Happy Kids and Subway Art.

The logistics of two babies under two is much harder than one baby!

We're slowly getting into our routine ...

but in the mean time, my house is suffering! 

The laundry is washed but not folded.

The dishes made it to the sink, but have not been washed.

If I shower it's a good day! ;) 

So when I saw this sign on Pinterest, I knew I needed one ASAP.

It's so true! :) 

Monkey Man and Little H will not remember that our house was always clean.

Or that the dishes were always done.

But they will remember the fun we had.

The craft projects we did.

The messes we made!

So I found some plywood wood in the garage - 

and whipped up my own version during nap time! 

 (when I should have been folding laundry or washing dishes!) :) 

My sign is a lot wordier than the original ... why?

because I didn't want to pull out the power tools to cut the wood! :) 

lazy? maybe. 

plus - loud power tools = awake babies = no bueno.

I love it! 

It's sitting very happily above my pile of dirty dishes sink.

right where my husband, I mean I can see it! :) 

Photos + a Canvas Deal

We recently had some family photos taken and I can't wait to get them printed!

I have dreams of a huge photo wall with all the photos on different sized Canvas.

but canvas can get expensive ...

so when I saw today's EverSave deal, I jumped right on it!!

$33 for a 16 x 20 Gallery Wrapped Canvas!!!

and that includes shipping!

Amazing! (they are normally $99)

so I bought two!!!

Now I just have to decide which pictures I want to use!

If you want to get this deal, hurry!

It ends soon! Check it out here.

Wordless Wednesday: One Month

This handsome little fella will be one month old tomorrow!

Where did the time go?! :)

DIY: Simple State Canvas Art

I'm slowly transitioning Monkey Man's "nursery" into more of a "big boy" room!
Slowly being the key word, I'm not ready for him to be a "big boy" just yet! :( 
Not ready at all.
But I am ready to rid the room of the cutesy sailboats.

I'm really loving all the galley walls that I am seeing everywhere! I love that you can add to it over time as you collect meaningful pieces. I love that you can easily change out the pictures! A gallery wall seems perfect for a little boys bedroom - a growing gallery wall for a growing boy with growing interests!

I want the wall in his big boy room to have the perfect combination of art, pictures and meaningful quotes. I envision sweet pictures of him as a baby, wild pictures of him as a toddler, pictures that show him growing and exploring and loving. I also want art. Fun art, real art, art that he makes, quotes on canvas - a hod podge of meaningfulness.

I also want to do it on a budget. :)

As I mentioned, I am very much over the "cutesy sailboat" theme in the room and this little beauty was one of the first things to go! The picture wasn't what I wanted, but the canvas was still in great condition. Rather than throw it in the goodwill bag, I decided to recycle it with a little paint!

Using acrylic paint that I already had, I covered up the sailboat!

Then I used my silhouette and vinyl to cut out the state of Texas (where Monkey was born). I just downloaded the shape for .99 from the store! If you don't have a silhouette, you could simply find an image on google, print it and cut it out!

I love using vinyl as a stencil -- just make sure you use you 40% coupons to buy it!

Using a foam brush and blue paint, I painted inside the Texas stencil.

Now go color with your little Picasso while the paint dries!

Pull up the stencil and that's it .... handmade, inexpensive, personalized "art" on canvas!

I've got a few more finishing touches and I'll show you the whole wall!

The great couch hunt.

It's Friday!!!!
{which means our new furniture will arrive between 2-6!!!!}
don't you hate those long wait times?! ugh!

Yesterday I showed you some living rooms I adore!!!
Amazing, huh?

 But did you notice?? They are all so .... WHITE!

and I have TWO boys. and a dog. and a husband.

yeah right. white won't cut it around here.

We did consider these couches ...
You know, the white slip covered ones from Ikea.

People who have them swear by them ...
They even made the list of "child proof couches" ---
bleach works wonders they say.

But I'm a skeptic because they are still WHITE!
and I have BOYS!!!
dirty, gross, sweaty boys! ;)

So we opted against them for two main reasons ...
1. The hubs has a hate relationship with Ikea. (much to my dismay)

2. I hate to do laundry.
Why would I buy couches that need to be laundered/bleached all the time?! :)

So the hunt continued ....
We needed couches that were EASY.
That don't take a lot of upkeep.
and most importantly -- couches that are kid friendly.
because we spill a LOT of milk.
and sit on a LOT of gold fish.

So we FINALLY decided on leather ....
Brown Leather.
because it's wipe able and relatively kid proof! 
 We thought the brown leather could grow with us ...
and accommodate our my changing style through the years.
It's classic.

The only problem?
Brown leather isn't exactly LIGHT and AIRY.
Boo.

So that's my new challenge ...
to lighten it up.

I picked out some FABULOUS fabric!!
Bought two fun accent chairs.
Found some simple curtains.
completed a DIY rug project.
ordered some new lampshades.
and hopefully it will all come together!
FAST.
because I'm impatient.

I can't wait to show you!!! :)

My Dream Living Room.

Have I told you how excited I am that we got new living room furniture!?!

Well, let me tell you again ...

I'm SOOOO excited.

like jumping up and down, running in circles excited!

It's coming on Friday - and I can hardly wait.
{oh wait, that's because I have a 2.5 week old!}

Good bye burgundy and blue! 

hello, lovely!

But before I share our new stuff ...

I thought I'd share some living rooms that I love.

(from Pinterest of course - which I also LOVE!)

*want an invite? leave a comment with your email and I'll send you one!

Be prepared to swoon.

source- countryliving.com

source - houseofturquoise.com

 source - alifesdesign.blogspot.com

source - theoldpaintedcottage.com

source - prettypetals.typepad.com

source - olympicprd.blod.core.windows.net

Ahhhh.

Swoon worthy, right?
They are all so light and airy and welcoming!!!

Now tomorrow I'll tell you why I didn't get ANYTHING like these pictures!

haha.

Wordless Wednesday: My Boys

boys. as in two. plural.

I'm still not used to saying that! :)

New Domain!

It's official!

I {finally} bought my own domain!

You can now just type in www.diaryofapreppymom.com and it'll bring you right here!

Wooo Hoooo!

I'm soooooo excited!

{does that make me nerdy? That I get excited about domain names?}

haha!

It shouldn't affect you guys at all -

but if it does, please let me know!

p.s. two posts in a row - look at me.
gettin' my groove back!! :)

10 things ...

Things have been a little crazy around here to say the least ...
hence the absence of blog posts.

I'll recap a little...

1. This little guy did get to come from the NICU but we've been in and out of doctor's appointments every 3 days for check-ups! We'll also be heading to the Pediatric Cardiologists at the end of the month, so please continue to keep little H in your prayers!

2. Monkey Man still isn't too keen on the new addition .... so I've been very busy trying to keep little H alive! Although there have been a LOT of close calls -- we've managed to make it with only one tonka truck to the head. :/

3. I was in the hospital for mastitis. OUCH. enough said. :(

4. Monkey Man is sick.

5. Little H has colic!

6. We have WAY too much stuff ... and I'm feeling the need to purge & organize every room ... but can't seem to find the time just yet. heck, i barely have time to shower. and that's driving me nuts.

7. I did RUN into Micheal's the other day for one thing and I saw the new Martha Stewart paint line and was sooo inspired! I can't wait to get some -- I'm thinking stenciled curtains may be my first project. New curtains for my new furniture!

8, Yup, that's right! We got new living room furniture. So looonnng blue & burgundy! I can't wait to show you the new look!

9. Have I mentioned we are moving AGAIN in December. yup, it's true! :( I'm already dreading it.

10. My mom left today ... her help was such a blessing. The boys and I miss her already!!

Toddler Fun: DIY Playdough

This week we've all been "adjusting" to life with baby H at home!

Monkey Man isn't loving how his life changed so quickly.

He doesn't like sharing his momma --

and he's not too keen on the new baby that is rocking the only world he knew! 

So during Harrison's morning nap today --

Monkey Man and I had some much needed Mommy/Son time!

We made play-dough!

 Collect your ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 cup water

1/4 cup salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

1 Tbls. vegetable oil

Food Coloring

Combine all the ingredients and heat over medium until it clumps together.

Let it cool on some wax paper!

Strip your toddler and have some fun! :)

p.s. this playdough is wonderfully squishy! :)