<a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1415-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1194" alt="painted bookshelf" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1415-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a>
<p style="text-align: center;">I love reading my friend, Brandy's <a href="http://windywilsons.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-real-diy-project-ikea-jokkmokk-chairs.html">site</a>, and she is always posting about the fun furniture and decorating projects she does.  She inspired me to post a few of the pix of projects that I have worked on for O's room.  Let's be honest, I really enjoy making crafts WITH O, but there is something to be said for good, old-fashioned, grown-ups only projects FOR your little ones.  We purchased this bookshelf eons ago while living in Boston.  It remained unfinished for ages.  Suddenly, I found myself with a garage and space for projects.  I decided to put this shelf in O's room and paint it white to match the trim.  It was quite the success for one of my first attempts at painting ANYTHING, but it should be noted that I first tried to stain it with an all-in-one varnish, and that was a complete disaster!  I'll stick to painting.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1422-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1196" alt="name letters, nursery" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1422-2.jpg" width="500" height="331" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">These super cute O-L-I-V-I-A letters were from my baby shower for O.  Man, that feels like ages ago!  My dad spray painted them all brown, and then my friends and I all got a letter of her name &amp; decorated them to match the color scheme of the nursery.  The lady in the photo is O's namesake: her great-great-grandma Olivia.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1424-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1197" alt="painted dresser, nursery" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1424-2.jpg" width="500" height="329" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">While I can't take any of the creative credit for this one, I did come up with the idea.  The dresser was my sister-in-law's when she was a child.  A basic, pine dresser, it was sturdily constructed and built to last another 30 years, but it was quite old fashioned.  I hired Barb Erwin to add her unique touch &amp; modernize the piece.  She did a wonderful job and was able to add many more details than I would have been able to.  (I can't seem to find her contact info right now, but if you have a project in mind for her, let me know &amp; I will find it.)</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1417-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1195" alt="ikea hack, spice racks" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1417-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I saw this adorable idea on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/67554063134372323/">Pinterest</a>.  Of course, we have SO MANY books in O's room that they are forever piling up and tumbling on the floor.  I bought these spice racks for very cheap at Ikea and spray painted them pink.  Once hung on the wall, they make great shelves for kid's books, making the books easily accessible from our big, comfy reading chair but also organized for mommy's peace of mind.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1425-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1198" alt="bow organizer" src="http://www.karolineskitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMGP1425-2.jpg" width="331" height="500" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Saw this idea on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/408490628674731807/">Pinterest</a>, too when I was looking for a way to organize the many hair bows that we have recently accumulated.  I wanted to make something that only utilized things already in my house without spending any money on it.  I had the frame lying around, and the paper was from O's 2nd birthday banner.  Buttons and ribbons were from my baby shower.  Voila: cute, organized and cheap.  O loves picking out her hair bow every morning from the cluster on the wall.</p>