New things, new blog

In October 2013, I started an EXCITING new adventure...I became a Beachbody Coach.  I'm following my passion for health and fitness by helping people along their own journey.  If you'd like more info about Beachbody or would like to see what I've been up to, check out my new blog:  www.itsmyevolution.blogspot.com

Hope you'll join me by following the new blog.  ~Kendra

Dollar Tree Spoon Mirror DIY

A few days ago I just the Dollar Tree Value Seekers club and in doing so have found a ton of inspiration on their site.  I saw this spoon mirror and new I wanted to recreate it:

 

 

Isn't it crazy that it's made from plastic spoons!!!

 

Go here to join and see the full DIY:  http://www.dollartree.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=ValueSeekersClub

 

(No, I'm not being sponsored by them...I'm just a big fan of DT!)

 

Here's how mine turned out:

 

 

You can see our current hand-me down dinning chairs in the mirror. Those will be either getting a huge makeover or won't make the cut in the new house lol. Back to the mirror....isn't it cute??!!  It was not as time consuming as I thought it would be. The tricky party was breaking the spoons, but still leaving enough of the stick portion to be able to hold them on. 

 

What do you all think? Would you considering add a spoon mirror in your home?

~Kendra~

Dollar Tree Candle Stick Holder Makeover

Anyone that knows me, knows I'm kind of a Dollar Tree addict....I find tons of fun stuff there and love to use it for party planning, DIY & crafts, etc.  It's super cheap, so if a DIY doesn't turn out just right, you don't feel like it was a huge money waster. Apparently I could ramble on about DT for a while, but let's get on to the DIY:

 

Supplies:

-2 candle sticks

-Super Glue

-Spray Paint (I used Krylon Colormaster in Catalina Mist Satin)

 

I started with 2 simple clear candle stick holders:

 

 

 

I then glued them together some DT super glue:

 

 

Once the glue had time to dry, I spray painted them Catalina Mist (satin), which is a fun minty, light green:

 

 

The spray paint really made all the details on the piece pop...I just love it!!  What do you all think? Isn't this one of the easiest DIYs ever?!  If you give it a try, let me know how it goes :-)

~Kendra~

Simple Candle Update

When getting married, you receive tons and tons of gifts...we loved and appreciated all the beautiful gifts.  I decided to take this one in particular, which I got from my sweet aunt and uncle as part of an amazing gift basket, and add a little more to it.  It's a simple candle with a little black ribbon bow.

 

I wanted to add a little something special to make it stand out in our new future home.  I took some silver flat head tacks (left over from the cork board update) and stuck them in around the bottom edge of the candle in a single row.  Here's how it looks now:

 

 

 

It's a very subtle difference, but adds a fun touch! This project is so simple, less than 5 minutes, and could be done is so many patterns and designs.  I want to try adding a chevron pattern to one as well. Have u tried adding pins or tacks into plain candles to add some interest?  How'd yours turn out?

~Kendra~

It all comes back around

Yup, things around the Taylor house seem to always come back around.  When I went to college, my mom let me go to Target to pick out everything for my dorm room and I scored this adorable shiny silvery shower curtain. I used it all through college.  After college, it started it's second life as a fun side drape in my apartment window.  Then when I got married, it became a funky tablecloth.  Yup, that little shower curtain has seen many changes.  I finally decided to cut it up. No, don't worry. It's not going to it's final resting place yet...it's just starting another new life.  It's now the lovely cover for our cork board that's part of our family organization station.  So here she is in  all her new silvery glory.

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As you can tell, it's not plain silver now. I spray painted some fun striped to make it more cohesive with the rest of the room where it will be.  I also added the awesome silver flat head tacks around the edge, which I think adds a fun touch.

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Have u updated a cork board lately?  How'd you do it?  I'd love to hear all about it.

~Kendra~

Creating organization from chaos

Ok, so our routine around here is far from chaos, but hey-everyone has room for improvement when it comes to keeping your family organized whether it's a little family of 2 like ours or a larger family of 5 or so. I decided to start working on a family organization station, which I plan to put in our laundry/mud room.  I wanted it to be easily accessible, useful and still pretty. Here's what I've got going so far...

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From left to right: DIY Mail organizer, word art, chalkboard buckets, a cork board, a menu planner and monthly calendar.

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I so wish I had a picture of the mail organizer before. I got it at the thrift store for about $3. It was an outdated dark wood finished.  I simply painted it white and added chalkboard painted rectangles on the front of each section for even better organization. 

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The art was on the entry table at our wedding ceremony and I just love it.  I got it at Marshalls during our engagement.

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Next, I found these great chalkboard buckets in the $1 section at Target....score!! Got the cork board with a wedding gift card to Bed, Bath and Beyond.  Then I just printed the menu planner and calendar.  Did you know you can use dry erase markers on the glass in picture frames....works perfectly!!

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Do you have a family organization station? If so, does it really help? Any tips?

~Kendra~

Gallery Wall, Take One

I have been so inspired by all the beautiful gallery walls I've seen online, my fav is definitely Young House Love's version that you can see here: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/04/its-done-and-we-heart-it/

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I decide to start working on one for when we move into our new home.  I purchased most of the frames at Dollar Tree and a few at Target.  They were either purchased gray or spray painted to match. Much like YHL's version, so far, I have tried to incorporate pretty prints, quotes and family pictures...I'm loving it, but it's definitely still got a ways to go.  Here's how it's looking:

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In the top left there's a calendar with our wedding date circled, there's pictures of us, a drawing my bestie did of the hubs and I back in college on the bottom left and much more....

 

What do you think?  Do you have a gallery wall in your home?

~Kendra~