Vintage Roll-Down Map to Hide TV

Use a Thrifted Piece to Cover Your Screen

...and only see the TV when you want to!

For years I struggled with this TV conundrum: we use it, we've grown to rely on it, and it serves many positive purposes, yet I don't want a massive electronic piece to be the centerpiece of our family space.

When we moved to this house, I took the opportunity to change things up for our family room this time around. We mounted the TV on one of the main walls, as had always been the case, but this time I was able to find some cool artwork (and yes, I'm calling it artwork!) to hide the unit when it's not in use.

I found the vintage classroom map on Ebay - they have lots! I made sure to find one that would cover the size of the TV, and I lucked out to find this one with a design and colors I love. I paid about $100 for the map and shipping, which isn't cheap, but it was worth it to me for something I'd be looking at every day. Plus, a handy map of the US is a great teacher and conversation-starter with the kids, and allows us to easily refer to places around our country as we learn more about it, even the difficult parts like the genocide of Native Americans and oppressive policies targeting Black people. Looking for Selma, Alabama? Okay, let's find it together.

We mounted a strip of wood a little wider than the map into the studs, and hung the map from there. The shelf below it is a standard Ikea piece - about $50. Extra bonus: got to watch some of my most recent favorite show, Mrs. America, during the photo shoot!

The rule in our house is no TV on weekdays/schoolnights, so most days we can really just enjoy the family room as a shared space without an additional screen to tempt us :) If I were really fancy, I'd have figured out a better way to hide the cords, but... well there's life, and it just hasn't been a priority yet, which I'm okay being okay with.

Happy Thrifting!

No-Pantry Problems

No Pantry? No Problem!

Creative Space Solutions on a Limited Budget

When we moved in, one of the first things I needed to change about the kitchen was to create some sort of pantry space. The previous owners didn't have children living in the house, so their food storage needs were very different than those of ours as a family of six.

Previous Owners Used this Cabinet as an Entertainment Center

Easy Bar Stool Refresh

Give Your Stools a Quick Makeover

Try a flashy fabric for a pop of fun!

I'm still loving these stools 7 years later, but after moving with us to a new house, they needed a new look. I'm no longer in a beach neighborhood, and while I loved how they looked when we were there, the colors and patterns don't work with my new space.

Stenciled Barn Floor DIY

Totally Change the Look of a Large Space Using Only Paint!

How to Stencil a Plywood Floor

When we bought our house three years ago, the detached barn was an added bonus. For a while we just used it for storage, but last year I decided it was time to clear it out and put it to better use. I'd always thought about opening my own yoga studio, but the timing was never right, and I worried about overhead costs. I figured that if I could convert the barn to a large studio-like space, I could at least give "studio ownership" a shot!

Little House on the Salt Marsh

I’ve officially reached the “I’m pretty sure we could live off the grid” state of this experience… is it just me? Can anyone else relate?

Rededicating My Efforts :)

Spreading the Green

... and ongoing pursuits of a greater purpose

 

If you've followed me over the last few years, you know that my blogging "purpose" has been experiential and, as such, is constantly evolving. I haven't published much lately (although I am active on Instagram), as my family recently moved to a new town, and I have committed to pursue my greater purpose in life.

Bloggers Heart Zebra Print... and Turquoise... oh, and Basketball!

What Do You Get When You Mix Zebra Print, Teal, and Basketball?

An Awesome Room With a WHOLE LOT of Personality
 

I think I'm kinda getting addicted to these Bloggers Heart Habitat projects ;) But seriously, the privilege of being a part of this amazing group of bloggers was all I needed to make my Christmas complete.

Repurposed Trays Letterpress Typecase Drawers

New Uses for Antique Printing Press Drawers

Adding Vintage Utilitarian Charm to Your Home

I am a sucker for old stuff... that's no surprise, I know... but old stuff that used to be fundamental to now outdated processes? Forget it... I'm sold. So when I saw these typecases listed on Craigslist, I didn't waste any time scooping them up. But then the question remains: what do we do with them?

Fab Ideas for Antique Card Catalog Drawers

Idea #1: DIY Succulent Garden

Hint: Perfect Gift for Book Lovers!

I stumbled on a lot of these GORGEOUS authentic card catalog drawers (another amazing Craigslist find!), and my head is spinning while I think of all the creative uses for them! Here's the first one I played around with...

Paw Patrol DIY Birthday Party

Make Your Own Paw Patrol Badges {or Necklaces}

Perfect Paw Patrol Favors or Crafts
 

I know, I know... you can go to the party section of any big-box store and find plenty of Paw Patrol paraphernalia, but I always like to add a little personalized love to my kids' birthday parties. So when Chase asked for a Paw Patrol theme, I raided the foam section at the craft store and whipped up a whole lot of these!

Beach Bachelorette Party DIY Ideas

Don't Go Broke on a Bachelorette Weekend

Tips for Planning a Fun and Affordable Weekend for the Bride
 

Although I'm {ahem} slightly past the "bachelorette stage" of my own life, I was recently in charge of planning my younger sister's Bachelorette Weekend - a party that consisted of (roughly) 2 days and 2 nights with 14 lovely ladies. My objective was two-fold: (1) create a fun and memorable weekend for the bride to be and (2) make the weekend budget-friendly for the group. Aaaaaand it worked, with ZERO squabbles and a whole lot of laughs!

Countering Schoolday Chaos in the Mornings

3 Steps to Stress-Free Mornings

My Tricks for Getting Four Kids Out the Door on Time
 

I don't know about you, but during the school year, the time between when my kids wake up in the morning and when we all need to be out the door is often the most stressful hour of the day. And it's not that we're necessarily crunched for time--my kids are EARLY risers, so we have a good hour-and-a-half to do what we need to do... but this past year I just found myself getting really frustrated and losing my patience during that time period.

Trendy and Easy School Spirit Flair

Adding Feathers to Kids Beaded Jewelry

Dress Up Those Pony Beads for a Custom Look!

So I have to admit here, I wasn't just looking for ways to add some red and silver to my summer wardrobe. No, I'm more of a "cool-color-palette" person, but there was a time in my life when I wore these colors p-r-e-t-t-y regularly. And a recent event got me back in the "spirit," if you catch my drift...

Cozy Cottage Corners

How to Add Charm to Small Space

Curb Alert + Beachy Colors + Cool Hardware = My Happy Place
 

The most common struggle I have when decorating our cottage is space... I should probably say "lack of space," 'cause there's not too much of it! Since we've only got about 1000 square feet to work with, "what goes where" can really make-or-break a room. We're a family of 6 (plus puppy), we're near the beach, and we're always welcoming friends and families to our home, so it gets tricky to find a balance between maintaining function (we need lots of places to sleep, but beds are big!) while keeping the charm (if there's a place to sleep in the room, everything else must be small!).

Designing Small Spaces with Big HEART

Bloggers HEART Habitat: Boy's Room Reveal

How to maximize space (but keep it fun!) in a kids' bedroom
 

So this is officially my FAVORITE PROJECT EVER. And yea, I just used all caps thrice in one sentence--that's how much I love this project. Now with that teaser you've gotta be dying to know why, and well, it's kind of a long story....

Blogging from the Heart

Teaming Up with Habitat for Humanity

Plus ROOM REVEALS coming soon! But I'll give you a teaser ;)

Back in September of last year, I got an email from Charlotte of Ciburbanity that put a huge smile on my face--I'm talking a smile that lasted for a good week. She was looking for like-minded bloggers from the Northeast to design and furnish a newly-built Habitat for Humanity house. Needless to say, signing up was a no-brainer! Check out Charlotte's post here in which she describes the project in more detail. 

DIY Fairy Door Tutorial

Make Your Own Fairy Doors (with Washi Tape!)

Pixie Dust Not Included ;)
 

My daughter wanted a fairy-themed birthday party this year, and with my penchant for craft-focused activities, I decided the girls (yup, we had all girls here--13 kindergarten crafters) could make some (super-easy) fairy doors.

The idea stemmed from some momma rumblings I'd heard about these fairy doors that many of their daughters were going crazy about. Initially I thought I could grab some (for cheap) and use them as favors... until I realized these {magical} doors are being sold for upwards of $20! Soooooo... scratch that idea. Hence, I put together this easy, CHEAP, DIY version... a perfect fairy-themed party craft for 6-year olds.

Easy-Sew DIY Bunk Bed Curtains

Bedroom Bunk Style For Kids

An Easy & Fun Bunk Bed Upgrade
 

Got bunk beds? Can you sew a straight line (or if you can't sew, can you iron a straight line? Stitch Witchery works, too!)? Then you can totally make some cute bunk curtains. This easy project will supply endless hours of fun for your favorite kiddos.

DIY Fairy Wings Costume Tutorial

Shimmery & Shiny Fairy Wings Tutorial

This Easy Project Is Sure to Delight!

 

As promised, here's the final (and really, most important) tutorial for the Whimsical Fairy Costume. Fun and easy, there's not too much sewing involved... and you will likely embark on a new relationship with your glue gun :)

Quick & Easy, Nut-Free, Kids Snack Idea

Protein, Fiber, and Antioxidant-Packed Snack Cups

Great for busy days! Just mix and store in the fridge.

All I can really say about this post is YUM. Really, honestly, SUPER YUM. The creamy cheese bites paired with the tartness of the gooseberries, the crunch of the pumpkin seeds, and the sweetness of the cranberries and dates... oh I could go on. And, believe it or not, I originally created them with my kids in mind! Because while I've certainly enjoyed my fill, they're totally perfect for families on the go.

Oh, and I can't forget: there's an AMAZING contest at the end of this post, so don't miss it!