Thrifty Cabinet Hunting

This weekend was somewhat unusual. We didn't do any house projects. None. While the shed is still a work in progress, we have started to realize we need to address the garage and some of our storage issues so that we have a "master plan" so to speak. We know that we want to add a work bench and/or cabinets along the right side of the garage. We also know that the lawn equipment will eventually be moved out to the shed allowing me to park my car in the garage again. Something I haven't been able to do since the first week we were married...almost a year ago. We also need to paint the garage and add more storage.

So I decided to start hunting around on Craigslist to find some second hand cabinets that I could refinish/ make presentable again. Nothing! Everything I found was new or should have been dumped in the garbage! So Tim and I started just moving some of the bigger items out to the shed (lawn mower, spreader, edger etc). We then realized, we needed to add shelving units in here as well ( along with a second window, a lock and lighting). So back to the garage it went.

We are able to access our attic now that the majority of the shed supplies are out of there. So we finally loaded the Christmas decorations into the attic on Saturday night, clearing up A LOT of room.

On Sunday, we were on our way to FIT2RUN to buy me some new running shoes as an early Valentine's Day present, when Tim suggested we stop at Goodwill. He wanted to check out NASCAR gear for an upcoming Bachelor Party he is attending. I headed straight back to the furniture, looking for a deal. Where I found this:

I picked her up for $35 and she is now residing in our garage for miscellaneous storage.

I must admit, I have never been much of a thrift store shopper. I was kind of shocked at how expensive things were there. They wanted $300 bucks for a small kitchen table with two chairs! Used hats were five dollars. I always heard of people getting great buys but aside from my cabinet, I don't really see it!

So we are still on the hunt for cabinets we can hang to make a workbench area. Although, I have not had much luck at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in the past, I plan to continue to check in on them for used cabinets, as its right across the street from where I work.

Aside from the cabinet purchase, the weekend consisted of the usual weekend errands (grocery, bank, etc). Unlike my normal workaholic self, I only logged into work for 2 hours late Sunday night, making for a nice relaxing weekend.

Pinterest Project Fail

All our house hardware is Oil Rubbed Bronze (ORB). I love it. We even switched out the guest bath faucet to ORB. So when I saw this picture on Pinterest, I was sold.  Since I have an ORB addiction, I already had a bottle of spray paint on hand. All I had to do was wait till I finished the next bottle of hand soap. Plus, I am super cheap and did not want to buy an ORB soap dispenser...plus those things always clog anyway!

On a side spray paint note: I always thought spray paint was spray paint and opted for the cheapest can at Lowes. Well let me just say that after trying Rustoleum's universal spray paint in Metallic ORB, I no longer subscribe to that mentality! It's amazing! It may cost more but you use WAY less because it covers in one coat.

My plan was to spray paint this old Bath and Body works soap bottle and then make my own Natural foaming hand soap.

Can you spot another project in the background?

So I spray painted:


It was super windy out and I has to improvise on how to dry the bottle properly:

I opted for a chip clip on my laundry drying rack.

 And ended up with a nice looking final product:

Then what I was fearful of all along occurred:

 The paint chipped off with the first pump of the handle. I was wondering how the paint would withstand the motion but didn't like the idea of leaving this part unpainted. Oh well. The project cost $0 so its no real loss. I may just have to splurge for a real ORB soap dispenser!

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Wall with the old pictures we used at our wedding

Beet Greens...who knew?

Call me weird but I love beets. Always have. My mom and I use to eat pickled beets with salt as a side dish all the time. I love fresh beets as well but to be honest, don't make them that often. Especially since the husband is not a fan of beets. At all.

I recently came across a recipe for Beet chips. Lately, I have been craving the crunchy/salty combo so I thought this would be a good healthy alternative. So when I was at the produce stand, I picked up one bunch of fresh beets. The cashier asked " You aren't going to throw away these greens are you"? I of course had planned to do just that. She told me to cook it like I would spinach, that they are delicious. Since it was lunch time when I got back from my errands, I was more intrigued by the idea of cooking the greens then I was making beet chips.
Here is what I did:

1) Cut the beets from their stems. Beets got stored in a Ziploc bag and put back in the fridge.

2) Wash the greens and dry them in the salad spinner. I left mine on the wet side as I was planning on steaming them anyway.
3) Cut the leafy part away from the "red" stem. Dice the stems into small pieces. Throw in a plan with some chicken broth. Put the lid on and let them simmer (They stems take slightly longer to soften then the greens).

4) Once the stems have simmered for a few minutes, drain them in the strainer, return them to the pan with a touch of olive oil, a tbsp of crushed garlic and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to taste ( We like a kick). Add the greens and the lid and simmer until wilted ( much like you would spinach).

This is the last picture I have, the battery died in the camera!

I am not going to lie, these were DELICIOUS! The husband agreed to take a bite and then said "These are freaking amazing". That night I had my grandma over for dinner and told her about my beet green cooking adventure. She stated her mother use to cook them all the time and she grew up eating them. So am I curious, I am the only one just finding out about beet greens?

I love me a good "H"

One of the first things I pinned on Pinterest was a hemp wrapped letter like this. I purchased the supplies back in December. A hot glue gun, a roll of hemp and a cardboard "H" from Joann's.

I did not have a hot glue gun so I picked up this Mini. Beware: this project used ALOT of glue and you will likely burn your fingers.

I started by wrapping my "H" vertically. I started wrapping thinking this project would take maybe 2 hours or so from start to finish. WRONG. The wrapping took forever! I just ran a bead of hot glue every few inches to ensure the hemp stayed in place.

Because I was going crazy with all the wrapping, I left the project on my dining room table and wrapped a little each night. After wrapping vertically, I began wrapping horizontally. When wrapping horizontally I did all four legs of the "H" first before wrapping the connecting middle. Here she is all wrapped up.

It should be noted that you may think you can get away with one ball of hemp but you should just buy two. Otherwise you may end up getting within an inch of being done and run out of string, forcing an impromptu trip to Joann's. Yes, this happened. Yes, I was kicking myself for cutting corners.

If you can find a roll greater than 400 ft, you will get away with one roll!

Onto the Rosette making. I think these are so fun! I bought three pieces of felt for a total of 75 cents! I cut a quarter of each sheet to make these three different colored Rosettes.(Side note: totally thinking of making some rosettes to attach to headbands with the remaining felt).Cut in a circle and keep going until you are left with this:

Begin wrapping the felt back up, like this:

And you will be left with this:

Now my inspiration picture had a cut ribbon near the Rosettes, I tried this as well but it looked too busy on the "H". So i just stuck with the three Rosettes. I am not going to lie, I LOVE the finished product!

Pardon my "desperately in need of paint" front door.

And the list goes on...

In light of the approaching tax season, yesterday I decided to start pulling together receipts on house related projects and expenses over the past year. Let me just say, we have been busy! Part of the reason I started this blog was to help keep track of projects (both big and small) at our house. I thought it would be fun to share a list of what we completed in 2011 along with the ongoing "To-do list of 2012". So here goes nothing!
1) New gutters
2) Landscaping
3) Irrigation
4) Trim Work ( Crown, replacing Clam shell moulding and new doors- bi fold, pocket and swing)
5) Wood Floors (twice!)
6) Storm Door
7) Painting
8) New Vinyl Fence
9) Furniture
10)Roof Repairs
11) New Faucets
12) New fans/lighting
13) TV's

Without getting into specifics, I was floored to learn we spent over $30k in home improvements this year. Insane right?! And to think about what that would of cost if we weren't DIYers? I feel very fortunate to have a handy father and a wanna-be-handy husband...both of whom are TROOPERS when dealing with me and my bright ideas. :)

So after shelling out over $30K, you would think this girl would be done right? I wish ( not really, if I am honest... I love this stuff). I have learned that the beauty of home ownership is that you are never DONE. So here are some things I want to accomplish this year. Some I have already done believe it or not. Some will not be done this year due to the budget but they remain on "the list".
1) Tackle the garage- paint, storage, work bench, shelving (it needs help)- ( Done and Done)
2) Make the attic ready for storage
3) Finish landscaping in the front of the house ( plants to frame garage and stone edgers)-( Done!)
4) Replace door into the garage and clam shell moulding (Done!)
5) Paint the front door and trim, get new ORB hardware ( Door painting...Done!)
6)Paint the exterior trim on the house ( I feel like this would make a perfect project for the Hubs this summer)
7) Install Crown in two guest bedrooms
8) House numbers ( Done!)
9) Add gate on right side of house to conceal trash/recycling (Done!)
10)Get pavers installed on left side of house into backyard (Done!)
11) Get estimate on pavers for back deck, front deck and garage ( this is a HUGE expense and will likely not happen this year)- (Front deck tile Done! )
12)  Add area rug to dining room (Done!)
13) New computer chair (DONE!)
14) Sew table runner for dining room table
15) Add glass to protect tables in Family Room
16) Screen in back patio ( after pavers or before?)
17) Build a shed (three part post: Phase 1, 2 & 3)
18) Add a vegetable garden
19) Make window seat at window in front of Master Bedroom
20) Replace gates in front of house and remove the excessive amount of lighting ( lights gone, new fencing done! )

So with all that out in the open, I am hoping to hold myself to completing at least 75% of these projects this year. What are your house goals?!

Wordless Wednesday

Lola & Lily Snuggling