Terrific Under 10 Makeover, Star Holder

Today, I decided to join another blogger at At Home with Kindra and show you my makeover.  It's so easy and the best part is I spent 0 dollars!

Here's what I started with, I bought this at a craft show a few years ago.  While I loved the star holder I'm not so fond of the colors and pip berries anymore.  I'm trying to lighten up my look a little bit. 

Before

I simply removed the pip berry garland and candle.  Then I added the burlap ribbon, love this stuff!  I simply took the flameless candle from another room.  You can learn more about them here.

After

Whatcha think?

I'm linking up with Kindra

Have a Blessed Day,

Carey

Banana Bread & Field Trip to the City

Hello, blogging friends I can't wait to tell you about my little trip, but I wanted to include a recipe I promised you first.  I had some bananas just sittting there going bad and I thought banana bread.  I just love it anytime of year!  Lo and behold there was a recipe on my bag of flour.  Here's the link if you want to give it a try.  My family loved it.  It made two loaves so I made one without nuts for my hubby.  Everyone really liked it!

Best-Ever Banana Bread

The kids are on Spring break this week so we went down to Cincinatti for the day.  My husband suggested that we go to Jungle Jim's and it was so neat.  I think we spent over two hours there.  Let me just say I'm a self-confessed Foodie and I was in food heaven! Whew...cheese, butter, sauces, wine, Le Crueset, Italian, German, any kind of food and they have it.  It started as a roadside stand believe it or not.  You can read about it here.  We bought the kids some cheese, candy, and a little glass bottled old fashioned soda.  My hubby bought some aged cheddar (his favorite)  I bought chocolate, Irish butter, and some wine a gift for my MIL. 

Just look at all these olives!

Cheese Glorious Cheese!

I loved this giant rolling pin, near the bakery.

 There were several rows like this one of just produce.

A band was playing for us too

I recommend you not go hungry though, LOL!

Next, we went to the John Rosling Bridge.  This one is like the Brooklyn Bridge only smaller. 

My son enjoyed hearing about the design.  He loves to see how things are made.  They got a kick out of it when my husband told them after going half way to the other side that now we were in Kentucky.  

We were going to also go the the National Underground Museum, it was supposed to be free, not!  Then the audio tour was already over with.  Bummer, maybe next time.  My little country bumpkins got to see what the city is all about when we were looking for the restroom.  My son wanted to know why it's so stinky, LOL!

We rounded out the day at the Bass Pro Shop (aka the Man's Mall)

Blessings to you and your family,

Carey

Spring Has Sprung and Laundry Room Reveal

I'm so happy, my yard is becoming green.  I have little tiny buds appearing all over my yard.  It's been warm enough to finally take a walk.  The rain has disappeared for a few days.  

I can't wait to see more of this!

And for the Big Laundry Reveal!

It's finally DONE!!!!

Here's what the other end looks like.

Close-up of the flooring, Vinyl (Honey Oak)

I didn't want to go with real wood because let's face it, it's a laundry room.  We have had some issues with water in the past when it rains extremely hard.  We have worked to resolve that but I would rather not ruin the floor just put down.  We have some Pergo in another area of the basement.  It's expensive and it could be ruined by water.   We bought this at Lowe's and it comes in strips.  It has some texture to it so I think it fools you by walking on it too.  For now it's functional but not too decorative.  We still need trim but it will function for awhile.  Here's my dream list that will have wait:

*an old/new cabinet  (to hid my cleaning essentials inside)

*Shelf (for Laundry soap)

*a folding table or cabinet

*shelves to display my vintage laundry things

*wicker lined baskets with cute fabric for kids clothes

*drying rack

*cute accessories (framed prints, signs or old soap boxes, irons)

Maybe someday it will be a little less plain and look like these;)

Happy Spring!

Carey

Spring Buds

Look what's popping up in my yard!

Just beautiful!  I can't wait to see everything in full bloom.

I'll be back soon with more pictures of my laundry room.

Blessings,

Carey

Fresh, Clean, Spring Kitchen

I've been busy again today it was the Kitchen's turn, here's some more pics...

I love having my table in my kitchen, maybe someday I will have a new one ;)  I wish the sun was shining today.  I need to pick up some real flowers too.

 I filled my little pot with some wax eggs and some flowers seeds I intend planting. 

My little white pitcher made a comeback on top of my stove, with strawberries and my spring towels

Have a blessed day,

Carey

Family Room Easter Decor

Yes, I admit I'm rushing things a bit this year.  Easter is later and Spring seems far away with snow in the forecast but I've always been an optimist. 

This year I wanted to display my german paper mache' eggs in a slightly different way than a basket.  So this is what I came up with.  I bought the bunny ages ago at Hallmark and the other things I already had on hand.  I added the flower pots, nest, flameless candles, and some grapevine with forsynthias mixed in.  Whatcha think?

Eventually my greens will be replaced with some tulips.

It's hard to fit into the shot but I have my twig lights, I bought at Kirkland's and fornsythia blooms in my metal bucket wrapped in my burlap ribbon.

Easter goodies I've collected over the years.

I love my lil' bunny, I bought the tray and all for one price at a craft show about two years ago.

a little wooden tray on my coffee table

I decided to put my faux chocolate bunnies together and create a display with them. 

My nice clean Family Room,

only six more rooms to go....sigh ;(

Blessings,

Carey

Laundry Room Update and Sneak Peek

Good afternoon folks!  I've been a busy little bee...this weekend we worked on the basement.  Then my husband got sick Sunday and we had a full day.  The kids and I carried on and went to church and the wedding without him.  He is feeling better today. 

This is my spring break from school.  I am determined to Spring clean this week and finish the laundry room.  Here's a sneak peek at it.  You have to remember what it used to look like when we moved in...

This wall you see on the right is now a new room wall for my laundry room.  The nook is a little area that includes under our stairs and is my new lil' tote storage room, not finished.  Maybe if I'm brave I'll show you that too, when you see my totes you may think I'm officially crazy though :)

Over on the left (looking into the doorway) is where my washer and dryer will go.  We opted for a dropped ceiling, a little lower than we hoped due to duct work.

It measures 14' 6" X 12' 6", almost identical to my dining room.

This is the view from inside the room.  Excuse the mess...

The paint is Clean White from Waverly and we bought a vinyl wood-looking floor, a honey color.  It looks like planks and even has texture.  I have big plans for this room, a table/folding area, shelves to display vintage shoe strechers, laundry room decor, a rolling cart.  I'd love to have a new washer and dryer but that's not in the cards right now.  We had almost all the building materials so except for the ceiling, floor and paint + my hubby doing all the work it has been very inexpensive.

So I deep cleaned our family room and I just couldn't resist the urge to do a little Spring decorating.  Here's a sneak peek.  Tomorrow bathrooms..ugh!

Ok, I know I'm fudging a bit but I'm hoping that the inside will soon be reflective of the outside.  Here's what I would love to know if you could put anything in your laundry room what would it be?  I'd love to hear some ideas and tell me what you're up to this week.

Be back soon,

Carey

Come on Spring....

Hello bloggy friends, sorry you haven't heard from me in a while.  I've taken a little break.  I've been busy getting my laundry room ready (helping my hubby by deciding on paint ;) work and the day to day stuff of life. 

dreaming I will see these soon...

Looking forward to making this....

Enjoying my peeps...

I'm off next week for Spring break, one of the perks of teaching so I'm really looking forward to doing some things around the house, baking and scrapbooking.

Blessings,
Carey