Month(s) In Review!

Hello hello! I’m back with another month in review – but this one is two, YES, two times the fun because I’m reviewing all of the projects and posts from September and October. I kinda forgot about September. ;)

Because I’ve got so many to mention, I’m going to keep the talking to a minimum. I know. Don’t be sad.

I started off September by showing off the lovely Tracie from Cleverly Inspired:

Then I showed you the new light over the kitchen table:

I shared some SCRUMPTIOUS crock pot recipes:

Next up was the easiest but most time consuming fall wreath evah:

I shared some personal pics of the Ground Zero Museum here:

And showed you my DIY pallet table and what I ended up with instead:

I asked for your advice on our new floors here:

(Some great thoughts in the comments if you are looking into hardwood floors!)

After the water fiasco in the kitchen, we got our beadboard island back:

I spruced up the front landscaping by simplifying (and adding a little mulch):

Our long backyard projects were finally complete, and I showed you the deck here:

Next, I got my craft on with some candy corn goodies:

Because the old fridge was shot, we had to get a new one. And I’m in luuuuurve:

I forgot to mention in the post that it’s a Kenmore Elite – 31 cubic feet of space baby! And yes, I still love it. :)

The patio (and fireplace!!) reveal were up next:

I made another fall wreath, and this one went much faster:

October was kicked off with ghosts in the trees at the Before and After Party:

I showed you our new peel and stick tile in the laundry room:

I haven’t forgotten about the tutorial – it’s coming soon!

And then we partied like rock stars at the Fall Outdoor Spaces link up:

I finally finished up a job I was dreading – painting the beadboard in the office. I made it go super fast by using my paint sprayer:

Even though took a week, I knew having our floors finished on site was the right decision when I saw them installed:

I showed you how I transformed the front door from brown to red in this post:

While I was waiting on the stain to dry, I shared my top ten basic tools with you:

And then the floors were done! And I was in love:

That room already looks different. (Just a smidge.) Show you soon! :)

I took advantage of the furniture being out of the family room and moved the roman shades and drapes up to let in more light:

Last week I brought them back…the Halloween mice! This time with a little bling:

I shared our fun and easy pumpkin carving party:

And then ended October by sharing my last minute Halloween display:

And now I need a nap. :)

That’s the past two months in a nice long little post! Wow, I had a lot of energy. ;)

Here’s to a FABULOUS November!

August in Review!

Well hello! Another month has come and gone and THANK GOD, it’s September!! Although Mother Nature got all sassy pants and our temps went from comfortable 80’s to 100 degrees every day for the next three days.

Har har…very funny Mo Nature. Hilarious.

The good news – next week we’ll be in the 70’s! Ah yes, temps fluctuating 30 degrees in a matter of days – that’s Indiana for you.

The end of another month means another month in review…because you can’t be missing a TDC project. Your life would fall to pieces. Believe you me.

We kicked off the month with 400 fantastic projects at the August Before and After Party. My friend Traci and I transformed the pleather parson’s chair in my office and I LOVE IT:

 

Did I mention the only sewing was hemming the bottom? And that could have been done with hemming tape. We were just being fancy schmancy with the machine. ;)

Next up I showed you how I start projects and leave them for weeks and months and half a year:

Our powder room has been torn up for about six months. I think. I’ve lost track, it’s been so long. I was happy to learn I am not alone!

I did complete something outside, and that was making a wood tabletop for our metal tables:

The metal tables are actually ottoman bases that came with our outdoor set. I think they’re much more practical used as a table, and I love the rustic look!

I shared the small transformations that made up much of the family room redo – and most of them involved spray paint. (Shocking.) My fun vintage lamp has gone through quite a few changes over the years:

Who knows what color it will be next! ;)

A few of us are back yet again with another series of blogland linky parties – this time with a FALL theme!:

Whoo!! I actually took a trip to Hob Lob today to gather supplies to make a couple fall wreaths. I had specific ideas when I walked in, but walked out with new thoughts running through my head so we’ll see how they turn out. ;)

We are SO excited about the upcoming Haven Conference next summer – tickets went on sale a couple of weeks ago and last I heard there are still some available:

I am SO excited to meet so many of you and put actual people with the faces on your blogs. :)

I got to hang with my blog friend Myra at Midland Antiques here in Indy a few weeks ago and I shared some of my finds with you here:

Ohhh…my lovely island. I miss it. Sniff.

I was tricky tricky and put my own spin on Pottery Barn pillows by making some with their napkins and placemats:

Many of their table linens match their pillow selection, so it’s such a thrifty solution! I picked up more for the family room too. ;)

Next, I shared the progress on our HUGE outdoor project:

It’s big and awesome and mostly done – the landscaping is waiting on the deck which has been waiting on the patio…it’s all very confusing. But so far we LOVE IT SO MUCH!!

I am ready for it all to be done, that is for sure! But it is going to be so fantastic and I can’t wait to show you.

My Dad and I completed a project for the deck that I couldn’t be more pleased with – the DIY Pottery Barn potting bench. (Say that three times fast.)

Dad took my inspiration and we created our own, for about $900 cheaper:

 

I’ve decided to just seal it and leave it as is – it’s just too lovely to mess with!

My big decluttering project for the month wasn’t even a room in our house – it’s my clutter nemesis and it’s THE CAR:

People – it’s been NINE days and it’s still clutter-free!! It’s definitely work to keep it that way, but so far so good!! I can’t believe it. :)

We ended the month on a wet note. What started with the fridge failing turned into this:

Hence the missing kitchen island.

We’ve ordered the new fridge, but it won’t be delivered for two weeks. And we’re still waiting to hear from the adjuster – I’m SO anxious to get this moving along. The blowers are gone, so that’s a step in the right direction – at least we can hear each other. ;)

But again, in the scheme of life, it’s just a bump – we’re so thankful it wasn’t worse!

And finally, I shared a few of the bloggy tools I use all the time:

I hope you found them helpful!

And there. you. go. – all of August wrapped up in one tidy post. Thanks for coming along for another month with me! (And August just happened to be the biggest traffic month ever at TDC – thanks to you!)

If you have any questions about a project from last month, please leave them in the comments!

I hope to share some big reveals coming up in the next few weeks! Crossing my fingers that one is a non plywood floor. ;)

Are you ready for September?!  I may have bought a caramel apple today to celebrate. :)

No-Spend July in Review

Hey hey!! How are ya? I’m back with another month in review, just in case you missed a project over the past 30 days. Because I know you would cry.

If you remember way back late last month, I told you about my mission for the month of July – to not spend a dime on DIY or decor for the whole 31 days. I had a basement full of unfinished projects and to do list a mile long…so I was determined to get a bunch done this month, using what I had on hand.

It was rough at times people. Some days I laid in bed, shaking. I needed some Goodwill! HomeGoods!! Hobby Lobby? Puuhhhlease?! ;)

I did it for the most part -- I had a couple cheats but I’ll tell you about those in a minute.

I started out the month by turning in a chunky Goodwill candlestick into a small end table:

LOVE it! :) It’s worked out great!

Then, I finally showed you the family room reveal, complete with a new sectional and a moved TV – which transformed the space:

Because I finished up a bunch of the room in July, I had to get creative with art and some accessories. I showed you the free art at the NYC Digital Gallery and how I made some of the prints into art:

Did I mention FREE? :)

I found the perfect coffee table for the family room at Goodwill months ago, and made a few changes to it to make it functional for our space:

The casters on the bottom have been AWESOME – we move this thing around all the time. I love it!

Next up -- our little 16 square foot garden has been a JOY this summer. I showed you one of my very favorite fresh salads here.

Today we picked about five tomatoes and 30 cherry tomatoes…for real. It is awesome. :)

I shared the exciting news about the Haven Conference, coming in June of 2012:

We are SO excited about this event! It’s open to bloggers and DIYers and we think both will find it worthwhile. (Tickets will go on sale in a few weeks – stay tuned!)

Next, I needed to fill the long space under our TV, so I built a trough-thingy and I adore it:

It took no time at all and I promise you can make one too. Cross my heart. :)

I fell in love with the look of fresh, LIVE plants while blog hopping last month and showed you how I’ve added (animal friendly) pops of green throughout our home:

And they're still alive! I can’t believe it!

I did something I’ve been meaning to do with the Bub for years and shared it with you here:

Sniff. :)

I had most of our summer vignette in the foyer done for a couple months. It was the painting of our front door that took me forever.

It was worth the wait though!:

Love it!

Last week I shared some of my favorite tips from Pinterest – some have worked and some haven’t:

(source)

Yes…I can now fold a fitted sheet! The key is putting it on floor or a table at step four – it’s nearly impossible to get right unless you lay it down. At least for me.

But I have conquered the fitted sheet and it rocks my world!!

And finally, something else that rocked my world…yet another NKOTB concert, with some Backstreet Boys thrown in for good measure:

I also shared more about our RV vacation from Indiana to Wisconsin and back.

We had a such a wonderful time and will definitely do it again. :)

So there’s the no-spend month in review! Like I mentioned, I did cheat a couple times. One was on purpose, one was by accident. I did buy a few things while on vacation, because…well, I was on vacation. :)

The accident was late last week when the Bub and I went to drop off a load of stuff to the consignment shop. The Bub wanted to go in (yes, I’ve taught him well) and we started looking around. And as we drove away with a bag of frames and a lamp…I realized I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO SPEND ANY MONEY.

What the ? I totally spaced it…honest to goodness, spaced it. I don’t know what the heck I was thinking. I got some great stuff though. :)

But I didn’t spend a dime on the projects I showed you this month. And I didn’t even walk into a Goodwill, HomeGoods, Joann’s….nothin’.

I started a few projects that I still haven’t finished, so the no-spend will continue here and there this month. And I can see myself doing this next summer as well, maybe even a couple months!

We have been working on the outside a TON this month though. Our deck is coming together so beautifully…I can’t wait to show you!!

Thanks for joining me for another month at TDC! Here’s to August! :)