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Janice from Canadian Cottage is lucky number 6!
I just found her blog recently and fell in love with it. I love her style so much and their house looks adorable!
Look at her cute little kitchen that they redid themselves.

They just redid their master bedroom as well, so be sure to go over and drool over the new look!

Congratulations Janice and thank you to all who entered! A special thank you to CSN Stores for teaming up with me to do this giveaway as well. I had so much fun!

<center><a href="http://www.thevirginiahouse.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz360/jvc80/newlogowecan.jpg" /></a></center>

Thank you to all of you who linked up last week!
My favorite pick is Kim from 733!
I think her project appealed to me because she saw an idea she liked and did it cheaper (yea!) and it is for little boys and I kinda lean that way;-)

She also has a cute link party that she does every Thursday that is all about boys.

She also has one on Wednesday's devoted to girl stuff! (I love this idea!)


Be sure to stop by and see all her creative ideas!

The simple rules and regulations:

1. Only link your post, not your blogs address!
2. Be sure to take that button at the top with you so that everyone can know where you're linking up!

So Kristin over at My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia (What? You haven't visited her! Go do it now!) just did a post on beachy bathrooms, including my humble little boys room. It reminded me to share a few things I've tweaked in there recently.
I got a few of these old mason jars at Antique Alley and have had fun putting them in various places.

Of course my new peice of artwork that I love in here. Speaking of, I'll share a little secret.... My new Etsy store will be opening soon with all kinds of burlap artwork. Stay tuned!

This idea was stolen from another blog and I wish I could remember who it was. (let me know if you've done this!) I took a bottle and wrapped it in twine, just using Elmers Glue to hold it in place. (still plan on painting this shelf sometime!)

Changed the curtain from white to a linen color. It looks darker in this picture, but anyway...

The great things with bathrooms is that you only have to add a few things to set your theme. Make sure you pick them carefully or you'll have a totally different look then you wanted because of one or two accessories.

My giveaway ends tonight so add your name to my followers then leave me a comment! I'll let everyone know tomorrow who the lucky new captain is!
Don't forget to come back tomorrow with your We Can Do It Cheaper projects too. Can't wait to see what you have this week.

I'm not doing a cooking blog, I promise. If I was then you shouldn't follow my recipe's.
I dislike cooking.
But.... occasionally I come across something that is quick, easy and very yummy and I feel the need to share.
Such was the case of The PW's recipe for Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich and since it has about 4000 calories per bite then I knew it was a must try.
Now this doesn't look that great.


Much better. (don't envy my good china too much)

I loved this recipe cause it was super easy, fast and everyone liked it. I served just the meat to the boys and the bread separate. I also used whole wheat bread to add some semblance of "healthy" to this recipe. One more thing I did different was that I poured the juice into bowls and we dipped the sandwiches. I hate soggy bread so this was the perfect solution.
Sooo, if you love cooking with lots of butter then be sure to try this!!

Don't forget that there is a few hours left to enter my giveaway!

I really don't feel like I can say that we are on to phase 4 yet. *sigh*
Why is it that the "simple" projects are never simple?

Anyhoo, here we are. We have finished all of the planks and started on the ceiling and painting. You like my paint color? It's called Kilz. Ha. Remember I'm trying to keep this very low budget and I could never find any "whoops" paint so I went with some leftover Kilz that we already had. I actually like it.
My husband has done most of this for me since his nail gun is much faster than my little hammer and nail. I'm still looking for tips from anyone who has painted concrete. I think that will be my project next week. I can't wait to see how it turns out!
No, that is not the front door. It was a former doggy-door that I plan on making into the boys own little entrance. My oldest asks me daily if I'm going to build his door today.


Here is what a construction site looks around our place. Pretty huh? I know all you green thumbs are admiring my ferns. Thank you.
What can I say? I'm a natural. Isn't he cute with his one little sprout?
Dumb fern is mocking me.

Stay tuned. More pool house to come. Also, my giveaway is still going on! Click right over there to the right to take you to it, or just exercise your little digits and scroll down a bit to my post!

I've given this piece new life! If you're on Oahu and interested in purchasing, let me know!

The AFTER...$200.00


Pray all is well in the world of bloggers, I miss you so.

Best to you,

Hey all, I wanted to share an email I got recently from one of you.

Hello I wanted to take the time to write you just to let you know that I have been transformed by a few things on your blog, or should I say my house has. Let me just first write that I found your blog on Rate My Space when I was looking for ideas to re-do our master bedroom. I am a housewife with 3 little ones under 5 so I wanted a retreat like space to unwind to at the end of a long day :) I have followed your blog for about 3 months and let me tell you I love all the blogs I have since found but I check yours every day, so it was only fitting that I thank you for sharing with us fans all your wonderful decorating-diy tips. I do not not call myself orgazinzed in any way but now I am on a quest to become orgazined and to take time with DIY projects that I never thought I could tackle. I have saved quite a bit of money these couple months alone in doing alot myself for the master bedroom and our garage turned family room. My husband even wonders what has come over me, lol. Well keep up your awesome blog and GL on your pool house:)

A housewife in Northern California

You have no idea how much it meant to me to receive this! When I first started blogging then like many others it was just to kind of "document" my re-do journey. As I continued though and more people started to actually look at my blog then my main goal shifted. I want normal people with normal homes to know that they can not only turn their homes into something great, but they can do it on a small budget. I live in a very normal brick house with normal carpet and tile. There is nothing extraordinary about it and that's why I love it. I actually only have 7 windows and two glass doors in our whole house!
Our Kitchen Before We Moved In...(Ugh to me)

Now don't get me wrong, my dream house has long, airy porches, floor to ceiling windows covering the 10 foot walls and wood floors throughout the house. You should see it! Oh, Look Here's A Picture Of It!!

Anyway, THANK YOU for reading, following, commenting and emailing me! I love hearing from each of you.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway and you can still link up your projects for this weeks We Can Do It Cheaper!

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Be sure to scroll down and check out my giveaway!



This weeks project was spur of the moment and turned out to be my favorite one to date!



I saw these chippy looking peg boards on Pottery Barn and fell in love. With the price tag of $49 and $149 then I knew I could only dream of owning one.



Aren't they wonderful!





I went to Hobby Lobby and picked up a pre-made peg board and some crackle finish that works with acrylics.



My 3 year old even got to help me on this one. We put a base coat of a weathered gray color then some random spots of pure black. (all acrylics)



I then applied the crackle finish randomly as well and let it get tacky. I mixed up my own color of white by adding a bit of brown and started painting over the whole thing. As the paint became a little dry then I scratched, rubbed, sawed (with a plastic knife) and poked at it to get the right look.



The whole project took maybe an hour and my total investment was $6.50! I can't wait to hang this up in the pool house someday soon.

*Update Picture*



We use it every day! Don't know what I would do without it. (yes it was cleared of all its garish swim trunks for this photo;-)



So now it's your turn again. Remember that I will be picking one of your projects to feature next week!




1. Only link your post, not your blogs address!
2. Be sure to take that button at the top with you so that everyone can know where you're linking up!



Once again, if you haven't left your comment for my giveaway then go ahead and do so. All you need to be is a follower!







Always a linker....

I have the distinct pleasure of teaming up with CSN Stores to do a great giveaway! CSN Stores has thousands upon thousands of items, from school supplies to home decor, track lighting to bedding and so much more. With over 200 stores then there is sure to be something for everyone, so be sure to go check them out!



I'm super excited to be giving away this adorable fishing boat. (16.75" H x 14.75" W x 4.75" D)



Can't you just picture this resting on your mantel, at your lake house or in your sons room? There are so many options for it that I'm almost ordering one myself!

Look at how Layla at The Lettered Cottage used one very similar.

1 Entry - To grab your chance at winning this lovely boat then all you need to do is Follow Me!! Leave me a comment to let me know that you are an old salty dog follower or if you have just taken that brave step to become one then let me know that. (You must be a follower to be entered)



2 Entries - If you want a second chance at winning then go ahead and blog about this giveaway, but be sure you come back and leave a 2nd comment to let me know that you did!



This giveaway will end Wednesday, April 28th at 12:00 AM.



I regret to say that this giveaway is only open to USA and Canadian residents:-(



Good luck to all!

I'm linked up here. Go see some more giveaways and creative blogs here!

You know the old saying, Things always get worse before they get better....
True, all very true.

Since I am wanting to do this as cheaply as possible then I removed all the paneling from the wall, which was held up with screws.
Hmmm, this picture does not do the large pile justice. Lets just say, it took me a day and a half to remove all of them.


Then we were left with this...
A few words here, itchy, tons of mouse droppings (yes I even swallowed one) and about 10 lizard skeletons.


I then decided that I should cover the itchy in plastic since the planks would be nailed right up to the stuff and I didn't want pink, cotton candy peeking through.

So on to the next phase.... My dear husband and I took the large, dirty paneling over to our friends cabinet shop where they have an awesome table saw. He cut it all into 4 inch pieces and then it was my turn again.
Note to anyone else that tries this, if you are planning on nailing these "planks" to the studs then think it through first. Being that the pool house studs are unevenly placed and I wanted a random look to the planks then I had to do some figuring out. I eventually ended up overlapping the ends of some of them if they fell between studs and will liquid nails the ends together. (This is because I didn't want all my plank seams falling in a direct line and I didn't want to be cutting every single one. Yes it was cheating and I'll probably hate it later)
Now, nailing up an 8 foot long plank by yourself with a hammer and nail is not fun, so it took me a day to do half of a wall.
A special thank you should be inserted here: Sometimes the best presents don't come in neatly packaged boxes but rather in a white t-shirt and some worn, work pants. Thank you billions to my dear father in law for coming over and helping me for a few hours!!! My husband finished up another wall for me too, so now we are getting somewhere!

Stay tuned because hopefully the next phases will look a little better.
Maybe something like this.... (I wish!)


Happy Monday to all. Hope that your weather is prettier than ours right now!