Nursery Update

Matt was able to take a week off in between grad school semesters which allowed us to finally get all the study furniture out (to the basement) and the nursery furniture put together! We are still working on getting everything set up but it's looking more and more like a nursery :-)

 The Pack n Play will most likely end up elsewhere in the house, 

but for now we are keeping all baby stuff in the nursery.

 Windows will have new curtains - fabric has been found and curtains are in progress! The pile of laundry on the floor is your dose of reality (LOL) it will be washed soon and put away in the dresser.

 Crib and 3-in-1 rocker! 

The rocker will also probably end up elsewhere in the house...

Dresser! Changing table set-up on top :-)

We still need to spackle and touch up the walls where pictures were hung before and then put up some new artwork. Stars will go on the ceiling as well as the hot air balloon mobile over the crib :-)

The last piece of big furniture is being delivered next week and I'm so excited to get it into the room and put all the final pieces together.

32 days and counting down until our little man's arrival!

Holiday Decor Wrap-up

Well this post is only a few weeks behind. sigh. I feel like 2015 is already getting away from me and it's not even two full weeks into the New Year! So, quick! before any more time flies by, here is a quick review of our holiday decorations this year :-)

Snowflake Tree - main colors where white and green this year

It was a lovely holiday season filled with family and friends and travel!

Mantle for Fall

We've had The Great Pumpkin hanging over the mantle for most of September at Matt's request :-)

But over the last week or so, I pulled out some fall favorites and added a few new pieces this year to help round it out. I still need to add some taller pieces so it looks a bit more balanced...

The twigs and berries around the candles are new. I got them at JoAnn's for 50% off which made them fun and reasonably priced :-) I pick up new little pumpkins and gourds at the grocery store each year to add to my favorite glass blown pumpkin, twig pumpkin and this year the new bigger (carve-able) pumpkin also from JoAnn's. He's plain for now but I may do something fun with him later this month.

And THIS guy is my new find for Halloween that I love so much I can't figure out where to put him!

The goal this year with fall is to re-use, recycle and re-imagine the stuff we already have (it also helps that we aren't hosting any events at the house this year during the fall season) so I can spend a bit on Christmas this year and pick up a few new pieces!

Weekend Travels

As Matt has been spending his weekends working on Grad school, I've been traveling! This past weekend it was to RI for the day. I brought Reesey-face with me and we had a great time toodling around with my parents. Brunch at the Modern Diner - which is awesome! - then running some errands for Halloween and fall decor. We also made a stop at DSW - always dangerous!

 Mum found this red Sperry's in the clearance section!

 SUPER cute with plaid down the sides :-)

 I found a pair of Charcoal grey wool Sperry's which will be great as the weather turns cooler.

 I took this picture in JoAnn's for Kel ;-)

 And the reason for being at JoAnn's was a Halloween pattern (no dice) 

and some leaf garland to update my fall grapevine wreath (success!)

I left the ribbon on from last year and just added 2 garlands of leaves and berries. 

The leaves help the wreath show up against the black front door. 

(My handsome Reese too!)

Next up: I've picked up a couple new things for Halloween/Fall for the inside of the house too! Right now they are all massed on the mantle, but I hope to have them organised soon to show you!

Halloween Mantle & Stairs

Oh, The Great Pumpkin! How I love the time of year I can put this up :-) I usually can't bear to take it down until after Thanksgiving. I know, kinda silly - but it still sorta works with Thanksgiving! And it's too awesome to just be up for a measly 31 days a year!

Orange candles and my small silver skull

This little guy I originally got to take to work a few years back, 

but he makes me laugh so home is where he has stayed!

 This year I got enough pumpkins for the front and back porches. We see the back porch out the sliding door - I think it's fun to see the orange! - carving is still under debate! :-)

Front porch is looking festive!

Memory Box

I saw a cool idea on Pinterest using a shadow box.
So, when one became available (for free!) I took it :-)

using leftover paint from last years Urn project

I gave the frame a few coats - the frame was raw wood so
after a quick damp cloth and a bit of dry time it was ready to go!

Yes, I was in a hurry and didn't put down a drop cloth so we now have
some black rectangles on the driveway. sigh. oh well!

Once the frame was dry - I gave it a full 24hrs -
I put everything back together and started adding cards,
movie tickets and other memorabilia to the box. 

We will continue to add items as we go until it's too full - I'm thinking that will take years! - then I will add the years across the bottom and start a new one! 

The Mod-Podge Experiment

 I got this a while ago and wanted to try it out - I pulled out a set of 3 prints I got on sale a long time ago and cut off the first one. I covered a canvas with a layer of mod-podge and let it get tacky dry before putting the picture on the canvas.

 I then covered the whole canvas and picture with mod-podge and let dry.

The paper pulled up on the edges as it started to dry. I pushed them down with my fingers and then walked away before I played too much.
It dried all warped and wrinkled. You can see the beginning of it in the picture above. While I like the texture the mod-podge gave the picture, I have to figure out a way for it not to warp and to lie flat.
Anyone had any experience with this?

St. Valentine's Day

So part of my new position is to plan, organize and implement the office 'parties'. The budgets are always tight, usually its a lunch ordered in with no decoration or fanfare. I decided to bump it up a bit! So for under $10 I turned our main conference room into this!

Not bad, right? :-)

The menu is pizza from The Upper Crust and dessert will be a dozen gourmet cupcakes from Random Acts of Sweetness in Portsmouth, NH.

PS - watching Sleepless in Seattle right now and I totally LOVE how classic this movie is! Still super funny and incredibly wonderful - what an awesome cast!

Guestroom Curtains

The pale gold side curtains have been replaced with full curtains that are a warm grey, wool blend and cozy up the room a bit. I was in the midst of making them myself but was having trouble finishing them so I enlisted my Mum's help :-) Here are pictures of the finished project:

bottom hem detail

the color is dark grey and works nicely with the comforter edge.

While they are un-lined, the combination of the roller shade with the curtains darkens the room to almost black, even with full morning sunlight. A definite improvement that allows guests to sleep in and not get up with the sun!