Things I'm Looking Forward to Pt1

The Nursery:
One thing I CAN'T WAIT to have is a nursery. I don't know why but I've always dreamed of having a decked out room for a little baby. I want a matching bedroom set with a really cute fancy crib, and a fun theme. I thought it would be easy to decide what kind of stuff I'd like but as I was Googling images to add here I realized how picky I am. One thing for sure... I'd NEVER be able to decorate on my own. I suck at matching things and I'll either have to choose a picture out of a magazine and order the complete package, or hire a designer. I think I have more of a sophisticated taste in design. I don't like a lot of frills or wallpaper design print stuff. I like stripes, argyle, and dark colored beds (using the word "crib" gives me the creeps unless it's regarding a house).

If I were to find something I like now, I'd choose something like this for a girl:
And for some reason right now I really like this hot air balloon room for a boy, although I think I'd rather do a sort of golf-related like the second one.
Of course in an ideal world I'd take one from the top and one from the bottom and squish them together in a room for twins...

Anyway, who knows what my taste will be like by the time I actually give birth?! Don't you love how I'm posting all this stuff about kids and I have no idea when I'll actually have one? I'm a weirdo, and obviously a tad bit bored.

The Fabulous Nurseries!

I love to dream. Especially about expensive baby decor. Ok... Not really. Actually after this incident, I'm pretty sure we'll be getting all of the furniture for first baby's room off of Craigslist.

I don't mind though. I'd rather make things myself... I think.

But Danielle invited me to not only participate, but HOST her Fabulous Friday over on her blog: Now That's Just Fabulous.

The topic... None other than "Fabulous Nurseries." So I decided to play a game. I pretended like I was given a gajillion dollars to plan a nursery of my dreams. The one above is just one example (of like 10 on my guest post).

Believe it or not I didn't go over the top with my choices. I guess I'm kind of a Plain Jane kind of girl. ..Ok not really that either. I don't know how to describe my taste. But if you're been dying to know know my visions of baby decor head on over. Let me know what you think of my choices, and play along too! Pretend you got a gajillion dollars and share your favorite finds! Let me know the link so I can come see! Plus, I need more ideas (so what if it could be more than a year away!)

Nursery Shopping

Ok ok, so I know it's early AND I don't even know the gender of my baby yet, but it's not too early to dream and think up ideas right?

I posted awhile back about nursery colors and designs I like and I can't help but think more about it now. The sad thing is, I have NO decoration sense and trying to find things that match, and coordinate and look cute all at the same time is nearly impossible for me.

I'd love to find a unique style to make the room but it's not easy with my lack of decoration skills.

My poor husband seems to think we're going to decorate the room with Jazz jerseys and BYU helmets... Sorry, even if it is a boy that's not happening. I'll reserve a Man Cave for hubby at our next place.

I'm not sure if hubby would go for this, but I've dabbled with the idea of getting help... Oh yea, I mean professional help. Prices for designers are out of this world though and since I'm not making movie star money, I'm not getting a movie star designer.

I have a few friends who stage and decorate homes so I'm secretly hoping they'll give me a tip or two and help me out. I also think I'll flip through magazines and come up with a copy-cat design seeing what colors and shapes I like then try to mimic it in our nursery.

Here's what I have to start with... A queen bed (we'll leave in there cause it's sooooo comfortable) and a crib. Luckily the woods on both match, so I know I want to get a dresser and/or shelf space that has the same espresso-colored wood. I also don't really want to paint the room because we'll have to paint it back before we move out of this town home. I'm thinking about some vinyl options or something fun like that. Ideas? This is the crib I got! The won I won was discontinued at Sears so we got to pick another and I chose this one! It's by Delta and it changes into a toddler bed, day bed, and full size bed!Also, if you're looking for something that's in between hiring a designer to come to your home to decorate ant pay thousands of dollars, and just making it up yourself... Check out iBaby Interiors. Look at some of the cute designs she created!iBabyInteriors is a company by Julissa, who you can tell what your budget is, and what style you're looking for and she'll take it from there! The complete design services are mailed to your home in an iBaby Planner which contains everything you need to get your room ready for baby (or a playroom or bedroom). She's having a giveaway for a complete design on her blog right now! It's a $425 design for free! All you have to do is follow her blog and comment to enter! There's only been a handful of entries so far! I entered, and you should too!
She's also offered to give one of my readers an iBaby Color Consultation. So if you follow my blog and her blog, just leave a comment and you'll be entered to win! I'd prefer if you left a comment with a decoraing tip! I need all of the advice I can get!

Giveaway ends the 20th at 11:59pm CST!

Adorable Baby Bedding Sets

I have been too exhausted to do anything but browse the Internet. I haven't been visiting or commenting on blogs... Or writing in my own for that matter. I've been one big fat blog slacker. Oh but I have an excuse... (Not that I really need one, but I kind of do so I don't feel so bad) I've been SICK. Oh yes, and it's weird being sick while being pregnant cause I'm not sure if I'm puking cause of morning sickness or cause of a stomach bug.

For the amount of puke I've witnessed spewing from my mouth I'm guessing it's a stomach bug. I was worried I'd puke Spawnie up with my dinner. Then I woke up sweating like crazy, then the next moment I was freezing. I should have taken my temperature but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I imagine it's not too bad, and I'm trying to stay hydrated. I hit 12 weeks on Friday... A milestone which now means I have around a 2% chance of miscarriage. Can I get a big WOOP!!?

We have another appointment on Tuesday and they'll check to hear Spawnie's heart beat for the first time. I can't wait! And I hope all it well. I think after this next appointment I'll be able to let out a huge sigh of relief, make an official announcement at my job, etc. I'm just praying it all goes well.

In order to calm my nerves about all of the ickyness I'm feeling I started shopping around for crib bedding I like. I first checked out Etsy and saw a few adorable designs for 4pc sets for under $200. With the skirt, blanket, sheets, bumper or whatever. But then a few friends on Twitter turned me on to JoJo Designs. I guess the are good-quality for a great price. Now I'm pretty much obsessed! I found a bunch of brand new 9 piece sets on eBay for $50.

I know some people say they won't use it/ care/ etc. But I've been waiting to decorate a nursery like my whole life, so I'm gonna enjoy this! We won't paint the room or anything so the lamps, diaper stackers, and decorations will have to add the full effect. We also have a queen bed in that room too, but it just has a white down comforter, so I need to try to get something that doesn't clash with that.

Here's what I love for if Spawnie is a boy (which apparently, most of you think it is):This one is by Jo Jo designs and it's in a 9pc set for a great price! It's my favorite I think. I think frogs are so cute for little boys.
Since a lion is my favorite animal I fell in love with this. It's by Kidsline. The 4pc set is $99.
Penguins are my second favorite animal. A friend showed me this design and I think it's so cute! This is by Cottontail Designs and it's $100-$150 depending where you buy (Amazon is cheaper!)

Now for the girl designs I love! I must say I still am not TOTALLY sold on any of these like I am the frog one, but they are all pretty and very different from each other! I'm not as big on animals and teddy bears for little girls as I am for boys. All of these are JoJo Designs.
I like the bumblebee cause it's simple and classy. But I'm feeling it's lacking pink (my favorite color)! I love love this one!! It's so different and I could just picture my little princess surrounded by this. While it's original, once again, it's lacking pink! I do love that it could grow with a toddler and kid though.This design reminds me of the way I decorated my bedroom when I was a teenager... To the T! And I STILL love it! I love that it's girlie yet somehow a little chic at the same time.
This rose design I think is cute and classy, but I wonder if it's too plain. I think it's really pretty though and fit for a little princess!

And because a couple of commenter mentioned Target and Walmart I decided to add a few designs I like from those stores too!
Target:
And once again I find the frogs I like. Then Walmart:And last but not least:
So what do you think? Which one of these is your favorite? (spare me bumper debates!) Have other nursery or bedding designers you like? Please share. I'm all for affordable but if you know of a great one that's on the pricey side still let me know, and maybe I'll win the lotto between now and then!

A Girl Can Dream, Can't She?

So yesterday I shared bedding I love. Today I showed them to my husband, he loved the price. Especially the $50 9 piece frog set I love if Spawnie is a boy.

But I wasn't totally IN LOVE with any girl sets. They were all OK, and cute, but nothing was IT... You know, popping out the moment it's spotted knowing it's THE ONE... Like a wedding dress. Yes, I know I sound slightly insane for comparing my child's nursery decor to my wedding dress. And maybe I am... Insane that is. If you don't think so now, you will once you see the bedding I've decided is PERFECT for a daughter... One I would DIE to have if Spawnie is a girl. One my husband would actually KILL me for buying if she is (so yes, are we clear? I would be dead). Just look at this:**dies**

One of my sinful wonderful Twitter friends was so kind to send me a link to a simple Myspace page... A page that was so glorious I actually signed into my ancient Myspace account just to see more pictures... And fall more in love. I was taking suggestions from friends and simultaneously grateful and depressed that she introduced me to this work at home designer.

My eyes watered. I'd never seen any little girl bedding so beautiful in all of my years (yes years) of searching. Hunting nursery designs have been a secret hobby of mine since before I was even thinking about children!
The bows, the ruffles, the mix match designs! It's PERFECT!

I wanted to cry because I knew it was going to be expensive... Something out of my reach. I wanted to cry because I knew I'd be disappointed once I realized I couldn't afford it, and that any bedding I chose after setting my eyes on this would be settling. I wanted to cry because I couldn't believe I was seriously freaking out about baby bedding right now... Ok I could.I may be one of the biggest girlie girls you'll ever meet, and these designs were the epitome of girlie. By the way, all of these are by Love Bug Baby Bedding.

I know there are so many more important things I will buy for Spawnie, and some would argue it's selfish of me to look at such glamorous bedding that will get peed, pooped and barfed on... But I would be lying if I said I cared. The ONE thing I REALLY want to splurge on is bedroom decor. I'm not too proud to buy a used high chair, dresser, clothes, books, toys, or whatever else we may need... Heck, I'd buy a used set like this in a SECOND if I could find one. I'm eyeballing my prized possessions wondering how much I could salvage for them. Selling Snoop even popped into my mind... But only for a second (don't tell him I said that)! Ready for my excuse to splurge? Well, I got a crib for free, so that saved like $400! I could use that $400 to pay for (part of) this! Look at all the adorable matching stuff!! **dies**

No no, that free crib argument is not convincing enough, my husband won't go for that. I must work hard to think of a master plan so I won't die... And so my husband won't kill me. But until then. I'll keep dreaming, and hope that most of you are right in that Spawnie is a boy so I can buy the $50 frog set I LOVE for a little boy, and pack my dreams of a pink princess room away until I get a promotion or two.

**PS: (Added an hour later) I JUST found these on Ebay by babyloom! Similar and HALF the price!! Hubby still laughed at me, but we're getting closer!**

Operation Nursery Makeover: Part 1

Well, the time has come to do SOMETHING (besides shop for clothing). I'm SOOO eager to set up the nursery and I figure you can never do it too early. Ok, maybe you can but I don't think that's possible with me. There's a lot I'd like to try to do an since we're on a pretty tight budget (and I'm a HUGE budget shopper) I'm trying to be wise and take my time.

I thought it would be fun to document this part of my journey once a week or so as I make progress on the room. This post is dedicated to the "BEFORE" and some things I'm currently working on.

Operation Nursery makeover is now in effect! We live in a 2 bedroom 2.5 bath town home. The bedrooms and full bathrooms are upstairs (as well as our laundry room thank goodness), but the main thing is the guestroom, now turning into Spawnie’s room.

We don’t have a ton of guests and though I imagine that will change a little once Spawnie gets here that doesn’t stop me from going all out for her room. Decorating a little girl’s nursery has been a dream of mine for a LONG time. A boy’s room... Not so much. But since Spawnie is a girl, I’m going to have fun with it, and there’s going to be lots of PINK in and around this crib! That's the crib we have but we haven't put it together yet. We CAN paint the walls but we're not going to. So I'd like to put some kind of deoration around the wall, maybe wallpaper, or tack up some scrapbook paper or something.

We’re going to leave the queen bed in there for when we do have company, we’ll take Spawnie in our room. I’ll just have to get some new brown or white bedding to go on that bed… Just something to match her bedding slightly. It'll also be nice to keep the bed in there so we can sleep in there sometimes if we want with her in the room with us (especially if we don't get a bassinet).

Currently the room I sorta left up to my husband. His Tiger Woods pictures (which should have come down months ago) will be outta there! As well as the other sports hangings on the wall.

I want the crib to go against the wall across from the bed.

My husband thinks I'm joking when I tell him he needs to find a new place for this clothing. This just isn't enough room for her things. He says she already has more outfits than him. And while I don't think that's quite true YET, it could very well be a good possibility in the near future, so we'll need to get a dresser. I'd like to place it across from the foot of the bed if it'll fit.

We don't really have room for a diaper changer, but we don't have one anyway. I think most kids don't end up getting changed there for long anyway so I'm not heartbroken over that.

I'd LOVE to put something up where this ledge/ shelf thing is in the room. It's high up there, and I'd have to use a chair to get things up and down but I think it would be a good place for some sort of decoration. Ideas?

There's a balcony off the room, and a little spot over near that door. I'm thinking we may put a toy box or bookshelf there. We need a bookshelf to go somewhere so I think that'll be the place. I'd also love to decorate outside on the balcony, but I doubt it'll be nursery themed.

Ok, now want a sneak peek at what I'm working on? I'll post tutorials as I finish them but here's a peek for now:

I'm working on a butterfly mobile.

And I just ordered the 10" wooden wall letters that I plan to decorate (matching her mobile) and hang on the wall above her crib. I'm hoping to do it something like this:

But I'm thinking brown ribbon, and more variation between letters. I also chose a font called "whimsical." Oh yes, and that means we decided on a name! ... No, the name above is not it.

Other than that, I'm currently searching for crib bedding. I saved my birthday and Christmas money for baby girl crib bedding (in case she was indeed a girl) and we got a free crib, so I figure I can splurge a little on bedding. I'm looking for something to this effect:

(Warning, rant ahead!) I KNOW everyone says not to spend a lot on the bedding yada yada yada, but really, I'm not going to settle for something that I sorta like just cause Spawnie may puke and pee on it a few times. I'm thinking I'll make a blanket myself to match it, but the bumpers and bed skirt is what I'll splurge on (no need to tell me how unsafe/safe bumpers are, I've read the facts, and plan to use an on/off method when necessary). I am HOPING the poop, puke and pee doesn't make it down to the bed skirt that often. I'll also buy some cheap simple pink and/or green sheets to go on the bed that can be changed often. So this may LOOK frilly to you, but I think it's beautiful and I'm going about it a good way. If I end up hating it hater and regretting not settling for something semi-ugly later I'll let you know, but as for now, the bedding is my "centerpiece."

Also, I'm not planning on going crazy with the butterflies but I did buy these:And I have a friend paining me pictures on canvas of fairies with big butterfly wings. I think I'll call the room "pink whimsical." Crazy? Ugly? Adorable? Ok don't tell me if you hate it, I'm very sensitive about this stuff!

I'm also teaming up with Artistic Sensations in the search for my room decor and baby bedding. I'm hoping and praying one of their designers can make bedding similar to what's above! They have a HUGE selection on their site of artwork and things of that sort. And my friend Nicole, from Chic Cheap Nursery is an interior designer and she's offered her services to me as well!

SO... I'm sure our three heads are better than my one (especially since I SUCK at decorating) but I also think that 100 heads are better than three and 1000 heads are better than 100. So if you have advice, tips, etc, PLEASE share, I'd love to hear it! Or, just tell me what you think so far!

DIY Butterfly Mobile: See Spawnie's and How to Make Your Own!

Blogging has sorta been pushed to the back burner a little while while I've been going through my massive crafting nesting phase! I need to come up with a system where I have time for both. I think I'm going to need to save crafting for my days off because it can take up so much time in the evenings when I get home from work. I think as time goes on and I get more experience (I'm NOT a crafty person) I'll get faster but for now I'll enjoy being a slow poke and seeing my finished product weeks later!The first project I've been working on is a butterfly mobile for the nursery. I didn't like any of the regular store-bought kind, they just were to kiddish for me, so I looked up butterfly mobiles and decided to attempt to make my own! Now I'm going to try something else... I'm attempting to write my FIRST Do it Yourself post and share what I learned with you in case you want to try!

Beware for a lot of photos coming! I'll do my best to describe how I made it!

First, here's what you'll need:
-Scrapbook paper and cardstock paper in your desired colors
-A butterfly cutout about 3" by 3" in heavy paper or cardstock
-A 14", 16", or 18" wooden embroidery hoop (depending how large you want your mobile to be)
-(3) strips of 1/2" balsa wood
-Acrylic paint (the color you want the base of your mobile to be)
-Nylon thread (or something like beading thread or fishing wire)
-A needle
-32 small crystal beads
-About 32 other crystal beads in the color you like to make your mobile shine!
-(1) metal or plastic ring
-Scissors, glue, pencil

1. Take a traceable picture of a butterfly you like the shape of and use that as your template. I used a butterfly that was about 3" by 3". Trace the butterflies on cardstock and/ or scrapbook paper.I used both because I liked some of the scrapbook paper I found, but it wasn't strong enough for it to stay bent the way I wanted.

2. Cut out all of the butterflies you've traced. I cut out about 200 butterflies total (though I didn't use them all) and matched the scrapbook paper butterflies with color-coordinating cardstock. I folded the paper and cardstock to make the cutting quicker. I matched a pair of cardstock buterflies with a pair of scrapbook butterflies so four total.

I ended up using 128 cut out butterflies total. 64 of them cardstock butterflies and 64 scrapbook paper butterflies.

3. Glue the cardstock butterflies and coordinating scrapbook paper butterflies together and trim around the edges to they match up. You've now glued two seperate butterflies together so there's cardstock on one side and scrapbook paper on the other. They look identical though. Then take the one of the butterflies and bend up the wings slightly. Put a little glue down the center of the bent butterfly (on the under side), then stick it to the butterfly that's not bent. You can match the colors in the center or have them both facing the same way, I alternated the direction I glued mine.
4. Make the base of the mobile by taking the center of the wooden embroidery hoop and evenly crossing strips of balsa wood to make 8 spokes.
5. Paint the wood in the color you desire, I painted mine using a metallic bronze.
6. Attach 8 equally-sized strands of ribbon, or the beading wire to the mobile base and then attach them all to a metal or plastic ring. This is what's used to hang the mobile from the ceiling. (Don't make my mistake and do this last... It's much easier to attach the ribbon or string before you have tons of butterflies dangling off of it.)

7. Take your beading wire and needle and thread the wire through the butterflies and beads you desire. Then tie them to the spokes around the base of the mobile.Here's how I spread mine out:
On the outer 8 spokes I had 2 butterflies dangling from each string.
In the middle I had 3 butterflies from a string on every-other spoke.
In the center there was the longest string with 4 butteflies dangling.

I added beads between the butterflies and at the very bottom of the string to weigh each strand down.Initially I had 3 butterflies hanging in the middle of all 8 spokes but I decided it was too much and went back and cut off every-other.
8. Find a pretty spot to hang it and show it off to the world! This is what Spawnie will be staring up at after she's born!

So what do you think? You going to try it?