What’s New with the Bradbury’s?

So lately, it’s become increasingly harder and harder to find time to blog! It’s astonishing how much our lives have changed since our baby girl has transitioned into toddler-hood– we are constantly on the go!

In addition to chasing Isla around the house, we are also working on a ton of home projects everything from changing out the hardware on our kitchen cabinets to choosing new paint colors for the inside and outside of our home. And when we’re not working on the inside, we’re slaving on the outside, finishing a porch swing I originally made in my wood working class in high school, pulling weeds and landscaping (we finally caved and got some professional ideas for this one). 

All these tasks were difficult to get accomplished along with the daily/weekly chores of laundry and cleaning before we added our precious joy and now they are monumentally hard to accomplish, but I love the teamwork that our family has had lately to get things done. Even Isla pitched in over the weekend and started wiping down surfaces with her washcloth and “helping” fold (and unfold) the laundry.

I know when I look back on these years decades from now these will be the golden the years for our family. Days of pure joy and laughter among one another, dance parties and dinners with endless giggles. Stress? Sure, but accompanied with laughter and bliss that makes it all worthwhile. 

Besides home improvement and family time, I’ve also been extremely busy at work, studying for tests and working on a side project with my friend Kristen for a new party planning blog. Looking forward to providing more details on this exciting new adventure soon!

Nursery Reveal

I'm so excited to finally be able to reveal Isla Rae's nursery! I love projects and anything personalized in the nursery! You can also view our nursery reveal on Project Nursery along with many more great nursery and party ideas!

We turned our sitting room into the nursery. We knew we wanted our baby as close to us as possible and on the same floor, so we ended up redoing our sitting room to become our new nursery. We utilized every inch of the space for storage and  functionality. Our base colors are cream, brown, and yellow with a pop of raspberry pink. All the wall decor was handmade by daddy-to-be and me. The changing table was repurporsed and I used wall decals to add more excitement to the piece.  We also managed to finish the entire space for under $350, and that's including the major furniture pieces as well!

The lovely McChillin Photography captured all of our pictures for us!

My inspiration for the nursery space was to keep it functional, some what gender neutral for future children and to personalize the decor as much as possible. I also used non conventional things, like wind-chimes above the curtains verses the traditional mobile.

I combed the internet for DIY projects for babies, wall decor and furniture. I decided early on that I wanted to make special keepsake items for my baby girl to be able to use in future rooms as well.

I also knew I wanted to do more sophisticated colors so I chose brown, raspberry pink with a butter cream yellow as the base wall color.

My decorating style is very eclectic. I love shabby chic, rustic and even contemporary designs, but I have a soft spot for anything DIY. There is something so special and fulfilling about making something yourself.

My favorite items in the nursery are the DIY items and most were very easy to make!

I got the personalized name sign above the crib from a deal on Pick Your Plum and once it arrived I decided I wanted to add a pop of color so I painted it raspberry pink.

The two flower art pieces hanging beside the name sign I made from canvas, fabric, quilt bunting and rosettes. You can view the entire project here.

The nursery plaque was an inspirational item I saw on Shanty 2 Chic. You can see my post here. 

I also made the toy box on wheels. Originally, I saw the post on Running with Scissors.
We already had an old fruit crate, so the easiest thing for me to do was to take the one we have and repurpose it. I sanded, stained and attached wheels to the bottom. You can view my how to here.

We got the repurposed changing table on craigslist.com for only $35. I then painted it white. I found hydrangea wall decals at Joanns and applied these to the front of the table. I was originally planning on stenciling the piece, but found this to be way easier and less time consuming.

Hope you like all the DIY pieces. Please feel free to share any of yours with me. 

Back where I come from…

When I was 18, I couldn’t wait to get out of my small town. I felt I had seen all it had to offer more than once, and I was ready to experience new territory.

When I left, there wasn’t much looking back, as I was ready to embark on my own journey. After a couple years away and some new experiences under my belt, I began to think about my small town in a different way. Something was changing… when I came back to visit my parents, I wasn’t just focused on getting there and getting back to my life. I started to notice my surroundings, the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (shown in the picture to the right taken in Ashe County near Jefferson), the friendliness of the town and everyone you pass by on the street, the small shops, the community and the fresh air. All the things that I had somewhat took for granted growing up, or didn’t know to appreciate.

The temperature immediately changes just as you reach the top of the mountain and go under the Blue Ridge Parkway Bridge that I like to call a tunnel. I always make Joel beep the horn so I can hear it echo as we pass through. The roads are curvy and fun to drive on, even when the other cars are driving slowly, “Sunday drivers” as my dad likes to call them. Everything slows down and the one thing I wanted so badly to get away from I can’t wait to get back to.  There is something wonderful about growing up in a small town. 

I’m from Lansing, NC, a one stop-light town, that while small, has all the necessities one could need. There’s a small grocery store, church, bank, post office, hardware store, restaurant, a handful of shops, a newly built walking trail and when I was growing up, that’s where the school (now a haunted house) was too. Lansing is located in Ashe County, known for Ashe County Cheese, Arts & Crafts, The Frescoes and the place where I used to work in high school, New River Outfitters. The population of the actual town of Lansing was 151 people in 2000 compared to Charlotte’s 700,000+. Charlotte is still considered a small city, but it’s a huge difference from what I was accustomed to. 

The thing I love about Lansing the most is the sense of community. Growing up in a place with such a small population, everyone knew one another and when there was a family in need, a lost loved one or a joyous occasion, there were many families and neighbors there to provide support in whatever way needed. My church family was like my family and our neighbors were our friends. Living in a small town shaped me into the person I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing. I think I'll always be a small town girl at heart.