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Spooky Eyeball Wreath

Jude and I love decorating for Halloween.  We count the days until we can hang our ghosts and mummy.  This year we decided our door needed some new spooky flair.  It all started with a giant bag of ping pong balls we've had for ages.  We spent several afternoons drawing weird eyeballs on them with Sharpies.  If you're looking for a great way to get your kiddo to open up, I highly recommend a project like this.  As we doodled we had great conversations; I learned more about his life at school and got a peek at the inner workings of his highly imaginative 5 year old brain.

In fact, it was such a fun way spend our afternoons we ended up making a ton of eyeballs!  So went I to the craft store and grabbed a big old wreath to festoon.  A little white fabric and hot glue later we had this spooktacular wreath.  I love how it's bright and modern from far away, it's only when you get close that you realize it's kinda creepy.  Want to make your own?  Read on for the complete DIY details.

To Make A Spooky Eyeball Wreath You'll Need:

• Lots of ping pong balls (affiliate link, these are a great deal!)
• Permentant markers
• Wreath (straw or styrofoam)
• White Fabric
• Hot Glue

How To Make A Spooky Eyeball Wreath:

1.  First draw spooky eyeballs on your ping pong balls.  I liked to make a basic eye and then add blood shoot red lines.  Creepy cat and owl shaped eyes work well too.  Let your kids get creative, Jude came up with really cool ones.  You will need 72 eyes for a large 17" wreath but a smaller wreath would look great too!

2.  Wrap your wreath in white fabric.  I had felt on hand but torn strips of muslin would look great.  Use a little hot glue to hold it tight.

3.  Attach your eyeballs to your wreath with hot glue.  Then hang and enjoy!    

Wishing you very Happy Halloween!! 

Living Room Makeover - From Kid Clutter to Family Chic

I've got another room tour for you today and this one is even cooler than the last!  My living room got a seriously grown-up makeover!  I partnered with Sauder to create a space I've always dreamed of, one that is comfortable yet sophisticated. (Sneak a few peeks of the old space here; basically lots of red, lots of clutter, and lots of kids stuff.)  

It all started with a new entertainment console, one that would not just hold our stuff but look great too.  The International Lux Media Console gave me the opportunity to display a few special pieces and hide all the required tech.  It also meant that we didn't store as many toys and kids books in the living room.    

I didn't want to take the kids out of this room entirely, I just didn't want toys to dominate the space.  The Accent Storage Cabinet was a perfect solution because toys and books can be hidden out of sight, but within reach.  And someday this piece can become a proper bar, but the top still serves that purpose when entertaining.  The corner next to the cabinet is the "kids corner" with comfy floor pillows and two small baskets for toys and books.  The corner is both inviting and easy to pick up, a win-win for sure!  

To make this wall look great and feel like home I finally created the gallery wall I've been pinning for years.  A great mix of family photos and kid art, I love the personality it lends to the room.  I'm not sure what stopped me from doing this sooner, now I can't wait to add even more frames.  

Jude's art station moved to the garage which meant we had space for a cozy club chair.  You can find me here most mornings with a cup of coffee on the "side table" and a kiddo or two in my lap.  The Ellis Accent Chair is oh so comfortable and a big stack of books makes the perfect little table.  

Since clearing up the clutter and adopting a more neutral color palette, my coveted vintage pieces have the chance to shine.  I found this awesome leather sofa on craigslist and it is the perfect spot to cozy up on family movie night.  My other favorite vintage find is the coffee table, and now it finally has room to breathe!  I love that the design of the Sauder furniture coordinates so nicely with mid century pieces.  I also love that Sauder works hard on sustainability, they even create power from their own waste.  

I can't believe I was able to make such a small space feel so open, spacious, and inviting.  Having a living room that I'm proud of has inspired me to entertain more.  We've already hosted a few fun get togethers and I can't wait to have everyone over for the holidays.  Be sure to check out Sauder's Put Together Lookbook to get tons of great decorating ideas.      

Here's to fresh family spaces!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sauder. The opinions and text are all mine.

An Evening for The Books

 

Sometimes the stars align and you have a glorious old fashioned pumpkin patch all to yourself on the first evening that actually feels a little fallish.  The light is right and the kids are happy and you all just have so much fun.  There was something magical about that family outing, something I wish to hold in my heart forever and ever.

Here's to simple pleasures and magic moments.  Happy Fall!      

Epic Garage Transformation

I am so excited to share my garage transformation with you today!  It is the result of so much hard work and the finished project is a much needed space for my family to create and play.  As many of you know we live in a very small house, 855 square feet to be exact.  I have always had my sewing machine and craft supplies in the garage, but try as I might the space never really looked much better than this.  That is until I decided to get rid of bags and bags of stuff.  My purging journey started months ago and while I was able to get the house in pretty good shape, the garage still looked like a hoarders paradise.  Partnering with Glad to Give was the push I needed to donate all those unused things and actually create a meaningful space.  

The garage/studio/playroom now has four distinct zones and space for everyone in the family to create and play.  It pretty amazing what you can pack into a single car garage and it has already gotten so much good use.  My sewing machine and serger live on the first piece of furniture my grandfather ever made, a sewing table for my grandma, I love it so so much and now I can actually use it!  To the right of that is my great grandmother’s desk, a space for Jason to write when Jude isn't clacking away at the typewriter.  There is a filing cabinet which holds important papers along with sheets of felt, patterns, and kid’s artwork.  On the other side of my sewing table there is a tall cutting table that just makes me want to work, no hunching required and tucked underneath that is Jason’s keyboard.  Beyond that there is another low filing cabinet full of totally organized fabric just waiting to be cut into.  

On the other side of the cutting table is the playroom.  Foam tiles make it a much safer and more inviting space.  The play kitchen has a nice home as do toys, crafts supplies, and books.  There is a white board where Jude can write and draw, sometimes I use it for to do lists and design schemes.  Both boys have their own desks and plenty of space to play and make.  And since we are in the garage I don’t have to worry so much about spilled paint or other messy making.  

The opposite wall is home to our washer and dryer and plenty of storage for garage type items, such as cleaning supplies and tools.  But I also created a little spot for everyone to hang their bags and coats and store their shoes.  It’s our California version of a mudroom, set up right before you enter the house.     

We are all loving this new space so much.  Jason uses the foam tiles as a giant yoga mat each morning.  The boys love playing out there, and that means I can actually do some playing of my own.  I can’t believe it took me so long to create a space where we could all do creative work together.  We love our tiny house but with four of us it had become too full.  By creating this extra space we all feel more free and none of it would have been possible without donating bags and bags of stuff.

Once you start realizing that there are people who could really use the items you are storing for "some day" right now the decision on what to donate becomes a lot easier.  Baby gear for a possibly-but-not-anytime-soon-baby-number-three becomes a gift for a new and struggling parent.  Clothes that could be upcycled, but are currently in great condition, become something nice for someone to wear now, no upcycling required.  Fabric I wasn’t using can be sold at the thrift store and help pay for things others deeply need.  It feels so good to give and it frees up space so that there’s more room to live.  Jude helped me, not just with the design and set up of the new space, but with clearing the old.  He found things to donate and I was so proud of his generosity, after all it’s hard to part with things when you’re five.  We put those Glad Scented ForceFlex® bags to the test, stuffed full of things that could help others, and I encourage you to do the same.  Visit GladtoGive.com to get your own bag to fill with gently used items and schedule a free donation pickup.  

Here’s to giving stuff and gaining space.  

This post was sponsored by Glad, thank you so much for supporting the brands that make this blog possible. 

Super Simple Apple Crisp

I love me a good crisp, almost as much as I love pie.  And in some ways I love them even more, because they are so easy to make and qualify equally as dessert and breakfast.  This basic crisp recipe works great with a variety of fruit, but since it is apple picking season, apple is the obvious choice!  I have been making a variation of this recipe since I was a little girl.  I'm not sure how old I was when I received my first cookbook (My First Baking Book*) but I've been collecting them ever since.  This book as a remarkable collection of truly stellar recipes, the thumbprint cookies cannot be improved upon, I highly recommend it for kids and adults alike.

Ok, where was I? Oh yes apple crisp.  If at all possible, I encourage apple picking as the first step for this recipe.  See if a neighbor has an apple tree hiding in their backyard or visit a local farm, fresh picked apples just taste better.  Also, apples are in the dirty dozen and for this recipe I don't bother peeling the apples, so please try to get your hands on pesticide free apples if possible.  Alright, now lets get baking!

Super Simple Apple Crisp

Notes: I use a cast iron skillet but a cassarole dish or pie pan work as well.  This crisp lends itself to variations very nicely, use whatever fruit is in season, feel free to add nuts, change the sugar and spices, have fun!

You'll Need:

• 4 cups of apples, cored and thinly sliced (I used 8 small apples)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons brown sugar, divided (white sugar and maple syrup also work great here)
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly ground
• 1/2 cup salted butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup of all purpose flour (wheat or almond works as well)
• 2 cups rolled oats

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  
2. Core and thinly slice your apples, no need to peel.  Toss with 1/4 cup of sugar (less if your apples are really sweet) plus 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt.  Spread in a cast iron skillet or oven proof dish.
3. In a bowl combine all the remaining ingredients except the butter.  Next add the butter and using your hands mix the crisp topping until it is crumbly with pea sized balls of butter, flour and oats.  
4. Spread the topping over your apples.  Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
5. Serve warm from the oven with ice cream for dessert or a splash of milk for breakfast.  

Here's to fall baking!     

* Affiliate link, I make a tiny commission if you buy something from Amazon after clicking on this link.

The Magic of Me Time

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Real Simple® and Sunset® Magazines but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #BacktoMeTime http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Mothers tend to put their own needs last.  They work tirelessly for their family and end up exhausted and worn thin.  Although I often declare “I’m a mother, not a martyr” I had fallen into the cycle of doing too much for everyone else and too little for myself and then wondering why I was grumpy, overwhelmed, and uninspired.  It was clear that I needed to make time for me.  I went back to flamenco, ignoring my usual excuses.  And I rekindled my love affair with magazines.  

I have always adored magazines, but somehow, at some point, reading a whole magazine felt like a luxury I didn’t have time for.  It turns out, I just needed to make the time and believe that I deserved it.  On a recent trip to the market (by myself, sometimes it’s the little breaks that are the very best) I picked up two of my favorite magazines Sunset® and Real Simple®.  And bless Safeway for not just having a great selection of magazines, but also carrying my favorite local wines for a song.  It was a very productive trip to the store indeed.  Take advantage of $1.00 off participating titles (PEOPLE®, InStyle®, People StyleWatch®, Real Simple®, and Sunset®) with this digital offer until 10/18/15 while supplies last.    

Those beautiful magazines have reminded me how important a moment to myself truly is.  It doesn’t take long to feel refreshed when you actually take a break.  A few stolen moments with Real Simple has me excited to continue working on organization, motivated to improve my communication with my husband, and ready to bust out the crock pot for fall.  Sunset magazine reminds me of why I love where I live.  It inspired me to get out in the garden and sparked dreams of travel and delicious date nights.    

Sometimes self care is as simple as taking a few minutes to yourself, the trick is remembering that you deserve them.  Ask for help, skip folding the laundry, take a little longer than necessary in the bathroom; find your way back to you.  She’s still there, I promise.

I’d love to know how you make time for yourself.  What’s your favorite way to spend me time?