Braeden's 8th Birthday Party :: Pole Position

Yeah that seems about right.  Just over 6 months behind in posting!  Now that we're gearing up for another birthday in the house, I thought I better post this one first!

Braeden's 8th Birthday Party was at a place called Pole Position.  It's an indoor go-cart race track and the kids absolutely love it,  For Braeden, our no fear, high action boy - there was no better place!

From Racing Flags, Pit Passes, to DIY Oil Cans .... this party was a hit!

#racingparty #imhoffboys #poleposition

AH-Mazing Grout Cleaner - FOR CHEAP!

Ya'll ..... I can not believe this works!!!

Let me first start by saying .... if you're like me and these hard, manual tasks are daunting ... If I can do it ... so can you!!!

I have been in my home for over a year now.  I have cleaned the kitchen floors weekly since moving in, however, the grout has NEVER been cleaned!  Eeewww ... grosss ... yeah I totally know.  But in all reality, I don't have time to sit there and scrub my floors until they sparkle.  I was literally 2 seconds away from calling a company to come and clean the grout.  It was getting bad.  I mean, I have two dogs, two kids, and we use our kitchen like there is no tomorrow!  I knew it had to be done, and that's why I was really curious when I read that you can use Lysol Gel Toilet Cleaner on your grout.  Say whaaaa??  I know, I was just as curious as to how this worked as you!  I jumped in the car and headed to the nearest CVS to see if it would work.

I'm a little hesitant when using products I have never used before on floors.  I didn't want to stain them or ruin them in any way.  There were two options to choose from.  There was the Lysol Gel with Bleach and the Lysol Gel with Hydrogen Peroxide.  I had read the bleach worked well, but honestly, I wasn't willing to try it.  I get a little nervous about bleach.  So I opted for the HP.

When I got home, I tested a small area under our back door rug, just to see what I was working with. To my surprise ... It WORKED!  and with minimal effort ... [see above where I don't have a lot of time!]  Below are the exact steps I took to make my grout sparkle like the day I moved in. If you have dirty grout ... don't be ashamed :) Do what I did!!

Okay ... so this is the exact product I used.  I think I paid $3.75 for it at CVS.  You can probably find a coupon ... but again ... WHO has the time?!!??!

Steps:

1.  Prep your floors.  I swept my floors only. I didn't clean them at all, just used the hardwood floor vacuum.
2.  Take your Lysol toilet gel and apply it to your grout.  Like the photo below ...
3.  Take a bowl of water and a brush [just a reg. ol scrubbing brush you have laying around] and dip it into the water and scrub the grout.  You don't even have to scrub hard!  Just enough so the blue gel turns white and bubbly.
4.  Wipe away all the gel and water, and then refill your bowl.  Again, scrub the grout using only water and get the access away and continue to dilute the tile and grout.  [I don't know if this step is necessary, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving the product on the title for too long, so I made sure to do this step each and every time.]
5. Wipe away and let the title DRY.
** The tile grout will look darker than when you started ... this is ok .. it's wet and needs to dry.  [see photo below]

Tips:

1.  Make sure to TEST a spot.  I would hate for you to try this product and it NOT work.  Don't blame me ... I told you to test first! :)
2.  Select small areas at a time. It's easy with this Gel to just keep on filling in the grout ... DON'T.  This is still a strong blue gel, and if left on too long, could stain.  Do you really want blue grout?!  So start small.  I did mine in sections and didn't have a problem.
3.  Don't leave the gel on too long.  As soon as I applied to the grout, I filled a bowl with water and got started.  I only gave the gel about a minute to work. Any longer and I would have gotten nervous it could stain.
4.  Don't skip the water and brush step #4 .. just saying :)
5.  Allow to dry for a few hours before you really examine the tile.  For me, my tile took about 2.5 hours to really dry and look clean. You will freak out for a moment when it's drying and say "what have I done, it looks worse."  If you followed these steps AND tested, you will be super pleased with the outcome!

My title grout looked so good, when the hubs got home, he noticed it RIGHT away!  That's right ladies ... it's that good!

** I have real stone tile and grey-ish grout.  It did not stain or harm my floor in anyway.

Share your own photos ... I would love to see how it worked for you!!!

#cleaning #grout #lysoltoiletgel

It's FALL - a Pampered Mom Tablescape

It's FALL, the most wonderful time of the year!  Cooler, seasonal weather, Football, WARM hot cocoa, Pumpkin Everything, Apples, Apple Cider, Layers, Leaves, ohhh I could go on and on.  I absolutely love it!  Here's what our table looks like for the Fall.  Interested in the pieces?  Follow down below!

The Pampered Mom's Fall Tablescape:

Items Include:
Table: Restoration Hardware, Chairs: Ethan Allen & Ikea, Place Settings: Pottery Barn Emma, Flowers & Votives: Target, Napkins: Pier One

Three Ingreident - Vicks Vapor Disks

Second day of school in and my child comes home sick ... yuck!  Just thinking about all those germs at school makes my stomach churn.  [Insert gag reflex here].  So no time like any to bust open our DIY at home Vicks remedy.  It doesn't get easier than this people.  So we have been doing this for a number of years now.  Probably since our oldest was 2 or 3.  Just about the time they start getting all those sickies from other kids at day care, and our pediatrician actually told us to go out and purchase these.  Years ago Vicks actually made these Vicks Disks as I call them.  You just plop them in the shower with you and they help to clear all of your sinuses.  Genius.  Until they stopped making them.  SO, I made them at home. Only I used to use eucalyptus oil, which I still do from time to time, but I have found using this one single ingredient speeds up the process. 

Three ingredients are all you need ...
1. Baking Soda
2. Water
3. Vicks Vapor Inhalant

Two parts baking soda, 1 part water.  Add Inhalant TT.   Stir and place in muffin tins.  You can either leave these out over night, or if you're impatient like me, then put them in the oven for 23 minutes!
** in this particular batch, I added one drop of lemon to add some citrus in the mix, turned out great, but they do not come out as white as these babies.

The kids think they are fun, they actually don't mind taking a shower with them and little do they know, they are helping them tremendously! 

Back to School :: Fun Instagram Sign

It's back to school for these boys.  I seriously can not believe that Summer is over.  We had so many plans and dreams and oh ... where did the time go!?!?  I am so thankful that I was able to stay home with them over the break and create memories.  I love these two so much, it pains me to be away from them.  My oldest is now in Second Grade and my baby in Kinder ... so grown up.  I am praying they have a wonderful year full of  learning and friends.  

So I made these cute little Instagram boards in about 5 mins yall!  SO easy!  You should totally do them for photo booths or events you have coming up in the future!  Basically I just used a white board from Michaels and cut out a square in the center.  That was IT!  Then I added the fun Instagram stuff in Photoshop so I could change it out if I needed to.  And, thank goodness I did, because yesterday we found out that Breaden moved classes and has a new teacher now.  Super easy fix!

Here's to a brand new school year!

#imhoffobys

 



The Pampered Mom's Mimosa Bar

I don't know about you, but I wake up dreaming of a mimosa bar waiting for me in the kitchen, however, most days I am awaken by crashing cereal bowls and spilled milk ...

Here's a quick easy setup that only takes a few minutes to throw together on the rare occasion you do have something to celebrate.  Invite the girls over, set up a quick mimosa bar and hire a few cosmetologist to come over and pampered your friends.  For me, most evenings are spent rushing around after school to dinner, sports and finally home to finish homework before starting the kids nighttime routines.  Instead of trying to get the calendar to work for an evening with all your girlfriends, start thinking mornings! ... oh and mimosas!

via The Pampered Mom



The Pampered Mom's DIY Antiqued Dry Rack

Easy project I completed a few weeks ago if you can even call it that.  I have been eyeing these cute vintage remake drying racks ... how cute are these!  And the price at $20.00 was right up my alley too.

 

I got mine from World Market.  However, mine didn't start off black.  It was actually an off-white cream color and that wasn't exactly going to work in my kitchen.  No problem, you all know the drill.  I picked up some black matte spray paint with primer built in and 5 minutes later - perfection!

 

This cute little dry rack cost me just $25 with the paint job and is a focal point of my  kitchen.  It's one of the pieces I have been asked about more than any other!

 

 



#imhoffhome

 



The Pampered Mom's DIY Herb & Spice Kitchen Art

 



I have been waiting for the right opportunity to share my newest DIY project with you.  If you remember, months ago I shared a sneak peek of the project on our instagram account.  Don't follow - you totally should [@nattyimhoff]!



 

Well I had the entire project in a smaller frame and it wasn't as long as it is now.  See, I have this small weird space in my kitchen that just needed "something."  It was bare and really, I wish we would have added an extra set of cabinets when we had the change.  BUT, that didn't happen, and now I LOVE this once bare and awkward wall.

 

I took the original artwork I created and added spices to it to make it longer in size.  SO now it's HERBS AND SPICES, perfect for anyone's kitchen!  I made this art just on my ol' trusty [ha ha] PC and had it printed through hubs work.  Now, the same piece could be printed at any Kinkos, Staples, etc. for a minimal price since it's black and white.  Then I had it framed at my local Hobby Lobby.  The whole project only cost me $70 dollars, and I would say $65 of that is just getting it framed with the glass.  Well worth it in my opinion.  This artwork is not your "standard" size, therefore, everything, including glass is extra because it's custom. BUT, you'll never find another one like it!

 

I have already sold two others, and if you're interested, we'll get you hooked up to!

Just email me here : nataliewindett@hotmail.com

 

Here is the final piece in our new kitchen ... perfect space, perfect kitchen art!

#imhoffhome

 



Recipe Cards for Grandma

DIY Monogramed Headboards

In preparation of the new home, there were a few DIY projects that I have been meaning to get around to.  And when I say meaning to get around to, I mean YEARS of keeping inspiration on my computer screen in hopes of getting to them when I had some "spare time."  I think we all know how that ends up working out :) 

 

Now that it's crunch time, I REALLY wanted to give the kids a room that would instantly make them feel like it was theirs.  We have moved some many times the past few years, that I know how hard it is to adjust once more, and this time, I wanted it to feel like HOME!  Easier said than done right?  For me, if they came into the house with their rooms complete, then that would help make the adjustment that much easier.  One of the items on my to-do list was these EASY, and I do mean EASY, headboards.  The hardest part of this whole project is getting all the items together at the store.  I recently completed this project for $150.00 total for TWO, and each one took me less than 30 minutes to complete!

 

Here is the list of items that you NEED + TIPS: 

 

** do not forget your fabric. When I took this photo, my linens were at the embroidery shop getting the kids monograms placed.  I knew I wanted them to be personalized when I started this DIY Project.  The monograming cost $50 for both.

 

* Batting :: Go cheap on this if you can since you wont see this on the outside and it will help to keep the foam straight.

* Foam ::  Instead of purchasing at JoAnne's, I used a queen mattress topper from Target, which cost significantly less.



Make sure to measure your bed size and find the correct height and length for the plyboard. Mine was 39x42.  I also used a heavier piece of wood.  This is ONLY because I sent my husband out to purchase the wood at Lowes and he came back with this because it was "nicer" and "on sale."  I think next time I'll just go do it myself:) 

 

Lay your fabric flat on the ground, then place your batting, then the foam and then the wood.  Use the adhesive to your plyboard so the foam sticks to it.  I did this step, then cut the foam to the correct length.  Using your staple gun secure the bating to the wood.  ** This is great when you have a little aggression to get out :)  Do this step again to secure your fabric.  Make sure when your pulling and stapling that your fabric does not bunch up on the other side.

 



It's really as easy as that.  Each took me less than 30 minutes to complete.

I did not mention about how I will secure them, because mine will not be connected until we move.  BUT, when we do secure them, they will be drilled into our bedframe using 2x4's. I considered using the wall, but I like to move my furniture too much for that to work, Plus they are heavy [because of the wood] and I didn't want to ruin our new walls! [Plywood would not be as heavy].

 

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to comment below!  Happy DIYing :)