My home | Just A Night Owl

Greyson’s Room…75% off.

Written on August 10, 2010 by just a night owl in My home

The making of the fourth child’s bedroom tends to find me exercising a lot more “frugal” or “you want how much for that crib set?” I made a goal to not spend an extra dime on Greyson’s bedroom. Meaning I have to clean out my garage and actually start selling the things in my “ebay pile” to earn the cash to buy the goods. I have held true so far. It is frustratingly slow for my instant gratification type personality, but definitely rewarding on both our pocketbook and my secret clutter piles.

I am not really doing a “theme”. The walls are a funky green with horizontal darker funky green stripes waiting to be added. There will be antique toys, a modern oversized wall mural, and anything else that’s fun that I find. Things are far from done, but here are a few peeks at my best deals so far.

Bedding is Dwell Studio that was purchased at Target @ 75% off for a grand total of 4 pieces for 37.48.

The most fabulous light fixture I have coveted from Ikea for too many months to admit, finally made its way into my house. It was only 39.99 and able to be filled with anything you want. I purchased two sets of Tinker Toys at Target for 75% off and for an additional $7.50 I now have a light fixture for under $50 that totally makes me smile every time I walk in.

Targets “getting ready for Christmas Toys and I need more space 75% off sale” also brought me these two fabulously ridiculous robot monsters for $2.48 a piece and 3 adorable wooden trucks for $1.74 a piece…They are the first things to start filling up the bookshelf.

I also was able to pick up these cardboard ABC blocks for $2.48 and football piggy bank for $3.74.

And last but not least for now, comes this book that will forever make me giggle.

My sweet and crazy friend Nicole who knows me all too well bought this for our little man.

Alternative ABC’s…seriously?

B is for Boombox, O is for Off Road, and T is for Tiki? What’s not to love? Greyson will receive a little snuggle time in my free Poang Ikea chair that I scored from my sissy and a read thru of this literary classic many nights before bed, for my enjoyment as well as his.

There is a lot left to do and I have 12 weeks left to get it all done. Stripes for the walls, crazy fabric trimmed burlap drapes, a funky retro mobile, and a giant sock monkey to keep watch on things…await me, that is just as soon as my items are snatched up off ebay.

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Day 135. Real Simple Chore Chart.

Written on May 11, 2010 by just a night owl in 170 School Days, Homeschool Tips, My home

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I have always held some grand aspirations of beautiful chore charts hanging in my home. I am able to keep up with them for a week or two at best, but life is usually too chaotic and I get sidetracked and we stop the chart. Things have changed after months of homeschooling. First and foremost is WE ARE HOME. I have wondered at times over the past couple years why we pay for this house? It seems as though we are never in it, except to sleep. I didn’t realize at the time, the one good thing about that was, it hardly got dirty.

It’s a little different story around here now. Two adults, three children with one more on the way, and a two year old yorkie live here in this house A N D ….someone or something is home around the clock. One of the first pieces of practical advice I received when crossing into homeschool land was that your house better be cleaned and organized because it was going to be used like never before. Boy is that true. After all, it is called homeschool for a reason.

I heard a concept recently called the Partial Chore mentality that kind of clicked it all into place for me. It states that you rarely get an uninterrupted opportunity to clean the entire house at one time. Why not do a little bit at a time? Your whole house may never be clean at the same time, but it’s never going to be all the way dirty at the same time either. So, this brilliant statement got me thinking. In the past, part of my hesitation of having the kids help is that they are kids and can’t get the cleaning done up to the standards that I want it. It was then that I realized, I rarely get to the cleaning at the “high standards” that I want it. So, why not have the kids pitch in and help? While the house isn’t going to be clean up to my standards, it isn’t going to be dirty all the way to the bottom of my standards either.

This new found thinking combined with my new found lifestyle where we live IN and enjoy our home has brought about the need for a change. The kids have always helped with chores, but only when I have asked. Life changed last week. Mine for the better, their’s for the worse, they say.

It all came down to a calendar on an end cap at Target. It is part of the REAL SIMPLE collection. It is priced at 10.99 and is now our chore chart. I hung a bulletin board in the hall by the kids rooms and put this glorious creation right on it in plain view. After about 45 minutes, I had laid out chores for the entire month for the kids. Each child has their own color. Cameron~blue. Taylor~green. Emma~ brown. These chores are in addition to the regular make your bed, pick up your stuff, kind of chores. These chores can be done at any point during the day, on their time, but I will not be reminding them daily. They will not receive any cash for completing them and failure to do complete them correctly, has some serious consequences.

What if you “forget”, or “couldn’t find the time” to do them? No problem, you are forgiven. However, you will do them the next day, in addition, to that day’s chores AND go to bed 30 minutes early. If you do the chores poorly…you will redo them and go to bed 15 minutes early as well. This is the first month we are at this and this is undoubtedly going to have a little bit of a learning curve. I am sure it will be adjusted some. However, I LOVE that this is a once a month commitment on my part to maintain the chart part and it provides me with the flexibility to change from day to day what I have them do, if needed.

I have high hopes for this….REALLY HIGH. This morning I walked out of my room to find my 12 year old emptying the trash…ALL ON HIS OWN. Ironically, as I finish up typing this my 9 year old skipped in with Windex and a roll of paper towels to wipe down my bath for me. PINCH ME…I MUST BE DREAMING.

How do you handle the chore situation in your home?

Now there are just 35 school days left until summer.

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Taylor’s Room.

Written on April 10, 2010 by just a night owl in DIY, Makeover, My home

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We cleaned, rearranged, bargain shopped, and Craig’s listed…here is the result.

Bedding is from Pottery Barn kids (found 75% off on clearance).

Chandelier and Audrey Hepburn Canvas are Ikea.

White feather Boa’s around the ceiling are Joanne’s.

Expedit bookcase from Ikea (found on Craigs for 1/3 of the price).

Zebra buckets are from Lowe’s.

Drapes are 7 foot panels from Target with black ribbon sewed on to tie up and be fancy.

Desk and chair are Ikea (also found on Craig’s).

Wall monogram is from Uppercase Living.

Triple Bunk for Katie, Alex, and Hattie were purchased off Ebay and we painted and sewed up some bedding.

I love 9 year olds. The combination of a Hello Kitty radio, Audrey Hepburn canvas, Tinker Bell Minnie Mouse, and crystal chandelier just all makes me happy.

We are fortunate to have all 3 kids in their own rooms right now. With baby #4 on the way, I have a feeling that this room and Emma’s room will have to be combined! AAAH!

This is my baby girl who lives here:

I am linking up to the following parties!

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I’m the Map.

Written on March 4, 2010 by just a night owl in Crafts, Homeschool Tips, My home

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I NEED YOUR HELP!

I purchased this map and now it is roughly tacked up to the wall to see if I like…I wanted a bold statement, um haha.

Here lies my problem.

See all the white? It all has to be trimmed.

Is it prepasted? um no, adhesive needs to be purchased and applied.

Measurements on website were incorrect by a lot. Now the map is significantly bigger than my wall and we will lose part of the world when it is trimmed down to the correct size.

Color? it arrived significantly brighter then shown on my computer screen.

I am not happy about the amount of time to install, but it can be done. I love how visual it is. Although, I think I like the idea of it better than I like it. However, some days I walk in and am not feeling it. I am not after a map, just something to do with that wall that’s fun and different.

The map wall usually has all three desks sticking out from it. They are currently thrown around the room as the map is hung very insecurely with a couple of tacks.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? KEEP IT? or RETURN IT?

I won’t tell you which way I am leaning, for fear of possible public humiliation if you disagree with me!

I leave it up to you….however if you decide no my kids may cry, cuz they adore it !

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Emma’s Room.

Written on February 26, 2010 by just a night owl in Makeover, My home

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Emma’s room got a major cleaning today. Re-organized and re-arranged. It’s the first of the rooms in my house to get in done in awhile.

I so badly wanted to stage this room for pictures. However, resisted. It’s all real baby….too many toys, cheap dirty rental carpet and a missing drawer knob.

Despite the imperfections, I love LOVE this room. If my husband wouldn’t protest, I surely would move in myself. It’s all girly girl.

and this is my lil angel who lives here…

Now it’s on to my other daughter’s room….

I’m linking up with

Room Design by Darcy @ Just A Night Owl
Wall mural drawings by Jill @ The Husailey Bunch

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Chair Rail ABC’s

Written on February 20, 2010 by just a night owl in DIY, Homeschool Tips, My home

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I have always wanted to try this type of project….I purchased these ABC cards at LakeShore for just a few bucks. They just needed a little help. It was a perfect chance to add a little moulding. I am just doing this on one wall. All the way around would be too much of a good thing in this room (for my taste anyway).

Here is the finished picture. This is our homeschool classroom.

Here are the details…

I went to Lowe’s and purchased 3 8 foot sections of this trim. It was $6.– per piece. When I got home I stained it black, then spray painted it red, then went over it with Acrylic Red paint and a paint brush. This was not some new fancy technique. It was trial and error. Now it has kind of a slightly distressed barn red color. It works. The trim I picked had a rope design on it. I would have been best off just using a brush and acrylic paint to begin with.

I used a level and nailed up the bottom pieces first. I just used small nails without a big top to them. Then I slid the cards down into the trim and staple gunned the top of the cards.

After that step was complete I was able to get the level again and complete the project by nailing the top pieces on.

Then I straightened the CHASE YOUR DREAMS plaque above it and the wall is complete! I would NOT survive as an interior design photographer…

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PLAY Wall Art.

Written on February 9, 2010 by just a night owl in Crafts, My home

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This simple reminder and good use of scrapbook paper hangs on the wall in my home. I bought sixteen wooden squares from Joann’s ( I had to special order). I bought some yummy scrapbook paper with lots of different textures and some wooden letters to spell one of my favorite words…

P L A Y. Then I grabbed some left over fabric and embellishments from around the house and went to work.

1. Paint the sides of all squares. Make sure and paint the face of four of the squares that will hold the wooden letters. On the rest of the squares it isn’t needed. I chose ivory paint.

2. Paint the wooden letters to the desired color. I chose black.

3. Cut the paper/fabric to size for the face of the squares. I used both fabric and paper on mine.

4. Use Modge Podge to adhere papers, fabrics, and letters onto the squares.

5. Use any flowers, charms, ribbons, stickers, to accessorize… should you desire!

This quote to live by

“Never underestimate the power of acting young silly and crazy”

was a sticker mounted on light green solid scrapbook paper and mounted again on my original polka dot paper

The blue paper had a cool little BE YOURSELF design already in the design so I just cut it to make sure I had that part showing and then added three self adhesive silver embellishments

Make sure you paint all the sides of the squares! As clearly, thanks to this pic above, I missed a bit on the toile square. OOPS! I have to go back and do that one…

I used command strips to hang these up.

(YES, they really DO work!)

I want to make more! Imagine the possibilities!

I am linking up with

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Scrabble Magnet Board.

Written on February 4, 2010 by just a night owl in Crafts, Homeschool Tips, My home

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A cute alternative to the typical classroom magnet board. I saw the scrabble letter idea here and was able to incorporate it with the board that I already had done on my wall. Since I have ditched the generic plastic magnet letters, my older two kids (and sometimes me) play with the board too. Since there are points on each letter, you can create some pretty fun games.

Supplies needed are:

To make the board:

The board was made by nailing metal sheeting (an 18×24 piece that was purchased at Home Depot) to the wall. I bought pieces of wood (that Home Depot cut down to size) and used black stain to finish them off. The wood was nailed over the edges of the metal

To make the letters

:

Magnet tape (sticky one one side, magnetic on the other). I used 1 roll that costs 1.50 at Home Depot.

Wood Scrabble pieces. Target has a kit to make a card in the Valentines section. It was 9.99 as opposed to the 19.99 version in the game aisle. They both had 100 pieces.

Cut the magnet tape into little pieces.

Adhere to the back of each letter.

Get help! My 5 year old was a brilliant little helper.

Place on board and have fun!

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My Armoire.

Written on February 2, 2010 by just a night owl in DIY, My home

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My first time of doing a BIG piece of furniture. I fell in love with Eddie’s delicious blue armoire and had to attempt it. You can see her fab creation here and get a tutorial. It was a bit hard for me to do because I LOVED the current piece as it was, but knew that love would be taken to a level of obsession if I could pull of the deep turquoise color with half as much skill as Eddie. I will probably be playing with the final finished look for days. Sanding, dry brushing….its kinda addicting to find just the right balance.

It lives in our classroom now and is a great addition. It is surrounded right now by other half finished projects that I need to complete. The color is so fabulous, it makes me happy.

I did not sand this piece to start with and clearly should have. So the candle technique as explained in Eddie’s post, did not really quite work out this time. In addition, the post sanding attempt is a bit tricky as well without peeling the paint. So, I had to resort to some dark brown paint and dry brushing. Live and learn.

And p.s. I am in desperate need of photography lessons, but you get the idea. I am saving for those as we speak….I need someone to verbally teach me. I am too impatient to learn from books (and yes I am homeschooling my 3 kids, kinda scary huh?)

Here was the before,

I am linking up with:

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My Armoire.

Written on February 2, 2010 by just a night owl in DIY, My home

10 Comments - Leave a comment!

My first time of doing a BIG piece of furniture. I fell in love with Eddie’s delicious blue armoire and had to attempt it. You can see her fab creation here and get a tutorial. It was a bit hard for me to do because I LOVED the current piece as it was, but knew that love would be taken to a level of obsession if I could pull of the deep turquoise color with half as much skill as Eddie. I will probably be playing with the final finished look for days. Sanding, dry brushing….its kinda addicting to find just the right balance.

It lives in our classroom now and is a great addition. It is surrounded right now by other half finished projects that I need to complete. The color is so fabulous, it makes me happy.

I did not sand this piece to start with and clearly should have. So the candle technique as explained in Eddie’s post, did not really quite work out this time. In addition, the post sanding attempt is a bit tricky as well without peeling the paint. So, I had to resort to some dark brown paint and dry brushing. Live and learn.

And p.s. I am in desperate need of photography lessons, but you get the idea. I am saving for those as we speak….I need someone to verbally teach me. I am too impatient to learn from books (and yes I am homeschooling my 3 kids, kinda scary huh?)

Here was the before,

I am linking up with