What to name a baby boy?!?

My list:

Carter ** Levi ** Evan ** Cohen

James' List:

Jaxon ** Evan ** Ryland ** Colten

We both agree that Evan is cute, and that is his mom's Maiden name but we wont commit to it, I don't think either of us LOVE it. I'm in love with Carter and he says no, and he is in love with Jaxon but I'm not naming my son that. Its too common. He hates even hearing any other names that aren't Jaxon, and he gets mad at me when I say "His name will not be Jaxon....quit mentioning it". Why is naming our son so difficult? I think we like and agree on Tate for a middle name (Although I want to use Dale, after my daddy). I wish we didn't know so many friends that have already used up all my favorite names: Logan, Connor, Dylan. That makes things much more difficult. If HE was a SHE, she would already have her name! I am praying for patience and hoping a name just comes to me in my dreams and we both say "YES" that's his name! What do y'all think, and what are some more name suggestions?!?

Kids/Guest Bathroom Makeover

So I re-did the 2nd bathroom in our house this past weekend! I am especially proud b/c I did it 100% by myself, including the paint. James was working most of the weekend so it was up to me if I wanted it done....and I wanted it done. Now. I wanted it to be cute for my kids, but not frogs or ducks b/c this is the bathroom that guests go into when they are at my house. I used the same paint I used in baby boy's room (which I will post before and after pictures of that soon) b/c I just loved the color. I think with the blue walls and tan (sandy) Curtain it looks like a beach.

This bathroom had zero fixtures either. I'm not sure why the builder skimped out on towel and toilet paper racks.....Originally I had planned to do my master bath in a beach theme a while back. So I bought a few things but decided to go a different direction. I figured the things I had would go well in this bathroom. I am please with how it turned out!!

I hung the towel racks and pictures myself and I must say, I did a great job! James said they were very sturdy! I love using power tools! I asked if they made pink ones....he's going to look into it for me!

The light fixture is actually new! We replaced it a few years ago when we replaced all the other light fixtures (for some reason we didn't do our bathroom though). The sink faucet still needs to be replaced though.

Here are some closer up pictures. I love the canvas beach pictures and I think they go well in here, with the little splashes of color! (see I installed a TP holder too!! GO ME!) And I finally found a place to hang our cute beach picture with our names!!

Now, I realized some things while doing this bathroom. While I had a tape measure and level out, I started noticing that the cabinet above the toilet is not centered above the toilet...its not even centered between the mirror and the shower...?? The toilet is not centered between the sink vanity and the shower.....and the light fixture is not centered above the mirror.....what the heck happened in this bathroom? I had a real hard time hanging the picture above the toilet b/c I couldn't decide if I should center it with the toilet, or the cabinet.....I ended up choosing the toilet. I stood there as if I was a man going potty and figured it looked better that way. (sounded silly actually typing that out, but at the time it seemed like a logical way of thinking)

I spent $150 in this bathroom. I'm a little embarrassed about that b/c I should have spent less. I found what I wanted at Target and didn't even look at prices as I was throwing it in the basket. When I got home and looked at the receipt, I was shocked....$12.99 for a soap dispenser, $9.99 for a dang towel...that is SO not like me. I even bought a non matching trash can & shower curtain b/c I did noticed they were expensive, but somehow the soap dispenser made it in the buggy. $150 just seems like a lot for me b/c the paint, and the 4 pictures on the walls I already had....I only bought a large towel, 2 hand towels, the wash rag set, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, trashcan, shower curtain, curtain rings, and the rug. Oh, and the towel, hand towl, tp holders. It was a lot less items then I purchased for my master bath....but I shopped sale items and Hobby Lobby for most of that.

I do love the way it turned out so I'll eat my $150 and move on. Decorating is expensive and I knew that.....I'v got more projects on the list too....I gotta start bargain shopping!

Before & After

Okay!! So I'm pretty much done in my bathroom! I tapped and started painting on Saturday and James helped me finish up on Sunday. What a sweet boy! I learned from this experience that I could spend HOURS upon HOURS in Hobby Lobby! Sorry for my sucky point and shoot camera quality pictures, but you get the point. I tried my best to do the same shots so you can see before & after. I think if you click on the pictures, they may get bigger. Our paint job isn't perfect and the ceiling needs to be touched up in a few places, but we discussed getting crown molding put in so the touch ups may not be necessary.

I still need to get the faucets and light figured changed out. That is next on the list.

I made the curtains, and although they aren't the exact color of the paint, I don't hate them. The paint is a little more RED then I expected...I was hoping for a few shades darker. Oh, and after 3.5 years, James FINALLY put a bulb above the shower!

We installed a toilet paper holder & towel rack & got a new trashcan, hamper, and basket on toilet for mommy's "goods" that I do not miss using while pregnant =). I still need matching towels and maybe a nicer holder thing...but towels are expensive, so they may have to wait. Until then, we'll just get dry with non matching towels. Oh the giraffe above the cabinet.....That used to be on our headboard - its not very sturdy and I was tired of it falling off and hitting me or James in the face - so now it has a new home.

I guess I should have gotten the red CHI last year for Christmas...the hand towel rack is new too. Still need new light fixture and faucet.

I covered a piece of canvas with zebra fabric, it was pretty cheap and very simple. The candle holders that we got as a wedding gift worked pretty well, so I kept them there and replaced the blue candle with red.

I didn't take a "before" picture from this view, but this would be as if you were standing in front of the toilet. My bed isn't made...oops....but I wanted to show you where my jewelry went. Its okay for now, I still need to figure something out for my stud earrings but it works. I used 12 key hooks to make that happen.

So how much did this makeover cost? $232.33

For a total makeover in a room, I don' t think that's too bad. That includes everything you see....paint, paint supplies, all accessories (besides the giraffe we already had) rugs, and fabric to make curtains. ACTUALLY - I spent less than that b/c I had enough fabric to make 2 panels of drapes in my bedroom....(I'll post some pics of my room soon) I hope to get a little (very little) back from the garage sale I'm having next month....all the blue stuff and towels will hopefully sell and I can use that $ to buy new towels and possibly new fixtures.

Next on the list.....the kids bathroom & laundry room....stay tuned.

Before Pictures of my Bathroom

My master bathroom. We've never done anything to this room. I think at one point I was going to do a bleach theme, so you see the blue trashcan, hamper, towels, toothbrush holders.....

When I did my bedroom in white, red and a touch of zebra I figured it would be better to make the bathroom flow with the bedroom.

This is from the entry way looking into the bathroom. The door you see is to the closet. No door to the toilet....Which I hate. I have nails just banged into the wall on my side with a few pieces of jewelry hanging from them. The nails are very uneven and look so sloppy.

Sink/vanity is on the Right, bath tub and extremely small stupid shower is on the left. (I'd LOVE to remodel this bathroom, but the $ just isn't there so a spruce up will just have to do.

Our out in the open toilet. To the right I have a diggy little towel holder with non matching towels....Notice we have no "Installed" toilet paper rack, or towel rack. (oops, a basket full of dirty towels LOL)

My vanity with one sink...I'm telling you, the set up of this bathroom really sucks! We have been in our house for 3.5 years, and that light switch has NEVER had a cover over it....and it's blue under it, I had painted a few years ago, and hated the color so I just covered it with tan.

Our tub that I could totally do without. I never take a bath. Cori thinks this tub belongs to her. The stupid faucet is meant for a regular bath tub and it needs to be replaced but we can't find anything with a longer spout. Right now, when you turn the water on, the water hits the top of the tub before it flows to the bottom, creating a big mess and water everywhere. The random pictures sitting in the window sil are some of the beach things I had acquired and they have been sitting there, just like that, for years.

I've done a lot of work over the weekend, but still need to do some last minute touch ups, and get a few more accessories! I plan to do take (another) trip to Target & Hobby Lobby tonight to finish up. Hopefully I can have some AFTER pictures for you soon!! So far I am LOVING what we've done!!

Time to get Artsy & Crafty

Stay tuned - I plan to make over my master bathroom this weekend (If I can get my husband to help paint and hang a few items) He rolled his eyes when I came to him all excited like a child that I had these great ideas to spruce our bathroom up. He knows me too well. They are all my ideas and I have full intentions of helping but he knows that he'll be needed more than I think and unless it's his idea to get power tools out and hang things on the walls he's usually not very interested. Last week while I was at work, he and his friend painted the baby boy's room for me and it looks GREAT!! So now I'm in paint and get things looking good mode...and he's over painting already. I even asked Terry, his friend if James said no would he come help me...he's unemployed at the moment and helps James out from time to time with AC work so he knows we'll pay him for any help he does around our house! He's a good worker, and maybe b/c I'm not his wife (he's not married) he doesn't argue with me, like James does. LOL

I've got my lists made out for Home Depot, Joann's fabric, and Hobby Lobby - I wish I didn't have to work today so I could get my shopping done without the 2 year old that insists on walking, and touching things in the stores. It would be a much quicker trip without her.

I got some great ideas from Home and Garden online and I'm ready to execute them! I even got some ideas from another blog about painting old light fixtures to give them a fresh new look. Hopefully this is a successful weekend in my bathroom....it really needs a face lift! (Our bathroom and the hall bathroom are the only rooms that have never been painted, decorated, loved, or touched) After my bathroom is done and fabulous, I'll work on the "Kids" Bathroom, that also is the guest bathroom if anyone is over....

I hope to post some "Before & After" pictures along with some of the how to's on the projects I am doing!

The only thing I'm still trying to figure out is a cute way to hang jewelry so that it can be displayed and off the counter top, but still look cute. I also wanted to find of those "rack" things that hang on the wall that will hold my blow dryer and flat iron....hmm.......any ideas?