Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Winter Blue Wednesday - It's a Party #351

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday Party.
Last week's party was filled with so many awesome ideas and inspiration.
Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:
One Thousand Oaks shared some awesome farmhouse patio decor.  Spring is coming and this is a great look.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:
Not a Trophy Wife transformed her black hutch by painting the inside white.  

CRAFTY CREATIONS:
Paper Crafting with Gayle created this gorgeous Easter card.  She shares all the details on how she made it.

TASTY TREATS:
Sweet Sensations shared her recipe for bananas foster layer cake.  

If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).  Follow me on Instagram.

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Please follow me on Instagram.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Winter Blues Wednesday - It's a Party #350

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday party.
Last week's party was filled with so many awesome ideas and inspiration.
Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:
Calypso in the Country shared photos from her favorite hotel.  Lots of great design ideas.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:
My Name is Rasha revisits her all-time favorite DIY project.  Love the silver leafing.

CRAFTY CREATIONS:
The Scrap Shoppe gave an updated tour of their craft room.  There is no craftier creation than a great craft room.

TASTY TREATS:
Making a House a Home shared a recipe for making pizza dough.  I have to try this one.


If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).  Follow me on Instagram.

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Please follow me on Instagram.

Monday, February 19, 2018

New Frame Around Bathroom Mirror - Mirror Chic Review

It's amazing how something as simple as a frame can completely transform a mirror and upgrade the look of a bathroom immediately.  When Mirror Chic  reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their project, I jumped at the chance.  We bought a second home in Florida about a year ago and little by little I am working on that home.  We are only there for a few weeks at a time, here and there, so its a little more challenging to get things done.


We started with a plain jane mirror in the hall bathroom.  With a little help from Mirror Chic, the mirror has become the focal point of the bathroom.  It's a huge upgrade to the bathroom.


The process was simple.  I gave them the dimensions of my mirror and they shipped me the four sides of the frame which were easy to put together.  I laid them out on the floor upside down and matched up the corners.  I added a little wood glue, which they supplied, and hammed in the little connectors.  I waited a few hours and voila the mirror frame was ready for installation.

Then I ran into my first dilemma.  As you can see the mirror is a wall to wall mirror and there is no space below where the faucet is and no room above where the light is.  So at first I could not get the frame to fit in place.  I tried different angles but no luck.  Then I realized that if I just removed the light, leaving it attached to the electricity, I could move it out of the way enough to get it into place.  Since the house is in Florida and we are there mainly because my daughter plays competitive tennis and trains in Florida, it was just me and my daughter.  So I called her in to hold the frame while I took off the light fixture, held that in one hand as she helped me place in frame in place and then I reattached the light fixture.  So the dilemma turned out to be minor and the frame fit perfectly.  I removed the tape strips from behind and pushed it into place.  

What a transformation!  


What a gorgeous frame!

If you're looking for an easy and affordable way to upgrade your bathroom mirror, check out Mirror Chic.  You won't be disappointed.

Have a great day!

Judy

Although the product was provided to me from Mirror Chic, the opinions are all my own.  


Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Winter Blues Wednesday - It's a Party #349

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday party.
Last week's party was filled with so many awesome ideas and inspiration.
Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:

Hello Farmhouse did a farmhouse bathroom makeover in one weekend.  You must check out the before photos.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:
Rain on a Tin Roof explains how to get a layered caribbean blue when painting furniture.

CRAFTY CREATIONS:
Refresh Living created this super cute gallery wall as an alternative to wallpaper.

TASTY TREATS:
Jay Tried and True shared her recipe for wonton soup.  



If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).  Follow me on Instagram.

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Please follow me on Instagram.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Moving in Together - A Guest Post

I'd like to welcome Ashley with a guest post I think you will all enjoy:

Moving in Together? 
About Home Decorating & Renovation
Maybe you just got married or you’re just about to, and your two separate lives (and residences) are about to become one. There is a big difference between visiting his/her place and living in “our” place. It will pay to think ahead and consider how moving in together will affect your home decorating and renovation plans.
When we’re talking about home renovation, that can mean a wide variety of changes. And the total project’s extent will vary too. It can be a light facelift, a total overhaul, or anything in between. 
But regardless of how far you want to go, we believe you will find these 10 home decorating tips (5 Dos, 5 Don’ts) for new couples just moving in together to be truly helpful.

1. Do sign up for an online wedding registry.

Find a registry that goes “beyond” thordinary. Mark favorite products, set up a honeymoon and moving-in cash fund, and opt for a registry that makes making returns as easy as wedding cake. (And don’t buy anything that you might get as a wedding gift until you know for sure!). If you are searching for the perfect wedding gift registry, you should check out Blueprint Registry - Bed, Bath And Beyond.

2. Do invest in enhancing indoor lighting.

You can almost never have too much light in a room. Almost, that is. Buy as many lamps as you like, install new, stylish lighting fixtures (LED will save you energy!), put in more and bigger windows, and install a skylight. You both will enjoy the light, be healthier for it, and more natural light will lower your energy bill and help you stay on track with your “circadian rhythms” (that is, get a better night’s sleep.)

3. Do buy newer, better appliances.

Neither of you two will object to a more luxurious fridge, a more efficient stove/oven, a high-end washer and dryer, or a “non-manual” dishwashing machine to help around the kitchen. If you ever resell, they will only add to the selling price, and you will greatly enhance your “convenience and comfort” level in the meantime. Oh, and let’s not forget about coffee machine! You know what they say - life is too short to drink bad coffee. If you are a coffee lover, you’d find this best coffee beans bucket list from Home Grounds really useful. 

4. Be bold, daring, and vibrant with colors.

Add color to your house, and you add color to your life. Why not not go with that deep “sunny” yellow kitchen wall and those countertops done in a glossy red. You only live once, and you want your new home to be as unique and inviting as possible. Combining paints, wallpapers, carpeting, furnishings, and other decor to create a room that makes the kind of bold statement you want to make will make you feel at home, with a home decorating scheme that fits and expresses both his and her personality.

5. Do upgrade your outdoor spaces.

Everyone loves a wood deck, a natural stone patio, or an outdoor kitchen and barbecue. No one will have any problem with a nice new fence, improved landscaping, or an in ground pool. These kinds of upgrades to your lot add value to your home, increase your “usable living space,” and give you and your partner a peaceful, private place in your own backyard to relax and enjoy the fresh air.

6. Don’t throw out his/her stuff without permission.

Too often, upon moving in together, a couple gets into a fight over what stays and what goes. You both have to learn to live together, and that means conversation and sometimes compromise, but if one or the other person resorts to the “brute force” of the trash can, resentments may fester.
In terms of decorating and renovating, this means finding a way to fit in his/her favorite chair or those heirloom items from grandma or grandpa into your new ambiance.

7. Don’t ignore all the latest remodeling trends.

With a brand new place to live together, and maybe a brand new marriage, you don’t want to fall behind the times on your interior decorating. You may wish to preserve some timeless, classic elements in the “scenery,” and you definitely want to express your unique tastes and personalities. But there are numerous trends that can add beauty, vibrancy, or comfort to your new home, so learn what they are so you can select the ones that work best for you (two).

8. Don’t undervalue open designs.

Spaciousness is more than a trend; open designs are here to stay. You may want to tear down a few unnecessary walls to open things up and allow things to “flow” from room to room. There are situations where putting up new walls may be beneficial to create a new bedroom or bathroom, but think carefully about finding ways to “maximize spaciousness.”

9. Don’t forget to integrate rooms with their contents.

 When you repaint, put up wallpaper, install a new color of carpeting, or install new wood cabinetry, all of these kinds of renovations create a context in which you place your furniture, curtains, drapes, and in which you use your china. To do a true full home or full room renovation, think through how the room’s movable contents will complement its more permanent decor. 

10. Don’t begin major remodeling without a budget.

When undertaking a major remodeling project, you can’t afford to be “budget-less.” For smaller projects, you might get by with a bare, rudimentary budget, but you’ll want to get a detailed estimate before undertaking an extensive renovation. You want to finish your project and see your full vision come to life, not run out of money only halfway through. That will take planning and financial creativity, but it can be and often has been done before.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Winter Blues Wednesday #348 - It's a Party

Welcome to this week's Winter Blues Wednesday party.
Last week's party was filled with so many awesome ideas and inspiration.
Here are this week's features:

HOME DECOR:
The Style Safari created this mood board to help plan a baby's nursery.  I use mood boards all the time for designing purposes.  It's a great way to plan out a room.

FURNITURE TRANSFORMATIONS:
My Name is Rasha transformed a side table by applying gold leaf to it.

CRAFTY CREATIONS:
Flamingo Toes gives a great tutorial on how to make this adorable mini quilt.

TASTY TREATS:
Delightful E Made shared her recipe for jumbo chocolate covered pretzel hearts. So cute!

If you were featured, please grab an "I've Been Featured" button.  You can find my buttons by clicking on the buttons tab right under my header.  Now let's get started with this week's party.  I can't wait to see what you have been up to.  Link up anything you have been working on...home decor, sewing, crafts, organizing, baking, recipes, etc.  I will keep this link open through Friday.

A few rules:

1.  Please become a follower (if you already follow me on Google, I would love for you to follow me on Linky Followers as well).  Follow me on Instagram.

2.  Please link back to the party.  This way word can spread about the party.  The more people at the party, the more fun we will have, and the more views your posts will receive.

3.  Please enter the link to your actual post, not just a link to your main blog page.

4.  Please visit others who have linked up.  Everyone works hard on their projects and blogs...let's show each other some love by visiting each other.  Let's have some fun and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Please follow me on Instagram.