Happy 2013 -- This is your Year!!

Happy New Year 2013. 

This year I will be:

Enjoying, relaxing, and trying to be happy every day.

Adding some fur to some more chairs.......look out Lo, fur could be coming your way.

Delving into more aromatherapy.  Love this bear with lavendar and eucalyptus, helps me not feel stuffy.

Trying to grow more green plants.  They say it it is relaxing and good for you.

I will be blogging about the dishwasher we installed in our 1947 house.  We even had to cut out some cabinets.  Come back Monday for the post.

And last but not least, I will be making more jewelry.

2013 is going to be my year.  You?

Add a little Fur. Fur Chair.

Add a little fur to your life.  Faux fur that is.  A while back I used this craft fur on a chair that I use in my office.  I had a rather large piece that had been hanging around, and I think I found a home for it.  I covered the cushion on my old rocking chair with it. 

Seriously, simply wrapped over it and pinned underneath and ready to go.

 

 

I love how it looks and feels.  It is fun, and gives a touch of whimsy to this old rocking chair.

 



On a side note, this rocking chair has been around a long time.  The hubs went and got it right after our daughter got her first shots.  We rocked her in it for years.  It was originally white, and over the years has been red, and now black.  I smile everytime I see it.

Room is coming together one step at a time. 

Easy way to Light Christmas Houses

I have tons of Christmas Houses.  But, this year I am going small on the decorations. I just don't want to get them out and put them away.  I did decide I needed a few out here and there.  But, I hate lighting them, the cords, the tangles.  I came up with a creative way to easily light them with just plain Christmas Lights.  Plug in, stick in the holes and move on.  Yes, you will see a few random lights here and there, but if you put snow around or as I usually do (white tulle) it will cover the extra lights and give it a nice glow.  I just haven't gotten to the fabric store yet.  You can do white lights, I had blue, so blue it is.

 

 

In my wine room, I did red one.  Again, I need to get some white tulle for snow, yes tulle like on wedding veils, it looks amazing, try it.

 

These houses got red lights.  Next year I may have to put all ---- afraid to count--- of the houses out.

 



I have a range of houses everything from Department 56, to Dickens Village, to Hobby Lobby ones, and I mix and match and love them.  Again, maybe next year all tons of them out, but this year, relaxing and small.  Enjoy.

Paint Your Dresser Metallic Silver DIY - Finished - Martha Stewart Paints

Yay.  I finished the silver chest.  Here's a recap.

My inspiration.  The Pier One Hayworth Dresser.

My dresser in process.

Ta Da!!!  My dresser finished.  Love.

The paint -- Martha Stewart's Thundercloud Metallic Paint.  A small jar goes a long way.  I did 2 coats, and have paint left.  Love it.

Don't be afraid to try. 

Stacked Books as Tables

Stacked books as tables, or to raise an item?  Why yes, please.  Sometimes you don't have room for a table, or flat out don't have a table.  Look to your books.  They can raise an item, and add a decorative flair.

 

 



Get creative, try something new.  You can always change it.  Don't be afraid to try. 

DIY Shooting Christmas Star

This is one of my all me favorite DIY's.  My Shooting Christmas Star.  I used a wire star from Party City $9.99, comes covered with silver tinsel, looks great even when not lit.  I used a box of the round LED clear lights on the star.  Then 4--100 strand lights attached for the tails.  Simple fast and easy.  Start to finish, less than $30.00.  This would also look stunning on a garage door, or a pitched roof.

For everyone that asks about Luminarias.  It is technically a #4 bag, which is bigger than a sandwich bag.  We use sand, and Reed Candle Company Cathedral Candles.  Unlike a votive, they just burn straight down into the sand.  They last 12 hours or more.  We are on a luminaria tour where all the homes do them, it is stunning.  If you can't find a #4 bag a sandwich bag will work.  Yes, do a double fold it makes the bag much more stable.  Get a bag of sand from Toys R Us, and you could use the small tealights in them, but they will only burn about 4 to 6 hours. 

Give them a try too.

Christmas Pine Cone Basket

Silver chest almost done.  In the meantime.  Remember my post on Holiday minus the tree?  Well this basket is from the 80's and needed new wires and a spruce up. 

Before.

After,  wrapped some left over Christmas Ribbon around and in the pine cones.

Changed the white lights to red for $5.00, and wove them around. 

It makes me smile.  Simple and easy.  Pine cones are everywhere, in all the Grocery Stores, pick up a $5.00 bag, add to a basket (this one has wrapping paper underneath so the whole basket doesn't have to be filled), add some lights, ornaments or whatever you have and you are ready to go. 

Be creative, have fun.

Easy and Cheap Holiday Decorating - No Tree Required

I am all about use what you have. Some years I go all out and do my tree, and some years I don't.  In fact for years the hubs and I never did a tree, didn't have space. If you love a tree, do a table top. Want something bigger, do a 4'ft tree on a table or box, will feel huge and take up less space.  I am, so busy (lazy) that I don't want to walk the 3/4 of an acre to my shed to get all my decorations.  So, this is a post in use what you have.  No tree required.

I am using some found ornaments and ribbons and putting in my wine cork bowl.

Faux poinsettias in the fire place, I use the same ones year after year.

Ornaments in a silver leaf bowl.

An old vase of my daughter's filled with ornaments and faux poinsettias, and sprayed with peppermint spray for smell.

An old apple box filled with ornaments and faux apples.

Years ago my mom gave me this lighted basket, it is old and worn, and probably needs new lights.  But, easy to recreate.  Lights, pine cones, faux apples, and cinnamon sticks. 

Totally fun and on the cheap, a candy dish with bows. 

This giant bear belongs to my daughter.  He has been decorated with extra ribbon, is holding an ornament she painted years ago, and a bag of bows.

 

Or simple red candles placed around your home, or any color for that matter.

 



I guess what I am trying to say, is you can be in the Holiday Spirit, with very minimal to no decorating.  Don't feel compeled to overdo it.  For years, it was a pine cone basket and that was it.  Do what works for you.  Most of all have a great day.  Yes, I am procrastinating painting the chest.  Have a strain in my neck that is driving me crazy. 

Goal Set! - Painting Furniture Silver

I am going to get this chest painted this week.  The goal has been set.  No more walking by the half finished chest.  A couple of the screw heads are stripped in the handles, but I will overcome.  Ok, not that dramatic, but I do want to finish.  So many projects, so little time.  As always, I have my eye looking ahead to more projects.  Finished pics posted soon.  Project on!!

Cinnamon Bread Breakfast Sandwich

I am all about easy when it comes to cooking.  I love doughnuts, but hey not the best choice for breakfast.  When I found this Pepperidge Farms Cinnamon Bread I was in heaven.  Nothing special here.  Make your eggs any way you want, I use a microwave egg poacher, microwave pre-cooked bacon, and toatsed bread, with butter.  Then yum.  Now to decorate for Christmas or not to--- that is the question.  Such a hassle, is it worth it?  Hmmmmmm.  Thoughts?

Easy DIY or as I like to say Fake it DIY -- Fake it 'till you make it!

Yes, you can fake a DIY.  You can fake it 'till you make it.  Or just plain fake it.

Here are some great examples.  First the fur chair.  If you check my archives, I made one from simple fabric store fur.  This one I love.  You have 2 choices here, go to your fabric store and get some to just drape or staple, or even safety pin on a chair.  Or, choice 2, the throws, yep, the throws with the furry undersides, they wash great, just throw over, pin or staple.  My Walgreens, and my grocery store both have them at this time of year for super cheap.  Ok, $15.00.

Now to the desk.  Store bought (any big box or home improvement store), get a plank of melamine in the size you want and put on file cabinets, mine in my office are on old shelves from Target, they have 3 shelves, you build them for like $9.99.  Be creative folks.  Craigslist, Target, Big Box, Home Depot, Bueller, Bueller, Bueller.

Seriously, what can I say, but LOVE. No where in my house to do this, but hey, still Love it.   If you are looking for the feel, but can't do the whole effect, (yes, your dogs will chew that pile of shoes).  Then do a clothing rack, I have one from Target (yes, one of my favorite stores), I made it smaller, and it sits in the corner.  BTW, they are  normally on sale for $9.99.  Eat at home and buy your rack.  Feel more open shoes?  Afraid not for me I like to wear my shoes to death and without socks, need I say more?  Get some open shelves, stack, make, be creative, you are going for the feel not the exact look.

Who doesn't love a furry bean bag?  This one I would just use any one you have and cover with a throw, or, the other day at Ross, I saw some microfiber furry sheets in zebra and cheetah, for yes, $9.99, you could get the twin or even a full and throw over the bean bag, and then saftey pin, or sew underneath.  Kind of wrapping it around, even a rubber band to secure on back on bottom. 

Again, these are Fake it DIY ideas, be creative, be original, be having fun, and do it with personality.

Photo 1, Pottery Barn.
Photo 2, Jenna Lyons, J. Crew.
Photo 3, Restoration Hardware.

TV Easel -- Would you?

My TV stand is old and the TV barely fits on it.  I was looking for a credenza, but no luck.  So, I decided to expand my search. 

 

Ohhhhh, TV Easels.  I might have found my new love.  I am in love with the left over paint on it.

 

Cost Plus Market's TV Easel.  Cost Plus World Market.

Overstock.com TV Easel.  Overstock.

Restoration Hardware TV Easel.  Restoration Hardware.

Image below, via Apartment Thearpy.  Apartment Therapy.

Enjoy your weekend.