A Storage Situation- A Pinterest Poser Challenge

My kids play a lot of sports and have a lot of equipment.  And since I am not the most organized mother-person, I have been looking for some sort of storage situation to help keep up with all the equipment.  Last week, I found it-- old-school lockers! 

We looked on Craig's List for lockers to put in the basement.  We found some that were perfect, or so we thought.  Tim drove out to get them, but they were too big.  We looked again online and so many of them were very expensive.  We thought about going back and buying the too-big lockers as an investment (you know, clean them up and sell them online).  But we didn't.  Instead my brother-in-law heard me talking about our storage situation and locker disspointment and said he had some lockers we could have. For free!  What?! Awesome.

For this week's Pinterest Poser Challenge* I attempt to fix our storage situation and spruce up some lockers for the kids' room.

*In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,** every week I attempt and detail a project/idea/recipe inspired by Pinterest.  

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

Tim picked up the lockers and bought some spray paint on the way home.

The Before-We-Painted picture.

My love of spray paint has been well-documented here and here and here.  I think it is such a fun, inexpensive way to make anything looke better.

After the paint dried, it was time to move them inside.  I think a good counseling exercise for marriage would be moving furniture.  It takes a lot of patience and communication.

And a sense of humor.  I think I said "Pivot!" 15 times going up the stairs, referencing the old Friends episode.  Remember that one? Click here to watch it again.

I am so happy with how the lockers turned out that there's no way we could put them in our ugly, unfinished basement.  We took them directly to the boys'room. The kids started putting their equipment in immediately. 

The paint job isn't perfect, but I don't do perfect.

Yeah, I know it might get smelly, but with three boys sharing a room it kind of already smells anyway.  

This hangs on their wall.  We had it done this summer, I think it is fabulous.

When we said put all your important stuff in the lockers, Wade put Woody, Buzz and Jessie inside (and a football).
 I love that he is four years old.

Storage situation fixed, at least for sports equipment.  Now on the hunt for something to help me manage/organize/contain all the school papers/homework/equipment. 

Come on over and follow my boards on Pinterest. 

Here are a few projects that I've tried.  Have you made anything inspired by Pinterest?  Tell us about them in the comments or on my Facebook page.

Melted Beads- DIY Suncatcher- click here

Tissue Paper Pom Pom Garland-- click here

A Delightfully Simple Birthday Party--click here
Make An Awesome Omelette--click here
Outdoor Lights Inspired by the show Parenthood- click here
Herb Garden with Chalboard Pots- click here
Backyard Graffiti Art with kids- click here
Happiness Notecards- click here

Gluten Free Rainbow Cake- click here

Fruit Roll-Up Fortune Cookies- click here

Make Your Own Magnets- click here

DIY Painted Clay Necklace- click here

Dixie Cup Lights- click here

DIY Ornaments-click here

Gluten Free Clay- click here

Make Your Own Stamps- click here
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here
Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Purple & Pinterest Poser Challenge

It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**

Life is chugging along right now.  I feel like saying that makes me sound old or like a woman who wears dresses with big pockets on the front and has a thick Wisconsin/Michigan accent.  But it is chugging along.  We have routines, we fight less about homework, the weather has been beautiful.  See? Chugging along indeed.  But that doesn't mean I feel calm, organized and accomplished.  

I've been spending a lot of time lately slowing down, trying to worry less, do less.  Mindfulness some people call it.  I do feel calmer.  I also feel fatter because I've gained weight from not working out as much.  I do worry less.  But then I worry that I should be worrying about something and the cycle continues.  I do do less.  I also have a messier house because the first thing I cross off that to-do list is to clean, duh.  So there are benefits to all this mindfulness and a few drawbacks.

Sometimes crafting, baking, Pinterest-ing provides that mindful focus that centers me, grounds me.  Sometimes all the crafting, baking, Pinterest-ing can be exhausting and overwhelming.  My ideas are bigger than my time.  My inspirations are loftier than my abilities.  It can become a source of dread and anxiety.

This my friends, is when I go to the old stand by...paint.  Paint something, anything and you will feel better, accomplished.  Don't paint a room.  Paint a lampshade or a chair.  This weekend I painted by headboard.  It cost $7 for the paint and only took me a few minutes.

In honor of mindfulness, I chose the color purple.  I read if you surround yourself with purple you will have peace of mind.  Yup.  Plus I like the color purple.  It makes me happy.  It makes me think of the book The Color Purple which I love.  I have this quote hanging on my wall of words:

It makes me think of things like Purple Rain which makes me think of Prince and then I think about all those songs.  I made up a dance routine to "Let's Go Crazy" in my living room a million years ago.  I also secretly watched the movie and would rewind certain scenes over and over again.  I was around 11 and it was the dirtiest movie I'd ever scene in my whole entire life.  

Sorry, back to my project.

I bought purple spray paint (RUS-OLEUM Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover Paint+Primer, gloss grape).  I painted my head board in my back yard.

Lucy was a great helper.

Once the paint dried, I brought my purple headboard back inside.  Easy. 

Before

After.
I think it looks ahhhhmazing.
 Click here to find out how I made the Subway Sign.

BAM. I feel creative and accomplished.  Sometimes all it takes is a can of spray paint.

Doesn't Tim's snore mask look great hanging on a purple bed? I think he loves it.  And probably loves that I'm posting a picture of his snore mask.

Just because we mentioned Prince and Purple Rain in this post, I thought I should share the vlog where I sing When Doves Cry.  Check it out, click here.

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  Had any great successes? Or advice?  Or warning about a project that's a total waste of time? Do tell.

Please share whatever you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.  Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:
Birthday Shirt- click here
Gluten Free Pop Tarts- click here
Front Porch Kid Art Display- click here
Door turned into Table- click here

Summer Wish List Chalkboard-click here

Peanut Butter Nutella Cookie Sandwiches-click here

Painted Mason Jar Vases-click here

Cinco de Mayo Paper Flowers- click here

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here

Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

Spray Paint & Mother's Day (A Pinterest Poser Challenge)

It's almost Mother's Day.  And that's cool.  It's nice to have a day dedicated all us mothers.  

In honor of this special holiday and my weekly Pinterest Poser Challenge***, I have the perfect Pinterest craft for all you awesome mamas.  

 **In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

*My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.

I chose this black folding chair.

Here's what you need:

One can of spray paint, any color.

A piece of furniture or wood or metal or etc.

(You might want some newspaper to put down before you start painting whatever it is you've chosen to paint.)

Maybe the yellow blooms in this out of control forsythia was inspiration. And as you can see I did not put any newspaper down, so now we have a decent size patch of yellow grass too.

Here's what you do:

Spray the hell out of whatever you chose to paint.

What's the point?

To make something brighter and shinier of course. But it's also so you can feel like you completed something.  

I am so in love with my new yellow chair.

Because a lot of times motherhood can be frustrating like that.  Your job is never done.  Whether you work outside of the house or in, mothering goes on and on and on.  Oh yeah, there's a few minutes after they are all in bed asleep when you can finally sit down and relax.  But after a few minutes, that feeling of accomplishment is over. Gone. Done.  There is laundry to do, school forms to fill out, lunches to make for the next day (if you're that kind of plan ahead mom and if you are, you are awesome and I am jealous), there are calendars to organize, emails to send, more laundry.  By this point, maybe one of those sleeping kids has come downstairs with a bad dream and asked to get in your bed and you walk your kid back to bed (if you're that kind of disciplined mom and if you are, you are awesome and I am jealous (said the mom that usually has two children in bed a few nights a week)).

There's no punching out.  There's no quitting time.  You can't yell "take this job and shove it" like the old song from the 80s.

So, maybe you veg out on Facebook and/or Pinterest for a few minutes.  Sometimes that feels great to connect with friends or get inspired to decorate and craft.  But sometimes it can make you feel more tired, like you should be doing more and better.

This Mother's Day give yourself the gift of saying screw you to perfection and more and better.  Give yourself the gift of completing an easy project called Spray Paint the Hell Out of Something.

Then email or call a mama pal and tell her she's normal if she's totally exhausted and that she's doing a great job.  For real. Do it.  Wouldn't it be great to open an email that just said "You are a wonderful mom" from a friend?  Not an invitation or a request or something you have to RSVP to (if you are one of those moms that is really good at RSVP-ing than this isn't such a big deal to you and you are awesome and I am jealous).

Here's one of my favorite clips from the first season of Desperate Housewives when Lynette feels like a failure as a mom.  She wishes moms would tell each other how they struggle and they don't all have it together.  It's goooooood.

Go do it.  Go spray paint something, preferably that you own.  I'm not trying to start a revolution of renegade mama graffiti artists/vandals. But it sort of sounds cool in a whole Legend of Billie Jean (movie circa 1985) kind of way.  Okay, stick with what you own, but you can totally sing Pat Benatar songs while painting.

Then tell another mom how great they are. It's the Mother's Day Golden Rule rule--treat another mother how you want to be treated.

And then of course it's back to your laundry, whomp. whomp.

Tell me how you like this challenge!  Share here in the comments or on my Facebook page. And Happy Mother's Day.

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  Had any great successes?  Do tell.

Please share whatever you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.  Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Earth Day Cupcakes- Click here

Nail Art-click here

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.