Frugal Friday - 5/25

Happy Friday! Here are the hand-picked deals on home items that I've rounded up for you this week. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Bronze Twin Light Lamp, Target. $32.48 (Reg. $64.99)

Target

Grey Wooden Garden Bench, World Market. $89.99 (Reg. $149.99)

World Market

Blue Crackle Ceramic Lamp, Pier One. $49.98 (Reg. $99.00)

Pier One

 Medallion Door Knocker, Ballard Designs. $29.99 (Reg. $79.00)

Ballard Designs

Espresso Easton Dresser, Target. $149.98 (Reg. $299.99)

Target

I hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend. We will be relaxing and hanging around the house. What are your plans for the long weekend? Let me know! I love hearing from you all!

My ER Adventure

Well, I had a very eventful day today. I had to go to the ER because of an injury at the playground. Nope, one of my kids didn't get injured, it was me. I fell out of a swing. Seriously. You can laugh, it's ok.

Here's what happened: I was swinging with my youngest son on my lap, and somehow I let go for a split second and my center of gravity was thrown off and I fell backwards. Off the swing. Onto my head. Yep. Normally when one is in the process of falling off of a swing, their instinct would be to quickly grab at the chain in order to stay put on said swing. But with my little guy on my lap, I did what any mama bear would do and grabbed onto him instead so I wouldn't drop him. No time to think, just instincts. Protect the kiddo. So I fell backwards, smacked my head on the ground super hard and got very dizzy and shaky. After the dizziness went away, the hubby left work and met me at home, and dropped me off at the ER to get checked out while he took the kids home. Long story short, I'm ok - just a little concussion and a nasty headache/neck ache.

But I'm going to share the long story with you too, because I spent 5 loooong hours at that ER because of that dumb swing. And first of all, I'm sure the staff got a nice little giggle out of the fact that an almost 30 year old woman was there because she fell off the swing at the playground. I see the humor in it, it's ok. But when you're trapped in a hospital room alone for 5 hours, you have lots of time to think. Well, that is, after you look past the fact that your next door hospital neighbor is hurling as loudly as possible. For 5 hours. Gross, I know. Sorry. But it was the most dramatic thing I've ever heard. Even the doctors were coming in and telling her to calm down and take it down a few notches with the dramatics. At first of course I felt awful for her, because clearly she was not feeling well. But her family and medical professionals alike were clearly not buying into her theatrics. It was over the top. Let's just say, I was glad I hadn't eaten lunch.

After a few hours of listening to this, I then had the privilege of seeing a patient stroll by handcuffed, accompanied by law enforcement officers. I can only imagine what that was all about.

So about halfway into my "stay" at the glamorous ER, I had to be strolled on a gurney to get a CAT Scan. "What happened to you?," the guy asks. "Oh, you know, I just fell off a swing at the playground." That's right, you are rolling me down a hallway on a gurney because I fell at the playground. And I'm 29 years old. Could this get any more ridiculous or embarrassing? (For the record, I could walk but they wouldn't let me.)

As I was saying earlier, I had lots of time to think. After thinking about all of the important stuff, like how thankful I am that my kids weren't the ones who were hurt, and how much I have to be thankful for in general, and how I can't wait to get home to them and give them big hugs and kisses. And how fortunate I am to not be seriously injured, and how lucky I am to not be the lady next door (sorry lady, whoever you are. I really do hope your stomach issues get better SOON!), I then started redecorating the hospital room in my head.

I mean, could they have chosen an uglier curtain for the room? I think not.

And I could've used some better mood lighting.

And did someone take a few bites out of that cabinet?? Seriously. What in the world happened to it?

Anyway, I'm ok. Just going to take it easy for a few days. Beware of swings! No more for me. (I know, this whole thing could not be any more ridiculous.) Hope all of you are concussion-free and doing well! I'm going to go lay in bed with a heating pad and pretend this whole embarrassing ordeal never happened! Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I know it was a long story, and yes I have learned my lesson. Use caution on the playground!

Bold, Modern Furniture Makeover

I posted last week about the dresser that we found on Craigslist and intend to use as a sideboard in our living room/office. As I mentioned before, my husband spends a lot of time in that particular room when he works from home, and he loves modern style with clean lines (like Mad Men). We desperately needed more storage in that room, considering you can hardly see the top of the desk right now due to stacks of papers. I wanted to do something to suit his taste since that is his "man" room, and I also wanted to do something bold and fun.


Here is the dresser before:

This dresser was a steal. I mean, I almost feel guilty, like we should take the guy more money (but that's not going to happen.) I found it online and sent my husband to pick it up. We purchased it from a college kid who was moving and trying to get rid of it fast. It was probably a hand-me-down from his parents, and it held no value to him. Well I didn't realize until my husband brought it home that it is vintage Thomasville with dovetail construction, totally solid, very heavy, and definitely way more valuable than what we paid for it. That said, the solid wood was covered in veneer (which was the norm in that time period) and a lot of the finish had faded and become splotchy, etc. So I didn't feel too guilty painting it.

I absolutely love the lines of this piece, and the original hardware is awesome.

After I decided for sure that I wanted to go bold with this piece, I chose a color and went to town painting it. Unfortunately, when it dried it was way too electric blue for my taste. I painted over it in a blue-gray color, but that was just too drab. Finally, we settled on the perfect blue with a teeny hint of teal: Benjamin Moore's Summer Nights.

After lightly sanding, priming and painting it (3 times), I then gave the original hardware a coat of primer and some Krylon gold spray paint. Now, when I say this piece of furniture is heavy, I mean, it. is. HEAVY. My husband and I carried it from the garage to the office and it was no easy task. But it's in its home now and it was well worth the 3 paint colors and heavy lifting! I love it. I realize the color and style may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is just what we wanted.


Here it is now:

Of course I will be posting more pictures when we get the room put together and decorate a bit more, but for now I wanted to share the finished project with you.

Let me know what you think! I'd love to hear from you.

Inspiration From Around the Web

Lately I've been so busy with projects, and it seems like I am adding new things to my "to do" list all the time. But this week, for some reason I am in a rut. There is so much inspiration out there, and sometimes I just feel overwhelmed by it. I am pretty indecisive sometimes, particularly when it comes to decorating. I guess that's why it never really gets "done." Or at least to a point where I would call it done. It's always an ongoing process, but the truth is I like so many different styles and designs that it's hard to narrow it down and just focus on finishing a room. So instead, I have a house full of partially decorated rooms and a head full of ideas and no idea where to start. So today I decided to step back and search for random things that caught my eye and made me go, "Wow, that's really cool!" I needed to get inspired all over again. So now, I am going to share those things with you.

I love, love this "big boy" room from Thrifty Decor Chick. 

I'm sort of in denial that my boys aren't little babies anymore, but the fact is that in the not-too-distant future, they're going to want a less "babyish" space to call their own. My 4 year-old was already flipping through the Pottery Barn Kids catalog tonight, telling me all of the things he wants. "I just want these Spiderman sheets and this Batmobile pool and this big boy bed and this...and this, etc. etc."  Oh you know, he "just" wants about a thousand dollars worth of stuff for his room. (Not gonna happen.) But the point is, he's growing up fast.

How cool is this super modern chair? It's made from reclaimed wood from a New York City water tower.

Source

As I've mentioned before, my husband loves this type of modern style, so I was really excited to show him this chair. And then he informed me that not only has he already seen it, but he even posted it on his own "just-for-fun" blog. So then I got in trouble for not reading his blog. (Oops!) But hey, I know him well right!? I knew he'd love this chair, and he does. So um, go look at his blog on Tumblr so I can get out of the dog house. 

Check out this awesome room. Oh, that's not the kitchen, it's just the butler's pantry. Seriously. I mean, shut up! How ridiculous. And awesome. But mostly ridiculous.

Source: Leslie Fine Interiors

Ok, I'm going to be honest. The first thing I pictured when I saw this photo (below) was me as a child sliding down those stairs in a laundry basket. How much fun would that be? And then I thought about how beautiful everything is in this home. And then I morphed into Mommy-Erin and thought about how I bet noise carries really easily in that entry way and I'd be waking my kids up constantly if I lived there. And then I realized if we could afford to live there, then we could afford to soundproof their rooms. Problem solved.

Houzz: traditional family room design by salt lake city general contractor Candlelight Homes



How pretty is this bathroom vanity area (below)? I think I could handle getting ready in that spot every morning. Assuming I actually took the time to get ready every morning. Now that I'm a mom, "getting ready" consists of brushing my teeth and attempting to comb my hair with one child tugging at my leg and the other one picking fights with the one tugging at my leg.

TobiFairley.com

Ok, I just loved this quote and I needed to hear it today.

The Wellness Warrior

Check back soon for my modern dresser makeover and a peek at my latest flea market find, which will be my next project. I'm also (finally) planning on painting our dining room within the next few weeks. And if I can find enough motivation, I'll be refinishing our bedroom furniture. (Yikes!) It's going to be a major project, but it needs to be done. Stay tuned!

And P.S. Thank you to all of you who helped me reach the milestone of 900 Twitter followers! I am in awe! So thankful for each and every one of you. You are all awesome!

Backyard Patio Spruce Up With Kmart

I was recently given the opportunity to go shopping at Kmart for decor and accessories to spruce up our backyard patio. I jumped at the chance because we actually have a completely empty patio space in front of my soon-to-be craft workshop out back, and it could definitely use some sprucing up.

Here is a photo of what it looked like before our Kmart makeover:

We really needed some seating in this area, especially since we love having friends and family over. We had a great time hosting my son's birthday party last month and we plan on hosting a family reunion here this summer, so we definitely wanted to do something with this space. We have another small patio area as well as a back porch, but this little area here would be the perfect spot to sit and watch our kiddos play in the yard.

Before I made the trip to Kmart, I made a mental note of what types of things I wanted to look for. A couple of chairs were a must, as well as a few items to help create an attractive spot to sit and hang out. I wasn't looking for anything specific, I just wanted to see what they had to choose from.

So, off to Kmart I went, along with my 2 little shopping helpers.

When I walked in the store (after coaxing my son away from the toy and candy machines by the front door), I grabbed a flyer and set off on my search for the Outdoor Living section. All of the departments were clearly labeled, so it was very easy to find.

There were several furniture sets to choose from, as well as individual chairs and seat cushions.

I was a little bummed that the throw pillows were so picked over, but I managed to come away with some cute ones.

Here are all of the goods I ended up with (below). Check out my Google+ Album for more photos of my shopping trip, details about the selection and what I saw while I was there.

Believe it or not, there is a small child in there somewhere!

If you are looking to decorate your patio in time for Memorial Day or Father's Day, Kmart is the perfect place to do it. They have plenty of budget-friendly outdoor furniture, decor and accessories to choose from. Check out their catalog for a sample of what they have.

Current deals that can be found in their Sunday circular for this week include:

• 5% off Layaway purchases valid through 5/26/12
• 15% off all patio cushions and umbrellas
• Decorative planters on sale for $19.99 (Reg. $29.99)
• Hanging basket plant stand on sale for $14.99 each (Reg. $24.99)
• Earn bonus points and save with Kmart Shop Your Way Rewards. (I did!) Membership is free. You get points every time you use it, and then you can redeem your points for merchandise. 1000 points = $1.00.
• All Kmart grills, patio furniture and outdoor decor is on sale
• 15% off all folding lawn furniture
• Use your qualifying Sears card and save 5% or pay no interest for 12 months on any grills or patio furniture over $299
• Lock in today's low prices for all of your upcoming events with Kmart layaway.

Ready to see my spruced up patio? I think it turned out pretty cute. It's a step in the right direction at least.

Thank you, #KmartOutdoor! Now we have a nice place to sit and watch our boys play. I also picked up some string lights to hang in one of the trees in our yard for when we have parties, and I bought all of the ingredients to make S'mores, which we made over the weekend! This little "spruce-up" was the perfect start to making our back yard feel more inviting. I can't wait to host a few backyard parties with family and friends this summer.

Here are several ways you can connect with Kmart online:  Kmart's Twitter, Shop Your Way Rewards Twitter, Kmart's Facebook page, Kmart Weekly Deals, and Kmart Outdoor Living.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. All opinions are 100% my own. #CBias #SocialFabric #KmartOutdoor

Saturday Project Spotlight - 5/19

Hello! I hope you're all having a good weekend. Here are some of the awesome projects that were linked up at the last Saturday Project Swap link party. Enjoy!

Abbie from Lovin' Our Chaos made this adorable, budget-friendly camera bag.

Niki from HomeMadeville shared this smart and super-organized laundry room makeover (along with a few printables).

Over at House Made Home, Tyesha showed us how to stencil a wall, while she gave her laundry room a little makeover.

Meredith from Wait Til Your Father Gets Home made this fun "Mad Planter" using clay pots.

Over at 733 Blog, Kim made this adorable cupcake stand out of a candlestick holder and a plate. So cute!

Thanks to everyone for sharing your projects with us! 

If you have a DIY project that you'd like me to feature here on the blog, please email me a link or a photo/brief explanation of your project.

Have a great weekend!

Frugal Friday - 5/18

Happy Frugal Friday! Along with the deals that I've come across this week, I'd also like to introduce you to my new affiliate sites. I have chosen these affiliates because I absolutely love each of these sites, and hope that you will too! Feel free to check them out.


Pick Your Plum. This is an awesome website for deals on craft supplies, clothing, baking supplies, home decor and more. Basically what they do is post a deal each day and that deal is available until it sells out or time is up, whichever happens first. I have purchased from them in the past, and they have great prices. You can sign up to receive email alerts so you always know what the current "deal" is.

Joss & Main.  This is a members-only site (it's free to sign up) and according to their website, they offer "limited-time sales on the world's best brands for your home and life." Their "events" usually last 3 days, and provide members with access to awesome home decor items (furniture, accessories, etc.) for up to 70% off retail. I love this site. I became a member a while ago and love checking out their current sales. There is usually a wide range of price points, so there is something for everybody.

One Kings Lane. This is also a members-only site (free to sign up), and they also offer limited time sales on curated collections, including top brand and designer furniture, decor, accessories and more. There is a wide range of price points here too, and I love checking out their events. You can also earn money by recommending friends, which is always a nice bonus!

And here are the Frugal Friday deals I've come across this week:

 5-Piece Metal Patio Chat Furniture Set, Target. $249.50 (Reg. $499.00)

Target

Amelia Foyer Table, World Market. $99.99 (Reg. $179.99)

World Market

Rize Garden Votive Holder, Z Gallerie. $9.99 (Reg. $14.95)

Z Gallerie

Set of 4 Orleans Glassware, Ballard Designs. $29.99 (Reg. $45.00)

Ballard Designs

Sunburst Lamp, Pier One. $79.98 (Reg. $99.00)

Pier One

Please be sure to check back this weekend for some fun project features in my Saturday Project Spotlight. And I can't wait to share my latest furniture project with you! It's finished and I will be sharing it next week. Have a great weekend!

Disclosure: As an affiliate blogger, I receive compensation for referred purchases on affiliate sites. However, all opinions stated here are 100% my own.