A Few of My Favorite Things by: Sherri Scott; Interior Designer and Mama

 

And These Are a Few of My Favorite Things:

 

I always love hearing what other moms simply can’t live without.  Didn’t we all register for baby items that we NEVER took out of the box?  I know I did.  Well here are a few things that I have used that I have loved.

 

 

 

1.      The Mommy Hook $6.99: I registered for this when I was first pregnant and NEVER used it.  It stayed in the car with the stroller, but it was just never something I needed until Mia came around and I went grocery shopping with an infant and a toddler.  With Alyssa sitting in the front of the cart and Mia in her car seat in the large cart where was I to put groceries.  I started using it regularly after my groceries were bagged I would clip them all to the front handle of the cart and be on my way.  And then just unclip and transfer all the bags to my car.  I seriously carry a good ten grocery bags on a clip.  LOVE this!

2.      Halo Sleep Sack Early Walker $26.00.  I always swaddled Alyssa when she was a baby and then when she started rolling she slept without anything.  After she turned one I gave her a lightweight, breathable blanket.  With Mia I swaddled, then sleep sacked and now she is in a sleep sack early walker.  Although she is nearly 17 months I have yet to give her a blanket and thinks she looks adorable cruising around in this.  At night her feet are tucked in the sack and in the morning she can pull her feet out and cruise around the crib.

 

3.      Teach Me Time Clock $40: Sleep is precious for parents of young children.  To keep our little one in bed until it is time to wake we have a Teach Me Time Clock.  The green light turns on when it is okay to get up and it manages to keep our oldest in bed usually until then.  It is much like the OK to Wake clock but has an AC adapter instead of batteries and also teaches time.  Our girls sleep without a nightlight so the light from the clock is a bit of an adjustment, but we simply turn it facing away to keep the light at a minimal.

4.      Nose Frida $15: When kiddos are sick with stuffy noses it is the worst.  I think Mia was six weeks old and had her first cold and it broke my heart.  The poor thing couldn’t breathe and the bulb syringe didn’t seem to do the trick so we got a Nose Frida.  The idea of this is really gross.  My husband refuses to do this.  The red part goes in your mouth and the blue part in the child’s nose and SUCK.  Gross, right.  There is a filter so it isn’t as though you get anything in your mouth, but still maybe not for the weak.  It works a million times better than the bulb and you can control how hard you are sucking if it is a newborn.  I swear, every parent NEEDS this.

5.      Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser $9:  Okay and something for momma.  I am always trying to find a great skin cleanser that doesn’t break my bank, but that I feel makes a difference in my skin.  My sister recommended that I try Cetaphil so I bought it and gave it a try.  The first couple of months I didn’t really think there was much of a change in my skin but now that I am nearly through the bottle I love it.  My skin feels so much smoother and blemish free, which says a lot since I am 5+ months pregnant with hormones galore.  I definitely recommend giving it some time like I did.  Of course, everyone’s skin is different and something else may work better for you.  Maybe our TCOT expert, Brittany has a few recommendations as well for you to try.

 

Those are just a few things that I currently cannot live without as a mom.  Are there any products you wish someone had let you in on the secret?

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Five Places to Shop on a Budget by: Sherri Scott, Interior Designer

                                                            Five Places to Shop on a Budget

Sometimes I have a bit of a problem cracking open the wallet and making a purchase, sometimes!  I blame my mother, really.  Like most mothers her first priority was her children and she spent money on us before she spent it on herself or something for the home.  And I have unfortunately inherited that trait.  I find myself in the store just thinking it over forever, sometimes leaving and coming back (hello, because sometimes with the little ones they leave very little time for thinking something over, am I right?).  Anyway, it really can annoying! So here are a few places to shop on a budget for the mass population.

1.      Target  Now this should be NO surprise to anyone.  Target has everything.  They have a lot of bold patterns in drapes and rugs.  Great picture frames, vases, artwork, lamps and furniture.  I love the look industrial look of these stools and the turquoise console table has been calling my name.  I do find sometimes the quality can be a bit lacking but for the most part there are some good finds.

2.      Home Goods  I checked out the store locater and saw that there is not a Home Goods listed within 100 miles of Davenport.  Total disappointment.  Home Goods is a sister store of TJ Max.  They are filled with seasonal items, frames, kitchen, bath, furniture, artwork, lamps (love the lamps), bedding….and really so much more.  They also have a kid’s section with room décor, toys and books which is a must hit if you have kids.  They have decent quality chairs for kids very similar to the Pottery Barn Anywhere Chair.  This is a must hit if you are on a budget but looking for a change up or even updating your mantel for the new season.

3.      Hobby Lobby  I first went to Hobby Lobby during college for supplies for my design boards.  That store is HUGE.  My girls love going there and picking out a new craft to work on.  The last time I was there I fell in love with an apothecary type dresser that was distressed and had the alphabet on it.  (complete fail and didn’t take a picture) It would look awesome in a little boy’s room.   They also have some fun table clocks (pictured) and metal art that would add a little something to your simple gallery wall.  KNOBS (pictured)….tons and tons of dresser knobs or pulls that you can get to easily change up your dressers.   I bought some for my daughter’s room and will share in a future post of her nursery. 

4.      Etsy Is an ecommerce site that sells vintage items and just about anything that someone has made.  I have purchased subway art (similar to the picture below from Word Whipped) and stuffed animals for my girls on the site.  You may have to be patient and do some searching but it is an awesome site and can hook you for hours.  You can also find creative seasonal items or craft starter DIY items such as felt cutouts for garland.  Check it out.

5.      World Market  Is also a unique place to shop with a very ethnic and eclectic vibe to it.  They have curtains, rugs, furniture, wall art and more.  They also have a small food and beverage section in case you need a snack.

A few honorable mentions would include Joss and Main (a members only site with daily deals), JoAnn Fabrics and let’s not forget GARAGE SALES or estate sales.  You can find a lot of vintage furniture items and bring new life to them at garage sales.   These are just a few big box places to shop but I love love love to find a gem in my neighborhood to support the local talent and business owners.  It is the best way to find something unique that not everyone else will have.  So when possible, shop locally.  What are some of your favorite places to shop?

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Make a Small Space feel larger! Tip and Tricks by Sherri Scott, Interior Designer

How to Make a Small Space Feel Larger

Our old house was a small, quaint, three bedroom home.  There were a lot of things that we loved about it and as usual, a number of things we compromised on.  The main level did not have an open floor plan.  The kitchen/eat in area was completely walled off from the living room.  What it did have was a great cathedral ceiling that helped the main living areas feel more open and spacious, but we also had to get a creative with our décor and layouts.  Here are a few tips to keep in mind when putting together a small room.

1. Clean up your space and keep the clutter at bay.  Often with a small room storage can also be a challenge.  It means that organization is that much more important.  Use baskets and multi-purpose furniture pieces to minimize what is out visually.  Try not to over accessorize; keep it simple.
2. Selecting the right paint color.  Neutrals are typically the best way to go with small rooms.  I am not talking white, but a warm gray or even a very subtle cool blue can be a neutral.  Then throw in accent colors of cool, soothing colors such as light greens or blues to give pops of color without closing the space in on you.
3. Mirrors.  Mirrors will give the room an illusion of being larger.  Here are a few ways to use mirrors: place them near a window to reflect the natural light, use a tall mirror to give the space visual height or use mirrored furniture for fun.
4. I touched on this in a previous post.  Hang your window treatments at your ceiling to create height.  Also keep as much of the window open as possible to allow the natural light in.  Window treatments are meant to frame your window when they are open, not cover them (accept of course when you close them, right?!)  Have the fabric stack overlapping the window slightly and the rest stacked over the wall.
5. Keep the furniture at a proper scale. Who doesn’t love a great, comfy sofa to lie down on?  My husband is tall so one thing that was important when shopping for furniture was buying something he could stretch out on.  But sometimes you have to find something that fits in your room. Buy furniture at the correct scale.  Often smaller furniture is referred to as apartment scale in stores.  Try a sofa or entertainment stand that is on legs for more openness.

As mentioned on first house we compromised a lot.  And now the second house…we compromised on different things.  The space is much larger, but the home doesn’t quite have the same character or open ceiling. We are continuing to work away on projects and I hope to share some with you soon.

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Valentine's Ideas for the Home by Sherri Scott, Illinois Interior Designer

Happy February, Everyone.  Who is so over winter?!  This girl is!  The kiddos and I are starting to get a little stir crazy with these frigid temperatures.  There is a lot of snow outside to play in but many days too cold and windy to go out and really enjoy it for a length of time. We are keeping warm and doing a lot of arts and crafts inside and enjoying play dates and trips to the library.  How are you passing the time this winter? 

One of the ways I noted to freshen up your house was to decorate for the holidays.  And although Valentine’s Day isn’t necessarily a holiday that you go all out in decorations it can still be fun to put a little love in the air.  Little holidays like this are even more fun with kiddos and a great way to get them involved.  Here are a few ideas on easy Valentine’s Day decorating you can and many of them the kids can help.  Let’s take a look!

The first one is great watercolor craft to share with your kids.  You can use cut outs or doilies for the garland and then frame any other artwork you create.  Add some greenery or flowers and you are set.

Don’t forget adding fresh flowers to your home.  They smell great and you can get something simple from your local grocer or stop by the florist for something more fancy.  Add love notes in the arrangement to make it personal.

Add new pillows to your bedroom or living room. If you aren’t handy with a sewing machine, check out etsy for great selections.  Here is just one that I found.  You don’t have to stick with the traditional pink and red either.

  

Make a new wreath for your front door.  Little ones can help with these and although they may not turn out like the picture a crooked heart never hurt anyone!  Check out this one from Mine for the Making.

I also came across a great burlap wreath.  You can easily make a burlap wreath and make changes to it throughout the year to fit a different holiday.

Online you can also find a number of free printables to frame or use another way.  Check out these hearts from Shutterfly and Tatertots and Jello to use as you please. 

Have you done any great arts and crafts with your kids for Valentine’s Day?  I am getting ready to bust out my sewing machine to make Valentine’s Day shirts for the girls.  We are also still in the process of unpacking (goodness, that process was much easier before babies).  Once we get a few rooms completed then I will share some before and afters.  Stay safe and warm; spring is coming sooner or later!!!

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Top 11 Easiest Ways to Update your Home; by Illinois Interior Designer, Sherri Scott

My husband and I lived in our first home for nearly seven years.  Since we had originally thought we would be there for three to five I didn’t want to make any huge changes that may not work in a new home.  I sat tight for a while but grew a tiresome of it.  I decided certain rooms needed freshening up and made a few changes along the way.

 Home decorating can be a bit overwhelming.  There are so many different components that make up a room and the thought of going out and tackling it all can make you a bit batty; to be honest it can be challenging to find the time and money to do it all at once.  There are a number of ways to make small changes that result in a big impact without breaking the bank and taking forever.

 

1.      Don’t forget your front entrance makes a first impression.  Consider switching out your door color for a deep red or strong black/charcoal.

 

2.      Since we are already outside, go ahead and pull some planters out of the shed and do a few container flowers gardens to create a welcoming entrance.  It doesn’t have to be as plentiful as the picture shown, but be sure to add great colors to complement your entrance.

 

3.      Paint is usually the first thing that comes to mind.  All it takes is a weekend and a gallon of paint and you can update your room automatically.  Don’t be afraid to add an accent color or (with a little patience) even an allover stencil like some found here will add a dramatic punch. In a small space even wallpaper can be an inexpensive change and the wallpaper nowadays is certainly not your grandmother’s wallpaper!

4.      Since we are on the topic of paint, why not paint an old piece of furniture you have and bring new life to it.  It can be a fun, bold color and create a focal point in your room. 

 

 

5.      Switch out your pillows!  There are so many accent pillows out there (shown above) and are easy to change out to test what works in your room and what you like best.

6.      DECLUTTER!  Sometimes it is best to start with a clean slate and pull out your accessories one by one and find new homes for vases, pictures, flowers, etc.  You may free up some wall space and create a gallery wall, which can include photos, children’s artwork, ironworks, plagues and more.  The sky is the limit.  I will be creating a new gallery wall in our hallway in the near future so stay tuned.

7.      Reupholstering seat cushions at your dining room or breakfast nook is a fun way to add texture and pattern.  This is a simple DIY you can do over day or weekend.

8.      Turn on a new light…or lampshade.  You can change out the complete lamp or simply shop around for a new shade.  So easy to switch out.  I have seen some great ones at Target and Home Goods.

9.      Find new window treatments! In our old house I had a neutral linen window treatment hanging in our front room.  I loved them but was looking for some pattern for new look so I switched them out with some multicolor patterned ones instead and moved the neutral ones to our bedroom and viola, two rooms were renewed.

 

 

10.  Change out those accessories.  I have so many frames, vases, and candles that get moved around every so often.  Sometimes they find a new home in another room or simply get placed in storage.  Also update the photos in the frame after all, that is why we take so many pictures, right?  So we can enjoy them!

11.  Decorate your mantle seasonally.  The obvious time to do so is at Christmas time, but you can do it year round.   If you are like me then come February I am looking forward to spring arriving and what better way to get a pick me up then by changing out the seasonal décor. 

  

They sky is limit when it comes to revitalizing a room that is starting to feel a bit stale.  Above are just a few to consider alone or changes to do altogether.  What are some things you have done to update your space?

Blog post by: Sherri Scott
                       Illinois Interior Designer

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