...on my little shop

The moment has finally arrived!  I'm very proud to introduce my little corner store on the internet.....

j.boxdesigns

Check it out and let me know what you think!  I hope to be adding new things every week!

...on July 29, 2011

Ok people, this is about to get real!  I have been working on my etsy site the last couple of days and I just came across a date on the side that said I opened my shop on July 29th, 2011.  Do you know what that means?  It means that it has been an entire YEAR since I  decided I was going to open my site and I still haven't done it!  I think I need to do some serious work on my follow through.  So..this is happening.  For the millionth time, I'm just going to get it done.  I have a hand full of items to list and as soon as I get all of my policies done we will be up and running!  Only this time, it's for real!

Baby update:  Little man is hanging in there!  We went back to the Dr. today and everything looked great.  No more bed rest for now-just a little healthy baby boy!  We are hoping and praying that he stays in there for at least five or six more weeks.  Since Jack came at 35, we are mentally prepared to deal with a 35 week delivery-anything sooner than that seems a little scary and overwhelming!

...on the family that nests together....

...I'm not quite sure how to end that sentence but it just seemed too appropriate for everything that has been going on around our house lately.  Adam and I, both, have been in complete nest mode for the past couple of weeks.  It seems lately that every night is filled with some sort of home project.  I finally finished the chair that I had been working on.  Remember this?

Well, it now looks like this....

I can not believe that I finished it.  As usual, I had to get a little scrappy-especially when it came to sewing up all the end pieces.  If you look closely you can see what the old cushions looked like (top left of the photo-on the ground).  Remember how I said that my fabric was stretchy?  Well, the funny thing is that one of these cushions was meant to be exactly two inches shorter than the other.  Turns out that didn't happen...they are both exactly the same size.  But hey-it is done and I'm pretty pleased with the finished product!  I used this tutorial to help me out and it worked really well!  Our next big project is to get Jack's big boy room all ready.  Once that happens this chair will move from out garage to its new home in J's room.  

Something that I had on my "to do" list right before they put me on bed rest (a few weeks ago) was to clean out and organize our pantry.  I'm not a great organizer.  I had even been looking at ideas on pinterest of how to organize a pantry.  Well, I was unable to do it so when my sister in law came into town she offered to help me.  And by help I mean she did the entire thing while I sat on the counter and watched.  I just told her that I wanted it to be organized and pretty.  She claimed that she, too, was not a great organizer but just look at this finished project!!

I think she did a great job and I'm so appreciative of all of her help!  It makes me little heart happy every day when I look into a pantry that is not a total disaster!  

I kinda think that even Jack might be doing a little bit of nesting.  His new favorite thing is "help".  He LOVES to help.  Last week I put on my montessori thinking cap and decided that he could help me out by washing his little table.  I set it all up for him and let him go at it.  He must have thought that he hit the jackpot because he got to help AND use water all at the same time.  

The vacuum obsession continues!  We got a super exciting surprise package in the mail the other day.  Seriously, the whole family has been buzzing about it all week!  My dad knew that I had been wanting a  hand help vacuum for a while now and he came across one so he ordered it for us!  I seriously can not say enough good things about this little vacuum-we have already used it a ton!  Jackson even knows how to turn it on!  Thanks Dad!  

When my sister was in town she helped me rearrange the living room furniture.  The arrangement was great but the rug we had was way too small for the space.  We measured and decided that we needed a 12x12 rug in order to cover enough of the tile to make the living room feel cozy and inviting.  I don't know if you have looked at the price of rugs lately but they aren't exactly going for peanuts.  The movie quote that best describes how I feel about rug prices goes something like this..."shree dollas for a hot dog!?"-anyone?  anyone?  Well, in a stroke of genius and also, copying the idea from one of my friends, I went to a carpet store and got a piece of carpet cut and bound into a rug.  Voila!  A super comfy "custom" rug for much, much, less that what a real rug would cost!  I would highly recommend this to anyone in the market for rugs!  

This photo actually has nothing to do with us nesting.  Jack and I were playing outside yesterday and I just thought, "I think our front porch is so cute, I should take a picture"  and so I did.  

The wreath and the door mat were both made by me.  We saw a similar door mat a few years ago when we were in Jackson Hole and I decided that I could just make one for way less than the boutique was charging-so I did!  I bought the rocks from michael's and a cheap-o mat from target.  I can't remember exactly what kind of glue I used but I think that any kind of super glue would probably be just fine.   

And finally...a belly shot.  I forced Adam to take a full picture of my this time instead of my usual belly shot taken in the mirror of the bathroom with the toilet in the background.  Adam has told me this before and last night completely confirmed it.  I am the worst photo subject ever!  We were watching this episode of "Psych" the other night-the one where Lassy's sister is making a video around the precinct and Juliet is a complete goober in front of the camera.  That's pretty much me.  As soon as I know there is a camera on me I turn into a complete goober.  No joke, I think this photo is take #6-a lot of effort went into it and let's face it, it's still not great.  At least you can get the idea.....almost 30 weeks

Happy Friday everyone!

...on filling some big shoes

Here is cutie-mcgoots helping daddy get ready for work.  

Thats all.  :)

...on cushions in the works

I think I mentioned several posts ago that we are in the process of moving Jackson into the guest bedroom.  I'm pretty sure I also mentioned that we have been working on some different pieces of furniture for his room including a night stand, a dresser, and a chair.  The night stand and dresser are finished and the chair is a work in progress.  I'm making new cushions for it which is a little bit out of my league as far as sewing projects are concerned.  I think my brain nearly melted the other night trying to figure out exactly what size to cut all of the pieces.  I had to call Adam in to double check my math.  On top of all that, I ended up buying an upholstery fabric that has a little bit of a stretch to it.  I am using an online tutorial because, for me, tutorials are far more simple than patterns-I can't even imagine what this project would be like if I had to follow a pattern!  Well, I think today it the day that I actually start sewing.  In theory, this should be the easy part.  Everything is measured, cut, and ready to go so hopefully but the end of the week/weekend I'll have a brand new chair to show you!  Here are my little piles of material for each cushion-looks good so far, right?

...on today's reality

Yesterday afternoon brought a lovely thunderstorm to our neighborhood.  Add that on top of Jackson taking a three hour nap (for the second day in a row) and you have pretty much the best day ever.  This morning I attempted to get up early again and succeeded except-so did Jack.  Chloe usually stays in bed until she decides she has to go potty or wants to eat.  This morning, though, she decided to get up with me and after eating her breakfast went to scratch on Jack's door.  You know, just to make sure he was ok.  On the one hand I think it is kind of sweet, on the other hand it is the most annoying thing in the world!  So, we all got up.  Thanks to the rain, it has been a beautiful morning so far and it still a little bit cloudy which makes for great playing outside conditions.

When my sister was here last weekend we had a brief conversation about blogs and how they can make you feel less than adequate-about everything.  I remember when Jack was first born Adam told me that I should maybe stop reading peoples blogs because all they seem to be about is how perfect their life, baby, husband, marriage, church, friends, family, etc...are.  I like to refer to them as year round christmas cards.  So, here is my attempt to give you all a little dose of some realities around here lately.

Sometimes we eat breakfast on the counter.

Sometimes our waffles turn out like this...

Sometimes we load up in the car for no other reason than to get a coffee.  Sometimes when we do this Jack is only wearing a diaper and a pj top.  And sometimes he says "copy!" when we pull up to the window to order.  

Sometimes when Jack wakes up cranky from a nap I turn on Elmo for him.  

Jackson loves cookies and I am fully aware that I have no one but myself to blame for that.  

Sometimes I think about putting Jack back in his cloth diapers but then I just can't bring myself to deal with the poop-even though it would save money.  (maybe I should actually work on this)

Sometimes I think it is good to know that not everyone is perfect-even though the blogosphere may make it seem that way.  

Happy Friday, everyone!  I hope that you have a chance today to embrace all the craziness of life-even though it may not be perfect!  

...on early mornings

I really hate to admit this, but I can't remember the last time that I woke up early.  And when I say early I mean 6:00am which, let's face it, is not actually that early.  Adam got up early to go to the gym this morning and so I decided to get up too.  So far I have not been super productive but I feel like that is part of the beauty of getting up when no one else is around.  I was able to do my quiet time, make some  coffee, and scour the internet for ways to make our little laundry room more functional.  Not a bad morning at all.  Maybe this will be the start of something new?  My days always start out much better when I have a little bit of quiet time in the mornings which leads me to this question....what is it so hard to get out of bed?

I tried to find some silly photo to post on here but my kid just woke up so I guess I should go take care of that.  Happy Fourth of July and happy morning!  "mornings here!......"-friends fans?  anyone?  Annie-I know you get that one....:)

...on the last month

 I suppose it is time for a little bit of an update.  The last few weeks have been somewhat of blur.  I can't even really remember what the last update was that I posted on here but...I have pretty much been taken off bed rest.  I'm still taking it easy and haven't been back to the gym.  I go back to the Dr. on monday so as long as things look good at that appointment I think I'm mostly in the clear.  I think.

271/2 weeks

A few weeks ago my parents came into town.  I did an awful job taking pictures while they were here but Jack had a great time visiting with them.  He finally started saying grandma and I'm pretty sure said grandpa at least once.  

Then, this past weekend, my sister came into town for a visit!  We didn't really do a whole lot but had a great time hanging out.  Jackson finally said "Auntie", too!  I tried to get some good pictures of the two of them but Jack-man was being less than cooperative.