Succulent Savvy

 Succulent's are not only very popular they bring an updated look to almost any room.  I was at a Tuesday Morning's and came across this beautiful pot for all of $15.00 and decided to make it a Easter dining room table center piece at the time, it was too pretty to put away so I decided to make it a container for succulent's considering the amount of light I have coming in that window.  I lined the container with plastic and placed a saucer in over that, then I added a good quality dirt and topped it  some beauties.  Now, when you walk into the house there is so much drama. 

My Initial Easter container!

A close up of the succulents in the container!

At different angles you can see the different plants!

I just love looking in and seeing the succulents!

Better Yet as I was going thru a magazine I came across this picture and started laughing, here is my container in a kitchen!  I looked up the amount of the pot...It was $150.00!  I SCORED:)

The United Countries of Baseball...Painted for my Boy:) GO TWIN'S

My one son is a Baseball fanatic, meanwhile my other son is in love with soccer.  So when the baseball boy was having his birthday and we found out we were going to be moving simultaneously ,I wanted to do something special.  I decided to paint him picture he had been looking at for awhile.  I bought a canvas and went to work.  Doing this free-hand meant hours of mixing paints to get just the tight colors, but I know he'll have this forever.  He LOVES it!  How do I know?  Well, last year when we were being evacuated for the fires here in Colorado he started to cry when he heard I forgot to grab the picture when I was grabbing our important stuff.  It broke my heart, but made me happy at the same time knowing all that work paid off:)

My Baseball Boy!

He even made the All-Star team after moving here!

This is the Professional Artist's work!  I loved it!  This is based off of fan base and NOT states.  Very Cool!

This is my attempt at a hand painted version.  60 hours later and around $80.00!  I think I ROCKED IT thou:)

A Close UP!  His favorite team... THE TWIN'S

His room all duded up for a TWIN VICTORY:)  GO TWIN'S!!!

  

Boys Fabulous Bathroom Redo for $500.00

Another one of my favorite's. After moving into this house I decided I needed to redo as much as possible for as little as possible. This whole bathroom cost me under $500.00!

In this picture you can see the floors, oak cabinet and mauve counter tops!

Here I've taken out the oak cabinet and measuring the base perfectly before I start to tile! I can then build the Oak Cabinet up to make it higher in the bathroom.  Most cabinets are too low!

Here, I've dismantled the cabinet and I'm starting the building up portion of the cabinet.  This is prior to the staining process.

In this picture I'm trying to see how high I want the cabinet.  I don't want to go to high but would like this to be a bit higher than this!  I can tell visually, that this doesn't work for me.

In this picture, I've added the first coat of stain but have not tiled yet.  I've figured out the height and now just need to tile.

Here you can see the floors are completed with new baseboards...I'm feeling good at this point!

I'm REALLY happy now!  I've got the floors, cabinet and baseboards complete.  I just need some counter-tops and I can move on!

 

I found this cute cabinet at T.J. Maxx and it was perfect for the Swedish look I was going for...Ah..

Found these hooks at Tuesday Mornings and I thought they were cute considering we live in Colorado now!

I went with Stainless Steel counter-tops because it was under $100.00...these are perfect for the boys !

Found the mirror at T.J. Maxx for $30.00 which completed the look!  I especially like the cabinet color I chose for this room!  It's General Finishes Walnut Stain and I applied a Burnt Umber Stain over top!

Here are the After Photos!

I Really Love how this turned out for my boys!  This cost me total $500.00 and took 1 week!

Fireplace Redo... The Building of a Mantel!

After moving into a house you dislike it's important to try to make it "your own" on a budget. I couldn't stand this fireplace so I was on a mission to make one I LOVED:)

Here is the picture of the fireplace-YUCK! I hated the green tile and the cutout (SO 80's), I also needed to get rid of the brass!

 I first had to cover that ugly cutout above the fireplace. I located studs and went to work framing it in. Next, I dry-walled, sanded and applied the knockdown (which was NOT FUN), but, once I applied the paint I was happy.

 I'm a very Messy Girl sometimes...lol!

 Next, I changed out the light fixtures.  These I found by digging in a back room at a fancy lighting store.  They were $600.00 for 1.  I paid $30.00 per piece...woohoo! SCORE! Then I went to work building a mantel that aesthetically was pleasing to my eye.  Once, I felt I nailed it...I stopped!  The key to great decorating is keeping it simple and not going overboard.  I also, changed out the tile and painted that ugly brass black.

 Then I grabbed my favorite can of Stain and went to work.  Three coats of stain and two coats of Polyurethane.  Make sure to read the directions.

Here is me applying the lovely stain:)

Here I have finished both the stain and the poly, so I removed the blue tape!  I know you kinda liked it?  Just joking!!!

 AHHHHH. YEA It's completed!  Now, it's time to decorate:)

I then hung a mirror and duded it up for Christmas! After all my Dad was coming for Christmas last year and with his Cancer diagnosis and I wanted him to sit by a pretty fireplace with his coffee and rest.  Every daughter LOVES there DADDY:)

Have Fun Designing... It's the BEST PART:)

OFFICE BEAUTY! Build a Console Table and Up-Cycle a Desk to Match!

What to do when your office is drab? Up-cycle and add on! Why not? I decided to up-cycle a desk that was given to me by my Aunt and build a side table to match, to hold printers, paper, books and more.   Take a look:) This only cost me $89.00!  And I think... I ROCKED THIS ONE:) 

I started by measuring my wall to see how long I wanted the table. Then I measured to see how tall I wanted it! 

 

Then I added a shelve so I could fit more on it! 

 Next I added these cute little X design to give it that decorated and fancy feel...AFTER ALL I AM A GIRL! 

 Here is a picture so you can see the basic steps!  Make sure to measure your wall first so you know how high you want your Console Table.  

Then I added 3 coats of General Finishes (Java Stain) and 2 coats of Polyurethane!  Remember, to leave enough drying time in-between coats of stain and poly!

Here is a picture of the stain!

Ahhh... A Women's work is never done:)  But, I'm happy with this! I think I'll up-cycle that desk my Aunt gave me.  

Here it is...I took the old desk and added the same X design I used on the console table! I used the same 2X2's which cost all of $4.00!

 

 I had to strip and stain this to match the side table. But, up-cycling for $4.00 is WAY WORTH IT! 

 

 

 Look at this room now!!! I feel so rich when I walk into the office now...even though I'm NOT:) Hope this gives you all an idea.

My Swedish Roots Potato Salad (Potatissallad)

8 Potatoes

2 Apples

8 Green Onions

4 Celery Stalks

Dressing

1/2 cup Mayonnaise

1/2 cup Sour Cream

2 Teaspoons Stone Ground Mustard

1 Teaspoon Coarsely Ground Pepper

1 Teaspoon Salt

Method:

Boil Potatoes and cut into cubes.  Cut peeled apples, celery, and onions into small pieces and combine with potatoes in large bowl.  Mix the dressing up by mixing all the ingredients listed above and then pour over vegetables and fruit.  Chill well before serving.  This tastes best the next day.  Serves around 6-8 people.  

Life is always Changing!!!

In case you haven't noticed, I have not been able to blog for quite some time.  In the past couple of months, I've put my house on the market, packed up my house, quit my day job and have moved into a hotel.  At least, until I'm able to find a house in "Colorful"...Colorado!  Yep, we've packed up and are waiting for the "perfect" house!  Which I might add, is NOT going so well.   So, everyday I spend the hours driving kids to and from school, making sure the dog has been out for an hour walk, and looking for houses.  

View from one of the daily walks!

I also spend time trying to figure out what I can make for dinner.  I only have a small refrigerator, small microwave, but I was smart enough to bring my Vita-mix mixer with me to make morning smoothies and quick soups.  So, our diet has become quite different from what we were used to, but you know me, I'm determined to make this work!  So in the days to come anything that seems like something I think you should know about from this "neck of the woods;"  you Betcha... (I'm still Minnesotan after all)... I'll blog about it!  Catch you all later!