An Indoor Succulent Garden

succulant plant - looks like sea plant

An Indoor Succulent Garden     My daughter and I planted a succulent garden, with one cactus for good measure, and because it's pink. We took inspiration from Elsie at A Beautiful Mess and dug in. Our mini-garden didn't turn out quite as polished as Elise's, but we love it just the same.     There's something about growing things that just makes you feel alive and happy. Unfortunately, we're really good at killing things in our house, just green things.  I have a giant black thumb to go along with my vintage tub full of plants that need full … [Read more...]

Satan Cupcakes & A Kitchen Fail

burned sponge

Yesterday several people searched the web for "Satan Cupcakes" and landed on my blog. I had to let that sink in for a second.  I mean, I know my cooking isn't the greatest.  I've screwed up Pillsbury slice & bake cookies, but Satan cupcakes, really? The kids love my cupcakes, but I know that's not saying much.  Give a kid enough sugar and he'll like anything. Then I had to ponder the idea that someone knew just what their friend wanted for their birthday - a Satan Cupcake. It's not quite my idea of celebrating, but I can kind of understand how they landed on my blog.  After all, … [Read more...]

Trash -2- Treasure: DIY Pallet Wall Art

Christmas salt shaker ornament

I told you about my dining room woes the other day when I woke up purposed to spread glitter and glue and freshen up our neglected dining space.  Well, one thing lead to another and the projects kept flowing. FringeMan even busted out the screw gun and wall mud. I am convinced all projects would be left undone if we never had company.  Every single time we invite a whole crowd over, something else gets done.  If you're just coming to dinner by yourself, as a couple, or one family, chances are not good for home improvement, but if you come as a pack, we'll put on our tool belts and … [Read more...]

Glitter Deer Silhouette: A DIY Project

Glitter Deer Silhouette on wood

Glitter makes everything better. I heard this mantra sung by women on Pinterest, and even a few of my friends buy into the idea that our world should sparkle. For a while, I hesitated to embrace the shiny of it all.  Oh, I saw the twinkle in their eyes, but I remembered ill-fated projects of the past.  Glitter has a funny way of making me think of second grade, and I rather not remember all the glue eaters in second grade. Were you a glue eater? You can admit it.  This is a judgement free zone. FringeMan ate glue. I did not.  I probably ate the glitter and was left with a … [Read more...]

Book Shelves – A DIY Makeover

Home decorating with books

Every so often things need to get changed up in my house. They also really need to be cleaned, because when I leave all the dusting to my ten year-old daughter, places get overlooked.  Sometimes entire bookcases get overlooked, for a long time. I am quite proficient at procrastination though, and I can almost always find something better to do; however, my daughter got strep throat one weekend in October and we were trapped in the house and guarded by the germ police.  It was good a time as any, to clean up the living room. If you've never seen our living room … [Read more...]

Some Make it Beautiful: DIY

others make a place beautiful 3

SOME PEOPLE LOOK FOR A BEAUTIFUL PLACE OTHERS MAKE A PLACE BEAUTIFUL Isn't that so true? Now, granted, some of us do a better job making our places beautiful than others.  Beauty is in the eye (and pocketbook) of the beholder.  I do not do nearly as good a job as most people, but I am working on it, one mediocre project at a time.  And that's ok.  I am good with it. Pinterest is a pretty fabulous place.  Not only can we look at the best of the beautiful and be inspired, but we can take that inspiration and add a little beautiful to our own corner of the world. I ran across THIS … [Read more...]

DIY = Hire Someone

Better Homes and Gardens TV stand

You ever have one of those days when you think you can do anything? Ya, me too. You ever have one of those days when you think you can do anything, and then you screw everything up? Ya, me too. When I was at my aunts, we fed off each others estrogen and decided we could build a TV cabinet.  Now, we couldn't carry the box with all the TV cabinet pieces out to the car, because it was too heavy, but we could operate a screw gun.  Besides, we had an extra three screwdrivers and a hammer.  We could have built the Empire State Building by the time we finished talking each other … [Read more...]

$10 Makeover of a $1 Lamp

DIY Thrift Store Lamp Makeover

  A few weeks ago I bought a creamy/yellow lamp at a yard sale. I spent $1. The shade was as old as me and it was dried, cracked, and aged. I hope my face is not in as bad of shape. So, I brought the lamp home and my hubby snickered. My children hated the lamp. I saw beauty, howebeit tired and worn. I already had a can of Krylon Gloss Blue Ocean Breeze at home, so it cost me nothing to paint the lamp. I bought the super-spectacular embroidered shade from Lowe's. It was on clearance and cost six dollars and change. That brings my total money spent to around $8, but if you … [Read more...]

What’s Black & White and Pink all over?

Annaliese'sroomupdate

My baby is growing up and I'm not really sure if I like it.  That's the truth. She thought her yellow room, full of pastels and fluff, was too babyish. But there were butterflies flying on her walls! I didn't care if she had her flowered sheets since she was two.  Once upon a time my little girl picked out the baby pink fabric with octopuses and begged me make her curtains. Times change and so do rooms.  Let's hope this decor lasts another six years. So that's the big makeover.  We thought it would take months to complete, but this room is brought to you by our sponsor, … [Read more...]

Recycled Kitchen Renovation

DIY: Home Renovation - A New Kitchen on a Budget

Last week I showed you a sneak peek of some home renovation projects that FringeMan and I are working on.  So today I thought I'd show you our DIY Kitchen Renovation, budget style with recycled cabinets. Please understand we are not professional home renovators and we are working with no money.  I don't say that flippantly.  We are really working with very little.  Keep that in mind. Thankfully recycling is in style. We also are NOT finished with this project.  This is only an update.     When we purchased our home, this was the kitchen.  These were the … [Read more...]