Out with the old, in with the cute

We - I should say my husband- had a coffee table that I haven't been the biggest fan of since we've been married. Just not my style. So I sold it on Craig's List.. he was kinda mad, but it had sharp edges and I have a toddler. Enough said! Now I wanted something glass and transparent (makes the room open up) but I knew that a messy-hands toddler with a glass table ALSO is a bad idea. So to put function before looks, I decided on a storage ottoman coffee table, all in one. That way I can corral all his toys and HIDE THEM AWAY!! 

I've looked around, and the average price for one of these was $250 online, outta my budget. Plus I did not want brown and brown was EVERYWHERE. Sooo on a trip up to Home Goods, I decided I'd find a bargain, and that I did. I found a storage ottoman (unfortunately it was brown) and the seam was torn all across the top! It was on clearance for $80. 

I bought the thing, and after some rebuking from my husband, I convinced him it was a good idea and a good deal. I had leftover fabric from a tablecloth I purchased at TJ, and covered the top.

 There. Less brown and it matches my pillows. Done deal. And you wouldn't believe all the toys hidden in there! I sprayed it with fabric protector because after all I do have a toddler, but I'm loving it so far.

Lamps gone wild

They say you should take risks in decorating, and do something unexpected. These  have got to be the STRANGEST wackiest lamps I have ever seen! Ummm no thanks! Buddha, a clown, random horse and a pistol... complete with a lamp shade on top. What the..?? 

(Oh and might I add that the horse is life- size)

Craig's List made easy

Alright sooooo, I discovered a new site called craigseasy.com. Since I encourage all my readers to shop Craig's List, KSL, whatever local online classifieds you have for good deals, I'm excited for this new website that makes it easier, shopping by picture! You know how Craig's List just lists the items, then you have to click on it to see the picture, etc. It gets very tedious and you lose your patience before you even find the goods! Go to www.craigseasy.com and follow the instructions. You will drag the link to your toolbar of favorites, then once you open Craig's List and make a search, you click on that link, which will pull up only the pictures. Makes it so much funner!!

I've been on a search for an office chair for a little while, looking for nothing in specific, just something cute. Of course I got side tracked and found some other fun chairs!

These bar stools (sorry it's blurry) are cool because they're industrial-looking. Spray painted a fun color would make them sooo much cuter though.. and they're only $30 a piece!

 When you're looking for furniture, look for a cute shape, not the color. This lime green is way too bright for me and the fabric doesn't really go, but you could re-do this, and it would be beautiful! It's listed for $65, and remember most sellers will negotiate price. =)

 Club chair is $65.. way good deal considering it's brand new, just left over at a liquidation store

 Not your grandma's chair... anymore. i actually kind like that this is silvery-gray, but to make it more up-to-date, you could paint the legs a glossy black or something and add some colorful pillows! It's $100

 The front of this chair is cool, but I love the studs around the back. These are in great condition, have a vintage chair, and they're selling 2 for $200... I'd offer $150 =)

Anything but blah

Normally I don't love pastels... and I have a  hard time committing to an entire neutral theme, as I tend to find them blah and boring. But I can't deny there is something so calming and refreshing about neutrals. I keep telling myself I'll have at least one room in my house that is toned down, but I can't help throwing a pop of something exciting in there! Here's some of my favorites- yellow is obviously very "in" right now!

Love these coffee tables... I almost bought some very similar from TJ Maxx but they just didn't go, sadly

Browns, tans, and other neutrals are jazzed up with a fancy chandelier and zebra print.

How can you not be happy with these yellow accents?

I love this room, I do. It's so interesting

Confession

I have a confession to make, and you'd only know if you live(d) with me. So my husband is well aware. It's that I really am not fond of cLeAnInG. I'd say I was the opposite of a clean freak, but that's not true, because I'm not a slob either. I feel like so many things happen in a day, and in order to stay on top of things, I need some kind of.... well, order. I happened to be looking at cute rooms (NOT researching cleaning, because why would I?!) and I stumbled upon this in Apartment Therapy online. I thought it seemed like a good idea so I've put it to the test. Okay so outta the past 3 days, I've only remembered twice that I was on this "cleaning schedule" but I still feel like it helps!! If you'd like to, copy and paste and then print it off... and let me know if your house sparkles by next month ;)

How to Clean Your House in 20 Minutes a Day for 30 Days

Tips and Tricks

1.     Dealing with what comes through the door: Set up a small area by the front door to act as a “landing strip” for incoming items into your home.

2.     Do your dishes after every meal: You’ll stay on top of your kitchen instead of it turning into a monster! Same goes with taking out the trash- don’t let it pile up.

3.     Laundry: Recommended to do a little each day (I refuse, but once or twice a week will at least prevent wet towel and dirty sock pile-ups)

4.     Whistle while you work: Those who are happiest when cleaning are few and far between. Singing, humming, whistling, or turning up the stereo are all great options to keep the beat in your feet and having fun while working.

5.     Set a timer: Most items on the list should take 20 minutes or less to complete. It’s easy to get distracted by the phone or TV so set aside those 20 minutes for right when you walk in the door after work, or before your morning workout ( and of course you do a morning workout right?!)

The 30 Day Schedule

1.     Surface clean living room and kitchen (pick up stray items, dust, sweep, vacuum)

2.     Clean bathrooms (toilets, showers, floors, walls, mirrors)

3.     Surface clean bedrooms (put away toys, clothes, dust)

4.     Surface clean “extra” rooms (basement, office, playroom)

5.     Surface clean living room and kitchen

6.     Clean bathrooms

7.     Clean all interior windows (white vinegar and newspaper works great and is cheap)

8.     Sweet and vacuum all floors in the house (don’t forget stairs)

9.     Surface clean bedrooms

10. Deep clean living room (mirrors, baseboards, dust artwork)

11. Clean bathrooms

12. Clean out closets (hang up clothes, mittens, jackets, hats)

13. Surface clean “extra” rooms

14. Deep clean bedrooms (organize drawers, check under bed, tidy closet, dust artwork, fans, lights mop)

15. Surface clean living room and kitchen

16. Deep clean bathrooms (clean inside drawers, inside of trash cans, tops of mirrors, tile, mop)

17. Clean all door knobs, phones, entertainment equipment (remote controls), switch plates, banisters, and other things that are repeatedly touched

18. Clean out the refrigerator, take stock of food, organize pantry

19. Clean entryway, sweep porch (if you have one), clean out car (because they’re often our home away from home)

20. Surface clean living room and kitchen

21. Surface clean bathrooms

22. Surface clean bedrooms

23. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

24. Clean linen closet, straighten towels, sheets or regular closet if not applicable

25. Surface clean living room and kitchen

26. Deep clean kitchen (scrub appliances, wash trash cans, base boards, wipe down and straighten cabinets)

27. Surface clean bathrooms

28. Surface clean bedrooms

29. Clean one item you’ve been meaning to get to and haven’t (deep clean your stove, wipe down all light fixtures, tackle a particularly unruly area)

30. Sweep and vacuum all floors in the house

W is for Wallpaper

If you haven't noticed, wallpaper is back in a big way. No longer that gawdy permanent nuisance that is impossible to remove, wallpaper has become much more friendly.. and stylish!

I'm digging the 3 different patterns in this room, somehow they all go!

Geometric patterns are creeping into my list of favorites

What can I say about this?! Headboard- amazing, mirror- gorgeous, and coordinating wallpaper? To die for!

How cool is this room by Jonathan Adler?

I love the idea of these next couple pictures, of framing wallpaper as an accent

And it's not just for the walls! Spruce up a ho-hum piece of furniture or shelving, it just brightens everything up!

Turquoise and orange

While attempting to redo my sister's front room, and going at it very slowly, I came across some images that were AMAZING. My sister really likes orange so we're incorporating that in her house, but now are basing our decorating from these color schemes... I heart this!