Baby Proofing my Rug

Hi all!

Sorry for the radio silence.  It turns out that having a baby and a toddler is a lot of work and I have been quite busy!  We have adjusted here and have settled into a nice routine.  C is nearly 7.5 months old and is starting to think about crawling.  When M was this age I had think blankets all over the floor because our rug, while durable isn't cushioned at all.  

I knew it was time to add some cushion not only for the baby's sake but for my sake in sitting on the floor all day long!  Finding a rug pad that is appropriate for hardwood floors and met all my other needs (adding softness and over 9x12') wasn't easy.

When Rug Pads USA contacted me about reviewing a rug pad I jumped at the chance!  I figured I wouldn't be out anything since the rug pad I had was only for slippage and I could only get something better.  I chose the 1/2 Eco Fiber pad and I am seriously in love.  I know, I know, dramatic to love a rug pad but I seriously can't tell you how much cushion this pad has added!  I can notice a difference walking on it and Grandma commented tonight how soft it was sitting on it with the kiddos.  

Not only is the rug pad exactly what my rug needed but it is eco friendly!  I highly recommend!

Summery Love

Hi all!

Can you believe summer is almost here?!  I can't believe it just like I can't believe my baby turns 1 next weekend.  Where does the time go?  I'll be spending this week knee deep in cleaning products, crafts and tissues.  This mama is getting nostalgic about my sweet baby growing up so quickly.  I swear it's something you can't understand until you have a child and can see how they change from week to week and sometimes day to day.  Okay, I'll snap out of it. ;)  I wanted to share these wallet friendly summery finds because even though they aren't in my budget maybe they are in yours!

1. Anthropologie  2.  Sur La Table  3.  Etsy

Have a great one!

HG Favs and A Few Great Finds

Hello!

I made it to HomeGoods the other day for the first time in months and I thought I would share some of the favorite items I found.

Well, this isn't a favorite.....but I had to share. A plush dresser (like a fuzzy stuffed animal)....

WOW...

Sea Glass lamps- these were beautiful and I could see them in flanking a bed on the nightstands

I loved this guy! Perhaps on a casual buffet in a dining room?!

This was a great gourd inspired lamp that would look great anywhere but I pictured him on a great entryway table with a mirror and some fresh cut flowers

They are still going strong with yet another (different) sunburst mirror

I love this lamp! I wish there had been two as I would have seriously considered them for our guest bedroom. It was chunky with a perfect linen shade!

A great rustic inspired mirror

Another rustic inspired item

This is fabric I'm considering for a project I'm working on. I think I need to just go ahead and pull the trigger!

And these are a few items I picked up at a local thrift store last week. The candle holders were only $3.50 each. I already have 4 mercury candle holders in varying sizes and they are perfect for everyday use (ours are on our mantel right now) and they're great for decorating for Christmas as well. The white urn was only $3 and while I don't have an immediate use for it I couldn't pass it up. I'm sure I'll think of something! :)

Lots of great finds!

Emily

Mirror Makeover

Hi all!

I have been busy with several projects around the house. I'm anxious to show you them over the next few days.

The first was a mirror I got on Craigslist for free last fall in Florida. I am kicking myself for not taking a before picture. I thought I had one and now I can't find it. Ugh. Anyway it was bright blue and all beat up.....but when I saw it and it was free, I knew I had to have it.

After sanding and spray painting it black, Jacob hung it for me last night (I told you I hate hanging stuff!) over the buffet in the dining room.

You may remember that I purchased the dresser for $20 and gave it a makeover. Details on that project here.

As you can see I haven't touched the brass chandelier, which will change at some point. I might take it down and spray it black since we won't be purchasing anything new until we buy a table.

At first I was worried about the scale of the mirror and the fact that it is pretty big over the buffet. However, it's growing on me. A matching pair of lamps are on my list to flank the mirror. I simply grabbed things from around the house to stage these pictures.

It's amazing that this whole project only cost $10 for 2 cans of spray paint!

Emily

Architectural Salvage

Good morning!

I hope you all had a great weekend. We accomplished a lot around the house, which was most needed. Our fence is going in today, well, the process is starting today....I can't wait! Saturday was a cold and rainy day here in KY (it had better be one of the last.....come on spring!) so we headed off to our local architectural salvage. I took several iphone pictures to share with you all because we found lots of amazing goodies!

In case you aren't familiar this is a place where they sell everything from light fixtures to door knobs from houses/warehouses they have torn down.

Here is a star that Jacob was dying to buy for his man room, it was $50

This mantel reminded me of the one in my grandparents house

Jacob loved the idea of this mail/file sorter

I was dying for a few black urns but they were pretty pricey

Bricks were $.50 a piece

Lots of bird baths

I loved the worn iron gates

I really wanted this piece for our garden but we really don't have a place for it ($140)

This was a bar that Jacob fell in love with ($4000)

We definitely will be going back when we start working on the basement perhaps to buy a few things for the garden.

Have a great day!

Emily

Thrift Store Dresser Makeover

Happy Friday!

Remember this dresser I teased you with months ago? Well, even though I painted it months ago before we moved it has sat in our garage. I was stuck on knobs for forever because I needed 12 and didn't want to spend a small fortune.

For those of you that don't remember or are new to the blog I bought this dresser for $20 at a local thrift store. I had no idea what I was going to do with it just that I could use it somewhere either as a buffet, a dresser, an entryway chest, or as a console in an office. I decided to go with black while I painted the inside a creamy tan.

I finally bit the bullet and bought these knobs once we moved and had a World Market nearby.

We currently have the dresser in our dining room as we have no formal dining room table. She is keeping the room from looking bare since we probably won't have a table for quite awhile....baby stuff trumps nice table.

I think it will work well as a buffet if that is the route we end up going in the future.

Total cost of the makeover: $20 Dresser

$20 Paint

$60 Hardware

$100 Total!

Not too shabby!

Don't forget to enter the drawing for a $45 code to be used at CSN stores. Click here for details and to enter.

Have a great weekend!

Emily

Thrift Store Deals

Good morning!

I am still on the hunt for pillows for the family room. I finally ordered this fabric to make at least 3 myself. I have my eye on another few that I think will work that I'm going back to get tomorrow.

Yesterday while taking a break from the pillow hunt I stopped at this cool indoor flea market/thrift store down the road. I found several good deals and was able to create a mirror collage I have been thinking about for awhile. I found all these for around $20.

Here they are up on the wall. I think I may end up adding a few more but I like the general concept.

Original inspiration found here

I also found these for $9 total and I put them up in our glass bar cabinet.

Have you found any good deals lately?

Have a great day!

Emily

Let's Talk Etsy!

Hi all!

I don't know about all of you but I have come to love Etsy. When it first started out I wasn't too impressed, I mean I thought the idea was good but I couldn't figure out the search function.

Well, in recent months I have played around with it more and have found several items that are wonderful and so unique, which are a must for me when I'm decorating a room or buying a gift! I even had a friend (Hi Sheena!) have her bridesmaids dresses made from a store on Etsy. It's a dress that was custom made to me and yet it wasn't anymore than an off the rack dress at any bridal store. Plus it's pretty darn cute!

Here are a few things I'm lusting after from Etsy:

I am love geometric prints in bold colors. I think they're so summery!

Found here

Found here

I would love this in a nursery. I'm a sucker for baby animals.

Found here

Found here

Found here

Love this apron!

Found here

What do you love from Etsy?

Emily

Craiglist Finds

Hi all!

I thought I would browse my local craigslist and show you a few gems I have turned up. Maybe this will inspire you to take a look at the one in your area and see what you can find!

I love these 2 wing back chairs and they are only $100 for the pair. I would probably try to get them for $75. FYI it takes about 7 yards of fabric to recover or reupholster your typical wing back unless you're doing a skirt and then it's 8. Why would you cover the legs though? That's my question. :)

I would snatch these up and reupholster them in a modern fabric or a plain fabric with nailhead trim!

I love the idea of painting this trunk a high gloss black leaving the hinges gold, of course. This was listed for $90 but I would try to get it for $60-70. I think this would work perfectly as a coffee table plus it has storage for blankets and throws!
This is a classic king size sleigh headboard. I don't think you can go wrong with a piece like this! This was listed for $100 but I would offer $75 and go from there. Great deal!!
I love, love, love a pedestal table! This table comes with 1 extra leaf and it is also a drop leaf table (which you can see in the picture). This little guy goes for $40, which is an amazing deal. I would love to see it painted white or a funky coral or yellow with white or mismatched chairs.
I hope maybe I have inspired someone to look at your local craigslist in a different light. I have bought several pieces of furniture off of craigslist. Have you?

Emily