$1 face-lift for ikea billy bookcase

i love the ikea billy bookcase. sure its modern-ish (my home is not very modern!) but it's affordable and works well in small spaces. a while ago, i started to get bored with the way the billy looked in my formal living room so i decided to change it up with:

some cute giftwrap in the dollar section from target

i only used one roll! 

stole this idea from pam. love her blog!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

then with the accessories layered in:

what's on each shelf?

family photo, vintage silver candle pot, tarnished julep cup

blue & white vintage vase from my mom, photo of sis & me, pink flower candle holder from alice lane

stacked woven baskets

blue glass jars and potterybarn calligraphy brush

old books and family photo

colette's toy bin

not too bad for $1 right?

im happy with the way it turned out- and so is my wallet

ps: click here for a funny read

colette's evolving nursery

recently this is how i have put together colette's dresser

the hello kitty humidifier is so fun

i love to change this part of her room the most

im thinking of putting some other animals on the shelf- another giraffe i think!

shelf: thrift store

pink booties: handmade by aunt mary

green bunny: gift from aunt nicole

red vintage hello kitty clock: mine from my nursery when i was a baby

green math flashcards: thrift store

kiwi sketch: gift from uncle nico

lamp: ikea

hello kitty humidifier: crane humidifiers

sophie the giraffe: gift from amie

pink tutu: gift from natasha

we love this quilt and im trying to figure out how to hang it up on the wall as artwork...

a really sweet baby shower decoration that my friend gave to me

i didn't like storing it away in a closet so i decided to hang it from the curtain rod

love it

ruffle Christmas tree skirt

dramatic mint cape with 3 rows of ruffles

chic eh?

a few more rows

ta-da!!!

its my Christmas tree skirt

i know i know

you were excited that it was a cape for Halloween but no

its Christmas in June! 

couldn't wait till July

i have seen some projects that use glue but I wanted the skirt to be stronger so i sewed the individual ruffles and sewed them to a base instead

it definitely took awhile

(glad the grandparents were in town to watch colette so i could sew like a crazy woman)

hopefully the skirt will last for many Christmases to come

for now it drapes my armoire in my bedroom

shabby chic pretty

colette loves staring at it when we walk by

to keep it from looking to "precious" i decided to avoid finishing the hems of each layer leaving it to fray a bit. it adds a vintag-y quality and makes it not too sweet looking

the best part is the fabric was $2 a yard and i used about 5.25 yards

$10.50ish total

not bad for a custom tree skirt!

lately

finally sewing the throw pillows 

the fabric had been sitting in a pile for months!

adore the cording

of course she's my fave

ama clipping her nails for the first time

i think she will love manicures later

as long as the nail polish is pink! 

haha

hanging out with auntie chantal

roses for colette's bum

attempting to cloth wipe alongside cloth diaper

whew wish me luck!

shabby chic table & thoughts

via simply me

hello there! i will be away for a spell (if you already haven't noticed) . hope you had a great Thanksgiving weekend. hope to be back soon.

simple Christmas decor

here are lots of photos of my living room decked out in holiday fun

kept it pretty simple but i love it

enjoying a "fragile" Christmas

not worrying about little hands or feet tipping things over haha

today feels like Christmas for me and ry

we get to find out the gender of our little dumpling! 

super super excited

according to the votes on the poll

majority says "boy!" 

ill let you know sometime this week :) 

please excuse the dark/blurryish pictures

i didn't want to take pictures in full light because the tree looks so pretty when the main light stays off 

my camera does not do this room justice!

tree!

still need to make a skirt for it...

a sweet nativity set 

a gift from my friend R for our wedding

smells sooooo good

marshmallow fireside

highly recommend 

stockings handmade by my mother-in-law

super pretty

look at the intricate beading! 

ry has had this same stocking ever since he was a baby!

i love that tradition

fun glass ornaments in an apothecary jar

all mini ornaments decked out the small greenery

pinecones in nooks

im still working on my Christmas bow making

still need A LOT of practice

but i am happy with the one topping the tree

have a happy monday!

girly ornament wreath

a fun idea first spotted on better homes and gardens website as seen here on an older post

so glad i was able to make and finish it without getting sleepy or gagging

okay- i did have to take a few breaks to drink water and breathe but the point is- it got finished!

fun girly colors

i am not doing a "themed" Christmas this year so my decor is more mismatched right now

this year is an experimental year- trying to figure out what decor i love best and what works for the house

and im enjoying every fragile piece of decor i have- before kiddos :)

( a quick thank you and shout out to my friend S who gave me a wire hanger!)

please excuse my imperfect wreath bow

who knew velveteen ribbon was so hard to work with!?

wire ribbon is your friend

just so pretty

 pictures of the living room and tree to come!

here is a tutorial by domestic fashionista on how to make these wreaths

simple, affordable and chic

supplies needed:

- pliers

- a wire hanger

- lots of ornaments (im guessing around 50)

- bow (optional)

- hot glue gun (if you want to secure the top of the ornament to the ornament- i broke an ornament because it popped off accidentally when i tried rearranging it) 

random tips:

- once the wreath is arranged, quit playing with it! (less prone to breaking)

- make your bow before stringing your ornaments

- use inexpensive ornaments (dollar store anyone?)

- have a plan before making the wreath of where you plan on hanging it; set it up before making

- be careful! 

make it a magical martha holiday

a few months ago luckily stumbled upon a free year subscription of martha stewart living magazine

yippeee!!!

magazines are not a need but a want so normally i have zero subscriptions

 (it helps keep the paper monster away from my house too)

i always look forward to the december issue

seriously the best

provides great inspiration for the holidays

a pretty cover page

let's glitter everything!

the glittered deer idea has been around forever but i never tire of it!

pretty silver

a star themed Christmas cookie party

ooh fabulous!

have you received/picked up the December Living issue yet? do you have any other magazines that have amazing Christmas issues too? id love to know about them

here is martha interviewing at google 

presenting her new entertaining book

watch out- she cursed! 

Christmas trees on the brain

cotton candy pink Christmas tree

PERFECT. 

me want. 

would ry be okay with it? im sure he wouldn't mind 

more info here

tinkerbell silver Christmas tree

lovely and more versatile 

info

winter white Christmas tree

another perfect tree

sigh

info

are you more traditional or funky when it comes to Christmas trees?

i used to think i was super traditional (not with the real trees but the dark evergreen trees)

but these trees have got me rethinking everything!

have a great weekend! 

ry and i are looking forward to donating our couch that is too long for our house to charity and moving my craft room downstairs to make room for baby! i seriously cant wait to show you the nursery plans :) but a lot of that depends on the gender of baby so we will wait and see.