Basement toy organization, check!

<p>Hey hey! Good Friday to you! :) Today kicks off spring break for the hubby and the kiddo – I am so looking forward to a relaxing week with both of them home! (We’re boring and never go anywhere for break.) </p> <p>I’m excited to share a little bit of organization with you today! Can I just say it again? Organization makes me happy. Very, very happy. Borderline delirious. </p> <p>I showed you our new <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/basement-built-in-cubbies.html">built in cubbies</a> in the basement last month and I’ve been crushing on them ever since:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i-vadAMTFpYsVRZpQPFoSmz1fWU_38SODZMrjPD1_r7r9njsFk_WGSK5W9SGUitvZJ3NBaeBL1bM3lwG8LNrXGgeO3mO8X7OzY_l5V0MNg70xjDn9g9iQN0rZ___mNjbPjoOhvoexUk/s1600-h/index_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdaiELS80gkUqQrjiUUuqbUnv1EbiiChOs0q0RGQqjWOPtg-b2Qc7n0DzCLs-JTuVoTF-LGZ8esYxJVjX5hyphenhyphen0DCMsOkSAzZAEFP8nfuxRtOD88x63ArWtoinJ0RFQvUC7QbHbRiX9ymMw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Can you blame me? That’s seventeen feet of built ins waiting to take on a pile of toys. Seriously – bliss. </p> <p>Because Target called and asked if I wanted to show off some of their Threshold line and I was all, <em><strong>YEEEEEEAH</strong></em>, I headed out to my local Tar-jay to see if they had what would work for the built ins. </p> <p>I loved the look of these bins – I thought the gray ones would look awesome down there: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWrFCMLX50GNL8x8tW8n1t0lhYUmCxB6hm7RRWaso4MO78hNWm4ul57DZPWkmDfuAg3TpN9-AhdoLr-dUEGzE527ELij8HwhyNv1zzJv4LxEV9w9_EVevpBagCHY9OrVZGgu7aysNueg/s1600-h/photo%2525201%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pretty storage bins" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zwaMWpQQvrHA_0T-8zzhvCRXnmcGvFXFDfs4TkwIn4lWaP5zuAxNY0c2qGxmI5FG8-J30_hzflBzWTOtsaSErvZBx175Ic72dFH71SneW0hYm4Eq8k5mWfdFdQ9VuQXBWm4CwoQ0UjY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="pretty storage bins" width="360" /></a></p> <p>But they were just a little too small for what I needed. And the lid would make it harder for the kiddo to get to his toys. </p> <p>I loved these too – they had the shape I wanted and I liked the idea of the liner: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgvnLr7JQpnlKwbJj7h8XO9UJ3jIbmJg0OSq87mv5wrf9oKeaRCTHfbQqgxwL26xj-1fb9B-_40uC-q0zuxxzQRca5R1E3MpK7vM_Sp7eoLtEgFm9ktMWivEhxK5GdJ_sENaD4jOuwaY/s1600-h/photo%2525204%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pretty storage bins" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NniUVpR7Y105l6TrVn00wgBFEB31zRP4b4MmAjIUMgV2aIQ9C5BxnYDh8BGgc8rDIM0eOzEGaKkasBlGUkMszn1W21FeKdyk9vnsQOFuiy8yukE7AxEvH4XuQPniRta1pS-r87M62zA/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="pretty storage bins" width="360" /></a></p> <p>But they weren’t the right size – I really wanted to use each cubby to the max and these were too small. </p> <p>I was getting closer with these:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWD76KAqTouDeQR7gf4YyQbLn2LzDCoBpFSV1wh0NQDTUqYLOEDXvMEOHfEfTbLFJ6QzEMDVg6LpJ90-_jCz7jupyiTDtLVWxzSAfeb_-WEBKp8xzyUkK1LzsXSl2I6reaXIKWEHkmrs/s1600-h/photo%2525205%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pretty storage bins" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwcTAgOnAm-CMpyZ-GG6aclwblUYj9klyljT1jUnAdcNwXfB2Y2AX2OE7jSQE2AAgTyUMNUSVkG3BkETpVRpv05iHFZzNlU-p-UpHgykSLod7fyLNOyVxXbN1RtMGNAlxUvIkKOjPpIo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="pretty storage bins" width="360" /></a></p> <p>But the big one was a little too big and the small one was kind of tapered – smaller at the bottom and larger at the top. In my head I had imagined something perfectly square. </p> <p>So when I found these <a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-global-large-milk-crate-dark-brown/-/A-14104462#prodSlot=dlp_medium_1_13&term=milk+crates">abaca milk crates</a> it was meant to be: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZADluVfD8H-Z2n1S3WlRbONgbxWrWYEf85rW_Vc_dk5J2d0qTljCjtJrFCVTl4MTXEsqcbZneNvi_q2BS_FQfmHrFNOO8acRoeurTwLARADDMFs3gR_jKoxX3iYohGKs6lMzkOfAtKJM/s1600-h/photo%2525203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="pretty storage bins" border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRNRz3jvohyW0vM0FpfHFpjWKEuxhDGa91ohfv5Sh3qk5dr9YP7lsMHsCXOwakepqlsCORYzd-txgQ9luE6tv4bak8qrnZb88AIwtIqGVuw5qNKu9sX1-cHUZa7wPSAlGgL7kzzw1kDc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="pretty storage bins" width="360" /></a></p> <p>I felt a little like Goldilocks when I realized these were <em>just right</em>. </p> <p>They were the perfect size, I loved the color and the shape was just what I wanted. SCORE. </p> <p>I ended up going to a couple different Target’s to get them over the course of few weeks. So sorry if you wanted some locals, I was the one buying them all up. ;) On my second trip to get a couple more they were on sale, so I took my receipt back and got credited the difference for all of them – keep that in mind if you buy something and see it’s on sale the next week! </p> <p>Next came the HUGE toy purge – the boy and I went through ever.y.thing. and ended up with a manageable pile to sort into the containers. But because you can’t see through the bins, I still needed a way to make clean up easy so things <em>stayed </em>organized.</p> <p>I wanted labels – so I picked up some wood plaques and some cool scrapbook paper from Hobby Lobby:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD8vJZY3yo88keMuVzsO6ap6hk7GWpyXGpfaxZTRi_w5BvCQm-v1JYlL-H3H_SmyvMF5qQ5hHqk7CPO_eoIwKb_0kDL1nwv4FjGWGt6NHdxHZQuS3_Lh6Eo14juwi0eyuwVRP5qVMT70/s1600-h/IMG_5203%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY organizational tags" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KT9yPgqBtXNu0nvKmkbNSAcP0NDnCro6fQmzDx29yyEVXd1ANbmIrqUJBjQp9QN4FcJ9RxofQdP-cAKN-Uqt1ud0i5_sO-BqcVla4FL4CdmNjDT8aVQa0J0SAOEc9_cmJV_QtkrBYnc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY organizational tags" width="360" /></a></p> <p>And used spray adhesive to glue the paper to the wood:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n9IUj_L3XEsNo1T3H-PpPEtYnLyS94hmwjebC59h8HdaMep0KijDbGgfEbCvIdRzqR1ebF68go4kc64-LLRispwbf3MPN_7dXzroUjFQEBe5xXgEJPwUZF5b5KB1DVEzgHw9KGh4FLg/s1600-h/IMG_5205%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY organizational tags" border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2IVRCV2CJtwJKvdtVwM6EA4vmHTp7W1hcwu7Q-ktUOKUCTdZHIL1iAN3X1vWsOZ-BmFpUyYqpL_aN5_lr6ggCwvMdtZNEPVfogYMd1KyoSOE6nh1KjVzARAIoRqnzQo45anoNR0kwic/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY organizational tags" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Then cut them out with an x-acto knife like I showed you <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-new-craft-room.html">here</a>. </p> <p>I used picmonkey.com to write out the words and then glued them on top. At first I was going to make it cute with pictures of the items inside (cars, etc.), but I realized the Bub is reading and we need to encourage that, so words were what I ended up with: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d81cRP-8nLSZhmlCPSWMwo4-fok6MFs5CViUM1kVFxOVXduivbArQ7tLh1_skKMa8whff4tkLQekP7qC0U3Oyx-VllHBpahsdR8kyH-kdDKpb7Q3VHGInt8vZVWzG1Elwi160HWpuN0/s1600-h/IMG_5208%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY organizational tags" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9asMwbxSsjqnVUvs9J9bCkng023g5_NS2KtZ1QX3NsEFKBVPgNS95YmFVeCJ_56M21Db4XbQtDLdAuVSog9fbLLzNIsu6_hpZeluAOuk2Ea5avo4QLrRPtSC6-rcMGWBv7we9V_WoSw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY organizational tags" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I drilled holes into each one and tied them through with some twine. </p> <p>I LOVE how they turned out! Kind of funky and cool, but still cute enough for toys. :) The green and blue works great with the colors down there: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMDpSSYLueqLCWwuUU9zvjmfgAX6V6_Zd5Mnp2WhCbV40DweY3tASn8WtZGqIkSYe2aRsBRWkg9zWmtzShN1H5uMA01hTR6EoGFEH4B3-2O10GgdtU7os412onYWWeoG4HFQ2-pkCr0t4/s1600-h/IMG_5209%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY organizational tags" border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy-8gAoTJOnk-hosGinzR9kbj1ng84ELiPbnawoZgX5UrjehvT3fDwCsalz_BaJ9tbn-Iq5MJ62pyh06VnARczNRAI4Ukloa6-bAWGuoKp88T2Eq29rzpeElUMbkog3h3qmU9OLlG8to/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY organizational tags" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t fill every cubby with them (there are 22 cubbies!!), but my need for symmetry won out – I used five on one side and four on the other: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWxyzVAEHq7m-wLHj57MkbMaQDihDXPzrS8rcaObbNgtOdJG6Nwu9MyPFHzsfWdpxuA0C76sOeqMsC-00uLcioeDkXoNHw9V6z6ncmP9VzdyKbgDNyfReKVK0hIOHMclOMUhT9O_gTrJ0/s1600-h/IMG_5230%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvtBDygrU8gZ6o_g7r9fY7yESWURbKCQLumSP17igr3Zb5Ce8mkrH91CdBvtBtPx7m5ZnCBUZWIM5FKUL8EuKQXYy3kglU9mzPCfsRMZ21EfJGcqIj5weyweiIuWspfs_8uXkHwBdQm0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>The subwoofer fills in the fifth spot on this side, so it looks balanced. </p> <p>The cubbies at the ends are open for random toys:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxqZFo1d4X4CA-fInLDQk61UoSy_R0ZN6i3nA981ZkFGJ8JeFpemb6BPITubTc9_DmvgAnqVEINrpoecR6EJDxyAchRUK6SM_4ebZr0J_xQdNpnO7duby0TTHDyDQAQya3EPNgZkfl34/s1600-h/IMG_5225%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M2VD4UXCzzJ0U_3LKYCmg_fgl0VTK80Cb-GOy3ZZz2q6OvWEHL8wN63_VXjTVX_O4_fhAXXMwcpTCwew9EjP3RpdwuerTcFFzwTLHOyC9rmh2P6u0zMrzJRhjQSwWNhRDWtiOMK3NVM/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>You know, for things like ginormous stuffed penguins. ;)</p> <p>I found a few other items while at Target, of course. This basket was on clearance in the kitchen aisle and it holds the many random Legos that end up all over that countertop. </p> <p>All. over. (<font size="2">Twitch</font>.): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5rFrv4bk4agJtrcsZmpdQU44-XweEAj-qujTNpVde5092hCx5hpStZEkl9pHpMckEGWCZE1S23qwvfkSPYlDDHkn0p4pweRDze8bnLNLjYsUN2Th5jt_ZTgN3iIvMRI9QrGrSUGtVfw/s1600-h/IMG_5227%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBPME3oJlDxZipNj47qIvYluRKMH-Tv9dmACE4fYyXpGSJK-6RTeg88ZnvMO9H79eywT8sSZiwhALSUbJHElug7CYvaXZGEEBmcx9lvNqoMFX-ZxzD4dtBKTUZjMPWBAg3noNI6xzffo/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Sometimes Momma just needs to be able to throw stuff in a basket and not worry exactly where it goes, you know? </p> <p>These big floor pillows were on clearance for $12 each – so soft and big and perfect for laying around on the floor: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFtgSglhby6rg10xL5s7F3FOqoloTRtg0G4niD6SEgz5gaICThZXGZhB1XMt6b4mXQGrh0wZj0zoCNVXO4XQjAM8Gm-X3v7cHkSkuHK_Ib0Gi_IZvkSHz6k7tr000xh-Xy6jTfLe2R5I/s1600-h/IMG_5226%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="floor pillows" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidaME6Jqlmc9pUonLPgSYpzIr5v5w5m3C8f4z6RDOtvq5tKoE0j90VcWqV6cs2ykENOL1ov-Yz_hufVJ84SlvpM0J_9v6KXo890cmqtQ10QY6CpkPnloEF4hBuIJt5huWzWcKITxelJU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="floor pillows" width="360" /></a></p> <p>And of course…I couldn’t resist another placemat pillow. It’s a sickness people, I know. I can’t quit them: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfmMnuGXId3L7Dr0TpDT76CAuIA8ClcuhMOnGy7dsLVpiIRhR93v-ZJFdBF1OopPOaMal9cclXnXYFQhEzXXFkWJHgOilfF_mCLCXhmIVUdYz8CiBnp0ss8t9p5VozOSejMnpJxZq-iE/s1600-h/IMG_5235%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="placemat pillow" border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaahlGPdZBpQ7_uQ_8poz10njuYAsqX9OwzITVva8MwkPxh_I_CvRfuK_Kv8HtOPLllt7hnv7N0vvYXEBxJEh6q1USFr37o1DUfx8KykDg9oz3K8pVC-Up0zfck7KaNJH83O5sGt1Tmk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="placemat pillow" width="450" /></a></p> <p>This one is just two placemats sew together with another pillow stuffed inside. It literally took me ten minutes. Thankfully you can’t see the horrible sewing job, it’s hidden by the fabric. ;)</p> <p>I LOVE the baskets and LOVE the labels and I LUUURVE how the basement is coming together:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidnOJk94V_U_oU89Mo7BSavg_CVC59sMpzMJIOYCGUv4HDrIyl7C2qunfzjuPWQyMzhHkfzm7_yXxtSQFugytgxUHgxsBVAougne9NPZvQNMORpQx0n-1Xo3ldWzgHBft25sswF-F-5Xw/s1600-h/IMG_5217%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvz0cyYkm29puZtbHOilbusjU7gFfAfzFNetqPHzc7c7HLamE-35Ce6BBHJRZogezjTUksJ7EwPdxZjq5QoUuJsVkjtlzh-cbpELwocwPcz0ppmLE1xm4AUTFvYVyOMx1m4CCXI3pofk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="550" /></a></p> <p>There’s still much to do on this wall – the lamps will get painted, just not sure what color yet. Still need to hang floating shelves, art…and maybe a few other fun things. The top will be cleared off a little when the shelves go in. </p> <p>But I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally have a dedicated and organized spot for all of the toys. It’s been six years coming. :)</p> <p>It’s not picture perfect but it’s functional and fun and we love it: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gDNotuHTkCqskqJwtB7GvxI8pASN469SxaI4NWbLAvDU911rbHe74XQn0-ZLSnbNl79qsOo0KTiUXygWxIOgInZeWhGOUymoYoK40CbDJycAI4eJ9hTp44TyajhSe3y3gutFZBwDHW4/s1600-h/IMG_5219%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvM2B9Kx8IsmYfIquHcDypk3L1fxN4oZpakmX-BJnruYPBrJETDCTis15oqR_eu7HwHUJgKji00Gd3oHSB2hxxUZS8l3mHO8cg-MDadd-X0YZjmt30Qw57AHo7E6NMgiywO8oAb8vA94E/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="550" /></a></p> <p>My little photo bomber had to get in on the action too: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTsK4FcdLDRHvp3Xf4ZbuOtgvVzPFuWJGf6talUVjOCkmPmTcGA0Yfc2EDXL6K0r9ULh1wzZo3BYoHBl-ewpF09oB2As-t2WdYlBGw-lzullUAO9r1sAyINk_tkGg62ywKlLjxDdLoV5U/s1600-h/IMG_5223%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseiz7qFdaIlXWQ-XOJL8h9tnJvC3WW0Zj-Uav7Rb_uULs6vTz6FBkiMHQouRMxEaXmzIlJWt2mt6Wvdt_715nv-caeguUDod3jIgwNq5e3cOTGUXtu75cTDIE1hUsR0OXWQzRkvfmD2w/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="550" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Sorry. :) </p> <p>By the way, the cubbies are not wide enough for games, but I have those in a dresser down there. (Most of them are up in the family room anyway.) Some of them fit in the built ins but most are too long. </p> <p>There you go, our wall of blissful, wonderful, fantastic organization. It’s so easy to clean up down here now too, he knows exactly where things go. And we’ve already discussed that this is IT – if we can’t find a spot for something new, something else has to go. </p> <p>Can I just tell you how awesome my kiddo is at purging? He is SO great at telling me things can go – so good at it that I find myself saying, “Are you <em>sure</em>??” Yet again, it’s me that has the sentimental attachment to most of it, but I’m always getting better at letting things go that we don’t use or love anymore. (Although when he told me the remaining Thomas the Trains could go I did keep some in his memory bin.) ;) </p> <p>Have a lovely Easter weekend! May it be bright and sunny and warm! And I’ll see you back here Monday for the April before and after link up! </p>

Basement toy organization, check!

Hey hey! Good Friday to you! :) Today kicks off spring break for the hubby and the kiddo – I am so looking forward to a relaxing week with both of them home! (We’re boring and never go anywhere for break.) I’m excited to share a little bit of organization with you today! Can I just say it again? O…

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Showing off Sarah

<p>Howdy all! It’s slowly but surely warming up here…just a tad. <em>And</em> it’s been sunny. I’ll take it!! </p> <p>A few weeks ago I was honored to be asked to join in on the Creating with the Stars challenge over at <a href="http://www.eastcoastcreativeblog.com">East Coast Creative</a>. I was partnered up with a blogger who would be completing the projects and I was there (virtually anyway) to offer support and ideas. </p> <p>Well, my blogger was a rock star – probably because her name is Sarah. ;) She blogs over at <a href="http://www.whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com">While They Snooze</a>…love that title. </p> <p>Allow me to brag on her and her projects a bit, won’t you? The first week she knocked it out of the park with a project that started with a tire. Yep, a big, heavy tire:</p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4yiHJXQuGDY7SFqLIbnrFpCGJ41RetqF0BXYy60aJnrLLwu7rdJVMkgQa6FfGrcHLMyJzac2712tl0bDZLl-llJDhQi-4oQLj2HW-9AhBCeVfkPeUsoMX4sfzjxXLfdwXWNB7eMuiaSA/s1600/Old_Tire_Table3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4yiHJXQuGDY7SFqLIbnrFpCGJ41RetqF0BXYy60aJnrLLwu7rdJVMkgQa6FfGrcHLMyJzac2712tl0bDZLl-llJDhQi-4oQLj2HW-9AhBCeVfkPeUsoMX4sfzjxXLfdwXWNB7eMuiaSA/s640/Old_Tire_Table3.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" width="500" /></a></div> <p>She found it on the side of the road and found a use for it – I love the way her mind works! </p> <p>Her and her hubby made a base out of plywood, then cut out some legs with a jigsaw as well:  </p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmxivt6DcmZ8tE_JuzzkOS0EihLgQk1kmmR2xjprWdJV6vT_x1qibqEOP0YeyLVmQFy4Hd6YQhgS2muabCSs0ruKzKNwv-QamuRIlUtn6ibXWLJwvtLNnUCFgS0u2b0XAvxSB6xv97bmo/s1600/Old_Tire_Table21.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="DIY tire table" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmxivt6DcmZ8tE_JuzzkOS0EihLgQk1kmmR2xjprWdJV6vT_x1qibqEOP0YeyLVmQFy4Hd6YQhgS2muabCSs0ruKzKNwv-QamuRIlUtn6ibXWLJwvtLNnUCFgS0u2b0XAvxSB6xv97bmo/s640/Old_Tire_Table21.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="DIY tire table" width="428" /></a></div> <p>They created a top with the plywood so it could actually be used as a table: </p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Lba13_tdiHUAzTKzbq-Uo0SGFramMRsBGgJg7VpGHeay50ABsN_MmgM7U4sA1MbEXePAeUJgFR-2gmOmRGf8bZuDr2TGeayNquobpQ80wGPlUR0z0XJ22HZcGVYfobPoljqv8uS1i_pJ/s1600/Old_Tire_Table17.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="DIY tire table" border="0" height="535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Lba13_tdiHUAzTKzbq-Uo0SGFramMRsBGgJg7VpGHeay50ABsN_MmgM7U4sA1MbEXePAeUJgFR-2gmOmRGf8bZuDr2TGeayNquobpQ80wGPlUR0z0XJ22HZcGVYfobPoljqv8uS1i_pJ/s640/Old_Tire_Table17.jpg" title="DIY tire table" width="360" /></a></div> <p>After that was done it was time to <em>hide</em> the tire. You didn’t think she was keeping it, right? ;) </p> <p>It involved lots and lots of rope: </p> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; color: black; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none"> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf__dopqi-c_HjKr1YkjecLYiGn3vLIssqARBsT_bkqT6QvlJ-tBM-7u1ff0nRkZKF20QPdbI2Q0fB_PotExzdQON6l8bgs2P0KIgSoopQyprkQiMfVaznjSwkEASsEJ9I0qBU8ncQLKv/s1600/Tire_Table_After.jpg" imageanchor="1"><font color="#000000"></font><img alt="DIY tire table" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf__dopqi-c_HjKr1YkjecLYiGn3vLIssqARBsT_bkqT6QvlJ-tBM-7u1ff0nRkZKF20QPdbI2Q0fB_PotExzdQON6l8bgs2P0KIgSoopQyprkQiMfVaznjSwkEASsEJ9I0qBU8ncQLKv/s640/Tire_Table_After.jpg" title="DIY tire table" width="428" /></a></div> </div> <p>Who would ever think that was a tire under there? And it’s the perfect height and size for next to a chair. Totally funky and fun and pretty much free! (The whole tutorial is up at ECC <a href="http://www.eastcoastcreativeblog.com/2013/03/trendy-tire-table-while-they-snooze.html">here</a>.)</p> <p>I think her next project was my favorite one for the challenge – she was inspired by plate art from Anthropologie that was…get ready for this -- <em>$7,500</em>. Choke. </p> <p>She made her own with 30 dollar store plates and a few other supplies: </p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOu-r73P28aSzt1826Dpsc4DTNRzy9Bm4Dyd1wKNOrJ2y2IfSoJp0FjYDIeJU34XwI9fAdrBVppql-Ppzhzxs7icjIY3kSzSwSqUJ6k_zlkR_ytZS9YxR3vTd7X55NV262kEhqfQHn358/s1600/Anthro_plate_wall_knockoff.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="plate art" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOu-r73P28aSzt1826Dpsc4DTNRzy9Bm4Dyd1wKNOrJ2y2IfSoJp0FjYDIeJU34XwI9fAdrBVppql-Ppzhzxs7icjIY3kSzSwSqUJ6k_zlkR_ytZS9YxR3vTd7X55NV262kEhqfQHn358/s640/Anthro_plate_wall_knockoff.jpg" title="plate art" width="520" /></a></div> <p>I know, brilliant, right? </p> <p>She hung each plate, making sure each line was level: </p> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfF2DI_zfJ21kJQjZm7BBp82XF_dw-ZZyFUo8NNj68PXLfDrmA8HORPyFupSQ65qq2PL3vfEhDBTvwc0iCUgGgyucwLLlNB0pbcqR5j9PkkYekBfR_6e6OCPk0rnw9LJZWzOUOW4HIvtN/s1600/platewall2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="plate art" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfF2DI_zfJ21kJQjZm7BBp82XF_dw-ZZyFUo8NNj68PXLfDrmA8HORPyFupSQ65qq2PL3vfEhDBTvwc0iCUgGgyucwLLlNB0pbcqR5j9PkkYekBfR_6e6OCPk0rnw9LJZWzOUOW4HIvtN/s640/platewall2.jpg" title="plate art" width="498" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="separator"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: large" class="Apple-style-span"></span></span></div> <p>Then she used a projector to get an image up on the wall and large enough to trace with a Sharpie: </p> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif" class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: large" class="Apple-style-span"> <div style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: small" class="Apple-style-span"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqzj0Pk9s0-IoRw9L0nHvQuoEpz1sMGZN4ehqK4wVJwNCIp_9c25TwiBLlHORrKwRJ_t7NOAbrvU6hwFyj_2B-huZ3VMFPd8JoFothbDpBVrEYS0Pui8mRPcwjQGuA293NO5fsmmywM0W/s1600/platewall3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqzj0Pk9s0-IoRw9L0nHvQuoEpz1sMGZN4ehqK4wVJwNCIp_9c25TwiBLlHORrKwRJ_t7NOAbrvU6hwFyj_2B-huZ3VMFPd8JoFothbDpBVrEYS0Pui8mRPcwjQGuA293NO5fsmmywM0W/s640/platewall3.jpg" width="550" /></a></span></div> <p></p> <p></p> </span></span> <p>Amazing! It really came out beautifully:  </p> <div style="text-align: center; clear: both" class="separator"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpSjRX6FaDAw_JT1kvHVFqj5NyhdOtDL6yrhuKV2zOeShrG21v1C54t2-nscnM6hQFGd9dlaPxcPVpNrRlqmb00W3CQr8AE8WkCWlL0eCaNzkxni5dXJwdVh8RpcRWF8D5KR7CnTpzppX/s1600/plate_WTS_3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpSjRX6FaDAw_JT1kvHVFqj5NyhdOtDL6yrhuKV2zOeShrG21v1C54t2-nscnM6hQFGd9dlaPxcPVpNrRlqmb00W3CQr8AE8WkCWlL0eCaNzkxni5dXJwdVh8RpcRWF8D5KR7CnTpzppX/s640/plate_WTS_3.jpg" width="550" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class">What I love is that you could do this with any image – the possibilities are endless! You can see more details on how she did this art <a href="http://www.whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com/2013/03/creating-with-stars-week-2.html">here</a>. </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class"> </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class">For the last project Sarah did a beautiful water color looking map table, and I LOVE it: <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #444444; font-size: large" class="Apple-style-span"> <br /></span></div> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #444444; font-size: large" class="Apple-style-span"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2jzFx3GA-69aJU9rBpaPfI0pxDpvaClZYXuY-zDBLiBzfcrw_swlZ-cBBAk4DiItJikojn7_HbD8tKSz8CqZfZ6LrJiIWm_ol3amNLuuFUCBdnyrJQKymz3vfnCoLEDMk4Vm_AMiDd0/s1600-h/Map_Table_after3_WTS4.jpg"><img alt="map table " border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KMlBfHyiOTOr-7vx3U7whTm4L7ZqqRR534dF_cMmI9LGGONZefH_XzjWeuXBYfgnsILWsBlY7kfvwFnqJ78ndBs8l4Q3XQMOZVD7c7NkNT_zY-ayhDdv224l43omz1IZDMAcrC4FqXw/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="map table " width="550" /></a></span> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class">I’m sure she’ll be doing a post on that one too, be sure to check out her blog for the details. </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class"> </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class">Told you she is crazy talented – and did I mention she’s got a full time job and kids? And came up with these ideas and completed them each in less than a week?? I was a little in awe, seriously. </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class"> </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class">Here are a couple other projects from her blog I thought you would like as well – a <a href="http://www.whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-moroccan-style-wall-stencil.html">totally free stencil wall</a>: </div> <div style="text-align: left; margin: 0px; clear: both" class="class"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #444444; font-size: large" class="Apple-style-span"></span></div> <div style="text-align: left" align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_1N4xGE97aLuPHtVgaqJSCyl3MVDAHxTH9G-tAtUbc8pqrNElJiMv-LDl-B30i15LBistMZhLxOR9QSror15Whu3SIHrNnEuQfUHBsqZznPzQQqhE4ywjkz-aXbCO4J-p0WmPWJbxjo/s1600-h/Wall_Stencil_23.jpg"><img alt="DIY wall stencil" border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mXszc0r9YXDg6W6_PcjPDPTH5JOzmrpgsWJRShWKt5vkdFXGrNn7F6DRTF2TlYC-pGXWg5c2puWApnXoJkFqPdpxiK0kBlzmsM9KJYqmzd4Cas30f3k8aT6iXsfxPxAYkfbfafRFKzk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY wall stencil" width="290" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaqrk1Z2GC70P_cREcjuLNqBisx3lagb8DsG1VFpl8LN92sQHHZ63Zdkv7uwVtyGDhTV7Q0bgeKc4eDPniGOXkrEb05YcgTdyndVzhxxUCENmmzP7YkzyHi660zFN_nr9P6hDqIDQ41U/s1600-h/DIY_Wall_Stencil_After3.jpg"><img alt="DIY_Wall_Stencil_" border="0" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uUD5Uz5oxSSGk9_QXINuxvjKOtZcf5U2yJQyCo3W-Rcs9-zGA_op1jzvcqdc5IzCj2USlur6qX2S1lbA_pd97XEgUCYWHstc9I8b7mpDxoMBoa3fuIZzKMMYuzghkshQj6YTdNPhwJ0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DIY_Wall_Stencil_" width="290" /></a> </div> <div style="text-align: left">Who needs a stencil when you have cardboard? For real.</div> <div style="text-align: left"> </div> <div style="text-align: left">And I think this has to be one of my favorite projects of hers – the <a href="http://whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com/2013/01/diy-herringbone-metallic-artwork-easy.html">DIY metallic art</a>: </div> <div style="text-align: left"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXtAN3oGc6-V2u-NKVti9TPAUYHy6WQroJlg5rAbuQO3_3K57oj6I_2bwuoKVKRY6T6QeFkBzUJtks7DkXRC0fSK8Obi0Yna3sAjZ3Zvsp812UoH7l-xoNZmxvc9NSph9l1_sarYXMlE/s1600-h/DIY_metallic_art3.jpg"><img alt="DIY_metallic_art" border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCIN4ojfscxJEZyD5lyAP_neDPNGu8tiXVR9sseRwdh-qEpXQYKT8kynBVBGtcXH7DauRw9jqheaSvyY3TR_2Ao_foaZ-7bD-3G0xw-Cwr500WLLBnKhUMbu3kAlL_HNprkcuHi21hXE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY_metallic_art" width="550" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: left">Just gorgeous! I’ve been trying to figure out where I do the same project since I first saw this post. </div> <div style="text-align: left"> </div> <div style="text-align: left">The talent out in blogland continues to astound me! So much inspiration, so little time to copy it all. ;)</div> <div style="text-align: left"> </div> <div style="text-align: left">Be sure to check out Sarah’s blog <a href="http://whiletheysnooze.blogspot.com">here</a>, and you can cheer on the remaining contestants over at East Coast Creative <a href="http://www.eastcoastcreativeblog.com">here</a>! </div> <div style="text-align: left"> </div> <div style="text-align: left">I’ll be back tomorrow with some organization in the basement, whooee! </div>

Showing off Sarah

Howdy all! It’s slowly but surely warming up here…just a tad. And it’s been sunny. I’ll take it!! A few weeks ago I was honored to be asked to join in on the Creating with the Stars challenge over at East Coast Creative. I was partnered up with a blogger who would be completing the projects and I …

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Going Home

<p>Hey hey! Well, the snow is melting fast but the lingering winter got the kiddo with strep – so we have been home the past couple of days resting and playing (now that he is feeling better). One more day at home and he’ll get back to school just in time for spring break! Well played my boy, well played. ;)</p> <p>Today’s post is SO special to me. Last week I was able to take a really special road trip with my Dad – it was one we had been planning for quite some time. </p> <p>The back story is a long, drawn out one, but the gist of it is that I moved around a lot as a kid and we didn’t stay anywhere for too long. Not really sure why, at least early on. Later in my childhood, in high school, it was due to some crappy stuff happening, but in my earlier years I don’t know – we just moved a lot. Overall I don’t think I lived in one house more than two years till I was 18? Maybe one house was three years, but that was it. </p> <p>So that and all the other stuff from my childhood has played a BIG part in my love for homes and our current house in particular. It makes me <em>deeply</em> happy and content to be able to put down roots and nest and putter and live our days in a home we love. </p> <p>I have fond memories of every place we lived, even during the not so great times, but there was one house in particular that affected me like the others didn’t. We lived in a small town in Indiana called LaFontaine for a couple years, when I was about eight years old to about ten.   </p> <p>When I say small town, I mean smaller than the small town Johnny Cougar sang about. ;) (Although I lived in <em>that </em>small town for years too!). LaFontaine has a population of less than 1,000 people, but living there stuck with me. I LOVED it. </p> <p>We lived in an old farmhouse, on a ton of land, with a huge red barn (and a few smaller ones) in the back. I remember climbing the wooden ladder in the barn to the hay bale loft and hiding in the hay tunnels (even though I was <em>totally</em> afraid of spiders, even back then). I had a tire swing, I was outside a LOT, the dogs and cats would just come and go as they pleased, and my parents had a volleyball net set up out front pretty much all summer. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrxMfupyZVVaSv2imy4J_gzJ8p4xK8jlPCIa-kW36AoxeoQm8EDOBaBMOVIZwoJhyphenhyphenlSKcw7Ytb-MlUWwwu3QqLIQAybniRMbNsucCGkBY9TaKXP4Hhz768fDG_CqR7-QUl8IZBGncYiI/s1600-h/photo2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CTmkSiut4wnZI0-UuUQkNIudyfFrZJXe64Mq5GBSjdYgO0xbXslMsyjHxLxNtFFjx05vkE-vnDSLj4krjhuAkGeZFYZ6ABVL5ERduBu9BwnOC0LeMxTZGYammw4En77qaEsB-62Mqsg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I would ride my bike about a quarter of a mile down the road to an older couple’s house to visit (I was an only child in the middle of nowhere – and no cable back then either of course) and the wife would bake pies and put them in the windowsill to cool and then feed me. I mean, seriously. It was amazing. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWW-5MaU23PfUPVe6j7E_qIXiLFAt3br-MPoHAYfAKvDpHS974gEyS2Pbs9Bv5SfR8L3YQLqe6ua7xRIubKKqhsJc5x7VK5hcpZRf1xhlH5j8IgFm4A4wNq8YT_5lOT0ZFS9E1_kuMog/s1600-h/photo6%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7xH3Mxtq9kOxTPd8ATshCUzlizi4B9bR6njT372EJH60nBvbWV6FyPVjZMpaRt7soDIC9R52rbEk9XsU4_EcsNqwl_vPgpsZTAGm8yGQaUG7J4aX3INbRhccOqBs00C4joNx5_-hBNY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="500" /></a></p> <p align="center">(My parents, my great grandmother (my namesake) and me in front of the house.)</p> <p>So I’ve told my Dad for years that I wanted to go back. It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. About a year ago we took a trip up – and drove around forever but could not find the house. Not much has changed about the farmland out there, which means every road starts to look the same after a while. We drove around for a couple hours and finally gave up. </p> <p>My parents rented the house so there was no real record of us living there – we just couldn’t figure out how to get the address. I tried searching online for weeks and got nowhere. </p> <p>So this past Christmas Dad surprised me with a gift – he found one of my report cards from when we lived in that house with the address! We were so excited! Problem is, it was a rural route address, and when we entered into Google maps, nothing was found. </p> <p>So last week we decided to try it again, just the two of us, report card in hand. We started at the post office, but they didn’t know how to help us. They suggested the town hall (right across the street of course), so we went over there. </p> <p>Thankfully the sweetest girl was working that day and was SO helpful. She made a phone call trying to figure out the new address but didn’t come up with anything. Dad mentioned that he remembered the first name of the landlord, but that didn’t ring a bell to her. He said the man owned a lot of farmland in the area and then right away it all clicked for all of us – she knew exactly who it was. </p> <p>Dad knew we had lived near the landlord’s operation, so she did some more sleuthing and we set off in what we figured was the general direction of the house. </p> <p>Thing is, both this time and last time I was looking for that big red barn and the other smaller ones behind it as we drove around. Dad was the one who said we should consider that they may not be there anymore, and wouldn’t you know it, he was right. He was the one who saw the house first as we drove down the road. </p> <p>At first I wasn’t sure. First of all, it looked at least half the size of what I remembered! I think we’ve all been there – places we grew up with seem so much bigger, cause, well…we were half the size. ;) And Dad was right, the barns were gone. What was once a sweet farmhouse tucked into trees and surrounded by buildings was standing alone, all by itself in the middle of nowhere. </p> <p>It was when I saw the front porch that I knew he was right. This was the place:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrbjcZL1v6zeeLo7wuIZkYY-H_Hxq4bW6pdezTwXDbgMEhUvKxpzmzSfL5gxa4E-_vxUFS0xoY1N0Ab840I19abviBrOjZNLwPNGtnFNinoCP8l7mAkuUsgKc4CH2jTEbd83XfXDqGBk/s1600-h/IMG_5152%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ_4IYT8Gs6ylo36AZeK8wIeKCGPlADZiNmnEbLuSXBJzwhNlpo-j_fBumeFDNO8neihOJ8Aqo0uZS1FIK3Qjbt0oPWvRG4ge-eA0Vt6pe7eaOZR-Zop3CIF-KHQvVw-45aqqa4Rwc-yQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="400" /></a></p> <p>It was surreal. It’s been nearly 30 years since I’ve been there. Thirty years! I’m old! </p> <p>It looked SO different, so lonely, so naked. The big red barn was gone – as was everything else I remembered about the back: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ijFbMARJZr-tNCLnnwhFWyFy7gqD1ehKCT9k42Mnsf1R26Oihh9I_nScMrzj4TZbrSsS8t9hisONW3ClkC0t41KBeCbJquDVbQlYKdyxlGtg4GcRBOK4jVUBRjfKlxgrxc9aJQYgLNU/s1600-h/IMG_5148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyA7bVRTIt72uleC9eNAImEQK08NTpiYk9d_zw0qOr85iAEtb5eodmEnuxsUhHP76WY9AmYfYVj-IoVDJp8kkwwDhYdxuyeltAAo10dmW41emyDzADio-o6KoIdFAv9vbFevqcQY8UkU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Oh my. It made me so, so sad. </p> <p>The house was empty (I was going to knock on the door if anyone was living there) so we were able to walk around and I snapped a bunch of pictures -- some of the inside too. </p> <p>Talk about surreal. So much had changed inside – I mean, I figured it had, it’s been a long time. But it was funny how I wanted the old stuff to be there still. Hardwoods had been carpeted over. Old windows and doors replaced. I was even sad to see the horrible paneling in the front room was now dry walled. </p> <p>My sister was born while we lived there -- we moved away soon after she was born. Here’s a picture I found of her as a newborn with Mom in the kitchen and the old metal cabinets and glass block window (with the old crank to open it!):</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F359RdjIaZEkWdNqOTacPq1lFaNZiHvR9SISEy1NaRAXMJkICGOO9wBl3lyqDn_ISqvPiKD6hoEIp1-rVlGNTJL5N4hAgPUyB5IeuXW2Pqbo59KFIsSQjjDYftLHWouXvqR9MOU1Byc/s1600-h/photo4%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMiotGekZftR0BuucfMvP-XxavRMj4YC4jgl5kSQbea5Dt-lm3vPRMg5Vh2S5j9kEoFwCfub9izTfPP8NfELLdCInpn3mk698bMCGJFz3jOZZevvM7YyVxD5zbW1T2trZqmucG_Jh0k8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="360" /></a></p> <p>So precious! :) And check out that cane backsplash – I’m guessing it was wallpaper? I think it’s funny that I would totally use that in my house somewhere now. </p> <p>Not all of the windows had been replaced, but the ones in the kitchen had – along with everything else:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7qrHZQCa0J3_nflEV6c7Kk4Gq7XXcbAG_ZvfhEZfkchd3IYlXwO4imlN3h7ALFWKMXDse6TTAM_8QlCkkEuiS9PQEs_VZaakO_ECbCxrumlXtfVbK7Ztr5dGCHDV7YAc7XAiQfw7Xmk/s1600-h/IMG_5146%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHdUGaXVItNbsflzE2hj2rY2CMo-sArPKLeKYeCdY8kRMPDNJhiwV9xgFwZcmViu4oyh53OvbDPr9EfVXwCDLetqEBWFENQ8VzM3pZT9XpVHp_Uvb-SwwdoVVtPcqyR3MSk35z-gs-JQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It’s really a large kitchen – what I wouldn’t give to make it into a true farmhouse space again! </p> <p>See that closed door in the room past the kitchen to the left? Behind that is a narrow staircase that leads up to the two rooms upstairs. They had pitched ceilings and I now realize <em>really</em> small little windows, but they seemed huge to me at the time. And I had the whole upstairs to myself. I remember the rooms being full of light every day, even with those small windows. </p> <p>And one year for my birthday (in October), I had my friends over for sleepover, and we sat at the base of those stairs telling ghost stories. When one of us was just getting to the scariest part of a story, my Dad opened that door at the exact right (or wrong) moment and scared us out of our wits. It was hilarious (at least it is now). I still remember it like it was yesterday. </p> <p>I was thrilled to find that I had old pictures of the outside too – you can see a little of the old barn here: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5jhcGIBr5htQ-c-PrGHh2a0K-BABrfd-KnWw6uGn_9Ld6ag2kxRcH78qZppgJBnEyoKILw1B-818zbIVBveM2jEdsQkJf8dGLCntCPdyxg9gbjPVJo_gARQp9j6OfV4enWWhk4R5Bgc/s1600-h/photo3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZ5upQ4xkVkV9LGRUK4tOq3YJu8mUTmo6xmXW6Z1kIe50a4u9_s0BqGiKo0ikWFSXnY0DCTjbtC8kdu5VtevVV-qeG-bpHL-Qjj1H55MnwFAJCBb0cwWeEVRmTQ3Tr718KgdGa5md6EE/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>My Mom and (most of) my grandparents. I love this photo! :) </p> <p>This is that same exact view now: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ijFbMARJZr-tNCLnnwhFWyFy7gqD1ehKCT9k42Mnsf1R26Oihh9I_nScMrzj4TZbrSsS8t9hisONW3ClkC0t41KBeCbJquDVbQlYKdyxlGtg4GcRBOK4jVUBRjfKlxgrxc9aJQYgLNU/s1600-h/IMG_5148%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyA7bVRTIt72uleC9eNAImEQK08NTpiYk9d_zw0qOr85iAEtb5eodmEnuxsUhHP76WY9AmYfYVj-IoVDJp8kkwwDhYdxuyeltAAo10dmW41emyDzADio-o6KoIdFAv9vbFevqcQY8UkU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Ugh! I hate it! SO many trees are gone too – beautiful old, full trees. I wonder if they fell on their own? I don’t know. </p> <p>Here’s the area to the right, almost 30 years ago:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigLpvoKUnD3e_Ms66p9qujSMR5HfPqvQPT2uM8mUK-TkcDTr2KxLvRAi3vajEbGYs4xWrdIyeSyvy3PyDhOqNTktd__EekcVhu-rS-DD8GL7D-ILMMVnrhbTq-TVsbB_YW11HzWJHuSy4/s1600-h/photo8%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVMhvIxcvcQDVZaFxH_2k_qxygZe6zZK03HeNMSLn0sMTsdBAKCfQJE7bgaPLxarg3Hq1XZ5stIPm_RzSPtm-02WSI7qPEI48-K3QbAzl53utn9jodJ75x5Vw5YqeFA79wv7YVevBCak/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The leaves weren’t even on the trees at this point, but you can see how many there were back there. </p> <p>Behind that smaller barn to the right was where rhubarb grew and my tire swing hung from a <em>huge </em>tree. :)</p> <p>It’s all gone now, every bit of it, even the trees: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOY3lRC2uki3sYLp31b6pSZklfVGhVdZBVc-W2VTA6UA1TFYaKglFByb6YMRhg9GSBi2qcMOy_ZQGlVJ7jLEIdauCQq0kDYgxjhp1CgSGCtisYVmm2GdgqzjiVRxwzZxcN_Vk-N60NFk/s1600-h/IMG_5147%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg21r7iTvN2SnPFP_eud1aBL0c4PiqQCYZzp-nQaX9ab1wdNkakjNunGfosDQKW-cUaRxCB8GxJifYtSusO07KRu79UVloh57bGgWx-jRpBMRN-4NcuHESuJ9HpWKfsRMVsRwWbPYUPmcs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I know. So sad. Dad said we were on about three acres of land and it was so, so pretty. We were out in the middle of nowhere but it was always so cozy to me. </p> <p>Part of me was hoping to see that small barn, walk around it and still find the rhubarb. :)</p> <p>The back of the house has changed a ton too. Here it is with the old window, door, awnings and what I think was wood shingles on the back?: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL-VuI2ffljph5crXw8-2O2D3huxClPJgMiQ_rz3cbCEejALv3VypuIlGYe5bQxUtF1nkv1HHLhRI-5ztu1LFnAO1DmkHTsJoRPjWlTU-QsKWR_kNYVAeBDHn1LCLbrvFXEBgXlGmkBI/s1600-h/photo5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXzOg1ncqGNFdkETDICi9-QKQ-wSH_B0yIT7wfJdfxYdi5lf6TmHsQahWC_X8KsLwR1ZHnsWSDDE7uK_jnAalWnA2ia6FPPXCZpp2b7jcBKHygYz-BxWEj7_wA7rdHHeB0P7X9Ds5pOU4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="550" /></a></p> <p>So different now, right?:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3gBeQUURw9jdN4bPnq-Ht16bP09csHzm4Nv7uQmeRHR_G6l5nG3m_HkmOk-gw2JjzT88ha6m7rA8XJUh4Gk7bxUP-Q1bV0O3qGPReTybHOXEZ9kiRQR4DPvCpYcgYiYuaFRDNWMr7AY/s1600-h/IMG_5150%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDca659B9yVZA4CHrYpe3T19VdPWhlnjE1ykMAWe2uas-AAhzWMbC0XhvODfyDNfUIEa34Xhf0Sh7znaERTxBLY33-lcXWiw8monK7BAwldYDXfpb230W0WOA-UXd3Iv4TTxWaYmNtmQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="400" /></a></p> <p>Although I do love the aqua door. :) </p> <p>It looks like they redid the whole back of the house. There was also an old brick chimney that used to be on the right side of the house back there, and that’s gone too. </p> <p>I knew the house from the front porch, but I also knew we had the right place because of the bay window on the side: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedyhfsP3P1uIqr-y8gbX4Ke34RVshMRLFMRjTuF5L76A9u4Qi7H2XatP4ZLY4lIMscenYueLIgQ5ARRGLYtfoXJwSKZHKy3Kq6wF6EMVAjMr8Jx8pJWWlNJR_f5s7i_8YC8WJ9xCnIfs/s1600-h/IMG_5154%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsjd9qvgqGLmEhPpBsueGau2Ggfo5jPmwq2wvjprMKfeGpB5VTCUbd98vE99BLNUsvU3I4D5hI8VfOe6an1s3Q7rN0wGzfqabAyQGUMDv6YXKj4wMOzgJ4XzJrxYxCQ7_qOHQ_xNunzY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It’s still the same window. I have an old photo of me holding my newborn sister inside, looking out that window onto the fields and trees, but I can’t find it. I know I have it somewhere so it’s driving me crazy. It is such a special shot. </p> <p>I took a (bad) picture through the window and this room looks smaller than I remember, but similar: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVtGVbagwNNtHmxOG8lv8IJA7rrACk5HF-XVUZKpyQbYExYAVGpr_rHqQJa6tI02QFSlznB6ZdpxGMw9Yutg0MU9WEkn6B12GDhxr2wcvw8GHzbaiqEwDgNTlwabL1TLiTWd9BxAgAR0/s1600-h/IMG_5157%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMplYxGG2MyikJxoulHPRF4l1fz48Im0JbZnt1Xum-UKCgEMijZ23OQLeEa0dTm6hhjn0fyvD1VC4Cm4waAZkP1UL-eP_gNXOdk2tEaIRt8hdLbAyeXutqcVPYsUmCkpBtVKaW46n_UY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Here’s my grandma holding my new baby sis almost exactly 28 years ago (her birthday is in less than two weeks) – you can see that original door with the panes in the background: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbw4oIAC7eYH375rZ_XMcAtlxIWCAXwpC8cFDRaN6WCaNDm4dq6mekCt6-aIgfR48KLuq-eiCmfKR8ZofARGpaK8Edb1ksHJHVQ2kUxVWWEZKWdr93-bWTSM19P4Iqa4rwkhaK4IPfgs/s1600-h/photo%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjOO-pg50CI7rn8y_YUFrRtHFSFXD8PMT1ewouQxLJZPdZ7gbAAb2Oz4H3UBWddlVSErHlzcev_cyP2PTawwVjGU6VZ__quoTIUFzJdL3rBQ_BSiUrx2iMUk0Cg4wlPe12ODAQNvnOyg/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I remember that middle room being HUGE. It’s so not. :) See that little alcove in the wall behind the sofa? If I remember right I think it was for the phone – you can see in the recent pic that it was taken out. </p> <p>This last picture makes me sad – this was what I was expecting when we drove up: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZjf-3NbSY72cK75NJP2I29aP1lJZbVYV7OO-j1a4N49xuHSXFSWKx4_FxGiESEr294AHW4fsoY8j8gRiik5Qe6W22u0pmmDpOxM8Ozd2f6c65whxQdQebknb0nxpAvpYVV2V6vzdFDY/s1600-h/photo9%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLAb5C4XeiPbk-UsinVYp8OlP4XkvBFe4PU2UauICIYqegjNvgB2K3SAlssx4F8HgVF3FC7nQOzKNtvKC-CW2LMF9FcSm_YUbmGYaUhGAlBCzPTA6BMTTUYtvDQahR0dRN-BiyiGNkA8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="550" /></a></p> <p>See that massive tree trunk waaay over on the right? That was my tire swing tree. :) </p> <p>But this is what’s there now. Of course the leaves aren’t back quite yet, but it doesn’t matter – all the big trees are gone. All the bushes in front of the porch. Everything: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4htqW-OXx5Oo3e-Dddg_EShTetAqnwSr9zslF4CK6GcVV8mPJL_Vj6YDNFftSvDIcGUIm4mrff82BbJ_FC-tgO0vmlt1imFd6vkRzap8FoxHOMbmBudmHuLzYynO5bGxUOBNlOWU7kw/s1600-h/IMG_5153%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="old farmhouse" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1j1RWxCOfvnkGw2eVQoJ9C2FbXbtfd1WIGxjLpUfLKZDofPv0Ji2ghv-kWTM2Jfabl9A6xzf7zkZpAOfw9jhJdOFR83JouHumWCUrMXLI-JGdtRi_u4K3fktfr-RdcBDj8vKLyRxmlTQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="old farmhouse" width="360" /></a></p> <p>My beloved childhood home looks so lonely. :( BUT, it’s still there. </p> <p>I told Dad as we drove away that I would love to have the money to buy the house right now. I would rebuild at least one barn, plant new trees, landscape, and then start on the inside of the house. :) </p> <p>I can’t stop thinking about it – I have it all planned out in my head how we could take the Bub up there on the weekends and just let him and the dog RUN. Live simply. Sit on the front porch and rock. Maybe play some volleyball in the front yard. ;) </p> <p>I can’t get it out of my head. </p> <p>It’s not going to happen, but it doesn’t mean I won’t quit visiting. I already have plan to drive my sister up there to see it, and I may take the Bub so he can run around. I have a feeling I’ll drive by it at least once a year, just to check on it. </p> <p>I wish I could explain why this house has stuck with me so, why it affects me this way. I tried to explain it to my hubby last night and ended up wiping tears away and telling him he couldn’t possibly understand why it meant so much to me…because I can’t either. </p> <p>Maybe it’s because I’m a woman and more emotional? Maybe it’s because I had been looking at old photos all day. Maybe because this is the house that made me fall in love with houses? I think it’s all of the above really. Our life was far from perfect while we lived here – but I just remember being <em>so</em> happy. Carefree. After that I didn’t feel like that for a really long time – but it’s how I feel in our house now. </p> <p>So, I will just keep stalking it. Checking on it every so often. </p> <p>Do you have a childhood home that you think about a lot? Have you ever gone back? Knocked on the door? :) Did it make you sad or happy to go back? It made me feel both – sad that’s it’s not how I remembered, but SO happy I got to see it again. </p> <p>Thanks for letting me share it with you. :) </p>

Going Home

Hey hey! Well, the snow is melting fast but the lingering winter got the kiddo with strep – so we have been home the past couple of days resting and playing (now that he is feeling better). One more day at home and he’ll get back to school just in time for spring break! Well played my boy, well play…

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DIY ombre effect

<p>Well hello from under 11 inches of snow!!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VK1RA2LwUIQ/UVCCiqsJIlI/AAAAAAAAb6A/aJYZTCUOlPY/s1600-h/IMG_5187%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="snow in indiana" border="0" height="299" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-27fJegZ6-Fk/UVCCi5pxVPI/AAAAAAAAb6I/dtABlILTtak/IMG_5187_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="snow in indiana" width="450" /></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZDxJFBbAh0A/UVCCjTv7CJI/AAAAAAAAb6Q/ZYu195tiSNk/s1600-h/IMG_5188%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="snow in indiana" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xV6nTAv2-8M/UVCCkFGUGwI/AAAAAAAAb6Y/yK6DqTJ7Ntw/IMG_5188_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="snow in indiana" width="400" /></a></p> <p>CRAZY! It <em>is </em>almost April, correct? Normally my flowers have been in my window boxes for a good week or two by now. </p> <p>So yeah, we have a snow day and it’s a good thing cause the kiddo is feeling yucky – we’re planted on the sofa for the day. This post is going up late cause I’ve been taking care of the Bub…and we all did a <em>little</em> sleeping in. ;)  </p> <p>So as you know I’m still working on a purge of the entire house – I’m only about a third of the way done but I’ve already cleared out a TON of stuff. Part of the purge was a reorganizing of the kiddo’s toys. We had a huge <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/basement-built-in-cubbies.html">wall of cubbies</a> installed in the basement (more on those soon!) and all of the toys fit down there SO nicely! </p> <p>Until recently we had a big Target basket upstairs in the family room for some of the toys: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFRnMthn4fzfKyskja4ripLQIt52Ut2RFcC_QzlXjNUjtsbyWp6s9qaomB-e8o5TYhj6vuOXryhCKTlR1ESaPgHRSOkt5rq2CP-38kQaWGvdRaGMuME0QLZrfbxcMXuT53pfBmP5E9os/s1600-h/IMG_5635_thumb%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dresser as entertainment center" border="0" height="676" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWu9EAw8urrK_La4YC_oxZPeC72IMlJSrwbGunDxAVqwDpFn-EyQZVD_j2kF5ZN5moJq3-22SnH_waHgDkEq0JD4hAVj5H6DNM0oOEL-JvBMXGotVgVEI34XnqK9gBr_jCpcqGa_XTzo/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dresser as entertainment center" width="450" /></a></p> <p>Excuse my flip flop shot – it’s the best one I could find of this wall. Ahhhh…<em>flip flops</em>. </p> <p>Usually that basket was overflowing -- but when the cubbies were built all that was sorted through and taken downstairs. That dresser is full of toys as well – we did a huge clean out there too, but that is the only spot for them now on the main level. </p> <p>So anyhoo, that spot the basket was in was empty for awhile, which I quite liked actually. It was nice to let it breathe for a bit, you know? </p> <p>But soon I realized I wanted something there to even out that wall. We have the subwoofer on the other end and it was just looking unbalanced. </p> <p>So I decided to try out something taller…in the shape of a plant. You see, I’m becoming a plant lady. It’s getting serious people. I’m obsessed. I can’t get enough of them. The fact that they are all staying alive and thriving is <em>not </em>helping. </p> <p>Must. have. more. </p> <p>I picked up a new ficus tree at Lowe’s to fill the spot, but like always, I wanted something fun at the base. I love putting my trees in baskets, so when I found this basket at Marshall’s for $8 I knew it would be perfect: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZFNBiH8kXIXkogvbKppXI0Cn55yDkL7GJDWQzZUC2YQ9aWwNzLJ6bEjyrJ40mlvfelHz_3z13jqfaW5eOWNXd0VN3pUa7_rfl3X9gH00basYchu2NMtj1jpjTJIn1c1yi4Rhb1oKvRU/s1600-h/IMG_5179%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NAL1rFhXk_qR7eKcTfKHq48cH4mNOd99ZPSCD7cEdPY1ATbe8T6Mp0m-thwg8_Jv79fD_iFg-IG17zccp-DC4MfLljAWdmW5q6ORCch-6rky-pb1onhHSsmz8fVTvtVkzdEGVIhW3VQ/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="360" /></a></p> <p>I liked the “dipped” look of it, but it was a little blah for me – I wanted something a little different. </p> <p>I came up with an idea using paint I already had – so started by I taping off the white part along the bottom with my FrogTape:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnr-K24Ysaukmw84qHJMUTJB33qzr_t8lyJ_6CG-iibYNTHP_txZ5zyP0m3YeHabshOeM96-V_3xyClQGrepQIjTcngutnNkwwmO-HA9b1-AOcwxl7y07T1dsLtpKAOZXhLiE0V5mL8U/s1600-h/IMG_5180%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHCh3YM59WK2Ho_S5IZZL5sT5tRcE2plYy6XiN2ha4fJSKuSEc1oHcHhmazS99UVnvyU1hFYyuIFVYLNhQ4VqCtjqykurWdzO0038Bps-Rzy6ME0mM_VV6MeFj9UtDAU01Xl6Sv2t-5U/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="360" /></a></p> <p>Then just painted right over it – I used a foam brush so I could easily smush between the weaving of the basket: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPSqqmhYxKTXoprqjPhFnz6Ea36DSaFuuj-zlxOJIkDZNOgJRPTLYyzxydwBjNTMP-6vCRJvhzEWsZChoaDIqNiyMQwh5RYZHWROLqBt59sQT0-ifK_tkcC1ZVZIcjmBxqKS-tmlq_RE/s1600-h/IMG_5181%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHeChJILH_MCt2Rv9zvZ8-cjoFKMUeBg5HgbdE3qh6tjDyzV_8nYXBHZjNJWbsBZgSmGIrcmLolkvFqd5bNKmNic9Q3Xb-lsTeyeSzdBlLqARdZN5ZP89SsgSyYm1U5-H5Vtc2DOX-Jk/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="360" /></a></p> <p>And by the way, no, I didn’t paint the bottom. Ain’t nobody got time for that. </p> <p>I was planning an ombre kind of effect – yes, late to the trend party yet again. At first I was just going to take my first color and lighten it up with some white paint to make three different tones, but then I remembered, DUH, I am using most of the colors on that paint chip in the basement so I had the lighter tones already. (I shared all of those <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/05/picking-out-basement-paint-colors.html">in this post</a>.)</p> <p>So the base was the Marina Gray and my next stripe was Silver Lake. I just let the first one dry a little (it only took a few minutes) then taped over the just painted part with the FrogTape and then eyed the top part of the next stripe: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wun5rsRwFxb2UUKDoNMUK9cPiIi4cvKdrHbH3HPfvd7LYizFPNfI3lfmClmWQBVy71UZ_O09F6ZqAyq__GiCVaAQfLoE9R2CEM2CElQW5xd8a1oB5Oj0woji6RDCQlRn-zC9-OYGp8I/s1600-h/IMG_5182%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqlzSLietNCUufEdcTepGvJ-OMfjVhLSBieA6L6086FfkJ1qCY8ol5YJ1OqcmbETm_Kl_-iXqDuC1_oDbmBrJc5Ie0S8bj6bzGyr8heaRXtjhCMCMA2Ot8EjyB5jw2yxutmoZ7fp09tXE/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="360" /></a></p> <p>I used the delicate tape just in case the paint pulled off at all but it didn’t at all. </p> <p>I kept going and ended with the Pebble Beach color I painted the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/laundry%20room">basement laundry room</a>. And I kind of LOVE IT: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W1YP_eI1PJEuYLP3vIBueZ9ZM0l72ukF2R82UqU9JeZRfft0ofGNRVjg6EJdjY6LBxyQX8COjO5_Z4q_jXbI2XrZdSSs2s0-AqXrw5245Qq4ZbXSefK_iOaae-dXYemonZxHbFVzcw8/s1600-h/IMG_5193%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="541" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRohkMhbAXrnks21RJtMUfqXJuIXAFvC-a7PbSk0R7QgJFbbq1ivQs27J20oUTN6SNI3ogml_KhouJp1HVzldW8F2ZrRS5YR05o_uEwOrEw11SI9uVjm2vVy_oKPAVtIAMI0C007wYtc/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="360" /></a></p> <p>Ignore that my stripes are completely different sizes, umkay?</p> <p>The ombre look is way more subtle than I thought it would be – and I realize now you probably can’t even tell the difference in these colors down in the basement rooms – I so could have just used the same color throughout. Oh well. :)</p> <p>I left the top rim and area around the handles the natural color since I wasn’t painting the inside of the basket: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIusOZJ1rd97Cs40xwS_nMLIWmJrDH0wSWJzM_-uQ_AEYLco4h0G1eWokBgwBnQYcKStAGUSQyvpPbFPlOHboCVe8D_Nj4evMvmEyMmcoPRJ3ZB6nPuazqdKK4w1Kxdr-J4Hu8bMzK0Bc/s1600-h/IMG_5190%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY ombre basket planter" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpD4SMp_uWjk5SZGxd-7isPtyez-1L0gY_LQUkrH0wTvEy6VJ2d5Umjc5Zs_ZtHK4-Sig1HrfupyqQF4_2fOcIi3zSs2vJ4P735v3JYP0anVC8bq2kJ_lpKcx0IxyU3OKbj0s2Y1oSe0/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DIY ombre basket planter" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I’m glad the ombre look is more subtle – I think if it was more severe the colors wouldn’t have flowed as well. </p> <p>Mr. Ficus is so pretty, isn’t he? Maybe he should be a Ms.?:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIHfpI3KpBMrjVUgF1I_RSFqqAG4lV5dbSSJJYr2Ra-rle-WlrOALNHyxmze7SmvHaPuv6ucWUZtRpDc0vpLCugAYcg5eelnr5RfmRsaRL1SQJF8IWQ66RA_9rGFW4khLiUTGz1RuMcm4/s1600-h/IMG_5194%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dresser as entertainment center" border="0" height="601" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mh9sp9eCwvv0_RDcMX4F5ys7cmR35_KL0_dJWldCsafFQ1OHM2WLv-e35QdmabNpgeMQ4p8r3UaAWvMiGgycmlpm4CK9TU2I-K80lGrWvepo9ddrTLmungAPgpKQMe6v7XcLp4u8JbY/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dresser as entertainment center" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I love how the plant works with the green lamps and the planter pulls in the blue from the rug in the family room too. </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADs8EJhlDq46hmeVdrwv2M1agIqyOhyphenhyphenXqxE9PFgtA3hcYifnjgmouWwhGCFC-Zq-flnXr5SGrIwret7hXY2mrSv7JsnmwZVOGjki2sLOGfJVNZSIYxXAZgu05ecDSl54sxitpDQ4Kppg/s1600-h/IMG_5202%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="dresser as entertainment center" border="0" height="670" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOT8hWsxgPqqZ441sRzoennLPidz3Md1aUNKXdtiSvEiDdTOYtbtApN0q1N_99cJ3kEDI8lkLp3Uydf961gw3QCwf4VGGh4SNWNIvLxMJc7yxelRVHXGH1VNrqvhecB8twyjfD3padfM/?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="dresser as entertainment center" width="450" /></a></p> <p>I love it! And I successfully brought another plant into the house – my favorite part. ;) It’s more balanced out now too – without feeling heavy. Exactly what I wanted!</p> <p>Are you a plant fiend too? I’ll share more of my lovelies with you soon. And I have a much bigger ombre project in the works too! </p> <p>**You can find out more about the DIY box/trough on the dresser <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/07/diy-trough-thingy.html">here</a>. </p>

DIY ombre effect

Well hello from under 11 inches of snow!! CRAZY! It is almost April, correct? Normally my flowers have been in my window boxes for a good week or two by now. So yeah, we have a snow day and it’s a good thing cause the kiddo is feeling yucky – we’re planted on the sofa for the day. This post is…

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