Migonis Home

Trimmed and Bleached

2013-05-21T05:00:00.000-04:00

Did you think I meant my hair when you saw the title? Did you think I'd have a bleach blonde bob? Nope, nothing quite that exciting.

Although, looking at these before photos of our crab apple tree and the horrible algae on the front of our house and now seeing that it is so much cleaner that may be better than a haircut! I removed the algae with some bleach and water and a scrubby sponge... it was that simple!

So glad you popped in for the second day of One Picture Week!

It's like Ice-Cream...

2013-05-20T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today marks the start of... drum roll, please...

I've decided to do short, manageable blog posts this week to encourage myself not to spend as much time in front of the computer and more time tackling the projects I want to do. 90% of the projects I blog about are done during nap time or when AJ give me a project break so I need manageable little little projects especially now that nap time doesn't mean I necessarily have 2-3 hours to myself anymore...

Drew started our family on a Greek yogurt kick and I started brainstorming delicious ways to improve the bland (and somewhat icky) taste of the plain Greek yogurt. Do you know the sugar content of plain versus the vanilla flavor is about 5g vs. 26g (depending on the brand)? It's ridiculous. Here is what I came up with... and yes, I do realize there is sugar in the chocolate chips but I don't put tons in. :)

We use either whole or low-fat Cabot Greek yogurt, Sunbelt All-Natural Granola and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Try it, trust me, you won't be disappointed.

We are Insulated!

2013-05-17T15:02:00.003-04:00

AJ found out about a program called MassSave where you can get an energy assessment done to your home and then recommendations will be made to make your home more efficient. Half of our house was obviously very inefficient with windows where you can literally feel the breeze on cold nights and no insulation. After having nearly every light bulb in the house replaced by energy efficient ones, for free, we got an estimate for the cost to insulate the living room, Drew and Elle's room and the attic. It wasn't bad considering we only needed to pay for 25% of the cost of the job... the rest was covered by the MassSave program.

We decided to get the insulation blown in before replacing the drywall because we didn't know when we would have the time to completely redo the rooms and we didn't want to face another winter without insulation. So, for $600 all of those spaces are now insulated and we will drywall over the existing walls and make it even more insulated!

I make it sound like it's an easy process that went off without a hitch... no... we had a little glitch:

See the tear in the wallpaper?

The kids had just fallen asleep so I let myself sit down on the couch and I was going to see if Friends was on when all of a sudden I hear this loud burst above my head and gray insulation started coming into the living room like a fire hose was spraying it. You know those moments when you are just in shock and you have no idea what to do? That was me. I ran towards the kitchen to try to find some cardboard in the recycling to plug the hole. Then I doubted myself and ran back into the living room (I have no idea why) and then I ran back to the kitchen and found an old piece of cardboard from a pizza friends brought us a few nights previously. So I put that grease stained piece of cardboard over where the insulation was fiercly coming through the wall and then instantly the insulation was diverted down below so no matter where I moved the box insulation got around it. I probably should have been more serious about the situation but I couldn't stop laughing. Gray insulation was probably two inches thick on the back of the couch and it was quickly covering the rest of the room. Once I realized I couldn't do anything about the situation I sprinted out the side yard and screamed at the crew leader "the insulation is coming in the house!!!" and immediately the hose was turned off and he came in to see the damage.

I wish I had a picture for you and I debated many times taking one but the crew leader was pretty upset and I didn't want him to fear that I was going to report him. AJ was out for a run and he didn't even get to see the mess before the crew tackled the living room with their shop vac. It was one of the funniest moments of my life to see that insulation flying in and trying to stop it with the pizza box and having the gray matter just flying everywhere around me... it was like a scene out of a movie.

All that to say... our house is insulated and check out programs in your area for energy efficiency studies! :)

Starting on Monday join me for:

more details then. :)

...

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Drew, Elle and I went to Endicott Park in Danvers with my mom yesterday because Drew wanted to see a pig... I captured a couple fun shots.

looking at the sheep and horses

giving my Mom and me a "toe wave"

taken on the grounds of Glen Magna Farms

at dinner last night at the Lobster Pool in Rockport...

what would you do?

2013-05-16T08:25:00.001-04:00

AJ came home from some errands on Saturday and walked in the door with this chair and said "Happy Mother's Day!". He knows the way to my heart is though chairs... even if they are stained and mildewed. :)

While riding home from a house showing in Essex he passed the White Elephant outlet, one of our favorite haunts, and got their chair in the Buck Hut for, you guessed it, a buck.

There she is in all of her stained glory in our kitchen!

Now, here is my question for you, because it's been so fun to hear your opinions on what you would do with our bathroom valance and various painting projects... What kind of fabric would you choose? (None of the ones below are in the running, I think they are all discontinued but I was looking at the colors and designs.) What color would you choose for our kitchen space? A pink, a blue, a yellow, a gray? And would you choose a solid or a pattern?

While I was taking one of these photos Drew crawled under the table and told me he was napping... and wanted Sissy (Elle) and me to nap with him. :) It was a little hard for me to grab a photo while under the table with them. :)

Hope you have a great day whether you are playing under a table with your kids or going to see a pig at a park (we are just about to leave to go do this :)) or spending time at the office!

Zucchini Bread

2013-05-14T20:53:00.001-04:00

I've had a few people ask me for the zucchini bread recipe that I declared as fabulous and detrimental to weight loss yesterday. It was an easy recipe... unless you are trying to make it while your son is sleeping and you need to use the food processor. And then you may need to grate your zucchini in the basement on the dryer far away from sleeping children. :)

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3 eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

2 1/4 cups white sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups grated zucchini

Directions

Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Recipe from here.

Enjoy! :)

Magnolias Blooming tablescape

2013-05-13T10:55:00.000-04:00

We invited my family over for a Mother's Day dinner yesterday. Let me show you the tablescape I didn't spend a dime on (except some new white cloth napkins from Target that we'll use on a regular basis). What do you think of the magnolia blooms?

There is a spot that I drive by every day where three houses used to sit and recently were either torn down or moved thanks to some soil contamination... but on one of those lots sits this incredible magnolia tree. It's huge and majestic and the kind I would love to have on my property.

Every time I drove by it I thought about how I wanted those magnolia blooms on my table... and then I realized I had the perfect opportunity to dress up a table with them: Mother's Day!

I went on Saturday and snipped a bunch off and by Sunday morning I had petals all over my set table.

Try two... I went out again an hour before my family came over and the flowers are still holding up beautifully this morning!

I made these little tags for everyone with a quote about a mother on them, only it was far easier to read them on the computer screen than when they were printed out. It was funny to watch everyone squinting to read their quotes. :)

I made this dynamite new recipe for zucchini bread. It's horrible to have around the house when you are trying to lose baby weight.

Here is the buffet filled with our feast...

Mango Curry Chicken (with an Archer Farms marinade I got at Target... yum)

Corn on the Cob

Salad that Kim made

Zucchini Bread

and then flowers for my mom at the end of the buffet.

This is also terrible to have when trying to lose weight. It's my favorite cake ever. EVER. Here is the super easy recipe. My dad made a German Chocolate frosting (my mom's fave) to top it with.

I didn't want the temptation of eating it so I sent the rest of the cake to school with AJ this morning to put in the teacher's room. By 10am I had an email that said the cake was gone. :)

Here is my mom and Elle (who is making the weirdest face but I couldn't get a good one of both her and my mom).

Elle in her outfit to match the invitation.

Yep, ridiculous, I know. :)

When my family arrived I had Elle in her little party dress and then promptly changed her after doing a mini photo session.

Drew knows a good playmate when he sees one. :)

The window sill probably had 20 cars lined up on it.

Speaking of lined up, this boy likes his cars precise.

Did anyone else do something fun or relaxing this weekend?

How do you do it?

2013-05-10T08:31:00.003-04:00

Warning: This post is long. Good thing you have all weekend to read it. :)

I realize parenting strategies differ for each family but I think that many of these tips could be useful for almost any family, or at least could be adapted for your family. Hope this helps!

One of the best things I did (at the encouragement of AJ) was to have a set time every single day that Drew went down for a nap; around the time Drew was around six - eight months we implemented this. I wasn't doing it before because I thought it would tie us down too much. But, having the regularly scheduled nap has been so good for him and me. He knows what to expect every day and I know he regularly needs between an hour and half to three hours of sleep a day.

I also know that, like his mother, he will be whiny and crazy and horrible to be around if he hasn't eaten regularly. Remember this Pinterest pin, it's real life around the Migonis household and my mom can tell you that it was like that raising me as well. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree with Drew. If we want a successful day I need to plan on snacks around 10am and right after he wakes up from his nap. I have literally had to put the food in his mouth if he was too worked up to do it himself.

via

I am antsy if I don't have a plan for the day, adult conversation or a project I'm working on. I was just telling AJ yesterday that since having two my to-do list has been reduced to one item. He looked at me with shocked eyes and I self corrected... if I get one item, the highest priority, done on my to-do list that day it'll feel successful. Why? Because right away at the beginning of the day I have decided not to work on projects while the kids are awake, unless I am able to do it while still interacting with them (like putting clothes away in Drew's room) or while Elle is sleeping / Drew is playing games on the iPad.

Wednesdays are the day in town when the compost / dump is open. I wanted to clean out an area of the yard that I knew was stressing AJ out and that he felt like he couldn't tackle with the million other things he was trying to do. So, while Elle was sleeping in her swing right inside the door Drew played in the backyard and "helped" me while I loaded up the truck. That was the only item I "needed" done that day so once that was done I could relax.

You all know AJ is a big runner. And I know, having been married to him that he needs to run daily. It's his stress relief. It's when he processes. It is in every one's best interest if AJ runs. He'll be a better husband and father because he's happier and more relaxed. And he'll let me do the same to have some time to decompress.

We went out to dinner the other night, just the two of us, and talked about how it's hard to get things done with two kids. I think the key is to find out, especially on weekends, what your spouse deems as important to get done while you can count on each other to help out with the kids... then try to help each other meet those goals.

Baby needs to eat every 2-3 hours. Plan on it. I feed Elle right before leaving the house, if at all possible, to give us the maximum errand running time. Generally this will make her sleepy and make errand running a little easier as well. Sometimes I forget and plan poorly and it makes all three of our lives miserable.

I am carrying a mammoth diaper bag now with extra outfits, diapers for both of them, wipes, toys and snacks. The other day I didn't plan well and just had my little bag that I carry for one errand... big mistake and Elle had to leave a friend's house in a shirt that was size 3T after I was changing her diaper and she went while I was in the middle of changing her... soaking my friend's changing table and Elle's whole outfit. Or, I'm thinking of church two Sunday's ago when she dirtied her new diaper before we even left the bathroom... and we left the bathroom with a diaper that was dirtier than the one we'd come in to take off of her. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Who wants to be at the grocery store during prime shopping time? Now, who wants to be at the grocery store with two kids under 2.5 during that time? Not me and I'm pretty sure no one else around me wants us there either. We aim to be at Market Basket before 9am on Tuesday morning. Does it sound strange to have it scheduled like this? It is far easier to shop in a somewhat empty store, and get out quickly, this way.

We even have a system for getting out of the car. I usually park next to the shopping cart corral and then get Elle out in her car seat and then go around to Drew. If he's walking next to me I don't want him running around the parking lot while I get Elle loaded into the cart.

Lastly, don't try to fit too many errands into one period of time. I've learned this the hard way. Hungry, exhausted kids and a frustrated parent aren't a good combo.

I'm trying to make sure both Drew and Elle have time to simply be held or played with or read to... when I'm not focused on preparing dinner or unloading the dishwasher or grocery shopping. Both of them are so much happier with my undivided attention and when I need to have a divided focus it makes it a lot easier because I've given undivided time already (generally Drew and I eat breakfast together before Elle is up so we start the day on a good note).

I worried nursing would be horrible with Drew because he loves my undivided attention and he really doesn't watch TV.... so we've made it a time where we'll read books or he'll play with his cars right on the coffee table while I'm sitting on the couch.

Is it strange that I was so worried about how things would be when AJ went back to work but it was the day he returned to work when things got better? I should have known... my son thrives on routine. I think he likes the schedule and security. He likes knowing what to expect. After two weeks of fun and visitors things returned to as normal as Drew had known them (with the addition of a baby girl in the house!). He is like me and change, with large life events, isn't his strong suit. We did breakfast together with just the two of us that day and showered and got ready before she woke up (I had done a 5 am feeding that day). Once Elle was awake I fed her and decided to tackle my fear of running an errand with two kids. We went to Target for one thing and then went home for lunch and a nap.... A morning very similar to pre- Elle mornings. I needed to show Drew that some things have stayed the same... and I may have kept a routine for my own sanity as well. :)

The chance to begin again. If your day starts rough, as mine did yesterday, picture yourself starting it over. I took a second yesterday and prayed that God would give me grace with Drew (nothing i was doing was making him happy it seemed). Somehow this gives me a fresh outlook and I'm able to just realize some days we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed.
Remember when I mentioned AJ called that one morning and I burst into tears? I needed to "begin again" on that day and try to forget the rest of the morning happened and then start fresh.

...

Yesterday and today's posts are not to say that its been a breeze, it hasn't... I just wanted to give people hope that it could be okay... And maybe better than you expected. :) What are your tips for succeeding with two plus kids?

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!!!

Thoughts on Two Kids: How You Doin'?

2013-05-09T13:55:00.002-04:00

So many people have asked me how I'm doing with two kids. I was incredibly nervous thinking about what it would be like once AJ returned to school after paternity leave was over (he had a week leave and then school vacation was conveniently the next week).

Maybe this sounds terrible, but I like this stage better than having Drew by himself. And it's not because there was anything wrong with Drew, not at all. I love the way the dynamics have changed (although I would gladly take a few less kicks and hits from Drew acting out because of all the recent changes). I like the multi-tasking part of having two kids. I like it that it's more challenging and I have to figure out how to divide myself between the two while trying to still make the other child feel wanted and important. And maybe, even, I feel more like I'm back in my event planning days where things have to be scheduled and really planned out in advance; for the planner in me this is fun and challenging to figure out how to make the days work for our family and to have the three of us not only come out alive but feel good at the end of the day. (And honestly, some days we do just end the day barely alive. :))

I feel like I don't have much time to just sit and think (other than nursing in the middle of the night and oddly enough, I don't think my best thinking is done after only three hours of sleep. :)). Monday was gorgeous out. It was the kind of day dreams are made of (aka: the kind of day California has 360 days a year) and I decided to sit outside in the sun with Elle wrapped in a blanket. And that's all I did for 20 or so minutes. I didn't bring a book or the iPad. AJ wasn't home from school yet and Drew was napping. It was quiet and I was just struck by how fortunate I am to be right where I am now. My friend Val (she set AJ and me up on that fateful blind date) starts off one of her classes each year at Gordon asking her students if they could be anywhere at that moment where would they choose to be. If it's an 8am class frequently they will say back in bed. :) But at that moment in time, as I was sitting outside with my little nine pounder I was struck by how I didn't want to be anywhere else. I don't think I'd ever say "I was created to be a mother." or at least not solely to be a mother... but I do know that I was created to raise these two kids and that I'm thrilled to be doing it. ... and that's saying a lot because I felt like I was going through the quarter-life crisis (as John Mayer aptly described it) when I had Drew. I feel more at peace and full of joy than I have probably any other time in my adult life right now.

\
I had two years to get to know Drew and to figure out how he operated before being given another child that I had to completely demystify. There are definitely days that are challenging (like last week when AJ called in the middle of the morning to find out how I was doing and I burst into tears and basically couldn't stop) but for the most part we've figured out what works for us. I'll elaborate tomorrow on specifics and how we "get so much done" (I've had a bunch of people ask me about that!). Below is a hint on how we keep moving forward. :)

Please don't be hard on yourself if this is completely the opposite experience you have had or are having with the transition to having a child. This is only my experience. If there is anything having children has taught me it's that I judged parents far too much before experiencing it myself. Trust me, I know no two parents experience things the same way. If you are having a hard time, I get it. That's how I felt with Drew. The learning curve was so incredibly high and I felt clueless pretty much 90% of the time. :)

White and Bright

2013-05-08T05:00:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Part Two of Transforming the Living Room... at least this end of it. Take note of the cabinet color in this photo...

Do you notice the slight difference in this photo below (besides the different flowers)? I painted the cabinet white. It's no longer Silver Sage (by Restoration Hardware). I like the white so much better because it pulls out the white in the curtains. It's so much more noticeable in person.

The walls won't be this color forever since the drywall and wallpaper need to be replaced so I'm trying to make decisions based off what we think we will choose for the walls (possibly a slightly darker grasscloth wallpaper with a chair rail).

I went out to our forsythia bushes, where the flowers are PLENTIFUL right now, and snipped a few branches. The cabinet is short so I love a nice full, and tall, arrangement in that space.

We had some wonderful people from church over the other night, they brought us an amazing dinner and these cheery tulips.

Next on my agenda... pick out a paint color for the table! It has been fun reading your suggestions from the post last week, thank you! :)

Family of Four photos

2013-05-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

When Drew was born we had his newborn photos taken by my friend Morgan from Petite Pixel Photography. I've loved those photos and we have my favorite one on the mantle in our bedroom and Drew loves to see himself up there as a baby. I was so excited to have Elle's photos done and we made sure to get some family of four photos to add to the mix as well...

Look at Drew's little impish smile. :)

Nevermind AJ's ripped jeans. We realized too late that Meredith, his sister, accidentally brought home his good pair after Elle was born. Not sure why we didn't just decide to have him wear khakis or something. Maybe we can use the excuse that we are exhausted parents? I feel like I'm using that excuse a lot lately. :)

Drew has been pretty unsure of holding Sissy (that's what he calls her, and because of that, what AJ and I usually call her ;)). This is as close as he'd let her near him...

Drew's outfit sources: Shirt: hand me down | Seersucker pants: Target (his Easter pants) | Navy sneakers: Old Navy

It was hard to make Elle comfortable for the photos so after playing around to get good shots for a while Morgan had the great idea to have me hold Elle while sitting in this chair but to have the blanket over my body so that you couldn't even see me.

If you ever need a diaper cover for a photo shoot use one of the little pairs of undies that come with the cute dresses, most of the pairs at Carter's have these.

Here is my girly girl (watch her become a total tomboy after all the pink I'm putting her in now).

Tutu from Target... it cost me a whopping $1.80. :)

Faux Sheepskin Rug: Overstock.com

The necklace Elle is wearing was a gift from AJ. It was his grandmother's. I love the little brooch on the side of the pearls and wanted to get a photo of Elle wearing them.

I have always wanted a girl... and one of the most shallow reasons is because of all the fabulous poofy dresses I can put her in while she has no say to tell me no. I know this won't last forever, but I am pretty darn excited for mother / daughter shopping trips even if no fabulous dresses are involved. I'm sorry, AJ, but yes, we will be spoiling her. Not rotten, just a little. Just so she can keep up looking as cute as Drew in his seersucker and popped collars. :)

Outfit sources:

Jacket: Ralph Lauren outlet | Jeans: Old Navy diva skinnies | Shoes: Newport News

Elle's dress: Carters

Hello New Window!

2013-05-03T12:59:00.005-04:00

Tell me our bathroom isn't looking close to being complete... I just love how the new window seems to complete the space and how it lets so much additional light into the room. As with the rest of the windows in the house we used the Anderson 200 series windows that we ordered from Home Depot and AJ has installed them (it is fabulous having a handy husband... he has saved us so much money throughout this entire home renovation!).

I spray painted the boxes on the shelf (that AJ made) and toilet Raspberry to tie in with the valance.

Then once the new window was installed I shortened the width of the valance.

If you are just starting to read the blog I made the valance here.

It's a post of few words today as I am eagerly trying to squeeze a nap in while both Drew and Elle snooze. Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Oh... and don't forget to comment for a chance to win the fabulous spring basket from blog sponsor Eventful Life (click here for a chance to win). Giveaway ends on Monday!

$30 Thursday: PB Office Chair

2013-05-02T07:39:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the second $30 Thursday that I've been lucky enough to be apart of!

Remember how I asked you last week for your ideas on what you'd paint some pieces of furniture in my living room? Well, I found the kind of chair I've been dreaming of to go with a farmhouse table / office desk ... even before we found the farmhouse table. I've loved this chair from Pottery Barn for a long time...

... so when I found this chair at a yard sale for $15 I knew that I could refinish it to look like the Pottery Barn chair that I've loved... and couldn't afford.

So I sanded the chair down as best as I could and stained it with Mixwax's Jacobean.

I think the chair will be perfect with the table once I repaint the table.

For this $30 project I spent about $3.50 for a sanding sponge and $15 for the chair. We already owned the stain so it was a project that turned out to be far cheaper than the Pottery Barn version.

I had a really hard time getting all the varnish off the chair so the orange-y color is still coming through a little bit but it's not terrible.

While I was taking these pictures Drew was looking at a photo album that April, AJ's mom, made for me of AJ. And he was crawling under the table trying to get into the photos. :)

Make sure to check out Shayna and April's projects!

via The Woodgrain Cottage

AND

via House by Hoff

Boy's Room Shelving

2013-05-01T13:55:00.000-04:00

I've been craving some really useful, up high, storage for Drew's new room and really missed the large shelf that we put into his nursery. I purchased the one in the nursery, and the new one for his current room, at AC Moore with a 50% off coupon. I love when you can add interest and practicality to a room for only $13... :)

I keep his shoes, slippers and hats in the baskets on the top of the shelf. If anyone wants to know why I have them up high just try picking up three baskets of shoes repeatedly throughout the day (on top of picking up endless amounts of cars and books) and you'll get your answer.

I store Target and grocery store bags for trash in one little bin, socks in another, and undershirts in the third.

The madras diaper bag is from Pottery Barn Kids and was one of my favorite gifts when Drew was born.

Here is the man himself... he's started giving me his funniest grumpy face when I put him down for a nap and he waves to me with one finger, it's the Gigi wave... my Gram made it up when Kim and I were little and now I've passed it down to Drew. :)

He had Annie's organic mac and cheese for lunch and brought his leftovers inside. I thought he finished it pretty quickly until I realized what was getting a ride around the house. Apparently it's more fun to eat mac and cheese off the back of a tricycle.

Manchester Spring

2013-04-29T20:50:00.002-04:00

Spring has finally arrived in Manchester-by-the-Sea! It was high 60s here today... AJ filled our window boxes this weekend and did some mulch. The outside of the house still leaves much to be desired but we're working on it slowly but surely... We can't wait for a new front porch and the windows to be replaced.

AJ planted new grass and it's popping up, much to his delight. :)

Our magnolia tree has the buds out.

The window boxes are filled!

AJ built a new gate leading into the back yard.

Our hydrangea, an Easter gift from my parents, holds open the back gate.

Any one else THRILLED that winter is over?

What would you paint it?

2013-04-26T14:04:00.000-04:00

You know me and trash picking. We go way back...

Remember how I told you I sold my first house back in December? Well, the people who bought the house were renting our church's parsonage while they searched for the perfect home. All their belongings were in a storage unit in Tennessee and they collected a hodge podge of items to make do with until they emptied their storage unit and moved into their home. This table you see in our living room was one of their hodge podge items...

Farmhouse tables are one of those classic shapes that I am a sucker for... I don't care if it has a bad paint job or has an orangy stain to it... AJ and I both like this table in the living room for a little office space. My question to you is what color would you paint it? And feel free to give me ideas for the cabinet too because I don't love that color with the curtains.

Put your thinking caps on... ready go! :)

...

DAY IN THE LIFE:

My two men with matching glasses looking for planes.

Have a great weekend!

More Stripes

2013-04-25T21:02:00.001-04:00

I made a pillow cover for Drew's bed and brought in some reds into the room. This great, and simple, fabric is from Joanns. I'm not sure how I feel about it next to the stripped rug but I do love how it pops next to the linen headboard. The extra fabric I had is just lying over the navy armchair, I haven't done anything with it, although I may cover another pillow to put on the other side of the room.

I used the no-sew hem tape on the one seam on the left side of the pillow but sewed the rest of it. The whole pillow didn't take more than half and hour.

If we are being honest about how Drew's room looks normally it's not as simple as the photos above... he's sleeping on a mattress on the floor now so generally it looks like it does below, only with a lot more cars and stuffed animals thrown about. Oh, and generally there isn't a baby just sitting at the end of his bed, only now when I need two hands to take the photos. :)

Anyone else do a simple project lately that took about two seconds?

Wednesday Loves

2013-04-24T17:30:00.000-04:00

I've been having some time in the middle of the night to be moseying around Pinterest. I don't love waking up at 3am but it's fun to find great ideas that others have posted... here are some of my favorites from the past couple of weeks. Hope you get some inspiration!

I love this watercolor map feature found at this site. You can plug in a town and it pulls up a watercolor map of the town you input. I'm trying to figure out the best way to print it and frame some meaningful places for our house.

This idea is from a Cupcake website based in the UK. How fun is it to have cupcakes in champagne flutes???

I love this room in this transformed bungalow found on Houzz... isn't the half dividing wall fabulous?

Lastly, let me leave you with a great quote from Vivienne Westwood that I think should sum up how we view purchases whether it be for our clothes or houses:

Buy less,

choose well.

Today was the second day of being alone with the two kids and it went really well... and it was pretty fun too, we managed to run some errands and I got a new pair of running shoes (which I can't run in for about four more weeks but I'll break them in around the house and for little walks till then). Drew has been behaving sooo much better since we got back into our regular routine (less visitors and AJ back at work). It seems he's a creature of habit and likes routines like his mother. :)

Don't forget to comment for a chance to win the Spring Basket from Eventful Life! Click the button on the top right of the blog!

Kitchen Renovation and Decorating Tips

2013-04-23T17:34:00.000-04:00

Today is the first day I've been home all day with Drew and Elle by myself. It's gone exceedingly better than I anticipated... mainly because I anticipated meltdowns all day long (and I don't mean by Drew or Elle. :)). Drew is napping now and after about an hour of holding Elle, while trying to clean the kitchen for this post, she fell asleep. Phew... rejuvenation time. And time to pop some honey in a mug and top it off with some super hot water! And just as I typed that sentence I hear "Mommy, Mommy!"... hmmm rejuvenation didn't happen.

... typing this a few hours after rescuing Drew from his nap which was shockingly short...

Our kitchen is the closest room in the house to being "done", for the most part it's just finish details that need to happen now. Here are some things we've learned about kitchen renovations...

TIP ONE

Don't be afraid to take down non-load bearing walls (obviously get a professional opinion if you aren't sure it will work for your space). When we took down the wall in between the former kitchen and dining room it made it so much more open and bright. I've recently discovered Unique Designs, a Kitchen and Bathroom design company based in Australia. Their streamlined and open designs are more modern than our renovation but they have an amazing bright and clean look that I love.

TIP TWO

If you have a stairway that feels really closed off and tunnel-like open up part of the wall while keeping the supporting beam. When we opened up our stairway it made the whole downstairs feel more airy. Bonus tip: We bought in a railing we found at an antique store to give some architectural interest into the room... the whole railing was only $35 so it's possible to find a bargain!

TIP THREE

Always check the color of the cabinets you are purchasing and coordinate it with your counter choice and woodwork paint color. We made the mistake of not doing this and just assuming because they were all white it would go together. We purchased Thomasville's Fayette cabinets from Home Depot and it's amazing when compared to Behr's Ultra Pure White (the trim color throughout the house) and the Bianca Carrara marble counter tops how much more off-white the cabinets look. Always bring samples to compare prior to purchasing big-ticket items for your house.

TIP FOUR AND FIVE

Figure out what the items are that are must haves for your kitchen (or any other room you are renovating). AJ really wanted a separate cook top from the oven so, even though it cost more, we decided to work it into the budget. My must-have was the counter tops which I had lusted over for years. Budget in your must-haves and figure out how you can sacrifice in other areas to make that happen.

Really analyze your counter top choice... I adore the way marble looks but it hasn't worn well. Check out this post I wrote on marble counters if you are a sucker for them like I am but aren't sure you want the commitment a marble counter takes.

TIPS SIX, SEVEN AND EIGHT

Don't always trust your kitchen designer... we used the person that Home Depot had on staff and we trusted him more than we should have. We purchased all of our appliances from Home Depot so he knew exactly what we working with when designing the kitchen but he didn't recommend getting the molding / woodwork to cover the fridge and make it look built in.

If you are going to use rugs in your kitchen make sure they are patterned so that when the inevitable stains happen the stains more than likely will blend in.

When replacing windows use the biggest windows you are able to fit into your space.

TIP NINE

If you have an awkward spot in your kitchen try to figure out an interesting piece of furniture (made from the cabinets you have in the rest of your space or purchase something that is a great statement piece) to incorporate into that spot. We put all of our dishes in this glass fronted cabinet and then because we have a small amount of storage space we hung our wine rack right below the cabinets.

TIP TEN

Use fabulous accessories that make a statement yet have a functional purpose. My sister and I gave this great bread box from Williams-Sonoma to my mom years ago (it was a find at the WS outlet in Wrenthem, MA) and it was currently sitting in her cabinet unused so I asked to borrow it since I loved how the color worked in our kitchen. We don't have a lot of cabinet / pantry space so try to have your accessorizes serve a purpose (the box is storing bread and bagels in it now).

What are your tips for a successful renovation? My biggest tip is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH. See this post about budgeting for a renovation for how we approached budgeting for our bathroom reno.

Makeover Monday: Nursery Bookshelf

2013-04-22T21:16:00.000-04:00

Don't forget to comment for a chance to win the fabulous spring basket from Eventful Life... you'll love it for your outdoor entertaining this spring and summer!

We had this bookshelf storing some things in basement and I decided to give it a makeover to fit Elle's room. It's not the highest quality but it'll work for storing extra things in her super tiny room.

I haven't styled it or even made it useful yet... we've got to find some baskets that'll work on the shelves.

I found some fun green fabric at Joann Fabric to bring in some additional color.

This view shows how small the room is, the bookshelf is at the far right.

I took this photo so you could see the green I am picking up from the framed book pages.

To complete this makeover I stapled the fabric to the back of the bookshelf after painting and primimng it white.

It was an easy transformation!

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DAY IN THE LIFE PHOTOS:

Here's my little rascal giving his picture smile:

Elle didn't add to much to our book club discussion tonight. :)

Spring Basket Giveaway

2013-04-22T13:39:00.004-04:00

Today's giveaway is sponsored by Jess over at Eventful Life where she writes about gaining inspiration for a variety of events. She is sweet and thoughtful and pulled together a great spring basket for one lucky reader! Keep reading for all the great items in the basket and see below for ways to enter... and Makeover Monday is coming later on today... photos don't come out beautifully when you are holding a newborn in one arm and it delays the posting time. :)

For this Spring Basket I really wanted to provide some great items for an outdoor get together! Outdoor dinner parties are one of my favorite ways to have guests over and hopefully this basket can help make someone's next dinner party wonderful!

One of my favorite drinks to have at outdoor parties is Sangria. It's always a hit and can easily be made with a great premade sangria mixer & wine if your running short on time. This basket has one of my favorite premade mixers and a bottle of wine I hope someone will love!

I love pretty plates. Here's a set of 6 of both dinner plates and appetizers plates in some lovely blues, creams and greens. Everyone needs a classic white pitcher- whether to serve beverages or to decorate the table filled with flowers. I added a few of my favorite party essentials- paper straws and classic napkins. I am also a huge fan of snail mail and love sending a card to a friends home after a get together to say how much I enjoyed their company. There is a set of 10 spring/summer themed notecards in this basket I love.

I love the basket itself because it can be used for so many things: storage or used as a tray to carry outside.

Ways to enter (one comment / entry per item, in the comments tell me what you did and leave your email address (ie: "Great basket! Shared via Facebook! Jen Migonis @ jen.migonis@gmail.com"):
1. Become a follower of Migonis Home on Google Friend Connect.
2. Become a follower of Eventful Life.
3. Subscribe via email to MH or EL.
4. Follow Migonis Home on Facebook.
5. Either pin the Spring Basket Giveaway image to one of your Pinterest boards or share it on Facebook.

This contest is open until May 6, 2013 at 2pm. Shipping only to US addresses.

Lengthening Curtains with No-Sew Hem Tape

2013-04-19T14:35:00.000-04:00

We are making progress on Elle's room... I've put up the curtains that I tweaked after taking off the lengthening panel I used for Drew's nursery (to see the post how I originally lengthened them click here).

I love how the room is coming together... which is good since I'm spending tons of time in here nursing or changing her multiple times a day.

The simple gray panel contrasts nicely, but not too boldly, with the feminine walls and rug.

The gorgeous purple flower was a gift from our friends Susan and Brian, Susan regularly watches Drew on Monday mornings (she is a lifesaver). I love how the dark purple works into the decor.

I made the panels the same length that Drew's panels were but used No-Sew Hem Tape this time around... I couldn't muster up the energy to do any sewing. It was really simple to make the curtains.

Here are some simple tips on making your own curtains:

She's pretty great at sleeping... and then she decides to wake up around 9:30pm and stay awake until 11pm or midnight and she wants to be snuggled that whole time. I'm exhausted while snuggling but there is something so wonderful about cuddling her. Drew is napping now while I type this and she is sitting next to me in the swing snoozing.

Lastly...

Little Things

2013-04-17T08:07:00.000-04:00

It's the little details that are coming together in Elle's room right now... I wanted to show you these fantastic burp cloths that the girls in my Sunday School class made for Elle (I teach the Middle School class at our church). The Sunday before Easter they surprised me with the most wonderful little shower and made cinnamon bun waffles, zucchini bread with chocolate chips (love!) and just made my morning so incredibly special. Aren't these burp cloths the cutest?

See the pedestal table to the left of the photo below? I keep the diapers, wipes and burp cloths all in that basket so it's within easy reach from the changing table and the chair where I nurse her in the middle of the night.

The other little change is the crib sheet that I picked up at Pottery Barn Kids (I'm always armed with gift cards when I shop there... Do you have stand by places that you ask for gift cards to? Mine are PB, Home Goods and Overstock.com).

The crib is missing because we've only recently taken it down from Drew's room (AJ did it while I was in the hospital with Elle) and we don't want to confuse Drew by putting it up again right away.

Here is a zoomed in shot of the crib sheet with my little girl in polka dots on top of it. We have an ultrasound photo of her in a similar position sucking her thumb. :)

Today is the last day to vote in the Circle of Moms contest... I am in second place and would love your votes until 7pm EST today! Click here to vote! THANK YOU! :)

Lorax Birthday Party

2013-04-16T05:00:00.000-04:00

We had a lot of people calling, texting and emailing us to make sure we were okay during the bombing tragedy at the Boston Marathon. Last year AJ ran the second half with a friend and I've gone in to see the race nearly every year for the past ten-ish years. I'm writing this post on Monday night and AJ and I are both feeling very shaken up by what has happened today. It's funny how often we hear about this kind of thing happening in the Middle East and once it happens close to us it really hits home. I find myself wrestling with similar feelings as when the shooting happened at the Sandy Hook school (reflection here).

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My friend Heather is one of the most creative people I know. When I saw photos of a Dr. Suess Lorax themed third birthday party she helped throw for a friend's daughter, Audrey, I knew I had to show them... the bright colors and fun decor are perfect for a kids party but are stylish enough that adults would appreciate it as well. Heather was quickly taking photos before and during the party so she did warn me the photos weren't up to her typical standards. :)

Here is the birthday girl helping herself to food...

I love how her outfit perfectly matches the party decor.

Isn't this pink and yellow fabric fabulous?

In keeping with the theme of the book Steph (Audrey's mother) made these great favors for the kids to take home.

If you have a great home or have thrown a party that you think Migonis Home readers would appreciate send me some photos with an explanation... I can't guarantee that I will post about it but it's always fun to see what creative ideas readers are coming up with! :)

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The Circle of Moms contest ends tomorrow... and then I'll be done pestering you for votes. :) In the meantime, though, please head on over and vote. Thank you!

Nursery Birdcages

2013-04-15T05:00:00.000-04:00

One project I've had in mind for a while now is to hang the birdcages that you have seen forever around my house (and most famously in this post) in Elle's room. I couldn't believe it when I saw Young House Love doing nearly the same thing in Clara's playroom before we had a chance to do it over here.

We've been home from the hospital for nearly a week now and it's been fun to work Elle's room now that I am feeling better than I ever did during pregnancy. I purchased these hooks that would work for up to 120 pounds at the hardware store the other day. AJ told me to make sure I found some that would work if he couldn't find the studs in the ceiling, hence the addition of the little plastic piece at the end of the hook. The invisible line was purchased to be secured to the birds and the ceiling.

The first step of my project was to take the birdcages outside and give them a coat of white spray paint so one wouldn't look like a dirty white next to the other. This was done five days before Elle was born on one of those gorgeous days that makes you realize New England spring is just teasing you.

The larger birdcage was something AJ found on the side of the road about a year and a half ago and the smaller birdcage was a thrift store find by AJ's co-worker and blog reader, Cathy. The larger one was looking mighty rough and the smaller one had more of an off-white coat of paint on it. I used Rustoleum's glossy white spray paint for the job and it's held up really well for all the times Drew has opened and closed the cages while stuffing Elle's pink elephant in there. :)

I love how they look in the space! It totally works in that corner and adds some 3D interest.

I found some birds at AC Moore around Christmas and clipped them to the birdcages.

This corner is very white and lavender now... I'm brainstorming the ways I want to bring in some additional color.

I'll leave you with one final photo from Saturday... Elle (pronounced "L", like Elle McPherson or Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, for anyone who is wondering) and I are snuggled up at my parents' house... disregard the fact that I don't have a spot of makeup on. :) I'm excited to get a shot of Drew with Elle but so far he's been too nervous to hold her.

I would still love your support in the Circle of Moms Home Design blogger contest... thank you to those of you who have been faithfully voting! :) Click here to vote, the contest ends on the 17th!

Home Tour: Beachy Cottage

2013-04-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

Today I have a fabulous house tour for you from Bre at rooms FOR rent... not only is she adorable but I think you will be swooning over her house... when she sent me the photos for this post I decided that I wanted to promptly go over her house and sit down in her kitchen and chat. And stare at every fabulous and thoughtful decor choice!

Hello Migonis Home readers!

First of all, I want to say Thank You to the lovely Jen of Migonis Home for having me here on the blog today. I'll be sharing a bit of my house with all of you. So excited to be here, and hope to get to know some of you a bit better as well :)

My name is Bre, and I blog over at

~rooms FOR rent~

where I share mostly about our house projects and updates,

a snip-it of family life,

my constant need to change things up,

some yummy food,

my never ending DIY list...

you get the idea,

I l.o.v.e. decorating!

So I hope you enjoy taking a peek inside our house, and hop over to say Hi!

I like to describe my style as

farmhouse, vintage, cottage,

with a punch of bold, and a bit of classic.

Totally makes sense, right?!

Living Room

If it were up to me, I would live in an entirely white house.

Totally not realistic for a young family.

So I do my best to keep bits of white in there, while wanting to make everyone {including my husband}, feel like they can come in and relax.

My favorite way to decorate is mixing

OLD & NEW.

I love old, worn in grain sacks paired with fresh white flowers.

Dining Room

Although we have a formal dining room,

I try to keep it as relaxed feeling as possible.

While I will display my nicer dishes and curtains in the dining room, I still try to keep everything simple and inviting.

I have small kids, and want them to feel welcome at the table too :)

My favorite thing to do, is pull one of my wicker chairs either over to the window, or wood stove,

and curl up with a cup of coffee!

Mudroom

We recently finished our back hallway redo, something I've wanted to do since we've moved in,

and I'm still in love with how it came out.

One of my favorite things about this project, was making this sign out of pallet wood.

We love going to the beach, and coastal New England towns, so this felt right at home.

You can see the transformation here.

Bathroom

One of my first big DIY projects was painting horizontal stripes in our first floor bathroom.

I had been swooning over them for over a year, before I finally decided to take the plunge.

And even though I get flack from just about every guy that has used this bathroom, I still love how they came out :)

Master Bedroom

We wrapped our bedroom with a faux board & batten treatment,

and I love the feel it gave this room.

I wake up every morning feeling like I'm away at a cozy bed and breakfast, it's so bright and cheery.

Although I change our bedding and curtains up constantly, it still feels like a retreat in here, and my #1 go to place when I want to relax.

Well I hope you enjoyed my little tour,

and you'll stop by for some more.

Thanks again for having me!

Enjoy your weekend, Migonis Home readers! I can't tell you how grateful I am to have you following along! Thank you for giving me the chance to share with you on a daily basis!