Nursery Wall Decor – Part 2

By Jessica | January 25, 2010

Claire’s Crib

I love the feel of a pieced together home style. A little of this and a little of that. New with the old. Pastels with the bold.

Claire’s sheets are white with multi-colored polka-dots.

I purchased the big “C” at JoAnne’s and painted it pink. The sticker on the small plate displays the definition of GIGGLE.

The blanket was a gift from the NICU. The sweater was worn by my mother Lucy as an infant. The lamb was a toy I played with at my Grandma Mary’s house. The plate, a family pattern, was past down to me from my late Uncle Wayne.

I made her nursery space very personal and unique by selecting a few meaningful objects to decorate Claire’s side of the room.  I love what a big impact her wall decor has for such little financial investment.

Look around to what you may already have in your home lurking in the attic — it may be just the personal touch you were looking for in your decor!

Love,

Jess

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This Is What It’s Like To Be Held

By Jessica | January 22, 2010

Sometimes He calms the child. Sometimes He calms the storm.

Ryan and I walked toward the doctor’s office from the van. He was visibly nervous about seeing the eye specialist.

I led the way and he followed me.

While in the parking ramp, we shoved our necks into our jackets to avoid the brisk chill. Yet, without gloves, he held my hand and I held his.

In the sky-way, we leaped in unison over every stripe in the carpet. Passersby could hardly contain their smirks of joy as they watched Ryan tramp through the sky-way in his clacking yellow rain boots.

Ryan’s fearful grimace softened into laughter as I challenged him to a speed-walking contest down the long corridor to the eye doctor’s door. He kept an incredible clip for having 5 year old legs!

He made it through the appointment just fine. He is so proud of his behavior with the doctor. Of course, he was probably just beaming because the Dr. told Ryan that he should play video games while he wears an eye patch (he has to wear the patch 2 hours everyday for 2 months to correct his vision). So, now Ry is telling everyone the Dr. told him he has to play video games everyday.

This is what it’s like to be HELD

God holds my hand when I head into new territory.

Life with twins was going to be “busy” “crazy” and “overwhelming” or so I thought. My life has those qualities sometimes. But, overall, I have abundant joy and a new and unexpected work-horse drive for chores (except, for ironing–that drive still hasn’t kicked in yet).

He leads the way and I follow Him.

I experience what it feels like to be held, daily. Someone out there is praying for me (us), if it is you, please — keep it up!

I trust that God is here to help me, refine me and push me during the storms of my life. I trust that God is here to show me a way to be content and useful in every situation. Whether it has holiday decor in it or not; whether it has new 8 hours of sleep in it or not; and frankly if it has brushed hair in it or not.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Love,

jess

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Nursery Wall Decor – part 1

By Jessica | January 21, 2010

I had so much fun with thrifty decor in the kids’ new room. All 4 kids in ONE room…twas a challenge. The room looks a lot like summer camp meets a tea party (lots of beds and lots of cuteness).

I plan to leak out bits and pieces of their room over the next week or so.

Diaper Table Wall

The white shelf was a rescue from a friend. She was in her car on the way to the donation center when I spotted the shelf. I literally reached through the passenger side window of her car (while standing in the street & chatting after MOPS) to snatch it for my own.

Since I am not a “fabric arts” gal, I don’t have stock piles of beautiful fabric lining my craft shelves in neat, colorful rows. But, I did have an old pink washcloth that I was willing to sacrifice for my cause.

Ahhh, gotta love the Dollar Store. I lined scrapbook paper in these cute little $1 frames, then added  a 3D sticker to the outside of the glass. I embellished the hanger with a red ribbon and viola! Cuteness.

I stole these BABY blocks from the toy box. Free. Easy. More cuteness.

Changing 15-20 diapers a day goes a lot more nicely with such sweet little things to look at by the diaper table!

Love,

Jess

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Morning :: Noon :: Night

By Jessica | January 20, 2010

A day on the play rug

:morning:

:noon:

:night:

What a day…

Love,

jess

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Ice Sun Catchers for Winter

By Jessica | January 19, 2010

Outdoor Decor on the Cheap

How To:

  • Arrange citrus slices, cranberries, evergreen sprigs in a brownie pan or muffin tin
  • Add warm water (enough to cover the items in the pan)
  • Plop some twine in the warm water (creates hanger)
  • Freeze pan of water outside or in your freezer
  • Place pan in a bit of warm water to loosen the ice block
  • Hang outdoors and Enjoy!

Love,

Jess

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My Family Blocks 2010

By Jessica | January 14, 2010

Here we are…

Top to Bottom:

Leah, 3 months, likes to sleep in a nest like a squirrel.

Claire, 3 months, likes to eat at night like a little mouse.

Molly, 2 years old, likes to follow me around like a loyal dog.

Ryan, 5 years old, likes to play tricks and tell jokes like a sly fox.

Peter, 29 years old, likes to stay up late at night studying like a wise owl.

Jessica, 30 years old, likes to get milked 6 times a day like a cow.

Hug your family extra tonight and pray for Haiti.

Love,

Jess

Click here to see my family blocks 2008

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Prepositions with Molly

By Jessica | January 13, 2010

This girl, I tell ya….love her.

1. Beneath

2. Near

3. Within

4. Between

5. Beside

6. Into

7. Underneath

8. Inside

She sure knows how to define space and time!

Love,

Jess

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Winter Decor

By Jessica | January 12, 2010

A Quick Tour

I had plenty of empty nooks to mess around with since the Christmas decor is finally in the attic. Does anyone else pack all the red and green bins up right away, then take 2 weeks to get it out of the hallway in front of the attic?

Anyway, here is a quick tour of a few areas that got gussied up for WINTER!

My front door step has a pine arrangement in a cider crock packed full of snow.

A copper snowflake cookie cutter hangs above the kitchen sink from a colorful argyle ribbon.

I used snowflakes from my pinecone Christmas wreath and some white snowflake napkin rings to decorate mini faux trees.

The living room showcases a trio of mini trees with snowflakes. I reused some snowflakes from my pine cone Christmas wreath. I added some snowflake napkin rings to decorate the trees as well.

I used large paper cutouts and splashes of color to make the dining area festive for winter.

Decorating with fruit adds a lot of color and a fresh feel to the side board.

12 X 12 scrapbook paper served me well to create these extra large cut outs. I tied them on with sisel twine, ribbon and fabric scrap.

I rarely use glass in my decor (too many little hands) but I couldn't resist setting up this trio of containers. I filled them with ribbon scrap, yellow felt and sisel twine.

Even the candles got dressed for the cold weather! Paper, twine, ribbon and a snowflake sticker add a lot of flare to an otherwise ordinary pillar candle. (These candles are flameless - so cool!)

My MIL Kris made an evergreen arrangement for me using wintery accents. So glittery and fun!

Adding a bit of fun decor after Christmas always helps me to keep my spirits up during the long cold months ahead.

Stay happy, cut out a snowflake!

Jess

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My Family

My Family

Just A Blink journals my ups and downs in creating thrifty home decor, spending time with my family, and finding simplicity. I write about everything from my garage sale addiction to my faith in God.

Read along as time flies!