Month in review and winners!

Helloooo! Are you ready for some weekend?! I am – and it’s going to be a busy one. Today was hubby’s birthday and we have the Bub’s birthday party and a holiday show tomorrow.

Have I mentioned our family has seven major events in December? My step-brother’s birthday, my hubby’s birthday, my son’s birthday, my nephew’s birthday, our anniversary, Christmas and then New Years.

Whew. We are not the best planners. ;)

I’m back today to share the month of November in review, but first I need to share all of the winners of the Thanksgiving week giveaways!

$50 to Kirkland's: Jenny at cjy5787 (at) gmail (dot) com
$100 to Dimples and Dandelions: Lisalulu at The Davis Dialogues
Free ticket to the Haven Conference next year: Becky at Organizing Made Fun
$50 to Old Time Pottery: Angela at Decorating Cents
$150 to MirrorMate: Elizabeth with Keeping up with the Joneses
$50 to Target from Hometalk: scg00387 (at) yahoo (dot) com
$50 to Back 40 Life: Jennibell at Jenni’s Seasons
$50 to Wuslu.com: Cathy at cathysimpson100 (at) yahoo (dot) com
$50 to Wuslu.com: Joyce at joycehackley (at) msn (dot) com

Whew! (Again.) Winners, please email me at thriftydecorchick (at) gmail (dot) com and I’ll get you connected!

Now, the November in review. Cause I know you are just on PINS AND NEEDLES!! Or something like that.

First up, I shared how I’ve been cleaning our new floors – this steam mop is rocking my world!:

A few of you asked about using the steam mop on the floors. I did a bunch of research before I decided to use this one – because it uses so little steam on the wood option, I feel comfortable using it. Our floors were also finished on site and have a good seal.

Annnnd…if you know how often I clean the floors, you’d know there’s little worry about damaging them. That’s all I gotta say about that. :)

If you have wood or laminate floors I encourage you to do your own research and decide if it’s right for you!

Next up, we announced our upcoming holiday shindig!:

My pals Kate, Layla and Rhoda and I are joining up again to celebrate the season! I have my mantel ready (OMG…I love it.) but I need to get moving on the table setting. Hope the weather cooperates this weekend cause I need to spray paint a TON.

At the November before and after party, I showed you how I transformed the Craigslist dresser in the office with some half off knobs from Hob Lob:

I still can’t believe the difference they made! Love the pops of white on the black dresser:

Be sure to check out the more than 500 posts that folks linked up! So much talent out there, it’s astounding!!

Then I shared my design confusion – our house is a mix of farmhouse, traditional, modern, industrial and a bunch of other styles:

No matter what my style is, it’s warm and cozy and we love it!

Next up I shared an update on our debt free story and paid it forward a little:

Pretty awesome. :)

I showed you here how I changed up a clearanced out Pottery Barn bath caddy and made it work for the art supplies:

Many of you asked how I can keep this stuff out where the Bub can get to it so easily. Well, he’s almost five, so there’s not much danger of drawing on the walls anymore. And his entire life, he’s never gotten into stuff like this. I never have to worry about him – and YES I know how awesome (and crazy!) that is. :)

I shared how I installed the peel and stick tile in our laundry room next:

It’s still going strong! And it still looks JUST like real tile. And I still big fat love it!

After the holiday, I shared what I had been up to for a couple weeks:

With some help, we were able to enclose our formerly SO ANNOYING corner fireplace and make into a real fireplace:

And yes, I still stare at it every time I walk in the room. I think this is one of my top three changes I’ve made to this house.

This week I also shared horrible pictures of my hands:

OK, you should be looking at the nails, not the hands. ;) This polish is still going strong! My Sis and I put up our tree today and that did take a bit of a toll on them – they’re definitely more scratched up. But overall they still look fantastic, considering it’s been two weeks since I had them painted.

I ended the month by sharing how I use our year-round accessories to decorate for Christmas:

I feel so behind this year with the holiday decor, but I’m staring at the beautiful tree right now as I type, and I can’t help feeling totally chill about the whole thing. I’m certainly enjoying the process. :)

So there you go! Hope one of these posts helped or inspired you in some way!

I’ll let you all know when the Before and After Party will be next week – I’m thinking Monday evening, but with Layla’s party I need to figure out the timing. Be back soon!

Hollaaaa!

Month(s) In Review!

Hello hello! I’m back with another month in review – but this one is two, YES, two times the fun because I’m reviewing all of the projects and posts from September and October. I kinda forgot about September. ;)

Because I’ve got so many to mention, I’m going to keep the talking to a minimum. I know. Don’t be sad.

I started off September by showing off the lovely Tracie from Cleverly Inspired:

Then I showed you the new light over the kitchen table:

I shared some SCRUMPTIOUS crock pot recipes:

Next up was the easiest but most time consuming fall wreath evah:

I shared some personal pics of the Ground Zero Museum here:

And showed you my DIY pallet table and what I ended up with instead:

I asked for your advice on our new floors here:

(Some great thoughts in the comments if you are looking into hardwood floors!)

After the water fiasco in the kitchen, we got our beadboard island back:

I spruced up the front landscaping by simplifying (and adding a little mulch):

Our long backyard projects were finally complete, and I showed you the deck here:

Next, I got my craft on with some candy corn goodies:

Because the old fridge was shot, we had to get a new one. And I’m in luuuuurve:

I forgot to mention in the post that it’s a Kenmore Elite – 31 cubic feet of space baby! And yes, I still love it. :)

The patio (and fireplace!!) reveal were up next:

I made another fall wreath, and this one went much faster:

October was kicked off with ghosts in the trees at the Before and After Party:

I showed you our new peel and stick tile in the laundry room:

I haven’t forgotten about the tutorial – it’s coming soon!

And then we partied like rock stars at the Fall Outdoor Spaces link up:

I finally finished up a job I was dreading – painting the beadboard in the office. I made it go super fast by using my paint sprayer:

Even though took a week, I knew having our floors finished on site was the right decision when I saw them installed:

I showed you how I transformed the front door from brown to red in this post:

While I was waiting on the stain to dry, I shared my top ten basic tools with you:

And then the floors were done! And I was in love:

That room already looks different. (Just a smidge.) Show you soon! :)

I took advantage of the furniture being out of the family room and moved the roman shades and drapes up to let in more light:

Last week I brought them back…the Halloween mice! This time with a little bling:

I shared our fun and easy pumpkin carving party:

And then ended October by sharing my last minute Halloween display:

And now I need a nap. :)

That’s the past two months in a nice long little post! Wow, I had a lot of energy. ;)

Here’s to a FABULOUS November!

August in Review!

Well hello! Another month has come and gone and THANK GOD, it’s September!! Although Mother Nature got all sassy pants and our temps went from comfortable 80’s to 100 degrees every day for the next three days.

Har har…very funny Mo Nature. Hilarious.

The good news – next week we’ll be in the 70’s! Ah yes, temps fluctuating 30 degrees in a matter of days – that’s Indiana for you.

The end of another month means another month in review…because you can’t be missing a TDC project. Your life would fall to pieces. Believe you me.

We kicked off the month with 400 fantastic projects at the August Before and After Party. My friend Traci and I transformed the pleather parson’s chair in my office and I LOVE IT:

 

Did I mention the only sewing was hemming the bottom? And that could have been done with hemming tape. We were just being fancy schmancy with the machine. ;)

Next up I showed you how I start projects and leave them for weeks and months and half a year:

Our powder room has been torn up for about six months. I think. I’ve lost track, it’s been so long. I was happy to learn I am not alone!

I did complete something outside, and that was making a wood tabletop for our metal tables:

The metal tables are actually ottoman bases that came with our outdoor set. I think they’re much more practical used as a table, and I love the rustic look!

I shared the small transformations that made up much of the family room redo – and most of them involved spray paint. (Shocking.) My fun vintage lamp has gone through quite a few changes over the years:

Who knows what color it will be next! ;)

A few of us are back yet again with another series of blogland linky parties – this time with a FALL theme!:

Whoo!! I actually took a trip to Hob Lob today to gather supplies to make a couple fall wreaths. I had specific ideas when I walked in, but walked out with new thoughts running through my head so we’ll see how they turn out. ;)

We are SO excited about the upcoming Haven Conference next summer – tickets went on sale a couple of weeks ago and last I heard there are still some available:

I am SO excited to meet so many of you and put actual people with the faces on your blogs. :)

I got to hang with my blog friend Myra at Midland Antiques here in Indy a few weeks ago and I shared some of my finds with you here:

Ohhh…my lovely island. I miss it. Sniff.

I was tricky tricky and put my own spin on Pottery Barn pillows by making some with their napkins and placemats:

Many of their table linens match their pillow selection, so it’s such a thrifty solution! I picked up more for the family room too. ;)

Next, I shared the progress on our HUGE outdoor project:

It’s big and awesome and mostly done – the landscaping is waiting on the deck which has been waiting on the patio…it’s all very confusing. But so far we LOVE IT SO MUCH!!

I am ready for it all to be done, that is for sure! But it is going to be so fantastic and I can’t wait to show you.

My Dad and I completed a project for the deck that I couldn’t be more pleased with – the DIY Pottery Barn potting bench. (Say that three times fast.)

Dad took my inspiration and we created our own, for about $900 cheaper:

 

I’ve decided to just seal it and leave it as is – it’s just too lovely to mess with!

My big decluttering project for the month wasn’t even a room in our house – it’s my clutter nemesis and it’s THE CAR:

People – it’s been NINE days and it’s still clutter-free!! It’s definitely work to keep it that way, but so far so good!! I can’t believe it. :)

We ended the month on a wet note. What started with the fridge failing turned into this:

Hence the missing kitchen island.

We’ve ordered the new fridge, but it won’t be delivered for two weeks. And we’re still waiting to hear from the adjuster – I’m SO anxious to get this moving along. The blowers are gone, so that’s a step in the right direction – at least we can hear each other. ;)

But again, in the scheme of life, it’s just a bump – we’re so thankful it wasn’t worse!

And finally, I shared a few of the bloggy tools I use all the time:

I hope you found them helpful!

And there. you. go. – all of August wrapped up in one tidy post. Thanks for coming along for another month with me! (And August just happened to be the biggest traffic month ever at TDC – thanks to you!)

If you have any questions about a project from last month, please leave them in the comments!

I hope to share some big reveals coming up in the next few weeks! Crossing my fingers that one is a non plywood floor. ;)

Are you ready for September?!  I may have bought a caramel apple today to celebrate. :)