I’m a landscaping queen.

OK, I’m not really a landscaping queen.  In fact, I’m a total wanna be and a bit of a putz when it comes to growing anything.  But, I’m learning!  A couple of weeks back I planted my first garden and I’m proud to report that the plants have tripled in size.  Yes, tripled!  However, I can’t take credit.  It’s all thanks to that dang mother nature.  She has been a total basket case lately and hasn’t let up on the rain.  Boooo.  Hiiisssss.  I guess the good news is that I haven’t had to water anything myself which is obviously why it’s doing so well.

After I planted my first garden, I got the itch to do something about the eye sore of a space by our shed.  It had 4 sad-looking hostas  which I had dropped into the ground and did nothing with.  I literally dug holes in the grass and plopped them in.  Totally trashy.  So, instead of pouting about how it looked, I grabbed the hubby and headed to the Home Depot.  We picked up some cute pavers and a couple of plants.  I had leftover cedar chips at home so only had to spend about $50.

I tore up the grass, turned over the soil, laid the pavers, dug some holes and plopped in the new plants.  I was even able to salvage 2 of the hostas and they are looking great.

Up next?  Who knows.  You will likely just see food blogs for the rest of the summer and maybe a post or two about my thriving (or dying) garden.  Oh, and a BIG announcement about an upcoming event we are participating in next September. More to come!

P.S. When I used the word “putz”, I thought I had better Google it to ensure it meant what I was trying to say.  Apparently it means “A stupid or worthless person.”.  Totally cracked me up.  Verdict was to leave it in the post 🙂

Eeeek…it’s my 1st garden!

It’s no secret I love to cook. And being able to have fresh picked ingredients for my meals is a dream. But this girl isn’t known for having a green thumb. In fact, my hubby typically takes care of watering the indoor plants. However, now that we live in “the cabin” full time and I actually have a yard, this year it was time. Time to have my own farm fresh ingredients grown by me!

I am starting with more of a simple garden with plants I am hoping are easier to grow since they need full sun. And full sun I have! I planted tomatoes, jalapeño and cilantro so I can make fresh pico de gallo. I planted basil for my favorite caprese salad and chives just because I can use them on anything.

I vow to water my garden and only cook the best of dishes with my ingredients. If anyone has any tips for me as I embark on this new adventure, please share!

Happy Sunday everyone!

Pipe turned towel rack…again!

 

The good thing about having an old cabin that needs a ton of work, is that you can try some things you usually wouldn’t in a newer home.  Hand crafted items fit a little better in an older cabin.  A while back, we made the Vintage Ski’s turned towel rack for our condo in the city.  It is adorable.  This time around, I wanted to make towel racks for the cabin using the same pipe.  

The existing towel racks drove me crazy.  They wouldn’t tighten all the way so about 1/2 the time, they would fall off the wall when we hung towels.  A metal bar hitting the tile floor doesn’t exactly make for a peaceful shower experience.  I had enough so went to Home Depot and purchased wood, paint and pipe supplies.

This was a pretty quick and easy project.  My husband made a couple cuts to the wood, I sanded the edges so I wouldn’t get slivers, painted the boards white, assembled the pipe pieces, and hung them up.  While I wouldn’t put these in our city condo, they look adorable in the cabin.  Don’t you think?

Before

After

 

 

 

 

Christmas Centerpiece

We spend most our weekends at the cabin, it’s a small and cozy, relaxing space.  However, we don’t have any Christmas decorations for the cabin!  Gasp…the horror!!  Decorations are a MUST have at Christmas time and help make the season even more special.

Since we aren’t at the cabin during the week, a Christmas tree was out of the question. It would die without water!  Furthermore, it wouldn’t fit and a fake tree is not an option for this girl.

In order to get the Christmas tree feel, I got creative and made a huge centerpiece that feels a little bit like having a tree in the house.  The best part, it was inexpensive and fun to make.

• Vase: $12.99 at HomeGoods (I can use this year round!)
• Christmas Sprays ($0.39-$0.99 ea.): $3.00 at Michael’s (reusable) 
• Red Sparkling Sprays: $5.99 at Michael’s (reusable)
• Pine Bows: $12.99 (If you have pine trees, these could be free!)
• Battery Operated Lights: $2.99
• Total: $38*

*It only costs this much year 1.  Next year, I will have everything but the Pine Bows! 

Another cheep decoration, pine bows in mason jars only $2.00!  Watch out Martha Stewart!

Bedroom dresser gone wild!

Well “gone wild” is a bit of an exaggeration.  I mean the paint colors “Almond Brittle” and “Borough Brown” don’t exactly scream wild, risky or anything but plain and safe.  However, for a girl who was raised on the fact that you stain wood and NEVER paint wood, this project was a little “wild” for me.

I had this dresser in my bedroom when I was a little girl and all through high school (Mom – do you have any pics of this in my old teal sponge painted bedroom?  I would love a copy if you do!).  When we purchased our cabin last year, I refused to spend a ton of money on filling it up with furniture.  Free, cheep and creative were the name of the game.  So when my parents let me have my childhood dresser, I was thrilled!  It sat in our cabin bedroom for the last year begging for a face lift.  While I can be impulsive with some things, decorating my home is not one of them.  I like to make the right decisions on where my money goes because I know I can’t keep buying new things all the time.

I finally determined a sanding and fresh coat of paint was the way to go.  I still had all the original hardware so used that to help maintain some integrity of the piece.  It only took me one day to sand and re-paint the dresser.  How did it turn out?  I’m OBSESSED with it.  And to my friends, NO, I didn’t spray paint it.  I used an actually roller and real paint.  Below are before and after pics, let me know what you think!

Dresser Before

Dresser After

Adorable tiered flower pots

What’s my inspiration?
Once again, Pinterest inspired another great weekend project.  This time, some spray painted terra-cotta pots all stacked up and filled with lovely flowers from my favorite garden center, Gertens.  I went a bit outside the box with the green and purple color scheme, but it looks quite cute with purple pansies, tiny white flowers and spiral grass (my favorite!!).

It was pretty easy to make.  I primed the pots first although I don’t think you would need to.  I then spray painted the top rim of the pot avoiding the base of the pot so I didn’t waste paint.  Using plastic garbage bags and blue painters tape, I just covered the top rim of the pots and spray painted the bottom in the contrasting color.  Lastly, I used a round sponge to put a few white polka dots around the pots for a little extra flair.  So I didn’t use so much dirt, I flipped smaller terra-cotta pots upside down inside the larger pots, rested the next pot on top and then filled with dirt.  Add the lovely flowers of your chosing and you’re done.  Quick, easy, adorable.

Chalkboard paint: not just for children

Yeah…that’s right, I have painted 3 (yes 3) mirrors with chalkboard paint in the last month. And let
me tell you what, they are adorable. I found the most unique mirror (and inexpensive $24.99) at Home Goods that has cute doors that swing open and shut which look like shutters! While it’s a little more county than the style I lean towards, it’s perfect for a menu board in the kitchen at the cabin.

It started out as a mirror and I simply used chalkboard paint to update its look. I started by trying to tape off everything I didn’t want covered in the paint. That is until my husband nicely suggested I just use a screwdriver to remove the mirror eliminating the need for tape and plastic bags. Not sure why i didn’t think of that myself. Total blond moment. It’s why we are a good team 🙂

I then decorated a mason jar with cute ribbon and feathers, filled it with colorful chalk and whala!! Amazingly cute menu board for my kitchen. Whatcha think?

Minnesota Furniture Stores = zzzzzzz

I have always had a love for home furnishings, decorating, and making my  house look amazing.  Honestly, I would rather shop for my home than for clothes.  The stuff lasts longer and you don’t have to try it on.  I have a minimalist approach, HATE clutter, and have a bit of an eclectic style.  I lean towards a contemporary look with a hint of antique and unique pieces mixed in.  Pops of color?  YES!

 

Since I moved into my very contemporary, trendy loft in 2007, I have scoured every furniture store in this city over, and over, and over, and over (did I get my point across?) and over and over.  Seem obsessive and repetitive?  Yup.  That is because the furniture stores around here drive me nuts.

 

Everything is either overly country, fluffy, boring, oversized, overpriced, brown, tan, floral print, blah, blah, blah.  While I don’t typically like to use this as a vent forum, this time I will.  I am so over these boring, crappy furniture stores I wanted to make a list, categorize them, and maybe someone can suggest a store that works for my style (locally or online).

 

Don’t get me wrong, not all of these places suck, they are just hit or miss.  So…let me know what you think.  Where can I find trendy, contemporary furniture that doesn’t cost me a mortgage payment for 1 chair?!?  This list probably comes as sarcastic and a bit snotty, but that is where I am at with this 🙂

 

P.S. The den at my condo has been empty for the greater part of 4 years because I can’t find a sleeper that is contemporary and not boring.

 

Category 1: Have they employed any new buyers since 1998 that have young, fresh ideas?  Total snoozefest.

• Ashley Furniture
• Schneiderman’s Furniture
• Slumberland – I just bought a bunk bed at their outlet store for my cabin. But, it’s for a cabin.  Enough said.
• HOM Furniture
• Becker Furniture World – Could you be ANY larger and not actually have anything I like?

Category 2:  I shop here because I want people to know I spent a ton of money on my plain, boring furniture.

• Pottery Barn
• Restoration Hardware

Category 3:  I actually really like you, I just can’t always afford you.

• West Elm

Category 4: I LOVE you, really, so much.  But I can’t afford you without help from my plastic enemy.  Plus, your couches aren’t comfortable.  I’ll stick to your tables and accent pieces.

• Room & Board Inc

Category 5: I don’t mind shopping here, but you suck up all my gas driving around the city to get to you.  Plus, I get there and you may have something awesome, or a bunch of old crap no one else wanted either.

• Odds and Ends Furniture Gallery
• Dock 86
• Crate and Barrel
• HomeGoods – I do quite like this store, they have taken plenty of money from me.  Fun things, but you have to be in the mood to hunt and have a creative mind.
• International Market Square – I don’t know what to say about this place.  I just plain confuses me.  Do I need to be a buyer to shop here or not?!  They have nice wine tasting events.

Category McRandomness:

• Ikea – I’ll admit it.  For some unknown reason, I like Ikea.  Not for their horribly overpriced, low quality sofas.  Mostly for accent pieces I can throw into my home and no one knows the difference (Frames, Vases, Candles Holders, etc.)
• Pier 1 Imports – 4/5 stars, I think.  They have an amazing selection of fun pieces you didn’t even know you wanted or needed.  On the flip side, that is the problem.  They have nothing you need and everything you want but has no practical purpose.  I go there all the time 🙂
• CB2 – I like your catalogue and I actually bought a rug from you (it’s adorable, see below).  Other than that I like to browse and have a hard time pulling the trigger on buying your products.  Not sure why.

Just for fun, below are some things I actually did find and liked enough to buy.  See…I’m not THAT picky!  Aren’t these camera phone pics amazing? (P.S. I need a new camera.  Stat.)

Living Room Rug, CB2

Living Room Table, Room & Board

Accent Table & Chair, HomeGoods

Lighting, Ikea (Shhh...)

Bathroom Towel Rack; made by me, my husband and (mostly) my dad.

Antique chair I upholstered myself!

Bed Frame, Room & Board

Bathroom Art; A little risque? Sure. Awesome? Yes.

Kitchen Table & Island Chairs, Room & Board

Cabinet, Pier 1 Imports (I'm obsessed with this piece!)

21 to 31 – Lamp Style

What’s my inspiration?

Rosette lamp shade

I have been hauling around a very unique lamp with a fire engine red, feathered shade since before I was married (my husband gave it to me while we were dating).  The style is very reminiscent of my 20’s – contemporary with a touch of ‘over the top’.  For some reason I kept this lamp around knowing that someday, it would be useful again.  This year, I finally found a home for it in the  bedroom at the cabin.  Of course, it needed a full make over to suit my new, more mature 31-year-old style. (Yes friends, I called my self mature…stop laughing).  A can of blue spray paint, a new lamp shade and some home-made rosettes was all it needed. Oh, and lets not forget rhinestones.  

 

While the bedroom pillows I made were lucky enough to avoid my bedazzeling tendency’s, this 31-year-old can’t fully escape my 20’s. Bedazzled lamp shade it is.  Plus, don’t you think it is adorable with my bedroom quilt & pillows?

Quilt & Pillows

What you need:

Old Red Feathered Lamp Shade

• 1 old lamp
• 1 lamp shade
• 3 fabric rosettes
• Rhinestones
• Hot Glue

What you do:

• Clean base of lamp
• Spray paint base of lamp with color of choice
• Make fabric rosettes (tutorial here)
• Hot glue fabric rosettes onto lamp shade
• Whala!

FYI: How to make fabric rosettes

Bedazzled Rosettes

Ruffles & Fabric Rosettes = Cute Pillows!

What’s my inspiration:

I’m seemingly obsessed with cute decorative pillows.  Ok, I’m totally obsessed with cute decorative pillows.  And really, who cares how much time I spend taking them on and off the bed.  They are totally adorable to look at.  Once again I found some amazing fabric at S&R Harris that would give our dark cabin bedroom some casual flair.  I guess swapping the maroon paint with a shade of green helped too.  And here is the best part; because I made these for our cabin and not our condo, my husband gave me the OK to use ruffles and flowers. A BONUS that would never fly at the condo where we have a much more modern, sleek style.  Plus, I actually did hold back some when making these.  I didn’t bedazzle them with rhinestones (although the lamp shade wasn’t so lucky – post to come later!) 

When putting together my plan for these pillows, I found inspiration on Pinterest then taught myself how to make fabric rosettes (thank you YouTube!).  I stacked them on top of a lovely quilt I made and the bed turned out beautifully if I don’t say so myself.  Whatcha think?

Ruffled Pillow