Nursery: Before and After

Because everyone loves a good before and after... Well, after and before.

I would like to let you know that I loved the 'before' nursery. I really did. Also, the 'before' pictures are unedited. My camera skills have improved, and I've learned to appreciate a good edit! It really was a cozy space that I loved to be in with my middle son. Here is the original post about the before nursery.

After:

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After:

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After:

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Why am I nostalgic for Classic Pooh all of a sudden?!

I refinished this $20 craigslist dresser and sold it (through craigslist) for $120. Go check out the black beauty here!

To see more of the current nursery, just look for 'nursery' in my labels.

     

Be inspired!

A Visit to Amana

While my husband is up to his elbows in dust from refinishing our floors, the boys and I are enjoying the week at Grandma's house. Which reminded me that I never posted about our trip to the Amana Colonies when Grandma & Grandpa visited us about six weeks ago.

The Amana Colonies were originally settled in 1855 and remained self-sustaining until the 1930s. 

The Colonies are primarily a tourist destination now, known for their wine, cheese, baskets, candy, toys, antiques and other specialty shops.

Enjoy the tour!

Can I make one of these benches?

And I'll take this hutch, thanks!

Love that trunk!

Have a nice day!

Wordless Wednesday: Hoarders Application

Tuesday Tip

Picnik is your friend!

No, this isn't another post about my nursery. It just happens to be a picture of the nursery used for this post. 

MUCH different!

I have a little point-and-shoot camera that does a great job, but its abilities are limited. Enter picnik.com. 

Here is the after: I played with the exposure and the color balance and added my blog name. 

Is it perfect? No. Does it work for me? Yes. Do I still have a lot to learn? You bet! 

Perhaps you'll appreciate the 'after' more once you've seen the 'before'. 

Dark and greenish... Bleh! 

Here's another example. First the edited version:

Before:

I simply used the 'autofix' feature, then blurred the fleck of dirt on my son's nose. Once again, not perfect, but it makes a good shot a great one.

If you're looking for a free, easy-to-use photo editing program, give picnik.com a try. If you want to pay a little, picnik has great options there too. Enjoy!

Inspiration Files: Boys' Rooms

We tore our house apart today. 
At least it seems like it.

Source: plotos.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

The boys and I are headed to my mother-in-law's house for at least a week. Meanwhile back at home, my husband is refinishing the hardwood floors in the three bedrooms and the hall. They're pretty gross and it should have been done before we moved in three years ago (almost exactly!) but there was no time or budget then. 

Source: bhg.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I'd love to stay and help, but the amount of help I'd be is negated by the "HELP" our three boys would be. Ya know? So we're effectively getting out of the way. I'm so excited to come home to clean, shiny floors. I have BEFORE pictures, but for now I'd like to segue into boys' rooms.

Source: sidebysideblog.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Cuz see, nothing's ever simple around here, right?

Source: shabbynest.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Our house is a classic 3-bedroom, 1-bath ranch built in the mid '60s. There is no real master bedroom, just one room that's slightly larger and has a bigger closet. The bathroom is at the other end of the hall and we seem to wake the boys up when one of us is in the shower in the mornings. Their room is a little smaller and colder in the winter. Our room is a little bigger and in a couple years it will still be big enough to hold all THREE boys and their stuff. 

Source: theyellowcapecod.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

So... we're switching.

Source: potterybarnkids.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

I just painted the boys' room last spring! I'll be painting right over it! And I'll be painting our room to get it more boyish. I have so. much. to. do!!!

Source: homebyheidi.blogspot.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

In the meanwhile, I'll be browsing blogs and pinterest and BHG, etc. for inspiration. Cuz yeah, I liked the boys' new paint job... but I didn't love it. So here are some pretty pictures for your Monday and for me to think about for a week until we get home and I can start painting! 


Hey, at least their stuff won't be in the room!