Let’s be honest, most of us have some clothes in our closets that we never wear. Whether it was an impulse buy, a gift that wasn’t you, or a size that doesn’t fit you anymore, it’s perfectly good clothing that’s just collecting dust. I usually hold onto these items for an embarrassing amount of time until I’m ready to donate them. So when my friend, Rachel, came to me with a solution to this problem back in January I was all about it. She wanted to throw a Clothing Swap Party and invite all of our girlfriends to bring at least 5 pieces of new or gently-used clothing and accessories to trade. I was skeptical about what clothes would show up and if anyone would want them, but she needed a place to have the party and I love hosting so it was an easy yes.
I had so much fun turning my house into a little boutique.
It’s always been a dream of mine to own a clothing shop, so I did my best to display the clothes like they would in a store. I made this jewelry holder out of a thrift store frame and some metal sheeting from Home Depot. It was a great way to display the earrings that were brought.
I even made shopping bags for the goodies that got snatched up.
While the guests arrived, we gave them time to set out the items they brought and enjoyed a few snacks while we waited for the store to “open”. I’m in love with Pinterest and got a lot of the food ideas from there.
And what’s a party without some champagne?! We popped the bubbly and had a pitcher of mimosa and some preggo-friendly lemonade.
Each guest was given a number when they walked in the door. Once everyone had arrived, we used these numbers to determine who got to pick clothes first. The first guest to arrive got the number 1 and was the lucky girl who got to “shop” in our store first. We each were able to pick 1 item on our turn so each guest had a pretty good chance at getting their first picks. We went in order for a few rounds and then had a free-for-all where everyone could grab whatever was left.
The party ended up being a hit. I was pleasantly surprised by what was brought and everyone who came went home with some great finds. It’s funny how our friends all have a little different taste, so one girl gave up something she never wears while her friend found a new favorite item. We were also surprised by the wide range of sizes available, so just about everyone was able to find something in her size. I scored a cute navy lace skirt that just needed some alterations. I swear they have the same one at J.Crew right now. I also got a fun striped cardigan, a stripey tank top that I’ve already worn a million times, and a dress I wore for Easter. My friends are already asking when we’re having the next one.
Besides finding some great “new” clothes for ourselves, we also used this party to bless others. All the clothes that weren’t snagged up were donated to the Grace Thrift Store which benefits a local rescue mission. We also had jewelry from 31 Bits available for purchase. 31 Bits is a great organization that empowers and supports women in Northern Uganda. All of the jewelry is hand made and the proceeds go directly to the women. I also really like their sales strategy. Rather than sending a saleswoman out to your house to give their pitch, they simply send you a box of jewelry to sell on your own and then return whatever is left. It’s a great ministry and you should totally check out their website here.
All in all, the clothing swap was a great success and we’re already looking at dates for another one this summer. Thanks to all of you who came and brought stuff- I really just love any excuse to spend time with you girls!
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I know I’ve been a little quiet around here lately. I’m learning that just like the calendar year, life is made up of seasons. When I started this blog last winter, I couldn’t get enough of DIY projects. I was so motivated to redecorate and reorganize my entire house. But once summer rolled around, vacations, family get-togethers, late night bon fires, and lazy days by a pool consumed my time. The last thing I wanted to do- or had time for!- was home improvement projects. Just like the 4 distinct seaons we experience here in Michigan, I’m learning that you need to embrace the uniqueness of each season. So the blog may have been a little quiet this summer, but life was not.
As summer is (sadly) winding down, I’m starting to feel the bug to get back to work in my house. I’ve been busy pinning inspiration on Pinterest, so feel free to go over there and check out what’s been on my mind. Click here to see my pin boards and let me know if you need an invitation. I’m getting a little addicted to Pinterest, so I’d love to follow you!
The first stop on our European Adventure was in Madrid, Spain. The buildings, the people, and the food had the “Spanish feel” that I imagined. The city felt alive and the sun warmed up the streets. It was a beautiful, walkable city full of history.
However, our first impression wasn’t quite what we expected. We took the subway from the airport to the city center and came up from underground to this scene:
It was one of those “uhhh…” moments. Serious overload. People everywhere. Banners all over buildings. Makeshift tents hanging off the historical sculptures. I clearly remember thinking, “This isn’t what the pictures on Tripadvisor looked like”. To make matters worse, neither Brad nor I speak fluent Spanish. In fact, we’re at approximately a 2 year old reading level in Spanish. We’ve got cat, dog, and bathroom down. So although there were signs everywhere, we had no idea what they said. The people protesting looked peaceful, but we really had no way of knowing if or when it would turn.
Once we checked into our hotel, we learned that the people were protesting because the Spanish election was only 2 days away. In fact, there were protests just like the one outside our hotel, all over the country. We were assured that the protests were peaceful and that we would be safe walking around. Just to be sure, we checked the Internet for the latest updates but decided not to let the crowds cramp our sightseeing.
We couldn’t wait to enjoy some authentic sangria and paella, so we headed to a great place called El Caldero (which translates to “the cauldron” in English). They brought out the paella in iron cauldrons and cooked them right in front of us. It was the best paella I’ve ever eaten and the sangria was to die for! When we finished our meal, they even brought us a small pitcher of blackberry brandy (on the house!) to sip on.
One of our favorite places in Madrid was the Mercado de San Miguel. It’s a beautiful market that’s sells fruit, oysters, croquettes (fried potato dumplings), glasses of wine, tapas, and sangria. Customers stroll around with some wine buying tapas for only a few Euro a piece. It was a great way to try the local fare and squeeze in a quick and affordable lunch.
We also took a tour of the Palacio Real de Madrid (The Royal Palace of Madrid). It’s huge and stately and they still use it for events today. The throne room is immense and covered in velvet wall paper with 2 golden thrones standing in the center. It gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to be the king.
We ended our time in Madrid with a free visit to the Prado Museum (admission is free after 6:00 on Saturdays!). Since we’re not quite art buffs, we splurged on an audio guide and wandered through the museum for a few hours.
More than anything, we loved Madrid because we were finally on vacation. It was incredibly refreshing just strolling down the cobblestone streets and holding hands while Spanish guitarists and mariachi bands created the soundtrack to the beginning of our vacation.
Way back on April 11th, I created this To-Do list (you can see it here) with hopes of completing it all in a weekend. In the name of keeping it real, here’s a progress report…over 3 months later.
Hang pictures going up stair-way-Done-zo!Finish taxes!!!-glad we got that done on time!!Paint Mirror-I didn’t actually do this, but I changed my mind. So I think it deserves to be crossed out. It makes me feel better about myself.- Paint kitchen rug (yeah, I said paint. We’ll see how that turns out…) – started, but still not done
- Clean entire house – well, that’s never ending. A woman’s work is never done… hahaha
Move around guest room(and post pictures!) – just did that a month ago. Need to post pictures.- Buy canvases for some DIY art – still not done
- Paint entry-way console (it’s a newbie and I can’t wait to tell you more about it) – still not done
Spray paint my new owl friendDid this and I think you guys will like him!Grocery shop- well, we had food for the Tax Day party and we have groceries in our fridge, so I guess I can cross this off.- Go to Ikea? – still haven’t made the trek
So while I did get a few of those things done, I definitely didn’t accomplish the whole list. Talk about setting unrealistic expectations for a weekend! Now I just need to work on finishing the items that aren’t crossed off and posting pictures of all the hard work.
How do you guys do with To Do lists? Do you love ‘em or hate ‘em? Any tips on how to set realistic goals?
It’s been way too long since I last updated my blog and I feel so guilty about it. I didn’t stop writing because I felt un-inspired or because I stopped doing projects around the house. In fact, I’ve been doing a lot around the house and I feel like we have so much to catch up on. I made myself take a break from blogging because I had a European vacation to plan.
Brad and I went to Spain and France for an incredible vacation together in May and I have sooo many great pictures of our adventure. So I feel it only makes sense to get back to blogging by catching you up on where I’ve been. Instead of overwhelming you with a million pictures and travel stories in one post, I’ll cover one city at a time. Madrid. Seville. Nerja. Barcelona. Dordogne River Region. Paris.
But don’t think this blog is going to become all about travelling. I still have so much to do (and to share!) in my house. So get psyched, more posts are coming soon!
This weekend defines my life.
It’s because of this weekend 2,000 years ago that I have joy and hope for the future.
Brought from death to life. Despair to hope. Lost to found.
In the midst of Peeps, bunnies, and Easter egg hunts, I pray that you know the reality of the cross and the victory of that empty tomb.
Happy Easter everyone!
A few weeks ago I fell in love… with a chair.
I blogged about it and told you guys how I fell in love at first sight with this chair at Home Goods. Typically, I’d go home and think about it but this time I just knew. No fear of commitment here.
I love the fabric and the nail heads, but the shape and design of the chair is what got me. There’s nothing petite about it and it’s super comfortable. After some thinking and staring at my dining room for awkward amounts of time, I decided it looked best as a desk chair and returned the second one. It was hard to let him go, but I knew the one I kept would hold a special place in my heart. Plus, that means my search for additional chairs in my dining room isn’t over.
But today, my love for this chair grew even more. While I was checking up on my friend at Canadian Home Love, I wandered over to the ultra-luxury Layla Grayce website. They carry beautiful furniture, bedding, clothing, and jewelry and all of it has a one-of-a-kind look. The store was started by two women who spent time travelling around Europe after college being inspired by antiques, art and furnishings. I love so many of their products and only wish I could afford them.
And then it happened. Since I’m in the market for some more chairs, I clicked on the Furniture link and there I saw him. The proud thumbnail for the “seating” page. Sitting at just the perfect angle and in such a beautiful green. It’s my exact chair!
It looks just like the one in my house, but I knew I had to check out some more angles just to be sure. And then I found this straight-on head shot. Same chair to a T. The only difference is the color, fabric, and most importantly the price. Layla Grayce is asking a whopping $994.00 for one chair. I can’t believe how miniscule that makes the $200 I spent on it. As if I didn’t love Home Goods enough already!!
Not only does it feel amazing to see how much this chair is going for, it’s also really nice to see him decked out in other colors and fabrics. I really like the fabric and paint that’s on my chair, but maybe someday I’ll be ready for a change and I’ll already have a good idea of what he’d look like in some new clothes.
Who knew a chair could make a girl this happy?
I love you Mr. Chair and Home Goods!
Well today is the last day to turn in your taxes. For all of you last minute filers (like my hubby!), you got an extra 3 days this year so no excuses and no filing for extensions!! Typically taxes are due on April 15th, but the date was moved to the 18th this year thanks to good ol’ Honest Abe.
The bonus days come thanks to Emancipation Day, a little-known Washington, D.C. holiday that celebrates the freeing of slaves in the district. Emancipation Day marks the anniversary of the day that President Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act. The Act, which was “for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia,” freed 3,100 slaves in the District, making DC residents the “first freed” by the federal government. Yea for freedom!
To celebrate April 18th, and the end of Brad’s busy season, we had a party with our close family and friends. I ran around like a crazy woman on Friday and Saturday and tried to cross off everything on the to do list I mentioned last week. Although I didn’t get everything done, I managed to get the essentials done and have a really good time with friends and family. Besides getting me house ready for company, I wanted to make it special for my CPA. So I Googled “tax party ideas” and “accountant tax party ideas” and let me tell you there is NOTHING out there! There are a few accounting blogs that crack me up but the best party ideas they could come up with was a Hawaiian party. Lame. So I was on my own.
I ended up making a tax form table runner. It was dorky and homemade, but I thought it was funny. I added some black electrical tape to make it look more interesting and geometric. And since there were a few toddlers at the party, I didn’t have to worry about them getting food on the runner! I just crumpled it up and threw it away after everyone left.
We also had a 2 week count down on the new chalkboard wall. Brad got so much joy out of crossing out those numbers each day. I can’t believe these long months are finally over!
Tangent: I just bought this table at Target on clearance (notice the price tag hanging with that lovely orangey-red clearance sticker? I swear I have clearance sticker radar!). Although black isn’t the look I was going for, the size is perfect! The wall is only 30″ wide, so it was hard to find a small enough entryway table. But leave it to Target! So I plan on sanding off the finish and painting it something lighter. I really like the idea of a light gray wood, but I’m not sure how much wood is actually in this table. So we’ll see where that journey ends up.
I tried to keep everything else pretty simple for the party. I wanted to make sure I would have time to socialize and not just spend the entire time in the kitchen. Brad grilled up some burgers and dogs and we had his favorite mud cake for dessert. It was so nice to spend some quality time with the people we love and I know Brad enjoyed some freedom from the office.
I hope your tax day was filled with just as much joy. Even if you ended up owing money, let’s remember the most important things in life aren’t things at all. xo
I have a new favorite store.
If you know me, you probably have a few guesses of what store it is. I’m imagining Nordstrom, Target, and a random cute little boutique probably top that list in your mind. What can I say, I’m a shopper and I love a good store!
But I also love a good deal and I recently gave a new “budget” store a chance. That’s where I got this beaut:
The store I’m talking about is the Thrift Store. That’s right. Used, donated items that often smell like mothballs.
Ok, pick yourself up off the floor. I know you’re probably shocked. While there isn’t a man playing a soothing soundtrack to accompany my shopping experience on the grand piano, there are great prices. And to be honest, the accompaniement isn’t that bad. It’s a Christian Thrift Store so they play worship music while I shop. Love it!
I found myself in the Thrift Store after searching for new furniture. I need some additional seating in my house and I can’t believe how expensive chairs can be. I’ve even perused budget stores like Target, Ikea, and Overstock but the prices just aren’t low enough. So I wandered into my local thrift store (run by Grace Centers of Hope) one afternoon and laid my eyes on this beauty.
Maybe you’re not seeing it, but I see a lot of potential in this chair. I’ve been wanting to attempt a simple reupholstering project and I think I may be able to accomplish this one without sewing. Since I don’t have a sewing machine and I can hardly remember how to use one, the not-sewing part is pretty important.
Although I haven’t completely decided, I’m envisioning the wood painted white and covering the chair with a really fun printed fabric. I actually came across a similar chair on Design Sponge and I can’t get over how different the “after” looks. It makes me super excited!
I can’t wait to get started on this project, but until then I’ll cover the ugly old fabric with a sheepskin and pillow. Isn’t it great how pillows can change the look of furniture?!
And if you still aren’t totally convinced, would it help if I told you that it only cost $10? Yep, ten bucks. That’s it. Practically the price of a lunch. So if all goes bad and I end of hating it, I’m only out $10. And since the Thrift Store I go to is run by Grace Centers of Hope, that ten dollars just went directly to supporting their ministry. It’s really a win-win-win.
A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I’ve been on the search for a new entry rug. While I’ve found a few I’d love to try out, they’re all from on-line stores that don’t offer free/easy returns. I’m just not willing to risk a $15 or $20 restocking fee to see if I like them. They’ve also been priced much higher than I anticipated. I really don’t want to spend $100 on a small rug!
So I’ve been researching the idea of painting a rug and I’m about to try it this weekend. I have a smaller rug in front of my kitchen sink that has definitely seen better days. An olive oil accident permanently stained the rug and then the new blue jeans it was washed with turned it a gross shade of blue. Not pretty. So I figure it’s the perfect candidate to try this technique on.
Shelley from The House of Smiths has an excellent tutorial for how to paint a rug. I’ll be following that this weekend and I’m hopeful that my results will be as awe-inspiring.
Look how similar her rug is to the rug I’ve been eyeing at West Elm!
I’m excited (and hopeful!) that this may be a really affordable way to get the look I’m going for on a dime. Fingers crossed!!
