9 Lives

Cats are not the only things that have 9 lives. I have found that home decor can last just as long. When I was living at home, before college, I had bought a set of two white wall frames. One had three slots for pictures and the other had one slot and then a mirror. When I moved to college, the frames went with me and underwent many picture changes throughout the years, from high school graduation to college parties to college graduation. When I moved into my current apartment, the frames were spray painted black to match my new room decor. And then I decided that when I move again, I will take them. Although I am not sure if they will go back to their original white color, I already made a few changes. Their new home will be in the dining room or kitchen. I have already given them a new look to math their new home. I took a few pictures in Napa this year and wanted to frame them. So I went to Walmart and printed a few pictures and placed them in the frames. I also thought that a mirror wouldn't be as necessary in the kitchen, so I bought a pack of cork board (4 pieces) at Walmart for around $5 and transformed the frame.

And now the mirror is being given another life as well. It is currently in my bathroom with a white flower candle on top. I haven't decided if it will stay. Perhaps a collection of perfume bottles or jewelry would be more fitting, but for now it works. There are a number of reasons that giving your items multiple lives is great. First, it saves a lot of money. I actually gained a new item, the mirror, added new artwork to my home, and added another purpose to the frame, which now serves to hold a picture and the cork board can be used to post things on. And the total cost was under $8! Also, little changes are always fun when you get a bit bored of your current decor. And most important for me is the stress that getting rid of things causes me. I have trouble letting go. And I almost forgot, it was quick and easy. These changes took all of 5 minutes.

And now a bit more texture has been added to the room!

So, do you have anything in your house, besides a cat, that is in it's 9th life?

Like A Boss

I managed to incorporate my obsession with design into my work schedule today. Because I organize trade shows, but do not attend them, I created a floor plan to direct my colleagues on how to properly set up the booth. I have to say, I had a lot of fun making shapes and coloring (I know that sounds a bit like preschool, but I did in fact use Word to create this) and being the boss of the trade show booth!

In The "Mood"

When my bf moved into his new condo, I was in the mood to redecorate. So I created a mood board for each room in the house, excluding bathrooms. He encouraged me to also create a garage mood board, but as exciting as that room sounds, I think I will save that for a rainy day.

To start, welcome to his condo. For a visual, you open the front door to face the stairs. To the left is the front room. Do you see that dark carpet? Yes, it is in fact a dark brown color...so the 80's! I know the pictures are extremely small, but I can provide the info on furniture and decor choices if anyone is interested.

If you keep walking towards the back of the place, you will reach the spacious and open kitchen. How many people do you know who have a fireplace in their kitchen? Well, that's one for me. To the left of that sliding glass door is one of two fireplaces in his condo. The room could really use a kitchen island to define the kitchen and the dining area. For now, that is a little out of his budget, but eventually it will happen! The tiny pieces of artwork to the right are actually posters from AllPosters that I had framed. I have given him quite a few housewarming gifts already. And he has been so lucky to receive the leather couches and Pottery Barn dining table from his mom!

Below are the reasons why I should never buy things on impulse. I had originally created a mood board for the guest bedroom (the second one shown) and within a few weeks, changed my mind and created the second mood board (the first one shown). I have to say I am much happier with the second version (and thankful that I wasted no money). A few items that are shown more prominently in the second he already had. The striped couch, which is conveniently a pull out, was also given to him by his mom. The coins framed in silver was a gift that I made for him, and the wood chair is something that I bought from IKEA when I was in college, and actually painted a bright green (it will match the room on the left perfectly!!!). The flower artwork in the room on the left is also from Allposters. Gotta love cheap wall art!

Above are two options for the master bedroom. I really am in love with both of them. The first one shown is more worldly/manly, but I couldn't help but fall in love with the geometric patterned duvet from West Elm. The bedroom shown second features a pin-tuck duvet, also from West Elm. This mood board gives a more fresh/ocean like feel to the room.

Stay tuned to see which styles made the cut!

Speechless

Is what I was when I discovered these four home decorating stores within seconds of each other. Ahhh...such a happy moment. Crate and Barrel Outlet, CB2, Restoration Hardware AND Z Gallerie!!! What more could a girl ask for?! That's all!

"A Change Will Do You Good"

That's what I said on Sunday morning to my bedroom. I/it just needed a little change. So here is what it looked like before...

And after about an hour worth of rearranging...

The whole goal of my bedroom redesign was to incorporate a nightstand on either side of the bed. I pushed one to the very corner of the wall so that the bed would still be as far away as possible from the door. I can't stand it when I feel like I'm walking into a bed rather than a bedroom.

The trickiest piece of furniture I have is this chaise lounge. It is just a little too big for my room. That's what you get when you buy furniture before properly measuring the space it will fit into. Oops, at the time I was just too excited to move into my apartment.

But I made it fit into another corner of my room.

And in the corner where my other nightstand once lived, my beautiful dress form now resides. I think it's a perfect little corner to be displayed in.

And that is the story of my free bedroom remodel! I even got to vacuum parts of my room that were once unreachable due to heavy furniture. No more dust! And a little change did do my bedroom good!

Less Money, More Problems

I recently snagged this table from a seller on Craigslist. In my previous posts you my recognize it as the concentric table from Z Gallerie, a.k.a the coffee table of my dreams. With a steep price tag, I wasn't sure I would ever get it, but during my constant search of affordable accessories on Craigslist, I found it-condition, brand new-price, much more reasonable (about $100 less than in store). Needless to say, that was one of the happiest days of my lives (please take into account I have not been married or had children yet). The table is loving it's new home, and especially that it is not being used as a coffee table i.e. nothing is presently laying on it. However, I would like it to be functional one day. So I called a few glass companies thinking I would put a layer of glass over the top for protection so that drinks and (possibly) feet would be able to relax on it. To my non-surprise, a piece of glass that size was going to cost around $150. After already paying so much for my wonderful coffee table, this wasn't going to work with my budget.

So I did a little brainstorming...

I decided that a serving tray would be a much more affordable option. It can house drinks and snacks, and in the event that a spill occurs, hopefully protect the table as much as possible. Now, as for foot traffic on the table, that will remain minimal until I can afford a glass top.

In my search of finding a serving tray, I discovered the price can run anywhere from $30 to $70. However, I found a super affordable one from Target, and with a little bit of spray paint to add a pop of color, I think it will look perfect on the table.

*Just 14.99 on target.com

I've Got Skills

Cooking skills that is. Generally my diet consists of beans and cheese-in all forms. What I mean by that is most nights for dinner I will have just beans and cheese, beans and cheese in a salad or beans and cheese in a tortilla. So naturally, when I decided to cook something (warming up beans in the micro and grating cheese isn't real cooking), it had to be closely related to my normal diet. I don't tend to stray from things I know I like. And I know all I did was follow a recipe, but it turned out really good. So I think I definitely have some cookin' skills!

Here's the story:

One of my college roommates was coming to visit. I had not seen her in about a year, which is very sad, but beside the point. I wanted to make a good, inexpensive dinner so she would be impressed (because she remembers my bean and cheese diet from college). The night before she came to visit, I dusted off the Betty Crocker Healthy New Choices cook book (sorry Mom, but you know I don't cook) and started looking for something sort of healthy/bean related. And this is what I found...

Name of Dish: Spicy Mexican Skillet Chicken
4 servings
15 min cook time

Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 to 2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) black beans-drained
1 cup whole kernel corn
1/2 cup chunky salsa
cilantro
1 red jalapeno chili
1/2 avocado (my "secret ingredient")

Cooking Directions:
1. Season the chicken with chili powder, salt and pepper
2. Cook chicken in vegetable oil in a skillet (8-10 minutes)
3. Stir in beans, corn and salsa
4. Heat to boiling, then cover and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes
5. Add cilantro, sliced red jalapeno chili and avocado to the top and serve
6. Enjoy and talk about how you should be on Iron Chef America- when the "secret ingredient" is beans

Calories: 290 per serving
Total cost for dinner: $18

One (Wo)man's Junk is Another (Wo)man's Treasure

I don't know the story of the flowers before my friend and I found them, but I sure am happy we stumbled (literally) across them.

The other night, we were walking home from downtown and a night of drinking and dancing. We were almost home when we noticed this perfect and colorful bouquet of flowers lying in the middle of the street. It was late and no one was around and we didn't want the flowers to go to waste. I'm not sure how someone loses flowers, but I am happy to say that I have a beautiful new centerpiece for my dining room table that I hope lasts a few weeks.

*And yes, I did unwrap the plastic and paper after I took pictures. I am not that tacky.

For The Iron Chef In My Life

My boyfriend recently moved into his own apartment. Besides bringing the essentials with him; a huge TV, a bed and a toothbrush, he had very little. So I thought I would send a small housewarming gift/care package to him. What would be the perfect gift, you ask?! What's more important than watching TV, sleeping and maintaining good hygiene...FOOD!!! A cook I am not, so no food could be sent his way. I decided instead to encourage my chef of a boyfriend to enhance his cooking skills in preparation for my visits. After all, the way to a girl's heart is definitely food, right? Well it is for me anyway :)

First, I made a trip to Ross and Marshall's (both stores I find great deals at). I found a good amount of cooking tools and other kitchen supplies and even a metal basket to hold them.
Second, I wrote little messages on post its, pink ones to add a little extra love, and attached the notes to each object.
Third, I crammed most everything into the basket.
Fourth, I put everything in a box, wrote a little love note and shipped the box!

The basket packed to the brim with kitchen tools on the cheap!

Trying to make kitchen tools an exciting gift by adding personalized post-it notes

My love note added to the box

I can't wait until he gets the box! I'll let you know what he says.

I'm Dreaming of a White...Office

I totally wouldn't mind/absolutely love this white office instead of a white Christmas, sorry Mr. Crosby. However, I would have to be majorly dreaming to get it. This Elfa freestanding study from The Container Store is just a little (ok, a LOT) out of my price range. But it is just so crisp and clean and modern and wonderful. And there is nothing wrong with dreaming, and hunting for a similar version. Hey, I think that's a challenge!

Is There Really Such a Thing as Too Many Shoes???

I think not. Shoes are just necessary. Even these little ceramic shoes. Another photo courtesy of my boyfriend and his great aunt. The boots and heels and stilettos add such character to her space. I only wish I had seen the collection in person!

* This makes me want to expand my collection. Any shoe sales going on?

White and Bright

My boyfriend is in Rochester, NY visiting his Great Aunt Alba and his Grandparents. Unfortunately I couldn't go. Because I wouldn't be able to see Alba's house, my boyfriend has periodically sent me pictures so I can enjoy his vacation as well. He has told me in the past that she loves white, quite a coincidence (so do I), and that she is the ultimate neat freak. He said her cleaning routine puts mine to shame (Rude! But I will let him get away with it because he sent me these pictures). Thank you for the pictures babe!



These pictures are of her front porch. I am oh so jealous of her enclosed porch. And all of the white is so clean, refreshing and bright! I can already tell her house deserves some magazine love, perhaps Traditional Home.