Christmastime, Crafts, and Diets...

Hello. My name is Rachel. And I am a bad blogger. :) My husband randomly asked me the other day why I hadn't been blogging. HAHA! I didn't even know he read "our" blog. So I guess he does! Hi honey!!! I love you!!! ;)


Sorry I have been out of touch. Just been super crazy nutty busy! It seems like there is always more to do than I have time for this time of year. I guess because there is so much I want to do this time of year!

Ava and I went to Branson with our friends Amanda and almost-5-month-old Bella a week or two ago. It was a lot of fun, but exhausting. We only stayed a couple of nights, and trust me that was enough! I just love Amanda. Her husband is a pilot too, in Cole's unit, so we have a lot in common. We also have infant girls- almost exactly 5 months apart- so it is fun to watch them play. Which right now consists of pulling and grabbing and eating each other's various extremities! HAHA! But they have really started to take notice and enjoy each other recently. They even get into "girl talk!" It is great to watch them together.


After I got back from Branson, I mailed off a Silhouette order for a blogger friend in Louisiana. I hope her sister enjoys them! I am kicking myself for not taking a picture....Heather, if you read this, could you take a picture of them for me please!!!! I totally forgot!!! I have four more now to do for my best friend, to give as gifts to her family. They really are awesome gifts for any mom. And I am wholly convinced that anyone could do them if they had the time. :)


After I got done with the silhouettes for Heather, I had to finish these guys....



... for my nephews' school. They had a silent auction fundraiser, and I donated these as well as a diaper cake. Don't you love how the snowman sparkles?!?! The Hogs are going to the Sugar Bowl this year!!!! WHOOHOOO! So I figured the Hog would be a hit. But my sister said it was up to $55 when she left! Holy Wowza! That was unexpected!!! I am going to email the lady that worked with me on it to find out how much it made. I am just curious. :)



Speaking of work, I have been putting way way way too much effort into coming up with a "Santa" outfit for Ava (for her first pictures with the big guy!). I am not a big "get all gussied up" type for pictures. I like for pictures to capture a person as they are, for who they are. And so I wanted a cute outfit, but something that she might wear any other day too, if we wanted to look cute. So this is what I came up with...



I bought the bow at Etsy.com not too long after Ava was born. She also has a couple of Halloween bows and a 4th of July bow that are similar. Right now we have to use a bow band, which might be tricky. I will be taking a small red or black bow that will stay in her hair just in case. She is too good with her hands these days (and fast!) so bows on the bow band are usually in her mouth in seconds. Maybe if I put it on her after she is in his lap, she will be too stunned by the Santa that she won't pull the bow off. We will see....

Speaking of Etsy, this is an idea I found on there...these are ladies holiday socks- the tall ones- and I just cut off the feet (or toes, as the ones on the far right were toe socks...) and made leg warmers for her! How fun is that! And way cheaper than the ones like on diapers.com!

I have a couple of cute pictures of Ava to share, but I wanted to talk a moment about diets. I have decided that 2011 is a year of dieting for me. :) In four ways...

1. Obviously. Weight. I STILL have not lost my all of my baby weight. Never did I think it would be this difficult. So my goal for this year is to loose that weight. ALL of it. Famous last words, right?!?! HAHA! Seriously though, I want to get into shape again, start running again, and eat healthy. I want to be a healthy example for Ava, and hopefully it won't be such a struggle after the next one, one of these days.

2. Financial. I spend. A lot. And being a stay at home mom, I get bored and spend more. And I am not bringing in much, if any, income. So I am putting myself on a financial diet in 2011. I have asked Cole to give me an "allowance" (which he agreed to provided he be allowed to remind me that it was MY idea when I complain) and work on saving when I want to spend.

3. Relationship with the Lord. This is not really talking about going on a diet to have a lesser relationship, but talking about wanting MORE of a relationship. Developing a stronger hunger for God and His word. I want that for myself and my family both, and that is both a personal and family goal for 2011.

4. Contentment. This is a little of 2 and 3, but I want to reign myself in and go on a diet from "wants." Christmas is always a bittersweet time for me, because so many of the needs in our community and society are highlighted. And each year I try, and Cole and I try, to give as generously as we can, and to remember those in need. But throughout the year, I always fall into the "wants" trap. My house is never big enough, my car needs to be bigger/better. Susie Q down the street just got a new this- I want one too! That kind of thing. We live in such a materialistic world. And I admit- I like nice things. I like nice shoes and clothes and purses. But as I have gotten older I have come to see those things as just things instead of the prizes they used to be to me. Which is good, but I need to do better. Because, although they are still just objects, I still want them. And I have more than I ever need. And I don't want Ava to fall into that inevitable trap. And when she does (because I think it is a natural, human thing to do...) how can I, in good conscience, try to teach her not to envy and covet, when I do those things in my own way?

So that is my diet plan. And I would like to ask all of my blogger friends to please hold me accountable. Thanks!

And now for the good part...sweet pictures of my girl!!!

In her Christmas PJs! So cute! She loves that airplane. We got it before we knew she was a girl, but that wouldn't have mattered. She is going to love aviation- she doesn't have a choice! LOL!

My bathing beauty rocking a bath time mohawk!!! Someone said she looks like a who-person. And I think they are right! She is a precious little Ava-Lou-Who!!!




I will try to write again soon. And when I do, I plan on sharing about our family pictures with Whitney Flora!!!! They are fabulous!!!!

Trick-or-Treat and Turkey Day!

Well, October is over. :( But that means its...

(cue booming voice...)

NOVEMBER!!!!

I like November, can you tell??? I really like Thanksgiving. As a kid, my sister and cousins always looked forward to Christmas and the gifts. But not me. No. I looked forward to Thanksgiving. I have always liked to eat! HAHA!

Ava's first Halloween was so fun! We skipped out on Trick-or-Treating...no point with only one tooth.... ;) So we just hung out at home and handed candy out. It was fun! My parents came over, my mom cooked pork chops. Yummy. And we lowered Ava's crib to the lowest setting. Hard to believe that she is to that point already. But she will have her 9 month checkup next week! Where, oh where, does the time go???

Here are a few pictures from our Halloween...

Mommy and Ava. She had just slapped me across the face in this one- thus the funny look on my face! HAHA!

Always chewing on that hand. Now that there is a sharp little tooth in there, her poor hand is all cut up! :( Any suggestions? She won't leave a mitten on...

Love this one!


In her Leopard costume. So adorable!!!

We love graphic tees in the Brewer Family!!!

I adore this picture of her!!! I have NO idea what she is looking at or thinking, but her face is just priceless!!!!

So now that Halloween is over, it's time to pull out the Thanksgiving canvases! I have had these finished for a while...

This is for my mom, for her hostess gift for Thanksgiving. But I am going to give it to her now so that she can hang it on her door for the season!

This was the first Turkey I have ever attempted, and I think he turned out pretty cute! This is a flat board canvas. My first time to work with one of these, too. Not sure how I feel about it. At any rate, this is now greeting guests at the Brewer's house!!! ;)

Hope you have a wonderful week!!!!

Pottery Barn copies Target???

Okay, I L-O-V-E me some Pottery Barn. My wallet (and therefore, my husband) don't always share the same adoration for our favorite over-priced-but-oh-so-grand retailer.

(sidebar) I have been dreaming about giving my living room a little umph here lately. I don't know if, now that I have finally pretty much finished getting my house decorated, I feel the need to start from the beginning again? Or what? But it has just been feeling a little dreary in there. I don't want to go all out and buy new furniture because we will not be in this house forever. And our furniture is in decent shape, it holds up well to stains (and with two dogs and a baby is a GOOD thing!), and it fits the space pretty well because it is on a smaller scale. I think it will be great to put in a den or family room in our next home, if we have such a space.

So, back to PB. I was dreaming about a rug for our living room, since the one we have is a hand-me-down and doesn't fit the space all that well. I have been drooling over this beauty for quite some time... (I don't need diamonds. Give me home decor!!!)

It has all the right colors, but is still light and airy and would just be PERFECT!!! But it is also $700 for the size I would need. And YIKES! I just have a hard time paying that much knowing my dogs will roll around on it and my kids will play and be messy on it. I really want a house that is comfortable and that I am not too worried about spills and messes. Life is just too short...

But as I was scrolling down, looking at the other PB rug beauties, I saw this guy....

Nice, right??? I fell in love right away. I couldn't put my finger on why. Until my dog made a noise, and I looked over into the kitchen to see what the rascal was into. And I caught a glimpse of my kitchen rugs. That is why I like this one so much. Because they are almost identical!!!

Now my kitchen rugs came from Target. They are small, but they do make larger area rugs in the same pattern. I tried to get a good picture for you, but Target's website wasn't cooperating with me. So this was the best I could do...


Pitiful. I know. But you can go here and see the full image.

I am going to go stalk the Target website for a look-alike for my Emerson rug...

LATER PEEPS!

I need a name...and you could WIN!!!

No. I am not pregnant again! And even if I were, I already have names picked out for our next kid! HAHA! ;)

No. I need a name for my little craft business. I refuse to call myself an artist. While I have people tell me that what I do is art, and that not everyone can paint and create, I refuse to believe that. Refuse. I think with enough practice and effort, anyone can do the things that I do. I am just the only crazy one willing to spend hours each night after Ava goes to bed slaving away over my kitchen table!!! HAHA!



I do think people who understand math should be called artists. But that is a different post all together...

Anyway, I need a name. Suggestions??? I need help here people!!!!

This is what I sell....

Diaper cakes.

Holiday Canvases.

Diaper Cupcakes...

...of all sorts. :)

Custom Silhouette Paintings. (these are still a work in progress...)

And school spirit canvases.

I have some ideas, but I would love to hear yours!!! And BONUS!!!! If I decide to use a name you suggested, I will give you a $20 credit towards any of my creations!!!! So put your thinking caps on!!!

(just leave your idea as a comment below. Repeats will not be considered- first to comment with the chosen name wins!!!)

My Girl...

Ava is my daughter. She was born on February 11th, 2010, and is absolutely the most precious thing in my life, along with my amazing husband. Together, they make up my family, and I thank the Lord each day for blessing me with them.


Ava is almost 9 months old, and I honestly don't know where the time went??? It seems like just yesterday she was born, and we were struggling through those first few months...boy, I remember thinking that I would never get another full nights sleep again! And just the other night, she let her momma sleep in until 10am! And I was the one who got her up! The girl likes her sleep (at night, anyway! She only takes one nap a day, and it is slowly getting shorter I think-ugh).


Today we went and voted, then went to WalMart. Everywhere we go, here is what people say, in this order...


"Oh what a pretty baby!"

"She is so happy!"

"You are so lucky to have such a happy baby!"




And I am. There are several people I know, mostly family members, that try to compare Ava with other babies. And this used to really upset me. REALLY upset me. Because I feel like, Ava is not a cow in the county fair, she is not to be compared with other kids. She is her own being, and I want to raise her to know that it doesn't matter what other people think of her. That the LORD made her in His likeness, she is so special, so unique, and no matter what, her daddy and I will love her until our last breath, and beyond! But I have gotten over some of that. I think mostly because (and this is my earthly pride talking, I know...) but Ava is the happiest, most carefree little baby I have ever seen! And others tend to agree. Just today, a lady working the polls commented on how she had never seen such a happy baby. She just smiles from morning until night. No joke. Aside from a few times that she was sick, I haven't heard a full on CRY in months! Probably since about 4 months old. And then, at night, she just goes to sleep. I know she may not always be this way, and she does have a stubborn streak (that was inevitable with me as her mother! HAHA!). But I am SO blessed with such a wonderful, easy baby! (Please Lord, let her wake up the same happy baby! HAHA!)




Here are just some random pictures from the past few weeks....

Ava, and her typical smile!

Modeling some of her new clothes I ordered for her. She LOVES to dress up! Ever since she was tiny, she has loved to have her clothes changed!


Eating kiwi fruit out of a chewy bag! I really need to video and post what she does when she sees one of these things coming. Her face is just priceless! It is just sheer desire and need! HAHA!

Ava and her good buddy (and fur brother) Hugo. Both of the dogs are great with Ava, each in there own way. Wesley learned early on to stay out of her reach (which is becoming more difficult with her new-found mobility), but he is uber-protective of her. If someone other than me is holding her, he sits and watches their every move! Hugo is her playmate. He is careful not to let her get a fist full of hair or ears (it still happens some) but they have different games that they play. Their favorite is where he bites at her feet (he doesn't bite down- don't worry) and she laughs and kicks. When that game is done, she holds her feet up and he licks her toes, and she giggles hysterically! It is too funny!

This is the smile that greets me every morning. I also have started getting a hug and a kiss when I pick her up. This particular morning, I found her wearing her blanket (most mornings she has covered herself somehow). She just looked too funny! A little mother Theresa-like! HAHA!

Paint, Paint....and more PAINT!

Okay, I would first just like to say that I am so tired that I can hardly hold my eyes open, and as soon as I get done with this post, I will be going to bed. By way of a shower.

So I have about a dozen projects on my list right now (and yes, it is an actual, physical, list). I have an order for 4 silhouette canvases of some darling (and I mean DARLING) children- all of whom have awesome silhouette-worthy hair. Some families have all the luck.... ;)

I also have been asked (and this is just uber exciting to me also) to donate some pieces to the elementary school in our town for their annual Holiday Silent Auction fund raiser. I am going to donate a large winter themed canvas, a small Razorback canvas, and a diaper cake. My nephews attend school there, and one day, Ava probably will too. So it is a cause that is especially close to my heart! I have the winter canvas sketched and the background painted, and I have the hog canvas and diaper cake both designed (although I have yet to put my idea for the cake on paper...).

I also am *planning* on painting 8 different Christmas canvases for the girls in my family (all the women on my mom's side and my Nana). I have them designed, and would like to get them done before Thanksgiving, so that I can hand them out then, and they can hang them up this year. But that is all dependent on getting my priority projects complete. So every night, after Ava goes to bed, you know what I have been doing! LOL! PAINTING PAINTING!!!!

Well today, even MORE painting happened. The less creative and more tedious kind. We have been working on our house since the day we moved in, and I can FINALLY see a light at the end of the tunnel. The trim work and quarter round will HOPEFULLY all be finished by tomorrow. We are sooooo close!!! But because we got all new floors, and then all new quarter round, that means we had to paint the trim. And that means that for the last several days, all I have been doing is using this....
Ahhhh, good ole' painters tape. Now I usually paint the "right" way. Ceiling, then trim, then walls. It is just easier, and no real need for painters tape because (self promotion warning) I am really quite good at cutting in! But because I didn't want to paint my walls again, I taped and taped and taped off all of the trim (and just about decided to get rid of the decorative mouldings in my house because it was just too much...) Today I picked out a new trim color, Swiss Coffee by Behr. Now, why it is called Swiss Coffee, I don't know. Because it is a white, and it isn't even really brown based. It has a lot of grey in it. But I needed something on the grey side to A. not look pink against my Ben Moore Brookline Beige, and B. not look yellow with my blond bamboo floors. I tried explaining this to the lady at Home Depot. She didn't get it, I don't think. It isn't her fault. My mind is strange. But it works!!! HAHA!

And I am SO good, it is a near perfect match to the existing trim! Now all of the baseboards need to be redone because they are just in bad shape after 2 1/2 years of reno. BUT, I don't have to paint all of the doors and crown moulding!!!! Whoooop!!!!!

I usually don't like Behr paint. It is gloppy and thick and just all around hard to use, in my opinion. If I am looking for something with good coverage, I normally go with Ben Moore (my favorite kind of paint-ever! It lasts forever in the can in the garage- or 5 gallon bucket in our case, wears well on the wall, and Pottery Barn uses it! Hello?!?!?!) But I was in the neighborhood of Home Depot, and now that they offer the same military discount as Lowes, I don't hate them as badly, so we just went there. And when I told them the color, I forgot to tell them NOT BEHR! And I guess because it was a Behr color, they assumed I wanted Behr paint. Oh well. So 25.00 for trim paint later, I realize that this was a great mistake. The gloppy mess that Behr is on the wall, makes for a wonderful one coat, slap it on and call it a day, trim paint! YAY!

So that is the story of all of the paint around my house. I guess what Cole says really is true...if it's in our house for any length of time, I will paint it! HAHA!

I am going to shower and try to get all of the paint off of my body and out of my hair before this impending storm hits. Maybe after I throw a bone over the neighbors fence so their poor dog will shut up. He is so afraid of storms, and I swear he feels them coming!!! He freaks out every time it is about to storm!!! Crazy.

Night!!!

Fun Room for a Precious Girl!

I am SOOO excited because it is "Show Us Where You Live" again over at Kelly's Korner, and this week is nursery or kids room week! And, YAY, I have something to show off this year!!!

First, a peek at the Sleeping Beauty who resides here. I had to sneak into her room to take the pictures, and I couldn't resist getting a shot of her sleepy head! She is a heavy sleeper, so I figured we would be okay! Ha!

GOD LOVE!!!! She is just the joy in my life! I can't imagine what life would be without her! Thank you, Lord, for such a precious gift!!!

Now on to her abode...

This is the mobile my mom and I made to hang over her changing table. We hoped it would distract her and keep her on her back for changes. No luck. Needless to say, I am an expert at "upside down changings." HAHA!

A larger view of her changing table and dresser. It is a small room, and we have every inch covered in furniture. I want her to have more "play room" in her bedroom at our next house, but this is okay for now. The verse is 1 Samuel 1:27. ("For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me the desires of my heart.")

My favorite picture from our maternity shoot.

I found this adorable little basket at Home Goods. I just LOVE it!!! It had the A tag and everything! And it was uber cheap! Even more to love!!! The little table and chairs that it is under (sorry I didn't get a better picture) was mine when I was little. We just painted and recovered the chairs to match her room.

Her side table. The lamps we got at HobLob on sale, of course. They are great! The profile art is something that I do. I hate that you really can't see more of it in the picture, but it is her profile at 7 months. She has her paci in her mouth, and it is just the sweetest thing. I am going to do one for her every year. Something I will treasure always!

The bow holder I painted for her and just some of her bows. I didn't even dare show you her closet. I am shamed at how many clothes the child has. But Kelly is right! Girls are just TOO fun!!!!

This is her door hanger. For those of you visiting, her Daddy is an Army Blackhawk pilot. We are so proud of him, and proud to be a military family!

Random before picture. This used to be Cole's "MAN" room, so we didn't even bother painting. The curtain was one of my not-so-great thrifty ideas- it is a shower curtain. Not exactly long enough. But he didn't care! LOL!

And the after shot. This was before we had Ava, so we only thought it was finished! It is amazing at how much you have to adapt their rooms for them! Function is the name of the game, ladies and gents!

This is the art I painted to match her bedding. I added a verse, but I am not happy with how it turned out, so I am thinking of painting over it, so this is how it would look.

This is how it is now. I just don't free hand writing well. I need lines and a good pen for my writing to look good!

Her art above the bed.

Her blessing ring- it was still incomplete at this point! I hadn't had all of my showers yet! I hope one day she goes back and reads about how excited everyone was that she was on the way!!! I want to do one for each of her birthdays, too. I have always been the person that kept cards in a box under my bed. And now I am glad that I did. I have my grandparent's writing over the years. Now that they are mostly all gone, it is so sweet to go back and see their writing. Makes me feel close to them!

Cute little tassels on her doors! I have been told that once she is crawling, those will be the first to go! We are just about there, so we shall see! LOL!

Her new light. There was a yucky fan there before. This is on a dimmer switch. Any new moms looking for ideas- I HIGHLY recommend a dimmer switch!!!!! But DO NOT get a fancy digital one unless you really want to confuse the heck out of some grandparents! LOL!!!!



Here is a better shot of the table, and a good one of the window treatments. My mom made all of the bedding and curtains, and my dad made the cornice board (my mom covered it). I am SO BLESSED to have such wonderfully talented parents!

Here are some "facts" about Ava's room:

*the furniture is from a local boutique called Pickles and Ice Cream, but it is made by Bonavita. It is wonderful quality! I highly recommend it!!!

*the fabric is called Carnival Bloom. I am not sure who makes it, but if you live in Little Rock, we bought it and the others at Cynthia East.

*the lamps, side table, and the iron wall hangings came from HobLob.

*our photographer is Beth Martin. She rocks. :)

I hope you enjoyed the tour!!!