Stick to YOUR Budget this Holiday Season!

The holidays are right around the corner and the stores already have Christmas decorations out! This year, more than ever, I need to make a budget and stick to it. I love gift gifting! My wallet- not so much. I can easily go overboard when I find the "perfect" gift for a family member or friend. Budgeting is nothing new, but I never considered how much to allocate for each present before. This worksheet helped me estimate how much I can afford and will help me ensure I don't go over.

If I get a gift on sale and save money on one individual, then I am able to reallocate that money for an additional gift or individual. Maybe yours looks a little different if you buy for kids, cousins, nieces, neighbors, etc. I grouped my friends and coworkers together and will spend no more that the calculated amount for the whole group. Making gifts, baking cookies, or small items is the perfect way to give without spending more than what you're comfortable with. Writing cards is a perfect way to show appreciation to individuals you might not be able to buy a gift for.

I use Pinterest to save ideas so I'm less likely to make an impulse decision at the store. Etsy is a great website to find unique items at your price-point; you can search for an item and filter by price. I have even purchased great gifts from eBay and Groupon. It's a great way to save but be aware who you're buying from. Read reviews, and if they are international sellers, be aware of long shipping times. If you're up for it, DIY! I made blankets one year and my only cost was fabric (check out the tutorial here). Happy gifting!

The Google Sheet can be viewed here!

Weekend Project: Bathroom Update

As a renter, there isn't much to be done in terms of updates to the property. However, there is still room for improvement! With a few nail holes, you can transform an entire space! Our downstairs half-bath faces the family room so it's all too easy to see into the plain space. I used the wooden floating shelf as inspiration for this update (check it out here). The wooden boards were very inexpensive, and not the best quality :). I made sure any marks or bumps would be on the bottom or against the wall. It took two coats of black spray paint to get the look I wanted. I also accidentally used black metallic on the first coat, oops! 

After letting both boards dry, I eye-balled where I wanted the shelves to be, and screwed in the L brackets (aka corner braces); first to the boards, and then onto the wall. There is about 2 inches of space on either end. From far away, it gives the illusion that the boards are flush with the wall. You can find those in the hinge and fasteners section of any hardware store. Because I am not placing anything heavy or valuable on the shelf, the two L brackets will hold it easily. If you are using heavier wood or heavy objects, check out some tutorials below. I used decorations I already had around the house and incorporated them into the design. This project took me less than an hour and makes a huge difference! I really feel that it gives it a more home-y feel and it doesn't look all that stark and bland anymore!

Here are a few more DIY floating shelves to inspire your next project!

Chunky Shelves by Desert Domicle

Corner Shelves by 4 Men 1 Lady

White Shelves by BlogLovin

Using String Art to Create a Pet Leash Holder

Materials: 

Wooden Board 

Colored Embroidery String 

Nails (I used 1" white panel board nails)

Two-prong hooks 

Hot glue, hammer, printer

Step One: Choose your pattern and print onto paper. Center and tape the paper onto your board.

Step Two: Use a pen to mark where your nails will go. Make sure you use enough to keep the shape of the image you chose!

Step Three: Start nailing those babies in place! About 3/4 the way through, if your board is deep enough. I struggled with some parts of my board being thicker than others due to panels. As long as the nails are sturdy and have enough room to add sting, you're golden.

Step Four: Tie off a section of embroidery string onto a starter nail. Begin by wrapping it around the nail. Move between nails, wrapping it around every few nails. This will keep it all from unwinding if one strand pops off of the nail. The amount of string and times you wrap between nails will affect the look of your string art. 

Finally, glue on your hooks and glue on a string to hang your board from.

I used a rustic board but added a little modern twist with the pop of color. Here are some other options I liked and you can use as inspiration for your own board! Of course you could use these for keys, necklaces, etc. All were found on Etsy.com:

Welcome to the Family!

Long time no see! Since we've spoken last, Jon and I have adopted another beautiful puppy, who I'd love for you to meet. I also started a little side project that they've inspired me to start! All, meet Athena Dean. Her mom was a Shepard Corgi mix, and we are unsure what else she is mixed with.

 We visited her and her sister at the local SPCA. We brought Haven along and she and Athena went together like peanut butter and jelly. Athena's sister got adopted the same day she did. When she first came home she stayed on the floor and off the couch with the family. Then, as time went on, she made her way to the ottoman, and then to our feet, and now she rests her head on our laps as she sleeps. It took some love and trust but she has found her forever home.

Haven and Athena love going to the dog park, sleeping in the bed, playing with each-other, and going on runs. Every time I put my shoes on and put on their harnesses they get so excited and smile so big. Oh, they also love car rides! This year, we even went to the Purina Pet Parade...

I made them flower crown collars for the parade and it turns out other pup parents love them, too! I started selling a few on Etsy but mostly make them because I love to make them. Dogs deserve a little extra attention sometimes :)

For more pup updates, follow @deansrescues on Instagram!

New Home, New DIYs!

The last few weeks have felt like a whirlwind since graduation. I sold most of my furniture and drove 11 hours to my new home outside of St. Louis in Edwardsville IL. I am working as a marketing graduate assistant while getting my MBA.

The new home is coming along slowly but surely and I wanted to post our first few DIYs:

Kitchen Coffee Bar

 The metal rod and metal hanging basket are from IKEA. I used matching S-hooks to hang my mugs and turn a vitrually useless space into an easy-access coffee and tea bar.

Kitchen Table Decor

 We bought an easy (and cheap!) table from Wal-Mart, so I wanted to add a little color to make it appear a little nicer. The plants, candles, and square candle holder are from IKEA. The plates are plastic and came from Wegman's and the blue placemats are from Home Goods.

Wooden "Floating" Shelf

The wood is a simple board from Home Depot painted black with acrylic paint. We used small 90 degree metal hangers (also from Home Depot) that came in a 4 pack for under $4. I probably should have used white to disgue them a little better, but hey, I still like the look of it. We placed it above the couch as a focal design point. The glow balls are solar powered and only turn on in the evening.

Be sure to check back soon for more inexpensive and simple home DIYs that I'm working on :)