Thoughts...

{via valentinadesign thru S.HOPtalk}

Pitter Pat

Okay, okay... I love everything Apple and I don't mean the fruit.  I love my iPhone ( I have two). My Apple Laptop is fantastic especially with it's pink cover. I have been skeptical of all the Kindles in the world. Mostly because I love books, they way they smell, feel.  I like getting my fingers dirty going through Sunday's paper. And lastly, I am OBSESSED with buying magazines.  I pretty much buy them all, much to the chagrin of my hubs. Soooo when I heard Apple was coming out with a product similiar to the Kindle I wasn't sure what to think...  Until today.  The iPad is much like the iPhone but better.

The size is fantastic...

The features are fantastic too.  It has iBooks, over 140,000 apps to download & Safari which means you can browse online and check email.  It also has video so you can watch movies, You Tube, iPod, iTunes, maps, notes, calendar, contacts, pictures......

Despite the hefty price, it ranges from $499 to $829, I think it is worth it.
What do you think of the iPad?  Is it worth the $$$?

Den Redo

Have you all seen this Den Redo in Southern Living Magazine?
It makes me want to grab a blanket, good book, hot tea and kick my feet up.

Before

After

{Isn't the ottoman scrumptious?}

After II

{What a transformation.}

After III

{I love all the attention to detail}

How do I get someone to redo a room in my house for a magazine???

Happy Birthday Jake!

My eldest son Jake is three years old today. This weekend we celebrated with a Thomas the Tank Engine themed birthday party on Saturday. Fun was had by all. Jake went around telling everyone that it was his Happy Birthday Day. It was so sweet.

Happy Birthday Jake via my my new chalkboard I made. More on that tomorrow.

Good Morning Birthday Boy! Jake wanted to wear his Thomas hat straight away.

Celebration room

Thomas the Tank Engine Cake

The Birthday Boy with his train tee I had made for him by Smitten & Company.

Cousin Kiera in her party dress.

L to R, Aunt CJ, Grandma Liz, Jake, Kiera and Ryan (in his matching train shirt).

L to R, Grandpa Steve, Ryan, Grandma Marci, and Auntie Rita.

The Conductor opening his presents.

The End!

How was your weekend? Any celebrations to be had?

This week has been filled with paint. I am in the midst of making four chalkboards. I can't wait to show you all. Three are for my house and the fourth for my nieces.
In addition to chalkboards I have painted two lamps for my master bedroom. I have two more lamps to paint that that will be lighting up the guest room/craft room. Here is an office/guest room makeover that I love and drawing inspiration from. The pink lamp, hints of yellow, gorgeous chair......

{all images via Real Simple}

The Playroom

The boys upstairs playroom has been a fun project for me. Not only did my husband give me free range to put anything on the walls, he encouraged it.
I wanted to create a fun play space as well as a learning place.

To create the space I did the following. First I purchased the learning boards from Toys that Teach. Then I visited Ikea and found the huge red frames to hold them. The only thing about the frames is they have no cover which I didn't realize until after I opened them all. Which ended up being fine. Then I purchased Spray Glue and sprayed the boards onto the large piece of white paper that came with the frames and walla.  The table and chairs in the playroom were purchased from Pottery Barn Kids as were adorable alphabet holders on the backs of the chairs (these are only available in store).  The Abacus by Melissa & Doug can be purchased in various locations.

 I purchased the chalkboards at Ikea. They were brown so I decided to paint them Aspharagus by Behr which was left over paint from my son, Jake's room. I learned to only use spray paint after painting these with room paint. The stools under the chalkboards are from Ikea and were a steal but a pain to assemble. The bird art clips were purchased at Land of Nod. The hanging tins were purchased at Target in the $1 area. I got the idea from Jenny. The 3 m hangers for the tins I got at Target.

The kitchen by Kidkraft was purchased at Costco a few years ago. The mirror above was a gift from my dad ages ago. I spray painted it with Valspar Gloss in Mediterranean that I purchased from Lowe's. I hope to add curtains soon and hangers for art smocks, hats, etc.

I scored the train table and drawers (by Kidkraft) on Craigslist for $40 bucks, a steal. The castle was from daddy this Christmas and purchased at Toys the Teach. I don't know if you can see them in the back but there are Thomas the Train Wall Decals that I got at Home Depot.

The extra storage is necessary. The bookcase was in my husbands office until recently and now fits perfectly in our space. He purchased it from Ikea years ago yet they still carry them.

This is a picture of the semi organized closet in their playroom.

A little extra.....The table and chairs downstairs in the kitchen area, I purchased from Ikea last week and finally set up today. I love that they have a  space to play and create while I am cooking.  The alphabet hangers on the back of the chairs I purchased at Pottery Barn Kids and are only available in stores.

The new playtable and it's surroundings.

Happy Monday!

A day already gone

It's Monday at 3:44 pm and I am still in my PJ's. At least my boys are dressed, right? Mondays are always my recovery day from the weekend. This weekend we had a great time.
Friday took it easy.
Saturday, a baby shower for Laura then a late night with friends.
Sunday, fun again with friends and a trip to Toys that Teach and the Old Spaghetti Factory.

{Jake and Dad in the caboose at the OSF}

How was your weekend?

The sickies

Our home has been overrun with the sickies. Our Ry guy was the first to come down with the flu on New Years Eve.. Lots of fun was had. Then Jake aka Danger got it, then me, then the hubs (Eric). Today is Friday and we seem to be in full swing again which means I have loads to catch up on...
I've missed the blog world!

I am obsessed with mudrooms right now. We have a teeny tiny entryway that I am desperately trying to make into a mini mudroom. When I mean teeny, I mean teeny. With two kids and hopefully a third one day. We need a place for shoes, jackets and junk...

I am loving this one from Meg at Whatever.  BTW congrats on the Homie Award for 09.

{via Real Simple}

{via Real Simple}

{source unknown}

{via Pottery Barn}

To give you an idea of our mudroom size, the storage bench and locker from Pottery Barn is what our space can fit. My thoughts, get this one from Pottery Barn in Espresso or have one made??

Happy New Year!