Passing on a few great ideas....

If you read my post titled Spring Entry: Adding Touches of Color, I mentioned that I drew inspiration for this re-styled entry from several pinterest and blogger ideas:

 
I let Pam, over a Simple Details, know that the styling of her emerald green dresser makeover influenced some of my decisions.  Her is a peak at her dresser:

(please pin image from her blog)

Create a Simple Magnetic Chalkboard

I recently put together a magnetic chalkboard for my son to use in his room (full tour here) that was really simple to create:
 

The artistic renderings were done by my husband during play time....not me.  I'm not really that talented.  I purchased each of the necessary materials over time without a real purpose in mind......

Spring Entry: Adding Touches of Color

A few years ago, I decided, happily, to remove bright and bold colors from most rooms in my house - with exception to the boys rooms.  This winter I finally reached a happy place in line with my vision of many layered neutrals. 

....and then - once again, I felt a shift.....I noticed that I was pinning, to Pinterest, rooms with splashes of bold colors again and again.  I'm still drawn to very neutral rooms, but I thought maybe I could reach a happy medium. 

So, I decided to add some bold color into my life.  Luckily, with the neutral wall colors and furnishings we have, it wasn't too hard to follow my whim and add touches of color.  So, for this spring, I've decided to add some splashes of color into our home through accessories and plants.

Nautical 1st Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated my youngest son's first birthday with our family:

Here is the birthday boy; he's a happy little guy:

To plan the party, I made it easy and chose the theme and colors I used in his nursery:

Arrow Valentine's for my Pre-Schooler

This year I needed to pull together Valentine's for my son to pass out at pre-school.....

....ok, so maybe his class passed out Valentine's last year, too, but I was three days away from delivering our second son, so I may have forgot to send something with him.....

...so this year I'm trying to make up for that, I suppose....

Surprise Valentine Spa Day and Getaway

Last Thursday, my husband surprised me with the news that he had planned a spa day, dinner, and hotel stay for us downtown in the city.  And oh yeah....we were leaving the next morning at 10 am!  Today I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite pictures from our getaway at Allyu Spa and Hotel Monaco.

My Ikea Dining Room

Who DOESN'T love IKEA lately?  I know, I know, the parking lots are HUGE and always jam packed, the product names make me feel like I need a translator to simply ask for help locating an item, I can only hope and pray that I find my way out of the maze they call a store - god help me when I have to double back for something I missed - and once I locate an item I'm seeking on the showroom floor, fingers crossed it is in stock once I finally make my way down to the warehouse. 

I'm tired just thinking about it.

With all that said, their prices and great design make it all worth it, in my opinion.  I tried my hand, for the first time, at using Olioboard to create an IKEA reproduction of a dining room I'm kind of crushing on, and that I found recently on Pinterest (follow me!).  Here is what I came up with:

...and here is my inspiration....

Tiffany Eastmant Interiors

Here are a few other dining rooms that are similar and helped inspire my design: