to the airport --

We're headed to Nashville for a week! :) 

(things may be slow around here!)

I was so busy this weekend that I completely forgot about bringing toys to keep monster boy entertained on the plane!

Ahh! Panic.

But he LOVES to draw - so I knew just what to do.

Travel Chalkboard! 

This project is very inexpensive and super quick --

which is exactly what I needed since we're leaving in 1 hour!

Start with a plain wooden clipboard.

(I found mine at Walmart)

Then spray it with chalkboard paint. 

I didn't even bother removing the hardware, just painted right over it.

(several light coats is key!)

Buy some chalk and you're done.

I told you this was EASY!

Good luck with your monster child.

I mean, safe travels! :)

Cost of Project:

- Can of Krylon Chalkboard Paint $3.44

- Clipboard $1.44

- Chalk .74

Total Cost - $5.62

and I have a TON of spray paint left over for more projects!

I'm hoping this entertains him for at least 10 minutes!?

Wish me luck! :)

Dear George.

Thank you for being the amazing father that you are.

Thank you for being such a wonderful husband.

and friend. and son. and brother.

Thank you for working so hard to support our growing family. 

Thank you for being so patient & kind.

Thank you for being such a Godly role model.

Thank you for always making us laugh. 

Thank you for supporting my dreams.

Thank you for giving me this cute little smile -

Nelson is so blessed to have you as a Father.

and I'm so blessed to have you as a husband.

Happy Father's Day.

We love you.

Mom Advice - The Dreaded Discipline?

Confession: My child is a hitter.

and he hates to share.

{so basically he's a typical 16 month old boy}

but I'm curious --

how do you handle discipline in public?

you know, let's say, if you are at the children's museum and your son sucker punches another little kid in the stomach because he doesn't want to share his toy. or if you're at the bounce house and your son slaps a kid in the face because he doesn't want to let anyone else go down the slide. or perhaps you're at Target and he throws the biggest tantrum known to man because he doesn't want to walk down that aisle.

I mean - those are totally just hypothetical situations....

MY child would NEVER do such things.

and especially not ALL in one day.

ha.

but seriously - how do you handle that situation?

I'm a big fan of time out ...

and since he's still a little too young to sit by himself, 

I sit him in my lap and hold his arms across his body. 

for one minute, because he's one.

He hates being constrained and definitely knows he was wrong.

But I feel like people look at me like I'm crazy.

But this works better for us than spankings ... 

when we spank, he hits us back.

and I feel like that's not really teaching him anything! 

p.s. I know people have STRONG opinions about spanking & discipline ... 

please keep those to yourselves -- we like friendly talk around here! :) 

no haters allowed. :) haha. 

I'm just wondering ... what works for you?

This Moment.

This moment ...

when monkey man first wakes up,

with those beautiful big brown eyes staring at me -

when all he wants to do is snuggle,

and drink his milk, 

and cuddle up with his blankie,

and watch Barney.

This moment is my favorite.

This is a moment that I never want to forget.

This moment makes me smile

and makes my heart burst with love.

 because I know that one day --

he won't want to snuggle.

and he certainly won't want to watch Barney.

{thank goodness}

So I'm enjoying this moment,

for as long as it lasts.

(Not So) Wordless Wednesday: Home.

At least once a day for the next month ---

you will find me here --

swinging & enjoying the view!

because Monkey Man and I are home,

in beautiful South Carolina! :) 

{while we wait for base housing to open up in Texas!}

This place makes me smile!

and so it starts ...

The "moving process", that is.

(actually, I'm currently sitting on the floor amongst one million boxes)

yes, one million. 

and since we're military, we had "move options".

We could "Do-it-ourselves" DITY.

{and potentially make some money. major money}

or we could use movers. 

{and they do everything for you - but NOT without headache}

Considering the fact I'm 7.5 months pregnant, 

and relatively useless when it comes to loading our 6000 lbs of furniture --

we choose movers.

sometimes that's a good idea.

{you get to be lazy and just "supervise"}

sometimes that's a bad idea.

{they break everything. or steal it.}

{or crash the truck. or give it to someone else}

yes - that's all happened to us. 

in just one move.

but we're risk takers people that believe in the good of others....

so we went with movers. again. :) {haha}

and we're praying the pizza we bought them encourages them to be a little more careful.

or perhaps our cute son charmed them enough to like us.

or maybe it was the dog that followed them everywhere...

but in reality - I think it was the cold ice water.

I would have made delicious cookies -

June Cleaver Style --

but they had already packed up my kitchen.

note to self: make cookies next time.

but there is no way that packing 6000 lbs of other people's junk treasures can be fun! :)

and it's certainly hard work ...

So as I sit here, on the floor, amongst piles of boxes, waiting for the movers to take it all away --

I'm just praying that our stuff actually makes it to Texas by July 15th.

in one piece.

with the occasional broken wine glass.

oh yes.

i said JULY 15th. 

and yes -that's FIVE weeks from now.

so what are we doing until then?

that's a story for another day! :)

actually - I don't know yet. 

I'll let you know when I figure it out! :)

Can we come stay with you?

{haha!}

Pin Ups. :)

 I mean, Pin It! :)

Are you on Pinterest? 

I'm obsessed!

I browsed yesterday until my laptop died ...

and it was so late, I was too tired to get up and find the charger! :) 

I love the pictures.

the quotes.

the ideas.

and the fact that my visual "to-do" list is so accessible!

Do you want an invite?

{you know to the secret super awesome club}

Leave a comment with your email and I'll send you one! 

You'll be glad you did! 

but i'm warning you -

you'll get even less accomplished than you did before.

It's addicting.

and your to-do list/dream list will grow exponentially.

Already on Pinterest?

Want to follow?

I'm Preppy Mom.

duh! :)

Dear 16 Month Old Monkey Man --

Where oh where has the time gone?
This month has brought so many changes!
You're not a baby anymore ...
{of couse, you'll always be my baby -
 and you can tell your future girlfriend that! :)}
but you are turning into the most fabulous little boy!
Your independence makes me smile.
You insist on walking everywhere!
You have to lead the way ...

and you're SO very close to running!

You never stop.

EVER.

I love how you point to tell us what you want -

and how the word "gaaa" means food!

and "ma mil" means more milk!

{have I mentioned that you drink more milk than anyone I've ever met?!}

I love your level of cautiousness when doing something for the first time...

but I love even more that it doesn't last long ...
and you quickly jump in and go for it.

sometimes head first.

I laugh because you think that you can get away with anything ---

as long as you cross your arms and put youself in time out after.

It goes something like this --

Hit Mommy.

Put self in time out.

Giggle.

{mommy tries not to giggle}

Daddy does.

Repeat.

I love how you want to be just like your daddy!

I pray that never changes.

He's wonderful.

But I love even more that when you're tired or hurt or want to cuddle -

it's all Momma!

Oh - and you just started saying "ma ma ma momma" this week.

and it's all you say.

ALL DAY LONG.

but it makes me smile everytime!

I love your facial expressions ....

and that fiesty personality.

and the way you LOVE to use your hands to play with inticate things.

I wonder what you'll be when you grow up?

You love to dance.

You love Barney & Sesame Street.

and music makes you so happy!

That you get from your dad.

You love your books.

and your blankie.

You are a very picky eater --

but you sure love popsicles!

and that little red chair.

We keep it in our trunk at all times.

You love baths.

and you love to snuggle.

but only for 30 minutes in the moning ---

while you drink your milk and watch Barney.

Then you throw your sippy cup at me ---

and your wild day starts!

You keep me on my toes.

You make me laugh.

You amaze me everyday!

and you can make me so frustrated, when you're having "one of those days" ...

but I can't imagine my life without you.

You truly are my sunshine.

You make me happy, even when skies are gray.

Happy 16 months Monkey Man!

I can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Love,

ma ma ma

Play Kitchen Re-do Reveal!

 I've been searching for a play kitchen for a long time!

You can read more about that here.

So when I found a play stove on Craigslist for $10.00, I had to have it.

It was an antique -- and definitely not terrible --

the base was in great shape and it was solid wood! 

It was just not what I wanted! :) 

Note: I cannot find my BEFORE pictures ANYWHERE! 

(insert super sad face!)

But the stove is Community Playthings brand --

and although it was 40 years older than this one ...

it looked a LITTLE like this. 

just obviously not as nice!

after all - it had 40 years of kitchen play dirt and little greasy fingers!

so after a little TLC and DIY ...

It now looks like this!!!

I'm kind of in love with it. 

{i wish our real stove was this nice!}

 

I sanded the entire thing, removed all the hardware and spray painted the oven base using Rustoleum's glossy white. I was hoping to get new hardware but could not find hinges the exact size, so I just spray painted the original hardware (including the knobs) Rustoleum's colonial Red - which I already had.

I wanted to make this a play kitchen rather than just a play stove - so I decided to add a faucet and sink! I found the faucet at the Habitat Restore for $9.00 as well as the Towel Rack ($1). I probably could have found a cheaper one - but I'm impatient and wanted it right then! :) 

Installing the faucet was easy, but it was my first time using the jigsaw! :) My holes look wonky -- but they are hidden, so who cares! :) The sink is the 6" Wilton Cake pan that I used for Nelson's 1st birthday smash cake! The hook holding the pot holders is a white adhesive hook from the Dollar store that I spray painted with leftover Metallic paint. I used E6000 glue to attach everything.

I wanted the kitchen to be realistic - and similar to ours, so that he would actually play with it! I can't live without my chalkboard list - so I made one for this kitchen too! I painted two coats of both Rustoleum's magnetic paint and chalkboard paint, then added an old spray painted frame for his Menu/List board. He is definitely still too young for this part - but I'm hoping that this kitchen will be around for years to come! :)

The burners are "Gripper Pads" from the Dollar Store. You know - the things that are supposed to help you open jars, etc! They come in a pack of four for $1 - but I only used two and cut them to the size I needed.

I used my jigsaw again to cut out a "window" for the Oven door. Then I just added a piece of plexiglass ($2) from Home Depot. Since the hinges were older and loose, I added thin chain ($1) and some eye hooks to prevent the door from breaking little toes! :)

 The original stove was missing was the inside shelf - so I just used extra pegboard cut to the correct size and then spray painted it metallic silver to look like a baking rack.

I used my Silhouette to cut out these 'buttons' for the oven! 

and now this just may be my favorite part -- because I love peg board & organization! :) 

(especially when you find it in the .51 bin at Home Depot)

I wanted a cute way to display his pots & pans --

so I added peg board to an empty 16x20 Frame that I painted black. The big large basket at the top will be used for play food, once we get some! :)

Nelson is still a bit too young to put the things back, but we're working on it! :)

What do you think?

I'd say total I spent about $25-30! {Not bad considering the stoves I wanted sold for over $150). I worked on this throughout the week - here and there - but I'd say I spent about 3-4 hours total! {and made about 4 trips to Home Depot & Habitat Re-Store}

I'd love to add a real back splash and an oven light --

but maybe after the move! 

I've got other projects to finish!

This one is done enough for now! :)

Now I'm going to look EVERYWHERE for the real BEFORE pictures!