un-toys

ran across this post about un-toys a few days ago... it really got me (re) thinking.
We'll see what new things around here we can add into our play (besides the normal spoons, cups, and pans that Sophia drags out...) :)

He's a lego maniac

Our Matthew has turned into quite the Lego maniac as of late.

For Christmas he got an Indiana Jones Lego set and he played with it quite a bit, then took a break... but these past weeks, it's the first thing he asks to play with in the morning, and the last thing he's playing with before bed time. Matthew has become quite creative.

He's adapted it to include his new favorite theme: Star Wars (more on how that came to be later- maybe tomorrow)


This is Darth Maul with his double ended light saber (life saver if you're Matthew, though I fail to see how those things have saved too many lives). And, when those poles aren't connected, each is a light saber for other characters.

Susan's boyfriend, Josh, showed Matthew how to use those apple baskets as backpacks/ capes, but the rest of it he's come up with all on his own.

Naturally, with so many little pieces, some are bound to be lost (currently Indiana J's hat, the guy in white, among other pieces). That does not deter Matthew- he finds a random building piece and ta-da! You have a battle droid.

He's even made a y-wing


I need to call the Lego company, we need to get a commercial deal. :)

* I feel the need to explain that Matthew has not seen any Star Wars movie- he received a toy, found an old poster and then began asking many questions. He's been shown a few select movie clips by his dad and they've played some Lego Star Wars "together".

hair bow organizer

After seeing Carrie's bow organizer, I decided it was time Sophia had one too. I was glad that Carrie thought a larger one would work, because I had this 16 x 20 frame in the basement. I'd already painted it white, though I don't know what I'd previously planned to do with it...

I cut wood for the back of the frame and then layered batting and fabric on top, because it was what I had on hand and because it would match Sophia's room (I've previously made curtains and a cushion for a little seat for her). I then evenly spaced ribbon down the length of the board and attached it to the frame with the prongs that were intended for the back of the frame (missing, along with the glass). I think this look would also be adorable with a few small frames with various fabric hung together as a collage...

no pictures of the process or it hanging with bows on it because my camera is broken. nice huh? Luckily my sister has her old camera that shes going to let me use until we get a new one (Susan, I need to get that from you), which will be... Christmas maybe?

again- I'm linking up... because that cupcake tower looks awesome.

toy box

After reading about how Melissa at The Inspired Room does the "Meh test" I walked around my house and tried to see things with a fresh eye. Granted I do this from time to time any way, but lately my focus has been on what needs to be cleaned, not necessarily what I can or need to do to room to make it feel fresh, to make it feel beautiful to me (and those who see it).

After reading that post and walking around my house, I realized that most of our day to day living spaces were... well, they were fine. There was nothing WRONG with them, but nothing terribly exciting either... and so- I decided it was time to start freshening things up, so that when I walk into a room, I feel happy and inspired, and I'm not saying "meh..."

project number one: a toy box.

I've been wanting to add some toy storage to Matthew's room for a while now, we've had a wall that's felt empty ever since I moved the changing table out to the living room to employ it as a small desk and to freshen up THAT room this past fall.

First I thought I wanted the Hemmes storage bench from IKEA, but then when I saw the new pottery barn catalog, I was inspired (as it seems so many are out there today) by their new toy box:
But again- I didn't want to pay $200...

My mom had a toy box in her basement that she and my dad had rescued from the garbage. She told me that if I'd find something else for her to store the stuff that she'd been keeping in the topless toy box, I could have it....

Soon after, I brought it home:

I quickly got to work on this project and finished it in a week, a week- that's fast for me, especially considering we had a birthday party that weekend for our special soon to be 4 year old!

I lightly sanded and then painted it white
and then using the method as described by Layla at the lettered cottage, I added Matthew's name

the cost? well.... free! can't beat that!


I have more plans for updating our decor, 3 projects which I know won't cost me a dime. I plan on accomplishing those before I beg Erik for new curtains and blinds in our room... :)

too cute not to share...

had to share a picture from our morning of pumpkin muffin/ donut making....

more of what we've been up to later in the week. :)

ever had one of those mornings?

The kind where the kids are playing quietly in the bedroom while you make some phone calls to stores about an important Christmas gift... then you go to check on them and this is what you find:


the big one has taken off the little one's clothes and diaper, they've dumped out all of the toys, gotten into the baby thermometers, nail clippers, and baby wipes.... and then when you kneel down to put a diaper on the baby, and your knee is wet?

yeah... looks like it's going to be one of those days....

every woman's dream