In Need of a Fun DIY While I'm Stuck Inside

Anyone else feeling like their January is off to a slow start?  It is BITTERLY cold here in Minnesota- like high of -20 degrees kind of cold, -40 if you factor in the wind chill temps.  Unreal right?!  I am worried if I leave the house my nostrils and eyeballs will freeze!  So what have I been doing while trapped in the house?  Naturally, I've been sitting around in my jammies watching Bravo and pinning things on Pinterest with the dogs piled around me :) Hmmm, does that even count as doing something? Ha!

So, since I'm stuck inside I thought I could tackle one or two of the DIY ideas that I pinned....

Leather clutch/pouch DIY   Braided hex nut bracelet/necklace DIY   Studded jean cuff DIY  Leopard jean cuff DIY  Couch arm table wrap   White painted wood crates & boxes  Woven chain collar necklace DIY  Trompe l'oeil ballon shade DIY

I think most of the nation endured snow storms and a killer cold snap this week with sub-zero temperatures on the way starting tomorrow, so I figure I am not alone on this "I'm trapped in the house with nothing to do" kind of feeling.  Come on, help a gal get her buns off the couch :) 

What do you think?  

Which DIY project or two should I tackle?

What projects are you taking on if you are stuck inside this weekend?

Do you have a fun DIY project idea you've recently completed?

Stay warm this weekend! 

"Operation Deep Soak" Complete, Our Bathroom Became a Swan at Last!

Time to kick off 2014 with our completed "Operation Deep Soak" project reveal!!!  Checking this off the to-do honey-do list!!!!

Now before I continue, I have to ask if you remember "The Swan" TV show?  I kept thinking that is what this post is like- our old crummy bathroom became the decent, beautiful Swan it was always meant to be!  (And yes I still think that Swan show was pretty good yet creepy, mostly creepy due to the "here's your brand new face" reveal)... 

Anyway... my point is that once we finished "Operation Deep Soak", it seemed like our bathroom was finally done and that we didn't need to fix or update anything else in the room.  I know it isn't uber luxury type standard but our little 'one butt bathroom'  certainly became a nicer space I could stand having our two butts in at one time....

So much easier on the eyes right?  It was a REALLY long road getting here, and that road began back in 2010 and went all the way to the tail end of 2013.  I guess you can say we did it all in stages, so here's a rundown of all the projects we did leading up to the last addition of the new tub & tile surround to update the whole look of the bathroom (links to blog posts included below)...

Began everything with a big demolition phase,  Retiled the floor with classic black and white tile, Installed a new toilet, Added beadboard to the walls, and Installed new sink faucet

The final touch we needed was the bath alcove and once we were ready take it on Alex got"Operation Deep Soak" underway by tearing that sucker out!

I was overseas travelling for work during this time and one thing Alex didn't mention in his post was that he scored that Kohler Bancroft tub on Craigslist for $400!!!!  MAJOR SCORE considering it retails for around $850, I was so pumped when he told me (and I can't believe he didn't brag about that in his posts, who doesn't love bragging about a major Craigslist score?!?).

After the tub was installed into the alcove, he prepped the alcove for tiling...

Then the tiling process began!  This stage also included a full week of baths only since we couldn't get the walls wet :) I kind of got sick of my fancy new tub at that time, can't lie.  Anyway...

When the tiling was complete Alex had to put the beadboard back on the walls and touch up some paint around the alcove space, but it was done at last....

... Ahem, ALL of the bathroom was finally done at last!!!

That's a wrap on "Operation Deep Soak" as well as the whole darn bathroom then I guess?!  So, what do you think?

- Did our bathroom "duckling" become a true "Swan"?
- What do you think of the new deep soak tub and white tile surround in the alcove?
- Is there anything you would change in the room (paint color, decor, etc)?
- Should we ditch the shower curtain and install a glass shower screen?

I'm really curious on what you think when it comes to that last question.  I've gotten some inspiration on Pinterest but I don't know if it will fit our old, traditional type look?  Hmmmm...  Let me know!

Another One Bites the Dust!

Goodbye 2013, hello to 2014! We're counting it down still in Minneapolis, but to all already in 2014 or still in 2013, we hope you are having a fun night celebrating and we wish you the very best new year!

Cheers to a b*tchin 2014!!!! (Could be the champagne, hope you're excited instead of offended!) 

A Peek Behind the (Shower) Curtain

Well, it took nearly two months but Alex finally completed "Operation Deep Soak" just in time for Christmas... and when I say that I mean like three days before Christmas :)  So, I apologize that I didn't have time to take photos before all the Christmas Crazy began so here's a few teaser pics of our finished  bathtub + shower + tile project (aka Operation Deep Soak)....

Looking pretty nice right?!?  I hope you'll stop back for the whole before and after story too because I always enjoy putting together a post that tells the whole story from where we started with a room all the way through each change we've made- and all that ends up taking a good chunk of time!  I can't help it, it's the kind of thing I really dig sharing on the blog to show all the time, hard work, mistakes, learnings, effort, and pride we take in shaping our home to fit us more and more :)

I'm gathering up all the before and afters this weekend to tell the tale of Operation Deep Soak.  Hope you'll join us, but until then...

What do you think of the preview pics?
What did we miss detailing in the previous Operation Deep Soak posts?
What questions did you have about our project that we should include in the completed post?

Have a Very, Very Merry Christmas!

Alex, Rocco, Sadie and I have enjoyed sharing our projects and silly memories with you this year!  We hope your Christmas day is filled with happiness, love, laughter, and occasional (unavoidable) awkward family moments- that's how it always goes for us anyway :)

Merry Christmas everyone!

The Re-Release of Our "Home Alone Stair Sledding" Classic: Collector's Edition

Have you ever wanted to sled down a staircase like Kevin McCallister did in the holiday classic "Home Alone"?  I know, I know, silly question right- OF COURSE you did, so did Alex and I!!!  That is why we actually did it!

Did you know this crazy event took place in our house three years ago? Yes, we packed snow on our staircase landing, hopped on a sled and shot out the front door just like Kevin McCallister. 

Why I am bringing this up you ask?  Well, I happened to catch "Home Alone" on TV the other day which made me think of our own stair sledding videos.  I hopped on our blog to watch them again and they were just as funny/silly as I remembered, totally loved it :) But it made me wonder how bad was that for our wood flooring if I should share this story again on our blog?   I know three years isn't a huge amount of time and maybe you've already seen it, but for those who missed it back in 2010 I'm hoping that this is a new delightful little winter surprise (heck this video is still new to anyone that saw the original)!

So here's the "official" press announcement from our studio (aka my You Tube channel)...
We are thrilled to give audiences of all ages a new exciting look at our Home Alone Staircase Sledding style adventure!  We've digitally remastered the three films into one (almost minute long) feature length film sure to become an addition to your Holiday film collection!  Enjoy!

Fun foolish moments make for Happy Holiday memories I suppose?  Hope it made you smile or better yet giggle?  Either way- keep the change ya filthy animal and watch out for the Wet Bandits :)

My Unsolved Holiday Mysteries

Alright, every holiday season I find myself stumped by the same questions or mysteries you could say I guess?  I've realized it keeps happening because I never figure them out, then once Christmas is over it doesn't matter anymore... until next year.  Then 11 months go by, it's Christmas again and I've got the same issues.  Feels like deja vu I guess, or kind of a yearly Bill Murray Groundhog Day style experience?  This time, I'd like to end the cycle and I'm hoping you can help!  As the wise Robert Stack once said....

Join me.  Perhaps you may be able to help solve a mystery. 

- What you are about to see is not a news broadcast -

1. What is the best guy gift you've ever given to a guy? 
It could be for a brother, boyfriend, brother, husband, dad, uncle, grandpa, friend, whatever!  Because let's face it, the typical "Great Gift Ideas for Him" like ties, cologne, silly gadgets found in the men's section of a department store, power tools, unnecessary electronics, socks, slippers, themed attire includes sports, beer, holiday or humor themes), or a membership to the jelly of a month club are just lame guy gifts.

Image via Messy Nessy Chic

So what the heck is a good guy gift? I want to know!  And please keep in mind that new cars, vacations, diamonds, horses type gifts isn't in my budget :)  gift giving would be super easy if it was though, ha!  New cars & ponies for everyone!


2. If a "let's not do gifts this year" policy is agreed upon, do you follow it? 
Whether it is Alex and I or with family, this is one I struggle with.  I always feel like I should still get a little something for my loved ones even if we have agreed to not do a gift exchange on Christmas... and that has gotten me into trouble a time or two.  I guess my fear is that someone will give me a gift and then I will feel like a jerk if I don't have one to give in return.  So what do you think?  Should you follow the agreement always and if so, should the person that doesn't follow the agreement be considered the jerk?

3. Does anyone else feel a bit blue on Christmas Day too?
Not to sound super scrooge-like or depressed, but I really want to know.  The weird thing is that I enjoy the Christmas season, heck I look forward to it!  I love the holiday get togethers, time with family (when we're lucky enough to get home for the holidays), gift exchanges, food, theme attire including ugly Christmas sweaters), greeting cards,  And ya'll know I LOVE covering our house with Christmas decor and making it all cozy!  But it always feels like you go through all that excitement and get to Christmas Day and it just feels like any other day... which leads to feeling a little let down or sad or something?  I'm the type of person that likes to be on the happy side of things even in bummy situations, but there's always a moment or two on Christmas Day where I have a tough time.  Gosh, that just sounds so depressing right?  I guess it's the truth though, so now that I spilled my guts I'd love to know if anyone else experiences the same and if you do, what gets you out of feeling blue?

Now, I might already know part of the answer to #3 considering Alex and I spent the last two Christmases here in Minnesota alone since we couldn't make the trek to Michigan to be with family- and that leads me to another question...

4. If you are without family on Christmas, how do you spend it to make it feel special?
Alex and I made Christmas Day dinner plans with our neighbor friends that were also without family and that was a ton of fun!  We also thought about finding a volunteer opportunity that would help make Christmas day special for those in need.  What other ways can you make a lonesome Christmas special? Alex thinks we could just take turns sitting in our new bathtub with some holiday treats and nog- By the way, there will be a post this week that covers our finished bath/shower space!  And just to clarify, no we won't be boozed up sitting in our tub eating Christmas cookies and pie in case you were worried :)

*** Okay, now my last and most important question, and this is TOTALLY serious folks! ***

5. Why oh why are there so many TERRIBLE fragrance commercials on TV during the holiday season???  Really, can you say there is a good one out there?  I guess I just don't understand the logic behind most of these ads, like are we supposed to believe that we will become this creature of intrigue that lives a life of exotic vacations, runway walks, one night stands, polo matches, photo shoots on a yacht , and whatever else if we purchase and cover ourselves in that scent?  Or we see them and think, "Yea, I wanna smell like that!" I just don't get it, in all of these scenarios I just think said person would smell like B.O. right?

If I have to crown the worst one though, it's that J'adore Dior ad where Charlize Theron whispers an evil-breathy "J'ADORE".  I swear it's been on TV for like then years now, Santa please make it stop.  Sorry if it sounds like I'm on a rant now, but is anyone else with me?  Do you think the excessive fragrance ads spots are terrible too?

Well there you have it- Perhaps you may be able to help solve my five Unsolved Holiday Mysteries?
Help a gal out!  Be sure to leave a comment!

DISCLAIMER: This program is about unsolved mysteries.  Whenever possible, the actual family members and police officials have participated in recreating the events.  And I am totally kidding with the disclaimer :)