Home Decor - Girls Bedroom

When I was young my mom gave me the opportunity to decorate my own bedroom. She was good about things like that. Your bedroom can reflect your identity and she let me decide what I wanted to reflect. It was so fun! My first go-around I chose a pastel pink daybed with a pink rose and green-leafed comforter and shams. The walls were a very pale pinkish white with a high red shelf high running the length of the wall. On it was a china tea set from one grandma and a collection of porcelain dolls from my other grandma. My carpet was minty green to match the green leaves on my comforter of course! A few years later when I redecorated I still had the green carpet and pink daybed but changed my comforter to a minty green and white checkered and decided to paint the walls the same minty green because I had read that it was a relaxing color. So that made for one very green girls bedroom! But I loved it and, yes, felt very relaxed in it!

Before before

Before

 

My girls moved in together over a year ago and we just got around to making their room cute. Like my mom did, I let my girls have a big say in the decorating. Caroline didn't show much interest so Madeleine took the reigns, happily. I did have to put my foot down in the beginning because she was insisting on dark purple and black stripes. The room has a north window so their room is already a little dark so I didn't want a dark paint job. 

In order to get to a decent color scheme I took pictures of a couple of sheet sets and let her decide which one she liked the best. These were $15 each from Costco. Then I bought two $5 flat sheets from Walmart and an Ikea comforter. I sewed them all together. I don't believe in top sheets for kids. Ridiculous. (Cara is hiding behind the pillow)

Madeleine decided on turquoise and white stripes for the walls. I was hoping to convince her to stripe just one or two of the walls for ease but it was a non-starter. I was nervous that it would end up looking like a Dr. Seuss room but instead it looks so cute! I should've trusted her judgement. We also needed to paint the ceiling white since it was a warm beige color.

Rob was the star of the stripes brigade. Leave it to an engineer to make sure everything is measured correctly. He also has WAY more patience than I do so I gladly left it to him, even though it took a full few days worth of work. I would've had it done in one but then Rob wouldn't have been able to walk into the room and handle seeing imperfect stripes.

This vanity was Rob's sisters when she was young and has been passed down. It is always full of the latest craft project. The black already coordinated with the sheets so I just needed to change out the bench fabric.

I didn't want to cover up what little natural light that comes in the window so I just got $5 sheers from Ikea and cut them to length.

We added pink paper pom poms and $5 clearance Target string lights. The shadows on the wall are fun.

 

For the final wall I had decided to gift Madeleine a paint set, easel, and some canvases for Christmas. She wants to be an artist so I thought it'd be a great gallery wall for her. I'm excited to see what else she paints.

I also reorganized their small walk-in closet (nothing too special so no pictures) and in it hung this painting by my grandma to cheer it up.

So that's their new room. I think it's absolutely adorbs.

PS. I was hoping that having a cute new room would inspire them to keep it more tidy. Not the case. 

Less *Spectacular* Blessings

I admit it. I hate New Year's. It's a bunch of hoopla that means nothing to me. I'm reminded of another year gone, another year not accomplishing as much as I would love to accomplish. There's also something about the happy Christmas season being over and the ugly inversion of January settling in. For me, January brings depressive feelings.

I tried this year to focus on other things. It didn't entirely work. There was still an ugly week. However, I did take time to think deep down about some of the less *spectacular* blessings that happened to me last year. Doing this helped pull me out of my funk somewhat and to feel grateful that my Heavenly Father knows and loves me as an individual spirit with individual needs. 

• We were able to get outdoors more. My family explored and discovered. Being amongst the Lord's creations is good for our soul. In an existence of uncertainty and acquisitiveness it brings confidence and content.
• Rob and I were able to spend a lot of quality time together. We've understood each other more. We've communicated better. We are both trying to regard the other with more importance.
• Keeping Caroline home with me (instead of enrolling her in preschool) while the other kids are in school full time has been good for our relationship. I was afraid it would be the end of it but instead we have both benefitted from this time together. She is gaining self-assurance and I'm gaining patience. I'm understanding her more and can better focus on what she needs.
• After 15 years, I finally had the opportunity to apologize to and reconnect with a long lost friend. I've enjoyed getting to know her again and who she has become.
• I've heard (and felt) that being a stay-at-home mom can be isolating and lonely...that it's hard to connect with other adults. But I feel like there are many women around me to call on when I need a favor or to chat. We look after each other and we have a sense of community that I've enjoyed being a part of.

This year, the less *spectacular* blessing I'm working for are:

• More decisiveness. To make choices quickly and confidently. 
• Finality and acceptance regarding something I've been pondering on and praying about for a couple of years.
• The ability to stop myself from going into a black hole when I find myself getting close to one.
• ...and a working water softener ;) 

It's hard to remember this when I'm feeling blue but this last year has truly been my happiest yet. Life's not always easy and I have so many things I want to be better at but I know I'm a Child of God. I teach that to my primary children and to my own kids and I very much know that it is true. I need to remind myself more often that I am one, too. 

NYC NYC - Monday

We didn't have much time Monday morning before heading to the airport so we just walked to the nearby New York Public Library and through Bryant Park before calling an Uber for our ride to the airport.

It was fun to see a pigeon in the security line with us. Our last plane home from Denver was an actual prop plane. Eek! I was unaware of this when I let Rob book the tickets and was quite unhappy when I found out (I always check the type of plane beforehand).  I'm not sure I'll let Rob book the tickets again. I was nervous but even with the delay, noisy propellor sound, and the lower flying elevation we made it home safely somehow. 

(Not the prop plane)

Some final thoughts on New York in general:

We were constantly musing on how a huge city like this is even run (governing so many people from all walks of life, sanitation and utilities, etc).

The buildings are SO TALL.

It's a dirty city. Lots of trash. Lots of scaffolding!

I can't believe people spend $3,500 on shoes!

It was strange how early all the stores closed. I'm not sure the bosses knew that all their employees were pushing customers out the doors up to 30 minutes before an already early 8pm closing time. The places were packed with Christmas shoppers who wanted to spend money but weren't able to because the employees had social plans to get to (I assume).

Overall, we had a really great time exploring somewhere new together. A round of applause goes to Rob's family for helping us with the children while we were gone. 

NYC NYC/ Sunday

Rob here.

After a fantastic Saturday we enjoyed another late start. What is a good vacation without sleeping in right? We started off with a little jaunt back to our favorite doughnut shop. Have we raved adequatly about this place to convince you to try it next time you are in New York City? Well, you really need to give it a whirl. Doughnut plant. Amazing.

From the Doughnut Plant we walked north through Chelsea photographing the city. There are so many interesting buildings that are both ordinary, swimming in a sea of buildings, while at the same time unique, varying by light and time of day.

There are a lot of things on the street to look at including people, cars, garbage, mannequin body parts, and pink call boxes. Who would have thought? When Nate saw this image he wondered what would happen if someone accidentally pushed both buttons at the same time. I imagine that has happened many times.

As you have probably noticed in the pictures above, the general rainy character of the weather was greatly reduced and a little sun was making its debut. However, the wind remained part of the equation and it was pretty chilly. We were sometimes surprised by a sunny and windless scene in between all the shaded and windy streets. One such place was Greeley Square at the intersection of 6th Avenue, Broadway, and 32nd Street. It was great.

Map

We continued walking up to the theatre district snapping photos as we went; sometimes with our big camera and sometimes with our phones. The signs and lighting on the buildings through this areas were very interesting. Seemed kind of Vegas-ish. Meh.

Then we took a little bus ride on 42nd street over to the Hudson to see the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum. It brought a smile to my face when we crossed 12 Avenue and happened upon the Circle Line Site Seeing dock. Fun times. Anyway, we walked over to the museum and I immediately got my geek on. Feast your eyes on this magnificent aircraft carrier. Julie had fun here also but she became a little bored after I continued to walk around like a kid in a candy shop; on and on for 4 hours!

I was struck by the shear size of the vessel. It was huge! I can only imagine this bow splitting the waters of the open sea.

I thought this preflight briefing room was really impressive. Time and time again, the pilots would sit and learn about typical and life-threatening missions. So cool to be there.

The SR–71 blackbird is the quintessential spy plane. I was obsessed with this plane as a kid and honestly I am still completely in love with it. I’ve seen similar A–12 in a couple of air museums around the country but this bird had eluded me until now.

I can’t really describe what it is like to stand on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Honestly, I never imagined that I’d have the opportunity to do so. Standing on the deck in front of the command structure was intense. So huge.

Here I am trying to look important. “Turn to port not to starboard, you scallywags! All ahead full! Something amid ships…”

Here is the lovely Julianna climbing a ladder on the ship.

What was my favorite part of the museum might you ask? THE SHUTTLE PAVILLION!!! I’ve wanted to see the shuttle essentially all my life and I finally had the opportunity. Here I am with the Enterprise! Look, it’s a space shuttle!!!!

So this specific shuttle was the prototype flown in atmosphere but never sent to space. NASA considered upgrading it for spaceflights but it was not down before the end of the shuttle program. Also, I like that Star Trek fans essentially lobbied to get this ship named Enterprise. Can’t think of the better name!

I love the lighting coming off the shuttle on this one. So cool.

Another cool part of the museum is the cold war era diesel-powered submarine that was equipped to carry two nuclear missiles. It was very small and interesting to walk through. So fascinating.

After Julie was able to drag me out of the museum we made our way into the Clinton (Hell’s Kitchen) area for a bite to eat at a very cool burger place called, Island Burgers & Shakes. I got a black angus burger with bacon and goat cheese. It was fantastic! Julie got a chili burger that was too spicy for her. It would have made my throat explode it was so hot. This area isn’t touristy at all. It’s a real New York neighborhood with people carrying their laundry to the laundromat and running other various errands people do on a Sunday afternoon.

Then we proceeded to walk north on 8th Avenue though Columbus Circle, past the Lincoln Center, and on to the Upper West Side. We walked on and on past the nice steers and parks. We started seeing many more families and children. Seems like a very nice area.

We made our way to café Lalo which was featured in the movie, “You’ve Got Mail.” The hot cocoa and desserts were wonderful. It was pretty loud but charming none the less. Check out a few shots of the place.

We then took the subway a few stops back down to the Rockefeller Center area where we then walked past all the noise of the streets and tourists of NYC. Here is a picture of us with Radio City in the background. Julie is so beautiful. I had such a wonderful few days spending all my time with her.

Kind of a strange place for Christmas ornaments but we thought it was still pretty cool.

The stylish floors of the Rockefeller Center.

The area was brimming with Christmas décor and tons of people. We watched a light show on the side of Saks 5th Avenue, checked out some very, very expensive shoes, and had ourselves a very good time.

After Rockefeller we walked all the way down past the Empire State to 34th Street and Lexington Avenue for a late and tasty Thai meal. The end to a perfect day.