DIY Rental Master Bedroom on a Budget

The master bedroom, or any bedroom for that matter is a place to sleep, but so much more it is the one personal space that you have in a home. It should reflect your personal style and give your mind pause and rest from world. Even more so if you have children you know that there aren't many places to hide in the house. Sneaking away to a place where I can dare I say indulge myself in a novel, prepare and plan for the next day, or just rest my head for what seems nowadays a 15 minute nap I wanted our room to be that place. Everyone needs some time to decompress and recharge alone, and although I do allow Landon, Lizzy and Lily to spend some time in there I wanted it reflect a more soft and mature style than the rest of our cheery, kid-friendly abode.

So I started to pour over magazines, Pinterest boards and seek inspiration from the amazing design blogs I follow on Instagram and became so immersed in the mood and style I wanted for our room. I had paint swatches and grandiose plans of wood planks and drama. For a brief moment I drawn into my design bubble where anything is possible. Then I remembered that we are renters. Being a military family it just hasn't made sense for us to purchase a home. We never know where we might end up and the thought of being saddled with a mortgage and orders to another state or dare I say country is something we just didn't want to deal with. 

Dialing back my aspirations was frustrating, but caused me to create a space that I think others might find inspiring especially if they do are dealing with less than lackluster white walls and a small budget. It was an exciting project that I can say I am proud to share with you. Along the way I found out some tips and principles that you can use and apply to any budget bedroom makeover or refresh. They are....

1. Use soft colors to create the illusion of more space.

I have lived in just about every size master bedroom. I have had more space than I know what to do with and I have lived in about the tiniest space I thought I could ever shove a dresser and queen size bed into. Luckily this bedroom is a good medium of the homes we have lived in. Not overwhelmingly large, but not so tiny I can't create a pathway from the door to the bed without tripping on the furniture. Even so, with two adults in the room and no walk in closet you have to add furniture for storage. To combat the feeling of that we choose a white wrought iron frame for our bed and I used pale coral, grey and white linens to create a softer look. The curtains are also a pale turquoise so it lets in the light and blends into the already white walls. While I would have loved to used a nice creamy light beige or gray on the walls I had to compromise in light of the fact that we are renting...

2. Create a multifunctional space

Back to being a busy mom and finding time to get away. I have such an amazing husband that will take our kids and allow me time to work on projects that I am passionate about, but since we don't have a basement and our kids rooms are not the largest our office space has to double as a playroom. That means our desk is in the midst of chaos most of the time. Also we do have a bathroom in our room which is a blessing (especially since our last rental only had one!), but it is on the smaller side so when I need to do my make up I was invariably hogging the mirror space. So I took a desk and put it beside the bed and created a vanity, desk, and nightstand combo. Now I have storage for all my make up, a place to write, and also a surface to house my latest reading material for bedtime. Using the space beside your bed wisely can create extra space in your house and give you more room to do the things you love. 

3. Don't be afraid to Do It Yourself

I love a craft project. The feeling I get when I complete a project is unlike any other. It might be better than chocolate... maybe. For this room I decided to tackle just a few projects. I made the curtains and button pillow cover on the reading chair and I created some wall art. They were all very simple and I was able to make 4 curtain panels for the two windows for less than $20! That I would say is a major score. Whether you are constrained by your budget or you haven't been able to find that perfect piece there is a wealth of diy resources online that can make any dream come true.

Could the room be more like my HGTV dreams? Of course but design is an ever evolving process for me. I'll probably wake up tomorrow and decide to add another piece of wall art or move the chair. I have to continuly tweak, add and subtract. That's what makes it so much fun! For now though I think I will take my own advice and relax in the space. Well at least for a minute then it's on to the next project, the girls shared space...

The Minis and the Beach

Living in Coastal North Carolina has it's advantages. As much as I would like to sometimes cite the negatives of living in the smallest town I have ever lived in I can say that it is nice to actually live near the beach. Quite a few beaches I might add, because I just love options. Yesterday we took our first day trip of the summer to Atlantic Beach. The day started out at around noon but we actually didn't make it to the beach until 6 that evening.... Yep it took two adults and 3 kids 4 hours to get ourselves together and out the door to beach. Now, in my defense we did have to do a little shopping to get there, Lizzy had grown out of her swimsuit (which she lovingly passed on to Lillian, yay for the previously loved!) and the hubby needed new swim trunks because, surprise he left his in the Outer Banks last year. After all was said and done I'm glad we went later because if anyone knows anything about North Carolina beaches in the summer you know that the humidity during the day is down right oppressive! This was Lillian and Lizzy's first real trip to the beach and it was definitely eye opening. Lizzy's prematurity left her with quite a bit of sensory issue regarding her hands and feet and she was not having the sand and waves lapping at her feet. We tried to ease her in, but without much progress. Just another thing to work on and it just makes this preemie mama want to try that much harder so that she can enjoy it with her siblings. 

Landon on the other hand couldn't get enough of the sand, surf, and sun. He was diving in and out of the waves, digging holes and just enjoying the day. As I watched him I couldn't help but smile and think of how big he is getting. Where did the time go....

These are the memories that I love making. Our time in at this duty station has been some of the hardest and strengthening time in our family. We have welcomed babies, lived through a hospitalization, and created some great memories. This is just the first of so many more I hope to make before we move on just as the life of military family goes.

Summer is for Playing

Summer days are awaiting with the joy of sunshine, the promise of adventure, and the happiness of all things play. As a mom there are many days where I want to pull my hair out. I think that's why I have progressively cut it shorter as I have had more kids! Then there are days like this where I couldn't imagine anything better then spending the day outside with my love bugs and watching them enjoy everything for the first time. 

Their sense of discovery and wonderment is something I wish I could bottle and enjoy twice daily. To them the world is a place that is filled with infinite possibilities. There are no boundaries and sometimes to their detriment they learn that they can not indeed fly like they thought catapulting their bodies off of the couch. Even so these little ones are creating a summer that I know will never be able to replicate because they will only be this small once. So instead of focusing on everything that will still be the same in the fall, winter, and spring to come I will say that this summer is for playing. 

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

Today was a great day. It's on days like these that I realize why I had more than one child, because siblings are fun. I grew up with 3 siblings, two sisters that happen to be twins and a younger brother. Yep, I'm right in the middle. Explains so much of my life, but I digress... Anyways we decided to take a trip to Wilmington this afternoon because we had to get out the house. If anyone else has 3 little ones then you know a Saturday spent in the confines of a house can be a day to regret in more ways then one which will probably end in some sort of tiff that would cause me to want to pull my hair out, and so on and so forth. Not wanting any part of that we packed everyone up and headed to the children's museum. Even though we practically lived in Wilmington for 4 months while Lizzy was in the NICU we had yet to go the museum and it was a nice treat to wait until she was old enough to enjoy it.

The museum had some great exhibits from a boat that revolved when you turned the wheel, to a diner where Jon and I were served the  best "pretend" sandwiches I think I have ever had. Lillian was a trooper through it all on my hip and we had a blast! 

The best part of the day had to be seeing the interaction between Landon and his sister. There is a 6 year age gap between the two and I know that it has to be hard for them to relate to each other, but they really are two peas in the same pod. It got me the thinking of how much fun I had with my sisters and brother, how we were thick as thieves and even now how much we enjoy reminiscing on all of the great memories. That's what I want for Landon, Lizzy and Lillian. To look back on their childhood with fond thoughts and to cultivate their sibling relationship to where they can count on each other for anything. Do they still drive each other crazy from time to time, of course. But this day was just one of many where I look at them and smile. 

Would you be my Neighbor?

So we finally have gotten new neighbors! (Cue excited scream eeekk!) We have lived at our current house for almost a year and the house across the street and next to us have been vacant the entire time. Now this is not something new to us. The other two houses we lived in previously since moving to North Carolina was the same deal. No neighbors, at least not in the direct vicinity. So when I saw the U-Haul pull up across the street in it's orange glory a few days ago I was excited.  Living in a military town can be a little disheartening. It seems like over time you get aquatinted with someone only to find out they are off to the next duty station or moving on. It's hard to build lasting relationships, but on the flip side imperative because you never know when you will need help and family is more or less a long car ride or plane ride away. So being the crafty lover I am I decided to put my best foot forward and make a point to meet our new neighbors. I put together a little planter box full of goodies to welcome them and let them know that I would love to be their neighbor! It was a lot of fun and since Landon is out for the summer it gave us a project to work on, making cookies! All in all it turned out just as I had anticipated and there was even leftover cookies for the hubby which is good because I could never live down making his favorite ones for the neighbor without leaving him a few. In the box I included a bright gerber daisy, some delicious smelling hand soap, my absolute favorite ice tea mix for the summer and the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.

Click here to download the free tag printable!

It was so much fun to have a little project to do and pass along. And it didn't hurt that I got a cookie or two for myself in the process. So my challenge to you is to pass along the happiness this summer. Get out and meet your neighbors because you never know when you will need a friend close! To help you do so I am including a printable for the tag in two colors as well as the my cookie recipe. I trimmed it down because it's not like I need 5 dozen cookies lurking around. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1 cup rolled oats (I use the quick cooking ones)

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

In a large bowl cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add the egg and mix throughly.

Combine the baking soda, salt, flour, and cinnamon and stir into the creamed butter and sugar mixture.

Add the vanilla and combine completely. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips until blended.

Drop teaspoonfuls onto a lightly greased or parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are slightly brown.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen 

A North Carolina State of Mind

It has been a good long while since I have shared anything on this space and for good reasons. The past almost two years have been some of the most challenging and growth filled years I have had in a while. We've been in North Carolina for almost 3 years now and even though I don't anticipate us staying here forever I has grown on me in ways I never thought possible. For one both of my daughters were born here. If you have read any of me last posts you know that my daughter Elizabeth was born 16 weeks premature. It was an experience that I will never ever forget. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do and experience. Nothing prepares a mother to feel helpless when it comes to their children. It was a humbling time and I made some friends with the staff at New Hanover Regional Medical Center that I will never be able to repay. Their patience and selflessness taught me that family comes in all forms, but the common denominator is that they are there for you no matter what. Then after we brought home that little bundle of joy we settled in, but not for long before, surprise! We found out we were pregnant with our newest addition Lillian. She was born right before Christmas last year and was the best gift I could have ever asked for.

For a while I was just adjusting to life with three kids. It was exhausting! Lizzy still has 3 therapies a week including physical, occupational and speech and Landon was finishing up the 2nd grade. I was super overwhelmed. As a mother I felt stretched to capacity and that I wasn't doing anything really well. Couple that with the fact that I thought I really didn't have anything of value to say. It wasn't until I started talking with my friends that I realized what I was really searching for was a creative outlet of release. I think all moms need something that they do to recharge their batteries and become inspired to take on all the challenges that motherhood encompasses. So I have taken on some new hobbies picked up some old ones and have just been enjoying the ride. North Carolina is my home at least for now because as a military spouse I have realized home is wherever my family is together. 

Home Sweet Home....

Home. It has taken on a whole new meaning in the past week. We finally brought our little girl Elizabeth home on November 8th. After spending a tireless, seemingly endless 103 days in the NICU we finally walked through those hospital doors with her in tow. One of Lizzy's care nurses that helped us through so much was off that day but I was able to see and thank her properly the day before. That lady was truly a superwoman of a nurse. She made me sane when all I could do was sit in the dimly lit hospital room with just my hand on Lizzy's back. We couldn't have asked for anyone to care for her better than she did and we are forever grateful to her. As we made the 1 1/2 hour trek home from the hospital I kept waiting for someone from the NICU to call us and tell us to bring her back but it hasn't happened yet. It's been a little over a week I think we are finally settling in to life at home. Landon of course is completely enthralled with his little sister and is very enthusiastically helping me at every turn.  Our house looks a little like Lizzy's hospital room with the addition of oxygen tanks, a beeping pulse ox monitor, and a very loud apnea/ bradycardia monitor, but we wouldn't have it any other way. I am taking some of the remaining maternity leave from work so I have been at home uninterrupted and am starting to go a little stir crazy. Even though she left the hospital we have a lot of specialists to follow up with so we still aren't out of the woods completely, but this Thanksgiving we have a lot to be thankful for. God has so richly blessed us throughout this entire journey. We have had so much support from our families, church family and friends I can't imagine how other preemie moms do it without any. There was many a night that I would cry myself to sleep because I didn't know how Lizzy would make it through the night. Now I can peek up from my bed and see her resting peacefully in her bassinet. She is truly our little miracle. Our home is now most definitely sweet.

I'm all ready to go!

Home at last!