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A Pretty Happy Home

Life, DIY and Random Things That Make Me Smile

  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
  • Shop
  • Projects
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Colonial Farmhouse
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY Projects
    • Holidays
  • Adventure
    • Moving to Ireland
    • Living in Ireland
    • Visiting Ireland
    • Travel
    • Family and Parenting
    • Humor
    • Learning
  • Privacy Policy
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Contact
  • Shop
  • Projects
    • Cleaning
    • Clothing
    • Colonial Farmhouse
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY Projects
    • Holidays
  • Adventure
    • Moving to Ireland
    • Living in Ireland
    • Visiting Ireland
    • Travel
    • Family and Parenting
    • Humor
    • Learning
  • Privacy Policy

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DIY

Curved Fieldstone Wall: Part 6, Demo Section 2

I’m back with part 6 of our Curved Fieldstone Wall Series. This time we’re discussing demo of the second wall section we’re working on. Here’s the thing about our DIY…

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September 8, 2025
DIY, Makeover

Refinish Wood Chairs Without Power Tools

That’s right! We did indeed refinish our wood dining chairs without the help of power tools! I know what you’re thinking. No. We are not gluttons for punishment. Well, not in…

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December 6, 2017
DIY

DIY Pottery Barn Inspired Farmhouse Bed

Editor’s Note: I wrote a one year later post about how we like this bed and what we’d do different.  It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a little lumber…

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July 21, 2014
  • a snarky but helpful wallpaper removal guide
    DIY

    A Snarky, but Helpful Wallpaper Removal Guide

    April 21, 2021 /

    Here’s a Snarky, but Helpful Wallpaper Removal Guide for when you are already over it and you haven’t even started. Don’t worry. This feeling is totally normal when it comes to wallpaper removal. For every beautifully wallpapered room I see online I know there is a poor schmuck that will someday have to remove that no longer beautiful wallpaper. Guess how often that poor schmuck has been me? Eight times in our current house alone. Our house really isn’t that big, but almost every vertical surface, including the stair risers, was covered in decades old wallpaper. Why did I want this house again? Removing wallpaper is like unwrapping a present…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    Which Category of Kitchen Art Do You Have?

    April 19, 2021 /

    I’ve thought a lot about it and applied zero scientific reasoning to my theory, but it seems to me kitchen art falls into 5 categories: Food themed because it is a kitchen, DUH! Non-food themed because you have a rebellious streak. Child-themed because your refrigerator is covered in child masterpieces. Just a clock because the clocks on the appliances aren’t enough to get you out of the house on time. Who are we kidding? Nothing gets you out of the house on time. No art at all because minimalism is grand. Actually, there could be a bunch of reasons for no art at all, but being a minimalist has a…

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    5 Old Books I Found in Our New Home

    July 31, 2019
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    I Refinished Our Tongue and Groove Closet Doors and It Could Have Gone Worse

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    Happy List: #208

    April 16, 2021 /

    Hello! Welcome to this week’s Happy List. I’m glad you are here. This week on the blog I shared an update on how our built-in computer desks are working out for our family. I will say this, we built them just in the nick of time! I also shared the sad and somewhat embarrassing pictures of our current device charging station. It’s a hot mess, but I have an idea on how to improve it. Some of the ideas that don’t make it on the blog I share on social media stories. I hope we are connected either on Facebook or Instagram and I would love, LOVE, LOVE IT if you’d…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    Happy List: #168

    June 5, 2020
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    Happy List: #375

    January 24, 2025
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    Happy List: #385

    April 4, 2025
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    The Problem With Device Charging Stations

    April 14, 2021 /

    The problem with device charging stations is that I have to look at them in all of their chaotic glory. Then I have to hear about them if one of the kids “accidentally” unplugs someone else’s device to charge their own. *sigh* It’s not the charging stations that are the problem. I think it is how we end up using the charging stations. Either we are animals or we just don’t have a good system set up for corralling devices and cords. Hmm. It might be a little of one and a lot of the other, actually. I’m on a quest to figure out a better way to charge our…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    Our Colonial Farmhouse Dining Room

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    Irish Flag Centerpiece

    March 13, 2017
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    Built-In Computer Desks One Year Later

    April 12, 2021 /

    When we constructed built-in computer desks for our kids we didn’t do it with a pandemic and remote school in mind. Our pessimistic nature really let us down on that front. We just needed a place for our kids to realize their lofty career aspirations of becoming YouTube stars that play Roblox and Fortnite. See how supportive we are? Not supportive enough to give them cushy chairs to make them comfortable dabbling with this dream though. We truly didn’t anticipate the office and those built-in computer desks becoming the hardest working space in our house besides the kitchen. The kitchen is always the hardest working space, right? But then the…

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    annisa 1 Comment

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    Happy List: #207

    April 2, 2021 /

    Hello and Good Friday greetings to you! I hope you are looking forward to the weekend. This week on the ol’ blog I provided an update on how the mini makeover we gave our kitchen last year is holding up. I fully believe in the power of mini makeovers. It is time and money well spent to enjoy the home you live in right now. If a little bit of paint and stain will do that for you, then go for it! As much as I’d like our home improvement journey to be as quick as an episode on HGTV, that’s not our real life. So, thank you for following…

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    December 13, 2024
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    Happy List: #344

    May 10, 2024
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    Happy List: #228

    September 24, 2021
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    2021 Outdoor Projects on our To Do List

    March 31, 2021 /

    This winter I spent an obscene amount of time curled up in a cozy chair drafting an epic list of 2021 Outdoor Projects. While some people find satisfaction in checking completed items off a to-do list, I find satisfaction in having a legitimate reason to never start that list in the first place. Three feet of snow covering the ground as far as the eye can see seems like an excellent excuse to procrastinate. Alas, the snow finally melted and I’m now 99.367% certain it is safe to leave my cozy chair and start working on these outdoor projects. While it might be safe to start outside work, one of the…

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    Colonial Farmhouse Kitchen Mini Makeover One Year Later

    March 29, 2021 /

    Do you know what I enjoy more than a room makeover reveal? Learning how that makeover is holding up over time. Instead of the pretty spaces, give me all of the hard-working, well-loved spaces that shine. Last January, we did a Colonial Farmhouse Kitchen Mini Makeover that mainly involved staining the cabinets and changing the backsplash grout color in our kitchen. To get the full impact of this kitchen mini makeover, I need to take you on a quick trip down memory lane. The photo below is how the Colonial Farmhouse Kitchen looked when we purchased the place in June 2019. I know I say this every time I show…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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    I Refinished Our Tongue and Groove Closet Doors and It Could Have Gone Worse

    January 19, 2022
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    The Most Satisfying Staircase Makeover You’ve Seen Today

    March 7, 2022
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    Which Category of Kitchen Art Do You Have?

    April 19, 2021
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    Happy List: #206

    March 26, 2021 /

    Hello and welcome to the Happy List! I hope the first week of spring has put a bounce in your step, the happy in your go lucky, and the cherry on top of your sundae. I’m feeling pretty good about it. This week on the blog I shared the before pictures of our upstairs bathroom. It will be better when we are done with it, but don’t expect a full makeover or anything. We don’t have plans to do anything with the blue shower right now besides hide it behind a curtain. I also shared my favorite new centerpiece filled with flowers! I hope you liked it too. If you…

    read more
    annisa 0 Comments

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    Happy List: #261

    June 24, 2022
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    Happy List: #374

    January 17, 2025
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    Happy List: #316

    September 29, 2023
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    Flower Basket Centerpiece

    March 24, 2021 /

    A flower basket centerpiece is the one thing you didn’t know you needed in your life. I’m telling you, under the definition for joy, it should say flower basket centerpiece because a basket overflowing with flowers radiates happiness. Now, I know a few of you have an inner rebel that likes to come out and play ever so often. If you want to throw a little bit of rebellion in with your decorating projects, then do what I did. Find a basket that you’ve put in the trunk of your car to take to the donation center. Break your cardinal rule and bring that item slated for donation back into…

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    annisa 0 Comments

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Hi! I'm Annisa.

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