40 Bags 40 Days

New Year's resolution?  Spring cleaning?  Gearin' up for a garage sale?

This Challenge is for YOU!

Brought to you by White House Black Shutters, this De-clutter Challenge is exactly what I've been trying to accomplish for seriously clean, organized, de-stressed household.

Plus, as some of you know, our family will be moving in less than 50 days...whaaaat?  Good grief that crept up on me!

Do I want to move everything we've accumulated over the past 7 years?  Uh, not really.  We've got to bust a move over the next month to sort, pack, and have a yard sale before the big moving day!

Who's with me?

Be sure to check out the 40 Bags 40 Days details including a printable calendar and goal sheet!

{Weekly Photo Feature} Reader Remodel

My kitchen wants to be this kitchen when it grows up.  The namesake from Deep Thoughts by Cynthia finished her gorgeous kitchen remodel over a year ago, but the impact is still breathtaking.  Now bright, streamlined, and super functional, this beautiful welcoming space is definitely a go-to inspiration for our new home's kitchen.

I love that they took a big risk in gutting their pantry to move the fridge - so smart!

Perfect sea foam subway tile, IMO.  Love the marble countertops, too!

Deep drawers provide ample storage space for utensils AND dishes.  I totally need one of these for pots and another for kid's dishes (easy access to help themselves and help put away from the dishwasher!).

Let's check out what Cynthia started with:

BEFORE

Not a bad kitchen space at all.  But she and her hubby saw an even greater potential...

AFTER

Sigh...

Anyone else have a remodel story they'd like to share?  New seasonal decor?  Decorating for a special party?

Leave a comment and you could be featured on our next Weekly Photo Feature!

{Before & After} Pretty Handy Girl Laundry Room

{ BEFORE }

I love looking at all my cleaners and detergents.  I love staring at haphazard beach towels and grocery bags and drying racks and...tribal drums?

Don't judge too harshly the BEFORE photo - I can't say mine looks a whole lot better...does yours?  Natural light and rich blue walls are definitely a plus, but this laundry room needed to change it's tune in order to be more functional and easy on the eyes.

Organization was key for Brittany over at Pretty Handy Girl and boy did it pay off!

{ AFTER }

Light blue and yellow are always a good idea, plus a wall system that allows for adjustments as needs change couldn't be more appropriate in this multipurpose light-filled room!  Cabinets, simple linen boxes, and a happy yellow chandelier and blooms have this space whistling while it works!

{AFTER}

So...does folding laundry make your heart sing?  What little changes can you make to cheer up your boring, utilitarian spaces?

Don't forget to visit Pretty Handy Girl to see the full transformation!

{Printable} - Father's Day Card

Click here to download!

Father's Day is fast approaching, and if you're anything like me (in this case, so sorry!) you're a mega procrastinator.  Not one to be tied down by schedules and deadlines, all the good intentions in the world may sometimes be overpowered by...ooh pretty!

Or, in the words of Dug, "Squirrel!"

Distracted much?

So do yourself a favor and get crackin'.  Print this super fun card out NOW, put it in an envelope TODAY, and mail it by TOMORROW.

Besides, our dear friends at Farouche went to all the trouble to make this great card FREE to you and your daddies!  Wouldn't wanna disappoint them now would we?

Stick a Fork in It

 

First off, the pie was delicious.

Secondly, who else loves a good Ikea trip?

I'm always up for a good octopus chandelier/hat rack.

These lamps are awe-some!  For a mere $29.99 (down from $49.99) this fab work lamp is definitely a contender against more spendy counterparts.


Exhibit A

Cole Task Table Lamp | Pottery Barn $149

I luuuuurve Pottery Barn and Ballard Designs.  If I had known about Ballard in grade school I would have listed "him" as my No. 1 crush for MASH.  You know...MASH.  A truly genius game that determines what kind of home you'll have, car, kids, and your hubby.  I'm still waiting to have my Lamborghini, mansion and three kids.  Funny thing, I didn't even know what a Lamborghini was in elementary school.  But hey, all the boys wanted one, so that was good enough for me.  I mean, ten year old boys know what car I should drive, right?

Moving on.


Exhibit B

Katherine Task Floor Lamp | Ballard Designs $179, now $99.99

So yeah.  Ballard and PB are super awesome, and sometimes it's totally worth the splurge.  But sometimes it's really great to get a really great deal.

Thank you Ikea.

 

We all know and love these faux crystal mini chandeliers.  I plan on putting two in my new master closet/dressing room.  Eeee!  Plus, there's a slight chance I'll be spray painting them first.  Muahahahaha.

Aching for some bulb-y retro funky neon night light lamps for under $15?
BAM!
There ya go.

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

YOU are!  Oh yes you ARE!  Pretty mirror.  Such a good mirror...

*ahem*

Thinking of making this Chloë's princess mirror for her upcoming "big girl" room.  It's a princess themed room, like ya do when you're four.  A princess room that will, by request, apparently have "pink and blue with duckies".  That girl has no boundaries.  Doesn't she know she's messin' wid mah vision!

Can you believe these gorgeous black scroll-y pieces of goodness comes in both mirror and frame form?

Thank you again, Ikea.  Thank you.

Butterflies and splattered paint are apparently both darling and contemporary.  Definitely going to attempt a DIY version.

As far as metal folding chairs go, I have to tell you, these suckers are com...wait for it...FY!  Comfy!

And seriously, what's with all this perfect turquoise stuff they're pumping out lately?  I'm gonna go broke, Ikea.  Stop it!

If I knew then what I know now...
I totally would have bought this table.  Took a photo because I thought, "Dang, that looks like a surf board!  I would totally paint that sucker to look like a vintage board if I had someplace to put it."
Turns out, now I do.  Dang.

P.S.  This was in the clearance section.

Can't believe he was that small.  Awww!  Amazing what four months will do.  Now he's a tank!

Chloë begged for this white kitty.  I caved.  Glad I did on this one cause it's one of her favorites.

Former favorite,"Puppy", is not pleased.

And of course you can't spend less than five or six hours at Ikea in a single trip.  And it's imparative that you stuff your car to the brim and possibly make it impossible to see your car's shifter.

But that's okay, because you bought cinnamon rolls.  Six of them.  And they are divine...

Put a Heifer on It

Q: What's swirly and black and chalky all over?

A: This wall makeover by Furniture-ology!

I love that Steve & Meg added a decorative arch up top and chalk swirls around the light switch!  Carrying over the boxwood wreaths from the hall corner makes this space cohesive and a bit larger by allowing the eye to travel easily from space to space.

Make a template...trace onto wall.

Paint!

Three coats is good.

Accessorize.  Maybe with a baby cow head.

Draw pretty swirlies.

Voila!

Got a weekend afternoon?  I'd bet you could wrangle some swirls and a cow or two onto your wall too!

And don't forget to click on over to Furniture-ology to see the whole transformation and their original inspiration (Miss Mustard Seed, anyone?).

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Want me to feature your pretty chalkboard project?  Comment with a linky linky!

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