"You've got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart..." -Carole King

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Simple Lamp Fix

BEFORE

AFTER


I wanted to make my lamp more interesting so I took inspiration from a pillow made with roses and used the design for my lamp shade.  I hot glued the roses onto the lamp shade.  If you would like to learn to how make a rolled rose like the ones on the lamp shade, try this tutorial:  Rolled Rose Tutorial

Cabinet Project

I have inherited a rather dated cabinet that I plan on putting in my living room. I am excited to start with this blank canvas.  I will update on my project.  Feel free to share ideas!
 

Sunday, July 17, 2011

"The Happiness Project" Inspires

I finished my first year of teaching...obviously too busy to write.  I found myself lonely and bored as my work load decreased.  On an late evening Wegmans run, a bright blue-covered book that caught my eye began to change things.





"The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin is a memoir about getting as much happiness out of life as possible.  It's not quite a step-by-step guide, rather, a push to find your own way to be happy.  

In one chapter Rubin writes about finding things that she finds fun.  I found myself having trouble with the same question that she posed.  "What activities do I enjoy for myself?"  I wasn't and I'm still not sure what things I do that I really enjoy.  Once I pulled this thought front and center I started to discover what things I enjoy.  One such activity:  DIY.  I have found websites and blogs that have awesome projects that are simple and fun.  I've started to decorate my apartment more so that I feel at home.  I'd like to share some of my small home improvement projects.  Here are some good DIY websites:




Try this website (NOT DIY), a part of my and perhaps part of your own happiness project:

 http://hellogiggles.com/