Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DIY. Show all posts

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Playroom Progress: Part Two {Floors & A Wall}

The playroom is so close to being finished I can't even wait! Olivia has been testing out the floors and already loves to go down there.  If you'd like to see Part One of our progress, click here. Since the last update, the wall has been painted and the floors have been put down.  We also added a huge chalkboard wall, which I'm itching to draw on! Everyone always likes to see a good before and after, so here is the before:




Here is our progress leading up to today....



The staircase is now fully enclosed, especially important with little ones running around. I love it and almost can't remember what it was like before. 


The dog's "suite" is now under the stairs and we installed a small sensor light in there incase it gets too dark under the stairs.  It can be set to automatic or turn on and off manually.  We'll be adding a door so it can be closed...I'm voting for barn door style. 


Olivia was in her glory helping Daddy and Grandpa


The chalkboard wall will be so much fun for her!  I couldn't get a great picture because of the lighting, but I'm really happy with how it turned out. 


Grandpa had a great helper the whole time. After Olivia drew on the freshly painted wall with red carpenter pencil, we were asked to leave ;)


The floors are vinyl planks from Lowes: Style Selections in Antique Woodland.  My hubby was hesitant on using them but I researched a ton and we're SO happy with how they came out.  We've had multiple people thinking they were real wood floors when they see the progress.  They were fairly easy to install as well, says the wife who watched;) but seriously only a few cuts and they were installed so quickly. 


To figure out the correct placement, you lay down a line then another starting in the middle of that line and so on. Olivia had a ball stomping on each one to "make sure they stick".  She'll grow up to love DIY, it's in her genes. Now on to the reveal of the finished floor...
One more "Before"...


...and "After"



I let the girls play on the poufs that I found at Target and they were clearly loving it!


I can't wait for everything to come together!  We'll be picking up the couch this week and hopefully doing a little decorating as well.  Our tv was just mounted and it looks awesome.  We used stained a board and mounted it with plumbing pieces. Can't wait to show you more! 



Monday, March 9, 2015

Playroom Progress: Part One

Hope you all had a great weekend.  Even though yesterday was a little tiring with the time change, I'm looking forward to longer, sun filled days so it was a welcomed change. As I mentioned in my previous post our playroom renovation is in full swing.  I'm so excited!  I'm pretty sure I have figured out how I want the layout to be, which I scribbled down on a post-it and texted to my hubby.  Here are some before pictures, in all their glory - no judging;) and some shots of our progress so far... *Before my hubby moved most of the furniture out, I didn't get to take before pics...still sad about that so we're left with in-between-moving-furniture pictures*

Before:



Progress: Part One (Carpet removal, adhesive removal, building and framing staircase and dog suite)







I never really realized how treacherous the staircase was before we put that wall up and I'm so glad we did with little ones running around.  Our plan for the stairs is to sand and repaint them, then add a runner for extra comfort and stability on the stairs.  The "dog suite" will be underneath the stairs and will replace our dog's crate, which is rather large and I wanted more room for Olivia to play so my hubby came up with this idea.  Brilliant, right?!  She'll have her own little area and I'll probably install a soft light in there.  We're also making some sort of door for it as well.  On the wall with the window, I'll be creating a chalkboard area for Olivia and friends to draw with chalk and create little masterpieces ;) We also picked out paint, which is very similar to the color now but will make the room look fresh and clean.  The floor will be one of the last parts of the project as it's super messy with saw dust, paint, etc.  I can't wait to share more of our progress with you throughout the next few weeks! 

To see my playroom ideas and plans, view that post here.

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Inspiration Board || Playroom Edition


I am so excited that we are re-doing our basement and transforming it into a playroom!  Currently, it is my hubby's "man cave" and the dog's room...aka I hate hate hate it.  I rarely spend time down there, with the exception of some nights while I'm trying to be a ninja creeping around post bedtime avoiding making any noise so I can watch some Real Housewives.  I basically told Rob that we were turning the basement into a playroom so I was pleasantly surprised when he didn't argue.  I think he's secretly excited about this, princess tent and all.  I'm trying to keep it neutral with pops of color so it can be enjoyed by everyone.  Except the dog.  Bye bye to sleeping on the couch, Harper.  Is that mean?  Nah...  Dog hair drives me up the wall! We're planning on buying this couch from Ikea. We're going with the white slipcover and before you think I'm crazy, here's why... 1. The slipcover can be washed  2. In the case of dirt, crayons, play doh, cookie crumbs, etc this can be bleached 3. Because I love white and it's gotten so many great reviews I think it's worth a try  4.  Its affordable, yet Pottery Barn inspired.  I'm also planning on purchasing an extra slipcover to use while one is being washed.  In the clearance section of Ikea I found multiple slipcovers in all different colors, being sold for as little as $10!  Gotta love Ikea clearance section.  For extra seating, I found this pouf from Target marked down to $18 on clearance!  It's more of a mustard color than shown and I think it'll be a fun addition to the room. Seriously, bargain shopping makes my day. 



I also found this rug from Ikea as well, marked down to $29 for a 5 x 7...I couldn't pass it up!  It's darker in the picture but it's a nice gray with hints of white.  It's also indoor/outdoor so it'll be easy to keep clean. 


The basement is the only room in the house with carpet, so we're choosing to take that out and use this vinyl plank flooring from Lowes.  Due to the fact that this is a basement, we went with these after doing some research.  It was between laminate and vinyl flooring and our local Lowe's recommended the vinyl, which is better for moisture prone areas.  After browsing through Pinterest, I'm shocked by how real these floors looked.  We went with Antique Woodland Oak to add a rustic, hand scraped look.  


The chalkboard print is from the Caravan Shoppe, which I'm obsessed with for prints!  I had this printed at Staples in engineer size for about $4! I added wood to the top and bottom to create a finished look that I can't wait to show you.


In addition to the chalkboard print, I'm also making a chalkboard wall for Olivia to draw and have fun with.  I love chalkboard walls so I can't wait to see it finished.  We're planning on wall mounting our tv and repurposing a bookcase that we bought years ago from Ikea into an entertainment/storage area.  I'll be using a mix of baskets to hide away some toys and other various items.  Also, as you can see in the inspiration board I included a tree stump side table.  Isn't that fun?  I'm keeping my eyes out during my next HomeGoods trip.  I'm so excited to start the process of turning our basement into a playroom!  You can follow along with our progress on Instagram (@thebirdsnestblog) if you'd like, and as always I'll be posting updates on here as well.  I hope you all have a great day! 



Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Whipped Brown Sugar Scrub

I can't get enough of these homemade scrubs!  My friend's birthday was on Sunday (Hi Julia!) and I wanted to make her a little something special.  The last scrub I made was a coconut almond sugar scrub, the recipe can be found here. I wanted to try to make a different kind and I love how it turned out. The scrub is light and soft, yet exfoliates so well.  Coconut oil is so great for your skin and it's been making my skin so soft.  Below is my recipe for whipped brown sugar scrub.


Ingredients:

1/2 cup of coconut oil (solid)
1/4 cornstarch
3/4 cup of brown sugar
3/4 fine white sugar
2 drops of vanilla extract or essential oil

Start by adding the solid coconut oil (not melted) into a stand mixer.  Begin whipping it for about 2 minutes or until fluffy.  Add in the cornstarch, continuing to whip together.  Once whipped, add in the two sugars and drops of vanilla.  The consistency should be light and fluffy, slightly crumbly.  If the consistency is too moist, add more sugar, or if too dry add a small amount of more coconut oil. 


The scrub smells so good and knowing that it's made from pure ingredients makes me love it even more.  Side note:  The other night, my toddler requested that Daddy would read to her before bedtime.  You better believe I kissed her goodnight, ran down the hall, started the shower and locked that door!  Mommies need time outs too! ;)  This scrub is just a little indulgence at the end of the day.  

Enjoy!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

How to Winterize Your Nails || Julep

{My new favorite clutch shown above can be found here}

Winter can be so tough on your skin, hands, and nails!  I wanted to share some tips on how to winterize your nails so you'll be ready to take on colder, drier weather with fresh, strong nails.  I'm a huge fan of Julep products and especially love their oxygen nail treatment and mighty nail and cuticle serum.   Following this guide will help you get your nails winterized in no time...

 
I always keep my nails on the shorter side because I'd hate to scratch my little one, and I'm a fanatic about filing them to make sure they are smooth and shaped.  I love the tip to warm the cuticle softener to create a spa-like treatment...perfect for momma time ;)  

My typical at home manicure consists of these steps:  

1.  Remove all polish to create a fresh, clean nail surface.

2.  Apply the oxygen smoothing base coat to fill in any fine lines and smooth the top nail layer.

3.  Apply two coats of your favorite nail polish and let dry between coats.  

4.  Apply the Freedom Polymer top coat (one of my favorites!) to create a gel-like finish.  

5.  Finish with the mighty nail and cuticle serum to keep those cuticles moisturized throughout the day.

*One of my favorite time tips is applying the Ta Da quick dry drops after completing the steps above.  Seriously a time and nail saver!


Julep has also released their new trending nail polish colors, which can also be seen here... I'm loving the "Isla" and "Joanne" for winter!


One last tip that I'd like to add is to exfoliate your hands.  Exfoliating really helps to rid your hands of dry, dead skin to reveal soft, smooth hands.  Have you tried to make your own sugar scrub?  A coconut almond sugar scrub would be wonderful to add to your beauty routine.  I shared mine here


Do you winterize your nails?  I'd love to hear some more tips on how you keep your nails hydrated and ready for colder weather.   Be sure to check out more Julep products here.  

*Disclaimer:  The Birds Nest was not compensated in any way to write this post or include any Julep products.  Opinions are strictly my own.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Coconut Almond Sugar Scrub || Homemade

Hello!

I hope you enjoyed some festive New Years celebrations.  We had a low key night at my sister's house and everyone was in bed before the ball dropped,  #lifewithatoddler.  Anyway, it has been freezing the past few days and I have been wanting to try to make a sugar scrub to help with dry hands and skin from the cold.  This. Is. Amazing.  It smells so good and it is so easy to make!  Here is how I made my own sugar scrub.


1/4-1/3 cup of coconut oil
1 cup of white sugar
A few drops of almond extract (or almond essential oil)

Melt the coconut oil and stir in the almond oil and sugar.  Mix until ingredients are incorporated and store in an airtight container.  For use as both a hand scrub or body scrub.  Enjoy!



I can't wait to try to make a different scent next.  I'm thinking coconut vanilla or lemon sugar sound good.  I used a small amount after washing my hands and it really made them so smooth!  I'm a hand cream fanatic and I haven't reached for it once since I've been using the scrub.  This would be the perfect little gift for friends or as a hostess gift too! Let me know if you try it, I'd love to hear.


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

We Painted || DIY Christmas Ornaments for Toddlers

I can feel Christmas is the air!  I'm so excited for the holidays this year and everyday it's getting more and more festive around here.  On Sunday, I went to church solo while my hubby stayed home with Olivia.  When I got back, I found that he had made Christmas ornaments with her!  It just warms my heart to see that... A) He found a baby safe recipe B) He thought about this little project on his own C) She loved it D) He cleaned up.  Santa will be good to him this year :)


The biggest one is her handprint...love. He used this recipe here, which was basically a mix of cornstarch, baking soda, and water.  I love how bright white and sturdy the ornaments came out.  After the ornaments were cooked and cooled, we painted them using Crayola washable paint.  We babysit my niece, Brynn, on Mondays so she joined in too!  Brynn was definitely into it more, while Olivia was slightly concerned about getting messy.  She is my child.

To prep them, we put my hubby's old t-shirts on them to avoid a painted clothes mess and set up their Ikea Latt table with newspapers to cover the surface.  Perfect sized table that we use for everything! {Look under the DIY tab to see more pictures of customizing the table} Step #1...do not eat the ornaments before we can race to get the paint open.







We also kept construction paper nearby, for those who grew tired of painting ornaments ;)


Overall, they came out so cute!! Both girls were proud to show off their ornaments when they were finished.  We wrote their initials and year on the back so we can keep them as a keepsake through the years.  


Let me know if you try this!  It was an easy, festive craft that can be enjoyed by all! What festive projects have you done lately?  Are you planning a special holiday craft with your little ones?


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