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I'm sharing my money-saving tips for home decor on Apartment Therapy. Pop on over if you'd like to check it out! xo, Lauren
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Real Life on a Budget
I'm sharing my money-saving tips for home decor on Apartment Therapy. Pop on over if you'd like to check it out! xo, Lauren
On Maternity Leave and Money and Guilt
I've been thinking a lot about maternity leave lately - big shocker, right? (Among other things like getting my taxes taken care of, bringing home personal items from work, getting out the co-sleeper - I mean, I'm like a ticking time bomb at this point, people!) I'm planning to take off of work until August of 2014, when the baby will be about 16 months old. Unpaid. But I'm not complaining (okay well maybe just a little) - because I know that I'm one of the lucky mothers to even have that option. Most new moms that I know (here in the U.S.) are lucky to be able to take six weeks off with their newborns and retain their jobs.
I've also been thinking about money. I'm trying to work up basically until the moment I give birth in order to get a paycheck for as long as possible. Like me, Kevin is a teacher too, which means that we aren't exactly rolling in the green stuff, so every day that I can continue to work is important. But every morning when I wake up, I have an internal battle to force myself to go to work. Honestly at this point of my pregnancy, hormones and discomfort have completely taken over. And every day I feel like a complete failure when I head home after a long day. I just don't currently have the patience, focus, or stamina that is absolutely required in my profession, and I really feel like I just shouldn't be there at this point. But I push on - another day another dollar, right?
And while 99% of the time I feel very very fortunate to be a citizen of the United States of America, lately I've been kind of dreaming about living in, oh say Sweden where they're given 480 paid days per child? Or in Denmark where women get paid time off for four weeks before giving birth. Or most any other country in the industrialized world:
Even though we have scrimped and saved enough for me to take a long unpaid leave, I feel guilty about spending that savings. Because heck, we could be using that money as a down payment on a bigger home, to pay off our student loans or free ourselves of our car payment, or on an amazing vacation (or two or three), or even just as an emergency fund. Kev would love to move out of our tiny casa (and some days so would I!) but he knows that being home with our children as much as possible is really important to me. And so we continue to make our little home work for us.
Making these big decisions is tough, and we try to take them as they come and make the best choice that we can at the time. Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball that would let me know if we were doing it 'right' - if everything was going to work out in the end. Because as much as I want to live in the present (childhood is so fleeting - I don't want to miss a minute of it!), I also don't want to be working until I'm eighty or become a financial burden to my children. I want to enjoy my golden years as much as my younger ones. Travel. Be comfortable.
Finding that balance is tough.
For now I guess I'll just try to take things one day at a time, keep putting one foot in front of the other until this baby is born, and hope for the best. (And pray that my fairy godmother comes, cleans my house, gives my kid a bath (I mean seriously, leaning over the tub at almost 37 weeks pregnant is no joke), and tells me to put my feet up and just relax already! Hey, a girl can dream, right?) xo, Lauren
I've also been thinking about money. I'm trying to work up basically until the moment I give birth in order to get a paycheck for as long as possible. Like me, Kevin is a teacher too, which means that we aren't exactly rolling in the green stuff, so every day that I can continue to work is important. But every morning when I wake up, I have an internal battle to force myself to go to work. Honestly at this point of my pregnancy, hormones and discomfort have completely taken over. And every day I feel like a complete failure when I head home after a long day. I just don't currently have the patience, focus, or stamina that is absolutely required in my profession, and I really feel like I just shouldn't be there at this point. But I push on - another day another dollar, right?
And while 99% of the time I feel very very fortunate to be a citizen of the United States of America, lately I've been kind of dreaming about living in, oh say Sweden where they're given 480 paid days per child? Or in Denmark where women get paid time off for four weeks before giving birth. Or most any other country in the industrialized world:
Even though we have scrimped and saved enough for me to take a long unpaid leave, I feel guilty about spending that savings. Because heck, we could be using that money as a down payment on a bigger home, to pay off our student loans or free ourselves of our car payment, or on an amazing vacation (or two or three), or even just as an emergency fund. Kev would love to move out of our tiny casa (and some days so would I!) but he knows that being home with our children as much as possible is really important to me. And so we continue to make our little home work for us.
Making these big decisions is tough, and we try to take them as they come and make the best choice that we can at the time. Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball that would let me know if we were doing it 'right' - if everything was going to work out in the end. Because as much as I want to live in the present (childhood is so fleeting - I don't want to miss a minute of it!), I also don't want to be working until I'm eighty or become a financial burden to my children. I want to enjoy my golden years as much as my younger ones. Travel. Be comfortable.
Finding that balance is tough.
For now I guess I'll just try to take things one day at a time, keep putting one foot in front of the other until this baby is born, and hope for the best. (And pray that my fairy godmother comes, cleans my house, gives my kid a bath (I mean seriously, leaning over the tub at almost 37 weeks pregnant is no joke), and tells me to put my feet up and just relax already! Hey, a girl can dream, right?) xo, Lauren
Nursery Update {Update}
I've been re-thinking my plan for the nursery a little bit to save some money. I'm hoping to DIY a few more things and re-use things that we already own. We already have the Sharon Montrose print and pretty hand-printed pillow from Skinny Laminx, I made the 'for like ever' birch veneer artwork, and am hoping to DIY a banner similar to the one above, the soft-sculpture butterfly, and perhaps make a crib sheet out of the Taza Cynthia fabric in yellow. I may also make a couple of cute little toadstools similar to these. The only things I don't think I can make myself are the wooden bear (which I already purchased - he's just as adorable in person) and crochet pillow (although I'd love to learn to crochet!), but I may search Etsy for a while until I find a similar pillow with cheaper shipping.
Even though we aren't buying any new furniture or window treatments, I just couldn't bring myself to spend a lot of our hard-earned money on prettying up the space. I really want to save as much as possible so that I can stay home with my two little girls for a while. I'm pretty excited about the updates though! Happy Friday! xo, Lauren
Resolve...
After thinking long and hard, I've come up with a few things I'd really like to focus on this year:
1. Number one on my list is to look at the bright side. I think between the short days and pregnancy hormones, I've been a little negative and down in the dumps lately. I was really feeling down about going back to work - I love my job, but waking up early is not my cup of tea and I was really enjoying my time home over the holidays with my family. In the end it all comes down to the fact that I don't want to go through life that way, so I'm going to choose to focus on the positive and try to keep a smile on my face. I did really well yesterday and today, although last night I'll admit I got a little down when I couldn't fall asleep. I think tiredness really sets off my negativity. Maybe along with this goal another one should be to get more sleep!
2. SAVE. Money that is. We were doing really well, but then the holiday season hit. It seems that no matter how much I save and budget I always end up spending more than I'd like. In spite of that bump in the road I'm determined to get back on track with saving to stay home with the new baby. My goal is to stay home for over a year. I won't get paid for any of that time, so having a nest egg is a must!
3. Be more organized. Sometimes I feel like my life is like a moving freight train and I just can't keep up. I'm tired of playing catch up. This year I want to I want to take control of things and try to be one step ahead with better meal planning, a cleaning schedule, a better bedtime routine, etc.
Going along with that I really need to get on top of our laundry situation. Last year one of my resolutions was to immediately put away laundry (to keep from looking like a hoarder. Seriously - sometimes it seems like there are mountains of clean laundry filling our entire bedroom). Well, that goal never really worked out last year but I'm determined to make it work this year. We've decided to make it into a game and have 'family laundry time.' We all fold the laundry together and each take our own pile (well Violet takes a little of hers and we take the rest) up and put it straight into our dressers. Violet seems to really like it so far - hopefully that will stick!
4. Be a better friend. After working all day away from my little girl, I really just want to come home and be with her. I realize though that I really miss seeing my friends and that being away from the babe one evening a month wouldn't hurt her or me. My plan is to make a date each month with a couple of my girlfriends for dinner, a movie, or just some time to chat. I also want to try to help out my friends who are either single mamas or new mamas. Maybe offer to babysit or bring them a hot meal. And birthdays - I'm the worst! I'd love to send out pretty cards in the mail - so much better than a message on Facebook.
5. Tie up loose ends. We have so many unfinished projects around the house it's kind of ridiculous. I'd like to choose one thing for us to focus on each weekend and force myself not to start anything new until the current projects are taken care of.
So there you have it! Five goals for the new year. Five sounds like a nice, round, manageable number, right? Wish me luck! xo, Lauren
Friday Favorites + True Love
We had a special delivery to the H-Haus yesterday thanks to the lovely Lori Marie. She sent us one of her beautiful dolls, Merriweather, and Violet is IN LOVE. She took that doll everywhere with her yesterday - to the park, down the slide, on the swing, in the stroller, she fed it her snack and snuggled her and lovingly stroked her hair. I love seeing her start 'mothering' her own babies, it's so sweet. (I also have one of Lori Marie's medallion pillows and daisy chains. Yep, I'm an addict.)
We're so looking forward to a LONG Memorial Day weekend and I'm really excited to take Violet to the parade - she gets so excited about them. Having a child really does make everything fresh and fun again, doesn't it?
I also want to say a special thank you to a few heroes in my family: my Papaw, Uncle Tim, brother-in-law Randy, and cousins Donny, Shanna, Justy, and Tim - Thank you for your service to our country!
And without further ado, a few favorite links to kick off your holiday weekend:
Pretty printable envelopes
Custom constellation artwork for your little one
Can you be in love with a paper cup?
How to replace backgrounds in Photoshop
The sweetest wedding
Is the American Dream changing?
I so want to wear this crown.
Happy Friday! xo, Lauren
P.S. I've opened an Etsy shop where I'll be selling custom silhouette portraits - check it out here!
P.P.S. Follow me on Instagram - @withtwocats
FRIDAY FAVORITES
I'd love to live in a space with this vibe.
Links that have been inspiring me lately:
on freedom
on work life balance
on taking control of your life.
on living with less.
on remembering the little things.
Happy Friday! xo, Lauren
Upgrade
I'm am sooo completely excited - I am finally upgrading to a smart phone. I've been living in the Dark Ages with my pink Motorola Razr (I know, right?!) and borrowing the Hubster's iPhone here and there. We finally paid off our home equity loan (we were paying a TON extra to avoid a lot of interest) and I feel like I can finally purchase one (semi) guilt-free. Kevin has decided that I need some sort of case/skin/cover because I tend to be a bit of a klutz. Here are a few cute ones I'm liking:
Steppin' Out Saturday 10.15.11
I've been wanting to participate in Steppin' Out Saturday over on The Haps for a while now, but I always forget to take pictures! I blame it on 'Mommy Brain' - you know, how your memory is completely hijacked by your kid for, oh say, THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. I seriously feel like my brain is constantly on overload these days - just too many things to worry about, remember, and be responsible for. Seasoned moms - does it get better?
Anyway, here's what I wore on a sunny, breezy Saturday:
Anyway, here's what I wore on a sunny, breezy Saturday:
saForgot to include the earrings in the clouds (Mommy Brain - I swear, this is going to be my excuse for a LONG time. At least until Violet is eighteen.) I think they were from a friend's jewelry party. Maybe Premiere? Not sure. Not like you can really see them in these photos anyway. I also had the luxury of time to play with my hair. I decided to go with a braid (thanks to the Hubster for taking the munchkin outside to play this morning!)
This sweater has quickly become one of my go-to pieces this Fall, I'm really in love with the emerald green color. I've also been wearing these shoes a lot - the subtle metallic gold goes with a lot. They're some sort of boat shoe/moccasin hybrid. I'd love to have this mini version for Violet (but I can't bring myself to spend $60+ on something she'll wear for a few months at most).
I really get kind of weepy each time she grows out of her clothes. It's like I finally get a cute wardrobe going on for her and figure out what works and then I have to start all over again. Don't get me wrong - it would be totally fun if I wasn't such a cheapskate. Well, sorry about the complete rambling post. I blame it on...wait for it...Mommy Brain. Hope you're having a lovely weekend!
Review: Bebarang
I don't know about you, but one thing I absolutely hate is spending a ton of money on an outfit for a special event that Violet will only wear once. It just seems like such a waste. So needless to say, I was absolutely thrilled when Bebarang contacted me to review their products. Bebarang provides a service for parents in just such a position - visit their site, choose one of many pieces of designer clothing for your little one to use at your special event, and return it afterwards. Here are a few pics of Violet (with her cousin Max and her Grammy) in her special dress:
This is the dress that I chose for Violet to wear and was very impressed by the service. The dress arrived the day before our event in clean and pressed ready-to-wear condition. It fit Violet perfectly and she looked absolutely adorable in it! (Although, of course, I'm a little biased there). The day after the event I simply placed the dress into the return envelope that Bebarang provided and mailed it right back. Bebarang uses an eco-friendly laundry service to clean the clothing so that it is fresh and ready to wear for the next lucky little guy or gal.
The whole experience was incredibly positive and I would definitely consider using this service again for our next event. Check them out here, and thanks to Bebarang for the lovely dress!
This is the dress that I chose for Violet to wear and was very impressed by the service. The dress arrived the day before our event in clean and pressed ready-to-wear condition. It fit Violet perfectly and she looked absolutely adorable in it! (Although, of course, I'm a little biased there). The day after the event I simply placed the dress into the return envelope that Bebarang provided and mailed it right back. Bebarang uses an eco-friendly laundry service to clean the clothing so that it is fresh and ready to wear for the next lucky little guy or gal.
The whole experience was incredibly positive and I would definitely consider using this service again for our next event. Check them out here, and thanks to Bebarang for the lovely dress!
Money Matters: How Much Do You Spend on Groceries?
After being off with Violet for nine months without pay, followed by adjusting to the cost of child care, diapers, doctor bills, and all of the other costs that come along with having a child, our savings and budget have taken a bit of a hit.
Although I'm not excited about leaving Violet this week (I'm back at work), I am excited to say that I will be receiving a full paycheck again (finally). And on top of that our home equity loan will (finally) be paid off, so I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
In the meantime we've been looking for new ways to save more money. We have quite a few goals and we need to find a way to finance them:
I always wonder what other people spend on groceries. Sure you can compare on Mint.com or ask friends or even poll people on a forum, but I always think that these comparisons can be so inaccurate because people mean different things when they say 'groceries'. For us, groceries include our food, cat food and litter, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and baby items.
When I see people say that they spend $50-$60 a week on groceries, I am floored. I know that there are some serious coupon clippers out there, and I suppose it's possible depending on what you buy. But even with coupons it just doesn't feel doable for us because we buy mostly whole fresh foods, and you just don't see coupons for things like asparagus, bread, or salmon in the newspaper or the coupon clipper. (At least not in ours!) I feel like I use this as an excuse sometimes though, so I've tried to think of money-saving options we do have available:
P.S. Have you seen the tumblr Things Organized Neatly?! If you haven't check it out - it's equal parts therapeutic and insanity-inducing.
Pennies Image by Bob Dinetz Design via Things Organized Neatly
Ingredients Image by Carl Kleiner for IKEA via Things Organized Neatly
Although I'm not excited about leaving Violet this week (I'm back at work), I am excited to say that I will be receiving a full paycheck again (finally). And on top of that our home equity loan will (finally) be paid off, so I feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.
In the meantime we've been looking for new ways to save more money. We have quite a few goals and we need to find a way to finance them:
- Replenish our general savings
- Start some sort of college savings (Roth IRA, 529 Plan, Insurance Fund?) for Violet
- Start saving for a down payment on a larger home
- Save for me to be off again with (hopefully) a future baby
- Cutting cable (unthinkable in the Hubster's opinion, and, to be honest, I'd miss it too)
- Spending less on the house (difficult for me because with blogging I'm constantly seeing beautiful new products and inspiring homes)
- Spending less on groceries. (We both like food!)
I always wonder what other people spend on groceries. Sure you can compare on Mint.com or ask friends or even poll people on a forum, but I always think that these comparisons can be so inaccurate because people mean different things when they say 'groceries'. For us, groceries include our food, cat food and litter, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and baby items.
When I see people say that they spend $50-$60 a week on groceries, I am floored. I know that there are some serious coupon clippers out there, and I suppose it's possible depending on what you buy. But even with coupons it just doesn't feel doable for us because we buy mostly whole fresh foods, and you just don't see coupons for things like asparagus, bread, or salmon in the newspaper or the coupon clipper. (At least not in ours!) I feel like I use this as an excuse sometimes though, so I've tried to think of money-saving options we do have available:
- clipping (and using) coupons for toiletries/cleaning supplies/baby stuff
- meal planning (we're not very good at this)
- using our store bonus card
- setting and sticking to a budget
- comparison shopping
- envelope system (sometimes the card works against us even though we do get rewards points)
P.S. Have you seen the tumblr Things Organized Neatly?! If you haven't check it out - it's equal parts therapeutic and insanity-inducing.
Pennies Image by Bob Dinetz Design via Things Organized Neatly
Ingredients Image by Carl Kleiner for IKEA via Things Organized Neatly
Registry Roundup: Gear
You asked - so here it is. A roundup of the stuff that we decided to put on our registry.
Starting with the big stuff: baby gear and furniture. There is a ridiculous selection and price range out there. You can find a crib costing anywhere from $100 to $1000 (and more!). Being teachers and trying to save most of our money so that I can stay home with Violet as long as possible, we definitely tried to steer ourselves toward the items we felt would get us the most bang for our buck.
We didn't want anything that we felt would fall apart after a few uses (especially since we are hoping for at least one more baby in the future), but we also didn't want anything that would break the bank. So these may not be the most chic or stylish choices, but it's what works for us:
1. Chicco Capri Stroller (Black)
2. Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair (Tan)
Starting with the big stuff: baby gear and furniture. There is a ridiculous selection and price range out there. You can find a crib costing anywhere from $100 to $1000 (and more!). Being teachers and trying to save most of our money so that I can stay home with Violet as long as possible, we definitely tried to steer ourselves toward the items we felt would get us the most bang for our buck.
We didn't want anything that we felt would fall apart after a few uses (especially since we are hoping for at least one more baby in the future), but we also didn't want anything that would break the bank. So these may not be the most chic or stylish choices, but it's what works for us:
1. Chicco Capri Stroller (Black)
- Found at BRU
- We liked the sturdiness and handling of this stroller. It also folds up easily, which was a must.
2. Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair (Tan)
- Found at BRU
- Not only was this highly recommended by my sister-in-law and aunt, it's one of the top-rated high chairs in Baby Bargains as well.
- We didn't want anything too gaudy, as this will be in our main living space. We also didn't want a totally separate piece of furniture in our small house. This high chair will strap to one of our dining chairs, which is perfect for our lifestyle.
- Found at BRU
- It didn't get the best reviews in Baby Bargains, but only because the brand (Delta) had some recalls a couple of years ago. We checked the crib out in person and found it to be sturdy and affordable.
- It was easy to assemble and is the perfect size for our small nursery.
- Found at BRU
- Received good reviews from Baby Bargains
- Great handling, neutral colors, easy to fold with one hand
- We love that the infant seat snaps in to the stroller, so if Violet is sound asleep in the car we won't have to wake her during transfer. Plus it snaps into the car base, so we won't have to worry about strapping it in each time.
- We found an extra car seat base here.
- Found at BRU
- I know some moms and mothers-to-be are really into having a super chic and stylish diaper bag. I am not one of them. I really just wanted something practical with lots of pockets that is easy to clean and zips closed. This one fit the bill
- Both the Hubster and I can use it - we didn't really want a separate mommy and separate daddy diaper bag.
- It matches our stroller - yay!
- Found at ArmsReach.com (we put this one on our Amazon registry)
- As a first time mom, I know that some things won't work out the way that we expect, but right now it seems natural to me to have Violet in our room for at least the first few months. I am hoping to breastfeed, so having her close at hand will make things much easier for nighttime feedings (and of course diaper changes!)
- I love this bassinet because it has a co-sleeper option. It can be attached to the bed or easily converted to a four-sided bassinet. It also has wheels and can be easily transported around the house to be used as we see fit. I don't feel that we would really use or have space for a play-pen, so I'm not worried that it is too small for that. I figure since I don't know how things are going to work out, options are a plus.
- It's pretty, but not too frilly that we couldn't use it in the future for a boy
- It has storage beneath the skirt!
I'm Loving...
Kate's grocery planner! This was sent to me by a reader (thanks Charlene!) who discovered it over on Design Sponge and I loved it so much I just had to share it with all of you:
Kate Pruitt, a contributing editor over on D.S., shares her DIY projects on Wednesdays. This is definitely one of my favorites, probably because this is one of my weak areas.
I'm not a fan of cooking in general, I am ridiculously horrible at planning ahead, and my grocery money-saving abilities? Practically non-existent. So maybe I should add this to my resolutions for 2010 (better late than never!) and jump on the grocery planning bandwagon. This looks like a fun and easy way to do it. If you'd like to see more of Kate's grocery planning ideas and download her lists, click here.
Do you plan your meals for the week? I'd love to hear about your system - I need all the help I can get!
Thanks,
Kate Pruitt, a contributing editor over on D.S., shares her DIY projects on Wednesdays. This is definitely one of my favorites, probably because this is one of my weak areas.
I'm not a fan of cooking in general, I am ridiculously horrible at planning ahead, and my grocery money-saving abilities? Practically non-existent. So maybe I should add this to my resolutions for 2010 (better late than never!) and jump on the grocery planning bandwagon. This looks like a fun and easy way to do it. If you'd like to see more of Kate's grocery planning ideas and download her lists, click here.
Do you plan your meals for the week? I'd love to hear about your system - I need all the help I can get!
Thanks,
How to Decorate on a Budget: Part II
So in our last post I talked about tips for designing a space on a budget. These tips can work for any space, but I'm currently applying them to our latest project: Violet's Nursery! Remember that the first step is to Set a Budget. We'd like to keep our budget within $1K, and so far we have spent $391.50 on the major stuff (flooring, wainscotting, paint, furniture, and window treatments) That leaves us with $608.50 for decor and accessories.
Also, don't forget that one of our money-saving tips is to Plan and Organize. I like to plan by creating an idea board for the space (if you haven't noticed).
[Side Note: If you'd like an idea board for a space or event, fill out the idea board request form above to get a *FREE* idea board!]
Here is the idea board I came up with for Violet's Nursery:
I based all of the fabrics, pillows, artwork, etc. off of my main inspiration piece for the room - the curtains (Choose One Decorative Piece to Build Your Room Around), while keeping my Budget in mind. I also used another of the money saving tips - Think Outside the Box by searching non-baby sites and stores.
Let's see how we did:
Owl & Fox: Etsy Gifts from my Sister = free!
Mobile: Land of Nod ($68)
Custom Crib Bumper: Etsy Seller Rocky Top Designs ($99)
Crib Mattress: Gift from my Parents (Free!)
Custom Window Seat Cushion: Etsy Seller Rocky Top Designs ($89)
Love Print: Made by Girl ($25)
Love Birds Wall Art: Urban Outfitters ($28)
Floor Lamp: IKEA ($39.99)
Orange Pillow: cb2 ($29.95)
White Flower Pillow: the one pictured here is from Bobby Berk Home ($75), but I found a cheaper version on Etsy for $32!
White Shaggy Rug: Target ($69.99)
Wall Hook: Urban Outfitters ($24)
Hamper: It's a Girly World ($29.99)
Book Rack: cb2 (39.95)
Grand Total: $574
Under budget by $34.50! We did put most of this on our gift registry, so it could end up being less, we'll see! If you're wondering about the crib skirt and sheet, we just chose inexpensive white linens, which are on our registry. There are also certain things we could get more inexpensively if necessary. For example, I could easily re-create the wall art if I had to. I could probably even make the mobile and window seat if necessary. So we'll see how it all pans out.
I hope these tips were helpful, and if you have any great money saving tips of your own I'd love to hear them! Have a great weekend everyone!
Also, don't forget that one of our money-saving tips is to Plan and Organize. I like to plan by creating an idea board for the space (if you haven't noticed).
[Side Note: If you'd like an idea board for a space or event, fill out the idea board request form above to get a *FREE* idea board!]
Here is the idea board I came up with for Violet's Nursery:
I based all of the fabrics, pillows, artwork, etc. off of my main inspiration piece for the room - the curtains (Choose One Decorative Piece to Build Your Room Around), while keeping my Budget in mind. I also used another of the money saving tips - Think Outside the Box by searching non-baby sites and stores.
Let's see how we did:
Owl & Fox: Etsy Gifts from my Sister = free!
Mobile: Land of Nod ($68)
Custom Crib Bumper: Etsy Seller Rocky Top Designs ($99)
Crib Mattress: Gift from my Parents (Free!)
Custom Window Seat Cushion: Etsy Seller Rocky Top Designs ($89)
Love Print: Made by Girl ($25)
Love Birds Wall Art: Urban Outfitters ($28)
Floor Lamp: IKEA ($39.99)
Orange Pillow: cb2 ($29.95)
White Flower Pillow: the one pictured here is from Bobby Berk Home ($75), but I found a cheaper version on Etsy for $32!
White Shaggy Rug: Target ($69.99)
Wall Hook: Urban Outfitters ($24)
Hamper: It's a Girly World ($29.99)
Book Rack: cb2 (39.95)
Grand Total: $574
Under budget by $34.50! We did put most of this on our gift registry, so it could end up being less, we'll see! If you're wondering about the crib skirt and sheet, we just chose inexpensive white linens, which are on our registry. There are also certain things we could get more inexpensively if necessary. For example, I could easily re-create the wall art if I had to. I could probably even make the mobile and window seat if necessary. So we'll see how it all pans out.
I hope these tips were helpful, and if you have any great money saving tips of your own I'd love to hear them! Have a great weekend everyone!
6 Tips for Decorating a Nursery on a Budget
1. Reuse, Repurpose, Refinish - We desperately wanted to refinish our wood floors, but they were coated in a layer of impenetrable black glue as a previous homeowner had installed a cheap laminate at some point. Instead we went with new hardwood flooring from Lumber Liquidators, which is the same company we used for the wood flooring in the rest of our home. We bought a red oak that was on close out for $1.49 per square foot. It looks beautiful and we bought enough for the entire second floor, so more to come on that! (Cost for the nursery = $110)
Although we weren't able to refinish the floors, we did refinish an old hand-me-down dresser - adding a fresh coat of white paint and new knobs and found a pre-owned glider at a yard sale down the street. If you don't get as lucky as us in the hand-me-down and yard sale departments, try Craigslist, or a mom's group on Facebook for great deals and steals on baby stuff.
Favorite websites I've found for nursery inspiration include Apartment Therapy, Houzz.com, and, of course, Pinterest. One of my current favorites is Priscilla Barros' showstopper of a nursery:
3. Get Organized:
I have a Pinterest board for my favorite nurseries and kids' rooms, but I also like to get more detailed when I'm planning a space and have a board for that specific room. After I've pinned a few things, I prefer to start an idea board or mood board to keep things cohesive. The two easiest programs I've found for doing so are Pages and Photoshop, but there are a lot of online sites that offer idea board tools, and you can even create one in Microsoft Word. (or the good old fashioned way - paper and glue!)
4. Choose One Decorative Piece to Build Your Room Around
If you pick one fantastic item to serve as your focal point, it will focus your thoughts and make you less likely to buy billions of little items to serve the same purpose. (And it doesn't have to be expensive to be fantastic) We chose curtains from Urban Outfitters (Cost $70 total for four panels) and based the colors of the room around them:
5. Think Outside the Box
Don't necessarily feel that you need to look for exclusively 'baby' items at one of the big box baby stores. Our curtains, for example, were not from a baby related store in any way. If you are worried about not being able to register for these items, consider an Amazon or BabyLi.st baby registry. We created one of these in addition to the traditional Babies R Us registry and I love it! They basically allow you to add items from virtually any website to a registry that your friends and loved ones can visit.
6. Do It Yourself - DIY projects are a HUGE money saver. I painted the tree onto the wall myself rather than purchasing a pricey wall decal or artwork, my husband installed all of the beadboard, trim and wood flooring, I painted the dresser, hemmed the curtains, and made the pillows with the help of a coworker who is helped me out (I'm not much of a sewer!) If you aren't handy, don't be afraid to ask a few trusted friends and relatives or check out one of the many DIY tutorials on the web (of course, if it involves serious power tools, don't do anything unsafe - if you don't know what you're doing it's best to leave that type of thing to the professionals!)
We ended up staying well under budget, coming in at just under $900 (see the full budget breakdown here), and I'm thrilled with how the space turned out!
Do you have any money saving tips that you use when designing a new space? I'd love to hear them! xo, Lauren
Living a Truly Fulfilling Life
Time to get a little more personal. Lately I have been doing a lot of soul-searching - mainly about being a working mom or a stay-at-home working mom. One thing I know for sure is that I love my job - working with kids, art, great boss, great benefits, decent pay, summers (kind of) off - what's not to love?
But now that Baby H is on the way, I'm trying to reassess my priorities. I'm not sure how I feel about someone else being with my child for 8 hours every day. I know plenty of happy, healthy kids go to daycare, have nannies, etc., and that may be right for my children and me too, but I've really been giving it some serious thought.
Not only am I thinking about this for my child, but for myself as well. We each get one life to live, and it isn't a very long one. While we're here I think we should live a life each day that is truly fulfilling. Is that possible for every person? Maybe not, I'm not sure. But it's something I'd like to aspire to. One blog that has been really inspiring me lately is Colour me Happy written by Maria Killam.
Maria has transformed her life from a career in sales (which she hated) to becoming a designer. A very popular designer. A very popular designer who actually makes money at what she does and is very happy. To read more about Maria's journey, go here.
Now do I think I'm going to become a designer? Not by a long shot. I can confirm this through Maria's post on, 5 Ways to Know if You Should Quit Your Day Job and Become a Designer. Yeah, I definitely don't meet the criteria! Nor do I know that being a designer is what I want for my life, although I'm sure it would be fun.
I know it's not for everyone, but I think it would be great to have a career more like Adam's from Diapers to Desktops. I know Adam and his wife Angie from back in the day in high school, and I really admire what they are doing. While Angie teaches, Adam stays home with their two boys, Charlie and Roman, and also watches the child of a friend to earn some extra income. It was very important for both Adam and Angie to spend more time with their children, and they have made a lot of sacrifices along the way.
You may ask, what's so special about this? Well Adam has started a project called Diapers to Desktops through which he hopes to help other families
1. spend more time with their infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
2. generate a source of income while doing so, and
3. help other families find safe and easily accessible child care
It's really an amazing project that can help people like me who would like at the very least to consider the option of staying home with their children, but can't afford to do so without an extra source of income. I think it could be the best of both worlds as I would get to stay home with my own children and continue to be fulfilled by teaching the children of others.
I can totally see the back room of my little house having a cute little set up like this, with baby H and two or three other little goobers filling up the chairs.
*BUT* (there's always a but) It's a big risk to leave my stable, decent-paying job that I love, especially in this economy. And I'm not a risk-taker by any stretch of the imagination. So like I said, I have a lot of soul-searching to do - wish me luck, I'm going to need it!
But now that Baby H is on the way, I'm trying to reassess my priorities. I'm not sure how I feel about someone else being with my child for 8 hours every day. I know plenty of happy, healthy kids go to daycare, have nannies, etc., and that may be right for my children and me too, but I've really been giving it some serious thought.
While we're here I think we should live a life each day that is truly fulfilling.
Not only am I thinking about this for my child, but for myself as well. We each get one life to live, and it isn't a very long one. While we're here I think we should live a life each day that is truly fulfilling. Is that possible for every person? Maybe not, I'm not sure. But it's something I'd like to aspire to. One blog that has been really inspiring me lately is Colour me Happy written by Maria Killam.
Maria has transformed her life from a career in sales (which she hated) to becoming a designer. A very popular designer. A very popular designer who actually makes money at what she does and is very happy. To read more about Maria's journey, go here.
Now do I think I'm going to become a designer? Not by a long shot. I can confirm this through Maria's post on, 5 Ways to Know if You Should Quit Your Day Job and Become a Designer. Yeah, I definitely don't meet the criteria! Nor do I know that being a designer is what I want for my life, although I'm sure it would be fun.
I know it's not for everyone, but I think it would be great to have a career more like Adam's from Diapers to Desktops. I know Adam and his wife Angie from back in the day in high school, and I really admire what they are doing. While Angie teaches, Adam stays home with their two boys, Charlie and Roman, and also watches the child of a friend to earn some extra income. It was very important for both Adam and Angie to spend more time with their children, and they have made a lot of sacrifices along the way.
You may ask, what's so special about this? Well Adam has started a project called Diapers to Desktops through which he hopes to help other families
1. spend more time with their infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
2. generate a source of income while doing so, and
3. help other families find safe and easily accessible child care
It's really an amazing project that can help people like me who would like at the very least to consider the option of staying home with their children, but can't afford to do so without an extra source of income. I think it could be the best of both worlds as I would get to stay home with my own children and continue to be fulfilled by teaching the children of others.
I can totally see the back room of my little house having a cute little set up like this, with baby H and two or three other little goobers filling up the chairs.
*BUT* (there's always a but) It's a big risk to leave my stable, decent-paying job that I love, especially in this economy. And I'm not a risk-taker by any stretch of the imagination. So like I said, I have a lot of soul-searching to do - wish me luck, I'm going to need it!
What the World Eats
At a recent education workshop I attended, the presenter was talking about the impact of visual images on learning. Basically that a picture's worth a thousand words type thing. One of the examples he used was absolutely fascinating - it was from a book called Hungry Planet: What the World Eats:
Photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio wrote a book featuring photographs of a week's worth of food for different families around the world as well as details of the food and its cost. Here are some of the photos:
The Revises of the United States ($341.98):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’
The Dongs of China ($155.06):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’
The Melanders of Germany ($500.07):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’
The Mendoza family of Guatemala:
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’
The Aboubakars of Chad ($24.37):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’
If you would like more details, buy the book and/or check out this site. I think it is so interesting and would personally love to keep a journal to get a detailed account of exactly what the hubster and I eat in a week. It's amazing to see what a family can survive on...I think seeing some of these photos would be a real reality check - not only on how lucky we are but also on how much more fresh and healthy food is eaten in other cultures. (Or maybe how much less?)
It's definitely some food for thought anyway!
Photographer Peter Menzel and writer Faith D'Aluisio wrote a book featuring photographs of a week's worth of food for different families around the world as well as details of the food and its cost. Here are some of the photos:
The Revises of the United States ($341.98):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’The Dongs of China ($155.06):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’The Melanders of Germany ($500.07):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’The Mendoza family of Guatemala:
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’The Aboubakars of Chad ($24.37):
© 2005 Peter Menzel from ‘Hungry Planet: What the World Eats’If you would like more details, buy the book and/or check out this site. I think it is so interesting and would personally love to keep a journal to get a detailed account of exactly what the hubster and I eat in a week. It's amazing to see what a family can survive on...I think seeing some of these photos would be a real reality check - not only on how lucky we are but also on how much more fresh and healthy food is eaten in other cultures. (Or maybe how much less?)
It's definitely some food for thought anyway!
For Brides on a Budget
A few of my friends are currently in wedding-planning mode, and I often get to hear about the high cost of achieving the perfect day. Here are a few fabulous websites and blogs dedicated to brides on a budget:
Bride$hare is a social networking site designed to help brides save money by sharing wedding-related resources and goods. Decor, apparel, rentals, and even vendors can be shared, swapped, or sold through Bride$hare connections.
I know what it's like to plan the wedding of your dreams on a dime, so I hope this helps! Here are a few photos from our wedding and some strategies we used to keep our costs down:
1. Keep the ceremony decor to a minimum. Your guests are there to see you exchange your vows, not to hear a symphony orchestra or admire billions of flowers.
2. Decorate the reception simply. We chose a reception location that was naturally beautiful, which saved us a lot of money or decor. A few small centerpieces - which we made ourselves using dollar-store vases and flowers we grew (hydrangea) or ordered in bulk (roses) - and a few floral swags from Michael's were all we needed to personalize the space.
3. Choose flowers that are in-season and keep your bouquets small. This will significantly reduce the florist's price.
4. Keep your gown simple and classic. You will be sure to still love your dress when you look back at your album in 25 years, and you won't pay extra for all the beads and lace.
5. Prioritize. What is most important to you? One thing that was high on our list was photography - the day goes by so fast, we wanted beautiful lasting memories of our day. This is one area where we felt it was worth it to spend a little more money. Decide what is most important to you and concentrate the majority of your funds there.
6. Try to find a reception location that allows you to choose your own caterer and bring your own alcohol. This is one of the most significant areas that cut costs for us. Buying alcohol at store prices is much more affordable than a hotel/restaurant mark-up. Our food was fantastic and we had drinks to spare.
7. DIY Details can add a personal touch and save you a lot of dough. I created my own pomanders, floral letters, coloring books for kids, and guest book. Guests remembered these details and I saved a lot by creating them myself.
8. Keep the cake to three layers or less and have a sheet cake in the back to supplement it. Guests won't know the difference and it will save a ton of dough!
9. Create your own playlist, at least for the dinner music. An iPod and some rented or borrowed speakers can save a ton of money on a D.J. or band, who usually charge by the hour.
10. The biggest money-saver for us was to have our wedding on a Friday. We know this isn't for everyone, but 150 our of our 175 guests attended the wedding and had a blast! The price for the reception location was literally less than half of what it would have been on a Saturday, and we had all day Thursday and Friday to set up in addition to all of Friday evening for the event. If we would have chosen a Saturday we would have had 1-2 hours to set up and 4 hours at the location, or paid triple the cost to secure both Saturday time spaces.
So create a realistic budget, prioritize, and plan the wedding that is right for you - no matter your budget, you can plan a fun and fabulous celebration for you and your guests.
Do you have any money saving tips for brides-to-be? We'd love to hear them!
Bride$hare is a social networking site designed to help brides save money by sharing wedding-related resources and goods. Decor, apparel, rentals, and even vendors can be shared, swapped, or sold through Bride$hare connections.
I know what it's like to plan the wedding of your dreams on a dime, so I hope this helps! Here are a few photos from our wedding and some strategies we used to keep our costs down:
1. Keep the ceremony decor to a minimum. Your guests are there to see you exchange your vows, not to hear a symphony orchestra or admire billions of flowers.
2. Decorate the reception simply. We chose a reception location that was naturally beautiful, which saved us a lot of money or decor. A few small centerpieces - which we made ourselves using dollar-store vases and flowers we grew (hydrangea) or ordered in bulk (roses) - and a few floral swags from Michael's were all we needed to personalize the space.
3. Choose flowers that are in-season and keep your bouquets small. This will significantly reduce the florist's price.
4. Keep your gown simple and classic. You will be sure to still love your dress when you look back at your album in 25 years, and you won't pay extra for all the beads and lace.
5. Prioritize. What is most important to you? One thing that was high on our list was photography - the day goes by so fast, we wanted beautiful lasting memories of our day. This is one area where we felt it was worth it to spend a little more money. Decide what is most important to you and concentrate the majority of your funds there.
6. Try to find a reception location that allows you to choose your own caterer and bring your own alcohol. This is one of the most significant areas that cut costs for us. Buying alcohol at store prices is much more affordable than a hotel/restaurant mark-up. Our food was fantastic and we had drinks to spare.
7. DIY Details can add a personal touch and save you a lot of dough. I created my own pomanders, floral letters, coloring books for kids, and guest book. Guests remembered these details and I saved a lot by creating them myself.
8. Keep the cake to three layers or less and have a sheet cake in the back to supplement it. Guests won't know the difference and it will save a ton of dough!
9. Create your own playlist, at least for the dinner music. An iPod and some rented or borrowed speakers can save a ton of money on a D.J. or band, who usually charge by the hour.
10. The biggest money-saver for us was to have our wedding on a Friday. We know this isn't for everyone, but 150 our of our 175 guests attended the wedding and had a blast! The price for the reception location was literally less than half of what it would have been on a Saturday, and we had all day Thursday and Friday to set up in addition to all of Friday evening for the event. If we would have chosen a Saturday we would have had 1-2 hours to set up and 4 hours at the location, or paid triple the cost to secure both Saturday time spaces.
So create a realistic budget, prioritize, and plan the wedding that is right for you - no matter your budget, you can plan a fun and fabulous celebration for you and your guests.
Do you have any money saving tips for brides-to-be? We'd love to hear them!
