DIY: Chalk Wall
Paint is one of the simplest ways to freshen a room, and chalkboard paint performs the double duty of freshening and organizing.
My New Favoritist Thing
My first rice heating sachet
I am loving my newest project. These baby rice heating pads are perfect for warming your tootsies in the upcoming chilly days. Also, they work great for sore muscles and chilly kids. Pop one of these puppies in the microwave, tuck under your child’s blanket, and *presto! no more requests to crank the heat up to 90! You can get one from my etsy shoppe, here, or learn to make your own here!
-SMD
I am married. I am sorry.
Ah! It has been faaaaar too long, and I profoundly apologize. I am back in business, and just wanted to give everyone a heads up. As a treat, here is some eye candy from my wedding photog, Janie at Imagination Photography. Janie has been blessed with an incredibly discerning eye, and a passion for all things lovey dovey. Check out her blog!
My cousin/ringbearer Jax takes a break on his long walk down the aisle.
Week of 1001 Moods
photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/johnengler
I get married in one month. In the past week, I have experienced so very many emotions, I am beginning to wonder whether I have more people housed inside of my brain. But I realized I could turn my confusion into your reward! Introducing…my favorite sites for my crazy mood swings! Enjoy! -SMD
Mood:
Empowered
Fashionable
Needing a Laugh
Desperately Needing a Laugh
Farmy
Flighty
Nostalgic
Chef-like
Retro
Gifty
Budget-Minded
Bored out of my mind
Like I Might Become a Cat Person
Full of ADD
Helllooo Spring.
She & Him – In The Sun from Merge Records on Vimeo.
Happy Tuesday! This is just a free happy-boost. Visual and vocal decadence. Enjoy! -SMD
Night and Day
Photo courtesy Daily Routines
Daily routines have always been a fancy of mine, ever since I read about Tom Wolfe writing while standing up, his paper on top of the fridge (he’s a tall man, Tom). Ever wonder how your favorites spent their days? Check out Daily Routine, and discover how Gay Talese, Emily Dickenson, Stephen King, Barack Obama, Mr. Rogers and more while away their hours. -SMD
Best Present EVER for a Bookworm
photo courtesy janemount.com
I love books. Chances are you know someone who loves books, too. So when I stumbled across this fantastic idea, I had to share it. Artist Jane Mount can take a snapshot of your selection and paint a perfect replica of your passions of the page. It’s pricey ($150), but you can purchase a pre-made shelf for only $20. I found about 13 already that I would love to hang on my wall. Enjoy! -SMD
Little bits of luxury for less than $10 bucks!
1. Grind whole beans for your coffee
A bag of whole bean coffee actually costs less than a bag of pre-ground beans, and you don’t even have to splurge on gourmet. I spend less than five dollars per bag on my whole bean blends, and my electric grinder was worth the not-expensive investment. Freshly ground coffee feels succulent swishing in your mouth, and smells divine. My personal favorite on-the-cheap brew: Eight O’Clock Coffee’s Hazelnut blend.
2. Sip your morning bev in high fashion
Make every glass of juice on par with a beach-bound mimosa by buying a martini glass, filling it with your favorite fruit juice (mine is pomegranate), and topping it off with a brim of sugar. Now sit back, sigh, and picture yourself in a hammock. Sets of two martini glasses can be found at WalMart for $9.95.
To get the sugar rim without special tools: Simply take a coffee filter and sprinkle sugar around the base, then spin the upside-down glass against the filter. Reuse for a sweetened version of your morning brew!
3. Dress like a princess…on a dime
I am a jeans-and-T-shirt girl all the way. One sure-fire way to add a kick to my step is to slip on a sundress. With summer fast approaching, it’s the perfect time for those of us previously stuck in snow boots to don flip-flops and cotton threads. I found this beaut on the clearance rack at American Eagle (really?? a sundress on clearance in March??) for about $10.
4. Buy a water carafe. Worth it.
Pouring anything out of a frosted carafe (heck, just saying carafe) makes you feel like a million bucks. The end.
5. Display ordinary stuff in glass containers
Most craft stores (my favorite is Hobby Lobby) stock scads of glass jars in all shapes and sizes: lids, cylindrical, stout, skinny, and everything in-between. By stocking simple, everyday items in clean, fresh glass containers, you can add a speck of spice to the mundane.
Cheap Chic: Vases
photo courtesy twotwentyeight.org
Spring has sprung and that means flowers! And where there are flowers lurking, there is sure to be a vase that you yanked out from under the kitchen sink or off of a dusty shelf in the basement. Usually the flowers themselves are gorgeous enough to be the focal point, but what about after they’ve wilted and joined the leftover spaghetti and toast shards in the trash?
Clear vases are one of the cheapest, easiest, mosteye-popping solutions to a bland surface. And you don’t even need fresh-cut flowers to steal the show. Simply grab a vase (or seven) from a local craft store (Hobby Lobby has vases in all shapes and sizes starting at $1.99 each), fill with your favorite ingredient, and unleash the power of spring! Finish off your creation with a ribbon, and hey presto – beauty on the bathroom sink, kitchen island, or coffee table. Please share your ideas. Enjoy! -SMD
Great vase fillers:
1. Coffee beans (a perfect perk in the morning)
2. Sand
3. Candy (think vibrant – lollipops or gumdrops, etc.)
4. Shells
5. Pasta pieces (unbaked!)
6. Rice (mix-and-match colors)
7. Stones
8. Marbles
9. Tinted water (add a few drops of food coloring in any shade)
10. Ornaments (in springy colors, of course!)
More time-wasting treasures online!
image courtesy Bella Yarns
Because of my newfound love for all things yarn, I went out and scoured the masses for sites on stitches. Everything from how-to’s to where to buy online if you are unable or unwilling to suffer through learning. Which is the boat I am in right now. Enjoy! -SMD
For the Do-it-Herselfer:
~The Purl Bee (how to knit)
~Lion Brand Yarn (how to do all sorts of things with yarn)
~ Craftbits.com (a catch-all craft site)
For the “Where Do I Buy It” lady:
~BellaYarns
~pdxbeanies (gorgeous headwear for babies on up)
~Sunshine Grove Farms
