The Shabby Nest

Rooms I'm Crushing On and Fabric For Sale~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:22:00 +0000

Happy Monday Lovelies!!

I'm actually always happy to see Monday roll around. I know, I know. Now you are all now questioning my sanity. Truth is, I'm one of those people that just loves a new beginning. And Mondays always feel so full of possibility to me, as the new week begins. I'm always so excited to see all the new blog posts popping up, and to find out what's going on in blogland on Monday morning.

So what's up this week at The Shabby Nest? Well, I have gathered lots of fantabulous inspiration over the weekend from Pinterest (where else?) that has helped me figure out what to do with a couple of had-me-stumped spots in my entry and in the Princess' bedroom. So I'm going to tackle those projects this week (and hopefully be done in time to share them with you!) And since February is just around the corner, I've got some Valentine's projects in the works as well. Look for those coming soon!

All that time in Pinterest-land has also been spent simply crushing on a few - okay, on a lot - of beautiful spaces. Thought I'd share a few with you for some beginning-of-the-work-week eyecandy.

Been loving this little girls' room by Caitlin Creer since the moment I laid eyes on it. I'm really smitten with orange this year. Guess I'll be incorporating a little Tangerine Tango into my life after all!

Source: caitlincreer.com via Wendy on Pinterest

And while we're talking about inspiring bedrooms for the younger set, I've had this sophisticated-yet-whimsical room pinned for-ev-ah and I love it just as much everytime I look at it!

Source: Uploaded by user via Wendy on Pinterest

I fell head-over-heels for these houndstooth chairs. Again, from Caitlin Creer.

Source: caitlincreer.com via Wendy on Pinterest

And, I also pinned this photo from The Lettered Cottage this weekend. (Fabulous tour of Kristin Alber's beautiful home - by the way - if you didn't already get to see it.) We need those signs from above her sink...that's the first thing the Hubby says to everyone when they get home...wash your hands!! Love the trellis wallpaper too.

Source: theletteredcottage.net via Wendy on Pinterest

And finally, I've had a few inquiries as to whether or not the fabric I designed on Spoonflower is available for purchase.

Well, I'm caving to popular demand (ha!) and the three fabrics pictured above should be available for purchase on the Spoonflower site by the end of the week. Just thought you'd like to know!

That's all for this morning, my dears...I'm off to finish some room designs for some of my e-design consultations and to get crackin' on those projects!

Have a great Monday~

Frugal Friday~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday! There were lots of great links from last week, so I had my work cut out for me. It's a hard job, but somebody's got to do it. LOL! Just kidding! Looking through all of your inspirational links is so much fun...I'd hardly call it work.

Sooooo let's check out a few of the great links from last week's party, shall we?

The fan favorite from last week is this amazing DIY chest-turned-Chinoiserie-heirloom by La Maison Reid.

Now on to my Frugal Round-up...

First up, this adorable DIY folding canvas stool was posted by That's My Letter. These would be a great addition to anyone's summer porch/patio!

Next, I loved this pretty little girl's french-inspired bedroom posted by Sophia's Live Beautifully. The details are simply lovely and I think I have a crush on the pink and white striped settee!

Design Megillah shared her clever Jonathan Adler-esque DIY vases. Love these transformations!

Finally, these DIY polymer lights from Funkytime are now on my must-do list. Thank you very much.

Now it's your turn!

You know "da rules"...

1. Please link directly to your post and not just to your blog.
2. Please link back the Shabby Nest (you can use the pretty new button on my side bar to make it easy.)
3. Please visit other participants and leave them comments! Help them feel "the love!" And don't forget to "like" your favorite posts so they can become the "FAN FAVORITE!"

Decorating Your Home on a Budget: Big Impact for Little Money~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:46:00 +0000

Hello Lovelies!

For the next few months, I'm partnering with Apartment Guide as an official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger. Whether you're living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space on a budget. And as an official Apartment Guide Decor blogger, that's just what I'm going to do as well. I hope that you all will join me on this bloggy journey as I share tips and ideas for living on a budget. And continuing with this month's theme of Decorating on a Budget (my favorite subject), today I'm sharing ways to make a BIG impact in a room with a small budget!

I have already shared my boys' bedroom with you, but today we're going to break it down to see how some of the least expensive elements in the room actually create the biggest impact.

First up, my favorite part of the room...the striped wall.

It might seem obvious to some, but the easiest way to create a big impact in a room without spending a lot of money is....drumroll please....paint!

This fabulous wall which is the true focal point of the room was created with two gallons of paint and some painters tape. Not a huge investment...but a HUGE impact. That said... I rent. And I am lucky because I can paint. I realize not everyone who rents is that lucky. And I'm sure when those of you who rent - and can't paint - read suggestions like this you roll your eyes. I don't blame you. But consider bringing in large scale artwork that you create yourself. You could even achieve a similar look to this wall, by painting a large piece of plywood (not very expensive) with stripes and then attaching it to - or propping it against - the wall.

The other thing about this wall which gives it a lot of impact didn't cost a thing. You heard me right. It was free. See that great wood on the wall? We found a free pallet on the side of the road. Then we dismantled it and reassembled it to create a backdrop. Then I just placed a cardboard deerhead on it, but you could put anything on a backdrop like this and it will make a statement! The key is to think outside of the box. Look at things with a "how can I make this work?" attitude, and you might just be surprised at what you will find.

Similarly, this green dresser was a freebie. A cast off from one of the Hubby's clients. It was out of date, but in really great shape. So we took it knowing that we could do something with it. With a fresh coat of paint and some new hardware, this 1970's piece is perfect for the 2010's!

Finally, you can create a real impact with things you already own. I'm talking collections, people. If you collect something (in this case, I've pictured some globes) let your collection become a focal point. I've done the same thing with the "B's" above the green dresser. Like things displayed together always have impact!

This is a formula that I follow in many of my rooms, because I am always working on a budget.
1. Paint - it's a decorators best friend.
2. Think outside the box - what new and unique ways can you use objects to make them more interesting?
3. Group like objects together for impact.

Try using these tips and see if you can't turn a so-so room from blah to beautiful!

In the market for budget-friendly furniture for a small apartment? Learn where to find inexpensive pieces for small spaces: http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/?p=2581

Whether you are looking for decorating tips or design inspiration, Apartment Guide provides ideas for any size home on http://www.movingtoday.comand http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/
“Like” Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook.com/apartmentguideor follow them on Twitter @AptGuidefor real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space. Apartment Guide will be sharing even more ideas for living on a budget.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

How to Make an Upholstered Headboard~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:50:00 +0000

The Princess' bedroom in this house is a bit smaller than it was in our last one. As a result, her antique wrought-iron bed just didn't work. Rather than being disappointed by this, the Princess and I saw it as an opportunity. And since we had to downsize from a full-sized bed to a twin, we decided that we should glam up her room by creating an upholstered headboard.

A few months ago, I shared a sneaky peek of the fabrics that we found to use in her room.

The polkadot fabric became her window seat. And the other one? Well it became her headboard.

It turned out beautifully. And it was actually really easy to make.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to make one of your own.

Here's what you'll need...

Plywood
Kraft Paper
Pencil
Scissors
Measuring Tape
Jigsaw
Quilt Batting
Fabric
Staple Gun

1. Start by cutting your plywood to the correct size (or having it cut at your local hardware/lumber store) for the bed you are creating the headboard for. Although beds have standard widths, the size can be somewhat subjective as far as how tall you would like the headboard.

2. After cutting the plywood to size, decide what shape you would like the headboard to be. If you want a rectangular headboard, you're already there. ;-) If you'd like to create a curvier version, here's what you do.
Create a template using kraft paper. To make the shape symmetrical, try drawing one side first, then folding the kraft paper in half when you cut out your shape to create a template.
NOTE: I simply freehanded my shape, and I did try a couple of different shapes before I found the one that was perfect for what I was looking for.

3. Use your kraft paper template to trace the shape onto your plywood. (Big thanks to the Hubby who took care of the next couple of steps. What a guy!)

4. Use a jigsaw - or get someone who knows how to use one - to cut the shape out of the plywood. (If you look very closely you can see that the Hubby is, indeed, wearing protective eyewear. Safety, first. Always.)

5. At this point, we lightly sanded the edges to make them smooth, but you don't need to go overboard on this step. Keep in mind that the wood wont be visible once the headboard is finished.

6. Now upholster the headboard following the instructions I posted for the Princess' window seat here.

One further note, because this headboard is curved, I clipped the fabric on the backside so that it would fit more smoothly as I stapled it around the curved sections. In addition, because I wanted the back of the headboard to look finished, I covered the exposed plywood and the staples with a piece of muslin.

That's it. A custom (and very pretty, if I do say so myself) headboard for the Princess' room

Disclaimer: Please use caution and follow the included instructions when using machinery of any sort including jigsaws and stapleguns as injury may occur.

xoxo
Wendy

Fashion and Interior Design~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:45:00 +0000

I have mentioned before that I received my college degree in Fashion. And, of course, I have loved interior design since I was a little girl. One of the things that I find fascinating is the way the two work together. I love to watch the trends that flow easily from fashion to interior design and back again. In fact, in my own work, at least, I have a difficult time completely separating one from the other.

I feel that looking in a person's closet is a good indicator as to how they would decorate their home. In fact, I have a series here on the blog that I call "If This Outfit Were a Room" where I pull outfits from catalogs or websites and use them as inspiration for decorating moodboards.

Here are a couple of examples...

My inspiration outfit:

via Ruche

My moodboard:

My inspiration outfit:

via Ruche

My moodboard:

You can see more of my Outfit to Room posts here, here, here and here.

Then last week when I was browsing on Pinterest - ah, Pinterest, where would I be without you? - I found these great pins from the Alice Lane blog. (Love Alice Lane!) In these, an outfit is pictured, and then a room(s) where the color combinations are similar.

Source: blog.alicelanehome.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Fascinating, isn't it?

And so, my dear readers, just for fun...take a look inside your closet today and see if it you can find similarities between what you wear and how you decorate. It just may surprise you!

Have a great day~

Sponsor Sunday: Smart Decorating Ideas~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:37:00 +0000

This week I want to extend a belated welcome to one of my newest sponsors: Smart Decorating Ideas. Smart Decorating Ideas offers decorating inspiration for every room in your home. They share easy decorating tips, and even offer tips on holiday and special occasion decorating.

Via Smart Decorating Ideas

On their website, you can search for inspiration by room, and even by theme. And if you'd like, you can even sign up to receive their newsletter full of the latest decorating tips for you home. And right now, if you sign up to receive the newsletter, you'll have a chance to win a subscription to House Beautiful magazine. (Just thought you'd want to know.)

via Smart Decorating Ideas

Welcome again, Smart Decorating Ideas. Glad to have you on board.

Interesting in sponsoring The Shabby Nest? Find out more about it here.

Box4Blox Giveaway Winner~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:33:00 +0000

Howdy kids! Just popping in on this stormy Saturday (I just love cloudy days, but I sure wish it was snow instead of rain...the weather here still hasn't figured out it's January) to announce the winner of the Box4Blox giveaway.

And the winner, as chosen by Random.org is

Karli

of AnnaKPhotography

Congratulations Karli!!

Please email me and we'll get you set up with your prize!

Happy Saturday Everyone!!

Frugal Friday~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday! As you may recall, last week I had a sudden and quick trip to the Big Apple, and didn't have time to go through all of the fabulous entries from the previous week's party. I did post the fan favorites, but, it turns out, in my haste, I missed the actual fan favorite (which was at the bottom of the previous party link-ups).

So this week, I'm going to set the record straight. The actual fan favorite from two weeks ago (not to diminish the amazing projects I did feature last week) was posted by Thistlewood Farm and was this adorable embroidered wood tray. Yep, you heard me right. Embroidered. Wood. This is genius pure and simple.

And my frugal round-up from two weeks ago...

First, this fun laundry room redo from Strawberries and Sweet Love. Love. It.

Next, Mingled Elements shared her DIY Restoration Hardware Industrial Style Coffee Table. Seriously cool - and you can't beat the savings!

And now for last week's party...

The Fan Favorite from last week was a DIY on making your own bath salts and scrubs posted by The Crunchy Marriage.

And my frugal round-up from last week's party...

First, This great post by Salvage Savvy about her DIY Concrete Countertops. The thing I love about this post is the fact that she gives both the pros and cons of the countertops as well as sharing a link to her tutorial for how to create them.

And Finally, I loved this post by My Champagne Taste about her silver leaf dresser. One word...gorgeous.

An Addition to the Boys' Room: Acrylic Bookshelves~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:10:00 +0000

I'm a tweaker. I admit it. I just can't leave a room well enough alone. And with that intro, we turn to the boys' bedroom. If you recall from the bedroom reveal, the bunkbeds looked like this.

I liked them...but something bothered me. That big white wall behind the bunkbeds, perhaps? But my dilemma was what to do about it. And then the idea hit me one day during my wanderings on the interwebs. Bookshelves. But, obviously, since they would be near the beds (near the beds, but not over the boys' heads, obviously), I couldn't use traditional bookshelves, and I couldn't use bookshelves where the books would likely fall out (because even though they wouldn't be over the boys' heads, safety always comes first). And so I landed on the idea of acrylic bookshelves. And after searching a bit, I actually found these acrylic card display units - you know like they use in boutiques - that I knew would work perfectly.

Source

They are compact in profile, and they have the nice high lip on the outside to hold the books securely in place. And now, not only does the wall have built-in - and changeable - "art", the boys also have easy access to books for bedtime (or anytime, really) reading!

A perfect solution. Love it!

And speaking of love, The Hubby and I have been married 16 years today! Happy 16th Anniversary Babe! Mwah!! XOXO!! Etc. Etc. Etc.

THEN

AND NOW

Have a great day, y'all!

The One Where I Talk About Designing My Own Fabric~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:54:00 +0000

Have you ever been in the situation where you are trying to design a room and you know exactly the fabric you need to complete a certain project, but the fabric doesn't actually exist?
I have found myself in this situation with the Princess' bedroom. I knew exactly what I wanted. I searched high and low. I looked in multiple fabric stores, I searched all over the internet. I can't believe it doesn't exist somewhere, but it doesn't.

So I decided to try out this website that I heard about early on in my blogging experience, put on my must-try list, but never actually got around to trying. And at this point, I want to tell you all that I am not affiliated with this website nor are they compensating me in any way for this post. I just want to tell you all about a great little tool for DIY decorators. Spoonflower.com. Love it. At Spoonflower.com you can actually create and purchase your own fabric. And there's no minimum yardage requirement. Seriously.

So I set to work designing exactly the fabric I wanted for the Princess' bedroom. But then, I admit, I got a little bit carried away. It's so fun! I designed a bunch of different fabrics...in a bunch of different colorways. And then I had a dilemma, because I looooved them all. So I picked my favorite two patterns for her room and had samples printed. And I love them both. And she loves them both. And sheesh! I could have at least pressed them before I took the photos, huh?

We actually decided, however, to reverse the colorway on one of them and use it. But, because I'm a tease, I'm not going to tell you which one. You'll just have to wait and see. I just know you're all on pins and needles now, right? Oh, and that orange one? I have some fun plans for it as well!

The only problem is, now that I have discovered how easy it is to design fabric at Spoonflower, my mind is spinning with projects that I can design my own fabric for. My to-do list is growing by the second. Lol!

Have a great day, my lovelies~

Decorating Your Home on A Budget: Where to Shop~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:22:00 +0000

Howdy everybody! I'm really excited today to announce that for the next three months I am partnering with Apartment Guide as an official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger. Whether you're living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space on a budget. And as an official Apartment Guide Decor blogger, that's just what I'm going to do as well. I hope that you all will join me on this bloggy journey as I share tips and ideas for living on a budget. And to kick things off this month, I am sharing ideas for Decorating on a Budget - which I hope you all realize by now, is one of my favorite subjects in the whole world!!

Let's get to it...shall we? The first thing to know about decorating on a budget is where you should shop. So today I want to share a few of my favorite go-to places for wallet-friendly decor.

Thrift Stores: I know you've heard this a million times, but it's true! You can find great stuff to beautify your home at Thrift Stores (and in this category I also include Yard/Garage Sales). But there are a couple of important things to keep in mind if you choose to go this route. First, you need to have vision. It's unlikely - although it could happen - that you are going to find things in exactly the state that you will want to use them in your house. Shopping at thrift stores/yard sales requires patience. Patience because you almost always have to make several trips to various thrift stores/yard sales to find pieces that will work for you, and patience because you will most likely have to revamp anything you find. If you are willing to invest the time, however, the results are worth it!

Bookcase: Expedit by IKEA

IKEA: I. love. IKEA. Just about anything you need for creating a home can be found at IKEA. I realize that much of what IKEA has to offer is a bit on the contemporary side. However, they do offer a variety of products that are more traditional...and in my own design philosophy, I believe that even the most traditional space can benefit from injecting a little bit of contemporary decor.
Big Box Stores: Okay, you might be a bit skeptical of this one. But stores like Walmart, Costco, Sam's Club and the like are great places to purchase bedding, kitchen gadgets and more.

Lamps from HomeGoods

TJMaxx and HomeGoods: These are absolute favorites of mine. You have to know, however, that if you see something you love at one of these stores, you should probably buy it right then, because it's unlikely that it will be there the next time you go. Case in point, the lamps pictured above. I get more inquiries about those lamps from readers of my blog than just about any other decor pieces in my home, and I got them for a steal at HomeGoods.

Bunkbeds from local Warehouse Store

Warehouse or Outlet Stores: You can get fabulous deals at these sorts of stores, but you have to be aware that many of their pieces may have slight flaws. If you can live with that, however, you can get some great name-brand pieces at a fraction of their retail prices. And don't be afraid to haggle a bit about the prices. We purchased the bunkbeds in our boys' room from a warehouse store, and got an additional $50 off the already discounted price because we weren't afraid to ask!

If you are a savvy shopper, it is possible to create a high-end look on a budget. Take it from me. Absolutely everything in my house is budget-friendly. The key is to be patient. Take time. Have a plan and stick to it. Both your design aesthetic and your wallet can be happy at the same time.

In the market for budget-friendly furniture for a small apartment? Learn where to find inexpensive pieces for small spaces: http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/?p=2581

Whether you are looking for decorating tips or design inspiration, Apartment Guide provides ideas for any size home on http://www.movingtoday.comand http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/
“Like” Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook.com/apartmentguideor follow them on Twitter @AptGuidefor real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space. Apartment Guide will be sharing even more ideas for living on a budget.

My 2012 Word of the Year~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:38:00 +0000

I am a goal-oriented person. I always have been. Even as a child, I would sit down every New Year's Day and dutifully list my resolutions. The list was always fairly exhaustive. And not every goal was always achieved. But in doing so, in creating that list, I also created a statement of the type of person that I wanted to become, and gave myself a snapshot of how I planned to get there.

source

When I started blogging a few years ago, being the goal-oriented, resolution-setter that I am, I was intrigued with the idea - floating around the blogosphere - of choosing a "word of the year". A word that would basically encompass my goals and define what I was striving to do or become during the year.

Because I am so passionate in my belief that goal-setting is a powerful tool for creating success and happiness in one's life, I take the task of picking a "word of the year" very seriously.

For the past year and a half (since my hubby's horrific car accident) our little family has had its share of ups and downs, especially as we have struggled to get back on our feet - emotionally, financially and otherwise. So this year, now that life has settled into what I feel is our new normal, I have high hopes and expectations of what I want each of us to accomplish. And so I have chosen as my word for 2012...

ACHIEVE

I want each member of my family, but most especially myself, to put our whole-hearted effort into each and every worthy endeavor that we involve ourselves in this year. I want us to challenge ourselves. After all, we can do hard things. And I want to be sure that we try new things, that we embrace the opportunities that come our way.

Our 2012 Motto

More specifically, I want to know that I have tried my hardest. And in so doing, I hope to achieve a greater level of happiness and success this year.

If you'd like, you can check out my previous words of the year here (2009) and here (2011). (not sure why I didn't post it in 2010.)

What about you? Do you have a word of the year?

Linking:

Decorating With White and Country Living~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:16:00 +0000

On new stands this month: Country Living's annual White issue. Page after page of inspiration on how to incorporate the color white into your home decor.

In addition, the Country Living website features great tips and suggestions on more ways to use white in your decor. Country Living asked me - along with some other fabulous design bloggers - to share some of my thoughts on how I incorporate white into my decor, and how you can use it too.

Go here to check out my tips and those from some other great bloggers as well!

Frugal Friday~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday!

This week has been so crazy-busy, with a last-minute trip out of town for me, that I haven't had the chance to enjoy all of the posts from last week's party....soooo, please forgive me, but my Frugal Round-up will be postponed until next week. To make it up to you, I'll have a double-sized version of Frugal goodness for you then.

I will tell you, however, that last week's Fan Favorite - er, I should say Fan Favorites - were actually a tie between this lovely chic, black cabinet redo posted by Fab Rehab...

And this great tree-stump-turned-sidetable posted by Dimples and Tangles.

Box4Blox: Product Review and Giveaway~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:00:00 +0000

I've mentioned numerous times on this blog how obsessed my boys are with LEGOS. Obsessed may be an understatement. We have so many sets, we're running of out of display space.

This one sit on a makeshift table in the garage. :-)

And then there are the sets that have been taken apart (that's a nice way of saying that the little brothers broke them). What to do with all of those legos?

Source: thatswhatthatmeans.tumblr.com via Wendy on Pinterest

We've kept them in boxes. We have them in buckets.

So when I was contacted by Box4Blox I was intrigued. Box4Blox is a Mom and Pop company that creates these great Lego storage containers that sort the Legos for you!

Boy #1 was so excited to try it out, he couldn't wait. He was getting a bit annoyed with the fact that I was making him wait until I could take photos. (Oh that crazy blogging Mom!) But finally, we pulled out the box and pulled out a bucket of his legos.

It was great! The Box4Blox is divided into four compartments, each of which has holes in the bottom. The holes in each compartment are graduated in size with the largest holes at the top. They get smaller and smaller as they go down. So after we dumped in the legos, we shook the box (and pushed them through with our hands to give it a little help.) It worked. By the time we were done, the legos were sorted by size. What fun!

If you have a home with lego-obsessed inhabitants, you might want to try this fun storage box out for yourselves. And today, the good people at Box4Blox are offering one reader of The Shabby Nest the chance to win their very own Box4Blox Lego storage box!

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post! Tell me your kiddos favorite thing to build with Legos! Tell me how bad it hurt the last time you stepped on those Legos on your floor! Tell me how much YOU love Legos! Just leave me a fun comment and you'll be entered.

Giveaway will close Thursday, January 12 at 11:59 pm MST.

Good luck!

Checking In...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:32:00 +0000

I feel like I've been MIA from blogland this last week or so. I know I've posted, but that's been about as much contact as I've had. With my computer being repaired, and my big project, I haven't had much time to visit anyone's blog, or even spend much time on my own.

Image Source

But it all culminates this week...in a big excitement that I'll share with you all very soon!

So....I'll be out of town for the next couple of days. But I have a fun giveaway coming your way tomorrow. And then I'll be back home and things should settle down for a bit so I can get back to blogging as usual. I sure miss blogland when I can't visit like I usually do.

If you haven't had a chance to check out last week's Frugal Friday yet, make sure you stop by...there are over 480 entries so far...lots of inspiration for you to start out the new year! And get ready!! I have The Princess' Room Reveal on my radar, as well as some progress to report on our Master Bedroom. Fun stuff, for sure!

Well, I'm off to pack...have a great day~

Frugal Friday~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the first Frugal Friday of 2012!! What a week this has been around The Shabby Nest! Sooooo busy...but really good. I'll let you all in on everything as soon as I can.

But for now let's check out some highlights from last week's party.

First up, The Fan Favorite from last week was this adorable $5 furniture rehab from Dumped & Discovered. Amazing what a bit of paint-able wallpaper can do!

On to my Frugal Round-up...

First up, I love, love, love this chair redo by Two Thirty-Five Designs. The linen upholstery with black trim is so tailored and classic.

Shabby Love shared this pretty wall o' mirrors. I've been wanting to do something similar to this in my main floor powder room. I might just have my inspiration now.

Finally, The Star Wars themed boys' room shared by Blackberry Vine is quite clever, but I really love this lego mini-figure display she created. Could somebody please pin this for me, so I can repin it, since my computer with the pinning widget is still being repaired at the computer hospital (yeah, I know there's not really such a thing as a computer hospital.) Leave me a comment if you do...my boys will love you for it. ;-)

Some Miscellaneous Stuff (including how I lost 15 pounds)~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Happy Thursday everybody!

Yesterday was a crazy, crazy day. I am in the middle of some very exciting stuff here around The Shabby Nest (that I'll tell you all about very soon), and yesterday was a big day. I don't know about you, but it seems like Murphy's Law was written just for me. So the fact that I was trying to accomplish something big meant that I was sure to run into problems.

Source: rachelswandesign.tumblr.com via Wendy on Pinterest

While in the middle of our project, my laptop told me the battery was low, so I went to get the cord and plug it in. The only problem was that the cord wouldn't go into the port. I couldn't figure out what the problem was until the hubby looked into the port and announced that a piece was missing. Yep. Missing. So I took my poor, pink laptop to the computer hospital where the nice young man (who was very amused by the fact that my laptop is, indeed, pink) explained to me that it would take 7-10 days to fix the problem. Grrrr.

So, now, my laptop is being repaired and I have no access to any of my files or photos...and unfortunately, it is the only computer in our home that has my camera software installed so I can't use my big-girl camera for the next week and a half either.

Source: imgfave.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Thankfully, despite the snafu, I was able to finish my important project - it just took about three times as long as it should have...and you all might have to suffer with cell phone photos on the blog for the next little bit. Lol!

But the fun little project I had hoped to share today didn't get accomplished in time...there's always next week, right?

Now on to something that is waaaay off topic for my blog. After yesterday's post, I had several comments and emails asking how I lost my weight, so I thought I'd tell you all a bit about it. I want to start by saying that I am not an expert on weight loss, and I'm not affiliated with (or paid by) any weight loss companies or exercise programs. I'm just going to tell you what worked for me - in case it might inspire anyone who is trying to lose some weight (I know there's a bunch of those New Year's Resolutions floating around right now.) But please, seek medical advice for serious weight loss goals and above all, lose weight in a healthy way.

First, I want to preface all this by saying that as a teen I had a very unhealthy relationship with food and a terrible body image even though I was very thin. I don't want to struggle with those same issues now, so I have to approach weight loss very carefully. I need to approach it in a healthy way.

After the birth of my daughter, I used Weight Watchers to lose the weight. And it worked great for me. I'm a bit of a control freak and I hate complicated diet plans, so Weight Watchers was right up my alley. The journalling worked well for me, and the points were an easy way to understand how much I could eat per day. And something about going to meetings to weigh in kept me accountable. So after the birth of my 2nd son, I did the same, and most of the weight came off...but 9 months after he was born I was expecting again.

I don't know if it was having two children so close together, or not, but when my last baby was born - 4 1/2 years ago - the weight didn't come off. I tried Weight Watchers, but I guess I just wasn't as committed this time. That is until September of last year. At the end of September, I looked at myself and I didn't like it. I weighed 25 pounds more than my goal weight. I wasn't happy or comfortable with myself. Because things have been tight for us financially the past year or so, I couldn't justify the money to go to Weight Watchers, so I decided that it was all going to boil down to how bad I wanted to lose the weight, because I was going to have to do it on my own.

So here's what I did. First, I knew that losing weight all on your own isn't really possible. So I enlisted a weight loss buddy. My little sis and best friend, Holly. She lives in California, so we decided that each morning we would text each other with our current weight and words of encouragement for each other. I know, some people say don't weigh yourself every day when you are trying to lose weight, but for us, it kept us on track.

Next, I decided that I would still follow the Weight Watchers points plan, and I would journal every bite of food that went into my mouth. And because I tend to eat a carb-heavy diet, I made sure that every meal I ate included both carbs and protein. Also, because I love treats, I made sure to allow enough points everyday for a small treat. I didn't want to deprive myself entirely and end up eating my weight in icecream.

Finally, I exercised 6 days a week. My exercises of choice...walking and Pilates. Let me just say that I love Pilates! I was first introduced to it when I worked for Ballet West several years ago. The dancers there took Pilates classes because it elongates and tones the muscles and is a great way to improve flexibility and strengthen the core. Honestly, I see a bigger change faster with Pilates than with any other exercise I have ever done. (I can actually see serious muscle tone developing on these abs that have carried four children. Really.)

But, in the end, it all boils down to determination. I WANTED to lose this weight. And I admit, keeping it off during the holidays was really hard. I gained back about three pounds which is now gone again...but it was a fight not to gain more. And now that I'm getting a little older (I'll hit the big 4-0 this year. argh.) I know that it will be something that I have to work on constantly. But I feel better, I look better and my clothes fit better. And after my computer comes home from the computer doctor, I'll show you some before and after pics so you can see the difference for yourselves and not think that I am just telling tales. Of course, I'm not where I want to be yet. I still have about 10 pounds to go. And that leads me to the last thing I want to share. Losing weight and making changes in your body takes time.

I saw this on Pinterest and wanted to share it....

Source: itstheskinny.tumblr.com via Wendy on Pinterest

It's true. Don't get discouraged because you don't see changes right away. You will....and so will everyone else. Just keep at it!

I hope that my story will help someone somewhere with their weight loss battle. You can do it!!!!

Frugal Friday goes live today at 8:00 pm MST as usual. See you there.

My Life in Numbers~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:13:00 +0000

For your Wednesday reading enjoyment...

My life in numbers...

4- The number of children in this family that went back to school yesterday.

2- The number of parents in this family that did a little happy dance because said children went back to school yesterday ...don't get me wrong - love my kiddos - but also love a little peace and quiet. ;-)

24 - The appoximate number of hours spent painting rooms or furniture in this house in the past week or so.

5 - The number of times this momma has played Just Dance 3 on Wii with the Princess since Christmas. This momma has rhythmmmmmm.

2 - The number of adorable in-laws who are expected to fly in for a visit today!

photo by The Hubby

4 - The number of grandkids who live in this house and are super excited for said visit.

15 - The number of pounds this momma has lost since September. wahoooooo!!

10 - The number this momma has left to lose.

1203812984 - The approximate number of photos on my hard drive that need to be edited, organized and archived.

3 - The number of loads of clean laundry waiting to be folded. (hey, at least it's clean, right?)

16 - In fifteen days, this will be the number of years the Hubby and I have been married.

5775 - As of this writing, the number of fabulous friends who follow this blog on Google.

3575 - As of this writing, the number of fabulous friends who like this blog on Facebook.

2039 - As of this writing, the number of fabulous friends who hear my ramblings on Twitter.

1100 - The number of times I've "pinned" something on Pinterest.

955 - The number of posts written on this blog to date.

1 - The lady who loves writing this blog and connecting with all of you!

Have a great day!!!!!

xoxo
Wendy

December Monthly Recap and My Top Referrers for 2011~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:38:00 +0000

Last week I recapped my favorite posts and projects of the year, but that doesn't mean that December should be ignored. I had some fun stuff posted in December that I'd like to highlight again (and I spared you all the Christmas decor, it's all coming down today anyway for a fresh, clean house.)

We made some strides toward finishing the Princess' bedroom in December. First, I updated her bedside table with a fresh coat of pretty blue paint and a bling-y drawer pull. You can read more about that here.

Then I created some fabulous art on the cheap using a Barbie calendar. Love this. Wish I could put them in our Master, but I'm pretty sure the Hubby would protest. ;-) You can read more about that here.

Next, I shared a cute last-minute DIY Christmas gift, but these would be great for the Grandparents on Valentine's day as well. Find out how to make them here.

And in December I shared a couple of versions of "If This Room Were an Outfit". These are always really fun. Check them out here and here.

Finally, if you missed the inspiration that is Frugal Friday this month, you can find them here, here, here and here.

And last but not least, I want to give a shout out and a HUGE THANK YOU to my Top 10 Referrers for 2011.

1. Thrifty Decor Chick
2. Centsational Girl
3. Miss Mustard Seed
4. Nesting Place
5. Southern Hospitality
6. Isabella and Max Rooms
7. Poppies at Play
8. Funky Junk Interiors
9. Our Suburban Cottage
10. Design Mom

Thank you to these Amazing Women!!!

xoxo
Wendy

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Happy 2012 to all of you my dear readers!!

Wishing you a year filled with joy, health and dreams that come true!

xoxo

Wendy

Frugal Friday~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:00:00 +0000

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday. The last Frugal Friday of 2011...can you believe this year is almost over? I must say I'm very excited. I love the beginning of a new year...so full of possibility. So ready to be filled with inspiration.

But before we get to that part, let's recap last week's party...

The Fan Favorite from last week was Scissors and Steam's post about her progress on her crocheted blanket which she affectionately calls the monster. Hey, any blanket that takes 1 1/2 hours to stitch one row...yeah, that's a monster. ;-)

And now on to my Frugal Round-up...

First up, I love me a good IKEA hack, and check out this one from the California Callahans. Lovin' this transformation of a Hemnes dresser!

French Country Cottage shared her beautifully decorated Christmas bedroom. So. pretty.

And finallly, It All Started With Paint shared her fabulous entry way reveal.

Living Room Mood Board~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:19:00 +0000

I recently had the opportunity to design a client's living room for her new-construction house. I really love having the opportunity to start with a completely clean slate and let my imagination run wild. Because the house is open concept, and the living room is open to the kitchen (which is done in shades of white, black and gray) I continued that color scheme through the living area to create a sense of continuity.

I love the warm pops of gold in the map and the coffee table. And I am in love. love. love. with that rug.

If you are in need of decorating ideas for a new space, or are looking to freshen up an existing space, I'm your gal! Check out my e-design services here.

Out of respect for my paying clients, I do not share the sources of the products I recommend for my e-design boards. Thank you for understanding.

Frugal Friday goes live tonight at 8 pm MST as usual! See you there for Frugal Inspiration from around the blogosphere!

xoxo
Wendy

My Favorite Posts and Projects of 2011~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 06:58:00 +0000

2011 was a good year for our family...and a good year at The Shabby Nest. Here's a recap of some of my favorites posts and projects from this year.

In January, the hubby and I celebrated 15 years of marriage. You can read about how I used balloons to surprise him on our big day here.

In February, I shared a mini-makeover in our dining room.

I also shared how I created a mudroom out of an awkward space between our kitchen and our back door.

And I shared how to make cupcakes in a jar...cute and yummy!

I am in love with Subway Art...and this year, I shared an easy way to make your own personalized subway art.

The summer found us moving to a new town and a new house...which gave me lots of projects to share.

I loved sharing my boys' bedroom.

The hubby created some beautiful equine art for our dining room.

At the beginning of November, I was given the Blue Ribbon Blogger Award for best decorating blog by Country Living Magazine. I travelled to New York for a special luncheon to honor myself and the other 6 Blue Ribbon Blogger Award winners.

I was so excited to be featured in Country Living Magazine along with the other winners!

Later that month, I shared our living room reveal.

And then showed you how I created that fabulous accent wall.

And finally, I shared how I created glamorous wall art on the cheap for the Princess' bedroom.

2012 is sure to bring many more DIY and decor projects as I finish up the Princess' bedroom, and our master bedroom...as well as our loft/playroom/media room and the kitchen. Can't wait to share everything with you this coming year. Hope you'll all join me here for the fun!

xoxo
Wendy

Linking up to the Top Projects of 2011 Linky Party at Southern Hospitality.

If This Outfit Were a Room~

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy @ The Shabby Nest) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:14:00 +0000

I was checking out the latest Ruche lookbook when I happened across this swanky little outfit...

And I thought it would make a fab.u.lous room. I loved the purple-y eggplant-y shades in the outfit and the textures as well. This is how it translated...

The thing I love about using fashion as an inspiration for interior design, is that it forces me to think outside the box. I don't think I would have ever considered an eggplant-colored sofa unless I was using an inspiration photo like the one I was using. And you know what? I love it!! True - a purple sofa is not for the faint of heart. But it certainly creates an unforgettable (and lovely) statement in this room, huh?

Sources:
Sofa: Armen Living Centennial Loveseat in Egglplant
Curtains: Ballard Designs
Lamps: Amazon
Rug: West Elm
Accent Tables: Uttermost Baina Accent Table
Mirror: Kenroy Home Empress Gilded Silver