Tuesday PInspiration: Do-It-Yourself (house)

Yet again, I'm a day late on the Tuesday Inspiration post, but I figured it's ok since Monday was a holiday.

Thanks to Pinterest, I've been finding all sorts of things to make when I have my own place. I'm a big fan of decorating with unique pieces that no one else probably has....lots of colors, shapes; things other people probably would think are "crazy". I think they are fun!

Fortunately, most of the items I've found are Do-It-Yourself...and I probably will :)

Upholstered Bench by The Mother Huddle

I'm not big on flowers, but the beauty of this project is you can use whatever fabric you want and you can make it any size or shape. I'm thinking this would be a good idea for a coffee table/ottoman. Note to self: before moving out, get my own tools.


Intersecting Circles Wall Art by Two Girls Being Crafty

It says in this tutorial that this is a knock-off of a $129 piece at World Market. Being crafty has major monetary benefits! (The colors on this one are paint chips, so...free!)


Another piece on the same blog that I just can't not post because it's so awesome is what they've named Painted Wall Art for Non-Artists

Check out the link to see just how simple this one is!

Another one I found is actually a project by the same people, on a guest post at Everyday Mom Ideas
It's a Scrapbook Paper Tree

I think this would be a great idea for bedroom "mood lighting".
Glittering Lightscape by apartment therapy

I'm not sure what I'd use this for, but it's a cool idea. Yarn Pom Poms

With this one, I think I smell Christmas gifts...Tile Coasters by The Cottage Home

I'd definitely tile a bathroom with these, too. So cool!


My future refrigerator will probably have a few sets of these Sea Stone alphabet magnets, but instead of buying them for $40, I'll be making them...for much cheaper.

Unfortunately, I don't know what the original site for these is, but I like the idea. Second-hand cutlery dipped in paint to match a color scheme.

I'd need to research what paint won't come off in the dishwasher, and is non-toxic.

I could go on and on, but your eyes are probably glazing over. I must admit, however, that I'm feeling inspired now and I really want to go out and try to make some of these. Unfortunately I'm at work, though. I need some way to make the money to afford these materials :)


Reminder! My Blog Carnival ends on Friday. Enter your motivational posts now!!

Tuesday inspiration: Summer styles

I know I know. It's not Tuesday anymore, but just for the time you're reading this post, pretend that is is. :) I'm starting a new series of Tuesday Inspirations. SUMMER STYLES! To start out, I'm featuring the number one Summer necessity: flip flops!

Every year I have a sort of flip flop wish list. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy all the ones I'd like to, but I normally come away with one or two pairs per Summer. The other day I came into work wearing "work shoes" and as soon as I got to my office, my feet hurt so I just put on the flip flops I had in my bag...and I wore them all day. Why do I even OWN nice shoes?!

The flip flops on my wish list this year are:

1. Rainbow Colored Crystal flip flops
I've never owned a pair of Rainbows, but I've heard they're extremely comfortable. They're also pricey, so I probably will end the Summer still having not owned a pair, but I really like these.

2. J.Crew Flower flip flops
I don't normally go for "pretty" flip flops, but I think these are still casual enough to wear with shorts and a T-shirt.


3. Title Nine Sun Slap flip flops
I love the name of these. Who wouldn't want to "slap" the sun a high-five? :) Plus, they seem like they'd be super comfortable for a long day of walking.

4. Reef Dream flip flops
These are the ones I really want and will most likely end up buying. If they're as comfortable as they look, I may never take them off my feet.

5. Athleta Ohana Sport Sandal
The multi-colored straps are what did it for me. I've seen these in stores, but since most of the flip flops I own are Reefs with black bottoms, I probably wouldn't buy them.

6. Loft Vlada Bow Sandal
Again, these are on the "pretty" side and I probably wouldn't buy a pair with the flat bottoms because they're uncomfortable on my feet. If they were made with arch support, however, I'd rock them.



Today's featured (by me) dog for adoption is Pippi

She's a Labrador Retriever/Border Collie mix, just like Rocco. Apparently she was named after Pippi Longstocking for her "adventurous spirit". There are kids who are now old enough to drive who probably aren't old enough to know who Pippi Longstocking is. This makes me cry on the inside.













There was actually another dog, Walker, that I had my eye on yesterday (as much as I can until I have my own place to actually get my own dog), who, when I went to look him up this morning, had already been adopted. You go, Walker!

Tuesday inspiration

I've been slacking on you, Tuesday. I apologize. Today, however, I bring you a new inspiration. *Woohoo*!

I recently found a blog called Little Things: A list of all the simple things we should appreciate. It consists of posts of random "little things" in life that make the day a little brighter. I am of the mindset that it's the little things in life that mean the most, so I am a little mesmerized by this site.

A few random examples:

 

Today I came across one that leads me to yet another inspiration!

No, I'm not pregnant, but  my best friend is and today she finds out the sex of the baby! I CANNOT wait to hear because I am itching to look at baby stuff! And also, I get to finally find out if I'm going to be "aunt" to a niece or nephew.

Early this morning I got a text from her that she couldn't sleep last night from excitement. I definitely can't blame her! I thought about it all day yesterday, wishing it was the tenth already. She's asked me to help plan a baby shower and I'm beyond excited. Is that weird? I'd love to move closer so that I can babysit every day :)

One thing I don't think I've shared here is that I love the show FRIENDS. I own all ten seasons on DVD and I almost always have one in my DVD player, and watch it while I'm getting ready for work. My friend is the same way. We talk in lines from the show quite often, and everyday events tend to remind me of scenes from the show. The scene that reminds me of today?


(sorry about the ad)

Phoebe or Phoebo? Niece or nephew? We'll find out soon!

Tuesday inspiration

I don't know about you, but I constantly see things in stores, online, in others' houses, etc. and think, "I love that. I could make that!" Since I can't afford "real" artwork for my walls, I'm always looking for new ideas of things that I could make, for cheap.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across this paint chip wall art, on the Paper Crave site, and had a EUREKA moment. "I could make that!" The only cost would be the frames, since paint chips are (say it with me)..FREE!!

So, I took a ride to Lowe's and did my best I'm-looking-for-a-really-bright-color-for-my-livingroom-let-me-take-a-sample-of-every-chip-you-have impression, and left with a fun mix of colors. Now, I just needed frames.

Since we sort of live in the...dare I say it..."boonies," there isn't a very grand selection of stores near us to buy things such as picture frames, and with gas prices being what they are, I refuse to take a 20-mile drive to Michael's, who may or may not have what I am looking for anyway. I mean, we're trying to do this on the cheap! And so...I waited. Finally this past weekend, i had my opportunity when I was house/dog-sitting for my friends who live in a more "developed" area, near a Michael's. They had small frames for $5. I wanted to make two of these to hang on the wall as a set, so I went for the small frames. I wanted white, but the white ones were all scratched up so I got dark brown. In hindsight, I should have bought the white ones and found white paint to touch them up with, but c'est la vie.

Ok, enough words. Here's how it went down...

I had to document the names of the colors.
They're so fun.

My favorite is the lightest green one...Elf Shoe.
ELF SHOE! Awesome.

Ta da!

 So I think they turned out pretty nice, but would look much nicer in white frames (and with a picture taken with a flash!). Not too bad for the first go-around. I still have plenty of these paint chips left to make a few more. I'll be making two larger ones with white frames for my room.

The scraps would make pretty cool confetti.

In other news: Amanda and I were perusing Target this weekend and Amanda comes to me with these 80's style purple sunglasses and tells me, "You have to try these on!" And they were awesome. And so she picked out a pair with leopard-print on the sides and now we own super radical shades!

Tuesday inspiration/Review

Today I am feeling inspired by The Women's Health Big Book of Exercises. I purchased it recently at a very reduced price at a Borders Going-out-of-business sale. I'd been wanting it for a while, but couldn't justify the price and then *ta da*, Borders to the rescue!

I've had it for a while and I'd flipped through it a few times, but hadn't really had a chance to take it all in, until last night. My friend has decided that she wants to join my gym, so I met her there yesterday afternoon. I had just finished my workout, and promised to show her some things before she got started.

I showed her the cardio machines and a few strength training things I do with free weights (squats, lunges, a plethora of and  upper body moves, other lower body moves, and a few standing abs moves). Towards the end of my demonstration, she stopped me and asked, "is that all you do?" She was under the impression that I do all work on the machines. I do some, but not much really. I feel that, for the most part, anything you can do on a machine you can do with free weights. When you work with free weights, you're engaging more muscles than when you do the comparable exercise on a machine like, for instance, your stabilizing muscles. I like to go to the gym to get it done, not to take the easy way out. Her reasoning was that she has free weights at home so why would she do them at the gym? I think it's totally a personal preference. I've been exercising regularly now for about eleven years and that's what works for me.

So, why did I go on that rant? Here's why: I've decided to put together a routine for myself (and for my friend if she so desires), so I pulled the book out last night. I must say, it's pretty much the best reference I've seen (and I've seen many), for demonstrating exercises that target every part of the body. Check out the Table of Contents:

At the beginning of each Chapter/section of the body, is a diagram of the muscles.

 

I find this to be an extremely helpful tool. There was a point in time when I did something that made the muscles under my armpits sore and it intrigued me, but I had no idea what muscle that was. Well, now I can just look it up!

And, as promised, a couple diagrams straight from the pages. 

All that text explains everything you need to know about form, the muscles that you are working/engaging, any available alternatives, and pretty much anything else you may want to know. The images are also large and detailed. I highly recommend this book if you love working out, need motivation to begin working out, and/or if you're looking for some new exercises.







And now, a few fun pictures from this weekend:

I love him.

Unfortunately this bunny doesn't poop jelly beans.

Tuesday inspiration

A few weeks ago I came across The Animal Print Shop by Sharon Montrose. Specifically, her Baby Animals collection. I'm in love and I want them all. Since I don't have my own place, and only four bedroom walls, I've decided I'd like to buy four of them for my pregnant friend's baby shower (which won't be until September, so I've got some time :), for her to create a fun collage for the baby's room.

A few of my favorites:

Piglet

Baby white tiger

Baby bobcat

Baby chick

Baby porcupine

I mean, come on, the porcupine! Who wouldn't want that cute fella hanging on their wall? Unfortunately there is no penguin, or I'm sure penguin would trump porcupine.

I love how clean and simple the images are. I also want one of each as a pet. Except for maybe the porcupine. Sorry, dude.