Winner, Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Great news!!



First of all I should mention that I entered Easton's nursery in a contest called "So You Think You Can Decorate?". It was put on by the newest Benjamin Moore store in the Halifax area, Vivid Paint and Decor (off Larry Uteck). 

So, I entered the contest hoping that my huge family would help me with voting and I would win it, maybe needing 175 votes max.  When I had entered there had already been a few weeks worth of entries and votes, but I was confidant that I could catch up.  I had a family friend come over and take some shots of the room (My last post) and I uploaded it Monday night, 10 days before the contest closed.  The first night I pasted the link on my facebook I shot up to 3rd place, by Thursday morning I was in first place, 7 days left.  So stressful knowing I had another full week to keep up my lead. Long story short it was a battle right up until the end.  I had family and friends posting, calling friends and family of their own and getting them to vote and right up until Midnight on the 3rd it was neck and neck. When voting was finally closed I clicked the link, closed my eyes and waited for the page to load... I had won it. With 377 votes!!! The 2nd place room was close with 359 votes.

What a tremendous feeling! Knowing my friends and family really believed in me enough to vote, vote, vote, and to share my room with others, urging them to vote really got me thinking.  I am so blessed to have so many supportive people surrounding me. I got many comments on my facebook page, and so many private messages (some from people I hadn't heard from in years!) telling me how great they thought Eastons room looked and that I had really found my niche! It meant so much to me knowing that others thought I should pursue my dream of decorating! Thank you all so much! That meant everything to me!

Now I start the journey that it the living room! I met with Melissa Mattinson, the manager and head designer for Vivid and we have some pretty great ideas up our sleeves! Can't wait to get started!

Here are some before shots from the listing.

And keep your eyes peeled for the tranfsormation!! 

Project Nursery!

Eastons room was the more important for me to finish.  When we first viewed the room it was a grey colour and covered in Twilight posters! Obviously those had to come down! When we moved in the posters were gone but in their spot the word "Gryffindor" of Harry Potter fame was painted. E is a little young for that yet!

 Before -

 After -

This is what we did -

When planning the room we wanted to make sure that we picked something that would grow up with him. We also wanted something bright, fun and fresh! We went with a blue wall colour (hundred acre sky by behr), and added a green stripe (paradise green by behr) and his name in orange above, then we hung some paper lanterns to bring in more colour. We tied in a jungle theme by adding animal print with the rug and tub and some bright coloured animal silhouettes on the walls. We placed jungle animals, frames and the lamps on the dresser and window too. Those items can be removed when he gets older in exchange for some more age appropriate things. Instead of using a traditional dresser we used a shelving unit in black, to match the crib and used colourful canvas bins for his clothes.  I love this idea because I can just take them out when organizing the clean laundry, fill them up and pop them back in.  Its helped me keep 100 times more organized! In the place of a change table I bought a 'dry sink' and left it the original green.  We thought about painting it but it is a nice dark green and looks great in the space.

Here is the result.

We are so happy with the result, and luckily, Easton loves it to!

My Newest Obsession!

So... Have you been on Pinterest yet?

I was introduced to it a few months back by my sister-in-law and I've been hooked ever since.  It has everything! Beauty tips, recipes, craft ideas, and of course, home decor!!  Lots of great diy tips, furniture selections, colour combinations, and more!  Its a GOLD MINE!

One of the things I really love about it is that I can group lots of pictures, tips and articles all together, where I can easily access them and best of all its not taking up precious storage space on your computer!  You can follow your friends, your family, your favourite designers and your favourite bloggers pins and boards by syncing up your pinterest account with you're facebook and twitter or by searching their names in the search bar. Another great feature is the 'Pin It' button! Add the 'Pin It' button to you're favourites bar and when you find something interesting on a website you can click the button, and pin that picture, or article straight to you're board!  Then while on the pinterest website you can search for everything and anything and a lot of the time it will link you to website someone else has already 'pinned'! So cool!!

If you're not on Pinterest yet, get on it! Oh yeah, and follow me! :)

http://pinterest.com/krystalmyers/

Oh yeah and for the record.... 

Our Minty Green Dream!

Our house, on the corner of our street! <3

This is a good a place as any to start I guess!  We are finally getting settled in our new house, and to say the very least we love it!!  Easton started sleeping through the night completely the first night we stayed here and he was in his own room! That must be a good sign!  We adore the space that this house has, storage galore, big fenced in yard for Cutler, and walking distance to my family! Everything important on our must have list has been met.  The only thing is that when you buy a builder house, you get impersonal and bland!  With Bretts awesome DIY skills, and my imagination we'll make this house a home one room at a time! I'll post lots of befores, after, ideas and tips so follow me as we make this Minty Green Dream a reality!

K