the office

In my old office, I had this fabulously large chalkboard where I could write out all of my to-do lists. I like to-do lists. Actually, I like crossing things off to-do lists – it makes me feel productive. Sometimes I’ll write down something obvious just so that I can cross it off {like ‘eat breakfast’ or ‘pick up Ethan from bus’}.

Anyway …

This chalkboard {salvaged from an old school} fit perfectly on the wall in my old office, but just couldn’t work in the new one.

So I went with the ever-popular chalkboard wall.

No. 2 and No. 3 helped ‘season’ it

and Audrey-girl watched

until it looked like this.

Then I wiped it down to give it that slightly old dusty look that we all love.

Today I’m finishing up this wall and can’t wait for the final results.

And, of course, crossing it off my to-do list.

office primping

We are notorious for moving things around in our house. Even switching entire rooms around.

Like this room in the front of our home. When we first moved in, it was my office. Then it became Ryan’s when we built out an office for me off the playroom. Then our friends came to live with us and we sort of shared the office so that we could use mine as an extra bedroom. We tried to use this room as a sitting room, but realized that it just didn’t get much use. So here we are again, and it is now my office.

It was painted a great dark taupe color, but it felt a little too dark for me. So last week I painted it back to its original lighter color.

I’ve always loved the idea of wallpaper, but have also always struggled to find one that I love {and can also afford!}

The idea of painting 'wallpaper' seemed to be the best fit, so with the approval of my darling husband, I came up with an idea, sketched it out, and just dove in. It is just paint, afterall.

I created a pattern, traced it on the wall and then hand painted the lines. IT TAKES FOREVER! I finished the window wall and we thought maybe we’d live with it for a few weeks before deciding to continue on to the other walls. But, as I lived with it for a few hours, I just knew I wanted it on all of the walls.

So tracing and painting I continued …

I’m making progress. Slowly, I might add. But progress nonetheless.

sneak peak of my crazy ambitions

It is a slightly crazy plan, but I’m loving the results. More to come …

laundry room woes

maybe if my laundry room looked a little more like this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

instead of this:

I just might come to terms with the fact that laundry will be part of my daily life for at least the next 18 years.

I think it’s time for a laundry room re-do.

{I can’t believe I am posting a picture of my terrible laundry room }

it makes a mess to organize

You should have seen my house today. It was a DISASTER. Which is what happens when you start cleaning out closets, taking on projects and not picking up after the family. But I’m making progress on a few of the things I’ve been wanting to do for quite some time.

Like organize my fabrics.

And ribbons.

And make a few new spring pillows:

I also moved my office downstairs to make room for a lego room {you know your children have a great love of a toy when there is a room dedicated to it}, and rearranged the living room {which meant moving furniture all over the place}.

Things are mostly put back into place downstairs {pictures to come soon}, but you should see upstairs …

classroom

Do you home school? Or know someone who does?

I need some help.

We've made the decision to start home schooling next year {for our first grader and pre-k-er}.  I'm excited for many reasons {the schedule, the choice of curriculum, time with my boys, etc.} but I have to admit that setting up a classroom is right there at the top of the list. 

I’ve heard someone say that a home school classroom is a waste of space since most of the work migrates to the kitchen table where family activity is anyway. Is this true?  I could see how it may be easier to multitask in the main living area {boys working on class work, me doing little housework tasks in between questions}. 

On the other hand, maybe we’d be more on task if we had a delegated space that we could work in.

With all the appropriate supplies within reach.

And in a bright, cheery, classroomy atmosphere.

Any thoughts?

the nursery

My heart is happy every time I walk past Audrey’s nursery. The colors, the patterns, the fact that it is the girliest place in our house.  At first, when Ryan saw the color I was asking him to paint, he questioned me. Why blue? It was my one chance to go pink, and I chose blue.  I guess I’m just not as crazy about pink as I am blue. I’ve realized as I’ve spent time in her room, that if I could decorate my home any way I wished {without considering the four males that reside with me} it would look very much like our sweet Audrey’s room.

So let me welcome you to the nursery {beware, there are many photos!}

First, the before.

 

This was previously a boy’s nursery {go figure} and I loved the stripes. I originally wanted to use our guest room as the new nursery and us this room as the guest room so that I wouldn’t have to paint over the stripes, but that didn’t happen. So goodbye stripes.

And here it is now:

 

  

       

         

We’re still missing a few key elements {a chandelier - I just haven’t found the right one; a large sheepskin rug; a canvas painted with her scripture verse on it; a few more pillows}, but it is as good as it will get for today. The rest will happen over time. I’m learning to be okay with that …

Some of my favorite things:

:: the wallpaper {actually flat sheets of gift wrap that I have adored for a long time}

:: the ruffles on the curtains

:: the old gold frames {from my grandparents’ collection. They passed before I really knew them, but I think we would have gotten along beautifully. Both were actors and artists – my grandfather did set designs for theater, my grandma taught acting classes to Judy Garland. My mom mentions often that I would have loved her home growing up – glamorous and eclectic at the same time.}

:: the vintage little dresses {I bought one before I was even married and the other was my mom’s}

:: the pink ruffle pillow {I was not planning on putting pink into the room, but I found the pillow and then my mom gave me the crown artwork and it just came together.}

I really love all of the room. I was concerned that I had a vision that I wasn’t going to be able to translate into real life, but I think I got it pretty close.