Birthday Inspiration via Pinterest

Today I got to spend some time finding inspiration for Melody's 2nd birthday.

Lately Melody has been learning her ABC's from a LeapFrog video we got her for Christmas. I thought it would be so cute to do an Alphabet birthday party for her and hear her say her letters all afternoon. I got excited thinking about decorating with letters all around the house and then using them later for educational use!

Here are some ideas I like for our party. Click on the links to find out more about them.

DIY birthday invitations

Printable template birthday invitation

An idea for a photo wall at the party. I would make it my own, but I love the idea!


Free printables I could hang as decorations.


Thank you Martha Stewart for this banner and game idea!


And last but not least, an idea for a cupcake cake.


Now that you have seen the ideas, I guess you will have to wait until after Melody's birthday (the end of March) to see it all come together!

In the mean time, if you have any other alphabet birthday ideas, be sure to send them my way!

Living Room Transformation

2 posts in one day. I know, I am insane :) I got bit by the blogging bug I guess. Feel free to comment on either one.

I think every woman has a little bit of DIY in them. I am responsible for every painted wall in our house. (I heart painting!)

I stumbled across some "before" photos of our living room and dining room in our house, so I thought I would share a big reveal. (Big reveals are my favorite!) I did these rooms quite awhile ago (while I was pregnant with Melody). But I thought it would be fun to share anyway. Here is the living room!

before
it looks nice and clean but, oh the terrible nothing but white, white, white everywhere!


after
the color is Olympic Paint "Blue Persuasion"
btw: not sure why there is a dark red throw on the couch- it definitely
doesn't go with the room and does not live in our living room currently! also the color isn't great because these pictures are taken at night,
during the day it is so bright and nice!




before
White walls, white furniture, white carpet- ack!!!


after
chairs are from TJ Maxx (and the sewing machine
doesn't usually live in the living room either :) ).



here is a close up of the bookshelf



before

To live in this much non-color drained the life out of you!


Here is the much better "after"!!
we don't have a coat closet in our living room,
so I made a functional entry way!
the coat rack and basket are from TJMaxx
The dresser is from my bedroom in my parents house
The art on the wall is from Christian's grandmother
The mirror is from Ross




I love using dressers in entryways!
So functional and beautiful!


Do you love to decorate and paint rooms as much as I do?
Do you have a favorite room you have done or re-done?