Craft Room Tour

Welcome to my craft room! I'm excited to finally share my happy space with you! 

Hello, friends! This craft room has been a long time in the making, and I am beyond excited to finally share it with you all. It has been a lot of fun (and a lot of work) to transform this empty canvas of a room into something that is so perfect for me. It's got lots of organization, bright pops of color, handmade decor, and creative trinkets that are so.... me! I hope you love it as much as I do!

Summertime Lawn Care Tips

Make your yard ready for summer parties with these helpful Summertime Lawn Care Tips!

 

 

While I've been working on decorating the inside of our house, my husband is a pro at making the outside look fantastic. Summertime is when we spend most of our time outside, working to make our yards look their best. So, I've teamed up with my husband to bring you some handy tips and tricks to help you make your yard healthy and ready for summer parties. Plus, I'm excited to show you our newest Husqvarna Automower that is going to save us HOURS on our lawn care routine!!

The Easy Way to Paint a Bathroom

This post is sponsored by HomeRight. All opinions are my own.

We recently remodeled our master bathroom. Besides choosing the tile, my favorite part of the renovation was painting. It was a tough choice choosing a color, but we finally decided on Behr's Silent Breeze. Painting can be a lot of work, but with the right tools, you can have the job done in no time. Today I'm going to share some tips to help you paint your next project the easy way.

The HomeRight® PaintStick EZ-Twist Paint Applicator is one of the coolest painting tools I've used. Save time and paint your walls in a third of the time without the mess that comes with traditional trays and rollers. The paint is held in the handle of the roller with an EZ-Twist feature to easily control the paint flow. This really makes painting incredibly easy and quick!

First things first - paint. For a bathroom, I would recommend using a paint with a semi-gloss finish because of all the moisture and it's a space that is usually cleaned more frequently than other rooms. As far as supplies go, you can save money by just using the PaintStick EZ-Twist Paint Roller and your gallon of paint.

With the roller comes a lid with a fill tube to fit right over the paint can. The fill tube fits into the paint roller handle to pull the paint in, so you don't have to pour or bend over to get paint onto the roller. Once you're done painting, the lid is washable so you can use it again and again.

Getting the paint into the handle is simple. In the handle itself, the black section pictured is the fill port. It contains a spongy port that is placed over the fill tube on the paint can at a 45º angle. Gently pull the end of the handle and watch the paint pour in! No mess, and very minimal effort on your part. 

The paint roller is also unique with how the perforated roller cover allows paint to flow through the roller cover to add the paint onto the wall or surface being painted or stained. (This roller won't work with non-perforated rollers.) There's also a snap-on splatter shield to fit around the roller to help prevent any paint drips or splatters while you work.

To get the paint to start flowing, slowly twist the end of the handle to push the paint up through the roller. The paint will start to show through the roller and you can start rolling paint onto the walls. When the handle runs out of paint, simply refill and keep going. The PaintStick EZ-Twist is also a wonderful roller to use on ceilings. Since you don't have to stop to mess with a tray, so you're saving lots of time and pain in your back!

Our first coat of paint took around 30 minutes, which included a bit of learning as we went. Put the excess paint back into the can by placing the handle onto the fill tube and twisting the handle. The paint will empty back into the can easily without a mess. We left it to dry for a couple of hours, and came back to add another coat. By the end of the evening, the bathroom was painted! All that was left was the corners and edges.

Painting edges/cutting in a room are probably the most frustrating part of painting for me. I end up messing up part of the wall, or don't get it looking as clean as I'd like. With the HomeRight® QuickPainter Pad Edge Painter, you can draw paint directly from the paint can, so there’s still no messy tray or brushes to use.

I was able to quickly and cleanly paint edges around the shower tile, near the baseboards, window trim and door. You control the release of paint onto the applicator with the handy on-handle trigger. The three-inch pad is made of a high-quality neoprene material which means a clean, smooth finish with no messy brush or roller marks.

In just one evening we were able to easily paint our entire bathroom. My daughter even helped a little, which was fun for her (and easy for me to fix when she was done) and I was impressed by how simple and effective the roller and edger were to use.

Now that our master bathroom is complete, I am excited to get to share it with all of you! I hope my experience can help some of you on your next painting project. 

Speaking of which, HomeRight is so awesome to give one of YOU a PaintStick EZ-Twist and Quick Painter for your next painting project! Enter to win using the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Master Bathroom Renovation Reveal

Big thanks to Moen for providing product used in our bathroom. As always, all opinions are my own.

If you've been following me on Instagram, you've been able to see a few sneak peeks of our master bathroom renovation project we've been working on this summer. I'm so excited to finally share the big reveal with you and the process we went through in the remodel. Before I get to the rest of the post, I really need to thank my handy husband for all his hard work. He did the majority of the hard work in this bathroom himself, which saved us SO much money!!

Whenever I am checking out a renovation, I LOVE seeing the before images to see where the project began. So now I introduce to you our embarrassingly hideous master bathroom as we began our project. The bathroom was extremely outdated compared to the rest of our home, and nothing in the room worked without some kind of problem. Leaky shower, broken toilet... you name it.

The picture on the left is the original shower, and had a frosted glass door. When the door was closed, the shower was like a cave with hardly any room to move. Where we had broken through the shower were 5 inch thick tile walls. My daughter had a great time helping with demo and "putting holes in the wall" with a hammer. The demo can be a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it when the project is done!! 

The bathroom was so small that it only had room for a tiny vanity, so we decided that we could bring the bathroom out into the master bedroom about two feet without affecting the bedroom space. First, we measured and marked where the walls needed to be and built wall frames before tearing anything else down.

We secured the new wall frames in place, and brought the electrical out. Then, we tore down the original bathroom wall and doorway to create one larger space. Just that alone made the bathroom look SO much better already!

After the drywall was up and the mudding was finished on the outside of the bathroom, we were ready to prime and paint it. We covered up the old outlet (yellow box on the left), and added the electrical covers to the light switch and outlet to finish the new outside wall of the bathroom. 

We were able to remove all the nails, screws, and bits of broken wood and old drywall from the original entryway and got the new addition to the room prepped for drywall. Drywall and mudding is really hard work, but it can be done all on your own if you have someone to help you.

My best tip for any renovation is to plan for the worst. Once we removed the flooring and tore the shower out, we found that the subfloor was rotted through due to water damage. So, we had to tear out the subfloor and completely replace it.

The subfloor was replaced, and the leaking shower pipes had been repaired, and the shower drywall was done in just a few days. For our new shower, we decided on a really nice neo-angle corner shower pan (instead of building walls again).

Now for one of my favorite parts of the bathroom: the shower tile!! The tiling project was probably the most tedious part of the entire renovation, but it looks stunning. Our renovation budget was pretty tight, so we purchased a tile cutter and did all the work ourselves. Luckily, my husband has done a lot of this kind of work before, so he knew what he was doing. I learned a lot through the process and with a little research, you can learn to do it, too!!

Our original plan for the floor tile fell through, but then with some luck, we found this faux wood tile for about the same price we were looking to spend. It's absolutely gorgeous, and I love how it brought in some new texture to the room.

Once the tile and grout were set, it was time to paint! The color we chose was Behr Silent Breeze. We were done painting in about a day with only 2-3 coats. I'll be sharing some painting tips really soon, so stay tuned!

For the shower handle, we chose the Moen Brantford lever handle in brushed nickel. It also has a LifeShine® finish, which is durable and is guaranteed not to tarnish, corrode or flake off. It's also incredibly easy to clean (just use water!). The lever handle also makes it easy to adjust the water temperature.

Since the original shower was pretty much garbage, we also replaced the shower arm & flange with a Moen one in brushed nickel finish.

Besides the tile, my favorite part of the shower is the new Moen Engage™ with Magnetix™ Handheld Shower!! The shower head contains an easy-to-use dial that allows you to switch between six high-performance spray options. (Psst... It is available at Lowe’s right now for only $55!)

The coolest and most unique part of the Magnetix™ shower head is that Moen wasn't kidding when they say "It’s a Snap to Use™". The shower head contains an integrated magnet, which means removing the hand shower is simple and putting it back is literally a snap. What could be easier than a magnet?! No hooks, no cradle, nothing. This gives the shower a more clean look without the clutter.

Lucky for us, the Magnetix™ shower head is available in Moen's exclusive Spot Resist™ Brushed Nickel finish to match the rest of our shower. The Spot Resist™ makes it easy to clean with just water, and doesn't leave fingerprints. The cord resists tangles, and provides an extended reach to make things easier for cleaning or helping smaller children shower.

The shower head was easier than ever to install. If you need help replacing your own, check out my easy tutorial for how to replace a shower head.

To finish the shower, we installed a neo-angle shower rod with ceiling support in a brushed nickel finish, as well as brushed nickel shower hooks and a white shower curtain.

Above the soon-to-be mirror above the vanity, we found a really pretty light fixture from IKEA. It has a classic look and lights up the vanity space beautifully.

After a lot of bathroom vanity shopping and research, we finally decided on using kitchen cabinets from IKEA. Their cabinetry quality is fantastic, and I love the height compared to traditional bathroom vanities. We also purchased the countertop from IKEA and trimmed it to fit the cabinets.

The sink was simple to put together, as well as the Caldwell Spot Resist™ Two-Handle Bathroom Faucet (see how to install a bathroom faucet). They look absolutely beautiful and I can't wait until the mirror is put in to finish the look.

To finish the bathroom, we chose some necessities from Moen's Caldwell line in brushed nickel finish; including the Caldwell towel ring, the Caldwell Spot Resist™ Two-Handle Bathroom Faucet, the Caldwell pivoting toilet paper holder, and the Caldwell 18" towel bar.

And that's it (for now)! Here's one more before & after for you to enjoy. Hopefully we will inspire you or someone you know on your next bathroom project! If you have any questions or comments, I'd love to hear them.

Shower tile: 9x12 Calacatta White Glazed Porcelain Wall Tile, found at Lowe's

Shower accent tile: 12x12 GBI Tile & Stone Inc. Gemstone Black Glass Mosaic Subway Wall Tile, found at Lowe's

Floor tile: MARAZZI Montagna Dapple Gray Porcelain Floor Tile, found at Home Depot

Ceiling light: Taverna 15.25in Brushed Nickel Ceiling Light, found at Lowe's

Vanity light: found at IKEA

Vanity cabinets: SEKTION Kitchen cabinets & RINGHULT fronts, found at IKEA

Vanity countertop: SÄLJAN Countertop, black mineral effect, found at IKEA

Home Command Center with Wallternatives

Sponsored by Wallternatives

Moving to a new home can be both exciting and utter chaos. You suddenly have no idea where anything is when you need it, and life is practically and literally turned upside down. Eventually, though, things start to get back to a new kind of normal. Having an area in our home dedicated to schedules, reminders, and organization has helped so much during our transition to get life back on track. 

Front Door Makeover

HUGE thanks to Modern Masters for sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

When you move into a new (to you) home, you need to expect to do a little bit of work to get things looking how you want it. We just finished giving our garage door a facelift using Modern Masters Front Door Paint. Next on the list was our front door.

The front door was dented, scratched, and just looked worn out. To make matters worse, there was a glass door attached that was both hideous and useless. When the glass door was closed, it made the front door so hot that you could literally burn yourself! It also baked the paint on the door and warped part of it. Not good.

We began the process by removing the door hardware and sanding the entire door with a palm sander. There were dried drips from the last paint job, scratches, and dents all over the place. The best advice I have to give for this step is to sand it as best as you can. It's harder to fix any spots you may have missed once you've painted over them!

We also got rid of the glass door!! It already looks so much better with it gone. Then we noticed how thrashed the door frame was. It was still usable (thank goodness), so we just reattached the door frame with my Ryobi Cordless Finish Nailer and filled the holes in the door and all the scratches, nail holes, and wood gaps in the frame with wood putty.

Once the wood putty was dry, we went over them with the palm sander, then wiped it all down with a damp rag.

Once everything is prepped, it's time for the fun part!! To keep the same look to our front door, but just *better*, we went the color Ground from their Front Door Paint product line. Modern Masters Front Door Paint comes in 24 colors, all based off of an "Emotional Color Wheel", so there really is a shade for every personality! If you aren't sure what color will look good on your home, you can try out the free app (available on both iPhone and Android) to instantly see how Front Door Paint can transform your door!

We used both a brush and a roller to paint the door and frame. It helps to paint the recessed parts of the door with the brush, then go over with a roller. The first coat will take a couple of hours to dry. Our door needed about two coats, and the paint dries to a beautiful satin finish that will NEVER fade. I can't believe the difference the front door paint made to our home.

Now that our door is looking fabulous, it's time to save up to change out that light and get a new front porch rug!! Updating your home can be a lot of work, but it's so amazing to see the changes you can make to give your home some curb appeal!!

You can purchase Modern Masters Front Door Paint in selected Lowe’s and Ace Hardware stores. It's also sold on Amazon.com and on the Modern Masters Website. They've been adding retailers to their Pinterest Map, so follow them to see if there will be a location selling the paint near you!

How to Paint a Garage Door

HUGE thanks to Modern Masters for sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Painting doors can be pretty scary and overwhelming for those of us who have never done it before or are just beginners in the whole DIY/home improvement world. I've been excited to learn all kinds of new tricks and skills now that we own a home of our own, and getting our doors painted - our sad, sad garage door especially - has been at the top of the to-do list. I just had no idea where to start.

Earlier this year, I learned more about Modern Masters and how easy it is to use. I knew right away that their door paints would be the perfect solution to our garage door problem. I'm so excited to show you how easy it really is to paint a garage door - and how you can get it done in just a day!!

The picture really says it all, but garage door used to be such a huge eyesore and, honestly, kind of embarrassing. It was incredibly faded, and it just looked sad. The paint on the trim was peeling off, and I had my doubts that the garage door could even be fixed with just paint.

To keep the same look to our garage, but just *better*, we went the color Ground from their Front Door Paint product line. Modern Masters Front Door Paint comes in 24 colors, all based off of an "Emotional Color Wheel", so there really is a shade for every personality! If you aren't sure what color will look good on your home, you can try out the free app (available on both iPhone and Android) to instantly see how Front Door Paint can transform your door!

To prep your garage door, you'll need a ladder, a drop cloth, a paint tray, a paint brush, and a foam roller. The night before, we sprayed the door down and got it as clean as possible. We started earlier in the morning when the sun wasn't directly hitting the door.

It helps to have more than one person painting in the beginning - one with the paint brush to get in all the cracks and edges, and the other with the roller to paint the larger areas. The drop cloth will help prevent the paint from dripping onto your driveway, and it helps a TON if your ladder has an area to hold your paint tray while you work at the top of the door.

We painted the door from right to left, top to bottom. Once the door is painted, it helps to open the garage about halfway and then do any touch ups on areas you may have missed in the creases. It took about 2 hours to get the first coat on the door. We took a lunch break, and the paint was dry enough by the time we got back to get the second coat on.

The Front Door Paint should cover in two coats, and dries to a beautiful satin finish that will NEVER fade. I can't believe the difference the paint made to our garage door and our home. I also painted my front door, so come back soon to see how great it looks!

You can purchase Modern Masters Front Door Paint in selected Lowe’s and Ace Hardware stores. It's also sold on Amazon.com and on the Modern Masters Website. They've been adding retailers to their Pinterest Map, so follow them to see if there will be a location selling the paint near you!

How to Replace a Shower Head

After learning how to install a bathroom faucet, I also wanted to learn how to replace a shower head. Ladies - take this off the "honey-do" list!! It is a lot simpler than you think to do it yourself! I decided on a dual shower head - which sounds complicated, but it's not as difficult as it looks. Plus, you don't need a crazy amount of tools to replace that old shower head with a beautiful, shiny, new one!!

Since breaking my leg, showering is high up on the list of difficult things to do. With a regular shower head, showering took at least double the amount of time it should have (which might sound nice, but it really isn't). I decided that having at least a handheld shower head was going to be necessary. Luckily, Moen was so great to send me a Banbury Dual Shower Head to try out, and I can honestly say it has been a life (and time) saver!

Handheld shower heads aren't just for injured or disabled people. Since this particular shower head is a dual shower head, it can spray from just the handheld or the main shower head - or both! My husband even said that he likes this shower head better than our old one! The handheld shower head has also been convenient for washing the shampoo out of my daughter's hair when she takes a bath.

Moen's Banbury dual shower head is also finished with a Spot Resist™ brushed nickel finish that resists fingerprints and water spots for easier cleaning. There are also five function combination sprays for more variety. So, really, there's something for everyone in just one shower head!

To get started, open the Moen Banbury shower head kit and make sure all the parts are there. Then, all you'll need is an adjustable wrench and some Teflon tape. The washers are also included in the shower head kit. 

Place the black washers in both ends of the hose, then attach one end of the hose to the handheld shower head, and use the wrench to tighten it.

Next, attach the shower arm diverter to the other shower head. Then, attach the other end of the hose to the shower arm diverter. Now your shower head and handheld shower head are connected!

Remove your old shower head with the adjustable wrench, then remove the old, white Teflon tape (if there is any). Use new Teflon white tape and wrap it clockwise 4-5 times around the threads, making sure not to go past the threads and into the shower opening (the shower head could clog if you get any tape in there).

Next, attach the shower arm diverter to the shower arm and tighten with the adjustable wrench. Keep in mind to be very careful when tightening, because you can easily scratch the finish. Also, do NOT over-tighten. You may break something in the wall! Once the shower head is attached, place the handheld shower head into the handheld shower cradle.

Now that the shower head is all installed and looking beautiful, it's time to test to make sure you don't have any leaks. If the hose is leaking, check to make sure the washer is there. If the shower arm is leaking, make sure you add Teflon tape and have tightened the shower arm diverter to the shower arm.

Once you've made sure there are no leaks, you're done!!

I received this shower head from Moen in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.