All posts in Tutorial

My First Bunting & Baby Shower

by kenz on March 27, 2013 in Decorating, Events, Tutorial with 18 Comments

My sister Gina is having a miracle baby! We’re so excited for little Molly to join our big Greek Family. Gina literally lives a block away from me, which is the most rad thing ever.

I got to host my first ever baby shower. And normally, I LOVE throwing parties, but I gotta say, I was sweating chunks for this one. Maybe it’s because a lot of family members who haven’t seen my house, and neighbor ladies from where I grew up (most of whom read my blog) would be there.

All you other bloggers, does it make you nervous when people who read your blog come to your house in real life? Or am I the only weirdo out there that thinks people judge my house extra hard because I blog about it?

Anyway, we had a chandelier that did this:

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Cork Board Makeover

by kenz on March 20, 2013 in Painting, Refinishing, Tutorial with 7 Comments

I was commissioned to give this cork board a make over… a year and 3 months ago. Yes, December of 2011. Why is it that the simplest projects are the easiest to procrastinate?

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DIY JUMBO JENGA

by kenz on March 18, 2013 in Power Tools, Tutorial with 47 Comments

Since I’m posting today, that can only mean one thing: ~~I have given up on life and will only be pseudo-living on the interwebs.~~ I am 1,000,000% done with school AND passed my state exam. (But you already follow me on Twitter and Instagram, so this is old news to you, right?)

For you with curious minds, it was my real estate license I was chasing. By day I work in real estate as a corporate compliance manager, and thought, “why the heck SHOULDN’T I get my license?” So I sucked it up and did it.

Thanks for being patient while my blog took the back burner. I tried to keep it on a low simmer, but I’m ready to bring it back to a boil now that I have the weight of my state exam off my shoulders.

My cousin Katie got married last weekend (Congrats you two!), and she had made a request for a game of Jumbo Jenga. Challenge accepted.

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Pinterest Challenge: Lobster Art

by kenz on February 27, 2013 in Decorating, Little Touches, Tutorial with 29 Comments

You Are My Lobster

Today’s the day. It’s a burrito filled with joy. It’s: the PINTEREST CHALLENGE!

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DIY Spa Bath Tub Caddy

by kenz on February 4, 2013 in Little Touches, Power Tools, Tutorial with 33 Comments

Luxury For Pennies

Did you guys see that Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw yesterday? Gnarly.

Valentine’s day is coming up. And maybe you want to make yourself a gift, for a romantic night to yourself If that’s what you’re into. It’s way better than sending yourself a dozen roses from a “secret admirer.”

I saw this post by Everyday Simple (look at item #2) featuring different Valentine’s gifts. The spa-like bath tub caddy stuck out to me, and I thought “Hey! I am 100% capable of making this for myself. Do it to it Lars.”

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Deconstructed Ottoman

by kenz on February 1, 2013 in Furniture, Guest Post, Re-purposing Furniture, Strut Your Stuff, Tutorial with 27 Comments

DIY Knock Off Restoration Hardware Ottoman

I’m really excited about today’s post. We have a guest post brought to us from Jen of The Yellow Brick Cottage. She is showing us something that she hasn’t even shown on HER blog yet! Do you feel special? You should. Jen is hilarious. You need to start reading her blog. She’s incredibly honest and un-sugarcoated. She knows how to turn a salmonella-carrying reptile into a Ninja Turtle, which is a cooler thing than lemons into lemonade.

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$15 / 15 Minute Project Link Party!

by kenz on January 21, 2013 in Decorating, Link Party, Little Touches, Tutorial with 20 Comments

Covering Canvas in fabric - quick DIY home decor

Happy Monday, Internet! If you’re like me, you have the day off work today. Bank holidays are a glorious thing.

Me and my girls from the DIY Action Squad (DIYAS for short) are ready to party today!

DIY action squad

Whoever said Monday wasn’t a party day, never met the DIYAS. Partying on Mondays is so fetch.

As you remember, we decided that our projects would be $15 (or less) and could be completed in 15 minutes.

To be honest, this was a project I struggled with. I’m not into quickies. But I AM into makeshift temporary art. As you know, we are planning a big living room/dining room/kitchen reno. However, that doesn’t mean that I can’t have temporary art for my living room, right?

I had some old canvases with yellow chevron fabric from my ugly old bedroom. And I also had some new ikat fabric that was sitting in a closet, waiting for a last minute craft project.

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DIY Mercury Glass Tutorial

by kenz on January 7, 2013 in Tutorial with 66 Comments

Thermometers, The Solar System, Queen, my living room. All things that have an element of mercury in them.

(If you don’t have an ounce of love in your heart for Freddie Mercury, his tight white pants, and his love of holding a microphone stand at a perfect 45 degree angle, I might need to question my friendship with you.)

I saw these vases from West Elm, and wanted them. They are shiny and bright and covet-able. They are also $20-$40 per vase. Um, no.

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Got Milk {Paint}?

by kenz on December 7, 2012 in Furniture, Painting, Product Review, Refinishing, Tutorial with 32 Comments

White Grandfather Clock makeover - Milk Paint Review

Yesterday I was being all whiny about Milk Paint. It’s a hard life.

I am no stranger at painting furniture. I’ve even ~~BS-ed~~ mastered the art of no-sand painting. But I needed to test this much-talked-about heavy-hailed Milk Paint. Let’s take this Milk Paint for a drive. This post is my unsponsored, uncensored, untarnished review of said product.

First of all, what is milk paint? According to Miss Mustard Seed:

Milk Paint is an ancient all-natural paint containing basic ingredients including milk protein (casein), limestone, clay and natural pigments. It is environmentally friendly, non-toxic and contains no VOCs.

Milk Paint can either provide a solid coat of paint, or an authentic chippy look. If you want a solid coat, you will need to use the bonding agent. For the chippy look, you are good to go. No priming or sanding is needed.

Milk Paint comes in a powder form. I joked that my bag of snow came in the mail. No one thought that was funny. Apparently mail-order drugs are no laughing matter.

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What the Faux {Moulding}?!

by kenz on November 28, 2012 in Painting, Product Review, Renovating, Tutorial with 37 Comments

faux moulding _ How to paint faux moulding

Tutorial: How To Paint Faux Moulding

On Monday I showed you my fabulous painted headboard. It was part of my master bedroom makeover. Ever since Indy ate the wall, the master bedroom has been crying out for some fixin up. Awhile ago I fell in love with faux moulidng, and nothing else would satisfy my craving.

Karl always said our room was Argentina-Flag-Themed. No offense to any Argentinians who read my blog, but I wasn’t thrilled about my master bedroom resembling a flag.

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