Baby Showers: Gifts to Help Mom and Dad Decorate the Nursery

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With so many friends and family members having babies in the near future, it really got me thinking, what are some unique gifts I can put together that will make these babies’ nurseries extra special?

While browsing around I found some really amazing one of a kind mobiles. They’re kind of a staple in every nursery, so I think it’s a fantastic idea to make them pop. These were some of my favorites, and they’d be super easy to duplicate.

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Another way to personalize a nursery that can be a great gift, is a wall decal. There are so many options out there and even sites where you can create your own. These can add little touches or make a huge impact. Here are a few ideas that will inspire you as well!

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I have found so many adorable quotes and prints that are just perfect to top off any nursery. You can easily replicate these yourself with either a canvas and paint or even just your printer and a few frames. I hope these strike your fancy and make you want to create a piece of your own.

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Spring Cleaning - How to Know it's Time to get rid of Various Things Such as Sofas, Chairs, Rugs, ect.

Spring is here! And with spring comes the routine de-cluttering of everything you and your family have accumulated over the past few cold, dreary months. Instead of the normal spring-cleaning, I am going to discuss how you know it’s time to say goodbye to some of your more substantial pieces throughout your home.

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Sofas & Chairs:

Pitching an old sofa or chair can be hard. We try to make excuses as to why it is still a functional piece and why, oh why, it would make a great addition to the basement, until we realize that it is in fact, time for this loved piece of furniture to move on out. If your sofa or chair has multiple set-in stains and holes/worn out areas, along with broke down cushions and/or a broken frame, it is time for it to hit the road. How about pet odors? Yeah, that’s not just the character of the piece, if you cannot get that foul smell out of your piece; it’s time to pitch it.  With all this being said if you still like the overall character of your sofa or chair and the frame is still as sturdy as the day you bought it, but the fabric is outdated, you can always reupholster. 

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Curtains:

Window treatments are what finish a room, they add softness and a little something extra to any space, so of course you want them to look as crisp and put together as possible. After years of sun exposure, your curtains will begin to show signs of sun damage and discoloration if they are not lined, this would be a good time to switch out your old treatments for some new, lined ones. Naturally fabrics go in and out of style, so there will come a time when your window treatments will be just plain out-of-date. When you go to update them, take into consideration if you’d like the new treatments to be more functional, or on the other hand, more decorative.

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Rugs:

Area rugs are the anchors of every space, so it is important that yours is conveying the right message. First off, having the correctly sized rug will change a space in the snap of your fingers, so if your existing area rug is no longer compatible with your space, it needs replacing. If years of wear and tear have left your rugs worn, stained, and even rough and unpleasant to walk on, it is time for an upgrade. An even more basic reason to ditch your old area rug is your change in taste.

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Lighting:

You might think that your light fixtures don’t make that big of a difference in your home, but in fact, they do. Fixtures are a great example of a small finishing touch that make a world of difference. If you have a light that has an outdated finish or if the style of the fixture just does not fit with the new direction you’re taking, it is time for this piece to go. Incorrectly sized lighting fixtures can also do a number on your space. If a lighting fixture is too small, the space will swallow it up. If a lighting fixture is too big, it will  overtake your space, in all the wrong ways.

Gifts for the new Graduate's First Apartment

Graduation is an exciting and scary time for everyone. It’s a huge milestone, it’s the first step into adult life.  This post is incredibly appropriate given that our Spring intern, Erika, and design assistant, Halie are both graduating this semester.

Oftentimes, graduation is followed by a move for a new job. This means new beginnings, a new city, and a new apartment.  To help the graduate in your life adjust to this new found adulthood and take a step in the right direction, here are a few ideas to spice up their surroundings and make them feel more at ease to this enormous transition.

Every young professional should have a dedicated place to work at home. In college they had the library, their dining table surrounded by other stressed out college kids, and even their roommates’ floor. But this is where all that comes to a halt and becomes polished and sophisticated. I know it sounds cliché but there is something about an actual desk with the correct stationary that seems so productive.

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Quirky, one of a kind pieces bring fun and personality to any space. And if it’s a gift from you, it will of course be even more special. Every time your grad comes home from a stressful day at their new job or is feeling homesick, this piece will ease their mind thinking of you. It can literally be anything, a piece of artwork, a statue, a book… anything.

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Your grad has come a long way from Thirsty Thursdays and frat parties. So why not upgrade them to an “adult bar”. This doesn’t take much. Just a small corner in their new apartment, a bar cart or bar tray, and basic barware like an ice bucket and shaker. They will be able to easily move this around since it is so small and mobile, we all know our first apartments aren’t as big as we hope so this is perfect for cramped quarters.

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Speaking of cramped quarters, your fresh graduate will be forever grateful if you show them the ways of stylish storage. No more plastic furniture, they’ve grown past that. Instead buy them nice floating shelves for over their new desk, or adorable storage cubes, or boxes and bins to help organize their new professional wardrobe in that tiny closet of theirs.

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Gifts for Mom's Home

Mother’s Day is the one-day a year that is truly dedicated our moms. We plan the whole day around celebrating them, thanking them, and showering them in love in every way we think possible. Of course there is no way we could ever fully thank them for bringing us into this big world, and holding our hands through this crazy thing we call life, but we try our best. So this Mother’s Day, sit down, take your time, and create something special for her. These DIY projects are easy enough for even those who feel they don’t have a creative bone in their body. But let me tell you, they all come from the heart, and will make every mom feel appreciated.

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Growing up our mothers were constantly taking pictures, documenting every step, every laugh, and every smile. Once we got old enough the tables turned and we began documenting our lives together as a family, big or small. This hanging photo album is simple enough that it can be incorporated into any space, and functional enough that pictures can easily be switched out. With wooden rings, wire, clothespins, and a handful of pictures this can be accomplished as easy as one, two, three.

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This is perfect for those of us who no longer live as close to our families. A larger picture frame and a map is all you will need for this project. Cut outs of your state, your mom’s state, and even your siblings’ states with tiny hearts over each location will remind your mother that there is love coming from all over and it’s all for her. 

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Looking back and reading old notes and journals from our childhoods can be both bittersweet and comical. So why not capture that for your mother to enjoy and reminisce about? These will be a daily reminder to your mom of how sweet and charming you were as a kid.

You’ll need:

•  tea towels

• a sharpie

• your old letters, notes, journals, etc.

• tape 

The easiest way to go about this is by placing the tea towels on top of the message you will be transferring, taping it down to keep it in place, and simply trace with the sharpie marker.  A useful tip – if you’re having trouble reading the message through the tea towel, place it in front of a window. The light will make a world of difference.

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Sometimes we all need daily reminders that we are loved, even our mothers. This is an adorable way to say not only say I love you, but also thank you.

You’ll need:

•  a frame

• chalkboard piece (if you cannot find one, you can always paint a piece of wood with chalkboard paint)

• stencils

• paint

• chalk 

 If your mom makes you pancakes when you’re in for a visit, or folds your laundry, or if you just want to thank her for being her generous, creative, beautiful, and sometimes high strung self, this is the way to do it. Your mom will absolutely love the little notes, promise!

So this Mother’s Day if you’re lucky enough, give your mom a big hug, squeeze a little harder than normal, and tell her how much you love her.