Bedroom Makeover

I've been in a redecorating phase.  I've also been in a spend-no-money phase.  Mutually exclusive?  Not really.  This project require literally no money.  We had a gazillion picture frames and great photos stored in boxes.  Great photos not displayed makes me sad!  I decided our bedroom could use a little "oomph", so I decided to do a huge wall collage of all our existing frames and photos.

before

after

What do you think?  Its a little crazy and not as exact as I would have liked (I'm a perfectionist!), but I think it turned out okay for my bedroom, which no one really sees.  Besides hanging all the frames, I painted the photo matte of the big picture frame greige (my favorite new color: beige + grey = greige).  I also hung a mirror (I also had that in storage) by my side of the bed, right by my jewelry box so I can try on accessories right there.  A few of the frames need updated photos, but I added scrapbook paper and print words like "love" for now.  I also really love that painted matte and might paint a few of the other to match.  What a fun project - and for NO money!  Love it!

Having all these photos us reminds us of so many important events in our life that make us who we are.  Hubby and I are happy to see beautiful reminders of those moments at the beginning and end of each day.

This was a bit of a risk...making all those holes in the wall for a result I was not quite sure of, but it was worth it!  The wall adds a great dramatic effect to our room and we really don't need much more decor in the whole room because of the weight of that wall.  

I sewed!

I finished my first sewing project last week.  True: I have never used a sewing machine.  Ever.  I never even had a class in junior high to give me a little experience sewing a straight line.  So, I enlisted my crafty sister (and my mom, of course) to sew a little modern edge into my living room.  Granted, I am uncrafty, so I needed a fair amount of help, but I am pretty proud of the result:

The yellow and grey damask pillows are the new ones I just finished hand sewing.  What do you think?  I am considering making some curtains (with help) out of the same fabric.  Maybe a solid curtain with a block of the damask fabric...what do you think?  I don't want to get too matchy-matchy, so we'll see...

On A Stick!

It seems like everything is showing up on a stick lately (no, I'm not talking about State Fair food!) and as a mom of young kids, I love it!  Treats on a stick are so much fun to enjoy...why is that?!  Well kids and adults all love them and they're easy to eat, too.

*My first fun discovery are Cake Pops, by Bakerella.  Hello, adorable!  I mean could anything be cuter?!  Of course Bakerella's are totally ornate and amazing, but even just a plain little cake ball is so cute!  I haven't personally tried to make these yet, but my sister made some bunches for Mother's Day and put them in vases, to look like flowers.  They were delicious and adorable!  Check out Cake Pops and all the other amazing treats at www.bakerella.com!

*My second discovery are Cookie Pops!  My friend Kelly had these for her sons birthday party and I couldn't get over how FUN they were!  What a great treat!  It got me thinking about lots of other ways to use them...  We made them today at our house and here's the process:

All you need is:

One tube (12 oz) cookie dough

Two (2 oz) Milky Way bars

12 popsicle sticks

Cut each candy bar into 6 pieces (width-wise) and put a popsicle stick in each....

Divide the tube of cookie dough, flatten out, and wrap around each stick, forming into a ball...

Place on a cookie sheet about 3 inches apart and bake for 14-15 minutes!

Voila!  Yummy chocolate chip cookies with a gooey caramel center - and on a stick!  So fun!

I have to admit, my Cookie Pops were a little top heavy.  I tried to take them off the baking sheet too soon (after only about 5 minutes) and they were still too fresh, causing some of the sticks to fall right out.  Bummer.  I also had the large size popsicle sticks (the "craft sticks", you know?) and maybe that caused some trouble.  I'm making one more batch tonight for a little neighborhood campfire we're going to, so I'm going to try with some smaller popsicle sticks I found in the craft bin.

I think these Cookie Pops will be my baby boy's special treat for his first birthday, coming up soon!  We'll be traveling and I thought these would be a good alternative to brining cupcakes along.  I have to think of some way to adorn them and make them extra special...I have a few ideas...do you???

*My final "on a stick" discovery is really nothing new, just something innovative for those of us with little kids!  They are called "Mighty Minis" from Popsicle brand.  These popsicles are super miniature (about 1.5 inches tall) and perfect for a post dinner treat this summer.  In addition to the perfect kiddie portion size, they have some gelatin in them, which makes them melt slowly!  How genius!  I don't think I need to say much more...(other than: go out and get yours now because they are hard to find!).

Mighty Minis are so cute!

So.....do you have any "on a stick" discoveries to share???

My New Favorite Look

This is my new everyday look.  Its so easy and so simple AND: I'm a little obsessed with metallics!  This is a fresh, clean look that can be worn casually.  It takes me less than 5 minutes, so its easy to apply before I run out of the house with my boys!

1. Apply gold (or other metallic) shadow
2. Apply mascara
3. Apply rose colored lip gloss

Taken from Real Simple (May 2010)

Happy Mamas!

Happy Mama Day to all the Valley-Mamas reading this today!  What a privilege to be a mother...words cannot describe!  Be proud, be confident, be joyful!  Most importantly: ENJOY!

At church today we were given a truffle from Obsession Chocolates (YUM!) and this daily prayer for Mamas.  Its going on the board right next to my bed and I'd like to share it with you:



Lord, I need Your help today.
I want to care for the children You've sent into my life, to help them develop the special gifts You've given them.
 I also want to free them to follow their own paths and bring their loving wisdom to the world.
Help me embrace them without clutching, support them without suffocating, correct them without crushing.
Help me to live joyfully and playfully so they can see You in me and find their way to You.
Amen.

I love being a Mama!