Updated Spaces

Two months on bed rest will make a girl crazy I tell you. And even more crazy when you're a gal like me that is not necessarily in love with new things, but updated things. I'm forever wanting to rearrange furniture, update pictures in frames, remove or add shelving to a space, etc. Like while I'm all laid up on the couch I'm thinking, that dust bunny just doesn't look good there ... maybe it would look better under the other couch or something? Haha. But seriously, I do not need or want new things per say, but I love the challenge of taking things you already have or adding small pieces to a room and giving them new life. Like my old chest I refurbed for Lainey's nursery, that type of stuff.

Now don't get me wrong, I like new things too and ironically the two items in this post are both new (or new to us), but usually flea market type settings and refinishing things are my jam. It gives me a creative outlet and it's just something I've really grown to love. That being said, being at home and seeing my furniture and everything in my house stay in the same place, or staring at the table I'd been wanting to replace day in and day out ... made the 10% wanting to maybe do it, turn into 95% wanting to do it. Because there wasn't much to distract me from thinking about it. So, while I'm still working on a few projects to complete. Two are checked off the list entirely and I want to share them with you!

First, and guys, I'm not even sure I'm physically capable of saying it out loud yet, in fear I may burst into tears, but we're about to a three year old living under our roof <insert "how in the world did that happen comment" here>. That being said, three year old boys are their own breed. And they are very different than one year old and even two year old boys. And furthermore, so are their wants and needs. Our little almost three year old would FLIP out every time he saw bunk beds and wanted his very own "just like peppa pig!"

Hubs and I went back and forth constantly, if we were going to pull the trigger and get him a big boy bed or just let it be. And furthermore did we really want to spend the money on a bed?! Why is furniture so expensive?!?! Whyyyy. So, when I was perusing on a local resale group here in Nashville I am a part of and saw a set of nice bunk beds for a good price, I was able to petition for the beds with a pretty good argument in my pocket. AND, when the lady selling the beds agreed she would pay to have a delivery service disassemble the beds at her house, load them up, deliver them to mine, and reassemble them we were sold. And just like that we said goodbye to Bennett's crib (it seems like it was yesterday I was typing this post about making a decision on his furniture) that had been converted to a toddler bed. A final farewell one of BUB's last "baby" items ... (sniffle, tear...)

Before the movers arrived later that day we loaded up the car and headed to the local mattress store and bought some updated mattresses for King Bennett. We let him think he picked out his own bed, but in reality he chose one of the priciest mattresses in the store and that wasn't gonna happen - so that'll be our little secret.

And we came home to replace that crib with our boy's bunk bed dream. His smile lets me know it was a good call. And it makes it a little easier to stomach the fact that he's growing up regardless of the fact that I constantly tell him to stop. But he's proud, and has made the transition like a champ. So we carry on and keep climbing up ... literally, every night we climb up!

 He was so excited ... THANK YOU DADDY, THANK YOU! Bless his little heart, I love him so.

 Lainey was into it too :)

 All tucked in for his first night! (Hi, I'm the mom that swore my child wouldn't have a paci passed age two. Welp, at least he's in a big boy bed? HA!)

 These boys ya'll. Bedtime is their time. They read, they giggle, they tickle, they play boy games. All the things. And it warms my heart.

 And I often help with nighttime prayers, lots of kisses and THE BIGGEST kiss. That's mine and B's thing and it's special to me. Having a "thing" with your kids is fun. It's like being a part of a secret club and that was cool when I was 10 and it's still cool now. So there he is, our big boy in his big boy bed!

The second item due for an update took place outside the house.  While my parents were still here helping man the fort while hubs and I spent a lot of time at the hospital or in recovery - we all agreed patio furniture was a necessity. Bennett is FOREVER playing outside, and I need to be sitting a good amount of time for a while and our patio is overrun with toys because there is nothing else in their place. We'd gone four seasons without it and it was time to pull the trigger.

Long story short, I fell in love with a set but couldn't rationalize the dollar amount (again with the furniture prices, grrrr) so we continued to wait while I internally struggled with whether or not I could justify the purchase. When low and behold my parents came back down for the weekend and showed up with a truck bed full of patio furniture. SCORE! Problem solved. Mom and Dad to the rescue, again. Which left me faced with an even bigger problem, what color should the throw pillows be?!!!? (gasp! kidding. kind of.) So here's a little looksie at the new space.

Moreover, those toys that were taking over the backyard also needed a new space to live, so my dad also loaded up this awesome new shed he has his builder make me and I love it. We had some of Shane's buddies come over and haul it from the front the back yard (holy heavy) and then my dad set me up a nice little spot in the backyard so I could help him paint it ... I was technically still following bed-rest orders :) I sat mostly the entire time and only used my arms. (hehe, wink wink)

And the last little lovely addition to the outside was hanging my Mother's Day swing on our Magnolia tree and letting little man break it in. Small updated space make me happy.

And, the nearly three year old's birthday party guests will actually have a place to sit when they come to celebrate the little guy and that makes me happy too!

sugar, SPICE & everything nice

a couple of months ago was my sweet little niece - Emmie Claire's - birthday.  so, as usual, i was on the hunt for a great birthday present for the precious gal - with NO tons of help from Shane ;) - but i need you to understand, when i say precious, i MEAN precious:

 now, come on you know i couldn't leave you with just 2 pictures. notice the title of this post - sugar, SPICE, and everything nice.  i reference frequently that she IS sweet. and she IS precious. but this feisty four year old is also a SPIT FIRE. woooweee :o) she reminds me of myself at such a spry young age. and she's pretty stinkin' smart too -
Exhibit A - counting in Spanish:

ain't she a doll. then she runs around like a crazy person and she's no longer a precious moments doll. but then she opens her mouth and that sweet little kid voice sings you a song:

 Whew! gets ya every time and you forget all about that SPICE - she's back to everything nice. especially when you find her and your sweet hubs cuddling together while taking a nap. melts my heart. gah.

so, anyways - remember last post - when i told you how i had a string of creativity - and a knack for homemade things? well when it comes to practical gifts, this is a category that has potential to fall right in line (although, i vow to my family members to never give you a puffy paint sweater for Christmas and expect you to actually wear it - HOWEVER - i can't promise if time ever allows, you won't end up with a crochet scarf - sue me - i think it would keep my hands occupied while watching TV - FAMILY --> QUE INTERVENTION NOW - DO NOT LET ME GET TO THIS POINT - yet * :o) *) .  

so, while talking with my sister-in-law (can we come up for a new name for that - it sounds so rigid!) Jessica, she informed me Emmie is currently REALLY into dress up. I'm talking if it has sparkles, ruffles, heels, is size XXXL she wants to wear it - in front of EVERYONE- dress up status. which is ultimately the greatest thing ever. it leads to the BEST childhood pictures (some of my favorite of my cousin MaK and i come from dress up days), the funniest moments and general good times for the whole family.  here she is dressed up as some version of the little mermaid, co aligned with fancy furry slippers and a matching tiara - her big sister Tatum did her make-up - presh.

with a couple of days until her big birthday pool party, i began racking my brain for ways to incorporate the dress up obsession with her cute room.  *i plan to get pictures to share with you later, but my mother-in-law (again, need less rigid name) had an ADORABLE tulle yellow and pink bed skirt and pillow shams made for her bedroom which added the most adorable feminine cutesy touch to her cute cream furniture without overdoing it (6 year old katie bugg is green with envy)*

i was sitting in our living room staring at our wet bar when the idea cam to me. NO, NO - it's not what you're thinking. i did not come up with a way to incorporate a bar into a 4 year old's bedroom (...although that would be kind of cool if it served milk and apple juice - coolest kid on the block would be taken to an entirely new level - there would have to be a brand new series of "Cribs: Tenacious Toddlers" - oh goodness - Emmie would be the perfect fit for that...) - but, again we're not talking a wet bar - instead, i had just recently refinished the aforementioned wet bar and i was admiring my handy work - at that very moment i was thinking of how it would look great if i refinished the armoire in our guest bedroom upstairs  --- are you putting together the pieces now :) ---

when it hit me *A DRESS UP ARMOIRE* - how cool!?

now, like i mentioned (with all things gifts, personalized and handmade) my imagination and expectations often far exceed the final product.  and generally, when you are the world's worst procrastinator such as myself, its hard to bring these mentioned genius ideas to fruition in a few short days (or hours... pending the project :oP)

so naturally...in my mind...i was imagining something  like this:

you know, fairly simple and chic, elegant embellishments, beautiful flowers, soft girly colors, a mirror that Miss America would envy, just your average run of the mill dress up armoire that every 4 year old girl deserves. but, then i unfortunately had to wake up from my day dream, review the bank account and rethink. darn.

so, i began scouring the house for a tangible staring point: the armoire itself.  it crossed my mind that i could buy wood from Lowe's or something and build the petite frame (which i fully intend to do, should i ever create one of these again ... who knows - little Maebyn - my other sweet niece may just get lucky in about 3 years!) - for that i was imagining something sort of like this (and yes, the yellow would have matched perfectly, darn again):

In reality, i think this would be simpler than one might think. It sort of looks like:
1.  large night stand with the top 2 drawers removed
2.  shower or curtain rod
3. modge podge scrapbook paper or sticker details
VOILA! A Child's Dress Up Armoire ... again, be patient Maebyn :)

*oh you'd like to meet sweet lil' Maebyn? well certainly - I'd be glad to show you*

Meet Maebyn Noelle



and while we're at it -

 let's just meet the

 whole ridiculously beautiful family

her parents: Ross and MaKenzie

   

followed by this one, b|c I'm a proud new

auntie & okay I'm beyond mildly obsessed

with this picture - & these ladies -

in general everything about it



LOVE!

okay and last but not least, while we're on the creative gravy train- i simply can't post about this awesome little nugget and not give HUGE props to her mommy - and feel a slight twinge of jealousy - because although in my mind i believe I'm creative - my seester - Makenzie (yes, the beautiful lady pictured above who looks that hott after birthing a baby for 14 hours, yea, her) she's really creative. like really. check out her Etsy shop here if you're ever in the market for invitations, announcements, business cards, etc. i can tell you first hand you'll be glad you did - but you need not click on her site just to see - check out the most ADORABLE outfit ...uhm, ever?... that she had made & brought little Maebyn home in:



get a load of those slippers AND that head band! - i die. literally, dead.

okay, but back to sweet Emmie Claire and her dress up chest :) - so, as stated, i had to rethink.  no magnificent embellishments, no 24 karat gold painted handles, and likely no diamond encrusted hand held platinum mirrors (i told you, it was in a DEEP daydream), and unfortunately at this point i also didn't have an old nightstand lying around, nor the time to go searching for one at a flea market or peddlers mall.  So - TIME TO IMPROVISE!

luckily for me, and for her i guess :), Shane and I had several old trunks leftover from our wedding decor (we had an outdoor wedding and provided various items in trunks located around the tent such as flip flops, koozies, etc) - so i found the perfect little white trunk that i was convinced i could turn into a make shift dress up chest.

my initial idea was to turn the chest on it's side and have the lid open as if it were a door - sort of like this (minus the whole 1700's look)

however, again with that daggone time and ability factor, i was forced to leave it as a normal opening trunk. plus, the trunk i chose had built in wheels on the bottom along with handles on either side so the ability for it to stand up right posed as a problem.  nevertheless, i started scrubbing the trunk to make sure it was clean as a whistle and ready to be filled with all of Emmie's beautiful items.  i lined the inside with an old pillow case and some felt so there were no chance of her sweet little hands getting splinters (ouch!) and then added embellishments * no, not in gold :o(  * all over the trunk.

*Sorry, for the life of me i cannot get this picture to turn the right way :( - if you have any suggestions let me know!* 

the next item up for bid was incorporating that elegant Miss America mirror i was talking about, but had to settle for a craft table mirror from Michael's - but it was just the perfect size for her precious little face.  then i made sure to use some pretty ribbon and add Velcro to either end so she could easily stash her bracelets, hair bows, and necklaces. and lastly it was off to the dollar store, my closet and Clair's to fill the bad boy up with all sorts of fun items - you can't really see it, but i think the purple boa ended up being the fan favorite :)

and there you have it folks - a homemade birthday gift filled with tons of treasures!
Happy Birthday sweet Emmie.