Simple DIY Window Valance

I have to say, it can be difficult keeping up with a blog!  I commend you all who do it on a daily basis.  With that being said, I introduce to you, a window valance that is so simple yet a very luxurious touch to your home.  I have become an avid "Pinterester".  I'm always looking for new DIY projects.  How do I have time to do a project with a 5 month old you say? I make time!  It's truly an outlet for me, and very fulfilling to say the least.  I have been wanting a valance over my double window in my kitchen for quite some time.  When I came across this Pin on Pinterest, it was exactly the style I was looking for.  She calls it a Pelmet Box.  Obviously I wanted to give this girl credit, so you can go to her site, but I'm going to tell you the basic steps that I took because I did mine over a double window, making it a little different. Here is a pic of the finished product:

What you will need:
Fabric (measure your window, and add 3 inches to each side, then double the length top to bottom)
Staple gun with shallow staples (I used 5/16" 8 mm, but I would recommend 1/4" 6mm) *If you don't have a staple gun, I highly recommend purchasing one.  It is an awesome thing to have!
Glue gun (not totally necessary, but was useful when I didn't want to use any more staples)
Foam board (I had to use 3 pieces, I paid $1.99/each at Hobby Lobby)
Duct tape
Box cutter
Cheap wire curtain rod (length depending on the size of the window you're doing)

You're basically going to measure the width of the window, and apply that to your foam boards.  Each of my boards were 30 inches wide.  This next part may sound confusing, but it will make sense when you're doing it.  The width of my window was 74 inches.  I subtracted 30 inches for my center foam board, because I left that one whole, and that left me with 44 inches (which meant that I had to divide that number by 2, giving me 22 inches for the 2 remaining boards).  I cut the side boards 22 inches each.  As you can see below, I drew an arch on one of the side boards, and traced it onto the second so it would be symmetrical.  I drew a separate arch on the middle one, using a measuring tape to make sure it was even.

Once you have drawn your Pelmet design (you don't have to use this design, get creative!), lay all the pieces out how you want them. 

 As you can see, I used the scrap pieces of foam board for my side panels.  Now you're going to go duct tape crazy!

You can never use too much duct tape...that's what's going to hold this baby together.

The piece of fabric you see on top of the pelmet was just traced and cut out.  This is so if you're looking at the valance from the outside, you don't see foam board with duct tape.  (This is what I used the glue gun for later.)

 

Above, you can see where I put the curtain rod in place, and duct taped it down to make it secure.

Now for the staple part.  You can see how I cut strips so that it would be easier to pull tight to staple.  Make sure you staple the top first, then sides, and bottom last.    Once you have stapled it all, you will put the piece of fabric that you traced and cut earlier over the back of the pelmet to make it look clean from the back.  You can use the staple gun for this part, but this is where I used the glue gun.  The last step is to put in the curtain rod attachments.  Make sure you measure the valance again before screwing them in.  You don't want to make multiple holes in your walls! Hang the completed product and you are finished!    

I hope this was helpful...I'm still a blogger in process, ha!        

Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes

I had a bit of a cook-a-thon the other day, and made a few different things.  One of the things I made were these Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes...and they were to. die. for.  I had planned to take them to Atlanta for Thanksgiving, but, of course, I forgot them at home (1. I live in Birmingham, & 2. I have a 3 month old...period.) and left them in my fridge!  Talk about frustration.  I couldn't have all those creamy, oreo-crusted, smooth cheesecake yummies left for me to eat!  Have no fear, I work in a hospital.  My co-workers live for the days people come into work with food...let alone cupcakes!  So as soon as I got done mentioning in shift huddle that I had brought something in, they were G-O-N-E, gone.  Everyone was searching me down throughout the day trying to get the recipe.  So here it is!  Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I received an email from my dad yesterday, titled "Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers".  I was skeptical, as I thought it may be one of those "send this to 10 people or you'll have bad luck for 8 years"-type emails.  But my dad isn't really the type, so I read it over.  It had such a great message, and completely appropriate for today, so I thought I would share.
Wishing you all a safe, happy, and family-filled Thanksgiving!

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers..

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him..

When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.

They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly.

The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar..

Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full..

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you..

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children.

Spend time with your parents.

Visit with grandparents..

Take time to get medical checkups.

Take your spouse out to dinner.

Play another 18.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.

Set your priorities.

The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.

The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'

The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS...
....IT'S LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN !
  
Wishing you all a safe, happy, and family-filled Thanksgiving! 

DIY-Reupholstering Chairs

Right before a had Ella, I got a huge urge to reupholster a chair!  I'm talking, 38 weeks preggers, on the floor on all fours, using a staple gun.  Yeah, I know...the things we do when we're pregnant!  I'm here to tell you that if I can do it at 38 weeks pregnant, anyone can do it.  Andrew and I had just purchased a dining room set from my sister-in-laws friend.  Nothing fancy, just a table and 6 chairs.  The first thing I wanted to do was change the fabric on the chairs to make them my own.

 

 

This is a before picture of the chair.

I took a trip to Hobby Lobby (you could go to Karen's Fabrics or Michael's, my Hobby Lobby just happens to have a great selection of fabrics) and picked out a fabric that I liked.  You want to make sure it is a thick fabric.  If it's too thin, it could tear. 

3 yards of fabric should be enough, but I got 3 1/2 just to be safe.

You will need: fabric, scissors, tape measure, hammer, flat head and phillips head screwdriver, and a staple gun.

First, you need to flip the chair upside down and unscrew the current seat on the chair.  In my case, someone had reupholstered the chair before me, so I had to remove the fabric they used.  I did this by using the flat head screwdriver to pop the staples out.  Once you have completed this part, put the seat face down (like picture above) on the fabric.  You want to cut it so there is enough fabric to be folded under the seat.  After I did this, I measured it with the tape measure, and cut all the other fabric.  Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the rest of the steps, but I will be sure to do that in future posts.  Next you will pull one side of the fabric under the seat, and staple.  Then do the opposite side, staple, then the other two sides.  You will staple the corners last.  Once it is all stapled tight, you will screw the seat back into the chair.

 

 

 

This is my finished product!

Note: This project was done before I started my blog.  Future projects will have better step-by-step pictures.

The Modern Day Momma

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Emily, I'm a new Momma to my sweet little fairy, Ella.  I have the most loving husband, Andrew, who is an amazing father.  We have a Yorkie named Jack who is adjusting to becoming a big brother.  We are loving life!
             

I am constantly thinking of projects to attempt and recipes to try, and now that I'm a new mom, things to do with my little girl as she grows up oh so fast.  So here is my attempt at becoming a 

Modern Day Momma. 

Here are a few fun facts about me:

February 12, 2011...the day I married my best friend.

August 18, 2011...the day we welcomed our angel, Ella Kathryn, into the world.

We love Alabama football...ROLL TIDE!!!

We love to travel.

 

My two loves.