A Tale of Two Shelves

Once upon a time (yesterday), on a very rainy day...

I pulled a book out of of my library (okay, our IKEA bookshelf), and flipped through the pages.

I bought this book several months ago at a store filled with timeless treasures (Goodwill). I bought it, not to read - but to tear it apart and use the pictures for my own guilty pleasures.

Those up there? Two plain wooden shelves from IKEA. With a little stain on one side, the underside, I decided to use the maps in the book to decorate the top of the shelves.

Out came the fairest of them all - the Modge Podge.

I slathered it on thickly. Eh, the bumps are no big deal.  Gives it a bit of dimension, right? [don't worry, got most of those bumps out on the second round]

Look - there's Queen Creek... That was a surprise! I was grabbing random pages and cutting, cutting, cutting.

Here's a view of the top and bottom of Nic's new shelves. The brackets are also from IKEA. I will get a picture of the new shelves up on the wall when I am ready to shoot Nic's new room! Which needs to be done SUPER soon as school starts NEXT week.

The end.

Nic's Room: Take 2

Oh lordy - he did it AGAIN. Maybe we call him Britney Jr? Nic cannot make up his mind about his room (who can blame him, though? When you're five, everything is cool!).

So I decided to take matters into my own hands. And after watching an episode of Junk Gypsies on HGTV, I was inspired by their Boy Scout room.

I want Nic to be a boy scout - in all definitions of the term. He is so curious, loves everything having to do with the outdoors - so I am going to encourage that.

Nic is moving into Isabel's old room... which was Swiss Cheese at its finest. We were up all night last night filling holes and painting. Oddly, the paint color I chose, Cabo by Behr, looks pretty similar to to the original builder color, it has a more gray undertone. And BONUS, now it's WASHABLE and not flat.

I am working on a new moodboard, but in the mean time I wanted to share some before and after pics of the paint.

The walls went from a lilac purple to a khaki beige... The beige will set the tone for Nic's new room! We will be pulling in some fun outdoorsy-type stuff, including some cool rocks we found on our "vacation."

Here are the four corners of Nic's room, a little tug at my heart strings:

More to come...

Nic's Room: Route 66

Nic changes his mind almost as quickly as he changes his costumes. We went from a dinosaur room to a Cars themed room. I'd rather not do something soooo commercial, so I've compromised. We will do a Route 66 vintage cars theme. He can still showplace the likes of Lightening and Sally, but the whole concept will be based on Route 66.

I spent a few minutes this morning looking for inspiration - and came up with this mood board.

We are planning on pulling out the carpet in his room, give him something more durable. I was on Home Depot dot com looking through their peel & stick vinyl tiles, thinking that was the cheapest way to go. However, I found their laminate wood flooring to be even cheaper, in some instances.   We are going to alternate colors, give the floors a striped look.

Marcos and I are going to take on a HUGE project - Nic's new built in bed. Now, his room is not LARGE, but I think we will be able to add a nice sized bed and book case/desk against one side of the room. Then he will have the whole other side to play in. Nic switched rooms with Isabel when Abby moved out - and he now has a large walk-in closet. This is where we will house his toys, clothes, etc. So I think the space plan will work out nicely, but I will let you know when I get a chance to actually draw it out. ;)

I definitely would like a vintage map of the United States... it doesn't have to be huge, but they are so cool. Perhaps some old hubcaps and a Ford sign?! And I think a trip to Flagstaff is in order (what?!) to see if we can capture some unique pictures for art work.

I cannot wait to get this room started!!

A weekend without plans

This past weekend was probably the first since we've been in the new house that we didn't have any plans, weren't committed to a get-together, and didn't have any real errands to run.

It was bliss. But, alas, it ended too soon.
In fact, the next several weekends will be jam packed with birthday and holiday stuff. Knowing that, we decided to enjoy a few days of just the kids and us.

Friday went something like this:

You know... Nic showing the entire neighborhood our TRUE COLORS.

I swear, he did it himself.

Ever since Lego Land, where the husband bought him a pirate hat, eye patch and sword, this kid has been obsessed.

I have a cute picture of him in this getup, complete with a mustache and pegged leg (again, his doing) that I will have to share. It's on the husband's phone - so it might be a day or two. But, it will be worth it.

Saturday, the husband and I did a quick Home Depot run. I wanted to purchase some paint for Nic's dresser that I am working on refinishing. It will hopefully look like a pirate's treasure chest when I am done with it. Hopefully.

While at the HD (yeah, we're close like that)... the husband and I browsed through the Christmas trees. I have celebrated Christmas my entire life (him, not so much)... but I have yet to have a Christmas tree in my OWN home. Since getting married, the husband, kids and I have always spent Christmas at my parent's house. The plan for this year to was to have Christmas here, at our new house. However, I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to talk my better half into it. I guess, when you don't really celebrate holidays, it's one thing to go somewhere and celebrate it and another to do it in your own home.

We finally came to an agreement.

She's a 7.6 foot Wesley Pine.

Fake as all get out. But pre-lit and beautiful.

I am so freakin' excited. But, I have to tell you... I have not ONE single ornament to put on this sucker.

So, Nic and I will be taking my lunch break today and visiting the ever-so-wonderful Hobby Lobby.

I am sure there are a few [million] things we can use there.

The husband had to go back to work on Sunday, so the kids and I did stuff around the house. Things I have been trying to get done for a while. You know, things that involve a HAMMER and NAILS?!

In Isabel's room - after hanging some makeshift blinds, we realized the light purple actually is a little darker than we originally thought. It's staying - for now. I have no energy to paint and she likes it.

But, since I did by a quart of this really cool purple color [Purple Statice], I decided to dress up one of her walls.

Above her desk, we measured out a large square. We will add wood trim next weekend... And it's to be used for important things (awards, report cards, snapshots) that Isabel would like to have above her work area.

On one of the other walls, I've added a few Goodwill finds.

These hot air balloons were cream and black and had the words Paris, Milan, and London scripted on them. After some white spray paint, they add a pop. I am working Isabel to find the perfect saying or quote that we can add to that wall - floating between the balloons.  If you have any ideas - please feel free to share.

The vinyl lettering will be in black - to add some additional "color."  Beneath the balloons, will sit Isabel's dresser. I am still in the process of sanding it down and painting it white.

On the third wall, we've started Isabel's photo collection.

The shelf was another Goodwill find - and does a great job copying the lines/curves of the balloons.

I've added some really cute pictures of Isabel...

And empty frame (or two)...

and then there is the clock tower building thing. Another Goodwill find that Isabel wanted.

I don't know how it fits in, but she likes it. =)

There are a few more things we need to do for Isa - like bedding and pillows, but we've are off to a good start.

We also worked on Nic's room a bit.

I hung up the curtains (and curtain rod), some pictures, and the anchor (Hobby Lobby, 50% off!!).

The colors of the room were really decided on because of the curtains I've had for quite a while.

Here's the anchor up close. Love it.

I found this frame at Ross - took out the art work and added an old-world map that I mod-podged. I think it makes a great pirate map.

Again, a good start - but so much more to do.

We didn't get anything done in Alex's room this weekend - but we do have some plans.

He wants to create his own artwork using plywood and spray paint... so that will be an
 EVENT we have to plan for. Meaning, we will have to have a clean-up crew standing by!