Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Where The Wild Things Are

In case you haven't heard, this classic children's book was made into a movie and I am intrigued.  I love the book and have since I was a child.  For me it's right up there with The Giving Tree, Amelia Badelia, How to Eat Fried Worms and Ramona Quimby, Age 8.  I hope the movie does not dissappoint and to get us all in the mood, here are some fun Wild Things accoutrements.



Puzzles available here.







Posters available here




T-shirts from 80stees.com

















Monday, September 28, 2009

Chalked Full of Fun

Our new home has a recreation room on the second floor that we have reserved for movie nights and our daughter.  We have carved out a little nook just for her and we're slowly adding fun details.  Today I am sharing the easy DIY chalkboard I made for the space.

I started with an open frame I bought at Aaron Brothers during their penny sale, which I blogged about here.  Then I headed to my local hardware store for a thin piece of MDF type board that I rolled with Rustoleum's Chalkboard paint.  I primed the MDF board first to insure the finish would last longer and a sponge roller gave it a smooth finish.

After about 20 minutes it was dry and we secured it to the frame and mounted it on the wall.  I had an extra shelf tucked away in a closest that I used for a chalk ledge and whao la!  She loves it and so do I.  By the way, notice her pom chandelier?  So cute!



Here is the paint I used.



But later I found this!  Hudson's colored chalkboard paint available in a rainbow of colors.  I wish I had seen this first.  I am going to use this in my kitchen, I love it!



Friday, September 25, 2009

Frugal Friday: Tarjay Fabulous!

One of my guilty pleasures is dressing my daughter in cute outfits. She has donned some pretty posh threads from Lily Pulitzer and Ralph Lauren to Janie and Jack and Burberry. BUT....I am also a very sensible shopper and know a good deal when I see one.

I headed to my local Target store (or Tarjay for all you fashonistas) to buy some big girl panties for my little one (we are potty training but more on that later) and some back up pants as I was instructed by her teacher for days when we have accidents. As I was cruising the toddler clothing section I was overwhelmed with excitement over their new fall casual wear. I snagged a huge stack of long sleeve tees and knit pants, bubble skirts, cardigans and chinos for only $4 and $8. A hundred dollars later with my huge stack of new threads for my big girl and my bewildered husband in tow I was on a shopping high.

Here are just a few of the precious things I bought for a steal. Don't miss out, head to your local Target store to shop sensibly and stylish for your little one.






And of course they have a few things for your little man. 








Wednesday, September 23, 2009

All The Best Bedrooms Contest

Don't you just love peeking into other people's homes?  I find it so interesting and inspiring to see how they choose to decorate and showcase personal items.  All The Best Blog is hosting an All The Best Bedrooms Contest and the entries are top notch.  Below is one of my favorites.  A beautiful pink and aqua pad for a little girl.  Click on the blog link above to preview more entries.


Cute Kicks

While reading a new blog Black, White and Red Culz All Over, I spied these precious pink moccasins she blogged about.  I love these fun and funky shoes!  Buy them here


Tuesday, September 22, 2009

My One and Only



Happy anniversary! Today my husband and I have been married eight years; eight amazing and fun filled years. I knew the moment I met him, he was going to be my husband. I remember calling my friend Katrinna after Marvin and I had been dating TWO weeks and saying, "I am going to marry him one day".

He's a loving and passionate father and husband and I am so blessed to have him as my partner.


Marvin, thank you for loving and inspiring me every day.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Before & After: Sittin' Pretty

When I needed a new chair for my studio with no money allocated to this "necessity" I headed to my local Goodwill store. I found the chair below for a whopping $5! Recognizing its good bones and potential I snatched it up and headed home.

I started by reupholstering the chair back and seat and added extra batting to give it more cushion and comfort. I also monogrammed the chair back and added a little nail head trim to the camel back top. A few coats of spray primer and antique white paint was all it took to complete the transformation. What do you think?


The total project cost me $20 from start to finish and I couldn't be more pleased. My studio is very neutral and kind of a blank canvas (more photos to come later) so I wanted this one element to be feminine and a little pop of color. Plus I love the fact that I can move it to my daughter's room later when we add a desk to her big girl space.

Before



After











Friday, September 18, 2009

Frugal Friday: Stenciling the Affordable Alternative to Wallpaper

Stenciling walls is nothing new, but with the current huge wallpaper trend, stencil designers have stepped up their A-game to compete.  One of my favorite and very affordable stencil resources is Sunny's Goodtime Paints.  There chic collection of modern and traditional stencils gives wallpaper manufactures a run for their money.  A large wall stencil is $40 and that's pennies compared to the $100 and more for a single roll of wallpaper from most high end designers. 

Below are just a few of my favorites and look how fabulous they are in children's rooms.  I think I am going to try this out for my entry hall.












Thursday, September 17, 2009

Dazzling Decals

I know what you are thinking…”decals, okay so what’s the big deal; they are everywhere”. So I am not going to waste your time on just any wall decals, these are gorgeous works of art from French designers Harmonie Interieure.


I am totally smitten with their whimsical designs and details. The growth chart is my favorite, but buyer beware they come with a hefty price tag. The Euro dollar will get you every time.

Monday, September 14, 2009

DIY: Easy Pelmet Boxes via Little Green Notebook

I you follow my blog regularly you know I love a beautiful cornice or pelmet box above a bed or window.  So naturally I was very excited to see one of my favorite blogs, Little Green Notebook posted a step-by-step DIY on how to make your own.  Check out the final result below.  These would be beautiful above a bed or as she has them over a window.  Click here for full instructions. 

Back to School Cool

I stumbled upon these vintage looking lunch boxes and thought they were the coolest thing for lunch since sliced bread.  I love the modern take on an old classic.  These are just a few of my favorites, but check them out here for more designs.