Living Room Makeover

Before

 

 During....

I sold ALL my furniture and moved my piano downstairs ($238 for piano movers--ouch!)

We ripped out the baseboard and put wainscoting all around the room.

New furnitureChair: Osmond Design

Coffee Table: West Elm 

Settee and side tables: Osmond Design 

Chaise and side table: Osmond Design

A few of my favorite accessories: Osmond and Tai Pan

Bookcase: Osmond Design

 

...and VOILA!

(I am still searching for the perfect wall hanging to go over the couch.)

 The kids know this is MY room.

I spend my mornings in here, reading scriptures, listening to  news radio (nerd alert), feeding the baby, reading, paying bills, instgrammimg, etc.  You can't see in this picture but i have the perfect view of the mountains.

 

Things That Make Me Happy - September 2012

I'm in the final 10 weeks of my pregnancy and let's face it, it's not the most fun thing right now.

I'm huge.  I'm uncomfortable.  I can't sleep.  I'm STILL nauseous.

(Going to go to the pharmacy today to find an anti-nausea bracelet to see if that helps.)

BUT, I'm determined to stay positive through to the end.  Make no mistake, I wanted this, I planned it, and ultimately I'm thrilled and can't wait to hold my babe.

So,

I've decided to start posting about the little things that make me happy

(even though I cry almost every day--hormones!).

I'll be doing this once a month--my happy post.  :)

#1

Getting out some of my Halloween/Fall decor.

I'm simplifying this year and not going overboard and getting everything out.

Too much work.

I'll be lucky to have my Christmas tree out by Christmastime.

A few pumpkins, ghosts, and orange lights cheers me up and makes me happy.

#2

These two adorable faces.

They are best cousin friends.

Sam and Sophie

#3

 I know it's silly, but I'm ridiculously giddy over my ultra clean bathroom.

The cleaners were here yesterday (hey, I can no longer hunch over a shower and tub and scrub, nor do I have the time or energy),

and they are soooooo good!

I went up in the bathroom yesterday and just sat and basked.

#4

Hubs cleaned out and organized the garage this last Saturday.

We bought some shelves and "hired" my 14-year-old to build them.

Aaaaah, I love driving into my garage, you know, 12-14 times a day, since I practically live in my car.

#5

A chandelier for Lucy's room.

#6

A dinosaur bed for Sam--no more toddler bed.

(I caught him kneeling by the toddler bed, sobbing, and saying goodbye to it.  I knelt down and cried right along with him.)

#7

Jacob was chosen as the first Student of the Month at his school.

#8

Another silly one.

I bought these lunch bags online.

They fold up and store nicely in the freezer.

There is so much more I can pack in the kids' lunches now that the food stays cold for up to 10 hours.

I've made pasta salad, 7-layer bean dip, and ham and cheese sandwiches WITH mayo for them.

I can also pack cheese snacks, yogurt, and milk without worrying about spoilage.

#9

Still picking tomatoes from my garden

#10

Beginning the countdown to our annual Disneyland trip

Only 4 months!!!

(I've never taken a 2-month old baby before but I am NOT missing out this year.)

Jeff and I and the three oldest kids were able to attend the dedication of the Brigham City temple this last Sunday.  I almost didn't go because it hurts (so much!) these days to sit on those hard chairs and someone needed to stay home with Sam.

When we went to get our temple dedication recommends I told the Bishop that I didn't need one because I wouldn't be going.  He was inspired to give me one anyway, "just in case," he said.

I decided one hour prior to get ready and go.  

We dropped Sam off at my brother's house.

I'm so glad I went.

When we entered the chapel (which they say is an extension of the temple during the dedication), I immediately felt an overwhelming presence of the Spirit.  

I couldn't stop crying.  We all had such a great experience, and I made it almost all the way through on my chair--I had to stand for the last talk.

#11

Found this old, favorite picture of Lulu at 2 years old.

#12

Stacey, Chris and baby Franklin have moved home to Utah.

They live right here in our neighborhood.

Our baby boys are only going to be three months apart.

They will be best of friends.

#13

And the last thing that has made me so happy this month:

(sorry, no picture)

At my 20 week ultrasound, they thought I would have to have a C-section because of the location of my placenta.

This last week, they did a re-check and everything looks picture perfect and fabulous.

No C-section!

They also ran several blood tests to see if I had the same issues I had with the last pregnancy.

Nothing!

This pregnancy could not be more ideal.  My blood pressure, iron, thyroid, all of it, are perfect.

So, so thankful and HAPPY!!!!!

A Mini-Makeover

I love my kitchen. 

I designed it to be white, light, and airy.

But there was one thing in my kitchen/living area that didn't go with the decor:

My 12-year-old kitchen table.

It went perfectly with the decor in my last house--dark, black, gold-ish.

I've been saving some money and decided Mother's Day was the perfect excuse to finally splurge.

I went to Four Chairs Furniture.  I've never been there before, but I will be a customer for life.

I got to completely design my entire table.

 I picked a "Riverwash" table top and ivory table legs.

For the side-chairs, I picked the design and the paint color.  It's hard to tell in the picture but it's a super subtle gray/green/turquoise/ivory.  The official name was "Silver Sage."

The table came with two leaves and I'm able to seat up to ten people.

For the end chairs I picked a formal shape but very casual burlap slipcover--trying to go for the "Shabby-Chic" look.

 So much better with my kitchen, don't you think?

And perfect with my family room and the aqua accent wall.

The only bad thing about custom designing furniture is the WAIT.

I am NOT a patient person and that two weeks was interminable!

Totally worth it, though.

 There's something about getting something new for my house, however small, that motivates me to clean, clean, clean.  I've spent the last few days cleaning out drawers, organizing cupboards, and *gasp* mopping the floor.

Now THAT hasn't happened in awhile.

Remember those job charts I was going to make for my kids?

Yeah, well, that turned into me giving them a random, verbal list each morning according to how tired I was/am and how much of the mess there was/is.

It's working, though, so, whatever....

Kids Bathroom Makeover

In the last month we have had three rounds of strep and antibiotics and one round of stomach flu.

I was sick to death of germs being spread around so I did something about it.

I went to Target.

Naturally.

I bought the kids their own separate cups with their own toothpaste and toothbrushes.

 I turned the kids' bathroom from this...

And this...

And this...

To this!

Notice the disposable towels on the rack.

No more wiping mouths and hands with the same hand towel.

Instead, the kids overflow the garbage cans with the disposable towels, especially Sam who, in three weeks hasn't gotten over the novelty of pulling them out one by one.

I don't care.

No one has been sick since I re-did the bathroom.

(Knock on wood)

And this.

Of course, I just HAD to get 2 new polka dot rugs and a shower curtain and 6 new striped bath and hand towels, PLUS two fishy hand towels purely for decoration to make the bathroom fully germ-free, right? 

Right.