Bright and Bold Playroom Makeover

I finally got the playroom/craft space done and I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out!

We decided to turn our downstairs guest room into a play room because lets face it, kids come with a lot of "stuff" and having it all in the main living area was driving me crazy. 

I wanted to have a fun space where Norah and her brother could play and be creative. I also saved a little area in the room for my desk so I could work in there right a long side of them.

I knew I wanted a bold print on one of the walls but struggled to find wallpaper that was affordable and easy to install. I finally decided to just buy a round stencil sponge brush and do it myself. Once I got the courage to place the first dot, the rest was easy - peasy and took about an hour. I love that they aren't perfect because it makes it more whimsical.

My Mom and I made the cornice boards in about 30 minutes and the total for the project was less than $20! It was so easy that I want to do them in every room!

A craft corner was key for Norah and this is where she spends most of her time. The table, bulletin board and supply storage are all from Ikea. 

These book shelves are also from Ikea 

She got these super cute doll magnets for Christmas so I ordered a magnetic board from Amazon so we could keep them from disappearing under the refrigerator.

The artwork is from an old Rifle Paper Co. calendar that I couldn't bear to part with because the illustrations were so cute. I matted them with some construction paper and voila!

The Linus art was gifted to me by my sister years ago.

This globe was mine when I was little so it got a quick little face lift with some paint and it's good as new! Norah asks me daily to point out her "namerhood" on the world.

I gave up my craft room for the new nursery so I made sure to organize the closet to hold all of my supplies and my desk fit perfectly in the corner of the room.

Of course I had to display my Blythe dolls and I think they make the perfect addition :) 

Our Modern Farmhouse: Norahs Bed and Bath

When we first moved in I wanted to make Norah's main living spaces a priority so she didn't feel so disheveled during the move.

She had only been in her nursery at the apartment for such a short time that I wanted to use the same decor at the new house.

I didn't really have a theme because I wanted it to be whimsical and eclectic.

Paint: Sherwin Williams- Intimate White

* I spent months searching for the perfect pink that wasn't too bright. Lo and behold I found the perfect shade in the white section! Rolling it on it was very white but it dried the most beautiful shade of pale pink.

Crib: Hudson by Babyletto

Bookshelves: Ikea

Glider and Ottoman: Buy Buy Baby

Side Table: Home Goods

Go Girl Pendant: Hobby Lobby

Gold Circle Shelves: Target-Pillowfort

Dresser: Vintage and refurbished with knobs from Hobby Lobby

I really wanted to make her books accessible to her and I found this awesome Ikea hack on Pinerest! 

These are super cheap spice racks that hold books wonderfully!

When it came to her bathroom we had endless possibilities with a very white canvas.

I have always loved the mermaid print from Rifle Paper Co so I pretty much based it around that without going too mermaid crazy!

Tim put up the chair rail and I just love how finished it looks now!

Paint: Sherwin Williams- Aloe Vera

Mermaid Print: Rifle Paper Co.

Shower Curtain: Amazon

Gold Baskets: Walmart

Towels: Target

Lather,Rinse,Repeat Sign: Hobby Lobby

Rugs: World Market

Home Sweet Home

Well, we made it!

It was a crazy, crazy month but we survived.

Last Friday was our move in day so we decided to drive down and get our keys, check out the apartment then head up to Big Bear for my sister in laws wedding. We were SOOO excited to see the apartment! We finished all of the paperwork, grabbed the keys and rushed in to admire every nook of our new home.

All I can say is that I was less than amused and left feeling slightly defeated. There were minor stains on the carpet and walls, ants in several different places and......are you ready for this....

A mushroom growing out of the carpet! A MUSHROOM!

Along with the "Welcome to Irvine" Fungi was a touch of black mold.

Cue panic mode. 

I immediately called the front office who sent the maintenance guy over. 

"Hmm..", he said as he removed the AC vent. "Looks like the AC has been leaking...that's not good"

He sent us back to the office to see what we should do from there. Our choices? Wait a week while they tear out drywall and remove mold or wait for a new apartment. Luckily there was an apartment that would be done on Monday that they offered us. Same layout but a little more privacy. They let us take a look even though they were still in the process of getting it ready but it was so much better! Plus, new, mushroom free carpet!

SOLD!

Monday morning the movers showed up to collect our stuff and I went ahead and finalized the lease and got our new keys. I was so nervous that I would find something else but lo and behold, this one was perfect! The movers were quick and within 4 hours we had everything here in our new home.

Tim and I spent the first night here sans dog and we were just so happy.
It's so much smaller but it makes it that much cozier and I think it's exactly what we needed. Tim just kept saying, "I'm so happy!"

The next day we retrieved Linus from Grandma and Grandpas and I was SO excited to show him his new home. Like any other crazy dog lady, I set up his things from home and even displayed an arrangement of new toys to chose from (don't judge me). He burst through the door like he owned the place, emptied his toy bucket and thoroughly sniffed each room. I was beaming with happiness! "He loves it!' I thought to myself.

Then.....

Every little noise sent him into a barking fit. We tried our best to stop him but he was on a mission to burst my bubble. Luckily it was bedtime and we could finally shut him up. He had a different idea. Instead he decided to wake up every two hours to play with a squeaking hedgehog and insisted on making us take him downstairs to pee on EVERY SINGLE BUSH.

The last couple of days he has barked less but still panics when one of us leaves. We tried both leaving but just standing in the hall and he attempted to break the door down while screaming bloody murder.

Linus is the poster child for separation anxiety. We're hoping he adjusts more and more each day. 

Please pray for our sanity and for Linus to adjust sooner than later!

My Cup of Tea Sunday: Mantles

Our next home project is definitely our mantle and fireplace. I can't wait!

The possibilities are endless!!!

House Stuff: Updated Living Room

The other day as I was preparing the house for a party I realized that I haven't posted the pictures of our updated living room. 

You can see the old living room here.