Stop! Pull The Crib Away From The Wall!

Today's post is a short one. Hey, I'm a busy lady! If you are trying to figure out how to arrange the furniture in your nursery, or have a somewhat small room, think outside the box. So often cribs are placed with the long backside against the wall. Try putting the crib's short end against the wall and see how much more space you get! That way you have a corner for your rocker, the dresser and a changing table! Just make sure you choose a crib that looks good placed like that. One with a taller backside might look funny if not up against the wall.

To anchor it in the room, place a large picture above the crib like they did in the twin's room above. I love the paint treatment they have on the walls too, red with a khaki block and then red pictures. The repeated pattern really makes a statement.

Tuesday's Top 5 - What to do with old wine bottles

When the DH and I moved to our new house in the 'burbs, I was excited to have curbside recycling. The first week I filled our blue bin with cardboard, newspapers, milk jugs, cans and a few wine bottles. Imagine my surprise when I returned home from work to find my wine bottles lined up on the curb. Aparently my county does not recycle glass, and the trash man wanted all my new neighbors to think I was a drunk. Sweet. So, we have been in the house almost 2 years and I now have quite a little stash of wine bottles sitting in the garage, waiting to be used or taken someplace that does not discriminate against them.

All this got me thinking, isn't there something crafty I can do with these bottles? I hate for them to go to waste. So, after searching the web, here is what I came up with. I do have to say, some of the ideas are pretty crafty!

1. Use the bottles as home decor - from one of my favorite blogs, This Young House, comes this pretty grouping of bottles on their sunporch:

They gathered up some old wine bottles and a few glass vases (and even an old blue soap dispenser minus the pump) and grouped them on a tray. They’re like 3-D stained glass when the sun streams through the window. And a couple of starfish keep things interesting.

2. Turn water into wine - or the other way around. I have been using a large, empty wine bottle to serve water from at bookclub and at dinner parties. The other day I saw Giada De Laurentiis doing the same thing, she must have stolen it from me! Another idea, if you or a friend are getting married soon, collect enough bottles to put one on each table so guests can refill their water glasses easily. You could even etch your new monogram onto the bottles with these steps I posted last week!

3. Wine Cork Board - I have seen a few of these before, and one of my friends actually made one herself, so I know it is possible! Start saving those corks and maybe in a few years (or after hosting a few Book Club meetings) you will have enough!

4. Wine Cork Garland - I have been wanting to make one of these for the Christmas Tree for years so I googled it to see what came up and what do you know, other people have been thinking about it too! Just follow these steps and you too can be a wino at the holidays!

5. As a candle centerpiece - just use some taper candles for this easy, festive centerpiece. Change out your spring/summer group of bottles from the first suggestion and use this one in the fall and winter months:

Now I realize that lately, lots of my posts have envolved wine, so don't be getting the wrong idea about me! I do enjoy a good glass of wine on the patio though, and now that I have some things I can do with all those old wine bottles I may be motived to drink some more!

Times are Tough - Swap Some Stuff!

Wednesday night was "book club" at my house and this month we decided to mix it up a bit. We are reading a book next month that is a little more $$ than most, but it was written by an author someone knows and they are coming to speak to us at our next meeting. So, for this month we decided to skip the book and I hosted an Accessories Swap Party instead!

I have been wanting to have a clothing exchange party for quite some time, but with all our friends being different sizes, its kinda hard to do. So I decided to invite everyone to bring 5 accessories - purses, jewelry, sunglasses, whatever - that they no longer wear, and we would have a swap party. Here is how it works:

• Everyone brings up to 5 accessories in good condition that are still somewhat stylish. But, know that at my party, some people brought more than 5 items, so they got to take home the same number they brought!
  


• Upon arrival, you get a ticket for each accessory you bring and everyone lays out their items garage-sale style.

• I created signs for each "section" of the sale to keep it organized. I used some blank cards I had as tent signs and they came out looking fun and festive

• Number 1 gets to go first, and choose one item and drop one of their tickets into the bowl

• Go through the list in number order, once you get to the bottom, the last person gets to go first on Round 2, just to make it fair.

• Tip - have a mirror handy so people can check out their potential picks!

• If someone runs out of tickets because they didn't bring 5 items, just skip them until everyone is out of tickets or there are only a few things left and nobody is grabbing them

• If everyone agrees, donate the left over items to a local womens shelter or Dress for Success
  

Sounds pretty simple right? It was and everyone had a great time. I had all the items set up in the dining room on a sheet, away from the food and drinks so people could shop in peace - not pressure ladies! Turns out, everyone wanted to watch each other choose and some people wanted advice, so we ended up all standing in the dining room around the bounty!

Here is a pic of my take away - turquoise earrings, a great studded clutch, and a few more goodies.......Another hit of the part was my super secret sangria wine recipe. It is sort of my signature drink and even made its way to a featured drink menu at our wedding reception a few years ago. While most sangria recipes are complicated and require quite a few ingredients, mine is super simple and nobody ever suspects a thing - unless you tell them!

• I jug Carlo and Rossi Sangria wine - about $10 for a gallon at the grocery store
  
• In a pitcher, mix 3/4 sangria with 1/4 Sprite, Diet Sprite or Orange Soda
  
• Add some fresh sliced oranges and squeeze some of the juice in for a little extra kick

Its a great drink to start the summer off right and went perfectly with my Mexican-food theme appetizer menu!

So, get your girlfriends together and plan a swap party - you can really swap anything you are into! I think we are going to have a cook book exchange next but you could do books, scrapbook supplies, Christmas decorations, picture frames....the possibilities are endless!

UPDATE: A week after my post, Real Simple Magazine featured the idea in their mag! They even partnered with EVITE and created a special invitation for the occasion! Check out this new post for all the details.

When Times Are Tough....Sell Some Stuff!

Anyone that knows me knows I love to shop for bargains. When interviewing for a job out of college, I was once asked "what is your dream job?' Well, it sure as heck wasn't the one I was interviewing for, so I honestly answered "Professional Bargain Hunter." Not sure if I was offered that job.......

When I want something new and I am on the hunt for a deal, I often raise funds be selling some old stuff on Ebay or Craigslist. While the husband thinks the amount of time I put in to making $15 on Craigslist is silly, it makes me feel better about purchasing something new that I don't really need and it keeps our house junk free.

While Ebay and other sites might at first seem intimidating, they are really pretty simple if you have some tips. Here are a few pointers to get you started on raising funds for that high end stroller you have been eyeing:

EBAY

• Best for selling name brand children's and adult clothing in good condition. Things like Banana Republic, JCrew, Ralph Lauren and BCBG sell really well here. Just be sure to create a title that includes terms people will be searching for. List the brand, color, type of item and size using as many good words as you can fit in. Be sure to list measurements in the item description, as well as your payment expectations and your return policy. I usually expect payment within 48 hours and don't except returns.
• For pictures, you can lay the item flat on a neutral color surface, or take a picture of yourself wearing it. The DH is usually unwilling to participate in this, so most of my pics are taken with the item laying on the carpet.
• On Ebay, buyers pay for shipping so be sure you know about what shipping your item will cost or you could get burned. I typically use priority mail (the post office provides free mailing envelopes) which costs about $5 for a shirt and up to $8.50 for a pair of jeans.
  
• Accept payment via Paypal, it is the easiest. If you don't have a Paypal account, set one up. You can transfer the money you receive to your checking account or use it for future Ebay purchases!
  
• Things that don't sell well are non name brand things people won't be searching for, household items and other things that are a pain to mail. I also don't get much for high end jeans on Ebay, there are just too many being sold

Craigslist

• Good for selling furniture, household items, decorating items, strollers and car seats, tools and other large things.
  
• Free to use, so it doesn't hurt to list something you are not sure if people will be buying!
  
• Unless you want to drive around meeting people, be sure to include in your listing that the person must be able to come to you
  
• Also a great place to buy furniture, especially gently used baby items. You can find all kinds of Pottery Barn goodies for sale here!

Some of my other favorites are Buffalo Exchange for designer jeans, vintage finds and the occasional Marc Jacobs score, and Plato's Closet for casual clothes. Both of these are resale shops geared towards younger people that accept name brand an cool clothing on the spot for cash or store credit. I've scored several pairs of Seven and Citizens jeans at Buffalo Exchange for under $40 each.

For you mommies looking for a score, don't be afraid to shop Craigslist, Once Upon a Child and other children's consignment sales. While I would be hesitant to purchase a crib this way unless I knew it was safe, they are great places to score dressers, changing tables and other nursery furniture. Everyone wants to give baby the best, but it doesn't all have to be brand new. Plus, when you save in some areas you can afford to splurge in others! Consignment stores and Ebay are also great places to pick up adorable and name brand children's clothing. Love Ralph Lauren but hate to pay $35 for a kid's shirt? Many of these places sell items with the tags on for a fraction of the price.

Just to tempt you, here are some of the deals I found on Pottery Barn Kids stuff on Craigslist today:

• White Storage Bench - brand new $100
• Children's table and 4 chair set - $125
• A set of over 30 Hawaiian theme items for decorating - only $30!
  

So, enjoy these tips and happy bargain hunting. Let me know if you score anything good!

Crib Bedding 101: How To Choose The Perfect Set

So you finally found out if you are having a boy or a girl. You have had it narrowed down to 2 bedding sets, one pink, the other blue and now you can finally start decorating the nursery around your bedding set. Long hours have already been spent locating the perfect set and now you can finally order it. Well, you may want to consider a few factors before you click that button.

Choosing a set because you love the pattern on the quilt? Most experts advise against having loose bedding in the crib, so you can't even use the quilt. You can always drape it over your rocker, but then you can't really see it in all its glory. One thing you can do with it is hang it on the wall like a tapestry. Most Lambs and Ivy sets even include tabs to hang it from a rod or dowel.

Does your set have the cutest crib bumpers with a ruffle at the top? Well, eventually, the bumper will have to go too. You see, crib bumpers were originally used because older cribs had more space between the bars and they prevented injury. Now those spaces are regulated and most experts agree that bumpers can do more harm than good once baby can start rolling over. So, here is what your crib will really look like most of the time. Sad but true.


So, basically your crib bedding set is going to be reduced to a crib skirt and sheet. So, make sure you love those parts! One option is to choose separates instead of getting a set. Pottery Barn, Target and many other stores offer separates you can mix and match to create your own look. You will need at least 3 crib sheets, so you can get different types. Look for ones with a cute all over pattern that you do like, since the sheets will always be on.

Another thing to consider is price. I know that Caden Lane set looks cute, but imagine how cute it will look when baby has a little accident on it. Because, trust me, it will happen. So it may not be worth it to spend the big bucks on bedding. After all its washing, you probably aren't going to want to use it with another child anyway even if you still like it in 3 years! Instead I suggest investing the most money in a stroller you love that will work well and saving one the crib bedding.

There are plenty of sets out there for a good price. Check out sets from Migi, Babylicous, JJ Cole and Kids Line for some cute choices at affordable prices. Babylicious even has a cute crib bumper alternative called "crib fringe."



Naturally, I suggest focusing your decor on a gorgeous custom painting or an interesting wall paint or treatment. It will impact the space much more than that bedding set that the baby product manufacturers make look so appealing on the crib!

Use Fabric to Make a Bold Statement

Looking for something inexpensive that will make a bold statement in any room? Covering canvas with your favorite fabric is easy to do and makes a big impact. These days fabric comes in so many cute patterns and even Wal-Mart carries a great selection. Or, if you want to match your crib bedding and it has cute sheets, you can always purchase a fitted sheet and cut it down to fit. Tip - fitted sheets can also be turned into coordinating window valances if you can sew!

When selecting a canvas size to use, you can choose multiple smaller ones and use a different fabric on each, or one large one to hang on a big, open wall. Or, for those of you more daring and with a crafty husband or dad, it may be cheaper to use wood to create your own frame sizes. You will just need a miter tool to make the corners look right.

Once you have your frame shape, lay the fabric face up and put the canvas on top. Depending on the thickness of your canvas, cut it out with enough to overlap on the back about 2 inches. Make sure if there are lines or a pattern in the fabric that they are straight and in place when you cut. Then, lay the fabric face down and place the canvas on top, also face down. Using a staple gun, gently pull and wrap each section, securing with a staple. Be sure to use the same amount of tension all the way around as you wrap or a pattern could look funny. Tip - stripes are hardest to work with, so you may want to steer away from them. Take extra care with the corners, you may have to trim excess fabric from them.

If you choose a simple fabric, you can embellish it with trim around the edges, or even paint baby's initials right on the canvas.

Its as easy as that! Cheap and it makes a big impact. You can use this in the nursery or any room in the house. A more expensive fabric from a specialty store looks great on a canvas over the fireplace!

Give Those Wooden Name Letters a Makeover

One of the most popular pieces of wall decor in the nursery these days are wooden letters that spell something, most typically, baby's name. These standard letters are easy to come by, available everywhere from Hobby Lobby to Pottery Barn - for those of you that are only buying name brand for baby. In a variety of fonts and colors, these letters add a touch of personalization to your huge, blank walls. If you purchase unfinished or white letters, they are easy to paint with simple acrylic craft paint. For an added touch, you can use ribbon to hang the letters. A cute alternative to nails, try using drawer pulls (also available super cheap at Hobby Lobby - can you tell I'm a fan?) as hangers for your ribbon. But, as always, I suggest you take it up a notch and jazz those letters up.



This adorable M started off as your standard white letter. Scrapbook paper was used to add some pattern. A great alternative to paint, scrapbook paper comes in a ton of different patterns so you are sure to find one you like that coordinates with your decor. Try choosing a paper that ties into your color scheme, but it doesn't have to match perfectly. As long as the colors are in the same family its ok if the pattern is different. To make this letter, just lay it face down on the paper and trace. Then, carefully cut out your template and apply to the letter using decoupage. You can layer the paper, or do alternate letters in different patterns to add some punch. This sound like too much of a project? I'd be happy to help.


For those of you that aren't quite so crafty, these ready made letters are available at a great store called Anna Bella Kids. At around $20 a letter, they have a huge variety of colors available. Let's just hope Junior has a short name. Kimberly would have run my Mom $160....a little pricey. Love these but low on cash? Try just doing baby's initials.