Master Bedroom Mood Board

We moved into our house in mid March and since then I have neglected our master bedroom. It is very small but really is fine for a bedroom. I come from the standpoint that the actual bedroom itself should only fit a bed, nightstands and a dresser...then there should be a huge bathroom with a seating area that leads to the enormous walk-in closet/dressing area. I think my last bedroom/bath was the size of half of my new house. Oh well...I am happy where I am and I need to get motivated to spruce it up.
I never make my bed. I used to when guests were coming over for the first time..but with the little one here now I just say that it is off limits and no one gets to see it. I think it is because I have such ugly bedding...well and because I just don't wanna! I have searched high and low online for a bedspread, comforter, bed-in-a-bag, duvet or any type of covering that I would like. I had an all black comforter before with little white and grey specks. It attracted to much lent and dog hair so I know I do not want that color again. I thought of all white with a band of grey but with a husband, dog and lil man in the house that is just not a good idea. Finally I decided to go with red. The walls are all grey and the accessories are silver and black so the room needs a punch of color. The bathroom is grey and red so it will work out perfectly. Now to find some bedding that I like that isn't 1,000 dollars!!!! This has been an impossible search.
I decided to just put together a mood board so I can stick with my plan and not change my mind a million times.

Patterns I am toiling with:




This is a wall stencil that I am going to attempt:


And finally a few accessories that I like:

Simply me

Many bloggers like to write an "All about me" post. I kind of thought that was cheesy but it is so interesting to see the blogs that I follow often have a blogger behind them that is so similar to me. I think every girl thinks fondly of Target and gets all giddy when she receives her Michael's coupon...but it is so much fun to see what else makes everyone tick. So...here it goes...this is simply me...

I like to pretend that I have a great eye for design...and maybe I do...but my brain and hands don't allow me to make that a reality. I can't draw a straight line or hang a picture without making at least seven holes in the wall. I am a perfectionist and so projects get started but then quickly are halted and production is stopped and a professional is called in (aka..The Hubs).

When I am feeling blue...a quick 3 minute drive to Target cures all. I have been known to go there three times in a week. Marshalls and Lowes also do the trick. I am the handy one in the family (unless is involves straight lines and hanging pics...that is why The Hubs and I are a perfect match).

I love the beach..however I probably actually have only been in the water a total of two times in the last seven years. The Hubs does not enjoy the water...I work full time and the thought of me in a swimsuit around mass amounts of people scares me and will scare them as well.

If I was single and had no family I would live in Maui.

I am a boys mom. I always wanted two boys. Girls scare me. Although I would like to have a girl for the sole purpose of decorating her bedroom (Is that so wrong???). It would be overwhelmingly all girl. Pink, tulle, frills, tutus, chandeliers, pink, polka dots, chenille and more pink!!!!!

I am a spelling Nazi. I am a bit of a snob about it. I make mistakes and so therefore I have decided I can not judge....but really people! I am horrible about punctuation. That is why I always use (...) because I have no idea if a :, ;, or a . is needed:).

I am extremely and painfully shy. I am getting better. People don't scare me (man..I am afraid of a lot of things) as much as in the past. I used to cry before school or events where large amounts of people would be gathered. I am learning to Love God and myself and that is helping me love others.....long process:).

Home is where my heart is. I love everything about homes. From the front door to the back yard and everything in between. I even lovvvve to paint. It transforms a room with little money just some blood, sweat and lots of tears. You can tell a lot about a person just by taking a look at what they chose to surround themselves with.

I HATE drama (except for The Real Housewives..obsessed). I think that is why I like boys more than girls. But my few girlfriends that I do have are soooo awesomely amazing and are drama free. I am very laid back... drama and loud noises make me have panic attacks.

I do not appreciate animals. They leave hair everywhere, lick, jump and are quite rude to guests. I do not appreciate animals in my bed...yet my dog is probably curled up under The Hubs blanket as I type this. If I was single I would only have fish or maybe a fish. They are quiet, don't scratch, don't shed and only require a few flecks of food and a water change every once in awhile. Most of my friends...including The Hubs are animal lovers....I have forgiven them. I can look past their insanity and remain talking to them...just not about their pets.

I do need to mention though...my dog Vinnie is pretty alright for a dog....ok he is a really great dog..but that is the end of this conversation about animals.

Last but not least....I love my little family. The Hubs is so loving and loyal. My two favorite qualities in a man. He makes me lol at least once a day. (see pic for proof)

My favorite thing to do is to make HIM laugh though. My lil buckaroo is so sweet. He is such a boy and I love it... but am seriously afraid for his safety on a daily basis. (It keeps the ol' ticker goin'...right?). He is the perfect addition to our family. God truly has given me more than I deserve..so I am hoping to return the favor and be the Godly woman he has intended me to be.

God Bless!

Simply,

Me

Music Lover

My little man has been a music lover since he was in my womb. We would play music in the car and he would start to move all around in my stomach. Since he was just a few months old everytime a song came on he would start grooving. He has a play microphone at home and at Grandma and Grandpa's. He always sings in it and puts on a show. The kid loves music. Scott recently got out his guitar and played for him. He stands on the guitar case and dances and claps. He love the "tar". Last night we went to our last Summer gathering at church and afterwards Scott had to do sound and so as the worship team practiced Shane was on stage and he ran in the back room and after only one second came running out to join our worship leader and Kim (pastor's wife) with mic in hand. He danced around as though he was channeling a gospel singer...so cute! It is fun to see his interests develop at such a young age.

Beach Trip

We went to Huntington Beach this past weekend with our frinds Ryan and Heather. Now when I say beach trip I don't actually mean we touched the sand with our feet or got in the water. Who does that! No, we walked the pier and went shopping and then went to Duke's. The Hubs is not a fan of the Ocean so I am going to have to go at least once this Summer and get in the water with Shane. I have to say it was soooo crowded so I am glad I am planning a trip when all the kids will be back in school. If I could I would live on the sand but unfortuantely I never go to the beach because of my work schedule and the Summer always slips by so fast! But I WILL make it once this Summer.

Home Cooked Meal

It seems like it has been ages since I actually cooked a home cooked meal. The Hubs would definitely agree that it has been too long and far between some good meals. If we do eat at home it has been something super quick and easy. The Hubs always says that it is ok and it is also cheaper but I found myself starving (figuratively and literally) to be in the kitchen for longer than just 30 minutes. For some women that may seem like torture, but for me it is sooo relaxing. There is nothing better than to use amazing ingredients and prep all of them and then to get cookin'! Tonight I made a pasta dish I found online. It is really simple, but I jazzed it up a bit. The main sauce is a cheesy Asiago sauce. It starts off with just a basic Bechamel and then you add the cheese and seasonings. You combine that with Farfalle pasta and some spinach..very easy. I wanted it to be more of a main dish so I added Chicken, mushrooms and zucchini. It turned out really well. The Hubs (who is not a Italian food lover) even liked it. Here is the recipe and some really bad pictures..believe me it tastes way better than my pics!

Pasta with Spinach and Asiago Cream Sauce

makes pasta course 12 people or main for 8 people

Ingredients:

2 lb. pasta of choice

4 Tbsp sweet cream butter

1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 1/2 c. milk, plus an additional 1/2 c. if needed

2 c. shredded asiago cheese

1/4 tsp garlic salt, plus more to taste

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1/8 tsp paprika

1 c. baby spinach, chiffonade ***I just used regular spinach

*Note...I cooked chicken breasts as the pasta was cooking and chopped that up into bite sized pieces. Seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika. Then I cooked the sliced mushrooms and zucchini together in some olive oil and butter and then garlic and salt and pepper.

Directions:-In large stock pot with salted water, bring water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions.

-Meanwhile in dutch oven or large, wide-bottom pan, add butter over medium heat.-Once fully melted, add flour and stir with large wooden spoon to combine well.-Cook, stirring well, for two minutes and and milk, stirring well, 1/2 c. at a time to turn roux into a smooth bechamel.-Turn heat to low and add shredded cheese, stirring well to combine thoroughly.-Add salt, pepper, paprika and stir well to combine.-Add more salt to taste if needed (depending on the saltiness of the cheese).(Remove from heat and bottle sauce here if making ahead)-

Once pasta is done, quickly strain, reserving 1/2 c. pasta water.-Add pasta to cheese sauce pan, along with spinach and stir well to combine. -Add pasta water if needed to achieve nicely coated pasta.-Transfer to bowl and serve. ***Note I did not need to add any of the reserved pasta water.

Growing Pains

Recently I have experienced quite a few "growing pains". For many of you it has been years, but I found out that as a parent you have to go through them again. This time they shoot right through your heart. The "growing pains" I am speaking of are not your own growth, but that of your child.
Shane will be 16 months in about a week and a half. Tonight I bought a tub stopper and bath mat, so that he could take a big boy bath. I found myself staring at the products wondering if I could just maybe hold off a few more weeks. I should have already retired the baby bath tub a long time ago...but I couldn't. It meant throwing out the fact that my baby is not a baby and is now a toddler. So along with the bath water...out went the baby tub. It is now dried...wrapped in a Hefty bag...and sitting out in the garage along with the shopping cart protector(cause mama isn't a hypochondriac any more about germs...you eat dirt..you're fine), the pack and play that has not held you captive in months, your bouncer and soon your high chair will be added to the mound of out grown baby products. If you have seen Toy Story 3 then you know about how sad it is for the toys to be put away..I wonder if the pack n play and bassinet are getting along out there???? I am sure the bouncer is keeping them in line...(cue drummer..ba duh bum ching).
This must be the time when most mama's have the urge for another one. Hmmmm...I think I will just take some Advil and call it a night. Growing pains are tough...but labor pains are tougher.