Kenny loves the pattern. He is always trying to push me outside of my comfort zone and stop me from playing it so safe. I don’t know why. I play safe so nicely! He said “get it and if you’re sick of it in 5 years we’ll get a new stair runner.” I said “can I have that in writing?” He said “ha ha.” I said “no seriously – get our your pen.” It actually will be a fairly inexpensive, easy thing to change because it’s not connected to any other carpet and is a small amount. Plus with wear and tear that stairs get we may be ready for something new before too long anyway. But still…. ??? Too trendy for the stairs???
Picture of the day
Quick Tip – helping kids unpack from a trip
I have my girls take their clothes out of their suitcase and put them into piles. Time to categorize! All dresses in a pile. All skirts. Then pajamas (here’s where I always wonder why we have a bigger pile of pj’s than we do clothes?). Swimsuits go in their own pile… and so on and so forth. It is much easier for my kids to categorize everything first. It breaks the chore down into a more manageable task. Then they can get to work putting away their piles.
When I do laundry, I have my girls do the same thing. I give them a pile of their clean clothes and they take the pile to their rooms and separate them into categories before they put them away. Such a simple thing to teach your kids to do, but by breaking the task down into manageable pieces (or should I say piles?) it doesn’t feel so overwhelming and the task actually gets done.
Organized Silverware
My SIL has them in orange. Â And apparently TJ Maxx has LOTS of color options available. Â I am so heading to my local TJ Maxx! Â The other cool thing about these silverware organizers (aside from the fun punch of color) is that they have great rubber grips on the top and the bottom of them so NO sliding around in the drawer.
Decorating on a budget (fun ideas)
While I was hanging out with my brother and SIL last week (I’m really missing their sweet new baby right about now!) I asked Dayna if I could take a camera tour around their darling home. Â She has decorated everything so cute without spending much money at all and I love so many of her ideas! Â So of course I had to share them with all of you. Â :)
My brother made these planter boxes with just some wood and wood screws. Â Then he and Dayna painted them black and added some pretty flowers. Â Such a small project that makes a huge difference on the exterior of their house. Â Yea for planter boxes! Â I love them.
Her entry way is so welcoming. Â She painted an old desk turquoise. Â Then she bought a sunburst mirror at Target for above the table and it wasn’t quite big enough so she attached it to a simple, inexpensive mirror. Â Perfect! Â She also just bought that cute lamp with the yellow shade at Target. Â Add a simple white bird (you know I’m a fan of using a bird or two when decorating), a few magazines and wa-la! Â A super stylish entry way.
And here is a corner of sweet little Finn’s new nursery. Â Isn’t it adorable!? Â The crib was a Craigslist find ($30!). Â My brother worked his magic to fix it up a bit and make sure it was safe and then Dayna spray painted it white. Â What a difference a little spray paint can make. Â She didn’t know if she was having a boy or a girl when she decorated this space and I think she did a great job keeping it gender neutral but still full of color and personality.
And here is Drew’s new big boy bed. Â LOVE this! Â The sunglasses and colors in this bedding are so fun. Â Especially with the blue table and bright yellow lamp (bedding and furniture found at… where else… Target!).
Just like the bookshelf lined with wrapping paper, you can easily change this when you’re in the mood for a different look. Â I love the way it gives her room a dramatic focal point.
A new addition!
Carrara marble dreams!
Anyone else out there as crazy about Cararra marble as I am? I LOVE it. I actually more than love it. I can’t really come up with a word that truly describes the feelings I have for this particular stone. I have mentioned before that I didn’t put Carrara marble countertops in my kitchen. Even though I REALLY really wanted to. I’m just way too practical for that little maneuver. But sometimes it’s fun to be just a little bit impractical, right? I can’t be sensible all of the time, right? So I am sprinkling Cararra marble elsewhere throughout the house.
And for the master bathroom countertops. I may be a bit crazy for that last move – but I can’t help it! It’s just so beautiful. Even if it is so easy to scratch and stain and make a mess of. I will be SO careful. And most likely learn to love the imperfections. Because I have kids. And kids are not SO careful.
Picture Frame Spotlight
I was looking at my aqua picture frame today (getting ready to take it down) and I started thinking about what a simple, happy little addition it has been to our living room.
I originally created our frame to become part of our Christmas card display, but it has been used so many different ways over the months!
Mostly we use it as a birthday spotlight. My kids love being spotlighted on their birthday month. Such a simple way to make them feel special.
It added some interest and color to our living room.
Looking forward to finding a happy home for it in the new house.
As of late…
You guys. I have been going CRAZY cleaning out my house. Went through all of our paper and files…
Anything we won’t need in the next two months in the kids’ rooms I’ve packed up! Empty closets!
Ellie asked me last week why I never wear any of the jewelry she made me last summer. Well. Good question! So this week I have worked my beautiful assortment of beaded necklaces into my wardrobe. And I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing the smile on her face when she sees me in them. New summer trend around our house.
I walked past this quote on some steps the other day – “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple.” Love that. It makes you want to smile and do something kind for someone, doesn’t it?
And just in case you weren’t frightened enough from my last post, here’s my scary little monster one more time. In his mom’s sunglasses. :)
A good buddy and a fireplace
Chuck’s kindness to my son isn’t the only reason I admire him. He is so amazingly talented. I explain to him what I want things to look like and then like magic! He makes it happen. His woodwork and attention to detail have blown me away. Here are a some pics of my family room fireplace in progress…
And a few more pics of my little man and his “diggers.” He will be so bummed the day this house is finished and there aren’t trucks and a construction crew around to entertain him 24/7. I will be a bit sad too. So may people who have worked on our house have become good friends of ours.
New scrapbook room
So I had to add one more. :) This is the door to my new scrapbook room. They just installed it today!
And here is a peek of the room so far! YEA for built-ins! YEA for storage for supplies! YEA for no crib and napping baby in the room!
This room is really such a multipurpose room and one I will be sharing with the kids. It has many names!
Scrapbook Room
Mom’s office
Kid’s homework room
Art/craft room
Computer room
Anything messy that we want to leave up for a while will happen here! This room is located right off of the kitchen/family room. I wanted it close to the main living spaces so that I could be working and still see the kids, or so that they can be doing homework while I’m making dinner, etc. There will also be a table in the middle of the room that is still a work in progress. Next to having a real yard, I’m probably more excited about this space than anything else. I’ve been dreaming about it for 15 years or so. :) I’m still debating the wall color and color for the dutch door. Fun homework for this weekend.
Speaking of the weekend, I hope you all have a fabulous 4th of July! If you are traveling, be safe. This is the first year in a while that we will be staying put for the 4th. I will miss seeing family, but I’m looking forward to a BBQ with friends and a day with Kenny home from work. And some time to finalize paint colors before the painters start on Monday. Bonus. :)
Scrapbook Room Pack Up
Project Life Organizational Tray? Don’t mind if I do. :) I ordered several of these on-line to help organize my PL supplies.
Love them! Everything in a happy little spot. Makes me smile just looking at this picture. (You can find them here.)
I was sorting, organizing and packing completely uninterrupted. Listening to music and totally in my happy place. Then I went to take this picture down off of the door. {Ellie drew it when she was four. I remember it like it was 10 minutes ago. She told me a story about a bee and I told her it was a masterpiece and taped it on the nursery door. I’ve almost taken it down several times but then I’ve just smiled and kept it up.} Suddenly I was very very sad. Saying good-bye to this house feels a bit like I’m saying good-bye to my babies. It’s a phase of my life that is ending and while I don’t want to go back and re-live it, it makes my heart hurt to know it’s over. I took it off the wall, wiped a few tears away and turned up my music in an attempt to cheer myself up and keep packing. I’ve had several moments like that this month and will most likely keep having them until we’ve moved. It is an emotional time for me. A mostly happy time. Just with a side of sadness.
I also came across more of the girls’ art. I’ve been saving my favorite pieces to frame in the new house. I just love the colors in this one! Not to mention the adorable ducks.
And after a good five hours of blood, sweat and tears (k – maybe no blood, but definitely sweat and tears) I had the whole place wrapped up and packed up. Whew! What a chore.
I tossed a lot and only kept the things I know I’ll use. Felt so good! The boxes were HEAVY so I slid them in the hall and waited for Kenny to do the rest. I’m always the packer and he is always the lifter.