I Ikea-fied our bedroom

 

Last month, my family and I trekked northward for our first Ikea experience ever. And let me tell you it was everything I had imagined, all at once. We had made plans to hit up a few of the other stores we don't have in our town, but we didn't actually get that far. We twisted and turned our way through the Ikea Marketplace, not even venturing up into the showrooms, and that alone took almost all of our time. I loved the kitchen wares and the textiles, frames, planters, lighting and the furniture section (which is another post all together) but my very favorite was the self-serve fabric counter. My mind began spinning when I saw that gorgeous blue floral pillow back in textiles. I knew our bedroom would never be the same.

  I love the backs of the pillow almost as much as the front. Almost.

 When I ventured to the cutting table, I found coordinating navy /tan stripe clearanced for $3.99 / yd and almost had a heart attack right there. I bought 6 yards of the stripe and 2 of that fantastic blue check (because that was $8.99/yd). Then the Map Pillow. My poor husband. He must of thought I was crazy because I think I was shaking with excitement at that point.  

We had a cash budget set aside for this trip and I had a piece of furniture that was on the top of my list, so I calculated all the yardage for the duvet cover carefully and realize that it would be more economical to back the cover with that blue bedspread I had just passed up in the linen section. I was in love just looking at everything already coordinating in my cart, yet also not being matchy- matchy, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid.  I picked up that ruffle pillow and I that point I couldn't wait to get home and finish my new bedroom.

This whole project was so super simple. How simple? Simple enough to not even use a pattern. I cut my huge 6yd cut of stripe in half, matched the edges and sewed the panels together so that you can't see they were pieced. I used my old pillow sham dimensions to make the new navy check shams. I made the duvet ties from some torn scraps from that navy check.

(A word about the chicken pillow. I was not anticipating putting a chicken of any sort on our bed. However, I found that our Ikea has a clearance section off to the side of the warehouse right before you get to the checkouts. I took a peek and found a large plastic bag of fabric scraps stapled shut. I saw quite a bit of that navy check in the bag and decided to take the $2.99 gamble. I check out, make my way to the car and open my goody bag: that piece of blue check was actually this 19" pillow cover. For now it lives on our bed, but I haven't decided it that is the permanent home. Feel free to give your opinion in the comment section.)

Housework is not always my favorite thing, but I guarantee you that I smile every day when I make our "new" bed.

Swagbucks Update

Ok, just as an update, I wanted to let you know that last week, I cashed in some of my Swagbucks for 3 ~ $5 Amazon giftcards and I am getting close to another one. I think I will save up for one of these. And eventually this. Anyway, I know you all are out there reading this so you really should sign yourself up and start earning things yourself by searching the web just like you normally would. My other piece of advice would be to download their toolbar, so you can always search in your current window or tab to save time. And every day that you log in to your web browser, they automatically give you 1-3 swagbucks, just for logging in. Really, it's easy. (Just ask Kyle!) If it wasn't easy, I wouldn't do it. Seriously, CLICK HERE and start searching!

A Few Last Minute Ideas

I have an uncle that has everything. Seriously everything. And because he is on my Christmas list, it puts me in a very difficult predicament. But the upside of this is that I get to pick out something really fun and out of the ordinary. It also allows me to widen the gift horizon.

This year I hopped over to etsy.com and found a lady in CA that makes these wonderful stamps and I knew I had a winner this Christmas. She did a bang-up job on my uncle's stamp (she emails you a proof of the stamp for your approval before she makes it) and then she gave me a great deal on a second stamp so I ordered one for our family, too. Obviously, I love it so much I'm blogging about it.


One last idea for you is something we do perennially. The two of us have our favorite Christian ministries that we listen to on the radio and that are dear to our hearts. And like all ministries, they really appreciate donations. I wish we could afford to give them large checks every year, but with a single income and a growing family, there are no large checks to be given. But we do like to remember the ministries that truly have ministered to our souls by putting in a Christmas order. That way, we're using our budgeted money for excellent resources and hopefully furthering the kingdom via the chosen ministries. And ok, I would be remiss if I did not recommend one or two to you all. For the past few years, I've loved putting orders in with Ligonier Ministries~Tim and I are huge fans of R.C. Sproul~ and the resources we receive are absolutely top-notch and definitely gift worthy. In fact, most years I try to hide the Ligonier box because Tim is just too curious. Other recommendations off the top of my head would be Coral Ridge Ministries and Canon Press. Canon Press has some of the best books on the family that you will find anywhere. Really.

So there you have it. Now I really must get wrapping.

So what s a skirty?

Ok, so I've mentioned the skirty thing. A skirty is an undergarment for young ladies who tend to forget that they need to be modest. You can learn more about them here from Rebekah, the mastermind of the skirty. Makes me wish I had thought of them myself.

Because Dabney needs a skirty

If you have not become aware of these marvelous things named skirties, please be enlightened here and you will see why every 4 1/2 year old little girl needs one (or two) desperately!

House Bits

So you already know that I clip coupons and save the advertisements that come in the Sunday paper. But, I was having trouble keeping all these things neatly put away. After all, if you aren't clipping your coupons immediately, they have to go somewhere and after my resolution to be more organized, I thought and thought and finally I came up with the above idea. I'm really not sure why I hadn't thought of it before. So find yourself a pretty magazine file and never wonder where you placed your sale papers and uncut coupons again.


Last week I went to Hobby Lobby for a few things, then came across the clearance aisle and found everything int the aisle 90% off. Yes, 90%. This frame was a great color, but it was being clearanced because some mysterious embellishment had fallen off and only the glue mark was left. I found myself some black taffeta ribbon, tied a bow to match the proportion and whipped out my handy glue gun, which I've had since high school. Add a wedding picture and it's good to go.

Notice anything?

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I keep forgetting to post this picture, but I think the fringe looks really great with our new curtains.

EUREKA!

Over the course of next weekend, we are having a total of 30 people to our house. (! But that's another post for later today...) However, I realized that we only have 12 place settings of silverware. "Hmm", I thought. I've been trying to stay away from plastic and paper things lately. I'd have to buy plastic forks and spoons anyway, and why not make a tiny investment for something you can use for the rest of your life? Of course, If you know me at all, you will know where I went to resolve this dilemma. Yes, friends, Goodwill to the rescue! I found a beautiful pattern for~ Guess! $1 a piece? .50 a piece? NO! $0.15 a piece!!!! The other problem was that now that I have a few pieces, I have no idea of the pattern name, only that it was made by "Rogers". After quite a bit of sleuthing online, I've discovered that Rogers was taken over by Oneida and the pattern is Summer Rose. So many sellers on eBay go to estate sales and find silverware and they themselves don't know the pattern name and list it as "Rogers flatware - 4 pieces" which helps no one. The missing link I finally found was here. You have no idea how many pages I had to sift through to find it!


Also, how is it that I've had 1350 hits since October 1st and only 5 contest entrants?