194 Days Into Motherhood: Like He Has Always Been Here

So far life as a mother has been pretty good. There have been sleepless nights, smelly diapers and ridiculous Hot Dog songs stuck in my head but overall it feels pretty normal.

Remember when you were a kid and anticipation filled your life. I can't wait to be 16 to drive and date. I can't wait to be in high school. I would wonder how someone could be rational and allowed to drive at the same time. I mean wasn't it too exciting and thrilling? Then as each milestone was reached I realized that you could and would still be the same person but now with more freedom and more responsibility. I thought going to college would be the big change but I wasn't too surprised to find out I was still the same ole beckie. Obviously as we grow and mature, we develop into different people but the change is gradual and hardly noticeable. Marriage, the same thing. Motherhood, the same thing. Sure adjustments are made along the way and character traits are either brought to the foreground or quickly quelled but life goes on.

Speaking of life, its getting back to normal. No longer does it catch me off guard that this is my child, that we created him and that I pushed him out of my body. Now he is Henry, just another member of the family. He likes Mickey Mouse, butternut squash and bananas mixed with rice cereal. He loves company but doesn't necessarily need to be held. He will stick his tongue out and roll from his back to his tummy faster than you can blink. He has no reaction to being in a swing set.

Its almost as if he's always been here because I can vaguely remember what it was like without him.

This gives me great comfort as we are on the cusp of mega life changes and if history has taught me anything then I will survive and be the same ole beckie - just in Georgia.

Simple Ideas: Paper Frames

I love and collect frames. All kinds, especially textured vintage ones. So when I saw this nifty little idea from How About Orange, I thought what a cool way to accent fridge and bulletin board pinups. She got the idea from a japanese book. See directions below.

Good Things

Yesterday I was grumpy and warm. (Why are we moving to Georgia again? I don't think I can handle the heat.)

So today I am going to be positive and it turns out I have a lot of good things to report right now. No pictures, just words today.

1. Steve has finished his Master's thesis. After 2 years and a crazy last couple of months, all he has left to do are a few small revisions and his defense. I am so relieved to finally have my husband back and I am so proud of that husband!
2. The AC is up again in our window. Cool air come my way.
3. After an 8 year absence, I went to the dentist yesterday and was cavity free! And I suck at flossing-Steve can tell you.
4. My mom is in town this week helping with Henry, cleaning and packing. Its so nice to have her around.
5. They are putting in a soda fountain at work. Free soda for all! Now this might be a bad thing...but the good thing is I am leaving so I only have to suffer for a few weeks.
6. Speaking of work, I only have 19 days left.
7. I survived 10 whole days with high maintenance hair and I still look good and I love it better now than when I first got my bangs.
8. I had a blast at Girl's Camp. More on that including pictures, crafts, and a dead breast pump fiasco.
9. We are having a yard sale on Saturday. If you're in the area and know where we live, stop by. I'm trying to clean out my old etsy inventory so that means cute pillow covers at bargain prices.
10.At work I won $350 in a sales incentive: gift card to Macy's = possibly getting that couch.
I am not going to blog again until next Tuesday so see you then. Have a great weekend!

Why are you happy today?

Design: Summer Thornton

I don't know about you guys but I can look at interior design portfolios and blogs for hours especially late at night when I don't want to sleep quite yet.

This one is amazing, Summer Thornton. I love the color of these walls
And the awesome fabric/wallpaper panel. There is a cool tutorial I found where you turn fabric into temporary wallpaper-perfect for renters or non-commiters. See tutorial here.
And the cool twist on a window seat.

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Simple Idea: Thank Yous

When thanks are due en masse (ie: weddings, christmas, babies and birthdays) having a simple way to say thanks can really save you time. Instead of buying cards which can be pricey and don't feel very personal, make your own.

All you need is photo editting software that allows you to add text (Adobe Photoshop has free trial versions you can download online), a paper cutter and a cute photo.


Simply add your text to the photo, I like handwriting fonts. Go to danfont.com for lots of free fonts, my favorite is Hand of Sean. Print your card and mount on cardstock.


Write a fun note on the back, put in an envelope and send it on its merry way.


The nice thing about this is, the picture is worth a thousand words so any message on the back can be short and sweet saving you time while still being personal and these only cost about 19 cents + envelope and postage.

Off to Mia Shalom

The freezer is stocked with breastmilk, my sleeping bag has been checked for spiders, my hair is in a ponytail and I'm wearing a t-shirt out of the house.

What can this mean? I'm off to Girl's Camp for today and tomorrow. I'm only going for part of the week so it is Steve and Henry holding down the fort until I return.

Sorry Megan & Michelle I was looking for one with you guys but couldn't find one I had scanned. Darn, right?

Any Arrested Development Fans in the House?

British spy? Protective Uncle? The grade of "Love Indubitably?" Tobias Funke? A gym enthusiast CIA agent? Mentally retarded female?

My money is on british spy.

(Onesie made with freezer paper stencil)

Art of Display

This is something I am constantly trying to improve and change up in my own home as my style comes into its own: the art of display.
Over at Poppytalk she has a fun label about the art of display. Here is the link and here are some favorite inspirations by Alicia Bock, Pistachio Press, yumiyumi, kate banazi.
Another cool thing about these posts is they link all the buyable art so you check it our for your own home.

Licking it Clean

This isn't Henry's first attempt as that one is pretty dull. But I thought this one with him licking his bib (apron?) clean was cute.

P.S. Is anyone else startled when they hear their voice on video? I sure am.

P.P.S Does anyone have a good place to load videos online to them put on your blog? Not youtube. The quality on blogger stinks.

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It is human to hope, it is human to love, it is human to want peace. We are only human.
Gigi Levangie Grazer

It is only hair

Yesterday I started the day like this...and ended it like this. The last time I had bangs I was in the 4th grade, so 16 years ago.I guess I am just embracing the whole change thing. I love it. Steve thinks I look kind of hipster. And Henry still recognizes me so I guess he likes it.
I realize this style will require maintenance but that was the whole point. I have become so lazy with my appearance. Hopefully this inspires me.
And the bangs really dress up my ponytail. Ha ha ha.

Simple Ideas: Photos on Canvas

Don't get me wrong. I love a good frame. In fact, I have lots of them and am not one to just put a naked picture up on my wall. Although in high school my walls were plastered with snapshots of me and my friends, now it just feels too sloppy.

When we had our family pictures taken, I knew I wanted to display them in our home but I didn't necessarily want to buy matching frames. I wanted them to go together but not be so matchy matchy so I mounted them on canvases. I am pretty sure I saw this somewhere else, so I can't take credit but here is how I did it.

Here is what you'll need:
-spray glue
-canvas in size of photo. I bought mine at Joann's when they had them on 50% off. Don't ever pay full price because they go on sale often.
-black paint (optional)
-print of your picture. We did 11x14" which seems huge but when its up on the wall its not so big. I would love to do one big poster sized one one day. Costco prints a 11x14" for around $2.87.
(the photo display in our living room-see 11x14" is not so big)
1. Paint canvas. I painted mine black but you don't have to.
2. When paint is dry, spray with glue. Wait a minute so the adhesive isn't permanent*.
3. Place photo on canvas and smooth from the center out.
4. Hang on wall.

Tips: One thing I found is that if all the pictures have a black and white or lighter color scheme, it won't seem so chaotic. Harmony is key. Also be aware of which way the print will need to hang. If you want a square shape or all of them to line up in a row, you'll have to pick pictures accordingly. Playing with size could be fun too-mix big and small sizes.

*I wanted to be able to switch out the pictures so I made sure I could easily peel the picture off and replace with another one.

Henry: The Mega Eater

I wanted to strictly breastfeed for 6 months but at just over 5 months, it was apparent that Henry was very interested in our food. So I got a booster, a bib and some tasty (bland) solids.We started with rice cereal. I think his expression says it all. What is this crap? Two days of that led to sweet potatoes. And he was starting to get it-well at least he would eat it off his bib. Next was butternut squash and the boy went wild. He downed the whole jar. He also liked peas and carrots. Now he eats one jar a day like a champ. Yummy carrots.
Next will be fruits and those gross meats. Eww.

The Zebra Rug

I have wanted a zebra rug for a long time but the nice big ones are so expensive. I found one I liked at Home Fabrics but by the time I decided to get it, it was gone. So I decided to make one. I know, who thinks they can make a rug? Obviously, me.

I looked up some ideas online and this is what I came up with. There really was no tutorial so I just kind of winged it. Here is what I did:

I went to Lowe's and found a thick painter's canvas drop cloth. I selected the 12x9' one but did some trimming. ($20) I found my fabric at Home Fabrics, a heavy upholstery chenille-so its soft yet durable. ($50) I already had black fabric for my trim and spray glue. ($0)

I laid out the canvas in our front yard (ghetto but necessary). I cut and sewed the zebra fabric to the right size 9x9'. I then adhered the two together with spray glue. Working from one side I started in the middle and rolled the zebra fabric out as I went, smoothing. This part was tricky and I would recommend a flat surface that isn't your sidewalk. The glue is just to keep the two pieces together, you will sew a border.

Once everything is adhered, I made a bias tape out of my black fabric and then sewed the rug edges kind of like you would a quilt. You can also buy black binding tape but its cheaper to make your own.

And that's it. Move furniture, spread out rug and voila! your own rug. I really like it and it is so soft to sit on.

Things I would do differently next time:

-pick a less busy print, this one feels kind of crazy but once we're in our new apartment with a new layout, I think it will work better

-make it smaller and more manageable, the rug is thin but exhaustively heavy to maneuver.

-your fabric will probably "shed" a little like a normal rug so keep vacuuming it up and it will stop

-also I have some thoughts on this being in a high traffic room such as the living room, we'll see how it goes but I can always move it to the bedroom where it might be safer. I'll keep you posted.

The blue rug we had before will make its way to Henry's new room in Georgia but I definitely want to try this again on a smaller scale.

Simple Idea: Brooch Necklace

In an effort to dejunk before the move, I have been trying to go through all our stuff (crap). Whilst perusing my jewelry boxes I found this cool pin I bought from a thrift store when I was in high school. Citron enamel flowers backed with gold. I think I have only worn it a number of times on the lapel of a jacket or pinned to a bag but I love it so I don't want to part ways.

And then I found a simple strand of beads I purchased at the Gem Fair.

Brooch + Necklace = Beckie Loves!

Seriously how cute is that? And so simple. I am ridiculously excited about it.

The Perfect Couch

This is the couch I want. It might seem like your grandma's couch or the couch your mom used to watch tv on in the 1960's but I love it.

The dilemma: our current couch, which I love too, is sadly torn and every time I sew it up, the fabric gets thinner and pulls even more. Reupholstering a tufted chesterfield is just not in my comfort zone.

What to do...

Apartment: Check

So when we decided on Georgia, I immediately started looking for a place for us to live. I contacted the bishop out there and was hooked up with some lovely ladies in the relief society who helped me scout out places.

Today we signed the lease and one of my stresses has lifted. We will still have two bedrooms but the place is larger than where we live now. And we'll have a covered deck with lots more storage. And even though we'll be moving there during the hottest, muggiest part of the year, I am excited to have a fireplace. And of course we're allowed to paint (crucial for me) so you know my mind is reeling with new color schemes. And I have a new zebra rug to tell you about later.

For now, I'm off to costco.

Henry: Through Steve's Eyes

I'm usually the one to take the pictures but Steve took these of Henry and I really like them. Especially the first one. Can you tell he has out grown that onesie? A little bit of chest showing? No prob. He's only a baby...with cleavage.

On This Day: 06/01/2010

Towering, packed boxes in the spare room
Organized thesis materials (more on the hideous chair to come)
75% of a roll overKeys by the door.