Saturday, March 31, 2012

Happy Anniversary To Me

No, its not a blog anniversary, that is coming in a few months.  It's my wedding anniversary.
5 years ago David and I were married on the beach in Santa Barbara, California.
It was a simple event, I wore a dress I got at Ross for $12 bucks (Yes, I've always been a frugalista)
It was the most beautiful day, the weather was perfect.



7 months later we found out we were expecting


In May of 2008 we welcomed the twins.


It has been a crazy 5 years, but its been fun, challenging, and exciting.
Last month David and I had the opportunity of visiting the site where we were married, it was an incredibly refreshing and I left feeling ready for the next 5 years.


So off to enjoy our special day.  Have a great weekend!!

xo,

mONICa


Friday, March 30, 2012

Weekend Features 11

I've decided that next week I'm going to start posting features at Furniture Friday, because I think it's easier for everyone.  Thank you again for linking up to my party last week.  Here are some great pieces that were linked up.

This beautiful black desk from Primitive and Proper

This lovely hutch by Vintageous

and a wonderfully transformed Ikea bookshelf, paint and all by Retail DIYet


If you have been featured grab a "My Name In Lights" button.

xo,

mONICa

Decorating Insanity
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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Furniture Friday 11 Link Party

Hello all. Happy Friday!! I've just getting over being under the weather so I don't have any furniture projects to share today, but I am guest posting over at A Sunday Afternoon.
Sunday will be guest posting here on Monday, so please come back and check out her awesome post.

I did get over to Ikea this afternoon and tomorrow will be working on some more kids room projects and a kids activity center in my laundry room, hopefully I will have something cool to show you next week starring two $20 Ikea desk.



Now time to party!!

Please put your permalink into the linky and pretty please link back here so we can share everyone's other great ideas (button at the bottom of this post or on my sidebar).   Please do not link any shops!!  Sit back, relax, grab a martini, network (visit other links) and enjoy the  party.

Note: By adding your link you are giving me permission to use your photos on my blog without contacting you.  Which means you may get featured, please make sure to come visit again on Saturday for Weekend Features.


Ready Set, Go!!!

xo,



mONICa





Toddler Bathroom Stool

Well my junky stool is gone.  Here's the thing, in our old house we had 3 bathrooms and our toddler stools junky or not were easy to hide, but now that our only bathroom is like 7 x 7,  I have no where to hide it so it must be cute because its going to be out in the wide open.  I got this stool a couple years ago for a buck and a half at a thrift store in Kentucky.  It was painted red and worn, but shabby chic looking, I liked it like that, but it doesn't go with our new bathroom. So I took some spray paint to it and took a swing at hand painting.


I just looked up some clip art online and did my best at painting a bird freehand.


The monogram is just printed out on regular paper and modge podged to the stool,
and it's been sealed with polyurathane for water resistance.


I think it goes good with my shower curtain.

and now the kids can fight over who gets to stand on it while brushing their teeth.

xo,

mONICa



As you can see we're partying all week long. I probably need to go to link party rehab.  Oh well,  grab a martini and join us....Monica

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Appletini Dresser- The Tutorial



Well, it looks like The Appletini Dresser was a hit.  I got some great results in blogland, facebook, pinterest, and even twitter.  It was featured at Addicted to Decorating and Sassy Sites.



The cool thing about this dresser is that it is going to be used as a bathroom vanity, but I didn't know it until after I finished it.  I am lucky enough to be able to score some pics of the completed project in a few months by the designer who purchased it. Can't Wait to share them with you.  I've been getting lots of emails on my technique, so today I will share it with you.

You will need. Gray spray primer,  Rustoleum Eden spray paint, a dark stain like Espresso,  rags, and wipe on poly.


First you start with a light sand or degloss


then a coat of gray spray primer


let it dry completely and then apply a coat of spray paint


next you apply a dark stain, just wipe on and wipe off.
I have to admit I did this only about an hour after I applied paint and it comes out darker if you do not let the paint completely dry.  If you want the finish more like the original dresser make sure you let your paint dry for 24 hours before applying stain because less stain seeps in and more comes off.


Let the stain dry completely and apply a coat or two of wipe on poly.


and VIOLA!!


Come back next Wednesday for my tutorial on my metallic blue finish.



xo,

mONICa



Monday, March 26, 2012

No Cost Blogger Event- Need More Facebook Fans



Come and join me in a FREE Blogger Event! You can have your Facebook link added for FREE, and the prize $100 PayPal Cash! 
The Ultimate Baby Shower is Sponsoring the Event and Paying for the Prize!  

Click HERE to Sign Up!

xo,


mONICa

Guest Post: Kimberly from See Sew and Seedlings





First of all, I am so excited to be here today at Decorating Insanity!!  This is such an awesome blog with tons of great ideas, so it is my pleasure to be here.



I've been seeing these adorable whimsical frames everywhere but they have all been a little too pricey for me.....  Needless to say, when I found Cut It Out Already Frames I was beyond excited!!  Not only are the shapes to die for the prices are so reasonable.  Their customer service is great.  The frames come unfinished and the instructions say to use acrylic paint, which is exactly what I did.  Once I painted on 2 coats, I allowed the paint to fully dry then took sandpaper and sanded all the edges including the inside where the picture shows through.  I purchased a variety of sizes, 4x6, 5x7, and 16x20. 



The other pictures (the ones with no frames) were purchased from I Print Canvas however they are not canvas.  I chose the 3/16 Gator Board Mounting.  I absolutely love these all mixed together!!  They make my walls and once again the customer service was great!









For my 16x20 I found the cutest poster from Zazzle - Signs By Andrea.  The quality is great and it looks so awesome combined with this frame! 





If you want a quick way to transform your walls I definitely recommend!

Thanks again to Monica and Elaine for having me here today!!

Thank you Kimberly for visiting us.  What a great wall transformation.  If you love this project check out the other awesome projects she has done by visiting her blog See Sew and Seedlings.

xo,

mONICa

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Weekend Features #10



Another weekend is here.  I apologize to those who are trying to link up to Furniture Fridays as I've been told Linky Tools has crashed.  If you are trying to link up please come back Monday as the party will be up til next Thursday.  

Here are some great projects that I would like to share from last weeks Furniture Friday.


First this great little striped bookshelf perfectly styled from West Furniture Revival.


This sofa table pretty in a pale blue by The Creviston Nest.

and this great Route 66 cabinet by Bliss Ranch.

If you have been featured please grab a "My Name in Lights" button and share it with the world.

If you get a chance spread the word about our party so that we can have more awesome inspiration.

xo,

mONICa

Decorating Insanity
<div align="center"><a href="http://decoratinginsanity.blogspot.com" title="Decorating Insanity"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOl8CGo8Swbr8fgvMV6STJPJb3kNsygHpbhe6UMDcG-UBUOAcf-FGu-XEzmrU815-ixPb3upuY6vNWpwou1o41ndrbzIycTSCKtYNJj5q4_w1G_5qXsh0iFi2Ov9XSwU5h-7AgWgkTKCs/s1600/featured+button+220.jpg" alt="Decorating Insanity" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Furniture Friday #10 and Link Party

Wow!  Furniture Friday has made it to double digits.  How exciting.  Thank you for all who supported our first 9 Furniture Fridays and for sharing such great projects.  

After the success of our Midnight Dream Dresser revealed at Furniture Friday #7,

I just knew I had to do the same finish on a desk.
Here is my victim. A nice vintage desk with curved drawers and pretty hardware.

I used Rustoleum Navy blue and covered it in metallic glaze and then coated it all with poly.
The only thing is that the photography makes it look darker than it actually is.  In a way that is a good thing for me because this means next time I can do a true navy blue piece of furniture and know that I am going to like the finish.

I also lined the drawers with a funky paper to finish it off.

and of course it is called The Midnight Dream Desk.

Now time to party!!

Please put your permalink into the linky and pretty please link back here so we can share everyone's other great ideas (button at the bottom of this post or on my sidebar).   Please do not link any shops!!  Sit back, relax, grab a martini, network (visit other links) and enjoy the  party.

Note: By adding your link you are giving me permission to use your photos on my blog without contacting you.  Which means you may get featured, please make sure to come visit again on Saturday for Weekend Features.


Ready Set, Go!!!

xo,

mONICa


As you can see we're partying all week long. I probably need to go to link party rehab.  Oh well,  grab a martini and join us....Monica


Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The I Can't Sew Curtains

When we moved into our rental, we had zero window coverings.  Nothing!!  Not even crappy mini blinds. So for the first few months our windows were covered in sheets, old shower curtains, etc.  For months my kids room has looked like this.


I know it doesn't look that bad because that is actually the old shower curtain we had in our kids bathroom when we actually had a kids bathroom.  This fabric was cute and almost worked. I wish I had a picture of the other window, because I had ugly plaid sheets on that window.  

A couple of months ago I took a trip to JoAnns to go find some fabric.  Actually, it wasn't my first trip to the fabric store, but finding something that would work well for a gender neutral room was a challenge, especially because the colors are turquoise, purple, and lime green.  Well, finally I found something that I loved.


The problem was they only had 3 yards of fabric and I needed 5.  So that's when I decided to try to find a coordinating fabric for the window by my sons bed that was more masculine.  I am so glad I did because I think the bird fabric on 5 windows would've made the room look girly.


I can't sew a straight line to save my life, but I tried my very best and came up with this.



I hope to be ready in the near future for a room reveal.  I still have beds to paint and some art work to complete, but what a relief to get these curtains done, especially because I hate to sew.

I really like how they turned out though, it really brightened the room up and makes it look fun and cheery.  Perfect for 3 year old twins.

xo,

mONICa




Monday, March 19, 2012

Another Liebster Blog Award


I feel so honored when I get an email that say's I've been given the Liebster Blog Award.  This award is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers.  I've been honored to receive this award 4 times.

Most recently I was given the award by Jessica of Vintage Mauve.  If you haven't checked out her blog please do, and visit her on Mondays for Mauvin Mondays.

To see how the award works and to check out other bloggers who have passed this award to me click here.

xo,

mONICa