Free Mother's Day Card!

That special day for moms is in a week-- May 8th! Tinyprints.com has amazing, customizeable cards that are just adorable! Put in the code MDLOVE to get an awesome card for free (they'll even ship it direct for you.) Head on over!

Chalkboard Project and Giveaway!

My momma brain limits my memory to about 10 seconds, so it's vital to write down anything of importance. I've been wanting to make a chalkboard to jot down notes for a while now, and have just been searching for the perfect frame. I finally found this gorgeous beauty at an awesome thrift/ antique store in Roy. (It's called Second Tyme Around) The whole creation was easy and quick.

My supplies included:

The frame (originally plain wood in need of sanding and a coat of paint)

Chalkboard paint (about $6 at Lowes)

Spray paint

Antiquing glaze

MDF board to use for the chalkboard(so super cheap! I think it was $4 for a piece bigger than this. Plus, the hardware store will usually cut it to size for free)

Nails1. I sanded the frame, painted it with two coats of lime green paint, and let dry. Then I painted on the glaze, and wiped it off, so it was only left in the intricate, fine lines.

2. I painted the MDF board (already cut to the right size) with the chalkboard paint. I think I did 6 coats, and it's recommended to do at least 4.

3. I placed the chalkboard in the frame, and hammered in some very small nails to keep it in place.

Once we move I'll find a perfect place for it up on the wall! I just love how the bright green pops against the black- YUM!

I also made a mini-chalkboard using an old picture frame. It's perfect to put on your nightstand and write sweet messages to your hubby or kids. Want one? I'm giving away a mini chalkboard, and the winner gets to choose the frame color, so it'll match any room you want to put it in.

To enter, just leave a comment with your name and e-mail.

**Want another entry? Follow my blog and let me know in another comment that you did.

**Giveaway goes till May 5th.

This post is linked up at SimplyDesigning.

I love us...

I cherish the precious moments when I am with my hubby and baby, breathing a big sigh of happiness, just thinking, "I love us." These moments have become more rare as my sweet lump of a baby has turned into a curios, crazy toddler. I am thankful to have a reminder of how thankful I am for my little family. Say it in your house with an adorable printout from eighteen25! They just come up with the cutest printouts to put up in your house, and they're free. I think I want the navy one. Find all the colors HERE and HERE. Adorable!

Because of you...

Because of you:

* I make sound effects and don't even realize it...

* The laundry is never finished.

* Cheerios are now a staple in my diet.

* All of my jeans have holes in the knees.

* I'm not afraid of boogers, vomit.... need I go on?

* I never take a shower without playing peek-a-boo with the shower curtain at the same time.

* Have more tears and sorrows, but also receive more joy and blessings.

* My heart has grown three sizes, and is filled to capacity with a love I couldn't have imagined.

* My understanding of sacrifice has increase 10X.

* My reflexes have greatly improved, and sometimes, I can even forsee accidents before they happen.

* I laugh at the small things, things that matter to you and fill us both with joy.

* I am proud to be your mother, your example, your best girlfriend.

Happy Birthday my dear Princess E. Life will never be the same, and I'm ok with that. Love and kisses, Mommy

Sheetrock

We all know that babies like to put everything in their mouths, from dried out apples to pieces of tape, to bits of lint. Most of the time, I just let Elsie be, because whatever she has can't really hurt her. Well... last week she found something quite disturbing to eat. My child has a fascination with the bathroom, especially loving the height of the tub for walking along. Right on the outside of the shower is a piece of wall that has repeatedly gotten wet, and the paint has peeled off.
What happened the other day follows-

Me: Cleaning up while Elsie plays, then looking for her when I notice she is missing. I peek inside the bathroom. "What are you doing princess?"

Elsie: Looks up at me, with a smear of white across her face. Shakes her head. (This means she doesn't want to be caught in the act of whatever she is doing.) Elsie is scratching her fingers on the exposed sheetrock, getting a little off, and eating it! Gross! Whatever even possessed her to do that?!

Whenever I don't pay attention, she heads for the bathroom, and sometimes even makes it to her special little spot. It seems she liked the taste of sheetrock. But don't worry, I'm making sure to repaint it tomorrow!

Win a FREE Trip!

I am always on the lookout for clothing companies who have cute pieces that are reasonably priced. Impel Clothing is one of these great companies. I'm in love with the grey and yellow tunic show above. Check out their simple, beautiful, and MODEST clothes here. They are also doing an amazing giveaway right now where you can Win a FREE Trip!

Living Thrifty

I have started to become a very thrifty person. I frequent the D.I., department store clearance racks, and even stop by the sale food grocery cart in the back of the store. Here are some ways I stay so cheap, and I would love to know about your ways to save as well!

1. Choosing to use cloth diapers will save us $2000 every year, and I actually have come to love them. It cost about $150 to purchase 30 diapers. This is enough to clean a load every other day. Elsie hardly ever gets diaper rashes, and she looks so cute sporting several different colors or prints.
2. Dropping our phone plan and adding additional lines to my parent's plan has saved a lot. We were paying $85 a month for a very basic plan for the two of us. Adding an additional line to their existing family plan only costs $10 a month.
3. I've gotten $100s of dollars of free items from freebies and giveaways. Find facebook/ twitter pages of your favorite stores, and follow them. There are so many great companies that do tons of giveaways. Some of my favorites are: Bearpaw, Sanuk, BareMinerals, Sephora, Lime Ricki Swimwear, Fabulous Fun Finds, and The Vintage Pearl. This helps to satisfy my shopping fix.
** Now let me know what you do!