Crib to Headboard Transformation Complete
Finally, after I started this project forever ago, I’m done with my drop-side crib to headboard transformation! Here’s what our bedroom and bed looked like before:
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| Nice college-style bedroom. Note the absolute lack of design elements. |
Here’s what it looks like now:
Just a few other notes: the wall sconces are Alang Wall Lamps from Ikea and I’m just loving them since we put them in. The duvet cover is Ikea as well but it doesn’t seem to be available anymore.The maps hanging above the bed are where we each are from and where we met.
The bedroom redo is almost complete now – all that’s left to do is hang the picture gallery on the wall and come up with some type of window treatment/curtains/drapes. How do you think it turned out?
The Headboard Is Almost Finished
Today was beautiful here, if a bit chilly for spring, and I took advantage of the nice weather to work on a few of my ongoing projects. I thinned the stand of bamboo some more and then stripped the pruned canes so that now I have a big pile of 15+ foot long bamboo canes plus some smaller (3-4 foot) sections. I’m not sure what to do with the big sticks yet, but the smaller ones will be used as marshmallow roasting sticks – personalized for each family member (and guest if I feel moved to do that).
After that I finally got out to the garage to finish painting the headboard for our bed, made from an outgrown (and recalled) crib. After it dries overnight I’ll be able to put it up tomorrow and finally have a new bed for our new bedroom. The bedroom redo is almost complete!
Preschool Car Bingo
Recently we came up with a fun game to play with the kids in the car: Find a car for each color of the rainbow, with the optional difficulty of doing it in rainbow order. We played it by just saying the color of car we’d seen, but I thought it might be fun to have a printable with cars of each color so that they can mark them off when they see them (especially for the little guy who’s two). Also, if I’ve got multiple copies printed out we can do it over and over and time ourselves to see if we can better our time. (or just see which stretch of the trip had more or less cars).
I decided to go old-school on the car bingo and just draw and color the cars – for tonight it seemed easier and more fun than messing around all evening with the graphics program.
Pre Cinco Dinner Party
It was our night to host our parents’ group, and since its so close to Cinco de Mayo I thought it would be fun to have a Mexican themed dinner. We had tacos, rice, beans, chips and salsa and guacamole, and cupcakes for dessert.
I was rushing until the last minute to get things done so I didn’t get a good photo of everything on the table, but note the pinata – its difficult to see but there is a doll riding it and the doll is wearing a poncho! My daughter’s interpretation of Mexican decor!
Canvas Tote Bag – Finishing It Up
Tonight the final touches on the canvas tote bag. It looked unfinished to me with the unadorned handles so I doodled on those and also added a frame around each side of the bag.
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| Side one |
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| Side two |
Free Form Apple Tart
In honor of Tita’s arrival tomorrow, I baked a free-form apple tart to serve after dinner. I didn’t use a recipe, and didn’t write down amounts of things so I won’t write a recipe for the blog (plus I haven’t tasted it yet so I’m not sure how it actually turned out – but it looks and smells great).
I used a ready-made pie crust for the shell. I peeled, cored and sliced the apples (3 of them) thinly, then added brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, almond extract and a pinch of nutmeg. I also added a bit of cornstarch dissolved in water to thicken the apple juices. I brushed the edges of the crust with milk and sprinkled with sugar, then I baked the tart at 400 degrees (convection) for 35 minutes.
Bienvenidos Tita
The kids’ abuela (grandma) is arriving Tuesday morning, so we’ve been getting the house ready to welcome her. The chalk sign says “Bienvenidos Tita” which means “Welcome Tita”. Tita is their pet name for her – its a diminutive of a diminutive – it comes from abuelita.
Potting Plants on the Patio
Today was a garden work day – I had a number of pots that needed annuals added and some clean-up to do from last summer. As I was checking things out and deciding what to plant where, I noticed that a few of the ‘annuals’ from last year managed to survive the winter and were regrowing. I guess it wasn’t a very harsh winter – I’ve never had these types of annuals overwinter before.
I planted three types of osteopernum in my favorite planter which is sadly on its last legs. Its a wooden tool box painted blue – I started planting in it about 10 years ago so I guess its had a long run.
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| This planter is stuck in its spot now – if I lift it up the bottom will fall out! |
Viv helped me by planting this viola plant all by herself.
I guess I was in the mood for old fashioned plants – I bought carnations and marigolds.
These marigolds are sharing space with one of the overwintered plants – a hot pink gerbera daisy. I’m so curious to see if it blooms!
The white carnation went into a pot with the two geraniums that overwintered. I’m not sure what color these are since there was another geranium that didn’t survive, but they could be red, white or fuchsia.
I also planted two blue lake bush beans in the vegetable bed, a verbena in a pot with some perennials that I expected to survive the winter, strawberries in a hanging basket, and a little sedum in a tiny pot.
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