Dining Room

I have slowly been working on one room at time in our home. The living room is pretty much done. I need a new rug for the living room. I will look for one during sales this year to complete that room. 

The dining room has taken the longest to get to this point.  When we left California we got rid of our dining room table. My cousin so graciously said he would build us a table. I sent him the legs that I wanted and a picture from Pinterest. He made the table exactly like the picture I sent! The table turned out AMAZING! I love it! 

We picked up the table in February. I had plans to buy chairs, but Covid happened. Overstock was having a sale over Memorial Day on chairs I have been watching. I finally pulled the trigger on them. It took about 2.5 weeks to get them. 

The entire room looks so much better!!! I absolutely love these chairs. I am so happy with the look and quality of the chairs! 

Table: custom made by cousin

Chairs: Overstock

Clock: TJ Maxx

Gather lazy susan: Nutcracker Market 

Cash sit at the right end of the table, so I keep that chair to the side under the light switches. There is plenty of room to keep the chair there until he is done with his high chair. We eat breakfast and lunch by the island in the kitchen. We just move the high chair to the table for dinner and put it back by the kitchen for the rest of the meals. Cash can move it himself and puts it in his spot for dinner. All I have to say is time to eat, off he runs to get the high chair and he stands there yelling for us to put him in. That boy doesn't mess around when it's time for a meal. 

Hair Issues from Well Water

When we moved into our house in Texas we went from city water in California to a well in Texas. I grew up on well water, so I never thought I would have issues with my hair. I was in for a surprise between the humidity of South Texas and the well water. 

In California I used conditioner once or twice a month after I washed my hair. I have been using BeautyCounter Daily Shampoo to wash my hair twice and then I use Maple Holistic Sage Shampoo. I started using the Maple Holistic Sage Shampoo when I was pregnant with Cash and experienced ridiculous dandruff. The dandruff was definitely a pregnancy thing because once Cash was born it all went away.  Danielle Walker from Against All Grain had mentioned she used this shampoo when she was pregnant with her daughter.  It was a game changer for me. It helped my dry scalp and took the dandruff away. I have continued to use it ever since to help with my dry scalp. 

When we moved to our Texas home I was struggling so bad with an itchy scalp. I felt within 2 days my head had build up even though I wasn't using any hair products. A blogger Lauren McBride mentioned she had started using Living Proof Triple Detox Shampoo to help the build up she was experiencing from her well water. I bought some to try because I was desperate. This helped my hair for a little while. 

I was still having issues with build up on my scalp. I did some research and found out it was most likely from the minerals in our water. I bought a water system to filter our drinking water and a shower filter. My scalp and hair GREATLY improved by adding the detox shampoo and the filter. 

I mentioned early I rarely used conditioner in California. My hair was very healthy. Between the well water and climate changes my hair over the past year has become dry. I had started to notice it was more difficult to comb my hair our after I washed it. I had my hair trimmed and the lady told I would need to use a hydrating conditioner every time I washed my hair. I went back to using the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask. I use this each time I wash my hair now. I only wash my hair about every 6-10 days. 

I have started using the Honest Company Detangler Spray before I brush my hair out with a Wet brush. The detangler spray really helps condition my hair as it is a lightweight leave in conditioner too. I love the smell of the wild orange vanilla scent the detangler spray has too! My hair spells amazing for a few days from it!  My hair has greatly improved by making all these changes. It took me over a year to figure all this out. 

The hair products I use to wash my hair:

BeautyCounter Daily Shampoo

Maple Holistic Sage Shampoo

Living Proof Triple Detox Shampoo

Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask

Honest Company Detangler Spray 

Shower Filter

When I was trying to figure out what shower filter to buy I did a search on Amazon. I found the one with a lot of reviews for hard water. The title of the shower filter I went with was 

AquaBliss High Output Revitalizing Shower Filter - Reduces Dry Itchy Skin, Dandruff, Eczema, and Dramatically Improves The Condition of Your Skin, Hair and Nails. Well that covered all of it right there! It has worked great for us. I replace the filters every 3-4 months. By the end of month 3 I can start to see a difference with my scalp and I know it's time to replace it. 

Hopefully this post will help someone who is struggling with water changes to find some products that will work for them.

Gallery Wall on a Budget

One of my favorite bloggers Veronika's Blushing did this AMAZING gallery wall in her home. You can find her blog post HERE. When she posted the gallery wall it was around the time we were listing our house and planning to move to Texas. I decided in my next house this was the type of gallery wall I wanted to do. It was clean, crisp and beautiful!!! 

When we looked at our house I immediately thought of 2 places to do the gallery wall. I started planning to do one. I loved the frames Veronika used. She got hers at Target HERE. I put a lot of thought into those frames. I have all silver or brushed nickel hardware in my house. I love the gold frames, but I was concerned with having large statement gold frames with silver every where else. Also the cost was another reason I just wasn't sure I could go for them. 

Walmart has REALLY stepped up their game with their home items. I have bought a few things from them for the new house. I bought this bench for my mud room. It is very sturdy and adorable! I also bought this desk which matches the bench. We have the desk in the mud room too. The mud room is very large, so I wanted the items to match. The colors of both items are gray and they go together well. The description of the names isn't the same online. I feel they might have had a different option for the desk when I bought it months back. Anyhow these items are great quality! 

I started looking for frames all over the internet. Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kohls etc. I read a lot of reviews to see what people were saying. I wanted to keep the gallery under $150. The size of the frames I wanted to use if I went with the Target frames it would cost me around $300. Walmart had THESE frames for $10.99. I was able to get all 9 frames for under $100. The frames I bought from Walmart are AMAZING quality! If you bought them from any other retailer you would spend $25 and up on them. 

The frames sat in an enormous box in our guest room for a month. The thought of measuring and hanging them was daunting. I ordered all the pictures except one. I had Cash's pictures taken, so I wanted to put one of his new pictures in a frame. I was talking with my friend Krystal and she mentioned using these Command Strips to hang pictures. Using the strips no longer sounded like a daunting task trying to hang 9 frames. I ordered the strips from Amazon. Then I came down with strep throat and the project got pushed back another week or so. 

One day during nap time I decided it was time to just bite the bullet and hang the pictures. The huge box kept George entertained while I took all the frames out of their packaging, put the pictures in the frame, adding the command strips and arranged them how I wanted them to be on the wall. Laying them out of the floor really helped give me a visual of how I wanted them on the wall. I moved certain pictures around and was able to determine the order before applying the strips on the wall. 

I used a level to make sure each picture was level and to measure the space between each frame. It was so easy to do! It took longer to take them all out of the packaging then it did to hang them. It took me maybe 10 minutes max to hang them even with letting G climb up and down the step ladder a couple times. The entire project took me around an hour and a half from start to finish. I was able to sit down for about 10 minutes to enjoy the amazing gallery wall before Cashy woke up from his nap. 

I absolutely LOVE the final results!!!! I sit in my living room and love look at the gallery wall at least once a day. This is one of my favorite projects I have done in any of my homes. I love the white frames! I think it really lightens up the wall and makes the pictures pop more! 

Frames: Walmart 

Photo Credits:

Photography by Chelsea Lynn Bulik 

Sparkle Photography by Ashley 

I ordered all my pictures from Costco.Com  I have always used Costco to print my pictures. I find their quality to be great! I have pictures from them from 11 years ago that still are great quality and crisp. I spent maybe $10-$15 on the pictures. 

Total cost of the project was around $132. 

Frames were $98.91

Pictures were $15.00ish

Command Strips $18.00

Pallet Headboard DIY

Last summer when I was at my parents taking care of my dad Art made 3 pallet headboards. One was for our California king bed. I love it! He also made 2 additional queen size pallet headboards he had planned to sell. He didn't end up selling any of them. We decided to put one in our guest bedroom. I picked the darker wood. It really looks great against the gray and white striped wall. 

Back in 2010 I decorated the spare bedroom. You can find the original blog post HERE. The room is now a guest bedroom and my craft storage area. I need to decide what to do with all my craft stuff. Each year I get rid of more and more stuff. I just don't craft like I use too. Birthday parties are my crafting time. I am hoping to get some sewing in while G is in preschool this summer. 

I really love the pallet headboard in our guest bedroom! We are debating about making a pallet headboard for G's room too. Although I am not sure if I want every bedroom to have the same headboards, but then again it would be nice to match. You can find lots of pallet headboard ideas and tutorials on Pinterest too. 

My Little Helper!

My little helper! I told G we need to clean up the deck. I ran in the house to grab some shoes and I came out to find him hauling the boards to the side of the house! He is always so willing to help us when we are doing projects. I love how he wants to help us! I try not to discourage him even when I know it's going to take us twice as long to help us. 

And yes, my 2 year old still has a bottle. Judge away! I have no plans to take it away from him anytime soon. We do plan to potty train after the first of the year along with a bottle. lol

Sneak Peak!

Just a little sneak peak to a DIY post coming next week! It had only taken 2 years.....but we have gotten another big project done! I couldn't be more thrilled!!!!

Sprucing up the Kitchen Window!

Groopdealz had a deal recently where they sold the Nest vinyl for a couple bucks.  I bought one and have been on the hunt for a plate to put it on.  I found a plate at the thrift store for a couple bucks.  Once I had the plate decorated then the tea pot next to it looks rather blah.

Earlier this year I bought the love bird vinyl from Groopdealz.  It has sat in my craft room for months.  I couldn't fit love & the birds on the tea pot. I put the birds on the tea pot and add the love to a small plate I bought at the thrift store. 

The window in the kitchen if finally getting a little spruced up!

Backyard Fun

Once again we worked on the back yard during the weekend.  This weekend we finished the retaining wall which will be a separate post and then we ran the plumbing for the water pump.  The plumbing was right under the deck, we had to run it under ground. Next we need to level out the dirt pile in the backyard.  We are probably half way done right now. There is an end in sight!!!!

Retaining Wall

We started working on the retaining wall.  Once the retaining wall is completed then we will finish the rest of the back yard.  We are on our way to completing the project.  It has been sooooo much work!!!!

More to come........

More Backyard Work!

This backyard project is going to be never ending!  It just keeps going on & on & on.  I hauled dirt out of the area for 3 hours & you couldn't tell I did one thing. ugh!  I am ready to get this thing done!  Art & his dad reinforced the fence.  Hopefully the fence will last another 4-5 years and then we will have to replace it.

Demolition of our Back Yard

One of our plans since we bought our house was to rip out the back patio/deck.  The wood was already rotting and starting to fall apart.  Art fixed portions of the deck to make it last for a year.  What a job this has turned out to be!  I am always very thankful every time my FIL volunteers to come over and help us. 

We had to rip out all the deck, pull out concrete pillars, moved tons of dirt and chop roots. We worked hard and fast for 4+ hours.  We were able to accomplish the majority of the demolition; however, there is tons left to do.  I used a jack hammer for the first time.  I also used a saw to cut a root in the ground.  The saw vibrated so hard I thought my head was going to shake off. lol

Here is some of what we did last weekend.  

Guest Room Color Inspiration

Bedroom #3 aka as the Craft Room needs a MAJOR makeover!!!!  The room still has the ugly orangy color from when we first moved in.  I didn't do anything when we first moved in because I wasn't sure which color I wanted for the room.  I also had hoped to change it into a nursery.  2011 is not about stressing over a baby.  If it happens great if not then God evidently has other plans for us.

So back to the room in desperate need of a face lift. If you want a reminder of what the color looks like go HERE. Look at the color in the guest bedroom not the craft room.  The picture of the craft room makes the paint color look nice....BELIEVE me it's NOT nice. Must have been the lighting that day.

I think I have decided to paint the room GREEN.  Here are some inspirational pictures below.  I have a a lot of stuff to move out before I can get started on the painting.  Once it's painted then I need to organize all my craft stuff.  Right now it's all piled in the room & closet. The clutter is the beginning stages of hoarders and an intervention might be in order!

Door Stop

Ballard Design is currently selling the below knotted door stop. I almost bought one about 3 weeks ago. I had a 10% off coupon and we need a door stop badly. I luckily came to my sense and didn't order it. $40+ bucks plus shipping...not in the budget!

Tonight I was shopping at Marshall's. Guess what I found......the same door stop for $5.99!!! TOTALLY in the budget and I bought TWO. We needed one for our bedroom door too.

Bedroom door

Holding the front door open.