Sunday, September 30, 2012

link love: 09.30.2012

Is it really the last day of September?  I can hardly believe how fast the month has gone...and it shows no signs of slowing down!  We got back late last night from our vacation and I realized that I hadn't posted a "link love" post...so here is yesterday's post, just a little late.  Happy Sunday!




I love the look of these Oreo pops! They are super simple (and cheap!) to make. Wouldn't they be cute with Halloween-themed sprinkles?



How adorable are these hand- and foot-print turkeys?  We will see if we have 1 or 2 little turkeys to use for this year. :)




I'm always up for a great knock-off! This burlap message board is fabulous!



You got a sneak peek at the dresser that's going in the nursery at our house a few weeks ago. Laurel commented on that post to tell me about this awesome furniture re-do that she had accomplished. You won't believe the "before" of this dresser!

Happy pinning this week!

Sunday, September 23, 2012

link love: 09.22.2012

Happy Sunday!  I hope you're having a wonderful weekend so far.  We are in Virginia on vacation this week (that's why I'm a day late posting) and we are loving the fall weather!  Here are a few links from around the blogs this week...


If you find a window like this laying along the road by your house, pick it up! The chalkboard that KariAnne made with an old window is FABULOUS!


I am thinking that this Southern Praline Pecan sauce would make a fabulous neighbor gift for the holidays!


Have you been eyeing those wooden monograms like I have?? Diane shares a way to make your own out of foam board from the Dollar Store!


Converting our mantel to fall is on my "to do" list when we get back from vacation. I am totally inspired by this Collected Fall Mantel over at My Blessed Life!

Friday, September 21, 2012

a little nursery sneak peek...


I spent the afternoon painting the nursery yesterday...the color I finally decided on is Martha Stewart's Nimbus Cloud.





It's a beautiful pale, pale gray that looks fabulous with the white bed, crib, and trim!



Here's a little peek at the antique Jenny Lind bed in the nursery against the Nimbus Cloud walls.  The picture is a little dark but it gives you an idea!   I can't wait until it all comes together...only 9 weeks until our sweet girl is due to make her arrival!

Have you ever painted a room while 31 weeks pregnant?  Am I crazy or just nesting? :)

Saturday, September 15, 2012

link love: 09.15.2012

It is another "fallish" morning here in the Midwest, but a little on the rainy side. There's something about rainy, fall weather that makes me want to drink coffee and bake. Anyone else feel the same way?

Here's a collection of links that I've found around the web (and Pinterest!) this week...



How cute are these mini apple pies from the NY Melrose Family?



Here's an easy (and cute!) way to add some fall decor to your home by Simply Klassic Home.



Do you love these wooden monograms as much as I do? Check out this great tutorial for making your own at home by Shanty Insanity.



Holly Mathis has outdone herself with these kitchen updates. Nothing over the top or super expensive, but a perfect family kitchen.  I'm also on the lookout for one of those baskets to corral my crock of utensils, olive oil, salt shaker, and pepper mill.  Isn't that a fantastic idea??

What is your favorite "pin" from this week?

Thursday, September 13, 2012

dresser "during"...

I showed you the amazingly ugly (but with good bones) "before" of our changing table/dresser for our baby girl's nursery a few weeks ago.  Here's a little refresher.


I picked up a sample jar of Annie Sloan's Chalk paint in Duck Egg Blue to see if I liked the color.  Ya'll, the hype about this paint is NO JOKE!  It was so easy to paint on, no odor, and covered like a dream.  Here's a close up of one of the more ugly corners of a drawer before it received a coat of paint:


Some sweet little child took a pen to it....and I didn't even realize until I edited the photo that it's a list of "People I Hate".  Ahh!  Poor TJ was the only soul on the list so far.


Here is that same corner after one quick swipe of Duck Egg blue.  Amazing!


That one tiny little 4 ounce sample pot was enough paint to cover almost the ENTIRE dresser with one coat of paint.  Can you believe it?  Here's a quick "during" shot of the dresser.

 

It will definitely need another coat of paint to evenly cover everything and a coat of wax, but I am amazed at the quality of this paint.  I'm on the lookout for other pieces of furniture that I can paint with chalk paint now...nothing is safe. :)

What have you painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint?

**By the way, Annie Sloan has NO idea who I am...just wanted to rave about this fabulous paint!  If Annie and her sweet people want to send me a box of chalk paint, I'd happily take it, but I bought this paint myself. :) **

Linking up to:

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

thrifting lately…

I have been on the hunt for vintage sheets and pillow cases to use in our sweet girl’s nursery and hit the JACKPOT the other day at a local thrift store!

thrifted_sheets

Some sweet floral sheets…

thrifted_sheets_close

I loved the color of the pink sheet (second from the top)…it feels as though it’s been washed a million times.  Love it!

pillow_cases

The pillow cases were all marked $0.99 and then the sweet lady at the register gave me a discount! Some of these pillow cases will be cut up to use for a quilt, but several are going to be turned into pillow case dresses…

ruffle_pillow_case

Especially this one!  I can’t stand how cute the floral pattern is combined with the pink piping and ruffled edge.  Adorable!

lace_bed_skirt

I also found this queen-sized lace bed skirt (for $2.99, then discounted!) that I originally just bought for the lace…but now I’m thinking it might be a sweet crib skirt for the Jenny Lind crib I’m painting.

All of those fabulous treasures were mine for less than $18!  Gotta love thrifting! Have you found any sweet deals while thrifting lately?

Linking up to:

Saturday, September 8, 2012

link love: 09.08.12

It is a perfect "fallish" morning here in the Midwest...I have a cup of coffee, my mulled cider candle burning, and a quiet house!  We have a great day planned with a high temperature of 76.  I can't wait!

Here's a collection of links that I've found around the web (and Pinterest!) this week...



I love this oak leaf garland made out of book pages by Pretty Handy Girl! I'm trying to figure out how to re-work it for my brick mantel.


Another great knock off...a Pottery Barn look-alike mirror for $10 at Dollar Store Crafts!



Cute twine-wrapped pumpkins for fall by Jennifer Rizzo...a great way to cover up those "funkins" that have seen better days.



I wish I had a bathroom in our house that was big enough to fit a dresser-turned-vanity. This one by Traci at Beneath my Heart is AMAZING and I LOVE the hardware on that dresser!

Have you found any wonderful blog posts or pins this week?  Do share!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Something exciting might be happening...



I wanted to pop in quickly to let you know that something very exciting might be happening with my little ruler growth chart tutorial...


I can't say what IT is just quite yet, but as soon as everything is 100% and I'm allowed the reveal the secret, you'll be the first to know! :)

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

BlogHer: Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Conditioner Review and Giveaway



After a crazy summer spent traveling as a youth pastor's wife, my hair had seen better days.  My "hair care routine" had consisted of shampoo, conditioner, and pulling my hair up into a messy bun while it was still wet.  It has been a HOT summer and I'm pregnant, so my hair dryer was hidden in a drawer for the entire duration.   My hair was a hot mess.

Being a a BlogHer member, I had the awesome opportunity to try out another AMAZING Dove product just in time to try to rescue my hair from some serious neglect.  I was sent Dove's Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner to try out and review.  I have to admit that I was a little skeptical that it could do anything for my seriously neglected hair, but I thought I'd give it a whirl!





After using the Dove Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner for a week or so, I would definitely give it 5 stars!  It’s a thick conditioner but doesn’t leave my hair feeling like it needs to be rinsed several times.  The conditioner smells fantastic (as I’ve found most Dove products do!) and my hair felt noticeably softer and more manageable after using it for the first time.

The bottle does suggest that you use the conditioner daily, but I don’t wash my hair every day…so I can’t comment on consistent daily use.

How does Dove's Damage Therapy Intensive Repair Daily Treatment Conditioner work so well?  I have no idea, but I know that it does!  Dove’s website explains it this way:

“Did you know? Conditioners mainly repair surface damage, but some damage lies deep inside the hair fiber. Our dual-action formula contains:

• Treatment with Fiber Actives: penetrates deep inside to help rebind damaged proteins without weighing hair down.

• Conditioner with patented MICROMOISTURE Serum: repairs, intensely nourishes and seals lifted cuticles to help protect against future damage.”

Sounds pretty scientific, huh?  The people at Dove definitely know their stuff!

So, how about you…has summer taken its toll on your hair?  Or are you better about a hair care routine than I am?  Follow the link below and leave your email and your answer to enter to win a $1000 Spafinder gift certificate!




Enter to win a $1,000 Spafinder gift certificate!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOT SWEEPSTAKES ENTRIES. PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR ENTRY METHODS FOR THIS SWEEPSTAKES.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Follow this link, and provide your email address and your response to the Promotion prompt

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that Tweet.

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and then visit this link to provide your email address and the URL to that post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. Winners will have 72 hours to claim the prize, or an alternative winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 9/4/2012 - 9/30/2012

Be sure to visit Dove®Hair.com to get a coupon for $1.50 off Dove Hair Therapy products.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

link love: 09.01.12


Happy September!!! Welcome to "link love" on Saturday! Here's a collection of links that I've found around the web (and Pinterest!)
this week...



Have you seen this adorable re-fashion by Vanessa of this and that blog?  She took a v-neck t-shirt (from Wal-mart!!!) and added a cute little pocket to it. :)




Do you have a bed without a head board? Try something like Crystal (from Little Bit Funky) did with this cute hand-painted headboard made out of wood scraps!



I have lots of bow-making in my future with this sweet baby girl on the way and LOVE this quick and easy tutorial for making "the perfect bow" from 36th Avenue.




Check out these awesome "pillow wraps" that Julie at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss made!  I love a good ticking stripe and think that the wrap could be changed out for seasons, holidays, etc.  So cute!

Have a wonderful weekend!
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