After a recent move (which involved leaving behind her bunk beds - a good decision), my 9-year-old niece, Jocelin, was in need of a room makeover. How could I resist all the things I love... Jocelin, planning a surprise, choosing bedding, picking out art for the walls, perfecting all the little details, and just overall creating a space for a kid that feels comfortable and cute. I told my sister I wanted to help and asked her if I could re-do Jocelin's room. She said sure, and that was all I needed to hear to start (somewhat obsessively) planning and shopping. I had so much fun and was so excited knowing this would be a complete surprise. Then last weekend, with the help of an awesome friend, the makeover took place. So while Jocelin was away we cleaned and assembled furniture and decorated the walls and... 6 hours later, exhausted, the room was complete. I wasn't there for the "big reveal", but I got a phone call from one very excited, surprised, 9-year old girl when she got home. She said she felt like a princess. Yay! She should feel like a princess. :)
before...
after...
before...
after...I spent hours and hours and hours on etsy.com (I'm officially addicted) looking for art. It really is an awesome place to find such cute, unique, affordable, fun art. I'm excited to share some of the fun things I found. I'll do another etsy-specific post soon with more of my "favorite sellers", but I'll start here with a couple artists I used for Jocelin's room...
Falldowntree - if I had baby's room (or younger kid's room) to decorate I would definitely be doing more shopping here! Check out the "Bird Band" print. Could it be any cuter!? Seriously. I love his stuff! I'm keeping his prints in mind for future kid/baby gifts.
Flapperdoodle - another fun find on etsy. I actually originally ordered the cats print and the polaroid camera print for myself, but then decided to use them for Jocelin's room (and ordered a third print). With so much other color in that area of the room, I thought it might work well to have some black and white drawings.
I'll be hanging the last (4) photos I ordered from etsy this week (unfortunately the frames didn't arrive in time for last weekend). I'll share those soon once I have a photo...
Falldowntree - if I had baby's room (or younger kid's room) to decorate I would definitely be doing more shopping here! Check out the "Bird Band" print. Could it be any cuter!? Seriously. I love his stuff! I'm keeping his prints in mind for future kid/baby gifts.
Flapperdoodle - another fun find on etsy. I actually originally ordered the cats print and the polaroid camera print for myself, but then decided to use them for Jocelin's room (and ordered a third print). With so much other color in that area of the room, I thought it might work well to have some black and white drawings.I'll be hanging the last (4) photos I ordered from etsy this week (unfortunately the frames didn't arrive in time for last weekend). I'll share those soon once I have a photo...
1 comments so far
http://www.krystenhalek.com/2010/01/every-girl-deserves-an-awesome-bedroom.html
Whether you made it to your destination or are stranded at home because of this never-ending (annoying, but pretty) snow, I hope you have a safe and very merry Christmas! I'm part of the stranded at home group. But I have pumpkin pie, cheese pizza, diet coke, movies to watch, heat and two cats that will be more than happy to spend time on the couch today. So we'll make the most of it and look forward to celebrating Christmas a little later this year. :)
0 comments so far
http://www.krystenhalek.com/2009/12/merry-christmas.html
This morning out the kitchen window. Not my usual subjects. And I thought kids moved fast. ;)
1 comments so far
Annamay says:
Wow, gorgeous!
http://www.krystenhalek.com/2009/12/two-birds.html
I took this back in October during some of this year's first snow. I'm totally amused each year when the cats first see the snow and they are so intrigued by it. Of course they quickly become bored with it, but it's fun for a few minutes!
1 comments so far
Annamay says:
I love this picture! My cats are too busy eating and sleeping to care much about the snow.
(12.13.09 @ 12:15 PM)
http://www.krystenhalek.com/2009/12/snow.html
A couple of weeks ago I said goodbye to a companion (of sorts) of 13 years. The time finally came to trade in my Corolla. It may seem silly to some. You'll say "it's just a car". True, really, it's just a car. But this little, reliable car became so entwined with so many memories that each time I thought about getting rid of it... well, I can get pretty sentimental. This was my first and only car. I purchased it a few weeks before heading off to Denver for graduate school. So during those first two years it made multiple trips between Colorado and Minnesota. To name but a small handful... it has brought me to Kansas City, St. Louis, Milwaukee and Detroit to see baseball. To Columbus to see Ohio State football. To Dyersville, Iowa to see the "Field of Dreams" on my 25th birthday. To hundreds of movies and malls and restaurants and photo sessions. It has been a place to laugh, cry, and sing (usually really loud and really bad). A place to have meaningful and silly conversations. It was an easy place to think and sometimes have great ideas (and some not-so-great ideas). It never, ever left me stranded on the side of the road. It amazingly made it through some pretty bad (Colorado & MN) snow storms. All this and asked for little in return - oil changes, tires, an oxygen sensor, a timing belt. Little really, for what it gave. So while I was beyond thrilled to finally be picking up my new Prius (!), I just kept thinking "please don't cry at the dealer". Thankfully I was so giddy about the new car that I was distracted about what I would soon be leaving behind. But as I was driving off the lot all those emotions I was dreading came and came quickly. Why does it make me so sad. It's just a car, right. It doesn't know I'm leaving it. We had 206,185 miles together.
When I bought the Corolla the dealer took this picture the day I picked it up and then mailed it to me (laminated in wallet size). So while the quality of the image scan is bad (and I'm wearing jean shorts!) I thought it was fun to share.
When I bought the Corolla the dealer took this picture the day I picked it up and then mailed it to me (laminated in wallet size). So while the quality of the image scan is bad (and I'm wearing jean shorts!) I thought it was fun to share.
And now my nearly 8 years of no car payments has come to an end. :) I've thought about the Prius for years. I love it! Now to decide what our first roadtrip will be!
1 comments so far
Nancy says:
I love the story about your old car! I wish you a great time making new memories involving your Prius!
(11.17.09 @ 12:10 PM)
http://www.krystenhalek.com/2009/11/206185.html
Krysten, this is wonderful! Will you re-do my house, too? It just gave me chills to see the transformation.
(01.14.10 @ 10:52 PM)