What a Difference A Day Can Make!

So the other day I found a great little dresser on the side of the road, and was inspired to begin working on transforming my laundry room. To date, this laundry room has been an utterly cluttered, hideous mess! Yes, I know I shouldn't be so hard on myself, because I do have young twins and the laundry room wasn't a top priority. Well, in only one day, thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law to entertain my children and a very willing and resourceful handyman father-in-law, my little laundry room has had a complete overhaul.

Now, I still have a lot of work to do, including covering that window/plastic mess in the corner, painting the plywood under the washer and dryer, cleaning the old sick and taps and do a bit of hemming and trim painting, but what a difference! I can now walk, nay breeze into my laundry room, without tripping over random junk piles.

The Process
I dragged the dresser into my house (thanks to the 'towel' method perfected by my friend Kylah).

I cleaned, sanded and prepped for painting all in my tiny kitchen.

My father-in-law then cut out where the middle 2 drawers had been, so I could turn the bottom half into a cupboard.

I gave the dresser two coats of outdoor trim with-primer-included paint, because I had left my primer outside and it had frozen over. The paint turned out to be a real time saver! Next I sewed a curtain from fabric I had lying around, and used a tension rod, and here is the result. I still need to buy a handle for the drawer...

So the transformation has begun, but I still need to figure out a way to cover up the window in the corner. Any suggestions?

A Shabby Chic Makeover

So with the New Year came visions of “finishing off” my home. One of the projects to cross off my list was to embellish a boring lampshade.

Well, I believe I have definitely gone in a different direction from boring, perhaps even travelled into the realm of “gaudy”. This lamp is what I affectionately call my “tu-ruf” (tutu-ruffle) lampshade.



I found the gorgeous lamp base for a few dollars at a thrift store.


Then I found a children’s tutu at a used clothing sale. I simply placed it over the lamp shade and then sewed a ruffle out of an old rose patterned bed sheet, and then glued the ruffle on with fabric glue. To top it off, I glued on a strip of lace to hide the top of the lampshade.

Voila! A slightly gaudy, yet whimsical lampshade in full shabby chic glory!

Final Touches to a Shabby Chic Paradise (very budget-friendly)
This fall I converted my bedroom from a harsh black and white design to my airy, shabby chic, Rachael Ashwell- inspired-paradise.


My father-in-law finally pulled himself away from his little granddaughters long enough install my chandelier (thanks to a super deal at Canadian Tire), and a curtain rod.

The lace curtains were a few bucks at Value Village (VV) and after a simple sewing job they were ready to be hung up with curtain rod hooks.

The duvet cover was a wonderful treasure discovered at “VV” for only $12.00! It is trimmed in lace and blends in wonderfully with my exquisite Ikea ruffle blanket. The bed curtain was another find at “VV” and the accessories were collected from rummage sales and thrift stores over the last few years. *the above picture was taken pre-tu-ruf lamp*

The hat is my husband’s grandmother’s hat.

I made a fun fur lampshade!

I found this bunny in my garden and painted it white.

This chair was a VV find and I covered it with an old rose patterned bed sheet.

I discovered this when I was walking by a church that was being converted into lofts!






I had this shutter ‘lying around’ so I placed it in front of a boring corner!




These were my ballet shoes from my very short and uneventful dancing career as a 6 yr old. The fabric painting in the background is one of my creations.

And now that my bedroom is finally complete, I am onto the daunting task of transforming my laundry room/dungeon. I am overwhelmed just looking at this picture!

Why the apron?

Why the apron? Over the years one of my passions has been to search through garage sales, rummage sales and thrift stores for aprons. I could never quite explain why, but now that my office and daily landscape involves a kitchen and 2 little toddlers, the apron is essential to my existence. In fact, I hardly realize I am wearing one, and recently a delivery man came to my door and in a questioning and slightly condescending voice, asked "you're wearing an apron?" I kind of stumbled around for an answer, but in retrospect, I should have boldly stated that yes, I proudly wear an apron!

Here are a few of the essential uses of the apron for me:
1. It holds the snotty Kleenexes when my monkeys have a runny nose.
2. It holds my phone, which is one of my lifelines now that I am a stay-at-home mummy.
3. It acts as a tea towel when it seems impossible to reach for a tea towel.
4. It hides what I like to reluctantly but affectionately call my "twin belly" from turning into a "muffin top".
5. It ties me to the countless other women throughout history who have struggled through the ups and downs of motherhood.
6. Most importantly, depending on the style, it makes me feel funky, frilly, functional or festive

And I am absolutely thrilled each time my daughters go to their apron drawer when it is time to "help" mama in the kitchen!

Gingerbread Man

This morning a wonderful thing happened: a morning-long lesson plan about the Gingerbread Man evolved, incorporating computer games, stories, music and a craft! So, yes I was a school teacher (albeit high school), and yes perhaps I get too excited about creating lesson plans, but hey, at least they help to fill in the long days with quality activities for two little preschoolers!

It went something like this:

1. We began by watching the YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEOTqIPzG8&feature=related

This is a felt board story with a woman who has a great storytelling voice!

2. Next, we played a computer game about a Gingerbread Man where they have to pick shapes and colours of the Gingerbread Man's body. Be sure to hit the replay button at the end. My girls squeal in delight when the little Gingerbread Man dances and sings!

http://www.starfall.com/

PS. To incorporate musical skills, I continued to spend the entire day singing the song from this computer game but substituting another noun in place of the "Gingerbread Man". Toddlers giggle every time when you pretend that you don't know the real word!

3. Then we made Gingerbread Man crafts! You can choose from lots of different colouring pages and cut outs from this website. There are so many activities and directions to go to from this website if you want to continue with the theme!

http://www.first-school.ws/activities/fairytales/gingerbread-man-boy.htm

4. Finally, we ended with reading the actual book!

I hope that this helps parents see how you can spend an entire morning on a theme, and incorporate crafts, music, reading, computer literacy and creativity.

tutus: trend or obsession?

I have always been a person who wonders where fashion trends start and why. Tutus seem to have cropped up into toddler fashion this fall, or perhaps I only think it is a trend because my daughters are in a ballet class and I began searching for the perfect ballet "outfit". Either way, I have completely fallen for this "trend". I even redecorated my bedroom in a ballet theme including a Degas print I just happened to have lying around and my own little ballet shoes (I briefly took ballet as a child). I am currently working on a tutu lamp shade...stay tuned for the unveiling!

This obsession has even spilled over into mummynuggle? designs: tutu-aprons, tutu inspired skirts, tutu greeting cards, tulle hair accessories and even ballet tutus.

Well, back to my daughters' ballet outfits. I started by creating a tulle netting flower for their hair. Maya seemed to really like my first, rather large creation, and wore it all day.

We settled with a slightly smaller style for their ballet outfits. Then came the tutu...I researched how to design the tutu, bought the supplies, and left it up to my wonderfully creative mother-in-law to create the finished product. After purchasing the shoes and top, my little girls looked like budding ballerinas!

Since then we have shortened the tutus and added cute little leg warmers. Now we just have to focus on learning the "dancing" part!

Who knows if this is really a trend, or I just see tutus because I am slightly obsessed. I do know that when I enter my "ballet inspired" bedroom I feel a graceful peace wash over my body. And when I turn on the delightful music, close my eyes, and gently glide across the floor while "practising" with my daughters, I feel myself floating away from my chaotic life, into my own little slice of heaven!

Relaxing at the Cottage

mummynuggle? will be taking a much needed break for the month of August in hopes of relaxing at the cottage with her family and friends. Have a great summer!

Mom's Potato Salad Recipe

Mom's Potato Salad Recipe (Oh how I love summertime!)

- Let 5 potatoes boil for 5 minutes (you don't want them mushy)

- drain

- put potatoes in a bowl while hot, add a little bit of vinegar,

cover and put into the fridge

- boil 4 eggs (hard boiled but not overcooked)

- put eggs in a bowl of cold water and put into the fridge

- when eggs and potatoes are cooled off, peel and dice both
(I don't always peel the potatoes to save time)

- add chopped green onions, chives, dill and bacon

- add 1/2 cup of mayo

- add salt and pepper

- stir it all up!

- sprinkle paprika over the salad

- put in the fridge

*don't keep in the fridge longer than 2 full days*