It's My Garden, In a Box...

Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite part of summer is fresh strawberries from the garden.  My grandma has an extra lot next to her house which she used for a garden.  Probably half that garden was strawberries and it would take hours to pick and hull them.  It was worth all the work as there is nothing better than super sweet, fresh strawberries.

Now, we have our own house and my kids LOVE strawberries, but being the bad mom I am, I don't provide them with those same memories.  Instead, we live in a community with association "rules".  One of those "rules" forbids gardens in your own.  While, I commend the community for taking action and putting in "rules" to help maintain the appearance of the neighborhood and home values, is growing a few berries and veggies too much to ask for???

With spring on the horizon, I am looking forward to getting outside.  Maybe this is the  year I'll figure out a more successful method of planting berries and veggies than cheap plastic pots.  They never seem to be successful.

Should I try to make a planter box myself or save my time and just dish out the money to buy one?

Image via Hayneedle.com

Image and build plans via ana-white.com

Image via re-nest.com

Image via ana-white.com

At least I have a couple of months before I need to think of a planter box.  In the meantime, maybe I should get some seeds started....

Spring Yet...?

I hate to complain about the weather but I am ready for some warmth, despite the already unseasonable warmth.  This winter has been the driest, warmest Minnesota winter in recent memory.  Much deserved after last year's snowiest, coldest winter on memory.  

It's mid-February, while I should be concerned with finishing Kaiya's solo costume and getting her other costumes bedazzled, I am yearning to get out the power tools and work on some projects for the house...darn Pinterest puts too many ideas in my head...  Am I the only person with this issue?  Or is everyone else seduced by the beauty of extravagant closets and pimped out craft rooms?

Since it's still a little too chilly to get to work out in the garage, I am dreaming of some new tools:

I may just buy the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig for myself for my birthday.  It'll come in very handy when building the table for my mom cave:

I am dying to get my hands on one of these saws.  Double bevel sliding compound miter saw...how dreamy! 

I would like a router as well.  Can't decide if I just want a simple trim router or a full blown plunge router.

Imagine all the tools I could fit into this beauty!

I hope I am not the only girl out there fascinating about all I could do with the right tools.  Time to go peruse the Rockler website now...

Lysol Anyone?

The past week has been full of "stay home days" as my son so happily calls them, but I am sure my boss doesn't appreciate them so much.

It all started last week when I had to pick up Kaiya from school when she was under the weather.  Then, Gavin had a fever and was diagnosed with a double ear infection and impetigo earlier this week...sure wish he would have told me when his throat was hurting before it turned into impetigo.

Being the main caretaker of my sick children, it was bound to happen to spread to me quickly.  So here I am, strep and all.  Now, the husband and daughter are both off being tested after complaining of sore throats.

There is definitely one benefit of a week of being lazy around the house...this gives me plenty of time to search Pinterest.  Here are several ideas I found for a project table in my newly painted "Mom Cave":


I love the Pottery Barn project table.  It has room for storage, is the perfect height, and a wide cutting space.

Pottery Barn

So simple, such a large workspace!

Pinterest

Love this shabby, chic look with a repurposed door and balusters.

Hammers and High Heels

Has anyone else seen any good ideas for project tables?

Photo Organizing - My Project Life

Last night, I started to take random pictures of the kids and got a funny look from Greg as to why I'd be taking a picture of Chase playing around with a laundry basket.  We are HORRIBLE at taking pictures and I fear the rath of my children when they get older and have no pictures of themselves from when they were young.  Seriously, what am I thinking?!?


This morning I logged into Pinterest a saw one of my old friends pinning several Project Life ideas.  Hmm... What is this Project Life?  It seems to be just what the doctor ordered!  I looked into it a little more and found the Project Life website.

This seems to be a simple enough method for creating and being able to keep on top of a scrapbook...even more the photographically challenged.


I love how you don't sit in front of a piece of paper and a bunch of do-dads trying to decide a lay out.  Instead, you buy pocket pages.  You can choose to use all of the same design of pocket pages or choose several designs.


On Pinterest you can find many ideas, organization tips, and free journal card template downloads.  Here are a few of my favorite I found:

Title Page, Elle's Studio

Printing Journaling Cards, Paislee Press

Project LIfe Organization, Hello Forever

Has anyone else had success with Project Life or have any tips?  My kit should be arriving early next week and I can't wait!

P.S.  Today is definitely Friday the 13th.  I thought it was a weird coincidence this morning when I found Project Life on Pinterest the day after I had mentioned we need to start something to inspire us to take photos, but then when I logged onto one of my favorite blogs, I saw Jen from Tatertots & Jello also discussing Project Life today.  Too many coincidences to be a fluke...

Happy New Year (4 days late...)!

Well, it's been 2012 for a few days now.  I am not one to make resolutions, but this year there are a few things I really want to accomplish so I am going to try my darndest to make them happen.  Hopefully, I don't leave them by the wayside after a couple weeks like all those people that pack the gym in January but aren't there when I go in April.

1.  Get healthy.  Ever since I had Chase, I seem to have forgotten about myself.  Tends to happen when you work full-time and have 3 kids.  I started getting back into the gym a couple months ago, but I need to try to change my diet, and maybe cut down on the wine a little...

2.  Be a more frugal family.  Our family definitely has some weaknesses when it comes to spending money.  We like to eat out, buy things we probably don't need, and just generally spend without thinking.  "Oh, you need some dish soap?  Why not just run down to the gas station and grab some quick?"  We could definitely start eating in and cook for ourselves more, as well as be more organized so that we don't need run out pick things up 5 days a week.  WE NEED TO LEARN TO BUDGET!

3.  Be a full-time mom.  Why is the above a goal... because I'd like to make this one happen.  I am currently working full-time and driving myself nuts.  I spend so much time at work and driving to and from work that I don't get to spend much quality time with my family.  When I am home, I have to spend all my time cooking, cleaning, helping with homework, being a taxi, and organizing the family.  There is no opening in there to relax at all or spending quality time with my family.

Those are my lofty goals for the year.  I am not sure if they are feasible, but I am open to the challenge.

Here's to New Year resolutions and trying to stick to them!