J Cooper Photography

Well the party with my sister had to end at some point.  I’m happy to report, though, that we did in fact get quite a bit accomplished and I will be offering some SPRING BREAK specials in my Etsy store later this week!  I can’t wait to show you what we worked on…and to tell you about some GREAT deals I will be offering…but that will have to be another day because I am pooped!

Ok…so it only took 5 months…but I FINALLY got around to finishing up the girls’ beds!

I found them on Craigs list for $10 each this fall and couldn’t resist them.  They were UGLY but I knew they had potential and the price was perfect.  Early this fall I sanded and primed them…then the weather turned cold and they sat in my garage for a few months.  I finally got tired of waiting for nice weather and asked Mr. P to bring them in and set them up for painting downstairs.  Except…even seeing them sitting there for a few weeks obviously wasn’t enough to motivate me to actually PAINT THEM!

After I finally got a few coats of paint on them I decided they were a little bland so I added some wood appliques.  I marked the center of each headboard and then used wood glue to attach them.  I clamped and taped them in place and let them cure for a few days (or maybe it was weeks…yeah…at least a few weeks).  Then I slapped on a few more coats of paint.  I think I did about 5 coats…they were like little paint suckers…crazy beds!  After they dried I roughed them up a bit with some light grit sand paper.  I have a thing for “abused” furniture…I don’t think we have a single piece in our house that isn’t dinged up or distressed

They are far from perfect…but good enough for my rough and tumble little girls.  I really shouldn’t have waited so long between the priming and painting.  And an oil based paint would have made for a nicer finish (I used a latex enamel from Sherwin Williams)…but overall they will serve our purpose.  And I think they make a cute addition to their new shared space and coordinate well with their existing furniture!

And speaking of furniture…I recently got the first thing for the NEW NURSERY!

I’ve been watching for a good dresser that could also serve as a changing table.  Our crib is antique white (not the most masculine choice…but Little Man hasn’t seemed too concerned yet) so this should coordinate nicely.  I’ll have to find some fun knobs once I know what direction to take that room.  The new nursery will be in J’s old room.  Right now it is a big PINK empty space that makes me a little sad every time I walk into it.  I would LOVE nothing more than to start decorating that room but I am still a bit apprehensive about doing a BOY ROOM when there is still a small chance we could get a girl.  I REALLY don’t want to go gender neutral because I know that will drive me crazy down the road.  The bedding I loved from Target online is gone   But I’m leaning towards THIS.  Or maybe I’ll make the bedding…hmm….too many choices!

I’ve just started collecting some great books to round out our library as well!  This is one of my FAVORITES!

The pictures in this one are absolutely ADORABLE!!  It is amazing to me how VERY few baby books are available in common stores that portray people with darker skin.  I’ve looked so many places and found VERY LITTLE to bring home…if anyone has any suggestions please send them my way!

Hope you are all enjoying some nicer weather then we have!  HAPPY SPRING = HUGE SNOW STORM here in Kansas City   Will the sun ever shine again??