DIY Bootsocks

A friend of mine introduced me to the new rain boot sock fad... have you seen this? 

 

I don't know if Hunter boots started it but I think it's adorable and an awesome way to cozy up some rain boots to extend them into the winter months!

I am normally an UGG boots girl in the winter but this allows for a little more wet {snowy} weather as my UGGs normally soak through.

Pulling the socks over the boots is a little different than the other adorable boot sock fad...

So I was in between riding boots and rain boots and settled on "riding rain boots." The Hunter boots were a bit too steep for my budget so I went with a pair of Kamiks... 

They come in different colors but I figured brown would suit me best. {I'm all about versatility as I'm not generally a 'shoe girl' so I'll pretty much have these forever}.

I wanted to have the look of the Hunters with the boot socks but the Hunter boot socks {which you can purchase separately} range from $35-$50! Here's my $4 solution. {with a little help from the Goodwill} 

Granted they're faux... I didn't sew on a fleece sock on the bottom, but I figured to keep it simple this works- and I can just wear big socks. 

And with the left over sweater body I made a throw pillow cover! {hmm too not unlike the $50 covers I've seen in stores}

Grab an old sweater or two. BIG ARMS work best! I looked in the XXL or Men's sections.

Cut off the arms 

Fold over...

And stitch.

OR for an even simpler approach- a NO SEW version!

Cut off arms...

Fold

Fold again

Stretch... {You want the socks to fit inside the boots well and not be too small}

And there you are! 

 

I've worn these out for extended periods of time and have had no problems with them unfolding. Love the look, and especially the price! A great way to get some variation with your boots and to warm them up for winter!

my DIY cribs

For the boys' nursery I wanted a woodland theme. So I painted birch trees on the wall and went with a neutral paint color {Potter's Clay by Martha Stewart}. Of course my dream cribs {Brookfield from Pottery Barn Kids} were a little out of the question {$600 ea} so instead Ben and I made up our own plans {quite inspired to build by Ana White} and built our own from solid pine for around $100 ea. We made the ends taller like the ones from RH Baby and Child {about $1200 ea}. 

We've built tons from Ana White but due to regulations and liability she doesn't have any crib plans on her website. {Very understandable}. 

We knew we would need to follow all the safety regulations and it wasn't too hard to do all that- they're easy to find. The cribs are incredibly solid, and V E R Y safe! I'd say if you're thinking on making your  own it's very do-able. Just follow the updated safety guidelines.

A handy husband and more than willing grandpa to build and stain my dream cribs! A much more economical solution to my expensive taste problem! 

When Ben was done building them I casually said, "ok now we just need to stain them! Easy!"

Well Ben wasn't as enthusiastic as I was about staining, and being in my pregnant state I wasn't able to do a thing. They sat for awhile unstained until the kids' Grandpa Jim {Ben's step-dad} came over and insisted on staining them for us- for the boys. It would be his present for them.

Little did we know what we were letting Jim get into. It's an understatement to say he is a perfectionist- He stained and sanded and stained and sanded for well over a *month* working hours a day on them. 

They. Are. Perfect.

And are my most favorite thing I own. I will have them forever! And they will be passed down to the grandkids one day! Handmade furniture is the best! So personal, so beautiful, and will last for generations.

On the boys' 8th month birthday {08.07.12} something tragic happened. Their Grandpa Jim died in a helicopter crash. He loved our boys so much- never having kids of his own he felt so accepted as a grandfather to our kids. The boys' middle names were named after Ben and their three grandfathers- my dad, Ben's dad, and Ben's step-dad Jim- {Jonas Benjamin David and Elias Stephen JAMES}. 

 

At that point all of Jim's hard work on the cribs just became so much more. Before they were my favorite, now they are incredibly special and priceless to my heart. I can't say enough about how much we all loved Jim- the last time I spoke with him was on our moving day to Chicago only three days before he crashed. He said, "I didn't realize until now how much I'm really going to miss you guys. I just love your family so much."

We were so blessed by him and miss him terribly. The boys won't remember him, but we have so many stories to pass on to them of how much Grandpa loved them and spent time with them. Looking forward to the day when we see him again in Heaven.

{Our favorite photo of Jim when he was young from the Vietnam War... what he looks like in Heaven now!}

back to blogging!

So it's been a longer break than anticipated... much. longer. but I'm ready to get back in the swing of blogging again! This time with two extra babies in tow {that I may or may not be nursing at the time of my writing}. 

These little stinkers decided to wait until they were good and ready to come out- 39 weeks! Jonas was 7 pounds 11 ounces, and Elias was 6 pounds 10 ounces, and I was... well I prefer not to say. Being preggo with two little ones is a little different- I felt {and looked} nine months pregnant much sooner than I was. In fact I got the "oh that baby's due any day" line starting at around six months! That's ok. Every bit was worth it. I just love these little guys! Oh I didn't mention- these little boys were born breech! {No C-Section! Yes by the end I wanted to die, but happy I persevered}.

If you can't notice from the picture, they are very different- Jonas is quite a bit chubbier and Elias has lighter hair. Fraternal {not identical} twins. They have been a lot of fun- and not as hard as I thought they'd be. 

I totally recommend twins! :)

...

The boys are now T E N  M O N T H S old! Amazing! Here are some catch up photos!

All our sweet little ones- Zuriah, Elias, Jonas, and Anah

Elias or we like to call him Eli, winky, Li-Li, and a host of other silly names! Elias was born with a Vertical Strabismus and mild Ptosis in his left eye that will require surgery at some point, but not just yet. For now I've fallen in love with it, and as I was told from my sweet friend- "Don't fix it! It'll make his wife fall in love with him!" 

My happy Jonas {Jo Jo} Always a smile. Very much a mama's boy!

We're so amazingly blessed! 

I've been itching to get back to blogging, I apologize for taking S O very long! I have lots to share! Excited to be back!