The Sink Hole

For just about as long as we've lived in this house (5+ years), we've had a sink hole in our driveway. It started as a big crack and over the course of a few years grew to be a hole big enough for a family of 4 to fall through. We knew the time was coming to fix it, so in true Marty fashion, lots of research was done on how to turn this into a DIY project. Bringing in hired help to the tune of $1,000+ was simply out of the question. A few trips to Lowe's, some sawing and planning later, the project took off.

Here's what the hole looked like before we started.


The black abyss to the upper left side of the culvert is totally empty. And yes, that's a safety cone at the top of the picture.

After all the broken pavement was removed, Marty put in some re-bar for support. He also installed a pipe for water to drain off the driveway (water sitting at the lowest point in the driveway played a huge part in the hole forming).

Marty built a form to fit around the rocks and drain pipe. He and our good friend, Joel stabilized the form. Joel was there for manual labor. I was there for a photo opportunity and project management...or something like that :) They would eventually pour the concrete through the hole in the road to fill it in.

After 2 extra trips to Lowe's and THIRTY FIVE bags of concrete later, the hole was filled!! So, we let it dry...

It was quite a challenge to get the form pulled out around the rocks and the pipe, but Marty made it happen! Here's what it looked like after the form was removed. That's a LOT of concrete!!

The hole in the driveway is gone! (My super smart husband created 2 little 'ditches' in the concrete so that even small traces of water would drain into the pipe.

We stacked rocks around the culvert again and here's the finished product!
I'm extremely proud of the work Marty did. A couple of days' work and some hard manual labor saved us nearly $800. That's what I call sweat equity, people.

A Guest Room Fit For Guests

Recently, I participated in a 28 day organizing challenge and posted the results over at Three Simple Girls. Most of you are probably readers over there as well, but in case you're not or you missed it, here's a peek at the transformation that took place in our guest room last month. (If you want to read about the whole transformation, check it out here.)

before...

after...

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Now, it's just waiting for some guests :)

New Bedding

This particular project isn't on the big to-do list of '09, but if you know me, you know that I can't pass up a good opportunity for organizing, nor can I pass up a good bargain...and that's where this story starts.

I've been wanting to update the bedding in our bedroom for a while now, as I'm over the comforter thing. I like having a comforter, but I don't like having to wash it. Thankfully, it fits into our washing machine, but with each wash, it gets more awkwardly bunched. We've only had it for 5 years, but it's certainly starting to look worn. So, rather than buy a whole comforter set (that would look nice, but still have to be washed) I decided to look for a duvet or comforter cover. Well, apparently this novel idea has yet to catch on with the major retailers of our country (with the exception of IKEA...which, byt the way, is a Swedish company). I only found a few here and there, but REFUSED to pay $80 for a COVER when I could get an entire 8 piece bedding set for $79.99.

I decided that I'd make my own. I'd done it before and I could do it again! The cheapest way would be to find some flat sheets on sale, sew them together and add some buttons at the bottom. So, I started watching sales. Target had some sheets on sale last week, so I went to check it out. Thank you, Target circular for your lack of information...apparently the $5.98 sale only applied to twin sheets which were not going to work. But, before I left the store empty handed, I thought I'd check out the clearance items and it must have been my lucky day!! There on the endcap was a 7 PC. COMFORTER COVER SET!! And better than that, it was marked down from $80 to $40!!! AND, they had the color I wanted (chocolate brown)!!! AND, they had the size I needed!!! YIPPEE!!

Now, here's the issue with getting new bedding (especially in a set) for us. Our bed is a Queen, but our comforter is a King (we have a sleigh bed and the king falls closer to the floor and eliminates the need for a dust ruffle). So, getting a set means we have a comforter cover that fits, but no sheets that work. Well, thankfully I'm pretty handy with a sewing machine. I converted the king size pillow cases into shams and now have a bunch of brown sheet fabric to use for other projects.

My original plan was to use chocolate brown and a pale turqoise in our room. However, that plan changed yesterday when I put the new bedding on. I really like the chocolate brown and pale green combo and realized that I had several accents, including 2 pretty throw pillows in a damask pattern (thanks, Mom!) that would coordinate nicely. And since our bathroom is cranberry with that same green color, it would all tie together nicely. I think the new bedding is really simple, yet elegant and if we ever want to change the accent colors, it'll be a breeze!

So, without further ado...

The original bedding

And the new improved much prettier bedding :)

And so, now we have all this nice bedding on our bed, but what to do with the sheets and shams and accent pillows that are still in perfectly good shape...ah, the guest room. We've been using an old comforter set from my Mom's house for a while now, and while it certainly served its purpose, we've been wanting to change it up and make that room a little more inviting and cozy. (If you ever visited when we just had a double air matress in that room, you are SURE to appreciate the rest of this post!)

I must rewind a few months to show you the original state of this room, as it's been a work in progess for some time now. Before our yard sale, it was our "we don't want this stuff anymore so let's throw it in the guest room and shut the door" room. About an hour into the pricing and organzing and boxing up process, this is what the room looked like...YIKES!

I've painted an old headboard that will go nicely with this new bedding, but it still needs a coat of polyurethane. I used an old duvet that I had made to cover the comforter, and transfered the old sheets, shams and throw pillows from our room. All the yard sale stuff is gone. The room has been cleaned from top to bottom. There are still a few items that don't have another home as of now, but that's to be taken care of soon. I would have really liked to paint this room, but I only had a day to get all this switched over and barely made it. Painting wasn't really an option this time. The walls are a little boring, but I'll get there! It's still a work in progress, but MUCH more inviting! Here it is...

We're taking reservations, so come on over!

Tuesday's Tip

Having an organized pantry is essential for me. This keeps me from buying things I don't need, to always know what I have on hand and helps me find the things I need very quickly, making meal prep a breeze! 3 years ago, when I became a Tupperware consultant, I couldn't wait to get my hands on their pantry organization system, called Modular Mates (check it out here and here). Over the years, I've gotten a few pieces here and there and finally have my pantry and food prep areas organized and, of course, labeled oh so neatly. I know that the Modular Mate system can be a little pricey (especially if you plan to do your entire pantry all at once-YIKES!) And while I love these containers (they come with a lifetime guarantee!), the point is to find a system that works for you. Here are a few examples of the way I have used Modular Mates in our kitchen followed by a step by step guide to organizing your pantry (whether you have modular mates or not!)


Baking and Cooking Essentials















The Modular Mate Spice Rack


















Snacks













Cereals and Breakfast Foods












Organizing Your Pantry

*Start with a quick sort-Take everything out of the pantry and organize it in piles according to food type (breakfast, soups, baking goods, pasta, etc). Be sure to check the dates on your food and get rid of anything that has expired. If you run across items you know your family will never eat, place them in a bag and take it to a local shelter or food drive.

*Organize by containers-If you're planning to use any kind of container, other than the original packaging, go ahead and put those containers to good use...and don't forget to label them!

*Store items where you use them-It doesn't make sense to store your coffee creamer across the kitchen from the coffee pot, nor does it make sense to store flour away from your food prep area. Store items in the areas of your kitchen where they will be used. This will save you lots of time in the long run.

*Use baskets for deep shelving-If you have a really deep pantry, consider using inexpensive plastic bins or baskets to store like foods. This will make it easy to remove items at all once so that the items in the very back are a little more easily accessible. Example: I have a few baskets in my pantry-one for breakfast foods (syrup, muffin mix packs, etc), one for drink mixes (hot tea packets, Crysal Light mixes, etc) and one for foods that are reserved for an upcoming recipe (this keeps me from using things that I know I'll need later). You can also use portable & permanent drawer units to make better use of the space you have. I had my super handy step-dad make and install custom drawers in place of the bottom 2 shelves of our pantry to make it MUCH easier to find things.

*Stock your pantry-Place your foods back in the pantry so that they are easily accessible. I have found that the nicer it looks, at this point, the more likely we are to keep it looking nice and well organized. Be sure to place the most used items at a convenient level, and the least used items in the back or bottom.

*Yearly or Bi-Yearly Cleanout-This is an easy Saturday project so take the time at least once a year to get rid of old food and spruce up the pantry!

Tuesday's Tip

Many of you have suggested that I start a weekly post about doing things on a budget or organizing tips or the things I do to make life simpler...so here ya go!! It'll be something different every week, so be sure to check back often!!

Inexpensive Decorating Tip

A couple of weeks ago, we painted and did sort of a "redecorating" project in our kitchen. In that, I created one of my most favorite projects EVER!! I got the idea from Ballard Designs (see it here). Unless those prints actually come off the wall and clean my kitchen for me, there was NO WAY I was spending $700 to get the exact look from the catalog. So, I planned and came up with a SUPER easy and CHEAP solution to get the look I wanted without breaking the bank! Here's the end result (ignore the light fixture being reflected in the mirror!)...

And here's how to do it...

You'll need:
**4-6 frames in a color of your choice (I got those from Wal-Mart for $3 each.)
**A mirror-optional (I chose a mirror that was the same color as the frames for continuities sake. Another Wal-Mart purchase...only $14!)
**Small samples of fabric, scrapbook paper, tissue paper, wrapping paper-the possibilities are endless (I gathered mine from different stores here and there. You can find pretty fabrics for good prices, and since you only need a little, you'd probably spend less than $1 on each one! And of course, scrapbook papers can be purchases on sale for pennies!)
**A print off of your monogram (Just pick a pretty font, type your letter, size it up, print it out and there ya go! You could also do a quote or favorite saying.)

Arrange your items in a large flat area (like the floor or table) to figure out the best layout. Then, start hanging on the wall, starting in the middle and work your way out.

It really is that easy! I spent about $32 on my project which saved me about $670!!!

One thing I love about this project, too, is that not only will it make a great impact on a wall in your own home, but you can also create something like this to give as a gift for Christmas or a birthday. Just customize it to their taste and in just a few minutes, they have handmade custom wall art!

I'd love to hear what you think about it or if you have any other suggestions for making this project even better!!

The Kitchen Project!!

It's FINALLY finished, and I couldn't be more pleased!! It was quite the undertaking, but we made it out alive. Becuase I'm a little OCD, I coudn't just paint a room and then have a refrigerator with smudges on it. Sooooo, in addition to painting the entire room, I also had to clean the entire room, which, of course, added a few hours to the project, but, I believe, made a big difference in the end.

Before, we had white walls and white countertops and white appliances and white floors...and I was SO over the white. We're very slowly replacing our old appliacnes with new black ones, but other than that, hadn't made any big changes in the kitchen. I had been collecting paint samples for about a year, trying to find something that was bright and cheery, but would also go with our oak cabinets. I had also been envisioning a black and white kitchen (see reasons below). I thought about greys and yellows and reds and, after seeing a beautiful kitchen in a magazine that was a mix of mossy greens with black and white, I had my mind made up! But, I just couldn't find the "perfect" shade...until one Sunday I was watching HGTV and they painted a kitchen, with oak cabinets and black and white accents. The color they used was THE color I had been looking for, so I immediately went to the HGTV website, found the episode and and paint color name and off to the Home Depot I went. Well, we buy all our paint at Wal-Mart (a. because we're cheap and b. because it seems to be good durable paint) so I went and was able to match the color with a sample they had...YAY! So, I got a gallon and some trim paint and some other supplies and we were on our way...until we applied the 2nd coat and it still looked like poo...so we went BACK to Wal-Mart got another gallon, applied the 3rd coat and from the second it was done, I have loved it! Marty keeps saying "Well, it's very green!", but I think that he really does like it! It's definitely been a work in progress, but like with all my other projects, there wasn't a lot of money to spend, so I had to be creative. I had to find things in magazines and, instead of ordering them, had to come up with inexpensive ways to implement the look, and I think I've succeeded. I was able to pull together exactly what I had in my mind and am happy to finally reveal the details and my cheap decorating secrets and of course, the finished product! So.........TA-DA!!!!



Before...check out those cool vertical blinds on the sliding glass door.

After! And now we have new curtains, that I LOVE!!! I found them at IKEA for $15 (for 2 panels!!) and they were perfect. I just had to hem the bottom a little and buy a pretty black curtain rod for the top...and the vertical blinds now live at the dump. :) Also, I refinished the tabletop and painted the bottom of the table black, which I love.

Before...

After! I've collected random black and white trays and dishes over the past 2 years to display on top of the cabinets. My rule was that I couldn't spend more than $5 on any one piece...and I didn't!! Most of them came from the Corelle outlet in TN and only cost $1.50!

Before...nothing exciting here...

After!

Before...we had painted that far wall a nice khaki color when we first moved in, but it had to go too...

After!

Before...

After!

Hello, boring white wall! Before...

After! And, you can see our random white rubbermaid recycling center there on the right...BUT my super crafty step-dad is making us a nice shelved compartment that will attach to our exisitng pantry for a much prettier recycling center.

Some super cheap "art", here. I moved that mirror in from the guest bedroom. I framed 4 black and white fabrics or papers in $3 frames from Wal-Mart and printed a pretty "G" on printer paper for nice monogrammed touch.

This is just a collage of fun things we've collected over the years that just so happen to make a nice focal point when you first walk in the door.