Toddler Construction Themed Party

My cousin Amanda just celebrated her son's 2nd birthday. Preston and I weren't able to make it, because it was in Michigan. I was already disappointed, but after I saw the pictures, I was downright sad we missed  it!

Preston and Eli are only about five months a part, and I know they'd be best friends if we still lived near them. We're one of those families where our cousins are more like our siblings, so living in Virginia sometimes wears on me.

Anyway, take a look at the fabulous job Amanda did...

Guests were greeted and introduced to the theme right away. You can buy inexpensive orange cones and caution tape at home improvement stores {like Lowe's}. Look closely at that wreath. It's wrapped in an extension cord. Genius!

I think it comes as no surprise that my favorite element on the food table are those toy dump trucks. I've never seen this done before, and it's simply perfection. It wouldn't even have to cost a cent if you already had a few hanging out in your child's toy box!

Eli's cake table is simple and fun too. Notice how she added interest by using a different color table cloth than the food table. She even saved money by making the cake herself, and the middle of the cake was yellow and chocolate caution stripes! Super cool.

Happy Birthday, Eli! We love YOU!



No Sew Curtain Hems

One of the bungalow's biggest assets is it's tall ceilings and tall windows. They allow the entire house to feel so much larger than a two bedroom home, but with big windows and tall ceilings you get areas that need longer curtains. I cannot do typical 84 inch curtains, and this drives me crazy! They are simply more affordable and readily available at retailers in an array of fun fabrics, so I get frustrated. I'm stuck searching for 95 inch curtains on a barely there budget, and that's no easy task...

I only have one window in the living room, so I only needed two panels. That's the good news. The bad news is that every curtain I found and could afford didn't come in the longer length I needed. Finally, I settled on some plain white panels for $12.99 each at Target. They were 95 inches, but when I got them home and hung, they were even too short.

They also lacked the wow factor I look for in window treatments. I kicked around ideas of stenciling them and taping them off and painting stripes, but those projects just ended in a fail. In fact, I ruined one panel and had to go back to Target to replace it. I even tried hanging a new, more substantial rod one night that I scored for $2.97. Take a look at how that ended up...

I was starting to feel defeated. I put the original rod back in place and tucked the new one back into my closet.

After racking my brain and looking at the boring panels in dismay for weeks, a light bulb came on. I had plenty of fabric left over from my stool project. I originally bought two fabrics, because I couldn't decide in the store which to use. It was only $7.99 worth of fabric left {one yard}, but it would be enough!

Just in case you missed it, here's the little stool...

Anyway, I'm impatient. I also don't own an actual sewing machine of my own {I borrow my mom's when I desperately need to}, BUT you bet your booty I have the BEST tool known to resourceful DIYers....a hot glue gun! I think you know where I'm going with this...

Yep! I just measured and cut the fabric to length {leaving slack for hems}. Then, I figured out how wide I needed it to be, so the finished curtains would just brush the floor. After I had my measurements right, I folded the new fabric in half, folded both top edges in and secured with hot glue. This way I had a solid strip that was finished on both sides and all the way around. I basically just glued where I would have ran a sewing machine to accomplish a finished piece. Folding the fabric in half also gave the strip more weight, so it would hang better.

I also turned in the edges on both ends and secured with glue. For the last step, I just lined my finished strip up with the existing curtain hem and glued them on using the white curtain panel hem as a straight guide. It was really easy and only took about an hour to complete the entire project! Of course, I'll never be able to wash them, but I'm not really a wash the drapes kind of chick...

I'm really pleased with the entire outcome. Now, I just need to glue/sew/buy a throw pillow for the chair...

and the before again...

That same night I framed an awesome new piece of scrapbook paper for my gallery wall.

{$.50 update}

Who's busting out their hot glue gun tonight?!

Crystal xoxo



My Mom's {51} Birthday Celebration

We recently celebrated my mom's birthday. While we kept it simple, I couldn't resist putting my little touch on the day. It's just in my nature, and I can't help myself!

As usual, I was on a budget, but it doesn't take a lot of money to sprinkle an intimate birthday dinner at home with a little fun. With very little effort {and funds}, a simple dinner can be transformed into a small celebration and make the guest of honor feel extra special.

My mom is one of those selfless souls who gives with no expectations in return. She's pure of heart and has always been such a patient parent, so she deserves for someone else to think of HER in return occasionally too!

While it doesn't take a lot of money, it also doesn't take a ton of time. Earlier in the day I had Preston color a handmade card for her. I just folded a piece of card stock in half, wrote a pretty little message with a marker and gave him crayons in matching colors. Then, I let him go wild!

She loved it, and it didn't cost a cent.

Afterward, we got ready to head over the mountain {literally} and through the woods {literally} to grandma's house...

But on the way, we had to made a quick stop...at Walmart.

I grabbed a prepackaged party set in purple and pink polka dots {6 plates, 6 napkins, 6 forks, 6 spoons, and 6 knives for $2.97}. I also bought a package of four cupcakes for $3.97. This was perfect since there were only going to be four of us {my parents, Preston and myself}. Then, I snatched a $1 box of white birthday candles, a package of $.97 purple tissue paper and a dozen pink roses {$9.97}.  We also took a moment to smell ALL the flowers, and I let the toddler make the final flower choice.

Once back in the car, I opened the flowers and wrapped them in the tissue paper quickly. This is a little trick I've done several times. In an instant the flowers look like they came from an upscale shop!

Check out how chic these Walmart cupcakes look with the chocolate curls. An untrained eye could never tell!

My dad made jerk chicken in the smoker, and he hauled the dining room table outside under a willow tree. We enjoyed the spread with an amazing view and good conversation. It was fabulous.

{Papa and Preston walking to the barn after dinner}

Happy Birthday, Mommy! Thank you for all that you do for Preston and I. It never goes unnoticed or taken for granted. We love you...

Crystal xoxo

$3 Bedroom Update {Lamp Shade Project}

My master bedroom often looks more like a hotel room to me and less like a reflection of my personal style. It's almost too staged and too empty, and it just needs some pizazz! The other night, I decided to start the process of making it a little more unique, more me and less cookie cutter.

Since I do generally like the way the space looks, I wanted to ease myself into these changes, so the first one was quick and easy.

You might remember how my sconce shades looked before...

Plain.

I went to Walmart on a hunt for some extra wide bias tape and ended up scoring the perfect shade of blue. I bought two packages {less than $3 total} and went home. Please note: Bias tape is thicker than ribbon, not so slippery and easier to work with for a project like this.

I plugged in my trusty glue gun, unscrewed the shades and took a seat on my living room floor.

First, I put a bit of glue at the bottom of the shade's existing seam {the "back" of the shade that you would face toward the wall} and placed the blue bias tape where I wanted it along the bottom of the shade. I let the glue dry and pulled it snugly around the shade. Making sure it was straight and even was actually pretty easy, because I just followed the existing lines of the shade cover. I pulled it back to the seam, overlapped and secured with another dab of glue and trimmed the excess. I decided not to glue all the way around the shade, so if I ever want to remove the bias tape I can with no visible damage! The only glue spots are on the back.

Lastly, I just repeated at the top of the shade and did it again to the top and bottom of the next shade. The entire project took less than 20 minutes. Seriously. It was super quick and easy!

Here's another look...

Let's see another before and after

The subtle touches of blue really warm up the space. The two blue accent pillows were $4/ea clearance items from Lowe's, and the blue throw blanket was a $19 clearance buy at Target. I like how the new touches of blue on the bed pick up more of the blue from the existing bed skirt and pillow shams. Together they make the bed look more welcoming. I also like how the blue is balanced more evenly throughout the room by pairing it with the blue in the prints hanging near the window. Before there was too much brown and khaki. It made the room feel darker and heavier than I like.

I'll leave you with another pretty Instagram shot. Sweet dreams!

Crystal xoxo

The End of the Road {trip}

I've been a little MIA lately {here and on Facebook}, and I'm sorry. As usual, life has gotten away from me, and I feel like I've been in a constant state of RUSHING. I am most definitely ruled by the clock, but I'm sure all working mommies feel this way.

Between being a single parent, my day job {but it's mostly an evening job}, filling Etsy orders, cleaning the house, paying bills, yard work, yada yada yada, I don't have much time for blogging-let alone time to create the projects to actually blog about.

Most days, I feel accomplished if I get the dishes washed {no dishwasher} and Preston dressed before I have to leave for work. Then, there's the 40 minute drive to work! That drive is usually the only break I get all day though, so I'm kinda grateful for it. Life was a lot different when I knew there would be an extra set of hands coming through the door at five pm to take on some of the stress and duties. Jeez! Back then, my biggest daily worry was what to make for dinner...

On top of that, my divorce should be final in the next month, and I guess I've been in a bit of a funk. I might even call it a slight depression. It's so hard to describe my exact feelings about it all, but I promised when I shared the initial news that I was going to be as honest {blunt} as possible about this process.

I will be relieved to finally be legally free from the person who has hurt me beyond belief. I don't miss him in any way. He made that part easy. I also refused to ever waste a moment pining over someone who obviously never really loved me in the first place. I'll also add that isn't an issue either, because in order for me to tell him our marriage was over I knew there was no chance of reconciliation. At that point, there was nothing left inside me for him.

It's honestly just a mix of emotions as this year from hell comes to an end.

On one hand, I'm very proud of myself for making it through, in one piece, and having a happy and well adjusting child to show for it. On the other hand, I'm exhausted from carrying the burden of it all on my own and trying to scramble to figure out how I was going to maintain our lifestyle on one income. We've settled in, and I'm finally accepting that this is how our life is going to be from here on out. Am I exactly where I'd hoped I would be at this point? No way, but I'm slowly accepting that's alright too. One day at a time. One day at a time. Say it with me!

One day at a time.

I'm mostly sad for my son. He really is going to be a statistic and come from a broken home. His "daddy" moved out of state almost eight months ago, and he hasn't seen him since. Preston's dad has almost been out of our lives for HALF of his little life. He will have no memories of him soon, and that breaks my heart. I worry a lot about the years to come. Those years where understanding truly takes shape and the questions begin. I role play in my mind and wonder exactly what I'll say to that curious little face. I so desperately want to shield him from as much heartbreak as possible.

Today, his dad sent him a package in the mail. It probably was about time since he never got a birthday gift or anything for Easter, and Preston was ecstatic to open the box and play with his new trucks. I stood back and smiled, and then it occurred to me. He's TWO. Soon, a package in the mail won't be enough to fill the massive void his father's absence will cause. The saying is true.

You can't buy love...

I took this photo on a recent family day trip to Jefferson, South Carolina, and I edited it in Instagram. It's given me a lot of comfort lately.

Here's a few more images from that trip.

Aren't those tubs awesome? It was just a graveyard of claw foots in front {and beside} of an old house alongside the road. There must have been hundreds of them. I freaked and made my dad pull over so I could capture it.

We went to one of the most delightful stores I've ever seen downtown. The store was jam packed with vintage toys, and the shop keeper let us touch and play with everything. It was fun to take a walk down memory lane.

This little roadside gem was literally inches from the winding mountain road. I scored a medicine cabinet for just $5 here. Look for that, if I ever get the bathroom done!

I'll leave you with a picture of Preston. Papa came out of a gas station with this little surprise. It probably wasn't the best idea to have his first push pop strapped in the backseat! He loved it though...

Crystal xoxo

A Virginia Treasure Hunt

Another better late than never post, but it's totally worth sharing...

The day after Christmas, my immediate family and I hopped in two cars {with three small children in tow} and made our way to Roanoke, Virginia. It was about a two hour drive from my house, but the kids did fantastic.

My sister-in-law had seen a recent Nate Berkus  show where he mentioned this fabulous store, and she insisted we make the drive. Nobody argued. We're kind of a DIY family...

Upon arrival, I realized I had shopped their website before, and I immediately went into "the zone". You know what I'm talking about! That moment when you've found a little piece of heaven on earth and you cannot wait to take in every last square inch of it, so you go into your own little world, don't hear a sound and start exploring like a kid on Christmas morning! That was me. I was focused. I was on a mission, and I was determined to take home something fantastic. The only problem was that fantastic was EVERYWHERE!

{Oh, PicMonkey, I wish you allowed watermarks on your new collage feature.}

The outside was full of claw foot tubs and iron work galore. Plus, lots of outdoor accessories and furniture. Inside, you could spend hours in each room. There was a room full of salvaged lighting and one of salvaged bathroom fixtures, and shutters, and doors and windows and tin. Oh my!

There was even a room of vintage appliances! This kind of appealed to me, since I am currently rocking the appliance department at Lowe's.

There was a fantastic "fairy room", I'll call it, that was full of water features and a ton of fun, whimsical things.

Then, there were the vendor booths. Wow! Talk about some creative upcycling and wonderful antique finds...

The staff was great to chat with too.

All in all, the entire experience was one for the books, and I will most definitely be back!

Oh, I almost forgot to share my loot...

I scored a set of three great frogs, silver serving set, a tiny white bowl, those two vintage wire crates and the bird print. I also got a little bird bath that looks great in my flower bed. Everything was so affordable which made this frugal chick SUPER happy! Plus, I had some spending Christmas cash from mom and dad, so my wallet didn't feel a thing!

Have YOU been there yet?!

Don't forget to check out Black Dog Salvage on Facebook too.

Crystal xoxo

My Battle with an Unspoken Addiction

On May 8, I gave up Diet Coke.

This may not seem like a terribly difficult thing to most people, but I wasn't a normal consumer of the elixir. I often affectionately called it "my lifeline", and I nicknamed it "DC". It was constantly by my side. People could meet me once and remember me as "the Diet Coke chick". It was NOTHING for me to crack open 12 or so cans {usually more} A DAY, and I'd been this way since middle school! I'd even go days without drinking anything else-including water.

Of course, my mom didn't let me drink THAT much when I was younger, but the habit grew during late night study sessions and was a result of working three jobs through college.

Sadly, none of this is an exaggeration.

This isn't the first time I've given it up though. At age 23, I had a serious medical scare. During a routine check-up at my gynecologist, they took my blood pressure, and the results were horrific! The nurse told me my blood pressure was that of an unhealthy 70 year old, and my doctor considered not allowing me to drive home! I was stunned and immediately scheduled for a round of heart tests at the hospital. My grandfather was in his last stages of life. I was in my last semester of college and student teaching, and it was all a little too much to handle.

When I got home that night {I was living with my parents}, I found my mom and dad at the sink dumping out my Diet Coke stash. I'm a little ashamed to admit that this sight evoked a serious round of tears and a slight tantrum. My parents were convinced Diet Coke was killing me and that I should immediately give it up!

I ended up listening to their concerns and didn't touch another drop, but it was HARD.

The following week, I went back to the doctor, and I had lost 12 pounds?! My blood pressure was still high, but it was better. The heart palpitations and dizzy spells I had been having were more infrequent too, and I knew giving up Diet Coke had to be the reason for the sudden turnaround.

A few days later, I went to the hospital for testing, and I was instructed to wear a heart monitor 24/7 for a month. Any time I felt a heart palpitation, got light headed or dizzy or began to sweat, I was to push the button so it could record my heart activity at the time. Then, I had to log everything on a piece of paper.

Let me add that I was actively dating, and this new contraption was anything but sexy...

A month later, I went back to the doctor to hear my monitor results. The monitor I had worn was defective and hadn't recorded a thing! Again, I cried. Like a baby.

They gave me a new one, and I had to start the process all over again. By the end of that month, I was a new person. I was agitated and scarred from the sticky pads I had to constantly bejewel my chest with, but I felt great physically.

My blood pressure had gone back to normal. I continued to lose weight, and my doctor was stunned. She asked me what I had done, and I explained my love for DC and how I had cut it out of my life. She was ecstatic and warned me to always watch out for high blood pressure symptoms, but she was confident that I didn't need to yet rely on medication to control my blood pressure!

Stupidly, as I began to feel better and better, I turned back to Diet Coke. Slowly, my consumption reached where it had been before.

Fast forward three years. I'm married and expecting my first child. Again, my blood pressure creeps up. This time, it not only affected me but it affected my child, and I was scared.

My ob sent me to a specialist. He threatened to put me on bed rest, at three months along, if I didn't stop working. Two weeks later, I was laid off. It was a blessing in disguise, and my blood pressure went back to normal! I was monitored for the duration of my pregnancy, but I didn't mind seeing two doctors. Every time I saw the specialist, I got an ultra sound! This was the first time I realized that Diet Coke may have caused some permanent damage though, because I wasn't drinking hardly any, and if I did it was caffeine free only...

After Preston was born, I went right back to regular Diet Coke full swing. It'd be easy to blame it on the stresses of being a new parent or a million other things, but the truth is, I just like the taste of it, and it's an addiction!

This brings me to current day.

I'm almost 29, and my ten year class reunion is June 9th. While I've lost a lot of weight since Ryan left, I'm still not exactly where I want to be. I've felt sluggish and unhealthy for awhile, and my sleep pattern is horribly unhealthy. By this point, I KNOW Diet Coke is terrible for me and the main source of my medical "problems". I also know the massive amounts of caffeine consumption isn't allowing for normal sleep, but I remembered how quickly I lost weight the first time I gave it up.

I've known for awhile that I'm not getting any younger and the time was coming to let it go. The pending reunion was just the push I needed, so I made a vow to cut it out of my life one month before the big reunion. This time, I don't plan on going back. I want to be here for my son, and I want to be a healthier person overall, and I know I can't be any of those things as long as I keep drinking it! I'm calling it a lifestyle change. This just sounds more permanent to me.

Amazingly, I haven't caved once. This is not to say I haven't been tempted, because I have every. single. day.  BUT I'm doing okay! I do struggle with beverage choices. Nothing seems to replace that taste, and I'm bored with my options {water, juice, tea}, but I discovered new Wild Berry Lemonade from Wendy's today, and it's the first thing that seemed to satisfy my thirst!

On the bright side, I am a pant size down from where I was at the beginning of May! My mom told me, "you have your neck back!" Kind of a weird observation, but I'll interpret that as a compliment. People at work have told me my legs look smaller too. I just find it amazing that giving up a "diet" drink can actually make you lose weight, but Diet Coke has a lot of sodium in it and sodium makes you retain water...

I wish I would have taken before and after pictures, but I live alone, so those full body shots would be hard to get! However, I will share a few reunion pictures after that happens. Preston and I are driving to northern Michigan alone for it, and we're leaving this Thursday. Wish me luck...

Crystal xoxo