Pallets

I'm finding that making your own furniture, decorations, wall art, etc. is can be waaay cheaper than paying someone else to do it. And it's much more satisfying. Being that the season at the lake is winding down and the weather is turning colder, I have a few larger projects that might have to be finished outside done as soon as possible. The majority of them involve pallets.
This is where dating a farmers son comes in handy. (This actually comes in handy a lot- we went creeping around the barn and found amazing old windows to use for a table or just to hang on the wall. Gorg.). We were driving down the dirt lane the other day and stopped to get some branches for my newest addition to the living room (pics soon-promise) and went exploring into their graveyard of old fence posts, retired farm equipment and leftover pallets. Sooo many pallets. I'm beyond excited to get the boyfriend to help me with some of these projects, especially the headboard! I'm thinking we (and by we, I mean the boyfriend, who is way better at using power tools and a saw than me) could easily make a footboard too and finally have a real, beautiful bed. (And now I have to find something to use those old fence posts for! I'll have to look to my Picker Sisters for inspiration.)

 

This is a more obvious use of pallets. We don't really have room for anything like this now, but I still love it.

This could be altered to make a coffee or dining room table. And it supposedly only cost $2. Can't beat it!

Love this island in the kitchen. Perfect height and more than enough room to utilize as a table as well, not just an additional counter top. Could be painted to match any room.

I just adore this. Anything with mason jars and weathered wood. Not to mention that amazing sunset in the background. *Sigh*

Great idea for a more organized coffee table. What a neat table top too! Endless possibilities!

And my most favorit-ist piece of all! I've looked at hundreds of headboards and none of them made my heart skip a beat like this one. So easy, but so simply beautiful.

{All images via the home section of my Pinterest}

What we've been up to...

So the best friend's visit was amazing. It was wonderful to get to spend some much needed time with her. We had a blast, laughed a lot, and ate just about as much. She reminded me of who I really am, which I cannot thank her enough for.
After she left, I realized I had to fill my new free time with something so I've been getting some little projects done around the house. And have about a million more planned to shop for in a couple days. I'm super excited. But I thought I'd give y'all a glimpse at what I was able to accomplish this week.
Get excited for bigger projects! PS- This is my 100th post (!)

I got these darling things from a junk store in a neighboring town- this big one was $1.25, the small one $0.65. And the bottle is from SOB's antiques in New Mexico- it says my last name and was a quarter. Love.

(Ooh, and peek at out new wall color! I can't get enough of it)

Made a fall arrangement, got the bottles for $0.25 each and the basket was a whopping $2 at the same junk store around here. I have no idea what to put in it but I couldn't pass up that deal.

The sea grass basket was $1. That's my grandpa in the picture, and the vase had flowers in it that my boyfriend got my for Valentine's day.

This one might be my favorite. The chairs were on clearance for $10 a piece, the barrel was $10 and the lantern was in a dollar bin at another great store in that neighboring town. 

And best of all, all of these thing were purchased with my best friend and I am pleasantly reminded of her and our visit when I see them. :)

Best Friend

So I'll begin by apologizing for once again, leaving you hanging. But I do have a pretty good excuses. I've been using my free time (which is very precious these days) to get things done around the house in preperation for my best friend's visit next week (!). We finished the porch railing, and actually extended it, got some outdoor chairs so we can enjoy what's left of this cool weather, painted both bathrooms, fixed the hole in the laundry room ceiling from the leak, cut our box spring in half in order to get it into the bedroom and put it back together so we have a semi-real bed now, which is more or less the box spring and the mattress on the floor. But now Best Friend will have an air mattress for her stay. There's about a gazillion other things I'd like to get done before she gets here, but I know it won't. And that's okay! I'd much rather forget about all those things, and a lot of other things, and focus on spending time with her, who I cannot believe I haven't seen in 3 years. WAY too long. I'm sure we won't let that happen again. So if I don't post much of anything the rest of the week, and most of next week, it is simply because I'll be enjoying her company and that is all. And I can't wait. <3

Have a great weekend!

Nails, again.

So this summer I found that I don't really care for naked nails anymore. I very rarely had the time or patience to sit down on a weekly basis and paint my nails. And when I did, it was before bed and I woke up with waffle-fingers instead of cute nails. But since I've graduated, I've been able to find some more time to indulge. And I like having them look nice for my job as well; a lot of people see my hands all day long handing out passes, giving directions on the map, etc. And being a walking commercial for Avon nail polish isn't a bad gig either. :) I have some time before work today to give myself a nice manicure, and on this rainy day, I have a few ideas that may take a little longer. I can't wait to try some of these with a certain beautician-in-training!

Love the colors and patterns! I could never pull off the flowers, but the stripes, maybe!

Cut masking tape with decorative scissors and place on nails for different and super cute pattern!

I would stick to one color but I like the teeny polka dots.

The pink, the glitter, the ring-finger trend... and the ice cream.

{All images via}

Have a great Thursday!

Wine

Since taking a wine class in college, my boyfriend and I have become avid wine drinkers. We were trying different vineyards and vintages every other week when we lived in Indiana. But we have yet to get a bottle of wine in our new house. Some days, I'd like to curl up on the couch with him and a nice big glass of wine and just forget about everything-work, time (or lack there of), all of the "projects" I have to do, work for the house we've yet to finish, people, places, etc. Our local wine and spirits store has the most random hours I've ever seen and their selection is a fraction of the varieties we had access to at IUP. But one of these days, we'll have to take a minute to go up the street and invest in one of our more enjoyable and relaxing hobbies.

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I could use all of these things- wine, candles, and the puppy.

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Wine bottles and displays make wine one of my favorite things to shop for.

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Love pairing food with wine too; this was my strongest area of the class. ;)

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Love, love, love. And want, want, want.

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I adore this look, even though the glasses are empty.

PS- I experienced my first earthquake while at work today...

And I'd be fine if I never get to have that experience again! Glad everyone involved is safe and sound.

Office

Since becoming an Avon representative, I've come to find that the coffee table isn't much of a work space. We have a pantry/laundry room/potential office space that I'm dying to set up. Being that today is my day off, I wish I could run around and get everything I need and just go crazy and have the whole thing finished by tonight. But that's never gonna happen. So instead, I'll share my plans for the space. And then get back to cleaning. Boo.

{All images via}

Football

I am currently watching the Steelers first preseason game. And I'm giddy with excitement. Not only are they starting strong, but I missed watching football so, so much.
Being within an hour of Penn State and a couple of hours from Pittsburgh, it's just silly not to try to make it to some games. I've already begun checking for tickets for any available games. Especially since my boyfriends younger brother and star football player graduated high school and won't be playing due to an injury and can't be our excuse to make a few road trips to watch him.
We really enjoy being at football games. The energy, the atmosphere, the excitement, the emotion. We just love it. It's in my blood. The entire side of my dad's family played football, and were good at it. I grew up spending Sundays and Thursdays watching games with my family, not to mention the days in between when we watched recorded games on VHS. We went to Steelers training camp. My dad went when he was a kid and saw the greats, including Terry Bradshaw. It's in the boyfriend's blood too, probably more so in his since he actually played. And was also really good.
I can't wait to be a football mom, screaming and yelling during every play, as soon as they can play pee-wee. But for now, I'll be more than content with my preseason Steelers, and hopefully some college... and maybe even some high school games.
Back to the game. I am so glad...

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Avon

So, I'm an Avon representative now! Please check out my website/online store and perhaps, purchase some things! I can have them shipped to you or, if you're in the area, deliver them myself. Feel free to contact me with any questions, requests, etc. Thanks so much y'all!

My store

Fabric Flower

So today, after a two hour nap with the windows open and the sound of rain putting me to sleep, I finally decided to do something on my "project" list.
I gathered up the old fabric that I've saved and found a couple of old Hanes T-shirts that I had leftover from a previous project with my best friend (we were groupies of a local band).
I followed these instructions and ended up with an adorable cover-up for a tank top with an unfortunate stain in a pretty unfortunate, and obvious place.

It actually held together pretty well! All I need is a clip so it'll stay on my shirt (and can be moved to various things, including bags!)

How cute is this hot glue gun?! It's a miniature; this project only took one mini glue stick.

On my mom's pillow. :)

I did this whole project on our coffee table. In my pj's.

Love it! I can't wait to wear it. 

(And it feels so good to have something done on my list- I think I'll make more!)

Summer Beverages

With my family visiting yesterday and the evenings getting cooler, I've realized just how much I'd love to have some nice cold drinks after a long day at work. Don't these look amazing?
I've included some recipes so y'all can make your own sips of relaxation!
Hope you had an equally amazing weekend!

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Here's Paula Deen's Southern Sweet Tea recipe.

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Watermelon Mojito recipe (just mix in pitcher and pour into hollowed out watermelon for serving)

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 (Had to include one picture with good ole Heinz ketchup in it) 

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Here's a great pink lemonade recipe!

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 Here is a strawberry smoothie recipe, courtesy of the NY Times.

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Here's a variation of this peach and orange drink, just add sliced fruit for not only looks, but taste as well.

Fleeting Summer

I cannot believe July is already over. I feel like we had so many plans and things to do this summer and haven't accomplished or been able to do hardly any of them. Granted, moving into our first house together was huge, and takes us most of our everything (time, money, patience, etc.) but I was really hoping to do some summer-y things. Like barbeque, tan, go for jogs at the state park, go out on the boat at the lake, even just sit outside on our deck or porches and just be after a long day at work.
But. While we may not have gotten a chance to do all of those things, we have tons to look forward to- my family is finally coming to visit this weekend and we both were able to take the day off. My best friend, who I haven't seen in 3 years (whoa. that's a long time.) is coming to visit in September and bought her plane tickets today! Ever since we moved out of my apartment, I've been talking about a dog and everyone keeps telling me to get one in the winter, when I'll have more time for it. So I have that to look forward to. :)
And you guessed it- all of my "projects". I really should make a list and decide which ones I want to tackle first...
Anyway- needless to say, I may feel like I completely missed the summer, but all of the amazingly wonderful things on their way totally make up for it. So

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"Crafting"

So I follow quite a few blogs that are constantly reminding me how little time I truly have/set aside for crafting- or "diy projects". (Crafting sounds a little dated, and too old for me. I have "projects", and they're not all crafty, really- many of them involve sewing and sawing and nailing, etc.) That being said, I haven't even made time to fix my sewing machine. I'm tired of showing my inspirations and ready to start showing some creations.
Today, my time was spent putting together a tv stand that I only had to take apart and try again three times. (My dad advised me to wait until my boyfriend got home to actually put the tv on it. Ha.) After I got done, I had such a sense of accomplishment, that I spent the rest of the afternoon catching up on my shows and eating ice cream. It's too hot to do much of anything else. And I have to wait for my boyfriend to get home so I can get ready and then make my guacamole (!) for a friend's b-day bbq tonight.
While I might complain about the time I don't have for certain things, I am definitely thankful for the things that are currently occupying that time. I can't wait to show you guys what I'll be working on. And in the meantime, don't forget about my mama's amazing pillows!
Hope you're having an equally fabulous week (and a little more productive one).

Air mattress

So our bedroom currently consists of a dresser (from Goodwill for $15 that we stained together last summer), our old mattress, underneath an air mattress, and one nightstand. And all of our clothes. Needless to say, it has not come together. I think it is/needs to be our next project to tackle. We really need a nice, relaxing, comfortable place to crash at the end of the day. While the living room is where we wind down, I really miss sitting up in bed reading a book before bed. I'm leaning towards a softer, but darker tan for the walls and going with a neutral color scheme of black and whites. Here are my inspirations so far.

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Love the curtains and with our bedroom being as large as our living room, a small sitting area is do-able.

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I would love to upholster a bench for the end of the bed.

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Want the bed, side table, curtains and I love the deepness of the wall color.

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These are the neutrals in darker shades I'm looking for. Nice and bright during the day, nice and warm at night.

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I would love to make a simple headboard like this. I think a foot board would really cut up the room, which I hate to do. I want to utilize the space and these curtains are a great example of how to draw the eye up and make a room seem larger.

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These woods-in the dresser, armoire and chairs are exactly what I want. Love the canopy bed too. I have SO much to do! But I'm so ready to upgrade our air mattress to a real, grown-up bedroom. Can't wait!

Hudson- pillows

I attribute my taste in interior design, among other things, entirely to my parents. They continue to inspire me on a daily basis. The fact that they moved back to PA to start their own business is nothing short of amazing, but I would expect nothing less from them. And the fact that they have allowed my brother and I to be a part of their journey in this undertaking is an honor and something I am very excited about.
That being said, I'd like to introduce you to Hudson.
We are starting out selling handmade pillows that my mother has put her heart and soul, and creativity into. My brother and I were lucky enough to get the first "samples" and out of all the pillows we have, I tend to throw the others on the floor and only use my moms. Not just for sentimental reasons either- they are really, really comfortable. She's made all of our pillows for as long as I can remember (this is where I get it from) and they keep getting better and better.
These particular pillows are classic and long-lasting (they made it through my first college apartment and into mine and my boyfriends first home). They are 20"x20" pillows made of burlap, ticking, cotton and down (which makes them the most comfortable pillows ever). We are asking $60 a pillow, plus shipping. There are currently only two left, but we are in the process of making more. Please contact me if y'all are interested or have any questions/requests, etc.
Thank you so much!

 

Photos courtesy of my dad. (he's pretty good, right?)

I'm back!

So we didn't end up getting internet (or cable) until yesterday. Besides missing way too much of my Real Housewives and the return of my favorite Teen Mom group, I missed my blog! Turns out, it's become a therapeutic outlet for me while my creativity and endless interior design ideas are being stifled by lack of time and teeny budget.

I'm off today and the boyfriend left for work over 2 hours ago.
Things I've accomplished:

• ate 2 tuna fish sandwiches then broke into my new Blitzberg ice cream (delish by the way, and it included a chance to win Steelers tickets. What more could a girl ask for?!)
• caught up on NY and NJ Housewives-I'm getting bored with NY, still infatuated with NJ and can't wait for Beverly Hills to return
• walked over, around, and inevitably through the piles of dirt brought in by boyfriend and his dad insulating the attic this morning, therefore tracking it through the whole house.

What I plan to accomplish this afternoon/evening:

• clean the floors (all of them) including the steps by vacuuming then Swiffering- which I love because I got the kind with lavender scented Febreeze. Heaven.
• dust the furniture (all 4 pieces of it) and the blinds
• hang something up. Whether it's a mirror in the entryway, a clock in the bathroom, a picture in the bedroom, it's time to get something on these walls.
• cook dinner for the boyfriend so that it's ready when he gets home from work. I've done this for a week or so now and have to say, I love it. I was totally made to be a housewife. ;)

I know I've promised pictures of the house- trust me, you can wait. There's really nothing to see at the moment. It's not a mess, just nothing to look at yet. There's still much to be done! I've always believed that a house is never really finished, but there is a line to cross when you can invite people into your homes, and we haven't even painted that line yet. Let alone the walls.
Better get to work.
Hope y'all are having an amazing week. So glad to be back. :)