Thrift Shop Challenge

Yesterday I mentioned my concern with the blog becoming too serious.  And then I announced a Hey Girl Link Party.

Today Young House Love is hosting a Thrift Shop Challenge based on the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Song called Thrift Shop (I highly suggest clicking the link to watch the clean version of the video.).

I couldn’t pass up this challenge because 1. I love thrift shops.  I stop at the Salvation Army at least once a week.  At least.  2. I recently have a love of awful rap/hip hop/Today’s hits.  I think I’m going through some sort of mid-life crisis.  (I think it’s stemming from people calling me a “lady” on Pinterest pins.  Ladies are old.  Don’t call me a lady!  I’m only 30, yo.)

Step #1: Go to a thrift shop with – just as the chorus of the song says – “$20 in your pocket” and take a picture.

Do I get bonus points for including Jesus?  And I have never have cash.  Don’t mug me because all you will get is credit cards and lip gloss.

Step #2. Spend that $20 any way you’d like and photograph your spoils.

What does $20 get you at a thrift store in Iowa? The Salvation Army in town has a new manager and they’ve decided to price furniture at ridiculous prices.  I’ve noticed that the prices have started to come back down to reasonable levels in the past couple of weeks.  The house ware items and clothes are still pretty reasonably priced.

• $2 Pyrex
• $3 plaid blanket

• $0.90 mittens
• All of the shirts were $2 or under
• A couple were shirts with the Target tags still on them.
• $3.00 Target cow creamer
• $5.00 pajamas (more info below)

Step #3. Find one item (or more) referenced in the song and snap a pic.

This one is a stretch because I didn’t have time to look for an actual challenge item this week because of lovely recent snow storm.  (I’m moving South.) 

But I am going to claim this as R. Kelly’s sheets. (“Probably shoulda washed this, smells like R. Kelly's sheets.”)  I’m sure Mr. Kelly would totally use a lovely vintage floral sheet and I’m sure this sheet probably smelled like the referenced R. Kelly’s sheet.  (All of my Salvation Army items get a triple wash.  Seriously.)  And it was only 99 cents.  Seriously.

Or…

“I'll take those flannel zebra jammies, second-hand”.  So they aren’t quite zebra and they aren’t quite second-hand but I did get this flannel pajama set (with the Target tags still on them) for $5.  Totally popped some tabs. 

There you have it.  Thrift Shop challenge complete.  Off to take your grandma’s style…

Did you partake in the challenge?  What’s your favorite thrift store purchase?

Super Fun Announcement

Wow.  Yesterday I learned that you all have quite the active imaginations.  I like it.

Who’s ready for my “super fun announcement”?

Well, I feel that about 96.4% of you are going to be a bit disappointed but I think you’ll recover because the fun announcement is that awesome.

I am NOT pregnant.  I am not planning on becoming pregnant any time soon.  Once babies start sleeping and not being so needy and germy, I’ll have one.  ;)

So what is the super fun announcement????  I feel that the blog has been a little serious lately. Lame.  Luckily, Kelly (View Along the Way) came to my rescue when she asked me if I would be interested in hosting a “Hey Girl” link party.

Duh.  Post ridiculous photos of Nate with “Hey Girl” quotes on them.  Heck yeah.

I am co-hosting with Kelly (View Along the Way), Chelsea (Two Twenty One), Bliss (Bliss Ranch) and Ashley (Domestic Imperfection).  But a  party isn’t a party without guests and we want you to join us!

The link party opens on Feb. 7th.  Have your “Hey Girl” photos ready.  You can link up at any of the co-hosts blogs.

Don’t have a significant other?  How about a using a celebrity crush or pet?  (Like this post with Ike.)

Don’t have a blog?  Feel free to upload your photos to Pinterest and Flickr and add them that way.

Need some inspiration or you’re not quite sure what this “Hey Girl” thing is all about?  Visit the Hey Girl Pinterest board to see examples!!

I’ll post some of my favorites on Valentine’s Day.

As for life updates, I’ll be back with those next week because this post is already wordy/long enough.  And I have walls to paint and floors to clean!

Who’s going to be joining us?  You know you want to!!!

Favorite Paint Colors of DIY Bloggers

Are you currently struggling to find the perfect paint color?  Are you wondering what that paint sample actually looks like in a home?  Do you trust the judgment DIY bloggers?  If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, you are in luck!

Today some of the blogosphere’s greatest are here to share with you their very favorite paint color from their homes!  The sample is on the left.  The paint color in the blogger’s home is on the right.  Some of the bloggers also share why the color they chose is their favorite.  Enjoy!

(Click on the photos below to be taken to some fantastic blogs!)

Retro Ranch Reno

- Gabbi’s favorite is Behr Gentle Rain.  “This is the color I used to paint our living/dining room area.  I also carried it down the hallway since it's such an open space.  For me, grays can be tricky because they often have undertones that make the read as too purple or blue or green or tan.  In our space, this color reads as a true gray...a perfect neutral.”

Hazardous Design

-  Carrie’s favorite paint color is Glimmer by Behr. “It’s not too blue, not too gray, not too green.”

Maybe Matilda

- Rachel’s favorite is Behr Palm Breeze.  “It’s kind of a quiet, springy green.”

Wills Casa

-  Amber’s color of choice is

Behr Sculptor Clay

. “Why I love it: It's a gray that's light and bright, and it works with virtually any color palette. (It's neutral without being beige or tan.)”

The Flipping Couple

:  Cindy’s very favorite paint color is Behr Witch Hazel.  “It makes me happy on a daily basis. How's that for a personal endorsement?”

Primitive and Proper

-  Cassie loves Cloud Cover by Benjamin Moore. “It's a nice warm white.  It's the perfect white for our house.  Cloud Cover leaves it feeling cozy and warm and light without being creamy.”

View Along the Way

- Kelly’s favorite paint color is Benjamin Moore Deep Caviar. “It has amazing color-changing properties, and everyone who looks at it sees something different. It looks dark brown to me, but some people swear it's a dark purple; others say it's navy blue, and others see a charcoal black. Everyone is adamant about what they see and it creates some interesting debates at the dinner table.”

Life on Mars

- Maury loves the shade in her living room which is Benjamin Moore Paladian Blue.  “It's the perfect soft blue and makes a room feel bright and calming.”

Finding Silver Linings

-  Mindy’s favorite paint color is Benjamin Moore's Rich Cream.  “It's a great neutral that works well with our darker wood trim.  It's my favorite because the color changes beautifully throughout the day.  It's a frothy white early in the day and changes to a golden cream in the evening.  It makes a room glow as if it were candlelit.”

His and Hers

: Erin’s favorite color is the one in her living room-Benjamin Moore Sea Foam.

Buffalo Roam

-  Amy’s favorite is Dutch Boy Crushed Seed which she used in her master bath.

NewlyWoodwards

- Kim’s a fan of  Martha Stewart Seal.  “It’s a perfect, moody and chalky grey. And it seems to have some brown undertones, which makes it less cold in our home. We have this in our dining room with white wainscoting and it's my favorite color in the house (which is saying a lot because I truly love every color in my house). It would also blend well with  just about any accent color.”

Nuestra Vida Dulce

-  Joi’s favorite color is Mercer by the now discontinued Ralph Lauren paint line at Home Depot.  (She thinks Home Depot still has the old paint deck on hand and can mix it for you in another paint brand) “It is a dark moody gray-brown in my kitchen.  I love it because it makes my white kitchen cabinets "pop."”

Two Twenty One

- Chelsea’s favorite is Sherwin Williams Mint Condition.  “As part of my ongoing kitchen makeover (that's been at a standstill for months), I painted our kitchen Mint Condition by Sherwin Williams this past August.  It's a great shade of mint, and I think it'll look great with our, hopefully, soon-to-be painted white cabinetry.”

Let's Just Build a House

-  Trina loves Sherwin Williams Restrained Gold.  “We have it throughout the living room kitchen hallways etc. I know it isn't the chic grey everyone in blogland loves but it fits perfect into our house!”

Decor and the Dog

- I made myself pick my favorite.  It only seemed fair.  It was pretty tough.  I love all of our paint colors but Smoky Blue is the winner in my book.  I had always wanted a blue dining room.  I got it.  And I still love it. Which says a lot coming from me!

I would like to thank all of the ladies that we were willing to share their homes with the readers of Decor and the Dog.  I hope you all found some color inspiration today.  If not, I at least hope you found a new blog or two to read.  Because who doesn’t need more blogs to read?

Be sure to check out our house tour page to see all of our paint colors!

What’s your favorite paint color?  Are you brand loyal? Looks like blogland has a lot of Behr and Benjamin Moore fans.  Me, I stick with the ol’ Sherwin Williams.  I’m a fairly loyal gal.  (I like the word gal.)

Our Paint Colors

I often get asked the name of paint colors in our home.  After two years of home decor blogging, I finally have a compilation post of all of our home’s paint colors! I am killing 2013!

You can click the photos below to view more pictures of these paint colors in our home.  (I will label all future posts and I am slowly adding labels to past posts!)

I also put a fancy little button on the sidebar.  You know, for future reference.

What’s your favorite paint color in our home? What’s your favorite paint color in general?  Be sure to check back on Wednesday for a list of favorite paint colors from some of the best DIY bloggers around!

O’Henry Bars (AKA Not Healthy Granola Bars)

I can hear the groans.  ANOTHER recipe post.

Eh, you’ll thank me.

Also all I’ve been doing lately is baking and working out.  Makes sense.  But just wait.  There is a lot of DIY goodness planned for next week.  If I stop baking and working out.  I just love kettlebells. And sugar.

Yesterday I almost forgot that I needed to whip up something for the very first craft night with Newlywoodwards.  (More on that next week.)  I also wanted it to double as a blog post. Two birds.  One stone.  I dug through my recipe box and came up with an oldie but a goody.

O’ Henry bars a family favorite.  Yesterday was my first time making them.  I Googled the name to see if there are other recipes like this out there.  Only a few. It probably has another name.  Keep in mind, they are nothing like the candy bar with the same name. Go figure.  They look like a Midwest thing.

I like that they have oats in them.  This way you have a nice comeback when your husband says “I thought you were eating healthy this week?”  You can say, “I am.  There are oats and peanut butter in here.”  Basically I consider them a non-healthy granola bar. (Kim didn’t agree.)

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 6 cups oats
  • I used Old-fashioned Oats but Quick Oats are fine as well.
• 1 cup melted butter
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 c. white corn syrup
• 1/2 package chocolate chips
• 1/2 package butterscotch chips
• 3/4 c. peanut butter.

Mix oatmeal, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and white corn syrup together.  Spread into a cake pan.

Bake 15 minutes at 375.  Cool.

Melt chips. (I did this in the microwave.  The stovetop is just fine too.) Add peanut butter.  Spread onto cooled layer.

Eat ‘em up. And then go do a kettlebell work out!

These bars are pretty hard to make look pretty.  But trust me.  Deliciousness.

(There is a fine line between done and not done with these bars.  Mine were a tish uncooked and they fell apart a little.  If you cook them too much, they will be hard.  I prefer the fall apart route and to eat it with a spoon!)

Have you heard of O’Henry Bars?  Who is pumped for DIY posts next week?  Big week-end plans?

Craft Room Inspiration

I don’t know about you but I have never really understood mood boards.  Quit showing me your plans and get to work you lazy blogger.

Well, today I have crossed to the dark side.  Mood board.  Less doing.  More planning.

I have excuses.  I always have excuses.  1. I have been struggling with sinus infections/allergies for the past couple of months.  My energy is low. When I am healthy, I am trying to do life things like laundry.  2. This may be the first room that I have thought out completely.  Usually I just jump right in. 3. It’s too freaking cold to do anything except hide under my blanket with my dog and laptop.  4. Gossip Girl.

This is what my craft room looks like now.  Well, a cleaner version of what my craft room looks like now.  It’s bad.  This room is a beauty.  See why I needed to do some planning?

Here it is kids.  My very first room mood board with explanations to follow.

1. One of my co-workers gave me this buffet.  For free.  Yes.  Zero dollars.  I think it will be perfect storage for fabric/crafty things.

2. Most of the walls will be painted SW On the Rocks.  Grey is boring but stick with me.

3. Oh, there is going to be a chalkboard wall.  Oh yes there will.

4.  See that free buffet?  It’s going to be painted in Palmetto by Martha Stewart.

5. I need a fun table.  I’m not sure I can talk Nate into the one pictured but –ish.

6. I have been waiting for the right time to use $100 credit to Royal Design Studios.  I think their Modern Chevron Wall Stencil is a must for that wall with the window.  I know chevron is love it or hate it.  But I love it.  And it’s my craft room.  So there.  Feel free to encourage me to get to painting. Royal Design Studios have offered up a stencil giveaway if I get my hiney in gear!

7. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect coral to paint said chevron.  I’m liking SW Ravishing Coral.

8. The walls will be full of awesome crafty/girly prints.  Like this Hello Lover print!

You can see all of the random thoughts that led up to this ol’ board on my Pinterest Craft Room board!!

Mood board out.

Are you a mood board fan?  What would your dream craft room look like?  Anything that I am totally needing that I don’t know about?

Meal Planning Tips

Yo.  How was your week-end?  Lovely, I hope.

This week-end was all about strategy for us.  You know, dreaming about doing instead of actually doing.

Guess what that gets you?  An organization post.  Woo hoo.

I have recently shared with you my tips for a tidy kitchen.  From that post, I had some requests for meal planning tips.

I started meal planning about 3 or 4 months ago so I am obviously not an expert yet.  I just pretend to be on my blog…

I have a found a few tools and tips that make meal planning easier.

1. Meal Planning Magnets

The hardest part of meal planning for me is figuring out what to eat. The second hardest part is not getting into a rut and eating the same 4-5 meals for an entire month.

I made these meal planning magnets to aid me in my “What the heck should we eat?” woes.

They are super simple to make. I purchased some wood disks from Hobby Lobby. I spray painted them with chalkboard paint. I attached a magnet to the back.  (I used a weak magnet.  I wanted the magnets to be strong enough to stick to the fridge but not strong enough to stick to one another.) I then went through my recipe box/Pinterest boards and I wrote down meals that we commonly eat.  The Pinterest recipes got marked with a “P” so I know where to find the recipe…recipe box or Pinterest board.  I used a chalkboard marker instead of regular ol’ chalk.  You can still erase the marker but the writing should stay on better.  I have blank magnets left to add new favorites.

I store the magnets in this little ol’ glass container that I keep in the cupboard.  I can reach in and grab out 4-5 meals for the week.  No thinking require.  If I don’t like something I can just throw it back in and grab another.

I then hang the magnets on the side of the fridge to help us easily remember our options for the week.

We pick 4-5 meals for the week.  We don’t assign the meals to certain days of the week. This still allows us some flexibility when life happens.  The breakfast magnet rarely leaves the fridge.

As you can see, I don’t plan my meals around what is on sale.  That would require too much thought.  I just pull from the jar. I do, however, look through my coupon stash and visit Target to see if I have any coupons for the items I will be purchasing.  I feel that people sometimes spend more/buy things they won’t use just because they have a coupon.  

2. A grocery list.

A grocery list is also a must for meal planning.I recently switched to a grocery list template from Microsoft.  Google it.  They have a ton.  I typed in some of our more commonly used items.  There is plenty of space to add others.  This list is organized by sections of the store so it makes shopping easy.  I also have a space on the side to write down the meals for that week. 

We keep a stash of lists hanging in the pantry.  When we run out of something, we mark it down right away so we don’t forget.

3. A Favorite Foods Board on Pinterest

If you are anything like me, you pin a bunch of food that you will probably never make.  I have boards for each type of food but I also have a Favorite Recipes board that I pin the Pinterest successes too.  This board makes it easy when I pull out that “Pinterest Pick” magnet.  Sometimes I get brave and try something new.  Sometimes I stick to a recently tried success.

As you can see, the tools are simple.  Now I’ll share my overall tips and advantages that I have found from planning meals.

Advantages of Meal Planning:

1. Saves time.

Set aside at least 20-30 minutes each week to plan out your meals and make your grocery list.

I used to think that this was a lot of time.  I have since realized that it takes less time than standing in front on the fridge each night trying to make a meal out of yogurt, mandarin oranges, and pepperoni.

2. Saves money.

We make one trip to the grocery store each week.  This trip provides us with food for breakfast, lunch and dinner for all meals for the week (minus 1 night of eating out).  We are less tempted to buy junk and/or items that we won’t eat.  We spend about $40-$60 per week for the two of us.

3. Less waste

We have found that we waste a lot less with meal planning.  We only buy what is on our list and we use it up within one week.

4. Leftovers

We now plan for at least 2 meals to have left overs.  No more frozen dinners for lunches. Woo hoo!

Now I’m bored.  So you are on your own.  (Reason #1983 why blogging could never be my day job).

Do you meal plan?  Any additional tips?  Got a favorite foods board on Pinterest?  Leave the link!

Linking up to : Living Well Spending Less

Blue Soul Designs Giveaway

Because it’s Friday.  Because it’s cold.  Because Sarah is awesome.  Let’s have a giveaway!

Sarah from Blue Soul Designs has offered to give one super lucky reader $25 to spend in her shop.  Sarah’s shop is full of beautiful rings, necklaces, and earrings.  I own a couple of her rings and they are stunning.  I currently have my eye on one of her initial necklaces and that wishbone necklace shown above.

How to enter:

• PRIZE: $25 shop credit to Blue Soul Designs
• TO ENTER (required):  Follow the instructions using rafflecopter below!
• GIVEAWAY CLOSES: January 20, 2013 at 11:59 PM CST
• NUMBER OF WINNERS: One
• OTHER STUFF: Sarah will ship anywhere in the US and to Canada.  The winner will be selected using rafflecopter and announced on January 21st.  Check back to see if you are the lucky winner!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

***I was in no way compensated for this post.  I just think Sarah is a pretty talented lady and I thought you all would think so too !  Do you have an Etsy shop you’d like to promote? E-mail me!***

DIY Scarf Hanger

Today I would like to share with you an $8.00/1 hour project that has improved our marriage.

Yes, a scarf hanger has improved our marriage drastically enough that I feel the need to tell the world about it.

You see, I kind of took over a little area of our closet.  This area has hooks for belts and ties.  Or scarfs.  (I totally Googled the plural of “scarf”.  “Scarfs” and “Scarves” are acceptable.  The things you learn here at Decor and the Dog.)  Nate could no longer reach a belt or tie.  He’d get annoyed and throw my scarves (thought I’d use them both to see which one I liked better) on the floor.  I would be annoyed that my precious scarves were thrown on the floor.  Vicious cycle.

How’d we make it?

• We purchased a 1x6.  Nate cut it down to 24” and sanded it nicely.
• I painted it all pretty like (Polka dots are my new love).
• We added 6 hooks purchased from Menard’s. 
• Ike kept an eye on the hammer.

• Nate hung the scarf hanger on the wall with some screws and wall anchors.
• All was right again in our closet…and lives.

My scarves are happier.  I am happier.  Nate is happier.  Ike is always happy.  Life is good.  And I have still have room for more scarves. Yes!

Do your scarves need a new home?  Are you a scarf hoarder?  What inexpensive project has improved your love life?

Sign Painting and Resolutions

Let’s talk New Year’s Resolutions.  On the 14th of January.

I like to set one resolution.  Nate thinks resolutions are dumb.  Ike has no idea it’s 2013.

My resolution for 2013 is to be tough.  Tough physically and tough mentally.  The physical aspect is pretty self-explanatory.  I exercise regularly but avoid weights.  Therefor I am a weenie.  I will not be a weenie in 2013.  As for the mental part of this resolution.  I am big on homeostasis. I like to be a certain temperature.  I need a certain amount of sleep.  I need a certain amount of food.  I am Type A and things must go as planned.  If the above things don’t go as scheduled, I shut down.  I am going to be tougher in 2013.  I will not shut down.  Tough. Tough. Tough.

I wanted something to remind myself of my resolution.  I thought a sign by our front door would appropriate.

Okay, so a “Be Awesome Today” sign doesn’t really have anything to do with being tough.  Just go with it.  I wanted to make a “Punch Today In the Face” sign but Nate said that was too violent. Being awesome is all encompassing.

I originally saw this phrase from LuciusArt.  There are a bazillion and twelve “Be Awesome” prints on Etsy today but that one was my inspiration.

I’ve been getting questions about how I sign paint.  I’m still learning my way.  I generally freak out about 17 times while painting.  I think this sign was only 15.  Tough.  Tough. Tough.  Bring it 2013.

I learned the basic skills from the wonderful Jen ofOnion Grove Mercantile.  (Jen painted the Locally Grown sign hanging next to our laundry room.)  I highly recommend checking our her work!  She is beyond talented.  Jen taught me the basics at a fundraising event hosted by the lovely Kim of NewlyWoodwards.  I’ve been painting away ever since.  It’s very therapeutic…minus the freak outs.

My sign painting steps are as follows:

• Purchase whatever wood is cheapest at Lowe’s.  (This sign is 24”x24”.) 
• Paint the background color. I also usually do a border. I use painters tape for a crisp edge. 
  • I use any kind of paint I have laying around in the basement.
  • Design the sign in Photoshop Elements. 
  • Print the design poster sized.  (If anyone has interest in a tutorial on this, let me know!) 
  • Tape carbon paper on the back of the design. 
  • Trace the design with a ball point pen. 
  • Carefully paint away with a small brush.

I have found that I am only capable of painting large letters.  I totally fail at small letters.  It’s okay.  I don’t like little letters anyways. I’m going to blame my paint brush.