Bathroom Before and After

This is an old project, but since we aren't getting much new projects done lately, I'll share some projects from the past...

When we moved into our home, our bathroom looked like this.

I don't think it was updated since the house was built.

The linoleum was yellowed and peeling. 

The toilet seat was one of those that lets stored bathroom air out onto the back of your legs every time you sit down. 

The Hollywood strip light just didn't cut the mustard in my book...

So we (meaning my hubby) tackled it.

So much better! He did everything himself. New tile floor, new lighting, plumb in another sink, install sinks, install new toilet, replace outlet covers and bathroom fixtures... 

 We used the cabinets from either side of the sink to make a new one above the toilet. I painted the walls. I painted over the lovely shell border on the top of the shower tiles.

Finishing touches were a new shower curtain, 

bath mat, mirror, and window curtain.

Here is another before and after for the dramatic effect...

 

 
Don't I have the best husband!! :)

So Much Craziness

So in the middle of it all around here, 

we have a little one with Strep throat, 

and another little one potty training. 

Whooo! Life is crazy sometimes!

 I really like this Prince Lionhart potty seat seat from Target...

Of course, she stopped using the old crusty potty seat that we have right around the same time that I spotted this thing. 

Maybe the next potty trainer will get this one! 

Update On My Sweetheart

  I brought my husband to our family doctor today for a follow up appointment.  After another X-ray, the doctor determined that both of his collar bones are dislocated, and confirmed that there are 4 broken ribs. 
  He will have physical therapy/rehab for 4 weeks. He cannot work for at least 3 weeks. 
  We are so happy that it is not bad enough to order an immediate surgery. Today he has a little less pain. Things are looking up, we are so thankful. 

His fiberglass hard hat protected his head from injury.

The plastic hard hat he wore earlier this year would have 

completely crushed under the 4500 lb lid. 

...My fingers are itching to create. 

Hopefully as things settle into a temporary new "normal,"

 I'll get a chance to get a little sewing machine therapy!

A Difficult Time

  My plans of posting daily came to a halt... This post is going to have my crying. I'll do my best to keep it simple.


  On Wednesday morning, my dear husband was in an accident at work. He was working on an industrial pipe underground. He was down in a deep hole they had excavated, helping to guide a 4500 lb concrete lid to the end of the pipe where it would be attached. The cable that was holding the lid to the excavator suddenly snapped, dropping the huge lid onto him. 


  It was so fast, he had no time to react.  It crushed him into a small triangle shaped space, hardly big enough for him. His construction helmet was being pinched tighter and tighter. His shoulders were folded inward as far as they could. One arm was up in front of him. He could hear his hard hat cracking; his insides crushing, stretching, and snapping.  He managed to wiggle and twist sideways and pull his hand down from his chest, giving his chest just enough room to slightly inflate. He could feel his head getting squeezed tighter. 


  His coworkers looked in on him and he told them he was ok for a minute, just get it off quickly and carefully. He pulled with all he had to get his head down out of the hard hat. Once his head wasn't adding resistance inside the hard hat, he felt the lid pressing down farther on him, as the helmet crushed farther. A couple minutes after the cable snapped, the lid was lifted up enough that he crawled out from under it.   

 He then was brought to the ER. I met him there. The minute I walked into the room where he lay, both of us wept. I wanted to hug him and never let go, but he was too fragile. He still is.


  X-rays, Ultrasounds, CT Scan, and MRI show that he has 4 broken ribs and nerve damage to his right hand.  We can see that his collar bones are not in their proper places, and we are assuming this is due to cartilage damage between them.  As anyone could guess, all of his muscles, ligaments, and tissues from his chest up are very bruised and torn. 
  
  It really is a miracle that nothing more is harmed. His brain, his organs, his face, even his skin, is completely intact.  We are so so thankful for this.

  We are thankful just that he is alive. He had just bent over. Had he been standing, he'd have been crushed in the neck and face, and surely be dead. Had he not just bought a stronger hard hat, or chose not to wear it that day, his head would have been crushed.  If he wasn't as flexible as he is, he'd have much more damage to his bones.
    
  Pain is bearable when he lays still, but hurts to be upright.  It will be a while of healing, rest, and therapy in his hand before he is himself again.


  I almost cannot bear not to be by him now. It was such a close call. I love this man. I need this man. I feel like he is part of me. Our children love him and need him. I feel like I cannot thank God enough for preserving his life a while longer.  


  -Sylv
  

Inspiration Board Redo

My inspiration board has not been very inspirational to me lately...

Eep! It is mostly a heap of whatever is on my desk 

that I don't know what to do with. 

My perfectionist brain is not one bit OK with the chaos! 

So today I finally loaded up the trash bin and started over.

 Aaaah! Much better. I just tacked up some cheap Target clipboards.

The chaos is contained, and I can breathe again! 

This is my favorite part at the moment... 

It is a thank you note from my little cousin. I made him a "man- bag" and he was pleased. He also gave me a thank you gift- it was an opened carmel with a piece of chewed gum plastered to it.

Gotta love kids, it sure had me smiling!  

Happy Monday! 

-Sylv

Easter Dress

Last minute, I whipped out an Easter dress for the littlest one. 

I didn't have anything special, and couldn't stand the thought of spending a dollar more after our trip, so I dug through my archives 

and found an old skirt and an old table cloth (both from my Mom), 

and got to work cutting and sewing... until I had this dress:

I used this free pattern from prudentbaby. 

I used the existing hem in the skirt for the bottom, 

and some buttons from my stash.

Can't beat a free dress!! (Thanks Mom, for the fabric!)

Happy Easter!!!   

-Sylv

Our Gatlinburg Getaway

My Hubby and I had a lovely little vacation in Gatlinburg, TN.

On Sunday, we dropped the kids at my parents and hit the road.

We were just giddy. We felt like teenagers again, driving off with no care in the world but each other. 

We rented a little cabin in the woods on the side of the mountain. It is beautiful there. We were impressed with how steep those mountain roads were.

 We spent a lot of time checking out the little shops downtown, 

and bought some Easter candy for the kids.

We went to Ripley Aquarium, it was so neat!

We loved the shark exhibit 

but it was dark and hard to get a good picture of it. 

  These king crabs were HUGE! 

There was so much to look at!

 We went for a mountain hike on a trail that followed a river.

There were so many stunning views along the way. 

 Friday came quickly, and we were sad to leave.

But we are so thankful for that time together, 

and so happy to see our little ones again. 

Have a good weekend!                 -Sylv

My Favorite Peeps

The kids and I put together some Easter treats for their friends...

Here is what we did:

Gather your supplies.You will need: Peeps, Sandwich Bags, Stapler, and Labels. 

To make the labels, I first made the image using picnik. I don't have any fancy programs to help me with formatting so I just pasted it into a word document twice and move the bottom margin down. Then I printed it onto white cardstock.

 Colored cardstock would be cute too!

To make the labels fit the bags, first cut the page in half. 

 Now fold each one in half horizontally. 

 Trim the ends to match the width of the baggie. 

 Now place the baggie into the fold.

 And staple the paper down to the plastic.

The kids loved helping to stuff the peeps into the bags.

They also had fun deciding 

who their "favorite peeps" are to give them to. :)

Enjoy! 

-Sylv

Succulent Love

If I could be a plant, I would be a succulent.

They are tough.

They don't need much to thrive off.

They will even survive on a rock.

 They are beautiful.

And they love sunshine.

Enjoy your day! I hope it is sunny where you are!

-Sylv

Another Tee Shirt to Toddler Dress Refashion

Some inspiration for ya...

Here is another little comfy dress 

I made from an old tee using this tutorial.

 

I did a couple things differently... The shirt was the right length already, so I didn't have to hem the bottom- bonus!! :) 

I also added a wooden button just for fun.  

If you make one, be sure to email me a pic, I'd love to see!

Have a good day! 

-Sylv

Peanut Butter Eggs

At Easter-time, I cannot walk past the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs without drooling a little. There is just something about them. 

Maybe its because they are heavy on the peanut butter compared to regular Reese's cups. Maybe its because you get more even though you still only ate "one." 

So, while being as the store is farther away than the pantry, and it is easier to stay home than haul all the kids to the store, I made them.

And now I have to try not to eat them all before anyone else does! 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups natural peanut butter

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1 cup powdered sugar

2 T butter, softened

1 bag chocolate chips

2 T shortening

Directions:

Mix peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and butter until combined.  Form into "egg" shape and place onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet. 

 Place in freezer for 1/2 hour.  Once a half hour has passed, place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwavable bowl and microwave on high for one minute.  Stir and  microwave 30 seconds more. Remove eggs from freezer and dip in chocolate immediately, placing on wax paper to cool. Makes a dozen eggs.

These really are so good and very similar to Reese's! Try them! 

Enjoy!

-Sylv

Chai Granola

I love chai tea. I love granola. 

I especially love chai granola.

I eat it every morning with milk.

I love the decaf chai latte that gets left in the bowl when I am done.

I received this recipe from my mother in law,

and have adapted it to my own liking. 

Mom and Dad in law also give us the 

delicious homemade maple syrup that I use in it.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 T dark molasses

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp cardamom powder

2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1/8 cup flax seed meal

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup slivered almonds 

Directions:

  Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

  In a mixing bowl, mix first 8 ingredients until combined.

  Add oats and flax meal and stir until fully coated.

  Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and bake 20 min.  Remove from oven and stir. Replace in oven and bake 10 more min. 

  Remove from oven and let cool 20 min.

  Mix in raisins, cranberries, and almonds.

  Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Enjoy!! 

Thanks again Mom and Dad for the syrup!! :)

Disclaimer: The images above are a (triple) batch that I made and I forgot the molasses, so yours will be a shade darker. Oops!

Toddler Boy Pants

Cheri at iammommahearmeroar posted a super cute tutorial on making rockstar pants here for the little boy in your life.

Here is my version:

 

I made them from an old pair of Dad's corduroys.

I'm not sure who was more pleased- me with the free project, or him with the spiffy jeans!   

-Sylv