Craft Week at My House

This week has been spring break for my two munchkins and instead of being filled with warm temperatures and sunshine we have had snow and rain. So my plans have quickly been altered to inside activities and crafting for myself. 

My oldest had been asking for a dinosaur themed party for her birthday for the past year. So like any mom I started gathering ideas. (Do you know how hard it is to find "girly" dinosaur things?) Then, about 2 months ago, my wonderful daughter changed her mind to wanting a Wall-E birthday party. Three weeks later she changed her mind (AGAIN) to wanting a Bambi birthday party. I put my foot down and declared this the last time the theme could be changed. Turns out that finding Bambi themed things is just as hard as finding "girly" dinosaur things. So we are having a Bambi/Forest critter birthday party!

All of that being said, the above is my version of Friend Owl in the Bambi movie. I got the idea from  

Factory direct craft

and it really is as easy as it looks to make.

I found all of the materials I needed at my local Michaels and the project took me a day to complete. (This includes MANY interruptions from two bored children) Let your kids pick the colors and you have a decoration for the kids bedroom after the party.

Color Combinations to Love this Spring

Tiny Prints

Grey has never been very high on my favorite color list or a color I use often for parties, decorating or on clothing. I have had a HUGE change of heart over the past week. I have begun the very enjoyable task of decorating the nursery and shopping in a section of Target that I have never before....the boys department! I am thrilled with the upcoming arrival of our little boy. In my shopping this weekend I noticed a trend in color combination's at the Carters outlet that sparked my change of heart. Combination's of grey and lime, grey and orange, grey and blue. The contrast is so very crisp and refreshing it embodies the definition of Spring for me. The grey of Winter is now being peppered with the bright and bold colors of Spring. (My English prof. would be proud)

creative-baby-nursery-rooms

This nursery idea looks "clean" to me. There could be (and will be) toys all over the floor but the color combination and modern lines create a sense of calm that is essential to a kids room. Like my aversion to the color grey I shared a similar view of modern design. Modern design seemed cold and stiff to me and some of it still does. The revelation for me was that I could accessorize with modern touches and still keep my comfy couch and warm wood tones. The same goes for the color grey. I am not ready to paint an entire room grey but I am planning on creating wall art for the nursery in some of these color combination's.

May you also be open to a change of heart!

Lighten the Mood of your Home

Target

I am in love I tell you. I do not know if it is because I love the colors of the coast or that anything resembling the colors of Greece have me swooning, but this collection by Sabrina Soto for Target has inspired me. This ad has appeared in every magazine that has arrived to my house and I think I cut out every one of them. 

As mentioned in the title of this entry, it is time to lighten the mood of your home. During the cold months you want colors that emit warmth. Burnt oranges, browns, and golds are perfect for creating that "cocoon" feeling but once the weather turns warm I want to break out of that cocoon and fly. 

The blue and white collection at target is classic, affordable, and crisp. I currently own a white sofa so I only needed the pillows to create this look but even if you own a tan piece these colors would work nicely. 

Target

The pillow above has caused me great frustration. I wanted to purchase this pillow to be the focal point of the collection of pillows I already purchased. I could not find it in the store or online. I even asked an employee, directly under a picture advertising the pillow, where I could find it and the response was to keep checking back. I checked online today and I found it....to be out of stock. (UGH!!!!) So my search continues.

The advantage to changing the mood of your home with accents is the affordability and the ease at which it is to change. My tastes are constantly changing (just ask my husband) and I cannot afford to repaint a room every season (or put my marriage to that test) so I change throw pillows, throws and comforters. I believe that every room needs a mood lifter, not just the family room. This collection also includes a bed set and bathroom set. Happy decorating!

Spring has Sprung Inside

Martha Stewart

My seasonal calendar varies slightly from the official calendar the meteorologist follows. Spring, or warm time as I like to call it, begins on March 1st. I may not be able to change the freezing temperatures outside but inside it can look like Spring. I own two slightly deranged cats that like to eat any living plant or flower I have inside so I resort to silk plants and flowers. The good thing is that I can store them in my basement and bring them out when I'm ready for them. The downside is that they do not emit the wonderful smells that daffodils possess.  Regardless, I encourage you to invite an "early" Spring into your home and I hope to give you several ways of doing that this week.