Outdoor Summer Reading Nook Challenge with Pottery Barn Kids

Fun project alert!  A few weeks ago the folks at Pottery Barn Kids emailed me about creating a Summer Reading Nook for my girls and for their PBK and PBS Kids Summer Reading Nook Challenge.  5 other bloggers were included and we were given access to specific PBK staples for us to use in our nook,  the rest was up to us.

I don't know what doing Dylan’s room did to my brain,  I think it unlocked my inner daydreaming child, because right now everything I am doing sort of has the perspective of someone roughly 3.5 feet tall.  (what do you know, maybe I am a good mom…if you ignore all of the cereal/toast/ramen that happens in this house.)

So here is the thought process for this fun project.  I don't so much have a spot in my little house right now for a reading nook, so the obvious choice was to make something that was well,  not in my house.   When I told Court the plans he was like…”Dude.  This thing is going to be so heavy, and cost a million bucks,  can’t you just repaint a wall?”  To which I replied “I mean, I understand, but if you saw what I see in my head you wouldn't be able to shut it off either.  Plus its freaking Pottery Barn.”   

He then saw the light.

Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Doesn't it look like childhood in a jar?  I am SO in love with it, and more importantly my girls are too. 

The design is a mix of thrifted treasures (the light and accessories),  family heirlooms (the amazing oil painting by my Great Grandma),  handmade flair (obviously the pom pom tassels),  and Pottery Barn Kids Furniture.

(Bookcase / Rug / Beanbag / Dalmatian Bookend / Pink Task Light)

The build went really smoothly and I will have a quick tutorial with guidelines and info about the structure up this week. 

The canvas tent is made from a drop cloth, sisal rope, and grommets, and was SERIOUSLY simple.  And because you guys love to know the behind the scenes nuggets…the original plan was to use wooden dowels instead of the rope.  But then the whole, running, screaming, tag playing scenario ran through my mind and I knew we needed something that was a little more forgiving (as in forehead forgiving).  So rope it was!  If you are a hardcore Vintage Revival-er you will remember the curtains I made for Hailee’s Living Room with this same idea!

 

 

My favorite piece is the gray and white striped Rugby rug.

 

Of course my girls love the beanbag.  Also, Ivie’s hair?  Super jealous.

 

And what would be a photo shoot without a few Dylan Outtakes?

That girl will be the death of me.

Reading with my daughters is something that I cherish.  I love reading books that have a great lesson in them, like The Giving Tree.  My favorite series of all time though is Skippy Jon Jones.  I can do a MEAN Spanish accent Skippito.

So now do you want to know the really fun part?  The winning blogger will receive a $500 Pottery Barn Kids Gift Card to give away to one lucky reader!!  

Pop over and check out the other projects and get inspired!

Oh and while you are there, vote for your favorite Summer Reading Nook (I wont have hurt feelings if you love mine the most….)

 

If you are itching for more kiddie inspiration, check out Dylan’s Bedroom.

Or if you are in the market for something a little more grown up (I use the tern grown up loosely around these parts) check out my living room.

 

 

 

 

I partnered with Pottery Barn Kids and PBS to create this project.   Pottery Barn Kids sent me specific items to use in this challenge.  The project ideas, cost, and opinions are 100% mine.

Lets Talk Truncation

I know, I know that this isn't a post about a DIY project (next week is PACKED with them, so hang tight!) But I really wanted to have an open convo with you guys about the truncation question that so many of you took the time to answer.  HUGE FAT THANK YOU by the way. 

And since there are no pretty pictures to go along with this subject, here is a very awkward one from my photo shoot for the summer reading nook that is going up on Monday…leave it to Dylan.

  

Ok so back to the subject of truncation.  Roughly 95.5% of you hate it.  The other 4.5% are bloggers. (not an actual statistic, but totally what it felt like when I was reading through the comments.)

I loved The Ballard Family’s comment.

According to what many bloggers have admitted on their site, most of them do not spend the amount of time reading other blogs like the rest of us non-bloggers do, because they are busy working on projects or preparing their post for the day. That is probably why many of them that are going to the truncated posts (which I hate)for organization purposes or whatever reason do not find it as annoying because they aren't on the different sites as much as the rest of us.

I will admit that I don't have time to actively read blogs the way that I used to,  if I have a few extra minutes a day I am more apt to  respond to some comments (or play a few rounds of Candy Crush).   I also understand that while there are A LOT of bloggers that read my site, the vast majority of you are not bloggers.  You are who I try and write for.  I know that a lot of you come daily or every few days specifically to see the latest post, and your opinion takes precedence over any other type of reader.  So thank you for sticking around while I try and get this figured out!

There were comments about truncating the posts on a homepage and comments about truncating a feed.  I didn't realize that my feed was truncated when I shortened a post (SO FREAKING SORRY ABOUT THIS!!)  I am still trying to figure out how to fix it, so hang in there with me. 

Ok so that being said and while I don't speak for anyone but myself, this is what I think is happening.   It came up more than once about extra pageviews and money.  That absolutely may be somebody’s reason for truncating (other reasons may include,  page load time, site organization and overall appearance, etc.)  but it is not mine.  In fact if you notice, the only posts that I truncate currently are my big projects, usually a room reveal or a long tutorial,  you know, something really great.  The reason I truncate those posts is so that when they are pinned, they are pinned to the direct URL, not just to vintagerevivals.com.  (This is also why I asked how you pin from blogs).  The reason that I do it is purely selfish,  I would rather take the time to respond to one of your design dilemmas, than to send links to complete strangers that stumbled over here from Pinterest and cant find a specific post.

I totally get the extra time it takes to click over,  I am beyond grateful that you choose to spend a few minutes of your day with me (really, it makes me grin like an idiot). 

So how do you think we can come up with a solution?  If I post the full post on my homepage, do you want me to throw up a reminder at the end of it to click the link for those that decide to pin it?  Would you be more willing to use the pin it button or the hover button to pin it because those pin to the permalink?   Am I way to worried about this because you guys are responsible pinners?

A few of you mentioned having the latest post in full context and then posting excerpts from a few of the other ones,  do you have a yay or a nay about this?

As far as the pin it hover button goes, I know mine has issues…but I have NO CLUE how to fix it.  Its one of those things about being self taught on Blogger that gets a little hairy.  I am not an HTML ninja unfortunately.  But once everything is migrated over that will be fixed too!  (for now you can usually click on the left side of an image and it will pull up the correct link.)

Thoughts?  Comments?  Critiques?  Lay ‘em on me.  For reals, I don't write just to hear er…read myself talk.  I write for YOU, and I want your feedback to help make this one of your favorite spot on the interwebs.  If you feel like something has gone awry I want to know, feel free to email me any time.  Do you have a great idea for a series?  Send it over! 

In other news, as most of you know Google Reader is being laid to rest on 7/1.  If that is your preferred reader you may want to get your feeds transferred elsewhere before they are gone forevs.   Everyone has different plans, I am switching over to Bloglovin.   You can follow Vintage Revivals here if you so choose.

I think you guys are fab.  That is all.

Fab Finds For EVERYONE!

You know when you see something AMAZING on your favorite blog ahem, Vintage Revivals and then you find out that it was a thrift store score, and you are like, “But I want that too.” (insert puppy pouty face)

Well turn that pouty face from me to your husband, because I have a fantastic round up of my latest obsessions on Fab.  Sometimes I look at things and think, can I pull this off?  And I know that I am not the only one that feels like that, I get your emails!  These are a few of my favorite finds that I PINKY PROMISE you can pull off.  Trust.  They are only available for a short time so you are going to want to act fast.

1.  Paris print

2. Crocheted Dome Pendant Light

3.  Pillow of my dreams

4.  Mid Century Buffet (it totally reminds me of the desk in my living room!)

5.  White Wire End Table.  I am picturing 2 in my Master, what do you think?!

6.  Raw Wood Mushroom Table.  LOVE the unique shape.

7.  Tufted Rug

 

8.  Pink Tumbling Block Rug

9. Spectrum Umbrella.  This umbrella makes me want to plan our family pictures around one of the 3 rainy days a year in St. George.

10.  State Prints

11.  Don't you thing Wallace the Boston Terrier would look like such a dapper dude in this Bow Tie Collar?

12.  Totem Pole Print

13.  Sea Urchin Specimen Print.  Just like the one I used here and the one I used here!

14.  Triangle Throw.  2 words.  Marry Me?

15. Op Art Magnets.

So guess what?!  Now we can be twinners!  Pop on over to Fab to register for a free account and access to deals that make your mind explode!  What item is your favorite? Or do you have a Fab score you want to show off?  Leave your link in the comments!