The 10-Minute, 10-Dollar Pretty Fall Wreath!

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Sarah

Have you ever heard that saying, “Sometimes less, is more?” Well that is the basis of this ten-minute, ten-dollar pretty fall wreath that I’m about to share with you!

Short, simple and sweet!

Here is what you will need:

Grapevine Wreath (Walmart for $5)
Fall Leafy Thing (Dollar Store for $3)
Monogrammed Letter (I made this out of $2 worth of twine from the Dollar Store! Learn how to make your own $2 monogrammed twine letter – coming soon!)
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun
Shim (for extra support)

The very first thing that I did was start playing with the layout of the leaves and my letter “G”. I decided that I liked the “G” placed the best on the bottom left hand corner of my wreath.

I then started pulling of the leafy pieces from my dollar store fall leafy thing, and started just sticking them into my wreath. I added just a few before placing my “G”.

When placing my letter, I noticed that it might need just a little bit of extra support…. I went out to the garage and found this handy-dandy shim which worked just perfectly. Even a paint stick, or anything that you can find will do!

After inserting my shim into the wreath, I then hot glued my letter to the shim.

The really great thing about this wreath is that nothing is actually glued or permanently fastened. This means that you can switch out the décor for the next season and reuse the wreath!

(I think maybe for spring I’ll leave the letter and add in some pussy willows that I have saved from our tree on the front lawn! I just have to actually remember this plan when the time comes, lol!)

Next I inserted the rest of my fall leafy things underneath my letter, and really – that’s it!

It only took about ten minutes to complete this wreath, (if even that)! And I mean for ten dollars? You can’t go wrong! I love, love, love all of the pretty fall wreaths that I always see at Michaels and Winners and other gift and home décor shops, but I just can’t ever justify spending forty to one hundred dollars, plus! And personally, I think my wreath turned out just as pretty – for a lot less!

So go ahead…. Give it a try! Post pictures of your very own beautiful homemade wreath in the comments below!

A Quick & Easy Fall Buffet Makeover!

Posted on September 14, 2016 by Sarah

This year I could not wait to start decorating for fall! And even though it’s still a little early, I just don’t care – I’m going for it!I actually started stock-piling up my fall decor in early August…. but I am just starting to organize and put it out now…. Sad in more ways than one, yes I know! 😉

My first task of every season is always to start out by decorating my favorite antique dining room hutch – or the “Buffet”, as I like to call it.This buffet was in my parents dining room for the whole time that I was growing up in their 180-year-old farmhouse, and then was eventually banished to live in the barn for a few years.

Since I have always been super in love with this beautiful piece, I decided to bring it home and give it a makeover. (You can check out the entire process, including before and after photos of the makeover, here!)

Now…. Back to decorating!

Step One: Clear off entire buffet.

Step Two: Add a pretty runner.

Step Three: Ignore the dirty mirror… for now!

I always, always find that the best way to start decorating, is to start with a clean slate!

After creating the perfect blank slate, the next step that I like to take, is adding my larger “background” décor pieces. And…. What I start out with is not always what I end up with, as you’ll soon see!Like my pretty runner?! I found this little guy in a super cute antique shop in Campbellford, Ontario…. I actually picked up two of them, so I have a matching one for my dining room table. Hopefully I’ll get to my fall table setting sometime soon! (If you are looking for ideas for the perfect fall table setting, check out my post on How To Create The Perfect Table Setting!)

Again… ignore the dirty mirror – we’ll fix that guy later! 😉

Next I start dressing up my larger pieces, by adding accents and playing around with the details.

I actually used all Dollar Store stuff to dress up this piece! Dollar Store, pinecones, flowers, and the leaves off of the flowers. I just jumbled them altogether in the baskets until I was happy with them!

I even got the pretty fake gourds and pumpkins from the Dollar Store!

I just dressed them up a little…. (How To Transform Dollar Store Pumpkins!)

Once I was happy with the above piece, I started sticking in other pieces of my fall décor, and switching things out, just to see what I liked the best! As you can see below, I ended up switching out the clock for my most favorite vase ever…. A decorative tin vase that I purchased at an annual flea market for a whole five dollars!

After I decided to use my favorite vase, I then had to find something to put in it…. It took me a few minutes to come up with the perfect thing that I have been waiting to use for a long time now!

You see, I have this crazy monster-tree in my front flowerbed! It was only supposed to grow to 4 feet, but it’s more like 10 feet, since the pieces on the top grow straight up. The last time that I trimmed it, I thought hmm…. I’m going to utilize this monster-tree and make it work!

The final steps for decorating my beautiful buffet for fall, were to add pumpkins, and a few pops of color! I know that neutral whites are really in this year, but I just had to add the bright orange pumpkins…. And I do love how they look!

I also added in my lovely antique insulators…. Three of my favorite pieces!And that’s basically it! Recap! Start with a blank slate, add a pretty runner for a backdrop…. Add in some larger background pieces, some accents, some favorite pieces, and a pop of color!

How To Transform Dollar Store Pumpkins!

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Sarah

You know those super-ugly pumpkins and gourds that you can get from the dollar store?!

OK, well maybe they aren’t that ugly…. Perhaps they just aren’t quite the right colors for your home décor? Well, guess what! You can transform those dollar store pumpkins into something beautiful that will work perfect for you!

It’s really way easier than you are probably thinking, too! I used chalk paint and acrylic paint, but really any type of paint that you have on hand will do!

Umm…. Step one – Ditch the toddler!!!! Just kidding! (Maybe!)

Ok, step one for real now! The first thing that you want to do is mix up your base coat. I had some white chalk paint on hand, so I just simply added some dark green acrylic paint to it, until I created a color that I was happy with. Kind of like a mossy-mint green, I guess?! Next I applied this base coat to all of my ugly dollar store pumpkins. I actually applied two coats of paint for my base coat. This may vary depending on what type of paint you are using…. Just keep applying paint until you have full coverage!

Looking pretty good, right?! Definitely much better than before, but I still wanted to add a little more detail, so they looked just a little more realistic. Now you may think this is the tricky part, but really it’s quite simple, so don’t panic!

(Hey! Looking for more great pumpkin decor ideas? Check out White Painted Pumpkins and Milk Glass!)

I just picked out the accent colors that I wanted to add to my mossy-mint pumpkins, and put a dab of each color onto my pallet – uh, I mean mason jar lid! I then dabbed a little of each color onto my paint brush. The secret to get everything blended so well is to keep using the same paint brush for all of the colors, without rinsing in between.

I then started applying the accent colors inside the grooves of my pumpkins. Then I went back to each groove and “brushed it out” across the rest of the pumpkin, using vertical strokes only!

I just kept repeating this process for all of my pumpkins…. Playing with the accent colors until I was happy with them. I then went back and repainted my stems. Being the sloppy painter that I am, any extra paint that I got onto my pumpkins, I just “brushed it out”, and blended it in!

I then let my pumpkins dry.

And added them to my décor….

And I really couldn’t be happier with how they turned out!

Umm, are those fake or real?!

So go ahead and give it a try! Remember, if I can do it, you can do it! 😉

[Psst! Check out: The Very Best Tips for Cleaning Paint Brushes Quickly and Easily, from the creeklinehouse.com!)

HERE ARE SOME MORE POSTS TO ENJOY!

Faux Pumpkins for Early-Fall Lovers! (Like Me!)

Mason Jar Pumpkin Candle Holders

A Quick & Easy Fall Buffet Makeover!

Get This Burlap Printable Set for Fall, for Free!

A little fall here, a little fall there, 2016 Fall Home Tour!

*This post may contain affiliate links.

The Ultimate Hospital Baby Checklist!

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Sarah

Anticipating the birth of your new baby is one of the most exciting times of your life! It can also be one of the most stressful, especially if it is your first born, and even if it’s not your first, no two pregnancies are exactly alike. Making sure that you are prepared for when baby comes can be such a fun, but also such a huge process! To help ease a little of the stress for your new baby’s arrival, use the below checklist to help you pack and be all ready for the big day!

Psst! Click here for the Printable Version: The Ultimate Hospital Baby Checklist

To help keep you super organized, I have broken down this checklist into 5 different sections:

Packing for Mommy
Packing for Partner
Packing for Siblings
- Note: If the new baby is your first, just ignore this section!
Packing for Baby
If Bottle Feeding
- Note: If you are planning to breastfeed, just ignore this section!

Packing for Mommy

Packing for Mommy is so important! Could you imagine if you didn’t have your bag packed in time and your husband or partner had to end up doing it for you?! Oh boy…. I can just imagine what my husband would pack for me, and it’s not a good thought! Of course, if he used this checklist, it might not be sooo bad….

The first item on the list is the Birthing Plan. A birthing plan is created in order for you to easily communicate your personal preferences to the medical professionals that will be assisting you. It should include things such as your pain management plan, labor/delivery and your “after delivery” preferences.

Just remember that although you have created a special birth plan just for you, you may need to be flexible since labor and delivery can be somewhat unpredictable. Personally, for my first, I did not create a birth plan…. All I knew was that I didn’t want any of that “oxytocin stuff”! And sure enough, as soon as I got there, the first thing they did was put me on it, (my luck in life, of course!). Long story, short…. everything turned out just fine!

If you don’t have your birthing plan created yet, check out this great template offered by the Baby Center: My Birth Preferences

The next items on the Packing for Mommy list include some key wardrobe pieces! You’ll of course want to pack some Comfy Jammies or a Nighty, because who really wants to wear one of those beautiful hospital gowns, anyways?! I would recommend packing at least 2 pairs, one being an old grubby pair to use during delivery, and the other to comfortably relax in after baby has been born.

You’ll also want to bring some Warm Socks because sometimes your feet can get really cold during labor and delivery, and let’s face it…. There’s nothing worse than having cold feet! You’ll also want to make sure that you bring a comfy pair of slip-resistant Slippers, in case you end up walking around pacing the halls to try and get your labor moving along!

You’ll also need to pack your regular “going-away” necessities such as your Hair Brush, Toothbrush and other Toiletries. Although I’m sure that brushed hair and clean teeth will be the last thing on your mind!

If you’re planning on breastfeeding, you’ll definitely want to make sure that you pack some comfortable Nursing Bras. These specially designed bras will just make your life a heck of a lot easier!

I would also recommend packing at least 4 pairs of old Comfy Underwear. Trust me, you’re at the hospital for the sole purpose of birthing your baby, and not to look pretty down there!

Although the hospital may provide these, you’ll want to bring your own Breast Pads and Maxi Pads. You may go through them quicker than you think and this way you will be able to change them at your own pace, and not wait for a medical professional to have to retrieve them for you.

To top off the wardrobe/fashion criteria, don’t forget your Going Home Outfit! I suggest packing something super comfy, and super stretchy! It’s really hard to say how much you will shrink right after having baby…. It could be a lot, or it could be barely noticeable depending on your body type.

Next, you’ll want to make sure that you pack a few things to help you keep relaxed and distracted during your stay! These things include, but are definitely not limited to, Music and Magazines, Phone and Phone Charger, and your Laptop or Tablet.

Also remember to pack some cash or Change for the vending machines! You never know how long you’ll be there for, and if you get a craving, you’ll want to quench it! The hospital that I go to actually has a Tim Horton’s in it…. Mmm, yummy!

Packing for Partner

The next section of the checklist covers Packing for Partner. Whether you take this task upon yourself or have them do it, there are definitely some essentials that they’ll be thankful to have with them.

Number one on the list is Comfy Shoes! Do you notice a theme here? Comfy, comfy, and super comfy! It’s true! There’s absolutely no telling how long this exciting process will take, and whether it be 2 hours or 2 days, I can guarantee that you’ll both be completely exhausted by the end of it! And since you both may be there for a while, your partner should also have an extra Change of Clothes.

Also, make sure your partner packs their Camera! Whether you are planning on just taking photos, or planning on filming the entire thing, you’ll definitely need this! Some hospitals may have their own policy regarding videotaping, so be sure to check it out before you get there.

Your partner may also end up getting a little bored if your sweet little baby ends up taking their sweet little time coming out, therefore they should also bring their own Magazines, Phone and Charger, and other means of distraction.

They may also end up getting a little hungry too, so make sure that they bring a few Drinks and Snacks, as well as some Change for the vending machines!

Packing for Siblings

The third section is the Packing for Siblings section of the checklist…. And if you don’t yet have any other children, you can just browse on by this part – or, maybe you have pets! You could always pack a bag for them! J Which reminds me to remind you, that if you have pets, you’ll want to make prior arrangements for your pets to be looked after for when the big event happens!

Now back to siblings! Like pets, you’ll also need to make prior arrangements for your children to be looked after…. An aunt, grandparent, or even neighbor. I actually have all three lined up for when this baby arrives, because you never know what day or what time that it will happen, and who will be busy at that specific time!

Regardless of who your children/child stays with, you’ll definitely want to have their bag all ready and packed to go. I recommend packing at least 2 or 3 Outfits per child, one or two pairs of Pajamas, (just in case!), and a few pairs of Socks and Underwear or Diapers if they are still in that stage.

They will also need their Hair Brush and Toothbrush, as well as any other Toiletries they may use. Be sure to pack any daily medication that your child may need as well!

Packing their favorite Books or Toys may also be a good idea. This may help them feel a little more comfortable when being away from home! I also plan to pack a little surprise gift and a little note in my daughter’s suitcase for her…. Just for fun! J

And if it’s winter time, don’t forget their Boots, Jacket, and any other winter gear that they may need!

Packing for Baby

Awe, Packing for Baby…. Now we get to the special and fun part! Picking out new outfits for new baby is definitely fun! Knowing exactly what size your baby will be when born however, can be a little bit tricky. I recommend packing at least 2 or 3 Sleepers, with at least one being in the “newborn” range, and one being in the “0-3 months” range. This helps to ensure that baby will be nice and cozy in a comfy, proper fitting sleeper. Some sleepers have “footies”, and some don’t, so be sure to include Socks and Booties if you need to!

Hats and Mittens are also a must for keeping baby warm! Plus the mittens will also help to keep baby from scratching her delicate skin with her delicate and probably somewhat sharp nails.

The hospital will more than likely have their own blankets and be able to provide you with them, but I would recommend bringing along a few extras, just in case. One or two soft Cuddly Blankets to keep baby warm and snuggly in, and about 4 or 5 Receiving Blankets to use during feeding.

Bringing your own Diapers and Wipes is also important. The hospital will more than likely have some there for you to use, but they won’t necessarily be the same brand that you are planning to use…. Especially if you are planning to use cloth diapers! The hospital will also likely provide you with Vaseline only, so you might want to bring along your own Diaper Cream as well.

Most hospitals will also require you to bring your Infant Car Seat right into the hospital and show it to them, before they will let you leave. It’s also a good idea to have your car seat base installed before the big day and to know how it works. Each car seat is different, and they all seem to be tricky!

If it’s winter time, then you’ll also want to make sure that you pack a Jacket or Snowsuit for your baby. Just remember that there are some suggested guidelines regarding using snow suits in car seats. You can read more about it here: Car Seats & Snow Suits

Another optional item to remember to pack for baby are Soothers, if you are planning on using them. Soothers work great for some babies and not so great for others, so don’t be discouraged if your little one just isn’t into it…. It’s completely normal!

If Bottle-Feeding

If you are not planning on bottle-feeding, then please disregard this section! But if you are, definitely stay tuned!

This section is one of the main reasons that I wanted to create this “Ultimate Hospital Baby Checklist”. If you research this topic, there really doesn’t seem to be a lot out there for help, when it comes to what to pack for the hospital if you are a “bottle-feeding-mamma”, so if you are planning to bottle-feed, I really hope that you find this helpful!

Most hospitals will have disposable bottles and formula on hand, however, they usually only carry one brand. This means that you will want to bring your own Formula to use, since it’s not the best idea to start switching around your newborn’s type of formula if you really don’t have to. My hospital actually advised me to bring not only my own formula, but my own Sterilized Bottles and Sterilized Nipples as well. I also personally decided to use the Disposable Bottle Liners by Playtex as well. Trust me, your hospital stay will be much easier if you and your partner don’t have to worry about washing dishes!

Remember that you will also need Sterilized Water to mix your formula as well. You might want to check with your hospital ahead of time to see if they have an electric Tea Kettle that you can use, or if you should bring your own. And if you are premixing your formula ahead of time, remember that you will need some means to heat it up for baby. Unfortunately, microwaves are not the best option since they tend to heat the milk particles from the inside out, and can create “hidden” heat pockets that may be harmful to your baby. That is why I recommend that you also pack a Bottle Warmer, or even just a Mug that you can put hot water in to use to heat your bottles.

Remember that whether you decide to bottle-feed or breast-feed, that the decision is up to you, and what works well for one, may not work well for another!

How To Create The Perfect Table Setting

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Sarah

Planning the perfect table setting for each season can sometimes be a somewhat daunting task…. Finding the right color pallet, incorporating different patterns and textures, and staying on budget of course, are just some of the challenges faced! The trick is to purchase a few all-around pieces that you can reuse for every season, and then just switch out a few of the pieces, like the napkin colors and the centerpiece, to get a totally different look for the next season!

Given the time of year, I decided to do a fall table setting in our example! All of the pieces for this specific table setting came from Amazon.com, and yes this post does contain affiliate links…. So, if you fall in love with any of these beautiful pieces, you can simply click on the affiliate link and will be taken straight there!

Ok, so now I’d like to share with you how I actually put this table setting together! Let’s get started, shall we?!

The very first thing that I selected for this table setting was the table cloth. Think of the table cloth as being the perfect backdrop for everything else…. Very important! I ended up choosing a dark grey table cloth for the backdrop, since grey just seems to be really in now! Plus, grey will go nicely with every color of each season (orange tones for fall, red, silver and gold for winter, bright greens and blues for spring, and even bright yellows for summer!), so this table cloth can be reused over and over again! Definitely budget friendly!

After looking at different colored dinnerware, I decided to simply go with a neutral cream colored dinnerware set, because let’s face it…. cream goes with anything! And since I am also totally in love with the simplicity of it, I decided to bring in a cream colored pitcher to use as a water pitcher. Doing this makes the cream color pieces a little more abundant and helps them to stand out a little more, rather than getting lost among the other pieces.

So now let’s do a mini-recap: we have a grey table cloth to use as the perfect backdrop, and we also have some very simple and neutral pieces…. So the next element I wanted to bring into this table setting was one to give it a more natural, and slightly rustic feel, while still keeping it somewhat modern looking at the same time…. So in come the wooden pieces!

I love, love, love the wooden plate chargers that I found! They are sleek, natural and modern looking, with a little bit of “rustic-ness” all rolled into one! In order to help showcase the beautiful wooden chargers, while helping them to perfectly blend into the rest of the table setting, I was able to find a matching serving platter and a matching salad bowl…. Perfect!

Ok so, mini-recap number 2: grey table cloth backdrop, simple neutral pieces, and now we have introduced a new modern/rustic wooden element to the table as well! So now it’s time that I let you in on a little secret…. The very first table cloth that I had picked out for this table setting, was this crazy-beautiful, ok…. Maybe somewhat tacky, sparkly, shiny sequined table cloth! Hehe, so pretty, but not quite right, and well it just wasn’t working…. So why have I mentioned that now during our mini-recap number two?! It’s because it brings us to the next element that we will be adding to our dinner table…. A little bit of sparkle and shine! (My favorite!)

Sparkle and shine is somewhat of a necessity in my opinion, but as I’ve learned over the years, sometimes less is more! That’s why I decided to bring in just a few smaller pieces of “sparkle and shine”. I chose to incorporate stainless steel napkin rings, salt and pepper shakers, a stainless steel gravy boat, and a butter dish. All tiny pieces, but together, I feel that they bring the perfect impact to the table!

Mini-recap number 3: we now have our backdrop, simple/neutral pieces, modern/rustic pieces and our sparkle/shine pieces…. Looking pretty good, right?! Well we’re almost there…. Now we just need to add color!

Since we are decorating for fall in this table setting, I decided to choose the color orange to add a nice vibrant “pop” to the table! I was able to find this beautiful center piece made of bittersweet berries, (one of my personal favorite fall types of vegetation). It’s a rather large center piece holding three pillar candles, so it brings a lot of color and “pop” to the table…. And even a little bit of ambiance!

The final “pop” of color that was selected for this table setting were the cloth napkins…. I chose kind of a rusty orange shade that plays on all of the colors from the center piece…. Quite nicely, if I do say so, myself!

As you can see, I also added some much needed wine glasses to the table setting…. Because let’s face it, you are an amazing host/hostess, and by the time the big dinner-day rolls around, you are going to need a much deserved drink to help you smoothly roll through with all of the craziness! (Or at least I will, anyways!)

So, now that I think we finally have everything to bring our perfect table setting all together, it’s time for mini-recap number 4: backdrop, simple/neutral pieces, modern/rustic pieces, sparkle/shine pieces, and of course, color…. Giving us a total count of 5 different elements!

And remember, the nice thing about these elements, is that you can make them work for every season, with the exception of changing out the “color” element (napkins and center piece in this case)…. Which actually makes this table setting completely budget friendly for years to come!

I really hope that you enjoyed this post and thank you so much for reading! Don’t forget to check back in with The Project Pile for our 2016 Fall Home Tour…. Coming soon!

How to Clean & Organize (When you really don’t want to!)

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Sarah

This room is soooo messy and embarrassing, you aren’t even getting one tiney-tiny little shot of the disaster zone! My daughter went through this little phase where she would open all of the cupboards and drawers and pull EVEREYTHING out…. And after numerous attempts of piecing the room back together, I just finally gave up! This room is actually my “Zebra Dressing/Craft Room”…. Meaning it’s full of tiny little things, like make-up, nail polish, jewelry, paint, glue, beads, ribbon, etc…. all of the stuff that gets super messy, tangled up, and super unorganized! (Hey – that sounds a lot like my life, just in general! Lol)
Ok, so….. Where to start? Where to start?! Well after just standing there staring for awhile, I decided the best place to start was to clear off the countertop. I started by organizing everything into separate piles for general categories: Hair Stuff, Make-Up & Lotions, Nail Polish, Craft Stuff, Home Décor & of course, a miscellaneous/to-be-sorted-later pile. I also created a donation pile and of course, a garbage pile! Anything that I no longer use was put into either of these piles…. One major thing to remember is that all creams, lotions and even makeup have expiration dates! This helps a lot when deciding whether to keep or pitch something! Looking pretty good, right?! NOT! Still a super-long ways to go!!!!
Ok, so…. Next? Next, I wiped down all of the counter space, just to make it look like I was making a little more progress!

Now, see these drawers and cupboards?! I am going to take full advantage of them! I am going to go through each one, one at a time, and sort all of the contents into the piles that I mentioned above, and then each pile will be transferred into one of the cupboards or drawers.

Ok, so here they are! All emptied and wiped down! Looking good – for real this time!

And my cupboards…. Empty and clean!

By emptying and cleaning everything, I’ve sort of accomplished the feeling of starting with a clean slate! So now, it’s time to put everything back together…. Before just throwing everything all jumbled back into the cupboards and drawers, I made a plan of what is going to go where.

As you can see in the photo above, I still decided to keep a miscellaneous or better known as a “junk drawer” – because let’s face it, you are always going to end up with some things that don’t fit into a dedicated category, or that you just don’t have the heart to throw out!
By following my above drawer layout plan, I was able to neatly put everything back into my drawers and cupboards! Also, if you feel that you are going to have a little bit of trouble keeping everything neat and organized, check out some of these great Drawer Organizer from Amazon.com!
I then gave the room a little vacuum, fussed a little with the décor, and voila! All finished!

How NOT to Potty Train your Toddler!

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Sarah

Oh potty training… It sounds so simple, right?! I know that some little ones do amazing and get it right away… but for some moms (like me), it can be an absolute nightmare! Well, we are still working on it over here, so I can’t give you some miracle solution… But — What I can definitely give you, is advice on how NOT to potty train your toddler!

Do NOT ask your child if they need to go potty. This is a major mistake that I am definitely guilty of. Instead of “asking” your child to go potty, “tell” them to go potty! Asking gives them a choice, while “telling” does not! Continue reading →

10 of the Best Wine Cork Projects!

Posted on August 3, 2016 by Sarah

Do you have a bunch of left over wine corks, like I do?! I have so many saved up from over the years, and they are just so pretty that I never have the heart to throw them out! Well it’s finally time to figure out what to do with these little guys, so I started taking a look on Pinterest.com, and boy… the options are endless!

There are so many great ideas out there, that I actually feel even more confused on which one I should try! I did however, pick out my top ten favorites to share with you! So take a look and let me know which one is your favorite!

This simple DIY Cork Wreath is absolutely stunning! It’s beautiful earthy feel would surely compliment any preexisting home decor!

2. Ah, the classic DIY Cork Coasters…. They are so modernly chic and are really simple to make too!

3. I am SO in love with this beautiful Cork Planter Box!

4. This gorgeous Wine Cork Backsplash would make the perfect addition to any kitchen! This picture is actually of the inside of a cabinet that was done… So beautiful!

5. How cute are these Wine Cork Keychains?! And what perfect gifts they would make!

6. These Wine Cork Candle Holders are so easy to make, yet add such an elegant ambiance to any room in your home!

7. Ok, ok… I know that it’s not quite fall yet, but this Wine Cork Pumpkin was soooo cute, that I just couldn’t resist adding it to this list!

8. Check out this fantastic Wine Cork Table Top! It would go perfect in my living room!

9. Ok, if you ask me, this Dart Board Surround Cabinet is just brilliant! Not only does it completely serve a purpose, it is also a super chic piece of wall decor!

10. This Wine Cork Letter Decor is so cute and creative! Perfect for weddings, or even just to spruce up your home bar.

Well, like I mentioned above, I love ALL of these beautiful wine cork projects! I guess I’ll just have to keep drinking so I can make them all! 😉

If you aren’t a wine drinker, but still love the look of wine cork decor, you can purchase wine corks from here!

4 Ingredient Play-Dough! (Easy & No-Bake!)

Posted on August 1, 2016 by Sarah

I always say that it’s completely impossible to have a happy baby and a clean house! Trust me, I’m really trying to work on the balance and all, and I know that some moms really do have “it all together”… just not me, yet! Still working on it!

Sometimes my daughter and I role with the motto “Messy hair, and we don’t care!”, and well, we just decide to have fun all day long! So, last week we decided to start out by making play-dough first thing in the morning. Honestly, the making of this play-dough was actually a necessity! You know how sometimes the play-dough gets left out overnight, and it gets all hard and stuff?! [Psst! Do your kids love play-dough?! Check out some of these great play-doe accessories!]

Here are some of the great reasons why I LOVE this play-dough recipe:

If it accidentally gets left out, this play-dough doesn’t harden for at least 24 hours! (Trust me… we just made it last week… and this has already been tested out about 24 trillion times!!)
This play-dough recipe does not require any cream of tar-tar! (Something I always, always want to buy since it has many cleaning and cooking purposes, but I can never remember to simply put it on my list… SO annoying!!)
A lot of the play-dough recipes that I looked up actually require baking… (Ummm no-thanks!)
This recipe makes a LOT of play-dough!
The best part was that I was able to just throw all of the ingredients into a huge mixing bowl, and let my gorgeous two-year old daughter mix it all up all by herself! (Soooooo easy!!!!!)

What You’ll Need:

1 cup of Water
2 Tbsp of Vegetable Oil
1 1/2 cups of Table Salt
4 cups of Flour
A big Mixing Bowl

All you need to do is throw all of the ingredients into a big mixing bowl, and mix, mix, mix!

I actually got about five “servings” of play-dough out of this recipe, each about the size of my fist! I just put the servings into zip-lock baggies and threw them into the freezer… So next time the play-dough dries up — I’m completely prepared!

Also, in case you haven’t noticed yet, I pulled an epic mom fail while making this play-dough!!! I completely always, also forget to buy food-coloring!!! Hence, my “white-ish” play-dough… BUT! I figure that maybe we can turn that into another fun activity of color-mixing and adding color into the play-dough the next time we are looking for something to do! I actually ended up throwing a little bit of green glitter into the mixture, just to spice it up a little bit! 😉

How to Easily Remove Nail Polish from your Carpet!

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Sarah

Aww, cutsie-little toddler toes! My two-year old beautiful daughter, Miss Lacee Grace, just loves having her nails done! The only problem is…. that she is two going on ten — and now thinks she can paint her nails all by herself! Eeeek!!! Yes, go ahead and judge my parenting skills — epic fail, I know! No matter where I hide it, that little one always finds it! And so, hence today’s post: How to Easily Remove Nail Polish from your Carpet! I thought that it was going to be a super-difficult task, but it turns out that it was way easier to get the nail polish out than I ever would have expected! (And as you can see, my carpet is unfortunately, white-ish!)

Let me introduce you to my new secret-little-weapon — Rubbing Alcohol! That’s all you need here…. well, a little bit of rubbing alcohol, some cold water to rinse at the end, and an old rag! So simple!

The first thing that I did was pour some rubbing alcohol on the stain, and let it soak into the carpet for about 10 minutes.

Next, I took an old rag and started scrubbing! Scrub, scrub, scrub! (If it doesn’t seem to be coming out easily, try adding just a little more rubbing alcohol while you are scrubbing!)

And to my amazement — It started working! See?! See?!

I scrubbed for about two minutes, and then it was all clean! Next I rinsed my rag with cold water and gave the carpet another little scrub just to help dilute any rubbing alcohol that hadn’t fully evaporated yet.

I couldn’t believe how well and how fast this trick worked!

[If you are interested in some more handy tips and tricks that my amazing, new secret-little-weapon — Rubbing Alcohol, is also really good at, check out this post from my friend Courtenay, over at The Creek Line House: 10 Almost Life-Changing Uses for Rubbing Alcohol!]