Bins and Chocolate

Sometimes all it takes are plastic bins and chocolate to make me happy! We spent Saturday working non-stop around the house. Straightening, cleaning up, and maintaining a put-away house has been a constant struggle. Not that our house is tiny, but it is a 2-bedroom filled with 4 people and their things. Now that that the roof, siding, and kids' bedroom ceiling projects have been completed, we can now focus on "decorating" Simon and Norah's room.

Back in the day, we created a gender neutral room when we were waiting for Simon. Our theme was alphabet blocks, and we spent money on paint for wood panels, a dresser, rug, and a few accessories. We borrowed a crib and spent $20 on a changing table. We did not paint the room or replace the pull shades already put in there when it was an office.

Waiting for Norah, we only changed the sleeping situation and added a dresser. Simon moved to a junior sized bed and Norah took the crib. I have not planned, designed, or created a little boy's room or a little girl's room. We are now having that fun. When they were babies, we consciously did not spend a lot of money on a baby's room as we knew it would be for a few short years and a more child-like room would be fun to design.

The trick is to plan, design, and create a room that is both a boy's and a girl's room.

We lofted Norah's bed using IKEA bin storage holders. Two of these on one end, one on the other end with this one to act as the stairs up to the bed. Eric used pins and brackets to fasten the bin holders and the bed all together. It is now Simon's bed, so he sleeps up in the air. Norah's bed sits underneath and comes out, sort of a half-bunk. She sleeps in the bed Simon used to sleep in. That is the bed Eric made; it is heavier and too nice to drill into, so they swapped beds. Believe it or not, that was not even an issue. Simon invited Norah to sleep in his bed for her Sunday nap! (We do have a rail on the side so no one tumbles to the floor.)

In the space of approximately 1 1/2 beds, we have 2 beds and tons of toy storage. Library books now have a spot in their room. So in a 12 x 12 room, we have two beds, all that toy storage, 2 dressers, a desk, a "hamper" for furry friends, and two bins to hold backpacks.

Pictures would help depict this, but I will give up precious time to take pictures,download, save, and attach another day! Plus you are still waiting for pictures of our new siding and our State Fair trip! It's been busy adjusting to all the changes around here.

Yet to do:

1. Move Norah from a crib mattress to an IKEA sized junior bed mattress.

2. Find bedding for her, tricky as the mattress is crib width and 10 inches shorter than a twin. We have found that blanket "throws" work best. Just finding a little girl one that coordinates somewhat with Simon's is difficult. It is fall, so blanket season is just around the corner.

3. Pull shades are maroon, need to find a valance.

4. I have my eye on the block throw and the floral throw from here. Not sure if I want the fleece/plush look over the quilted/cotton afghan look. I do like how the colors match. I am not a quilt person, so I tremble at making them. I may head over to my local craft store to see what easy-to-sew quilts and backs are available.

5. I want to make book slings for them. Especially for Simon on the top. Not sure if Norah needs one, but sort of want the equity.

7. I could make the book sling, a pillowcase, and a valance with fabric for each. Maybe.

8. Hang up their 1 year frames, name fames, framed palm branch, and baptism banner.

9. We are thinking of a large bulletin board to go on the one whole blank that is available. We seem to collect lots of things that could hang on display.

And that is a room.

Now, for the chocolate.

For Mother's Day, I received a Groupon Coupon for a chocolate making class with a friend. We went yesterday. We went early, walked along the lake front, enjoyed dinner together, and then enjoyed the chocolate class. We made richly decadent, lavishly beautiful chocolates. We made caramel, ganache, flavored fondant fillings, and even painted the molds. I have a box of chocolates that I can savor with Eric on special evenings. These are rich enough to share. I will not share with Norah and Simon, as they do not yet appreciate this fine level of chocolate!

I foresee a train trip to downtown, lunching at Eleven City Diner, then walking a short block or two for chocolates. Anyone care to join me on 11/11/11, at 11:11, for lunch at Eleven City Diner located at 1112 Wabash, and then head over for chocolate! It will be fantastic! I cannot think of a better way to celebrate vertical "hour", on vertical day, in the vertical year!

The promise of organization is in the air.

Like I said, bins and chocolate made me happy this weekend!