You-musts

You must:

• visit and then promptly DIE OVER this chicken palace (coop) at Heather Bullard. Oh dear Lord, this makes me want chicks.

• try out the yoyo pillows at Tatertots and Jello. 

• or, make these classy pleated pillows from Make it and Love it.

• consider where to put a light fixture made out of a bowl at Home in the Country.

• try homemade yogurt from Small Notebook.

• find the cutest baby shower gift from Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries.

• feel serene after seeing this daybed and guest bedroom at Jordan and Jandee.

•  bust out your sewing machine to make this pillowcase shopping bag from Confession of a Sewing Dork.

You really must. Now.

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It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that spring

Dearest spring. I've missed you.

I was going to wait to post about my bulbs until they were bloomed. But, I cannot help it. I was so excited to see they were popping out of the ground, I definitely did a dance.

(Although not a dance that caused a sprained ankle. Been there. Sprained that.)

I had been moping because it felt like everyone else's bulbs have popped out of the ground. BUT NOT MINE. (Imagine a little pouting and foot stomping. My parents and husband don't have to imagine. Unfortunately for them.) But, then I got home from work one night and Ryan said, your bulbs are coming up. I ran outside, and sure enough.

Last fall, I insisted we plant lots of bulbs. So, while normal people planted 5 or 10 bulbs, Hubby and I planted 105. Maybe a little more. This was more of a process than I expected, as each bulb had to be 6-8 inches in the ground, so far apart, etc. But, we did it. (Mostly hubby did it.)

And, now they are coming. I cannot wait to see the colors. I've been told that they may not all come up the first year. And, I'll know. Because I may have planted them in a very specific order. Possibly in the order of rainbow colors. 

Does that make me crazy? That I planted our tulips and daffodils in the order of red-orange-yellow-blue-purple-pink? (There was no green.)

I didn't think so.

And, one actually has pretty purple blooms already. YAY!

Speaking of spring, we started our seeds in the house a few weeks ago. (A few very observant friends noticed this in the office post.)

I don't have fancy lights or anything, but I get along okay. I planted the same seeds that worked for us last year. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and herbs. We used the same seeds from last year, which actually germinated well. Better than expected. I just stored them in a cool dry place (closet).

We'll start some more seeds outside in April and early May. And, then we'll purchase some transplants at the Farmer's Market. Yay! 

Spring is here in the Midwest.

What does spring look like in your neck of the woods?

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Because it's kinda funny.

I sprained my ankle on Friday. That's not the funny part.

Ask me how I sprained it.

(How did you sprain your ankle, Kim?)

I sprained it while "dancing" (I use the word dancing lightly) to The Real Slim Shady. "May I have your attention please? May I have your attention please? Will the real Slim Shady please stand up?"

Kim crashes to the ground. Hard.

And, there were witnesses.

I knew I twisted it pretty bad. But, it was also pretty hilarious and I didn't want to be a baby. So, I laughed and tried walking it off. Then, I tried painting it off at my friend Shelly's house that evening.

At 11 p.m. on Friday night, I had a sneaking suspicion that I soon would not be able to walk on it. But, I iced it and wrapped it (at Dr. Husband's suggestion). That seemed to be just the ticket.

The moral of the story: I am not the real Slim Shady.

(And, in case you are wondering why I was dancing to The Real Slim Shady, it's a simple explanation. We were trying to decide on my theme song. Duh!)

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Egg-cellent

I picked up these pretties from Miss Effie (love her) yesterday. They are so pretty, I didn't think I'd be able to eat them.

On second thought... I've got a hankering for a buttery, sunny-side-up.

She even said she just got them from her chickens that morning. Talk about farm-fresh.

And, the pretty colors don't hurt.

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My husband, the softie

We've had a spurt of great, spring-like weather lately. Or maybe it's just spring. I don't know. I live in the Midwest. It snowed on Saturday. It was 68 degrees and sunny today.

So, one day last week after work, I asked Ryan and the dogs if they wanted to go for a long walk to enjoy the sun. Ryan was a little unsure. He said he had been couch-bound for so long, he was too out of shape for a long walk.

HA!

Lola was also unsure. She's definitely out of shape.

But, Franco and I talked them into it.

So, we went for a long walk anyhow. About 15 minutes into the walk, Ryan said that he and Lola were EXHAUSTED. I (politely) told them to suck it up.

At about 30 minutes, Lola began to slow down. Then, she started fake squatting. That's right friends, Lola was pretending to go potty. Just to get a rest.

Then, after 45 minutes. She did this.

She relaxed under a shade tree and refused.to.move.

And, do you know what my sweet husband did? He picked up Lola and carried her home. All the way home. Firefighter-style.

Unfortunately, this was the time that my camera battery died. (Darn it.) I didn't get a picture of Ryan carrying the dog on our walk.

My husband may just be a softy... do you think?

What I do know... it's time for us to do some training. Because a 45-minute walk shouldn't take Lola down for the count. Or Ryan for that matter.

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(Maybe) the final bedroom update

Are you tired of our master bedroom yet? I've talked about it quite a bit.

Well, I'm sorry. Come back tomorrow.

Because it's time for the most recent bedroom update.

I knew I could count on you all to give me some bedroom advice. And, you sure did. Thank you! I read every comment and took a lot of the advice. It's like having my very own design consultants, on call.

You all are really underpaid.

So, here's the breakdown of what has changed in the past few weeks, based on your advice.

1. Changed the bedding. Again.

I went searching for white pillows like so many of you suggested (see #2). I wasn't planning on buying a new comforter. Then, I came across this comforter and shams. Umm.... I decided I loved it. More than I loved the first down comforter. I knew I would love it on the bed, because it's quite similar to both Jenny's and Joi's bedding, which I adore (of course).

The comforter is tufted with buttons. I like the look of this, and I also think it's nice that wrinkles don't matter. Ha!

So, I purchased this white bedding from Target. And, took back the first down comforter. The new set ended up only being a little more money, and I think this looks much more polished. The fact that it came with white shams was icing on the cake.

2. Add white pillows.

Almost all of you recommended getting more white pillows. I think I knew this deep down, too.

While many recommended Euro shams, I had to veto you and go with king pillows. Why? Because I actually used to have Euro shams and found them far too large. I sold them in a yard sale. (HA! The irony.) And, I had an extra 2 king pillows. So, by getting the shams with the set was perfection.

I think the shams pull it together.

3. Make another larger pillow.

I loved the idea of a long, oblong pillow that ran the length of the bed. In fact, I adored this idea, dreamed about it and thought I must do it. However, I didn't want to spend any more money on pillows, because I have so many pillows and forms. Instead, I decided to use a smaller oblong pillow that I had in the house to create a smaller pillow, but still with the same inspiration and feel.

I took one of the king-sized shams that was a pretty blue silk-like material. I love the color so much that I had the paint color matched to the pillow. I make a simple envelope style pillow cover out of the old pillow. I literally just centered the form, cut the pillow down to size and sewed around (it had an existing envelope back that I used). 15 minutes. Pretty new pillow.

I kept the two Nautica pillows I already had because I really love them. And, I think they look better with the coordinating blue pillow I made. Do you agree?

4. Rethink the quilt folding.

Because I loved the comforter so much, I figured I didn't want to cover it too much with the quilt. So, I folded it into quarters at the end of the bed. I think it looks better than the options I gave you before.

5. Add some oomph to the bedside tables.

A few commenters went beyond the bed and mentioned the lack of.... anything on the bedside tables. I should have expected that. They were really more function than form. 

I don't love the tables, but I needed something small and cheap to fit. And, these work fine. Several recommended getting lamps. But, let me be honest. We used to have (too small) lamps. We never used them. And, they were too small. So, we sold them in the yard sale. And, I didn't buy any more of them, because all the lamps I like are pretty darn expensive. I know that all you thrifty bloggers are thinking, "Find some at the thrift store, stupid." But, I tried that. And, I couldn't find any I liked. So, there.

So, instead I just added a few things that I had in the house for a little interest. I like the tables a lot more now.

On my side, I added a plant from the office and a few wedding gift candle holders. The framed print is something that Ryan bought me from a street vendor at Venice Beach right after he proposed. It says, "Love in different colors." It makes me smile.

On Ryan's side, the other candle holder, our wedding photo and bamboo swiped from another room.

Much better than nothing on tables, right?

And, for kicks, here's the breakdown of the progression of this room. It makes me laugh, because I only painted once and have kept the same basic color scheme from the original renovation, but somehow have made several small changes so many times.

(Technically, there should be one more variation in this collage. But, this gives you an idea.)

So, how did I do? Anything you'd do differently? 

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Cheap, cheap, drapes, drapes

I've been talking about putting panels in our office/craft room since December.

I finally did it. And, I think I love it.

And, did I mention all four panels and the rods cost under $25?

Not bad, huh?

All curtains are made from one large drop cloth. I'm just one of many who have discovered the ease of using drop cloths. I first saw curtains from drop cloths at Layla's. 

I found the rods hidden in the corner of the store for..... $7 each. Cheap! They were originally $56 each. I was so excited that I may have let out a squeal. In the store. And, before I left, everyone else had discovered them, too. 

The drop cloth came with the cloth I cut the tree skirt from here. Four panels came from one drop cloth. And, they happened to be the perfect length for the wall. I just sewed the top to make a pocket for a rod and hemmed the cut side.

I think the texture is really great.

Here's what the windows looked like before:

And, now.

Better, right?

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I feel lucky

In real life, I'm not very lucky. When I try to call into the radio station, I don't get through. When I put my name in a drawing for a prize, I never win.

The only exception is when I won New Kids on the Block tickets. (But, I'm pretty sure I was the only person to enter... the drawing was at a business luncheon. Kind of a strange place to give away tickets, but it was good for me. ;))

But, here in Internet-land, I've been pretty darn lucky. I don't enter lots of giveaways, but when blogs I follow have giveaways, I'll enter.

And, lately, I've been raking in the winnings. ;) I'm so excited about it all.

First, I received these little Le Creuset measuring cups from my friend Rachael at Mrs. Adventure. I've been using them for a little while now, and they are perfect. They are actually silicone, which makes them flexible and great for sugar and flour and such.

Then, my friend Michael from Old World Charm had a giveaway for baker's twine and homemade jam. Ummm..... yeah!? I won! The baker's twine is so beautiful, I don't know if I can use it. It's wound on vintage spools. Right now, they are feeling right at home in a blue Ball jar on the kitchen counter.

And, last but most definitely not least, I won a pass for The Creative Connection Event from Where Women Create. If you aren't familiar with The Creative Connection Event, it's a conference for women interested in creative endeavors. Ryan and I had actually talked about me going prior to winning, but several things stood in the way. However, when I won, I just knew it was meant to be. I'm going to be heading up to Minneapolis with a blog buddy in September for Thursday and Friday classes, panels and more.

If you are interested, check out the Web site. You will be hooked. I'll be taking the felted ornaments class with Betz White (the author of Sewing Green, from here and here). I'm also signed up for the retro kitchen quilting class with Camille Roskelley. Then, *drumroll* I'll be attending the dinner on Thursday night with featured speakers Amy Butler and Mary Jane Butters! So excited, I can hardly stand it.

Thanks so much to Rachael, Michael and Where Women Create for these lovely giveaways. You have made this girl feel lucky!

Have you won anything lately?

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You-musts

You must:

• try these cheesy soft pretzels from Erin at Domestic Adventure. Ohmygoodnesstheyaresogoodyouwilldie. Then you will continue eating them until you have doubled your caloric intake for the day and you feel sick. But, it's worth it. Divine.

• drool over Carrie and Rob's bedroom makeover (she made the headboard, and the pillowcases!) at Brick City Love. It's just dreamy. I love that the room is far from my "usual" style, but I still adore it.

• see one of my favorite laundry room makeovers ever by Jenny at Anything Pretty. Ever. It's better than pictures in a magazine. And it's real.

• squeal out loud when you find out that someone at Craft Passion has detailed how to make YARN out of T-SHIRTS!? Wha? I will be trying to crochet something with yarn I make out of t-shirts. (And, don't tell Ryan, but I may be using the t-shirt that I wish he would get rid of but won't. You know, the one he wore in three consecutive high school yearbook photos. The one that I thought had finally gone missing until he mysteriously found it buried in a box in the basement. I jest, I jest. I will not destroy the t-shirt. Without permission.)

• fawn over Emily Kate's stair makeover at ThirtyEight20. Which she did herself (like everything else). I love them so much that I saved the picture and told Ryan we just must have stairs like these in our next home.

That is all for today. Let me know what you think of the "you-musts." I may do this type of a post more often. 

Please and thank you.

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Magazine dreaming

Do you have lots of magazines around your house, too?

I try not to keep magazines once they are read. But, because I get lots of hand-me-down magazines from my mother-in-law (who loves decor more than I do), they begin to pile up before I get to read them.

(My mother-in-law pretty much has ever shelter magazine known to woman. She brings me stacks of them. I'm a lucky girl.)

So, I had to finally go through and purge. I've been reading magazines like a mad woman. 1 decor magazine devoured each workday during break. 2 or 3 decor magazines finished every day on the elliptical machine. (I'm a multitasker.)

And, the piles are beginning to diminish. This is what's left.

(Don't you keep a vacuum, your wedding album and two jugs of paint in your entertainment center? And, P.S., this is after this baby was organized.)

I organized the magazines by title, so I can make my way through them. Some are several years old, but I still love them.

I tear out the pages I like and file them by room in a binder. I usually write my notes on the page. Then, I have my inspiration organized and close at hand. If you want to see what type of laundry rooms I like, I can show you, lickedy split.

The read magazines all go to the Friends of the Library. To me, it's better than recycling. They make a little money off of them and I get rid of them.

Here are three of the 6 bags that went to the Library last week. I told Ryan I'm afraid the library ladies are going to tell me they don't want me to bring my magazines anymore. It's getting a bit ridiculous.

Do you love magazines as much as I do?

How do you stay organized with them?

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Funky quilted table runner

I finished quilting and binding the table runner previewed here. In the end, I like it. It's been a while since I've quilted, so this was probably a good way to ease back into it. I had some trouble with the binding, but it looks bright and cheery in the end.

What's your current project?

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Yet another bag

I just cannot stop myself. I made another bag. This one. I love.

I found a great old seed/feed sack at the flea market for $3. It was pretty big bag with few stains and it was soft from years of use. So, it came home with me. I wanted to repurpose it.

Because I love a little history, I found out that Beamis was a St. Louis-based company. They began manufacturing seamless seed sacks in 1858 for milled food. I also found out that my $3 bag was a steal. Bags similar are going for at least $10 on Ebay, and as much as $40 on Etsy, and many look much dirtier than mine. Score!

My initial idea was to make a table runner, but I really have enough table runners. Then, I considered a pillow. But, it didn't really have a home.

So, I made a market bag. It's about 20 inches tall by 18 inches wide, making it a great size bag for the store or school.

It's lined with cute red ticking fabric. It was $2.50/yard at Joann's. I think this bag used about 1/2 yard total, so it ended up being a pretty good deal.

This is the first bag I've ever made lined. So, it's reversible. Although, I think the sack side will always be out. But, it does look cute with the ticking side out.

As per usual, I didn't do a tutorial. Bag tutorials are everywhere in Internet-land, and all are probably better than what I would provide. (Check out this tutorial at Film in the Fridge. I didn't use this pattern, but it looks pretty similar.)

I just kinda trusted my gut. I wanted the stamp centered on the bag, so I started there. Once the outside and liner were sewn, I added one long strap with excess feed sack material and then added a little carabiner and a button closure. (I just used a black elastic hair tie for the closure.)

I broke a needle in the process. The material got too thick and I was going too fast. But, it all worked out in the end, even with some strings and uneven stitching. This may be my favorite bag yet.

I'm hoping to use this for a bag to take to the gym, or the store. So, the key holder and inside pocket will be helpful.

And, I still have a little bit of the sack yet. I've got a few ideas for what to do with it. More to come.

My challenge is always straight lines. Believe it or not, I'm not good at cutting them or sewing them. HA! It's a miracle I can make anything.

But, I think the imperfections kinda make it beautiful.

What do you think?

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In real life friends

Last weekend, I was so excited to finally meet my friend, Jen, from Notes from the Heartland. (Please check out her awesome Family Rules signs, and other projects.) We live in the same neck of the woods (although she's about an hour away), so when I heard about a Cricut class at a local scrapbooking store, I emailed her about it. We both recently got Cricuts, so we got to learn lots of new things to take our Cricut-ing to the next level.

More about that later.

But, I was just so happy about meeting a blog friend in real life, I had to share. Neither of us ended up being 60-year old men and we both came out alive. Imagine. (Although, I'm surprised she wasn't afraid of me. Did you notice that my head is seriously 4 times the size of hers. Weird.)

Have you met any blog friends in real life?

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The deep freeze

If you are anything like us, your freezer is always jam packed. If you are anything like us, when you open your freezer, things fall out. If you are anything like us, you consider making freezer meals but know there is no way in the world you have the space for it.

Until now. Hello, gorgeous.

Ryan and I now have an upright freezer, which I am ridiculously excited about. (You know you are an adult when a new appliance gets you so darn excited, you even dream about it.) It's hanging out in the basement, which works out well for us.

I've been wanting a freezer for a while, but Ryan finally agreed and we jumped in. Why?

Because it was part of a promotion - we were able to get $200 of free freezer food coupons and gift cards from the grocery store by purchasing this bad boy. It was $199, so it evened out.

Can you believe it?

Well, believe it. Because it's true. I was tipped off to the deal by a local newspaper blog, The Working Mom. Because I knew the deal would go fast, I went first thing in the morning to pick up the freezer before work. There were only about 15 of them at the store. I heard they were gone later that day.

Ryan and I spent much more time than usual at the grocery store on Sunday, making sure we used as many coupons as possible. The majority were freezer items - like pizzas, potatoes, chicken breasts, breakfast sausage, lots of ice cream, freezer meals and more. But, there were also wild cards, like Ziploc bags, milk, bread, lunchmeat and spices. These were not .10 off or buy one get one, these were 100 percent free items.

(See those Girl Scout cookies? Those were not coupon items. Those are just extras, for a rainy day. If you and your husband each buy a ridiculous amount of cookies from coworkers, you could do this, too.)

While some items with coupons were not available, we ended up saving about $145 with the coupons. I've stashed away those coupons we haven't used, and will go back soon to redeem them.

There were also a few things that we knew we wouldn't eat - like bacon or Hungry Man dinners. We gave these to others, in hopes they could still go to use. It wouldn't have been prudent to purchase items we didn't like or knew we wouldn't eat.
With that said, many items were not things we would have purchased regularly, because of price or freezer space. However, having them will allow us a little luxury of having things like Klondike Bars and Snickers Ice Cream bars (yum). We'd better savor it. Plus, things like lunch meat, chicken breast and pizza will make good lunches and dinners. We also wouldn't typically buy freezer meals, but they may be handy when Ryan travels.

The goal for the rest of the month is to go without buying anything outside of perishables - fruits, veggies, milk, eggs and OJ. This way, the purchase of the freezer will fit into our monthly groceries budget. Purchasing perishables on Sunday was around $15.

I also made a list of what is in the freezer and hung it on the fridge. I want to make sure that I don't forget what we have. This system may morph, but this is it for now. When we eat anything, I'll mark them off, similar to our grocery and meal-planning system.

Now, I need to figure out some freezer meals. Any suggestions?


Does anyone else have a freezer?

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