Birch Tree Shelves: A Quick, Fabulous & Free Up-Cycle

Birch Tree Shelves: A Quick & Fabulous Up-Cycle

Spring is coming! And I have been busy with several fun new house projects and spending time outside in the beautiful sunshine. I am currently in the middle of constructing a roman shade from a curtain panel... but I am taking a break to share my current favorite DIY project: Birch Tree Shelves!

We had a beautiful Birch tree in the front yard, unfortunately like several of the trees in our yard it wasn't alive anymore!

Before it headed to the burn pile I sorted through and found some pieces that hadn't been affected by whatever disease that caused it's early demise.

I cut them to size using a handheld limb saw and sealed them with Mod Podge. A spray sealer would make this step go even quicker but I was going with what I had on hand to keep this a completely free DIY project. Plus I got to use a couple super cute helpers!

After they dried I tied two branches together with some twine I had in my craft stash and mounted them to the wall with the L brackets I removed from the valances I took down from the previous owners. (Sorry for no pictures of this step, it went so fast I forgot to take them!)

But Here is the finished project. I love the way it looks in the room, they are the perfect size to hold our photo books and the best part: Completely FREE!

So now back to those window treatments... hopefully next week I will be able to post about them!

Until Next Time,

Sonja

Baby Poo On The Carpet... Moments That Will Not Be Missed

Baby Poo On The Carpet… Moments That Will Not Be Missed

It was 5:00am when I heard the sound of our youngest two boys thumping down the hall, creating more noise than herd of wild horses. They climbed their way into our bed and took their place on either side of me. As I lay awake sandwiched in between their warm bodies, listening to the even breathing and intense thumb sucking, I began to think about how much I would miss these early morning snuggles. Even though at the moment I really just wanted to go back to sleep (or tie that thumb behind his back)… I pondered over the week I have had so far… it’s been onerous already and it’s only half over…

The baby, who is not so much a baby anymore, started the week off by removing his dirty diaper. In the process he stepped in it and then proceeded to walk all around his room. One of the few places in the house that is not solid surface flooring. Baby poo on the carpet is not one of the things I will miss when my children are grown. To his credit, he was attempting to clean it up with a wet wipe and some toilet paper he stole from the bathroom… yes, it is clearly time to potty train, however that is also on my list of things I don’t think I will be missing when the house is empty and quiet. But that eager desire to learn something new and the look of concentration on his chubby little face… that I will miss. 

The following day, during a trip to Walmart, my three year old decided to disappear. Knowing he bolted off on purpose was a little more comforting than just having lost him, but also more infuriating. After calling out and searching the nearest aisles I quickly alerted an employee to call a Code Adam so he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the store, knowing he may be so bold as to do so. He had made it all the way to the other side of the store and was on his way back before I caught him. I was worried and furious at the same time. Needless to say I won’t ever miss that feeling. But later that evening when we talked about how dangerous it is to run away like that, when he looked up at me and apologized with sincerity in his big blue eyes and that thumb, perpetually in his mouth. That face I will miss. 

I know I will miss the loud laughter and stomping feet as they chase each other through the house. I will long for the chubby hands wrapped around my neck and the sweet kisses in the early mornings. I will miss singing them to sleep and watching their eyes slowing grow heavy. I know because I already miss it with my oldest two, who independently hop into bed and seldom ask for “songs and prayers”. I already miss the tiny baby moments, the first discoveries, and especially the way they look at you, like you are the most valuable person in the entire world. 

But now we are moving on to new adventures and new firsts. I want to remember these times when I feel like I am weary and on my last nerve… I want to remember the things I know I will miss when they are only memories and no longer apart of my daily routine. 

The Bible places a lot of value on Remembrance, because is does wonders for perspective and thanksgiving. Psalm 103 calls us to praise the Lord for the things he has done, and “forget not, all his benefits” In praise and thanksgiving I will remember these little moments with my children. For the protection of the Lord over my stubborn three year old, for the poo on the short pile carpet and not the white sheepskin rug. I want to hold on to these moments and live fully in them and not let frustration and exhaustion cloud my perspective.

We will never have these moments again, the children they are now, this chubby sweet snuggly baby version, will be gone and a new child will emerge, one just a beautiful but one ever changing and growing. Because life is short, and childhood even shorter.

Until next time, live fully in the moment and forget not all His benefits.

Sonja

730 Days of Food Freedom: My Two Year Trim Healthy Mama Update

(This post contains Affiliate Links... no additional cost to you... a few extra pennies for me. Thanks for helping support this blog!)

Two Years! 730 Days of choosing health and enjoying my food freedom. I can honestly say there are zero regrets! I have kept off all 65 pounds and maintained my goal weight over the past year with little changes to my daily routine... in case you missed my original Trim Healthy Mama testimonies, you can read them here and here.

Never heard of Trim Healthy Mama? A very basic description would be a low glycemic lifestyle. Removing added sugars and bad starches and creating a customizable diet that meets you right where you are. Learn more at their website... you won't regret it. I promise.

Same jeans as 2015!

Over the past few months I have had to adjust my diet to remove dairy and gluten in attempts to gain better control over my skin health (I will share more of that journey later). If it wasn't for THM, I don't know that I would have been able to successfully manage such a big change in my diet. The new cookbook is full of dairy free options and I don't have to feel like I am missing out on anything.  There are so many options for each individual, because it's real food. No special labels, no counting calories; just good food and the knowledge you need to take control of your health.

No, Trim Healthy Mama isn't a miracle to solve all your problems, it's a tool to help you achieve your health goals. A very effect, easy to use, tool... that encourages foods like Chocolate and Bacon (seriously... who doesn't love bacon!)

I am so grateful to have been introduced to this lifestyle. I can live my daily life without the stress of being overweight or the constant struggle to "watch" what I eat. I walk in freedom knowing that I am making the best choices for my health and enjoying every meal!

If you are new to Trim Healthy Mama or would like to know more about it, feel free to contact me. I love helping people gain the knowledge they need to achieve their goals.

Until Next Time,
Sonja

Ottoman Revival: A freebie gets a stunning facelift

Ottoman Revival: A freebie gets a stunning facelift

I love vintage furniture! I found a great little ottoman at an estate sale one summer. It was cute, round and green. It had a tiny tear in the vinyl that just needed a simple patching but I managed to get it thrown into my purchase pile for free, so it was a win all around!

However five minutes with my boys and the tiny tear turned into a huge rip. So away went the ottoman to be repaired. Fast forward an out of state move and three months in storage and the little ottoman final got the makeover it deserves. And the best part: it was completely free!

BEFORE

I started by taping the tears and cutting out some foam I had saved from a torn up crib mattress. I dug through my fabric stash and found this great shimmering aquamarine piece that I think I may have had for over ten years… I always knew it had great potential and being a closet hoarder paid off once again! :-D

I knew I wanted to duplicate the piping on the original design, but I wasn’t sure how to accomplish the task. Thanks to Pinterest I found this excellent tutorial on piping. Knowledge breeds confidence, fortified with this new confidence I dove in and got started. 

Per the tutorials instructions I used a zipper foot to stitch the piping together. I’m not sure I would have ever thought to use that foot on my own, but it worked perfectly to get a nice tight closure around the cord. 

I attached the piping to the straight section before pining both pieces to the round top section. 

Another excellent tip was to cut notches in the work as you go to release some of the tension in the fabric as you stitch around the circle. This step along with making sure to stay as closely as possible to the piping kept the final product laying smooth. 

After stitching all three pieces together I taped the foam in place on top of the ottoman and slipped on the new cover. I used a staple gun to secure it along the bottom. I took my time during this step making sure it was evenly pulled taut and smoothed out along the top edge of the piece. 

After finishing the stapling, I wanted to give it a bottom that glides easily across the wood floors, made with a fabric that wouldn’t unravel. I found a great felt piece. Unfortunately it was bright red, but since it was just the bottom I decided it would work.  I cut it to size, making sure to cover all the staples for the safety of our hardwood floors, and used a hot glue gun to secure it to the bottom. 

I recently purchased some stencils for a curtain project I am working on (Hopefully I will be sharing that with you next week!) and depending on how well that goes I may be adding some designs to this piece as well. For now I love how this little guy turned out. It's the perfect accent color in our living room and just the right size to put your feet up after a long day of Chasing Socks! 

AFTER

Thanks for stopping by! Looking forward to sharing my other projects with you soon. 

Until Next Time, 

Sonja

What is Love? {Four Principles to Make Love a Reality}

What is Love?

I often say, “I love you” to my husband. Sometimes it’s to remind him that I love him, other times it’s to remind myself… but what is love? What does it look like? 

Having just celebrated Valentine’s Day here in America, love currently looks a lot like gifts, chocolates, and flowers. My Facebook news feed was full of status updates of wives bragging on their husbands Valentine’s accomplishments, myself included. Because we all want to feel loved, appreciated, and cherished. But when the candy aisle changes from red hearts to cream filled eggs, what does love look like then? 

Anyone who has been married for longer than a month knows love can be challenging, to say the least. My husband and I are getting ready to celebrate nine years of marriage. Living life together (with four boys) for almost a decade as provided several opportunities to rethink my expectations of what “being in love” looks like. It’s difficult, it’s messy, but it is beautiful and completely worth the effort.

My quest for the truth about love has led me back to the book that illustrates the greatest love story every told; The Bible. The world love is mentioned over 300 times throughout the book. God designed us for love, for relationship with Him. He is more than the author and creator of love, He IS love. His word says: No greater love has one than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 ESV) The sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for us was the ultimate act of Love. So what does that mean for us? Obviously giving up our physical life is not a something most of us will be called to do for our spouse. But I am learning the many ways we can apply this great act of love in our daily lives. Here are a few I’m practicing:

Believe the best in each other: in the moments when it is easy to slip into the patters of recounting past sins and placing blame, choose love instead. Believe the best in your spouse, remind yourself and each other that you are on the same side and more than likely your goals are the same, even if your methods are different. 

Listen well: respond instead of react, when your spouse is being grumpy, listen well. Is it fatigue, frustration, or fear driving the attitude?  Offer a listening ear, not an unwelcome solution, just a sounding board. This is a tough one for me, I like to fix things…  

Embrace your differences: Remember just because it’s different doesn’t mean its wrong! One of the greatest moments of self sacrifice can come by laying down your way and trying something new. For us this can be as simple as the way we load the dishwasher, or don't re-do what’s already been done. 

Trust in your True Identity: This is by far the most challenging for me, especially during this season of my life. My identity can get lost in piles of dirty laundry and sleepless nights. Trying to force my husband to fill a God sized gap is not only unfair, it’s a trap the enemy puts in our way to ensnare us in unhappiness. When I believe in me, in who I am, who I’ve always been, before the SAHM label, before the wife title, I can be free from fear. The fear of rejection that causes defensiveness. The fear of failure that causes overwork and exhaustion. These fears and so many others are the opposite of love. Fear is at work against us because he is at work against Love. Our choice to trust in our identity is the best way to fulfill all the other acts of love. We are children of God, created in His image to do good works, loved with an everlasting love, called, chosen, redeemed, restored, beautiful, cherished. Nothing can separate us from this identity and this love. (Romans 8:31-39) When we believe this truth then sacrificial love comes easily. 

So what is love? Love is believing the best in each other. Listening with open hearts and closed mouths. Love is embracing each other’s differences. Love is walking in your true identity and not expecting your spouse to be your God, but offering your heart with confidence because even if you get hurt, it will never change who you are, a child of the King. 

Here are a few of my favorite resources on love and marriage... The Bible, Loving On Purpose, The 5 Love Languages, The Meaning of Marriage 

If you have any question or want to discuss the topics further please feel free to contact me. If you've never experience this Love I'm talking about, the love only God can give you, don't hesitate to reach out and ask some questions. It's never to late to let Love in!

Until Next Time, Choose Love!

Sonja

"Noatmeal" a Hot Cereal Makeover - Dairy, Gluten, and Sugar Free (THM S)

My plans of writing more frequently have been interrupted by what I like to call "the blue screen of death." It is the error screen that shows up every time I turn on my PC informing me of its dismal state.

Until a decision is made on how to repair (or replace) it I am limited to the use of my smartphone. And it is just not the same as sitting down and using a keyboard. 

That being said I had to share my new favorite breakfast with you.

Having recently moved north we are adjusting to colder temperatures. I love it! I love fuzzy slippers, cozy sweaters, and sipping hot tea all day.

However, breakfast can get a little boring. I normally save eggs for dinner and now that I am gluten and dairy free I have even left my standard oatmeal breakfast behind. Thanks to Pinterest I found this recipe for Noatmeal and it hits the spot! It is fast, easy, warm, and filling. Everything I need in a breakfast. It has more of a Malt-o-meal texture than oats but it is just as versatile. Here is my take on the recipe:

Noatmeal
Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
2 Tablespoons Ground Flax
1/2 Cup Almond milk (or dairy free milk of choice)
1 Tablespoon Pyure Stevia
Pinch of Mineral Salt
Dash of Vanilla

Optional Add Ins:
Liquid Egg Whites (see note)
Cinnamon
Maple Flavor

Mix ingredients in small saucepan, and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently until desired thickness is reached. Mine takes approximately 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in desired add ins.

Transfer to bowl and serve (or save a dish and eat it straight from the pan) So easy!

Note: I wait to whisk in my egg whites until after cooking, but while still very hot. This adds a nice creamy protein source without adding any eggy flavor to the dish.

I hope you can enjoy your cozy winter morning even more with this yummy hot breakfast.

Until Next Time,
Sonja

Hello Again!

I cannot believe it has already been six months since my last post. How my life has changed! I am excited to share about our latest adventures but there is so much to tell I will have to spread it out over the next few weeks!

To start we have moved to Iowa! My husband received a promotional transfer and we packed up and headed North. This journey has been a testament to the faithfulness and unending love of our good God. He has provided for every detail and unforeseen circumstance. Even the situations that felt like delays turned out to be divine timing. We have seen the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Ps 27:13) and I am so blessed!

Another journey I have started since my last post is a transition into a dairy and gluten free diet. Thankfully with Trim Healthy Mama, it has been an easy leap. I will be sharing new recipes and tips as well as reviewing recipes from the new Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook.(Affiliate)

Our boys are always the center of our adventurous life and this week we will be celebrating our baby's 2nd birthday! How can time pass so quickly???

January 2014

I am completely in love, how could I not be? Again, God has been so good and I am looking forward to sharing more with you soon!
 
Thank you for stopping by and until next time I pray the goodness of the Lord shines on you as well!
-Sonja