SPRING BLOSSOMS

Last week I bought a flat of pansies, a couple small trees, some daffodils and some brown twigs and pussy willows. For about $70 my outside looks kind of ready for spring. Still lots more clean up to do but it's a start.

I love how the pussy willows and twigs made everything look a little fancier and richer.

Hope you enjoy the wonderful spring/summer weather we all seem to be destined to get.

HAPPY EASTER!

CHALKBOARDS

FYI to all the chalkboard lovers in blogland. There is a product out there that works like a paint marker but you use it on chalkboards. Have you've ever been in a grocery store that has their produce priced on chalkboards. I've always wondered how they got it to look that certain way. Well I think it's these pens. I saw mention of them on another blog which linked you to a site and they were going for $20 something a pack. I found them at Michael crafts for $12.00.


They write really easily and come off with a paper towel, water and a little elbow grease.

Here's the pack. They also had fluorescent colors. The package says you can mix the colors to make new ones. Haven't tried that yet but sounds fun.

We are going to Disney at the end of April. I just started our countdown yesterday. So excited. Just wondering if it's possible to loose 30 lbs in 29 days????

THRIFT STORE BARGAINS

One of my favorite thrifting spots is my local Goodwill. I never walk out of there empty handed.
On a recent trip I found a few things that found a new home in my downstairs bathroom.
I spotted this little caddy and for $2.97 I couldn't pass it up. At the time I didn't realize that it would find a perfect home on the back of my toilet. It fits paper hand towels perfect and is a good home for the soap and cream. My pedestal sink provides no room to put that type of stuff on it so I'm always looking for someplace to put it. I also found this metal stand for $12.00. It was cream with blue stones but I knew it would work perfect as a toilet paper/towel/anything holder. I just gave it a couple coats of spray paint and instant organization.

Here's a view from the door. Doesn't the caddy match the walls perfect. It was meant to be!

LIGHTEN UP

I've been trying to lighten things up in my kitchen. Someday I will get a new one but for now I have to work with the wood cabinets and sage green tile. My first instinct was to add red so I took that idea and ran with it. Everything was red. Below is a corner in my kitchen (this pic is from Christmas)


I don't know if it's spring fever or what but I have been longing for a more lighter look. So I took pretty much everything that was red and made it cream. Thank God for spray paint. This is the same corner now.

It makes me giddy just looking at it. Is that normal?

I found this hook at Homegoods and this kind of started the whole cream faze. I love it for it's style but also function. I use to hang my towel on the stove handle and it would slip off onto the floor everytime I was cooking. Talk about driving me crazy. Problem solved!!

Few more changes to come in the kitchen to take it a step further. I have the supplies just need the time. Hopefully soon.

ALL DOLLED UP

Here is how the herb boxes turned out. I had hubby hang them and I went to town dolling them up. I just went thru the house and found some plates etc to put in them. I am in love with them!! I think they make such a statement. I think it will be fun to decorate them throughout the seasons. Happy Hump Day!!

MAMA GOT LUCKY!

I was definitely feeling the winter blah's last week and felt some retail therapy would do the job. Man was I right. I headed to my local Marshalls and there before me were these.

I just about screamed right there in the aisle. I have always admired them over at The Lettered Cottage. Actually saw them at a TJMaxx over the summer and passed on them. What was I thinking?

Recently TLC had a giveaway featuring them and I so wanted to win them. I didn't but was contemplating buying them from the site she referenced. They were going for something like $45. I don't even want to tell you how much I STOLE these for.

$14 and some change. WAHOOO!! I left that store with a huge smile on my face and proceeded to Barnes and Noble. There I found the Flea Market Style mag that everyone is talking about. What a banner shopping day for me!!

Still tweaking where I am hanging them and of course on the hunt for things to put in them. More to come!

ADDING SOME VALENTINE FLUFF

It is a dreary day here today and snow is in the forecast. UGH! I've had enough of this weather. Because there was no sunlight my pictures are really poor (It could be my photography skills but I'd rather blame the sun!)

I wasn't going to go overboard for Valentine's Day this year. I needed a break after all that Christmas, but then I opened up my bin and started placing things around and next thing I know it's all over.

Here's a few pictures of how it looks. I added new words that will stay up all the time now. Was trying to come up with something fitting for my Dining room. Thought that this is the place we celebrate holidays and special occasions with family and friends. Perfect. I still love my metal plaque and the idea that I can change it with every season/holiday. I love the Vday picture I chose.

I got these cupcakes from PIER ONE this year. Really inexpensive and so cute. I'm thinking of getting some of the Crayola Model magic and making cupcakes for other holidays to decorate with. I'll put that on my ever growing craft list.

Girlie-girl found me taking pictures and wanted to get in on the action.

Have a great week and stay warm!

ADDING SOME NUMBERS

I love the all the images I see in the magazines and on the blogs where numbers are added. I had picked up these 2 pitchers a Goodwill last week and thought they would be perfect to update with some numbers. I called my friend Kim who has the cricket and she was nice enough to whip these up along with some word for my wall (hope to get them up this week).
The numbers are my wedding anniversary. October 26th. Surprisingly that was Hubby's idea. So sweet. I love how they came out and hope to keep fresh flowers in them always!! Way to dark. Still playing with the new camera. Taking a class in Feb so hopefully these pictures will improve.

Happy Monday!

INEXPENSIVE PILLOW

I saw this idea over at Brighton Cottage's blog http://brightoncottage.blogspot.com/ She was having her cousin Carolyn guest post.

I started out with 2 black placemats from Walmart. They were 1.98 each. I got this burlap strip (I think it's used in upholstery) and the letter decal from Joann's Fabrics. That cost me about 3.00. So easy just had to iron the letter on.

I sewed the burlap strip to the one placemat then sewed around the edges leaving the one smaller side open. I stuffed it with some FREE blanket snow stuff I had left over from Christmas. It was actually in the trash and I had to go fish it out when I came up with this idea.

I stuffed it then sewed the final side and voila I have a stylish pillow for approx 7.00. I love it. Even Hubby commented on it when he saw it.

Here's the view looking into the living room. I got a new fancy camera for Christmas so am playing with it. From the looks of this picture I need to play some more!

I am so excited. I have a round coffee table sitting in my garage just waiting to be put together and painted. That is the next project. Just have to finishe getting those darn Christmas decorations away so I have some room to work.

A CLEAN SLATE

Happy New Year!!!

I rang in the new year in bed with a snoring husband by my side. We had a nice dinner, played Wii games and rented The Hangover once girlie girl went to bed. Very enjoyable and relaxing.

I look forward to all the endless possibilities this year has to offer. Still working on the resolutions but for now just enjoying the idea of a new beginning and clean slate.