A Quick Makeover For Our Bathroom

With our house going up on the market at some point in the near future, we need to finish a couple of projects "just enough" to sell for the price we want. We had our realtors come out and look at the house a few months ago and were completely shocked at what they said we could list for, BUT we were instructed to get our master bathroom somewhat up to par with the rest of the house before doing so.


I am about to show you a horror scene. I'm kidding of course, but it ain't pretty.

(Don't mind the Lightening McQueen potty seat. ;)

The doors on either side of the tub go to our closets.

This is what the entire house looked like when we moved in (except for some chocolate brown paint in the living room. Stark white (and dirty) walls and baseboards, peeling linoleum, beige cabinets and counters, etc. etc.) You get the drift.

We have used this for 2.5 years and it has worked just fine, but I have to say I am very excited for a little re-do. Originally we had bigger plans for this space, but after deciding to move that got down-sized quite a bit.

On the to-do list:

-Change flooring to tile (something prettier but affordable from a box store)
-Replace baseboards and door casings to match the rest of the house
-Paint walls (in closets, too)
-Paint doors to match the rest of the house (black)
-Paint vanity white and add hardware
-Replace mirrors with something a bit more aesthetically pleasing
-Replace shower door (this was one thing our realtors said had to go...the current one is broken)
-Deep clean the shower (it is so gross and stained from the previous owners)
-Replace light fixtures (probably with something inexpensive but pretty from a box store)
-Replace faucets and fixtures in the shower, tub, and sink (again, from a box store)
-Add some wall art and accessories (including a vanity stool)

Okay, that actually kind of looks like a lot, but it really isn't much. I'm thinking we can knock it out in a week.

Here is a bit of what I'm thinking:

vanity light / paint: silver sage / light / mirror / lamp / botanicals / vanity / rug / cup pull / art / stool

I'm going in the vintage-traditional kind of farmhouse vibe that I've been doing in this whole house. I actually don't know if I will do that style completely in our next house but we will see!

A few things:

1. It takes way too long to make an inspiration board. However....it helps me organize my thoughts and make decisions so that is good.

2. The spindles on that stool kill me. LOVE. 

3. All of this is just inspiration and probably not exactly what I will be getting (except for the cup pulls, the paint color, and the fern)

4. If my budget would allow, I would get much cooler mirrors with a pretty shape, but I found some similar to the rectangular gold one at Homegoods for $40. So I got two of them :). (We will be using two mirrors and lights since the vanity is long.)

And so....one last makeover for this house (and then a whole bunch of tying up loose ends and organizing....BAH.) Should be fun!

Friday Favorites

Hello! I attempted to ride this Friday Favorites bandwagon a few months ago, and of course fell off. I really enjoy going back through personal posts and reading about our life though, SO I am going to try and hop back on....we will see how this goes.

1.  This week I made this apple crisp from my friend Alisa's blog for the second time. We listened to Christmas music and had it with ice cream. Amazing and gone the next day. I also made my friend Alli's chicken and rice soup, for the second time, and loved it again, for the second time. ;) Last night, I made this baked potato soup. Delicious. It is super processed and unhealthy but nice and cozy. And fattening.

I also made a cookie recipe that I will share next week because we are doing it for our next MOPS craft.

I am apparently quite the cook this week, BUT let me assure you that I usually try maybe one new recipe a week. We eat a lot of spaghetti. And grilled cheese.

2. The boys enjoyed Halloween this year. Hayes was such a wee baby last year that I kept getting all sentimental about how big he is this year. (WHY do they have to grow?) We turned on some Halloween playlists and (again) carved pumpkins this year, and (again) Parker lost interest quickly and I ended up carving his pumpkin as well as Hayes'.

(Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese! Can you tell?)

I do not recommend carving a Thomas the Train pumpkin. For-ev-ah with those tiny lines.

Parker LOVED the trick-or-treating part this year. Finally! Hallelujah. He has a mom who is a bit obsessed with any holiday so it made me proud. Also, our neighborhood is generous with their candy.   Don't worry, I collected plenty of candy tax. ;)

This child was shaking with excitement about his costume. I am so happy to make things for him that he enjoys. Hayes actually liked wearing his too, since he wants to do whatever Brother does.

We made it to Trunk or Treat to see the girls and our gaggle of kiddos all dressed up! (I was Emily the train....just explaining the bandana. Also, I was SUPER tired by the time we got there with Bryan being out of town.)

3.  Favorite decor pins this week:

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4. I just picked up my first REAL paycheck from KK's yesterday and am finally seeing some of my hard work pay off. And then there's the miracle that is Etsy. Thank you, Etsy. And to top that off, I've also got some AWESOME new things coming up with Jo-Ann and KAMR that I am pumped about. How did I get so lucky? I am so thankful. So thankful that I get to work-at-home with all of these amazing jobs and opportunities and I am so thankful that they allow me to be with my kids all day every day.

(The booth next to me just got some super cute clothes in, BTW.)

But this also means that I am busy. :)

I need some work-at-home mom advice. I have always struggled with balancing working at home even when Etsy was my only job (and it is an actual job and still my main job....I sometimes have to chuckle a bit when people still call it "that Etsy thing that you do"). Bryan and I have toyed with the idea of a cleaning lady and I've got one coming next week to give me some pricing. I'm kind of just feeling at this point like I need something off my plate...and well, cleaning sucks, so that would be the one to go first. ;) Anyways, any secrets or tips are welcome! I've got a feeling all of us are just surviving with coffee in hand, but I would still love to hear what the super-moms have to say.

(Newest listing...originally a custom order. I love it! My new goal is to get 1 new design up per week.)

Work-at-home moms....I salute you! Stay strong. And caffeinated. What I'm learning is this: Don't say YES unless it's something you genuinely LOVE to do. (The above jobs were "Yes's" for me...I've said "No" to a lot, too).

5.  I'm way past my 30 minute blog writing deadline, so I'll just share this:

A favorite post from Kelle Hampton that I read from time to time when I feel like I can't (and don't want to) fit into any one particular box. I love the way she writes. And I love Little Women. And we are all A Great Many Things!

Have a wonderful weekend.

A Few Of Our Living Room

I've had these on my computer for months and forgot about them until this morning. Ha!

I guess the main reason I haven't posted these it because I'm still not satisfied with this room and I feel it needs a lot of explanation. I've had a love/hate relationship with the living room in this house ever since we moved in. I love all the space, but I cannot stand how dark it is. The builder was loco to put a tiny window on such a huge wall when we have a covered patio outside.

I threw the pillows together at the height of pregnancy hormones. Some days I love them, other days I want to change them. I love how the patterns still go together somehow even though they don't match at all. That was not on purpose but I'm happy it happened to work out! My preggo brain couldn't handle any more decisions at the time. ;)

I love my Goodwill chairs, but they are too small for the couches. I picked them out though because A) I needed low chairs to not block any more of the limited light coming in, and B) that's all the budget would allow. You can't find nice substantial arm chairs for under $250, so I made it work! I was hoping the upholstery job would somehow mask their smallness, but alas, it did not. ;)

What I would do, though, if I had the budget, is get really large armchairs (for the giant men that will roam this house some day) with really pretty lines---some pretty wingbacks would be nice. My in-laws have some that recline and I LOVE them. Maybe in a light gray-ish brown leather or a green velvety fabric. 

I would also love to swap out some of the accessories for nicer items (like a lot of the faux greenery which I did myself from Hobby Lobby...now that I've been to Market my eyes have been opened!), and I would also like to add a pretty wooden rocker (think colonial) and maybe some ottomans. 

I love our Craigslist dresser SO much. It holds all of my gift wrap, cards, boxes, ribbons, tags (including Christmas).  

I also DIY'ed those "linen" botanical frames and still love how they came out. I think they look pretty high end in real life and would like to make more. I used utility fabric that looks like linen, cream cardstock, and antique botanical prints that I ordered from Amazon years ago. They are 16x20 and cost me about $13 each. 

I would also love to get a giant gilded mirror to replace the smaller two but that's not in the budget right now, either. (Which is okay! Make it do.) 

AND, I would love to get my sister's painting framed at some point. It's on my list! 

So anyways, a lot of what we have in here was purchased due to a limited budget or was found or handed down via our generous parents or re-used, but I do still love it for the most part. Working on my home is something I love to do and this house is FOR SURE always a work in progress.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Loving Different Decorating Styles Part Two

Today I'm back with two more designers and two very different decorating styles that I really admire and think are completely beautiful in their own ways.

First up is Jenny Komenda from Little Green Notebook. Her blog is another that I have read for years even though our styles are toooootally different but still, I find everything she does to be jaw-dropping and totally inspiring.

She has the modern-vintage style pegged. Like, on point. She is a pro at mixing upscale contemporary with legit vintage finds (that are stunning...I have no clue how she manages to find so many high quality vintage pieces on Craigslist). Jenny is also not afraid of a good DIY (she has painted the fabric on upholstered chairs and sprayed an entire grand staircase on her own). She also uses a lot of color and bright white, something that I would like to do in another life. ;)

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And then there's Erica Powell, who owns Urban Grace Interiors. I actually found her through her twin sister Darby's blog (because I used to sorta stalk Darby when she blogged...actually I guess I still do on Instagram. I also stalk Erica. They have adorable lives. Technology has brought all my creepiness out.)

Erica's style is traditional but updated, clean, light, natural, layered, sometimes feminine....all the good things. And she loves the color green. 1,000 points! She's also like super famous in design world and I feel like I see her in magazines a lot. 

She's a fave, for sure.

She reminds me a lot of Phoebe Howard and also a little of Sarah Richardson in her more traditional rooms.  (Both are original favorites, by the way.) Yes? So much pretty from this one!

Again, both Jenny and Erica have completely different styles but they continue to be personal favorites of mine. I think there is so much to pull as inspiration from these two, and I think a lot of it has to do with how well they place, layer, and use scale and texture in their designs.

Sometimes I sit and think about how interior design is so funny. Like, I lay in bed at night happily thinking about the perfect item that I can put in my home that serves no other purpose other than to be looked at....but I guess that's how most things in the world are, too. We are visual, for sure! 

What do you think? Which designer suits your fancy? Or are you like me and love both? 

Loving Different Decorating Styles (And Finding My Own.) Part One

Hi guys!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Halloween Eve. We woke up to a dark morning with lots of rain and fog and without ANY plans (finally) so I treated myself to some hot coffee and a magazine on the couch while the boys watched Daniel Tiger and ate french toast sticks on the living room floor. Sweet and pure goodness, I tell you.

I am one of those decorating fanatics that can't ever seem to settle on a specific style. I mean, I suppose I've settled on a blend of styles but I can't ever just go in one solid direction like so many other talented designers and blogger seem to be able to do.

The truth is, there are SO many decorating styles that I think are truly beautiful and that I really, really admire, even though I don't necessarily mimic them exactly in my own home. I thought I would share a few of my (completely opposite) favorites and talk about the things that draw my eyes and mind to them. I originally started writing this as one big post, but then it got too big, so I am cutting it into parts---two styles/bloggers/designers at a time.

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I must start off with one of my all-time favorite designers--Lauren Liess. I love Lauren. I started reading her blog about five years ago and have watched her grow to superstar status with her earthy, organic, vintage/modern yet still traditional style.

I remember when her first home was in the Christmas issue of BHG a few years ago, I looked through it feeling so proud of her...but then I realized that I don't actually know her in real life so that was actually super creepy. Had to tone that down. ;) I still LOVED that spread though.

I love, love, love her use or natural textures, calm colors, and relaxed fabrics in homes. She mixes things like wooden dough bowls and Lucite tables to an ART and also has a knack for botanic prints and gallery walls. Always good in my book. 

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Let's counter this with probably the most traditional and rustic blog I follow--Dear Lillie. I love Jennifer's upscale vintage farmhouse style and her seasonal decor is always on point. (Seriously...fall and Christmas decor....a tonnnnnn of eye candy.) She tends to use the same tones in most of her rooms (which isn't a bad thing at all) and is very talented at layering vignettes and using fresh greenery and flowers.

I'm fairly sure Jennifer had a paint brush attached to her hand the first year they lived in their current home (we moved into our homes at the same time....she is a much more motivated worker than I am). She is also quite the DIY-er and seems really confident in her style. 

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I'd like to think that my home right now is somewhat a blend of these two styles (except I don't have as much in way of budget so on a lower scale and with a lot less experience ;). I don't even know if they work together but I think it's so interesting to watch my personal style go from one to the other depending on my mood or what inspires me at any given time. I sometimes think it would be much easier to hone in on one style because I get analysis paralysis ALL the time when making decisions for my own home but I can't seem to do it.

Do you pull decor inspiration from completely opposite sources or do you stick with one style when taking in eye candy? My blog feed is basically a huge mis-mash so I'm interested to know if it's just me or not.  Do tell!

Have a Happy Halloween!

Boo Bag How-To and Links

I'm back today with more details on the Boo Bags that I made for Jo-Ann. I was so happy to do a crafting segment on KAMR yesterday, too! Here is the link to the video in case you want to see just how awkward I can be on television. 

I just love these things. They are floating around all over Pinterest, and I found my inspiration for the cone shape here, but I really was able to make it my own--the creative possibilities are endless with these!

Here is a list of supplies you will need. Jo-Ann is actually having 50-70% off ALL of their Halloween and Fall crafts and decor so I was able to make these really inexpensively. 

Supplies:

-12x12 Sheet of scrapbook paper (double-sided or 2 single-sided sheets glued back to back)

-Crinkle shred

-18 Inches of ribbon for handle

-Wired ribbon, faux fur trim, beads, pom pom, foam shapes, or whatever you want to decorate with! This is the creative part!

-Hole punch

-Scissors

-Glue sticks, hot glue, or glue dots

-Candy, toys, homemade treats, and other fillers

-Extra scrapbook paper for your gift tag

-Printable gift tags (link here)

Instructions:

You will twist the 12x12 sheet of scrapbook paper into a large cone and glue. Trim around the edge to make the top a circle. Hole punch either side and tie the ribbon on for the handle. Add trim, ribbon and other decorations. Stuff crinkle shred and your goodies down in the cone. Last, and most importantly, cut out your tag and attach or put in cone. You can mount it on to other decorative paper like I did, too!

I demonstrate all of this in the craft segment, too, if you need a visual reference. ;)

Take these babies to a neighbors house, ring the doorbell (at a decent hour), and RUN! They will open their door to a sweet surprise with instructions to pass it along!

The kids and I will be off to "Boo!" our neighbors this afternoon. Pumpkin carving tonight. We are Halloween-ing it UP.

Don't forget your free printable tags with a Boo-ing poem and instructions, which is right HERE.

Have a wonderful day, friends!

BOO! Your Neighbors With Jo-Ann

Hi guys! Today I get the awesome experience of appearing on KAMR News Channel 4 in Amarillo to share a BOO Bag that I created with the help of Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store.

A BOO Bag is a wonderful way to suprise your neighbors with some sweet treats and gifts before Halloween. It is like a "ding dong ditch" which makes it fun for kiddos all around.

This gift is meant to be paid forward from neighbor to neighbor the week of Halloween. I included sweet little tags explaining the idea and how to pass it along that you can attach to your BOO Bag when you give it away. I think it's such a sweet and inexpensive way to show some Halloween love and will be back tomorrow with a free BOO tag printable and instructions.


Adios! Also....new house deets coming soon!