One Room Challenge...Week 3

Oh thank the good Lord this week is over!

Being a single mommy is hard...

Just to clarify, I am not actually a single mommy, thank goodness-my husband had to work the night shift this week.

Dealing with all the crying, all the catastrophes, and the grocery shopping with three kiddos alone-holy goodness!

I should count my blessings though: there was no crying, and the other shoppers and employees were thoroughly entertained...

I could have done without the rain while trying to make it back to my car, unload three kids and then the groceries...

Anyway, this week I'm linking up for the One Room Challenge HERE.

You can find week one HERE

And weeks two HERE

So, what am I up to, you ask?

Not too much.

The room looks exactly the same as it did three weeks ago.

And it's really frustrating and discouraging to see everyone else's  progress while I have literally accomplished nothing. 

However, two things need to be mentioned: I need to be easy on myself because I have a lot on my plate: not only was I essentially a single parent this entire week, I was booked solid during my afternoon free time every day, and I'm also planning for Moshe's 4th birthday party which is next week.  

BUT-everything is decided on, almost everything is bought, I just have to get around to actually doing it.  

I have included links for everything I can think of, just click!!!

What has been bought

Rug

Monogram 

Knob for end table 

Decoratives for the bookcase 

Wallpaper-for wall and bookcase 

Frames for room

Basket 

Sconces 

Hooks

Lamp

Mirror

Last week I was debating between these rugs

One person commented that this Overstock rug closest to the left was great.  Another person commented that the rug in the middle, from Overstock, screamed nursery.  Initially, I was going to do a beige/white shag rug. But when I consulted my incredibly fashionable friend, she said she loves geometrics mixed with florals-that I should try to find a rug that matched the blue in a geometric pattern....so that became my mission.  Personally, I love the Restoration Hardware one, but it doesn't come in a small enough size-and let me say now, one HUGE plus of having small rooms, is not having to pay exorbitant prices for rugs!  So, I began my research.  I immediately removed the first Overstock rug from my search because it just did not match the blue.  Then I began looking into the second Overstock rug because it is a lot cheaper, and would work, however, all the reviews said this was more of an indoor/outdoor rug and was not comfortable to walk on.  So that was nixed.  So, I will be the proud owner of THIS Pottery Barn rug-when it arrives, BOO that it's on backorder until mid-November.  

Now, just to refresh your memory, here is my nursery inspiration

   

I have always loved the idea of initials over the  crib.  At first, I was hesitant to commit to it because my room is very small, so not only do I not have much wall space to break up, I also don't want to hide all this beautiful wallpaper!  I was reading my daily blogs when I came across THIS etsy site, and besides not being able to get over their prices, I loved the idea of a real monogram.  At first, I thought I would get a small one like this to rest in the bookcase 

 

but then I decided why not get a larger one and hang it over the crib. So I did. 

I haven't seen the final product, but so far the customer service has been great-they even e-mailed me this picture so I could see if it looked appropriate.  Here is an example of the size I ordered.  I will be spray painting it gold. 

We all know that a creative and cheap quick fix to update any space or piece of furniture is changing the knobs.  At first I thought I would change all the knobs on the dresser and end table, but decided against it, with the help of my friend, because we have a lot going on already. So, I decided I would just change the knob on the end table for another pop of color.  

 

Speaking of the dresser, I decided a few things surrounding this area of the room.  I am going to hang the sconces because I have them from my first nursery and they were always my favorite part of the room.  They're white with crystals-matching, and girlie yet mature, oh, and don't forget  FREE!!!  I will be taking the gold sunburst mirror from my dining room and be hanging it over the dresser.  I never felt like it quite fit in the dining room anyway.  I am loving my new hunt for a dining room mirror.  Home Goods and I are becoming besties. 

I am going to house all of my diapering supplies in a wooden basket.  I just had an aha moment-I don't want wicker, I was looking for more of a wood basket, but couldn't find anything, but it just occurred to me, right now, that I don't want a basket, I want a crate.  Take a look at some of these finds from Etsy

 

I think the look I'm going for is a more natural wood, possibly white and antiqued, but definitely big enough to house all of my essentials-it might make more sense to have two.  

For lighting the room has a ceiling fan with a light. But I have a gorgeous hand crafted lamp that I happened to find at a boutique that matches my bedding exactly.  I initially was going to leave it on the dresser and just add pink mini pom poms, but because  I am going to add the sconces I'm going to move it to the night stand and I will just have to use an extension cord to have it wrap around the entire room...oh well-totally unpractical, but totally worth it.  Here is another picture from the inspiration nursery

For hanging storage I have some hooks that have a crystal knob like thing-a-ma-jig that I'm going to spray paint gold. So there's my crystal tie in!  

What nursery would be complete without the precious newborn pictures, that I have yet to share??? 

I saw this tutorial and I knew it would be perfect, to again, bring out the color in the wallpaper.  Check it out...

 

 In this tutorial, a couple of things made me nervous-chalk paint, and antique wax.  But it looks beautiful.  Then, a few days later, I read this post at www.lovetaza.com

 

She also used chalk paint.  

So I started researching-and then I realized, chalk paint is NOT the same as chalk board paint.  Ah ha....so then I started researching further and came across Annie Sloan You should check out her site, it will make you swoon and want to paint every.piece. of furniture you own!  Luckily there is a store not too far from me that is a retailer of these paints and I plan on taking in a swatch of the wallpaper so they can help me match for the blue so I can paint three frames to house those precious newborn pictures.  I will be following the tutorial I posted above from The Yellow Cape Cod

What's left

Wallpaper 

Bookcase 

Focal wall 

Sheets 

End table 

Crib

I have to wallpaper. And truthfully, I'm dreading it.  I have admitted many a times that I severely lack patience.  Which means I'm prone to rushing and ruining. And I can't afford to ruin THIS wallpaper.  So, I'm going to wait for my gracious father in law to unpack some tools so he can do it!  

I was reading recently on Amy's blog, about how they went to a little shop and the bookcases were lined with beadboard wallpaper.  I thought that sounds like an awesome idea!  The bookcase we have is really plain, cheap and needs some sprucing up.  Again, because there's so much already going on, I figured this was a very subtle and easy way to create another layer of texture.  I bought THIS from Amazon.  I'm debating between spray adhesive or just plain taping it up. 

I have to order a rod for these Ikea curtains I have. People, they're $5 for two panels!!!

 

I'm leaning towards valence rod to go along with my white antiqued look.  

   

Now, I am still keeping that focal wall a secret.  For starters I have to research if I can even do it, and secondly, I just want to keep it a surprise.  

I have to buy regular, pink, sheets.  Nothing fancy.  My husband appreciates that!!! 

I want to follow this tutorial and add some gold to my night stand. 

 

I also have to touch up my crib.  Boy did my boys do a number on that crib! And I guess three moves didn't help it out either.  I ordered my fix-it stick and touch up paint pen, only to have it arrive like this 

   

Broken...

So, a new one is being sent out to me and soon I can tackle that project!  

Those are the major tasks I have left.  I've slowly been purchasing some frames and nick knacks to decorate the bookcase.  

The only thing I really have left to decide is what crib blanket I want. I just haven't found anything I like yet.  

Wow, what a long winded post, but hopefully NEXT time I'll actually have some progress pictures!  

Happy Weekend All!!!