Burlap & Lace Table Runner

 

This last weekend, thanks to Chris spending lots of time playing with Addilyn, I got to spend some good time crafting.  I made this burlap and lace table runner and love how it turned out! I already had the burlap and only spent $5 on the lace, so super cheap project.  

I cut the burlap (which is actually the hardest part and I failed to make it perfectly straight) and then I pinned the lace to all four sides and sewed it.  

I used freezer paper to cut out a letter V and taped it down to the burlap.  Then painted with a sponge brush and peeled the paper off once it dried. 

For the mason jars I just put a large amount of paint in the bottom of the jars and swirled them around.  Then turned them upside down and let them dry.  I had to add a little paint to a few places and swirl some more but most of it got covered on its own!  I got these cute burlap flowers from Hobby Lobby.  

I love my new dining room table and it makes me feel like I am a tiny bit closer to Spring!

I tend to get a little overboard when I like something, (like baby footprints for everything) and made another burlap initial craft.  I will have to share whenever I get to taking pictures of it!

Easiest Giveaway Ever

 

I so badly wish I could give you some super cute stylish outfit today, but no such luck.  I don't know if it's the ridiculously long lasted cold weather or what, but my desire to wear real clothes is getting less and less.  On the plus side I did work out four times last week so I feel a little more justified to wear workout clothes all day long.  

Now apparently overalls really are coming back in style.  Which could be great for me since if I remember correctly they are just as comfortable as pajamas.  

Lucky for you I have something to make this post worthwhile.  

I'm so excited today to be offering you all a chance to enter the easiest giveaway of your life! The prize is $500 fat ones- via paypal, visa gift card, or target gift card.  The only requirement for you is to like a page (or many pages!) on facebook.  The rafflecopter below makes it ridiculously easy to enter- you can like the facebook page directly through the rafflecopter.  Each page liked is a an entry into the giveaway.  This will literally take 30 seconds out of your day.  30 seconds for $500- I'd say that's a pretty high paying job!

Giveaway ends March 11, 2014.  All entries will be verified.  Giveaway open to international readers with a paypal account- visa or target gift cards will not be sent internationally.  Giveaway winner will be announced March 12, 2014.  

Brought to you by: 

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Top Three Times

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. #HealthcareClinic

Having a baby has completely changed the amount of times and needs for doctors, medicine and health preventions in my life.  Before getting pregnant I rarely went to the doctor and had few health concerns. Since having Addilyn I not only worry about her health but mine and Chris' as well.  I'm thankful for places, like all of the Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Chicago locations that make dealing with health concerns much easier.  

Here are the top three times that going to the Walgreens Clinic would make my life easier:
1.  Chris.  I know I've shared many times before how I fail quite miserably at being sympathetic when Chris is sick.  I'd prefer to tell him to suck it up and function like normal.  However, I am aware that there are times when he truly is sick.  And while my main concern should be him getting better, it is now that I don't want him to get Addilyn sick.  So I will now encourage him (or force him) to go to the Walgreens care clinic to get himself checked out and on medicine if needed.  

2. Flu shots.  I have never gotten a flu shot before, as I rarely get sick.  But when I was pregnant I got my first one so that when Addilyn was born she had protection from the flu.  Now I'll get my flu shot so I can do whatever I can to help prevent Addilyn from getting sick.  It is a pain to make a doctor's appointment and get there for a simple thing like a flu shot.  Walgreens, on the other hand, is a mile from my house.  I don't have to make an appointment, but can just go there when it's convenient for me and get my flu shot taken care of.  

3. Addilyn.  By far the hardest week we had since Addilyn's been born is when she was really sick.  Taking care of a sick baby is not only exhausting but scary.  I worried about her breathing and even after our first doctor's appointment, had times when I was nervous she was sounding too wheezy or not improving.  Rather than waiting for our next doctor's appointment, I'm sure it would have eased my mind to take her in to the clinic and have them listen to her breathing.  That week we made at least three trips to the Walgreens pharmacy to get her medicine, and I am so glad they were short trips as I was anxious to get her on her medicine as fast as possible. 

I was surprised at the amount of services offered at the Walgreens clinic.  Fevers, allergies, bronchitis, bladder infections, sinus infections.  Between myself, Chris and Addilyn we've had all those this last year.  It is much more convenient to drive to a Walgreens clinic so close to us, then make an appointment at a doctor's office.  
Walgreens takes a lot of different insurances, but also treats patients without insurance.  Since taking the year of from teaching we are on independent insurance, with quite a high deductible.  I was happily surprised when I checked out the costs of different procedures and treatments, and for some of them it would probably be cheaper than going to our doctors.  
I can only imagine hot many time in the next many years we'll be utilizing their Healthcare Clinic!

Twankle Twankle

top: old navy   jeggings: walmart   boots: target 

Thankfully I've been able to go to my sister for quite a lot of mothering advice and she is always so helpful. While she's given me a lot of great encouragement and help, one of the helpful things she's given me is the greatest baby distractor in the world. 
Enter twinkle twinkle little star on youtube. 
Or I should say twankle, twankle since that is how the little boy sings it.  It has over 300 million views.  

Addilyn seriously loves this video.  If it weren't for playing this over and over while we did Addilyn's nebulizer treatments when she was sick, I don't think we would have made it through them three times a day. 
I've played this many times on car rides home when Addilyn used to hate being in her carseat when it was dark outside.  She'd stop crying and just stare at it.  And it wasn't just because it was my phone or a video.  I tried others and no such luck.  
This video is like baby crack.  I'm not sure if it is the star shaped owl, the mispronounced words or what but it is a baby calmer keeper. 
Mamas.  You should try.  Just be prepared to have the little's boys voice saying "Twankle, twankle, little star" over and over in your head.  It will be worth it.  

Those night time moments

 

I've had a handful of people tell me that someday I will miss those middle of the night wakings and feedings. I'm going to go ahead and say that I am pretty sure I will not be shedding tears when Addilyn decides to really truly sleep through the night.  I am thoroughly looking forward to the days when I don't have to go in her room to get her until morning time. 
But I am going to say that there have been nights recently that I haven't minded my one trip to her room in the early early morning.  Addilyn hasn't been a cuddly, sweet nurser for quite awhile.  Minus her morning feeding I often feel like I'm wrangling a wild animal, getting her to avoid all distractions and forcing her to eat. Plus her sharp little teeth starting to peek through scare me a little. 
But that middle of the night feed?  She'll take her little hand and wave it around, until she finds mine and hold onto a few of my fingers.  She'll play with my hand or put her hand up by my face.  When I'm done feeding her I'll put her up on my shoulder and she'll rest her head on me and put her arms around me, breathing deeper and fall back to sleep.  I rub her head or her back, and kiss her cheek and she just presses her sweet little self into me.  
I don't know if it's the fact that my sister and two friends had babies in the last two weeks and I am realizing how fast this time is going, but I've been extra emotional lately.  I feel like Addilyn is changing every day and that we're entering a new stage.  Solids, less naps, moving, mini crying fits when I take something away or don't do something fast enough.  It feels like a totally new stage of parenting.  And it feels like my baby is not so much of a baby anymore.  
So while I am anxious to have a full nights sleep, I know it will come someday.  For today I am appreciating and soaking up the few minutes of quiet, sweet baby snuggles, even when they come at 4 in the morning.