Product Review: MONQ

Happy Monday! And I say that in the least sarcastic way possible. Today, I am really excited about a product review and I will get a video up as soon as I have the chance because I know its easier to actually see something. Now, if you haven't already heard of MONQ... you should cancel your plans today and stay tuned because it is pretty exciting. 

Let me explain a little about MONQ because from first glance you're probably like why is she so excited about these little sticks?! MONQ is a personal essential oil diffuser. Whaaaaaaat, you ask? Well, basically, this pretty little stick allows you to directly inhale therapeutic aromatherapy into your olfactory system. Cool? Yes, I know! 

So, the first question that came to mind for me was: Are these electronic cigarettes? And the answer is NO! These contain no tobacco, no nicotine, and no artificial chemicals. Each vial contains a custom blend of essential oils and plant extract. So these are completely safe to use indoor/outdoor/at work... you get the idea. Each vial comes in a different color and contains 3 different essential oils to help you obtain your specific goal. There is: Healthy, Zen, Vibrant, Sexy, Sleepy, Happy, Skinny. I just realized that I listed quite a few of the Seven Dwarfs... hmm.. 



Anyway, I am not going to lie. Part of the reason I fell in love with these is because they're precious. Each one has the cutest little crystal type stone on the end that lights up each time you inhale, and each vial is the prettiest shade. 

The real reason I purchased my first one, which was Zen, was due to my high level of anxiety. I am really not crazy about anxiety medications, just because of how they make me feel, so I decided to take a healthier, more natural route. 

You start by inhaling a small amount in through your mouth and out through your nose. It usually takes about 3 times to feel the effects and thats it. It isn't something that you have to do consistently or all day, it can be used on your lunch or bathroom break. It would be ideal if you have a job that keeps you very stressed or wound up. Or if you're in school and freak out before a test!

My next purchase was Sleepy. I have the WORST restless legs and for some reason when its time for bed... thats when my mind wants to think about every single thing that I didn't get done for the day or my next DIY project or if vegetarians eat animal crackers? Needless to say, I needed help. I will admit that I was a little disappointed when I didn't just fall over after my first inhale like Aurora when she pricked her finger. *Insert dramatic reenactment here* BUT I gave it a few minutes, took a few more inhales/exhales... and I will say that it didn't take me AS LONG to fall asleep and I didn't wake up at all. Now, this could completely be a mental thing -- but I have been using it a little over a week each night and I am sleeping like a baby! So, if it is all in my mind -- that is fine with me because I was getting up every night over my legs or my wandering mind. So overall, it was a win for me! And the Sleepy also has Lavender in it which is one of my favorite scents and it kinda leaves a nice lingering smell. 

So last but not least... pricing. If you go to the MONQ website, they offer different packages. You can order all of the different blends at once or order them individually. Individually, each vial is $20.00. They last, if used sparingly, up to about 2 weeks. They do offer packages with blends that correspond with one another. And any order over $60.00 qualifies for free shipping! Whoop whoop! BUT WAIT -- THERE'S MORE! If you use my coupon code: AMBERWOLLENBERG you can get a couple dollars off! Mhmm... snag that coup and get to your happy place!





All purchases are confidential so if any of you decide to try this -- please let me know what blend and how you liked it!!

https://monq.com/?rfsn=293295.f68d6b


Also, I have a Sexy in the mail headed my way, so as soon as I get it, I am going to actually post a video of the packaging, presentation, etc. And you will find that on here!! 

Stay Happy & Healthy! 

raising gentlemen.

Each household has different rules and standards. I have always believed that no matter how ridiculous some may seem, a parent's wishes should always be respected and abided by. I know the way we do things in our home are probably a lot different than most, and that is okay. Like I have mentioned in previous posts, what boundaries are set at your house are your business. So I wanted to share some of the things I try and teach my boys on a daily basis and explain why.

Manners

This is a biggy for me. And this has actually been one of the most controversial topics when I have discussed it with other parents. My boys are to address any adult with "ma'am" or "sir". Why? Because I see it as being respectful. Now, not all people feel like this and I know that this is mostly a Southern thing. Where as some parents think it is a little old fashioned and unnecessary (which is cool) It is just something that I will not budge on. And it is actually something that I never had to force or scold my kids about. Each time they would answer me with a "yeah" or "what" I would just politely respond "ma'am" and now its just natural for them. It isn't forced, and it doesn't inconvenience them in anyway. The same with "please" and "thank you" which also come naturally to them now. Now, this is something that if forgotten I do have to stop and remind them that this is vital. No one owes you anything, and even if it is a waitress or just a kind stranger holding the door for you... say "Thank you." It takes two seconds. 

Don't Stink

It does not matter what you are doing for the day -- always brush your teeth! And wash your hands after using the bathroom. The reasons speak for themselves! Especially with little boys!!

Drink Plenty of Water

Water is always accessible in our house. I actually got an amazing idea from my sister, who kept a jug of ice water, that has the spout, on the counter throughout the day. My boys have LOVED this idea.. and they're so preoccupied with being able to pour the water themselves... they don't even care that its water. Definitely something to consider if you have little ones that aren't so crazy about H2O! I actually keep the jug in the fridge. I bought the 99 cent, thick plastic cups and hot glued a magnet strip to the back of each of them and just stuck them on the fridge! They love coming through and filling their own cup and then attaching the cup back to the fridge. I wash them at the end of the day and then they are ready for the next! If you try this idea, please let me know how it works for you!

Sugar is Great! (But bad for you!)

Now this is also a tricky one, and this is one that I think it is hard for people that aren't of our generation to grasp the concept of. Candy is not the same as it was back in the day. As much as we want to believe that "they wouldn't sell it if it wasn't good for them." Your health means absolutely nothing to mult-billion dollar corporations. And just because it says "Sugar Free" on the box DOES NOT MEAN IT. Over the years, different companies have gotten really slick with how they advertise, and most of it is false. Now, with that being said -- No, I am not the Wicked Witch of the South, my kids are allowed to have sweets... but in small doses. Call me crazy, but this is something I have researched heavily. And won't go into (this time) but if your curiosity is killing you.. please look into some documentaries such as "Fed Up" which can be found on Netflix OR just Google "What sugar does to a child's body?" You will never look at a KitKat the same again. Now, I won't lie. I LOVE sweets. And we do still enjoy dessert after dinner and the occasional candy bar from the check out line at a grocery store. This is not something we want to make a regular thing and definitely not something we want to become habit. Sugar is habit forming. And obviously, this is hard for a 3 and 5 year old to understand. Their logic: It tastes good so it can't be bad for us! That is why I feel it is important for parents to intervene at such a young age. Preventing a habit from ever developing is a lot easier than breaking one. 

Do Your Chores

Though they be but little, they will know to clean. This has been the hardest one yet. And I am all for letting kids be kids but they will also be kids that know how to pick up after themselves. In my opinion, kids should be held responsible for the items that they take out and know that before another toy comes out, the other needs to be put away. For a while I was guilty of letting them have their fun and it was quicker if I just came in behind them and picked it all up. It wasn't until I heard my five year old say "Just leave it, Mom will clean it up." It set in that I was setting them up to fail. Although I would keep it from them as long as I possibly could, the real world is coming. And the less I make them do now.. the harder it is going to punch them in the face. Since they are still small, it has been easier to make it a game of "Who can pick up the most toys first!" or "Let's pick up all the toys that are green, now all of the toys that are blue, etc..." If toys are left out, they lose privileges with that toy for a certain amount of time. I am starting to see a change and they have actually began to pick up without me having to ask, but this is still something that we struggle with, and it is something that I am sure will be ongoing into their teenage years. The point is to not give up. Even though it is probably quicker for you to just do it, you're not teaching them any life lesson by doing it for them. That is something that I often have to tell myself. Same goes for putting their laundry in the basket, putting their plates in the sink, etc. Even if the tasks aren't BIG, if you make things like this part of their normal routine, it won't seem like a chore later, in my opinion. 

Express Yourself

I have never wanted my kids to feel like they can't tell me or show me how they're feeling. Now, this is where that thin line comes in. Yelling, hitting, or raising their voice to me is not tolerated. This is only something that I have been experiencing with Mayce lately (5 year old). He has gotten to an age where when something bothers him, he wants to scream and hit things, and voice that he is mad. Which is completely okay with me. As long as he does no harm to himself or the people around him, I encourage him to let it out! I may have to ask him to remove himself from the situation until he is calm but I have found that once he comes back and we can talk about it... you can literally see the weight lifted from his shoulders. We ALWAYS make a point to talk to him about it afterward. We give him an opportunity to express why he was mad and then we explain why we took the disciplinary actions that we did. This method works for us. Even if something leads to corporal punishment, he is always allowed a chance to voice how it made him feel. And that usually leads to him not doing it again. I have never understood why or how a parent would discipline a child, whether it be spanking them or scolding them, and then get mad at them for crying and/or telling them to stop crying. How else are they supposed to express themselves? Laughing? That is just my logic.

Be Honest

I regret this one sometimes. Usually those times when I get "Mom, your butt is big" or "Your hair is crazy" are the times that I regret telling them to be so honest. However, when my five year old comes to me and tells me he did something, even though he knows it is something that he will get in trouble for, it makes me feel good. We are raising kids in a world that is CRAZY now. And I think it is vital for them to know that they don't have to lie about anything. Even if someone else tells them to. Even if it is something they think will get them in trouble. Even sometimes, when it is something I DO NOT want to hear... I listen, and even if they do get into trouble for it, I am always sure to tell them "I appreciate you being honest with me about it" and pray that honesty is a quality they hold on to. 

Stand Up For Yourself & Each Other

Being a Momzilla, I struggle with this one. As much as I want to snatch that brat up on the playground that wants to bully my boys, I don't. They have to know that I won't always physically be there to back them up. There will come a time that a little shithead bully will push their limits and they have to know how to handle it. We don't push violence and we try to stress that words mean nothing, however, they'll know that if someone ever crosses the boundary and touches them -- its fair game. I will never scold my child, no matter how old, for defending themselves or each other.

Don't Stop Trying

If I have never pushed an opinion on you, I am going to now. Parents, never stop encouraging your child. I have personally heard a mother tell their child "Stop! You just can't do it!" And it breaks my heart. We live in a world, a country, FULL of opportunities. No matter what your child wants to do... never stop pushing them to do it. This life is not all about the money that we make, and the day that we die... we take nothing with us. So I urge you to encourage them to enjoy their lives, make memories, and back them on any decision they make. Do not accept "I can't" as a response. As parents it is OUR job to mold and motivate our children to be what they want and be the best at it. 

I would love to hear some of the lessons you teach your children and/or even some that you do not agree with. Thanks for reading, loves! 

5 Ways To Take Care Of You

As mothers, or as a person in general, life tends to find its way of getting the best of us. We get caught up in routine or we just assume that we don't have anytime left for ourselves -- wrong. It took me longer than it should have to realize that my health, physical and mental, was just as important as everyone else's. I worked a full time job, had dinner to cook, clothes to wash, dishes to do, on top of bath time and bedtime stories. By the time everything was done it was time for Cody and I to get in bed. It started to take its toll on me. I was beginning to feel anxious and that I was losing myself. I began to take myself into consideration. How was I feeling? What did I want? Now, there is a difference in taking care of yourself and only caring for yourself. Know that difference, especially with kids. Here are the five ways I have chosen to take care of myself. Feel free to steal them. :)

1. Remove Yourself From Routine

Even if that means doing something so small that is our of your ordinary. If you work, buy yourself an ice cream on your lunch break or take a few minutes to read your favorite book in your car. If you stay-at-home, go for a walk or learn how to make that recipe you've been pinning for the past 6 months. For me, when I was working, I decided to walk to work. Luckily, I was only a few minutes from work but it gave me time to collect my thoughts and prepare myself for the day. The fresh air was also nice. Walks have become one of my favorite things. Even now at home, I enjoy taking the boys for a walk around the neighborhood. We point out birds, dogs, different types of leaves, and appreciate the little things in our neighborhood that we don't have time to notice otherwise. It is the best time to talk to them about things they would normally feel lectured about, however, removing them from their normal environment makes it feel less like a chore. I usually take the opportunity to talk to them about the importance of manners or staying tidy. We discuss it like a casual conversation, they soak it in better knowing they aren't pressured and not having anyone wag a finger in their face. We also take random trips to a store to "just look." I make it a point to let them know beforehand "We are just going in to check out what this store has, but we aren't buying anything today." And we will head to the toys and they go to each one to test it out. And I take this opportunity to see what their interests are. What type of toys they're leaning towards, which helps around the holidays. Just because you stay-at-home does not mean you are limited to the walls of your house. Lately, at nap time, I have really enjoyed reading on my front porch. Even though it is Summer and hotter than the devil's kitchen outside, I have actually taken a small fan with me and have been able to get through a couple of chapters.

2. You Want It, Buy It.

This one took me a while to get used to. Only because, like most households, we are on a budget. You have to know what to sacrifice and how to balance it out to be able to get what you want without feeling guilty for it. I was the world's worst at saying "Oh, I love this!" And then pushing my shopping cart right by it. In my mind I am thinking "Well, we do have this utility bill coming up or a car insurance payment that is due... it can wait." And though this is a very responsible way to think and budget... you have to keep in mind that sometimes you just deserve it. Whether we are stay at home or working, we all have a job and we all work hard. Sometimes, we deserve to pick up something pretty in a store and say "I'm going to buy this today." Now I do mean to keep these things in reason, please don't go buy a new car and get me in trouble! But if there is a nice blouse or shoes or a new candle that you want and it doesn't jeopardize anything else -- get it. And this doesn't go for just moms. I tell my husband the same thing. Now, within our budget, we can't just go shopping for things on the regular but sometimes, we will go in a store with a set amount and he will get what he can for himself and then on our next trip out I can do the same. We always discuss it with one another beforehand, not because we have to, but because its courteous to keep your spouse involved. And if it is something bigger that you want, you can always buy a little at a time. We want to completely makeover our fireplace with some tile, and to keep from going in and dropping a huge amount at once, we pick up things here and there. It doesn't affect us as much financially and it is exciting to know that we will eventually have it finished without it taking a huge chunk of change. 

3. Give Fast Food A Break

I am not huge on fast food in general, but I do have a weak spot for a good chicken sandwich. Whether it is Wendy's or Chick-fil-a, I get way too excited over spicy poultry and a large lemonade. When we get busy or our work hours start to get a little crazy, its just easier to "grab something on the way home." Little do you know the affect that fast food can have on you. I can always tell when we are eating out a lot, I start to feel sluggish after meals. I feel too full. I tend to always make myself try to finish everything because fast food is higher than average groceries and I don't want it to go to waste. And speaking of money, it is so easy to lose track of it when you are buying out. Especially for a family of four. Our worst days to eat out are weekends. After a long work week sometimes you just don't feel like it -- and that's okay! But try to manage it wisely. Think about it. Each time we go to grab something to eat, it usually costs us anywhere for $20-30 dollars each meal. At three meals a day that is anywhere from $60.00 to $90.00!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I COULD BUY AT TARGET WITH 90.00?! Um, maybe that gold tripod lamp I have been wanting forever and still have leftovers to grab a Strawberry and Cream frapp at Starbucks on the way out! *deep breaths* So, yes, fast food can certainly be convenient, but as mentioned in the previous paragraph, manage your money wisely and then you can actually treat yourself to something you really want. Something that will last longer and not make you feel bloated! And cooking is also something that you and your spouse can do together! Look up some Pinterest recipes on a budget and try a different one each night. And if you prefer to cook alone, put in some earbuds and enjoy some you time. Can't go wrong with music and food!

4. Disconnect Yourself From WiFi.

Don't run. Bare with me. Most of our stress and worries come from scrolling through our newsfeed. Let's be honest.. we all see that mom that just looks like she is doing it better than you, the one that finds time to work out and manage to get out of yoga pants and fix her hair for the day. There is the couple with the perfect relationship. And then there is the one that appears to have all of these nice things and seems to pull money from their butt. Let me let you in on a little secret: No one is perfect. And we don't normally share the unhappy moments that get us from one of those smiling selfies to the other. Go ahead and get out of the mindset that someone out there has a better life than you. We all are given different opportunities and different struggles. Some are just better at hiding them than others. This is why I suggest logging off for a while. Take an afternoon and just don't look at any social media. Write in a journal, share feelings that you can't post on Facebook. Try a new hobby. As hard as it is to believe, the world doesn't revolve around social media. 

5. Don't Forget About Your Friends

You would be amazed at how much better you feel after talking to an old friend. This has been one of my favorite transitions I have made recently. I have made time for my friends. Obviously, with a busy schedule it is hard to make time... but you have to do exactly that. Make time. I am lucky enough to have friends with kids, so we can always get them together for play dates and then we can sit back and talk about old times. But every once in a while you need time for just girl talk. This is what actually pushed me to create a mom group. We have so much fun together, discussing mistakes and mishaps, the ups and downs of motherhood and the hilarious experiences we've had. It is always something that we can all relate to. This has made its biggest impact on me. I have found a few hours every other week to go to dinner with my girls. To talk about what is going on in our lives and laugh. As moms, and as women, we deserve to get out of the routine (even if only for a couple of hours) and enjoy ourselves. It was difficult for me to come out of my comfort zone, because I always felt so guilty leaving the kids, but I knew that this was something I needed for me. And being a happier mom would make a positive impact on their lives as well. So, call that old friend you've been saying you'd go to lunch with for months, or the new friend that you seem to share interests with on social media. We are all human and we all just want to find people to surround ourselves with that make us happy. It is not as hard as you think.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and I hope you take it to heart. Take care of yourself. Stay happy. Stay healthy.

"floating" shelves

Long time no post! Between kids and a full time job, it has been so hard to find time for any projects! We did, however, get our living room painted (in one night, might I add) and some last minute shelves hung up. And even though we have a long ways to go before it is exactly what we want, the pieces are starting to come together in my mind. I have always loved the idea of a warm cozy feeling of a living. That "home" feeling when you walk in the door. That is what I want. I love knick-knacks and trinkets and greenery. I just needed somewhere to put it all. And that is where our "floating" shelves came into play. 

Cute? I think so. Now I will give credit where credit is due. Would not have been able to do this without the hubs. (Happy, Dear?) He found me the greatest pieces of wood that were just the size that I needed on his job site at work. He and his coworker rummaged through scrap wood until they found the best pieces. (shout out to Will, too!) 

Now, many women would not be thrilled to come home to find 4 pieces of wood in the living room floor when your husband tells you he has a surprise for you -- but this chick has been wanting some floating shelves for quite some time! This was the easiest project ever. Just got some Rust-Oleum stain at Wal-Mart. The shade of stain is "Kona" and it was exactly the color that I wanted and it dries in an hour! Which is exactly what impatient people like me love. 

After the stain was applied we just waited an hour fourty-five minutes for it to dry and then my handy-dandy husband attached L brackets -- BOOM! "Floating" shelves. And I use the term floating loosely, because you can still see the brackets, however, he hung them upside down so that you can't see them from underneath... and we both knew I had enough junk to fill the shelves so they wouldn't show. So unless you're looking very closely, you can hardly tell they aren't really floating shelves. 

See?!

And if you are wondering what color we decided to go with.. it was a shade we found at Lowe's called Lighthouse Shadows. 

My little man approved so it was good with me! It was a tad more "baby blue" than I wanted to begin with, but after adding the shelves and seeing the contrast of the dark wood against it, I am happy with our choice!

So, that is our new contribution to our living room! Next stop, fireplace!! 

And if you did not care for that... here is a picture of Oliver using Cody's neck pillow to be a Triceratops. Enjoy.

my circus. my monkeys.

I decided to write about something that really grinds my gears tonight. And this is something that has bothered me since I have had children of my own. Why is it that mothers feel the need to judge other moms so harshly? And not just mothers, but grandmothers, great grandmothers as well. When I think of this subject, my mind always goes back to a time when Oliver was only a couple months old, it was around Christmas and Cody and I were doing some last minute shopping. Of course, it was chilly outside and we were in and out of stores. I had the boys bundled up and was carrying a swaddled Oliver into one of the stores when I noticed his head was sweating from the cap on his head. I slid the hat off and tucked it away in my purse and continued our search. A woman, that I had never seen before in my life, stopped me and said "Don't you think that baby's head needs to be covered? Do you know how cold it is outside? That is how children get sick!" Before I could answer she turned up her nose and walked away. I was mad. I was embarrassed. And had completely forgotten what I was even in Target for. I picked up a couple items and we made our way back to the car. On the ride home I thought to myself this shouldn't bother me. Why am I so worked up over something one woman said? Let it go. But I couldn't. And because one thing, that I am sure any mother can relate to, is the fact that we don't like anyone thinking or assuming we aren't doing what we are supposed to do. That lady had no idea that my child's hat was in my purse and that I had just taken it off, she just took it upon herself to approach me very rudely and make an unnecessary comment. Now, let me come out of this flashback because I am getting a little pissed thinking about it. Okay, back to present day.


My point is that I am over this mom bashing. When I tell you that I do not allow my kids to have soda on a regular basis or monitor their sugar intake, do not look at me like I am depriving them. When I say that I spank my children when they are misbehaving, do not look at me like I abuse them. In my house, we do what works for us. This is my circus. Those are my monkeys.


I have organized a mom group full of fantastic mothers and there is one thing that I can say: None of us parent the same, but does that mean some are good and some are bad? No. As mothers, we should use our nourishing and supportive nature to uplift each other and encourage each other in the times that we feel we are lacking. We should never feel embarrassed to admit that we cannot do it all. Sometimes, we just don't feel like playing with matchbox cars for the thousandth time. And sometimes, we hide in the laundry room and eat our kids' Halloween candy. The point is, what is judging someone else going to do for you? How is bringing another woman down going to benefit you? If you chose to formula feed, and you see a breastfeeding mom -- why not compliment her on her efforts? Maybe you just physically could not breastfeed, or chose not to because of your work schedule... but why not tell her how much you admire her determination to push through the pain or manage her time? And the same goes for moms that chose to use formula. I am so tired of formula shaming. I physically could not breastfeed. My milk literally just was not there. I had no choice but to choose a formula. I hated the process of going through different formulas, I felt that I had failed because that is one thing mothers are supposed to be able to do. And I could not tell you the number of times I have received nasty comments because I formula fed. Not one time did anyone ask me why or about my personal experience. They just jumped to judgement. Same goes for discipline (and I am really guilty of this one.) The way you choose to discipline your child is no one else's business. And even though it is so hard for me to turn my head and walk away when a child is throwing himself down on the toy isle at Wal-Mart and calling his mother by her first name... I still do. Even though I personally don't agree with it and my child would be holding a frozen package of peas on his behind, I don't have to take that kid home so its not. my. business.

So the point of my rambling tonight, is no matter what the case is... let's all try to uplift, to support, and encourage. Because no matter how you choose to parent we can all say that we have cried behind a closed bathroom door, peed in our pants from a weak bladder, forgotten when the last time we washed our hair was, paced the floors at 3 am, and most importantly... spend 100% of our time trying to keep another human being alive. We have a big job. The most important in the world. One that you can't call out of. So instead of making it a competition, let's do it together.

Have a good night, mommies!

starting from scratch.

When we first bought our house, which was a little over 2 years ago, *tear* I wanted to go with a very simple design element. I chose a lot of light grays and whites. At first it was easy on the eyes, very quaint and pleasant, but now it bores me. I've avoided my living room for days because every time I am there -- I get the makeover itch. It doesn't make it better that I am seriously addicted to HGTV's Fixer Upper and I am 98% sure Joanna Gaines is my spirit animal. I am not crazy about the farmhouse look, I have never been drawn to that style. However, I will say that I admire the way her homes flow and I took that into consideration when I started planning my living room makeover against my husband's will. 

I will start from the beginning. This is the living room when we first bought the home. Minus the furniture. 

Now as I am sure you other moms can relate -- walking into a room SO white makes you a little nervous when you have two toddlers, but it did give us a pretty blank canvas to work with. I can't say that for the other room in the house that had wood panelled walls and maroon carpet... but we will save that for another time! 

First thing we did was start ripping up carpet. The fact that there were hardwoods underneath, that were still in great condition, did something to my soul. Not only have I been a hardwood fan for pretty much forever, having a husband and child with severe allergies makes it very difficult to keep carpet around. We knew it had to be the first to go. 

How awesome is that hardwood?! And this was JUST my husband and I cleaning them up with soap and water, and putting on a protective coating that made them shine! In this photo the condition actually looks a lot better than what it actually was. Being first time homeowners on a budget, we were satisfied with this at the time. We did have spots (by the doorways) that were really dark and damaged so we have had the floors professionally done after horrible attempts to sand and stain them ourselves. We just won't even go there. Needless to say, after a few hours we were pricing the pros! 

We ordered our furniture not long after and I was happy with the way everything looked. It seemed cozy. Keep in mind, this photo was taken about 2 years ago -- so the furniture has survived sippy cups, front flips, sleepovers, hide and seek -- and they are barely hanging on. Two of the buttons have given up on us and the rug has seen better days. Now that my boys are a little older and have somehow learned how to sit on furniture appropriately, it is time for an update! 

Which brings me to a few nights ago, we were on the couch  and I said "Wouldn't it be nice if we could just start over? Just clear this room out and repaint with new furniture and just refresh everything?" And then my clever, clever husband replies, "Why can't we?" Those three words were all I needed! Today, I have some potential buyers coming to hopefully take the furniture off my hands... we plan to roll up that old rug and just start over! I played it safe the first time with very bland colors but this time I need something that suits us a little more. We are far from a bland family. 

I have been looking over paint colors, channeling my inner Joanna and keeping in mind that we are still on a budget! So, this project will not be an over-nighter! I am taking my time on this one because this is the style that I want to stay until we decide to sell this house. Right now I am IN LOVE with Delft by Sherwin Williams but I am giving myself time to explore the options and trying to find furniture that would accent it. 

I am so excited about this project and I am psyched that I can share it. Check back to see what progress we are making. Hopefully some videos to come soon!

hello,world.

The day is here. My first post. The beginning of... well, the beginning. I have been contemplating starting this blog for about two years now. Actually, I created the blog about two years ago. From time to time I visit, type a few words, delete them, and then abandon it for another couple of months. But not today! Today I sat down in front of my laptop, stared at the screen for what felt like hours (two minutes to be exact), set aside my ginormous cup of coffee... and decided that today would be the day I started my blog. For so long I just thought, who in their right mind would want to hear what I had to say? Over time I learned that that is not what it is completely about. It is about expression and eventually, if my ideas are good enough -- the rest will work itself out. 

So, what will this blog feature, you ask? Great question. My answer: Everything. I am full-time working mother of two boys and wife to one really big toddler. My daily surprises are endless. We are learning as we go. So I would like to share with you our adventures, our laughs, our DIYs, our crafts, and our learning experiences (good and bad), and I hope that you'll enjoy them as much as we do.

Thank you for joining me.

The best is yet to come.