What do you use?

Hey guys! I hope you all enjoyed  your weekend. As you all know I have a 1 and a half year old who is messy, messy, messy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. What products or tools do you use to clean your home? Our whole downstairs is tile, which is nice for not getting stains, but it is a PAIN to keep up with all of spills, crumbs, dirt, etc. 

For quick clean ups I use my handy dandy dust buster. I love this thing it cleans up so good! Anytime Jackson eats things that are really crumbly I just get this bad boy out and vacuum it all up.

Here is my other best friend my Dirt Devil stick vacuum you can find these at Target or Walmart for around 20 bucks and they work really good. I use this to vacuum everywhere before I mop.

Here is my AWESOME mop! I love the shark mop, it works really good at getting the floors really clean and only cleans with steam, which is good when you have a baby. You don't want all those chemicals going into their mouths. ICK I was hesitant at first with the mop, but its amazing to see what the pad looks like after you mop. It's disgusting actually! I mop once a week and I am amazed at how dirty our floor is after I look at that pad. EWWWW! Makes me wanna mop more. Best part about this mop is, after you are done you wash the pads in your washer.

Have you guys ever tried Windex's brand of cleaners? I love the Antibacterial & the Vinegar ones. I use them both in the kitchen and bathrooms. They clean really good and leave everything shiny.

I use Pledge multi surface cleaner for all of my dusting. I love the lavender scent it smells like men's cologne. It works really well on stainless steel too!

I try and keep on a schedule with my cleaning, sometimes it doesn't always work out, but most of the time I stay pretty consistent. So, what do you guys use to clean your home? I would love to hear any tips or tricks you have when it comes to cleaning. 

Have a great weekend!!

~Allyson~

Window Treatment Ideas

Hey guys! I hope you all are having a great day!!  I am back with some much need opinions :). In my post yesterday, I asked for your advice on slipcovers for my dining room table. Today I am asking for opinions on window treatment ideas. There is a bay window where the table sits in front of, I am trying to decide which way to go with window treatments. I cannot decide if I want to just do valances, valances and panels or just panels. Here are some ideas I have found. Let me know your thoughts.

I really like the look of the valances and panels, adds something different to the space. I appreciate all of your suggestions and opinions.

Have a great day!!

~Allyson~

To Slipcover or Not to Slipcover

Hey guys!! I hope you all are having a great day. Hubby is off work this week for his vacation, we aren't doing anything but it is nice to have him home with us. I showed you my dining room table awhile ago. Here's the thing I am happy with the way that it is I am just in need of some change. I recovered the chairs about a year and a half ago. I cannot decide if I want to reupholster them again or go with slipcovers. That's where you guys come in to help me decide. :)

Here is a picture of how the table and chairs look today.

Here is what I was thinking of doing. I would make these long dining chair covers be the end chairs. Probably put some pretty pillows on each one. (We hardly ever use this table).  I do like this color of the slipcover doesn't leave me so limited with decor, as the red ones on the chairs do now. I love me some red but I'm thinking more accents of red will be better.

Here are the slipcovers I would go with for the rest of the chairs. I think maybe I would add some trim to the bottom of them just to dress them up a bit. What do you think?

I've been searching dining room tables and I am in love with the chunky legs. I might see if the hubs can help me pick out some legs that I could stain and we could change the ones out that are on there now. What do you think of that?  Decisions ,Decisions ,Decisions. Something like this.

So, guys what do you think I should do recover the chairs or get slipcovers. Any and all suggestions will help me make up my mind. 

Have a great day!!

~Allyson~

Animal Print Obsessed

Hey guys! I went shopping this past week and found these prints at Kirkland's. I am drawn to animal print things right now. Seems like they are everywhere and I love it! :) I had a hard time getting a good picture of these. I don't wanna hang anything else up since we are moving, I have an idea for these in the new house though. Here's a picture with the flash off.

Here's one with the flash on. You can see the detail and colors better. They are different but similar. 

Well, that's it for today guys! I am going to continue to try and post daily. On to cleaning and packing.

Have a great day!

I am joining Debbie's Newbie Linky Party

~Allyson~

Some might think we are INSANE!!

Hey guys! I hope your week is going well. We found out this weekend that we are going to be moving.  LOL Some of you are probably like uhhh didn't she just move in her house in November? Yeah we did (yep we're crazy). My in-laws are getting transferred to Chicago for my FIL's job. They asked us if we would rent their house from them and we couldn't refuse. The house is bigger than the one we are in now (more places for me to decorate) :) and has a pool. Here in AZ a pool is a much needed necessity!!  I am totally excited but dreading the packing and moving YUCK. My hubby says we are like hobo's we move every couple months. Which in some cases is true LOL. We've been together for 6 years, this next move will make number 9 for us! Oh lord I hope we stay here for awhile or I just might not unpack. We should be here for a couple years I'm hoping. I will still be sharing decorating ideas and probably more crafts etc. I will be starting on a few projects for the new house and better yet they said we can paint if we want to. YAY I have never lived anywhere where we were able to paint so I'm gonna need all of your painting suggestions as far as colors and brand go. I will be back soon with some new goodies I bought. Stay tuned. 

       ~Allyson~

Baby Fever

Hey guys! This weekend was my cousin's baby shower, I did some of the decorations for the party. It was held at their church so the room was really big that we were in. Made it nice you didn't feel so cramped and on top of each other, there were about 30 people there.

Here is the diaper cake that I made. You can find numerous of very cool ideas online so I got a little creative and this is what I came up with. I think it turned out cute.

Here is the diaper carriage I made. I found some tutorials online but nothing was working out the way I planned, so I used a basket I had and I wrapped it with a receiving blanket, I made the hood and wheels out of diapers. I thought it would be cute to display the silverware in here.

For the centerpieces, I found these little buckets at the dollar tree and put a piece of foam in the bottom, I used the paper shred from there to cover that up. Using my cricuit I made a frame for all of the pictures I printed out of them attached it to a popsicle stick and put it in the foam. Baby Benjamin was born 10 weeks early he is still in the hospital but doing very great!

I made  the banner with my cricuit and some pom pom's. Those are really easy to make.

Here's a picture of the cake they had made its so darn cute!! We used the colors from her bedding for the theme for the shower. It matched perfectly.

I am joining Debbie for her newbie party go check it out! 

And Carrie for Amaze Me Monday

I will be back soon with some new goodies I bought the other day. Stay tuned.

~Allyson~

We have a winner!!

Thank you to all of you who have entered. We had a total of 44, which I think is AWESOME.

The winner is.....................................(drum roll please) :)

From Random.Org Number 9 is our winner who is.....

Liz from Savvy Seasons!

Yay congrats girl! 

Contact me with your address and I will send it out.

Have a great day!! 

~Allyson~

My Shopping Craze

Hey guys!! This past week I did some shopping. I got some new home decor items. Ross has become my new best friend. I am finding so many good things there for great prices! Here are some pics of what I got. 

I got these two rugs from Ross. The top one I put in the kitchen it fits the length in front of my sink and dishwasher. I love that! The bottom one I put in the front living room in front of the door. I love it. Both of these were only 14.99 not too shabby.

On Saturday, I went to Kirkland's and loved these canisters. I have been looking for some new ones for awhile.

I found this container at Tuesday Morning, I was admiring Liz's and was so excited when I found the same one just a different color. I love it!!

I moved the initial frame I made down to the table below. I think it looks better there.

I wanted to go for more of a formal look out here, so I moved my dining room centerpiece to this table and added these two lamps I had on the sides. I also put the runner from the table on here too. I am going to be making a centerpiece for my table very soon!

I love these cord covers from Hobby Lobby. I think they look better than looking at a cord. 

Lastly, I found this big fleur de lis at Ross it was 10 dollars so I couldn't pass it up! It's actually a candle holder. I haven't figured out where I want to put it yet.

Well, that's it for today guys! I hope you enjoyed my new finds. Now I need to go work on that baby shower stuff. I will share some pictures with you once I am all finished. 

You still have time to enter my giveaway if you haven't already. It ends Thursday!

I will be joining Marty for Tabletop Tuesday's 

 Kara for Whassup Wednesday

 Kim for Wow us Wednesdays

And Judy at DIY by Design

Have a great day!!

~Allyson~

Here I am

Hey guys!! I have yet to show my face on this blog, so I thought I needed to do a post. :) Tonight me and my hubs went out to dinner to celebrate Valentines day. We went to Kabuki for sushi. My MIL came over to watch Jackson for us. We had fun! It's definitely different not going anywhere with the baby, since we always do. I hardly ever get ready so it was fun. 

Do you see my new red canisters in the background? :) LOVE them!! I just got them yesterday.

Me and my hubby isn't he so cute? :) Jackson is his clone.

My cousin's baby shower is this weekend, so I am busy working on all of the decorations. They are turning out so cute!! I am watching the Grammy's as we speak. All of the performances have been great!

Happy Valentines Day!

I am linking to Debbie's Newbie Linky Party 

Don't forget about my giveaway it ends Thursday!!

~Allyson~

It's a GIVEAWAY!!

Hey guys!! I wanted to say thank you to all of you who have helped me in this journey of blogging. What better way to do that than a giveaway. I am now over 100 followers! YAY! Since all of you are longing for spring, I thought I would lift your spirits. 

Here is Mr. Roo I love him!! :) I really wanted to keep him for myself but since I love you all so much, I am going to give him away. I found these pretty towels, they are really thick and just gorgeous!

*all photos enlarge when clicked*

Here are 3 different ways to enter the giveaway if you do all 3 you will be entered 3 times.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Please become a follower if your are not already.

2. Please grab my button.

3. Mention my giveaway in your post or sidebar.

The giveaway will end on February 17th. 

Enjoy Ladies :)

~Allyson~

All-Star

Hey Guys! Welcome to Jackson's sport's themed room. My husband loves all sports so it was definitely a great fit. I found his bedding on Ebay and my MIL purchased it for us. His crib came from Target. My parent's purchased that for us.

We got Jackson this bear from Build-a-bear. His name is Timpelton. LOL my hubby named him. He has to sleep with the seahorse every night it plays music for about 5 minutes, he's had it since he was a couple weeks old. 

My sister made Jackson this blanket for Christmas. He now sleeps with it every night.

Here's the view as you walk in his room. My husband's grandma paints as a hobby so we asked her to paint some pictures for his room. He is a big Cub's fan so we had her do the marquee and some baseball themed things to go along with it. 

Here's a close up of the pictures, I think she did such a good job! I love them! I had her paint the black with Chalkboard paint so I could write on there. I need to get a chalkboard paint pen.

This is on the other wall behind his bed. My sister is really good at painting too and made him this for his birthday. I think I am going to spray paint the frame black.

Here's a closer view of the picture.

My hubby's Grandma also painted this plaque with the little baseball boy on it. So cute! I made the Jackson frame. I painted the letters and frame and distressed it. I hang his towel on it. 

Here's a couple pictures of the other side of the room.

My sister threw me a baby shower and made this diaper cake. I decided to leave it the way it was and display it in his room. It's just too cute!

Instead of buying a changing table I just purchased a pad to go on top. We got the dresser at Target too, my parent's purchased that for us as well. We got pretty lucky, we didn't have to buy any furniture for his room.

Here's a close up of the shelf above his dresser. 

I was playing around with my camera. I think this is really cool shot. I am trying to get better at taking photos. Practice, practice, practice!

My parent's bought Jack this rocker for his birthday its too cute. The holder that holds his toys is a bassinet. This is very old. My hubby's Grandpa was in it when he was a baby in 1936. Every baby since then has been in it. I am so shocked its lasted this long! Very cool though.

Well, that's it for today guys. I hope you enjoyed Jackson's room. I am off to watch the Bachelor. Do any of you watch it? I think Michelle is absolutely crazy. :) 

Have a great week!

I am joining Kara for Whassup Wednesday

~Allyson~