Bellissimo!

It's Saturday morning and I am in here blogging. What I really need to be doing is cleaning out Brooke/Baby room. Jay and I have been on a shopping frenzy! We haven't spent a lot of money - mostly just shopping. We have decided we are ready to get the nursery ready. Partly because we like to be prepared but mostly because believe it or not Jay and I enjoy shopping and even decorating together. I know it sounds strange but it works for us. Now is probably a good time to mention that J also enjoys video games and lots of sports oh and beer. Everyone feel better now??
So...as you probably can guess J & I have been talking and dreaming about this nursery for the last 8 years (or close) and now we are at a point in our lives and baby quest that it is time to actually start putting something together. It feels a little bit like trading spaces because we have a very limited budget and we have to work with an existing room and existing furniture...mostly. If this wasn't difficult enough we are working without knowing the gender of our future child. I know lots of people do that in normal pregnancy situations but it is not easy. When we were going through our first IVF attempt, we stumbled across some great bedding - it's Starry Night by Wendy Bellissimo and it is well.....bellissimo! It is white and yellow and blue blocks with one little white embroidered star that says "Little Star." Maybe I will add a pic later. We also have a crib - a gorgeous, gorgeous rubbed white Ragazzi crib. Tres Bellissimo! Now here is where it gets a little more difficult - we have to keep Brooke's bed obviously but we are also keeping her desk and dresser - everything else is going. Her bed is black and pink and the dresser and desk are yellow with zebra knobs. UhOh! Did I mention the huge zebra rug??? That's ok - we love a challenge. We are trying to spend very little money and concentrate our funds where it matters - to me, a big, fluffy ivory chenille rocking chair matters most. J is not convinced but can't say too much since I have offered to pay for it out of my own "secret" savings account. Guess only time will tell.
J went and brought home paint samples Thursday night. 300 paint samples! 3-0-0! We narrowed it down to 5 favorites and finally down to one. Laura Ashley's Pale Apple. It is kinda of a pale green meets pale yellow with brown undertones. Bellissimo! We went yesterday to Lowes to check it out, price it etc. Wouldn't you know we picked out the most expensive paint they carry of course they said it was also the best quality. Go figure. We haven't bought it yet but will soon - probably won't paint until next weekend. We also picked out white wooden blinds. I think they will look so good with the white wood crib. One might even say......Bellissimo!
Back to the rug - it is time to set the zebra free - although not really free, it is definitely going in the garage sale! We have been rug shopping for longer than I would want to admit. Yesterday we went to Jabara's and in true Jay and Jenn fashion ended up creating a custom designed rug. We have all the pieces purchased we just need to find someone to stitch it together. Seriously Bellissimo.
So back to the reason I am in here blogging - Brooke's room is a MESS! Not her fault - she has a LOT of stuff. Her closet is packed from floor to ceiling - I have no idea where we will put it all - it is all stuff we or she never use. or atleast practically never. We need to get all of our paperwork sent off so we can concentrate on this garage sale. It is going to be HUGE! My plan today is to just jump in and get her room and closet cleaned out and ready to paint and decorate. I have already consolidated her dresser to make room for baby - now I just stop this insanely long blog and get to work! Oh by the way, Brooke is not getting left out of this remodel - she is getting a new bed (if we can ever find one) and she already got new cute cute striped sheets and a new quilt! I am also saving some of her favorite personal things like her pink B robe hanger and her snow globe collections.

OK, I think I have stalled long enough - time to get back to work!