Sunroom Makeover Part 1 !!

   So it has been awhile since my last blog and I have missed this!!!!! There has been so much going on that time has run short. Our oldest is now almost five, our littlest guy is now a year and a half, and we have a little girl on the way! We bought our first home and have taken on several projects since moving in about nine months ago at this point. We have felt so blessed with so many wonderful new and precious gifts in our lives!

   I wanted to note many of the projects as we go along to share ideas and cost efficient makeovers for new homeowners that we have come across.

   One project I was very eager to do was our sunroom. I want to redo the flooring and window covers, along with changing general décor and layout. For now my first projects are the windows!!!

   There were roll up vinyl shades varying in colors of cream and tan when we moved in. They were difficult and aged. Apparently they were a little brittle from excess heat and sun exposure as well. Anyway, I didn't love them at all and wanted to make a change.

Instead of spending a fortune on curtain rods, curtains, and patterns I wanted to find another way. The exciting second option is a basic flat sheet, rope, and some metal hooks. Just select the least expensive flat sheet in the color you prefer and there you have it. I wanted a no-sew option as well so I just picked up curtain clips with rings and attached to my sheets. The sheet length was longer than the window length so I just folded the excess over on the front top of the sheet and made that a bit of a ruffle for extra detail. I got a solid piece of rope that exceeded the length I needed for all three walls to keep a continuous run of rope with no cutting or potential fraying that way. I also selected open hooks that were substantial enough to support the weight times three for each wall (so 9 total in my case). Select the distance between hooks that you feel good about to keep the curtains straight but with a slight sag is fine. Pre-drill your holes with a bit slightly smaller then the hook you chose and then screw in your hooks. In my case a 5/32 drill bit was perfect to create the pilot hole for my hook. To insert the hooks, if you can get a wing nut bit to attach to your drill it makes putting these hooks in so much easier. If your hook exceeds the size wing nut you can find then a short metal rod or bar of some sort used to turn the hook manually adds a lot of leverage and makes the task much faster.
 
   My new flooring is next, but here is a picture just after changing the curtains!!!

I feel like it's much cozier. I'll be changing the layout of my plant tables that my sweet kiddos and I plant succulents and other various favorites on as well, but this is the update so far. I'm excited to get this project complete!!!

Thank you for stopping by and stay tuned for more on this and many other projects!!!!
Happy Spring Project Time!
Momma Mia

My Prayer Each Day and I Want My Boys to Always Know This

Dear Lord I pray for guidance in all the things I do. For peace, and faith to have the trust to simply lean on you.

I pray for every heart I know and each I pray is with you. I pray for every move I make to teach my sweet ones of You.

I pray for every thing I do to touch their hearts for good. I pray that every time I speak I say it as You would.

The sad thing is I fail on these and each day make mistakes, but I pray for constant guidance and far better the next day.

My prayer most every moment is to grow in you each day and for my family's focus to always do the same.

I simply just have peace in knowing You are always near and always with Your angels placed around us far or near.

I pray for long and happy lives with my family in your presence and then for thankful togetherness always forever in Heaven.

In Jesus Christ Precious Name Amen

This is my nightly prayer, but noted in a poem. It's what I always pray. I want my boys and my entire wonderful family to know my love for them and how hard I try though I make so many mistakes. I pray their hearts reflect my prayers as answered always with a strong Christian Faith and heart that shows it. I felt the need to share.

Sweet dreams,

Momma Mia

Mother's Day Gifts or Any Day Gifts That Make Memories

   Over the years we have created and found some wonderful projects for Mother's Day that have made some of my favorite gifts and memories! These are perfect for special days and any day you want to give a special gift honestly. 

   I wanted to share several wonderful projects you can do with your children as fun DIY crafts at home that make the very best times with them and just the most precious keepsakes. 

   These all only require time and a few basic things such as paint, paper, and your kiddos! Perfect gifts for Mom's Day! 

   My very first to show you and the largest piece I have and LOVE is the outdoor scene made with only the kids hands, feet, and arms covered in paint! Your kids will enjoy and you get a beautiful memory with the size of their sweet feet and hands all over it! This was my Mom's idea and I just love, love, love it! Notice they used handprints for the clouds and sun, foot prints for the green tree tops, arms for the tree trunk, feet for the grass, and the side of their little fists for the flowers. :) 

Another one I love so much that I came across with an example of hand prints and changed to foot prints just because it was the most likely success with my little boy. He was just a few months at the time I first did one and not terribly fond of paint on his fingers. :) A foot print bouquet for Mother's Day! My favorite bouquet to date :)

If you have just recently had a special new addition to your family a keepsake shadow box is always special too! Include things you know held special value and add a few pictures if there is room. I have hospital bonnet, first little bottle, come home outfits, a blue pacifier used with our family to announce it was a boy, measurement tape, foot prints, and a tiny precious little blood pressure cuff. :) 

Have your kids make their own cards with their own art work. If they cannot spell yet take note of what they say they are writing while they make their lines and artistic touches and then include that note with the card! 

A photo shoot is another precious idea. You do not have to go to a professional photographer even. Just take them to a favorite spot and get pictures of them in their own natural setting smiling and playing and print these off and frame as a gift! 

All of these are priceless and the actual price is very low as well. They are made with love and memories which is the most wonderful gift you can give! 

Happy Mother's Day Weekend to all of the wonderful mothers out there with their lovely little blessings! 

Lots of Love,

Momma Mia 

Update and Transform Your Home on a Small Budget! Big Results forLittle Money!

   This post shows several of my favorite, easy, and affordable makeovers that I have come across lately that I absolutely LOVE!!! Not a lot of cost involved and huge changes visually!! You cannot ask for more than big changes with little investment! Woo hoo!

   The first project is just a classic need in most homes... Various rooms quickly get slightly dated iun appearance and it quickly becomes VERY overwhelming as the home owner! Immediately our minds think that we have to change out the counter tops, the tile in the shower and tub, the cabinetry, and the list goes on.... These things quickly add up to figures that really become daunting when you know there is more than JUST ONE room that needs this kind of attention in your home.... Here is a perfect redo showing how you can make small changes and get big, beautiful results! Love this redo example and this site! Just look how fresh and pleasant that bathroom redo is with the change of a few minor and inexpensive elements.

https://centsationalgirl.com/2011/01/guest-visitor-house-of-smiths/

   This next redo shows how to really update a fireplace and take it from an older more traditional fireplace to a statement piece in your room! Note the fireplace stops at the mantle, but by repainting the brick around the fireplace, adding framing up the entire wall to the ceiling, and painting the wall from the mantle to the ceiling in the color that matched the brick this fireplace now fills the wall from floor to ceiling and it is gorgeous with minimal investment! Now if you have a fireplace that makes you fretted and seems dated and dark think of the options now!

   http://providenthomedesign.com/2014/09/03/diy-woodwork-mantlefireplace/

   Here is a mud room redo with paint as a few decorative pieces added to the walls basically, but this room was completely transformed!

 BEFORE

AFTER

http://www.designertrapped.com/2013/10/the-laundry-room-reveal.html

   This is a neat idea to add interest and a pretty window seat to a room that needs a face lift and some dressing up... Ikea pieces repurposed for a whole new idea! I love window seats no matter what, but then add storage to it and you cannot lose... Especially in your children's rooms. :)

http://mommyvignettes.blogspot.com/2013/05/ikea-no-sew-window-bench-tutorial.html

   This next one is something I just loved... It really gave the kitchen a total facelift and it just looks so bright and inviting now!!!! Note how they opened up one of the pieces of cabinetry to make it an open faced display shelf for some lovely pieces in the kitchen.... I really liked that. Also, think about this from a different aspect being if you purchase a home with far less cabinetry in the kitchen then you hoped for..... Add shelving with pretty shelf supports and paint them to match the cabinetry. Place your pretty pieces or well organized sections of kitchen gadgets on the shelves and hide the less manageable sections behind closed doors!! I love my grandmothers kitchen in Maine. She had opened shelving in several spots in her kitchen that made it feel inviting and homey to me. She displayed hand made pottery pieces on those shelves in tons of bright colors. I just love it!!

BEFORE

 AFTER

http://www.thekimsixfix.com/2012/08/kitchen-reveal-80s-to-awesome.html

   This last redo is close to my heart and cost less than $90 to complete. It is a bedroom in my home. We remade our king size bed from headboard to floor in this post and I was so happy with it!!!

   http://www.mommamiamoments.com/2014/05/diy-king-headboard-total-king-size-bed.html?m=0

   I hope these offered some inspiration to  your home and family! Thank you so much for visiting my blog!

Lots of Love,

Momma Mia :)

Make Your Home A Showpiece !! Little Details that Count in Big Ways !!

   I want to do everything on this list!! I am excited to share a bunch of finds that will add alot of charm to your home with little money spent. These little changes are small, but unique and smart features and additions that will set your home apart from the rest. You would not see these things often, but once you do you will not want to go without! 

   Check out how great this makes those plain and simple light switch covers look. Funny how my light switch covers were just fine until u saw this haha, but what an easy and inexpensive upgrade! So pretty! You go from a normal switch plate to lovely.... :) Love it! 

   Two approaches to achieve this and both cost very little... First option is an inexpensive or old frame you have setting around that fits your switches which is pretty easy to do because the sizes are comparable or you can use actual molding. The following link shows the redo with picture frames. 

http://memyselfndiy.com/2014/03/03/diy-switch-plate/

   This is a great change coming up next. You know those drawers in your house that are fake? You pull them and think for sure they will open, but nothing happens and then you just think it so odd to take all that time to install something that really should actually be what it looks like?! :) Well make good use of it and turn it into a functional addition to the space with this neat idea! 

http://www.houzz.com/photos/555862/In-Cabinet-Paper-Towel-Holder-traditional-kitchen-orange-county

    Here is another inexpensive upgrade. Not fond of the color of your appliance anymore? Upgrade your dishwasher for example simply with contact paper that is stainless steel in appearance! 

http://julieblanner.com/diy-stainless-steel-makeover/

   We all need extra space in our kitchens! The below addition is so smart and takes up very little space and yet still adds a lot of space! This creates a neat and clean organizational space for cleaning supplies and when you close the doors no one would ever even pay attention to it. 

   Add a lovely cover to your toilet paper and paper towel rolls with this great idea! Molding turned into a shelving case around them removes the eye soar and adds functionality with a very attractive flair. Love!!!!! 

   Here is another very pretty way to cover your toilet paper roll and add function and style at the same time. This is really a pretty way to add decorative details to your restroom/powder room. 

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/updating-a-70s-bath-avocado-aqua/

   Here is a beautiful way to make your bathroom look more elegant and just by adding two shower curtains instead of one! Also, I love the shower rods that curve outwards to add the appearance of larger space in the shower. I just think those are pretty and then add double shower curtains again to that scenario also. Lovely!!! 

http://fabuloushomeblog.com/?p=6592

   This is same idea as cabinet paint makeover in the kitchen example, but still the transformations are just so fun to see. It's encouraging too to see what small investments can change! This is just changing fixtures and paint. Remember too fixtures can get expensive if you approach it the wrong way. Be sure and shop for sales, and look on sites where people are selling barely used things.... You can save a ton even though you weren't really spending a lot to begin with. The key is that the extra savings here CAN MAKE ANOTHER PROJECT POSSIBLE! :D (Happy Dance!!)

http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/09/bathroom-cabinets-makeover-my-first-ever-grown-up-diy-project.html

   Now I loved this because this lower portion of a lot of houses on the outside siding is just unattractive and unfinished looking. Take a look at how much this completes and details the house to really look finished and beautiful! 

   I hope all of these small, but very effective changes can really step up the look of a home! It's gorgeous and small additions to your home that really make an impact! 

Thank you for stopping by and checking out this post! 

Lots of Love! 

Momma Mia :) 

Praying.... Now Ready, Set, Go

   I feel like I've been spoken to so much today. I almost feel like God is yelling loud and clear, "Okay Mia, I'm speaking to you and asking if you are listening?!" It ha touched me so deeply I wanted to jump on here and share. Maybe this is a turning point, a new beginning to my life goals, the shaping of my future and my dreams actually starting to unfold... Maybe this is a learning experience and motivation to move forward with encouragement that God hears me, but may not be ready for me to start my new journey. I'm not sure, but I do know that very loudly and clearly He has lovingly spoken to me and shared signs with me since late last night. This is just the most recent touching experiences, but honestly my experiences since middle of September have been walking me down a path that truly constantly screamed God has His hands wrapped around myself and my lovely family.

   Specifically to share today's experiences you would have to know that in hindsite I see it started last night when I saw a post on Facebook sharing the story of Joanna Gaines (extremely talented and beautiful person inside and out with a lovely family who has prospered under God's guidance as well) who is the star designer on HGTVs Fixer Upper with her husband being the star contractor and building director). Herself and her husband Chip Gaines have stepped out in faith and, as she stated in her short video, have been placed now on a tremendous platform allowing them to touch so many people's lives while fulfilling their family dreams... This video brought me to tears and spoke so deeply to me at this exact moment in my life. I have included link because it may touch you as well. https://vimeo.com/125510141?outro=1

   Now moving into my experiences today, which I realize link into my yesterday now, I've had so many things cross my path relating to others touched as well by God today and it keeps coming up. My sister spoke to me early on today very touched by the Joanna Gaines video I shared, then we had a very long heart to heart that brought a lot of thought and clarity to my vision of my professional and personal life right now. This all could be described in far more detail, but suffice it to say my day rolled into this evening and then I run across some amazing articles written by powerful Christians. This evenings events that i just began to reference were as follows, I'm reading this blog and the words are so well spoken and speak so clearly to me and again exactly where my current mindset is. This blog post suggests at home work and then it's an amazing article that suggests books to read for virtual assistant type of work making around the income I make now. The writer of this article beautifully articulating why many people from many view points desire more schedule flexibility and hers being her children which is exactly where my heart is as a mom of a three year old and a three month old at this moment. So I download two of the many books her article suggested and the very first one to come up for sampling on my Kindle app is written by a Christian lady who wrote it with the want to stay home, but contribute income and she sounds like she is literally in my head at this very point in my life.... Literally, I cannot tell you how loudly this book slapped me in the face with the introduction... 

   So now I'm searching, praying, and reaching out in hopes that all of these beautiful moments and signs that have crossed my path are a call to action on my part. I'm sharing because I hope this encourages someone reading this as their words encouraged me. I am praying that if this is a fork in the road that takes me down a new and wonderful road of blessings for my family that I can share the journey ste by step to encourage others as these powerful writers I have run across encouraged me and as most importantly an effort to share God's love and guidance in my life so that you can know as well He is there and carrying us every step of the way. 

   As I research and learn I will share more through posts here and I hope I have a lot more to share in the coming weeks and months! 

Lots of Love and appreciation for your visits to my blog! 

Momma Mia 

As an addition, I wanted to share the eBook about at home work and virtual assistant guidance because I appreciated it so much and I am still reading it at this moment. I just realized j spoke so highly of it in this article and then never actually noted the author. The author is Lisa Morosky and her book is titled the Bootstrap VA. 

Lamp Shade Redo ~ Mini Blog Post :)

   So this post I labeled a MINI blog post :) mostly because well first of all I should have gotten more pictures along the way and saved a little more detail to share..... I wasn't thinking about blogging this little project when I did it..... The thought came after from my sister so I'm sharing what I have. Mostly the mini thing refers to the fact it was a super short and sweet DIY project. :) 

   So I had a lamp that I love, but the shade had seen better days. Finally a week or maybe a month ago :) (since the addition of our second sweet baby my concept of time is off more than usual even) the lamp shade was so badly in need of love I just retired it into the trash can, but not before saving the metal framing for a possible project later :). Soooo I had been looking at some of my favorite spots to shop for supplies and crafts, but I was finding nothing! The shades were either super expensive or just a paper form with lots of love needed. I ran across a lamp shade that was too long and lacked any character really, but it was a good width and I had my fingers crossed as to the cost. It was unmarked and all alone on a random shelf. Surprise for me because I get to the register and it was $8 on clearance! 

   I get home and decide I'll try it as is, but it was awful. You couldn't reach the switch at all once I put it on. So then I decided I would cut it down and just go from there. I took a small knife from my kitchen for this project. A crafters knife of any sort would have been more helpful, but this was the closest thing to me when I decided the lamp shade was going to change and work for me if I had anything to do with it! I sliced around the entire form to shorten the length and repeated a couple of times until the length looked really cute. Remember to slice away from you at all times. This specially was a project where the form slipped some while working with it so it made me a little paranoid while cutting  Then, I grabbed a small belt I never wear and thought I might use it as an accent detail around the base... I decided against this, but will use this concept again because I liked the look of a thin braided belt as an accent. I ended up choosing some pretty ribbon that complemented my bedroom colors and the lamp shade just in a simple easy solid color. It was a navy shade and now a simple white ribbon. To do the project I just carefully used hot glue because the lamp shade material and ribbon fabric were perfect for this simple choice to just hot glue. (I love my hot glue gun!)

   The lamp shade is now much better than before and only $8 for it! Simple fix. Maybe 30-40 minutes to just get the shade length to what I liked and add ribbon! 

   Basically, do not give up on a redo you have in your mind. Don't necessarily get your mind set on a certain path either. Look in clearance, look in odd places, grab what looks like it may not work yet has potential and the best things often come from these purchases!!! Pictures attached below of final lamp with new shade!!! :) I am happy and hope this offers some inspiration for a project on your shelf at home as well!! :) 

~~Momma Mia