a big girl room....

After Christmas, Kaz and I came back to Charleston, and Annie Rice stayed with my parents for a few days. We had planned to start on her “big girl room” during that time and just paint. Kaz asked to take things really slow[that’s not me at all! When I have a project in mind, I want it done ASAP]. BUT I agreed and we had just planned to paint the room while she was my parents. We started painting that night, and it wasn’t very longer after when Kaz asked if we could have her whole room done by the time she got back home:) He was just as excited as I was. I decided that with her big girl room we were going to do a complete makeover! New colors, simpler design, and less clutter. We still have 1 more project to do on one of the walls, and I’ll be sure to post pictures when we do that. Right now, her walls are blank, which is kind of nice considering how crowded they were before:) 

I bought the bedding at Target, the curtains off of Amazon, we repainted her old dresser from black to white, and I made the bow holder with a frame and ribbon from hobby lobby. 

Her big girl room was something that i have been thinking about for months...It was something I was in NO HURRY to do. My pediatrician recommended her being in a big girl bed by the time she started climbing out of the crib[she never did] or by the time she was 3. We honestly could have waited a little longer, but I knew that I didn’t want to start her in a big girl bed in a few months when wedding season starts up for me. 

I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Every person teaches their child something different. We have a lot of friends who have been apart of Growing Kids Gods Way, and we’ve really liked a lot of the ways they parent their children. Before Christmas, I read Todderwise and one of the things it recommends is having the child stay in bed and ask before they get out of bed. Loved the idea[we have friends who do this and it’s been great] so I definitely wanted to do that, but along with that I had ordered[and done a ton of research] on toddler clocks. I ordered My Tot Clock, to go along with Annie’s switch to a big girl bed. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect...We told Annie Rice several times that when she came back home she was going to have a big girl room! She was SO EXCITED! Since she didn’t pick any of the decorations out with me, I decided that I would take her the day she came home to pick out some “big girl pj’s”. Even though the pj’s are the same as all of her others ones, to this day when she puts on the pj’s we got that night, she calls them her big girl “jammers”[that’s a country word for pajamas]. 

Annie Rice LOVED her room and was so happy when she saw it! She climbed right up in the bed. It was the cutest thing. She took her bear, aka beer, and put him under the covers, pointed her finger at him and said “Go night night beer. Stay in bed and don’t say mine.” I couldn’t help but laugh:)

That night before she went to sleep, we went over several times this process of a big girl bed. We told her that while her clock was blue she was to stay in bed. We told her when she woke up the next morning AND her clock was yellow then she could call for mommy. When mommy came to the door, she could ask to get out of bed. My parents were here for that first night, and I know they were skeptical, but Annie Rice did amazing! She got out of bed 1x and since that first night she has stayed in bed ever since! It’s been almost 4 weeks since she started sleeping in her big girl bed. We put her down at 730pm and I set the clock to turn yellow at 730am. Most days she will sleep until 7-830 and the days she wakes up at 7, she stays in bed until it’s yellow and most days well past 730. I put a few books by her bed and she has a few stuffed animals and she will either lay in bed and talk or sing, or play with her books or animals. Nap time has been the same way. In the beginning, every time she would lay down we went over and over what she was to do, and would ask her questions so she could tell us how the process was going to work. Now, we usually go over it once a day and she does really good! This transition with Annie Rice has been a lot easier than I expected as a result of prayer, the Tot clock, and the wisdom from Toddlerwise. When we have traveled to my parents house, we pack the clock with us, and follow the same system. 

Below are a few pictures of her big girl room...

BEFORE....

 AFTER..

 I personally LOVE these curtains:)

 bow holder: I picked 3 different ribbons that I liked and staple gunned them to the back of the frame:)

learning center and dress up closet...

We have been working on a lot of projects around our house lately! I can't wait to share some of the others with you!

 I made Annie Rice a little learning station in her room. It was so easy! I took clip boards and used the new "colorful" duck tape. They look awesome and go right along with her room:)

Kaz also made Annie Rice a dress up closet. He made it awhile back but I haven't been able to fully finish it until recently. I love the way it turned out:)

pillows, sewing, and window panels...

So yesterday I told you about some of the projects we have been working on...Well, those were really the big ones but I’ve been working on several small projects! For Christmas, I asked Kaz for a sewing class! I knew some of the basics but wanted to really learn how to sew clothes for Annie Rice..you know, some of the super cute ones that cost a fortune! Well, this sewing class has come in handy in more ways than one! We have been re-doing the guest room, that used to be my former office..When we started with a blank room, I knew I wanted to use the colors gray, yellow, and white! That along with apple green, gray, and white are my 2 favorite color schemes right now! So we painted the room gray, Kaz made a new headboard, and I had to add yellow accents! I already had yellow curtains that my friend Anne made but needed pillows! I ordered 2 pillows off of Etsy for $22 and loved the way they came out! BUT this week, I bought some of my all time fabric fabric[that comes in many colors] to reupholster the chair in that room. I decided to attempt to make a pillow! Well, not just any pillow because I can make a typical pillow but one that I can just inset pillows I already have in the house! JUST like the ones I ordered off of Etsy. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but decided it shouldn’t be too hard, set my mind to it, and 20 minutes later I had the finished product! It turned out SUPER and you would never know which was the “true professional one” verses mine! Can you tell?

Well, I made the one with the gray bird on it! I made a smaller gray one for the chair the exact same way! Instead of cutting 2 strips the same size, I cut 3. 1 was for the front, 2 for the back. On the 2 back pieces I added a hem, put all of them right sides together, and sewed all the way around! Once I flipped it, I could just insert the pillow! My measurements were not the best way to go about it, but the easiest for me. I made the new pillows by comparing the size of the pillows I had to insert:)

We also put up some pictures! We took old window panels, measured them, and printed 1 picture to fit the size of the frames!

 This is the new chair! It was covered in a blue fabric for our dinning room but now it’s completely different and in the guest room!

I love how it’s all coming together and hope to post the whole room very soon:)

what I'm loving...

1. Eco Cup on Ice-I bought one of these cups for my cousin Pam for christmas. My mom also bought one for herself and I used it while I was home over Christmas. I mentioned that I liked it and mom told me to take it. I fought her for awhile and said no, I won't use it. Finally, I took it and I haven't used anything since! This cup is perfect! It doesn't sweat AT ALL, it has a lid, it's very easy to clean, AND you can carry it with you everywhere! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this cup!

2. Choosing to SEE-by Mary Beth Chapman

My mom bought me this book as a stocking stuffer...I actually asked her to buy it while we were at Wal-Mart a few days before Christmas. Once we got home, I asked her if I could read it until Christmas and then she could wrap it up and put it in my stocking..[we do this a lot! If my dad only knew HOW MUCH use I get out of presents before mom wraps them....:) Ha!]

This book is INCREDIBLE! I read it in 2 days. I could NOT put it down! Mary Beth's testimony is amazing. Her heart for the Lord, her family, and adoption is written on every page! I laughed and cried throughout the whole book. I honestly felt like I knew Mary Beth personally after reading her book...It is so personal that I have found myself reading her blog the last few weeks! You SHOULD DEFINITELY read this book! 

On a side note, I joked around with Kaz a lot while reading this book...You see a couple years ago I was in Tennessee at a coffee shop with some friends listening to a band. Very small setting...We got there late so we just stood at the back. At some point[I don't remember why], I looked to see who was standing to the left of me...AND it was none other THAN STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN! The same thing happened with Beth Moore one time on a street corner! SO I always joke with Kaz that I know them personally! Ha! Kaz sure puts up with a lot from me:)

3. Tables by WhipperBerry-This blog is so inspiring! If you are planning a party or dinner[or even want decorating tips] you should definitely check out this blog for inspiration!

4. tinyprints - I got so many Christmas Cards from people who used tinyprints. I thought the quality and designs of the cards were incredible so of course I checked out their website! They have so many different options from birth announcements, calendars, stationary, to photo books! I'm always creating photo books both personally and professionally, so I decided to order one through tinyprints. I LOVE it! It was so easy to create and again great quality!

5. Amazon Kindle app-I wasn't quite sure I would like reading on my iPad and to be honest I didn't at first because I was using iBooks. I was disappointed because their choice of books to download is very minimal. Someone told me about the kindle app and I LOVE it! I have found every book I've wanted to read. It's a very easy process of downloading the books, not to mention cost effective. When I'm finished reading for the day, I can mark the page I'm on and then easily pull that page back up the next time. I can highlight sentences and make notes! It's a pretty incredible app! 

those are just a few things I'm loving right now....

something about fall....

I ABSOLUTELY, LOVE FALL! It’s my favorite time of year....I decorate more for it than I do christmas. I LOVE it! Normally, I wait until the beginning of October to pull all my fall decor out, BUT I’ve decided to do it a little early this year....Really for 2 reasons, 1 this is my only free weekend without any weddings until November and 2 I’m just ready!

One of my favorite things to decorate with is candles...NOT just any candles these wonderful, amazing candles from Bath & Body works! Pumpkin Patch....AWWWW:)

Me being the planner I am, I decided that Bath & Body works may not carry this scent this year, so last year I stocked up just in case! Can you tell I love these candles! I have the feeling I will do the same this year too!

I’m also super excited about these 2 beautiful paintings that I just bought! [Natalie at Nat Kat Designs]

I can’t wait to put them in my house:)

Tomorrow is my house day. I haven’t had one of these in a LONG time, but I’m going to get my house in order and decorate a little! By tomorrow night I will probably have lit every candle in the house and have a bag of candy corn in my hand! HaHa!

What are your favorite ways to decorate fall?

just a few....of my favorite things.....[right now!]

A few of my favorite things…..[in NO particular order]

-Bravo and Oxygen
-MY husband….He has had a LOT of projects lately! Including this amazing piece of furniture that he built! I must take a picture of the finished project! Pottery barn-$1500, Kaz Prikazsky-less than $100! It looks amazing!

-100 calorie packs
-rainbows and pearls [oh, what WOULD I do without you!]
- schlotzsky's deli
-My sweet puppy Miley

-grilled chicken over Caesar salad with baked potatoes! Our dinner for 3 nights now in a row! I think we will make it a 4th! Yum, Yum!
-Diet Coke[Sometimes I wish I didn’t like you-you are a BAD habit!]
-my mom! She’s coming to help me deep clean Thursday and Friday! And you too dad:)
-This beautiful fabric! It’s a part of my latest home project!

-Picture Frames-I can’t get enough! I must have them everywhere!
-New York[I’m so excited to visit you in 3 weeks!]
-YELLOW

What a few of YOUR favorite things right now?

Re-decorating...

So I have been re-decorating our office! I spend 75% of my time (at home) in the office because of photography so I decided I wanted it to be a place I could enjoy and then also a place where clients could come instead of meeting at random Starbucks! I’ve thought long and hard about what I wanted and everything is starting to fall into place! I’ll post pictures once everything is in order, but for now here is what will be in our office:)

Desk-We were given an old antique table desk which is exactly what I wanted! Kaz has put in many long hours into sanding and staining the desk to make it look “more modern”.

Chairs-There are 2 types of chairs. 1 is for the clients or guest (brown vine chairs-there will be 2 of those in the room) and then a desk chair for me to sit in(gold chair)

Lamps-2 lamps (1 floor, 1 table)

Bookshelf-I have wanted a bookshelf like this for months:)

And finally a few accessories that we don’t yet have but will soon!!! I'm waiting to see the finished product before buying a lot of accessories. So here are the pieces of the room and hopefully soon there will be pictures up of the finishing product:) Let me know your thoughts!!!