Getting Creative

Since Matt has been sick I've been sleeping on the couch or in the guest bedroom.  While laying in bed the other night and watching an episode of Design Star, I looked over and remembered that I've been meaning to re-furbish the night stand.  I guess since it's out of sight, out of mind...I had completely forgotten about this little project.

After my interview yesterday (round two from the interview a week and a half ago - it went well so fingers are crossed) I stopped at Hobby Lobby to pick up some fun new knobs that I would use as my inspiration!  I love the shabby-chic/country distressed look.  I would say the project turned out to be a success!  I love our new dresser and can't wait for it to completely dry so we can move it out of the garage and back in to the guest bedroom!

BEFORE

AFTER

Fabric Photo Frames

So I saw this project over HERE and knew I had to give it a try.

After a few frustrating days of trying to find out how to get pictures printed on styrene, I gave up and opted for a little twist on the photo display.

First find picture frames and fabric.  I got my frames at Michael's (don't forget to use a weekly coupon).  Go for a colored frame to add a little personality to your walls.  I was going to buy wood frames and spray paint them red, but instead found red wood frames on sale!  I also found my fabric on sale at wal-mart one random day when I wasn't even looking for it.

Take the glass out of the frame and flip over the frame-back on a piece of fabric.  Cut the fabric with about a half of an inch (on each side) larger than the frame back.

Fold over the fabric around the sides of the frame back and secure (either hot glue or tape the sides down).

Next I found wooden blocks that I spray painted a neutral tan.  

(Also got the spray paint on sale at Michaels.)

Using photo corners I attached the pictures to each block, then using this awesome new thing I found (glue sheets), I attached each blocks to the fabric.

Here is the final product!  It's perfect for our empty entry-way wall!

Lazy Sunday

I think I mentioned that Matt and I are starting to make some friends out here in WV.  Today I hung out with a girl that I met at David's Bridal.  Her name is Riikka and she's from Finland.  Pretty cool if I do say so myself.  We love talking about cultural differences/life in general and it is crazy how much we have in common.  The even crazier thing?  We're the same age and both married, and when we decided to hang out with our husbands...we realized just how similar they were too.  (remind me to get her to tell her love story on here one day...it's too cute.)  Matt went with Kelly (Riikka's husband) to watch golf all day today and Riikka and I soaked up the rays at the pool and spent some quality time with their new puppy, Lilly.  What a relaxing Sunday!

The Dining Room

In an attempt to tie together the table (light yellows/blues) with the shelves (dark iron) I set out to find some things in the yellow family to put on the shelves.

More Vinyl

I saw these vinyl clings on a blog that I read.  Unfortunately this blog isn't selling vinyl over the summer so I set out on Etsy.com and found these!    MustardSeedDream

You can personalize them and order in different colors or fonts.  This is what mine look like!

Visitors!

Yet again, we have visitors this weekend!  4 of our best friends are here (and one baby Davis).  This is the most visitors we've had in WV so far and to say we're excited is an understatement!  Matt spent all Friday singing really anxious for everyone to get here!

Exciting things are happening at the Mantiply apartment this weekend including...

turning our dining room into another spare bedroom!

I also love the smell of fresh flowers and am hoping to always have them when we get visitors!

Buy Local (Part 2)

While at Capitol Market this last weekend with my Mom and three of my sisters, I set out to find a pretty plant for our back porch.  Along the way my mom found a flat of flowers for around her back patio!!!

I was so excited when I found these pretty flowers (already potted - I'm a sucker for convenience)!

They look great on our porch!

Finally, I found something that I've been looking for recently!  I've been doing a lot of cooking lately and every recipe I try calls for some sort of fresh herb.  Mostly stuff like thyme, rosemary, basil...you get the picture.  I find myself going to the grocery store almost daily looking for these things (and buying them fresh is not cheap).  At one of the farmer's stands they had all sorts of flowers and a section of herbs.  This potted herb plant was only $15 and it has everything I could ever need in it!

Can't wait to start cooking with these!

Gettin Crafty

I have my sister (find her over here) to thank for this idea!

She's been in to the whole crafting/creative thing for much longer than I have.  A few months ago she purchased a vinyl cling for her KitchenAid Mixer.  I was jealous of it mainly because 1) it was so cute and 2) she actually had a KitchenAid Mixer.

I was so thrilled when I got my own mixer as a wedding present!

And equally as thrilled when my sister (who knew that I was getting the mixer) decided to get me a vinyl as part of my wedding present!  Not only that...she got me 2 of them!  A blue one and a white one.  Since our kitchen doesn't have much of a design theme going on (we're in an apartment and can't paint the walls) I decided to go with the blue one.  We'll save the white one for a few years down the road when we have a pretty and sophisticated kitchen!  Right now it's all about being young and fun!

Find the Decals over at Wonderfully Wordy.  My sister has the Curly Sue ones (so cute) and the one that I have is called Sophistication.  Love them!  Go get one for yourself!

Growing Up

Part of this whole getting married thing is that you finally get things that aren't hand-me-downs from my parents, or Matt's parents, or siblings, or other long-lost family members.  It's pretty nice having stuff that is now yours, together.  Not mine or his, but ours.

It's pretty nice when it is wedding presents that you registered for together and agreed on.  It is not, however, nice when it is bedding that you stand in Target discussing for 2 hours trying to come to some conclusion.  I'll compromise...you'll compromise...we both compromise?  What?!?!  This whole finding common ground thing is much harder than anyone warned us it would be!  Matt loves the piece of artwork on the bedroom wall that was bought when he first moved in and I vowed not to say anything because I didn't live here.  I'm not crazy about it. (None of this is news to him...we've already discussed!)  Matt told me since his artwork is up, I get to pick the bedding because now it is "my room too".  Guess what...pastel, shabby-chic doesn't really go with a red, gold, and black painting.  The compromise?  Dark colors (Matt's favorite) with a print (my preference).  We finally came to an agreement!  I thought it would never happen!  We're both happy with the new bedroom!  I think it makes us look like grownups!  Long gone are the comforters from the dorm room days!!!