Category Archives: etc.

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Bringing the Outdoors In

March 10, 2014

As the weather gets warmer, I’m wanting to be outside more and more.  I want to be outside hiking and camping and enjoying the beach.  It’s just a few more weeks till Spring Break.  But, until then, I’m bringing the outdoors inside.  
I’m loving this hand-made, personalized faux bois vase.  With some simple white tulips in it, I can’t think of anything prettier.  Nothing says Spring like tulips, they really are one of my favorites.
Having natural elements in my home is important.  Nature inspires me, both the colors and the textures. I’ve found some great pieces that will easily bring the the outdoors into your home.  Uncommon Goods has been one of my favorite catalogue and online stores for quite a while.  They believe in creatively designed, high-quality merchandise at affordable prices. You’ll always find something unique and one of a kind.  Wouldn’t this vase make a great gift? Uncommon Goods has amazing wedding and anniversary gift ideas, something that’s a keepsake and totally memorable.  
1. driftwood iphone charging dock
2. fox print
3. faux bois dishware
4. honeycomb shelves
5. faux bois throw
6. birch forest shower curtain
7. sleeping fox pillow
8. agate night lights

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The New Coffee Table

March 5, 2014

It’s here, the new coffee table and I love it!  Last week I shared that Lonnie was buying me a coffee table for Valentine’s Day. Thanks for all your comment, advice and suggestions on facebook.  I went with the marble top Reeves coffee table of West Elm.  No regrets!  It’s the perfect size, shape and the marble is bright and fresh in my living room.

I would have loved to have found a real vintage piece or just a piece of junk that could have been re-imagined.  But, I’ve been looking for a long time and just haven’t found the right one.  It’ kind of hard to bite the bullet and pay for new furniture, most of ours is thrifted, found in a barn or alley, or bought at a flea market.  But, this was on a really great sale and I know I’m not going to tire of it soon.

It’s another fun surface to get to style and decorate.  Right now I have my thrifted vase with a poppy from my yard, some Swedish coasters, and a hand carved bowl for Papua New Guinea on it.

I think it’s a good pick for our space and we’re going to love it for years to come.

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Monthly Memory Verse – March

March 4, 2014

It’s March, the month of St. Patrick’s Day.  And I’ll have lots of fun green ideas for you very soon.  But, as I was choosing a verse for this month, I thought about the idea of Luck and being Lucky.  And really, I don’t think luck has anything to do with life.  All the good in my life is blessing from the Lord.  I might have ideas of how I’d like situations and decisions in my life to turn out, but what I really NEED is very simple. I need God’s strength to make it through the day and I need God’s peace in my heart and mind.

You can download this month’s verse HERE!

If you’d like to know more about my monthly memory verses, read this.

I hope you have strength and experience peace today.

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Color Cord Company

March 3, 2014

I’ve found such a great source for all your DIY lighting ideas.  You guys are going to love this site.  Color Cord Company is just what it says, they have light cords is every color and pattern imaginable and amazing hardware options to go with them.   
Here are a few of my favorites.  
Black and White Hounds Tooth // Mint Green Cord Set // Black and White Chevron
Color Cord Samples
Mint Light Cage // Kelly Green Cord Set // Gold Light Cage
They have a great blog as well.  I’m loving their DIY light fixtures and tutorials.  You’ll want to check out the how-to on these great lights.  
Go Industrial Desk Lamp
DIY Painted PVC Table Lamp with Blush Color Cord
Paint it Gold DIY Lamp

I’m working on a little project for my living room using one of their fabulous light cord sets.  My youngest brother has made me something pretty fun.  I can’t wait to share it with you.  So, stay tuned.  Don’t you feel like you need a Color Cord light somewhere in your home now?  I want one of every color.

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Friday’s Fabulous Five – DIY Copper Accents

February 28, 2014

Well, copper is sure hot lately.  I’m still a fan of brass and gold, don’t worry, but I’m adding copper.  I love mercury glass too, so I guess maybe I’m just a lover of all thing shiny.  Copper is such a nice warm color, that actually reads ever so slightly pink/peach/coral to me.

I still think I’d like to add a little coral to my living room.  So, why not in a metallic form – copper.  I’ve found some great DIY ideas to add copper accents to your interiors.  I hope you enjoy these.

Chemist Vase
Macrame 
Magazine Rack
Mobile

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Little House Door Stop

February 27, 2014

I’m on a roll with my new Cricut Explore.  I’m having so much fun this machine.  Today I made this cute weighted little house door stop.  I’m so pleased with this simple project.

First, I cut out this cute house in white vinyl, it’s one of the 99c images in the new Cricut Design Room.  Then I ironed it onto a piece of fabric about 1.5 inches wider the house shape.

Stitch the fabric together leaving a 3 inch opening on the side.  
Slip a sandwich sized ziploc bag into the opening and fill the bag with sand.  This is the weigh down the door stop.  When the bag is full, close it and tuck the bag into the little house.  Position the bag of sand at the bottom of the house.

Fill the rest of the little house with polyfill to give it a good full looking shape.

Then simply stitch in closed by hand.  Now how easy is that?  What a fun way to hold back a door that just doesn’t want to stay open.  

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Gold Heart Elbow Patches

February 26, 2014

Oh, boy you guys, I’m having so much fun with the new Cricut Explore machine!  You already know I love Cricut, but this machine is so smart and cuts the most amazing things, like gold snake skin pleather.  
I ironed on heat ‘n bond to the pleather first and then cut my pleather face down on the cutting mat of my Cricut.  It cut through the pleather so easily and with precision cuts.  I followed the steps of my Pleather Appliqued LOVE Pillow (there’s handy instructions and pictures for the process). 

I kind of want to elbow patch everything in sight right now.  This is my new mom uniform, fancy elbow sweat shirt and jeans.  

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Midcentury Style Round Coffee Tables

February 24, 2014

I’ve always got plans and improvements for my home in the back of my mind.  I really do love our living room, but the one item I’d really love is a new coffee table.  We actually have never bought a coffee table (and we’ve been married over 15 years).  We use a clunky cedar chest (that was from my husband’s grandma), but it’s not what I really want there.  It does the job, but it’s too big for the space and the style is not what appeals to me. 
What a really want, is a round, midcentury styled coffee table.  I think round is great with kids, no risk of heads being hit on sharp corners.  And it gives a nice flow to the space.  We have a small living room, so something open and light would be great.  I don’t want to weigh down the limited space that we do have.
My husband told me he’d like to buy a coffee table for me for Valentine’s Day.  I was so pleased.  Who needs fancy underwear and jewelry when you can have fabulous furniture?  So, I’ve been on the hunt and these are my two contenders.  I’m leaning towards the marble top for the durability with 3 kids and a hubby, but really I love both.  Which would you pick and why?
marble top // molded plywood

It might be cheesy to be considering a fake Eames coffee table, but the real thing costs about $1000 (a little out of my budget).  But, this fake has really great reviews and its a very low risk purchase.

PS. You should check out PoppyHaus’s living room.  How lovely, right? Our living rooms are very similar with the built ins.  I love Heather’s style so much.  Her coffee table is great,  I asked her about it, it’s IKEA! (but sadly not made anymore).