Bedroom Gallery Art

A few months ago (maybe is was last fall?!) I mentioned that our cable company was making us getting a box for every TV in the house. We love to watch TV in bed (I know, a TV in your bedroom is the ultimate no-no for peaceful sleep, but we sleep just fine, thankyouvermuch), so we had to rearrange in order to accommodate our new cable box.

We also decided to get rid of Otto's bed, because he never used it. It was kind of a joke that all I did was clean dog hair around it, because Otto sleeps in our bed.

Once the bedroom had a new arrangement, the big wooden frames (now in our Dining Room) looked so out of place next to the window, and I was looking for something softer to flank the windows. So I shopped the house and came up with 2 new gallery collages. It took me a while to fill them with pictures, but for now I'm calling them done.

I'm still looking for something over the bed, and then this wall is next. I'm thinking its high-time for a full length mirror in our house, and this seems like the perfect place.

I'm Back!

Happy Monday, friends!

It was so nice to have a week away from the computer. I do love blogging, but, sometimes you just need a break! I loved having some more time to myself at night, to watch trashy TV and maybe also to go to bed at 9:30. Yup, I was totally that girl!

What I loved most about my blog-break was the feeling that I didn't have anything to do... I could come home from work and just BE. This summer, I might be posting less, and playing more... soaking up some sunshine and the bliss that comes along with longer days and shorter to-do lists.


But tomorrow, I'll be back with some small updates to our bedroom!

And I'll leave you with a little sneak-peek of our family photoshoot last week.
This face - it's SO A. Love him to pieces.

Five on Friday

Happy Friday, friends!

And happy happy first day of SUMMER!

Linking up with A. Liz Adventures, Carolina Charm, Hello! Happiness and The Good Life Blog for another 5 on Friday!

{ONE}

So excited to see some emails come through with pictures for the Bella Carta giveaway! Don't forget to email me your pictures by July 1st to be entered!

{TWO}

New words! I've mentioned before that A's speech is something we've struggled with, but ever since his birthday in April, he's been talking non stop. Just this week he's learned 9 new words! Nothing makes my momma heart swell like hearing him say new words & phrases!

This week's he's learned: push, pull, green, more, please, baby, bus, baseball and hockey!

{THREE}

We are having family pictures taken this weekend, with our very favorite photographer, Bryan! He not only photographed our wedding, but has done A's newborn, 6-month and 1-year pictures! So thankful for a good weather forecast for tomorrow, and fingers crossed for A to be easy going for a few hours!

Can you believe this picture was taken almost a year ago!? Where does the time go?


{FOUR}

We had such a wonderful Father's Day last weekend. I have yet to upload my "real" pictures, but here's one of my favorites from last Sunday.

Yes, he thinks he's a dog sometimes. Okay, more than sometimes.


{FIVE}

A bloggy-break. That's what I'm giving myself next week. Some time away from the computer to catch up on life and enjoy playing outside with my favorite little guy. I'll be back soon, I promise!

Have a wonderful weekend!

What's Not Working: Our Mail!

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Doesn't this already feel like the longest week ever?!

Back today with another installment of What's Not Working!

Our mail pile seriously drives me crazy. One of my pet peeves is coming home to a messy house. and while the mail doesn't necessarily make my house messy... it definitely contributes to the clutter.

The biggest reason our mail always ended up here...

... was because this little "drop spot" to the right of the door couldn't hold  a week's worth of mail.

In an ideal world, I'd go through the mail everyday. But I don't, so it sits until I go through it on Saturday mornings while I drink my coffee. In order to get the mail off the entertainment center, this mail drop spot had to work harder.

As soon as I saw these baskets from World Market, I knew I had found my solution!

I ordered a small & medium with a free shipping code, and couldn't wait to get them up as soon as they arrived!

And here's what it looks like now...
 The top basket is for mail, and the bottom is for Otto's "stuff". Leashes, harnesses, etc.

Yes, that's a rogue dinosaur on the trunk. Just keeping it real.

I'm thinking of replacing the light with a wall-mount swing arm sconce. It would free up some space on the floor, and I'm always worried about it falling over on A when he plays with his cars.

We're already loving the change of having more space for the mail on the wall, and that in the last 2 weeks absolutely no mail has found its way to the entertainment center! Hooray for cheap & easy solutions to the things that bother us the most.

I Want Your Pictures! + a Bella Carta Giveaway

While Christmas may still be 6 months away, June is the time I start preparing for my Holiday Card designs. Since our new site will be live by the end of the summer {and now that it's in writing, it has to be live!}, I need to get started on some new designs!

This year I'm doing something a little special for my readers: asking you to submit your pictures for use in my designs! If you've had professional pictures (or even your own, personal high-quality pictures) taken this year, and own the rights to the photographs, I'd love for you to send them my way! Engagement, wedding, baby or family pictures... anything goes! (please know that I reach out personally to each and every photographer, just to triple-check they are OK with me using their work in my designs).

What's in it for you?

Each reader who submits a photo/photos will be entered to win a set of 50 FREE Holiday Cards this year. F-R-E-E. You will be able to choose any design from our site, even if your photo was not used in that specific design.

Here are some of my favorite designs from last year!

To be entered, send your photos to bellacartaboutique {at} gmail {dot} com, before July 1st. A winner will be notified by email by July 30th.

I can't wait to see your pictures!!

Five on Friday

Linking up with these lovely ladies again today!

{ONE}

I'm so excited to receive this KidCraft chair I ordered for A this week! I think it will be perfect for our family vacation this summer.... assuming that he actually sits for more than a hot second while we're outside. A momma can dream, right?

{TWO}

H&M for Kids. My dear friend Sarah bought A the most adorable shirt for his birthday, from H&M. It was my first introduction to their children's line, and now I'm hooked. On Monday we're heading over there at lunch to do a little more shopping, mainly for my little man.

Here are some of the things I have my eye on!

{THREE}

I'm having a hard time choosing a new rug for our living room. And this is the one I keep coming back to...
I can't decide if I love it or it. I'm not really a chevron girl, but think this would add some great texture to our space. Oh, and it can be hosed down with soap & water! Hello, perfect rug for my two wild toddlers (I totally include Otto in my child-count... especially when it comes to making a mess).

{FOUR}

I've been doing some major purging, and here's what I have to show for it. This gigantic box is being dropped off tomorrow morning at the Goodwill. I'm so not sad to say goodbye to these clothes, and I'm loving all the extra space in my closet!

{FIVE}

These two. Celebrating my amazing dad this weekend, along with the best baby-daddy a girl could ask for.

Happy Friday, friends!

{Project Playroom} Even More Progress

The playroom is quickly becoming my favorite room in the house. Each time we make an update, it gets a little more personality and function. If you've been following along since the beginning, you already know that this room needs to work super hard for us: it's a play space, a guest room, and my new office.

Here's how the space is looking now...
(please note I had just gone on a huge toy purge and put a lot of the baby toys in the attic... and wiped down the chalkboard... the room looked like this for about 10 minutes until A woke up from his nap!)

 

I recently changed out the bedding for this adorable black & white polka dot sheet from Target. The old comforter was always a mess, and was hiding the pallet day-bed that C made a few years ago. Now that we have just a sheet on there, the room seems so much more open (and of course, it made way for more matchbox cars!)

The art wall is still a big hit, and gets used almost every day. I think what A loves most about this wall is that there are 'no rules' - he can draw anywhere, and pretty much do anything. Hey - that's important when you're 2!

The stairway art was C's birthday gift back in February. I had secretly stolen his collection of tickets (sporting events & concerts) that he had been collecting since his toddler years, and made them into collages. We also added C's grandfather's fire helmet to the room, which is a deeply sentimental item for my husband, and something he looks forward to sharing with A as he gets older.

I haven't made much progress in the toy area, other then adding another basket on the bottom. Still looking for the perfect sized baskets for the second shelf that will withstand my wild child, and won't damage the shelves from being pulled on & off everyday.

Here was my 'wish list' when we started this room back in January...

Playspace:
• find a new, plush (kid-friendly) rug
• add an additional large basket for toy storage
• replace blue bins on 2nd shelf
• child proof TV with anti-tip brackets
• create an art area (maybe a chalkboard & a rotating gallery for A's artwork)
• add a gate at the top of the stairs
• find a way to keep toys organized, and easy-to-find

Office:
• create/build a two-person desk in the dormer
• add shelving for storage
• make a functional/fun message station for reminders & invitations
• find 2 desk chairs
• create a functional filing system for household paperwork

Guest Space:
• add wall-mounted sconces near the bed
• update bedding
• add throw pillows along wall

Also...
• add/make window treatments
• build a closet door for small storage space
• add a closet rod to small space for off-season jackets
• add artwork to stairway

Still a bit more work to do, but we've made so much progress!

You can see the other Project Playroom posts, here:
Current Playroom
Inspiration
The New Rug
DIY Fabric Covered Cork Board
Progress + New Desk
Art Wall
New Chair + Progress