Some things will never change.

I got this cabinet off of craigslist a little while back.

 

I went to Ikea and got some stain... but since I didn't read the label very well I thought it was paint. But alas it was stain.

As you can recall, my mom came to visit last week. I mentioned that I am still going to try to use the stain on the cabinet, just sand it down a little more.

Mom said, " I don't think you will be happy with that stain on the cabinet."

I said, "Nah, I will still try it, it will be fine."

Now fast forword a couple of days and 4 coats of stain later.

She was right.

I am not happy with the stain on the cabinet.

So all of you mother's out there who are saying over and over to your kids. "I am the mother and I know better."

Guess what... it doesn't change.

So mom please consider this my public acknowledgement to let everyone know... once again, you are right and I was wrong.

Even at 32 years of age, it is still hard to admit. ;)

Benchy Bench

A couple of weeks ago I got this bench for $20 from Craigslist.

Since my boys have decided that they want to be little helpers they helped me sand down the bench.

First I painted the bottom portion red. Since I am not a smart person. I didn't prime it. So 4 coats of red later I was wishing I primed it.

Wild Man did help me paint the bench which honestly was the highlight of his week. I didn't get a picture of it due to be an over anxious mom with a 4 year old who had a paint brush.

I sure you all understand.

As you can see on the picture I painted white over the red.

Then I enlisted the boys help with distressing the top.

But I would advise if you are going to have two little boys beat up a bench you might want to inform your significate other due to the panic that will bestow on them when they come out to see your kids beating a product that they know your other half has been painstackingly working on.

It will save you some extra explaining and from having a panicked spouse.

I'm just saying...

I did get Romeo to use the pointy end of the paint brush and he focused only on one area... It is ok...I like it that way.

Then I used gel stain to stain the top.

 Please notice the hand print on the bench. Whoops.

Oh well, if it is stolen I have fingerprint proof that it is mine.

Then I sanded the bottom to let the red come through.

Here is the end result!

It's awaiting all the guests we are to have in the next few weeks!




http://www.serenitynow4amanda.blogspot.com/

 

 

Meat Cupcakes

Don't knock em til you try em.

These are a favorite of all my boys. So I thought I would share.

I found this recipe about a year ago here.

This is so easy to put together at the last minute.

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 LB. GROUND BEEF
1/2 C KETCHUP
1 T MUSTARD
2 T BROWN SUGAR
1 CAN BISCUITS
1/4 C SHREDDED CHEESE

DIRECTIONS:
PREHEAT OVEN TO 400 DEGREES.
BROWN THE BEEF AND DRAIN.
MIX KETCHUP, MUSTARD, AND BROWN SUGAR TOGETHER TO MAKE A BARBECUE SAUCE.
ADD THE SAUCE TO THE BEEF.
SEPARATE DOUGH INTO BISCUITS.
FORM DOUGH INTO CUPS ON THE MUFFIN TINS.
SPOON THE MEAT INTO THE DOUGH CUPS.
BAKE AT 400 DEGREES FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES
(OR UNTIL THE BISCUIT DOUGH LOOKS DONE).
SPRINKLE THE TOPS WITH CHEESE.

For a healthier version, I make it by using turkey meat and I make homemade whole wheat biscuits.

Even if you make the healthier version it can still be made really fast.

Enjoy!

First Award!

I got an award!!

Sandra at Saw dust and paper scraps gave me this award! Sandra and I "met" each other over our blogs due to the fact that we were separated at birth. Don't believe me? Look at our foyers.

See?!!

Now hers looks much better. I long for the day I can have wooden stairs when I do not have to worry about going to the ER daily. Then again, with boys will that ever happen?

Turns out that we also live very near each other, I foresee lots of shopping trips in our future.

So as apart of this award I am suppose to send this award to 7 other people/bloggers.

I decided to pick people whose blog I see that gets updated in my google reader makes my heart skip. Cuz I am so excited to read it!


1. First are my sister in laws. I just love family blogging. It is the best way to keep up with each other...especially when we are spread across the nation. First is Kat.
They recently moved to Seattle and are in the process of adoption from Rwanda! Of course I can't forget their fun 19 month old son Griffin who has a million nick names.

Second is Jenny. Jenny and Reid live in TN close to mom. They have a 2 and a half year old son, Eli. Whom my boys miss dearly.

3. Beneath my heart
I started reading Traci's blog when she was featured on another blog (can't remember which) over her awesome knock off ballard designs cafe shelves. I love me some ballard knock offs! 

Not long after I read about these shelves her mom passed away. She expressed her emotions so eloquently. She made it clear that she didn't blame God for taking her mom at a young age yet used this as an opportunity to encourage other women to trust God in all circumstances. When dad passed it wasn't long before we began emailing back and both. She has been such an encouragement to me and a help to me when I didn't know how to answer Wild Man's questions or how to deal with the emotions I was and am feeling. Thank you Traci.


4. Kim at Small words blog lives in TN. Love my TN people! I love the canvases she creates. You really should check them out! They are amazing.

5. I know Melissa from Puddin pops Designs from TN. She is an amazing woman. She has 5 kids, ages 4, 2, and 1!

She is also so creative! She makes the cutest dolls that she sales and she makes a lot of her kids clothes.

She also throws the cutest kids parties. Seriously, you should check out her oldest daughter Red Riding Hood party.  What great memories she is creating for her children!

6. I heart naptime is a new blog I am following. I just love what she did for her son's first birthday party.

7. Amber on It's Greener over here is also a new blog that I am following. Her mom also passes away at an early age. It is such an encouragement to meet ladies that know the emotions that I am going through.

Amber is also another creative gal in the blogosphere. Look at this cute picture frame she made for her daughter! She has a great tutorial on how she made it too.

 

That's all I got folks! Hope you all get to visit these great blogs! 

Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

While my mom was here I had to take advantage of her decorating expertise!

I never was completely happy with the decor on the mantel, and I was just stuck. I didn't know what to do with it.

Then JJ came to the rescue!

Remember what the mantel looked like before?

Well here it is now!

I actually put something in the frames!

A verse that dad would continually remind me of was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."

I wanted a constant reminder of that verse so I just got photo paper and printed it from our little printer, then Presto for less then $5 I have four portraits that I can easily change out.

My Sister in law introduced us to the wonders of Anthropologie! I will forever be grateful. Mom got me this W sign from there. I just love it.

And this little church reminds me of the church Mr. Genius and I got hitched in.

Normal?

What does

17 cars and trucks

1 Alvin and Chipmunk toy, "Hello Gorgeous!"

2 Thomas the train engines

7 books

3 stuffed animals

2 stick horses

1 ball pillow

1 large pillow

2 blankets

and this little dude...

have in common?

Well they all fit in here twice a day.

I seriously have no idea how he sleeps in there.

And then guess who wasn't ready AT ALL for bed tonight.

Now do you see why I called him Wild Man?

Goodwill trip

Yesterday I ran into Goodwill (Mr. Genius was keeping the boys so I didn't have another incident like that last one).

I got some fun stuff!

See...

I had plans for the little candlestick but I can't find my cheese dome. Wanna see what I had planned?

This was from Thrift Decor Chick. She is amazing.

Since I couldn't find my cheese dome due to my problems with organizing, most people would use this opportunity to organize the cabinets so one could actually find things. But that is not fun to me so instead I went on with another project. I am sure none of you would have guessed that.

So I painted the tall candle stick.

Then I distressed it.

Then I glued the dome/vase thingy on top.

This morning I found a place for it!

Yes I do realize the medium size jar has fake snow in it. But I can't figure out what to put in it.


Easiest project I have done in a long time!

It only cost me $4!

The glass vase was $1.99 and the Candle stick was $1.99!

But the best part was that no saw required for this one!