Shared spaces

If our home purchase goes through the boys will have to share a room, at least for a little while. The house is large, but is essentially a 2 family home. Or better put a family home with an attached in-law suite. The main house has 2 bedrooms, the in-law suite has one, in the basement. Eventually, we will probably convert the house back to a single family home essentially doing away with the in-law suite but for the first little while it will stay as is. Which means our boys (3 &5) will have to share a room. I have some misgivings about the idea, if only because my oldest is not a very good sleeper and my youngest is.

I shared a room as a child, I was 8 my sister was a newborn. I still remember her waking up in the middle of the night and me getting up to turn the music box back on. Brahm's Lullaby is forever ingrained in my head. I have hope that because they're close enough in age it might make them closer, that it might work for them but until we figure it all out I have at least searched many an inspiration photo:

Source: windhula.blogspot.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: marligrace.blogspot.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Jacquelyn on Pinterest

Map Roundup

Oh take me away!

 

Has it been done before? Um... I can think of about 25 posts about maps that I've read recently... it's by no means a new trend... even for me. I have always had a love of maps, their graphic nature, the possibilities they suggest, their beauty, the allure of far away places! Here's my collection of inspiration pictures of maps and nautical charts:

 

They look stunning in kids rooms, especially playrooms and boys rooms!

 This is one of my absolute favorites, maybe because of the Union Jack

Maps aren't just limited to kids spaces though, framed they make a nice art statement

organizing we will go...

There's something about January that makes me want to organize, happens every year. Perhaps it is all the added stuff that has come into the house from Christmas, maybe it's because every flyer and magazine starts talking about finding storage space, and organizing your crap. Right now my focus is on the playroom, kids toys have a way of ending up all over the place. I found a great idea from "Happy Helperz".

Happy Helperz makes three organizational products that enable children of all ages to learn to take responsibility for themselves and their belongings. They foster independence by empowering kids to do things on their own. That, in turn, builds self-esteem, confidence and happy children—who help their mom.

Sounds like heaven! These labels are pictograms which help kids visualize where to put things, and they velcro to the box. The package comes with 22 lables, for $15. I could probably make them myself with some cardstock, a few clipart pics, a laminater and some velcro... but I figure that by the time I purchase all my supplies I will not have saved myself any money.

Now, what to do with the bins...