All hail the never-ending Pinterest Projects!

In an attempt to make my house as "kid friendly" as possible I've been searching high and low for some projects that will be relatively low in cost & easy to do. Here's what I've got so far!

Note the second Instragram Collage in a frame! Got this one for free from a friend :)  

Start from the back into the picture. I have my awesome pot rack purchased from Foolish Designs, a company a friend runs. They also built our growth chart ruler. Love love love all the character it adds to my house (and added space in my cupboards!) 

 I bought a bunch of frames from goodwill for around $1-$3 each. I wanted to get some different shapes and sizes. I wasn't too worried on the look, because my plan was to paint them all. I found a couple square mirrors at the goodwill and decided to pick those up for $2 each and paint them a bold pink.
Mirrors help make my 1000sq foot home look quite a lot bigger than it actually is.

My unfinished "pinterest wall"... SO many projects planned for this hallway

Hooray for frames! This wall is far from done. I spray painted the picture frames and painted matching clothes pins. I hot-glued the pins to the frames. Now I have a great place to display my girls' artwork. (Bring on the finger painting!!)

Can I just point out how stinking awesome that growth chart by Foolish Designs is?!

My instagram collage. 

  I adore using my iPhone for just about everything these days. My favorite feature has to be the camera and my Instagram App. I was able to print out my 4x4 Instagram Pictures through the Postal Pix App. It only took about 7 days to ship the pictures too :)
This frame is also from goodwill and I spent about $6 on this one (it started out a gaudy gold color).
The pictures are hung on silver jewelry wire hung vertically (to keep from sagging) that is wrapped around the head of small screws I put into the back of the frame, with matching mini clothes pins hot glued directly to the wire.

Really stinking excited to have the chance to change out the pictures so easily.

$2 cans of spray paint in the garage 

My pot rack! 

I am genuinely in love with having a pot rack in the house. Freed up so much space in my cupboards (and gave me an excuse to ask for good pots and pans for Christmas!)

I want to give a shout out to my friend Autumn, her and her husband run this business. Follow her here! 

Looking forward to updating so much more now that the weather has gone back to rain!  

A little update after a long hiatus

With a growing little family, changing seasons & sheer laziness I've left this blog to itself for a while.

Irish Twins... beginning to look more and more alike. 

The girls are getting bigger by the day, my house getting messier by the minute. So many sleepless nights, & early mornings lately. Hot coffee & a warm husband have been my saving grace.

My babies love one another. This alone, makes me feel like I'm doing something right in parenting. 

As a family, we're "church-hunting." This is semi-stressful, but much needed. I'm learning to trust, trust, and trust again. So many hard lessons recently. 

Spending time with the big kid

 Splitting time between two littles is, at times, much harder than I thought it would be. That, and keeping a semi-decent looking house and hot food on the table. I'm a bit wiped these days

Lucy has been back inside more often with the changing weather

First trip to the pumpkin patch

 We made it to the pumpkin patch this year for the first time! It was near 78 degrees on the day we went. We went a whopping 81 (that's right, EIGHTY-ONE) days without rain! This is completely unheard of for Washington, but I'll take it.
It's currently pouring buckets outside, my lawn is flourishing thick & green, and the changing leaves are sloppy all over the place... THIS is the Washington I know ;)

Doesn't get much sweeter than these three

I've been working on quite a few projects lately (more on those later) through Pinterest. Thankfully Trev has been willing to help out and take the girls to give me some alone time to work.

Growing Kyla

 I'm working on slowing my life down; making less committments, and focusing on my family. Trying to be thankful for the little things & not stress about the house being messy or the checkbook being frighteningly low. Trying oh so hard to trust God & his plan for my family.







I am so thankful. I have been able to trust my body ten-fold this time around. Breast feeding didn't come without its challenges  but we fought the good fight and pushed forward. Still cloth diapering and breast feeding: I feel like super mom some days  and like a crazy mom the rest of the time. So.Thankful.

Family of FOUR

 Can I just say again how BLESSED I am?! Finally some pictures of the four of us. Gosh I am in love.

My little lady isn't a "baby" anymore

"My" Space

Just have to share in a little excitement around here! I sold my (stunning) YAMAHA grand piano to pay off a credit card this past week. My laptop, which is also our only computer, started to die this past week. 

Thankfully, we had just enough left over for Trev to outfit me with this! My little SAHM organizer/station. 

And a pretty HP desktop for blogging!  ;)

Woo! For organized bills, computer, printer, scanner, paper shredder, etc, etc 

And when I'm all done, I just close her up.

Love that we chose something that was simple, functional, & "discrete." Cheering for no more bills left out for every visitor to see!

Two thumbs up for organization!

For Trevor

Loves his truck

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Romans 12:9-10

This was the verse we read to each other & promised one another on our wedding day. I am so thankful to have a man that truly fulfills his promises.

Camping!

 Last night was a whirlwind. Alexis was being a pill, screaming, kicking, not eating her dinner, & fought to go to bed with fury. Kyla cried with gas pains. The sound of their cries & screams in stereo is enough to make a Mama lose it.
Trev worked overtime yesterday, came home, bathed both girls & got them to bed for me. I couldn't be more thankful for a man that is not only willing, but loves to invest in his children.

Thankful for his love for hunting & fishing.
His gracious attitude towards life.
Unfailing love for our God.


Thankful for his sincerity & comfort when things get rough.

vows

 Blessed beyond measure that he takes his wedding vows extremely serious. When I am an emotional wreck, weather it be from stressing over children, finances, work, or whatever, he is there. Trev holds me close & is reassuring as ever.

Humor. As much as I roll my eyes, I cannot believe how much this man makes me laugh. He is gentle & loving... yet... ALL MAN.

there are no words...

 His love for our children.
I could go on about this for a very long time. There is nothing quite as attractive as a man who strives to be an incredible father. Our girls have the ultimate example in front of them.

Trevor Ryan- I am thankful for you. Your hard work, your love, & your commitment. You are incredibly appreciated.
I'm the luckiest girl alive-I get to date you forever.

I love you.
xo  

Loving on sweet Kyla after she was born

Double stroller business

 Today the girls & I got the opportunity to take a walk with our new stroller!

Last week I took our double BOB back to REI (and got a full refund, even after owning it for 9+ months!; THANK you REI membership!) because of it's bulkiness. I was throwing my back out nearly every time I took it in and out of my truck.
Next best option for us was the Phil & Teds stroller with a doubles kit. Works like a charm!


The double BOB weighs around 40lbs & the Phil&Teds weighs closer to 28lbs. HUGE difference.

My little ladies & I

 Kyla used to just scream and scream in the BOB...  welp, she sleeps "like a baby" in the P&T (this stroller is DEFINITELY a keeper now!)

P&T Stroller officially passed the sleeping baby test

View from the Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve lookout

 The girls, my little sister, and I took a walk down the trail at Point Whitehorn Marine Reserve. Beautifully maintained trail, close to home, warm "Indian summer" day. . . what's not to like really?

Stopping at all the lookouts to see over the water was my favorite.

Fall colors are here already!

Love having my sister come along & help out with the kids

 With a teething 14 month old & a colicky 2.5 month old sisterly help is quite welcome.

Super fun trail to walk along

Stairs that led straight to the beach

 Had to get in a little extra picture taking. I think I'm waaay more excited about this stroller business than your average Mama.

Mom shot

Love

Phil & Teds Explorer Stroller with doubles kit. FABULOUS investment!

If the girlies are happy with it, I am surely happy with it.

I added in an infant insert for the back for Kyla (since she's younger than the recommended age to ride in the seat). It supports her head & neck fully & safely, as well as gives her extra cushion & warmth!

Venison "spaghetti"

I have been going crazy lately, thinking of ways to use the meat in our freezer. I have a little less than half a deer left & hunting season is a month away! Time to make room!

Again, it's been hard to shove vegetables into my family, so I buy the garden delight noodles. Good substitute? Good enough for tonight anyways. Some days it just isn't worth the fight.

One box garden delight rotini noodles (we choose these over regular spaghetti noodles because they're a toddler-friendly finger food!), a full jar (or better yet, make your own! Tonight I was too lazy) Cabernet Marinara sauce, and one pound venison (tonight I chose sausage) 

 Easiest meal ever. Cooked the noodles, added the sauce, chopped up some sausage (since it was already to eat), mixed it together over low heat & enjoyed!

This was a hit with the husband & my picky toddler tonight who topped theirs with Parmesan cheese & Chia seeds. Other nights, I'll toss in some fresh mushrooms & some greens, but tonight it was a lazy dinner night.
What was for dinner at your house tonight?

Toddler breakfast foods

Lately, Alexis absolutely will not eat anything off a spoon or fork. Little miss independent wants to eat with her fingers all by herself. Finding healthy, easy breakfast finger foods have been a challenge. Finally found some she likes!   

Cheerios are everywhere in our house. And she knows it.

Cheerios: I always have these on hand while I'm preparing something else for her. As soon as I open the fridge the hollering begins (and what can I say, the whining gets old quickly!)

Sausages & homemade hash-browns: A little more labor intensive, but delicious. We have sausage from the deer I hunted last fall. I'll throw it in a skillet with some shredded potatoes and viola! Good breakfast. 

Fruit: I always make sure we all eat some form of fruit in the mornings.  Weather it's diced peaches, bananas, strawberries or a whole pear, it's fresh & finger food friendly!

sausages (venison) and a whole pear

Ham & cheesey noodles with scrambled eggs

Eggs: Always room for a good scramble! We like to toss in cheese, fresh peppers, & some hearty greens.

Waffles & Pancakes: One of Trev's favorite things to do is cook breakfast. He's currently perfecting the "mickey mouse" pancake. Super easy to make these packed with goodness. Throw in fruits & dice up some spinich & kale for hidden greens! Love tossing chia seeds in the batter. Spread some home-made strawberry freezer jam (YUM) on top and go! Makes for thick, fluffy & healthy-ish pancakes!

English muffins: Ok, this is my hurry up and go breakfast. I'll toast one (we LOVE the ones with raisins!), put a little cream cheese on it, tear it into bite size pieces and go. Perfect for little fingers and it fills her up fast!