Office Planning

Today let's discuss our neglected office.

I think the last time I posted any progress in this room was in 2012. It's crazy how fast time goes!

I've decided to get to work on this room.  Okay, I've started thinking about this room.  One minute I decide I really need to think about things before diving in and then two years later I've done nothing.   I've decided now is the time.  I think.  It's really cold and my couch/blanket/dog are really warm.  Maybe I'll need to bust out the snuggie while painting.

This room is currently a catch all for the stuff we're too lazy to deal with.  I mainly dump stuff in here because the room isn't pretty so I don't really care.  Nate does it because he's a boy.  Ike leaves all of his toys in here and then gets mad when we shut the door.  I digress.

Here's the plan.  For this minute.  It's subject to change.  The walls are going to be painted.  I'm leaning towards Sherwin Williams Thunder Gray.  It's a dark browny gray.  (That's a thing.)

I purchased these curtains during a recent sale.  (The ones pictured above were way too ivory.  These are more of a greige.)  I hope I don't hate them when I hang them.  I struggle with purchasing items from the interwebs.

I think I'm going for this kind of look.  I think.  (I really just pretend like I know what I'm doing.)  So I think the curtains will work swimmingly.

I think it's time that we get a new couch.  This one has been with me since the early part of pharmacy school. It's pretty gross.

Nate and I are both really liking this one but in a camel colored leather.  It's surprisingly comfy!  It's like the one couch out of 1000 that we have looked at in our area that we actually like.  I now know why most people in the Midwest have big, puffy couches.  BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER CHOICE.  

Sorry the for the caps.  Couch shopping stressed me out.

We also have plans for a furniture build in here.  Let's keep that a secret.  It's no fun giving away the whole room, right?  But don't hold your breath waiting for this secret though.  It's tax season and Nate's a zombie.  I am going to help build this one but I'm not allowed near power tools while unattended.  (True story.)

I'm hoping to get started painting this weekend but I do have a big Pinterest party to host and Downton Abbey to catch up on.  Priorities.

What are your thoughts on my sad little office?

DIY Burlap Memo Board + Michaels/Hometalk Pinterest Party

Happy Monday!  I hope you all had a fabulous weekend.  Things around casa de Decor and the Dog were pretty quiet.  Nate worked a lot.  Ike and I cleaned and cooked a lot.  Very housewifely of us. We were able to sneak in some crafting!  Well, I did some crafting.  Ike dug through my bags and stole supplies.  

On Friday I mentioned that I am helping host a Pinterest party as part of a collaboration with Michaels and Hometalk.  The party is happening this Sunday!  Cue the introvert freak out.

I met with the assistant manager of my local store last week.  We discussed which projects she thought would be the most successful.  Of course her suggestion was burlap.  Gross.  Burlap makes me all stuffy but I always like to make things harder than I need to so I went for it.  Turns out my sinuses are cool with burlap canvases.  I decided to turn my canvas into a memo board for the coffee lover in your life.  I think it's darling.

I really have a hard time with super simple crafts.  I think it's the blogger in me.  More, more, more! The Michaels assistant manager assured me that simple was best.  This craft whips up in about 30 minutes.  Mainly because you have to wait for some paint to dry.

Here's what you will need to create your own DIY burlap memo board for the coffee/tea/hot beverage lover in your life.  All of these supplies can be found at your local Michaels store.

• Burlap canvas
• Ribbon
• Wooden coffee mug
• Paint brushes
• Chalkboard paint
• small clothes pins
• hot glue
• Optional: monogram, photos, note cards, heart punch for paper hearts

I started by painting my wooden mug with chalkboard paint.  I gave it two coats.  

Once the mug was dry, I hot glued it onto the canvas.  I then eyeballed some ribbon, cut it to size and hot glued it to the back of the canvas.  Make sure it's tight so you can easily hang things from it.

I hot glued on paper hearts that I made using a heart punch.   You could also paint these if you're super talented.

I then rubbed some chalk all over my mug to "prime" it. (Perform this step after your paint has dried completely.  Refer to the packaging as all chalk paint is a little different.) If you skip this step, the first words you write may be stuck on your mug forever.

Hang anything you want from your pretty new memo board using small clothes pins.  You can also write on your cute little chalkboard mug now as well.

Now comes the fun part!  It's time to craft together.  It's like craft night but with strangers!

Click here to find a Michaels near you that is hosting an event on Sunday, February 16th from 1-4pm! I will be at the Davenport, IA location!

Purchase the supplies for your Pinterest inspired project and head to the class room to chat and create with a Hometalk blogger.  There are specially marked end caps throughout the store if you're looking for ideas!  I'll also show another project idea on Friday!

Don’t forget to use those coupons!  Grab a coupon for the US or a coupon for Cananda!

Finally, consider joining Hometalk!  Hometalk is a home & garden social network where you can clip amazing ideas and inspiration, ask for advice and opinions or share some of your favorite DIY, home and garden posts or projects!  Once you have joined follow Michaels on Hometalk to enter to win a $100 Michaels gift card. Five winners will be announced on Hometalk’s Facebook page on Feb 17, after the party.  

Find me on Hometalk here!

Who's crafting with me on Sunday?  I'll be sure to social media (a verb) all of the fun!

Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored partnership with Hometalk. But the tutorial, project and social anxiety fears are all my own.

Life According to Instagram

Happy Friday!  Friday is always a good day but a long day. Followed by two glorious days off.  Let's focus on that.

Let's not focus on all of this stupid snow and ridiculously cold weather we're getting.  It's pretty much miserable here in Iowa.  Anytime you ask someone how they are doing the answer is usually "Surviving."  "Trying to stay warm."  I mentioned on Saturday that we shouldn't even bother that poor groundhog because I could tell you what his answer would be.  I had your back, Phil.

To make Winter more tolerable I ordered some new boots.  I've been drooling over Hunter boots but have been to cheap to spend the cash.  I decided to see if the rumors of youth boots fitting adults with small feet.  Turns out it's true.   And they are half the price. I usually wear a women's size 7.  I ordered a youth size 5.  They fit like a glove.  Er, boot.  They are slightly shorter than the women's boots but work well for my short self.

They definitely aren't warm enough for the current below zero temps.  Hunter boot socks are $30-40.  I ordered this pair from Target and they work perfectly!  Look at that money savings.  My accountant husband thinks my math is flawed.

Ike is mad at Winter too.  The poor thing hasn't been able to go for a walk because it's seriously not safe for a poor puppy with little fur to spend more than a few minutes outside.  He's trying to stay busy by practicing yoga, sunbathing in the closet and being my crochet assistant.

I'm training to become the next Iron Chef.  I'm actually turning into a decent cook.  I'm also doing very well at eating little processed food during the week.  The weekends on the other hand.  They call for Whitey's.  I wish you all had a Whitey's near you because it's the most magically tasting ice cream in all of the land. 

Nate and I are now going on dates on Saturday nights.  I used to make fun of married people "dating".  And now I'm one of them.  Nate is working extra long hours.  We spend approximately 10 minutes together each day during the week.  If we're lucky.  We've decided to spend Saturday nights unplugged (at least for a few hours) and catching up.  Ike is fine if I date Nate on Saturday night but Sunday is Ike's day.  He doesn't leave his side.  

Lastly, local readers mark your calendars!  I'm helping host a Pinterest party at the Michael's in Davenport on February 16th from 1-4pm.  This is kind of a big deal for introvert Michelle.  My hermit self was super close to turning down the offer.  I hope you can come experience me being socially awkward in person!  More info on Monday!

Got any big weekend plans?  Anyone living in warm climate have a guest room Ike and I can borrow for a few months?  Be careful what you offer up. ;)