July 7, 2014

Mini Bathroom Makeover - Cottage Style

Good Morning!

Hope you all had a safe and fun Fourth of July!
The family and I spent our day at Grandma and Grandpa's house, which is always delightful!

Today I'd like to show you a few changes I've made to the guest bathroom in an effort to make it more pleasing and cozy feeling.

Not wanting to spend alot of money on the project, I weeded through my stash of thrift store finds for inspiration.

It quickly became clear an easy, cottage style makeover was the best way to go.

After updating a few items with paint, everything fell together quickly and I felt like I had a new room


 The walls have been painted a pretty blue that I still haven't tired of yet.
Other than a few accent piece in various shades of blue, I tried to keep everything else cream or white. 


At the vanity area, bathroom essentials where placed within easy reach.






Have you ever tried Bath and Body Works "Just Picked" line.  

It's amazing.  

I've used the Garden Strawberries scent here, oh it smells so good a swear you can practically taste strawberries
.
Image squeezing a handful of fresh picked strawberries in your hand - this soap smells just like that.
I also have their Lemon scent which is equally good.


Small canning jars holding bathroom essentials are corralled on a simple ironstone platter.





A small wicker basket hold extra rolls of toilet paper within easy reach.


And some pretty artwork and chippy frames dress up a small corner wall.


On the other side of the room, the bead board and hooks I installed a few year back and are still a favorite of mine.





The over-sized hooks are so handy and easy to use I have a hard time believing I will ever go back to using towel rods.


 Underneath the hooks I brought in a simple, pale blue bench to add a pop of color and to help fill up the space with useful items.


To fill up the space above the beadboard, I printed out two vintage prints of birds and placed them in distressed frames.


To carry on the bird theme, small Home Interior birds where painted and distressed and then hung above the frames.  I think they look very cute.


And last but not least, a simple basket was placed in the corner to corral anything needing to be washed.



Hope you enjoyed this mini makeover

bye now,

Robin

July 2, 2014

New Wheels

The time has come for this girl to upgrade her vehicle.

After much debate between hubby and I this is what we decided on.

A Ford, 350 Crew Cab.


Cool right?

I am so excited.

However, parking it is not easy.

I can live with that.

Just think of all that space in the back to fill up with vintage goodies and garage sale finds.

Oh, My!  I'm feeling light headed just thinking about it.

Hubby may seriously regret this purchase - - but not me.  

Now please excuse me, I've got to go find some sales!!!!

Robin

June 27, 2014

Fun Finds


Last Friday's thifting adventures left me feeling like I'd hit the jackpot.

It was all about metal office supplies.

First off I found this amazing Royalmetal armchair in very good condition.


I was very excited about the chair.  I have an arm-less version that has become my favorite chair in the house to use.  I have a feeling it may be replaced by this one.

At this point I thought I had found the find of the day . . . surprisingly I was wrong.

In the same store I happened across two metal letter sorters and a metal card file.
All three I think will come in very handing in my studio.

I love how the desktop version has a place for little labels.


After the thrift store, I picked up my girls and we went to a huge church sale.  I have never seen anything like it before.  Room after room of goodies to look over and at the very end a gym full of furniture.

Which is where if found the day's jackpot.


A metal desk . . . 

(sorry for the photo, this thing is heavy and must wait for hubby to help me carry it in the house - - just ignore my messy garage)


And a metal side board.  Both for fifteen dollars.

I just about fainted.


I have been looking and looking for a metal desk to use in my studio space so you can imagine my excitement.

Together with the side board I think my little studio space may become a little crowded but I am hoping it will all work out and I can enjoy all the storage space they offer.

All in all, it was a fantastic day of thrifiting for me.  One of which that doesn't happen very often.

How about you.

Any jackpot moments?

June 25, 2014

A Hankering For . . . Summertime Refreshments


Summertime offers some of my favorite foods and I'm looking forward to enjoying them all very soon.

First off lets talk grilling!

I'm a big fan a grilling.  
So much so that oftentimes the oven doesn't get used in weeks.  Here at Happy at Home we have actually switch from a traditional grill to a smoker . . . and let me tell you it is AMAZING.  I had my doubts when Hubby started talking about getting one but now I get it . . . and use it all the time.

I'm looking forward to some annual favorites like . . . 

Mouth Watering Steak
(my hubbies specialty)

Everyday Steak Tips Recipe ~  a delicious marinade that adds fantastic flavor to grilled or broiled sirloin beef tips!   The tips come out tender and delicious with a slightly tangy, slightly sweet flavor that is our idea of the perfect steak tips recipe!


Simple and Delicious Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken Legs - use only 1/2 - 3/4 tsp Diamond salt sense or poultry seasoning and trim skin well!

Tender and Spicy Ribs

Shay's Fall-Off-the-Bone Baby Back Ribs  For super-tender meat, marinate baby back ribs in beer and bake in the oven for three hours before grilling. These ribs grill for just 10-15 minutes, since they will have been almost cooked through in the oven.

And of course . . . Juicy, Messy Burgers

Fried Egg. Avocado. Roma Tomato. The perfect burger.

So much more can be grilled though,

My personal favorite . . . 

Grilled Pizza

grilled pizza with cream cheese, chicken, and red onions

Buttery Corn on the Cob

The 5 Best Grilled Corn Recipes You'll See This Summer | Shine Food - Yahoo! Shine


I've found a few new recipes I'm very excited to try out.

Like  Grilled BBQ Pork Roast

Grilled BBQ Pork Roast | Real Housemoms | This is the most moist pork roast EVER!!!

And branching out into grilling veggies and fruit which would be new to us . . . 

Grilled Asparagus

Nothing beats the flavor of asparagus, coated in olive oil, sprinkled with salt, and quickly grilled.

Sliced Potatoes

Rustic Grilled Potatoes...these looks tasty and simple enough...a nice side for tonight's steak

Grilled Pineapple

Grilled pineapple with honey, lime juice and cinnamon. Pineapple is delicious on it's own, but if you want something quick and easy to make for dessert this summer, try grilling it and serving it with some ice cream on the side. Fun for backyard parties!

Grilled Fruit Kabobs

These grilled fruit kabobs were so incredibly good!! You will love the key lime yogurt dip to go with it! from favfamilyrecipes.com

Moving away from the grill . . . there are so many other yummy summertime dishes I'm looking forward too.

Like fruit salad

Secret Fruit Salad: The secret is dry vanilla pudding mix. It combines with all the juices from the fruit  makes a scrumptious dressing that coats every bite. People will ask you for the recipe it's so good!

Cold Slaw

Yum... I'd Pinch That! | Wonderful Creamy Cold Slaw

Pasta Salad

Pasta Salad with broccoli, onions, cheddar  bacon - best pasta salad I've had in ages! been looking for a new pasta salad.


My personal favorite, Cobb Salad with Strawberries

California Cobb Salad with Tarragon Vinaigrette | iowagirleats.com

BLT's

BLT! Best sandwich ever!   Farm House White Bread-Peppridge  Boston lettuce Beefsteak  your favorite bacon, Hothouse or plum tomatoes Helman's Mayo


Wonderful Watermelon
(can't get enough)

Perfect for the hot weather

And last but definitely my kiddos favorite . . . Homemade Ice Cream

Homemade Fresh Strawberry Ice-Cream...without an ice-cream maker...from scratch.

What yummy Summertime Refreshment have you been hankering for?

Robin

June 24, 2014

Sitting Pretty On The Porch

Good Morning!

Last week I put the finishing touches on my summer porch decorations and I have been enjoying the next look ever since.

It's one of my favorite places to sit and relax.  The room over looks my garden and the park beyond our fence line.


I brought in a old piano bench to use as a coffee table.


And filled a twig basket with my favorite spring flowers ... Pansies!

Ikea lantern make the space fun to use after the sun goes down too!  The perfect place to do a little reading on my Kindle Fire (which by the way, I love, love, love.)


The comfy sofa is covered with a hot pink quilt to help tone down the floral print I feel is a little too much.  I love how it brightens up the space with a punch of color - perfect for summer.

I still have to make some pillow covers, but keeping up the weeding in the garden has become a full time job after all the rain we have received the past two weeks.


Shelby definitely approves.  
It's become her favorite spot to keep her eye on the things and take naps.


On one side of the sofa, I place a small side table that was once used in the living room.


On top, another pot of pansies and a pretty glass box I found at the thrift store.


Below, a candle and a handful of vintage books I hope to find time to read this summer.


Off to the side, I've placed two of my favorite summertime potted plants in pink - Geraniums are so cheerful I think.


Especially this two toned variety!


On the opposite side of the sofa I placed a small shelf and a another side table.

On the floor sits an asparagus fern that I've somehow managed to keep alive since last summer - - I'm so proud of myself (house plants and I don't typically get along so well)


I filled the small shelves with a mixture of fun things I enjoy.


Like a small twig basket filled with you guessed it . .  . pansies.  
Their starting to look like they need to be replaced soon, but I'm hoping to get another couple weeks out of them.


Also added a wire basket, peat pots and vintage gardening tools.


This collection has started to take off much to my delight.


On the small side table I've added a pretty saucer to hold my splurge item for the year.

New outdoor candles.

The indoor, wax type ones can't hold up to the heat this space gets come mid summer.
I'm hoping this plastic, waterproof version works better.

I have been very pleased with them at night, they give off a wonderful glow and turn on automatically for five hours each night.

I picked them up at Target in the garden section just in case your thinking you need to get yourself some.


Oh and before you go, here's the view from my spot on the sofa!  
Pretty right.


If you happen to stop by this summer, Shelby will be saving you a spot!



Have a wonderful day and I'll talk to you soon,