Pinterest Project: Rustic Headboard

When we moved into our new house last month I started to change my decorating style more towards rustic and away from modern. I used a lot of roughed up wood for several of our decorative pieces and decided I wanted a huge wooden headboard to replace our old iron one.  I wanted the headboard to have a weathered look to it with imperfections in walnut stained wood. I saw a similar headboard on Pinterest and thought I could easily duplicated my own. It was much easier than I had thought it would be so I thought I’d share incase someone loved it as much as we did. So here’s how to make it:

What you will need:

Wooden planks (sizes listed below)

A saw (unless you have your local Lowes/Home Depo to cut the planks for you like we did)

Flat head nails

A hammer

Wood stain (your color choice)

Clear wood sealer

Wood glue

What you do:

First we had Lowes cut three/four 8inch wide planks at least the height of how tall you want your headboard to be if not a few inches longer —for us we made our headboard 36” tall so we had them cut 40” planks. (We did a 5ft long headboard since our bed is a Queen sized bed and only used three planks but I would advise you use four on a Queen or King sized bed.) These will be your support planks, set them aside for later.

In a separate area, lay out the planks you want to use for your headboard. We used: four 2” planks, four 4” planks, and two 6” planks—all 5ft long. Once you arrange them in the descending order you want them for the headboard, make sure they all are the exact length of the size of your headboard (5ft across for us), and line up the ends.  (It should look like a headboard of long, one piece planks right now.) 

Next decide where you want your cuts to be on each plank—remember that you can do as many cuts across as you want but if you cut the pieces too small they will not attach to the support planks behind and will fall through the spaces in between.  Now use the saw to make your cuts on each plank keeping each individual row separate from the others.  (Note: if you use Lowes or Home Depo to cut your wood just make sure to either draw the lines where you want the pieces cut at or write out the sizes on a sheet of paper to take with you so that you get the correct cuts in each plank.)

Now lay out the headboard again with the cut pieces arranged in each row the way you want them FACE DOWN—smooth side down, rough side up. (Most planks have a rough side—with splintering wood—and a smooth side which is the side you want for the front of your headboard.)  Once they are rough side up and pushed together touching each other with no large cracks in between, apply a thick amount of wood glue down each row. Take back out your support planks you cut before and lay them on top of the rows, spaced out equally across, and set a few heavy household objects on top for pressure as the glue dries.  (We let ours sit overnight this way to make sure it was dry and it was not so we waited an extra day.)

Once the glue has dried carefully flip the headboard over, laying it down on the support planks and use your nails to secure the rows to the planks.  Once the main nails for support were in, I added 1-2 nails on the end of each plank just for a rustic effect.

At this point you will stain the individual planks using a soft towel or cheese cloth to dip into the staining can and rub in long streaks along the planks. Make some darker with two coats than you do others to add a more rustic look to the headboard.  (Since we had Lowes cut our wood into the planks for each row for us, we stained each individual piece before we laid them out to be glued down—making sure two dark pieces were arranged not together but spaced apart before we turned them face down.  Once they were all nailed in I went back and darkened select boards as I saw fit on each row.)

Sealing the wood is the final step and your headboard is ready to install with just a few long wood screws into your wall!

And there you have it! A easy, cheap, and homemade headboard.  

MEMO TO MOM: Smashed thumbs are no bueno! Let dad do the hammering next time.

Homemade Baby Food

I was asked last week how Brain and I made our homemade baby food for Liam when he was 6 months old, so I thought I might post a “how to” on making homemade baby foods.  (Note: We started spoon feeding with Liam between 5-6 months old but only after we obtained the “go ahead” from our pediatrician.) I am a big believer in making infant meals yourself rather than feeding them the store bought kinds.  You should always know what goes into your child’s foods and the best way to do this is by making it yourself with fresh fruits and veggies. 

To start out: The Basics

We selected a variety of veggies, both fresh and frozen bags, and then individually steamed each batch until soft and tender.

Some of the veggies we started first with Liam: Butternut Squash, Carrots, Green Beans, Green Peas and Sweet Potatoes.

After a vegetable is steamed, dump all the pieces into a blender or puree machine with 1/3 cup water and blend. (We used the water from steaming the veggies in everything EXCEPT for the Carrots which leak out some toxins that you do not want to put back into the baby food) You will need to gradually add water until the mix is a consistency that your child can consume---usually at 6 months old this means it is a slightly runny consistency with no chunks that will easily slide off your spoon when tilted instead of falling of in thick globs.  If it becomes to thick after it has been frozen you can always add more water to each individual serving as you go or infant rice to thicken it if it becomes too thin.

Once it reaches the consistency that you are comfortable with for your infant, take out several clean ice trays (we had to buy new ones since we have an ice maker and do not use ice trays--$1.00 for a three pack at the dollar store) and use a spoon to fill the cubes. Once each tray is full, just stack them in the freezer overnight and dump each food group into separate freezer bags the next day. Be sure to label each bag with the food and the date you made the food. Baby food will last up to 3 months in the freezer but only 2 days once thawed in the fridge so be sure to always check the dates.  (Note: After three months in the freezer the food is not considered bad or inedible but the nutrients begin to decline after 3 months of being frozen and at that point is not considered healthy for your baby.)

The system for fruits is the same.  (For Liam we started fruits at 8 months old.) We started with: apples, peaches, mangos, avocados, blueberries, and raspberries.  For all of these EXCEPT the apples and avocados we used the steamer, but we were told that apples do best if boiled after being pealed and cored. Avocados do not need to be cooked they can be put directly into the blender once the seed is removed.  Fruits need much less water once blended since they have more juice in them than vegetables do so start with just adding a few tablespoons of water at a time. 

When you are ready to thaw the cubes of food, I recommend heating up a cup of water in the microwave, then place one or two cubes into a plastic sandwich baggie and set it down into the hot water until it is soft and ready to eat. (Note: Fruit thaws much faster than vegetables.) Now your baby has homemade baby food he/she can enjoy while you can sit back and enjoy knowing you saved money and know exactly what they are eating...or at least for now you do because once they start crawling anything on the floor will be fair game! 
MEMO TO MOM:  Always run the blender with a lid on it...or you will be wearing more baby food than you make. 

The Dreaded Work Return

Maternity leave, 6-8 weeks of heaven…or hell depending on how you look at it. My maternity leave was a little of both, but at the end I did not want to return to work.  I found it very difficult to sit behind my desk from 8-5 every day without running out to check on Liam at lunch, just for an hour of play time or rocking whatever he was due for when I arrived.  Sometimes I would spend my entire hour lunch just sitting with him while he napped, gone before he awoke, never knowing I was there. One of my best friends and coworkers helped me get through the days with the constant chatter and a amazing gift I cherished—my digital picture frame.  The days got easier as I sat watching pictures of my little guy scroll by.

Looking back, I have come to realize that that little device was a life saver to my return to work along with several other items.  So, I thought I would share some of what I consider “must have desk items for the returning mommie”.

Must have desk item:

#1: Digital Picture Frame – shows more than just one photo like an ordinary wooden frame.

#2: A large Calendar—your schedule now will be much busier than before with all your infants needs combined with your own. A family calendar will make it much easier to keep up with all yours and baby’s appointments, hospital and daycare bill due dates, check ups and more. (I recommend going to Vistaprint and making a photo calendar; they are always cheap and always on sale. I got mine for free and just paid the shipping!)

#3: Box of Kleenex tissues—even if you think you will be “just fine returning to work” or “actually want to return” trust me at some point you will find your unbalanced hormones working against you to move you to tears at the smallest thing and you will need the entire box (or several) of tissues.

#4: Post-It-Notes--- And lots of them! You will find your forgetful “preggo brain” lasts longer than just the pregnancy and the need to write down quick notes to help you remember the important things will take over!

#5: Snack Drawer--- just like your “preggo brain” didn’t disappear over night; neither will your pregnant appetite. You will still feel the need to snack often until it gradually returns to normal or you wean yourself off of them.

#6: The Number List--- Even if your cell phone has your babysitter, your mom and your pediatrician on speed dial I doubt your place of employment appreciates you answering your cell phone during work hours…I could be wrong but I doubt it. So for the first few weeks, before you have dialed the numbers enough to have them memorized, you will need a number list at your desk so that you can use your work phone (if allowed) to place these calls.  (Some numbers I suggest: your OBGYN, baby’s pediatrician, babysitter/daycare, backup babysitter, grandparents, and any specialists your child sees (for us there were several!!).)

#7: Stress ball—when I returned to work I found little things started to pile up on me, from appointments to nursing schedules, to the to do list that was longer than my amount of sleep each night! The stress ball kept me from exploding at my coworkers and relieved a little bit of tension.  (Your stress relief could be something different like music or smelly candles too!)

#8: Coffee—for me caffeine was a must just to keep awake at my desk! I kept an endless supply once I quit nursing!

#9: Pictures—(reinforced by the #1 item) be sure to surround yourself with tons of photos of your little bundle of joy; they will help you make it the day go by so much faster!

And that’s my list! I tried hard to think of a tenth item to make it an even ten but could not….please feel free to let me know what I have forgotten!

MEMO TO MOM: Don't call your sitter more than 10 times a day....it will annoy her.

Easter Basket for a 1yr Old

To be honest, the thought of getting Liam, my 10 month old, an Easter Basket never even crossed my mind until three days ago when my coworkers scolded me for not making him a basket.  My thoughts on the matter, “he can’t have candy, he’s too young, so what do you put in his basket?” After they shared with me what they had done for their children on their first Easters I have to admit, I felt like a slacker! So, guilt ridden, I went to our local Target to see what they had to offer. 

There were rows and rows of candy and baskets. I managed to find a soft felt basket for Liam with a bunny on the front and bendable soft ears extending from the top rim. Brian and I picked out ONE chocolate bunny, because the kid has to have at least a nibble of it, and found an isle full of small toys and balls.  Since Liam loves anything that lights up and loves to roll balls, we found him a very colorful light up ball and a smaller rubber textured ball to go in his basket.  The basket was just the right size for the three small items and some fake grass.  I looked for a small stuffed bunny to go with his basket and some plastic eggs to put small treats in (non sugar treats that I already had at home to offer him anyway), and we were good to go.

Easter morning when we gave Liam his basket he was mesmerized by the light up ball right away.  Then when we showed him the green textured ball, he immediately started pulling at the rubbery textures that protrude from it.  They would pop back with a loud snap when he released them which earned a giggle from him every time. The final thing he grabbed hold of in his basket was his chocolate bunny. Brian unwrapped it from the box and gave it to Liam who examined it carefully before putting it to his mouth.  We watched and laughed at his sudden realization of the sweet treat and began to gnaw on it violently.  He kept removing it to examine, and then would glance over at us as if he couldn’t believe we had given it to him willingly.  Eventually, after he had nibbled off most of one ear, we took the bunny away to divide between the two of us later on.

All in all, Liam’s small Easter basket was just perfect for him. He spent the entire day just fixated on the light up ball, and sat quietly through church popping the rubber ball in my lap.  So I guess a good Easter basket can be achieved for the under 1 crowd if you look hard enough, or in my case if you just look.

Happy Easter All!

The Basket



At church with Aunt Lala

MEMO TO MOM: All kids love chocolate. Period.

Roasted Treats

I will be the first to admit that I am a spaz about knowing what my child is being fed.  It started at three months old when we decided to make our own baby food rather than buy the store bought kind and never stopped.  Occasionally I have broken down and allowed my son Liam to have Gerber baby foods—like when we were moving and ran out of homemade baby food with all of our dishes boxed up, or when the sitter called to say the night before that she had run out of food for tomorrow—but for the most part Liam has been limited to only home made foods and snacks. Brian and I have found that we both love trying out new recipes with Liam—yes we do taste test them before giving them to him—from the hundreds of baby cook books we have purchased this year.  I thought I would start to share some of my favorites but there are just too many to count! So, to start with, here is the one we cooked up last night.

3 Red Plums

3 Apples (Your choice what kind but the softer the better!)

A glass baking pan

Butter (Just enough to grease the pan or you can add in three small slices.)

Ginger

What you do:

Slice and pit your plums and apples into thin wedges and place wedges peel-side-down in the baking pan. (Note: If you prefer you can choose to peel them all before putting them in the pan.  It will make for less mess but not as much juices left in the pan so it is your choice.  Sprinkle in a little water on top of the slices if you choose to peel them first.)

Sprinkle a little ginger over the top of the slices and then bake at 400 degrees until soft and juice is sitting in the bottom of the pan.  (Stir them occasional if they look like they are drying out.) Once they are soft enough for your child to eat, remove from the oven and peel if you have not already. Make sure to smash to a consistency that your child can handle whatever age they are, and store in the fridge (3 day maximum) or freezer (3 month maximum).

This is a great fast fix for a roasted meal (took us less than 30 minutes total) and even you may enjoy them (I know Brian did).  Enjoy!

Planning Liam's First Birthday

The one year birthday. A dreaded but exciting holiday in my little lovie’s not so distant future, lurking right around the corner.  Exciting because my little man has been here a year, beating all the odds placed up against him from day one, living a happy, beautiful, and blessed first year of life.  Dreaded because this historic holiday means my little man is no longer my sweet baby boy but my sweet TODDLER, or as my husband has decided to call him our sweet baby toddler. J The past few weeks if you were one of the many who asked me “have you started planning Liam’s first birthday party yet?” or “so what is the theme for Liam’s birthday party?” I apologize for biting your head of with my various responses.  Until this past week I had refused to even think less alone talk about my baby turning 1. 

But, my mother in law has taken the liberty of easing me into it all with quick mentions here and there, then dropping it rapidly to wait for another chance a few days later to drop a line about it again.

 “I know you won’t want to discuss this right now but I’m planting the seed that in a few weeks I’ll begin dropping ideas about Liam’s first birthday, just fair warning”, and then continuing days later with, “found a few cake pans and themes I want to show you in the next week or so,” quickly adding, “when your ready.” Another week would pass and I would hear nothing from her end and then, “saw a great party supply store in Little Rock I may try and swing by there in the next week or so and see what they have…anything you want me to look for?”

So eventually I buckled and I decided on a Cookie Monster theme (since that has been the only thing Liam has really ever had a deep attachment to other than his kangaroo stuffed animal because he doesn’t watch TV yet.) and I began researching Cookie Monster party supplies.

(For a little bit of a back story on the Cookie Monster, when Liam was 3-6 months old the only toy he really liked, due to its ability to light up and sing songs, was an old cookie monster toy which hung from his car seat handle.  He did not like the Elmo one but the Cookie Monster became his favorite.  It always calmed him when he was upset and put him to sleep when he was tired and fighting sleep. Eventually we discovered that it was due to its bright orange coloring (its shirt) and its light up frog that Cookie Monster is holding.  With his vision being what it is, they told us light up toys with bright colors would capture his attention the best which explained the obsession with Cookie Monster.  We ended up having to purchase on Ebay several of the same Cookie Monster toys to have as back ups and an extra for our sitter.  So for a while everything we bought was a sort of Cookie Monster toy. His taste has branched out now and he is much more accepting of other toys but he still likes to play with Cookie Monster occasionally.)

Anyway, it turns out once I started researching Cookie Monster party supplies I could not stop.  I found cake ideas, cakepop ideas, napkins, plates, decoration, balloons, everything in Cookie Monster.  The more I found the more slightly excited I became. When we set the date on our calendars in dark blue ink and picked out the cutes invitations, it suddenly all became so real and for once I was okay with it.

 It’s going to be an extravaganza, a celebration of my baby boy’s blessed life!

So on Saturday, May 19^th (I’m slightly choked up just thinking about it!) we will be hosting Liam’s 1 year birthday party. I do not promise I will not cry, but I promise to enjoy and take in every minute of it.

Incase you need to know what Cookie Monster party supplies are out there, here is a small glimpse into our party planning ideas for my sweet baby toddler. (VIA Google)

Cake and Cookie

CakePops (mini cake balls on a stick!)

MEMO TO MOM: One year olds don't remember their first birthday parties...it doesn't all have to be PERFECT!