Things that make me smile...

Now that is a closet!! Seriously?! SWOON!!

See those shoes? Yes please! All shoes need their own closet don't you think?

Centsational Girl

Easy peasy!

Cute clearance (rectangular) tablecloth at target? I'll take that!

yup, it was $8.48! For some reason that still seems like a lot for a tablecloth to me...but considering I have a different plan for this thing, I maintain...that's a good deal!
Combine it with some clearance drapery rings...and what do you get?

New, cute, thick, no sew...curtains! And for less than $12! Yes please!!

Things that make me smile...

How cool is that map? I love that its framed separately and made to look almost like an extended headboard up the wall. Very fun idea...now to find the perfect map!

Emily Clark

On the Open Road

Hanging out with dad & little bro's cars...

They're all good friends :)

Tumwater Creek, Leavenworth, WA

It's heart day!

Things that make me smile...

If my kitchen was ever this clean I'd be sure I walked into the wrong house! But isn't it wonderful?

Honey We're Home

Before 25 List: First Month Progress

I've made a list of things I want to accomplish before I turn 25 this year, read more about it here. And I figured the best way to ensure that I actually DO accomplish those items is to keep up a monthly report of how I'm doing...and yes, you are in charge of holding me accountable! Don't you love how I volunteered you? You're welcome!

Well it's been a month since I made the list and I must admit I'm kind of excited about the progress I've made...at least for it only being one month :)

The 2nd thing on my list is complete! You heard me right! Finished, kaput, done!! Okay, so I had already purchased tickets and I knew I would be going in January...but still, it counts! Just try and stop me from crossing it off! Oops, too late! Its already got a bright red line through it! You can read more about my trip to the city of music in this post.

Well next on my list is trying a new recipe every month. I'm hoping this inspires me to reach outside my "go to" meals and expand my cooking skills & culinary art. I like to cook and experiment with things, I'm just not very confident in my abilities and don't like to spend a lot of time at the end of a long day trying to decide what to put in my mouth! As a result I tend to whip up the same things week after week, and rely on ones that are quick and require very few ingredients.

So last month's new experiment....chicken pot pie:

You can find the recipe here. And let me tell you...you will quickly become addicted! I made this three times last month (yeah I know, that doesn't really help me out of my rut...but at least it added a new item to the list!). And my roommates have been requesting it again. It is SO good! And super easy!! I've been halving the recipe and using an 8x8 pan since there are only 3 of us, but it works great!

Another item on the list is to lose ten pounds. I think this has been on my resolution list every year since I graduated from college. Some years it happens, and some I just put back on the ten I lost the year before. Hmm...yeah great cycle, huh? Well I am pretty active normally, but have been attending a gym where the schedule changes so often its hard to keep up or remember when I can go and when I can't. So in January I cancelled that membership and with my roommate joined the local Y. Here in the Treasure Valley there are 4 different YMCA locations...which really gives us no excuse for missing that gym time. I'm hoping that with MANY more classes available and a full schedule on the weekends my exercise routine can actually gain some consistency. But because I am normally active anyway the main thing I'd like to improve this year is the way I eat. I need to do better at eating healthy and giving my body the proper nutrients...bring on the produce section!

I actually have one more item on my list that got some attention this month. I know, you're impressed right?! Oh just me? Okay, fine then. I'll wrap it up! But the scariest thing on that list (to me) is learning how to sew. And I actually have (let's hope) the most expensive part of that project done...the actual getting my hands on a sewing machine. And even better? It cost me nothing! No, I didn't steal it...my mom brought me her sewing machine to use, she rocks doesn't she? So I actually have a machine to start playing with now! Pretty important first step.

This is the machine...and I even purchase some thread and some REALLY cute fabric! But there will be some major experimenting on scrap fabric first! Now to figure out how to thread the machine...and that bobbin thing. Yes, I'm really that naive. Are you starting to understand why this scares the bejeezus out of me!?

The Finale

So what is the perfect place for an Ikea rod? Placed under all that jewelry to hold one of my other favorite accessories!! :) Scarves!

Yup, works great!
Sorry for the horrible flash. I couldn't get a good picture.

It is definitely a very useful wall now!

House Lust

I started reading two new books this week. And I'm a very chronicle/logical person so I ALWAYS finish one book before I start another...but for some reason reading these together is bothering me! Maybe its because they kind of go together...I mean one of them even mentions the other :) But either way, I'm immensely enjoying both of them. I know I'm a little more home obsessed than the average person but I do think they'd be pretty interesting to anyone who owns a home or definitely for anyone thinking about building one. The first book is this one:

Not only is it all about American's obsession with their homes, but it also includes some economics & finance...I know, you're thinking BORING! but it's not! I'm telling you! Course I am one of those crazy accountant people, so it could just be I'm weird like that...but either way, I like it! The other one is this: (which is a bit large to carry around with me, so hence reading them both at the same time)

Now this one is even filled with LOTS of beautiful pictures!! So if you can't stand to read about floor plans, brick, stone & the difference between pine flooring and oak...well then you can just look at the pretty pictures. I'm not very far into either book but I am officially "sucked in". I may soon be adding both these to my book collection.

Things that make me smile...

How bout I head out and take a nap? This looks like the perfect place...

Greige

Part 2!

Because I am a little jewelry crazed, the screened frame isn't quite enough...

I found 2 smaller frames when I was putting away the christmas stuff :) They were hiding out in some boxes and due for being hung on the wall! At least that's what I think they were trying to tell me...maybe it was just that the closet was tight and they needed some fresh air. Either way, they got what they wanted. And I didn't even paint them. I decided a little mix of finishes was okay :)

I covered cork with some spare fabric for both frames...

But still wanted a little something bigger for necklaces. I found a cork board at Hobby Lobby and picked out some fabric I really liked at Hobby Lobby to cover it.

All four together...not exactly symmetrical, but I'm kinda feeling it

So what do you think?! I still have one more part to finish. I have an old rod from Ikea that I haven't been using and now have the perfect place for it!

Ready to Screen?!

I decided a few weeks ago it was time for a jewelry display update. The one I was using, which you can read more about here, was quickly becoming too small. I know, I know! I have an obsession. Its a problem, I'm getting help. Anyways...

I headed to the local Goodwill and went on a search for some large, cheap frames. I actually had much better luck this time than ever before! I found 2, that were not only big but already had the finish I wanted! And they were each only $4! Can you say sweetness?! Cause I sure did!

One of them I have in mind for another project, but one was just begging for some earrings! It was already painted white but had a few blemishes, so I just gave it another coat and it was good as new. I kept the glass and my roommate actually liked the print that was in it when I bought it, so it was a win-win :)

The actually earring storage solution ended up a little different than what I had in mind. When I was debating what to do I really wanted to find something like Mrs. Limestone used for her mail center. The gorgeous radiator grill cover she found at Lowe's has been swimming around in my brain since I saw her pictures...but alas, the Lowe's (and Home Depot) around here doesn't carry anything even remotely close! Just plain jane covers found in these parts. Big bummer! I was ready to just live with what I'd been using.

But my roommate was with me on my trip to Home Depot, and apparently I'm not very good at explaining things in my head because the whole time she thought we were looking for a screen...like a window screen. Which I must admit hadn't even crossed my mind. But she drug me around until we found them and they had a roll of silver window screening for $7...I figured for that I could take it home and at least try it out. And since its in a roll and lets face it, a really flimsy screen, I figured even my not very heavy duty scissors could whip it into the perfect size.

It was literally one of the easiest things I've done! Laid it over the back of the frame, cut it up to match and then stapled it to the inside of the frame. Voila! So simple! And unlimited possibilities for earring arrangements!

It wasn't quite as "pretty" as the cover of course, hmm...what could I add to jazz it up a little?! Well I already had the white paint out from coating the frame, so I grabbed a Q-tip... (yeah I have no idea where my art brushes are, well that's not entirely true, I do have an idea...but it involves removing a zillion boxes out from under my stairwell to try and find the one in the back. And since I'm not 100% sure they are really in that box anyway...ya so not happening!) anyways back to the original programming...

I used a Q-tip, who knew they were so useful, and just started messing around with the paint, and ended up with sort of a geometric pattern. Which at least makes the screen a little more interesting.

The frames I found at Goodwill even hang with a wire! Don't know why that makes them so much better, but somewhere in my twisted mind it does! It certainly made it easy to hang...just throw it up on the nail that was already there. Yeah, I'm that person. No sense in adding another hole or getting out the hammer and level, I'll just use what's there. Even if its not EXACTLY where I would have put it...it sure works!

I even color coded the arrangement. So next time I want some purple earrings they'll all be right next to each other and I won't have to look in 3 different places to see which ones I want!

And one of the best things?! It isn't full! There's room for some more bling! Okay, so maybe I haven't committed to getting help yet...I'll look into think about it.

And where might all the necklaces be you ask? Just wait...there's more! This is only my earring solution :) The rest of the jewelry required some other projects!