Making a Rental, HOME {Thoughtful Thursday}

May 9, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

God has blessed us...beyond expectation.

I think when we leave room for God to show up, He does.

~Kristen Welch

Through much humility, God has bless much! And although there is blessing, there are still the simple #thirdworldproblems and woes. Living in this amazing 'borrowed' home, I feel like I am waiting for something. Waiting for the next ____. I don't know why. I'm having trouble living in the now. Living in the borrowed.

Today, I wanna share the things I am doing to make the borrowed feel permanent because I bet there are lots of you feeling the same way.

UNPACK!
I know there are tons out there who moved in about 5 years ago and still can't find that casserole dish. It will be worth it! Try and unpack the boxes as soon as they come into the house. There are lots of benefits:
You'll know where things are.
You can get rid of excess when it doesn't fit.
You will feel at home!
Hang pictures!
I know lots of rentals don't allow or highly discourage putting holes in the wall but in my opinion, decorating makes it your space. Invest in those removable hooks!
Use throw pillows!
You may not be a throw pillow kind of person but adding simple accents like this again make this your space. It makes it comfortable. And things like throw pillows are easily replaced when your taste changes or they get worn out.
Get good sheets!
Matt and I recently spent good money {for our budget even though they were like 50% off} on a fancy set of 600-thread-count sheets. Not only does this add to the style of your home but what makes you feel more at-home than comfort?!? Nice sheets should be comfortable so you are getting a great night's sleep. Sleep makes everything better.
Smell it up!
My hubs can't smell. No, not like, he has a low sense of smell. He can't smell Anything! "Everything smells like home" to him. For years, I felt selfish buying perfume, air freshener, or candles because I was the only one benefiting. Over those years, I noticed one of the first things I noticed when I went into someone elses house was the nice smell. That smell was one more thing I associated with that family. My house...had begun smelling like dish/laundry soap, diapers, shampoo. I wanted our smell to be...well, not diapers. Don't get me wrong, I'm still buying candles dirt cheap but I don't feel awful getting them now.

There are few things that make a girl feel comfy like a yummy candle lit in the dark while snuggling with that throw pillow & blanket.

What makes your rental feel like home?

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Filed Under: Being a Help-Meet, Decorating, Homemaker, Parenting, The ones about the Rothacher Home

REDEEMED {Thoughtful Thursday} early

April 9, 2013 by Jules Leave a Comment

I know this is early AND this isn't the best picture but I wanted to share how I made this sign in case you wanted to do it...these DaySpring letters are on sale & it ends TODAY!!!! I shared last week about why I chose the word REDEEMED, for the entry way in the valley. {better pics to come}

Redeemed leftover materials:
- Wood knocked down from original walls in the building
- Leftover paint from the green walls
- Leftover paint from the bathroom cabinets {that were 'revived'}
My buddy John cut the 2x4x1 boards for me
- ~8 foot long {top & bottom pieces}
- 2 foot tall {side pieces}
Paint frame pieces with the black {flat CHEAP paint}
- one coat is fine
- let dry and then scruff up edges as well as the entire length of the board with sandpaper or a sand sponge {you can use a hand sander if you're intense like that}
Measure and paint the green rectangle {matte inside the frame}
Hang Frame
- Start with the top piece
  - Center and hang with screws in at least one stud
- Hang side pieces loosely
- Hang bottom piece
  - Then match up sides before screwing in tightly
Measure and hang lettering
- We used push pins to mark & double check our measurements {spacing is totally up to the individual}
- We ended up putting a screw {or 2 for the M}
- The holes on the back are large enough to hang with a small nail or even a push pin
- I think this could look cute just sitting on the bottom ledge of the frame and or staggering letters

There it is. Just wanted to you know how easy this project was and ALL for less than $20 {including shipping of the letters}!!! That's less than $2.5o a letter and I don't think you could buy simple wooden letters for that and I'm pretty sure I couldn't have painted them as cute and even. Get you're HERE. Last day to use this coupon code! Great Deal!!! {and surprisingly super fast shipment arrival!}

COUPON CODE: WATF30 = $14

{expire Tuesday, April 9^that midnight CST}

#winning Thanks WeareTHATfamily #weareredeemed

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Filed Under: Deals, Decorating, Homemaker, Testimony, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about The Valley Church

Valentine’s Day {party for PreK Homeschoolers!}

February 4, 2013 by Jules 1 Comment

What's not to love about a holiday all about love?

I have fond memories of school day parties. You remember, back in the day when schools were allowed to throw a shindig for every holiday under the sun. Class lists were sent home, homemade treats were passed out personalized for each student, homeroom moms showed up and celebrated with their kids and fun games.

There have been a lot of positive changed in the past few years and some of those things are still happening. But since I plan to homeschool I don't have the chance to see if my kids are going to have the privilege of enjoying "party day" at school...I get to plan the party! Woot Woot!

Find our plans for "LOVE Month" on the Homemaker's Challenge today!

It includes pictures, ideas for teaching History, fun Foods, Crafts/Gifts/Surprises, and Activities, and some resource links as well!

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Filed Under: Baking and Cooking, Decorating, Holidays, Homemaker, Homeschool, Parenting, Parties, The Ones about Homemaker's Challenge, The ones about the Rothacher Home, The Ones about things Jules tried off Pinterest

Chalkboard Play Table {Thoughtful Thursday}

January 10, 2013 by Jules 4 Comments

Today I wanna tell you how I "got took" and then turned my crappy table into a cool lil piece of furniture anyways.

Ya see, I've only purchased 2 things off of 'swap shops' on Facebook. The first was a cute sweater from a friend I knew from church. The second...well the second purchase was a little less cute. Ya see, this women posted a picture of what she called a "black coffee table". As I read through the thread of conversation happening under the odd angled picture I learned that the table was "tall enough for a preschool chair to fit under" and that "the table legs where 2+ feet tall and the top of the table was at her knee".

Sweeeeet! I'd been looking to replace our pre-children coffee table purchase with one that was less sharp-angle and more simple and round. I compared her description to our per-existing table and decided this was a Score. this was a simple, round, tall enough to be a practical coffee table, table! I messaged the women to see if it was still available and when it was we arranged to meet so I could purchase the table for a steal of deal- $20!

The day came to meet and we all loaded to head out to meet the stranger. As we waited and waited passed the set time, our daughters ended up needing to use the restroom. Matt chose to take them and allow me to have the awkward incounter with the women I had been dialoging with. She came like 2 seconds after they were out of sight. Having my baby boy in the backseat of the van, our conversation would of course be short and to the point. She rolled up in a Chevy Cavalier. 2 Door! You know where I'm going with this don't you. As she waffled her way out of the tiny car she began apologizing for being last, quickly retrieved the itsy bitsy table from Her TRUNK and placed it in my already open van, said a wierd, "Thank you, God used you to provide money during a hard time" spill after seeing scripture on my t-shirt and sped off in her lil bitty car.

What just happened? I stared at my new treasure with confusion. There is NO stank'n way a preschool chair could fit under that. That women was way taller than me and the top of that table doesn't come to my knee. The black paint was crazy scratched up and I'm pretty sure some good 'ole boy hacked these legs off something else and hooked'm to this "table top" using the wierd metal bracket thingies on the bottom. I think I would have been okay...if I'd paid like $5 for it. The worst part? Matt was gonna tease me about this for years...

As Christmas approached and we began pulling decorations and stuff from the basement, that table sat their laughing at me. Suddenly, I saw the leftover chalkboard paint we'd been given by a friend setting next to Sir Ugly and it hit me! Chalkboard table!!! It won't be tall enough for the kids to sit at but it will make a cute artsy play table. I did it!

Chalkboard Table

find a crappy {hopefully cheaper} table at a yard sale, swap shop, or somewhere random
get some chalkboard paint
clean the table well, sanding if necessary {I didn't...I put in as little man hours as possible}
paint at least 3 coats letting each coat dry really well before adding the next one
purchase some dust free chalk to appease the hubs who didn't want nasty chalk funk inside

We gave the table as a gift to all our kids on Christmas morning. It made a big statement next to the tree and has seen lots of scribbles, little people play, and even hand-drawn game boards in just a week!

Have you ever been "taken"? How can you turn your embarrassing moment around? Share!

EXTRA RESOURCE:
homemade chalkboard paint {ANY color}, all the tutorials I've found have these same 2 basic ingredients:

Dry Non-Sanded Grout
Acrylic craft paints

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Filed Under: Decorating, Gifts Ideas, Homemaker, Homeschool, Parenting, Projects, The Ones about Post Series, The ones about the Rothacher Home, Thoughtful Thursdays

Organizing Christmas Clean-Up {Thoughtful Thursday}

January 3, 2013 by Jules 2 Comments

Welcome to the 1st Thoughtful Thursday of 2013!

Each Thursday I attempt to be thoughtful by share something helpful. It could be a fun new project I tried, organizational idea/system, yummy family friendly recipe, gadget I like, bla bla bla. You get the idea. I started this as a link-up but that's a lot of work and I didn't have a whole lot of interest. I would still LOVE to have you share your thoughtfulness in the comment section. Maybe someday I'll do a link-up again. Glad you're HERE!

Two years ago, Matt and I decided to dress up our house in Christmas decor early, we're talking the weekend Before Thanksgiving.

I were prego with our third baby who was due in January. We wanted to enjoy our the festiveness yet get it all clean up right after Christmas. Being in the "nesting" phase of pregnancy, I needed to clean the entire house, cook way too many freezer meals, and move our entire bedroom downstairs because I'd be coming home with our handsome Benjamin after my 3rd c-section and wouldn't be allowed to climb the stairs. Wow, that's a long explanation of why this has become a habit since Christmas 2010.

I LOVE the Christmas season. The thoughtful shopping. The family hang-outs. The charming decorations. but...when the birthday party has passed, I like to clean up Right way. Wash the dishes. Pack away decorations. Reorganize the fun new gifts to function in our house. In shorts... I need order. When my Christmas awesomeness is covering my home it feels like vacation. We lounge and enjoy one another like we're on a true school holiday. Anybody? When all this relaxing is going on things get a little too lacks. Nothing gets accomplished. Soooo, my poor hubs, who loves Christmas and everything that it entails, got until December 30 with our fun decorations this year.

5 ways to packed up Christmas stuff this year in case any of you have waited until this weekend to put yours to rest for another year.

Cut empty paper towel tubes into rings and wiggle them down around smaller rolls of wrapping paper OR cut toilet paper tubes length-wise to fit around larger tubes of wrapping paper to keep them rolled together and from getting ripped or crumbled up.
For stray bows I didn't want getting crushed before next year, I used a old animal cracker container.
Use punch cups to sort ornaments, keeping them from getting tangled together while eliminating giant boxes so they'll all fit in a smaller tub. Lay cardboard, cut to the size of your tube, to layer several layers of ornaments. I got 3 layers in this giant tub.
I even left a few ornaments in their original boxes if they were super sentimental or fragile. I also had room for our tree toppers and again with the old animal cracker container, this time full of tiny ball and shape ornaments for the kids tree.
Label tubs with index cards, detailed contents with sharpie, and slap that bad boy on with some fancy dancy packing tape on one of the long sides and one of the shorts sides so no matter which way you store it {length or width} you can read a label.