Country road take me home.

My Sister lives in a beautiful little country home. The house is situated on several acres atop Palomar Mountain. The decor is warm, charming, country and comfortable. The furniture, walls and floors are all natural wood tones but we have added a variety of colors with pillows, pictures, throws and old treasures.
Recently I had the pleasure of redecorating my Sister's spare bedroom. When she assigned me the task the bedroom was being used as a storage/ office/ guest room. After discussing with her in detail what she uses the bedroom for most often, we decided to make the room a full time office. Not just a traditional office for business use, but a room where her daughters could do their homework, read, be creative and enjoy a cozy space.
The office furniture had already been purchased, so I knew exactly what I was working with. I made a list of the items that I wanted to incorporate.
It was time to get to work!

After gutting the room, including ripping out the carpet, we were left with this...

The floors were replaced and the walls painted. I had quite a few DIY projects to complete before hanging pictures and placing candles.

I made throw pillows and valances out of beautiful curtain panels. I also used curtain panels to close off the closet, instead of buying closet doors.  

After a few trips to Home Goods, Target, Home Depot and a large Amazon order, the room was complete. 

Rustic Chic Baby Shower

Rustic Chic Baby Shower

As I previously posted, I have been working on putting together a baby shower for a dear friend of mine. The baby shower was last week and it went off without a hitch (minus the strong gusts of wind blowing vases over and the light shower of rain). It took me several hours (and gallons of wine) to paint, locate, buy and assemble all of the decorations. On the day of the event I had a small army helping to put everything in it's perfect place. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of the event and more importantly the Mom to be was thrilled as well.

We served lemonade and water. We decided to omit alcohol because the party was from 2-4 pm and it adds an element that isn't always appropriate at a baby shower. I bought several inexpensive chalkboards, painted the borders and wrote on them with a paint pen. I used them to label the items that were available. I bought several dozen mason jars for a previous event and continue to reuse them. I love mason jars because they are inexpensive and they look much nicer than disposable cups.

I made vases with old wine bottles and large mason jars. I wrapped the top of the mason jars in a white lace ribbon and tied a twine bow at the top. The wine bottles I wrapped with twine, a small pink ribbon and glued fabric flowers in the front. The vases were inexpensive (and a great excuse to drink more wine), cute and perfectly country. Each table was decorated with a chocolate brown linen, five vintage doilies and two vases filled with Baby's Breath and Gerber Daisies. 

I made several signs to display around the yard. I bought acrylic paint in the color palette that I had chosen, wood steaks and thin unfinished wood signs. All of the items are sold at Michael's for under $10 a sign. I reused a few signs from a previous event and just repainted them, it worked out well. 

I used hand me down clothing to make an adorable clothes line. The line was made from twine, I bought clothes pins from Michael's and all of the clothing items that I hung were in the chosen color palette. It was a very simple addition to the event's decor. 

It's always nice to have a designated site for the gifts. Gifts are so colorful and beautifully wrapped, they can be a wonderful addition to the overall look of an event. 

Since the event was held from 2-4 pm we had the option of serving food, appetizers or desserts. I decided to do a dessert bar. This is the first dessert bar that I have executed. I learned a few helpful tips that I'll surely apply next time around: 

1. You do NOT need 100 different choices. Simple is best. 

2. Stick with 5 candy choices and 5 baked good choices.

3. No need to have a large amount of each item. Not every guest will indulge in every item. 

4. Choose items that perfectly match your color palette. 

5. Use boxes to prop different items, so that the display has items at different heights. 

6. Use different sized vases, jars, dishes and stands. It makes the table look perfectly displayed. 

7. Test ALL of the items. ; )

There was an insane amount of treats left over from the event. I have definitely learned from my mistakes but I was happy with the way that it turned out, especially with it being the first dessert table I have designed. 

Cheers to a great event. Can't wait until I have another event to plan!! 

Homemade Cupcake Toppers

::DIY Cupcake Toppers::

I am on a budget for the Baby Shower that I am helping to throw. I wish that I had endless amounts of money to spend on the event but the truth is that I don't. I am trying to spend wisely and get the most from the money that I am spending. Of course I want the event to be perfect, so I am getting really crafty.

Making decorations is the perfect way to save money on an event. I always have my eyes peeled for inexpensive decorations or items that can be made into decorations. While at Target last week I found a couple of paper notepads that were filled with card stock that happened to be in my color palette. I bought two of them without knowing what I would use them for.

After searching Pinterest for different decorating ideas, I decided to make cupcake toppers out of the card stock. It was so easy and I am very pleased with the way they turned out. 

How to:: make cupcake toppers

1. Find beautiful card stock that you want to use.

2. Pick a shape that you would like to top your cupcake with. 1-2" 

3. Trace the shape onto card stock. 

4. Cut out all of the shapes. 

5. Use hot glue to adhere the card stock shape onto the front of a wood pick. 

6. Glue another card stock shape onto the other side of the pick so that the shapes line up perfectly.

7. Tie a bow at the top of the wood pick right below the bottom of the shape. (optional)

Modify Monday. DIY Headboard.

If you are a Pinterest addict like myself that you may have seen some of the amazing DIY home projects my fellow crafters have posted. Many of the DIY projects that I have seen look very difficult and intimidating and others are easy enough for even the non crafty's out there. I have attempted and completed several home decorations that I have found on Pinterest, it is a hobby of mine.

Not long ago I was looking for a DIY headboard idea. I felt that my bedroom really needed the added character and our bed frame did not come with a headboard. I searched online for quite some time and found several different ideas that were possible for me to complete on my own. I compared all of the options and settled on the headboard that was going to fit our bedroom style perfectly.

This project is so simple. Anybody and everybody that is in need of a headboard could and should give it a try. I am so happy with the way it turned out. Our bedroom is complete.

1. Go to a lumber supply store with your measurements.
-Planks should be even with or a bit longer than the width of your bed. We have a queen bed so I needed a plank that was cut 62 inches long. I decided to go with five 4 inch planks. The staff at the lumber store will cut your planks to the length that you desire, if needed.

2. Pick out your stain or paint color.
-The finish that you go with can make a dramatic difference. We have a beach styled home so I decided to go with white paint. I always have white paint on hand, so I used what I had.

3. Paint or stain your wood immediately.
-If you decided to paint or stain your wood it needs to be done immediately. If your wood is kept outside without getting painted it will begin to warp. If you can't paint your wood immediately you should keep it covered or inside. I wanted a bit of a warped look because of our beach theme, so I kept our wood outside on our porch for two days. (My Husband did not understand why I would do such a thing)

4. Hang.
-Once your wood is dry and looking good, it is time to hang. Make sure that you have a level on hand so that your wood is placed straight across. I started right below the top of my mattress so that there was not a visible gap. There are several different ways to hang the planks, go with whatever you think is going to fit your style best. You can nail the wood into the wall, use picture hangers or drill it in.

Flea Market Friday. Oceanside. Never. Again.

Last Saturday I made plans for my family to shop the Oceanside Flea Market. We weren't really sure what to expect because neither my husband or I had ever been. It is in a giant lot that used to be occupied by a drive in theater. The large movie screens are still in place, which makes it look a little creepy but as we all know, we should never judge a book by it's cover. When we arrived to the market mid morning we were surprised by the lack of vehicles we were seeing in the parking lot. Usually flea markets stay pretty busy, especially on a Saturday or Sunday morning.
We paid the $1 entry fee and immediately started checking out the booths. What we found was a surprise to both my husband and myself. There were very few vendors. Many of the booths were vacant and for some odd reason vendors were setting there booths up every 20-30 feet, which made it look even more empty. The lot looked like it was ready to house hundreds of vendors and maybe in the past it had, but it was completely lacking vendors and business last Saturday.
As we walked the grounds, from booth to booth we noticed that the quality of the items being sold was very poor. The vendors didn't seem as if they were there to sell, they never greeted us or acknowledged that we were interested in their items. When we stopped at a fruit stand, we gathered several different items while the vendor continued to have a conversation with a family member, not acknowledging us until we asked where we could pay. The entire experience was very odd.
We did find a few items: fruit, veggies and a house plant. They had great deals on plants and the man that was selling them was very friendly and informative. I am very happy that we weren't entirely skunked but I guarantee we will not return to that flea market.
I took a few pictures of our experience.

A few lessons that I learned last Saturday. 

1. Always look up reviews on the flea market that you are interested in visiting. 

2. It's worth a longer drive to get to a better flea market.

3. I can find something to buy anywhere items are for sale. 

Organizer Thursday. Jewelry Organization.

Lucky ladies collect fancy jewelry, trendy ladies collect costume jewelry and then there are the ladies that collect both. All ladies need a way to keep their jewelry organized. There is not a single jewelry organization method that I have not tried. I have had several different jewelry boxes, cabinets, drawers, etc. Some methods I have been a fan of and others I have detested. After years of trying to find the perfect fit for me, I have finally found the organizer that I can no longer imagine my life without.

I found this jewelry organizer on Amazon. Originally I thought that it was priced too high for what it is, but now that I have everything organized and in clear view, I realize that it may even be worth more than what I paid. Rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, all organized and on display in one place. The best part about the organizer is that in the morning after I get dressed I can walk by my jewelry, take a glance and pick the accessories that are best suited for the day. 

 

Modify Monday. Fab File Cabinets.

O is for organize. Being organized is not just a luxury in my life, it is a necessity. I organize, reorganize and organize some more until I find the best method for organizing whatever it is I am trying to organize. You see? 

My Sister recently gave me a file cabinet that she was no longer using. (She's always sending me home with treasure) I happened to stumble upon some really cute file cabinets on Pinterest that had been redecorated. I love the idea so I've decided that I need to have a redecorated file cabinet of my own. So, that's what I am going to do. Modify my file cabinet into a beautiful new organizer. 

I already bought all of the hanging files and manila folders and started to organize every loose paper, picture and piece of fabric in our home. It is going to take the rest of this week to complete this project. By next Monday I will post the completed file cabinet, maybe a couple of updates between now and then too. 

There is no shortage of inspiration for this project on interest. Of course mine will have to be different and better. ; )

What is my modified file cabinet going to look like? You'll have to wait and see. 

Sunday Celebration. Phase 1. Party Planning.

I am planning a baby shower for my Husband's cousin, who is also a dear friend of mine. My Sister in law is hosting the party but I volunteered to do the decorating and help with the planning. I am a sucker for parties and decorating, so it's a perfect match. Baby shower planning has become one of my specialties.
Today we met up to discuss the details of what we are doing. It is critical to have a game plan when planning something as important as a Woman's baby shower, what a special day. The Mom to be has thirty people on her guest list, totally doable.

Plan of Attack

1. Budget. It is extremely important to know what you're working with in order to plan the event. 
2. Theme. Our budget is not a very significant amount, so we need to work with items that we already have. We have decided to do a feminine, rustic, vintage, country inspired theme. 
3. Time. The time of the party determines what kind of food needs to be served. If it is during the hours of a meal, you will need to provide that. If you're looking to do appetizers or dessert, you should throw the party between meals. 
4. Food and Beverages. We are throwing the shower from 2-4 pm, between meals. We will be serving appetizers and dessert. No alcohol needed since it is early in the afternoon. 
5. Invitations. Invitations should be sent out in advance and should reflect the theme that you've chosen. Depending on what the occasion is, you should give people 4-8 weeks. For this occasion 4 weeks will suffice. The invitation we chose can be seen by clicking link below. 

http://www.costcophotocenter.com/greetings/product/G/G0000230/FLT57V/2?category=BabyShowerGirl

1. Decor. After coming up with a rough estimate for food, beverages, venue (if not at home) and invitations, you should know what is left for decorations and miscellaneous items. Come up with a list of decorations that will make a big impact and list in order of importance. The top of the list should be the first items budgeted for. 

Items I have: tables, chairs, linens, mason jars, chalkboards, wood rounds, center piece vases, burlap, glass drink dispensers and galvanized buckets.

Items we will need to purchase: paper straws, paper flowers, fabric garland, fresh flowers, paper garland and balloons.

Any ideas that you think would go well? What do you think of the planning so far? What was the theme of your baby shower? 

Flea Market Friday. Thrift store success.

Nothing beats strolling the 101, sipping a great cup of coffee and shopping the boutiques, consignment stores and thrift shops. I have never had trouble shopping. I have yet to walk into a store that doesn't have a single item that I'd like to see in my home. 

I find thrift stores to be especially fun. Everybody loves a good treasure hunt. You never know what you're going to leave with. Once you find a piece that you can't live without, it is so much fun to imagine the story behind it. The prices are impossible to beat. Where can you find a lovely $3.00 tea cup and saucer set or a beautiful matted and framed picture of the ocean for the bargain price of 6.00? 

Just two of the treasures that I came home with today. Here are a couple more...

I love the colors on these matching canvases. They are perfect for our beach pad. I am not sure where I will find a home for them but I know I can free up some wall space to showcase these little stunners. $4.00 for both. 

I have been looking for decorating, design and home organizing books everywhere. I came across three at a thrift store today and couldn't pass up the deal. For $10 I went home with 3 books, what a steal. Now I must read them. 

The best Flea Markets in San Diego run Saturday- Sunday. I will be attending this weekend and documenting my experience. I am looking forward to the adventure, it has been too long since I last shopped the market. 

NEW Weekly Blogging Themes

It's time to get excited… I will be disclosing OCD Lady's weekly blogging themes right NOW. I'm sure the anticipation has been killing you. What more could a person want, really?!

I'd like to keep this blog semi structured but still allow myself the freedom to stray. After all, I am overflowing with important information in regards to decorating and organization, and I know that you're eager to receive it.

This is a glimpse of what our weeks will look like together. Of course, nothing is set in stone and if I feel the need to change it up a bit, I will do as I please. If you'd like to suggest a theme or topic, please feel free to do so.

Modify Monday

Top Ten Tuesday

Trendy Wednesday

Thursday Organizer 

Freebie Friday 

Saturday Style Spotlight

Sunday Celebration

My blog for each day will relate directly to that day's theme.  OK? Let's get this party started. Back to blogging… 

Modify Monday. Trash into Treasure.

My Sister has been cleaning house for several months, redecorating rooms, organizing closets and donating several items. Lucky for me, I have scored some great pieces.
Today it was time to put some of my sanding and painting skills to work, to see what I could make of a little old brown table that my Sister had given me. I was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. 

Of course with a 4 month old, my schedule is based on my Baby's needs and desires, so when starting a project I always wonder just how long it is going to take to complete. Lucky for me, today Parker was as happy as a clam and turned out to be the perfect company while I redecorated this little table. 

By the time I remembered to take a before picture I had already gotten the hardware off and begun sanding… whoops. 

I invested in a sander a couple of years ago when I was tackling my first refurbish. This specific piece of furniture was so ready for a new life, the paint and stain was peeling off very easily. All it took was a light sanding over the entire table and inside the shelves. 

When the details are too small to be worked over with the sander I rub a piece of sand paper over it by hand or use a primer before painting. This table did not need the primer because it was responding so well to the light sanding. 

It is important to brush all of the loose saw dust, stain and dirt off of the table before painting. I sweep a broom over it lightly and wipe the wood down with a damp cloth. Once the sanding is complete it is time to start painting. I always keep a can of white paint. Since I live on the coast white is almost always perfect for the 'beachy' look that I am going for. Of course with white you have to do several coats, three on this specific table. Always let it dry completely before painting your second and third coats.

The drawer handle was very outdated and needed to be replaced. While the paint dried, my son and I went for a little shop at the Home Depot to buy the drawer some new hardware. Decisions, decisions…

There are SO many options and each option will give the piece of furniture a very different look. Currently I am liking the glass pulls, so that's what I went with. They are very inexpensive at $4.oo each.

Once the paint is dry and the table is put back together, it's time to find the piece of furniture a new home. 

I haven't found the table a permanent home quite yet. I thought that I wanted it below this picture, but it is too small for that space. I will update when I find the perfect spot for it.