Pine Tree Home

Guest Room: Painted Furniture with Chalk Paint

2012-01-24T17:16:00.000-05:00

I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with the furniture in the guest room. I purchased the dresser from an antique store years ago, the headboard I bought at a garage sale soon after and the vanity table was taken from my parent's home recently. I had painted and distressed the dresser and vanity white years ago, but I wasn't sure if that was the look I was going after for this room.

After I stenciled the wall, with a burst of late night energy, I dug into my paint supply and brought out the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Duck Egg Blue. I had wanted to use it for the desk in the pool house but that didn't work out as planned.

Late last Saturday night, I started painting the vanity table. I loved the deep, rich teal blue. (Check out the Ballard Design catalog and the teal walls!)

What I wasn't sure of what the texture of the paint. It is very matte and very chalky. I painted the dresser and called it a night.

On Sunday, I decided to wax over the pieces with Annie Sloan Clear Wax. I rubbed it on with the brush and quickly wiped it off. It gave it a deeper finish. What I wasn't happy with was some of the brush marks. I tried to sand the piece, but it only made the finish chalky, more so without wax, but some with the wax. I then mixed a little paint on a dish with about a tablespoon of water, so it made almost a wash. I brushed that all over the pieces and let it dry.

This is where I became satisfied. I quickly painted the headboard in the same fashion and knew I was pleased with how it all looked. I would use ASCP again. I'd add a little bit of water to make it not so thick going on. What is great about it, is that no primer, no sanding needed. It goes on fast and dries very quick.

For kicks, this is what the room looked before. Total Hot Mess.

And now I walk in here and use the space in the morning. Who says it only has to be used with guests? I sit at the vanity table and put my makeup on, walk to the dresser and pick out my jewelry. I smile to myself when I walk into this room.

I have some more to do. Curtains, Mirror, Closet update, Throw Pillows....

You'll notice I moved some things from the other bedroom into here, the necklace hooks, the lamp, the jewelry organizers.

I used Rub N Buff in Silverleaf over the handles. They had already been washed in white paint, so I dabbed some Duck Egg paint on them and then used the Rub N Buff to highlight them. Very Chic, no?

Guest Room: Stencil Wall

2012-01-22T20:46:00.000-05:00

I busted a serious move this weekend and worked non-stop on the guest room.

My stencil came back out and I gave it a college try again. Here's a peak at all the other madness that's been going on too.

Truth be told, I wasn't jumping for joy when the wall was stenciled, but Hubs encouraged me to wait until everything else in the room was pulled together. I am a highly visual person and at first look I tend to make quick decisions. Knee jerk like.

I ended up working on a whole lot of stuff while "using what I got".

The furniture ended up getting painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint...more on that later in the week.

My stencil was from Cutting Edge Stencils.

I ordered this bad boy up in hopes of using it in the office, but you all know how that went.

So first thing, I top coated the wall color Friday night. Giving the whole room a clean, scuff free base.

On Saturday morning, the stencil went up.

I used White Dove by Benjamin Moore in Matte finish. It's what I had on hand.

The stencil process goes by relatively fast, but to do this one wall did take me about 4-5 hours. I would roll on and replace the stencil about 4 times. After that, the stencil gets tacky and I could tell it was time to rinse it. I put mine in the bathtub and power sprayed the paint off. I would then lay it down on a bath towel and pat it dry. I did this I think 4 or 5 times while stenciling the wall so that is what caused some down time. Well that and the fact I wanted to eat lunch, read some blogs, blah blah. So 4-5 hours with a little puttering going on.

At this point, walking into the room from the hallway, I was pleased. It looked good. It looked like wallpaper and gave the room some life. I will tell you I have major OCD when it comes to symmetry. It's really bad. I should have done a mock up of where the stencil would run across the wall and adjusted so that it would have been perfectly spaced. I had bent the stencil so that I could run the pattern all the way to the edge. I hated it. It wasn't crisp and I almost threw in the towel wanting to paint right over the whole thing. In the end, I painted over the stencil on the very far right of the wall. You can see it in the first picture. I ended up leaving a little bit of wall color around the left side and right side of the wall. It's a personal preference and I just like it better that way. OCD rules.

I wish I had a three day weekend, but manic Monday approaches. Have a great one.
P.S. The painting is from Grandpa's. I found it laying around and it's the one thing that I took so far that didn't make it into the garbage. I had no idea how great it would look in this room. I thought I was going to put it in my office, but the colors, the theme, the frame, everything fits in this room. It's signed MARIO. That's my Grandpa's name too. He jokes that he painted it. I know better.

Office: IKEA Alex Storage Drawers

2012-01-17T16:07:00.000-05:00

While in Philadelphia before Christmas, Hubs and I stopped off at IKEA to buy the storage pieces I'd been eyeing for the office. I was initially interested in another drawer unit, but once I saw it, it wasn't as beefy and sturdy as this one. I decided to splurge and buy the tall Alex until along with the two Expedit bookshelves. While this unit had what felt like a bazillion pieces to put together, I am VERY happy with it. The drawers roll smoothly, it matches the Expedit shelves and holds everything I wanted it to. Warning though- The unit is HEAVY. I tried to shimmy it myself across the room and it was a battle.

All my Cricut supplies in one place.

I bought these utensil organizers on the clearance rack in Lowes. Love the chrome and they fit the Alex drawer perfectly.

A place to keep all my scissors and other large items. Love that belt hole punch.

Sewing supplies for the machine and serger.

What is nice about the unit is that there are 5 shallow drawers and 4 deep drawers. I was able to fit my office supplies in the deep drawer.

Again, so happy everything has a place.

Office

2012-01-15T17:07:00.001-05:00

Hope you all had a great weekend. It's COLD here in NJ so it's perfect to get all those indoor projects done. My office space is close to done and I've been keeping it nice and tidy for the last week. You all shared my pain when I hated the stenciled wall and decided to quickly paint over it. Yikes, talk about a bummer, but I am in complete love with the new space.

Soothing sage green wall paint- just because I love this color.

White Ikea Expedit shelving- best invention.

Lots of Ikea Kassett storage boxes- overstuffed with everything from CDs to fabric.

Tall Ikea Alex storage drawers- keeping all my sewing, office and craft supplies.

Binders for filing paperwork- because it works for me.

Books all in one place- they've been sitting in a closet for many years.
Color coded because I'm silly like that.

Sleek Modern Target Lamps- bought on a whim.

Ikea Dokument Paper Trays- because I pile before I file.

Right now I like the simple lines of everything, but over time I'll add some drapes and some wall art.
My big table is perfect for cutting fabric, wrapping presents and of course sorting through paperwork.
It's my very favorite spot to blog too!

A place for everything and everything in its place.

Purging the Clutter, Keeping the Memories

2012-01-14T21:39:00.000-05:00

I worked up at Grandpa's house again today. We sorted enough stuff to put another 12 bags, boxes of books and a pile of metal to the curb. The "scavenges"(that is what he calls them) came to pick through the garbage by mid afternoon and the curb was only left with some bags, cardboard and full blown trash.

Over the last few weeks, I can see Grandpa's attitude change. His spirits are just a tad happier and I chalk that up to less clutter in his life. Today when I walked in, the dining room table was spotless. It was shinny, nothing but a candle in the center. The chairs were pushed in and not a piece of junk was spotted.

I couldn't believe it. For as long as I can remember, there was always junk on it. I know how easy it is to have stuff pile on the table. It you saw mine right now, I'd be embarrassed. Tables are notorious for being catchalls.

Grandpa was so proud and I was so proud of him. He said he is finally using the spare bedroom as an office, just as he always intended it to be. There is a desk and filing cabinet in there!

That's me and Grandpa. How do you like the bowl cut, like I am a boy? My mom never let me grow my hair long until I was 5. I think she got fed up with it then too, because soon after all my other pictures I have short hair again.

I am blessed with the time that I am spending with Grandpa. We are sorting through junk, but also coming up on old pictures, that stir up all kinds of memories. Those pictures, those memories are what matter. All the stuff in between just turns into garbage at some point and I'd rather leave it to the "scavenges" anyway.

Window Trim- Office

2012-01-13T22:11:00.000-05:00

I have wanted to do this for a really long time!

Trimmed out window! Sigh. Breathe. Huge Smile.

Eventually we'll be getting new windows and I'll trim them out proper with wood inside the frame and thicker wider moldings. BUT for now...a little change.

My sills are not coming out right now, but 1x2 poplar trim boards matched up pretty good on the sides and a 1x3 across the top. Much better.

You can check out where I started when I decided to repaint and decorate my office space. I'll be sharing the office reveal over the weekend. Love my Expedits. Love the paint color. and I scored two great lamps from Target- Love that place. Talk to you over the weekend. Hope you rock it!

Sharing a Little

2012-01-12T21:48:00.000-05:00

Joining on in from my gal friends blog. (My Nanny used to say that).
Learn a bit about me and share some about you. Post your link in the comments.

current guilty pleasure: Chai Tea with extra milk and cream.
current nail color: Spackle and Paint.
current playlist: Lots of The Band Perry
current read: How Starbucks Saved My Life, Michael Gates Gill
current drink: Water. Blah.
current food: Potato Cauliflower Cheese Soup
current favorite show: Pickers
current wish list: Toasty Puffy Coat
current needs: Clean House- Purge it Baby
current triumphs: Lots of laundry done tonight
current bane of my existence: Finding great pair of jeans
current celebrity crush: Oh come on, has to be Clooney
current indulgence: Cheese and Wine before dinner, new thing.
current blessing: Hubster
current outfit: Mustard yellow boatneck top and dark rinse jeans (they are too long)
current excitement: Weekend!
current mood: Indifferent. I was grumpy about 30 minutes ago!
current link: Meeting new friends at this party

Kick It into Gear Party- Updating the Guest Room

2012-01-10T21:37:00.000-05:00

I'm joining Linda. I'm scared. It's not like I don't have a handful of other projects going on, but I desperately need to get my guest room organized and beautified. I've been talking about it way too long and it just makes me sad when I walk by...so here it goes. On a plan to kick it into gear and get 'er done.

The room is teeny tiny, like 10x10, but the closet juts into the room killing some precious space.

I want to do a wood/trim treatment on the walls. Not sure yet what.
I want to paint over the blue ceiling and go all out plum purple and yellow in this room...but then I really like purple and navy too. Decisions. Decisions.

The dresser drawers on the bed are from an unmatched dresser that has since been moved out of the room desperate for a new place in the home. The dresser on the back wall matches a vanity table and headboard that I have. I just need to decide on paint colors and quick. I am also toying with the idea of getting a trundle bed, but the funds just may not support this.

This piece of trim has been flapping in the breeze for about I don't know 3, 5 years now.

I finally dragged the compressor into the room. Like it was so heavy!

My closet is a home for lost items. Luckily there is not a lot in there, but I do want to eventually take the wire shelves out, install full width wood shelves and maybe take the door off. Maybe. I want to store blankets, linens, etc neatly folded in here. We'll see.

Can I do it? I need help. What do you envision?

Inspiration: Be Your Self

2012-01-09T19:53:00.000-05:00

Source: liferearranged.com via Casey on Pinterest

I know I'm due to post some pictures showing the progress of the craft/sewing/office room, but I happened upon this and just had to share. I have young women in my life that I wish I could shout out loud to that this is truly what it is all about. Forget the boys, forget the clothes, forget the chatty friends. If I knew then how true this simple little quote is...Pass it on.

2012: Simplify

2012-01-08T19:07:00.001-05:00

Source: sororitysugar.tumblr.com via CallieS on Pinterest

Simplify. That is my word for 2012. Nothing spectacular, used I am sure 1,000 times by others, but I am in the mood to bring it down a notch. Keep it simple. Delete. Simplify.

This morning started out lazy. Up around 9am and warmed to a bowl of oatmeal. Coupons were clipped and email was checked. Because the weather is warm and lovely here this weekend, Hubs and I decided to take a late morning run. It's been a long while for me. Gosh. I think since maybe September or October. I've been caught up in a lot of family drama, home projects and day to day work that running was put on the back burner. Way back like I had to dig my sneakers out of the closet. Not to mention, the weather got cold.

The run today was hard, but great at the same time. The wind was blowing and I had to pull my hands into my sleeves to keep them warm. I ran until my legs would no longer go any more. I didn't even wear my Garmin to track my heart rate or tell my time. It was "deader than a door nail" when I tried to power it up. Shrug, who cares. Simplify. Who needs a heart monitor every single time. Just run.

I powered myself up with a protein shake and off Hubs and I went. The sun was bright, the air crisp. My mind was clear. My iPod played a shuffle of The Band Perry, Avett Brothers, Bruce, Amy Grant and The Band. Wacky Mix, but hey, shuffle it up baby.

After a quick lunch, I checked blog land and saw that I had a bunch of comments on my post about getting rid of things...strikes a lot of us. Join me and simplify your life. Day by day, bit by bit.

P.S. Did you love Little House books as much as I?

Get Rid of the Clutter

2012-01-07T20:29:00.000-05:00

Source: storiesfrommyday.com via Casey on Pinterest

Wowza what a week. A short work week but jam packed none the less. My brain hurt by the time this morning rolled around.

I've been tackling little projects here and there. I still have the bug the declutter my closets. I tell ya, working at Grandpa's sure put things in perspective. If I'm going to end up throwing it all in the trash one day, what is the point!

Grandpa and I tossed 16 more bags worth of junk into garbage bags today. Such a trooper.
These were the 3 questions he kept asking out loud:
How many things does one person need?
Where did you find THAT?
Do you want it? (cracked up every time)

When it came time to sift through things that were of sentimental value, I could tell he had to really think about some things, but in the end, it went into the garbage. He knew he had the memories and the items were just collecting dust, taking up space and not being used anymore.

We are almost out of the TOSS phase of this clean up project. Next is to pack up items for donations and then deep clean the joint.

P.S. I sent 4 more bags to the Goodwill out of my own closets this week and pitched two bags into the trash.

Organization: Letting Go

2011-12-31T18:18:00.000-05:00

My grandfather is moving out of his home and Hubs and I helped clean house this weekend. The motto of the day was Let It Go. I am so proud of Grandpa because he held back nothing. He's lived in his house for over 50 years and has been widowed taking care of it himself for the last 25. Needless to say, there was a lot of garbage, Goodwill and cleaning to do. Hubs took a first stab at the yard and Grandpa and I tackled the inside.

14 contractor garbage bags later we called it a day. Grandpa was my inspiration today to look forward, not hold on to things and just remember the good memories. Once home to my own house tonight, I marched right into the hall closet and cleaned out 3 junk bins. Old things I thought were keepsakes. They were just space hoarders. Grandpa taught me today that it is ok to LET IT GO. While we have much more work to do, it was a great first step.

Hope you embark on your own organization goals in 2012.

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenie on Pinterest

Power of Paint: Craft Room

2011-12-27T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. Hubs and I spent the first part of the week enjoying some R&R in Philadelphia. A few days away, eating great food, shopping and spending some quality time together was a perfect start to a very busy holiday weekend. We stayed at the Hotel Palomar right near Rittenhouse Square...I highly recommend. It was my best experience staying at a hotel, ever. The rooms were extremely clean, modern and very stylish. The staff was exceptional and the food was delicious.

So I have a huge problem of starting a project right when I have a thousand other things to do. I decided I wanted to redo my craft/sewing space. I purchased a stencil, slapped some white paint on the walls and decided to give the stenciling a whirl. Here is what happened.

BEFORE

STENCIL WALL

I loved it. I hated it. I was torn what to do next. I took a night of rest and decided I had a love hate relationship with how it turned out.

I loved the stencil. I loved the effect of wallpaper it gave. While it wasn't exactly easy to do, it wasn't nearly as hard as hanging wallpaper.

I hated the yellow. I thought the other walls were too blah in the rest of the room. The new white IKEA Expedit shelving just didn't look great against it. The yellow cast a dreary color on the shelving, in all kinds of light.

In a fit of flurry, I busted out my trusty sage colored paint (used in the Laundry Room and Bathroom) and rolled right over that lovely stenciling. I was anxious, but when I stood back, I knew I was back in love with the room.

ROLLING PAINT OVER STENCIL

Right now I am in the middle of painting all the walls and assembling the last shelving unit. Check back to see how it turns out. AND...I have high hopes to stencil again, but with a much more muted paint pallet.

Music Studio: Sound Treatment

2011-12-11T21:02:00.000-05:00

Ok, this is a little bit of change from what I typically blog about, but I just have to share. Mainly because I think it is starting to look awesome and there just isn't a lot of inspiration when you Google the web.

Hubs is doing a little bit (ok, a lot of) sound treating to his basement studio. You see, he's a musician. When he comes home from cutting down really big, humongous, scary, I tell him to be careful type of trees every day, he putters away at making music in his man cave.

It was about time that he kicked things up a notch and treated the space.
What did that entail? Well, for one, he is a research-aholic, so he found that Aurlex would give him a mock up of what it would take to treat his room and what materials it would require.

After a few weeks of working it out, all the material arrived.
To say I was less than thrilled is an understatement...just because the material was ugly, boring, and I can't believe this is what all the fuss was about.

Hubs was right there with me and had all these ideas of what to do to make the material not look so blah.
He has great vision, but I on the other hand, need to see the end result.

After a lot of testing and trial and error, he found the perfect paint to cover the plastic T fusers. It's a coppery brown that does add a bit of space age feel to the room, but I think they look night and day better than the blah white they came in.

Each one did take a whole can of spray paint to cover, but I think it was totally worth it. So for all you music makers out there, stay tuned...
More to follow on the studio soundproofing. A month long project with a lot of DIY!

Sewing Room: Inspiration

2011-11-27T20:38:00.000-05:00

All this sewing I have been doing has me craving an organized space.

Take a look at these fabulous rooms.

I don't have a fabric stash like this, but I am loving this ironing table.

What a great space to spread out the goods and iron away.

Source: tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com via Casey on Pinterest

Share me some Expedit love. I am seriously considering hopping in my car and loading these bad boys up.

Source: ourfinds.marthastewart.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Casey on Pinterest

Sewing: Chair Cushions

2011-11-26T16:27:00.000-05:00

I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving!

I've gotten a second wind and finished one of the cushion sets that I am working on.

I have a big ole pile of coordinating fabric and this zebra print is the one I decided on very last minute.

I love it. It's fun and just the look I was going after.

I got smart after attempting this cushion for the third time.

I used a seam ripper and carefully tore apart the existing cushion cover.

I traced it onto my new fabric and meticulously (hahahaha) mirrored the original.

Luckily this print hides my sewing imperfections, but overall, it's fabulous.

I spruced up my hand made sign from a cabinet door with a fresh coat of bright, fuchsia spray paint.

I think this little project has HUGE impact and all for a few bucks for the paint.

Onward to the 9 other cushions I have to whip up! Anyone want to help?

Painting a Desk- Update

2011-11-21T16:40:00.001-05:00

I am very happy to tell you that my disaster of a desk has had a turn for the better. I almost threw in the towel on this project, but a little more elbow grease and lots of patience, I was able to salvage this little beauty. I used the citrus stripper on the desk over the course of a week. I just kept painting it on, letting it sit for an hour and then scraping it off. I got to the point where it looked like it was ready to sand, but I quickly found out that that there was this sticky residue that clogged up my sanding pads. Back to research....right on the back of the bottle, it tells you to use odorless mineral spirits. Off to Home Depot.

I rubbed the mineral spirits all over the desk top, let it dry and then sanded away, first using a course grit paper, then following up with a fine grit. I almost decided to nix the painting and stain the desk top, but quickly came to my senses that this wasn't the look I was after.

I had made a run to our Benjamin Moore dealer over the weekend to get a few gallons of paint for other projects and decided on a last minute whim, to get a teal blue mixed up in a pint sample. It is the perfect shade and way more than I ever needed for this desk top. To my delight, the paint goes on like butter. I love Ben Moore paint, no idea why I ever skimp in this area. Laziness sometimes.

Benjamin Moore 2052-40 Blue Spa at MyPerfectColor

To prep the desk top, after sanding, I wiped it down to remove the dust with a very lightly dampened rag. I let it dry then sprayed on Kilz oil based primer. I never used this before and I was very iffy at first, but you know what? Total time saver. Good coverage and went on quick. I had to make sure I shook the can extra long though because at first it started to come out a little thick.

I let the primer dry according to the directions, I think it was just under 2 hours, then lightly sanded with a 320 grit sanding block which I ran under water and rung out beforehand. The primer did have this sort of chalky texture to it, but once sanded it was super smooth. I then mixed in Floetrol to my paint and used a large Purdy brush to apply the colored paint. I did end up doing two light coats, one right after the other. I was getting a little damp out and if I had mustered up a little more patience, I would have waited a day to put on the second coat. However, I did do another light sand a day later with 320 grit sanding block and then adding a third coat and the color turned out just beautiful. I am going to let it dry real good and then I will be top coating it with polycrylic (first time ever using it). I'll let you know how it goes!

Oh, see the mess...making cushions, moving furniture...love the yellow mirror in here. Soon it will all come together. See how the turquoise desk picks up the pond in the painting? Fun surprises like that make my day.

Jewelry Organization

2011-11-14T13:38:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I get an idea in my head and just try it out...live with it. I was in a deep clean mode this weekend in our bedroom. Getting all the dust bunnies out, ironing all the clothes, making a pile for Goodwill, putting winter linens on the bed...the whole nine yards.

I've wanted a place where all my jewelry could be in one place as well. Wow, I didn't even realize how much I had until I did this. I love costume jewelry, the funkier it is, the more I like it. I have lots of hand me down necklaces and earrings from my grandmother too. They don't make costume jewelry like that anymore! She even made many of the beaded necklaces that I have.

I put all of my bracelets in the tiered stand that I purchased from Ikea last year. My earrings are in little white dishes that I bought at the Christmas Tree Shop (must get some more of those. They have so many uses). My necklaces are hung on a hook set that I repurposed from my bathroom.

Also, We have shoes scattered all over the house and in an effort to keep them in one place, I pulled out these shoe organizers that I had in one of the closets. They are dated and from one of the big box stores many years ago. They aren't the greatest looking of pieces, but I wanted to see what the space was like with them. If I decide I like this set up, I would beef them up with trim and a top shelf.

In the midst off all of those black shoes, I have a pair of ruby red ones. Don't judge. I wear them often.

So for now, I am deciding if I like this set up...Happy Monday to you.

Painting a Desk- Disaster

2011-11-10T18:13:00.001-05:00

What happened?

I think it could have been a couple of things.

Cheap spray primer over the chalk paint.

Damp drying conditions.

Bad luck.

Testing my faith in painting furniture.

I went to lightly sand to apply a second coat of the turquoise paint and it started peeling up in large chunks.

I then decided to just strip the top down and start over.

Here is the in process view of using the paint stripper and the many coats that came up.

If there is any silver lining in this debacle...I can smooth out some of the imperfections that I didn't care about before and add a coat of glossy paint back on.

Painting a Desk

2011-11-09T22:41:00.000-05:00

Today has been one of those two step forward and two steps back kinda of days. I actually feel like it has been that kind of week. But hey Enjoy Life, right?

I've been working on this desk for months. My husband and I swapped desks and I knew I wanted to paint this one. I had intentions of distressing it and putting on some Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. I may be the only one in blog land that doesn't LOVE this paint. I mean I like it...I can envision it on some great pieces of furniture, but I just didn't like it on this desk. I tried to distress the heck out of it thinking I may like it more. Instead it just looked beat up.

So anyway, after I picked up my rattan set and knew I was going for a fun, bold color type of room, I decided to scratch the Annie Sloan Paint and go all out color and gloss. Hubs encouraged me to go for it.

Two cans of white spray primer. I used what I had, either from Depot or Lowes.

Primer over the chalk paint. I then spray painted the legs in White Gloss. The desk top I wanted to be bold. I toyed with yellow or turquoise and this is what won. Of course, you know there is always some drama, I only had one can of my favorite Bahamas Sea. I thought no problem, coat it up and go pick up some more. Do you know I can't find it ANYWHERE?

So, I ended up getting a quart of semigloss mixed up as a close match in Home Depot. One coat went on today and I'll see how it looks with another coat tomorrow. Oh the drama....and P.S. I spent most of tonight fitting my box cushion and then using my seam ripper to tear it up. I decided I wanted a snugger fit, so I am adjusting my seam allowance. I'll share how I figured out what 5/8 vs. 1/2 means....

Sewing: Box Cushions with Zippers

2011-11-08T14:09:00.001-05:00

Here are some in progress shots of my madness. The room is an absolute mess, but it seems like every room in my house this week is a mess. Does that happen to you? You just walk around the laundry baskets, push the papers around the desk, don't feel like putting away the crock pot that has been cleaned on the counter for days? It is one of those weeks. I think it's the daylight savings...threw me all off and put me into hibernation mode. Dark out at 5pm...totally throws my world off and I want to crawl into bed.

You can spy the fabric combos that I am using. Plan is to cover the couch in the green with yellow and turquoise accents. I want to cover the chairs in the bolder prints.

I am still tweaking the cushions a I want to get rid of that ripple in the middle. I am going to see once I sew the bottom panel if the cushion tightens up or if I need to add batting or maybe even alter my seam allowance.

Sewing: Box Cushions

2011-11-07T23:45:00.001-05:00

I have been heads down learning how to sew box cushions for a rattan set that I picked up off Craigslist. It has been fun. It has been frustrating. I have had "ah hah" moments and moments that I wanted to chuck it all in the garbage.

I ended up getting a new sewing machine and I've asked myself why I didn't do that sooner. It is as smooth as butter and has a gazillion things it can do. Absolutely Love It!

I've referred to this post at Sew Mama Sew about 100 times this weekend while I learned how to make piping (so much easier than how I used to do it), insert a zipper (woohoo) and fit the box cushion.

I am going back to my hole to sew some more...
Here is a little inspiration while I get the nerve to share my goods and share my trials. Talk to you later.

Source: eclecticrevisited.wordpress.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: housebeautiful.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: hgtv.com via Casey on Pinterest

Pool House- Redecorating

2011-11-03T21:56:00.000-04:00

So I think I have finally settled that the pool house is going to be full of bright, cheery, put a smile on, colors. The yellow mirror started it all. This is very different that my home, which is more simple, neutral and calming. But I am loving the inspiration I've come across.

I want to paint my desk like this:

Source: knightmovesblog.blogspot.com via Casey on Pinterest

Tomorrow I am off to pick out fabric to reupholster cushions on a rattan sofa and chair set I picked up.
I got my color inspiration from Halloween candy wrappers....imagine that.

Changes- Yellow Mirror and Furniture Swap

2011-10-31T13:27:00.000-04:00

My yellow mirror turned out even better that I expected.

Isn't it such a fun color? I'll be moving this into my new office space soon.

You see in the mirror reflection a comfy, cozy leather chair. I robbed it from the man cave. Well, technically Hubs had it shoved to the side of the basement and I quickly asked "Oh you aren't using that down here? (Batt eyelashes.) Can we move it upstairs?"

Awesome.

I got rid of my HUGE chair and a half. The old Craig is getting this listed soon.

BEFORE

AFTER

This is now my very favorite spot to sit and read by the fire. Hubs and I sit in this room after dinner and talk about the doings of the day.

P.S. I took the lamp from the basement too (and didn't even ask this time). Too bad he noticed.

Belt Hole Punch

2011-10-30T19:23:00.000-04:00

The littlest things make me happy. I love the fact that we can Google just about anything and find a solution.

Case- I wanted to punch another hole in my belts as opposed to buying brand new ones.
Solution- Purchased Leather Hole Punch at Michael's with 50% off coupon for $5.50.

Grand Reward- 3 revitalized belts!

The tool was located by the leather supplies in the back of my store. It is very easy to use, but there are no directions. You have to loosen a little set screw to allow the punches to rotate. Select the one that matches the belts existing holes, measure, and punch away. It is super simple and easy and takes all of 2 seconds.

Little things like this were on my to do list this weekend.

Pool House- Redecorating

2011-10-24T11:57:00.007-04:00

I am redecorating our pool house into an office/reading room. Hubs and I want to get more use out of the space than just using it for entertaining a couple of times a year.

When we built it, we insulated it so it's perfect for adding in some heat via a gas wall heater.
I am passing on the twin daybed and now am looking out for rattan sofa set. I spied one on CL and scored it! I thought that might be more coastal cottage than the Ikea Ektrop sofa. Time to get the sewing machine out and figure out how to whip up some cushion covers.

Source: countryliving.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Casey on Pinterest

I'd like to put some shelving up for book storage and reuse a desk that I am painting and distressing.

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: mikaeladanvers.com via Casey on Pinterest

I've been on the hunt for a black bound sisal or wool rug for months. I found one at Lowe's but by the time I went back it was gone :(.

This is a rendering of the space that I mocked up to see how I wanted the furniture to be placed. Ignore the colors. I haven't mastered the computer program to glam up the space.

Weekend Projects- Mirror, Cabinet and Caulk

2011-10-23T19:13:00.000-04:00

What gorgeous weather this weekend! It lured me outside savoring the crispness of Fall.
Not too many completed projects around here, but I worked on a bunch right before we spent the afternoon enjoying time with friends at a local vineyard.

An old mirror was primed and received its first coat of yellow. Hello Yellow.

The pool house received a complete clean out and a new cabinet (from another part of the house) was hung for storage. I am touching up trim and scouring CL and other classifieds for an Ektorp couch.

My bathtub has been almost pure bliss since I gave it an update over the summer. Almost. The caulk under the tub spout started to crack. I had used Polyseamseal and really liked how it smoothed down, but it didn't hold up. Part of the problem is I have this large gap between the tub and tile. We think the tub settled before we moved in and didn't notice enough to have the builder compensate or fix it. I tried a foam backer rod and silicone caulk this time. I am not a fan of silicone as I think it always looks lumpy and not as smooth as latex/acrylic caulk. I tried it and we'll see how it cures.
Do you have any tips on what you use?

Barn Door Construction- Losing My Mind

2011-10-16T19:29:00.000-04:00

I about lost my mind with this barn door today. Why isn't there a perfect set of directions for me to follow? Why do I have to make it all up as I go along? I know, I know, cause that's just what I like...a challenge any day of the week.

After 4 hours of wrestling with the hardware, trying way to many different size wrenches, scuffing up my freshly painted goods....I can now smile!

Wow, baby, this was a long haul. You'll see she's still in a rough state, needing a final coat of paint, but she is gorgeous, everything I pictured in my head.

She clears the light switches beautifully, stands tall and rolls with ease.

To install the door brackets, I measured way too much and then used the same drill bits as when I did my mock up. Ya know nothing ever goes perfect. In order to get the bolts flush on the back side I had to use some serious elbow grease to fit a square end into a round hole.

No idea why that bolt has a square end, but I got them to fit.

Here is a shot of my new best friend, a wrench. It worked as I wanted, but scuffed up my paint job horribly. Serious need of touch up. Not sure if I should spray some paint in a cup and dab on or tape off the hung door and hit with spray paint. Anyone think the over spray should be feared?

Hanging this door according to the directions failed. I ended up tossing one of the nuts for each door hanger in the end. I just couldn't get the door snug enough with it. This took me about 2 hours to figure out, but the door is swinging sturdy now.

Perfect amount of clearance. Yes that was planned, but of course not the easy task I envisioned. I blame it on the extra nuts that saw their demise. Next up, fresh paint.

Mirror Mirror

2011-10-14T19:54:00.000-04:00

Bring on the weekend! Amen. New beginnings. Life getting back to normal. Ahhhh.

Source: theinspiredroom.net via Casey on Pinterest

I've had the spray paint for months. The mirror and frame have been separated for a really long time waiting to breathe new life. Should I do it? Shall I go bright, bold yellow?

Source: redvelvetgirls.typepad.com via Casey on Pinterest

When I was a little girl my guest room at my grandparent's cottage was all yellow. I want to bring bring that memory back and smile every time I see yellow painted wood.

Source: google.com via Casey on Pinterest

We'll see how it goes. Spray paint and I aren't the best of friends. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Ohhhh and let's not forget the barn door that is "oh so close" to being finished!

Happy Weekend!!!!

A little humor...

2011-10-10T19:40:00.000-04:00

A little humor to dull the pain.

Source: creatingreallyawesomefreethings.com via Kathy on Pinterest

I took the plunge and decided to move forward and get braces! It has been something that I've debated in my head for many years, but finally went for it.

It is not as bad as I had imagined even though I am counting down the days until perfection.

I had braces as a kid. I had an off the wall dentist that told me at age 12 he could only go so far in getting my teeth to perfection. He told me I had to go to speech class to correct how I talked. Crack pot. Anyhoo.

Here I am years later wishing I found a new dentist way back then. My teeth were straightened, but my cross bite was never corrected. I am now on the journey to fix that and ultimately smile big and wide one day.

I elected for the ceramic braces which really are great. You can hardly notice them and I only have them on the bottom teeth right now.

So a little humor today...laughing at this Halloween pumpkin and dulling the pain with Tylenol.

Laundry Room- Clothing Storage

2011-09-30T12:19:00.000-04:00

I heard the angels singing this week when my husband said, "Hey, why don't we keep my work clothes and running gear in the basement?" You see, he's self employed and cuts down trees all day long. He has these icky, dirty work clothes, loads of them, that I wash and schlep up two flights of stairs to put away.
Well, most of the time, I bat my eyelashes and ask him to carry the laundry baskets. He must of got tired of it. So win win for me. The clean work clothes stay right in the basement and I've gained a whole dresser in our bedroom.

Every morning he gets up a couple of hours before me, heads to his man cave in the basement and used to creep back into our room to grab clothes. No more creeping around. He either grabs his running gear and goes for a run or gets right to it and puts on his work clothes for a day of sap laden tree cutting.

Since I cleaned house and got rid of a car load of junk at the yard sale, I had freed up shelving space.
All the totes were previously owned and filled with junk that I no longer have. They fit nicely on the shelves and contain work jeans, sweatshirts, shirts and shorts. The clear bins contain work socks, running socks, workout pants, shorts and shirts.

Now I have the organizing bug bad. Do you think he needs labels on those totes? :)

Laundry

2011-09-27T12:15:00.000-04:00

Is it me or are there others out there that wash ALL the clothes when you come back from a trip? Ya know, even the ones you didn't even wear.

I had a bag full of clothes that Hubs and I didn't even wear while in NYC. T-shirts, jeans, sweaters (because it was so darn humid in NYC this weekend).

I still washed everything instead of putting them right back in the drawer!

Sickness? Please tell me you do the same.

Source: whipup.net via Hannah on Pinterest

Thank God

2011-09-26T20:24:00.000-04:00

Source: sparkbark.com via Karin on Pinterest

Nothing tells the story of my past week more than this saying.

My father has made it through surgery successfully. This was a planned surgery to repair an aneurysm and replace his leaking heart value. While planned, nothing could have prepared me for the range of emotions that I have felt this past week.

Thank you for your well wishes and prayers!

Taking Time

2011-09-21T16:00:00.000-04:00

Source: weheartit.com via Flaming on Pinterest

I am taking some time away as my father heads in for heart surgery this week. Prayers are appreciated.

Party Time

2011-09-16T18:44:00.000-04:00

If you haven't already been to the party, please think fast and head on over.

Yard Sale Prep

2011-09-12T21:44:00.001-04:00

Source: lh6.ggpht.com via Connie on Pinterest

Every so often I get on this kick to purge stuff out of my home.
Every single time I do it, I wonder where did it all come from in the first place.
Every time I swear there is nothing left to sell, donate or trash.
Even so, I found a heaping of clothes, knickknacks, home goods, costume jewelry, purses, and even some furniture to sell this coming weekend.

I am being ruthless. If I haven't worn it, used it, done something with it, or thought about it in a year, it is going in the truck. The truck will be loaded up and off to a community yard sale at our local minor league ball field. For $15 bucks, I get two parking spaces...a place to unload my loot.

What about you? Do you feel the need to purge your stuff? What do you do with it?

My plan is to take some time this week pricing everything, real cheap, so I come home with nothing :)

P.S. I have one of these aprons! Mine is not so pretty. Boring brown.

Barn Door Construction

2011-09-11T20:22:00.001-04:00

I spent most of my day working on the barn door.

I worked in pure silence, only listening to the sound of the saw and power tools.

I found myself reflecting on the day, 10 years ago, that many of us will always remember.

I still get emotional about it and think of that day often.

However, because today was the ten year anniversary of 9/11, my thoughts went back to every detail I can remember of that day.

I will never forget and am thankful for each new day that I have.

Added trim to extend the height of the door

Installed 6 inch wide boards

Nail holes filled and ready for primer

Why I Run

2011-09-10T11:22:00.000-04:00

I run to clear my head.

I run to sweat it out.

I run to keep my heart in shape.

I run to feel my legs tone up.
Most of all...

I run to spend time with Hubs.

He is my cheerleader, my co-pilot.

Sometimes we run together even though he is much faster than I. I trail behind. Sometimes, he runs on the morning, while I walk along. Sometimes, I run in the evening, while he bikes along.

You see I am not a morning person.

I need food in my system. I need to shake the cobwebs off. I need to get focused.

I do better when I run in the evening as the sun is starting to go down.

I wasn't always a runner. In fact, I hated it in gym class. I was never fast enough. I have since learned it's OK to be a slow runner. Just keep moving. When I was in high school, a friend and I tried out for Track. I lasted 2 days. I wasn't into the commitment.

I started running about 3 years ago, off and on. My first run I thought I was going to DIE. Right there on the road. Lungs burning. Heart pounding. Breathing heavy. Hubs cheered me on.

I run because I know it's good for me.

Nothing gets up my heart rate like running does.

I went through a period where multiple family members were facing life challenges, battling cancer and struggling day to day. Running helps me to focus on what matters in this life of mine.

I run because I can.

I run because I am blessed and thankful and joyful all at once.

Weekend!!!

2011-09-09T12:32:00.000-04:00

Well, it's technically not the weekend yet, but I have been on a stay-cation all week! Woo Hoo. I've been fiddling around getting some mini projects done here and there. My barn door madness has been on the daily list all week. Little by little I am working at it. I had to step away more than a few times to gather my senses.

I spent some down time revamping my blog layout and am having tons of fun. There are some great tutorials out there so you don't have to spend any $$$, just time. I want to come up with a logo for my site, but that is for another day. (Want to know more, drop me a note. I'd be happy to share what I found along the way).

So what do you have planned for the weekend? The weather turned gorgeous here in Jersey and the blue skies are a plenty. I hope to enjoy the last few days of my stay-cation fully.

I've received a brand spankin' new camera this week and I am giddy with it. Not only am I learning about manual mode, but the bells and whistles this baby has is delightful.

I wandered around the yard taking some landscape shots. Smile.

Organization: Clipboards

2011-09-08T09:47:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to do this for a long time. It was one of those 5 minute projects that you ask yourself why didn't you do it sooner. Many months ago, I bought clipboards at Staples. I made sure they had a spot to be able to hang them. Some clipboards don't have this.

After much procrastination, I found the perfect blank wall to hang them up. A couple of wood screws and BAM!, instant wall art along with function.

My top clipboard is a catchall for everything. I sorted the rest of my tear sheets into 3 categories: Trim, Bath, Paint/Fabric.

I used Post-its for labeling because I am always switching things up. Right now I am focused on my bathroom, so all the ideas and sketches are on one board.

I am always looking for ways to add interest to my wall, with wood trim and molding, so I have a board dedicated to this.

Last one is my paint and fabric inspiration board. I also jotted down notes and put them here. When I come across a paint color that I like from blog hopping, I make a note.

I love this system. I've used the boards frequently, added and taken away tear sheets and have decided I need a few more.

I am going to use one for keeping "To Do" paperwork handy. Stuff like tickets, receipts, lists.

This was my inspiration. Go Pinterest!

Source: pennyweightonline.com via Casey on Pinterest

Barn Door- Friendly Mock Up

2011-09-06T17:38:00.000-04:00

Hope you all had a great Labor Day. I spent time at the beach, having dinner with family and celebrating Hubs "Big Birthday Weekend". In this household, we stretch birthdays and make them last longer.

I did not hit my entire To Do list, but I did manage to start the friendly mock up of the barn door.

I lined up my hardware pieces like soldiers, inspected them, took a big sigh and wondered what I was getting myself in to.

I purchased the kit back in May at my local Tractor Supply Hardware. The kit is made by Stanley. 4 brackets which were $11.50 a piece. These hold up the box rail or track. This came in an 8ft. long piece for $28. Hubs cut it down about an inch for me. The hangers came in a box kit for $55 which includes the wheels, door hangers and nuts and bolts.

I also purchased a wider piece of wood from Home Depot to use as the header casing that the rail will attach to. This is going to replace the top door casing and run the entire length of the wall to support the door.

I sprayed all the metal pieces with primer (couple of light coats).

I used the box the kit came in to stand up my bolts so I could get even coverage.

I taped off the wheels since I didn't want them gunked up and they will be hidden in the rail. We'll see how it looks. I might have to go back and spray them up.

I did use one can of ORB spray paint. Brain dead I must have not taken any pictures of that. The hardware can use another coat, but I figured I'd wait until after I am done with my mock up.

For the mock up, I am using a cheapo door from Lowes. I am still deciding if I want to trim this out and beef it up to look like a fabulous barn door or if I want to use the existing 6 panel door. If I use the existing 6 panel, I'd have to add trim to make it wider, from 30 to 36 inch.

Here is the casing header that I will be taking down and replacing with the wider trim to support the barn door.

My mind is racing as I am in it to win it now. I just need to figure out how high to place the rail so the door doesn't drag on the floor. Ohhhh and here's just a monkey wrench to throw in. I have to install the rail with the door on the tracks because I have no open end to slide the door into the tracks after the fact. Bring on the muscle. I'm sure Hubs and I will be having a grand time with that part of the install.

Barn Door Madness

2011-09-02T16:45:00.000-04:00

I have officially started the barn door for my bathroom and boy oh boy am I scared.

Here's some inspiration to keep me going.

Source: google.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: decorpad.com via Ashlee on Pinterest

Long Project List

2011-09-01T12:20:00.000-04:00

Emily Jones of Jones Design Company put together this cute "to do" form and I've been using it ever since. My list is long, and I need to get cracking this weekend.

What is on your plate for the weekend?

I am going to enjoy the last of the summer weather and hope to get these things done:

Powerwash house and repair screens

Paint trim in and around pool house

Upgrade trim in Guest Bedroom

Install Barn Door for Bathroom

Finish Painting Desk for Office

Big doin's!

Office: Organizing Paperwork

2011-08-31T18:56:00.000-04:00

Remember when I showed you the mountain of papers here? I shredded and burned the junk and filed everything else. I decided to move to a binder system as opposed to keeping it all in a file cabinet. I've been using this system for about a month and it is working out great. Here is the lowdown.

I put all the junk papers into one pile and the took time to separate the rest. Once I had an idea of what I truly needed to file, I decided on the binder categories.
Mine ended up being the following:

Banking - Finances: includes mortgage, loans, credit cards, retirement, accounts, etc.

Home - Auto- Medical: includes utilities, insurance medical receipts, blood work and prescriptions

TV - Video - Audio: includes everything related to home entertainment. This binder is packed, but now everything is in one place. No more searching for the remote manual for the TV.

Koi Pond: includes details on pond build, fish food supply, lighting and filtration, etc.

Pool - Spa: includes all the manuals and receipts associated. This came in handy when we had our lighting strike. I knew where everything was to submit to insurance.

Basement Manuals: includes laundry, furnace, hot water heater, electrical panel, water softener.

Kitchen Manuals: includes all the large and small appliance manuals as well as kitchen remodel information.

Personal: includes a place for me to keep notes and pictures on projects I am working on.

Recipes: I put all my tear sheets and hand written recipes in here. This was a project in itself and I'll share the whole binder later. It is a work in progress. Because I am keeping it real, you will notice I have a spelling mistake I have yet to fix!

Home Manuals and Manual overflow file- this includes misc. manuals like the vacuum cleaner, power tools, etc. Some of them are bulky so that is why I have the white magazine file as well.

I purchased all of my supplies at Staples and Kmart. I really like the Avery sleeves with tab dividers. They come in fun colors and have a pocket for storing the papers so I don't have to hole punch anything. I also used the Velcro file folders to keep things contained.

To make the binder sleeve tags, I used a template from the Avery site for the binder in my size. I used scrapbook paper and cut it to size once I printed the words in Typewriter font in a coordinating color.

I am debating if I want to add a front cover page to the binder to provide more detail to what is in the binder. It seems kind of redundant, but it would look pretty.

Bathroom Necessities

2011-08-29T19:06:00.000-04:00

Bathroom Necessities. They could not be avoided. I have this aversion to hanging things on my walls. I think it is a fear of the dreaded drywall patch should I want to move the item. No idea what this is about. I've done my fair share of spackling and it isn't that bad.

First up, wall mounted hair dryer. I bought one a long time ago as Hubs "has to" blow dry his hair. Me? I've gone au natural since I was a kid and rarely, like less than a dozen times a year, blow dry my hair. So to make peace with the beast laying on my bath countertop, the wall mounted hair dryer was a savior.

When doing the bath update, I realized we needed a new one. The plug was cracked and had become a fire hazard. I picked up this Conair one at my local BB&B. It sat in the box for weeks. The aversion to hanging it overwhelmed me. Hubs gently asked about it and in 5 minutes flat I had this bad boy up---with heavy duty mounting tape. Yes, that's right. Mounting tape. The stuff rocks. The hair dryer is going nowhere and I fooled myself by not having to put anchoring in the wall.

Second, robe hook.

Well, that is what it was called, but it's for our bath towels.

I found it at HomeGoods and it is shiny and lovely.

For some reason, screwing that into the stud didn't affect me!

Third, shiny, new toilet seat. The one that was there had corroded due to its metal hinges. It never sat right either. It always moved around. Very annoying. I bought two of them from Lowes. One from American Standard that touting self closing seat. The other from Aquasource. After careful inspection, I did not like the American Standard one. The self closing mechanism was bulky and I pictured it hard to clean.

See how the hinge is one big rectangle. When you open the lid, there is this large crevice where gunk can collect.

The Aquasource one is simple. I took a seat and tried it out. It fit perfectly.

Guest Room- Ruffle Trim Tutorial

2011-08-24T22:03:00.002-04:00

This was one of the quickest changes I've made and it was very sew simple.

I took one of my stashed white, twin Target flat sheets and folded it in half lengthwise.

I pressed the seam and used that as my cut line. I did cut on this line with scissors and measured my length to hang past my window trim.

The fun part was after that, I used the old tear technique and snipped a little of each edge and tore the curtain. I wanted the old linen, unfinished look and the frayed edges did the trick.

I gathered strips of fabric that were about 1 inch wide, pulled off all the long dangly strings and made my ruffles. Nothing fancy. Nothing was measured here nor was anything precise.

I fed the material through the ruffles and watched out to make sure my fingers didn't get caught.

I ended up with a pile.

I decided that I wanted 3 rows of ruffles near the bottom of the curtains. I eyeballed everything and pinned. At this point, I did clip the curtains up on the rod to make sure they looked as I wanted. I then did a quick stitch and they were complete.

They look so beautiful in the sunlight with the wind billowing them around. They are simple, old looking and just the cottage touch I wanted. I am a sucker for white cotton.

It's clean look just makes me smile and relax.

Guest Room- Ruffle Trim

2011-08-23T21:19:00.000-04:00

I've got about five different projects going on at once. Some are discouraging, some are easy and some are started but I wonder if I will ever finish. My day job has been keeping me super duper busy these last few weeks. Any free time I get, I want to nap or spend time eating a big bowl of cereal.

I've changed my mind a few times, but I started the guest room curtains.

These two images stuck in my mind.

Source: barefootinthekitchen.blogspot.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: westelm.com via Casey on Pinterest

Out came the trusty Target flat bed sheets.

I ripped them up (shrugged the stress of the day off) and started sewing.

Here's a sneak peak.

Office- New Space Inspiration

2011-08-14T22:39:00.001-04:00

Who else out there has multiple projects going on at once? Please let it not just be me.
As I was finishing up my bathroom (well, nothing is ever fully finished), I decided to start not only a guest room update, but also an office update. I am moving my office to the pool house. Hubs and I decided that no sense only using that space once in a while, but to enjoy it daily.

I've been busy cleaning, organizing and trying out different furniture arrangements. While I get everything squared away, here are some inspiration photos that keep me going. Be sure to check out my Office Board on Pinterest.

The hung clipboards are such a space saver and add interest to the walls.

Source: pennyweightonline.com via Casey on Pinterest

I am distressing a desk like this table.

Source: ballarddesigns.com via Casey on Pinterest

This tufted chair is on my must have list.

Source: homedit.com via Casey on Pinterest

This blue tufted chair is so beautiful.

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Casey on Pinterest

Product Review- EO Shower Gel

2011-08-08T13:24:00.000-04:00

While Hubs and I were spending a quick weekend getaway here,

I happened upon EO Shower Gel. There was a travel size bottle in our room. Of course I took it home with me. I know you do the same, grab all the travel bottles even if you didn't use them while staying in your room.

I have to say that I love this product. I add it to my bath and not only is my skin super soft, but the whole room smelly lovely afterwards. I am a sucker for anything lavender and this is right up my alley. My skin is super duper sensitive so anytime I find a product that works so well, I am a happy camper. I'll be buying a refill of this scrumptious stuff.

P.S. I was not paid for this review, I just happen to like sharing.

Guest Room- Making some changes

2011-08-07T10:17:00.001-04:00

The guest room is about to get all gussied up. I've started to use Pinterest and am loving it. I am a highly visual person and this is a great tool for me to use. No more tear sheets all over the place (well, not as many anyway).

Here are some of my inspirations.

Source: thebookofsecrets.tumblr.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: livingetc.com via Casey on Pinterest

Source: fabric.com via Casey on Pinterest

Bathroom Update- Daybreak

2011-08-05T15:29:00.001-04:00

I learned a lot throughout this remodel. Remember where I started? The bathroom wasn't bad, just builder boring and didn't have any life to it.

Keeping it simple in this small space has really make it seem cleaner, and even bigger. I am sure it has helped that the door is off the hinges waiting for me to move on to constructing the barn door.

Before

After

The board and batten is constructed from 1x3 poplar board from Lowe's. I like their lumber because I can usually find straight, smooth boards.

I picked up two hand towels at HomeGoods and the colors match perfectly. A little brown to match the wood and teal and sea foam green to coordinate with the wall color. These hand towels are oversized too, which is an extra bonus.

The little garbage can is part of set I picked up at Target a long time ago. The blue inside of it blends nicely with the wall color and hand towels. Love it when that happens. The mirror was taken from the downstairs half bath. I like that it mimics the round vessel sink.

When I figured out that I wanted the board and batten to be tall, I ended up replacing the window trim as well. I beefed up the top and bottom trim pieces and love how it turned out. Right now I am liking no window treatment.

My shower curtain is the same one. I love it so much, that I threw it in the washing machine with lots of OxiClean and it washed beautifully. I use fabric liners since I can throw them in the wash too. The plastic ones get too slimy.

I regrouted the tub surround walls and recaulked the surround as well. This took me WAY longer that I anticipated, but the result is a brand new looking tub.

The little stool has been sitting in the basement and it works nicely here. A place to stash a days worth of towels and I use it for my bath soaking items when I am relaxing in the hot bath.

Hope you like the bath as much as I do!

Bathroom Update- Night Shots

2011-08-04T21:46:00.002-04:00

Because I am very excited about the warm, cozy glow emitted from my new light fixture, I'm going to sneak peak some shots for you on the updated bathroom.

It has been a very long road. The remodel took me way longer than I expected, but I am so very pleased with everything, and that is everything, in the bathroom now.

I am so happy with the lighting. It's not harsh like my other one was. And the galvanized finish adds just the touch of whimsy I was looking for to offset the chrome fixtures in the space.

I purchased it in the outdoor lighting section of Lowe's. It does come with a warning sticker slapped on it telling me that it has traces of lead in it and if I live in California to make sure I wash my hands after handling. I guess since I live no where near California I am ok. Seriously, I freaked out a little bit about this and even explored other lighting options, but this one fit perfectly. The size was exactly what I needed. I figured I'm not licking or touching the thing daily so for now I'm ok. But purchase at your own risk!

The board and batten treatment as many of you suggested is just dreamy. I did have a hard time determining how tall I wanted it. I did initially have it chair rail height, but after I lived with it for about 2 minutes I decided it was too choppy. It made the room feel smaller. So taller I went! I am still thinking about adding a ledge but for now I like the clean lines of nothing else.

My vessel sink and cherry plank countertop were a thorn in my side, but how beautiful do they look?

I can tell you that we've been using the sink for about 2 weeks now and I have no complaints. I did initially purchase a pop up sink drain, but it leaks, and I'm not sure if it's installer (ME) error or not. So right now I am using the the one that came with the faucet. I actually like the fact that it stops hair and what not from clogging the drain better than your standard pop up drain. So we'll see.

I do have 5 coats of wipe on poly over the countertop. The water beads up that happens to splash about, but I did have spotting from toothpaste. I recently just treated the top with Howard's Feed N Wax and that buffed everything out beautifully.

I'll be sharing some daytime shots for you. My regrouted bathtub looks brand, spankin' new. I've even become a bath taker because the tub is so clean and the space is Mc Dreamy.

Lazy Susan

2011-07-31T14:08:00.000-04:00

I am now a huge fan of lazy susans. I've been to Bed Bath and Beyond three times this week to pick up more and more. It all started with adding some to my pantry for canned goods, but then I thought how great would it be in the bathroom.

I overhauled my linen closet and bath vanity. Pitching and Organizing. Cleaning and Organizing again.

No more reaching and looking in a bottomless basket. I give the lazy susan a whirl and I know exactly what I have.

I put three of then in my linen closet alone. One 12 inch holds my various large bottles, One 9 inch holds various medicines and the last 9 inch holds all those teeny tiny bottles.

My updated bath vanity received a new white shelf liner and a large 12 inch susan. I spin spin spin it and smile. Adding the second shelf into my vanity creates storage I never had before. I am one happy gal.

P.S. Are you spying at the board and batten? I have to paint up the doors and then I'll share my bath makeover with you. I know I am dyin' to share it.

The Diet that changed me

2011-07-30T09:35:00.000-04:00

I know this is not something I typically write about, but it has been 6 weeks since I tried a diet that changed my life.

You see the rock candy. Well basically that is what I felt like eating all the time. In one form or another, I was consuming huge amounts of sugar. Bread. Pasta. Gatorade. Granola Bars. Carrots. Honey. Jellybeans.
Everything in high amounts of sugar. I needed it. I craved it. I lived off it.

I woke up one morning doing my normal routine and headed into the office. I had my usual PB on white english muffin and glass of honey hot water on the way to work. I had a 9 am meeting and by 10 am I felt horrible. Dizzy. Out of it.
I sucked down a Gatorade and ate a yogurt loaded with chemicals- ya know, fat free but with stuff you can't pronounce.

This was just the beginning. The entire week I felt progressively worse. Dizzy all the time. Out of it. Fear I was going to faint. I thought I was hypoglycemic because that is what the doctors always told me. Your blood sugar is crashing too fast, eat more. So I ate more of the sugary stuff.

By the end of the week, I was sick to my stomach and felt like I was dying. I went to the doctor and insisted they run every test they could. Full blood work up, allergy test and parasite test. That was the day I decided to completely revamp my diet. That was a Friday.

Slowly I eliminated all processed foods and lived off a higher protein low carb diet. Another week went by and I still felt bad. My blood work and all my tests were negative, but do you know by the following Friday I woke up feeling like a million bucks? It was amazing. Life was new again.

Since then, I dropped 10lbs, am no longer bloated and my skin has never looked better. I don't follow a strict diet, but I have not eaten cookies, pie, ice cream, cake in 6 weeks. I don't miss it.

To curb my craving, I do eat fruit with greek yogurt, fruit with cottage cheese. Almond butter on a rice cake. I eat full, big meals with lots of veggies and little carb. If I want Italian dinner, I make sure there is a protein, either fish or chicken along side the pasta. I limit the pasta to the size of my palm.

Some may think this is a drag, but the way I feel surpasses the 30 seconds of joy I would get from eating something that makes me feel crappy later.

Bathroom Progress and Organization

2011-07-26T16:30:00.000-04:00

We took a little weekend trip to a music festival to come home to a little bit of a debacle. There was a lightning storm while we were away and it zapped our home alarm, sprinkler control box, stove, computer router, pool pump and I'm not even sure what else at the moment. Needless to say, we are so thankful it is not worse and glad there wasn't a fire.

In the midst of all of this, I am on stay-cation and tackling lots of things.
Two projects in the works
1. regrouting and caulking the tub surround
2. organizing office files

The tub I couldn't be happier with. Here is a shot after I scraped out all the old loose grout.

I used my Dremel, a razor blade and a small tile saw. It was not fun, but the end result is amazing. I'll share soon after I finish up.

The file organization came in a late at night spurt. I was sick and tired of the files bursting at the seams. I emptied everything and purged anything and everything that I didn't have to have. I have been slowly building a filing system with binders. I'll share those too as soon as I can.

Enjoy your week!

NY Weekend Trip

2011-07-11T16:00:00.000-04:00

Hubs and I took a last minute trip to the Catskills on Saturday to see a Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm's studio. This was a our 4th time and we were not disappointed. I wanted to share with you this lovely B&B we stayed at. It is in the heart of Woodstock, NY and is just a gem.

Bath Vanity- Ripping Some More Trim

2011-07-10T22:57:00.001-04:00

Little by little the vanity is being transformed. I've spent every night this past week and part of the weekend sprucing this little baby up. I've changed my mind more than a dozen times along the way.
The sink and faucet are sitting gingerly awaiting to be hooked up. They've been moved back and forth to the bathroom, you guessed it, a dozen times.

The countertop saw many changes this past week starting with the hole for the drain and the faucet.
The vessel sink is from Lowe's. The brand is Aquasource and I love how large and deep the bowl is. The directions left a lot to be desired, but I found new friends in blogland that gave me some tips.
I laid the template as directed and had Hubs use the hole saw for the drill to make a gaping circle.
You'll see later on that I ended up using my jig to cut the square out on the template. I didn't like that the drain wasn't tight against the sink.

All that cutting and fear of messing up the countertop! I moved on and decided I wanted storage space in the vanity. I custom fit some shelves. First I installed scrap beadboard on the back just because I like how pretty it makes everything look.

I installed a shelf with a "U" cut out for the p-trap.

I tried routing the countertop edges. This was the first time ever I busted out the bad boy. But I ended up hating it. Because the countertop is made from planks, the tongue and groove didn't look right routed. Sorry I don't have a picture.
However, an awesome thing happened today! I bought a table saw and it is AMAZING. I was able to rip matching cherry trim from other planks and I love how it looks. Clean. Streamlined. Beautiful. The board and batten is going up. Onward.

Thanks to Our Vintage Home Love for inspiring me to do this. Check out their barn wood counter.

Bath Vanity- Trim

2011-07-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

What takes most of the day and lots of patience? Deciding and installing trim on the bath vanity.

I had HUGE HIGH HOPES today to accomplish a lot more.
I went to Lowes to scope out a faucet and a new vessel sink. The one I originally bought had a defect. Always check the box before leaving the store!

I ended up buying the exact same vessel sink and the only vessel faucet in chrome they had.
My cart was loaded up with wood and supplies and I was now on a mission.
However, funny thing happened once I got home. I decided I wanted a NAP. Hey, it's a holiday and a girl deserves a nap.

A little while later, I got my act together. Slowly.
There were moments I was tempted to pitch the vanity again, but I broke out some scrap molding.

A lot of hammering and tugging and I yanked out the broken toe kick. I prayed the whole cabinet wouldn't fall apart. While the toe kick was off I discovered how lazy my tile guy was. The tile is installed underneath the cabinet, except for one whole tile in the far right corner. What??? Go figure considering I had a entire box of tiles left. Oh and there is no grout underneath either. LAZY.

Trial and error with many different moldings, I found some floor molding to make a new toe kick.
Happy dance, but a little boring.

Some cove type trim that I found in my stash helped perk up the vanity. Some boards on the side panel also started to bring this vanity to life.

I picked up these little feet at Lowes. The screw came right out once I clamped my Hubs vice around it. They fit perfectly. No kidding.

I have a lot of nail filling, caulking and painting to do, but I am liking the look of the vanity. The bummer of the day, however, soon appeared...the faucet came with a drain, but it's the wrong one. I need one with overflow :(. Back to the store tomorrow.

I am debating if I want to install shelves in the cabinet and paint the inside. I need to decide what I am going to do for doors too. Keep the ones I have which don't really fit right, or make new ones that are inset. Or something else all together.

Happy 4th to you.

Bathroom Redo- Taking Apart the Vanity

2011-07-03T21:47:00.000-04:00

Today was the day I decided to tackle this project. I didn't get very far because I fell into a state of indecisiveness. The kind where I wonder what I am doing and panic. I even went to Lowes and Home Depot scouting out new vanities just to see if I REALLY liked something.

Good thing is I got my wits back and decided I just need to persevere.

The vanity has been dismantled. I even had Hubs see if there was tile underneath it. Ya know, because I was crazy thinking I wanted to spends hundreds on a new one.

Back to my senses. A fresh coat of paint with my new wood top and vessel sink...I think I will be back in business.

The Before:

Here is a mock up just to settle my visual needs.

The Mock Up:

I'll be off to get some trim to beef up the cabinet and find a faucet tomorrow.

I am dreaming of some board and batten too with a beefier mirror.

(That hole on the left floor was from me eager to see if there was tile underneath.

There is, but only partially).

Bathroom Redo- Building A Countertop

2011-06-13T14:17:00.000-04:00

I have been wanting to spruce up my bathroom for some time.
Here is what I want to change:
Paint Color- Need something warmer.
Trim- Need more of it. Perhaps board and batten or planks.
Vanity Top and Sink- the current sink is off center and seen better days.
Grout- Refresh the tub grout and possibly the floor grout.
Light fixture- I would love a barn style fixture.
Door- Install Barn Door !

This is what I've been working on:

New plank counter top. Made from scrap cherry flooring. 4 coats of varnish so far. Few more to go.
I am debating on vessel sink or drop in. What to you think?

Next up: Barn door. I have the hardware. I have the door. Now I just have to put it all together and make it fabulous.

Board and Batten Again

2011-06-07T20:02:00.000-04:00

Up went the board and batten. What do you think?

I have many projects on my to do list, but this was a spur of the moment one.

While taking stock of the wood I had in the shed, I found some great long pieces. Light bulb on.

A little sanding. Nail gun out and the Board and Batten went up.

You see I've been searching for oh about 4 years or so for a painting to hang behind my kitchen island.

I have found absolutely nothing. I didn't want something that would be too trendy.

I didn't want something that I would bore from quickly.

I tend to like things very streamlined and clean.

Loving how it matches the living room wall.

Barn Door

2011-05-25T21:38:00.000-04:00

I think I am going to do it.

I've been drooling over these barn doors for days.

Our main bath is teeny tiny.

I just know popping one of these babies up in place of a swinging door will make all the difference.

via

Bedroom- Update

2011-05-20T21:48:00.000-04:00

Just popping by to share a quick update. Many weekends have gone by working away at the parent's house. All the flooring is down, majority of the trim is installed and the two bedrooms have been painted.

Remember what it used to look like??? Flashback.

The wood floors really open the space up...and the hideous wallpaper is gone! Lots of elbow grease by the parents on that effort.

The hallway will be painted, chair rail will go up and the stairs have started their makeover. All of the doors will get painted and updated as well. Can't wait to see them transformed. Onward.

Have a great weekend!

Hair Therapy

2011-05-09T23:08:00.000-04:00

Hi All. It's been a while. Hope you've been enjoying the spring weather as much as I have.
I've been outside sprucing up the yard getting ready to sit back and relax.

I just wanted to share a product that my gal Michelle clued me in on. It is the best! Dove Hair Conditoner.

I have to say hands down this product gives me the salon blow out I always wanted from home. Try it.

I am not one to blow dry my hair to begin with. BUT! I've been using this product for two weeks now. I shower at night, take my time blow drying my hair and I have silky, shiny hair for 3 days. Just like out of the salon.

CVS had it on sale and I used a coupon so it was almost free. I loved it so much I bought the big bottle with the pump from Target.

Nothing New - Ribbon Trimmed Drapes

2011-04-20T13:33:00.000-04:00

These are nothing new, but I've been admiring them for a while. I decided to just do it. Each panel took about an hour to attach two rows of ribbon, iron and hang the drapes.

P.S. There's my new ottoman. Should I paint the legs white?

My panels are twin sheets from Target. They wash beautifully. The ribbon is in navy from Michael's. I used Stitch Witchery to attach. I made the rod pocket by folding over the top hem.

Ottoman Slipcover- Part 1

2011-04-18T14:17:00.004-04:00

Here is how I slipcovered the ottoman. I sorta winged it, so don't trust me :)

1. Because I had a pattern on my fabric, I ironed my pining line by eye balling where the pattern ended. See all those little points lined up.

2. Once I did that, I checked for fit on top of the ottoman. The ironed line matches up to the edge of the ottoman.

3. I pinned my piping as shown below with the raw edge pointing down. I used my ironed line as my guide. See how my piping stitching is pinned right over that line.

4. I pinned all the way around. Clipping around the corners just as you do with a pillow.

5. This is how I joined the piping. Overlap and cover with excess fabric. The picture explains it a little better, I hope. At this point, stitch with your zipper foot right over you existing stitch line on the piping. I learned to hug it real close. The closer the better.

Ottoman Gets the Slip

2011-04-17T23:09:00.004-04:00

Hope your weekend was great.

I worked on a slipcovering an old ottoman.

I'll share some tips I learned along the way, but for now here's a peak of her skirt.

P.S. I am linking up to this party.

Pillow Tutorial

2011-04-15T22:15:00.011-04:00

I'm sharing some photos of my pillow making process. They are shots of what I figured out along the way. If you google search on piping you'll find lots of fine tutorials out there. I checked out about a dozen over the last week (and made some great friends along the way). I chose to make envelope pillows as well. Lots of great tips if you google that too.

1. Pin your piping as pictured to the front piece of your pillow. Raw edges facing out. I had previously drawn my seam line around the perimeter of the pillow. I just matched up the piping stitching to that line.

2. When you get to the point where you need to join the piping, you'll fit it as pictured covering with excess fabric.

4. I sewed the piping to the fabric front by keeping my zipper foot hugged up against the piping. Below is a picture of how I cared for where the piping meets.

5. Finished front of pillow with piping stitched on.

6. Lay the shortest back panel on first and stitch. The wider back panel goes on top. This way when you flip it inside out your envelope is in the middle.

7. Keep that zipper foot hugged up against the piping as you sandwich the two pieces together. Once done, push out the corners and flip the case inside out. Iron and then stuff your pillow form in.

Pillows and Pillowtops

2011-04-15T16:19:00.003-04:00

See any difference between the two pillows?

I think it's a small change with huge impact. The piping pulled the fabric in making the form less droopy and the finished edge is exactly what I pictured.

I also wanted to share the best $50 bucks I ever spent. I was on the verge of buying a new mattress getting very frustrated with the cost. Our mattress has the "sag" going on. On a whim, I picked up one of these mattress toppers (shown in picture above) in my local Macy's. It was on sale and I had a coupon. It is their Hotel Collection brand.

I can honestly tell you I feel like I am sleeping in a high class hotel. Hands down. Not too much cushion, but enough to cover up the sag. Hubs loves it. He can't stop talking about it.

Euro Pillow

2011-04-15T11:30:00.003-04:00

So my valance didn't turn out, but I love the fabric so much I decided to tear it all apart and make some Euro Pillows. I decided on an envelope back just because I had to piece the pillow anyway due to the fabric I had.

I am loving them, but I want to add a little something. I think I am either going to take apart and add piping or ruffles. I need to tighten up the corners too. Too floppy.

I just keep telling myself all the changes just keep teaching me new things.

Valance with Bat Wings

2011-04-13T09:25:00.005-04:00

All I could do was laugh. Out loud. And then frown and stomp my feet.

I spent hours cutting, pinning, sewing, ironing, shirring and here is the results.

Valance with bat wings. I had shirring tape on the sides and hated that. I ripped that out and now I have bat wings.

I am thinking that I just don't like it AT ALL.

Maybe Euro Pillow instead and a simple valance with coordinating fabric with out birds???

Cascade Valance Inspiration

2011-04-12T16:38:00.003-04:00

I've had this image saved on my desktop for a long time. I have no idea where I pulled it from, but I just love the valances. I've been googling cascade, relaxed roman shade, london shade, etc. for days trying to find a simple solution to make these.

Of course nothing is simple, but I am determined to make a variation for my two bedroom windows. AND...just my luck the fabric I picked has these silly birds...so I have to account for spacing. I hope not to slice a bird in half as I whip these up :)

Pray for me. Be back later.

Kitchen Color- Valance Reveal

2011-04-10T19:45:00.004-04:00

Tonight I finished up the kitchen valances. Done.

Not bad for $11.86 and oh wow about 6 hours of head scratching sewing.

I am very happy with them. They are a little wonky and I had to use my seam ripper a lot.

But hey, the first piece of trim I installed is still wonky and I live with it.

I'm thinking of possibly adding white pom pom trim to the bottom of the valances. Maybe.

The pattern is "Anderson" by Premier Fabrics. I ordered from Fabric.com.

I popped over to my Dad's this afternoon to get started on the other bedroom. SCARY stuff going on. Avocado green walls, wallpaper and lots of steam...I'll share more later.

Kitchen Color- Valance

2011-04-10T12:52:00.004-04:00

I will disclose that the first try was almost a crying moment. I was on the verge. I spent about an 2 hours cutting, pinning, sewing, ironing...only to find out the valance was WAY to long and not wide enough. I like a lot of flounce. I was ready to pitch it all in the garbage as I didn't think I bought enough fabric.

I ended up doing some piecing and one valance is now done and OH SO CUTE.

Here is a sneak peak at my steps along the way. I'll share the valances once I finish up the last one and hang in the kitchen.

The yellow brings a HUGE smile to my face (even today when it's cloudy outside.)

TIP: I lined my valances with white twin sheets. I like the weight and finished appearance the lining gives.

When you sew, just think you are making a big pillow case.

Sew the long sides first inside out.

Iron open seams.

Flip right side out. Iron.

Sew rod pocket.

Fold in side seams.

StichWitch side seams.

Office Organization

2011-04-08T09:52:00.005-04:00

I gave my office a clean sweep in a dire fit of "I've had it" moments. Of course I have no before pictures as I just started throwing stuff in the hall to clear the room.

In a matter of moments, the room was torn apart and shelves were put up. Shelves were found in the basement and reused here. I am loving the storage and how it frees up the desk space. I am preparing for more room as I have new fabric on the way. I need elbow room to figure out how to make new curtains for my kitchen and bedroom.

My favorite --- magazine boxes from Ikea and snazzy blue boxes from Target.

Source List:

Magazine boxes: IKEA

Shelves and tracks: One of the big box stores

Initial C: One of the home goods stores

Apple: Home Goods

Hat box: Great-grandmothers! My wedding veil is in there.

Mini Drawers: Wal-mart. They house my Cricut and sewing supplies.

Gallery Wall

2011-04-06T18:50:00.003-04:00

The Inspired Room is hosting a party dedicated to gallery walls. I've had fun putting mine together and like the clean lines. I bought my acrylic frames at AC Moore. They have 4 clips that hold the frame together. I purchased crisp white mattes from AC Moore as well. Sometimes the clips don't hang on the nail real well. To the rescue is 3M Command velcro. I use the small strips specifically made for picture hanging. Not a frame has fallen down since.

Inspiration- Green and Blue

2011-04-05T13:23:00.003-04:00

countryliving.com

Maybe because it's starting to get spring like around here. I just love this photo.

The apple green curtains make me smile and really gets me in the mood to inject some color in the my place. I've been going neutral for a while, but I think it's about time to add some pattern.

Fabric.com is shipping some fun fabric my way. Cross your fingers that I can tackle all that I hope to do. Slipcover ottoman, make valences, make pillows...

Fabric Love

2011-04-04T21:12:00.005-04:00

Source: Fabric.com

Hi All!

Busy little bee over in this neck of the woods. I finally got my camera all squared away so I'll be sharing pics of the bedroom makeover soon.

In the meantime, I've been eyeing these lovely yellow fabrics and took the plunge to order me up one for some new window treatments.

Have a great week!

Bedroom- In Progress

2011-03-27T19:56:00.005-04:00

I worked my little tail off today finishing up the bedroom floor to the doorway and into the closet. The first 4 hours of my day were spent finishing up the floor. I found a tiny crack, of course had to fuss with it, and then decided to remove four rows of planking to fix it. I kept telling myself, don't fret, you are doing it right. Type A all the way. Then the doorways gave me a hassle, but I kept at it. Undercut the door jambs and the flooring is now rockin'.

10 rootin' tootin' hours later the new baseboards and casings are up. I'm sad to say that my compressor was acting funny so my nails from the gun weren't sinking all the way. I have to go back, hand sink them in, fill and caulk the seams. That is for another day.

Hope you had a blessed Sunday.

Ikea Roadtrip Finds

2011-03-26T20:23:00.004-04:00

Ikea Roadtrip. Such fun. I hadn't been to Ikea in a long, long time.

Hubs and I went right before we moved into our house, but walked around not knowing what we needed.

We left without buying a thing!

My girlfriend and I took the hour ride this morning and opened the store up.

I had such fun looking at everything on display.

I worked up an appetite and I can vouch that the swedish meatball dish is all THAT.

Yummy.

I ended up not getting either of the big ticket items I went for.

I liked the Jennylund chair, but I didn't LOVE it.

So I'll see if I find something else.

I then liked the Tullsta chair, but didn't like the colors it came in.

I thought the outdoor furniture set was a little small and quality was so so.

I ended up getting a cart full of home organizing bins.

Surprise. Surprise.

Here is the majority of our CD collection categorized.

While we have most of our collection on iTunes, it's nice to keep the actual CDs organized and easy to find.

Again, sorry for the poor picture, as my camera is still dead.

I put the CDs into boxes alphabetically, with a few limited just to the artist.

I will admit, assembling the boxes was a bit of a pain.

Yet, you can't beat the price and the quality of the boxes.

Sturdy. Crisp White. Lovely.

I also bought a wall rack for my laundry room.

I'll share it in the space once I hang it.

ikea.com

Hope you enjoyed your Saturday.

I'll be working on the "sage" bedroom tomorrow.

Finishing up the floor, installing the trim.

Hope I can get it done before the family comes back from vacation.

Road Trip

2011-03-25T20:15:00.002-04:00

Hi All.

My camera is dead.

I can't get it to wake up. I think the battery is shot. Second one.

Anyhoo.

I'm off to IKEA tomorrow with my gal pal and we are going to do some serious looking.

I'm scoping out the Jennylund chair.

We'll see if she makes it home.

Have a great weekend.

Bedroom - A start

2011-03-20T19:21:00.007-04:00

My stepmother loved Sarah Richardson's farmhouse bedroom. She used the photo from this post as her inspiration. Taking cue from the richness of the walls, a deep sage was selected.

My stepmother jumped in and tackled painting the ceiling (flat white) and the walls all by herself. She did such a rockin' job.

Lowes Valspar Paint and Primer went on like butter and the walls have a deep warmth that makes me want to snuggle up in fluffy white bedding.

Today we picked out some extra chunky trim and will be replacing all the casing and floor moldings. I love it. It's MDF and standing tall. I'll be cutting, mitering and nailing it all in this weekend.

The photos are of the progress so far. I apologize for the quality, but my camera's battery was dead. These are from my phone in a last ditch effort to capture the progress as of today.

My dad and I installed the flooring last weekend. (Can I just tell you I couldn't walk the next day! I felt like I had done 2,000 squats. Whew. Legs were a burnin'.)

The flooring is from Home Depot and is a floating floor. Tarkett Genesis line.

It was sort of a pain at first since the click and lock was tricky, but once we got the hang of it, it went down nice, but not easy. I had nightmares that when I came back today it was going to be all "unclicked", but it looks fabulous. I am jealous. You would think it was something that was finished onsite.

I'll be sure to share some real photos later.

Just so you have an idea of what the entire house was like, here's a shot of the hall and the next bedroom to tackle. Flower wallpaper EVERYWHERE. Dingy carpet that has seen better days and dinky moldings and trims. I grew up in this house and it has sentimental value, but I am all aboard to get this home updated and fresh. See the dark walnut doors. They will be getting an update!

Mirror Mirror

2011-03-18T22:00:00.003-04:00

I am thinking of purchasing one of these mirrors.

They are very similar, but one costs much less.

Which one do you like?

(Source: Image #1 HomeDecorators.com Image #2 BallardDesigns.com)

Outdoor Furniture

2011-03-17T11:59:00.003-04:00

source: IKEA

It's supposed to be close to 70 degrees tomorrow and I am itching to get our pool house cleaned out and open for business.

I found this lounge set on Ikea website. Any of you seen it in person?

I think the price is fantastic to comparable products, just curious of it's durability, etc.

Winner

2011-03-17T08:32:00.005-04:00

And the winner is Allisha from Cooking My Way,2011. Congrats. I'll be in touch.

Thanks to all for entering.

Result:1

Bedroom Inspiration

2011-03-16T08:41:00.005-04:00

Here's a peak at the inspiration photo for the bedroom that I am helping to bring into life.

My stepmother and I are off to the big box stores tonight to pick out trim.

I shared with her many different photos and she was immediately drawn to the one from Sarah Richardson. The Blessed Nest shared a collage of them detailing Sarah's farmhouse.

P.S. Don't forget about the giveaway.

Don't Forget- Giveaway

2011-03-15T18:34:00.004-04:00

Hi All. Don't forget about the giveaway.

This is your chance to get some beautiful ideas for that room of yours that you just can't stand right now.

I've been busy working over at my dad's house. Ripping out trim, laying wood floor and encouraging the family to bring the house into 2011. Of course, I didn't bring my camera, but I will be sure to snap some shots of the new floor and next steps this week.

Have a great week. Bring on Wednesday!

Giveaway- Your Own Design Board

2011-03-09T11:51:00.005-05:00

I am so giddy with excitement... and have been waiting to do this...

all the while sitting on the edge of my seat.

Michelle at Second Street East is the sweetest gal and has such an eye for decorating.

I contacted her to create me a design board for the TV Room.

Can I tell you she nailed it?

She put together what I couldn't visualize.

As as thank you to my followers, you have the chance to have Michelle create you your very own design board. She's wonderful to work with and keeps her design within your budget.

To enter, ensure you are a follower, and leave me a comment on this post indicating what room you really need help with and why it is such a thorn in your side.

A winner will be picked at random. The giveaway will be up for a week, ending next Wednesday 10pm EST.

TV Room Makeover

2011-03-08T18:38:00.002-05:00

Hold on to your hats.

This humm drumm needs a little spice in my life room is on it's way to a makeover.

Stay tuned for the changes.

It's all in the accessories.

All in the placement of furniture.

Ceiling Fan Redo

2011-03-04T10:29:00.004-05:00

Drab to Fab with one can of spray primer and one can of satin spray paint.

There was no need to buy a new fan when paint can spruce it up.

I turned the power to the fan off.

Removed the screws to the light kit, fan paddles and fan base plate that were all in tacky brass.

A couple of light coats of primer and paint each.

The fan was back together few hours later and VIOLA!

Tips: I covered inside of light kit with blue tap so the electrical connections didn't get sprayed.

I sprayed all my screws by standing them up on old piece of packing styrofoam. They stood up like soldiers. Covered beautifully.

Cost Saving- Groceries

2011-02-28T20:28:00.003-05:00

aldifoods.com

So I've tried many different ways to save money on groceries.

Coupons

Home Delivery

Checking Circulars

Setting a Budget

Eating Oatmeal and Ramen (kidding)

You know, spending money on food, it can get expensive.

Well, I am an ALDI convert. I don't know what happened, but I know some friends and family that shop here and I decided to give it a shot.

Two weeks running and I have cut my food bill in half. HALF. I don't buy everything at ALDI, but I buy enough to see a difference in my bill. And truth be told, we haven't eaten anything we don't like yet.

Here's the run down.

I buy bread, snacks, drinks, some produce, canned goods, cereal, and even a rouge men's deodorant in ALDI.

I shop my local butcher shop/deli for meat, salads, Italian bread.

I haven't had the need to go to my local grocery store yet, but I'm not opposed to picking up some organic items there.

So far, my ALDI bill has been between $35 to $40 a week and my Butcher shop bill has been about the same (less the time I came home with store made lasagna because I love it so much).

This is HALF of what I typically would pay in my local food store, local Target, Wal-mart, etc. While my roughly $120-160 spending did include household items, such as laundry detergent, TP, soap, etc, I still think I am saving on the goods.

I'll let you know how the 4 weeks end up and if I still saved with my new shopping stores.

I'd like to hear how you are saving money and tips you have.

Bedroom Reveal

2011-02-20T17:15:00.004-05:00

The bedroom is finally put back together.

It's fresh.

It's clean.

It smells delicious like lavender.

It has a little sparkle.

It makes me smile.

I did end up liking the paste wax on the tall dresser. The wax needed a lot of elbow grease to get it buffed, but I do like it. On a nice day, when I can open the windows, I'll be adding it to the rest of the furniture.

I have to decide what I want to do for window treatments. The wall space on either side is kinda limited and narrow for drapes. Decisions, Decisions.

Stay tuned for a giveaway. Woo Hoo. I reached 100 followers!

Source List:

Wall Paint- Pale Almond by Ben Moore

Wall Trim- White Dove by Ben Moore

Furniture Paint- Behr Paint and Prime color matched to White Dove

Nightstand Lamps- TJ Maxx "on clearance"

Dresser Lamp- Home Goods

Voltives- Target

TV- Samsung from Best Buy

Duvet- Pottery Barn from 2006

White Sheets- JC Penney Blend

Bedskirt- Target Shabby Chic

Dresser Mirror- TJ Maxx

Blinds- JC Penney Stock Faux Wood

Bedroom Furniture- Night Stand

2011-02-15T20:58:00.004-05:00

Here is a quick update and a sneak peak at the furniture.

I am pleased so far. I am torn on a top coat though.

I tested both paste wax on one drawer and polycrylic on another.

I really didn't like either. The paste wax was boring, not enough substance. Seems like a lot of work for nothing.

The polycrylic was a satin finish, but I thought it was too glossy. I just didn't like it. Something bugged me about it.

I've reused my original handles, but am toying with spraying them something else or getting new ones all together. I'm going to live with them for a bit to decide.