Build It

I occasionally get questions regarding how our kids have changed our home decor.

Honestly, not much has changed. This is mainly because we’ve been too sleepy to tackle home related projects. I haven’t had the energy to dream up crazy ideas. Nate hasn’t had the energy to make my crazy ideas come true. Our second baby is now one and we are finding ourselves with a smidge more free time (and definitely more restful nights).

I have been wanting a new table in our breakfast nook. Nate previously built our first table for this space back in 2011. (I had to look it up on the blog. Time flies!) We loved that table…until we had kids. The old tabletop was not smooth. Every crumb, spill, sprinkle, piece of craft paper, Play-doh, etc ended up in the crevices. Prior to having children it was not a big deal to vacuum the top every now and then. Post-children is another story. There are now so. many. crumbs. I don’t really care to spend my precious free time vacuuming a tabletop. Like I could think of 87 million better ways to spend my time. I could summarize this entire paragraph with “Our old table was gross. The end.”

We are now the proud new owners of a table that has a smooth top and wonderfully curvy legs!

On Monday we shared the reveal of our new coffee table.  Today we're sharing how we built it.  And by we, I mean Nate.  My idea. His execution. Per usual.

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I was going to have the post title be "NEW ARRIVAL" but figured that was a jerk move with the whole baby on the way thing.  No baby yet but we do have a brain child of Nate and I's to share with you today.

Do you remember when we shared our plans for a coffee table with some awesome curvy legs?  Oh, you don't remember all the way back to March? Weird.  We've had these beautiful legs from Osborne Wood Products, Inc sitting in our garage since then.  They kept staring longingly at us just waiting to find a home.  Nate has been working on the coffee table on and off for a few weeks and we finally got it moved into the living room last weekend.  And we're in love.

*Today's post is brought to you by The Home Depot*

I'm not usually one to rush into Fall.  Don't get me wrong, I love everything about Fall.  The problem with Fall is that it is followed way to closely by Winter here in Iowa.  We try to hang onto those hot Summer days for as long as possible.  However, when you are 12 months pregnant and it's 95 degrees with 175% humidity, you openly welcome those cool Fall temperatures.

In order to entertain ourselves while we wait for this baby, we whipped up with hanging planter as part of our collaboration with The Home Depot.

*Today's post is brought to you by The Home Depot*

After a long Winter (aren't they always long in Iowa?), we have finally reached grilling season!  It's time to slap some burgers and brats on the grill and enjoy with friends and family.  When it's not down-pouring that is (we can't win!).

A few weeks ago I mentioned I would be attending the DIY Workshop at The Home Depot in Des Moines.  In the mean time, Nate and I were busy whipping up our customized version of the grill cart.  In true Nate and Michelle fashion we made it harder than it needed to be.  Go team!

*Today's post is brought to you by The Home Depot*

Last week I mentioned that we were teaming up with The Home Depot to co-host a few workshops in 2015.  Our first workshop is this coming Saturday and we will be building a vertical planter.  (Sign up for the free workshop at your local The Home Depot right here!) 

To prepare for the workshop we needed to construct a vertical planter of our own.  The inspiration project was built next to a fence.  We aren't allowed fences in our neighborhood so we needed to get creative.  We decided on this vertical plant wall on our back patio.

Do you know what makes the middle of the work week even more boring?  A Decor and the Dog tutorial.  But some people love these.  People that are crazy like Nate.

Without further ado, here's the tutorial for the living room end table that I shared on Monday!  Thanks to all of you that shared your thoughts.  We're still torn on it but it's hanging around until a better model arrives. You know, similar to how Nate and Ike are keeping me around.

Things have been a little slow around here on the DIY front.  Nate's been working super long hours.  Ike and I aren't really handy.  We have been dreaming up a lot of stuff though.  That counts, right?

We did manage to complete this end table for the living room.  That we started before the holidays.  Let's not rush things.

I'm actually getting around to posting my holiday marquee sign tutorial before the 25th.  Christmas miracles do happen.