What To Do With Those Plain Glass Vases

Do you ever wonder what to do with the plain glass vases that have accumulated in your cabinet that you just can't let go of?  I sure do.  And every single time that I go to Goodwill, I stare and stare at the glass vases and wonder what in the world I could do with them.

Tiffany, author of the wonderful blog Living Savvy, came up with a great way to dress them up!  I ran across this when I was browsing Pinterest the other night and just had to share it with you!

Living Savvy

I've seen lot's of great ideas for painting these glass lovelies, but nothing quite like this.

Head on over to Living Savvy to see more of these vases and to see Tiffany's easy method for painting and color blocking them.

I just love them!

Living Savvy

And while you're there, be sure to check out the rest of Tiffany's blog.  It's chock full of everything from designing to organizing to tutorial's and more.

Thank you, Tiffany, for allowing me to feature your very cool project!

How to Make the Most Out of Your Small Closet

Let's talk small closets - specifically small closets in the master bedroom.

Does this look familiar?

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Anyone who has ever lived in a home with small closets can testify to the challenges that they present!

Every closet and it's storage needs are different, but there are basic steps that can be taken to make the most of your small space.

1.  First things first - clean out your closet.  If you are serious about maximizing your closet space, you must be ruthless!  The general rule of thumb is to get rid of anything that you haven't worn for a year, or more.

2. Now that you've cleaned out the unwanted items, remove everything that is left.  This is a great time to spiff up the interior of your closet!  A fresh coat of paint in white or another fun color?  Wallpaper or stencil the back wall or even the back of the closet door(s)?

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3. Determine what must go back in and identify what can be stored elsewhere.  For example - can your off season clothing and shoes be stored in containers under the bed, in the attic or even in a storage building/space?  Depending upon where you store your clothing, you may need to make sure that whatever container you use will keep out moisture, bugs and dirt.  

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4. Research, plan, measure and draw a diagram of what you want your finished space to be like.  There are a bazillion closet organizing systems out there.  An option to a pricey organizing system is to create your own shelving and hanging space, using wire or wood shelves.  You can even add drawers to your closet.  This is your space to make as elaborate or as simple as you like!  

Some things to think about:  Can I minimize the amount of space I allow to hang long items like dresses? Can I add a higher shelf to store items that I don't necessarily need to get to everyday?  Should I double up hanging bars to give me more hanging space?  Would I benefit from shelves or drawers going down one side or in the middle?

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5. Go vertical!  Think of your walls and the back of your door(s) as floor space.  Don't waste it!  There are so, so many wonderful accessories available to help you organize smaller items.  I think that one of the most versatile items is a shoe organizer.  They aren't made just for shoes - think belts, scarves, socks, under clothing, jewelry, gloves - you name it.

How about an over-the-door pocketbook organizer?

6. If you have folding or sliding doors consider replacing them with hinged doors.  Think of all that vertical storage space you'll gain!

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7. Look for closet accessories that allow you to hang multiple items in a small amount of space.  Here are just a few.

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8. Organizing your clothing by color won't physically give you more space, but it will give you the feeling of more space since your clothing will appear more streamlined.

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9. My final suggestion to you is this - now that you have organized and maximized your closet space, make a pact with yourself to keep it that way.  I know first hand the temptation of not taking the few extra seconds to put something where it belongs, but even the most fantastically organized closet can quickly become a disorganized mess again.  The few extra seconds you take now can save you minutes (or more) of searching for something, not to mention the time it will take for you to reorganize the closet when you’ve simply had enough of the mess!

How about you?  Do you have any tips for maximizing your closet space?  Do share - we'd all love to hear!

One final note...this post was suggested by and is dedicated to my sweet baby girl, Ms. JB.  I will be helping her face her own small closet challenges this week when she moves into her new (to her) house! 

The Lord willing, she'll be moving in the day that this post is published.  She has lots of plans to make this space her own and I'm so happy and thrilled that she wants my help.  I'm looking forward to sharing it with all of you!  

I'll be linking up to these parties:

Newbie Graduate Party at Debbiedoo's

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesday to Do Party at Blackberry Vine

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Wild Wednesday at Chatty Chics

Show and Tell on Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing 

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways
Spread the Love at Love Notes by Lauryn

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home

  

Sunday Worship

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For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Eph 2:8-10, NIV

Update on the Beach Bookcases

Good morning everyone!  

Well, it was back to beach for us this past weekend to continue working on the bookcase project.

I wasn't going to blog about this because I thought you might find it boring.  But I changed my mind after receiving requests for an update from people who knew that we had gone to the beach.

We spent the weekend adding the top and trim to the bookcase.  So there was a lot of this going on...

...and this...

...and this.

And here's how it looked when we left.

Don't worry about all those cords.  We have a plan for those!

I gotta tell ya - I was exhausted!  All that supervising, advice giving, board holding, decision making, just wore me out!  

Ha!  I'm totally kidding.  Pookie deserves all the credit.  He's working so hard and is doing a fantastic job.  I'm really proud of him!

The plan for the next trip is to fill in gaps/nail holes, prime and hopefully start the painting.  Yea!

Beautify Your Lawn for a Beautiful Home

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Scotts®. All opinions are 100% mine.

I've received offers to write sponsored posts before, but none of them seemed to be a good fit for this little ole blog.  Until today, that is!

 

I believe it holds true for most of us design enthusiasts that we strive to make the exterior of our homes just as appealing as the interior.  Wouldn't you agree?

 

A beautiful, lush, well maintained lawn can do wonders for the curb appeal of even the most modest home.

 

 

And nothing can take away from a beautiful exterior like the sight of a neglected lawn.

 

 

 

I certainly love the look of a lush lawn, but I don't love all of the work that it takes to achieve it.  To top it off, I'm always confused when it comes to just how much fertilizer, week killer, etc that I'm supposed to use.

 

Even if I somehow decipher the directions for the amount I'm supposed to use, I worry about unevenly spreading the fertilizer.  

 

 

Enter the Scotts® Snap® Spreader System.  Its no mess, no guess spreader system is lawn care at its finest!

 

 

There are multiple lawn care products available, from fertilizer to different types of weed control.  Each one comes packaged in a handy Snap Pac that connects directly to the Snap Spreader.  No opening a bag or pouring the fertilizer into another dispenser.  No worries about over fertilizing because the system auto sets the flow rate - no figuring out spreader settings required.  It even has a unique edge guard that keeps the product exactly where you want it - on your lawn.  And when you're done, the Snap Pac self seals upon removal making it easy to store. 

 

 

 

On the website, you can enter your zipcode to get the proper feeding schedule for lawns in your area.

 

Watch this short, 47 second video for a quick look at just how great the Scotts Snap Spreader System really is.

 

 

You'll want to go to Snap perks on Facebook  and "like" them so that you'll be in the know when it comes to special promotions and contests!

 

 

 

My Easter Mantle

My Easter mantle is very, very simple.

I painted some inexpensive clay pots white and hot glued pink and blue ribbon on.  Then tied bows up under each one of the galloping bunnies.  Do bunnies gallop?  Me thinks not.

I think these eggs from Dollar Tree are really cute.  I simply clamped them shut over a length of ribbon.  Easy peasy - although I will admit it was mildly annoying when a few of them kept falling off!

For added interest, I brought my concrete bunny planter in from the deck and filled his little cabbage up to overflowing with more eggs.

I placed him on the hearth with my antique chair, added some colorful pillows and called it done!

So there you have it - my very, very simple Easter mantle.

Linking up to:

Hippity Hop Easter Project Hop at Itsy Bitsy Paper

Egg-xcellent Mantlescape Party at Grits and Glamour

Spring Fling Mantle Party at The Lettered Cottage

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesday to Do Party at Blackberry Vine

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Wild Wednesday at Chatty Chics

Show and Tell on Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design

Overflowing with Creativity on Wednesday at It's Overflowing

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home

Sunday Worship

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And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust him.

  

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Eph 3:17-19, NLT

Celebrating Spring Tablescape

Wednesday was such a beautiful day that I couldn't resist celebrating the official imminent arrival of Spring with a dining table set up on the front porch.

It's wonderful to spend time relaxing here while I enjoy my Easter-fied front porch.

This tablescape was inspired by these Spode salad plates that I found at Goodwill for only 69 cents each.  Yep - 69 cents!

I had fun pulling things from my cabinets.  The only money I spent was on the salad plates.

The dinner plates, bowls and tulip goblets were gifted to me by my mother many years ago.  The bread and butter plates under the bowls are part of my everyday dishes.  I'll give you all of the pattern names at the end of the post.

The bunny pitcher is part of Fitz and Floyd Herb Garden and is a favorite piece of mine.

I think this little guy peeking into the pitcher is just the sweetest thing!

The salt and pepper shakers are two more pieces of the F&F Herb Garden collection.

A place is all set for you.  Won't you come join me?

Dinner plates and cereal bowls: Secla Yellow Cabbage Majolica 

Bread and butter plates: Villeroy Boch French Garden Orange

Salad plates: Spode Buttercup Faire Blossom

Tulip goblets: vintage, source unknown

Flatware: Oneida

Pitcher, salt and pepper shakers: Fitz and Floyd Herb Garden

Linking to:

Egg-xcellent Tablescape Party on Friday at Housepitality Designs

Springtacular Tablescapes at ReFresh ReStyle

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Tuesday to Do Party at Blackberry Vine

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Wild Wednesday at http://chattychics.com/

Show and Tell on Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch
Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home

My Front Porch All Decked Out for Easter

The weather here has been fabulous the last few days.  That, plus the start of daylight savings time, provided the perfect excuse for me to get out of the house and Easter-fy my front porch.

Here's the view approaching the front door.

Do I spy Peter and Petunia Rabbit hiding among the ivy and pansies?

This little guy is standing to the left of the door.  I think the flower that he's holding is meant to hold birdseed.  I added a pot of pansies with a forsythia "topiary" instead.

One more little friend to help you up the steps!

I picked up this egg wreath from Pier I after Easter last year.  I added the hydrangea Peter Rabbit head and bow to ramp it up a little.

I added new cushions and some colorful pillows to the sitting area.

My granddaughters, Miss M and Miss K had fun filling the lantern with plastic eggs.

A look through the railing.  I think I just like the way the camera focused on the railing in the foreground.

Just playing with the camera.

Thank you for stopping by.  Ferocious Guard Dog and Diva Dog say "Come back soon"!

Linking up to these fun parties!

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much

Your Cozy Home Party on Monday at Cozy Home Scenes

Motivated Monday at Be Colorful

Savvy Homemade Monday at Home Savvy A to Z

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
Spring Fling Door Decor on Tuesday at Southern Hospitality

Tuesday to Do Party at Blackberry Vine

Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie

Tutorials and Tips Tuesday at Home Stories A to Z

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

DIY by Design on Wednesday

Wild Wednesday at http://chattychics.com/

Show and Tell on Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design

Uncommonly Yours on Wednesday at Uncommon Designs

Show and Share on Wednesday at Southern Lovely

Grace at Home on Thursday at Imparting Grace

Show Me Extroidinary on Thursday at The 36th Avenue

It's A Party on Thursday at A Creative Princess

Open House Party Thursday at No Minimalist Here

Share Your Creations on Thursday at Kristen's Creations

Tickled Pink Fridays at 504 Main

Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating

Feature Friday Free for All at Five Days...5 Ways

Addicts (not so) Anonymous on Friday at Addicted 2 Decorating

Inspiration Friday at At the Picket Fence

Potpourri Friday at 2805

Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors

Overflowing with Creativity on Sunday at It's Overflowing

Sew Darn Crafty Sunday at Sew Many Ways

Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming

Simply Klassic Sunday at A Simply Klassic Home