The Bamboo Lounge

In it's current state.
You will recall I named it this because of the funky wallpaper and carpet. Recently A replaced the baseboard heater and the temperature in there often borders on tropical. I was planning to do an accent colour of apple green in this room when it finally gets redone so when I saw these cute green pillow very much on sale at Pier One I had to grab them. Hey if you can't beat em, incorporate them into your design plan!And yes, this is what it looks like when it is clean!

See there on top of the TV...the black thingy next to a smaller green thingy? That is my kettlebell (15lbs- black) next to R's little kettlebell (5lbs- green). Wow, do we have a lot of toys or what!

Master Needs work

Plain Jane and pretty much undecorated.
Sadly this Master bedroom that is slept in almost round the clock sometimes (due to shift work) is neglected.
This new duvet cover is light blue and the white bedskirt is new too, but still it is pretty lacking. I have to say I don't really even have any ideas because I am focusing my design energy on the basement. I did decide on pale blue and grey for a colour scheme. I have loved blue forever and it seems calming and quiet to me. Otherwise, I am stumped. This is another situation where the wawawa of the Backyardigains secret agents getting caught in a booby trap come to mind.

Kids Rooms Update

I know I am so uncreative with the titles. Sigh. Sorry can't help it I am a little tired and I feel a cold coming on. Creativity is gone. Here are some pictures of the kids rooms in their brief clean state!!
These are little shelves in the shape of red airplanes that I got at the LTO dutch auction last year. They have been sitting in the closet since then waiting to be hung up. When they announced that the dutch auction is coming up again I was shamed into forcing A to hang them once I realized it had been a whole year! Now the boys each have a little place to put their treasures at night.

This is their room, besides the shelves and the new car shaped night light on the dresser it is pretty much the same as always.
L got a lower case l on her wall thanks to a vinyl decal that was on sale at HomeSense. Every time she looks at it she points and says Mama because she saw me putting it up. Everyone says it looks like a #1, but it is an L I tell you!
I still have fabric stars that I would like to stick to the wall around that decal, but I don't know if that will actually ever happen. I also have white fabric for roman shades and cute trim fabric for each bedroom, but I would need a good day to make those so maybe in April I will get to it! Thanks for looking.

Song Lyrics Sunday

Kindness
by Chris Tomlin

Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries Lord let 'em rise
Open up the skies of mercy
And rain down the cleansing flood
Healing waters rise around us
Hear our cries Lord let 'em rise

It's Your kindness Lord
That leads us to repentance
Your favor Lord, is our desire
It's Your beauty Lord
That makes us stand in silence
Your love
Your love
Is better than life


There are a few more verses, but this is what I was thinking about today.

Living Room

More updates. This is the living room now.

I am still uncertain about the fireplace. I painted the mantel Chelsea Gray and I like it. I thought it looked too choppy with black bookcases around a white mantel. But I think I would like it better if the mantel, bricks and bookcases were all white. But the thought of all that painting makes me want to take a nap, so it is gray for now.

The new pics are our Christmas Photo shoot pictures. I smile so big every time I look at those. Love em.

I am still looking for a new living room rug to buy with my Christmas money. This old green one has done it's time for sure.

Here is a little before so you can see what it looked like when we bought the place. Pink and blue striped drapes and all.

And here is my Grandpa's rolltop dresser, providing tons of storage here in the living room. The chairs were A's grandparents then his parents then ours when we first got married.
Well that's what it looks like now!

Kitchen

I had friends over the other day and that necessitated a little house cleaning. So I took the opportunity to take a few pics before it all got messed up again.

Here is the current incarnation of the Kitchen and Dining Room. Did I mention the weather was like spring - clear, sunny and mild.
When we first moved into this house I thought the kitchen redo was high on my list of priorities. But now I really think I am learning to like it with just the white paint and new handles. The floor is even growing on me.
Subway tiled backsplash is still on the to do list, and some day a new counter, but really I am enjoying the openness and space.

Even though it is a bit oversized I am still loving the table and chairs and think it was the right choice for us and the space. But the dining room light is my favorite thing in this space.


That's it! Stay tuned for more house updates!

I know no one else wants to see this...

But I know next year I will want to know how I decorated! So here is Christmas...

Each boy had one of these trees in their room. L had a different mini tree in her room.This is the advent calendar my mom bought for us. They loved it!
Here is my live arrangement I made at Ladies Time Out with the candles my mom gave me.
Here is my silver tray turned chalk board. I got the idea from the shabby nest
Somehow I didn't get a picture of the whole mantel, but here is half the decorations anyway. Note my supercute sconces and the "joy" hanging that I also made at LTO.