Friday, October 11, 2013

Making Instagram coasters.

Today I wanted to share a fun little project that I threw together for our new house. My husband and I are no strangers to drinking drinks in our family room. We actually eat in there sometimes too - a big change from what my parents expectations are! :)


First things first. Supplies:
  • 4 x 4 white bathroom tiles: mine were free, I found them in the dumpster at our build site!
  • Your favorite Instagram photos. I order ours through Printstagram - I highly recommend them. The material is comparable to card stock and they came very quickly! They were $12 for 24 4 x 4 prints.
  • Modge Podge: $4
  • Craft sponges: $2
  • Paper towels
  • 2 or 3 paper plates



I picked out my favorite photos of the prints I ordered, then I let Aiden, my three year old, pick his four favorite to make the coasters. 


Then I used my small sponge to put a very thin layer of modge podge on the back of the print and placed them on top of the tile. We my prints they were thick enough not to have to smooth them out. If you print them from your printer (not recommended because the ink may run) you can use a credit card to smooth out the crinkles. 


Modge podge dies super fast so just let them sit for 15 or so minutes, then you can start the top coats. 



When starting the top coats, pour a portion of your modge podge on a plate and use your large sponge for the most even distribution. Make sure you seal the sides of the photo and tile well in order to ensure no liquid can leak under the photo once it is sealed. 


Then they look like this. A little streaky. Let then sit like this for about a minute.



Then, take paper towels and wipe the photo lightly to eliminate streaks. There will still be a little bit of streak from the motion of the towel, but it is a lot better than the streaks from the brush. 



Repeat this step so you have three coats on the tiles. On the final coat, leave the most modge podge. Let them dry for a day before use. 




Then you are ready to go! Enjoy!



Tuesday, October 8, 2013

In the home stretch.

We are 9 days out from closing on our home! Today the amazing guys finished the city sidewalk out front. If you do not know what a city sidewalk is - it is basically a side walk that has a small grassy patch between the street and cement from the sidewalk. Since we are on a corner lot, ours looks a little "swirly!"





  • Grading and site preparation 
  • Foundation construction
  • Framing
  • Installation of windows and doors
  • Roofing
  • Siding
  • Rough Electrical
  • Rough Plumbing
  • Rough HVAC
  • Insulation
  • Drywall
  • Texturing
  • Trim
  • Bathroom tile 
  • Painting 
  • Finish electrical
  • Bathroom and kitchen cabinets
  • Counter installation 
  • Finish plumbing
  • Wood floor installation
  • Carpet installation
  • Backsplash
  • Door hardware
  • Shower glass
  • Fencing & landscaping
  • Finish HVAC
  • Hookup to water main
  • Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
  • Cleaning crew
  • First walk - through (October 14, 2013)
  • Final walk - through (October 18, 2013)


  • Do you like our enormous pile of dirt in our front yard? Ha! As long as we are in the house - I can deal with dirt! We have our first walk - through on Monday! SO EXCITING! Check out some more of the inside.





    This grout looks a little funky. We need to seal with when we move in so it looks more normal and less brick-like. 









    Happy Tuesday!

    Monday, October 7, 2013

    Baby "sprinkle" invite.

    My best friend, Heather, is having her second baby boy! I am so excited to meet her new little lover, but even more excited that we have four boys within four years between the two of us! I see spending a lot of money on food during our joined family vacations in the future! I wanted to share the invitation I made for her "Sprinkle!"


    For those of you that do not know, a "sprinkle" is something like a baby shower but for non-first born children. A lot of people do not have them, but I think it is especially important, even if it is a diaper shower, because every baby deserves to be showered with love! 

    I used Photoshop to make the card and I ordered (her mom paid for them!) them from Mpix. It is literally the best priced and best photo product that I have ever used! They also have an option for using recycled paper and rounded edges - bonus! Mpix also has some very cool personalized gifts for loved ones... I highly recommend them!


    Here are our three boys! Next summer there will be one more little one with us! 


    Sunday, October 6, 2013

    Things I love right now.

    I thought I would share a few of the things that I am currently loving with all of you!



    Love the holiday shower gels!

    Smash cake photo sessions! I am getting ready to plan my little man's photos! 

    Pumpkin stacking! You will see this happen a few times in our new house! 

    This adorable scarf!

    What are you guys and gals loving this fall?

    Friday, October 4, 2013

    Oh so close!

    Every day I get so excited to go see our house. But I am such a worry wart and just want to hear the final "YES" that our loan is out of underwriting. Maybe I am the only one worried when buying a house that something will come crashing down, but I have been through it and really don't feel like being homeless! So.. ugh. We have to wait until 10 days out from closing for employment verification and that is close to the final step of underwriting. That day happens to be Tuesday - so hopefully we will hear shortly after that! Keep your fingers, toes, and eyes crossed for us - I can't handle any more heart ache!

    Take a peak:




  • Grading and site preparation 
  • Foundation construction
  • Framing
  • Installation of windows and doors
  • Roofing
  • Siding
  • Rough Electrical
  • Rough Plumbing
  • Rough HVAC
  • Insulation
  • Drywall
  • Texturing
  • Trim
  • Bathroom tile 
  • Painting 
  • Finish electrical
  • Bathroom and kitchen cabinets
  • Counter installation 
  • Finish plumbing
  • Wood floor installation
  • Carpet installation
  • Backsplash (in progress - needs grout)
  • Door hardware
  • Shower glass
  • Fencing & landscaping
  • Finish HVAC
  • Hookup to water main
  • Hookup to sewer or installation of a septic system
  • Cleaning crew (in progress)
  • First walk - through (October 14, 2013)
  • Final walk - through (October 18, 2013)







  • I love this picture. We were just talking in the kitchen and we didn't hear Aiden. As we went around the corner, this is what we saw. This is his future playroom and we have told him that many times. I wonder what his little brain was thinking - was he imagining this room as much as we have? He is such an adorable kid!
















    This house is livable - minus the shower wall and not having a refrigerator! It is much cleaner and so close to being inhabited! We are too excited for words and should be in our new home in two weeks from today!