I’m Back Baby!

I took a little break to recharge my batteries. I need to do that every once in a while to keep perspective. I stepped away from all social media for two days. I really like simple and quiet deep down. It was soooo peaceful! I read a lot of books with the kids, started my own summer reading list, played on the floor a lot with my youngest, and enjoyed the grocery store. I spent time outdoors, had a wonderful date night with Dave, and went to the gym consistently! I wasn’t rushed– I was relaxed, and I think my body needed that. My oldest only has one week of school left and then we will be in the summer routine, or lack of a strict one, which we are all looking forward to a lot!

I think it took me two full days to get caught up on emails, facebook, twitter, blog comments, and instagram. So, the time off was nice, but I think it created more to do when I got back, isn’t that always the case?

PIMP MY HOUSE

 

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I’ve been playing around with styling the bookcases for the Let’s Rock This House! series. Seeing what I need to get to fill open space. You always think you have a lot of books until you try to fill a wall of bookcases! I laugh at myself for thinking we’d have enough books! What I love is that we will collect them over time and it will really reflect our family. I guess I could just go out and buy a bunch of used books to have the appearance of a full library, but that’s not my style. I only want books we will read, have read and love, or that support our interests.

Dave and I have been P-I-M-P-ing out the shelving unit. Adding a sound system with built-in speakers, lighting, and adding architectural details. Soon, I will be styling, my favorite part, of course. I’ve been sourcing some items to add in with the books.

Over my little break, I checked out the local thrift scene one day to see if I could find anything for the library wall. Of course, I did! Never fails…so here’s another This is Why I Thrift.

One of my favorite finds for the library so far are these carved Trojan horse book ends I scored for $8 for the pair at a flea market.

Horse Book Ends

 

This little chevron votive holder had the right colors and was 88 cents at Goodwill.

zig zag votive

I’ve been trying to find a magnifying glass for our coffee table and this was perfect. Only $5 at TJ Maxx. I really like the curved handle.

looking glass Is this not the chicest trivet you’ve ever seen?? This was at Goodwill for 88 cents and just needs a polish. I’m not even sure if it’s a trivet, but I could see this framed as artwork.

Greek Key Trivet This was totally not what I was shopping for, but I had to take it home. Like I need yet another lamp, but I’ve been on this polished brass kick lately and it is perfect for our entryway. I’ve seen this lamp online for big bucks and this was only $9.38 at Goodwill.

polished lamp

So, there’s a little peek at the bookcases but the big reveal will be Monday. Monday, if the lights I ordered come in on time. They are scheduled to, so I hope I get to show you how all our P-I-M-Ping has paid off!

Also, check back tomorrow morning to enter a fantastic giveaway to win an original abstract painting!! You won’t want to miss that!!

Happy Friday!!

xoxo Kristin

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WEEK IN REVIEW

I am so glad it’s the weekend! It’s just been one of those weeks, you know those weeks, right? I had a sick kiddo at home, had a million things to get done, and a website hiccup to handle amongst other “unexpecteds”. I think we are in the clear on the website problems from Thursday. I apologize to any of you that had trouble viewing or commenting Wednesday and Thursday. That was no fun!!

We had a little announcement this week. No, I’m not pregnant! But, we did birth an idea! We have a new 3 part series:

PIMP MY HOUSE

 

Until our first reveal, you can follow us on Instagram. Follow hashtag #rockthishouse for some behind the scenes action!

Here’s our weekly recap:

MONDAY.

JESSEd Serving Tray

 

I reviewed the JESSEd home Jade Ostrich Serving Tray. So gorgeous! Check out the entire JESSEd home review.

To shop visit:

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TUESDAY.

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We featured the very talented Jennifer and her blog www.thechroniclesofhome.com. Get to know more and see her fabulous DIY’s.

WEDNESDAY.

Agate 2

 

We talked rocks. Agates and geodes and how awesome they are and I gave you walk down memory lane. Check out these gorgeous agate and geode inspired interiors.

THURSDAY.

Thrift #3

 

I shared the results of another thrifty adventure. You guys spoke and said you like seeing thrift posts so I shared another one.

FRIDAY.

crocs sweepstakes

I shared a really fun sweepstakes! It is involves Instagram and a fabulous prize package including a $3,000 giveaway! Go check it out. You can enter until 5/20.

Enjoy your weekend!!

xoxo Kristin

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The Crocs #SplashofColor Sweepstakes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Crocs for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

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School will be out for my kiddos in a few weeks, and I am so excited to enjoy the summer with my favorite little people! There will be plenty of days in the yard by the pond, running through sprinklers, eating popsicles, and sandals sitting by the door once again! 

With summer comes a splash of color. Bright colors are everywhere. Beach balls, green grass, flowers, and blue skies fill our days! Even our clothes get brighter and more colorful. 

With that in mind, I entered the Crocs #SplashofColor Sweepstakes for a chance to win a Splash of Color Prize Package and a $3,000 shopping spree and you can too! 

Entering is easy!  All you have to do is take 3 photos with your smartphone and share them on Instagram with the hashtag #splashofcolor. Then follow the easy instructions on the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes.

Here's my 3 #splashofcolor photos on Instagram:

#1 Who doesn't enjoy a popsicle on a hot summer's day!?! The temperature got up to almost 90 degrees today and this was a fun and colorful treat. Oh! They make Jolly Rancher popsicles you guys…I had no idea!

splashofcolor

#2 With summer comes sandals and I missed my tangerine wedges. Hello pretty summer sandals!

splash of color 2

#3 Warm weather means days by the pond. My water irises are starting to grow. I just love the vibrant color of the leaves!

splash of color 3

Now it's your turn! Entering is easy-peasy! All you have to do is take 3 photos with your smart phone and share them on Instagram with the #splashofcolor hashtag.This can be a sunrise, a day at the pool, a night with friends, or painted nails. Things like that.  Then link up your 3 photos to the Crocs Instagram Sweepstakes.

After you link up just complete the entry form and you are in the running to win!! You can enter up to 3 photos a day with the #splashofcolor hashtag until the sweepstakes closes 5/20.

A prize package and shopping spree sounds like a good way to kick off summer to me! Go ahead and leave me a comment saying why you would like to win. 

xoxo Kristin

 

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This is Why I Thrift #3

I had to run to the Habitat for Humanity Restore in search of some matching hardwoods for our kitchen and wood for a project I’m working on. It turned into an afternoon of thrifting. You gotta love that!

Thrift #3

 

I stumbled upon some things I can use for our Let’s Rock This House! series. I also found a swing arm wall lamp for super cheap. $2 cheap, so I got it to use in my reading corner. This is such a problem corner for lighting at night, but I love to read here. So, soon it will be a problem no longer. Phew! I’m putting out fires everywhere today!!

Let There Be Light

P1110739

 

I also picked up some more white serveware. This was a great find at Goodwill.

White bowl

 

Books, books, books. Any interesting hardbacks I can find I’m getting for the library wall. I can’t wait to have my own personal library to shop for my next read.

Books

The Pimp My Library Wall project is coming along! I am already loving it and it’s not even finished yet! The boys are so excited to have our very own library too. Bryce wants to pick out more books and Sam keeps telling us how beautiful it is. Funny thing for a little 4 year old to say. He told me yesterday he loves it when me and Daddy make the house beautiful! Good to know we have a 4-year-old’s approval!

Happy Thursday!!

xoxo Kristin

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On Instagram you can get a behind the scenes peek into the Let’s Rock This House! series.

Look for hashtag:

#rockthishouse

PIMP MY HOUSE

Agates and Geodes

ag·ate

/ˈagit/

Noun
  1. An ornamental stone consisting of a hard variety of chalcedony, typically banded in appearance.
  2. A colored toy marble resembling a banded gemstone.

ge·ode

/ˈjēōd/

Noun
  1. A small cavity in rock lined with crystals or other mineral matter.
  2. A rock containing such a cavity.

Growing up, I remember going to my grandparents’ house and playing in their spare room upstairs. They had a bookcase and sitting on it in front of the books were agates and geodes which I called cool rocks. I was fascinated by them. The crystal formations pitted in the rock and the smooth and intricate designs and colors were amazing. My grandfather had spent a little time in his college days studying geology, so I am guessing he was just as captivated by them.

So, naturally, I took to rock collecting as a child. All children do this right? Right?? Amongst other normal kid things to collect (French stamps, totally normal), my rock collection was one of my favorites and to this day I have no idea what happened to it!

It’s funny the things we take with us into our adulthood.

I hadn’t thought on that collection or my grandfather’s cool rocks for years until I stumbled across a rock shop on one of our trips out-of-town together. Then, working on our Let’s Rock This House! seriesI have been thinking about bookcases a lot.  Which triggered that memory and now the collector wants to start collecting again. Is it no coincidence that the word rock just happens to be in the title of this series? I think not.

So, by chance I found this agate and it wandered home with me for the pimp my library wall project, naturally, as all agates do. It’s not gracing my bookcases just yet (only because we are in the install process) but it is sitting happily on my coffee table and when I look at it I can’t help but think of my Grandpa and my 5-year-old self playing in that room. Happy thoughts are the best exercises our mind can do.

Agate 2

 

Agate 3

 

Agate 4

The collector is going to start collecting again…I am keeping my eyes open for some more cool rocks for my collection and library install.

I guess in some small way, this is a tribute to my Grandpa who is no longer with us. I love how an object can transport us to a different time and place in our history. It’s just a rock, but when I see it, I see my Grandpa’s face, I feel like that little girl again. I smell the room (everything at my grandparents’ house always had a just cleaned smell), I remember rifling through all the books on the shelf. History books, LIFE series books, and encyclopedias. I see myself staring in amazement at those cool rocks, studying them with the wonder of a child.

So, there’s a little trip down memory lane.

Until the library wall reveal, I thought we could all drool over some pretty images. I love bringing natural elements into a design. I also love how nature can inspire some really bold design choices.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

 My 5-year-old self is really excited to add some more cool rocks to the collection.

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On Instagram you can get a behind the scenes peek into the Let’s Rock This House! series.

Look for hashtag:

#rockthishouse

PIMP MY HOUSE

Great Reads// The Chronicles of Home

Today I am featuring another great DIY/Design blogger Jennifer and her blog The Chronicles of Home. I am always amazed by bloggers who have only been blogging for a year or under and look like pros. Jennifer has some really great DIY’s, furniture tutorials, and ideas. She also shares some TO DIE FOR recipes. I always feel like I’ve gained ten pounds just by looking at her mouth-watering photos of her creations. She is one sweetheart too, and I always enjoy her posts.

DSC_0024

 

Good looking family, huh? Aren’t her girls adorable!?!

Jennifer has been so kind to share her favorite project with us. Her rustic X-base console table is beautiful. She is one handy chic! To see her tutorial check out her DIY Rustic X-base Console Table post.

DIY console table

 

My favorite pick from her projects is hands down her X-bench. I love X-benches in a seating area and they are great for spaces where you have multiple conversation areas.

DIY X Leg Bench 5

I may have to try my hand at this one of these days. To see the full tutorial check out the DIY X-leg Upholstered Bench here.

I send a big thank you to Jennifer for being a part of Great Reads and continually inspiring all of us DIY’ers out there! You can follow Jennifer at www.thechroniclesof home.com

Need more inspiration? Check out one of our furniture tutorials along with other great ways to make over wooden furniture in an article at: Earthlink 911

Happy Reading!!

xoxo Kristin

 

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Glam Up Your Home with JESSEd & a Gift for You!

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Today I am reviewing another glam offering from JESSEd home:  the JESSEd Serving Tray.

JESSEd Serving Tray

 

Featured today is the Jade Ostrich Serving Tray.  This is so well made! It is also the perfect size to fit on a bar cart. It is really easy to carry too. I can’t wait to entertain with this. It will be great for carrying drinks outside to the patio. It measures 3″ deep so it is the perfect companion for serving drinks to your guests.

JESSEd Serving Tray

 

Just like the White Ostrich Cocktail tray, this serving tray has the same gorgeous stud detailing. It is also made with entertaining in mind. Let’s face it, spills happen. To clean this tray all you need to do is wipe it with a damp cloth. Easy!

JESSEd Serving Tray

 

Right now this tray is corralling all my barware. I always think things you need out always look better on a tray. This will definitely be my go-to tray for outdoor entertaining on the patio this summer too. I can’t wait to have our first summer get together and use it!! This makes such a  great home accent. You could use it on a coffee table, bookcase, ottoman, dining table, or on a bar cart like I have here.

JESSEd Serving Tray

 

JESSEd home serving trays come in an array of colors and options. You can find the right size and style that is right for you.

That’s not all!! I did mention a gift for you too:

JESSEd home is offering a discount for Bliss at Home readers. They have kindly offered 20% off your entire order on anything from their gorgeous collection. 

Just enter this code at checkout:

BAH20

*offer good until 5/17

Check out and shop their entire collection of exotic skin trays, placemats, and tablecloths by going to www.jessedhome.com.

JESSEd home

You can also follow JESSEd home on:

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

This is a product review for JESSEd home. All opinions are 100% mine. 

xoxo Kristin

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A Few Updates & Duluth Giveaway Winner Announced!!

Just a couple quick announcements this morning and I’ll be back later today with another fab JESSEd home review and a gift for you!

Thanks to everyone who entered the Duluth Trading Co. Giveaway! The winner of the $50 Duluth Trading Co. gift card is….drumroll please…
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats Kim!! I will be contacting you via email so I can get your prize off to you and you can get your shop on!

I hope you all had a fab weekend. I was spoiled beyond belief even with a sick kiddo to take care of in the mix. Here’s a peak at the major Mother’s Day spoiling via Instagram

Mother's Day Spoiling

 

Also, over the weekend we announced a new 3 part series we are starting. I am super-duper excited about this one!

PIMP MY HOUSE

 

You can get all the details on the new Let’s Rock This House! series here.

So, that’s it. I feel like I should have hit a few notes on the xylophone all school announcement style before I started that! I’ll back in a few with a new post and a great gift for you!!

xoxo Kristin

 

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Let’s Rock This House!

New Series!! New Series!! New Series Alert!!!

I thought if I started this post out yelling and using lots of exclamation marks or excited points–as my youngest calls them– it would make this seem really exciting. Did I succeed? Are you excited??

Well, worth a shot…

We are starting a new 3 part series called Let’s Rock This House!

PIMP MY HOUSE

Dave and I have really been enjoying creating a home here in our little 1950′s rancher. This series is going to break down the process of 3 DIY projects and give full instructions on how you can achieve the same look.  This 3 part series will also show how minor tweaks can make regular DIY projects become majorly AWESOME!! Guys, don’t feel left out, there’s dude stuff going on too! Our first project involved a run to Best Buy if that tells you anything. This is also budget-friendly DIY. No breaking the bank, no crazy expensive items.

It breaks down like this:

Part 1: Pimp My Library Wall

Part 2: Pimp My Patio

Part 3: Pimp My Fireplace

I realize that’s a lot of P-I-M-Ping going on, so what are we waiting for let’s see what we’re talking about.

Why ‘Let’s Rock This House!‘?? It’s kind of our motto. We say it when we start a project. Heck! We say it when we think of a project!

…And it’s a cheesy phrase. If you haven’t caught on yet, I like my cheesy phrases!

You want to know how to rock your house? Have a really cool library wall. I can’t wait to share the goods!

Until then, you can follow the process on Instagram for Let’s Rock This House! updates. Just look for the hashtag:  #rockthishouse

xoxo Kristin

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