Update on an old idea

I took an old idea and tried to make it modern. Evelyn wore this dress to her very first social when she was only 8 weeks old! Greg picked out this dress for our her, and came home with it (I was still recovering); I was so proud of him! He picked out something really beautiful and timeless.

If you would like to check out other ideas on how to modernize and frame baby clothes check out the beautiful creations that designer Eddie Ross did!

http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2009/05/inside-the-box.html

I wanted to frame the dress, but not have it look so vintage or dated.

She has a matching bonnet that goes with the dress, but I did not like the way it looked framed. Actually, it creeped me out- sort of like a headless baby...(aahhhh!).

I am still waiting to get an acrylic chair to go with the desk. I just want to keep it all light and bright.

By having the curtains over the closet- it forces me to keep things tidy and neat.

A different view...

So that is it! Evelyn's big girl room is now finished- I am just waiting to get the acrylic chair. Hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend.

Lots of Love...

~Cheers,

Melissa

Hallway

I have been looking for a sturdy coat rack for a quite sometime. In the past Greg and I have always  used a thin metal hook rack; that was in constant danger of falling due to all the weight we put on it. I was bumming around on Etsy one day and came across this driftwood/railroad spike coat rack. It was exactly what I had been searching for! I was so thrilled!!!

I bought it from Shannon at   http://www.etsy.com/shop/porterknob

It was such an easy transaction and a pleasure doing business with her- thanks Shannon!

I love the fact that it is made out of drift wood, as well as has a little bit of a recycled industrial feel to it.

I miss the beach so much being out here in Kansas, (I almost crave being near the water); so it is nice to have a salvaged piece of driftwood around ;)

Its so nice to hang up things and not worry about whether or not it is going to fall.

Remember we are renting, and if this were our home I would NOT have carpeted stairs (and would probably paint all the trim work white).

I still need to add a few more picture frames (I used to have the mirror over the shelf, but it's more functional where it is now).

The family shoes (ones that we use everyday) are under the bench in the baskets. It makes things more convenient and Evelyn likes having access to her shoes!

Have a great weekend everyone...

~Cheers,
Melissa

A little green...

With Spring finally here- I thought I would be brave and attempt my hand at keeping a few plants alive. I am not someone who can keep things alive very well; I am desperately trying to keep the cat and dog living while Greg is gone. Our cat caught pneumonia (now on antibiotics), and I am always forgetting to pick up dog food.

So what in the world makes me think that I can keep a few plants alive too? I don't know...call it wishful thinking and the fact that Wal-mart guarantees their plants for 1 year (yeah- keep your reciept).

I picked up these sturdy little guys under the pretense that the lady said they were almost impossible to kill.

With Holy week coming, I have always bought an Easter Lily. Although, I have never read the fine print, it wasn't until I got home that I read "may cause kidney and cartdiac arrest in cats." Of course...I thought, I buy the one plant that will actually kill the cat.

Some sweet basil in our bedroom...

It has such a yummy fresh sent- and if I actually cooked it would be great to use ;)

Yellow tulips and sweet basil...

Tulips, sweet basil, and a few yard clippings..

More tulips...I just love how they add color and seem to shout "Spring is HERE!!!"

Hoping to keep this lovely alive...so far so good (notice Evelyn's menagerie in the corner)!

If any of you have any green thumb advise PLEASE share! Have a great weekend everyone- next week I will be shaing some projects that I have been working on and easy house "fix ups."

~Cheers,
Melissa

Nursery

After a long wait...I finally finished the nursery! Yeah! Actually, Evelyn is still occupying the room- and she will until Greg comes home; not going to teach her to stay in a bed by myself- still need her contained for my own much needed sleep.

Here is what it looked like before:

The walls were a goldenrod yellow

 

I took the closet doors off to make room for the changing table/dresser

And this is the AFTER:

I wanted something that would feel like and airy; kind of a European countryside feel.

I looked high and low for the perfect rocker. I didn't like the glider look and wasn't crazy about some of the more modern chairs.

Please excuse the messy bookshelf- it is frequently used on a daily basis!

Close up of the "rocker." What's great about this chair is that it's not only comfortable, but can be placed in several different rooms.

The dresser and changing table (in the closet) were mine when I was little. I almost got rid of them two moves ago and am so glad that I didn't. With a new coat of paint (they used to be varnished- my poor dad spent days varnishing them- and spent in afternoon slapping a coat of paint ).

Notice the little guy/girl in the picture frame...

The crib is where I had to start from. It has been in Greg's family for three generations now- all the kids and grand kids have slept in it. I had to figure out a way to bring the room together without letting the crib seem out of place- and yet not too dated looking.

I am still lacking crib sheets (poor Evelyn).

I decided to place a little art wall behind the crib for some interest. The pictures that are framed have been very special to our family. The little deer and bunny frame was Greg's birth plaque, and the needlepoint Winnie the Pooh was made by my mother and hung in my nursery.

I hope you enjoyed the nursery "tour" any feedback would great!

I have 9 weeks left before baby #2 and Greg come home- still seems like eternity, but we are getting closer (now in the single digits).

Enjoy the warm Spring weather...

~Cheers,

Melissa

Worst Blogger EVER!!!

Seriously, I have got to be the worst blogger...for the few of you who actually follow this poor little blog; so sorry it has been so long! There have been many things that have just flat out gotten in the way, and I have had NO ambition or "want to" to let my creative juices flow.

I am running out of steam...I have 9 weeks left until my sweet little one arrives; and with Greg gone, the energy level is just not there. That is not to say that I have not had plenty to actually blog about; it just means that I have been lazy. I go up the stairs with the laundry basket and sit on the couch (along with the laundry), and there I seem to sit until Evelyn comes over and says, "Mommy get up; come play."

While I was "gone" Evelyn had her two year old photo shoot done by Brandi from LaBrisa Photography

http://www.labrisaphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1

Brandi was AMAZING and really "captured" Evelyn (although it was very difficult for her to catch Evelyn- ha, ha).

Tomorrow I will be back on track and posting some before and afters of some of the rooms that I have redone in our home. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and look forward to "catching" up this week.

~Cheers,

Melissa