Completely Charming

Decorating for Halloween:: DIY Style

2011-10-20T12:10:00.001-05:00

I was so eager to make and put out my Halloween decorations this year that I started gathering ideas from Pinterest and shopping for supplies in early September. That probably seems crazy to a lot of people (my husband included), but fall is my absolute favorite season and I love to embrace everything that has to do with it!

Last year, I cheated myself out of some valuable holiday decorating fun when I decided to simplify (errr…be cheap) and just decorate the porch in a generic fall theme. It was very cute and I definitely plan to get all of those decorations back out after Halloween is over, but I somehow felt like I had missed a great opportunity to have some fun for Halloween and I vowed to make sure that didn’t happen again this year. Which brings us here….

This year, I was determined to put my little DIY mind to work and come up with some cute and very affordable decorations for the front porch and entryway. I achieved everything I was looking to do and when it was all said and done, I spent around $100 on all my supplies and decorations, with almost all of the decorations being things that can be boxed up and used year after year.

These decorations have been up at my house since the first weekend in October, but getting around to taking pictures and putting together a blog post has been another story. Needless to say, I have been dragging my feet a little when it comes to doing much of anything productive lately…more on that later.

So, here it is…my DIY Halloween décor! The cost breakdowns and information about where I got all of my decorations can be found below the photos.

A few fun decorations may have found their way inside to the entryway table as well...

For the Outdoor Decorations

Inspiration for the “Trick or Treat” pillow covers were inspired by this project. For mine, I used my Silhouette Machine to cut out the black iron on “Trick or Treat” wording and graphics that I put onto my handmade outdoor orange pillow covers. I also made the black bench cover out of outdoor fabric to fit over our existing (red) bench cover that was there before (and will be making a come back for the fall decorations). The black and white outdoor pillow covers were also made by me using some fabric I already had on hand.

The faux rats, spiders, black crows and RIP sign were all found at the Dollar Store.

I bought four pumpkins in various sizes that I will also be reusing in my fall porch decorations. I also used my Silhouette Machine to make the bats that I stuck onto the windows.

The cheesecloth ghost was inspired by this project, but I decided to do mine on a much larger scale. To create the “mold” for this larger than life ghost, I used a Styrofoam head that I already had on hand (originally purchased from Hobby Lobby) and stuck it onto an upside down broom (the head has the perfect size hole in the bottom of it for doing this). Then I got some heavy gauge wire and wrapped it around the broom handle and shaped “arms”. From there I stuck the entire mold into a small empty trashcan (for stability) and draped my cheese cloth over it then followed the instructions from the original project inspiration.

Cost Breakdown:
Black Feather Wreath - $19.99 (was 50% off) – JoAnn’s
Orange Ribbon Bow - $3.49 (was 50% off) – Hobby Lobby
Faux Black Crows - $1.00 each – Dollar Store
Black Witch Broom -$7.00 (was 30% off) – Hobby Lobby
Black Iron On Vinyl - $0 – already had
Orange Outdoor Fabric for Pillows (1 yard) - $5.38 - JoAnn’s
Black Outdoor Fabric for Bench (1.5 yards) - $10.77 - JoAnn’s
Black and White Outdoor Fabric for Pillows -$0 – already had
RIP Sign - $1.00 each – Dollar Store
Faux Black Spider - $1.00 each – Dollar Store
Faux Rats - $1.00 each – Dollar Store
Cheesecloth for Ghost (6 yards) - $4.00 (was 50% off) – JoAnn’s
Felt for Ghost Eyes - $0 – already had
Starch for Ghost – $2.88 – Wal-Mart
Pumpkins - $3.88 each – Wal-Mart
Black Cardstock for Bats - $.25 a sheet – Hobby Lobby

For the Inside Decorations

First, I draped an inexpensive cotton web table cover from the Dollar Store over the table. I used an old white cake stand that I already had and put a faux pumpkin on top to serve as the focal point. From there I added two black candlesticks and orange candles to either side. A few faux black crows completed the look I was going for.

For the faux pumpkin…I again used my Silhouette Machine to make the Boo! sign that I then adhered (using Matte Modge Podged) onto the faux pumpkin on the entryway table. I used a faux pumpkin for this project so that I could use it every year.

Black Cotton Web Table Drape - $1.00 – Dollar Store
White Cake Stand - $0 – already had
Faux Black Crows - $1.00 each – Dollar Store
Black Candle Sticks - $0 – already had
Orange Candles - $0 – Kohl’s (had a gift card)
Faux Pumpkin - $12.49 - (was 50% off) – JoAnn’s
Black Cardstock for Boo! - $.25 a sheet – Hobby Lobby
Matte Modge Podge - $0 – already had

Oh, and...here is the (fantastic) reason for my lack of productivity lately…

This picture was taken almost a month ago when I was 12 weeks pregnant. I am now nearly 16 weeks along and in my second trimester. My energy level is starting to pick back up, and for that I am very thankful!

Things got pretty out of control around our house there for awhile…at one point the laundry was piled up so high in the laundry room that our dogs were starting to make a nest out of it…hahaha! So glad those days are behind us (for now)!! ;) I will definitely have more fun baby-related posts to share as things progress.

My Latest Obsession: Pinterest

2011-08-07T21:45:00.001-05:00

I have one word for you...Pinterest. If you haven't heard about it yet, and you love to browse online for ideas or things to add to your wish list...you need to get connected to this network ASAP. It will change your world!

Okay, maybe that is a little dramatic. But, it will give you a place to mindlessly spend hours on end! The days of Facebook creeping are over (oh, you know you've done it)...it is my prediction that the days of Pinterest creeping are the next big thing! ;)

In a nutshell, Pinterest basically allows you to "pin" your favorite things from around the internet and categorize them into folders. Then, when you want to go back and finally buy that awesome pair of winter boots you spotted online in July...you will remember where you found them, because all of your "pins" are linked to the original website where they were found!

Pinterest also allows you to "follow" like-minded individuals who share similar interests and styles with you so that you can generate ideas or discover new products that you didn't know existed...kinda of like an entire network of personal shoppers...just for you! You can also search the network for specific items of interest to see what is out there. Have I piqued your interest yet???

It's free to join, but you do need an invite. Want to join and need an invite? Comment below with your email address and I'll be happy to send you one.:) I've already created "addicts" out of several friends who are now loving it.

Here is my Pinterest account if you want to check it out.

Happy pinning friends!

Two Years Ago...

2011-05-02T15:56:00.000-05:00

Two years ago on a cool, cloudy day just like this one...I married my very best friend.

The past two years have taught me more about myself than I have learned in the 26 years that preceded them. Marriage stretches you and makes you grow by allowing you to see things in yourself that maybe you didn't really want to admit were there. But, it's a funny thing because even though you may not realize it at the time (I mean...let's face it...no one really likes to admit that they can be a little selfish at times and they are an absolutely terrible housekeeper) when it is all said and done and all of your "ugly" traits are out there...you can look over at the person next to you and know that they really don't care. They love you just the way you are. Even when the laundry is piled up so high that the dogs are starting to make a bed out of it.

Marriage makes you recognize those really beautiful things that are inside of you to. Like your ability to love someone so completely that when they are sad or in pain...you can feel all that too and you would give absolutely anything to take it away from them.

Marriage is incredible (and at times incredibly frustrating) but the most important thing that I have realized is that communication is key. I am so fortunate to have married my very best friend. A man who is good and kind and loves me like crazy and who I can tell absolutely anything to.

And, I can honestly say that I have never been happier to spend every single day with someone who constantly makes me laugh until I (almost) pee my pants and tells daily how much he loves me.

I cannot imagine finding another person who is so perfectly suited for me, even with all the little ways that we are so completely different. Thank you honey for making me the luckiest girl in the world. You have made my heart so content and full of love. I am so excited to see what life has in store for us.

Snippets of Our Backyard Renovation

2011-04-13T09:42:00.002-05:00

Well...the weekend backyard flower fest was a success!! Our backyard is really starting to come together and I am really happy with all of the progress we have made so far. (If you want to see what our backyard looked like when we moved into our house 2 1/2 years ago take a look here.)

My ultimate goal is to get all of the hard work done this spring, so that come summer all we need to do is water, fertilize, dead-head the flowers and enjoy floating around in the pool! :)

While I was taking all of the photos for a post about my weekend flower planting, I decided it just made a lot more sense to do the before and after post about the entire project at the same time....so you won't get to see everything I did over the weekend quite yet...(who knew a before and after post about this project would take so long to put together?!?). But, here are a few sneak-peek shots to give you an idea of what is coming!

The whole story on our backyard overhaul is coming soon!!

It's Definitely That Time of Year Again....

2011-04-08T12:00:00.001-05:00

Every night on my way home from work, I see this.... (well, not this exact same thing, because I snagged the photo off the Under the Sun website, but you get the idea)...

So, naturally, I have been itching to bring some of those beautiful blooms home with me. I have been resisting the urge to stop on my way home for 2 weeks now, but I am not going to deny my inner gardener any longer. This weekend it is on!

Now, seeing that I am a major planner type of person, I have been doing a little online browsing to look for some fun combinations to go in my many pots that will be scattered about the backyard...I'm going for a real Hawaii-tropical feel back there this year...well, as Hawaii and tropical as you can get in Oklahoma anyway (ie..no palm trees for us, sadly).

Anyway, nothing screams Hawaii-tropical to me like lots and lots of bright colors! So, here are a few photos I have gathered to use as my "guide" when I hit the garden center tomorrow.

So, can you see a theme here...big, bright and full is my motto this year!!

Oh, this is going to be SO.MUCH.FUN!!!

Photo updates on Monday, friends! :)

A Weekend Impulse Buy...

2011-04-05T11:24:00.001-05:00

I bought one of these this weekend...

It was on sale and I have always thought I really needed one (especially with as much sewing as I do). I hear it can really cut down on time...so I thought, why not?! --- Can you hear the rationalization through justification going on in my head here?!? Anyway, I decided to hop in the car and go to JoAnn's to get my very first serger.

I am normally not so impulsive...I mean, I do my research, read all the reviews, compare models/prices...the whole bit. But not this time...I can honestly say, I got the flyer in the mail on Friday, noticed it was on sale ($100 off...not too shabby)...went out of town for the weekend, came home on Sunday and decided I would be buying myself a serger! Soooo, not like me!

Needless to say, I have absolutely NO IDEA how to use the thing. But, I am hoping to learn...and fast! :) Until then, I will enjoy the *idea* that I am now the proud owner of a serger.

In fact, last night...I was doing a little internet research looking for project ideas that I want to tackle now that I have this handy dandy little machine and I came across a blog (which I need to look at again to see what it was so I can start following) anyway, this woman was an incredible seamstress! I was in awe at the things she created. So professional and finished looking. Each time I would point one of her creations out to my husband and go on and on about how wonderful her work was, he would say, "You could do that. Easily. You're that good too."

Wow.He.Is.Amazing. Just when you think you can't possibly love someone anymore than you already do...you can! Just another one of the 1,265,984 reasons to love this guy! Another one...he has been calling the *serger* and *sifter*...ahahaha! Like last night he said, Uhhh, honey...are you planning on leaving your sifter there (motioning over to the kitchen table where it has been sitting since I plopped it down when I got home from buying it on Sunday).

He is adorable...and when you are that adorable you get your wife to happily pick up her crap and put it where it belongs. :)

Back to Blogging.....

2011-04-04T10:55:00.000-05:00

After a "short" hiatus from blogging...(nearly a year...eeek)...I am finally feeling motivated to get back at it!

Honestly, I was reading through this ol' blog of mine with my husband a few weeks ago and we were talking about how cool it was that I had basically journal-ed all these things that had happened to us...some of the things we had even forgotten about. Anyway, it was pretty much at that point that I remember how much I loved blogging and decided that I was definitely going to start it up again. Then, it only took to another two weeks for me to actually get around to DOING it. But here I am. :)

To catch you up to speed, here are a few of the big things that I have been up to in the last year or so...

I started a business, Posh House Originals, in September 2010 with one of my oldest, dearest friends Katie.
We signed up for and exhibited at not one, but TWO craft shows in TWO days...we were crazy and naive and will definitely NEVER, ever do that to ourselves again!
My husband took a new job with a really incredible, well-known medical company and then traveled for practically three months straight while he went through training (we saw each other for about 36 hours each weekend, counting the time we were sleeping...so not really at all). It was crappy. I am not sure how military wives do it. I know I couldn't do it. My husband is my very best friend and I hated not getting to see him everyday.
We started building a pool in October. Which is funny, because I joked about it back here. It is finished now and I will definitely be sharing some before, during and after photos soon. (I was kind of hoping the grass would green up before I took my after photos, but I might not be able to wait that long to share! :)
I turned a year older (and of course, wiser).
And then lots of little things that I can't really recall right now. (Which is one of the main reasons I need to start blogging and writing all this stuff down again...the ol' memory is already getting fuzzy on me!)

Okay, so that should about bring you up to speed! I'm not making any promises on this whole blogging thing, but I hope that I can be pretty consistent with my posting to give me and my husband something to look back at in another year or so. :)

A New Addition...

2010-05-28T10:48:00.001-05:00

My mom and step dad came for a (too short) visit last weekend and my mom brought me a few fun things she just knew that I would love. She was right...they are so me. :)

I'll share the rest of the items later as I get around to transforming them. But, for today I'll share this little beauty...

I had really been looking forward to making room for this chair in my craft room. In fact, I was so eager to get it upstairs into its new home that I started working on transforming it almost as soon as it arrived! Here is what it looks like now....

That's all for today. As always, I have a list of projects a mile long that I am hoping to tackle over the long weekend...wish me luck!

My Latest Obsession: Bringing The Indoors Out

2010-05-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have a moment where you are sitting with your honey, day-dreaming out loud about all the wonderful and exciting projects you would like to take on at your house and then...BAM! Day-dreaming turns into reality faster that you can say, "Ummm....What just happened?"

Well, yeah...that is precisely what happened to me and that is why I haven't been blogging...or really doing much of anything else (other than working on our latest house project) lately!

But ooohhh how I love a good project. And, this one has been no exception!

It all started a little something like this...we bought our first home about a year and a half ago. When we purchased it we knew it would definitely need some renovations to get it looking like the home we had dreamed of. And we were more than okay with that, especially given its amazing location and overall good "bones".

First came the (almost) complete kitchen overhaul. The only existing items that stayed in the kitchen were the cabinets. When we were house hunting I knew that if nothing else I HAD to find a house that had good woodwork throughout. Since kitchen and bathroom cabinets can be super pricey I wanted to find a place that already had cabinets I loved so we wouldn't need to replace them.

Here is what our kitchen looked like when we bought the house....(sort of anyway...the light above the island was added by us, but I wasn't fast enough to get a picture before that went in.)

We really liked the layout of the kitchen itself, so there was no need to move anything around. After the new floor tiles, granite counter tops, travertine backsplash, stainless steel appliances, new paint and texture on the walls, new light fixtures, window treatments and of course, accessories...this is what our kitchen looks like now...

After the kitchen project was completed we moved on to some smaller projects including the paint and texture we continued into the living room (which connects to the open kitchen above), the front yard landscaping, and the half bath downstairs which also got new paint and texture on the walls, new tile and new fixtures.

After those projects we were finished last year, we were done for awhile. Home projects, while enjoyable, are also exhausting and time consuming so we decided to take a break from the renovations and just enjoy our home. That, however, didn't last too long before we were both itching for a new project!

That brings me to our current undertaking...the backyard. When were bought our home we knew that at some point, if nothing else, we were definitely going to need a new fence. But, we also dreamed of creating an outdoor living space where we could entertain, relax and enjoy ourselves for several hours at a time. The backyard that came with the house was not suitable for any of those things. In fact, up until now we rarely spent any time out there at all. It was ugly and depressing, definitely not a place you would go to unwind after a long day!

After spending the weekend at my mom and step-dad's house and enjoying their lovely outdoor living space for a few days, we came home inspired and ready to make some major changes in our own backyard! We started with the one thing we knew we needed to upgrade first, the fence. You can kind of see the old fence behind this chest of drawers...it was in desperate need of an upgrade!

Next we looked at a way to enhance and expand what was going to be our "outdoor living room". The concrete patio that came with the house was about 10 feet by 16 feet and it was not covered. And, if you know anything about the summers in Oklahoma, then you will immediately understand why not having a covered patio really considerably limited the amount of time we were able to spend in the backyard from the months of May through August.

So, the wheels started turning. We first considered building an uncovered deck and calling it good. But, then went back to the issue of the Oklahoma summer heat and decided we really would need some kind of cover (even if it wasn't a permanent structure) to be able to enjoy the backyard at all.

That's when we decided that we would be well served to expand the current concrete patio and cover it. Originally, we were going to expand the patio so it would be 14 feet by 20 feet. Here was our original plan...

Then, the night before the concrete was going to be poured, we decided to go ahead and expand the patio another 11 feet so it would be 14 feet by 31 feet. I know 11 extra feet may seem like a random number, but by expanding it 11 additional feet it would come flush with the wall of windows in our living room. They aren't depicted in the sketch above, but they are on the right side of the chimney.

After getting the green light from our neighborhood association to built the covered patio, we went to town and had the "bones" of our future outdoor living room constructed. Then things really started to get exciting, because it was time to start putting together a plan for decorating this outdoor room! :)

I came up with this inspiration board to help us visualize how all of the elements we were considering using in the space would look once they were put together. Here is what I came up with....

We are almost completely finished with this project now. We will have to wait another couple of weeks to cut the concrete into large diamond "tiles" to ensure we don't compromise its strength by cutting into it too early. Once the tiles are cut we are planning to stain the concrete something very similar to the reddish-brown color shown near the grill above. AND we have to wait for the pesky rain to stop so we can have a two-day window to get a new roof put on the entire house...new patio addition included!

BUT, since we are very close to having the entire project finished, I thought I would share some before and after pictures today....

Since completing our patio project, we have been spending every single free second outside enjoying our backyard! It has definitely been well worth all the hard work and time we have put into it, and we are looking forward to making even more improvements out there as the months go on. Who knows...with all the work we have put into making this house a perfect home for us, we may just decide to eventually put in a pool and stay awhile! ;)

Craving Garden Fresh Foods

2010-05-11T14:06:00.000-05:00

It's that time of the year when anything that tastes light and fresh is making its way into my tummy! :) There is just something about the warmer weather that makes heavy meals seem so unappealing to me. Anyone else feel that way?

While it is still a little too early to have any tomatoes from my own garden to use in this recipe (although I did notice some tiny little tomatoes making their way out into the world this week on my plants), I was able to use some of my own fresh basil in this recipe.

It was fast, simple, light, fresh and above all de-lish! :)

You must try it for yourself sometime very soon....

GARDEN FRESH BRUSCHETTA

A few simple ingredients is all you will need...

First, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees...

Chop tomatoes, fresh basil, red onion and garlic and combine in a bowl....

Next, add your olive oil and balsamic vinegar and toss with tongs until everything is thoroughly mixed. Then place the entire bowl in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to chill...

Meanwhile, slice your French bread baguette into 1/4" to 1/2" slices and place on a baking sheet. Place in the oven until the bread becomes nice and crispy...

After your bread is done, pull your mixture out of the refrigerator and place a heaping spoonful of the bruschetta mixture onto each slice of bread immediately before serving and enjoy....

Here is the entire recipe including the measurements. You can click on the recipe image below to enlarge and print now OR you can right-click to save it on your computer for later! :)

I hope you enjoy this light, warm-weather treat as much as I did!

The Martha Room Makeover....Before and After Pictures

2010-04-29T11:30:00.000-05:00

Finally, the Martha Room is thisclose to being finished! If you have no idea what I am talking about you can read all about it here, here and here. :)

I am still lacking a desk chair with arms (I moved the one I originally bought for the desk and it now resides in a corner insetad), but my mom has the perfect little chair that she has offered to give me, so that problem will be solved soon enough! Thanks Mom! :)

This space used to be a second attic until the previous homeowners built it out and turned it into a game room (or additional bedroom...we're not sure). But, because of its previous life as an attic, the space had a lot of angular lines on the ceiling that I had to deal with. It made the project a bit more challenging because it really limited me on furniture placement, but in the end I think everything turned out nicely!

So, here are the before pictures....

And here are the after pictures...

And here is the storage closet (behind the door between the chair and antique chest)...

And there you have it...a 360 degree tour of my new office/craft/sewing room! :)

One Giant Post To Bring You Up To Speed!

2010-04-28T13:13:00.002-05:00

I have been very absent on this blog lately, but I have had good reason...life has completely taken over and I'm meeting myself coming and going these days! But, this frantic pace I have been keeping is not without results. And, that means I have LOTS to share today! :)

Besides, being in town for only one weekend during the last month, I have...been to two out of town weddings and one out of town weekend visit, painted and distressed this antique chest of drawers, finished decorating and putting together my craft room (aka: the Martha Room), took one very successful trip to Ikea, been around town researching and scouting out some craft fairs to consider for next year, finished making a wonderful and fun anniversary gift for my husband (our 1 year anniversary is on Sunday), been to several estate and garage sales, finished planting 3 kinds of tomatoes, 7 kinds of herbs and a few flowers in my garden, had our house appraised, made the cutest burp cloth diaper cake for a baby shower (that I couldn't attend because I was out of town), and have been busily working away on a very exciting project that I will share with you all later. ;) Whew! The sad thing is I know that's not the half of it...just what I can remember doing!

So, seeing as how I am so behind on posting about all the fun stuff I just mentioned, I decided to do one giant post today incorporating a month's worth of highlights! :) I hope you'll read on...

Here goes....

Remember that amazing estate sale I was telling you about a few weeks ago? Well, here is a round-up of the fun things I found at it!

This was probably my favorite find of the day! I just love this old beat up wooden box...and it just happened to be the perfect shade of turquoise for my room. It was my most expensive find of the day at $18, but given its great condition and perfect coloring I went ahead and splurged on it...and I am so glad I did, I would have been kicking myself had I left this gem behind!

This old plant iron stand was the perfect thing to hold all my herb pots. It was only $9 and after giving it a fresh coat of black spray paint when I got home it was the perfect addition to our patio!

This old heavy ceramic canister and small pitcher were dirt cheap ($7 for the two) and will be the perfect containers to hold pretty flowers. Both items were originally a cream color so I decided to give them both a few coats of white lacquer spray paint to achieve the look I was going for.

I love these small old jars...they will be perfect for storing beads or other small items in my craft room. The teal book and small old wooden box also came from the estate sale. I think the jars and book were $1 each and the small wooden box cost $5.

When I originally purchased this container for $4 I had no idea what it was intended to be used for. It was rather large in size and had several small holes in the bottom (funnel) part, which I thought would allow it to be the perfect planter! After adding flowers and dirt I love the way it turned out! This past weekend while shopping at a flea market with a friend of mine, I stumbled across another one of these (that had some additional parts included) and discovered that is actually an antique cream stainer (or umbrella cover for an antique milk can?)...anyhoo, it makes a pretty fine flower pot if you ask me. :)

And, last but not least...I purchased this old sewing machine drawer to hold Ball jars full of thread and sewing supplies for $5.

It was a very successful estate sale, full of many other treasures that I didn't take home. I wanted to leave some money in my wallet for the upcoming weekend visit to my mom's house. AND, I'm glad I did because....

The weekend after finding that wonderful estate sale, I went to my mom's house for a visit and we picked up even more fun things for my office at local garage sales and flea markets.....

I scored a TON of cool frames...all for free from my mom and grandma. I love them all and have a lot of ideas for what to do with them.

Another cool Ball jar...I think it was $2 and is the perfect size to hold white chalk for my chalkboard!

As you may have noticed, I have a slight thing for old (amazing) wooden boxes! These all just had to come home with me. :) The large Hercules box on the bottom was found at a flea market for $15.

These are my very favorite and were given to me by my mom. They were actually my great grandmother's sewing machine drawers. I love them so much and have plans to store more sewing supplies in them.

This old wooden letter holder looks like it was made of reclaimed wood and matches another wooden tray I got a few weeks ago perfectly! It was $5 and will be the perfect place to store the "need to read" issues of my favorite magazines.

I could hardly believe it when I found the small cake stand (shown on the top of this one I found at a thrift store a few weeks ago) at a flea market for only $3! It has a pretty scalloped edge which is kind of hard to see in this picture, and compliments my other cake stand perfectly.

I found this cooper pot for $6 and knew right away (with the addition of a few small holes) that it would make the perfect planter! I also found the plants shown in the container while visiting my mom. We stopped at a local plant sale and I couldn't resist picking a 6 pack of these up. They are called Summer Poinsettia and I thought their coloring was just beautiful!

I also picked up this lovely antique chest of drawers on my visit. My mom gave this to me and it actually belonged to her when she was a little girl, so that makes it extra special to me. :) After I got home I got to work transforming it right away. Here are some before and after photos of the piece.

I really distressed this piece a lot more than the other pieces in the room. I wanted it to stand out, and that it does!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the caster wheels on this piece! They really add to its charm. :)

In an effort to keep the hardware on all the pieces in the room the same, I opted to go with the Amerock Weathered Nickel knobs for this piece. I think the look of weathered nickel adds to that distressed look I was going for.

Now, onto my weekend visit to my mom's house....My mom and step dad have one of THE most inspiring back yards...really more like outdoor living spaces...I have ever had the pleasure of hanging out in. Everytime we are there we feel like we are on vacation because we spend so much time outside soaking up the sun, cool breeze and beautiful surroundings. Their backyard is honestly an inspiration to my husband and I. It is so serene and realxing there. Here are some of the lovely things you will run across while roaming around their yard....

The weekend was amazing and was full of good times, good food and good treasures! :)

The next weekend we were off to another out of town wedding. This time, a little trip to Ikea was thrown into the mix! (I'm not sure if a trip to Ikea can ever really be little though?) It was my husband's first time to the giant store and he loved it as much as I do! We decided that we would come back another time in the future with our shopping lists in hand and go to town! However, given my shopping list for that trip, there wasn't any room in our SUV for anything else. :)

So, I was going with a chair and ottoman (among other things) in mind, but when I got there they didn't have any ottomans left in stock! But, as it turns out this was a blessing in disguise because we wouldn't have had room to bring it back OR to fit in the room afterall. I am learning some things really do work out for the best.

I will show you some pictures of the entire room makeover (including my Ikea finds) tomorrow, so I hope you'll be back to check it out! :)

I am wrapping this post up, I promise...but before I do I will leave you with some pictures of randomness from the past few weeks!

Looks like everyone is getting into the gardening at our house, huh?

Here is the burp cloth diaper cake I made for that baby shower.

Whew...If you made it this far...thanks for sticking around to read all this! :)

Now, to start working on tomorrow's post about the Martha Room makeover!

'Tis The Season....

2010-04-08T15:38:00.012-05:00

'Tis the Season for estate and garage sales galore around here!! And...let me just say, this year, I have NOT been missing out! In fact, it has become one of my favorite things to do on a beautiful sunny day.

You see, last year about this time I was in the midst of wedding planning and there was just simply not enough time to think about (or do) anything else...haha! Seriously though, I barely accepted help from anyone (even though I had lots of offers) because I was too concerned with burdening others with my wedding madness! Looking back, I probably wouldn't change a thing...(I guess that is the control freak in me coming out) haha! Anyway, I digress....back to the spring sales!

Maybe it's the fact that I missed out last year, or maybe it's the fact that I am in the middle of outfitting my new office/craft room with little items that inspire me, but whatever it is one thing is clear...I am not holding back this year!!

I have been all over town (and even some neighboring towns during our little weekend visits) scouring the sales to see what kind of treasures I just can't live without. In fact, I went to an estate sale today at lunch and hit the jackpot!! It was the home of a collector with may treasures and bargains to be found. I left with my arms full and it seriously made my day! :) But, another post about that later....

Here are a few of my recent treasure hunting finds from the last couple of weeks....

We are leaving for another weekend adventure tomorrow to go see my mom and step-dad for his birthday. I am looking forward to visiting with family, kicking back and having a wonderful and relaxing mini-vacay! :) Oh yeah...and bringing these little guys back with me!! :)

I Just LOVE When That Happens

2010-04-06T15:07:00.001-05:00

I was looking around on ebay today, when I came across THIS listing. Look familiar?? Yeah, it is the EXACT same vintage white pedestal cakestand I picked up at a local thrift store a few weeks ago!

The only difference?? Mine was a steal at $6...the one selling on Ebay costs $40 + $14 for shipping. Looks like I got a hell of a deal, huh?!?! I just LOVE when that happens. :)

In a couple of weeks we are heading out of town for a wedding, and while we are away I am going to hit up Ikea so I can bring home this lovely white chair and this matching ottoman for the Martha Room.

I am planning to accent the chair with a throw pillow, because come on...what comfy chair is complete without a cute pillow right?! So, I decided to order this pretty turquoise and white pillow from Etsy seller, pipdesigns today. I just love the fun design on the fabric.

I can't wait to get everything pulled together in the room over the next couple of weeks so I can share the "real" after pictures with everyone!

Two Weeks Cannot Come Fast Enough!

2010-03-30T14:20:00.000-05:00

We are heading to my mom's house in a couple of weeks for a visit, and while I am there I plan to pick up a few lovely treasures that she has been holding for me! :)

I have been eagerly anticipating getting my hot little hands on this chest of drawers for months now! It will be paint white and then after a little distressing, it will be ready to go with the rest of the furniture in the Martha Room!

But, these milk glass beauties from my great-grandmother's old collection are a suprise treat that my mom picked up for me while visiting my grandpa this past weekend. When I got on the phone with my grandpa to thank him for letting me have these lovelies he said he was just happy to give them to someone who wanted them and would like them. Like them...I will LOVE them and treasure them forever, especially since they once belonged to my great-grandmother. :)

I can't wait to add these milk glass lamps and bowls to my growing collection!

This week is shaping up to be a crazy one, but I hope to be back with at least one more post before Friday!

Domino Magazine...Reinvented

2010-03-22T16:49:00.000-05:00

There is good news for anyone who dearly misses Domino. A similar, digital version of the magazine, Lonny is now available online for free! This gem was created by some of the people behind our old fav and launched last October.

The publication is put out every other month and features digital perks such as direct links to the products showcased in each issue.

With pages upon pages of incredible ideas and eye candy, this is one online treat I will be looking forward to scrolling through from here on out! :)

The BEST Chicken Tortilla Soup EVER!!!

2010-03-19T16:12:00.003-05:00

I made this Chicken Tortilla Soup the other night, and it is by far the BEST chicken tortilla soup I have ever had the pleasure of tasting!

You see, I eat Mexican food like it is going out of style, but normally I tend to stay away from Chicken Tortilla Soup altogether when ordering at Mexican restaurants because it is usually never to my liking. I find that the soups I have encountered are either A.) Too cheesy (otherwise known as too fatty, and I would rather save my calories for the enchiladas!) or B.) Too bland, watery, etc. or C.) Or they contain too many ingredients that I don't care for, like oodles of rice and not much else!

But, this recipe, it meets my top two criteria for an All-Time-Best-Recipe-Ever classification...super easy and super tasty! Plus, it makes a ton that can be put in the freezer for another night when you don't feel like cooking. :)

My husband was so cute when I asked him what he thought about it and he said, "This is seriously the best thing you have ever made!"...When I reminded him that he always says that, he said, "Yeah, but this time I really mean it...this is wonderful! I hope you and yours will think so too. :)

And naturally, because of the rave reviews it earned at my house, I feel the need to share this recipe with you. :) It cooks in the Crock-Pot, so clean-up is a breeze too. And, keep in mind you can add or omit any ingredients you want to make it truly yours! Enjoy....

Click on the recipe below to view it larger and print it out.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Much Better...

2010-03-17T14:47:00.010-05:00

I finished most of the things on my little to-do list last weekend. Curtains are hung, ceiling fan/light is white and has new shades and the treasure hunting trip with my sister resulted in some good finds!

The frame painting was put off when...after covering every inch of the kitchen table with butcher paper and placing all my ready-to-be-painted frames on top...I realized at 10:30 on Saturday night that I didn't have anymore of those handy foam brushes left in my stash to paint them with! So, I put all my prep supplies away and decided to call it a night. Maybe it will get done this weekend.

Here is the current state of the Martha Room...it's coming along...

My latest treasure hunting finds….a large espresso basket, a large white cake stand, a couple of old books, a clear glass container and a gold wooden easel. My eyes lit up when I spotted the white cake stand...at only $6, this was by far my favorite find of the day!

Finally....Some Pictures of the Martha Room!

2010-03-12T15:27:00.011-06:00

Finally, some before and after pictures of the furniture I have been busy working on lately!

I found this desk at one of my favorite thrift stores one Saturday afternoon. When I first saw it I wasn't even sure it was for sale...sometimes thrift stores have "for display only" items and since this desk was the display area for several piles of magazines, I thought this might be the case. But, after pushing the magazines aside much to my delight I found a tag for it. It was marked for $89.99, which is actually a pretty fair price considering the desk was in great condition, a good size (5ft x 3 ft) and made of solid wood. But, I love a great deal and as soon as I noticed the tag said it was originally put out on the floor last September, I went to get the manager. I explained to her that I was interested in the desk and noticed on the tag that it had been there a long time. I asked her if she could do any better on the price and she said, I can get you 50% off!!! Right then and there I told her to ring me up!! So, this desk was purchased for the bargain price of $45! Moral of the story...if you see something you like at a thrift store, check the tag to see what date it was put out on the floor. Most stores will take 25%-50% off of items that have been in their store for more than 15-30 days.

Like all of the items I worked on for the Martha Room, I primed, painted and distressed this piece.

This desk chair was also purchased at the same thrift store as the desk above. It wasn't exactly what I originally had in mind but I really like the fun detailing down the back of the chair so I scooped it up for a mere $15!!

I found this patterned fabric for next to nothing ($3.50 per yard) at a local fabric store and recovered the seat. I also found a solid color turquoise silk fabric that matched in the remnant section for another $3.00. I got it as well, thinking I could use it for a throw pillow to put on this chair that I plan to get in white at Ikea while we are in Dallas for a wedding next month!

Next up is a set of three nesting tables that I found on Craigslist for $30. Like the other furniture, I primed, painted and distressed these to make them fit in with the rest of the room.

This dresser is another one of my thrift store finds! It was by far the most beat up piece I purchased for this project and required a lot more prep work than the other items, but at $29 it was also the most inexpensive piece I purchased (with the exception of the desk chair)!

Last but not least, here is another one of my thrift store finds that helped inspire the color pallet for the room. I purchased this original painting for $35. When I found this piece, I only had the frame in mind. I was looking for a large frame to encase a corkboard and this one was perfect! But, after getting the piece home I decided that I actually really liked the calming costal colors of the seascape in this painting and thought I would go with those colors throughout the room. So, I guess you could say this painting was sort-of my inspiration for the entire space!

The frame (which was gold to begin with) recieved a dose of white paint and some light distressing before being hung on a feature wall in the room.

That is all I have done in this room for now. It is making progress, but it is still a long way from being done. I have a couple more pieces of furniture to throw in the mix and a lot more accessorizing to do before this room will truly be Martha worthy! ;)

In fact, this weekend I am hoping to get a few more projects in this room checked off my list. They include:

1. Hanging a new weathered nickel curtian rod and white sailcloth curtians.

2. Removing the existing ceiling fan (which is currently oak and gold...Eeek), painting it all white, purchasing new glass shades, and reinstalling it.

3. Painting frames and decorative pieces to hang on the walls.

Happy Friday everyone!

Look for more updates and photos of my progress on this room next week. :)

Oh, The Joy of a Good Treasure Hunt!

2010-03-11T09:42:00.012-06:00

I keep a little handwritten list on my desk with items I want to keep an eye out for when I do my "treasure hunting"...aka shopping at an estate sale, garage sale, flea market, auction, thrift store or on craigslist. :)

Here are the items currently on my list of treasures to find....

1. Desk Chair (with arm rests) I actually bought a really cute chair without arm rests a couple of weeks ago for $15 (pics coming soon), but it is not really what I had in mind. I am using it for now until I come across something more along the lines of these beauties below...which might take awhile to find!

(not too sure where I found these photos...share if you know!)

2. Milk Glass

I just love this stuff. I have about 4 pieces of it right now, but I am always on the look out for more to add to my growing collection.

3. Wood Frames of all shapes and sizes
Ever since I saw this little grouping below over at Life in the Fun Lane I have been on the hunt to find wood frames to use in a similar fashion in the Martha Room. I have two really cute ones that I picked up for $.99 each a week ago, so a few more and I should be able to cross this item off my list!

Here are a few more frame groupings that I love...

(and I am terrible because I can't remember where I found these pictures...please share if you know)

4. A Vintage Buffet
I told myself I really didn't need one of these, because the Martha Room can really get by just fine without it, BUT...if I happen to come across one and the price is right I am buying it! I'm thinking I would use it to replace the dresser I have in there now, and just move the dresser into the large closet for extra storage.

I found this perfect one on Craigslist a few months back, but I could never get the seller to respond to my e-mails and there was, of course, no phone number (don't you hate when that happens), so I guess it just wasn't meant to be. :(

Anyway, this weekend my husband is attending a bachelor party that starts at 3:00 in the afternoon...yeah, I know...seriously?!? I wonder what kind of shape these guys will be in come 10 p.m., haha. I would actually pay to be a fly on the wall for that one! But....I digress...back to Saturday! So, seeing as how he will be gone for the better part of the day I have already arranged a date with my sister to hit up all the local flea markets, thrift stores and estate sales we can handle...until they close or we run out of money that is! :)

Here's hoping I find a few of the items on my list...or some items not on my list that I just can't live without!

NeeNee, Jenny and the Martha Room

2010-03-10T15:23:00.004-06:00

On Saturday afternoon we got a phone call and our weekend took an unexpected turn. We found out that my husband's great-grandmother...(she goes by NeeNee)...had tripped over her Jenny (aka: her walker) and fell. Somewhere on the way down she broke her femur right up by her hip.

Before I continue with my story, I need to introduce you...NeeNee is one amazing lady! She turned 101 last November and is still in near perfect health. She lives alone and is almost entirely independent. She doesn't drive anymore because her vision isn't what it used to be, but other than having someone get her groceries and give her a ride to the beauty salon once a week, she does everything by herself.

Last time we were over there a couple of weeks ago I had to laugh to myself when she rounded the corner by her Lazy Boy took a small jump up in the air and landed softly in her seat. She didn't skip a beat as she reached down, lifted her foot rest and turned to me with a smile on her face to ask, "What's new kids?"

Anytime we are over there we will always talked for awhile and at some point in our conversation without fail she always asks me if I want to see a picture of her late husband. As soon as I agree, she's up out of her chair and off to the bedroom where she emerges a few minutes later carrying an old gold picture frame with 2 photos side by side in it. On the left is a photo of her as a young woman, on the right is a photo of her husband. As she hands me the photo, she always remarks how handsome he was. It is amazing to me...a love like that. She has been a widow now for longer than she was married and she still cries every night because she misses him so much.

When she gets to telling her stories, I always ask her to tell two of my very favorite tales of all time. She has probably told them both to me at least 100 times, but they are so funny that I always howl out in laughter like I am hearing them for the first time, every time. One involves a stray dog by the name of Easy and the other involves a "hobo" and a sandwich.

As we leave her house, she always tells me "Now Melissa, if he gives you any trouble just call me....I'll straighten him out for you." I always laugh and say, "I know you will NeeNee." He knows she will too. ;)

Okay, now back to my story...We arrived at the hospital early on the morning of her surgery. Her hospital room was packed...throughout the day there were probably 15 of us there. We all stayed most of the day there with her. It was easy for anyone in that hospital to see what we all knew...she is really loved so much by everyone that knows her. While we were there the doctors told us that after running a bevy of stress tests on her body to make sure she was fit to go into surgery they had determined that she had the organs of a 35 year old!!! Can you believe that?!? I guess that's as good an incentive as any to live your life right. She maintains a healthy weight, has never smoked or drank in her entire life and she stays active...even at 101!

After leaving for an hour to go home and grab some dinner, my husband headed back up to the hospital to stay the night with her. As we were talking on the phone a few hours later, I could tell she was back to her feisty self as she grabbed the phone from his hand. Our conversation went something like this...

NeeNee -Thanks for coming to see me today.
Me - Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
NeeNee- I appreciate you letting me borrow your husband tonight. I told him to go home, that I will be fine her by myself, but he won't...I guess he's just as stubborn as I am.
Me - Yeah, there is no sense arguing with him...he won't leave so I guess you're stuck with him for tonight.

She is leaving the hospital today and will go to a rehab center for another couple of weeks while she recovers from her surgery. But, I know just as soon as she can she will be back to living her life full speed ahead, telling her stories and zipping all over the place with the help of her Jenny.

In some completely unrelated news...I have finished putting things together in my new office (for now anyway), which has been dubbed the Martha Room by my husband and brother in law. They say it is where I am going to do all of my "Martha Things"...and since I really, really LOVE Martha, I kinda like the thought of having a room in my house named after her...so the Martha Room it is. :)

I have pictures, but of course, I broke my camera cord on Friday, so I will have to wait until the new cord arrives to share them.

Whoa...Just Coming Up for Air!!

2010-03-05T16:08:00.001-06:00

Oh my...where has the time gone?!? One things IS certain...I have been a very bad blogger lately! If anyone is still out there, I have a good excuse....

I have been keeping very busy transforming these little uglies into something lovely for my new office....

I am going to wait until next week to share the before and after photos with you because I still have a few finishing touches to add to the room.

But, until then I have decided I would like to spend my weekend here....

or here....

or even here....

The Excitement of a New Project!

2010-02-15T10:36:00.000-06:00

I have been battling a cold/sinus infection/some-kind of illness for the past week, which is the reason for my scarce posting lately. I am still feeling a bit under the weather, but I hope I am on my way to recovery soon!

I had intentions of sharing a few fun projects that I recently completed (for my new office/craft room) with everyone last week, but clearly life had other plans. I am hoping to have these projects photographed soon so I can get them posted.

Recently, I have been having the time of my life making plans, shopping and getting things together for my new upstairs office! Since we NEVER use our upstairs game room (or any of the rooms upstairs for that matter), I have finally convinced my husband that the best use of all that wasted space would be an office/craft room for me! He finally ~~caved~~ agreed and so the plans for a dreamy office space are underway! Be warned...you will be seeing a lot about this project in the coming months. :)

I have tons of ideas for the space and have even started collecting some of the furniture pieces and accessories that I am planning to use. Of course, being the kind of person that I am, I have the entire room laid out in my head and am getting ready to sketch out my "brain plans" so I can make sure nothing gets left out.

Speaking of plans....I am not sure what you would call this, but I have always been the kind of person who is really good at visualizing what something could be. It is a blessing and a curse though I suppose. I think it is a blessing because I can see potential in things that other people would pass by, BUT at the same time it is a curse when you have to try and convince others that your "vision" is going to look good once it becomes a reality. Ahhh....I am truly blessed to have a husband who trusts me when I tell him all this "junk" I am bringing into our house is going to look stunning when I get through with it. :)

Happy Monday Everyone!

My Spring Fever is Costing Me!

2010-02-04T15:40:00.006-06:00

Well, my {premature} spring fever got the best of me when I went into Hobby Lobby yesterday in search of the perfect basket to store fresh towels in for our master bathroom.

The trip was a complete success because I found a basket, as well as several other deals and steals I just couldn't pass up! When I headed down the aisles with all the spring decor I knew I was done for! On the bright side, everything I purchased was at least 50% off...and there's always something so rewarding about getting a good deal!

This is the basket I ended up getting for the master bath...and it only set me back $10!

It's not exactly what I originally had in mind, but when I saw it I just knew it would be perfect! It reminds me a lot of this basket from Pottery Barn that I love, but at a fraction of the cost!

I also scored an "old" chippy tray for $5, a faux potted plant for $1.50, a little white starfish for $3 and a metal bird figurine for $2.50! For a total cost of $12 there was NO WAY I was leaving these little treasures at the store!

I also picked up a few other little fun things for a project I am working on, but you are going to have to wait until next week when the project is finished to see them! :)

I Really LOVE Mercury Glass...

2010-02-03T11:31:00.014-06:00

There is just something about it that I can't get enough of. I especially love that way it looks when light hits it. It is so lovely and romantic looking.

Ironically enough for as much as I love it, I only own piece of it...a lonely little votive holder, which I re-purposed into a pen holder for my office.

I would really like to expand my {relatively non-existent} collection one day....just as soon as I can decide where I would display these little lovelies.

Sources from top to bottom: Red Barn Mercantile, Origin Crafts, Arteriors Home, Capitol Supply, Elizabeth’s Embellishments, HomArt, Jamie Young, E Crater, The Garden Gates

My Weekend in a Winter Wonderland

2010-02-01T14:32:00.165-06:00

Last week started out normal enough with blue skies and above-average temperatures (mid-60s) for this time of year.

But, by Thursday afternoon we were in the throws of a full blown winter ice and snow storm! That is just Oklahoma for you…If you don’t like the weather just wait a minute. It’ll change.

Ice began to accumulate on just about everything and by early Friday morning everything was covered in about ½ of ice. I braved the cold air and headed outside early to take some pictures. Everything looked like it was in freeze-frame mode...as if it stayed just the way it was the moment the ice covered it.

I spent Friday at home and off of work. A rare luxury that has become a trend over the last couple of weeks, and something I could get used to. :) So, on Friday afternoon as the snow began to fall and the traffic around town began to get crazy we headed out into the middle of the mess to enjoy lunch at our favorite sushi restaurant that sits on top of a big hill. We had the entire place to ourselves…probably because no one else could get up the steep hill to get there (or was crazy enough to try)! The views were stunning and the food was amazing.

We were supposed to go visit some friends of mine from college on Saturday, but because they live about 2 hours away we decided to stay home and not risk hitting the roads with the weather being the way it was. So with no plans, we decided to start off our day by going out to breakfast (something we never really do). While we were at breakfast we were talking about how I have NEVER been sledding and how today should be the day that changes! So, after breakfast we headed out to get a sled (or try rather). Everyone was sold out but being the industrious couple that we are we made do with a cargo mat that goes in the back of a SUV!

After a quick trip home to change clothes we headed out again to tackle to hills! When we arrived I was quick to notice I was the only person over the age of 7 sledding! LOL! But, that didn’t stop me from doing what I came there to do!

I did have one minor spill…

But after dusting myself off I was back at it like a true champ!

Then I decided to graduate to the “big kid” hills…I was still the only person over there over the age of 14!

Some of those kids were hitting ramps and doing all kinds of crazy things…I, however, was not that risky…maybe next year! ;)

After checking sledding off my bucket list, we drove around so I could take some photos. Everything looked so beautiful. The way that the trees were covered in a dusting of ice and snow made the whole city look like something out of a fairy tale.

And of course I had to head by one of my favorite houses in the whole city…just to see what it looked like covered in snow. It's still stunning!

Today, I spent my lunch hour browsing around through the spring décor at Michael’s and then headed over to a nearby Lowe’s to browse through their garden section. Ahhh…seeing all the bright foliage and spring time decorations really has me looking forward to a new season and all of the new life that accompanies it.

Sadly, I still have a few months of the cold and dreary before my wish will come true…but until then I will be looking forward to the crazy Oklahoma weather patterns and crossing my fingers for some more of those above-average 60 degree days to tide me over.

A Tasty Recipe for the Archives

2010-01-28T12:01:00.004-06:00

Today I am doing a recipe post. I don’t do a lot of them, but when I do it is because I have come across a recipe so wonderful that the world just needs to know about it!

This one is a good-for-you Spinach Manicotti recipe that actually tastes good too! It would be a great healthy dish to make for your family or for an evening of company since it can easily be doubled to make plenty for a crowd. Pair it with a fresh salad or vegetable and some French bread and you have a tasty meal that will please even the pickiest of eaters.

The entire recipe with detailed measurements and directions (which was adapted from a Weight Watchers recipe) can be found in the image below which can be printed and added to your personal recipe collection!

Bon Appetit my friends.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and rinse.

Meanwhile, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarealla cheese, grated parmesan, salt, pepper, italian seasoning, thawed frozen spinach (which has been drained and squeezed completely dry), egg and egg white.

Mix ingredients well and make sure everything is combined evenly.

Then with a spoon (or your hands) put the mixture evenly into pasta shells. Coat an 11” x 7” with cooking spray and place shells inside.

Spoon pasta sauce evenly over shells and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Enjoy a glass of this while waiting for your delicious dinner to cook

And enjoy...

Click on the recipe below to view it larger.

I Bought A Boat!

2010-01-27T14:11:00.054-06:00

A sailboat that is! And I love it. I bought it on a whim the other day while shopping at Pier 1. It was on clerance and I just couldn't help myself. Even though at the time I didn't really have a place for a sailboat...I just knew that it had to come home with me. And it did. :)

After I got home and thought about where this little boat should go, it hit me! Our master bathroom needs a boat in it. When I told my husband I was going to put the boat in the bathroom he seemed skeptical and asked if I was planning to do a whole boat theme in there...I think he thought I was going to go all red, white and blue nautical on him. But, his skpeticism was soon put to rest when I assurred him that would not be happening. I am thinking of doing more of a subtal, grown-up sailboat-ish motif in there...nothing over the top though!

Our master bathroom is, to be very frank, ugly. Let me paint you a picture...think circa 1995. There is gold everywhere (framing the shower, on the light fixtures and and covering the hardware), faux marble whatever-it-is covers the countertops, whirlpool bath and the inside of the shower and small bright white tiles adorn the toliet area. And, wait for it...there is carpet throughout the entire bathroom!! Who does that anyway?!?! It just doesn't make any sense...espically for a person like me who tends to be a little "careless" while cleaning and has already managed to get bleach stains on said carpet. Which thankfully is no big deal beacuse the carpet is definitely NOT staying!

I am aware this space probably isn't going to win any "ugliest bathroom ever" awards, but none the less I would make a pitch for it. It is the only room in the house that we haven't renovated yet that really needs it. I chalk this up to the fact that we are really the only ones who see it. So…we have been getting ready each morning for a little over a year now surrounded by hideous reminders of the mid-90s.

Meanwhile, we have been making grand plans for this space which include neutral granite countertops, natural stone tile and oil rubbed bronze fixtures. I think my new little boat will feel right at home once our vision becomes a reality and the bathroom makeover is complete. I'm not exactly sure when this bathroom makeover is going to begin, but now that I have already accessorized this dream space in my head I am hoping it is going to be sometime soon!

Anyway, back to the boat...I am thinking of using this little guy in the corner of the whirlpool tub area.

Then, I want to put a basket of some sort filled with fresh towels in the other corner. It will have to be a small basket though. I was thinking something in an espresso color, maybe like this lidded basket from Pottery Barn.

For the window seal above the tub I need something, but what that something is I don't know yet....I saw these online at Pottery Barn the other day and thought they would be pretty, but I am not convinced they are going to be substantial enough…

Another thing I was thinking of doing would be a display of these glass candles holders from PB in various sizes across the window seal…

And maybe some of these multicolored accent shells from PB would be cute to incorporate somewhere in the space...

Then for the blank wall above the whirlpool tub I want to do some kind of framed photo arrangement with sailboat/shell/ocean-type photos. Maybe all in sepia or black and white to compliment the muted tones of the room with white or ivory mats and thin espresso frames. I am not sure what type of photos I will use because I haven’t found them yet, but I like the arrangement and look of these images from apartmenttherapy.com….

I am a pretty visual person when it comes to design so I think once I can get the basics done...ie: new countertops, paint, tile, shower frame and fixtures in...I will be able to play around with the accessories until I get everything just right.

But, hopefully these ideas will come together (sooner rather than later) and I will be sharing some before and after photos of this renovation with everyone!

The Big Reveal and Some Updates

2010-01-21T12:20:00.009-06:00

I'm not gonna lie...this project was A LOT of work....a lot more work than I thought it was going to be, but oh man was it ever worth it! I have never seen our closet look this pulled together and organized. In fact, I keep finding myself walking into the space just to admire my handiwork! haha!

I have A LOT of jeans! And this isn't even the half of it...there are several more pairs stored in Space Bags above! I put several pairs in my "give to charity" pile, but I know I need to get rid of some more. Unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Baby steps I guess...

A place for everything and everything in its place...let's just hope it stays this way! ;)

Ummm....can you tell I like to wear a lot of black?!? It is literally taking over my side of the closet! ;)

His side...

I can't take credit for the ties...my husband did the organizing (and color coding) on these a few weeks ago!

In other news...my mom's company decided to fly her into town tonight for a brief meeting with some potential clients tomorrow...so that means she will be staying with us for the weekend! :) This also means I will be starting my weekend early by taking off of work tomorrow to hang out with her.

Tonight my sister and I are going to pick her up from the airport, and then since my husband is out of town until tomorrow night we are all heading back to my house for a little girl's night/slumber party! I see lots of fun in my near future. :)

OH...and I read on the Craft Hope website this morning that they have already sold over 1,000 items and raised over $20,000!!! I am truly in awe...I think it is just amazing how many wonderful people are out there ready and willing to help others in their time of need. It's very inspiring and I feel lucky to have contributed in some small way to the cause. :) I will try to notify everyone once the items I donated are listed.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Operation Organize Closet

2010-01-20T16:38:00.003-06:00

So, Operation Organize Closet has been in full swing for two days now and let me just say...wow, this has been WAY more work than I was initially anticipating. My goodness we (mostly I) had a lot of stuff!

Seriously, it is not okay that I still have (or had) clothing around from my junior year of college. I know there is a certain temptation within each of us (ehhh...maybe just in me) to hang onto that cute top that I paid waaay too much for in the first place because it looked so cute on me back in the day, but come on now...it is time to LET GO!

In my case, it was definitely time to sort, organize and above all throw some things out! I feel really good about my progress (and they way everything looks now) and I am thisclose to being finished with Operation Organize Closet!

My husband is going to be floored! My dad insists he won't care or even notice, but I think he will be ecstatic about our newly organized and color coded closet...at least I hope he is! ;)

I didn't take any "before" photos because trust me, no one needs to see that, but the "after" photos are coming soon!

Craft Hope for Haiti

2010-01-19T14:42:00.003-06:00

I recently found out about the Craft Hope for Haiti Etsy Store and I am eager to get involved!

Here's How it Works:

The Craft Hope Etsy shop allows crafters to donate handmade products and allows people from around the world to purchase these items with 100% of the proceeds going to the charity Doctors Without Borders in Haiti.

Even if you can’t sew, knit or craft but would still like to support this cause there is a way for you to get involved too! You can shop in the Craft Hope Etsy shop. All types of beautiful handmade items are being sold, and the best part is 100% of the proceeds will go to help those in Haiti. More information on this great cause can be found on the Craft Hope website.

As of this afternoon, Craft Hope has raised over $10,000!! The response from people wanting to donate their crafts has been so overwhelming, that Craft Hope has now issued a statement saying they are going to be forced to stop accepting new donations after Wednesday evening, January 20 while they give their volunteers a chance to catch up on posting incoming items.

I am planning to donate a set of these assorted black and white burp cloths...

and a set of damask patterned recipe cards ...

Closet Envy

2010-01-18T16:44:00.006-06:00

This week I have the house to myself while my husband is away on business...so naturally, I am going to try to use my time alone in ~~an unusually~~ a productive manner. First up on my list is to clean out and organize the master bedroom closet...a task I am really excited about!

Honestly, I really LOVE to organize. To me there is really nothing nicer than a well organized space. When I got out of college and was living alone in my first "big girl" apartment, I would spend an entire evening after work in my massive closet, sorting, color coding and organizing everything in sight. Strange, but completely true...

Sadly, I have really let my current closet down in terms of being organized! So, I am determined to buckle down (Space Bags in hand) and get our closet nice and pretty.

Here are a few lust-worthy closets I came across today that are helping to get me inspired....

thingsweheart.blogspot.com

country living

yclosetorganizer

HGTV

apartment therapy

cutting edge closets

My Life Lately...

2010-01-14T17:01:00.012-06:00

I thought I would share some recent photos with everyone today...

And...just as a warning, there are A LOT of pictures of my dogs, Teddy and Daisy in this post. BUT, in my defense, I am trying to learn how my new camera works (and since I have no kids) they make great subjects to practice on! ;)

Hopefully, the weather will continue to warm up here so I can get out and about and take photos of something different (and a little more interesting) to share with you all...until then these will have to do. :)

Ohhhh, and my new black rain galoshes arrive yesterday and I LOVE THEM. They are very heavy duty and the little buckle detailing makes them pretty cute. But, since I have no immediate need for them now that the snow has thawed around here I decided to wear them last night while I cooked dinner, so I can also officially say that they are comfortable too. :)

Winter, Winter Go Away!

2010-01-08T14:54:00.001-06:00

School has been closed around here for the last two days due to "extreme cold weather" and let me just say...extreme may even be an understatement. My poor face has literally been sore for the last week due to the artic winds. (And I am only exposed to these conditions on the 20 yard walk from the parking lot to my car and back at work each day!) I am definitely NOT a fan of cold weather, so as you can imagine I feel like I am in hell right about now! ;) Okay...I may be exaggerating a little bit with that one, but I am definitely ready for some warmer temps!

As a result of the recent cold weather, blizzards, freezing rain and snow around these parts, I have been in the market for a pair of black goulashes (in an effort to save my Uggs from getting completely ruined by the snow, which we have been seeing a lot of lately). And, then I stumbled across these. I ordered them today and I still can't believe what a great deal they were (under $25 after shipping). I just hope the deal doesn't prove to be too good to be true....we shall see. I will keep you posted on their quality once they arrive!

Anyway…I couldn't be more ready for the weekend! Some of our friends suggested that we all start getting together for couple's game night...that was almost 4 months ago and now that the holidays have passed we are finally going to do it!

And....to be completely honest, while we all had the best of intentions when agreeing to the inital suggestion of game night, I think the decision to finally stop talking about it and start doing it came about because of A.) an abundance of wine and beer leftover from the New Year's Eve party our friends hosted and B.) because it is just too cold outside to even think about getting together to go out. So with that couple's game night is born!

It should be fun and I am looking forward to it...and the fact that there will be lots of good wine on hand just sweetens the deal!

A New Year and New Goals...

2010-01-06T12:23:00.002-06:00

I have been taking some time off from blogging lately. I have spent my time away getting inspired, enjoying the calm (and the crazy) of the holidays and thinking a lot about what I what I really want to accomplish during the next year of my life.

At the top of my list is enjoying time with my wonderful husband, my family and friends. I don’t mean hanging out with them in a half-there, half-off thinking about something else kind of way either. I mean fully living in and enjoying every moment we have together. In fact, my husband and I have already started doing this and I cannot tell you what a dramatic impact it has already made on us. We have been spending “real” quality time together…not the sit-on-the-couch-and-watch-tv-together kind of way. We have been doing fun interactive things together like playing games, laughing and looking forward to every last second we have together before we call it a night. It has been complete bliss, and I can already tell we are growing closer from our time spent truly enjoying each other’s company.

So…I come to my next decision, which is to take a break from my graphic design biz for awhile. I never did the graphic design as a means of earning income or helping to support us in anyway….it was always just about doing it because I loved it and it made me happy. Doing it for others, in the form of an Etsy shop, was a great outlet for me and a place to focus my energy. But, with a new year…and new personal goals, I have decided that I need to focus my energy elsewhere. It has been a great experience, but the truth is that spending time creating for other people has been taking time away from me and my time with the people I love and the things I love doing….so I have decided to take a break from my designs to focus on just living and enjoying it. I’m not sure how long of a break I am going to take….and knowing me I will still use graphic design to fulfill my creative urges every now and then (and when I do, because I know I will, I’ll share my fun projects with you all). But, I have a lot of other “things” and “projects” in me that are dying to get out.

One of those things is a passion for photography that I can’t wait to explore. My amazing love got me a beautiful new EOS Digital Camera for Christmas (the one I have been really wanting for so long, but just hadn’t gotten around to taking the plunge on) and I still can’t believe it’s mine. I love it so much and am looking forward to spending time learning how to use it. So, look for a lot of photos in the coming year! ;)

Anyway, I am planning to use this blog in a new way too! From here on out I will use this blog as a means of recording and documenting my life, thoughts, passions and fun finds throughout the next year.

So, that is where I am at this point in time…looking forward to the New Year with new hopes, new goals and new priorities.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-25T09:22:00.001-06:00

It has been a looong time, I know. And, honestly I’m pretty embarrassed to say that it has been such a long time, that when I went to log into my poor, neglected blog today…I couldn’t even remember my password!

Anyway, the past few months have been very busy (but a good busy). I feel like I have been buzzing from one thing to the next while thoroughly enjoying my favorite season in every way imaginable. Life has been good!

In light of Thanksgiving…my absolute favorite holiday, I have decided to do a post today on a few things I am thankful for. Here goes....

I am so thankful for….

my wonderful and loving husband. my faith in god. fall weather. beaches. acceptance. vacations. crackling fires. my mom who always encouraged me and loved me no matter what. my dad who will always be my hero. my sister who I am lucky to call a friend. thunderstorms. music. a college education. my very cute and sweet dogs. freedom. etsy. laughter. understanding. angel kisses. creativity. martha stewart. having a good job that I enjoy. inspiration. social networking. our troops. grandparents. imagination. digital cameras. pumpkin pie. love. brightly colored fall leaves. beauty. hope for the future and appreciation of the past. traveling. being crafty. good friends. snow days. apologies and forgiveness. aol music online. children’s books. good wine. peonies. college football. chick flicks. target. my favorite fleece pajama pants. long walks on nice days. a good deal. white pumpkins. being blessed beyond belief. forever 21. magazines. bubble baths. surprises. massages. being happy and healthy. a warm and cozy bed. hard work. oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. the courage to always try. learning. wildlife preservation. sushi. my favorite blogs. date nights. hungrygirl. high speed internet. tyler candles. pedicures. and little moments where everything seems perfect.

I hope you all have a very wonderful and very blessed Thanksgiving.

Until next time....
Melissa

image from Better Homes & Gardens

Stumbling Across Life In The Fun Lane...

2009-10-07T15:12:00.003-05:00

I just came across the cutest, most inspiring blog that I wanted to share…I am absolutely smitten with Life in The Fun Lane and am even getting some fun ideas of my own for a new workspace! I just LOVE Holly's blog and am reminded a little of my mom when I read it. :)

My mom, like Holly from Life in The Fun Lane, is always finding old, ugly cast off furniture that no one wants and after applying loads of imagination, some paint and a little elbow grease...she is able to turn it into something beautiful! :)

Even if you aren't all that handy yourself...no worries! Holly has her own store, White Berry Reinvented, where she offers her clients Custom Refinishing and Design Consultation services. Check out her website for more info!

Take a look at some of Holly's stunning trash-to-treasure projects below! :)

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

The Kindness of Strangers and Favorite Fall Etsy Items

2009-10-02T14:07:00.002-05:00

Sometimes, I am completely blown away by the kindness of strangers. Today...is one of those days!

Recently, I worked with the sweetest girl, Liz, on designing some cute Monogrammed recipe cards for her. After a few e-mails back and forth she told me she had a blog and wondered if I would mind if she posted the recipe cards she bought from me on there today. (I thought, are you kidding me...that would be AWESOME!) Head over to Liz's Blog..Gangl*icious and check out her wonderful post! Thanks Liz :)

Then, this morning I woke up and checked my e-mail only to find an e-mail waiting in my inbox from another kind stranger (and fellow Etsy seller), Tania, who said she had featured my Halloween party invitations on her blog today too!! Head over to Tania's blog...C'est Magnifique to check out her post on her favorite Halloween Etsy finds. Thanks Tania :)

In fact, I LOVED the idea of doing a post about Favorite Holiday Etsy finds SO much that I decided to do a little Tania-inspired post myself today....Check out my favorite Fall items from Etsy sellers below! (All items can be found on Etsy, by clicking on the name of the item below each photo.)

Natures Mix Harvest napkin rings by adornyou

Set of 4 screen-printed napkins-Deep Orange with Chocolate Brown Scroll Print by MichelleBrusegaard

Regal Yellow Dupioni Raw Silk Wrap by bonzie

Newborn Knit Hat by debrobinson

The Perfect Autumn Wreath by twoinspireyou

Reversible Apron - Brown Dots and Fall Leaves by GenevaDesigns

Cupcake Wrappers- Coral Orange and Brown set of 12 by orange1

Pumpkin Pie Lip Lube In A Tube by Soap

Handmade Paper Mache Pumpkin Light Cover by SculpturesGalore

50 Bulbs Yellow Topaz Real Leaf Flower by myangelshop

Party Time Chip-N-Dip Platter by batwoodcreations

Oak and Acorn Paper Garland by PaperAcorn

The Celia Ruffle Headband by monkeyandsquirrel

TRICK or TREAT - Pumpkin Orange TUTU OUTFIT by bellasbowtique2008

Knit scarf- autumn lanterns by urbanhen

Autumn Pumpkin Exfoliating Body Cleanser by SpaTherapy

Harvest Pumpkin by Middleburg

Time To Jump Start My Fall Wardrobe

2009-10-01T08:22:00.004-05:00

There is nothing like doing a little shopping to prepare yourself for a new season!

It hasn't gotten quite cold enough here to be able to wear jackets and boots yet, but just knowing that cooler weather is around the corner has my mind going into overdrive!

Here are a few looks that I just LOVE for fall and beyond this year...and the best part is that nothing shown below is more than $150! :)

What is on your fall wish-list???

Ahhh....A Dream Office

2009-09-29T15:04:00.000-05:00

I would L-O-V-E to work in an office like this!! It is so fun and chic! Too bad it doesn't really go with ANYTHING else in my house...haha!

A Rainy Weekend Produces Some Fun New Designs

2009-09-14T15:36:00.009-05:00

have been super busy lately getting my Etsy shop switched over to all digital designs, and I am happy to announce that the conversion is complete!

This weekend consisted of rain, rain and more rain, which gave me a great opportunity to hang out at home, funnel my creative juices and create some new designs! Here are some of my new holiday designs I worked up over the weekend. (Click on designs below for a larger view.) :)

Shop Update:: New Designs, New Format

2009-09-09T10:06:00.003-05:00

As some of you may remember, I have been selling custom printed invitations in my Etsy shop for a couple of months now. But, in an effort to be more cost-friendly and serve a wider range of clients, I have decided to offer all of my invitations in digital format.

So, starting later this week, all of my invitations, announcements, save the dates cards, etc. will be sold for only $15 per design! Each design will be fully customized to include the client's personal information and photo. Once all of the information is input I will e-mail the digital file of the design to the client. From there each client has the freedom to print as many copies as they need AND use the photofinishing company of their choice! Some of the photofinishing companies such as Walgreens, Shutterfly, Snapfish, Wal-Mart, etc. offer 4"x 6" prints for as low as $.09 each....or $9.00 for 100 copies!! (What a deal!)

All of the designs I sell can be converted to any type of invitation or announcement you want, so if I have a design advertised as a Birth Announcement but you would like it to be made into a Save the Date...no problem! Just send me a convo on Etsy and let me know. :)

Here are a few of the designs I have been working on which will be out in my Etsy Shop, Completely Charming, later this week....(you can click on any of the photos below for a larger image)

Many, many more designs will be added very soon so check back!

Definitely a Wicked Good Time

2009-08-05T15:28:00.006-05:00

I went to see Wicked last night. I had so been looking forward to the show and let me just say; it completely lived up to all my expectations...and then some!

Without spoiling the show for anyone else who may see it later, I will just say the story of Wicked really ties up a lot of loose ends that the Wizard of Oz doesn't, such how the Wicked Witch of the West got to be wicked, why she is green, how the Lion, Tin Man and Scarecrow came to be and more!

I never did get around to finishing the book before the performance, but after seeing the show, I now definitely want to finish it just to see how much different it ends up being from the musical. From what I have read so far, I did notice some key parts in the book that were omitted from the musical. I think that seeing the performance and reading the book will be great because I will have a more detailed version of the story from the book and all of the visuals from watching the show.

Speaking of visuals, the sets and costumes were nothing short of amazing, and the voices of the cast were unreal. I wanted to try and sneak a few photos during the show, but there were signs posted everywhere warning against it, and as my husband would say, I never want to break the rules. I am sure he would be tickled to know this time was no exception...I just couldn't risk getting kicked out and missing the rest of the show. :)

However, I did find a few photos online that were taken during some of the performances that I posted below (but believe me they don't even begin to do it justice). The colors of the costumes were so vibrant and the set lights reflected against backgrounds just perfectly.

Kiddos to all involved with that show! A +++++ performance!

Absolutely Stunning

2009-07-29T14:41:00.005-05:00

OH Baby Does New Jersey!

2009-07-28T20:47:00.001-05:00

These lovelies are on their way to New Jersey...Thanks for your order Mags!

OH Baby!!!

2009-07-21T09:52:00.007-05:00

I made these invitations for my friend's baby shower the other day using the colors of her nursery. They turned out super cute and I just had to share....

I Think This Calls For A New Dress......

2009-07-15T10:35:00.006-05:00

Within the next 3 weeks I have a wedding, a rehearsal dinner and a baby shower to attend. Naturally, as I explained to my husband last night, this calls for a new dress (or 3). Thankfully, each of the aforementioned events are for people who don't know each other, so I think I can get away with just one new dress. :)

I have been doing a little online browsing and I think I have found an inexpensive dress that will be appropriate to wear to all three events. It is from Forever 21, which I love. They have cute clothes and even though I know their pieces won't last forever, I don't care because they are so reasonably priced. Now, I do find that as I get older, not everything in that store is "age appropriate"...but every now and then I come across something that is just perfect.

What do you think?!?!

Cute Shop, Fun Blog and a Giveaway!!!

2009-07-14T11:43:00.007-05:00

One of the blogs I follow, Brown Girl Blogs is hosting an amazing giveaway right now! You must go over and check it out!!! :)

She will be giving away a set of adorable note cards from the Etsy store Purple Lemon Designs. One a side note, I think I am in LOVE with this cute customized rubber stamp!!

Thanks Brown Girl for the giveaway AND for spreading the word about this too cute Etsy shop.

Custom Invitations Anyone??

2009-07-07T21:44:00.008-05:00

There is nothing better than hosting a party or shower and having custom invitations made for the event. Unfortunately, this can be a little pricey.

Case in point: I hosted a bridal shower for my cousin a few weeks ago (as some of you may remember) and I wanted to get custom invitations for the party using my cousin's wedding colors, BUT I couldn't ever find the right color, and all of the invitations I did find that would have worked okay cost an arm and a leg and would have blown my budget! Hello, I still had to buy food, drinks and party favors too!

So, I ended up creating custom invitations and they turned out just perfect! I am now selling custom invitations in my ETSY shop for a very reasonable price, so if you or someone you know is hosting a party soon...head over there and check out my work!

Here are a few examples of the invitations I currently have listed (click on the image below for a larger view). More custom paper goods to come soon....

Updates and Diaper Cakes!!

2009-06-29T09:36:00.004-05:00

I had a wonderful (plan-free) and relaxing weekend, and I hope everyone else did too!

Here are some highlights from my weekend: I started a new book (Wicked) and read about 1/5 of it, went on a date with my husband, changed my mind about our kitchen floor tile, shopped with free money, went out for frozen yogurt, napped in the middle of the day, helped demo our kitchen floor (well, more like helped clean up the mess from the demo ;), picked out paint colors, considered and then decided against buying a new car, heard some seriously funny sleep-talking about serving tea, went on a mini-grocery store run, cleaned the kitchen at Nana's, cheated on my diet...AND, made the cutest diaper cake ever (in my humble opinion anyway)!

Here is the diaper cake I made for a shower I am going to week after next. I am going to list this cake, along with some custom invitations in my Etsy shop later today. I have decided to sell made-to-order diaper cakes featuring the customer's choice of colors.

Each cake is created using a sturdy base so that the cakes can be shipped safely without any shifting. Cakes can be made to compliment nursery design and colors or they can be made using generic boy, girl or gender neutral colors.

I use Pampers Swaddlers in size 1 (8-14 pounds) for all my cakes. All of the diapers are usable and are not glued or damaged in any way during the creation of these cakes, so not only are you giving a beautiful gift, but a functional one as well!

Two-tier and four-tier cakes are also available upon request. Please contact me at through my Etsy shop for more information on pricing.

Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might be interested in a custom diaper cake. I will be putting more items in my Etsy shop as the summer progresses, so please check back often. :)

Hello Friday!!!

2009-06-26T09:44:00.003-05:00

Normally, I would be a lot more excited about the fact that it is Friday and my weekend is just around the corner. But, not today. I'm not sure why that is to be honest.....

I should be:

Excited...because this is my first weekend with no plans in months!
Thrilled...because I just got my hair done yesterday and it looks awesome!
Pumped...because we are going to do some shopping with the remaining giftcards from our wedding this weekend, and seriously, who doesn't love shopping with free money?!?!
Estatic....becuase we are finishing our kitchen remodel next week!
Elated...because my husband is taking me to lunch for sushi today, and it was all his idea!
Overjoyed...because today is Friday and that means TWO WHOLE DAYS off of work!
Happy....because tomorrow I get to sleep in!

But, sadly, I am feeling none of those things.

Maybe I will get out of my funk before the day is over so I can start experiencing some of those Feel-Good-Friday emotions soon! :)

Happy Friday. :)

My WICKED Plans….

2009-06-18T09:41:00.008-05:00

WICKED is coming to town and I am going!! :):):) I have been wanting to see this musical since it first came out years ago and now I will.

Yesterday, a lady I work with sent an e-mail to some of us asking if anyone wanted tickets because her church has a block of discounted tickets available in the orchestra area. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance...especially since the tickets are about 50% off of the normal ticket price!

For those of you unfamiliar with Wicked, it is the Broadway Musical which focuses on the untold story of the Witches of OZ. The Wicked website says, this about the show, "long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart and fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years."

I am so looking forward to this WICKED good evening!

Latisse:: Is It Too Good To Be True???

2009-06-10T19:14:00.014-05:00

I must tell you about the very amazing Make-up Artist, Thea, who did my make-up on my wedding day. She did a fantastic job on my face and my eyes have never looked better. She applied short brown lashed for my big day and they really made my eyes pop! Sadly, these lashes were only temporary but I loved them while they lasted.

During our appointment, Thea mentioned a product (that is relatively new) that she had been trying out called Latisse. According to the product’s website, Latisse is the first and only FDA-approved prescription treatment to help grow longer, fuller, darker natural eyelashes.

If this stuff works like it says it does, then I will be a customer for life!!! This stuff could seriously change my world.

Now, from my limited research there are a couple of cons as I see it. 1. You need a prescription to get the stuff, which isn’t impossible, it’s just a pain; 2. I think it is a bit expensive (about $120 for a 2 month supply) and it is not covered by most insurance prescription drug plans.

On the plus side, it looks like you will see the full potential of this treatment after 16 weeks and the results are permanent. So, maybe for a lifetime of longer, thicker lashes $250 is well worth what you get?!?!

Has anyone ever tried this product? What do you think about it?

DIY:: Edible Arrangements?

2009-06-09T20:06:00.015-05:00

I love these cute (and yummy) looking edible arrangements. I would love to have one at the Father's Day cookout we are hosting in a couple of weeks, but I definitely don't want to spend $50+ on something that would only cost about half that price to make myself. And...since I am always up for a challenging project, I think I may tackle this one!!

Here are a few cute photos off of the Edible Arrangements website of bouquets that I love. I am thinking these may be a little too complex for my first attempt at this project though! ;)

I was thinking about something smaller and less complex for our cookout. Maybe something like this.....

I have a few ideas about how to stabilize the arrangement (which I think will be the hardest part of the project) so we will see how it goes! If my arrangement is a success, I will definitely be sharing my strategies and tips with everyone!

Have any of you ever attempted to make your own edible arrangement or have any of you ever received one?

Back From the Friendly Skies

2009-06-04T10:24:00.004-05:00

Well...my internet is being super slow today, so this is just a quick post to let you know I am back from my (latest) travels…and I have never been happier to be home!

My Summer To Do List I posted about a few weeks ago is being completed rather quickly…especially given that I have only been at home for about 1 ½ weeks this month!! Whew! Anyhoo…I can’t wait to share my progress with you all very soon (aka: as soon as the internet stops working at dial up speed)!

Until then….a shot from the sky I took while on my way home from New Orleans!

Summer Lovin!

2009-04-14T14:47:00.020-05:00

I have been planning my life post-wedding (yes, I am ready for all the madness to be over so I can go back to the way things used to be...simple and stress-free) and I am looking forward to relaxing this summer. We LOVE to cook out and have a lot of family and friends over during the warm summer months for cookouts! So, while registering for our wedding I have been keeping all of our summer-time entertaining needs in mind! :) Here are a few goodies I have already picked up (or am hoping to acquire) to use this summer!

I LOVE this set of plates and bowls from Target! They look like fine dinnerware, but are actually plastic! (I know hard to believe huh?!?)

I got this a few weeks ago from Pottery Barn. I got the darker espresso one and I LOVE it! No more storing plastic utensils in cups only to have them go everywhere when the cup (inevitably) gets knocked over as someone is reaching for the potato salad...Nope, this little guys keeps everything nice and organized! :)

I would really like to go back and get these from matching napkin rings from Pottery Barn too...I just love this dark espresso coloring!

NOW folks, I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this next set of items from Target! These are so cute and will be great for get-togethers year round! The hammered copper finish also goes really well with a lot of the items we already have!

First up is the beverage tin. We had one of these...(until someone used it to haul firewood and it got messed up) and we loved it and used it all the time! It is just great for keeping can or bottles iced when the fridge it too full to accommodate them.

This tray is awesome. It will be great for laying out all of our BBQ fixings! It is really nice and heavy-duty! (All of these items are available in stores which is a major plus!)

I have really been wanting a tiered server for awhile now and this one really fits the bill. It is super cute and is the perfect size for displaying brownies and cookies or hot dog and hamburger buns!

This ice bucket would be handy for gatherings too...and best of all I think it could double as a champagne or wine chiller OR it would be a really cute place a flower arrangement if we were having an extra special gathering where flowers would be used.

This next item is from Dillard's and would be such an asset (especially for the size of gatherings we have)! This over-sized pitcher can hold up to 2.75 gallons of iced tea, lemonade or margaritas ;) so there is plenty for everyone! Plus...the iron work on this item matches our dinnerware so we can even use this for nicer gatherings too! Hello Christmas....

A St. Patrick's Day Toast to You and Yours!

2009-03-17T10:25:00.004-05:00

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

Happy St. Patrick's Day Everyone!

An Ode' To Monday...

2009-03-09T16:07:00.010-05:00

I don't know about you, but my Monday has been CRAZY! Everything that could go wrong at the office has gone wrong, and this is literally the first time that I have had a chance to catch my breath all day! AND...the fact that this is the first Monday since the dreaded Daylight Savings change hasn't helped matters!

Anyway, in a tribute to my Monday I wanted to share with you the follow words of wisdom...

Here's hoping you too, can Keep Calm and Carry On!! :)

What's For Dinner?

2009-03-05T10:42:00.008-06:00

Well...I can tell you what I had for dinner last night! The most delicious Crunchy Sassy Chinese Slaw EVER!!

I got this recipe off of HungryGirl (another great site compliments of my mom:) and it is TO DIE FOR!! It is full of interesting flavors and has a wonderful crunch to it.

I made it last night for dinner and my fiance and I just devoured it! We even talked about how it was so tasty that we could the entire bowl of it (I made 4 servings so I would have left-overs for lunch today)...but alas, what is the point of dieting if you are going to scarf down 3 portions per sitting?! Ha ha.

This would be a tasty, easy and healthy side dish to make for a BBQ or gathering. Find the recipe below. It went really well with this Chicken with Honey-Balsamic Glaze recipe I made last night too!

Crunchy Sassy Chinese Slaw

PER SERVING: (about 1 cup): 111 calories, 3.5g fat, 375mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 10g sugars, 3g protein -- POINTS® value 2 (if you follow Weight Watchers)

Ingredients:
One 16-oz. package Broccoli Slaw
1 cup canned water chestnuts, drained and sliced into thin strips
1 cup canned mandarin orange segments packed in water or juice, drained and chopped (and rinsed, if packed in juice)
2/3 cup Newman's Own Lighten Up Low Fat Sesame Ginger Dressing (Season’s Own also make a great Low-Fat Asian Sesame Dressing)
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions:
In a large bowl, toss all ingredients together, and mix well. Stir well before serving. Enjoy!

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

THIS...I Do Not Understand...

2009-02-27T09:46:00.012-06:00

I came across a photo yesterday on the TMZ website of one of The Jonas Brothers and it really got me thinking...I just don't understand the obsession with them! I am sorry, but I just do NOT understand their appeal. In my opinion, their music is mediocre (at best), they are not attractive and they wear their jeans too tight!

Yet, they seem to be the object of every teenage girl's affection. I have even heard them being compared to The Beatles....and I am sorry, but they are not even in the same league as The Beatles....not even close. :) I think a more appropriate comparison would be to the Hanson brothers!!

Maybe I am just getting old....but THIS, I do not understand!

For The Birds...

2009-02-19T16:30:00.013-06:00

I got these cute little cake topper birds back in January from Ann Wood Handmade. I just love these little guys and felt like they deserved a little face time on my blog :)

They are super cute, but if you love them put yourself on the wait list NOW! Ann is booked solid for months in advance, but these little guys are well worth the wait...

Invitation Infatuation

2009-02-18T10:24:00.011-06:00

As promised, I have composed a little "How To" for the invitation lining project I embarked on to give my wedding invitations that little extra something special. If you aren't the crafty type, this project is still one worth trying...trust me, if you (or a friend of yours ;) can trace and cut in a straight line, then you can do this project!

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED:
* Scrapbooking "glue" in a roller (I used one made by The Paper Studio found at my local craft store)
* 1 sheet of heavy card stock (to create your template)

* paper to line envelopes

* envelopes
* scissors

* pencil

STEP 1:

Use the card stock to trace the envelope you plan to line. Next, cut out your traced image and slip it into the envelope. (You will want to make sure this fits in the envelope comfortably since this will be your template for the entire project). If it is too large to fit inside, trim the sides until it fits. Once you get this done, you will want to cut 1-2 inches off of the bottom of your traced image. Congratulations, you have created your template for this project (and completed by far the hardest part of this project)!

STEP 2:

Now trace your template onto the backside of paper you plan to use to line the envelope. Once that is done, cut out the traced images making sure to cut very straight.

STEP 3:
Insert your lining paper into each envelope and make sure the lines of your envelope are even with your lining paper. You will want to position the lining paper below the gum line of the envelope so it can still be sealed.

STEP 4:

Now, flip the lining paper down and apply your scrapbook glue to the back side of your lining paper. Make sure you get as close to the edge of the paper as possible. You will only want to place the glue along the top portion of the liner (not the part that goes down into the envelope).

STEP 5: Make sure the position is correct then press the lining paper in place on the envelope...and Voila...you have a custom-made lined envelope! One down, only 200 to go...

Completely Loving...Fall

2008-10-14T15:50:00.008-05:00

Yes, it's that time of year again...fall is here!

I love love love fall! It is absolutely my favorite time of the year! I can't even pinpoint just one thing about fall that makes me love it so much. It is really just a combination of all things fall that makes me adore this time of year.

So, in a tribute to the season, I have attempted to put all the reasons I love fall into an inspiration board...Enjoy, I know I will:)

Wedding Inspiration Board

2008-10-13T17:43:00.002-05:00

I am getting married in May and am still in the process of ironing out all of the wedding day details. I think I may finally have an idea of how everything will come together. Yay!

Here's a little wedding inspiration board I put together with several ideas I hope to incorporate into our big day!

In With the New...

2008-10-10T11:58:00.002-05:00

So, it didn't take long for us to put the cash we earned from selling our old furniture to use on some new furniture!

We just bought a beautiful (and very heavy!) dresser and king sized headboard and footboard for our master bedroom. It is a beautiful dark, rich wood and has the most beautiful clean lines and just a touch of intricate detail. It is made by Ashley and is from the Monaco collection. It is the perfect blend of our styles. While I tend to lean more towards the clean lines, my other half tends to prefer more intricate pieces with lots of detail (and places to dust). We are planning to purchase a couple of the nightstands to go with the set and maybe even the chest of drawers if we have enough space for it.

For now, the pieces are all wrapped up and waiting patiently in the garage for the big move!

Starting Fresh and Letting Go...

2008-10-08T11:52:00.002-05:00

As the closing dates nears on our new house, we decided to sort through our things to determine what to keep and what to toss. One thing was clear...we had entirely too much stuff! Most of it seemed to be furniture, and not junk either. The majority of our pieces were only about 6 months old, but we decided it was time to get rid of our "his" and "hers" furniture, and purchase some new pieces that we will pick out together.

I have a friend who recently told me about Craig's List...(I know, I know, where have I been?!?!) Anyway, we decided to list our very slightly used furniture on there and had great luck with it! We sold everything (and we had a lot) in 3 days! It was a great experience, and I would highly recommend trying it out in your city if you are looking to buy, or sell for that matter!

I will say that during the entire process, I learned a lot about myself. For example, I am kind of a pack-rat and I am very sentimental...maybe overly so given the circumstance (It's only furniture, right?!) I would almost be a little sad when I would see my lovely furniture being carried off by someone else. You would think I was giving away a pet or something! Anyway, after it is all said and done, I am so happy that everything happened like it did because my future hubby and I decided to let go of our old stuff in favor of starting fresh together...and what could be better!

Now, time to do a little furniture shopping....