=Superwoman=

Featured: Or So She Says

2012-01-11T00:22:00.000-06:00

My gumball-maching-turned-fishbowl was featured on "Or So She Says."

Click here to check out the feature!

How to Fish Wires Through Walls

2012-01-09T17:25:00.000-06:00

I like being handy.

It's much cheaper.

There's a lot of things, however, I'm not so handy with.

Electricity is one of them.

Sure, I can install a new light fixture easy enough, but other than that, I'm lost!

So when I mentioned to my super-handy always-generous step-dad that I needed to relocate a light in my bathroom, I figured it was like free labor.

Right?

No.....

Click here to see how I turned an antique cabinet into a sink for this remodel.

See that light next to the painting? What an odd placement....plus it's also a fan (which vents into my clothes closet! Ew!)

So my step-dad came over, looked at it for a while, tapped on the walls with his knuckles for a few minutes, looked at the wall, then the ceiling, then the wall again.

After doing the random "tests" that I didn't understand fully, he told me where I could find all the tools in his garage necessary to complete this project, and then how to do it.

Wait....what?!

I was bewildered, to say in the least, but I knew that if I didn't complete this project, the rest of the bathroom remodel would never get done.

So here's my light.

I took off the cover, which just snaps on.

At this point, I thought it was probably best to shut down the power to the light and use a shop light for the rest.

Electrical shock doesn't tickle.

Trust me...

Take off the lightbulb to expose the screw.

Unscrew it, and the whole light-housing should come out easily.

This is plugged into a receptacle similar to a wall outlet. Just unplug it and the entire light part should come out.

There will be more screws holding the fan in. Unscrew them and the fan should come out easily as well.

At this point, I realized that this particular fan was installed with extending arms going to each stud, which means that the fan was installed before the drywall, making it impossible to easily get the rest out.

I would have had to get at the screws holding it onto the studs, but I couldn't do that without damaging an entire section of my wall.

So I grabbed my trusty hammer and pry bar and beat the fan box into submission.

With enough denting, I was able to pry the entire unit out of the wall with minimal damage.

And here's the view from inside the adjacent closet.

For the wires to go up into the slant of the roof, then up to the ceiling, I needed to drill a hole in the header.

I then drilled a hole in the ceiling where I wanted the light fixture.

Place your light receptacle box exactly where you want it on the ceiling, trace around it, then cut along your line with a drywall saw.

Make sure that one side of the box is touching the stud in the ceiling, because you will need to anchor the box to the stud after you pull in your wires!

At this point, you can begin fishing your line up into the wall.

Since the roof is slanted, and both holes (on the wall and the ceiling) were between the same studs, it fished easily to the ceiling hole.

Just stick your hand up into the ceiling hole. Have someone else fish the line up, and wait until you feel the line on your hand. The person fishing the line might have to "jiggle" it a bit so that you can feel it.

Grab it and yank it through the hole.

Loop your new extension wiring over the loop on the fishing wire.

Tape all around the wires and the fishing wire. Don't make it too bulky, though, because you want it to be able to fit through the hole on the wall!

Tape it well enough so that you're sure it won't come apart behind the drywall!

Now start pulling on the fishing wire, and your new wires will move into the wall. Leave enough wires to be able to complete your lighting project comfortably.

This is the end that you will attach to the old wiring. Just follow the colors. White to white, black to black. Secure each wire with a cap then wrap with electrical tape.

This is what you should have on the ceiling.

Mount your electrical box to the stud, pull your wires through (securing the wires with the screws! You'll know what I mean if you see an electrical box), and strip the insulation off the wires.

Then it's all set to install your new light fixture!

This hole on the wall can be patched up!

It seems like a lot of work, and slightly confusing, but if you break everything down step-by-step, it really wasn't that bad.

Now, looking back on it, I'm very grateful that my step-dad made me do this project on my own. I learned a great new skill, and I have the pride that I did this project myself.

And, of course, I now have a whole list of electrical projects that I want to take on!

Never ending...

Character

2011-12-20T12:54:00.000-06:00

"Character is what we do when no one is watching."

I love that quote.

It says a lot.

Most of us behave well when we are under watchful eyes, but how do you behave when you think no one important is watching?

Let me share a story with you:

I was driving my daughter to her preschool today, since my daughter's afternoon bus driver is recovering from a surgery. I noticed that the morning preschool bus driver pulled out behind me. In no time, this bus was mere inches away from my bumper. Inches. I checked my speedometer: 30mph in a 25mph zone. I was already going enough over the speed limit. I wasn't about to speed and get a ticket just to please this crazy lady. I was getting agitated really quickly. It takes me about 15 minutes to drive my daughter to school. Ten of those minutes I was close to getting into an accident. "If you're in such a hurry, either go around me or choose a different route!"

I thought about tapping my breaks to scare her off. Nope. Couldn't do it. My daughter was in the back of the van, and the bus was so ridiculously close that even just tapping the breaks would have caused an accident. The bus would've been the winner in that accident.

So I drove the rest of the way, my road raging bus trailing me. I pulled into the preschool parking lot, unloaded my daughter, and began trekking up the path to the school. We had to pass the bus parking on the way. The look on the bus driver's face screamed, "OH CRAP!" I admit, I was a little smug after seeing the look on her face.

So then the internal battle began. Do I say something? I hate being a tattle-tale. I don't want to ruin this woman's life. What if this job is the only thing supporting her family? If I don't say something, though, will she do the same type of driving with 20 children in the bus? How would I feel if she were my child's bus driver?

In the end, I chose to write a formal complaint. My reasoning: I asked myself what any respectable parent would have done in that same situation.

The bus driver is a grown woman. She chose her actions. She never would have driven that way had her supervisor been with her. She also is well aware of the consequences.

My concern is the safety of all the children. The children that she buses now, and possibly my own child next year (she's in 3K right now).

Character is what we do when no one is watching, and she thought no one was watching.

Always be proud of your actions.

Always.

DIY Lipgloss

2011-12-19T16:39:00.001-06:00

I'm not a lipstick wearing gal.

I've tried several times, but I always think I look silly wearing it.

But lipgloss....I can't go a day without it!

You can use your favorite lipstick colors for the base of a DIY lipgloss, giving you just a hint of the color.

For this project, you will need:

-An old Altoids tin

-Beeswax

-Vasoline

-Oil of essence (I used Spearmint)

-Lipstick

1. Cut the lipstick and the Beeswax into chunks about the size of a thumbnail and put in the Altoids tin.

2. Fill the rest of the tin with Vasoline

3. Add about 10 drops of the oil. I added a little more for a stronger scent.

4. Place on a cookie sheet and bake in your oven on the lowest temperature. Mine goes down to 175.

5. Wait until all of the wax and Vasoline is melted.

6. Take it out carefully and stir it to get the color and flavor evenly distributed.

7. Let cool overnight.

I found this idea at this website:

beautylish via my Pinterest page.

But I found that the recipe wasn't the greatest. It made the lipgloss WAY too hard.

So the recipe above is my own little concoction, after a few attempts.

I hope you enjoy!

How to Turn an Antique Cabinet into a Bathroom Vanity

2011-11-07T09:07:00.000-06:00

Wow, I've been gone for a while, haven't I?

Today, I'm going to show you a project that I did this past Summer. I was working on a bathroom remodel.

When I first bought my house, a lot of the work I put into it was more of a temporary thing.

Most of my remodels didn't have much thought behind them.

Maybe because the previous owner had such horrible taste that I wanted to quickly cover it up out of embarrassment?

Or maybe because I was still a novice.....and broke.

I don't have any photos of the original bathroom. Here's some old photos I pulled off my blog of the first remodel I gave this bathroom.

I painted the walls yellow in an attempt at being "fun." I did put in that faux wainscoating, but now I realize it was too low.

There's that horrible fan/light (which fans out into my closet?) that's stuck on the wall.

This bathroom has no shower, so moisture really isn't a problem.

And quite honestly, I don't know why the previous owners would want whatever smell was going on in that bathroom to be emptied out into a closet with clothes in it.

In a later post, I will show you the basics of running wires through walls. I changed the light fixture, and put it on the ceiling where it belongs.

Also, that vanity literally takes up half the bathroom. I'm not entirely sure how we even got it out of there. The thing was monstrous, and the bathroom is tiny.

I knew we needed a new one.

I love the look of antique vanities.

I started pricing vanities for the look I wanted:

Over $2000 for this one at Lowes:

I loved it, but YEESH! That'll put a dent in the ol' pocketbook!

I drooled on the keyboard for this dresser-like vanity priced at $900:

Still out of my price range.

This one was the cheapest, at $400, that still had the look I was going for:

Unfortunately, $400 was still over my budget. Heck, I wanted to pay way less than that for the entire remodel!

So I searched Craigslist, and wouldn't you know it, I found the perfect antique cabinet! It used to be a radio cabinet.

So I took the old vanity out.

I placed the two vanities back-to-back.

My wonderful husband helped move the cabinets for me.

He's wonderful!

Anyways, putting the cabinets back-to-back will give you a perfect template of where to cut a hole for your plumbing. That way you don't need to take measurements.

Just open up the old vanity, and trace inside the old hole.

Next, lay your new sink on top of your vanity, making sure it is centered, and trace around it.

Make sure the sink is far enough from the back so that you are still able to turn the faucets. The sink shouldn't be flush against the back of the vanity.

Then, trace another circle inside of that, about 1/2 inch inside. This will give the sink a lip to sit on. You will make your cuts on the inside line!

Drill your pilot hole and start cutting with a jigsaw.

Next, squeeze a large bead of silicone all around the lip of the hole. This will keep the sink in place and prevent moisture from getting inside the cabinet.

Then just drop in your sink and "shimmy" it into place!

And you have a new, DIY bathroom vanity.

Total cost without the faucet: $70.

Knowing that your piece is a real antique and that you made it yourself: priceless!

Oh, and a little tip before you try this project:

Measure the height of your old vanity. Try to find one around the same size. While plumbing can be adjusted (I had a slight variation), you don't want a vanity that is uncomfortably high or low.

DON'T Remove Your Shoes

2011-08-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

I love looking at everyone's creative ideas out in the world.

That's why I love Blogger so much.

Tons of ideas.

I ran across a blog post at Tip Junkie today about funny/quaint ways to ask guests to remove their shoes at the door.

There are a lot of neat ideas!

I do understand the reason people don't want shoes in their house. Shoes track in tons of dirt.

I get it.

I do.

But I want my house to be different.

I've ripped up every scrap of carpet in my house for ease of cleaning.

I choose easy-wash fabrics on my furniture.

My house is washable.

My house is livable.

I want guests to feel comfortable.

Don't want to release your smelly dogs?

Good, I don't really want to smell them either.

I guess what I'm trying to get at, is worry less about the mess, and more about the good times you should be having.

If you're ever at my house, feel free to keep your shoes on.

I don't own any coasters for a reason.

My coffee table can double as an ottoman. Kick your feet up!

Curl up on my couch.

Go ahead and sit on my countertops. I do all the time.

Make. yourself. comfortable!

2011-08-15T16:07:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone, I just wanted to stop in and let you know that I now have a Pinterest page!

Click the link above to go to the page!

Previously, I had always saved inspirational stuff from the web onto my favorites bar.

What a neat way to keep all my thoughts organized!

Follow my Pinterest page to see where I get all the inspiration on all the projects and remodels that I do to my own little corner of the world!

And a HUGE thanks to Jenn from Motocross Momma for cluing me into Pinterest!

On another note, I've done quite a few projects around the house lately, including converting a closet into an armoire by adding flipper hinges (Google it, you'll understand), and I'm currently remodeling the upstairs bathroom (to which Fedex just dropped off my faucet whilst writing this!).
I haven't written on the closet-turned-armoire yet because the doors need to be sanded and painted on the inside (and to tell you the truth...I got lazy doing because who really cares about the inside, right?) I want to show you the finished product, not my lack of being able to finish projects, haha!

The bathroom will be done as soon as I can convince my step-dad to come over and re-route some electrical for me. He's going to be super-annoyed, but as my step-brother so kindly put it, "He loves being needed and he knows it." Haha, I love my family!

How to Buy the Correct Sized Picture

2011-08-01T15:37:00.000-05:00

I wanted to buy a huge print of my new family photo to put above our entertainment center.

I measured and re-measured the space, debating sizes with my husband.

We went back and forth for hours on what size to order.

Finally, I came up with a solution:

Take a picture of the area.

Upload both the picture you want to hang (A) and the picture of the room (B) into a software like Photoshop.

Place photo A onto photo B, and play with the size of photo A until you like the look of it.

Remeber to think about the thickness of the frame you will be using!!

Once you get it looking right, measure the actual space using cue points. I used the glass hurricanes on the entertainment center, measuring just between them.

This should give you an idea of what size to order!

Hope this helps you for the next time you need to order some prints! Happy Monday everyone!

Family

2011-07-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

Most of you know my personality by now.

You know what makes my heart sing.

Antiques

Auctions

Daisies

Nature

Beautiful artwork

Calmness

Sunshine (then again, thunderstorms rock, too!)

Family

Could it be summed up any better than in this amazing family portrait?

My kids are 11, 6, and 3, and this is our first family portrait.

I know, shame on me!

You know how it goes, life goes by so fast!

This photo is courtesy of Brittany Menor of b. menor photography & design.

She is one of my favorite co-workers as well!
She is studying Graphic Design at UW-Stout, so if you're not in my area for a great photography session, she can make amazing headers for your blog instead!

Thanks a ton, Britt!

Etched Pyrex

2011-07-15T10:07:00.000-05:00

Have you seen all the etched Pyrex out there in the blog-o-sphere lately?

I had to give it a whirl...

...and I'm loving it!

I'm not going to give a tutorial because there are already so many great ones out there, like at Happy Valley Quilter.

She also mentions on her tutorial how Armour Etch states that their cream will NOT work on Pyrex, but it does.

Just leave the cream on longer than 5 minutes (on the directions).

I've actually snuck quite a few projects in the last few weeks, but I've had no time to share.

Today I found a box of flooring in the garage, so that's what I'm doing today.

The entire upstairs of my house is getting redone, and we're going to living without a second bathroom for a while. I'm also doing some demolition up there.

Even though this is a huge project, it really won't be that costly...I'll keep you updated!

April Showers Bring...

2011-05-31T13:50:00.001-05:00

I was finally able to bring bucket-loads of lilacs into the house.

They look gorgeous and dramatic grouped.

They make my heart sing....

Turn a Gumball Machine into a Fishbowl

2011-05-15T16:26:00.000-05:00

My husband took part in a carnival for his college.

Do you know those booths with all the fishbowls and you have to loop a ring around the top of a fishbowl and you win a fish?

That's the one he was running.

Guess what he brought home?

Yeah....three fish.

Yay......

I guess the kids have been nagging me about getting them some fish.

I've also been storing an antique gumball machine in the basement, knowing that someday I wanted to turn it into a fishbowl.

This was just the push I needed!

Directions:

Start with an awesome gumball machine.

(Note: not all gumball machines will be built like this one, so you may have to modify this a bit)

The top will have a screw in it.

Unscrew it and take it out.

Once you life off the top, you will be greeted by this thingamajig:

Take it out and this is what you should have:

At this point, you should be able to remove the bowl and get some glass cut.

Go to your local glass cutter with the bowl and ask them to cut a circle for the bottom of the bowl. Make sure to mention that the measurements should be taken from the outside of the bowl, not the inside. You want to be able to set the bowl ON TOP of the glass, not have the glass sit within.

So this is what you should have after removing the bowl.

This mechanism should lift out easily.

There will be a similar mechanism underneath that.

This one lifts out just as easily.

Now you should be left with just the base and the rod.

This is threaded at the bottom, so just twist it off.

But this rod is a double rod. A rod inserted inside of a rod...

...but this enables you to take the entire base off the platform.

This 2nd rod is also threaded. There should be a nut on the bottom securing it in. Turn everything over, take off the nut, then start twisting the rod until it comes off.

Now, that threaded rod is what keeps the bottom from falling off the base, but we needed to rod off so that we could set a fishbowl (with a bottom on it) on top of the base.

So my solution was to put some Mighty Putter around the edges to keep the bottom platform in place. I gently tapped in on with a hammer.

So this is what you should have, and all the parts on the table can be tossed in the garbage.

If you've gotten your bottom fishbowl glass plate back from the glass cutter, you can now secure it to the bottom of this fishbowl.

You can NOT use any silicone. It has to be special aquarium grade. I had to go to Mighty Pet (a local store, but I'm sure anyone could find it at any specialty pet store....just not Walmart, I tried!) to find it. The staff was very helpful.

This is what it might look like:

Follow the directions on the tube.

Put a generous amount of silicone around the bottom lip of the bowl and carefully put the cut glass on top of it. Wait the directed amount of time.

You might have to go back and add more silicone around the inside part of the bowl, sort of like caulking a tub.

I had a leak the first time, so I had to do this.

I greatly recommend it!

I also added silicone to the base so that the fishbowl would be stuck onto the base. With this fishbowl being top-heavy, I didn't feel it was secure enough just sitting on the base.

After waiting for all the silicone to cure, add your water, bowl decorations, rocks, and of course...your new buddies!

Meet Red, Desmond the Moon Fish, and John!

Framed Map Wall Art

2011-05-04T11:04:00.001-05:00

With life being so busy right now, it's terribly hard to roll out projects.

That's why I love quick, simple ones like the one I'm about to show you.

Before I remodeled my living room, there was a large 18x34 collage above the piano.

I'm starting to fall out of love with pictures in my house.

All my pictures are being retired to photo albums.

I guess it's driving me a little batty that all the photos are from when the kids were younger.

I'm too lazy to keep changing them out.

Anyone else have this same issue?

So I accessed the local library's photo archives and found some maps of my city from 1895.

One side is a picture of downtown, because I loved the old Gothic lettering on it.

Then I got a zoomed-in map of my neighborhood.

Everything's a bit off-center right now.

The frame is too high (this is where it was prior to the board and batten, so it drives me crazy that it's not an equal distance from the ceiling to the board and batten.)

The frame is centered to the window and the corner of the room, but since the wooden toy box is better placed further from the entertainment center...it looks funny not being centered under the frame.

So I'm moving the frame down and to the right, but to make up for the fact that it's not centered from the window to the corner, I want to add this candle holder from Pottery Barn.

It's one of the most unique things I've ever seen.

I.....need....it.

Mother's Day is this Sunday. Maybe the hubs will order it for me.

;)

What girl doesn't love shoes?

2011-04-29T18:40:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's because I work part-time in a shoe department, but I....love....shoes.

Too bad my budget doesn't love shoes as much as I do.

Good thing I only paid $3.95 after tax for these puppies:

My first pair of shoes that came with it's own shoe bag.

(Squeal!)

You can find these exact shoes at the retailer's website, http://ninashoes.com/falana-gold--14508. Unfortunately, the stone color is discontinued, hence the amazing deal I scored (which I got from Younkers).

They also have them available cheaper on the Younkers website, but again, stone was discontinued.

Okay, though it's fun sharing my awesome deals and finds, I do have a project to show you! I just need to clean the room.....

Maybe tomorrow or Sunday? Yeah, I'm thinking that's the plan.

See you then!

Really, Anthropologie?!

2011-03-29T22:02:00.000-05:00

Are you really charging $198 for an old telephone?

I think I just saw one of these for $2 at Goodwill.

Other ridiculousness:

Please please please, tell me no one else would pay $2,100 for this easel.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love Anthropologie as much as the next gal, but sometimes they are just down right crazy.

Here's some not-so-crazy things I'm craving from Anthroplogie:

These unique magnifying sconces priced at $48.

It's not like anything else I've ever seen before.

Simple as that.

This mouse pad priced at only $12.

It's cute and clever.

It would make me giggle every time I saw it.

I've noticed that Anthropologie is a lot like Pottery Barn.

A lot of the stuff is things that you could find at a flea market. Everything is crazy high-priced. A closer look, however, will sometimes reveal quaint little finds, making the search worth it.

Handmade Jewelry

2011-03-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

I know most my readers have a passion for antique and/or handmade.

Are you looking for a unique piece of jewelry?

Check out the things that my friend Beth makes:

These are just my favorites.

There are a lot more to see on any one of her sites.

You can find these on her web page, her etsy shop, or her Facebook page.

Can't afford to buy something now but love her work?

Just "fan" her on Facebook, so you can find her in the future!

Got your taxes back and looking for a way to spend it?

Support this local artist and old high school friend of mine by buying some beautiful handmade jewelry.

She has many items with a large range of prices!

Beth's goal is to get over 1000 fans on her Facebook profile, so even if you don't want to buy something, I would love for my readers to show her some support!

This is the new object of my affection:

100% of the proceeds from these cherry blossom earrings will go to the relief in Japan. These weren't on the Etsy website at the time of publication, but you can find it on her regular website http://www.bethmillner.bigcartel.com/product/100-goes-to-japan-cherry-blossom-earrings

What girl doesn't want awesome earrings plus donating to a good cause?
Once I get my taxes back, this will be one of my first purchases!

Closet Progress

2011-03-27T10:42:00.000-05:00

I completely forgot to show you the work I had done in my closet before the inspector came.

Sorry!

I took down this row of hooks.

I know it's just a closet, but screwing some hooks into a 1x4 just seems lazy to me.

Like my mom says:

"Do it right the first time or just don't do it at all."

It's solid advice, really.

So I routed the edges, primed and painted it, and reattached the hooks.

I don't have a picture for you. I'm going to wait 'til the closet is fully done.

Then, my oldest helped me out in the shop to build a door.

Those hinges are awesome. They are old cast iron hinges that were in my grandpa's workshop.

I picked them up the day before I took this picture.

What luck, hey?

My grandma is moving out of her house, so we're clearing everything out.

I have some pretty awesome antique tools.

The doorknob was also free. I was looking for something in my workshop, and I ended up finding the little wooden knob.

I still have to paint the door, though.

It's going to be painful to paint. You know how much I love birch grain. I'm going to hate covering up such beauty, but the door would look best white.

I still have a lot of work to do in the closet. However, it probably won't be done until after the Spring semester, in a little less than 2 months.

I was really hoping to knock it all out during Spring Break, but that didn't happen.

I need to buy a whole new box of floor planks, because I'm one plank short.

They don't sell individual pieces, either.

See it in the left corner?

And of course I can't put in the baseboard until that piece of flooring is down. I don't want to paint the door trim (those are primed pieces) until the baseboard is up.

List of closet stuff to do:

-paint the door

-finish the flooring

-put in the baseboard

-wood putty the nail holes and paint all the trim

-put up the wall hooks

-build a light box to cover the fluorescent tube lights

-build a shoe/purse cubby area

I'm also going to be building some utility shelving inside the utility part of the closet for paint cans.

It will be much easier than tripping over everything in our messy basement.

On another note, we had a taste of Spring in our area. Most of the snow was gone, my flowers were poking out of the ground, the birds were chirping.

Then we had a crazy nasty snowstorm.

But we're in full Spring mode anyways.

The snow will melt eventually.

;)

Forcing Branches

2011-03-19T21:34:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, shortly after my Birthday Roses post, I received a comment from one of my lovely readers:

Have you met Courtenay yet? If you haven't, visit Signal Hill Interiors.

So, her comment got me thinking, "Why should we have to wait for lilacs?"

I know that forcing blooms is possible, but I've never read about forcing lilacs.

So I did a little research.

Check out this page at BHG.com

If you scroll down to the bottom, it actually says that March is the best time to force lilacs indoors!

On Page 3 of that article, it will give you step-by-step basics to forcing branches.

If you're viewing this on a phone (where navigation can be tricky), here's the direct link to the tutorial:

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/care/forcing-branches-into-bloom/?page=3

I'm (hopefully) going to be giving this a try.

If anyone successfully forces their lilac branches, send me a picture of them in their full glory!

Just click the link "Contact Me" at the top of this page and attach a photo!

Happy bloom forcing everyone!

Birthday Roses

2011-03-18T13:59:00.001-05:00

Okay, so my birthday was actually yesterday.

My husband surprised me with a dozen roses and breakfast in bed yesterday morning.

Isn't that sweet?

However, I always find it hard to display them.

I'm really not a fan of the cliche roses and baby breath jammed into a run-of-the-mill vase.

It screams "cheesy Valentine's Day present" all over it.

How do you mix cheesy roses with an antique-loving country-girl-at-heart?

Cut the roses short and display them in Ball canning jars!

Too bad I don't have any antique turquoise ones.

Oh well, can't be picky, can we?

I love how flowers can brighten up any room.

I'm getting pretty excited lately.

My bearded irises just poked their heads out, so I know it's not too far off when my lilac bushes will be in full bloom.

The usually bloom in May.

Kicking off Spring Break!

2011-03-14T17:37:00.000-05:00

I'm finally on Spring Break!

I wish I was here....

....but I'm relaxing at Mi Casa for the week instead.

I'm going full speed ahead on my closet, and it WILL get done by Thursday (I have an inspector coming Thursday morning, and I want this place CLEAN.)

I ran into some minor delays the past few days:

1. Ran out of primer.

2. Bumped my head onto a wall with wet primer on it. 10 showers later...still have primer in my hair. Hey, at least I know it does it's job well, right?

3. Tried prying a board off the wall, and sunk the hammer into the drywall. In my defense, the nails used to nail this board into the wall mimicked the nails used when my saviour Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross.

These things were wicked big.

So the wall is patched, I still have primer in my hair, and that's about it.

I'm buying more primer tonight, so tomorrow morning, I'll get the walls done!

By tomorrow night, I'm hoping the flooring will be done.

Wednesday morning, I will work on the trim, and by the end of the day, the door will be cut and installed.

Anyways, I'm actually stopping in to show you a product that I just got online.

I had a coupon for $15 off at Express.

This fun little ditty is only $15.90

That's a perfume on one end and lipgloss on the other!

How cool is that?!

I only paid 90 cents + shipping & handling.

(The coupons were sent to me for my birthday. Thanks Express!)

The lipgloss consistency is excellent. Not too sticky. The color is amazing!

I'm picky about perfumes, and I must say, I really like this one!

It's a floral scent, and it's not "in your face" strong.

Just thought I'd share my discovery.

;)

Wall Building

2011-02-19T14:35:00.000-06:00

Just as a heads up, I'll be here pretty sparse until about May.

All my free time is spent either studying, being in class, or practicing like crazy in a nursing lab.
Next month I will be starting my clinicals, so it will be even more quiet around here.

Heck, I barely get to see my family right now.

But today, I have the day off from work, I don't have school, and I'm pretty much caught up in everything, so I have a spare minute or two.

;)

A few weeks ago, I built a wall in my kneewall closet. I've taken down walls before, but I've never built one. It's great that I was able to practice on something small that people won't see.

So today, I'm going to show you the progress, as well as teach you some lingo.

The frame is the skeleton of your house.
It usually consists of a bottom plate, top plate, and all the studs in between.
Studs are normally spaced 16" on center.
If a door is added, however, you will also need a header, cripple studs, king studs, and possibly trimmer studs.
I didn't put a trimmer stud on my wall, well....because I didn't really see the need for it.

Maybe it's because I also cut my own door jamb and I'm making my own door.
I just didn't see the need when the door was in a little kneewall.

I then put up drywall on both sides.

It's already taped and mudded, but I didn't take a picture of that.

Then I had to make the door jamb.

I had to rip-cut a 1x6 to the width of my studs + the thickness of both pieces of drywall.

Yes, I know that you would usually have a trimmer stud there, buy a door + jamb kit, and shim it level and plumb, but remember...it's just a kneewall closet door.

I'm more concerned about cost.

Anyways, that's about as far as I have gotten. The rest of the flooring is purchased, but not installed.

I still need to prime and paint the entire closet.

The trim needs to be installed.

I need to cut out the door and attach it to the jamb.

I have to install the door stop on the jamb.

I have to add the door hardware.

Unfortunately, I barely have even a spare 30 minutes to do any of this.

I have a Spring Break coming up in a month, and I'm going to power it out all in 1-2 days.

Aaron Rodgers

2011-02-07T16:00:00.000-06:00

He rocks my socks.

Hope everyone enjoyed the Super Bowl as much as I did!

Ruff Hewn

2011-02-03T17:29:00.000-06:00

My obsession with Ruff Hewn started when I saw their awesome Fall decor line.

My pumpkin is white/cream. I like to put candies in this dish, or put a big chunk of floral foam in it and press in some flowers.

It makes an awesome display.

Then I saw these great leaf plates.

I had to have them.

Awesomely creamy white.

(sigh...)

Of course, I had to have chargers to go underneath those awesome plates.

Actually, you can see that I frequently use them in outdoor dining, as well.

Though, since I've since relocated these chargers indoors, I'm thinking about replacing my outdoor ones with these:

They are pretty inexpensive, and square, just like the outdoor dining table.

....but I'm getting off track, because these chargers are KN, not Ruff Hewn.

;)

Then my obsession started morphing.

I found this auto emergency kit.

Hey, a girl's got to be safe, right?

Then, I saw that they make some of the most comfortable clothes!

Mine is a beige/light brown color.

Actually, I have a great pair of sneaker, too. It's not listed on the website, and I know it's discontinued.

My latest find:

This awesome baking dish.

Now, I have a glass 13x9 dish...but it's nothing in comparison to this one!

And my special four-cheese lasagna looks amazing in it!

Now, I'm definitely not telling you to go out and buy all this stuff! I found most of this stuff at the end of the seasons, so I scored them on Yellow Dot.

I just know that a lot of my followers' hearts skip a beat when they see cottage/country-style.

Plus, I wanted to show you my obsession.

Well....that.....and Fossil jewelry....but I won't even get started on that!

***Though Younkers does pay me (you know...since I work there...), my opinions are solely my own. They do not pay me to advertise or say nice things. Trust me...I would let you know if I think a brand sucks. (cough) Bella Cucina (cough). ***

Green and Gold

2011-02-01T16:51:00.000-06:00

Is it sad, that when I'm chopping peppers for supper, I think,

"Hey, those are Packer colors!"

You see, my love for the Pack runs deep.

I remember my dad eating hot peppers each time the Pack scored a touchdown (though I'm not exactly sure why).

I received my amazing "scream at the TV" skills from my ma.

...using green and yellow food dye to draw Packer related pictures in the snow-banks.

I love my Pack.

I do.

When they defeated the Bears for the NFC Championship, my family went crazy.

We teach them young.

;)

I am beyond excited for this year's Super Bowl.

The last time the Packers won a Superbowl was 1997.

I was only 10 years old....

Though I remember it, at 10, you don't really "get" football.

Even if they don't win, I'm just glad they got there, ya know?

Coming up:

-recipes

-recommendations

-closet progress (building a wall)

Kitchen Color

2011-01-28T09:54:00.000-06:00

I think it's about time to take that kitchen color poll off of my header, hey?

The Winner:

Lemon Verbena

Though it will be a bit before I paint the kitchen, it's nice knowing that the color is already picked out!

Thank you so much for your help in picking out a color.

You're opinion is so important to me!

I have a different kitchen painting project that I need to finish. I started it a while back and never got around to finishing it...but I'm hosting a Partylite party at the end of February, so my house needs to be somewhat finished!

I'll definitely let you know when I start/complete the kitchen painting!

Celebrity Resemblances

2011-01-26T16:14:00.000-06:00

During my last email chat with Roeshel from The DIY Showoff, I told her that "I feel like I know a celebrity!" obviously referring to her.

Though she insisted that she's not (so very humble, my dear friend, Roeshel), it finally hit me...

...maybe it's because she so closely resembles a celebrity!

Roeshel from The DIY Showoff:

Sarah Walker from the TV show: Brothers & Sisters:

Soooo gorgeous!

She's one of my favorite characters from the show.

Anyone else see the resemblance?

Or is it just me?

Uncanny....

I think Roeshel is Sarah Walker, and she's just being her usual humble, modest self. Trying to fly under the radar. Well, I'm Roeshel's biggest ~~stalker~~ follower, so of course I would find out her secret!

Featured: The DIY Showoff

2011-01-24T16:36:00.000-06:00

I swear, Roeshel from The DIY Showoff is my biggest supporter.

Many of my followers originally found me through her!

If you don't know her, click the image above to check out her blog!

You can also click here to go directly to my feature!

AND a huge thanks to Roeshel for the feature. It is much appreciated!

Master Bedroom Redo

2011-01-20T18:41:00.001-06:00

I am finally showing you my master bedroom.

This should be the.....3rd?...time that I've redone the master bedroom since buying our house in 2006.

Yeah, I know, that's a lot, but it always takes me a few tries to get things "perfect."

So with all my ~~junk~~ stuff successfully stuffed into my husband's closet, all I had to do was give the room a quick mopping and iron the curtains, and I was all set!

I never took a "before" photo.

I'm sorry.

If you want a quick run-down of the flooring being put in, and a little sneak at what the walls used to look like, you can check it out in this post here.

Without further adoo (ado? adu?), here is the master bedroom:

Bedskirt: http://www.younkers.com/shop/bed-bath/duvets-bed-skirts-canopies/livingquarters-crochet-bed-skirt_169213.html in ivory

Table lamps: LivingQuarters from Younkers. (Sorry, there's no web link)

Bedding: http://www.westelm.com/products/organic-cotton-pin-tuck-duvet-cover-and-shams-b340/?pkey=corganic-bedding in natural

Wooden roman shades: Menards (sorry, no web link!)

Curtains: http://www.shopko.com/detail/envision-studio-bailey-cord-grommet-top-window-panel/10080/0710

I won this jewelry armoire last summer at an auction.

I have way too much jewelry, and I just donated half my collection.

Haha...

Mirror: Younkers (no web link, I found it on Yellow Dot, so it was super cheap!)

So what do you think?

My bedroom before had "noise" everywhere. I packed so much stuff into such a small space. I need to de-clutter my life.

This bedroom is so peaceful at night, and so cheery in the morning.

I love it.

Of course, I will be adding a thing here or there.

My husband wants a chair in the room, so he can sit down and put his socks on.

Right now he does a funny little hop when he puts them on.

It amuses me, but he's not as amused.

Haha.

I'm thinking about putting this one from the Country Living line from Kmart in the corner by my new mirror:

It matches the new nightstands.

I'm in love with the upholstery nail trim.

(Ahem...I have a birthday coming up, Hubs!)

I also want to warm up the room a bit with some nice natural jute rugs.

I'm in love with this one from Pottery Barn:

...but it also has a $49 price tag.

I would need two, and $100 is way out of my price range.

Target has about the same prices.

If anyone knows of a place that sells jute rugs in 3'x5' for about $30 or less, could you let me know?

I would appreciate it greatly!

Master Bedroom Closets: Plan

2011-01-18T21:16:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've given you an update!

The Master Bedroom is coming along great.

After the contractors left, I finished up my husband's closet.

Here it is completely finished, with new flooring, baseboard, and paint to match the master bedroom:

We are now able to sleep in our own bed again.

Of course, the room is still not ready for viewing.

This is what my closet looks like.

This side needs more flooring, and the walls need to be primed and painted:

That wouldn't be that bad at all.

However, this is the other side of the same closet:

The back wall comes out a little further than the rest. There's a weird "bump" in the middle of the floor, causing a raised area. I believe there is plumbing under there.

The wires/cables are all for the TV/antennae/booster.

It's impossible to hide all of this in the walls, so I'm building a wall with an access door.

This little area will just be a utility area, and then I will have the rest of my closet for all my girlie things.

So that's what has been stalling me.

Don't even get me started on the random plumbing PVC pipe that should be vented through the roof, but instead has a shopping bag with electrical tape wrapped around it to stop it from venting into my closet.

Haha.....sometimes you just have to laugh.

Anyways, I've decided that I'm just going to clean up the room and temporarily store all of my stuff in my husband's closet until I get mine done.

That way I can snap some photos, and you won't have to wait any longer to see my master bedroom.

Sound like a plan?

Do you have any weird things in your house that the old owners did? I could write a book about my house's odd/annoying/funny quirks (at least my contractors thought they were funny...), but I want to hear about yours!

Wine

2011-01-14T18:31:00.000-06:00

It took me a long time to appreciate wine.

My MIL first introduced it to be a few years back.

I choked it down with a smile.

You see, I come from a line of beer drinkers. I can name the favorite beer brand of most my aunts and uncles. Now, I'm not saying we are a bunch of alcoholics, we just appreciate an ice cold bottle/can/mug/pint of a perfectly brewed beer after a long day.

Then I went on a wine tasting tour for my husband's cousin's wife's (did you follow that?) bachelorette party.

I was skeptical, but I like the girl, and she was soon to be family, so why not?

That's when I began to appreciate wine.

I don't love every type. I like white more than red. Something sweet with high residual sugars.

I like a Riesling.

I hate a Cabernet.

I began fine-tuning my love for wine.

I began researching doo-dads, gadgets, and what-nots for wine.

Take, for example, a vacuum sealing wine preserver.

While interesting in thought, I think it's a waste of money.

Maybe because, in my house, the wine bottle gets emptied before the end of the night.

(Which, to me, means the party was a success!)

One product that I am glad that I purchased is an aerator, similar to this one:

from Younkers.

This isn't the model that I own. The one I have twists onto the end of the wine bottle so that it aerates as you pour it.

Nifty.

It actually changes ("blossoms" as the product packaging says.........sure....) the taste of the wine.

I've tried it.

It works.

I'm going on a "Girls Night In" at my good friend's house tonight. We have to bring a bottle of our favorite wine to pass around and everyone samples.

Fun hey?

It was my idea.

;)

Is there any wine do-dad that you swear by? Any fun tricks (such as "trilling") to drink the wine?

Please share your insight!

The Master Bedroom is Done!

2011-01-11T15:33:00.000-06:00

I worked extra-special hard to get the 4 doors painted in the master bedroom.

I can finally happily say that my master bedroom is complete!

This is how my masterpiece looks today:

?????

I think maybe I should explain myself....

You see, almost instantly after completing this room, I received a very important phone call from some contractors that need to do some very important improvements to my home.

I had only 45 minutes to clear all the junk out of my closets so that they could come over and install some drywall, tape it up, and mud them.

Hence all the junk ended up on my bed, under my bed, all over the floor....etc.

The thought popped into my head that I should ask them to wait so I could snap some oh-so-important photos for my personal blog, but the Hubs didn't really go for it, haha.

So the closets are done, and since everything's out of them anyways, I'm going to finish up the flooring in them.

I have decided to not yet prime and paint.

1. Because I need to re-route some wiring. I don't like cables/wires just tacked to a wall. I think they should be hidden.

;)

2. I think you all have waited too long already to see the master bedroom reveal.

The contractors will be here for the remainder of the week. I'm going to finish up the closet flooring tonight and start putting everything back in, so that hopefully I can snap some photos for everyone!

I also noticed that my Followers are dropping off like flies, no doubt from my failure to deliver some promising projects.

I really appreciate everyone's patience with me. This whole thing took me by surprise, and I know it's frustrating to keep waiting. I also delete many blogs from my Following list if I get bored with it, so I know how it is.

However, this is a personal blog for me. I don't use this as a source of income, but just to keep people updated on what's going on in my life, and possibly a few tips/tricks around the house, so if nothing exciting is happening, then I don't write, ya know?

;)

BUT I'm extremely happy that you are reading this, because that means YOU haven't given up on me!

Thank you so much!

Anyways, today the contractors finished up putting up drywall, taping, and mudding 4 kneewall closets.

They also blew in some insulation in our attic, which was desperately needed.

William got a brand new aluminum double-pane window today.

Tomorrow's "hopefully" agenda:

Patching a bad section of the roof.

Honey Glazed Ham

2011-01-09T21:44:00.000-06:00

I haven't shared a recipe in such a long time!

Honey Glazed Ham

Thinly sliced ham. (I buy 2-3 pounds of the lean kind)
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbs mustard
1/4 cup honey
1 orange, skin left on, sliced thin

Stagger the ham slices in a shallow baking dish. (Refer to picture to see what I'm talking about.)
In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and stir well.
Pour the mixture over the ham.
Place the orange slices on top of the ham.
Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour.
Take off the orange slices before eating!

I like to baste it like a turkey, just to make sure that it gets full flavor.

On another note, the master bedroom is close to being done. I put up the rest of the baseboard, primed all doors, and gave each 1 coat of paint. I ran out of paint, so I can't finish it until I go buy some more.

I'm really sorry for the delay in this project. Trust me, I want this done more than you do, haha!
Unfortunately, I'm having contractors over tomorrow to discuss insulating my house, so it might not get done tomorrow. I'll let you know about the progress on that, and maybe even shoot some "before" pictures.
Does anyone else have drop-ceiling tiles used as attic insulation? You'll have to see it to believe it...

I'm so excited, aren't you?!

A Bedroom Update

2011-01-05T14:26:00.000-06:00

I'm almost done with the master bedroom, and I absolutely adore it!

I just need to install a double rod support, finish the rest of the baseboard, and paint 4 doors, and I'm all done!

I want to show you the progress I've made over the past couple weeks.

After moving out all the old furniture and giving the room a good vacuuming, this is what I had:

The carpet was ugly. As you can see, there's also no baseboard in the room. That's a reoccurring problem in my house.

What house doesn't have baseboard?

Mine.

There's also a shelf/curtain rod combo above the window.

While I liked the display space, it's really not my style.

It had to go.

The squares on either side of the window were framed.

I actually sort of liked it.

Then I started ripping out the carpet and laying the planks.

This is after day 1:

The shelf was taken out, the bamboo blinds were ready to be cut and hung, and the flooring was 1/4 done.

I bought one dresser from a Christmas gift card (thanks Ma!), and started installing the bamboo roman shades.

In one corner, I had to strip the wall and re-mud the corner due to some water damage.

The roof near the chimney sprung a leak this past summer, and it caused a lot of paper bubbling.

Thank goodness there was no mold!

The room then received a fresh coat of paint (Foaming Waters from Dutch Boy).

The curtains were hung (using two old curtain rods). The inside curtain is short, I know. It's a thermal/light blocking curtain, and since it's behind the bed, I knew it wouldn't really matter.

The outside curtain is a drop cloth.

I can see why people love drop cloth curtains so much!

The price and texture are amazing!

Then I bought the other dresser and added two lamps from Younkers.

My husband really digs the lamps.

However, once I put the bed back in with the new bedding from West Elm...

...I realized that the lamp shades and duvet cover don't match the drop cloth curtains.

They clash terribly.

The duvet cover and lamps have more of a yellow tint.

The drop cloth curtains have more of a brown/gray tint.

Since the bedding was darned expensive, and since my husband really liked the lamps, I knew the curtains had to go.

And that's where I am today. I picked up some more curtains that I think would go better with the room. It's not a loss, really, since I can always use the drop cloths for their intended purpose....painting.

Haha.

So within the next few days, I'll show you the results. It's going to be major! The room is so bright and airy! It feels luxurious and cozy.

P.S. I promise to have better quality "after" photos. I wasn't worried about snapping perfect pictures while I (and my camera) was covered in drywall dust.

New Year's Resolutions

2011-01-01T12:43:00.000-06:00

Happy New Years, everyone!

Did anyone do anything fun for the New Year?

It's time again to make resolutions, but before I do, I want to reflect on how well I did from last year's resolutions.

You can find the original post here.

1. I will fit into my old wedding dress.
Done! I tried it on a month ago, and I even had spare room! Would it be weird to ever have my old wedding dress altered? Haha....

2. Complete my first ever half marathon with my mom and family.

Never even tried. I think it was a combination of being too busy and not being fit enough. During the past year, however, I have doubled my stamina, so maybe I'll give it a whirl this year.

3. Learn how to sew.
Nope. Still never learned. However, I do have a sewing machine now. I just have to find the time...

4. Be proficient at using my new Cricut.
I'm now a pro. ;)

5. And lastly, but most importantly to me, maintain (or heighten!) my 3.5 GPA.
I brought it up to a 3.658. I feel so proud of myself for keeping that resolution.

My 2011 Resolutions

1. Complete a marathon with my family. Do you think I'll make it this year? I hope so!

2. Potty train Hailey. I'm really getting tired of changing diapers. So is my wallet...

3. Get my LPN license. I will be able to become a Licensed Practical Nurse after a year into my degree.

4. Visit family more often. I see my husband's family quite often, but I don't get to see my side much at all. My family is huge (one grandma had 10 children, the other had 5), and I know it's impossible to stay in touch with everyone, but it would still be nice to see the family that is around the area.

5. Learn to sew. Maybe. Hopefully. I really wish that I had my craft room set up.

I can't wait to see what the new year brings!

What are some of your New Year's Resolutions??

I would love to hear them!

Master Bedroom Plans

2010-12-19T12:34:00.000-06:00

I feel like I'm just waking up after a long dream.

I haven't been around in a while, have I?

Yesterday was the last day of the semester for me, and this chick managed to pull off straight As! Studying for exams have taken up all my free time. That is the cause of my absence!

So now I have roughly 3 weeks of free time (except...you know...my job), and as per usual, I have a whole pile of stuff that I want to get done.

Main project: the upstairs flooring.

Each room has a different type of carpet. Most of you that have been with me for a long time know that I. hate. carpet (almost as much as I hate carpet glue! Haha!)

So most of my efforts will be installing seamless laminate dark "wood" floors.

Fun, hey?

But you know how I am. One project makes me take on another...and another....and.....well, you know.

So while dreaming of these new floors, I decided that the master bedroom needed a little refresher.

(This is where a picture of my bedroom would go if I had one. My room is a disaster, and I'm too lazy today to clean it.)

Actually, I still sort of like my bedroom.

However, it lacks my personality. Plus, I have fine-tuned my decorating skills since the last time I have remodeled.

We bought an iron headboard full-price for over $500 when we first bought our house. I wanted a sleigh-style headboard...

But our bed is right under a window. Unfortunately, it is the only place we can put a bed.

We knew we needed an iron one so that we wouldn't block any light.

I hate it.

I loath it.

I (insert hateful word here) it.

And you know....my husband said that since it was so expensive (for our measly budget), we have to live with it for the next 20 years, at a minimum.

Pfffffttt......

That is.....until I saw this picture over at The Lettered Cottage:

Oh my gosh! Could you just die?

She solved my problem!

So I'm "knocking off" Layla's bedroom!

My plans:

-planked walls just like hers.

-laminate floors, but darker than hers.

-bamboo shades, but the darker version to match the floors.

-drop cloths curtains (like hers), and I already have the curtain rod in storage from a demo project!

-this bedding from West Elm (that I know I'm getting for Christmas)

...but in the natural color. I already have the comforter to stuff it with!

-these "nightstands" from Kmart.

Okay, so they are actually considered dressers, but they are pretty small. They have them on display at our local Kmart.

We really need the storage space with these nightstands. I'm going to love having more drawers!

-A small chandelier hanging above the bed. I'm thinking about doing some thrift shopping for this one. I love vintage!

This may take us a while to complete, but I'll keep you posted on the progress!

I still need to do a "wish list" post, don't I?
Hmmmm....that should be coming soon, I hope.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T20:39:00.000-06:00

I was in a food coma today.

It was awesome.

(Photos are from my "Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving.)

What I am thankful for this year:

*My family's health. It's been a rough year for many members of our families, but everyone is still here with us today, and for that I am truly thankful.

*The opportunity for my husband and me to continue our education. It's been a tough road, but I know it will be worth it in the end!

*My kids. My kids are great. My 5 year old is one of the top students in his class. My daughter knows the entire alphabet at 2 1/2 years old. My 10 year old shows more morals and appreciation than many of his peers. We are great parents, even though we were young when we had them. ;)

*My forever-friends. This year has brought a lot of harsh realities to me. I have almost successfully weeded out the toxic friendships in my life. My supportive friendships mean so much to me. I never wanted to have sisters, but I'd imagine that some of my friendships are just as strong, if not more.

*My marriage. I know that he will be making me laugh every single day until the day I die (whether it be with him or at him). He grounds me. Sometimes I can be too serious, and he reminds me to just laugh.

*My Followers. I can't even begin to describe how important you all are to me. You make me feel important. You encourage me to better my home, my cooking....well...my life in general. Without you, I doubt I would have the motivation to accomplish as much as I have. You give me advice. You pick me up when others have beaten me down. Thank you SO much for everything!

Tell me what you are most thankful for. I'd love to hear it!

2-Minute Bathroom Organization

2010-11-22T10:12:00.000-06:00

I try to keep all my organization not only functional, but attractive as well.

But you know what? If people aren't going to see it, who cares if it's not attractive!?

Haha!

I (heart) bobby pins. I use them all. the. time.

Now my daughter uses them all. the. time.

However, it seems like I have to buy a new package every other week.

I lose them like crazy!

I knew that I needed some better organization to keep them in place.

A jar?

No. I would have to dig in the bathroom closet for that. And let's face it...I'm lazy.

;)

The medicine cabinet?

It would make sense, since I do my hair in front of it every morning.

No. It's already pretty full.

Then I had one of those lightbulb moments.

Magnetic strips.

I went to Walmart and bought one of those magnetic strip rolls. The ones with a magnet on one side and sticky tape on the other.

I took everything out of my medicine cabinet and noticed that the mirror was much larger than the opening for the medicine cabinet.

I decided to put magnetic strips on the very top, the bottom, and in the middle where there were no shelves.

Cut the strips to size and press them on firmly.

Then add your bobby pins!

Then I thought, "Hmmm...you know...we can never find tweezers or clippers in this house. I wonder if it'll hold that, too?"

Yep!

Is it pretty?

No.

Is it highly functional?

Heck yes.

And I haven't lost a bobby pin yet.

;)

Featured: Someday Crafts

2010-11-18T10:50:00.000-06:00

Click here if you want to check out the post on Someday Crafts that featured my kitchen island!

Thank you, Michelle, for the feature!

If you want to get great tips on crafting up anything (decor, clothes, accessories, etc.) check out Michelle's blog Someday Crafts.

P.S. I do have some new material for you. I have two presentations and a final paper to write for school, so that's consuming a bit of my time. I'll be showing you a quick organizational tip within the next few days, and also a few pictures from this year's "Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving."

Kitchen Island Revamp

2010-11-14T12:58:00.000-06:00

My kitchen island was one of the first new things brought into our home.

It was a house-warming gift from my Ma.

Shortly after this picture was taken, a friend leaned on the pull-out leaf, and it nearly tipped over on him. I really didn't want that happening to one of my children.

I realized that I had to do something to make it safer.

It needed legs.

I browsed the Internet for some inspiration.

It was going to look something like this in the end:

I even have the saddle stools ;)

I realized that I loved the wooden top.

More inspiration:

Love that dark wood top contrasting with the white bottom!

The corbels are pretty sweet, too, but that wouldn't solve my tipping problem.

This makes me almost want an all-white kitchen:

Still loving the dark top and white bottom!

So I pulled off the knife block (that I never used)...

...and the towel bar...

...and wood-puttied the holes.

Then I skirted the bottom with some tall baseboard.

Hailey was helping me take off doors.

What a nice helper.

Then I cut the top from a 3/4" sheet of birch plywood.

(I'll show you how to cut large stock in a separate post!)

I added decorative trim to the outside and secured it with just wood glue and tape.

I didn't want finishing nails ruining the trim, and since the trim is merely decorative (meaning that it won't need to withstand any weight) it doesn't need nails.

After a bit of wood putty and a lot of sanding, I had my top.

I love the grain on birch.

To make sure that I brought out the beautiful wood grain in the best way, I made some sample boards to stain.

I liked the one on the right, but I knew I would have to put a few coats on it to darken it.

It's Red Mahogony from Miniwax.

I put the trim on the sample boards to make sure that it took the color the same as the plywood.

The plywood is birch and the trim is pine.

I also applied a wood conditioner to the wood before staining.

Both birch and pine are soft woods, and they usually take stain very blotchy. A wood conditioner evens out the stain.

I added 3 coats of clear high gloss polyurethane.

Next, I had to attach the legs.

I checked online for island legs.

$50+

So I went to Menards. I looked at stairs posts. The cheapest ones that were big enough for my project were $50 each.

50x4=200

$200?!

Heck, I should just buy a whole new island then!

Feeling dejected, I moped to the check-out line with just my painter's tape.

I looked up and I saw the decking department.

"Heck, I bet decking posts are cheaper than indoor posts!"

Sure are!

$12 a piece.

Much better.

;)

So I chopped them to size and added pocket holes with my Kregg jig so that I could attach them to the plywood without drilling through my perfect top.

I didn't stain all of the bottom because it was going to be covered anyways.

Then I placed it on top of the old island and screwed it in place.

I countersunk all of the screws and wood-puttied over them.

After a few days of painting, it was time for new hardware. My current hardware on the rest of my cabinets are aged bronze.

The old silver hardware had to go!

The cheapest ones in the size I needed were $7 a piece.

7x6=42

$42 for hardware?!

Heck no!

So I went home with a $4 can of spray primer instead.

I spray-primed and spray-painted a faux aged bronze finish.

Luckily, I had the spray paint already in my garage.

I used a dark "oil rubbed bronze" finish first (it just looks like a dark grey/brown).

Then a lined up all the hardware on end and gave a quick spray of bronze over the top.

You can't see it in the picture. Sorry.

Anyways, after re-attaching all the doors, attaching the "new" hardware, and adding my centerpiece (of course), I was all done!

Want to see how it turned out?

My mom was extremely surprised that this was the very same island she had bought for me years ago.

I'm thinking that some year I will tear off the two middle doors and make a wine rack similar to this island:

Much prettier, much safer.

I love it!

Coming up:
A quick bathroom organizational idea.
How to cut large stock.

A-Frame Wood Guitar Stand

2010-11-08T17:47:00.000-06:00

I was making my husband something awesome for Christmas.

My luck...he found it midway being done.

So I'm going to share it with you (and then figure out something else to make my husband for Christmas).

My husband breathes music.

He's actually a very talented drummer.

His love, though, is playing the guitar.

I let him keep his acoustic in the living room, because I think it looks classy.

For some reason, every time I see an electric guitar, my first thought is Gene Simmons.

Odd?

Anyways, I know he's been wanting a guitar stand.

I don't like the plastic ones. Sure, they are cheap, but I also think they belong in a college dorm, not my house.

The nice wood ones average $200-$300.

Ouch.

Betcha I can make one!

I found this template online.

If you would like this template, the website is listed by the picture.

So I printed it off in 8x10 sheets, then taped them all together.

The guy that originally made this used two pieces of scrap wood, hence that line in the middle.

I wanted this to be decent quality, so I bought a full 3/4 sheet of plywood.

I cut out the template and traced around it on my plywood.

Once I cut it out, I used that piece as my second template. I stayed outside my line so that I could sand the edges.

Then I had two identical sides.

Then I needed to sand the edges.

I learned a really cool trick (in a magazine maybe?) for sanding. Instead of trying to hold your work and maneuver a sander around it, you clasp the handle of the sander in a vice grip and that leaves you with two hands to rotate your material.

This is much easier! I love this trick!

To make sure that the sides remain exactly uniform, I clamped them together before sanding.

After the usual sanding, staining (True Walnut by Miniwax) and polyurethaning, I attached the two sides together at the top with a decorative hinge.

You need to make sure the stand doesn't completely spread while a guitar is on it.

The template calls for two slits to be made so that a ribbon could pass through.

I thought that it would look sloppy.

I thought a chain would look much better, plus I wouldnt' have to try making slits.

To give myself leverage to twist the eye hooks into the wood, I like to use a C-clamp.

Once I got one eye hook in, I carefully closed the stand and pushed down, causing an indent on the other side. The ensures that the eye hooks are in the exact same spot on each side with no measuring!

You also should add padding on the stand so that putting the guitar down doesn't cause any chips.

On the website, he used felt and glue.

Why don't we skip that step and use 3/4" Velcro?? Only the soft side, of course.

;)

I cut off a small piece and stuck it on the front like this:

Then a bottom piece:

And the rest on the back. Repeat on the other side.

I used a hanging basket chain to connect the eye hooks.

I'm not happy that it's green, but since it was just sitting in my garage (FREE!) and it wouldn't be seen when the guitar sits on the stand, I wasn't too worried about it.

It will be replaced some day, I'm sure.

Ready to see how it turned out?

You like??

Coming Up:

Two huge kitchen projects. One is going to knock your socks off!

A quick bathroom organizing idea.

How to make an important woodworking tool.

Featured: The Creative Crate

2010-11-01T15:54:00.000-05:00

My charging basket was featured over at Creative Crate!

It's a great blog to get great ideas for your home!

Click the button above!

Thank you so much, Stacie!

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

2010-10-31T20:36:00.000-05:00

Nothing says "Halloween" to me more than the smell of pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven.

My fondest memories with my dad was gutting pumpkins and saving the seeds to eat.

He did a lot of special things like that.

Now I have passed that tradition onto my children.

Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

-raw pumpkin seeds

-few drizzles of olive oil

-few splashes of Worcestershire sauce

-a dash of salt

Mix everything together. Spread a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Put in the oven at 275 degrees for about an hour.

I used roughly 2 1/2 cups of seeds. The more seeds you have, you will need to add a bit more of the other stuff. I can't give you exact amounts, I just throw everything in there!

My kids were eating these by the handful!

It's such a nutritious treat, especially after a day scarfing down candy.

;)

Happy Halloween!

Ooops!

2010-10-30T17:29:00.000-05:00

Shoot, I forgot to let everyone know that I received a clean bill of health from the doc!

Yay!

I've been covered in sawdust for the past 2 days on 2 seperate yet equally awesome projects.

They will both take me a while to finish, but I'll be sure to show you some mini-projects along the way!

And because no post is complete without a picture, I'll show my son's epic "Double Pick."

Awww. He was just a baby.

:'}

Charging Basket

2010-10-29T11:41:00.000-05:00

So what did I do with this simple basket?

First, I went to Hobby Lobby to find this basket. They have a huge selection, and I knew I would find one with about the measurements of the shelf.

Wait until the flier says they are 50% off!

I used the template that came with the bronze grommets that I used.

I placed the template where I wanted it, then traced with a white paint marker (easier to see).

After cutting the basket with wire cutters (the basket was too thick for scissors), I glued on the grommets.

They need to be glued because a basket is obviously thicker than fabric, so the grommets won't snap together.

Don't skip this step, because the grommets help the basket from unraveling!

Put a power strip inside the basket....

....and thread the cord through the grommet.

Then I attached two ledgers on each side.

I screwed the wood from the outside of the basket with black screws to have them camouflaged a bit.

I did this because my basket would be in an enclosed space, so you won't be able to see the screws.

If you are having the basket sit out on a table, you will need to find a different way of securing the wood to the inside of the basket, unless you don't mind seeing the screws.

Wood glue might work, but it may ooze out of the basket....

Anyways, just make sure that the two wood ledgers are level with each other, and that you leave enough room for not only the power strip, but all the plug-ins that you will be adding!

Next, place your basket upside-down on a sheet of wood. I used a scrap 3/4" plywood that I had from a previous project. You can definitely use a thinner plywood!

Trace around it.

Now, if your basket is beveled, like mine (the bottom is smaller than the top), you're going to need to cut on the inside of your line, so that the wood fits further down the basket.

If you don't do this, the wood will sit on the top of your basket.

I had to take about an inch off all the sides.

After cutting that out, you will need to make several straight cuts along one side, to thread the cords through.

I accomplished this with my table saw, but a circular saw or jigsaw should do the trick. I made two passes per line to thicken up the line. You may have thick cords!

That's a bit hard to see. it seems as if the wood is the same color as my floor.

Ooops!

Anyways, put the power strip back in the basket and attach any charging cords that you may have.

I only put our cell phone chargers in there, but I have a bunch more for cameras/GPS's/etc.

Place the wood in the basket, thread the cords through the slits, attach your power strip to an outlet, plug in your gadgets, and your all set!

I will definitely be staining that wood.

I'm also thinking about adding tags to each cord so that we don't have to guess which one is the right cord. Masking tape wrapped around the cord should work fine!

You wouldn't even guess that's the function of this cute little basket on our entertainment center!

I think this may be my favorite organizing project to date.

We used to plug our phones into an outlet by the countertops in the kitchen. That means gadgets would be in my way as I cooked. Not only that, but there was only 1 free plug, so it was a constant battle between my husband and me. I would have to unplug his charger, neatly wrap it up, stick it in the junk drawer, then plug mine in. He would unplug mine, throw it "God knows where," and plug his in.

Now I know where my charger is.

;)

Hubby's favorite organizational project to date is the magazine storage in the bathroom.

He's odd.

Haha!

Intermission

2010-10-27T11:24:00.000-05:00

I generally like to keep this blog about inspiring my readers.

I like to jog your creativity.

Today isn't going to be one of those days.

For some of my readers that have been with me for a long time, you may remember that I had a scare about skin cancer.

Did you notice that I never did a follow-up?

My insurance was not covered by the dermatologist.

I had to find a place to would cover me.

That would be up in Marquette, Michigan.

I haven't been there in about 7 years, when my husband attended college at NMU.

It's probably nothing.

I'll probably laugh after this is all done.

Unfortunately, I'm an over-worrier.

In my head, I'm thinking:

"How will my family handle a serious medical condition?"

"How would my family fare if I die?"

"Would my husband remarry?"

"Would treatment hurt?"

"How much treatment am I willing to take on?"

"What would I look like with no hair?"

Hahaha, not good, to say in the least!

Okay, those aren't my ears. Those are the bald man's ears that I merged my photo with. Not that it justifies the horridness...

Anyways, as soon as I get the lab results back, I will be sure to let everyone know.

It's probably just an ugly mole. Okay, two ugly moles. My physician is probably just an over-worrier like me. I doubt it's anything serious.

I'm probably making a mountain out of a mole hill, but it makes me feel a little better not keeping my worries to myself.

;)

10 Projects in 10 Days Recap

2010-10-26T11:21:00.000-05:00

It was really hard for me to power through this 10-in-10 challenge.

It seems like my boss knew I was going to have a life outside of work. More hours.

It seems like my professors knew, also. Harder exams.

BUT I don't think I did too poorly.

Let's recap:

1. Winterize the outside.

I got about half done. The cushions to the expensive Lloyd's wicker set are brought in and washed. The wicker still has to come down, though. We still haven't had a freeze here, but I shouldn't wait until it's too late.

I'll give myself 5% on this. (1/2 credit, lol)

2. Winterize the indoors.

Ick. I still haven't done it. Well....actually, I did fix our furnace's humidifier. They help make you feel warmer with the thermostat set lower.

Other than that.....nadda. No film on the windows yet. In the next few weeks I'm getting my entire house winterized. We are getting insulation in our attic and the living room addition. A new energy efficient door is being put on the kitchen. A bunch of windows are getting storm windows as well. One window is being replaced. (Our attic insulation is ceiling tiles! The old owners thought that would be adequate insulation....)

So maybe after the company comes over to do all that, I will put up the film.

I'll give myself 2% for the humidifier though.

3. Finish my Christmas wish list.

Done! Yay! I usually do a post about my Christmas list, but I'll put that up closer to Christmas. My in-laws just wanted to start Christmas shopping early, so I had to make up a list early.

10% (full credit! yay!)

4. Buy the kids' Halloween costumes.

Done!

Hailey's going as Snow White. She is OBSESSED with the Disney Princesses.

John is going as Mario.

Will originally wanted to be a crash test dummy. We couldn't find that at all. We ended up getting Chucky.

10%

5. Make a Halloween treat.

Done!

To check out how these are made, click here.

10% completed!

6. Clean both vehicles.

Done! Mine's getting pretty bad again, but that's because my van is the "family car." It gets dirty pretty fast. At one point, though, both the truck and van were sparkling clean!

10% completed

7. Sign the kids up for swimming lessons.

I'm still debating on whether or not to put Hailey in swimming lessons. I don't really think there's much more that a lifeguard can teach a baby that I wouldn't be able to. Just a waste of money, in my opinion. The boys, however, and all signed up and ready to go on November 2nd.

Not only that, but we are all signed up for a month family membership.

I love the YMCA. Hailey and I are actually going for a swim in about 2 hours =D

But now I'm sitting with two gym memberships....haha.

10% completed.

Can I give myself extra credit for the family membership? Just kidding ;)

8. Cut the trim for the insides of the kitchen cabinets.

Ooops. Completely forgot about that one. I didn't even buy the trim. Oh well.

0% completed

9. Finish taking the glue of the stairs.

I tried doing this every...single...day. Though I definitely made progress, it's still far from done.

I'll give myself 5% on that one.

10. Book a mother/daughter salon appointment.

Done! I booked two Express manicures and pedicures. That's the one where they do the works to you, haha. I couldn't get side-by-side ones until November 24th, though. It's going to be great having some mother-daughter time. They are so few are far between. <3

10%

Let's tally that up......

72% completed.

Oh well.

I got more done than if I wouldn't have challenged myself, however.

So I think it was a success!

Thank you to Jenn for hosting this party!

Fall Mantle

2010-10-25T13:34:00.000-05:00

It seems like everyone but me has a fireplace mantle to decorate for the holidays.

Actually, when me and the hubby were "house shopping," we almost bought a house with a fireplace.

And a large kitchen with a built-in island.

A living room the size of my house.

Unfortunately, the owners put renters into the house right before we were going to close on the house. Renters need 60 days of notice before kicking them out on the street in our state.

Would I buy a house only to have random people living in it for two months?

No...not a chance.

Anyways, back on track!

Since I have no fireplace in my house, I decided that my new entertainment center had a pretty good fireplace-type mantle on it.

That'll do.

;)

So I decorated my "mantle" for Autumn.

I also want to show you the subject of my next project:

Just a basket.

I'm going to turn this basket into something hugely functional.

If you're an organizing freak like me, come back to see what I did with an ordinary basket!

I'm also well aware that my house needs a good dusting. Holy wah, dust bunnies multiply faster than real bunnies.

;)

P.S. 10-in-10 recap will be coming as soon as a link-up is available from the host!

More Fall Kids Projects

2010-10-22T08:44:00.000-05:00

I don't decorate for the seasons much.

I'll throw Christmas decor up a week before Christmas and take it down the day afterward.

But Fall....

...oh how I love Fall.

Here's a few more Fall-themed projects to do with your kids.

Stuffed Pumpkin

1. Cut out a circle in some orange felt.

2. Punch holes around the perimeter of the circle with a paper punch.

3. Weave some green ribbon through the holes.

4. Pull slightly on the ribbon until the felt makes a bowl shape.

5. Stuff the bowl with cotton.

6. Pull the ribbon tight and tie off.

Painted Pumpkin

This one's pretty self-explanatory.

Just paint a pumpkin (or a mini-gourd, like we did).

My daughter chose purple.

Fall Trees

This one is probably best for school-age children that are able to follow directions better......

Anyways, just trace your child's hand (you can use brown construction paper and cut it out like we did on the right).

Make Autumn leaves by either gluing on fake leaves, or using finger paint to paint them on.

Posts that I'm dreaming up for the future:

-A peek at some woodworking I've been doing (but won't be able to show you until after Christmas!)

-My Fall "mantle"

-A spinach recipe the kids will love!

-A 10-in-10 recap

10-in-10 Day 6 ; Ooey Gooey Witches

2010-10-19T10:36:00.000-05:00

I'm rocking at this 10 projects in 10 days thing!

Today is Day 6: Clean both vehicles.

Check!

Yesterday was Make a Halloween Treat.

That's what I'm going to show you today.

Ooey Gooey Witches

Place caramel apples on a cookie sheet.

Place an ice cream cone upside down over the stick (I used the Oreo kind).

Use raisins for the eyes.

Candy corn for the nose.

Mini chocolate chips for the mouth.

Twizzlers Pull-N-Peel for the hair.

The kids love this treat so much! The hair take a long time to put on, but it's worth it!

Well, since I'm a bit ahead of my 10-in-10 list, and I have the day off work, I'm going to leap into tomorrow's task: sign the kids up for swimming lessons.

10-in-10 Day:2 ; Kiddy Fall Wreath

2010-10-15T10:25:00.000-05:00

Sorry I didn't post last night.

I haven't had more than 5 hours of sleep a night for the past 2 weeks, and I'm really starting to feel it.

I did NOT get my day 2 goal done: winterize the inside.

I took out my window film, decided that I needed my hubby's help (but he get's home late from school), so I decided to wait.

While waiting, I decided to try out an adhesive remover (for the stairs) that my father-in-law brought home (from my sister-in-law's house).

This stuff instantly liquefied the glue. It's amazing. 10 times better than the adhesive remover I had bought.

The problem is that apparently my Menards doesn't carry it. Or at least I couldn't find it.

Anyways, after spending a few hours working on the stairs, by the time my hubby came home, my back was on fire.

There was no way I was going to put on window film.

Oh well....

BUT I do have another kiddy project to share with you!

Find a good maple/oak leaf and trace around it on construction paper for a template.

Make a bunch of yellow/orange/red leaves from construction paper with your template.

Cut the hole out of the middle of a paper plate.

Glue all the leaves on.

Punch out a small hole, attach some ribbon, and hang!

I have lots more projects to share, so keep coming back for tons of inspiration!

10-in-10 Day 1 & Kiddy Ghost Project

2010-10-13T21:04:00.000-05:00

Here we are at the end of Day 1 on my 10 projects in 10 days challenge.

Day 1: Winterize the outside.

Mmmmmkay.

I brought some potted plants in.

I flipped the birdbath and planters.

I started taking the arm cushions off my wicker patio furniture.

This guy jumped out at me.

Done.

After making the hubby carefully check every single cushion for "friends," I now have a pile of cushions that need to be washed before stored.

Did I get all the winterizing done?

No.

But it's a good start.

Anyways, I have a cute Halloween project that you can do with your kiddos.

Paint the bottom of your kid's foot with white paint.

Press firmly onto black construction paper.

Add googly eyes and draw a ghoulish smile.

Hang and enjoy your ghost!

=*Superwoman*=

Featured: Or So She Says

How to Fish Wires Through Walls

Character

DIY Lipgloss

How to Turn an Antique Cabinet into a Bathroom Vanity

DON'T Remove Your Shoes

Pinterest

How to Buy the Correct Sized Picture

Family

Etched Pyrex

April Showers Bring...

Turn a Gumball Machine into a Fishbowl

Framed Map Wall Art

What girl doesn't love shoes?

Really, Anthropologie?!

Handmade Jewelry

Closet Progress

Forcing Branches

Birthday Roses

Kicking off Spring Break!

Wall Building

Aaron Rodgers

Ruff Hewn

Green and Gold

Kitchen Color

Celebrity Resemblances

Featured: The DIY Showoff

Master Bedroom Redo

Master Bedroom Closets: Plan

Wine

The Master Bedroom is Done!

Honey Glazed Ham

A Bedroom Update

New Year's Resolutions

Master Bedroom Plans

Happy Thanksgiving

2-Minute Bathroom Organization

Featured: Someday Crafts

Kitchen Island Revamp

A-Frame Wood Guitar Stand

Featured: The Creative Crate

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ooops!

Charging Basket

Intermission

10 Projects in 10 Days Recap

Fall Mantle

More Fall Kids Projects

10-in-10 Day 6 ; Ooey Gooey Witches

10-in-10 Day:2 ; Kiddy Fall Wreath

10-in-10 Day 1 & Kiddy Ghost Project

=Superwoman=