Big Boy Room

Just a few detaiL pics of my older sons Big Boy Room:

 I will be back with more later!

And I was happy.

A few weeks back I was at one of my local thrift shop stops picking up a few accessories for the nursery.  While perusing the store, I spied a glass punch bowl and cocktail glasses sitting, unassumingly, amongst the everyday kitchenware.  The sleek lines beckoned me to come a little closer.  Upon further inspection, I noted several things:

#1 - This nicely shaped punch bowl came with 12 matching glasses.  Hmmm...not bad. 
#2 - What?  The bowl and glass rims have a silver plated band?  I'm a sucker for silver.  I can't help it.  I just am.
#3 - What's that you say?  The punch bowl and 12 silver plated glasses are how much?  They are $10?  For all of it?

I picked it up and put it down.  I walked to the back of the store to browse the books and magazines.  I peeked back to the kitchenware section; the bowl was still there.  What's wrong with it?  Something must be wrong with this bowl.  My gut is wrong.  It's a has-been.  I should leave now while I'm still ahead.  I was satisfied with my finds: a Norman Rockwell "Man in Boat" lithograph, a picture frame the perfect size for the print, as well as a globe that was going to make itself right at home in the nursery. 

Just check out now.  You will certainly leave this store ahead.

So I left.

Three hours later, while at home, I was still thinking about this punch bowl.

Small Things: Fresh Herbs, Inside

While I was ready to say goodbye to the summer heat this year and was highly anticipating fall - I love the crisp weather and all the fun activities, clothes, and decoration that fall has to offer - I was just not ready to say goodbye to fresh herbs just a few footsteps outside my door.

This year, I decided to try and grow two of my favorites inside:

The fresh thyme I moved inside from outdoors, I purchased fresh basil from a local nursery, and the third plant is a little random.  It's just a succulent that grabbed my eye while at Home Depot. 

I was so happy to see a lot of new growth on the basil and thyme when I came home from our weekend road trip. We used both tonight on our green beans - delicious!



via Simply Recipes

This is my favorite recipe for dressing up green beans with fresh herbs.  Except I add garlic (to pretty much everything), use basil instead of tarragon, and substitute shallots for red onion when I have them on hand............

Nursery Wall Letters

UPDATE: SEE FULL NURSERY TOUR HERE.

I'm adding the finishing touches to Baby Boy #2's nursery:

I knew I wanted to use wall letters in his nursery and found many great ideas:

Road Trip to Iowa

Where do you find your inspiration? For me, nature is a great place to start.

This past weekend, my family and I took our second annual weekend road trip to Iowa. My husbands step-dad owns land there in South English.  The view above is what you see from the kitchen window of his house.  I so much enjoy taking a walk outside of his home on a crisp morning and taking in the surrounding beauty of the fall landscape.

While driving through Iowa, I loved looking out my car window at the old weathered barns, cattle, and rolling hills of corn:

Goodwill Hunting

I stopped at the local Goodwill yesterday hoping to find a few items for around the house.  While I didn't know specifically what I wanted, I have ongoing home projects that need additional pieces:

• Master Bedroom - I purchased frames/matting for above our bedroom nightstands several months back that need art.  Until now, I threw some old sheet music in the frame, to fill the mat; not a permanent solution.
• Nursery - While the main elements are complete, I keep putting off hanging art and picking up some finishing accessories I have on my mind.  Considering Baby Boy #2 is now almost 8 months, I need to get a move on that.............

I kept this in the back of my mind as I rummaged.

Here is the pile of stuff I came home with:

I honestly have no real need for a silver platter and glass /silver plated bowl.  I just really like silver.  When I see it for a good price, I buy it.  :) 

Nursery Inspiration

UPDATE: SEE FULL NURSERY TOUR HERE.

In February of this year, my husband and I welcomed Baby Boy #2 into our family:

We moved Baby Boy #1 into his new Big Boy Room on Christmas day (inspiration board and pictures will follow); and then it hit me, I had yet to think about the nursery design.  Initially I thought we would simply move the new guy into the old nursery.  But...the nesting instinct was strong in me this time around.  With only a month left to go, I decided I must update the nursery.

I found a lot of great inspiration for the bedroom around the web (see below).  With all of these rooms in mind, I put together this inspiration board:



#1. Rug from Overstock.com
#2. DIY bedding textiles, World Market Pillow, and and IKEA Sundvik crib
#3. West Elm Capiz Chandelier
#4. DIY Nursery Mobile, using paper mache boat pattern found at Ann Wood's blog
#5. Restoration Hardware Canvas Stripe Drape (which I also DIY'ed)
#6. Nursery Art: World Map (PaperSource) and black and white nautical photos.

And here is a sneak peak at the space today: