Vintage-Inspired Storage Box
A long time and three states ago we bought a 10-ft. artificial Christmas tree. It was the display model. Here’s a warning. Christmas tree display models do not come with a box. You’re going to have your very own National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation moment getting it home. Image Source: A Pilgrim In Narnia To give you something else to think about, once the Christmas tree is out of the box (literally) it never stores nicely again. For the 49 weeks per year when we weren’t using the tree, we wrapped it in a tarp and shoved it under the stairs in our basement. That didn’t look serial killer-ish or anything. Eventually we finished…
IKEA Lamp Hack
On Monday I showed you pictures of my new headboard. It took me a fair amount of time to work up the gumption to show you pictures of where I sleep. It’s a little creepy. Point of clarification: You aren’t creepy, it’s the internet creeper that’s creepy. You are freaking amazing and I’m glad you are here. Anyway, I’m slightly neurotic (I’m sure you couldn’t tell) and posting pictures of my bed meant I had to iron my pillowcases and the part of the flat sheet that would be visible. Oh, and the duvet cover. I’m pretty sure I cleaned my oven too. So, yeah. That was a pain in the butt.…
New Headboard
I decided after 12 years it was time for a new headboard in our master bedroom. That seems reasonable, right? I wanted Handy Husband to make me a headboard. This also seems reasonable, right? (Nod and agree with me.) After all, he does have experience making this one and this one. Alas, his free time for honey-do projects is limited these days. That meant I needed to take matters into my own hands. In case you are wondering, that means I went online shopping. I didn’t bust out the power tools or my car keys. I was in my element. I wanted a wood headboard, but hesitated to spend so much money…
Jet Lag is Real
We traveled across one too many time zones last week and this spring chicken is feeling the jet lag. Which makes me wonder if you traveled via train would you experience train lag? Today, in honor of random musings, I will show you what our cat, Salsa, did while we were away. She stayed hydrated. She did the grocery shopping. She posed for an artist. She made cute faces for the camera. Oh, wait. That’s not the cat. This is just what happens every day that ends in y. I’m pretty sure the cat is extremely happy we’re home. You know, if feigned indifference is the same as extreme happiness. Cats are…
Scalloped and Basket Weave Felt Pillow – No Sew
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared any crafty projects involving felt. Did you hope think I dropped that obsession? Ha! That’s crazy talk. Here’s how it all went down… I’m still having problems with my sewing machine. By “problems” I mean the bobbin thread is a hot mess and I don’t have the patience to deal with it. By the way, does anyone need a sewing machine? It really is amazing what I can create when I’m avoiding figuring out how to work my sewing machine. I needed wanted some new decorative pillows for my bed and thought I’d try my hand at making over two pillow covers that I own. Waste not, want…
Recipes I’d Like to Try
Happy April Fool’s Day! One thing I don’t joke about is food. Here are a few recipes that are on my list to try soon. Very, very soon. Apple Spinach Bacon Salad via Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch This salad looks DIVINE and it looks like a really tasty excuse to eat bacon. All the bacon. Baked Salmon with Parmesan Herb Crust via Add a Pinch I always keep frozen salmon fillets on-hand for an easy weeknight dinner. I’ve had good luck with the individually vacuum-sealed and frozen salmon you can find at any grocery store these days. Usually I drizzle olive oil and cajun season on the salmon, wrap it…
Trash to Treasure: Art for Boys Room
I big fat love those HGTV shows where some clever person turns utter trash into something beautiful and useable. This story isn’t quite that special and the storyteller isn’t nearly that clever. However, I did climb over rusty gates wearing flip flops and wade through piles of junk in an old barn and even stopped alongside the road to find useable trash for my son’s room. That should be worth some bonus points for completely free art, right? What was my trashy treasure? Hubcaps! The best I can tell from my 16 second search on eBay, these 3 hubcaps are from a Pontiac in the 1950s. I found them in the…
Thelma and Louise Leather Cuffs
A super cool chick and friend of mine recently had a birthday. She likes it when I remind her that she just had a birthday. In fact, nothing gets her more excited than talk about aging. Well, nothing except jewelry! I can’t really blame her. We do share a common love for shiny accessories. Over multiple occasions and margaritas (my husband makes a mean margarita) this friend and I have daydreamed about taking a road trip when we are old and blue-haired. I’d like to see a parade in every state. Why you ask? Why not, I say? Parades are everything that’s right about this country. Talk of these adventures somehow always…
Collecting
Generally speaking, clutter freaks me the heck out. That’s why my kitchen counters look like this – minus the flowers right now. It was just too much. 😉 Since I don’t enjoy clutter, you’d think amassing a large collection of something would be on my “things to never do so you don’t have to dust it” list. By and large, that is true. But just to keep things interesting, I have an exception to the no-clutter rule. It started back in college when I went on a Jan Term trip to England and Scotland. I think it was the first and only time I packed light since everything I needed had to fit in…
Lion and Lamb Children’s Art
With Easter rapidly approaching, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some ideas for lion and lamb artwork. These were both made by my daughter in preschool, which was *sob* way too long ago. I can’t take credit for the artwork, unless you count growing the artist in my belly, birthing the artist and then meticulously selecting a preschool to cultivate the artist’s intellect and artistic talents. So, yeah. When you think about it that way, I can totally take credit for this artwork. I say this with all sincerity, the lion artwork demonstrates the best combined use of a paper plate and a tongue depressor that I’ve…
