Author: amberlina85

We have started updating our master bedroom. We still have a bit of work to do, but I wanted to show some progress pics. Our next steps are putting up the crown moldings (which is painted but awaiting install) and a headboard/bed. My bedding needs a bit of work as well….

• Paint color: Benjamin Moore Coventry Grey
• Curtains: West Elm (on clearance)
• Frames: Target
• Bedding: Target and Pottery Barn
• Lamps: Target Crosby Schoolhouse Desk Lamp
• Artwork: Created by me (copied, not an original idea)
• A & M Letters: Hobby Lobby
• Mirror: Kirklands

It has been FOREVER since I did a blog post. Two little ones have a way of getting in the way of that… I’m happy to say after NINE months of being home, I will be going back to work on Monday. Both boys are in daycare; unfortunately, they are in different locations due to my oldest son’s daycare not having room for my little one until summer. We will manage though!

So what else is new around here? Not a whole lot, but I did manage to get some Easter decor up around the house. It also involved re-decorating everything my 4-year-old put out. I bet you didn’t know that you needed to line up all the plastic Easter eggs on your kitchen table 😉

Here are a few house pics (and one of a cranky bunny). I’m hoping to have some projects underway over the next few months, including: a pallet wall off my kitchen; painting our master bedroom; and (finger’s crossed) finishing our mud/laundry room, which will entail tiling, adding a counter, new sink, cabinets/shelves, and a new light fixture.

As 2017 is about to come to a close, I’m trying to focus on a few “me” goals for 2018. I’m not usually a big new year’s resolution type of person, but I think 2018 is going to be my year. I like to keep this blog positive, so I’m not going to reflect on the ugly parts of 2017. This list is realistic with a few stretch goals mixed in.

1. Land an awesome job. After having gone on several interviews and had numerous calls with recruiters, I have started to realize my “worth” as an HR professional. My number 1 goal for 2018 is to get an awesome job that I can be proud of and work my booty off.
2. Get fit-ish. I’m not going to pretend that I’m going to transform my body because I’d be lying to you and myself. My goal is to simply continue to eat right and exercise when I can. I have some high hopes of starting Orange Theory in 2018 with some women in my neighborhood, so hopefully we can motivate each other!
3. Go on a vacation with my husband. I think me and my hubby are long overdue for a couple’s vacation. Maybe somewhere tropical, or to the Southern Ground Music Festival, or just anywhere that isn’t Illinois. Any suggestions? I love boat drinks!
4. Spend more time with friends. I have some really amazing women in my life who I have been friends with for years. I want to make it a priority to see them more often. Life gets in the way and sometimes I realize it’s been 6+ months since I’ve seen a close friend.
5. Keep writing. I’m a writer at heart and haven’t done much of it the past 10 years. I’m realizing how much I miss writing and how much fun it can be. I want to come up with a list of blog ideas for 2018. On the short list includes home projects, gardening, fashion/style finds, silly mom posts, and home design ideas. What would you like to hear about?

Speaking of home projects…I wanted to share a little project my hubby completed. Last year I asked him to make me a chalkboard for our kitchen. He did such an awesome job that I again asked if he would make one as a gift for my brother and sister-in-law for Christmas. Below are a couple pictures of mine as well as an in-progress picture and a final picture from my brother. (Note: most of my artwork are ideas from Google.) Materials are listed at the bottom.

Materials/Details:

• 1/8″ hardboard
• 1×3 cedar for the sides and 1x4x8 cedar for the top and bottom
• Rust-Oleum Chalkboard paint
• French cleat for hanging
• Minwax Stain in Dark Walnut
• Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane in Clear Semi-Gloss
• Kreg jig for pocket holes
• Orbital Sander to smooth down the cedar
• Primer to paint the hardboard before applying the chalkboard paint

Happy New Year everyone! See you in 2018!

Now that Christmas is over, and I have already put away most of the Christmas decor (yes I’m nuts), we’re in that awkward part where it’s between holidays. The weather has been keeping us indoors this week with a high of -4 the other day! Luckily, with all the new toys the kids received for Christmas, Jay has been able to keep himself occupied.

Since I’m still on the job hunt, it has taken so much self-control to stop myself from partaking in the after-Christmas sales. I did end up picking up a few things from Target (pillows, ribbon) for next year. Sorel has an awesome sale going on right now too. The Joan of Arctic boots were a ridiculous 50% off the sale price with code SORJOA50.

In other news, I have a few interviews lined up/pending, so I’m very hopeful that 2018 is going to be MY year! Hopefully, I’ll have good news to share on this front in the coming weeks. Until then, here are some highlights from our Christmas mixed with some home decor. I hope you all had a great Christmas and have a happy new year!

I managed to clean up my kitchen enough to get some pictures I deemed acceptable for a blog post. The bottles were washed, the dishes were put away, and the clutter managed to find a new home. The family room, however, looks like a war zone….

One of my favorite parts of our house is our kitchen. I’m SO happy we decided to do the upgraded kitchen which included a Palladin window and 5 extra feet of kitchen space. We opted for Aspen White granite counter tops and had the microwave built into the island. I knew I wanted a chimney range hood eventually (a project we just completed recently), so I did not want a microwave above the range top.

Kitchen details and where to shop at the bottom.

The details:

• Candle: Hearth and Home at Target
• Acacia Serving Platter: Target
• Backsplash subway tile: Floor and Decor
• Backsplash Leaf Limestone Mosiac: Floor and Decor
• Le Creuset Utencil Crock: Similar here at Sur la Table
• Mudroom Art Frames: Purchased from this Etsy shop
• Kitchen Table: DIY Craigslist purchase
• Kitchen Light Fixture: Overstock.com
• Island Pendant Lights: Elk Lighting Chadwick. Found here
• Apron Front Kitchen Sink: Kohler Whitehaven in Cane Sugar
• Chalkboard: DIY project
• Bar Cart: Target
• Stools: Better Homes and Gardens

Growing up,  my mom stayed home with us until I was in junior high when she went back to work full time. Now being a mom of two, I sometimes wonder how in the world my mom did it without going absolutely crazy. She didn’t have a network of other moms or social media to keep her sanity all day long. I do consider myself lucky that I have TONS of mom friends (most who work) that I can vent to, ask for advice, and share great mom moments.

Here are 5 mom truths:

1. It’s impossible to keep your house clean. There are times it looks like someone tried to rob us and ransacked our house; however, the sad reality is, it’s just us living here. I’m in a perpetual cycle of organizing/cleaning/picking up my house. Clutter makes me REALLY tense.
2. You will say things you never thought you would say. “Don’t take your pants off outside,” “Stop putting your hands down your pants,” or “I’m going to tell daddy!” And about a million other things you never thought you would say or even HAVE to say.
3. You will need to get the F out of the house some days. I don’t care if it’s to run to the dry cleaners. I have even offered to drive 40 minutes to my husband’s work just to bring him something silly he forgot. This is followed by number 4:
4. You will regret leaving the house with 2 kids. Why did I think I could go to the grocery store with a sleeping baby and a 4-year old. There is literally no room for the food in the cart unless I choose to wake up my sleeping baby and baby wear him (which he HATES). It should be an Olympic sport getting two kids in and out of the car and shopping with them. You would think I would be super strong after all this exercise, but I’m not. This also really makes those long, lonely walks down the aisles of Target extra special when they come around. To those moms who can bring their 5 kids everywhere and they are well-behaved, I applaud you.
5. There is no such thing as personal space. You will want to be left alone, but that’s impossible because, well, kids. I would LOVE to spend 40 minutes alone in the car like my husband gets to do nearly everyday going to/from work. Between my kids and dog, they all want to be on top of me or touching me at all times. As I write this, my dog came and sat nearly on top of me and stared at me about 1 inch from my face. I sometimes wish they liked me just a tiny bit less.
6. BONUS Mom Truth: You will go crazy yet still find moments throughout the day where they melt your heart. I can be really irritated at something and Luke will smile up at me, or Jay will tell me I’m the best mommy in the world (don’t be jealous, yesterday I was the worst mommy).

Hopefully, I’m not alone in these mom truths. What are your mom truths? It’s ok, we’re all thinking the same things.