Mood Board

Ever need some room inspiration but don't really know where to start? Well, have you ever tried making a mood board? Have no idea what I'm talking about? That's OK... I'll show you the ropes.

So, my MIL and FIL are redoing their master bedroom soon. She finally found a bedspread she loves and they've decided that the dark blown flooring will remain in the room. Everything else is up for grabs. I've been trying to help her decide on a color scheme that is both masculine and feminine but is romantic, too. Everyone needs a little romance... I don't care who you are!

Anyway, I started with this bedspread sample she sent me...

Then I logged into my account at OlioBoard. This site lets you create mood boards for free. Its database is stocked with thousands of items currently on the market... I love when I find something that I'd seen at a store recently (think: Pier 1, West Elm, Pottery Barn, etc). You can browse all items or by type or you can search for what you need (yellow curtain, blue pillow, etc) or you can search generally (Pottery Barn, yellow, hutch, etc). It's really up to you and your taste. There is also a community database where you can get ideas from others. It's brilliant, I love it and I use it quite frequently. Hopefully I'll bring my living room mood board to life in my own living room this summer. One can always dream.

I worked on finding items that worked with the bedspread and the flooring. I'd already picked bright white and coral/blush as my accent colors, but I think it looks great. Masculine, feminine, neutral base with pops of color and a mix of muted and distinct pattern.

I personally think that this now screams for some bright sunshine yellow this summer, but I also think it is lovely just the way it is. I can't wait to see what MIL and FIL think and what the final product will actually look like.

The Bed Thief

I got nothing. Really... nothing. I'm working on a mood board for my MIL and FIL's master bedroom re-model, planning a shower with my SIL for my future SIL, trying to fix 2 horrible RIT dye jobs I did this weekend, double checking the seeds I've purchased/still need to purchase for my garden and I'm finishing up an awesome new book J got me last week. I don't have much to post in the meantime. I'll leave you with what greeted me on Saturday night once I got through washing my face and teeth... 

My husband and my dog didn't wait on me to get comfortable. Then I felt bad to have to move Phin to his other "spot." I'm a horrible mama, but I had to sleep, too!

How 'bout them Dawgs!?!?!?!

My bracket is completely and irrevocably broken and I'm not upset one bit! Go Dawgs! Way to bust through those brackets.

I will say all of the BU mania really makes me miss....

1. Blue II barging into my office randomly and asking for a treat..

2. Celebrating on Hampton like we did my freshman year when we went to the Sweet 16 the first time..


I like being "one of the elite." Definitely one of the lucky ones for a collegiate experience that was memorable in many ways and an alma mater that continues to make me proud.

I am one happy bulldog these days!

Updates!

DOUBLE THINK MONTH UPDATE

Some of you may be wondering how we are doing during our "double think" month. We're doing pretty well, in my oh-so-humble opinion. If we both decide that we want to purchase something (say, going to the movies), we use our fandango bucks we have from a groupon last month, or a giftcard that we had stashed away from Christmas. The majority of the things we have bought have been either food from the grocery or co-pays for the masseuse/dentist/eye doctor (which are random expenses we didn't really know we'd have and are paid for with our FSA so I don't know if that would count being that they are necessary).

I also have purchased a few craft items for a shower I'm hosting in April, but we've been budgeting for that so nothing of that came out of our monthly income. And when I was at my best friend's home for a few days, I did buy a few un-needed things at my favorite store near her house. I told J I was on vacation so it didn't count! :)

Even though we haven't been perfect (who is?), its been fun to pay closer attention at what we value enough to purchase and what things we can easily say no to.

LENT UPDATE

As for Lent, we are still preparing our hearts for Easter. I can hardly wait for that service, we'll be coming home from Indy that day so we'll go the evening service; but it is always my favorite, I cry every year and I can't wait! I've been using this time to draw nearer to Him and He has been revealing Himself to me in new and exciting ways.

Anyway, while I was on my sleep deprived vacation, I had a few Mt Dews and I had a sampling of the goodies Aubrey and I made each night (mini pies, cookies, dirt pudding, etc). Since I've been back home, I've been much better about no sugar. We made a cake as a sample for a shower I'm hosting in June and instead of eating it, I sent it with J to work! How kind of me to think of his co-workers? And get it out of right in front of me!!

As for walking, J and I walked separately while I was gone (does walking with an infant nonstop count?) but we're back at it now that I'm home. I thought we'd be able to get outside with B and P, but the weather has yet to cooperate since I've been home. They are oh-so-anxious to break-in their new backpacks!

Bulldogs v Badgers

Today is the day of the big game! I'm so excited... either way a team close to my heart moves on, but either a way a team close to my heart ends their journey in New Orleans. My bracket says Badgers; my heart says Bulldogs. Time will tell. 8:57pm (local) tip time.

Will you be watching?

A Pillow for Baby

My little Aiden needed a pillow to match his room. My future SIL found the perfect fabric, so I used it and a pillow form from IKEA and made him a pillow in about 5 minutes! It looks good, right?

Of course, I wanted to see him enjoying this wonderful pillow...

 OK, so maybe not yet, but I'm convinced he will. In the meantime, he can just enjoy me!! Much better!

I love me some of this little 7 lb, formula guzzling, tooting machine!

Cheap, Quick and Easy DIY

My God-daughter had a texture blanket when she was little and her little brother needs one, too. The only problem is the seller isn't making them anymore. Low and behold, Aunt DJo to the rescue.

This is a super easy project you could do for babies in your life!

But super soft, super bright fabric. I used baby minky fabric and fleece, but flannel works well, too. Shop in the scrap bins. You only need a bit of fabric and it is a lot cheaper! Then buy 12 coordinating, but bright, ribbon in all types of textures and patterns. 5-6 inches of each kind, maybe from your scrap pile at home. We made sure to get grossgrain, velvet, shoestring, satin and rick-rack.

Anyway, once you have all your materials, you need to cut it down to size and pin it all together...

This is the longest part... just keep pinning!

Once its pinned, you sew up 3/4 of the edges before you flip it right side out. I always sew up about 1/3 to 3/4 of the remaining side before I flip it, but you can do whatever tickles your fancy.
 

Then you finish stitching the 1/4 of the final side with it right side out.

Finally, double check that all pins are now out and that all tabs are completely secured.

Enjoy your super soft, bright, baby sized texture blanket. Mine are now en route to Kentucky (for Baby Oliver B) and to Indiana (for my Aiden who I know misses me as much as I miss him).

Bulldogs, Badgers, and WildKats! Oh my!

It was another busy, but super productive, weekend at home! I went out to lunch and a movie with a dear friend, got caught up on groceries and gifts that needed purchased, got a massage, crafted, cleaned, cooked, baked, etc, etc. Fun weekend!

I also cheered my Bulldogs to victory against Pitt (my SAS school), watched my Badgers win and heard the WildKats (my high school) are heading to State for basketball! What a weekend for basketball! Wow! Now that the Badgers and Bulldogs are paired up in the Sweet 16, I'm even more excited for the game!!! I have the Badgers winning my bracket, but my heart belongs to Butler. Go Dawgs!!

Here's a glimpse at some of what we accomplished this weekend. Some of what you're about to see is a sneak peak for a shower I'm organizing for late next month! I'll post a DIY later this week for one of the items.

Enjoy!

 

  

 

  

3.14 -- Pi Day

For pi day (Monday, March 14th), we made "PI"e! I bought my dad a Breville Personal Pie Maker for Christmas but I've borrowed it 'til summer. Sneaky little thing I am! Anyway, it is great and perfect for pi day because we can each have whichever pie filling we want.

For this occasion, we made peach and cherry pies.

We cut out the crust...

 Added our choice of fillings...

Waited 8 minutes and viola!

Everyone got their own little pie for celebrate Pi day! How did you celebrate?

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I hope you all wore green (or at least your Butler blue!)... I hope this makes you want to kiss someone Irish!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Outstanding in the Field

Outstanding in the Field. Organic. Local. Natural. Delicious. Outstanding.

http://outstandinginthefield.com/photo-gallery/

I just got the lineup for the 2011 season for Outstanding in the Field. I have been dying to go to one of these outings for years, but we've never been available to go. This year there are two close to Madison and one in North Judson (15 minutes from my best friend's house in IN). I would LOVE to attend one of these, but the hefty price tags make me think that I'll wait for another year or happy birthday to me?

http://outstandinginthefield.com/photo-gallery/

It is an incredible program that bridges the gaps in the food chain. Brilliant. I love what they stand for and how they see out their vision. Plus, the gallery of past dinners is breathtaking with each event having its own beauty and flair.  Each meal is held at a local farm and catered by someone local who specializes in cooking local. The gorgeous natural landscapes they find and create for these evening events are just magical. I hope, hope, hope I get to attend one at least once in my life.

http://outstandinginthefield.com/photo-gallery/

Tickets go on sale March 20th! Grab yours before they're gone!

Easy, Peasy Plants

When I was in Arizona, I was browsing Better Homes and Garden and I saw these...

They looked so neat, I thought I'd try to find some when I got home. Well, low and behold, the very next day we found some at the Flea Market.

I bought 3 of these guys and somehow managed to get them across the country relatively unscathed. I have two in the living room and one in the guest bathroom! I am just addicted to these little guy and I love what they add to the house.

They are wonderful little additions to my ever-growing indoor garden. They need no soil, can grow anywhere, need moderate sunlight and only need submerged in tepid water 1-2 times per week. Easy, peasy!

Going Crazy...and Bell Peppers?

For the past week, I have just been all over the place with too many plans and ideas and dreams, etc. From garden planning to a possible mission trip to "green" cleaning to housing renovations to bridal showers to summer activities to menus to gifts to family vacations and on and on. Like I said, my brain has way too much going on that I just can hardly wrap my head around all of it!


I feel like I went from no plans to abundant plans. I realized that the uncertainty of my job position was really holding me back and once it was re-approved last week, all of these ideas and options flooded into my mind.

In other news, I made roasted and stuffed bell peppers on Monday and they were delicious! I will definitely be making these again!

And if you happen to be on the receiving end of my continuous rants, I apologize in advance!

Ten on Ten

I decided to take part in A Bit of Sunshine's Ten on Ten photo project. You take one photo each hour for ten hours. Mine started at 9 am and concluded at 6pm.

Check out my Ten on Ten! What a fun project to force me to look for beauty in my monotonous workday!

Hope you enjoyed a glimpse into my day.