12.30.2012
Living Room Design Board
I am in the brainstorm phase of redoing my livingroom... my living room was never really done though... or even started. All of our furniture is secondhand and not in a shabby chic vintage gorgeous style... in an old, worn-out and mismatched style really. There is no cohesive design to our house and there never has been. Having a baby and designing his room has sparked the creativity and interior designer in me! I'm learning so much about aesthetic and design from pinterest and my favorite decor sites like West Elm and Pottery Barn.
With our tax refund we're going to get a gorgeous new grey couch from Pottery Barn - our couches are so old they give me tremendous back pain so it's a necessity to replace one. Since our apartment is small, we'll just be getting one couch and then maybe a bench or ottoman in place of the loveseat.
We're going with a yellow mustard, teal and grey color scheme and incorporating all the things I love in little ways: My family, the colors, owls, cameras and anchors. It sounds like they don't go together... at all.. and really it might be a total flop and they might not go to together... but in my head they sure do!
I must say pinterest is a budget-designers best friend these days: I have a whole stockpile of art to display that I got for free (legally, mind you!) and that just wouldn't have been possible without something like pinterest. amazing.
Here is my design board - beautiful is it not! I am so excited to get started.
With our tax refund we're going to get a gorgeous new grey couch from Pottery Barn - our couches are so old they give me tremendous back pain so it's a necessity to replace one. Since our apartment is small, we'll just be getting one couch and then maybe a bench or ottoman in place of the loveseat.
We're going with a yellow mustard, teal and grey color scheme and incorporating all the things I love in little ways: My family, the colors, owls, cameras and anchors. It sounds like they don't go together... at all.. and really it might be a total flop and they might not go to together... but in my head they sure do!
I must say pinterest is a budget-designers best friend these days: I have a whole stockpile of art to display that I got for free (legally, mind you!) and that just wouldn't have been possible without something like pinterest. amazing.
Here is my design board - beautiful is it not! I am so excited to get started.
Curtains: Target, Gray Henna. Light, Ikea. Yellow Table: Target. Fabric swatches: Birdcage Canary, Out to Sea Anchor, Premier Prints Menagerie, Bella Plaid Teal @ Fabric.com. Teal Vase: Creative Home Decoations . Yellow ottoman: target. Yellow Owl: West Elm. Yellow clock: Modcloth. Graphite Pouf: CB2. Mustard throw: Nordstroms. Grey Couch: PB. Teal pillow: Urban Outfitters. Yellow Pillow: Target. Yellow Forsythias faux flower: PB. Yellow Peony: PB. Yellow knit storage bin: Land of Nod. Teal throw: CB2
We just purchased the yellow accent table to use as a media console underneath our mounted TV, and we scored the gray henna curtains for only $10 on clearance at Target. We will be buying the couch with our tax refund soon! I am so excited to get started on everything - although because of the cost of redecorating, I do think it will be a slow process. I am aiming to finish the LR before summer though! Even my inspiration board is full of deals! I will be making all my own pillows and spray painting many things I already have to upcycle them.
12.16.2012
Small Fry Blog
Loving this blog with it's clean layout, fun pictures, adorable clothing guides and best of all - this giveaway!!
go check it out: www.smallfryblog.com
12.13.2012
Wrap Giveaway
Oh my goodness you have noooo idea how ecstatic I would be if I won this. I have been ogling over a beautiful girasol woven wrap like this ever since I got pregnant! I would love to be able to carry Cobi on my back so I can cook and clean without him getting in the way or being unhappy!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
12.10.2012
Hello Coco Designs
It's been a thought both at the back and forefront of my mind for a long while now. It's been a long time coming but I am thrilled to finally announce that I have opened an etsy shop!
I am so excited for this new chapter in my life and I hope it will grow and flourish, what a great opportunity it would be to own my own business and work from home.
Thanks to all who have supported me!!
Check out a coupon here!
Etsy Coupon Codes for Hellococodesigns with NerdWallet
11.28.2012
Vistaprint Calendar
I posted a bit ago about getting a free photobook via shutterfly - well I love to keep an eye out for those types of deals and recently found another one via Vistaprint! As a holiday promotion they are offering a free customizable wall calendar through their link: www.vistaprint.com/xmasoffer. I uploaded some of my favorite photos from this year and quickly threw together a calendar and I'm thrilled to get it in the mail! I paid only shipping so it came out to $7.
As I find more and more of these deals, I'll have to compose another blog post on tips and tricks for finding these types of promotions.
Cheers and hope your season is merry and bright!
Photo Wall Calendars by Vistaprint
11.07.2012
Top 8 Books for Babies Under One Year
We've been consistently reading to Cobi since he was about 4-5 months old. He started really getting into the books around 6 months and at 8 months now it is so exciting to spend time reading to him. If we put him on the floor in his room, the first thing he does is crawl to his book case, take books off the lower shelves and "read" them! It's so fun to see and experience with him. I really hope my little one will value books and be an avid read!
Without further ado - these are our favorite books right now.
1. My First Words:: although not a book per se, it is a favorite for Cobi. He loves to sift through the cards with his hands. Each flashcard has a texture or touch-n-feel; such as the cat which is furry or the car which is shiny. He loves the sensory play and it's fun to teach him the words and talk about them with him. I have a feeling this will be something useful as he grows as well.
2. Plip Plop Pond:: very practical for babies who are especially orally fixated! This book is genius; called an indestructible as it doesn't rip or tear and is toxic free and totally chew-proof. It has no words which allows for you (and your child) to use the imagination. We keep it simple; "Good night says the frog! Good night Cobi, says the firefly." He loves to play with the pages and yes, chew on them :)
3. In My Tree:: Probably our favorite in the bunch! The owl is a finger puppet and Cobi LOVES the interaction! He loves to play with the owl. I think this is the first book he's ever smiled at. The book is bright, interactive, sensory oriented and a cute story. We love to add our own little something since it's a puppet and Cobi loves it. This is a book he loves to play with on his own. At 8 months, he has now put together that it's a puppet and we use our finger for it; so he loves to turn it over and explore. I love watching him connect the things he is learning and absorbing and put it into practice; this book is a great example of that and really encourages that.
4. Night Night Little Pookie:: I am an avid fan of Sandra Boynton. Her style plays right into what babies and toddlers love. Even my 2nd grade little sister still loves her books! They consist of cute stories, simple and fun pictures and an adorable child character. Pookie is also a sweet and obedient little child - and some of my issues with certain modern books ( Cough**Curious George**Cough) is that they have mischievous and/or naughty characters and I would rather not encourage those behaviors. In this playful book, the mom says it's time for bed and she and Pookie go through their night routine.
5. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See:: Cobi doesn't actually own this book, but as a nanny some of my nanny "children" have and it has been a hit with babies, toddlers and school-age children. In face with one family I worked for, it was one little boys first book he ever read once he started reading. It's such a simple story, but is so sweet and fun and educational as it teaches about different animals. As a kid I always loved Eric Carle and his unique form of art.
6. Little Hoot:: I cannot rave enough about how ADORABLE this book is! Okay, so maybe Cobi isn't in love with it quite as much as I am! Haha! An adorable little story about a little owl whose parents teach him that as an owl he must stay up late, and little hoot complains, "but all my friends get to go to bed early, why can't I?" It is so fun and silly and so different from other books that complain, "do I HAVE to go to bed now?!". The art is adorable. I totally love it. This book is not a board book however, so it is not one I let my son have on one of his lower shelves.
7. Touch And Feel Baby Animals:: This is a book Cobi takes off the shelves too. I love to watch him explore each page with his hands and feel the different textures. His favorite pages are the bunny and the gorilla, as they are the furriest and he will often continually flip between the two pages feeling each one.
8. The Going To Bed Book:: This book is a staple in our bedtime routine. A cute little story of a group of friends getting ready for bed together. Again, a Sandra Boynton book!
*All books are available for sale at Amazon.com!
Without further ado - these are our favorite books right now.
1. My First Words:: although not a book per se, it is a favorite for Cobi. He loves to sift through the cards with his hands. Each flashcard has a texture or touch-n-feel; such as the cat which is furry or the car which is shiny. He loves the sensory play and it's fun to teach him the words and talk about them with him. I have a feeling this will be something useful as he grows as well.
2. Plip Plop Pond:: very practical for babies who are especially orally fixated! This book is genius; called an indestructible as it doesn't rip or tear and is toxic free and totally chew-proof. It has no words which allows for you (and your child) to use the imagination. We keep it simple; "Good night says the frog! Good night Cobi, says the firefly." He loves to play with the pages and yes, chew on them :)
3. In My Tree:: Probably our favorite in the bunch! The owl is a finger puppet and Cobi LOVES the interaction! He loves to play with the owl. I think this is the first book he's ever smiled at. The book is bright, interactive, sensory oriented and a cute story. We love to add our own little something since it's a puppet and Cobi loves it. This is a book he loves to play with on his own. At 8 months, he has now put together that it's a puppet and we use our finger for it; so he loves to turn it over and explore. I love watching him connect the things he is learning and absorbing and put it into practice; this book is a great example of that and really encourages that.
4. Night Night Little Pookie:: I am an avid fan of Sandra Boynton. Her style plays right into what babies and toddlers love. Even my 2nd grade little sister still loves her books! They consist of cute stories, simple and fun pictures and an adorable child character. Pookie is also a sweet and obedient little child - and some of my issues with certain modern books ( Cough**Curious George**Cough) is that they have mischievous and/or naughty characters and I would rather not encourage those behaviors. In this playful book, the mom says it's time for bed and she and Pookie go through their night routine.
5. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See:: Cobi doesn't actually own this book, but as a nanny some of my nanny "children" have and it has been a hit with babies, toddlers and school-age children. In face with one family I worked for, it was one little boys first book he ever read once he started reading. It's such a simple story, but is so sweet and fun and educational as it teaches about different animals. As a kid I always loved Eric Carle and his unique form of art.
6. Little Hoot:: I cannot rave enough about how ADORABLE this book is! Okay, so maybe Cobi isn't in love with it quite as much as I am! Haha! An adorable little story about a little owl whose parents teach him that as an owl he must stay up late, and little hoot complains, "but all my friends get to go to bed early, why can't I?" It is so fun and silly and so different from other books that complain, "do I HAVE to go to bed now?!". The art is adorable. I totally love it. This book is not a board book however, so it is not one I let my son have on one of his lower shelves.
7. Touch And Feel Baby Animals:: This is a book Cobi takes off the shelves too. I love to watch him explore each page with his hands and feel the different textures. His favorite pages are the bunny and the gorilla, as they are the furriest and he will often continually flip between the two pages feeling each one.
8. The Going To Bed Book:: This book is a staple in our bedtime routine. A cute little story of a group of friends getting ready for bed together. Again, a Sandra Boynton book!
*All books are available for sale at Amazon.com!
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