Guest Bedroom Updates (the poor person version(

We all knew it was coming...The Housewife finally retrieved her guest furniture I was holding in my guest bedroom.  This finally meant getting my act together and assembling my guest bed and finding some bedding. 

Instead of getting a hotel for his parents 3 Putt asked if they could use my guest room. No big. It's just in shambles right now. 

First stop -- put together ikea bed all by myself. 

Empty room! 

Little helper. 

No help. 

Set out all the pieces. Stop Pug Child from eating them. 

Almost had to stop because I couldn't hold the side beams up and screw them in at the same time. Enter basket from the bathroom! Single people can do furniture alone. 

Ok so I did need help moving the  mattresses. But here was the bed with some old stuff thrown on it. I had high hopes of being able to afford a nice new duvet and some pillows from west elm but its not in the cards since my car broke. 

But -- I randomly decided to peruse the home section at Target because I needed my third Euro pillow for my bed and I found a $70 Threshold duvet and shams marked down to $23.  I owed it to myself to take this home since I didn't totally hate it. Then I found some nice sheets marked down to $35. And then a big decorative pillow that was around $11.  Add in the cost of the bed and we have a makeover for just over $200. 

I don't love it. But it's fine for now. Sars on the blurry phone pic. 

Also moved the armoire because I am finally putting together my Ikea hack this week in my master bedroom. Yay! 

I'm hoping I will be a good blogger and link up some of these items at a later time. But if you want deets you can comment and I will email you. 

Feel free to find me some fun, tall nightstands if your are out and about. I don't even know where to begin on that. 

-the single gal-

Monday Obsessions: {bedroom pinspiration}

Well it's basically freezing and small, light snow flurries have been whirling around all day today.  The first day of spring has come and gone but it's still cold or we are getting completely drenched with rain.  I know I joke about my seasonal affective disorder...but I think I have it for real. I'm a bit miserable with my closet, shoes, trying to walk to the dog, and the legit prospect of no boat rides anytime soon.  

Luckily, the money I've been saving my spring clothes hasn't been spent because the weather is awful and I've therefore been funneling it towards my bedroom makeover.  I still have a few items to grab before the big reveal and I'd like The Housewife to come over and just take some legit pictures with her nice camera so I don't subject you to iphone snaps after all my hard work.  

I thought I'd show some pins that are inspiring my new bedroom.  Well, I'm as inspired as a poor person can be that can only decorate from Homegoods and Goodwill.

I always thought I'd indulge my random antler obsession downstairs, but I think that it would be neat to maybe have something small but statement-like above the bed like this gold gem below. 

//via//

Ignore the ombre wall...but let's pay close attention to more gold horns but also paired with a bench at the end of the bed that adds a pop of color.  Love this! 

//via//

 I also love the idea of a desk on one side of the bed that doubles as a night stand.  

//via//

Or maybe even a console table on one side?

//via//

My main conclusion -- decorating is hard.  I mean, a girl can pin all she wants but making  that shit happen in real life is a different story.  What's in your bedroom? What should I get to keep it up to date or look just a bit more put together? I obviously need something else to put my energy into while I have to stay inside from the cold, the wind, and the rain. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

De-Grinching Weekend + Holiday Home Decor

Well, a lot has come to pass in the living room since my post about being a bit Grinchy and not wanting to even decorate this year.  Since Em is here for a while now as my roomie she was pretty adamant that we get in the mood and decorate this house.  So Friday afternoon Em crawled through Michael's gathering craft supplies while I was at work and I came home this past weekend to drink wine, make anything and everything that involved glitter, and get some sort of a tree up.  All while eating leftover garlic rolls {thanks Jimmy James}.  

It was pretty darn fabulous.  We finally finished all of our project earlier this morning.  I am really pleased with how it turned out -- all thanks to Em's vision!  

I remembered I had a little Charlie Brown-eque tree in the garage that we toted out rather than dealing with the gigantic one.  Also, we painted two canvases with chalkboard paint.  This was a great idea of Em's as we can now erase them and use them for future parties/holiday decor.  So I guess we just have to plan all those 2013 parties now. 

Little Tree and "Santa, It's a long story..." chalkboard.

This is probably my favorite -- the bookshelf re-vamp.  Em looked at a lot of stuff on Pinterest and we were both really drawn to one pin where someone drew the outline of a stag on a canvas and covered it in glitter.  I think hers turned out beautifully and I love our tall and skinny chalkboard canvas where she drew a simple Christmas tree.  We just rearranged these items with some stuff already downstairs. 

Glitter stag + canvas with chalkboard paint for our skinny Christmas tree. 

This photo was a little off center and it's a bit grainy due to the Instagram filter but I don't have a fancy camera like The Housewife.  We put tons of glitter on letters we cut out from foam board to hang between our stockings and put up a spare strand of colored lights with some mercury glass candle holders. 

The "Merry" Mantle

I even managed to wrap those presents you see under the tree and I'm almost done Christmas shopping.  Even better -- I'm grateful for friends that do all they can to make my life better and cheer me up -- especially this time of year.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Sunday Musings

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are spending your weekend doing fun stuff with friends and loved ones in the sunshine.  My social calendar has felt a bit out of control for May and June so after powering through a wedding I jumped on the Baby Shower train this weekend to celebrate my amazing and lovely friend Elise who is due in about 7 weeks. I can't wait to hold her sweet girl and I am so sad I didn't snap any pictures of her shower because it was totally Pinterest worthy and beautiful! I tend to give "practical" baby gifts because The Housewife swears that getting diapers/wipes or anything else you use a ton and don't have to buy for a while are a big fave among Moms.  So I grabbed a giant, heavy box of baby wipes to wrap up for my good friend. Who knew we would be here when I met her years ago the day we moved into our dorm in college?! 

prettied up baby wipes. 

I also found this cute little online shop {Made By Girl} and have been drooling over this mint colored print!  Also, owner/blogger Jen Ramos is super cute and has two Boxers that she loves, so I'm obviously a huge fan based on that fact alone. She sells prints, stationary, and accessories -- and her blog is super fun, too.  I am {hopefully} about to hang my curtains in the kitchen that The Housewife so kindly helped me make from some Target panels {post to come} so I am starting to think about my empty and bland entry way where I can probably hang this. I may finally feel like the downstairs is semi-complete if I can tackle that project.  

Made By Girl "Love" print 

After resting a bit post-baby shower on Saturday afternoon I came to the conclusion that I wasn't going to get anything productive done that evening, so I grabbed Hogan and we headed out to The Housewife's house.  She has an amazing screened in porch {minus the place where the screen on the door is split which allowed Hogan to escape} where we sat for the night drinking beer, watching lightning bugs, and catching up with her sister and brother-in-law who were in town visiting.  

Today will be spent cleaning {ugh} and I'll be making a trip over to Dad's for Father's Day celebrations and more coverage on The US Open.  I love that this tournament is always on Father's Day weekend. Dad was always dragging us down to the driving range with him and I have spent so much of my life on a golf course with him and will always be so grateful for all my golf lessons and the fun we have had together playing -- and even our arguments over shots.  It's always been a family sport and outing for all of us, and it couldn't have been easy toting around 3 little girls for his entire life and teaching them all his favorite lessons:  how to wash cars, throw a football, cut grass, play golf, work hard, and take care of your family.

What are your best memories with your Dads? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: Home Edition

After living in my house for about two and a half years I am finally starting to see at least one room come together -- my downstairs living/kitchen area. I am a very timid decorator and actually wouldn't even have come as far as I have without some guidance from my bestie Em, Pammi, and all the people who have given me their hand-me-down home items. 

Lately I have really been jealous of my married friends. Not because they have someone and I don't, but because they get to register for stuff.  I feel that the closer I get to 30 it's pretty unacceptable for me to not have any nice dishes for my friends and family to eat on when they come over.  So, with any luck and a decent tax refund these lovelies from C Wonder will soon be mine. I have seriously been obsessing over them night and day since I found them on Pinterest.  The other bonus -- the aren't outrageously expensive. 

I love the navy, but they also come in other colors. 

In other home decorating news I was able to get two fabulous pillows from Homegoods to finally fill up some space on my couch. I also ordered a gray/white chevron print pillow from Joss and Main this week but who knows when it will ship!  I will try to get some semi-decent pictures up when the other pillow is delivered. 

One more thing -- I actually placed my first Etsy order this week. I was pretty excited about it. They have so many original, affordable items.  The stuff I ordered was actually for a gift, but I am currently stalking antlers for the living room on the site as well.  I am suddenly and inexplicably obsessed with antlers now, too.  

What are you obsessing over for your house?! Where do you find your inspiration? The Housewife and I are on serious decorating missions for 2012.  

Love you. Mean it.

~the single gal~

Things You Do When You Don't Have a Boyfriend #247 - Home Projects

So, I know y'all are going to think The Housewife invaded my body after this post, and well, it's clearly possible.  The Housewife has really been getting into a lot of home projects lately and has inspired me to do the same.  As I am sure you would realize, being the Single Gal that I am, I am on a single income.  I bought a new town home 2 1/2 years ago and am always struggling to decorate some little area to make my house a little more "homey" and a little more "me". But, it's hard to go out, look pretty, keep Hogan in his special prescription food, and also keep up the house. Mercy-- that Little Baby Jesus expects a lot from me. 

Anyway, The Housewife and I also religiously stalk the "Young House Love" blog and here is my little tribute to The Housewife and also some of our internet DIY'ers -- sprucing up an old vanity that I have been using as a desk for years and seriously diving into some color. 

Desk Before: 

*note, please excuse the terrible iPhone photo. I wasn't inspired for an actual post about this until later. (Clearly it's a boring week and I'm reaching for material.)

So...What to do with the desk? The Housewife and I discussed and we went for something bold for a few reasons -- #1 You can always re-paint it if you hate it.  #2 - Anything pink is awesome and lovely. 

Luckily, Big John owns a painting company so he sent me over to Sherwin Williams for some primer and paint--and even let me put it on the account! Go Dad!  I really agonized over which pink was The. Most. Perfect. Pink. Ever. and I am awful at committing to anything decor wise in my house unless someone tells me that it does in fact, look good.  

The winning pink of all pink swatches was -- Eros Pink.  

And here we go with a sort of step-by-step: 

In the garage and primed! 

That's right. I am mother-freaking crafty, bitches.

A few days later the Eros Pink went on (two coats).  Wow--super pink. Looks awesome in the garage but will I hate it inside???

After this I went to Hobby Lobby to find some drawer pulls and after much frustration with even trying to locate them I decided on some white, flower looking ones.  These might not be forever, but they will do right now. I didn't absolutely love anything. 

AFTER!

Luckily, I think I am really loving the pink desk. I kind of have a lot going on in my downstairs area with prints and colors, but it doesn't bother me (for now). I am trying to tie everything together with little stuff and in the words of The Housewife -- the desk is like "a statement necklace for the living room". 

For now, this is what I did with that wall: 

*Frame in other chair clearly not permanent.

*I did eventually tie up the lamp cord, mmmK?   

Thoughts? Reviews? All The Housewife did was ask for my leftover paint for a project for #1. 

~the single gal~