On the List -Updated

Whilest in the midst of taking down Christmas and an attempt at deep cleaning and de-cluttering... I was hit again by my wish lists of things I wanted to around our place as stated here.  So I thought I would revisit it and give an update persay of what's been done/what hasn't as well as *new* goals.

On the List (Bedroom edition):

1. New bedding/pillows - 25% complete? For Christmas, I got two Euro Sham Pillows for the bed. But currently they are sitting there naked because I haven't figured out the bedding sitation yet. WORK IN PROGRESS.
2. Attempting to DIY a leaning floor mirror, like this, this , or this - I was all set to do this over Thanksgiving (talked about here) but then realized that the entire total cost would cost more than say... the Ikea Mongstad Mirror (which was even $20 cheaper at that time). So I went to buy that, measured it and my car, bought it... to realize I forgot one important measurement of my trunk mouth... and to return it right away. Still planning on this mirror instead I think; just have to work out transporting it because it cost the same price of the mirror to ship!! EEK!
3. Figuring out the his and her closet organization--- in a small closet. -We are currently trying to go through clothes and determine what to keep/give away but otherwise NOTHING done towards this.
4. Find a new rug- YAY! 100% complete.  It was a Black Friday deal from rugsusa.com. Was planning on taking a picture of it with the new mirror and then... well I already said what happened.
5. Under the bed storage*

On the List (Living Room edition):

1. DIY rustic frame around a lovely Murphy Brown Quote- Keep going back and forth on this one. Still nothing done yet.
2. To find an industrial style bookshelf? Or new bookshelf? Or just hang shelves? Basically... anything with more shelving and item space/storage.- This is my current battle. I like bookshelves for the height it adds since we have tall ceilings, but I kind of want something with more storage purposes like a buffet with some drawers and shelves... I am seriously searching nightly right now.
3. Improve blanket storage... maybe DIY blanket ladder? Or maybe I just need to go through blankets and donate what I don't want/need/use anymore? - And I tried out some crib rails a friend was getting rid of to determine what I think about a blanket ladder. I am not convinced. I think I will be getting rid of a couple blankets or moving there storage somewhere else. So basically, long story short, I give myself a 10% done because I at least ruled out the blanket ladder? Small victory.
4. More art or wall decor in dining area- Another small victory. I ordered one piece of art so far... it is from the show Fixer Upper... I bought a beautiful piece of metal art from Magnolia Market. Joanna Gaines- I love you.
5. To find a new coffee table-- I LOVE industrial style coffee tables like this, this, this, and this- UGH another battle. I have found nothing as of yet.
6. Carpet/Rug*
7. Throw pillows*
8. Possible plant stand/side tables? Love this ikea hack*
9. Plant life*

On the List (General):

1. We own a lot of dvds... which are located in two overflowing tubs... so definitely want/need to figure out some sort of movie storage.- TEMPORARY. I made space for them when have been doing a deep clean and sorting through old stuff in the back to give for donations.
2. Re-frame hallway art onto lighter frame for improved ease with hanging (and staying up).- Seems like it would be a pretty easy one to complete... why haven't I done this yet?
3. Get rid of treadmill that is wasting space in our back area.- Another seemingly easy one and now that winter is here and we can't just see if someone will take it from the alley... probably will take a while to do yet.
4. Get tubs/containers and organize back area of tools, crafts, wrapping paper, party goods, etc.- Part of the deep cleaning process that is currently taking place, so hopefully I will be crossing this one out shortly!
5. Shoe storage*
6. Make-up/Hair Supplies/Hair tools storage in the bathroom cabinet* Maybe like this #9 or this #25
7. Cleaning Supply storage under kitchen sink* Maybe like this #1- I have cleaned it and what not since I have posted this and without further ado, it looks better. Holding off on anything more fancy now. So... I am gonna cross it off (or technically as you are reading.. I already have!)

On the List (Holiday edition):

1. There is a possibility that if I work on Thanksgiving, we would not be going home. However, Tim's family would likely be stopping by at some point. So I would love to do a cute Thanksgiving/Fall centerpiece like this, this, or this! - Did a little something with various fake fall like fruits on a wood server with a cloche over it. Not the greatest, but something.
2. Buy some new fall scented candles! Tim and I go through candles like crazy, so we are already in need of some new fall ones... and might as well get some winter-ish ones while we are at it. - I will cross this one off because we actually have bought a few small candles we went through, but we have also been melting wax with like a warmer that my mom had bought us.
3. Clean. Obviously. - Silly to have on the list because who is not constantly cleaning. DUH.
4. Scour the clearance/sale racks for future fall decorations. At this time, Christmas stuff is already out and has been out for a bit truthfully. Time to look a bit through the clearance to see if there is anything I want fall-ish to slowly build up my personal collection of fall decor! -And was a little late to the game. By the time, I looked there was nothing. Oh well, less stuff I have to figure out where to store right now. 

Right now, with not even what I have put here- my to do list is huge! But I am in a very productive mode and crossing things off left and right. BOOM! Hopefully I can keep this surge up. 
Welp. That is all. Hope you are crossing things off your list too!

Happy HUMP day!

xo jess xo 

On The List

So as I said the other day... I am in the mood to get things done. When I finished the gallery wall, I immediately had started thinking of projects- BUT I was like "remember how long this ended up taking you? no need to rush onto the next thing!" So I just enjoyed it.. and am still enjoying it.  However, now I am ready for my next project! I am still deciding at this point and I want it to be something that is smaller and can be accomplished easier with the holidays coming up.

On the List (Bedroom edition):

1. New bedding/pillows 
2. Attempting to DIY a leaning floor mirror, like this, this , or this
3. Figuring out the his and her closet organization-- in a small closet.
4. Find a new rug

On the List (Living Room edition):

1. DIY rustic frame around a lovely Murphy Brown Quote
2. To find an industrial style bookshelf? Or new bookshelf? Or just hang shelves? Basically... anything with more shelving and item space/storage.
3. Improve blanket storage... maybe DIY blanket ladder? Or maybe I just need to go through blankets and donate what I don't want/need/use anymore? 
4. More art or wall decor in dining area
5. To find a new coffee table-- I LOVE industrial style coffee tables like this, this, this, and this

On the List (General):

1. We own a lot of dvds... which are located in two overflowing tubs... so definitely want/need to figure out some sort of movie storage.
2. Re-frame hallway art onto lighter frame for improved ease with hanging (and staying up).
3. Get rid of treadmill that is wasting space in our back area.
4. Get tubs/containers and organize back area of tools, crafts, wrapping paper, party goods, etc.

On the List (Holiday edition):

1. There is a possibility that if I work on Thanksgiving, we would not be going home. However, Tim's family would likely be stopping by at some point. So I would love to do a cute Thanksgiving/Fall centerpiece like this, this, or this!
2. Buy some new fall scented candles! Tim and I go through candles like crazy, so we are already in need of some new fall ones... and might as well get some winter-ish ones while we are at it.
3. Clean. Obviously.
4. Scour the clearance/sale racks for future fall decorations. At this time, Christmas stuff is already out and has been out for a bit truthfully. Time to look a bit through the clearance to see if there is anything I want fall-ish to slowly build up my personal collection of fall decor!

Now just to figure out what exactly what I want to do and.. do it! But just like the gallery wall, I am going for more long term and less quick fix- which means I will still be taking my time with it. :)

xo Jess xo

Is it weird to be in love with a wall?

It's done. And I am in love.

I have finally gotten the gallery wall where I want it to be! Soon will be getting other bedroom accessories up to snuff.. but for now, I will just lay in bed and stare at my pretty wall. :) ahhhhhh

To recap, this is where we TRAGICALLY START... with a terrible "Pinterest fail"(can read about it here) and a stack of frames on my bedroom floor.

So.... off to find INSPIRATION and my favorite was from Style Me Pretty. I liked the combination of colors, looks very classic, and it was easy to imagine around our TV obviously.

IN-PROGRESS included laying out some frames and following a "paper-hanging method". I got my paper method hanging by following these awesome blogs' instructions at Young House Love and A Beautiful Mess. They do an awesome detailed job explaining that I would not even come close to.

And after sitting like that forever, eventually frames came up in the paper's places and nothing went in them.... UNTIL I slowly filled it with meaningful things for Tim and I. :) I made some of the "written" prints and purchased a few printable quotes from Etsy (here, here, and here) and got them printed @ Nations Photo Lab. They were very easy to upload your items, pick your paper/size/etc, printed quickly with good customer service, and overall very reasonably priced. I definitely have a few more things around the house I want to get printed and I will be going back to this company.

Now I am not so great taking pictures of this and our room does not have much natural light (so sorry for the creamy/yellow overhead light look.. it does seem a bit more crisp in person. Eventually I will try to take some better photographs.)

Anywho, without further ado, THE FINISHED PRODUCT:

The overall look from our bed... well technically standing on it so I can prevent some glare ;)

Clockwise from left: The 6 photo frame holds personal things between the husband and I such as our lucky number 13, favorite quote "It's the little things", important dates in our lives/relationship, first dance song lyrics, Mr. & Mrs. ring art I did, and a photograph of the Normal Theater's marquee for "It's A wonderful Life". Next, just another quote we like that translates to "I regret nothing"- very positive outlook we think. Next, a canvas of one of our engagement pictures in "our seat" at Normal Theater.  Lastly, an old school picture of the 2 of us from... 2005?

Clockwise from left: A map of our new home of Chicago <3, a photo from a night out with friends in Milwaukee this year, a picture from our first dance at our wedding, XO (no comment needed right?), the quote "Let's grow old together" (reminds me of "i wanna grow old with you- from the wedding singer" which I LOVE and Tim would always let me know when it was on :) ), and lastly another photo from our wedding. 

AS I SAID- I AM IN LOVE! 

I'm just going to go lay in bed and stare at it!

happy monday!

xo jess xo

Picture This

I have definitely been all up on Pinterest and one of the first things I would like to do is.... put up a gallery wall in our bedroom. Above our tv and dresser. I had made some art for right over it when we moved in and immediately disliked it. We shall call it a Pinterest Fail.

The inspiration was something like this:

 

with amazing artistic painting penmanship and very original... however I had some issues and kept messing up so I thought, grey is in our bedroom decor.. I can have a grey background and wah-la. This is what I ended up with:

Needless to say...  I am embarrassed to even post this. I have hated it from Day One. The dimensions in the space, my handwriting, the coloring, everything. And I did not do a single thing to fix it.  EYESORE!!  (also, sorry for the terrible pics)

SO last trip to Ikea, I stocked up on a few cheap frames. I have a few old ones and a few from Target. Definitely need some more and of course to figure out what I want to put IN them... BUT here are some of my new inspirations for our bedroom. A nice little gallery wall :)

 

Debating which style of frames I like best.. should I stick with photos or also add phrases/quotes/etc? Should I keep it all picture frames or add a canvas (because I have a cute small one from our engagement photos)?  Ahhhhh who knew a gallery wall would have so many decisions? 

I think I like first one best... but maybe because that one is actually around a tv so I can picture it better.... What should I do?!