The kids’ book situation in my house has reached critical mass.  Zack’s bookshelf is overflowing.  Emma’s basket of books is piled as high as Mount Everest.  Every day after nap time/quiet time, we have to pick up countless books that they’ve read and tossed on the floor while they were resting.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not complaining at all!  We developed their love of reading early on.  Zack is reading about 3+ grade levels ahead, and Emma is already identifying numbers and letters.  We’re proud nerds.

But, as far as organization was going, I needed something more than just a basket in Emma’s room.  I was cleaning up her room last week and decided that I should finally put away the crib rail that we took off the front of her crib (she’s the next Gabby Douglas, y’all).  I propped it up against the wall to get it out of my way, and then inspiration struck.

I just leaned that bad boy up by the rocking chair and tented books over the slats.  It’s very light weight, so I didn’t even bother to secure it to the wall.  I’ll be upgrading her to a “big girl” room shortly, so there was no need to make more holes in the wall if I didn’t need to.  She hasn’t even attempted to try to turn it over.

About 30 books fit on the crib rail bookshelf.  Emma can easily remove them, but she’s didn’t immediately know how to replace them.  We’re working on learning that now.

I’m just so pleased with myself and my little idea.  It’s so nice to have a project that you can pull off in 10 seconds.  Believe me when I tell you that doesn’t happen much around here.

I think Emma is pleased with it, too!

Do you have an extra crib rail lying around?  Try making an easy bookshelf!

Before the kids and I left for our crazy road trip, I tackled a few projects around my house.  One project that I just can’t wait to share with y’all is how I decorated the weird ledge above my front door.

If you remember from the previous post, the space is about 5 feet wide x 5 feet deep x 7 j tall. I certainly could have put a large vase or fake tree up there, but you guys know that’s certainly not my style.  Besides, if I was going to put a tree somewhere, it would be a very large, very dead one.

I woke up in the middle of the night one night with a brilliant idea.  It would be using something that I already had and didn’t have a place to store.  And, it would leave a lasting impression on my visitors.

Any guesses as to what it is?

It’s the Ikea Lillesand headboard and footboard, that used to be in my guest room, hung on its side.  We screwed some hooks into the studs in the ceiling and simply hung the bed from black decorator chain that I picked up from Home Depot.  On the rails, I hung Ikea Asker containers with spray painted Bygel S-hooks and stuffed the containers with divided Fejka plants.  The hardest part was hauling the headboard and footboard up the ladder.

Here’s a closer shot of the installation taken from eye level.

I think this look is so fun!  While my walls aren’t slated to be painted non-beige until next year, I can at least have something funky hanging in that space until then.