Last January I did graphic design work for Bill Chandler from Chandler Landscaping + Contracting. You may know Bill from having seen his landscaping projects featured in Style at Home Magazine but I also have the luxury of knowing him from doing a major landscaping project on my parents beautiful house. At this point he feels like a friend of the family, so when he came up with a plan for my front yard as a gift last year, I was over the moon. [See the post here].  So, a reminder - here is the plan that he came up with for our front. I love the walkway how it goes up the middle of the lawn, vs. to the side. It then turns and has 2 HUGE stone stairs.

Although it wasn't high on our priority list, I'm a huge beleiver that money should be invested in curb appeal. It's essentially like an invitation to your party - it is someones first experience to your home. And, for resale (one day) I know that it will pay off. Bill was available and rather quickly we went from talking about it to saying "go for it". And, this morning this is what we woke to....

EEEEEK! Due to budget, the plantings that he suggested aren't happening. But that is something I feel confident that I can handle on my own. Installing stone, well, although Aub and I could do it, we're at a time in the season where we are very busy (the Holiday season for work is picking up for me) and Aub is busy at work too.

The previous owners did the WEIRDEST things to the house. Like alternating colour walkways, and carpeting our front porch. Yes. Carpeted our front porch. Stay tuned for some more pictures. So excited!

The negative space above our television has always bothered me, but I didn't know what to do about it...

We've started to build a gallery wall behind the couch (opposite the tv), so I want to keep the area above the tv light and airy...


I feel the need to remind you that I'm planning to replace that light fixture...and the couch.

As luck would have it, Andrea from Strawberry Chic is talking about designing a wall with a tv today and she came up with a great solution - adding a bookshelf over the tv! I'd seen this idea on Danielle Oakey Interiors and I love how she added interest above the tv, but still managed to keep it light and airy. 

Photo via Danielle Oakey Interiors

I'm sold! It will also be the perfect place to display the vintage French tin I won in 8foot6's giveaway!



Photo via 8foot6

I can't tell you how exciting this is for me guys - I never win anything! I'm pretty sure the only other thing I've ever won was a raffle draw in the ninth grade, and I was too shy to go up to collect my prize (I don't even know what I won).

Freezer Paper is cool.

Heh-heh.

Get it?

Never mind.

I am a cheap, penny pinching scrooge and I love coming across ways to feed that side of me.

I love coming across frugal ways to make my boys new clothes and they L.O.V.E. it when I make stuff for them!

For real.

My middle son gets lots of hand-me-downs, so when he gets anything "new" it's like his birthday.

 He thanks me over and over!

Anyway, the two older ones think it's nifty when mom gets thrifty... so I try to please them:-)

Our family kinda likes Browning.
 No offense to anyone, but we all hunt so bucks are rock'n in our house.

Hence the shirts I made for them.

It's been a while since they posed for a photo. Bad Mommy.

Ummm, the shirt was a hand-me-down. It's just like new now though! Poor Jack.

I learned all sorts of great tips from here. She even has a great video on it.

I used this method to create the whale onesie for my new little niece or nephew.

Even though it didn't turn out quite as I hoped (I was too cheap to buy the matte fabric paints...)

I was still semi happy with it.

The moral of this story is:
I'm really liking this stuff.

I know you're probably sick of wedding-related posts, so this will be the last one for awhile, I promise. It all started with a plain-looking shadow box I bought for $2 at a yard sale ("it" being this project, not our wedding, although that sounds like an interesting story). The frame was missing its backing, so after I painted it, I made a new backing by wrapping a piece of cardboard with kraft paper. Then I used a little scotch tape to secure one of our wedding photos, an invitation, a pocket-sized program, and one of the fabric boutonnieres I bought on Etsy (which required pins). The plan is to hang it in our bedroom, whenever that's done...

Because of Google Analytics I get to see how people come across our blog. And, sometimes I follow links to see what the post, or article may have been about. This is how I stumbled upon this gorgeous, unique nursery. This delightful blogger used my free bunting flag, the same one I used for Oscar's nursery. Want your own? Go back to my original post to download it yourself. But you must go check out this blog, she has the most amazing style.
Photo Via