Win a Trip to Brazil! #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

This post brought to you by CB2. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you like to keep up with the latest in the world of home decor, you've probably already heard about the fabulous new partnership between husband and wife design team Robert and Cortney Novogratz and CB2.  And maybe you've even taken a look at some of the fabulous pieces in the CB2 and Novogratz Collection.

But, the best news is, you and 3 of your friends could win the trip of a lifetime for a week-long stay in the Novogratz's very own vacation home in beautiful Trancoso, Brazil! 

From now through June 3rd, just visit this CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes page to enter.  And then, share the news with friends to have even more chances to win!

Ten other lucky winners will win a $100 CB2 giftcard and a personally signed copy of the book, "Home by Novogratz".

I'm loving the colorful, whimsical, eclectic feel of the pieces in the CB2 and Novogratz Collection, and I'm sure you will, too.

Imagine being able to decorate your home with some of the same pieces found in the designers' own home!  And even getting the chance to spend a week there!  I've already entered and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Now you all do the same!  Good luck!

Screened Porch Makeover Reveal

I'm really excited about our latest room update because we've waited a while for this and it's finally done!  Maybe a few of you remember how it was when we first moved in and we re-vamped my parents' old furniture.   

Well, it served us well for the past 3 years, but after saving and searching for just the right pieces, we finally found some new furniture this year.

I've always been inspired by Ballard Designs' Amalfi Collection, especially with the black awning stripe fabric.  But, it just wasn't in my budget to buy.  And then, this year, I was able to find some pieces that were very similar for less.  My favorite ones may be the awning stripe chairs, which actually came with bare cushions from HomeDepot.com.  These are the Hampton Bay Edington Patio Lounge chairs which come in a pair.

The striped fabric is by Premier Prints and I bought it from fabric.com (it's currently out of stock there, but check around for it).  And I just sewed simple slipcovers with a velcro closure.  The solid green throw pillows were from Bed Bath and Beyond.

The sofa and chair set is the Kent Patio Conversation Set from Target.com.  I love the metal frame and beige cushions because they will go great with so many colors of pillows.  I kept the black print pillows from my old set and the pillow in the center came from Marshall's a while back.

The backs of the sofa and chairs have a great design as well...

And although I was taking a chance by ordering pieces from 2 different places, the styles compliment each other very well and the metal finishes from the two sets match almost perfectly.

The Target set required a little assembly, but the Home Depot chairs came fully assembled.  Both sets are very sturdy with comfy cushions.  

I made the green striped pillows with my easy zippered pillow method in this fabric.  

Although the sofa and chairs set came with a table, I still love my metal-top coffee table I made 3 years ago and it's still holding up very well.  Click here to see that retro re-do.

 And the painted rug in deep coral just kind-of ties it all together.  Click here to see how to make this rug for less than $25!

I hope you all like the re-do.  It's already our new favorite room!  If you're in the market for new patio furniture, don't forget to save even more by using Ebates.  I saved an extra 5% off of all of this furniture just by clicking through!  Sign up here to save on all your purchases at over 1,600 stores!

Sharing this room with a few of these friends.  Check them out!

Big Congratulations to My Little Grad

Just wanted to announce that my shortest assistant is back to work with me for the summer.  Even though it seems like it was just the other day that I sent her to further her education, it's been a full 9 months, and now she's fully certified in reading, writing, coloring within the lines, and following directions.

I think she was pretty-well qualified before, so this was really just a formality.  And the first thing she said when we got home from graduation last night was, "Mom-- now that I'm done with school, you won't have to do everything alone anymore!"

Yay for that!

Congratulations, Lola!  And Congratulations to all your grads, whether big or small!

DIY Outdoor Rug for Less Than $25!

Yippee for warmer temps and outdoor living.  I can't wait to get outside with the family and host a few outdoor gatherings!  Especially since I've been working on my screened porch and giving it a little makeover.  More on that coming later this week.

And one of the projects I did for that space is another painted outdoor rug.  Remember my bee wreath rug from last year?

Well, I loved it so much, I wanted another for my newly-madeover screened porch.  And, once again, I ordered one of these fabulous rugs from Home Depot for the job.  These awesome rugs are a generous 6'X8', and still only $17.87!  I've never seen a better deal on a basic rug.  And it's the perfect choice for adding your own design.  They don't sell these in stores, but the shipping is fast.  And don't forget to use Ebates to order to get an extra 3% cash back along with any available coupon codes!

Once your rug arrives, choose your design and get busy!  On my latest rug, I wanted a nice wide border, so I taped it off at 8 inches all around with blue painters tape, being careful to smooth it down really well.

As for paint, I chose Fireworks by Sherwin Williams because it was just the deep coral color I had in mind.  Like I do for so many other projects, I just bought a sample quart which was just the right amount for this rug.  Don't forget to lay the rug on a drop cloth before painting.

A foam roller does a great job of covering without causing the paint to saturate the rug.

Because I'm not very patient, the hardest part of the project for me is waiting overnight for the paint to dry.  

The reveal of the porch is coming later this week!  If you make one of these rugs, I'd love to see it.  Email me your pics and I may feature them in a future post!

I'm sharing this one with a few of these parties.  Check them out!


 

Happy Mother's Day!

Whether it's the secret to making your favorite eggs, or how to survive when things don't turn out the way you expected...  she knows.

Thank you, Lord, for mothers.

I'm truly thankful for mine.

Happy Mother's Day!

Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift: Basic Beaded Necklace

With all the excitement going on in my life lately, I've kinda dropped the ball on posting any Mother's Day ideas here on the blog.  By now, you may have already made or bought something to show your appreciation to your mom, but for those of you last-minute gift givers looking for a DIY project for mom, here's a quick and easy one she's sure to love.

This is like Jewelry 101.  The most basic of the basic.  Some of you are already way more advanced in jewelry-making than this, but for those of you who have never tried this before because you didn't know where to start--this is for you!


Start by choosing a few strands of beads that would look nice together.  I found these natural stones for only $1.99 per strand at A.C. Moore recently.

You'll also need some filament...

And a clasp and some crimp beads.  Find all these supplies at your favorite craft store.

Cut a piece of the filament to the length you want your necklace, adding a couple extra inches for finishing it off.  Then, begin to add your beads in the pattern you like.

Finishing the necklace off is much easier than you think, although it took me years to learn this trick!  You simply thread a couple of the crimp beads to the end of the filament...

Then add the loop part of the clasp...

And just loop the filament back through the crimp beads and pull it snug to the beads.

Then, use some small pliers to crimp the beads.

Repeat the process on the other end with the other part of the clasp.  You can thread the tail of the filament back through the first bead and trim it off for a nice finish.

And that's it!  

 These are great for Mom, great for you!

Happy Mother's Day!

For more Mother's Day ideas I've shared in the past, click here.

I'm sharing with a few of these friends!  Check them out for more inspiration!