What I did over summer vacation

<p>Hey all! Thanks so much for the comments on the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-painted-fireplace.html">fireplace and built ins</a> yesterday! I’m so thrilled with it and am excited to get it done. I started cutting tile yesterday but ran out of time to get any up. As much as I’m itching to get it done I want to take my time and do it right – so I’ve decided to take a break for the next couple of days and just have fun at my 20-year reunion instead of working. :) I’m HOPING I can get the tile done Sunday. Crossing my fingers. </p> <p>Today I’m looking back on the past couple of months in my regular month in review. I forgot to do it for July so I’m covering two months (again). I can’t believe it was just July that we started the family room renovation – it feels like it has been going on all summer. Seriously, like four months now. But no, just a couple. My goal was to get the workers done with their part before school started and my next goal is to have the whole space done by the end of this month. I think I can do it. </p> <p>It’s fun to look back on the process though – it was early July when we <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/tearing-down-wall.html">took down the wall</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LFoe-tyr9YE/VAnQCavSsfI/AAAAAAAAqhw/shFJzFV8zRI/s1600-h/18%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="how to tear down a non loadbearing wall" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QZeZzqXAz1Y/VAnQDFCn-7I/AAAAAAAAqh4/hVzvVm-NwTs/18_thumb.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="how to tear down a non loadbearing wall" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Seeing all that light come through was very exciting. :) </p> <p>I helped because I was SO happy to see it go: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UKO7TAy3VO4/VAnQD14-ADI/AAAAAAAAqiA/v2JTGPIk_Fc/s1600-h/12%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="tearing down a wall" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HX5KQPSsZkY/VAnQEw4Rr_I/AAAAAAAAqiI/WNfispPxUdY/12_thumb.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="tearing down a wall" width="500" /></a></p> <p>By the time we were done that first day the room looked like this: <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kl-3jnCC-kg/VAnQFqAW_aI/AAAAAAAAqiQ/PH4ztxmvFLM/s1600-h/3%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img alt="how to tear down a wall" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1tw4VZEZkT4/VAnQGHm2vQI/AAAAAAAAqiY/kDYI9BRFUaI/3_thumb%25255B5%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="how to tear down a wall" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Seeing all the dust does NOT make me miss this part. </p> <p>We had to have some audio/visual cables moved, had the fireplace built and then the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/family-room-reno-week-four.html">floors patched</a> in a couple places: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xzckz1aB5Tk/VAnQHcqfcrI/AAAAAAAAqig/RCcZCcedhd4/s1600-h/28%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="patching wood floors" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5E_M5yYc-go/VAnQIOx3aDI/AAAAAAAAqio/qw0J96qRgCY/28_thumb.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="patching wood floors" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The floors were sanded and restained and that part being done was a sign of most of the contractor work being done: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tdHL-wNdI4A/VAnQJLHVWTI/AAAAAAAAqiw/mTRiVgT3JwA/s1600-h/24%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="jacobean stain floors" border="0" height="649" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7du9NaJAAS8/VAnQKMLYKnI/AAAAAAAAqi4/b7jQDtvfaNc/24_thumb%25255B5%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="jacobean stain floors" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It was a very good feeling. ;) </p> <p align="left">Along the way I discussed my inspiration for the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/family-room-almost-there.html">fireplace area</a> – the built ins were inspired by this photo: </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-t1xxbC64mho/VAnQK7HKjcI/AAAAAAAAqjA/thzbozwm3hI/s1600-h/101915053.jpg.rendition.largest%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="416" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U6GytxX2HFg/VAnQL7cT5TI/AAAAAAAAqjI/0X-2Vf2pzko/101915053.jpg.rendition.largest_thumb.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="fireplace with built ins" width="500" /></a>(<a href="http://www.bhg.com">source</a>)</p> <p align="left">And the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-fireplace-design.html">wall above it</a> was inspired by this one: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0iIlzGAef6Q/VAnQMaDOSYI/AAAAAAAAqjQ/K4qpkRNzLyk/s1600-h/fireplace%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fireplace with tv" border="0" height="640" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Wbh30K0a6IA/VAnQNaApqsI/AAAAAAAAqjY/08P-FA_EFpc/fireplace_thumb.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="fireplace with tv" width="480" /></a></p> <p align="center">(<a href="http://simplyinspireddesign.com/a-sneak-peek/">source</a>)</p> <p>I had the pictures in my head all along of those exact rooms, but it’s always nice to find an actual photo of it. :) </p> <p>I took a “break” and went off to Atlanta to host our third <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/haven-2014.html">Haven Conference</a> with four of my friends: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_fTcMs0oYJQ/VAnQOKDZeaI/AAAAAAAAqjg/AtJiAdTYTD8/s1600-h/2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Haven Conference" border="0" height="500" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YOcBjnbQzIw/VAnQO_W3HzI/AAAAAAAAqjo/3u62hL1XQm0/2_thumb.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="Haven Conference" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then while the mess was going on around us got some projects done – <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/wood-planked-coffee-table.html">this coffee table</a> started out as mess and I absolutely LOVE how it looks now: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-aeFon093fco/VAnQP6hawCI/AAAAAAAAqjw/9bW7NhXxoZA/s1600-h/IMG_9453%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="updating 80's coffee table" border="0" height="695" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2BrRxDYn1so/VAnQQmRT8KI/AAAAAAAAqj4/quCUZEMp-sA/IMG_9453_thumb.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="updating 80's coffee table" width="500" /></a></p> <p>We haven’t had a coffee table for a while just because we liked the open space – now the room feels so spacious as it is and we LOVE having a place to our feet up. :) </p> <p>I taped and taped and taped and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/07/knock-off-wood-art-take-2.html">painted some art</a> I had made for the family room years ago: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oBCHgJkbtRw/VAnQRRUandI/AAAAAAAAqj8/EpeHJ8Yi6qU/s1600-h/IMG_9516%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood art knock off" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-l3XuKJvI7ow/VAnQSOpY3wI/AAAAAAAAqkI/8k4bIALAHqI/IMG_9516_thumb.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 art knock off" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I love the fresh colors! </p> <p>Next up it was time to think about paint. I shared some of my best tips on picking out paint colors and sheens <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/picking-out-paint-colors.html">here</a>: </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KyLaVxjCWvA/VAnQS3zw9WI/AAAAAAAAqkQ/JOU_QxZ0CCw/s1600-h/IMG_9404%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="picking out paint colors tips" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-abmxJ1MkA-Y/VAnQTrpgPpI/AAAAAAAAqkY/UpombndQuHA/IMG_9404_thumb.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="picking out paint colors tips" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then my process of picking out the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/a-new-wall-color-kind-of.html">new paint color</a> in the family room: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WmJI82fe1P8/VAnQUbJbExI/AAAAAAAAqkg/GEInkeV18h8/s1600-h/IMG_9581%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="analytical gray" border="0" height="741" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-m0qZWi5_RY4/VAnQVIpxkKI/AAAAAAAAqko/IEirVUKo3zk/IMG_9581_thumb.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="analytical gray" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I love it! We’ve had the same color in that room since the day we closed on the house ten years ago. It is time for a new look! </p> <p>One corner of the room is mostly, kinda done. I shared how I’m working now <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/my-new-office.html">without my desk</a> in this post: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KBc6Lp6VB-U/VAnQV_ViYZI/AAAAAAAAqkw/Rc2T3ZtO_go/s1600-h/IMG_9551%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="two windows in corner" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AtEpNAD2QUo/VAnQWonxxXI/AAAAAAAAqk4/Z8s75c8mmcQ/IMG_9551_thumb.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 windows in corner" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then it was time to get outside – I took you on a tour of our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/late-summer-backyard-tour.html">backyard garden and patio</a>:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ddxsLTCtV3s/VAnQXRghQNI/AAAAAAAAqlA/FjD_9sCulMo/s1600-h/IMG_9632%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="curved mulch beds" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OoQGZToLqK0/VAnQYLW3xaI/AAAAAAAAqlI/O2S9z3MtsyM/IMG_9632_thumb.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="curved mulch beds" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I’m looking forward to getting back outside after this heat wave ends (today!!) and fall arrives here in Indiana. (YAY!!) </p> <p>I found out a very interesting fact during our renovation – our dryer was making our clothes smell like fire and I shared the reason why in <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/fire-in-dryer.html">this post</a>: </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1rcwLA0IDpQ/VAnQY02ub2I/AAAAAAAAqlQ/MhTkWzOJJjI/s1600-h/IMG_6986%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="oxtagon tile" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LitsGCtuSMs/VAnQZuh6yUI/AAAAAAAAqlY/sbjGE_tNeao/IMG_6986_thumb.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="oxtagon tile" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And then it was time to get some stuff done in the family room! I spent worked my tail off one day and got all the painting, caulking, filling and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/its-time-for-some-board-and-batten.html">board and batten</a> done on one side of the room. Well not all. But close: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iGdZ9N_UGQU/VAnQaeeHp4I/AAAAAAAAqlg/1yHRra6HeMU/s1600-h/IMG_9728%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wlfvZn63nJk/VAnQbPRgrgI/AAAAAAAAqlo/HP7feg4S_mA/IMG_9728_thumb.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 board and batten" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I also share my easy tip for beefing up the crown molding in that post. </p> <p>I took a quick trip to Des Moines Iowa a few weeks ago to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/better-homes-and-gardens-tour.html">tour the Better Homes and Gardens headquarters</a> with some other bloggers: </p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bCuJkz5Xky0/VAnQbwdtnzI/AAAAAAAAqlw/kxOHAajOqoQ/s1600-h/1%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="better homes and gardens headquarters" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RlvwQ6nEWbE/VAnQcs67gcI/AAAAAAAAql4/_xk50MOQKk8/1_thumb.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="better homes and gardens headquarters" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It was truly a dream come true to get to do that – very excited about working with them! </p> <p>And finally, I was inspired by that trip and shared a few of the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/simple-decorating.html">simple decorating touches</a> around our house in this post: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8asQs1Mn7CM/VAnQdVcMRAI/AAAAAAAAqmA/ie_klRpvMQw/s1600-h/IMG_9753%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Simple decorating at @thriftydecorchick -- plants in pitchers" border="0" height="405" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NTyh-3GMgA8/VAnQeOTu0WI/AAAAAAAAqmI/cQAsIMM1MgI/IMG_9753_thumb.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="Simple decorating at @thriftydecorchick -- plants in pitchers" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>I think very often simple touches are the prettiest! </p> <p>There you go! Did you miss one? We all know that would suck. :) Hope you have a wonderful weekend! I’ll be back next week with some more progress! </p>

What I did over summer vacation

Hey all! Thanks so much for the comments on the fireplace and built ins yesterday! I’m so thrilled with it and am excited to get it done. I...

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Easy Homemade Pesto

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjsKR97utFQxHhVeiCrQf3SM-LMoMODqWPGOa-Kx9LpVAOy5RkwA3SjUu5QBlB2ng1hIcI61HudYrSbFxJVGBD44Y2Ovpx8oTkZoQWLtC8WmAOOOWdUNBtPI7PeXIbOR2iU2ke5FHqSU/s1600/pesto+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pesto recipe, make pesto, how to make pesto, pesto" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjsKR97utFQxHhVeiCrQf3SM-LMoMODqWPGOa-Kx9LpVAOy5RkwA3SjUu5QBlB2ng1hIcI61HudYrSbFxJVGBD44Y2Ovpx8oTkZoQWLtC8WmAOOOWdUNBtPI7PeXIbOR2iU2ke5FHqSU/s1600/pesto+1.jpg" title="" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Are you getting tired of food on the BBQ? I know we are. But, when it's 100 degrees in the shade, there's not a lot you can do about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trudge out to the grill and go for it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But do me a favor? Make yourself some homemade pesto to serve with whatever you're grilling. Pesto goes waaaay beyond just serving over pasta. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trust me, it goes with everything. Not to mention it will change up the flavor of your BBQing repertoire, so that you can handle some more food hot off of the grill. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, frankly, you can used Pesto with anything ~ I'm trying really hard to think of something Pesto doesn't go with... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ummmm. (hear those crickets?) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Grilled bread, grilled veggies, grilled fish, grilled seafood, grilled meats... </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nope, nothing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So whatcha waiting for? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Homemade Pesto <span style="color: lime;">(with Basil and Mint) </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><ul style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #333333; line-height: 17.68000030517578px; margin: 0px; max-width: 420px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1 </span><span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">cup</span></span> <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">chopped fresh basil </span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1/2</span> <span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">cup</span></span> <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">chopped fresh mint </span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1/4</span> <span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">cup</span></span> <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">soft breadcrumbs</span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1/4</span> <span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">cup</span></span> <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">grated Parmesan cheese <i>(PLEASE use fresh Parmesan cheese! Okay, just promise you'll try!) </i></span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">3 </span><span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">tablespoon</span></span> good olive oil <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;"><i>(or more for consistency)</i></span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1 </span><span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">tablespoon</span></span> <span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">minced, fresh garlic</span></span></span></li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="float: none; line-height: 18px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 17px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ingredient" style="outline: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="amount" style="outline: 0px;"><span class="value" style="outline: 0px;">1/4</span> <span class="type" style="outline: 0px;">teaspoon</span></span> f<span class="name" style="outline: 0px;">reshly ground black pepper</span></span></span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Add all of the ingredients to a mini-chopper, or blender, and blend until well chopped. </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><u>Ways to serve PESTO:</u></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><u><br /></u></span></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Grill tons of veggies, and stir together with a few tbsp of pesto</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Thin pesto with olive oil and use as a dipping sauce for baguettes, or ciabatta bread</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Slather on grilled meats</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Thin pesto with olive oil and drizzle over grilled seafood or fish</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Marinate chicken or meats in pesto for a couple of hours and grill</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Marinate seafood or fish in pesto for half an hour and grill </span></span></li><li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Stir a tbsp of pesto into your favorite grilled pizza sauce</span></span></li></ul><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Got any ideas of how to use Pesto? Leave me a comment and let me know! </span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 17.24799919128418px; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: red;">Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter! (Above) </span></b></i></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 17.24799919128418px; text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: red;">If you would like to join in some fun link parties, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 17.24799919128418px; text-align: start;"></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 15.199999809265137px; line-height: 17.24799919128418px; text-align: start;"></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: red;">head on over <a href="http://happyhouseandhome.blogspot.com/p/where-to-party.html" style="color: #888888; text-decoration: none;">HERE</a>!  </span></i><i><span style="color: red;">So much inspiration! </span></i></div>

Easy Homemade Pesto

Are you getting tired of food on the BBQ? I know we are. But, when it's 100 degrees in the shade, there's not a lot you can do about...

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A painted fireplace

<p>Well HELLO all! I’ve been working my butt off on the fireplace this week! I don’t have a totally finished product to show you but I’m SO excited about the direction it’s going so I wanted to share. I went a little out of my comfort zone and I love it. </p> <p>Sunday I had had enough with the unfinished mess and started tackling the fireplace and built ins. I thought it would take me a couple days max – HA! I’m on day five and have a good four days of work left. I <em>way</em> underestimated how much needed to be done. </p> <p>It’s a beast – the fireplace is massive and the built ins have a lot of surface area to paint as well. On Sunday this is how the one holding our TV components looked: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY6xABdpilrh9p-c6ga-65JwxR3zLAt2WYWce80U8-UuXVfdbj9dO2UgjNCrri_EjWALFhQ-7z1KjvLGCe8o79rrRvjeSb2GUqgOcIC1hZT6r_S1v5eyMLgjqermMAEBRhV39YFlVy-o8/s1600-h/31%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="built ins by TV" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZAYoUWdgSdlBFpooOCFI5j1pnQK9w605mVJ22VdahgCT0hmdJgLprkJOTVnXGmfBJfQrK4MRFf5iBVoGfxMlqLoRv8fey7ES0Q3lAMRTESJ6ZaDQXe2E2s7mSDkLbdkhALgPbfrQ62Tk/?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="built ins by TV" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Hot mess. I’ve had guests and friends over for weeks with it looking like that and I could have cared less. All the sudden on Sunday I couldn’t take it one more minute. It’s how I roll. </p> <p>And yes, I was equipped with a cherry icee. Ignore the poor plant that has become a snack for the cats. </p> <p>My first order of business was to fill alllllllll the holes: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIaveFGwxpwlQVJHoNd5LOeGGoY8HQpVJA8j9lchvBuuI_fEgJdaCgKpKT5_as46NdQGlNE6pAfYgsLMlZCXNk6Cx9kLQ6PbQHhu8_IWqheM0p5vdTijWL2wyJzi_MygPYIpgrERItCws/s1600-h/32%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="trim on built ins" border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ImHRroJvHEWSSrwRxsu9qPOPplleJSOvxoNncWZGEvnSUshWchCgVFI3JX1gHDcctVtKH7AJtn_y9c3j2wSO6V4HB3f6ZHLRccXtzbALdn93keKajFZaqpZPsbXWTxRm72Zxgtc06iY/?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="trim on built ins" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I didn’t worry about all the cracks because those were getting covered later. But I filled and sanded, then caulked the whole thing top to bottom. </p> <p>THEN came the priming: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9Zoy7GvV85iFtucqui2aBiwny8MkMD4aCQk8uGnqfzdVVdADuxaVi7ewz1jdk6qTvnuqeE8ZY2e0mAiOYoLH8JWPtnEA9HO0Cjm8_tKYJqHZn37qdvzmLr_qrV0FujAeWyifaJcBoGA/s1600-h/33%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="short built ins by fireplace" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03v5NS_FyWbRoEm3JU7S-Pl0bxHJOgq8y9BQqRNz_9cgjyDBcIYrFYKLgaphwS4l7hLhiM32dWWWCu7H5N-9PYzsR6F8CNFLlXwz0DPrDJrcepHWpMjJSgsQIXtdBs_DWKGkd70-h_qQ/?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="short built ins by fireplace" width="488" /></a></p> <p>I got all that done in the first day – by the second day I had my white semi gloss paint in hand and started painting the first coat…but stopped myself. You can’t tell from the pic above because the board and batten isn’t done over there – but it was a whole lotta WHITE. I love white trim as much as anybody (well, more than anybody), but the white built ins against the white board and batten was feeling a little blah. </p> <p>I had been playing with the idea of painting the whole thing out in a light gray all along. Somewhere along the line I talked myself out of it – I didn’t feel like it would look right without enough contrast. But I had that white paint in my hand and couldn’t get the idea out of my mind. I wanted this area to really pop and as it was it wasn’t happening. </p> <p>I had an idea percolating in my head and looked back through some pictures I had saved to get up the guts to follow through. When I saw this photo I had bookmarked the decision was made: </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielJI8d8ZAgG1BwmYGB0OhF5QH3W05FcEISQpJCY0c10sZyLvQjMeyYwMktBCqggPeWYBrXHyrRftBO1OQCSI5SZX5ZHWGhU6_mr2xthAz4UIZ16NgWqiQ_KU70IP5jLaHpFQ2anFfBG4/s1600-h/19mebeckdesign%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="19mebeckdesign" border="0" height="749" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqEQISiJO8Sg0NdyxIalmf8ygRpObiDAZ-Bzi_e0n_k1QF4bQ0J_5xwXbTPouClJ6bcEXZRXjS3iD6ud9z4TbGbutOXXOx2VOO3XGd1Xb0bw5v9uOmVn9QaROEtkoWO31Q4otCTl5OMg/?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="19mebeckdesign" width="500" /></a> (<a href="http://beckdesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/before-after-beautiful-kitchen.html?m=1">source</a>)</p> <p>GoodNESS people. That is stunning! I’m so obsessed with contrast anyway – white trim against a dark wood floor, black door against white trim…so this is right up my alley. </p> <p>I was sold. The bonus was that I already had the paint – I LOVE the Peppercorn color I used on our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/03/dark-gray-accent-wall.html">master bedroom wall</a>: <img alt="IMG_8768" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsKdAATVPcXAA3wxjevvVyJU6ZFPDTUjTw_RZ-XXy8d07Xb_IEZhVyliuB9LjjwoMYvQDcaMLrXcfyLZO0WfJK-Tua43b1SyBqIuufcX5AUecDRal_Yz-5lx3xuX7aKhUsOHQeh2dIIw/?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="IMG_8768" width="500" />And it looks identical to the gray in that photo! </p> <p>This family room gets LOADS of light now that the wall is down. It’s glorious. I’m not worried about the room feeling dark with all the natural light and especially not with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2014/08/its-time-for-some-board-and-batten.html">mostly white walls</a> throughout the whole space: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ys0OBmIBNy3HegJGU7LU_FDGsEqQbgbaL_ycvDOu7HOTgjarU4WiIZ18c3WMM_srWpKTA5SW79VJ26SC6W6kH_gjsdy5HMSD29e6SkMygm254sTc_7SbO_Y9izmCvfV5OdX2k6WgX1s/s1600-h/IMG_9728%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="board and batten" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMy_msZjcCtlnxVgc7BDrFiAUdsVax1I1S8zI11GxnZ3n2bJffcBV1dSaVR_0Ep_VxCsZ0-2gDtq9-XG4gGer5maFXIi1dr4Xg71q3nDk4W4llJrjB1ik8hHWebAXCm3KRH4We_VSNFxU/?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" width="500" /></a></p> <p>So I put a coat of the gray on – and I was a little nervous but loved it. I started installing the decorative trim and fell in love a little more: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4VZOlgBKE2HUOGxCXM4GHLEOiBVlcpHhgjACCCcDWSsxaupeiBfCoefpJgBwFV0ZRmz_QOmUrBrGWpWsJiXEKi0PhIBBiJSGq9qTds-v92h-HDgAQWcMq0dRYIyH3i36Bw4bDsusJYO8/s1600-h/30%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="trim on fireplace" border="0" height="652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicdru3y4d5l00n9z5iPZ-QHtPfqhSd6cqaitlRq0qJaiF3XaADFm2Tsjv69LYFcno1NJ3yYsQ70p8-TXkODpiClooii82q4dKKoNfxj3t0oWUG5y-puJ-u7FwYYG-kMpNtyt-OyN9M-vY/?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="trim on fireplace" width="512" /></a></p> <p>And then with another coat I was head over heels: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvtC6WlYbW-1hnMtpqws_WJrncXQ23NndelusJclebxrwjZi0xVObcldX5WCTj2WBnOGUddFlb3yZVNjg3HqJNsm_9hIX_clBtGr34jtPsFBEnuR7pM2TMIM03M0zJQy8MR9IsMa2Oqg/s1600-h/IMG_9756%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="gray fireplace" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZPDcIWpkDZaJdWCWuyNKdWfCq_9rOpei1zAammmwmGKltIQ4o1wfK-6ChgGZZTSqAb43unnYh4TCiRjBrebTWTwS1KhqdqVHXuY5QWji1TinXKfLbDzZZWl2IurSH4j_jL1yTbUZo6o/?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="gray fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Oh my goodness – it is a step out of my norm but I’m loving it.  I think doing something that feels a little uncomfortable at first is so important to do in your home as well as in life. At least once and a while. :) </p> <p>It still needs another coat – the paint I had is an eggshell finish so I’m grabbing a quart of the same color in semi gloss to finish it up. After all this work I don’t want to worry about scuffs (which are a lot more noticeable on a darker paint): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNcjJtnXdIXs4w0uT33h9MdsAYeP-6lao2JCOdc7LqEz82oPcIPQP7779jCxri9qAaSkyS6t7bq9eCvCLOn4cVeoRu8zjbMREBaittuH0RzyS8fysz6VHZx9hgQ497Qtp9sT_jHukBB0g/s1600-h/IMG_9761%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYYumHHYR5Ao016eGAZfWj__pdQ8zsINGPelYO0QbLNXdRRgqWA4wMhXGkE6v_psQVm8_0gOfRlQOvY_ZoeS5h5QYmbBs0uPLi-PSISl56HnknG8DWHGnzu4XDGCabpwJLL4xXJ02J4no/?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="gray fireplace" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The past couple of days I’ve been working on the cabinet doors – can’t wait to show you those too! And I still need to paint the inside of the cabinets but that may just happen later (cause my hands and wrists are screaming uncle): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghM9OZSouYQBEBePdzomuzGEg4TN_m5WJaqaCoVs3pDRF-TVL0VTNsD0E-xe1hhnooLtqmB5bMqHRNY5JzlhVGgq0DLHxBNt1LEcJ_oi0rADKnzJLVSfgE9G_Bgn17VIY_zLntztOTLpc/s1600-h/IMG_9755%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray fireplace with built ins" border="0" height="775" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBWP5m1v_e-5CLIs-h9__2hVoYtp1LSZTiR8cgG0JWaMjyWJcK1NeKryOCvvAZxRrar3cZ6Rfiu8L9z_7GfWFPyVwzcWjO84abQRsMLzwO7Lg0Cd1KAQ3-PudYoZKlJRBHguwT9mRqGs/?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="gray fireplace with built ins" width="484" /></a></p> <p>Today I’m finishing up the doors and then I’m hoping to get started on the tile for the surround. I’ve been trying to decide on one of these for weeks: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTIqAJ82wGCEUIyQIJ8S7w_6dkjp3wVDxG1usxQPyLrxJfeYCRxCGmB1JCQagAOng10ojwEirDqMUADFJ0Rk0eJAbNEFS2eldz6OpwJX7ItpoOUe2GfEF6z6Q0da-VYqcZ0jvtZM62FA/s1600-h/IMG_9763%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="gray and white marble tiles" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jCgt6ZxJ8VWDdgNg4LWf1NKWx4QmA21UgVX6ZDq2f9BnVPMcj2dA65_7m992-lXud4q_jh7444EyCvOmFPfCq6nWCY0yf9D-Air0sKBVj_WYzFOKhrVkc7fiBt2hTVuYZTnyjM-E4uU/?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="gray and white marble tiles" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The first and third from the left have been around the whole time – the subway and the hexagon were later additions. :) </p> <p>It’s now down to the the subway: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfmzU7FvtgLGXvGmtsmAYx9GhILHjYdtVzQsvKNqLK7_4mb8BVBCEGNl_MDZezG6WpRmOldErC32N3SdivgTPNuFSmHQgYjk-44w5WfhGkL8h_IM679EGmST9G1vOQOfKiR-zayNaxuw/s1600-h/IMG_9765%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marble subway tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxyAA9xqK0eTyScKobeNUcSufC10QivVPSsov4sT7RtzxI8g_p-pfOHXsBk6bm7vE6gmNwjAPrl9P0Ex5q61lNZxbGh9fNFcurphb8CjBed_Pz5CnPXTxH06cdDTcjN8pH2Nz01ymurY/?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="marble subway tile" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Or the herringbone: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5F25UdjEY0unhf0KnwcRZrMA4UQsAQwnxeKt-OCUzh-QZeYdQZVWLri_6Ewk-Y80TN1ykf-q19F0jhYzLTSx6CQBDWxpxSAZ76D2TUkrImKXmORiYNFspTQHISAsvSZOvg-Scte-Yixc/s1600-h/IMG_9766%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="marble herringbone tile" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkJVasTc4HCP9foEwGFpdurgoaCcUfnoWwLoYUo7SInj8HmIOdRoedomZ_WkFhQkod_-pFju_pjhotgr0zRimhUUIqGvN9KcNMgdcIOkmP51jVW-mFL8zGQcfH8U8RIwAQh2SKSwoXUE/?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="marble herringbone tile" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>The herringbone has always been my favorite but I’ve been intimidated by the small cuts I’d have to do. But as I was holding it up to take this picture I realized I could just cut it down so it fits centered – I can just cut each side off evenly and installed it that way. No small cuts needed to fill in all those spots. I could do the same for the top as well so I don’t risk losing a finger. ;) </p> <p>So…now that I realized that I think I’m going for the herringbone. Ugh, I’m pretty sure. They are both classic designs so it’s a hard decision. </p> <p>There you go! More progress – and I went dark! After the I finish up the doors and the tile (over the next few days), then I’ll focus on the wall treatment above the fireplace and around the TV. Then I’ll give everything one final coat…and I’ll be done! I’m not stopping till I get there – but it will probably be next week. I’ve got my 20 year reunion this weekend so I’ll be taking some time out to party. :) </p> <p>Could you do a color other than white on built ins or a fireplace? It’s not for everyone – but it does give it some drama and certainly makes it the centerpiece of the room. I don’t know if I could do a whole room in such a dark color but little bits of it make me giddy. </p>

A painted fireplace

Well HELLO all! I’ve been working my butt off on the fireplace this week! I don’t have a totally finished product to show you but I’m SO exc...

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Ready for fall!

<p>Hello my friends!! It’s SEPTEMBER! I’m so happy – it’s the best time of the year. Well, it will be the best time of the year soon, when Mother Nature starts acting right and cools it with the humidity. </p> <p>We have a couple more really hot days this week and then I’m hoping we’ll be home free – I see nothing but temps in the 70’s in the forecast after that. Whoot! And yes, I KNOW…fall doesn’t start for another 21 days. But the start of September is official enough for me. I’m burning a pumpkin candle right now to celebrate. </p> <p>Because I’m so excited about this time of year I decided to share some of my favorite fall projects from years past – looking through these makes me all cozy and lovey and make me want to go put on a sweater and some boots. </p> <p>I’ve made quite a few fall wreaths over the years but this simple <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-pumpkin-wreath-on-patio.html">pumpkin wreath</a> is one of my favorites: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7npUsoiJNeq-zGhG87CBXlBKcb_lTB9Zlx2k_awslffL6Ce4fL8xcjNVfou73lCTkC4zZ8xNxZwl7dfia2Nu_3dd1EngWrSuL2KCj1U6P4Fk3kDIc9LfNsxKo1Yy5VORVlAJleiL7xE/s1600-h/IMG_6854%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="fall front porch" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDAlCdCpAHe8Hwc12jWoW74jHuI3Je7oqYueq2oZrBTOPqUeAVe-BJl15qEWJ1oxoY8dj_hRHv2ANG8mH8XLbiU9QSr4tor23VIT8DcBypYayBYoncDVdUQV7HfkawQEtt0rZgEqaLHV4/?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="fall front porch" width="500" /></a></p> <p>It’s crazy easy – stick the (half off!) fall fillers from Hobby Lobby into the wreath and you’re done. </p> <p>I kept it over our fireplace in the back one year too: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGQrTcHTt3aPk2yhoD34xrOmGE_DxAN6zwvLn8QFGY5o40ZaP9Vd0AxD0IOn7X440b8pLU_eE7eger4MwuQUepPzHlp6h5vITTD2MrF-urwZ_TJD0GVwJCzlJofcImdjliqx4Ah6Ggs0/s1600-h/IMG_2900_thumb%25255B4%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall pumpkin wreath" border="0" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ibgjEG8_wK5ZLWonUVrGj3p5a4D48n-vmYKJb6sddCvz9Akb2qk3IbKqw9BmJiEB37X5oyetRjB6gTSLJj1eRnZUNQSjsAX36DMBVCU7TM0AHth3hR7hkkAxbMi73vPJw0f66LDPKVw/?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="fall pumpkin wreath" width="360" /></a></p> <p>I LOVE the red and orange colors together. I don’t use these colors in our home any other time of the years but I LOVE them right now.</p> <p>This <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/09/hardest-easiest-fall-wreath-ever.html">felt wreath</a> took forever, not gonna lie. But I love the texture: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xl8qR8A4E50kgvx8LDFELeqLWe6y8Ej_SiAcywRlWXM9kvwzpmC5jk6D4gF5LQZrkhPaglvHItuMMxE34ZEXgGivNSALaL5QAw6oXuB-vLy1Y-spKZexTTFTvC4BzCpEvrKhC5DVRJY/s1600-h/IMG_6533_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="felt fall wreath" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDEZSM7p0UNirEqHhzGegirRa0qseN-5LJABjjaW0X6JzN7I4J7tedPqSN9bFSDnTgyvgGhAdVibz-l5SdVjuT6ixAvN0wx9cobQHrbx0cKq3haDGN7s5HpG7ZhU2CTr8NETVKfhHSF8/?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="felt fall wreath" width="362" /></a></p> <p>Next time I’d like to do it in reds, browns and orange as well – but it will be awhile before my fingers can face all that cutting again. ;) </p> <p>And my all time favorite wreath was also my cheapest -- this one was made with <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2010/09/dollar-store-fall-wreath.html">dollar store leaves</a>: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjG61uxgB20-FtvpXUPKihGhFhjuOrwRpT0o0w4tvrmJnopW9IeF_2KbWYIMNM7F4rBfBR7DR6Z0l_YxpAq0DjyxW3T8-lUzlcgSyMPE7pyXVG5Ljc3A9X_PHTtYAoxzfe5WCSYtCp-s/s1600-h/wreath_thumb%25255B3%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="dollar store fall wreath" border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyAWk_gUB8HzMd1yWkkB4ThxhHm_YAnvZ7UZHIbUS8xvjymSm1_c_TcQBiGxDGkA83v4RMHJtbY7y-h1uSVW1m6KnAHtb3kfIQdg7Pn2FxijPw4j6186mbkFn_pAhYY0ZN9MR-g-9hPs/?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="dollar store fall wreath" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I made it four years ago and just had to get rid of it a few months back. :( It held up pretty darn well considering it was put into storage every year! I don’t know if the dollar store still carries these pretty leaves but I hope so. I’d like to make another one. </p> <p>I always pick up a bunch of tiny pumpkins to decorate with this time of year. I shared a few quick and easy ideas <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/09/mini-pumpkins-three-ways-fall-linky.html">here</a>:  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhemgSCkeu-_ZmXi4HJpZNFgUWqjFU1rv_QiYE_dr0-SryppZeODp1f3wnW3LFN6pwpRMACrl3XDoH8C2qVaofAYk8gQps-8bR4qU189O6lssLL35S3sMxRaiXUAz0eeCS2AioLf9WBHfk/s1600-h/IMG_3093_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="decorating with pumpkins" border="0" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcenOh02nC4dlwK4WBynlL8bpkTolEVAqfU9IMt3ayZ3LTJNe6oCZ1ZFkIYymdWzYemYq3WQM3HIO9YhtCG8xxB-SaqVOtNwvH3FXhWuIOPV5eyo8hzvLl9jDP3XOPf0VHUvFS3I242FI/?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 pumpkins" width="450" /></a></p> <p>They are cute, cheap and you don’t have to store them year to year! </p> <p>I’m still in love with the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/10/simple-autumn-tablescape.html">fall tablescape</a> I put together last year: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fkJ9kbOwXc3mYjo5KCOTEioYGrEcdSg9U9NZQPrBciGMS0sc9AdPLDobrSH02WyjRhWLaK7412uTInNwFkf56tnpbgulrrWankTC7p07jLH-9mnWthKWZ5cAMSxk3hC-HiFgPyatk7Y/s1600-h/IMG_6779%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall tablescape" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O4NBiBxfHCXwxNrwt-AdYwDFWprvsTha4Jubbag96c6tFCmZhYiAdoea8Z6QFm-mbpK8lIVtjnfLb5t0LSpdDkQIslqgNdNapx2v_ut2GOcUfCoHC4IegwgSWQkGYM3pK8em2CnQI3k/?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="fall tablescape" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Those flowers are my Pee Gee hydrangeas – they start out white in the summer and are just now starting to turn a light green. They’ll be this gorgeous greenish pink soon: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QVSoL5Vs2FBr_ZPB90bz3VxH3LuvveuwXUxPMEtUMWBQR9RU_N6ib_NU9SHiryFfjTRM7dqTK0z52VmmokGZZXCdrAQS4Y3sg6eCbLuiVbosBI0phIaES5QLExpHenkBU_7z0yp-Vj8/s1600-h/IMG_6805%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall entertaining" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg14U975vKAlb1qBvDPIfffiyEelvRs2e-BBj8ucp_uy2m7odJb9qKgw0_KcNMvMOQOpdkkeOpuHeHdEJkQt2ApVgJOIdBaM0YvRP4T-TWTtqGCkHgY65eJqTjF4luDy8sFSZDkUYOV-4/?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="fall entertaining" width="500" /></a></p> <p>LOVE them. </p> <p>Speaking of tablescapes – my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/09/fall-tablescape-idea.html">DIY wood trough-thingy</a> is awesome when it comes to decorating for any season. Drop the stuff in, fluff and you’re done: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKO5NO5eZnIaSi9FRdL9NuzHBx2NT-5VDJ6E9wj4mPr9buFBBBacRDgfdMy8NX77grN9dQ_yh31GDYM99OSVfRcm-GgVYxGbiYn06V2oP9ks60EXYZNWUvW5DJ-f9Yqkt2h01NWAJUqw/s1600-h/IMG_2860_thumb%25255B11%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood fall centerpiece" border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7RKb4QXqIFnFLJJ941u7etfMH5sDpDA59dv4tMxUaAAzCLdW0aitKlacH18k30O3S-dEUbCFaxS2xRwiojAgOo601EGsuQCkT7zI5dij36kh6ECefJ9_9uve_p24GpQf-eYTdFmgRco/?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 fall centerpiece" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I think it would be beautiful in the middle of a dining room table! </p> <p>Last year I got crafty with some fall scrapbooking supplies and created some fall art: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksMEGRXQDpFGVwPNhi4dheW9sdY5Lik3daftRvuod1e8V0vHOfVEF0fU7TrL8KvUEv7cCzoAxCFV395zPGkTc2LUiBr-T6OCciOJYcIr_Ntltg5kEn0YUQibzEYCZkP6UIwoe5mlLL00/s1600-h/autumn-leaf-sign%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall leaf printable" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbUs28UrsPwoO2d1SR20oT_sOV7n-SZCrJnr0sVad9QROdfSr7TS2qMq8pNhkabu_yVAqU70nZdb1vWU65yuENDHrLmM99E3QEGam4C-08PeBwfiGZw4k-zWjawZLAYuTWdgWZItqp_Os/?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="fall leaf printable" width="500" /></a></p> <p>You can download that printable to use yourself <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/09/metallic-fall-art.html">here</a>. </p> <p>Our <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/09/fall-mantel-and-party.html">fall mantel</a> was simple and pretty last year – it didn’t scream fall but that’s why I loved it: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPyeHm54z9IFgFfW2lawpuwQIBjsXxvN3Dlt73J_cln-OSozuv80cAGcrxn5ys7vwMyfGO2nICEomDHj2V_a1ZVSst1fCjVCuZIIKrC6jqaSUC-_8jwOauX-8ZewyCjOllmMARv-yjwQ/s1600-h/candy-corn-pennant%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="candy corn bunting" border="0" height="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjHhbgOnlBHLdl2cELqT1vTAf8AFcZH1xm2S8dPqFtstRuusTurASYvwXXwDIIHD1qvSqTuWW8wXkxRwwzGcPFiomzGW5mTMppgZDzOPM8t1EDUAYx1FQiY-VolLmHLfTXinyp1KtQGVw/?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="candy corn bunting" width="494" /></a></p> <p>You can see how I made that candy corn bunting <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/10/candy-corn-crafting.html">here</a>. </p> <p>I made a few other <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/09/candy-corn-love.html">candy corn crafts</a> years back too: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaouKMzkXHFxybS6wN6qRiWAAxDnV1piASoT5pTWQOiBVqndkNb9U9e45m7GL2ih3MfCWQI81xNrjChyG-cQb0LtE4ICFJb3hvMyJIkGHf4N9jgTp1qUAzrZsIp-vslxg4QgnLZt0BBs/s1600-h/IMG_6889_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="candy corn crafts" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhif4pBjpjugC7arl6D9k6vLSNjxMaeoXP2BMrWWm5lAjWfFG06_uoGMAdZFDNiUAWydS5OL_5DQlbGrYNWtIKu4gH0dBrZ3nCV1Gsn9bEijZh5cYkM-lyoLqzlhLaD28VuQCAyuzMlEJ0/?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="candy corn crafts" width="320" /></a></p> <p>I don’t like the taste of them, but I think they’re darn cute for decorating. ;) </p> <p>I LOVE <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/10/fall-porch-decor.html">decorating outside</a> this time of year too. It’s the simplest decorating ever – pumpkins and mums and a some candles and you’re done: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuACUrss-yer19B0j4Z6ksTjxr8Tj7DO6H633S1YyDoNDy9zb_Ness-ePMshWbL5pg9pfq9LPdIeYPkgMTc7xOcQLG2rY4djgT6yG5GattkJuwcdtoO6S4X2BmPD3emXVmFk88-OTXBs/s1600-h/IMG_2919_thumb%25255B5%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="outdoor fall decor" border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_S_dgUkX81k1ze1sc_VAReKzdY9Arz96EG5Q-3PMR_6i_M3d45UkJ8aIrR50tIGk1G8j3lKLobrUZmc7HsxrnQdKoDpbDJrzFTssKvXEv2tOrI15nTqvlBH03hCLTGoq-fZUdenQaY5o/?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="outdoor fall decor" width="360" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nFIfIeLnVSvJmdsLM_8JQ5_iph257uUNIyBquxES4A6_YRadutYkSy1B9MppeKhMp8_8VonuN8GEvv3-L3FildOAKLFdisCKCgh7jGkyJoRNB_8cCU9XKRVOwTb540WD7y4k8K-w1F4/s1600-h/IMG_6795_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="fall table" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZvqbT1VWvW5uE3PhF7bN-b2UrkmzeulSYUIDNbbwfJczgDB-8_aRJ2xwcvi1URUzLLeOoRbE2MDdwvAQ4m8JT3SDMrZIqgPQ0Hps367nH3x-xCmV-GgeeYk1dGiDXTc_TyTMYHwtJNA/?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="fall table" width="400" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiMrJC_Rvv-ujulc4VBvx2z-qB9DaxbcrYC2U6HYtejLG52LQUE8kyly22sFhQtfWdt93Fq3xJwJDDR6aJ8Eh3pJkzcg9eesGIrGsdkoaos7GThYzseaKBE1eBQAil5L38MdfygqbPlo/s1600-h/pumpkins-and-mums%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="pumpkins and mums outside" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2shzG9wWlL7sjfZeXMI-76UEYsqyC75yHX49r4N5pJkODr7kVJpg4AzOjmGiSC7fezgoj7a5hYMwO4WcDK64E1SegXlil566oadL_Sjq2VW63mkQq961xMIcTUSNC4LfDmzIGelVJv1k/?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="pumpkins and mums outside" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Oh my goodness, so lovely. I’m hard at work in the family room so I can start to focus on more fall decor in the house! I’m hoping to have the fireplace done by the end of the week – it’s a beast and is a ton of work. But I think it’s going to look amazing!! </p> <p>Are you ready for fall? The older I get the more I love summer, but now that the kiddo is back in school the lazy days of summer are long gone for us. So I say, BRING IT ON. :)</p>

Ready for fall!

Hello my friends!! It’s SEPTEMBER! I’m so happy – it’s the best time of the year. Well, it will be the best time of the year soon, when Moth...

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September before and after!

<p>Hello all and welcome to the before and after link up, Labor Day edition! Hope you’re having a lovely holiday weekend! </p> <p>I’m kicking this month’s highlights with a few kitchens that caught my eye – yes, I’m now unabashedly in love with white kitchens. I think they are classic and never age – you have SO many opportunities to play with color, textures and wood tones in a white kitchen.</p> <p>I love Jessica’s touch of brick on her <a href="http://www.mycoffeeiscold.com/2014/07/kitchen-update.html">kitchen island</a>: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xYtVVEj0WSg/VASR9D3FbVI/AAAAAAAAqWs/HwiPDsOyiiM/s1600-h/IMG_4948-768x1024%25255B15%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY brick wall" border="0" height="667" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M3-FcHhEr5s/VASR-CZnS_I/AAAAAAAAqW0/cdgoJi4FF90/IMG_4948-768x1024_thumb%25255B13%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="DIY brick wall" width="500" /></a></p> <p>The brick is an unexpected touch that adds some warmth and color that I love!</p> <p><a href="http://topthistopthat.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-finished-kitchensorta.html">Laura’s kitchen</a> is gorgeous as well – she painted her cabinets and the backsplash and the difference is astounding: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYb_H64fxRjYJUXiZRpGsov553fmV4hSnD5zSO0GbzkHDVConHi6FpnnQI8L4vpd9JORX-KsguRM_dVN8Mjw1b0t7Eb151Vr8IYYot7SjmpGRP4l_0R1qFs-y8reUJydxDajX99HAtleU/s1600-h/kitchen8-topthistopthat%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="painted cabinets glass doors" border="0" height="681" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1X1bjiB90LmajGpULYN24HVtIV6T9scWZGE8hMmIBqxBMnbdom5BzS9LXQRKznQu2tQs2IA8GJ1spC35D5hP7tOYUrQAww1M7NZTHIIoizaZD-bqSUuUR2yo-nKhIgH6nNDk9wHjins/?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="painted cabinets glass doors" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Her floors, decor and countertops keep a warm feel in this space. It is gorgeous! </p> <p>I’ve been watching <a href="http://loveofhomes.blogspot.com/2014/07/kitchen-remodel-reveal.html">Sally’s kitchen renovation</a> for months and the final result did not disappoint!: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_ygGU_S8Mh1X390SFAcBrYMudamBkKVQFo6agfixmujDzJMTYKtsPKOGaM7PdD0cc8NhGyQ6k8-pETFgtOJcaH70i2q_WYlLHcwAarcLumUeNyaz4bhhlh0nilK2FQP2bK891KCs3S0/s1600-h/IMG_0002blog%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="white kitchen long island" border="0" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAB9DIKHImmIGkoea5viXQCJTZgeIvaS4sPYA4YT1USrb7VX_H5dz5cl-KPFXGKDDBSU8alGNpos64kAY4-Fva-hgYqT6mCVlGiAubQVGMxIwBNpWdyg7Fqj5hjcBP3Mku8cgNFB_-AYg/?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 kitchen long island" width="550" /></a></p> <p>That big island has all kinds of storage and functions, love it all! </p> <p>OK, I’m done with the kitchens for today. ;) I’ll always love a good DIY orb light fixture and <a href="http://www.chatfieldcourt.com/let-lights/">Kristi’s</a> turned out beautifully: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnN-MLhaV_VAN2ItYgVAK_b5cIyks_J3xBuC-UsiHnRSSbFyq-IsBS_1CUIjWqCWLX0r5v1q6icG8HYJlFfJGy1c81ulzogLkuk9ch1KaYhXGB8jtbGEG6TfpscKJdKfeVp4YGeDMm80M/s1600-h/Pinterest-hanging-light-fixture-32%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="DIY orb light fixture" border="0" height="714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeAhMKoJPmLcsHJaWQR3VuyBwMvdZ1qzBVofBRm5b5OnnZK4CdvuO59_E9lx1LMLxH3inhIaAVFl3kpu7WzPAnmkgnYGJBoyCylt70IVyGlTl4DTZ5vrjdpaQMdKvC3GP0KSSzy88cfk/?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="DIY orb light fixture" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Saving a couple hundred bucks is always a good thing! </p> <p>I have a feeling I’ve highlighted some of this room before, but it’s so good I don’t even care. ;) Jennifer shared her <a href="http://dimplesandtangles.blogspot.com/2014/07/teen-boys-rustic-traditional-modern.html">son’s finished room</a> and it looks SO good: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENYCVSjpJCm09olNJs6i1MG0KSGnrXUlRQqBDazcKS7ClyglAKzLJMvITAd2cF_d8WoMSKrEMJORUzjq31UPES1CmL1YXcJl4icr7xoizrDlYzR7VwU-rE3I3oPwnngHTidy95_LIvyw/s1600-h/c%252520room%2525208%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="wood plank wall boys room" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sjFyVKY-ekbpUAdPcFJpJQYDMw3ZyNLzAFSY19t362QRbIVTzUAaLJmU6nXq-HRhxktoLc_gMIeuB1Vf8lVfOr5Hw56K1HqyH_mYpt7UrcIfaZ6_DC_29GRsfTGKhyphenhyphenryRp94YDivOVk/?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 wall boys room" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I LOVE that wood wall and the colors she used throughout. There’s some great storage in there too. </p> <p>And finally, I was shocked when I read that this floor in Jessica’s bathroom wasn’t tile: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2WRuMZ8z__pCSSez4L3OPNWFLU7WGO_AuZc6f7Tq4F7VypEp5Vwoj6E6SHtUplPrNJWRXQtzN3hb_mgrybxAbBzbgoLcEMwIJLW-A3tly-O53zAafhae_8Bsci2s4btS3XIlUC7_v9g/s1600-h/Hexagon-Tile-Vinyl-Floor%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="hexagon vinyl floor" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItL-XdjS5Xlapb9wY2oQH0xhc1k59BMhIQaLyeIvN0dMRHmoSg6gTLAAQ20xpuI88E_ADY46IA8WwGWGZMs42D4P610X2movyL13EbreFbXkkN3LX4DTbrOnBQ9UGLHES-NzP3LVm5Ss/?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="hexagon vinyl floor" width="427" /></a></p> <p>I LOVE it! You can see what it is and how to install it <a href="http://www.decoradventures.com/2014/07/install-sheet-vinyl-floor.html">here</a>.</p> <p>As always, there is so much talent at this party every month! If you’d like to be considered for next month’s round up, copy and paste this code at the end of your post or just include a link:  </p> <div style="padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px" align="center"><a href="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7326" height="225" src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" title="beforeAndAfterButton_thumb[1]" width="146" /></a></div> <pre style="border-bottom: #cccccc 1px solid; text-align: left; border-left: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-bottom: 10px; margin: auto; padding-left: 10px; width: 90%; padding-right: 10px; display: block; white-space: pre-wrap; background: #f0f0f0; height: 45px; color: #777777; font-size: 90%; overflow: auto; border-top: #cccccc 1px solid; border-right: #cccccc 1px solid; padding-top: 10px"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/" title="TDC Before and After" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/beforeAndAfterButton_thumb1.gif" alt="TDC Before and After" style="border:none;" /></a></div></pre><br /><br /><p>Now it’s time to see what you’ve been up to! If you’ve been up to any fall projects already feel free to include those. ;) I am so excited for my favorite season of the year!! </p><br /><!-- start InLinkz script --><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=442213"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->

September before and after!

Hello all and welcome to the before and after link up, Labor Day edition! Hope you’re having a lovely holiday weekend! I’m kicking this mo...

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