Thriifty Decor Chick

Best sangria recipe

<p>Welcome to Friday, whoot! Hope your week was great and you have an even better weekend planned! </p>  <p>First up, I’m over at <a href="http://www.sasinteriors.net/2013/06/creating-a-meaningful-home-thrifty-decor-chick/">SAS Interiors</a> today sharing how I strive to create a meaningful home:</p>  <p><a href="http://www.sasinteriors.net/2013/06/creating-a-meaningful-home-thrifty-decor-chick/"><img alt="CreatingaMeaningfulHome_BlogButton" border="0" height="254" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6aylTSADX14/Uc2xNikIiBI/AAAAAAAAeWQ/uYipiYYR3Nk/CreatingaMeaningfulHome_BlogButton%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="CreatingaMeaningfulHome_BlogButton" width="254" /></a></p>  <p>It’s a great series with some fabulous bloggers contributing – check it out! Thanks for having me Jenna!</p>  <p>So today I’m sharing one of my very favorite recipes…of the liquid kind. :) I figured I’d post it today so maybe you can make it yourselves and toast to the weekend, yes?</p>  <p><em>Aw yeah.</em> </p>  <p>So a lovely reader shared this sangria with me years ago – I needed a good one for an event coming up and sent out the call on Twitter. I’ve tried a lot of sangria in my day (well not a LOT, but a few…you know. Whatever.) and it’s hard to find one that has the right amount of sweet and fruitiness. </p>  <p>Here’s the thing – the initial cost of the ingredients is a little expensive. The liquor needed is about 20 bucks and then you’ll need to buy a few things to make it each time (most of which we already have). But the expensive stuff will last you a really really long time – so over time it’s not too crazy bad. </p>  <p>Here’s what you’ll need: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VYiQLi15rBA/Uc2wvhE9VBI/AAAAAAAAeVA/LQrh8wUDcaA/s1600-h/Yum%252520folder%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="classic sangria recipe" border="0" height="636" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K-GT54L13YU/Uc2xOMlgGzI/AAAAAAAAeVY/hMWMZVCyrYo/Yum%252520folder_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="classic sangria recipe" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>1 1/2 cup orange juice    <br />2 tbsp triple sec     <br />1/2 cup brandy     <br />1 bottle (750 ml) fruity red wine (the cheaper, the sweeter, the better) :)     <br />3 tbsp sugar     <br />2-3 cinnamon sticks     <br />lemon/orange/lime or even strawberry, pineapple, whatever!     <br />1 1/2 cup chilled lemon/lime sparkling water</p>  <p>You’ll want to mix the first six ingredients (hold off on the lemon/lime water) and stir. Next up, cut the fruit into slices: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TT1WLOhul5w/Uc2xO3oREdI/AAAAAAAAeVg/oxSybxz3g-U/s1600-h/IMG_5883%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="classic sangria recipe" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LR2Fuoqjwdg/Uc2xPYV7teI/AAAAAAAAeVo/DKYTvxc_6qM/IMG_5883_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="classic sangria recipe" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>One of the reasons I love this drink is because it’s such a pretty one to serve. :) </p>  <p>Just make sure to clean the fruit well before slicing since you will be adding it to the drink: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0ZetJZWe1zM/Uc2xP-vrTMI/AAAAAAAAeVw/JN5uEM4nvh4/s1600-h/IMG_5889%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="classic sangria recipe" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t0ahnZae4qM/Uc2xQQfX3zI/AAAAAAAAeV4/Y5tfs2T--5s/IMG_5889_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="classic sangria recipe" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>Side note – we like our orange juice with pulp. Usually I make this with OJ without it (it’s clearer) but I was using what we had this time. </p>  <p>This is where I like to let it steep in the fridge for a while – preferably over night. But it is still super delicious right away too. My sister-in-law had some right after I mixed it last night and it was yummy, but letting it sit really deepens the flavor. </p>  <p>Right before you serve it (after letting it steep for awhile or right after mixing everything), add the lemon lime sparkling water – this is what gives it a slight fizz. <em>So</em> good! </p>  <p>I make this for every party or girl’s night and it’s always a hit. My SIL and I were reminiscing tonight how my father-in-law loved sangria and would always order it when we went out to new restaurants. Thing is he would always turn up his nose after trying it and it made us laugh every time – he could never find one that was <em>just right</em>. </p>  <p>But I’m proud to say he LOVED my sangria. ;) </p>  <p>Hope you’ll try it and love it too!: <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gAzP-pju_ZY/Uc2xQ2GK8tI/AAAAAAAAeWA/MYtNq_bHUJk/s1600-h/sangria%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="best sangria recipe" border="0" height="701" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6VqQgYgLagQ/Uc2xRsiwqQI/AAAAAAAAeWI/r3DUG6MaVfw/sangria_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="best sangria recipe" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>Have a great weekend, cheers!    </p>  <p>**Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/I%20am%20cooking%3F" target="_blank">here</a> to see all of my easy recipes! </p>

Best sangria recipe

Welcome to Friday, whoot! Hope your week was great and you have an even better weekend planned! First up, I’m over at SAS Interiors today...

8:52 AM

Dark or light side?

<p>Hello all! Hope you had a great weekend! We took a little road trip to the Chicago area for a couple drum corp shows (for hubby), Legoland (for the kiddo) and IKEA (for me). It was a fun, quick trip! </p>  <p>So now that the powder room is done I’m moving on to a room I’ve been itching to change up for a while – our master bedroom. I made some changes <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/changes-in-master.html">earlier this year</a> using things I already had, and the room got a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/06/master-bedroom-redo-part-two.html">few other changes</a> a couple years ago. </p>  <p>We have a new addition coming to the room that kind of spurred a new redo on but I’ve been wanting to change some things up for a while – No. 1 on my list is getting rid of the striped wall behind our bed. It’s given me the itches for a few years now. </p>  <p>But my biggest dilemma before I can really get moving is the wall color – I’m torn between the allure of a deep, dark wall color and the light and bright look. I STILL can’t decide. Every time I think I have I see a new picture and it takes me back to the dark side. Or light. Or dark. </p>  <p>You get the idea. </p>  <p>I’m drawn to the moody, comfy feeling of a dark room:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LEStIICV4_s/Uchv83toMbI/AAAAAAAAeOM/VLQkFTfToxQ/s1600-h/259660734735117199oMN8gHy5c%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark walls bedroom" border="0" height="607" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GvrE2b4cLgE/Uchv9QZwoRI/AAAAAAAAeOU/ZLqNzdYV86s/259660734735117199oMN8gHy5c_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark walls bedroom" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center">(<a href="http://greigedesign.blogspot.com">source</a>)</p>  <p>Did you notice the trim is painted the same color as the walls? What do you think of that? </p>  <p>Although if I went dark I would keep the headboard light like <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com">Dear Lillie’s room</a>: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5oyQlh8Bnx0/Uchv9yLpLTI/AAAAAAAAeOc/wptTGT8ci6U/s1600-h/qDSC_0653%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark brown walls white bedding" border="0" height="735" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LOh46TR0EnA/Uchv-rycVWI/AAAAAAAAeOk/pK0JPgqUQL0/qDSC_0653_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark brown walls white bedding" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>The light bedding brightens up the room and gives great contrast – I’m a lover of contrast you know. </p>  <p>I actually have a sample of a deep navy color like <a href="http://www.ourfifthhouse.com">Carmel’s room</a>: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z3mBOGbgREs/Uchv-99UVOI/AAAAAAAAeOs/sTTkUjO0BcU/s1600-h/deskasanightstand%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark walls dark wood bed" border="0" height="482" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UMoHFruSwxI/Uchv_WVtvcI/AAAAAAAAeO0/3OdCB7pQ5cQ/deskasanightstand_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark walls dark wood bed" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>Mine has a little more of an aqua tint to it, if that makes any sense – like a peacock blue. Can I just say how much I LOVE that mirror above her bed too??</p>  <p>In general I think it’s easier to pull in colors with a lighter room, but I love how color was used in this room, even with the dark walls: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HiFGj_dfZcw/Uchv_3fruSI/AAAAAAAAeO8/sLFSMcnpu0w/s1600-h/ca2157b5db9799f020eccab2253319cd%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark walls with aqua and blue" border="0" height="665" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PLtIHFSQWs8/UchwA-Y0WpI/AAAAAAAAePE/Ntc9zoBmh6I/ca2157b5db9799f020eccab2253319cd_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark walls with aqua and blue" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://www.brianwatford.com/#/portfolio/" href="http://www.brianwatford.com/#/portfolio/">(source)</a></p>  <p>I do love the pop of pink with the dark chocolate walls in this bedroom: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iun1I0hXhHQ/UchwBIcp21I/AAAAAAAAePM/HQg513ugsXo/s1600-h/7ff6dbf41e20bd04cbc12345fe033253%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="brown walls white bedding" border="0" height="690" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6UUCCZBP2Qw/UchwBgn3dZI/AAAAAAAAePU/Aal6s6CJ27I/7ff6dbf41e20bd04cbc12345fe033253_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="brown walls white bedding" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://www.abchao.com" href="http://www.abchao.com">(source)</a></p>  <p>Just not sure the hubby would go for that. ;) </p>  <p>Here’s a great example of how a darker color completely changes the look of a room: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-K8ImabxYtTY/UchwCBIE6MI/AAAAAAAAePc/aZswn4KoRGw/s1600-h/9e8e974c893dea385039007778d619eb%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="light room redo to dark walls" border="0" height="665" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-I_22vj6lAoA/UchwCupBdrI/AAAAAAAAePk/Ww9lYcELCg4/9e8e974c893dea385039007778d619eb_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="light room redo to dark walls" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://www.abchao.com" href="http://www.abchao.com">(source)</a></p>  <p>There’s plenty of other changes too, but isn’t funny how much bigger it looks in a dark color? You always think it will be the opposite but that’s not always the case. </p>  <p>But here’s the thing – I’m finding I’m loving the power of a neutral wall color. It’s soothing, yes, but it also allows you more options when it comes to decorating with color: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-vcoz4Fh_Sdg/UchwDICsehI/AAAAAAAAePs/DNuQ-7MtThY/s1600-h/portfolio16%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="decorating with color lighter walls " border="0" height="366" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UTZ7_ZsOVB4/UchwDrdz1sI/AAAAAAAAeP0/1QV3M5DAlrA/portfolio16_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="decorating with color lighter walls " width="550" /></a></p>  <p>My friend Layla’s <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/the-bedroom/">old master bedroom</a> is one of my favorites: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EFEdtRVEX4Y/UchwEHwrB1I/AAAAAAAAeP8/NBW9LdJiAgY/s1600-h/The_Bedroom%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="cottage style bedroom " border="0" height="704" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8zcZQ_kJkyU/UchwElF96iI/AAAAAAAAeQE/IyfctHwFLy4/The_Bedroom_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="cottage style bedroom " width="500" /></a> I love that the walls and bedding are light but the room is still so warm and colorful. </p>  <p>I think it’s evident by my photos (and recent projects) that I’m loving the wall planks: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NwcgB2AMJWU/UchwFCCrxqI/AAAAAAAAeQM/s42b6eXYL2Q/s1600-h/f53096c70027ba28cd9b7da94f2c483b%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white walls, black and green accents" border="0" height="687" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XILPAYqfpBc/UchwFoDk9SI/AAAAAAAAeQU/IGo3hLjxTc0/f53096c70027ba28cd9b7da94f2c483b_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white walls, black and green accents" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://tomstringer.com" href="http://tomstringer.com">(source)</a></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p>I just adore that room – I think every room can take some black pieces and this looks amazing with the white walls and green accents. Love! </p>  <p>And no, I’m not planking our bedroom walls – I need a break from the painting for awhile. ;)</p>  <p>Of course it doesn’t have to be white on the walls – I don’t think I could do an all white room anyway. This greige-ish space is just beautiful: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FjqA6fk3Nx4/UchwGHZGG1I/AAAAAAAAeQc/U2VnOc4z_dU/s1600-h/d03cc8b4b2f694f4b767be02a8ecd81a%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="light room with blue and green" border="0" height="765" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-93uTUnp8IZ4/UchwGR_arnI/AAAAAAAAeQk/mGoLq0hisDw/d03cc8b4b2f694f4b767be02a8ecd81a_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="light room with blue and green" width="500" /></a>I love that you could pull in pretty much any accent color and it would work. It’s that a gorgeous room? </p>  <p>I love this blue color too – and it proves that a lighter color can still offer plenty of contrast against white trim: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fVNQheELPSA/UchwG-FupcI/AAAAAAAAeQs/x_t_NfBKheI/s1600-h/e33c8e58940d414fc398bc4e219a22cf%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="two story bedroom" border="0" height="668" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fSiHzGOs4vE/UchwHmqQWOI/AAAAAAAAeQ0/wP8NHmdmSu8/e33c8e58940d414fc398bc4e219a22cf_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="two story bedroom" width="500" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://oharainteriors.com" href="http://oharainteriors.com">(source)</a></p>  <p align="left">I also love that there are plenty of darker accents in there (rug, chairs, ottomans) that offer some depth without making the room really heavy. </p>  <p align="left">Overall I just love the idea of a calming, serene space: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VwKqAx4R7QU/UchwIFEc0fI/AAAAAAAAeQ8/t6hRqGMW63g/s1600-h/TVep151%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="molding same color as walls" border="0" height="463" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3htHJIPgjcM/UchwJJXKncI/AAAAAAAAeRI/9UNQkremlH8/TVep151_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="molding same color as walls" width="550" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a title="http://houseandhome.com/design/calming-bedroom" href="http://houseandhome.com/design/calming-bedroom">(source)</a></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p></p>  <p>But the thing is, our current wall color is darker (Tornado Watch at Lowe’s) and it feels super cozy too:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T4_QhfS66nE/UchwJyn5xMI/AAAAAAAAeRQ/nSNVRM-vKOo/s1600-h/IMG_4801_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dark walls bedroom " border="0" height="628" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G-0xmAGvlAE/UchwKUt64eI/AAAAAAAAeRY/qvaJPXk0Uw4/IMG_4801_thumb%25255B5%25255D_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="dark walls bedroom " width="400" /></a></p>  <p>A dark room feels like a hug to me, a lighter one feels like a big breath of fresh air.</p>  <p>Decisions, decisions.</p>  <p>A few months ago I was getting ready to slap a deep color on the walls, now I’m leaning big time toward a light color. I think I’m ready for a change! </p>  <p>What is your favorite for a bedroom – dark or light? Do/did you struggle with your wall color like me or did you know exactly what you wanted? Do tell! </p>  <p>P.S. I also painted the Bub’s room a dark blue but kept it light with lots of white trim – you can see it <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/search/label/big%20boy%20room">here</a>. </p>

Dark or light side?

Hello all! Hope you had a great weekend! We took a little road trip to the Chicago area for a couple drum corp shows (for hubby), Legoland (...

9:13 AM

No-Sew Pillows

<div style="text-align: center;">Hello and Happy Summer! It's the official beginning of summer, and it's going to be busy in this household in the next two weeks. We have three birthdays, three graduations, and a wedding. With it hotter than blazes, three kids at home, and the threat of thunderstorms each day, what's one to do? </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.)</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">When I have a little spare time, I love coming up with mini-projects, like this no-sew pillow, which only cost me a couple of dollars, and only landed me with a couple of hot glue burns - Bonus!   <br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I had two pillows, that were handed down to me from my mother. I love them because, well, they are from my mother, but I had to face facts: they'd seen better days, and they were ripping. So I decided to cover them, but keep them in tact. Here's the finished product: <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGRNFRmJ4o/UchL4GOiS7I/AAAAAAAAAl0/_2RynZOms-U/s1600/No+Sew+Linen+Pillow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGRNFRmJ4o/UchL4GOiS7I/AAAAAAAAAl0/_2RynZOms-U/s320/No+Sew+Linen+Pillow.png" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Enter the hot glue gun. (Seriously, is there anything you can't do with the hot glue gun?). </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's what I did to cover my little pillows.  Here is the original pillow: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F44cPAvI4Wk/Ucg47zlPcvI/AAAAAAAAAjk/qFOY10CMjcU/s1600/june2013+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F44cPAvI4Wk/Ucg47zlPcvI/AAAAAAAAAjk/qFOY10CMjcU/s320/june2013+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I had two napkins, edged in beads from Pier One. I originally used them for no-sew curtains in my kitchen window. You can see them <a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/2013/04/got-five-minutes.html">here</a>.<br /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSPB_8qDYLg/Ucg4k4pHp_I/AAAAAAAAAi8/XFsiHq-H6UE/s1600/6-20-13+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSPB_8qDYLg/Ucg4k4pHp_I/AAAAAAAAAi8/XFsiHq-H6UE/s320/6-20-13+007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I placed the pillow in the middle of one napkin and covered it with the other, like so: </div><div style="text-align: center;">  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X4eT7VPJP1A/Ucg5AlwVXfI/AAAAAAAAAkA/u5k9WxSHfnc/s1600/june2013+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-X4eT7VPJP1A/Ucg5AlwVXfI/AAAAAAAAAkA/u5k9WxSHfnc/s320/june2013+010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">I turned the edges down, and simply used my glue gun to seal the edges. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSPB_8qDYLg/Ucg4k4pHp_I/AAAAAAAAAi8/XFsiHq-H6UE/s1600/6-20-13+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7qOTJYZjvs/Ucg46tKAQmI/AAAAAAAAAjc/2i8xE1e54WM/s1600/june2013+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T7qOTJYZjvs/Ucg46tKAQmI/AAAAAAAAAjc/2i8xE1e54WM/s320/june2013+005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DgEFU6WQFDk/Ucg4l1ITafI/AAAAAAAAAjE/R9KMWNc7t2I/s1600/No+Sew+Burlap+Pillow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> They have a new home in the Adirondack chairs on our  covered front porch. </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGRNFRmJ4o/UchL4GOiS7I/AAAAAAAAAl0/_2RynZOms-U/s1600/No+Sew+Linen+Pillow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qYGRNFRmJ4o/UchL4GOiS7I/AAAAAAAAAl0/_2RynZOms-U/s320/No+Sew+Linen+Pillow.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is such an easy way to add some color to your outdoor furniture. As long as you have some old pillows, or find some at the thrift store, you could use cloth napkins, or tea towels from the thrift dollar store. Total cost, minus glue, is $2 per pillow! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheap and Cheerful! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note that I wouldn't use these outside unless under cover.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">What have you got going on this week?</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It's PARTY TIME!!! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">SUNDAY</span></div><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://diyshowoff.com/2013/06/02/that-diy-party-19/"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">That DIY Party at DIY Showoff</span></a><br /><a href="http://threemangoseeds.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">It's Party Time at  Three Mango Seeds</span></a><br /><a href="http://www.bystephanielynn.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">The Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming</span></a></div><span style="color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; 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color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Overflowing  with Creativity party at It's Overflowing</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://gingerbreadgem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Craft Country Cottage  Party at Old Red Barn</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://sew-licious.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">Saturday SHOW-licious Craft Showcase at Sew-licious</span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: magenta; color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MSaBqu9aYiI/UchLr937niI/AAAAAAAAAls/4LpejFA2ktw/s1600/june2013+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>

No-Sew Pillows

Hello and Happy Summer! It's the official beginning of summer, and it's going to be busy in this household in the next two weeks. We...

6:49 AM

DIY nautical oar art

<p>HEY there! Thanks SO much for all the lovely comments on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/powder-room-redo-complete.html">powder room post</a>! I’m working on answering your questions so stay tuned if I haven’t gotten back to you yet! </p>  <p>I wanted to show you how I made over one of my favorite parts of the room (there are a lot of them) – the boat oar I found at a vintage mart a few months ago: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-aeEiD-35Mf0/UcPPmSTPUjI/AAAAAAAAeLc/_X7Btv57HQY/s1600-h/IMG_5743%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage boat oar redo" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X1OkcjfEwZU/UcPPm3VsSJI/AAAAAAAAeLk/8DModL0y760/IMG_5743_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage boat oar redo" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>I first showed it to you in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-thrill-of-thrifty-hunt.html">this post</a> and as of a few days ago it still looked like that. :) This little redo seriously took about 20 minutes, and that was with paint drying! </p>  <p>I started out by wiping it down to prep it for paint: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fQThvnMzjEY/UcPPnRZQVPI/AAAAAAAAeLs/-x5dhIkCpAY/s1600-h/IMG_5750%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage boat oar redo" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LrsH-MOXseU/UcPPn60LJrI/AAAAAAAAeL0/JvQtqpAKMTk/IMG_5750_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage boat oar redo" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>I let it dry and then mixed some white paint (I used my CeCe Caldwell stuff, but regular white paint would do just fine. Flat may work better for this particular look.) with a little bit of water: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3UVGVhV3Ns4/UcPPoWWzdmI/AAAAAAAAeL8/nE8ympWorBs/s1600-h/IMG_5751%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage boat oar redo" border="0" height="354" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9g6YSI-kzcE/UcPPo9SZWCI/AAAAAAAAeME/5SQoH-fmucA/IMG_5751_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage boat oar redo" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>I didn’t want the oar to be covered completely – I wanted it to have a “wash” kind of look and this did it: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fBK0AHGggZU/UcPPpdRk3jI/AAAAAAAAeMM/q2HcaKGFsm4/s1600-h/IMG_5752%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="paint mixed with water for a wash" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vgF65pKTfbo/UcPPqGIO0PI/AAAAAAAAeMU/KA7ymudIzvY/IMG_5752_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="paint mixed with water for a wash" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>The nice thing is when it’s watered down a bit it takes even less time to dry. :)</p>  <p>I let it dry about ten minutes, and then used my delicate FrogTape to start marking where I wanted my stripes: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RKyxvr-9RLk/UcPPqov3x-I/AAAAAAAAeMc/0ZOVTikoM0Y/s1600-h/IMG_5754%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage boat oar redo" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-R4hVXgryVDk/UcPPrE7JumI/AAAAAAAAeMk/FBEkGDJAtFM/IMG_5754_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage boat oar redo" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>That one was on the handle -- I just searched striped boat oar images and kind of winged the design. </p>  <p>I taped off each section, painted and took the tape off immediately. I did that just because I knew even though the paint was dry to the touch it wasn’t cured and the tape may remove it. I take my tape off right away whenever I do stripes anyway so I get a really sharp line. </p>  <p>I moved on to the wider part and did a little stripe first: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZKjIWCH5a9c/UcPPrhwcGAI/AAAAAAAAeMs/N5FNwKrpwUk/s1600-h/IMG_5755%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="vintage boat oar redo" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GmIAV01niOg/UcPPsBkmGVI/AAAAAAAAeM0/2Ry_sGACE04/IMG_5755_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="vintage boat oar redo" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>When I pulled off that tape it did pull up a little bit of the paint, but I actually liked the look so I didn’t worry about it. I didn’t want it to look perfect anyway. ;) </p>  <p>Then I made a wider one in the middle: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eyeEc0SfLxM/UcPPspjfDuI/AAAAAAAAeM8/aKGtDo15lc0/s1600-h/IMG_5756%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="nautical stripes boat oar" border="0" height="332" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aTX-yKVMGpM/UcPPtOJHLLI/AAAAAAAAeNE/w6bCHoa7IJo/IMG_5756_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nautical stripes boat oar" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>You can see there that I cut the FrogTape down the middle for skinnier pieces. Since I was working so fast I didn’t want to put the tape down over the red paint I had just done – this allowed me to keep working quickly. :) </p>  <p>I did all the red stripes, hung the oar in the bathroom and then realized I wanted to pull in some of that blue tone in the room. I had it over at the vanity/sink, but everything around the toilet was red. </p>  <p>So I grabbed the blue paint I used on <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/01/aubusson-blue-in-foyer.html">this post</a> (it worked perfectly!) and added a few more skinny stripes:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qkgeVA1JcB8/UcPPtnsqnUI/AAAAAAAAeNM/dBqO51azKMk/s1600-h/IMG_5757%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="nautical stripes boat oar" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fB3sHtEvJLQ/UcPPuFCJGGI/AAAAAAAAeNU/G0L4ZdAbIN8/IMG_5757_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nautical stripes boat oar" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>I gotta be honest…I squealed a little when I saw how it all finished. ;) It was so stinkin’ cute!:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OTqHmczMNUE/UcPPuiJkpMI/AAAAAAAAeNc/l5EWxDmwgbc/s1600-h/IMG_5794%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="nautical stripes boat oar" border="0" height="885" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E1rW7NLzbWQ/UcPPvBqkQzI/AAAAAAAAeNk/sMEbvEnHnwY/IMG_5794_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="nautical stripes boat oar" width="550" /></a></p>  <p>I think adding that little bit of blue was a good call – it ties the whole room together! </p>  <p>To hang it I just nailed a picture hanger thing to the back of the handle at the top. </p>  <p>In the real life you can see much more of the bottom of the oar because you see it from higher up than in the pics: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AHL4daYEBqQ/UcPPvoQX0aI/AAAAAAAAeNs/uEIR9dimiLU/s1600-h/3%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planked wall bathroom " border="0" height="751" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pTJiORd-ITc/UcPPwOR-KiI/AAAAAAAAeN0/_-7wtwwQYsE/3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="wood planked wall bathroom " width="500" /></a> So that’s how the cutest little oar art came to be! It was super fast and I used paint I already had – the oar itself was $10. Love it!</p>  <p>The room isn’t exactly nautical themed but I think it still works – you don’t need to follow a specific theme to make something you love work in a room! </p>  <p>Thanks again for all the sweet comments my friends! Have a GREAT weekend! </p>

DIY nautical oar art

HEY there! Thanks SO much for all the lovely comments on the powder room post ! I’m working on answering your questions so stay tuned if I h...

6:30 AM

On Top of Spaghetti, All Covered with Cheese...

Is that song stuck in your head now? I'm sorry! <br /><br />Anyway, I'll make it up to you with a great meatball recipe. I may be going to go out on a limb here, and claiming that this recipe is for the <em>BEST</em> <em>Meatballs in the history of meatballs</em>. <br /><br />I've had a lot of practice perfecting the meatball. My Lil guy and I have date night once a week. It's a night where just the two of us are home together - no Daddy, and no brothers or sisters. Meatballs are insisted upon every week, no matter what. He may not even feel like eating meatballs, but he loves to make them! So we do. <br /><br />When you ask him what he wants to be when he grows up - A fireman, and a policeman, and a chef. (Yeah, he's gonna be very busy). <br /><br />The one ingredient that adds tons of texture and flavor is the multi-grain bread. We discovered this recently, and only because we were out of white bread. <br /><br />Try them and see what you think! <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">The BEST Meatballs</span></strong></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEtthlUfRRk/UcNQ1pSv4HI/AAAAAAAAAio/7VvGI_Tl61g/s1600/Best+Meatballs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MEtthlUfRRk/UcNQ1pSv4HI/AAAAAAAAAio/7VvGI_Tl61g/s320/Best+Meatballs.png" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Ingredients:</strong> </div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 slices multi-grain bread </div></li><li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="2">1/2 cup buttermilk <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="3">1/2 lb ground pork <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="4">3/4 lb 85% lean ground beef <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="5">1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or 1/4 cup Romano cheese <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="6">1 egg <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="7">1 garlic clove, minced <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="8">2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped </li><li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="8">Chili flakes (To taste) </li></li></li></li></li></li></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Directions:</strong></div><div class="section clrfix directions" sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="9"><ol sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="9"><li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="9">Tear the bread into pieces and soak in buttermilk for a few  minutes. Mash slightly with a fork. <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="10">Combine bread with ground  pork and lean ground beef. Add grated Parmesan or Romano cheese, egg,  minced garlic, and parsley (and chili flakes if you use them). <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="11">Divide into sixteen pieces  and roll into balls. <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="11">Brown them in a non-stick frying pan. <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="11">Add to your favorite marinara sauce and cook until they are  done. <li sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="12">If you prefer to make these without sauce, skip the frying and bake at 350 degrees  Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until cooked through. </li></li></li></li></li></li></ol></div><div sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="12"> </div><div sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="12">There you have it. We serve ours in sauce, over spaghetti that's been drizzled with olive oil. The little man and I both like grated cheddar cheese on top.</div><div sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="12"> </div><div sizcache004366587063238303="12" sizset="12">I'd love it if you would let me know what you think! </div>

On Top of Spaghetti, All Covered with Cheese...

Is that song stuck in your head now? I'm sorry! Anyway, I'll make it up to you with a great meatball recipe. I may be going to go ou...

3:28 PM

Powder room redo, complete!

<p>Well, the time is here. After <strike>ten</strike> <strike>five</strike> three long years, the powder room is finally. done. </p>  <p>It is a GLORIOUS DAY people!! I’m seriously so excited to have this room complete, and I’m even more excited that I LOVE it so!</p>  <p>Let’s go back a little bit first, shall we? Pretty sure this room has been five colors now. I’ve never even shown you the <em>before</em> before, but here’s the before since I’ve been blogging:  </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PF7vlQU1cfQ/UcG-DcIOH0I/AAAAAAAAeJg/8_FneOAJ1fY/s1600-h/DSC061823.jpg"><img alt="brown bathroom" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EaE_XdS00Kg/UcG-DyRNVzI/AAAAAAAAeJo/TNF9QM0KhZc/DSC06182_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="brown bathroom" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>It was in my dramatic days. :) I had a love of all things chocolate brown. </p>  <p>I painted it years back but it was still a mess – holes in the walls, only one coat and the brown was popping through, and then I started the wall treatment forever ago and it sat like this for a while: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HZchHcL1Ulc/UcG-EqXB_AI/AAAAAAAAeDI/4B8Yjy72PxY/s1600-h/IMG_436624.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="wood plank walls" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Uex-jg0ItE0/UcG-FFYsmSI/AAAAAAAAeDQ/tCfkkT_g4UY/IMG_43662_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood plank walls" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>And then I got the planking done and things started to come together, but I think a lot of you thought I was losing it a little bit: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-droOl144bGU/UcG-FoeyP6I/AAAAAAAAeDY/oezCK954pTM/s1600-h/IMG_5498_thumb14.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="wood plank walls" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zIK_fO9R7_0/UcG-GGOkKlI/AAAAAAAAeDg/Ovi06HB6udg/IMG_5498_thumb1_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="wood plank walls" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>Did you see my vision? Or did you think I was losing my mind? Or creating a room that looks “a little bit like a barn” as my SWEET husband said? </p>  <p>Well, he finally sees what I had in my head…now. I admit it doesn’t always come together till the very end. Part of the reason this one took so long is I couldn’t decide on a final vision for it – I had a few ideas over the years but finally last year inspiration really hit, in the form of the Bub’s art:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-inP_sfhhIyA/UcG-GoOsalI/AAAAAAAAeDo/mqvqKlZWHoE/s1600-h/IMG_57643.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E66qbulOwz4/UcG-HGxM-lI/AAAAAAAAeDw/9HRLm9TuGTY/IMG_5764_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>The whole space was inspired by the beautiful colors in this art – at first I was going to paint the walls a bright red, (as you can see above), but I realized quickly that it was going to be too much. </p>  <p>Instead I went neutral but that’s allowed me to really have fun with color in this space: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-L_ntLbujMWs/UcHfF1t0ApI/AAAAAAAAeJw/cmkS2LrRdGw/s1600-h/IMG_5758%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white wood planked walls" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-glpDvQclVoA/UcHfGiBLzfI/AAAAAAAAeJ4/mzS4IIvb-Ng/IMG_5758_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white wood planked walls" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>By powder room standards this is a big one. Don’t I know it. </p>  <p>Painting all those wood planks made me want to poke my eyes out:</p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bOGlvUy5v6I/UcG-Ir3XwPI/AAAAAAAAeEI/vmYVZitvIqU/s1600-h/IMG_5760%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white wood planked walls" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JOZZMD6WONc/UcG-JMAF4-I/AAAAAAAAeEQ/5SuJoZoFY-w/IMG_5760_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white wood planked walls" width="500" /></a> The end result was SO worth it though. </p>  <p>Would I do it again? </p>  <p>It may be too soon to ask. ;) </p>  <p>It’s hard to get good shots of this room with my normal lens so I used a wide angle and it made parts of the photos blurry, sorry about that. But I wanted you to be able to see it as I do (without my contacts in, obviously):  <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E1SXeHkT4Q8/UcG-JujQ11I/AAAAAAAAeEY/Ostbtr4MQKc/s1600-h/2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white bathroom with red and blue" border="0" height="786" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eiOF3f6yl-s/UcG-KBIf1uI/AAAAAAAAeEg/vJGteFzjJMc/2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white bathroom with red and blue" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>The room also took a while because I decided last year to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/bathrooms-progress-floors.html">continue the wood floors</a> into the room, but waited until it fit in the budget (it ended up costing $300) and the timing worked – we had to pull everything out of the room to have them done: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-W7S7D7LbZv0/UcG-KVo1uSI/AAAAAAAAeEo/XToOsc8ezY8/s1600-h/IMG_5825%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="red blue floral rug" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-f_jlvdq2sJA/UcG-LAyHA1I/AAAAAAAAeEw/Mb6HY6bBhzc/IMG_5825_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="red blue floral rug" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>We went without a toilet for a couple weeks and without a sink for a couple months. A fully functioning bathroom is highly underrated. ;) </p>  <p>I adore the dark floors in there. They really warm up the room, especially against all that white trim. Gah. My favorite! I got that rug from Target about a year ago, maybe two? It’s been a while. I loved the colors in it, and when I realized how well the Bub’s artwork matched I knew my plan was meant to be!</p>  <p>It’s also hard to take pics of this room because there’s so little natural light. So bear with me on these! Here’s a good shot of all of the planking that went on in here: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BGF3iyavwZ4/UcG-LqBbYrI/AAAAAAAAeE4/0TY76kD1vp8/s1600-h/IMG_5780%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bathroom with planked walls" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0mRyUbxivn4/UcG-MGdQkiI/AAAAAAAAeFA/wotlA0RIaUU/IMG_5780_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bathroom with planked walls" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>Remember when I showed you the process and mentioned that I didn’t worry about the seams and lines of the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/worse-before-it-gets-better.html">wood planks matching up</a>? Well, the board and batten trim I put over everything is the reason why: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ePOpq5uOfPY/UcG-Ms-h_NI/AAAAAAAAeFI/1cD-Wdv_WU4/s1600-h/IMG_58313.jpg"><img alt="white wood planked walls" border="0" height="366" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-91fU-4xqxh4/UcG-NKnjTbI/AAAAAAAAeFQ/nNWZB6Qedgg/IMG_5831_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="white wood planked walls" width="550" /></a></p>  <p>The wood planking I used only came in eight foot lengths, so I knew I’d have to cut them down on that long wall. The b and b look was perfect for hiding all that not-so-good stuff! It’s SO not perfect people, it never is! </p>  <p>You can see a good shot of the wall treatment and the new trim around the doors here: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lpHDT5VrtOA/UcG-Nuy8BKI/AAAAAAAAeFY/ALPyP9Q0k74/s1600-h/IMG_5781%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten over planks walls" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EPRKghH7pPE/UcG-OF6vyMI/AAAAAAAAeFg/L6WQsBy5oRc/IMG_5781_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="board and batten over planks walls" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>I’m SO glad I decided to rip out the trim and redo those doors! </p>  <p>Here’s the linen closet door with it’s <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/04/diy-craftsman-door-trim.html">craftsman trim</a>: </p>  <p><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="DIY craftsman trim" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ClgG_58FAu4/UcG-OrtbTDI/AAAAAAAAeFo/U12HH-LVcg4/IMG_5783%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DIY craftsman trim" width="500" /></p>  <p>It makes such a difference!! Luscious. </p>  <p>We used to have a pedestal sink in this bathroom: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mNH8O13bvcg/UcG-PMUdg2I/AAAAAAAAeFw/GgYM4nMX-MY/s1600-h/DSC061865.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="448" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gr7UJLQsr9A/UcG-RF04jXI/AAAAAAAAeF4/jw0AgfrqdsM/DSC06186_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="300" /></a></p>  <p>And I loved the faucet but the sink was not my favorite. I did like it when we moved in because it was different than a regular vanity that I was used to. But eventually I missed having some storage. </p>  <p>So we went with the IKEA bathroom vanity instead – the only major purchase for this room (other than the floors): </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Yth7-xlVuuE/UcG-RlozvAI/AAAAAAAAeGA/frayf_QGOJM/s1600-h/IMG_5795%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img alt="IKEA Hemnes bathroom vanity" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7G7YnJcTeAk/UcG-SFxPCXI/AAAAAAAAeGI/QFjLem5ED5c/IMG_5795_thumb%25255B12%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IKEA Hemnes bathroom vanity" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>The vanity and sink together came in under $300. I shopped all over the place and still found that to be the best deal for the size. I LOVE the sink – it’s so nice to have room for the soap dispenser! </p>  <p>I’ll blog about that whole piece more soon: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AQUyywzP2tc/UcG-Sd5WZjI/AAAAAAAAeGQ/UAN2Sk9h5kM/s1600-h/IMG_58293.jpg"><img alt="oval mirror over bathroom sink" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SZLCx_oCHUw/UcG-S9TpunI/AAAAAAAAeGY/a3FRUwMJoc4/IMG_5829_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="oval mirror over bathroom sink" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>The lights are one of my favorite parts of the room – I found them at Home Depot and just thought they were so different. Kind of vintagey, I love them!: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vYkhxer0rqs/UcG-TjQYmrI/AAAAAAAAeGg/NntELGQ_ZB4/s1600-h/IMG_58063.jpg"><img alt="vintage looking bathroom lights" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BdaJLL7YKjw/UcG-UPoNbgI/AAAAAAAAeGo/j7nvTOXgtD0/IMG_5806_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="vintage looking bathroom lights" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>They also match the new faucet perfectly – couldn’t have worked any better! </p>  <p>You can see in this old pic that we used to have one light fixture above the sink: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wJRjWMiKxAI/UcG-U-gV7bI/AAAAAAAAeGw/JyGFR8ca_18/s1600-h/IMG_175043.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="601" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-eZ0GnFkmsbM/UcG-VQn7lMI/AAAAAAAAeG4/STYQGGJIp6s/IMG_17504_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="" width="400" /></a></p>  <p>I always wanted to do two separate lights, I just love that look! </p>  <p>So that we did: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8j7iAKQe-II/UcG-V-jgW8I/AAAAAAAAeHA/mXz6E3dHRO8/s1600-h/IMG_58243.jpg"><img alt="two lights over bathroom mirror" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gi9hUbQtnbQ/UcG-WS7djBI/AAAAAAAAeHI/vX4FTjHypa8/IMG_5824_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="two lights over bathroom mirror" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>It brought the light down almost a foot and I just like the lighting better this way in here. </p>  <p>You can see in this area how I mixed blues and reds in the room – again pulling from the art and the rug. It’s a combo you wouldn’t think would work just talking about it, but I LOVE how fresh and pretty it is against the white! I think they work great together! </p>  <p>The blue is more of an aqua blue, but I also used a little true aqua in here too – in the knobs I told you about <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/knob-love.html">here</a> and the vase on the vanity: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-B3bzvbCleY4/UcG-Wx1SniI/AAAAAAAAeHQ/6ti_pl2kj-E/s1600-h/IMG_57993.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="hydrangea in vase" border="0" height="676" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8kcYxFRs3fA/UcG-XZJKPNI/AAAAAAAAeHY/URbWZviuWuc/IMG_5799_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="hydrangea in vase" width="450" /></a></p>  <p>It’s really a candle holder but I think it works even better as a vase. ;) </p>  <p>The towel is that darker blue and the stuff near the toilet pulls in more of the red: </p>  <p><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="white room, blue and red decor" border="0" height="751" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-HXKIxGHJ7Rs/UcG-X7NyAOI/AAAAAAAAeHg/OJRw_Xaz9Jo/3%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="white room, blue and red decor" width="500" /></p>  <p>I meant to put those lights on a dimmer before I took pics, but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m not touching this room again for awhile! <em>Girl needs a break.</em></p>  <p>You may recognize the boat oar from <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-thrill-of-thrifty-hunt.html">my last post</a>. ;) It got a little redo and I stinkin’ love it: </p>  <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7UATn5duHUA/UcG-YT-jo2I/AAAAAAAAeHo/Z9rUCphmWI0/s1600-h/IMG_57943.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="striped boat oar art" border="0" height="805" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ndn49SyLcyI/UcG-ZG6b6fI/AAAAAAAAeHw/Eg1Vs1pe6TU/IMG_5794_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="striped boat oar art" width="500" /></a></p>  <p>So that area about the toilet is hard, don’t you think? I struggle with what to do there – a starburst mirror would be pretty but I already have one mirror on that wall, and do people really want a mirror there? Uh. <strong>No. </strong></p>  <p>I almost hung shelves there to fill and decorate, but in the end I wanted it to be simple – I didn’t want a lot of stuff in there. The oar was a perfect fit and it totally makes me smile when I see it. :) (Although I may hang it higher since the toilet paper blocks some of it.) </p>  <p>I really, really adore how it all came together (and I better!!) – it’s so fresh and fun and I really couldn’t be happier. It was a TON of work, not gonna lie. Those planked walls…the installation really isn’t bad, it’s <em>the painting</em>. If I was smart I would have installed it all and then sprayed it before the floors were put in. But oh well…live and learn. I survived. :)  </p>  <p>Here’s a before and after shot – the dark brown we had for years and the light, bright and colorful version we have today: </p>  <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PF7vlQU1cfQ/UcG-DcIOH0I/AAAAAAAAeKA/iURdylYEGTw/s1600-h/DSC061824.jpg"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EaE_XdS00Kg/UcG-DyRNVzI/AAAAAAAAeKI/9HT4avWpmjQ/DSC06182_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="" width="290" /></a></p>  <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uNPq0AHBYic/UcG-HvIxpAI/AAAAAAAAeJQ/FfStXrecHY4/s1600-h/IMG_5758%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood planked walls, bathroom" border="0" height="436" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-FlQ_jKYACSg/UcG-Hw7ngkI/AAAAAAAAeJY/yK1-XNbZKN8/IMG_5758_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="wood planked walls, bathroom" width="290" /></a></p>  <p>The total cost was about $1000 for the whole room, which I didn’t think was too bad considering we have hardwoods in there and a new vanity, sink, mirror, faucet, light fixtures and new walls. Oh and that was spread out over a span of about a year, so that helped too. </p>  <p>That’s why I take forever to do all my spaces, don'tcha know? To spread out the costs. ;) (That kind of is true actually. That and I just take forever.) </p>  <p>Anyway, here’s a source list for many of the items and I’ll follow up with more detail on the sink and vanity!</p>  <p>Rug – Target a couple years ago    <br />Frame – Goodwill     <br />Oar – thrift sale     <br />TP holder – HomeGoods last year (I painted it) I just saw some more last week!     <br />Light fixtures – Home Depot     <br />Vanity, sink – IKEA     <br />Faucet – Lowe’s     <br />Mirror – Home Depot     <br />Wood for walls – Lowe’s (see <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/03/planking-wall-not-me.html">here</a> for how to)</p>  <p>Any other questions? Let me know and I’ll answer them! I did a little happy jig yesterday because this room is finished <em>and</em> I love how it turned out. Can you believe IT’S FINALLY DONE? Sorry for yelling but IT’S FINALLY DONE!!! </p>  <p>Holler.    </p>

Powder room redo, complete!

Well, the time is here. After ten five three long years, the powder room is finally. done. It is a GLORIOUS DAY people!! I’m seriously s...

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