my stenciled floor, skirted buffet, and kitchen prettiness

Right before every holiday or party when we have people visiting our home, I get on a decorating kick. 

I want to have a new project or two to show off.

So this year, prior to our Christmas guests arriving, I decided to tackle a few projects that have been on my mind for at least 6 months. That deadline of an arriving plane is a great motivator.

To start, the downstairs bathroom floor:

This floor is just no-wax vinyl squares, that are stained and gross because for whatever reason I chose white floors for the bathroom and mudroom when we moved in 7 years ago. What was I thinking??

I found a pretty 12 by 12 stencil online. 

  Eventually I would love wood floors in here, but until then, this will do.

Then there's the buffet in the dining room. That is overflowing with toys.

I have been wanting to hide that mess for a really long time, and finally decided to break out the ironing board and adhesive to get 'er done. I avoid my sewing machine at all costs.

Finally, I wanted to pretty up the kitchen corner a bit and had extra muslin from the buffet skirt, so I decided to make a faux skirt for the kitchen sink.

Faux, because I just attached a cafe rod to the cabinet door, instead of removing the door completely. 

Because I still have kiddos running around and don't want them playing with the clorox wipes.

That's it, folks!

Our guests arrive tonight, my twins turn 5 tomorrow, they have a party on Thursday, I work on Friday, and one of the twins is puking today.

Such is life. Hoping my sweetie pie feels better for cupcakes tomorrow.

hand painted wallpaper and a new (old) table

A couple of weekends ago my husband and oldest son were sick. The twins go down at 8, so I was left alone, by myself, on a Saturday night. I drank a couple of diet mountain dews that day so I would have the energy to do all the laundry, cleaning, etc that is involved with sickos in the house, and ended up with a ton of extra energy while everyone was sleeping.

So this is how I spent my evening:

I had been wanting to do something with these walls for a long time, so thought I would paint some trees on them.

I've been enjoying them, but now the room feels much busier and not so calming, so I will probably paint over them. I am thinking a faux grasscloth paint treatment. Because I change my mind all the time and don't want to fully commit to wallpaper.

On another note, my parents are consolidating from two houses down to one and were going to put their wooden kitchen table in storage. It is an awesome table - I used to do my homework on that table - and I thought it would look nice in my kitchen, so my dad brought it up to us.

I am really happy with it.

The only issue is that it is much nicer than my old white table, so I have to really watch the kiddos to make sure they aren't gluing or using markers on it.

I keep cloth placemats on it all the time and I think that kinda scares my boys away from it. 

It certainly makes dinner nicer.

And I am thinking about putting a rug underneath - one of those indoor/outdoor rugs from Ballard Designs. We'll see.

So, to completely fancy up the kitchen I decided to move the wicker chairs from the kitchen table to the dining room, and I moved the fully slipcovered chairs from the dining room to the kitchen.

Moving those chairs around really made a difference in the dining room.

It feels much less formal now, which is great. 

Because this table is used for legos, ninja battles, games, etc.

It is only used twice a year for dinner.

And it opens up to the playroom.

The winter mantel

So that's what has been going on around here.

We are getting 6-8 inches of snow today. School pickup should be........interesting.

I'll post again once I decide on the playroom walls.

Stay warm!

The SheRox Triathlon

I know it's been a while, but I've been busy.

Working out.

Swimming, biking, and running to be exact. 

So I could compete in:

The SheRox sprint triathlon!!

Just finished it yesterday. An 800 yard swim, 14 mile bike ride, and 5K run.

These were the bikes just for Wave 5. There were 30 waves with up to 75 participants per wave - about 2000 athletes total!!

Some were professionals, some were cancer survivors, some were thin, some not-so-thin, some young, some more experienced, and lots of people just like me. 

Oh, and all of them were women. Did I mention that?

It was awesome.

I got to do the race with my friend who I have been training with since March, and my 18 year old niece who totally rocks. She did the swim in 11 minutes!! She gets a gold star. Plus she is smart, independent, pretty, healthy - I could go on for days.

My boys, waiting...

And just under 2 hours later, we finished:

Yea!! What a fantastic experience.

People would pass me on the bike or run and say "good job", "keep up the good work", "you look great" - and then I would say the same to those few people I passed. What other race in the entire universe is that supportive?

If you have a SheRox event in your neck of the woods I highly, highly recommend it. It was difficult, yes, but that's what makes it so rewarding.

You grow when you challenge yourself. 

I have been surrounded by and have been talking with such positive, healthy people during my training, and I know this is the life I want. 

I can handle stress better.

I have more patience with my kids.

I don't crave sugar anymore.

(I still crave my morning diet mountain dew, but I'm working on that one.)

I now eat for fuel.

I have more energy.

I know my body better.

I recognize the difference between being tired and needing a break, versus being unmotivated. 

And for those unmotivated days:

I am making myself take the week off. Although I think I may fit a strength training session or two.

I would love to go for a run, but I won't.

If anyone lives in the Naperville, IL area and would like a training buddy, email me!! I'm not stopping just because the race is over.

Because there is another one in August!!

Have a wonderful, productive, healthy week, ladies!!