~think outside the {window} box~

The little window boxes on my studio were in need of sprucing up, but I wanted to do something a little out of the ordinary.

Instead of planting in them, I planted on top of them!

I cut a piece of wood the length of each window box, and set on top.

I had 6 of these little French clay pots, so I planted them all with the same plant for a cohesive look and set them on top!

~Love thinking outside the box~

The winner of the ESCAPE bag will be posted on my instagram this morning!

xoxo

~thrifty thursday~ {put a fork in it}

I was cleaning out our garden shed and decided we had one too many of the same thing.

So….. I decided to put this old pitchfork to use.

Before, plain old pitchfork:

After: directional sign which can be easily moved or taken down after party:

So, if you are having a get together and need to show where different activities are, get out some scrap wood, or use new, and paint the wording on.

Nail to the pitchfork and stick in the ground.

Easy peasy.

Like I said before, you can use scrap wood, but new works just as well.

You really don't even need to paint the wood first.

You can freehand arrows on each piece, or cut the ends to form a arrow using a saw set to a 45 degree angle.

For the wording I used sticker letters from the office supply store.

I have used these on numerous projects, they are a staple in my craft studio.

Simply stick them on and use a pencil to trace around.

Peel off and fill in with the color paint of your choice.

After it's dry you can rough up the lettering with sandpaper if you wish.

These do not have to be perfect, my kind of project!

I made these for when we have backyard bbq's and get togethers this summer.

When the time comes, I will get it out and stick it in the ground!

xoxo

~before & after~

This is a before and after of another kind.

I know this is primarily a blog about pretty interiors and diy projects, but this was just too good not to share.

When something claims to be too good to be true, it usually is right?

Well, when a friend on my soccer team asked me if I would like to try some age defying night cream for 5 days I said, "that's ok I'll pass" 

I mean really, I have been happy with my Oil of Olay.

However, when I found out I could try it out for 5 days free, I jumped all over it.

So, in the parking lot at soccer she handed me a bottle and then snapped my photo of my eye area.

She told me to use it every night before bed

{it's just like a lotion you put on a damp face after your normal washing} 

and that she would take photos when I saw her 5 days later.

I went home with my before pictures, not thinking I looked all that bad,

{ha-ha}

used the night cream every night for 5 days and then met back up with her to give her the bottle back and get my "after" photos.

I swear these photos are not doctored!

This was only after 5 days!

My before and afters:

Not only did the lines around my eyes improve but look at my skin texture!

It shrank my pores, made my skin tone more even, and helped with sagging.

{sorry, these photos are really up close!}

I was seriously so impressed I bought a bottle and bought my mom a bottle for mothers day.

 When I gave a bottle to my mom I told her I wanted to take her before and after pictures as well.

These were her results after only 7 days.

First, the right side of her face.

Look at her wrinkles getting smaller and the puffiness and sagging has gone down tremendously!

 And now for the left side of her face:

I think the photos speak for themselves.

I cannot wait to take her picture a month in!

I am so impressed with this product that I had to share on here!

I have never used anything that even comes close to delivering these results this fast. 

Every morning when I wake up I feel like I just had a face lift.

If you would like to get your own click here.

It's called Nerium age defying night cream.

It's a one step, once a day lotion that you rub all over your clean face before bed.

It is spend, but cheaper if you sign up for a monthly bottle, which is what I am doing.

You can cancel at anytime and there is a money back guarantee if for some reason you react to it.

My mom and I both have super sensitive skin though and have had not 

one negative thing to say about it.

Back tomorrow with Thrifty Thursday!

xoxo

~a country barn house~

Did you all see Ronnie Dunn's home in Country Living?

Holy cow.

Rachel Halvorson did a good job on this one, she has me wanting to live in a barn.

What do you think?

I'm crazy over it.

xoxo

~did you ESCAPE?~{a giveaway}

What did you do this Memorial Day weekend? 

Did you stay home or did you escape for a bit?

Leave me a comment on this post

{including you email address}

for a chance to win this fabulous canvas bag from Forest Bound.

Here are the details on this bag:

Been on the hunt for a great bag to pack full and take with you on a weekend adventure? Well, look no further! 

We're excited to introduce the ESCAPE Canvas Utility bag by Forestbound. 

A number of years ago we found an incredible vintage canvas bag at a flea market that we couldn't get out of our head - and this is our own interpretation and reinvention of that bag. 

The Forestbound ESCAPE Canvas Utility Bag is made from sturdy 12oz beige canvas. Features split leather handles and buckle straps with metal hardware. Also features metal feet on the base of the bag, a water resistant fiberboard interior bottom panel, and 12 gauge rivet secured steel dowels at the top opening of the bag to provide a wide opening as well as a secure closure.

Made in the USA, printed here in our Massachusetts based studio.

Measures approximately - 20" wide, 14" tall, 6" deep. 

For a extra entry, follow forest bound on instagram

and

for a third, follow my sweet savannah on instagram.

Please leave 3 separate comments for each one with your email address.

I will pick a random winner on Friday!

xoxo

~living room refresh~

I teamed up with these lovely bloggers to show you how to refresh your living room!

classic•casual•home

Don't Disturb This Groove

Lime In The Coconut

Little Black Door

My Sweet Savannah

Pretty Petals 

Rough Luxe Lifestyle

Roses and Rust

Stone Gable

Sometimes we all just need a little pick me up, some fresh new pillows, flowers from the garden, etc. to brighten things up.

When it came to our living room I thought really hard about the purpose this room serves. What we really use this space for. 

I also kept in consideration the upcoming summer months, and how it is used during that time.

I came to the conclusion that this really is a kid hang out room in the summer. 

The kids go swimming in the lake and then come back and plop down on the couch for a movie, maybe a board game on the coffee table, a few snacks….

So, here is how I added a little life and summer fun into our living room!

{sources at the bottom of the post}

The very first thing I did was hang this flag.

I have had it forever, as well as the frame, so I put it together, got on a ladder and hung it up high!

The ceilings in our living room are 12' tall, so it filled up this space nicely.

I think the flag might be my favorite part of the room.

Now here's a funny story.

When I had the ladder on top of that console table to hang the flag, I stepped back to view it all and realized how nicely the blue in the ladder looked with the flag!

So I took a copy of the ladder with my phone and took it to the hardware store and picked 

out a paint to match.

I painted this bucket and added fresh flowers from the yard.

Voila!

Ok, I lied.

This coffee table is my new favorite.

And it has a story.

It was my husbands when he was little, how special is that?

The whole piece was green, which happens to be my favorite color, but after getting it in the room I realized it was just too much color.

So, I sanded down the top to reveal the wood and put a coat of clear wax on it to seal it.

It's much bigger than our previous coffee table and I am loving to!

I also had to cut 3" off of each leg to make it the right height.

Since a few days ago when I did this little living room refresh, we have played many games of junior trivia and dominoes. :)

I brought out some more of the kids' board games and piled them high on my books.

I also piled on the pillows.

Lots and lots of pillows, most I had but I did pick up the blue vintage ticking ones at a antique store.

I wanted to keep the pillows fairly neutral since there is so much color going on in the room elsewhere.

Do you see how just a few accessories and pops of color can change the look entirely? 

Here is a before picture:

And after:

sources:

Lamps~ Homegoods

Wood bucket~ Home Depot

Paint on Wood bucket~ Behr "tornado season"

Shutters~ antique

Gallery frames~ {I don't see the exact ones, mine are about 13x17} Ikea

Flag~ My Sweet Savannah

Pillows~ Dreamy Whites, Great Findz, vintage {similar here}

Sectional~ Pottery Barn

Ceiling light~ Pottery Barn

Jute Rug~ {8x10}  Rugs USA

Zebra rug~ local antique store

Console Table~ Farm Chicks Antique Show

Bench behind couch~ Craigslist

Wall color~ Behr Swiss Coffee

xoxo

~thrifty thursday~fab furniture find

I am sure you know by now how I love to go to thrift stores.

There's something about finding that special unique item and hauling it home.

Most items need either a little work, a make over, or make under, but I am happy to do just that.

I want to show you this piece that I picked up recently at Value Village for under $100.00.

When looking at furniture at thrift stores, don't be intimidated by their color or hardware. That can all be easily changed.

With so many paints to choose from now days that require no sanding or priming, things are so much easier.

Instead look at the character each piece has.

The details,

How easily the drawers slide open and closed.

I decided not to paint this piece.

Instead over the course of 2 days I sanded it down to raw wood.

I removed all the hardware and replaced with wooden knobs

{ran 2 short, another trip back to the store!}

I still might wax it but I'd like to keep the color.

I could not have got around all that detail without this sander.

Lifesaver to say the least!

It has a tip that you can add on to get into really tight places and unlike my other sanders, the sandpaper is pre cut and velcros on!

I am still unsure if I will keep these knobs or do old white porcelain ones.

Can't wait for you to see this in place all styled up!

xoxo