Nannie's Quiet Book

Full Disclosure* This is my mom's DIY project. I freely admit that she is the Master DIYer, but this was just too great a project not to share. She presented it to him for his 2nd birthday:) 

Unfortunately, since this wasn't my project, I didn't take pictures of the steps along the way, but at least you can glean inspiration from the finished project, If you have a question about anything in particular, leave me a comment, and I will do my best to get an answer from her for you. I am including links to the end of the post for some of the sites she visited for ideas. 

Warning! She said she thought this would a weekend project, but it took weeks. These take time. 

I present to you, a labor of love....

 Book cover courtesy of Mom's embroidery machine. 

The first page featured a mirror covered by hand embroidered life-size hands. Perfect for playing peekaboo with yourself. Not gonna lie, Little Man quite likes to admire his reflection. So this page is a big hit.

 Super cool idea, huh?

Next on the list, the farm pages. Not only are these super cute with a functioning barn door, they are (again) hand embroidered, and magnetic! 

 I'm posting a close-up so you can see the amazing detail that was put into every piece, 

Count along with the movable beads! 

This is so super cute, and I just love it! In the pocket are various accessories Little Man can use to change his look. 

I especially like the Miami Marlins hat. Go Fish! 

At last, the whole reason for this project! Little Man really really loves this page. It's amazing to have during church! 

Left: Page has a movable boat (pull the ribbon either way), and it is even christened after Little Man himself. 

Right: This page features snaps and a zipper for motor skill development. Oh, yah, it's super cute too.  

I feel like these two pages are the highlight of the book. They show amazing skill and dedication. It's stunning. First, you have a fish net to contain the hand-embroidered finger puppets and a marine background on the opposite side. 

Wait until you see the close-up shots of the puppets! 

This yellow submarine has windows! Somehow, she used clear plastic to create actual portholes. I wish they had shown up in the pictures though.

 This squid is one of my favorites! It so groovy! 

 Seagull with fish in his beak. 

 Maybe the most detailed of all. Look at all that embroidery! 

Another stunning set. Where to start: the button wheels that can be put on and taken off, the opening door, the finger puppets?! There's simply too much! 

 Check out that mane! Like, Seriously! 

The last page has movable automobiles for my car obsessed son. 

Just pull the ribbons either direction to move them.

My husband works for UPS, and she made a "Daddy's Truck", as it is known around our house, for Little Man. It even has a real "glass" door! 

This says it all. Thank you so much, mom, for this amazing keepsake. 

Nannie (as he calls her), Little Man & Pawpa checking out his birthday book! 

Links for ideas: 

http://rigierukodelki.blogspot.com/2012/04/blog-post_04.html#more 

http://tom-toy.blogspot.co.il/2014/06/quiet-book-for-annabelle.html

http://www.imagineourlife.com/2011/09/27/circus-train-quiet-book-page/

http://bugsandfishes.blogspot.com/2014/06/guest-post-felt-ocean-finger-puppets.html

http://www.sewcando.com/2009/09/quiet-time-part-2-quiet-books-abound.html

http://homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/p/templates-printables.html

~Come Home Safe~ Door Decal Giveaway

So, I'm innocently scrolling through my Facebook feed the other day when out of nowhere...Wham! 

Someone I follow shared a picture of an etsy listing for a door decal from Imprinted Decals. I was blown away! It wasn't flashy or anything. It was quite simple really, but what it said resonated with me. My husband works for UPS, and is on the road much of the time. When he leaves for work in the mornings or when I'm hanging up the phone, my parting words to him are almost always, "Be safe." When I saw this I just knew it was the reminder our family needed to see when we leave the safety of home. I want each of us to see it and remember to be careful, because we have people at home who love them and would be lost if they went away.

I ordered my decal from Imprinted Designs, and asked if they would be interested in collaborating on a giveaway for Family, Faith and DIY's followers. I spoke with Jennifer, and she was super helpful and nice. Not only are they giving away one of these amazing decals, but they are letting YOU choose the color. Now, how's that for awesome?  

I just wanted to show you how it turned out for me. I couldn't put this on my front door because of the way the door is designed. I put it on our garage door (which is the one we use most of the time anyways). 

First you get in in the right place...I double checked with a level to be certain it was straight. Then rub the decal on with a credit card. 

Next, carefully peel away the backing, I find that pulling diagonally works best for me. 

I couldn't be happier with the results! I'm thrilled with this little reminder. I love the color "Stormy Grey" too. It just makes this house even homier to me. Don't foget to enter the giveaway below! Contest ends on October 1, 2014.

~Come Home Safe~ Door Decal

Indoor "Garden" Party

Little Man invited some of his friends over for a play date today. Unfortunately, it is simply too hot here in South Florida for outdoor play right now, and it can be a bit boring for toddlers to play inside. So, I decided to have a little fun with it. The guests were asked to wear party attire (out of respect for their privacy the guests aren't in the pictures or their faces are hidden), I moved all the furniture out of the way and set up a kid-friendly Indoor "Garden" Party.

I don't think Little Man knew what to do with himself. He has never seen his house so topsy-turvy., but he liked it.

Here he is the morning of (in his mismatched jammies) enjoying the chaos. 

Just because the heat or rain or maybe even snow keeps you inside, it doesn't mean you have to settle for ordinary. I did my best to make a little play Utopia for them with what I had on hand...and at my parent's house. I set up a picnic table, reading area with books and a puzzle, a pillow pool, car mat area, crawl through bus and tunnel, teeter totter, tea set (one of the guests brought this for the party and it was a huge hit! It was a Leap Frog product, and if I had a girl, we would be getting one).  Fun was all around. 

The first guest was Skinny Latte Mommy's little Miss Cupcake. She and my Little Man are very good little friends. 

(Little Man really liked the tea set:)) 

Then we had to break for snack time. Skinny Latte Mommy brought a healthy, homemade snack for the kiddos...only four ingredients. Check out the recipe here. They are beautiful and I requested she leave a few behind for Little Man's snacking pleasure. 

Too bad these mommies never stop blogging and feed their kids, right? Haha! 

It was a lot of fun to do something different and unexpected. I think/hope everyone had a lovely time. I certainly did. 

Do you have any indoor play date ideas that you would like to share? I'd love to hear them! 

Yard Sales: Chic or Cheap?

I have lived my entire life mere miles from the sea and the richest island in the world. I live in southeast Florida, home to billionaires and beach bums alike. Let me tell you what SoFlo isn't really known for, but should be...yard sales. We have them every Saturday (weather permitting). It is such common practice that most of the people I know occasionally or regularly go out on Saturday mornings looking for a good buy. I have seen people that I know live like millionaires (I think they were but who really knows what's in someone else's bank account) at a yard sale. It's not really looked down on in my town. In fact, if someone tells you about the great deal they scored last weekend you should congratulate them (although secretly you grit your teeth because they got it and you chose to sleep in).

Here's the thing you should be aware of before you embark at 7:15AM on a Saturday: it's feast or famine. Seriously, I think I've gone out before without finding one thing, and then the next time I'm trying to cram it all into the back of my SUV. So, if at first you don't succeed....you know.

This past weekend was a feast:

Teeter Totter & Pop-up bus = 7.00 (But he didn't have the right change, so it ended up being 6.50)

Amazing Shoe Organizer = 15.00

Elmo (Little man loves Elmo) Potty training DVD .50

Total Cost $22.00

My shoes have never been so organized! (The heels didn't fit:( I have to go and buy three new pairs now, so I won't have empty spaces, right?)

 I decided to go around the house and snap a few pictures of some of my previous yard sale finds. The prices may be a little off, because I've had some of these things for years:

This little rocking chair just needed a fresh coat of paint. 

 

This huge (probably close to 3ft. wide), decorative bird cage had a little damage. Nothing a wreath couldn't hide:)

(We used this as a prop in Little Man's newborn pictures)

Also, I have had really great luck on Craigslist and local Facebook yard sale sites.

I like to buy toys this way because I never know what my little guy will play with and I hate wasting money on a toy that sits in the bin. My standard way of cleaning (sterilizing) these toys is with rubbing alcohol. I also you hot, soapy water, but almost always rubbing alcohol.

Cheap or Chic depends on your point of view, but I think they can be economically chic. Enjoy the treasure hunting, folks! 

DIY Bench Upcycle

I found this little forsaken bench in the trash (I am not a dumpster diver, but it was right there beside my car). I stuck it in the garage and forgot about it for a while. At long last, I finally started redecorating the master bedroom (that post will be coming along in a while) and this little bench got a new lease on life.

First, I sanded the sad little skeleton of the bench.





Then I used RUST-OLEUM's Flat White Spray Paint Primer. I hate painting, and if I can cheat by using a spray paint primer, I will! Unfortunately, I forgot to take picture of the primed and later painted bench. Since I didn't need very much paint, I cheaped out and bought a sample size of Valspar's Sparkling Sage 5005-3B paint. I had plenty left over.

I went to Lowe's with the exact measurements of the piece and they cut plywood to fit perfectly for me. Next, I needed fabric and foam....a trip to JoAnns. Yay! I placed the board over the foam and traced my outline with a Sharpie.

The best/easiest/exactest (that is a word) way to cut foam is with an electric knife. You get the nicest lines. 

Then I hot glued my foam and board together...just in case.

 I covered the board with my freshly ironed fabric and flipped the whole thing over. I had to take a lot of time to make sure everything was lined up perfectly since (silly me) I used a striped pattern. I hot glued the fabric down at first and then stapled over, but after a while I skipped the glue and just used the staple gun for everything. And, no, it's not very pretty, but hopefully nobody will ever come into the house and turn my furniture upside down. 

The corners were rather tricky, and I don't have any perfect way of doing it. I just tried folding and refolding until I got the look I wanted. 

After I was done with the fabric, I put the bottom part back on by drilling pilot holes with a drill and using wood screws to attach the two pieces.

Viola! I couldn't have been happier with the fabric I chose. It coordinates perfectly with the floral bedding I have, and I am already planning on acquiring more of the fabric for throw pillows.

What's In My Bag?

Do you read US Weekly Magazine? It's my favorite celebrity magazine. Although, since my little guy came along, I rarely see one. They have a section where a celebrity shows What's In My Bag, and they artistically "dump" the contents of their purse. Well, this is sort of like that, except I would have to go and buy pretty, perfect new versions of my favorite things, and artfully arrange everything, and get the proper lighting, etc.. It seems like a lot of work when I'm not fooling you or anyone else for that matter. My purse looks like a war zone. So, I'll simply list the things that help this mommy keep her sanity.

1.  Shredded Cheese - Seems weird right? My little man loves cheese, and has from early on. I worried about him choking on cheese, until one day I put a pile of shredded cheese on his tray. We haven't looked back since. 
2.   Multiple "Lovies" - My dear friend brought a little Sock Monkey "Lovie" to the hospital when Little Man was born. When we realized this would be his little companion throughout babyhood, I went to the store and bought three more: one for home, one for the car, one for nana & papaw's house and one for just in case. It has made life so much easier!
3.  Organic Lollipops - Now that Little Man is old enough to eat one the without sticky drool draining down his chin to his arm to his hand to everything nice I own, they are a life saver. Examples: Long lines, waiting rooms, lengthy car rides, etc.
4.  Disposable, Adhesive Place Mats - You can find them all over, but Walmart has them. There are 10 to a pack. I put one down when we go to restaurants and I don't have to worry about him licking the table where another germ infested toddler has just done the exact same thing in the exact same spot.
5.  NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer - this one's for you! Recently my friend let me try her eye brightener (just once) and I was hooked. Goodbye haggard dark circles and bags brought on from being awake all hours with your bundle of joy. Hello bright eyes! This is by far the most expensive thing on my single item, and by far the most expensive make-up I've ever owned, but oh so worth it. 
6.  Antibacterial Wipes - You already know this, but being a germaphobe, they help me stay sane. I use them everywhere! Literally! 
7.  Count 1 to 10 App - Little man went from jabbering random numbers here and there at 22 months to counting one through 10 all by himself at 23 months! There are two particular games: the Number Pop Game and the Count Along Game. Seriously, it's great!
8.  Emerald Cocoa Roasted Almonds - another one for you! A guilt free, quick snack (because going out for a leisurely lunch with your girlfriends isn't an option anymore) you can grab on the go. They taste like candy. Even my hubby likes them, and he does NOT like almonds. 
9. Aquaphor - Use this for lots of things: diaper rash, chapped lips, dry skin... (Soapbox Alert) As a former wound care nurse, I hate Neopsorin. Almost everyone knows that you shouldn't use Peroxide anymore (unless it's a really dirty wound) because it is so caustic it kills the good cells along with the bad. Well, Neopsorin does the same thing, plus it dries out the wound. Letting something "dry out" and scab over is not the best way to heal anything. Studies show that scabbing leaves more scars and takes longer to heal. So, if Little Man gets a boo-boo (and it looks clean) I put Aquaphor on it to keep it moist and cover with a Band-aid. Viola! It is magic on my dry hands too.
10. Date Night - Now I know this doesn't fit in a bag, and not everyone is blessed by having grandparents close by, but if you can manage it, it is so important. I was whining to my BFF a while ago about never getting/making time with my hubby since we were always with our son, and she said basically this, "You and he will always love your son, but you may not always love each other. You have to make the time." She is wise beyond her years (you know who you are). There are two things that must be done with great advice. First, you listen to it (we are going to dinner and the new TMNT movie this weekend), and you must pass it on (I just did). 

So, now I want to know, what's in your bag?