House Projects 2014 {in progress}

Wall Repairs

So our last post about the house projects found here - had a ton of holes in the walls and unfinished projects from a few years ago that were never completed. In between having a new baby (Morgan), a new business (photography) and our investment project (Ruston) things just never got completed. Well, here is what is going on downstairs!

It's a disaster. Just a warning. Stuff is everywhere. Its daunting to live day in and day out with so much going on but we are slowly wrapping things up.

 

 

 You can see in the photo above where that hole was patched. We also decided to go ahead and patch anything else that was even barely visible. I mean afterall, we are about to paint our entire downstairs. We might as well make it all right before moving forward to the painting phase.

 

We also found that we had more repairs in the kitchen too! I mean seriously, plaster walls ARE the worst! But, after ripping out a few sections and replacing them with drywall  - our kitchen will also be ready and good to go for paint. All the X's that you see are places where the wall is so uneven Kale will have to cut out and patch as well. I mean these projects are seriously taking its toll on us! You would DIE if you saw all the X's Kale has put all over the walls in our downstairs...Um..scary!

The repairs extend from Colten's room, the office/guest room, family room, kitchen and dining room! Oh boy do we have our hands full.

But we will be so happy once we paint and finish this HUGE project!

The "added" project:  The downstairs bathroom

We've already started on this project but I was able to get in and take before photos. As you can see, this bathroom is just looking rough! Fingerprints and smudges everywhere, old paint, nothing pretty, nothing organized. This is seriously one really boring bathroom! There is no color! It's been on my mind for a while. So we threw it in the mix!

 

My plans:

A good neutral color on walls, new towels, bath rug, shower curtain, and lots of organization for the closet! I plan on doing something like the following photos (from pinterest of course) to complete this bathroom.

I love the back of the bathroom door. As you can see above, our boys really just wad up the towels on the hook. This is terrible and one of my pet peeves! They need a place to hang each of their towels since we have two sharing this one bathroom.

I LOVE the idea of baskets for organizing. Each night before bed, it's a requirement to have their clothes put out for the following day. I'm thinking a basket for each of the boys to put their school clothes for the next day :) Currently, they put the clothes on top of the bathroom counter.

Just simple and beautiful

I've also yearned for a pretty item for this bathroom. I love bath and body works and was thinking about buying a small plant, a few aromatherapy lotions and having a cute display. Cute right!?

We've got two boys who are constantly rummaging through the baskets in the closet. I need a way to keep them both organized and want to freshen up this bathroom for them but at the same time making it a cute place for our guests. I'm so excited about the bathroom remodel its killing me! I can't wait to get done so I can go shopping and decorate :)

~ The Shank Family

A Few of My Favorite Things {baby #4}

Nearly 4 kids later...and there are STILL items out on the market today that I've never had the pleasure of purchasing and using. There are also small things included in this list that I want to try! So, I decided to create a list of my favorite things...for baby #4!

After pinning items | ideas and researching new items for baby #4 - helping make life easier and/or less expensive...here is my list for baby. I am really excited to get my hands on some of these items!

1. Infantino Squeeze Station

This item is really neat. These little fruit/food squeeze bags range from 98 cents to around $3 in most stores. The organic ones can be even more. I loved buying these for Morgan as we travel, go out, go shopping or just have a day out of the house. 

Not only can I create healthier versions (without all the junk) but this squeeze maker will save me a ton of $!

2. A Super Unique Birth Photo/Announcement

Not to be a total copycat...but...this is so super cute :) Being that this is our last baby...I think I may try something unique for baby shank this time. I want to say "I doubt I will get to this while in recovery" but ya never know! It's on my list.

3. Baby Bottle Gripper

It would be totally necessary to say that this item is a waste of money but I thought it was super cool and could help with motor skills earlier :) Plus...its green and cute. I think I will have just one!

4. Cloth Diapers

O.K. So I really thought about purchasing these with Morgan but after so much time went buy without the initial purchase, it would have been a waste to do so later. So, we skipped trying these with #3. Now that we are having our last kiddo, it probably still isn't worth the investment. But, I really want to try these out. I may buy just a few. I know over time, they can save lots of $. I really want to buy just a few and try these out with baby #4.

5. Boon Bottle Drying Rack

This has already been purchased but I wanted to include it within this list. Kale couldn't stand the collapsable racks I bought with Morgan. Not only were they not large enough to hold baby's stuff + my nursing stuff (so I bought 2) but they just weren't that great in Kale's mind. He wanted a cool looking rack with storage for anything and everything of size. He was tired of having to "place" items according to size on the previous racks. 

This was actually our first baby buy. Kale loves it even though he hasn't had the opportunity to use it yet.

#6 Baby Video Monitor

Again, with this being our last kiddo...this may not be worth the investment. I did, however, find one that was truly not crazy expensive that I loved. 

Kale and I live in (technically) a 3 story house. Between the laundry room (basement), first floor and second floor of house with baby being on the second floor, this bad boy will definitely keep us from having to run from basement all the way to second floor to check on baby shank. We get to simply carry the monitor with us wherever we go in the house. This will be a lifesaver!

#7 A Bapron

I pinned this 3 years ago and was planning on making a few for Morgan but never got around to it. I love the idea that this large apron/bib covers baby from neck to knees! Talk about a laundry lifesaver! I want to create a few for baby #4. I will have to get crafty...but hey...I love to sew.

#8 Smaller bedside Sleeper

We purchased a bedside sleeper for Morgan before she was born. Having to deliver through c-section, this makes life extremely easy while I recover. Baby gets to be right beside me for the 3 weeks I am in bed. Morgan's co-sleeper was huge. It was also expensive! In our experience, it was large, expensive and bulky. Too bulky. We also spent a ton of $ to only use it for a few short months. I found this alternative on Babies R Us website this past month and love it. It's sleek, serves my purpose while in recovery and is at a fraction of the cost!

#9 Washable Nursing Pads

Seriously? Were these around when I had Morgan? If so, I never would have purchased them. My idea with Morgan was convenience vs price. How awesome are these!! This will definitely save this mamma some mula and they are probably much more comfortable than the disposable ones (not as scratchy). I've also already purchased a few boxes but wish to have a small arsenal before baby #4 arrives.

#10 This. Onesie.

I'm pretty sure I could create this myself. I might even take the leap and try. I'm not sure if this can be purchased from Etsy...but either way..baby #4 will have one!!

being a photog...I have. to. have. this!

#11 A Boba Wrap

With a nearly 3 year old in tow everywhere I go (hey that rhymed!) I must be resourceful here. I think this would really help me when it comes to shopping with Morgan and baby. I can't wait to buy one of these. I've never owned or used a wrap before so this might get interesting.

That's about it. These are some of my favorite things! Now...to execute my plan on 

owning | using | creating!

~ The Shank Family

My New Bed {helping daddy}

Morgan's crib days are finally over. With baby on the way and due to arrive in just 12 weeks, we knew now was the time to get her acquainted with her new bed.

I was stuck on finding an affordable and budget friendly toddler bed for $150 or below. It definitely had to be white with clean lines. Nothing ornate to clash with the crib. 

I found this adorable bed {on clearance} at Hayneedle.com for $60 {originally $90}. That included free shipping. Kale and I were pretty stoked given the fact that Morgan's room is also in need of a little makeover to include her baby brother.

Morgan was thrilled. She helped Kale put her new bed together. 

I documented our little helper :)

And for a final celebration of completion... We actually allowed her to bounce on her new bed!

~ The Shank Family

The Little Things

All of my purchases up until now have been diapers, wipes and little necessary items for our little one. I have held off for quite some time so that I didn't over shop like I did for Morgan. I finally waited long enough. It was time...for my first nonnecessity purchase! This is a special little moment for me...

Last Pregnancy...

Last Baby...

Last - first onesie purchase....

I am documenting this special little moment...

I originally thought YAY shopping spree for Baby Shank. To my surprise, I was looking around Baby Gap...the most adorable clothes...with red signs that read:

Take an additional 40% off sale and clearance. Seriously? My day was made!

Out of my entire shopping day these were my favorite little purchases.

I didn't spend more than $10 on these 3 items. I was in heaven.

I can't wait to put these on our little man.

Sometimes...in life..it's all about the little things.

~ The Shank Family

Home Projects { 2014 }

Before Baby Arrives List 

I am not sure what my deal is...but...I have a thing about crunching a million projects into the few short months before I have a baby!

It's actually comical now that I am doing it again - AND realizing it this time :)

Our home is definitely lived in. We have a ton of repairs, remodels, painting and sewing to do.

The official list of things we KNOW we can take care of before we have an infant in the house...

Remodeling Colten's Bedroom - 

Now that Colten is a pre-teen, his room was in need of a BIG change. While he was gone with his dad in Texas, his room quickly became the storage room! It was full of all of my sewing stuff, newborn props for my business, filing cabinet, storage boxes and all sorts of miscellaneous items. The dogs also got put in this room quite a bit..hence the stains...

We have decided to go full remodel on this bedroom.

We knew this was coming. This was a big deal. Colten...12 years old? Wowza!

We cleaned out his room completely. Now to get started on the demo. We seriously can't wait to start this long and over due remodel.

Wall Repairs -

We have an OLD home. Full of plaster walls. I really really dislike plaster. But, unfortunately, it would be a ton of work and way too expensive to tear out the plaster and switch all the walls to drywall. Secretly, if I could I would. So, what do we have? Tons of cracks...a few holes by our 8 year old...our home is in great need of some wall repairs!

A FEW OF OUR OBVIOUS REPAIRS:

ugh! Plaster....

Started but never finished.

Fresh Paint -

Up until around a year ago, I would use the leftover paint from when the contractors painted our home. It's gone. I used every last bit of it painting here and there and covering fingerprints. Our home is also in need of a fresh paint job! I really can't wait to have a new fresh color up on the walls!

Obviously...someone...colored on our walls. Thankfully it was done behind the kitchen table so it's been concealed since our little artist decided to color us a wall mural :)

And believe it or not - this was the paint I chose while pregnant with Morgan. I stopped the project because I absolutely hated the way the satin paint looked on our walls. We never got around to choosing a new color or using the same color with a different sheen.

Ladybug and Little Man -

They will be sharing the same room. My newest task now that we know baby Shank's gender is to remodel Morgan's room to suite both genders. I have tons of ideas and thankfully was able to connect with my sister in law from Ohio about the material I could use for bedding and curtains. She gave me a few sites to search through and I found one I just fell in love with!

BEFORE:

All girl right here! The goal: to have a gender neutral or color/pattern coordinating theme that suites both kids. We also have the task of getting Morgan to sleep in a toddler bed :) 

I can't wait to get these projects underway! I'm thrilled to have a new looking home with fresh paint , remodeled teen room and a combined nursery for Little Man and Morgan!

~ The Shank Family