Gettin' My $$ Worth From Expensive Formula

It takes a little insanity to get to sanity...did you know??  Insanity in the form of a $24 12 oz. can of Nutramigen Formula to help with colic...sanity for mommy, because the stuff actually works!  We go through between 1-2 cans of the stuff per week...ouch!  And, though this may be a small thing, it makes me feel good knowing that I am using these $24 cans for something useful after draining all of the powder.  

We recently bought a new desk for our loft that will be the Bliss Images hub, if you will.  I am still working on it, painting, organizing, etc.  So, no sneak peek yet. BUT, I decided to make some pretty organizers with my formula cans and scrapbook paper.  

I love 'em!

I started with my supplies...cans, modpodge, a ruler and scrapbook paper.

I measured the can from top to bottom, then flipped the paper over and drew a guideline on the back.

Then I painted mod podge on the back of the paper and to the can.  Then simply placed it on.

My 12x12 paper left a bit open at the end...

No biggie...I just cut a strip and mod podged.  :)  It'll be facing the wall, so no need to worry too much about that side. 

I made four to start out...they are holding, pens, pencils, brushes, scissors.  I'll probably make more...cuz it feels like I'm stickin' it to the expensive formula makers.  ;-) 

Linking up!

What's A Journey Without A Few Bumps?

I started off with a bang and for the days that followed, I kept it up.  I was very aware of the food passing my lips. I was doing crunches and push ups with my 4 yr old (even bench pressed my five month old).  I was in the zone...then BAM!  Sinus infection from Hell invaded me and took over.  Plus, we had friends over on Friday night and went to a party on Saturday, so let's just say I had a more wine calories then I care to mention.  But, we had some fun and I am starting fresh today, feeling much better and back to calorie awareness!!   Full speed ahead!

My breakfasts have been the yummy banana/granola wraps or Kashi Go Lean Crunch with blackberries.  Lunches are usually turkey and cheese with mustard on whole wheat flatbread and veggies and dip (Knorrs dry vegetable soup mixed with light sour cream).  Our dinners have varied.  We LOVED the Tortellini and Garden Veggie Bake and tonight I made the popular Pinterest recipe, Crock Pot Chicken Tacos.  Hit it out of the ball park with this one.  My six year old had FOUR of them and my super picky four year old had TWO...I couldn't believe it.  This recipe is the easiest I have ever made and the chicken is so juicy.  If you haven't pinned it, DO IT NOW!

My goal for this week is to add this into my routine...

Ready, set, go!

The Start of the Journey Back to Me

Let me explain...before I got pregnant with my third child, I made healthy eating and exercise a priority!  I was a Zumba Instructor and at the height of my teaching days, I was teaching 5-7 classes a week (burning at least 700 calories per class).  Bottom line, I was in shape...great shape.  I loved the way I looked, I was in a size I hadn't seen since my sophomore year in high school!

Then, I got pregnant...it was most definitely an "oops."  If anyone asked me if we were planning to have a third, I would say, "no, we are very happy with our family of four and I didn't work this hard to get where I am just to get pregnant and gain a ton of weight."  Famous last words.  Let me  paint the picture for you...

It was the week between Christmas and New Year's Eve, 2010.  Both of my kids had the stomach flu, so I was knee deep in throw up and something just didn't seem right with me (I have always known early that I am pregnant).  The kicker?  My hubby was scheduled for a vasectomy in 10 days (it's a funny story now to tell, but at the time, believe me, I was doing everything but laughing).  So, that's how I found out...I peed on the stick between throw up bouts and proceeded to weep uncontrollably on the floor, then to my mom and then to my BFF.  I was a hot mess.

Fast forward to present day...I have a BEAUTIFUL baby girl (5 1/2 months old) that I cannot imagine our lives without.  It is like she has always been with us.  I would not wish my life any other way than a family of five.  I am blissfully happy...for the most part.

The fact still remains, I gained weight with this pregnancy.  Even though I remained active, walked, lifted light weights, zumba classes, etc., I still put on a significant amount, and as I have heard many times before, "the third is the hardest to come off."  Boy, they weren't kidding.  To make matters even worse, she was born in September, so I had Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years to stuff my face with delectable goodies.  

So, yesterday was Valentine's Day and it marked the day that I got back on the horse.  I decided that I truly love myself and it was time I start acting that way.  I am eating healthier and exercising more.  I plan to check in to the blog on a regular basis to keep myself in check.  I expect that I will indulge every now and then...but, I will remain on track.  

I have the Warrior Dash on May 19th and I plan to be FIERCE!  And then keep that fierceness into bathing suit season.  YIKES!  :-)

So today, my first day of blogging about this, I started out with a breakfast that I found on Pinterest (thank heavens for Pinterest, I have found so many fabulous recipes).  

This is sooooo good and keeps me full til lunch.

Peanut Butter, banana, granola

And, I am planning to make this for dinner tonight.

Tortellini and garden veggie bake

 

Here we go!  Time to get back into my jeans!  :-)

 

St. Patty's Day Printable

Here is a printable for St. Patrick's Day...simple.  :)  I finally figured out how to convert to pdf and I think I have figured out how to attach it, see below the picture.

Click here to download.

Linking up!

No Stress Tooth Fairy Basket

This project came as a result of my EXTREME anxiety when it came time for me to play "Tooth Fairy."  My son recently lost his first tooth, and subsequent 2nd and 3rd teeth and has about four more that are ready to go.  The first time I had to go into his room while he was asleep my heart was beating so fast I thought that was the sound that would wake him up for sure.  But then, I stepped on a creaky spot of the floor and stopped dead in my tracks...I almost fled the scene, but I looked over and he was fast asleep.  I decided to go for it, so I crept over to the pillow, reached under, pulled out the baggy with the tooth (easier for me to find with it in a baggy) and slipped the money in.  It wasn't this easy, though, he turned in bed while I was doing this and I almost had the big one!  I managed to make it out, but it really shouldn't be this stressful!  The last time the Tooth Fairy came, Max put his tooth on his dresser and she left the money there...a little easier on the old ticker, but I was still determined to find a better way.

And my extreme anxiety led me to this...our Tooth Fairy Basket.

When I was at the thrift store the other day, I found this basket for $0.65...it was THE perfect size for a Tooth Fairy basket.

I cut out a square of my cork and a square of scrapbook paper and used rubber cement to attach them.  Then I cut out a tooth, drew a little smiley face on him and wrote "Tooth Fairy" with a sharpie.  I used two coats of Mod Podge for a protective layer, then used rubber cement to attach the cork to the basket.

For the inside, to lay the tooth on, I simply put some cotton balls in a square piece of red felt and then wrapped it up and attached the ends with a glue gun.  So now the kids have a little tooth pillow to put their tooth on.  And, this basket, my friends, will hang on the OUTSIDE of their room door, so the Tooth Fairy can simply take the tooth and leave the money for the kids to find the next day.

And, mommy will have one less thing to stress about!  :-)

Linking up!

My Awesome Vintage Find

I went on a spontaneous thrifting adventure with my 5 month old last week and boy, am I glad that I did!  A local antique store was having a sale, 25% off all items.  I ended up finding two end tables for $4.25 a piece, that I will be refurbishing (you'll see them soon enough) and this old Ansco Color Clipper camera with case and flash for $2.50!  Score!!  I did some research on the internet when I got home and it looks like it's from the late 50s, early 60s.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.  I took pictures yesterday and I plan to print this out in a 24x30 to hang in my master bedroom re-do.  The color scheme is primarily yellow, gray and white, so this will look awesome, I think!

I am also selling this in my Etsy Shop, head on over and take a look...the listing is for an 8x10, but if you are interested in another size, just message me and I can create a custom listing.

A Nod To My Little Artists

With a Preschooler and a Kindergartener (who was a preschooler not too long ago), we are inundated with artwork...who's with me on this?  I love that they are fostering their artistic sides, but EVERYTHING comes home!  If they make two lines with a pencil on a sheet of paper, it is sent home and I look like a wicked witch if I throw anything away.  Believe me, the trashcan gets a workout after hours, when the kids are nestled, all snug in their beds.  BUT, there are still many, MANY pieces that I just couldn't bring myself to throw out...however, the problem of the ever-increasing pile 'o art remains.

Sooooo, I was watching the HGTV show with the Novigratz's (husband/wife design team) and they were designing a basement playroom and they printed this huge collage of the kids' artwork...yes, please!  I can SO do that...and, I did!  My kids even helped me sort.  :-)  I picked 12 pieces for each of my older kids.  Avery has a while til she starts her pile.  I decided I would print out one large poster-sized piece and hang it in my new office (still in progress).

Well, what do you think?  I happen to love it, especially since I scaled down the pile and the kids are cool with it, because there will be a whole wall dedicated to their masterpieces.  Believe me, I still have a ridiculous amount of paperwork that I will never toss, but I feel like I definitely accomplished something.

Linking up!

My First Printables

I tried my hand at a Printable today...I need more practice for sure, but for my first go around, I think it's kind of cute.  I'll be framing it for my Spring mantle.  

I am not sure how to link a printable file here, so if anyone knows and can share with me, thank you.  They are both 11x14 jpg files (one without a border, one with a border)...if you click on the file, you can save it to your computer and print it out, I think.  I will figure out how to share this and future printables with you, I promise! :-)

There you have it...and for the record, BRING ON SPRING!!!

(Fast forward a few hours later... )

OK, and now I can't stop...I really need to go to bed!  I just made this one for Valentines Day...

The Best of Times

I went to an Uppercase Living Party a few months back and the host passed around a book of pictures, showing the way people used the vinyl.  One of them jumped out at me, it was such a cool idea.  A woman used clocks, stopped on her childrens' times of birth with a saying (can't remember what it was).  Since then, I have been on a mission to put my spin on it, and I am happy to say, I'm finished and it turned out even better than I had imagined!!

I had three photos of my kiddos already (the photos are 8x10, matted to 11x14 frames), I needed clocks.  I didn't want to spend too much on three clocks, because let's face it, I didn't even need them to work, just needed them to look nice.  So, I went to Amazon first, like I always do, and found these small 8" clocks for $11.49 a piece and they were the PERFECT size!

They are plastic and don't weigh much at all, but they look good and that's all that matters.

Then, my bff has a cricut and is generous enough to let me use it from time to time til I can get one of my own, so I printed out "The Best of Times" and added it above.  I wanted something simple and to the point.  I was back and forth on the font selection, but I am very happy with the font we ultimately chose.

There you have it...my best of times.

Linking up!