DIY Polka Dot Dresser

I looked everywhere for a pretty wood dresser to use for the girls changing table. Nothing we found was in our price range so Tristan found us one from CCA for $50. It is definitely worth that much. Its not real wood, just composite with a white venire. I felt like it needed some personality! You can do this on real wood, venire, anything really. Feel free to use tissue paper, wall paper or anything else paper-like to glue on.

My sister had bought this adorable polka dot tissue paper for my baby shower but didn't end up using it. Knowing me, I kept it incase an idea came upon me! I love how this turned out!

First step is to make your homemade Mod Podge. If you want a shiny finish I would suggest using real Mod Podge. Personally I cant make it to the store with two infants so I found this method to work well as I didn't have glue. There are many different ways to make it.

 

 Prepare your surface by giving it a little wipe-down to remove dirt. Also make sure you protect the area around it. Even If you use my method without glue, this stiff still hardens REALLY well and would be hard to remove.

 

Using a sponge brush, paint a nice layer on the drawer front working in small areas so as to not let it dry out. Tip: I over cooked my mixture and realized later that a little more water to thin it out would make it way easier to use.

 

Lay your paper on top starting on one end and smooth it out as you go. If you are using tissue paper be warned that it wont be completely smooth.

 

Paint a layer of your glue on top of the paper painting down the edges as you go. Tip: don't apply too much in one place or over-brush as too much moisture will make the tissue paper tear.

 

Doesn't my composite board look much prettier?

 

 

If your tissue paper wasn't long enough (like mine) make sure you repeat the steps above and match your pattern.

 

Enjoy your beautiful new dresser! If you want you can spray paint it with a clear coat for shine. I used my parents clear coat that had been sitting in the garage for 10 years and it turned the bottom left drawer yellow! See that? I would suggest new paint :)

 

 

 

 

Elephant of the Day!

 

We support you

Recently I was shown this artical on the Huffington Post. Right when I read it I knew that's what I needed to hear:

"The purpose of this week and month, of course, is to celebrate a mother’s role as her newborn’s source of nutrition, and to declare that no woman should be ashamed to nurse whenever or wherever a child is hungry. But, Simon warns, too often the message that mothers need to be supported in their decision to breastfeed can obscure the equally important message that ALL mothers need to be supported in whatever ways they choose to feed their child."

It's National Breastfeeding Month. While I think it is wonderful that lots of women are able to breastfeed, I also believe women who formula feed need just as much support. If you have never had to make the choice to stop breastfeeding then you may not understand what I mean. Weather you have a physical issue, mastectomy, low supply, on medication, or just stressed out over the time and energy it requires, there is no way to explain the heartbreak involved in the decision.

I was able to breastfeed my twins for 3 1/2 months. I nursed one at a time and two at a time. Either way it took forever. I was always nursing. One day driving home from church my husband reminded me that I needed to breastfeed when we got home. I was immediately paralyzed by the thought of it. Around this time I was diagnosed with PPD. This added to multiple fits of tears that my husband lovingly helped me through. These are my children! I want to bond with them! What if they are sick and just want to nurse! Formula doesn't have antibodies! We cant afford formula for two! The list goes on and on. By the time I made my decision to stop, I had been giving formula 50/50 and would have to do a lot of work to get my supply back.

It's been almost 3 months since the last time I breastfed. My babies are beautiful and growing perfectly. Most of all, the four of us are much happier.

“We all feed our children differently, but we are all feeding with love, and in ways that work for our individual circumstances and family dynamics”

So please next time you think that someone who formula feeds is lazy (I have thought this of people before), please understand that this decision, even if it is a choice, is their choice. And sometimes we don't even get the choice. We support you. Please excuse me while I make a bottle for my hungry baby...

Fire in 1112

Today was certainty eventful, and it's only 11am! I was on the computer organizing my million of photos when I noticed that this beeping had been going off. I don't know how long it went on for before I noticed. I went outside and made sure it wasn't a back-up beep from a truck. I pressed my ear to a few doors to see which one it was coming from. 1112's alarm had been going off. I rang the door bell and knocked a few time, no one answered. I walked around back to check for smoke. There wasn't any smoke that I could see but there was a horrible smell of burning food.

 

I immediately called 911 to let them know what was happening. My main concern was for the 2 little girls that live there. I frequently see them but not their parents. What if they were home alone and passed out from the smoke? The fire department showed up to check for heat coming from the door and windows. The lady from the apartment near mine showed up and called the apartment to get the key for the door as I couldn't get ahold of them. By the time the apartment lady showed up they had already busted to door and windows open. The place was filled with thick smoke. I saw one of the firemen holding a smoking pot of something burned. Turns out it was a pot of boiling potatoes. Who boils potatoes at 10 in the morning and then leaves? I was informed there was a pot of bacon grease one burner over. If that happened to be the one left on, the whole building would be burned down by now. Probably mine with it.

 

While I was waiting outside for the thumbs up, one of the firemen came to thank me for calling it in. Except he ruined it by saying "next time don't wait 30 minutes". Thanks man. Ill make sure to pay more attention next time, what with all the beeps that go on around here (trash day, construction etc.). I came inside and the girls were still sleeping peacefully in their crib and I couldn't help but think of how today could have been a tragedy.

 

 

Checking for heat

 

 

Fanning all the smoke out

 

 

Amish Friendship Bread

Yummy! Yummy! A friend of mine gave me Amish friendship bread. Its a bread where the "starter" just keeps going! So every time I make this I will have 3 to give away! This is a super moist bread similar to banana bread. It has cinnamon in it which is awesome! I like to spread cream cheese on it, but Tristan prefers it dry. If you would like some of the starter batter let me know!