Sunday, November 24, 2013

DIY Monogram Door Mat

I love DIY projects and am thrilled to show you my take on a monogram door mat. After searching for the perfect one for my home and being disappointed by the price tags {Pottery Barn has one for $100} I decided to make one of my own...for UNDER $10. Yeah...that's right...UNDER $10. BOOM.

When I shared my DIY savings plan mat to my older sister she {relentlessly} asked me to make her one since she had just moved in to her new home. Well...the actual project only took me about an hour and a half, but it took me over 6 months of procrastinating to make it for her. oops!

Here's how to make it...

Supplies:
- Ikea Sindal Door Mat $4.99 purchase here
- Acrylic Black paint $3.47 purchase here
- Scissors
- Monogram {I used my google machine to find an image}
- foam paint brushes {you can get these @ any craft store}
- q-tips 
- painters tape
- small bowl
- circle to trace (I used a plate)
- measuring tape
Step 1: 
This is probably the most tedious step of them all, but I assure you...once it's done it is smooth sailing from there on out! It also doesn't help that my monogram was all fancy, curly and twisty.
Step 2:
Measure the mat from side to side & top to bottom to find the center. Lay down your plate to trace the circle.


Step 3:
Place your cut out monogram in the center of the circle and trace. Okay...so I may have fibbed to you during step one. Tracing the monogram might be a tad tricky...but I promise this is the last of my shenanigans! Don't forget to keep the monogram aside...you're gonna need it again.
{yes this is the same mat, but I've put my professional photography skills aside to help you make this}

Step 4:
We are almost done! Now it's time to paint. Break out your small bowl and pour the acrylic paint into it. Dab the paint brush into the paint and fill in the lines that you traced on your mat. Be sure to keep the monogram close by so you can reference which lines to fill in. It can be difficult to remember which lines to fill in when looking at the mat. After you fill in the monogram trace the circle with paint.
* I used the bigger sponge brush for the bigger lines and  a q-tip for the smaller ones. 
** Push down into the mat to make sure you really get the paint into the fibers. This will make the paint hold up better since people will probably be walking all over it!

Step 5: 
Hooray! You're in the home stretch. You have your letters and circle outline painted. Now you have to do the border. I measured 1" around all sides and used my blue painter's tape as an edge. You can make it smaller or larger if you choose. This one's all personal preference.

Step 6:
Let it dry for a few hours and ta-da...you just saved $90 + shipping and have a custom {gorgeous} doormat that will be the envy of all your neighbors. 

  {top right: my original doormat bottom right: today's project}










Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Plaid is Rad.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed that I'm partaking in the KikiLa'Rue photo a day contest. If you post pictures according to the list {see list here for the entire month of November you are entered to win a $100 gift card! My competitive nature just wouldn't let me NOT participate. It's actually the first "photo" contest I've done and it's been a lot of fun! Today's photo requirement was to post a picture of your "style inspiration". I just had to choose one of my fave people Jillian Harris {from ABC's The Bachelor, The Bachelorette and HGTV}. I religiously follow her blog and on social media. Ever since I saw her post {here}for these amazing plaid leggings I just had to snag a pair of my own!

My Jillian inspired #OOTD

Here is where you can snag a pair too! I included a good, better and best price selection for all of you recessionistas (aka: ladies on a budget). ;)

Happy shopping!

Monday, November 18, 2013

wine & friends

I always come across great wine quotes. A few of my faves:
"wine is win with an 'e' on the end"
"friends don't let friends wine alone"
"every empty bottle is filled with memories"
Now, if you've ever been to my home or come across my Pinterest boards you would notice my obsession with chalk. In fact, I have an entire board dedicated to chalk boards. LOL
Anyway...you can imagine my excitement when a great friend made these lovely chalk wine bottles for me! They are so fun  and I can wipe off the quotes whenever I feel a new one is needed. ;) 

Cheers to good wine, great friends and crafty ideas.


Friday, November 15, 2013

the little coffee table that could




There's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to make something fresh, new and fabulous. Take this old drab leather topped coffee table. Oh yeah...I said leather topped. Think of 1970's wood paneling on walls, but instead it's leather...on a coffee table. I bought this little gem off of craigslist for a whopping $15. I saw the potential and with a little (and by little I actually mean A LOT) of love it has a new found purpose in life. After months of procrastinating and frustration trying to peel, strip, cut and yank off the leather top...it was ready to be sanded and painted. Here's my labor of love which brings a lot of sunshine into my sitting room.



Wednesday, November 13, 2013

bling on the holidays!

I'm back and what perfect timing...the holiday season has miraculously come once again! I'm not sure about you, but I've been fully immersed in red holiday coffee cups, jingle bells rocking the halls of my local Target and every single store for the past month or three decking the halls (aisles) in seasonal decor. I truly love this time of year, but cannot believe how it snuck up on me so darn fast! 
Along with all the festiveness surrounding me are the amazing catalogs I receive (thanks a lot pottery barn). I came across page 75. That sparkly letter 'M' on the right side of the page just spoke to me. Who WOULD'T it speak to? It was my inspiration for my blingy Thanksgiving banner...and all ten of my letters cost the same amount as the one letter in the magazine (not to discredit PB, but I like a good deal if I can find and make one). 



Happy holidays!

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Sugar & Science

Sugar & spice science & everything nice is the perfect description for my latest find! The L.A. Based ice cream lab is defying the laws of sugar, cream and ice. Their unique take on creating this classic favorite is done by using liquid nitrogen to flash freeze their organic ingredients in special mixing bowls. The best part is there are no secret ingredients so you don't have to feel as bad about eating additives, preservatives or chemicals! Everything is made to order right in front of your very eyes! It's like your own little scientific ice cream lab!

Who could resist flavors like angeles apple pie {organic vanilla ice cream mixed with homemade apple pie filling and graham crackeror coffee brittle {fresh roasted intelligentsia coffee, homemade dark chocolate toffee brittle and almonds}. My mouth is watering just writing about it!

Next time you are in la-la land you should make it a priority.

address:
9461 Santa Monica Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
phone:
310.795.6505
hours
Sun-Wed: 12pm - 11pm
Thurs-Sat: 12pm-12am
website:
www.icecreamlab.com

Check out the video below to see the lab & how the ice cream is made.



Original post found on PureWow here

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Avocado Feta Dip

Happy {belated} St. Patty's day!

This past weekend some of my amazing neighbors hosted a {fitting} green themed St. Patty's day party.

The menu included corned beef cabbage {mmm}, black & tans, Irish car bombs, lime Jell-O shots, green whiskey frosted bundt cake, Irish soda bread, jalapeƱo cornbread muffins {amazing} and my contribution: avocado feta dip.

It was such a hit! I received early morning texts with requests for it! So...here's the recipe.

ingredients:
2 avocados, peeled and pit removed
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 jalapeƱos, minced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
Juice of 1 lime
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

directions:
1. Place all ingredients in a bowl & mush together until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

2. Break out the pita chips and dip away.

Super easy.

*recipe loosely based from here



{iphone pic}