Evelyn's Big Girl Room: Before

You've been hearing me mention Evelyn's big girl room a lot lately. We're on a deadline to the tune of March 11ish and I still have barely started on it. I have plans and decorations and a pinterest board and everything, but not much progress. Thankfully, we've started to work on it this week.

This room has been through a bit of an evolution in the five years (really!? five years!?) we've lived here. When we moved in, it was a nice, organized office. Then an office + a sewing room. Then an office + sewing + piano room. All the while housing ridiculous amounts of junk. Seriously. Please tell me everyone has a room in their house where they just stick the stuff they don't know what to do with? That was this room.

Now, out of necessity - and an increasing itch to make it presentable to house guests instead of an eyesore upon which I close the door - it is going through yet another transformation into a girly, yet not too girly room for my first born.

Here is the room before. Actually, this is more in the middle. Seriously guys, this room could have been on an episode of hoarders. Minus the dead animals and such. It feels good to purge.

Plans:

When I first thought of Evelyn's big girl room, I got excited about painting and such. Then I realized that I kind of love this paint color. It's just the perfect shade of blue. Light enough to certainly not be considered masculine, yet feminine enough to not be girly. I'm team no-pink over here. Well, to an extent.

I also thought about furniture. Do I go buy her furniture? Convert the crib and buy a new crib? Use my old furniture? I couldn't resist the cheapest option which is handing down a very old family heirloom (sorry for the terrible pics):

{Headboard - OMG, my basement! This was in the midst of what I"m referring to as the great purge} 

{Chest of drawers} 

{Footboard} 

{Vanity}

This set is old. As in over 100 years old. Handed down through the generations and in really great condition. I considered painting it white until my mom nearly had a heart attack and I saw the sheer amount of laquer I'd have to sand off of it. So it will remain in this state though I might change the knobs. I wish I could replace the mirror since it really looks kind of worn and yucky, but I think that would be difficult.

So, wall color - check. Furniture - check. Now comes the fun part. Decor! I seriously suck at interior decorating. I'm a math teacher for crying out loud. My creative gene doesn't exist. That, and all I see when I'm shopping for decorations is dollar signs. Then I came across this on clearance at Bed Bath and Beyond:

I know. It's pink! But, it has the perfect accent of blue in it to match the walls with a nice vintage feel to go with the furniture. At least I hope that's how it all works out. 

I've also got some other ideas brewing such these cute wall hangings made of simple fabric in embroidery hoops:

{Courtesy of Apartment Therapy}

Some cute little paintings that I thought Rob could do. Only I was thinking a countryside scene instead of Paris:

{Courtesy of Lemontree Creations}

We'll see how it all turns out, but I'm excited to finally get started on the more fun stuff!

Miscellany

• I love Christmas, but I'm glad it's over. It's like going on vacation but being glad to sleep in your bed when you get home. It's chaos, glorious chaos, but makes you appreciate the routine days throughout the rest of the year.
• I finally got all of my decorations put away. 
• I'm nesting. Bad.
• This is a good thing as Evelyn's room is finally getting some attention and our basement is getting more organized by the day.
• I'm a little freaked out by the fact that I'm having a baby in two months. That is not enough time to get everything done. I'm trying really hard, but not being very successful.
• Rob has been hearing yet another round of layoff threats. This one sounds legit, but when you hear them at least once every four months you begin to ignore them. God will take care of us.
• I don't think Rob would be disappointed to have to find a new job considering how much he dislikes his. Maybe this is God telling him to move on?
• I am finding my job harder and harder. My body is protesting sitting all day staring at a computer. I feel tired and frustrated. I miss teaching. I miss my baby. 
• Evelyn has begun with the tantrums. She's attempting to scream/cry and fall on the floor when she doesn't get her way. Fun, no? At this point, we are both just completely ignoring the behavior or telling her that when she is ready to be kind we can do an alternative activity.
• I'm struggling with the idea of Evelyn weaning (yes, she's still nursing). She is beginning to drop morning sessions and I've noticed changes in her habits as my milk changes back to colostrum (aren't our bodies amazing?). Outside pressures make me question how I'm handling it, but I know deep down that it's a positive part of our relationship and that someday she will wean and I won't have these moments anymore. This may be a whole other post in and of itself though.
• Parenting is hard stuff.
• How the heck am I going to handle two?
• I often feel like I don't devote enough attention to certain activities. I stink at remembering people's birthdays and sending cards. I want to take more pictures of life and keep my photos organized. I want to be crafty or keep my house cleaner but I feel like I can never keep up. I think this is common with moms. But, it's hard when others seem to make it look so easy. 
• Example: I'm 3 years behind on putting our family photos into our annual ornaments. Also, I desperately want to make a photo book for Evelyn's first year, but I feel like I have to be doing so many other things that I can't focus on it. I think the part of me that can't stand to start a project and not finish it in one sitting is my greatest detriment in this department.
• If people call me a procrastinator, I'm not sure what I'd label Rob. His incessant habits of procrastinating are grating on my every last nerve right now. I can't get going on Evelyn's room because his desk covered in his crap is still in there and I, obviously, can't move it. Also, him and trash is probably topping my list right now. Is it really that hard to take two steps to throw the wrapper of a piece of candy away? Also, when I ask you to take the trash out (because you yell at me when I do it - being pregnant an all) that means actually taking it outside and putting it in the can, not setting it in the garage for morning. And then not doing it in the morning either. I might as well have just done it myself.
• Thankfully though, when he does get motivated, there's no stopping him. He's been working hard on the basement and it's finally getting there!

Deck the Halls!

One of our favorite family traditions is decorating the house for Christmas the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We get up and eat a yummy family breakfast then dig out all of the decorations and go to town while watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music. This year I couldn't wait until Evelyn got up from her nap to see the finished product.

{Table Set Up - While it lasts...} 

{The stockings were hung by the Breakfast bar with care - can't wait to see another up there next year!}

 {Just because I loved Evelyn crashing this one}

{Christmas tree!} 

{Evelyn's Nativity} 

We also are avid Hallmark ornament collectors. I often think that I would like to just go and get some pretty uniform ornaments, but every year when we put them up on the tree I remember why I love them so much. This is one of my favorite parts of Christmas - reminiscing about the life events we remember by them. I love that I feel like our tree tells a story. Note to self: get out the good camera. I can take better pictures than this, I just thought I'd see how our little point and shoot would do....

 {One of Evelyn's favorite books}

{Evelyn's first Christmas Ornament from last year} 

 {This one is relevant this year too!}

{Celebrating our growing family last year!} 

{Evelyn loved the snowman} 

{No really, she loved the snowman}

We wanted to take video of Evelyn's first real Christmas decor experience. She wasn't as excited as we thought, but there is some classic Evelyn cuteness in there!

I love my babies....

I really do. But, I really HATE them right now.

Before Rob and I moved in together after the wedding, Oliver and Dudley were happily living at my parents house and doing just fine. I mean, what dog wouldn't with someone home to keep you company ALL THE TIME. Obviously, that's not the case anymore. Oliver and Dudley live with Rob and I and are home 9 hours a day by themselves. Before we moved, we could let them roam the house without worry. They didn't chew (and still don't) and wouldn't mess in the house. Ahhh, until now.

Now, everyday, I come home to a pile of dog poop. And lately they've been peeing on the carpet. And it's not in a single spot everytime. It's all over the house. I'm so done with this right now. Poop, I can handle (though I still hate it) but pee is a totally different story.

Now the question, what do I do? Should I buy a crate for them? Should they share it? Have their own? What about blocking them off in the kitchen?

I would love to take like two weeks off of work to devote to housebreaking them again. It doesn't help that we don't have a fence either.

I'm so mad right now... :(

Settling In

My worries are subsiding as we're closing our third week living in our new house. My biggest worries were Oliver and Dudley. They were moving to a new place, leaving Sadie behind, as wells as being away from my parents, brother and sister in law and nephew.

But, they seem to be enjoying themselves:

I'm really happy with how they are adjusting!

A Little Handiwork

I was displaying my ability to do some handiwork around the house yesterday and I have blisters to prove it. I installed (with Rob's help, of course) handles on most of my cabinet doors in the kitchen. Notice I said "most." As in, I didn't have enough. So, I'm going to Home Depot tonight to get some more. Or did I get them at Lowes? I'll figure it out. Regardless, they look fabulous.

No home improvement project can go without a hitch. I broke a screw off inside one of the holes. Long story. Happy ending.

I'm pretty proud of myself though!

***Still waiting for pictures!!!***

Playing Catch-Up

I've decided that I'm a bona fide procrastinator. I didn't use to be a procrastinator. This is why I never blog and never go to the gym. I keep telling myself that I'll go later, or I why bother? Nobody really reads your blog anyway. Just don't eat as many calories. I blame my new procrastinating ways on Rob. Case in point.

Me: Rob, this weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, I'd like to get you moved out to the house for the most part since this will be one of our only free weekends to do it before the wedding.

Rob: Steph, the wedding is THREE WEEKS AWAY!

Me: But, I REALLY don't want to be moving our stuff the week after the wedding when we have off. I want to relax and enjoy being MARRIED.

Rob: We have plenty of time.

Me: Fine.

See, how can I not keep a little of this from rubbing off on me? I mean, Rob is the procrastinator of all procrastinators. Example number two:

Rob: What ring size are you again?

Me: Why? (Is he going to buy me two rings!? Oh wait. Oh, no. My thoughts come to a screeching halt as I realize...) You haven't bought my wedding band yet!?

Rob: No.

Me: Babe, the wedding is in THREE WEEKS!!!

Rob: So, all I have to do is go buy it.

Me: What if it has to be sized!

Rob: Oh.

Yup. We're gonna arrive at our wedding day and I'm not gonna have a wedding band. What am I gonna do, borrow someone's? I need to take a deep breath. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Okay. It'll all be okay.

Speaking of the wedding... I've done a few things in preparation... and I have pictures!!!

Mom and I spent an entire Sunday afternoon tying tags to bubbles with ribbons. It was fun, let me tell you. I'm happy with how they turned out though!


I bought my dress for the rehearsal dinner (again.)! I had bought one earlier and didn't really like it for the occasion anymore so I decided to keep my eyes open. Well, I found this adorable dress from B. Moss for $30! B.Moss is definitely one of my new favorite stores. They have some adorable clothes! (and good deals..)


I also put together my flower girl's gifts... some hair accessories and their Build A Bear giftcards!


Another exciting accomplishment, I dyed my crinoline for the wedding blue! I debated for a while on whether or not to do this, and then thought, what the heck? So we dyed it, and I took it to the bridal shop with Jocelyn to try on with my dress to make sure it worked! I love it.


James' gift came in the mail. I doubled it as his ring bearer gift and birthday gift since his birthday is July 4th. It's a bedroom set with trucks, trains, and tractors on it for the big boy bed he's getting after I move out! He'll love it!


I also had another shower, which I mentioned last time I actually posted. It was a lot of fun. I got some awesome stuff!

My cousin, who's doing my flowers sent a bouquet to see if I like the shape and size of it. It's not at all what my bouquet will look like, but it still looks fabulous after a 4 hour trip in a warm car without water. She also sent a boutonnière, which I'm sure looked a lot better when it was fresh.


One of the gifts I got is a figurine we're going to use for our cake table! Along with this sign. It'll be great.


On a note totally not related to the wedding... WE HAVE GRASS!!! They put sod down at our house on Monday! It makes our yard look HUGE (which, it is at almost 15,000 sq. ft.). Although, now we have to figure out how to water it... since we're hardly ever there. I really don't want it to die.


On a note related to the house, we had our first security scare (and hopefully our last). I got a call from Brinks a couple of nights ago saying that our alarm had gone off in zone 4. I missed the call, so this was a message. I was thinking that zone 4 is the basement (which is guarded with a motion detector) and wasn't too terribly worried considering we live in the middle of a field and a mouse could have gotten in or something (which isn't good, but it's better than a burglar!). Turns out the alarm tripped was the glass break detector in the great room! It detects if glass is broken within a 30 ft radius. They called my house and asked if I wanted them to send the cops. Um, YES! Turns out it was nothing. A false alarm. But, regardless that was scary!

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For...

I thought it would be kind of me to let Oliver speak his mind. My poor babies have been extremely patient with my house obsession and how much I neglect them with my busy schedule. I'll make it up to them, I promise.

I really hope no one is disappointed by this post. Looking at the pictures, I feel like I have put so much time and effort into the house and don't really have much to show for it. Then, I've gone and made such a big deal out of it that I've gotten everyone's hopes up. So, now I'm warning you, the house doesn't look like a page out of an interior design magazine, but let me tell you, it's much improved!

Let the fun begin! We did SO much (Mom and I for the most part...) and I'm gonna kind of take it step by step. I have to apologize though, because I don't really have pictures of the house "finished" before we fixed it up.


The Front Entrance:

Before (During Construction)

After with a little paint, some curtains, and a rug

The Kitchen:

Before (At the end of construction)

After! We painted (it's green...), added a couple of house plants, and some furniture. This is one of my favorite rooms in the house!

The breakfast room, also painted and our awesome counter-height kitchen table which I love (with Dudley looking out the back door)

The kitchen again (can you tell I like this room?) With our new fridge, some paint, a couple of rugs, and some paint!

Rob's Office:

Sorry, no before picture, but we just painted it an awesome shade of blue. It has some furniture in it now too!

Master Bathroom:

Before (During construction)

After, we painted it the same color as the kitchen, just because it so happened to be the perfect color and added some decorations. Now we just need a shower curtain rod!

Guest Bathroom:

After, paint, and various awesome decorations from Sears

The Great Room:

Before (Right at the end of construction)

After, paint, furniture and a few electronics... :o) Rob refuses to watch the "little" TV.

Another shot of the great room from the kitchen.

The Master Bedroom:

After some paint, furniture, and a lovely bedroom set from Linens N Things!

One of the dressers

I'm so in love with my house right now! It feels good to work on it and watch things take shape. There will definitely be more in the future! Next on the list is getting some pictures on the walls. But, we'll be doing a lot of that after the wedding. I hope it was at least worth the wait! I can't wait to move in!

Also, any suggestions are welcome as to how to make it better! I hope to be doing a lot of yard work in the future as well. Maybe we'll get grass soon?

Oh, and we got a TON of free carpet from our neighbors house and laid it all over the basement floor. I didn't get pictures of it yet, but it definitely helps warm it up a little bit, literally!

Have a great evening everyone!