Guest Bedroom Inspiration

I have a May deadline for my craft and guest room project. Why May? Because we have friends coming back to visit us and I am embarrassed they had to sleep in The Room Where Furniture Goes To Die when they visited last summer.

Embarrassment lit the fire under my keester to do something with this room other than be overwhelmed with indecision, slam the door shut so I don't have to look at it, and bury my face in a bowl of freshly popped Amish popcorn.

I'm hitting a roadblock because the smallest bedroom in the house has to function as both my craft room and as a guest bedroom. To jog my brain in the Not Screaming in Panic direction, I am treating this room as two separate spaces. I did a virtual shopping spree with items I like for each room. I did not pay attention to eco friendly materials or price. I picked out a bunch of stuff I like without rhyme or reason. Then I edited my selections. I tossed the items that didn't go together and created a retro mod craft room inspiration board. I followed the same procedure for a guest bedroom.

Washi Paper Easter Egg

Spent more than two seconds on Pinterest (give me a follow please?) and you will find a super cute washi (pronounced wah-shee) tape something or other. I learned about washi when I visited Japan.

My hostess made and gave me a washi paper Easter egg because I spent Easter break in Japan. Fun fact: I had two Easters that year because I flew over the International Date Line on the flight home.

What is Washi?

Garage Door Dining Room Table

It is no secret that I am not in love with my dining room table. It needs refinishing or repainting or hacked to pieces with an ax to fit my design aesthetic.

But I don't own an ax.

Husband won't let me replace it because he spent his kid life eating around that very table. I respect that and  use a table cloth instead. It looks much better and is way cheaper than buying a new table. It is less work than refinishing or repainting it too - for now.

I use this tablecloth all the time.

My mom embroidered this tablecloth before I was born. 

That doesn't stop me from window drooling shopping over new tables. Especially when they are made from repurposed materials.

Washi Tape Dog Treat Box

Introducing the newest must have accessory for spring – the washi tape dog training treat box!

Husband said he was surprised I waited two whole days after we adopted Lacey to make her something. What can I say? I’m a maker.

I asked Lisa to reuse this photo of me because I am sometimes a little shy when she pulls out her camera.
You can read my story here.

Finally Curbside Recycling!

Hey, waitaminute Ms. Green Blogger I thought you already recycled?

Yep. We do.

We bagged our paper, glass, metal, and plastic, stuck it in the car trunk, and drove it to a city dumpster because the paid subscription service was so unreliable even die hard greenies gave up on it. The freebie dumpster option worked OK unless we got busy and the recycling piled up or I forgot to drop it off at the dumpster while running errands. I can't tell you how many times I drove around town with trash in my trunk until I remembered I had trash in my trunk.

Not to mention the other items we collect and drop off for recycling at local stores:

1. Plastic cosmetic tubes can be recycled at any Origins store or counter
2. Hard plastic bottle caps can be recycled at any Aveda store
3. Batteries can be recycled at Easton Town Center (local folks) and any Batteries Plus store
4. CFLs can be recycled at any Home Depot store
5. Lithium ion batteries (for tools) can be recycled at any Home Depot store
6. Eyeglasses can be recycled through the Lion's Club (your eye doctor may have a bin in their office.) The Lion's Club regrinds the lens and gives the glasses to needy people.
7. Number 5 plastic can be recycled at Whole Foods through Preserve's Gimmie 5 Program

This isn't as crazy as it sounds (I hope) because I combine trips to a city dumpster with recycling items one through three at the mall and do a little window shopping while I'm at it (I leave my debit card at home to make sure it is just window shopping and not buying out Celebrate Local.) I don't often have items four through six, item seven is new for us. The city recycling program takes #5 bottles but not #5 tubs.

Meet Lacey

Pitter patter pitter patter romp romp romp.

“BARK!”

Say hello to our new dog Lacey!

Hello, my name is Lacey. 

She’s recycled :)

Lacey is an 11 month old fearful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dachshund mix. Look at the long and luscious legs on this girl!