A little Christmas crafting...

I finally broke down and created a Pinterest account! It has been a love/hate relationship. I love the ideas and the organization. I hate the tech problems and the inherent desire to create something else...

As a family, since this is little bugs first Christmas, we decided she would get one present from us along with stocking stuffers. We would open these together Christmas morning. I never really had any family traditions so I wanted to be sure Jorja grew up with some. We have already made some salt dough ornaments with her hand print and footprint!

Since we didn't have any stockings before, I decided I wanted to make some and I was inspired by this lovely photo on Pinterest (imagine that).

Source: cottageinstincts.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

The sad part is that there wasn't a tutorial :(
After searching around, I found this tutorial from Cluck, Cluck, Sew. She did a great job explaining how to do a cuff on the stockings. I also used this site for a template since I didn't have any stockings that I could just trace.
Well, here is what I created!

I used "Life is Good" font. I printed our initials out (mirrored). Then traced them onto some wonder under and ironed that onto the fabric then cut out the letters and ironed them on. Such an easy way to monogram!!

We are looking for a small Christmas tree to put up this year since Jorja is crawling and pulling up everywhere.

On other great news!! We decided that we will be adding on to our house in the spring. We'll add on a master bed and bath and another bedroom. That will give us 3 bedroom/2 bath! YAY! Plus we are going to take out a wall to create a big living/dining room. I can't wait. I have been collecting tons of inspiration on Pinterest. This will all be documented, of course, and it tie into our before and after posts that you can find here.

Mr. Magnificent's Baby Shower Cake

Not too long ago, I posted about Eric's pregnant belly cake. You can find it here. 

Well, Eric was able to make the follow up cake for the baby shower.

People are surprised to find out all of our little talents. 

(sewing, crafting, taxidermy, baking, decorating)

They assume I am the one who makes the cakes. 

They can't believe it when I tell them, no, Eric (Mr. M) does make them (with a little help of course...).

A little weightloss update...

Not too long ago I posted about our weight loss journey. Click here to read all about that.

Just as a reminder, here is where I started.

I can't believe I am actually admitting to this...

On May 24, 2011 I weighed in at 176.5 lb.

Today, October 6, 2011 I weighed 140.0 lb.

Just so you don't have to do the math... that is 36.5 pounds!!

I have also lost 48 inches. 10 of those inches were in the last month since I stopped breastfeeding.

I went from a tight size 16 to now getting into a 7/8. Some 7/8s are tight and some are fine depending on brand of course. I can wear a medium shirt.

So, how far do I have to go? Another 10.5 pounds. Did I mention high school was the last time I was this size?

How am I getting there? Sticking to my menu. Doing some Pilates and 30 day shred from Jillian Michaels. I have done one day of each in the last two weeks. I am not going to beat myself up about only doing one thing a week. Afterall, I have a 9 mo old. I am proud that I even did something.

I don't have any before/after pictures of my whole self yet. I'll save those for the big finale :)

I did get my hair cut yesterday and can share that picture with you along with one about a month before we started with Metabolic Research Center.

 February

October

Thanks for stopping by. If you are new you can check out my About page to get to know me and the rest of my "Magnificent" crew. 

I have to take a minute and give God some glory. I would not have been able to do this if He had not been my strength. I was seriously addicted to foods and was emotionally eating. I still fall into that from time to time. The great thing is that God loves me how I am (imperfect) and wants to see me grow. As I grow, His glory is magnified. With His power, that is just what I am doing (growing). I don't want my little one's growing up with an unhealthy diet and it is up to me to provide for them. First, I had to get my diet under control. 

My Routines

I posted yesterday about doing the 31 Days to Clean challenge. You can find the post here. I went ahead and added my lists for the challenge under the 31 Days to Clean page on the sidebar. This then inspired me to revamp my cleaning and daily routine page. Mind you, I don't do this to a "t" daily or even weekly but it gives me a goal! If you are struggling with your routine, I hope these help you out or inspire you. If you want either document send me a message or comment and I will email it to you. If you don't have your email linked to your Blogger profile, please include your email.


Preview of “Clean HOUSE” Preview of “Jorja & Mommy's Routine”

31 Days to Clean- Having a Martha House the Mary Way

Alright dear readers! I am finally going to start this! I bought this ebook, 31 Days to Clean- Having a Martha House the Mary Way, a few months ago. Right before I went to California actually.

 

I have wanted to work on it and have read a lot of it but haven't done the actual work involved. So, here I am today telling you that I am going to start today! 

If you want to know more about this, check out the website. It is a great ebook for only $4.99. You can order it through the sidebar right now!!

I know that I have talked with Sarah (my bestie) about doing this challenge together. She is tired from being pregnant and all but getting her house in order would help a lot too! The great part about this is that the Martha challenges or chores don't take long. Once day you clean out your fridge. One day you clean your oven. Plus the Mary challenges help you in a different way.  Anyone can spend 10-15 minutes a day working over your house! 

I know that being a stay-at-home mom has made me realize that I have to set goals each day to be productive. Otherwise I get sucked into the internet and don't accomplish much other than taking care of my child. I much prefer when I cross off most of the things on my list and my hubby comes home to a clean house. I know it improves my mood too because I actually "accomplished" something! 

There are a couple different ways you can approach the 31 days. You can follow their challenges as outlined in the book or you can create your own 31 days of chores. Well, since I am not one who listens very well when told what to do, I will be creating my own list. As I accomplish them, I will mark them off. For the time being I will have a page dedicated to the 31 days and my list of what I accomplish. 

Won't you join me in doing some Fall cleaning?!?!?

I'd like to...

This post is my way of posting and updating and being random all at the same time...

I'd like to....

• eat what I want without thinking about how I shouldn't be eating certain things because I need to lose these last 12 pounds.
• be done with my diet.
• have confidence that I would actually keep this weight off. 
• stop griping about my diet now.
• magically know if we should add on to our house, buy a house, or build a house.
• know if I really want to have kids two years apart.
• know if three years apart would be better than two. 
• win a makeover show ( I have two pairs of pants I can fit right now)
• know what my "style" is.
• go shopping for some clothes that fit.
• get rid of my baby belly (although it was so worth it).
• read the rest of Super Baby Food.
• tell you how much I love Babywise because it has worked great for us. 
• read a new book. 
• get a pedicure.
• go on a date with Mr. Magnificent.
• get more slobbery kisses from Jorja (baby M.).
• spring clean my house.
• sew my latest organizer order.
• sew a diaper bag that I bought and cut out the fabric for because it is super cute.
• sell said diaper bag. 
• eat bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies (can you tell I'm hungry).
• tell you how much I have learned about myself in the bible study I am doing right now but I don't know if you want to know lol!
• call my dad and grandpa and tell him how much their (great)granddaughter has changed.
• have some time with my sisters without our little munchkins.
• hear what you have to say!
• make Jorja a quiet book!

I'm back, kinda....

I truly apologize for my absence. My grandfather passed away August 22 at the sweet old age of 92. We were blessed that he was able to pass away peacefully at home. Since my father passed away in 2008, I am the only grandchild and I have been busy taking care of everything.

We made a whirlwind trip to California and back. God has taken care of this entire situation!! It amazes me even though I shouldn't be surprised. Jorja and I are still trying to get back in the groove of things.

Did I mention that I decided to stop breastfeeding in the middle of all of this? No? Oh well, that will be another post in itself!

Again, I haven't forgotten you, I will return soon! Thank you for understanding!!

Making a Lifestyle Change

I haven't blogged about my latest "diet" yet. The thing is, it shouldn't be a diet, it should be a lifestyle change. Last year before I conceived, I did weight watchers and lost 10lbs. I tried to be healthy when I was pregnant but that didn't happen. However, I lost all of my "baby weight" within the first 2 months. It was the other 40+ pounds that I needed to do something about. If you have had a child, you know how that reshapes you! You see, I got married and went to college in the same semester so I gained all of that weight on top of pregnancy weight. Well, Mr. Magnificent gained right along with me. We were to the point where we knew we wouldn't do something unless we put some money behind it. We are cheap frugal and being on one income made it truly a sacrifice. I knew of several people that had gone to Metabolic Research Center (MRC), including my sister. She went though them when she was nursing so I knew I could diet in a way that wouldn't jeopardize my breastfeeding.

We started MRC the 24th of May. Since then, Eric has lost 38lbs and I have lost 25.5lbs. Eric has reached his goal! Let me show you a quick before and after...

I need to get a picture of me in clothes that fit but I will give you an idea an idea of what my 25.5 lbs is like in sizes. I started out in a tight 16 and now my size 12s are getting loose.

Here is the problem I am having now... Eric is to the point where he no longer has to follow our strict menu and so it is getting harder on me to stick with my menu. As a way for me to be more accountable I am going to start blogging about my progress each week.  I will tell you more about my diet as we go through this. Until then, do you have any questions?? What helps you stay on track?

Comparison Shopping

I don't know about you but I spend a lot of time online researching items and comparing prices. I am not an impulse shopper. I want to make sure I get the best item and pay the cheapest price. I found a website that makes this tast a little simpler.

Become.com is a great source that offers several different features. They have price comparisons for whatever you are shopping for. Here is a great feature- the prices they show include shipping and applicable taxes if you include your zip-code. They also have buyer's guides for products you might search for.

I have been considering getting Jorja a smaller (easier to travel with) stroller. So, I searched for combi strollers.  I was able to set my price limit, choose a color and see my options. Since I am a fan of Chicco brand, I did some searching and found this stroller that I like. It is chicco liteway stroller. Become.com listed several from Diapers.com. I was able to click on the ones I was interested in and go directly to the site itself to read reviews.

Even though it was $129 at diapers.com I was able to see that it was $10 cheaper at a store that I wouldn't normally search for. And I didn't have to type in 20 websites, just one.

I decided to then do some shopping around for my nephew's upcoming birthday. He turns a big 3 in September. Wow he has grown up fast!! He could use some shoes and I really liked some of the Baby Jordan Shoes I saw. They didn't help my baby boy fever. Since Jorja is growing out of the baby stage, I have been missing the tiny days... which makes me want another little one. A little boy this time. Not that we have any plans to add to our family any time soon but little read headed boys are adorable!! So, in the meantime, I will drool over some adorable baby sneakers!

Enjoy your weekend!

This post was brought to you by your friends at Become.com.

Our First Home Part 5

I have loathed this kitchen from the very beginning! 

• Ancient cabinets that were dark wood and 70s vibe
• Vinyl counter with several places of missing or burnt vinyl
• No dishwasher
• Avadodo green stove and fridge
• Windows that allowed you to see the laundry/sewing room (it used to be the exterior wall before they added on the room)
• One ceiling fan/light
• Black pantry with a couple wobbly shelves
• And the list could go on forever

Well, take a look for yourself...

Two summers ago I talked Mr. Magnificent into doing the demolition while I was in California visiting my Grandpa. My allergies don't get along with all the dust and debris. I was sick after we did Jorja's room. The decoration came from a love for my Grandmother's blue & white china. I brought some home from California and I found my theme. Did I mention I got a dishwasher!! We bought the new stove a while before the remodel. This fridge was our third for the house. We gave up and bought a brand new one. Should have got one with an ice maker though.

We added the wood burning stove. I also collect metal cookie cutters and Mr. M created a way for me to display them. This was only one piece of the cookie cutters. Last I counted, I had 107 cookie cutters. It all started on our honeymoon and I have been collecting ever since.

Here is a closer look at some of the blue and white china. Pieces came from family, friends, yard sales and antique stores.

I also got to add some functional things that I love! This is great for my pots and pans. I no longer loose my lid in the corner of the cabinet. We bought these from Home Depot. We had to order my sizes and I'll admit they weren't cheap but they were a worth while splurge!

I have all of my cutting boards and cookie sheets in here! So much better!

This organizer is great since I only have 4 drawers. 

Just to recap.. 

Before

After

Ah... it is nice to look through these pictures and remember just how far we have come. You may be wondering where the pictures are from the sewing room and living room. Well, we have yet to complete them. They did get new carpet when we did the rest of the house. There are talks of doing the laundry/sewing room. It has dark paneling and it is a little depressing in there. It just depends on finances and when I can talk Mr. M into it. He really is the one that does most, ok, all of the work. 

I really enjoyed sharing this series with you. Thank you for all the sweet comments :) 

Any suggestions on what you would like to see from me next?

Incase you missed the other rooms...

Part 1- Before

Part 2- Bathroom

Part 3- Jorja's Room

Part 4- Exterior

Linking at Parties on Link Parties Tab and...

Our First Home Part 4

I hope you have enjoyed  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3! Today I will be showing you Jorja's room! You should know that I am a "planner." I don't fly by the seat of my pants too well. I like to have a plan in advance.

So, when it came to redoing our spare room, I knew in the future it would be for our child. I also knew that I didn't want to repaint in a couple years either. I knew it would be a challenge to figure out a gender neutral nursery scheme. Thankfully I had some inspiration in a local fabric store. They had a Peter Rabbit/Beatrix Potter Quilt. I fell in love and Mr. M liked it as well. So, with that I picked a nice yellow for the walls. It is called Banana Split. Fun!

Before

After we took off the paneling there were layers of paper, sheet rock and more wallpaper! 

Since this house was built in the 40's it is SOLID. How do you like the solid walls?

 After

One of my favorite things in her room is the book wall. Mr. M & I made the shelves and now you can see all of her books on display!

 I made all of Jorja's crib bedding. Here is her quilt.

I changed the bumper pads when she was about 4 months old. She would get her arm in between the bumper and crib so I made the bumpers fluffy and she doesn't have that problem again. The bumpers have little pictures of Beatrix Potter characters.

The crib skirt has scenes from the books.
I inherited this wardrobe from my father. It was his as a child and was used for me as well. After failing at trying to re-stain it, we painted it white.

Tomorrow we will have the finale with my kitchen remodel!!

Our First Home Part 3

If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 feel free to go back and check out all of the before pictures and our bathroom transformation!
The improvements we made to the exterior went in phases. Here it is the week we bought the place.

It is funny to look at this picture because I don't remember the stump or the tree because they were the first things Mr. M took care of.

Next we painted the house and Mr. M made some planters. We also hung up our porch swing. Oh along with a new front door, screen door and light.

Then, last summer we decided to work on our "curb appeal." Mr. M went to a local nursery and they came out and drew out the landscaping (for free)! Then we went and purchased the plants and Eric and his dad did all of the planting. Around the same time we also laid concrete in the garage and added the door to make it a garage rather than carport.

Here is a close up of the sidewalk.

We had a mold like the one below that we used to do the pathway.

This is what our house looks like after our landscaping has had a year to grow.

The poor box woods by the driveway have just about all died thanks to the neighborhood dogs. My mother-in-law suggested putting mini fire hydrants there instead. I wish I had thought to take the picture earlier so it would have been brighter but you get the idea. Have you noticed that I have two front doors? We have tried very hard to make the proper front door look that way. It enters the living room while the other door goes into my laundry and sewing room. We all know how those rooms tend look most days!

Before

After

It is amazing to me what Mr. M is capable of. For all the newbies, if you are wondering where the Mr. Magnificent comes in, you are seeing part of in this series but you can also check out my About page for the full story.
Linking here.