Camper remodel phase one

First off...we found our little pop up camper for $500! Seriously, what a score! It will be the perfect size for my husband and I for the next few years.

Overall the camper is in great shape but after cleaning it when we bought it I couldn't stand the flooring, being white and old no ammount of scrubbing would make them pristine looking again.

We tore out the sink as it wasn't in working condition anymore and was rickety, the fridge and heater that were in it didn't work as well so out the went, we replaced the fridge with one the same size and will just strap it in when we are traveling and put a counter back in, with the heater we'll just use a space heater if need be but we generally don't camp in cold temps.

Dublin thought he would help with the demo by tearing up the box of chalk;).

It took one longer afternoon and $20 for the flooring later and we're finished! 

We are no experts at laying flooring but having done it a few times it's not too hard and I think it turned out great.

I couldn't believe how much cleaner the camper looked having the new flooring in.

We would like to replace the curtains and cushions and paint the cabinets but I can't decide what color scheme I want to go with so that will come later.

It was so nice getting everything put away in the cabinets and everything having a designated place it will be so nice when we take it out camping here in a few weeks to only have to grab our clothes and food and be good to go! 

We'll see after the first weekend out camping if the way I organized things work, I would love to get your feedback on how you organize your pop up camper.

Entry table redo

I picked up this little "entry table" for $5 at a 2nd hand store sigh no idea in mind of what I was going to use it for but I couldn't pass up a good deal...;).

I found the paint I used at the hardware store as a "mistake paint" for $5! I wasn't sure how I would turn out but I love the color in the end, I used a stain on the top, then did 2 coats of the paint and picked up a new drawer pull for a couple dollars at the local lumber yard. 

Please excuse the beer cans...we are going to have to find a "prettier" receptacle for those! 

I found the vase sitting in the stand at the "at home" store for $8, I want to find something decorative to put in the vase but haven't found anything I like yet, for now my wedding bouquet will work.

The candle holder on top I picked up at the habitat for humanity restore for $7! 

The mail holder on the wall I got at a yard sale for a couple dollars and the sign above it from a "celebrating home" at home party I had, all in all I think it came together very well at a very minimal price which is always my goal.

If you have any suggested or how you've decorated your entry,  sound off in the comments! 

Christmas trees

There is nothing I love more than decorating at Christmas time, seriously you have no idea how much I love it, I do believe I got the love for it from my grandmother who has gone all out decorating my whole life, I get the honor of helping two of my grandmas and my mom in decorating there houses every year and I love it.

The tree is always the first thing to go up every year I love having it decorated while I decorate everything else, the small tree I picked up at Micheals on sale for $20! We couldn't pass up getting my husband one to put on his toolbox at work as well☺️.

Of course Dublin had to get in one of the photos as I wasn't giving him enough attention and was decorating instead 😉. 

We always put up our tree thanksgiving evening or the day after depending on what we have going on, when do you all put up your tree? 

Thanksgiving table

I love going home to my parents for the holidays.

My mom always gets out the China and decorates the table beautifully, I got the honor of decorating this year and it was so much fun! 

I found these little "I'm grateful for..." Papers on Pinterest and we incorporated them into the dinner, that time of year especially leading up to Christmas is a wonderful time to ponder what you are thankful for and writing it down is an even better way to make you realize and truly think about what you are thankful for, I saved them all and do believe we will make this a tradition and add it to a scrapbook.

Sound off in the comments on what some of your favorite thanksgiving traditions are with your family.

 

A little chalkboard paint project

A simple little project that I did awhile back, my dad gave me the crate from back in his screen printing days ( I had to leave one end with the cherry picker crate logo for him😉) 

The other I taped off and brushed on a few coats of chalkboard paint and that was it!

This works great to hold cd's or whatever else you you can think of.

Screen redo turned outdoor fall decor

So I found a couple screens on the local Facebook swap shop and got them both for $15.

Now I have yet to finish the 2nd....its in the works to be a winter snowman scene so I will post photos when It's finished! 

Until then....my harvest pumpkin decor! 

I started out by taping off the screen and spray painted the trim and middle section black with just your basic black spray paint I'm pretty sure it was the cheapest kind Walmart sells (I may have confiscated it from my husbands stock pile 😉.

Then I used acrylic paint and the cheap sponge type brushed and started painting away, I used a few different colors or orange and just blended together until I thought they looked right and then added the rest of the detail work.

My goal with the middle is to put a pretty ribbon and bow through the screen, that will get done before I put it out this year. 

I'm not crazy about how the "fall" writing came out but for my first time it will do. 

I got the crate from the same guy the screens came from (he's kept me in business for many more projects to come! Much to my husbands dismay😉).

I got the cat at a local gift shop called the "Harvest Barn" last year after Christmas for a couple dollars.

The larger bail of hay came from Walmart and the smaller ones came from a young kid here and town that was making them for a little extra money.

And last but not least I got the pumpkins and corn from a pumpkin patch when my husband, parents, and I went on a farm crawl.

All in all I thing it turned out great! 

If you have any input or ideas on how I could decorate it this year leave them in the comments.

Bargain finds redone

I picked up the two crates at a 2nd hand store for a couple dollars,

The little drawer hangers at a yard sale,

And the best deal of all...

The two little shelves at michaels for 10 cents a piece! That was seriously the best of all, what an amazing deal.

I sanded them all down, added 2 coats of varnish to each, let them dry, added a coat of polyethylene and done! 

I gave one of the little shelves to my brother for Christmas and have used the rest for various storage solutions around the house. 

It took only one afternoon to sand them all down and varnish

I love finding little projects like these

Leave your thoughts or some of your favorite projects in the comments!

Some cute doggies I had to post

Anyone that knows me know that I'm pretty much obsessed with my sweet little puppy who is not so little, 65 lbs actually and isn't so much a puppy more like 4 years old.

The top left is Dublin getting a little jealous of daddy helping me with one of my projects.

Top right he decided to take a nap with daddy.

The bottom two are him with my parents dog, Allie they love each other as you can tell😊.

Post photos in the comments of your own little fur babies! 

Harvest party

We hosted our first harvest party last year, and had so much fun.

There is nothing I love more than decorating, baking, and hosting parties, bring all of these together and it's right up my alley.

A few photos from the decorating.

We found some beautiful mums that made the porch look a little more festive, I placed a table outside for the s'more supplies and some candy.

The fire pit all set up and ready to go, 

The "game table" with coloring supplies as well, 

And setting up the kitchen island and dinning table.

I had so much fun finding ideas on hosting a fall party and the popcorn bat was among the favorites so I had to add it! I found a lot of the buckets, bags, and chalkboard labels in the dollar section from target (bargain score!), added a few different options to add to your popcorn and of course in the back right, caramel popcorn I will find that recipe and post!

These little witch hat cookies were so fun to make I alternated between thin mints and fudge stripes.

 

I found these cute little bags at target for the s'more bags, I thought that would make it so much easier for the guest than having to find all of the supplies in the dark for the s'mores, this made it so they could grab a bag and a fork (which was on the table outside with the baggies) and head to the fire!

The drink bar was a fun project as well, we offered coffee, water and the hot cocoa supplies, and the pitcher of hot apple cider (I will find the recipe and post).

The soup display was a little boring, you can't do much with crocpots😊 but I did love the little chalkboard clips I found to label which kinds we had.

And of course sugar cookies...my absolute favorite to make for every holiday, I've got a ton of cookie cutters and sprinkles for every occasion And I loved the mini cutters I found for these.

Leave some of your favorite fall decorating or baking ideas in the comments!

At Home Store

Don't mind the delicious chocolate in the cart, seriously who can pass that up.

Des Moines recently got an At Home Store and let me tell you it is AMAZING,

If you've never been you're seriously missing out and need to find the nearest one.

I have frequented the store at least once a week since they opened, I seriously can't get enough I still have yet to make it through every little isle as the dog is usually waiting in the car for me ;), so I have to hit a difference section ever time I go.

 I've found that there prices are very reasonable compared to home goods, target, ect and I think it's just fun having somewhere new to shop, who doesn't love that.

I picked up the lampshades for that project and a few other necessities for the new house, it's taken much self control to not go crazy every time I go in but I'm getting lots of decorating ideas and finding out what I can't wait to go back for.

Sound off about your favorite purchases from here in the comments, I would love to get your feedback!

Lamp DIY

I wiped down both lamps with a dusting cloth, tapes off the cords and top part and painted away.

I did 3 coats on each lamp letting them dry completely between each coat, the 3rd coat was really just to touch up if there were any thin spots I didn't end up paint the entire lamp 

The large lamp I got at the habitat for humanity restore for $5!

The shade came from the At Home store for $25 and I got the can of spray paint for about $5 from the local hardware store.

The skinnier lamp lamp was given to me for free from my grandma,

The shade cost $8, 

And I used about half a can of the same spray paint as the large one.

The lady that helped me pick the paint at the hardware store told me it would help to scuff the lamps with a little sand paper before painting but let's be honest, I was a little lazy and didn't feel like doing that...so I skipped that step and they turned out fine! 

I suppose I will probably add a clear coat to them as well but haven't gotten that stepped finished, we'll see if it does!

Prom Hair

I've had the honor of doing miss Brianna's hair 2 years in a row now. 

 she is the little sister of my best friend Mikala whom I also did her 2 years of prom!

Our mothers have been friends since before Mikala was born so of course we would be best friends.  It's been such a fun tradition that I get to carry on 2 more years for Brianna. 

We make a day out of it and my mom and I go to there house and all spend time together as Brianna gets ready! 

It's so fun seeing what style of dress she goes with and what hair style I get to do.

I can't wait to see what's next!

What are some trends you've been seeing with prom this year?