decorating with succulents

I definitely do not have a green thumb... so when I have a thriving plant in my midst - the feelings of relief and "I can do this", rise within. Back in March I planted a succulent in a terra-cota pot that I gave a little makeover on.

Here he is in all his cuteness...

Here's another angle so you can see his size clearly....

Now check him out!!!

I actually had no clue succulents grew like this, but they surely do. Mine has grown at least two inches in about 3 months. Realizing that I didn't kill the poor guy, and that he evev grew I decided to load up on these super easy to care for and keep alive plants.

I first had the idea when my herbs needed to be transplanted out of the ball jars I planted in them in April.

I loved the look of the greenery popping of the bright blue jars, sitting in the beautiful carrier I found at william sonoma, that I knew I needed small plants to keep the look going. Succulents fit the jars perfectly.

When I went to pick out my succulents, I came across a great deal at my local grocery. That low round pot full of succulents there was only $7!

Yes, only $7, so I picked up two pots. 

One for my front porch, and another to transfer into smaller planters.

After repurposing my blue ball jars, 

I then brought some life to my mantel using three planter pots I already had on display.

I was left with three more little succulents and so I decided to give a new look to my centerpiece in my dining room. The plants that lived in here were formerly chewed on by my cat. I know they were never going to regenerate their leaves back, and therefore the plant looked very "lived". So I reluctantly made the decision to replace them.

My home is now covered with succulents. 

I love them! and hope they thrive as well as my first guy has. 

fourth of july wreaths

In March I had gave my fourth of july wreaths a little makeover for Spring and they ended up looking liked this...

Well, it was time to get them ready back for the fourth. So I removed the nests, repositioned the bows, and stuffed my flags back in!

Summer is almost here!!!

{another mini} porch makeover

In March I worked on my porch, attempting to give it some love. I ended up pausing with this look at Easter time...

Well, remember that world market purchase I made not too long ago... the main reason for my submitting that order was for a new side table to go next to my beloved white wicker love seat.

I love the warmth this little wood one brings to my front porch. 

I added some more flowers, and I have myself yet another mini porch makeover. This one was a mini, mini makeover. However, it is amazing how much one item can change a space.

friday favorites {swim suits}

In the spirit of entering summer, and getting ready for vacation ;) I bring you my friday favorites with swim suits. I ordered the Victoria Secret black one piece, and floral plunge cover up... and I love them both!

bohemian strappy side {pac sun}

rose wrap bikini one piece {urban outfitters}

high waist two piece {urban outfitters}

black one piece {victoria secret}

black and white smocked tankini {venus}

cabaret bandeau one piece {venus}

tie die cover up {urban outfitters}

floral plunge cover up {victoria secret}

dish towel art {DIY}

I recently made a World Market purchase that in it included a darling script dish towel. I saw it, I wanted it, and I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it :)

I turned the $6 dish towel into a piece of art in my dining room! It also involved a tiny of bit of sewing, a copper pipe and some jute string...

This little project took $10 total, and about 5 minutes tops of sewing. All I did was fold over the top inch or so and sew across to create a hole for the copper pipe to slide through. SOOO easy, and super cheap!

hand towel {world market}

train table makeover

This train table is eight years old, and has seen a lot of love from my oldest son who was mega obsessed with Thomas the Train. However, my youngest, who is now four barely played on this table with the trains. I normally found him battling tiny soldiers or stomping his dinosaurs through the tracks.

So I decided to give this table a new life.

How do you do that to a eight year old table that has been beat on by trains {and soldiers & dinosaurs}? This table visually is not much to look at... my children have peeled off the train image's protective film... and even the train image is a few spots. This table even has some bite marks!

But the table is still standing strong, and the drawer still works perfectly. So after a fresh coat {okay maybe a few!} this little table will maybe not be as good as new, but will get a fresh new start

...as a Lego table!

My boys had a little disagreement as to what color to paint it. My oldest wanted a dark gray, and my youngest wanted navy blue. So I made my attempt to mix the two and went with midnight blue. I was just happy to keep it in the neutral palette. 

I used Rust-Oleum's Chalked paint. I got a dark tint base and had it tinted to the midnight blue.

I also grabbed the matte clear topcoat. 

It took about 3 light coats to cover the train image. 

However, I did hit a snag with the half peeled protective film. 

Before painting, my oldest son and I attempted to peel all of it - but it wasn't happening. So I just lightly sanded over what I was and wasn't able to remove. Well after the third coat of paint a realized that the areas that had the film was going to be darker than the areas without it because the areas without was actually soaking in the paint, where the film areas were not.

So I went ahead and did my clear topcoat and it certainly helped. I did a second coat of the clear coat and the difference is barely noticeable. Whew! 

However, if I were to do it again, I would have taken a hand sander to remove the entire film.

I got two sets up these Lego plates when Amazon just so happened to be doing a lightning sale on them. I attached them with gorilla glue. And then finished the table off my replacing the tattered blue rope that was previously there with a piece of jute string. 

This transformation from train to lego table cost was about $75.

Other lego tables I found were over $100, were also smaller {like half the size}, and didn't use actual Lego plates {there were compatible plates}. Plus I am giving this much loved train table some continued life :)

avon review {first purchase ever}

I made my first ever Avon purchase back in March. A catalog ended up on my driveway, and where normally I just pitch these type of advertisements.... this time I actually decided to glance through it. Well, you know what - I found some stuff I wouldn't mind having!

I've been using these Avon products since I received them late March, and my review of these products are completely my own.

So what caught my eye on the Avon catalog that caused me to decide to flip through it?

...these floral flats!!

I adore them! AND they are soooo comfortable. Plus, these pretty puppies were only $25!

So after I eyed those had to have flats I decided to give some of their skincare products a chance. I normally purchase my skincare at Sephora... I usually select whatever the representative sales me on. So yes, I usually spend a pretty penny on my skincare... and I'll have to say the Avon pricing made it very easy for me to be willing to give their products a try.

I started with an acne body wash.  Clear skin Blemish Clearing Acne Body Wash to be exact. Now... I don't have acne issues on my body, but the active ingredient is salicylic acid which is known for drying your skin out. However, the reviews for this product were pretty good and I thought since it's made for your body it may be more gentle than other facial cleaners.

It seems to do it's job, and it doesn't dry out my face. 

However, I probably wouldn't purchase this one again. 

I'm not in love with the gel texture. It feels like a hair gel rubbing into your face.

My next choice was Clear Skin Blemish Clearing Overnight Treatment. This one I wanted it just for what it was. I had been using Mary Kay's version of this for years, but Avon's was a lot less expensive - under $7!

...and I'm loving it. When I'm feeling those "period" pimples starting to start affect... I apply a little of this stuff before I go to bed and it really does prevent them from actually turning into something ugly!

This next one is my favorite find! Purely for the fact that the skin moisturizer I was previously using was around $75. Avon Elements Youth Restoring Cream is only $12! This moisturizer is light and non greasy. The main reason I selected this one is it has SPF 20 in it. Being as fair complected as I am, that is the #1 thing I look for in my morning moisturizer. I'll think I'll repurchasing one this for a while.

Just as I was about to wrap up my selections I as a last minute decision added this Anew Clinical Retexturing Peel to my cart. Very skeptical about a peel, that isn't really a peel - I am thrilled with it. I see and feel a noticeable difference of my skin since using this product. My skin feels more soft, and how bit of glow to it now. It's $22, and if used as directed it will last you about 2 months. I'm pretty sure I'll ordering more.

Along with my purchase came these free lipstick samples. I could totally live without them. They definitely didn't sell me on purchasing Avon's makeup line. The color doesn't stay on at all, and they bleed easily... which is definitely not a quality you want in your lipstick, especially when you are working with dark colors such as these ones.. It won't be long before these guys find their way to the trash. In fact, I think I'll go do that right now...

Well that sums up my first ever Avon purchase! ... and what I think of their products. Shoes were a major winner. I have received several compliments on those floral flats. Their skincare line is a great, less expensive alternative. I'm glad I gave them a chance :)

world market finds

Do you have go to shopping spots? I certainly do. If it's not Home Goods, it's Target, but if it's not Target it's usually an online source. One of my favorites is World Market, and although there are locations, there isn't one near me. Boy, do I wish there was!

I am always seeing things I want at World Market, however a lot of times I throw things in my cart and never actually purchase. Yes, I am one of those people :0

Well I just made an actual purchase. I went there to buy one thing, and was suckered into their 20% & free shipping for purchases made over $150. I had previously had my eye on a few things, so I thought, "why not?". 

It's saves me $10 on the shipping and 20% off on the already $40 sale item I know I want. So I am going to get that $40 item, but really $50 with shipping - for only $32, and then I'm going to be getting lots of other great finds I've had my eye on. Win, win - right? Well, not really. Other people might look at my $18 savings costing me $100, since I had to add over $100 to my cart to get that 20% off & free shipping. 

Regardless, the purchase was made. I have quite the load of what I call finds coming my way from World Market.

I know what you are thinking... "okay, okay, but what did you get?". Well here's the bulk of it... each one I have a place for in mind. The side table there was my original cart placed, $40 on sale item.

And then there are these!

Yeah, it's just a tray. It looks like it's wood, but it's not. It's actually all melamine. We were in need of trays for grilling, so I snagged two of these. I love the wood with aqua contrast. Super fun!

And since I was getting those, I decided to tag on this matching chip and dip serving dish. 

Also melamine.

I can't wait to get my new World Market finds! 

Woo, hoo! Happy shopping!!

wood side table {world market}

clear canister {world market}

ivory canister {world market}

buffet dish towel {world market}

ivory jute curtains {world market}

aqua wood grain serving tray {world market}

aqua wood grain chip and dip serving dish {world market}

buffet table

Way back in February, within my friday favorites, I shared this darling sideboard table refurbish.

Then in March, again in my friday favorites, was this gorgeous buffet table...

A bit obsessed with the black/graphite, would you say?

I never quite got over this that look, so when I saw the opportunity to get this refurbished, 

well, of course I jumped at it!

When a local furniture flipper posted this on her Facebook as available, 

I instantly knew what I wanted it to be and messaged her.

So to be clear, I did NOT refinish this piece myself. I had the local furniture flipper do it for me. 

I picked out the coloring, and chose to have some light distressing. 

I also chose to have the hardware painted to match. 

The paint is Annie Sloan's graphite with a dark wax.

So after a few weeks I now am the happy owner of my very own graphite buffet table, 

inspired by my friday favorites!!!

It fits perfectly in my dining room... doesn't it?

Ever since I put those plates up on this wall,  I've known a piece needed to be here. So glad it's here!