DIY Bookends Roundup

So later this year I'm attending Haven, my first blog conference, to figure out how to do this better... well, that's the goal anyway. We'll see how that goes. Through signing up for that, I started to explore stalk other bloggers who were coming too so I could at least try to remember faces and names come conference time. Normally I forget someone's name 3 seconds after they tell it to me. It's horrible. I have the short term memory of a gnat. Anyway, I don't know if blog stalking others is going to help me in name-remembering, but it did help me find some new blogs/bloggers including Christine from First Home Love Life. 

She recently posted about her office-makeover-in-progress which will include some bookends she found at Goodwill and revamped with a quick coat of paint. Sooooo, that got me thinking about other ways to DIY bookends. After some Pinteresting and Googling, I found quite a few ideas that I just might try.  

So here it is... my DIY Bookends Roundup.

First up, the revamped painted Goodwill bookends from First Home Love Life. I just love how modern these look in gold. So chic. I wonder how many people passed up these babies before Christine got a hold of 'em.

First Home Love Life

Next is another painted option. But, instead of traditional bookends, Megan, from Brassy Apple, and her daughter found a beat-up toy elephant and painted it bright pink. Love the color choice! Very easy way to recycle some of those toys that have been around the block a time or two.

Brassy Apple

How's this for a funky option? I found this one on Home Sessive. Basically, you melt old vinyl records into an L shape and sit your books on top. Perfect for a music room and another good way to recycle something old.

Home Sessive

How about some urban chic? This bookend via The Beat My Heart Skipped was made from a Ferrero Rocher container and concrete! I love this and I'm now thinking about everything I have around my house I can use as a concrete mold. hmmmm

The Beat That My Heart Skipped

And last is one with lots of possibilities. These "read" bookends by Pinster Sisters are so simple and so cute. You could make the bookends say whatever you wanted. Well, I guess it would have to be fairly short or you'd have giant bookends :). I saw another pin with bookends that said "love". And, I thought you could do personalized ones with your kid's name for all their bedtime stories too.

Pinster Sisters

So since summer is here and I know you have nothing to do (ha!) this might be a good quick craft to try. What do ya think? Crafty and functional... I'm all for it. :)

Let's be friends!

How to Update Old Shoes

Besides scouring Goodwill on my lunch breaks, cheap shoe shopping is another rare favorite I get to do occasionally. The thing is, I have giant feet. Size 10. Yep, I just put it out there. TEN. Having a ski-sized foot, seems like my selection is often over-bedazzled flip flops or orthopedic loafers. I always see such cute shoes in every other size except mine. One day I saw a pair of cute flats with pops of color on the toe and heal and tried to shove my foot in them... no dice. That's when I got the idea to DIY my own. Wanna see? Here's how to update old shoes.

Here's what I had at home. Some okay flats that had seen better days. 

The toes were pretty scuffed up and the extra flappy bow thing on the front kind of made them look like slippers... especially when I wore them with pants.

So I chopped the bow thingy off.

Then picked out some paint. I figured the enamel would stick to the shoe the best. I'll letcha know if it starts scraping off.  So far so good. I mixed these colors to get the bright citrus green I was looking for.

I taped off a stripe at the back. Just eye-balled, no measuring. I didn't tape the front... living on the edge. :)

I did 3 coats total.

Peel off the tape.

And, tada! "New" shoes for me. :)

They're a little bold... but I think I'm liking it. 

Let's be friends!

Thrift Store Desk: Trash to Treasure

Earlier this week I posted the above photo on Facebook of my little corner-of-the-room sewing space. This is just that, a small corner in our guest room I claimed as mine... all mine. No kid toys, no junk mail, no half-done ripped out coloring pages... just pretty. AND, this "pretty" I'm talking about is the DIY kinda pretty; made up of thrift store finds, dumpster dives, and DIY projects... including the desk (which is really what this is all about). Before we get to the trash to treasure desk, let me explain!

• Mirror: $10 - Goodwill
• Clock: $1 - Garage Sale (and it works!)
• Glass Vases: FREE - Leftover wedding centerpiece items
• Chair: $25 ish in supplies - Read about this garbage rescue/DIY project HERE
• Pillow: FREE - Upcycle! Read about that one HERE
• Curtains: FREE - More DIY mojo on those HERE
• Desk: $40 - Thrift Store
• Sewing Machine: FREE - It was a gift if you're wondering :)

That's right.  Even if we round up for things like tape and paint and supplies of the sort, this whole space was probably less than $100.

So where did I get the desk?  In a tiny thrift store in a strip mall behind a Wendy's. How's that for glamorous? After being turned off by the looks of this particular thrift store, I finally went in one day and discovered a gem. Yes, the place was small and kinda crummy but it was also a food bank for our community (had no idea).  All of their items were donations and all of their profits went to buy food for their pantry (which was also in the store). Anyone could come in and pick up peanut butter, bread, canned goods, etc... free of charge, no questions asked, at any time. How cool is that? I decided to stop by often to see if I could *ahem* do my part to help and purchase items. One day I found the desk.

I seriously looked twice, maybe 3 times, at the masking tape price sticker. Could it really be $40?! I asked to make sure. It was. I think I ran to pay and like a psycho calmly asked the loading guys to put it in my vehicle.... like right now! 

This picture actually makes it look in good shape... it was not. The veneer was lifting big time on the top. It was also chipped and missing in some places. There was a handle missing, some chunks of desk looked like they had been hacked off with a hammer, and it stunk like last years gym socks. But I saw the potential!

It took a week or so of glueing, sanding, filling, painting, and airing-out. 

In fact, I did the desk along side my dresser. You can read about that adventure HERE. Here they are as good buddies in my garage. :) This is why I have given up hope of parking in there. The desk was in no condition to be stained... unlike the dresser. This sucker needed paint to have a second chance at life.

Here's a closeup of some of the wood filler I used on the front.

I used the same white homemade chalk paint I used on the Goodwill end tables too.

I had to fill the original hardware holes in the top drawers since I wanted to use glass knobs there. The original hardware required 2 holes, the glass knobs needed only one hole in the center. So I filled, sanded, and drilled new holes.

After it was all painted I decided to add a scaled-down version of my DIY Moroccan stencil on the sides since that is the first thing you see when you walk in the room.

So, I hope you like my "trash to treasure" desk and that you're inspired to try out that sketchy thrift store you always pass but never go in :)

Let's be friends!

DIY Tilted Pot Planter for Spring using Miracle-Gro

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Miracle-Gro for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Is it finally warm where you are? I know some places had snow on the ground for quite a while. Here in Florida, we've already been sweltering for weeks (maybe months). And I've been wanting to spruce up our curb appeal to get us looking "spring fresh" for just as long. So when I was offered to write this post on behalf of Miracle-Gro, I took it as a sign to get my butt in gear and get dirty. MY plan was the DIY Tilted Pot Planter. I've sen a few varieties around the net which usually makes me shy away... but I couldn't this time! Isn't it cool?! I made that. :) And really easy to do... I swear... I'll show ya.

Supplies

• A variety of clay pots in different sizes
• 1 piece of rebar... mine was 5'
• Moisture Control Potting Mix
• A variety of colorful plants... pick what you like!

Here my kids are running the isles of the garden center as we picked out flowers. They love that I just point them in the direction of the 99 cent table and let them pick what they want.

Step 1 (optional): Paint your pots

I chose to spray paint my clay pots using spray paint from my garage to add even more color. This is completely optional. 

Step 2: Hammer your rebar into the ground.

I made sure it went in a good foot or so. This sucker is sturdy. Do this while your pots dry if you painted them.

Step 3: Place your largest pot over the rebar and fill with potting mix

Don't plant your plants yet... get all the pots on first filled with potting mix. Kiddos helped every step of the way. Doesn't everybody garden is sparkle Uggs?

 

Step 4: Add the rest of your pots.

Continue threading pots over the rebar from largest to smallest. Fill each pot with potting mix as you go, and alternate tilting them in opposite directions.

Step 5: Plant!

Now it's time to get creative and arrange your plants however you wish. And since you used Miracle-Gro, you know your beauties are going to bloom a lot and last all season. :)

That's it. I really can't believe how quick this project was.  Maybe an hour with both kids helping. 

If you're looking for more fun garden projects, you can follow Miracle-Gro on Pinterest or visit The Gro Project on Facebook.  

Both are excellent resources for "budding" gardeners (you see what I did there? ha) or experienced ones. I really like how my DIY Tilted Pot Planter came out... and I know it's going to last all season. I hope you try it!

Let's be friends!

NETFLIX for Kids

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX... something my family enjoys on a daily basis.

How do you get all of these projects done with 2 kids around? The question I get most often. And I'm guessing, from the name of this blog... you figured out part of my secret. I do a lot while they snooze. But, my kids are getting older and the glorious days of 2-hour duel naps while mommy crafted and ate chocolate in peace are way behind me (now I hide in the closet to eat chocolate). The "While They Snooze" part means 11pm now. And I'm cool with that. However, I also have to do a lot during the day in order to have semi-decent photos for you to look at. So what's my new secret? Netflix for kids!


At 5 and 3, my kids rarely nap anymore. But, they still very much need downtime in the late afternoon. After a full day of soccer, swimming, and bike riding in the Florida heat, I love seeing him just relax for a while. Late afternoon has become the kids' TV time. We downloaded the Netflix free app on our iPad and stream all of our kid shows. It's great to be able to give a 3 year old the iPad to take into his bed, cozy up with his bankies, and watch 30 minutes of Jake and the Never Land Pirates any time we want. (A lot of times, I can't resist the snuggle time and end up watching with him for a while.) We just open up the dedicated kids section which has family favorites appropriate for children ages 2- 12. Everything is rated and he navigates everything himself.

(Sleepin' n snugglin' time)

At 5 years old, my daughter loves it too. Her current favorites are Pingu and My Little Pony. As a special treat, sometimes on the weekends we set up a "movie theater" in the living room. We stream the movies through our Apple TV, but you could also go to Netflix.com on your computer or click on the app from any gaming device. We move the coffee table, set up some chairs, the old crib mattress, and try to make different levels for all of us to sit at. And believe it or not, it's taught them a lot about compromise. The rules are, we don't watch a movie unless they both have agreed on one. That's not easy when you've got the girliest of girls and the super-hero-loving boy of boys! It's a nice family-time activity complete with snacks and snugglin'.

(Move theater in progress)

So there ya have it. One of my "secrets" revealed. What are you watching on TV with your family? Netflix has family favorites from Disney, Disney Jr., Hasbro, Cartoon Network and Dreamworks that are available to stream anytime, anywhere.
And streaming is easier than you think! Download the free app on your iPad, click on the Netflix app on any gaming device, go to the website on your computer – and you’re in business. Check it out here!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NETFLIX but my opinions are always my own. :)

Let's be friends!