I was playing in the park with my girl a few weeks ago, and noticed the beauty of the fallen leaves from a nearby magnolia tree.   It was instant inspiration!  Up close, I loved the shape and caramel color of the leaves so I thought they would make a perfect wreath for our front door.  

This year, my requirements for a fall wreath were this: cheap and easy !   Here’s this year’s front door wreath, and the best part is that it cost me less than $5 dollars. 

Some of the magnolia leaves have a bit of shimmer . . . I couldn’t resist enhancing many of them with a little metallic craft paint.  

I simply painted some of the leaves with various craft paints from my stash.

Then I wiped off half the paint with a paper towel to highlight the leaf’s natural beauty.

A little hot glue on an 18 inch craft ring from Michaels . . .

90 minutes later: a shimmery caramel colored front door wreath, tied up with braided jute twine and secured to the door with a 3M adhesive hook.  

Easy, inexpensive, and oh-so-autumn! 

Magnolia leaves hold their shape for several months, so this year’s version should (fingers crossed) last through the season.  

Are you finally ready for autumn too ?   What are your plans to bring fall into your home this year?  Do share !

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Second, the winners of the Gussy Giveaway from last week are lucky #73 Jen from Coastal Lust and #340 Aimee from Life As An Oakes.  Congratulations Jen and Aimee!

Finally, today as part of the Fantastic Feature series, I bring you an incredible DIY kitchen makeover from Modern Jane.   Jane enlisted the help of her brother and her dad to transform her dated kitchen with plywood, pine, and plenty of Zinsser primer.  She even pieced together her new countertop with pine stair treads ! 

Before: 

After:

Incredible ! 

How gorgeous is all that white cabinetry that her brother built?  Love that chandy too!  You can check out the part one of Jane’s remodel here, and the end of her story in this reveal post. 

Bravo Jane, what a beautiful result !  Hop on over to Jane’s blog to tell her what an amazing job she did with a little vision and a lot of elbow grease !

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I’m totally wiped.  I’m completely beat.  And I bow to any Mom with more than two children in their custody, especially if they are rambunctious adolescent boys.  

That said, I do declare I love being an Auntie.  To me, being an Auntie must be like being a grandparent. 

I get to spoil them with treats and delight in their mischief, then happily hand them over to their parents at day’s end.  Now that I enjoy.

There’s a local novelty sweet shop they beg me to visit.  Call me irresponsible, but I indulge them. 

There they buy very boyish treats like monster gummy snakes.  I marvel how they possibly digest them, even if snacked on over the course of a weekend.  

My nephews live for harmless pranks to play on obliging older cousins.   

I know, it’s shocking, shameful, and disgusting.

And hysterical. 

I’d pay anything for just an ounce of their energy.  

We picnicked with my Mom at a favorite local cheese factory today, where I finally got them to sit still for a few moments.      

See how my nephews look adoringly into my eyes, idolizing me for my coolness. 

I make them repeat over and over how I’m their most favorite Aunt.

They totally love me. 

And the feeling is mutual. 

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So . . . . last week I had a spontaneous idea to have a ‘Where Do You Blog? Party ~ I hope there are some of you who are ready to link up your spaces !

As for me, I spend most of my morning and weekend blogging hours in my home office, but when the kids are home from school, many afternoons I plug in at the island in our kitchen in order to check emails and keep an eye on all the activity in our home, plus prep dinner and check on homework progress.  Yes, I move back and forth, but it works for me !

What about you?  Where do you put in most of your blogging hours?  At the kitchen table?  In a home office ?  Have you claimed a desk, closet, or room and styled it with your favorite things?  If you work outside the home, how is your office space organized?   

What corner of your world have you dedicated to spending time online?

Link party will be up through the end of Wednesday Sept 1st.

Go ahead and link up your space for all to see !

Meanwhile, for your enjoyment, I bring you the one and only Gussy !  You know, Gussy! 

Have you read her startup story?  Quite compelling, definitely inspiring! 

Why is her name ‘Gussy’ ?   Glad you asked, the answer is here. 

Gussy’s one-of-a-kind designs are a hot commodity, and now you get a chance to get your hands on some goodies from her shop.  Each signature Gussy ruffle is machine sewn free-hand style, making each one unique, and adds just that perfect detail !

Two winners will receive a $50 dollar shop credit.

Eligibility to win one of two $50 credits to Gussy – the Shop.

1) Hop to the Gussy shop and pick a favorite item.  Leave a comment telling which one.

2) For a second chance to win, either tweet this giveaway on Twitter with a link, or post this giveaway on Facebook, then leave a second comment telling where you linked (Twitter or FB).

3) For a third chance to win, follow Gussy on Twitter or ‘like’ her Facebook Fan Page, then leave a comment stating where you follow.

* Blankets excluded, sorry. 

Giveaway ends Monday August 30th at 8 p.m. PST.  Two winners chosen by Random.org.  US and Canada only. 

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As for me, I’m hoping to make some good money at my yard sale. 

Momma needs a new iPhone. 

Yet again, I shopped my house for the perfect solution.  We had a tall tower made up of stackable cabinets (purchased here five years ago) that used to sit in the playroom, but since I now want to find a desk in there for homework and art projects, I decided to repurpose these honey wood cabinets for the lad’s room instead. 

Their size couldn’t be more perfect ~ they now sit right next to his closet on a narrow patch of wall space.  Problem ?   They were all scuffed up and I couldn’t visualize the the honey stain look in his room.  And if I don’t get to paint something at least once a month, I start to twitch.   

Some primer, paint, and crown molding transformed these cabinets in a weekend, and gave his room the splash of color it needed, plus the tower provides fantastic storage for all those toys, books, and collected treasures.

Before & After:

The interior paint came from a sample found at True Value ~ it’s called ‘New Orleans’.   Once the cabinetry was primed (oil based Zinsser) and painted white, I enlisted the little guy’s help. 

I also added some crown molding to the top just to fancy it up a bit.  My kitchen cabinet installer taught me this little trick for adding crown to a cabinet.  These particular cube sections have a rippled edge on top, so there was no flat front section to attach the crown.   No worries.  We simply built a frame out of 1 x 2” strips of wood, and attached that to the top of the cabinet.  

Notice how I can’t be bothered to paint the back of a cabinet that you’ll never see . . .

We allowed just enough space on top and around the frame for the crown to ‘sit’ on.  We cut our crown at a 45 degree angle with the compound miter saw and attached it with finish nails to the frame.   Caulk or spackle any gaps, then paint.   

And since we live in earthquake country, for safety, I screwed the top cabinet to the wall with some of those Velcro straps. 

The perfect stylish storage solution !

I love love love the bright green interior, and the fresh white paint up against his blue walls !! 

Momma and her little mister are quite happy now that his toys finally have a home.

Ah, the magical power of paint.   

Because just like where you sleep, where you spend a healthy amount of hours staring at a computer screen is a reflection of who you are.   Yesterday, I tweeted a question:  who is interested in a “Where Do You Blog?” linky party where you show your little nook or corner of your home or office?   Plenty of peeps replied “Me!”

I find this question fascinating, because we are all so different, we have various lifestyles, and yet we all have a certain place we’ve reserved where we connect online with each other.

Where do you sit down in front of a screen to connect with of the rest of the world?

So here is the challenge for the weekend:

Linky Party on Monday August 30th !

Have you carved out a little space to call your own ?  Perhaps you dream of a perfect closet space like this one from Country Living.

Perhaps you’ve styled an amazing space you’d love to share!  Or perhaps you simply belly up to the dining room table with a hot cup of tea.  Great !  Cause guess what?  I’ll let you in on a little secret.  As much as I love my home office, and even though I spend most daytime hours and late night hours writing in this space . . .

. . .  when the kids are home from school I find it works much better for me to plug in my laptop on the kitchen island.   It’s the one place I can prep dinner, check emails, monitor homework, raise my eyebrows at any child attempting to raid the pantry, and play referee during TV hour.

What about you?   If you’re a busy multitasking mom, where do you steal a little time online?  If you’re a career gal, how have you personalized your office space?  If you’re a part time or full time blogger, what are your tips for a comfortable workspace ?

Snap a photo and tell us your story !

Tell us not only where you blog, but why  you blog in that place.  What makes your space special to you?   What would you improve?   If you hate it, what are your plans for improvement? If you love it, why?

I’ll put the linky party on Sunday night for everyone to link up their little office nook, large, or small, simple or grand.    If you’re not a blogger, feel free to post a picture of your workspace on my Facebook Fan Page, I’d love to see it !

Sound like fun ? 

I’ll post the linky party Sunday evening.

A very sweet giveaway coming later today . . . here’s a clue: she’s a character from Charlotte’s Web.  Intrigued ?  Stay tuned !

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In the Pine Cone Hill Giveaway, #327: Jessica B. who wrote:

“Lenox, Links, Scramble…oh my, they are all lovely. Thanks !”

The winner of the Wine Country Pantry Giveaway is #79: Rachel F. 

In addition to winning all the goodies, Rachel also posed this question with her entry:  

“As we continue through grad school we are still renting housing and it is becoming a bore, and quite frankly getting me down on my decorating abilities.  White stark walls, cement walls, old dingy cabinets, etc.   What in the world can I do to make this temporary home my own ?”

Great question Rachel!  You have the same dilemma many renters face:  turning white walls into a stylish and comfortable home that you want to return to at day’s end.   There’s not much you can do to dingy cabinets in a rental without permission to paint, beyond giving them a good scrub.  As for white walls ?  There’s a lot that can be done to bring warmth, color, pattern, and style to your abode. 

My Best Tips for Decorating with White Walls: 

Splurge on a Colorful Patterned Rug.   Pick a bold color or interesting design you love, then go for it !  These two examples by Pottery Barn and West Elm are staged on wood floors, but you’ll have a harder time noticing your less than desirable rental flooring with area rugs like these.   Plus, you’ll anchor your seating area and brighten your space.

Use Wallpaper Strategically.   There’s no need to apply wallpaper directly to your walls to make an impact.  Be more creative by applying wallpaper to plywood or a large canvas.  Tacking trim or molding around the perimeter with brad nails finishes the edges and does no more damage than ordinary picture frames or art ~ tiny holes are easily repaired with spackling when moving out. 

Or you could starch fabric onto your walls to get a wallpapered look, and remove it when you leave ~ instructions here.

Decorate with Patterned Panels.  White walls are the perfect backdrop to showcase beautiful fabrics.  Introduce pattern and add interest to your windows with your treatments of choice, whether it’s bold color or a subtle graphic design.  

Accessorize with Fabric and Color.   This is the most obvious, but most effective way to design around your white walled space.   Choose non-neutral furnishings upholstered with colored fabrics, then add pillows, throws, lamps, glass bottles or vases, and fresh flowers ~ these are the simplest ways to bring color into your nest.  

Texture counts too ~ bring in natural fibers like sisal rugs or baskets, soft yarns, and silks.  Don’t forget how easy it is to use spray paint to change the color of just about anything, whether it’s picture frames, lamps, or thrift store finds. 

Paint a Piece of Furniture.   I’m always inspired by furniture makers that offer finishes beyond stained wood, basic black or white finishes.   Take a cue from Somerset Bay, The New Traditionalists, and Oomph ~ paint an ordinary piece with a fresh modern color and marvel how it makes the room. 

Swap or Add a Light Fixture.   If it’s the brassy nightmare in the foyer that gets your goat, or the majorly outdated chandelier that you stare at over your breakfast table, consider replacing it.  I highly recommend a professional electrician do the swap for you when your working with someone else’s wires.  You can always make the switch back when you leave, and keep your fancy fixture for your next place. 

If not, keep in mind there are plenty of options for plug-in chandeliers (available at Shades of Light or Lamps Plus) that add style and simply suspend from a ceiling hook.      

Inject Your Personality.  The very best way to turn someone else’s white walls into your  home is to fill it with things that are dear to you.  Your favorite art, pictures of loved ones, your coziest pillows, throws, and collected treasures, fun fabric covered canvases, even whimsical streamers or bunting.   Anything that makes you smile should be your guide.

For Now, Embrace the White.   So you are dying to add color to your walls, but you’re unable.  Paint on the walls adds color and certainly adds drama, but remember that white walls are serene, so don’t see them as plain, see them as a blank canvas to showcase your creativity.   Then accessorize ! 

Get Inspired.  Take a cue from bloggers like Nester, Erin, and Jenny who are presently renting, but have never let that stop them from transforming their spaces into homes with personality and plenty of great style.  

images here and here

One final note.  If you find you really really really neeeeeed  to have color on your walls, then ask your property manager if you can paint.  When I was renting an apartment during law school, I asked the manager if I could paint one wall a pale green.  I showed him the paint sample and even agreed to paint it back to white when I left.  He agreed!  

My sister has done the same thing with her rental home of two years.   She approached the landlord with a paint sample and he agreed to let them paint the bedrooms a pale blue, without an agreement to repaint when they leave.  They’re great tenants, and he saw that the new paint could add value.  

If you’ve signed a long term rental, your manager or landlord may agree to allow for painting walls, but he or she may ask for additional security deposit.   If you approach the topic, you may get lucky.   It simply doesn’t hurt to ask !

Calling all renters, past and present, let’s hear from you.  What’s your best tip for decorating with white walls?   Do share ! 

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Time for another Fantastic Feature, today it’s Cassie from Hi Sugarplum. 

As you know, I’m in the middle of decorating my boy’s room, so Cassie’s spruced up space couldn’t be better timed!  I do love an inspiring makeover done on a budget !

Cassie writes:

“It seems like only yesterday I was decorating my son’s nursery, but now he’s nine, so it was time to kiss the ‘sweetness’ good-bye.   While he was visiting his grandparents for two weeks, we surprised him with a room makeover suitable for a big guy.  And the best part is, by using items from our house, updating his existing stuff, and shopping smart….the total bill for the room came to under $300!

Before:

After:

Don’t you love the bold orange and brown stripes behind the bed?  That’s a ‘wow factor’ indeed !  Cassie revamped her boy’s dresser (read all about it here), recovered corkboards in burlap and a map, and made curtains out of drop cloths ~ this room is perfect for a nine year old boy.   Bravo Cassie !   The full story of the transformation can be read over at Cassie’s blog Hi Sugarplum, plus don’t miss the expression on her son’s face at the reveal !  PRICELESS !!

Coming up next, the winners of the last two giveaways will be announced, plus one reader’s question will be answered, so stay tuned !!

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DiggersList is the new online construction classifieds ~ in essence, the ‘Craigslist’ for DIYers searching for discount home improvement supplies.  At DiggersList you can browse for tools, materials, heavy equipment, and list what you’re looking for too, all at less than retail prices. 

For those of us needing to save a buck or two, DiggersList is worthy of your visit. 

I did a little *digging* myself and sent over a few questions to founder Matthew Knox. 

Q:  Tell us how you came up with the idea for DiggersList.  What’s your company’s philosophy?

I used to be an insurance broker for contractors and would hear them say all the time that they would have excess building materials left over after every project, and not just bricks & lumber …but also tile, fixtures, cabinetry, etc., and they did not have a good place to sell it.  

So, they would either store it or throw it away contributing to the 160 million tons of construction related waste each year.

The same goes for most DIY projects, we all usually end up with more than we need. So, I teamed up with my brother Johnnie and we created DiggersList.com, a home improvement classifieds.   We are DIYers ourselves, so if we can save money on some great improvement items and have a have a positive environmental impact, we are in.

Q:  How is DiggersList better for DIYers and builders than Craigslist?

The biggest reason DiggersList is better for DIYers and builders is that we are 100% specific to home improvement.   Craigslist is a great general classifieds (I use them for selling computers and bicycles), but when it has to do with home improvement or DIY, with DiggersList you don’t have to wade through unrelated categories.      

Q:  Who can list their leftover construction materials on your site?  Are retailers allowed to promote their products ?    

Everyone is welcome to post and it’s free. Most or our posters are DIYers, homeowners, contractors, architectural salvagers, and suppliers.   I should mention that we have a great relationship with the Habitat for Humanity ReStores and about 50 of them post on our site around the country.  They sell their donated building materials and home improvement items on DiggersList for about 50% less than you would find at a Home Depot.

Yes, we do get some retailers that post items that they are discounting or blowing out, but DiggersList is not the place to post standard retail priced items. 

Currently, DiggersList has listings in the following cities:

Q:   What are the projections for growth to suburban cities and towns?

Right now we are in 31 cities in 20 states, in the next 12 months we will expand to 224 cities across the country.   In addition, we are working on opening up some cities in Canada very soon.  One of the "decision tools" we use for deciding which city to open next is the "suggest a city" button on our front page.  Last month we received more than 600 new city requests.  

Q:  Are there any built in review measures for vendors to protect buyers, or is it a ‘caveat emptor’ model like Craigslist?

We currently don’t have a built in review system, however you can make a comment on any listing that is posted. Johnnie and I are talking about ways that we can utilize a traditional site wide review system that takes advantage of social network as well, but it’s still in the development stage. As with any purchase, the buyer should be aware, and if you don’t have a lot of knowledge about what your purchasing, take someone with you that does.

Q:  What other services or resources does your site provide ? 

The Good Samaritan Option: when you post something for sale on DiggersList, you can check the "Good Samaritan Option", which will send you an email in a pre-selected period of time.  If your item has not sold, you can convert it into a "Donation Offer" to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.   You can also just go to the "Donation Center" in any city and just donate it as opposed to posting it for sale.  

CG Note:  I just paid a visit to my local Habitat for Humanity Restore thanks to listings on DiggersList where I spied all sorts of goodies for remodelers.

There is also a widget tool that any user can copy and paste onto their website, and syndicate anything they post on DiggersList to their own website as well, so essentially, anyone can have a free storefront in a matter of minutes. 

Q:   What makes you most proud about your startup idea ?

I am most proud of the fact that Johnnie (my business partner) and I have created a website that helps people save or even make a little money on DIY and home improvement projects, while have a real environmental impact by providing a place for some building materials to get a second life.

Also, knowing that we have been able to benefit and help facilitate donations to the Habitat for Humanity ReStores feels so great. That fact that my brother and I built it together and get to spend time on it every day is icing on the cake!

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And hey, guess what?  DiggersList even has a new blog combining their listings with design ideas.  Cool!

I know there’s a lot of you DIYers out there looking to buy or sell tools or materials, so bookmark DiggersList as a resource that caters to us remodelers and obsessive home improvers.  

In fact, thanks to DiggersList, I’m now connected to all the latest listings at my local Habitat for Humanity Restore where just last week I scored some inexpensive (and even free!) light fixtures!  

Nothin’ like having that extra tool in your belt, right? 

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