An Inexpensive Way to Fill a Wall

Sometimes it can be overwhelming and expensive to fill a large wall with art. Either you get one huge piece or a bunch of smaller pieces. If you go the huge piece route the art/photograph can be expensive and if you have it framed it can be very expensive.

Personally, I like the inexpensive route. Right now gallery walls are very popular and can be done inexpensively. Depending on how you do it, gallery walls look good in every design style.

A gallery wall is a collection of frames grouped together to take up a large wall space.

Gallery walls can be: all the same type/size/color frame with different art, all the same type of art with different frames, and any other combo that pleases you.

I decided to do a gallery wall in my son’s room. I’d seen many free printables online and other ideas of things I could make and really liked the way they looked.

I wanted the frames to be all the same color with the art (stuff in the frames) being the colorful objects.

I started by gathering all the items I wanted to frame. I searched Pinterest and decorating blogs for ideas of things to frame. I found free printables, had a few photographs, used my son’s painted handprint, and did some other homemade things.

Once I figured out what I was framing, I made a list of what size frames and how many of each I needed. Then I started gathering my frames. I like to get most of my frames at Goodwill.

I can find ugly frames (and sometimes nice ones) there for only a few dollars each. So, for what I’d spend on a brand new one, I can sometimes get about 4 frames. You’ll have to visit a few times usually before you’ll find everything you need.

When I look for frames I don’t look at what’s framed, I look at the frame itself. I’m looking for wood or plastic frames in good shape, because I’ll take them home and paint them. That’s what I mean by ugly.

I also pay attention to the shape or profile of the frame, because that’s what you will see when it’s painted.

When I get the frames home, I take everything out of them (glass included) and start cleaning them up. I either paint them with left over wall paint or spray paint. The quickest and easiest way is definitely spray paint!

I spray paint in my garage, because in Oklahoma it’s always windy and windy and spray paint are enemies, so the garage it is.

Once the frames are painted and dry (let them cure about 24hrs) then the fun starts with matching art to frame and putting them all back together again. After that I lay them out on the floor and start playing around with arrangements until I find one I like.

I just start hammering nails into the wall eyeballing the placement but I’ve heard of others making templates with paper and taping it to the wall to get a more perfect placement. I’ve also heard of using Velcro strips instead of nails but I like old fashioned nails!

Once they are up enjoy! This is a inexpensive project and can have great impact. Have fun with it!

Does Intentional Living Make You Crunchy?

A few years ago, I heard the term crunchy applied to someone and I had no idea what it meant. Crunchy? Did they make a funny sound?

Photo by: Vegan Feast Catering

Then I learned that it meant crunchy like granola – alternative, weird, hippie even. Oh. It clicked and that’s when I knew.

I’m crunchy. Really crunchy.

And I love it! See, to me, being crunchy is synonymous with being more intentional. About food, health, everything. As I became more intentional about life, I got crunchier.

I started eating more food made from scratch. It started as a way to save money (we were getting out of debt), but quickly became something I did for its own sake because I love knowing what’s in my food and where it comes from.

Doing so also allowed me the opportunity to be more creative in the kitchen, since I wasn’t just opening a boxed or canned meal and heating it up.

Soon, things spread into my health. I began learning more about midwifery, nutrition, herbs and essential oils and began being so much more intentional about how I took care of myself and my family. I started on a path to discover my calling soon after because I realized that physical health is only part of the equation.

Being more intentional about my finances made me more intentional about my health – mind, body and soul. Thank you, Dave Ramsey, thank you!

If you’re reading this blog (and resounding with the message), chances are you like the sound of being more intentional.

So how do you do that? Simple, sustainable baby steps.

1. Bring in less waste. Take your own grocery bags to the store. Buy from the bulk section with your own bags to reduce waste. Avoid products with lots of packaging.

2. Start using essential oils and herbs for prevention. Garlic is a wonder herb, known world-wide as a “cure all.” It’s also great at preventing illness and boosting the immune system. Lavender essential oil promotes calm and applying it before bed results in better sleep – for you and the kids.

3. Transition to a diet rich in whole foods. Replace Rice-a-Roni with home made rice. It only takes 20 minutes. Start incorporating an extra fruit or veggie serving into your diet each day.

4. Connect with other crunchy moms. You become like those you hang around the most. Once you start looking for other crunchy moms, you’ll find them, online and in person. Everyone needs community.

5. Take a Mama Break once a week (or more). This is essential to your emotional health. I need time to myself to recharge and my family knows it. If there’s one thing Ian’s learned in our nine years of marriage, it’s happy wife, happy life.

And the beauty of all of these simple baby steps? Savings! The crunchier I get, the more money I save, because I’m not spending a lot of money on healthcare costs or prepackaged “health” food.

There’s so much to gain from being more intentional.

Confessions of a (Frugal) Crunchy Mama

Oh yeah, that's me.

A few days ago I walked into the bathroom of my favorite coffee shop, hung up my coat and set my wallet on the shelf. Then I looked at the other shelf occupant and gasped in horror.

It was a roll of Kirkland Signature toilet paper, wrapped not in its usual paper wrapping, but plastic. Plastic?! At least I could find some way to recycle the paper or use it as kindling for our wood stove. But plastic? That’s when I knew it was true.

I’m crunchy.

And I rant in public rest rooms. Some of you may be laughing right now and thinking, “Honey, you are SO granola!” I know I’ve shared many of my “green” tips that I use on a daily basis, but these are new habits, picked up out of necessity over the last couple of years.

When I started developing these habits, the goal was not to become more environmentally conscious. I just needed to dramatically cut my budget (ok, there was no actual written budget – oh the madness!) so that I could stay at home with my kiddos.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a guest post for Dustin at Engaged Marriage, talking about how one thing leads to another. In that case, how pursuing a healthier lifestyle led to more intimacy in my marriage. But it’s true in other areas as well.

I quickly learned that I can’t be frugal without being eco-friendly.

Recycling saved us money on our garbage service. And made me realize that I needed to stop bringing home products with frivolous packaging.

Cloth diapers saved us an insane amount of money on disposables. And made me concerned about the chemicals that were going on our babies’ little bits, as well as how long they were going to sit in a landfill.

Cooking from scratch resulted in big savings on groceries. And doing so allows me to buy in bulk with my own bags.

As I began learning about and implementing ways to save money, I quickly found myself turning into what my mom affectionately refers to as “a crazy hippie.” And I’m ok with that.

Because while people think I’m crazy for doing what I’m doing, I’m much happier. These frugal efforts have done more than save me money.

They’ve helped me become more intentional about how I live. They’ve allowed me the ability to enjoy crazy, noise-filled days with my kids. And they’ve fueled my passion for learning and sharing, helping other mamas save money and live more intentionally.

That’s a win in my book.

Have you gone crunchy?

Fighting the Resistance

Something happens when you begin creating new habits. You’re cruising along, seeing positive change, enjoying the momentum, when all of a sudden, something inside you rises up in opposition.

Fear slams on the brakes and says, “What the hell are you doing?! This is scary. And uncomfortable. Don’t change – things are fine the way they are.”

And it’s totally normal.

There’s a lot of momentum building in my life right now. I feel like I’m on the cusp of something huge. I’m so excited to run forward into what’s coming, knowing that whatever it is will be awesome.

But then there’s the resistance, trying to hold me back and convince me that maybe all of this change isn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe my old life, the rut, is a better place to be.

Sometimes I can fight this feeling pretty easily. I work on a small project, pray or create something beautiful. This usually clears the air and leaves me feeling ready to go again.

And there are other days when everything just seems daunting and insurmountable. Even changing a diaper (not the poopy kind) seems like a huge chore.

What then? What do you do to prevent from losing the momentum and sliding back into the Rut of Crappiness (insert title for what you’re moving out of here)?

I don’t know about you, but I have a few things that help. Things that I sometimes have to force myself to do because the resistance is so strong. (I wasn’t going to write a post with a list, but that’s just how my brain works).

Go outside – Soak up some sunshine and feel the wind on your face. Take in the beauty around you and give thanks for all you see.

Talk to a friend – Sometimes you just need to spill to a buddy. Find a listening ear to help you talk through your feelings and process what’s going on in your head.

Connect with God – Maybe you feel this resistance because things are out of balance, particularly this area. I know this happens to me. Pray. Read. Sing. Don’t ignore the spiritual side.

Enjoy some solitude – One of my greatest needs is alone time. I’m such an introvert. Lately, it’s been pushed aside as I work and enjoy the relationships I’m blessed to have. But as much as I love being with my loved ones, I still need time alone to recharge.

Get active – Exercise is such a great way to get motivated again. Make it something you enjoy like a brisk walk, hike, yoga or a bike ride.

Create something – Make something beautiful, be it a drawing or piece of jewelry. Use your hands to make something that makes you smile.

Help someone – One of the books we’re reading the kids had this awesome quotation: “If you can’t think of anything to do, help someone.” I think the same goes when you’re feeling resistance. Take the attention off of yourself for a bit and come back later with a fresh perspective.

Usually one of these will do the trick. Sometimes it takes two or three. And if you get through them all and still feel kinda blah, you’re probably so tired you can go to bed and wake up the next day feeling refreshed and energized.

What do you do to fend off the resistance?

The Year of Increase

More fun!

Creating a theme for the year was not something I’d ever thought about before. Frankly, it seemed a little weird.

But I was so excited about the possibility of building more meaningful relationships, I couldn’t resist naming 2011. And wow! I already told you how it went, but wow! It was just so awesome.

That’s why I was excited to create a theme for 2012. This year, Ian was involved in the process and together we dubbed 2012: The Year of Increase. Oh yeah. That sounds great, doesn’t it?

Giving

I want to give a lot more this year. Not just money. I want to give my time to people who need it. I want my kids to be involved, too. And I want it to be creative and simple.

Adventure

Travel. Camping. Exploring. We want to do it all. We’re even planning a road-trip to Canada to visit the Gordons, with a detour in Colorado to see the Lukasaviges and Millers. It’s going to be awesome! And yes, we’re driving with all the kids. We know that’s crazy. But hey, so are we.

Income

We’ve lived in a scarcity mentality long enough. I’m tired of barely scraping by. The last few months have showed me that I’ve really been holding myself back, convinced that there’s not enough to go around. God’s economy is an abundant economy and I want to spend my time praying for more creativity instead of asking for a way to pay our rent.

Impact

My vision, my core purpose is to help people shift their thinking to create a better, more intentional way of living. It energizes me, keeps me going, fulfills me. Helping others get to the root of what matters to them and acting on it makes me come alive.

This is how I best help people and I want to do so much more of it. Shalom Mama will be the first place to see it as I plan on creating life-changing guides to help you live your best life. In fact, I just finished my first full-length ebook today! Join the newsletter so you’ll know as soon as it comes out.

Togetherness

Now that Ian is at home full-time, we spend a lot of time under the same roof. But unless we intentionally spend time together, we end up at the end of the day saying, “oh, hello, have you been here all day?” We want more togetherness – fun, games, prayer, sex – it’s all important to us.

Relationship

This is too addicting not to continue. My life is so much richer because of the people in it. This year, we want more more of that. More community. Deeper friendships. Authentic relationships.

I’m so excited, I can barely contain myself. This year is going to be BIG and I can’t wait to share it with you! Will you join me in this? I’d love to grow along side you, helping you integrate more intentional action into your life. If you’re interested, join the newsletter for your free download, Sustainable Change, and leave a comment below with your theme for 2012.

Shalom!