The Kim Six Fix

Hamptons Inspired Bathroom Makeover

2022-03-14T08:00:00.006-07:00

Our new house has a powder room that was wallpapered within an inch of its life when we bought the house, so I decided it needed a makeover.

The wallpaper was actually METALLIC and shined in the light. Which was cool, but the copper color wasn't really in my color scheme.

Not to mention, it had no mirror and some really old fashioned colonial style sconces. Whut?

PLUS A SEASHELL SINK. OMG NO. Since my style isn't south Florida meets George Washington, it was on my list of crap to change as soon as we moved in.

Our new house has a color theme of navy, blue and turquoise with a touch of Hamptons/Nautical and a touch of Farmhouse. Nothing too rustic and nothing to themey.. so this was my vision of the bathroom.

We toured a house when we were house hunting that had the most amazing bathroom with a single tiled 'accent' wall and I knew I wanted to do that behind the sink and toilet.

The walls got damaged pretty badly getting the wallpaper off, so I didn't want to paint. I decided I would need to re-wallpaper.

So here is the vision:

Navy and white, to go with the rest of the house's color scheme. I also have used a lot of chrome in the house, so I decided to stick with silver accents instead of the currently trendy brushed gold.

So far, I've purchased the vanity, wall paper, faucet and tile. And so I'm going to record those costs here and just update the budget as we go along.

Tile: $997 (60 square feet plus thinset)

Vanity: $447
Delta Faucet: $82 (I got a refurb on clearance)
Wallpaper: $324

Total spent so far: $1850

I have the sconces and the mirror in my shopping basket but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

My Three Year Hiatus: The State of Blogging in 2022.

2022-03-10T14:12:00.003-08:00

Wow. This feels so strange. I almost forgot my blog's password it has been so long.

Yes.. It's been 3 years since I've published a post. I can't believe it. I logged in and the last post popped up from October of 2019. TWO THOUSAND AND NINETEEN?

What?!

That was before Covid.

That was right around my move back to the East Coast.

Before my new house.

I stepped away from my blogger life to launch a needlework shop that has taken off in ways I have never imagined.

I was tired of blogging. It was a huge rat race. It was SEO and perfect photography and social media and all sorts of bullshit that I just didn't like. It sucked. I had known it had sucked for a while, but I was earning my living off ad revenue and sponsored posts so I keep on plugging along.

Until I didn't have to anymore.

And I didn't miss it. Not one bit.

I was doing all these house projects and not needing to document or share them. I could remodel or redecorate and I didn't need a photo of every step or an affiliate link for every item I may have used. I could just do them.

I would decorate my new mantels for holidays but didn't need 100 photos of 10 angles posted 2 months in advance. And if I didn't feel like decorating them.. I didn't. No pressure.

I could power wash my deck and it didn't need to be some article about types of power washers or a tutorial on how to "powerwash natural stone" blah blah blah.

I would hire contractors to do major things to my house since I was no longer in need of "DIY" content that was relatable to readers. I just needed to fix my house.. like a normal person.

But I have recently had the craving to keep track of some projects I'm working on. I think this is just as much for myself as for anyone who still follows the blog. But I want a way to document my project on some of my larger projects. To keep track of the budget and to see if it comes together like the vision.

But it's going to be a fast and loose version of blogging. Because jumping back in now, in 2022, the 'competitive make money and get eyeballs on your content" part of blogging still sucks. And now it is WORSE. There is TikTok and videos and influencers and bullshit that I just am not into. So this is not going to be that.

You're gonna get a few unstaged snaps with an iPhone. The text I feel like including, if any.. and my lack of "give a shit" about SEO and optimization.

The way blogging was when I first started.. more than 1000 posts and 13 years ago. HOLY SHIT. 13 years! 2009.

My kids were just babies.. now one is in High School.

Things have changed since then, and I don't want to get back on that race to nowhere. I just want to blog for fun again. And so that is the new plan!

How to Stitch a Sieve, Strainer or Splatter Shield

2019-10-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for October's Dollar Store Design Squad challenge and this month we all were challenged to create a fall or halloween theme craft with supplies from the dollar store.

My entry this month involves cross stitch and embroidery, of course!

Gift Idea for Embroidery & Cross Stitch Lovers

2019-09-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Have a friend or family member that really loves fiber arts, or more specifically embroidery and cross stitch? Well, today I have the ultimate gift guide for those people.

These are all products I use and recommend, in various price points. Almost all these items are available on Amazon, which makes shopping a breeze.
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Harry Potter Icons Tote Bag (SVG file)

2019-09-27T10:38:00.000-07:00

Recently my daughter was invited to a Harry Potter themed sleep over birthday and wanted a fun bag to bring her stuff. I’ve been working on a cross stitch design featuring all the Harry Potter icons and knew it would be easy to convert the original file into an SVG and that is exactly what I did!

I love how it turned out, and any individual element would be cute, but combined into a heart is perfection.

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How to Apply HTV to Hats and Visors with the Cricut EasyPress Mini

2019-09-27T06:38:00.001-07:00

I've been making hats and visors using my Cricut Maker and HTV (heat transfer vinyl) for a while now and it has always been a tedious process. The small curved surface makes it impossible to use a traditional heat press, or even my full sized EasyPress and even my iron is too cumbersome with hot spots and a relatively large hot surface area.

Distressed Dollar Store Pumpkins with a Crackle Finish

2019-09-17T22:14:00.000-07:00

Day 3 of Dollar Store Pumpkin Week! We’ve had rope and glitter and today is a simple distressed finish. The same finish I’ve shared before. Crackled with wood glue and then distressed with a glaze.
The drastic change for this project is really clear when you put the before and after side by side:

20 Fabulous Fall (Not Specifically Thanksgiving or Halloween) Mantels

2019-09-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

I love fun holiday mantels, but I know not everyone has time to change out their theme every few weeks. In the early fall, you can put up an autumn inspired mantelscape and it can last all the way until Christmas as long as you don't focus on a Thanksgiving or Halloween theme.

So today I have 20 gorgeous mantel ideas that are GENERIC fall, and NOT a more specific holiday. No turkeys, no spiderwebs no "Give Thanks" wording. Just leaves and pumpkins and all around prettiness.

We'll kick it off with Adventure's in Decorating's fall mantel, that was so gorgeous, even Better Homes and Gardens had to feature it:

Easy No Sew Knit Sweater Pumpkins

2019-09-16T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is a project I’ve seen all over Pinterest and I finally had to throw my hat in the ring and try making my own. I have actually been holding on to the top half of this sweater for almost a year now.
I used the bottom half to make this pillow but I knew I could do something fun with the sleeves. And that is exactly what I did.
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DIY Cornhole Boards from Cabinet Doors

2019-09-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of the game ‘Cornhole’ (also sometimes referred to as Baggo)? It is basically a bean bag toss game using a pair of angled boards with holes cut in them. What started as a beer-drinking tailgate game, has become popular for all occasions.

In fact, a hot new activity to do during the break between weddings and receptions is allow guests to play cornhole.

Via CharlestonEvent

20 Beautiful Gold Pineapples for Home Decor

2019-09-05T20:52:00.000-07:00

This year’s hot summer trend looks to be pineapples. They are popping up everywhere, from Anthropologie and Nordstrom to Target and Pottery Barn.

Originally a Victorian symbol of hospitality, the pineapple has recently gotten a glamourous makeover. No longer relegated to pool floats and luau decor, the pineapple is all grown up.

I can’t wait to share 20 fabulous gold guided versions that you may want to welcome into your home!
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Puzzle Piece Expandable Cutting Boards and Serving Trays

2019-09-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

For a relatively new woodworker, there aren’t many projects that come out better than you expect. You typically have a vision, and your final project is close, but never perfect. This is NOT one of those projects. I am just so excited with how this set of cutting boards came out, I’m just pleased as punch with it!

It is a set of puzzle shaped mini-cutting boards (I used maple) that assemble together to form one large cutting board:
But the fun part is that any individual mini-cutting board can be used as a serving tray, and the notch in the puzzle piece shape can be used to hold a wine glass! ISN’T THAT GENIUS!?

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10 Easy Mason Jar Projects

2019-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably seen the trend of MASON JARS all over the place. These staples of yesteryear are no longer relegated to pantry shelves and country decor. Mason jars have been transformed to fit into the popular farmhouse and shabby chic decor style that seems to be everywhere these days.

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Surviving Disney With Toddlers: What To Pack for Your Day At The Parks

2019-08-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

I am so excited by today’s post because that means a DISNEY trip is in our future! For spring break this year we are surprising the kids with a trip down to Southern California for a few days at Disneyland. This will be Josh’s first trip down there and we are so excited about it!

When we head down at spring break, the girls will be 6 and 10, which are great ages for Disney, and the baby will almost be three. I know a lot of people think it is too much of a hassle to take toddlers and preschoolers to Disney, but we think the opposite. We have taken both of the girls to Disney when they were under the age of 5 and the trips have always been wonderful. At that age, the magic of Disney is even more MAGICAL. The entire line of Disney parks really does cater to kids of all ages.. even toddlers and preschoolers.

Little kids love meeting the characters and taking in the sights. The other thing that I really love is that the rides geared towards younger kids, as well as many of the characters (like Winnie the Pooh or Eeyore) always have shorter lines. Not to mention that many of the rides (like the Jungle Cruise or Pirates of the Caribbean) are great for adults but have no height restrictions, which means the entire family can ride. Disneyland has a list of height requirements for each of the rides and you can see how few rides are actually off limits to the little guys!

The key to a drama-free trip with preschoolers is being prepared. One of the biggest things you can do is expect anything. Chances are that not everything will go as planned. You may end up waiting in a line longer than you expected, someone will spill their Dole Whip, or trip and skin a knee while running over to see Lightening McQueen. Things happen (even at Disney) and in order to keep everyone on track you want to be prepared in order to prevent little things from becoming big disasters.

To ensure that everything goes smoothly I pack a bag for each of the kids for their time in the parks. It isn’t as important with the older kids, but for the toddler I find most of these things are essential.

Here is what I include:

Stroller/Ribbon: Bringing your own is my preference (since we always drive down it is easy to bring our own) but if that isn’t possible, there are strollers for rent. The problem with rented strollers is that they all look the same. In either case you will want to tie a ribbon or something around the handle to make it easy to find amongst the crowd. Sometimes cast members will move and arrange strollers, so it may not be where you left it. It is much easier to pick out a ribbon in a sea of stroller handles.

Water Bottle: You can get water for free at the parks (from soda fountain locations or from drinking fountains near the rest rooms). Instead of constantly being begged for a drink, I keep the kids bottles full of cold water.

Sunscreen: Even in the winter, you can get a sunburn from the Southern California (or Florida) sun. This is always a good thing to pack.

Diapers/Wipes: Even if your child is potty trained a change of underwear is a good idea. Accidents happen, (especially if you get caught in a long line) and having a pair is always better than not.
Change of clothes: I pack an extra pair of socks, pants, short sleeve and long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt. Depending on the time of year the weather can go from warm to cool. Having clothing you can layer is a great idea. Plus, if a slice of pizza ends up splattered on the front, your child won't have to wear a dirty shirt for the rest of the day.

Towel: I bring a towel instead of a blanket since it does double duty. If the baby falls asleep in the stroller I can use it for shade, if they get wet on a water ride, they can get dried off, if they want to sit on the ground while waiting in line or at one of the shows, they can sit on the towel. If it gets cold they can use it as a blanket.

Tattoo (or permanent marker): Nothing will make your heart sink faster than losing sight of your child at a crowded amusement park. Rest assured that Disney parks have AMAZING protocols in place for lost children. But to make it easier on the cast members (and give you piece of mind) you may want to get a child contact information tattoo.. or just write your cell phone number on your child's arm in permanent marker, especially if they are too young to know their own phone number. (You can remove the writing at the end of the trip with nail polish remover)

Autograph Book: Often kids will get scared when meeting costumed characters for the first time. Having an autograph book is a good way to of give them a chance to connect with the character without having to hug or touch them. My kids like to just hand over the book and let them sign. it is less scary than having a giant mouse give them a hug. Especially If your older kids have autograph books, you want to make you have one for your preschooler… even if they don’t want to meet characters. You may also want to include a few crayons in your bag, so they can color in the book on their own.

1st Aid Kit/BandAids: Disney does have first aid stations in the park, but for simple ‘owies’ like skinned knees or little cuts (even imaginary ones) you won’t want to trek across the park to find one. Having bandaids in your diaper bag can quickly fix the ouch!

Snacks: Nothing makes a cranky toddler happier than a handful of fish crackers or fruit snacks. You want to pack things that are easy to eat, and tend to be okay in the heat unless you also want to bring a small soft-sided cooler. I tend to just bring things like pretzels or crackers and avoid the need to keep them cool.

Books: Giving the kids distractions while waiting in ride lines or for meal service is important to preventing meltdowns.

Souvenirs: Disney can be overwhelming to a toddler since they will want to get their hands on everything they see. Store after store filled with surprises and treats that they will want RIGHT THAT SECOND. Unlike older children who more easily understand “we will get something later” smaller kids don’t understand delayed gratification. That is why I tend to pack a few small souvenirs for every day of the trip. Not only is this a great way to encourage and reward good behavior, it is also a fun distraction. The other benefits of bringing your own vs. buying souvenirs in the park is getting exactly the characters your kids want. If your child loves Tow-Mater, but you are in the middle of Princess territory it may be tough to find the exact souvenir you are hoping for. Having small toys picked out and hidden away in your bag (to pull out as a surprise) is a great trick, plus you will save a few bucks. It is easy to say ‘no' to the souvenir stand when you know you have a hidden surprise in the bag!

Medications: (If necessary) If your child takes any medicines during the day, don’t forget to bring them!

Rain Jacket or Parka: (Optional) Check the weather forecast for the day.. Even if it only calls for a 10% chance of rain, you would rather have some protection from the rain than not!

And if you are looking for other tips and tricks for Disney.. make sure you don't miss these previous posts:

Mickey Bokeh for Night Photography:

Personalized Mickey and Minnie Frames (Great for a Trip Reveal)

Personalized Disney Clothing Ideas

15 Modern Fall Cross Stitch Patterns

2019-08-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

I know cross stitchers never really need an excuse to find new patterns, but IF they did, than the beautiful changes of seasons would be the perfect one! With fall right on the horizon, pumpkin spice lattes are showing up everywhere and I’m feeling really excited about sweater and get-to-skip-shaving-my-legs season!

So what better way to celebrate than gathering up 15 beautiful fall inspired cross stitch pieces. None of these are the traditional farmhouse scene with pumpkins and leaves, but are more modern takes on the Autumn season. Grab your embroidery hoop and some Aida and get started on one of them right now!

DIY Solid Wood Battery Organizing Center

2019-08-20T04:30:00.000-07:00

It is time for another Build It Challenge! This month the theme was “Organizing” and I decided for my project, I would tackle the messiest space in the house: THE JUNK DRAWER!

There are 8 other bloggers who also came up with fantastic projects for this challenge, so don’t forget to visit them too!

Shoe Cabinet: Sawdust2Stitches | Video Game Storage: I Love 2 Create | Stencil Hanging Rack: Funky Junk Interiors

Jen Woodhouse: Tool Organization Wall | Battery Organizer: The Kim Six Fix | Merrypad: Art Room Organization

Mixed Media Shelving Unit: Pneumatic Addict | Ugly Duckling House | Pull out Shelf Dividers: Thats My Letter

Now back to MY DREADED JUNK DRAWER…

Admit it.. we all have one. And getting control of it can be a huge headache, since it is the place you put stuff that has nowhere better to go. For us it is things like rubber bands, match books, flash lights, take out menus, paper clips, safety pins and super glue. And one of my most populous ‘homeless’ items has always been batteries.

After Christmas this year, our junk drawer was awash in close to 100 batteries (since you can never have too many on hand with all the hand held electronics and other gadgets that are floating around this house) and of course, they are all different types and brands. It was a mess! This was the pile of batteries I dug out of the junk drawer:
And now, inspired by this challenge.. Here was my solution:
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10 Holiday Safety Tips for Children and Pets

2019-07-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Now that the holidays are upon us, many of us will have little visitors in our homes that may not be around on a regular basis. Or perhaps we have kids in the house, but the holidays present a new set of challenges with all the decor and additional activities that don’t typically occur throughout the year. Keeping kids safe should be everyone's priority, but sometimes we just aren’t aware of what could potentially be in their sight and reach.

So if you have children living in your home, or visiting for the holidays, here are 10 areas to keep on your radar screen. The holidays should be a time of joy and laughter, and nobody wants to spend their Christmas vacation in the ER. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

10 Holiday watch outs to keep in mind around children and pets

What Are The Advantages Of a Composite Wood Deck?

2019-06-26T05:37:00.000-07:00

Adding a porch or deck to your home can open up a world of possibilities for outdoor living. A 2018 study by the National Association of Realtors and National Association of Landscape Professionals ranks a new deck in the top 5 of outdoor projects that adds value to a home. 81% of homeowners who have installed a new deck, say it makes them want to stay home and enjoy their space more than before the deck was installed.

When making the investment in a deck or porch, you want to work with high quality materials that will stand up to the weather and that is where composite decking materials shine. Whether you are installing a deck as a DIY project or hiring an experienced contractor, using composite decking materials are head and shoulders about traditional wood decks.
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10 Tips for Camping in Hot Weather

2019-06-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

For our family, summer is always camping season. Here in California there are local, state, and national parks where you can camp year round, but typically the summer months are what fits our busy schedules best. While the kids are out on school break and we often head to the mountains or beach and tent camp. The problem with summer camping is that daytime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees. Unless you head high into the mountains, the inland areas of California can be really warm and dry.

When camping as a family we want to make sure it is a fun and enjoyable experience, which isn't the case if we are suffering in the heat. Fortunately, even on some of the hottest days, there are things you can do to make your camping adventure enjoyable. A little good planning, bringing the right supplies and modifying your behavior can make all the difference when it comes to staying cool while camping in the hot summer months.

10 Tips for Surviving A Camping Trip In The Summer

How to Save Drooping Hydrangeas after Cutting

2019-05-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

There is nothing more frustrating than cut flowers that wilt or droop too fast.. and one of the WORST culprits for premature drooping are HYDRANGEAS!
It never fails, you can bring home perfectly perky cut mop head blooms from the florist or even cut your own in your back yard and within hours of putting them in water, they have fallen into a lifeless slump. Wilted and droopy. So sad.

These are some stems I cut in my own back yard. I IMMEDIATLEY stuck them in water, and within 2 hours they looked like this:

I have very alkaline soil.. so the hydrangeas from my yard are very pink. If your flowers are blue.. you can actually make them pink by adding lime to the soil! Alternatively, I could turn my pink flowers blue by adding acid to the soil (peat moss, sulfur or ammonium nitrate.)

Okay.. but what about the droopy blooms?

Fear not! Hydrangeas are actually pretty easy to revive.. even once they get to the point of where you think they cannot be saved. Mine looked like they were near death.

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Pottery Barn Burlap Stars (Knock-Off Tutorial)

2019-05-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today's post is just one of MANY patriotic projects on a Red, White and Blue Blog Hop:

To see more great ideas, make sure you scroll all the way to the end of this post!

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How to Prepare Your Child for Summer Camp

2019-05-28T17:32:00.000-07:00

The start of summer means the end of school and for many kids, the start of the age old tradition of summer camp.

For many children, this also can mean fear and anxiety about the unknown, especially if it is their first time away from home. Fortunately, parents aren't helpless when it comes to dealing with these fears and preparing kids for their first time at camp.

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Summer is Here! End of Year Teacher Gift

2019-05-20T19:32:00.000-07:00

I know teacher appreciation week *JUST* ended, but this is the last week of preschool for my four year old, and so we are prepping end of year teacher gifts.

If this seems like a familiar gift, that is because it is. We previously put together a “School's Out for Summer” gift basket with very similar items, but this year since I have my Silhouette, I kicked it up a notch.

The first thing I did was gathered up all things ’summer’ related with my budget of $20.

Here is a breakdown of what is in the basket, and where I got it:

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Preventing Package Theft: Arlo Ulta 4K Home Security System Installation and Review

2019-05-16T08:55:00.002-07:00

Package theft from front porches has become an increasingly large problem in the U.S. As many as 20% of people have reported a package lost or stolen from their front porch since 2017. I live in California which ranks number 3 in the nation for porch piracy.

Law enforcement agencies are now encouraging homeowners to use package tracking and notifications, as well as tighten up surveillance of their front porches. Just the presence of cameras can discourage package thieves from targeting your house vs. one which lacks security systems.

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10 Crocheted American Flag projects

2019-05-08T10:13:00.000-07:00

Summer isn't usually considered "crochet season" since you typically think of crocheted projects as cold weather ones. Hats, scarfs and afghans. But today I'm turning that notion on its ear. There are lots of great ideas for crocheted projects you can use year round. And if you add an American flag motif to your designs it fits perfectly into the fourth of July or Memorial day.

Now that you have an excuse to crochet in the summer, to grab your crochet hook, some red, white and blue yarn and start your first chain!

10 Patriotic Stars and Stripes Crochet Project Ideas