Tuesday, May 31, 2011

I risked life & limb

Isn't this nest just amazing!  If you look close you can see the baby birds heads peeking out.  It just sings of Spring!  But there is one small problem, this nest lives here...


Yes, that is my front door.  If you look above the door on the ledge to the left you will spot it.  See it?  Yup, that right there is my problem.  This nest appeared a few weeks ago.  Foreseeing what was going to come in the future (baby birds) I called animal control to see if it could be relocated.  Their answer..."It is illegal to move a birds' nest in the state of Wisconsin."  WHAT?!?!?!  Well, there is my answer.  Bird family welcome to our family.  Here is mama...


It has been a couple of weeks and now that the babies have arrived the front door has been off limits.  Guests have been coming in through the garage (so welcoming, I know) and we have been running out to catch delivery people before they are attacked (fresh garden veggie delivery people, not pizza I swear!). 

But it is Spring and we have lovely window boxes along the front of our house.  I have put off filling them for fear of  mama bird dive bombing me but today I built up courage, risked life and limb and planted beautiful flowers.  I waited patiently until I saw mama bird leave and I made a run for it.  She was gone for about 15 minutes so I planted like a crazy woman, jumping at any movement.  But I did it and the results were well worth the imminent attack.






Can you believe our home looked like this just a few short months ago...


And now look at it!

Ah, a breath of fresh air! 

Friday, May 27, 2011

I'm no artist...


...but that doesn't mean I can't make art!  And that is exactly what I did.  Even though my daughter's room is technically complete, checked off the list, there are some blank walls that still need to be filled.  I mean, honestly, I room is never really finished.  (My husband just cringed reading that.)  And what better place to experiment with "art by the non-artist" then in a child's room.  Mistakes = Creativity in kid world!  So here is what I made...


It plays into the colors of the room and the minor elephant theme I have carried over from her first room.  So fun, right?  And the best part, simple and cheap...music to my ears.


All you need is 1. An art canvas from your local craft store.  These are often on sale, mine was 40% off at JoAnns.  2. Some fun fabric.  I bought a square quarter for only $1.99!  3. Some paint - I used the unused paint sample that was voted down for our dining room.  4. A sponge for applying the paint, 5. Spray adhesive and 6. A pattern for the fabric cutouts.  I used a stencil that I had previously used for the wall in her first bedroom.  You could just as easily use a picture, cut out from a magazine or free hand something if you are a real artist.


OK, so first step...sponge the paint onto the canvas.  I only used one color but it would also be fun to layer a couple of colors.  Then let it dry overnight.

Iron your fabric to remove any wrinkles or seams.  Then cut out your shape / animal / picture from your fabric.  For my birthday my Sister-in-Law gave me the most amazing sewing scissors.  I had no idea what I was missing out on until I used these.  The elephant cutouts were a little tricky but my new scissors made it SO much easier!


Finally (are you following me so far...I know it is very complicated) spray the cutouts with the spray adhesive and stick them to the canvas.  A quick word to the wise - spray adhesive is very sticky and very smelly.  I recommend you figure out exactly where you want the cutouts placed on the canvas before you apply any adhesive.  Otherwise you might have fabric cutouts stuck to you for a week.  Also...do this part outside.  It stinks!


Let everything dry overnight and like magic, you have wall art!  There are so many ways to get creative with this so put your personal touch on it and show me what you come up with.  Remember, I love it when you share! 

Wednesday, May 25, 2011


Before you get out of town for the holiday weekend join Mission Decorate on Friday for a Facebook Party!  Visit Mission Decorate on Facebook, "like" the page if you haven't already and join the festivities.  Share a pic or link of your favorite room in your house, a project you have been working on, a website you love or an idea you want to share. You provide the creativity, I'll provide the Margaritas!

Monday, May 23, 2011

IKEA and Beyond!

The IKEA trip was a huge success!  My Stepmom and I set out around 11:30 on Saturday morning.  The trek through the corn fields of Wisconsin lead us to the toll-roads of Illinois.  We had a few dicey moments since both of us are directionally challenged, but we made it safe and sound around 3.  (A quick lunch stop slowed us down but yummy crab at Joe's was totally worth it!)

As we exited the highway and pulled into the parking lot we both had that Choir Singing White Light Glowing moment.  This IKEA was HUGE!  We are no newcomers to IKEA so don't blow this off to inexperience.  The Schaumberg, IL IKEA is really larger than most, which made it worth the drive even more!

You may remember from this post that this trip was entirely dedicated to creating an organized play / art area for my daughter in the sun room.  Not this.



So the first step was to find a rug to define the space and we found this...


It is the perfect size for the space, works well with the indoor / outdoor feel of a sun room and was a great price so no fear of art projects ruining it.  And it kinda looks likes grass, which I like :)  Then we found this easel for less then $15.  Yup, you read that right...$15!  Moms you just gotta go to IKEA!


Now you are probably all wondering where the table is.  Me too!  My Stepmom bought us a beautiful table - which we actually found down the road at Toys-R-Us rather than IKEA - but when I took it out of the box it was broken :(  But Toys-R-Us to the rescue, they already have a replacement in the mail on it's way to me.  So when it arrives it will look something like this and live on that big empty spot on the green carpet. 

No play area would be complete without storage.  And storage we found!  This shelf unit was $39, what, $39!  (It needed repeating)...


It holds all of Bean's toys with room to spare.  And it is the perfect spot for my Grandmother's lamp - that is until little hands are tall enough to reach up there and grab it. 

There are a couple more storage projects in the works but you are just going to have to be patient for those.  I can't reveal all my secrets in one post.  (Translation: there have been a couple of technical difficulties with other projects and I don't want to wait around until they are figured out.)  So there will be more to come, including the reveal of the above mentioned table and the grand tour of the entire room.  Can't wait to see it myself! 

Friday, May 20, 2011

The Plan is Expanding

A couple of weeks ago I hatched this plan to create an art area for my daughter in the sunroom.  It was just the start of a plan that I knew would come together with a little shopping.  And through your suggestions that plan turned into planning a trip to IKEA.

IKEA is about 2 hours away from me...both a blessing and a curse.  But my step-mom is in town (Hi Sabrina) and she is up for the drive so IKEA here we come! 

Now, on my birthday (which was the 16th)  I treated myself by having our carpets cleaned.  Ahhh, so wonderful!  In order to clean the carpets I had to move out all the toys.  I put them in the sunroom so Bean could have access to them, heaven forbid she go an afternoon without toys.  Right after moving everything I glanced back into the family room and a started grinning ear to ear.  WOW, look at how big and clean the room looks without all those toys! 


I mean, look at it...

*Disclaimer Needed Here - this is the room we spend the most time in and I have not touched it at all.  A little bit of accessorizing but no paint, nothing on the walls, nada.  I was holding off until I had the money to really do it all, but you know what...I am thinking it may be time to jump in, even if I start small. 

OK back to reading now...


Spacious, open, clean, clutter free!  So, you all know where this is leading right, I think maybe the toys should stay in the sunroom!  I left them in there today and I am going to test it out for a few more days to make sure I can keep track of Bean in the other room just as well as I could in the family room.  But if it works, then my simple art area now needs to be an art and toy area.  Which means More Storage Needed!  Wow, this trip to IKEA is getting more and more exciting.  (Sometimes I say things and I feel instantly dorky right after.  That was one of those moments.)

So the shopping list is growing however the budget is not which means I am going to have to get creative on how I make this work.  Stayed tuned to see what happens.  I will also stay tuned as I am curious myself.  And watch out IKEA because this Saturday two crazy women will be on the loose! 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

How to make an upholstered headboard...

...it is so easy!  You have to do this! 

My mom has bought a Grandma Condo in Madison.  No, it isn't covered in flower fabric, with plastic on the couches and a strange smell of moth balls.  It is a Grandma Condo because she bought it to spend more time with the grand-kids.  And because I am involved the other option is not an option :)  If you want to see pics of the layout  and get more info on the new place check it out here.

So, among other things, I talked her into letting me make a headboard for her.  We selected the fabric last time she was here and it is beautiful...


I talked my sister-in-law into helping me tackle this project.  We started at 8 o'clock at night.  And despite our exhaustion (noted in my fabulous hair in the picture) from playing mom all day we managed to complete the entire headboard, start to finish, in two hours.  Not bad! 

(Sorry all of these pics were taken at night so the lighting isn't the best) 


This project really was simple.  I highly recommend it.  To get started here are the materials you will need - 

Fabric - look for a coupon or sale
Plywood - Home Depot will cut it to size for you
Foam - this is optional but we used it since my mom likes to sit up and read in bed at night
Batting - this is not optional :)
Spray on adhesive or hot glue gun - only needed if you chose to do the foam layer
Staple Gun and Staples - the better the staple gun the easier it is 

So first step if you are using the foam is to cut the foam so it will cover one side of the plywood.  Use the spray adhesive or hot gun and stick it on to the plywood.  We didn't even have a single piece of foam big enough so we used scraps to fill in the holes.  


Next iron the fabric.  I would have skipped over this but my wonderful sister-in-law is much more detailed then I am and she made this happen...thank goodness.  It would have looked sad without it so don't miss this step!

From here you just wrap everything like a present and staple away.  Lay the batting down smoothly on the floor.  Put the plywood on top of it and wrap and staple, pulling as you staple but not to much, you want it to be soft and cozy.  Then do the same with the fabric.  Lay it down smoothly and put the plywood now wrapped in batting on top of it.  Wrap and staple, wrap and staple.   





So just in case you missed the first sentence in this post It Is So Easy


Mounting it on the wall can be done is a number of ways, depending on how heavy the plywood you started with is.  (We have not done this step yet, which you may notice in the pics.) If it isn't to heavy you can hang it like a picture.  Put framing brackets on the back of the headboard and hang it on the wall.  You can also find brackets that attach to the headboard and the wall.  Then you slide the headboard right into the bracket on the wall and there you go.  These work well for a little more weight. 

So for just over $100 and 2 hours of work my mom has a beautiful custom made headboard.  And not to mention a late night, sad looking picture.

If you are trying this out yourself and want more details or have any questions just let me know! 

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Dear You,





 Dear You, (my wonderful & amazing readers) 

Mission Decorate began December 17th, 2010 with this post. Aw, the memories.  Since that day I have written 63 posts which have been viewed 7,994 times by people in 10 different countries.  WOW!  I cannot thank you enough for your time, comments, ideas and inspiration.

When I started this blog I had no idea how much I would love it.  The freedom it gives me to be creative in my home as well as in my writing is priceless.  And I only have you to thank for that so again, THANK YOU! 

So...are you worried yet that this is a goodbye letter?  Nice try!  You aren't getting rid of me that easily!  Instead I want even more of you to see even more of Mission Decorate.  So to get started, I have created a Facebook page.  (I know, I know... I should have done this a long time ago.)  I would love for you to visit the Mission Decorate Facebook page and "Like" it.  (Just search Mission Decorate and you should find it!) That way you will get updates on Mission Decorate content as well as new content and pics that I wont be sharing on the blog, only on Facebook.

Additionally, I would love for you to share Mission Decorate with your friends.  Invite them to check out the FB page or the blog. I will do my best not to disappoint. 

And finally, keep those comments coming.  I love hearing your thoughts and ideas on a project I am working on.  Thanks to all your suggestions I am heading to IKEA this Saturday to get started on my big May project.  

Lots of love and gratitude,

Jill 

   

Friday, May 13, 2011

On My Birthday

Monday is my 32nd birthday...WOW how did that happen?!?


Mondays are always a very busy day for me.  I start my day at 5:15am when I jump out of bed (jump out cursing my alarm for waking me up) and stumble out the door to teach a 6am class.  (I am a fitness instructor and personal trainer, may have mentioned that before.) 
I come back home right after class to collect my little girl and head back out the door to another gym for personal training clients and my own workout.  Back at home by noon and it is time for Bean’s nap and two hours of freedom.  If you are a mom you are laughing right now because you know that nap time is totally not freedom but instead a daily game of how much can I possibly get done before I hear that first cry from the baby’s room.  An hour or so of play time in the afternoon and then back to the gym for more clients.  
Every day is not this busy at work but every day is busy…but seeing as Monday is my birthday I was thinking I should try and make it a little special, right? So I have been thinking about what I am going to do for myself.  Fly to Tahiti, not sure I would make it back for dinner.  Go on a shopping spree, to bad that lottery ticket wasn't a winner.  Have everyone wait on me hand and foot, um 16 month old doesn't know how to make breakfast in bed...yet.  But what instead?  Well, I have come up with 4 things to make my day "my day"...
1.       I am going to spend all 2 hours of nap time catching up with all of my favorite bloggers.  No dishes, no laundry and no cooking just sitting my butt down in front of the computer and enjoying everyone else’s creativity.
2.       I am NOT going to workout, so there!  Is it strange that this is my treat?
3.       Starbucks here I come!  Starbucks has been cut out of my life recently.  Why you ask (and some of my friends do ask often)?  First of all to save some cash.  It adds up people!  Also to save some calories.  They add up people!  But the real reason…to prove to myself that I don’t need it.  But on my birthday I DO NEED IT so Starbucks here I come!
4.       And finally I am getting my carpets cleaned!  I am SO excited about this.  I mean it…SO EXCITED!  I bought a killer Groupon - $50 for 400 square feet of carpet cleaning.  Plus I had $25 in Groupon Bucks so I am spending $25 to have my carpets cleaned.  YIPPEE!  My husband may come home to me rolling around on the floor basking in my clean carpets.  (I'll be sure he takes a picture.)
So that, ladies & gentlemen, is the glorious day that will be my birthday.  It is all about aging with grace and caffeine :)

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

A Little Something Green

A couple of months ago I bought these cute metal storage boxes at Goodwill. 


Check out the little dragonflies!


Wasn't totally sure what I was going to do with them but at $1.50 a piece I was sure I could find something.  And today I found my something!

Let me first say that this is a very risky project for me.  I have a black thumb, not a green thumb but that thumb that over waters / forgets to water / over exposes / under exposes / and basically causes all plants to curl up and die.

I desperately wish I was different.  I have fantasies of spending blissful time creating a beautiful garden.  Growing my own vegetables and herbs.  Planting wonderful colors that attract butterflies.  Having citrus trees and making fresh squeezed juice.  (In addition to talent, this would also require about 10 more hours in the day.)  However in all reality potting a few simple house plants is a risk for me, but I did it anyways.

The Bean and I packed up in the stroller and walked over to the local nursery.  They specialize in orchids so it is a treat just to walk around the endless greenhouses.  With a little guidance we selected some hardy and easy to grow (read: not kill) indoor plants.  We strolled back home and got to work.  We filled the now planters with potting soil and planted my new friends.


After watering them I decided it was best to leave them outside for a while.  Even though they look great as planters the metal boxes where not necessarily built for soil so I thought I would leave them outside until I was certain they wouldn't leak all over the place.  And in the mean time we mowed the lawn.     
  

Once I was confident the planters wouldn't leak I brought them inside and now they are in their happy new home...the mantle in the sun room. 


Don't they look fabulous!  Now all I have to do is keep them alive.  I promise I will do my best but good luck little friends, good luck!

Monday, May 9, 2011

A Lesson In Layering

Happy Monday everyone and Happy Birthday to the best man in the world.  No, not Santa but he is pretty cool...my husband!  (I am only a week behind him so no old people jokes please!)

So this weekend I have been giving myself a lesson in layering.  Layering is something that is a challenge for me.  I tend to lean toward the simpler side when I first put an idea together but I find that in others' homes I am drawn to more layered full look.  And to me there is nothing better than a group of beautifully layered goodies that look totally effortless.  Like over time it just ended up that way.  So that is what I am working on.  And working is the key word here.  It is going to take time to get good at this but you gotta start somewhere, right?  So this is where I started.

While I was snapping shots for this post I noticed that the desk area was a little sparse looking.  (Side note - it is amazing how much more you see in a photo then through your every day eyes.  So take a picture of an area you are working on and so much will come to light!)  So I went shopping...around my house that is and collected some good stuff!  I started by grabbing some of my fav books...


Thinking I needed some kind of bookend I grabbed a vase and filled it with stones I had used in a hurricane in the past...


I then needed to balance things out on the other side so I dug up this tile that used to be on our patio and a candle I meant to return to World Market a couple weeks ago but never got around to it.  No need to return it now :)

Stepping back from it all I noticed I needed more height and so I added Pedro.  Yes, the frowning Asian dude is named Pedro.  We named him that years ago and enjoy commenting on the fact that the fella never seems to smile.  Poor Pedro. 


When I'm not snapping a shot my camera rests on the top of the leather box in the center which balances everything out quite nicely.  So that right there is round one.  Still a work in progress but I am pleased with it for now.


Round two was the mantel.  I began here.  The perfect example of my tendency to not layer enough.  (Also, feeling like it was a little dark for Spring.)


I started but sprucing up the candles with a more Spring color.  And oh they smell so good.  Yummy!  I also moved the lantern to the right side of the space.


I bought a new glass candle holder at Target and filled it with these great Spring do-dads.  (Yes, that is the technical term.)


I moved the "Laugh" to the center of the space and felt pretty happy with it. 


Well, actually I switched things around a half dozen times but this configuration is where I ended up. 


As I worked I discovered a few things.  First of all you gotta start somewhere.  I tend to want to lay everything out in my head before I start anything, but in this case I found that it was just better to put something in the space, step back and see what it needed next.  Secondly, it is all about trial and error.  Move things around, see what works and then move it again until you are happy.  And lastly, think about height.  Adding taller items to one spot or another made a huge difference in the balance. 

So...I feel like I am off to a good start.  Both areas could use a couple more things but I am happy with my first self taught lesson in layering.  Good job me!