The coats are driving me mad!!!!!

It is not that cold where we live, we haven't seen snow in 2 years but I still wear a coat and so do my kids.  The coats are driving me mad!!!!  I hang them in their closets only to be in the car with the alarm set to realize that one of them or myself does not have a coat.  Or there is that ever lingering pile of coats in the car when they are wanting to go out back and play.

So to remedy the problem I purchased a row of coat hooks from HD.  They have all price ranges (this one just happens to be less than $20.00).  I tried one from IKEA a few years ago and the durability left much to be desired (and I am an IKEA lover). 

I also saw this nifty idea on athoughtfulplaceblog a while back and made one for myself this summer.  It helps to keep our family organized.  Just the other day I asked my husband if he had seen my sunglasses.  His reply, "They are in the cubby labeled 'Sunglasses'."  How clever.

 

The shoe organizer came from Target

The round labels I cut out with my one punch circle cutter.

I would use heavy cardstock or notecards for labels.

I secured mine with paperclips instead of clothespins.

I recently changed the labels to reflect our needs for fall/winter (hats, mittens....and took out the sun hats and sun screen....although I am ready for those items to come back).

This little space is easy for us to get to when we are coming in or going out.  I am hoping the little ones will learn how to hang up their stuff.  There is hope.  They have learned to take off their shoes and put them in the mud bench basket.  Progress is made in small steps!

Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers

In our house we have a toddler and a pre-schooler and did I mention that we have a baby on the way?  Yep!  Baby boy #2 due date has been moved a few times in the last 23 weeks but they are telling us May 26th.  If he is anything like his sister and brother, he will be at least a week late.

So as you can imagine my new year's resolution is to get the maximum usage of space out of our shrinking house.  We are not moving....so we have to make do in 3 bedrooms and 2 baths.  I have been encouraged over the last few weeks of stories people have shared with me concerning their small living spaces and their growing families.

This week, I am highlighting a few changes that I have made in our house recently.

First Up.....The Playroom.  

I boxed up all toys 18 months and under in tubs and labeled them out in my garage.  We can't part with these because we have a little one on the way but we can not have ALL of these toys in our house at one time.

I moved a bookshelf from our office into the playroom.  Our kids love books but they were previously stashed in their rooms, in baskets, and all over our house.  Now they are in one place.  The kids love to pull books off of the shelf and "read" them.  Sometimes it makes a mess but we are learning how to clean up our mess.

I placed a lamp and a CD player on the top of the bookshelf for low light and music (which our kids love).  Some days I turn on music and they sing, dance, and play their instruments.  Sometimes I turn on music in hopes to calm the mood.

I made a chalkboard but it failed.  

(Do not attempt to paint heavy duty card board and stick in a frame.  

It will bow and buckle)  

You can see how it buckled at the top.  

Not durable and we need durable in this house.

So as a result of my sister's home depot discovery...my chalkboard is back in order.  Home Depot sells chalkboard in 2x4 size.  I had them cut it to my desired need 2x3 and I slipped it into my white frame.  I seasoned it, wrote a fun word on it, and hung it!  Thanks to my sis, we are back in order.

And just FYI....Home Depot sells White Board that can be cut as well.  Just in case you are doing a project and need white board.

And just in case you think this post looks perfect or I am some how a super mom.....

save this pic of my sink and know 

LIFE. HAPPENS. IN. SMALL. STEPS!

Thoughts for Life and Direction.

Just a verse that I have been pondering this morning.  

The preceding words are....

And the Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses.   

I will give you rest - everything will be fine for you." vs.33

I truly love Moses' response.  I have read it no less than 50 times this morning.

I want his response to be my response for me personally

as well as our family. 

"Lamby Wreath"

Today I made what my daughter called a "Lamby Wreath".  I guess she thought the texture looked like a lamb.  I have been trying to make this since December 1, when I purchased the materials, but it did not happen until January 12th!

I saw a wreath similar to this in Pottery Barn Kids this past Christmas.  It was not an item for sale.  Just one of those "things" that they put on their set that you wish you could buy but NO fat chance.  So here is my rendition.

You will need:

Wreath form (I used a small one)

Straight pins

Cotton Balls (I used less than 200)

I chose to adhere them with straight pins

because I thought hot glue and cotton would not mix well.

I just kept layering it until I covered the entire 

front/sides/inside of the wreath

Oh...and you are going to need a thimble 

or your fingers are going to be dying!

Here's my "Lamby Wreath"

I put it in our kitchen above our chalkboard

Finished project.

Adds a sweet touch of winter to a house that has seen NO snow this year

and high 70's today.

Where is winter?

What Did He Write In the Dust?

I started my morning off by reading the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11).  I have read this story many times.  The story where the Pharisees bring a women into the temple who has been caught in the act of adultery and set her up for death by stoning.

I am captivated by Jesus response, as the Pharisees tried to trap him, in stooping down to write in the dust with his finger.  What did he write?

The Pharisees did not like his writing in the dust and they demanded an answer from him concerning what should be done to this woman.  He stood up from the sand and said, "All right, stone her.  But let those who have never sinned throw the first stones!"

Then he stooped back down and continued to write in the sand.

It drives me crazy that scripture does not say what He wrote.  All we know is it was powerful enough that each of the accusers slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest.

There are many thoughts as to what he wrote.  Did he write the personal sins of the Pharisees standing in that crowd?  Did he write the law out perfectly bringing great attention to the detail they had purposely left out of the law?  Did he write each of the Pharisees names in the dust?

Once the room cleared it was just Jesus in the middle of the room with the woman caught in adultery.  I wonder what she thought?  I wonder if she was scared?  I wonder if she was in awe?  I wonder if she feared to look him in the eye?  I wonder if she was even educated enough to know what was "theologically" occurring around her?

Jesus stood up and said to her, "Where are your accusers?  Didn't even one of them condemn you?"  "No, Lord," she said.  And Jesus said, "Neither do I.  Go and sin no more."  

I read this story and I think I would react the way Jesus did.  FULL. OF. GRACE.  But, the truth is..... more times than I care to admit, I am on the other side of Jesus' writing in the dust.  Most of the time it is not over issues as deep as adultery.  God continues to press into me and remind me of HIS FULLNESS OF GRACE and how I fail often to extend it on many occasions.

I encourage you to read this story from John 8:1-11 and allow the Lord to unpack some thoughts that will stir your heart.  I hope you will be reminded, as I was, that as His follower, I have been washed clean and stand before Him blameless FULL OF HIS GRACE.  I, am no different from the woman who looked him full in the face across the dust floor of the temple.

I will leave you with my friend Michele's recipe for a homemade laundry detergent that I LOVE! 

 (Hint: all of these things can be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store.  

You won't find Fels-Naptha Soap at Target,)

 

2 cups Arm and Hammer Washing Powder

2 cups Borax Powder

2 scoops Oxi Clean

2 bars of Fels-Naptha Soap (grated)

Mix it all together

Just takes 2 Tablespoons for each load.

It's H.E. friendly.

My front loader washer loves it (no mildew-y smell with this detergent)

It's cheap to make.

Winner of the New Year Give Away

Michele from GA

You are the winner of the New Year Give Away

A

Lush French Kiss Bubble Bar!

And if you haven't visited a LUSH store yet, 

I HIGHLY recommend it.

Leave your kids at home and spend some "You" time in this store.

You are sure to find something you will LOVE!

Some of my favorites

(click on the links below)

Wiccy Magic Muscles Massage Bar

Melting Snowman

Coalface

Big Blue

So White

Honey I Washed the Kids Soap

Ickle Baby Bot (my kids loved this one)

New Year Give Away!

I promised you that December would have ONE giveaway and here it is..... ( if you have previously won a giveaway on this blog you are ELIGIBLE to win this giveaway as well).

I am giving away a special treat from LUSH!  This is one of my most favorite stores, EVER.  They just recently put one in close to my house.  All of their products are fresh and handmade.  They have such yummy treats!  

I thought this little treat would be especially nice to giveaway after the Christmas season.  I am sure there are a lot of people who need to relax in a long hot soak and start the New Year off right.

French Kiss Bubble Bar: The fresh herbal fragrances of lavender, rosemary and thyme with essential oils from the hills of sun-soaked Provence go into our swirly love letter inspired by the warmth and beauty of the French countryside. It's even topped with a sprig of lavender. Lay back and relax into serene purple waters and soak up all of its relaxing benefits.

Enter to Win By.......

1.  Placing your name and state in the comment section below
2.  You must enter by 12am EST on Friday December 4, 2013

Good Luck!  I can't wait to give away this LUSH treat!