24-Hour Friend Fix

It is always good to spend time with your friends. For me, some of my best friends live far away, so it doesn't happen very often. That makes those times even more precious. Over Memorial Day weekend, I had the chance to make a quick trip up to see a few of my friends. Though it was just a short trip, it was worth it.

I dropped the kids off with Grandma K in Iowa. It was their first time staying at her house alone-what a treat! Then it was off to Minnesota for my whirlwind trip. I arrived at my friend Joanna's house and shared some fruit and cuddles with her kids. I gave her belated birthday presents. They included these mugs that I made-one for her, one for me.

You've probably seen these and similar projects all over Pinterest and blogland. There are mixed reviews, but these seem to be fine for now. I used dollar store mugs, a Sharpie marker, and baked them in the oven for 30 min. at 450 degrees (instructions often say 350 degrees). I let them sit about 48 hours before washing them in the dishwasher. The marker did not come off so I'm hoping they will hold up.

Soon it was time to get ready for our friend Lindsey's wedding. Once we were dolled up, we headed for downtown St. Paul with two of Joanna's three children in tow. The wedding took place at James J. Hill Reference Library, a very unique and beautiful setting. Lindsey looked gorgeous and the whole place oozed style. The wedding also spoke of Lindsey's careful planning and eye for design. It was such a fun time chatting with old friends, eating, dancing, and celebrating.

The next day I received one of the best gifts a mom can get...I slept in!!! I woke up at 8:00, which for me, is sleeping in. No little ones wandering in to join me in bed. No calls for Cheerios before the sun has even risen. It was glorious!

The day continued with another treat...shopping with my BFF Joanna...and again, NO KIDS! We hopped around downtown Northfield, which always has great, unique shops. Joanna let me pick out a few belated Christmas/birthday gifts. I chose a yummy tea and a tortilla press. I'll keep you posted on the tortillas. Lunch was at Hogan Brothers-they have the best sandwiches! And a day with Joanna wouldn't be complete if we didn't enjoy some cupcakes. This time we shared a black velvet cupcake and a salted caramel cupcake from Cakewalk.

Too soon it was time for me to head back to Iowa to spend the rest of the long weekend with the kids and my mom. Visits with friends, no matter how long, always recharge my battery and keep me going until I see them again.

Homemade Chalk Paint

Chalk paint has been all over the place for the past few years. It is loved because of its ease of use and the unique finishes you can achieve with it. I have seen some amazing furniture pieces painted with the Annie Sloan chalk paint. However, the price tag of her paint has kept me from bringing it home for any projects. So, I decided to go the frugal, DIY route and try making my own chalk paint. I'm so happy I gave it a try because it turned out great!

There are a few different recipes out there, but I used one that called for unsanded grout. I decided to tackle a bedside table in my daughter's room. Once upon a time, it was rescued from the curbside on a garbage day and became my bedside table during my single years. Then, at our old house, it was in our guest room and now it has made its way into Lillian's room. When I got it, it was painted white and after a couple moves, it had a few chips which revealed a dark stain underneath. I figured it was a good candidate for my first attempt at chalk paint.

BEFORE

The nice thing about homemade chalk paint is that you can use any leftover paint you have lying around. I used the light green (Behr's Outback) that we had used in our downstairs bathroom. I wanted to bring in a little fun color to Lillian's room, but still keep it subtle. I mixed 2 Tbsp. unsanded grout and a little water to get a nice smooth consistency-similar to Elmer's glue. Then I added in 1 Cup of paint and mixed until it was blended. Now I was ready to start painting-no prepping or sanding except a quick wipe down with a wet cloth. The paint goes on nice and easy and covers well. I did two coats and followed with clear paste wax. The wax gives a more durable finish to the chalk-painted furniture. I love the more matte look you can achieve with chalk paint too.

A closer look at the finish

I also added a fun knob from Hobby Lobby.

Someday I may splurge on the "good stuff" for a project, but for now, the DIY chalk paint worked well for me. I would use it again because it was quick and easy. I didn't have to mess with a lot of prep work-something that has kept me from painting furniture in the past. So, if you have a piece of furniture that needs a  little sprucing up, give chalk paint a try. You can find lots of great tips and tutorials, as well as other recipes by searching online.

And the Number of the Day is...TWO!!

On Thursday, Lillian turned two. It's hard to believe our baby is no longer a baby. She is a busy little lady-full of personality and energy.

Birthday Sundae

We celebrated her birthday this weekend with a Sesame Street-themed party. I had a lot of fun decorating the cupcakes to look like some of her favorite Sesame Street characters.

Both the little kids and big kids enjoyed eating them. I used my favorite chocolate cake recipe and a vanilla buttercream frosting.

Happy Birthday Lillian!

Snuggling in Levi's on her birthday.

Dining Room Mini-Makeover

Like many newlyweds, much of the furniture that we started out with was hand-me-downs from various family members. We are very slowly swapping out the pieces we don't love for ones we do, but this takes time and more importantly money.

Our dining room set was given to us by John's aunt and uncle. I like that the table has two leaves, but other than that, I'm not really a fan. It's well-built, but just not my style. The worst part for me was the rattan backs on the chairs. They looked especially dated and weren't standing up to use by our young family. So, I decided to invest in some dining room slipcovers. I used a simple pattern from Fabric-by-Fabric One Yard Wonders and fabric that I got at 60% off. Each slip cover only cost me $10 and I'm happy with the change.

BEFORE

AFTER

Some day I may make fun, colorful ones that I can swap out, but for now I wanted something neutral that would work year-round.

I'm linking up to the Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop. Stop over and check out what other creative things people are doing around their homes.

Peanut Butter Snacks

Peanut butter doesn't last long in our house. So this week when I tried two new snack recipes that featured peanut butter, and they weren't around for long either. Each recipe was simple and quick, as well as being fairly healthy. These make a great snack or a little sweet treat. And the bonus at our house is when they are both kid-approved and adult-approved.

Peanut Butter Granola (from Peanut Butter Fingers blog)
Makes four 1/4 C. servings

2 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 C. oats

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Combine peanut butter and honey in a bowl and microwave until peanut butter melts (approximately 20 seconds). Stir until smooth then stir in cinnamon and vanilla. Add oats and stir until oats are completely covered in peanut butter mixture. Spread oats out evenly onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until granola is slightly browned. Let cool until granola is crunchy. Store in airtight container.

Peanut Butter Puffs (featured in Parenting magazine-June 2011 from Lisa Atwood's Cookbook for Kids)
Makes approximately 20 1.5-inch balls

1/4 C. honey (or agave nectar)
2 Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 C. creamy peanut butter (or any nut butter)
1 3/4 C. puffed rice cereal

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine honey and brown sugar. Heat, stirring, until the mixture begins to boil and brown sugar dissolves, 2 to 3 min. Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Add rice cereal and stir until evenly coated. Set the mixture aside to cool enough to handle, about 5 min. Scoop up a rounded Tbsp. of the mixture and use damp hands to form into 1.5 inch balls. Place on greased, rimmed baking sheet. Chill in the refrigerator until set, 5 to 10 min. Store in airtight container for up to 3 days.

Urban Farmgirl

A few weeks ago, I finally was able to visit Urban Farmgirl, a new shop in Rockford. As soon as I heard about her opening a shop, I knew I had to make a trip there. My two previous attempts didn't work out, but I finally made it.

Urban Farmgirl has been a popular vendor at the Kane County flea market, as well as selling her creations at barn sales and in other shops. She has quite the following on Pinterest, too. Her shop was everything I expected and more. Had the kids and my mom not been waiting in the car, I could have spent all afternoon there. The shop features beautifully painted furniture, antiques, repurposed items, and fun new creations. There was plenty of bright bunting throughout the shop, as well as, small items that would be perfect for gifts and for use in your own vintage creations and decor.

The shop is open two weekends a month and the items are always changing. If you want the pick of all she has to offer, get there early. I will definitely be making more trips to Urban Farmgirl. It is the perfect mix of vintage and new, and sure to give you plenty of inspiration.

Next Sale Dates:
  Thursday, April 18th 10-6
  Friday, April 19th 10-4
  Saturday, April 20th 10-4

Urban Farmgirl
1101 Rural St.
Rockford, IL

Follow Her Blog
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You can also see Urban Farmgirl's items at Na-Da Farm Barn Sale on May 17th and 18th.

Our Boy is Four

Yesterday was Levi's 4th birthday. We had a small Super Why themed part on Saturday.

Cake time with friends Bella and Dea

Opening presents with help from Bella, Dea, and cousin Griffin

The best present-his first bike!

We had lunch at 2 Toots Train Whistle Grill yesterday with his grandparents.

Our lunch arriving on the train

Another birthday wish

He had lots of fun celebrating, but poor thing has a stomach bug today. He's handling it pretty well, considering it's the first time he's ever been sick like this. I don't at all mind the extra cuddling he's requesting. Before too long he may not want to snuggle and I'll miss these days. I am so blessed to be the mom of such sweet, smart, and funny boy.

Happy Birthday Levi!