Backyard Progress | Outdoor Inspiration
I haven't shown many pics of our backyard because when we moved in it was horrid. Seriously. It was a slab of concrete, an ugly palm, and hot hot sun {no shade}. We never went out there.
- Build the hard top gazebo we bought
- Extend our porch with some pavers to give us a place for the gazebo and soon-to-be furniture
- Finish the rock border around the beds
- Get a sandbox
- Oh and yes, the house needs to be repainted, but that is on another to-do list.
I am desparately trying to make our backyard a place we can enjoy as a family. If you follow me on pinterest you may have noticed that I have been pinning some outdoor inspiration like a mad woman. Here are some ways to liven up your backyard this summer:
Daily Life Pics and Headboard for Grabs...on the side of the road
Weekend Project: Recovered Accent Chair
I inherited a fabulous bedroom set from my Great Grandparents after they passed away. I love love love the lines of the furniture, but the yellow-white color...not so much. I am trying my best to hold off on repainting most of it to not upset my grandmother {for now}, but the chair that came with the set needed some help asap.
Step 1:
Disassemble. If the assembly is complicated, photograph the pieces as you take them apart. I unscrewed the legs from the back and seat.
Step 2:
I went ahead and spray painted the first coat on the the legs so it could dry while I upholstered the fabric pieces.
Step 3:
My seat and back padding were in good condition, and my fabric was a neutral so I left it all on. BUT, if the fabric or padding are in poor condition, then you will need to take that apart and replace it. If not, just do what I did and use a staple gun to attach the fabric {pulling it tight so there are no wrinkles}.
Step 4:
If the paint is dry enough, apply a second coat of the spray paint.
Step 5:
I needed a trim piece to hide my staples so I found a rope type of trim and simply hot glued it into place.
Step 6:
ASSEMBLE! Now have a seat and sip on something yummy...it is the weekend right?!
Easter Recap & Week 1 of "A Pic A Day"
Easter weekend was a blast! My brother came in from college and I haven't gotten to spend Easter with my family in two years, so it was great to spend the whole weekend with them. Saturday my dad ordered 60 lbs. of crawfish and we hung out together while we boiled them all afternoon. It was nice to relax with amazing weather while Abram played in his bounce house. In the evening we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. It was my first one to put together as a mommy so I had a lot of fun watching them run around with excitement in their faces. Abram was thrilled to find them, then either shouted "ball" and chunked it or shook it and pried it open to spill the candy.
Sunday we went to church, then went home to see what the Easter bunny brought. After he went through his Easter loot we colored with the crayons he got and laid down for a nap. My mom made her traditional ham and green bean casserole and strawberry crepes. I have NEVER had a better crepe...probably just as much nostalgia as deliciousness, but strawberries at this time of year hit the spot!
My parents babysat while Matt and I worked on cleaning our black hole of a garage for a few hours, then we topped off the weekend with homemade crawfish pasta made from left over crawfish from the boil. I just needed someone to roll me to bed to make the weekend completely successful ;).
On another note; I was sick of seeing all of the blurry/grainy pictures my expensive camera was taking because of the low light in our house, so I bought a 35mm lens to see if it would make a difference {it has so far}...now I am challenging myself to take a pic a day for 50 days. I'm loving trying to capture the smaller moments in life. Here is week 1:
xo, Nikki
The hutch we were "Pregnant" with...Real Life DIY
Once upon a time, when I was just staying home with my little man our friends asked if I would refinish some furniture for them. Of course, I didn't hesitate to say yes...and 1 month later I landed myself a full-time design position.
I still wanted to do the furniture, so we started with their hutch. It was an old wooden piece that was given to them and they just wanted to see if it could be spruced up to look a little more "Pottery Barn" and a little less "visiting grandma's".
After sanding and dis-assembling everything it was time to prime. Matt had gotten me a paint sprayer for Mother's Day and we were pumped to try it out! It was amazing! It covered the piece so quickly and coated it so much better than a paint brush. I am now a big fan, but I will say for small projects I don't use it because there are so many parts to clean after each coat. Anyway we were thinking this would be done in no time.
Long story short, the paint was having trouble sticking in some places and it ended up taking us 2 coats of primer and about 3-4 coats of paint {w/ primer in it} to get it covered. We also had to deal with our work hours {we could only work on weekends} and the weather {can't paint in rain or below 60...and it was winter...not smart}.
After the paint cured I lightly sanded the areas that would naturally get more wear to make it look distressed. I also painted the back wall of the display cabinet a light gray to compliment her walls. Then we clear coated and re-assembled; adding some glass knobs we found at Hobby Lobby.
After almost 9 months we could finally gift them their hutch...only weeks before her second baby was due!
That, my friends, is real life DIY; some projects are wins and some are giant fails. Most of mine eventually end up as wins, but not before tons of tears and little fails along the way...don't give up! If you want any tips on our process or how to achieve this look, feel free to contact me by clicking the link at the top of the screen.
xo,
Nikki
5 Months!
Total weight gain this month: +16 pounds...not looking good this time around
Stretch marks? Not yet, but my ankles might get some at this rate :/
Sleep: I am so busy that I don't stop until I hit the pillow, then I sleep like a...teenager
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: I have had anxiety attacks almost daily. I never really did with Abram. It has gotten so bad that when I drive I imagine car crashes and tense up every time I change lanes or go through an intersection. We are working on getting this under control because I can't take it. I am hoping it is some sort of maternal protection instinct and not my car wreck from July causing some sort of delayed anxiety. Aggravating...
Looking forward to: Getting the nursery closer to finished and Easter!
Nursery Inspiration Board
Toddler Mealtime Struggles
When we first started solid foods I was sure I could make my child not be a picky eater. Matt and I will eat almost anything. I followed everyone's advice; I made my own baby food to control what was in it, started with the veggies, and didn't allow juices or many artificial sugars until after one. I was in full control of the situation and he ate everything I served him.
Then I got a job and had to send him to daycare. They all laughed at/with me because I would not allow sugary snacks and would pack something separate for him. I mean I wasn't totally unreasonable if there was a celebration or something, but I just figured if he couldn't ask for it why give it to him?
Soon after he turned one his "divaness" started and he would demand food right away and then spit it out all over his highchair. The funny thing is this food was nothing new...he loved it last week. It started with veggies and has progressed through the food pyramid to some of his favorite fruits.
A couple weeks ago the thought of mealtime would have me breaking down. I desperately started googling it and apparently it is quite common. He is just starting to assert himself and his independence {duh mom}. I have read so many articles that give great tips. One that I found particularly helpful was this one, by Dr. Sears. The best thing it did was help me to relax and realize that this is a phase.
I have started switching up where he eats and what he eats on/with. I also offer a few options on his plate {some I am not sure about and some he usually eats} so that he doesn't think I am catering to him, but can choose what he wants. Another HUGE trick that I am all about because it has worked so well is dips. One random Saturday morning he would not eat his blueberry waffle...a WAFFLE people! I thought **** if he won't eat a waffle I will never get him to eat anything today!! Enter strawberry yogurt as a dip and it became the most delicious meal in the world. Another great way to sneak some nutrition in him is smoothies. They are like gold around here. I have also become less of a food control freak. I mean I really really want him to eat healthy, but if one night he eats one bite of chicken and an entire bowl of mac-n-cheese I just have be thankful he ate and try again the next night.
Weekend Project: Easter Garland
I love holidays and my mom always had a way to make them feel special. It wasn't necessarily the decor that she did; it was the activities that created the memories. The only holiday I really decorate full-out for is Christmas, but I like to put up a few things for the others that can be stored easily. I had NO easter stuff that wasn't a hand-me-down from my mom's "don't want" pile so I decided to whip up a couple quick and easy garlands to hang over the baskets this year. Who wouldn't love some yellow chicks and fluffy bunny tails for Easter!?
I'm not a fru-fru person so I wanted to keep it simple with these, and although I love paper garland, I have worked with them a bit on the photoshoots I used to design the backdrops for and they were sooo difficult to manage when not hanging up....enter the pom poms and foam shapes...so much easier.
I made these while Abram was napping and when he came downstairs he quickly pointed and said, "Balls" {his favorite}, then he sat there admiring them for a few minutes and it made the little bit of effort I put into making these worth it. He is the critic/admirer I care about the most.
Supplies:
- Pack of any color {or mixed color} pom pom balls- got mine from Hobby Lobby
- Foam shapes- You can either make your own or buy them from a store- I got these chicks from the dollar section of Target, but have seen them at Hobby Lobby too
- Some type of string- I used twine because I had it laying around, but any slim string will do
- Scissors
- A sewing needle with a hole large enough for your string
- Hot glue if you feel like securing the pieces in their place
For my "Peter Cotton Tail" garland: I threaded my twine through the needle, sat in my favorite living room chair, and just started poking it through each pom pom until the bag was empty...it was my most "old lady" moment in awhile and I sort of loved it! Then just space as far apart as you want and DONE!
xo, Nikki
Slow Down My Little Magnolia
Easter Ideas for Toddlers
I'm not sure if I said it yet, but happy Spring! We are watermelon addicts over here so we kicked off our spring with my husband picking the most perfectly sweet watermelon you have ever tasted...amazing!
Anyway, I got my Parents magazine in the mail and saw all of the Easter crafts; like putting purple food coloring in the kid's milk {genius}...I cannot wait to do that next year! It inspired me to start searching for my Easter basket gifts.
I am so excited for Easter this year! This will be the first Easter in a couple years that we get to stay home, and my parents now live near us which means I get some of my mom's Easter Strawberry Crepes {recipe coming soon}.
I always have trouble picking {narrowing down} gifts and try to buy Abram gifts that I know he will use instead of little trinkets. This year I am focusing on creative toys and things he will need for the summer...what a fun summer it will be! I also have gotten a few things for baby girl that I may include in her "basket" so I don't feel guilty. ;)
Here are some ideas by category, but they can be easily combined into the perfect basket for you!
Fox Sleeping Bag // Boy Stuffed Animal // Berenstain Bears and the Easter Story Book // Throw Pillow // Veggie Tales: Easter Collection // Woodland Nightlight // Girl Stuffed Animal // Cloud Pillow // Pinkalicious: Eggstraordinary Easter // Toddler Pink Flamingo Slippers
Boy Beach Towel // Ship Print trunks // Beach Toys // Sprinkler // Rugby Stripe Cover-Up // Kiddie Pool // Ruffled Swimsuit // Girl Beach Towel
Outdoor Play
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Little Creative
Superhero Cape // Xylophone // Easter Chalk // Kids Paint Bath Soap // Play-Doh Eggs // Frozen Soundtrack // Easter Crayons // Petal Tutu // Oh Bunny Art
Weekend Project: Ikea Highchair Hack
Being a busy working momma I totally understand the stress of doing nothing during the week, and then assigning the projects for the weekend. I always feel so much more accomplished when I can actually complete something in a weekend so I have decided to do a new series of posts that will show the projects I have done that can be completed in one weekend or less. I will try to post projects and crafts that only take a few hours, but some may take more...but let's face it, we want to ENJOY the weekend as well.
First on the list....
This is soooo late {blah blah same song, different day}, but I never did post about Abram's highchair and I am so in love with this thing that I feel it is a must! I had gotten one of those expensive, padded highchairs when I registered and was so excited about my registry score...but then I panicked hard! It was so padded and big. It would take up so much room in my kitchen and wasn't the most attractive thing on the planet. I could not afford those stylish expensive chairs though; it just wasn't in my budget at the time. Then I started reading reviews on padded chairs and how hard they are to clean EVERY MEAL, and then saw this post and my thoughts shifted as to what the perfect high chair would be for our family.
1) Easy to clean
2) My son was a hot baby, so extra padding= extra sweating= extra fussing
3) Affordable
4) As Compact as possible
5) Not an eyesore
Enter the $25 Ikea highchair from the post. I hated the legs so the spray paint idea was genius...not my genius {hers}, but everyone gets their inspiration from somewhere. I did a test of a copper, gold, and rubbed bronze legs. All three would be amazing so take a peek at this pic, but for our eating area I chose the gold. Just tape off the ball feet and spray.
After that was finished all I had to do was decide what decal would grace the back of the chair. I am obviously NOT a monogram person because it took about 3 seconds for me to realize that Abram's initials would be the Texas A&M logo and as LSU fans there was no way that was gonna happen. So the next 2 ideas were a fork and spoon decal {hard to find the right size}, or the "eat" decal which won. I got it from this etsy site, and had her do it custom, at 6.5" wide, and you can pick from her many colors to go with your decor {I chose mint}.
We LOVE it over 9 months later. Abram has had no problem sitting in this chair. The tray can detach, but we leave it attached most of the time. Whenever he gets older we can pull it up to the table without a tray. The legs come off if we have to bring it out of town. It is light as a feather so sometimes he gets living room meals if I feel lazy {don't judge}. I just clean it off quickly after every meal with the Honest Brand cleaner we have, but since it is white I sometimes have to bleach after foods like carrot juice. And for the big messes we swiftly carry it outside and unleash the hose. AND since it is only $25 baby #2 can have her own ;).
Weekend In Pics
A wedding on Friday, a pirate birthday party on Saturday, and the Iranian New Year Festival on Sunday...most random weekend in a long time. Sometimes random works!
Not to mention we also got started on the little misses nursery too! Score! I would say we had a successful weekend...
Happy Monday!
Locale: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
xo, Nikki
4 Months with Baby #2
Total weight gain this month: +9 pounds...oh man
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: Already starting to get uncomfortable
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Stressed
Looking forward to: The cold going away so the sicknesses in our house will ease up.
A Fresh Start
It may not be minty fresh, but it is close...
Now that I am back I FINALLY did something I had been toying with for over a year; changing my blog's name to something more...me! You can read a little more about the new name by clicking on the "about us" tab at the top of the screen.
Oh and that brings me to the other change; this blog got a minor face lift! It is a little bit more fresh for Spring and has some different tabs so feel free to browse around. Now I am off to have a lazy {er} Sunday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
xo, Nikki
Let's Take it Back to Mardi Gras Weekend
Who says pregnant girls can't have fun at Mardi Gras!? When the woman on our float found out I was pregnant she was shocked. I had been dancing to every song {we are a dancing family}, so she was sure that this baby was gonna come out ready to party and having a good time :). I reassured her that as soon as a song comes on Abram starts to shake or drop it like it's hot!
Our friends invited us to be on their float for a parade, in Baton Rouge, and it had been so long that there was no way we were turning it down. The theme was Flamingo Dynasty {flamingos are always a part of the theme}, so we rocked the camo and pink...and a couple beards. Our friend buys pool floats on sale at the end of the summer to throw...GENIUS...I have never seen this done and they get the crowds going wild!
Our parents split watching Abram back in our hometown, and my parents took him to the children's parade where he racked up the goodies. They were throwing balls like crazy and that happens to be his FAVORITE.THING.EVER and the only word he says, on repeat.
The weather was perfect and we got crawfish after the parade for the first time all season. It felt good to be back in Louisiana; we cannot wait to show our kids the rich traditions and culture of our home state!
So Long First Trimester...
I am now in the "blissful" period of pregnancy and am feeling so much better! I was sooo tired and coffee made me throw up :(. I also got a virus which took me out of commission for a good week; so it feels good to be back.
Total 1st trimester weight gain: +5 pounds (2 more than last time)
Stretch marks? No
Sleep: great
Belly Button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and tired/moody
Cheers {with my chocalate milk in hand} to an easy-going second trimester, and the return of my blog from its hiatus!
Picture Catch Up
We won the float contest at our group of friend's Turkey Tailgate...BIG achievement right there. It was a couples challenge, using only what crafty items were on the table and about 20-30 minutes. This is our float with our prizes. We actually tied floats with a Christmas float, but our tie breaking candy corn throw & catch in the mouth challenge gave us the win! Who knew I was so good at catching candy corn being thrown at me!?...I have a tracker on those things.
Party Pics {Abram's Up/ Adventure Birthday Party}
I made a GIANT tissue paper garland that I hung over our island and the appetizers. It took some time, but I am going to split it up and put one in the game room and keep some for holidays or something. I also had a timeline of pics on the fireplace and Abram's Ikea tent and teepee set up for the young kids adventure areas.
