Kitchen Re-Do

One of my favorite things to do when I go to my parent's house is re-design! (and throw things away) Since I can't really do anything to my apartment, I have to get my fix somewhere. I had almost an entire month this summer so I thought I would tackle the kitchen. It wasn't bad to start off, just outdated, and it took the whole three weeks to do it since my sister and I could really only work on it during nap time and night time when the kids were sleeping. Besides the painting, everything I did I had never done before but I love learning new things. My mom is such a good sport to let me experiment on her house. Even when we were kids she basically let us decorate/paint our rooms however we wanted, never wanting to stifle our creativity.

So, the kitchen started off with the dated oak cabinets, wall paper with green ivy, no backsplash.

This is a small wall near the entrance of the house.

Before I got my hands on it that is ;)

So my grandma has been cleaning out her basement so I thought I'd go rummage around and found this amazing old wallpaper.

(when I showed my sister we jumped up and down squealing for joy)

Yes, that is 3D fuzzy green stuff on there!

There wasn't quite enough to cover the whole wall so I had to get

a little creative and add some gold stripes.

So here is the "after"...

I don't know about you, but I love it.

We got a little gold-happy with the spray paint and started sneaking around the house finding things to spray gold. For some reason my dad wouldn't let me and my sister spray the rims on his truck gold (weird right?) so instead we sprayed the doorbell and waited until someone noticed.

This is the cabinets now. We painted and then did an antique glaze... it took forever because you put the glaze on and then wipe it off with a cloth until you get the look you want. In the back ground you can see the wall a little, which went from a wallpaper mess to a refreshing

"pale apple" for a very refreshing feel.

We also installed this tile back splash.

(sorry the picture is a little blurry)

I've tiled a floor before but not a wall but it was pretty much the same.

Don't look too closely though.

Anyway, that was my fun project for the summer.

It always makes my parents nervous when I come to town.

They never really "see" the whole idea until I'm done and then they really like it.

At least, that's what they tell me.

Just Some Thoughts...

I know I have a lot of updates to make but I just have a few things on my mind.
I was talking with a good friend last night and
we started talking about the pressures that women/moms
have these days.
For instance, when she had her baby she wasn't
able to produce enough milk to breast feed and she felt
so guilty and then other people made her feel like she was
a horrible mother for feeding formula. Anyway, I was just
thinking, why do we do this to ourselves and others?
The judging and the guilt. It doesn't make anyone a better person.
Don't get me wrong, I'm guilty of this as I'm sure everyone is.
We have enough on our minds to make ourselves feel inadequate,
we shouldn't turn around and do it to others.
It's hard not to look at someone else that seems to have it all together
and not put yourself down.
We never really know what is going on with someone else.
Sure I try to look like I'm calm, cool, and collected when my child
is running crazy.
But really I'm about to explode inside.
But I don't want people to know that ;)

Anyway, basically I think we (myself included) need to do more pulling others up than
pushing down.
I don't know why this subject is weighing so heavy on my mind.
My parenting philosophy is
you just have to do what makes you a better mother.
There is a lot of "expert" advise out there
but nobody knows you or your children better than you.
I'm grateful that I have so many amazing friends that are such great
examples to me. They make me want to be a better person.
A better mother.
A better wife.
Isn't that really what we all want?

It's been a great adventure-filled summer but I'm excited to be back in Pullman.

Birthday, Visitors, & Carousels

First, I love love love this picture.

Look at the chins on that boy.

So cute.

A little late, but this was for Kharisma's birthday.

Just another day at the beach.

My brothers and some friends came to stay for the weekend, Kharisma

loved getting the attention from her uncles.

We finally found the carousel we read about... too bad Kharisma hated it.

We're having a great time here, Ben is enjoying his time at the vet clinic. It's not all fun and games though. When you're staying somewhere for an entire month you still have to do some laundry and cleaning. Plus, with Ben being gone a lot now that his externship has started I'm stuck with limited things to do. We usually go to the playground down the street but with no one there to talk to or for Kharisma to play with (although she tries to play with any kids she can) it's getting a little old. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful here and I'm thankful for this opportunity, but it will be nice to be back home in Pullman.

Which brings me to a question I have for all my mom friends with two or more kids.

So, Kharisma and Willum have been sharing a room since we've been gone and it has gone surprisingly well. Willum wakes up usually only once in the night and doesn't even wake up Kharisma. With Kharisma's growing collection of toys I've been thinking, when we get home maybe I'll move Willum into Kharisma's room and have them share so that the other room can be a play room and all the toys can be in there instead of spread throughout the apartment.

So, opinions please.

Is it easier to have kids in one room that is just for sleeping/clothes and toys in another?

OR

Is it worth toys spread everywhere so that each child can sleep in their own room?

We Have a 2 yr-old!

This little angel entered our lives two years ago today. It was such a perfect day. Woke up with contractions, had her four hours later. She was perfect. I remember holding her for hours and hours. Even at night, she'd go back to sleep after a quick feeding but I would stay up holding her and just looking at her. She just melted my heart.

Here is her first birthday. It was quite a party.

She still melts my heart.

She's trying to hold up her two fingers.

This year will be a pretty low-key party, considering we are in California and we don't have any friends around for a party. We'll probably go play on the beach and have cake and ice cream.

Happy birthday my little girl!

All I Wanna Do Is Have Some Fun...

...until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard.

:)

We hung out in Santa Monica today, it was pretty cool.

I especially liked the drive on the Pacific Coast HWY, the houses are amazing.

Ben and I really like to people watch so it was prime people watching territory on the pier.

We took a ride on the ferris wheel...

Kharisma kept saying she was done.

It was a little windy so she was cold.

After walking around down town we decided to cut across the sand back to our car.

It was not a short cut at all.

She had to do some sand swimming.

Tide Pools

We drove up the coast a little way to find some tide pools. It was overcast and a little rainy but still fun. The pools weren't as cool as we were hoping, just some sea anemones and a few crabs. Kharisma and Ben had a good time exploring though. A friend of Ben's from the Army who lives in Monterey came for the weekend so he explored with us. Willum was wrapped up in a blanket, nice and cozy, and I lugged him around while he slumbered through all the fun.

She found a little pool and of course plopped herself down in it.

Tug (Ben's friend--he's Turkish and no one can pronounce his name correctly so it's just Tug) found Kharisma a little clam shell that was still hooked together, she loved it, she used it pick up sand. It was pretty cute.

And off subject... I finished this project tonight. A scrap fabric US map that I'll hang in Willum's room. I also decided to embroider the states' abbreviations and a title which I've entered into a contest on Prudent Baby that can win me a new fancy-smancy sewing machine that is too advanced for my skills but would be awesome anyway. I should put a deadline on all my projects, that way I would actually finish them in a timely manner.

California--that's where all the sunshine is.

It's true.

California has stolen all the sunshine.

(although they say it's colder than usual right now)

See this secluded beach?

Yeah, we walked to it from where we are staying.

Kharisma loves the sand. Not so much the water though. I think it's too cold for her, even with her wetsuit on. This beach is just in the residential part of the city so it isn't crowded at all and people get to walk their dogs (a lot beaches that are mostly for the tourists won't let dogs on) so Kharisma is constantly following people up and down the beach with their dogs. Which leads to lots of conversations with strangers... which I don't always love. Is that bad that I don't like being social all the time?

Napping on the beach... what a life.

(It was a bit chilly in the shade, that's why he needed to be wrapped up)

Kharisma playing in the sand and Ben in the background attempting to surf.

He's sort of a wimp when it comes to the cold Pacific waves so it took

awhile for him to get and stay in the water.

There is a huge park nearby.

With a pirate ship.

And a playground.

On the beach of course.

On an entirely different note, today is my anniversary.

Five years today.

That seems like a long time, it also makes me feel old.

But, it has also been the best five years and I look forward to the rest.

I'm so grateful for Ben and all his hard work.

He's such a good dad, Kharisma and him are best friends and

I'm sure Willum will be right there with them as soon as he can keep up.

I love Ben and everything he does for our family.