Valentine's Day DIY Decor

I have been trying to craft more lately, but I am also trying to be more intentionally frugal this year (more on that later...maybe).

With Valentine's day coming up, I decided that would be a good crafting avenue.  So I looked over the craft supplies I already owned then went on Pinterest and found some inspiration for projects I could do using stuff I already had.

MY INSPIRATION:

Button Heart Wall Art  

from southernlovely.com

This sign caught my eye, but I remembered I had this empty huge wood square and a bunch of black fabric.  So I focused on the heart cut out frame instead and the burlap banner, but I made mine different.

V-Day Mantel and Art Work

by Landeelu

MY FINISHED PRODUCT:

  

  

In the process of digging through supplies, I found a wreath I had made last year (here's that post), but I didn't love it anymore.  I made some minor additions and fell in love all over again.

Before:

After:

What items do you have around your house that you might fall in love with again if you gave them just a small face lift?  What supplies do you already own that could help you spruce up your space?  These spoons might be my next project.  What will be yours?

Painted Spoons 

from Making Memories

Bad Mood Blues Busted

I have a confession: I was in a bad mood for about 3 straight weeks.

It could have been any number of things:
-The stress of traveling
-The HORRIFIC cold weather
-The money BLEEDING from our account this month (I thought December was the expensive month)
-School closings or delays due to this HORRIFIC cold weather
-Hormones (God had to remind us once a month that Eve ate that fruit)
-Did I mention being stuck inside with two toddlers for WEEKS due to this HORRIFIC cold weather

It could have been any one of those things, or all of those things above combined.

Whatever the cause, my self-diagnosed seasonal depression was affecting EVERYONE in my home and I was tired of it.

I knew my attitude was not setting a good example for my girls, was causing my poor husband to constantly walk on egg shells, was downright no fun for me and most importantly, it wasn't glorifying to God.

While the weather hasn't improved (and probably won't until about April), some of those other areas of stress have lessened a bit which helps.  We are getting back into a routine and I have implemented some of these helpful  routines and pick-me-ups to make our days more enjoyable and bust up those bad mood blues!

Routine Mood Builders:

-Quiet time FIRST THING IN THE MORNING! Even if I don't get anything else done before the girls wake up, I get my quiet time in.  Starting the day with Jesus is the best way to set a good tone for the day.

-Make my bed. I like knowing that even when the rest of the house is a mess, at least my room is a tidy get away.

-Eat a hearty breakfast (and I started drinking coffee too! Thanks mom for the Keurig)

-Exercise because like the ever intelligent Elle Woods says, "Exercise gives you endorphines. Endorphines make you happy.  Happy people don't shoot their husbands. They just don't."  It is also a bonus that I can drop the kids off at the gym childcare and we all get out of the house for a change of scenery.

-Get dressed. This sounds silly, but after I go to the gym, when the girls go down for a nap I shower and get dressed EVEN if I don't have anywhere to go the rest of the day.  Being put together makes you feel put together.  Dress well, play well!

-DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE! This is was so important for me. I LOVE to craft and I literally had not done anything crafty just for fun since November.  Last week I made myself spend nap time everyday crafting rather than chores and I can't tell you how much my mood improved for the rest of the day.  Try it!

-Circle something on the calendar that I am looking forward to.  Date night on Friday night, lunch with girlfriends on Saturday, Disney on Ice with the kids...something!  If you don't have something coming up, plan something to look forward to.

Quick Mood Boosters:

-Listen to music (yeah, I have Katy Perry on repeat, but what I am really loving right now is "The Man" by Aloe Blacc)
-Read the funnies. Open that Pinterest app and scroll through the humor section.  I promise you'll get at least one laugh.
-Quickly write a list of things you are grateful for.  Count your blessings, not your troubles.
-Do something nice for someone else.  Pay for the person behind you at Starbucks, it will brighten your day more than theirs.
-Eat a snack, rather, a treat.  Salt chocolate totally makes my day!
-Call a friend, or you mom. Someone who loves you and you love too.
-Paint your nails.  I always feel happier looking at pretty nails.
-Put on red lipstick. And then smile.  

And know that at the end of the day, Alexander's mom was right!  Everybody has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day sometimes, even in Australia!  You're not alone, and it doesn't last forever!

So...what are some of your quick mood boosting tips for me?

Your Highlight Reel

I've heard this before, and you probably have too.  But I think it is an awesome reminder.

I was reading a devotional during my morning quiet time last week and it talked about this very subject.  It was specifically focused on parenting, but it applies to all kinds of other areas in my life.

While I LOVE social media and it has MANY wonderful purposes (keeping in touch with family and friends who live so far away, finding inspiration for new crafts, meals, decorating tips etc.), it can be a HUGE distracter and discourager as well.

I'll even go so far to admit that social media can almost (not quite, but almost) give me anxiety!  Phil calls it...

FOMO

(Fear Of Missing Out)

I can't take credit for that acrynim.  It was actually stolen from an article in GQ.

While comparison and FOMO or sort of two different issues, I do believe they go hand in hand.

You know you have all experienced this at one time or another.  You open Facebook to see that your high school best friend went sky diving in Venezuela and you are sitting in a cubical at work.  Or your neighbor who homeschools all 6 of her kids also managed to sew them matching Easter outfits while serving as president of the homeowner's association and moonlighting as a ballet instructor, and you are sitting there staring at runny cupcakes and you can't figure out why they won't get fluffy.  Or you check Instagram only to see the amazing Friday night adventure that your college girlfriend is having with her newest millionaire boyfriend, and I am sitting in my PJ's covered in crumbs from my Hungry Man TV dinner, praying that my kids go to bed soon.

Okay, while that is a slight stretch (only slightly), it's true!  It happens to all of us.  We start comparing our lives to other people's, and we feel inadequate.  But we are comparing our everyday to their highlights!

This isn't anything profound that I have discovered, it's just a good reminder.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't offend me or disgruntle me that you only show pictures of awesome times.  In fact, it usually brings me joy to see you and your family happy and successful.  It would be weird if you posted pictures every time your kid threw a fit in the grocery store or you shared your commute every day to work (believe me, I understand. If you lived through those things once, they don't need to be relived).

I love seeing your brand new baby and hearing all their birth stats. I enjoy your beautiful pictures of your vacation in the Bahamas.  It's incredible to see that your hard work earned you a PHd and you graduated with honors.

I DO IT TOO!!!!

I post pictures of my kids getting along, and I spare you the picture of the third pair of poopy underwear that I had to clean up after that day! I post pictures of the serene snow, and I neglect to post the picture of the horrific amount of sludge that has been drug into my house and cakes my floors due to the snow.

The point is that we all have moments that make the highlight reel and we all have scraps that we leave on the cutting room floor and it isn't good for our JOY to compare our floor to their reel.

Take a look at your own highlight  reel, I bet it's got some of the greatest clips in it anyway.

Mallory Is Married

WIZ BANG!

2014 has been a wild start for the Van Gelder family!

FLYING TO CALIFORNIA - We spent New Year's Day flying to California for my baby sister's wedding.  Of course, we were off to a bit of a comical start when we barely made our connecting flight in Dallas.  Picture Phil and I each caring a kid and SPRINTING through the terminal.  We made it just as they were closing the gate.  But guess what didn't make it; our luggage!  Oh well...it got to us eventually (like 12 hours later).

These sweet little girls were waiting for the luggage that never came

 HANGING OUT WITH FAMILY - Anyway, New Year's Day (and my mom's birthday) we were able to get in and have an awesome afternoon of reconnecting with all my siblings. It was especially fun for my girls to spend some time with their cousin, Brody!

Family reunion

 Always lots of food for the Albinis

 The couple

Uncle Travis and Cousin Brody

 Aunt Torrie and Emrie...always have their tongues out

Aven and Brody playing kitchen

BRIDAL BRUNCH - My sister Torrie (who was the maid of honor) and I threw a bridal brunch on Thursday.  Torrie picked this adorable restaurant and wine shop called Bistro in Rancho Santa Fe.  The weather was cooperative at 72 and sunny so we were able to set up on the patio.  It was a really sweet time to celebrate Mallory.

The hostesses

  

 Torrie and I with Mama Bini

Bridesmaids and Sister-In-Laws

REHEARSAL DINNER - Friday was mostly a relaxing day just finishing up last minute details.  There was no rehearsal because the wedding site was booked Friday night and we couldn't use it.  We just had a rehearsal dinner at the amazing Mexican place called El Adobe in San Juan Capistrano.  The banquet room was charming, the food incredible and the service was exceptional!  Unfortunately, it was way past our girls' bedtime and they melted down pretty fast.

JANUARY 4th, 2014

Mallory Albini and Tyler Karp Tie The Knot!

We all got up, ran some errands, finished all the wedding favors (wholly moly, note to self, don't wait to the last minute to do things like this), finished out hair and make up and took off to the wedding site.

When we showed up to the wedding/reception site my parents and Tyler's parents and a few other friends had done an amazing job setting up the venue.  It was so cute seeing my dad cutting flowers for the centerpieces and knowing that everyone was pitching in to make the day a success. We quickly ate lunch (In-N-Out of course) and went about preparing for pictures.

As I was a bridesmaid and Emrie and Aven were the flower girls, I didn't get to take a lot of pictures of the actual wedding day.  I can't WAIT to see the images that my sister-in-law, and wedding photographer, Danielle Albini captured of the day!

Here are some of the details I did capture (some of the pictures are courtesy of Torrie Albini).  I wish I could have taken a picture of every single hand written thing my sister Torrie did.  She literally scripted EVERYTHING from the welcome sign, to the favor tags to the seating chart...EVERYTHING!  She is so talented (and probably for hire:).

The flowers arrived (Photo by Torrie Albini)

Now for the fun to begin! Torrie helped Mallory get ready and my girls were ready to walk down the aisle.

 Mallory and Tyler did a first look moment.  Here was Mallory just before that moment.

GORGEOUS BRIDE!!!

Then it was time for the celebration to begin!  The ceremony was funny (Aven RAN down the isle laughing and jumped into Tyler's arms while Emrie was very serious and Brody tucked the pillow like a football) and sweet with tears as Papa Bini walked Mal down the isle and vows written by each the bride and groom.

There was only one little hiccup when the caterer did not arrive...EEEEK!  My poor mom was FREAKING out (although she keeps her composure pretty well).  They finally showed up about an hour late, but non-the-less and the food was delicious!

Then it was time for the party to start!

I wish I had pictures to show how much fun we had, but the memories are tucked away in my mind (and I can't wait to see what Danielle captured:). It was so great to catch up with old friends and family.  The wonderful evening ended when the couple rushed off for their honeymoon cruise to Mexico and the rest of us had a blast cleaning up and dancing and chatting!!!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Mallory and Tyler Karp!

I can't wait to see the plans God has for you!