smells like springtime

I hate to admit it but often times our apartment does not smell that awesome, whether the root cause be the compost bucket or dead flowers that I don't want to admit are goners.

To fix this on going problem there is a sweet and natural solution.

1. Boil some water in a saucepan, and then reduce heat so it simmers.

 2. Cut a lemon into slices and roughly chop up some rosemary.

 3. In goes the rosemary.

4. And then the lemon slices and a little kick of vanilla.

It was wonderful. Do any of you have some stove top air freshners?

DIY July- Entry #1

In case you haven't heard, Alan and I have a new apartment

 that we are going to move into very soon.

The rent is pretty cheap, and no more two flights of stairs to climb.

Sounds better already right?

The catch is we get the apartment as is...

This means we are responsible for: cleaning, mudding,

 caulking, sanding, priming, and painting every single room in the apartment. 

Although there is a lot of work ahead of us in a short amount of time,
 the new place feels like home already.

Take into account that this is still a work in progress,

the "after photo" will be with furniture and all.

Before

Chinchilla Gray!

I didn't realize you paint the ceiling, then walls, and finally trim.

So tomorrow I will be doing the ceiling and trim...sigh

The final look will be chinchilla gray walls with white trim and ceiling.

I primed the dining room and hallway today, and for all those who are new to primer paint...
it is strong and you should open a window or a door
otherwise hallucinations and headaches will occur:)

Don't you love the french doors that lead out to the patio?

whats next, a minivan?

Why that title?

Well I have thousands of cards people have given me for:

 our wedding, birthdays, sympathy, holidays, thinkin about you, etc.

Some people toss these treasures in the garbage but I refuse.

People took time and money to show me they care...through a card,

 and I will it keep thank you very much!

I hate to call it scrapbooking but that is essentially what this is.

Scrapbooking...Minivan...then pajama jeans???

(Just kidding I will never attempt the second two.)

I took a "scrapbook" (Martha Stewart- TJmaxx-$3.50)

Then I used sticky glue dots to attach all of the wedding cards we recieved

 onto fun cardstock, and old sheet music.

I drew in a few things here and there and wrote some Song of Solomon throughout it too.

I'm finished with the wedding and now onto all the rest of the cards I've gotten throughout my life.

Now I have easy access to all the well wishes and we love yous.

My Vintage Cube

I have finally gotten a desk space at work and I decided that I wanted to bring a bit of my home there.

The first picture is some cotton I picked in the pumpkin patch this fall in a 99 cent bottle.

I took some extra Scrabble pieces and spelled my name out.

I strung up some twine and pinned it with pearl corsage pins. 

I then hung vintage postcards from small clothespins.

My pens/scissors/highlighter are in another 99 cent bottle next to my keyboard.

The sailboat picture was purchased for $1.50 a the thrift store and the books are tied loosely with twine.

The three scripture luggage tags are also hung by pearl corsage pins.

This project was a total of 12.50 total with plenty of supplies left over.

I hope this inspires you to go against the grain, and make your space your own little haven. 

do it yourself

Ta Da! The two pictures above are projects from yesterday's rainy day endeavor.

My walls are now turquoise, with white trim, and the ceiling is a neutral.

We decided to just clean the beautiful (much loved) hardwood floors, deciding they would look better with a good shine then to be painted over.

We are touching up trim today and I will move my bed and other oddities into the room before I post updates!

I cannot wait to tackle the bathroom!

This is project number 354,904,923...I am joking sort of

This will be Amy and I's next project is to get the mismanaged cabinets

 looking similair to the set of drawers in the second picture.

We hope to have the majority of the drawers painted and ink color but with bronze distressed touches.

rummaging & recycling

This past Friday night everyone in Pelham had a chance to put anything out on the curb that they did not want. My uncle George and I went around neighborhoods looking for "treasures" and did not come up empty handed!

My finds of the night were the following:

Porch swing, Rocking chair, Office chair, Vintage Suitcases, Recipe Box, Desk, Lamp, Two Shutters, Bathroom Sink, and A Few Other Oddities

 

I'm thinking of painting and then hanging the shutters on a wall inside the house somewhere and using it as a place to have mail or magazines or maybe as an almost inspiration board.

Maybe sanding down the rocker just a bit and adding a fresh coat of paint.

After some serious cleaning, we will put those suitcases on display somewhere...

I will post all the amazing diy happenings of these beautiful free items!