Old vs New.

Before we moved I did  quite a bit of revamps using our old stuff. Now I am finally getting around to posting How. I started with our bedside lamps and our living room lamp.

This is what they look like now.

(Scroll down to see how I revamped them)

Living Room Lamp.

 Our Bedroom Table Side Lamps

HERES HOW I TURNED THEM FROM A SHABBY OLD LOOKING SHADE TO A NEW, BRIGHT COLORS.

 With the Living Room Shade was Simple: First I paid a visit to the Local DI store in Utah, purchased a $3, lamp shade ( I already had the base) Went looking for nice material, as well as the Modge Podge which I purchased from Hobby Lobby

 The next stage was to cut out the fabric to fit the shade, then taking the best glue ever lol.. Modge Podge, I simply glued it onto the shade, stretching as I went. I used clothes pegs to hold the ends in place (Opps again forgot to take pictures of that stage). Now as you can see it didn't go on as straight as I would have liked !! But on the finished piece you can see I made the flowers, using the same fabric to disguise my mistake... But I actually like how it's turned out.

To Make the flowers: Take a scrap of your left over material, thread and needle and you sew a 'gathering stitch' till you reach the end. Next you fold and twist the fabric and make a flower. I glued it on using, Modge Pogde and stuck long sewing pins to hold them in place while it dried.. And Viola !!

OUR BEDROOM BEDSIDE TABLE LAMPS   

How they looked before minus the edging.

 So for this I ripped off the OLD shade material, till all you have left is the wire frame. I traced around side of the shade using paper to get a pattern, Then I followed around it adding and 1/2 overlap to have room to glue. I did the same for each side. Next I pinned each side together and did a dry fit to see how much I needed to adjust it. I quickly sewed it together then turned it the right way out. Once I fitted onto the wire shade frame I neatly fold the corners and then glued it using Modge Podge them down inside so it covered the frame. I did the same with the bottom and again using cheap and simple clothes pegs I pegged the edges while it dried. I used the same process to make the same for the turquoise lamp,

Viola!! 

Finished Bedside Lamps

With the base of the turqiouse lamp, all I did was to spray paint it, let it dry, then using steel wool, rub the paint off in areas, giving it the distressed shabby chic look.

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Raymers Cove

Raymer's Cove

The girls and I went for an over due walk to Lake Mendota yesterday. It only took 15mins walking, with me pushing the girls in the stroller.

What a beautiful view ! We found steps leading down to the water's edge, called 'Raymer's Cove'. The girls were so excited. Seren kept throwing the small pebbles into the water saying,"Here fishes, eat your food." Lol.. Not that we could see any fish, if Seren sees any forms of large water, she presumes fish live in it.

Carys follow's her sisters' example...babbling words "is" for fish and throwing pebbles too.

I think this will become a frequent activity for us. 

                                                  Visiting Raymers Cove on Lake Mendota.

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Cough Remedy

A GOOD NATURAL HOMEMADE

COUGH REMEDY.

So being a person who likes to take the natural way to heal first, I don't rule out the good old, tylenol when needed. But after having a scratchy throat, and Carys too, I wanted to try something healthy and Natural, rather than OTC MEDs... 

I always have Apple Cider Vinegar at home, and Raw Organic Honey, so I set about to find a good recipe and behold I found one... Click here for recipe.

All the ingredients I had in my pantry & fridge.. And I set about to make this remedy.

  Get out your Ingredients. I used an old mango chutney jar.. Just the right size. Now I tripled the amount in the original recipe, as I am suffering right now with a sore throat.. So I will most definitely use this up. You can see the honey settle on the bottom SO...

 GIVE IT A GOOD SHAKING !!

AND LOOK AT THAT WONDERFUL...NATURAL COLOR.

Here goes my first spoonful...... And

AND it's so good !! Spicy, but good, It has one heck of a kick once you swallow, but I doesn't bother me..

All in all I think this will do the job.. Will give an update on how my throat is doing in a couple of days.. Now I mentioned that Carys is suffering with a hoarse throat too.. But with the spice, I think she will not take it..I will just keep giving her the Raw honey instead ( She is 18mths old.. Just for those who are worrying about giving a baby honey. It is not recommended for any baby under 1yrs old to have any forms of honey)

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Seren making cookies

COOKIES!!

Today was a good way to make cookies!
And seeing me with the mixing bowl out and ingredients, Seren said "Me cook too."

So seeing as Carys were sleeping, what a good opportunity to let Seren help make cookies.

She loved opening the pre-cracked egg (which I did).. But then quickly followed with.."yucky." Lol

Other than not liking the sound of the hand mixer, to which she'd run away then come back when I was done.. She helped quite a bit and is now anxiously waiting for the cookies to cook.

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Were not getting into any trouble!

Our Band!

Today Seren and Carys found my mixing bowls...

Talk about loud !! Seren's words were "Hi mama, look at us".

Then after cleaning up the mixing bowls, Carys, who now thinks it great to climb..got hold of the coloring books and crayons....

Now how can I be mad at them. The little tinkers!!

Oh...no I've been caught!

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Happy 18th Birthday Bradley !

Happy Birthday

Bradley!

18 Years ago, my son was, born weighing in at 8lbs 4oz! And the quickest labor I have had..only 50 min from start to finish, and he was my heaviest baby :) To date. With the cutest chunky cheeks and legs.

He Is now all grown up and quite the handsome young man I knew he'd Always be.

Bradley We love you, choose good friends, make good choices and have a Wonderful 18^th Birthday.

Love You

Mam, Jason, Seren & Carys

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Adjusting to our new home.

Saturday September 7th.

Adjusting to our new home in Madison, WI

Well the move was long, tiring and emotional, plus I had to eat what British chocolate - ( Mostly Cadburys) I had on the way, cause it was melting !! Ah what a shame lol...but it was a shame..as the day we finally got to Madison, as I was following Jason, I cut off and ended up lost  in a new town, let's just say, I really needed some of that Chocolate. The whole packing and moving, finally hit me as I sat in the car as Jason took the girls inside the community center to pick up our key. My emotions got the better of me, and the flood gates open up!! I was a wreck lol.. Needless to say a good 30 min of crying sorted me out.

It took quite a few hours of unloaded our big 24ft van, with the help of our neighbors. I can officially say we are all moved in to our very Lil cozy apartment, it took some organizing and it was good, I got rid of a lot of our things before we moved, as there was no way it would have fit.. We even had to rent a storage unit too.  

So our block of apartments is very much like any other..nothing special and when I first saw eagle heights.. I cried. It looked old, run down and something from the ghetto! I was very unsure about even going into our place, but I stressed out for nothing. Our place is nice, new carpet, painted walls etc. Even if it's small it is our new home.

The surroundings of our place, reminds me of Wales (my home town)..green, humid and tons of trees!! Even though there is no ocean, Madison has plenty of Great Lakes, we are about 10 min walk from Lake Mendota. Everywhere outside there's a constant noise of nature, from all the bugs, birds and what not...It's quite loud.. Yet soothing. Although all the bug bites are taking its toll already lol

All my neighbors on my block are Chinese !! And their hubbies are all PHD professors.. I have tried to make friends and make conversation with some of the women, but the language barrier gets in the way....When they speak,  all I hear is ...'chin chang, Lin Lang, hee now'..I feel like answering with.".um yes..I'll have a # 23 with a fried rice please' lol lol. I'm sure in time, we may progress to me saying' Hi, how are you today' in Chinese and her the same back in English. One of the Chinese families has a little girl, Seren's age and they have made friends the day we got here. 

The States Capitol

The woodland surrounding our apartments

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Name Wall Hanging

Repurposed side of Crib to the Girls Name Wall Hanging.

So I forgot to post my how I made the girls wall hanging. First I prepared the wood, scraping and cleaning, then giving it a coat of primer/pain and let it dry. Second I chose which colors from scrapbooking paper I wanted to use, then I traced around the letters onto the paper and cut around the letter, going a little smaller as to leave a gap so you can see the paint.

Ashton helped me do the part of tracing and cutting out.. More hands make light work , right !

Below I have more little helping hands. Carys loves to get involved, as you can well see LOL

  So the next step was to take the wood letters and predrill holes in them and in the dried side of the old crib. Using wood screws, dipped in washing detergent for ease of drilling in, I drilled the wood letters onto the crib.

Next step was to take the cut out paper shapes and Using MODGE PODGE, glue them into place covering the screws, then paint the whole letter with the Modge Podge. Let it dry. I gave the whole thing three coats of Modge Podge. 

FINISHED PROJECT

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