Free Printables!


After doing some pinterest scouring, I found a great blog called Everything Etsy that has a list of FREE printables. Anything from art, to invites. 
I love me some free!
 Here a just a few of the options you can print from your very own computer...












There a lots more to choose from so make sure you
check out "101 Pretty Printables" from Everything Etsy to receive your free prints!


Hоme Deѕіgn Sоftware Comраrіѕоn

The mаrkеt fоr home desіgn ѕоftwаre hаs definіtеly grown ovеr the past few yeаrs. Thе demаnd for do-іt-yourѕеlf dеsіgnеr рrogramѕ have inсrеаѕеd аnd ѕоftware devеlоpers hаve rеѕpоndеd by соming out wіth loadѕ of аppliсаtionѕ to сhoosе from. Belоw аre some of the mоrе poрular hоmе desіgn sоftwarе іn the markеt as wеll аs a brief dеѕсriptіon for еасh.

Inѕtant Arсhiteсt

Instаnt Arсhіtect is а hоme dеsign ѕoftwаre dеsіgned and dеvеloреd bу IMSI Dеѕign. It is а CAD or cоmputеr-аided dеѕіgn рrogrаm that сaterѕ to bеgіnners. Although it maу nоt hаve аll the hіgh tесh feаturеs offеred bу mоѕt of itѕ соmpеtitоrs, thіѕ program is ѕtіll able to dеliver usеablе outputѕ.

Creаting flооr plаnѕ, multі-pеrѕpectіvе views, сost estimаtiоnѕ, аnd the designing оf gardеnѕ, bathrоomѕ, kіtchenѕ, dеcks, and еntirе hоuѕes аre аll аvailаblе on Instant Archіtect. Nоviсе uѕеrs wіll definіtelу hаvе a ball uѕіng thiѕ progrаm аѕ іnѕpirіng еlevаtіоn drаwіngѕ сan bе cоmрlеted I as lіttlе аs аn hour. It аlѕo hapреns to bе vеrу affоrdаblе; users cаn рurchasе the еntirе bоx kit fоr onlу around $30.

Hоmе & Lаndѕcape Prо

Anothеr CAD рrоgrаm develореd bу IMSI Dеѕign iѕ Hоmе & Lаndѕcape Prо. Comраrеd tо Instant Archіteсt, this раrtіcular prоgrаm іs desіgned for the morе advanсеd uѕеrs. With a wholе lot morе feаturеs on board, uѕers саn сomе uр wіth landѕcаре dеѕіgnѕ, сost еstimatеѕ, floоr рlаnѕ, аs wеll aѕ impresѕivе 3D іlluѕtratіons usіng Homе & Lаndscape Pro.

Whіle it doеs have іts shаrе оf hіghlу advаnсеd and сompliсated fеaturеѕ, thіѕ prоgram cаn still be used bу nоvice dеsignerѕ. Thе uѕеr manuаl іncluded іn thе kіt is verу helрful аnd so long аѕ it iѕ reviewеd thoroughlу, uѕеrs ѕhould be аble tо make uѕе of a mаjоrity оf the functіonаlіtiеѕ includеd in thіs рrоgram. Howеver, intеrеstеd pаrtіеs will neеd to shеll out а lot more monеу fоr Hоmе & Landѕcape Pro as it rеtaіlѕ for arоund $130 dоllars onlіne.


Last, but defіnіtely not leаst, on our lіst іѕ a prоduct of thе tеаm uр bеtwееn Bеtter Hоmеѕ & Gardеnѕ аnd Chіеf Architect Inс. The reѕult iѕ a mаsterful dеѕign рrogram whiсh iѕ ѕimрlу called Homе Dеsigner Suіte. Basіcаlly, this progrаm iѕ аn incоrpоrаted сolleсtion оf cutting edge softwаre tоols thаt will helр uѕеrs design lаndscаpеѕ, bаthrооmѕ, kitchеns, vаriоus roоms, and еven еntire hоusеholds. Includеd in its expansive databаsе іs оvеr 1,500 dіffеrеnt samplе рlanѕ, іmagе gаlleries, design tіpѕ, аѕ wеll аs a myriаd of ѕіmрlifiеd vеrѕiоnѕ оf CAD toolѕ usеd bу асtuаl prоs. Thе Homе Dеѕignеr Suіtе сan be рurchasеd for аrоund $100 оnlіne.

Yоu can fіnd tор homе desіgnеr brand at Homе Dеsіgn Sоftwаrе inсluding рорular softwаre ѕuch аs Chіеf Arсhіtеct Home Designеr with сuѕtоmеr rеvіewѕ and mоrе.

Thrift Finds

First off, let me say thank you to all the kind words that so many of you gave with yesterdays post. 
Blogging lets you express yourself in many ways whether its about decorating your home or giving a reality check. And with all the thrift talking, it gave me the itch to get out and scour the bins.

I stopped by my favorite second hand store because they have the best furniture selection and I found quite a few goodies. Take a look...

I'm a sucker for anything with ring pulls so I instantly was drawn to this buffet.



Ok, it's summer. So how good would this faux wicker/bamboo table set look on a sun room or three season porch? Imagine with me...Spray painted a fun color with new, colorful upholstery. 


And why didn't I buy this? Oh ya, because I don't have a sun room, let a lone a deck. 



Quite a few mid-century pieces.



Sleek coffee table for only $30


Vintage pieces.



I can see this rocking chair reupholstered for a fresh look. Perfect for a nursery.







Unfortunately this etegee was sold before we could get to it because it would have looked great in our office.



These next pieces are a bit eclectic but I think you could put them all together to make a fun, vibrant  room. These chairs had upholstered seats edged in colorful trim.


Check out the retro floral prints.


Love it!


These prints with faux bamboo frames were almost 3 feet tall. Big enough for above a bed or sofa.


I'll tell you right now, if I had a baby with a nursery to decorate, I would put this in it.


The wood detail and floral pattern is really fun.


And what's a trip to the thrift store with out coming home with a project treasure??


My latest piece. Mid-century beauty.


First words out of my husbands mouth were, "Where are you going to put that?" 
To be honest, I didn't care if I had a spot or not. This baby was sturdy, solid wood for only $35.
In the truck it went and we headed for home with a successful trip under our belts.

Just for fun I created a mock up of what I can do to my new bench.

Add a cushion and a few decorative pillows and I already love it.
Now I just have to find some fabric for my new project. I'll keep you posted as I go!



Lets Get Real

Ugh. At this very moment, I am forcing myself to sit at this computer and write.Write about something, anything. Yes, my humble little blog is primarily about decorating my home with random life bantering thrown in the mix. But sometimes a girl just needs to BREATH.
So for the next couple sentences or so, I'm just going to be real with any one who takes the time to stop by my blog but mostly with myself. As of lately, I feel like I have been putting my own thoughts, feelings, and insecurities on the the top shelf to collect dust.

First off, let me say thanks to everyone who has actually taken the time to stop by my blog.
I know your out there. I do check my stat counter.
Whether you found my blog and loved it, or if it didn't take you more than a post or 2 to realize you could care less, I guess I'm grateful anyways. I know when I read someone else's blog, I tend to forget there is a real person on the other end of the computer. Their blog is one in a million so if I don't like it, I can move on to the next one and that's just the way it is.
When I first started this blog, I literally posted to myself. Sounds strange and I guess it kind of is but it's the truth. I knew no one knew about my blog because I kept it on the down low so I just posted about things that interested me. If you do read my blog, you will probably guess I love to read/write about thrifting. There's nothing more interesting to me than looking at a blog that designed their whole bedroom, living room, even their closet with thrifted/repurposed things. I believe that's true talent.
I also know there are lots of people out there that wouldn't touch a used coffee table with a 10 foot stick, much less step foot in a "dirty" thrift store.
Hey, I'll say it, I LOVE MY GOODWILL!
(I wont be offended if I've lost a reader or two with that one)
Also, as a side note, bloggers usually love comments. Myself included.
Granted, it's a rare thing to receive a comment (good or bad) but when I see that little notification waiting for me to approve someones words of encouragement (hopefully), I truthfully get a bit giddy inside.
Nice words really make a girl's day.

Now to the craziness that I call my life....
I may hate you some days and love you others, but you are mine and I will make the most of you.
Yes, I have about 500 things to cross off my to-do list but I wont cry. I MUST NOT CRY.
Sometimes the best thing to do is work through each problem one by one until that numbing feeling subsides a little and you can feel the sunshine on your face once again. As of lately I have found a few vices for stress relief. Reading and running. I'm not great at either but a little progress goes a long way.

Whew! Blog ranting really does help.
Now that's over with, I would love to share a few random photos that make me smile.

What happens to my husband (and cat) after a full day of me telling him to hang pictures, move furniture and rearrange a room 4 times to "get the flow right"



My sister and I sampling the latest fair food. Deep fried egg. Verdicts in, not good.



Our children, Millie & Diego


Dessert from Little Italy in San Diego


My first ever attempt at decorating our living room. Yes, your aloud to laugh.


My latest find on craigslist. I LOVE it but have no place for it so unfortunately I must let someone else have it. (If your in the Eau Claire area, seriously pick this up!)


And lastly, Millie showing off her tiger skills. Rwar.




Like I said, random.




Office Progress

As promised, here are a few pictures I snapped with my phone of the office.
It's still a work in progress but I'll keep you posted as I go.





Lovely Lighting

How was everyones weekend?
I was able to catch up with some old friends AND organize the new office.
Pictures soon. I promise!

As for right now, can I interest you in some golden goodness?
Check out these hammered sconces!
In Action:


On sale here.

I hate to say it, but let the week begin!

Weekend Happenings

I got it in gear this weekend and did this:


Use to look like this:


Goodbye "skin" color!
I questioned myself once or twice on the color choice for the living room but in the end, I went with
 Sherwin Williams Nonchalant White.


I felt like it was the perfect grey/green/blue combination all while keeping it on the subtle side.
And now, more camera happy pictures...






I have a few other updates around the house as well.
Hopefully I can share those with you soon.
Happy Monday!