Deck Update–Need Your Advice…

THE pillow came and its been madness ever since.  Kind of, not really, but it did start to make me cuckoo.  I was trying too hard to create an awesome sauce space.  You know, when you don’t even know what you want anymore?

I was buried in pillows of pink and orange, black and white, then…I.just.let.it.go.  Pillow after pillow after pillow, I decided less is more. 

But I do have to ask… Does it bug you that there’s no symmetry with the chair on the left?  Kind of bugs me, but I can’t seem to find the right pillow to go there.

Had two orangey-reddish ones, but it was too matchy-matchy and balanced.  Yeah, I know.  First too much symmetry, now not enough.  So I’ve resolved myself to leave it alone and let it be.  Yes?  No?

Hmmm….wait a minute…maybe a dip-dyed one could work?  Something like this one from West Elm, but outdoor friendly?  Yes, I think that could be it, but where to find it?  Make one and not worry about the outdoor fabric thing?

Or I could just move the pillow over here and call it a day.

What about this…too matchy?

Thoughts?  Advice?

Anyone…anyone… Bueller…Bueller??

Oh, and how about the front porch…too pink?  These were some leftovers from the backyard that didn’t make the cut.

I’m a bit afraid of letting my pink side out.  Next time you see it, I’m sure it will be totally different.  Have a I mentioned I’m a bit indecisive?

Last Minute Teacher Appreciation Gifts

Although Teacher Appreciation Week is well underway, I wanted to share a few last minute ideas with you.  As I mentioned in my last post about this, I decided to stick with the same gifts from last year.  But as I’m moving along, I’ve added a couple twists.

• I gave the bucket to the teacher empty, instead of full of notes from the kids.  This way the kids can pop their notes in the bucket throughout the week and she can get a little something every day. 
• Each day a new goody will appear in the bucket from the kids too. 

 

Day One 

M&M’s with the M&M poem using a printable from 2 Silly Monkeys.

Day Two

Simply Lemonade with a tag that says “You’re simply fabulous!”

Day Three

A ruler with the note “Teacher you rule!”  {printable from Create.Craft.Love.}

Day Four

A bag of glue sticks with a tag that says “You’re the glue that keeps us together.” {Glue stick printable via g*rated}

Day Five

A candle and artwork – These gifts will wrap up the week.

The candle wrap is actually a chalkboard background, but my ink was running out and did this ombre color effect.  It works out though because our teacher’s favorite color is purple.  Love this quote.  {Candle Wrap Printable via Create.Craft.Love.}

And just like last year, I was able to “frame” this subway art for free by using a piece of cardboard and some washi tape to frame it out.  {Subway art printable via Eighteen25}

Here’s what this year’s bucket looks like.  I opted for the bigger bucket and bigger cards for the kids to use.  The cardstock was sold in packs already cut to size, which was a big time saver.

It was fun to add a little twist to our bucket filling this year.  I hope our teacher likes it too!

Project Playroom Update

Geez, it’s been over a year since I last updated you on project playroom.

Since then, I ripped out the carpet, added a table, purged craft supplies and hung a couple things on the wall.  There used to be three of those IKEA Expedit cubbies, but I gave one of them a new home in the laundry room.  Not sure that I need a third one after all.  Time will tell.

Snagged this ABC artwork at Target over a year ago for four bucks!

Found this wire wreath form when I was purging and thought it would work great as a photo display. 

And the other day, my father-in-law hung this old school pencil sharpener for me.

The gallery wall is very makeshift at this point, but I’ve got plans and hoping they will happen soon. 

On another treasure hunt at my mom’s I found a stash of empty frames – jackpot!  Once my mom looks them over to decide which ones I can use, I’ll get going on making that gallery wall happen. 

So the floors are down to the subfloor.  Now what?  Paint!  These babies are getting a paint job.  I’ve spent two years thinking about it and I think I’m finally to the point that I can go for it.  That crazy thing called everyday life kept getting in the way of my plans. 

For a while, I went back and forth on whether to stain or paint because I actually like the way the floor looks as is.

But there are spots like these that I don’t feel like messing with. 

I’ve been told I could try to sand them out or use a special cleaner to get them out, but that sounds like extra work. So painted floors it is.

Then there’s the issue of the space between the boards.  Don’t mind the look so much, but it’s the collection of dust and dirt that could cause me to do some wood filler, which I was trying to avoid.  We’ll see.

Still lots to do, but I feel the end coming near.

Slowly, but surely it’s getting there.  Maybe you’ll hear about it again in another year.

A very happy weekend to you!

- Kim -

An April Showers Birthday

Last weekend, our families came over to celebrate our little lady’s 9th birthday.  The sunshine even came out to play, which is funny since it was an April showers’ theme.  When I asked my girl what kind of cake/theme she wanted, she was stumped.  So we decided to take a cue from mother nature, celebrating all things spring, from rain showers to rainbows. 

Sifting through all the “pinspirations”, we came up with this…

The Cake………………………………………………..

The leaning tower of cake (oops)…covered in all things spring - umbrellas, raindrops and flowers.  And where there’s a rain shower…

…there just might be a rainbow. 

This rainbow cake seriously makes me giddy.  So fun and happy.  Pretty sure I was more excited about it than my daughter.

I followed the tutorial by Cassie of Hi SugarPlum! For the step by step, head over to Hi SugarPlum!  Make sure to stay a while and check out some inspiring home updates while you’re there.  Here are a couple pictures to give you an idea of the process.

I was hoping to polka dot the ceiling with pom-pom rainclouds throughout the house, but in the end, we had one cute, little pom-pom rain cloud over the kitchen island.

Some old school crepe paper streamers were “raining” down the blinds. 

Umbrellas in rain boots, flowers in watering cans, pinwheels… anything springy, spring, spring.

{My mom painted this watercolor of Erin.  I think she was two in this painting.  Love it!}

Target had rainbow, raindrop wrapping paper that was too perfect to pass up.  Had to do something with it, so I pulled out the old wrapping paper placemat and runner trick I used on Easter.

These pinwheel picks were just too darn cute to pass up!

There are so many other fabulous ideas out there, but this year my motto was to stay low key.  Trying to make sure my kids’ memories of their birthdays aren’t of me running around freaking out about making an extra raincloud or something.  Instead, I hope they look back and remember how special and loved they felt.  So I restrained best I could.  You can check out my sources of inspiration on my Spring/Garden Party Pinterest Board.

Looking for other party ideas, click here to see some of our parties of the past.

April Showers Party Source List:

• Party City: large parasols, pinwheel picks
• Target: paper flowers for cake, raindrop wrapping paper, plates, napkins
• Dollar Tree: parasol straws, small parasols, pinwheels