Locally Grown

I think I’ve mentioned before that Nate is currently an accounting zombie. 

It’s really awesome having a birthday during a month when you’re husband is a zombie.  Zombies aren’t very good at buying birthday gifts.  And I’m one of those people who thinks their birthday celebration should last the entire month.  Can you tell?

I took matters into my own hands this year.  Along with increased cardio, I purchased my own birthday present. 

Do you like?

Because I love.  So much.

I fell in love with the sign when I saw it in Jen's living room during her holiday home tour…seen here! (I also want to move into Jen’s house.  Is that weird? Of course not.)  I needed to have that sign.  Happy Birthday to me!

I have Nate has such good taste.

Would you like a sign of your very own?  Head on over to Onion Grove Mercantile and check out Jen’s other lovely paintings.  Jen is a local Iowa girl so that automatically won her points in my book but her paintings definitely speak for themselves. Very unique..and awesome. She does custom orders (Think your very own state….shipped to you if you aren’t lucky enough to live in Iowa.). I wanted my sign in greens and that was no problem!

Anyone else buy their own birthday gifts?  What’s the favorite thing you purchased yourself for your birthday?

***I was in no way compensated for this post.  I bet Jen is laughing hysterically now.  I just love my precious sign so much that I had to share!***

Ike’s Couch

Earlier this week I showed you the progress that I am making in the office. I was hoping to have the entire room done but it’s not going so well.

I purchased some new curtains.  I wanted plain curtains because patterned curtains make me nervous.  It’s a Michelle thing. 

I purchased a new houndstooth rug.  (You can find it here.  I got it 50% off.)  I’m digging it.  Ike likes to roll on it.  Life is good.

But as you can see, the room is looking “bleh”. I need new art behind the couch.  I am leaning towards floating shelves with photos or a large map. 

I’m not sure if the lamp I picked up at Target is staying or not.

We also need a new couch.  This couch was free from one of my pharmacy school roommates.  It is even prettier without a slip cover.

I have two issues with buying a couch right now.  First issue…I am so stinking close to paying off my student loans.  So stinking close.  Right now I’d rather have the satisfaction being student loan free than having a new couch.

The second issue is Ike. This is Ike’s couch.  He loves this couch.  We have no clue why.  It’s fairly comfortable but the dog is in love with this couch. He’s always sneaking in here to take a nap.

Do you see that death stare that I am getting?  He doesn’t mess around.

“Hey Ike, do you think we should get a new couch?”

I told you.  He doesn’t mess around.

But unfortunately he’s the dog and the dog only gets the say on important things like bandanas and mudrooms. Poor neglected puppy.

Now is when I ask for your help.  What would you do with this space?  (I should clarify, what would you do with this space AFTER my loans are paid off.)

Here’s another angle looking back at the desk area to help you out.

Share your thoughts!  How often do people really ask for your honest opinion?  (Honest, not brutally honest.  I’m a sensitive creature.)  Any good couch recommendations? What color of couch would you go with?  Are you over maps or still digging them? How about floating shelves?  And wood floors?  (I’m still hoping to convince Nate on that one.)  Happy Leap Day!

Makeover Monday

Do you have one of those rooms in your house?  You know, the room where all of the unwanted items in your life go to die.  The room that just doesn’t feel right to you
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That was my office.  Here’s a refresher…



Everyone else told me that they thought the room looked just fine.  I just wasn’t feeling it though.  Probably because it normally looked like this…



Embarrassing.  I really shouldn’t post photos like this on the interweb.

I spent the past two week-ends cleaning up the pit.  I even went through all of the cupboards and drawers.  You wouldn’t believe how much storage space I have now that I rid the room of junk.  It’s refreshing.

Cleaning the room just wasn’t enough.  I also decided that the space needed a little style.  I wanted it to feel like a cozy library.

Here’s how I ended the week-end…



We added beadboard and trim behind the computer monitor.  This is something that we had been meaning to do for the past three years and just now got around to it. Time flies.  I tried painting the beadboard with magnetic paint but that was a DIY fail.  One of my employees gave me her left over magnetic paint.  One of us didn’t stir it well enough because no magnet will cling on the beadboard.  Oh well, it still looks pretty.  I’m afraid the area may end up looking cluttered if we were able to hang things on it anyways.  That’s my story.



I “wallpapered” with burlap behind the shelving areas.  Nate was certain this was going to be a DIY disaster but we both like how it turned out.  It gives the area a little color and texture.  And it’s non-committal.  My favorite type of project.  I’ll share this how-to tomorrow.



Lastly, I attempted to style the bookshelves with old books and thrifting finds.  The book hunt is a ton of fun.  I can’t wait to keep adding to the collection.  Who doesn’t like a book titled “Lines about Wines” or “How Never to Be Tired”?  I might need to read that one.  Most of these books were purchased for less than a dollar from thrift stores.






I fell in love with these book-ends while thrifting with the parents.



They were even approved by my dad. Weird.  He was for sure that I was going to paint them.  Brass is back Daddy-o.  My mom did remind me that I would have hurled at the thought of brass in my house a year ago.  She may be right on that one.  It’s good for moms to be right on occasion.

And look, baby Nate and Michelle.  Our engagement photo in a brassy gold frame from the Salvation Army.  What is this world coming to?



I love how this room seems to fit in better with the rest of our house.  It feels a little more like us.  I’m also enjoying the new air freshener…the smell of old books.  Mmmm.  Nate thinks the room needs a good airing out.  Someday he’ll get my obsession with old.  At least he puts up with it. And installs beadboard.



It may have taken us three years but we now have an organized office with a little style.



Any make-overs happening over at your place?  What’s holding you back from tackling that dumping ground room?  Who thinks I’m crazy with the burlap?  Anyone else love that delicious old book smell?

I was compensated for this Winter Home Projects post by BlogHer but all opinions expressed are my own.