A Seven year old Room

Within the blink of an eye, your baby is SEVEN! It incomprehensible , but somehow so very true!

Not only is she 7, she is also growing up. Watching and observing. Asking and listening. Maturing and changing. Somewhere, along the way I realised that Stella needed a space of her own (she used to share with Lacey , 5) and a space that was a little more on the 'grown up' side. 

Don't get me wrong, I still look at her as a little girl. She has so many years ahead of her to be a 'tween' or 'teen' but for now, seven is still young. Still pretty and girly  and still a time for playing and being a kid. Well that's my opinion anyway.

Stella still asks me to pick her clothes for the day ( I am holding onto this for as long as possible), she still likes to play with her siblings, she still likes to play with Hilda her bunny in a role play Mummy situation and she still likes a soft cuddle toy at night. Hallelujah! 

When we decided to give Stella her own space ( and me stop working from home) , she moved into the smallest  and oddest shaped room in the house. Regardless, she was stoked!!  A space to call her own. And a space to kick her siblings out of when she was sick of them! We wanted something pretty but inspiring, a little area for her to write and draw (her favourite things to do) and some storage and display for her 'precious items'. All while being rental friendly! 

Now, seeing as though we live in the desert ( Ok, not quite the desert but it sure can feel like it at times!) we only have one shop, being Kmart. Its a pretty good shop to have at the moment, as they are busting out some awesome homewares but it still makes of limited shopping, especially when you are looking for something in particular. So sourcing bits and pieces we wanted for her room was the not the easiest task. 

Plus budget. Always back to the budget! We are a single income family (or were until this week when I returned to work) and therefore everything needs to be budget friendly.

I can't say I have ever set out to decorate a room. I have never said - Right Liz, lets make over this room from top to bottom. And gone out and bought everything that I have needed/wanted. Our budget has never allowed it. Our rooms have just evolved over time. 

Stella's room

I think with any bedroom space, whether it be for a child or adult, its nice to have some different bedding options. By simply changing your quilt cover or throw cushions with each linen change, you are essentially creating a new look and giving the room a fresh feel. Stella has the above quilt cover and also a reversible Coverlet which we change up every time I change her sheets. This gives her 3 different looks for her room. 

Cute love heart battery operated lights (bought on sale after Valentines Day from Woolworths for $5) add some fun and a soft glow when she is having trouble getting to sleep at night.

An older photo before we sourced new drawers and painted them . 

I had the floor mat made by a local lady who used fabric I had in storage . I love that it is machine washable - a must while living in the Pilbara.

The bookcase was given to us by a friend , Stella stores all her precious and keepsake items in it, as well as her books and craft supplies. 

Her desk area is a funny little alcove in her room and the desk is repurposed from my old work area.  It fits perfectly into the space and a lot of gorgeous drawings have been produced here. 

Bits and pieces and 'pretties' are a must for any girls room!! Free printables I found on Pinterest stuck on the wall with washi tape, brighten the space nicely.

A room is never complete without a wall collage! 

The watermelon print Stella drew and painted herself and the Ice-cream print is just scrapbooking paper with a sticker of an ice-cream added. Wall art doesn't have to be expensive!
The Live the Life print is actually the front of a Typo notebook that I cut off and framed.

There you have a look inside of Stella's girly space. She loves pictures and colours, watermelons and crafting. She likes to leave her shoes on the floor and is a bower bird for anything shiny she can find. Typical 7 year old really ;)

And because I know the questions and emails will come, details of pieces in her room; 

The quilt cover was bought for $20 on sale at the Adairs Outlet store. Its reversible as well.

Her newer drawers were bought for $20 off our local Facebook Buy and Sell site and I sanded, painted and added glass knobs to them. She just needed a few more drawers for things like knickers, socks, bathers etc. 

Stella name banner- Pretty Paper Label 

Pillowcases - Adairs and Cotton On Kids

Watermelon cushion - Cotton On Kids 

Face cushion - Adairs on sale for $15

Love Canvas- Adairs for $9

S letter- made with letter from Spotlight and scrap booking paper

Your are My Sunshine Hoop- Ollie Rose

Coverlet- Gifted to us by a friend but from Kmart a while ago

If there is anything else you would like to know please feel free to ask!

And despite Stella loving her own space, she also loves the other kids visiting her, and they love hanging out in there too!! Angus can always be found laying on her bed , watching her draw or taking her a book to read to him! 

Keeping it Real

So, I know I said that I had a great day on Monday, but today I had one of "THOSE" days. Yep, I was looking forward to 6:30pm alright, bedtime for kiddies!

Even though we had a wonderful morning catching up with one of my good friends, talking and the kids playing, the school drop off and pick up run , were horrendous!!

They have quickly become the most dreaded parts of my day. Why oh why does my precious girl have to go to school anyway? Max and Lacey just want to stay, I mean why wouldn't they? They are 2 next month and have most certainly hit a hard age. Strong willed and disobedient when we are walking, crossing the road, everything. And today I had to wake them from their day sleep, and Max is not well. He has an ear infection and the start of Tonsilitis , according to the doctor when we went yesterday. Grumpy kids, a fair walk to the Kindy area and it made for a difficult trip. Thankfully, a lovely parent and good samaritan came to my rescue when Max wanted to be carried ( he is dizzy and sad from being sick) and Lacey decided she wanted to walk in the opposite direction , head for the road and cling to a pole for dear life and not listen. Hmpf, you just can't push a pram and carry 2 toddlers at the same time, unfortunately!! BUT... we made it! Tomorrow is a new day (and a daycare one!) and I keep telling myself that it will get better! It will, and it is! And...... then the terrible 2's set in! Oh dear!

Seeing as though I have just had a whinge, and in the spirit of keeping it real, I want to share something with you. Now... you don't get much realer than this!

Our master bedroom is a mess. Like stuff everywhere!! Over the years it has evolved somewhat. Before kids and even when Stella was a wee baby, it was gorgeous. Had a chaise lounge under the window, no clutter and "STUFF". Now days, it seems to be a dumping ground for anything and everything we need to keep safe from little sticky, grubby hands or things that need a home.

It really is the only room in the house that is semi safe from the rath of Max and Lacey. Well that was until they learnt to open door handles, and now they just know its a no-go zone! Still, we need to do something! Our room is now also my scrapbooking room. Believe it or not, I sit on the floor, lean on a large wooden chopping board and spread everything out. It works, but its not exactly the most comfortable of things to do and I later wonder why my bach aches? Der . And the more I go to scrapbooking, the more the spell is cast on me and the more equipment I have. Where does it all live?

In the Master Bedroom of course!

I don't necessarily thing it is a bad thing, because our bedroom is the largest one in our home, and all we do there is sleep, so I feel I should be making the most of the space and using it to its full capacity, but there are some changes that need to be made! Definately!

Here is the proof! Argh, the shame!

And I did NOT touch a thing before I took these, as hard as it was, I am keeping it real!

Boxes full of goodies that need to be sold at a Garage sale, we are planning for next weekend, seriously nowhere else to put it!

                                      The scrapbooking Storage Expedit unit is overflowing!!

Presents bought for Easter and kids birthdays next month , and they haven't moved since coming home. Lazy Liz!

So.. the plan? A makeover of course!! Not the usual type of makeover, this one is on a budget! A shoestring budget! The start of this year has really kicked our bum on the bank balance front, so I don't have alot of money to play with. No stress, thats half the fun of the challenge!!

Now I need ;

Somewhere to sit and scrapbook, and maybe be able to leave a project half done ,

 and be able to return to it.

A more streamlined and classy look, not so much "Stuff' everywhere

Better storage

And an overall new, improved and stunning room, thats useful too!

Big Beds

After sharing a pic of Angus' room, I received a few requests for an updated post on Max and Lacey's room.

Well a few weeks before Christmas, we decided to try them out in Big beds.The decision was that spontaneous we had to go out and buy Mattresses and linen that very same day!!

Luckily we had already purchased their beds in an End of Financial Year Sale earlier on in the year ( at EOFYS time of course!) 

EEEeeeeeek.Were we crazy? Hmmm yes!!

However a few days after Christmas we went on our annual family holiday to Horrocks and didn't want to cart 2 portacots there, and instead use the 2 sets of bunks in the 2nd bedroom for the 3 big kids (and Angus slept in his bassinet attachment on the pram).

The transfer was actually very successful and they both loved being in "Big peoples beds" and the first sleep (during the day) was perfect. The nights followed suit and it seemed like we had got out of the situation Scott free! Hmmm until we went to Horrocks and they began to play up. One night Lacey was so tired, her eyes were red and her head was hanging and she still continued to come out to us, over 40 times! Seriously!!

God know where these kids get their stubborn and determined genes from! haha I wonder?!

Anyway, a few nights of tough love, a hard bed time hour for us, but we are now back on track! Phew!

So , here is how we succesfully manage 2 littlies in the same bedroom and a small one at that, despite the Boy/Girl combo. I am not 100% happy with their room, but as with Angus' , its a work in progress and I am slowly changing things to make them work!

Their room is just down the hall from Stella's at the end of the house , so we have just had an Aircon installed as it was stifling hot in there!

The pink Birdie thing is another gorgeous clip holder and they love their Wheely Bugs!

The day we moved the cots out and the beds in!! Such excitement!

Sleeping beauties!! Their first day time sleep!

And their rooms now. I purchased the quilts at Spotlight just last week, they were 40% off, such a bargain!

I have been on the prowl for matching bed linen for them. I love polka dots, and wanted a pale blue spot and pale pink, do you think I could find some? No, so I had to make do for now!

The bookshelf in the middle holds all their precious things up high, books and the white basket is for Lacey's things and the white tin on the bottom is for Max's.

                                     A small collage for Max's prints, and hanging mobile above his bed
(The canvas was $5 at Cotton on Kids, the Owl frame was given to him for his 1st birthday, the "I love you" print was created by a clever friend and the truck was purchased at a local baby boutique sale for $5. In total it was inexpensive and yet very effective!

And Lacey's above hers (her hanging Babushka thing was broken in a "jump on the bed and grab at it" attack!!
Lacey's canvas is from Cotton On Kids aswell, the "I Love You" print by my beautiful friend, the bird picture  was a free artwork found on the internet I just printed and the Verse print was a gift for her birthday also, and its a beautiful poem about twins!

This was a small space we also use for storage with a small Expedit from Ikea. The baskets hold spare blankets, toys, and Clothes that are too big.
The hooks are great for hanging bits and pieces and the baskets hanging hold their hats. I like to have them easy to access as we use them on a daily basis ( and Max wears one day and night , seriously, he wears them to bed!!)

You can also see in the bottom corner a toy bag, they have one each at the end of their bed and at the moment they house their new Christmas gifts. I often find them sitting quietly on the floor playing!

Its a small room, but we make it work, and they love being with each other (while they sleep !!) but that doesnt mean that its ideal!!

Under their beds we have storage tubs for the clothes in the next size up, and also a basket each for their precious toys. We think its important, even though they all have a communal toy room and toys, that each child still has their own precious toys that they don't have to share!

As I said its a work in progress  but its their little abode, and I promise the house tour is coming, to those who have asked, I haven't forgotten!

Do your kids share a room?

Any tips on making it work?

Angus' Room

As promised, a peak inside our little mans little room, not quite finished but always a work in progress!

 

All items and furniture were repurposed or already in the nursery and we borrowed a cradle from a dear friend, as the twins were still in the cots.

We have nearly completed a photo wall and have now got some free art printed so they are still to come!

So far, I am really please with the space we have created for our Angus Frankie, very serene . 

a room fit for a princess

Stella's room has been one of those ever evolving projects, to which I am always adding to, taking away, and trying to make it just "right".

We have had a rather large milestone occur in the past few days (and nights more like it) where her side gard rail has been taken away, Goodbye!!
At first the idea was prompted by me, to which she said yes, then later on in the night wanted it back up, however the next night , she was definate, "no cot, a big girl bed!!"  So in less than 12 months , she has basically toilet trained herself, and gone into a big girl bed (both at 18months) and now really IS a big girl, and she couldn't be happier and we couldn't be prouder!! Not that there is a competition with milestones and kids, however , it is a happy thought knowing other kids her age are still in nappies full time, let alone being nappy free , day AND night!!
Ok, enough of the braggin ( a mothers right of course!!) and onto her room.
She went for a trip out to my sisters farm last night with my parents, a spontaneous decision by her grandparents but one she just loved ( and was exhausted so much so she slept in !! shock horror!!)
So, I had a bit of spare time on my hands, twins are a down sight easier without a toddler aswell!
And this is what I created, a gorgeous bunting for her room. I have wanted to make one for ages and never got around to it, and now I love it!! Simply made with ribbon, not binding, and cut around the edge with pinking shears (mine are from Ikea) . I am thinking of making some for the next Baby and Kids market, think they'll be a hit!!

We also cleaned out her cupboard and drawers (boy does she grow out of clothes fast!!) and I found this;

A gorgeous princess curtain hoop, and just for now , we attached it to the ceiling with a plastic stick on hook , and its doing the job so far, but now we know she loves it, cos she could have quite easily have hated it too!, we will hang it by a proper hook.
These are a few of my other favourite things in her room;

 

Motivational cards for kids, I read them to her when she gets dressed in the morning!!


 

Drawers full of goodies, handpainted and bought for a song, but needs a makeover!!





And not forgetting the clip holder she got for her birthday from her Aunty Kristy at Bread N Butter Factory, very full now, but this was Kristy's first protype and we feel privaledge to be the owners!! Check out my sisters new gorgeous blog HERE.

This is the footstool/ seat that I recovered and painted yesterday, I have another to do , so will post pics of the process, I purchased these of the Buy and Sell facebook sight for $5 for a pair!! We sit on it each night and read books before lights out.

And this piece of gorgeous artwork from Ollie Rose needs to be hung;

Here;

So there you have it, a room fit for a princess, and ever growing with her precious soul!  Lots of other ideas , but its all a matter of time.

I have just the twins home today, so hoping to achieve a few things, however , I don't like my chances, that cough I was talking about, well its actually Bronchiolitis, and both babies have it. I took them up to After hours care at the hospital Saturday night, and we narrowly escaped a hospital stay, but they do seem to be getting better. Poor little poppets!! I hate winter, bring on Summer! (famous last words!!)

Colour me happy!

I have been playing with a bit of colour in my house lately, which is rather different for me, as I have a very WHITE house, with accents of beige, tan and chocolate, oh how interesting!! NOT!! I am yet to understand as to why this was the case, when I am such a colour lover, I think its because I like them all so much, sticking to a few , and choosing them, is too hard!!
Anyhooos, today Stella went with her grandparents for the better half of the day, which left me a little time to organise a little. A little being the operative word. I did however discover that having twins , with no toddler aswell, is a damn sight easier, and when you do actually get them to sleep at the same time, even if its just for 20 mins, then its just you, and that piping hot cup of tea, this NEVER happens with a 2 year old around!! So , note to self, in my next life, twins first up please!!
I have been keeping a few of Max's formula tins for a rainy day, they just seem so handy, and didn't want to chuch them out, so here is what I created today, just to hold a few bits and bobs in my sewing/craft room.
The before;

Just wish the lids were white , might have to spray paint them!

And after, too easy, just wrap some funky scrapbooking paper or material around them, and use double sided tape to secure or I use some spray adhesive! Voila, trendy tins for storage!

Let me know if anyone would like me to save some for them, I am going to have a lot soon, the rate that Master Max drinks his milk, its the good stuff alright, but if anyone is familiar with Neocate, it smells and tastes FOUL!!

And last but not least, my new bed quilt.
Isn't she lovely!! Isn't she wonderful! Oh my, I LOVE HER!!

A gorgeous friend from school is in America at the moment and after a whinging Facebook status how I wished I was in America (as everything is so accessable, cheaper and lovlier, and the freight to Oz is HUGE!) she asked if there was anything she could get for me, well as a matter of fact , there was!! This amazing quilt from Anthrapologie. THE most devine store all throughout the US, and it just so happened she was going to New York and said she would check it out for me!! With her buying it and shipping it back to me, it was still cheaper than purchasing it online and getting it sent home, much MUCH cheaper!!AND... its made of multiple layers of Indian cotton, very similar to muslin, so it is uber warm, and uber soft AND even with it being a little bit , a lot  pricey, my DH loves it too! Even better!
With a few cushions to finish, from our trusty local Target, it looks amazing, if I do say so myself!! So thanks a bunch Sam, your vegemite will be on its way soon! haha
Anyway, don't forget to enter my giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on one of my last posts, and you will go in the draw to win your choice of 3 burp cloths, and if you recommend a friend, get them to write your name with their comment and you get an extra entry. The comp will run until next Tuesday! Happy commenting!