From dress to binder cover {a DIY}
Like many New Year’s Reso fans, I have a goal of getting our life organized this year. Really though, who doesn’t want to be organized? (Husbands… and men/boys in general don’t count ;)) What a serious {task} organizing is! Yikes! At the beginning of the year, I began a project I call “Organize Our Life” because I’m weird like that. And boy, is it a project.
Two pack rats (hubby more than me, not to throw him under the bus or anything, hehe), many temporary living situations, seemingly always on the go, etc, etc, excuse after excuse and boy does it pile up to huge mounds of odds and ends, some sentimental and memoury associated things (mostly my stuff because I save EVERY memorabilia), the we-can’t-throw-that-out-because-we-might-need-it-someday stuff crammed in boxes that aren’t properly labeled, bags and more bags (you know, because we go camping and hiking so much these days :)), my breast pump is somewhere in the pile of boxes we literally haven’t opened and used since we moved into our current temporary home of… ahem, a year.
We’re both at a place where we want to get rid of things, de-clutter, organize and simplify. Oh, that sounds so nice…but easy it is not. Right? So, I put together a binder titled “Organize Our Life” and began…
I was on a roll. So excited and inspired. WOOHOO! And then slowly but surely as each new week came, not so much. I began dreading it. This big ugly beast of a binder wasn’t helping much. I needed a break from the organizing, walked into our craft/office/playroom/pile-everything-in-here-when-guest-come-over room and swiped a binder from Ted’s little collection then headed right towards my crafty stuff and grabbed the following items.
Hot glue gun, sciscors, fabric scraps (in my fav shade of pink), a fabric flower, an old dress with a torn strap that I last wore when I was skinny minny me at 3 months pregnant with Chase and swore I would fix and fit into again someday (I think I now have 3 boxed full of clothes labeled ‘Jami’s skinny clothes’, HA! Someday, maybe. It will be like Christmas!! ;)) What you don’t see pictured here is felt (or just use some kind of fabric you could use for the inside covers).
Now for the ghetto fab DIY :) It’s not perfect but, I {love} it and it’s super simple. You probably have everything you need lying around.
First, I measured both the binder and a few inches to spare on the fabric so I could overlap it. You’ll see in a sec.
Cut the fabric.
Carefully hot glue the fabric on. It’s not pictured but you then cut any extra fabric you may have.
You can buy felt for $.25 a piece at Hobby Lobby. I decided on using felt because I liked the way it looked and I felt like it could hold the fabric down pretty well without me needing to use my sewing machine to make this entire cover.
Add some pretties if ya want. I used the ruffle from the dress and then added my little flare to it.
And, ta-da. This took me no time at all. This DIY will probably seem so weird to some and to others you might totally get why I needed this change. It does help for minds like mine that do not have the gift of organizing naturally :) Add a little creative spunk and perhaps peeking inside each day won’t be so bad. Wishful thinking? I’ll let you know at the end of the year ;)
A few tools that have helped me IMMENSELY and I personally could not do this whole “Organize Our Life” thing without;
- printables that other seriously awesome, gifted, organizing-love’n people created… for us… for FREE. You can go here to see some of the free printables I’m using currently. And this amazing site – where most of what I use are currently from. They have a totally free day keeper printable with days of the week and all sort of amazing things.
- organizing tips and brilliant ideas from Pinterest.
Hope you are {inspired to create} and maybe (dare I say it on my blog? Who am I? :) get organized!!
this is not the end.
I had “planned” on sharing a DIY tonight will you all, but my heart is heavy and somber tonight. Instead I decided to share a song that I was planning on sharing with you Sunday. It’s one that brings {hope and peace} to my heart. And tonight it seems especially fitting. Today, a friend from our days at Youth With A Mission went to be with Jesus. Just shy of 5 months ago he received news that he had a tumor growing on the stem of his brain. 5 months. There are just no words…
This life here is so fleeting, so swift compared to eternity. Oh thank you Jesus, death is not the end. Thank you that there is life, healing, wholeness and rejoicing to come.
This is truly not the end of us.
two songs for your Sunday.
I hope this music blesses your heart as much as it does mine.
“In winter I believe you
In springtime I see you
It’s so good to be with you
my hope has come
Lord you make all things new
Your love is my breakthrough
Now I sing Hallelujah
my hope has come”
How beautiful! I stumbled upon this Wednesday and pretty much haven’t stopped listening to it and their ‘Why oh Why’ song posted below. Simply beautiful, amazing and oh so {true}. Cherry blossoms have always reminded me of my Eisley-girl and of hope. That is what caused me to click the video in the first place, not gonna lie. :) I’m so glad I did.
“Faith can only grow in a real tight spot, love will only bloom when it’s all you’ve got
Nothing is sweet as a broken heart, giving God praise in the hardest part
What has been done we cannot undo, but love is never lost in the face of truth
And nothing is sweet as a broken heart, giving God praise in the hardest part”
Oh my heart….
So thankful to have found this music! Let’s carry this into next week, taking it one day at time.
“Praising Him in the hardest part.”
Insta-Friday {3}
I hope you had a wonderful week! Here’s a snidbit bit of a week with the Davis fam!
We cheered for the Broncos. My grandma yelled her little heart out, “Throw the ball, Timmy, throw the ball!” (She has a little Timmy Tebow crush. The photo above is of her fridge and there among our family photos is Tim Tebow. Love you, Grandma!) Sad, sad game. I watched only a few games this season and every time I did they lost. It’s not you Denver Broncos, it’s me. ;)
Sunday I was “sicker than a dog”. I stayed home with my little guys because we all had head colds, but by the afternoon I was throwing up (eh, and other tummy troubles…), achy, chills, etc. It lasted less than 24hrs and I was the only one sick with it…whatever “it” was. Above right photo; Chasey-boy and I had a little picnic before I felt horrible.
Left: I accidentally dropped this while moving things around and could not believe it. I couldn’t stop laughing and was especially glad Ted witnessed it. For some reason that made it so much funnier. (what you don’t see here is that I’ve dropped this before, a few years ago, and the guys leg fell off :)) Right: I added the “you + me” above our bed.
It snowed for like one whole day. Then we were back up to the 50s/60s the next. Good ol’ bipolar Colorado. I really do love it though! The warm temps that is. I really, really don’t like winter! (btw- I spy with my little eye…..)
I’ve really tried this year to get my butt in gear with a lot of things that have often or always been on my hopes/goals lists. I may be a little too ambitious with it all but we’ll see. I’m not sharing all my hopes for 2012 aloud (on here and only with Ted and one friend), I decided this year I’d share after they are accomplished (or for some, as I’m accomplishing them) because of this TED talk that my Ted showed me. It inspired me to get moving first, then share (or not). It talks about how we tend to feel a sense of accomplishment/satisfaction in sharing alone. It rang so true to me (not for everyone) that I decided to see what happens if I just do first, then share… and wow.I am hoping to share more and more as the months go by.
This month one of my feats is finally, FINALLY figuring out what works for me and my little family in regards to budget friendly meal planning (2 weeks out), couponing, smart shopping, etc. I feel burdens literally lifting from my shoulders doing this. This week I decided to snap pictures of a bit of my process and share. Yay! Please know, I’m not braggin’ here. Seriously, I’m not claiming super woman here. Seriously, it’s taken me 5 years of being a wife and 3 years of being a momma to figure out what works for us, HA!
Left: I was kind of stunned to see this number pop up after my last post. 646. Just wow. I love it! Since I was a teenage girl, I’ve been journaling and blogging my heart away (on Xanga back in the day. Anybody remember Xanga? Does it still exist?) Right: I’ve begun to blog a bit more as you can see. Like I said in the past few posts, I miss it. Let me just say without saying everything, there is a lot more coming this year. I’m sad to say I’ve said I’d write many blogs regarding this or that and then I never did (um. exactly the point of the TED talk…) I had every intention (intention smention :) without being intentional and actually {doing} them. Enough said…
Got my hair did. By THE cutest stylist ever. heart-throb. ;)
Spent a late night up with this little cutie. Besides the one late night, he’s a phenomenal sleeper. He’s ten times better than my 2.5yo. I was a little nervous at first but now… AMAZING.
Left: We had two dear friends come up to visit us. Upper photos: My friend showing Chase her salsa dance moves and holding baby Shai. Bottom left; Chase and my friend skating in the house in vintage fisher price skates I pulled out of someone’s trash (and cleaned, don’t you worry ;)) Right: We made delicious and healthy homemade pizzas on whole wheat tortillas. Seriously, so good and SO many possibilities.
I had an amazing night of worship, writing and a little bit of my heart healing this week. Ted was out-of-town for the night, it was just me and the boys. We spent the night over at my grandparents and I stumbled across this music that brought me to my knees, in tears. After everyone went to bed, I laid awake humming it softly and crying. It moved me so deeply. I felt things that I hadn’t in too long. BAH, I want to blog this very thing right now….
back to insta friday…
Left: Shai’s first time sucking his thumb to sleep! Right: Shailo “chatting” with his great-GREAT-grandmother. My GG. It’s her 88th birthday today. (Speaking of my GG… my grandparents and GG were in a car accident this afternoon. They are all okay, just shaken up. Would you pray for healing to their achy bodies?)
My friday mornings are painful and I’ve found that my afternoons need to be light and freeing. Something therapeutic… so my Friday’s are for sewing. Today I sewed this little baggie with fabric I had just lying around. It’s the catch-all for my purse. I already LOVE it :)
And finally,
{oh my heart}
tattoo artist: daddy (with PERMANENT marker… yes indeed :))
You can find me on instagram: @colourherhope
share.
I’m kind of an open book. I mean if you read my blog, you know this. I share things maybe most would keep to themselves. For a few years I kept hidden a dark part of my past and once I was honest and shared, I found myself changed deeply. I finally felt free. I find there is something about sharing honestly, rawly (new word :) but carefully that is so freeing and even healing.
I know in doing so you open yourself up to criticism and to judgment, yes. But also to encouragement and even along my journey of sharing I’ve found it encouraging others to speak (my favourite part).
To be real.
Raw.
Authentic.
The truth? When I share in person or hit “publish” on here I always keep in mind that because I’m putting myself out there, sharing my heart and emotions, it leaves room to be hurt. And I have been hurt in sharing, yes.
Still, I see the {hope} in sharing the bright parts of my journey as well as the deep, darkest valley ones too.
I write freely and I don’t consider myself a scholarly writer with eloquent wording and grammar (I mean, let’s be real here, I rarely ever have a post without grammar and punctuation flaws. Those of you who watch out for that – I can hear you chuckling right now :)) But I still do it.
Freely, openly. Raw, honest, authentic.
This is me. No barriers, no walls, no facades as I write. I’ve realized sharing your journey honestly can be healing.
Perhaps I share this way because it’s something I crave and am drawn to; realness. The blogs I frequent most are authentic and real. Heartbreakingly raw at times.
I encourage you to share your journey, the bright moments and dark valley ones. Wait and watch as you find healing. Wait and watch as it blesses someone else.
You may find there is healing in sharing your journey, you may not (and that’s totally okay!). I’ve personally found sharing to be healing and it bring hope to myself and to others. I shake off the negativity that sometimes comes my way and share with my heart even still because of how deeply freeing I find it.
Today, I just felt to share about sharing.
You may be surprised at how much your journey and authenticity could bless another.
Be {honest}, be {real}, be {brave}.
Share.
Insta-Friday {2}
Oh golly, I would {hug} the makers of instagram (seriously). I love to capture the moments along our journey in life and this tool makes it even easier than ever before. I seriously {love} it and I think my mother-in-law way up in Alaska appreciates all the documentation of her grandbabies as well ;) Here are some photos from the past month. I hope to do insta-friday from here on out so not to cram all of them into one post again. Plus it’s fun to reminisce on some of the things that took place in our week!
a few ‘you know you’re a momma to a boy when…’ moments captured.
Left: Last Saturday my beautiful friend Alaina wed. I was supposed to be standing beside her (in Illinois) in my beautiful black bridesmaid dress but instead sat on the couch (in Colorado) in a Breckenridge shirt and jammie bottoms crying my eyes out. True story. I had to make the toughest decision after realizing I couldn’t make it happen and that my family needed me more in this time. It was hard but I’m SO thankful I was able to watch it LIVE! Right: We’ve all been sick this week. Shailo’s been a trooper despite the many meetings with this suctioner aka miracle worker as you can see. :)
Perhaps my favourite moments captured this week. Chase and his great-grandfather, Willard (my grandpa)
Colorado has had a bit of a “heat wave” the past week so we ventured out to our nearby park.
daily fun with my boys.
how stinkin’ cute?!
left: bath time bubbles. right: blue bath time fun. Sesame Street Fizzy bathtub colours. $1 for 9 different colour tablets!! Your kiddo(s) would LOVE em’!
Ted captured Shai’s blue, blue eyes. Taken by Ted – go check out some of his latest work.
A major part of our lives right now; organizing, simplifying, de-cluttering- you name it. It’s a must this year. A must.
A before and after of Ted’s office space. Displaying some of Ted’s film photography.
Left: replaced Ted’s film work with a few of my fav intax photos. Right: Ted’s bookcase at the moment. He’s outgrown yet another one! CRAZY man will have a library by next year at this rate ;)
Last week I went on a spontaneous date night to Sherlock Holmes WITH a modern day Sherlock. ;) No, but seriously. Ted caught a guy stealing, running to a getaway car and take off. These guys have been robbing many stores in Fort Collins and they caught them! We joked that Ted has been watching too much White Collar on his winter break from school ;)
And finally, me and my beautiful, and surprisingly strong, 2 month old boy. My mini me with blue eyes.
You can find me on instagram: @colourherhope
a belated Christmas post
This post is waaaaay overdue but I’ve regretted not posting some of our Christmas-y things. I used to be so on top of taking pictures, editing them and posting them almost right away and now… oh wait, I had a baby! ;) But I really don’t want that to become my excuse. You find time to do the very things you love and blogging just happens to be on my list of things that I love! So I really hope to pursue one of my passions again. I miss it so much.
whoa, I digress. Here some photos of our holiday.
This was Chase’s first year helping decorate the tree. He really took tree decorating very seriously ;)
This particular holiday seemed very special and perhaps it is because Chase really joined in with me in decorating and creating. I really, really loved that part. Oh my heart! What joy he brings.
Chase and I’s handywork this year. Simple, beautiful, fun.
Above left: “Let every heart prepare Him room” banner. Right: our activity advent calendar.
Quite possibly my favourite Christmas tradition, or maybe just my sweet tooth talking ;)…
Sugar (& other) Christmas cookie baking day! Look at his eyes when he realized I was watching him (above right) ;)
what’s a cookie without sprinkles, sprinkles …
…and more sprinkles?!
This was Chase’s first year to enjoy in this yummy tradition.
Last year we began a tradition of opening jammies Christmas Eve, a tradition passed on from my own family. This year we added a new tradition, our own, of heading to town to see the pretty Christmas lights. Ted and I try to sing Christmas songs and Chase, sweet boy, would cut us off with, “Wonder Pets, Wonder Pets, we’re on our way…” and then wait for us to join in with {him} in finishing the Wonder Pets entire theme song. What a fun memory! :)
Ya know us, we just had to do photoshoot of the jammies before heading to see lights. Oh how I love these photos. So precious!
Little smirks. (I call this his little old man face)
(I just had to post this photo of Shailo’s facial expression when Chase first sat down with him. :) It’s like he’s saying, “Seriously mom and dad, a flashlight for big brother. REALLY?! Ahh! Get him away! ”)
This year was especially fun because it was Chase’s first year he thoroughly enjoyed Christmas; the tree, lights, music (particular fond of, well Wonder Pets, but also Away in the Manger – which we changed to say “the little baby Jesus lay down his sweet head” I tried to video him but to no avail ;)) , stories of baby Jesus, presents, etc. He {loved} this year.
Our Christmas photo was another story…
({my handsome boys} opposite colouring as of now. I {love} it!)
Our Christmas photo was a challenge. You might think being married to a photographer, we’d have it set. WRONG. It was horrible. Chase was extremely wound tight, Shailo was fussy and I didn’t feel well at all. The picture below is one of maybe 2 he actually sat for.
bump to baby (a before & after)
we took a few shots during out maternity shoot with an idea to copy cat that very pose later, when “Boy S” came along. well, the outfit we chose fit a lot quicker than i had imagined. in fact it’s getting pretty snug. so we hurried along to our favourite place to shoot in our town; Old Town FoCo.
before (37 weeks pregnant) and after (Shailo, 2 months old)
this photo is a personal fave of the bunch because of his adorable little smirk, but as you can see it didn’t really copy cat the before picture ;)
{adore}
i should be posting a 3rd photo we did here, however …
as you can read on his face; DISTRACTED. so we never did capture that exact shot. What, might you ask, could possibly be distracting him from such a fun photo shoot (note the sarcasm, I mean, he’s 2)?!
say cheese! a camera, of course! We noticed his interest in Ted’s camera and this year spotted this amazing “kid’s tough” digital camera and knew this would be the perfect christmas gift for Chasey-boy.
and oh. my. word. does he love it.
i’ll be posting his photos soon! i’m planning to do a little series as he photographs!
Shailo’s 2 month photos coming soon too!
p.s. check out this amazing photo Ted took which captured the colour of Shai’s eyes!
{2011}
I wanted to write a post before 2012 arrives and was inspired by Chelsey from The Paper Mama to do a post of key things from each month in 2011. I gathered and shared mostly just what happened on here (my blog) the past year. What a year it’s been!
I tear up when I look at the above photos of my Chasey-Boy. I think the biggest change in our family, besides having a new baby boy obviously ;), it Chase. I mean, can you believe it? I’m in awe of how much he’s grown in just ONE year. Wow. This really makes me want to stop and savor each moment this year, so much more! As I put this collage together I showed Ted and we both agree that this year has brought the most change in Chase. He is a little man now and can actually have a conversation with us! When did this happen?! TEARS. Seriously, time is flying before our very eyes!
entered 2010 with heartache just 4 months after Eisley’s death. // Chase turned one and a half (look at how much he’s changed this year! Too fast!) // did my first ever ‘What I Wore’ post and actually posted them! My first photos I willingly posted since my major weight gain. Took a lot to do it but I did! // wrote a post about new year’s resolutions (and still feel the same about them this year!) // posted honestly about Ted and I and how losing Eisley affected us. // blogged words that resonate. // posted a few DIYs; homemade booklet, recipe box , jewelry holder // and more…
had a dream that spoke deeply // did a lot of Valentines DIY projects; paper heart garland, heart frame , “LOVE” display // guest blogged at U-Create // spray painted some jars for decor // 5 months; our shock started to wear off //learned about pinterest and got myself and many friends hooked haha! // found some awesome images that reminded me of her // i was brutally honest // and then felt horrible about it // posted an easy peasy DIY // and more…
wrote blurry // signed lease papers for a duplex // found out we were expecting our 3rd baby // barely made it off the couch out of fear of losing baby // turned 24 // opened my Etsy store // posted DIY freezer paper stenciling // did quite a few {thrifted treasures} posts; 1, 2, 3. // 6 months after losing Eisley I realized some things //
moved from my grandparent’s home into a duplex // gave a house tour on the blog // found out that baby #3 was a boy at just 13 weeks pregnant // decided on the perfect first name for S (writing a blog about his name and full meaning soon!!) // let my fear of losing Shailo paralyze me from really doing anything (see that couch there, yeah, I was on that most of this month) // april began the failing of my Etsy store, i lost all motivation when i became so anxious and fearful in pregnancy // April 26 arrived – one year since we’d found out we were pregnant with our Eisley-girl // wrote a whopping 4 blog posts total …
Ted turned 26 // threw an “Abie in Wonderland” party for my sister’s 18th birthday // i made business cards and did my first ever craft fair (loved it!) // 8 months passed and I wrote ‘Grace’ // wrote about Chase’s love for music // Ted shot his first wedding! //
this was an eventful month for sure // finally fought my fears, sought after peace and His heart for me in this pregnancy and made myself get up // did the 30 Day Photo Fun challenge // made a bunch of tissue paper flowers for two different parties (Chase destroyed most of one batch but i re-did them and they were better anyways :) // planted a flower garden // did a simple home decor/party DIY // posted a before and after of our hallway (need to update this majorly!) // made a gate entrance sign! // finally shared we were pregnant…5 months pregnant… // threw a ‘Mustache or Bows’ gender reveal party // celebrated Ted’s 3rd Father’s Day //shared part 1 and part 2 of a new series I started called ‘Pregnancy After Loss’ // celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary // posted “Eisley’s Song” // faced our most bittersweet news in our pregnancy with S //
celebrated Chase’s 2nd birthday! // my momma turned 44 // fell in love with instagram // walked almost daily to the park nearby // spent hours at Windsor Lake Beach // shared some fun photobooth pics //
took Chase to the Zoo for the first time ever! (above photo is of when he saw a live elephant for the first time; priceless.) //Chase had his first train ride and loved it dearly and still sometimes talkes about it // whined and whined and whined about being pregnant during Colorado’s 23 days straight heat wave of high 90s with humidity. I LOVE heat and humidity just {not} pregnant apparently! // hence spending hours at Windsor Lake Beach // reached 26 weeks and 4 days // shared a remarkable memory // began the boy’s room // wrote part 3 and part 4 of ‘Pregnancy After Loss’// wrote about the anniversary of being hospitalized for Eisley and the precious memories i hold very dear to my heart // had my due date pushed back a week (insert major sad face here at the time) //
oh, September. whew. // reached the anniversary of Eisley’s death // celebrated one year since the birth of our precious Eisley-girl // shared part 2 of the boys’ room // wrote ‘anniversary reactions & shadow grief’ // got rid of the “ba-bas” (bottles) // wrote a post with pictures of Chase’s summer //
did our maternity photoshoot (which i just updated with some never before seen pics of ones with Shailo’s name) // visited the “punkin’ patch” // painted the “baby punkin’” // started ‘No Sugar October’ and failed miserably just 2 weeks in! :) // had our first snowfall of the season // Ted and I bought our first car (well, a used van but still) First time for both of us!) // finished the boys’ room // made two separate birth announcements with two separate middle names for S, as Ted and I still couldn’t agree on one :)
shared a post with final belly pics and a prayer request // had a baby boy!!!! // shared precious pictures of his first week // shared the (mostly) finished look of the boys’ room (only to have the landlord tell us we can’t use it as a room after all. Yes, true story where i sobbed.) // had Shailo’s first thanksgiving and first bath // answered a frequently asked question //
celebrated Shailo’s first Christmas and the first Christmas that Chase will truly remember // actually made and finished our entire advent calendar! // had a white christmas tree // made some cute christmas decor // Eisley’s due date week passed by us again // shared pictures of Shailo’s zero and one monthly photoshoots // shared a poem and wrote honestly about where i’m at currently // posted some precious moments with Shailo //
I didn’t really share much about what’s going outside of what I shared on the blog but Ted does exist in this family and DID have things happen this year for sure :) Like finishing 2 full semesters of college // starting a photography business // doing a TON of free but portfolio building photo shoots (we’re hoping for PAID jobs this year! ;)) // entering the bathroom a bearded man with long blond hair and coming out shaved and BALD. and much to his wife’s surprise!! ;) …
We’re excited to enter 2012 and see what kinds of things God has in store for our family. Ted and I both have some major personal goals and I feel very optimistic that we will see them through. We’re going to face and conquer some mountains this year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!
1 month.
Shai is now 7 weeks old. I can hardly believe how fast time is flying by. I thought I should probably post the photos I took of him at 1 month before we take his 2 month photos :)
Because I documented every little detail of Chase’s first year (I was pretty outrageous but I love that I did it :) It inspires me to keep documenting with Shailo!) I can pretty much look back and see exactly what Chase was doing at the different baby stages. It’s amazing that I can already see the personality difference in our two boys. Oh, how I love that!
There are some similarities but mostly there are so many differences already. I know, I know, he’s only 7 weeks but still I can see them {already}. (hope to post more on the differences I see in them, sometime later)
Well, I guess if I’m going to find time to blog (which I love and miss!) then it will have to be late at night and simple posts filled with pictures, haha. I may have finally found my new perfect time to blog. YAY!! ;)
Good night, world.
