Office Boot Camp

Two years ago, my office looked like this:

This rather blurry picture shows off a pretty basic room.  It was functional enough for a gal on a tiny budget, and I had a few of those cheap Ikea boxes for storage.

Fast forward:  Here's the dismal scene it has been for the last year or so.

 Little by little, I had inadvertently pillaged the office to decorate other rooms.  The original rug and one of the storage shelves is now in my dining room.  The office art is now hanging in the bedroom.  As a result, our school supplies exploded everywhere, and I slapped Dan's Redskin towel up as a decoration.  Classy.

What a sorry excuse for organization:

Yeesh...

This is by no means some amazing makeover, but I spent some time this summer trying to step in a better direction.  We went from this:

To this:

I think the two biggest changes are the Ikea shelving unit and the substantial, tufted chair from World Market.  I needed something comfy now that I spend hours taking online classes.

How original! I hung a white, modern deer head! Yep, I've seen this trend non-stop on Pinterest and decided to join. Dan hated it at first ("Hon... a deer head? Really??), but has since named him Rufus. I like how he pops from our paint color.

I love the new Ikea shelf despite the fact it was a true test of our marriage to put together.  Note to Ikea:  your picture directions are the worst.

I slapped some of those chalkboard stickers on the jars to label.  Then, I wrangled some of our favorite black and white photos to display.  That one on the left is Dan's mom and dad.

The baskets are from, where else, Ikea, and I just added the tags in order to label those as well. I've been a labeling fool the last few weeks.

This area is a work in progress.  I just hung a calendar of maps and a mirror that I can write on so I can post "to do" lists.  I need to hide the hooks, finish setting up the shelf, and add some accessories.

I still have to hem the curtains and paint the dresser.  At least, there's some art on the wall again.

There's our map art making an appearance again!

The towel stayed.  I just framed it so it looked a little more "on purpose".

It's not done yet, but it's better than before!

Anyone else whipping a room into shape again?

9 gifts in 9 months

My friend Mali is a giver.  She's the type of person who will burn you a cheesy "teacher mix" before the first day of school to make you smile or bake some amazing dessert before you come to hang out.  So about a year ago when she told me about her idea to give a pregnant friend the sweetest "Congrats!  You're having a baby!" gifts ever (and then "casually" mused out loud that she would just love if someone would do it for her when her turn came), I mentally filed it away for later use.  After all, Mali is such a sweet friend, and she never asks for anything.

Dan and I have always done something special for friends when they are expecting babies.  Dan's trademark for his friends, who are fellow fans of the Redskins, is to buy a bottle emblazoned with, "Dallas sucks!"  The guys love it!  My approach has always been decidely girlier; you might remember that with my friend Missy's second child, Mali and I took her out for tea time (pinkies up!) and treats, and then when the baby was born, I gave her a restaurant gift card since I suck at making freezable casseroles. 

But after Mali's comment a year ago, I had the best idea ever for a pregnancy gift:  nine children's books, one for each month of the pregnancy period!  Great idea, right? Again, I can't take any credit since it was Mali's conception. I definitely had fun putting it together, though, so I thought I'd share.  To stay on a budget, I went to discount stores for some of the baby books, so I could splurge on the books for when her baby isn't quite so small anymore. Quick note: I waited until she was fourteen weeks along before I gave her the first three books, each with a different tag on the reason I picked it.

**  Mali, if you are reading, stop here because I'm going to reveal a few books I haven't given to you! :)

Anyway, here are the books all wrapped in pastel tissue paper:

And below is a list of what was written on each card and what book lay inside the tissue paper:

1) For baby's colorful side:

I kicked things off with these three large crayola books to teach a toddler the colors.

2) To being the bigger person

Then, I chose this awesome book for an older child about turning the other cheek. 

Then, for month three, I strayed from the book theme by giving her some goodies...

3) For late night cravings

Yep, pickles and ice cream flavored candy!

 

4) To discovering hidden talents

Something about Frederick gets me every time.  It's so simple and sweet.

5) Books to drool over

I bought a few of those square baby books that are designed for infants to gum.

6)For a bit of silliness

I thought this book was just weird enough.  I remember reading it as a kid and wishing passionately that it would rain ice cream.

7)  "Scarry" stories to tell in the dark

Hardy har!  See my pun here?

8) To using imagination:

This is a classic about what one boy dreams up with his purple crayon.

And the last one was:

9) To friendship!

What better one to end on than this quirky book about give and take in friendship??

How did I do...

on the summer to do's?

This weekend is always a relief (three days long!  Whee!) and depressing (goodbye, summer...), so I thought it would be a fitting time to re-cap the Summer To Do List.  You might remember that I came up with these in June:

1. Learn to use my DSLR camera

2. Go to an outdoor summer concert

3. Make homemade ice cream

4. Put together cute theme gift for Bethy

5. Create photo books for all recent vacations

6. Read five new books

7. Cook five new dishes

8. Celebrate anniversary with something new

9. BBQ and baseball game

10. Try something new on Pinterest

11. Beach trip with family

12. Trivia night with friends

13. Visit a farmer's market

Verdict?  I did all but one!  I guess #1) Learn how to use my DSLR camera will have to wait until I'm able to sign up for a class.

I love a lazy to do list, so here are the other ones I actually did do: 

2) Go to an outdoor summer concert: mentioned here, image from here

We saw the Avett Brothers, who are kind of like runaways from a Jack Kerouac novel.  Think scruffy and soulful.  Go listen "I and love and you" if you've never heard it.

3) Make homemade ice cream: mentioned here

Finally!

4) Put together cute theme gift for Bethy: mentioned here

I also put together a theme gift for a pregnant friend that she seemed to like.  Will share soon!

5) Create photo books for all recent vacations: done!

Admittedly, this was a boring "to do" to include on my blog, but it's nice to have it done.  We look through them often since they are on our coffee table.

6) Read five new books: mentioned here

In case you are looking for new titles, here are the other ones I read and an insanely short review of each:

Where We Belong, Emily Giffin- I usually love her books when I'm in the mood for a fluffy read about as substantial as cotton candy (you know... a beach read).  This story about a woman whose daughter she gave up for adoption tracks her down was my least favorite of those Giffen's written. I just didn't connect with the protagonist and felt like it had a sloppy ending.  Her other books are perfect, lazy summer reads, though.

Mockingbird, Kathryn Erkine- I read this for my YA novel class, and I thought it was an interesting look at a shooting tragedy from the point of view of a girl with autism. 

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern- I was so excited when I began this book!  It was lyrical and beautiful, with a dueling magician story line that reminded me of the movie The Prestige.  About 115 pages in, though, the plot slowed to a halt and I had to trudge through the rest.  I can definitely see why others loved it, though!

Before I Go To Sleep, S.J. Watson- This was told from the point of view of a woman who has amnesia, forgetting everything from her past when she wakes in the morning, including not remembering anything about her husband.  She desperately tries to piece together what happened with her accident through diary entries.  It was like a fast-paced, twisted, soapy version of 50 First Dates. I loved it.

 Miss Perregrine's Home for Peculiar Children-  A teenager visits the childhood group home of his grandfather, which used to host a bunch of freaks.  I loved the actual vintage photographs and the first eight chapters, however this was another book that seemed to slow down in the second half, and I kind of lost interest.  Again, I can see why others enjoy it!

 

7)Cook five new dishes- Post coming this week!

8) Celebrate anniversary with something new: mentioned here

9) BBQ and baseball game: mentioned here

  10. Try something new on Pinterest: mentioned here and here

11) Beach trip with family- fun, as always

Again, why did I feel this was different enough to include this on my blog list? 

12) Trivia night with friends: mentioned here

After the last time I discussed this, Dan kept up with the trivia league and their group placed in the top ten on the FINAL competition with everyone in our city.  They made another fifty bucks.

13) Visit a farmer's market

We found this farmer's market/ food truck court.  The parking lot was filled from everything from vegan cupcakes to brick pizza ovens on wheels.

This was my favorite stop.  I usually hate when businesses purposely spell words wrong to be jaunty and "kool", but this "tako" truck can do whatever the hell it wants!  They are that good.

I ordered one shrimp and grits, one Korean beef, and one Guaillo-pork with cilantro tako.  They were all tasty, but surprisingly the shrimp and grits was the best, very Paula Deen meets Anthony Bourdain. 

Hope you're enjoying the last bit of summer!