Our First Blogiversary

January 22, 2016December 29, 20157 Comments

It’s official! We are now One!!! I can hardly believe it’s been a year. I remember sitting with Lauren and telling her it would be fun to start a blog, but had no idea what I would do for it. The more we talked, the clearer it became and soon Lauren was joining me on this adventure. Then came the decision for a name. That probably took us 3 weeks! I recall Haley walking in and saying, ‘Are you still talking about a name?!’ Ha! Now here we are a year later!

Some of Pam’s favorites have included furniture make-overs, DIY’s and decorating. She also loved redoing Lauren’s room and finally getting the hallway painted! Lauren loved being able to show off her Paris bedroom and of course her puppy, Zoella! Just knowing we have to post something helps us be more intentional about getting projects done.

My favorite part of my room-the bed

Some improvements this year have included better pictures, at least I hope so! I am slowly learning how to take better and brighter pictures. We also had our first giveaway! It was so exciting to be contacted by ParrotUncle to give away one of their lamps. Hopefully that will be the first of many! We also received 2 awards this year: The Liebster Award and a Blogger Recognition Award. Thank you to fellow bloggers for nominating us!!

We are planning on making a few changes, all positive we hope! Pam will still be posting on Monday. We are going to post on Wednesday with a Fabulous Finds and/or Fashion Day. We will either post about thrift store/garage sale finds or some fashion ideas. Lauren will be posting on Friday. Hopefully this will work better with her school and work schedule and Saturday will be our Corner News.

Of course, we want to hear from you too! What kind of posts do you like to see? Are there things you don’t like or things we should change? Please let us know in the comments below. Just be kind please :)!

I don’t want to be too mushy, but I really have to say thank you. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing blog posts and letting everyone who comes by see them. It has been hard for me at some points because of working a full time job and going to school full time, but I love to come up with ideas of how I can make a blog post. I have enjoyed reading all of the kind comments that I have received on some of my posts (mostly about Zoella, but nevertheless) and loved seeing who has come to view our blog. Thank you for not only fulfilling my dream to create and write about something for people to see, but also showing me that you care about what I write. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! And cheers to creating more amazing content to share with all of you!

It has been quite a ride this year and we can’t wait to see what else is waiting for us! Thank you again for coming over to read our posts and for all the kind comments! Obviously we wouldn’t continue if we didn’t have readers! Thank you for your support!

The Easy Way to Make a Shutter into a Mirror

January 11, 2016January 10, 201613 Comments

Time seems to go so quickly. We will be celebrating our 1 Year Blogiversary in just a couple of weeks. Amazing!

Do you ever feel kind of overwhelmed by all there is to see on the internet, places like Pinterest and Facebook? I know I do. There are so many ideas out there and so many pretty designs, it is hard to know where to begin or even decide what you like! There is so much out there that I like. I like the neutrals, but I also like the turquoise seaside look. Do I want farmhouse or coastal? So then I have to decide if I want every room to have that look or just some of them. When I see other houses where they use neutrals, I love how they can move things from room to room and it still works. I don’t know. I guess my look is always evolving. But I do know right now, I am liking white. I have always liked shades of white, but when my kids were younger, I had lots of color. Now I am trying to go with more white and then add different colors with accents, such as pillows, blankets and decorations. Now you get to join me on this crazy ride!!

My first project this year is a full length mirror for my room. I had one on the inside of my closet door, but when I went through and decluttered, I hung jewelry there instead. Then the mirror broke when it got moved. After Haley repainted her room, I inherited her mirror. I had it just standing on the floor in the corner and would move it when I needed it. It’s actually the mirror in the first pictures, but guess what? It broke too! 2 mirrors broken! Does that mean bad luck for me? They were both in 2015, so will 2016 be okay? Anyways, I knew I wanted to do something nicer with mirror and I had either a door or a shutter to work with.

I ended up using the shutter because the size fit better with the mirror. I’m sure the door will show up sometime here on the blog! I took the frame off the mirror and as much of the cardboard as I could. This is probably what caused it to break. It didn’t have enough support.

The shutter I had was missing a couple of the slats at the bottom. My husband took the whole slat piece off the bottom and turned it over so the missing ones were in the middle and will be covered by the mirror. Smart thinking!

The next thing to do was clean the shutter and buy a new mirror!

Alrighty, I’m back. The shutter is clean and the mirror I found had a white frame, so I didn’t have to frame it myself. I’m all about making it easy!

After lining everything up, we got to use my new Ryobi Airstrike gun. I actually won this from another blogger! I was so excited about this! Sure makes it easier than hammering nails! We nailed it near the edge so it wouldn’t crack the mirror. We don’t want to break 3 of them!

Here it is! I’m so glad to finally have a full-length mirror in my room. I’ve been moving the old one all over, trying to prop it up and other various moves to see what I am wearing!

Hi Ezzy!

I really like how this looks in my room.

And it could be used in any room!

Thanks for joining me today! See you next time!

Recap of 2015-Our First Year of Blogging

January 4, 2016January 3, 201616 Comments

I can hardly believe it’s been almost a year since Lauren and I started this blog! There have been many days of frustration when we can’t figure out how something works, but there have also been many exciting days along the way. Thank you so much to all our followers! It’s always great to hear from so many of you and make new friends along the way! We look forward to some new and exciting stuff in 2016!

Today is Recap Day! Let’s see what were the 10 top posts of 2015!

10. Thrift Store Medallion Makeover

This was the first time I used Antique Wax on a project and I love how it turned out.

9. The Drama In Our Backyard

Spring Time! This was quite an adventure!

8. Old Door Beverage/Candy Station

We have used this Door Beverage station quite a lot. It’s a great way to add a little vintage charm to your backyard or patio!

7. Recycled Pallet Table

Love, love, love this table! It really wasn’t something planned, but it turned out great!

6. Corner News-December 11, 2015

Awww! I don’t have to say anything else!

5. Fabulous Vintage Beverage Cart Makeover

This was a great garage sale find! It’s fun to use outdoors in the summer, but also indoors. Right now I am using it for a hot chocolate station.

4. We Went Junking (and some other shopping too)

This was a fun day! Just love this truck!!

3. My Beachy Spring Decorating

Funny how things change in my house so quickly! I don’t even have this shelf anymore! This spring decorating will look quite different.

2. Paper Pinecone Christmas Ornament

I joined an ornament exchange this past year and it was so fun! I loved seeing what everyone else was doing and coming up with something special for my fellow blogger.

1. Recovering My Outdoor Swing Cushions (I Cheated a Little)

Wow! Number one! Is it because I admitted I had cheated? Anyways, I love how the swing turned out and love that I didn’t have to use a sewing machine!!

Wow! That’s a great list and we will have to stay very busy this year to keep up!

The most popular post?

No surprise here! Not with this cute little face! She will be coming home very soon!

Thank you so much for a wonderful 2015 and we can’t wait to see what 2016 has for us!

Creating Your Own Sweater Stockings

December 14, 2015December 12, 201514 Comments

The stockings were hung by the chimney in care…okay, we don’t have a chimney, but we do have a fireplace now! But I still didn’t hang the stockings there. Instead I used an old ladder for some and a new one for the others! I love how they look on the ladders with some cozy blankets thrown over. I showed you the stockings I was making for my pooches and kitties, but I thought I would give you a little more of a tutorial for them.

I started out with a pile of sweaters from a thrift store. They have a deal where you fill a handheld shopping basket and get the whole thing for $7.00. Pretty good deal! I found 7 sweaters in colors that I liked and thought would work for this project. Only 1 buck each! I looked for sweaters with a design, or pockets or buttons that I thought would add something extra to the stocking. (only 6 made it in the picture :))

Here is the stocking I used for the pattern. As you can tell, not really my style. After sewing this one, I realized I should have put the top of the stocking at the bottom of the sweater. The tops didn’t stretch out so much when I used the binding at the bottom or the neckline at the top of the sweater.

I’m going to be using a different sweater for the rest of the tutorial, because it was an oops. I traced the pattern on the outside of the sweater instead of the inside. 😦 But it still ended up working out! I actually got 2 stockings from the sweater. I think it was actually a dress. Notice how the top of the stocking will be on the neck of the sweater.

After tracing the pattern it was time to sew. My favorite thing! NOT! But I did it anyway! I sewed right along the line I had drawn. Just don’t sew the top! That is your opening to put the gifts in!

Once the sewing is done, cut around the edge. I cut just to the outside of the stitching.

Here is the stocking all cut out.

I turned the stocking right side out, which was actually inside out, but whatever! Then I took a piece of the binding from the neck that was left over and cut a little strip off.

This will make my loop for hanging. I sewed it on with the machine, but it could easily be hand-stitched too.

The collar of the sweater had some buttons on it so I cut them off and added them to the front of the stocking where the diamonds of the argyle met.

And there it is! It doesn’t looks to bad being inside out! I hung this one in my bedroom.

Here are a couple of the others hanging by the dining room tree. I finished 8 of them in all! If I can make these, anybody can! I love how they look warm and cozy plus you can make them to match any decor,

Thanks for following along! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Fun Fall Fashion

November 19, 2015November 18, 20158 Comments

It’s almost the end of fall. There aren’t as many colors in the world, it is getting much colder, and it is getting darker earlier (making us think that it is midnight when it’s actually 6 pm). And in some places in the world, this wonderful white thing called snow is falling from the sky. If you are from California, the only thing that could possibly be falling from the sky is rain.

But, one of my favorite things about fall/winter is the fashions. I am a jackets and boots kind a girl. I have a whole slew of coats and jackets and winter boots that I want to wear all the time. So, because of my love for fashion, I decided to post a few pictures for you of some of my favorite fall outfits.

DISCLAIMER! My roommate Hannah took these pictures for me and so the complete look may not be seen because of the fact that the pictures didn’t turn out that great. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to show off the beautiful double-breasted coat, it just because they didn’t turn out. Apologies in advance.

Number 1: City Girl Country Wear

This is the most comfortable outfit ever!

I absolutely love this outfit! I will wear this every day if I possibly could (unfortunately, people might get a bit worried about me if I did). But it is super cute and I love the look.

The flannel shirt is a mens shirt that I purchased from Wal-Mart 2 years ago. I always roll up the sleeves to give it bit of a more feminine look. But if it is cold enough, I will keep the sleeves down to keep my arms warm. I paired this flannel with a white tank top and skinny jeans. And finally the boots! I love the girlishness of the boots. There are sparkles, but it still looks like a classy boot. I received these as a Christmas gift last year and I wish that I could get the other colors.

Here are some pieces of clothing that look like mine that you can add to your wardrobe!

Blue Flannel Shirt – Brown Sequin Boots

Number 2: Kate Middleton Meets Middle Class

Do I look like a royal yet?

I love how classy this outfit looks. I could go out on the town in it or I could go shopping. Okay, maybe without the heels, but you get the idea.

I bought the coat from Target 2 years ago on Sale for $60! It was a steal! Okay, maybe not so much, but you get the point. It is a beautiful double-breasted coat that nice and warm. I have paired it with skinny jeans (again) and some white and black lace heels. These shoes were purchased from a thrift stores years and years ago, but they are comfortable and cute!

Blue and Black Plaid Coat – White and Black Heels

Number 3: Riding into the Fashion

If this doesn’t make you want to go out and ride a horse, I don’t know what will. It feels really country western, yet feels kind of like a dressage outfit. I think it’s the jacket and boot combination is what makes it look that way.

My grandma gave me this jacket on a whim. I remember Haley going into my grandma’s house to drop something off and comes outside holding the coat. I rolled down my window, saying “if you’re asking me if I want that, the answer is yes”. It has a little bit of an old fashion look with the addition of elbow patches. I styled this with skinny jeans and multi-colored boots that I bought from GoodWill for $12! What a steal!

Elbow Patches are Fun!

Green Jacket – Multi-Colored Boots

Number 4: New Age Nancy Drew

Now, if you are like me and grew up reading Nancy Drew, there were times you wanted to dress like her. The really posh, fashionable, yet still functioning teenage girl who was a detective.

So I bought this jacket from a thrift store (shocker of the year!) and it’s Macy’s brand jacket. It isn’t that warm, but boy is it cute! I paired this with a white lace shirt and nude sparkly flats from Target. Do I look like I could go out and fight crime in this?

Pink Jacket – Nude Flats

Number 5: Rock Star Ready

This outfit is my favorite outfit to wear out. I’ve worn it to company parties, fundraisers, and school. I love the versatility of how it could be formal but still casual.

Let’s start with the jacket. I received this leather jacket as a Christmas present. It is Apartment 9 and it came from Kohls. (PS: it is still available). The shirt is a high low short sleeve with sheer on the bottom. I bought it from Family Dollar for something like $10. The jeans are actually juniors that I bought from JCPenny’s a few years ago. They are Arizona and boy are they comfortable. I have them in blue and red, but now they are available in pink…I might have to buy them. And finally, the boots. I bought them from a flea market for $12. They are extremely comfortable and look good with anything I put them with.

Leather Jacket – High Low Black Shirt – Blue Skinny Jeans – Black Boots

So here are some of my favorite fall/winter outfits. I hope that you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite outfits and some of my favorite pieces of clothing from my closet. Do you have a favorite outfit that you just have to wear every fall/winter?

Before I leave you, the raffle for the Mediterranean lamp has closed. I would like to congratulate Manda on winning this beautiful lamp! Congratulations!