2012 Home Goals

My home decor/design hero, The Nester, is hosting her annual Home Goal Linky Party.  So, of course I have to participate!

This year, I really want to focus on a few key things that I think can make a big impact for not a ton of money!

1.  Since the formal dining room is a space that everyone sees when they enter our house, I would like for it to be special.  I have been scouring Craiglist unsuccessfully for a buffet.  But, maybe when yard sale season starts, I can find something great.  I also want to add window treatments (or mis-treatments) plus a new chandelier and rug.

The only picture I could find of the dining room includes some Christmas decor, but you can get the picture - tan walls, tan chairs, brown table, no window treatments - boring!

Window Treatment Possibility:

Kimono Gypsy by Premier Prints

2.  On the other side of our entrance is the office.  It doesn't need huge amounts of work, but I would like to get some additional art on the wall and the bookcases need some rearranging.

3. I want to cover my wire pantry shelves like they did at FocalPoint. This is such an awesome DIY!  Then, I want to do some better organizing in there.  Maybe something similar to The House of Smith's below (a girl can dream, right?).

4.  Try to introduce more of the blues and greens we both love (pulled from our Good Earth pottery) into the living room - maybe through new chairs, throw pillows and window treatments/mis-treatments.

Good Earth Pottery - Bluebird Pattern

Photo from JustALittleOrganic.com

That's all!  Pretty simple.  There are other things that I would be happy to do if the right deal came along (kitchen counters, new breakfast table, etc.), but these few things would really make great impact in our ever-evolving house! :)

2011 Goal Progress

In January 2011, I blogged a little list of goals that I hoped could be accomplished by 2012.  Although I didn't get them all done, I'm pretty pleased with what was done.

Here is how I did...

1. Pay off $10,000 of our debt. We have been on a true budget (yep, Excel spreadsheet and all) since August and it is one of the best things we ever did. This goal should definitely be accomplishable. Is that a word?

We have paid off a little over $16,000 since beginning in August 2010, so this goal was met - yay!


2. Blog twice a week. I started this blog as a way to keep up with my children and sadly I am seriously lacking in that regard. There is no reason I can't do better. I need to remember that not every post requires pictures!

One word - FAIL.

3. Join Weight Watchers and get serious about losing weight. My goal for the year is 40 pounds lost. When you are fat plus-sized like me, it should be attainable.

Yep, FAIL again.
4. Spend a week in Florida with the family (with minimal Blackberry usage). We love Okaloosa Island and it's an ongoing goal that we be able to spend a week there every summer while our children are at home.

Done - it was awesome as always!
5. Have the shower in our master bathroom tiled. I have hated the shower stall in our bathroom since day 1, but have done exactly zero to change it. This year I would like to bite the bullet and make it great.

We are pressing the "Pause" button on this one until the debt is paid off in about 18 months.  Can't wait!

6. Finally decorate my master bedroom! We have lived in our house for two years so it's definitely time. I recently purchased new bedding as a jumping off point so I hope to get this done in the first quarter of the year.

This room may forever be a work in progress.  I did get some things hung on the wall and we added some new accessories, but it still doesn't make me really happy.  But, I would be so bored if the house were all done!
So, that's how it all panned out.  I am working up the new list for 2012.  Did you get your 2011 list done?

AnnaLauren's Big Girl Room #1 - The Bed

We are in the process of transitioning AnnaLauren from her toddler toom to a "big girl" room.  So, since that means  a new bed to replace her coverted crib daybed, it also means a little bit of redecorating in her room.

First up, the big girl bed of course!

We found this fabulous vintage/almost antique bed on my best friend, Craigslist, for $75!  The gorgeous girly lines, the sweet curved footboard, the oval perfect for a little initial - I died!  However, Tommy took a little more convincing!  But, thankfully he chose to trust me. :)

Here she is in all her glory!  She needs a little bit of loving!

Pardon my awesome cell phone pictures!

The lovely curved footboard

Gorgeous legs!

Graceful lines and an oval that I have big plans for!

Tommy really outdid himself sanding and sanding and sanding on her!

And here she is now - Tada!

I am crazy excited!!!

Again, I know the cell phone pictures are atrocious, but I promise to make better ones when I show the entire room.  For now, I couldn't wait!

Oh and AnnaLauren loves it too and calls it her Princess Bed.  Makes a mama happy!

I am linking to the blog parties on my sidebar.  You should visit them too!

Oh, and for those who want to know, here is the cost breakdown:
Bed from Craigslist - $75.00
Untinted Vivid White Paint/Primer Quart - $15.00
Rub On Poly - Free from Garage - ($9.00 if purchased)
2 Vinyl Initials from Etsy - $6.00 (including shipping)
TOTAL COST - $96.00!

Several people have asked about the bedding.  It is Pottery Barn Teen Graphic Pop.  It is a little expensive, But I lucked up.  You can read about it and see better pictures here.