Things that don’t mix: oil and water. Toothpaste and orange juice. Icy driveways and me, walking.
Also: babies and beautiful home decor. And because I can’t send him back where he came from, and don’t want to, because he’s really pretty cute and I’m getting kind of emotionally attached…
… I have made one or two or five hundred home decor compromises in the last 11 months.
I did not replace my old, battered ottoman with a most fabulous round glass coffee table, even when it was listed for nearly nothing on craigslist and may have been my furniture soulmate.
I currently have what feels like miles of baby gates trailing through entire downstairs, and as much as I try, I cannot squint and convince myself that they are the picture of clean lines and a perfect accessory to complement my flooring.
And, I have a new Weston-sized aquarium tucked under my breakfast bar. Because when your little man giggles every time he sees an aquarium, PLUS you have a fabulous husband who will build one to order, you go with it. You get fish and put them in your living room.
And really? Andy did a fantastic job. You can’t make an aquarium look this good, built to custom size, for almost no money. How cute is this. Seriously.
See this face? Try telling him he can’t have his fishies. You can’t. You just can’t.
Yes, I would live in an outhouse – whose inside looked like an episode of Hoarders and featured plastic slipcovers on the sofa – for the giggles I hear when he checks out his fishies.
(PUKE. Sorry for the cheese, folks.)
Hi, I'm Kelly. Glad you're here! This little blog is where I chronicle our efforts to fix up our beaten-down home on a tiny budget. We're not there yet, but here's a peek at the view along the way...
Ok #1: what a cutie pie!!
#2: I think you have a little budding zoologist on your hands!
Great looking aquarium! I cant believe the hub's made it! Kudos! 🙂
Ditto on the aquarium–you have a talented man! No kids for us, yet, but I'll admit that I've already thought about how decor things will change once small people who are prone to eating and/or breaking things are in the picture. 🙂
I so relate to this post! Well, minus the fishies! That aquarium is really stunning, your hubby is so handy! The baby laughter is really the best sound in the world. It's so funny to find out what THEY think is funny.
Hi! Found you through Centsational Girl's blog, and I've spent the past hour catching up on your posts! 🙂
I'm so terrified of having to "baby proof" our house when our little one arrives! No more glass lamps and pretty accent tables full of breakables 🙂
Love it, Kelly! Tutorial???
Your son is adorable – and the good news is that they are (in my experience) mini-tornados for only a couple of years. My son is 4, and although we're nowhere near living in an all-white house, I have gotten to the point where I could safely give up our "they don't fit the room, but there's no way I'm replacing them just to get spit up/pooped on/jelly smeared/etc. etc." couches. It's also been my experience that at this stage of the game, there's really no predictability in what will get destroyed. My glass-topped dining table survived being hit with a golf club like a champ, but SEVERAL pillowcases have been massacred by to preschool art. So you might as well enjoy what you have.
Kai, thanks for the tips! That makes me feel better about my furniture – but now I'm starting to eye my pillowcases nervously. 🙂 PS – I LOVE your name!
You’re hysterical. This must have been before I became your #1 stalker, um, I mean, fan. For a smile that big, I think I’d have an aquarium in every room, so really you’re doing well. 🙂
I love the aquarium!!! You don’t happen to have design plans for it?
Thanks! I wish we took pictures and made a tutorial but I was totally lame and didn’t document ANYTHING or make any design plans. 🙁 Not cool! Basically my husband googled around how to build a cabinet, then plopped the 10-gallon aquarium on top. Sorry I can’t be more specific! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Is it attached to the wall?