DIY Chanel Vase

Ahhh one of my favorites. Coco Mademoiselle smells so good. Yes I used all of it, but couldn't part with this beautiful little bottle. So why not fill my home with my favorites, right? I thought it would be fun to repurpose this bottle into a small bud vase. 

Here's What You'll Need:

Empty glass bottle

Eye protection

Gloves

Mask

Marker

Water in a squeeze bottle (I actually used an empty Sriracha bottle)

Dremel Hand Tool

Diamond Wheel

How To:

-Put on your eye protection, gloves, and mask...working with glass dust can be dangerous, especially if you're a newbie! So make sure you're suited up.

-Use a marker to draw a guide line around the bottle.

-Lay your bottle on its side.

-Turn on your Dremel tool with the diamond wheel and start cutting along the marked line.

-***You'll need and extra pair of hands to squirt a few drops of water on the blade while you cut (don't get water above the attachment site on the Dremel). This will help prevent the glass from heating up and fracturing. Always keep the cut line wet.

-Go over your cut line a few times -- gradually getting deeper into the glass until it cracks off.  Keep the cut even around the whole bottle. Cut a little at a time on each side. 

-After the top is off, you'll want to clean up the sharp edges with your diamond blade. Make sure it's smooth and safe.

I Started A Tumblr!

So I started a Tumblr! Yes...the 16 year-old-girl in me is super excited. Bahahaha, no really. I find it relaxing and motivating to scroll through pictures and words of wisdom that inspire me about life, family, travel, art, cozy homes and yummy food. I guess it's sort of a vision board, right? I hope this will be a place that you can come to unwind and think about happy things. My fuzzy blanket is now yours. I hope you like it.

*Links to the original sources and recipes can be found when you click on the pictures. 

DIY Sunburst Mirror

So I've been drooling over this sunburst mirror for a few years now. All the mirrors that I like are way out of my price range {such as this one}. Why in the world is this mirror $449!? I dunno. So I thought it was about time that I attempted to make one myself. Here's what you'll need.

Shopping list:

10" mirror {I got mine at Target for $12.99}

metallic gold spray paint {Michael's $4}

3 packs of shish kabob sticks {Target 99¢ each}

E6000 glue {$2 Michael's}

scissors or clippers

glue gun {already had -->not pictured}

Total cost = around $22

Directions:

- cut your shish kabob sticks into various lengths. I cut around 60-5" sticks, 40-6" sticks, 40-7" sticks and 20- 8" sticks {place in separate labeled piles so they'll be easy to grab when you start the pattern} 

-Fire up your hot glue gun and turn you mirror face down.

-I started by lining up 4 of the 8" sticks with the lines on the front of the mirror. Dab a pea-size amount of hot glue on each point on the backside of the mirror 1/2" from the edge. Place each stick accordingly. 

-start the pattern {see below}

-Once complete, squeeze E6000 glue over the sticks to seal any weak spots that the hot glue gun may have missed.

-Let the glue dry overnight

-spray paint everything the next day {be sure to cover the mirror}

easy as that...

Pattern ^

8", 7", 6", 5", 5", 5", 6", 7", 8"...

Feeling Frenchy

I'm feeling a little Frenchy after posting the Macaron recipe.
So purdy. Gaaaaaaw

Biyan beaded lace cocktail dress / Ethan Allen ivory throw pillow / Chronicle Books 'Polaroid Love' Note Cards / Scented candle / Eiffel tower home decor / Silver Tray / Teacup 

Bar Cart Bliss

Ahhhh I've been dying for a gold bar cart! Alas I cannot find one that I love that is in my very limited budget. I have no idea why they are so expensive!!!? $1200? Why!? So, I will continue my hunt for the perfect {and affordable} cart. I just love how they bring a refined vibe into your home. I guess if a bar cart could talk it would say, “Yeah. I like to party, but I be classy.” Plus it's a great way to display some of your favorite items… artsy glassware, flea market finds and pretty bottles etc. Daaaaarling, The styling opportunities are endless. It would be perfect for little get-togethers with friends. And the bar cart has been around since the mid-1930′s so you KNOW it’s not going out of style any time soon. Here are some carts from around the web + decorating inspiration!

1.Roland Gold Cart /2.Gold Leafed Cart / 3. Brighton Gold Leaf Bamboo Bar Cart / 4.1950's Faux-Bamboo Bar Cart / 5.Wooden Crate & Barrel Bar Cart / 6. Lacy Bar Cart / 7.Tea Cart / 8.Worlds Away Gold Bar Cart /9. Crate and Barrel wheeled cart / 10. Threshold Wood and Brass Bar Cart /  Sur La Table glass decanter / Whiskey Ice Balls /Zara Home Drinkware / Striped Straws / Sur La Table Stainless Steel Straws / Seletti Glass Bottles / Golddust Bead Coral Wine Coaster / Book: The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited  

Pictures: HG, shopsocietysocial, restorationhardware

Domino Gold Bar Cart X Sun Burst Manhattan Chanel Bar Cart Chambord

Gifts For Her

 

Olive Wood Bread Board / Capri Blue Paris Candle / Black + Blum Thermo / Royal Doulton Espresso Cup / Milk Marc de Champagne Truffles / Lavazza Super Crema Italian Espresso / Toast wool socks / Clinique Black Honey Lipstick / Kai Perfume Oil / La Compagnie de Provence Truffles / Aveda 'Comforting' Tea Bags / Essie Nail Polish in Bordeaux / Sabon Body Scrub / Lamy Safari Calligraphy Fountain Pen

My Fall To-Do List & Favorites

Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons {my #1 love still being winter} It marks the beginning of cooler weather and some lovely holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving...both of which I adore. The whole season makes me feel warm and cozy, it's a time when friends and family get together and celebrate. Here is a little list of things I hope to do this season.

1.  Apple picking at the farm my parents would take me to when I was young

2. A weekend in the cabin

3. Host a pumpkin carving party

4. Master a new soup…I’m thinking butternut squash.

5. Watch some old scary classics like Secret Window and Frankenstein

6. Try my hand at making pumpkin butter

7. Wine tasting

8. Make apple cider from scratch

9. Night walks around Balboa, bundled up with cinnamon tea

10. Knitting a huge scarf with super thick burnt orange yarn…we’ll see how that goes.

And here are some of my favorites that will get you excited to embrace the season.

Sweater / Lauren Ralph Lauren dark brown leather boots / KENNETH JAY LANE enamel ring / Mimco cheek bronzer / Tom Ford wood perfume / Blanket / DwellStudio brown candle / Wedgwood & Bentley tea cup / Michael Aram gold stand / OKA home decor

DIY Striped Garden Pot

Easy. Easy. Easy.

 

 

{Step One}

Use masking tape to tape around your pot. Spray with spray paint. I used a glossy black. Use whatever color your heart desires. Place a piece of cardboard under your pot to keep things clean while spraying.

 

{Step 2}

One more coat of spray paint. Make sure you spray inside the rim up to soil level.

{Step 3}

Let it dry and then peel off that tape! Touch-up any uneven places with a paintbrush. You can spray your spray paint into a piece of crumpled newspaper -- it will hold a nice little puddle that you can use a touch-up paint.

 

Garden Station DIY Wooden Pallets

I have the best Hubby ever. Dan made me a gardening station for my potted plants and tools. I love that he used recycled wooden pallets... so eco-friendly of you Dan! He even made a shelf for my planter boxes and storage for soil and pots underneath. He was the handyman and I was the painter. I also had some fun arranging a few of our star lamps to make the space extra special {Dan wanted me to move them from our umbrella because someone kept hitting their head on them ha-ha}. Yay for team effort. Another DIY successfully completed. I just love him :) What a thoughtful guy!

{Before}

{After}

Soapstone Pencils

 

I ran across some marvelous little soapstone pencils at Crate & Barrel last week. I bought 3 and tried them out on our chalkboard at home. Too cool. They are so much easier to use than the regular bulky chalk. They give you smooth fine lines and leave less dust. So much better.

 

 

Backyard Shed Before & After

Dan and I have been renting a little one bedroom house during our first year of marriage. We absolutely love the place, but it has needed some TLC here and there. We asked our landlord if we could  touch-up a few things around the property...like this here shed. Not to shabby huh? I think we did a good job! A little paint and masking tape can do magical things.

 

Hue Design Challenge

Hello lovelies, I entered a "Hue Design Challenge" on Pinterest for Grandin Road. I actually made it to the top 10 finalists! Yay! I need your help to win. Click here to vote for me. Thanks guys, You're the best!

You can vote once everyday until May 8th 2013!

DIY Refinished Coffee Table

We found this great coffee table at a rummage sale last year for $15. It turned out to be made in Italy and imported by Bloomingdale's! Say waaa!? Score. It had a cute design, but it was all scratched up and whenever I put a cold glass on  it, a white foggy ring would appear on the table. Ahhh no good. So Dan and I resurfaced and stained our Italian coffee table!

Ooh it's so perdy and silky smooth now. And the wood is gorgeous! I'm kicking myself for not taking a "before" photo...but it looks 100% better.

 

Here's how we did it:

Step one

Use an Orbital Sander to take off the previous layers of lacquer and stain. Sand deep enough to remover scratches and nicks and reveal the original wood.

Step two

Hand sand with a fine grit sandpaper. I would suggest a 120 Grit, but it really depends on the type of wood you are working with.

Step three

Stain and let dry according to the directions on the particular stain you use

Step four

Lacquer. Dry. Repeat 3X

{This process will take a few days}

New Art in My Shop {Artsy Love Bug}

{Artsy Love Bug}

Click Here!

 

House Planning and Hot Toddies

Dan and I are so excited to finally begin planning the houses! To make a long story short, our 1920's house was too far gone to fix up. We tried remodeling it, but the house didn't pass inspection. Bummer huh? So we were left with no choice but to scrape it and start fresh. We have a soil tester coming soon and our plans are getting approved for 2, 4 bedroom houses. Hopefully we can get the ball rolling. Arghhh so many hoops to jump through. In the meantime we are having fun designing the houses and drinking hot toddies in our cozy little rental home. Life is grand.

 Goodbye Old House...

 

Hello

Hot Toddy

 

• 1 oz of brandy, whiskey or rum (pick your poison)
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp lemon and a wedge for later
• 1 cup hot water
• 1 tea bag (I like to use Wild Sweet Orange)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 5 cloves

1. Coat the bottom of a mug with honey.
2. Add the liquor and then lemon juice.
3. On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag. 
4. Pour the steaming tea into the glass and stir.
5. Add the lemon wedge, cinnamon stick, star anise and cloves

Picture: Hot Toddy 

DIY: Fabric & Cardboard Bookshelf

Super easy and cheap way to dress up your plain-jane bookself. All you need it cardboard, fabric and tape. Oh me likey!

 

White Bookshelf, Blue Patteren, Chevron Print, Map and Yellow, Cardboard Example, Horse bookshelf, China Shelf