IKEA Hack - Childrens Latt Table

I seriously love IKEA.  They never fail to have great simple pieces that you can dress up and are at a really good price.  Unfortunately for me the closest one is three hours away so we always have to plan ahead of time and then hope everything fits just right in the car.  Fortunately for Target they get the business Ikea deserves.  We stopped by about a month ago to pick up a couple of new things for the house and one of the things on my list was the IKEA Latt Childrens' Table and Chairs.  For only twenty some dollars you really can't go wrong. My plan was to do a classic IKEA hack and match the colors of our office so Noah can hang out in there while we do things on the computer.

I'll give some broad steps for anyone who's wondering how I did it but honestly, there are so many DIY's online I'm sure someone wrote a better one than me.

I took everything apart and painted it white.  It only took one sample size of paint to do the job so that was nice. Once everything was dry we put a clear coat on top to make it shiny.  Good idea but lesson learned for next time, make sure it's really thin because it has a slight yellow tint otherwise.  We sanded down some of the yellowish part and then re did it no problem.

For the top of the table I bought some wrapping paper and attached it with a spray adhesive and then on top of that some contact paper. You can find it anywhere really. I bought mine at Target.  That's of course after spending at least a good 40 minutes walking up and down the craft isles looking with no luck.  It was in the kitchen area next to the liners.  ...just FYI.  Dangit. #willnevergetthattimeback

For the seats, I bought some one inch foam pads and covered them in fabric with hot glue and then attached them to the seats.  You'll need some nice matching ribbon on the sides to cover up and weird folds but it took about thirty minutes and this project in general wasn't all that hard.

When all your pieces are ready just re-assemble!  That really does sound much easier then it was though.  I spent at least an hour muscling pieces in.  The little amount of paper, fabric or paint on the pieces made it pretty difficult to put back together.  I suppose the bright side of that was that was really the worst part of the whole project. 

Noah loves it and that's all that matters. Ok, and it matches the office. That makes me happy so that's really what's important. =)

Noah, You're Two!

Can you believe it!?   I can.  This year went so much faster than the first and can I also say how much more fun?  This kid is a riot.  He's so funny and laughing all the time.  He does anything that he thinks other people will laugh at too.  Even though Noah's birthday is on Monday, we will be celebrating today.  (On my birthday. :/) I should get used to it right?  Anyway, we'll be having some family from in town around for a little cookout and cupcakes and hanging out on the deck enjoying the nice weather.  Much more low key than last year and also much less stressful.

I think this will be it for updates other than every couple of months here and there... but he's a kid and he'll keep learning and growing and honestly I think I've documented enough information to be pretty covered for the next so I think we'll call it a job well done.

• Stats: Size 6 Diapers | 2T-3T clothing
• Size: 35 lbs
• Random Notes: His speech is slowly getting better.  He's jabbering and singing all the time and at least says some words we ask him to say.  Progress is being made but I could use some speech soon.  I'm tired of waiting.  His sleep is on and off, specially depending on how daycare goes and how much he naps there.  Now that he's getting over all his daycare sikkies and back in almost good health, he's back to the kid I know eating everything in sight which makes me feel much better. 
• Mom Check-In: Things are good.  Life is good.  The house is coming together nicely.  Things are more relaxed now that it's summer and I'm just trying to soak everything up while we can. 

I'm looking forward to another great year with this little family of ours.  I'm sure people are wondering when number two will be on it's way and for anyone that doesn't know, which I'm sure it's a lot of you, we've been back trying again. Like last time, we're not having much success.  So wish us luck as we try the fertility medicine once again and hopefully another pregnancy sometime soon. In the meantime, Noah will keep getting all of our love and attention and most likely getting a little spoiled.

 Happy Birthday Noah Bear!  You're the BEST!

GVSU Enrichment Dinner 2015

What a fun year this was.  This was our fifth year attending and we did it up by surprising our friends with a limo. They also surprised me by managing to get us all seated at the same table.  Even better.   Not that I don't still enjoy the night talking to strangers during dinner, but always nice when you can hang out with your friends.

The enrichment dinner is put on to highlight some of the big donors and volunteers of Grand Valley and get motivated for another year of giving.  Also, really to thank everyone for giving back.  We love that we get to dress up and have a good time with our friends.  It's really like a grown up prom but classier.  And the food is always amazing so you really can't pass that up.

Sausage and Onion Tartlets

Anyone have one of those weeks without any motivation?  Ya, this is one for me.  I have a case of summeritis and laziness is calling my name.  I'm really looking forward to tomorrow and our annual GVSU Enrichment dinner.  The dress has come in and it fits! Woop!  I'm always a little nervous around this time since I rent a new dress every year and hoping that the size I ordered fits just right.  You can see posts from our previous years here, here and here, but you'll have to wait till next week for pictures from tomorrow!  Or you can follow me on instagram at Ccristinat because I'm sure they'll be lots of posting going on.

In the meantime, you can make yourself some Sausage and Onion Tartlets because they are super easy and perfect for way low motivation when it comes to dinner time. Oh ya, and they're kid approved.

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients:
2 8oz can of refrigerated crescent rolls.  (They make ones without the perforations now so they are flat sheets.  Those are the best in my opinion so don't have to squish them together to make little squares. 
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 package of sausage links (or 1/2 lb of ground sausage, really any type of sausage works just make sure it's in little pieces.
Pizza Sauce
1 Cup of Shredded Cheese
Cooking Spray
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
1. Pre heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook onion until translucent. Salt and pepper to taste.  Cook sausage links until cooked through and depending on the type of sausage cut into small chunks.  I use a spatula as I'm cooking my ground sausage.
3. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Open crescent rolls and lay out flat.  Lay the seams on top of each other and press together to make one big sheet.  (or use the non perforated ones, much easier)  Roll out the dough a little so it's as square as possible.  Make two cuts for four squares.  Do the same on the second can of rolls.
4. Lay the squares on the cookie sheet and add a dollop of pizza sauce.  Add a spoonful of onion and another of sausage. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover sides and bring over a little to make a little package.  The squares will not cover themselves.  You just need enough to essentially make a barrier so the items don't fall out.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes until the crust is golden brown.  Serve with a side of pizza sauce to dip.  (Or ranch if your name is Noah or Cristina) (Or if you're awesome and each ranch with everything)