pizza, pizza, yummy pizza

Not too long ago we ordered pizza from Domino's.
Tytan enjoyed it.
Enough said.

He is in the most fun stage right now. He has such a funny little personality. Always happy!

He loves playing basketball. Watching Mickey. Eating cottage cheese. Sleeping with mommy and daddy. Going outside. All animals. and right now.. taking the ornaments off the tree! :]

Cold days are NOT boring!

Recently, i have become a part of a group on facebook with hundreds of moms. It's a place where moms can go and ask questions and other moms can answer! What a great idea right? Well I have started to notice a couple people have asked What kinds of stimulating activities are best for cold days with toddlers?! Well, we have found a few things to keep busy!

Today we played with paint! I put four large drops of different colored paints inside a large ziplock bag. Then I let Tytan move the colors around! We wrote his name, wrote out numbers, shapes, and talked about the colors!

At first, I taped it to the window, but because it was so bright outside, he couldn't see very well, so we went to the living room!

Some other things we have found to be fun is...

playing basketball!

Tytan usually shoots by himself, but sometimes he likes Dad's help!

Going to PetCo!

Teaching them how to use tools!

Going to get frozen yogurt! Or hot chocolate :]

There are also a few others that we have enjoyed doing, but I didnt get pictures of!

--Walking on pillows-- I know this sounds funny, but it really helps with their balance and coordination to lay pillows around the room and have them walk on them. Tytan thinks it's hilarious when he falls!

--Exercise with them!-- Recently I have been working out at home rather than a gym. Tytan likes to do planks with me, and I use him as my weights. I will do a post about that sometime in the future!

--Counting out all our fruit snacks, cookies, crackers, and any other treat he gets during the day! 

--Having them help clean-- I make Tytan put all his dirty laundry and toys away where they go. He also helps put the dirty laundry in the washing machine and dryer. He puts his dishes away in the dishwasher when he is done. And when he spills something on the floor, I have taught him to get a towel and clean it up. Though he is not always perfect, I feel like it is teaching him self sufficiency and these are his "daily chores". 

There are many other things that can keep you and your kids busy during the day without constantly watching tv or playing with toys. If you have any other things that you have found have help you get through your day, comment below! I always love new ideas!

box that rocks!

My last trip to DI, my friend Courtney and I found this... box.

lame. right?

But we had a vision. 

Cover the top in fabric and stick some legs on it! 

So I tufted a top for it.

We used the vaseline method to antique it.

HOW TO:

So we took a grey acrylic paint and painted on edges and corners. Then once it dried we covered the grey with vaseline. Then spray painted with the white. Once the paint dried, we wiped off the vaseline which then shows the grey!

Then we got legs from Lowe's, painted them, and stuck them on! 

It's a perfect ottoman with great storage!

brighten up that living space!

 When Braden and I first moved into our house, our living room starting out like this...
Sure, I liked it. But I always felt it was pretty dark. BROWN, BROWN, BLACK, DARK PURPLE, DARK GREEN.

So after 2 years, I finally changed it! LET'S BRIGHTEN IT UP!

I used some of the same things, I spray painted the frame. And just changed out some of the darker decorations for cream and white. With this new table, It definitely lightened up the space! which I LOVE! :]

Have you ever smelt the candle VOLCANO?? Oh, it has become my new FAVORITE! 

You can get it at Bohme, Anthropologie, or Amazon!

Once you have kids, their airplanes, toys, and tv shows become a permanent part of your decor! 

(it's one of my favorite parts :])

and thats the living area! :]

it's a brand new vase!

I found this ugly little thing at DI for $2.00 about a year ago. I knew sometime I would paint it, I just never found the time! But finally, I decided exactly what I wanted to do with it...

I love the finished product!

HOW TO:
I chose a cheap white spray paint from walmart. I spray painted the whole vase with the white and then taped a line where I wanted the gold to be. I sprayed on the metallic gold (from walmart) and for some reason, it crackled. Dont ask me how, it just did! Which makes me love it even more!

Now the one on the right I bought at DI last week for $4. Unfortunately I totally forgot to take a before picture :[ but let me ensure you.. IT WAS UGLY. It was multicolored swirls. But I loved the shape! On this vase I actually used a white paint+primer from hobby lobby, then taped and sprayed the gold. It didnt crackle. So I am GUESSING it may be from the primer. But I honestly dont know :] Then I spray painted some sticks and WALA! (i think that's how i would spell it)

BRAND NEW VASES!

DIY backsplash!

This weekend my mom came to Logan to #1 watch Tytan. but #2 was to help me put in a backsplash in our kitchen! She is the greatest! It was much easier than I expected and I absolutely LOVE the finished product!

All together the project cost:

Tiles: $81.60

Grout: $10

Glue to stick the tiles on: $24

Blade to cut the tiles: $40

Border by the window: $3

Outlet extenders: $6

Longer screws: $4

Total Cost: $168.60

Tytan's nursery!!

Before it was Tytan's nursery, this was the guest bedroom (yellow and grey). But once we found out Tytan was coming, we changed to white, taupe, and blue! 

I bought this dresser and changed it from light blue to a darker blue!

There are a few changes I have made, but for the most part, this is how it looks! 

I have definitely realized how hard it is to fit all their swings, and jumpers, and toys in just ONE room. But we have somehow made it work! (kind of) :]