$30 Laundry Room Makeover

I have long desired to give my plain white laundry room some personality and the faster my due date approaches the more motivation I have to get some projects done around the house (Some call this nesting, but I like to call it necessity.) Like always, budget is a concern so I was waiting for some of my Facebook Swap Shop items to sell for the extra cash to dive into this project. Thankfully some sales went through and I had about $30 to spend on this project. Set with a gallon of paint (which at $21, was the bulk of my spending) and several Pins on Pinterest I got started! I haven't completely finished since I have not decided on my laundry sorters (although I'm not sure I will ever really be "done") and I kept waiting to take pictures until all the laundry was done, but since that NEVER happens, you'll get to see the best of real life. :)

$30 LAUNDRY ROOM MAKEOVER

Paint Color: Walmart's Color Place Spiced Paprika (Semi-Gloss)

Stain Color: Minwax Dark Walnut

(For more information on the Pins I found my inspiration from check out my Laundry Room Makeover Board on Pinterest)

My laundry room not only is the place where all the dirty clothes are supposed to end up, it also serves as the diaper changing station and closet for the little baby clothes. Along with all the other cleaning supplies, vacuum, etc. Some day after diapers, and babies sleeping in our room, I will love turn that space into my craft and sewing station but for now it is filled with diapers, wipes, and lots of little socks! As you can see it was all white and completely uninspired. I had previously organized the baby items in the cabinets using wipes boxes and it made a huge difference in the ease of finding what I happen to be searching for at the time.

I will have to note that I did not enjoy the Walmart paint, although this was my first time using a semi-gloss on a large scale, I believe the quality was lacking, but for this space it worked out even though a higher quality paint would have made this project go a little faster. However, I do LOVE the color and even without anything else it makes the space.

  

My favorite change (besides the color) is the new light fixture. I absolutely despise fluorescent lighting and the big rectangle blaring light was awful! Not only was it just plain ugly, it would flicker and strobe and half the time not come on at all. So I went to our local Habitat for Humanity Restore and found "new" fixture that happened to be an exact match to the one in our entry way for only $5! Complete with working blubs! The change made me so happy I cried (literally; these pregnant hormones are hard to control!)

This LAUNDRY sign is one of the Pinterest inspired portions of my makeover. I made it from a scrap piece of wood we had laying around and I printed the letters on paper and transferred the image to the wood, then used my Drimel to engrave it. I painted the letters with black craft paint and stained it with Minwax Black Walnut.

The three bins are diaper boxes (Size 5 Parent's Choice) I covered in fabric that I also found at the Restore for less than $1 a yard.

I also found this solid wood sign at the Restore for $1 (it has some quote about sailing engraved on the reverse side)  I loved the shape and it was the perfect size to make my 'Check Your Pockets' sign. All I had to do was transfer the image using the same process I used for my laundry sign and this time since the font was smaller I decided not to engrave it but just used a black Sharpie to darken the transfer and then brushed a coat of stain over it all to freshen it up.  

 

Of all my Pinterest finds I think this sign defines my life with laundry the best! I saw this quote and knew it was perfect for our laundry room. It took me a while to decide on the art work to accompany it but I found these super cute vintage prints and loved the bright colors.  The hanging rack was a garage sale find from last summer that was waiting to find it's perfect home. I stained it to match the rest of the wood items throughout the space.

 Overall I am so pleased with how it turned out. Remember it only takes a few bucks and a little motivation to brighten the most humdrum areas in your life! 

Until Next Time, 

Sonja

This is my life

His

This is my life.

As I walk down the aisles at our local Walmart with my ducklings in tow, one in the cart and two following behind (or rushing ahead) I am always greeted by smiling retirees who offer the same questions and statements: “What aisle did you get those in?” “Boy, you have your hands full!” “Are those all yours?” seem to be the top three. Then there is the occasional knowing glance from an experienced Mother of boys whom with eyes full of memories states “Boys are the best” and with kindness, reminds me to cherish each moment. And everyone stops to squeeze on the baby with big blue eyes and thumb securely in his mouth. He happily returns their greeting with a big toothless smile. In all honesty there are times I am annoyed by all the same statements and being interrupted at every turn and I’m sure as my pregnant belly continues to grow I will only receive these comments all the more. 

Nevertheless, these times remind me of my blessings. My boys are well behaved (for the most part) in the store and beautiful enough to stop traffic so there isn’t much to complain about. This is my life. Trips to Walmart with boys spilling out around me. The closer I get to the birth of my fourth baby boy the more I realize how full our life will be, with everything that is BOY! Sports. Cars. Fighting. Dirt. Bugs. Hunting. Fishing. And all of it times FIVE (including my husband.) 

Looking back I can see how God has been preparing me for this adventure my entire life.  My older brother, my only sibling, and I are very close. Relating to boys always came easier to me than building friendships with girls. A struggle that has left scars from relationships throughout high school but now as an adult I treasure my female companions. I can see the distinct ways God has designed me and now I know why. 

There will not be ruffles or lace. No painted nails or pretty dresses, but I was never really good at those things anyway. There won’t be Barbies or baby dolls or a Mother of the Bride title in my future. But oh how I am looking forward to watching these boys grow into men! I can only pray that we will guide them to become men of integrity, honor, and faith. That I will show them what a confident woman of God looks like. And teach them to never settle for anything less than what God has planned, even if it goes against everything the world says they need. 

So I will play catch and help bait hooks. I will attempt to maintain my composure while trapping bugs and maybe even climb a tree stand. No, I won’t be just one of the boys. I will still be Mom, just a mom who is not afraid to get her hands dirty. Because I want to be there for ALL of it! 

Until next time, get out there and enjoy life!

Sonja

  

Revive, Renew, & Repurpose... a Toy Box Makeover.

I have been desiring an ottoman in my living room for some time now.  I consistently shop online seeking that perfect piece; a place to put your feet up and something that will double as storage. However, with a stay-at-home Mom budget that perfect piece generally is out of my price range... so I got to looking over the existing items in our house to see what I could repurpose.

One day I was in our boy's room and saw the toy box and began thinking about how they were out growing the Winnie the Pooh theme and that I should do something different with it when we finally get to their bedroom makeover and suddenly my pregnant brain kicked in and remembered my ottoman project! 

 

I measured it and was thrilled to discover it was the perfect height for a comfortable foot rest and had all the qualities I was looking for in a storage ottoman. So I got to work and began digging through my craft supplies. I found the foam padding for the top (previously removed from an old broken recliner) canvas fabric (adopted from my Mother's craft room purge) and the leftover paint from our front door makeover.

I started by removing the character decals that were attached with screws and glue. Thankfully I only had one that took a bit of the finish with it. Then we got to work prepping for paint. My three year old was an excellent helper as this was his first "real paint" project  he was allowed to help on.

I found it was easiest to take it apart and paint the pieces separately. 

While those were drying I got to work on the padding for the top. I started by cutting the foam, batting, and fabric to size. I laid it out and used my staple gun to secure it to the underside of the lid. 

  

 

The final fabric positioning was a little tricky as I had to work around the hinge pins that were originally attached with rivets and I didn't want to jeopardize the safety/stability of the hinge by removing it. 

By that evening everything was dry and ready to be put together. My helper was very excited and filled it with his toys first thing!

 

Everything came together nicely and now we have a beautiful FREE ottoman and I have a comfy place to put my puffy pregnant feet up after a long day of chasing busy boys. I love being creative with old items and saving money!

Until next time,

Sonja

Even So Lord Come - Remembering 9/11

While driving home from my weekly Bible study, I was remembering the tragedies of 9/11 and thinking of all the prayer requests we had for comfort from the loss of a loved one, including my own Grandfather this week, and a song came on my CD player that spoke comfort to my soul.

So I wanted to share the lyrics with all of you who are also remembering those lost, whether through tragic circumstances or just a well lived life coming to a close here on earth, there is One who is always there to hold you when you cannot stand.

Even So, Lord Come

When I am empty, you are my portion Lord

And in my sorrow, you make me laugh with you

I am weary but you are strong in me

And in my barrenness you show me life again

When I fall broken, you pick me up and say my name

And nothing else I see compares with this,

My God would die for me

               I fear nothing with you

               I hold nothing back from you

               Jesus all I need I’ve found in you

               I fear nothing with you

               I hold nothing back from you

               Jesus all I need I’ve found in you

               Even so, Lord come

So I will run now into the arms of Almighty God

Can I stay here, in the shadow of you love?

I will bless you just as long as breath is mine

Cause nothing else I see compares with this –

My God would dance with me.

by: Evan Earwicker


Listen to the song here: Even So, Lord Come

Until Next Time, 

Sonja

              

Boys Don't Cry

Boys Don’t Cry

While dropping my boys off at preschool this morning I overheard a conversation between two parents that went something like this: 

Parent 1: “I know it’s probably a contradiction, because I don’t get onto my daughter about it, but I tell my son: Boys don’t cry. Unless you’re hurt you there is nothin’ to cry over.”

Parent 2: “Oh yeah, I tell my son the same thing...” 

This is when I quickly got into my minivan and left. I was so frustrated by the whole thing and now it just makes me sad thinking about how common this mentality is. We train our boys from birth to stuff their emotions inside then we wonder why we can’t get the men in our lives to “open up” and share how they feel. 

I want my boys to be confident in their emotional health. To be able to feel strong in their tears and express matters of the heart knowing they are in a safe place to do so. (In order for us women to teach this we must have some reign on our own emotional lives, but that post is for another day)  I realize, as in everything, this looks different for each child because personalities differ greatly. I have three very different little men in my house and in time I will have to learn how to help guide them through healthy emotional responses based on their individual needs. 

As with most things boys, a Father’s influence in this area is greatly more effective, however I recognize not every wife is blessed with a husband who has overcome this tough guy mentality or was never challenged with it in the first place. (But we can help them with it as well, in fact we are called to do so… but again, that is for another time) nevertheless we can’t let that be an excuse to fall back into the world’s “normal.” We will have to do this on purpose. 

FACT: BOYS CRY! Men need to feel free to do so, and women need to realize just how sensitive our boys (and our men) really are. If we want to raise healthy, loving, compassionate, caring men then we must respect their hearts and teach them how to articulate their emotions, not handicap them with “tough guy” stereotypes.

Until next time,

Sonja