Bedroom Makeover is complete! I think...

Well, my whole plan to make our bedroom cuter hasn't been too extreme, but it's probably about as far as I'm going to go with it for a while.  I figured I might as well show you what it looks like now since I think I might be done!

Remember what it looked like when we moved in?

Then after I put art and shelves on the wall.

Then after I decided it needed a change, you saw the ruffled pillows, and the new accent pillows, and a peek at the curtains and the ruffles I added to the lamps.

Since then I have been putting some new things on the walls that make it look A LOT better and a lot more finished. 

Here is what it looks like now:

Our leaf comforter is just flipped over now.

The green pillow cases won't be there after we take our flannel sheets off :) They will be the color in the top two pictures.

On our way home from Chicago next month, we are stopping at IKEA and I am going to convince Michael that chandelier should hang in our bedroom.  

So try to imagine it there :)

This His and Hers signs were the first things I got when I decided to put stuff on the walls behind our bed.  They were kind of an impulse buy when I saw them REALLY cheap at Hobby Lobby one day... I'm actually not 100% sure that I like them, but they're alright.  They are probably not coming down, so I'll have to learn to love them :)

I didn't really know what to put on any of the shelves so I just made some quick pictures one day on frames I got at Michaels for $1 each on sale.

There is nothing new going on in the dormer part of our room, and still not sure what to do in there...

My dream is to have a bathroom in there some day :) That is NEVER going to happen, but that is my #1 wish for this house (#2 is built in shelves on the ''hers'' side of our bedroom... just because that's where the TV is that I never show pictures of.  And #3 is to have our window seat built.  #3 is probably going to be the only one that might happen).  It would be sooooooo nice.  Ah.

I like it TONS tons tons better than before, but I will probably continue to slowly add some new things... just not sure what yet :)

The frames on the walls are little plastic frames that I got in the Michaels dollar bins a long time ago:

(in my pile of things that needed spray painted a while back)

I got the square ones from The Dollar Tree that came with a ribbon on them that I just cut off, and the  rectangle ones that are really inexpensive frames from Target.  The empty oval frame is from a flea market.

Then I just used scrapbook paper that I liked to add some color to the walls.

Plus a couple of other random pictures for the shelves... The mustache, the quote (which is just paper on a piece of board that I got at Michaels), and the bird were all just made out of paper I had sitting around.

It was a really easy room makeover and super inexpensive. I realize I didn't make any huge changes though, ether.

But I REALLY REALLY like it, so I am definitely happy with it!

It feels like an actual bedroom now, and not so cave-like as it did before.  

It is so much nicer!


Linked:
Not Just a Housewife
Little Eme
Blue Cricket Design
Somewhat Simple 
Paisley Passions
The CSI Project
House of Hepworths 
Tatertots and Jello

Pinterest, and our Chicago trip!

If you have not joined the website Pinterest you are SERIOUSLY missing out.

Go check it out right now.  You don't have to be a member to browse around, but it is really addicting to get to create catalogs of things you find online and store them in organized online folders, or ''pin boards''.  You have to request an invite to join the website, so I suggest you do that now and then by the time you get your invitation you are completely hooked.

You can follow people's pin boards and then you can see what they are finding online and pinning to their boards... it is very easy to be staring at this website for multiple hours on end and not even realize how much time has passed.  It's awesome.

Here are my boards.  I don't have them categorized as well as some people do theirs, but they work for me.


 Other news...

We are going to Chicago for our anniversary next month, and I am reallllly excited!

I have somehow never been there before.  I haven't been A LOT of places, but I'm pretty sure everyone I know has been to Chicago so I guess I feel like I should have been there by now too.  Plus, we are not very far away from it.  I've been in the Chicago airport if that counts :)  And I've been about 30 minutes outside of Chicago at IKEA... but I've never been on the streets of Chicago.  Ever.

And I have no idea what we are going to do there.

If you have any ideas, let me know!  For real, we'll probably need some help coming up with things to do... but we have both already said that we'd be fine with just wandering around.

The hotel we are most likely staying at is in the Streeterville area, and is about 2 blocks from Michigan Ave. and 5 blocks from Navy Pier.

I'm going to try to make a list of things to do/see:

Cloud Gate (aka The Bean)

I just think it's cool.  And I am pretty sure everybody who goes to Chicago is practically required to visit The Bean and take a crazy picture of themselves in the reflection, right?

The Sky Deck at Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

Even though Michael and I are deathly afraid of heights, I still want to step out into one of these... for about 1 second.

Stalk Oprah and become her new best friend.

Michael has already shot this idea down... But I think it would turn out to be a pretty good deal for him if I were to become Oprah's best friend though.  I am pretty sure she would buy him presents, but whatever.

Navy Pier

It just looks like fun!  I thought the Santa Monica Pier was cool when I was there and it is NOTHING compared to this.  Except I'm pretty sure we won't be as warm in Chicago as I was in California.

Shedd Aquarium

To see this turtle.  

I really don't have much else... My friend told me a really good restaurant to eat at, but I already forgot the name and she can't remember where it was... so hopefully she will remember to email me the name of it and maybe we'll check it out.

What are some fun things to do in Chicago?

12 Year Old Cancer Patient's Wish of 1 Million Cards

I saw this on facebook and thought I would share and try to get this kid a little closer to his wish of getting 1,000,000 cards.

A few of my friends have been posting this.  This kid is from a town close to where I grew up and where my dad still lives (hi dad!).

Max Low is a 12 yr old from Neola, IA He has been battling cancer for half of his life. His doctors recently told his parents to enjoy the time they have left with him. His wish is to get 1 million cards. If you would like to help Max get his wish, please send a get well card to the following address: Mighty Max Low, C/O Greg and Bambi Low, PO Box 111,Neola, IA 51559

 Here is an update on him from facebook:

I wanted to update everyone on the most current update on Max Low - as of yesterday, he is still @ Childrens Hospital and will remain there until Max can produce and get his white blood cell count up. Some time down the road will they proceed with the bone marrow transplant as long as his tests come back zero cancer cells - I am not sure of the time frame other than a minimum of 3-5 more weeks before they will know if they will be able to proceed with the bone marrow transplant - until then Max will remain in Childrens Hospital.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE that has sent cards, prayers, local friends thank you for the food care packages - it sure helps the whole family out !!!!

In the last couple of weeks - Max has received over 600 cards from all over - It sure makes Max smile and gives him something to do and looks forward to opening his "FAN" Mail - Just to name one card Max received today is a card from President Bush Sr with a really nice note and well wishes !!!! How exciting that was for him - I thought how cool is that ... the President took time out of his day to read the story about Max and a little boy's wish to receive a Million cards and he wrote a note and mailed it to him - THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU and please keep them coming !!!!
I know he enjoys reading all the well wishes, stories and everyday happenings instead of doing homework !!!!
GOD BLESS you ALL and please keep the prayers coming and feel free to pass this info to your family & friends -

** Don't forget a group of us are putting on a benefit on Saturday April 2, 2011 in Omaha, NE at the Carpenter's Union Hall - Noon - 6pm - If you would like any further information please email me directly - motorcycleanni@yahoo.com

People have asked how to donate directly so 3 years ago a fund was set up for Direct Donations accepted @ any US Bank - Max-A-Million and/or Max Low Fund - Underwood, IA

If anyone would like to send Max a get well card, here is the address. He's still in the hospital and I know he would really enjoy getting a few cards! Thanks!
Mighty Max Low
PO Box 111
Neola, IA 51559

A few things Max Likes - dirt biking - 4 wheeling - skateboarding - football - baseball - Green Bay Packers - Minnesota Vikings and yes the Iowa Hawkeyes !!!
I did want to add that my life-long friends have ALWAYS been there supporting other's ..... that's the kind of people they are .... so if there is something as simple as making them dinner to help ease some of the time consuming day to day while working and driving back & forth 4 times a day from Neola, IA to Omaha ..... I will continue to spread the word and do what I can - I believe in the compassion of others and the power of prayer .....
I will update you all soon - until then ...... Thank you from the bottom of my heart -
Anni"

 I am going to send him a card.  I'm sure he would LOVE one from you too if you have some time!

 

New Wall Art

I've had two plain white canvases sitting around for months... I had fabric wrapped around them and had other plans for them at one point but I never started doing it and then decided I didn't want to do it anymore.

I wanted new pictures hanging at the top of our stairs because I just hung random things there when we moved in, and it was definitely time for them to go somewhere else.

I thought I had a better picture of where they were but I guess this is the best one I've got from right when we moved in:

(I swear it will look nice up here some day... this ''room'' is always kind of left out of my decorating thoughts)

One is just a painting I painted for Michael a long time ago, and one of our wedding pictures.

I just don't like them there at all... I did a lot of random picture hanging when we moved in because there were so many nails already in the walls... so I just walked around hanging stuff up.

So I figured out what I wanted to put on the canvases.  

It took a while to pick a couple of quotes but I finally decided on two.

One is going to say ''Love is all you need'' and the other one ''I will be grateful for this day''

So I started cutting the letters out with the cricut.

Layed them out the way I wanted them.

Then used spray adhesive to spray the backs of the letters then placed them where I wanted them.

After they were all layed out, I used mod podge to go over the top of it to make sure they all stuck and to make it glossy and nicer looking.

I don't know why I didn't just mod podge the entire canvas first, and then just lay the letters down.  I really didn't even think about it, but for the next canvas that is what I decided to do.

When I started to go over the tops of the letters with mod podge it started streaking pretty badly... so then I figured I might as well just go with it and try to make it streak even more.  So that's what I did... Not sure how I feel about it, but it doesn't really bother me so I guess it's ok.

 It does not really look quite this crazy/streaky in real life...

All dry and hung up.

They were very quick little projects and I like them... so I'm happy :)

I do wish I would've made them a little more exciting somehow, but I'm fine with them being plain.

I'm still trying to get Michael to let me paint that bookshelf... I can't stand it!


Linked:
Trendy Treehouse
Someday Crafts
Seven Thirty Three
Yesterday on Tuesday
Paisley Passions 

Someone buy me a camper.

Michael asked me last night what I want for my birthday (which is over a month away still) and I told him I want absolutely nothing.

It's true, I don't want or need anything... ever, probably.

But I am making a pretend birthday list for him that basically only includes one thing:  A camper.

A teeny tiny camper, not one of those huge RV's.

Obviously this is not a real list, but it really is something I have always wanted... they are so incredibly cute and cool... 

If you really want to start a ''Camper Fund'' for me, I won't be offended.

First of all I'll show you some new campers that could be bought, and then I'll show you the amazing things that people do with some awesome old campers...

This is called The Scamp, and it is pretty dang cute...

These people are excited about it too, I think.

Check him out HERE.

I can't figure out the price of any of these, but I'm kind of happy about that.  My dreams would be shot down pretty quickly if I saw how much they cost. Cripes.

THIS website features the next few campers.

This one is called The TAB.

 How adorable is this?

The TAB floorplan:

The Basecamp.

The floor plan.

It is impossible to read, I know.  .

Hyperlite Superlite (what a name!)

Check out the inside...

Crazy.

Hi-Lo Mojo (another interesting name)

Floorplan.

Ok, there are tons more on that website, but you get the idea.

As cool as these are, they are NOTHING in comparison to some old vintage campers that people have done amazing things with.

Michael, this is my birthday list (Lucky for you, none of these are for sale.  Dang it):

 

(Pictures found here)

 (Found here)

This is obviously not a usable camper, but it still looks cool!

(Found here)

This is a van, but I'd still take it!

How cute!

(Found here)

I love it.


These next two are not exactly my style but it's still neat.  The website below them shows a few restoration projects.

 (Found here)

 (Found here)

A couple more vans...

 

(Found here)

So ridiculously cute... I can't stand it.

 (Found here)

(Found here)

Ok, you get the idea.  There are still TONS more that I am finding and loving but I suppose I'll stop.  They are so fun to look at though!

 And it is fun to imagine actually having one of these and getting to decorate it however you want, and taking it cool places and camping somewhere ridiculous.

I'll continue to dream that some day it could actually happen.