April 30, 2013

Yet Another Bathroom...

It's finished! My last bathroom project is complete. I am taking a break from painting behind another toilet for at least a year. :-)

You may have seen the preview last week, my little bathroom a total mess.

 
I've been working on this room for a while now, trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to do with my little budget...and this little arrangement is a keeper, costing about $14.  You can see a better picture in another post, here.

So before I unveil the finished product, let me show you where I first began: 
This was the room when I first moved in to my husband's bachelor pad.
At least he took time to match the tissue box to the toilet seat cover, right? 
I didn't take pictures of the mirror and light and faucet that were in here before, but you can see what they looked like here (only difference is that this room had the same stuff on a smaller scale).
I knew I wanted to paint, but didn't know that to do with that wall behind the toilet and sink, until recently.
Remember the preview photo? 


And today, it's looking like this:


These updates are so simple. We added a new faucet and toilet seat about a year ago, then I found the mirror at HomeGoods for an unbelievable steal, & the light fixture and cabinet are from Lowes. 


I loved that the baskets came included. And the beveled mirrors match the mirror I found for the sink! 
Key words for me these days: more storage!

I love my little sparkly shower curtain.

Here you can see the dandelion decal that we added a while ago. It's supposed to look like the wind is blowing the little wispy thingies all around the room...


 And it wraps around into the shower, as you can see. 
We love it. It's a little bit of whimsy. :-) 


My next project is starting to take shape in the kitchen and I am SO excited for some changes there! 
Stay tuned...







April 26, 2013

Baby Boy Joy

Some days are easier than others in the life of a stay-at-home-mommy. Sometimes I feel like people see the most tired, worn out side of me (especially when I go anywhere after 5:00)... but I can't express how much joy it is to experience this life. I'm feeling especially thankful for it today. Not sure why. I'm just thankful.

I'm thankful for the ear-to-ear smiles that Baby Boy greets me with each morning, the time that I have to read him stories, rock him to sleep, take him on walks, show him new and exciting things...and so much more. He is starting to walk now, eat regular food (no more baby mush), and has developed an incredible love for the outdoors and our dog. I am seeing his little (big) personality unfold a little more each day, and I'm so proud to be his mommy.

This overwhelming love that I have for my son is teaching me so much about God's love for me. I am His child and His love is greater than any other. I just want to make Him proud and bring Him joy, as I am understanding more and more that He loves me far more than I can comprehend.



He loves you, too, even if you don't realize it yet. :-) 
Have a great day! 



April 24, 2013

Another Project Preview!

I'm at it again...this time in my own house.

After doing my last bathroom makeover, I became inspired to finish off another bathroom in our house. Seems like all the projects I've been doing so far involve bathrooms. After this is done, I'll be moving to the kitchen, maybe. Stay tuned for that.

I'm hoping to be finished later this week, but here is the current state of the partially demolished "kid" bathroom in my house...


So far, I've moved the toilet paper holder to a more inconspicuous place, removed a towel bar, removed the builder grade mirror and light fixture, patched the holes and sanded. And I've done it all without my husband's help. See the pink tools? :) 

I'll give you a hint as to what it will look like when I'm finished: the blank white wall will no longer be white.  It'll be blue, just like the other wall you see there. I just love chrome, white and blue for a bathroom; it's so fresh and clean feeling! 

Check back next week for the finished product! 


April 18, 2013

Spring Flowers Part 2

I can't explain how wonderful it feels to bask in the sunshine and wear sandals. The weather just couldn't be nicer around here! And to top it off, the flowers that we planted a while back are starting fill out. I thought I'd share a little spring happiness today, from our house to yours.

You may remember the little planters from my last post about our new flowers...
Well, I found these great tall & skinny pots that fit perfectly on either side of my front door. I think it's quite a bit more welcoming now.


And these beauties add a beautiful pop of color in our planter. There are pansies and impatiens, purple, pink, red, white, and a little yellow. So pretty! They make me smile every time I look outside.

And the new hanging baskets. This is the most pretty verbena I've seen. The flowers have little white stripes on each petal.  


What patio would be complete without a centerpiece containing English ivy? :-)  Actually, I almost killed the ivy completely. Since I left it alone, it's flourished. Who knew? I love this spot.


My husband really is the green thumb in our family. I am much more likely to kill any plants in my path, but I've recently taken on the job of watering our pretty flowers (my husband is so busy) and so far, they are still alive! He told me to add a few drops of Miracle Grow plant food every time I water them...and I assure you, it works. 

Happy gardening!


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April 12, 2013

Human Rights & Abortion

All through American history, people of all kinds have fought for equality and human rights. People have fought for equality of race, marriage status, disability, gender, and more. However, I am saddened about the human rights battle going on for those who cannot speak for themselves: the unborn.

There is currently a push in this country to pass more lenient laws concerning abortion. What is so wrong with this? Why is this so controversial?

First, we must understand what abortion is.

2nd Trimester Methods

Dilation & Evacuation (D&E): About 13 to 24 Weeks After LMP 26 (PP. 133-56), 33 
The majority of second trimester abortions are performed using this method. The cervix must be opened wider than in the first trimester abortion because the fetus is larger. This is done by inserting numerous thin rods made of seaweed a day or two before the abortion and/or giving other oral or vaginal medications to further soften the cervix. Up to about 16 weeks gestation, the procedure is identical to the first trimester one. After the cervix is stretched open and the uterine contents suctioned out, any remaining fetal parts are removed with a grasping tool (forceps). A curette (a loop-shaped tool) may also be used to scrape out any remaining tissue.
After about 16 weeks, much of the procedure is done with the forceps to pull fetal parts out through the cervical opening, as suction alone will not work due to the fetus’ size. The doctor keeps track of what fetal parts have been removed so that none are left inside as this can potentially cause infection. Lastly, a curette, and/or the suction machine are used to remove any remaining tissue or blood clots, which if left behind could cause infection and bleeding. 
Medication Methods for Second Trimester Induced Abortion 26 (PP. 178-92), 34
This technique induces abortion by using medicines to cause labor and eventual delivery of the fetus and placenta. Like labor at term, this procedure typically involves 10-24 hours in a hospital’s labor and delivery unit. Digoxin or potassium chloride is injected into the amniotic fluid, umbilical cord or fetal heart prior to labor to avoid the delivery of a live fetus. The cervix is softened with the use of seaweed sticks and/or medications. Next, oral mifepristone and oral or vaginal misoprostol are used to induce labor. In most cases, these drugs result in the delivery of the dead fetus and placenta. The patient may receive oral or intravenous pain medications. Occasionally, scraping of the uterus is needed to remove the placenta.
Potential complications include hemorrhage and the need for a blood transfusion, retained placenta and possible uterine rupture (splits open). Source: Gateway.


What's the difference between late term and partial birth abortion?  Here are the facts:

Late Term Abortion:
D&E When Live Birth is Possible (From about 24 weeks and up)26 (PP. 157-77) 
This procedure typically takes 2-3 days and is associated with increased risk to the life and health of the mother. Because a live birth is possible, injections are given to cause the fetal death. This is done in order to comply with the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 which requires that the fetus be dead before complete removal from the mother’s body. The medications (digoxin and potassium chloride) are either injected into the amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord or directly into the fetus’ heart. The remainder of the procedure is the same as the second trimester D&E. Fetal parts are reassembled after removal from the uterus to make sure nothing is left behind to cause infection.
An alternate technique, called “Intact D&E” is also used. The goal is to remove the fetus in one piece, thus reducing the risk of leaving parts behind or causing damage to the woman’s body. This procedure requires the cervix be opened wider; however, it is still often necessary to crush the fetus’ skull for removal as it is difficult to dilate the cervix wide enough to bring the head out intact. Source: Gateway 
Partial Birth Abortion:
Partial-Birth Abortion is a procedure in which the abortionist pulls a living baby feet-first out of the womb and into the birth canal (vagina), except for the head, which the abortionist purposely keeps lodged just inside the cervix (the opening to the womb).  The abortionist punctures the base of the baby’s skull with a surgical instrument, such as a long surgical scissors or a pointed hollow metal tube called a trochar.  He then inserts a catheter (tube) into the wound, and removes the baby's brain with a powerful suction machine.  This causes the skull to collapse, after which the abortionist completes the delivery of the now-dead baby.  Source: NRLC

What is post-birth abortion?  It's basically killing the baby after induced labor. The baby is born alive and then killed. This can be done in a variety of ways; sometimes the baby is simply not given medical care when born alive during the process of a failed abortion. This process is more commonly referred to infanticide.  

Please take some time to listen to this woman, Alisa Laport Snow, a lobbyist from Planned Parenthood, who stood before Florida lawmakers this month:


The abortionists are hard at work in this nation. The complete lack of value for the lives of babies is apparent from this woman's testimony. Planned Parenthood released a statement later saying that this situation is hypothetical, highly unusual, and they clarified that they would support following the current laws by providing lifesaving medical care to the infant. 

However, there is an abortionist doctor form Pennsylvania who got caught. You may have heard of him, Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who is currently on trial, charged with 8 counts of murder. Please watch this short documentary about the abortion clinic that he operated. You will find that his practices align directly with the testimony from Ms. Laport Snow and contradicts the statement released by Planned Parenthood. 



You will not find much coverage of this horrific case on most news networks. Why? Because it is incredibly damaging to the political views and leftist ideals of the media. It's important to understand how abortion is damaging not only because it's the lawful (or unlawful) murder of an innocent baby, but it is also damaging to the emotional state of the mother, her future fertility, and in some cases, her life. 



I beg you, please care about this human rights tragedy in America today. Stay informed. Figure out a way to get involved. Speak up in love. Your one voice may be all that is needed to help save the voice of an unborn child. If you are considering having an abortion, please don't. Please give your precious baby life and consider adoption.

You can find out more from the National Right to Life.

Read more:  What's Wrong With Abortion? and The Inhuman Project


April 7, 2013

Spring Flowers!

The weather is absolutely gorgeous where I live. It's prompted my husband and I to freshen up our garden and front porch for spring...

Here's a little of what we accomplished today:

New flowers (one of these on each side of the front door)...

And a matching wreath that I made way back in my college days...

We made some pretty new hanging baskets and planted fresh flowers in our front flowerbed, too...but I'll wait until they fill out a bit more before I post a picture. They are also full of pretty purple and pink and yellow and white flowers. I love them!