Southern Chic Love

a giveaway!

2012-12-19T08:43:00.000-05:00

good morning! it almost seems odd to try to go on with normal life today. almost makes me feel guilty. so many parents are trying to come to terms with the reality that their babies are with jesus now. i wish that i could help—could do something to take their pain. but i remember in times like this that the one who can do something, anything, already has them right in the palm of his hand. so i just pray that they allow themselves to sit in his comfort. god be near you sandy hook. our hearts bleed for you.

we are so excited to be hosting our first giveaway! it’s a pretty cool one, if i do say so myself. ramsign is a small danish company specializing in manufacturing and selling classic enamel signs for your home. check out some of the stuff they offer at www.ramsign.com. the winner of the giveaway can choose any house number sign with 1-5 digits in any of ramsign’s 5 design styles. *it cannot be the name signs or address plaques.* here are the designs you can choose from:

the giveaway will end in 72 hours, so start entering! you can follow ramsign on facebook or twitter. best of luck to you and have a great week! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

diy pallet sign

2012-12-06T08:46:00.002-05:00

i am an etsy addict. there. i admitted it. so when i was redoing my bedroom, i naturally began scavenging on etsy for some wall décor. i came across the most gorgeous pallet sign i’d ever seen. but it was $145. yikes. i am a tightwad thru & thru and that just didn’t work for me. so, naturally, i set out to make my own. and it took me three months. not the actual work, but life, coupled with screwing it up the first time, just made it take for-ev-er. in fact, when i texted leshia, “pallet sign’s done!” her reply was “about time!!” J she loves me. really.

here’s the scoop on the diy pallet sign:

materials:

*pallet

*some apparatus to bust it up (we found a sawzall worked best and just sawed thru the nails)

*nails

*wood glue

*spray paint

*stencil

*pen/pencil

*paint for words

*sandpaper (optional)

after you’ve busted your pallet up, decide on how big you want your sign. i wanted mine pretty big, so i left the longest boards alone and just lined up seven of them. it turned out to be roughly 2ftx3ft. i flipped the boards over to the side that i didn’t want to be the face of the sign, and used some scrap pallet wood to attach them together. i would suggest first using wood glue on each board, letting it dry, and then tacking the boards in with the finishing nails. if your nails are longer, you can drive them thru the front and just cover them with duct tape if that stick out the back, so not to scratch your wall.

after the pallet sign is assembled (it’s really not hard), the painting begins. i found several cans of rustoleum’s american accents in whitewash at a hardware store in town that’s going out of business. it was a great deal, and it was the perfect color for my sign. i painted just a coat or two to give it a little color and then began to stencil.

*here is where the three month issue comes in*

if you’ve read any of our other diy posts, you know that leshia and i rarely complete a project that we don’t screw up somewhere along the way. while i admire and aspire to be more like the blogging women who can do a diy project perfectly the first time with their eyes closed, that is just not our reality at this stage in the game. i guess we’ve learned some valuable lessons that way? i mean we can hope. so i got these 6” stencils from lowe’s. i did a rough measure of my letters for the phrase “you have my whole heart for my whole life.” it was a tight squeeze, but i thought i had it. wrong. i managed to get “you have my” on the first line and it looked pretty darn good. i even remember calling leshia and saying “i can’t believe i haven’t screwed this up yet! it is looking so good.” pride cometh before the fall, right? wellll, “whole heart” was up next, and i got to, oh, about “whole hea” when i realized that it was either going to say “whole hear” or “whole heat” or something weird and definitely not what i’d envisioned. so i got mad. naturally. i put the sign away and didn’t work on it for a while. but i’m kind of glad i didn’t, because i planned out my final attempt very carefully and am so happy with how it turned out.

when i finally got the gumption to try again, i started by sanding the words that i had painted on as much as i could, and then applied lots more coats of the same color. because the wood isn’t treated, it soaks that paint up like crazy. so once it was sufficiently covered, i started stenciling.

i printed out my letters off of microsoft word and cut them out, taped them on, and stenciled in pen. i didn’t mind using a pen because i knew i was using black paint. but if you’re not all wild and crazy like me, you might want to go with pencil. in hindsight the whole pen thing really wasn’t the greatest idea. once i got the words stenciled on, i set out painting.

i just used black craft paint and only one coat because i liked how it looked a little distressed. if the words were darker, i would definitely sand it, and i still may. but for now, i love it. i think this is one of my favorite projects i’ve done so far. i’m pretty much obsessed with it. so, my charge to you: plan your stenciling. you will be better for it. best of luck! J

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's my 1929 charmer sew can do the girl creative lines across
i should be mopping the floor petite hermine flour me with love c.r.a.f.t. wtfab
sumos sweet stuff diy hsh homemaker on a dime This gal cooks the southern institute
keeping up with the rheinlanders three mango seeds Design dreams by anne Cupcakes and crinoline
it's so very cheri Setting for four Navy wifey peters Or so she says

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house coastal charm boogieboard cottage funky polkadot giraffe
home stories a to z todays creative blog mrs happy homemaker sew many ways
chef-in-training the rustic pig my uncommon slice of suburbia the-chicken-chick
sewing barefoot

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten cowgirl link up party

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick house on the way carolyns homework domestically-speaking
lovely crafty home vintage wanna bee sugar bee crafts not just a housewife
reasons to skip the housework the kurtz corner ladybug-blessings my girlish whims
the winthrop chronicles nap-timecreations the diy dreamer jaqs studio
fabric bows and more twin dragonfly designs sew-much-ado
vintage on a dime clean and scentsible
wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe someday crafts 52 mantels grateful belly

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here seven-alive
snap creativity sugar and dots the trendy treehouse momnivores-dilemma
primp fireflies and jellybeans fine craft guild a creative princess night owl crafting
i gotta create the crafty blog stalker the country chic cottage
thursday

the shabby creek cottage my repurposed life liz marie blog somewhat simple a glimpse inside
the 36th avenue house of hepworths love bakes good cakes chase the star love and laundry
craft junkie too western warmth fresh-eggs-daily fingerprints on the fridge
answer is chocolate delightful order chic on a shoestring decorating one artsy mama
simply designing the artsy girl connection little becky homecky sweet bella roos
friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main just us four blog
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home family ever after blog

the shabby nest crafty scrappy happy finding fabulous stuff-and-nonsense the gingerbread blog
french country cottage the grant life jennifer rizzo redoux tater tots and jello common ground
one project closer lovely crafty home at the picket fence happy hour projects serenity now

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff serenity you

too-much-time be different act normal craft envy its overflowing
life on lake shore drive

high five for friday!

2012-11-30T08:53:00.002-05:00

we're linking up with lauren today, as usual! tgif! i am so ready for the weekend!

here are some of my most favorite things from the week:

1) this has to be one of my all-time favorite pictures. my granddaddy and my baby at thanksgiving. my grandparents are definitely one of the many things i am thankful for.

2) is this not the cutest wreath of all time? lindsey at the pleated poppy posted this on instagram the other day. i am going to attempt this weekend, so you are sure to be seeing my version soon. :)

3) my little boy is growing up and we are turning his nursery into a big boy room. this is a picture of his new bedding. this girl is excited.

4) braxton's "baby tiny chrisam tree" as he calls it. i think he's got the spirit like his mama.

5) the picture on our christmas cards. my sister is a photographer and she always takes our card pictures. this one has got to be my favorite. how hilarious. now it is time to sit and watch clark and eddie. :)

hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

knock-off: pottery barn skull plaque

2012-11-26T13:18:00.001-05:00

deer heads & antlers. they are everywhere right now in home decor. have you noticed?

(source)

i ran across this faux skull plaque at pottery barn and had to have one. instead of buying it i figured i could recreate my own. all i needed was a plaque and skull.

luckily my family deer hunts so i have plenty of antlers and skulls lying around. i used a piece of scrap pine that i had and cut out the plaque shape, routered the edges, and stained it. the skull that i wanted to use was old. the antlers were faded and the skull was yellow. i used the same stain that i used on the plaque to stain the antlers to make them darker. then i used some white paint for the skull.

i cut out a scrap piece of pine to fit inside of the skull and glued it so i would have a way of attaching it to the plaque. once it was dry i predrilled holes on the back of the plaque and screwed the skull to place. since i already had the wood, skull, and paint the only cost i had in this project was the stain. not bad, huh? :)

i hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and have a great week!

linking with...

sunday

monday

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten cowgirl link up party

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe someday crafts 52 mantels grateful belly

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here seven-alive
snap creativity sugar and dots the trendy treehouse momnivores-dilemma
primp fireflies and jellybeans fine craft guild a creative princess night owl crafting
clean and scentsible i gotta create the crafty blog stalker
thursday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main just us four blog
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home family ever after blog

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff serenity you

too-much-time be different act normal craft envy its overflowing
life on lake shore drive

in the kitchen: slab pie

2012-11-19T15:52:00.000-05:00

happy monday, y’all! my family had thanksgiving dinner yesterday. i love the holidays. i look forward to them every year and i get so sad when it’s over! i love spending time with my family and trading recipes and laughs. i’ve become the dessert lady at my family dinners. the ladies on my side are some fabulous cooks…i mean like mouth-watering, gain twenty pounds, extraordinary cooks. it’s a hard name to live up to. but this recipe seems to be a hit. i’ve adapted it a couple times depending on what fruit is in season, so for thanksgiving this year, i used apples. it’s originally from the taste of home magazine. and, if you’ve never tried rhubarb, it’s worth it. it’s tart and wonderful.

raspberry rhubarb slab pie

Ingredients

3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup plus 1 to 2 tablespoons 2% milk
1 egg yolk
2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cornstarch
5 cups fresh or frozen unsweetened raspberries, thawed and drained
3 cups sliced fresh or frozen rhubarb, thawed and drained
VANILLA ICING:
1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 to 6 teaspoons 2% milk

Directions

In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Whisk 3/4 cup milk and egg yolk; gradually add to flour mixture, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Add additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if necessary.
Divide dough in half so that one portion is slightly larger than the other; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle.
Roll out larger portion of dough between two large sheets of lightly floured waxed paper into an 18-in. x 13-in. rectangle. Transfer to an ungreased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of pan; trim pastry to edges of pan.
In a large bowl, combine sugar and cornstarch. Add raspberries and rhubarb; toss to coat. Spoon into pastry.
Roll out remaining dough; place over filling. Fold bottom pastry over edge of top pastry; seal with a fork. Prick top with a fork.
Bake at 375° for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack.
For icing, combine confectioners' sugar, vanilla and enough milk to achieve a drizzling consistency; drizzle over pie. Cut pie into squares. Yield: 2 dozen.

*my personal side notes*

- it takes more than a couple tablespoons of milk to get the dough to “workable” form.

- rolling out the dough is not an easy feat. get it somewhat rectangular and then just try to manipulate it in the pan.

- when you “cut in” the butter, use a mix ‘n masher from pampered chef, or just a plain potato masher if you have one.

this stuff is crazy good. and trust me, it will be a hit wherever you decide to take it!

today we’re also featuring a few projects from some other lovely bloggers! here are a few of the simple with a big punch projects that you shared with us last week:

stacey from embracing change re-did this fabulous sideboard. if you need furniture ideas, her blog is the place to be!

lauren at the thinking closet. made a wedding invitation ornament. how cute is that? what a simple gift idea!

pj at planned in pencil. made this adorable banner for her front door. i can’t wait to try this! check out her blog to see why she plans in pencil.

hope you have a fabulous week! enjoy the holiday and soak up all that food and family time!

linking with...

sunday

monday

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten cowgirl link up party

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe someday crafts 52 mantels grateful belly

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main just us four blog
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home family ever after blog

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff serenity you

too-much-time be different act normal craft envy its overflowing
life on lake shore drive

liebster award!

2012-11-15T11:46:00.000-05:00

well, we are pretty much in shock. we got two liebster award nominations. i repeat, two nominations! we are so grateful and so excited! if you don’t know what the liebster award is, let me explain. in the blogging world, the liebster award is given by seasoned bloggers to a new-ish blog with 200 followers or less. we were nominated by jen at the js chronicles and jessica at the only ten i see. thank you so much to both of these ladies! ok, so here are the liebster rules:

1) you must post 11 random things about yourself

2) you must answer the questions that the nominator set for you

3) you must create 11 questions for the people that you nominate

4) you must choose 11 blogs that you love (w/ less than 200 followers) and link them to your post and let them know they were nominated.

5) no tag back

since we were nominated twice, we did one set of random facts and then answered the questions by both jen and jessica. here goes: J

random facts by katie:

1) my brother is 6’1” and my sister is 5’11”. i’m 5’3”. makes for some funny family photos.

2) i had no imagination as a child, and still find myself struggling to imagine with my toddler. thankfully, he got my brother’s imagination, which is enough for 10 people.

3) i secretly still want to be a country music singer.

4) i can’t stand the nails on a chalkboard sound. makes me cringe and i think about it long after it’s over.

5) my parents took us on historical vacations every year. i have been to more presidents’ graves than i can count.

6) if i had a super power i would be invisible.

7) i would make an awesome private investigator. i can find out anything about anybody. try me. *side note: this is not necessarily an admirable quality.*

8) sadly, i am addicted to my iphone. my husband would be on cloud nine if he heard me admit this.

9) my idea of a perfect date is hanging out on the back of a farm somewhere, sitting on a tailgate and talking about everything and nothing. in my pearls of course. J

10) my longest relationship (other than my family) has been my friendship with casey. we became friends at 2 years old and have been inseparable ever since. not many people are blessed with that and i am very fortunate.

11) i would be completely content with a house full of boys. being a mother of a girl scares me to death. i would not have wanted to be my mother when i was between the ages of 12 and 17.

random facts by leshia:

1) i've been married for 8 years and it was my husband that wanted the big wedding, not me. i would've been happy running to vegas and getting married. vegas is actually where we went on our honeymoon.

2) speaking of the honeymoon, my next random fact is i am a homebody. i even got homesick on my honeymoon! like dorothy from the wizard of oz, there's no place like home.

3) my two favorite colors: purple and camoflauge. J

4) i have two boys, caleb is 11 and nickolas is 7. they are my world. nothing like having two mama’s boys. J

5) i do not like clutter. i am not a neat freak, but i can’t stand clutter everywhere.

6) i am a major daddy’s girl.

7) i like to deer hunt. this past weekend was opening gun season here and i wasn’t able to go because i’m down and out and scheduled to have surgery in a couple weeks. bummer. L

8) i love music! from metallica to luke bryan, merle haggard to drake. i love it all.

9) fast cars and big trucks. enough said. J

10) if i could travel anywhere in the world it would be to europe. i’d love to see all the landscapes and old buildings.

11) and on a totally random note, i think my dog lily is pregnant…..

questions from the only ten i see:

1. What is your fav nail polish color?

2. How did you come up with the name of your blog??

3. What do you love most about blogging?

4. Do you prefer coffe or tea? 5. What are you most excited for in 2013?

6. If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

7. What's your favorite place to shop?

8. What's the last thing you bought at Target?

9. What's your go-to hairstyle?

10. What's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you?

11. What is your go-to beauty product?

katie:

1) my favorite nail polish color is navy. i’m pretty obsessed.

2) the name of our blog was born after many attempts at names that were already taken. we think southern chic love is a great fit, though. J

3) i think my favorite thing about blogging is being able to ramble about whatever i want to ramble about. if a person wants to read it, great! if not, i still got to spill my guts.

4) coffee. definitely.

5) i think for 2013 i’m most excited to see what my little boy becomes in the next year. this is such a fun age.

6) if i could only eat one thing it would be pizza. love love love it.

7) my favorite place to shop would be target. duh.

8) last thing i bought at target was some eyebrow gel. exciting, i know.

9) my go-to hairstyle would probably be curled and half up. can’t mess up a half-up do.

10) probably the nicest thing ever done for me would be something from my parents. they are the most giving people ever. it would be hard to narrow that down.

11) my go-to beauty product would have to be concealer by amazing cosmetics. it can mask some serious dark circles.

leshia:

1) I usually just go with what i'm feeling at that moment when i'm getting a manicure. but, i can almost promise you that it will not be a shade of pink.

2) after trying several different blog names and them all being taken, katie came up with southern chic love. we knew we wanted something southern and chic which explains our decor and fashion style.

3) i love the comments and meeting new friends. The bloggy world is so nice and welcoming.

4) tea. i’m not really a coffee or tea drinker, but if i had to choose it would be tea. sweet, of course. J

5) most excited to see our blog grow. it’s fun and challenging.

6) if i had to pick it would be totino’s frozen pizzas. i could eat these every day of the week and have loved them since i was a kid.

7) target! enough said.

8) probably my white sheers for the master bedroom

9) ponytail of course. humidity plus crazy frizzy, curly hair makes the ponytail and must in kentucky.

10) oh my, this is a hard one. i would just have to say that i have some amazing friends who have done so many special things for me.

11) covergirl lash blast mascara. even if i’m no going all out with the makeup, you won’t catch me without mascara on!

questions from js chronicles:

1) If you had to be on a reality show,which one would it be & why?

2) What are the color of the socks you are wearing right now?

3) What is your dream job if you could do anything?

4) What is your biggest pet peeve in public?

5) Have you ever played a sport? If so which ones?

6) What was the last movie you saw in a theater?

7) What was the worst present you ever received?

8) Do you have any pets? If so what are they & what are their names?

9) What is your favorite restaurant?

10) What was your very first job?

11) What is your zodiac sign?

katie:

1) i would be on the voice. told you i still want to be a country singer!

2) black

3) see question one. J

4) i cannot stand when someone blows their nose in public. it grosses me out. find a bathroom and have at it.

5) i played soccer in school. that’s about the extent of my athletic ability.

6) oh wow. seriously i think it’s been a year since i’ve been to the movies. but i’m going this weekend. J

7) the worst present i’ve ever received was a john deere pillow case. i re-gifted it at a white elephant exchange…mwa ha ha.

8) we have a blue heeler named jess, but she lives at the farm with my father-in-law.

9) my favorite restaurant…hmm...i love seafood, so i think i’d have to go with the old oyster factory in hilton head.

10) my very first job was at a tea room as the kitchen help.

11) i am on the line of a cancer and a gemini. i tend to be more of a gemini. J

leshia:

1) oh goodness, this is kind of embarrassing. I would be on dallas cowboys cheerleaders: making the team. Haha! there are no greater cheerleaders than the dcc girls!

2) i'm not wearing any socks! at home in the bed J

3) my dream job would be to be a forensic scientist.

4) my biggest pet peeve in public would be non-drivers! i don't have as much road rage as some people i know, but the roads would be a lot better if people would just get out of my way! J

5) sports. a big no unless you count cheer leading as a sport. i cannot throw/catch anything.

6) i think it was the woman in black. my son and i love scary movies.

7) this one has got to be a griddle for my birthday. yes, i wanted a griddle but i do not like things cooking related for my birthday. i want something for me!

8) i have a cockapoo named lily. With a house full of boys she is my only little girl. i love her.

9) my favorite restaurant is johnny carino’s. spicy shrimp and chicken please.

10) my first job was at wendy's.

11) i am a libra in every sense of the word.

so here are our questions for our nominees:
1) who is your favorite musician?
2) if you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
3) if you could time travel to another decade or century, what would it be and why?
4) what is your favorite lip product?
5) do you have a favorite recipe? feel free to share! :)
6) what's your guilty pleasure?
7) how many pairs of shoes do you own?
8) what album could be the soundtrack for your life?
9) what advice would you give a new blogger?
10) who is your style icon?
11) what is the one thing you would like to instill in your kids? (present or future)

and the nominees are...... (drumroll please)
1) ellora @ creatively southern
2) lisa @ wannabe domisetic diva
3) samaa @ honey sweey home
4) amy @ casablanca transformation
5) lisa @ create inspire
6) tuula @ thrity rebel
7) claire @ the rustic pig
8) julie @ being home
9) katie @ loverly she
10) kate @ something ivory
11) beverly @ la la love, learn & laugh

diy yarn wreath

2012-11-12T14:37:00.000-05:00

i haven't blogged in a whole week and i feel like it's been forever! the sickness invaded our house and left us with bronchitis and head colds and you name it. thank god for doctors and mommies and naptime! anyway, i can't take credit for this project. a couple weeks ago when i was dressing up my monogram that went in our bedroom, my friend christina was here and she had seen a yarn wreath that she really liked. she picked out the colors for her house and to suit her taste, but of course you could always change that up. :) i think i may do one for my back door with a natural twine or something like that.

so first get your wreath form. you can use a styrofoam form, a straw form, or a pool noodle. noodles are hard to find this time of year, but always the cheap option!

tie your yarn around and just start wrapping. if you use multiple colors, decide how wide you want the sections and when you reach that point, tie the yarn tight to secure it and cut. we tried hot glue and it works, but it's messier and harder to hide.

how cute is that?! we made some rosettes for it and glued those on. to make rosettes, cut your felt in squares about the size of the palm of your hand. start on one corner and cut the square into a spiral. then when you roll it, it will turn into a cute little rosette!

here are a few pictures of my friend christina and me. she is such an amazing person and i'm so blessed to have her in my life!

hope you all have had a fabulous veteran's day! thank you to all the current and former service men and women who give us our freedom, and god bless america!

sunday

monday

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten cowgirl link up party

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe someday crafts 52 mantels grateful belly

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main just us four blog
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home family ever after blog

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff serenity you

too-much-time be different act normal craft envy its overflowing
life on lake shore drive

upcycled tray & chance to be featured!

2012-11-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

this summer i picked up this tray at a yard sale for $1. if i'd thought to take a before picture, you'd notice that the tray was orginally mauve, circa 1990. don't dwell on the decor of the 90's too long...the mauve, jade, peach....it will ruin your day. anyway, a little white spray paint turned my tray gone-bad to something new and full of possibilities.

i found these little glass tiles pictured above at lowe's. they come in sheets so the work is much less time consuming and tedious. works for me! i thought these colors would look great in my bedroom. if you missed the post about it, check it out here. the tiles are clear, chrome and shades of blue with some random neutrals thrown in there. i found some adhesive that was a grout mix and it was already combined. that took lots of work out! i just applied the mix to the tray, laid the tiles down, and then applied the mix to the tops of the tiles to seal them. i spread the mix on top with a grout tool to make sure to get it in all the nooks and crannies, and then i wiped it clean with a damp sponge. i gotta say, this has been one of the easiest projects i've done to have such a dramatic difference in the end. i love how it looks on my dresser!

what are your favorite simple projects that pack a big punch? leave us a comment below with a link to your blog post about your transformation or creation for a chance to be featured next week!

sunday

monday

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten cowgirl link up party

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe someday crafts 52 mantels grateful belly

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main just us four blog
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home family ever after blog

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff serenity you

too-much-time be different act normal craft envy its overflowing
life on lake shore drive

h54f

2012-11-02T08:29:00.001-04:00

happy friday everyone!

halloween is over and the kiddos had a great time trick-or-treating. i will however be glad when they finish off their candy so i am not tempted to dig through the bucket and find some goodies for myself. :)

on to my favorites this week. linking up with lauren at from my grey desk.

i had a great time taking caleb and his friend to a couple of haunted houses. thank goodness my son loves them as much as i do. we always have a fun time this time of year.

lily even likes halloween. just look at her demon eyes, haha!

i LOVE this picture! my cousins baby girl skyler. precious.

my hubby in his stand bow hunting. can you see him? hahaha!!

last but not least we got a little taste of kentucky basketball last night as they won their exhibition game. i can't wait for march madness! #bbn

hope everyone has a great weekend!

before and after: funky vintage desk

2012-11-01T08:53:00.000-04:00

i know i’ve said that i am not a girly girl.....but living with three guys can be a little bit overwhelming at times. sports, video games, hunting, fishing, trucks, blah blah. you know, the normal guy stuff. sometimes I see things on pinterest or from my extended family and friends who have girls....all these pretty little hair bows, pinks and purples, and just plain cutesy girly stuff and my mind wanders to all the pretty things I could make. i decided that just because i don't have girls doesn't mean i can't get girly when i craft.

this past summer i found this vintage school desk at a yard sale and bought it not knowing what was in store for it. it’s a nice vintage piece by itself I think, with the faded, rusty paint on the bottom. but since i wasn't planning on keeping this piece for myself, i decided it needed a transformation.

i bought some krylon blue ocean breeze and knew this was the color i wanted to paint the bottom half of this desk....still unsure of what i was going to do with the rest of it. i absolutely love this color and though it is blue, i was picturing a girly desk.

after the desk sat painted for about a week I found this funky fabric at wal-mart and i fell in love with it. i love all the bright colors. and how convenient it was that it has some of the same blue in it that I had on the desk. J

so i used some mod podge and applied the fabric to the top of the desk. so far i was loving how everything was coming together, but I needed some kind of sealer for the desktop. off to lowe’s i went and found this stuff. this is some pretty neat stuff and super easy to apply. it comes in two bottles and you mix what you need based on the instructions and pour over the surface. did I mention that it is self-leveling and requires no brushing? jackpot! of course the desk is not level so i had to prop it up under the legs. after pouring it on you will notice some tiny bubbles. i wasn’t real impressed with that, but after reading through the instructions it said all you had to do was blow on the bubbles and they would surface to the top and disappear. yeah right is what i was thinking....but sure enough that is exactlym what it does! i was impressed!

after letting it set up for 8 hours, the desk was done! the top has a shiny clear top. my husband was amazed and couldn’t believe how well it turned out. he especially liked the desktop finish. my boys loved this desk too. not the colors or how girly it is, but they loved sitting in it and wondering how come we had desks like this when I was growing up. geez, kids make you feel old! i’m thinking this would make a great addition to a playroom or little girls room. i love my funky/vintage/girly school desk! i can’t wait for my next pretty project! J

linking with...

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's my 1929 charmer

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house coastal charm boogieboard cottage
home stories a to z

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten crafty texas girls

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk delicate construction 504 main
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage my romantic home

the shabby nest crafty scrappy happy finding fabulous stuff-and-nonsense
french country cottage the grant life jennifer rizzo redoux tater tots and jello
one project closer

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff

too-much-time serenity now be different act normal craft envy its overflowing

money saving mom's e-book review: 21 days to a more disciplined life by crystal paine

2012-10-30T09:34:00.000-04:00

today i’m switching it up a bit and introducing you to one of favorite bloggers. crystal from money saving mom has just released her e-book titled “21 days to a more disciplined life.” i don’t know about y’all, but self discipline is something that i have major issues with. at the end of the day, after supper’s done and braxton is in bed, it’s so tempting and so easy to just collapse on the couch and only get up to collapse in the bed. i’ll admit, there are nights that i do just that. but the morning after that happens i wake up feeling defeated before my day even begins because the living room is still cluttered with toys and the supper dishes are staring me in the face while i’m trying to make coffee.

i was intrigued by the idea of training myself to become more disciplined. i won’t say excited, because i’ve read plenty of self help books and none have been the magic fix. but i was so pleasantly surprised that once i started reading, i had a hard time stopping. let me tell you why i honestly love what crystal has done:

1) she’s realistic. because she writes from experience, she knows it isn’t possible to create and practice every habit you desire for yourself overnight. it takes patience and perseverance and she’s cool with that.

2) she gives examples. what’s one thing you could do differently today that could change your habits? i had so many i didn’t know where to start. so she gives examples like “hang your purse up in the same place every evening” or “sweep the floor after supper each night.” those are both legitimate and simple.

3) she looks at the big picture and the tiny details. it takes steps to reach a goal, and she outlines those steps for you. creative and so wonderful for my personality.

4) it can apply to so many areas of your life. i was telling a friend about it and she asked if it applies to spiritual discipline. i realized that it really could. each of these tactics and actions could just as easily be applied to organizing your home or mapping out time to spend with god each day. i, personally, want to go back and re-read it and make it apply to different areas, one at a time.

here’s an excerpt from the book that i loved:

Most of us crave more discipline in our lives even if we don’t know it or admit it. Why?

Well, we need order and peace so that our creativity can take off. We want to be

better managers of our time and life. We want to follow through with our good

intentions.

Despite my desire for more and better discipline, I’ve found that I usually try to force

myself into a more disciplined life through the wrong ways. I check out a book on living

an organized life from the library and think it will make all the difference. I download a

printable household organization planner and hope it will magically whip my house into

shape.

When the book on organized living or the printable household planner doesn’t

automatically give me the discipline I was hoping for, I’ve sometimes found myself

wistfully thinking that if my house or life or responsibilities were different, then I could

achieve a disciplined life.

Do you see what the problem is here?

Instead of addressing the root issue – my own, personal lack of self-discipline – I

convince myself that a fancy new system or a change in circumstances will fix the

problem.

But here’s the reality: A bad system is not the problem. My circumstances are not the

problem.

I am the problem.

Oh sure, every time I start to get a good routine going, life throws a curveball. There are

job losses, babies born, illnesses, moves, and never-ending projects that must be

completed or that I want to complete. But ultimately, whether or not I live a disciplined

life depends solely upon me and the choices I make on a daily basis.

Believe me, those are tough words to swallow. My life isn’t disciplined, and it’s my fault.

And I could wallow in frustration over my shortcomings and failures. But instead, I want

to let that frustration motivate me. I am the problem, but I am also the solution.

if you’d like to see what the book’s all about, here’s a link to purchase it. if you’re in the market for a more disciplined lifestyle, i don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

h54f!

2012-10-26T08:35:00.001-04:00

welcome to the weekend! anybody else high fiving for friday?? thank goodness it's here. i live for the weekends. :) here are a few of my favorites from the week:

my sister is a photographer and she took our fall pictures! i'm ashamed to say that we haven't had any "real" pictures taken since braxton was ten days old. where does the time go?!

i scored some new essie polish at tj maxx for half price. they just scream autumn and i love it. :)

playing in the leaves with my boy. does it get any better than that?

i found this awesome pin for a diy pantry of sorts. i have the perfect space for it! can't wait to get going.

ahhh, my elephant necklace. i'd been eyeing this baby forever. it finally went on major sale at j. crew factory and i snagged it as soon as i could. i've worn it, oh, say, ten times in the last couple weeks. :)

hope you have a fantastic weekend! it's gotten chilly here, so i'm hoping for some soup and sweats!

katie's master bedroom reveal

2012-10-25T10:34:00.000-04:00

over the past couple months i’ve blogged about several bedroom projects that i’ve worked on…. the hardwood, the burlap covered box spring, the dresser, and the old window. i hadn’t done the final reveal because i wanted it to all be perfectly put together, but i just couldn’t find the time to get a few more little things done. so, i still have two bare walls, but not for long. i have plans for those walls and as soon as the plans come together, i’ll be blogging about it for all the world to see. J sooo, without further adieu, here is our new-to-us bedroom!

i'm so in love with it! the windows used to have mini blinds and some awful curtains that i bought in a hurry when we moved in. i replaced the blinds with bamboo roll-up shades from lowes and bright white lined panels from jcp. i love to mix different shades of neutrals.

the bedding is an off white and came from kohl's. i actually found it on overstock.com, but kohl's had it cheaper, and i had a coupon... :) it's a duvet but we sleep with it because it isn't too heavy!

the rug is a printed cable knit that came from west elm. i got it for a really good price, too! i love how it adds a bit of pattern to the room.

the little pegboard i've had for a long time. i can't remember where i got it--maybe tj maxx or gordman's? i still love it, though! and, another shade of neutral. :) it fits perfectly on my husband's side of the bed.

here's my nightstand. it was a part of my bedroom suit growing up. the picture says:

i believe in You

no matter where you go in life,

no matter what you do,

please remember always,

i believe in you.

my mom and dad got it for me when i graudated. the vase that's behind it is part of a set that was my great-grandmother's. i love filling my home with the same things that filled her's!

here's the beautiful dresser again. i still love it. our room is so, so small and it's hard to fit much of anything in it. the dresser is on the opposite wall of the door, so it's what you see when you first walk in. i like it being filled with pretty things like a giant canvas of an adorable toddler. :)

the mirror on the dresser belonged to a different great-grandmother. gorgeous, huh? the "g" i bought at michaels and covered in twine. i made a little felt rosette and hot glued it on for a little chic touch. i think it's so cute.

and don't forget about the window in all it's original glory! :)

the walls are painted in olympic's flagstone. leshia and i painted it when the floors were done drying and we thought we'd surely have to do a couple coats. but this paint covered so well we only had to do one! i was so impressed. i love the color. it can have a bit of a purplish tint in artificial light, but that's not often and doesn't bother me. i'd use it again! if you have any questions about anything we did or where something came from, comment below and i'll get back with you!

i sure do hope you love it just as much as i do!

linking with...

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house coastal charm

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten crafty texas girls

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe polkadots on parade

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk create.craft.love. delicate construction 504 main
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage

the shabby nest

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff

too-much-time serenity now be different act normal craft envy

style statement tuesday/what i wore wednesday

2012-10-23T11:17:00.000-04:00

today is style statement tuesday with jessica and tomorrow is what i wore wednesday with the pleated poppy!

here’s an outfit i wore one afternoon after work when braxton and i were running some errands and stopping at my mom and dad's.

i love how comfy it is without being too casual or sloppy. sometimes it’s good to feel presentable in your sweats! J

cardigan: j crew factory

shirt: banana republic factory (in stores only)

necklace: j crew factory

thick leggings or really tight pants: old navy (old)

boots: sears (old)

watch: target (in stores only)

leshia's master bedroom

2012-10-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

the idea for this post comes from thrifty décor chick. she’s having a “show us your house” party featuring bedrooms. make sure you go check out her master and her boys’ room. amazing!

so, first thing’s first….. this is the first room makeover that we’ve done since we moved in six years ago. i can’t for the life of me find a before picture. this re-do occurred before my journey in the blogging world, so i didn’t exactly have it in mind to take 874 pictures. J it’s been almost a year since our bedroom makeover and i love it just as much now as i did then. that’s a huge deal for me—i get bored with décor and i love change.

let’s talk about why i love this room.

*the lamp shades. i got them at target. is it just me or could you spend your life

in that store, too? i like how they’re contemporary without being too modern.

does that make sense? the pattern on the inside is a pretty paisley and i loved it

when i saw it in the store. i did not, however, realize that i’d get to see it each

time i turn the lamps on. J love!

*the mirror. is it glam? is it vintage? i don’t know, but whatever it is, i’m

diggin’ it. i scored this baby for $12 at home goods.

*my rocking chair & raggedy ann doll. both of these pieces got passed down to

me when my mom passed away. ever since i can remember this chair & doll were

in my mom and dad’s house. i can remember playing with raggedy ann and sitting in the chair when i was a little girl. the chair squeaks when it rocks and it’s such a reminder of my home and my mama.

*the dresser. i got this lovely piece at my favorite thrift store here in town called home again. i visit this store at least once a week to see what new treasures they have. i love the owners, too. judy and lynn and their families are such wonderful people. it’s always a good time stopping in there….especially when i run across something like this. J

*my wedding picture. this is one of the first things you see when you walk into our bedroom. it’s a great reminder of a great day. i love my husband! especially when he lets me redecorate. J

i am still loving the wall colors, too. the first wall you notice when you walk in is the navy accent wall. the trellis bedding i got at target, and the yellow accents throughout really give it a splash of color. i love how peaceful this room is. the sheers also came from target. i told you i love that place.

and what would a room post be without a couple things we maybe don’t like so much that could be a potential future project…..? the carpet. my husband tried to convince me to go with all hardwood when we built our house, but i was insistent on the carpet in the bedrooms. it pains me to say this, but he was right. and lastly, the ceiling fan. i think with the rest of the décor a sparkly chandelier would just totally make this room complete. i’m guessing that cb will go for the hardwood before the chandelier. J

thanks for taking the time to check out my little corner of the world! here’s to pretty bedrooms and lots of naps! J

linking with...

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house coastal charm

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten crafty texas girls

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe polkadots on parade

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk create.craft.love. delicate construction 504 main
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage

the shabby nest

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff

too-much-time serenity now be different act normal craft envy

h54f!

2012-10-19T09:11:00.003-04:00

woo hoo! it's friday y'all!!

as always we are linking up with lauren at from my grey desk blog.

this is my eleven year old caleb on the merry-go-round at the local dollar store. i love this kid! :)

here we have a picture from my father-in-laws deer cam. this picture got me SO excited for opening muzzle loader this weekend. i've got the fever!

at my visit to the physical therapist this week i noticed this quote on the wall. very fitting for this time in my life.

anibal sanchez starting pitcher for the detroit tigers. ok this one is not because i love the detroit tigers but because he is my most recent crush. just ask my husband. i'm sure he is tired of hearing about him, ha!

last but not least. this outfit is from the one and only Katie. she is definitely the fashionista out of the two of us for sure, but this shows her country style and i can not put into words how much i am in love with this!! also notice the pretty fingernail polish :)

diy candle holders

2012-10-18T14:54:00.002-04:00

can you guess what these beauties are made of? ~~prize~~ pat on the back for whoever can! that’s right, you guessed it….clay pigeons! you know, the little things that fly through the air right after you yell, “pull!” those. who woulda thought?

you can tell by looking that they’re pretty self-explanatory. flip the pigeons over and glue them together, repeat till you hit your desired height. i had a little mishap with some of the glue. i first attempted liquid nails and that didn’t work a bit, so i switched to epoxy and it worked like a charm! mishap with the paint, too. i am not a fan of spray painting—i usually leave that to katie. but i was flying solo on this one, so i bought some krylon white (which i usually like) and it came out yellow no matter how much i shook it. sooo, i started over with white craft paint and then went over that with a clear satin finish paint to give it some shine. that seemed to do the trick. but if you are a fabulous spray painter, i would suggest that since it’s so much quicker!

then, decorate how you like and admire your handiwork! J happy fall, y’all!

p.s.- these will be in our etsy store, soon!

linking with...

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house coastal charm

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten crafty texas girls

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe polkadots on parade

tutorial tips & tidbits through the eyes of the mrs no minimalist here

thursday

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk create.craft.love. delicate construction 504 main
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage

the shabby nest

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff

too-much-time serenity now be different act normal craft envy

what i wore/style statement

2012-10-16T13:13:00.003-04:00

today we’re linking up with jessica, and then tomorrow starts a new link-up with the pleated poppy for “what i wore wednesday.”

we had an outdoor wedding to go to this weekend. it’s a pretty confusing event to dress for this time of year because here in ky, one day will be 55 degrees and the next 75 degrees. saturday was one of those 70-ish days, but we had some hard core wind, so i opted for more fall wear, which didn’t hurt my feelings at all. J bring on the tights and boots!

sweater: tj maxx

skirt: kohls

boots: kohls

necklace: madewell

watch: target

diy yarn garland

2012-10-12T11:52:00.001-04:00

i am completely in love with this project. so, so simple, but how cute is that? i saw here where one of my favorite bloggers did this. it's her idea, so give her the credit. :) i just loved it so much i wanted one for my office, too.

anyway, all you need for this super easy project is three colors of yarn and scissors. more or less colors, if you'd like. :)

cut three pieces of yarn however long you'd like your garland to be. mine is around 4 feet. cut ten strands of one color of yarn however long you'd like your tassles to be, then cut a piece to tie them together at the top. fold your ten pieces in half over the garland yarn and wrap the extra piece around and tie in the back. repeat this process for all your colors, however many or however few you prefer. voila! cutest yarn garland ever. i'm thinking i may make one in neutral colors for above my vanity at home. :)

linking up with...

sunday

i heart nap time - flamingo toes - cherished treasures - diy show off nifty thrifty things - twigg studios
under the table and dreaming - debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple - alderberry hill - craft-o-maniac - serendipity and spice

tuesday

cherished bliss - a diamond in the stuff - tip junkie - the only ten - crafty texas girls

claiming our space - elizabeth and co

wednesday

southern lovely - beyond the picket fence - lil luna - ginger snap crafts - embracing change

thursday

the shabby creek cottage - my repurposed life - liz marie blog - somewhat simple - a glimpse inside
the 36th avenue - house of hepworths

friday

craftionary - 2805 - from my grey desk - create.craft.love. - delicate construction - 504 main
fox hollow cottage

saturday

classy clutter - funky junk interiors - positively splendid - six sisters stuff

diy fall leaf pumpkin

2012-10-11T09:04:00.000-04:00

i like coming up with my own ideas sometimes. although it's much harder than i think it's going to be. :) i won't say this was totally my own idea. i saw a leaf-y pumpkin of sorts at joann's one day. but i definitely did my own spin on it, so i can take partial credit, right? :)

here is what i did to make a cute little fall leaf pumpkin:

you will need:

*a medium sized bouncy ball. you can definitely use a styrofoam ball or anything shaped like a ball. i opted for the $.69 bouncy ball.

*batting

*fall leaves

*spray adhesive

*jute twine

*and some sticks from the yard. this will definitely be the most expensive part.

cover the ball in batting. you can spray the ball and/or the batting to get it to hold well. once the ball is covered, spray the batting again on the outside so that the leaves will stick to it. layer them however you like, with as many or as a few colors as you want. wrap the twine around to section off the pumpkin in quarters. twist it together at top and bottom when you begin on the next piece. break the sticks off to whatever length you want for a stem, put them in place, and wrap the twine around them to secure. i tied a bow--that's totally up to you. :) tada...fall leaf pumpkin!

linking up with...

sunday

i heart nap time - flamingo toes - cherished treasures - diy show off nifty thrifty things - twigg studios
under the table and dreaming - debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple - alderberry hill - craft-o-maniac - serendipity and spice

tuesday

cherished bliss - a diamond in the stuff - tip junkie - the only ten - crafty texas girls

claiming our space - elizabeth and co

wednesday

southern lovely - beyond the picket fence - lil luna - ginger snap crafts - embracing change

thursday

the shabby creek cottage - my repurposed life - liz marie blog - somewhat simple - a glimpse inside
the 36th avenue - house of hepworths

friday

craftionary - 2805 - from my grey desk - create.craft.love. - delicate construction - 504 main
fox hollow cottage

saturday

classy clutter - funky junk interiors - positively splendid - six sisters stuff

our make-up must haves

2012-10-10T09:17:00.000-04:00

please forgive us for being m.i.a. the past few days. life had us hostage. J with fall coming on, we thought we’d share a few of our make-up must haves with you. even if you try to keep your face from getting any sun in the summer, it’s bound to happen and we all know that a little glow relieves some of the need for make-up. but with our skin lightening up a shade or two this time of year, it’s harder to hide those imperfections. here are a few things that we love:

leshia:

mark just pinched instant blush tint

i just bought this about a month ago and i love it. for some reason i’ve always had an aversion to blush. my cheeks have some color to them and it just hasn’t been as much of a necessity as other things. but this, i love. it’s a cream, and while i usually don’t buy them due to breakouts, this doesn’t affect me like that at all. definitely a new favorite here. just swipe a bit over the apples of your cheeks and blend with your fingers. it gives me just enough color that i don’t look washed out, but it isn’t harsh. i use cheeky.

mark imark custom eye shadows

the custom aspect of this product allows you to pick the colors that you want and put them in the snap case. i love being able to do that versus buying a palette or combo at the store and only using a couple of the colors. i’ve been using this eye shadow for over a year now. several people have asked me how i get my eye makeup to stay in place, and i always tell them it’s the imark shadow. i don’t even need to use a primer anymore. i have lots of colors, but i’m currently in love with goldi luxe and truffle.

covergirl lash blast mascara

i couldn’t begin to tell you how long i’ve been using this mascara. i’ve tried lots of others, but i always come back to this one. it lasts, doesn’t smudge & gives great volume. if they ever stop making it, i think i might die.

katie:

estee lauder double matte foundation

having a baby does lots of crazy things to your body. apparently in my case it makes your skin super oily. i’ve had such a hard time finding the right foundation since braxton came along. i have to use a super light, oil-free moisturizer, but i’ve found that a foundation can make or break the look. satin and dewy finishes don’t do it for me. i love this stuff. i just recently discovered it after reading some reviews and i think it’s a go. i’ll be honest, it’s pretty liquid-y and doesn’t smell the greatest. but if it keeps my face from looking like it’s covered in a layer of vaseline, i can deal with that.

amazing cosmetics concealer

i was blessed with hereditary dark circles. these aren’t the kind that say, “i missed out on a couple hours of sleep last night.” these are the kind, when left alone, look like i’m dressing as the bride of frankestein. not a good look for me. i’ve tried lots of concealers. so far, this one is the best i’ve come across. i’m always up for trying something new, but for now, i will stick with amazing cosmetics. it helps me look more….alive.

stainiac lip stain

i’ll admit it. lipstick scares me. i would love to be totally confident with some bright red lips. but i’m just not there yet. i got a sample of stainiac in a birchbox and it definitely fits the bill. it’s buildable, so if you want sheer, it can happen. but if you want a bolder, brighter lip, just add a couple layers. it applies like a stain…not satin-y or glossy. so i can layer my favorite gloss over it. it lasts forever, too. if you shy away from lipstick, give a stain a try. i bet you’ll love it.

we’d love to hear what some of your favorites are. we’re always game for new make-up. J

high five for friday!

2012-10-05T08:23:00.000-04:00

happy friday, y'all! woo hoo...here we come weekend! here are some of our favorites from the week. linking up with lauren!

katie:

my new shoes from tj maxx. it's ok if you hate them. i, personally, think they are wonderful.

my mom sent me this picture. she found all of these items down the front of my two year old's pajamas. he said he was putting things in his pocket for work. :)

hello fall flannel! i will wear this shirt 834 times between now and april.

leshia:

finally got my car cleaned out. (kidding. saw this in mcdonald's parking lot. made me super thankful that i can see out my windows.)

this adorable decoration is at my friend stacy's house. notice the wreath in the background. :)

happy fall! have a fabulous weekend and enjoy your holiday! we plan to fill ours with crafting and shopping.... :)

in the kitchen- taco casserole

2012-10-04T07:48:00.000-04:00

it's no secret- i'm not a cook. it's not my favorite thing to do, but boys like to eat, and my mama's taco casserole is one of their favorites. it's also known around here as dorito casserole. i've seen many other recipes for "dorito casserole", but none hold a candle to my mama's. mama wasn't much on cooking either, but i managed to snag a couple favorites from her. and who doesn't love a gooey, cheesy casserole?

ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 can cream corn

1 can kidney beans

doritos

1 pkg taco seasoning

shredded cheese

brown ground beef and drain grease off. add taco seasoning and 2/3 c water and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

add cream corn and kidney beans.

put a layer of crumbled doritos in the bottom of a 9x13 casserole dish.

pour mixture on top of doritos and add as much shredded cheese as your family can hold. bake for 20 minutes at 450.

remove from oven and add more crumbled doritos on top. bake for an additional 5 minutes.

serve with a side of....you guessed it....doritos!

watch family devour.

happy cooking! :)

diy chalk paint & and fresh-faced dresser

2012-10-03T08:39:00.000-04:00

katie and i ran across this dresser at a yard sale. i think we swiped it for $15 or $20...mirror and all. we decided it was cheap enough to try out some diy chalk paint on. here's what she looked like before i got ahold of it:

i ran across a recipe for chalk paint on pinterest and i am so sorry, but i wrote it down and don't have the source. here's what it calls for:

1 1/2 c paint

1/2 c hot water

1/2 c plaster of paris

dissolve plaster of paris in hot water, then mix in the paint. the paint that i used is olympic misty surf.

i love, love all the detail on this piece, but that mirror was ridiculous to tape off! it took me longer than anything else. after i taped it off, i mixed up my chalk paint.

*side note: chalk paint does not require sanding....yes!

*another side note: when you are using chalk paint, mix in a container with a lid. this stuff dries super fast and will get as hard as a rock. not that i have any experience with that.... :)

the chalk paint covers so great. it only took me two coats with no sanding. after the second coat dried, i used minwax paste finishing wax for a clear protective coat.

i just love it! so gorgeous. :) so my first run with chalk paint was a success...try it out!

sunday

i heart nap time flamingo toes diy show off nifty thrifty things twigg studios under the table and dreaming debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple alderberry hill craft-o-maniac serendipity and spice the gunny sack
skip to my lou the dedicated house

tuesday

cherished bliss a diamond in the stuff tip junkie the only ten crafty texas girls

claiming our space elizabeth and co ivy and elephants uncommon designs
Thrifty Decor Chick

wednesday

southern lovely beyond the picket fence lil luna ginger snap crafts embracing change

savvy southern style live laugh rowe polkadots on parade
tutorial tips & tidbits

thursday

the shabby creek cottage my repurposed life liz marie blog somewhat simple a glimpse inside
the 36th avenue house of hepworths love bakes good cakes chase the star love and laundry
craft junkie too

friday

craftionary 2805 from my grey desk create.craft.love. delicate construction 504 main
simple home life becoming martha fox hollow cottage

the shabby nest miss mustard seed

saturday

classy clutter funky junk interiors positively splendid six sisters stuff

too-much-time serenity now be different act normal craft envy

bedroom series part four: the old window

2012-10-02T09:20:00.000-04:00

i have a thing for old windows. there’s something so architectural about them. they make a statement because they’re gorgeous enough to stand alone, whether they’re acting as a functional window or just hanging out. i would hang them in every room of my house.

so my dad rents an old duplex and has as long as i’ve been alive. obviously, the windows were replaced at some point and my mom (who i think i get my love of decorating from), has them all stashed away for future makeovers. she let me have one. score! it’s an eight pane old wooden window with the heavy lock and all. i’d seen an awesome window re-do from our vintage home love and was inspired to go with black. i thought and thought about it and just couldn’t make up my mind.

leshia and i scraped the paint off as much as we could. it was chipping and flaking off and if i wanted to paint over it, it needed to happen…although not a particularly fun job. after we scraped off as much as we could, i had to use a paint stripper. this was my first experience with one, and it wasn’t too bad. i used krylon off. be sure if you are using a paint stripper in any form that you use a mask. the fumes are pretty potent. i sprayed, let it sit for a few minutes, then scraped. i did this on all the sides until the can was empty. this window had several coats of paint on it, including something similar to enamel green.

i still couldn’t decide what to do with it, so i opted to go ahead and scrape all the paint off the glass. i just used a putty knife and it worked fine. just another time consuming process. J

so here’s what it looked like after all that. and the more i looked at it the more i fell in love. you can see some of the original wood, along with some of that enamel green paint. i almost felt bad leaving it like that…like i was cheating or something. but sometimes “junk” in it’s original state is prettier than anything we could come up with!

i just love it hanging in our bedroom. it’s on my side of the bed so i get to look at it lots. J

linking up with...

sunday

i heart nap time - flamingo toes - cherished treasures - diy show off nifty thrifty things - twigg studios
under the table and dreaming - debbiedoo's

monday

keeping it simple - alderberry hill - craft-o-maniac - serendipity and spice

tuesday

cherished bliss - a diamond in the stuff - tip junkie - the only ten - crafty texas girls

claiming our space - elizabeth and co thrifty decor chick

wednesday

southern lovely - beyond the picket fence - lil luna - ginger snap crafts - embracing change
polkadots on parade tutorial tips & tidbits

thursday

the shabby creek cottage - my repurposed life - liz marie blog - somewhat simple - a glimpse inside
the 36th avenue - house of hepworths

friday

craftionary - 2805 - from my grey desk - create.craft.love. - delicate construction - 504 main
fox hollow cottage

saturday

classy clutter - funky junk interiors - positively splendid - six sisters stuff