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Staying Home Sawyer

Real Life Living on a Real Life Budget

DIY, Home Decor, Lifestyle

26 Pieces of Flair…

8.04.2014

DIY Metallic Letter TacksI don’t think I’m ever going to be labeled as someone with a lack of flair. I mean come on, everything I own is covered in glitter or gold. I have no shame either. I wear that glitter with pride. I want to sparkle through life! Okay well I at least want to have fun while I find my way through this thing we call life. After all, we only get one.

So instead of the “minimum” 37 pieces of flair (see Office Space), I made a minimum of 26. After all, if Jennifer Aniston only needed 15, I can make do with 26.

Originally I saw this idea on Pinterest as fridge magnets. That idea is totally adorable as well, but because I am in a constant effort to de-clutter the fridge, that idea was not for me! So after trying to make my cubicle at work a little more Sparkling, I put two and two together. Why not make them push pins instead of magnets!? Just as easy, and frankly, more fun for me. Now, even though my desk is purrrdy, I am still hoping my boss doesn’t pop in on Friday with: “Ummm, I’m gonna need you to go ahead come in tomorrow. So if you could be here around 9 that would be great, mmmk… oh oh! and I almost forgot ahh, I’m also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday too, kay.”

I checked the Dollar Tree, to no avail, for the magnetic letters. Good ol’ Wal-mart had them for $1 a pack. Perfect pricing for me! The tacks I bought at the Dollar Tree, but you can get those at Wal-mart too. The paint you can buy at most places now-a-days, but I like Home Depot for $4! Total for two sets: $7. And each set after that will only be $1 more. That can is not even half empty!DIY Metallic Letter TacksI picked up my handy dandy glue gun (please don’t judge me when you see how dirty it is. It gets used. Often.) and went to work. I just put a small amount of hot glue on each letter, then adhered the tack to the backside. I gave them a few minutes to dry, and voila! I poked them all through a large piece of poster board (foam board would work better but is more expensive), carried it outside, and started spraying!DIY Metallic Letter TacksBelow is each step of the process: before, during, and done. Unlike the blog post I mentioned above, I did NOT use a primer, and I did NOT spray the backs. It wasn’t necessary in my opinion. I just want them for show, and they’re not a gift. But who am I kidding, even if they were a gift I probably would still do it this cheaply. As long as it’s pretty on the outside right!

DIY Metallic Letter TacksThey turned out really cool, and I’ve already been pinning away on my board at work. I only painted the first batch, so I’m in need of cool words/quotes that only require one letter each! I have started with “Sparkle Big” – If you have any better suggestions, I’m all ears!DIY Metallic Letter TacksTo end with a line from my favorite character:

“Excuse me? Excuse me, senor? May I speak to you please? I asked for a mai tai, and they brought me a pina colada, and I said no salt, NO salt for the margarita, but it had salt on it, big grains of salt, floating in the glass…” – Milton.

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Birthday's, Lifestyle

When You Just Don’t Have Time to DIY

7.31.2014

I Can't Go Out Tonight. I'm Crafting.I don’t believe in setting unrealistic expectations for myself. That being said, not everyone is as socially bored as I am. I don’t deny the fact that I have much more free time than most women my age (mainly because of the lack of little ones running around our house). Other than Lucy, our morbidly obese feline, my schedule is pretty free. I attribute this to not making plans. I hate having plans. Am I the only grown woman who makes plans hoping they get cancelled? If I have something to do, inevitably it comes down to the day and I’m hoping my plans are cancelled so I can stay in pajamas. I am hardly ever disappointed when my plans fall through. Unless it’s a vacation. Then I cry.

This year, I decided to make an effort to remember to send each and every one of our close friends/family a birthday card. This isn’t as easy (or cheap) as it seems. To save money, I make a lot of my cards. But again, I have the time. So for all of you out there that cannot imagine leading as boring of a life as me, there is something out there for you, I promise.

Cheryl’s cookies are good alone, but this adorable little Birthday Cookie box is perfect! For $5 flat, you can have this Birthday Cake Cookie Card delivered to your friends or family. They also have many other occasions for the same flat rate: Get Well, Congratulations, New Baby, etc. I’ve ordered them several times for friends and have always been happy with the order. Who doesn’t want a cookie card!?Birthday Gift Idea // Cheryl's Cookies

(Image courtesy of Cheryls.com)

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Lifestyle

When Life Gives You Lemons…

7.30.2014

When Life Gives You Lemons...My mother has given me many amazing things, but by far the best thing she’s given lately is this delicious new summer drink recipe! She made it a little simpler, but after mixing a few random things, we ended up with the perfect ingredients!

Throw these into your summer dinner parties and your guests will leave happy! Or just do what my husband and I do: have them with dinner once in a while. Or a few nights a week. How much is too much?Summer Ice Recipe // Summertime DrinkIngredients

Vodka

Sparkling Ice

7-up

LemonSummer Ice Recipe // Summertime DrinkFill a glass with ice, drop in 1 shot of vodka, fill almost to the top with the Sparkling Ice. Top off with 7-up and add a lemon slice to make it pretty! Note: The best flavors of SI we’ve tried are the Strawberry Lemonade or the Orange Mango. I would steer clear of the Black Raspberry. No good with vodka.

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Lifestyle, Travel

Take a Break in San Francisco

7.29.2014

San Francisco, CA // Ferry Building OneDisclaimer: I know that you most likely follow me because of my DIYing…but every once in a while I need a vacation day from crafting. So when that happens, I’m going to take you with me on a little tour of my destination. This weekend: San Francisco. The stops? Only an amazing indoor mini-golf course, the best burger in America, and a few outdoor markets. Put up your feet, and enjoy your trip!Rickybobby Burger San Francisco America's Best BurgerAlas! I have finally completed my life’s goal. I found the Best Burger in the world! Okay…maybe not the world, but definitely in the state of California. And trust me, I have really been trying out the competition. I eat vegetables every day for lunch so that on Saturday I can eat a nice big juicy burger. And I don’t feel guilty. Ever. I put a lot of effort into earning that damn burger.

This weekend we hit up nearby San Francisco to do a few touristy things. How can I give you advice on fun things to do, if we never do them? We started Friday night with a new place in San Francisco, Urban Putt. UP is an indoor Miniature Golf Course! It’s spectacular. I surprised my husband with the trip, because of his love for anything and everything golf. This place is my husband’s dream land. Mini-golf mixed with a bar? Take him there. So I did, because of the lovely wife that I am.PicMonkey Collage6While I had fun at UP, our next stop was above and beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. This is where America’s Best Burger comes into play. I read an article about the best  “under-the-radar” burgers in San Francisco, and bookmarked the ones I wanted to try. I just happened to be closest to Rickybobby, so off we went. If luck wasn’t on my side that day, I don’t know what was. This burger was above and BEYOND any burger I’ve ever eaten. And I love burgers. All kinds, I am not discriminatory. I usually hesitate to say “Best” burger, but in this instance, I’m going all in. It is the best I’ve had. So I am labeling it “Best Burger 2014.” Not to mention, they serve bottled Coke! And need I mention they have “sweet patatertots” – yes, they are exactly what you’re thinking. Sweet potato tater-tots. I HIGHLY suggest you take a visit.  If you’d like more information, read my Yelp Review! Then follow me on Yelp too! (Have a suggestion for a MUST TRY burger? Leave a comment below on the best burger you’ve had! Any location, I must try them!)Best Burger 2014 // Rickybobby Burger in San FranciscoSaturday morning we took out all the tourist stops. We started with the San Francisco Flea Market (or the Treasure Island Flea for locals). I thoroughly enjoyed walking around with a Moscow Mule in my hand (see Bloody Mary Cart below) and visiting all the different shops.San Francisco, CA  Flea MarketI have to give a little credit where credit is due. The best shop I came across was Gneiss Wood. As simple of an idea as it is, the pieces of wood are beautiful and very unique. I purchased one for a friend, and had to give them a shout-out for their creations!San Francisco, CA  Flea MarketDa da da….And the best part of the flea market? THE FOOD TRUCKS! They are lined up surrounding one whole side of the market, and they are busy! The famous Sam’s Chowder House has a truck (and you need to SERIOUSLY try their Lobster Sandwich). There is every type of food you can think of from donuts to chicken. And the best truck of all?! A BACON truck!!! How can you beat a bacon truck? Bacon takes the bacon. See what I did there?San Francisco, CA  // Flea MarketOur next stop? The San Francisco Ferry Building for the Farmer’s Market. This market takes place every Saturday from 8am-2pm and is a must stop as a tourist in SF. Because the Ferry Building is a stop in itself, why not stop when it is hosting the market as well! We enjoyed trying various fruits and veggies (and had the BEST tomato I’ve ever eaten) at the stands. We tried food from different stands and shops and just walked around enjoying the day.  The best part: People Watching (this is a serious Olympic Event in San Francisco, and the market gives you a great opportunity to practice).San Francisco, CA  // Ferry Building One // Farmers Market

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About Me

About Me

Hi Mamas! My name is Shauna, a 30-something (big emphasis on the 'something') new mama and wife living in Southern California. I've become a Stay At Home Mom to Sawyer, and I would do it forever if I could! I'm originally from Wisconsin and am a total Cheesehead! I'm here to share DIY's, travel tips, and baby stuff I'm sure!

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stayinghomesawyer

Save for later. PS: This is my husbands rendition Save for later.

PS: This is my husbands rendition of a “Sexy Willy Wonka.” You know, because being Aladdin, Flynn Ryder, Prince Charming…he couldn’t just be a regular guy for one year. 🤣🤣
Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five Don’t spend today wishing for tomorrow. Find five things every night that you’re thankful for, and BE thankful for them. So much of our lives are spent waiting for the next best thing when in reality, it’s sitting right in front of us.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’ If there’s anything I’ve learned in this life, it’s to SLOW DOWN.

So much of life is spent going, going, going. Waiting for the next stage. Telling ourselves, “Once we get through this, things will be easier.” Once the kids are older. Once life settles down. Once we have more time. But what if we’re missing the whole point? Because the moments we’re so eager to get through ARE the moments.

Today is the important stuff. The ordinary days. The messy days. The little conversations, the giggles, the routines, the chaos, the moments that don’t feel significant while we’re living them. We spend so much time wishing for the next chapter that we forget we’re already living one we’ll someday wish we could go back to.

So slow down.

Be here.
Pay attention.
Let the moment take as long as it needs to.

Because someday, these will be the days we miss.

**And if you know us personally, you know why I had to jump on this social media trend**
This is your permission slip to let the crafts be This is your permission slip to let the crafts be messy. 

They don’t need to match your house. They don’t need to be Pinterest-worthy. They don’t need to be made with a neutral color palette and a Cricut. They just need to be theirs.

Because someday I’m probably going to miss the paper scraps, the glue everywhere, the questionable color combinations, and the little masterpieces I had no idea what to do with. Let them make the ugly craft. Let them make a mess. Let them create something that looks nothing like what you had in mind.

Childhood doesn’t have to be aesthetically pleasing to be beautiful.
When you stop to think about the fact that one day When you stop to think about the fact that one day all of her toys will be someone else’s toys, she’ll be heading off to college, and all I’ll be left with are these videos…
This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy the This is NOT a post to bash moms that are happy their kids are going back to school. My neighbors and I commiserate all summer long about how long the days are, how frustrating the kids can be, how much they’re fighting, etc. 

But my days are always like that, and even though it’s exhausting and overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Even if I only have ONE moment like this a day, it’s one moment a day I could miss out on if they were in a traditional school. 

So here’s to whatever choice you are making in regards to your kids education. What’s best for YOU is most important. And what’s best for us is this.
I honestly never thought I’d be the mom saying yes I honestly never thought I’d be the mom saying yes
 to slime... but here we are.

The difference? This isn’t just a container of slime
 to squish around. The Slime Prank Lab by @CrunchLabs
turns it into an activity. We spent the afternoon mixing the slime, experimenting with different textures, and (of course) testing out the ridiculously funny booger and fart pranks. 🤣

My girls were completely entertained, and I loved watching them create, experiment, and laugh together. It feels like pure fun for the kids, but there’s actually some pretty cool science and engineering behind it all, plus Mark Rober walks you through even more with the QR code inside the kit.

Who in your family would be the first prank target? 
#sponsored #crunchlabs @moosetoys_
I’m about as outdoorsy as an overwater bungalow in I’m about as outdoorsy as an overwater bungalow in Tahiti can be.

#tahiti
A core memory I didn’t know I’d be making… This w A core memory I didn’t know I’d be making…

This weekend at church, my daughter got to light the candles for the first time. At the end of the service, when she went up on her own to extinguish them, proud tears dropped from my eyes. And as I looked around at others, I noticed I wasn’t the only one. 

If you had asked me in my early to mid twenties, I wouldn’t have imagined how much this community, this faith, and these little traditions would come to mean to our family. There was a season of my life, long before I became a mom, where I drifted away from actively going to church. Now, getting to watch my girls grow up surrounded by faith, love, and a church family who knows them and celebrates them feels like such a gift.
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