My to-do list

I have no idea if there are any people out there still reading this blog. After all, I am horrible at being consistent (sorry!). So, I am just going to use this space as my personal planner.

In this post, I am going to write down every single thing I plan to do in my home. I'm not talking about a day-to-day to-do list. This is more of a home improvement list. Whether it's DIY stuff, other decor plans, or even organization and cleaning, it will be on this list. I just got tired of having all of these ideas in my head and feeling overwhelmed, so I decided it's time to put it all down on paper (err... computer) and just take it one step at a time.

So without further ado, the list (it's gonna be a long one, folks).

"Master" Bedroom*

1. Get rid of vertical blinds and replace with horizontal bamboo blinds
2. Add curtains (most likely grey)
3. Create a canvas with wedding picture
4. Mount engagement and wedding canvas on the wall
5. Make ribbon banner and put above the bed
6. Mount "LOVE" signage
7. Silver Leaf dresser and new handles
1. Transfer clothes from old dresser
2. Create an organized makeup storage
3. Create an organized jewelry storage (inspiration: here)
8. Organize closet
9. Find cheap lamps and spray them metallic silver
10. Organize nightstands 
11. Find a couple of small throw pillows for the bed
12. Lighting

Room color scheme:

Nursery

1. Get rid of vertical blinds and replace with horizontal bamboo blinds
2. Add curtains and color stripes (mint and grey)
3. Buy toy chest and organize toys
4. Get a yellow throw pillow for the glider
5. Buy a new changing mat and a diaper pail
6. Shadow box
7. First year monthly pictures in frame
8. Rug?
9. Organize dresser and closet
10. Lighting

Bathroom

1. Organize under the sink
2. Shelving above toilet
3. Mason jar soap dispenser
4. Get a collecting tray
5. Wall decor?
6. Clean shower doors
7. Get mint/gray towels

Hallway

1. Organize closet!
2. Hang some sort of decor on the wall - pictures/art/shelving

Kitchen

1. Coffee Station art
2. Organize pantry
3. Organize cupboards
4. #FOOD decor above stove
5. Curtains
6. Color cupboards?

Dining Area

1. Paint hutch (same mint color)
1. Move china and bar inside
2. Get rid of buffet
3. Replace with some sort of food storage
2. Dining table redo
3. Gallery wall?
4. Paint chairs
5. Chalkboard paint small wall

Office Area

1. Bookshelves
1. Paint
2. Add doors
3. Organize
2. Silver Leaf desk
3. Add shelves above desk to organize
4. Hide cords
5. Get small containers as organization for under the desk
6. Store unused cords in organized way

Living Room Area

1. Paint and fix dresser as entertainment system
2. Add an entrance
3. Coffee table redo
4. Decor above couches
5. Remove vertical blinds and add horizontal wicker blinds
6. Add curtains and paint stripes
7. Paint side tables
8. Mirror on middle wall
9. Lighting
10. Rug?
11. Bench?
12. Striped accent wall
13. Make throw pillows
14. Reupholster couches

Phew! That is a loooong list. I'm sure I will add more as time goes on. I can't wait to get started! It is definitely going to be a very slow process as budget is extremely (read, practically nonexistent) limited, and my apartment will probably look mismatched for a while, but I know I will get there. Hopefully I will remember to log everything as I go along and share with you all here. Let's do this!

*Our apartment doesn't really have a master bedroom. Both bedrooms are the same size. It's just the one my husband and I sleep in

Strawberry banana smoothie bowl

About a couple of months ago, our blender retired. It decided that it just did not want to serve us anymore and up and quit on me. Being the smoothie drinking girl that I am, I decided uh-uh. Just because I don't have a blender anymore, doesn't mean I can't have smoothies, right?

So, I came up with my new favorite breakfast... the smoothie bowl.

It's pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It is a smoothie in a bowl. Instead of throwing the ingredients in a blender and having a thick and creamy drink, you just throw them in a bowl, mash it up (if you like), and eat.

The best part about this is that it is so versatile! You can add anything you like. Here is my favorite recipe:

Variations can include anything from different fruits/veggies, to yogurt instead of (or in addition to) the peanut butter, or any other kind of liquid (coconut milk, regular cow's milk, orange juice, etc). Add your own touch and enjoy!

XOXO,

a

DIY canvas photos

Empty walls.

They're everywhere. They haunt my home. They haunt my dreams. They expose me as the newbie decorator I am. They shame my very existence and make me question everything.

Ok, ok. Empty walls aren't that epic of a crisis. But they are pretty bleh. We moved into our apartment precisely a year ago, and I have yet to decorate. I'm not exaggerating when I say, my home is one giant empty wall (with only one small space being the exception).

But it's time for change people. <insert legendary 'new year-new you' type quote> I'm tired of seeing empty walls everywhere, so I am going to start redecorating... errr, decorating. I'm going to go room by room and add my own touch. I will chronicle my progress here in the hopes that I may inspire other procrastinating newbies out there that you really don't have to be that creative or design-savvy to make your home inviting, cozy, and appealing. Also, I'm hoping it will keep me accountable to actually go through with the decorating... ha!

First, the nursery.

I think I've made it pretty clear by now that I am a procrastinator. So, when we moved into our place, naturally I had planned to decorate the nursery. I kept putting it off, and, if you read my birth story, you know that my little guy arrived 3 weeks ahead of schedule, so I never got around to it. And I still didn't get around to it until about one month ago. Sad, I know.

So here are some before pictures of his room.

Aside from a couple of pieces, this has pretty much been the state of his room since before he was born. Quick side note: when I post the final progress of his room, I will give a detailed list of where I got everything and color of the wall.

Since I am not a fan of empty walls, I had to do something to fill up all that space without spending too much money. I absolutely love canvas photos and the classy and sophisticated touch they bring to a room, but I was NOT about to fork over $$$ in order to get it. What's a girl to do when she wants something that's too expensive? Does she just give up on it? No... She just makes them!

And make them, I did. You can too! It's seriously so insanely easy. Here is what you'll need: 

Any size blank canvas (mine were 8x10). Mod Podge. A sponge brush. And the pictures you will be using. The pictures can be glossy or not... It really doesn't make a difference. 

Here's a close up of the Mod Podge I used. There are so many out there! You can also just make your own by mixing equal parts of water and regular glue (like Elmer's), but that was one step I did not care to do. Maybe next time. 

Anyways, first, start by gluing your picture to the canvas. You do that by using your sponge brush to lather the canvas with the Mod Podge. 

Once you put your picture on your canvas, give a moment for it to dry. Then, using the same method to apply glue on the canvas, cover your picture with Mod Podge. 

Cover the whole picture. This is what it should look like when you're done: 

Now all you need to do is just wait for the glue to dry! That's it! I did 4 in less than 30 minutes. 

Ain't he a cutie?!?

Another option you have if you wanted to add something more to the canvas is to paint the edges with acrylic paint. I made both sets of parents one of these for last Christmas with our wedding pictures, and I did paint them. 

I used a regular paint brush and then a makeup sponge to blend and create a little vignette along the edges of the photograph.

However, for the ones in the nursery, I kept the canvas white because that was just the look I was going for. 

Ready to see the result??? Here is what one of the walls in the nursery looks like now...

Not too shabby, eh? I'm actually pretty proud of myself. I got the mirror from Bed, Bath, and Beyond for like $15, and the J was from Joann. It was white and I just spray painted it yellow. And the frame is from Ikea. I plan on putting an ultrasound picture in there. It will eventually happen!

Total cost for this project: 

I bought the canvas from Ross for $11.99 for a 6 pack! Friends, it does not get any cheaper than that. I just saw it one day and thought, "I could use that someday." I snagged them right up. 

I printed my pictures at Costco for $4.06 for all 4. 

The sponge brush came in a pack of 2 for .99. 

I already had the Mod Podge (but you can get a small bottle for like $8). 

Sooo... This whole project cost me under $20 and I still have 2 canvases left! Not bad for a newbie, huh? 

Cheaper option: Finding canvases for as cheap as I did isn't very common. You can find cheap ones at save-on-crafts.com or at Walmart or something. However, if you could not find any decent priced ones or did not have any extra cash to spend, you can do this same exact project with the same exact process on shoe box lids! It works! It won't look exactly the same, but only you will know it's not on an actual canvas. To the naked and unknowing eye, it will look no different. 

Hope this helps you! Can't wait to show you what I did with the rest of the room!

XOXO,

a

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to pop in and say a quick Merry Christmas to everyone! While Santa is fun and presents are awesome, let us never forget the REAL reason for the holiday. God Himself, came down to earth and changed the course of history. He humbled Himself and became a lowly human in order to save us from ourselves. Praise His name!

Here are some pictures of our precious gift. Hope they make you smile!

My birth story: Part 3

This is the third part in a series of 3 posts. To read part 1, go here. To read part 2, go here.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013. I was exactly 37 weeks pregnant. I woke up feeling great. I had just had my baby shower on Saturday and was excited about washing all of the baby's new things and organizing his room. I had my usual testing today at 10:30am that would probably last about an hour and then I would get to work. I lay cozy in bed contemplating my day, not really wanting to get up.

10 am. I finally get out of bed. I don't have enough time for a shower. It's ok. I'll just take one when I get back. I don't even have time to make the bed (which, by the way, was the beginning of the end of that habit...). My dad would be by to take me to my appointment any minute. You see, we only had (and still have) one car that my husband used to drive to work about one hour away, so my dad and aunt would usually take me to my appointments. I hurriedly get ready, grab a piece of toast and oj, and rush out the door.

My birth story: Part 2

This is the second post in a series of 3 posts. To read part 1, go here.

Before I continue with the rest of my story, I want to stop for a moment and talk about my birth plan. Anyone who has been pregnant, or been around a woman nearing the end of her pregnancy, knows that a birth plan can become a really important aspect of the pregnancy. We can really obsess over it and try to think of every scenario that could happen and what we would want in each situation. We become extremely defensive about our birthing plan and very judgmental of others'. I know, because that is exactly how I was.

My birth story: Part 1

The last time I posted on here, I had just entered my 3rd trimester. Well, since a year has passed, it's safe to say I had my baby. There are a lot of things I want to share about my pregnancy and motherhood, and I will. But I want to start it all off by sharing with you my birth story. As it is quite lengthy, it will be divided up into 3 parts.

My birth story actually begins 1 month before I gave birth, when I was 32 weeks along. I went to a routine biweekly doctor's appointment, where my dr. just checked the baby's heartbeat and measured my belly. At this point, I was still pretty small. Until maybe around 28 weeks or so, you wouldn't look at me at say, "She's pregnant." I was stuck at the awkward not-sure-if-pregnant-or-just-has-big-belly stage for a while.