Dining room/ Playroom Overhaul

Because I have all of this exta nonexistent time on my hands, I like to create projects for myself around the house. not really. I remember when buying our home, I was super excited to finally have a formal dining room, to find out that I would only use twice a year. If I am being honest, I think the room is a complete waste of space. Every function that we have, everyone and I mean everyone either always crams in the kitchen or hangs out downstairs in the basement  pub. Our perfectly primped living room is now happily and comfortably lived in. A messy home and a happy home! Toys everywhere! It really looks like a toy bomb when off.

For another home project...we have decided to do a dining room overhaul! Dining room to playroom. A playroom would get way more use than a dining room. And I just might get my clean living room back ;) Our dining room now, is not only dark cranberry red but striped on the bottom half, that I am sure is going to be hard  a nightmare to cover. 

I am a sucker for color in a home. I really enjoy walking into each room and being welcomed by a new color scheme. I wanted a warm neutral room that would be non-gender specific. I chose to go with a dusty soft blue shade and will do kid color accents throughout. I really have a vision for this room, that I hope I can fulfill.

The color is a bit different on the computer than on the paint swatch- but you get the idea. 

Some other items that I have my eye on to complete this dining room/ playroom overhaul is this aquarium gravel rug or this candy dot rug. I just love the fun colors in both of them. I also plan on purchasing Stella this teepee for her first birthday, which will either go in the playroom or her bedroom- not sure yet. Perfect magical place to read a book.  I also love this table and chair set from Ikea that Rick and I can put our own finishing touches on and make it a one of a kind just for Stella. 

Of course there are another million and one things I would love to get to complete this room but those are a few that I absolutely love. This is by no means going to be quick project. My free time is usually already spoken for- showering, laundry, paying bills, those kinds of things. So finding time to trim out and roll is going to be a challenge miracle!  Although, by the look of Stella's artistic skills, I may just try throwing a paint brush in her hand ;)

Oh, the faces...

Stella has really been making Rick and I laugh these days. Laugh hard. What do they say? Laughing adds years onto your life? Well, at the rate we are going, we should live forever. The faces this girl makes are just comical. And she makes them all day long. Now that her top four teeth have all pretty much broken gum, it makes her goofy faces even more funny. I probably couldn't even describe the funny face if I tried- she scrunches her face, closes her eyes, shows her top and bottom teeth and blows in and out of her nose really hard. It sounds like she is going to blow out a snot rocket. Every now and then, we get lucky enough to catch a snot rocket or two. 

Everyday she seems to grow up more and more, right before me eyes. It feels like just yesterday she was a teeny tiny baby that fit in my one arm and all she did was stare and smile. In a blink of an eye, she is blowing snot rockets at me, standing on her own, making silly faces at me, talking up a storm, and practically jumping out of her baby Einstein. Honestly, where the hell does the time go?

One of our can't live without baby items is her baby Einstein jumper. She absolutely loves this thing, and I love it because she can swivel in her chair while in it, but the whole contraption is stationary. I also love it, because she is able to go buck wild and wear off some of her stored energy. Too bad she can't pass that extra energy my way...

Cheers to a What's cooking Wednesday! Today's goodies are going to be brownie peanut butter chip cookies. I'm drooling....

Big Sister in Training

Dear Sweet Stella,
    Daddy and I couldn't be more excited to watch you become the most loving, caring, encouraging big sister. Daddy and I always wanted our little ones to be close in age; to grow together, to learn together, to explore together, to understand each other, to simply be there for each other. You and  your new brother or sister will be sixteen months apart. One word- Perfect. I hope that you both become best friends, enjoy each others company, and love one another unconditionally. When I first found out I was jumping up and down with excitement. I wanted this. I was hoping for this. I then had slight guilt for thinking that I wouldn't be able to give you my full attention and full love come January. But that is not the case- at all. My heart is just getting bigger and growing by the day- I will have more love to give. You will always have my attention. You will have three of us to play with now. You will have three of us to love and love you back. 

You will always be my baby. I will always love you. I am so excited to begin this new journey with you. I will become a Momma of two and you will become a big sister. You are the perfect daughter to walk this journey with. 

I love you to the moon and back. 
xoxo

Momma

Stella's first 4th of July

Is it so? Is it really Stella's last 'first' holiday? We had to do it right. As much red, white and blue as possible. And that started with breakfast. I made Rick and I blueberry flap jacks with sliced strawberries and that is just what the little munchkin had- except they were minis. She devoured the mini pancakes! Of course she poked out all of the blueberries first :)

It was a nice low key day spent just the three of us- since we weren't barbecuing until Saturday. So we enjoyed a lunch date as a family, and made a few chocolate covered strawberries.

Rick and I planned on taking Stella to her first firework show. We knew she was either going to love them or hate them. Stella is usually in her crib by 7:30/8ish and the show didn't start until 9:30; I was kind of curious how keeping her up that late was going to be. This was actually the first time we really kept her up and out for that matter past her bedtime. I followed our normal bedtime routine and just decided to take her in her pj's. That sounds pretty damn good- watching fireworks in cozy pajamas, sucking down a bottle. Good thing she thought so to. We sat right by the river and watched the firework show. The reflection on the water was beautiful. Stella was mesmerized. She would get impatient when there were short pauses before the next bunch went off. Overall it was a great experience.

I was hoping that since she went to bed much later, she would sleep much later. Ha! That wasn't the case at all! As a matter of fact she was up at 6:45 a.m. stella's time- too early Momma's time.  

Taking Stella to see fireworks is offically crossed off our Summer bucket list! Onto the next adventure! 

My little artist

Our morning started with a little 4th of July eve breakfast. Stella enjoyed some plain yogurt, with diced strawberries and blueberries and a few whole wheat toast sticks. Woohoo to red, white and blue.

Stella and I made a quick Target and Michael's Crafts run yesterday morning. We picked up a few canvas boards and some other things. Momma was up a free Caramel Apple Spice from Starbucks and was down a pair of sunglasses by the time we were out of the store. One swift throw out of the cart and the shade came flying out of the cracked lens..thank you miss stella. 

"I'm sorry Momma- I didn't mean to break your sunglasses"

Love a babe in red, white and blue!

While Stella napped, I sat in the kitchen; TV off, paint brushes out. It was so peaceful and quiet. I worked on a little painting myself to hang in Stella's room. When I decide where to hang them, I will share. Here is a little sneak peak for now...

And I finally did it. I bit the bullet and we did a little finger painting. Holy crap- what a mess! It was well worth it though because she had a grand ole' time! Here are a few pictures from our painting escapade- who am I kidding...a shit load of pictures. 

And the final product.... we're taking orders ;)

Happy Happy 4th of July!

What's cooking Wednesday

We made this a July 4th edition of What's cooking Wednesday. I have been feeling a bit under the weather and was planning on making red, white and blue breakfasts and treats throughout the week but no energy equaled no treats. However, I couldn't let What's cooking Wednesday-the week of July 4th slide by with no tasty treats, so we whipped up some festive cupcakes. I let Stella indulge for about 20 seconds and right before I was going to be on my hands and knees wiping sticky icing off the floor I took it away. It was still enough time for her to get a good ole' taste...and make a mess. 

Stella loves playing in anything food related. She loves licking her fingers, flinging it on the floor and rubbing food in her hair. I'll tell you who is loving Stella's food flinging skills lately.. is Ellie. Ellie's eyes don't leave that height chair when Stella is in there. I think she is finally enjoying having the little being around. 

Today's agenda? A few more 4th of July treats that we missed throughout the week.