Miles Nursery

It took me six months to finish Rylin's nursery.  You may remember it from here.  It seems the owl and woodland theme really took off since then. (I won't claim to have started it, but at least I had to be on the cusp!)  Well, we'd all had enough of it here in this house so I was excited to reinvent the room with a new baby.  Since we didn't find out the sex, I decided to hold off on decorating and instead plan two different nurseries, one for a boy and one for a girl, and then execute the one that was decided on delivery day.

So ten months later (yes, I'm slower with two kids), Miles finally has his nursery.  Though he's not really sleeping in it short of the occasional cat nap, we do enjoy playing in it and he does get his diaper changed there.  It's also still our guest room, so it gets plenty of use.

The scenic print I painted on a drop cloth was the last addition to the room.

I made art for over the crib and the Camp Miles sign was made by my cousin for Mile's shower from a log cut from the tree in my yard growing up.

The fabric for the sheet was the first thing I purchased for the room.  It has cute little canned ham campers, fox and bears, and a river with canoes.

 

I used salvaged drawers from on old kitchen my dad remodeled as wall shelves and backed them with topographic maps of Colorado.  They hold books, trinkets, and a few vintage toys.

The log side table my Dad made and the vintage rocker are still favorites from Rylin's nursery.  My Mom found the canoe lamp at a thrift store and I added a new shade.

I used the mobile from the old nursery and added 50's travel post cards that fit the colors of the room perfectly.  I love that some of them actually have writing on them about someones vacation.  I used an old galvanized bucket I had for storing his stuffed animals.

I saw this cool idea on Pinterest for making your curtain rod pull double duty as a shelf.  A few shelf brackets, and a handy husband put it together for me.  It holds little thrift store finds and Miles blocks.  The curtains were a full sheet from the Company Store that I hardly had to alter to make them fit.

A Whole New Wardrobe

OK...so I wish, right?!  As I mentioned a while back, Jordan and I have changed our diet in a pretty significant way this year.  After reading the Primal Blueprint, we have eliminated all grains, white potatoes, sugar and artificial sweetener, started buying a lot more veggies, cut down on our dairy, and tried to stick to organic and grass fed meats.  We eat lots of bacon and good fats and avoid processed and "convenience" foods.  The results have been HUGE for our family and for my own weight loss.  We both have said goodbye to any and all stomach issues, I lowered my cholesterol and blood pressure, Jordan (being a type 1 diabetic) has lowered his A1C, lost 10 lbs of body fat, and we have a new love for the Y doing Yoga together (he'll kill me for that one).   Last month I passed the 65lb weight loss mark!  Crazy to think I was at a point where I needed to loose that much weight.  In doing so though, NONE of my clothes fit.  This is my kind of problem except I don't really have the cash to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.  So....I've slowly been adding some things via thrift stores.  With a little patience and creativity, I think I've scored some great new pieces.  So to brag on myself a little bit, here is my dramatic before and after!

I honestly had to search for a picture of myself "before".  I did not allow a lot of them to be taken.  And looking at it I can see why!  If you're tired of the same old failing diet or of feeling sluggish and less than alive, I encourage you to check out the Paleo diet.  A friend of mine encouraged me for over a year to do so and now I am seriously grateful!  No, I don't buy into the whole notion that we "evolved" to eat this way, but I do agree with the nutrition behind it, our governments flawed food pyramid, and obviously my results.

Bargain Hunting

One thing you may have learned about me from reading this blog or spending time with me is that I have a weakness for the thrift store.  It really has little to do with my need to save money (though it should) and more to do with finding treasure in the midst of relative junk.  I know all of the Goodwills and Salvation Armys in a fifty mile radius, which are good to shop for furniture, clothes, children's stuff, dishes, books, appliances, and which are more "thrifty" than others (yes, they all price things differently).  Of course, getting a good deal is only fun if you can share it with someone.  If you weren't aware of what you could purchase second hand, here are a few of my past finds...

*New* Ice Cream Maker $7
Cuisinart Waffle Maker $7
Cuisinart Coffee Maker $7
*New* Food Saver vacuum sealer $7
Keurig Coffee Maker $7
Seven piece set of vintage cast iron bright orange cookware $14
Child's Converse shoes $1
Child's Puma tennis shoes $1
*New* Juicy Couture little girls dress $2
*New* Liberty of London Women's dress $4

I could probably go on for days!  I've found things for parties, costumes, gifts, and decorating too.

I'm also all about the consignment clothing outlets for kids too.  Though I still buy some things new, I've been getting most of Rylin's clothes at Once Upon A Child and other seasonal consignment sales for a while.  I have several rules for buying that I think help me make the best purchases for my money:

1.  Must be in new or near new condition.  If there is a stain or imperfection, it needs to be something that wouldn't take much to repair or wash out.  As much as it really doesn't matter in the scheme of things, I prefer Rylin not to look like he's wearing hand-me-downs.  Being selective about quality is important.  I try not to purchase something of inferior condition just because it cost a lot new and is for sale cheap.

2.  Must cost less than I could purchase on sale.  For instance, you will see a lot of Old Navy clothes at these sales that are priced higher than the ON sales price.  I try to shop brands that are more expensive or only purchase less expensive brands at rock bottom prices.  It helps to have a general knowledge of pricing for the items you are shopping for (see Jordan, all that shopping pays off).  I like to occasionally check my iPhone for items I know I can find quickly to confirm a good deal.

3.  Don't purchase anything with the intent of re-selling it for a profit.  You either won't get around to selling it or won't make a profit.  Or you end up justifying why you need to keep it:)

4.  Only purchase things you need.  "But those Gap jeans are only $1 and are so cute.  Who cares that he already has five pair at home?"  This one is a biggie for me.  I have to remember that just because it's a good deal, doesn't mean I have to jump on it. 

5.  Don't buy things that could potentially be a safety hazard.  This means car seats, certain baby gear that looses it's warranty after one owner, and toys with complicated parts.  I know some will disagree with me on this one, but I really think it's better to be safe than sorry.  No amount of savings is worth the risk of injury to your little one.

I'm sure there are more you could add to the list, but these help keep me in line.  With all this in mind, I decided to try my hand at making some money. (I know...what happened to rule #3?)  Well, it's a little different than straight resale.  I'm taking my love of vintage and my need to be crafty and combining them to create some one of a kind pieces.  Coming soon...a revamped Etsy shop for some of my latest projects and look forward to hearing more about future creative endeavors!