Barefeet in High Heels

April is right around the corner (ugh...I know, right?), which means a new MANTEL!

In preparation, I decided to diy a quick wreath change yesterday.

I grabbed a fall wreath from last year and also some forsythia bush branches that I randomly picked up for free from my old job.  I can't remember why, but they were going to throw them out, so I confiscated them. 

Anyway, I took out all the fall stuff, put it in a bag and put it away with the rest of my random decorations.  

Then, I took the forsythia, and placed them through the grapevine wreath just along one side of the wreath.

Stay tuned next week for the mantel reveal.  After I get it done...  :)

What about you all?  What random switches have you done to your own home decor for the "spring" season?

Without further ado...the mantel...in March...

The laundry room has gone from this...

...to this...

An old remnant of fabric made the perfect cover for the bottom storage...

...and old curtains made great cover for the top shelves...

Still need some sort of calendar in here...  I have an idea, but it's a work in progress.

When figuring out decor for Mini #2's birthday party, I thought a super fun giant caterpillar would be awesome.

Of course, how to make one was another story.

Hello Google.

After a quick search I found Martha's pom poms...fabulous and super easy. 

So, I followed the directions and made the pom poms.  Slightly smaller, so it'd be cheaper, but it still worked out.

Confession time...my sister fluffed and made the face...professional preschool teacher in action.

What other simple and cute decorations have you made lately?

When the Christmas tree came down...the furniture moved.

I like the open concept and like how it seems to flow with the kitchen a little more.  Still awkward...but it'll do for now.

OH, and I got a new lantern too; the tall one...isn't it gorgeous?

Best part...it was 75% off the original price because the glass was missing.  

I found these awesome beaded candle rings at a garage sale last summer for $.25 each.

I loved the idea of using them as Valentine's Day decor, but thought they'd be a little more fun shaped like a heart.

Some bending later...and voila! Super cute decor.  For $.50.

LOVE IT!

Who doesn't love a little red and love in his or her life?

...fun fact...my roommate (and great friend) gave me this poster while Engineering Man was deployed...

...Oh, and my cousin (and great friend) knows my affinity toward lanterns and gave me the one above for Christmas this past year...

The other two black and white photos are from Engineering Man and I's engagement shoot that was done by my college roommate (and great friend)  The Cake Chick!...

How are you preparing for Valentine's Day? Any new decorations up??

A while back I saw this great idea on Pinterest for a Valentine's day wreath that's not...well, cutesy...

...at least not SUPER cutesy...

:)

So, I figured out a way to make my own.  

I used a long "berry" strand, cut it in half, and used floral wire to tie it into the shape of an "X".

Then, using more floral wire, I attached it to a "O" wreath I already had.  

What do you think?  I know, not as cute as the original...but mine was FREE!...

What Pinterest project have you done lately??

I've decided m mantel is going to be the focus of my "holiday" decorating...whether it's Christmas, the 4th, Easter, or Thanksgiving.

So...without further ado...the Christmas/winter mantel.  

I'll switch it up for Valentine's Day...I already have a super fun idea...

In the model home that we walked through prior to buying our house there were curtains...gorgeous curtains...that reached floor to ceiling.

Eighteen feet to be exact...

Engineering Man and I loved the look it gave the living room.  And we wanted to recreate it, in our color scheme, and cheaper than what it would cost to custom make the curtains.

First I looked for curtains to buy...hahahaha...there were none to be found...not at 18 feet.

Then I started looking for fabric...and tried to get Brother on board.

For those of you that don't sew...Brother is my sewing machine...the last time I worked with him...well, let's just say we didn't exactly get along...

(and yes, that's why the boys got new pajama pants last week.  I was working out the kinks...)

After Brother got on board, I bucked up and started cutting.

The 60" piece of fabric I cut in half vertically, and then in half again horizontally.  Basically into quarters.  Each of these quarters than became a curtain panel.

I then took an iron and ironed a 3/4 inch seam on three edges of each panel.

I then started sewing, basically hemming three sides of each curtain panel.  I didn't do the bottom of the curtain because I wanted to hem each one in place.  It's just slightly easier to hem from the bottom up than from the top down when dealing with curtains so long.  I have mentioned they're 18 feet, haven't I??

I, of course, forgot to take a picture of the next part, but along the top of each panel, I created a pocket by turning under the top seam another 5 1/4 inches, and sewing/tacking the pocket into place.  I picked this number by using the size of the finial on the end of the curtain rod.

 And...done.  Well, except for Engineering Man having to go 20 feet in the air at midnight.

The next day I sat on the floor, measured against the wall, and hemmed the bottom of the curtains.  Running a sewing machine foot pedal is not easy while sitting on the floor, but well worth it in the end.

Then I turned to the pillows.With the leftover material cut from the bottom, I cut two squares the same size.

I turned the right sides together, and sewed them together all the way around the squares, leaving a small hole in the middle of one side.

I then turned the pillow inside out, so the right sides of the fabric were facing out, and stuffed the pillow.

Then, using a running stitch, I finished off the hole.

Voila!  Pillow...

And now I'm off to Pinterest to find new pillow patterns...Brother and I have a date.

Yes, that's right folks.  I've finally done it.  I've FINALLY taken pictures of the first floor of the house...

...please try to control your excitement...

I'll be giving them to you in small doses as there are a LOT of pictures...

So, here's the first round...enjoy!

Front door...

...the massive plant that just keeps growing (thanks Mom!)...

...seen as you walk in...

...what you see above as you walk in...

...hall table...

...dining room to the left...

...office to the right...

...under the stairs bathroom...

Questions??