Katy Harper

New Thing To Try: Reupholstery

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:40:00 +0000

I've been reading several blogs lately about reupholstering furniture, and thought I'd have a go at it. I had two old chairs that needed a little revitalization:

The top one is a rocking chair that was my grandmother's. It's been around a LONG time, but the fabric was crusty and it was missing some nailhead trim. This was a fairly easy recovering job - I also sanded the wood and put some new stain on it. Here's the after:

The second chair was in my bedroom when I was little, but has since been in my dad's garage, where it may or may not have been peed on by some type of animal. The fabric was ratty, and that skirt - ugh. Here's how it looks now, in my home office:

Now may be when you're ready to read my how-to on recovering furniture, but honestly, that would be reinventing the wheel. Tons of bloggers have written about it, so you can Google "reupholstering furniture" and find a wealth of information. Just know that these are the basic steps:

1. Remove all the fabric, and label it as you go with numbers and where it goes on the chair. Usually you'll start with the back first.

2. Use the old pieces as templates for your new fabric.

3. Put everything back on the chair in the opposite order from how you removed it.

It was an intimidating project at first, but really wasn't so hard once I got going. It's much less difficult if you start with a chair you find at a thrift store, so that if you happen to mess something up, you're not sad about destorying your late grandmother's favorite chair.

Friday Night Drinking Club

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Y'all know I love a good cocktail, but sometimes you need something different than your usual beer, glass of wine, gin and tonic, vodka and lemonade, Firefly and water, mojito, margarita or cough syrup (when you forget to go to the booze store). So Trusty Husband's mom introduced me to a new drink to add to the repertoire - Wine Ice Stirs.

It's easy - you just pour a bottle of wine into a gallon Ziplock bag, add the same amount of water, and pour in the magic crystals. Freeze for 3-4 hours until it's slushy. Nom nom nom.

It makes a kind of sweet, kind of tangy slushy. Very good.

30: What I Know For Sure

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I've been sitting on a few posts for a while, because I wanted what's below to be my "Welcome Back to Blogging, Katy" post. I wrote this on my last day of being 29 (today's my 30th birthday).

30: What I Know For Sure

I turn 30 tomorrow, which everyone keeps reminding me is a milestone birthday. I’m looking forward to it, really – I once had a boss who told me that 30 meant you finally had a little credibility. I think that makes sense. But in the grand scheme of things, 30 is nothing – it’s the beginning, really. There’s (hopefully) lots left to do and learn. But on the eve of entering my fourth decade, I thought I’d record a few things I know for sure (yes, I stole that line from Oprah).

• Even though people will call you a flake, it’s perfectly OK to job-hop until you find something that works with your personality, your goals and your talents. Since graduating from college eight years ago, I’ve had seven jobs. And I’ve learned a lot from each of them, even though there were definitely some miserable times. So figure out what you want to do – sometimes getting there requires you to do a little job-hopping, but the experiences you have along the way will make you a much better employee and boss one day.

• When baking, always pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients.

• Wait to get married. Not every couple who gets married at 22 will end up in court fighting over who gets the kids for Flag Day, but the statistics don’t lie – the older you are, the more you know about yourself, and the better spouse you’ll be. Alex and I were 29 when we got married – we had already both figured out a lot of things that, if we had gotten married much earlier, might have already taken a toll.

• Speaking of marriage, marry your best friend. I’m not talking about a boyfriend who becomes your best friend – I mean if you can have a best friend who you end up dating and marrying much later – things will be good, even when they’re bad. Your friends see a different side of you than your significant other. They know all that stuff you try to keep hidden, at least for a little while, in a relationship. And if he or she can love you anyway – despite your crazies – that’s ideal. I’m told you should marry someone you enjoy being with, because when you’re old and grey and fighting over who gets the rocking chair closest to the bathroom, you better like the person you’ve chosen.

• Exercise sucks, but it’s a necessary evil, and you always feel better when you’re done.

• TV isn’t bad in general, but reality TV is good for nothing other than using up brain cells that could be enjoying a good book.

• Read.

• It’s OK if your core group of friends has been with you since elementary school. Those are the people who know you best and can say things like, “Remember when you got your driver’s license and rear-ended that Explorer three weeks later?” But it’s important to have a group of acquaintances who didn’t know you until later in life.

• Get rid of anything in your closet that doesn’t make you feel fantastic when you put it on.

• The sayings are true – “If you’re going through Hell, keep on going.” “It’s always darkest before the dawn.” Sometimes the bad outweighs the good, but if you ride it out, persevere, and know that eventually things will get better, they will.

• Cancer sucks.

• Everybody should have a dog. Maybe not during college, but otherwise, yes – get a dog. Nothing loves you like a dog.

• Everybody should have at least one hobby they can get lost in. I have several. I paint and sew and craft mostly, but I’m always trying new things. If your life is nothing but work and sleep, what kind of life is that? So whether you garden, play and instrument, cook, read, run, fly hot air balloons, play in a kickball league – whatever – just DO something.

• The art of a handwritten note is one that’s dying that we should try to keep alive.

• When you start getting shin splints, it’s time for new running shoes.

• It’s always good if, when things are going well, you stop to acknowledge it. Just smile to yourself and think of one of my favorite quotes from Kurt Vonnegut: “And I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.’”

• Sometimes you just need to sing in the car.

• Sometimes you just need to turn off your phone.

• There’s nothing like being by yourself on the beach at night, watching the waves crash and feeling the breeze, to make you feel small and to put everything into perspective.

• You better tell people how you feel now, because what if they’re gone tomorrow?

• A good internship is worth two Master’s Degrees.

• People will bitch when you pull out your camera all the time, but they’ll ALWAYS want to see the pictures.

• The only math you really need to know how to do in your head is percentages, because that’s shopping math and sometimes you just don’t want to pull out a calculator in the middle of Macy’s.

• Your family is important. You should spend time with them and learn about your history and where you come from. Blood really is thicker than water, and your family cares about you like no one else.

That’s what I know for sure. It’s not much, really, and I’m sure I could think of more if given more time, but I guess that’s what the next 30 years are for, right? Feel free to share what you know for sure in the comments - I'd love to read what you know.

Orange You Glad You Went to the Thrift Store?

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Mon, 23 May 2011 14:37:00 +0000

A couple weekends ago I visited a few of the thrift stores in town just to see what they were like. And yowza – I found all kinds of amazing things! I’ll share with you some of my projects with thrift store finds in the next few posts.

First up, new guest room lamps. Finding a matching pair of lamps in a thrift store is a sign – you must buy them. I spotted these blue babies, and liked the shape – kind of ginger jar-ish. But the color was atrocious. They were $6 each, so they came home with me.

Some painter’s tape to cover the brass, a can of pumpkin orange spray paint, a couple of new harps and shades, and voila! New lamps for the guest room! Lamps like this can easily run at least $50 each even in a place like HomeGoods, but these totaled $22 each. I like the pop of color they give. The guest room is still very much a work in progress, but my new lamps have given me the oomph I needed to get back to decorating it.

How to Hang Pictures Straight and Even 100% of the Time

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:32:00 +0000

(Prelude: Thanks to everyone for your comments, messages, emails and texts about my dad. We’re making it. I’ll update you on that situation later, but I really appreciate all your thoughts and prayers.)

If there’s one thing Trusty Husband hates, it’s multiple holes in the wall made by me trying to line up pictures. He likes his walls pristine and unadorned, whereas I like to, you know, hang stuff on them. You might remember my master bedroom tour post and the pictures hung over our bed. I think I posted that prematurely, because I never felt really settled in that room – something was askew. So I’m in the process of moving things around. First order of business? Move the collage wall from over the bed to the long, “what-do-we-do-with-this” wall to the left:

Problem: Hanging pictures for a collage wall is a pain. I hate it. When I hung these pictures over our bed the first time, each one took about 20 minutes and 5 nail holes to get right, and even then they weren’t EXACTLY straight and even (my conversation with Trusty Husband went like this: (him) “They’re not even.” (me) “Yes they are.” (him) “Katy, I don’t think they are.” (me) “I used a level. They’re even. Maybe your legs are different lengths.”). I figured there had to be an easier way. But what? Drawing lines on the wall? If a few nail holes sends Trusty Husband into orbit, think what lines drawn on the wall would do. No. I bought this contraption, called a Hang ‘n’ Level, but it sucks:

Enter: Gridded wrapping paper.

Genius. Just cut a piece of wrapping paper that has the grid on the back in the shape of your wall, tape it up there with painter’s tape, make sure it’s level, and voila! Instant picture-hanging grid!

Hammer your nails directly into the wrapping paper. Hang your middle picture first, and use the grids to make everything level and the same distance apart. Once you’re happy with how it looks, take the pictures down and remove the paper from the wall – just carefully slip it over the nails.

Aren’t you surprised you hadn’t thought of this before? I am. But it took hardly any time and the results were great! I’ve got to get several more frames to fill the space, but it’s a start to taking care of that massive wall.

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back...

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Oh, good intentions. I have them - I really do. I have good intentions to blog at least two or three times a week, and to share DIYs, pretty home interiors, recipes, books and more. And then events happen that move those to-dos to the back burner.

My dad's cancer has spread. After six rounds of one type of chemo, then three rounds of another, we had hoped he would be at the University of Nebraska Medical Center right now undergoing a stem cell transplant. That didn't happen. So last Tuesday, we hit the end of the road. We're hoping and praying for the chance to get him in a Phase II clinical trial at UNMC, which is the last remaining option. But as you can imagine, it's been the worst week ever.

On top of that, Trusty Husband lost his job a few weeks ago, which is stressful enough in itself. I decided against posting the RAGE-FILLED entry I wrote to the Canadians in the spirit of getting past things, and am hoping that we will have a lemons-to-lemonade situation on our hands. I'm married to the smartest, funniest and most talented man ever, so the Canadians clearly lost their minds.

So, as has happened before, the blog is the first thing to go when stuff like this happens...

HOWEVER, remember several posts back when I told you I had some big news? Well, here 'tis: I'm going into the decorating business. I'm taking classes at night, getting officially certified, doing some work on the side, and starting the next chapter in my life. And even if you don't live near me, there's something in it for you! You'll see!

So rest assured, the blog WILL be back, and better than ever. I'm in a low point in life right now, so I'm having a hard time finding the umph to write, but I just finished a great DIY I'll post later this week, and I'm keeping ideas for a little down the road.

11 Tips for Navigating an Antique Market

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Sometimes you experience something so amazing, you have to share it. I had something amazing happen last Saturday – I had my first visit to Scott’s Antique Market in Atlanta.

My friend Tawana* hired me to decorate her house, and we needed a few things. So we made the two hour drive up I-85 to the once-monthly antique show.

And y’all? I’ve never seen anything like it. It spans both sides of the interstate, inside and outside, vendor after vendor after vendor of anything you could POSSIBLY ever want. I was a little overwhelmed when we walked in, but seven hours later, I had the lay of the land. Here are a few tips if you’re venturing to Scott’s, or any other large antique market with vendors:

1. Wear comfortable shoes. You can’t pay attention to the beautiful lines in an armoire if your feet and back are killing you. Do you own Aerosoles? Wear them.

2. Make a list. Going to any size antique or flea market can be overwhelming, especially when it spans 366,000 square feet. We made a list of the things we were looking for before we went. There is absolutely NO way you can navigate a place like this without a list. I love antique jewelry and silver, but that’s not what we were there for, so we skipped right past those booths. If we hadn’t made a list, I’m 100% certain I would have gotten caught in the first few booths and never made it to the back.

3. Bring cash. Bring lots of cash. Cash is king at the antique market, and vendors are more willing to bargain if you tell them you have cash. They have to pay a small fee for taking credit cards, checks are a hassle and they’re SUPPOSED to charge sales tax on all purchases. So if you’re paying with cash, they save money, they’re paid right away, and there’s no paper trail for Uncle Sam. Win-win.

4. Buy something small soon... You can be so overwhelmed by the sheer volume of items in a place like this that you’re almost afraid to break the seal and buy anything. What if you find the same thing for $100 cheaper 47 rows to the right? So here’s my philosophy: buy something small within about 15 minutes of getting there. We found some antlers Tawana liked and got them for $30. It was a small purchase, but it helped us feel like we’d actually started shopping. There’s some kind of mental hang-up about the first purchase I think, so make it small and get it out of the way.

5. …But wait on the bigger purchases. If you’re looking for a piece of furniture or an antique piece of silver – something that’s going to cost big money (and in my world, “big money” is anything over about $300) – look around first. In my opinion, someone’s not going to snatch up the $1,500 buffet in the first 15 minutes of the place opening, so you’re OK browsing around for a bit. And if you come back and it’s gone, it just wasn’t meant to be. We saw a beautiful buffet early on, and stood around, contemplating whether or not to go ahead and get it. We finally decided to look around a little more, and if we didn’t see anything else we liked, we’d come back for it later. A couple hours later, we stumbled upon an even MORE beautiful buffet for HALF the price of the first one. So many times, it pays to have some patience. Take a picture of the piece you like, and make a note of where it’s located. Many vendors will have cards with their location and phone number, so if you realize it’s the piece for you, you can call to see if it’s still there and get talked back to the booth.

6. Haggle. Vendors are there to haggle – it’s like the silver market in Cozumel when you step off your cruise ship. Here’s how this should go:

You: Browse around, nonchalantly. “This is a nice piece. What’s the price on this?”
Them: “Oh, that’s $600.”
You: Make a face “Hmm – that’s a little more than I was looking to spend. Is that your best price?”
Them: “I could go to $550.”
You: “I was really looking to spend about $475 on something like this. Can you go any lower? I’d be paying cash.”
Them: “Eh – I could go $500, but that’s my best price.”

And voila! You just saved $100, or almost 20%. The most important thing when haggling is this: Always be nice. People are more inclined to give lower prices to those who are friendly.

7. Look over pieces thoroughly. Is the wood scratched? Are there chips out of ceramic? Is there some small piece missing? These don’t mean you shouldn’t buy a piece you love, but you can use them as leverage to get a better deal.

8. Consider going on the last day of the market. Vendors do NOT want to load items, especially heavy items, back into a truck. So if you’ve got a little flexibility about what you can buy, try going later on in the sale. They are ready to make a bargain when it’s 3:00 on Sunday and the show ends in two hours. If you’re looking at a marble-top table and have cash, you’re going to get a deal.

9. Keep everything in perspective. At one point, I got caught up in the “antique experience” and considered talking Tawana into a $50 magnifying glass that would be a beautiful accessory in her living room. But then I remembered: I bought a magnifying glass very similar to it at TJ Maxx for $12 two weeks before. When you’re buying things at places like this, especially furniture, sometimes seeing something that’s relatively inexpensive there makes you think you’re getting a bargain. But keep in mind that, unless you’re the type who goes wild for ALL THINGS ANTIQUE, some of the smaller things should be reconsidered. Is it something you’ve NEVER seen before? Then sure – it might be a great deal. But many things have very similar replicas somewhere for a fraction of the price.

10. Bring blankets, bungee cords, string and a truck. You just don’t know what you’re going to find. You want to be able to get it home safely, so make sure you’ve got all the tools to pack it well. If you have a truck or have a friend with a truck, bring it. You never know when something isn’t going to fit in your SUV.

11. Know when to stop. There’s going to be a point in the day when you’re so tired, everything’s going to look the same. You can get antique overload, and you’ll know the moment it sets it. You’re tired of haggling, your back hurts, you feel like you’ve spent one skillion dollars on nonsense, and nothing has that fancy antique glow anymore. At this point, you need to step away from the Persian rugs and go home. You’re not going to find much else when you feel like this. If you’ve made a weekend trip out of it, go have dinner and a glass of wine and regroup for the next day. If you’re heading back home, just know that in another month, you can go back and see all sorts of new treasures!

I tried – I really tried – to remember to take pictures while I was there to show you all the antiquey goodness, but 100% of my brain power was focused on finding things for Tawana. However, I did take a few pictures of some things along the way that needed to be considered:

This is a really cool counter-height farmhouse table on wheels that would look great in either a rustic setting or a really modern setting to tone that down a little. Asking price was $1,300, but I’m betting the man would have come down to a cool grand.

Tawana ended up buying this lawyer’s bookcase near the end of the day. Each section comes apart, and the top window is leaded glass. It’s a beautiful piece she’ll have forever.

If you want cool lamps, Scott’s is the place to go. This iron chain lamp would be such a cool, rustic piece to add to a traditional space for some extra interest. We didn’t buy this, mostly because we found one even better I’ll show you in a couple weeks when we do Before and Afters of Tawana’s living room.

This is the first buffet we saw and almost bought. The picture doesn’t do it justice - it had such neat features. What looked like an apron on the front was actually little secret drawers!

So, that was my first experience at Scott’s Antique Mall, and I’ll most definitely be back. Perhaps next month!

*Names changed to protect the Internet-leery

Pretty Palette: Easter Pastels

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Hi Friends!
It’s been crazy in my world, but I’ve got Easter on the brain – soft palettes and natural textures. Here are a few interiors from Houzz that I’m really loving right now:

eclectic home office design by other metros media and blogs Planet Fur

This feels like the inside of an Easter egg (sans the M&M’s). I love short shelves on an oddly shaped wall. This would be a fun color palette for a little girl’s room.

eclectic bedroom design by boise interior designer Judith Balis

Hello, green! It’s like being in a bright garden. I’d love to wake up to these colors in a sun-filled room.

modern living room design by boston interior designer Rachel Reider Interiors

Even though the colors in this room are neutral overall, I love the pops of muted colors: purple, teal, butter yellow and green. You can do pastels without it looking like you’re living in a nursery.

traditional dining room design by chicago media and blogs Lola B's

The muted blue in this rustic dining room is so pretty. I’d love a big pop of pink with some peonies in the center of the table.

contemporary kitchen design by san francisco interior designer Amoroso Design

When you have a neutral kitchen like this one, you can add pops of color no matter what season it is: Easter, Christmas or the Fourth of July!

traditional home office design by media and blogs iheartorganizing

The teal wallpaper in this little office nook is very Bunny-worthy.

contemporary dining room design by other metros interior designer Joni Spear Interior Design

Even though there’s a lot going on in this little space, the patterns all work together and the chocolate paint keeps all the pastels grounded. Plus, nothing says “Easter” like chocolate brown!

living room design by toronto interior designer Meredith Heron

I would like to know when I can move in to this space. Pops of pastels on a neutral background. Just Heaven.

contemporary dining room design by san francisco interior designer tineke triggs

Non-traditional nursery colors reminiscent of the inside of my Easter basket.

eclectic dining room design by san francisco architect Mark English Architects, AIA

It definitely feels like spring in this room!

Here's Where We Are...

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:21:00 +0000

*Sigh* I know I promised a post today. But things are crazy. I could go on and on about everything, but the truth is, it’s just life. It’s a new marriage. It’s cooking dinner. It’s my 8-5 job. It’s watering plants, walking the dog, maintaining friendships, and so on and so on. And on top of all that, I have some really exciting news I’ll share with everyone very soon (and no, it’s not a baby, so get your mind out of the pink fluffy gutter full of pacifiers).

So here’s the deal – the 5-day-a-week posts are going to be scaled back, A) because there just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week, and B) because sometimes there’s just not a lot to say. The “filler” posts are going by the wayside. But here’s my promise: the cool stuff – the stuff you like to read about and comment on and try at home – that’s staying. Think QUALITY over QUANTITY.

Any blogger will tell you that posting fresh, original content 5 days a week is REALLY hard. So I’m going to focus on taking care of the fam (incidentally, my dad is having his hopefully LAST chemo treatment before his stem cell transplant as I type), taking a breath, and taking care of my readers with some quality info. How does that sound?

Don't Worry!!

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:49:00 +0000

Howdy friends! Don’t worry – I’m not dead. Just taking care of some personal things for the next couple of days. I’ll be back Monday with something fab. Have a great weekend!

Pretty Much Famous

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:38:00 +0000

Eeeeeeee! I took a look at Casa Sugar, one of my favorite home/garden/décor blogs this morning and look whose house they’re featuring!!! This is, to me, like winning the lottery, being given a box of puppies and scientists discovering that chocolate doesn’t have any calories, all wrapped into one. Thanks, Casa!

Journal, Journal In My Purse...

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I’m a journal gal. Not the, “Dear Diary – Today at school I dropped my pencil in Science class and John picked it up for me!!!!” kind of journal gal, but I always always always have a journal with me for lists, notes, blog post ideas or whatever. I cut out things in magazines I like and stick them in there, I fill them with Post-Its and generally run my life out of them. I’ve tried to use all kinds of apps on my iPhone, but I keep coming back to the journal. It’s nice to look back and some journals from a few years ago and see what I was doing. Here’s a sample of some of my most recent journals – they give a nice glimpse into the insanity that rolls around in my head 99% of the time:

I love filling up a journal, putting it away and going to find a new one. Sometimes I’m in a hurry and just grab a small notebook at the grocery store, but other times I take a little time to find something I really like. I want it to be pretty, and I want it to have paper that’s nice. Sometimes I go lined, sometimes unlined. Here are a few ideas of pretty and functional journals that fit nicely into your purse:

Lewis and Clark probably took notes about the American west in journals similar to this one. I'm sure it's got that great leather smell. $34.95 from Amazon.

This Prospero journal from Anthropologie is almost too pretty to make notes like, "Wash the dog" and "Pick up Dry Cleaning." It's leather, has a beautiful bird motif and is only $18!

Moleskine is the gold standard of journals - they're durable and come in a variety of sizes and styles, including journals for gardeners, wine enthusiasts and travelers.

These journals from Overstock have covers that are made from recycled magazine pages. And you get two for $20.99!

These small French journals from Urban Outfitters are sort of whimsical and cool, and only $9.99 for a set of three. You'll fill them up quickly, but that's OK - because then you get to buy another one!

"Keep Calm and Carry On" has been everywhere for the past couple of years. This journal from Barnes & Noble ($8.99) (terrible picture, by the way) seems like the best place to have this WWII Churchill saying.

Also from Barnes & Noble (RIP, soon) is the "Medicated and Motivated" journal ($10.95) from Anne Taintor. 'Nuf said.

There are literally THOUSANDS of cute, pretty, sappy, enlightened journals out there, just ready for your deepest thoughts or most important to-dos. Do you journal? Tell me in the comments!

DIY: Trendy Necklace Without The Price Tag

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I was browsing around the ol' Interwebs the other day and spotted this necklace from Amy DeGregorio. It's got great colors and looks like it will go perfectly with lots of my summer dresses.

But oy - $178? For a necklace? That's just made of BEADS? OK, so the beads are semi-precious, but who would know? I'm making this, and I'm making it on the cheap. Let's get our supplies:

You'll Need
Hemp string (it's really strong)
Beads
Scissors

The shape of the beads in this necklace really make it, and I had a hard time finding them. But I think what really made me want to make it was the mixture of red and blue and multi-colored beads, so I just found what I thougth might work.

Tie a knot in the end of your string, leaving a little slack. Start adding your beads. They don't have to be in any particular order. In fact, I think they look better when they're asymmetrical.

Once you get a pattern you like, tie a knot in the other end. Make sure there's enough slack that the necklace doesn't get stiff.

Then tie a square knot to hold it all together.

Ta-da! You've got a similar necklace that cost a fraction of the price.

The point is, check out things you like that are way overpriced, and figure out what it is you like about them. Since I liked the color combination in this necklace, I had a fairly easy time finding similar beads and making something I'm just as happy with. And, it's one of a kind!

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner (with sauce)

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:46:00 +0000

Congratulations to Amanda, winner of the silicone slip-on pour spout from The Kitchen Outlet! Amanda is a photographer who just had a little bundle of joy, so hopefully the pourer will help with late-night milk pouring. Amanda, send me your address and I'll get your spout to you!

I used random.org's random number generator to find the winner:

Thanks everyone for entering! And thanks for passing on my blog. Keep it up, and let me know what you'd like to read about!

Color Combo to Try: Olive and Pink

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

The giveaway winner will be announced shortly! Try to contain your excitement...

I’m guilty of getting in a wardrobe rut, where I wear the same things day in and day out. So I need to break out of my comfort zone and try something new. I tend to wear lots of black, white and red (like a newspaper! Ba-doom-boom), so it’s time for a new color combo. How about olive green and pink? Sounds weird, huh? But look how good they look together!

1. Tall Mia tiered ruffle tank, $29.50 Banana Republic
2. Tinley Road Cascade Front Top, $23.99, Piperlime
3. Paul Frank Casual Pants, $69, Yoox
4. Self Esteem Fleece Suede Flat, $9.94, DSW

I think the trick is to have a really rich pink without being neon. The olive serves as your more-interesting neutral.

1. Darby Shirt Dress, $39.99, Alloy
2. Fossil Pop Stitch Clutch, $42, Zappos.com
3. Gabriella Rocha Quirina, $36, Zappos.com

1. Chiffon One Shoulder Top, $39.90, Express
2. Two Lips Trust Fund Green Pump, $29.95, DSW
3. Fossil Hanover Flap Checkbook Clutch, $45, eBags

Thoughts? Is this a color combo you'd try? Tell me in the comments!

House Tour: Master Bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Have you entered the giveaway yet? It ends tomorrow!

Room No. 2 in the Casa de Doss is, as they say on MTV Cribs, “Where the magic happens.” And by “magic,” I mean the viewing of Andy Griffith on DVD, ample magazine reading and chasing the dog with the laser pointer. You know, magic.

We lucked out, because the space we didn’t have in the living room apparently showed up in the master bedroom. Take a look:

I’m a firm believer in all-white bedding in a master bedroom, because you’re inevitably going to get tired of whatever pattern you choose for your bedspread. With white, you can change up the look with new throw pillows, or a blanket at the foot of the bed. I’ve even used a tablecloth instead of a blanket before just to give myself some pattern. So, a fluffy all-white down comforter is a nice blank canvas. We searched everywhere for a pretty upholstered headboard that didn’t cost a fortune, and finally found this one at Hayneedle.com. I thought about making one, which I did in my last house, but frankly ran out of inclination to do so. I love the curve and nailhead trim on this one. It was a MONSTER to put together (Thanks, Trusty Husband!), but was totally worth it. Also, no need for a dust ruffle, which is always a plus. The bench at the foot of the bed was a TJ Maxx find for $80. It’s covered in one of my favorite Waverly patterns, and provides (a little) storage.

I wanted to have pattern and texture in this room, but not so much that it made my synapses fire every time I walked in. It needed to be calming. You probably recognize the cornice boards from a previous post – I think the pattern in them mixes well with the throw pillows, the bedside tables and the mirror on another wall (that you can’t see in this picture). Since the windows were so close to the corners, we couldn’t do curtains in here. But the cornice boards make them look finished.

A lot of people thought I was crazy when I told them that the main colors in this bedroom were going to be red, brown and light teal, but the bedside tables ended up really working with the red and brown. The lamps were a Target find a few years ago, and they’re one of my favorite things in the house. I like how they don’t block the light from the windows.

Above the bed, we’ve got sepia-toned photographs from different trips. I found these museum-style frames at Walmart for only $5 each. I really wanted to do another row of them, but it just wouldn’t fit.

This wall was hard, because it’s pretty expansive. We didn’t want to put a dresser there, because Trusty Husband has a habit of bumping into things in the middle of the night. We decided that a narrow console table and a pretty mirror would work best. The mirror is Allen + Roth from Lowe’s, and the table is a HomeGoods find. And don’t the hydrangea look real? They’re not. Hobby Lobby has really great looking silk flowers, and I like the white ceramic giraffe vase from World Market.

The dresser and chest were in my Birmingham house. They are a little more “matchy-matchy” than I like, but hey – your underpants have to go somewhere, right? They had a weird finish on the pulls, so I took them off and painted them a brushed nickle finish. Of course, the TV is front and center, but it irks me when designers leave TVs out of a room completely – it’s 2011, and people watch TV. The lamp is, of course, a HomeGoods find. Seriously - they have the best lamp department ever.

On the chest, I've got some pretty white ginger jars that go with the quirky artichoke lamp. I like to stack coffee table books for some height, and the poster is Louis Armstrong, who sings the song Trusty Husband and I danced to at our wedding reception.

That's the master bedroom. It's not as "decorated" as the living room, because I feel like the master bedroom needs to have fewer things to look at, so you can, you know, sleep. Next on the house tour - the master closet, with lots of organizing tips!

DIY: Garden Stakes

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! Tell some friends about katyharper.com and leave a comment!

I don’t quite have my garden planted yet, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get some plant markers ready for when I do. I realize that this is akin to buying the prom shoes before either the dress or date has been procured, but sometimes a girl’s just gotta go out of order. Sure, you can buy plant markers. Some are cute and some are purely utilitarian, but why buy them for several dollars each when you can MAKE them for pennies? The options for styles, colors and materials are virtually endless, so you can totally customize them. For this DIY, I’m making tall, colorful stakes.

You’ll need:
Paint stir sticks. I went to the paint counter at Lowe’s and asked for some, and the very friendly lady gave me a heaping handful. Free is GOOD.
Paint.
A Paint pen.
Optional: a small saw
Optional: polyurethane

Step 1: Make a list of the plants you have (or will have) in your garden or containers. If you want your markers to look smart, jot down the scientific name, so that when people ask you what you’re growing, you can be all, “Oh that? That’s just Lycopersicom esculantum.” Then you’ll show them a tomato and they’ll be forever impressed. Or, you can add your own touch, like “Squash – Susie’s favorite” or “Jalapenos – We’re Gonna Make You Sweat.”

Yes I realize "tomatoes" has an e in it. Now.

Step 2: Paint stirrers are good for raised bed gardens because they’re long and strong (“and ‘bout to get tha friction on!*”) so they won’t fall over with a gust of wind or a heavy rain. But if you’re planting in smaller pots, they may be too big. In this case, you can use a small saw to cut them down. If you don’t have a saw, you can always break them – just be careful of flying pieces! You can also use tongue depressors.

If paint stirers were cash, I'd be ballin'.

Step 3: Pick your paint colors and slap some paint on those stirrers. Do a couple coats and let each dry completely.

Step 4: Using your paint pen, use your best handwriting to write the names of your plants on their stakes. “Why aren’t we painting the names on, Katy?” you ask? Because painting letters is hard, and we haven’t got all day. But if you’re so inclined, go for it.

Step 5: If you want to add a coat of polyurethane to your markers, now’s the time. I’m not going to though, because I want mine to weather a little bit. But the poly will make these shiny and fancier-looking.

Step 5: Place your markers in the dirt, and marvel at your achievement. If you haven’t planted anything yet, now would be a good time to do so. Or if you’re not a gardener at all but know someone who is, these make a great gift!

Happy gardening!

*I’d like to now apologize for the Sir Mix-a-Lot reference. But hey – when it’s perfect, it’s perfect.

Weekend Project: Your Outdoor Room

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

It looks like it may be a pretty weekend in most areas of the country, so why not get your porch, balcony or patio looking good? It’s time for potted flowers and herbs, a little all-weather décor and maybe a comfy seat or two. Here’s your to-do list for the weekend so you can enjoy your space once Sunday rolls around:

1. Clean it up! After a long winter, all kinds of gunk finds a home in your outside space. Give it a good sweep (push brooms are great for this and can be found at home improvement stores for as low as $15) and maybe even a power wash. If you’ve got concrete, I highly recommend painting it with concrete paint. I did this on my porch in Birmingham, and the results were great. Plus, it only took about an hour.

2. Get some seating or get your seating in shape. If you have metal seating that’s looking a little rusty, pull out your trusty can of spray paint and get to work. I really like the look of Rustoleum’s Hammered Strength spray paint – it gives metal outdoor furniture a little texture. Or, if you’re so inclined, go with a fun color – red or yellow outdoor furniture is sure to brighten your day when you’re enjoying your after work cocktail hour al fresco.

If your existing furniture is wood, especially if it’s teak, rub on some oil and let it set it. This will protect it during the harsh summer sun. You don’t have to be too precise with this, but rub on a good coat and let it dry overnight.

If you’re sans furniture, perhaps think about hitting some local yard sales or look on Craigslist for something that will fit your space. If you have a little more to spend, there are some great, affordable options out there, such as:

*NOT my backyard. Source.

I bought this teak set at World Market last year, and I really love it. It was $500 for two chairs, a bench, a coffee table and a side table.

3. Get planting! An outdoor space without potted plants is like a picnic without hot dogs. A unicorn without a horn. A football game without violent screaming at the TV. It just doesn’t make sense. I like a mix of different sized pots in a variety of colors. Just check out your local nursery or home improvement store and find something you like. Check out the tag to make sure you’ve got the right amount of sun for that plant, fill your pot with a little dirt, insert plant, fill with more dirt, and you’re done. Don’t forget to water them regularly! The only thing sadder than no plants outside is dead plants outside.

*Again, not my backyard. Source.

Source

4. Find a few accessories. Even though your plants are your main accessories, a few additional touches here and there really make it feel like an outside room. Some comfy throw pillows in a mixture of patterns make your furniture welcoming. A pretty thermometer lets you know when it’s just too damn hot to go outside. Some iron pieces will resist the weather and add an artsy feel. If you’re feeling industrious, add a fountain! You want to accessorize the space like you would any room in your house, except everything should be weatherproof (duh).

Firepit? Cool! Source.

So. Many. Outdoor. Pillows. Source.

Pretty ceramic lanterns. Source.

Check out places like TJ Maxx, Ross and HomeGoods for great outdoor accessories that won't break the bank.

You're done! People often neglect their outdoor spaces, but they're just as important as the indoor spaces we all spend so much time on.

And just for fun, here are a few patio images from Houzz that are all drool-worthy:

And that’s that! Trusty Husband and I will be working on our front and back porches this weekend, so I'll report back on Monday. See what you can do, and send me a photo or two of the results! Have a great weekend everybody!

Book Review: My Fair Lazy by Jen Lancaster

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

First things first: have you shared me and registered for the giveaway?

I haven't read a book in a WHILE. Between moving and the new job and buying a house and unpacking and, oh yeah, getting married, there just wasn't time to look at words on a page. But now that things are a little more settled, I've started reading again. My first book to get back in the saddle? Jen Lancaster's My Fair Lazy: One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being A Dumb Ass Is the New Black, or, a Culture-Up Manifesto (I love it when a book's title is longer than its Amazon URL).

Are you new to my blog? If so, you might not know that I adore Jen Lancaster (read my review of Pretty in Plaid here). But I do. Jen's (I call her Jen, because in my alternate universe, we're buds) memoirs are laugh-out-loud funny, and not in the Publishers' Weekly "laugh-out-loud funny" way, but in the "no seriously, I laugh out loud enough to irritate Trusty Husband when he's trying to sleep" way.

In My Fair Lazy, Jen realizes that she's become a little too addicted to reality television when she embarrasses herself in front of her idol, Candace Bushnell. She decides it's time to move from Flavor of Love and The Bachelor to operas, theater, wine tastings and stinky cheese. I got to hear Jen read an excerpt from the book during her book tour, and her account of spending nearly $400 on tea had 100 20- and 30-somethings in the Birmingham Summit Barnes and Noble rolling.

I've posted this picture before, but I love it and I'm posting it again because it's awesome and other than Bo Jackson, Walter Matthau and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Jen is the most famous person I've ever met.

Bottom line: My Fair Lazy is hilarious in the traditional Jen Lancaster fashion, but also leaves you wanting to turn off American Idol and Rock of Love and try something new. Pick it up as a spring read!

New Favorite Thing + Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I was browsing through my Real Simple the other day, and saw this funny looking slip-on pour spout from The Kitchen Outlet ($5). I thought it seemed pretty neat, so a couple days later I got to try one out for myself. If you're messy when it comes to pouring scary hot liquid from a pot, the spout is supposed to make it easier.

And y'all? This thing is awesome. It fits on everything! Case in point:

Sauce pans

Big pots

Really big pots

Glass bowls

Small salad bowls

Because it's made of silicone, it conforms to whatever kind of pot, pan or bowl you can throw at it. It eliminates that irritating drip down that happens when you're too scared to pour hot alfredo sauce quickly, like you're supposed to. And guess what? I ordered another one for one lucky reader!

It's no secret that I'm trying to get my little blog here out there to the masses (can we get to 100 followers?), so simply pass it on through Facebook, Twitter, email, your own blog, snail mail letter or carrier pigeon, and leave me a comment letting me know you did so. We're on the honor system here, so if you say you did, I'll believe you. I'll select one commenter using random.org next Wednesday, March 23 at 7:30 a.m., and you'll be the proud owner of your very own fancy silicone pourer. Share me more than once or on multiple venues and enter yourself twice!

So, sure you can just go buy one, but why not try to win one first? Happy sharing!

Paint it Black (or white, or green, or pink, or blue...)

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I think we all know I love decorating. In fact, I just got my first paying gig to decorate, and I'm so excited! But getting your space in the shape you want can be expensive, especially if you have caviar taste on a Potted Meat Food Product budget. That's why spray paint should be your best friend.

I wanted a new lamp for the little table in the kitchen, but sometimes it's hard to just get rid of your perfectly functional old lamp. I bought this weird pirate monkey lamp at Kirkland's in 2000, and let's just say it's seen better days.

The finish is ick. But it's the right proportion for the space, and hey - I like monkeys. I decided to take a can of satin avocado spray paint to it to see if I could make it salvageable.

The key to making an item that you've spray painted look like it WASN'T spray painted is to do several light coats and let each dry completely (yes, just like the can says). You're reading the blog of the most impatient person on the planet, so I find this incredibly tedious, but trust me - I've done this the wrong way more times than I care to mention.

Also, if you have a large area to spray, pick up a spray paint gun somewhere like Lowe's for around $7. Your trigger finger will thank you profusely.

Here's what my last-decade monkey lamp looked like after a few coats of paint - it's still got monkey whimsey, just not the early-2000s finish.

So if you're walking through Hobby Lobby or Big Lots or your neighbor's yard sale and see a lamp that's the right size or shape, but the finish is off, grab it and find a color of spray paint you like. One more tip: Hobby Lobby and Michael's generally have more "decorator" spray paint colors than Lowe's or Wal-mart. Now go get painting!

Beauty in the Buff

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:30:00 +0000

I'm not much of a makeup girl. I tend to stick with my powder and eyeliner and don't experiment with new things all that much. And the closest I get to lipstick is Chap-Stik. But I wandered into Ulta this weekend and decided to try some new things.

I keep hearing about the new Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm, so I picked one up in Honeysuckle. It's a really pretty, barely there nude that's just enough color to make your lips look a little more polished. And best of all, it doesn't have that hateful Burt's Bees peppermint smell (I know, I know - I'm the only person on the planet who hates the original Burt's Bees smell, but that stuff is STRONG!).

I liked the idea of this nude theme, so I headed over to the nail polish and found a nude shade there too. Seems like nude-tinted nails are big in Hollywood right now (and we should be basing all our decisions on what's big in Hollywood, right?), so I came home with Ulta brand polish in "It's Nude to Me.*" It looks really pretty on, and makes you look tanner than you actually are (even with the use of your TanTowels).

Incidentally, my left hand is purely ornamental. Its sole purpose in my life is symmetry, so painting my right hand nails is incredibly difficult. I've found that my nails look better if I paint on a coat of clear polish first and then paint on the color. It goes on smoother and somehow makes me look like less of a toddler-playing-in-mommy's-makeup. Just a tip.

*Note: If your job is to hire the people who name nail polish, please call me. I will work for Barely Nothing (See what I just did there? I gave you an alternate name for this polish!)

Experimental Cocktail Hour: Mystery Drink

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Last night I was feeling particularly in need of a cocktail, so rather than opening my close-at-hand Cocktail Bible, I decided to wing it. "I will forge a new frontier," I said to myself. "I will create a delightful new cocktail to share with my blog friends." My journey began.

I had to use things we already had in the house, since I had on my After 6 clothes. Here's what I came up with:

Ingredients:
Vodka
Diet Giner Ale
Beck's Premier Light beer (or any beer)
Lime
Blueberries
Splenda (added after picture was taken)

I played with the proportions, adding a little more ginger ale to give it a kick, and muddled the blueberries in the bottom of the glass. When I was done, it didn't look particularly good, but most drinks don't if you really think about it.

I closed my eyes and took a sip, expecting the perfect mix of sweet, tangy and refreshing. I realized, however, that...

It. Was. Disgusting.

I decided to name my new drink the "Angry Husband," as Trusty Husband's face contorted in a way I'd never seen before, first from the taste, and then when I told him I'd used the "decantur vodka," which is apparently the "good vodka" (far be it for me to tell the difference). I mean, I like vodka, I like beer, I like ginger ale, I like blueberries - seemed like a perfectly logical combination to me. But then I thought, "You know, I like Hershey bars, Stove-Top and cantaloupe, but rarely do I mix them all together." Point taken, Self.

It just goes to show you that not everything works. Happy weekend everyone!

Help Me Help You

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Hey readers! I made a little quiz (don't worry - it won't affect your GPA) to find out what you like, and what you're not-so-crazy-about on my little blog here. It's just two questions - will you take a sec and fill it out?

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Thanks! I'm working hard to create content here that you like to read (and come up with projects you like to try). I really appreciate your feedback. I'd also appreciate you sharing katyharper.com with your friends. If you know someone you think would enjoy reading, pass me along! There are thousands (tens of thousands?) of blogs out there, and sometimes it can be hard to be seen in the shuffle. Sometimes I feel like I'm saying, "Hey! Hey! Over here! Pick me to read, pick me to read!" So if you've got some pals, send 'em an email. Like me on Facebook. Click that little "follow" button over there on the right. You guys are awesome.

Cornice Board DIY Sans a Saw or Sewing Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Katy) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:30:00 +0000

Windows are a lot like people – they don’t like to be naked. Curtains are one option to cover them, but sometimes you want something a little fancier. Roman shades are pretty, but require you to take down your blinds, which is no fun. So I like cornice boards. Jenny at Little Green Notebook posted a DIY for easy Pelmut Boxes (which is apparently another word for Cornice Boards), which I’ve modified a little bit to make them easier to hang. The trick is to use foam core board instead of wood – it’s easier to work with and easier to hang. Don’t be intimidated by this DIY – it couldn’t be easier!

You’ll need:

Foam core board. Try to find the really big pieces that are the width of your window. If you can’t, don’t worry – there’s a fix for that.
Fabric – you’ll need about a yard per cornice board, but make sure you measure correctly so you have enough.
Batting
X-Acto knife
Ruler or straight edge
Duct Tape
Wire
One washer per cornice board
Some kind of small hole-puncher (I used a wooden skewer)
Tape measure
Trim (if desired)
Glue gun (if attaching trim)

Step 1: Place your foam core board on a large, flat surface (either a dining room table or the floor), and draw out the size of your cornice board. Measure the width of your window (including any trim), and add three inches on either size. Decide how tall you want your cornice board to be. My window was 40” wide, so with the three inches on either side, my foam core board was 46” wide x 20” high. I drew this out with a Sharpie and cut out both pieces with the X-Acto knife. If your foam core board isn’t big enough, just tape two pieces together with Duct tape.

Step 2: Measure in three inches on either side of the board and draw a line.

Step 3: Using your X-Acto knife, cut about halfway through the board, so that you can bend the sides in. Make sure you don’t cut all the way through (but if you do, you can fix it with duct tape). You want to cut through the top paper layer and the foam so you can fold in the sides, like this:

Step 4: Measure the center of your board, and down about 2-3 inches. Make a hole with something like a kabob skewer. This is how you’re going to hang these.

Step 5: Cut a piece of wire approximately 10” long, bend it in half so that you have about 3.5” you can use to hang your board, and stick the bent end through your washer:

Step 6: Wrap the end pieces of the wire around the washer:

Step 7: Push the bent end of the wire through the hole in your board. The washer keeps the wire in place and sturdy, so you can hang your board on the wall later.

This is what you’ve got so far:

Step 8: Cut your fabric to the size of your board, adding a couple of inches all around. Place your fabric and batting (also cut, just a smidge smaller than your fabric) on the table, and put your board on top of it, with the edges sticking up:

Step 9: If your fabric has a pattern, make sure it’s level so it will be as straight as possible. Begin wrapping your fabric around your board. Start with the sides, and wrap it tightly enough so that your sides are perpendicular to the table. Don’t wrap it too tightly though! Secure with pieces of Duct tape. Repeat on opposite side.

Step 10: Wrap the top and the bottom of your board, pulling taught but not tight – you don’t want the fabric to have a wave in it. Be sure the wire to hang your board doesn’t get covered up with fabric. You can cut a little notch out of your fabric if you need to.

Here’s what you have now! Looks pretty good, but needs some trim. We get to use our glue guns!!

Step 11: Place your trim on your board so it’s even, and use your trusty glue gun to attach it.

Step 12: Hang! All you need to hang this cornice board is a picture hanger or a Hercules hook (my fave). Just figure out how high you want your board, and put your hanger in the wall. Note – you may have to attach a little more wire to your wire hanger if it’s not long enough to hang. Just make a little loop and attach it. Invite your friends over to marvel at your newly-dressed windows!

If you try this project (which you totally should) send me a picture and I'll post for everyone to see!