Being a SAHM: My Review

I think I have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) long enough now to write an opinion about my recent job change. My last day of work was June 4, 2012 and it is now July, 27, 2012. Long enough? I think so!

I saw this a few days in the  "Humor" section of Pinterest. I don't think it is very funny, but it made me think. When you tell people that you are a SAHM they immediately envy you or they immediately judge you. This might be because they wish they could see their kids more, or they judge you because they think you have it so easy, and you probably lay around crafting and sleeping all day! Now I do complete a craft or two, but there is definitely no sleeping :)








My first thoughts after that first few days at home were, "Holy crap, what did I get myself into?" I am not kidding, that first two weeks was exhausting, emotional, and a huge adjustment. Taking care of Judah ALL day is nothing like taking care of him two hours at night, and with help on Saturday and Sunday. NOTHING.

Trust me, my full-time job was not near as hard at chasing a crawling baby who was now crying half the time because he wasn't used to being with me. Dealing with 30+ sixth graders every period was way easier! I knew I was making the right decision to stay home just based on how Judah acted when I was with him for a few days straight. My son, the baby I gave birth to, was not used to being with his mom. This makes me so sad. He wouldn't sleep, eat, or anything without throwing a huge fit. I mean screaming at the top of his lungs in his crib for an hour or so before I gave in and went and got him. All of this fuss because he was more used to my mom, MIL, and sitter. Crazy.

I cried alot those first two weeks. I can honestly say that I thought I would get to nap, clean, read, and just chill too because I had no idea what it took to take care of Judah all day. After the initial shock wore off, Judah and I fell into a really great routine and everything got much easier. I was able to workout, clean, and do some projects around the house. I am just as tired as I was when I worked full time. Sometimes I feel more exhasuted then when I worked at a school, but it is so worth it.

 Now that I am a SAHM, I am able to do something that I didn't get to do before. Have a few minutes of "ME" time. After those first two weeks. I started working out again during the morning nap, and this changed my attitude for sure. Just having an hour to workout, changed my attitude. I felt healthier, more confident, and had more energy. I never accomplished this while working. I snuck in a 30 minute workout as school most days, but being able to workout an hour has really helped me in more ways than I can express. When I am in a bad mood or particularly irritable, my dad and Hayden always ask me, "Did you workout today?" Working out is my outlet. It makes me a better mom, and for sure a better wife. If you feel good about yourself, it improves your relationships tremendously.

I was talking to my friend Rachel a few days ago, and we were discussing how hard it can be to give up an income. I have to admit, before I had Judah I didn't think staying home would ever be an option, but after holding that beautiful baby boy for the first time. My heart was his, forever and always. That bond got even stronger after 3 months at home. I cried so much. The thought of leaving him was unbearable. When Hayden took him to my MIL's house my first day back to work, I sat in my bedroom and literally balled my eyes out. I couldn't breathe I was crying so hard. Hayden just took a piece of my heart to another person, and I just couldn't handle it. At work, I was miserable. He was all I thought about. I would watch videos of him, and look at pictures constantly. I liked to say I was too busy to think about him, but I had to pump every two hours for 15 minutes. He was on my mind all the time! By January, Hayden and I knew I wasn't going back next year. I just couldn't.

I am so thankful for Hayden's love and support. He is my biggest cheerleader. He always tells me my job is the hardest, and that he would not want to switch me!So we will make it work with one income, and we will have less, but watching Judah play and learn makes the loss of an income so worth it. I am so happy that I no longer hear from others, "Guess what Judah did today?" I hated that, I wanted to see everything first. I missed the first 9 months of his life. I regret it every single day. Being a mom is the most important job I will ever do. I want Judah to be a kind, loving, Christian man. He has a better chance of doing those things if I am the one doing the raising.

I am not trying to offend the women who work. Please don't think I am doing that. There are women out there who have to work, and my hat goes off to you. I was not able to juggle work with family. I ended up just being mediocore at everything. My life, in all aspects, has gotten so much better. My relationship with Hayden is significantly better. I am able to see him more and I appreciate him so much more for making my new job possible. We communicate better, spend more time together, and we are able to relax when Judah goes to bed because I finished "chores" earlier in the day. My staying home makes his life easier as well, so it has really improved our marraige.

My relationship with Judah is so different now too. I get to see him change every single day, and that just brings us closer. I get to pick him up from every nap, love on him before he sleeps, and see his sweet toothy smile every single day. I wouldn't give that up for all the money in the world. I really wouldn't. Being Hayden's wife and Judah's mom is a full time job, but it has the best reward. Love, family, and a merciful God who makes everything possible. That is all you need!

Here are few shots from his 9 month pictures!

My baby and me at his 9 month session (techincally he was 10 months old...shhh). I would do anything for this sweet baby boy. He is almost a year old, I just can't believe it!

Ripped in 30-Week 4

I have finished Week 4 of Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 series, and let me just say "I loved it!" I worked through Jillian Michael's book "Making the Cut" twice before I got married and twice this past February, but this is the first video series I have finished all the way through. I can honestly say that every time I started a new week, by the end of that week the workout was significantly easier. Week 4 included, even though starting out I almost threw up. No lie. Ask Hayden.

I feel so great about myself for finishing Week 4. The reason why I love to work out is becuase I love the feeling of accomplishing something that I couldn't do previously. Day 1 is always the toughest, and there were numerious times this past month I wanted to quit, but I wanted to prove that I was strong enough to finish this workout. I didn't do it for anyone else but myself, but all of you kept me going on the days I wanted to quit. I guess it is my competitive nature, but I love to push myself and to win, and I feel like I won something this week. I kicked Week 4's butt this week, and I am so proud of myself.

I also tried something new this week...RUNNING! Shocker! I hate to run, and have said I never understood how people can just go run for miles and miles on end. I thought they were all crazy, but I tried and well I LOVED it. More on that later!

Recap of the week!


Exercise

I started Week 4 last Tuesday, July 10, and after the first circuit of cardio that was 30 seconds of Plie Hops,which is where you point your toes to the outside, squat down, and then jump into the air while keeping your toes pointed, followed by 30 seconds of  jumping jacks with a high kick, then repeating, I was literally drowning. I could not breathe. I swear Hayden thought I was dying.

Circuit 2 cardio was killer too, with burpies followed by cross kicks. Burpies is when you go down into plank, jump your feet back to your hands, and then jump in the air as high as you can! Cross kicks are ridiculous, but even worse after 30 seconds of burpies! Cross kicks is when you squat down and jump in the air and cross your feet before you come back down. I wanted to die, and I believe this is where the throwing up almost commenced. But I made it through it, and then added in 20 minutes on the elliptical.

This week I worked out Tuesday, video and elliptical, Wednesday, elliptical 30 minutes and volleyball that night, Thursday, video, Friday, video and elliptical, Saturday, off, Sunday, ran outside for 25 minutes, Monday, video and 30 minutes on elliptical, and finally Tuesday, video.

I was experiencing knee pain previously, but I haven't had any trouble since Wednesday. I am hoping it stays that way!

I played volleyball on Wednesday in a league Hayden and I are in. I had so much fun! I immediately become super competitive, and start playing like I would in a real game. I probably look ridiculous diving and rolling, but I can't help it! I just get so into it! But I will say, hitting the ground at 24 (25 in a month) feels much different than 18 or 19. I have a huge bruise on my hip and my leg, but hey I got it up!!!

Okay, Sunday I wanted to workout before church but wasn't feeling the video. So I thought to myself, "Self, you should try to run." Now I haven't ran in quite some time. Probably 3 years or so. I have done sprints but nothing over 30 seconds! I hate running, and always have, but after Sunday I realized I hate it because I have always started running when I was really out of shape. You know how when you start running after not working out for months, and you run for 3 minutes and want to throw up? I thought when I started out down my block that is what would happen to me too, but guess what? It was the exact opposite!

I ran to a nearby park and that took me about 11 minutes, I wasn't tired and kept a pretty good pace but thought I should probably run back home, I ran home and thought " I could keep running, but I have church", so I stopped. Honestly, I felt like I could just run forever! Insert Forest Gump quote here! I loved it so much! 25 minutes of just me, Justin Bieber, and One Direction. I felt like I could conquer the world. I am not kidding!

The videos have helped me so much with endurance that I was able to run, and actually enjoy it! I can't wait to do it again, but that will only happen on the weekends when Hayden can watch Judah. I mean I can run, but I don't think I could run while pushing a 25 pound baby...yet!

Diet

I actually did pretty well this week. I made some great meals! Zucchini Lasagna, Salmon Cakes with Mango Cilantro Salsa, and Garlic Chicken Kebabs with veggies. All of these recipes are from Paleo Plan. Here is the link! http://www.paleoplan.com/recipes/

I used my handy dandy Fitness Pal app, and stayed on track! I only think I went over on Thursday because of those STUPID Texas Roadhouse rolls!

Progress

I lost ONE pound this week! I weighed 134 when I woke up this morning! I also lost some inches from last week!

Last Week

July 9, 2012
Weight: 135
Bust: 34.5
Chest: 31.5
Waist: 29.5
Hips: 37
Right Thigh: 21.25
Left Thigh: 22
Right Arm: 10
Left Arm: 10.25

This Week
July 17, 2012
Weight: 134 ( 1 pound loss)
Bust: 33.5 (1 inch loss)
Chest: 31 (.5 inch loss)
Waist: 29 (.5 inch loss)
Hips: Same
Right Thigh: Same
Left Thigh: 21.5 (.5 inch loss)
Right Arm: Same
Left Arm: 10  (.25 inch loss)

I feel so great about my results this week! I am glad I started measuring because the scale doesn't always go down! I am a little bummed that my chest just keeps shrinking but they are fat, and they are the first thing to go! Grr!

I took some pictures today but they are really bad and won't come out clearly, so I will take some with my actual camera and post soon!

My review of Ripped in 30: Totally worth it! I am down 1 size, down 2 pounds, and more inches than were recorded this week! My body is tighter, healthier, and my self-esteem is much higher. There is no substitute for hard work and healthy eating. There are supplements and things you can take but at the end of the day, you are in control of your health and the body you want. No one else is at fault or can change it for you. So buy this DVD, get your weight, and make a grocery list. Just do it! 

Ripped in 30-Week 3: Is the end really in sight?

Well I finished Week 3 of Ripped in 30 last week, and it was such a great workout! That week was a little tougher than usual with the holiday right in the middle of my week! Then Hayden stayed home on Thursday, and that really threw me off! We slept until 12:00 p.m. because my mom came and got Judah, it was amazing!

Some pictures of my sweet family on July 4!

I don't usually do well when my schedule gets thrown off...I am a control freak for those of you who know me. Since I slept in and went out of town, I missed last Wednesday and Thursday of my workouts :(
I needed more than one pep talk from my hubby this week. I have been a little discouraged since I haven't been losing weight, so Hayden stepped in a put it all in perspective for me.

He said that I need to remember that there is an end to the Ripped in 30 DVD, there is not an end to working out and eating healthy. He said that I need to not focus so much of my happiness on my image, and that eventually my body, and looks will fade. At first I was offended by this, but he is right.

I constantly find myself thinking I will be happier when I reach a certain weight goal, or when I am a certain size. I have almost made myself my own idol...sounds weird but follow me.  By focusing so much on my food, weight, and body I am not staying focused on why I workout in the first place. Hayden reminded me of that. I don't want to go back to the place I was before my wedding, where food made me feel guilty. It is not a pretty place!

I am almost finished with Week 4, but first here is a recap from Week 3.

Exercise

I started Week 3 on Monday, July 2. This week was so much fun, and by that I mean super challenging for me! I worked out Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. Then just did the elliptical on Sunday.

 There were these things called Rock and Roll Squats that I loved! You do a squat, drop to your butt, roll onto your back, do a reverse crunch, rock back on your feet, and then jump in the air!
The last circuit was focused completely on your shoulders, triceps, and biceps. You did pike push ups, tricep presses while laying on your side, and then tricep dips with one leg in the air! My arms were screaming!

Diet

I hate saying "diet" because I am not on one. I eat 1400 calories a day and just don't eat a bunch of crap. That is my diet! Do I slip up? Yes, all the time. Hence the pep talk from the hubby. I get down really easy when I lose control of my eating habits. Control freak remember? But, eating one bad meal doesn't mean you give up on the whole week. Missing two workouts this week and eating really bad on Wednesday, the 4th, could have ruined my whole week but I got back on the right track Friday.

Progress Pictures

Oh, and for next week I took some measurments and I am interested to see my progress after Week 4. I also discovered something encouraging! I looked at my measurements from when I got married. The "wedding body" is the goal I was working towards. Turns out, my measurements are pretty much the same, my weight is a bit higher, but my arms are smaller, my hips, and waist are the same. I was obsessed with reaching a goal I had already reached! Crazy. Anyway, here are the pictures from July 9, 2012, after I finished Week 3.  I know I am losing inches because my bathing suit fits much better, and my jeans and tank tops are hanging on me. I also feel so great when I work out. So if there is no difference in the pictures, or my weight, oh well!

I am finishing Week 4 on Tuesday, and it is killer!

Ripped in 30-Week 3: Focus on the Positive

I started Week 3 of Ripped in 30 yesterday, Monday July 2.Unfortunately, I barely made it through this workout, not because it was ridiculously hard (which is was by the way), but because I have encountered my first injury. On Sunday, I noticed my right knee was very stiff but I just assumed it was because I had been in black stilettos most of the day. By Sunday night, it was really starting to bother me. I have never been injured in all my years as an athlete. Sore, yes. A little tweak of an ankle here and there, yes. But nothing that kept me from working out or playing volleyball.

Yesterday,  I started the new workout not knowing what was coming, and the first exercise was bear crawls, and then walking prisoner lunges....yea, ouch. My right knee was screaming. If you drew a line down the center of my knee cap, that is exactly where it hurts. There is intense pressure, and it feels like it might explode. I should have stopped, but I didn't. I kept going, and by the end I hobbled to my freezer to get some ice. No ice packs, so I settled for a bag of frozen butternut squash!

Two 20 minute ice sessions yesterday, so we will see how today goes. I know I need to listen to my body, but I am scared that the answer is that I will have to take some time off. I am really dedicated to finishing this not only for myself but for all of you. I am pretty dissapointed, but I am hoping that it just goes away. What are the chances of that?

Week 2

Exercise

Week 2 was much harder than week 1. By the end of Week 1, the exercises became very easy, so I was anxious to move on to Week 2. In the first circuit of Week 2, after your 3 minutes of strength, you do 2 minutes of cardio. The cardio is 30 seconds of Plank Jacks, 30 seconds of Mountain Climbers. Repeat. I hate Mountain Climbers, always have and always will. So that is two minutes of being in the plank position, shoulders absolutely screaming! This never got completely easy, but by Saturday I could almost make it the full 2 minutes without relaxing in the position.

I love to push myself past what I thought my body could achieve. If I don't feel like I am going to DIE, than for me, the workout was not a success. That is how hard I like to push myself. That stupid saying everybody hates, "Go Hard or Go Home!", yeah that is me. Which is probably why my knee is killing me. So my point is, don't do this if you are going to half-***(whoops, sorry there is no substitute) it. Give it all you've got, there is no other way to workout.

Last week, I worked out Monday through Thursday, off Friday, worked out Saturday, off on Sunday. I did the 6 Week 6 Pack video twice to get to the 50 minute mark, and did the elliptical for the other three days. On my elliptical, I still do interval training. I do 3 minutes as fast as I can, and 1 minute at a slow pace but with the resistance set at about 4 or 5.



Diet

I honestly thought I did really well despite the circumstances this week. I had to eat out 3 times this week for birthdays and weddings. Thursday, Texas de Brazil. Friday, P.F Changs. Saturday, a wedding at a golf course. I tried to make better choices, and I think  I did pretty well. According to my handy dandy My Fitness Pal app, I didn't go over my calories. I didn't have bread, except for the crunchy things that go in the soup at P.F. Changs.

Unfortunately, I did not lose any weight this week. I was really discouraged by this yesterday morning. I felt like a failure. I really did. Yesterday, was a bad day for me. I didn't lose any weight, and my knee hurt. Ugh. Depressing day.

This week some of my meals were Blue Cheese Burgers, no bun, fajitas, no tortilla, cauliflower pizza, and chicken salad with avocado. All very delicious and grain free!

I really want to rock these 30 days, and every single day after that. Not losing weight felt like I failed, but the typical "Muscle weighs more than Fat"  thought came into my head. I know I am losing inches, but like an idiot I did not measure myself before I started. I can tell by my clothes that I am trimming down. I have decided that the scale doesn't matter, and I am not going to obsesses over the number. I feel good, and feel like I look good, so that is what I will focus on. I also think if we focus on a number then nothing will ever be good enough. Trust me, I have weighed less than I do now and I still wanted to be skinnier. So I am saying goodbye to the scale and focusing on more positive accomplishments. Like the fact that I can hold a plank while jumping my legs out and in, I can stand on one leg and do dumbell rows, I can do pushups while bringing my knee up to my armpit! I don't even think Hayden can do that...okay he probably can but still!

Progress Photos

I honestly can't believe I post photos of myself in a sports bra and spandex but I am doing it for all of you! I know there is a difference, I can see it definitely in the side view, and my love handles are getting smaller. Oh and my quads are getting serious. I love it! I am loving this! Stay tuned for Week 3! I loved Day 1 of Week 3, it was so hard!

June 25, 2012

July 2, 2012

July 2, 2012 Side View (A hint of Abs showing through :))

July 2, 2012 Fully Body ( I see you quads!) 

What Motivates You?

Last night I logged into my blog and I noticed a lady had updated her blog that I started following a few weeks ago, I never check them most of the time but this title caught my eye, " How to be an alcoholic and still lose weight *insert curse word here*". Excuse me?

This particular blog is about a woman who lost 60 pounds twice after each baby. Now I am not discounting what she did, I think it is amazing for anyone to lose that kind of weight on there own. My issue come in with how vulgar she is and yet her blog is famous! I mean thousands of followers. She gets 300+ emails a day. I started looking through her blog yesterday and while some post are encouraging about a runners high, and Ripped in 30, they are still filled with curse words, and she calls her readers some things I wouldn't say in private let alone on front of the whole world. Needless to say, I no longer follow her but now I am curious, " What motivates you?"

I do this blog to motivate others but I also do it for myself. You guys hold me accountable everyday and I am sure you don't even know it. I workout harder and eat better because I know if I get results maybe one other person will change their lifestyle for the better. All of you are motivating me everyday! My husband motivates me, my son's beautiful toothy smile, and of course a bikini! I am curious if just my results and ramblings motivate others? This thought brings me back to the other blog, she has advertising on her blog, and also does giveaways, and gives you her reviews on other topics. For example, she did a review on 50 shades of Grey.

Basically telling women if you have problems in the bedroom read this book! Can you believe it??? I am sure it would have the opposite effect if her husband knew what she was reading! How would you feel if you came in and saw your husband reading some kind of porn? Don't get it twisted that book is pornography and it is the same as a man reading a Playboy just with words instead of pictures. Now I am not saying I haven't read a romance novel, but I don't anymore because I now understand how inappropriate it is! So all the ladies out there, don't read the book! You want a love story? Go read Song of Solomon. For example, here is a few verses from Song of Solomon where Solomom admires his brides beauty.

Song of Solomon 4:3-7, " Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate behind your veil. Your neck is like the tower of David ...Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that graze among the lillies...You are altogether beautiful my love; there is no flaw in you."

Boom! 50 shades of whatever has nothing on this! Want to read more about the love you can have in a Godly marriage. Pick up your bible and read the rest, it gets even better!

Okay soap box over, stepping down now! Sorry that kind of went in the wrong direction but like I said I ramble! What I mean to say is, do I have to start talking about sex, porn, how to get drunk with no calories, and call you names to get you motivated to work out? If that's what you need? Please stop reading here! I am not going to sell out to get a following, I am hoping that just by being my imperfect self I can show others that anyone can change your body and mind for the better.

So I guess I will continue on this journey, helping anyone who wants it! By the way, thank you to the few of you that have texted or emailed me saying you are going to start Ripped in 30, it is an answered prayer. It makes me want to keep going to get one more person doing this with me :) God is in this, I can feel it! Also, if you have any suggestions on something you would like me to talk about please send me an email or comment!

If you want to keep up with me all you have to do is follow my blog, if you have a gmail it is pretty easy to follow me and you don't have to keep checking Facebook!

Technical Difficulties

I respond to all the comments and I thought the alerts I got in the comments section were able to be deleted, little did I know, if I delete them in my mailbox, it deletes it from the blog!! Double "GRRRR"! So I got your comments, responded, and then deleted them! Pretty smart, huh? Like is said I am figuring this out as I go!

I am going to do Day 4, of Week 2! Have a great day!

Ripped in 30- Week 2

I started Week 2 of Ripped in 30 Days this Monday, June 25, and let me just say my butt, obliques, and shoulders are on fire! I am sore, but I secretly love it :) I love it because I know I did something worth while today!

Some of my friends have asked me why I keep going back to Jillian Michaels' videos, books, ect. And the truth is because her workouts combine strength and cardio. You don't just stand there and do lunges. She takes it to the next level by doing something called "Pendulum Lunges with Bicep Extension" or "Sumo Squats with Triceps Extension." All her moves are compound moves, where you are working in the little muscles like shoulder and triceps with the big muscles like legs and butt. I am addicted to this stuff! Literally sweat pours down into my eyes and I kind of want to throw up, but I always finish!

Week 1

Exercise

I started last Monday, June 18, on Week 1. I started Week 2 this Monday. She recommends you do 5-6 days with at least one day of rest. I was bored by Friday, so I moved to Week 2. So here is proof that it works! I lost 1.2 pounds by Friday! I was so happy to see 135 pounds on the scale! I did that! I pushed myself, I watched what I ate, I sweat an hour 5 days this week so I will jump for joy over that pound! I feel great! I feel leaner already, more confident, and heck yea I'll say it, just a little bit sexier ( I am married! It is okay to say that ;)) Working out improves my daily life in so many ways, taking an hour to stay healthy, confident, and happy is worth it to me! I couldn't have done it without this blog, it keeps me accountable, so I have all of you to thank for that pound and that confidence!

Diet

I started using the My Fitness Pal App on my phone to track my food intake. I won't do it forever but it has helped me see how many calories are actually in a piece of breakfast sausage! Did you know 2 oz of breakfast sausage is 200 calories! So if you have 3 eggs at 70-90 calories each before you know if you may have eaten 500 calories ! That doesn't include the coffee creamier, butter, cheese, and pancakes I may have eaten! So right now I am in the learning phase of learning how much I can actually eat. I am not about to lose that hour workout to a doughnut and a sausage roll! So get the app, track your food, and lose that weight once and for all!

Struggles

I am not perfect and I do slip up! I am still working on keeping my weekends from ruining my week! I eat great all week and it seems like the weekends are such a struggle. This weekend we had a rehearsal dinner and a wedding. Italian food was the rehearsal dinner and I did okay be eating just the chicken of my chicken parmigiana. No bread! A small miracle! Now the wedding was a different story. I am not a sweets person (remember my obsession with thin crust pizza) but it was WEDDING CAKE! I tried to say no but I gave in and ate that delicious piece of strawberry cake...okay you caught me...I also ate some of Hayden's chocolate cake, some sixlets, flavored popcorn, and another handful of sixlets! Bad night! Don't judge me! So I am curious, how do you guys fight the weekend splurges? I am in need of some good tips :)

Progress Pictures

I really don't want to put this pictures up...like really don't want to, but you know what I am a normal woman. Size 6 on a good day with love handles and I am starting to be okay with that. God created me and I am perfect in His eyes and Hayden's no matter my size, although I do have shoulders like a linebacker (I swear I have the broadest shoulders but hey I think it makes my waist look smaller)!

So here we go!

June 18, 2012 136 pounds. I am not sure why this particular picture is such a bad quality, but I will try to do better next time. Oh and yes, I know I need a tan but I am against skin cancer and it is 100 degrees outside. Embrace my paleness!

 June 25, 2012. One week later, after finishing Week 1 of Ripped in 30.

I can see and feel the difference just this one week has made. I hope these pictures don't bother anyone but I thought about not posting them because I was scared of what people might think. Then I got over it! I did this to show all of you that all it takes is hard work and you can look and feel exactly how you want to. I have lost all my baby weight and I am close to my wedding weight, and I am normal person. Not a celebrity with a trainer and chef. You can do this! I would love for you to do it with me! Have a great week!

DIY: My Attempt at Being Creative

If you would of asked me a year ago if I liked to "craft" I would of said, " I am terrible at stuff like that!" Well, now that I am at home I have extra time and not very much extra money. So that is where the DIY comes in. No money to decorate...DO IT YOURSELF!

I have done a few things since summer started for me three weeks ago. The first one was a framed out peg board I made to organize my jewelry.

I went and bought a piece of pre-cut pegboard from Home Depot, grey spray paint, wood glue, and the hooks that you use with pegboard. Then I went to Hobby Lobby and got this wood that you can connect together to make a frame around a canvas. I think each piece was under $2.00. Also at a random trip to Wal-Mart that week, I picked up some picture hanging hooks to attach to each side of the frame. I did all these errands that first week home because Judah would not sleep and I refused to sit at home while he fussed and screamed. Being out seems to help calm him down.

I did not take pictures of the steps because I really had no idea I would ever write about any of my attempts at being creative, but here are the steps if you want to make one!

Step 1: Put canvas frame together attach to peg board with wood glue. After I attached it, I flipped it over and put books on it to help it set.
Step 2: Spray paint the entire pegboard and frame your desired color.
Step 3: Attach picture hooks to each side and hang on the wall.

Super easy! Now everything is where I can see it! Downside....I realized my jewelry is outdated and I need more!!!

My second project, was a chalkboard for my guest room. Which I also decorated while I was off that week. I know what you are thinking...aren't you spending too much money for someone about to lose a second income?? I thought that too, but honestly all of these projects were really simple and not very expensive!
Here is my chalkboard that I created using an old and ugly painting I had from Goodwill. Make sure if you do this, you buy a painting that was done on something hard enough to write on!

Sorry these pictures are so horrible! I took them with my phone :( The steps required for this are so easy it is ridiculous! I also made one for my husband's mom for her birthday!

Step 1: Paint chalkboard paint onto the surface vertically. Let dry 1 hour. Paint chalkboard paint onto the surface horizontally.
Step 2: Once the chalkboard paint is dry use painters tape to tape off the chalkboard part so you don't get any other paint color on it.
Step 3: Choose your color for the frame and paint away!

My whole house is teal, grey, black, and yellow. in many different combinations!

My third project was very difficult! I had no idea painting chevron stripes would include so much measuring and touch-ups! I love the way it looks but I had to have my accountant hubby come in and help because you have to make sure all the stripes are even at the points and evenly spaced apart! Yuck! I would check other blogs or Pinterest to get the steps :) I finished the whole thing only to peel the tape up to find my grey paint had leaked under the tape. Sad face! I had to sit there with a tiny paintbrush and repaint the yellow part with a darker yellow by hand. Not my favorite way to spend two hours, but hey I think it looks alright!

This last one is my favorite because it literally took 6 minutes to do both of them! I love photos, absolutely love them. Most interior design does not include mass amounts of photos, but I don't care! I love having pictures around, and with these photos I was able to do something a little different that spiced up my wall of frames. DIY photo canvases! Getting a photo printed on a real canvas can be very expensive, and the faux ones they do at Wal-Mart are not that great. So I stole this off Pinterest and went to work!
Here is what you will need:
Mod Podge
Black Paint
Canvas
Photo
Two Brushes
Step 1: Paint the edges of the canvas, and about half an inch inside the edges of the canvas.

Step 2:Apply a pretty decent amount of Mod Podge to the canvas and the back of your photo. (Make sure your black paint is dry, you don't want it to get on your mod podge brush).

Step 2: Press your picture down using a wash cloth. It glides easier and helps you not get the Mod Podge everywhere.

Step 4: Seal the picture by apply the Mod Podge in the same direction over the picture and the edges. It dries clear, and glossy which makes it look great! Here is what mine looked like!

 I love this picture! I am doing two from each of Judah's professional pictures he has had this year at newborn, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months!

See even the least creative people can create some awesome stuff in a short amount of time! I love everything I have done, and I think it has made my rental feel more like a home! Good Luck!