visit ready

Let's Pretend ...

2013-09-05T15:22:00.003-07:00

My last post was on November 14, 2012 entitled, "Let's Pretend it is Fall." Well, let's pretend I didn't just take almost a year off from blogging. The truth is I did. Now I'm missing it.

seashells and japanese fishing floats on my great grandaddy's table. thank you Miss Shutterbug for the basket!
it is coastal casual, vintage, my signature color and one of the only pretty things completed in our New New house

Hunky Husband showing off his handy
work. He closed in the opening to a formal
living room (framing, drywall, build closet,
move electrical,texture walls, install doors,
install molding, install ceiling fan & paint)
to create a 4th bedroom. CHA CHING!

While I was gone, Hunky Husband and I found a great deal on a foreclosure just two neighborhoods down from the rental house. We renovated in four weeks changing almost every surface in the place -- took down popcorn ceilings, painted every wall, laid hardwood in almost every room, and repainted the kitchen cabinets. We also took a formal living room area (as if that would ever happen for our family) and turned it into a fourth bedroom.

I will have some before & afters to come, but right now there are lots of before & durings.

Through all the drywall dust and late nights, I discovered what a superhero HH really is. He did all the work himself (I painted and did all the Girlie wrangling) and it turned out amazing.

It was telling that during this process, I was super excited about our vision for the NewNew house, but not ~~interested at all~~ so much about staging. I never once thought to take pictures of the depersonalization I did in our rental house. It did not even blip on my radar screen to build my portfolio with before and after pix of the Girlie bedrooms.

It never penetrated my NewNew house induced euphoria when the realty company sent 3 perspective couples to view the property ON OUR MOVING DAY. Yup, you read that right. Moving truck in the yard, they were touring around our cardboard boxes and trying to help them "imagine the space" and "appreciate the great elementary school."

when all the staging is done and the packing begins,
sometimes you just have to take the biggest box and make a girlie castle

So, maybe I should change this whole blog to talk about our NewNew House (another story for another day) and my girls and HH and our life. Except for the fact that without working on this blog at all for almost a year, it has gotten 700-900 page views per month. Without me begging my mom and everyone from high school to click on it, people have come looking for the information that I put here long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

It is more telling that during this major transformation of our new space, I really did clean and stage the rental house for potential next renters to see. My friends assured me that in a military town, close to the base, at a good price, at the beginning of the summer, blah, blah... our property would rent no matter what shape it was in. I just couldn't imaging letting it roll like that.

This is what I do, this is who I am...I am a stager!

there were lots of late nights on bare concrete floors

So, I think I will finish the last post in the series on the five most adorable things to undo in your house. Nine months in the making -- worse than waiting for the new season of Walking Dead.

I will share some of the insights I got from being a renter showing a house to perspective next renters. I will try to get some clients to let me post before and after staging photos of their listed properties. I'm looking into taking a certification class for staging so that I can have a very official looking logo to go along with all my fabulousness.

white kitchen cabinet doors coming soon!

I will prolly talk a lot about my NewNew house and all the Pinteresting projects that finish off the place. We are still in cardboard in two rooms, but getting ready for the big reveal. Que fast forward music from "Trading Spaces." Bring in the cute, tall twins from Property Brothers to talk about all the improvements.

I will try to make sure that every post from now on is not nearly as populated with the word "I". Most importantly, I'm going to keep trying to help you live in your show house now by getting a little more VisitReady every day.

just bec

Let's Pretend it is Fall

2012-11-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are ~~enduring~~, enjoying cold and snow already, I salute you. I do not know how to handle an actual change of seasons, as I have lived my entire life in places devoid of them. Well, in SC we have deer, turkey, dove, duck. My Sistah adds football, but that is more of a religion.

However, I am a holiday mom. Even if the palm trees are still green & we are all wearing flip-flops, I try to give my girls lots of festive memories. This year, we went to a corn maze, two different Halloween carnivals, trunk-or-treat at the church and THEN trick-or-treats with a ton of friends.

Working in retail for 8 years, this is the point at which I used to immediately switch over to Christmas. At Target, we stayed over night on Halloween to switch the entire store over to fa la la la la fabulous. Last year my family came to visit from SC for Thanksgiving. We switched from Summer straight to Christmas as soon as supper was off the table -- gotta burn off that fried turkey somehow.

Enter my new friend (and business partner) Miss Honey I'm Home. She LOVES fall. Coming from Minnesota, she is familiar with all the seasons -- apparently there are four. She also designs front porch installations for general curb appeal or special occasions. My front porch needed some love to say the least. It needed her vision. It also helped that inspiration struck her about the same time Fall decor went 80% off at Hobby Lobby. That is what I am talking about!

Nothing says Halloween like white pumpkins,glitter t-shirts, tutu skirts and cowgirl boots.

I bought these orange chairs from Home Depot because I thought they scream "Summer Fun." Luckily for me, they also scream "Happy Halloween." Now I am hoping to soften them up a bit and let them suggest "Give Thanks." Don't worry, they have nothing to say about Christmas -- they will be heading to the garage.

via HomeDepot.com

My creepy/classy Halloween feather wreath is perfectly me. Unfortunately, it let us know just how dark my entryway is. From the street, you couldn't see it at all. Even changing over to this bright orange berry number didn't brighten it up. Hunky Husband to the rescue with a dusk to dawn spotlight that we could point directly at all this fake fall fun.

The wreaths at Hobby Lobby started at $129 -- I am not that girl. Even at 80% off, we could do better. I got two garlands for $10 (started at $49) and a $5.99 base grape vine wreath. (Do not tell my Sainted Mother that I bought a grape vine wreath in a store). One garland broke down into these big sprigs that went right onto the wreath. The other I broke down into smaller pieces to add to the pumpkin tower.

The Butlers via Pinterest

This is the pin that started me on white pumpkins in the first place. The top two came from Michael's 50% off sale at the beginning of the the season. The bottom one came from Target 50% off after Halloween. Even with the discounts, $24 is a lot for me to spend, but I plan on using them every Halloween and Thanksgiving for the rest of my life.

-So, I've that going for me.

That created a problem when I went to build the tower. I didn't want to damage the pumpkins with pins or hot glue. I need to use them for Halloween next year and I do not think HH would give me the space in his man land garage to store this piece whole. I poked a few strategic holes in the bottom of the little one and removed the stem from the big one. I used wood BBQ skewers to secure the top two in place -- all small holes & a cookie to anyone who can find them next year.

I hope you are having fun getting your place all tarted up for the holidays. I'm hoping to get some good before & after shots of an upcoming staging job for you next time.

Whether you are getting ready for the holidays or your open house, you can stretch those curb appeal dollars to make your place more Visit Ready.

just bec

I'll be linking up at these linky parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine get your craft on @ today's creative blog tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts tuesday time out @ reason to skip the housework sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog whatever goes wednesday @ someday crafts show & share @ southern lovely wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Undo #2: Theme Rooms

2012-11-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

I ran into a friend who I hadn't talked to since starting my home staging business. She said "Oh, you FIX houses to sell, like on TV!"

I wish I was "like on TV." They seem to have very high budgets, staff in matching t-shirts and that handy fast-forward edit thingy. However, I usually use what my clients have -- plus a little BEHR paint, trust and pixie dust. My business partner (Miss Honey I'm Home) and I work together and Hunky Husband is our only team member. We do not have that music that makes the room suddenly look gorgeous in the last two minutes.

I also do not FIX houses. Houses are usually working just fine for the people who live there. Sometimes we make small repairs (the nagging little list of things we all put off, but need to be done before a listing). We more often undo the very things that have made that house work for the current owner.

gorgeous Tangled mural via Pinterest

Staging shows off the space, light and storage in your home -- or creates the illusion of it.

Sometimes that means taking out half of the bookshelves you have added.

Sometimes that means going from 10 pieces of furniture in one room to three.

Sometimes that means taking down the little decorations that make you smile every time you see them.

Some of the things you have done to FIX up your house are the first to go when we need to appeal to buyers.

#2 Adorable thing to UNDO: Theme Rooms

Transformer decals are not for everyone

Yes, kids rooms are kid's rooms.

If you live in a family home, in a family neighborhood most of the people looking at your home will prolly be needing a place for their short people to sleep.

However, their child may not like Transformers or Tangled as much as yours does.

My Big Girlie loves the ocean. She wants to be a Marine Biologist and her room reflects it. Her bedding looks like a coral reef. Her pillows look like sea anemones. Her dresser is painted in an aqua color called "Sea Life." Now, she wants to hang fish pictures from the ceiling. That is all fine to live in, but can you imagine putting that in an MLS picture? We would show up on Hooked on Houses for sure.

too many tiny chefs in this overly flowered kitchen landed in
"funny MLS" pictures on Hooked on Houses

The fact is, a growing number of buyers shop for a new home on-line. 89% of home buyers who buy online say they notice pictures first -- before square footage or description. A growing number are shopping online exclusively and buying their home without ever visiting it in person.

Let your pictures show off the size of your rooms, not your over-the-top addiction to zebra print. Let your pictures show the high ceilings, not hunky husband's experiment in camo as decor.
Let your pictures show your wood burning fireplace, not the life size storm trooper made of legos.

You can do it! Pack up the jungle, bistro, Disney, undersea, Caribbean, birdcage, sports pub, vineyard wonderland. It will be great in your new home and make your listed property more Visit Ready.

just bec

sometimes I share at these link parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine get your craft on @ today's creative blog tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts tuesday time out @ reason to skip the housework sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog whatever goes wednesday @ someday crafts show & share @ southern lovely wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Undo #3: Bright, Vibrant or Dark Colors

2012-10-18T19:50:00.000-07:00

When you move into a new place, you do all you can to make it yours.

When I am nesting, I sometimes still hear the Target commercial playing in my head "Sweet Happy Life."

When you get ready to move out, you need to do all you can to appeal to most of the people most of the time. You need broad-based appeal.

my Middle Girlie would love this orange
accent wall, but this is not everyone's
favorite shade of happy
via Apartment Therepy

#3 Cute thing to UNDO: Bright, Vibrant & Dark Colors

Painting and repainting (and re-repainting) is one of my favorite ways to transform a space. Hunky Husband and my Sweet Daddy usually end up doing most of the work -- I am the one with all the vision.

It is a relatively inexpensive way to totally change the feel of a space. Warm/cozy or cool/light. Bold or fresh. Light as a cloud or deep dark cave. I hope you love it as much as I do, because your purchase of Glidden paint keeps HH and his Home Depot pretty busy.

-My colors are bashful and blush.
-Your colors are pink and pink. -- Steal Magnolias

My signature color is 237001 -- the clear bright green that you see all over this blog and all over my house.

When I stage a home to sell, NOBODY CARES what my favorite color is. They want to see the space. They want the light to flood in and fill the rooms. I can't let the wrong colors get in the way of them falling in love with their new place. Neither can you!

Packer Time via ManLand

So tone down the neon, the accent wall, and the navy stripes. Lighten up the chocolate dining room, the purple playroom, and the Packer green man cave.

All that being said...please do not think you have to go buy a 5 gallon bucket of builders' white.

I'm not the only one who loves Navajo. Miss Pam put it all through her open concept home
entry, dining, hallway, kitchen. It is the Little Black Dress of neutrals.
via Simple Details

I have painted so many things Navajo that my children think they are next, but it is a really good neutral. It looks good with almost any wood tone. It is just enough color to set it off from white ceilings and white trim. Almost every brand has one of these go-to neutrals Ask any paint salesperson what one color they sell tons of -- broad-based appeal.

houzz via Pinterest

Now, gray is the new beige. It has become its own new fake word "greige." Don't feel like you are afloat in a sea of choices from battleship to slate. Try one of the dozen pins from different designers who have picked out some of their favorites. Trust the professionals, but beware of any post that offers only one brand of paint. That one is prolly sponsored by the paint company.

Sometimes you need to tone down a bright color, but still need a touch of the shade to coordinate with your decor. Go to the white section of the paint chips. Pick the white that looks pink, yellow, green or blue. You can get the pastel version of the color without looking like a nursery.

get a gallon of sunshine with an undertone of quick sale,

just bec

check out some of the incredible ideas on these link parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine get your craft on @ today's creative blog tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts tuesday time out @ reasons to skip the housework sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog whatever goes wednesday @ someday crafts show & share @ southern lovely wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Undo #4: Family Photos and Gallery Wall

2012-10-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Staging your house is a weird cousin of designing the house you live in. I'm from South Carolina, believe me, I know all about weird cousins.

When you are designing, you trust your style. All those projects from Pinterest get tweaked and polished and proudly displayed.

Now, let's play a different game. For whatever reason, you have to sell your home.

Lots of time? Need to list quickly? Have to sell quickly? Motivated seller? Upside-down short sale?

No matter your situation, there are some basics for staging your home.

Depersonalize
Scrub
Make as many repairs as possible.
Show off the space, storage & light in your home -- or create the illusion of it.

Coastal Living.com via Pinterest

#4 Cute thing to UNDO: Family Photos/Gallery Wall

Shutterbug Photo Props can make your children's
photos precious, but can't make them Realtors.

When potential buyers come to view your home, they need to see themselves there. No matter how beautiful your children or your wedding photos, those people do not want to see them. Please, take it all down. Pack up those precious frames and stretched canvases to safely get to your new home.

The home you live in is inspirational, the home you list needs to be aspirational. You want to portray the best qualities of your home and the lifestyle they could have in it. Help them see the future they could have in it -- not the past you have enjoyed there.

Also, I don't know about you, but my gallery wall project took roughly 1,427 nail holes to get it just the way I wanted. After you remove your pieces, don't forget to patch the wall wherever needed. Paint over the repairs or the whole wall if needed. Your home should be a dream come true, not a list of projects left for the next buyer (or their offer price may reflect it).

We've all heard that you should hang pictures at eye level, but who's eye level are we talking about here? The center of your art (with broad based appeal) should be about 5 1/2 feet from the floor, even if you have high ceilings. Curtains look better when raised up, frames do not.

Pottery Barn shows a display of botanical photos made by
6 San Francisco artists.
You could take close ups of flowers in your own yard.
Black & white photos in matching frames pull any collection together.

I wrote a whole post about this point (with horrible pictures, sorry it was my first attempt at blogging), but please don't mistake "depersonalize" for bare/empty/cold/naked walls. You have style & charm. USE IT WHEN STAGING YOUR HOME! Replace family photos with appealing art pieces, local photography or a DIY map project. Use those thrifty, crafty, super powers!

Think about it this way. When I went out with Hunky Husband for the first time, I was charmed by him, but I did not want to hear about his ex-girlfriend. You want prospective buyers fall in love with your house not your wedding dress, infant portraits or family christmas card.

Make your property Visit Ready so that you can move on to a new home full of DIY potential where you can frame new memories for years to come.

just bec

these are some great link parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts tuesday time out @ reasons to skip the housework sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog show & share @ southern lovely wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Undo #5: Collections & Antiques

2012-10-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

I started this blog to help DIYers apply all your craftiness and style to staging your home for sale or rent. Professional stagers can step in and help you make the most of what you have. They look at your possessions with fresh eyes.

However, if you are reading DIY blogs and trolling Pinterest, there are plenty of staging techniques you can do on your own. Unfortunately, if you are into blogs and Pinterest, you prolly have some great personal touches in your house that might need to be undone.

I started to write a post about the cute things to undo. It is a big topic and apparently, I like to talk about it. a lot. So, that article got way too long.

I broke it into 5 separate posts. I also got to make a cute little logo for the series.

#5 Cute thing to UNDO: Precious Collections, Antiques & Collectables

William Faulkner advised writers, "sometimes, you have to kill your darlings." Sometimes, the precious objects that have made your home so homey, are the ones you have to clear away in order to stage your property for a sale. a quick sale. for top dollar.

Modern Bedroom
design by San Francisco Interior
Designer Lindy Donnelly - via Houzz.com

My Mommy has made trips to auctions, consignment shops, yard sales and antique shops. The Goodwill store staff knows her by name. Her Ruby Red Depression Glass and Milk Glass collections show off her hard work, love and commitment. They also have my name on the bottom, so don't get any ideas.

However, if you're going to have people coming to look at your home, your collections may read as clutter instead of classy. Any priceless, sentimental or irreplaceable items need a safe place to hide. Show off the bones of your space instead of distracting viewers with baubles.

As a general guideline, you want to accessorize in odd numbered groups (3,5,7). When staging, the fewer, the better. A side table may only need a fantastic lamp.

A coffee table can be grounded with a single large piece and a couple carefully chosen books.

Your mantle will probably look best clear with just one large piece of art.

Shelves even need to be edited. Let any display or collection max out at three.

bookshelves styled simply via SimpleDetails

I love a good tablescape as much as the next girl, but go super simple for staging. Fresh fruit can make a colorful centerpiece for your kitchen table that lasts much longer than cut flowers.

via Indianapolis Home Stager

She who dies with the most stuff may win, but she will not always get the best offer for her property. Go ahead and pre-pack, you'll be one step closer to your move and your place will be more Visit Ready.

just bec

sometimes I share at these link parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts tuesday time out @ reason to skip the housework sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog show & share @ southern lovely wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time pinworthy projects @ just us four friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Disney Deals and Crafty Steals

2012-07-31T14:56:00.000-07:00

One last go-round for the bandanna shirts we made
for Easter ($2.50 each).

There are few things I love more than clearance sales, Disney World is one of them. So, I have combined the two in planning our family vacation this year. These are a few of the tips & fun projects we did to make this trip thrifty and extra princess-y.

By far, my best saving tip, pre-purchase the CD of professional Disney photos. This deal saves $50!

Our last trip, I did not take advantage of the PhotoPass because I thought it was too expensive. I am not much of a photographer and that whole trip, we never got one shot of all of us together. It was a great trip, but no pix to prove it. I know it sounds cheesy, but these posed shots in front of castles and my girls hugging princesses are priceless to me.

They also include stock photos of the characters alone. We plan to use them for future projects.

After the vacation, when I went to order the CD to be shipped, they had a savings offer that covered my shipping. You can also just digital download during that step as well.

The matching Girlies' outfits came from our favorite web sites (Old Navy, Target & Gymboree). Once things go on clearance in the store, it is hard to find all 3 sizes in matching colors. Online, is a clearing house for all the items and we have a better chance of getting full sets. The matching is not something I like in real life, but it was helpful in the crowds of the Magic Kingdom.

mister fan via CouponingtoDisney

In the park, there are giant fans attached to water bottles. They prolly do cool you off, but they are larger than any of my tiny Girlies and retail for $437 each -- well, maybe not that much, but more than this thrifty momma was ready to pay. Couponing to Disney said to avoid the misting fan from Wal-Mart because it leaks. I wanted to avoid it because I didn't want to deal with extra water at all. We found tiny battery powered fans at Wal-Mart for $1.50 each. The blades are made of foam, which is important because my children love to try and lose fingers whenever possible. I used Minnie Mouse ribbon to make lanyards. Each Girlie got to carry her own cooling system (and drive her sister a little crazy) while waiting in line.

My address says we are Florida residents and that got us a pretty nice discount on park tickets. However, Pensacola is as far away from Disney as Charleston, SC. So, we ended up spending just as long in the car. I needed some road trip solutions.

I stole this idea from less than perfect life of bliss and Disney-fied it just a little. These clothes pin tabs go up on the visor. As long as you are sweet & quiet, they stay up. If you are bad, yours comes down. When we stop for gas, only the Girlies with tabs up get a treat. All my Girlies are color code junkies, so we didn't even need names or initials. I made these in about 2 minutes using Paint -- flashback to 1993. One big colored circle + one smaller white circle + one black circle + two smaller black circles = quiet tabs.You could use a circle punch to make them perfect, but my Middle Girlie cut these out, so they are beautiful to me.

Classy Clutter made some super cute DVD boxes into colored pencil holders. We had some Disney movies and Wii game boxes floating around so I didn't even have to make new covers. I followed her directions for removing the disk holder section of the box. Dollar Tree had a pack of 21 thin markers (7 each was plenty). Luckily, I had some pillow cases left over from a previous project. They were made from that stretchy T-shirt material. It made them perfect holders because they were already hemmed and stretch to let the markers out, then bounce right back. Road fun for 33 cents each -- awwww yeahhhh!

life size Cars you can climb on &
the headlights even come on at night

the big blue pool makes you feel like you are swimming
with Nemo & music plays under the water while you swim

My last 2 cents: check out the newest value resort, Art of Animation. I cannot say enough good things about it! It is themed Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo, Lion King and Cars. If your children have ever seen a Disney or Pixar movie, they will lose their minds when they see this place. Everything is scaled so you feel like you are in the movies. Even if you can afford to stay in a fancier hotel, this one is amazing!

Now that August is here, we will be heading back to school and I will be working more on houses and blogging. Thanks for coming along with us on all our crafty Disney adventures. Hope you had a lot of your dreams come true this Summer, too.

running out of pixie dust,
just bec

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue get your brag on @ gluesticks a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor from scratch friday @ marriage from scratch feature yourself friday @ fingerprints on the fridge flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

TuTus for Tomboy Princesses

2012-07-20T16:41:00.003-07:00

My girlies are full on Disney Princess junkies. They each have their own favorite princess. They will tear up the dollar section at Target whenever they see something pink. However, they are also going to climb and run and jump and scratch and spit. Then, they will spill something yummy all over whatever Princess gear they are wearing.

On our family trip to Disney, we finally booked the character dinner in Cinderella's castle. Baby Girlie is old enough to enjoy & remember it. Big Girlie is in that last five minutes of Princess before she starts chasing boys and hating family vacations. Perfect timing for overpriced chicken nuggets and hugs from Belle, Ariel, Aurora & Cinderella! It was totally worth it -- the adult food is amazing and the personal attention from the cast members was incredible.

On previous visits we had seen lots of little girls in the long (polyester) princess costumes. My girls would not wear those hot little numbers to Princesses on Ice, much less Central Florida in June. I wanted something just as cute and trademarked, but way more comfortable.

Solution: T-shirts & TUTU skirts!!!!

I scouted through a few of the million tutu tutorials. For the tulle, we went with Rapunzel's hair, Belle's dress, Snow White's skirt yellow. The bike shorts from Gymboree determined the length.

While waiting for the tulle to go on sale at Hobby Lobby (when roll ribbon is on sale), I found IdeaRibbon.com, a wholesale company that is even cheaper than any craft box store's coupon or sale price. They have much longer rolls (300' long instead of 100') -- I made all three skirts with one roll.

this is my highly technical way to measure the strips quickly for two different size skirts. from the edge of the table to the first line of painter's tape - little girlie skirt. from the edge of the table to the second line of painter's tape - big girlie skirts. repeat 40-50 times per skirt or till you run out of tule.
sorry about the excellent shot of my hooters and fat roll -- that is what I get for giving hunky husband the camera.

I liked the look of slip knots because we were using yellow and needed the coverage over the elastic band. I was also worried that double knots would poke them in the back while riding rides. There is no way to ask a child that or test it without putting the idea in their head that it is uncomfortable. I still hate that email telling me there is no good place in my mouth for my tongue.

So, the slip knots are prettier, but not as secure. I refused to spend my day in the Magic Kingdom fussing over them. Necessity is the mother of invention. So, we pulled in a whole roll of tiny yellow ribbon. One tight knot at the base of the slip knot was enough to secure it, but too tiny to feel. They held up great from Its A Small World, to the spinning tea cups, all the way to dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table.

The t-shirts were the standard little girl shirts with cap sleeves, $3.47 on the table displays at Wal-Mart. We added iron-ons of our favorite princesses. These are from UltimateTransfers on Ebay. She was so fast in shipping them and even replaced one that was damaged in our broken mailbox. I just love great customer service from cyberspace!

I've spent so much time trolling thrifty Disney sites, I just figured everyone would be decked out in matching t-shirts created on Silhouette and homemade over-the-top hair bows. Apparently, the Pinterest revolution is strong, but some people really do just wear regular clothes to the park. We got lots of looks, several complements, a couple of "where did you get those?", and (my favorite) two moms saying, "I'll make you one when we get home!"

Cinderella asked my Middle Girlie, "Is that your Fairy Godmother?"
"That's just my Mom."
"Well, she gets you out of all kinds of trouble and I know she made you that dress!"
BEST COMPLIMENT EVER!!

bibbidi bobbidi boo,
just bec

i sometimes link up at these great parties:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue get your brag on @ gluesticks a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor from scratch friday @ marriage from scratch feature yourself friday @ fingerprints on the fridge flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Deciding to Stop Quitting

2012-07-14T11:11:00.004-07:00

My family had a wonderful time on our Disney Vacation. I made lots of Pinterest inspired crafts and outfits to make the trip extra Princess-y. Maybe I will blog about a couple of them.

I used that as an excuse for not blogging. In truth, I do get obsessed with whatever I am focused on at the time.

Therein lies the problem. When I first started blogging this January, I got sucked right in. Every day I was reading blogs, writing my own blog, planning blogs, doing projects for my blog, shopping for future blogs, posting on Facebook about my latest blog... well, you get the idea. It is easy to see why blog became a cuss word around my house pretty quickly.

via Pinterest

Maybe it is because I am a Capricorn or an overachiever or a total mixed bag of nuts, but I have never been good at balance. My house was a wreck (except for the part I needed to photograph). My girlies were eating a lot of Ramen noodles for dinner. My laundry baskets were stacked to the bajesus! My Hunky Husband was super supportive, but silently hating this whole thing. My parents came to visit from another time zone and I had them babysit while I made a pillow. NOT COOL. So, I let the pendulum swing all the way to never blogging.

While I was gone, my little site got 10,000 views. Happy Dance Time! In blog world that isn't really amazing (Thrifty Decor Chic does 40 gazillion a day). For a new baby blogger that is a big deal and I'm sad because I missed it -- there was no happy dance. However, I don't want to miss all the girlie, friend, husband & family happy dance moments because I'm too busy checking my blogger stats.

So now, I take the next turn in the road -- to blog with balance. At least enough balance that it works for my family. We are all a little weirdo around here.

finding my new normal,
just bec

Saving for Disney Gift Cards

2012-05-06T23:13:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while two of my obsessions combine -- Perdido Key Wine & Arts Festival, Green Depression glass on 50% off sale, Boston Rob on The Amazing Race. Now, I'm planning my family's Disney vacation with the help of Pinterest. Is it just me or do you hear the angels singing, too?

My girls are getting the Dave Ramsey style education on work, money, giving, saving and spending. They are extremely excited about the trip. So, we are trying to focus that energy into doing extra chores and putting that extra money into savings banks. I saw some beautiful ones pinned that inspired this project.

Junkin Junky via Pinterest

I did find an excellent deal on shadow boxes at Tuesday Morning. Unfortunately, I have already used them to make a Christmas project. Now, when I need some, I cannot find any in my normal thrifty sources. I dragged the girls to two different Goodwill stores, HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning and an indoor flea market -- no shadow boxes.

Thank goodness for Hobby Lobby (the second happiest place on Earth). They had the perfect acrylic box frames at a great price, made even better with their 40% off coupon. Do not laugh at me for couponing $2.99 -- the money we saved on each one went into the savings banks. "Train up a child in the way she should go; even when she is old she will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. I guess mine will be crafty, couponing and a little crazy.

don't know how my finger
got broken there.

We pulled out the bulky card board insert thingy that was inside the frame. It makes a great template for the thin foam core that we would use as backing instead. I just had to remember to cut it a little larger because we wanted a tight fit.

Next we cut slits in the foam core.

The Girlies all picked out the gift card they wanted the most. We printed out pictures of them on photo paper.

Middle Girlie is the best cutter. Baby Girlie loves the glue sticks because they are purple, her favorite color.

Next, I added a bead of hot glue around the back to seal the foam core. First of all, that holds in the heavy change. Secondly, it makes sure that the money stays in until our trip, even if the ice cream man comes by on Saturday afternoon.

We decided to add a tally sheet on the back to keep up with the totals. Big Girlies are both math monkeys who love to add up their "deposits." Baby gets to use the calculator, which helps with her eye/hand coordination and number recognition. OK, so she really likes pushing the buttons, but that counts.

Already, they are all asking for extra "jobs" they can do around the house. There may be a lemonade stand in our future. The baby clothes that we just tilled out are going to the consignment store instead of Goodwill. Bonnie asked if she could have the cash value instead of picking out candy like her sisters did at Walmart today. If Hunky Husband stands still too long, they may figure out a way to hire him out to the neighbors.

Apparently, these simple little boxes inspire hard work, creativity, entrepreneurship and sacrifice. Well, they look cute on my mantle. We'll see how long all this free enterprise lasts.

I have a series on staging that will help you get more Visit Ready while I'm getting vacation ready. Check back this week.

just bec

linking up all over the place:

before & after party @ thrifty decor chick nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm show me what you've got @ our delightful home tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a to z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time@ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelly beans thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths strut your stuff @ somewhat simple crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy share awesomeness thursdays @ the 36th avenue get your brag on @ gluesticks a glimpse inside @ catch a glimpse feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor from scratch friday @ marriage from scratch feature yourself friday @ fingerprints on the fridge flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring the pity party @ 30 handmade days weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello anything goes link party @ bacon time friday free for all @ five days five ways frugal friday @ the shabbby nest mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you manic monday @ serendipity and spice

Craig's List Chairs

2012-05-02T14:32:00.001-07:00

VisitReady images: justbec74 on Instagram

"We got our chairs, YEAH! YE - AH! We got our chairs, YEAH! YE - AH!" -sing to the tune of Katrina & the Waves, Walking on Sunshine. Picture Baby Girlie and I singing and dancing, well, wiggling. Add in a couple of fist bumps and a high five or two.

Dontcha just love the hotel drapes & carpet combo? via Craig's List

At our house, just about anything is likely to be the lyrics of our newest song. This time, Craig's list helped us find two new chairs. A local hotel was redecorating. They listed 40 barrel chairs with dark blue upholstery, wait for it... $20 a piece!!!!

"Hotel living room chairs. Used. Most are in very good condition. Stop by the Quality Inn & Suites on Scenic Hwy and pick them up. We have 40. They can be sold to one person all together or individually. We're here 24hrs a day. No delivery. First come, first serve. We will remove this post once they are all gone. Please, no phone calls."

It was not a new listing the first time I saw it. I was so excited, especially about that "open 24 hours" part. Hunky Husband was not thrilled with the idea of me going across town at 1am, prolly in my pajamas. He was even less jazzed about my suggestion that he should go instead.

The next day, I set out with Baby Girlie on our grand cheap-chair-getting adventure. The only problem, I locked my house key and purse inside the house. So, our adventure turned into a trip to Hunky Husband's Home Depot store to get a new key made.

The next day my parents were flying in for a visit. Perfect. The hotel is right behind the airport, we could easily go pick up our chairs before we run by to pick up MeMe & Big Daddy.

What had happened was...

That night HH was away from home, Big Girlies had trouble going to bed and Baby Girlie woke up with an earache. After chatting with the on-call doctor at 2am, she took some more children's advil and I held the warm rag over the achy ear. Needless to say, there was not much sleep under my belt when the alarm went off at 6:20am to get the Big Girlies ready for the bus stop.

picture this in white cotton duck fabric and matched cording. jcaroline home! via Pinterest

After they left for school, I shut my eyes, just for a minute. When the phone rang, at noon, I don't know who was more shocked, sleeping Mommy, sleeping Baby Girlie or my parents at baggage claim. So, I didn't make it to the hotel that day either.

We had a wonderful week visiting with my parents. We went shopping, antiqueing, beaching, eating and playing.

littlegreennotebook.com upholstery charts via Pinterest

By the time we took them back to the airport, the Craig's List ad was nearly a month old. I was pretty sure they would be out of the chairs, but we had to give it a try. The barrel shape would be clean and modern. They would be easy to slip cover (knock wood). I could use them in my house for now and staged houses later. Hotel furniture has to be pretty sturdy, surely theses would hold up well for a long time.

I kept my fingers crossed all the way. We started the song with the nervous verse, "Please let them have 2 chairs for us, please let them have 2 chairs for us."

Blessed and lucky, they did have 2 left for us. Now I'll check this pin to see how much white duck fabric I'll need to make the slip covers. In the meantime, I don't hate the blue.

The chairs are sturdy but very light weight -- I have a feeling I'll be toting them around quite a bit. BEST $20 I'VE SPENT IN A LONG TIME. I hope you are finding some great things on Craig's List. As yard sale season heats up, keep an eye out for great deals that can help make your place a little more visit ready.

just bec

linking up at:
hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths show off your stuff @ fireflies and jellybeans thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating under $100 @ beyond the picket fence sticker time @ the 36th avenue get your brag on @ gluesticks blog link party @ somewhat simple flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello feathered nest friday @ french country cottage thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor mad skills party @ mad in craft show me what you got @ our delightful home manic monday @ serendipity and spice nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons tuesdays treasures@ my uncommon slice of suburbia wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog crafty scrappy happy me @ crafty scrappy happy

Easter Wrap-Up

2012-04-09T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hope you all had a blessed and happy holiday weekend.

I am a self-professed Holiday Mom. The Tuesdays, the daily reading log, the scrubbing the bath tub -- those are not the moments where I shine. Let a holiday come around (Groundhog Day, Arbor Day or Derby Day) and I have super powers. We even appropriate holidays that have nothing to do with our own religion or culture -- I throw a mean Cinco De Mayo party. Easter is a real favorite around here.

We started with growing Easter grass for their baskets. The tutorial was from How Does She? and our adventure was described in this post. It was so easy and we will definitely be doing this every year from now on. I think the bunny liked it, too. He worked extra hard to fill those buckets up and make them look super cute.

With three little bow heads, you would think I learned to make hair bows years ago. Nope. This site has great instructions for every kind of bow under the sun. Sooooooo wish I had learned this 47 high priced bows ago -- definitely a stupid tax on my part.

I should have started with gros-grain ribbon first. Satin is as slippery as it is pretty. Hunky Husband will also tell you that at one point I even sewed one to the couch. It was all worth it -- Big Girlie almost cried, Baby Girlie sucked all the oxygen out of the room and then Middle Girlie wrote a song about it. Life at our house is good.

I also made matching shirts out of bandannas for each of the Girlies. OK, so I like projects that include fabric that is already hemmed -- drop cloths, napkins, placemats, bandannas.

This was actually my second up to bat on this project. The first set were red, white & blue for Forth of July two years ago. My sewing skills were even less than beginner. So, as cute as they looked that day, those shirts did not make it through even one washing.

This time, the seams are holding up well and fingers crossed, we will even make it through the spin cycle.

Big Girlie is carrying the chic cake pops we made for all the neighborhood friends. I'll make another post of all the things not to do when making & decorating cake pops. Apparently I discovered the method for doing everything the hard way. Some of the fail pictures are going on my wall, they are just too funny. Judging by the sugar hangover we all had today, I guess we did something right. All 2 1/2 batches are gone.

Now that all the festive fun is over, I can spend the long hot Summer talking about staging again. Well, except for Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day and Forth of July. Is there a 12 step program for holidays?

just bec

take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z

Spring Black Friday

2012-03-30T12:21:00.000-07:00

home depot.com

Personal note first, my computer completely locked up on Monday night -- just before time to link up to all the fun parties. First, Hunky Husband and I spent a while blaming each other. Then, I spent a couple of days trying to fix it myself. I ended up having to take it in to the Geek Squad and it will be with them for at least another week. The entire week I walked around feeling like a part of me was gone, maybe not a limb, but at least an important finger.

Thanks to my Daddy, I now have a new laptop to work on. Yes, I am a grown woman with a checkbook and children, but I still call my father "Daddy" and he still gives me wonderful presents. The last time he came to visit, I spent a little too much time in the office. With only one computer in the house, I also cut into my Girlies' Barbie.com time. Both offenses will be addressed with his most recent kind gift.

My Sistah is coming to town this weekend and I still have some major work to do before this place looks anywhere close to visit ready. So, no major projects to share.

This weekend Home Depot calls Spring Black Friday. They are running some super deals. We finally broke down and bought a new grill. Our old one didn't make the move and it has been tough going 8 months without one. My grill pan needs a break.

As you can see, I have no advertising on my site, so I am not being paid to endorse them. However, Hunky Husband is one of those friendly experts in an orange apron. They have been working hard all week to get ready. So, I do hope you go visit him or your local Home Depot. Where ever you shop, enjoy your weekend, the spring weather and making your place more visit ready.

just bec

this deal is so sick, I thought it was a typo

Girlies circled this one twice

Home buyers love the look of stainless. This is a great time to upgrade.

cheers!

If You Haven't Grown Easter Grass Yet, There's Still Time

2012-03-24T20:08:00.001-07:00

I've seen lots of posts about how to grow grass for Easter baskets and this year, I finally got my act together. Keep in mind, I am the girl who totally forgot about baskets all together one year and had to swing into CVS on the way to MeMe's house. Thank Goodness, the Girlies were such babies, they have no memory of it -- I blame sleep deprivation.

HowDoesShe has an egg-cellent tutorial with supply list and step by step instructions. She also has cute pictures of baby posing with Easter grass -- that's why we do all this anyway-- for the cute pictures.

Egg-cellent tutorial via How Does She.com

Last Sunday, we went to Home Depot and got all the supplies we needed. We also got flowers for 2 other Spring projects. We also got 2 awesome orange chairs for the front porch. As you can tell, we love Home Depot!

Our little project turned into an all-neighborhood attraction.

Middle Girlie was the garden helper.

This is her "bunny rabbit" face

For the first 2 days, it really just looked like dirt. Then on Wednesday night, there was one single blade of grass...out of all four trays...still not too exciting. But on Thursday morning, BOOM.

Now, we are ready for Easter!

I was feeling bad because some people had their grass growing for St. Patrick's Day tablescapes. Now, I'm telling you, there is still time. This bag of seed was under $7. The trays were under a dollar each.

via Home Depot.com

My girls were excited about planting. Now they are excited about watering. They are busy deciding what they are going to use their colorful pails for in their colorful bedrooms. They haven't mentioned candy one time so far! I can't wait to take pictures with them and their colored eggs! Hope you're having this much fun getting visit ready this Spring.

just bec

let everyone know that there is still time:

thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville mad skills party @ mad in crafts just something i whipped up @ the girl creative make it yourself monday @ an original belle craft link party @ polly want a crafter pink hippo party @ pinkapotamus everything goes at eye heart mondays @ eye heart simply klassic sunday @ simply klassic home its party time @ its so very cheri the more the merrier @ diy home sweet home mop it up mondays @ i should be mopping the floor a round tuit @ creating my way to success savvy home made monday @ home savvy a to z sunday showcase @ under the table and dreaming show me what you got @ our delightful home nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm manic monday @ serendipity and spice catch a glimpse @ a glimpse inside pinworthy projects @ just us four friday free-for-all @ 5 days, 5 ways anything goes @ bacon time pity party @ 30 handmade days free style friday @ happy hour projects flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring

Spring Transition 3 of 3

2012-03-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

My January mantle was a study in minimalism (and hanging a frame too high).

Don't be afraid of multiples. If you are staging your home, a series of modern candle holders can bring interest to a space without looking busy. I'm just ready for something a little more homey.

So, I planted some snapdragons in tall glass vases. Then covered the dirt layer with a bit of leftover white on white damask wrapping paper.

I covered some random hardback books in plain white butcher paper. Back in the day, my mom used to help me cover all my school books with Piggly Wiggly grocery bags. It will prolly be a lost art now that kids can Kindle all their textbooks. This gives a clean look and adds height. I wrote out John 3:16 on the spines using a metallic marker -- just a little bling. The cross was 50% off last week in the Spring Shop at Hobby Lobby.

The rabbits I got last year after Easter for 75% off because they were covered in fat flakes of iridescent glitter. It took an hour on the back deck with a toothbrush & Brillo pad (and two showers after), but they turned out so pretty. [I do wish I had a before picture of those "what were they thinking" lovelies.]

The white frame was a gift and I added a cream flower. Earlier this year, Baby Girlie chopped off her hair. I was distraught, and could only find solace in making fancy headbands for her to wear. This flower was one that I got from Michael's to attach to a plain white head band. On the back it had a hair clip and pin. So, I was able to stick the pin into the edge of the wooden frame

The plain black frame needed to be greened up a bit. HL had all their garlands on 50% off. I really thought about getting this $12.99 pack, but it looked awfully "half off of $12.99". I'm really glad I sprang for the nicer garland. I was able to cut off the longest tendrils and still have a pretty decent looking garland to use later on another project. This color of green really does look richer.

I just laid out the the pieces of greenery over the frame so that the ends overlapped. I used green floral wire to attach it. Then, I just fluffed it out a bit all around. I wanted it to look like teenage boy hair -- really messed up in a very specific way.

It turned out with a nice balance of light and dark. There are touches of green and by next week, there should be more pink & white when the snapdragons bloom. I hope you are enjoying the springing of Spring at your house, too.

just bec

linking up a little:

hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z homemade projects @ tip junkie tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine show me what you got @ our delightful home

Spring Transition - 2 of 3

2012-03-21T21:58:00.000-07:00

These before pictures may be a little shocking. Those with heart conditions may want to look away. Please lead small children out of the room. OK, they're not that bad.

My January decorating style in these areas went way more minimalist than I had realized. When I took these pictures, the nicest word I could come up with -- stark. I really over do at Christmas. This apparently was the sorbet, the palette cleanser, I needed to recover from the invasion of nutcrackers and greenery.

This vase is from a Southern Living house party

I have used it every day for 4 years

I love this table in our entryway. My great-grandfather made it and painted it a long time ago. I love the patina -- it ain't the age boys, its the miles! My mother had a tablecloth over it, because it looked "too shabby." Well, after she uttered that silly phrase, she lost custody and this has been my baby ever since. I filled my favorite glass vase with hazelnut coffee and a candle. It made me want to start a fresh pot every time I walked down the hallway.

You'll also notice my nemesis, the ceiling fan remote attached to the wall (as if one ugly light switch is not ugly enough.)

via Pinterest

If you're getting ready to list your home, you should have some sort of a welcome statement at your main entrance. Even if you don't have a real foyer, a skinny table like this or even a floating shelf would work.

You would want a piece of neautral art or framed mirror instead of the family picture I'm using here.

This pin shows a great way to use an old table, yard sale find or goodwill treasure if you have a small entry space.

Make sure you leave several Realtors' business cards on your entry table -- it makes people think lots of people are looking at your property.

You'll want to limit your accessories while you are staging. I get to go a little Easter Bunny crazy because we are renting instead of staging.

I love the way that cut tulips droop in the most elegantly lazy way. The problem is that cut flowers do not last as long as my enthusiasm for Spring. Since Hobby Lobby had all their flowers on 50% off this week, I decided to try getting that lazy fresh look with the fakies that will make it all the way though Lent.

First, I clipped them off that spikey stem deally thing. Then twisted and bent and shuffled them around till they look rather pretty -- I think.

They cover the switch plate that we don't use -- yay! The obnoxiously huge, droopy silk bow also covers the wiry, fake stems. My Charleston sweet grass basket holds all the necessities and reminds me of SC just as I am heading out the door (usually 15 minutes late and hollering at Girlies).

I wanted real flowers on our kitchen table, though. I had this rustic, wooden trough that I'm pretty sure came with a set of bath products. It was not anywhere near water tight. So, I used a huge garbage can liner. I planted these hot pink cyclamen from Home Depot -- this time of year they should just pay us in garden supplies. Then we filled in with extra potting soil and trimmed the plastic back from around the edges.

Middle Girlie was my garden helper and then decided just how many eggs we needed to place around the edges. She was very particular about the placement of the colors. Now she is very particular about watering them. That's good, because, I still hold the Target record for the most live plants damaged out in one month -- they were not so live after I got done with them.

taking a picture of my cell didn't turn out
perfect, but you get the idea

If you need extra help with your planting, make sure to scan this crazy symbol with your blackberry or smart phone (ScanLife is the ap I use). It gives you way more advice than they could fit on the pick tag.

I know I need as much help as I can get for these brown thumbs.

Whether you are staging your home for sale or just trying to live a little more visit ready, I hope you "bloom where you are planted."

just bec

linking up:

hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville thrifty thursday @ thrify decorating show off your stuff @ fireflies and jellybeans sugar & spice @ 733 - a creative blog crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy show your stuff @ somewhat simple 100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show me extraordinary @ the 36th avenue pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection get your brag on @ gluesticks mad skills party @ mad in crafts just something i whipped up @ the girl creative make it yourself monday @ an original belle craft link party @ polly want a crafter pink hippo party @ pinkapotamus anything goes at eye heart mondays @ eye heart simply klassic sunday @ simply klassic home its party time @ its so very cheri the more the merrier @ diy home sweet home mop it up mondays @ i should be mopping the floor a round tuit @ creating my way to success sunday showcase @ under the table and dreaming show me what you got @ our delightful home nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm manic monday @ serendipity and spice catch a glimpse @ a glimpse inside pinworthy projects @ just us four friday free-for-all @ 5 days, 5 ways anything goes @ bacon time the pity party @ 30 handmade days freestyle friday @ happy hour projects flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring

Spring Transition - 1 of 3

2012-03-21T11:52:00.001-07:00

Those of you who live along the Gulf Coast know that we really don't have seasons. Correction, we have two seasons: Summer and New Year's Day. No snow shoveling for me.

I'm a Carolina girl and I like it that way. However, when decorating, I like to pretend that we need to snuggle up for the winter time. I fill the living room with warm colors and nubby textures. I put almost all the sea shells away. It is by no means a mountain cabin, but it ties me over between Christmas and Easter.

Today I have the doors wide open and I could start working on my sun tan. So, it is time to transition to spring/summer. This large ledge on top of my TV cabinet goes first, because it greets you coming in the door and it is the high point of the living room. Truth be told, we watch a little too much television. Damn you, SyFy channel and your Powerful Monday nights. So, I look at this spot a lot. I'm returning the deer horns to Hunky Husband and bringing back the seashells.

The wicker chair comes back out of the guest room. The green vintage chair will really make that room feel more pulled together. I'm thinking about making some green trellis curtain panels for this window. I saw some fabric I liked at Hobby Lobby, but I have the worst luck with things being gone when I go back for them. Till then, I do love the light that streams in through this white sail cloth.

not much happens around here without a little cheesy grin, or twirling, or both.

I have loved having my new & pillows, but they will trade out with the new ones I told y'all about in this post.

The pineapple pillows will be emerging from their winter slip covers.

Even our little coffee table tray gets a summery touch.

Since I was in such a springy mood today, I went to Target to start my spring mantle. When what to my wandering eyes should appear, but 6 dark chocolate, sure fit, soft suede, short dining chair slip covers on the clearance end cap. Some cute girl ordered these online for $14.99 a piece, but returned them to the store (only one had even been opened). Lucky for me, when Target doesn't have a space for online only items, they mark them down stupid low -- %75 off, $3.76 each!

These will look great next year when I pretend it is winter again. More importantly, I can use them for a pattern to make the summer version out of bleachable, oxy cleanable, white cotton duck fabric. Double score.

If your home is on the market, make sure you update for the seasons. You don't need easter bunnies or spring grass growing on the mantle -- even though that is my next post. You should make sure that your art and accessories lighten and brighten the space. Put away throw blankets and plan to bring in green plants or fresh flowers for weekends & open house. Every little thing helps when you are getting visit ready.

remember, this is 1 of 3-- that bunny is hippity hopping this way,
just bec

linking up :

before & after @ thrifty decor chick hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville thrifty thursday @ thrify decorating show off your stuff @ fireflies and jellybeans sugar & spice @ 733 - a creative blog crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy show your stuff @ somewhat simple 100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence show me extraordinary @ the 36th avenue pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection get your brag on @ gluesticks

Make Room Floor Plans

2012-03-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

The Make Room program makes me ten foot tall and bullet proof. I am Hercules. I am She-Rah Princess of Power. I am Vern Yip with sublime space planing! OK, that went a little far, maybe I could be Genevieve, but my space plans now look all VERN YIPy!

Nobody gets this excited about a floor plan program. I do. If you had seen some of the sketches I've given to Hunky Husband through the years, you would know he is excited about it, too (as excited as HH gets about anything besides bullets.) I've always been creative and crafty. I even took a pretty wide swing at 8th grade art. However, once I started "making little squares" on the computer screen in yearbook staff, I never looked back.

Candice Olson Devine Design via HGTV

So, when my mind starts racing, my hands just don't keep up. In my head, it is all so Candice Olson. On the paper it looks more like hieroglyphics. Through the years, my mom and HH have gotten used to deciphering the idea behind my drawings. With mom there is a lot of discussion and hand gestures and usually some vanilla ice cream. Hunky Husband just takes the drawing to his desk and makes a detailed engineering diagram complete with measurements and cut list (and he vacuums, don't drool ladies).

Working with my client Kennedy, (from 4 states away) I can't just walk into his living room and gesture my way through this one. Lots of designers do virtual consulting, but as a baby business owner, this is my first try. This free program makes it so easy to get my ideas across in a clear, professional manner. I never even had to go to Kennedy's place. His house plan was on the builder's web site, complete with a lot of the measurements I needed.

Kennedy has a very specific happy problem. He found an incredible 3 piece set of leather furniture at Sam's Club for under $1000. He bought two. Seating for eight:2 couches, 2 chairs, 2 ottomans. So, we are adding painted tables, light (but heavily patterned) rug, and light drapes. We all know how I feel about pillows. It is on!

Love this buffet as closed storage/sofa table by PerfectlyImperfect

Moving things around virtually is a lot easier than in real life. So, we've played with some options. I so wish my mother had this program. She is more old school -- put the furniture on blankets and drag it around till it fits. More than once we came down the stairs in the morning only to stub a toe on the couch that had mysteriously moved across the room in the dark of night.

We are emailing these plans back and forth with notes. You could email your plans to yourself. Then you could access it from any computer. If you have any problems accessing it, open the file with Paint,crop it, and save the image as a jpg. Then you can even check it out on your smart phone or tablet.

Now, I have a happy problem. I love this program so much I'm running around measuring every room in my house. I've set up measure/laptop appointments with two other clients this week. Good thing my Girlies love Ramen Noodles so much, because dinner is not on my mind right now.

just bec

it is so easy to make these free floor plans. they are so useful in planning any project. i'm linking up all over hoping you will try them, too.

hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths show me what you've got @ our delightful home nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm mad skills party @ mad in crafts serenity saturday @ serenity you tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tips & tutorials @ home stories a2z tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons your turn, wild wednesday @ chatty chics show & tell @ blue cricket design thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection show off your stuff @ fireflies and jelllybeans 100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence get your brag on @ gluesticks show me extraordinary @ the 36th avenue crafty, scrappy, happy me @ crafty, scrappy, happy strut your stuff @ somewhat simple

New Business

2012-03-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

my new logo

Most of the time, bloggers talk about things they know. That is why you read. To learn things from them that you would not know without them. or laugh or cry or get inspired.

Except, in order to just talk to you about the things I know (or the things that make me cry, laugh & get inspired by) I have to go through a lot of things I do not know.

HTML. link parties. buttons. rss feed.

Lucky for me, I was on yearbook staff in high school. It was a million years ago, but Summerville was a really big school and we had an awesome journalism program. We had enough Mac computers and laser printers that it looked like we were landing the space shuttle. In the early 90's, we were one of the first books to submit digital layouts. I wish I could go back and do it all over again with the ~~fun toys~~ efficient tools we have now.

That experience has helped me to embrace computers throughout my career in retail. Every time a new scheduling program would roll out, I would be tech support for the entire district. I could tell you some of the magic I worked on registers, but then I would have to kill you.

I've said all that to say this:

Thank you for coming back to read what I have to say about houses and decor even though the site looks a little different every time you come. I've been playing on Picnik.

Thank you for pinning my pillow, frame & art projects. I'm finally getting a handle on the linky party madness.

thanx HoH for being my first feature

quick sew pillow

Thank you for "liking" my Facebook page. I've redone that stinkin cover 3 times and I'm still not quite happy with it.

Like my Facebook Page?

Thank you for sharing what you know in your blogs. 733-A Creative Blog showed me how to make my own QR code. If you scan it with a smart phone, it takes you right to this site. I'm so geeky that it felt like my birthday!

thanx 733 for my own QR code

Thank you for hitting that RSS button. I had to sell my soul to Ivory Soap so she would make it work for me. I gave up wrastlin with it after an hour.

Thank you for giving this frazzled mom a place to come and share all the learning, laughing, crying, and inspiration. In between every post you see, I am learning more about this bloggy world so that I can get better at the sharing part. Next I'm tackling MyDeco (for mood boards) and The Make Room (for floorplans). Hope that helps me get this site a little more visit ready.

just bec

linking up just a little:

Black, White or Gold Bamboo Table?

2012-03-06T18:24:00.001-08:00

During my Mommy's last visit, we went thrifting. She is a serious, take no prisoners Goodwill shopper. So, I knew we would find something good. What we found is that the pricing team at this location was awfully impressed with every single item -- more impressed than we were for sure.

Just about the time we had decided to pack it in and head to Hobby Lobby (the real happiest place on Earth), I spotted this treasure. It had somehow escaped the crazy mark-up trend and was tagged for $4.99. It had prolly been used on a patio or porch, and has quite a bit of ~~damage~~ character, especially on the top. They did not charge extra for the cobwebs or the protective layer of dust.

enough cords showing?

It is a sturdy little table with a shelf and great detailing on the legs. I'm sure I will be able to use it in Bacon's house when we finally get to the staging stage.

For now, I'll be using it in my bedroom to replace this sad little make-do piece. It was a stretch to use the bracing x under this table as a shelf where there really is no shelf. I do not enjoy highlighting the phone, modem and wires. The tall Chinese figurines do not help distract from the ugly in the least. Until I took this picture, I was in complete denial of what a colossal fail this really is.

We can do better, for sure.

At first, we thought about painting it black like these chairs that were featured in Coastal Living. Problem is, I paint a lot of things black. Especially in this bedroom, I've used black accents to tone down a lime sherbet green wall color that wouldn't have been my first choice. Like I've said 437 times, this is a rental. I also have dark furniture to start with. In black, this table wouldn't be an accent, it would just disappear.

Coastal Living via Pinterest

Everyone seems to be moving in the "lighten & brighten" direction that is perfect for staging. White is classic and clean and bold. This pin got me thinking maybe I should paint it white instead.

What the Vita via Pinterest

However, if I've learned one thing from Project Runway -- it is easy to make a cheap pair of black pants look expensive & it is just as easy to make an expensive pair of white pants look cheap. The table these guys are painting is chunky and very bamboo-y. My little table and its puny little wraps may not hold up to the white of it all. Even if it is cast-off patio furniture, I don't want it to look like cast-off patio furniture.

Which brings me back to Sarah Richardson. Yes, my obsession for her should be medicated, but as long as I don't move to Canada and become all stalkerish, I think we will all be OK. She did a bright yellow & white scheme in an office that I dearly love. Nothing in my house is nearly this white or bright, but it got me thinking.

Sarah Richardson design Portfolio via Pinterest

My little table might look nice in gold. These Hollywood regency tables are petite like my little table and they are beautiful. They have black glass tabletops. I was thinking that I would put a black tray on top of mine. That way I get the sparkle of the gold without having to look at all the ~~damage~~ charm of its well ~~worn~~ loved surface. Gold it is!

The Modern Historic Etsy store via Pinterest

Our bedroom is the one room that hasn't been eaten alive by brushed nickel or silver metallics. So, the gold will be the glimmer among all the black and white. It will also coordinate with this little chinese cabinet I use as my nightstand.

It is my favorite garage sale find of all times. The lady selling it was asking $60. I offered half that, "as long as you don't tell my husband I paid $30." She accepted, "as long as you don't tell my husband I sold it for $30." Feminomics at its best.

just bec

Kitchen Bench Inspiration

2012-03-05T08:35:00.001-08:00

We really do love our kitchen table. I used to really love my neutral, microfiber, parsons chairs. That was two houses ago. They used to stand out against a very rich dining room wall. Now, they are almost camouflaged against a neutral wallpaper (this one is a rental).

We bought these as a "temporary fix" 5 years ago -- just until I could decide what chairs would really be perfect. In that house, we had an eat in kitchen and these were in a formal dining room that I used mostly for tablescapes. We only sat in them about 3 times a year. Now, these are the chairs we use every day.

Two of them moved to the office/computer room. My Girlies & their friends have been known to pile in 3 deep on both chairs to watch Netflix. The chairs are not doing well. When I sat down the other day, one made a strange sound -- I'm pretty sure they are not supposed to look like this:

Hunky Husband is very handy, but not even he can fix a spring that is completely broken in two.

So, I've been lookin and thinkin, thinkin and lookin.

I have a hand-me-down coffee table that I was going to turn into a bench for the end of my bed. Well, we've been using it there, and the fabric is measured, but duck tape around the edges is your first clue that this project has been going nowhere for 6 months.

Via Pinterest

ENTER DIET COKE, PINTEREST & INSPIRATION:

This pin on parsons chair slip covers:

Imperfectly Polished via Pinterest

Led to this awesome project using oil cloth:

m.a.d.e. via Pinterest

Which reminded me of Sarah Richardson's oil cloth chairs, that I adore!

Sarah Richardson via Pinterest

So, when I saw this bench at the kitchen table covered in faux ostrich with nail head trim... reworked perfectly by Isabella & Max rooms... then I knew!

Max & Isabella Rooms via Pinterest

I'll cover my bench in black oil cloth and slip cover the three best surviving chairs in (bleachable, oxy-cleanable) white duct fabric. I'll take those slips to my favorite little gift shop, Sarah Jane's and have them monogrammed in black.

I found a great place to order oil cloth on line. The coffee table is built like a brick house and can hold up to anything the Girlies throw at it. I already have the thick piece of foam (thanx, daddy) and the staple gun & Velcro. This project is going to be so fun! I might even go ahead and move the ~~coffee table~~ bench into the kitchen while I wait for the oil cloth to come. Not exactly visit ready, but we're getting there.

just bec

Furniture Checklist

2012-03-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

I've been trolling the internet and Pinterest looking for a comprehensive furniture checklist. There are lists for baby rooms and first apartments. There are checklists for newlyweds to register for gifts. Isn't there some OCD interior designer who has made an easy to use tool for grown ups?

Then, I stumbled onto inventory software for insurance purposes. You catalog all the things you own in case you have to make an insurance claim.Wouldn't you know it, there is an ap for that. There are mobile versions where you take pictures with your cell phone. There are some free versions (that limit # of photos) and PC packages between $19 -$39. Since we live in Hurricaneville, I will be using one of these pretty soon. But, I needed something more streamlined.

Now, I've run across a printable, sharable, tool that is really thorough. It is a government brochure made by the Texas Department of Insurance. http://www.tdi.texas.gov/pubs/consumer/cb086.pdf Finally our tax dollars at work on something I like. It is my new favorite toy. We are filling it in with Adobe and emailing it. I've already printed it on 3 colors and gone highlighter crazy on another.

at the beach in SC with his oldest of 2 children

My (best buddy from middle school) client, Kennedy is moving into a new house with his beautiful family. He is a firefighter and has worked hard to save up to build the new house and budget for new furniture. I want to help him get the best bang for his buck and in his words "avoid making expensive mistakes."

Problem is, they are in SC and I am in Florida, so I needed a way for he and his Mrs. to inventory what they already have. They can fill in the fields under "purchase date" with measurements of pieces they have. They can note any pieces that need to be repainted, reupholstered or re-purposed. I always try to get homeowners to look at what they have with new eyes.

Now we can evaluate and prioritize the pieces they will need to buy. Budgets can look like a big pile of money till you take a good look at all the pieces you really need to buy. I love this checklist because it includes rugs, lighting and window treatments for each room. It is easy to overspend on a sofa or huge TV if you forget all the little things that make a room feel finished.

In the price column we are starting with a budget for the new items that need to be added. Then with a little slash, we record what we actually spent. When we get a great deal on a Craig's list find coffee table, the extra $ can move to the sofa or huge TV. When I make them custom Roman blinds from Target mini blinds, that savings can go to living room lamps.

We also numbered the whole list. They have photographed the items they have and numbered those photos according to the list when they send them to me. It also keeps it clear when we start to pin pieces in Pinterest. The board allows us both to pin images -- we started with all her old pre-house pins. Ideas for living room chairs will all be #3's. Fabrics for family room curtains will all be tagged with #25.

OK. This is starting to look like inside baseball. You don't have a client, in another state, trying to furnish a new house. But I promise, you want to get one of these lists for yourself.

for insurance: yes, its actual purpose. Fill it in and email it to yourself, so you can access it from any computer. Use the number system to match up pictures and receipts for all the items in your home. Store a copy away from your home (in a safety deposit box, at work, with a relative who lives elsewhere).
for planning your own new purchases
for tracking the budget for your project
for recording the measurements of pieces you already own. Next time you are looking at a big salvaged sign, you'll know the size of your buffet -- it will fit perfectly above it!
for staging: mark off items you can remove from a room or re-purpose around your home.
for moving: plan which items are going first, which ones are going to storage, which ones can go to yardsale or ebay.
if you do have clients, run off one of these sheets (on different color paper) for each one. When you are out shopping it gives you a quick reference on measurements, budgets and overview without lugging around a huge binder.

Maybe one rainy day I will sit down and make this a pretty printable. In the mean time, this little taxpayer subsidized gem is working just fine. Hope it helps you get ready for a new project, a bad storm or just get a little more visit ready.

just bec

linking up this idea at:

hookin up with hoh @ house of hepworths just something i whipped up @ the girl creative 100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence strut your stuff @ somewhat simple thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring frugal friday @ the shabby nest crafty, scrappy happy me @ crafty, scrappy happy pinspirational thursday @ the artsy girl connection pity party @ 30 handmade days feathered nest friday @ french country cottage freestyle friday @ happy hour projects featured friday free for all @ five days, five ways featured friday @ blissful and domestic anything goes @ bacon time weekend wrap-up @ tatertots and jello mad skills party @ mad in craft sass' sunday salvation show @ sassafrass salvation tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons your turn, wild wednesday @ chatty chics show & tell @ blue cricket design

Sea Shell Frame

2012-02-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

Blancho bedding via Pinterest

I finally got my mom started on Pinterest. At first, she was intimidated by all the clicking.

This is also the woman who did not want an ATM card, a cell phone or a laptop. "Don't want it. Don't need it. Wouldn't use it if I had it." Sure.

Now she is pinning things for me on her laptop and calling me from the ATM with her cell phone to see if I have seen her pin yet.

"Now that y'all live at the beach maybe you can do something like this.'

The one she pinned retails for $147.99 and was on sale for $103.99.

Sounds like a challenge to me.

I already had this frame I found on clearance at WalMart. It was only $5. I love the large surface area -- perfect for a saying (or attaching seashells).

Maybe all stores do not carry these, but we have a tiny Pensacola souvenir area where they sell these beautiful shells. The shells are actually from Mexico, but who cares, this pack was only $2.97. You could grab similar bags of shells from any craft store or use ones you've picked up on vacation. I even saw one bag at the Goodwill store the other day. Happy hunting!

When I bought the frame, I knew I would be spraying it (ugly color, weird design). Once I started spraying, my addiction kicked in and I decided to spray some of the shells as well. With all the shells in white, or almost white, the focus is on the picture.

thefunkilittlefrog via Pinterest

Months ago, I pinned this sign. It was going to hang in my imaginary beach house. Now seemed as good a time as any to use the phrase while I'm waiting for my imaginary lottery win. You can buy this sign or others from this girl's etsy store, The Funki Little Frog. They are all kind of beachy and weathered and super cute.

Now, a tip on painting words for the three of us left in the world with no Silouette cutting machine. You print out the words you want to use on your plain old printer. Place the paper over the wood you want to paint on. Trace around the words using a ball point pen and press pretty hard. The pen indents into the wood. Not only is it an outline, it is a little ditch that keeps the wet paint right where you want it.

If only Hunky Husband would get the hint and give me a Siloutte for "Love your crafty wife Tuesday."

No project would be complete without a little hot glue.

I've put a picture of our smiling Girlies in this one for their loving MeMe. It was mom's idea, now it is mom's frame. She would love anything with their faces on it, but I think she will really like this. The running count on seashells in her house is in the hundreds. So, these will fit right in.

If you are selling your home, this is one of those Add Personality When You Depersonalize moments. You do not have to put away every pretty thing in your house. Just pare down to a special few and make sure there are generally appealing images.

I promise that top shell doesn't look like a rose in real life

A pretty picture of the beach or a sunset would go great in this frame. It is always good to highlight the area where you live. People are looking in your location for a reason. If you are at the beach, help them smell the salt air. If you live in fly over country, show off your amber waves of grain. If you live in an urban area, get some black & white architectural shots in your neighborhood. Location, Location, Location in your art will make your place a little more visit ready.

just bec

linking up all over this week:

before 7 after party thrifty decor chick 100 ideas under $100 @ beyond the picket fence hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths thrifty thursday @ tales from bloggeritaville strut your stuff thursday @ somewhat simple frugal friday @ the shabby nest from scratch friday @ marriage from scratch wayward weekend @ wayward girls crafts mad skills party @ mad in crafts nifty thrifty tuesday@ coastal charm manic monday @ serendipity and spice show me what you got @s our delightful home tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons tuesday's treasures @ my uncommon slice of suburbia show and tell @ blue cricket design sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog power of paint @ domestically speaking wild wednesday @ chatty chics catch a glimpse @ a glimpse inside thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor get your brag on @ gluesticks sticker time & party time @ the 36th avenue fabulous freebie friday & pinable projects @ just us four show and tell friday @ my romantic home

Fix It Today

2012-02-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

-Carpe Diem. Seize the day! Fix it today.

You know what I'm talking about -- those nagging repairs that you know need to be done. The quirks about your house that you've learned to live with instead of taking care of.

If you are putting your home on the market, you have to clear up your to do list. Any little issue that you have been delaying needs to be addressed and fixed. As people view your house, let them imagine living happily ever after in your home. You do not want them walking around your property making a list of things they would need to fix. Small cracks in the plaster can make a potential buyer think your whole roof is caving in. They will make a low offer to include all the repairs they think will need to be done -- even if half of them are imagined.

More importantly, if you are not even considering selling or renting, fix it today. Fix it for yourself. Believe me, I would rather be making new crafty creations than repairing anything in my house. But, the sheer relief of checking off the little things is worth way more than their usually tiny cost. I once lived with a drawer with no pull for 2 1/2 years (and broke my nail at least 3 times opening & shutting it). The replacement knob cost $1.97.

This whole post is inspired by my recent trip to my PaPa's house. He was an electrician by trade and blueberry/Christmas tree farmer by choice. This guy once turned an old washing machine into a tree shaker -- reduce, reuse recycle before it was cool. Until he was 92, he lived in his old farm house. Of course, there are the big upgrades any old house could benefit from: energy efficient windows, updated wiring, more insulation, modern kitchen & bathrooms. Those are big and important, but can be pricey. I'm talking about the litttle fixes. After his funeral, we went back to the house and I found a couple of repairs that I could not believe had gone undone.

gotta love that aqua blue 60's tile. it is so ~~ugly~~ retro

via home depot.com

The soap dish over the sink in his bathroom was broken, as far as I can tell, for decades. He would repair the tractor and the pump, then brush his teeth looking at this broken ceramic thing every single night. I know some people are intimidated by tile work, but this one is so simple. Hunky Husband used a regular hammer and a flat head screwdriver to carefully pop the broken one off. It didn't even take him a minute to do. The replacement piece costs $5.97 at Home Depot! It didn't need an expensive overhaul or drastic bathroom makeover. Just a quick fix. Well, it does need a drastic bathroom makeover, but that can wait for another day.

via home depot.com

The main bathroom door in the hall way doesn't lock anymore. I have vague memories of it locking when I was a child, but let's just say that has been a while. It is fine because everyone in the family knows it doesn't lock. We all know that if the door is closed, someone else is in there, wait your turn. I've talked to every member of my family and many friends through that shut door. When I went to HD to order the soap dish, I clicked over to find out how much a new door knob would be. $8.47!!!

Seriously? Seriously. Seriously!

On my repair tab, I've linked to HomeGain Home Sale Maximizer, an awesome tool that gives you zip code specific advice on repairing your home. It is based on a nationwide survey of 1,000 real estate professionals. It even has calculators for Return on Investment to help you decide where your dollars will work the hardest & the smartest. In my area, staging can bring a 1066% return on investment and 98%. Here, 98% of real estate professionals suggest you spend the $150 to lighten and brighten your property.

My Realtor friend, Jenn, reminded me today there are seasonal repairs that need to be knocked out this time of year. Many simple fixes turn into major repairs if they are ignored or left to get worse over time.

Make a list of the drawers, doors, holes, squeaks, leaks and pesky little messes that need to be squared away at your house in order to make it more visit ready. Do two little repairs before your next crafty masterpiece. Throw one little repair purchase in you buggy the next time you are buying 5 new colors of spray paint. You deserve to live in your show house today.

just bec

Vintage Comfy Green Chair

2012-02-21T13:03:00.000-08:00

This is my first Mardis Gras season living here on the Gulf Coast. Wow! This is the longest Tuesday ever, because it started three weeks ago. There have been parades and festivals and street parties and gumbo and about a million moon pies. Lucky for me and my (BFF who became my) client Tiane, there are also Antique store sales.

I've been going to Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday parties and she mentioned that her booth at Cotton City Antiques would be having some deep discounts over the weekend. My address may say FL, but anyone who has been to Pensacola knows this is really LA -- Lower Alabama. So, Tiane, Baby Girlie and I set out for a fun day of junque shopping. True, we passed 14 other antique stores along the way, but we were women on a mission.

via coastal charm

All was well until we got to Mobile and the tunnel into town was closed because of the parade. Thank God for GPS. I had not been to Mobile, well, I had been through it on the interstate, but that is not at all the same thing. We were charmed by the beautiful historic homes on the way in to the shop. Most of them were decorated in purple, green & yellow. Some of them were having lovely yard parties before/after the parade. Note to self: make friends with yard party throwing type sweeties in Mobile historic district.

We were also charmed by Coastal Charm Interiors -- hers is the first booth on the left when you enter. She has all the coastal, industrial, chippy, perfectly imperfect stuff I just love. We went around the huge space about 4 times. I only had to call Baby by her first and second name about 4,000 times. The ladies there were so kind and helpful and we SCORED!

of course this will all fit in the back of my Explorer

Tiane is planning a bar to go in her family room. That room is right off the main living room and opens to the deck & pool. We found a gorgeous, old, lit, curio cabinet with beveled, leaded glass sides & doors. It will mount nicely on the wall with a couple of french cleats. I can't wait to see her glassware sparkling in there.

Then we found 3 adorable bar stools. Baby made sure that they spin - check. They have a silver rail around the bottom for a foot rest. The legs have a bamboo detail that is going to be so precious when we paint them out. I promise I'll have pictures soon, we'll do a whole post about sanding, painting & installation.

I had a bit of a rush crush on this vintage green chair. However, it was right by the front door. Apparently, I am the girl on "Say Yes to the Dress" who wants to try on more dresses. But even after the forth lap, this chair was still dark and dreamy and comfy and ... well.. perfect. It was also 50% off. Now Mardis Gras is officially my favorite holiday. Bring on the king cake!

When I got it home I realized that it perfectly matches some Asian inspired pottery pieces I already had. Dontcha just love when that happens?

Please enjoy your Fat Tuesday and your shopping days that don't even need a holiday. I hope you find the perfect piece to make your place more visit ready.

just bec