DIY Stencil Canvases

Teagan's room needed art. And I wanted simple and stuff that would accent well with what we have going on up there! I didn't want to buy stuff. I wanted to MAKE STUFF! I've tried to make almost everything as far as "decor" for the kids rooms. So this was the most recent project and I absolutely love love love how it turned out.

What you need: 

Stencil 

Canvas (whatever size you would like. These are 16x24 from Hobby Lobby as a set for $7.99) 

Adhesive spray

Acrylic paints 

Stencil Sponge 

Paint brush 

Glitter - optional 

What to do: 

Lay out a trash bag over painting surface. Because let's face it... we all make a mess. 

Paint your canvas a solid color of your choosing. I chose to do the lighter color as the canvas color and the darker color for the stencil. 

Apply two coats and allow to dry in between for a more even color. 

I would allow the canvas to dry 2 hours or so before starting in on the stencil. 

Stenciling: 

With the spray adhesive, spray the back of the stencil and apply it to the canvas and rub all around the cut out areas so it's secured to the canvas and no paint can get underneath resulting in a "not so pretty stencil".                                                          

Once stencil is applied take the stencil sponge and lightly sponge over the stencil. You won't need more than one coat if doing a darker color on top. If you are using a light color for the stencil you may want two coats. 

After the stencil is painted over, peel from the bottom of the stencil and pull upwards... slowly! You don't want to smudge anything. 

After the stencil is removed, and if you are using glitter... sprinkle glitter over the wet stenciled area. Take it outside and blow off remaining glitter. 

Easy, easy, easy! And so cute! I was very pleased with Teagan's chandelier canvases! 

{Sneak Peek} Teagan's Room!

OMG! I am so incredibly excited. Teagan's room is coming together beautifully and I am thrilled with the turn out! I have not been able to adequately decorate her room because of some mental block. However, the mental block passed and we are almost there:) 

I'm not going to reveal until it's 100% finished and I am still waiting on her custom curtains from my favorite Etsy shop so until then, this is what you get! ......

So as soon as those curtains get here, and as quickly as I can get them hung up... I will reveal her room! YAY! Stay tuned! 

The Giving Tree...

Today has been one of those days. I cleaned the house from top to bottom, did entirely too much laundry, and am mentally and physically exhausted. Teagan has been testing my nerves since 8am and I eventually just broke into tears around 6:00 this evening. I'd had enough. It was just too much to handle. My nerves are officially shot and I'm worn down. 

After a teary eyed dinner, I decided to get in the pool. I got out of the water to just walked around the yard feeling blah and I stubbed my toe on an old tree stump. All I could do was sit on it and cry. 

(Hormones possibly, but whatever it is today has sucked. And on a positive note: stubbing my toe and crying resulted in a REALLY cool Instagram!) 

While I was sitting there I thought about the book, 'The Giving Tree'. This was probably my all time favorite book growing up and to this day I still cry when I read it. While sitting on that old stump I thought to myself, 

" Is this what I will end up being in 40, 50 years? Just an old stump for someone to rest on?"

I give and give and give. And what do I get in return? Of course I get loved my family, adored by my children, cherished by friends, but beyond that... what? Who is it that gives and gives and gives for me? Today I felt as though I am the only one giving. And I am worn out. 

I've given my body to my children {bye bye hot body}, I've given my time to my family {where has the "me time" gone?}, I've given my heart to my husband {which I don't regret, of course}, I've given my freedom to raise children, and what's left? 

Just a shell of what used to be, just a stump. 

What happened to the full, fruitful, beautiful, Roni? Where did she go? Is this what growing up feels like, because it kinda sucks sometimes. I feel as though I have lost myself somewhere between having kids and getting older. No longer am I the proud, tall, tree; but rather the old, broken, nothing left to give, stump. 

Don't misunderstand this post, I love my life. But really. How much will I give before there is nothing left to give?

{{Under the Sea Marshmallow Pops}}

Thanks to Pinterest my kids have a new favorite dessert/snack! You can find the pin here. 

{Granted mine look sloppy compared to the Pinterest inspiration, but it's my first attempt. And please note that we have a goldfish who died during the process. Front and Center of course, he's belly up. Poor Fishy.}

Things you need: 

Sucker sticks

Marshmallows 

Graham Crackers

Goldfish Crackers 

White Chocolate candy coating 

Blue Food Coloring 

What to do: 

Crush Graham Crackers. 

Melt White Chocolate and color with 3-4 drops of coloring. 

Stick a stick in each marshmallow. 

Coat marshmallow with chocolate. 

Dip into crushed grahams. 

Stick on a goldfish. 

Place in refrigerator for 5-10 minutes. 

Easy, Easy!  And Teagan approves!

Taking out the Tarnish... {old to new again!}

I hate having to buy new pots and pans. They are expensive and its hard for me to drop several hundred dollars on a FEW dishes. Therefore, I have found a cure to my old pans and pots that get tarnished, burned, and has gross greasy buildups. 

Bar Keepers Friend 

Ahhhhh-Mazing stuff I tell you! I originally used it on my granite composite sinks (which will make them look continuously new). I was standing there cleaning the sink one day and watching this magic, white powder get a HUGE rust stain out of my white, porous, granite sink with ease and grace and I thought, "what else could this stuff clean?" 

So I took out my dirtiest pan and went to town. Actually, I shouldn't say "went to town" because that typically implies that I used elbow grease and had to work. That is not what happened. Bar Keepers friend requires no work from you. You simply sprinkle it on, and scrub it around with a sponge and the grime literally falls off. 

True Story! Look. 

That crap you see in the before picture is built up bacon grease, burned food, too much heat, and the proof of my "occasional kitchen disaster". But leave it to my trustee tarnish remover to make my pots and pans look new again! 

Good Mom/Bad Mom...It's all FOR THEM!

I try so hard to be a good parent. I had a fantastic Father and a not so fantastic Mother, so being a good Mom is really important to me. Lately I have been asking myself... Am I doing all I can for them? Surely I am. I do EVERYTHING for them. I'm a friend, confidant, and disciplinarian. Maybe the reason I question my parenting on occasion is because I am the only one who does discipline? My husband doesn't discipline. He's the "good guy" and it drives me absolutely bat shit crazy. Why can't he be the bad guy for once? So of course, I am the only one that hears the, "I don't like you's", and "You're a bad Mom", and "Go away and leave me alone's". And that sucks. Plain out, downright sucks. I hate hearing that. 

I don't think I am a bad mom. I think I am a MOM. I'm not just going to let these little wild indians run my house like they are in charge. So as a PARENT, I discipline. I hate to do it, but I have to. It's what parents should do, right? 

Teagan and Parker wear my nerves though. This is normal right? It's just their age, surely. That's what I keep telling myself. Teagan is not a "nice" little girl. She's stubborn, moody, spoiled rotten, and way too grown up for her age. I have no idea where she gets it from?? Ahemm... 

Parker is was the sweetest kid in the world until about two months ago. Now at 2.5 he is driving me bonkers. He and Teagan fight like rabid animals, can't share for the life of them, and are constantly screaming. I HATE SCREAMING! It's rude. And I don't approve. 

So we are constantly in time-out and having "talks" about why we are in trouble, etc... Is that normal? Ha! I'm sure it is, but it still stresses me out. Everyday I ask myself, "Is it only my kids that behave this way?" 

Regardless of the screaming, yelling, hitting, biting, pinching, scratching, slapping, stealing, whacking, and so forth... I adore these kids. No one will truly understand love until you have a child of your own. It's some type of bond that cannot even begin to be described. And when I check on them before I head to bed and look at their peaceful, sweet, innocent faces in a deep sleep, my heart literally hurts. I can't fathom the ability to love anything more than I love these little wild banshees. It's all for them. I breathe for them. I wake up for them. I get out of the house looking like I've been hit by a truck, for them. I discipline, for them. I love, for them. I endure the screaming, yelling, hitting, biting, pinching, scratching, slapping, stealing, whacking, for them. 

It's all for them. So deep down I know I am a good Mom. It's just hard to fully know that on a day to day basis when your 4-year-old says "she doesn't like me" and "wants a new mom". I hope one day they will understand where me and my strictness came from. I hope one day they will be able to say all the things about me that I would never be able to say about my own Mother. Like... "I love my Mom". 

So... 

Dear Teagan and Parker,

I love you both so much it hurts. You will forever be my sunshine and each day I see you I truly know that there must be a God. What I have done to deserve you both is beyond me, but I will gladly take you. Just know that "time outs" are a part of growing up and you might want to get used to them. I foresee millions more in y'all future. So, no I am not mean. I am your Mother.

Xo-
Mom

My "50 Shades of Grey" experience/review...

We all know about "50 Shades of Grey". We also hear lots of demeaning comments, reviews, etc...  I keep reading these blogs, articles, etc... about how reading 50 Shades is un-Holy, demeaning, and a sin. I beg to differ. Call me un-Christian, call me a sinner, I could care less. God is the only one who can judge and I am pretty sure that reading a novel is not going to land me in Hell. If a book can turn you away from Christ, you aren't truly a Christian. If a book can turn you away from your spouse, your marriage sucks. No offense, just saying. 

A book is a book. Just words on paper. Art in a literary sense. We watch R-rated movies, we have unconventional sex, we see, hear, breathe, eat and sleep sex, lust, and crime almost everyday. It's everywhere we turn. Are the viewers of "Magic Mike" going to Hell? No. Are the viewers of "Pretty Woman" going to Hell? Absolutely not. Are our husbands that watch porn going to Hell? I can bet against it. Are us women who lust after movie stars going to Hell? Highly unlikely. 

We are sexual creatures. We want sex. Sex is good. Libidos mean we are healthy. So sex on a page is not landing us a bunker in the burning pits of Hell. And to be quite honest, if I read another bashing on these books I might seriously flip. Those of us who read and enjoyed "50 Shades" are not bad people. We are humans. Sex is human. So... stop preaching ridiculous accusations about how '50 Shades' is inappropriate, and an ultimate sin. It's just a book. (A VERY descriptive book, but a book non-the-less).  

I'm going to break it down for you. Real talk. Real review; from a married, Christian, housewife and mother of two.  

I bought the trilogy out of intrigue. Everyone was talking about it. Everyone was judging it. Everyone was raving about it. I could not resist. So I bought them and began to read. I didn't like the first book but the second and third were quite good. 

Book #1: '50 Shades of Grey'

The book starts slow. Actually, the whole first book is kinda slow. There is no story in the first book. A lot of descriptive, embarrassing, makes you want to put it down every other page sex scenes, but that is about it. Nothing special.

It appears that Ana has no spine and is a weak, inexperienced, bland, yet smart young lady. Some view her as being "taken advantage of" or just hungry for love and willing to do whatever it takes to have Christian. But the truth is that she is a 20-something year old young lady who can make her own decisions and it was her choice to get mixed up with "50 shades of f*@&# up". Big girls can make their own choices, and regardless if she is a naive, immature girl she still made that choice and by NO means is Christian a predator. Christian has issues, Christian is a little over the top, but he is not "bad".

On a scale of 1-5 I give book #1 a 2.5. 

Book #2: '50 Shades Darker"

The second book in the trilogy is much more interesting than the first. Christian and Ana began a relationship. The love one another. There is still provocative, elaborate, intense, and "oh my gosh is this really being written" sex scenes but there is more to it than just that. The second book contains a deeper understanding to Christian and his need for dominance. It's intense in parts, loving in others, and dramatic in a few. The author incorporates some drama, action, etc... in the second book making it much easier to read than the first book. It's not all penis and vagina. Yes, I said penis and vagina. Ana begins to grow a pair and starts standing up to Christian, so all of you who think "poor, sweet, innocent Ana" can hush and get over it. She made her bed, and now she has to lie in it. And she can hold her own. She's a big girl. 

Book #2 gets a 4. 

Book #3: '50 Shades Freed" 

I loved the final book. It begins with the progression of their relationship, and looks back over some parts of book #2. Christian has become a different person and all thanks to Ana (again, yalls "poor, naive, little Ana" is fine, she's not ruined). You get to really know Christian and why he is the way he is. The story of his dominance will bring you to tears. It's not pleasant. It's not kind. It's not normal. He is the way he is because of his tortured past. The book is beautiful, kind, includes some drama, and a great ending to an nontraditional love story. Yes, sex is still in there. That's kind of the point of the book. Sex, Love, and Uniqueness. 

Book #3 gets a 5! 

So... To the author: 

I loved the books. I think that your over the top approach to a very nontraditional love story was exquisite. I loved that you had the balls to write something so different, knowing it would be bashed by some and loved by others. The story was intriguing, beautiful, dark, lovely, kind, and gentle. Kudos to you and your idea to bring the world someone as rough and intimidating as Christian, and someone as patient and kind as Anastasia. Your words on those pages will forever be among my favorites. It shows us readers that people can change, and don't judge a book by their cover. 

MY 50 SHADES INSTAGRAMS! 

Trip Home in a Nutshell...

We loved going back to West Texas to visit our family! The dreaded road trip actually turned into a pretty good drive (thanks to portable DVD players, LeapPads, gummie snacks, and books). However... 

This occurred for probably an hour of the trip.... I'm officially deaf on the right side, but I am sure it could have been worse! 

And this is how I spent my time in the car... Reading '50 Shades of Grey'... Go ahead and judge (after you get past the "sex" it is actually a really good series). 

After arriving in Lubbock we went to see my Dad (more commonly known as "PeePop"). We spent a few days with him... eating. Because that's really all we do when we are with my Dad. We eat LOTS of good food and laugh. I love my Dad. And he is the reason I have good taste in food! He trained my pallet to have extraordinary taste!

THE DANGER OF MOTORCYCLES: Seen 1st hand... 

While driving down Frankford Ave in Lubbock, Texas I witnessed one of the most horrific accidents I've ever seen. A 35-year-old man just leaving the Harley Dealership who had just bought his first bike turned onto Frankford and lost control. He smashed into a parked car in the Dealership on Frankford. I saw the explosion, witnessed the car combust which then resulted in another parked car to combust also. Somehow, probably the mercy of God, the biker flew off the bike before it went under the car and burned to a crisp. He was taken to the hospital with NON LIFE THREATENING injuries. Holy shit balls, y'all! I cried and cried. And of course I had to pull over and video it and take pictures. After all, I am a human. It's our nature to "look". The article can be read here...

The American Flag stayed in tact as the cars and bike burned below it...

GOING OUT WITH NO KIDS!

After departing my Dads, we dropped off the children with the in-laws ("GiGi" and "PawPaw") and had an adult night! Meaning going out with my bestest friend in the entire world, Amber and my bro-in-law, Eric. It never fails that we end up acting 17 again and having the best time ever. Some how Amber and I NEVER have a bad time... I think it's that we are both so incredibly awesome that when combined we turn into a totally tubular bundle of FUN! 

Here are the few pictures we managed to take! And thanks to Instagram we dont look like we should have, or probably actually looked like! (After 9pm pictures are pointless. They usually end in blurry, intoxicated messes rather than pictures.) 

Amber, My Ridiculous Husband, ME, and my brother-in-law:) Love this bunch of fools! 

Mr. Harris (Sweet Friend from highschool), Amber, and ME! 

Happy/Sad....

Besties since 1999! 

On our way OUT! No Kids! 

Isn't she lovely... Isn't she wonderful... Isn't she precious... MY AMBER NICOLE<3

After Friday night and thinking I was still "young & cool" I felt like I got hit by a bus on Saturday morning. That day was wasted and I slept on my MIL's couch ALL DAY! Home made chicken and dumplings for dinner that night which made everything better.

Then this morning, we packed up and headed home to our furry babies and our beautiful home... Seems like we never have enough time back home. Too much to do and never enough time! That pretty much sums up our trip back home to the good ole' Lubbock, Texas! We will forever miss the people there, the cotton fields, and the familiarity of our home town... but it feels so good to be home in the beautiful, big, green Houston, Texas! 

My Random Facebook Friends...

I always want to be the girl with the clever, witty, hilarious status on Facebook, but the fact of the matter is... I'm NOT! Mine are those statuses like: 

"Kids are driving me crazy"

"Wish I had a Coke Zero" 

"Cooking Dinner, then taking a hot shower"

Nothing witty ever comes out of my mouth, I'm actually quiet dull. 

BUT! I do have those friends on Facebook that are constantly outsmarting me and putting my "I'm tired" statuses to shame. 

Out of the 500 friends on Facebook, there are two that never cease to make me burst out laughing from statuses or Profile Pictures. These are two of my favorites and I adore them both... Good friends from highschool with a bizarre sense of humor... 

Enjoy these statuses, because I did! 

Now onto the profile pictures... Sweet C.B... I <3 him... His profile pictures are always SO incredibly random... 

Please see below: 

And with that... I will close this post with a question... 

Are YOUR friends this random?

Cilantro Chicken & Jalapeno Rice Casserole...

Want something fast, easy, and cheap to make on that typical Monday night where you don't want to do anything other than feed and bathe the kids and crawl into bed? This is it! And it was awesome... 

The prep time probably took me all of 10 minutes and I threw it in the oven! Not only that but it's a pretty well rounded meal all in one casserole dish! You have protein with the chicken and eggs, grains with the rice (I used brown rice), veggies with the red pepper, onions, jalapenos, cilantro, then you have the dairy with the cheese and milk... I mean really... it contains everything! 

1.5 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or cubed)
2 cups cooked rice
2 cups Monterrey Jack (shredded)
2 eggs beaten
2 tbsp butter (melted)
1 can (12oz) evaporated milk
1/2 cup red onion (diced)
1 red bell pepper (diced)
1 jalapeno (diced)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Boil chicken breasts until cooked though. Shred or chop the chicken.
Cook rice

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Spread into a greased casserole dish and cook at 350F for 35-45 minutes; or until knife can be inserted and comes out clean.

EASY PEASY! Enjoy!

A true artist always uses a Sharpie...

Teagan is the artist. There is no doubt about that. She loves to draw, paint, color, trace, and create masterpieces! About a week ago (yes, I'm late on blogging the situation) James and I were on the couch watching a movie. Both kids were "in bed" and we had assumed they went to sleep seeing that it was VERY quiet! 

We hear a stir, shuffle, stir, foot steps in the stair well. Of course it was Teagan trying to "be quiet" and come downstairs. We turn around and she smiles sweetly saying...

"Mom, Dad! Come look what I made you!"

Of course we think she built a new block castle (which she is also VERY good at) or possible decorated her room with stuffed animals... Peeling ourselves off the couch we head up the stairs...

On the first landing was where she had created a masterpiece, in Blue Sharpie.... 

Speechless, we looked at each other and then at Teagan who was standing there clapping her hands and smiling from ear to ear! 

"Isn't it marvelous?" She asks... 

Laughing we looked at each other, shrugged, and responded with, 

"Yes, it's absolutely beautiful".

We could not even be mad. We were just so shocked that we brushed it off. We kissed her and told her it was lovely and put her back in bed (only after removing the Sharpie from her little hands and telling her to use a crayon next time).

The bright side is we haven't began working on the upper story of the house, including the stair well. So thankfully we haven't put any time or money into our blank, white stairwell. I suppose the masterpiece shall stay in it's place until we decide on what we are doing to those walls. Afterall, it is a fantastic mural:) 

Note to self: HIDE THE PERMANENT MARKERS!