Valentine's Day Craft

I stayed home with a sick Viv today. Sick toddlers don't act like sick adults, though, so we were still busy and active. I wanted to do this craft with her last weekend, but we hadn't bought water colors yet. 

I got the idea from this Better Homes and Gardens article. 

I used a heart-shaped cookie cutter and colored inside with white crayon. I also then painted the base and let the little Picasso add her artistic flare (which turned out to be mostly yellow) overtop. 

Cut when dry, punch a hole, tie a pretty ribbon and write a message. Viola! Homemade valentines for all the people who are so special to our little Viv. 

Relaxing MLK Day

I was so happy to spend a day off with Viv today. We didn't have any plans, nowhere to be. It was awesome!
 It seems like every room in our house has been taken over by something kid related, including our attic. We spent part of our Christmas break designating a spot up there for Vivian to have as a play place and eventually an art area as well. Ryan got the carpet tiles free as samples from work. The only items we purchased were the chairs and table, which were our Christmas gift to Viv this year. 

During nap time, I knew I'd have to be uber productive to fit in chores but still leave time for fun projects, too, like sewing this tank top. I bought it yesterday on sale, but they only had one size bigger than I needed, grr. Pineapple is pretty much my favorite food, so I was going to get this shirt and just figure out a way to make the size work. Plus, I've already bought two pineapple tanks for Viv for summer, and it's no surprise by now that I love twinning with her haha!

After trying it on, I actually appreciate the extra length, but there was way too much room near the armpits. I pulled out the sewing machine, pinched the fabric around the armpit area and sewed straight across. It fits much better and I like the look better, too! 

Another thing on the to-do list was food prep for the week. I pretty much eat breakfast in the car every day now. In an effort for both Ry and me to eat healthy, fast meals before work, we started making egg muffins. I heat mine up and eat it on a toasted, sprouted English muffin. 

Relaxing, productive and fun. I wish every weekend was a three-day weekend!

Repurposed Podium

Ryan and I started renovating our master bedroom last year and nearly finished it, except for this last piece. We have a small nook by our door where we have been storing our laundry baskets. It's unsightly, though, so we took to the internet to find a hamper that would complement the new design. We didn't find any we liked, and didn't realize how expensive hampers could be.

So, we kept our eyes peeled when we were out and about for something that we could use as a hamper. We were at Rehouse and found this podium, which we both envisioned as fitting and functioning perfectly in our room! The wood and brass details match our existing mid-century modern dresser and nightstands, so for $30, it seemed like a fun and original project.

Ryan had a lot to configure to make this piece function. We considered how we would open it to put the clothes in, how we would empty it into baskets come laundry time, and how to not block the heat vent situated on the wall where the hamper would go. What he executed perfectly solved all of those issues!

 The top of the podium opens for us to drop the clothes in, and then he hinged the front of the podium to make it into a door so we can open it and empty it into baskets.

 To allow the heat to come through, Ryan cut down a metal screen that the previous homeowners had left behind to make a vent.

 I am so happy with how it turned out! 

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Update
Vivian LOVES the new hamper: