Entry Way Hooks & Shelf

One thing you should know about me- I hate piles, I hate clutter, and I hate disorganization.  That is not to say I'm the most organized person in the world, but I really think that everything should have a "place" and it should return to its proper place for storage.

This includes clothing.  It belongs in a drawer, on a hanger in the closet, on a door hook, or in the hamper- not on the floor.  This is where Chris and I don't always see eye to eye.  It also includes coats, rain coats, and diaper bags.  Getting Chris to hang his coat back in the coat closet on a routine basis is a losing battle- not worth the nagging.  

We previously owned this hideous coat rack, which I absolutely hated.  Not only was it ugly, but it was also very cheap and easily tipped over.  But I conceded to keep it because it was better than the alternative- coats and bags on the stairwell, floor, couch, window seat.  We had been on the look out for a new and better coat rack for the past 2 or 3 years but never found anything we could agree on that was in our price range.  Well last winter, I finally had it with this coat rack and got rid of it.

I had been dealing with coats and bags everywhere- even though it drove me crazy.

And then I saw this shelf tutorial on Jen's blog, At Home in the Northwest.  I loved the shelf and the hooks and immediately knew it would look great with the crown molding in our entry way.  Because I don't have fancy power tools and am not very skilled in wood working, I turned to my Dad.  Who does own many power tools and does quite a bit of woodworking as a hobby.  So this isn't so much of a DIY, but rather a DID (Do It Dad)

How amazing does this look?

Like I said on Friday, having this new rack to hang coats and bags on really might have been the best part of my week.  No more piles of clutter, coats, and bags.

Thanks Dad!

You should check out Jen's blog for more great practical DIY projects and home decorating ideas. 

high five for friday

1. I have sworn my whole adult life that I would never own a mini-van.  EVER.  For the last four years Chris has told me I would change my mind, and I swore up and down that he was wrong.  I would not give in.  We've talked about Subaru Outbacks, Honda Pilots- basically larger SUVs as my next "family" car.  Well I'm eating my words now.  For the first time this week I admited that I see the value and practicality of a mini-van.
Here's the conversation that changed my mind: a friend was talking about the hassle of finding a place to park their large suburban so that she could have enough space to open both back doors to get kids in and out of car seats.  She talked about with a mini-van you can park anywhere and you don't have large doors that swing out.  The automatic door close feature is pretty sweet too.  Is it weird that I'm using the word sweet to describe a mini-van?
We don't need one now, but in a couple years when we're thinking about kid #3, having the extra seats for all the kids and their friends will be a plus.  So I introduce to you my new dream car: Honda Odyssey- with a sun roof.

2.  I am not a fan of guns.  But I married a man who had two.  So now by default I am a gun owner.  I don't particularly like that fact, but it is what it is.  Now with a little one running around the house and opening drawers we have been talking about a way to "lock" up the gun yet still have it accessible in the event of an emergency.  Read between the lines: I told Chris he needed to ask for a small gun safe for Christmas.  My parents drove down last week and brought back all our Christmas presents since we couldn't fly home with them very easily.  So this week Chris and I have been working to gun-safe our home.  Although this isn't the exact model that we have...it is pretty close.  It is basically a small safe that can fit in a drawer with an electronic lock.

So again I'm not a fan of guns, but if some creep decides he wants to make my home a target- Mama Bear will not hesitate to open that drawer and protect her babies.  And yes, I do know how to use it...

3.  I decided this week that I like oatmeal if it has enough maple syrup on it.  I'm trying to cut down on the processed cereal I eat.  One because it is processed and two because it is a bit on the expensive side.  Oatmeal is a healthy and CHEAP alternative.  (I buy organic oats from the DeKalb Farmers Market for next to nothing.  Seriously that 1/2 gallon jar costs less than $2)  When I was having trouble with my milk supply and having trouble nursing Phoebe after she was born I tried EVERY trick in the book to increase my milk supply.  Eating oatmeal was one of them.  I hated it, but with enough brown sugar (which completely negated any health benefit) I could stomach it.  Maple syrup is a natural sweetener, which makes it a much better option than brown sugar.  And it is pretty good on oatmeal too :)

4.  I am LOVING this new shelf/coat rack that my Dad made for us and put up last weekend.  The highlight of my week just might be hanging my coat and purse on it when we get home.  (More on the shelf next week...)

5. Today marks day #1 of the RUF Wives Retreat.  I love this weekend!  Basically all the RUF wives leave the kids at home with the husband (ok some women do bring nursing babies, but not me) for the weekend and head to Atlanta.  It is a great time to connect with other wives who "get" what it means to be married to college minister and can completely relate to both the joys and struggles.  It is always filled with great teaching, great fellowship, and great fun.  This year the main speaker is Paige Benton Brown.  If you are familiar with reformed PCA circles you have probably heard of her.  We refer her article Singled out for God to college and post-college single girls quite often.  It was written over 10 years ago, but it really is a great article about singleness and Christianity if you are interested.

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Lauren 

{WIWW} Muumuu Maternity

So this is not a maternity dress, but I found out last weekend that it fits over my pregnant belly.  It actually is very cute with a belt, but a skinny belt above the belly just didn't look right.  Believe me I tried.  So I wore it as a muumuu.  Probably not the most flattering thing I have worn this pregnancy, but it was comfy.  

Also probably not the greatest backdrop for a picture.  Sorry about that.  We had gone outside to snap a couple shots, but it was really windy so I backed up next to the garage as to not blow away.  I didn't realize there were garbage cans behind me...

Love these boot socks from Grace and Lace though.  I have a mustard yellow pair too; LOVE them.

See, much cuter with a belt without a belly...

Dress- Gap

Boots- Nine West Outlet (old)

That's all I got today.

Linking up with the Pleated Poppy and Shanna. 

Christmas

I realize that was Christmas was 3 weeks ago, but I just haven't had a chance to get this posted.  Our Christmas was celebrated in 3 parts.  All fun, but felt very disjointed over all.  Maybe, this is just the way holidays are with out-of-town families?  

First we celebrated with Chris' family in early December.  Because it was just us opening presents, I really didn't get many pictures.   Here is Phoebe in a pile of presents/tissue paper.  For some reason she wanted to hold that banana, but true to character she wouldn't eat it...

Then since we were traveling to Delaware to see my family for Christmas day, Chris, Phoebe, Knox and I celebrated our "family" Christmas about a week early at home.

The best way to display a present for a 17 month old is to put it out un-wrapped.  She LOVED seeing and getting Elmo.

We also had gotten her a tent and tunnel from a used kid store.  She loves playing in that tunnel.

And then we spent about 10 days up in DE at my parents house.  Although I've taken Phoebe home a couple times, Chris has not been home with us since Phoebe was born.  So we decided to take a little family trip up to Cece and Grandpa's while Phoebe can still fly for free.

We had a great time and almost had a white Christmas!  It snowed a little bit Christmas Eve and we were hoping for a white Christmas, but it wasn't enough to last through the night.

Trying to get a good family picture with a toddler can be a challenge.

Sometimes being upside-down is the only way to get even a half smile...

Christmas morning.  Mom even had a stocking for Knox.  Thanks mom!

Phoebe had fun opening presents and playing with all her new toys.

Mom and Dad had a couple friends over for Christmas dinner.  We had a feast for sure.  How pretty was mom's table?

Here are some of my Christmas gifts that I've been able to get pictures of.

Even though it was awhile ago, I hope you had a great Christmas too filled with family, friends, and fun.