Map of the World

I've decided I'd like to (tastefully) decorate Jack's room with maps. You know, to be all educational n'stuff.

While searching Etsy, I stumbled across this map and fell in love!! Does anyone else adore this as much as I do?!

Buy it here. For a steal at just $30, friends. I might just get one and save it?? (And Mom - wouldn't this be neat in your loft?)

DIY Watercolor Set

Genius! Here is a DIY watercolor set from onegoldenapple.

{I kind of wish I had kiddos that were old enough to appreciate this.}

The best part is, it's mess free and doesn't require jars of water.

Find instructions here.

Two things.

K guys. I really want to share two things, completely not related. Well, sort of unrelated.

Anyway.

One: How darling are these ABC stacking cubes?! My friend Lily showed them to me. I don't have Tyler convinced yet how perfect they are...he thinks they are "girly". (To which I pointed out that they clearly aren't. Upon closer investigation, he stated, "they aren't that bad". Again, it's a work in progress.)

But they're $12. How can you beat that?! I can picture my mom and dad playing with something similar to these when they were kids. My sister has a set of stacking cubes like these and her kids love them. I think they might make a good Easter present for Jack next year. Think he'll enjoy them by 5 months? Maybe by his first birthday? I suppose until then they would look really really good on a shelf in his nursery.

images via homemadebyjill

Two: I'm totally digging these homemade racecar crayons. I told my sister she should skip the candy and give these out for Halloween! (Hey, if you're going to be the weird ones on the block, you might as well hand out cool crayons instead of toothbrushes or dehydrated apple slices, know what I'm sayin'?) I think these would make awesome party favors. You could make them into any shape you wanted, granted they make a candy mold of it. I kind of want a set for myself.

Nightlight

I've really been wanting a nightlight in our hallway so I can make it safely to the baby's room in the middle of the night. 

(I know that sounds absolutely ridiculous, but it's really dark in the hallway and I mentally don't wake up very fast. And embarrassingly enough, I'm still a teensy bit afraid of the dark. Don't judge me.) 

The only problem is that we don't have ANY source of plug in the hallway. We might have to thread and extension cord from our bedroom and put a low-light lamp there or something. 

But if I did have a plug in the hallway, I'd buy one of these. It'd be perfect and would work anywhere in our home because the decor could change so easily!

XYZ Blocks

I am LOVING these alphabet blocks! They are clever and anything but ordinary. I could look at these for hours. Love the "AFRO" one.

We Do Erase!

Thought you ladies (& gentlemen) with children might like to know this useful tidbit!

Crayons work on dry erase boards.

NO WAY. Yes way. Find out more here.

DIY Mobile

Darling bird mobile, eh? If we were having a girl, I'd totally attempt this DIY project.

Find the tutorial and pattern here. (Pattern is on the left.)

I think Jack's room needs a mobile. Something interesting for him to look at, you know? It would get awfully boring staring at the ceiling all the time. :) Instead of the one above, I think I'm going to try my skills at a pinwheel mobile I found on Etsy. Cute, eh?

image via mamax2

ROBOTS!

Oh, how I wish for a little boy someday so he will love robots as much as I do.

I saw this on Ohdeedoh and fell in love.

image via ohdeedo

DIY

If you remember this post about Tyler and I's attempts at constructing our own bed frame (verdict: failure), and thought you could outdo us, you'll be happy to know of this website.

They make beds. And dressers. And shelves. And play kitchens for little ones. All from scratch.
How? They find images they love (mostly from Pottery Barn), and work their magic at duplicating it. And the best part is, if you're willing to spend the time and effort into making it for yourself, you could save over $600. (They recreated a twin bed—second one down—that retailed for $699, and made it for $80. Awesome.)

Maybe one day I'll get somewhat decent at using a hammer and save our family hundreds of dollars. New hobby, perhaps?
all images via Knock Off Wood