The girls’ first camping trip!

Did everyone have a splendid Memorial Day weekend? Here in Iowa, we were blessed with aMAZing weather. And we took full advantage! We went tent camping with my brother Tim, his wife Carrie, and their 20-month-old Kendall! This wasn’t Kendall’s first time camping, but it was a first for Paisley and Adelyn!! AND a first for Nick and I as new parents!

We had an amazing location with tons of shade trees and grassy areas for the girls to frolic.

We bought a new massive tent to accommodate our growing family…

We love that it has a divider so that the girls have their own area and they can’t see us when we sneak into the tent late at night!

The girls looooooved being out in nature, sitting/crawling in the grass and playing with Kendall. These cousins are going to be besties for a very long time!

The campgrounds had awesome trails.

And I got to go for an awesome early morning run! It was so quiet and beautiful.

We even got to break out our Kubb yard game that my girl Angie made for us!

Paisley’s been slowly getting over her separation anxiety, and even got in some good bonding time with Uncle Tim!

Adelyn took long naps in the tent.

The girls surprised us by how well they did adjusting to their outdoor environment. The only time that we struggled was when we put the girls down for the night… they were not happy! They didn’t want to miss a thing! We were lucky to have a site far from other campers, so we could let the girls cry themselves to sleep without disturbing anyone. But once they fell asleep, they slept hard through the night!

Overall, we had a total blast… and look forward to camping again very soon!

We couldn‘t have asked for a better weekend! The weather was perfect, the campsite/trails were perfect, and the company we shared was perfect!

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Smile

I usually use my Friday posts to update my friends and family (and others!) on the girls’ newest developments and how we’re faring with our little twinkies. But today I want to talk about my hopes and dreams for my precious daughters.

Nick and I have often discussed how we don’t want to argue in front of our children, or use any 4-letter-words, or watch inappropriate movies in their presence, etc. All of the typical parenting precautions we as parents take to raise our children ‘the right way’. But about two weeks ago, I realized that I was complaining a lot about how I still feel fat and can’t drop these last 30 lbs. It’s so frustrating not feeling beautiful, and not fitting into my closet full of clothes.

And then it hit me… My daughters are growing up hearing Mommy tear herself down. They’re going to learn really fast that being skinny and perfect is important. As their mother, I’m setting a standard for their body-image and self-image; a LIFETIME of confidence or insecurity. What a responsibility!

It’s so much more important to me that they be beautiful on the inside, and kind to others. When I was a little girl, my dad used to tell me “you’re prettiest when you smile” … and I want my girls to smile. I want them to be well-adjusted. Confident.

SO.   All of this leads me to a decision… either embrace my new body, buy a new wardrobe, and move on. Or, get off my a** and do something about it!!!

I never thought I would say this, but… (drumroll) I’VE STARTED RUNNING. Yep, this girl right here. The girl that threw up in high school running the mile on the first LAP! The girl that runs a block and then falls to the ground gasping for air, weeping and wheezing, and wanting to die.

Counting calories and aerobics weren’t cutting it for me… so I’ve resorted to running. And I absolutely LOVE it. Every morning while the girls take their first nap, I slap on two bras and my running shoes, and I run a mile (6 laps around the perimeter of our property). It’s still cool outside, and quiet. And beautiful. I run, and it feels good.

I’ve done this every morning for 2 weeks, and I feel amazing. I actually look forward to my run. Being alone with my thoughts. Enjoying the rolling cornfields in the distance. Thinking.

And I can feel and see a change in my body already. My clothes are fitting differently. I can’t believe it.

I know I may not always feel or look amazing, or have the time to run or exercise. But no matter what, I’m committed to keeping my thoughts of insecurities to myself.  
…And I choose to smile.

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Chunky End Table {how to create a raised stencil}

Let me start by saying... one of our blog followers (hi Gina!) gave us an entire bedroom set that she wasn't using and was just taking up room in her basement. We don't have plans for the whole set yet, but I do know I don't want them to go together. I think a bedroom should look like it's acquired over time, not bought all together at once. Comprende?

Well anyhow, I decided to play around with the end table yesterday and try out some new things... are you excited?! Of COURSE you are!

Because this piece is so chunky and plain, I took it upon myself to add some visual interest that would POP after glazing. I started by sanding everything down and filling the hardware holes.

Then, using my 'Make Your Own Stencil' techniques, I created my own stencil in about 30 minutes! I used a design borrowed from Brooke's blog All Things Thrifty. If you follow us on facebook, you knew I had something up my sleeve with this design!

Although you may think of painting with a stencil, but I had other plans! I decided to use joint compound (basic spackle) and blot it onto the stencil using my little round stenciling foam brush. I did this because I want this area to appear raised after I'm done painting and glazing! I've seen this technique done before, so it's not an original idea... but it's a first for me!

And it totally worked! Next I primed everything.

In the next few weeks, we have a commissioned piece for a client who looooooves the finish used in the photo below (from Johnny In a Dress), and so I decided to take this opportunity to 'practice' and make sure it will turn out just right for said client.

http://johnnyinadress.blogspot.com/2011/04/transform.html

Little buddy got painted using Rustoleum Gloss Fern.

Then, using a few different colors of acrylic paints, I globbed together a mixture on a paper plate, and brushed it onto the end table, immediately wiping it off with a dry cloth.

This was where I was supposed to stop (based on the inspiration photo) but I felt like it needed some dimension and rugged brown-ish-ness. So I whipped out my brown glaze and smeared it on here and there, making sure to get all the cracks and crevices, again... wiping away the bulk of the glaze with a dry cloth (using the same techniques from my glazing tutorial).

I'm loving it very much.

 
 

We haven't decided if we're selling this little chunky gem yet. I've grown very fond if it!  :)

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Birthday Bash & Graduation Gatherings

Well, Nick's officially thirty, flirty and thriving. Only without being flirty. I hope. In addition to making 8 dozen Oatmeal Cream Pies for Nick to take to work on Friday, we also hosted a huge 30th Birthday Bash here at the homestead. We weren't sure how many to expect, but 50+ people were here... and it was a blast! Friends from Nick's past and present were here, as well as some of his coworkers, and tons of family members from both sides!



I was, um... very busy, as you can imagine. So I didn't end up taking a single picture of this event! But my sis-in-law Sarah took it upon herself to document the evening for us with her new schnazzy camera! Thanks Sarah!


Nick felt very loved and had a blast seeing everyone and celebrating his big day! My brother Caleb even took a load off his shoulders earlier in the day and mowed all 4 acres of our acreage for him. What a great birthday present!

Speaking of birthday presents, Nick bought himself a hefty air compressor as his main present. Not only is this a man-toy, it's also very useful... so I'm ok with that!



The girls and I also got him a few little things.



In addition to a birthday-filled weekend, we also celebrated with my brother Josh at his graduation open house on Sunday! We're so proud of Josh and how far he's come. He's my BABY brother, and even though I moved out when he was only 6, we're surprisingly close... and have a lot in common. I'm so excited to see what he where he goes with his life and what he accomplishes. He's extremely intelligent (when he WANTS to be), and will do great things! I'm sure of it!

So congrats to Nick for entering his 30's with such grace, and congrats to Josh for his accomplishments. May you both have a smooth transition into the next chapters of your lives!

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