Just Do It.

 Wow. We went from a fairly structured (busy) school schedule to a much anticipated non-structured summer vacation. We were so happy to close the books on this school year. It was great, and I'm already getting excited about the new curriculum I ordered for next year...but we needed a vacation!

Problem? You know that saying...Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile? Yeah. We got some mileage issues at our house. It's not just the kids. I get up, shower, do dishes and laundry...ya know, the basics. But I have no schedule (except piano lessons), my house isn't clean. And exercise? Umm...

It's time to snap out of it. There can be freedom in a little structure and planning. I was recently telling a friend that I need to make a meal plan again, and she said, "Just do it." So, here I am. (Thanks, Kristin!) I needed that. I also need accountability. (Hence the babbling.) I'm more likely to stick with something if someone else knows I'm trying to do it, so I'm telling you guys:)

Today, I spent some time getting reacquainted with Shaun T. We're not friends. Between you and me, I'm not totally convinced that he's not part machine. Last time we hung out, he gave me shin splints. Still, you can't argue with the sweat and muscle soreness this guy brings on. He knows what he's doing. Anyway, he introduced me to some ab muscles I hadn't remembered meeting before, and then I dusted off the bowflex so my other muscles wouldn't feel left out.

I was reminded of a few things today:

1. I love how I feel after a workout.
2. I do have 45 minutes for exercise...it just may be disguised as computer time.
3. When I exercise, my children either (a) join in or (b) quickly run upstairs and quietly play to avoid a workout...it's kinda win-win :)
4. The body does remember...but man, can it hold a grudge.
5. Procrastination will always keep my goals out of reach.

Next up...getting back into a chore schedule and following a meal plan.

If you made it through all that...thanks! Sometimes a girl just needs to ramble :)

Ironing Board Cover

 

Does your ironing board look like this?

13 years of steam and spray starch can do some nasty damage. I've been wanting to make a new cover for a long time. I finally got around to it, and it was a really quick and easy project. Wanna prettify your ironing board?...

You will need:
white cotton fabric
patterned fabric
lightweight cotton batting
fabric marker or pencil
sewing machine and thread
ribbon

*Take 1/2-in. seam allowances throughout unless otherwise stated.

Lay the ironing board on the white fabric and trace around it, adding 4 in. all around.

{Is it ironic that I didn't iron the fabric for the ironing board? hehe:)}

Cut out.

Cut a piece of patterned fabric and a piece of cotton batting to the same size.

Lay the patterned fabric right side up on your work surface. 

Place the white cotton on top, with the batting on top of the cotton.

Pin and machine stitch through all the layers, 

leaving an opening of about 6 in at the straight end.

Snip the seam allowance to 1/4 in. all the way around.

Turn the cover right side out, and press. 

Measure and machine stitch a line 2 in. in from the edge all the way around.

Attach a safety pin to the end of the ribbon, and thread it through the channel all the way around the cover.

Pull the ribbon to gather the cover over the ironing board, and secure with a bow.

Now, I just need to stop ignoring that ironing pile...

What's under your sink?

In an effort to be a little more transparent and real in my bloggy home, I thought I'd show you one of my messy areas...under the kitchen sink. I decided to clean it out yesterday. It was looong overdue.This is what it looked like:

I guess it had become the I-don't-know-where-to-put-that-so-I'm-gonna-stick-it-in-here place. I pulled everything out and was kinda surprised at how much I had in there!

Some of these things do not belong here at all. Like the CD's. They get shoved in there when we don't feel like putting them away. I found quite the mix...everything from Fleetwood Mac to Enter the Haggis to Casting Crowns. Not sure what that says about us.

I also had candles I never burn because I don't like the scent, lotion I don't use because it's not even close to being natural, and more vases than I ever have flowers.

I threw some things away, donated others, put things in their proper place, and bought a couple baskets. It's not magazine worthy, but it's definitely more organized.

Now, if I could just get motivated enough to organize my paper/filing mess. 

I won't be showing you a picture of that today...there are limits;)

The dreaded stairwell-painting project

This is how the corner of my living room has looked for about a year now...

I'm ashamed to say that I didn't really even see it anymore.

I was procrastinating. 

Big time.

I wasn't sure how I was going to reach those corners!

It's not just two stories...it's two stories with stairs, so a ladder is tricky.

For anyone who doesn't know...I have a perfectionism issue. 

I tend to stress about details. 

I can be an all or nothin' kind of person. 

I'm finally realizing that it separates me from so many wonderful things. 

I'll never achieve perfection...in myself, my children, or my house. 

My wise and wonderful friend, Heather, reminds me that sometimes OK is best.

So, with paintbrush in hand and Nester's words repeating in my head...

{it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful...} 

I tackled my stairwell.

 Normally, I paint the corners and edges with a brush.
But normally, I can reach those corners.

My hi-tech solution to this problem?

 Duct tape. Paintbrush. Extension poll.

They got along quite nicely.

I used an edger for the top...also attached to an extension poll. {but not with duct tape:)}

It worked well, for the most part. 

Except for when it didn't.

This corner mocked me for a while, but I kept going.

For touch ups, I introduced my duct tape to a smaller brush.

Controlling a tiny brush on the end of a very long poll above my head was not the easiest or most graceful thing I've done this week. 

I would get the ceiling paint touched up only to slip a little and mess up the wall. 

Rinse. Repeat.

It's not perfect. 

But it's OK.

And honestly...

Perfection does not exist this side of Heaven, so why would I expect it on my walls?

Stairway project: Complete :)

Linking to:

Anti-Procrastination Tuesday

A Must Read

Have you read today's post at Small Notebook?

I think it was written for me.

This is exactly where I find myself.

Overflowing with ideas for projects that I never have time to do.

I think about them. 

Picture them. 

Stress about not being able to do them. 

Somehow, these fun ideas find their way onto my never ending list.

The list that weighs me down.

If you haven't read it, I encourage you to hop over and do so. 

It's helpful, if you find yourself in my boat {or craft closet}.

Even the title is perfect...

How to Protect Your Time From Too Many Good Ideas

Love it.

Pillow Talk

I've been kinda busy.

Honestly, I don't know how some of you ladies do it! When we're not schooling, we're trying to clean up the house, run errands, go to piano lessons, soccer practice, gym class...

If I actually get a chance to sit down and blog, I find myself without words. {or energy} 

My project list is ridiculous. 

And growing.

My purpose for sharing this is not to complain, but to explain how excited I am about getting something done! Even something small. 

Like pillows.

We bought a couch, chair, and ottoman on Craig's List a few months ago. It was only a week old. The man bought it and wasn't happy with how the color looked in his house. {read bachelor pad} For a couple hundred dollars, we got brand new furniture for our living room.  I don't even mind the color. It's a light sea foam color. {and pretty comfortable}

Anyway, the pillows that came with it are a little too geometric and manly for me. 

I've been wanting to sew some pillow covers to soften the look.
Simple project, I know...but woo hoo! I finally got it done!

You can find some helpful information on covering pillows here.

I just kept mine very basic with an envelope style back so I can remove them for washing.  

See? My man-pillow is in there.

I also had an unused pillow form that I wanted to cover. I just used muslin for the main fabric. I cut 4 long strips of coordinating fabric (french script) 2" wide each, zigzagged the edges, and sewed down the center of each to ruffle them. Then, I attached the ruffles to the right and left side of the pillow front.

I printed out an "M" in a font I liked, cut it out, and traced it onto my pillow front. I just used my trusty black acrylic paint to fill it in. 

I kinda like it:) 

Our last name does start with "M"...but I think I'll call this the "Marie" pillow. 

Tootsie doesn't mind. 

And boys don't appreciate ruffles.

Linking to
Anti-Procrastination Tuesday
All Things Inspired

Flat sheets come through again!

After months and months of this project hanging over my head, I'm finally finished! Tootsie needed curtains in her bedroom. She had some purple sheers from Wal-Mart hanging in her windows. They were definitely a temporary fix. They made the room feel gloomy, and yet somehow let too much morning sun in. {"Hey, the sun is up, so it must be time for me to wake everyone in the house!"} Plus, it made her windows look purple from outside. Not my idea of curb appeal.

I bought some flat sheets from Wal-Mart a while ago. {I know...I'm not a fan of that store. But I love using inexpensive things to get the result I want. Beats paying $100 for curtains.} Two twin-sized for the single window and two full-sized for the double window. Very cheap. Very simple. I just cut strips of fabric {matching Tootsie's chair} and zig-zag stitched around the edges. Then I folded each strip in half and sewed them along the top edge of the flat sheet/curtain. My original plan was to sew a ruffle of some kind going down the center edge of each panel, but it took me months to get this far, so I think we'll let it go for a while. Less is more, right? RIGHT?

 I still need to paint the walls, paint the dresser, get her a bigger bed, probably paint that, and make her a butterfly quilt. But that's another season...at least.

Tootsie found these butterflies at Michael's and loooved them. They have clips underneath, so we clipped them to the curtains.

This pink disco ball was Tootsie's pick for a Christmas decoration for her room. {She even called it a "pink disco ball". How does she know what a disco ball is?} We're letting it stay up. I really don't see Christmas when I look at this thing. She loves it because it makes pink sparkles in her room when the sun hits it :)

Linking to:

Anti-procrastination Tuesday

All Things Inspired