Styling an Eclectic Bookshelf {in the living room}

Lately, I have been obsessed with bookshelf styling. So much so that I stole a shelf from my kids' room, just to decorate it in the living room. (Don't worry, I replaced it with something else that was even more kid friendly for them). I purchased this shelf at an antique store, long before having children, and while it isn't exactly "the look" I was going for, it had the space I wanted. I will be sharing the full living room refresh later this week, as I mentioned last Friday, but today, it's all about the shelf.

You might recall the rustic shelf that was in this space previously. It has been there for a long time, and even though I love it, I felt limited with how many things I could actually "style" on it.

Boho Chic Thrift Store Placemat Throw Pillow

Last February, I had the privilege of guest posting for me sweet friend Amy of Delineate Your Dwelling. I shared a simple DIY tutorial on how I turned some dated, thrift store placemats into a cute, boho style throw pillow. Since, I am still just getting back into the swing of things since the death of my grandfather, I am resharing this post with you today. I hope to have some new posts for you next week!

Here is the original post:

Styling a Rustic Shelf {with kids in mind}

Hey everybody! Life has been busy with the little ones and my grandfather, whom I love and adore, is not doing well. I have been trying to visit as often as possible, and even though he is 96, saying goodbye is never easy. Prayers are welcomed that the rest of his days are as pain free as possible and filled with peace.

Today, I am sharing a guest post that I did last month for Jennifer Rizzo with some tips for styling shelves while keeping young children in mind. As you may know, I have two preschool/toddler age children, fifteen months apart, so my decorating has changed a lot in the past few years. I still love to decorate, but have found the need to make compromises to keep my home well styled, yet safe and fun for my children. I actually enjoy the challenge of combing both elements (most of the time – finding places for all of those toys in a tight space is a challenge all its own).

Spring Easter Bunny Free Printable – “Some Bunny Loves You”

Is spring ever coming? Some days it really doesn't feel like it around here, but that doesn't keep it off my mind! Today, I have a free printable that I made to celebrate Easter and start bringing bits of the season into our home. I am joining with several other bloggers sharing free printables and vignettes for spring, hosted by Ella Claire. Be sure to visit all the others at the end!

A few weeks ago, my children were drawing at the table, when I sketched a little bunny and wrote, "some bunny loves you" at the bottom. I shared this sketch on Instagram and people seemed to like it, so I decided to work with it a bit in Photoshop to make this printable.

How I Keep My Decorating Style with Young Kids in the House

Is it possible to keep your personal decorating style with young children in the home? This is a question I pondered for a couple of years after my first daughter was born back in 2011. Eventually, I found the answer was YES! You absolutely can. You will, of course, have to compromise in some areas for matters of safety and mess making, but overall, it is still possible to have a stylish home that you and your children can enjoy.

Last summer, I shared a guest post over at Yellow Bliss Road with 5 Tips for Kid Friendly Decor. Today, I am resharing portions of that post, along with more thoughts and ideas on how to keep your own style and make your home inviting and safe for the little folks.

Whimsical Thread Spool Garland

After a long, much needed blogging break I am back! A lot happened over the holiday. Some glad, but there was a tone of sadness over it when we found out my uncle was diagnosed with cancer the day before Christmas Eve and he doesn't have much time left. And then we lost my grandmother on January 6th. She was not in great health, but it was very quick and unexpected just the same. It has been a rough few weeks for my entire extended family…prayers are welcomed!

I am now easing back into blogging and wanted to start with a post that I worked on before my break but never got around to sharing. I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things this new year, but with more balance and less pressure than I felt near the end of last year.

Today, I have an easy and whimsical diy project for you: a thread spool garland that I made with my children in mind. Originally, I had planned to use it for a small Christmas tree in the playroom, but ended up preferring it on its own. I simply hung it from a peg rack on my daughter Hazel's side of the bedroom mixed with a few Christmas touches.

White Christmas Home Tour with Sweet Biscuit Paper and Press

I am so thrilled to share an amazing holiday home tour with you today! My dear friend Tina Lowery of Sweet Biscuit Paper and Press has the most impeccable style and an amazing talent for filling her home with special touches. She is a creative genius. She doesn't have her own blog up and running yet, but in the meantime, she has graciously allowed me to share her home with all of you!

Tina and I have never met in person, but have been online friends for several years. I truly consider her one of my dearest friends and love that we have grown so close through emails, texting and social media even though she lives in Florida and I in New York. Whenever I make it down to Florida next, meeting her will be at the top of my "Must Do" list! I hope you enjoy this little "visit" into her home as much as I have enjoyed putting it together for you. Every detail is filled with charm and love. Her style is mainly white with whimsical touches, a good mix of vintage and modern and creativity at every turn.

Vintage Inspired Hot Chocolate Station

If you recently came to take my holiday home tour, you would have seen the hot chocolate station I set up in the kitchen. If not, I am sharing the full details of it here today! I went with a vintage inspired theme and my whole family loves it. Although, I keep catching my kids stealing the marshmallows 🙂

This was the first year I set up a hot chocolate bar, but I think it will become a holiday tradition now.

Making Spirits Bright in the Playroom {with Holiday Wall Decals}

I received product from Wallternatives™ in exchange for this review. All expressed opinions are 100% my own. Full Disclosure Policy.

If you recently stopped by for my holiday home tour, I mentioned some new additions to the playroom that are bringing all of us some Christmas cheer. I love adding lots of whimsy to my children's playroom, especially at Christmastime. When I happened upon the Boy Meets Girl Reindeer Removable Christmas Wall Decal Set available from Wallternatives™, I knew it would be the perfect touch. This set is from their new Jennifer Rizzo Designer Wall Decal Collection. You all know by now how much I love Jennifer Rizzo, right? Seriously, she is mega talented.
When I first saw this set on the website, I knew that my children had to have them. Okay, maybe I was a teensy bit excited for them myself. At Christmas time, I am still just a kid inside. 

DIY Sweater Pouf Ottoman

When I shared my fall home tour earlier this month, I revealed one of my latest diy projects for our home: a pouf ottoman that I created from a thrift store sweater. As promised, here is the tutorial for how I made it. This post is a bit premature, since I haven't quite "finished" it yet, but maybe you will be able to figure out the best way and then help me! And I didn't want to make you guys wait any longer for it, since who knows when I will ever really finish it.

To begin this tutorial we have to go all the way back to last spring, when I was shopping at the Salvation Army, and found this mustard yellow sweater.

Halloween Burlap and Scrap Fabric Ghost Family

Halloween will be here before we know it. Time to get those spooky decorations out or make your own! My mom and I made this family of friendly ghosts (to replicate my husband, myself and our two little ones), in one afternoon, back in 2012. This is a no-sew project…hooray! I know how everyone loves those.

I am sharing how we did it today as part of my {a look back} series. We made these right after my son Owen was born, when I wasn't doing much blogging. I love giving you "a look back" at these projects now and hope that you enjoy them as well.

DIY Wallpaper Feather Art on Canvas

I originally shared the following post on Yellow Bliss Road with a tutorial on how to make wallpaper feathers and transform them into collage art on canvas. The finished work looks like a piece of old metal with a distressed painting technique.

I have made plans to completely transform my children's shared bedroom in a boho tribal style, which won't fully start happening until late winter/early spring (I want to get through the holiday season without any huge upheaval in our home and the change includes moving them from the smaller of our two bedrooms, to the larger – a huge undertaking!). 

Even so, I have already started making plans for their space and want to include lots of handmade pieces for them. The first, for the room, is this feather art project. Here is the original post and instructions:

Be You {because you are better at it than anyone else} & a Free Printable!

There is nothing so important in this life than remembering that being you is better than anything else you can be. And nobody else can do it. You are the one and only. It is easy to get caught up in comparison or following the crowds, but our true beauty and loveliness comes from our authenticity.

So today I say, be you. Enjoy yourself. Love yourself. With all of your quirks and imperfections, talents and faults, the good and the bad.

Boho Woodland Animal Collage Art {Crafting with Your Kids No. 1}

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® Elmer’s and Wet Ones, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #CraftandCleanUp http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Today, I am starting a new series called Crafting with Your Kids, which is of course, one of my favorite things to do as a mom! This series will consist of projects that parents and children can collaborate on together to make unique works of art or decor for your home.

Up first, are these "boho style" woodland animal collages that my three year old daughter, Hazel, and I made for the playroom. 

Since being a mom is busy, I don't have a lot of time to make my own art the way that I used to, but I have a deep need to be creative. Working together is a great alternative.

5 Minute No Sew Drop Cloth Curtains

Canvas drop cloth curtains have been increasing in popularity for a few years now and there is good reason, they are durable, washable, inexpensive and so easy to transform into beautiful drapes that look like linen without the cost. Here is how I made mine in about five minutes and without sewing…

I love the texture (and price) of the Blue Hawk drop cloths available at Lowe's, which is what I used in the photographs shown here. I have bought several from there and now have curtains made from them in both my living room and playroom.

Come check out my DIY Feather Art on Canvas at YBR!

I am happy to be guest blogging over at Yellow Bliss Road again today! I am sharing a fun diy tutorial for making feather art on a distressed canvas. This piece is now residing in Hazel's room as I transition her from "baby to big girl" space.

Cabin Dreaming & Summer Wishes

Lately I have had a serious case of cabin fever.

Not the kind where I have been stuck inside.

I have been getting out plenty.

Owen’s First Birthday: A Football Party {a look back}

My little man, Owen, turned one on September 26, 2013. I never got around to sharing a birthday post back then, but decided with the draft coming this week, I would share it now! If you aren't up on the NFL draft, well let me tell you…it is a very big deal. At least in my house it is 🙂

Hazel’s Vintage Nursery {a look back}

I am excited to share with you the second in my {a look back} series, where I am sharing snippets from life when I was away from blogging. One thing that I never got around to sharing during that time, was Hazel's nursery, so I am going to now!

I had so many hopes and dreams for this room before she was born. Lots of plans were made and vintage items collected just for this special space that I wanted to create for my first child. I knew I wanted it to be cream and white with neutral, vintage touches throughout.

Sundays at Home No. 5 Link Party and Features

Welcome to week five of Sundays at Home!