Snazying Up a Boring Refrigerator

Like many people out there I have a boring, white, builder basic fridge.

I could replace it with a stainless steel pretty but honestly, I don't feel like shelling out cash for a new refrigerator when this one is basically new. 

A few dozen photos and some sticky tack later I had this instead.

I've been doing some major closet clean outs this month and I found dozens of extra prints from vacations and what not so I figured, why not put them somewhere I can see them.

Now my kitchen is happy! I love looking at them and reminiscing.

Even if you bought prints it would probably be the easiest, cheapest, and least damaging appliance upgrade out there. 

I've been feeling very motivated lately so things are actually getting done around here! Maybe it is this beautiful summer weather? 

Cheers!

Warning: Front Yard Disaster Area

The horrible truth? I haven't touched the front yard since we had the trees taken down last October. 

The very notion of starting is utterly overwhelming.

But it is starting to attack people who are trying to visit so I'm just going to have to suck it up and start working.

The main reason it has taken so long (besides the fact that I hate yard work) is that we didn't have the funds to landscape last November. That, and I told myself it is best to plant in the fall, which is totally true right?

 Well, fall is approaching and If I want to get any planting done I need to clear this up.

I've decided for my own sanity (and wallet) to only do as much yard work as can fill our 96 gallon yard waste bin a week. So, probably a slow process but at least it is a start.  Thankfully the laurel hedge hides most of this from the street so I don't feel quite so bad about being "that neighbor".

I'll let you know how it goes.

Please tell me I am not the only one who dreads yard work.

Cheers!

Holes? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Holes!

And neither do my ceilings!

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Now that they are off my TBC list I am that much closer to starting a new project! I have to say this has been the best and worst thing ever. I know exactly what needs to be done but I don't always want to do them. However, it is holding me more accountable than anything else ever has. I am itching to start a few projects I have lined up so I have been pushing hard on getting things done.

How well do you hold yourself accountable? I'm terrible (in all aspects of life not just house projects) but I am working on it.

Cheers!

A New Screen Door and Another Check

Ok, so this wasn't technically on the To Be Completed list but it needed to happen. When I fixed the screen door two years ago I didn't actually finish it (yeah, not a surprise really). I never put the trim back to secure the screen and eventually it came apart. So for a year I had a screen door with no screen. Not exactly serving its purpose. This time when I stapled on my screening I actually added the trim (you can see the thin trim on the back of the screen but not the front).

Now the screen will stay put!

I used the same paint left over from the front door (Ben Moore in Wales Green). Originally I wanted to paint it a bright citrus but Daniel nixed it. Oh well, this is fun and cheery too!

 I am also happy to report that my painted rug is holding up quite nicely.  I am thinking of repainting both porches but for now they got a good washing and we are calling it done.

Slowly ticking off the boxes. Now I want to paint the back door. What do you think? Super high gloss black? Deep dark blue? A rich mocha? All I know is I want it dark.

Cheers!

 

Where Do You Put Your Drink?

The less space you have the more crafty you need to be. Our Library is ridiculously small so when I stumbled on this pin I knew I had to try it.

I had some scrap 1X5 boards lying around from door frames so I used what I had. The whole project is super simple. Cut three boards the same length. Nail them together and there you have it. I spray painted mine a navy blue to tie in the pillows.

You could easily do something bright and fun or just stain it if you prefer the more rustic look.

Simple and easy and mostly free. My kind of project.  We've used the cuff a few weeks now and it is very sturdy. Norman can even jump up on the couch and nothing happens (which happens often). Now it makes me want to re-upholster the couch (funny how that happens right?)

Cheers!

Summer Chalkboard

With temps in the high 80's I figured it was time to change out the chalkboard on the front porch. I used this as my template.

I searched quite a bit for a quote or something but this one kept coming back.

Simple, just like summer should be.  Now if only it would get like 10 degrees cooler I might actually be able to enjoy it!

Cheers!

Settling Back In

We are finally home again after a whirl-wind month of travel. Every time I leave, I always come home with more ideas and more love for my home.

There is so much inspiration out there that it can be overwhelming but I love the steady flow of ideas I have when I'm in a new environment.

Warning- This post is picture heavy, so prepare for a virtual slide show. If only I had a dark, wood paneled den to invite you all in to...

This year, for our third honeymoon, we went to the Bahamas.  We relaxed in the sand, took in some cultural sights and played with the local wildlife.

We didn't stay there, but we had to make the trip out to see Atlantis. (Have you seen the commercials? Insane)

It was as over the top and expensive as advertised. We went through their aquariums which were probably the least interesting to most but I loved them. They had a HUGE manta ray.

This doesn't even do it justice, this thing was like 10ft across.

Seeing the cruise ships was pretty neat. They are massive!

Downtown was cute and well maintained.

My favorite trip was to the zoo. It wasn't really an animal zoo but more of a bird zoo. Including a flock of wild flamingos roaming the grounds.

They had some neat reptiles and things too.

But the best was the Capybara.

Don't you just want one?

It looks like we were really busy but that was really the only day we left the comfort of the hotel. The rest of the time was filled with sun, sand, and cocktails. Which to me, is the best type of vacation.

Now that we are home, it is time to settle back in to life. We have some progress to make on the bathroom still but I'm taking my time.

Cheers!