tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83328525605846744192024-03-13T23:04:29.979-07:00Pretty DubsBonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.comBlogger316125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-44148137509603939882014-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:002014-10-10T07:00:06.856-07:00SHARK SHIRT FRIDAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Guys, this is a thing. At least it has been at our house for over a year.<br />
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TODAY is shark shirt Friday.<br />
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We want <i>you</i> to be a part of it with us.<br />
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Every Friday is Shark Shirt Friday, now that you know, you can be ready for next week. For real.<br />
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Sometimes it includes shark shorts, shark socks, and shark helmets. Tyler has a co-worker that even has a shark button she made. It's cool. Ty has his eye on a <a href="http://www.candyapplecostumes.com/ri16004.html?cmp=googleproducts&kw=ri16004&Size=L/XL&gclid=CIOG24SdocECFRVufgodCIcA5w">shark hoodie</a> next.<br />
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It's time to bring you into the know-how, the coolness, and the community of shark shirt lovers everywhere.<br />
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Why does this even exist?<br />
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Good question.<br />
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Tyler's #1 fear is being attacked by a shark. We watch shark week on the discovery channel as therapy and anytime there's an ocean to walk into, he comes up with a very elaborate plan of how he's going to take out a great white that comes for him. It includes some eye gouging. He runs through the entire plan in his head before he can get into the ocean. Snorkeling in his lifetime...never.<br />
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Tyler's parents went to Hawaii over a year ago and brought home one shark shirt. He wore that same shirt every Friday for about 4 months. Once I realized he was sticking with it, I got him a couple more to mix it up. Then the kids started to feel left out so they all got shark shirts too. We all look forward to Shark Shirt Friday!<br />
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I admit, I don't have a shark shirt. I have a shirt with anchors on it though, it's my ocean shirt and I represent on some Fridays.<br />
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Maybe a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mabella-Sleeveless-Digital-Printing-Clubwear/dp/B00K6A0AHW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412913216&sr=8-3&keywords=shark+dress">shark dress</a> (where in the world would I even where this?!)<br />
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Or maybe I should just go for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rasta-Imposta-Womens-Shark-Dress/dp/B00K0HQHLO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412913085&sr=8-1&keywords=shark+dress">full-blown costume</a>.<br />
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Maybe this one from <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Shoes/Los-Angeles-Pop-Art-Womens-Shark-Names-V-Neck-T-shirt/8822389/product.html">overstock</a>. I like the names of all the sharks in the body. <br />
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I like the good baseball sleeve on <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/mf/23481478/i-love-sharks_baseball-jersey?productId=187135659">this one</a>.<br />
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For some reason <a href="http://www.cafepress.com/mf/68157385/shark-thing_tshirt?utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=649277628&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=sem-cpc-product-ads&utm_content=search-pla&productId=649277628">this one</a> seems cool too.<br />
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Wow. Just wow. <a href="http://www.choies.com/product/choies-3d-unisex-shark-print-sweatshirt?kpid=CRYP0629&gclid=COzEt4aZocECFQ9cfgodtF4AmQ">This one</a> is...um...incredible.<br />
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I like how snarky <a href="http://www.zazzle.com/shark_tee_shirt-235590314272248295">this one</a> looks.<br />
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Feed me...making it a <a href="http://www.lookhuman.com/design/36516-feed-me-shark?gclid=CLzkoNGZocECFReTfgodKCgA2Q">graphic tee</a> that you could almost pull of "on purpose" with a sweater or something...maybe?<br />
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Or maybe just an intense <a href="http://www.eyesonwalls.com/products/shark-head-mens-tee?gclid=COew7YGaocECFRSEfgod478AdA">drooling shark</a> ready to bite my head off is better.<br />
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Seriously, now that this is a thing (are you convinced yet?!), I find it hard to stop myself. Shark socks...add them to the cart. There's a unity of Shark Shirt Friday and people want to be a part. I love how the kids talk about it and point out that they're wearing their Shark Shirts on Friday.<br />
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Throw back to August when Ty and I took a vacation to Mexico without kids. Yes, even there the shark shirt came with us. I could go for some more Mexico right now. It was an awesome vacation and I loved every moment (even the time when we wondered if we'd make it back alive).<br />
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So what's the take-away from all this?<br />
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You need to get yourself a shark shirt.<br />
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You have one week to get one and then it's on. Seriously though, how cool to make this a thing. Let's do it. I have a shirt to order now.<br />
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<b>What are you going to wear next Shark Shirt Friday?</b>Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-62985894730517773852014-09-23T11:46:00.001-07:002014-09-23T11:46:49.267-07:00HOW TO REUSE YOUR CANDLE JARS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not a big candle person, even though the leaves have started to fall off the trees and people are dawning sweaters and chunky knit scarfs, it's not really my thing. Every once in a while it can be fun. Maybe I just haven't experimented enough (quite possible) but then with an 8-year-old in the house, the candle would be lit and blown out approximately 30 times a day. Fire is fun. Neither of these is very good reasons though, I know. We'll see what this fall weather brings out this time around...it might be candles. </div>
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Even better though, is when your sister loves candles, has cleaned out the jars, and has so many that she's giving them away! Yes, please. I had the perfect place for these simple pretties. </div>
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As far as countertops go, I love it clean and clear and I don't like the clutter of baskets. I really love a place for everything to go (not that this always happens or is possible). However, when these came to me, I knew they'd be the perfect simple useful addition to our <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/03/wainscot-in-bathroom.html">master bathroom</a>.<br />
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Besides my hair ties (top knot for the 3rd-ish day in a row anyone? just me?), bobby pins and q-tips are the most used.<br />
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I just did a quick search and there are a ton of ideas out there to reuse these candle jars: small terrariums, other bathroom supplies, nail polish, candy display for a party, office supplies, and I love the way Anne at <a href="http://circusberry.com/">Circus Berry</a> <a href="http://circusberry.com/2014/02/18/glass-jar-planter-an-upcycle/">spray painted her's</a> to make them look super posh. Yes, please. Cheers to a more organized and repurposed day!<br />
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-40582466520977139202014-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:002014-09-04T06:00:10.309-07:00IKEA HEMNES HACK: TV UNIT MAKEOVER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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School has started people. This is exciting. I'm looking forward to getting some projects finished (or started). Right now I'm hanging around the house all day with my 3-year-old we're partying. </div>
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It was an amazing summer, capped by a trip to Mexico with just my husband. It was the first ever trip we've taken without the kids; we'd never even left them for the weekend. Happy 10 years to an amazing man! (and I'm ready to go back)</div>
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Really though, let's move on to the current project. </div>
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Toddlers, dvd's, and electronic equipment do not mix. Can I get an AMEN to that!? When we first moved into our house and made the trek to IKEA, we came home with the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60250963/#/70250967">Hemnes TV Unit</a>. One problem, all the openings on the thing would expose the buttons, gaming systems, etc to sneaky little fingers. The drawers were easy to open and I just knew the dvd's would be spread throughout the house. I was not going to be okay with this. </div>
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Enter these amazing hinges. (Thank you home depot for another good thing - no this is not sponsored, but they should with how much money we spend there!). </div>
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I have no idea what these were called, but they did the job perfectly. </div>
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We cut boards to fit the top three openings of the unit, attached these hinges, removed the knobs from the lower drawers, and we were baby-proofed. </div>
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The hinges "snap" gently closed. When a toddler hand did get smashed, there were never any tears. With the tightness of the hinges, they take a little pulling to open. These are perfect to deter small kids.<br />
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You'll notice that the top 3 boards we added did not go to the side edges. It was a perfect mistake. Without any hardware on the fronts, you can slip your fingers in the sides and pull the face down to access.<br />
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For the drawers, you can reach under and push out the bottom front edge of the drawer, being able to open it for those dexterous enough to pull off the move.<br />
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You'll also notice the small pieces of wood with halved chair pads on them. They look totally cool, I know. When we put the fronts on, the hinges were so awesome that they made the front covers actually tilt inward. We wanted them to stay straight. Adding the wood gave us that and the pads made for a quiet close.<br />
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This is the before picture. The all-wood unit came in a white washed color. You could still see the wood grain under it if you were close. Ever since I added the fronts though, it's been two-toned. I've waited 3 years to give it an all-over paint job and new hardware. It was worth the wait because I totally avoided the dvd floor party with a toddler. This was a quick project and I'm glad I was able to rig it to be done right in the living room.<br />
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Ummmm...don't mind the TV in the back, it survived along with the mass of tangled cords back there. I really should dust more. But at least the unit looked good and glossy with a coat of paint! And yes the insides of the front covers are still un-painted. I'll have to go back and do that later.<br />
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I had no idea how much more I would like this once it was all the same color and freshly painted. I love IKEA's all-wood furniture. It's sturdy and really feels like it's ready to take a beating - necessary in a house with kids.<br />
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I looked at so many drawer pulls for this. It's a central part of our living room. I wanted something that didn't look heavy, didn't look too girly, wasn't shabby chic, and didn't include crystal-looking things. I searched online and found a couple things, but once again, on one of our home depot trips I took a quick stop in the drawer pull isle. For the cost, these were perfect. I kinda like the gold/bronze look, but the brushed silver is perfect for our downstairs space. I'm still glad I got them.<br />
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As a finished product and an IKEA hack, I'm glad we did it and I'd do all 3 years over again.<br />
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Decorating is so much one-piece-at-a-time. Just like kids, well, hopefully like kids. I don't have things figured out. I hope my home is one that other people always feel comfortable coming in and crashing on the couch. I feel like it is, I just hope that it feels like that for you too. Cheers to couch crashing today! </div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-64077063448022405742014-08-08T22:10:00.002-07:002014-08-08T22:10:40.837-07:00BOY BEDROOM SNEAK-PEAK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ooooh boy. I'm excited. </div>
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There has been quite the lack of our upstairs rooms here on Pretty Dubs, but that's about to change. The kid bedrooms have been "in transition" (meaning I really wasn't sure and didn't have a plan) for a while now. But as you see here, we've been moving forward with "project organize" this summer. On the list were both kid bedrooms. </div>
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Stay tuned for the real reveal. In the meantime, enjoy your room...whether it's in transition or not, I hope you find comfort and peace in your space. </div>
Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-72496901495260831182014-07-30T13:44:00.002-07:002014-07-30T13:44:42.226-07:00GARAGE SALE SCAVENGER HUNT<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ok guys, this is a fun one! Have you heard of a garage sale scavenger hunt? This is the perfect activity for kids and adults to do together. It's fun to plan the groups so people get to be with a mix of different people. We've only done this as a family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) but it would be a ton of fun to do with friends as well. This year marked the 2nd time we'd done this and there were definitely some trip highlight moments this time (ah-umm...a chicken).<br />
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There is plenty of summer garage sale-ing left, so hurry and plan this one!<br />
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(framed artwork find)</div>
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<b>The Date: </b>pick a Saturday morning. You'll meet in one location, receive your team assignments, and depart. We set a 2 hour time: meet at 8am, get back by 10:30am. (Pick someone or a group of people to assign the teams beforehand). We made sure to keep the kid to adult ration as equal as possible. </div>
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<b>The Tools</b>: you can hand out printed newspapers, scour craigslist (ahead of time and write down places), use your phone and gps, or drive neighborhoods looking for garage sale signs</div>
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(My mom is rocking it!)</div>
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You'll find some awesome deals. I think this whole bag and clubs was $1!! You'll also find some random things that nobody even wants to swap for. Go into this activity knowing you'll be donating some things to your local thrift store.<br />
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(I think he was counting this for costume jewelry...and now my 6-year-old wears it around the house and thinks it's fun) </div>
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<b>The List:</b> This year there was the <u>adult list</u> and a separate <u>kid list</u>. It's a lot of in and out of the car for the kids, but making it a fun treasure hunt makes it all worth it. The kids will be finding things along the way to keep them busy and excited.<br />
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Type and print the list ahead of time so when you meet in the morning, one can be passed out to each team.<br />
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<b>*Important Rule:</b> ONLY 2 items can be bought off the adult list per garage sale, 1 item per kid list. We had 16 items for adults and 8 for kids, so you'll be going to at least 8 garage sales if not more.<br />
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<u>Adult list ideas:</u><br />
something purple (or pick any color)<br />
two matching bowls - the smaller the better<br />
something out of the free box<br />
a golf item<br />
a tie<br />
a framed picture or framed artwork<br />
halloween decoration (or other holiday)<br />
kitchen gadget - no silverware<br />
costume jewelry<br />
purse<br />
most unusual thing you can find<br />
salt and pepper shakers<br />
old book - 1960 or older copyright<br />
game<br />
8 track tape, album, or 45 record<br />
article of clothing you would not be caught dead in<br />
ceramic decoration item of any sort<br />
something with feathers<br />
something made out of wood<br />
etc.<br />
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<u>Kid list ideas:</u><br />
hot wheels car (or something with wheels)<br />
puzzle<br />
stuffed animal<br />
action figure<br />
ball of any kind<br />
doll of any kind<br />
children's book<br />
one item of children's clothing<br />
sunglasses<br />
movie<br />
game<br />
etc.<br />
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(purses)</div>
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(cool new shades and an 8 track tape)</div>
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<b>The Money:</b> Each group got $20 and each kid got $5. You'll have to decide how to split this. </div>
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(books)</div>
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(sock coasters, who knew!)</div>
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<b>The Strategy: </b>This is going to be unique to each group. Some will want to search garage sales in high-density people locations, but you might also want to venture to some spread out areas as well. In finding the items, you could take turns choosing...it's all about teamwork.<br />
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For me, I want to waste as little money as possible on re-donation stuff, so I'm always on the search for useful + cool things to fulfill the requirements. Some others are out for the most random things ever. It makes for fun show and tell afterward!<br />
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("wouldn't be caught dead in it" find)</div>
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<b>The Goal:</b> To have a ton of fun! </div>
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We all meet up for some easy lunch (pizza) after and have our things in piles by us. One person reads out each requirement and then we go around holding up that thing. We alternate with the kids holding up their things as well. It's fun to see the unique, quirky, cool, and fun finds. Sometimes we swap for things, sometimes we keep our things, sometimes we craigslist them, and sometimes we donate our things. </div>
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This year my sister-in-law Sharlynn and I found the best "random thing." We bought a chicken! </div>
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This little friend (who had 2 names while it was with us: Herb and Paprika) was 18 weeks old and going to begin laying eggs in about 2 weeks. We paid a hefty chunk of our $20 for her, but it was so worth it. Who brings a live animal home from garage sale-ing!? No one ended up being able to keep her, but she had a new home (via craigslist) by the end of the night. </div>
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Here are a couple themed hunt ideas:<br />
1. murder mystery story<br />
2. things you would find on a trip from coast to coast<br />
3. get items that lend to a story you have to make up about a person and their adventures, then tell that story at the end of the time<br />
4. assign types of people to each group: preppy, granola, trendy, older, teenage, nerdy, etc.<br />
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I hope this gives you some great ideas! Good luck garage sale-ing!<br />
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<i>I would love to hear ideas for things to add to the lists of finds!</i>Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-54351733024238048932014-07-20T01:07:00.002-07:002014-07-22T22:26:50.615-07:00POTTERY SHOWCASE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Mom has talent.<br />
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She's a giver, a learner, and always pushes herself to do and know more. I talked about her in my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2014/06/how-to-keep-your-home-company-ready.html">80/20 home cleaning rules</a> and in my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2014/05/how-to-remove-facial-hair.html">facial hair removal strategy</a>.<br />
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My Mom engrained in my siblings and me the importance of education and as of the end of this year, all of us and spouses will have at least our Bachelor's degree. And currently, my mom has gone back to school and is working towards that herself!<br />
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One of the things my Mom loves to do is pottery and painting. She's really talented and when she has time between school and work, she does some beautiful work.<br />
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Today I'm showcasing her stuff.<br />
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When I visited <a href="http://carrotbowl.com/raspberry-nutella-smores-and-summer-vacation/">Montana on our summer vacation</a> a week ago I took the opportunity to photograph some of her pottery and a picture she's painted. I think it's so cool that I have bowls that my mom made - food and dishwasher safe too! You'll have to watch on <a href="http://carrotbowl.com/">Carrot Bowl</a> for their appearance.<br />
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I'm going to let her pieces speak for themselves.<br />
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min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3654px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 3654px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-84499776294297777492014-07-03T05:00:00.000-07:002014-07-03T05:00:04.188-07:00WHAT I'M READING <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In between cooking and cleaning, taking care of the house, and spending quality time with the family, I sometimes squeeze in some reading.<br />
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When I'm in the grocery line, I can't help but grab the latest Women's Health magazine. Thanks to my sister, she got me hooked with a subscription last year. I like reading the workout ideas, interesting stats, and articles that both inspire and make me think.<br />
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"The Windup Girl" is one that I'm still in the beginning of, but being a Hugo and Nebula award novel, I'm probably not going wrong. It's been really interesting so far.<br />
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"Without" is a collection of poems by the author Donald Hall. Recently Tyler and I went to a show in Portland hosted by Ira Glass from OPB's This American Life. It was awesome. It was a totally different type of show where he told stories and had two women dancers who helped portray the meaning and drama of the stories. I loved it. I came away feeling like I learned something. During the show he talked about this poet and some of the poems in this book.<br />
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The book is the chronological story of him and his wife as his wife is dying of cancer. It's intense, personal, and made me love my husband more. I 100% recommend it. As soon as it came in the mail I read it. I didn't expect that I wouldn't be able to put it down. The poems' structure add as much to the story as the words.<br />
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With this smash up of books, I'm just reminded that we have a pretty awesome opportunity to be alive and share our lives with the other people around us.<br />
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Have you read something that made you feel smarter recently?Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-72133630685529504042014-06-27T21:42:00.000-07:002014-06-27T21:42:00.019-07:00HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOME COMPANY READY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm going to share a secret with you. It's a cleaning secret and talking about cleaning might not sound exciting. However, this has saved me lots of stress and given me balance in my home. When things are a mess, I find it hard to relax and accomplish some real brain tasks. This is the solution to attack a frumpy home.<br />
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First, I do love clean. I like the way it smells, looks, and invites. I like the way my kids are more creative when a space is clean for them to dirty up. I like the way it entices me to make another creative mess in the kitchen. I like the way clean feels good and breathes peace to my soul and gives me comfort in welcoming others into our space.<br />
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I didn't always know how to clean well. Really my mom and sister are the master cleaners. They are going to polish and clean every nitty-gritty detail of e v e r y t h i n g and it's going to shine after. I attempt to be like them. My childhood bedroom was a disaster: clothes everywhere, desk piled high, knickknacks tucked into corners, and books stacked precariously. I'd like to take some credit for my sister's cleanliness because she had to share a room with me. Maybe, just maybe, my anti-clean is what has inspired her own skills. Love you, sis.<br />
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Here's what I do:<br />
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<b><i>I keep my house 80% clean all the time.</i></b><br />
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Why?<br />
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<b><i>Because the other 20% to bring it to peak readiness is easy if I do.</i></b><br />
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For me, if I had to keep my home at 100% everyday, I'd fail. It's a lot to keep a home up, make sure children stay alive and active, finish home projects, attempt showering, exercise, prepare meals, mow lawns, answer emails, laundry, car shuttling around town, shopping, and spending some quality time with the people I love.<br />
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I involve my kids as much as I can. When it's cleaning time, they get their "chore" assignments. Sometimes it's helpful to say "you each will have 3 chores and then we can ___". Works like a charm. One of them could be vacuuming the entire downstairs.<br />
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I don't know that this is a magical solution for everyone, but it works for me. I've been asked how I keep my home clean, what my system is, and this is it.<br />
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<u><b>THIS IS THE 80%</b> - what I do everyday: </u><br />
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<b>KITCHEN</b><br />
1. I always <i>at least</i> rinse dishes. One side of my sink is always empty (the dirty dish side) and the other side has rinsed dishes in it ready to load in the dishwasher.<br />
2. It's even better if you can unload the dishwasher from the night before while your littles are eating breakfast, then simply load rinsed dishes into the dishwasher throughout the day.<br />
3. Having a clean kitchen is the crux of a clean house. Start here.<br />
4. Wipe counters/table after every meal or snack.<br />
5. Don't forget the stove top. It brings down the kitchen to have the grungy crusted noodles or veggies or unknowns hanging out.<br />
6. Sweep. I do this so many times a day. I cannot believe how many crumbs one tiny snack can bring. The quicker you sweep, the more localized the mess stays.<br />
7. Take towels and dishrags up to the laundry room at the end of the day.<br />
8. Start the full dishwasher every night.<br />
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<b>BATHROOMS</b><br />
1. I keep the toilet seat wiped down. There are wipes in every bathroom and it's simple and fast. I know I appreciate a clean toilet seat.<br />
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<b>FLOORS</b><br />
1. Sweep everyday (if the kids play with play dough etc, they should sweep when they clean it up)<br />
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<b>LAUNDRY</b><br />
1. I do at least one load of laundry a day - bonus points if it gets folded and put right away<br />
2. Every night the kids have to bring their dirty clothes from their rooms and put it right in the laundry room - my goal is always to have a clean floor<br />
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<b>TOYS</b><br />
1. Toys are stored upstairs in our house - the kids are welcome to bring them downstairs and play, but when it's time to clean up or go to bed, their toys need to be taken and put in the right places upstairs<br />
2. I will make an exception to this rule sometimes with legos. If they come downstairs and are scattered on the living room rug, being creatively played with still, they can stay.<br />
3. Toys upstairs need to be put away in containers and on correct shelves. Sometimes things can stay on a desk or chair to be played with in the morning, but in general, the floor should be clear.<br />
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<b>ENTRY</b><br />
1. clean up the show pile under the bench - we store the majority of shoes in closets, a pair and flip flops can stay for the kids, mine get put all away, my husband's shoes stay out for the morning - this is a great place to assign to kids (my 3-year-old lines up shoes very well)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aInlyERv-Fg/U65BQlhjx6I/AAAAAAAAeVc/gatyvItd1QM/s1600/DSC09715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aInlyERv-Fg/U65BQlhjx6I/AAAAAAAAeVc/gatyvItd1QM/s1600/DSC09715.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
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<u><b>THIS IS THE </b>EXTRA<b> 20%</b> - what I attempt once a week or for pending company:</u><br />
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<b>KITCHEN</b><br />
1. The same as the 80%<br />
2. + using windex on stainless steal appliances to clean on grubby hand marks<br />
3. + cleaning up papers on the side of the fridge (my magnet area)<br />
4. + clean out microwave if needed (I've had company come and open a gross microwave before...so gross and embarrassing for me)<br />
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<b>BATHROOMS</b><br />
1. Clean toilets, sinks, and counters (I use clorox wipes)<br />
2. Wipe down floors around the toilet<br />
3. Take out garbage<br />
4. Swap out clean hand-drying towels<br />
5. Make sure there is extra toilet paper and enough hand soap<br />
6. Windex mirrors throughout house<br />
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<b>FLOORS</b><br />
1. Sweep<br />
2. Vacuum all carpets in house<br />
3. Mop (I probably do this every 3ish weeks) - the main floor and bathroom floors<br />
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<b>LAUNDRY</b><br />
1. If it's still in the massive pile on the floor, fold it. Make a family party of it the day before it needs to be done.<br />
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<b>TOYS</b><br />
1. Check for tidiness of toys and kids' rooms - especially dresser tops<br />
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<b>DUST</b><br />
1. Around TV, on display shelves, and mantle<br />
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<b>WALLS AND KNOBS</b><br />
1. Using clorox wipes or magic erasers, clean knobs and walls where needed. Watch out with magic erasers, they'll take off paint.<br />
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Really, this is all done because what I actually want to be doing is planting sunflower seeds in the backyard. (Even though slugs ate them when they started to come up).<br />
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I get my kids involved in our daily cleaning routine. Don't make it a big deal, just make it what you do. Your family will catch on as you and they feel a rhythm and rest that comes with your cleaner home.<br />
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This is all for the sake of being able to spend more time together in a place where you can relax, feel comfort and safety, and invite others into. It might seem like a lot at first, but it will actually go quickly as you learn to do it on the go from one place to another in your home.<br />
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If you can keep the 80% clean, you'll be ready for unannounced visitors at any moment. And if you find out your great aunt's grandpa's sister's niece's dog's puppies's owners are coming to visit the next day, you can kick in the 20% and be ready.<br />
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Here's to happy homes that are clean and full of good memories.Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-41722606102815269912014-06-19T13:00:00.000-07:002014-06-19T13:00:00.714-07:00MASTER CLOSET MAKEOVER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAV5dlpfPno/U6LwQzwzRuI/AAAAAAAAd9E/kFbz8trSEFg/s1600/DSC00049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iAV5dlpfPno/U6LwQzwzRuI/AAAAAAAAd9E/kFbz8trSEFg/s1600/DSC00049.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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My master closet makeover is something I've been dreaming about for almost a year. A year people! I've gone through so many planning options and organizational ideas but landed on some simple solutions that were cost effective as well as transitional. And although I could dream of budget-breaking closets, this is really just what I want. It's my own kind of pretty and effective.<br />
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You'll notice from the "before" pictures that one of the biggest factors in this makeover was the paint color. The interior of the closet was still Sherwin Williams Camelback. The whole house was that color and I've slowly eliminated it, I still have the kids' closets, but the day will come.<br />
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The new paint color is the same as our trim Sherwin Williams Dover White. If you're looking for a warm white, this is a great option. It has a hint of yellow it in that is calming and doesn't turn bluish in bright light. It's a great pairing with our overall house color of Accessible Beige.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWXilPIAo80/U6MGg3PjbLI/AAAAAAAAd9w/syvDyvGbTPY/s1600/DSC09724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AWXilPIAo80/U6MGg3PjbLI/AAAAAAAAd9w/syvDyvGbTPY/s1600/DSC09724.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Before)</div>
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Seriously, this closet needed some organization.<br />
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Emptying it all over <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/master-bedroom-transformation.html">our bedroom</a> made the closet seem even bigger. Looking around our crazy room, it reminded me how I really never want to move again. Moving really stinks and I'm so glad we're where we're at.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7eXQmVGmqs/U6MlHFk1IeI/AAAAAAAAd-g/zZxmUx_sL40/s1600/DSC09722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7eXQmVGmqs/U6MlHFk1IeI/AAAAAAAAd-g/zZxmUx_sL40/s1600/DSC09722.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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(Before) </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSQFJXZcL1w/U6MlHggc37I/AAAAAAAAd-k/JvtBWyZp4Ps/s1600/DSC09725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eSQFJXZcL1w/U6MlHggc37I/AAAAAAAAd-k/JvtBWyZp4Ps/s1600/DSC09725.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Before)</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_OG8tZOYo8/U6MljAAlTYI/AAAAAAAAd-w/teJjivl9-UI/s1600/DSC00051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w_OG8tZOYo8/U6MljAAlTYI/AAAAAAAAd-w/teJjivl9-UI/s1600/DSC00051.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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I seriously love how bright the closet looks. I love white. I love how clean it looks, how simple, and how storing, dressing, and organizing in my closet feels like something happy. It also makes me want to purge and really only have what I use, love, or find useful.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-empf6HBKc1M/U6MlsQtbitI/AAAAAAAAd-4/vQ9OeJHet-E/s1600/DSC00044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-empf6HBKc1M/U6MlsQtbitI/AAAAAAAAd-4/vQ9OeJHet-E/s1600/DSC00044.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I opted to take out my hardly used <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2010/08/earring-hanger-tutorial.html">earring wall holder</a> that I made f o r e v e r ago (good idea, but I like my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2014/06/tiered-earring-stand.html">tiered earring stand</a> better) and put in the <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2014/06/organizing-necklaces.html">bar for my necklaces</a> in the same spot.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkmZ6EcYfDQ/U6MlstrXHUI/AAAAAAAAd_E/uEyha2I2N2w/s1600/DSC00053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DkmZ6EcYfDQ/U6MlstrXHUI/AAAAAAAAd_E/uEyha2I2N2w/s1600/DSC00053.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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Once again, in this makeover I made a trip to ikea. I fully believe in their organization master-ness.<br />
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In my contemplating closet storage, these were the options:<br />
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1. built in shelves, painted the trim color, screwed to wall, not coming out - like <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/93871973455170935/">this</a><br />
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2. dressers lining the long wall - like <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/93871973457398746/">this</a><br />
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3. or even getting 2 tall dressers and putting them next to each other - like <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60239273/">this</a><br />
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4. shelving that can be changed out, painted, stained, and moved around - like <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59016075/">this</a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QBGRqKTYmWU/U6MltWf-JtI/AAAAAAAAd_I/frpA8UuEWEc/s1600/DSC00054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QBGRqKTYmWU/U6MltWf-JtI/AAAAAAAAd_I/frpA8UuEWEc/s1600/DSC00054.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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The one thing that has to stay is the dark brown chest in the back of the closet. <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2010/03/hope-chest.html">My Dad made that hope chest</a>, which we lovingly call the "coffin" because you could fit probably 2 full grown bodies in there.<br />
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This could provide some awkward conversations...on so many levels.<br />
Kid 1, "where's mom and dad?"<br />
Kid 2, "in the coffin."<br />
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Anyways, our closet is its home because of it's size and purpose (thank you blanket and other storage), so it needed to be worked around.<br />
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We went for storage OPTION #4. We bought some <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59016075/">ikea ivar shelves</a>, so simple they don't even come with directions, and I love that we could totally get more shelves and add them in. We could decide to paint of stain them. We can even change our minds all together and take them out and put something else in. (I don't see this happening).<br />
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I got several storage containers that are providing some helpful storage on the shelves, making them look cleaner and more provide more functionality.<br />
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These baskets I snagged at ikea as well. They are storing swim wear, hats, and scarves. You'll spy that I'm using the back of our door as more shoe storage. My goal in the whole project was to have nothing on the ground, everything seems cleaner that way.<br />
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Ahh...I'm so happy this project is done. My to-do list has breathed a sigh of relief and joy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 42px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 1232px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-64408773973387140462014-06-13T13:00:00.000-07:002014-06-13T13:00:01.967-07:00TIERED EARRING STAND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQtSd4N_8_A/U5XoY6KaYUI/AAAAAAAAdqU/SBmLXXTE8Co/s1600/DSC00061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQtSd4N_8_A/U5XoY6KaYUI/AAAAAAAAdqU/SBmLXXTE8Co/s1600/DSC00061.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
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In line with my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2014/06/organizing-necklaces.html">necklace organizing</a>, this is my solution for storing, using, and enjoying my earrings. </div>
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If there's an accessory I always have on, it's earrings. They are simple, fast, and really fun. They are also out of the way, you don't have to worry about them like you do a necklace or bracelet. I know that gold is the <i>in</i> color, but man, I really do like gold and have my fair share of earrings sporting it. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xuBBhj2Nl4/U5XoYtGc6eI/AAAAAAAAdqI/Kx7njTpOyvI/s1600/DSC00059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--xuBBhj2Nl4/U5XoYtGc6eI/AAAAAAAAdqI/Kx7njTpOyvI/s1600/DSC00059.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
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In my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/master-bedroom-transformation.html">master bedroom</a> I've mixed gold and silver finishes. I really like it. I also like giving a little pop of crystal-like glass for a complete combo. When I saw this tiered stand at Home Goods I knew it was the perfect thing. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2c3Ur0p8jo/U5XobEbxCPI/AAAAAAAAdq4/54mPuRh-23M/s1600/DSC00073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2c3Ur0p8jo/U5XobEbxCPI/AAAAAAAAdq4/54mPuRh-23M/s1600/DSC00073.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_1o3UUJSPs/U5XoZoFpA2I/AAAAAAAAdqY/l5XuxS4wWhs/s1600/DSC00063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w_1o3UUJSPs/U5XoZoFpA2I/AAAAAAAAdqY/l5XuxS4wWhs/s1600/DSC00063.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
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If I had to look to one bracelet as the <i>bracelet of all bracelets</i>, it would be this one.<br />
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Call it a watch if you must.<br />
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When I wear it people ask me what time it is and it takes me digging my phone out of my purse to realize they're probably confused why I'm not looking at my wrist.<br />
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You see, it was just so pretty and blingy and chunky that it had to come home. Sometimes that happens.<br />
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It happened to be a watch too. But then it sits next to my bed when I'm not wearing it and it ticks <b>so</b> loud that I pull out the little twisty thing on the side. The time is always wrong.<br />
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And that <i>adorable clay bowl</i>...my mom made that! She's awesome and so talented. If there's someone in my life that has always encouraged educating yourself in whatever ways you can, it is my mom. She remembered doing pottery when she was younger and then picked it back up now as an empty-nester adult. She purposefully picked my favorite colors. Pretty awesome, huh?!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3acTVlQrFUc/U5XoZ3McG7I/AAAAAAAAdqg/hqrytiLMHjA/s1600/DSC00064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3acTVlQrFUc/U5XoZ3McG7I/AAAAAAAAdqg/hqrytiLMHjA/s1600/DSC00064.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
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It might be one of my favorite things to come over to my earrings and decide what I'm going to wear for the day. This doesn't mean I don't come away with simple pearls sometimes, but whatever it is, I enjoy it.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONZnkFj6FEM/U5XoajumBgI/AAAAAAAAdqs/k6cGU8kFUtM/s1600/DSC00067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONZnkFj6FEM/U5XoajumBgI/AAAAAAAAdqs/k6cGU8kFUtM/s1600/DSC00067.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you're looking for your own tiered stand here's a couple options:</div>
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For a glass look-alike, head to <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40101733/">Ikea</a> - 3 tiers</div>
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If you want it in wood go to <a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-acacia-3-tier-server/-/A-14611166#prodSlot=medium_1_15">Target</a> - 3 tiers</div>
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How pretty is this color from <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/royal-albert-formal-vintage-2-tier-cake-stand-in-polka-rose/1040190952?device=c&network=g&matchtype=&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_serveware_&gclid=CLnmgond7b4CFZFufgodym0ANA">Bed Bath & Beyond</a> - 2 tiers</div>
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Really you can find something cool from a thrift store, an antique store, etsy, or hopefully your own home goods store. </div>
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May the force be with you! </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7T02ZbKo9CQ/U5XoY1bnWlI/AAAAAAAAdqM/PRfLF55RZOI/s1600/DSC00062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7T02ZbKo9CQ/U5XoY1bnWlI/AAAAAAAAdqM/PRfLF55RZOI/s1600/DSC00062.jpg" height="926" width="640" /></a></div>
Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-1404589803518696272014-06-09T09:08:00.003-07:002014-06-09T14:35:22.826-07:00ORGANIZING NECKLACES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InpCmMfd920/U5XWJLIy8TI/AAAAAAAAdps/GwafIsMSgxw/s1600/DSC00040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-InpCmMfd920/U5XWJLIy8TI/AAAAAAAAdps/GwafIsMSgxw/s1600/DSC00040.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yea for organized accessories!</div>
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Jewelry organizing can be a headache if you don't have a good system. I was excited that my master closet reorganizing called for a better solution for my necklaces. </div>
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You might have your necklaces in a pile, hung on thumb tacks, 3M hooks, in individual compartments, in a jewelry box, or even laying all over the top of a dresser or table. Here is a simple solution that's <b>less than $5</b>!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1i_2s_vrLak/U5XWJN81-lI/AAAAAAAAdpo/QpNsJ8vMooA/s1600/DSC00042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1i_2s_vrLak/U5XWJN81-lI/AAAAAAAAdpo/QpNsJ8vMooA/s1600/DSC00042.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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I hung this bar at eye level in my closet. Done right, it looks pretty enough to hang in a lot of different places.<br />
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This is yet <i>another</i> ikea-to-the-rescue solution. Seriously, we've got to use ikea for all it's amazing organization solutions.<br />
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<b>My favorite</b> part about this, besides its beauty, is that these particular s-hooks <u>don't wiggle</u>. They snap onto the bar and have to be pushed to move side-to-side or back and forth. It's so much easier to organize if the things you do actually stay in place. With kids running all around the house, it's nice to have something that kinda stays put.<br />
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This <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50072645/">bar is the bygel rail</a> costing $2.99 (you can order online or find in-store in the kitchen organizing section).<br />
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The hooks are <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70271093/">bygel s-hooks that are plastic</a>, 6 for $0.99. Unfortunately they aren't sold online. But they come in white, orange, green, red, and black.<br />
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So if you're out of reach of an ikea store, you can opt for the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80072644/">wiggling bygel s-hooks</a> that <i>are</i> sold online costing $0.99 for 10.<br />
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Having my necklaces hung so nicely definitely makes me want to wear them more! Make sure to level your bar when you're attaching it to the wall. I hung mine on two small nails and it's plenty strong for my necklaces. Have a beautiful day!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0cd1MJBmP4/U5XWJH68hAI/AAAAAAAAdp4/ynZi3z7SnDQ/s1600/DSC00043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t0cd1MJBmP4/U5XWJH68hAI/AAAAAAAAdp4/ynZi3z7SnDQ/s1600/DSC00043.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-86086393999724105672014-05-30T12:39:00.000-07:002014-05-30T12:49:07.998-07:0014 WAYS TO ARRANGE BED PILLOWS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euMTHwvRgDA/U4gnDzu-3HI/AAAAAAAAXWs/M4WVG2iPZ14/s1600/DSC09691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-euMTHwvRgDA/U4gnDzu-3HI/AAAAAAAAXWs/M4WVG2iPZ14/s1600/DSC09691.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love the way my friends inspire me. </div>
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I love when we're close enough to ask about our children's moodiness without fear of judgement, go swim suit shopping together, share ideas for our marriages, get to the nitty gritty of our anxieties and beliefs, and even ask how to make a bed look "catalogue" rather than feeling blah. (Shout out to my friend Courtney for this post inspiration. Check out her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/courtneybphotography">amazing photography skills</a> that I try to imitate.)</div>
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I don't know anything magical or have years of experience, but I do have pillows and like to make my bed. So I'm going to tackle the last question. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BSPIvdZXLc/U4jNHASuTxI/AAAAAAAAXW8/4akFssiyJqc/s1600/DSC09662.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3BSPIvdZXLc/U4jNHASuTxI/AAAAAAAAXW8/4akFssiyJqc/s1600/DSC09662.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u>HEADBOARD, SIDE TABLES, LIGHTS</u></div>
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All this can get pricey. Start with what you have and tweak it (paint, swap furniture from another room, recover light shades, scour craigslist). If you want to make a headboard, <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-diy-tufted-headboard.html">you can see how I made mine</a>. I also made a <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/making-tufted-bench.html">bench to match</a>. If you're interested in our whole <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/master-bedroom-transformation.html">bedroom transformation</a>, you can check that out too.</div>
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<u>QUILT SET</u></div>
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I love the crispness of white. I found my quilt and sham set at target. I love that it has some texture with the sewn lines across it. It also helps that I don't have to worry about wrinkles after I launder it. I can't see it online anymore, but you could try in-store for something close to the same.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqUBXBRLlzg/U4jS8OEiWeI/AAAAAAAAXXU/UBBUTZkslqU/s1600/DSC09673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RqUBXBRLlzg/U4jS8OEiWeI/AAAAAAAAXXU/UBBUTZkslqU/s1600/DSC09673.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u>COVERLET</u></div>
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In addition to having pillows make your bed stellar, a <i>coverlet</i> (like my gray one with light brown stripes) can add some dimension laid across the end of your bed. </div>
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You can make it compliment your bedding and pillows, pulling your room and colors together. </div>
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Occasionally you might unfold it and put it on top of your other quilt.</div>
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<u>4 KEYS TO MAKE A BED "CATALOGUE" USING PILLOWS</u></div>
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1. Layered sizes, textures, and colors.</div>
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2. Recognizing the power of and using prints.</div>
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3. Having a theme. </div>
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4. Being willing to experiment, fail, and try again to get the look you like.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UUcIr21sA9Q/U4jSEs3QlzI/AAAAAAAAXXM/Z86fWa-AwmU/s1600/DSC09671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UUcIr21sA9Q/U4jSEs3QlzI/AAAAAAAAXXM/Z86fWa-AwmU/s1600/DSC09671.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was fun taking my pillows out and arranging my bed lots of ways for your enjoyment. You can make your bed with lots or little, with color, with neutral, fluff, or simple. I've given you 2 weeks of making your bed a different way every day!</div>
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Go into the design with confidence and own whatever style fits you best! </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdyiPW336kI/U4gk0Bs1E6I/AAAAAAAAXWc/37LyF8GniXw/s1600/14+ways+to+arrange+bed+pillows3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mdyiPW336kI/U4gk0Bs1E6I/AAAAAAAAXWc/37LyF8GniXw/s1600/14+ways+to+arrange+bed+pillows3.jpeg" /></a></div>
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Make sure to enjoy your freshly made bed while you can. If your house is anything like mine, soon enough it will be ruffled, wrinkled, played on, and disassembled. Even with all that happening, it's still totally worth the effort.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0zyDfxlSdE/U4jgLypaWbI/AAAAAAAAXYI/Iu07bbAUqOA/s1600/DSC09715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A0zyDfxlSdE/U4jgLypaWbI/AAAAAAAAXYI/Iu07bbAUqOA/s1600/DSC09715.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jx3eAC8zxs4/U4jbzP9fvwI/AAAAAAAAXXs/jF6qXjks-7U/s1600/DSC09680.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jx3eAC8zxs4/U4jbzP9fvwI/AAAAAAAAXXs/jF6qXjks-7U/s1600/DSC09680.jpg" height="962" width="640" /></a></div>
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This post was also inspired an awesome diagram that I've personally referred to several times on <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/bonnieweeks/bedroom/">my bedroom pinterest board</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjPTwVWQkgA/U4ja_imusQI/AAAAAAAAXXk/ueIeUAgOKb0/s1600/HowToArrangeBedPillows+drawing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IjPTwVWQkgA/U4ja_imusQI/AAAAAAAAXXk/ueIeUAgOKb0/s1600/HowToArrangeBedPillows+drawing.png" height="400" width="371" /></a></div>
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Via <a href="http://roost-home.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-arrange-bed-pillows.html">Roost Home and Marissa Waddell Interiors</a></div>
Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-16184395852619694732014-05-24T17:06:00.002-07:002014-05-24T17:06:32.343-07:00HOW TO MAKE A GALLERY WALL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAR9Z6V934w/U4AiyAVGl8I/AAAAAAAAXTc/E8MVCTD1qMM/s1600/DSC00076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAR9Z6V934w/U4AiyAVGl8I/AAAAAAAAXTc/E8MVCTD1qMM/s1600/DSC00076.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm so excited to show you guys my gallery wall! </div>
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With the thousands of pictures we all have, it's hard to narrow down to just a few. </div>
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My whole goal in the pictures I chose: <u>to show living, not just posing</u>. </div>
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I love it and I love that the entry to our house jumps with life as soon as you enter the front door. (I took these pictures standing in front of the door.)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x8p5rZNTXs/U4AfCyP9xCI/AAAAAAAAXTM/Ffmd3d5IuYQ/s1600/DSC08245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1x8p5rZNTXs/U4AfCyP9xCI/AAAAAAAAXTM/Ffmd3d5IuYQ/s1600/DSC08245.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<u>How to make your own gallery:</u><br />
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1 - <i>Measure</i> your space.<br />
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2 - Knowing the type of <i>frames</i> you want to use ahead of time is helpful. I choose the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60174808/">ikea virserum</a> brand of frames.<br />
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3 - <i>List</i> out the possible frame sizes. (there are lots for this brand)<br />
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4 - <i>Draw</i> your wall space on paper with dimensions in mind.<br />
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5 - <i>Draw</i> possible frames in your dimensions.<br />
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6 - <i>Cut out</i> your frame sizes in paper.<br />
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7 - <i>Tape</i> up the papers on the walls to see the layout.<br />
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8 - <i>Make changes</i> as needed, list the frames you need, order the pictures to fit the frames, and go shopping for your frames.<br />
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9 - <i style="font-weight: bold;">Leave the papers</i> on the wall. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKyGiceBUu4/U4AfC2RgbgI/AAAAAAAAXS4/Nr7bUEh5VU4/s1600/DSC08262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xKyGiceBUu4/U4AfC2RgbgI/AAAAAAAAXS4/Nr7bUEh5VU4/s1600/DSC08262.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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10 - When you have purchased your frames, they should <i>match up</i> exactly to the size of the papers you cut.</div>
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11 - <i>Measure</i> to the center of each paper and mark.</div>
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12 - <i>Measure</i> the back of the frame to see how far down the hanger will need to be hung, then <i>measure </i>the paper from the middle down that far and mark.</div>
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13 - In the crosshairs, <i style="font-weight: bold;">hammer </i>the nail right through the paper. </div>
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14 - <i>Check </i>each frame, the hanger lengths will be different for each size of frame. </div>
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15 - <i>Remove</i> the paper, <i>hang</i> the frames. </div>
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16 - Put your<i> pictures</i> in the frames<i>. </i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHKwIEV0Y4I/U4AfDZ97AeI/AAAAAAAAXTE/iM--pu9D_8g/s1600/DSC08263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHKwIEV0Y4I/U4AfDZ97AeI/AAAAAAAAXTE/iM--pu9D_8g/s1600/DSC08263.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I know I'm not the only one to hang pictures using this method and I can't even remember where I've seen it, but it's awesome. <br />
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On my other <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/07/great-room-living-space.html">living room gallery wall</a> I had to re-hammer holes at least 3x <i>per</i> frame.<br />
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Using this method, I only had to redo 3 holes <i>TOTAL! </i>That is a record win for me.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XnJThb4UZM/U4A0MQ6TDhI/AAAAAAAAXT0/KyBeIZXcBp4/s1600/DSC00074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2XnJThb4UZM/U4A0MQ6TDhI/AAAAAAAAXT0/KyBeIZXcBp4/s1600/DSC00074.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej22JvEMIFU/U4A0WrgcTXI/AAAAAAAAXUI/5T7yQmFDTGs/s1600/DSC00081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ej22JvEMIFU/U4A0WrgcTXI/AAAAAAAAXUI/5T7yQmFDTGs/s1600/DSC00081.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our stair wall is HUGE. I think the configuration looks good to stay the size it is. That said, I definitely have room to grow it if I want.<br />
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Here's some viewpoints of looking up and down our stairwell so you can see what I'm talking about.<br />
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It's so fun to have the wall done and I love it. I hope this inspires you to make your own gallery wall. In the meantime, have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend.<br />
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-73822256899209448602014-05-16T15:40:00.000-07:002014-05-27T10:00:09.721-07:00HOW TO STABILIZE YOUR DRESSER // stuff i learn from ikea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm pretty simple.<br />
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I love simple solutions. I love ikea because they teach simple ways to construct.<br />
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I love things that are practical, useful, clean, and not fussy. These things together make beauty for me.<br />
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I love how beauty can be different for everyone.<br />
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When I visit my friends' homes, they are all very different in looks and feeling. But they are theirs and that's what matters.<br />
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I believe in creating a home for yourself and your family that provides room for growing. How that is done, is personal, experimental, and takes patience.<br />
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My house is never done and never will be. Sometimes I say, "oh, if I just do x, y, and z, then I'll totally be done with the upstairs or the garage or the backyard." No, that's not true. A house is a continual project zone. It's good that it's that way, it makes us work and makes us really hone what we want and love.<br />
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This said, I finally redid my master bedroom closet. We removed a dresser that we've had for the past 6 years. It was a hand-me-down from a hand-me-down and it was time to do something different.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S59016075/">Some shelves</a> took it's place, the very shelves that taught me something from ikea.<br />
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They are simple and solid, but the real trick are <u><i>the metal crossbars</i></u> on the back of the shelving system.<br />
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Ikea is seriously genius.<br />
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How do they engineer so much stuff so simply that anyone can assemble it?!<br />
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These crossbars are the key to making the shelves be stable. I had the entire shelving unit together and it was rocking dangerously back and forth. I used 4 simple screws and the crossbars and it was super solid.<br />
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This is exactly what I needed to learn.<br />
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I want to re-use our dresser in the boys' room, but it need to be sturdy to do so. I needed to learn the crossbar trick on the shelves so I could do the same on our dresser.<br />
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It worked perfectly.<br />
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I went to home depot this morning and picked up some metal with holes in it (I already had screws at home) and simply screwed in the metal strips. I'm impressed and love that we can reuse this instead of listing it on craigslist in the free section.<br />
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It took me 2 minutes and the dresser is as good as new.<br />
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<u>Tips for making crossbars successful:</u><br />
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1. If you want to go cheaper, pick up the crossbars at ikea. It was less than $2 for the ones used on the shelves, the home depot bars are $4.47 each. Either should work.<br />
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2. Mount them at an angle, not parallel to the floor.<br />
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3. Make sure the crossbars you get are long enough to stretch across your desired space. Measure before you buy.<br />
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4. Mount at two different angles for maximum stability.<br />
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5. Beware that by using home depot bars, there is a triangle of metal that will stick over the edge of your dresser on the bottom edge. I didn't mind because our dresser is going up against a wall. If this is an issue, I would go with the ikea bars instead.<br />
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Good luck and have a fantastic ikea/dresser/closet/simple day!Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-53418592051000210932014-05-10T23:13:00.002-07:002014-05-16T16:32:04.678-07:00HOW TO REMOVE FACIAL HAIR <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In honor of Mother's Day, let's get <a href="http://brenebrown.com/">vulnerable</a>. I have facial hair.<br />
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It's just a fact of life and I wish I had known how to get rid of it earlier than I did. Maybe this is just what you're looking for, maybe you share my lot in life, or maybe you want to send this recommendation on to someone else.<br />
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I can remember being self conscious of my lady mustache for a long time before I had the courage to ask for help. I think I finally asked my mom and if felt like a bold move in that first conversation (I was well over 20). The curse of dark hair means you can really see those hairs! I was embarrassed about my mustache, but knew there had to be an easy way to solve the problem. It's funny though, my mom has always done something about her upper-lip hair, I just never saw it.<br />
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When the time comes, I'll share the hair secrets with my daughter. Odds are not in her favor to escape this one. It's important to remember that the solution is easy, it's not embarrassing, it's part of life, it's something SO many women deal with, and it's not a big deal. So many things aren't a big deal. The simpler we make it for our kids, the simpler it is for them and us.<br />
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I'm assuming if you're here, you <i>want</i> to get rid of your hair. If you're at all like me, waxing sounded scary and shaving sounded like a bad idea. Enter cream.<br />
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**I use <a href="http://www.olay.com/skin-care-products/facial-hair-removal">Oil of Olay hair removal cream</a> and usually pick it up from Target, but you can get an even better deal <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Olay-Smooth-Finish-Facial-Removal/dp/B0058AGBYG">on Amazon</a>.<br />
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<u>Here's some simple steps:</u><br />
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1. It starts with rubbing wax on your upper lip to protect it from the cream.<br />
2. Dab on the cream, leaving it for about 8-10 minutes.<br />
3. Wipe everything off - hair and cream.<br />
4. I rinse and wash my skin with cold water and soap after that and you're done.<br />
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I know my mom puts on a protectant cream after to help with any little pimples that might come, but I've never had a problem and do NOT use anything special after the treatment. Just regular lotion and put on makeup as normal.<br />
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Don't be embarrassed, just ask. And if you're really feeling the need for a handlebar mustache instead, then I will 100% support you.<br />
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<i>And as a shout out for Mom's day:</i><br />
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MOM, thanks for letting me in on your secrets and directing me to this. You are so good at always thinking of other people, you're extremely humble and private, and yet everyone trusts you with their stories, their names, and their lives. It's because you're a really good listener. You are a peacemaker and a doer. You are a helper, a friend, and know how to multitask with the best of them. You sincerely love and dedicate your time to your family. I love your example of hard work, of perseverance when it's not fun to keep going, and of pushing through when time is the only thing that can heal. You "stroke when you don't want to stroke and kick with you don't want to kick." You are my #1 cheerleader and we survived all the younger times when I thought you didn't know anything, just to come out the other side realizing you knew everything. I'm your #1 cheerleader and will always fight on your side. Thank you for your love, your secret grandma powers over my sweet children who love you with their whole little souls, and you're undying dedication to making this world a better place. Happy Mother's Day!<br />
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<i>I'll end on the wish that we all have a mustache free day filled with chocolate dipped strawberries.</i><br />
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But just in case you still need a dinner idea, check out my <a href="http://carrotbowl.com/red-lentil-curry-with-roasted-sweet-potato-cubes/">RED LENTIL CURRY with SWEET POTATO CUBES</a>. It's a good one.<br />
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-20930518219852524632014-05-02T16:02:00.004-07:002014-05-02T16:09:24.601-07:00SIMPLE CIRCLE GARLAND<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Birthdays are a big deal around here. I'm sure they are at your house too. With kids running through every room in the house and through almost every thought, I decided to make things simpler for decorations this year. Introducing the reusable circle garland!</div>
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I usually decorate with twisted crate paper. It's what my mom did every birthday. Actually there is a whole method of birthday decorating that happened every year when I was growing up: twisted crate paper, hanging ballon bouquet from the ceiling fan above the table, and presents on the table surrounding our baby book. </div>
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I've tweaked it just a little.</div>
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In creating this circle garland I can reuse it every birthday, wrapping it around some cardboard for easy storage when I need to take it down. </div>
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The birthday presents still get put on the table, but they surround a picture of that child while they were in the hospital. I can't believe how quickly time has already passed for my littles...</div>
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We often blow up balloons that float around the floor, but sometimes we don't. </div>
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And probably the most important thing is that I crate paper back-and-forth across their bedroom door. In the morning when they wake up they have to break through the crate paper to come out of their room. I get reminded several times by the littles before bed to NOT FORGET to put the paper on the door. </div>
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I tell them they can't turn another year older until they break through the paper (ie. 2 on one side and 3 on the other). </div>
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I love this garland. I love it's simplicity, that I made it, and it's lightness. I love that it's lots of different colors and patterns. I love that it could totally be personalized however you want it. Bonus points that you don't even have to pull out your sewing machine for this one. You could, but I didn't.</div>
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<i>Some simple pointers to make your own:</i></div>
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1. I used fun colored baker's twine.</div>
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2. I punched out my scalloped circles from paper I had on-hand with my large puncher ($5 score from a garage sale! You can find them at a craft store as well.)</div>
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3. Using double stick squares or tape, adhere your two sides together on the twine. This will sandwich the twine between two circles. </div>
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I've been to cute craft stores that have small circle stickers that could do this job as well. You pay a price for the stickers and there's not many of them, but if you're doing a small garland it could be an option. This ends up being very affordable instead. Spice it up with a super important piece of cardboard!<br />
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I hope you find the time to make this cute circle garland. It could be much smaller than mine, for a mantle maybe. Or it could be much longer, cut into sections, and hung vertically down a wall as a cool backdrop. Maybe there's a baby or kid bedroom somewhere that needs this as the perfect touch. However it happens, I hope it makes you happy! </div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-81554107644445175792014-04-25T03:00:00.000-07:002014-05-27T10:02:55.576-07:00HOW TO BUILD A HOME GYM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I wanted to create this space so I don't have to pay gym fees, have more flexibility in my workout schedule, and show my kids the importance of physical exercise.</div>
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I know you might not be here for love of fitness. You might be here because you're trying to escape gym fees too, maybe you're just getting into working out more, maybe you want to supplement your gym time, or maybe you know you should work out and having it close to home in a more private atmosphere will give you the kick in the pants you want. </div>
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Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're here and I'm excited to see your future spaces! (or even current spaces)</div>
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I broke down the <b><u>Home Gym Setup in 8 Steps</u>:</b></div>
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<b>1. START WITH SOMETHING YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT</b><br />
- Did a quote get to you, put it up.<br />
- Do you love your yoga mat? How about your foam roller? Maybe a slam ball? Your 8 lb weights? Your 30 lb weights? Your treadmill?<br />
- It doesn't have to be big to mean something. It's usually the opposite.<br />
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<b>2.</b> <b>IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FANCY</b><br />
- The only space we had was our garage.<br />
- It could be a corner, a wall, a room, a loft, an attic, a patio (if you're lucky enough to be outside more than inside). It doesn't have to be big.<br />
- Or <i>even simpler...</i>get a basket, dedicate that basket as your gym. Keep your things organized in it and <u>visible</u> to remind you to use them.<br />
- You could post some inspirational quotes in your space that pump you up, paint a wall, or dedicate an unused bench, table, or shelves to store your things. (My bench was an unused work bench, it has a much better use now).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2M7cEems8e8/U1ne-5ZioaI/AAAAAAAAXLE/GFv6W46z10w/s1600/DSC09646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2M7cEems8e8/U1ne-5ZioaI/AAAAAAAAXLE/GFv6W46z10w/s1600/DSC09646.jpg" height="466" width="700" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>(This counts as cardio equipment for me right now.<br />
My 3-year-old loves going for runs together.)</div>
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<b>3. SET 1 OR 2 GOALS FOR YOURSELF</b><br />
- Keep your goals simple, attainable, and measurable.<br />
- I keep a log of my cardio on an app (<a href="http://www.mapmyrun.com/app/">map my run</a> and <a href="https://secure-nikeplus.nike.com/plus/products/gps_app/">nike running</a> are good ones) and hand-write down a log of my push-ups. I can see my progress in a very measurable way.<br />
- If a year sounds really scary, and you might not even know what you are able to do, start with<i> </i>setting monthly goals. You can reevaluate at the end of the month, setting another month's goals to grow on or out to a year if you're feeling ready. Keeping a log of your goals will help you set good ones.<br />
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<b>4. SCHEDULE IT</b><br />
- Set a schedule for when you are going to work out. I shoot for 4 running days a week and other lifting/toning exercises 2-3 times a week.<br />
- <i>Figure out what time of day works for you</i>. I have small kids, so 6 am runs outside work best or inside during the day on the treadmill. Weight/toning exercises can be done with kids around too. If you don't set a time, it makes it easier to push out to "later," eventually becoming "not today."<br />
- Maybe you want to do cardio Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Or maybe start with Tuesday and Thursday. You can alternate cardio days with toning days. You might have to experiment with what works for you. Stick with it and you'll crave the feeling, maybe not during, but definitely after. <i>You can do hard things!</i><br />
- Make sure to use your Saturday to boost your health, not bring it down. A stroll downtown, a hike, a walk around the neighborhood, or a bike ride are good options. Don't let the weekends be cheat food days. Eating healthy all week round is going to help you want to exercise...and exercise will help you want to eat healthier. Win win.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bpkm2K3XlPU/U1noDbcyrHI/AAAAAAAAXLo/Vu5uAEjyQw4/s1600/pull+up+bar+with+words+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Bpkm2K3XlPU/U1noDbcyrHI/AAAAAAAAXLo/Vu5uAEjyQw4/s1600/pull+up+bar+with+words+again.jpg" height="1202" width="700" /></a><br />
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<b>5. EQUIPMENT</b><br />
- At our house we have the following:<br />
<ul>
<li>Treadmill</li>
<li>2 lb, 8 lb, 15 lb weights</li>
<li>10 lb medicine ball</li>
<li>30 lb slam ball</li>
<li>magic push up handles</li>
<li>large exercise ball</li>
<li>pull up bar</li>
<li>foam roller</li>
<li>floor mats</li>
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<b>Cardio:</b><br />
- If exercising outdoors (running, biking, etc) isn't your thing, then you will want to invest in a piece of cardio equipment. Make this be something you'll actually use. If you hate running, <i>don't buy a treadmill</i>. Look at a bike. There's lots of bike versions out there. Maybe an elliptical will be a good fit. Find your piece.<br />
- If you're a runner in a cold place...I recommend a treadmill. I ran through the winter outside when I could stand it and on the treadmill otherwise. I'm <i>faster</i> than I was before winter because of the consistent pacing a treadmill offers. Try it.<br />
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<b>Weight:</b><br />
- Start with a set of weights that you can do 12-15 reps at a time on. You don't need a lot of weights to get started.<br />
- A medicine or slam ball can be good for two-handed weight exercises.<br />
- Whatever you get, learn how to use (even though you might feel awkward or weird at first) so your time and money don't go to waste. <i>You can do a lot with a little!</i><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvTw6FBTfOM/U1noDXBVOPI/AAAAAAAAXLs/dYRXd3WLh-I/s1600/treadmill+with+writing+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvTw6FBTfOM/U1noDXBVOPI/AAAAAAAAXLs/dYRXd3WLh-I/s1600/treadmill+with+writing+again.jpg" height="1202" width="700" /></a><br />
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<b>6. LISTEN</b><br />
- It can be easier to workout when you have something to distract you. Listening to the radio or a podcast keeps your brain engaged as much as your muscles. A TV could work, but it could also be a distraction.<br />
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<b>7. FIGHT BOREDOM</b><br />
- It can feel weird when you're first trying to get strong. I had NO idea what I was doing, but I know a couple things now.<br />
- Get <i>resources:</i><br />
<ul>
<li>Check out <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/bonnieweeks/fitness/">my fitness pinterest page</a> for lots of ideas and inspiration </li>
<li>Find instagram people that post their workouts and follow them</li>
<li>I love <a href="http://www.zuzkalight.com/">Zuzana's of Zuzka Light</a> workouts, they are killer</li>
<li>Look at <a href="http://www.womenshealthmag.com/tags/workouts">Women's Health workouts</a></li>
<li>My favorite workout app is <a href="http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/womens-training/apps/nike-training-club">Nike Training App</a> - good for iphone and android - awesome ideas, it times you, and shows how to do each move</li>
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-Just start. Lift something, do a push up, and work towards a goal. Combine that with a healthy diet and you're going to feel tons better about your health, fitness, and physique. </div>
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<b>8. DON'T GIVE UP</b></div>
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- If you miss a day, don't sweat it. Literally.</div>
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- I have a push up goal and don't always meet it every week. I don't add the missed to the next week, I just move forward to the next week. You can't move forward if you're always looking back. </div>
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-<i> Believe in you. </i></div>
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- Let your home gym inspire you and others to get strong, get fit, and get healthy. </div>
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I'll be your cheerleader!!</div>
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And Just in case you're wondering if we also use our garage to store all our junk, memorabilia, holiday decorations, toys, camping stuff, etc, etc, etc. We do and here's the proof:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DV8uYMzPz5U/U1qKWKswqGI/AAAAAAAAXMc/K93jHs3-m-E/s1600/wall+of+junk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DV8uYMzPz5U/U1qKWKswqGI/AAAAAAAAXMc/K93jHs3-m-E/s1600/wall+of+junk.jpg" height="466" width="700" /></a></div>
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You now have every excuse to start planning your own home gym! :)</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhr-CnZw3zQ/U1ne-aokqcI/AAAAAAAAXK0/ZxSiqb24j3I/s1600/DSC09628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mhr-CnZw3zQ/U1ne-aokqcI/AAAAAAAAXK0/ZxSiqb24j3I/s1600/DSC09628.jpg" height="466" width="700" /></a></div>
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And just in case you wanted to see how far my organization has come...this is what our garage looked like before it was transformed into our workout zone:</div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-5283631343878165262013-10-25T12:52:00.002-07:002014-04-23T11:44:09.285-07:00HOW TO HANG A DOOR WREATH {without nails}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qYYAHhWjpw/UmlUdrWdRhI/AAAAAAAAW4k/XkyU-wvnmEI/s1600/DSC08883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1qYYAHhWjpw/UmlUdrWdRhI/AAAAAAAAW4k/XkyU-wvnmEI/s640/DSC08883.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love wreaths. It's a simple way to dress up a door and can be super personal and unique. When I <i>don't </i>have a wreath up, lots of people can't find my house.</div>
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Right now our door has a very kid-friendly plastic Halloween sign on it. The kids think it's pretty awesome! (Thank you Grandma.)</div>
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After Halloween, we'll be back to wreaths. So I have a secret trick to share with you. </div>
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I have used 3M hooks on the OUTSIDE of my door long enough to know that it <i>does not work</i>. Maybe it will work if you don't have a lot of humidity (hello, I live in Oregon) or if you don't get direct melting heat on your door (yes, I'm talking to you Mr. Sun).<br />
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Both humidity and hot sun make the sticky 3M hook fall off. You've been warned.<br />
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If this isn't enough to convince you to <i>not</i> hang your wreaths (on the outside) with 3M hooks, then at least don't hang anything of huge value with one (inside or outside). I have a large clock...long gone to the use of the double-duty-hold-lots-of-weigh-nail-head-3M-hook. Gone. Fell off the wall and broke right at the beginning of a party last year.<br />
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On the flip side, I do like 3M hooks and they are all over my house. The velcro-like ones are great to keep pictures from wiggling on the bottom. <br />
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So in my search for a solution to hang my wreaths, <i>without putting a nail in my door</i>, I thought, "why not a hook on the backside of the door?"<br />
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Genius. It has worked great and not fallen off.<br />
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<u>LET'S GET TO WORK:</u><br />
1. Place your hook upside down on the top of your door.<br />
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2. Measure your ribbon/twine/etc to be the right length to hold your wreath AND go over the door. Please don't put it way at the top of your door OR in the middle. I think the middle door wreaths drive me crazy the most.<br />
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3. Secure your ribbon on the hook. Enjoy your wreath!<br />
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And I hope people can find your house easily now. :)</div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-63646050982869498172013-07-09T13:54:00.001-07:002013-10-24T10:05:56.264-07:00Living Room Transformation <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5klna7JPylY/Udug5eleBGI/AAAAAAAAU8M/fG7iM1mTp7c/s1600/DSC08846.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5klna7JPylY/Udug5eleBGI/AAAAAAAAU8M/fG7iM1mTp7c/s640/DSC08846.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Welcome! Pull up a seat on the couch and stay a while. I can't believe I haven't done a post on the overall great room living space that we spend about 90% of our time in. </div>
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When we bought the house 2 1/2 years ago, the whole thing was painted in <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6122-camelback/">sherwin williams camelback</a>. I hated it. Not that it is a bad color itself, just that with so much of that color it felt like the walls were closing in. Tyler actually liked it and still claims that he does, but then he also claims that this looks good. Let it be known that I painted the entire house by myself, all camelback is almost gone (3 closets left). Okay, he helped me paint the kids' bathroom, but besides that, yours truly. The new color is <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7036-accessible-beige/">sherwin williams accessible beige</a>. </div>
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If I can give you any advice, never have your house painted a color until you've lived in the house and tested out some colors first. And even then, paint a couple walls, live with it for a week, then you can decide if you really want more of that color everywhere. The camelback was just too dark for me and I knew I needed something lighter. I went to the Street of Dreams parade of homes in 2011 and found <a href="http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7036-accessible-beige/">the paint color</a>. A friend and I walked into a house and I said, "this is it. Here is my paint color." It was warm, but neutral, but gray. Perfect. </div>
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Then when I got home and looked at it on a paint-strip, it looked SO yellow. And it does still on the strip. So I thought I'd go to a slightly bluer gray and painted the living room that color. Wrong. After a couple days of a blue gray living room, totally didn't look good with the floor coloring too, I repainted it accessible beige. I haven't looked back. Now the whole house living spaces, upstairs and down, are in this color. Sometimes it has a blue hue, sometimes yellowish. It's a greige - gray brown, warm, inviting, neutral, and perfect for my space. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpNNA6UfnDM/UduvowPQM3I/AAAAAAAAU-Y/NmzptKgh3Es/s1600/old+living+room+layout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpNNA6UfnDM/UduvowPQM3I/AAAAAAAAU-Y/NmzptKgh3Es/s640/old+living+room+layout.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(Before) </div>
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And in case you need more proof. Here's what the house looked like as the decorating process was beginning. Oh, camelback. (You might recognize that rug and sideboard from <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/master-bedroom-transformation.html">our bedroom</a>). I think its amazing how different a space can look! I did like those tweed orange curtains and the color scheme together with the wall color, browns, creams, and black could look nice...but it wasn't my vision. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQfRvD9U02w/Udug9MmCwqI/AAAAAAAAU9o/7B8kEeqLCfM/s1600/DSC08880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zQfRvD9U02w/Udug9MmCwqI/AAAAAAAAU9o/7B8kEeqLCfM/s640/DSC08880.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Okay enough of that, let's get to the real thing now. Welcome through the front door. One of the things we loved about the house when we first walked through the model was the large entry. I don't want to put anything against the walls because it will cut the visual space. Well, that and it's the running space for the kids. Reason #2 for the large open space. Run room. In case you're curious, the door you see on the left wall is a pocket door to a 1/2 bathroom.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sE_308GMB7U/Udug23pWdUI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/PZE4ywYP16g/s1600/DSC08832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sE_308GMB7U/Udug23pWdUI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/PZE4ywYP16g/s640/DSC08832.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm excited to show you all the things I love about my space. It's constantly evolving, but that's what makes it fun! The very <i>first </i>thing I knew was I wanted full length curtains. I wanted to treat the huge wall of windows and sliding door as one unit. I had to rig several curtain rods together to get the length I wanted, but it worked! </div>
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It was hard to start from nothing. </div>
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People ask me how to start decorating. </div>
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Not that I'm good at it, but what worked for me to get a small step forward was to <i>pick colors</i> that I love. I like the idea of looking at what you like to wear and translating that to your home. Blue has been my favorite color for a long time. And blue, cream/white, and browns...perfect for me.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r7It3AF_jP0/UdujNJfgiwI/AAAAAAAAU-I/ADu1Pmx4ogk/s1600/DSC08833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r7It3AF_jP0/UdujNJfgiwI/AAAAAAAAU-I/ADu1Pmx4ogk/s640/DSC08833.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've had so many layouts of furniture in this room. From couches in front of the sliding back door, to swapping walls with the tv, from smaller rugs to bigger rugs, sideboard included and then not, etc. This is the nature of changing things up. Eventually I'll get bored with some of this and experiment with something new. I'm not spectacular at putting all this together, I'm just good at trial and error. Then moving forward with something else. :) So if you have any ideas about layout, what I should or shouldn't include in decorating, more pictures, less, ugly mantle decor, etc. Really, <i>really </i>I want to know. I can take it. Anything? </div>
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<a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/04/office-update.html">Our home office</a> also extends off this space. I know there's some people who don't like the open floor plan because it showcases the kitchen (and potential dirty dishes) so much. I really like it and it helps me keep the kitchen clean, too. We can all be in the same space without stepping on each other. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7fiAT8UY8I/Udug1evWFTI/AAAAAAAAU6s/T3Kh5lk8Zpc/s1600/DSC08816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7fiAT8UY8I/Udug1evWFTI/AAAAAAAAU6s/T3Kh5lk8Zpc/s640/DSC08816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60250963/#/70250967">tv console</a> is waiting for our 2-year-old to get older. It actually came with just drawers on the bottom row, but we added doors (that fold down) on the top row. These protect the cable machine, dvd player, and wii. I'll be excited to repaint and add knobs to this. We are going to wait a little longer until I know the dvd's won't be coming out all day long. So for now, I'm on the hunt for 6 drawer pulls. I think it will be a good ikea hack when it's done!</div>
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And <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Marrakesh-Trellis-Indoor-Outdoor-Rug-5-x-8/7213100/product.html">the rug</a>. Ahhhh, the rug. I love it. We had the other beige and cream one (that you can see above...that is now in our bedroom) and I was searching for a long time for <i>the</i> one. This one is 9x12 and gives the whole pop to the room. So many things are neutral, but it's a lot of fun to have something so large be such a statement. I ordered it online and it arrived just as I hoped it would. It's an indoor/outdoor rug, so not super thick, but a really nice carpet pad for under $50 makes it feel dreamy to walk on. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQbtmqbiXp0/UdugzB5N_dI/AAAAAAAAU5w/qhBS-9Vhz_w/s1600/DSC08795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YQbtmqbiXp0/UdugzB5N_dI/AAAAAAAAU5w/qhBS-9Vhz_w/s400/DSC08795.jpg" width="267" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idD4vSOcHfA/UdugzDZ1FNI/AAAAAAAAU58/mhVqOG1KkSY/s1600/DSC08789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-idD4vSOcHfA/UdugzDZ1FNI/AAAAAAAAU58/mhVqOG1KkSY/s400/DSC08789.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Even though I like the look of two couches facing each other, I really like letting light in. And we access the backyard so much from here that I don't want one of my couches to get super dirty from small hands.<br />
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So instead I got this <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Christopher-Knight-Home-Tafton-Tufted-Grey-Fabric-Club-Chair/6201477/product.html?refccid=FED2BMESQW6ZNH2E53536STLXA&searchidx=4">amazing tufted nail-head chair</a>. Seriously. It can't get better than this. I keep thinking, "I can put more of these all over my house, right?" I'm not sure, but I know I love this one.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwGMCv6hGDE/Udug0JI1HCI/AAAAAAAAU6M/95XATR6aiH4/s1600/DSC08806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JwGMCv6hGDE/Udug0JI1HCI/AAAAAAAAU6M/95XATR6aiH4/s640/DSC08806.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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Behind my chair, which Tyler still tries to claim as his idea, are some <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20213312/">display shelves</a>. I felt like I was lacking places to decorate. But you know, it's stressful trying to make them look good! I'm always browsing ideas and I <i>am</i> glad I got them. For now, the bottom two shelves are empty. Again, that's what having small children in your house looks like. Time and a season for everything. Now he's tall enough that he's starting to rearrange the books on the third shelf!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1Rlkh6M-5g/Udug2PnnKII/AAAAAAAAU68/ePMo2A6uJek/s1600/DSC08821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1Rlkh6M-5g/Udug2PnnKII/AAAAAAAAU68/ePMo2A6uJek/s400/DSC08821.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZP-gPReSZFw/Udug2bYYMMI/AAAAAAAAU7M/jJ12FgjLmQ4/s1600/DSC08826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZP-gPReSZFw/Udug2bYYMMI/AAAAAAAAU7M/jJ12FgjLmQ4/s400/DSC08826.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I love the bookends I found. The corral reminds me of the amazing ocean that's so close to us here in Portland. I know blue and white is the nautical theme base, but I don't want that to be the total vibe in our home. That said, I do love the sea, so small things are always welcome.<br />
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The old radio is completely real. It was a $5 score from a garage sale. The bulbs and cords are still in and stored inside the back. Very cool.<br />
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This was a present I found on my shelf. A certain 7-year-old boy is saving this cool specimen for later examination. I love their curiosity.<br />
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From here we go to the couches and coffee table. Since the space was large, and we didn't want to have a sectional (we wanted to have walking spaces), we went with two sofas. They are light, but have washed up well when needed. I think it's just important that you train your kids that food belongs in the kitchen or at the table. Very important. </div>
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The coffee table took forever to decide on. I had <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2011/07/blue-and-white-minus-nautical-vibe.html">several others</a> from craigslist before we came to this. That's how decorating goes. Sometimes I wished that I would walk in and it was just finished. Instead it took lots of time, swapping, and sweat to put it all together. But you know, I'd rather have it that way. I really feel like I own the look. Also, it was fun to watch my husband really get into it. I feel like our home is a representation of <i>both</i> our ideas. He'll see things and comment on them as much as I will. If you had to pin it down, I would say we're <i>rustic elegance. </i>There's an industrial edge that we really like, clean lines that are a little cold, but mixed with the soft tufted and flowing of materials. </div>
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Okay, coffee table. It was once a desk, but we <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2011/11/transformation-coffee-table.html">chopped off the legs and made it into a coffee table</a>. In our office we needed more desk space, but loved this piece of furniture. Two problems solved! <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/04/office-update.html">New desks purchased</a> and coffee table decided on. The drawers become handy places for cars, trains, and small toys - the only toys allowed to stay downstairs overnight. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eO0iiyYsbTc/Udug0WEK0-I/AAAAAAAAU6U/ZGwePqo-ZW8/s1600/DSC08808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eO0iiyYsbTc/Udug0WEK0-I/AAAAAAAAU6U/ZGwePqo-ZW8/s640/DSC08808.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Do you have a cuddle blanket in your living room? We have two and they were driving me crazy lumped on the couch or floor. Thanks you <a href="http://www.target.com/p/smith-hawken-square-basket-with-chalkboard-18/-/A-11188674#prodSlot=medium_1_6&term=basket">basket</a>. Easy solution!</div>
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How about pillows? I like a variety of pillows and they are so easy to make. I made the yellow floral and blue floral pillows. Also, the chevron blue and white pillow (by cutting striped fabric at an angle and resewing back together). Recently, I've been thinking of <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93871973455942639/">different patterns but all the same color</a>...maybe a <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/93871973453997570/">blue color</a> like this would mix well with what I have going on? Or orange? Or green?</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uvy-W_BtkQc/Udug3lrqwrI/AAAAAAAAU7k/7ed-G9mwT9s/s1600/DSC08838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uvy-W_BtkQc/Udug3lrqwrI/AAAAAAAAU7k/7ed-G9mwT9s/s640/DSC08838.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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I love <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2011/11/floating.html">our mantel</a>. When we first moved in, there was nothing there. We basically built a box and mounted it to the wall. The boards were plain and we banged them up with screw drivers, awls, and other tools. Then we stained them dark and and <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2011/11/floating.html">screwed them together</a>. The artwork here changes out along with the shelves. Right now they are both bright-themed in honor of summer. The <a href="https://www.etsy.com/transaction/67491424?ref=fb2_tnx_title">bird art</a> is from the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KathyPanton?ref=seller_info">Kathy Panton</a> Etsy shop.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PippPsfQwHA/Udug6IyjsbI/AAAAAAAAU8k/wA2yZRx8Pc8/s1600/DSC08850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PippPsfQwHA/Udug6IyjsbI/AAAAAAAAU8k/wA2yZRx8Pc8/s640/DSC08850.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I love horses. Tyler thinks that all girls do. Maybe we do. Even though I grew up in Montana, I didn't own horses, we lived in a regular neighborhood. Seriously, <a href="http://jameswinegar.com/americanhorse/">look at how chiseled and majestic</a> they are. I printed this photo from a find online, thanks to someone's instagram. I'd love a cool looking horse statue somewhere in my house. </div>
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The <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/03/mirror-mirror-on-wall.html">mirror above the mantel</a> was a craigslist find, spray painted white. I was looking for something with ornate edges. I didn't think I'd go oval, but then it ends up working out well with so many other square edges in the room. I've also decided that I love having a plant on the mantel. Something living in the room warms it up a lot. </div>
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The picture frames on the wall are filled with black and white pictures of my kids...in the theme of dress-up. They are wearing fairy wings, cowboys outfits, batman's suit, and funny noses. It is hard to narrow down the thousands of pictures, but deciding on a theme made it so much easier! Another idea is to choose pictures from a single event. I can't get enough of gallery walls and have one brewing for our loft (reveal to come). </div>
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This is <a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Indoor-5-light-Luxury-Crystal-Chandelier/5152205/product.html">the light</a>, people. For real. I loved it the first time I saw it. And then I saw something similar in <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/celebrity-style/keri-russell-at-home-69262#slide-1">Keri Russel's home</a> and loved it even more - she has awesome home style. I feel like this adds elegance to the space when there's lots of industrial and rustic accents.<br />
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From the living room, you can see the kitchen and dining room. I love the huge open space in the middle, room to run and play for the kids. It's also handy when we entertain. I'm working on putting together our next <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/08/1st-annual-comedy-night.html">Comedy Night</a>.</div>
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You can see our <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/04/house-rules.html">House Rules</a> posted to remind the kids that we do have some set things we hold to. It's fun to have them refer to them and read them out-loud to their friends.<br />
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The <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-beam-dining-table-rustic-industrial.html">table we built</a> is still one of our favorite projects. We finished it the end of last summer and haven't regretted a moment of it. It has seated up to 12 bodies - great for <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/06/geology-birthday-party.html">birthday parties</a> and <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/02/posole.html">dinner parties</a>. Also amazing for the kids to do projects. They can be working on one end while the other end is being prepared to eat dinner. I love how it looks and the girth it portrays. You can't get much more industrial than that!<br />
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The drum light above the table was a random antique store find. I'd been on the look-out for one, clean beautiful lines, and found this for a great deal. The print on the far wall of the dining area is a street layout of Chicago, IL. Tyler served a mission for <a href="http://mormon.org/">our church</a> there and still thinks often of the growth he achieved and craziness he saw. I've searched for the dealer of the print and can't find it, sorry. I found it on fab.com.<br />
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Looking back towards the entry, the garage entrance is to the left, the pocket bathroom door to the right. There's also a <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-closet-revamp.html">coat closet</a> right to the left of the garage door. (I'm turning our garage into a workout room!)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyN9OBB9m0k/Udug7kOLhQI/AAAAAAAAU9I/_dm-Th9v2dI/s1600/DSC08873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZyN9OBB9m0k/Udug7kOLhQI/AAAAAAAAU9I/_dm-Th9v2dI/s640/DSC08873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On one of the entry walls I have <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2011/05/silhouettes-of-kids.html">silhouettes I made of the kids</a>. I can't believe it's been 2 years since I made these! I thought I'd update them through the years, but I think I'll leave them. It's such a good capture of their little-ness. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjuovpAstgc/Udug8oVPQNI/AAAAAAAAU9c/Vz3u6sXFfwU/s1600/DSC08877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gjuovpAstgc/Udug8oVPQNI/AAAAAAAAU9c/Vz3u6sXFfwU/s640/DSC08877.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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On the other wall I hung a picture that I took at Seaside Beach. There was a huge log covered with barnacles on shore, too cool to pass up a picture. Like I said, I love the ocean and in small ways, want it present in our home. There's something grand and powerful in it. I guess much like horses to me.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rm4ws_RPvU/Udug8prMeaI/AAAAAAAAU9s/pS_-Ue8aGCc/s1600/DSC08879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rm4ws_RPvU/Udug8prMeaI/AAAAAAAAU9s/pS_-Ue8aGCc/s640/DSC08879.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And here's we've come full circle. Shoes off at the door, under the bench. The bottom of the stairs is the fast time-out place for the kids as well as a great well-lit place to play. I want to keep things simple here, letting the arches and openness of the floor plan speak for itself.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzU_uM8i10A/Udug9fc0YDI/AAAAAAAAU94/lM7OCQ3x-lQ/s1600/DSC08881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzU_uM8i10A/Udug9fc0YDI/AAAAAAAAU94/lM7OCQ3x-lQ/s640/DSC08881.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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And if you were to turn towards the stairs...well, then that will have to be a whole other post. If you could even make it through this one with me. :) </div>
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I hope you enjoy your home. And if not, make a plan, find colors that you love, and know that it will take time, trial, and experimenting to figure it out. Even then, you'll still have more projects. It's all part of the fun! </div>
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Click the item below to find the link:</div>
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<a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Handmade-Marrakesh-Trellis-Indoor-Outdoor-Rug-5-x-8/7213100/product.html">Rug</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Christopher-Knight-Home-Tafton-Tufted-Grey-Fabric-Club-Chair/6201477/product.html?refccid=FED2BMESQW6ZNH2E53536STLXA&searchidx=4">Gray Tufted Nail-head Chair</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60250963/#/70250967">TV console</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20213312/">Open Shelves</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20206043/">Dark Blue Curtains</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=129846&COL=115&RN=129&">Crushed Voile Sheer Curtains</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Indoor-5-light-Luxury-Crystal-Chandelier/5152205/product.html">Bubble Chandelier</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.pacificlifestylefurniture.com/">Couches</a> </div>
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<a href="http://www.target.com/p/smith-hawken-square-basket-with-chalkboard-18/-/A-11188674#prodSlot=medium_1_6&term=basket">Basket</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60027285/">Sticks</a> and <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30122199/#/50122198">Vase</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/KathyPanton?ref=seller_info">Bird Art</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20115038/">Dining room chairs</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10177885/">Gray rug at entry</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40259040/">Bench at entry</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60232813/">House Rules picture frame</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60098975/">Clock in dining area</a></div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-81709211200595499952013-06-14T09:01:00.000-07:002014-05-27T10:03:24.485-07:00GEOLOGY BIRTHDAY PARTY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Rocks! </div>
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In all my birthday party planning, this is the first time I really rocked it! Bwhaa-ha-ha-haaa. Okay, I'll stop. But really, I've never created such a master plan. It was a ton of fun and the kids were talking about it long after the party was over. </div>
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In the gathering of items, I ordered enough <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Fine-Tip-Permanent-24-Pack-Assorted/dp/B0003WN0DO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371103297&sr=8-2&keywords=sharpies">sharpies</a> to last a lifetime, <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/diy-mini-drawstring-bags-a2-48_4055-12-1.fltr?Ntt=canvas%20bags">small canvas bags</a> that will double as an activity and goody bags, and <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/magnificent-magnifying-glasses-a2-59_1011-12-1.fltr?Ntt=magnifying%20glasses">magnifying glasses</a> to examine their rocks - handed out as the kids were leaving. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RimMOqdMac/UblTz7XE4tI/AAAAAAAAU18/WG_1Y-WGA4M/s1600/DSC07796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RimMOqdMac/UblTz7XE4tI/AAAAAAAAU18/WG_1Y-WGA4M/s400/DSC07796.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6s2kNvm67Cg/UblTzu3gN4I/AAAAAAAAU14/0XDSo0kRWIM/s1600/DSC07799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6s2kNvm67Cg/UblTzu3gN4I/AAAAAAAAU14/0XDSo0kRWIM/s400/DSC07799.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><b><u>The Plan:</u></b> 2 hours, 12 boys, lots of noise.<br />
(Every 15 minutes plan to change activities...or shorter in some cases.)<br />
1 - Play ROCK, paper, scissors<br />
2 - Play dough and exploding volcano<br />
3 - Learn about rocks<br />
4 - Decorate Bags<br />
5 - Play Rock, Rock, Crystal<br />
6 - Eat lava cake and ice cream<br />
7 - Open presents<br />
8 - Rock dig<br />
9 - Break geodes<br />
10 - Natural history video/show<br />
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Now for the extended directions for your very own geology party. As an additional note, there's some awesome party ideas out there. We picked from several different places and came up with this particular party. I would definitely recommend the E-book for birthday parties from <a href="http://www.rocksmineralsandfossilsforkids.com/rmf-birthdayparty.htm">Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils for Kids</a>. It's the same place we ordered the rocks and geodes from as well.<br />
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<b>1st</b> - When the kids arrived, they had to play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock-paper-scissors">ROCK, paper, scissors</a> until everyone was here. We played tournament style. Perfect and catches their attention while waiting.<br />
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<b>2nd</b> - Play dough exploding volcano. I made my own play dough for the party; it was easy and I didn't feel as bad about having it be destroyed post play. I tripled the batch from <a href="http://www.preparedpantry.com/how-to-make-playdough.htm">The Prepared Pantry's recipe</a>, didn't add dye, and it worked great. Each kid got their own ball to shape and mold to the perfect mini volcano.<br />
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After they played for a while, we combined all the individual dough pieces together in a shallow tub and formed a large volcano. With a large box of baking soda and a large bottle of vinegar, we had a fabulous <a href="http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/buildavolcano.htm">volcano show</a>. We could have used some food coloring, it might have looked even cooler.<br />
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<b>3rd</b> - Talk about rocks. I had posters up and in between transitions we had the boys go to the posters (like this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minerals-Poster-24x36-Pretty-Rocks/dp/B001BOFLR6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371185605&sr=8-3&keywords=geology+posters">one</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Poster-Set-Geology-Rocks-Minerals/dp/B004XMNJO0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1371185605&sr=8-4&keywords=geology+posters">two</a>), learn something, and then come sit back at the table to talk about it. This was noisy and fun. You'll have to be good at directing their energy about learning.</div>
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<b>4th</b> - Decorating bags. For goody prizes, the kids took home rocks and a <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/magnificent-magnifying-glasses-a2-59_1011-12-1.fltr?Ntt=magnifying%20glasses">magnifying glass</a>. So decorating these <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/diy-mini-drawstring-bags-a2-48_4055-12-1.fltr?Ntt=canvas%20bags">bags</a> with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sharpie-Fine-Tip-Permanent-24-Pack-Assorted/dp/B0003WN0DO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1371103297&sr=8-2&keywords=sharpies">sharpies</a> was a great activity and made the goody bags mean more to each of the kids. I cut pieces of cardboard (AKA cereal boxes) to a size that would slip into the bag. You'll want to do this so the sharpies don't bleed through to the other side...or on <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-beam-dining-table-rustic-industrial.html">your table</a>. I laid <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20152281/">paper</a> underneath just to be safe. </div>
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<b>5th</b> - Play rock, rock, crystal. This is simply <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck,_duck,_goose">duck, duck, goose</a> with different names. It was nice outside, so Tyler took the kids in the backyard while I cleaned up the bags and prepared for the dessert. It was a perfect "active" activity to break up what we'd been doing.</div>
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<b>6th </b>- Lava cakes. When I asked the birthday boy what he wanted to have for a cake, we looked at several options. First, we were going to make a cake that looked like a volcano, something like <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/semi-homemade-cooking-with-sandra-lee/volcano-cake-recipe/index.html">this</a>. But then we opted for individual volcanoes for everyone. Looking at the blog <a href="http://wantsandwishesdesign.blogspot.com/">Wants & Wishes</a> we found this tutorial for some <a href="http://wantsandwishesdesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/dinosaur-party-molten-lava-volcano.html">cakes</a>. I looked around for a pan with cone cups, but being short on time and figuring it would taste just as well, we opted to use a regular muffin pan. I do think the more cone shaped pan would have been cooler, but this worked great. (If you want a cone pan I like this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Platinum-Collection-Cupcake/dp/B0012PUENA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371222784&sr=8-1&keywords=cone+baking+pan">one</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silikomart-SF052-Silicone-Classic-Collection/dp/B002ZIDW6E/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1371222784&sr=8-13&keywords=cone+baking+pan">two</a>).</div>
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As for the cakes. Holy cow! They were a m a z i n g. I used <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/ghirardelli-individual-chocolate-lava-cakes/detail.aspx">this recipe on allrecipes</a> for them. I love the idea of the centers being made separately, not just depending on a soggy cake middle (although I know know it tastes good too). If it helps, I made the center filling the night before and stuck it in the fridge (as per a commenter). It worked, but actually next time I'll just do it the prescribed way in the recipe. It was a little easier to deal with the centers when they weren't totally cold. Again, these cakes are pretty amazing. You'll want to save a couple for yourself.</div>
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Using candy melts, we had three different colors of lava to decorate the cakes. I melted each candy color and then put them on individually, draping them using a spoon. When the cakes were ready, we served them with some ice cream.</div>
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<b>6th</b> - Present opening time...</div>
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<b>7th</b> - Rock Dig. I had 2 large buckets already on hand and bought <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-Play-Sand-111351/100318476#.Ubs4mvmsiSo">3 bags of sand</a> from Home Depot, dividing them between the 2 buckets. We had put <a href="http://www.rocksmineralsandfossilsforkids.com/rmf-p-3lb-rough.htm">3 lbs of rough rock</a> mix and <a href="http://www.rocksmineralsandfossilsforkids.com/rmf-p-3lbtumbling.htm">3 lbs of tumbled rocks</a> in the buckets for the kids to dig for. We told them everyone got 10 rocks each. We could have upped that to 12 and been fine. (There were the 12 boys plus 2 sisters digging together).</div>
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<b>8th </b>- Cracking open geodes. Each guest got one geode to crack open. We didn't have the typical geode cracking tool, but a hammer worked well. Tyler ended up cracking them open for the kids, then the child gathered the pieces and put them in their goody bags. It was a fun activity and I'm glad we got them. Some of the geodes were hollow with cool crystals, some different colors. Other geodes weren't hollow, but still had a smooth crystal interior.<br />
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<b>9th</b> - Natural history video/show. So this part wasn't planned, but after the rock dig and breaking geodes, we still had 10 minutes before parents were due to arrive. With our amazon prime account we had recently watched a show about volcanoes and dinosaurs that worked perfect with our theme. The kids came inside and settled down to watch it...all very enthralled. It was actually perfect to have the parents come and the kids leave smoothly one at a time, without chaos and lots of noise. I will totally plan on this for future parties. The kids went out the door with their goody bags full of rocks and were given a <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/magnificent-magnifying-glasses-a2-59_1011-12-1.fltr?Ntt=magnifying%20glasses">magnifying glass</a> to examine them.</div>
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This party was a blast! As adults, it was fun to plan and execute, the kids were really into it and it was fun to watch them. I hope you have our own successful geology party!</div>
Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-49785024748703899052013-04-19T02:00:00.000-07:002013-04-19T02:00:10.200-07:00Office Update<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You know how sometimes you live with a room for a while and then you get tired of it? That's what happened in our office. It seemed like such a sad addendum to the rest of the living space, mostly because of it's lack of color. Problem solved! </div>
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(<span style="font-size: x-small;">Before)</span></div>
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I revealed <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/05/welcome-to-our-office.html">The Office</a> last May, and not that there's a huge amount different, but enough to make it a little more lively. So almost a year later, here we are again. And lest you think I've gotten it down this time: sometimes I wonder if the blue has too much green or if the other walls should be a different shade of gray. But then I stand back and think I like it so much more than before and don't dislike it enough to redo it yet again. :) Yet. Everything in the house is subject to scrutiny. </div>
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So here you have our very used and functional office. </div>
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I really do like it. I loved the fabric for the curtains before, but now you can really see them! There <i>has</i> to be a good chevron somewhere in the house. It shows I'm decorating my home in the 2012/2013 era. I happen to love the trend and embracing it was very easy for me. And you??</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Before)</span> </div>
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(After) </div>
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If you look closely, the pictures on the wall are simpler and cleaner than my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/05/welcome-to-our-office.html">first attempt</a>. I had to repaint the main room color and when I went to hang everything again, it just wasn't working. Sometimes less is more.<br />
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I love that we have <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2013/04/matching-office-chairs.html">Matching Chairs</a>! It gives the room some balance. There's already plenty of busyness going on in there to have the chairs be clashing as well. </div>
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The other corner of the office houses one of the closets from my <a href="http://prettydubs.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-closet-revamp.html">Closet Revamp</a>. Which is now even more organized than those pictures. On the wall next to the bookshelves is a very full display area. The kids' artwork hangs there as it comes home. We might need more magnet boards. <br />
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I just love that this space fits our family. We spend a lot of time doing crafts (thank you closet), reading books, working on the computer, and having dance parties in this space. Actually, we had a dance party tonight in here. Here's to your own updated spaces!! Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-61917057690360337222013-04-16T22:15:00.000-07:002013-04-17T18:38:56.538-07:00Matching Office Chairs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love my new craigslist find! I've been wanting new chairs in the office that actually matched. I've had similar painted/upholstered chairs, but they just weren't speaking to me anymore.</div>
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They weren't in very good condition when I brought them home, but for $46, I'll take them. They had gross red vinyl seats. The extra surprise was the old jeans that were stapled to the chairs under the vinyl. <br />
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One of the chairs had some damage to the stain. It looked like something acidic had been spilled down the back and on several places on the bottom rungs. I used some stain I had on hand and touched up all the spots and sealed with some leftover sealant.<br />
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I used woven straps for the new seat support. Firmly stapled. <br />
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(*Now having been living with them, I wish I would have cut boards to match the shape of each seat and mounted them on top of the wood frame. I don't like the "sinking" in the seats. Personal preference.)<br />
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I used spray adhesive to attach the seats to the foam. I just needed them to not slide around while I tried to cover them. <br />
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I laid each seat on top of my vinyl and cut large squares that left plenty of overhang during stapling. I began stapling in the middle of each side and worked my way out. I kept my pliers handy. Pulling staples out and repositioning them is part of the process.<br />
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The corners were tricky. Surprise! When aren't they. I ended up doing this fold on all of them, the crease pointing outward to the sides of the seat. You can see you the one piece is folded under the front part. I can't give you any other specifics really. You'll just have to play with the vinyl.<br />
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One important thing to remember though: spread out your vinyl on the corners. That might not make sense, but the underside that has to fit in a specific size of chair will be unable to if the vinyl makes your seat top too big. <br />
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One everything was stapled well, I trimmed the fabric.<br />
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This is the exciting part!<br />
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It's so fun to see the vision come together! I've been crushing on seats with this specific back shape for a while. And the light gray vinyl (thank you Joann) was a perfect compliment to the shape, the color, and our style.<br />
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When I put the seat top on, I put the front edge in the frame first and it seemed to make the vinyl line up better on the other sides. Then I screwed it to the chair.</div>
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Yea! They are done! Tyler and I have matching chairs + 1! Can you really have too many chairs? I've realized I've begun quite the collection of random chairs, but I think I'm okay with that. Good luck with your chair projects!<br />
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-5865058426006230922013-04-15T03:00:00.000-07:002013-04-15T03:00:12.145-07:00A Blog Announcement<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://carrotbowl.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z3uxvqIEvs0/UWum6IzpSmI/AAAAAAAATsQ/ffOTIvzQczQ/s1600/welcometo.png" /></a></div>
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I've been so excited to tell you (drum roll please) that I have a new blog!!</div>
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I've been thinking about doing this for a while and after slaving away learning a new system, I now have a place to invite you to in wordpress. </div>
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<a href="http://carrotbowl.com/">Carrot bowl</a> is the new home for all food, Pretty Dubs will remain the home for home and crafty projects. I get to have double the fun now! I have some good things coming up for both places and I hope you have fun exploring. </div>
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Talk to you soon!</div>
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-65481038157761966402013-04-05T16:17:00.003-07:002013-04-05T16:17:59.109-07:00House Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You're likely to get some creative answers if you ask small children what they <i>think</i> are your house rules. I know because this is exactly what we did. <br />
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I've seen many display ideas for house rules, but I wanted to make it really personal. It was a fun activity to do and the kids love looking at it now. I think you should try it and share the extra good "rules" with us in the comments below! I look forward to reading them. <br />
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Here are some of the creative answers from our brainstorming:<br />
<i>No drugs</i> (this slightly humorous because my oldest is 6 and hardly knows more than the word)<br />
AND<br />
<i>No spitting on each other</i> (apparently there's something I don't know about)<br />
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Some people might claim that <i>no ha-ha talk</i> (no teasing each other), <i>no nasty bottoms</i> (no gross talk), and <i>bottom down, tummy up </i>(sit on your bottom with your tummy up to the table when we're eating) would be the unique ones, but not to us. That's the fun part of doing it on a personal level! <br />
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(I love that my 6-year-old helped write some of these out!)</div>
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After we made a list, I narrowed it down to several that I really wanted displayed. My sister-in-law <a href="http://alisaheinitzdesign.weebly.com/">Alisa</a> is a graphic designer and I sent her the dimensions of the <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60232813/?query=UNG+DRILL+Frame">ung drill frame</a> and what I was thinking graphically. She worked her magic (like she does over everything!) and she came up with this. I love it! I think she should sell them, letting people personalize the "rules" and telling her the frame size to fit it in. Can't you see this in your house?<br />
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Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8332852560584674419.post-69873943158257556422013-03-24T11:45:00.000-07:002013-04-11T14:26:50.169-07:00I Hate Being Late + Roasted Brussel Sprouts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If there's one thing that drives me crazy about myself, it's my judgement of timeliness. I hate being late and I feel like I try so hard to be on time. But then I'm not. <br />
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So I think I've come to a couple conclusions about this. <b>I have three children</b>. Getting them ready consistently takes twice as long as I think it will. I need to adjust my start time (<i>even if it seems SO early to start the process</i>...which I do think). <br />
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I need to walk away from the house mess. I like to leave with things picked up and put away. I need to forget about that and step out the door. <b>The multi-tasking is what's killing me</b>. I shouldn't put on my shoes, throw diapers away, and rinse the breakfast dishes all at the same time. Just put your shoes on. Those extra minutes are what's eating at you. Well, me. <br />
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<b>Lay out clothes</b> the night before and don't come downstairs until I'm dressed. Inevitably, if I come down pajama-clad, I think I have enough time to unload the clean dishes, check email, and maybe even get myself breakfast. <b>If I got up earlier</b> (which might also be a key, but I kinda don't want to), that would be doable. If I keep with my current wake time, I can't let myself do anything until I'm totally ready to go. <br />
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The other plus to thinking about clothes the night before is I avoid the jeans and t-shirt approach that happens in 30 second dressing options. Not that it's bad, just that <b>it's nice to feel put together</b> sometimes. Jeans and t-shirt still can look hot. ;)<br />
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I have been saying "shoes on" to the kids when we have 15 minutes to be there. I need to <b>say that at 25 minutes</b> so we actually pull out of the drive way at the 15. Anyone have kids that actually do that the first time you ask them?!<br />
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And my attitude? So much more <b>patient</b> when I'm relaxed and in control of the time. I want to help my kids rather then get frustrated they didn't listen for the 3rd time. I want to have conversation in the car rather than drown it out with music; trying to recoup some inner control. It makes things <b>easier</b> when I'm on time. It makes them <b>calm</b> and even more fun. That sounds weird, but I think it's because in those moments I feel relaxed and positive. <br />
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Are there last minute <b>blow-outs </b>and <b>nose bleeds </b>and <b>backpacks forgotten</b>? Yes, but if I prepare to leave on time, then those unpredictable times don't hurt the clock as bad as they would have before. <br />
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Does <b>anyone else</b> have this same issue? Have you overcome it? What do you do to keep yourself on time? <br />
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Okay, okay. And just because you were dying for brussel sprouts today. Here they are.<br />
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I've never <i>loved</i> brussel sprouts and don't even know if I had them as a kid, but this is the first way I've enjoyed them. Honestly. So if you're not a brussel lover, this might be a good one for you.<br />
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<b>Roasted Brussel Sprouts</b><br />
<b>With Dijon, Walnuts, & Crisp Crumbs</b><br />
From Fine Cooking Magazine: Cook Fresh Winter 2013<br />
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<i>Sprouts: </i><br />
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil<br />
2 Tbsp dijon mustard<br />
1 tsp worcestershire sauce<br />
1/2 tsp caraway seeds, toasted lightly and crushed (I didn't have these and mine tasted good still)<br />
salt and pepper<br />
2 lb brussel sprouts, ends trimmed, cut through the core into quarters<br />
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<i>Topping:**</i><br />
1 Tbsp unsalted butter<br />
1 cup coarse fresh breadcrumbs (I used Panko - you use gluten free bread as well OR omit all together)<br />
1/2 cup chopped walnuts<br />
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Position racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and heat the oven to 400. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.<br />
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In a large bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of the olive oil (<i>I used about 1/8 cup</i>) with the mustard, worcestershire sauce, caraway seeds, 1/2 tsp salt, and about 1/8 tsp pepper. Add the brussel sprouts and toss to thoroughly distribute the mustard mixture. Spread the sprouts in an even layer on the 2 baking sheets. <br />
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Roast until the cores of the sprouts are just barely tender and the leaves are browning and crisping a bit, 20-25 minutes (if your oven heat is uneven, rotate the pans midway through cooking).<br />
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While the sprouts are roasting, make the topping. Line a plate with 2 layers of paper towels. Heat the remaining 1 Tbsp oil with the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter has stopped foaming, add the breadcrumbs all at once; toss to coat. Reduce the heat to medium, add the walnuts and 1/4 tsp salt, and cook, stirring constantly, until the crumbs are browned and slightly crisp and the nuts are golden, 4-6 minutes. (The crumbs will start to sound "scratchy" as they get crisp." Dump the breadcrumb mixture onto the paper towels to drain the oil. <br />
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Transfer the sprouts to a serving bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper if necessary. Sprinkle the crumbs over the sprouts just before serving.<br />
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<i>**I did try this recipe with the written ingredients, but I would like to try again using coconut oil instead of olive oil. Also, for the topping, simply sprinkling roasted chopped walnuts or any nut of choice would be a great addition; leaving out the bread and oil.</i>Bonnie Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05039689205881786179noreply@blogger.com7