Nursery Changing Table: Before & After

When thinking of how I wanted the nursery to look, I knew I wanted to transform this dresser into a changing table to match the crib. We bought this dresser a little over year ago for a whopping $25 knowing that we would eventually have children and be able to use it in the nursery. It took my Husband Josh and Mom just a few hours to complete the entire project. I absolutely LOVE the way it turned out and I am so grateful that Josh and my Mom took the time to do this project for me and baby girl.

Project Cost Breakdown:

*Dresser: $25

*Paint to match crib: $30

*Paint supplies: $20

*Knobs: Josh used to work in cabinetry, so we already had these knobs

Total Project Cost: $75 (now that's what I'm talking about!)

BEFORE

AFTER

4 DIY Projects For Your Kitchen

Looking for fashionable and affordable ways to dress up your kitchen? Look into DIY projects, where you can make quality goods for a fraction of the price.

DIY, of course, stands for “do it yourself”, and with that title comes three important criteria: you must purchase the supplies, create something with your own hands, and feel immense satisfaction afterwards.

Here are four, affordable DIY projects that meet that criteria and will add charm and functionality to any kitchen.

1. Spice Jar Magnets

Level: Easy

Cost: $35

Supplies: baby food jars, strong magnets, metal sheet (optional), glue gun, blank labels (all of this can be found on Amazon.com)

For a great way to spice up your kitchen (literally) make these cute spice jar magnets to put on your fridge or the underside of your cabinet. It’s very simple and anyone can do it.

Step 1. Purchase empty baby food jars and remove the lids.

Step 2. Use your glue gun to attach a strong magnet to the top of each lid. It’s important that you glue it very well and that the magnet is strong enough to support the jar, or you might come home one day to a shattered mess all over your kitchen floor or cupboard.

Step 3. Write the name of one spice on a blank label and place it on the outside of the jar. Repeat until you have enough jars labeled according to each spice you own. You might want to make a few extras while you’re at it for spices you might get in the future.

Step 4. Fill each jar with the spice named on the labels.

Step 5. Nail or glue your metal sheet to wherever you would like your spice collection to be. You could put it on the underside of a cabinet or shelf or on a free wall. You could also forget the metal sheet and simply use the side of your refrigerator if it’s exposed.

Step 6. Attach your spice jars by the magnetic lid to the metal sheet or your refrigerator and remove a bottle any time you need to use a spice.

2. Tablet or Cookbook Holder

Level: Easy

Cost: $20

Supplies: cutting board, Scrabble letter rack (can be purchased individually on Ebay or Amazon), wooden door stop, paint, glue gun or wood glue

Tired of bending awkwardly over your tablet or cookbook while you follow a recipe? This DIY cookbook holder is the perfect accessory for your kitchen! The cost associated with this project is an estimate of what it would cost you if you purchased each item new. However, you might find that you have all the supplies you need lying around the house.

Step 1. Lay your cutting board vertically in front of you and glue the long, flat piece of the wooden doorstop to it. The short, flat end of the doorstop should be level with the bottom of the cutting board. Let dry.

Step 2. Once the glue has dried, stand up the cutting board, balancing it on the door stop so that it leans a little at a backward angle. Glue the back of the Scrabble letter rack to the bottom front of the cutting board. The rounded part of the letter rack will function as the part that stops your tablet from sliding off.  

Step 3. Once all the glue has dried, paint it whatever color you wish.

Step 4. Test it out with a new recipe on your table and enjoy!

3. Mason Jar Herb Garden

Level: Moderate

Cost: $20-$50

Supplies: quart sized mason jars, fresh herbs and spice starts, potting soil, adjustable hoop rings with nails or screws, 1x4 boards

If you love the idea of having fresh herbs on hand at all times, this one’s for you. Gather your supplies, clear a large space on a kitchen wall near a window and get started!

Step 1. Sand and stain your boards to match your kitchen.

Step 2. Nail or screw the adjustable hoop rings into the board, placing each ring at least four inches apart.

Step 3. Mount your boards to the wall.

Step 4. Fill each mason jar with potting soil and plant your fresh herb starts. You’ll want the soil to reach near the top of the jar mouth, so that the herbs poke out the top.

Step 5. Fit your mason jars tightly into the adjustable hoop rings and maintain your plants for fresh herbs all year round!

4. RTA Cabinets

Level: Moderate

Cost: $50-$300 each

Supplies: one RTA cabinet kit (Some especially attractive options can be found here.)

If your kitchen is screaming for much more attention than a simple spruce, you’ll want to look into RTA, or ready to assemble cabinets. They are a great way to give your kitchen a facelift without breaking the bank. Even though you did not make these from scratch, they still meet the criteria of DIY because you will purchase the supplies, put it together by hand, and feel the immense satisfaction of a job well done!

Step 1. Pick out the cabinets you’ve been dreaming of.

Step 2. Order the RTA kit.

Step 3. Follow the step-by-step assembly instructions. You may want to get a friend to help you with this.

Step 4. Enjoy your brand new kitchen!

With just a little effort on your part, your kitchen can go from ordinary to extraordinary. You’ll love the new look and thoroughly enjoy the feeling of utter satisfaction at having completed these projects with your own two hands.

 

Master Bedroom: Before and After In Pictures

I forgot to take pictures before we made the changes, but found these off of Zillow. Big difference huh?!?! From dark to bright. The only thing we are waiting for now is our curtains for our new sliding glass door and new window.

 Before

After

and of course...I HAD to have a gallery wall!!!

 

DIY Eye Makeup Remover

DIY: HOMEMADE SPRINKLER FOR KIDS.

Last week, my Husband Josh emailed me and in the subject line it said "Do you think she will like this or what?!?! I opened up the email to find this picture that he attached......

For just a moment I am just going to brag about my Husband a little bit. He can literally fix and recreate anything. Leave it up to him, he gets the job done! I remember when our garbage disposal went out. Instead of calling a professional to come and take a look at it, his response was "Oh I can fix this..just you watch, wait and see honey!" As he took it apart, there were parts all over our kitchen floor and of course I am thinking..."We should have called someone" Well sure enough, he put everything back together and wah-la worked liked it was brand new! Some other projects that he has done (built our entertainment center in our living room and bedroom, installed sprinklers in our front and back yard, gutted out our walk in pantry to make it bigger, did the electrical work in our spare bedroom, installed a fence around our pool, etc.) I am so grateful for my sexy handy man! 

When he sent me a picture of this sprinkler, my first thought was "of course you did!" 

I think it's pretty safe to say that E absolutely loves this!    

Materials

2 10 foot pieces of 1/2 inch PVC pipe

1 PVC t-joint

1 PVC hose to pipe connector

4 PVC elbow joints

PVC cement

PVC pipe cutting tool (optional, but super nice!)

drill with 1/16 inch drill bit

Instructions:

Cut 10 foot pipes into 4 four feet pieces. You will not need the excess amount, but be sure to save it in case you need to make repairs later. Drill random holes along the length of each 4 foot pipe. Try to keep the holes towards the upper third of the pipe, but you can slant them any direction you want. Cut one 4 foot section of pipe in half. The hose connector and t-joint will be used here. Use PVC cement to glue the t-joint, the hose connector and the pipe pieces together. Glue the remaining pieces together using the elbow joints to connect each side and make a square. Let PVC cement dry completely (it will dry pretty quick) then screw hose into hose connector piece. Turn the water on and enjoy! When you are ready to put it away, unscrew the hose and tip it upside down to drain all the water out. 

WEEKEND IN PICTURES.

//diy sprinkler made by my Husband Josh (tutorial on the blog this week!)//

//footprints//

//in the morning when I rise....give me Jesus//

//loving these cute new plants from IKEA they add just the right touch//

//new shoes (me: zulily E: payless//

// E screams.........."CANNONBALL!!"//

//pool day//

//got Shadow in the pool...he couldn't wait to get out//

  //Sunday Primary lesson "I Can Be Obedient//

//Josh making pancakes before church//

//pretty hair for church//

//look at that face!//

Kisses From The Mrs.

I am sure that you saw my previous post showcasing the sweet little notes I left around the house for Josh to find. I also created this little handmade gift for him too. I came across the idea on Etsy  and knew I HAD to make it for Josh! I saved the image on my computer, printed it in color and taped it on the front of a large mason jar that we already had. Then I filled the jar with a bunch of Hershey's kisses and tied some pink  ribbon around it. I love the way it turned out. I know this will bring a big smile to Josh's face! XOXO

What I Made Thursday Link Up

Hi, I'm Janssen! I blog over at Everyday Reading about all my favorite parts of daily life - delicious food, pretty clothing (that's reasonable for wearing while staying home with my two little girls), and great books. I used to be a school librarian; now I spend most of my time reading picture books (and YA novels!), cooking, snuggling my girls, and blogging late at night while eating frozen cookies. 

I have to admit that I'm not the world's biggest fan of pumpkin, but I've been experimenting this fall to find pumpkin recipes that I like - I love the flavor, but the texture of lots of pumpkin products can be off-putting to me. So far, I've found a fabulous black and white chocolate pumpkin bread, double chocolate pumpkin cookies (my favorite of them all!), and salted pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Obviously, I like my pumpkin to have a chocolate counterpart. 

These crepes, with the world's most delicious (and not too sickly-sweet!) cheesecake filling, are another home run, even if they didn't involve chocolate. I made them for guests last week and one of them asked me afterward for the recipe. Sweet success! 

Pumpkin Crepes with Cheesecake Filling

(adapted from Somewhat Simple)

Makes 15-20 crepes, depending on the size

Filling:
1 1/2 cups whipping cream
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 8-oz packages cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons vanilla

Crepe Batter:
3 eggs
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Maple syrup, for serving (optional)


In a stand mixer or with a hand beater, beat whipping cream and sugar together until soft peaks form. Add cream cheese, lemon juice, and vanilla, and mix until smooth and well-combined. Place in fridge until ready to use.

Put all crepe batter ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Cook with a crepe maker using manufacturer directions, or, heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and spray with non-stick spray. Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the center of the pan and rotate pan, using the handle, until the batter covers the entire bottom of the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes, until the edges are dry, then carefully flip and cook the other side for another 30 seconds until it's completely cooked through.

Place about 1/4 cup of filling in the middle of each crepe and roll up. Drizzle with maple syrup, if desired, and eat immediately.


Thank you so very much for having me Kimberly!!

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Be sure to check back in tomorrow for a GIVEAWAY.

What I Made Thursday Link Up: DIY Polka Dot Tote

For those of you who know me, you would know that I am a HUGE fan of polka dots.

Awhile back I bought a two pack of canvas totes from Micheal's for a Primary project.

I only ended up using one of the canvas totes and just put the other tote in one of my 

craft cubbies. I wanted to do something fun with the other tote so I could get some use

out of it. Well guess what I came across on Pinterest? You guessed it! Polka Dot Totes!

 Materials:

  -Blank canvas tote (I bought mine at Michael's for $2!)

  -Fabric paint in the color of your choice

  -Pencil with unused round eraser tip

  -Paper plate to hold paint

  -Cardboard insert

Directions:

Insert a thick piece of paper or cardboard to catch any bleeding. Squeezing about a tablespoon of paint onto a paper plate, dip your eraser tip into the paint, making sure it is completely covered. Start in the upper left-hand corner and stamp your polka dots all the way down, making sure they are evenly spaced. Allow 24 hours to dry. Stuff that tote full of goodies and swing that baby over your shoulder for the world to see!

FASHION FRIDAY LINK UP: DRESS INTO A SKIRT

Sunglasses:  Jessica Simpson // Necklace: Avon // Top: Ross // Purse: Gift //

Skirt: Thrifted (turned from a dress into a skirt) // Jewelry: F21 // Shoes: Payless

Happy Friday friends! I am ready for the weekend let me tell you!!

My Mom bought me a sewing machine last year for Christmas and I have yet to use it.

I have always wanted to learn how to sew so I can make pillows, skirts, baby clothes, etc.

So for now, my Mother-In-Law is my seamstress and she is so talented. She has been sewing

for years. One of the things she loves doing is making wedding dresses..yeah...wedding dresses

with beading, trains, lace and everything! So giving her a dress to change it into a skirt is a piece

of cake for her! She could probably do it with her eyes closed!! Seriously though....

I found this floral dress at SAVERS  for $4.99. WAHOO! What a deal! Man I love thrifting!

 It was WAY too short so I decided to still buy it and I would just give it to my Mother-In-Law to

make it into a skirt. WAH-LA!! (don't know if that's how you spell that? Well you get the idea..)

Hope you guys have a great weekend!