Personalized IKEA High Chair

A while back I purchased the Antilop Ikea High Chair for my Hunter  Man.

We typically eat at the dinner table and we use the great Fisher Price Space Saver High Chair

 

But... I wanted something for the times when I'm cooking and feeding hunter in the kitchen or when we have people over and not enough space at the dinner table... So I figured that I would go with the basic and economical IKEA chair. I mean you cannot beat the $24.99 price!

But it was a little too plain for my taste so I decided to personalize it a bit. 

Step One: Take the parts out of the box...

Step Two: Tape off  the little white balls on the ends of the legs with frog tape.

Step Three: Spray paint the legs... I went with gold.

Step Four: Assemble the High Chair 

Now i have to admit that this is what the high chair looked like for about two months because I didn't get my act together to finish the project... but during that time it was still used all the time.

FINALLY... this week I ordered the vinyl that I wanted for a little extra bling...

It came yesterday and I immediately broke out my computer/silhouette and made a "logo" for the seat on Hunter's High Chair

I decided to go with a monogram. First came the design.

Cut on the vinyl

Pressed onto the transfer paper

And adhered the design to the back of the High Chair!!!  

I love it!

Such an easy project! For baby number three we can simply remove this logo and create another personalized one for him/her!

Not too shabby for a $24.99 High Chair!

    The Inspiration Exchange 

 

52 Week Money Challenge

So I think that I am going to talk the hubby into doing the 52 Week Money Challenge that I keep seeing on Pinterest!

Just in case you have never heard about it... for 52 weeks you save the same amount of money for which week you are on.

Example: Week one you save $1, week two you save $2, and so on.

By the end of your 52 weeks you will have saved $1,378.00.  It may not seem like a whole lot, but every little bit adds up and if Matt does it with me we will have saved $2,756.00 (in addition to our normal savings)

Now to find something fun to do with our extra money... Maybe a weekend in NYC. 

I also need to find a cute container for our money. 

Winner Announced! House of Maps Photography Giveaway

The winner of the House of Maps Photography GIVEAWAY is Heather Brumley! Congratulations to Heather! You will be so impressed with their awesome work and their professionalism!

Please contact House of Maps Photography within 60 days of contest winner announcement at houseofmaps@gmail.com

Inspiration via the web...

This week I have found so much wonderful inspiration through the blogs that I follow! A highlight for me was finding a new wonderful blog, Cuckoo 4 Design.

I literally found myself an hour later still looking through Julia's old blog posts so inspired by her creativity.

Here are a few of the top posts that gained my attention

DIY Ombre Room Divider 

Brass Bookcase

Bright update for a little Box

Easy DIY Painting Project

Dresser Make Over - You HAVE to see the before! Julia is SOOO creative

Stool Makeover - You see these counter stools all the time at thrift stores and I LOVE this easy update.

You have to go check out Julia's amazing website!

Some Exciting Business News

One of my big passions is event planing and I am so excited to say that I'm finally taking the steps to form my own event planning and design company. I'm now a proud business owner of my own LLC that is registered in the state of Virginia!

So be prepared... there will be many more posts regarding the formation of my new company....

BIRCH EVENT and DESIGN

So much to do!
- Tax Paperwork to File
- Website Domain Purchase
- Website Design
- Logo Design
- Contract Templates to Draft
- Marketing
- Wedding Fairs to Attend

For now, and likely the next few years, I will do this part time to grow my business but the plan is to one day have this be my main focus... AFTER family of course! 

House of Maps Photography GIVEAWAY

I cannot believe that I am 29 today! Now I'm really feeling the pressure on my thirty before thirty list!

Now... on to the fun stuff. I will be spending the day in the van driving down to Savannah, GA for the weekend! Cannot wait to see my family and friends! And well because I'm in such a great mood and because birthdays mean gifts.... I decided that you all deserve a GIVEAWAY!!

It's a photo shoot with my AMAZING friend and photographer Virginia Leslie at House of Maps! Virginia is offering a 1 hour photo shoot in the Washington, D.C. area. You might remember some of the amazing photos that she has taken for me like Newborn photos, Family Fall Photos, Easter Photos, and Father's Day photos.... But I also wanted to share some of her other photos...

What can I say she is amazing! Now for the details...

First the what....

Details for photo shoot giveaway:
House of Maps Photography is offering a 1 hour on-location photo shoot (within a 25 mile radius of
Washington DC). Use your session to capture you and the important people who are a part of it. This session can be use as a family session (up to 6 people), maternity, couples / engagements, or head shots. 2-3 weeks following your session, you'll receive 30-35 high quality, fully edited images with a print release.

*Offer excludes newborn sessions. Location is subject to approval by photographer. Clients must sign a model release & copyright agreement. Winner must contact House of Maps Photography within 60 days of contest winner announcement at houseofmaps@gmail.com

and now the how....

There are two ways to be entered in the giveaway:

1. Like House of Maps Photography on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment on this blog between now and Sunday at 8 p.m. EST. Each comment will count as a submission so feel free to come back and visit throughout the week.

We will pick one entry at random and announce our winner on Monday!

Hunter at 39 Weeks

Hunter Man is turned 39 weeks last Wednesday and at 39 weeks he:

• Went to his first birthday party
• Had to deal with a sick mommy and sister... Thank you mom and Matt for stepping up and helping while I was under the weather!
• Gets into everything! Really wants to go up the steps, trues to eat Sophie's dog food, and likes to pull magazines off the coffee table!
• Had his 9 month medial appointment Stats below

Height: 29.25 Inches (82%)
Weight: 19.5 pounds (32%)

Hunter Man with his girlfriend Reese! He likes an older woman!

Birthday Wishing

Sooo... Someone I know celebrates a birthday in June... Well more accurately a LOT of people I know have June Birthdays...

Just in case my hubby was wondering what is on my wish list

Mini Keurig Machine : I would LOVE to have this cute teal Mini Keurig Machine. I think that it would be the perfect addition to our spare bedroom. Wouldn't it be nice to have this along with mugs and k Cups so that guests can make a fresh cup of coffee in the morning without having to get dressed and coming up to the kitchen. So Cute!  

 Blue Glass Yorkshire Drink Dispenser from World Market. I kind of want two!

Tory Burch 'Reva' Ballerina Flat: I LOVE this shoe but would never buy it for myself.

Scuba Lessons! How much fun would that be! 

Photo- Via

A cooking Class: I've looked into a few different options in the Northern Virginia Area and I have not settled on one... Also with summer being so packed it is hard to plan for something. Our local Sur La Table also offers cooking classes.

Hiking/camping Backpack: I would like to go camping/hiking this weekend and am in need of a good pack. 

A Crabby Surprise

On Friday night we hosted a surprise Birthday Party for my mom!

As my mother LOVES crabs we decided to do a Crab Feast

The invitation was sent out via Paperless Post and we had 16 people over to my house.

My mom was totally surprised as she thought that we were going to meet my Dad at the Army Navy Country Club for dinner... She thought that he had been playing golf but in reality he was helping us out with the party. As soon as a majority of the gusts arrived I told my mom that I was on the way to pick her up (because I'm nice like that and only wanted them to have one car at the club...). When I arrived at her house I told her that Hunter had spit up on his shirt and that Matt was changing him at home and that we were going to swing by and pick them up. Once we pulled up to the house I asked if I could quickly show her something that I had bought earlier in the day... We walked in and SURPRISE!!!

It was great! I sadly didn't take too many photos but here are a few that my friend Virginia snapped of the tables... We had three decorated all the same...

The centerpieces were SUPER easy! Vintage Inspired Ball Canning Jars,  Glass ball vase fillers from the Dollar Tree, White Daises, and some Burlap ribbon (that I had leftover from this project)

The table cloths were vinyl ones that I had purchased from Home goods earlier in the season for only $3.99 each so I knew that I wouldn't be upset if they were ruined from the crab... but they were not! They wiped clean easily.

For the place setting I unfolded a long blue napkin and placed some thick disposable plates (found from our local grocery store) on top with the crab cracker and disposable flatware wrapped in another blue napkin and tied with jute.

It was such a fun night and I was so happy that it seemed to go off without a hitch!

Happy Father's Day!!

We are taking some time today to snuggle up to Matt and let him know that we think that he is a pretty amazing father!

Here are some daddy inspired photos that we had taken of Hunter last week and I surprised Matt with them this morning as a part of his Father's Day gift!

The bodysuit is from Baby Gap and says, " I'm a Little Gentleman Noble and Distinguished"

Here are some non age appropriate photos but I just had to do them because Matt loves scotch so I thought that they would be cute!

A photo in Matt's old Army Cover (Hat)

You aren't suppose to chew on tools Hunter!!! It is a good thing that you have such an amazing daddy to show you how to use those!

Hunter with all of Daddy's tools!

In his big boy tie

He wants a green mustang just like Daddy has!

Future computer genus... Just like Dad! I also love this ME + DAD = LOVE bodysuit from Baby Gap.

The books are all of Matt's computer programing books...

Hunter wouldn't touch the computer  motherboard until I put some of his puffs on there... his face says it all.

AHHHH and this photo just says it all! I love Hunter's first Hunter rain boots!!!! Just look at those legs!!!!

Best photos ever! Many thanks to the great Virginia Leslie of House of Maps Photography! I cannot recommend her enough!