Terrible Two's and Three's

Oh my goodness!!!! I have just had one of those explosive moments. You know the ones. Where every cell in your body gets suddenly VERY hot, your blood pressure just shot through the roof and your stomach knots up like a prezel. It takes every ounce of your being not to totally lose your s***.

As you all know, I have two beautiful girls and am 11 weeks away from having another little person in my life... I love my girls and as a general rule they are happy, kind and sweet children...

However, there is a much darker side...

My eldest Miss 3 has decided (in the last two weeks) that she is going to do everything possible to induce labour early for me. Fun, fun. Today was another prime example. She has a reward chart, that I made up to try and curb some of this infuriating behaviour, when she listens to mummy and daddy and is a good girl she gets a sticker on the chart. After 10 stickers she gets a "prize" for being a good girl. We were on track today and I thought whoo hoo... PROGRESS! Then BAM! REGRESSSION. After sitting with her while she played. Keeping her happy and quiet (while Miss 1.5 slept), I told her I was just going to do some washing. I walked out of the living space, loaded the things into the maching, put in the powder and switched it on. I walked back out and could see Bella with the 3L milk bottle. I thought "oh no". I couldnt see it anywhere so I thought that maybe, just maybe she had only just managed to get it (even if I did think that the levels within the carton looked depleted). Then I heard it... drip drip drip drip... Uh oh... That was when I saw it. At least 1L of milk dripping from the top of her toy shelf into her toy boxes. Angry doesn't even cover how I felt...

This is only the most recent of bad behaviours... Late last week I took the opportunity of an early morning and good tempers to race to the shopping centre to do some christmas shopping (with 11 weeks to go I have to take all the chances I can get). I got there and it was like a switch had flicked. Miss 3 put it on. Racing ahead. Sneaking off while I was looking for a size. Playing with every toy she could get her hand on. Throwing herself to the ground to get away from me holding her hand. Having a tantrum. Then right at the end of the shopping trip, I was speaking to a friend and we were saying goodbye, when Bella suddenly darted to the right and up a step escalator. Now normally I would have just followed but prams don't go on step escalators and she was on her way... So I had to ask my friend to watch the pram (with everything I own and in addition to her pram) while 29 weeks pregnant I flew after her to retrieve her. To say I felt angry and ill was an understatement.

I thought that although she was a little testing through her two's, I was doing ok. We hadn't had many major meltdowns and she was reasonably compliant. Haha! Well that thinking bit me in the butt.

At the moment, she refuses to follow instructions, citing "no mummy" or "not right now". She is a runner, so although most of the time she will stand nearby and hold the pram, that has been going out the window (and she seems to pick checkouts and queues to run off). She watches EVERYTHING. I am sure B thinks that I must just lay on my bed all day, because she takes moments, like me ducking off to the ladies, to have a shower, put on washing, change nappies or wiping bathrooms to get into and do all the destructive things. We have had smeared "business", smooshed butter, spilt milk,  emptied cordial, spritzed cleaning sprays, tipped out bath bubbles,  spread toothpaste,  pasted peanut butter, wiped vegemite,  squished playdough, water all over the place, in things and just generally creating a MASSIVE mess.

I know that she will grow out of it but MAN... It definitely tests your patience. Then comes the hour after when you are still stewing on it and she comes up for a hug, or to ask for something and all you can think is "HELL NO".

Do you let it go and move on and just continue your discipline for every bad deed?
Do you remind her why she isn't getting the "bubbles" or "milk" or "tv"?

How do you deal with your Mr or Miss 3's???

Bold Bureau

After a fabulous 4.50am wake up, care of Miss 3 and Miss 1.5... I have achieved very little this morning. Normally they are climbing into my bed around 5.30 and by 9 we are all fed and the housework is complete. Although completely by accident, we have fallen into a routine that has worked quite well for us. Both little Miss' have been unwell and I would say that although we are in the final days of that, it may have contributed to the early morning. I HAD resorted to putting a gate across their door to contain them, as Miss 3 was very helpful in my pantry of a morning, but after a few mornings of Miss 1.5 getting trapped between the gate and the door (in a space of cm's) we pulled it down. As any parent would understand, the safety of our girls was more important than a few emptied Tupperware containers.

 

Digressing. Again. I had a visit from one of my cousins (it was unbelievably comforting) yesterday and she told me how inspired she felt reading my blog. It was incredibly flattering and I wanted to take the opportunity to tell all of you, including Mrs L, that you can take ANY piece of furniture that you fall in love with and make it beautiful. I do recommend that you start with smaller pieces and work your way up (it would be incredibly daunting to start on a wardrobe for example as opposed to a coffee table or writing bureau.

 

Speaking of which, here the next of my projects.

 

 

 

I had been looking for a writing bureau for months... My mother has a beautiful one (in perfect condition) that belonged to my grandfather. It still has that beautiful musty smell when you open it, reminding me of childhood scents of them.

 

I have ALWAYS loved this piece of furniture and it wasn't until mum sent me a pic message of something that she had seen in Better Homes and Gardens, that I developed an obsession with having a writing bureau myself.

 

Now I COMPLETELY understand that my mother would have LOVED to have painted her bureau but for sentimental and decor reasons, I think that her decision to keep it in its original condition was the best decision. I, on the other hand, have been upcycling my furniture to Dulux USA Antique White, and I feel that I need to keep that white theme running through all my furniture. So, began the hunt for a writing bureau that I could upcycle. I was sitting on the couch one evening when my DH said to me "Is this what you are after", while showing me a picture from a FaceBook For Sale site. Sure enough, it looked like it was what I was after. So I accepted the sale and we collected the item.

 

 

Although, size wise, it was little smaller than I had hoped for, it was a really cute piece and it definitely grew on me. So I began the "revamp". I had this wondeful idea that keeping it within my blue and white theme was the way to go. I sanded as much of the old paint as I could from the desk, with my main purpose being to clean and smooth the desk, as there were some marks and chips on it.

 

 

As you can see, when I did this project I kept the doors etc on the item and therefore I coudn't get to all the edges and corners, not leaving me with a perfect finish. I do recommend pulling doors, handles, drawers etc out. It does make for a much more professional job and a job that lasts much longer too.

 

I then moved onto painting the interior of the cupboard.

 

I used an spray paint for this section as it was quite fiddly to paint. It did require a few coats but was a gloss paint so finished really well.

 

 

Here is the complete desk. In my bedroom and all.

 

Now, I am going to make a confession here. I attempted to cut a few corners and as a result I am not 100% happy with the result.

 

Although I am not going to attempt a re do of this in the near future it WILL be something that I will fix. I found that once the blue was on the item, although the same blue looked awesome on the buffet, on the desk it ovepowered the desk. My plan now is to paint the drop down table and base of the desk white and the inside of the lower cupboard white. I will also be doing a little bit of patching, replacing the drawer handles and adding door handles. The key for the desk has been broken into the lock so I will be replacing that with a new lock OR a handle as well. Now I am also on the hunt for a comfy chair to finish the piece off (I might even attempt a re cover)...

 

See even Lozzie's don't get it right all the time :-)

 

I hope that you all understand that you can attempt anything... If it isn't right you can go back and fix.

 

Enjoy your Wednesday!!!!

 

Keep smiling.

 

Lauren

xxx

 

Arty Farty

I spent most of my teens painting my problems away. It was incredibly therapeutic and a little part of me (yes I say LITTLE) wishes that it had been something that I had pursued later on in life (even now). I used to love painting and reflecting on them later (even if occassionally they were very dark and angry). I can still remember one of my art teachers shock when she came to check the progress of one of my pieces. It was blues and greys and well... dark. Darker than anything I had painted before... Then I went from that piece to painting fairies?? Go figure.

Although as a mother I hope that my beautiful girls... and nearly cooked "it" have happy lives I also want to foster and encourage art in their lives. I come from a family that has some incredibly talented people in it... My extended family includes, mechanic, handyman, graphic designer, symphony musician, engineer (I think), business owner, hairdresser, lawyer (2 of those), data analysis, jeweller, builder, sales rep, teacher (3 of those - including me), clerk and that is not all of them (and doesn't include partners). All of these members of my family are artistic in one form or another and I think that, that makes for a good genetic foundation for my children. Ok I am digressing slightly (a lot).

Mrs F and I were feeling inspired and purchased the children some art supplies. That was when I realised that I had nowhere to store them. So I did some investigating. Initially I was only after something that was maybe waist height (laminate if needed) and would store the girls things. What I discovered was a thousand times better. I am a member of a For Sale FB page (one of FB's pros), and I saw THE most gorgeous wooden cupboard for sale. So I bought it.

 

 

When I got there it was sturdy, in good condition and just needed some lovin'. So I obliged. Now the maker of this cabinet may have a heart attack right now - but be assured it is loved now (and will be for many years to come).

 

So my first job was to sand this baby. It was definitely "rustic" in that the item was rough timber and well, I wanted it a little less splinter happy. Once I had completed this, I used an undercoat over the timber (note to self and you all - if you are unsure whether an item has been oiled or stained make sure you get an undercoat that blocks that from seeping into the paint). I then began to paint (using the same paint that I have been using for all of my other items to keep the paint colour the same.

 

Sadly, as it was a relatively basic job, I didn't get any during the process pics. It really was a case of, one minute it looked like the above pic and then the next minute it was finished... So I will share the afters...

 

 

 

This blue is the same blue as the buffet and I am completely in love. I have to say that the cupobard fits my needs perfectly and although it may not always hold pride of place (in my laundry) it will always store our arts and crafts.

 

It is also the perfect height to get my laundry products out of reach of helpful 3 year olds. ;-)

 

I think that the one thing that I can say is that, although some items may not look pretty from the outside, they all have the potential (with a bit of love) to be amazing pieces in your home.

 

Now, I am going to go tackle a cot (before this baby arrives), maybe with some assistance from DH.

 

Wish me luck

 

Keep smiling.

 

Lauren

xxx

 

 

Early Morning Reflections

As I squeezed my eyes closed I could hear the somewhat nonsense babbling coming from the girls bedroom, I opened one eye long enough to see that the sun was creeping its way through the things that the real estate call curtains. As I tried to steal another few minutes of snoozing, I could hear the shower running. The next thing I knew I had two little sets of feet running down the hallway calling "mummy" and "daddy" and B opening the bathroom door. The excitement that the girls have when they wake up of a morning and "escape" from their bedroom is classic and just like me on a Christmas morning at 11 years old. I hope that they are always that happy to see us.

So, as I sip on my tea and they sit finishing their breakfast whilst playing with their toys (yes, they are allowed to eat breakfast away from the table), I reflect on the last 12 months (D and M). I have had my ups and downs and some personal epiphanies, but I am in a really good space. I understand that I will have my "bleh" days, everyone does but all in all things are much better in Lauren's head.

I have decided that there is NOTHING better than waking up to a clean house. Not having to wake up and clean everything - although I do have a pile of ironing/folding that is about to swallow my 2 seater lounger whole - was wonderful. It is little things like that, that help me start my day with a smile.

 

 

 

Miss 1.5 has been making so many new discoveries... and speaking more (which was never going to be an issue with B and I as parents)... She has become particularly skilled at helping mummy get the breakfast of a morning. Although I must say she certainly must have been hungry this morning. We didn't stop at the two plates for the toast.

 

 

So, I have been doing more than just cleaning and keeping my children fed and loved. I have SO many projects to share and as I am starting to get a bank up of projects that I have completed, you are all going to be bombarded in the next few weeks. Here are some of the things I have been doing.

 

 

 

Now you might all think, well that is all nice and well, BUT I did decide in my pregnant "condition" that all the damage from the move, the teeth marks and that IF I am honest I never actually received the colour cot that I wanted... I decided to re invent our cot... At this stage this is all I have managed (although I only have 5 weeks before I leave Qld for Tas) so I really need to get a move on... (plus add in there a trip down to coastal NSW and a house relocation)... Me. Overcommit? Never! Watch this space for the cot re do.

 

 

PLUS I am particularly excited about the project that you see below. I cannot wait to show you the end result. Yet another project that I really need to get off my bottom to share with you. See I told you I have LOTS to share...

 

Anyway, I have sat here for long enough sharing, so I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend... Maybe with a clean house, I can get some of these projects done ;-)

Keep smiling.

Lauren
xxx