Tuesday Pick-me-up

Confession: We all need a little pick-me-up now and again.

It's an unfortunate fact that until I've had my morning coffee, I'm kind of worthless. The truth is, every now and again we can use a little pick-me-up; something to inspire a fresh outlook on life. As I walked into our bathroom a few weeks ago, I realized the room could use a little morning coffee... some fresh inspiration.

I knew my bathroom inspiration wouldn't be as inexpensive as my morning coffee, but I didn't want the project to break the bank either. So, I thought about what decorations we had in our house that weren't being used to their full potential, and set a $50 budget for the remaining items.

Before: The room was fairly plain, and lacking warmth and a concrete theme.

 

After: With just a bit of staging and a new color scheme, our bathroom is warm and inviting.

 

 

I repurposed the shelving unit from a guest bedroom, the flowers and vase from the basement, and finally found a home for a set of sconces we received as a wedding gift. I purchased the storage baskets for $25, the valance for $10 and the accent towels for $16. I also did splurge on the matching waste basket ($15) for a total $16 over budget, but it was worth spending a little extra!

The project must have ignited a little inspiration spark, as I decided to also add a few cozy details to our kitchen - details and pictures to come!

These were simple projects that were thought of and carried out within a week, but sometimes simple projects are all a modern "housewife" has time for. The kitchen is the first room our house visitors see, and one of my top priorities is to (try to) maintain a clean bathroom. Now our guests can admire our homey decor upon arrival and while visiting the powder room, dunny, john, water closet or (my personal favorite) urination station. Ever looked up all the nicknames for a restroom?

Candy Dish Remix

Confession: Occasionally I fancy being fancy!

Like many little girls, I used to love hosting tea parties for my dolls and stuffed animals. They were always very polite guests and listened patiently as I droned on about my hectic day officiating a marriage ceremony for Barbie and Ken, watching Disney movies and searching incessantly for my imaginary friend, Julie (she's a Hide-and-Seek champion - I haven't seen her since 1993).

The guests varied from day to day, but one item was a constant at my parties:  the cup and saucer set from which I sipped "tea" (milk and about four scoops of sugar) that had belonged to my grandmother. I am honored to now display my grandmother's full set of tea cups and saucers in one of our hutches. Though they aren't used for many tea parties these days, it's a reminder that occasionally I fancy being fancy. So when it came time to decorate our dining room table with the usual modest center piece and candy dish, I thought I'd mix it up a bit and use wine glasses. It's probably not a viable option if you have little ones running around, but I think it's was a fun and festive way to share some holiday goodies!   

Joy In the Little Projects

Confession: I have the artistic abilities of a six-year-old.

I don't generally think of myself as a terribly artistic person. I'm not too bad at thinking creatively, it's the execution of said creative ideas that gets me. I've often joked if I could recreate some of my dreams (or nightmares) I'd be a billionaire music video producer or architect. Unfortunately my bank account strongly suggests I'm nowhere close to a billionaire, so I have to find joy in the little creative projects I am able to complete.

In total fairness, this creative idea was not entirely mine. It's based off a Mission:Organization post I saw in September with great fall decor ideas. I decided to put a little holiday twist on mine, and though it doesn't require much more than Kindergarten-level artistic ability (I think that's when we learned to use scissors), it's fulfilling to walk in the room and think, "Yeah, I did that."

 What You Need:

-Dollar Store Picture Frames (They don't all have to be the same size or style - get creative!)

-Scrapbook or Printer Paper

-Scissors (Fiskars Safety is optional, not required like in Kindergarten.)

-Double-sided Tape or a Glue Stick

 Step 1: Measure and cut background paper to fit frame.

 

Step 2: Trace or print letters to cut and form various words or names.

Step 3: Use double-sided tape or a glue stick to adhere letters to background paper.

Step 4: Place end product in frames, and pat yourself on the back for a creative thought well executed!

Basement On A Budget

When we bought our house, one of the features I was most excited about was the beautiful bath tub.

The problem:  there was no stand up shower in the house, so we had to put up with taking baths for a while. I didn't really mind other than it being chilly during the winter months, but it was hard for my husband the millwright to really feel like he was clean after sitting in a dusty, greasy tub of water. We decided to install a free-standing shower in the basement. The addition of a shower stall was suitable enough for my husband, but to me it felt like... well, like showering in an icky basement. So, I decided to get to work and create a more inviting atmosphere with a $200 budget.

Before: Cluttered, cold and scary; complete with a previous owner's growth chart!

 

 
 

 

   

 

  

After: Clean, warm and inviting!

 

 

The budget breakdown:
2-in-1 Paint & Primer  & Paint Tools... $44
Window Treatments...$22
Shower Curtain...$14
Bath Mat...$40
Tablecloth...$5
Decorations...$40
Hardware & Accessories...$30
Total...$195

I realize most of the improvement comes simply from decluttering and cleaning, but to me it was a worthwhile project. It's still a basement, but now it feels more like any other comfortable room in our home.

Decorating: Fall Fabulous

Today I'm sharing a blog post from Randi's blog, Mission: Organization. She has excellent suggestions for keeping an organized home. I absolutely love the Fall decorations she shared in the post below, and as soon as I get some free time I'm going to try the picture frame project. Check out all of her blog posts - you'll be inspired to get to work in your own home!

Picture frame project from A Diamond in the Stuff

Mission: Organization: Friday Favorites - Fall Decor: I'm debuting a new blog segment today, called Friday Favorites. Each Friday, I'll be sharing some of my favorite things...they might be org...