Design on a "dime"

As of last month we are now homeowners! I was so afraid to take this step into adulthood, this meant no more running home to my parents and hide under covers in my old room and take myself back. This far we have had an awesome time creating a "love nest" of our own. Taking time to specially design every inch of our house and it is all OURS. Although we have had our arguments disagreements about what goes where and what is "too bachelor" and what is "too girly". We have finally started to combine our two styles and created one! Zach has been annoyed patient with me and my wanting to DIY everything because I want it MY way. Working at a hardware store and all my pinterest boards are deadly but have paid off! I am excited to share a few little aspects of my house.. Hope you enjoy.. 

Our first pictures at our new house

I had to add this picture, our first night our chicken "Pollo" sat on our window seal, she truly thinks she is a dog

So this was really easy to make, and was about 15 dollars worth of supplies to put this all together!

This side table I got for 10 dollars at the goodwill and painted it right up and changed the knobs! 

This is a chest I got for 15 dollars on a craigslist type site, it was yucky and had scratches all over it and it was brown. (Paint it seriously amazing, it gives furniture a second life! )

My wine rack, which I've posted about before. Love this thing with hand-me-down furniture! (Did I mention stain is amazing too!) 

These curtains, I had a vision of chevron curtains, since I couldn't find the ones I wanted why not DIY some? Easy peasy! Drop cloth which cost about 5 dollars and a few cans of spray paint! My favorite part of my house that I have DIY.  

And this I made about a year ago. It was an entry piece but since it doesn't fit in my new house why not as outdoor art?! Looks great right outside my front door! This was just an old door and old shutters! Perfect, fun project! Especially since I love old doors! 

That is just a look into my new house, starting to get things into place and finally decorating slowly! I will post more as I keep doing projects! I am so excited to share! 

45 Lessons in life...

This is something I got in an email a long time ago, it resurfaced right when I needed a little reminder what life is all about.. This is amazing.. enjoy. 

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield..

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.."

DIY Coasters

I saw that someone had posted similar coasters on Pinterest, so I thought it would be fun to run with the idea. It is so easy to make these and it would be a great gift with all the holidays coming up or perfect for weddings! 

What you need:
- 4X6 prints, depending on how many coasters you want to make.
- Mod Podge 
- Foam brush
- Coasters, I got mine from the dollar store. 

Simple steps:
1. Measure the prints to the coasters and draw an outline of the coaster on the back of the picture and cut it out. 
2. Take the foam brush and mod podge a layer on the coaster, make sure it is spread even. 
3. Lay the cut out photo on the still wet coaster, line up the edges. 
4. Sponge on more mod podge in one directing, ( say you go horizontally, make sure all your strokes are horizontal). Let it dry completely, you can start the other coasters while you let each dry.  
5. After it is completely dry take the brush and go the opposite direction, ( now vertical). 
6. Let them dry and there you have perfect coasters with really cute pictures on them, perfect to wrap a bow around and give as a gift!