DIY Duct Tape Ikea side table

Joe and I bought these Ikea side tables (Lack) about 3 years ago when we finally moved from our tiny 1 bedroom condo style apartment.  The idea at the time was that they were cheap and simple.  I mean, you can't really be upset when you your kid ruin a $7 table.  They have kind of traveled all over the house because they are so beat up, and I kind of hate them now as a result.

I was ready to get rid of them, but decided I could re purpose them with a pretty simple DIY project.  2 rolls of decorative The Duck Brand duct tape (about $5 each)  and about 20 minutes and they are almost like new! Only prettier, of course.  And who doesn't love an easy DIY project, right?

I laid the first strip of duct tape so it would overlap the side about 1/2 an inch.  I put strip after strip of duct tape up against one another, just smoothing with my hands, until I reached the other side.  After the top was finished, I was almost out of tape.  There was just enough to do the sides of the top, but not the legs.  Leaving the legs uncovered was fine, as they aren't really in that bad of condition.  I'm sure you could get more creative with this, maybe do some kind of pattern, but I really just wanted the scraped up tops covered! I have a little tape leftover from each roll for touch ups and accidents.. Or Dawson peeling the tape off, because I can see that happening. 

The Star Wars table will go in Dawson's room for him to play on, and the flowered table is going to the nursery to have next to the chair I will probably spend way too much time in :) I really tried to find something else for Dawson's space themed room but the Star Wars Duck Brand tape was really as close as it got.

Overall I'm very happy with the outcome of the side tables!  Have you done any Ikea makeovers? Or just furniture makeovers in general? 

27 weeks and counting!

After looking at this photo, I think it's safe to say I probably shouldn't wear that shirt in public again.  Also this was the first time I've seen myself up close in a full length mirror in a while.  Feeling HUGE, and yet I know I'll get much bigger.  I cut my legs out of this picture, and even as I write this I'm contemplating my head as well.  Just not feeling the pregnancy glow this time. 

We have a cold this week, but thus far I seem to have it to a lesser degree than Dawson, my mom, sister, or Joe.  Still, I am tired.  In fact, I feel like I complain that I'm tired all the time.  Dawson has been up a lot in the night, both from being in a new room (pics and post on this soon, not quite done!) and from feeling yucky.  Him and his Auntie seem to have gotten this crud the worst.  

There isn't really a lot to tell from the last week! We have mostly stuck close to home.  I'm having one of those weeks where if it can go wrong, it does.  They are little things, but I'm noticing my patience for it is zilch.  I've been ready for bed at 7pm all week just for the simple reason that if I go to bed, I can't spill or break anything or find some disaster that needs fixing (like the open juice that poured all over the fridge earlier this week, without me noticing for a day or two.. Awesome!) 

This weekend I'm hoping to get the nursery finished up.. Things that still need to be done:

• Pick out paint
• Paint the wall
• Refinish an old ikea table (there will be a DIY post on this if it turns out well!)
• Assemble and "dress" the crib
• Hang the new curtains
• Find and hang artwork
• Find a blanket or quilt for the chair

The list actually looks longer than it is.  We will see what we can knock out this weekend!

How far along? 27 weeks 3 days pregnant.. Baby is the size of a head of rutabaga!

Weight gain? Weighed myself this morning and according to my scale, I'm up 8 pounds total! 

Belly button? Still looking extremely flat and deformed.  

Wedding rings on or off? Still on. 

Movement? I think I was right about the growth spurt last weekend.  She's out of control in there and actually hurting me at times.  This didn't happen until much later with Dawson.  I don't remember him doing a lot of body rolling like she does, he was more into sticking his feet up in my ribs and pushing his butt out as far as he could.  I walked around with a lopsided belly A LOT that last trimester.  

Maternity clothes? Yep.. Looks like I need to retire some of them already though.  I need to just stock up on dresses for summer and stop trying I think.  I already feel like I look gigantic anyway.   

Symptoms? Feeling? Big..  Tired.  Hips are killing me.  Rib pain has been haunting me this week again too.  Oh, and I would like to burn my bras.  Just saying. 

Mood? The crankiness is off the charts.  My patience is thin.  It reminds me of when Dawson was a baby.. Not a good feeling.  I'm having a lot of manic episodes and over-doing it physically, still.  Trying to take it easy this week though.  I just need to keep chanting "It will all get done, it will all get done.."  

Missing? Alcohol.  Oh, and alcohol.  Did I mention alcohol? Yeah.  I bought a bottle of cheap moscato this week and I'll be mixing it with sparkling water so I can at least enjoy a little bit.  Judge away.  I'm also really missing running.  I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to be able to squeeze my run in with 2 kids.  I still haven't figured it out. 

Looking forward to? Scheduling the ultrasound next week to make sure baby girl is doing well.  And of course the shower- only a week or so away!  

Sleep?  I'll sleep when I'm dead, I guess.  Between my hips, my neck, my nose (allergies) and Dawson, I'm not getting a lot of sleep.  (This is the same as it was last week.. Ugh) 

Exercise? Does cooking count? I've spent a lot of time on my feet in the kitchen.  Also, Memorial Day I got over 5000 steps according to my fitbit.  I was a cleaning, organizing, moving machine.  I paid for it.

Any cravings? Baked goods.  Fresh fruit.  Candy bars, although I have only given into this craving once.  Alcohol, as stated above.  It feels good to actually want to eat again. 

Food aversions? Steak looks like yuck this week.  Fried foods.  Anything greasy pretty much. 

 Until next week! 

We did it!

We got our furniture! Special thanks to Grandma K for watching Dawson all day!  If you hadn't heard about the furniture fiasco, you can read all about it here.

For about $1200 we got the following:

-Workstation recliner with lumbar massage, USB port, and cup holders (purchased at big lots) 

-Ikea kivik sofa with washable red cover

-Ikea kivik storage ottoman with washable red cover

-Ikea Poang chair 

-2 polka dotted throw pillows (Ikea)

-2 baskets for toys (Ikea)

It looks a hundred times better already.  I hadn't realized how much space the old couch was hogging. It worked, but I am happier with this set up.  I still need to move some of Dawson's things around and put away (ahem, get rid of) a lot of his toys.  I also need to find a small end table to go between the couch and Joe's recliner.. perhaps one to go next to the Poang chair too.  While they are both awesome pieces of furniture, they do not have cup holders :)

It took us all day to get all the furniture, but I don't think we did too bad considering we didn't leave the house until around noon and Ikea is almost an hour away.  And of course I got hungry after we picked up the chair, so we had to stop and eat.  It's all set up now and I am just waiting for a couple of responses on the old couch to see when it will leave!  I will be sure to post pictures soon.. like when I can pry Joe out of the chair and get things all put where they belong! 

On another note, I am feeling pretty good.  I m 5 weeks 5 days as of today.  I was sick as a dog pretty much as soon as the stick turned pink with Dawson.  I stayed that way through most of my pregnancy.  Really I have only had waves of nausea here and there.  I am trying not to worry.. I mean, lots of people don't have crazy awful morning sickness, right? Trying not to let my anxiety get the best of me.  Also, what is up with this bloating? Does this happen to everyone with baby #2 and beyond? I already pulled out my maternity clothes.. Shirts I am having no issue with, but pants are not happening.  I decided I just needed to be comfortable. The bloat will go down.. I hope. 

Nothing else to report around here.  We had a wonderful Christmas and Dawson got spoiled rotten of course! We did too! 

Trapping My Child and Other Adventures

I said I would update on how the new big boy bed is going.  Well, better than expected.

The first few nights on the mattress on the floor went pretty well.  In fact, the first night he was so excited he didn't even want to read stories!  This excitement of course has passed.  Fat chance that would last longer than one night.. 

Anyway! He got thiscute little rechargeable nightlight from IKEA and his attachment to it was pretty much instant.  That's mostly what has been keeping him awake until holy crap late (11:30pm.. I know, the party is just getting started then! Not if you have a 2 year old..) because he just wants to lay in his bed with it and talk to it and play with it.  Cute, kid, real cute.. But mama and daddy need to sleep!  So the nightlight has to live over by his music, which by some miracle he hasn't touched.  

I was so worried about him touching and playing with all kinds of things and he really hasn't gone farther than the edge of his mattress.. You know, with his legs (or just his toes) still touching the mattress to lean across the room.  Which by the way, is hilarious to watch and he even slept this way one night.  

His Pottery Barn Kids treehouse bed came on Friday and he was instantly IN LOVE.  I have never seen his face light up like that. Great job and a BIG thank you to Grandma R!  The first night he slept under it, which sent my Mommy anxiety into overdrive because I couldn't see him on the monitor.  He was so tired I don't think he moved at all though.. or that's what I'm trying to convince myself of.

Yesterday Joe put the ladder on and put him up top for his nap.  Success! He slept in it! Never mind that Daddy took the ladder off so he would stay in there.  He also slept up there last night.. without the ladder.  Now I don't have to worry about any of the crap in his room because he is stuck! Just like in the crib.  And I can see him again on the monitor.  Whew!   I have never seen something so funny as his little face all squished up in the little tiny windows.. and didn't you know, the view is different from each square?! Apparently so.  

I guess that's not really a huge update.  Thankfully it was pretty uneventful, other than his new bed coming!