DIY Skateboard Hat Rack

My little man had nowhere to hang his hats, so our solution to the problem was to make him a hat rack! He's really into skateboarding right now so that led us to make a skateboard hat rack.

 I ordered a blank deck from Amazon (that way it was nice and clean) and we picked up some Volcom stickers, because what better way to deck it out then in his favorite brand! I screwed in some inexpensive hooks all along the bottom, screwed it straight into the wall through the predrilled holes and we were good to go! It took us about 15 minutes to make and he LOVES it, WIN WIN!!!

Week 10: Mornings

Week 9: Patterns

A mess of sewing patterns

Week 8: Pink

Week 7: Time

The finish line!

Week 6: Bad Hair Day

The most loved dolls always have the craziest hair ♥

Carlsbad Half Marathon Race Report

My race for January was the Carlsbad Half Marathon. This was my second half but it had been over a year since the last one I did. I wasn't really enjoying my training when I first signed up but I eventually hooked up with a group of my friends and we started training together on the weekends. What a difference that made! I start to get bored running by myself but when I am with friends it breaths new life into the sport for me. I'm so thankful for my Sole Sisters and look forward to more training runs and races together!

The day before the race we put the kids in the LEGOLAND kids mile. It was so much fun! This was Taylor's second race and Scarlett's 4th but it had been a while and they were both so excited to do it.

I was awesome to see how proud they were to cross the finish line and couldn't wait to show off their medals! Proud momma here!!

That night I stayed at my sister and bro-in-laws house so that I could be close to the start and the kiddos and James could go home and get a good nights sleep. That night I got a call from James letting me know I forgot my running shoes back at home with them! They weren't planning on meeting me there until after the race so I had to think quick about how I could get them to me before the race started. Luckily one of my friends that was racing was able to grab them and bring them to me race morning. I don't think running in flip flops would have gone well!

The next morning my sister drove me to the start where I was able to meet up with several of my friends, put on real shoes, check our bags and shiver together for a bit before the race started.

As far as the race went, it was a BEAUTIFUL day to run! I went out slow and then eased into my happy pace. I stuck with a pace group most of the race and then worked to drop them the last mile which made for a comfortable race for me. I had no real time goals for this race, I just didn't want to do any walking. I made it the whole way running and PR'd so I was pleased. My mom and little sister surprised me at the finish, along with my sweet husband and kids, I love my support crew, love, love, love them!! Now I am fired up to train harder and tackle the next race that comes my way! I will also make sure to always have my shoes with me!!

Finished!!

Week 5: Black and White

Week 4: Reflection

52 week project week 3: Self portrait

52 week project week 2: Food

Onions, garlic and herbs

52 week project week 1: Goals

Race every month in 2014

New Year Goals

This year instead of making New Years resolutions we made monthly goals. It's a lot easier to do something for a month instead of a year and we hope that at the end of each month that we will have developed some better habits. For the month of January we started the month off with a 14 day cleanse and no alcohol or coffee for the remainder of the month as well. I don't normally drink coffee so this wasn't hard for me but James has developed a love for tea over the course of this month so we decided to ditch our coffee maker which clears up some space on the counter and that makes me happy!!
Along with our monthly goals that we are doing together we both have personal goals for the year. One that I am particularly excited to accomplish is to do a race every month this year. For the month of January I ran the Carlsbad half marathon last weekend and PR'd which I'm stoked about!

I am also doing a 52 week photo challenge with a group of people where we photograph a different theme every week of the year, I'm hoping to learn a lot more about my camera through this project. I'll share each weeks photo and theme here.

Memorial Day Round up

With Memorial Day coming up I thought I would share some fun ideas I have come across in case you are looking for some new ideas.

Festive dessert from Better Homes and Gardens

Paper stars from Martha Stewart

And I love this by Homegrown Hospitality!

I am so excited summer is finally on it's way!! We have been firing up the BBQ again and I'm looking forward to trips to the beach and water park. Hope you all have a blessed weekend! Thanks for reading :)

Glitter Shapes

We love doing projects with glitter around here so when I came across this craft I knew we had to try it! It was all stuff I already had on hand so we were good to go that afternoon!

I got out a plate for each of the kids and pour a little glue onto both. Then I let them pick out some plastic cookie cutters that they wanted to use. Scarlett picked out some fish and a giraffe and Taylor used some dinosaur ones. 

They took the cookie cutters, dipped them in the glue, then placed them on their paper. We let them sit for a few seconds so the glue could drip down onto the paper, then pulled them straight up to leave the outline of the cookie cutter.

Then they took glitter and poured it onto their shapes. They had so much fun working on their pictures and were able to do this project all by themselves which they loved.

Taylor chose to do black paper with silver glittered dinos and alligators.

Scarlett made a few pictures and had fun using all the glitters to create giraffe art, her favorite animal. I give this project two glittery thumbs up!

How I found my motivation to run

I came across this on Pinterest and I love it because it's exactly what I think about when I'm hurting on a run. When I first started running I hated it! What got me started was after years of watching my hubby race I really wanted to race as well, I loved the idea of running and wanted to get back in shape after having Taylor. James set up a beginners program for me and I was out with my jogging stroller several times a week but it felt like a punishment. I didn't have my head in the right place and saw it as something I had to do instead of something I was lucky to get to do. I did a few races, which I loved, but started to burn out on my training pretty quickly and eventually switched to other activities. Then after taking several months off my mind set started to change. I would be at one of James' races watching people that had every right to quit but they didn't because they wanted to be out there, they wanted to run and push themselves and that's when I realized how lucky I am that I can do this. I am in good health, live in a beautiful place and have no excuses but a bad attitude. I started running again but this time realized what a gift it is and really started loving it. Sometimes running is just plain hard but I welcome these workouts because I know these are the ones that make me stronger. I am showing my children the importance of caring for the body God gave them. I am able to do things I never thought I was capable of and that has giving me confidence. It doesn't matter how fast or slow I am, as long as I am working hard I feel stronger. I love to run now and hope that I never take it for granted again. Share with me what motivates you? I would love to hear what drives you!

Opening Day Celebration

It was opening day for the Padres and since we couldn't be at the game we brought the fun to us.

 I wasn't about to spend $20 a pop for shirts for each of us so I freezer paper stenciled shirts instead. I picked the shirts up at Walmart and didn't spend over $3.50 for any of them. Then I just added a Padres logo to each of them and now we all have matching shirts.

 We got out our baseball gloves and some tennis balls (cause I didn't want them throwing baseballs in the house) and played a little catch.

For dinner we had ballpark food and munched on hot dogs and sweet potato fries with Cracker Jacks for dessert. That was the first time I have ever bought hot dogs, it was an overwhelming experience, I had no idea there were so many options, I had to call James to help me out!

 The kids had a blast and we will definitely be carrying on this tradition.

Tile Makeover

I have never liked the tile by our front door and around the fireplace. It's hard to tell in this picture but they are a horrible salmony color and clashed with all the colors of our house. We talk about replacing all the flooring with wood floors some day but let's be honest, that's not happening any time soon. Since I didn't want to look at the tile anymore I decided to look for an inexpensive solution to my problem. I checked out the laminate tile at Home Depot and went with a dark pattern that had our homes colors mixed in it. At $.99 each and the areas being so small the whole project cost about $25 and I'm so much happier with the way it looks! 

Entryway Before

Entryway After

Fireplace Before (well kind of, I started before remembering to take a before picture)

Fireplace After

The laminate tiles are so easy to apply and since they are so inexpensive I wont feel bad tearing them out some day when I finally get wood floors, hehe! Now onto my next project!

Closing Shop

As my kids continue to grow, the pace of life seems to be speeding up. More activities are added to our schedule and I want to be out there exploring with them all the things this world has to offer while they still want me by their sides. Because of this, I am finding that some things have to be put on hold for now and one of those things is my Etsy shop. I have enjoyed making things for people and interacting with people from all over but I just don't have the time to care for my shop like it needs. I will still be doing vendor fairs and am always happy to make custom orders, just contact me through Facebook. Thank you everyone for your support over the years!
♥ Amy

Cuties Box Baby Bed

Every night Scarlett goes to bed with her best bud toys, Sophie, Little Giraffe and Lambie. She tucks them in bed with her and puts their little heads on one of her pillows so they are comfy too. I came across the idea to turn a Cuties box into a baby bed in Family Fun magazine and pulled the page out to make later for her little guys. I was super excited the next night while I was having dinner at a friends house and saw a Cuties box in her trash. I asked her if I could have it, told her what I was going to do with it so she didn't think I was just a nasty trash digger, and got to work on it the next night at home.

 I just made up what I was doing as I went along, tucking and gluing like wrapping a present. I used hot glue and fleece I had in my stash to cover the cardboard which worked great because you don't end up with any frayed ends. Scarlett assisted me and was so excited watching it come together. I also made two little pillows by cutting a long rectangle of fleece, folding it in half, stuffing it with batting and sealing it shut with hot glue and two little blankets by cutting rectangles of fleece the size of the box (easiest blanket ever!).

 Once we finished the bed up we took it in her room and put her guys to bed.

 I made this for her about a month ago and she still sleeps with it every night, tucking her buddies in when she goes to sleep, she loves it.

And the little bed is great for when we travel. Sophie, Little Giraffe and Lambie ride in their bed on Scarlett's lap in the car on the way to our destination and then they have there own bed for sleepovers right next to a sleeping Scarlett of course.