Dining Room Light

When we moved in to the house, we only had a little boob light over the dining room area. So of course I switched it out asap with a cheap little light I got from Lowes. I couldn't have taken my time and picked out something I loved, for some reason (per usual) I always feel the need to just jump and get something. And like most things, I eventually want to switch it out with something I like more. This light wasn't any different....I ended up hating it after awhile and wanted a new light. I didn't really want to spend the money because there's a zillion other things I want to do around this house too.

A few months ago (I'm trying to catch up on things I've done and post about them!) we went to Lowes to see if we could find shades instead of buying a whole new light. Unfortunately they only had one option, but I kind of liked them so we bought them. I think they were $7 a piece, so $21 for all three. Which is much cheaper than spending over $100 for a new light. I think this light originally cost something like $69...it was super cheap. I think it looks much better, I like it a lot. Though, it does contribute to the too much tan thing going on in this room. And the light is way off center. Recently I ended up moving the table to where I want it (so it's not so close to the door). The light is no where near the middle of the table. I'm thinking eventually we'll need to move it, or get a hook and hang it so it's more centered (but I don't really love that look).

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Before:

After:

Sorry for the major laziness with the cell phone pics.

  

Color Run

I did the Color Run almost two months ago! But it still deserves a post! I've been trying to work out, and run...I'm still so slow and now that it's getting colder, it's getting harder. Can't wait for the spring! This was my first 5k and it was perfect. I didn't run the whole thing, and that was ok. No pressure, lots of crazy fun, I loved it!

I went with my friend Christina and ran into my friends Kristina & Russell. This was so crazy and silly and it made it much more fun to do with friends!

My little "tips" (since I know I was looking for these before I went!)

• Sign up ASAP when they open the registration, it sells out really fast (I think it sold out in three days for the Sept. DC one).
• We gave ourselves time to get there an hour early...which was foolish because we spent that entire hour early in traffic and trying to park, we barely made it on time. So get there really crazy early.
• Since this was my first 5k, I had no idea what I was going to do with my keys, cell phone, etc. When we went to get our race packets the day before, they were selling tshirts, etc. and I was able to buy a little swooshie bag (haha I have no idea what you call them) for $5. They also had fanny packs but I wanted the bag. It was comfortable, and it didn't bother me while running. And I brought plastic sandwich bags for my cell phone.
• Close your mouth when you run through the color zones. I did it just because I didn't want gunk on my teeth, but I ended up getting hit right in the corner of my mouth with blue! Glad I had my mouth closed.
• Don't forget towels, baby wipes to clean up before you get in the car.

So if you are thinking about doing it, do it!!

    

DIY Key Holder

 

I'm determined to do this blog thing! Even if you don't believe me. :)

Awhile ago I had been thinking about DIY'ing a new key holder, ours was old and not cute.

This is the best picture I can find, I was also lol'ing as I went through old pictures of my living room....it looks much better than when we first moved in, but still a lot to do! And what an awful picture below, I still want a new shade for that lamp.

But before I could give much thought about what I wanted, my key thing broke! But luckily a trip to Hobby Lobby was already in the works. :) I only ended up spending a whopping $3 on this project, which is about what that original 'Keys' key holder cost me at walmart!

My MIL was nice enough to give me a scrap piece of wood that she had, it was perfect!

I decided to stain the wood with some stain we already had from the big dresser in the living room.

I went to Hobby Lobby and got two hooks ($3 a piece, 50% off, so $3 for both!). I wanted three but they only had two. I was so disappointed but then I realized that we only use two hooks anyway so I would just need to find something for the middle.

I wasn't sure about painting the hooks, they are heavy and cast iron but I wanted some color. I ended up just painting the tops a teal color (something I already had) and leaving the hook part unpainted (figured the paint would get scratched off by keys anyway).

I had this little decorative piece that was supposed to go behind a handle on our big dresser we got from craigslist. But it was missing the piece on the other side and it looked fine without it so I took it off and kept it. I ended up using that piece on the middle. Not too flashy, just right!

Then I had some picture hangers that I attached to the back.

I love it, like really, really love it. I love it even more because I made it and it barely cost me a thing.

       

Backyard

Last month we decided to do a floating/platform deck. I love it so much!!! We never really sat outside...we had a couple of chairs but never bought a table or anything because I didn't want to just plop it in our empty backyard in the grass. My husbands dad came over and helped him build most of it and then he finished it up! The following weekend he put a rail on the other side so we would have something to lean the grill and the smoker up against. The whole thing is about 16' x 20' and cost just a little under $1000. We didn't think we'd have to add a step but it was just a little too high at the end so last weekend my husband added a step. I was scouring the internet trying to figure out how to do it since we only needed one step but he was able to figure it out on his own and mostly using just leftover wood from the deck! We only had go and buy one other piece which was about $15. We used pressure treated wood on the whole thing and I can't wait to stain it in a few months. And we also added little gardens on either side of the step. I love it, it's perfect! We had a smoker and a fire pit that we hadn't even used yet so we finally used both of those. We plan to do some gravel around the firepit area and then maybe some slate/stepping stones leading from the deck to the firepit area. It's not ideal that we have the chain link fence but we are ok with it for now. I love our backyard....we really need a new shed though! And soon I'm either going to build or buy a little potting bench to put up against the house. Sorry for the bad cell phone pictures but I'm really bad about using our actual cameras lately!

Our Backyard last year:

Starting on the deck this year:

We got this table for $79 and the chairs for $19! 

But we had to have a table big enough for 6 and patio sets are expensive! It was a good deal.

 Don't you love the little solar caps on the railing?? I do! 

They were less than $5 each at Home Depot.

My little veggie garden, which is much bigger now

 We finally cut down this random basketball pole. We've spent almost two years trying to figure out what to do with it! Turns out it was filled top to bottom with concrete! Who does that??? We cut it from the bottom and got rid of it....now I think we'll have to use the jack hammer to break up some of the concrete in the ground and cover it with dirt and grass seed!

 Love our backyard! We recently picked up an umbrella for our table, which was a gift from my mother in law for our upcoming 3rd anniversary!

 My little garden in the back which is starting to fill with flowers that came back this year and will continue to come back!

 Mmm smores.

   

   

Some things we've been doing!

I just can't get into posting anymore!! But lately I've been looking at my blog for random things (to see when things were blooming, when we planted, etc. last year) so I figure this blog has been useful and I need to start posting again!

Here are some projects I (we) have been doing in the last few months:

We FINALLY did our front and back doors (still need to do the basement though)

Here's the old ugly door laying on the front yard:

And here's the nice new pretty door that I just loooooooooove! :)

Old ugly back door, and unfortunately I don't have a new picture, but it's basically the same door, just newer! Looks MUCH better, and we got a screen door so it's been nice to have the door open on a nice day.

I finally painted the hallway the same color as the living room! It's so much better

So of course the hallway needed accessories:

I keep adding to this wall...it now has a cute little 'P' on the upper right

Love this table. I saw it at TJ Maxx on a Saturday and couldn't stop thinking about how much I liked it. I went back Sunday and thank goodness they still had it!

We finally did our floors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This makes me stupid happy. We decided not to refinish them now. It was cheaper to do laminate and more scratch resistant! Love it, LOOOOOOOVE it! It hasn't felt very cozy with those nasty old floors, it's so great now!

I got new knobs for my front closet door. Hobby lobby 2 for $5! They're so cute!

I got this amazing dresser from Craigslist for $50....such a good deal!!!!!!!! It makes me all sorts of happy! Here's what we did with it!

Picture from craigslist:

The same day I picked up this dresser, I also got a $10 bookcase which was a steal and I love the cabinet at the bottom! Those handles are amazing!

I also got this light for $10 at a thrift store and painted it! I love it but it broke a little so unless we can weld it, I'm not going to be able to hang it! But it was so cheap and I'm sure I can find another like it! :)

Here's a few random things I've done or picked up:

This little...cup? I don't know what it's for but it was in the dollar section at Michaels a few months ago. It now houses my little remote for the stereo in the kitchen! Perfect!

Did some chocolate covered strawberries for a UF game! My hand is a little shaky so they're messy but you get the point, cuteness!

I painted my craft room AGAIN! This is 3 times and I'm still unsure about it. Since this picture hubby got me the big expedit bookcase and I've filled it with cute baskets and other randomness, can't believe I don't have a picture....

I decided to repaint this coffee table for the 5th time. Yes, even after my big old blog post about painting it white. It's back to black (for the 3rd time). I need to stop repainting things! I'm still in search of a new coffee table

Here it is during it's small stint as a white table:

I got this rug for $20 at kmart! Woo...it's nothing special but for now it works perfect and the animals are in love! They don't like sliding around on the floors

I got a brand new, sticker still on, Anthropologie mug for 99 cents at a thrift store! woo

Here's a few projects I did by finding a few ideas on Pinterest:

Outdoor candle holders...so easy, so cute

4x4 tile coasters...CHEAP, these only cost me 86 cents. I got the tiles at the restore and had everything else on hand.

Cinammon roll pancakes.....so much deliciousness

Looking back! These rooms are coming along!

Ignore messy pink blanket and dog bed and throw blankets everywhere :)

Dining room:

So we've been busy! I'm sure there's a million things I haven't taken pictures of! I've been collecting decorating/gardening, etc. books for my book shelves, big, hard cover, pretty book! I always take the paper cover off. Chance got rid of his bright green car! Sad to see it go a little but it was such an eye sore outside of the house, and his new car is great so it's a relief! My dad got us a fire pit and a smoker, so in a few weeks we are going to redo the backyard and get ready for some cookouts! We spent all today cleaning up the yard for the spring. It's been beautiful out! I'm starting a new position next week, so excited about it! Lots of good things going on!

Let's hope I'll be back soon telling you about the backyard or other fun things!