ORC Week 5 - Unexpected Book Display for Safari Glam Nursery

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It's CRUNCH TIME for ORC participants people and I AM IN IT SO BAD!!!!!

The installers started working on the carpet and it is nearly done! I hope to get in the furniture within the week, thank you all for your words of encouragement on this 'snag' on our project.

Anyway before the reveal next week (which I hope I will be able to participate in), I wanted to share with you the solution to our AWKWARD INDOOR WINDOW DILEMMA I shared with you all HERE.

TA-DA!

My Dilemma BEFORE

So much better and so useful too!

I'm pretty psyched as to how it turned out! I was seriously contemplating on these...

1) Wisteria Shelf -$1399

2) From Land of Nod - $249

Both really beautiful but really, very expensive! Also option 1 scared me with pictures of a toddler climbing on those shelves and for option 2, for sure I would need more than just 1 unit.

I got the shelves from...

source

This wasn't the first time I ordered from this site, I ordered some shelves for Sophia's closet too!

That's a whole other story which I will be sharing in the blog after the nursery is done.

Shipping is pretty fast ($15 fedex ground) and as you can see, price, is super reasonable.

My Hubs added these extra wood on the sides so we could screw  the shelves into place without damaging the original window casing!

I just added extra wallpaper to simple roller blinds I bought from HOME DEPOT. All in all, the project cost me $83 - that
includes paint, wood, blinds and shelving! Not bad at all!

I also had to start working on the decorating even though the furniture is not in the room yet.

Used painters tape to mark the placement of furniture so we know where to hang

Thank you all too for your input on the curtain dilemma I shared last week. I finally chose Curtain #1 and I LOVE IT!

I added these paper flower garland, a clearance find after Easter from TARGET, to two of the windows

You know, I love decals, so I got this (also from TARGET)
to temporarily decorate on a wall

 Finally, I had to share with you what our CRIB WALL currently looks like...

Absolutely divine 

Have you seen the other blogger's room progress? Some are really looking fabulous already!

I can't wait for next week and savor all the goodness that we're all sure to be in for!

Let's check on all the other's progress HERE.

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

If you want to check out the other week's progress, Check them out here...

ORC Week 1 - Guest Room to Nursery
ORC Week 2 - Evolution of a Safari Glam Nursery
ORC Week 3 - Progress in the Safari Glam Nursery

ORC Week 4 - Dissapointments & Choices

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

Linking back to these fabulous parties as well...

Serenity Now, The Shabby nest, The Pin Junkie, French Country Cottage, Share your Style, From My Front porch to Yours, Dwellings the heart of your home, Thrifty Decor Chick, Linda's Coastal Charm, Inspire Me Monday, The Style Sisters, Gingersnap Crafts, Savvy Southern Style, Fluster Buster, Share your style, From my Front Porch to yours, Pin Junkie, French Country Cottage

Dear Carolina - A Book Review

I've never done a book review before.

For one thing, lately I haven't had the time to read some books.
I love to read, but I'm sure you all know how my life revolves right now with my
family-career-baby-blogging juggling act.

You can get your copy HERE

But when my fellow blogger friend KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY  (one of the brains behind DESIGN CHIC ) announced last year that she will get her book published, I knew I just had to read her book!

This is KRISTY WOODSON HARVEY, also one of the most famous Design bloggers around 

Daddy Mason said it so well for me too!

I wanted to read it, not just because I knew the author but also because of this preview she gave us..

One baby girl.

Two strong Southern women.

And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.

 Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…

 Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…

The sweet, lovely and talented New York Times bestselling author, Jodi Thomas said, “Kristy Woodson Harvey weaves a story around characters with rich, complicated lives we all identify with…beautifully shows how a family comes to be.  Not only by blood, but also by choice.”

Makes you want to read it right there and then!

I guess it all boils down to this book 'connecting' with me. 

Being a mother, I can relate to a lot of difficult choices one can make, not just for her family and children, but for herself as well.

I was so privileged to get an advance copy, (book officially comes out May 5th) and when I got it, I was so excited and read the whole thing in 1 day!

I got mine about 2 months ago

Yes, it was that good!

I haven't read a great book in a long time, and I must say this book was heaven-sent.

I love the narrative of the book and on how Kristy presented each of the protagonists story inalternating chapters. Her descriptions are so vivid, I could 'taste' and 'smell' the food she wrote about and I could picture the rooms she described just like that (picture me with my fingers snapping). 

I can relate with some of the characters different aspects at some point and I feel and understand their dilemmas, roller coaster of emotions ultimately, tough choices made. Definitely, something difficult to reiterate into words, let alone unto paper. I love that the book is not melodramatic but poignant and pure. Just beautiful!

And I'm not the only one saying it..

“Characters with rich, complicated lives…beautifully shows how a family comes to be.”—New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas

“Dear Carolina is Southern fiction at its best. Lovely and lyrical, with the strong voices of the two female narrators taking us deep into the heart of what being a mother is about. It shows us that love is not without sacrifice, and there’s little in life that doesn’t go down easier with a spoonful of jam. Beautifully written.”—New York Times bestselling author Eileen Goudge

“Dear Carolina is like the Southern women within its pages and those who will love this book, sweet as sweet tea on the outside and strong as steel on the inside. The dialect of the south is so entwined in these pages the reader is  transported to a place where women and children are treasured and family rules all. Kristy Harvey is a natural.”—Ann Garvin, Author of On Maggie’s Watch and The Dog Year

I had to share this with you all since, Mother's day is coming up, and I truly think that this book would make a great gift to any mother out there! I already pre-ordered some for my closest friends.;-)

Again, I would like to give a BIG THANK YOU to the author, Kristy Woodson Harvey for trusting me enough to read her novel in advance. 

I can't wait for the next book! Oh, did I mention that this book is so good, that there's a second book coming out in 2016?!!!!

HAPPY READING EVERYONE!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

ORC Week 4 - Disappointments and choices

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Hello everyone!  Things are progressing along well for most of the projects here in ORC, can't wait for the big reveal since by now, I can already see how smashing the rooms/spaces will be!

Anyway, I have hit a huge SNAG,
Remember what I said about my carpet delay last time? Well, it is in for so much more DELAY.
I am absolutely DISAPPOINTED IN LOWE'S.

For years, Lowe's has always been my GO-TO-BIG-BOX store for home improvement services, from my window treatments to major appliances, I have been a loyal customer.
But with the big 'fumble' they did on my carpet order, I don't think I will be anymore. To cut a long story short,  it would be APRIL 28th until they Install my carpeting, considering I ordered them before ORC started!
I will not tell you how they messed up, but believe me, IT'S THEIR FAULT on why this delay came to be since I was never lacking on follow-ups and contacting them.

That means, I can only fix and decorate, assemble the furniture on the last week of the ORC!!! YIKES! I need all the LUCK I can get, and that's in big part, NO THANKS TO LOWES!

Sorry for my rant, I just have to let it out my friends.
I'm trying to move forward with other things, and I need you help on some decisions.

First up, something fun - I need to ask which of these do you think would be great over the crib?

1) Lion, Elephant, Giraffe mobile from MARJENDESIGNS on ETSY
2) Modern Nursery Mobile from COOLSTUFFARTGALLERY on ETSY
3) Coral & Gold paper crib mobile from FOURGLITTEREDGEESE on ETSY
4) Flowing Rhythm Rainbow from FLENSTED mobile
5) In the Jungle classic mobile from HOME DECORATORS.COM
6) Giraffes on Savannah from FLENSTED mobile

Confusing right? All so pretty in their unique way. Any of these would make great gifts too!

Next up is curtain dilemma.

Can't decide what to put up?

Both are from TARGET and both are very pretty. Which one do you think would work best in this nursery?

Also, I wanted to share this...

From Walmart via WAYFAIR

This arrived already ( and yes, 'thanks' to Lowe's I can't assemble it yet) and it will be going by the window. I think it will be perfect for the space don't you think?

And thanks to my Mother-in-law, I was able to have these...

Made from clearance Table Cloth fabric from TARGET

Finally, I shared with you this

Our Indoor Window Dilemma

Which I wrote about HERE

I think I may have an unexpected solution which I hope to share next week!
Stay tuned, since this has gotten me really excited!

Right now, our whole house is a mess since there are boxes everywhere. I really wish I could be done sooner, but for now, it looks like it'll be a race to the finish for us.

Oh, also, I shared this on INSTAGRAM recently...

Definitely more gorgeous in person!

Let's check on what others are doing HERE !

Have a Great weekend!

If you want to check out the past week's progress, check them out below:


ORC Week 1 - Guest Room to Nursery
ORC Week 2 - Evolution of a Safari Glam Nursery
ORC Week 3 - Progress in the Safari Glam Nursery

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

What to do with an Indoor Window

So by now, all of you know that I am in the middle of doing my daughter's nursery.

I have the plan in my head and everything is moving forward with the  plan except for this...

My Window Dilemma

Yes, this room has an indoor window. And I just DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT?!!!

See? It looks out into out living room and Breakfast area

In the first place, most INDOOR or INTERIOR Windows are born out of room extensions and additions to a home. And so it is usually kept for decorative purposes. However, our Interior windows are NOT decorative, and I believe the previous owners of our house wanted them because they could look into what's going on in the living room.

I scoured the internet and saw how some people work their way around it.

Decorate around it

Display what's inside

Put seating in front of it

Put bookshelves around it

Just embrace it and make it a statement piece

I could of course, treat it like an outdoor window and just put a curtain over it, but I'm just not sold into that idea yet. It may be my last resort. 

I'm painting the trim already

I've got ideas running in my head and I think you would be surprised too once I show you what I'll do with it! Wish me a big "GOOD LUCK"!

Have a Great Week!

VEL

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

ORC Week 3 - Progress in the Safari Glam Nursery

LINK UP HERE

I can't believe we're half-way there and I still need to do so much!

Well mainly, the waiting on the carpet is killing me, I ordered it from Lowe's and since we live way out here, far from the city, it's taking forever to get the materials we need!

Which is one of these colors from Stainmaster

On a positive note, we've got paint...

HUGE difference, made the room more welcoming and brighter

And we've got LIGHTS!

Well, bought them at least. ;-)
Got both from Lowe's. My swing-arm wall sconces was a steal at $31!!! Not the right finish, but I'm sure a can of spray paint can spruce it up more since I want it in GOLD finish just like my accent Wall Paper.
I also decided to go with a ceiling fan  as always like in the other bedrooms, I just think it's more practical to have and most ceiling fans don't look too bad right now.

Speaking of wall paper, before I ended up choosing Oh Joy! Petal Pusher Wall paper in gold, 

 I was also seriously considering these...

Rifle Paper Co. Safari Blush

Water Color Peony Wallpaper from Anthropologie

Great Meadow Mural from Anthropologie

All of these are equally gorgeous I think, But in the end, my love for his wallpaper ruled my decision.

source

source

Now, I just have to find someone who can put it up for me! Wish me luck on that!

Also this arrived in the mail recently...

You can follow me on IG HERE

Always wanted a Juju hat in our home, and now I have the perfect spot (would also make an awesome head dress for Halloween someday too;-))!
I got it from AFRICANART.COM, it's the most inexpensive price I could find (super fast FREE shipping too, got mine in 2 days) so if your on a look out for one, check the site out!

I also found this...

Isn't it pretty?

I found it at a local Antique store and I just love all the colors plus it's made of fabric - I love the details!
I'm planning to put this above the changing table,

So far we've crossed out some on our list:

1) Clear up the room of course
2) Change the carpet - we haven't changed it since we moved
3) Paint the room white and the trim in a contrasting color
4) Change the ceiling fan
5) Add hard-wired wall sconces
6) Put up the wall paper on the crib wall
7) Update the window treatments - if my budget allows 
8) Paint her closet
9) DECORATE, DECORATE

Have you checked in on the other participant's progress yet?
I'm sure I will, so many great rooms in the making!

Have a Great Weekend!

If you want to check out the past week's posts, check them out below:

ORC Week 1 - Guest Room to Nursery
ORC Week 2 - Evolution of a Safari Glam Nursery

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...

Getting Original art

I won the "Art Lottery"!

Not really, but I feel like I did after getting this...

It's " ARM IN ARM" by JENNIFER DAILY.

I first saw this art work on MINTED

I searched for the artist and I was lucky enough that the original was available and the price was within reach, so I had no second thoughts and grabbed it right away!

After I bought it,  it was again featured by EMILY HENDERSON here..

When she shelled out her BEST ONLINE ART RESOURCES

...and picked 'my painting' among her favorites!

See!

Of course I have been blessed to have two KERRY STEELE watercolors from the THE PINK PAGODA in the past...

but getting this new abstract art has got me so excited again about owning originals!

It's small but hang distinctly on one of the walls as you enter the house

I love prints too, but don't you think if you could get the original, it just makes it more exciting owning the art itself?! Of course, if the original is un-affordable, the prints will suffice especially if it's something you really love right?!

Now, I try to scour affordable art print sources and try to go to the original artist's site hoping to win the 'Art Lottery' again!


Have a Wonderful Week!

VEL 

 Would love to hear your thoughts! Please share away...