DIY Autumn Decor Part One

I have always wanted to be one of those homemakers who is crafty and creative and has her home decorated for each season. Part of that's probably because my mom always made seasonal decorating around our house so much fun. She handmade our Halloween costumes as kids and made sure our school projects were above and beyond! 

I'm not sure I have much natural creativity but thanks to Pinterest and other internet resources, there is still hope for me!

My last post showed a picture of a bunch of items I picked up at Hobby Lobby and the Dollar Tree. Here's one of a few things I have planned for those supplies...

This DIY Fall wreath combines two different fads for a great look. The first is the use of burlap fabric. I've seen burlap and lace used a lot lately at weddings and garden parties. I wanted to try and incorporate burlap into our table settings but that wasn't John's favorite look so this was the compromise. The second look is the chevron pattern. It is adorable, cheery and comes in a variety of colors!

Here's the blog post that I used as my inspiration for this project: http://gatheredinthekitchen.com/2013/02/25/chevron-burlap-wreath-tutorial/. 

To begin, here are the supplies I used:

- 16" wire wreath shell ($2.99 at Hobby Lobby)

- burlap ribbon ($3.29 at Hobby Lobby)

- chevron ribbon ($2.39 on sale at Hobby Lobby)

- twine (a few bucks at Hobby Lobby, can also be found at The Dollar Tree)

- wooden 'K' ($3.59 at Hobby Lobby with coupon)

- barn red paint ($0.96 on sale at Hobby Lobby)

I started by painting the "K" so that it'd be dry by the time I was done with the rest of the wreath. I chose this wooden design because it gives a bit more dimension than just a flat letter. When you paint, make sure you get in all of the little crevices. Two or more coats works best. I chose this barn red color to match the color of the chevron ribbon. (I originally wanted to use orange but Hobby Lobby was out!)

Next I followed the tutorial posted above and started weaving the burlap ribbon throughout the wire wreath frame. At first I tried to be so exact but quickly realized it's more of an art than a science! Be patient with it. The goal is to cover the inner and outer rings of the frame with loose burlap waves. You can easily manipulate the burlap to look exactly the way you want it. I used the entire roll of ribbon. Don't worry if you can still see some of the frame. The chevron ribbon will cover the rest. 

Next cut several pieces of twine to tie the chevron ribbon around the frame. Start by bunching a small length of the chevron ribbon in the center of the frame. Tie it in place using the twine. I also left a pretty long amount of the chevron ribbon hang down. This will serve as one tail of the bow. (See photo below.) Repeat the bunching and tying all the way around. Your sections can be as big or as small as you'd like. Be sure to cover the center portion of the wreath frame. At this point you can also adjust the burlap ribbon to make sure everything's covered. When you reach the final section, leave a second tail for the bow.

Next, use the remaining chevron ribbon to tie a bow (mine is large and loose). Use the twine to attach it to your wreath, over the ribbon tails you've already positioned. (Your bow will have a double tail.) finally, use the twine to attach the monogram in the center of the wreath. I had John bust out the staple gun to attach the twine on the back of the "K". I've also seen the letters placed on the bottom or side of the wreath. It's all personal preference!

We hung the wreath on our front door and added some festive fall accents for the cutest little Autumn porch!! John brought home the bale of hay from San Dimas Grain ($10) and we went pumpkin hunting at a local patch. Can't wait to have visitors soon!!

Fall Fun

Picked up some great buys at the Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby!! I bet you just can't wait to see what I do with them! Stay tuned...

Getting the Most Out of Your Blog Experience

Ok, I've posted about how much I love blogs before...it's literally called I Love Blogs! But blogging has become such a huge fad that I figure it's worth another post. Whether you're a blog writer or a blog follower, there are some things you can do to make the most of your blog experience.

IF YOU'RE A BLOGGER:
I realize my blog has no followers (sad face) and I have to force most of you to read this, but I'm ok with that. I love to give updates on my life, but I enjoy the creative outlet even more. That being said, I've been doing a bit of research on successful blogs as part of a work related effort. We are hoping to get an internal blog up and running and want to make sure we can make it successful before putting our blood, sweat and tears into it. Here's what I've found:

Derek Halpern is a self-proclaimed blogging expert. He has a project dedicated to showing you how to use human psychology to get web traffic and sales as well as a program that teaches you how to build a blog that fuels your business. I subscribe to his regular social triggers emails and they are always extremely entertaining and thought provoking. 

• While I am not trying to sell products, it could be argued that I'm trying to sell my story so it's worth a try. One of his mantras is "If you try to target everyone, you target no one." Maybe that's what's wrong here. But am I really targeting everyone?? To me, I'm simply reaching out to family and friends. What do you think?

If you simply Google how to write a successful blog, a plethora of articles appears. 5, 7, 9, 10, 18, 21 things to make sure you do. Huh?! One of the most helpful articles I've read is: http://www.thefutureworkplace.com/blogging-tips-create-maintain-blog/. 

• There are things on this list that I think I already do (write what you are passionate about, don't be scared of drafts, make your content easy to read and share); some things that I'd like to do better (create a blog that is clearly branded, introduce yourself). But there are some great ideas that I hadn't thought of, and to be honest, am not sure how to start doing (write as many blogs for other people as you can, interact with people that interact with you). Even if I can't get some of these things to work here, they are invaluable tips for my work project!

Emulate what you've seen work for others. This is just my personal advice. The list of blogs that I follow has grown from just a few to over 40. I chose to follow each of them for a different reason. But two of the most common characteristics I see in my favorite, and what I feel are the most effective blogs are:

1. Keep it short and sweet. Which obviously this post is not doing! Posting some entertaining commentary with a few related photos or videos can be just enough to catch someone's attention and keep them coming back! This is exactly what John's cousin Misty does on her blog 3 By the Sea. It also helps that Baby Q is too cute for words!
2. Show them how you accomplished something. This could be just me and that I'm a sucker for DIY crafts, decor, and home improvement projects. When I come across a post that has step by step instructions for successfully completing an awesome project, I want to see and hear more about what this person does on a regular basis. For example, the lovely couple at Hammers and High Heels posted a great DIY mantle they built for under $100! Of course I had to show John and, whaddaya know, we spent quite a bit of time reading about this couple and some of their other projects. Just today I noticed that they'd posted details on their recent trip to Europe which is perfect for us as we plan our own!

IF YOU'RE A BLOG READER:

There is literally a blog out there for everything! I enjoy blogs focused on DIY projects, low budget decorating, healthy recipes, family updates, and inspirational topics (love, marriage, etc). For the sake of this post, I also did some digging on other topics just to show the wide range of information available to us. 

• Boxer Blogs - I just had to! Here's a good one: http://boxerblogger.blogspot.com/
• Financial Blogs - This one is incredibly complex: http://freakonomics.com/blog/
• Comic Book Blogs - Search inspired by The Big Bang Theory: http://acomicbookblog.com/
• Cheese Blogs - Yes, seriously. And this one is laid out like mine: http://cheeseunderground.blogspot.com/
• Sleep Blogs - This one is quite interesting: http://blog.snoozester.com/
• Beer Blogs - A Beer AND Bacon blog?! I just might have to subscribe: http://www.baconbeergarden.com/blog/

You get the picture. If you're as enthusiastic about your blog reading as I am, it may become difficult to keep track of your favorites. This is where Google's Blogger comes in handy! If you have a Google or Gmail account, getting connected to Blogger is super easy. Simply log onto your Gmail and click on the Apps icon in the top right corner. You'll see a list of options (YouTube, Maps, Calendar), Blogger will be under "More". Your Blogger home allows you to create your own blog if you so desire. Or you can use it to organize your reading list. Here's a shrunken down version of what my list looks like:

You can see my blog is across the top and my reading list runs down the left hand side. A stream of recent posts is expanded on the right so I can easily see what's new. I can also select individual blogs using the links on the left to see what's been posted on specific sites. I love using my reading list!

If you don't have a Google account or don't want to use Blogger, my sister Kylie just opened my eyes to another option: Bloglovin. Bloglovin has a website AND an iPhone/Android app, which is great. This site can be described as a Twitter feed for blogs. It works similar to a Reading List on Google. It also categorizes your blogs so you can easily navigate through certain topics. It seems pretty neat!

So whether you're an experienced blogger, a new blogger or just an avid reader, there's lots out there for you. I highly recommend finding a few blogs that you can frequent to keep your mind sharp and your information relevant. I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on my blog in the comments section down below so that I know how to keep you coming back! 

Until Next Time, Britt

Welcome to Our Home

In my opinion, the entryway of a home sets the tone for the rest of the house. It should be warm, welcoming and personalized. Well before I moved in and we even thought about fixing up the entryway, I started a Pinterest board in preparation for "someday". Some of my pins show large, elaborate entryways, others are more functional and cozy. Check out my inspiration here: http://www.pinterest.com/brittkolbeck/entryways/. 

We ended up completing this project in phases. Because the home was a true bachelor pad before we were married, there was nothing at the front door. First step was to plant a bug in John's ear about putting something in the entryway. Apparently he caught onto my idea because he surprised me with a really beautiful and budget friendly entryway table and mirror from Bed, Bath and Beyond. See "Before" picture below with the entry table and a few decorative knickknacks. 

Eventually, the next step was to remove the original tile at the front door and replace it with new tile (which spreads throughout the main floor of the home). We also took this chance to remove the existing wallpaper borders and add a fresh coat of paint. See the "During" photo above with some of our paint color options. 

We chose a light tan color, similar to the kitchen, which compliments the new tile floors perfectly. We also added fresh white floorboards (when I say "we", I don't mean me!). And an awesome design was put into the tile floor at the front door to give it a unique touch. See "After" photo above. While just the entry table and mirror gave the home a more inviting feel, the new tile floor and fresh paint took it one step further. 

Since this area has been completed, I've had so much fun playing with the decor on the entryway table. I tried to select a few staple items that don't change and then adjust the rest to keep up with each season. See a few examples below.

October 2012 - This time last year, before the new floor and paint. Flowers were from my Bridal Shower and the pumpkin was a new purchase for Halloween! I also found some really cute vintage looking votives (under the mirror) and an orange, brown and gold potpourri mix (bottom shelf).

January 2013 - Also before the new tile and paint. The personalized picture frame is still there and the wicker box (found at TJ Maxx) is where we keep our keys and wallets . Fresh flowers give it some color and I replaced the votives with short tapered candle holders from The Dollar Tree. On the bottom shelf, you can see that the I've added a set of Foo Dog statues that were a gift from my Grams. These statues were in my grandparent's home since I can remember. Come to find out that these Chinese Guardian Lions are believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits so I was told to place them by the door.

Today - After the paint and tile. Same wicker box, Foo Dogs, and Pumpkin candle holder. (It's already October again!) Since the previous picture, I'd picked up a green "K" and a decorative green and brown vase to set behind it. I'm glad I did a bit of seasonal shopping before I injured my ankle...found those cute orange owls at TJ Maxx!

I truly love our new entryway and have made it a personal project to keep it filled with creative and seasonal personal touches (Pinterest-inspired, of course)! Hope you can come visit soon!

The Wallpaper Battle

There has been so much going on in our lives over the past couple of years. And I know that I've failed to blog about most of it. So as I sat thinking about how to catch you up on everything, I realized that not once have I posted anything about the updates and improvements we've been making around our house! I hope this is the first of many updates on our progress.

By the way, in an effort to come up with a creative title, today's was inspired by a quote I found from Oscar Wilde: "“My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go.” (Mr. Wilde was an Irish playwright who lived during the late 1800s.) My point is that even then, wallpaper posed problems for folks. I do think wallpaper is making a comeback these days and there are a ton of cute things you can do with it, however, this is our story of 30 year old wallpaper and how we tackled it...

The kitchen was our first project. We started stripping the wallpaper and painting before I ever moved in. I found some of the details in this old post which shows the before and during pics of the kitchen. 

The wallpaper was a team effort! We spent quite a few evenings with John's parents scraping and peeling. This was my first experience with wallpaper so I had no idea what I was in for! 

BEFORE:

Here, you can see what the wallpaper looked like and the dingy outlet.

This is a wider angle of the kitchen in its original state...dark wallpaper, dated linoleum, and original refrigerator, and don't forget the old lighting box that hung down from the ceiling!

We did the kitchen improvements in stages, tackling the wallpaper and paint first. (See older post mentioned before.) The trick was to soak the walls with warm water and give it a few minutes to set in before peeling. When I say soak, I mean the more water, the better. We had some pretty handy wallpaper scraping tools which helped take off large chunks of paper at a time. 

Once the walls were cleared of paper and scrubbed clean, we chose a light tan shade to brighten up the room and purchased inexpensive kitchen curtains and rods from Anna's Linens to establish our color scheme, which is burgundy, green and gold.

Over time, we were able to put in new tile floors (Thank you Pat & Linda!)...

...update the electrical (Thanks Dad!)...

 Cool new light switches

 An outlet that charges an iPhone, iPad AND our coffee pot all at the same time!

Recessed lighting replaced the old box.

...add stainless steel dishwasher and fridge (a wedding gift from John's friend Greg), and add a few personal touches. 

Nice new fridge.

 Artwork to match the burgundy color scheme. I think these came from TJ Maxx or Home Goods.

Cross on the wall and fun personal items on the fridge. I'm pretty sure I bought that cross at Bee Hive in Ruston, LA several years ago.

Our most recent buy - a fun loving sign from Hobby Lobby. Always take a 40% off coupon with you! I can't leave empty handed.

AFTER:

The transformation is amazing! We've even had a couple people ask us if we redid the kitchen cabinets...I think all of the other upgrades gave those cabinets an instant facelift! Now our kitchen is warm, inviting, less of a bachelor's kitchen and much more "us"!

Lexi in her "new" kitchen complete with fresh paint, new curtains, tile floors, updated lighting, and a new table!

The Healing Process

It has been a long two weeks, to say the least. I sustained an injury on Saturday, September 14th playing in a fun game of coed adult soccer. The irony is that after all these years of competitive sports I never really had a serious injury, and now...

There's not an interesting story, I didn't get into some sort of wild collision, I wasn't using my "jukes"...The first couple nights after the injury, it was like I was dreaming about this moment over and over and it was not fun to relive. I simply stretched my leg out for the ball while I was turning and jumping (more horizontally than vertically). I immediately heard several pops in my ankle and could tell right away something was wrong.

It was hard to tell what the damage really was at first because I had on cleats, shinguards and black socks. But I knew I needed to get it checked out right away. Later on, John told me that he thought I was being a bit dramatic at first, until we got to the emergency room and they cut off my sock and shinguard. We rushed to the San Dimas emergency room (they actually called paramedics to the field but we decided we didn't need the service to drive a few miles). Turns out I was the 4th soccer injury that evening! And, I would guess, the oldest!

After an examination and x-rays, the official diagnosis was a dislocated ankle and a broke fibula. The fibula is the smaller of the two leg bones, so it could have been worse! Along with that, all of the tendons and ligaments were torn, which is common when there is a dislocation. I won't post the pictures as they are quite graphic but let's just say, my foot was clearly dangling from my leg in an unnatural fashion. While I was in the emergency room they popped my ankle back into place, which was one of the most excruciating things I've ever felt. Unlike a simple dislocated finger, they do not numb the area before replacing the bone!!

Getting ready to go home with my new gift, Baby Frog

That week, I was overwhelmed with an outburst of love and good deeds from friends and family. I received flowers, we had meals delivered, offers to puppy sit, etc. It was SO helpful since I was stuck in bed in lots of pain and John was left to wait on me, do all of the work around the house, in addition to everything else he does on a daily basis.

I was scheduled to see the doctor the following week. We thought I'd get in and out with a cast and be done, however, after additional x-rays, we were told that my foot was not in the right position and I'd need surgery to fix it. Until then, I was stuck in bed in a soft splint, elevating at all times, and using crutches when I needed to get around.

I finally had surgery at an outpatient center in West Covina on Tuesday, September 24th. Coming out of surgery was another traumatizing experience. Instead of being loopy on anesthesia, I was in extreme pain. After several doses of different drugs, they flipped me onto my stomach and gave me a nerve block. It was so painful but numbed my leg entirely for six or seven hours. Since then I've been keeping a steady stream of meds in me. I've weaned myself down quite a bit and am feeling much, much better.

I will be on crutches for at least one more week, until I see the doctor again. I believe at that point he will put on a cast (hopefully a walking cast!). For now, I'm struggling with restlessness, crutches, and being stuck in bed. Even when I want to get up and do something, I am exhausted afterwards. So either way is no fun!

All of this has made me so thankful for all of the love that surrounds me. My injury is not fun but it could have been much worse. I am blessed to have great healthcare and a strong support system. This has made John and I even closer as a married couple and has given both of us a fresh perspective on life and how precious it is.