Revised: Vote for my cute kids!

My friend Sabrina encouraged me to enter a photography competition recently and since there were over 300 entries, I was pretty sure my photo wouldn't be chosen for the top 30. BUT today I found out that it was (!!!) so now I need your help. Please take a moment to click over to the contest and vote for my photo of Jak and Storey. There's some stiff competition-I'm up against some amazing images!!

Vote here. Really it only takes a moment. You don't have to sign up for anything, just click next to #23 Beth V Photography. Thank you!!

P.S. Voting ends Wednesday.

Spray Paint Season

Before we got married, Zak and I bought a bed frame that is really beautiful, but now A-doesn't fit in our very small bedroom and B- isn't really our style anymore. So, it's in storage, along with the majority of our other possessions. Our bed really looks bare without a headboard though. After a trip to IKEA as-is (my very favorite place to find stuff to repurpose) and one can of gray spray paint, we now have the perfect headboard. And the price was definitely right. The total for the whole project was less than $10!

Because we are going to be moving again soon, I didn't want to spend a ton of time sanding and priming the headboard (it will certainly get scuffed in the move), so I just cleaned it with a little Windex to get any dust off, let that dry, and sprayed it. Frankly, even if we weren't moving, I probably wouldn't have primed or sanded this piece. I reserve that for things that look hideous to begin with and will need a lot of paint to thoroughly cover. Zak attached a couple of 1x4 pieces (that we also found in the IKEA as-is) to each side of the back of the door to make it taller.

One of my favorite spray paint tips: If you've ever done a lot of spray painting, you know that your finger really starts to get sore after awhile. Ouch. I picked up a nozzle attachment (Walmart-$2.50) a few projects back and it makes all the difference!! No more sore fingers and the paint goes on with more even strokes. I will never spray paint without one again. Super cheap and attaches to all spray paint brands (the attachment I have is Rustoleum brand, but I always spray with Krylon). If you are planning on doing a lot of painting this summer, I highly recommend getting one (And no, they aren't paying me to say that. But they should).

Saturday Snapshot

Why isn't there a Wiggles mural on more of my furniture?

After posting about the little doll bed makeover for Storey last week, a friend of mine suggested that I start painting things and reselling them. Always interested in ways to make a few extra bucks, I went the next day to the local thrift shop in search of the perfect item for a trial of her idea. And found this desk. A beaut, ain't it?

I know the poor little desk was passed up by other customers because frankly, it is hideous. But the trick when looking for something to re-do is to look beyond the colors/fantastically horrible Wiggles mural and decide if the lines are right. Try to picture the desk white. Would you like it then?

Why, yes. Yes, I would.

Unfortunately, it was at this point (the desk had been primed) that I gave up my original intention of selling and decided to keep it. Hey, a kindergartener to-be needs a special place to do homework, right? With Jakson's help, we decided on a green dinosaur desk.

Tuesday night, I finished up all of the spray painting and it was ready for the dinosaur decal. But like the total idiot perfectionist that I am, when I got up the next morning I decided that the inside of the lid (on the seat) needed to be painted as well. I should have left well enough alone because the overspray caused the paint from the day before to bubble, ruining the whole front of the desk. Epic fail. Trying to fix my mistake, I scraped off the paint that had bubbled and tried to paint over it only making it worse. I scraped that paint off, sanded it, and painted it again, but then the lid fell open leaving a huge mess where the paint was still wet. I was so so done and just wanted to throw the stupid thing across the yard. After calming down, I ended up sitting in the hot sun, scraping the paint off the entire front, sanding it down, and then left the rest for Zak to take care of. I counted that as my exercise for the day. I was sweaty and my arms are still sore. Sounds like a workout to me!

Thankfully, it was all worth it.

From beginning to end.

P.S.-I created a Facebook page with all of my before and after projects. Some have been posted on this here blog and some have not. I thought it'd be a fun way to keep track of my makeovers and maybe give other people ideas for things they can do with a can of spray paint. And if I ever don't fall in love with something I makeover, I'll post it on the page for sale. Check it out here.

Real.

Blogs are funny things. You know people, but you don't. You think you are getting glimpses into a person's life, but they only show you what they want you to see. Mainly the perfect parts. Not the parts you'd see if you peered through the window without them knowing. The messy house, the rocking chair that collects clothing, the screaming kids, a mascara streaked face. Those things are left out.

In other words, don't believe everything you read.

The reasons why people blog are funny too. For some it's money, followers, popularity...almost like being an anonymous celebrity. For others it's to journal and share photos of their kids. In the past 5ish years since I started blogging, my motives have changed a bit. At first, it was strictly about Jak's comings and goings. A way to share his growth with family far away. Once I realized that people I didn't know had started reading my blog, I sort of lost my purpose for awhile. I checked the stats all the time, started hosting giveaways, wondered why I wasn't as popular as other people....it was a little like high school. And I hated high school. My little family blog had turned into something I didn't want it to be, less about kids and more about having more readers than the next blog. Not a motive to be proud of.

A couple of years ago, I discovered my blog purpose again-keeping a record of life. No more giveaways or checking stats. A lot of things get left out, but I try to be as real as possible. Motherhood is not always easy. Heck, life is not easy. But the blessings of both far outweigh the challenges. Or at least it all evens out in the end.

I've noticed as the decisions Zak and I make become increasingly difficult, I become more private. I have so many worries running through my head at any given time, but don't always want to share. So, if I'm not writing as often or as personally, rest assured we are fine, just dealing with the curve balls life has thrown. With our Father in Heaven's help, everything will work out for the best.

Blessed.

To a man who keeps his cool despite being poked in the face and used as a human jungle gym.
Happy Father's Day!!

Mushrooms are marvelous, but....

Every once in awhile, I find something truly hideous at a garage sale that I just know can be awesome. Especially if the price is right.

Fifty cents?!? Sold.

I was going to save it for Storey's birthday, but our house is too small to really hide anything. Instead I worked on the cradle transformation while the kids were at preschool this morning.

I love how it turned out. A great fifty cent investment. I made a little "mattress" out of batting and some heavyweight twill I had around, a doll quilt out of scraps, spray painted the cradle, and added an iron on "S" (like the wall letters in the shop). No more mushrooms. Or marker signatures.

The best part was Storey's reaction. She immediately laid her babies in it and commanded everyone to "Be quiet! Baby Norah and Baby Storey are sleeping." The naming creativity in our house is astounding.

I'm too tired to come up with a title.

I've written about 5 different posts this week that I haven't finished/not sure if I'm ever going to publish. So while I debate with myself about those, here's a photo of a rare moment when the kids are not yelling at each other. I had to take a picture of it to remember that it actually does happen.

Highlight of the week that proves how lame I really am: Last night there was a crazy deal grab on Amazon for baby gear. Cribs for $18, strollers for $8, swings for $11...it was awesome. And so much fun. There were a bunch of us buying until almost midnight and following prices on the Screamin' Deals Facebook page. Unfortunately, many of the orders were canceled, but a lot of people still got some incredible deals. Most excitement I've had in a long time. I'm such a nerd.

Just call her Pixie Voice

Storey is crazy. Seriously, the girl has personality that never ends. I just can't wait until she's a teenager (I say sarcastically).

Scene: Vermillion family gathering.
Me: Tyler, can you hand me that water bottle? It's mine.
Storey rushes over to me and puts her finger over my mouth.
Storey: Mommy, we do not say "mine!". That is berry berry naughty! You do it again, I will wash your mouth out with soap.

It's so strange hearing all of your words repeated back to you.

A couple of days ago Storey informed us that she was going to "eat out" with her friends. She put on a hat, slung her purse over her shoulder, headed into the bathroom, and shut the door. I am assuming that it where the restaurant is located.

Zak's joke: Must be some "crappy" food.

We are all comedians around here.

Last Saturday after driving around to garage sales all morning, we discovered that Storey had taken and hidden a little unpaid-for stuffed animal in her purse. In order to really drive the point home, we showed her a police car parked on the side of the road and told her that people who steal get arrested by the police and go to jail. She was very remorseful, took the animal back, and apologized to the sellers. Unfortunately, we didn't count on Mr. Literal who then took it upon himself to berate and threaten her with a trip to the police station over and over again. He wondered why we drove home instead of taking her downtown. After that traumatic experience, I have a feeling that Storey will never be shoplifting (garagesalelifting?) again.

P.S. Jakson also asked me if he was going to get a new little sister since Storey was going to live with the police. I guess since she's so flawed, he needs an upgrade.

Her favorite past time lately? Twirling. If you ask, she's a ballerina. And she wants her nickname to be "pixie voice."

She's very persuasive. Even Uncle Tyler couldn't resist a few twirls.

Last

These are the last photos my camera took before it was accidentally knocked out of my camera bag, hit the cement, and ceased working. I'm glad the last images the camera saw before its untimely death were adorable.

My niece, Baby Norah.

The silver lining: The memory card was not damaged, all pictures survived. It's just a camera and can be replaced. I was able to purchase an upgrade (used) for a great deal. Hoping it arrives soon.