Super cute DIY from Etsy

3 Etsy prints for $48 plus shipping from Australia.

 Super cute DIY pictures inspired by Etsy.

We are doing a forest theme for Merrick's nursery mainly because we wanted to keep the deer motif going. With under 3 months until show time, I really needed to dive into nursery decorations otherwise baby would probably be staring at a big yellow wall forever. I was browsing online and came across an Etsy page with the most adorable bear, owl, and deer pictures for a nursery. I was turned off my the price, but completely in love with the images. I decided to go to make a plan and head to Hobby Lobby.

I analyzed the patterns and colors of the animals and bought the corresponding paper. I chose the foam letters with a sticky backing, and they turned out great. The originals from Etsy are 11x14, and mine are 8x10, so I couldn't do the large and small fonts. Plus, I didn't find two patterns of letters that I liked together. 

I started Saturday afternoon and finished Sunday morning. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. On Monday Hobby Lobby's picture frames when on sale, so I bought three funky styled ones. I also found a beautiful forest poster that I had matted and framed, and the blue, green, and orange papers bring out the same colors in the poster. I'm so excited, but the only problem is how do I position everything on the big yellow wall? Wah-waw...

Goodbye Summer 2012

With the last few hours of summer remaining, I'm thinking about how nice the weather has been here in Austin for the last week and am so grateful that fall is officially starting today. Hopefully we'll get more rain, but if I may make a request Mother Nature for it to be during the week so we can do weekend house projects, that would be splendid! 

This weekend we need to come up with a plan to tackle which house projects before baby comes and which ones to do afterwards. We also need to start thinking about more long term house projects in preparation of selling our house in just under 2 years, for example, replacing the bathroom sinks. Good thing I'm awake so early on a Saturday morning so I can get a head start on brainstorming, yes. #sarcasm

Ready for Halloween?

I'm almost there!! I'm hosting a Halloween party at the house on the 29th, and all my new friends from meetup are invited. I'm working on decorations here and there, but got a lot accomplished this long weekend. Here is what I've been able to complete so far. Let me know what you think!

 This is our new entertainment center.

I'm very proud of my bats.

A nice Halloween bouquet.

The witch shrine with candles lit.

Close up of the bling letters.

Door wreath!

Upclose.

I'm covering up all our picures with Halloween themed silhouettes.

Masterbathroom--in Color!

The inside of our house is entirely painted in a neutral, fleshy brown color, and I'm tired of looking at it. I needed a little side project of my own (Marshall has plenty of projects between the garage, yard, and painting in order to put up gutters). I started with the master bathroom, and I was fully intent on doing some sponge painting. How did it turn out?

Marshall also installed a new light fixture that we both really like. It was the perfect opportunity, so we took it.

The first picture is of the left side of the bathroom being reflected in the mirror. The second picture is of the right side wall. The bath tub is to the right of the window.

First serious remodeling project

When we bought our house in December, we knew the front porch railings were going to need to be replaced. Well, now that the Audi is fixed, Marshall is ready to move onto another project, and he's chosen the front porch. When he started his destruction spree, he found that everything besides the wooden posts that hold the roof up was made of some sort of compressed paper product (yuck!). We're going to replace everything with real wood.

At first I bawked at us needing a table saw, but I know that tools do last a long time and over time, they are worth the investment because Marshall is enthusiastic about house projects. So, without him knowing, I went out to Lowe's to get him the table saw. Afterwards I went to the grocery store, which was original place I was suppose to go. When I got home, I accepted Marshall's help to bring bags in. I told him I'd get the ones in the trunk (from the grocery store) if he'd take care of the back seat (where the table saw box was). He was quite speechless, and it turns out that is the one he had been pining for. Looks like I did a good job.

After dinner, I urged Marshall to go back to Lowe's and get some lumber, so we can start our contruction tomorrow. It didn't take much to convince him. ;D Marshall only has one more week of his political science class, so his mornings will free up for the rest of the summer. We aren't expecting this front porch project to take us very long, but knowing that he has extra time calms me.

After this, I hope I can get the bookshelves I've been wanting for our second living room. :D