Thursday, February 28, 2013

A's New Room Sneak Peak No. 1


A. is finally into her long awaited room.  We converted the sunroom into a very cute little room for her.  She wanted a shabby chic room and since the room was basically being built from scratch we were able to add shabby chic elements into the room itself not just the decor.

For the ceiling we did a tongue and groove pine and did one very thin coat of white paint on the rough sawn side and painted very sparsely so the wood grain would show and in spots the wood itself peaks out.  For the light we used the existing fixture but in place of the old glass we used my favorite vintage mason jar.  To complete the vintage look we used an old fashioned light bulb.


It is easily one of my most favorite things about her room.  I am more than a little jealous since it is my favorite mason jar and she gets to look at it everytime she steps into her room.

I also worked on a secret project for her room.  I did a pretty good job at actually keeping it a secret until 2 or 3 days before I was finished.  Unfortunately when we were out shopping I let it slip that I was working on something for her.  Oh boy did I get it.  The entire rest of the day she bugged me about what it was and then started worrying that she wouldn't like it.  I knew she would love it so I didn't have any stress over it.  Plus if she didn't like it, I did, so I would just snag it for my room or the office area.

She spent the weekend with her besty so it gave me time to finish it up and place it in her room.  I knew I didn't have to worry, when she got home Sunday she was instantly in love with it.


So here are the specifics.  We were cleaning out in the basement and I found this stack of old windows and screens.  I asked Cameron if they were earmarked for something and he said no.  So after squealing with delight, I snagged this window and got to work.  First task was to scrub all the dirt and grime off, then I sanded away.  After I got it distressed to the point I was satisfied, I applied a coat of stain and sealer.

The top and third panel were taped off and a few coats of chalkboard paint were applied.  Make sure you get the chalkboard paint that specifies it can be used on glass.  Otherwise you end up with a big mess and no chalkboard.  Yes, lesson learned.  The second and third panel I stapled fabric to the window frame on the backside so it could be used as a wipe board.

Once everything was dry and in place I add these beautiful porcelain rose drawer pulls that I purchased from TJMaxx ages ago.



To hold the chalk and dry erase markers I took an old can and cleaned up any sharp edges and drilled a hold on each side of the can near the top to hold the ribbon to hang it.  Then I took a scrap of fabric and mod-podged it to the can and added a piece of lace and ribbon.  Once that dried a took a long piece of ribbon and threaded and knotted it to the can and hung it from one of those beautiful roses.


And so she would know what it was, before she got I home I modified a song I used to sing to her when she was little and wrote a verse on each pane.


I love how it turned out.  And almost every day when I head into her room it has something new written on it.  Notes to different family members, a list of crafts she has going on, homework she needs to finish, or just doodles.  Love it!

Have any old windows laying around?  Put them to work!!

A Road Trip, A Snowy Winter, and A Baby

Ok, stop freaking out!  I know you all read that title and the only words you saw was "a baby".  No, I am NOT having another baby.  A sweet friend of ours had her long anticipated little one arrive this month and we are all very excited for her.  More on that later.

So first I will apologize for taking so long to update this here little blog.  I have received many complaints that it has been so long since an update.  So, I am so very sorry.  I will update you all on what has happened these past few months and give you all glimpses of our lovely little faces.

The last post was the big winter storm we received the day we were leaving for vacation.  We headed off that afternoon through all that snow and headed to Missouri to see some of Cameron's family.  I have been begging him to see them for a very long time so we were all excited 1. to be going on vacation and 2. to be seeing family whom we hadn't seen in so very long.


So we started out with our typical Richie trip glitches.  Our power plug up front decided to stop working.  Not that big of a deal except it meant no GPS.  So we had to stop and buy a road atlas.  I was secretly glad.  I love using a map and finding the way on my own.  As I cracked that atlas open I was instantly transported back in time to our family road trips.  I could hear my Dad's voice teaching me how to read the map, how to add up how many miles to our next stop, how to tell where the next rest stop was, what the different color roads meant.  Very nostalgic that little map!  I loved being my Dad's co-pilot.  Loved it until I would doze off and he would whack my arm out from under my head.  Ahhh the memories!

Our trip was a wonderful, relaxing vacation.  I love seeing family that from the very beginning are instant friends and even though you haven't seen them in so long it is like you just saw them yesterday.  All the kids who had never met were instant friends and I barely saw my children the whole week.  Seriously, I saw them in passing as they went from one house to the other.  So much so that I barely got any photos the whole week.

We went geocaching one day.  We learned a couple of very important lessons.  1. it really is not fun to geocache in the cold.  Really, trying to find the micro caches when your hands are freezing takes all the fun out of it; and 2. it is much more fun in one vehicle or on foot than trying to coordinate two vehicles.  But we really did have so much fun.  We love that Missouri bunch and can't wait to get back there again.  This summer you Funderburgs, be prepared we are coming back!

On to our snowy winter.  We are so glad the white stuff was back this year.  Snow on the ground is much more fun than ice on the ground.  Yes, there is a difference.  That snow we got right before our vacation was the start of the snow this winter.  It has been on the ground since that day.  We have had a few warm days where some of it melted off but for the most part we have had snow covered ground all winter.  The kids have had soooooo many snow days this year.  Which means they have to make some days up, but they were pretty happy with all those free vacation days.  And what is there better to do on a snow day but have a snowball fight.


We love the snow.  Love the sound of it crunching under our feet.  Love the snowball fights, the snow forts, the snowmen.  Watching it fall outside as we are cozy around the fire inside.  Yep, we are pretty much in love with all the seasons up here in the great north.


On to that gorgeous little baby.  Our good friends welcomed their beautiful little girl this month.  Rachel and I were privileged to throw them their shower.  They were so excited to be having a girl so we overdosed them with pink.  It was beautiful.  And the new little baby girl is even more beautiful.


I apologize again for the long wait, thank you for being patient with me and I promise to TRY and post more often.  Love you all!