Downloadable daily schedule for your baby and kids
call me a freak. i use Excel for everything. my MBA has certainly come in handy for this project! when lil G was born, i couldn’t remember anything. did i feed the baby? what time? which side did i nurse last? so, i created this daily schedule to keep track of the kids. it started […]
downloadable kids’ reward sticker chart
i’ve gotten a few requests to post the reward sticker chart for download. yup, another nerdy Excel thing i did for the kids. most nights after baths, we review the chart. they get a sticker for each ‘task’ they accomplished. this has been successful to get them to learn behaviors such as brushing teeth, […]
tutorial :: vintage door restoration with chalk board panel
this is one of the doors from the craigslist vintage door score. after a close inspection, i noticed mold on these doors. so, these are being refinished to be used in outdoor areas. this one’s a single panel door which will eventually have a black chalk board in the panel. first, i washed the door […]
Darth Vadar, Spidey, and Lightning…oh my! How to make a reversible duvet.
i’ve been making duvets forever. ever since the hand sewing days. ouch! they’re super easy to make, and they can change the look of your room so easily. and there’s just something about snuggling down in a super soft, luxurious, personalized duvet under a soft snuggly down comforter. i prefer cotton. you can wash it […]
How to refinish furniture with a Restoration Hardware wood finish :: Annie Sloan tutorial
oh Restoration Hardware… how i love thee… Big A is currently in his converted crib. Problem is that he’s getting too big for us to comfortably snuggle and read books in the glider. and sitting on the floor to read to him isn’t fun. so mamma started searching for a new bed on craigslist…. and […]
industrial tae kwon do belt rack :: galvanized steel pipes to the rescue
this is lil G’s room. notice it’s a bit disheveled. but it’s real. he loves maps….and lightning mcqueen….and books….and tae kwon do. for a four year old, he’s quite accomplished, having earned his 4th belt already. i’m pretty sure little kids don’t fail their tae kwon do exams…. maybe they learn a […]
Restoration Hardware inspired wood growth chart :: DIY
i’ve never met a piece of wood i didn’t like. i made a makeshift wooden deck around the kids’ playhouse last spring. there was a 6′ piece left. i knew i’d use it. someday. somehow. today was mr. woods’ lucky day. Ecowood Treatment is pretty nifty. But what I’ve found is that on smooth wood, […]
antique pedestal table refinishing project :: step by step how-to
this adorable side table was handed down by my hubby’s grandparents, via his uncle. pretty beat up, but good structure. the legs were nearly perfect. then, we had a garage sale and one of the kiddos put his half-eaten donut on the table. (confession: i love my kids…almost as much as i love donuts). some […]
queen anne dresser :: part 2
The Queen Anne dresser is coming along quite nicely. This is where I started: These are the steps I’ve taken thus far: Pulled out all drawers and sanded the body of the dresser with a 220 grit paper. Definitely wore a mask and had the garage door open as the dust was everywhere! Wiped […]
spring garden party
the party went off without a hitch. we’re blessed with amazing friends who lend their time and help! in between setting up, politely bossing my friends around, and trying to be a gracious hostess, i tried to snap a few pix…. the weather cooperated….it rains one day a year in california. and thankfully, the first […]
a custom dining room built-in for my neighbor
several months ago, i was at a friend’s house. she mentioned that she wanted to do a built-in in her dining room. one where the kids could do homework. stash papers. and maybe the adults could even stash a kegerator. and all of it would be hidden if a real dinner were to be served […]
a built-in entertainment center on steroids
i design software applications. what does this mean? my mom has asked me this no fewer than a zillion times. i conceptualize how users should interact with software. software apps, whether web-based or otherwise, should be easy-to-use. so easy that even AOL users should be able to figure them out. again mom asks “what does […]
rustic restoration hardware vibe dining room reveal!
the morning room is almost done. i just need to seal the dining table…but i just can’t seem to find the right product. i wanted to use Dead Flat but am nervous about it for some reason…not sure that it’ll clean properly. how about these luxurious host and hostess chairs? The nailheads are cool. our […]
how to make a felt and velcro board for kids’ learning
i made this a few years ago for lil G…we use it all the time and he learned his letters quickly. now Big A is using it…mainly to eat. it’s a simple DIY. get a canvas. using a staple gun, staple a large piece of felt around the canvas. staple the velcro. i got all […]
Restoration Hardware-esque coffee table :: stands up to Hot Wheels!
many of you have read about our ‘zero to hero’ coffee table. if not, you can read about it here. it’s been 5 months since i refinished this piece to have a restoration hardware weathered wood finish. i used annie sloan’s chalk paint. how much do i love that stuff? i bought 4 quarts, have […]