Alphabet Display DIY.

Here's how I made the alphabet display for the boys room. Thanks Holly for helping me with the idea. She posted this really cute tutorial a while back. I had these cards and knew I had to do something with them but it took her creativity to help me figure out how to put it all together in an inexpesive way. And great news ... I looked and you can still buy the cards online here and right now you can get 40% off if you order by March 31st! ... LUCKY!!
Then I bought two pieces of white stryafoam board and cut it up allowing for about a 1/2 in. edge around the border.

To make it a little more interesting I used a regular ink pad in a bronze color and smudged the edges. You can definetly skip this step if you want to keep it simple.

Then I used a spray adhesive and sprayed the back of the cards and then adhered them to the board. I used sticky tack to put it up on the wall. It was really that easy and inexpensive!!

Sorry the last picture did not turn out very clear. I do not have good picture taking skills.

Our new place.

Mark has been working up in Salt Lake since January and we were so sick of the commute so we finally made the move. As of 4 days ago we're living in a duplex in Holladay about 5 blocks from the hospital (where he works). It's heaven having him home so much more. We've been settling in to our cozy little place (it's only about 850 sq. ft.) and I've been trying to put together a room every day so here are a few of them.

The kitchen was the first room I put together.

Nothing too exciting here but I am enjoying doing my laundry WHILE I cook (notice the washing machine next to the stove). Whoever thought of putting the washer and dryer in the kitchen was a genious!!... I get so much more done now (please sense the sarcasm). I actually don't really mind it though to be honest and I'm so grateful to have it because I hate coin-op laundry.

Our teeny-tiny living room.

This room is challenging because it's SMALL and we have to fit A LOT into it. I haven't taken pictures of the opposite wall yet but we sold all our old office furniture and got a computer armoire off KSL so once that half of the room is put together I'll do a follow up. I wish I would have taken pictures of this room stuffed full of boxes ... it was so overwhelming to walk into but I wanted to get it put together right away so the kids could have a place to play.

I love the big window ... it's so fun for the kids to see the garbage truck come by or the school bus stop in front of our house every morning and afternoon. They also love watching the dogs in the neighborhood or kids riding their bikes. It's so wonderful living in a real neighborhood. I had no idea how much I would like it.

BOYS ROOM

This might be my favorite room in the house. All the furniture was either free or something we bought really cheap off KSL so it was a trick trying to make it all look like it goes together. I found these blackout curtains at Walmart and I love the bright color since everything else in their room is pretty bland.

I created this alphabet display because Boston has a major alphabet obsession ... the entire thing cost about 10 dollars and was really easy to put together ... I'll post a tutorial later if I remember.

I bought the Abraham Lincoln print on etsy before Lincoln was born and have finally got around to framing it and putting it on the wall. Not having closet doors is kind of annoying but I was excited when I realized that an adjustable shower rod would fit in the doorway and I just used a curtain panel we already had ... I love it when I can find a solution using things we already own because then it's FREE!!

I hope Boston and Lincoln have a lot of fun in their room. This is their first time sharing a room and it's fun to hear them in their laughing at eachother - just not when there suposed to be sleeping.

Lincoln's First Birthday.

I LOVE this kid. He is so expressive and silly. He laughs so much and sometimes at the weirdest things that you can't help but laugh too. He's so independent but also very sweet. We really enjoy having him in our family. We celebrated his birthday with Mark's family so he had a lot of help opening his presents.

Unlike his brother who just threw his cake on the floor Lincoln LOVED his cake!! It was fun to see him devour his first taste of sugar.

We love you Lincoln!

Dress Up

Boston loves to dress-up. Whenever he goes to his cousins house he likes to put on a princess dress and heels ... I really need to get him some boy dress-up clothes. He was in heaven when we found the Halloween box and his favorite item is what he calls his "silly silly hair."

The Guest House

This is a post from Mark: Salamu alakum, I just heard this sweetness of a poem a few days ago. You just must have to without exception absolutely positively or else read it. It is written by a Sufi (Islamic mysticism) poet named Rumi. Enjoy.

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its funiture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

DIY Alterations

I'm not a great seamstress but occasionaly I'll alter something to make it fit better. Here are two examples of things you can sew by hand even if you don't have a machine. I fell in LOVE with this shirt when I found it on a sales rack ... I adore the stripes with lace combo but I wished it was short-sleeve. Since if came with ties on the shoulders I removed them and then stitched them on to add a cap-sleeve. It was really easy and I'm happy with how it turned out.

I got this skirt for FREE and love the design of it but the first time I wore it I was constantly pulling it down and it drove me crazy so I took an old slip and cut off a few inches at the bottom and stitched it to the bottom of the skirt to lengthen it.

Now I will feel more comfortable wearing it.

I have some hand-made dresses I inherited from my grandma when she passed away a few months ago and I really want to alter them to fit but I've been nervous because I don't want to ruin them. Hopefully I'll get up the courage soon.

Superhero Capes!

I found this tutorial for Superhero capes here. They were so easy (no sewing required) and I was able to make them with old t-shirts we already had on hand so they were FREE! They only took about 10 minutes to make and Boston was instantly obsessed. This morning Mark said "You need to make me one too." Haha. Daddy's a little jealous.