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You are here: Home / 2014 / Archives for January 2014

Archives for January 2014

DIY: Oversized Ruler for the Hallway

January 3, 2014 by Amy 8 Comments

I decided a few weeks back I was tired of loving stuff on Pinterest and wanted to love them in my house instead of on my boards.

Ever since I saw this oversized ruler on Pinterest, I’ve been in love.

I love stained wood and I love numbers and lines and it reminds me of old wooden rulers.  Such a little thing to make me so happy every time I saw the picture.  I don’t know why I waited so long, but I finally had Scott help me do one of my own last week for our hallway.

 

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Isn’t she grand?

When we added on to the house and extended our hall, the builder suggested we make the corner angled.  It created a kind of weird tiny little wall but it turns out it’s a perfect fit for an oversized ruler.

It makes me so a happy every time I walk by.

Of course, the kids immediately wanted to measure their height.

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And, of course, Bella had to be measured too!

 

In order to make it, Scott bought a 6’ piece of finished wood.  I stained it with one coat of the same stain we used on Lexi’s treehouse bed—English Chestnut by Miniwax.

For the numbers, I haven’t yet sprung for a Silhouette Cameo to make my own. I found an Etsy shop LittleAcornsByRo that sells the vinyl numbers and lines separately. 

It turned out easier than I thought to apply because the lines come in 1 foot sections.  You just have to line up the edge of the vinyl with the edge of the board and press them down.  The numbers come separately and we just eyeballed where we wanted them.  I should mention that Scott worked at a sign shop right out of high school so he’s sort of an expert at installing this kind of thing for me.  I left the OCD measuring and applying up to him.

I realized after the fact that some of the rulers/growth charts apply the numbers sideward so it looks like an actual ruler.  I’m not sure which I would have chosen if I’d have thought about it.  I think either way works.

The tutorials I’ve seen say to add a hook to the back of it for hanging, but Scott screwed the board directly into the wall in all the corners.

We’re guesstimating we have about an hour of work (including the trip to Lowe’s) and $30 (even including shipment of they vinyl) in it. They retail for about $60, both on etsy and in some local shops here. Considering there’s about a zillion ways you could customize this for yourself, I’d say it’s a good Pinterest project to tackle.

The great news for you is LittleAcornsByRo has a 20% New Year’s discount that ends TODAY.  If you’re thinking at all about doing this, grab your decals now!  Use the code NEWYEAR20. I don’t get anything from referring you, but tell them I sent you anyway!

 

So tell me, why do you think we wait so long on actually doing Pinterest projects?  What project could you do this weekend?

Filed Under: decorating

2014 Goals

January 2, 2014 by Amy 15 Comments

2014 Goals

For many years I’ve been in the anti-resolutions camp.

I’ve often thought resolutions were just another way to feel like a failure.  My perfectionist self didn’t want to set a goal knowing I wouldn’t complete it 100%.  But now I feel like it’s better to meet a goal by even 25% than not try at all.

I also think I had some weird spiritual ties to resolutions.  If I made resolutions, how was that leaving room for the Holy Spirit to work?  I’ve changed my mind on this.  First off, couldn’t it be the Holy Spirit leading me to these resolutions in the first place?  I mean, Satan’s main plan is to steal my joy and destroy every good thing.  That sounds like the complete opposite of a resolution. 

Perhaps by having some spirit-led resolutions, I was actually in line with the Holy Spirit.  Why not plan some things that make me healthier and bring joy? And I’m pretty sure if I write down a resolution that needs tweaking or even wiped out along the way, the Holy Spirit will guide me. 

Also, New Year’s resolutions are what my personality type lives for.  I live by checkmarks.  If I write something in my notebook and put a checkbox by it, by golly I’ll work to check it.  Sometimes I even write something down and check it off after I do it.  Making a list and working to complete it is just who I am.  I’m not sure why I was trying to fight my personality just because someone else doesn’t think they’re a good idea. Some people would rather die than live by a check list but that’s me and I shouldn’t fight it.  If that’s not you, that’s totally ok!

However, my StrengthsFinder results indicated that while I’m good at making lists, I’m not good at celebrating when things are done.  I think by writing these down and sharing, even the silly ones, I can be held accountable here and report back.  It forces me to stop and celebrate accomplishments.

Most of the goals I’m concentrating on are very practical, every-day decisions. I’m not making major life goals here.  They might LEAD to major life changes, but the habits themselves aren’t huge.

I shared the list with my family and asked them to add any family goals.  Scott’s first addition was, “My goal is to have a bowel movement every day.”  He thought it was hilarious.  And yes, he’s the reason I don’t ever take myself too seriously.

He did actually have some good ones to add and got on board with some of mine.  The kids added a few too.

After praying over the list, here are my 2014 goals:

Financial

  • Make one extra house payment
  • Save x amount for a new vehicle
  • Pay for Scott’s back surgery, if needed. Ouch.
  • Replace our swimming pool. Ouch.
  • Fund travels (Great Wolf Lodge, Allume, Summer vacation, Anniversary trip)

Health & Fitness

  • Work out 30 min/day, 5 times a week (I’m already admitting this will be tough)
  • Continue AdvoCare supplements
  • Stay off sugar as much as possible, aka, don’t eat ice cream every night
  • Floss every day (Gah. Why can’t I do this?)

Writing/Blogging

  • Guest post once/month
  • Write 500 words every day
  • Post at least 3x/week
  • Read 3 books about writing/blogging.  On the list right now: Bird by Bird, Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook, 2k to 10k, Writing  About Your Life
  • Attend Allume
  • Schedule weekly brainstorming sessions
  • Keep an editorial calendar
  • Schedule a 24 hour brainstorming/writing session away from home
  • I have a fuzzy goal around writing a book but nothing solid yet.  I’m hoping the goal to write 500 words per day will drive me toward solidifying this.

At Home

  • Learn to can something (Canners, what should I can?)
  • Buy one sewing pattern and complete the project (I got a head start on this and bought a pattern on Tuesday for an apron)
  • Plant a garden again this year
  • Create scrabble wall art for our hall
  • Make hall room signs
  • Complete a starburst bracelet on the Rainbow Loom (Courtesy of Emma. I’ve failed at least 4x’s)
  • Get a landscaping plan for the back yard

Relational

  • Have coffee 1x/month with a friend
  • Continue to host small group 1x/week
  • Have a family over for dinner 1x/month
  • Have family game night on Tuesdays (we have Taco Tuesday already)
  • Go on 2 date nights/month
  • Start a conversation journal with Emma and Lexi and write in it at least 1x/week
  • Go on an anniversary trip since we totally bombed our 15th last year
  • Write our Compassion kids 1x/month

Reading

  • Read 52 books

Spiritual

  • Continue to attend church and host small group weekly
  • Memorize Scripture – looking at James right now
  • Complete The Promised One (1 month left) *
  • Complete Jesus 90 Days with the One and Only (3 months) *
  • Complete Whispers of Hope (2 months) *
  • Complete David (2.5 months) *
  • Complete Chase (2 months) *
  • Host/attend IF conference in February
  • Attend Allume in October

*The specific devotionals may change, but I have these available to me already.

 

The one thing I know is this year is going to hold a lot of events I can’t even begin to prepare for. 

Is this the year we’re going to adopt and I won’t have time to work out 5 days a week? 

Will one of us change jobs and we have to skip summer vacation? 

Will something unexpected happen at our house and we can’t buy a swimming pool? 

YES, lots of unexpected events will happen and that’s ok.  In fact, the unexpected usually produce the best parts of the year.  Even if they’re hard, we learn and grow a lot.

I’m reminded of some very wise words in Proverbs 16:9: A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

So, I’m holding these plans loosely, asking God to direct my steps.  No matter what we face in 2014, I’m confident He’ll guide us through and be with us.

I can’t wait to dig into these and share how it’s going along the way.  My little check-marking fingers are itching to get started!

In the meantime, what do you think about resolutions—do they excite you or scare you off?

 

Linked with 5minutesformom.com

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Hey! I'm so glad you're here. I'm Amy, working mom of 3 in the Southern suburbs. I love Jesus, my family, books, chocolate and coffee. I write about faith, parenting, adoption, marriage, fashion, and design. Read more here

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