Seriously, come ON.

So I'm leafing through the latest Pottery Barn catalog the other day when I see this...<br /><br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247947263523303202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrDoJJzJYBt8lPqqzxpGsA-OTP6zxxD3jQtK_u32QLd3o3iGEhEp8-kBUD_G5MrLGLjxgIiFOpL7Vkg_TeoeL8JWcg1nyK_enFvdueXxHE6RJJkpJWXTg3XuBKNpZG0W0PrsryT92tFk/s400/img6l.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />These are $79 for the set. What a fantastic deal (dripping with sarcasm). You have GOT to be kidding me. Really? For pictures of forks and spoons? Do you KNOW how easy this would be to do? And it would be even prettier if you did it yourself. I know, I know, it would take a little more time. (All of about ten minutes more than ordering them online.)</p><p></p><p>Pile some stinkin' flatware together and take a picture, no flash. Print it out on glossy paper, frame it. I could do it in 15 minutes and guarantee it would look better. (I'm waiting for a dare here...)</p><p></p><p>When my good friend Krista buys something new, half the time I say, "Do you know how easy that would be to make yourself?" Hehe...snicker. Krista, this one's for you!<br /></p>

Seriously, come ON.

So I'm leafing through the latest Pottery Barn catalog the other day when I see this... These are $79 for the set. What a fantastic deal...

Read more »

The master bedroom is done!! Pretty much. Almost. Close.

<div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246825866709252578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7D2sTUcfdX3Id6XDCUBpIKmv1QVX3vwjylxLHgGOvj39yB8NdfXYZk15wiFkpnL4D9fil-8rpfx0tEN1q2eQ9-hHBG2KHCiolEe94k1UuO_Gb_YNixxtpTW0-jXHzjB7l2a5J8pQzT4/s400/DSC04681.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have been working on our master bedroom for a few months and finished it a couple weeks ago. I redecorated the entire room with less than $350! We are thrilled with how it turned out. There are only a few tweaks left -- soon I hope to splurge on a big comfy chaise near the fireplace. I plan to add molding to the large wall above the fireplace and would love to have the ceiling painted (a couple shades lighter than the wall color) at some point. More pictures and details follow:<br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246826592120364626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDjutvLaRe4g4RRqtYPOh3VzaQeIGpcv0eSbLWwwy3Q-S7_GQQd9p6LaA5p04kCBEzRQB0Vw3aOWxdB_TrwWB4sTWRItBpICRhY1nNIa1qKLUxUkwJ9pgVf0pW5_LD6huTjbycVcUPuN4/s400/DSC04678.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The art on each side of the bed are $3.50 prints from Hobby Lobby I cropped to the size I wanted. Instead of having mats made, I used foam board and painted it the color of the walls, then just placed the prints on top. I painted the wall behind the bed a couple years ago and did the stripes by painting the whole wall, taping off the stripes and then just painting a layer of shimmer paint. It gives it a beautiful tone on tone effect. I finished up the rest of the walls with the paint I had purchased for this room more than two years ago!<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">The bedding was from Ebay and I only paid $36 for the set, which included the duvet cover, small pillows and king shams. The throw pillows are from Home Goods. I was looking for a storage bench for the end of the bed and couldn't find anything other than leather benches. These storage bins are from Target and were $55 each on clearance! I may add to these in the future...we'll see.<br /></span></div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44dCp-dxPobK_Uo_pCl2VqfeM9vYclxRRvP1DCv5TmWyBYn5qs1AM00sn3ISXY8StrswTvXsi93jDVOExWTKM9J0xctsutdJwm7kLJ7jDVpLlTuTNj-s_TwgEBQYLpa8aPCXb2kPEBVs/s1600-h/DSC04612.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246827151335697698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj44dCp-dxPobK_Uo_pCl2VqfeM9vYclxRRvP1DCv5TmWyBYn5qs1AM00sn3ISXY8StrswTvXsi93jDVOExWTKM9J0xctsutdJwm7kLJ7jDVpLlTuTNj-s_TwgEBQYLpa8aPCXb2kPEBVs/s400/DSC04612.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /></span><p align="center"></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Here's another picture of the new fireplace tile! I LOVE it! The "artwork" above the fireplace was made with canvases, paintable wallpaper and paint. Total cost was $21! Even the candlesticks were a deal -- $10 for both at a consignment shop and I cut one down so they were different heights. </span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246827146154338850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-VNTGP5DDpvSqPiZB8Bdv3sOAvg39N6G6XOWkM6I-jKQbMryDiJ_K2CmwjQqPPiLfGoH180vZxu1IENQtGwW9QRI7XBpqT37dTEqONAMvWKwDXlYqi9OIlfE8TgcfN0cE424NjpgRs8/s400/DSC04637.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /></span><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I made the drapes a while back to match our old bedding and was going to make new ones in a chocolate brown, but now the purple has really grown on me. It looks so pretty with the green on the walls! We'll see if they'll stay once I find a chaise. The chair was a garage sale find for only $15.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHQjaiTKqzynmgYhfKEp5351kOfZ1gphUB-H4_HKfZq_ibVEjvjSoBDQE-J4Z32y3VWR8PVEX9qzethhh_ACOC2dXzbKLwo7PE6U3zVpJqLsLleCu2c45miSbSy5pe1AMTLVzd2dtfNY/s1600-h/DSC04675.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246826600746128162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHQjaiTKqzynmgYhfKEp5351kOfZ1gphUB-H4_HKfZq_ibVEjvjSoBDQE-J4Z32y3VWR8PVEX9qzethhh_ACOC2dXzbKLwo7PE6U3zVpJqLsLleCu2c45miSbSy5pe1AMTLVzd2dtfNY/s400/DSC04675.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I printed pictures from the computer in black and white, painted foam board and placed the pics on top for this photo display. I had the frames so this project cost $1.50 for the foam.<br /></span></p><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246826609866372434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fgcEw9c0mvlqJE3Fj8Q1L6CUb8FI5nUeK6637AKkQ3NLLCcxhaI35svoCrtezkUpsmGH1Rq7mElRjxwDxAY7JOhtg4m0qQ9FvD4GNk5Jfk3fSIiRnZfSuqOOmtyyQk7OITUCNiqNK_Y/s400/DSC04687.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /></span><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">Most of this I already had, I just rearranged everything to this spot. The mirror was $10 a garage sale find and I repainted it.<br /><br /><br /></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246832214741458882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPrroxEa5fjpmEv5ssM4vWK_HSpa69qIbHmxCZWYU67CviPv68t0MEFFQ-cV_7EYQrUWwPY6InAnQKBhL7dqnsFxBZIqR_NDVXbKxcuPI4aTMq66dzishJBWBb-NGM6XiojqyA2WIGDY/s400/DSC04686.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br />Here's the armoire I repainted, with the added stencils to the front. I'm not usually a fan of mirrors in high spaces but I like the way this reflects the candles. Not sure if it will stay this way or not. :)</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">I hope you get some inspiration from this room. I practice what I preach -- it doesn't take a lot of money to make your space brand new again! </span></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></p><div align="center"><br /></div></span>

The master bedroom is done!! Pretty much. Almost. Close.

I have been working on our master bedroom for a few months and finished it a couple weeks ago. I redecorated the entire room with less than ...

Read more »

Remembering.

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNOLVru15OqSltagALPJhxtPK-6EtUcLCTLuQDUe_V8DdiYvgfGJ4ivLSumTYdFWAC38B6x0jwoeolvsb_TkbrSVoE8R3YAqAcaMcSsFpczgMY9g81svnW_AfL7XzPiZzX9EWt3mthJE/s1600-h/Im000513.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244837434597715554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCNOLVru15OqSltagALPJhxtPK-6EtUcLCTLuQDUe_V8DdiYvgfGJ4ivLSumTYdFWAC38B6x0jwoeolvsb_TkbrSVoE8R3YAqAcaMcSsFpczgMY9g81svnW_AfL7XzPiZzX9EWt3mthJE/s400/Im000513.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br /><div>Anyone who knows me knows how much I love New York City. We took my first trip there two weeks before September 11, 2001 and that is when I fell in love. We have been back so many times since, I can't count. And we got married there, not far from Ground Zero, in 2004. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had to honor my favorite city today with some pictures...(the picture above is from Ground Zero...there are some very moving quotes written on those walls and this is one of my favorites.)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244839071481129298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LeQ1b-U9Rw0G25qvG1MwebuDMvwnsJZPpgg5C6tZ0kH5_0P5vSiElHz-YQiFSWgCIjqCeUoClZLJD7EDidTAsDzv2Ir13SAN_T2H4OMjLy5juNLrWcAfH8GOPDJVhHqBzPIeOWgkuOo/s400/skyline.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244839548618372114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVR115oEJyIFcTbtmUOaIDCIpfVkP_njunjw-WvUeSMrraBIvo5qLqceYE06HkrcICt4U2vF1bdm1U9UWYFfLBx-ZSUtnLM7iL43cTBVXGzqREMAjz6a59jIvNXm6LKruRG0S6ZP3-JnQ/s400/TS2.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244839072176696866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bED5wuOB0tgAlCJUaguqUEhtheu5zlimn4reB6_Pfy-pgKLiJGPu8GequtJTHoj7X78xH35tVLNEH_LyJFaqY9UUUrOH_7vtYfReywhEdphfXiAiCiHayMq0Owz_F00tBWAqy6NrzNY/s400/TS.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244841291705923538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5fjKiRTTmobGpLD24y8ryBYkvCdKek9I84de6ge4HQJROU0Mb1iAxf0vdI4XmeIaSPBtIFo5PZ43WyH4ifd6hoFDv_jn8V5eocNMa_utbKfQBCJCD-QgB6v5CX8puJxboemJOuB28R_4/s400/Im000505.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><br /><div>These are not some of my best pics...but they will do. It's such a fantastic, alive, amazing city and I wanted to share a little bit of it with you today. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div>

Remembering.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love New York City. We took my first trip there two weeks before September 11, 2001 and that is when I ...

Read more »