Blog Design & Other Ramblings

I've been having some fun playing around with the idea of updating my blog header. I found this website via Pinterest and have pretty much been going crazy playing with all the fun FREE designs and templates she has on her site.


I like the picture that is currently my header, a shot from our tent when we were camping at the beach a few years ago. But we don't live in California or live by a beach, so I'm not sure how it really relates to this blog. Maybe something more graphic would be more appropriate.

I am in love with gray, so of course I love this one, but at the same time I hope it’s not too dull and boring.

I like that this one has the gray but has more pops of (my favorite) color. Of course, that color doesn’t really match anything else on my page, so I’m not so sure how that would work.


I love the chevron design I found on the page, but am afraid I might have made this header a bit too complicated and over loaded.

Lastly, I love the hexagonal maps, but again, I’m not really sure how that would relate to this blog. I use to do a lot of traveling, but I’ve definitely settled down now that I’m married, have an 8-5 job, with a mortgage and the whole bit.

Who knows, maybe I’ll keep playing around with it. It is so much fun. In my dreams I have a job as a photographer, graphics designer, or interior designer. Mostly just something that is visual and creative. But sadly, in reality I have neither the skills nor the talent yet. I like that I can mess around with that kind of stuff here on the blog. Makes lunches at work MUCH more entertaining!

(Just as an FYI, I made these without having photo shop by using Microsoft Word Power Point, which I then saved as a PDF, and then a JPEG. )

In other rambling news Jeff bought us a new computer the other day and I am SO EXCITED! His last computer purchase was not my favorite (crashing every few minutes!), but I’m hoping this computer has more staying power. I’m also excited that this one is a laptop so I won’t be relegated to the office but can move around my house with my computer. I can't wait to get it all set up!

Some more house hold news, KB Homes (our homes builder) was recently involved in a class action lawsuit and lost. This means that we are getting our home re-plumbed in April. That's right, our kitchen, bathrooms, and dry wall are all at the mercy of the construction crew the courts appointed to fix all of KB's shoty plumbing. I'm kind of nervous to have our home re-plumbed. It sounds so intrusive, so I hope all goes well.

This also means that I'm definitely going to hold off on any updates or painting until the construction is done. I'd hate to put up board and batten in the bathrooms just to have it torn down in a month. This also will give us more time to collect some change to save up for the bathroom renovations.

And the last big thing that is going on in the Bame house these days is that we are looking to adopt a dog!
(pic)
I can't wait to walk the dog and go on hikes with a cute little pup. Now, after a few months of having to wake up early to walk the dog, I may not be so excited, but for now I am. We are still struggling to get pregnant and I think Jeff knows if I don't have something to mother soon I may be feeding him with airplane sounds, bathing him, and putting him in his PJ's every night. That energy will be better directed to pets for now!

We are looking to adopt a female dog who is around 15-20 pounds. Still youngish- maybe under 2 years old. We want a dog who is active, intelligent, and good with children and our cat. We are totally okay with mutt, but are using dogs like a Shetland Sheltie or Italian Greyhound as our models for what we'd prefer.

If you know of any please let us know. I'm finding that the animal shelters around here are very competitive. I'll see a dog one day, go to take Jeff to see it that night and they'll already be gone! But we'll end up getting the dog that's right for us someday, even if it takes a bit of time. We are use to taking our time with things!

How to: Nursery on a budget 2

Cont ... Fourth tip: SEW IT

I know my friend is a great seamstress, but there are really easy tutorials on how to make your own crib skirts if you are novice like myself. Like this one. You can make pillows and all that jazz.

My only "resourceful" type tip is to think about what you are using for fabric. You can go get pretty cute fabric for around $2 but why not shop the house first? I have recovered stuff in my old clothes, a great scarf I was never brave enough to wear, old blankets, tea towels, whatever I feel like. Some of my favorite pillows had a previous life as a napkin. Or I've always thought about making a baby changing cover out of those great table clothes in Home Goods. If they can stand up to messy food maybe it would be able to stand up to other types of messes- haha.


Finding cheap fabric doesn't mean you have to recover everything in your old clothes either. There are also great newly purchased ideas for fabric as well. If you have a shorter window in your room you can take one curtain panel, cut it down the middle, sew a hem on the cut edge, and make 2 curtain panels for the price of one. You can even turn sheets into curtains for your window. Places like Ross and Home Goods have great prices on nice bedding. You can use the fabric for so many different things.

Fifth tip: ART

I like simple art, and I think that even goes further in a nursery, to have those simple places for your eye to rest. And art I can make at home with some paint or on my computer is gravy. Here are some of my favorite kid proof art ideas:

1- You could totally make simple art on your computer in word with colors to match your nursery. Look at Etsy for great ideas like this. If you want it to have some texture get some grainy paper and then put a really, really thin layer of white washed paint over it. (Or what ever color of wash you want). I did something similar like this for cheap art in our mast bedroom.

You can do this for any words or phrases you like really. I want to do something similar to this with a nursery rhyme my grandma always use to sing to when I was young. Pick quotes that means something to your family. To give it an extra kick, modpodge some fabric or paper on some matting and cut it to size.

2- Temples- At the last GC they mentioned having a picture of a temple in your child's room from and early age. I liked this temple print on Etsy for a babies room. To replicate something similar on your own, print out an outline of your favorite temple on your computer (if you can't find a picture on the web of just the outline, then you can change your printer settings just to "outline"), trace the outline onto a paper or canvass, and then just paint the rest of the negative space around it.

3-Embroidery hoops- Find a 20% off coupon for Michael's or Joannes and pick up a few embroidery hoops. Stretch some cute fabric in it, glue any excess fabric in the back on the inner lining of the hoop, and you have a very cute art installation. You can even use fabric you already used in the room, or again, whatever you have lying around the house.

source found here, with how to.

4- Chinese Lanterns and Tissue Pom Poms- I love it when people use a grouping of Chinese lanterns and tissue paper pom poms, hung at different heights, as a kind of crib mobile. Go to World Market for cheap Chinese Lanterns in a wide variety of colors and visit Martha Stewart for tutorials on pom poms. Sewing a banner also seems to be big lately (I've made a few paper ones for holidays and parties and they are super simple.)

5- Don't want to make it yourself but still need free art? Google free printables for children and find great prints like this. Or visit a website like this.

6- Don't want to make if yourself and have an extra $5-20? GO TO ETSY! I love that place. In the very least, it is great for inspiration (as you can tell from #1 and #2).

Sixth Tip- KNOW WHERE TO SHOP

We all know to go to Ross, Homegoods, Marshalls, etc. They are great and I am so glad Las Vegas has so many of them to choose from. But, there are those little shops that are out of the beaten path which have some of the best deals. Here is my list of where to go.

Antiques:
Charleston Antique Mall 1109 Western Ave.
Not Just Antiques Mart 1422 Western Ave.
Antique Mall of America 9151 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Second Hand:
Salvation Army 4001 West Charleston Blvd. & 360 N Stephanie St, Henderson
Goodwill 9230 S Eastern Ave # 130, Las Vegas (the one on Stephanie and Warm Springs kind of stinks)
Freecycle

Local finds:
Retro Vegas 1211 S. Main Las Vegas Blvd.
JJ Draperies 1321 South Commerce St. (I think this is it. There is a shop down by Main and Charleston that has upholstery fabric all for $5 a yard. It has moved so many times I am having a hard time finding it lately.)

How do you know when it's time for a baby?

This last week one of my co-workers told me she was expecting twins! I was so excited for her but also felt my heart sink. Why does it seem I am the only 26 year old married person I know without any children? Babies seem to be everywhere. It's not only that we do not have children but that it will most likely be some time before we do. I'm glad that we are waiting until we are really ready, prepared, and secure. I know I will appreciate the wait when I am able to work part-time or stay at home with our kids.

To ward off my baby hungry moments I keep a little notebook by my bed at home and at work. I put little notes and ideas about crafts, games, education, advice to myself, anything I think of dealing with motherhood. One day it may be a good resource for me, but for now, it helps me feel like I am at least preparing in some way. It is dawning on me, a little late I know, that families do not just happen. I must take ACTION and work towards it everyday. Action may very well be my favorite word of the moment, or mantra for the year.

As much as I want to be a mother and look forward to it with great anticipation, I also have this other side of me that is terrified by the whole process. First off, being pregnant does not seem like fun. It seems so alien to have an actual human in your stomach. Ick! I know it is suppose to be beautiful but I think it is weird. Second, having a child is such a huge responsibility. I can not even imagine how much parents must have to give of themselves.

So how will we know when it's the right time for us to have children and add on to the Bame family? And what should I do in the mean time to to help quench my baby hunger?

(Please, if you read this and know my mother do not tell her I'm baby hungry. She can be very persistent if she wants a grandchild.)