Couch Love, Part Deux

I am thrilled to report that we finally found a new couch! Our saggy old couch had certainly seen better days, and it was time to move on. So yesterday Josh and I snagged a Corona couch off Craigslist. The picture above is our couch, but off of the Macy’s website. I haven’t had a chance to take any pictures of it in our living room yet because it’s just a huge mess in there!


The couch is practically brand new (the couple we bought it from were getting rid of it because they were moving).



The best part?


Cost new from Macy’s: $899


Price we paid: $350

Learning from Retail

Do you ever go "window shopping?"

Step into your favorite store, and drool over the beautiful displays, knowing full well that you can't afford even one thing?

It's depressing, really.

However, I am realizing that there is a LOT we can take from the "expensive" places, and find ways to incorporate them into our own homes/lives.

The other day, Josh and I were walking around Grand Ave (for you non-Minnesotans, it's one of our "chic" downtown areas, ritzy with lots of fun, expensive little shops). We walked into "Traditions," a really fun furniture/accessories shop. Unfortunately for us, even their smallest pieces of furniture cost around $700.00. SERIOUSLY???

OK, so maybe a bit out of our price range.... But, I learned a few things from this place that I thought I would share!


#1 Group things together for a bigger impact.


I love these sunburst mirrors- so pretty and chic! I wouldn't think of putting 2 together, but it really does create more impact. (Plus, I've seen these all over the place, I'm sure you could find a more inexpensive version without a problem!).


#2 Bringing unusual elements into your decor keeps it exciting and fresh.


These hanging "topiary" lanterns are so cool! So fun and unique, and they could create instant visual interest in a variety of settings.


#3 Chandeliers aren't just for expensive/100 year old homes.


They had chandeliers all over the place! I have always been a wee bit prejudiced against chandeliers (read: they only belong in fancy restaurants, and the White House), but after seeing how they fit in so seamlessly and are such an elegant touch, I may have to rethink that.


#4 Decorating with artwork is easier (and cheaper!) than you may think.


This caught my eye right as we walked in the door. I have this exact same print (it's a Van Gogh I think) and I bought it online from a poster store for 4.99. I also found a frame almost exactly like this one for 19.99 at IKEA. Their version was a bit more spendy (like in the 500.00 range!). That nightstand, by the way, was $699.00 (seriously, click on the picture to see a larger version of the price tag!). Sheesh.


#5 Pull things out of storage and use them for displays!


I have several candlesticks that don't have candles right now, so they are tucked away. But hey, if Traditions can use candle-less candlesticks then why can't I?! Also, I like how the topiary plants make it looks so fresh and spring-y. They were fake, but you could hardly tell.


#6 Seriously, chandeliers are awesome.


Need I say more?


I hope this encourages you to look at things differently too. There's so many cool ideas you can get from "window shopping." What are some of your favorite, most inspiring stores?

Notice Something?

I've been gussy-ing up my blog a little! I really wish I knew more about HTML/web site stuff, but sadly my knowledge is very limited. However, being the type of person who has to decorate EVERYTHING, I just had to make a few changes. What do you think? Also- please let me know if anything is affecting readability or something. I have tried to check over everything, but I would love to know your opinion!

A little something for the men

I saw this super-cute idea here, and I thought, "hey, I could make that!"

I was needing something to go with the shaving kit I bought for my hubby's birthday, and since it's the only kind of mustache my man will be allowed to sport (I told him, if he ever grows a mustache I will shave my head. So far it's working.), I figured it would be a fun project to tackle!

Here's the details:

~You will need~
1 hand towel (I found mine at Wal-Mart for 2.99)
a small piece of felt (for whatever color 'stache you want)
a sewing machine, or nimble fingers
a mustache template (I just searched on google for "mustache template" and found a bunch!)

I imported the image into Word, and expanded it to the size I wanted:


Then, I cut out the pattern and pinned it to the felt. (As you can see, I trimmed it a little in the middle because it was a bit too wide).


Once the mustache was cut out, I pinned it onto the towel and sewed around the edges. It was a little tricky to keep the line straight, and right up to the edge of the felt but it can be done.


And voila! So easy, and fun. Perfect for a Father's Day gift, or for your bf or hubby.

*Edit~ I am linking this up to DIY day at ASPTL... head on over and check out some other amazing projects!

A Song for the Day

Sometimes certain songs just grip my heart, and I just can't help weaving them into the soundtrack of life. This one has been running through my mind a lot lately:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiOdZlCOWYU

(Photo from Jonsi's official site, here)

We all grow old, use your life, the world goes and flutters by

Use your life, you'll know you are

Use your life, the world goes and flutters by

Use your life, you'll know you are

(Lyrics by Jonsi, Boy Lilikoi)

a day off

Today, we had a day off. It was fabulous. I actually dragged myself out of bed before 10 am (what a feat!) so that made the day even longer and more glorious.

It was fun to celebrate the birthday of this handsome man, that I have the pleasure of being married to:



We went to the Tea Garden to celebrate, and Josh got a taro cooler. What is Taro, you ask? Supposedly, it is made from sweet potato roots. It has a nutty, vanilla-y taste and is really quite good. I got my favorite: spiced chai. YUM.



To anyone who lives in the Twin Cities metro area: you should check out the Tea Garden. Anyone who lives out of state: come visit me and I will take you there personally!



We also found the house that we will buy someday.


It's perfect. It's also within walking distance of the Tea Garden!

this old lamp

Last summer, we "inherited" this lovely lamp from an older lady from our church. I think it is from the 1920s, judging from the wiring and the way it exploded a while ago when I was moving it. I was a little leery of bringing the lamp back from "lamp hell" (where all exploding lamps surely go). But, Josh was confident that he could rewire it and make it safe again.

So, while he worked his rewiring magic I decided to work a little magic of my own!


We took the lamp apart and found that it was just a series of pieces strung onto a metal tube. The glass pieces were all completely solid, this lamp was really an incredible piece of workmanship!

I took the metal pieces (the inner tube, decorative elements, shade-holder and finial) and gave them a good scrub with some steel wool to get the flakey, metallic paint off. Then, I coated them with Heirloom White, using a cereal box to hold some of the smaller pieces in place.



One thing I learned? It's really a good idea to wait until spray paint has dried completely. Otherwise, it may chip off easily. I can't help it, I'm just too excited to get things done sometimes!



Voila. The cost of this makeover? $1.97. That was the cost of the new cord (just a white extension cord from Home Depot).




I was almost ready to throw this old lamp out- but I'm so glad we fixed it instead! I really had no idea it was so easy to rewire a lamp. Maybe I will have Josh help me make a tutorial... electrical things kinda freak me out but this was so simple I think even I could manage it!