Category: Home Decor

Organizing Frenzy: Jack’s Room

Jack’s room has seen many, many changes over the last 8+ years. First, it had a crib set up. Then, we switched that to a toddler bed. Then, a twin bed. And THEN a queen bed. At one point we had a rocking recliner. Then, we had a chair and ottoman in the corner. Finally, we added a desk a couple months ago for online schooling. Basically the only thing that hasn’t moved is his dresser.

So yeah… it’s been quite the work in progress.

Which brings us to updating part of his room. Here is the before:

When we added his desk to the wall, we kept the leather chair and ottoman even though it was obviously too big for the space. I typically shove the ottoman over to the desk so that I have something to sit on when we work on homework each afternoon.

Next to the chair/ottoman is a green nightstand that I thrifted and painted when I was pregnant. The paint is starting to chip, so I was already thinking I needed to either repaint it or replace it.

But what I really wanted was more storage! We currently have an absolute crap-load of LEGOS in what is now the playroom/workout room. However, our plan is to turn that room into a new master bathroom + walk in closet (MY DREAM!!). So, I’ve been slowly but surely purging and purging the toys out of that side of the room. It has actually been relatively easy, since an 8-year-old plays with a lot less STUFF than a toddler does.

I was really looking for something that would let me move the playroom stuff to Jack’s bedroom… without making it into a huge mess.

So, my fingers did a little walking on the Target website and here’s what I bought:

I bought 3 fabric storage bins and 2 baskets, bringing my total cost to: $64. I also added a previously thrifted rug to the space, but everything else was already in his room.

And here is the after:

To be honest, the storage organizer is a bit smaller than I expected. Also, NOT the best quality. It seemed a little flimsy until I secured it to the wall. I would not recommend this for a younger child who would be tempted to climb on it. It does a great job of storing all his stuff though… and it keeps everything looking relatively neat too.

Jack insisted on posing for this photo:

All in all, I’m pretty happy with the room upgrade. Especially for just $64. I’m sure as Jack continues growing, his room will continue to see many more changes.

Disclosure: This post contains  ShopStyle affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.

AR Workshop: Jingle Box

If you are related to me, maybe don’t read this blog post…

I loved the AR Workshop Harvest box so much (you can read about it here), so it took me less than 5 seconds to decide to buy the Jingle Box when I saw the announcement. This time, I bought a Jingle box for myself AND I bought one as a Christmas gift for a family member.

Once again, the contents of the box were a total surprise. However, much like the fall Harvest box they announced that it would contain a mix of handmade and retail seasonal goodies with an exclusive DIY kit and items from local makers. The cost of the box was $95 with a retail value of over $150. When I ordered my box to keep, I was hoping for a couple items that I could pass on for Christmas gifts and also some that I can keep to enjoy… and I’m very pleased with what I received!

Let’s take a look inside my Jingle box:

(Once again, if you’re related to me… turn away now because I ordered one for a gift too!)

First, check out this gorgeous wrapping job and a peek at what I saw when I opened the box:

Unlike the Harvest boxes, which were unwrapped, each Jingle box was beautifully wrapped so you can put them right under the tree!

These first three items from my box are items that I am planning to pass on, which worked out perfectly for me. There is a soft plaid scarf, a pretty mug with a hot chocolate bomb, and a holiday oven mitt with butter cookie mix inside. All three of these are perfect for gift giving (or keeping!) and I’m planning to pair the oven mitt/cookie mix and coffee mug/hot chocolate bomb for a work friend gift. I’m not sure who is getting the scarf yet, but it is awfully pretty!

This next grouping is items that I am thrilled to keep for myself. I love the handmade ‘Tis the Season’ tray and it’s perfect to sit on an ottoman in my den to hold my coffee cup and kindle on lazy weekend days. The candle smells fantastic and the ‘Baking Spirits Bright’ kitchen towel was immediately added to my kitchen.

And here is the project that they included in the Jingle Box! It is a DIY Classic Wood Ornaments set and it came with three pieces of wood, sanding paper, stencils, paint, foam brushes, ribbon and hooks. Jack and I completed the project over the weekend and it was a fun project to do with a kid, or to do on your own in a burst of creativity!

Once again, the AR Workshop knocked this box out of the park and I LOVE it so much! I’m hoping that my family member also loves it… because I think it’s a great gift for the holidays!

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored.

Dining Room Planning: The Before

I’ve wanted a new kitchen table for YEARS now. I decided to hold off though, because I didn’t want to be the kind of mom who freaked out when her kid played with matchbox cars on the table. Then, I held off more, because I didn’t want to be the kind of mom who freaked out when her kid colored or painted on the table. And then I held off because tables are expensive and I never found one that was exactly what I wanted.

For a while I was eyeing up a local table builder who makes tables from reclaimed wood. However, I had two big issues with his designs… First, he always had such big unwieldy pedestals holding the table top up and I just felt like it was taking up too much room for my long-legged family. The second issue with the reclaimed wood is that the planks of wood had small spaces where they butted up against each other… or as I call them, CRUMB CATCHERS.

So, I waited and waited and would occasionally scour the internet for a ‘farmhouse’ kind of table. And NOW I’m finally pulling the trigger on an order, so I wanted to give you a sneak peek!

Here is our current table set up:

I took this photo on a super rainy day, so the whole thing is a bit darker than normal.

The china cabinet is very dark, but the wood is too gorgeous to ever paint. Rather than having a dark table and chairs set, I want to lighten it up a bit. Also, the current table is a bit stubby looking, so I was looking for one that was longer to give us some more elbow space.

Finally, the rug has to go. I had put it there to break up the room a bit to make more of a dining area (our kitchen is a huge open kitchen on the other side with an island). But it’s gotten dirty and worn over the years. I was thinking about getting rid of the rug altogether, but then I remembered that it is hiding a hole in the floor from when the previous owners had the island over on this side of the room and electrical cords running into the floor.

And here is what I’m looking at:

Sources: GrainWoodFurniture.com, WestElm.com, and Wayfair.com

Dining table: Grain Wood Furniture, Valerie Dining Table in Driftwood, $399

Dining chairs: West Elm Windsor Dining Chair, set of 2 for $199

Rug: Wayfair Alicea Striped Flatweave 5×8’ rug, $126.99

I originally found the dining table on Overstock.com, but I dithered around for so long that they sold out of the finish I wanted. I then did a google search using the full name of the product and found the website of the company that makes it. I was surprised that they are based nearby(ish) in Virginia and even more surprised that their price was $100 less than the Overstock price!

The reason I like this table is because it is 100% solid wood with no particle board or MDF. The top is distressed, which keeps it from feeling/being too precious. And since it’s actual wood and not a veneer, any extra dents or wear will just add to the charm of it. Rather than a pedestal or rail along the bottom of the table for support, it has four legs giving us ample room for our legs.

I knew I wanted to pair the rustic farmhouse table with more traditional classic black Windsor chairs. However, there are like a billion options of Windsor chairs out there to pick from. Believe me, I had windows open on my computer for Wayfair, Pottery Barn, Overstock, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, Amazon and more.

I finally decided on the Windsor Dining chairs from West Elm for a few reasons. They are more modern with a straight back (rather than curved). The price was $199 for two chairs, and they were on sale so they ended up totaling $338 for 4 chairs. My runner-up choice at Pottery Barn was $179 per chair, which would have totaled $716 for 4 chairs. So yeah, I liked the chairs better and the price was right. Also, I checked the return policy and if I end up hating them in person, I can drop them off at a West Elm about 45 minutes away for a free return.

As for a rug, I really like the indoor/outdoor rug I bought for my sun room and I wanted something similar. I searched and searched for the most neutral stripe possible and I think I found it with this indoor/outdoor rug in ‘mushroom’ stripe. It’s hard to tell though until I put everything together, so fingers crossed that this one works out. Otherwise, I do have a couple other rugs that I can steal from rooms around the house to help me decide exactly what I want.

I placed my orders this week, so now I get to wait until everything gets delivered!

Disclaimer: This post contains ShopStyle affiliate links. This means that clicking on a link may help me earn a small commission at no cost to you.