Featured on Playful Decor

Today my gun case turned dress-up armoire is featured on Playful Decor!  So exciting, thank you Nan!  Head on over and check out her blog where she features lots of kid friendly ideas!!

Pottery Barn Duplicate Light Attempt

Guess what came in the mail this week? The newest, latest and greatest Pottery Barn magazine where I sit and drool for hours on end.  My mind spins of how I can replicate this and that, and as soon as I saw this light fixture I thought it was the perfect next project:

Ordinarily I wouldn't have contemplated taking on a task such as this; however, recently I was inspired by a project that Mandi from Vintage Revivals just finished.  She used a garden hanging basket to turn...

this:

and this:

into this:

And while you are there visiting her amazing light fixture, check out her out of this world "Epic Makeover" she did for one lucky winner!

She is amazing. PERIOD.

Tomorrow, I am off to start looking for supplies to hopefully recreate it.

Storage Once Again

Years ago when I was younger, my mom created a playhouse & kitchen for me in my bedroom walk-in-closet.  I have so many fond memories of my "Papa" sitting in there on my tiny kid size chair waiting for me to serve him up whatever I was cooking up that day.  I would cook for him for hours, it was my favorite place to be.

I always said that when I had kids I was going to do the same for my girls'.  I finally attempted it years ago when we finished our basement:

 I created an argyle stencil that I painted on first, and then added a flower stencil to finish it off.  It literally took me DAYS to do.  Don't look at it too long, your eyes will cross. :)

Sadly, it being in the basement and my girls' rooms being on the third floor it has not gotten the use I was hoping for.  

So, instead of this post being one of creativity and projects...it is only the lather.  This weekend I have been "repainting" the walls white to turn it into another storage room that our family of 6 so desperately needs.  So after 4 coats of paint later, it is FINALLY back to normal...

 
As boring as it is, at least it's functional and will be used 24/7 for storage!

Guest Feature: Mini Kitchen Makeover

I wanted to share with you another one of Kate from Centsational Girl's amazing transformations, she is a wiz when it comes to painting anything!  Below she painted the cabinets in just one weekend and created this gorgeous mini kitchen makeover -  

Before:

After:

It looks like an entire different kitchen just by lightening and brightening up the cabinets.  (I am contemplating doing my own ;)
Check out this link here to see how she did it, the cost, what she used, and the few other changes she made to the space!  

Another beautiful job Kate!

Simply Spray Paint

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my daughter does not like pink.

But who can pass up a mesh trash can from Target for $.50?

One quick spray of primer and Rustoleum's Heirloom White later we have a more calming, useful addition to her room:

I tried making it looked aged with antiquing gel and it looked awful, so I wiped it off.  I guess not everything works out like you envisioned.

Spray paint is the solution for EVERYTHING I tell ya! 

Photo Tweaking To Perfection - So Easy

Recently I have noticed the quality of photos that other bloggers share.  I wondered how I could improve my photos, "Do I need another camera?"  Recently my aunt, Nona from Nona's Eyes shared with me the free website Picnik to alter my photos to achieve the look I am going for.  This website is easy to navigate and so user friendly.  Below I was able to "Auto fix", adjust the "Exposure", "Contrast", "Color Saturation", and "Sharpen" the image.

I love how I can fix my photos to compliment exactly what I see in person.  Here is the difference:

Before:

After:

For those of you who feel like you are in the dark ages like me and want to tweak their photos to make them "just right", check their website out!

Thrifting In Small Towns = Great Treasures

Elizabeth, CO is about 15 minutes from my father's ranch in Kiowa.  Several family members and I headed into the small town to hit their thrift store.  We were astounded by their selection, prices, and oodles and oodles of treasures!  Apparently, they receive all the unsold, non-picked up items from a consignment shop in Denver.  The day we went they were having a special; buy one item of clothing, get a second item of clothing for FREE!

Good stuff I tell ya!

 Here are a few things I got:

Two of my girls ride horses weekly and one needed new boots.  Scored these for $7, and they were just her size!  The hat is a fun sun hat I bought for myself, $2.5.

 This stack of metal tin scene impressed coasters were only $1!  I thought they would be a great coffee table addition.

I purchased this floral decoration for my daughter's room to go along with her botanical theme.  It was $5.  I haven't decided if I am going to keep the brown base or paint it an heirloom white and glaze it.  What do you guys think?

Last, and certainly the most inexpensive and most useful were these:

These helped keep my kids entertained for our 10 hour drive home, they were only $.50/each.

If you live in the South East Denver area which several of my readers do, go check them out!

They even have a monthly coupon for $5 off on their website.

Fabric Lamp Shade Feature

I wanted to share with you this darling fabric covered lamp shade my neighbor did for her daughter's room.  I love the flower she added!

 

In the past I have had trouble trying to wrap fabric around shades that appeared round, however they had a slight incline that made it hard for the fabric to lay flat. She purchased this round shade at Ikea, and didn't have any problems wrapping it.  She also used a spray adhesive to apply the fabric to the shade. 

 

We had a little photo shoot in my daughter's room, it matched perfectly!

So fun and original, thanks for letting me share Wendy!

Back from CO!

I am back from two long fun filled weeks visiting family in Colorado.  My husband and I both grew up in Colorado, so we are fortunate enough to see both sides of our family when we venture home every summer. 

This year at my dad's ranch, my aunt took some amazing pictures at our family reunion that I wanted to share with you. I am so thankful she was able to capture these memories for us, and also the passion that my kids have for horses and riding. I have so many favorites; however, here are just a few:

(click to enlarge, her work is phenomenal!)

(My 4 year old is ALWAYS in her pajamas, sporting her horse nightgown and pink cowboy boots...CLASSIC!)

She is an amazing photographer! If you live in the Phoenix area, check her out @ Nona's Eyes.  She does a beautiful job, thanks Nona~!

July Decorating Tip Of The Month

Rug Selection

"When selecting an area rug for a room, remember “you are either on or off”. If you are adding a rug to anchor a dining space make sure all the chairs will still be on the carpet if they’re pulled out and the table leaves are added. In a seating area all furniture legs must be on the carpet, if you are using a larger rug, or off the carpet and focused around a smaller area rug."

(tip is from the do's and don'ts of decorating at mirrormate.com)