Rain gutters in the play room!

Not long ago, I created a little canopy to set aside a portion of the play room as a book nook.  It was a fun project, and the kids have so enjoyed it, but I still needed to find a way to store their books nearby.  I found a totally genius idea here and here for rain gutter bookshelves, and finally hubby and I got these done today!  We are so happy with them, and the kiddos LOVE it!

Pun'kin and Peanut ready to read!  Notice the splotches on the wall?  That was a paint color possibility which we did not choose.  We have yet to paint the walls in the winning color.  Someday.

Mud Pie Cutie Pies!

So I've been wanting to make a mud pie kitchen for the kids.  I love the look of things when they've been collected little by little over a lifetime, but it seems that I have no patience for seeking and finding just the right pieces to fill any need or want in my home.  Instead, I scour Ebay, Craigslist, drive all over creation to every thrift/consignment shop I can find and force together an end product that somewhat resembles my vision.  That is what I did this weekend with the mud pie kitchen, but for a change, I'm glad I did!  It is a huge success, and I can continue adding to it along the way.  I still need some utensils like wooden spoons and rolling pins, and I'd like to find some enamel ware mugs or soup cups, and I want to add a shelf in the big open space and put a hinged oven door on the front.  At least I've got the bones of it, and I just hope I can wait and enjoy the hunt for the perfect details along the way.

You might also notice the absence of mud.  The mud is yet to come.  We'd have to pull up some grass to reveal any dirt in our yard, and we're not really interested in that, so I'll keep my eyes peeled for some cheap dirt along the way too.  In the mean time, the kids are perfectly content with grass clippings and mushrooms!