Little Bits & GigglesCrafts, Kids, Family, Good Deals, & Life

So here is Phase two of my progress thus far in the kitchen!! Curtains!!! These puppies are made out of two king sized pillow cases that I fell in love with about 6 months back! AND they only cost $2, yes only $2 for both! That means $1 per pillow case, which means a $1 per window, which means a whopping $.50 cents per panel! Whoot whoot! So I basically took each and every seam out of both pillow cases to get a 2 large pieces of fabric! I then cut down the middle of each piece to get a total of 4 pieces and folded and pinned each side of all for panels! Then took the sewing machine and went to work! I folded the top of each panel and sewed again so I could slide it easily onto my already put up curtain rods! Which I had bought when we moved in for $4 each! Or something like that! Maybe $3! So check it! Let me know what you think!!

Please excuse the mess surrounding the picture! Life happened!

I personally am in LOVE with how they turned out! I will show pictures soon of what it looks like from a far! PLEASE leave comments and let me know what you think!!!!

So I decided that after a whole year of living with ugly peach counter tops and never really loving how my kitchen turned out, it was time for some fixin!! So I saw at Home Depot they carried a counter top paint!!! YAY!!! I was not about to put the time, energy, and money into brand new counter tops! So for $19.95 I bought it! They only had a few tints to choose from, so I went with my favorite!! GREY!!! I also have never loved the color of my kitchen, but that is for another project! For now I took all of the red out and ugly peach!! Here is my progress thus far!! Keep posted for each step of the way!!! Have a small budget?? This is for you!!! I am ALWAYS looking for ways to save a buck, but make the biggest WOW factor!!

So here is what I used!!

In Grey Mist! Oh and BEWARE this is NOT like paint!! IT DOES NOT COME OFF HANDS EASY!! Learned that the hard way and yes I shed a tear during the process of getting it off!! ALSO OPEN ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS AND LET DRY THE FULL 3 DAYS!!!

Here is before……….

Needs a paint job on the cabinets!!! Staying with white just freshened up!!

Here is the beginning stages of After………

Obviously needing some touch ups!!

Here are my ugly knobs! I thought I would like them red when I bought a big pack of ugly ones from a thrift store! But I was over them fast!!

So I took my spray paint that I had bought months ago at Habitat for Humanity Restore for a dollar just because I liked it!!

And now I LOVE my knobs again!

So here it is closer to being finished! I freshened up the white paint , but still more to go!!

Sorry for the side ways pic! But you get the idea!!!

And yes the massive mess on the stove at the moment!!

So there you have it! A cheap and easy and huge change to my kitchen!! STILL a working progress and I will post as I go until I am done!

My hope is to have my curtains that I am making (out of large pillow cases that I got 2 for $2) hung, a new back splash where the ugly tile is now, and finish the white cabinets with fresh white paint! Also, one day have a new color wall and soon have grey, and white dish towels! But for now it is a step by step project!

So far total cost:

The Counter top coating: $19.95 (Home depot)

Foam roller and roll : $4.95 (Home Depot)

Nickle spray paint: Already had Free (But a $1 at Habitat for Humanity Restore)

Knobs: Already had Free (Got at the Arc Thrift Store for like $2 for a pack of 11)

White paint: Already had and came with the house when we moved in!

Foam brush: .72 cents

Steve! This is Steve! He is a 9 month old teacup chihuahua and a bundle of fun! He is about 3lbs full grown and we were blessed to get him for free!!! We LOVE our little Steve! We call him “Steve Holt” after one of our favorite shows “Arrested Development!!”  So happy to have a little guy in the house!!!

He needed to have a bow tie for Easter so I made him one!!

Shocking I know! I still can’t wrap my mind around my littlest turning two! Amelie Belle! Wow you have lived up to the name of my blog! “Little Bits” and even the “Giggle” part which was named because of your giggling big sister! But you sure are FULL of energy and JOY! You are my little giggler! Funny as all heck! And little tiny as ever! I was asked just yesterday if you were 18 mos! Nope two tomorrow I told her! You may be tiny, but you are a fire ball that knows what she wants! You can go from hyper to cuddling in seconds! You have this motherliness about you with everything you come into contact with! At the store yesterday you picked up the very tiniest owl figurine and gave it the sweetest and most gentle kiss! Then you ever so gently placed it back on it’s shelf! You are a nurturer! A sweet, tender hearted fire ball, full of love and compassion! Your heart is joyful always, even when you are up set! You still have this joy about you that blesses me so much! You have got to be the funniest kid I know! You make me laugh out loud on a daily basis! I love you my sweet girl! You have blessed my life, along with Daddy’s, big sister Averi’s, and all of our family and friends more then you will EVER know! I am a proud mommy! I love you my baby Belle!!

I was soooo excited it was almost time!!

But, you didn’t come! 2 days late in the pic below! I was tired from all of the 3 days worth of false contractions!

5 Days late I was induced! 3 and a half hours later and 2 mins of pushing, you were finally here! I could not have been happier!!! Weighing in at 8 lbs 13 and a half oz 20 1/2 in long! I was LATE people! Of course she was going to be big!

I had no idea I could love two kids so much in my entire life! I felt beyond blessed!

We got to bring you home and I did not want to put you down!

I love you so much my Belle Baby!

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Daddy holding his precious baby girl!

Like a little angel!!

You and your big sister and your adorable feet!

She loved you from the day she met you………….

My sweet Amelie Belle!!!

Your personality comes out in this picture! Life of the party!

Today on your second Birthday!!!

I had to show the side angle! Those tiny little legs!!!

French Braids for a special day on a special little girl!

What a journey my little one! I ADORE EVERYTHING about you! I thank the Lord for giving me such a special and amazing gift to take care of! I am honored and privileged to be your mama!! I love you sweet girl! Happy Birthday!!!

Tangled Party!!!!!

Averi wanted a Tangled Birthday Party for her 4th Birthday! So I had sooooo much fun planning a fun party!!! It looked like this:

~Living room- Photo booth and props! (photo booth made by Rocky’s Dad, Props made by Rocky Sister Tredessa!!) Pictures done by our good Friend Zac Anderson!!

-Table with decorations done by my Mom and I along with Pascel the cake made by Rocky’s Dad and cupcakes and tower made by Rocky’s Mom! My Mom and sister brought the black pans and it was my idea to put the cupcakes on the pans! (If you have not seen the Disney Tangled Movie, the frying pans are used many times by Rapunzel to protect herself against Flynn Rider!)

-In the kitchen is where all of the food and drinks were made by My Mom, and two sisters Carli and Jessica!

-In the girls room is where they played “Pin the nose on Flynn Rider” Made by my sister in law Stormie, also one of Rocky’s sisters!

- In Rocky and I’s room we had made our bed into the boat with lanterns hung above lite up for story and trivia time from Tangled!!

-Posters of  Wanted Flynn Rider all over the house done by Stormie!

-Banners like the ones in the movie done by my Mom and I!!

So here is how all of this looked!!!

So after a snowed in birthday with much disappointment at first for me, we finally got to do our big plans for our big 4 year old!!

First we went to walmart! She was very excited for surprise #1! Pick out earrings!

Now hold very still………

She looks terrified in this one……

While little sister was doing this…………..

And DONE!!! No tears, no screams, no sounds at all! Just a big smile!

Now onto surprise #2!!!

Yup American Girl store to pick out her very first American Girl doll!!!

We had our families from both sides and some friends pitch in for an American Girl doll! We got enough money to get the doll and a few other things!

She was sooooooo beyond excited! She picked out “Kit”!

Best friends those two girls are! I LOVE that so much!!!

So it was a very happy birthday for her! We also brought her to dinner for a little celebration! And got to stay the night with our friends in Castle Rock! It was a great way to spend Averi’s 4th Birthday!!

So Aver’s Birthday was on a VERY snowy day! So the plans we had for it were quickly destroyed! So we made due with what we had! Which was not much since we were supposed to stay with friends for the whole weekend! So food was limited! But here’s what we did instead!

We started the morning with making some master pieces!

There’s the Birthday girl!!

Then we decided a makeover was a must for a fun day!

Here is Averi waiting for her makeover and being a goof ball!

And Amelie being her silly little self!

Sportin her awesome teased hair!

The final look for Amelie! Up-do time!

She is so funny!

Checkin herself out! Lookin good!

A little break for some computer time!

Averi with my make up on! She felt like such a Princess! My little beauty!

Since I had no cake for her, I made her peanut butter and honey sandwich her “cake”! She thought it was the coolest thing ever!

BUT nothing was better then Daddy’s surprise when he got home from work!

He is the most amazing Daddy to our girls! He brought her home a cake and a barbie!

So the day turned out amazing! Love my little girls and adore their daddy!!!

I love Valentine’s day!!! It’s such a lovely day! Get it, LOVEly!! So the little ladies and I decided to make our own Valentine’s day mailbox for their cards! So here’s how we did it……………..

First get two huggies wipes boxes, or any wipes box!!

Then rip out the rubber that is meant for the wipes to come out of! It was fairly easy to do this part!

Then pick out your favorite scrap booking paper!

Now start cutting out lots of hearts! and stick them on with some tape! And then you are done!

Cute huh?! And I already had all of the material! Reused a box from wipes and had fun with my girls!

Now just pop it open and put your cards right in! The nice part is that if the card was too large for this opening, you can open the large top and stick it right in!

So what do you think??!!

My little Averi! You are 4 today!! HOW can it be??!! Every year you grow more and more into a gorgeous little girl! It amazes me daily how smart and funny you are! You are filled with so many stories and joy coming out your ears! I am sooooooooo very blessed to be your Mommy! Even on a snowy day, when we had so many fun plans for your birthday and instead got snowed in, you are still such a sweet, happy, funny little thing! You have made this day special despite the disappointments! I love  the way you you looked past what we could have done and made with what we had! You are my inspiration my little giggles! I hope that you are very blessed today!

A look back 4 years ago on this very lovely day……….

Ok make that 4 years and a day ago!!! It was February 2nd 2008 and we were just moving into our two bedroom apartment! We had been living with my parents for a good 5 mos looking for a place we could live!  At this point on Feb 2nd I was VERY pregnant! In fact I was due Feb 4th! So I was  2 days away from my due date! Yes we were crazy! So it was a Saturday night and I was emotional all day! I did not know why, but later I found out! So everyone that had helped us move, had left! So we decided to go over to target to grab some things we needed! As we were walking around I started getting stronger contractions then braxton hicks! So I told Rocky! We kept walking, nut these contractions would stop me in my tracks and I would have to focus and breath! So I knew this had to be it! That was at about 6pm! So we went to bed later that night, timing my contractions all through the night! 10 to 15 mins apart consistently! The next morn I woke up and they just kept coming! Getting stronger! All of the sudden they stopped! I freaked out thinking something was wrong with my baby! So I called my ob! He said to go ahead and go to the Hospital just to check things out! So we did! And I prayed the hole two minute drive (because we now lived walking distance from the Hospital!) that I would get contractions again! I did not want to go into the hospital without contractions!

As soon as I made my way into the room to get checked, the contractions started up again! The nurse said that most likely I would be sent home because I was not in labor! She then checked me and realized I was 4cm dilated! You should have seen the shock on her face! So she had me walk the halls! About an hour or two later she checked me again to see if there was any change! There was! I was a 5!! She was happy! So I walked the halls some more and got an ice cream sandwich and walked some more! The contractions only continued to get more intense! All I had eaten all day was the ice cream and a tiny bite of pizza! I was not hungry at all! We walked up to the waiting room to go talk to my parents and see if my Dad would get me a protein shake for some energy and have my mom come walk with us! As soon as we walked into the waiting room around 6 or 7 pm (a good 24hrs from the start of labor at this point!) I had the strongest contraction yet and my water broke! So to the bed I went! Those last few hours of labor are a blur for me! I had her completely NATURAL, so I felt EVERY single contraction! Between 9 and 10 cm I begged for an epidural, but of course for one it was way too late and for two the nurse said “No hunny, you wanted to do this natural, you are doing it natural!” So I bared through it! Focusing with everything in me, on each contraction! Rocky had to go to the bathroom and in my mind the bathroom was SOOOOO far away, even though in reality, it was a couple foot steps away in the same room! Poor Rocky! I had all back labor with Averi, so Rocky had to massage ( and when I say massage, I mean push his fist into my back) for hours!! He said his hand felt like it was going to fall off!

So then it finally came time to start pushing!!! Praise God!! It was instant relief from my back pain! I was going against the pain now! 45 mins later I heard the nurse and doctor say, “Wow, look at all that black hair” and I pushed with everything in me! I was so excited to have a baby girl with lots of black hair! They placed her on my chest and I have never felt so in love with someone I had JUST laid eyes on! PURE, sweet LOVE!!! It is indescribable! She looked just like my baby pictures! It was crazy! All I kept saying to my ob was “Thank you! Thank you!” He said “I didn’t do anything, you did all the work!” Yeah true! Very true! She was perfect! Weighing in at 7lbs 8oz and 20in long! We were the happiest people alive! She was born at 11 pm! 29 hours of back labor! AND SOOOOOO worth it!!!! Since it was so late, our families came in for a few mins said hello and went off to go to bed! They didn’t end up coming in and seeing her for like 45mins! Rocky and I got time with her just the two of us first! Rocky fell asleep minutes after they left because he had been up for over 36 hrs! He was exhausted! And if any of you have had babies you will know that you have this instant energy! So I was not ready for sleep! But the lights were out and so was Rocky! So the nurses put Averi right next to me for me to hold,and sleep with! I just stared at her for ever! Amazed! Blessed!

The next 4 years were the very best 4 years of my life!!! I absolutely adore my little girl! Life without her would not be life at all!!!!

Here’s my girl now!!! Time flies when you are having fun!!!!

I know I am a little behind on this and when I say a little I mean over a month! BUT, I finally finished taking the pictures and uploading them! This year was my year of pinterest making! The gifts I made were all inspired by Pinterest! Yes I have a love other then just Rocky and my girls! It’s name is pinterest! Here are some of my items that i made for my fam!

So here is the globe that I painted for my sister in law Tara!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Here is the wooden piece with my parents side of Grandkids attached!

Here is the key holder for my sister Jessica, with her kids picture attached as well!!

This was for my Mom! She just beat breast cancer so I chose to go with a Firey Zebra print with pink for the material!

Here are my old spools I had laying around that I made my niece Guini little dolls out of!

My niece’s Isabella and Mikayla have a Hot pink and black room, so I made them this dry erase board for their room!

I also made my nieces Bella, Mik, and Taylor a set of three of these each having different sets!

I made these awesome earrings out of paper clips, yes that is right paper clips and cross stitching yarn to make them for my sister Carli!

I made this recipe holder for my sister Jess, out of scrap booking paper and a cookie sheet! I even made the magnets!

I made this key ornament for my sister in law Tredessa and her brand new hubby Ryan with their very first key to their very first house!!

I also found this cool Mug holder and painted it for Tredessa as well!

And these puppies I made as a gag gift for my dad! Made from Maxi pads! (brand new not used because that would be even more disgusting!) SLIPPERS!!!

And finally a gift for Carli my sister! A dry erase board made from an old frame I painted white and a scrap book paper as the background! Oh and also the felt flower made by me!

Whoops I forgot one more!!! I made these little cuties for my mother in law! They are made from small tin cans, wrapped with scrap book paper and little wooden feet to hold them up cutely! They are little planters!!!

So there you have it! It took a whole month to shop and complete all of this, but it was fun and I am happy with how they turned out!