Saturday, April 30, 2011

Please Have Pity On ME, Vintage Revivals! I'm Begging!


Hi friends! I am swallowing my pride and showing you what my real life is like because I am DESPERATE. I feel like I am living a lie in having this blog because I am not crafty person and my house is....in need of some major help. If you didn't know this, I started this blog to save ideas of things I wanted to do and make when I got some time SOMEDAY!








I am entering the Vintage Revivals Epic Room Makeover in hopes that I get some much needed help.









This is the short of a VERY LONG story!!!!

When my husband and I were getting married, we thought about our future. My husband doesn't make a ton of money and if I ever wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, we knew we needed to buy an inexpensive house, preferably one that had a basement apartment in it. We live in a college town with many older homes that have basement apartments. We started looking and found a house that we THOUGHT would help us with our situation. It had a large upstairs (that needed work, but had so much potential) and a basement apartment (that needed A LOT of work) and a barn that had 2 bathrooms, a small kitchen a bedroom and a loft. Totally fun!!!! We bought it!






We feel like MANY things should have been disclosed to us that weren't. For example, it used to be a drug house. We are talking drug bust, SWAT team, prison time, newspapers and all! It had been flooded from the top of the 3 stories because it got foreclosed on and the people were mad. The roof in the barn leaked. And this is just the beginning. There were many things wrong. Yes, we did get an inspection, but some things don't show up when they are behind walls and ceilings or until you move in and start living there:( ALL of these things added some major unexpected costs and time that we were not planning for!

We rented out the upstairs, gutted the basement and remodeled it and lived in the barn for 2 years. When we finished the basement and our first child was born, we moved into the basement and lived for 2 years. Right before our second child was born, we moved into the upstairs. It has 5 very small bedrooms (the house is almost 100 yrs. old) and 2 full baths. I thought this would fit our needs for years to come.

The problem is that every room upstairs needs work too and by work, I mean tear down the lathe and plaster, insulate the walls, update the electrical etc.. SLOWLY, we have been going through working on the house. BUT it is overwhelming with 2 small children who want to be involved, a lack of money and time, and some problems that we don't know what to do about. My dream to be a stay-at-home mom, unfortunately, has not worked even with basement renters.

In order for us to work on our house and to do any sort of recreation activities or vacations or do anything beyond mere survival, I work 5 hours a day at a Montessori pre-school (and the kids get to come with me.) It is the best job I could think of having at this time. I could go back to work as a Special Education Teacher, but I would be gone 8-9 hours a day without my kids and be stressed and exhausted for 10 months of the year. I would make more money, but the money is NOT worth the trade off of letting someone else raise my kids.

My daughter keeps asking when we are going to move to a new house. I am embarrassed of our rough house. It's not decorated because it is not in budget. Some days I cry thinking "What in the world did we do to ourselves in buying this house?" It is overwhelming. The work is slow and sporadic. I feel like I'm drowning in despair some days. With baby #3 coming in 2 months, I just wonder how we are going to get anything done.

I could use help in any of the rooms. I have photos of four of the rooms that would love some Vintage Revival assistance.

This winter my husband put a wood burning stove into the fireplace. I wanted gas burning, but he won. This is what our fireplace looks like now. When you walk into our house, this is what you see! YUCK!!! It needs help. I will take any advice on what to do with it! Obvisiously, I need help decorating the mantle too!






Our front room is blah. Hand-me-down couches, one picture on the wall and my husband's huge bachelor lifestyle TV. That's it! This entry room needs some major help.






We've already done a few things to the upstairs bathroom, but you wouldn't be able to tell. The wall paper and paint is just so lovely (please sense the sarcasm). Most people think the bathroom has such potential. That's what I keep telling myself.






Don't be jealous of the paint job on the door! You could probably pull something like this off in your own home!!!

Oh Baby! This bathroom is HOT! The tub is on blocks because the clawfeet are missing! Sweet!





It actually is a very fun bathroom, but it needs a new look!

This is the room we are working on right now. It is going to be the baby's room. This is the before.







We knocked out the lathe and plaster. The kids love destroying the walls.









We put in insulation, updated the electrical and started hanging sheet rock! Unfortunately, we had to tear out the built in window seat because there was so much cold air coming in through it. It was open to the outside porch below!






I would love any help decorating this room. We plan to rebuild the window seat and put shelves up both sides of the window since it doesn't have a closet. Wouldn't a little board and batten look great up on the vertical walls?















So far, we have the sheetrock up. The kids had to draw their pictures all over it! They love to draw in every room before we paint them.










The other day, we started mudding the room. This will take a while since we are not professionals. I want it to look somewhat nice. The kids think they are "helpful," but it takes a lot more time and more work to clean up from them "mudding." They pick it up with their hands and spread it all over the walls. I just can't say "no" because I want them to feel a part of remodeling the house. I want them to be proud of the work we do. I scrape the mud off the walls after they are done and will have to do a little more sanding!

We have "finished" my daughter's room and I even did a fancy striped paint job, but nothing is on the wall because I am afraid. I dont' know why I have a phobia of putting nails in walls. With just a few of Mandi's ideas, Cadence's room could be so cute!


















I could show pictures of just about every room in my house that could use some decorating help. When we redo a room, we do just the minimum. The accessories and decor have to wait until someday when we have more time and money.






I'm begging that Vintage Revivals comes to my house so maybe one or two or three or four of our rooms can look even a little bit better than they are. My sanity is going quickly! It's a strain on my marriage. And some days, I feel sad and depressed to go home to the mess we live in.






Please Mandi (and everyone judging and reading this), choose my family as your project and help make our house into a home. Make my nightmare more bearable. We NEED it!!!





JCrew Spring Dress Knock-off AND A Link to 20 Knock-offs

Tea Rose Home has created another beautiful and feminine masterpiece. She knocked-off a JCrew dress normally priced at $750.00 for $13. The dress looks so comfy and beautiful! Love it!




If you are looking for some more gorgeous knock-offs, you must visit KoJo Designs to see 20 awesome knock-offs. They hosted a knock-off month full of tutorials. Check out all the links and tutorials at KoJo Designs.





Friday, April 29, 2011

3 Great Knock-offs!

Don't bother paying the $46 for a darling J. Crew knock-off dress for your little one. Make it yourself with a shirt from your closet with the help from Naptime Crafters.



The Ivy Cottage knocked-off a Z Gallerie display. What a statement it makes on wall! See the Z Gallerie mirror artwork.



This anthro tank knock-off is super cute! Love the bow and the cascading front. Learn how to make it at Southern Fairy Design.


All these great ideas were linked up to the Whatever Goes Wednesday Party!

Mother's Day Party!






Welcome to the MOTHER'S DAY

Categorically Crafting Show.



where you can show off all of your MOTHER'S DAY Ideas!



MOTHER'S DAY is in ONE week.




What are you creating? What are your planning on giving?

What do you plan on doing?


There are a few amazing Mother's Day projects out there. Here are just a few ideas.Make your mom a handmade card using scrap material and your sewing machine! It doesn't get much better than that! Aren't these simple cards made at Kojo Designs adorable?


If your mother is a grandmother, this seriously is the perfect gift! Remind her of all her family members (kids, grandkids, great-grandkids) and their birthdays with this fun birthday board. See it HERE from A Little Bit of This...A Little Bit of That while she guest posts at Poppies At Play.



This is one gift a mom would absolutely cherish! Pictures of her kids spelling their favorite word. Make it for your sister (with pictures of her kids, silly) or tell your husband to do it for you! Visit Ready, Set, Create to read more about it! GO HERE.




Every mom loves some accessories!!! I love this brooch with three different kind of flowers. Pin on a shirt or bag, it's gorgeous! Go HERE to The Scrap Shoppe to see how to make it!


Pamper mom by making her some spa-like slippers and giving her a pedicure! A nice long massage would be nice too! See how to make these at Pickup Some Creativity.




We'd love to see your MOTHER'S DAY ideas.



Please join your crafty post if, and only if, it corresponds with the category and theme of MOTHER'S DAY. (If it doesn't fit in this category, please link it up to Whatever Goes Wednesday.) Link up crafts, decor, sewing projects, food, tips, etc, that has to do with MOTHER'S DAY. If you have joined a MOTHER'S DAY project to a party on my blog before, feel free to add it to this show too! If you have a lot of turkey projects, please choose your favorites. (Please no more than 4 posts per blog). Link to the specific posts, not to your main blog page. Let's see what you have created (either recently or in the past)!

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You can paste the "Categorically Crafting" button onto your blog post. I would love to see these floating around so more people can post their themed projects. I will leave this linky post open until AFTER MOTHER'S DAY so you can link up after you post. Keep checking back for more ideas!!



Thursday, April 28, 2011

GroopDealz - 72-hour Food Supply Kit


GroopDealz has an amazing deal going on today until Sunday through midnight. It is a 2-Person 72-Hour Food Supply kit. In the case of an emergency, this is part of what you need to survive!!!
The 2-person 72-hour supply is a perfect addition to any 72 hour kit. It comes in a small,easy to store 1 gallon container and the best part, is that it tastes great and can last up to 25 years! As with all of their food storage products, its 100% vegetarian and contains no harmful preservatives.

This deal is ONLY
$46 for a 2 Person 72-Hour Food Supply Kit

with Free Shipping ($82 Value) .

That's 44% off the regular price.

Two years ago, we had a mudslide/landslide in our neighborhood when a canal gave way. Three people were killed, houses were flooded and people were forced to evacuate. Those who were prepared felt much more peace despite the turmoil than those that had no preparation at all. $46 is a small price to pay for some preparedness.


Check out the 72-Hour Food Kit GroopDeal.


Faux Tiered Ceiling

This idea from Kammy's Korner about making your flat ceiling looked tiered is AWESOME!!!! What a great visual effect it adds to a room. All she used was some chair rail and paint. Inexpensive and fabulous!!!


Giveaway Directory #54




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Here is your best chance at FREE stuff on the web!!! Join these giveaways!!!! If you don't know what this is, the giveaway directory is a place to promote a giveaway on your blog of your "goods" (or even someone else's). Link up the giveaway.


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If you are looking to win free "stuff," visit the other blogs and enter. It's that easy!!!! Some of these giveaways only have a few entries so your chance of winning is great!


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I only leave this link open for 48hrs because giveaways are time sensitive. So if you are going to have a giveaway in the future and want to link it up here, please plan it accordingly:)




Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Some Party Beauties!




I never could highlight all the beautiful and tasty creations at every party! It's so hard! But here are a few that I love!!!!


Seven Thirty Three made over her master bedroom and it is to die for!!! I'm loving the colors and design. But most of all, I love that beadboard wall headboard! It looks awesome!


I'm loving this ruffle refashioned shirt from See Kate Sew! Darling and super stylish!

Chameleon Girls made this outrageously cool book lamp! Such a great idea for one who loves books (and can part with a few!!!)

What do you do with all those plastic eggs left over from Easter? Especially the ones that have one side broken or lost? Well, you should make a few into these plastic egg tea cups like The Moody Fashionista. Such a fun idea!!!


I want to plant some flowers in some rain boots! I love this spring display from Blueberry Craft and Hobby Time.



Check out more links from the Whatever Goes Wednesday party!




Whatever Goes Wednesday #63




Welcome to this crazy day of linky love and blog exploration! I love to see what is new out there in blog land. Get started clicking away to view everyone's creations!



NEW SPONSOR



Visit Southern Scraps for some amazing homemade cards, jewelry and more! Grab a couple of cards for Mother's Day and more!


MOST VIEWED LINK LAST WEEK!

Apparently, many of you have either cracked your i-Phone or are interested in how to replace the glass in it when it happens! C.R.A.F.T shows you how to replace the glass in your i-Phone for much less than the phone store or buying a new one!!!




. BLOG TIP FOR THE WEEK!


This week's blog tip is brought to you by Welcome To Linneyville. (Found via Binge Crafter.)





Get instructions/tutorial on how to make a button for your blog. If you don't have one, take the time to learn today!!!!








Don't forget to check out the Giveaway Directory tomorrow! It amazes me how few people enter giveaways. This is your chance at free stuff! FYI, this link is only open for two days. If you are going to do a giveaway and want to feature it here, make sure you link it up sometime on Thursday or Friday.



.The Mother's Day Categorically Crafting show will start Friday, April 29th. I hope to see ideas for grandmothers, mothers, sisters and women in general. We want to see some great Mother's Day ideas we can use!!!




You know what to do. Enter your project (up to 4 links), tip, idea, recipe, whatever. Visit others. Leave comments. PLEASE NO ETSY SHOPS! Come back again in the next few days more projects are added throughout the week. Let the fun begin! (Because blogging is not my full-time job, I will not be able to visit every link. I apologize.)












Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Happy Home Wall Saying

This happy home wall saying from Creative Carmella is beautiful! I love where and how she hung it in her home! She also shows how she made it.






Check out City Deals in your area today. You can take off an additional 20% off anything (of the already LOW prices) when you enter SUNNY20.

Two Pairs of Short out of One Pair of Jeans

Naptime Crafters has a brilliant idea for a pair of jeans with holes in the knees! She turned her's into shorts for her and her daughter! How cool to get two pair of shorts out of one set of jeans! Great upcycling idea!!!




Check out City Deals in your area today. You can take off an additional 20% off anything (of the already LOW prices) when you enter SUNNY20.

Silhouette Winner AND Knock-off Contest!

Silhouette Electronic Cutting Tool

The winner of the Silhouette Electronic Cutter is:
(via Random.org)

#557 - K. Anne said... I follow the Silhouette blog.
Congrads and contact me in the next 48 hours or I will choose a new winner.



If you didn't win, you can still purchase the Silhouette deal through April 26th.


A Silhouette SD
The Rhinestone starter kit
3 additional packs of rhinestones
And 1 Pick Me Up tool

This Rhinestone Bundle includes:

The Silhouette SD
2 sheets of rhinestone template material
2 sheets of rhinestone transfer tape
2 rhinestone backing boards
1 rhinestone placement brush
1 CD of rhinestone images
1 pack of clear 10ss rhinestones
1 pack of clear 16ss rhinestones
1 pack of clear 20ss rhinestones
1 pack of pink 10ss rhinestones
and
1 Pick-Me-Up tool

SWEET!

All this for only $229. This is an incredible deal worth $125 in savings!

If you already own a Silhouette, you can get all rhinestone products and sets for 25% off the normal price. Steal of a Deal!

Just enter the promo code "SOMEDAY" when you go to make your purchase!



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Seven Thirty Three is currently holding another awesome Knock-It Off contest!!!

If you've made a knock-off recently or in the far past, enter it in this knock-off contest. The prizes are fabulous and the recognition is rewarding! You only have a few days left to enter.

If you are looking for some lovely knock-off inspiration, head over to Seven Thirty Three and check out the already linked up projects! Yahoo!

This PB knock-off framed gate is one of the entries. Made It On Monday created this beauty for only $10-$15 (depending on what you have on hand). Super cute!

Monday, April 25, 2011

6 Spring Projects!



Can't believe another month has flown by! Here are the 'Points of View' for SPRING from six talented bloggers!!


I'm loving all of the projects. Check out the ones you love too!


#1- Darling window art from Michelle at A Little Tipsy

#2- A school countdown calender from Camilla at Rosy Red Buttons
#3- Cute vintage hoop art from Gwen at Gwenny Penny

#4 Amazing bird nest frame from Stacy at Not JUST a Housewife

#5- Happy and fun Candle holder from Jonie at Just Between Friends

#6- DIY flower decor from Amy at Ameroonie Designs




Check out City Deals in your area today. You can take off an additional 20% off anything (of the already LOW prices) when you enter SUNNY20.

Framed Spring Vases On Chicken Wire!!!

Chicken wire is an amazing back drop for so many projects. So are empty picture frames. Don't you love these simple spring framed vases hanging on the wall at Flamingo Toes? I DO!!!!! Another great idea of Bev's!





This was linked up to the WGW party! I'm still in awe of the great ideas out there!