PRO- ductive!

I'll admit it....lately I've gotten a little bit of my crafting bug back! Of course, I wouldn't choose to go back to my old stand by of sewing ( even though I have a quiet book ::cough:: projects I need to finish!) No no...now is the time that I decide to pick up a couple of new hobbies.....as if my plate wasn't already full enough!

I've decided I'm going to teach myself how to write HTML/XHTML/CSS. I know...I'm nuts! I signed myself up for a free online course and bought a "how too" book that I am trying to decipher. It's totally one of those "... For Dummies" books. I know....cliche but, I've had luck with those books in the past, so  I figured, eh, why not? ( BTW.....you should totally check out 7-Day Menu Planning for Dummies!! That book has saved dinner time around here, literally!)

Why the sudden interest in this topic you ask? Well, I know how to 'fiddle' with code that is already established. But you can only do so much when you 'fiddle'. And I want to create a unique site, and I want to do it well. So....you start with the basics! PLUS....I figure this will give me an excellent excuse to nudge Skunky into buying me that new more powerful computer I've been lusting after! And to get those design programs I've wanted but haven't really had an actual reason to get them!

My other new hobby....wood working! I decided in February, before Skunky got home, that I wanted to build a play kitchen for Pollyanna's next birthday. ( Many of you may remember this post.) Well...I started it and I'm really excited about it!! So far Skunky and I have completed this:

It's a toy Pie Hutch!! I am SOOOOO incredibly happy with how it came out, because this is my first time working with wood and power tools ever! I did all of the cutting and most of the gluing and nailing myself. Skunky did have to come help me save it a little after I mistakenly put some of the pieces together in the wrong way ( ummmm...the plans I have TOTALLY did not specify that there was an actual technique to putting joints together! Obviously the plans I have were written for people who are familiar with woodworking!)

Best part of this project? Skunky's comment upon finishing: " Gee, Jen....we're gonna have to put you together a big girl Pie Hutch now." I just about squealed in delight, lol! I freaking love that man!

We still have a stove, sink, and fridge to make so the set is complete! I'm hoping to go to Lowes tonight to pick up the wood for the next part! We're planning to finish and paint all four of the pieces together once we have them all built because I really don't know what colors we're going to paint them yet! Once they're done though I'll post the finished product!

We also refinished our dining room table and the new chairs we bought. Here is before:

And here is after:

The whole table is white...it just looks yellow on top because of the light on.

 Sure wish I had my SIL around to use her fabulous photography skills and take some cool looking finished pictures! I plan on making some seat cushions to go along with them but have decided to put that project on hold...seeing the way that Pollyanna climbs up into, and then wiggles around on the chair makes me realize that they probably wouldn't last long with children of the age I have in my house! However...though the chairs look stiff and hard, they really are pretty comfortable for a dining chair...I'm not even sure they need cushions, except for the aesthetic of it.

Anywhoodle....until next time!

Peel and Stick...lame? Or not?

Alright...so I've decided that one of the coolest things I've found for home decorating come from this company:


Now I know what you're thinking...peel and stick? REALLY? Could you be more....cheesy? But really, these little babies have allowed me to have cute nurseries for my kids, WITHOUT all the pain and anguish that comes from painting walls in a RENTED apartment.

We live in military housing, and sure...I could paint if I wanted. And that is...IF I wanted to paint the walls back to the original color when we move out in 3 or 4 years. And that's just not me....I don't change things KNOWING it's gonna have to be changed back to the state I found it in. That just seems kind of...pointless to me.

So when my daughter was born I bought these at Walmart:


And her nursery looked like this:


Cheery, happy, and cute!( As a side note, I made her crib bedding, so if you know anyone looking for cute homemade crib bedding, send them my way!!)

For my son, I recently ordered these off line:

And this is a little taste of his nursery:

(Sorry the picture is dark...I'll get a few better ones up once all of his wall decorations are done, but hopefully you get the idea :))

So all I'm saying is, if you feel in a bind about decorating walls in your rented apartment, don't hesitate to get some stickers and decorate away!! Best 14 dollars I EVER spent!

until next time,