Nerdy Nautical Nursery Inspiration

That's right, Nursery inspiration for Baby U that is both NERDY and NAUTICAL.  What a great pairing!  Okay I lied, really it's not that nerdy - it just involves the letters of the alphabet - and Nerdy started with an "N" which sounded good in front of Nautical, to make the title more catchy.  To-MAY-toe, To-MAH-toe.

Alright, so hubs and I (okay I lied again). Hubs and I have been scouring ideas for nursery inspiration and relentlessly FORCING hubs to look at them and provide feedback.  And we've both pretty much agreed we like the idea of an alphabet theme and/or a nautical theme.  Now, I'm not talking matchy-matchy, baby-baby, themes here - I'm just talking a general direction to inspire my creative juices to start lil' man's room.  And the line I'm walking between a cute baby room and a cutesy baby room is very thin, people.  It's so hard to find sophisticated decor that will look good in a nursery and "not too grown up" or cute and fun decor that doesn't look too cheesy. 

Alas, I think I have finally settled on some images that have successfully inspire me and also challenge me to create the perfect hub.  The perfect hub of course, that is to be: Baby U's haven of ever exploring nautical inspirations to encourage him to chase his dreams, with an undermining tone of the alphabet to inspire focus and the importance of higher education surrounding his peaceful and splendid nurserydome (I'd add more adjectives if I was clever enough to think of them, because I feel they are indeed THAT necessary to depict excitement and convey my intensity - although, let's be honest, really I just think it looks pretty).

Okay, enough talk.  Need more action.  So here goes - my inspirational pictures.  Don't worry, I'll make sure to narrate as we go along :) And SHWING this is my first attempt at using polyvore to create a board! Sooooo fun.  I may have to use this more often - Lord help us all.

Alright, so here's what we're working with.  As I mentioned, we both could agree on being fans of either an alphabet theme or a nautical theme. But I was really having a hard time finding one that I totally was in love with.  I kept finding some elements that I liked but I couldn't find a way to bring it all together. That was, until I stumbled upon the great photo of all the letters individually framed in the top left of the collage.  

I LOVE LOVE LOVEEE all of the different letters, and I love even more the idea of utilizing different picture frames to separate them from being one large clutter. But I LOVE the gallery wall vs. painting or printing directly on the wall.  So, my plan is to find all different kinds of letters (SHOPPING. STARTS. NOW!) and mod podge them with a sepia/tan tone vintage map to help keep it sophisticated and neutral.  THEN, agh I die, the next step is to incorporate some nautical pieces into the alphabet.  These will allow for some pops of color while also layering the theme.  So I'm thinking a boat life savor or a sailor captain steering wheel (as seen above) as the "O" or light house as the letter "I", for example.  

The alphabet wall will obviously be the main focal point, and other pieces will just be accents throughout the room.  We're currently torn between 2 cribs:

....OR....

I think I'm kind of leaning more towards the Davenport, because it looks a bit more bold and has a little more character.  But Larkin was my original choice, so I'm always nervous to throw a change up this late in the game.  

Another FUNN finding.  Hubs and I were strolling through our local Peddler's Mall this past weekend and stumbled upon this beauty.  Which I think will be the most PERFECT piece of accent furniture to Baby U's nursery, don't you? LOVE.

So that's it my loves.  A truly fabulous Nerdy and Nautical Nursery.  The Hubs and I are taking a babymoon in a couple of weeks, so we're planning to gather all of the materials before we head out.  That way when we return it's full on nesting mode to put the finishing touches on lil' man's bedroom! EEEeeeek.  It's all becoming so real!

we're Nerds - REAL nerds.

When it comes to Halloween - I'm a crazy, perfectionist, it has to be done this way calm, cool, collected, lover of homemade costumes.  Being artsy runs on my momma's side of the family - and although i wasn't blessed with ANY artistic talent when it comes to actually drawing or painting (which i am still angry about). i did get a small knack for general creativity. and during Halloween i feel it is my duty to make sure people around me are aware of that.

this silly personal fulfillment again, stems from my mother's side of the family.  every year when we were little kids my Grandma *elaine* (she's the sweetest lady you will ever meet) - seriously. and side story:

at my brother's wedding in August - my mom, her sisters, and my grandma were standing around the bar *yes, my family generally stays out later than most* - at this point we were all SEVERAL a few cocktails in ;o) and decided we needed ANOTHER a shot (give us a break, my brother was getting married!) i asked my grandma to take one with us - and she said "SURE!" - i then started thinking, wait, is this okay? can grandma take a shot? - so i verbalized those thoughts - and asked sweet elaine, "Wait, Grandma can you take a shot?" -- her witty response, "Well I'm 21 aren't I?!" --- touche Grandma, touche -- so it happened:





Top Picture (not sure how or why the formation changed?)- Who's Who: Lil' Ole Me, Aunt Debbie, GRANDMA, Aunt Marshee, Mama Penny 

However, it is imperative - shot story aside - you understand the genuine LOVE i have for this sweet lil' lady.  First - she is entirely too cute. Second - if you heard her voice you would fall in love (i can guarantee it - her voice could melt the heart for The Grinch!) and Third - if nothing else - one of my favorite moments from my wedding day ;) seeing her for the first time.

 and one of my all time favorite wedding photos - 3 generations of hands - *GUSH!* i LOVE these ladies!

Pardon my crooked pinky.  it's trademarked as my own - yes i was born that way - no i have never broken it - and yes - i've learned to love it ;)

Wedding photo creds to Megan Wynn of Megan W. Photography.  Her webiste here and her blog here.

okay - wow - "i love my grandma tangent" there, sorry! - Ergo - the reason i was talking about her in the first place - my LOVE of homemade Halloween costumes stems from this woman. for a good portion of my childhood grandma made my brother and i homemade Halloween costumes - BLESS HER HEART - i think i remember one time i changed my mind 6 times and she had already started hand sewing and was still kind enough to make the changes.  Some of my favorites (which i promise to get around posting pictures to at some point) include: a spider, a princess, and freddy crougar (that was JR - not me)

so, Nerds - the title of this post - SWEAR I'M GETTING THERE! - Last year, i somehow managed to talk sweet hubby into being a Nerd with me.  However after the dramatics fun of making the costumes last year (sorry, Shane) I'm not so sure talking him into a costume will be so easy this year. 

now that it's all said and done i really wish i would have taken before, during and after photos - but all i've got is the finished product - so here it is - THE NERDS!

by the way - yes - I'm asking you for something -- SORRY! :) --- we've entered ourselves into The Dating Divas, Halloween Couple's Costume Contest.  Vote for us here - #63

The year before we were garden gnomes - which was also a great contender for one of my fave costumes -

but i think i loved the Nerds because of the time and effort i spent painting those daggone boxes.  Plus we handed out nerds all night - so costumes that keep on giving are always fun!

by the way - yes - I'm asking you for something -- SORRY! :) --- we've entered ourselves into The Dating Divas, Halloween Couple's Costume Contest.  Vote for us here - #63