Mom News
Office Makeover
You know those days when you fly away to an exotic destination and forget the mess that you call an office?
Or better yet…… Snap your fingers and it’s clean, organized, and redecorated?????
Then you ACTUALLY WAKE UP and realize that it was all one mean dream? That you aren’t actually about to board a plane to your dream vacation. That you don’t possess magical powers that allow you to snap your fingers and things just fix themselves. No! The reality is that you have to go through every cluttered box you own and piece by piece, organize it!
BLAH!
Well, luckily……… that’s not how I role.
I love looking at organized stuff and my things may have some rhyme or reason to why they are all grouped in one general location, but I am definitely NOT a self professed organizer.
Oh yes, I have very ambitious thoughts from time to time, but then I get distracted by more important things…… like ice cream and chocolate.
I am, however, VERY happy with the way it turned out!
The lighting was hideous the day I tried to take these pics, thanks to all the rain we have gotten.
It’s not completely finished yet. I still have a few things left to do, but for the most part it’s complete.
I wanted more of an open concept than the one I had before. Before, the desk on the right was in the middle of the office, which really cut off the room visually.
I’m still brainstorming with ideas for that open wall above the desk, but nothing concrete yet. I’ll update once I’ve decided.
Also, as you will notice, my lovely hubby still needs to go and finish painting the baseboards. (I’ll do a post soon on how to build up your baseboards for practically nothing!)
I am notorious for painting my ceilings. It gives the room such a custom look. Plus, when you have high ceilings, the height can make your room seem too empty. Painting your ceilings can either give you the illusion of higher ceilings or lower, depending on the color you choose. Painting the ceiling a neutral tan color in this room, really “cozied” it up for me.
Paint colors:
Benjamin Moore’s At Sea – Walls
Benjamin Moore’s Bleeker Beige – Ceiling
High Gloss White – Trim
On the left side of the room is where all the organizational stuff is. I decided to not have any closed storage. This kept things open for me to just grab when I needed. Instead, I chose to go to Target and Homegoods for all my containers and idea boards.
I found the 3 shelf bookcases at Walmart for only $17 each. When it came to the idea boards on top, I almost splurged on Pottery Barn. The thought of spending over $700 on boards that I was going to hang on the wall, made me sick to my stomach, so instead, I went to my trusty ole’ Homegoods store to see what I could find first. I’m so happy I did! Not only did I find something, in my opinion, prettier……… They were far CHEAPER! I only spent $40 on the big one in the middle, and $20 each for the ones on the sides! Woot! Woot!
I felt like the colors were perfect. Lighter is what I was going for. So, when I start to put my ideas on the board, they will really POP!
I am so happy that most stores in general are really starting to amp up their office storage. All the designs are so nice these days. You can find cute stuff everywhere! AND CHEAP!
I got the brown storage boxes and multi colored file box from Target.
The cream colored baskets (set of 3), grey woven boxes (set of 2) from Homegoods.
The black boxes from Walmart.
Pattern file folders from Office Max.
This table was a MUST have! I could see in my mind what I wanted and how I wanted the office to turn out. I just couldn’t find a white pedestal table to go in the middle…….. that I could ACTUALLY afford!
I found plenty online! But they were all a small fortune and I just didn’t want to spend it.
Then, one night when I was searching Target’s website, I found it! Their new line Threshold, had the perfect one. It was so late and I was literally about to go to bed. So, when I saw that it was only $120, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me! It happened to be on sale because I think it is normally around $150. Plus, if you use your Target red card, which is the Debit card, you get free shipping even if it isn’t supposed to be. Not to mention you get the 5% discount.
I’m in love with it! The great thing is that it is a dining table, so it can double duty as extra eating space if you ever have people over! 🙂
This chandelier was originally meant for the girl’s room at our previous house. I had just bought it when we decided that we were going to sell our home. So, I held onto it hoping that I could find a nice spot for it here. So happy that it worked out for the office. I think it gives it an unexpected chic feel.
I have big plans for these two pieces if I can sweet talk the hubby into it. Two words……. MILK…… PAINT!
I want all the furniture to maintain a lighter look, so that black is driving me crazy………. (PATIENCE ESTHER!)
I picked these cute knobs up at a local gift shop in Pawley’s Island.
I have to say, I REALLY enjoy drinking my coffee in my office now.
Apparently, I’m not the only one! 😉
Happy Saturday Y’all!
XOXOXO!
-Esther
Superhero Themed Boy’s Room
(*Lighting was not on my side this day for picture taking, but oh well…..)
Little Boys! Ahh….. I just love it!
You know, when we were starting to have our Babies, with the first being a girl, then the next being a girl……..
We basically got into a mindset that we were just meant to have little girls, and we were fine with that. In fact, we got to the point where we thought it would just be odd if we DID end up having a boy.
Flash forward a few more years and SURPRISE! Esther! You have a baby boy! He is 4 yrs. old and a big ole pot of CRAZY!
His loves are first and foremost, his MOMMA! Then his blankie, and then SUPERHEROES!
I have to admit that I absolutely love this! His room is very Superheros meets Andy’s Room from Toy Story.
When deciding on a color scheme, I felt that it had to be no other than blue and red, with touches of green.
We had to have a section for his ball caps too! By the way, his collection is very much influenced by his Daddy……….. hence the Yankees caps! 😀
No Superhero room would be complete without a BOOM! sign. I couldn’t find a POW! one, so I have a sweet friend that is going to paint one for me instead.
The wall’s paint color is called November Skies, by Benjamin Moore.
I’m sure by the time we are finished, we will have a huge wall full of Superheroes to watch over my sleeping baby boy at night.
Thankfully, the toys haven’t gotten out of control just yet. I found that cool metal cage at Homegoods and attached it to the wall for shoe storage.
I really heart that little boy! He truly is “OuR LiTTle SuPeRHeRo!”
Sources for items in the room:
Boat Picture over bed – Homegoods
BOOM! Sign – Homegoods
Our Little Superhero – Homegoods
Batman Lunchbox – Old Navy
Red Curtains – Target
Red and Blue Toy Boxes with Chalkboard Fronts – Homegoods
*If there is anything I missed in the room and you would like to know where it was bought, leave a comment and I’ll let you know! 🙂
Happy Decorating!
XOXO,
Esther
Family Behavior System
“SCHOOOOOOOOLS OUT…….. FOR…………… SUMMER!” Yes it is!
I kind of did a little freak out when Summer first started. Obviously, I love my little babies, but I’m not gonna lie! Towards the end of the school year, they all started to get these little attitudes where they just thought that they could say whatever they wanted, act however they wanted, and be as nasty to eachother as they wanted. It was starting to get really bad, so I did what any other mother would do…….. I turned to the BUS STOP!
You can find a lot of things out at the Bus Stop!
I had heard the word on the street was Behavior Coupons. Basically, the kids got rewarded for showing good behavior. That was alright, I thought. But I needed something a little more.
I had some pretty good ideas, but no real structure. If I went with the coupon idea, I would have to make them. That was fine! I would just go to the nearest craft store for my supplies, right? Well, let me tell you a little about my experience with craft stores. I love them! I really do! The only problem is I go in there and see all these different cool things, buy them, then end up spending $100, come home and have a huge haze over my eyes and try to remember what my original idea was for going to the store in the first place. I look around at what I bought and have a million different things that have nothing to do with eachother. Needless to say, it all ends up in a closet somewhere, never to be heard from again. That reminds me, I need to clean my closets out……
Anyhoo!
Well, NOT THIS TIME Y’ALL!!!!
I found it!
The HOLY GRAIL of Behavior Systems!
It’s called Family Do Dots!
It’s so great! It incorporates Behavior, Responsibilities, Rewards….. The best thing is, you can tailor it to your family’s specific situation. I think this is so important because no two families are alike.
Another thing that is great, is that they include the Whole Family ! Of course, you don’t have to do this, but we thought it was important so that we weren’t singling out just the kids. They make a point to also take things that the children need improvement on, like not hitting or not talking back, and they turn it into a positive thing. They say things like “Nice Hands” or “Nice Words” instead. I LOVE THAT!
It all originated when a sweet couple in Utah, decided to make their own system for their family. After a while, their friends and family were asking them to make them. They started to think that maybe they had something special and before they knew it, Family Do Dots was a business! I am so happy they decided to make them because it has been night and day for my family!
The kids start out on what they call Level One, every morning. They have certain things they have to complete before they can get on Level Two, which is where they have their privileges. These can be things like watching TV or playing with their electronic devices or anything they really like to do. *Sidebar: I have been a little lenient with this since it is Summer. I let them watch a little TV first thing in the morning, but then make them do their Responsibilities on Level One. Once the kids have completed these things, they can “flip their magnet”. This is so much fun for them, because it gives them a sense of accomplishment! I just love it!
Basically, once the kids get on Level Two, they can get Rewards. These come in the form of Tickets, which the company provides for you. They provide everything you need! At the end of every week, we open our “Family Store”, which has all kinds of goodies, toys (etc.). FYI: These do not have to be expensive. You can go to the dollar store if you want.
The kids take the tickets that they have earned over the course of the week and one by one, go to the Family Store and purchase things with their tickets that they have earned all by themselves just for doing what is expected of them and being good.
I could go on and on about all the great things with this system, but I’m even starting to bore myself here. LOL! Please go to their site and check them out! For less than the price of what I would have spent on my “Craft Store Idea”, I had a full system with access to continued online support and ideas for my family.
Here is another look at the the whole board.
*Keep in mind that this is only what it looks like first thing in the morning. It becomes very colorful once the kids start flipping their magnets…… and Mom and Dad’s too! 😉
DISCLAIMER: I am not working with Family Do Dots. I bought my system just like everyone else. I just feel so strongly about this system because it has really helped my family. 🙂
Herbed Compound Butter
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Herbed Compound Butter!……………….
What?…………
You mean, you haven’t heard of it? “Why, I declare!”
Look! Compound Butter is just a fancy shmancy way of saying Butter with Stuff in it! And since we try not to be too fancy shmancy around here, that’s what we will call it.
Well, let me just tell you. The other night, I started off with the idea of making some for the grilled corn we were making for dinner. Then, as we started to sit down and eat, I remembered that I had seen an episode once on Foodnetwork where someone put it on their steak!
Since we just so happened to be having steak with that corn, I decided to give it a try. LAWRDY, Y’ALL!
You will die and go to heaven when you try it! It’s a MUST! Not sure I will ever have steak another way again! (*It was that good!)
Pretty sure after you try it, you’ll feel the same way. Plus, you aren’t going to believe how easy it is!
First, take some herbs. Anything you like. I chose to do Parsley and Rosemary.
Finely Chop…….
Add that to a softened stick of butter.
Mix well…. (*Now, most would put this in plastic wrap, form into a log, and place in the fridge to set up. After that, you can slice it like you would cookie batter and put on whatever you like.)
Me? I just put the bowl into the fridge for about 5 minutes and then just spooned it over whatever I wanted. LOL! *Patience is NOT a virtue of mine.
By the way, it’s just as good either way! 😉
Slather all over some fresh grilled corn AND a grilled steak! Oh my! Oh my!
You will NOT be disappointed!
ENJOY!
Recipe: Herbed Compound Butter
Ingredients:
– 1 Stick Butter
– 2 Tablespoons Parsley, Chopped
– 2 Tablespoons Rosemary, Chopped
Directions:
– Combine all ingredients and place in plastic wrap. Form into a “log”. Place in fridge for 1 hour . Cut butter into slices and place on top of vegetables, meats, casseroles……. the possibilities are endless!
– If you dont want to do any of this, just place bowl into fridge for 5-10 minutes and serve as you wish.
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