Back to School: Teacher's gift.

This idea isn't terribly creative, and is similar to the other gifts Aiden has given his preschool teachers, but I think it is useful in many ways!

I decided to take something that was on his supply list and grab an extra pack. This is something the teacher asked for so she must use them a lot! 

I cannot believe my little man is starting Kindergarten on Wednesday. That is the saddest thing ever.  You may just catch me down at the park spying during recess! 

Sources:

Cup: Target

Expo markers: Target

Tags: Target (so cute!)

Crinkle Paper: Hobby Lobby

Ribbon: Michaels

35 weeks.

I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy has FLOWN by. I feel like it was just September yesterday. I don't know if I ever shared this story, but I kind of thought I was pregnant before saying anything to my husband. My best friend was in town from California so we went and bought literally ten tests. All of the digital tests came back negative, but the good ol' fashioned tests showed the FAINTEST line ever. Like ever. We were just hanging out with her mom and dad and her mom was all "congratulations!" and her dad thought we were all lunatics. Literally, he thought we were crazy and he saw absolutely nothing on the stick.

Once we sort of determined that it probably was positive, Heather and I headed to Walmart to find some gender neutral baby shoes (which are extremely difficult to find)…. But ended up picking up some little red shoes and a gift bag. I came home (so excited) and told Berto I had a present for him. And, I secretly video taped the whole thing. It was adorable. Then I told him I was pretty sure, but not yet 100% sure!

The "barely" positive

And here we are, 30 ish weeks later! Shout out to Doug, the women were right… again! :) I had my weekly NST and ultrasound and everything was perfect… which makes me SO happy to hear. She is measuring two weeks ahead again. The ultrasound tech literally said "So much for PAPP-A!" That was really relieving to hear. She also asked how big the boys were, if the boys had big heads (yes - 13.5cm each), and said that this baby may be the biggest one yet! 

35 weeks

How far along: 35 weeks 

Total weight gain: 21 pounds (ish)

Baby is the size of a: A canary melon (what is this?!)

Maternity clothes: Yes

Stretch marks: Not yet

Sleep: A little bit better. I eliminated a few more things from my diet which has helped my gallbladder pain a little bit more. I am still sleeping with a heating pad rolled up to help with the pain (I miss you, ibuprofen). 

Best moment of this week: I was always somewhat hesitant to believe hat babies truly knew their own mothers voice. While I was getting my NST I was proven wrong. Her heartbeat is usually around 130s-140s while I am just laying down in the chair. As soon as the lady came in to ask if I was comfortable, and I responded, her heart rate jumped up to 158 and stayed high while I spoke. It was really cute! 

Movement: So so much!

Food cravings: Powdered doughnuts, still. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Aches or pains: A little bit of everything. 

Have you started to show yet: Yes 

Gender: GIRL!! 

Labor signs: Nightly STRONG braxton hicks. Some contractions in the early morning. 

Belly button in or out: out.

Wedding rings on or off: On

What are you dreaming about: I cannot really remember anything crazy from this week.  

I did not check off anything on my to-do list this week. I did, however, measure for the room-darkening shades. I need another yard to finish her little window in her room. I also received my free Medela pump through my insurance company (thanks ACA - or some of you may call it "Obamacare")! I never had the option to get a free pump with the other boys, so I certainly took advantage of this while I could. So now I have two Medela pumps, just in case one breaks. I ordered it through www.edgepark.com, and it was SUPER easy. I am also overwhelmed looking at all of the incredible bow options on Etsy. I love all of them and wish I could order every single one! I did buy one for the fourth of July, just not off of an Etsy website… 

I also started working on a little project for the family room this week…. I still need to get some things, but I found some pictures from our family vacations that are going to be a part of this little project. I used Photoshop to lighten them, and you will see why once I get the wheels rolling on this project!

San Jose Del Cabo

Long Beach, California

Santa Monica, California

Santa Monica, California

Well, I think that is all for next week. I am SO SO SO happy to be done with the semester after this week, ah! 

Labor and Delivery Nurses Gift

While browsing through Pinterest I have come across some very cute gift ideas for neighbors, garbage men, and nurses - and of course labor and delivery nurses deserve something extra special after all they do for you and your baby!

For these bags I included:

• Chocolate (snickers)
• A granola bar
• Candy
• Sweet Pea hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works

I used some crinkle paper on the bottom to add a little more color, printed out the labels from some font I threw together quickly in photo shop, and used a puncher to punch out scrapbook paper. I also used cheap twine from the Target dollar section to tie them together! 

After this, I realize I need a 1 inch circle punch… 

If you want to use the same .jpeg I used and print it off in word… here it is!

What gifts did you give your nurses? 

Aiden's Pre-K Valentine's

I love these cute little Valentine's! I wish I could take creative credit for them, but I found the idea on Pinterest and didn't really change anything, other than the paint containers. Maybe when I am not pregnant, I will be more ambitious! If you are looking for the original post and labels, you can find that here! I got the paint at the local dollar store!

Happy Valentine's Day weekend! 

Printstagram craft: office project.

A few days ago I told you that I ordered some of my Instagram photos from my favorite Instagram printing site, Prinstagram. I finally got them in the mail and they, like always, did not disappoint! I saw a craft on Pinterest a few months ago that was originally featured on the PB Teen blog (which I love), and thought I would give it go!

Supplies

• Fringe (Michaels)
• Washi Tape (Target)
• Tacs (Target)
• String (Michaels)
• Miniature glitter clothes pins (Target) 
• Hot glue gun

This is pretty self-explanatory. First I measured the fringe and cut it to four inches, the size of the Prinstagram photos. Then I used Washi tape to tape the fringe on the photos and finally put a dot of hot glue on the back of each corner for extra support. 

The print shown above these is from Dear Lillie. I will have a full source list when I post the final office reveal, which I promise is coming soon! (I just need pillow and curtains, without my husband having a heart attack I am spending more money on this darn room!) 

I chose some of my favorite photos, but it would be easy to switch them out occasionally too. I love the one of my Grandmother's coffee mug, that she drank her tea out of every single morning. I also got the print because of her, she LOVED her garden. (And, you can see my awkward reflection!) 

Laundry room mock chalkboard print.

I seriously love this quote. One of the reasons I am doing my laundry room so girly is because I am surrounded by messy, tough, dirty boys. Since I am the only one that does laundry (except for the occasional load my husband does), this can be my space. I even bought crystal door knobs! This saying is so important to how I need to be thinking because some days I am just dying for my boys to grow up. I want them to stop hitting, stop yelling, stop peeing in their pants, and doing all the other dirty things little boys do. But I know I need to cherish these times when they are so little and need me. I am sure, before I know it, they will want me out of their circle and I will be so sad when that day comes. So, for right now I suppose I will rejoice in being their favorite!

Supplies:

• 5.0 mm Panel from Home Depot (made for drawer bottoms) 11 x 14
• Large picture hanger
• Black chalk paint (Annie Sloan Graphite)
• White paint
• Paint brush
• Tiny paint brush
• Printer
• Scotch Tape
• Painters Tape
• Ballpoint pen
• Sharpie Paint Pen

I bought a board from Home Depot for $5.98 and had them cut it to my size (11 x 14), which they do for free! When I got home I sanded the rough edges and put a trash bag on my counter to protect it. I would normally do these things in the garage, but with the boys being awake, I needed them contained within the confines of my house so they aren't running in the street or fighting over some ridiculous outdoor toy. 

I also chose the side with the least amount of knots because that can prevent straight lines when tracing over the "stencil." I painted the board in two coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite. I also used an Annie Sloan brush. They just come off smoother and leave less stroke marks. I did not use wax on this project because I wanted the chalkboard style look. I also only bought a sample of this color, but after seeing it in person I wish I would have bought the entire quart because it is a beautiful color! 

Next, I printed out the print that I threw together in Photoshop and since I do not have a printer that can print 11 x 14, I had to puzzle the pieces together to create an 11 x 14. This was annoying, I would recommend getting one printed at Kinkos, Office Depot, or Staples or somewhere like that. 

Here is my version of the saying that you can use if you would like. If you have any problems getting to it, comment with you e-mail and I can send you a bigger copy. 

Once everything was pieced together, I used painters tape to center the saying on the board and make sure everything was level and stayed in place. 

Next, I used my ballpoint pen to trace over the letters, and you have to push hard, and it kind of hurts your hand, but then you get a great stencil on your painted board. 

Then I used my smaller brush and painted in the lines. This takes a little bit, but it is worth it to get the chalk board look. Next, after I let the paint dry, I took my Sharpie White Paint marker to touch up the lines. Once the paint marker dries, I will put on the backer. Be careful when doing this because it could split your board. Gentle hammers! 

Here is the finished product!

It is not perfect, like most of my projects, but it will be perfect for our laundry room. I can't wait to show you what it looks like in the finished room! 

End of the year: Teacher Gift!

I had to keep it cheap and simple this year for teacher gifts because Aiden has six (!) teachers. I thought what better way to kick of the summer than an ice cold passion tea!

I just got the scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby and used my 2" cutter to cut the shape, printed of the saying "Thanks for a Tea-rific year!" on regular paper and cut it into a circle! I used string to make it have a tea bag feel, wrote "love, Aiden" on the back side. The cups are from Kohls (Sonoma Brand) and they are BPA free and obviously reusable! I also filled them with crinkle paper and three passion tea bags! 

What teacher gifts are you all doing this year?

A how-to guide: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

I kid you not, this is the absolute easiest way to do a furniture makeover (and it is so fast)! Since I have been a part of the "Annie Sloan Anonymous" addicts club for about six months (cat is out of the bag now), I thought I would throw together a quick guide for doing a furniture makeover!

Things you will need:

• Annie Sloan Paint
• Annie Sloan Clear Wax (you can get the dark wax for the antique look - but do not share your wax brushes!)
• Krud Kutter
• Old t-shirt (or inside of a cloth diaper)
• Trash bag to protect your surface
• Annie Sloan wax brush and paint brush (you can use regular paint brushes, but your surface will not be as smooth!)
• Odorless Mineral Spirits

The best part about chalk paint is you do not need to sand! If my piece has some chipped areas or peeling areas I will sand so that the paint adheres better. 

I got this cute stool for $10 off of our last neighborhood Facebook sale page. It was in rough shape, but sturdy for little boys trying to wash their hands. 

I lightly sanded the top to make sure that the peeling finish would not affect the paint. Then I sprayed the whole thing with Krud Kutter to clean any sticky surfaces that could affect the paint in the long run. 

Using my Annie Sloan paint brush, I did long strokes to keep the finish as smooth as possible. 

This is what the paint looks like while wet. You have to be sure it is completely dry before painting the second coat.

You will see little spots like this as the first coat dries. It takes about 20 minutes to fully dry. 

Do not worry that you are not covering the entire surface with a thick paint the first time, the second coat catches all those little see-through areas. After waiting for the second coat to completely dry, time for wax. 

Put a small amount of wax on your Annie Sloan was brush, and spread it over one surface at a time. I did the top first, then I wiped all the wax off the top and moved on to the legs. 

To clean your paint brush just use a milk soap and warm water. To clean your wax brush, swirl in odorless mineral spirits until all wax is gone. I store mine in paper towels. 

I think it looks much nicer than the light wood color that clashed with our floors. We used to have this little cute stool on our fireplace stone, but Aiden needs it now for washing hands!