May 21, 2012

Ever So Fun Inexpensive Table Centerpieces (perfect for Easter)

Mar29
inexpensive-table-centerpieces

I shared my favorite ever table scape idea right before Easter last year, and for many of you, it was too late to give it a try. Since I am just starting my Wheat Grass centerpiece, as in, I have [...]

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Crystal Chandelier in the DIY Laundry Room

Jan8
crystal chandelier in laundry room

We’ve been in our home for fourteen years, and slowly, I’m re-doing things the good ole-fashioned DIY (Do It Yourself) way. One regret I really have is that I didn’t prioritize new lighting fixtures sooner. Yes, most of my rooms [...]

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Anthropologie Inspired Home Decor

Sep12
news print art

It’s all about presentation. Whether we’re talking food styling, our personal home decor or our favorite shop, the presentation, merchandising, and all over look and feel speaks to us when we first walk through the door. Anthropologie is one of [...]

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Sewing 101: something for us wanna-be’s

Jul20
easy sewing project for kids

Last month, I mentioned on my Balancing Beauty and Bedlam facebook page, that I bought a sewing machine for Christmas for my daughter (three years ago…cough, cough). and it’s still sitting in the box. That is one DIY project that [...]

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Handmade Marketplace: What are Your Crafting/DIY Projects?

Jul11
spray paint chalkboard paint

It’s summer time: days to create, be inspired and relax, right? Sometimes I chuckle when I think that my summer was going to magically open up my calendar to all of those wonderful handmade creations I desired to make and [...]

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DIY Lamp Shades – Getting Inspired by Pottery Barn

Mar9
DIY for kids lampshade

As we gaze and gawk at the Pottery Barn catalogs each season, those first tendencies to compare, complain and covet can get us, can’t they? Well, I may be speaking for myself, but I can’t help mourn the fact that [...]

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Beautifully Budgeted Bathroom Redo – Before and After

Aug1
white rug

In my mind, my home decorating skills are living large with HGTV quality, but in reality, I have put many household renovations on the back burner for years. If I spent half of the time doing, rather  than just dreaming [...]

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Laundry Room Redo – I Love Paint

Jul26
blue laundry room

My laundry room has been in disarray for years. Now for most, that is pretty typical but there are no worries because one just closes the door to the laundry room and the worries melt away. Well, not so in [...]

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Five Low-Cost Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Jun16
women DIY project

You all know that with summer here, one of my goals is to attack some very neglected home projects. I’m off to a good start with my painting, but there are just so many things to do with such limited [...]

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Fastest, Frugal Decorating Redo – Painting

Jun13
painting touqoise chair

Paint is one of the easiest, quickest, and definitely the most frugal way to update and change any decorating aspect in your home. I’ve been doing some serious painting lately, and it’s always a blast to involved the kids.  It’s [...]

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Adding Fringe – Decorating on a Dime

May13
fort in room_opt

I have a love/hate relationship with fabric. The designer fashion fabric that drapes on my body for pennies on the dollar… I LOVE. However, the kind of fabric I buy in a bolt willing me to create easy masterpieces for [...]

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Spray Painting Cabinet Knobs

Apr8
spray painting kitchen knobs_opt

As many of my “school year” obligations coming to a respite, I am thoroughly enjoying dusting off my list of home projects that have been waiting patiently. During my recent painting adventure, many of you saw my kitchen vlog post [...]

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Painting a Laminate Cabinet Island

Apr7
painted laminate island_opt

For years, I dreamed of having an open kitchen with white cabinets. Envisioning it filled with family and friends was the goal. I knew that laminate cabinets were our option because the alternative was not in our budget, nor was [...]

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Decorating with Ornaments

Dec16

Scrambling to decorate last evening, minutes before my guests were to arrive, reality set in…it was not going to happen.

Think quickly, Jen. How could I add that holiday feel with only minutes to prepare, yet still give some decorating bang for my frugal buck?

Decorate with ornaments, and cut some greenery from the outside bushes, of course. (And since I’m a fancy schmancy photographer, you’ll see me sitting on the counter taking those two pictures. :) )

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Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas

Dec13

You all know how I love to incorporate frugal, fancy, creative decorating ideas, so what better treat then a combination of my own creative inspiration and that of a place where dreams come true – Disney.

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