Calm For The Home

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Anything that makes my life a little easier, a little cleaner, a little calmer, and a little more natural ... I'm here for it. Enjoy perusing my most recent home buys that accomplish that and more. Maybe you're in the market for a few of these items and I'll spare you the research. :)

Wool Dryer Balls

Here's your sign to ditch those toxic dryer sheets and use wool dryer balls to naturally soften your fabric! I've used other types in the past, but these are high quality, large, and come in a nice storage bag. They dry my clothes faster by moving the fabric around, and you can add essential oils to them if you need that extra scent you're missing from your unscented laundry detergent!


Essential Oils

These kits are nice because they have little bottles you can try out and it's not too much of a waste if your 4 year old finds them and dumps them out everywhere. Here are a few sets I've purchased.

Cliganic -4pk



Laguna Moon - 6pk



Pure Essentials - 6pk


I use Lemon Grass/Orange for homemade cleaners, or in my diffuser to make my house smell delicious and refreshing. I use Lavender on my pillows or in a bath for a calming effect. And I use the Peppermint/Eucalyptus in my diffuser all the time whenever someone gets sick. They relieve sinus congestion, help with aches and pains, headaches, etc.


Diffuser

Which brings us to the diffuser I use. This is such a great model, but there are hundreds out there. We bought the white one, and the kids love the different LEDs it can cycle through. It's kind of shaped like an onion, so when we turn the red light on, we call it "angry onion" and the kids laugh and laugh. Auto shut-off is a good feature. This is a great size to start off with. I highly recommend!


Under Bed Storage

Let's get organized, people! I was looking for ways to store my bulky winter clothes without hauling huge plastic bins up and down from the basement each season. These hold SO MUCH, I only needed ONE. Can you believe it? I bought the 4pk which was completely unnecessary, but now I've got 3 more I can use for other things, like extra sheets/pillows/bedding. Under bed storage is where it's at! So convenient.


Comforter

Lastly, if you're in the market for a comforter, this one is really great. I bought one for my daughter to try, then I had to buy one for myself because I liked it so much. Be advised, this comforter ships cryo-sealed, and when I opened it, I thought it was the biggest rip off. But after a wash/dry, this blanket is pillowy soft, full and fluffy! (Maybe it was because of my wool dryer balls!!) You won't be disappointed. Also, pro tip, buy the Full/Queen blanket for a Twin bed, or a King blanket for a Queen bed to get the look like the picture with plenty of overhang.



Happy shopping!

Xoxo Liz

Bathroom

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Here we are again, talking about more things I've purchased and liked. If you need to catch up, read my last few blog posts and you'll know what I'm up to. I like to spend money, but I don't like to overspend. I enjoy nice things, but not at the cost of wasting my hard-earned dough. Therefore, today I'm sharing some bathroom finds that have been well vetted and worth the bang for your buck. Let's start!

Memory Foam Bath Mat 

First up, a bath mat. I needed something small that would fit in my tiny bathroom. It needed to be machine washable, and NOT show hair. This comes in two sizes and a few colors, and if I had the room, I'd go bigger!

Pro: Super absorbent, dries quickly, and doesn't ever look dirty like other mat fabrics.

Con: Kinda hard to vacuum because it's plush, but I think that goes for any small bath mat.

Favorite Feature: I like how the ridges allow it to lay nice when I fold it over my tub. A regular towel would do this, obviously, but this has a non-slip backing, so I was impressed it wasn't too stiff to do this.

Shower Caddy 

Next up, we have this shower caddy! Oh my word, I looked high and low for an organizer that would fit my shower head but leave room for the connecting hose. It needed to be coated, because rust in the shower pisses me off! And it needed to hold a LOT of stuff.

Pro: Still looks great a year later. No rust, no grime or soap build up. Like new.

Con: Rarely it separates from the suction cups, but those aren't really holding it up and it never falls down, it's just not "connected" to the shower wall.

Favorite Feature: The hooks on the bottom are really nice for our 3 luffas, hair ties, hook comb, etc.

Munchkin Bath Letters 

These are a lifesaver. I can't tell you how long Jane can play with these letters in the bath. They stick to the tub, or shower tiles, just from being wet. They stay up until you take them down. They float so it's easy to take out when play time is over. It's just an all around a cheap way to have bath 'toys' that aren't going to fill with water and get super moldy. Yuck!

Pro: Easy to store in a bucket or net and they dry quickly.

Con: If you don't let them air dry in an open container, they might get moldy. We haven't had a problem.

Favorite Feature: You can leave messages in the shower for your husband to find. Sometimes you have to be creative and use letters and numbers, but it's worth it! ;)

Aveeno Body Wash 

While we're on the topic of kid's bath time, this is the only body wash I like, that is still sensitive enough for my kid with eczema. It has the faintest scent and is really moisturizing. I bought this for years at Target, but it kept going up in price. First it was only $7, then $8, then $9, and now it's almost $11 bucks for one bottle. No thanks. I'll save some money and buy it off Amazon, thank you!

I don't think you need a pro/con for this. It's body wash. ;)

Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Tablets 

Okay, I love this product, but it's possible I'm way out of line and these are terrible for our toilets, the environment, the diagnosis of my stool color, etc. Who knows. All I can tell you is that my daughter thinks it's awesome after that first flush, when the water turns blue. She says "abracadabra" and waves her hand, and it's a big treat. This cleans my toilet really well, and keeps it from smelling like a toilet! Will I keep buying this until someone tells me otherwise? ... Yes. So let's discuss, people!

That's all I have tonight, peeps. 
Happy shopping.

Xoxo Liz

Dreamreader

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My fabulous mother has finally released her debut novel, Dreamreader. I am SO proud of her! This has been YEARS in the making. It just goes to show it's never too late to work toward something amazing. 

Dreamreader is about a girl named Grace, who is trying to make sense of these visions she's been having since falling off her bike and getting a concussion. These visions lead her to seek counsel, and eventually team up with a detective, where together, they begin down an adventurous path searching for answers about a tragic incident from her past.

You will really enjoy this book, people. I'm not just saying that because I want my mom to do well. She's already won an Amazon.com Bestseller award, so she's happy as a clam. But I know YOU'LL be happier if you commit this one to your bookshelf. And then call me, so we can talk about it, cause I'm dying to dish!

Here's my review that I tried to post on Amazon, but I think it knows we're related and won't post it. ;) 

Wow! What a fantastic story. So much happening, so many twists and turns. This novel reads like a fast suspenseful adventure, but the way the author writes dialogue had me feeling so connected to each character, soaking up each moment. Loved the dual perspective. Kept it so fresh! I finished in two days. The plot was an obvious page turner, but I laughed at myself reading too fast a few times. Ya know when something really exciting is happening, and you hold your hand over the page so you don't spoil it by skipping ahead? Yeah, it's one of those books. 5 stars. Highly recommend!

View the press release here!

Buy Now on Amazon!

Way to go, Mom. Being a published author is no small feat!

Xoxo Liz

Amazon

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Hello. It’s been six years since my last confession, I mean, blog post. My desire to restart has been thwarted time and time again by insurmountable overwhelm. As you can imagine, a lot has happened since 2018. How can I possibly pick up where I left off and not have a 60 page novel of information? I could spend days reliving the nerve wracking global pandemic, writing about how we all endured it. I could be typing for weeks just on my growing family, how I birthed an entire second human being, who is now 4 YEARS OLD. But ain’t nobody got time for that! Please accept my sincere apology, (future self), that this time capsule isn’t as complete as it could have been. Life is busy, and crazy, and eventful and boring, and these past six years have been all that and more. Above all, life has been full of blessings upon blessings, and for that we are truly grateful to God.

So … you may ask … why did I bother starting this blog back up again? Quick answer: Money. ;)

Long answer: I wanted to become an Amazon Associate. That’s where you share links for things on Amazon, and when people click on those links, maybe, just maybe, you can make a teeny, tiny, miniscule, nanoscopic commission in the process. Will this work? Absolutely not. Why? Because I’m not an influencer with 5 million followers. I’m just a girl, standing in front of a social media shitstorm, believing the Instagram lies that prey on desperate mothers of young children trying to make ends meet. The more I started watching these “stay-at-home job opportunity” reels, the more they kept on coming. The algorithm force feeding my overstimulated consciousness, thinking a get-rich-quick scheme was simply waiting around the corner.

“Did you know you could be making $30,000 worth of passive income each month? All you need to do is sign up for this FREE online program to learn how. What are you waiting for?”

My poor little soul kept getting sucked in, and my big, strong, realist husband had to pull me out of despair a time or two. The pipe dream of making bank was lost, but upon reflection, I could see what kept drawing me in. I actually appreciate the concept of this mythological business practice. I enjoy telling people about the things I buy; where it came from, how much it cost, what features influenced my decision, etc. Anyone who knows me can attest that I’m an oversharer by nature, so why stop now? I’ve posted links for family and friends on this blog long before Amazon made it cool, so I’ll continue to do so in spite of this nasty conglomerate that monopolizes our society. 

Truth is, I shop online all the time. We all do. As a busy mom and wife, with a full time job and disdain for shopping in person in a post-covid world. Usually looking for a solution to some big life problem like, “Where the hell do I put all this wrapping paper?” and “How do I contain these cashews so they don't taste stale?” You know … first world problems. 

If I do manage to find something, and buy it, and like it, you can bet your bottom dollar I didn't spend too much money. That's the other thing about me; I refuse to spend more than I have to. Whether it’s my money, or my company’s money (oh yeah, I buy things for a living at my job, too). The things I purchase have been so well vetted that I'm embarrassed to tell you how long it takes me to decide. I compare reviews, cost, features, and quality so painstakingly, because let’s be honest, the market is saturated and we’re all just trying to weed through. Everything from my $200 vacuum cleaner to my $8 spray bottle got the ol’ Liz stamp of approval, and hopefully I can save someone else the headache of searching.

So! Click my links, or don’t click my links. I’m just here, on my own blog, oversharing because it comes naturally. And who knows, maybe there’s an item or two you didn't know you needed, but do!

Today I'll share 5 home/beauty items I've been enjoying:

Airtight Food Storage Containers

Why: We always have half-filled bags of chips, nuts, dried fruit, candy, etc. The bags don’t stack, and fall over, and hit me in the face when I open the cabinets! Not cool.

Pro: Can’t beat that price for great quality containers.

Con: They’re a bit tapered at the bottom so they don’t meet flush side by side.

Favorite Feature: They lock super tight, but are easy to release one tab at a time.

Wrapping Paper Storage

Why: OMG I have so many wrapping paper rolls and ribbon, and tape, and bags scattered in random locations around the house. Needed one central location.

Pro: Fits my really long rolls and the top pockets are great for bags and tissue paper.

Con: Zipper could be sturdier.

Favorite Feature: Slides under my bed!

Shark Vacuum

Why: My old vacuum broke, and I didn’t want to spend more than $200 bucks.

Pro: Love that I can separate just the top part of the hose, or the longer stick wand.

Con: Sometimes the base falls over if I stretch the hose too far when using the wand.

Favorite Feature: This washes out SO nicely. I love swishing some hot water, or a tiny bit of soap in the canister to make it look brand new every time I clean it!

Hair Dryer

Why: Old hair dryer was getting really worn out and too heavy for my weak (lazy) arms.

Pro: The attachments are great and snap on nice.

Con: Sometimes I accidentally move the air flow dial when switching hands.

Favorite Feature: Super lightweight. Just what I wanted.

Continuous Mist Spray Bottle

Why: Saw this at the salon, and wanted it so bad! I hate regular spray bottles that you press with one finger. My fingers are weak! LOL I’m noticing a pattern here … Anyway, I use spray bottles to wet Jane’s hair when pulling it into a ponytail, but you could use this for homemade cleaning supplies, etc.

Pro: They come in cute colors! Of course, I just got white. ;)

Con: Haven’t found one yet!

Favorite Feature: If you keep squeezing the lever, it really will just keep spraying continuously. Amazing!

Okay friends and family, that’s all I have for today!

Let me know what you think!

Xoxo Liz

Homeownership

My husband and I have been homeowners for nearly one whole year! It has been awesome. We worked very hard to create the space we wanted, and it has definitely paid off. Many decisions had great importance, and I’m content with the time, energy, and money we spent on those things. Other decisions have had very little consequence to me, despite seeming so important at the time. I laugh at how long I spent caring so deeply about those things!

The decision to gut our entire kitchen (down to the studs) and spend good money on new cabinets and granite countertops, was hands down the best investment we made to our house. Worth every penny. Of course, I researched the heck out of each minuscule detail of the project to make sure we didn’t overspend one bit. Sometimes Zach was not as eager to “talk numbers” as I was, but I’d like to think he appreciated the money we didn’t have to waste. As you know from my previous posts, my kitchen fills me with joy and gratitude every day. I have enough counter space and storage space, and Zach and I no longer complain about how hard it is to cook and clean. I spend a lot of time in my dining room/kitchen area, and you should never underestimate the power of a happy space.

The paint color choices were also well worth my time and energy. Zach painted our old apartment with very bold colors, and I was totally over it. I didn’t want to choose a random color now, only to repaint in 5 years because it no longer pleased me or matched my decor. I needed something simple and steadfast. I didn’t go the normal route by mulling over paper swatches at the hardware store. Instead I went on Pinterest and Google and researched the best/calming/neutral/awesome interior paint colors on the market. I wanted something on trend, but I needed to be told what trendy was. Now when people come into my house, they tell me how great my color choices were! They are neutral, but pretty. They go well with my decor, and flow easily from room to room. I feel happy by the calming blues, grays and greiges! Each time I buy a new pillow, knick-knack or candle, I know it will coordinate with any room because of the colors I used. *Pats self on the back*

Now onto things that didn’t really matter. When we first moved in, I thought we needed to refinish every hardwood floor in our house. They were not in terrible shape, but some main areas were worse than others. The ideal time to do the floors would have been before we moved in, so I tried to get the ball rolling early. But after researching how to do it ourselves, and knowing I couldn't afford a professional to do it, I quickly got discouraged. The kitchen project was so extensive I REALLY didn’t want to tackle anything else, so against my “better” judgement, we decided against refinishing. Boy was I glad, because fast forward past a few trips to Ikea, every hardwood floor in the house was adorned with a beautiful new rug! Whatever wood was still visible around the edges was in great shape anyway! Crisis averted. Money saved. :) One year later, I couldn't care less about what’s under my rugs.

My daughter’s room also didn’t get some fixes we originally planned. She still doesn’t have a bedroom door, *ha!* but let’s be honest, she doesn’t care. We purchased a door, and it’s currently sitting in our garage waiting to be installed. But nothing is square upstairs, and alterations will need to be made in several places, so we simply got lazy and put that project on the back burner. The room also has some built-ins that need repairing, but this kid doesn’t care about built-ins either. She’s got baskets full of toys and large room to play in. The many tasks that never got crossed off my to-do list don’t bother her at all. She’s more interested in cutting paper into teeny tiny pieces or inviting her stuffed animals over for tea. Perspective! I’m hoping spring time will invigorate us to tackle some of these home repairs again. I better update my list for when the spirit moves me. ;)

One thing I do regret a little was the kitchen backsplash. I wish we installed one! I did my extensive research and knew exactly what I wanted to buy. I had it loaded in my online shopping cart for weeks, but the kitchen project was hemorrhaging money fast, and I couldn't justify spending any more. I put it in the “someday” column of my brain, and moved on. But a week or two would go by, and I’d find myself longing for the curvy lines of that beautiful arabesque mosaic tile again. I’d go online and put it back in my shopping cart, but chicken out at the last minute and close the browser. At one point I remember saying, “Forget the pretty one!”, and I settled for a simple cheap tile, just to get something on the wall. But another week would go by and I’d say, “No Liz .. NO! … You didn’t work so hard on your nice kitchen just to ‘settle’ on a backsplash!” Thus ran my inner dialogue for months until life happened, and work happened, and I no longer had the desire to remodel anything at all. Here we are, one year later, and still no backsplash … but hey … I just checked, and it’s currently on sale at Wayfair sooooo …. maybe this is a sign that good things come to those who wait. ;)

Aside from the “big” things, plenty of the little things have been worth it/not-so-worth-it, too:

Not getting cable -- worth it (Netflix and Amazon Prime gives us enough entertainment)

Not buying tools before we needed them -- NOT worth it. We couldn’t shovel for the first snow storm because I didn’t deem it important to buy a shovel before it snowed (why?!). One day our roof was leaking, but we needed to go out and buy a ladder in the pouring rain before we could fix it! Later, a tree limb broke and was leaning on our power line, but we had to go buy a saw before we could attend to it. These are tools everyone needs eventually. We should have just bit the bullet and got them all at once with our 10% off Lowes coupon.

Obsessing over wall art -- not worth it. I got a few pieces that I liked at first, but a lot of my walls are still bare. I felt pressured to get the “perfect” wall hangings, but in reality, the best pieces to cherish are discovered and collected over time, not purchased at a chain store.

Buying a push “reel” lawn mower instead of a gas powered one -- Both hubby and I are still on the fence with this one. I like the exercise, but I don’t like the uneven cut my grass gets. Can’t beat the price though and my lawn is super healthy looking and very green (ya know… when it’s not covered in snow).

Please tell me I’m not the only one who evaluates things like this. I have a few friends who moved or remodeled recently. I’d love to know what you found worth your time and energy, and what you found totally not worth it. Homeownership is kind of like parenthood. There are SO many things you would do differently if you had the knowledge you do now. And there are probably a few things you’d do again and again, because you’re awesome and can parent like a boss. :)

We haven’t fully cleaned out the garage, and my side yard still has leaves under snow from the fall. Part of my rock wall is collapsing, and the basement floods when it rains too hard. I’ve got unfinished projects, big and small … but my house is my home, and I love it all. *rhyme!*

I don’t take for granted the blessings of this place. I thank God for His abundant provisions every day. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by life when you regret old choices and stress over new ones, but I hope I continually take comfort in what I already have; a roof over my head, and a beautiful family to share it with. Peace to you and yours!

Xoxo Liz

Finishes

It’s been 5 months since the big move and my family and I couldn’t be happier. We are blessed beyond measure. This house is a beautiful reminder of God’s faithfulness and grace. Each day is a new opportunity to look around and be thankful. Sometimes when people get what they want, they have a tendency to want even more. I guess it’s (fallen) human nature. But lately there’s been a persistent feeling in my soul that everything is as it should be. Every little nuance of my life in this new home is bringing me incredible contentment. Mundane tasks like turning off the lights and locking the door at night gives me a sense of peace. Making my daughter’s PB&J reminds me of all the hard work that went into building our kitchen. When I vacuum, I feel good about the rugs I picked out. When I dust, I enjoy how the wall art adds to the room. “We’re home!” always echos from my daughter’s voice when we pull in the driveway, and there's nothing sweeter to hear.

We have long since finished our painting and decorating. The curtains are hemmed and hung. The yard is raked and mowed. Toys are displayed everywhere and the house officially looks “lived in.” Our daily routine is sorted out and I’m enjoying my new setting to work from home in. Our commute has changed, and our go-to restaurants are a bit different. We’ve had visitors, overnight guests and family dinners here. We even hosted Eliana’s 4th birthday party at our new house, and I think it was a huge success. Our lives feel simple and calculated, with just enough room left over for day-to-day drama and adventure. Like when my husband’s car broke down, and we decided to get a new one a year earlier than we originally planned. That was a fun weekend. I still work two jobs and enjoy juggling my time for the extra income. I'd like to save more money before tackling any "phase two" projects next year. Like repairing/replacing our stone wall. Do I know any masons?

In other news, Eliana is starting preschool in a few weeks. She is super excited, and asks me every day if it’s time for school yet. She’ll only be going for a few hours a week so hopefully it won’t be too rough on me. Yes, ME. I think I’m the only one feeling the emotional strain of this endeavor. Eliana can’t wait, and every day she comes up with a new question she plans to ask her teacher. “Mommy, when I go to school, I’m going to ask my teacher how people grow.” … “Mommy, when I go to school, I’m going to ask my teacher why the sky is blue.” … “Mommy, when I go to school, I’m going to ask my teacher if she knows about decay.” Good luck to the saints at that school. ;)

I’m grateful for life's transitions. Even the difficult ones always teach me something. I feel older, wiser and more in tune with my husband after buying a house. It reminds me of when we had our child. My love for Zach grew exponentially when Eliana came into the picture. Of course I thought I loved him as much as possible before that. But things change with a baby. Relationships are sweeter. Life is greater. Perspectives never stay the same. I’m reliving these changes once again through our current milestone. The relationships I have with my family and God are once again strengthened in love. How exciting!

So let’s discuss the joys that keep me thriving in my special new place. I worked hard to select specific finishes during renovation and decoration that wouldn’t break the bank. If I had a price in my head, I wouldn’t rest until I found something within budget. Sometimes it took weeks to locate the perfect rug, curtain, table or picture frame, but I’m glad I took my time and bought things slowly. I had no “end date” in mind, and my husband was literally okay with anything I chose, so the stress was relieved and I had a great time. As strange as it may sound, there isn’t one thing I would change. My selections from the lights down to the floors were exactly what I wanted, and now I get to enjoy them daily! Keep in mind, I am no millionaire. When I wanted something, I first checked 5 stores for the cheapest/highest quality version I could reasonably afford.  If I had UNLIMITED resources, I wouldn't truly appreciate the little things, or the favor that come with planning, budgeting, and living within your means. I hope you like the photos and commentary below. Some of you may be buying a new house or updating rooms in the future (like my mother-in-law!) and these pictures may give you ideas. I’ll add links and prices too. Let’s go!

First thing’s first. Let’s do some before and after photos, because who doesn’t like those?

Before Kitchen (photo from listing):

After Kitchen:


During Reno:

After Reno:


Old flooring... yuck! (Elle is cute, though):


New flooring, yay!:


Priming the living room:


Much better:


Old color:


New color:


Empty and drab:


Full and beautiful:


Priming the bedroom:


My dream bedroom:


Empty:


Full:


Before Elle:


After Elle:


This room needed help:


Muuuuch better:



The dining room is one of my favorite places in the house. It really came together nicely.
Here's a birthday present from the Hubby! Totally my color pallet; blues, whites, GRAYS:

Art from Home Goods - $50


I was so stoked when I saw this rug at home goods. Hanging in the store, it looked darker green, but I was pleasantly surprised when it lightened up in this sunny room!

Rug from Home Goods - $125 on clearance!


The best part about this room is the natural light coming through, so I knew I wanted sheer curtains. It took me a while to find because I refused to pay more than $20 bucks per set. Good ol' Ikea to the rescue.

Blue curtains from Ikea - $15/pair (I bought 2 pairs)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30312905/
White curtains from Ikea - $15/pair
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30291309/

The original table we had (that matched the chairs) was round and not very conducive to a long, slender room. I opted for this rectangular one from Target that fits the space much nicer. It took weeks (and 3 different tables) to finally have an undamaged one delivered to my house. UPS has a problem with giant heavy boxes.

Table from Target - $150
https://www.target.com/p/westville-59%22-dining-table---beekman-1802-farmhouse%E2%84%A2/-/A-51116170

This light is great. We could have bent it in different directions, but I preferred straight to match the length of the kitchen.

Light from Lowes - $130
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Galaxy-6-Light-61-in-Brushed-Nickel-Dimmable-Flexible-Track-Light-with-Brushed-Nickel-Shade/1000138883


This light can be assembled with the glasses hanging upward or downward. But downward looked too much like a spider, so no. Zach hung the light WAY higher than I would have liked, but it's nice not to hit you head if you move the table.

Light from Lowes - $70
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Portfolio-Roseall-22-97-in-5-Light-Brushed-Nickel-Etched-Glass-Shaded-Chandelier/1000002934


For Eliana's room, at first I bought two smaller rugs in the same style. The website said the high pile would allow two rugs to be joined without noticing a seem. HA! Not so much. I'm glad I returned them for this larger size.

Eliana’s rug from Ikea “Adum” - $150
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00185640/#/00185640


Again, I refused to pay a lot for curtains. I can’t believe some places can charge 30-40 bucks for ONE PANEL!!! No ma’am, not me. These blackout curtains from Ikea are beautiful, thick and good quality for so much less! And added bonus, they come in my favorite color - GRAY!

Bedroom curtains from Ikea - $15/pair
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60325299/

This is the art above our bed. I used a $50 birthday gift card AND a 20% off coupon on this baby. Only ended up costing me like 20 bucks out of pocket! Thanks Dad and Charleen!

Art from Bed Bath and Beyond - $80
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/blossoming-branches-36-inch-x-51-inch-3-piece-canvas-wall-art-set/1061036055?Keyword=wall%20art


These were the most expensive rugs we bought, but I think it was worth it. I needed a low-pile rug that was big enough to cover the large area of the office and bedroom. Every other place I looked online and locally wanted well over $300 for rugs that size. The design is great, and duh... white and gray!

Bedroom Rug from Ikea “Dynt” in beige- $180
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50322649/


Office Rug from Ikea “Dynt” in gray - $180
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60325893/


A real pain to put together, but worth it for the price.

TV stand from Ikea - $60
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10302295/#/70302297


Gotta love me some Home Goods art! This one matched my living room color pallet nicely.

Art from Home Goods - $30 clearance


I found this rug at Ikea well before we even bought the house. I knew I wanted it for the price. It's a great size and design.

Living Room rug from Ikea “Valloby” - $130
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40328091/


These living room curtains have a great chevron pattern on them. I like that they still let in light when I close them for privacy. I can always pull down the shades if I need it darker. The shades are from Ocean State Job Lot, too. They are “cut-to-fit” which is nice. $25 each for the light blocking style. We have the shades in both the living room and bedroom, but they are mostly for Zach when he’s feeling quite vampire-ish. I crave natural light and never seem to use them.

Curtains from Ocean State Job Lot - $12/pair
Shades from Ocean State Job Lot - $25


This vinyl flooring was a breeze to install, ya know ... after I was a pain about the "random" design not being random enough. ;)

Flooring from Lowes - $2.50/sq ft
https://www.lowes.com/pd/STAINMASTER-10-Piece-5-74-in-x-47-74-in-Washed-Oak-Cottage-Locking-Luxury-Commercial-Residential-Vinyl-Plank/999948282


Cabinet hardware can be SO expensive. I always check pricing on amazon before shopping at the hardware store. These were less than $2.20 each! That's fantastic for such heavy duty pulls.

Drawer pulls from Amazon - $54/ 25pk
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008932AYO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


This is the ONLY thing my husband argued with me about. He thought the faucet should have two handles. One for hot. One for cold. I hate that about faucets and I prefer one handle to control the temperature. However, I don’t like the faucets that have the hot/cold handle sticking out the right hand side. Moving a handle forward and backwards for hot/cold messes with my brain. After learning left/right = hot/cold for so long, I always end up burning myself. So ...to make a long story short, we agreed to let me choose the kitchen faucet since I didn’t get my original choice of kitchen flooring (too expensive). All’s well that ends well. :)

Moen faucet from Amazon - $160
https://www.amazon.com/Moen-87999SRS-Weatherly-Collection-Stainless/dp/B00PCHMXHY/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&qid=1503884586&sr=8-37&keywords=moen+faucet


Love these countertops. By far the best decision we made was to upgrade the kitchen, and the countertops were the most important thing in that room. Do you truly enjoy cleaning your kitchen? Like, does it give you JOY? If not, maybe you just have the wrong countertops. ;)

SenSa Granite countertops in “Magestic White” from Lowes - $49/sq ft Installed
https://www.lowes.com/pd/SenSa-Majestic-White-Granite-Kitchen-Countertop-Sample/50142029


Hope you enjoyed a tour through my home! Let me know what you liked, or if there's anything you would choose for your place! 

My family sure is happy with the finished product and our day-to-day lives here.  I know it's not a mansion with beach front property. Instead it's a small cape on a busy street with a tiny yard ... but it's OURS and we appreciate every little piece of it. Take some time to be grateful for your own little something.

Until my next adventure ... 

Xoxo Liz