DIY Succulent Garden

 

I have a fascination wtih succulents. They are just so versatile, what with not really needing to be watered much and only requiring sunlight and growing, growing, growing forever. So what better way to tell friends how much I value them at the holidays than a little succulent gift?

It all started with this post. I ran to Home Depot, scooped up the supplies, and hurried home to get my craft on. I tried my hand at decorating my own vases but quickly decided that was for the birds.

What you'll need for the succulent garden:

• Multiple small dishes or 1 large dish
• Succulents (1 per small dish or 4-5 per large, depending on size)
• Rocks (I got mine at the dollar store!)
• Dirt 

What I used for decorating the "pots":

• Martha Stewart decoupage set (I bought gold embellishments!)

Step 1: Get all the supplies ready!

 

 

Step 2: Cut materials, start decoupaging. Note: I would completely eliminate this step next time. No need for decorated vases unless you feel really passionately about them!

 

Step 3: Place rocks in bowl, then place succulents, and finally place dirt around. Note: I did this backwards and put the dirt in first. It was really hard to then dig holes for the succulents, which is why I recommend putting the dirt in around them!

Step 4: Enjoy!

 

 

 

The Great Vase Exchange

October

December (kind of)

January

Best free vases I ever got, seriously.

Redecorating.

When my roommate moved out in the middle of 2011, I made a few changes around the condo. Nothing major, but I added some of my own personal touches. And now, I'm at it again and I have to tell you, decorating is FUN.

I started out with a big, empty wall. I knew I wanted to do a picture frame collage (thank you Pinterest) but wasn't sure which frames, which pictures, etc. I started grabbing random things I've collected over the years and putting them in a pile on the floor. Last week I finally got tired of said pile and grabbed a glass bottle of wine and decided to do something with it. I'd say the final product turned out better than I hoped! The pictures below tell the story of how I did the project, but honestly it was super easy. All you need is wax paper, tape (painters and scotch), a sharpie (try blue or black!), nails and a hammer.

Lay out your design on the floor, trace it onto wax paper, and then hang on the wall. If you are patient, leave it up for a few days. If you are not (I am not), leave it up for a few minutes.

I am missing 3 pictures for the bottom frame, but I know exactly which ones I am going to put in there.

   

Some of my favorite people & memories from 2011.

Candy Corn Decor

I pinned this last week.

This is what my mantle looks like as of today.

 What a cute, simple way to decorate for fall, and how easily it can translate to the many other seasons of the year. I envision jelly beans in the spring and perhaps peppermints around the holidays?

House Re-Decorating

Yes, that's right, I straight up disappeared into the depths of painting, moving, and organizing. Newsflash: it sucks. I only moved across the hall in my current house but let me just tell you... what a debacle that was! But, the process is pretty much done. See for yourselves!

excellent tape job, until the tape pulled off the ceiling paint...

yeah, see all those doors? pain. in. my. ass.

the colors i was deciding between. 

end result: bed

bookshelf

dresser

closet #1

closet #2 (shoes on each side of the door)

fireplace mantle

k: hobby lobby

ball: hobby lobby

photo: easycanvasprints.com

just bought these over the weekend - love them!

best friends

shelves in living room

glasses, harry potter books

candleholder: cost plus

plate: cost plus

painting: italian original

wine: trader joe's

scrapbooks: homemade

books: dirty girls social club, high heels to tractor wheels, and a cocktail encyclopedia

picture: senior year of hs

teapot: cost plus

picture: family photo in italy circa 2001

dining room shelves

liquor

mirror: ikea

emily giffin books

vases

living room shelves above TV

glass vase: not mine

ceramic vase: iowa art fair

painting: iowa art fair

pasta, wild rice, brown rice, quinoa, choclate covered pom seeds

my side of the pantry. i love organization.

don't mind this mess though... cleaning out is a long process!

So now that you've been given a quasi-tour of my house, you know what I've been up to. Re-purposing chotchkies I've collected over the last 10 years and organizing my pantry and storage closet. This whole house decorating/moving/redesign project has been a month in the making and hopefully will be complete in the next few weeks. I'm ready to stop living pile to pile! Now to tackle that laundry pile that I put on my bed immediately after taking these pictures...



101 in 1001

I have this list posted on the inside of my smaller closet door.

I started it on January 1, 2010, which means that I am halfway-ish through the time commitment of 1,001 days. I'd also say I'm about halfway through the list itself. Some of the things I put on this list were much more difficult to measure.

Use reusable bags whenever possible. Be a Good Friend. Wear cute outfits just because.

Others I have crossed off, feeling like I had accomplished those things, only to un-cross them, feeling rather unaccomplished.

Stop biting fingernails. Spend more time with my sister.

Then I decided instead of crossing and un-crossing, I would do status check-ins and write the date and a checkmark when I felt that I had accomplished those things. It might take me awhile to add another date next to "Go on more dates" but the June 2010 date has 3 check plusses!

Some things I have crossed off for good because they no longer apply.

Attend AMA events. Put more time and effort into AOTG.

I no longer work in Marketing nor am I a member of the Atlanta Marketing Association (although I highly recommend it for those of you who are in Marketing!) and I have closed my personal assistant business.

And some things I have done, crossed them off the list, and never looked back.

Buy a Wii. Buy a new computer. Visit Minnesota once a year.

What is really fun are the ones where I left blanks next to them to fill in as I complete them.

Try 1 new restaurant per month (I list restaurant and month). Meet 10 new friends (I list names). Do 5 new craft projects (I list project and date completed).

This list has been SO much fun to have. I fully intend on creating another one after this one "ends." I love that it is more than just New Years Resolutions. Many of these things dramatically impact my life, my future, and me. Some of them are fluff, naturally, but others of them mean real life changes on my part, and I love that I don't feel pressured to do them immediately, but instead I have the course of 2.75 years to marinate on the ideas and figure out how to best implement them in my own life. I love that they are all mine - I came up with them, they were all things I wanted, and no one else is holding me accountable. Hell, if I hadn't posted this, none of you would even know I was doing it!

I love the most that I put them up in a place where I see them almost daily. They aren't harsh, they don't scream at me, and most days I ignore them (mainly because they get wrinkled and it drives me bonkers), but I know they are there, and days like today when I need a little pick-me-up, I can leave my closet door open those extra 2 minutes, grab a pen, and start checking, crossing, and writing things down on my little list. And then, just like that, I can shut the door feeling accomplished and proud because I have changed, I have become a better person, and I am me!

K-E-H

I love monograms, a lot. I think it started my freshman year of college when my roommate's mom got us matching, monogrammed bath towels. That's when monograms were really, really cool. Then one of my best friends mom's made me a purse out of a placemat, and it had my monogram on it. I loved the heck out of that purse, and I still have it. Not quite the fashion statement it was *ahem* 7 years ago, or maybe it's more of a fashion statement? It's teal blue on the outside and neon green on the inside with matching ribbon straps.


See! There it is!

So anyway, the short story is I love all things monogrammed. Pillow cases, towels, shower curtains, LL Bean bags, iPhone cases (not for $55 though), and everything else I can possibly put my initials on. The problem?

MY MONOGRAM IS SO UGLY!!! None of the letters really lend themselves to being loopy and swoopy in their monogrammed goodness. K's, E's, and H's, you are fired from being monogrammed.

Monograms created here

I guess this is a sign it's time for me to get a new last name...I guess I'll start by finding someone who is willing to date me first, and go from there. People with last names that don't monogram well with K's and E's need not apply.

5 things on my BRAIN

1. I have decided to start a 2-drink-per-evening max rule. I think it will apply through the end of April with the exception of 2 birthday parties. I have tried before and failed, hopefully this time will be more successful with a less lofty goal.


DON'T DRINK MY BEER (Panama Canal, 2008)

2. I have been drooling over this couch for the last week or so. Well, much much longer than that, but in the last week-ish I have determined that my life will be over if I don't have said couch.
3. Now that I have purchased my jumbo-sized television, I really, really need a Wii. Hopefully Craigslist will pull through for me.

4. I finished The Swimming Pool yesterday and really didn't like it, but I had to finish it to see what happened. I don't recommend.

5. I've started carrying my camera with me again - after football season it needed a little rest (so did the paparazzi, that sucker is heavy!)

The end.

Looking back at this list, it actually quite accurately describes my hobbies and how I spend my time. Drinking with friends, socializing, watching television on my couch, playing video games, taking pictures of everything and everyone and reading. Who said I wasn't well-rounded?