Scrooge

As of last night, I think I was the only blogger who hadn’t decorated for Christmas yet. Honestly, I’m having a hard time getting into the spirit. I blame it on living in Phoenix – it’s hard to feel Christmas-y when you’re wearing shorts and flip flops through the end of November, especially when you are originally from a place with four seasons. Oh, and I don’t have kids to decorate for…just a puppy.

Anyway, last night I finally put on my big girl pants and started decorating – starting with my mantle.

It’s pretty simple and natural for me. My Christmas decorating style is usually red, green and all things cheesy. And honestly, I’m stilling thinking of mixing it up and going more bright and fun. I blame it on Wal-Mart for not having any more small red poinsettias - I was forced to go neutral.

And for those of you wondering – Yes, I have thought about poinsettias possibly being poisonous. I’ve heard it both ways, but I’m paranoid so I’ll be eagle-eyeing for any fallen petals or leaves.  Speaking of Ringo, he even got his own stocking.

I’m planning to buy nice stockings and stocking holders for us once they are on after-Christmas-clearance, but for now I love these cheap stockings and glitter letters.

The angel candleholders are from after-Christmas-clearance a couple years ago. I think I nabbed them for 90% off at Wal-Mart. And the wreath was bought last year from after-Christmas-clearance as well. I just hot glued a few pinecones on it.

So there’s our natural neutral (except the stockings) Christmas mantle. Has anyone else not finished their Christmas decorating? Or is it just me?

 

Double Whammy!

I’m baaa-aack!

I don’t know what exactly I did to fix my laptop, but it’s working now. Score one for selecting random options and pushing random buttons!

Now let’s talk master bathroom progress:

3.       Spray Paint Bathroom Vent

I finally finished the easiest project on my list – spray painting the bathroom vent. This is what it’s looked like for the past 8 ½ months.

I took the vent down and used Citristrip to remove the old paint.

Then I sprayed the vent and screws with Krylon Dual Paint + Primer in White Satin. This was my first time using the Dual. I definitely like that it saved me a step, but it seemed to take a long time to dry. 3 hours later it was still tacky. Whatev, it turned out awesome!

Cost

Krylon Dual – Wal-Mart $4something

6.       Add Towel Bar in Master Bathroom

I hung my new towel bar all by my onesies! And it was really simple…I don’t know why I was so scared. I think the hardest part was finding the towel bar! I had to go to two different Lowe’s to find the allen + roth 24” Raleigh Chrome Towel Bar (it matches my toilet paper holder).

Anyway, here’s my towel bar-less wall:

I followed the included directions (duh!) and now here’s my towel bar-installed wall:

Yay!

Don’t judge me by my towels. New towels are on my list, remember?

It’s so nice to have somewhere to hang my hand towels (1 for hands, 1 for face). Definitely better than laying on the vanity:

And finally, proof that it’s level!

Cost

Towel Bar – Lowes $24.98  $2something (tax)

(I had a $25 gift card from my credit card points)

One more small change – new Q-tip holder!

Cost

Glass Holder – Goodwill $1.49

Grand Total ~$8.49

Now I'm on the hunt for towels and artwork!

November – A Look Back

My computer still dying a slow death, so I haven't been posting lately…but I can still do my monthly recap because my pictures are already edited and online. Looking back it was a slow month – that’s what happens when you are out of town 3 of the 4 weekends. And then sidelined with computer problems! Anyway…

I started the month with some thank you shout-outs. I’ll say it again – you ladies are seriously cool.

We took a weekend trip to Greer, AZ and little Ringo got to play in the snow for the first time.

I sewed not 1, not 2, but 3 new pillows!

I completed one master bathroom project.

And shared the rest of my master bathroom to-do list.

I participated in Lesley’s first photo challenge. And then sucked at linking up for the next couple challenges…

Thanksgiving came and went…

Free Printable from The Fickle Pickle

And then my computer crapped out on me…

(source)

I’m hoping to be up and running by next week. Cross your fingers the restore works!

One of my first posts back will be about the master bathroom! 2 projects are getting crossed off the list!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving full of family, food, and fun!

Free Printable from The Fickle Pickle

And to my international followers, Happy Thursday! =)

Bird is the Word

A few weeks ago I told y’all on facebook that I ordered a yard of Joel Dewberry Aviary 2 Sparrows – Plum fabric.

The plan was to make 2 pillows for the master bedroom. I love my white comforter, but it needed a little pizzazz. However, after I placed my order I realized that 1 yard wasn’t quite enough fabric for 2 – 18” pillows. So I went to Wal-Mart and bought ¼ yard of purple fabric to add-on.

I sewed the pillow covers using the same method as my other pillows: the 10 Minute Pillow Cover tutorial from Alicia at Thrifty and Chic. I matched up the edges of the fabric in the back, so no one would see the purple from the side.

The back view of the finished pillow cover:

Then I stuffed the covers with 18” pillow inserts. This is the back view of the stuffed pillow:

And this is the front view:

*swoon*

Yes, I still need a headboard. I have a plan…I just haven’t executed it yet.

Cost

1 Yard Aviary Fabric (plus S&H) – Fabric.com $10.58

¼ Yard Purple Fabric – Wal-Mart $0.87

18” Pillow Inserts – Wal-Mart $9.00 x2

Thread – on hand

Total $29.45

Photo Challenge – Animal

No DIY or craft project today - instead I’m partying with one of my favorite bloggers! My girl Lesley at Fabulously Flawed just started up a weekly photo challenge…you can read more about it here.

This week’s theme is animal…which is perfect because I happen to have a wild animal at home! And I gave him his first bath last night! I wanted to take pictures of his first bath, but that didn’t happen. You ever give a honey badger a bath? Me neither, but I’m pretty sure it’d be similar experience!

Anyway. Here’s my soft, clean and fresh smelling Ringo:

That squeaker toy is his arch-nemesis.

The List – Master Bathroom

Today we’re talking master bathroom status – what’s been done and what’s left to do.

The master bathroom is probably the one thing I dislike most about my house. It’s so small! Maybe someday we’ll do a major renovation on it, but for now we’re fixing it up as-is.  

(Note: It isn’t easy taking pictures of a small room with lots of mirrors without the camera catching the pajama-ponytailed photographer. You might notice an elbow hiding here and there.)  

Before:

Yep, I only have 1 before picture…

Oh, and this is what the light fixture looked like:

Now let’s take a tour of its current state:

Time for my favorite part: Making Lists!

Done:

Paint Walls (Secret Locket by ColorPlace)

Replace Faucet

Replace Light Fixture

Replace Showerhead

Change Switches and Outlet to White

Replace Toilet

Toilet Paper Holder

Trashcan

Shower Curtain and Shower Curtain Rings

Hair Styling Supplies Basket

To Do:

Add Baseboards

Rug

Replace Missing Drawer

Paint Vanity

Replace Medicine Cabinets

Do Something with Large Mirror

Hang Towel Rack

New Towels

Artwork

Finishing Touches

Actually, the to-do list isn’t too bad! A lot of the hard stuff is already finished – mostly thanks to my dad. He replaced the faucet, light fixture, showerhead, switches and outlet, toilet and toilet paper holder for me. Yeah, he’s awesome.

OK, the list is made…time to get to work!