What does one do when you can’t move to a new house…? Correct, you re-decorate. It has long been a passion of Mama’s and the husband’s to go and view open houses, look at model homes and generally just keep options open. We love our neighborhood but really, it’s fun to go inside and look at other people’s decor and inspire decorating ideas for yourself. Which is another reason Mama loves Pinterest — the design inspiration one gets from viewing those pictures!


Mama is 100 percent convinced that yes, indeed we need some sort of chalkboard wall in the house. However, after scanning the available walls…there isn’t one in sight that isn’t taken by some sort of VERY important furniture or a window. The next thought is to perhaps use chalkboard paint on a thrift store table for the playroom…or Mama has seen pictures of people painting it on the sides and insides of cupboards. Have you ever experimented with chalkboard paint?


So there’s a few re-decorating projects on the books for Mama this summer including changing around Baby Boy’s room to incorporate a new toddler bed, moving out the crib and changing table and perhaps adding those vintage airplanes Mama has had for over a year now. With Lily going to kindergarten, we’ve got to change out some of the things in her room to make it more “grown-up” (Mama has said “no” to the Justin Bieber posters — she’s 5!). Then there’s the biggest project of cleaning out our guest/craft room to make room for Baby #3…lots and lots of stuff to move around, get rid of, paint and just re-decorate.


Now it’s inspiration time…here’s what’s inspiring Mama for re-decorating:

I don’t know about you but for Mama when guests come from out of town it’s a mad dash to clean everything we own off the guest bed (which doubles as storage for all Lily-girl’s arts and crafts and Target shopping bags full of the stuff yet to be put away). While Mama usually tries to keep it clean most of the time, for some reason that room attracts all our stuff. So when guests are expected, it’s a mad dash to stuff everything on the floor and on the bed in the closets, clear the night stand and fluff the pillows.


We love having guests stay with us, we just wish they had more of an area to call their own. Often times Mama has thought about replacing the bed with futon or sleeper sofa to make the room more “functional” when guests aren’t here. However, Mama isn’t sure it will make that much of a difference when it comes attracting all the loose items that don’t seem to actually have a home of their own in our house. Because for many the “guest room” is also an office, a wrapping room, a storage area and sometimes, a playroom. 


With the Passover and Easter holidays approaching this week, many of us are expecting guests or perhaps may have an unexpected guest or two. When this happens, Mama likes to add a few touches to the room to make it seem more comfortable for the out-of-towners and the little touches make Mama seem like the “hostess with the mostess,” when really, it’s just a few odds and ends we already had on hand. Making seems look effortless is often the key to success, right?!

Bedside manners — adding a little bedside tray with a couple of books that they might like to read or magazines shows that you’ve taken the time to know their interests and how they might like to spend any downtime. Since we’re all busy Mamas and can’t possibly entertain 24-7, it’s nice to give them an option of something else to do while you take care of the day-to-day items. Trays can be found anywhere but Mama loves this one from WorldMarket.com for only $19.99. Adding chocolates could get you major brownie points…if that’s what you’re going for!


Drink-up — one thing about having guests is that you soon realize that they don’t do everything the way you would. For some of us control freaks that like the butter put back in the same exact spot and the towels folded just so, probably have minor freak outs while they are residing with you. One thing that drives Mama crazy is the water bottles. We have bottled water in the fridge but if we’re at home, it’s nice to drink out of a carafe and save the earth. Mama likes to put a carafe of water and a glass on the bedside table as well as the tray. Plus, you wouldn’t want anyone to go thirsty…right?! The monogramed Water Carafe is so elegant and reminds Mama of staying at a ritzy hotel, $34, at potterybarn.com.

Off the floor — our guest room doesn’t have a whole lot of room for guests to hang their clothes or wet towels for that matter. No-one wants to throw stuff on the floor so Mama found that hanging an over-the-door hanger solves that issue when guests come. They can still shut the door and keep all their clothes in one place and off the floor. You know Mama’s love-hate relationship with birds…but this rack is so cute that you can’t pass it up! Available at thecontainerstore.com, $24.99. Another idea is to hang an extra bathrobe that you might have — guests can’t pack everything they own!


Stock it like a hotel — since the husband travels so much, he’s always bringing home extra toiletries that we like to stock in a basket for when guests come. We only stock the quality stuff and discard it as guests come and go but it’s nice for them to know that they have lotions, shampoo, conditioner and bath gels at their disposal. Mama also buys the travel toothpastes and extra toothbrushes — just in case those got left behind as well.


Of course always make sure you have fresh linens and towels for your guests — nobody wants to sleep in dirty sheets and use wet towels. Oh, and hopefully these are guests you want to stay with you — Mama has had those guests before too!


How do you make your guests comfortable?

With spring in the air, Lily-girl and Mama decided it was high time to take care of those baby birds and animals that are starting to be born. Each morning we’re greeted with more “tweets” than we can count — not to mention more droppings than we can count on our front porch. While Mama could definitely do without the birds living anywhere near our house, Lily-girl seems to have a fondness for feeding animals, whether she likes them or not.


Last week, she came home with the lovely milk carton bird feeder. It’s the perfect project for preschoolers and grade schoolers. Directions: Take an empty milk carton or a pinecone and slather it with peanut butter or Crisco. Once it’s covered, take the pinecone or carton and roll it in a plate of bird seed to completely cover the sides of the carton or nooks of the pinecone. Hang with string from a tree and watch the birdies flock to your backyard!


If the milk carton feeder isn’t in your backyard decor plans, not to worry, Mama found some very stylish bird feeders that look stylish with or without bird seed.

This would great hung up almost chandelier-like and it’s also squirrel-proof. Available at Amazon.com, $35.63.

Mama has a love/hate relationship with birds. Ever since Mama can remember, Mama has been afraid of them. Not the kind of afraid where you can’t face it head-on but more like, they are going to peck Mama’s eyes out or fly right into Mama’s head (how can they see out of those little beady eyes!!). Recently when those 5,000 black birds fell dead out of the sky…Mama immediately went into panic mode — luckily, it was nowhere near where we live. Otherwise, we might still be holed up inside. 


It’s like any animal, they sense fear. So now a little turtledove or whatever kind of bird it is…has decided to take up residence in the vines above our porch. Right in front of the door. Please, oh, please birdie…DO NOT MAKE A NEST! The husband is doing his best in trying to lure it to the neighbor’s house instead of ours but, “Here birdie, birdie…over here,” doesn’t really seem to be doing the trick.


Once in the spring, a bird decided to take up residence in the wreath on our door. They made a nest and had two baby birds in there before we discovered where all the “tweeting” was coming from. The husband decided to move the nest to safety into a tree and proceeded to get his arms pecked by two angry bird parents. Which in all seriousness, Mama can absolutely defend. Would you want someone moving your home with your babies inside?


Long story short…beware of the birds on the outside because you never know where they are going to pop up. However on the inside when it comes to decor, feel free to put them anywhere and everywhere because they are so TWEETING CUTE!


Mama found a few that she can live with. Do you like faux animals in your house?

Tweet-up — Lily-girl wants a bird. This is all she’s getting. It winds up and sings and is really cute for the price and doesn’t poop! Available at LandofNod.com, $14.95.


Crafty birds — Mama is in the midst of trying to organize all of the craft materials in the house. You know a place for everything, everything in it’s place. So far…well, we haven’t made it so far but it’s definitely on the list. These labels are perfect for the baskets Mama has in mind. Available at PotteryBarnKids.com, $8 for two.

Bird Collector — need a present for the guy in your life? This is the perfect gift for the guy who has everything. Why? Because it’s useful and nice looking — which is hard to find in guy gifts (because electronics are not generally good looking but useful). It will be a fun little project for the kids to help Dad feed the birdie every night with loose change! Available at Zgallerie.com, $24.95.


Bird on a Wire — how cute are these little birdies? Especially when they’re holding up photos of those you love and adore. A great way to incorporate nature into your decor scheme. Cute for an office or playroom! Available at Zgallerie.com, $12.95.



Sticky birds — you already know how Mama loves wall decals. These bird decals are so chic for any room in the house. Use a few or use them all — that’s what is so great about wall decals. There are tons of bird designs to choose from, Mama just happened to like these “love birds.” Available at Amazon.com, $3.21.


Oh, and there’s always Twitter which Mama is quite addicted to. Especially late at night. You can tweet with me anytime…Mama is well…@EverydayMama!