Stair Makeover Inspiration

I walk up and down the stairs every day and every day I get more aggravated at the stairs.  I have probably said a few bad words under my breath as I walk up and down them that's how bad they are getting on my nerves.

When I first bought the house over 3 years ago, everything seemed perfect.  Then I discovered Pinterest!  I have started seeing all these stair makeovers and I knew from the get go, this would be Cody and mine's first big project.

The carpet must go!!

Here are a few inspiration pictures to see what we are planning on doing.

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All 3 of the above homes had carpet, but not anymore.  I love these transformations!  I can't wait to get this project started and get the carpet ripped up.

We know this project is not going to happen over night, but the transformation will be huge.

Can't wait to post back with our before and after transformation!

Gallery Wall Inspiration

Gallery walls are something I see everyday on Pinterest.  After creating Melissa's Christmas presents for a gallery wall in her bedroom, I have really been thinking about creating one for our house.  My biggest dilemna has been where am I going to create this gallery wall.  I have finally found a wall so now it is time to get creative, but first I need some inspiration!

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Just from my pictures I have chosen as inspiration, I would assume you have guessed right that I will transforming our staircase wall.  From different blogs I have read, this is a process that doesn't happen over night.  It will take me a few months, if not more, to create our gallery wall. 

So I guess you know what this means for me - it's time to start hitting up the thrift stores! Frames, frames & more frames!

Butterfly Rainforest

 While dad and I were in Gainesville, FL for grandpa's surgery, we needed something to do to occupy our time.  After searching the internet for things to do in the area, we came across a butterfly rainforest exhibit that was inexpensive and gave us something to do for a few hours.  Let me tell you that there is nothing to do there for tourists.  Everything that came up was about the Florida Gators and football.

This exhibit was actually part of the University of Florida and was so neat.  I have never heard of such a thing before, but it was awesome.  You have hundreds of butterflies flying around and they all look different.  Grandpa said he doesn't like to go because they might poop on his cowboy hat!
  

Here are some pictures from our adventure!

These are some sort of African butterfly that will only survive from eating the banana as it's source of food.

 For only $10, it was well worth the money spent to see and experience something different.  If you are ever in the area, it is definitely worth checking out!

Holy December, Where Did You Go?!?!

Holy cow, December was a crazy month to say the least!  My birthday was the 7th, we made a list minute trip to Florida for Grandpa's surgery, Christmas at Cody's nanny and papa's house on Christmas Eve, Christmas at my parent's house, and Sarah and Melissa's birthday on the 29th.  And somewhere in between all that, decorating, diy Christmas presents, Christmas shopping and trying to keep a clean and organized house!

 

Here are some pictures to sum up what has been going on in December.

 

I found this print last year somewhere on Pinterest and sent it to Walgreens to print.  They only charge $3.99 for an 8 x 10, which I think is great.  You can change it out every season for a low cost.

 

This is probably one of my favorite Pinterest crafts ever and my first to be honest.  It definitely is not a cheap project they way I went about making it.  I could have used old spaghetti jars or pickle jars, but I did't have any saved up since I was really just getting into Pinterest. 

 

Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of all the decorations!  Major blogger failure!

 

I don't have any pictures from Cody's nanny's house either, but I will have to tell you, that the food was amazing as usual.  On Christmas Eve, everyone brings a dish, usually an appetizer of some sort from taco rings to cheese dip to sausage balls, you name it, it's there.  It really is a great time getting together over there.

 

After that, we have made it a tradition to play Christmas bingo at Cody's brother's house.  This is so much fun and hilarious at the same time.  We buy random, dollar store items, place them in brown paper bags and whoever wins has no idea what they are winning.  Whatever brown paper bag they choose, it's theirs.  No turning back!

 

 

And, if you eat all your makers, you can't play anymore!

 

 

Maci and Judd opening their stockings.

 



Melissa moved back home so she told me she wanted something for her wall since decorating and painting is taking place so I decided to take a stab at a gallery wall.  Now that everything is made, the fun part will be hanging it all up.

 





Sarah is working on becoming a teacher and will be student teaching this semester.  We are extremely hopeful and confident she will be able to find a teaching job somewhere, so I made her some decor for her walls in her future classroom.

 



 

 

We got dad a tablet for Christmas.

 

And mom got a new computer for her new business venture. 

 

I was super excited about getting this drill and saw set.  Oh the projects that I will be able to work on now.  Can't wait to get started! 

 

Awhile back at Riverfest, Sarah heard mom say how she really liked that bowl and wanted it.  Mom never says she wants something so I am so glad Sarah heard that.  Mom has other pieces that match this so Sarah and Melissa found the potter that made her other pieces and showed her a picture of what mom wanted.  This is really neat since it has a handle and a spout.  Best thing, it's dishwasher safe.

 

And our Christmas tradition, grilled lobster tail.  Christmas dinner would not be the same without it.

 

Whew, what a Decemeber!  Now to 2013!  Can't wait to see what this year brings us!



Thanksgiving in Indiana

This year for Thanksgiving we traveled to Indiana where my mom was born and raised.  It has been years since we have traveled to Indiana for a holiday!  Unfortunately, Melissa works in retail and had to work so she had to stay behind and got to dog sit as well.  However, I did hear that she had an awesome Thanksgiving lunch with Grandma and Grandpa Bohm. 

We left bright and early Wednesday morning, well not bright either.  5 AM and it is dark at that time!  However, I was sick on the car ride there.  No fun!  Dad was laughing about the situation, mom is like whatever, it's normal and Sarah, well Sarah.  I can't help it, she was the one who was voluntarily looking if and when I was getting sick.  About half way there I started feeling better, thank goodness!  

When I saw this bridge, I knew we were close.  Only 100 more miles to go! 

We didn't take many pictures from our trip, but here are the few we did take.

Grandma Hession & Uncle Jeff

 

It's November in Indiana and these 2 have shorts on!

These Pilgrim salt and pepper shakers traveled with us from Georgia.  Mom bought these from Publix years ago and no matter where Thanksgiving is, these go with us.

Mom had her pecan picking therapy before work everyday for a couple of weeks so we took them with us to start cracking.  We did this for a couple of hours over 2 or 3 days.  No wonder why pecans cost so much because it is a lot of work shelling those suckers!

We made 4 or 5 pecan pies!  Man were they good!

I must admit besides spending time with family on Thanksgiving day, we had a blast Black Friday shopping with our cousins.  Black Friday newbies!  However, we actually started at 6:30 PM on Thursday night and got home around 1:30 AM Friday morning.

We had intentions of buying these 700 thread count sheets that we buy every year at Wal-Mart on Black Friday and the 2 Wal-Marts we went to were out.  Not because they sold out, but because the truck did not deliver that pallet!  We were able to find my Grandma a set though because she has a full size bed and that was the only size left with only a few on the shelf.

 Okay, so northern slang and southern slang are 2 completely different languages so our cousins were able to keep us entertained and laughing all night long.  It started out with "buggies."  They call it a shopping cart and we call it a buggy!  They could not stop laughing and made jokes all night long.  Now I just have to find a miniature shopping cart / buggy and I will be mailing one to them with the word buggy on it!  They definitely won't forget this trip!

We came home Sunday and like before, we left early.  This time it was 4:30 AM.  Because we left so early, Sarah and I were out in no time and when I woke up, we were half way home.  Now that's the way to do it!  Eight, eight and half hours later, were pulling back into mom and dad's driveway.

We had a great Thanksgiving this year and really enjoyed spending time with our family in Indiana!  

More DIY Decor

So I have been back at it making more decor for the master bedroom.  I saw this idea via Pinterest a long time ago, but finally got around to finishing this project.  What I like about Shanty 2 Chic is everything is laid out for you step by step.  And you know me, I need a road map!

Literally, I probably purchased these materials 6 months ago!  I know, I know!  You are probably thinking, what in the hell have you been doing?!?!  I purchased my materials at Home Depot and Lowe's.  I went to Home Depot first because there is one only 5 minutes from the house; however, they did not have everything I needed.  I was able to get my 2 pieces of wood, which Home Depot cut for me.  This was a plus for me since I do not own any sort of saw.

Then problem # 1 arose.  I had to buy a 12" threaded rod, but it needed to be cut into 3" pieces.  Did I buy a hacksaw like the instructions said to for only $7?  Of course not!  After a few months, okay, maybe like 4 months, I finally brought the threaded rod to work for my co-worker's friend to cut for me.  Bingo, threaded rod cut!

In the meantime, I purchased 2 bottles of wine from Trader Joe's for only $2.99.  Not only was it cheap, but it was good too!  I thought I was going to use some Goo Off to get the labels off, but that did not work well at all.  So I started searching for ways to get labels off of glass and everywhere I read said to put the bottles in hot, soapy water and use a toothbrush to scrub off the labels.  Cha ching!  Worked like a charm!  No label, no glue!

Now that I had everything I needed, ready to go, it was time to start putting it all together.  Then, problem # 2 arose, no drill.  Man, I really need some tools!!  Finally, after a couple of weeks, I took one from mom's shop because I actually remembered that I needed it.  Don't tell me to remember something because I won't.  I must have my mom's memory!  She says it gets better with age!

  So after 6 months of piecing this project together, here are some pictures of my final results. 

Now we just need some curtains and we will be set.  I have really enjoyed decorating our master bedroom with DIY projects.  Slowly, but surely, it is coming together!  

Banana Pudding Pie

Who doesn't love banana pudding?  So about three Sunday's ago, Cody's nanny cooked lunch for the family.  This is a once a month ritual to get everyone together.  Great food and good, quality family time!

However, this past time, we had plans to attend the Brookhaven Arts Festival to see someone play in a band that we graduated high school with.  They had some pretty cool art pieces and some great DIY projects.  Cody could tell that my mind was spinning with ideas because even as we were walking he had made the comment that I bet you are loving this and I can see all the ideas running through your brain of what you can make.

We had decided after we left the festival, we would stop by his nanny and papa's house to pick up some food for dinner.  There was a little bit of banana pudding left and Cody shared one bite.  Can you believe that?  Wait, don't answer because everyone's answer is going to be yes!  After that one bite, I knew I had to make this recipe that I have been meaning to make for months.

Of course, I found the recipe here via Pinterest.  I've made banana pudding before, but never banana pudding pie.

I did tweek the recipe a little.  The recipe tells you how to make the pudding and the topping from scratch, but I knew I was going to take the easy way out.

One thing I would suggest for the crust is to use more wafers than it calls for.  I used my food processor to crush up the wafers - mess free!

For the pudding, I used 2 boxes of vanilla pudding - fast and easy.

For the banana layers, I used 2 bananas for each layer for a total of 4 small bananas.

After cutting up the bananas and making the pudding, I just starting layering everything including more wafers.  I would also suggest buying 2 boxes of wafers.
 

This was absolutely delicious and super easy to make!  I really don't like making desserts, but recipes like these are hard to pass up.  This will be one of my go to recipes for any future potlucks!

Enjoy!