Room Review: An Update

Happy weekend, dear friends! Before the start of the most fabulous two days of the week, I promised you a few shots of the very slightly updated nursery...er...big boy...let's make it "toddler room":

From the doorway, with the rug we purchased when he turned one and a glimpse of the new, darker curtains. No more having four layers with the blackouts as they're built in! Also, we're still searching for some cute tie-backs.

One of the updated shelves, featuring his nickname and current #1 love, the bicycle, an antique looking item (so not a toy) from Hobby Lobby that he yearns to play with:

Shelf two featuring a tie-in to his sheets and a character he's growing to love, along with a few special personalized mementos:

His Pottery Barn Kids bedding we transitioned to a year ago to bring in some vibrant color, plus a personalized pillow from Holiday Mart:

Finally, some photos displayed! His immediate family he loves and adores:

His cluttered bookshelf housing a tender poem, half of his name in train letters, stuffed gifts and a library he adores:

Not sure how much longer we'll need this or what we'll convert it to, but his changing table housing diaper, socks, toys, shoes and other fun stuff. My favorite part? The chalkboard labels:

Finally, the piece we created on the fly during our "innovation" time together (read: keep the toddler busy time), a canvas which will be framed featuring the hands of our little family:

What a delight it's been to hear the little dude commenting on the new stuff that seems to be what his heart yearns for such as planes, trains, automobiles, monkeys, books, balls and more (don't get me wrong, the dude loves pink too and we totally embrace this). And though we had to rip off and duplicate a bit of what was happening in the pages of Pottery Barn Kids vs. the vintage feel I long for, it's ours, we like it a lot and feel extremely grateful to have this opportunity to even make it our own.

So here's to reviewing this room, embracing toddlerdom and everything in between. Cheers!

Kenny

“What is this-round five?” I ask as we brace ourselves in the backseat while B makes her way effortlessly and confidently through bouts of stadium traffic. “Yah, close to that,” said Kel, her eyes never leaving the terrain as she suggests her sister apply the brakes.

Giggling uncontrollably and chatting like a pack of sorority chics (wait, I guess we were those), we reminisced on our Kenny Chesney tours and how much we’ve changed over the years, going from morning to night tailgates to now dressing light and comfortable and sipping water. From talking up boys and purchasing tees with Kenny’s biceps silouhetted on them to now saying things like: “they want HOW much for a t-shirt? Isn’t there one more plain?!” And from waiting eagerly outside his trailer to now passing on rumors that he just isn’t that cute up close and can be kind of an ass. Ah, adulthood.

Regardless, it was a total blast, scoring killer seats 30 rows in on the football field, within arms reach of his soulful tunes, fun spirit, good sense of humor and oh – Billy Currington – a dude that’s quickly moving up my crush list.

So thanks again, Kenny crew, for this memorable time and many more to come.

And as the little dude would say: “rock on, Kenny. Rock on!”

PS: One rant: I dedicate these words to the fine couple sitting in front, er, like a foot in front of me.

“FIND A ROOM! AUGH!”

There, I said it. Yes it’s a free world and isn’t it so cute you’re in love but playing a supporting role in your light porn film was not something I was aiming for on my resume. Plus, you were totally outside of your chair line which limited my view of Kenny and his jeans.

Love, Megan

Room Review: Toddler Spaces

"Are you seriously moving that armoire again?" the hubs asks dumbfounded, making it a point to watch me sweat and sway with the large piece of furniture. "Seriously...what is up with you?"

Generally it's Sunday nights when these shennanigans begin of reinventing the wheel, plotting furniture in different rooms, spending hours on Pinterest and other design blogs dreaming of what our home could be. Perhaps it's a coping mechanism for wanting to return to our old neighborhood, a habit (albeit an expensive and time-wasting one), a creative outlet or a way to avoid taking that pilates class. Either way, it's a lot of fun.

Though I don't have the gift of design (I like to pretend my craft is words), I'm enamored. Obsessed. Know it when I see it. And adore what others have. So what do I try to do? Copy! After all, it's the greatest form of flattery, right?

This past month I've been focused on three rooms: the playroom, little dude's space and our study. The baby spaces needed a bit of a refresh as he quickly hurdles himself later in toddlerdom, updating his toys, making more room for wreckage and providing bright, stimulating colors and filling his space with items he enjoys. So though I'm just getting started, I thought I'd share a few shots, both only quasi-complete rooms:

Before a version of his nursery for his first year, with soft blues, oranges and whites and of course still Monkey-inspired:

Not pictured is a bookshelf tucked behind the chair and across the way, an open changing table with baskets and canvas storage, topped with shelves with baby items on display.

At one year old, his bright spirit really began to show, so we decided to sass it up a bit using primary colors, Madras bedding and include more planes, trains and automobiles. And now with two happening in less than two months, we're incorporating even more of the primary colors coupled with pictures of his family he's grown to love unconditionally and recognize, some of his favorite characters and really making it his own. We've updated the rug, darkened the curtains, removed some of the baby stuff such as ultrasound photos, baby-blue monograms, tiny stuffed animals and transitioned to fire trucks, buses, Curious George and more. I promise to post when it's a bit more complete after this weekend - plus it's hard to post because I forget to photograph it and it's generally 6 a.m. or 10 p.m. when I'm on here, which is not so much conducive to breaking and entering to snap a few photos while the little dude sleeps.

After: it's mostly been done for a year, but I've never shot a photo! Final accessories this weekend then pic to come

The playroom was only slightly tweaked, creating storage for larger, more active toys and offering creative spaces for him to work his magic with Playdough, markers, crayons and more. So out went the smaller furniture and in with the new, mostly collected at our fabulous neighborhood garage sale and the storage shelves from Target.

Before:

After:


The space, generally cluttered, is useful and full of love with room to play hide and seek in the tent, color on the walls and create lego houses meant for a prince. The majority of our family bonding takes place in this room.

The study? Still a work in progress and more to come with my inspiration being innovation, shabby chic and a place where I can enjoy working remotely one day and surfing the web at other times.

The lesson? This all takes time. And patience. And sometimes, settling. None of which I tend to have much of. For example, I adore antiques but don't know how to refinish anything, take the opportunity to really find buried treasures or create the look I covet on HGTV and in other homes. So instead, I just rip off and duplicate Pottery Barn styles. But, I'm starting small and this time around I'm listening to my gut, working hard to identify pieces I really enjoy and make me smile, no matter how they go with the current mish mash of hand-me-downs and gifts that sprinkle throughout the home. Because as Oprah said, your house should rise to meet you.

So let's get to working on rising, shall we?

Though I guess that would require new carpet and updated wood stain...

Wait don't even go there. Focus, girl, focus.

Room Review one - more to come!

Ten Percent

The most you want to miss on a test to keep that A. The rate on some loans. The top percentile you wish your kids will be in someday. The last percent you wish to get into when applying for a job. And even perhaps the number you wish for the number of Americans in debt to get to.

For me it's hitting my 10-percent goal, discovered this morning at my weekly weigh in. And I couldn’t be happier. Especially since that bridesmaid’s dress arrived in the mail this week…

I’m dreaming up ways to celebrate with 20 pounds MIA from this figure and a hefty goal met as “they” say it’s important to reward yourself, but so far I’ve not come up with one that isn’t food related or that Dave Ramsey would support.

Any ideas?

And now to keep on moving to the next goal…right after I come up with that celebration…

Summer Bucket List

As the last of the 100-degree days roll by (hopefully?!) and the besties begin talking of their return to school with disdain, I begin to mentally prepare myself that a) summer has begun b) it’s nearly over. For the many that office year round, it’s hard to remember that this is a season to be enjoyed, spend a little extra time lazing on the porch with a popsicle, running through the sprinklers, staying up past the street lights and just taking a minute to really appreciate the three months for their potential.

Recalling this, our family created a summer bucket list for summer of 2011. Simple, understated and not hugely goal-oriented, it looks a little something like this:

1. Visit the Farmers’ Market
2. Visit the Zoo
3. Get in lots of pool time
4. Splash in the fountains at Zona Rosa
5. Take the little dude to his first T-Bones game
6. Enjoy one of the First Fridays downtown
7. Schedule less on the weekends
8. Put the sprinkler out front and just run
9. Take a trip, even if it’s a mini one
10. Sit on the deck with a bottle of wine (this one is spouse specific)

I’m unhappy to report that we’ve barely made a dent, so my fingers will soon scrawl diligently over the pages of my MomAgenda to ensure we tackle the rest. After all, we never get these days back.

So, what’s on your summer bucket list?

Where's That Dude in the Skirt?

“Seriously, I think you’re going to love it – and I promise you’ll catch on. Plus, I’ll be there to help you and it’s ridiculously fun!” I tell my new workout buddy Diane, catching the fear in her eyes at the mention of the word “Zumba.” At least a decade older than me, fresh to the workout circuit and not that keen on the dance scene, it was a hard sell, but we arranged for a Sunday date.

And that’s when it started to slightly go downhill.

Studio 2? No where to be found with an efficient staircase so I make my way several times around the building, of course passing by several glass-encased rooms filled with sweaty bodies wondering what the heck I’m doing. Had they known me better they would be aware I’m incapable of finding my way out of a box. Wait, I bet they figured that out by then…but at least I provided a good distraction from what was starting to look like a near-death by push-ups session.

When I finally stumble across the correct room, it’s lined with what appears to be spunky women right out of a “Women’s Health,” so find relief in the fact there’s still a spot in the back. My eyes dodge around the lean biceps and perfect ponytails desperately searching for Diane, who has yet to make an appearance. Maybe she’s locked in the stairwell frantically searching for Studio 2 too…

Suddenly, the room breaks out into beats which I totally feel given that I still hold on to the belief I was black in my past life, and I see those perfect little ponytails poise in preparation as the Erin McAndrews look alike starts gyrating in front.

Wait…why isn’t she giving any instruction? What the….turn…sway…fist pumps…and my heart rate is already in zone 3? I thought we were warming up?! Am I supposed to know what a samba is? What is happening?

Did I tell you I danced for years including hip hop, jazz, ballet, tap and freestyle? I mean, what were all those countless hours “in da club” at KU for if not this? And still here I was, clueless…

Just then Diane joins us, dropping her water and towel nearby and sharing a look with me that could only be interpreted as “what the hell did you just get me into?” All I could do was apologize with big eyes, then turn a few beats too late and nearly whip into the gal next to me who apparently like the rest of the class attendees made this her Sunday ritual instead of getting 1:1 with the big man.

As we muddle through and spend most of our calorie burning trying to interpret the instructor’s 3.5 second hand signals explaining the whole routine, I began to miss the dude who taught the first Zumba class I ever went to and who I think is responsible for unearthing my youthful spirit. I mean, the dude had costume changes (think neon sunglasses, belly dancing skirts and fedoras) and had a total hip hop feel, complete with helpful instruction.

Yah, so not the case here.

But as they say, as long as you keep on moving, it’s all good.

Yeah – tell that to the gal next to me who practically booty shook me off the dance floor in frustration with my inability to mind read which step was coming next.

So dude in the skirt, if you’re out there, please come back. Zumba is calling.

Along with the gals who thought they could pull it off but just can’t.

But we sure had fun trying…

Before and After: The TEAM Version

After some begging, encouragement and straight up pestering, some of my dearest got the best of me and convinced me to post my before and afters from my TEAM experience. So here we go:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

So there you have it: nearly 20 pounds, several inches and some sizes lost and a new sense of self in about three months.

Ok, that's enough of "getting outside my comfort zone" for the day.

Thanks for all your support dear friends and for...exploiting me?!

I'm off to Zumba to pretend this never happened...