Sunday, April 30, 2017

NETFLIX & VALUES


Can Netflix teach your kids values? Bold question really. Kids values are shaped by everything around them. As a mom, my hope is that their core values, what is deep inside them is nurtured from the beginning. At home. With their family. With their friends. However, their values will be tested and questioned as they grow. From who they hang out with to what they watch. The goal really, is to hope that nature and nurture work together to help shape their life skills.

I feel like just sitting down with your kids and watching the shows they love,  helps them feel like you are interested in the shows and that you love them too (even though sometimes I know you are counting down until you get to curl up with a new episode of Scandal). They feel connected to you. Sure, it's not the only way you should connect with your kids but it's an outlet of opportunity. Check out this cool social experience video showing teens and parents coming together over Netflix.

My kiddies are regularly watching Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh these days. There is a great episode about bullying on there. Honestly, that word makes my stomach turn. To think that your kid could experience such pain, makes my anxiety go through the roof. But, obviously talking to your kids about it, what to do and using any outlet to drill it home that bullying is wrong is crucial. Episode 6 of Home has a good lesson.

Have you watched 13 Reasons Why on Netflix yet? I haven't and I'm avoiding it. Why? Truthfully, I'm not 100% sure but I know that when I watch it, there are stories in there that are going to wrench my gut, that will leave me tossing at night. I know that it's a show that's getting a lot of attention right now because its real. Teens struggle. The struggle is real. If you have watched it, I would love to hear your thoughts. I'll let you know when I do. I need to package my babies up in a bubble. As much as I want them to be successful and eventually leave the nest...I'm also okay with having them live at home forever. Um, sorta ;)

Here is a quick cheat sheet to use. If you feel like your kiddies need a refresher on something specific or a good lesson. Check these shows out...
Keep it Beautiful.


Disclosure: I'm part of the Netflix Stream Team. All my Netflix addictions are my own and I love sharing them with you. Thank you for continuing to support the brands that support this blog.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

BIG GIRL ROOM & GUEST ROOM PLAN & SWAP

Decorating is fun. You know what’s really fun? Decorating a girl’s room. Even better, decorating it in the spring. Spring is one of my favourite times to work on the house. It feels so good to crack open the windows, organize a closet, open up a can of paint and give er. I can't be the only one that gets the spring DIY feeling because Home Depot, Rona and Lowes are packed on the weekends right now and I would say that the paint line and lumber lines are the longest. I digress ;)
Before our baby girl was born, our older son had his room (which then turned to the guest room, and now the big girl room), the guest room was now the boys room and the nursery was our middle guy’s.


Each time the rooms have been done, I flutter with excitement. When our baby girl arrived, we decided to put the boys in the bigger guest room and make it theirs

While I don’t think our middle guy remembers the process, both boys love their room. I remember that feeling as a kid. Feeling special in your bedroom. Feeling like you owned a piece of the house. It was your space. Fast forward to today, the boys are still happy as clams to be bunking together and they’ve line the walls with Pokémon and Star Wars posters, filled the toy bins with toys and junk – did I say that out loud?!..and made it theirs. 

Their special place. I love the room at the back. It’s an addition to the house and the windows overlook the backyard. The light is gorgeous and it’s the perfect spot for them to read and play. 

One day I’m sure it might be a space for a couple of desks or to house one of their beds when they decide to take down their bunks.
When our baby girl turned four last month, she all of a sudden didn’t feel so baby anymore. Her crib to toddler bed was jammed with stufties, there was little room for this growing girl to sleep and she felt too big for her nursery

She, like her mama is a collector of clothes, jewels and all round randomness. It was time for a bigger space for her. Time to get her organized. Enter in a project for Mr. Fix-It and I. Yes!
The only issue we needed to get around was that we needed to carve out the time to do a swap of the guest room and the nursery all at the same time. So, essentially we needed to do two rooms from top to bottom at once. Yowza. We needed a plan. We needed to buy everything, get organized and be ready to do a marathon swap. Oh and wipe away my tears as the crib came down for the last time. The dresser that had a facelift went out on the curb for someone else to use and love. Pass the tissue.
But on to new milestones. Enter in Big Girl Room and Guest Room swap plan.

Paint Colours - Benjamin Moore Cadillac Pink & Full Blossom (accent wall - all little girls need a fabulously bright pink accent wall). Finding a soft pink can be tough. A quick tip: go with a pink on the paint chit that is the lightest in it's row of colours. I promise you, it will definitely look pink. Otherwise, you may have an entire room looking like Hubba Bubba and not necessarily the look you want if you are looking for something soft.

The Bed - It's gorgeous. Jaime. 

I'm really interested in online mattress companies. Have you ordered your mattress online. I've been doing some research and the Leesa mattress has me intrigued for our master bedroom. 

Dresser, & Shelf - Flipping the shelf on it's side and making a window bench like I did for the boys.

Kitchen - Santa brought this a couple of years ago and I'm looking forward to moving it upstairs into her room. BTW, it's awesome if you are looking for a gift. It gets lots of play action.

The new guest room (old nursery) is the smallest bedroom. It makes a great nursery, a cozy guest room or an office. I new I wanted to paint it two of my fav colours. We have the colours in our living room, dining room and kitchen. The light is beautiful in the room so I knew it would be perfectly grey. The armoire for the old guest room was being moved into the knew room, along with the bed, the linen and all of our framed poetry. Have you heard of Matt Robinson? He's a incredibly talented poet in Halifax, Nova Scotia and his framed poetry will be moving from the old guest room into a gallery wall in this room.
So, you'll have to stay tuned next week for the reveal. Mr. Fix-It and I worked for 15 hours straight while the kids went up to the lake with my folks. We listened to music, cracked a few beers, ordered pizza and worked on the rooms. It's our thing. The look on our daughter's face when she walked into her new room was adorbs. 
Spring has sprung my friends and I would love to hear what your spring decorating, DIYs and organizing plans are. 
Can't wait to show you the rooms.
Keep it Beautiful.

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

OMG…long time no write. Where did April go? Where did the end of March go? How is it already May? Dang time moves fast. Honestly. Work, the kids, activities, and just all round life has prevented me from connecting with all of you lately. Every night I’ve been collapsing on the couch around ten, staring at my computer and telling myself that I need to pick it up and connect. Connect with my blog, write what feels good and connect with you. But, at that time of night I just don’t have it in me. But, I’m re-committing myself to carve out time. Creating that space in the week.

I love blogging. I love sharing ideas, connecting with people that love beautiful spaces, love a fabulous recipe and love when someone shows you that it can be done while living the busyness of life. I miss you. I miss sharing my thoughts and ideas and sending them out into this little corner of the internet called Keep It Beautiful Designs. So here I am. When I first started blogging, I was determined to make a go of it. And I did and it grew into something that I had dreamed of. I dutifully followed the “blogging” rules that said I needed to blog 3 times a week to stay connected to my audience. I needed to get my voice out there in every corner of social media. I needed to attend every conference to figure out how to get ahead, to have sidebar ads that would generate the traffic. So many rules. So many rules that told me what I HAD to do to be successful. However, I’ve learned over the last five years that yes, when you first start a business it is hard. It takes complete 100% dedication to lift it off the ground. However, I’ve also learned that you don’t have to follow someone else’s rules to be successful. Blogging has changed. Social media over the last five years has changed and I believe that you can choose how you weigh in.
I have created a successful business. I’ve also learned to carve out my space. My rules. Sure, there are many opportunities I have had to turn down or wanted to do with my little slice of the internet, however I also have other areas in my life that I work just as hard at. I have a full-time day job that as I climb the ladder, puts more demands on me. I have small children, a husband, extended family, friends, fitness and the list goes on. Life is busy. I know you all get it. You all have the same, similar and more demands. But, I am truly dedicated to the passion of creating beautiful spaces. There is something about decorating a room in your home, setting a gorgeous place setting or finishing off that DIY that makes my heart flutter. So, I am dedicated to continuing to share my ideas and listen to yours. You have all been so dedicated to this blog and I thank you for it. I may not blog three times a week every week but it hasn’t stopped you from connecting with me, coming back and I thank you for that. 
So here we go. I have so many things to share with you. Baby steps. First up. Taking our baby girl’s room from nursery to big girl. We also have a bathroom renovation going on as we speak at the cottage and more.
Keep it Beautiful.
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