Where The Heck's The Pause Button?!

Seriously?!!

Sometimes I wish I could have a DVR for my life- go back to the happiest moments, rewind and fast forward through the crappy ones- pause and savor the really amazing ones....
like yesterday- the LAST DAY of summer...the last day being home with both of my babies- as actual babies- not yet in "real school"
this is what they did while left to their own devices...

it was their version of a book store (and literally maybe 1/100th of the books in our house...did I ever mention my mother is an an early childhood teacher/children's book addict?)

Here are some of my must-read, all time favorite children's books- in case you need to add to your collection...

Quick read, song-like text- GREAT message

Total tear-jerker- based on real story of US astronaut Ron Mcnair- MUST READ

 (Mosie especially loves this book)

I've mentioned this one before, cannot say enough about it's connected, beautiful words and illustrations- LOVE

Great artist story!

Great life lesson book written so kids can understand it- they also have one called Christmas Cookies!

My favorite childhood book- still top on my list- so inspiring:)

I really do want to pause my life right now- stop everything from moving forward- really cherish every single moment of every single day that I am with my children at this amazing age- but I can't, so instead I need to accept the fact that they are getting older- and that life must move forward.

What is helping me through it is valuing the positives in this new stage of our life:

1: It is good for Zella to get nurturing, teaching, values, etc. from another adult outside of our family (and her teacher seems like a keeper;)

2: I will get more 1:1 time with Mo-Man

3: I will get more 1:1 time with ME - at least 1 day a week when Mos is at school and I am NOT in class...you know what that means- YUP- DIY BABY! and maybe some yoga?! and maybe even some extra studio time...I think I am slightly overestimating my productivity here but let's go with it!

4: Zella will meet lots of new friends, have new experiences with all sorts of children from all sorts of families different then ours- and from that SHE will grow so much!!

5: Because we wont be together as much I am forced to really make every second that we are together count- this means budgeting my time right so that my school work is done when the kids are sleeping- and playing, baking, reading, kid art, and family time is done when we are together!

6: Zella is SO EXCITED for school- despite my separation anxiety as a child (and into adolescence) and feeling major separation anxiety right now as a mother- I have managed to raise 2 pretty independent children who are seriously stoked to be going to school (don't ask me how I managed this!) Granted- I know there will be rough days here and there- but right now- the excitement is very real for them!

Here are some shots from our first day!

My super-seriously-excited Big Kindergartner!

turned

DANCING QUEEN (cue ABBA)

LOVE THIS SHOT

I can't help but get nostalgic...

My sweet AngelGirl

NEW Powder Room!!

This post by Jenny over at Little Green Notebook was the kick-in-the-pants inspiration I needed to get rollin' on my latest project!
You gotta love The Martha Stewart Brand- seriously ingenious ideas, tools, products! This product that I used on the powder room was a cinch, under $5, and gave me a fabulous result.  I got it at my local HD- they had a larger faux effects kit here- but I bought the single faux bois style roller only- and that's all I needed for this fun pattern.

The before of our less-than lovely powder room (pre-stripping of the wallpaper):

The first attempt at a mural that I resigned myself to giving up on

(some day I will recreate this amazing Josef Frank fabric on a wall!! promise...):

and NOW!!:

My goal in this project was to spend the least amount of $ possible- so I only purchased the roller and a gallon of primer (due to the insanely dark blackish/purple previously on the walls), and quart of glaze to mix with the top coat of paint.

I made "custom" i.e mixed paints that I had left over in various cans in my basement paint stash to create an aqua for the under coat, and a greenish-goldish-cream for the top coat (which you thin with glaze).

You first paint the base coat- let it dry (at least 24 hours)-then apply the glaze with the brush in small sections at a time, drag the roller through the glaze layer. I did a trial run on a piece of drywall I had laying around to get the hang of it- but IN ALL HONESTY it was really simple, and forgiving! My walls are an old, plastery mess! and the roller worked fine on them. If you make a pass that you don't like, you just brush right over it and try again. The wood grain part literally took less than an hour!

And for anyone who has used my bathroom in the past 6 months I apologize for the lack of curtain:) I finally whipped up one of my favorite curtains of late- the grommet handkerchief style one- similar to the ones in my dining room- and upstairs hallway window:) they are SO easy to make- and look very effortless and clean.

What's next on the project list you might be wondering.....
It's tackling the close-to-the-powder room back entryway/basement stairway.

It has a similar version wallpaper to what was in the bathroom.

The plan?
Strip the wallpaper (obviously!), then I'd love to do this on the walls adjacent to the bathroom door...add some hooks for coats/backpacks

photo and GREAT tutorial HERE via Centsational Girl and paint the basement stairs something like this....I'm thinking enamel in some shade of blue

and the icing on the cake/dream come true would be this lovely grass cloth on the walls (only problem is I want to do this myself, and I've never hung wallpaper...I'm debating finding a contractor that will let me "apprentice" while they work;)

Back From Vacation = Burst of Productivity

Earlier this week- we returned from a week+ of much needed R and R- it was lovely. I relaxed so much in fact, that I hardly even took any pictures this year! I unplugged more than I have in a quite a while, and as a result, I feel totally rejuvenated.

Here are a few shots from our beach trip- (me a Z did a little photo shoot one foggy morning...

...we were inspired by this little friend on her beautiful dewy web:)

Our days, literally consisted of rocking in the chairs on the beautiful porch, laying on the sunny beach, playing in the warmer than usual water for hours, building sand castles, outdoor showers

and evenings of TV-free entertainment, playing cards, and QUILTING!! (I had started this bad boy over a year ago and decided to pack it in case inspiration hit me.)

I typically spend the week reading for pleasure- this year- I quilted... on the couch after the kids were asleep, on the porch in the early morning- even on the beach!

Here's what I came up with...

I've got a lot more squares to do- and since this is a total abstract (i.e- I dont know what the heck I'm doing!), sew as you go type of quilt- it's a little wonky (is that a quilting term?). My Mom, Sister and Bethy (all actual quilters) gave me lots of quilting tips... But I am loving it...and praying that once kindergarten, PreK, and Grad School start in the next couple weeks my inspiration time will not be lost (fingers crossed!)

I was reading some of my favorite blogs when I returned home and found this FABULOUSNESS...

...from the fabulous Anna Maria Horner. How GORGEOUS is this friken' quilt?! I really want to make this one- it would be my first pattern-following quilting experience, the inspiration is totally there-now, I just need to find the time!! She even provides a FREE, downloadable pattern- Amazing woman!



The second I got home and unpacked for a couple hours (still have a suitcase in the upstairs bedroom and laundry to be folded;) I started working on my bathroom project...

Here is a sneak peak:

The walls and trim are totally done! Just waiting for the hubby to finish the toilet install (LONG story), but it should be done tonight (fingers and toes crossed!!)

Then I will be searching for the perfect light fixture, here are some inspiring images:

SOURCE

SOURCE

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and I'd really like to create this starburst mirror that I pinned months ago...

brilliant tutorial HERE

Then- we will be complete! I will share a mostly done shot soon (when the toilet is installed)- and an update on the next project I'll be tackling!

One last question I've been pondering...How can I get PAID to do home projects/ painting/quilting/cooking/raising children all day long...????