Boring Desk to Vanity {tutorial}

Ok if you remember from last week I made over this fabulous mirror. And I promised a vanity to go with it. And I have to say, I am seriously in love. Imagine little hearts doodled all over this post. Ok so here’s the before picture of the desk. Yes, I know it’s a bad picture but it’s all I’ve got. Sorry!

When I took this picture I had already taken out the drawers that go in the cubby on the right. So just use your imagination, k?

Ok so onto the tutorial. And sorry, I didn’t take pictures (I know I’m usually so good at that!) but you will get an “after” that includes the mirror! Hurray!

Supplies Needed:

• Spray Paint (I think this took 2 cans)
• Sealant
• Sand Paper

Step 1: Since this desk has veneer obviously I couldn’t exactly sand it down too much. But I did use the sand paper just to kind of scuff it up. My drawers had knobs so I took those off to prep for spraying.

Step 2: Spray paint using nice even strokes. Remember crazy strokes equals a crazy finished product. I didn’t bother spraying the underside or the backside of the desk. It would be impossible to see. But I did spray the inside of both drawers. Let dry completely.

Step 3: Spray with sealant so your paint doesn’t chip.

Step 4: Spray the drawers knobs.  Let dry.

Step 5: Put the drawers back in and put in place! Here’s the finished product:

We do plan on eventually hanging the mirror just above the desk but we don’t want to do that until we’ve painted the wall. But I love it either way! I think the red knobs really make it pop! I’ll also eventually paint the brown piece on the right to match. I just ran out of spray paint. I also have a chair that I was halfway through painting when I ran out of paint. Oh and I’m going to sew a cover for my sewing machine down there. Eventually when we finally paint and decorate our room completely I’ll do an entire post. But what do you think?

I {heart} Naptime

Bloom Where You’re Planted

I live in Texas. It’s hot in case you haven’t heard. But I’m sure you have. The intense heat seems to bring out all sorts of comments from people from the ones who are dealing with it (“we’ll just go swimming again”) to the ones who are ignoring it (“we’ll just board ourselves inside for the summer”). As we’ve gone through this hotter-than-normal summer I’ve learned a few things. But wouldn’t you know, they really have nothing to do with surviving the heat.

So what am I talking about?

Well I’m talking about being happy with where you live. Or “Bloom where you’re planted” as the saying goes. I’ve always been somewhat of an optimist. There is a positive side to everything if you just have the right attitude. This summer I’ve discovered there are some people who live here who downright hate it, even when it’s not in the triple digits outside. Now, granted, Texas isn’t the only place. There are people who hate where they live for whatever reason all over the place.

I find it so interesting, though, that these people live in a place that so many other people seem to love. I know plenty of people who love living here and they are having the same, or at least very similar, experiences. The same goes for other cities. The one difference is how they view their circumstances.

For instance, though it is very hot here, it’s really not that bad when you’re wet. So go swimming, go to the beach, go to a splash pad. Heck, you could even turn on your sprinklers (ok that one is now off-limits due to the drought, but you get the idea). Plus because we live in a big city there are TONS of things to do, and plenty of them are inside nice air conditioned buildings. And another positive spin? When everyone else in the country is still covered in snow next March, we’ll be starting splash pad and beautiful weather. Oh and December has perfect weather to play outside.

It’s all in how you look at things. So what are some positive things about where you live? How have you changed or adapted your attitude when you moved somewhere?

Mirror Repaint {tutorial}

Hurray school started again!

Ok so I don’t have any school-aged kids but I am excited for those mothers who do. And the new school year does bring change in our family seeing as it means my history teaching hubby is off to work again. We absolutely loved having him home all summer (especially while I was so sick) so it’s been an adjustment for him not to always be here. Oh well!

So seeing as we’re having another baby and all we kind of need our third bedroom. We can no longer use it for storage/craft/whatever. So what does this have to do with a mirror repaint? Well see there was this plain desk sitting in the room from the previous owners. We needed it out of the room and I decided I wanted to turn it into a vanity for our master bedroom. Problem was, we didn’t have a mirror. So off to Goodwill we went! And we scored! We found a humongous mirror for only $20. I’m guessing the mirror retails closer to $150. Ok but enough chit chat. The mirror was gold. Our bedroom is black, white, and red. So I decided to repaint.

Supplies Needed:

• Mirror (duh)
• Spray paint (I already had flat black so I used that)
• Spray sealant (especially if you’ll be using flat paint)
• painters tape and paper

Step 1: Cover the mirror with the paper and tape in place. Make sure to tape all the way to the edges of the mirror.

Step 2: Spray paint using nice sweeping motions. If you just try to go crazy and not even that that’s how your paint job will turn out. Just take your time. And make sure to get all the edges. I actually had to bring it back out a couple times because the hubs would spot a place I missed. Let dry completely. Then spray with a sealant to help prevent your paint from chipping. Let dry.

Ok and now I’m going to leave you in suspense…I don’t want to do the reveal until next week when you can see the full effect with the desk makeover. It looks amazing and I can’t wait to show you!

Lamp Makeover {tutorial}

Last summer we spent some time living at my parents’ house until we were able to buy our own. The room we stayed in was my old bedroom and it was, well, light pink and turquoise. It was pretty ugly. I was never a huge fan but I just kind of dealt with it. But since we were moving in I decided to take the opportunity to repaint it for them so they’d have a nice guest room.

The walls went from light pink to a beautiful light yellow with white trim instead of turquoise. Of course I had to update a few other things as well. I found some great fabric that I recovered the window treatment with and used the leftover to recover this lamp. It definitely makes a big difference. Now if only my brother would move out so it could become a true guest room.

Supplies Needed:

• Lamp
• Mod Podge
• Fabric
• Trim (I just used bias tape)
• Spray Paint

Step 1: Take the lamp apart. Set the shade aside. Tape off the cord and top (where the lightbulb goes). Spray paint. Let dry.

Step 2: While your bases are drying take the time to recover the shade. Take your shade apart. I was lucky because the shade already had fabric on it. I simply took the old fabric off and traced it. But if aren’t that lucky you can just roll your shade on your fabric and trace it. Or wrap the fabric around the shade and cut to fit.

Step 3: So I decided to mod podge the fabric onto the plastic shade to make sure there weren’t any bubbles or such. Plus I love the look of mod podged fabric. The key here is to just go a little bit at a time. After you attach the fabric, cover it with a layer of mod podge. Let dry.

Step 4: Attach your trim to the top and bottom of the shade. Like I said, I used bias tape. I used mod podge and worked the trim perfectly into place using my fingers. You could also use hot glue.

Step 5: Once everything is dry put your lamp back together. Then hope for a room to put it in or it’ll sit in your mom’s craft area for a long time and you won’t have any pictures of it put together!

How to Throw a Successful Surprise Party

Ok so a couple of years ago my dear hubby was turning the big 2-5 and I decided to throw him a surprise party. Growing up neither of our birthdays were that big of deals for separate reasons and so as we’ve started our own family and traditions, I’ve decided to make my husband’s and kid’s birthdays big deals (mine still won’t be…not that my husband doesn’t try, but it’s kind of hard when you share your birthday with the Savior of the world…). So I put together a baseball themed surprise party…and it was a huge success! My husband had absolutely no idea and we all had tons of fun. So here are my tips on throwing your own completely successful surprise party (because let’s face it…not all of them are):

1. Enlist Help

I used the help of a couple whom we are really good friends with. The husband is my husband’s best friend and he helped with the distraction (more on that later) and the wife helped me with the invites (also more on that) and decorating. BUT…do not enlist too much help or word might get back to the surprisee! Use your judgment.

2. Mail the Invites

Yes, spend the extra $.46 (is that how much they are now?) over envelope and mail them. See, most of our guests were my husband’s coworkers so I didn’t want to risk them being left out at work. So my friend (who also happen to work with my husband) gathered the addresses for me. I also included for them to RSVP to my phone number so they didn’t accidently call his.

3. Distraction Should be Normal

Don’t send your surprisee on an activity that they never normally do or they’ll be suspicious. I had my husband’s best friend take him fishing after work. Something very normal for us. They went to their usual spot and fished. And because I chose to have the party on a Friday, I had all day while he was at work, plus the fishing time to prepare. Hubster never suspected a thing and was happy to go fishing. Oh and make sure you’re in communication with whoever is helping distract. Just make sure not to make it too many calls or text messages cause that could be suspicious if they’re distracted from the distraction.

4. Pick the Right Day

This goes back to what I said in the previous point. Use your time wisely. If you can have it on a work day then do it! Think of all the extra time you’ll have! If not, try to have your distraction something that will last quite a few hours leading up to the party. You want to have as much time as possible so as to not stress yourself out too much. This party should be fun and not stressful.

5. Plan Birthday as Normal

Something that really bothers me when you see surprise parties on TV is that the guests pretend as if there isn’t even a birthday going on. The poor surprisee thinks everyone has forgotten. Then, surprise! they have a big party. Hmm…I don’t know about you but I would be very suspicious. So with hubby’s party I would ask him what he wanted to do for his birthday. He doesn’t normally have parties so we planned something that he does do (I think we had planned to go visit his sister). I had the party a couple days before his birthday so he didn’t suspect that either!!

6. 30 Minute Time Frame

This is the amount  of time you should give guests before you want the surprisee to arrive. I included all this information on the invites. You’ll inevitably have late partygoers so this gives you plenty of time. And provide some food for your guests while they wait. I also had chosen a baseball theme for the party and had paper baseballs hanging around the room with baseball trivia written on them. This gave the guests something to do while they waited.

7. Parking

If possible, have your guests park on a different street. And to make sure your guests do this, include directions (a map is even better) on where you would like them to park. A whole bunch of cars gathered around your house is definitely suspicious.

8. Camera Ready

When it comes time for the surprisee to come home (which you will be aware of because you are in contact with whoever is distracting him) make sure you are camera ready!! I thought I was and then, guess what? My camera didn’t take the pivotal surprise face picture. So sad. But I did get other pictures. I’ll let you enjoy one now.

9. Utilize Alone Time

This one could also be called “Plan Ahead”. Use the time when you are home without the surprisee to get everything ready. I had been working on decorations and plans for weeks prior. I would do just a little a day while he was working (I also had a baby to take care of). Then I would find a hiding place where I knew he would never look.

10. Act Normal

I know that sounds easier than it is but it’s essential. Sure I might have a little advantage since I come from a theatre background but still. Just Nike up and just do it. You can. Don’t get all giggly when you discuss birthdays. Don’t pretend the birthday (or whatever event you’re throwing a party for) isn’t happening. And have fun!!

Potty Chart {tutorial}

Can you believe it??? I’m actually writing a tutorial! Yes folks after some much-loved drugs, I am back to a semblance of normal. Hopefully we’ll be back to normally scheduled programming from now on. But I reserve the pregnancy right to slack a little.

Ok so potty training at our house has been a long process. We actually bought Mackenzie a little potty months ago when she seemed somewhat interested because she saw her cousin going. Well that interest diminished. But I was ok with that. I mean I didn’t want to force her when she wasn’t ready. And it wasn’t like she would never get potty trained (hopefully).

Well in the past few weeks she has had a new determination. I think it’s the big girl panties candy she gets each time she goes. No but really she does love big girl panties. And candy. The second one is the problem. See I don’t want her having like a hundred pieces of candy a day. Cause my daughter’s smart. She figured out the system and worked it to her advantage. This girl was peeing every. half. hour. Seriously? No one pees that much. So I decided to make a potty chart. Each time she fills it up (5 times) she gets a treat. Now when I say treat I don’t necessarily mean candy. I’ll have a potty treat box with different candies and small toys. Go me!

So here’s how I made my potty chart, because I know you’re all dying to have one just like me. :)

Supplies Needed:

• Cardboard (Mine came from a package of vinyl flowers…you could use a diaper box or something else)
• Paper
• 5 washers
• Mod Podge
• 5 Magnets
• 5 Embellishments
• Letters (I cut mine out with my friend’s Cricut that she’s letting me borrow indefinitely (eek!!!!!) but you could also use chipboard)

Step 1: Cut your paper to fit your cardboard.

Step 2: Ok so I decided to try something different. You could be like me or you could just spray paint your washers and put them on top. So I placed my washers on the cardboard and then mod podged my paper onto the cardboard. Sure I have bumps where the washers are but I just manipulated the paper a little so there were any air bubbles and the paper laid nicely around the washers. Mod podge really loosens paper up to you can work with it. Anyway, make sure you put a nice layer of mod podge on top as well.

Step 3: Glue your letters to your board. Since I used paper letters I just mod podge to glue them on. If you use chipboard obviously you’ll use hot glue.

Step 4: Make your magnets. I just cut out some flowers using the Cricut and then glued little round magnets on them. You could buy embellishments as well.

Step 5: Hang up your chart. Right now it’s hanging in her bedroom but it’ll be moved to above the toilet once I actually get in there and take away the basket sitting there that held all her diaper stuff. Sigh…she’s becoming such a big girl.