Halloween Time!

The whole gross, ugly Halloween...Not my style.  I actually don't love that time of year but my kids do so I try to make it fun but cute at the same time ;) 

Here are a few things we did and loved!

My daughter wanted to be a witch so we took a $3 target witch and and made it fabulous.  A little tulle, ribbon, hot glue and this baby was done in 10 minutes! Even if you just make this and set it on an entry table for decor, you'll love it!  

 Ignore the name tag, my sisters and I all got together and made our own!  Fun girls night!

My Little witch:

Then I took a regular black tulle skirt and added orange, purple and lime green tulle.  Short in the front, long in the back just as my little witch requested.  

$3 witch broom from target, we also added ribbon and tulle and it was great!  Striped tights, a cute little black top, purple and green make up and this witch was ready to Trick or Treat!

Of course we needed a wreath and those were just too difficult to find so... time for another DIY.  So worth it!

1. Get pipe insulation from Home depot, make it into a circle, tape it well and viola, a wreath!  SUPER cheap, I think it cost me $6 and I can still get 2 more wreaths out of it.

2. Wrap in burlap, (PS do this for every holiday...YES!) I chose black, wired burlap

3. make it your own.  With the help of a creative sister, we made these little paper fan circles in 2 sizes and glued them to the wreath.  I tied about 8 different kinds of ribbon...the more dramatic the better I always say... Tied them in a french knot and cut them long.

Finished this wreath off with a little "Spooky" Banner.  In 30 minutes it was ready for my door!

Tall witch broom in the corner, pumpkins, skull paper garland (from paper source, my favorite paper store), little Fright Night sign and skull (yuck, but my kids wanted it so I bit my tongue and put it on the porch).  Set up your porch at different heights.  Use candlesticks, cool stools or chairs.  Everything at the same height never looks right.  

Happy Halloween!

Little boy bedroom makeover!

Little buddy's room was seriously neglected.  Poor little guy needed a tiny man cave of his own, especially in a house overrun by girls.  So it was time to make it his own!  I said to myself, striped wall?  How hard can it be?  UGH, hard is the correct answer!  However, I would have done it again in a heartbeat, I LOVE how it turned out.  So here you go... the DIY to a striped accent wall!

I started by painting the wall a light gray color I picked from Home Depot called Silver Mist.

Tape off the corners and roll it on.  I did a paint and primer and painted 2 coats.  Love it!

Next pick a width for your stripes.  I chose 8 inches.  Mark the wall and tape with every measurement.  WARNING:  you think the tape will just go on straight but I learned quickly that that's not the case.  Run your 8 inch measurement down the wall as you tape so you stay even.  Unless you like Dr. Seuss stripes, then just don't worry about it and go crazy.  I chose straight ;)

Don't mind tiny toes here, she was my little helper...

Now that you have everything taped and ready to go, paint within your stripes whichever color you choose.  I chose Ralph Lauren metallic silver.  Love this because the light shimmers off of it and looks like a glossy shade of gray that I painted on the walls.  In love!

Now time to take something I wanted (the walls) and add a little boy flair that my little guy would love.  I went to Ikea and picked out frames of different sizes.  Now after you've spent all this effort and time on your awesome stripes, you aren't about to make any unnecessary holes SO... Trace your frames on paper and tape them up with painters tape.  Move them around until you love where they are and then hang the frames in their places!  

Next I filled the frames with things that he loves, plus a little reminder for me to "let them be little."  I think all parents need this reminder :)  DONE!  He has a place he loves and I love walking by and seeing a little hard work DIY pay off big time.  Do you have a room that needs stripes?  I bet you do!

Master bedroom makeover!

I started looking at my room and realizing that I put all my effort into the other rooms in my house but not as much into our master bedroom.  That should be a peaceful place, a sanctuary and the first place in your home to be beautiful!  So it was time to organize, get rid of junk and turn our room into a master retreat.  Need to do it on a budget?  Well this room definitely gave us the most bang for our buck!  My only regret is that I never took before pictures of the room :/ Hate it when that happens.

Here's the scoop on where to shop...

Mirrors on both sides of the bed give the room a larger, more spacious feeling while looking fabulous at the same time.  Purchased in a set of 2 at Target!

Lamps are mercury glass from local boutique Blue Bird Style & Design (retail location now closed and the company now focuses on floral and home design)

Bedding I made from fabrics purchased at caroseldesigns.com LOVE this site because they put together fabrics and give great ideas on which prints to use together.  

Nightstands and dresser from Ikea, Hemnes collection.

2 chairs that are my favorite part of the room from Home Goods.  Shop there and you'll be hooked.  You can always find what you're looking for and the prices are fab.  Although I warn you, if you like it, buy it.  It will be gone the same day.  I've done that way too many times.  

Lastly, I organized all my jewelry in this mirror that opens into a cabinet.  I've always wanted one since I was little and now I have one!  Also purchased at Home Goods.  

Now go spruce up your retreat!  Get rid of clutter on nightstands and dressers.  If it shouldn't go in a bedroom, it's out!  You'll sleep better, end of long days will be more relaxing and although we may have cute littles running around at all times... it's still our peaceful place!