{A CHARMING NEST}

Our Crazy To Do List

2012-05-03T16:59:00.001-05:00

I’m back! Well, kind of…I’m really just ready to share our plans! I am happy to report that I submitted my last paper two nights ago and I have my last college class to teach tomorrow (which has been the most fantastic experience)…and with only 14 days left of school (but I’m not counting), things are starting to wind down around here. Winding down for me means winding up for home projects. So

{It takes time…}

2012-03-03T13:48:00.001-06:00

We have finally finished our transom windows and I just had to share! I really couldn’t wait any longer. Transom windows are typical in older homes that were built before air conditioning, and usually opened to allow ventilation of the room. Our DIY versions do not move, but we feel they add some architectural detail to our new home…which we feel gives our house little bit more charming

{Because Inquiring Minds Want to Know!}

2012-02-21T20:35:00.001-06:00

I have received a lot of questions about some of our projects and what tools and/or advice we would give. Here’s a list of tips, answers to questions, and product suggestions (or at least what we have used). Be patient. If it doesn’t look right…take it down and try again. You’re NOT going to “ruin” your house. We still have to work on this one. We really don’t want to ruin our house, and

{This is progress…}

2012-02-15T18:08:00.001-06:00

I’ve got nothing. No deep thoughts. No inspirational quotes. No fun little tidbits. But, I can tell you, I’ve been busy. It’s been a little crazy around here, and I can honestly say that one word that comes to my mind the most is “overwhelmed.” Most of my pressures seem to come from school…school as in “my job” and school as in “me as student” and school as in “the college class I am

{An original}

2012-02-09T17:21:00.001-06:00

On November 7th, 2011…we lost an original. She was bright, intelligent, determined, opinionated (and her opinions mattered), brilliant, and loving. Not to mention, she was talented. She was good at just about everything…baking, sewing, and painting. She was my husband’s grandmother and my son’s great grandmother...Esther Kay. In her younger days, before she became a physical education

{…because sometimes a girl just needs a cookie.}

2012-02-05T17:13:00.001-06:00

I’ve been eating gluten and dairy free for about one month now. I’ve been pretty strict about it, too. I have seen some pretty dramatic changes in how I feel and in my skin…and I couldn’t be more pleased. A few things that have helped me eliminate these two very common ingredients from my diet: 1.) So Delicious Original Coconut Milk Coffee Creamer It’s creamy. It’s delicious. I don’t miss

{My Favorite Paint Colors}

2012-01-30T17:37:00.001-06:00

I need to paint this house. It has been officially a year since we moved into this builder beige house, and it is driving me crazy! We need some color up in here! My plan is to incorporate subdued color into each room. Here’s my plan for the main level… Kitchen, Mudroom, and Hallway/EntryNomadic Desert (Sherwin Williams) I like this color because it’s a true neutral. We painted this

{Am I missing something?}

2012-01-26T19:42:00.001-06:00

Okay, I certainly don’t claim to be a “design” expert. Actually, I can’t really claim to be an expert on anything. So, I thought maybe I would ask all of you. I recently spied the Splayer Sofa from Anthropologie online…And I was just wondering…am I missing something? Really? $6500 + $300 for shipping? I don’t get it? I mean I love Anthropologie. I really do…I just bought these colorful

{Reader Question} A Kitchen Island…with Charm

2012-01-23T21:08:00.001-06:00

I love the comments and emails that I get from readers. Let me assure you, I read them all…every last one. I recently got an email from a woman in Florida named Dena. She wrote: Hi Erin, I wanted to ask your advice if you do not mind. I am looking to get a kitchen island. (not something built in) I am looking for something with a little character, not just your "run of the mill" bland

{Stuffed Pepper Soup}

2012-01-19T16:44:00.001-06:00

Trying recipes and working on becoming dairy and gluten free has been pretty easy for me (so far)…thanks to my mom, Lara Bars, and coconut coffee creamer. My mom has been helping me research recipes that I could easily do. We also talked about some recipes that we already do that would easily be converted to gluten free. For example, our Slow Cooker Chicken and Pork Tacos that I wrote about

{DIY Door Casings}…the easy way.

2012-01-18T10:53:00.001-06:00

We finally finished our door casings! And although it was a pretty easy project, it did seem to take us a long time. We just couldn’t seem to find a stretch of time to finish. We’ve been done with this project for a couple of months, but picture taking has been on the back burner. Overall, I think they look great. And I am surprised at how they lift the overall look of our ceilings, which I

{The day that changed everything…}

2012-01-17T17:29:00.001-06:00

Four years ago today, was the day that changed everything. It was the day I became a mom. He was precious. And I was so scared. The first year was fun, exciting, and scary. We dealt with ear infection after ear infection. But he was such a good and happy baby. Always woke up with smiles after naps.Learned to walk with excitement. And I never thought it could get better, or I could love him

{Turning 35 and other stuff…}

2012-01-13T21:32:00.001-06:00

I turned 35 today. Source: ducksliketea.blogspot.com via Rush on Pinterest 35 is one of those anti-climatic birthdays that you really just say to yourself, “Oh, yeah, it’s been another year, hasn’t it?” 35 wasn’t something I was looking forward to, and now I’m officially on the downslide to 40. I wouldn’t say I have aged gracefully. I’ve gained some weight since my younger days as a

{Mudroom Storage: Revisited!}

2012-01-05T17:40:00.001-06:00

Now that winter is in full swing here in Indiana, and the coats, hats, and boots are out of storage…I thought I would share with you all how much we love our mudroom storage unit that we built back in the summer months…starting with two Hemnes TV Stands that we purchased for about $150 each. (I just checked online and the white stands are now $169, while the other colors are still just $149).

{2012 Resolutions}

2012-01-02T09:25:00.001-06:00

I love the new year. It’s a chance to turn the page, to forget and to move on, and to make things better. I typically always make resolutions at the new year, but also find myself doing more at the start of each month. I say to myself “Starting on the 1st, I’ll ____________.” Usually, it has something to do with eating better and losing weight. My new year resolutions are typically bigger,

{A Cozy iPad Cover}

2012-01-01T15:50:00.001-06:00

HAPPYnew year! Wishing you all the best in 2012! Well, I finally did it! I bought an iPad. And all I can say is that I love it…I really do! It will be so handy when school starts in a couple of days and when I start teaching classes at the local community college. Right now, though…I’m a Pinterest addict. I also realized that I needed a carrier. So, after a quick cruise on the interest (

{A Charming Nest}'s Best of 2011: Top Five Countdown!

2011-12-29T16:21:00.001-06:00

I officially started {A Charming Nest} in May of 2011. Since then, we have been immersed in a whirlwind of activity. I can honestly say that I have learned so much about blogging in my short time as a novice blogger and I have really had a blast doing it. A few months ago and after seeing all the attention my blog was getting, a friend of mine asked me if I thought it was cool that people I had

{Refashioning: Boot Cut to Skinny}

2011-12-26T17:07:00.001-06:00

I use Pinterest for everything! Recipes, gift ideas, décor, fashion, sewing, gardening…everything. I recently pinned a tutorial on how to refashion boot cut jeans to skinny jeans: Source: merricksart.blogspot.com via acharmingnest.com on Pinterest I’m not a huge skinny jean fan, but I recently made an impulse purchase and bought a pair of boots and needed something to wear with them…I was

{Does it still count?}

2011-12-26T15:45:00.001-06:00

Does it still count if it’s a day late? Because I just now got my wreath up on my front door. I just didn’t have enough time to get it done, and actually kind of forgot. Michael’s is having some killer “after the holidays” sales on their holiday merchandise and I picked up a few items…like a wreath for our front door. With the added jute upholstery webbing that I picked up at Wal-Mart for .67

{Merry Christmas…}

2011-12-24T09:50:00.001-06:00

…from our charming nest to yours! Pictures taken by Mimi Barry Photography, Zionsville, IN. We haven’t disappeared, things have just been busy, busy, busy! We will be back in the new year with new projects! While school is in session, our posts won’t be as often. A few things happening at {The Charming Nest}: Justin and I are still working full time as teachers. Thank goodness! I took a

{Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours}

2011-11-26T14:53:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s my favorite meal. And quite honestly, it’s my favorite day. It’s a day where family togetherness and tradition are the expectation…and I love that about this holiday. I hosted my in-laws this year and we had a marvelous feast! Turkey, my mother’s dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, yeast rolls, and of course a 7 layer salad all

{A Half Bath Makeover}

2011-11-20T09:16:00.001-06:00

We just finished the half bath makeover I talked about in this post…just in time for our Thanksgiving guests and increased bathroom traffic. We started with this mood board… …and this very basic builder basic bathroom (nice, but just not cutting it)… I’m sorry that I don’t have more pictures of our half bath before. It really wasn’t anything to photograph…it was pretty boring. But, now…

{Lazy Saturday}

2011-11-05T11:06:00.001-05:00

As Justin is putting the finishing touches on our new door casings (which look awesome), I thought it would be fun (and necessary) to keep The Kid busy! He got two small containers of Play-Doh from his Trick or Treating…but they had been mixed, dried out and ruined as the week progressed. So? Let’s make our own! Homemade Play Dough is the best…easy, cheap, and just like the real stuff. My

{Fall Décor: Part 2}

2011-11-02T16:19:00.001-05:00

Fall is in full swing and after a whirl wind of an October…I welcome November. Justin and I have always felt so grateful for the family, friends, our health, and the time to enjoy them. My mother gave us a blessings plate when we got married that reads… “Health, Love, and Wealth…and Time to Enjoy Them.” …and as I think more about that quote, I find that I am reflective on how truly blessed I

{Fall Décor: Part 1}

2011-11-01T18:25:00.001-05:00

Acorns. I love acorns. Source: smartpei.typepad.com via The Dragonfly On Iron Gate on Pinterest The kid and I went on a hike the other day and we found all sorts of “nature” including cute little acorn caps. Surely, I could make something out of these…right? So, I collected a whole bunch and after a couple of days of thinking, and searching online…I thought I would try a new craft…wool