Half bath mirror frame

Yesterday I was scrolling through my pictures and I saw ALOT of pictures I took that I planned on writing a post about.

Oopsy Daisy!

So right now while I sit here and watch the Oscars being awarded I will get some of the pictures together for you.

These pictures that I am about to show you all are over a year over due!

I know when it was because I finished this project right before we started potty training Little Romeo.

Which also means that we have been diaper free in the household for over a year!

Oh what a blessing diaper free can be. Almost as refreshing as debt free. :)

This time around I threw a Potty Party for little Romeo. Where I decorated with Yellow streamers and balloons. Gave Romeo as much Kool-aid as his little heart desired and let him pick out which big boy underwear he wanted to wear.

Yes, people we go straight to big boy underoos in this house. No pull ups, not even at night!

I am CRAZY that way. 

Romeo was completely potty trained in half a day! Wild Man being the stubborn first born that he is...took 3 days.

But after all the festivities, we sat Romeo on the potty with toys that he loves around him, waiting for him to do the deed for the first time.

Here is Wild Man trying to explain to him how going on the big boy potty works.

Then here is is playing on his Mobi go waiting until he is an official big boy.

Anyways, I thought I took a before pictures of the bathroom. But I just can't find one.

So here is how it started. On my dining room table.

Then I painted it.

Must have been taking down my Christmas decorations at the time...

Here it is all glued up!

I also painted the cabinet...again sorry no before picture.

I added silver hardware. There wasn't any hardware before.

I don't think the cabinet was dusty. I think it was just how the pictured turned out. But then again it was a year ago...I can't really remember if it was really dusty or not.

If you want a real step by step tutorial on how to frame your own boring mirror. I made one a while back. Click here to see it.

My black hutch

Here is a story about a hutch.

There once was a hutch on Craigslist for $30.

When my eyes laid upon its ad, I had to have it!

The longer it stayed in my garage the more stuff accumulated on it and then it started to become a permanent fixture in the garage.

Then it came time to move and I thought I would sell it so I spray painted it black put some black and white damask wallpaper in the back, and painted the handles heirloom white. Then put it on Craigslist.

I can't even remember how much I was asking for it any more, but it didn't sell. Not even one inquiry. Which is extremely rare.

I had a bunch of neighbors comment on it, but no bites.

Then we found the new place where we were to lay our heads. I saw a small kitchen and stressed over how much stuff we would be able to stuff into the kitchen and how I would be able to continue my addition to junk drawers.

Did I mention I have a love for junk drawers?

I mean how can you not love a drawer to just throw things into it when it can make your counters look neat and clean?

Then when we drove back to our old house and opened the garage door. I saw my solution right in front of me.

Ding, ding, ding!!

So I took the hutch off of Craigslist and got to keep it for myself!

Here is it in our kitchen.

When we were registering for our dishes and such while Mr. Genius and I were engaged. Instead of getting china we decided on plain white dishes. Because we are not very formal people and white goes with everything! Best thing we could have done!

We also have an "everyday" set that is colorful. But it is in storage right now since we had to be limited in what we brought in.

While this piece was sitting in the garage it somehow got the paint rubbed off. I think I set down a towel that had a little bit of paint remover on it.

And now look my fix!

If I am anything...I am easy. ;)

Fixer that is.

Today little Romeo and I made a treat for our bible study group tonight.

Super easy... huge marshmellows, white chocolate to dip in and then dip them into sprinkles.

Easy peasy.


But the best part of this hutch is that I get to have not 1...

 not 2...

But 3 junk drawers!

I know, I know, I know. I need to organize my junk drawers. But then they wouldn't be junk drawers, they would be neat drawers.

So it kind of defeats the purpose then, right?

Anyways, I really like this hutch.

It is supper easy to put our dishes away. It allows me to save my counter space by putting items on it rather then leaving items out on the counter.

We also have room to put the boys cups and plates. The great things is that it is down low, so they can pick their own plates and cups (and take them out of the dishwasher for me and put them away).

I love the detail on the top!

So there it is, my hutch!

What do you think?

I am linking to these parties.

Monday: The DIY Showoff, Skip to my Lou, Between Naps on the Porch Tuesday: Tip Junkie, Today's creative Blog , 

House of Grace , Just a Girl Wednesday: Blue Cricket Designs, Domestically Speaking, Someday Crafts Thursday: House of Hepworths, Shabby Chic Cottage Friday: Miss Mustard Seeds, My Romantic Home, Funky Junk Interiors, Shabby Nest, Finger Prints on the Fridge Saturday: Tatortots and Jello, Be Different act normal Sunday: Under the table and dreaming, I heart naptime 

Life as a Renter

Whoa where did the last 3 months go?!

Well let me tell you we have been busy!

I know a lot of you have been asking me how life is now and well I thought I should tell you. I am not going to sugar coat it either. 

Moving to this apartment has been...well...a challenge. To say the least.

At first we were really thinking, "Holy Moly, did we make the right decision?"

The first challenge was the boys sharing a room.

Great googly moogly. We went from the boys going to sleep with NO problems at 8pm and waking up at about 6:30-7 while at the house to moving here and having a "playmate" in the bed next to them. Which caused them to not go to sleep til around 10-11 and waking up at 5:30! No one in this house was a happy camper during the day.

The lack of alone time was an issue for me. Being more on top of each other started stressing me out. I was snappier with the boys and with Mr. Genius. But the snappiness could have a little to do with the lack of sleep too.

But the biggest problem since moving into this apartment is that we have been sick... ALOT!

The first time I walked into this apartment the smell from the chemicals they put in the carpet literally took my breath away.

I quickly opened all the windows to try to air it out. Then bought LOTs and LOTs of baking soda to pull up the smell. Which did help. But the chemicals were still in the carpet. 

Since moving in we have since found out that the previous tenants had 4-5 dogs! So the chemicals was to cover up the smell. Yuck!

Well I have told you all about how Romeo had a horrible cough for over a year and nothing would get rid of it until I changed our cleaners to Shaklee cleaners. Well...lets just say the reaction to the chemicals in the carpet or whatever is in the apartment has been worse the just a cough. Mr. Genius has been the only one that hasn't gotten sick. The boys and I have been VERY sick with upper respiratory infections. So sick in fact that we have spent more in medical co pays in the past 3 months then we have spent in the past 2 years.

But it hasn't been all horrible.

The first little light at the end of the tunnel was when we got our first gas and electric bill. Combined they were $90! Which is amazing to us, considering that we were paying 4 times that a month in the house, especially in the winter. 

One of my real concerns about living in the apartment was the fact that we would not have a garage.

Now that might not seem like a horrible thing to some of you. But let me remind you what our driveway looked like at almost exactly a year ago.

Being that we live in Chicagoland where we get a lot of snow, and then me being still not very accustomed to the snow. It caused me some stress about not having a garage.

But miracle of all miracles, just like the rest of the country we have had the best winter this southern girl could ever ask for!

I mean look! It is February and we are not wearing gloves or hats! and there isn't any snow on the ground! This winter has been a true blessing!

Also this apartment has really grown on us. Mr. Genius came home one day from work and said, "Is it weird that I am starting to really like our little apartment?"

I sat and thought about it for a second and said, "No, I am really starting to like it too!"

We feel like it is our little warm cave. Yes, I do wish it had one more bedroom and updated appliances. But we are really starting to enjoy it here.

On a side note, we got a air purifier and have been using all our Shaklee cleaners. So far we haven't been sick for almost 3 weeks! Yippee. We are crossing our fingers that we stay that way.

Having a smaller place has its perks. It takes me about 30 minutes to clean this entire place bathrooms and all. Not having a yard to worry about opens our weekends up. We have been able to spend more time together as a family. We really are enjoying that part.

I know there will be more trials and challenges that I plan on sharing along the way!