Talluluh Pitches a Tent - DIY Hallway Tent

I am typing this post from inside my daughter's new hallway tent.

She won't let me out, and that's a great thing! The idea for this tent came from Pinterest.  I found a link to a blog with vague instructions, and modified them to suit my needs.  There is no pattern here, nor on the blog on which I first found the hallway tent (see original idea here.).  However, I will show you what I did and maybe it will be helpful.  I am not a master seamstress, but I do have experience sewing.  I mostly quilt (rag quilts are my favorite!).  I would deem this intermediate difficulty, but if you are more of a beginner, you can do the basic sewing and embellish with a hot glue gun! It took me about 9 hours (with interruptions) to complete.  I also used all scrap fabric and leftovers from other projects. So this cost me nothing!

Here are my basic supplies:

A canvas drop cloth from a hardware store (mine was leftover from a tree skirt project I did around Christmas time, so I'm not sure of the original size).  You could also use a sheet! But the drop cloth is heavier and thus more sturdy.

2 Spring Tension rods (again, had these on hand, not sure of size, but you would need to measure the width of your hallway)

Various scrap fabrics and felt

Cutting mat, quilter's ruler, and rotary cutter

Sewing machine and thread

Scissors

Measuring tape


The first thing I did was measure how wide I wanted my tent to be by measuring the width of the hallway. Then I measured to see how tall I wanted it to be.  I ended up making mine 39 inches wide.  It is 9 feet total length.

Then I layed out my drop cloth and cut it to the appropriate size and hemmed the edges to keep it from fraying with a 1/4 in seam. On the bottom and top ends, I hemmed a 2 inch opening wide enough for tension rods to slide through.  I put a 2 inch strip of canvas at the 4 ft. mark and stitched it in to hold a third tension rod.  I ended up only using two tension rods and leaving the bottom moving freely.

The next part I stitched was the shingles.  There are five rows of 7.  I used a pattern piece I already had on hand (from making Marleigh's baby rag quilt.  You can find the pattern piece here.).  

I traced the pattern piece until I had the number I needed.  Then I cut them out with scissors.  I then stitched them together in rows of 7 with a 1/4 in. seam. After I stitched the row, I would press the seams and then stitch on the outer edge of the scallops before sewing the whole strip onto the tent at about the 4 foot mark.  I repeated this step for the rest of the rows, overlapping each row when I sewed it to the tent.  

Next, I cut the space for the door.  I just cut two slits 20 in long and 1 foot apart in the tent from the bottom.  I left it attached at the top so that I would have a flap.  Then I sewed a piece of scrap fabric that I had cut to be the same size as the flap onto it.  When that was complete, I finished the raw edges around the door with felt binding.  I cut strips of felt into 1 inch strips, sewed the strips together and then pinned and sewed them around the door and door frame.  Last, I cut a circle of felt and hot glued it to make the doorknob.

For the window, I measured and traced a rectangle on the canvas with a pencil.  I cut it out and then bound the raw edges around the window with 1 inch strips of scrap fabric.  I made the curtain by cutting a piece of fabric twice the size of the window, folding it and stitching it across the top, and pulling on the thread to gather it.  I then sewed it to the inside of the window.

The mailbox was the trickiest part.  I used a pattern piece like the one for the shingles, but a little bigger, and traced it onto the canvas.  I cut around the curve, but left the bottom attached so it would be a flap.  I then cut a piece of scrap fabric the same size, again using the pattern piece. I stitched the fabric to the flap and bound the edges with felt.  The binding wasn't as neat on this part, because I don't have much experience binding curved surfaces.  But it will do the trick in keeping the edges from fraying. I hot glued a piece of velcro to the mailbox and the opening so that it would close.

The flower pot below the window was the final touch.  I just cut a flower pot shape from felt and hot glued it to the tent. The flowers were from a shirt I bought at J. Crew that had holes in it, so I just ripped them off and glued them on! You could use silk flowers from a craft store, though and it would probably be even cuter!

The end result was a tent that can hang in the hallway and you can adjust its length, depending on how high you put the second tension bar.  It's super easy to hang up, and easy to store. The best part is, in our house the kids rooms are both at the end of the hallway, so inside the tent leads right into their bedrooms! Fun! They both love it!  

I know that these directions aren't super specific, but it really is a custom project that you have to "fit" to your needs.  You also need to know how to use a sewing machine. The binding is the hardest part, but you could probably glue on binding, or use Fray Check or some other type of fray deterrent and get a similar result. You can also search "how to sew binding" into a search engine and get some tips! Here's a YouTube video I found: How to Sew Binding.   If you have any questions, please feel free to comment! 

Talluluh Talks Parenthood - Toddler Version

When the time comes that you are blessed with a child, people will tell you LOTS of things.  Things like, "You will never sleep again!"  "You'll never have time for (insert anything here)." and "Say goodbye to your skinny jeans." They pretty much tell you that you will be miserable and they don't understand why on earth you didn't wait five more years, or have less children, or why you don't do such and such the way they did it.  They will give you tons of unsolicited advice and comment on how big your daughter's hairbow is or how your son's cough sounds really bad.  And I'm not just talking relatives.  I am talking complete strangers, too.

I don't consider myself an expert at parenting, because I am pretty new to the scene.  But I do know a few things. And all those people?  They are sort of right.  Your life will never be the same.  But they are wrong too.  Here's a list of what people don't tell you:

1.  The first time you hear your child cry, the first time you hold them.  You will never forget that moment and how emotionally charged it was.
2.  You will cheer and jump up and down like an idiot when your child uses the potty.
3.  Being a parent is probably the messiest, most disgusting job in the world.  But getting puked on and peed on is totally worth it.
4. There is no better therapy than rocking or cuddling a baby.
5.  You won't be able to read or watch the news without your heart breaking.  Everybody is somebody's baby.
6.  You will yearn for a weekend away, but when you get it, you will miss your babies and worry about your babies and yearn to return home.  Except when vacationing from potty training.
7.  You will learn to hear the distinct sound of that cough that precedes throw-up.
8.  You will love your significant other more than you ever knew possible when you watch him playing My Little Ponies or trains with your children.
9.  It is totally possible that you will walk into your child's room to wake them up from a nap and they will be covered in poop.
10. Your children will be the funniest, sweetest, most beautiful children in the whole universe.
11.  There is no such thing as a clean house.
12.  There is no such thing as clean laundry.
13.  Hearing a small person say, "I love you Mommy" will undoubtedly make you feel like a superhero.
14.  You will wipe boogers and snot on your shirttail.
15.  You will never be more proud of anything than you are of your children.  And that your heart will swell to a thousand times its size with pride at the completion of the most minute task (e.g. eating, walking, talking).
16.  You will have a constant internal struggle between "Let's have another one!" and "Whose idea was it to have children?"
16 and 1/2.  You will understand why your mother was crazy.  You will forgive her for everything you said you would never do when you had children (and then you will do them all).
17.  When you go to the restroom, your children will follow you and bang on the door.  They will stick their fingers under the door while yelling, "I want to watch you go potty!"
18.  The years between their day of birth and their third birthday will pass at warp speed.  Cherish every. single. moment.
19.  You will be able to distinguish between the types of crying you hear from the other room.  There is the frustrated cry, the hurt cry, the sad cry, and the fit-throwing cry.
20.  The opinion of everyone else will not matter.  All that will matter is that the little people in your life think you are the best cookie/bacon maker that ever existed and that they beg you to play dinosaurs and to read them a story.  You will wonder what you did before you had children.  You will wonder how your heart can feel so full of love when your child is happy and ache so much when they are sad.  You will understand your purpose in life.

Tallulluh's Southwest Salad

I posted this yummy lunch or dinner recipe earlier in the week, but I've made some major improvements and added photos!  Also, a new southwest ranch dressing recipe is included!

Talluluh's Southwest Salad

3 c. mixed greens

1 cooked chicken breast, sliced (I cook mine with 1 tsp. minced garlic, 1 T. olive oil, 1 T. El Pato tomato sauce Mexican hot style, and a dash of seasoned salt)

1/2 c. black bean salsa (see my recipe below)

Handful of fresh chopped cilantro

1 lime wedge
1-2 T. Southwest Ranch Dressing

Rinse and toss your salad greens.  Cover with black bean salsa and top with chicken and cilantro.  Squeeze lime juice over the top and lightly drizzle with southwest ranch dressing.

Black Bean Salsa

1 can black beans (no salt added), drained

1 can corn (no salt added), drained

1 can diced tomatoes (no salt added), OR 1 can Rotel, if you like a more bold flavor, drained

1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix all ingredients well.  

Skinny Southwest Ranch Dressing

I adapted this from a recipe I found on Pinterest over at High Heels and Grills.

3/4 c. nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 T. skim milk
2 T. Rotel
1/2 T. white Vinegar1/8 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. El Pato Tomato Sauce, Mexican Hot Style
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1 T. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

Handful fresh chopped cilantro

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend on a medium setting until thoroughly mixed.   

Talluluh is Only Half Crazy

I hope I haven't put all my beloved followers off by all my health and fitness posts lately.  Especially the past week, when I've been so overcome with excitement about my first half-marathon that I have taken over your newsfeed.  Sorry bout it.  But here's the deal:  Right after my wedding day and the birthdays of my children, today was the 4th most significant day in my life.  Today, I completed the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon's Half-Marathon.  And.it.was.awesome.

If you've been reading all my posts (and you should be), you've heard my story about the high school athlete who didn't know how to train.  I HATED RUNNING.  Hated it.  It bored me to tears.  When Ty and I got married just 5 short years ago, I would literally run about two blocks and call it a day. The really crazy part was I thought I was accomplishing something.  Don't get me wrong, doing something is better than doing nothing.  And those first few steps out the door led me to where I am today, but I was a little ignorant about running.

Now I've been running for almost three years.  It's MY time.  My time to take out all my frustration, stress, and emotion on the pavement.  When I signed up for the half, I was scared.  I had never run further than 5 miles in my entire three years of experience.  But I wanted to challenge myself, and I'm so glad I did.

If you have never run in a marathon event (be it half, full, or 5K), I implore you to at LEAST go and watch.  I was not prepared for the emotion that would consume me today.  Every moment was inspiring.   It was also a blast!  My favorite parts from today:

1.  Singing our National Anthem together before the race began.  Tears in my eyes.  Anticipation building!
2.  Passing the Midwest City Fire Department in their full gear and seeing everyone thank them and shout "God Bless!"
3.  Being passed by a person in a wheelchair (tears again!).
4.  The hundreds of people cheering, waving, and encouraging me! It was really a blessing.  There were people holding signs with funny sayings, wearing costumes, even passing out Jell-O shots and beer! It was like a big party and I was just running through.
5.  Seeing the finish line.  That brought tears to my eyes for a third time.  I couldn't believe I had almost accomplished what I set out to do!
6.  Waving to my hubby, my sis, and my cousin Dakota as I got ready to cross the finish line.  I was so happy to see their faces.

7.  Before we started the race, my goal was to finish in under two hours and thirty minutes.  Finding out I crossed with a time of 2:20 was a great feeling!

Add to all this that we were running to remember those whose lives were lost and those who were changed forever on April 19, 1995, and it truly is an experience that is difficult to put into words.  But I've done my best.  And I hope you know that if I can do it, you can too!  So do something that inspires you.  It all starts with that first step out the door!

Talluluh Cooks Skinny Pancakes

Hi, friends! I know you've been waiting with bated breath for my next blog post.  Here it is!  I've been missing from the blog scene for awhile.  Things have been crazy and hectic and it just hasn't left much time for blogging.  Rest assured that I have been keeping a list of things to blog about, so I'll try to catch up in the next couple of weeks.  First on my list is a recipe I've been dying to share with you.  If you've read some of my previous posts, you know I've been trying to live a "clean" lifestyle.  This basically means eating a balanced diet with no processed foods.  You can read about eating clean here.  I'm not perfect at it, but I am getting there.  And I've found that I'm beginning to "crave" foods that are good for me instead of cupcakes and cheeseburgers.  Go figure.  The recipe I'm sharing today is relatively clean.  The pancakes are WAY healthier than regular pancakes.  I don't eat these every day, because they are higher in calories than my normal egg white and spinach scramble, but I do usually make them on the weekend for a treat.  They are delicious and I hope you will try them!

Talluluh's Skinny Pancakes

Dry Ingredients:

3/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 T stevia sweetener (I use Truvia brand)

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

3/4 c. OR 4 egg whites

3/4 c. plain nonfat greek yogurt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

Other (optional):

2 T dark chocolate chips

1/4 c. sliced strawberries

1 T pure maple syrup

Combine dry ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add wet ingredients and stir until combined.  If you choose, add your chocolate chips.  You could also add pecans!

Cook on a griddle on medium high until lightly browned on both sides. Top with strawberries and pure maple syrup.  ENJOY! 

Makes about 2-3 servings.  Each pancake should use roughly 1/4 c. batter.  

Talluluh Gets Ticked

Okay people, this mommy is ticked.  I've been steaming overnight about this a post from my friend's Facebook page that included this letter:

Every time I read it I just get exponentially madder.  I mean, really?  Social media is a double-edged sword.  But here's the beauty of it:  if you don't like it, hit the delete button.  Hide it from your feed.  Who takes time to type a letter and send it to someone just because they post about their child?  I'll tell you who.  Someone without kids.  Someone filled with bitterness and hate.  Someone who has NOTHING better to do.

Guess what? I love my kids.  More than anything.  Other moms know this.  If you don't have kids, you may not understand why we post pictures of them eating, sleeping, and wearing their underwear on their head and their shoes on their hands.  They are the very best thing we ever created, and we are damn proud.

And my friend who posts about her child?  She is HILARIOUS.  Seriously. Her posts make my day.  I cannot count the number of times I've laughed out loud.  Her blog link is over on your right, so if you don't believe me, check it out for yourself.  The "dopey" child is also my daughter's best friend.  She is a lovable, darling,  adorable, ham.

So if you sent this letter to my friend and I know you, know that I said a prayer for your pitiful soul last night.  If you agree with the notion that parents clog your newsfeed with posts about their children, delete me.  Because I will continue to post the stories, quotes, photos, and sentiments.  I will brag and brag and brag until I am blue in the face.  I grew a human for nine months.  I gave birth to two children.  And I live in America.  So I think that gives me every right and more to post as often as I want.  Plus, my kids are perfect and precious and everyone loves them.  And this little gal is precious and perfect as well.  She deserves to have her picture posted all over the place.  I just can't get enough Lil' Red!

Talluluh's Hero

So, it's been a few days since I've posted, and this one is a little more emotional than my past posts.  But I just watched the Ram Farmer Commerical from the Super Bowl.  I know I'm behind.  But I went to bed at 9:00 p.m. that night because I am old and lame.  And I'm fine with that.  So I watched it tonight and I cried.  Gosh.  That whole commercial took me back years. To farming with my Gramps.  That was one of my favorite past times.  I loved that man.  Idolized that man.  He was my hero.  It's been four years since he died, and I still miss him every day.  So tonight, I'm sharing a few writings that I penned in high school.  Thanks for reading.  Love ya'll.

If we could only watch ourselves while we are here today –

If we could only keep ourselves from wandering astray

If we could only do some good and make folks like us too –

Then maybe there would come a time when we will live anew.

For this is just a sort of test

A proving ground just.

And if we stand the ordeal now –

We’ll be worthy of his trust.

-Loren W. Schneider (Gramps)

Gramps 1 (Read at his funeral in 2008)

My grandfather is not weak. His body has diminished in both stature and posture.  His face is worn and thin, his arms are small and frail.  His legs are swollen from poor circulation, and some days, walking is a challenge.  If you listen to him speak for awhile, it may appear that even his mind is feeble, but he is not weak.  I have seen his strength.  I can see it, even now at the age of ninety-three, when he is sitting in his chair, asleep.  My grandfather has strength of spirit.  This is the same strength that brought him through the death of his father, the Depression, the Second World War.  When he is gone, people may forget his name.  They may forget the kind, small-town man who never knew a stranger.  They may forget the deeds he has done.  But we will not forget.  We cannot forget, because the strength that my grandfather exhibits has been subtly passed to each of us through his stories, his hugs, and his wisdom.

Sometimes, he forgets things, but he never forgets my name, or my voice, or his pride in what his grandchildren have become. More and more lately, he likes to talk of the past.  I love to hear the stories he tells of his childhood, his time in Saipan, the story of how he met my grandmother.  When I was young, I loved to spend time with him on the farm, feeding the cows, hauling hay, tuning up an old tractor.  He always kept toys in the glove box of the old Ford, for his grandchildren, for me.  He exuded strength then, both physical and spiritual.  I knew that to gain the love and respect of this great man meant more than any treasure. 

I have gained from him more than just my name.  I inherited his stubborn will.  That bull-headedness that caused him to keep driving long after the doctors told him he couldn’t.  I inherited his child-like playfulness. This same playfulness made him ages younger than he was, romping around on the floor in a Garfield mask, making us laugh.  I inherited his love of baseball. This same love made him one of Fargo’s great players, and a fan of the Babe.  One day, I hope that people will say that I am strong like him, that my faith is deep like his.  These are the things I hope to acquire, rather than inherit.

My grandfather gives great advice.  He is wise, as old men often are, but there is something more to his wisdom, something hard to explain.  He uses few words, and often speaks in metaphors.  Once, when talking about the children I teach he said, “Here’s something you can tell them when they get ornery, and everyone gets ornery,” he paused, “Tell them, it’s okay to make a mistake, but when you grow up, you have to be man enough to correct it.” These are the words I take to heart.

And someday, my children will ask me about the white-haired man in the pictures from my childhood.  I will smile and say, “That was Gramps.” The rest of the story, I hope they will learn through my life, through the lives of their grandfather (my father), and through their aunt.  This is not a story that can be told, it is a story that has to be lived.

Gramps 2 (written in 2002)

Today after school I crossed the rusty cattle guard to the back pasture, and walked down the worn trail to my Gramps’ old red Ford. He was fixing fence, one that had been there since I can remember.  The posts were made of thick tree branches, worn by wind and rain and sun.  The barb wire was loose and rusty.  He apologized for missing my State Tournament softball games and explained that he had cow trouble on the farm.  Gramps was always one of my biggest fans.  We talked about the weather and Grandma.  She was cross with him for the worn out shirt he keeps around and was wearing.  At this point I looked down at his worn boots that I had seen him remove in his chair in the dining room, at his faded and dirty blue jeans, at his threadbare shirt with a hole in each arm from wrist to elbow.  I saw his leathery skin and light blue eyes, his brown farm hat white hair askew underneath.  We talked about school and the crops.  We talked about softball.  We were discussing the current loss at the State Tournament when he said, “Sometimes, life deals you some beatin’s.  You want to be able to take a beatin’ without being mad.  It builds character.”  This was the kind of advice Gramps always gave, and it always meant so much that he would share his wisdom with me.     

Untitled I

By Loren W. Schneider (Gramps)

Circa 1933

There is a land somewhere in the world I know

That is calling me to its soil.

I know not where it is nor what it is there for,

But it needs my skill and toil.

It may be a land so far away

That I could not reach it if I tried

Until my life was badly worn;

Or it may be the land

On which my soul was born.