Queen of Remodel

What to do with Cubes

2010-09-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

As I was perusing Zgallerie online, I noticed a piece of art that seemed vaguely familiar to something I had created in the past...

Silver Cubes:

Gifts for the important people and pets in my life

2010-04-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

As a small Easter gift, I decided to make containers that my mom and sister could store cat and dog treats/food in. Why not give gifts that benefit both human and pet?! I purchased two glass containers with lids that seal, for around $2 each at Home Goods.

Then I went to Home Depot and bought a can of window frosting spray paint. I made a template for dog and cat silhouettes using printer paper, although I would recommend a sturdier material. After spraying the containers, I patiently waiting for them to dry. Then I filled them with various treats for my favorite pets.

They turned out really cute, and all the recipients were very happy. This is a great alternate idea to having a jar engraved because its cheap, fun and doesn't require a lot of time.

Wine a little

2010-04-07T20:49:00.001-07:00

As a lover of wine, I thought it would be fun to incorporate bottles into my home decor. At first, I soaked empty bottles in water to easily remove the labels. Then for a long time I just displayed the bottles on the table. But I knew I wanted something more out of them. I found this awesome project on another blog. The project incorporated paint (which is my very favorite thing!).

1. Paint/spray paint bottles white. I actually decided to use beer bottles as well so that my boyfriend wouldn't feel left out when I displayed or favorite beverage containers.

2. Create a square template and spray exposed area with chalkboard paint. The template I created was cut from part of a box. I purchased the chalkboard spray paint from Home Depot for around $4. Remember to cover the entire area of the bottle that will not be sprayed with chalkboard paint...definitely remember this step, otherwise you will have to start all over...not that this happened to me or anything :).

3. Take off template and examine your work.

4. Touch up with white paint if you are trying to get something that resembles a square. The objects hanging out between the bottles were so the bottles didn't roll over...that would have been bad.

5. Use chalk to write a fun or loving message on the bottles, and display! FYI: chalk is very hard to find these days. Try Michaels.

These white bottles would really pop on a non-white wall. Good thing I am moving next week into a place that has been painted something non-white. Stay tuned to see pictures of my new place!

Easter Fun

2010-04-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was a busy one, flowing with creative juices. On Friday, my mom and I embarked on a half-day event of making Easter cupcakes. She purchased just about every cupcake decorating thing you can think of. We had a lot of fun. We did everything from frosting them to adding coconut that was dyed to look like grass. At the end of the day, both of us sat back and admired our creations---afraid to eat our masterpieces. However, we most of them disappeared by the end of the weekend.

On Saturday night, we decorated Easter eggs. We discovered that using the white crayon was overrated, and decided a sharpie would work much better, which it did. Again, we created some masterpieces.

My sister with her pumpkin-Easter egg

This one was for my dad...love you (and Walnut)

I hope you had a wonderful Easter weekend, just like I did!

LOVE-ly Flowers

2010-03-27T12:25:00.000-07:00

My best friend is getting married! I am especially excited because I love them both so much and think they are the cutest couple I know. I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from the Bride-to-be asking me to be a bridesmaid. Of course a said yes! I am now enjoying my flowers and the thought of being a part of their special day!!! Love you guys!

Meant to Be

2010-03-15T21:50:00.000-07:00

A while back I saw the most gorgeous and creative porch project I had ever seen, and I wanted to copy it immediately. Please go to this site and you will see what I mean. I didn't have to do any searching to find a pretty close version of the wicker bench that they used. It was actually just meant to be...
A while back when I came down to Southern California to visit my boyfriend, before I moved, I went over to a garage sale on his street. As I was walking up, two women were carrying away this beautiful bench. I was bummed that I hadn't gotten there sooner, because it would have been perfect. The story picks up a few months later when I moved to that neighborhood. I was walking over to another garage sale (I like garage sales) and noticed what I thought to be that very bench for sale again. I asked the woman if she had bought it at a garage sale in the area a few months back, and she had. It's like it was meant to be taken home by me. I was so happy, and purchased it for only $30! Not it sits in the front room because it is so damp at night. I need to find a weather proofing method for wicker so that it can actually live on the back patio. Any suggestions?

Also, just to prove what a great deal I got, I found this one at Target and it was priced at over $100. Oh how I love a great garage sale find!

I'mmmmmm baacckkkk...

2010-03-15T21:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have been MIA from my blog for a while; 4 months to be exact. I guess a lot has happened in the last few months. I moved to a whole new part of the state, I was unemployed, I was employed very part-time, I was employed full-time by another company, shortly after I was promoted. As all of this was happening, I managed to put my blog on the back burner for a while...but the projects did not stop. Hopefully I can begin to catch up on sharing projects that I have completed since I have been in this condo...before I move again (which is next month!).

So here is a project that was very simple in nature...although it took me FOREVER to find the right shade.

So this is the standing lamp in my room. I originally purchased it from Walmart a little over a year ago. It came with a hideous lamp shade, not pictured above-that is the second lampshade living on top. In an effort to make my lamp feel more modern, without spending the big bucks, I bought a can of chrome spray paint from Home Depot for around $4. I spray painted the base, super easy! The hardest part of the entire project was finding a lamp shade that I liked. I finally found one at Target for $24.99. Total cost of a brand new lamp, about $30. I have priced similar style lamps at various stores and have not found anything less than $100 lately, so I would say that's a pretty good deal.

My pictures are horrible...I was just so excited to start blogging again that I couldn't wait until daylight to snap some pics.

Thankful For...A Good Deal

2009-11-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

A recent, and much needed trip to Pottery Barn left me inspired. What caught my eye in the store were all of the beautiful centerpieces. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, I thought it was a perfect time to add a festive centerpiece to my table. My inspiration were these two in particular. Although the ideas were more Christmas related, I thought something similar would look just as cool for Thanksgiving.

So I headed to a few places...

I found an assortment of pumpkins and squash at the grocery store for about $10.

I found inexpensive white candles in varying sizes at Michaels. I also purchased some vase fillers (coffee and other beans) for a total of $20.

Finally, I found an assortment of glass vases from Ross. I also added a few more from my own collection. The total for three vases was $20.

Ok, so the total was $50 and that may seem like a lot. But I think of it as an investment. The vases, filler and candles will be reused for my Christmas centerpiece (so stay tuned). So if you think about it, I really only spent $10 for the pumpkins and squash that will last until I can start decorating for Christmas, which I am pretty excited about!

The only thing I can think of adding is a runner in a neutral color. But for now I am happy with it.

Unemployed and Expanding My "Want" List

2009-11-13T12:47:00.000-08:00

I want this lamp...just maybe in a different color. I love both colors, the greenish blue and the orange, but neither will match anything in my house. I found them at Home Goods-love the store-for only $39.99!!! Maybe I can find a way to make the greenish blue work, but it is such a hard color to match.

Billy Mays Here!!!

2009-11-03T12:28:00.001-08:00

It's a belated Halloween post, but I had to share my boyfriend's costume because it's home related. Previous endorser of some awesome home related products is Billy Mays! Some great products I recommend are Mighty Putty, OXICLEAN, Orange Glo and my favorite, the Hercules Hook. So here is a picture of Billy Mays and then a picture of my boyfriend on Halloween. He was so excited to dress up and use some of Billy's favorite products!

DIY Therapy

2009-11-03T12:27:00.001-08:00

Nothing can put me in a better mood quite like doing a DIY project. I was a little bored and sad one day and I just needed to paint! I had a small can of sample paint I got from Home Depot a few months ago in an effort to get the ball rolling on painting the condo. However, my boyfriend and I agreed that we wouldn't paint until I got a job. I felt bad not putting the paint to good use, especially since it matched my duvet cover perfectly. So I roamed my room, looking for something easy to paint. And this is what I found...

A greenish leaf lamp. The lamp was serving its purpose by providing light, but definitely not providing any eye appeal. What a perfect thing to paint!

I used a cheapo paint brush, that I also had lying around, to cover the lamp with three coats of paint. And less than 24 hours later, the lamp returned to my room looking 100% better!

It's a little hard to see the true color, which is a light blue grey. The color is Rhino by Behr.

Is DIY used as therapy for anyone else??? I felt so much better-and more accomplished after this little project.

My First Visitor

2009-10-27T09:36:00.001-07:00

I spent half the day last Friday preparing for my sister to see my new place for the first time. I definitely did not want to disappoint since I had spent weeks talking it up. I mopped, I dusted, I disinfected...And finally, I put the finishing touches on her room. I made the pull out couch into a comfy bed with a down comforter and plenty of pillows (even one with a picture of us on it-how cute). In a basket on the bedside table, I put a beach towel, bath towel, wash clothes and some toiletries as if she were staying in a hotel. She loved the extra touches that made her feel like a special guest, because she was-my first overnight visitor! Thanks for visiting sister!

And everything was taken from my stock at home. The basket was lying around. I took the towels from my abundant towel collection. I have a case of hotel toiletries that I collect from hotel stays that are perfect for traveling or giving to overnight guests. Depending on where you live, you can add things like a beach towel, sunscreen or Solarcaine-like I did since we live near the beach. I even gave her the red bath towel because I know she loves the color. The ideas are inexpensive, but thoughtful and really go a long way in making your guests feel special and prepared for the weekend activities.

So, in case this post hasn't made it clear, I like to pamper my guests-so please come visit!!!

So Cheap, I Practically Stole Them

2009-10-27T09:27:00.001-07:00

I generally don't like to tease myself by going places when I don't have money, but it's hard to pass up a garage sale when it's on your street! I walked down the street last Saturday with our dog, and stumbled upon a garage sale-ok, I knew there was one on our street so I went looking for it! I had no money on me, but just thought I would look. The guy who was having the sale was moving and getting rid of a few plants. I asked how much the larger plants in pots where and he said...$1. I thought it was too good to be true, considering the plant was probably between $5-$20 (my wide range is due to my lack of buying plants) and the pots were probably worth $20. He was also throwing in plant stands. Obviously this was a steal. So I said I would be back and rushed home to break open my piggy bank, literally, it broke :( I walked back, looking like a kid in a candy store, with a plastic bag full of quarters-no joke! But who cares because I scored 5 plants, 5 pots and 3 plant stands for....a whopping $3.50. Totally worth it. Now let's hope I can keep them alive!

A Cheap Date

2009-10-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

I have been sticking to my plan of spending as little money as possible, and I have to say I am really proud-and surprised. It has been rough not being able to go to the gym (or leave the house for fear of spending money!), but my bf and I have managed to keep up with some exercise. The other night we went on a 10 mile bike ride along the beach. Yes, it was to have a drink, but it was happy hour-so that was cheap. On the way back we spent about an hour searching the beach for seashells and found a tide pool that was full of cute little crabs and other sea life. So we brought a few seashells home. I was contemplating how to display them as they soaked in a solution of 50%, 50% water (I did some research).

When they were clean, I decided to plop them into our fish, Moses' tank. Because we live so close to the beach now, I thought he should be able to enjoy the sights too! So far he is loving his beach themed tank. I wonder if I could add sand?

I thought I would share this beach find. This piece of seaweed is huge-and exactly why I do NOT like swimming in the ocean. Imagine one of these things wrapping around your leg!!!

Climbing the last hill to our house on our bikes, we stopped to look at the beautiful sunset. It was a fun little date night-and oh so cheap. I think we will do it more often!

From Fun to Fun-ctional

2009-10-20T13:51:00.000-07:00

I still absolutely love my huge coffee table from Z Gallerie. Everyone who comes over comments on just how cool it is. There is just one problem. I am so protective of it that I don't like things to rest on it. But isn't that what a coffee table is for?!? So I went on a search for a solution to this problem. At first a thought adding a glass top would allow the table to be fully functional. However, after calling a few glass companies, I discovered that it would cost around $150 to cut a piece of glass this big. So I went for a more affordable solution. And the table went from something that looked fun...

to an actual functional table. I purchased this huge round serving tray from Pier 1. Now it provides so much function for the table. I can put candles, keys, phones, remotes, drinks and appetizers on the tray without feeling nervous about ruining the table! And unlike the glass top, I don't have to worry about cleaning fingerprints all the time. I am so happy. The round tray mimics the pattern in the textured table. And the color of the wood matches perfectly with the reddish brown leather couches. Problem solved!!!

Oh Spray Paint, How I Love Thee

2009-10-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you have an abundance of black frames, but wish they were white?

-Go to Home Depot
-Buy two cans of Rustoleum White Semi Gloss spray paint
-Clean all frames, take out glass and pictures and set aside
-Put cardboard on floor outside to protect the ground and place frames on cardboard
-Spray paint evenly over all frames until they are white
-Let dry for a few hours in a ventilated area
-Lay out frames on floor inside to find a pattern to place on the wall
-Hang 'em up
-Sit back and admire your wall of frames

Instead of spending $$$ on all new white frames, for just under $8 I was able to get 11 new white frames and have a little fun with a DIY project. Cheap and easy and pretty. Thank you spray paint!

Trick or Cheap

2009-10-09T09:57:00.000-07:00

Being jobless=being moneyless. So this year's Halloween decorating budget=$0. Thankfully I had a few things lying around-as in a few bags of cobwebs and plastic spiders and one skull candle. It's not much, but it still looks like Halloween at my place. Anymore cheap decorating ideas-send 'em my way!

Room With A View

2009-10-03T12:59:00.001-07:00

After a ton of unpacking and organizing and cleaning and doing it all over again, I can finally get back to blogging. Although there hasn't been a lot of down time, I make sure to take some time to check out my view everyday. So I just wanted to share. This should make some people jealous and want to come see this view for themselves (hint, hint).

Penny Pinchin'

2009-09-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day of work. I feel such a mix of emotions. I am excited to move and start a new life in a new place, but I am also scared to leave the only area I have ever really known. I am sad to leave my family and friends and the employees I have worked with for the past two years. Here's a scary thought, my last paycheck comes today. Tomorrow I will wake up with no job and no more money coming my way. So I am also anxious to move so that I can continue my job search. I am stressed because I have never moved this far. I am just feeling every emotion possible right now! I started thinking about ways to save money while I search for jobs, and why not share with everyone, because we all know how the economy is right now...

Penny Pinchin' list:

1. Goodbye gym. I won't be signing up for a gym membership until I have a steady cash flow. This will save me $20-$50/mo. I plan on running to and on the beach, learning how to surf (maybe) and riding my bike everywhere I can. I have stairs in my new place so I might run up and down those too. The Internet is a great place to learn how to develop exercise routines that cost $0, so I plan on taking advantage of that information.

2. Make lists. Creating a list of needs and wants can save $$$$. This is actually similar to a diet. Many people suggest keeping a food log so you are held accountable for what you eat. It really is a way for people to see the good and the bad of what they do. So why not try the same thing for buying. I will make a list of wants versus needs. If I buy something it will be classified in one of the groups. This way I can see what I am buying that is useful and what I am wasting my money on. It will make me more conscious, and hopefully help me spend less!

3. Buy in bulk. Not only can I eliminate multiple trips to the store each week, but this method will help save a little gas too. I plan on taking full advantage of Costco for things like toilet paper, meats, bread, fruits and veggies. Since our groceries will be split in half, hopefully we will not waste anything that is perishable also.

4. Downgrade cable. I am sure going to miss my DVR, but until I get a job, I can live without it. It may also encourage me to get off the couch and get some exercise, which really is just an added bonus to saving money. And for those of you living without cable, I raise a glass to you, but I can't eliminate it completely. I need to stay in the loop.

5. Cancel subscriptions. This one doesn't apply to me, but I thought I would add it for others. Considering all of the information that is readily available on the Internet, why would you even need to buy a magazine?

6. Garage sale. I plan on having a garage sale once I settle. I know I have clothes, shoes, purses and home decor that I never use. Packing it up has actually made me discover how much I have. A garage sale is a great way to get some quick cash.

7. Dine in. Eating in can save a lot of money. You don't have to tip anyone for your food (minus giving yourself a pat on the back) and you don't have to pay for gas. I already do this a lot, and will continue to do so. It will be a little more difficult living in a new area and wanting to try new restaurants, however the positive is that I can polish my cooking skills/learn how to cook something other than tacos, taco salads and nachos.

8. Stay away from stores. Unless it is impossible for me to live without something (food, water, etc) I will not visit a store. If you are like me and go shopping just to "look," your going to buy something, don't lie to yourself. I really believe this theory that when you are looking for a specific something, you can never find it, but when you are not looking for something in particular, you find so many things that you want. I have to eliminate this completely. I'll save money, gas and prolong the life of my credit cards. Also, making lists for what you need helps you stay on track when you do need to visit a store.

I know I am missing a ton of things that would be helpful in saving. Feel free to add some of your own tips. And please keep your fingers crossed as my job search continues!

Come on Baby, "Light" My Fire

2009-09-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

I'm here to share this great deal that really did light my fire. I am in LOVE with this Rectangle Hanging Capiz Pendant from West Elm, but the $89.99 price tag (on sale from $129), is just not working with my budget. So one day I did a little research and found another beauty that was made just for someone with a wallet my size!

This White Capiz Hanging Pendant beauty is from Cost Plus World Market. From past posts, I guess you can tell I found quite a few things I liked from there. I know it's not an exact match, but at $55.99 it will definitely do the trick.

So which one do you like better? Would you splurge for the West Elm version, or are you a bargain shopper like me? I need splurge stories people!

Honest Scrap Award

2009-09-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Thanks Heather, for passing along the "Honest Scrap" Award. I am so excited. The rules are to pass along the award to 7 bloggers who I think are honest in their blogging and then write 10 honest things about myself. Well, since I am new to blogging, I have only chosen 5 (6 if I could send it back to Heather, but she has already shared 10 honest things about herself on her post).

So here are 10 honest things about me:

1) I could eat Mexican food everyday.

2) I'm moving over 400 miles away from my family and friends and I am scared to death!

3) I hate talking on the phone, which explains the amount of texts I send each day.

4) If I could do college all over again, I would major in Interior Design.

5) I spend most of my money decorating my apartment (after paying rent and bills).

6) I have a goldfish, "Moses", who I won at the fair two years ago (hope he survives the move).

7) I could watch HGTV all day, everyday.

8) I actually enjoy cleaning.

9) I 'm afraid of the ocean, but I love the beach.

10) If I become a cat lady, I would be perfectly content.

Here are the 5 bloggers. I absolutely love checking out these blogs and find so much inspiration from you all. Thanks!!!

1) Young House Love

2) Bower Power

3) Making It Lovely

4) Freckles Chick

5) Mike And McGee

Chalk it Up Over a Glass of Wine

2009-09-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

Literally. There will be plenty to talk about when it comes to using these glasses at your next party. What a fun way to personalize your glass for the night instead of using wine glass charms-especially when there are more glasses than charms for your guests! (Does that sound like the start of a sales pitch, maybe. Does World Market want to hire me, well they should.) The only problem I anticipate is chalk everywhere. Chalk is messy, but I could possibly get past that.

Although I managed to snap a picture of these babies, I forgot to make note of the price and I couldn't find them on the Cost Plus World Market website. Has anyone seen these before, even at another store?

From the Windows to the...

2009-09-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

...sofas and bathrooms(???) A recent trip to Cost Plus World Market had me drooling. Let me explain. First, I love patterns. Second, I truly appreciate any and all things organized. And third, I love green.

Exhibit 1: Patterned curtains (for the windows, and the walls...)

Exhibit 2: Patterned, colorful pillows neatly organized on wall shelving (that's like, triple bonus!)

Exhibit 3: Lots of green, neatly organized towels.

I was (still am) completely in love with what I saw. It was torture walking the aisles and seeing so much I wanted, but taking home so little. However the things I did snag are quite wonderful too :) I'll share later!

It Never Hurts to Ask

2009-09-13T14:56:00.001-07:00

If you are in the same boat as me and are moving in the near future, take advantage of the state of the economy. I had to rent a truck and chose Uhaul. The price of the 10 foot truck was $205 for 3 days and 500 miles, and I thought that was a pretty good deal. But wait, it gets better. I decided to take a chance and ask if there were any discounts available.

Convo:
Me: I was wondering if you had any discounts going on right now, like 15% or so.
Uhaul: I don't see a 15% discount, but I can give you a 30% discount if you make the reservation right now.
Me: Ok. That sounds good.
In my head: Yes. Yes! YES!

So that would be $143.50 instead of $205! That's so great. I am so happy with Uhaul (and myself) right now. I just hope everything else for the move goes smoothly. Lesson learned: It never hurts to ask!

Chair Repair

2009-09-07T17:30:00.000-07:00

It all started with the stefan chair from IKEA. I have had this chair since I went to college. Although I don't have an office or even a desk anymore, I wanted to use it in my apartment. So I decided to "repair the chair." I headed to Home Depot for sandpaper and paint. Three coats of a very green paint and a few pillows later, I placed the chair in my apartment as a decorative object. Eventually I will use it as an desk chair again.

I have so much paint left over, that I painted soup cans to use them as vases. What other projects can I create with this lefover paint?

The Everlasting Flower

2009-09-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

I feel like I write about flowers a lot, but I think they are such a great way to add personality, texture and color to a room. The pink flower below is a carnation, a.k.a the everlasting flower. When I got my oil changed at Big-O Tires more than two weeks ago, they gave me this flower. For two weeks it has been on my desk at work. Two weeks!!! I think that's pretty exciting.

9 Lives

2009-08-30T11:28:00.001-07:00

Cats are not the only things that have 9 lives. I have found that home decor can last just as long. When I was living at home, before college, I had bought a set of two white wall frames. One had three slots for pictures and the other had one slot and then a mirror. When I moved to college, the frames went with me and underwent many picture changes throughout the years, from high school graduation to college parties to college graduation. When I moved into my current apartment, the frames were spray painted black to match my new room decor. And then I decided that when I move again, I will take them. Although I am not sure if they will go back to their original white color, I already made a few changes. Their new home will be in the dining room or kitchen. I have already given them a new look to math their new home. I took a few pictures in Napa this year and wanted to frame them. So I went to Walmart and printed a few pictures and placed them in the frames. I also thought that a mirror wouldn't be as necessary in the kitchen, so I bought a pack of cork board (4 pieces) at Walmart for around $5 and transformed the frame.

And now the mirror is being given another life as well. It is currently in my bathroom with a white flower candle on top. I haven't decided if it will stay. Perhaps a collection of perfume bottles or jewelry would be more fitting, but for now it works. There are a number of reasons that giving your items multiple lives is great. First, it saves a lot of money. I actually gained a new item, the mirror, added new artwork to my home, and added another purpose to the frame, which now serves to hold a picture and the cork board can be used to post things on. And the total cost was under $8! Also, little changes are always fun when you get a bit bored of your current decor. And most important for me is the stress that getting rid of things causes me. I have trouble letting go. And I almost forgot, it was quick and easy. These changes took all of 5 minutes.

And now a bit more texture has been added to the room!

So, do you have anything in your house, besides a cat, that is in it's 9th life?

Like A Boss

2009-08-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

I managed to incorporate my obsession with design into my work schedule today. Because I organize trade shows, but do not attend them, I created a floor plan to direct my colleagues on how to properly set up the booth. I have to say, I had a lot of fun making shapes and coloring (I know that sounds a bit like preschool, but I did in fact use Word to create this) and being the boss of the trade show booth!

In The "Mood"

2009-08-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

When my bf moved into his new condo, I was in the mood to redecorate. So I created a mood board for each room in the house, excluding bathrooms. He encouraged me to also create a garage mood board, but as exciting as that room sounds, I think I will save that for a rainy day.

To start, welcome to his condo. For a visual, you open the front door to face the stairs. To the left is the front room. Do you see that dark carpet? Yes, it is in fact a dark brown color...so the 80's! I know the pictures are extremely small, but I can provide the info on furniture and decor choices if anyone is interested.

If you keep walking towards the back of the place, you will reach the spacious and open kitchen. How many people do you know who have a fireplace in their kitchen? Well, that's one for me. To the left of that sliding glass door is one of two fireplaces in his condo. The room could really use a kitchen island to define the kitchen and the dining area. For now, that is a little out of his budget, but eventually it will happen! The tiny pieces of artwork to the right are actually posters from AllPosters that I had framed. I have given him quite a few housewarming gifts already. And he has been so lucky to receive the leather couches and Pottery Barn dining table from his mom!

Below are the reasons why I should never buy things on impulse. I had originally created a mood board for the guest bedroom (the second one shown) and within a few weeks, changed my mind and created the second mood board (the first one shown). I have to say I am much happier with the second version (and thankful that I wasted no money). A few items that are shown more prominently in the second he already had. The striped couch, which is conveniently a pull out, was also given to him by his mom. The coins framed in silver was a gift that I made for him, and the wood chair is something that I bought from IKEA when I was in college, and actually painted a bright green (it will match the room on the left perfectly!!!). The flower artwork in the room on the left is also from Allposters. Gotta love cheap wall art!

Above are two options for the master bedroom. I really am in love with both of them. The first one shown is more worldly/manly, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the geometric patterned duvet from West Elm. The bedroom shown second features a pin-tuck duvet, also from West Elm. This mood board gives a more fresh/ocean like feel to the room.

Stay tuned to see which styles made the cut!

Speechless

2009-08-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Is what I was when I discovered these four home decorating stores within seconds of each other. Ahhh...such a happy moment. Crate and Barrel Outlet, CB2, Restoration Hardware AND Z Gallerie!!! What more could a girl ask for?! That's all!

"A Change Will Do You Good"

2009-08-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

That's what I said on Sunday morning to my bedroom. I/it just needed a little change. So here is what it looked like before...

And after about an hour worth of rearranging...

The whole goal of my bedroom redesign was to incorporate a nightstand on either side of the bed. I pushed one to the very corner of the wall so that the bed would still be as far away as possible from the door. I can't stand it when I feel like I'm walking into a bed rather than a bedroom.

The trickiest piece of furniture I have is this chaise lounge. It is just a little too big for my room. That's what you get when you buy furniture before properly measuring the space it will fit into. Oops, at the time I was just too excited to move into my apartment.

But I made it fit into another corner of my room.

And in the corner where my other nightstand once lived, my beautiful dress form now resides. I think it's a perfect little corner to be displayed in.

And that is the story of my free bedroom remodel! I even got to vacuum parts of my room that were once unreachable due to heavy furniture. No more dust! And a little change did do my bedroom good!

Less Money, More Problems

2009-08-18T12:55:00.000-07:00

I recently snagged this table from a seller on Craigslist. In my previous posts you my recognize it as the concentric table from Z Gallerie, a.k.a the coffee table of my dreams. With a steep price tag, I wasn't sure I would ever get it, but during my constant search of affordable accessories on Craigslist, I found it-condition, brand new-price, much more reasonable (about $100 less than in store). Needless to say, that was one of the happiest days of my lives (please take into account I have not been married or had children yet). The table is loving it's new home, and especially that it is not being used as a coffee table i.e. nothing is presently laying on it. However, I would like it to be functional one day. So I called a few glass companies thinking I would put a layer of glass over the top for protection so that drinks and (possibly) feet would be able to relax on it. To my non-surprise, a piece of glass that size was going to cost around $150. After already paying so much for my wonderful coffee table, this wasn't going to work with my budget.

So I did a little brainstorming...

I decided that a serving tray would be a much more affordable option. It can house drinks and snacks, and in the event that a spill occurs, hopefully protect the table as much as possible. Now, as for foot traffic on the table, that will remain minimal until I can afford a glass top.

In my search of finding a serving tray, I discovered the price can run anywhere from $30 to $70. However, I found a super affordable one from Target, and with a little bit of spray paint to add a pop of color, I think it will look perfect on the table.

*Just 14.99 on target.com

I've Got Skills

2009-08-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

Cooking skills that is. Generally my diet consists of beans and cheese-in all forms. What I mean by that is most nights for dinner I will have just beans and cheese, beans and cheese in a salad or beans and cheese in a tortilla. So naturally, when I decided to cook something (warming up beans in the micro and grating cheese isn't real cooking), it had to be closely related to my normal diet. I don't tend to stray from things I know I like. And I know all I did was follow a recipe, but it turned out really good. So I think I definitely have some cookin' skills!

Here's the story:

One of my college roommates was coming to visit. I had not seen her in about a year, which is very sad, but beside the point. I wanted to make a good, inexpensive dinner so she would be impressed (because she remembers my bean and cheese diet from college). The night before she came to visit, I dusted off the Betty Crocker Healthy New Choices cook book (sorry Mom, but you know I don't cook) and started looking for something sort of healthy/bean related. And this is what I found...

Name of Dish: Spicy Mexican Skillet Chicken
4 servings
15 min cook time

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 to 2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) black beans-drained
1 cup whole kernel corn
1/2 cup chunky salsa
cilantro
1 red jalapeno chili
1/2 avocado (my "secret ingredient")

Cooking Directions:
1. Season the chicken with chili powder, salt and pepper
2. Cook chicken in vegetable oil in a skillet (8-10 minutes)
3. Stir in beans, corn and salsa
4. Heat to boiling, then cover and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes
5. Add cilantro, sliced red jalapeno chili and avocado to the top and serve
6. Enjoy and talk about how you should be on Iron Chef America- when the "secret ingredient" is beans

Calories: 290 per serving
Total cost for dinner: $18

One (Wo)man's Junk is Another (Wo)man's Treasure

2009-08-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

I don't know the story of the flowers before my friend and I found them, but I sure am happy we stumbled (literally) across them.

The other night, we were walking home from downtown and a night of drinking and dancing. We were almost home when we noticed this perfect and colorful bouquet of flowers lying in the middle of the street. It was late and no one was around and we didn't want the flowers to go to waste. I'm not sure how someone loses flowers, but I am happy to say that I have a beautiful new centerpiece for my dining room table that I hope lasts a few weeks.

*And yes, I did unwrap the plastic and paper after I took pictures. I am not that tacky.

For The Iron Chef In My Life

2009-08-13T22:05:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend recently moved into his own apartment. Besides bringing the essentials with him; a huge TV, a bed and a toothbrush, he had very little. So I thought I would send a small housewarming gift/care package to him. What would be the perfect gift, you ask?! What's more important than watching TV, sleeping and maintaining good hygiene...FOOD!!! A cook I am not, so no food could be sent his way. I decided instead to encourage my chef of a boyfriend to enhance his cooking skills in preparation for my visits. After all, the way to a girl's heart is definitely food, right? Well it is for me anyway :)

First, I made a trip to Ross and Marshall's (both stores I find great deals at). I found a good amount of cooking tools and other kitchen supplies and even a metal basket to hold them.
Second, I wrote little messages on post its, pink ones to add a little extra love, and attached the notes to each object.
Third, I crammed most everything into the basket.
Fourth, I put everything in a box, wrote a little love note and shipped the box!

The basket packed to the brim with kitchen tools on the cheap!

Trying to make kitchen tools an exciting gift by adding personalized post-it notes

My love note added to the box

I can't wait until he gets the box! I'll let you know what he says.

I'm Dreaming of a White...Office

2009-08-11T12:44:00.001-07:00

I totally wouldn't mind/absolutely love this white office instead of a white Christmas, sorry Mr. Crosby. However, I would have to be majorly dreaming to get it. This Elfa freestanding study from The Container Store is just a little (ok, a LOT) out of my price range. But it is just so crisp and clean and modern and wonderful. And there is nothing wrong with dreaming, and hunting for a similar version. Hey, I think that's a challenge!

Is There Really Such a Thing as Too Many Shoes???

2009-08-10T11:37:00.000-07:00

I think not. Shoes are just necessary. Even these little ceramic shoes. Another photo courtesy of my boyfriend and his great aunt. The boots and heels and stilettos add such character to her space. I only wish I had seen the collection in person!

* This makes me want to expand my collection. Any shoe sales going on?

White and Bright

2009-08-04T12:56:00.001-07:00

My boyfriend is in Rochester, NY visiting his Great Aunt Alba and his Grandparents. Unfortunately I couldn't go. Because I wouldn't be able to see Alba's house, my boyfriend has periodically sent me pictures so I can enjoy his vacation as well. He has told me in the past that she loves white, quite a coincidence (so do I), and that she is the ultimate neat freak. He said her cleaning routine puts mine to shame (Rude! But I will let him get away with it because he sent me these pictures). Thank you for the pictures babe!

These pictures are of her front porch. I am oh so jealous of her enclosed porch. And all of the white is so clean, refreshing and bright! I can already tell her house deserves some magazine love, perhaps Traditional Home.

Birthday Cards/Envelopes

2009-07-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

It was my roommate Dana's birthday on Friday. She was going out of town and I wanted to give her a card so she could open it on her actual birthday. I thought how boring a white envelope would be to receive. So I did a little decorating. I actually found this image on the back of a book I am reading. I tried recreate it the best I could. And I have to say, I think it really makes the envelope a lot more exciting.

You Look Like A Million Bucks

2009-07-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

It all started when I discovered Aaron Brothers' amazing sale; Buy one frame, get the second one for just a PENNY!!! Here are my two frames for under $15. I decided to make a gift with one of these frames for my Stockbroker boyfriend, and found the perfect idea over at BowerPower. Thanks Katie!

Materials:
-silver frame
-white mat
-cardboard
-aluminum foil
-hard core glue
-piggy bank full of silver coins

Let the crafting begin:
-clean coins with soap, bleach, an old toothbrush, etc. so you can get the money sparkly clean!
-line cardboard with aluminum foil
-turn on fan (so you won't get high), and start gluing the coins like crazy onto the aluminum foil
-let dry
-Put artwork in frame with mat
-give as gift and wait for words of praise ("Wow! You are so creative. I love it." Etc, etc.)

Doesn't it look like a million bucks? I think so!

Remodel Reveal

2009-07-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

Remember back when I posted that horrible picture of the way my living room looked when I first moved in? Well, just in case you had forgotten, here it is...

I knew I didn't want to live this way forever, but it wasn't until a few months later that I decided I couldn't take it anymore. A lot of it had to do with the fact that coming from my parents house, paying no rent, and now having to pay rent and all my bills was quite an adjustment. When I finally started getting the hang of things, I decided I could begin to decorate. I also knew I was on a budget. So the shopping began. With a mixture of DIY projects and decor that resembled Pottery Barn, but was really TJMaxx and Ross, my living room was transformed. And I couldn't be happier with the finished product!!!

If you notice, I moved things around until I got things just right. The fake tree must have moved (and been trimmed) a dozen times. Eventually I will go into detail about everything I did to transform the room. Until then, just enjoy my serene, beachy home!

Isn't It Ironic?

2009-07-06T10:37:00.001-07:00

I would never consider myself a night owl. But sometimes as I lie in bed trying to catch some zzz’s, my mind goes crazy. Isn't it ironic? You see, I’m a list girl. Whether it’s what apartment improvements I can think of, what I need to get at the grocery store or any other errands I need to run, I always have to make a list. I’m sure most people would be the same. Needless to say, lists are extremely helpful. But there is one problem. I have lists everywhere. Post it colonies live in all of my purses, on my fridge, my night stand, the kitchen table, in my calendar, etc. So my advice to all of you list people out there, and please don’t be like Alanis-take this good advice, is create some sort of list book. Call it your list bible. Make it a manageable size so that during the day it fits in your purse and at night in can be placed by your bed. And please, never ever forget to take it wherever you go. You never know where inspiration will find you.

Happy 4th!!!

2009-07-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

With the centerpiece from yesterday's post ready, let's finish setting the table. Yesterday I made a trip to our county fair. Besides animals, rides and food galore, the fair also has a few buildings with really neat artsy contests. This one was a contest for the most creative table setting. I thought it was perfect to share for today. So patriotic and cute!

And it even came with a menu.

Thank you Kaycee Thomas, for letting me share your super creative idea!

Happy 4th everyone! Be safe and have fun. It already looks like a great day to tan and bbq!!!

Something Old, Something New, Something Red, Something Blue

2009-07-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm not talking weddings, but the 4th of July. For people on a budget, like myself, this idea is great for a weekend full of outdoor eating (and drinking*).

Something Old: vases collected over the years

Something New: flowers from the store, garden, neighbors yard (shhh), etc

Something Red: I just happened to have gone to the store and bought strawberries this week

Something Blue: I also picked up some delicious blueberries

Equals: A deliciously cool table centerpiece for outdoor bbqing!

First of all, I apologize for the half dead flowers. Those babies have been living in my dungeon apartment for about two weeks. And instead of running to the store for my photo shoot, I decided to squeeze every last bit of life out of them for these photos. Anyways, more importantly, this fun little idea is super cheap and very patriotic for the 4th, get it, RED, (WHITE-hmmm, how about some white flowers), and BLUE! You will get loads of compliments, I promise. Enjoy the 4th!!!

*Post bbq, strawberries can be removed and washed and made into delicious margaritas, just add tequila. Blueberries can be removed and washed and made into yummy blueberry mojitos, just ask Bobby Flay for his recipe!

Dreams Really Do Come True

2009-06-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

Remember those artichokes that I had seen at Zgallerie? I finally got them! My wonderful dreamy boyfriend made my dreams come true. I think these two white ceramic artichokes are a great addition to my apartment! Thank you again babe!

Half Off

2009-06-24T23:26:00.000-07:00

Once a week my town has a farmer's market. My roommate and I walk downtown to taste samples, buy fresh fruit, but mostly to taste samples. On the way back last week, we stopped in an interior design shop, which I didn't even know existed. Needless to say, I was very excited. While I tried to get them to hire me as an intern, I also got a great deal on these. Half off...$5 for two...super cheap. However you want to look at it, I got a great deal.

Yay for seashell balls. Now where shall I put them?

Thank you Castle Comforts. Now please hire me!

Long Distance Perks

2009-06-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

Today my boyfriend and I are celebrating our 2 year anniversary, over 400 miles apart. While I am usually not a fan of our long distance relationship, some perks do come along with it. For instance, now that I am home a lot more I have plenty of time to brainstorm diy projects galore. I have more time to post on this blog. And, I also have more time to get crafty...so stay tuned. Another perk, on days like today, I get beautiful flowers delivered to my office and everyone gets to admire (and secretly be jealous of) my bouquet!

*Photos taken with the iPhone. What do you think?

I absolutely love the colors - perfect for the start of summer. And they just happen to match the dress I am wearing today perfectly! I can't wait to take these beauties home and place them in the center of my dining room table for loads of compliments tonight at dinner. I am equally excited to reuse the vase for future diy projects!

Flowers are a great way to add color and texture to any space and make your apartment more inviting. I always love to have fresh flowers in my apartment. So, thank you wonderful boyfriend! You're the best. mush, mush, mush!

Monday Mood Board

2009-06-22T10:03:00.001-07:00

I'm back with a new mood board thanks to Polyvore and PBteen. This time I created a boys bedroom. With plenty of natural colors and textures, it's airy, fun and sophisticated all at the same time. Check out this online tool. Visit PBteen. Under the Stylehouse drop down, click on Create Your Own Style Board. Choose from a variety of bedding, furniture, textiles, etc to decorate your imaginary or future room. I can only hope that one day Pottery Barn will offer this!

*Images courtesy of PBteen

Buyer Beware

2009-06-21T12:04:00.000-07:00

Do you ever wonder why things end up at outlets? Well, this is why.

One side has ruffles...

And one side does not!

I really don't think it was meant to be a fashion statement. I thought I was getting a good deal on a cute summery top for only $5.99. I guess I need to be more observant. In the end though, it only took me about 20 minutes of thread cutting to release the extra ruffle. Now there are tiny holes on the shoulder where it used to be attached. I'm on the fence with whether or not it was indeed worth $5.99.

So buyer beware! If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

June Blooms

2009-06-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

My apartment looks like a dungeon during the day. Plants won't grow because we barely get any sunlight! So I decided to buy some flowers, only $5.99 at Trader Joe's, to brighten up my place. One bouquet filled 4 vases around my apartment. The best part, the vases were free. The first one is a martinelli apple juice glass bottle (recycling is good).

The other 3 are soup cans that I painted with some extra paint I had from a previous project (more on that later).

For a total of $5.99, that's not bad!

What Makes A House A Home?

2009-06-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

I'm sure if I asked the question, "what makes a house a home," there would be a slew of different answers-family photos, pieces of furniture, aromas, noises, etc. In fact, I asked Yahoo! this question, and found a nice little poem. Anyway, my answer would be---an animal. I really don't care what kind. I currently have a fish named Moses, who was won at the fair last year, or should I say, Born on the Fourth of July! My cat, Teddy, is semi-permanently visiting his grandparents because he is an outside cat and would never survive in my apartment, or maybe it's that Moses would never survive in my apartment if Teddy was there. So, yesterday my roommate (who agrees with me about animals making a house a home) brought home a new addition of her own. Now our apartment is complete. And he is just too cute that I had to share!

Welcome to our Casa, Charlie-We love you so much already.

He was very friendly and curious when he arrived, although he is hiding under the bed in this picture-he just wanted to make sure I got a good shot of his cute face, and not the aerial views I was getting before. So thoughtful of you, Charlie. Thank you.

I think he experienced a bit of a toy overload last night.

Overall, I LOVE Charlie. Really, how could I not? Especially since I noticed he kept picking up trash off the floor last night. I don't blame you Charlie, I like a clean home too. I can't complain about a clean cat! So WELCOME home Charlie!!!

p.s. Dear Roommate, Thank you for getting a kitten!

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

2009-06-11T10:18:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'm off to a high school graduation. Ok, I'll try to tie this in to home decor. What do you get a high school graduate going onto college? I remember getting lots of money, jewelry from my parents,etc. But, I don't have the money to buy something huge, and if I can't give a substantial amount of money, should I give what I can? Do I buy her something for her new dorm? I'm sure she has her own idea of how the new space will be decorated ( that's how this post ties in to home decor). So many questions, so little time. I remember receiving this Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You'll Go! from my cheer coach when I graduated. So what is the perfect gift for a high school graduate leaving his/her families' nest? Suggestions...

Monday Mood Board

2009-06-08T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today I found a fun new tool. Thanks to Polyvore, an online way to make collages of different items, and PBTeen, I was able to create a whole new room. Now it's a little too juvenile for me, but I still love it.

*Images courtesy of Pottery Barn Teen

How To Dress A Dresser

2009-06-02T20:50:00.000-07:00

During the move, my poor poor dresser lost a knob. On numerous trips to Target, I tried to find a friend for the other 9 knobs. No luck! So I decided a makeover was a much better decision.

dresser sans one knob

pre-makeover
post makeover

10 bronze knobs did the trick

a little something extra to finish the makeover

Now my dresser is all dressed up. A makeover on the cheap; you can't go wrong!

It's the little things...

2009-05-29T10:17:00.000-07:00

that make me happy.

Tacky Soap Containers

(no offense Joy and Dial, but really...)

Beautiful Soap Dispensers

($12.99ea. at Target!)

Thank you Target! You made my day!

Spring Cleanin'

2009-05-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

I owe it all to Memorial day and Furlough Friday; thanks guys! Spring cleanin' was in full force this week due to my 3 day work week.

MISSION 1: Closet
My lovely and huge closet hadn't been cleaned since last spring! Ok, I haven't lived here quite that long, but you get my point. It was time!

BEFORE:

GOODBYE WINTER SWEATERS:

HELLO SUMMER ONES:

Please compliment on how lovely those folded sweaters look. It took hours...

I couldn't forget to nuture my hanging items. Now they are color coordinated and I feel like I am in a small boutique every night when I pick out my clothes for work. (Yes, I pick out my clothes at night. It prevents hours of stress in the morning)

*If you look closely, the color order the sweaters are in is mimicked below with my hanging items. Is that obsessive?

So that was the only mission for the day. Mission Accomplished!

Déjà vu

2009-05-25T20:32:00.000-07:00

Does this look familiar? Well, it should. I found this table at Z Gallerie and posted it on my "Wishful Shopping" post. And tonight it was like Déjà vu. Watching the Bachelorette, all the cute guys were sitting around this Concentric Coffee Table at one point. I must have good taste!

Easy as 1-2-3

2009-05-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

I panicked! My Rubiks cube had broken. A little rough play one night had left my 4x4 in pieces. Now I probably never would have figured out the solution, although I could solve the 3x3, but the fact that I no longer had the option to solve it left me saddened. Ok, it wasn't that bad...So a very good friend of mine had actually broken it. I didn't want to throw it away so I came up with a creative way to keep the cube and also remember the random story that goes along with it, although I won't share that now. It's really just too weird to share. So in three simple steps I managed to salvage the Rubik's cube.

1. Buy shadow box frame, glue and white paper

2. Go crazy with the glue

3. Give gift to friend who broke Rubik's cube.

And ta-da....

1. It was fun to make
2. My friend loved it
3. It was so easy-you could make your own wall art out of anything laying around the house

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Wishful Shopping

2009-05-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Wishful shopping, you know, like wishful thinking. Go to store, take pictures of things you want and go home to dream about one day having these things in your apartment. Totally normal, right? Ok, so this past weekend I visited one of my favorite online stores, only not online. I walked into Z Gallerie totally excited because until then I had been doing all of my wishful shopping online. I loved it! So I thought I would share some items from my WISHFUL-shopping list. Enjoy!

White Ceramic Artichokes

Fabulous because:

1) They are white-everything white is clean and modern

2) At $19.95 each, I would have totally splurged if they would have fit in my suitcase :(

3) Everyone likes a little bit of faux food on their dining room table-or is that just me?

4) They perfectly match a few other white ceramic accessories I own

* I once heard that fabulous boyfriends buy fabulous gifts for no apparent reason*

Zebra on Canvas

Perfect because:
1) Hand painted things are much more impressive pieces of art for guests to talk about
2) Black and white is so dramatic
3) It totally matches the "Spring Steals" chairs from Ross
4) Duh, I love animals

Concentric Coffee Table

I'm breathless because:
1) It's natural and modern
2) It's perfect-especially with a square piece of glass to protect the surface
3) I want it!

Cascade Fountain

Ok, personally I am not a huge fan of fountains, but imagine this...

Lets just call it a "kill two birds with one stone" deal-although I don't condone animal cruelty.
1st bird-fountain acts as decor
2nd bird-fountain acts as drinking fountain for pets. No more hiding ugly pet drinking bowls. And with four different levels, it's a one size fits all deal for every pet-short or tall.

That's all for now. It's time for wishful dreaming!!!

Your Vote Counts

2009-05-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

You should know that I love to remodel and can't get enough of design, remodel and DIY websites. So I decided to no longer hide my slight (and when I mean slight I actually mean HUGE) obsession with thisyounghouse. Sherry and John at TYH are incredible. Not only do they give great design advice and redo every last part of their house in style, their ideas are usually geared towards budget-minded people like myself. And it doesn't hurt that they give away free household accessories from time to time either! Please visit their website; I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ok, now to the point of this post. Recently Sherry and John entered the Better Homes and Gardens 48-hour challenge where 5 talented bloggers were given $500 to design an outdoor project that you are I could recreate in a weekend. I was completely, 100% impressed with their finished project and believe that they are the winners of this challenge. So check out the before and after pictures of their front porch for yourselves and I am sure you will agree with me. And please vote for them! They could be the lucky winners of $5,000. And I know you would rather have the money than some people you don't even know, but I personally can't wait to see what projects are in store if they take home the grand prize. You can vote once a day.

Remember, Your Vote Counts!

Their bare front porch went from this...

to this...

Your impressed, right?!?! How could you not be? It's an incredible transformation. If only I had a porch...

Drumrollllll Please!

2009-05-12T00:06:00.000-07:00

It's the moment you have all been waiting for...

It's time to reveal those not so fabulous pictures of my apartment. And you have waited long enough. So without further adieu, welcome INto my apartment (or the way it looked 9 months ago).

I have chosen to show only ONE picture of the living room, because, frankly I think that's all your eyes can handle. Are we in Santa Fe? Take a deep breath---Yes its real, Yes its horrendous and Yes it was remodeled! So stay tuned for a Remodel Reveal that will leave you breathless, but this time in a good way.

Fiesta Time!

2009-05-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! MY celebration begins tonight with a yummy taco salad. As exciting as that is, I imagine my salad would taste even better in this. I think the tangerine salad plate would be perfect! Not only are most of the pieces on sale, but shipping is free if you spend over $125. How amazing would this dishware look in a kitchen with glass front cabinets? It would totally brighten up the space. That's not going to happen in my apartment, but a girl can dream, can't she...

Home Sweet Home

2009-05-04T11:08:00.000-07:00

*I moved! I'm on my own again after living with my parents for over a year since I graduated from college. Now, I love my parents, but I also love freedom and responsibility. Although I don't particularly enjoy the bills that come in my name, I can manage. My apartment is...well, an apartment. I would say its best features include the two lovely ladies (me and my roommate) who live in it, AND...my beautiful, amazing, organization obsessed person-ready closet! But more on that later.

WELCOME TO MY PALACE!

This baby needs a lot of TLC!

*Approximately 9 months ago. I just started this blog. Better late than never, right?!