Z-cakes' Bedroom Inspiration

Now that the master bedroom is 95% done (we just got prints to hang above the nightstands!) I have my sights set on Z-cakes' room. I recently painted the room a gorgeous light gray that looks great with every color I bring in. Previously her room was a brown that I referred to as "unfortunate"—at least for a three year old's bedroom. Repainting immediately made it feel more like a little girl's room. Isn't it wonderful when that happens? Here are a few of the photos I keep coming back to when I imagine Z's future room:

{via Annily Green}

So, you know Annily? She's kind of my new blog crush. I love everything about her house and this kids' room is no exception.


{via Little Green Notebook}

I love the mix of blue, green, and especially yellow in this picture. Speaking of yellow, I'm toying with the idea of having that be a unifying color in my home. Discuss.


{via Apartment Therapy}

Ahh...geometric quilts.

Now that I have these pictures all put together, I'm kind of shocked at how different they are. Here's hoping I can synthesize the three into something stunning and not something that looks like it was actually decorated by a three year old.

In other news, our Fab.com order arrived today!

It is supposed to be a Christmas present for Z, but I've been playing with it for a solid 45 minutes. It may end up being difficult for me to share.

Monday Colors

Our trip to the quilt shop was exactly what I needed last week. Here are a few colorful shots from our outing.

Turns out I need these pictures today too since the weather report is gray and drizzly for the rest of my life. Okay, that's not true. I think the sun is supposed to come out tomorrow. I'll quit being so dramatic.

How are you? Is it sunny where you are?

Happy Monday Everyone!

Cooped Up

Wouldn't it be rad if I could make a chicken coop that looked like one of these instead of a rickety lean-to? Fingers crossed people.

Our playdate/chicken tutorial with Karisa (Thank you so much for the fun day Karisa! Z hasn't stopped talking about your fun kids!) was wonderful. Whether or not we will get our own baby chicks this spring remains undecided. Wishy-Washy seems to be the way I roll lately. Paint colors? Mmmm, I'm not sure. Chickens? Maybe. Change out of pajamas? I'm considering it.

Today I think the Z and I will venture out into the rain to check out a new-to-me quilt shop. I'm desperately craving some color.

What are you up to today?


Images via: 1, 2, 3, 4

Big Plans

Z and I seem to have accidentally taken the day off. She is watching Toy Story 3 for what I believe is the 1,000,000th time, and I haven't even glanced at my to-do list. Oh well, right?

As promised, I have an inspiration board to share. I'm planning on decorating our bedroom first and I have a little over $300 to do it. Honestly, that sounded like a lot of money until I actually started pricing the things that I wanted. It goes fast, people. I'm really trying to use what we have as much as possible to make our budget stretch. I was looking for a way to organize some of my ideas and after admiring many of the "mood boards" that the cute couple at Young House Love put together, I decided to give it a try. Here's what I came up with:

01. The Color Pallet: The large strip of color across the top of the board is the color of our walls right now. It seems much lighter in real life and I actually kind of love it. I never would have guessed I would like it if I were just looking at a paint chip, but the first morning I woke up in our new room I decided I loved the walls. Lucky for us, I found a couple of gallons of that color paint in the basement, so we can touch up the walls with a new coat of paint for free. Yipee!

02. We need bedside tables. I'm thinking about the Lack table from Ikea (hello, $9.99, I love you) because I like the simple lines, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled at the thrift shops too.

03. We already have this rug from Ikea.

04. I know I want white bedding, I just have to decide exactly which white bedding. I would love to make this, but I'm worried I would never finish it.

05. We're going to make a headboard. I haven't decided exactly what fabric I want yet, but I know I want something with a nice pattern and a few contrasting colors.

06. I plan on incorporating more color with the bedside lamps. We have a couple of lamps we're not using that I think I can repaint, once again, using what we have.

07. I'm tossing around the idea of making a bed skirt out of this fabric. Do you think I'm crazy?

08. We have a huge clothes storage space problem. I'm thinking about repainting our old dresser a crisp white but I'm kind of on the fence about it. I wish we could afford a bigger dresser or armoire but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

09. These curtains are from Urban Outfitters. They are the only thing that I've actually purchased for the room. They haven't arrived yet but I'm really hoping that I love them in real life as much as I love them online. I'm hoping that they help tie the room together.

10. Last but not least, the antlers. After seeing this and this I became a girl obsessed. Lucky for me, I live in Idaho. My dad had a few sets of antlers that I'm pretty sure I can have. For free. Woot!

And FINALLY, as a present to you for Friday, here are some pictures of our current room:

{from the door to the room}


{adjacent corner from the door; notice the eensy-weensy closet and my giant pink bathrobe.}


{from inside the closet; I'm thinking that wall is going to be dark}


{looking out the door to the hallway; yes, that is a freshly bathed toddler on the bed}

Okay so what do you think? I'm dying to hear your suggestions, ideas, and thoughts. Also a little scared that you're going to hate it. Please do speak up!

Also, it looks like the weekly menu will be the new Friday Feature around here. I'm so excited. I was secretly hoping you would choose that one. That will start up next Friday and I already have an awesome dessert in mind.

Happy Friday All!

Bedroom Inspiration

On my hit-list of things to do in our house, decorating our bedroom is #1. It was the first room that was officially unpacked and put together when we moved in, mainly because we needed a place to sleep and we needed clothes to wear. It is also small so I think I can do a lot with a small budget and in a relatively short time frame. Finally there's all those people who talk about how your bedroom should be a sanctuary and blah, blah, blah; let's include that reason too. Here's a few images that have been inspiring me lately:

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01. I am completely in love with this room. I don't even care that it has been re-posted by people a million times. The wall color, the antlers, I am in deep smit.*
02. Love the grey + bright white and pops of color.
03. The red ticking + industrial pendant lamp are what I think make this room so rad.
04. Again with the dark wall + white bedding. And the chair. That color combo is perfect.

Tomorrow I'll be posting an inspiration board that I've been working on while planning for the big bedroom redo. I'm a little apprehensive about doing so since I know little to nothing about interior design (or about putting together inspiration boards for that matter) so please be gentle. I'll also be posting pictures of our bedroom in its current state since you've all been so patiently waiting for pictures of the house.

*please tell me you know that movie quote.

Home Inspiration

A little glimpse at some of the home inspiration I have on my mind courtesy of ReadyMade and Martha.

01. Love the neutral gray + a bright green pop.

02. I want to walk across that rug in my bare feel all day long.

03. I would happily keep more books with shelves like that.

04. Grey + orange. I think you're sensing the gray obsession.


Today I'm off to Home Depot to pick up supplies for our big floor refinish project. Yep, we're totally DIY-ing it. Fingers crossed for us. I'll also be picking up every single paint chip they have in stock, and may or may not come home with an arm load of design magazines. Do you have a favorite?

After that, I'll be hanging out with Z-cakes. She's currently walking around the house in my shoes singing "stop working on the computer." Dang. It's time for a little quality time.

Happy Monday Everyone! Be sure to stop by tomorrow for another Handmade Holiday giveaway!

XOXO

Happy Day

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Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life. ~storypeople

Happy Monday Everyone.

Inspiration for my current project

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As you can see, embroidery is the latest thing I'm kind of freaking out about.

Raspberry Lemonade Shower

As expected, Sarah put together yet another amazing party to officially welcome baby Ella.

How perfect is a pink and yellow shower for a little girl who has all brothers at home?

I spy: shower sandwiches, hi-hat cupcakes (courtesy of Rachel), and Giant Ding-Dong cake (courtesy of Denise). Definitely a heavenly spread.

Salad is so much prettier when it is in a cute glass.

And of course, Sarah never skimps on the details.

When I grow up, I want to throw parties just like Sarah.

Also, special shout-out to Steve, who besides taking all of these awesome pictures, wrangled a gaggle of children so that the mamas could enjoy the party! Bravo, Steve!

About that fabric...

Did you notice that little picture of fabric on my 12 on the 12th grid? I thought I would tell you a little more about it.

I was wandering the aisles of our local fabric store Mill Ends. It's a hard little shop to describe. The fabrics are mostly seconds, though there are a few new things to be found. Actually I wish that I had gone with someone who had more sewing sense than I do. I'm sure many of you would be much better at unearthing treasures in the giant piles of remnants.

Anyway, I was wandering around the cotton aisle when I spotted that fabric and my heart stopped. As soon as I recovered I wondered why in the world I had to have it. I had no ideas for it...no patterns in mind...but I bought it anyway. I'm practicing the craft of not ignoring such a visceral reaction.

Later as I was cleaning out my email inbox I spotted this:

{Dotted Greeting dress from Anthropologie}

Maybe the fabric reminded me of this dress? Just a little? Maybe. Oh well. Either way I'll probably make a skirt out of it. I've been gathering momentum to make this little number that has been making the rounds in blogland. Here's hoping this little cut of fabric will be the winner. And to hoping that it was worth trusting my instincts.

I just can't wait

I usually try to keep my holiday celebrating within its respective month. Therefore, no sparklers until July, no Halloween candy until October, and no Christmas music until AT LEAST after Thanksgiving. I usually don't think about decorating my house for holidays until the appropriate month either but....the blogs. The blogs you guys! They are MAKING ME think about Christmas decorating way before I'm ready!

I'm really loving wreaths right now. Am thinking about covering the walls of my tiny house with them.

Clockwise from top left:

Tinsel Wreath via Red Velvet Art

Paper Wreath via the red thread

Book Page Wreath via Living with Lindsay

Gumdrop Wreath via Posie Gets Cozy

DIY Grosgrain Ribbon Wreath via iDiY

Felted Sweater Wreath via Wise Craft

The thing I love most about all of these wreaths is that I can make them with things that I already own. Yessssss! I knew that kitschy tinsel would come in handy someday.

I certainly won't be hanging any of these up until December; however, some of them may or may not be in the works in my basement at this very moment.