FALL WREATH | Bring out the Burlap!

Last night I need some therapy!

The world has been spinning around us in a million directions and I needed some time to relax & not think anymore about how life was going to fall into place.

I take no credit for this idea. However, the moment I saw a post by Emily @ Jones Design Company....I knew this project was high on my to-do list.

Even with having our house for sale I NEEDED some FALL in the place! I have been trying to keep things so tidy that I have cleared out all decorations and have missed FALL terribly.

Enough with that I said, and out came the burlap!

Here's what I came up with:

Here's a close up:

There is no way I can do Emily's tutorial justice so to get the step-by-step visual guide to make one of these beauties go HERE.

The burnt orange wool flower I added on is also one of Emily's creations, click HERE for the flower tutorial.

The wreath form and leaves I got at DollarTree in the USA

The FALL twigs I had from an old wreath/garland.

The fabric I picked up at FabricLand - have you even look through their remnant bin/section - some good stuff in there!


It was just the thing I needed last night and I love seeing it on my front door.
Hope you have time to enjoy Fall in all it's splendor.

*L.

Back to School | The Love of Routine and All things FALL - PART TWO

Back to school was EQUALLY exciting - if not more so - for another little lady in our house. Miss Emma-Bemma was starting her second year of preschool and she was bouncing around the house once Wednesday morning arrived.

She was adamant she got to go to school on Tuesday when her sister did, so, she packed up a backpack FULL of treasures to take to school and put on her nicest dress. Unfortunately all she got that day was a date to Starbucks with mom and the backpack stayed in the car.

But, once Wednesday came, it was Emma's day and she was ready:

I am so thrilled to see Emma have the time - without big sister around - to really let her own little personality shine. She is a sweet girl, she always has been, and I pray she'll always keep that soft & sensitive little spirit of hers. Along with that she is silly and such a goof ball. And really is Miss Personality.

I know she is going to have a fabulous year ahead full of learning, fun and a great memories.

When we arrived at school it took everything I had to convince her I DID have to come in with her. She was ready to jump out of the van to head in on her own.

And when I picked her up she said, "Mom, I had a fabulous day at school!"

Doesn't that just make you smile.

Back to School | The Love of Routine and All things FALL

Tuesday marked the first day of school for one very big girl in our house!

Miss Madelyne is a serious school girl this year - I mean we're talkin' first grade, all day, every day. Lunch at school and fun on the playground with all her friends.

Her supplies were labeled, organized and ready to go:

We had stopped by the school on Labour Day to see who her teacher was and check out the class list:

Here's my big girl all ready to rock grade one:


Did I cry, you ask?? Well, the day of school - NO - I know this is going to be such a great year from her, the day before as I prepared everything - YES - and here's why:

Part of me wonders if I've done all I needed to do to prepare her for this big, and sometimes, nasty world we live in. From now on she'll get just as much "deposited" into her from others as she will from her daddy and me. In her six years of life she really only been a part from me for a handful of days, so to release her into this big world of ours is overwhelming at times.

Sounds a little dramatic when you put it in the context of grade one, so, here is a taste of what my prayer for Miss Mo has been as she embarks on years ahead of full time school:

Lord, she's yours. She always will be. I'm here to teach her, guide her and help her be the girl YOU made her to be. I pray that all she knows to be right and true would stay deeply routed in her soul. That as each day goes by she would learn and grow but always stay firmly grounded in the roots we have established for her. Thank-you Lord for the good things you have for her, for all that is to come and how you will use her - even in grade one - to shine for you. May she not be affected or drawn away by all that the world can tell her, would she hold tightly to what her soul knows to be true. May this year be full of learning and fun, new friendships and more quality time as our time together is now so limited.
Amen

UGLY LAMP Makeover

Hello Lovelies!!!

It's been far too long (so long that even hubs emailed me and told me to update my blog! - haaa!) so I guess it's about time to catch up.

I'll fill you in on all we've been up to around here over the next while, but, I was excited to show off my newest project: UGLY LAMP makeover!

Not sure if this is how things play out in your house, but this is what happens in mine:I had been searching for a buffet or sideboard of sorts to use for the dining room. Nothing to expensive...I've got kids and I know it will get damaged at some point...and I came across this beauty on Craigslist. $40 later and a trip into Vancouver and it was mine. I love the lines and shape of it, the femininity of it...so girlie and pretty. I had hopes of using it as a large dresser in the girl's room, but alas, it was too long, so, down it went to the dining room.

So, now the buffet needed lamps....so I moved the lamps from my bedroom to the buffet as they were the tallest lamps I had in the house. "Shop Your Home" as Nester says!

Next problem = now I have no lamps in our bedroom! Bahhhh, I can tell hubs is thinking this is going from bad to worse.

So, fighting my human nature and love of shopping I avoided going to Home Sense and buying the most lovely, pretty FULL PRICE lamps for my room and instead ended up at my good friend Sally's. Sally Ann's to be exact. And this is what I came home with:
At $9.99 each I couldn't pass them up. I loved the shape of them and knew with a bit of TLC they could be stunning. I had a pair of white round barrel shades at home from a previous set of lamps that were 'busticated' by you guessed it - kids - but I saved the shades for such a time as this.

My plan was to spray paint them a metallic chrome silver so they would have a beautiful reflective quality and look elegant and pretty in our room. This is the photo journal of what happened next:
|From left to right |
Top row: Lamps in garage ready to be primed | my friend SPRAY PAINT - primer, silver and clear gloss top coat |one primed one to go |one silver one to go!

Bottom row: Lamp inside to inspect and give final verdict | shade option 1 | shade option 2 | final verdict = don't like them! Silver is not chrome finish at all...next step..find paint in the house and redo them!

So, last night after my house was still, the windows were open and a cool breeze was coming in I did what any mother would do: re-do them in the peace and quiet!! I decided to avoid the metallic thing and stick to a neutral color as I change my bedding often. I love the trim work color of our house, its an antique white color. So I pulled out our gallon of paint and went for it.

First I rubbed down the high spots with the candle to keep the paint from adhering in certain spots - give it a more rubbed/antiqued finish. Then I grabbed a brush and painted.
I painted two coats last night and rubbed off the high spots in between coats. Hubs even commented on them this morning and said he really liked them. I did one more coat today and then sprayed them with the clear top coat and here is the end result:
And yes, if you look close enough there is a faint round ring on my table - apparently the paint wasn't totally dry when I put the lamps there for their photo shoot! Ooooppps!

Total cost:
Lamps: 2 @ $9.99 (no tax at Sally's!)
Spray paint: 3 @ 4.47 (but I will return the silver because its junk!)

So for $30 +/- a few pennies I will new beautiful lamps for our bedroom. You can't get one lamp at Home Sense for that!!!!

I also have visions of attaching a wide band of lace to the shade or hanging a tassel from the lamp base itself...if I find something that will work when I go to the USA next I'll show ya!

Next project: Laundry room....making it pretty so I want to fold laundry!

| May I Introduce |

It's hard to believe that two weeks and two days have flown by already. Pardon the delay in this post, I'm sure you'll understand my hands have been full - beyond measure - the past sixteen days.

Now, I'd like to take the time to joyfully introduce you to our son:

Zachary James BakerBorn on February 23, 2010 @ 10:08am
Weight: 8 lbs, 9 oz
Length: 21"

Also known as "Zachary-Baby," "Zach," "Zach-a-wee," & "big boy"!!! Baby Zachary is truly a joy to our little family. Not only has he added a bounty of love to our house, he's added a significant dash of blue to our oh so pink world.

(Stay tuned for new posts, entitled, "Dash of Blue" - featuring stories of Zachary and what its like adding a boy to a girlie world)

:: It's Time! ::

Well, it's that time; that time that we have of for a very long time. We've prayed for this moment and now it's here.

We're heading into the hospital to meet our little boy, I will update you as soon as he's here!

Any last minute guesses as to his weight and height? Just leave your guesses in the comment section...Have a great day, I know we will *wink*!

For the Travelin' Man...

This post is dedicated especially to the travelin' man....our Uncle Josh, more affectionately known as "Unkie J!"
Since December 27th "Unkie J" has been traveling through South America...he's due to arrive home March 5th, but until then here's a few pictures of us Bakers celebrating the Olympic spirit and having some bowling fun.

We love you Uncle Josh, we can't wait to see you! And when you get home we'll have our new baby to show you.

xoxo
Madelyne & Emma

And the Winner Is....

I am excited to announce the winner of my blog contest is:

Kristin Erickson

Actually, we have chosen TWO of Kristin's suggestions, we loved them both and couldn't pass up either one of them.

One being the blog title and the other being a subtitle of sorts:

A dash of blue in a pink Baker world makes for a life full...
Beyond Measure

Thank-you to all those who took the time to put in your suggestions, we love your creativity and your humor.

Kristin, I'll be in touch with you to deliver your prize...a sweet little B&BW travel pack perfectly sized for your purse, car or overnight bag!

Oh Lord, Don't Bother!

As the parents of two lovely little ladies, Matt and I make a conscious effort to really speak into them positive words of affirmation and love. Things that will plant themselves deep in their spirits and over time grow into a strong and beautiful self image centered deep in the heart of God.

This past Sunday we were reminded of this again as we listened to a speaker at church share a humorous story of his experience doing this with his own little ladies.

In the past our girls listen and just eat up what we have to say, but this week Madelyne seems to have decided its time to put in her own "two cents."

Last night, after a particularly long and difficult day, full of not listening, Matt was have some quality time with Miss Mo. He again started telling her all sorts of lovely things about herself and this is how the conversation went:
Daddy: "M - you're the most beautiful girl in your class."

M: "No I'm not, Brooklyn is."

Daddy: "No love, you are, and you are the most beautifully dressed girl too!"

M: "No dad, Brooklyn dresses way nicer than I do."

Daddy: "M - you are the fastest runner in your class."

M: "Nope - Ben is!"

Daddy: "Okay M - we're going to pray and tonight we're going to ask Jesus to show you how He sees you and how I see you - as the best and most beautiful."

Daddy's prayer: "Jesus, thank-you so much for M, tonight I pray that you would show her just how beautiful she is..."

Miss Mo interrupts with: "don't bother!"

Daddy: "Pardon love?"

M: "Oh Lord, don't bother!"

Daddy: "Why would you say that?"

M: "Lord, don't waste your time. I already know I'm the best."

Needless to say, we had a good laugh when Matt came down and shared this story with me. I guess, in some strange way what we're doing is sinking in - even if it doesn't always sound like it.

And maybe, just maybe, we could learn a thing or two - embrace the things we know to be true, don't second guess them and let God work on the bigger things instead.

Winner - You Are Not Forgotten

Dear Winner,

Just a note to let you know you have not been forgotten. You see, my nesting instinct has TAKEN OVER the house and at one point I was wandering the house at 2AM with a pen and sticky note making a list of all the things I NEED to have done before the end of this month.

So, the past couple weeks have been jammed full of painting the nursery, cleaning carpets, painting furniture, finishing odds and sods around the house, cleaning, dusting, laundering, washing blinds, transforming my guest room from a play room back to a guest room, organizing closets, going to doctor's appointments, getting the girl's hair cut and all that GOOD STUFF that comes with preparing the "nest" for a another wee one.

I will admit I have had to control myself and resist my urge to outfit the ENTIRE house with new pillows and linens - seriously, this is outta control!!!!!

I promise, promise, promise I will announce the winner and my new blog name tomorrow!

Setting the Stage

I'm gleaning from another blog this morning......as I attempt to tackle my three running to do lists this post was and is a gentle reminder of how and why we do the things we do.

Check out Nester's post at (In)Courage on "Setting the Stage" here.

Have a blessed Wednesday!

L.

Winner - To Be Announced

Hi Y'all!

Just a note to THANK-YOU all so much for your interesting, amusing, creative and colorful blog name suggestions.

Tonight the hubs and I are hosting our small group so we will discuss them tomorrow and then I'll announce the winner!

Until then, and I know you will all be waiting with baited breath (ha!), I'll share one of my favorite pictures of late.....my hubs and our pinkies.

Lisa

My First Blog Contest!

Happy New Year! I hope that you and your family had a wonderful and blessed holiday season. We truly had a great Christmas surrounded by family and friends, a little bit slower pace than years past, but with a very prego mama running the show it seemed like the perfect speed.

I am excited to kick off 2010 with my very FIRST blog contest:

"New Baby, New Name!"

I need your help girls, Baby Baker is due sooner than later and in case you hadn't heard - we will be adding a significant splash of blue to our oh-so-pink house. We are very excited about our new family member and each night from 9-11pm as he wiggles and dances around I get more and more anxious to see this little man in person.

But, with two pink and one blue we can't really continue as "The Pink Bakers" - and yes, pink plus blue would make some shade of purple, but somehow the "Purple Bakers" doesn't have the same ring to it. So, I thought what a better way to get a new name for my blog than to make it into a contest - with the final prize yet to be revealed - don't worry, it WILL be something good!

Of course, it's not just up to me - the "hubs" will have his say and we'll review the entries together - if you know him at all you know he's particular and has opinions - so get your thinking cap on.

You can submit multiple entries for what you think my new blog name should be anytime from now up until 10pm next Wednesday - January 13th. Then "hubs" and I will review them and decide on our favourite and announce the winner within 48hours of the contest closing.

I look forward to hearing all your great ideas.