I am an avid pinner.

Just recently, I have been trying out some of the "good ideas" that are pinned on Pinterest. In the past, I have mainly used recipes from Pinterest (most of them turned out pretty good) but the organizing, DIY and helpful tips and tricks pins sit in their "Boards" going unused.

I am in the last week -of my six month- of pregnancy (whoo!) and that good ol' Nesting Stage has hit...FULL FORCE! You should have seen me this past weekend...among organizing cabinets and closets, cleaning out the refrigerator and deep cleaning the bathrooms, I also washed our bedroom pillows and cleaned the carpets with my mother-in-law's Bissell Homecare Powersteamer Powerbrush! I also cooked every meal we had this weekend...

I am exhausted just thinking about it. Fortunately, I was able to fit in a bath in our whirlpool tub. (BTW, I was told several times when we were building our house to not to get a whirlpool tub installed in our master bath. People claimed that even though they had one, they NEVER used it. I guess I enjoy my "me" time and use this sucker ALL THE TIME! I love it!)

I decided this weekend to put some of those pins to use. Here are the pins that I tried out:

{Store laundry detergent & dryer sheets in clear jars}

I use liquid detergent but I always add a tablespoon of Borax and
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda to every load.
I keep the mixture and the fabric sheets in jars.



{Clean your bedroom pillows}

I honestly don't clean pillows too often,
unless something is spilled or they start to have that
-not so fresh- smell. I'm glad I saw this!
My pillows will be washed 3 times a year from now on!!
I would advise against using a fabric softener
that is scented. Yeah sure, it smells good.
But after smelling it for 8 hours...Headache!

{Clean your baseboards with Bounce Dryer Sheets}

I gave this a whirl...it seriously works!
WAY better than dusting with a cloth!

{Homemade Frappuccino}

I have been making smoothies like crazy but Saturday
 night I wanted something a little more decadent.
I gathered my ingredients and made myself a
delicious homemade frozen blended coffee.
(Ice, Milk, Ovaltine, Torani Hazelnut Syrup and cold brewed coffee :P)
...or in other words...Hazelnut Mocha!

{Add essential oil in the cardboard tube of toilet paper}

I added a few drops of Mandarin Lime oil from BBW to our roll.
Keeps the bathroom spelling fresh!

{Make your Home smell like Williams Sonoma}

A few sprigs of rosemary,
lemon slices and a teaspoon of
vanilla in a pot and let it simmer on the stove.
It smelled fresh, sweet and not too strong! :)

If you would like to see more ideas from my Boards...

{Click Here}

Home Decor

Some of my posts from earlier this year featured pictures of our new home. Some were the building stage, then moving in...but I have not posted since. I went around the house taking pictures last night and while doing so, found some parts of my home a little bare. I went with the less is more concept...but I'm starting to think it's a little too bare. Help me out!

I would love suggestions!!!

(Sorry the pictures are a little dark, I took the pictures in the evening)

The front door with the wreath I made back in April. Click HERE for the tutorial.

The floor in our entry way. I LOVE the design!

The entry into the living room. Eventually the two windows on either side of the tv/fireplace will have window coverings with a little something above. Something like THIS .

I found this at Kirklands. I love that store!

On to the kitchen. My star chest <3

At our house warming party I made huge batches of the drinks listed. I printed out the list and put it in a frame. I liked it so much...I just left it on the countertop.

I wanted to have my utensils handy so I decided to use an industrial size measuring cup. Fits my most used utensils perfectly!

Since moving into our home, we have been saving all of our corks from the bottles of wine, champagne and beer. I plan on making something out of them...suggestions?

Upclose.

The finale: Our bedroom. On the wall is our engagement photo with our wedding invitation. The curtains are a silvery blue, the linens either white or burlap and the furniture a deep dark brown.

Our bed usually has a really pretty duvet cover...but it was being washed. I want to put something above the bed, inbetween the two windows. I was thinking framed pressed flowers. Suggestions??

Close up of our lamp.

Another angle.

Pillows. Kirklands and Ikea.

Our bathroom. Definately needs more...something. Maybe carry the framed pressed flowers into the bathroom and put them above the towel bars? Suggestions???

There you have it...a mini tour.

Let me know what you all think!



Fall Wreaths

It's hot outside...let's talk about Fall!!!

Fall Wreaths that is...

New Home 2012 with Concrete Floors!

We JUST moved in over the weekend and have been gradually making the new home "ours." Nothing has been nailed to the wall (I'm SO afraid of putting holes in the walls!!!!!!), and since the pictures were taken, we have moved in our new pub style dining room table. I was skeptical about the concrete floors...but I have completely changed my mind about them. I LOVE them!

{BEFORE: No lighting or Furniture....}

{AFTER: With a bit o' furniture but still no window treatments, etc.}

{We moved the buffet table (in the back by the wall) to the other side of the area and moved in our dining room table}

{The wall is completely BARE! I am thinking about putting a large potted plant in the corner on the right and a console table against that big ol' wall. Above the table...a mirror and the table topped with decor similar to the picture below this one}

{Minus the shoes}

{View from the kitchen into the dining area}

{The floor in the entryway}

MORE PICTURES TO COME! YOU HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN THE MASTER BEDROOM AND BATHROOM YET!!!!