Awesome Star Wars Room on the Cheap

As promised the Star Wars room post.  This was a week long project with a bit of prep via ebay and internet searches.  It took many unexpected turns and is still not quite complete as we are waiting on some items to be delivered etc.  Our son was turning 3, and he is crazy about a few things, Star Wars being one of them, so we decided to completely remodel his room.  Actually moving his room to what was currently the office.  His room is not large, only 9x11 and he has a queen sized bed because we lay together as a family at bedtime for a story and if he has nightmares I crawl in with him.

The original plan was to build him an AT-AT bed.  However, that did not work out as my brother-in-law, the supplier of tools and expertise ended up in the hospital.  Luckily however, a friend gifted us a queen bed as they were upsizing to a king.  So that takes care of the bed.  

We used his old dresser and nightstand and painted them dark blue to match the walls and we removed the knobs, painted them yellow, to match the stars.  We left the tops wood laminate to tie in with the quilt.   We had found awesome star wars knobs on ETSY http://www.etsy.com/listing/67064810/star-wars-lego-wooden-knobsdrawer-pull-2 but at $38 for 4 we found we could get the lego mini figures and make our own for $5 or less each.  

There are Star Wars quilts and bedding available from Pottery Barn http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/star-wars-duvet-cover/ , but again I found a cheaper way.  I bid on vintage Star Wars sheet sets on Ebay.  My rule was they had to be less than $30 with shipping.  Two twin sheets makes a queen and you want a little extra or you can add another star or space fabric to round out the quilt.  I won one twin sheet set and one extra large twin sheet.   Between the 2 sets we had enough to make a beautiful quilt, valence and curtains!  All for $60 plus fill for the quilt which was $40.  I was lucky I had a queen sized light blue top sheet without a partner that I could use for a backing for the quilt and it matched perfectly!

For the walls we stenciled and hand painted large yellow stars then painted a rich dark blue around them on 2 of the walls, leaving the other 2 walls a very light beige.  We then stuck glow in the dark stars and planets that he had on the ceiling of his old room all over the 2 starry walls.  

We used a sheep skin rug we had in place of a Wampa rug and bought him a Darth Vader lamp $49 from think geek, giving him my first generation ipod to listen to through the speakers.  

Ro dug up all his old star wars toys and we ordered a lot of star wars war ships from Ebay to suspend from the ceiling.  We also found 9 glow in the dark planets to add at PMS Hobby Craft.

The end result is an awesome room that has our son thrilled to go to bed.  He loves his room and it has given us all so much peace.  It is the best gift we could have given him.

	Our Room	Pre Paid
Quilt	$80	$138.65 Pottery Barn
Curtains	Free (part of quilt)	$62.11 – 87.46
Lamp	$49	$49
Space ships	$20
dresser/knobs	$5.50 each	$9.50 each Etsy
Walls	$25.65	Wall Decals http://www.wall2wallstickers.com/s?keywords=star+wars&x=0&y=0&gclid=COOkj_7FvqoCFQcEbAodJm0X4g $14.99-49.99
Total	196.65	363.10 (On the high end)

We have plans to add to and continue to develop his room with small touches over time.

A Stampede Alternative

Well I failed on getting the blog post up last week as we were designing and prepping a little boy’s Star Wars room and birthday party.  For less than a queen Quilt set from Pottery Barn in Star Wars theme we were able to design and decorate a full room that had our son so excited his voice raised 2 octaves, which is very high for a 3 year old.  We gave him the room as a birthday present.  Yes a new room, paint, quilt, lamp, etc etc was his birthday present and HE LOVED IT.  He sleeps better, we sleep better it was a great gift. and I will post about it later this week with pictures and design details.

My sister, a mom of 6, yes 6, calls this her Stampede Alternative and we tried it this year , our son enjoyed it so much more and we enjoyed Stampede on our own.  So the deal is this, as an alternative to the midway, you head out to Calaway Park for the day, tickets are $17 at Co-op if you are not a season pass holder.  Then for the rodeo part you hit a small town rodeo, we went to Rockyford and our son was captivated, not only that he was able to PARTICIPATE, if you phone ahead there are often events such as mutton busting and catch and keep or something that the kids can actually participate in though they usually must be preregistered.  The fee for entry is usually $5 and the kids get a dollar or something for participating, bring a helmet!

These rodeos last all day and they have clowns and entertainment, usually decent food at reasonable prices but you can easily pack a cooler leave it in your card and go back and forth to feed your minions as required.  You even get to sit down for the price of a standing room only ticket to the Calgary Stampede Rodeo, not only that, but you will get to attend both the rodeo AND the chuck wagons or pony chariots. 

This will extend the fun over 2 days, save you loads of money, have you laughing and talking with people you just met and there are events at these small town rodeos that they just don’t have in Calgary along with all the normal events.  Yes there is Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc, Barrel Racing, there is also Wild Cow Milking, Wild Horse Race, Bull Soccer, Bull Poker and youth and children’s events.  The kids will get an up close look at the animals, you can walk around the infield.  It really is an experience you cannot get anywhere else.  

Many of these rodeos have campgrounds attached with lovely little playgrounds.  Really why not make a weekend of it?  Check out the links below to find the schedule for the upcoming rodeos and create your own Stampede Alternative.  Save money and make some memories!

http://www.wrarodeo.com/

http://www.freemanriver.com/local_events_barrhead_westlock_fort_assiniboine.htm

http://www.alberta.com/guides/rodeo/associations.html

Ride the Rails in Airdrie

We have been dating for almost two years now and are always looking for new experiences and outings to do as a family and a as couple.  So we have decided to start a blog focusing on events and outings to do as a family.  The blog will be updated once a week with a new adventure to try.

For this week we have 3 rides to give away to Iron Horse Park in Airdrie to the first 3 responders who follow us and tweet about our posting.  Rules are: you must be in the southern Alberta area.  Passes are good for one train ride (there is no admission fee) on  1 mile of track.  The ride lasts approximately 20 minutes.  

Iron Horse Park http://www.ironhorsepark.net is an amazing jewel located in Airdrie, Alberta.  I have lived in the Airdrie area all my life, seen the signs but never knew what it was.  It is a miniature train park with over a mile of track!  For $3 a ride, no admission fees you board a train small train straddling a bench and go on a train ride meant to recreate the journey from Calgary to Vancouver and back.  There is a “mountain”, tunnels, and ponds.  

There are usually 2 large trains and one small train (for children only, it does not require tickets) running.  It is open from 11-4 every Sunday from May long weekend to Thanksgiving.  It is also open on Canada Day after the Airdrie Canada Day Parade.  Ticket packages are available 8 for $20 or 25 for $50 and do not expire.  We find that 2 - 3 rides is usually enough and one of us stays at the station to act out goodbye’s and fond reunions while the other parent rides the rails.  The staff is amazing and curteous and on some Sundays there is a small “Toby” train that looks like Thomas’ twin brother.  

Not only is this a fantastic experience and fun outing but it is also in jeopardy.  Iron Horse Park leases the land from the city of Airdrie.  The park is in talks with the city but their lease may not be renewed.  This would be a tragedy to lose.  It is so reasonably priced, and such a wonderful escape that as parents I strongly encourage you to go enjoy a ride on us (tweet about us and be one of our first 3 new followers and we will send you a ticket to ride the rails) then call the mayor of Airdrie, Peter Brown Phone: (403) 948-8820 Email: mayor@airdrie.ca or alderman@airdrie.ca and tell him he must renew the lease.  We have lost our indoor play place, there is a lot we as parents need to travel to Calgary to enjoy, Iron Horse Park is something parents from Calgary come to Airdrie to enjoy!

Mark your calendars October 2, 2011 is steam engine day at Iron Horse Park.  Another track and more trains will be operational that day.  Come join in the fun!