I’ve been dying to decorate the bedroom next to ours for years. See, it’s been unused and unfurnished since we moved here 3-1/2 years ago (except for a makeshift bed that’s been used, oh, once).

We “staged” it when we put the house on the market last July (read: we added a tall wire plant stand with some pretty fake flowers to complement the makeshift bed). But clearly that just wasn’t enough.

Lately I’ve been so wrapped up in the paper chase for the adoption (literally) that it’s getting kind of stressful (as if you couldn’t tell). So, I decided to take some good advice from a wise soul in the adoption community. I’m going to channel my energy into something fun — something I can control — like…decorating the nursery!

Okay, “furnishing” is probably more like it. Since we’re on a budget (and possibly moving), we’ll have to hit garage sales and consignment shops and try to do this on the cheap-and-savvy. But, as new parents, we’re flying blind (almost, I do know about crib safety and government recalls).

So, have any suggestions? Things to keep in mind? Must-haves? Don’t-needs? The absolute essentials? Hints? Tips? Tricks? Especially for finding the best bargains without sacrificing quality? I don’t think we know anyone with hand-me-downs, so we’re starting from scratch. C’mon folks, share those crib notes!