Closet Organization -- Beginning the Process

Help!!! I need closet organization.  Seriously, after the furniture is painted and drying, I will be closet organizing.  (Furniture pics will follow, as well as closet pics, I promise).

 

I am sure you have seen the episode of the Brady Bunch, where Carol and Mike use the high heeled shoe to settle who has which side of the closet?  You haven't, well let's just say, old houses, small closets.  The hubs even put in an organizing system.  However, he has, well lots of clothes.  He has 3/4 of the closet, and I have this little corner, underneath everything.  I am trading closets.  I want organization, and a hint of glam, and to spend no money or maybe $25 or less.

To this.  Even smaller, and used for storage, however, I won't be bending over and digging for my clothes, I can at least stand up.

Storage everywhere, where to put it? 

Seriously, we really do have stuff -- stuffed in every closet.

My weekend,  ahhhhh, yours?

Furniture Upgrade --French Provencial - Vampire Diaries Chic -- Romantic Minimalist

I am doing a furniture upgrade for my daughter.  She is going French Provencial, Romantic Minimalist, Vampire Diaries Chic.   Call it what you will, but it will be gorgeous.  Primer stage, hoping to spray over the weekend, weather permitting.  Please cooperate weather.  I am spraying, because we want a high gloss durable finish.  Some finishes I paing (my silver), but for this only spray will do.  If you don't have an outside area or garage area (I don't spray in my garage),  ask your paint department for a good paint that self settles and you can brush and get a good finish with minimal brush strokes - the tip on this is the newer the paint, and the better the brush, equal fewer brush strokes.  (I do admit, I don't mind brush strokes).

 

Drawers everywhere.  I take outside for a paint and sand, then bring in to dry and cure.  Yes, I am living with drawers everywhere.  Garage is too cold this time of year.  (Update -- borrowed a space heater and may get to use the garage-- yay).

Drawers everywhere.  Wink and smile.

I can't wait for the finished project. 

Oh, and not because of what you think, I can't wait for the finished project so I can do another couple for her house, I have several in the back burner, and am dying to get to them. 

Your weekend,  even if you are working, what are you working on?  I did the majority of this during the work week in the afternoon and evenings, totally relaxing.

I Love it - Maybelline Baby Lips

Warning Product Post.  Not Decorating.  Oh, and I received NO compensation.  The other day when visiting my amazing daughter at work, she told me about this great lip balm, Baby Lips, she had it on and it looked beautiful, just a hint of color, just enough.

On a quick trip to my favorite store -- Target or Tah-Jay, I ran to the beauty isle and there it was.  $2.99, and in several shades.  I did go with the red shade, (the shade my daughter had on), it is like wearing a smooth lip balm, with a hint of color.  I am not one for red, but I thought, ya, I am going to try it.  Can I just scream -- "LOVE IT"!!. 

If you are looking for a new lip balm, give it a try.  The price is right, and the wear and feel are amazing.  Hey Maybelline, don't stop making this product.  I love it.

 

 

Online Mags -- Great Ideas

Do you read online mags?  How about online catalogs?  I admit, I do.  I love them.  I can waste more time online.  Said with a smile.

Love the image above  and below, from Lonny Magazine.  Same room, two different angles.  Love the picture frames with no pics.  The guitars, even though I don't play.  The black painted window frames, (doors here I come), and well, just all of it.  Check out Lonny if you haven't.

 The image below is of Jenna Lyons of J. Crew, her personal closet.  I am not converting a room to a closet, but I do enjoy looking at hers.  I have to admit, since I wear my shoes without socks, well, they don't always smell the best.  Oops, overshare.

And, last but not least, working on refinishing some furniture for my daughter, waiting on a space heater to heat the garage so I can spray this bad boy, and it's counter part, for her room redo.  Pics will be coming.  So, wish it was spring, I need some 60 degree weather. 

Painting Silver Furniture -- Sleigh Bed

Old sleigh bed, painted silver. (Secretly, truth be told, it was 2 twin beds with sleigh headboards, I put the headboards together to make one bed --- be creative).

 

It is no secret that I love to paint furniture, and I am in love with the silver paint from Martha Stewart. 

 

After the success of the dresser, I had to do the bed to match.  All linens are from around the house, scavenged if you will. 

 

As a side note, if you paint furniture, it will scratch, that is the nature of painted furniture, even if you purchase at a home store.  That is the character of furniture.  Don't stress about it, touch it up, or leave it and move on, and enjoy it. 

 

Make it a great weekend.

Working on French Inspired Desk

This beautiful inspiration piece was seen on Craig's List.  Love it.

 

The wonderful piece below was found at Goodwill, for a song.  Less than $20.00.  Love the black, but I think my daughter is requesting white.  Stay tuned.  Hoping to paint it this weekend.

 

As a side note, I have not found a thing at Goodwill for months.  Finally a find.  Goodwill, don't put everything on your website, leave some treasures for us hunters. 

Enjoy.

TV Easel -- Did it!!

I did it.  I pulled the plug and got a TV Easel.  Cost Plus Warehouse on sale, and with a coupon. 

 

I do have to make a side note, that I had been looking for a credenza, but could find none in the budget, and the month after I did the easel, credenzas were all over Craigs List. 

But, I love the easel.  Would do it again, and am so glad I went that route.

 

I added a shelf and used brackets to clamp it down for the sound bar.

 

 

HGTV below, one of my inspiration photos.

Restoration Hardware.  I love their stuff.

Enjoy your Wednesday.

Easy Soup and Meatballs Trader Joe's to the Rescue

It is the season of sniffles.  Or just staying in and reading a great book.  Soup to the rescue.

This is simply Trader Joe's Pumpkin Soup, with a few of the Trader Joe's Mini Meatballs thrown in while heating the soup.  Simple, easy, yum. 

Use any kind of soup.  Tomato would work great too.  Or any kind of cream soup.  Just cook/heat long enough to get the meatballs hot. 

Hint, I heated it up then put a lid on it on low so the soup wouldn't burn and the meatballs could get heated up. 

 

 

I should have made a grilled cheese too.  Next time. 

Sopapilla Cheesecake Cresent Rolls - Diabetic Friendly

Over the Holidays my Stepmom, made the best dessert.  Sopapilla Cheesecake.  Can I just say yum. 

I wanted a quick dessert, and decided to remake them, and make them diabetic friendly, or friendlier.

1 Box of 4 Crescent Rolls

1/2 Package of Cream Cheese.

Shot of Sugar Free Vanila - I use Torrani Brand.

2 Packs of Sugar Free Substitute or 1/4 C sugar.

Mix the Cream Cheese, vanilla, sugar or substitute.

2 Tablespoons melted butter.

Makes 2.

I simply put a crescent roll on the bottom of the little dish.  Added 1/2 of the Cream Cheese mixture to each dessert, then folded the other Crescent roll on top.  Added 1 Tablespoon of melted margarine, and sprinkled the top with Cinnamon, and baked at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

 

 

 

Add or adjust to your taste.  

 

I would make these with just Crescent Rolls, and a bit of Cream Cheese in the middle and bake too.

 

Original recipe at:  Pillsbury Sopapilla Cheesecake. 

 

DIY Install a Dishwasher

Yes, you can easily install a dishwasher in a space that has never had one. 

 

I have had a portable, roll around, hook up to sink dishwasher for over, well, too many years to count.  Recently, the Hubs and I installed a dishwasher, where none has ever been. 

 

First, check you tube.  Yes, tons of great videos on installing a dishwasher. 

 

The before, my portable dishwasher and tools.

 

 

The purchase.  Too good of a deal to pass up.

 

All doors and drawers take off the cabinets.  Now let the cutting begin.

 

Cutting the hole.

Hole cut.

 

Seriously the easy part.  Hole cut.  Follow the manufacturer's directions to hook up the hoses to the dishwasher. 

Roll into space.

Push hoses to side.  Hook to plumbing.  Knock out garbage disposer connection, and hook hose to garbage disposal. 

Do a loop (or hook to the airlock on top of sink)

 

Trust me this part was easy. 

 

Ta Da!! yes, I will eventually put cabinets under sink, after we have some made.  We have had a curtain for years under the sink.