Easter Treats for the Kids

Posted by Amber in Holiday on March 28, 2013  ||  10 Comments

Easter Treat with Free Printable

I was in charge of favors for Ramona’s class Easter party. Why did I sign up for it after I already knew I was going to be packing, pregnant, and busy? Because honestly I wanted to eat the leftovers. There people I said it. Judge away.

My mom made these no bake cookies when I was little, but Prudent Baby easter-fied (yep made up a word) them. Then I figured out a way I could package them and give them out as favors for some kiddos. Everyone wins! Also they are incredibly easy to make. 1 bag of chow mein noodles + 1 bag of butterscotch chips yields about 25 cookies.

There are several recipes for these no bake cookies. If you are giving them to children, then use the Prudent Baby one. There isn’t any peanut butter which is basically a requirement when making treats for little ones now a days.

I have a MO. I put things in a clear treat bag and make Nick create a tag for it *insert holiday/occasion here*. You can download the printable here. Yes cheesy lines aren’t just for Valentine’s anymore people. You’re welcome.

Ramona was most excited about eating the peeps. She literally asked every minute if it was time for her to eat one. She kept calling the sugar on the peep salt. Crazy girl. Note that she’s in a princess dress. That girl also has a MO.

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And you thought last week was exciting

Posted by Amber in Uncategorized on March 27, 2013  ||  30 Comments

So did we rock your world last week with the news of our impending homelessness? Well prepare for another piece of life changing news….

A tiny baby Wills is happening. This is the ultrasound from 9 weeks, but I am now 13 weeks pregnant. It was sort of a shock. We weren’t able to start trying for another baby until December. I figured it would be another long ordeal to get pregnant like it was last year, so we were pleasantly surprised when we realized there was zero waiting around for this kiddo.

My official due date is September 27th. We are waiting until I am 20 weeks to find out the gender even though we have the option of finding out at 15. We will be 100% happy with either gender, so it’s not a big deal to wait. However Ramona won’t hear of baby Wills being a boy. She tells us (randomly) several times a day she wants a girl. She is also an only child who believes she gets whatever she wants. Regardless she is beyond excited to be a big sister…for now.

Sadly it’s true what they say about getting bigger quicker after you’ve had 1 baby. You can see the lovely reference above where I am currently about the size that I was at 23 weeks with Ramona. At this rate I should look about 9 months pregnant in no time. Although I’ve lost a pound so I have proven it’s possible to lose weight while still getting bigger. (Yes I am wearing the same shirt. I wore it for each weekly picture when I was pregnant with Ramona.)

I am incredibly tired and do not want to eat which is another reason why I’ve been pretty quiet lately. Sorry y’all it’s super difficult to stay up after Ramona is asleep. I started napping when she naps too, so there goes that productive time. I won’t bore you with constant pregnancy posting except on the life side (haha we all know how awesome I am about posting there). Anyway friends as promised lots of exciting things happening around here so just stick with the inconsistent posts for a while. I don’t think we can top this announcement, but I promise all the home news will be thrilling too.

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Why is it so quiet around here

Posted by Amber in Uncategorized on March 20, 2013  ||  20 Comments

If you were wondering where the Wills have been hiding these past few weeks (first you should check Instagram)…

Our house went under contract in mid February, so as you can imagine the house project have stopped. Also panic and severe anxiety about our impending move have ramped up to epic proportions.

We are scheduled to close on March 29th. The buyers take possession April 3rd.

What does this mean for Wills Casa?

We have no casa. There is zero plan in place for April 3rd. Would you still read my blog if it was about decorating/living in your car? I’m only half kidding when I ask that. I will get into all the nitty gritty of selling and the move and the homelessness of it all soon, but I wanted to let y’all know the complicated good news.

We have gone on a blogging hiatus of sorts since projects, purchases, and our general future have become increasingly uncertain. It is that dramatic folks. I’m sorry we have abandoned you, but I promise whatever is next will be even more exciting than what we are leaving. It’s just an issue of what is next and when next will happen.

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West Elm Floral Class

Posted by Amber in Side Note on March 5, 2013  ||  7 Comments

Everyone has been wishing for spring, so here’s a little post about flower arrangements to brighten your day.

Have you seen West Elm’s paper flowers? They are really beautiful. Plus they don’t die which is a huge bonus for me. Anyway everyone’s favorite home store west elm hosted a spring floral class with Alicia and Adam from bows + arrows. (The same amazing florist that I took my class from.) There was so much win in this combination it would have been ridiculous to miss.

The class was about general how to’s for arranging flowers with the added bonus of styling with paper flowers. The majority of this small arrangement is white paper flowers, but Alicia pealed the “leaves” off and twisted them to make the shape more interesting. The real greens added makes this feel more sophisticated than a bunch of fake flowers. Plus the greens are so hardy, this arrangement will last forever.

Isn’t the color combination of these flowers just beautiful? I mean those garden roses with the snapdragons and delicate hydrangea just work so well together.

Here’s the deal with hydrangeas. They love water…hence the “hydra” part of their name.

  • Rip their leaves off. (I know they have beautiful leaves, but they just suck too much water away from the flower.)
  • Cut their stem in half a few inches from the bottom. You want to see the white part of the stem. This helps them get water.
  • Change the water daily and spray the petals with water since they can drink water this way as well.
  • When you are buying hydrangeas, you want them to be firm. If they feel soft, they are older and won’t last as long.

I loved this tablescape with the larger arrangement in the center flanked with 2 smaller arrangements. Then those little succulents scatter around the table.

It’s also a perfect example of scale. You want your arrangement height to be about as tall as your vase. So if your vase is 5 inches, cut your flower to 10 inches. You don’t want to cut your flowers too short and choke them with your vase. You don’t want them to cut them too long and tower out of your vase either. Cutting your flowers’ height to be as tall as your vase gives them the correct scale and room to breath.

Here’s another good example of scale. The flower height is balanced with the height of the vase. I’m generally not a fan of purple, but I love how this looks with the gold, dark wood, and neutral chair.

Who said fake flowers can’t look good? Alicia made an all paper arrangement that was gorgeous. I’d hate to dust it, but it definitely whimsical and fun. Add in the fact that it won’t die, but minus a little for the dusting…still a winner.

Unlike the class I took, we didn’t make our own arrangements at west elm. However we could buy whatever Alicia whipped up. I bought this because it was beautiful and works with my house. I felt bad breaking up the tablescape for it but not bad enough to restrain myself. It was $55. Basically I paid for the vase and the 9 paper flowers. I wanted the vase anyway, and the arrangement was just a bonus (the real ones were free too).

I’ve had it almost a month. The only causalities are the Dusty Miller greens. The real flowers (sorry don’t know their name) are alive and kicking. I have only changed the water once too, so it appears I’m trying to legitimately kill them.

What do you think about mixing real and fake? Why is west elm so awesome? How can I be as skilled as the people at bows + arrows? These and all your other musing in the comments to follow!

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February Goal Check

Posted by Amber in Side Note on March 1, 2013  ||  12 Comments

February is always a sneaky month. Not matter how much you prepare yourself for it, you are always surprised it ends so quickly. This is also going to be the worst goal check I’ve ever written. Bring on the public shame.

1. Give handmade gifts.

Ramona and I made some “bear hug” goodie bags for her class Valentine exchange. Nick and I gave ourselves a trip to New York instead of presents, so thankfully I didn’t have to make him anything. Nick designed some printable cards for Valentine’s for all to enjoy and save a few bucks on that pesky tradition.

2. Read.

You can always tell how much I go to the gym by if I am able to finish the book of the month. I read the intro and maybe a chapter of Rules of Civility…clearly I didn’t make to the gym at all. I actually really like how Towles writes. It’s going to be a good book, but I was just unmotivated to read.

3. Document my life.

Zero. That’s how much I posted on the life side of things here. Thank you instagram for allowing me to at least view some of the tidbits of what happened around here in February. Thank for the reminder for the constant showings and my inability to get things done. Now I remember why.

4. Monthly Challenge.

My intent with the Connect challenge was to send cards, make phone calls, and make a conscious effort to spend time with people I love. I was feeling kinda bummed thinking I did not do that at all this month. Then I remember I went to lunch with friends 4 different times. Yes I used this connect opportunity to become a lady who lunches, so I win at life.

Check out Katja’s roundup on Connect.

Up next month…

This can literally be anything. I am going to use this month to hone my skills on styling. I feel like I am the world’s worst stylist. I am going to focus on finding amazing vignettes/displays and really attending to what makes them amazing, so I can hopefully get better at styling. I think it’s the difference between a good space and a I-need-to-pin-that-right-now space.

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Amelia Earh{ART}…see what I did there

Posted by Amber in DIY on February 27, 2013  ||  28 Comments

DIY-Artwork

Remember back when my baby turned 3. I ugly cried. We had an airplane party. You know some 5 months ago.

We bought this cutting board from The Shops at Target collection for our cheese plate. (You can see the cheese stain proof.) Yes it is the same one John has in the basement. We always planned on shining it up and putting it in Ramona’s room. By always I mean it’s been a vague thought for the past 5 months.

via Brainy Quote

We wanted to find a quote about travel or something that would work with the USA cutting board. Enter this Amelia Earhart quote. Perfect follow up to an airplane party. Did I mention that Ramona was Amelia Earhart for Halloween? Sometimes things just work out.

I sanded the cheese stains away with 80 grit paper and wiped it down.

I used the Dark Walnut stain that I had on hand from our dresser. I brushed it on with a foam brush and wiped it off after 15 minutes. I just wanted to darken the wood grain enough to make it look rich. After letting it dry for 12 hours, I used wipe on poly to seal the stain.

Now the painstaking part of turning a cutting board into art. Nick laid out the quote in illustrator. (Ignore that the words are out of order.) I printed it out on a Avery full sheet label. Then used an X-acto knife to cut out the words. The font was cursive-ish, so it was better than having to cut individual letters out. It took about 2 hours (all nap time), and I found it was easier to move the paper instead of the knife.

I laid out the text and drew 3 lines for spacing and to keep the words straight. I made sure to press down and rub the stickers onto the board.

I spray painted the board in a glossy white. The sticker words did lift in some areas which I half expected. Applying a clear coat of gloss might have helped them stick better, but I didn’t want to risk not being able to pull the stickers off at all. I pulled the stickers up after about 20 minutes since you need to pull them off before the paint is completely dry. I used tweezers and an X-acto.

I used some left over hot pink paint from our chairs for the edge of the board. It gives it a nice definition and a fun splash of color.

I put Ramona’s new artwork on her shelf next to a leftover plane from her party. It will eventually look amazing in an art cluster. We are refusing to hang anything right now since we are selling the house.

Check out our other pinterest challenges.

            

Airplane Costume // Ombre Dresser // Vintage Art Modification

Gallery Wall // Master Fireplace Styling

Do I get extra points for doing 2 Amelia Earhart pinterest projects? I mean seriously what are the odds.

Of course go check out Megan, Katie, Sherry, and Michelle’s projects along with all the other lovely link ups!

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Valentine’s Treats for the Kids

Posted by Amber in Holiday on February 14, 2013  ||  10 Comments

DIY-Valentines-Treats-and-Printable

I was sort of regretting my pledge to handmade gifts this week. I really wanted to buy some store bought Valentine’s for Ramona’s class and call it a day. I trudged on through in order to avoid public humiliation.

I got the idea from my sister last year who I got it from Pinterest, so it isn’t anything original. I needed to make 17 goodie bags for a class of 3 year olds. Sorry moms I sent candy under the cheesey Valentine’s saying of “Sending you lots of Bear Hugs & Kisses.” You can thank me later when you eat it.

Basically Teddy Grahams and Gummy Bears mixed with Hersey’s hugs and kisses (the carmel kind because they are the best part about Valentine’s Day).

Ramona was beyond excited to make the bags. Once we started I had a lot of fun putting them together with her. She was counting and tasting. Of course she said she hoped everyone in her class was bad, so she could eat all the candy. I have the funniest child ever.

Nick made the cute tag (free download here) because that’s what he’s good for. (Just kidding baby. You have lots of skills.)

When I dropped Ramona off at school, she ran up to one of her friends, hugged her, and said I brought lots of treats for you and all my friends. Quite the change from when we were assembling them. Seriously we have the sweetest girl.

Happy Valentine’s Day friends! Hope it’s the best yet.

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DIY Printable Valentine’s Cards

Posted by Nick in Holiday on February 13, 2013  ||  4 Comments

Free Printable Valentine Cards

Valentine’s Day is tomorrow so this may be a bit late for most, but this year we decided that we would put up some free printable valentine’s cards. Amber tasked me with designing them, and here is what I came up with.

They’re all in 4×6 format, which seemed like a reasonable size to print out on your home printer. I generally gravitate towards simple, clean design. So that’s pretty much all you’re going to find here.

The first is a subtle nod to the LOVE sign on our mantle and seems like it can be given to just about anyone… well unless you don’t love them (but why would you be giving them a Valentine’s day card then silly?).

The next is the Valentine’s day card when you want to make sure the recipient’s imagination doesn’t wander. I like the idea of a dude giving this to another dude in a “Don’t get any ideas, bro” kind of way.

The last is for all the DIY’ers out there who love paint strokes (you know who you are).

All of the files are high resolution PDF files and can be downloaded here. Let us know if you use them. We’d love to see pictures!

 

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Zombie Apocalypse Hypothetical

Posted by Nick in Uncategorized on February 8, 2013  ||  18 Comments

In celebration of Walking Dead coming back this weekend, Amber came up with a great idea for a post. Let’s email some of our favorite bloggers, who we know watch Walking Dead, and ask them a simple question: what one item would you take with you during the zombie apocalypse?

Amber wanted to participate in the round-up, so I thought I would be a pseudo Master of Ceremonies for the post.

First up is the ever-sassy Mekenzie from interiorsbykenz.com. She even went as far as to add a scary font to her picture.

In the event of a zombocalypse, I’ve decided to bring the comforter off my bed.  It will serve many purposes in our survival.  The duvet cover can be used as a make-shit tent cover. It can be used for the obvious reason, as a blanket.  We will also be able to cut it up for bandages when needed.  And last of all, it’s light to carry!

Good Job Mekenzie. Though you left out the part about how it just plain looks great *jazz hands*.

Next up is Amber’s major girl-crush Jacinda from Prudent Baby. Calm down Amber, let’s not make this weird.

In the event of the zombie apocalypse I would get practical and grab my purse. Chances are it has… Several stale snacks, my phone with some pictures of my kids and the phone numbers of my relatives (which I no longer know by heart) a few crumpled bucks, a diaper, and wet wipes. It also has a pair of underwear and a diet coke in it right now which I was planning to take out but I’m reconsidering… Ya know… Just in case.

Underwear and Diet Coke? Does this girl know how to party or what?

The mega-talented Arden from Arden Prucha Photography wrote:

I thought about the Zombies coming and quickly ran through the list of meaningful items in my head. I am not a creature of “things have meaning” or emotional about personal items. I thought a camera and computer would be pointless – ya know since the zombies would definitely take out power, plus those things aren’t necessary anyway. What is meaningful to me? My family, who will be high tailing it with me… and these books. My beautiful BIG artistic bible and our family photo books. These images are of my precious husband, son and two daughters throughout the past few years. These books would fulfill us through wonderful Godly stories, keep our spirits high and remind us of the everyday moments we would have left behind. Stupid zombies.

Stupid zombies indeed. Nice photo too… you may want to think about pursuing a career in photography.

And the award for most creative goes to our friend Cecile from Fresh House on Bellaire.

I would probably grab at least some of the marble collection from my youth.  In addition to the marbles, I’d probably also need to snag a print out of how to play marbles because if you weren’t born in the early 1900’s it’s kind of a lost art.

They may not seem like the best thing to grab during the zombie apocalypse but I bet if Carl had some marbles to play with Dale would still be alive because he wouldn’t be wandering around taunting zombies because he’s too busy learning how to play a game of Ringer. Or better yet, instead of Hershel’s daughter Beth (is that her name because no one cares about her anyway) solemnly singing a southern cumbia around the campfire, everyone could be playing a rousing game of marbles and take their mind off cleaning up the mess Lori’s love child with Shane has caused for the group.

Yes indeed, marbles seem like the perfect answer to a desolate and unforgiving world filled with flesh hungry monsters. Just remember once she’s turned, have no mercy, she’s not your mother anymore.

Whoa. Never heard a discussion about marbles get so intense. I mean that really got out of hand. You’ve obviously thought about this a lot Cecile.

Last up is the lady of the manor. The reason this post (and blog) exists. You may know her as Amber, but I call her Sexy McSexerton.

I’ve thought about this a lot like more than any sane person should. I debated on taking a chair or a rug, but I went the sentimental route. After I gather the family and all the food/weapons, I would take this illustrated portrait of us by our friend Chase. It’s incredibly accurate on how we looked in 2009. (Except Ramona was born with a ton of hair, no one was expecting that.)

It will always represent that moment when we became parents and all the joy that entails. Also I’m glad I figured this out, so I won’t be delayed with any last minute decision making.

Plus my hair looks bitchin’ in cartoon form.

So there you have it. Our Walking Dead Zombie Apocalypse round up. What did you guys think? Let us know in the comments what you would take!

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Hey Girl

Posted by Amber in Uncategorized on February 7, 2013  ||  44 Comments

I decided to join in on the Hey Girl link party because why not. (Seems to be a motto of late.) When I color blocked the bentwoods, I created this hey girl because it was just too perfect.

I had a perfect picture of Nick from our family photos to make this hey girl.

First my husband looks way hotter than Ryan Gosling does. Sorry.

Second this could easily say, “It’s okay that you didn’t put on makeup, brush your hair or get out of your pjs.” Sometimes a girls just gotta read her blogs and play on pinterest even if her appearance suffers.

Linking up to Decor and the Dog, Domestic Imperfection, Bliss Ranch, Two Twenty One, and View Along the Way. Go check out more hey girls.

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