Redecorating your child’s bedroom doesn’t have to be a difficult or costly experience, and there are many ways to make a child’s bedroom stylish and practical at the same time.  A child’s bedroom is an important space for them. It is their own little sanctuary, a place they can call their own, so it should reflect their personality as well as your eye for quality in decorating a kid’s room on a budget.

Where to start

The following tips provide pointers on how to create a stylish bedroom for a child without
skimping on quality, practicality or fun.

Do it in style

Style is not just about costly fabrics or the most fashionable furniture – far from it. Style is about creating a special space that combines imagination and practicality.

Nowhere is this truer than for kids’ bedrooms! If they are old enough, getting kids involved through brainstorming sessions is a great way to get their ideas on color schemes, décor and inventive use of space. All that parents need to do is to set the guidelines.

No fuss

Kids will be kids, which means grubby fingerprints around high-traffic areas like light switches and, let’s face it, a whole lot of other places too.

Using easy-to-clean paint is a must when making redecorating decisions for a child’s bedroom. Selecting satin or gloss finishes that can be wiped clean easily with a damp cloth is a wise idea.

Plenty of closet space, bookshelves and storage bins will keep the floor area clear and also vacuum cleaner friendly!

Natural light

One point that can’t be overlooked when giving a facelift to a child’s room is allowing in natural light, and preferably plenty of it. Whether a kid is using their bedroom for homework or play, they don’t want to have to strain their eyes or, on the flip side, have to deal with glaring light. An effective way of making the most of available light is by getting hold of some DIY shutters to install in your home instead of using the usual drapes.

There are real benefits in using shutters for a child’s room. They are trendy but timeless at the same time, meaning there won’t be a need to replace them as children grow older and their tastes change. They are also made of either wood or vinyl, both of which materials are durable and easy to clean. Besides controlling the amount of light entering a room, shutters give flexible options for privacy and have the added bonus of buffering against outside noises at night.

There are many types and designs of vertical and horizontal shutters to choose from that will make an attractive and practical addition to any child’s bedroom.

Creativity on a budget

For those parents who think that doing a great job of redecorating their child’s room means a run on the banks there is good news! Working within a tight budget is actually a fantastic way of finding creative solutions that just may not have happened if there had been more cash to spare.

The thing to remember when giving a child’s room a decorating overhaul is to spend on durable furniture that will last. Light-colored wood is usually a good choice because it blends with most color schemes and doesn’t seem to go out of style.

Spending a few extra dollars on good-quality paint is perhaps worthwhile.

Once the furniture is in place and the walls are painted, the extras like lighting, lampshades, ornaments, and bedding can be found at very sensible prices at many department stores such as Target, discount stores like TJ Maxx, or even home decor stores like Ikea.  If these stores are not in your area, they always have online stores with very reasonable shipping prices.

More Articles on Home Decor:

Money Saving Interior Design Ideas

Home Renovation: A Guide to Getting It Right

Thanks for stopping by my Wordless Wednesday Link Up!  You may notice it’s been a while since I’ve had one, so I figured I should jump back in.  I miss all of my fellow Wordless Wednesday bloggers!  If you’re curious as to why I haven’t been blogging, and to get to know me better, you can read my last post: The Worst Blogger Ever.

These pictures were from a birthday party that Baby B went to while I was away at a SITS Girls Mini Boot Camp Conference in Chicago.  More on that later, but I’m happy that he had such a great time.  Doesn’t look like he missed his Mama at all!

Link your own posts up below, leave a comment, and I’ll return the favor. I love to see all of your pictures and get a peek into your lives as well.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed, if you have still been visiting, that I have been a terrible blogger as of lately.  I feel like I’ve been letting down my readers and my sponsors, and I feel like a complete failure for not keeping up.

I’m going to share something very personal here, which I usually don’t do, but I want you all to get to know me and understand me a bit better.  I suffer from depression, and it affects my entire life.  I am medicated, but I still suffer from intense mood swings and often feel like I am in over my head with everything I have going on in my life.

Instead of working extra hard to keep everything going, like a normal person would, I tend to withdraw completely.  For instance, when I feel like my blog, emails, and Internet life are too much to handle, I’ll avoid the computer completely so as not to have to deal with it.

I do realize that it is good for me to get away from the computer once in a while, especially when I’m spending more time with my family and being active outdoors.  However, I believe I have a good thing going on my blog.  I constantly have new ideas, am getting better opportunities as it grows, and I do care a lot about it.  I’ve worked really hard to get this far, and I have no intention of giving up.

As the weather gets nicer, as I am meeting more friends, and I am wanting to spend more time with my family, I will make every effort to balance my time in order to keep my blog going strong.

I want you, my readers, to have a fun place you can come to read about all sorts of things that may interest you and help you in your daily life.  I want you to feel as if you know me, just as I love getting to know all of you through your comments.

I suppose my main point of all of this is to apologize.  I know I’ve probably lost a lot of readers, but I will work my hardest to gain them back.  I already have some great posts planned that are coming up soon, so I hope you check back often.

I have recently been reading the work of an Australian biologist Jeremy Griffith whose work deals with a biological explanation of human nature. The study of human nature is a fascinating subject that we have been dedicated to since time immemorial and cracking the code to our inner workings seems to me to be the key to unlocking the true power and potential of our uniquely fully conscious brains. I am no biologist but I have lived as a human for 47 years now and I have a bit of experience that I would like to pass on with regards to love and relationships.

It is a part of human nature to seek companionship. Every person is interested in finding someone they can connect to on an emotional, intellectual, and physical level, someone you can love. However, it is difficult to find this person because when you first meet someone you are only exposed to their physical appearance. Consequently, you must invest a lot of time to get to know them in a deeper way.

If you are serious about finding love in your perfect partner, you must invest some time into determining what you want in a person. In addition, while it might be human nature to want to see someone in person when evaluating whether or not you have a connection, those who are serious about finding a lasting match should learn to appreciate someone for what is on the inside before considering superficial details.

When you are looking for the perfect date, it is human nature to first consider appearances. After all, basic survival instincts entice women to be attracted to the most muscular and hairy men (showing signs of high testosterone) and coerce men into being attracted to large breasts and hips, signs of female fertility. It is human nature to want our genes to survive into the next generation, but in the modern world physical factors are not the most important pieces of information when determining who is going to be the best life partner.

Consider making a list of qualities you believe are important in your partner. First list intellectual and emotional traits, such as spirituality, politics, honesty, patience, and so on. These are the foundational aspects of a long and healthy relationship. Many people say that opposites attract, but this is only true in terms of small details like interests in TV shows or food. If you have certain fundamental dissimilarities, it is human nature for the relationship to fail. For example, if one partner is deeply religious and the other is an atheist who thinks that faith is completely childish and ridiculous, the relationship cannot possibly work.

Once you have determined the traits that are essential in a partner, you will know something about your own nature and values. After this step, it is important to do some soul searching and figure out why you haven’t been attracting your ideal mate up to this point. For instance, if you are looking for an energetic and fun-loving partner but you are a couch potato, it is likely that your ideal companion would not find you attractive. Try to emulate the qualities you find appealing in your perfect match, and you are sure to draw them in. Most importantly, you’ll be changing your lifestyle to represent traits you deem to be important- a sure-fire way to boost your confidence!

One of the most important steps in finding the perfect partner is to search in the right place. If you are going to bars and clubs to find an ideal mate, it is possible that you will discover them, but keep in mind that not every individual is there for the same reason as you. There could be people in these establishments looking for a one night stand, a rebound girlfriend, or just a friend. Furthermore, you will mainly be judging this individual on their appearance, which is human nature. If you are serious about finding the perfect person for you, consider signing up on a dating site. In your profile you can specify your values and the level of commitment you are looking for, ensuring that you weed out people who are not in the same stage of life as you are.

Although human nature sometimes leads us to stray from finding our perfect partner, some dedicated planning and soul searching will guarantee that you are on the path to finding your soul mate.

Author Bio

Terry has been in a long term relationship for 22 years now and has been gathering experiences for the last 47 years of his life. He has recently enjoyed reading the work of biologist Jeremy Griffith about our human nature.

This fantastic giveaway has been brought to you by 

Workouts? Diets? ME?

Weirder things have happened….but not very often.

I, Christy, self-proclaimed laziest person I know, have become a Revolt Fitness Blogger.  Revolt Now Fitness, run by Nichole Huntsman, is a revolutionary online fitness program that is supposed to have amazing results.  Unfortunately, their website is temporarily down, but I will post the link as soon as it’s available for anyone who would like to learn more.

When I was invited to join, I was hesitant, to say the least.  After a long winter of being sedentary and gaining tons of weight, I had just started working out by playing Zumba Dance Party on the Wii and taking more walks as the weather warms up.  However, I knew deep down that my goal of losing weight fast was not going to be accomplished without a set plan, especially if I didn’t change my lifestyle to be healthier all around.

On a whim, I agreed to join Revolt’s six week program, to commence on Monday, April 29th with Day One of my workout plan and diet.  Honestly, I didn’t give it much thought until the morning of the first day; typical procrastination on my part. Was I in for a shock!

Not only does Revolt feature fitness videos and a complete grueling workout schedule, but there is also a specific diet to be followed throughout the six weeks, starting with a detox for the first week to rid your body of all the harmful effects of sugar.  While reading through all the information, I was thinking, “There is absolutely no way I can follow through with this.”

Mostly, it was the food thing that got to me.  I typically don’t eat much, around one meal a day, but this diet would have me eating a lot, and a lot healthier too.  It will involve cooking, meal planning, and following a strict diet (strict but tasty – the recipes look delicious!)  However, I have never tried a single diet in my life, or even really watched what I ate.

I thought a lot about my goals, and how getting healthy is a huge goal for my family.  We usually eat healthfully, mainly due to my hubby’s Celiac’s disease, but I have a long way to go – especially when it comes to sugar.  It’s highly addictive.

I realized that I need Revolt, and it could not have come at a better time for me.  After making my first big mistake this morning by drinking a bottled Starbucks Frappucino, I decided I was going to stick with the fitness plan from then on.  I proceeded with my first workout, and surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.  True, I wasn’t prepared and had to rig up some weights using hammers and duct tape, but I felt great afterwards in a sweaty healthy kind of way.

I was not able to start my diet on the first day, because I was not prepared and had not gone grocery shopping, so I improvised.

Although it will be hard, I have every intention of following through with the Revolt Fitness Plan for the whole six weeks.  I’ll be reporting on my progress throughout, so you can watch my journey from a couch potato to a fitness buff by reading along.  Maybe I’ll post my “Before” pictures for extra incentive to keep on going.  Honestly, I’m scared and intimidated, feeling like I’m in over my head, but this is good.  I’m happy to be trying something new, and I feel like this will bring about some great changes in my life.

If any of you have encouraging words or inspiration for me, now is the time to speak up – I’m going to need it!

My first encouraging words, added by my wonderful future husband:

Hi, Honey, Sugar, Sweetheart, and Love of my life, you are going to do amazingly with this program.  I was confused when you first told me you were doing this program because lets face it: you are a goddess. There is not a single thing I would change about you, but I do understand that this program is about much more to you than just losing weight.  I’m very proud of you Christy.  There is no doubt in my mind that you are going to dominate this program!

Revolt Blogger Link-Up

Show some support for my fellow Revolt Bloggers by reading their weekly fitness posts! This group of women is an invaluable resource for me, and we all support each others’ progress. If you are a Revolt Blogger, make sure to add your week’s post to the link-up! There is nothing better than receiving a nice comment to keep us motivated.

With spring in the air, now could be a great time to think about your summer beachwear – particularly if there’s a girly getaway or a romantic escape on the cards. The right attire is a must if you’re jetting off into the sun, so here’s how to dress for your body shape.

Athletic

You might not be the most buxom babe on the planet, but you don’t need a breast augmentation to enhance your assets. That’s right, padded tops can do wonders for your chest and ruffles and frills will add interest around your cleavage. If you’re athletic, a bikini will also break up the straight line of your torso and help flaunt the subtle curves you do have. Ring-top bandeau styles are wonderfully attractive and bright, floral patterns can add a cute, feminine touch.

Pear

As a pear, you tend to carry more weight around your thighs, legs and bum. This might be a pain in the butt (hah, get it?) – especially in summer – but there are plenty of ways to even out your proportions. To start with, avoid wearing bikini boy shorts or pool skirts as the additional material can make you look bigger than you are. Instead, opt for high cut bottoms as these will elongate your legs and give your hips a softer, curvier look. Secondly, stick to string styles as these will flatter your thighs and prevent Lycra from clinging to your bad bits.

Apple

If you’re struggling to get rid of the weight around your middle – fear not! A round of liposuction or a tummy tuck might seem appealing but the right swimwear can definitely help. Swimming suits with side detailing and secret supports are ideal as are tankinis with ruching or gathering over the tummy area. If you want to wear a bikini, that’s great, just look for one with plenty of bust support and a wide waistband as this will help hold your stomach in. To make the most of your ample bosom, look for low cut or balcony styles or give halternecks a go as these can be extremely flattering.

Tall

At five foot ten inches and above, you’re considered tall. If you’re incredibly slender with it you can look a little lanky in a one piece so try a ruffled two piece and don’t be afraid of bright colors and patterns. Frills fake an hourglass shape and front ties around the bust can make you look curvier than you actually are, so it’s well-worth trying a few styles on. If you’re tall and happen to be an hourglass at the same time swimming costumes with a colored waist band will help show off your enviable shape and a plunging neckline will enhance your chest.

The right beachwear can completely transform your physique in no time, so hit the shops and see what you can find!  It may take a lot of time in the fitting rooms, but it will be totally worth it when you find “The One.”  And there is nothing like confidence to make you look drop dead gorgeous!

Scrunch Face!

Cute, huh?

Welcome to Wordless Wednesday, where a picture speaks a thousand words.  Take a look around, add your own link to the list below, and have fun checking out the photos on the other blogs on the list, too!

I currently have three giveaways going on, so be sure to check the giveaways section on the sidebar.  One of them ends today, the 24th, and you could win a $100 Walmart Gift Card.  Who couldn’t use one of those?

Thanks for stopping by, as I really appreciate everyone who visits, links up, and comments!

 

Chicago wife, mother and finance executive Claire Cummings, arrives at work one morning to discover her friend Julia has embezzled millions and vanished. Blindsided and devastated by the betrayal, she’s sent home pending further investigation. Claire’s bizarre death the following day sends everyone reeling, guessing and looking for her in all the wrong places. In no time she’s
addicted to an enchanting menagerie of tricks and techniques for getting the living’s attention, but most people are harder to reach than she’d ever dreamed and even harder to set free.

She was still a mother, a wife, a daughter and a friend… she’d move heaven and earth to keep it that way.

Sheri Meshal’s Swallowtail is a haunting story about life, love, loss and just how far we’ll go to control it all.

This debut from a thought-provoking new voice in fiction begs the question… what would you do if all the rules changed, and you were suddenly bestowed powers beyond your greatest imagination?

About the Author

Sheri Meshal spent most of her childhood on an old farm in Iowa. She is an author by day and chauffeur by night… for a tad bit longer. Swallowtail took over six years to write and was inspired by bizarre events which occurred shortly after her father’s passing in
1998. Best friends, they’d engaged in countless conversations regarding the possibility of life after death and enjoyed sharing books on the subject years before he was diagnosed with lung cancer. After a myriad of unexplainable events, Sheri realized had she died first, she
would’ve done everything in her power to get her father’s attention and show him all the things she could do.

Her father had informed her that she was a writer long before she could begin to accept the possibility. In her heart, she knew he should’ve been the writer, and if she did
possess any talent for it, it was due to his DNA. She began writing for both of them and often wondered if he helped her, as crucial research repeatedly found its way to her by the strangest means. When she met medium Jonathan Louis, he desperately tried to avoid a cliche topic.
Exasperated, he finally gave in saying, “I don’t want to say this. Whenever I do, the room goes crazy. Sometimes it just is what it is and nothing more, but what does it mean when I say the word butterfly to you?” Overcome with emotion, she confessed she’d written a novel titled Swallowtail about a dead woman communicating with her friends and family. He answered softly with a smile, “He helps you.”

Buy the book from ….. 

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.com

Review

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I first started reading Swallowtail by Sheri Meshal.  The genre is very hard to place, leaving me wondering if this was a mystery, a thriller, a paranormal, or even a religious book.  I happily found that this book successfully transcends all labels, making it one of those books that absolutely anyone can enjoy.

Books involving the afterlife are always controversial, in that everyone has their own beliefs on the subject, and some simply are not willing to open their minds to anything else.  The writer did an excellent job of portraying it without sticking to a specific religious standard.     While there are some hints of Eastern religious beliefs (which I admit I’m partial to), Meshal really paints her own picture of the afterlife in an incredibly imaginative and believable way.

The main character is someone that is easy to relate to, and her struggles throughout the book mirror the struggles that most individuals face every day.  There are issues of control, temptation, loss, forgiveness, and many other thought provoking themes that are guaranteed to make you question what you would do in her situation, or maybe even apply some of them to your own life.

In my opinion, Sheri Meshal’s Swallowtail is definitely a book worth reading.  For those that are closed-minded, go into it with a completely open mind – you’ll miss an amazing story if you don’t.  This book was very touching, leaving me feeling happy, sad, angry, and hopeful at different parts, but overall it was very uplifting.  I recommend Swallowtail to all readers, young and old, for a thought provoking and inspiring journey that will stick with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Giveaway Event!!!

There is nothing in the world like giving or receiving a one-of-a-kind piece of handmade jewelry, especially on Mother’s Day!

I love Mother’s Day, as it celebrates all of the under-appreciated moms and gives families a little reminder of everything moms do for them.  Plus, my birthday always falls in the same week, sometimes the same day, as Mother’s Day.  Now that I’m a mom, it makes it easy for my family to remember when Mother’s Day is!

We are excited to introduce you to the wonderful Little Miss Pepper Designs, that are based on the sentiment of expression. Stacey Bradshaw wanted to create designs that express our love for our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, husbands, dads, and friends. Her customized, hand- stamped jewelry gives you the opportunity to show the world the joy that love has given you. Wear your love every day!

Stacey has been creating jewelry for over fifteen years and her designs have evolved with time. From her first piece, which was a bridal set for a friend to the pieces she has made for her growing family, including key chains, collar stays and cufflinks for the men.

Using only the finest quality Sterling Silver, 14k Gold-Filled, Semi-Precious Stones and Freshwater Pearls, she truly designs unique one-of-a-kind pieces.

So this Mother’s Day, Graduation, or any other special event, I would suggest allowing Little Miss Pepper Designs the honor of creating something that you will love to wear or give to someone special.

WIN IT – a Just in time for Mother’s Day Giveaway Event!!

Prize – Winners choice of Blue Love in Sterling Silver on 18 inch chain (Value $125) or Blue Love in 14k Gold Filled on 18inch chain (Value $145)

Blue Love has lots of sparkle. Five Sterling Silver or 14k Gold Filled circles imprinted with initials,numbers or word of your choice. Two additional Sterling Silver or 14k Gold Filled sequin tags also hold a number or letter. These are enhanced with four large, semi-precious stones all in hues of blue: two midnight blue fresh water pearl accents and four teeny sapphire accent drops. This necklaces comes on a 18 in delicate ball chain.

Giveaway Details:

Event Dates: April 19th through May 5th

Giveaway Rules:

• All mandatory entries must be submitted in the entry form below. All other entries are optional for more chances to win this beautiful
• All entrants must be 18 years or older and live in the US
• See full disclosures in the entry form

⇩⇩⇩⇩Enter Giveaway Here⇩⇩⇩⇩

**DISCLOSURE** Hardly a Housewife is acting as an advertisement for the Sponsor and is not responsible for prize. This event is brought to you by Blog with Mom and Adventures of 8 through Advertise with Bloggers! If you are interested in sponsoring an event like this, please contact Advertise with Bloggers.