St. Patrick's Day Kiddie Table!!

With St. Patrick's Day only a couple days away, I wanted to share with you all my St. Patty's kiddie table! You all know I am obsessed with a kiddie table for any holiday-- big or small, so this is obviously a little different in that we are currently on vacation! I set this table scape in hopes to celebrate a few days early with the kiddies before we left for vacation, but this mommy was soooo sick all day that we were going to have a festive little party that we will just have to have a be-lated celebration when we return! ;) In the mean-time I will share the decor :)

Last fall as I was flipping through Pottery Barn Kids' Christmas catalog, I saw the most adorable kiddie table scape I had ever seen, so hence my inspiration to do one for my kiddies! After a Christmas & Valentine's Day one we are on to St. Patrick's Day!! I have this distinct memory as a child of my paternal grandparents always going out for "green beer" on this day. I don't know why I remember this so vividly, but I just know we would see them afterward. My dad's mother was I believe half-Irish. She definitely exuded the Irish descent for looks, personality and all. She was the kindest, most sweet person, but if you messed with her children or upset her, oh my would you ever know it! ;)

To continue with the kiddie table, I literally went to Target and had a hay-day!! But the neat, fun thing is that everything except a couple of things were from the one spot or on clearance on end caps! Seriously one can never go wrong with a Target jaunt for any holiday decor-- big or small :) It is always in the details, and they definitely provide those :)

This time I handmade my bunting from scrapbook paper (different variations and patterns with green and taupe) and foil labels for a scalloped edging border with "letter" stickers to spell out "St. Patrick's Day." I twisted a piece of a spool of burlap and stapled every couple of inches to "hold the twist," and then cut the shape of bunting I wanted for each letter and stapled these to the burlap. To cover the staples I used gold glitter washi tape (if you have never used this stuff it is AMAZING and can be used in SO many ways and comes in a plethora of colors and patterns). This added a finished look to the bunting! I wish it showed up better in pictures, but it truly turned out so darling. It was all done in 1/2 hour, and I will use it again and again :) 

The little place settings were fun, as the paper shamrock plates were perfectly festive and the green and white polka dot napkins were a clearance find I held on to from last spring. :) The little "paper buckets" held gold coins (usually only used for potty-training purposes in our home) ;) so it is a special treat to add as a "favor." The filling and paper bucket were one-spot finds :) 

When I saw this shamrock lighted strand, I knew the kiddies would love it, and it would be a great finishing touch to the table. It does not show well in pictures, but is so adorable in person. Also, I made a small bunting out of $1 ribbon spools from Target as well for a completed look. 

The little centerpiece is a green tray from the one spot with a green glass owl that was on clearance with greenery draping over. The gray chevron piece is filled with extra napkins to add (why not) more green to the table. ;) I also placed a small piece of burlap over the tray for to break up all the green! 

This little watering can has got to be my favorite. I just love how it looks with little white buds peeping over. Also, these shamrock stickers are removable stickers that can be used year after year :)  I used them on the bunting as well. 

I hope you enjoyed my little kiddie St. Patty's table. Even though we did not get to officially use it, I am looking forward to doing so soon!! Do you decorate or do anything special to celebrate this holiday!? I would love to hear. :) 

...until next time!! 

Bella's Room Tour with Keepsakes Galore

First of all, let me start out by saying that so much of why I have this blog is so that my kiddies will forever and always have something that their mommy did to remember and cherish the years while they were growing up.  Obviously I like to post about other fun things than the everyday kiddie stuff, but so much of who and what I am is because I am their mommy, and that is my most important job right now. 

         This picture was taken the day

         Bella was born. My mom was 

         just about as ecstatic as me 

         when we found out it was a girl. :)

My sweet mom was always so good about our baby books and recording everything and taking so many pictures, so I know I got so much of my love for those things from her.  One thing I would have loved to have would be something like this --a blog that she had over the years while we were growing up.  I think if there was such thing in the '80's she would have done that.  I am so happy though she always jumped at the chance to share a story or memory about our childhood to my brother and I.  And as I became a mother myself, I heard even more stories from her about her feelings through motherhood and what a joy it was to her to watch my brother and I grow up.  SO much of who I am is because of her, and I have never realized it more than now...when I don't have her physically here with me.  It has been a rough week missing her, but I keep on going.  And so much of what helps me is keeping busy with little projects at home.  

So I am happy to share with you all Bella's "big girl" room that I finally completed after two years of living in our home! Woo hoo! It always feels SO wonderful to check a "to do" off the list.  I truly enjoyed every detail of planning and decorating her room, but besides a pillow sham with her name on it, I think I can say I am officially done. ;) I hope someday when we are no longer in this home, she (and I) can look back with fondness of a memory-filled heart of all the fun times she spent in there playing with her dolls, hide-and-seek with Preston and Daddy, and goodnight stories and snuggles with Mommy.  That is my wish.  

On to the details!  First off, her bed was originally a crib that converted to this full-size bed.  We never bought the bedrails for the bed, so thank goodness I have a "handy hubby" who went to work on making his own & saved us a whopping $150 from having to buy our own.  I sure love that he knows how to do things like this.  I litterally said about a month-and-a-half ago that I thought it was time to get Bella's bed transitioned from a crib (that she probably slept in a total of 5 times! eeek!!) ;) I was hoping this would help the kiddies to finally be on their own at night.  Well after those words fell off my tongue, away he was working on transitioning the bed. 

I had purchased the bedding from Pottery Barn Kids Outlet about a year ago.  I totally lucked out on finding bedding that still fit the theme of her room, yet also being something she would not outgrow too fast.  Since the theme is so obviously a Princess room, I thought the more "rustic" look with the branches and birds made it have a vintage flair.  The little birds reminded me of the ones from Cinderella.  I wanted the theme to be subtle in that nothing was too "charactery" as far as the princesses go.  I wanted a timeless look.  And I think even though this is a "Princess room" that that aspect was achieved.  

The wallpaper I found at a local interior design store, and I believe it was a Disney brand.  I liked how it was again not "charactery."  I love love love the wallpaper that is on two sides of the room.  It has textured "sheen" and the pattern is so pretty.  I went with wallpaper because pinks are near impossible to find "the perfect one." After trying a couple samples and felt like I was walking into a "peptobysmol" room I was so happy I looked into wallpaper.  The perfect pink was easy then! 

 I opted for the "landscape" wallpaper around where her window was to give the effect of being "outside."  

The diamond pattern on this wall was to break-up all the pink a little.  I think it also helped make the Designer Princess Dolls stand out more as well.  

So on to the dolls...these are limited edition dolls of the 10 (at the time) Disney princesses that were released a few years ago.  Because they were limited edition they were selling on eBay for crazy high after they sold out.  Adam had the wonderful idea of buying a lot of them at once and selling them on Ebay.  It was genius, as we paid for the entire collection and some.  I appreciated his "business-like mindset" on this one ;)  

In the past couple of years there have been more Designer Princess dolls that are also limited edition that we have collected. Some are larger individual dolls and others are the princesses with the princes. The Disney Store keeps you coming back that is for sure by releasing new dolls every year. They are such lovely keepsakes though :) 

He built the shelf himself, and we bought the decorative sconces from Home Depot and painted them to match.  When he went to put the shelf up he could not believe how perfect it fit-- with hardly a centimeter to spare.  He assumed he had plenty of room, so thank goodness it all worked out to fit the 10 dolls pefectly.  

As far as the canvas, since I was going for a "vintage Princess" look, I was so excited to find this vintage-looking carriage canvas on a website called babybox.  It was pretty reasonable, and I knew it would fit perfect in this spot.  

The hutch here is a cherry one from ArHaus that my step-dad owned since before my mom and him got married.  After Adam and I got married, they gave it to us to have in our home.  When we found out we were having a girl and started planning Miss Bella's room, we  I wanted it to have a shade of white-colored furniture, so we asked my mom if she thought Mike would mind.  Well she was so excited for us that she said "go on ahead." So we painted this gorgeous cherry hutch to match her crib and added the pink rhinestone knobs to match.  ...skip ahead a few years and Mike (my step-dad) randomly asks one day where that cherry hutch went! hahaha...we all had a good laugh.  He never knew what we did with it until we went up and showed him in Bella's room.  He really was fine with it, but it was just funny because my mom never did tell him. ;)  She knew he would not notice for a long time, and by the time he did he would be OK with it.  Needless to say, it is getting more use in Bella's room than it would anywhere else, and it houses all of her treasured keepsakes so wonderfully.  We could not be more grateful for Grandpa Mike's hutch! :)  

The nightstand lamps are from a local store in town, and when I saw them I just knew they were meant to be.  The little pink and clear crystals looked like they were made to match her chandelier.  It was the perfect finishing touch to her "big girl" bedroom.  The nightstands are from Ikea, and I love that they have little drawers to house...what other than...more headbands! :) I also like that there is a little spot for a "knick knack" underneath.  I have displayed a pink lantern here that I also picked up at Ikea.  I am planing on replacing these knobs with the pink rhinestone ones here as well to match the hutch and dresser. 

 The letters are from Pottery Barn Kids, and I loved the distressed vintage look, but the shabby chic effect that the crystals gave it.  

The bed crown is from a store on Etsy, and I love that it has the monogrammed personalization.  

The pink sheers are from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and the curtain holdbacks are from Anthropologie.  

I love that this dresser in her room is an heirloom piece that was Adams growing up.  It is an oak dresser that we painted to match her furniture and added the pink rhinestone handles and knobs to match her room.  I love the little detailing on the first drawer.  It was so nice that we used what we already had instead of having to buy new accenting pieces to the crib/bed.  

The lamp is from Hobby Lobby, and I added the crown rhinestone pin as a little added "frou frou." ;) 

The jewelry box was a 2nd birthday gift from Adam & I that I bought ahead the previous year on sale.  

The shelf above here has an adorable carriage piggy bank from her Ciocia Ala from when she was born, another castle piggy bank that was a Christmas gift, and a carriage and carousel from Things Remembered I purchased for her room before she was born.  

My favorite keepsake is hands-down this 1-year-old cake smash session canvas of Bella.  I had one done like this of Preston, and I just love how well it fits the shabby chic, vintage theme and so perfectly shows her personality at that age.  I will forever cherish this.  I love looking at it every time I go in her room.  Lesilee DuFresne did a wonderful job on her photos.  

This sweet little snow baby is from my mom to Bella, and I and she will forever cherish it.  It just makes me smile, and she was so happy to find something to match Bella's room so perfectly.  

And this framed card I will never forget her giving me when Bella was born-- it says "A Fairtytale Begins," and it just melts my heart because that is exactly what my mom had hoped for Miss Bella.  It makes me tear up thinking of the deep deep love she had and showed so well for her grandbabies and her own children. 

The bow holder holds her "everyday" bows that she wears more frequently, and her sweet auntie Ala found it and thought it would match her room perfectly.  I have thought of doing a bigger bow holder that holds more, but I just think it can be too "overpowering" and this little spot is perfect for this size, so we will leave it at that.  The rest of the bows I store in little baskets and bins in her room.  

This little dresser is from a local store uptown that was refurbished.  It opens up and hold socks and more bows.  In the basket are also more bows and socks.  

I love this "hat box" that my sweet friend Jess made for Bella's 2nd birthday party-- with the "Vintage Cinderella" theme.  She decorated it so perfectly to fit the theme, and we use it to house the boutique bows that aren't worn as much.  

This chandelier was a "steal," from a store on Ebay, and when it came Adam and I knew right away why...nothing was put together...nothing.  He had to run the electrical and hang all the little crystals and hang the strands.  All in all though, it was worth paying less because luckily he knew just how to do something like that ;)  

One of Bella's favorite things to play is with her dolls, and this little doll bedroom set-up is perfect for just that.  Her and Preston spend countless hours in here playing. 

 I just love how the baby crib matches hers too with the pink draping :)  

This little doll dresser is from Target, and it is perfect for the Bitty Baby and American Girl dolls, except much cheaper in cost than their dressers.  You can hang the doll clothes, and it even comes with a little stool and mirror for the doll to sit on and "get ready." It is precious.  

This little tea set was a 1st birthday gift from Adam and I to her, and it is from a local boutique and is the Mud Pie brand.  

The Princess Train is a favorite collection of mine as well that is an ongoing thing.  I believe there are 10, so every year we get one or two more.  

This lite crown around the figurine was her 1st birthday cake smash crown she wore for her party during the cake smash and for the professional photos. 

The little Precious Moments Cinderella pieces are gifts from people.  I just love how well they fit the theme and are some of the best keepsakes.  

This little spot on the hutch displays her 1st and 2nd birthday headpieces.  I love the vintage flair of the 1st birthday with its whimsical look, and I love the draping pearls on the 2nd birthday one.  I love having little keepsakes like this to have forever.  

These little booties are her christening shoes that I have displayed.  They look so tiny now!!  

This little space to display her 1st and 2nd birthday dresses.  Each of them are so very special, and I love being reminded of her in them by having them displayed here.  She loves playing dress-up in the one from last year since it still fits.  Now I will need to find a special spot for this year's dress! :) 

This little framed piece is a keepsake from her 2nd birthday party in which the theme was "Vintage Cinderella." I have still. It posted pictures from that party, but I will be doing that soon. :) I have to before her 3rd birthday! ;)

This pretty, monogrammed plate was a gift when Bella was born from one of my mom's friends. I love the design and cherish it so much. The little Princess box is from Hobby Lobby. 

This little Juicy Couture box/purse was something I purchased once I knew I was having a girl. It has two sweet little adorable onesies inside, and they are still there. I do think she wore them, but I like to keep them as a keepsake. :) 

This adorable book is THE cutest book that my sister-in-law gave me when Beela was born. It is called "This Little Piggy Went To Prada," and it seriously is the most perfect gift to give anyone who is having a little girl. It is filled inside with "designer" nursery rhymes and just so fun and girly :)

This sweet little carriage hamper fits so perfectly in this space inside the bedroom door so perfectly. We could not believe it fit with the other dresser we moved in. Yay ;)

A little Bintage Vinderella art to tie everything together. This is the look that started to inspire my idea for her 2nd Vintage Cinderella birthday party. :)

This mirror is one of my favorite pieces, as it was refurbished from about 100 years ago if I had to guess-- truly vintage and it's weight lies not in the quality that things used to be made in. As they say, "They just don't make things like they used to." ;) it is from an up-cycled boutique, and when I saw it I knew it was meant tl be in Bella's room. It was a 2nd birthday gift from mommy to her :)

This darling little snow globe was from Victoria's Secret when I was in college, and I thought it for so perfectly in her room. It is a vanity and displays so many girly, fun things. It sets on her nightstand. 

This cross was a gift from Bella's Grandma Pam and my sweet mama that was on her Christening/Baptism cake. I love how special this is that she bought this for her. It will be forever treasured. 

Every baby needs a silver cup, and this one was from myself to Bella. My mom got her a beautiful set from Things Remembered with a cup and silver spoon and fork that I keep in my curio downstairs, but this is the perfect spot for this one since I will most likely keep the other set and she can always have this one. 

Well I know this post )was extra long, but thank you for stopping by.  From the day I found out I was having a little girl, I started dreaming of her room, and I could not be more happy with how it has turned out.  I hope she enjoys it for years to come and always know how much her mommy loved spending time creating and decorating a special room just for her.  

My mom got to she most of it, and that means so very much to me too.  We had so much of the same taste, and it was so fun to have her help and share in the excitement along the way.  I know she is smiling down and happy that it is all finally done :) But she knows me too well for that...she would say I would say, "just one more thing-- we have to add one more thing." lol It is these moments I know that she is with me everyday, even though I can't see her.  Her words and love live on forever with me. 

...Until next time!!