Merry Christmas

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas! 

Laundry Room Reveal

The laundry room makeover is finished! Well it actually has been finished for a while, but like everything else, I just haven't gotten around to posting it. Our laundry room is actually a closet just large enough for the washer and dryer, and it is located in our kitchen. So I wanted to make it more functional and more appealing to the eye. It is not located near any natural light sources, so I did have to use my flash. Of course, the pictures just don't look as good as it does in person, but it was the best I could do. Are you ready?! 

Here is a before and after.

I started out by removing the wire shelf. I knew I wanted two shelves, and I also wanted them to look a little better than the shelf that was already there. So I decided that I wanted to build some shelves like the ones in our dining room. 

I love the bottom shelf because it makes things easier to reach while also preventing things from falling behind the washer and dryer. Ben had to notch out a small place in the shelf for the dryer cord to fit through. Why put the outlet in the middle of the wall? I have no idea...

Once the shelves were up, it was time to decorate! 

I needed something to set on the shelf to cover up the outlet that could still be seen above the bottom shelf. So I decided to make the laundry sign. I had seen a few pictures of laundry definition signs on Pinterest and knew that was what I wanted. I cut a piece of plywood, 18"x18" and painted it gray. Then, I designed the definition in Cricut Design Studio and used my sister's Cricut to cut out the vinyl letters. I actually did this for all of the vinyl labels you see.

It worked perfect to cover that ugly outlet!

I buy my laundry detergent from Sam's Club in a giant package. So I needed something cute that I could set on the bottom shelf that was more easily accessible. I found this large glass storage canister at Wal-Mart and the two glass bottles at Ikea. I thought these would look much cuter than the factory bottles and alot easier to pour than a giant, heavy bottle!

I got the small glass canister at Target to put my clothes pins in. The small, white bucket came off the dollar rack at Target and was just something left over from my wedding. I use it for my dryer sheets and my Downy ball.

I wanted to use the top shelf for things that I don't use often. The large, white bucket was also left over from my wedding and it also came from Target. I put bleach, color-safe bleach, and Ben's hat washing cage in here. This bucket keeps everything well hid.

I also put my ironing stuff on the top shelf. I actually do use this pretty often, but I can just pull the whole basket down. I got the metal basket at Marshalls. It was black to begin with, and I spray painted it silver.

Ben had built this ironing board hanger when we first moved in. It was green, so I painted it white to match everything else. I also recovered our ironing board with some fresh, new fabric.

I found this towel-like bar at Ikea and screwed it into the bottom of the top shelf. This is what I use to hang my hangers on while I am doing laundry.

I also used the same bars on the laundry room doors to hang clothes on while doing laundry.

I did this because I usually found myself doing this, and I knew it was going to eventually break.

This spice rack is a project I definitely plan to tackle soon, so don't pay any mind to it!

I am so happy with the way it turned out! I can't say I love doing laundry anymore than I did before, but it is definitely more functional and makes things a little bit simpler!

Living Room Makeover Reveal

I am back! I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I know what you are thinking.....One:  Finally she is back! and Two: FINALLY, she is going to post this living room makeover that she has been talking about for months!!! Being the OCD person that I am, I just couldn't post it until I had pretty much everything the way I wanted it. So here we are! I hope you enjoy...

I LOVE IT!!!
Here is a before picture. I just love how much brighter it is now!

Wow! What a difference!!!

We bought our new couch back in April and I still love it.

I made the yellow, chipper pillow covers to go on the couch. I would like to add some more pillows at some point. I just haven't found what I want yet. 

I kept the Van Gogh pictures behind the couch. Van Gogh is my favorite artist, and the colors in his work fit well with my color scheme. My mother-in-law got me a calendar one year for Christmas, so I used the pages from it as prints after using the calendar.

I am sure you remember the chairs that I bought on clearance and recovered. Here is the tutorial on how to reupholster a chair.

I made these felt, flower pillows. I think they suit the chair well.

This is one thing that I am still not completely satisfied with. I know that this table is entirely TOO SMALL! I haven't found the right table yet, but when I do, I am getting it! I also feel like that corner needs something else. It is just to bare! It looks great with my Christmas tree in there because it fills that space. So I am still on the look out for something.

Do you remember this table from my decorating goals post last year? I have finished many things on that list, I just haven't posted some of them!

I painted it a long time ago and now it looks like this...

So much better!!!

I put new curtains up and boy did they brighten that room up! I got them at Ikea. They came with two panels, so I took them and cut the panels in half and sewed the edges. I had four panels and only needed three, so I used the leftover fabric for other projects. 

Our dining room and living room are connected so I decorate my shelves to match. Here is the post for everyday shelf decor.

Remember this table?

It is now painted gray and decorated in my dining room.

Post on this side table to come soon.

I spray painted some things that I already had and added some new fabric to change things up a little. Check out this post to see these simple updates.

I love the way everything has come together! I think everything is so much brighter and happier! Doesn't look so gloomy in this poor little house that doesn't have many windows!

I am so glad to finally share this with you! I am sure I will be making some small changes here and there. So I will try to keep you updated! I have some more things to post, so check back soon!

Busy, Busy

Happy Halloween!!! This month has been one crazy month! I feel like we have had five million things going on. We have been to festivals, one of my besties got married, we volunteered at the Art of Chocolate Charity event, I have babysat some kiddos, I went on a trip to New Orleans, and then on top of all of that, I work full time and I am still a wife and have to upkeep a house! So I just wanted to share a few of the things we have been up to lately.

One of my best friends, Kayla, is got married this month, and I was a bridesmaid! I am so happy for her and her fiance, Nick, as they start this new journey. She has had two showers, one thrown by the bridesmaids and one thrown by a close family friend. Here a few of the pics from her showers.

Me and the Bride

Cute Favors made by the hosts. The hosts were a dentist's wife and a dentist and most of the guests at the shower were in the dental field. Kayla is a hygienist like me :)

Key Lime Pie from the shower

Flower Centerpieces

I made her a hanger to hang her wedding dress on. I saw these after my wedding and fell in love! I have been waiting on someone to get married, so I could make one! Mrs. Pries :)

Bridesmaids

My sweet friend, Stacia. Miss her soooo much!!!

I made Kayla a banner. I used the Cricut to cut out circles and the letters. Then, I punched holes in them with a hole punch and threaded the ribbon through.

My sister made these cupcakes for the shower. They were so yummy!!! 

I fixed Kayla this gift basket with her towels, hand towels, and bathroom accessories that she registered for. My sister did this for me at one of my wedding showers. I loved the idea, so I stole it :)

The wedding was beautiful! Everything went smooth and I am so honored that I got to be a part of it! Here are a few pics. 

Mr. and Mrs. Pries

My Hygiene Girls

Me and Stacia

A few weekends back, Ben and I volunteered at the Art of Chocolate Charity Event. Ben has to have so many volunteer hours for school, so we volunteer at this each year. It is was a lot of fun!

Me and Jackie (Ben's classmate and one of my dear Augusta friends)

I also went back to Gainesville one weekend and went to the Mule Camp Festival with my family.

I rode the ferris wheel with Jaxon. Those of you who know me, know I don't usually do heights. But how could I say no to that little cutie?! I actually did pretty good.

Such a cutie!!!

Love it!

  

We had so much fun! Unfortunately this month, I have had a lot to do and Ben has had a lot to do, but there hasn't been much that we could do together. So like always, we haven't seen much of each other :( Maybe we will get to see each other some over the holidays...not too far off. I will hopefully have the New Orleans pics up soon! I hope you are all enjoying Fall!