Makeover Monday: The One You've Been Waiting For!

This is one of the most fun makeovers the Mitchells have completed...Mikayla's room!  Do you remember her room before?  The word was disaster, but Brian and I have had a great time working on this room together.  We were able to transform this room with a crib from craig's list, some paint, some fabric, and time.  My dresser, desk, and bookshelf from when I was a little girl, along with the crib, and the rocking chair from my classroom were all painted a soft white to match. 

 We have transformed the desk into a changing table for now.  The artwork above the changing table is a gift from Cheryl, one of Brian's sweet (and can we say talented?) coworkers.

 The name above the crib was made by Sara, my dear friend from college.  I'm still amazed at how she matched the room PERFECTLY after only seeing photographs of the fabric.  I really enjoyed sewing the crib skirt using the fabric I found with my sister, Julie.  It was by far the most detailed sewing project I have tackled.

 I sewed the curtains and Brian built and covered the cornice board.

Brian's mom and I worked on the cushions for the rocking chair together.  I learned a ton about sewing from working on this project with her.  Then she took some extra fabric and whipped up the adorable pillow.  The beautiful blanket that my mom made is on the back of the rocking chair ready for some sweet cuddle time!

What a labor of love this room has been.  It has been a great way to spend time together in between our two trips to Ethiopia.  We're so thankful for the many hands that helped make this room such a special place.  We're ready for you Mikayla (and so is your room)!

Makeover Monday...The Shed

 If you know Brian and me well, then you know we love a good project around the house.  If you know Brian, then you know he is really talented when it comes to fixing things...I mean REALLY talented.  While we have been waiting our way through the adoption process, we have been busy working on lots of projects around our house.  In fact, we've been so busy working, that I haven't taken the time to get all of the pictures organized and ready for posting.  So, for the next few Mondays, you can enjoy the transformations with us. 

Since we got married, Brian has wanted a shed in our backyard.  We've held off for a long time because of the cost; but this spring, we finally decided to build our own from scratch.  No shed building kits for us!  My engineering husband drew up the plans in autocad (drafting software) and made a list of everything we would need.

We picked out a spot in the yard where the shed would be tucked away.

Then we built the floor and the walls.

Next we put together the roof in large pieces and attached them to the walls.

So close to having the structure finished...

Then I primed and painted while Brian attached shingles.  It is painted and shingled to look just like our house.

Not long before we started this process, we had dinner with some friends who also have adopted from Ethiopia.  I remember the husband giving us the advice that, while we were still a family of two, we should continue to work on building our marriage.  I thought to myself for weeks about what that meant and what kinds of things we could do to build our marriage.  Then, as we worked side-by-side on building a shed, it hit me that all of these projects are more than just projects.  Over the two weekends that it took to complete, we weren't just building a shed, we were building our marriage as well (because goodness gracious, it takes lots of patience for Brian to teach me how to be a helper as we emabark on each new project together)!  I sure do love this cowboy:

Makeover Monday

So today could really be called "Messy Monday!"  Below you will find the before picture of Baby Girl's room.  It is a TOTAL DISASTER in these pictures.  While her room is no where near complete, we have made a lot of progress toward making this room fit for our precious girl.  I wouldn't even call it a disaster anymore!  You will have to wait a little bit before you get to see updates on the progress in her room, but for now you can see her room and imagine the possibilitites!

  As we have bought things, received things as gifts, or moved around other things in the house, Baby Girl's room has been the catch-all room!

A closet full of out of control wrapping paper and many of my school things! 

Did I mention this is where the dogs used to live?

Stay tuned because trust me...it is going to be great!  Happy Monday!