Nesting Place

Candle Worthy

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:06:00 +0000

If you have one dollar to spend on fall decorating, buy a candle at the dollar store or goodwill. If you have $10 to spend on decorating, blow it on candles. Besides having a comfy chair and blanket, candles are the single most comfort inducing mechanisms you can own. You need them, and you need to use them.

When I'm out and see candles on sale, I buy them no questions asked. I look for neutral candles either cream or brown, that way I know they'll look great in my home and go with any candlestick, pedistal or tray I put them on. Plus, they'll all compliment each other if they are from the same color family. Plus, I move everything around every 6 minutes so they are sure to still look great no matter where I put them.

I also am a sucker for a good candlestick. This one started out green.

These started out red.

Ten minutes in my highly classified, top secret, state of the art lab and they were given new life.

Don't forget, you can dress up your candlesticks by adding a pretty ornament. I just used the weight of the candle to hold it down. You could also do this with a tassel.

Remember the centerpiece? Now it has life.

Do you actually use your candles?

I hereby give you permission, no, I mandate, that you burn your candles. Please, don't let them sit around all fall untouched. Those candles are there to make you happy, make your home more welcoming, they want to be lit. The other day my friend Marybeth told me how she used feel like she needed to decide who was what she called "candle-worthy". Now she lights them all the time because she and her family are candle worthy. She is so smart.

You are candle worthy too.

****

The lucky winner of the Her Southern Charm Necklace: Karise {who left an anonymous comment with her name and emial~see you don't have to have a blog to win--WAIT, read the comments for the back story, she DOES have a blog!} For all you losers, I mean, non winners, feel free to order lots and lots of necklaces from Her Southern Charm!

Easy Christmas Decorating Projects

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:17:00 +0000

How to make a Centerpiece Using What You Have {for any season}

Homemade Christmas Garland Inspiration and Tutorial

How to Hang a Wreath

How to Make a Fur Wreath

Winterized Decor

And, the most famous, always rewarding but super tedious
Ragamuffin Garland

Be sure to stop in at Life in Grace over the next two weeks where Edie is featuring the Ragamuffin Garland along with 11 other Handmade Christmas Tutorials for you to try out.

'Tis the Season

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:25:00 +0000

You didn't believe me when I told you I would be pulling out a smidgen of my Christmas decor did you? We'll I'm doing it. I get my stuff out early for a few reasons, 1. it's too much work to wait till after Thanksgiving and then put it away four weeks later 2. our family LOVES Christmas decorations 3. if I do a little bit at a time when I feel like it then it never feels like work.

I don't put up the tree or hang stockings, I wait a little while for that but, I do start getting out some greenery, snowflake stuff, red berries, white lights and I keep some of my fall stuff out too because I feel like that season goes too fast and you know, Thanksgiving can be fally.

Why can't each season's holiday be at the END of the season?

Also, to celebrate the end of our longest running series ever, the 31 Days, we've got a giveaway. And for those of you asking, yes, the 31 Days to a Better Dressed Nest will be available in ebook form in the future. The future where I get stuff done right away.

Oh yeah, a giveaway...

How about a cutie patootie Aniston Necklace offered up by Her Southern Charm.

Yeah, I know how you cannot dare not want something as darling as a personalized necklace like this. Neither can Courtney Cox, Carol Hannah Whit, Mrs. Jack Black, and other celebs. All you have to do to be in the running to win a sweet Aniston Necklace is leave a comment telling me what initial {or 2} you would have on your necklace or, you can tell me when you start putting your Christmas decor up.

There are lots of beauties to be had at Her Southern Charm, you'll find some great stuff like my personal favorite, the Austin Framed Disk Necklace. Now leave a comment and good luck! Contest closes Tuesday at midnight.

You don't have to have a blog to win BUT, you must have a way for me to contact you--don't do what the second commenter did and be annon and leave no email~enter again mysterious anonymous person!

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 31~ Incorporate the Season

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:09:00 +0000

It's the last day!

When you walk through your home can you tell what season it is? I'm not saying that you should have pumpkins lining the halls or a Christmas tree in every room but sometimes the most subtle items can give a nod to the season.

I don't know about you but I try to pull out a few of my Christmas decorations November 1st. The season is so short that for me, it's not fun to wait until December. So so slowly add in more and more Christmas. Besides, my family LOVES Christmas decorations and I've got some great stuff to share this season and we are sure to be inspired with the Christmas tour of homes!

Enjoy the evening, no matter what you are doing~we had a fantastic sale that was very well worth the trouble and it was pure joy to meet some of you!

Yard Sale Update

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:08:00 +0000

It's happening! Tomorrow we really will have the sale unless we wake up and it's tornadoeing or something. My parents will be here to help make sure there are no shoplifters. Just kidding. As if. Once you see some of this stuff you might just curse my name for tricking you into thinking I was gonna have cute stuff to sell.

Actually, I do have some darling items but I keep worrying that once I get it all set up it's gonna look like three things. Maybe that's because I keep pulling stuff inside the house because I might really need it and this time I'm really gonna use it so I cannot sell it. Somebody stop me.

I hope it looks like more than 3 things when we set it up.

We'll open at 8. PLEASE don't show up at 7:15 and start trying to look through stuff while I try to make it look like I have more than 3 things. I want to have everything all organized so we can swing open the masking tape right at 8.

And don't take a shower and look all cute because I most likely won't be looking all cute.

Now I am done spouting off all my rules. If you never got my address, I'll be checking facebook later tonight for any messages. I hope you don't hate me when you meet me if we have never met before.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 30~ Rescue Something

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:55:00 +0000

this is how my boys repurpose

I'm planning to have my yard sale tomorrow and I hate to admit it but I keep pulling things out to keep. Things like empty frames and pretend fruit that I can paint. And I have a feeling that you have things stored away in your garage, storage shed, attic, under the house--that you could use in your home if you forced yourself to consider how.

Walk through those areas with a different perspective and see if you already possess something that you can find a fresh purpose for. Whether it's a door, chair, dresser, lamp, table, or whatever I bet you can find one thing that you can repurpose.

Some of the most fun and rewarding projects I've done in my home have involved using things that I already had that I thought were junk and then realizing how glad I was that I was able to use it.

One day left.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 29~ Proportion and Relation

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Punished we were, disproportionate to our crime. Know what movie that is from? I'll give you a hint, eat three oreos and then go to the mirror and look at your teeth as you say the quote aloud to yourself.

Here is another crime of proportions. What's wrong with this picture, besides the fact that it looks as if I have 800 watt bulbs in each of my lamps and something always seems to be hanging out of the drawers?

If I were a good blogger, this is the part where I would show you no less than 12 photos depicting correct and incorrect sizing and spacing of objects hung above and over other objects.

Katie sent me this photo. She was so excited that her husband finally hung her door in their playroom. Doncha love how they splatter painted it? She said she was so happy that he hung it, she didn't have the heart to tell him that it's too high. She's gonna make it work but she told me I could show you all this example of too highness.

Husbands tend to hang items WAAAAY too high, maybe because they are tall, maybe because they grew up in the 70's when moms hung everything close to the ceiling. This door is closer to the ceiling than to the sofa--that is a sure sign that something is wrong. When you hang something, most of the time, it's hung in relation to something else. This door is hung over the sofa. Therefore, it's related to the sofa and should be closer to the sofa. However, in the door's defense, it's a a great size and scale for over the sofa.

Are there rules for hanging such things? I'm not a big rule abider but, yes, there's some sort of 2/3rds rule that says you should make sure you visually fill in 2/3 of the space above an item. For example, with this sofa, whatever is on the wall should fill up 2/3 of the visual space of the sofa to make it feel balance. Too small and it looks like a shrunken head, too big and it's top heavy.

See how this door does not look right hung over this small table? Now, that door is about the same visual weight as the sofa on the right but I still think it looks just fine when I have the sofa under the door even though that doesn't obey the 2/3 rule. And no, I don't only have photos of doors on walls.

I also have shutters.

I tend to err on hanging things too low. But I love how the things on the far wall are all related, and they love each other. They are not afraid to get close, two great looks that look great together.

I'm sure there's a rule for height in hanging stuff on walls too--like the center should be 60 inches off the ground, or eye level {who's eye?}. Personally, I choose to hang it, look at it, and if seems too high or low then I move the nail. Remember, it 's just a nail hole, the smallest worry in the entire universe.

So, walk around and check out your wall hangings. Are they in proportion to what they are hanging over? Do you have your mirrors, clocks, shutters, photos, art, spaced so far from the thing it's place over that it looks like it's floating? If so, bring it down a little.

By the way,promise me you will NEVER, I repeat, never measure something and try to hang something exactly 2/3 the size over it. That is insane.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 28~Up and Out

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:52:00 +0000

After yesterday's post about drapery length you would think I'd be scared off from every talking about drapes again. Nope, we've got a few more points to hit when it comes to highlighting your windows.

In my opinion, window treatments/mistreatments are there to serve two purposes, the most important being to highlight the windows, and secondly, if needed to help with privacy. Ideally, in a perfect world you don't want to have to use your window treatments or drapes for privacy, it's so much easier if you have shades or blinds or if possible, naked windows enhanced with fabric. I know for some of us we need to be able to pull the drapes at night and you still can do that and follow these rules.

See that first photo up there? I'll copy it here again.

What beautiful silk drapes! But why, WHY is the rod mounted so low and shortly and why does the rod end just outside the window casing? The problem with these drapes is they cover a good amount of light coming from the window. Usually, when we first look at a home to buy, most of us are attracted to the light and how big the windows are. Why would anyone want to cut the natural, free light in half when they put up their window treatments?

Is there a window back there or just a blank wall? We'll never know.

I personally don't mind a topper and drapes together but this one is breaking a rule or five--it's covering up light! Someone needs to raise the rod up so the bottom of the topper just meets the top of the glass. And get a longer rod or extend this one out so that those drapes sit in front of the wall, not precious, priceless, free natural light! Oh, and the drapes are too short too.

"Somebody help me, I'm being smothered."

I like cafe curtains too, but again, they should be light and airy. During the day, push them all the way to the edges to let light in.

This cafe curtain is great because lets in light but still provides a bit of privacy. Well done!
What is this? Some creepy form of punishment? I know for these advertisements, they want to show the fabric on the drapes, but I see this done in real homes all the time. Dark, dark, heavy curtains and a sliver of natural light? Maybe in a few years living in a dim cave will be all the rage but here in 2009, people want light. DON'T COVER UP THE WINDOWS!!!

If you insist on covering your glass in your windows, consider a light fabric. And remember to raise that rod up higher! If you like to hide some light sometimes, you can still pull your drapes together for privacy or light control but, you should have the option to open them and allow 95% of the window to show. This is especially true if your house is on the market.

A higher rod results in longer drapes that result in a more spacious feeling in your space. And making sure the fabric falls mostly in front of the wall just covering the edges of the glass on the windows gives the illusion of big huge windows and maximizes the light.

If you want dark, short rooms with the appearance of tiny windows, just ignore me. Don't hate me because I'm bossy and opinionated. This trick will change your entire home!

Photos: Pottery Barn, Country Curtains, Target

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 27~ Drapery Check

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +0000

pottery barn

This is one of those posts that I get nervous about writing. Drapery length~it's such a touchy subject. Just like all home design, it's a matter of opinion. But my big fat hairy opinion right now is that your drapes should just touch the floor. If they stop three inches from the ground all floating in the air, then it looks like your windows are wearing capris. And capris are out as far as drapes are concerned.

So go around and check your drapes. Are they high waters? If so, here's one way to fix them. I'm off to read all the hate mail I'll get about me thinking drapes that are too short.

Easy Fall Centerpiece

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:34:00 +0000

I shopped the house and found some greenery/reddery that was originally in my wreath.

Pile those on a white tray and tuck a pedestal stand thing in the middle.

And plop a pumpkin on top. The end.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 26~Put A Frame on It

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:04:00 +0000

All the empty frames {7x}

Cuz, if you liked it then you should have put a frame on it
If you liked it then you should have put a frame on it
Don't be mad when you see that she framed it
If you like it then you should have put a frame on it

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 25~Set Goals

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:25:00 +0000

We've talked about making a list of words that you want to describe your home {and the feelings you get when you enter into it} and also about keeping an idea book. Let's take that list idea in another direction. It may seem simple and obvious to you bonafied list makers like me, but maybe some of you don't have a goal notebook for your home.

Just the other day I found my home notebook from 2006. I had a page where I wrote my goals for the year. Right up there in the light blue, you can click it to enlarge it and see what was on my mind at the time.

We didn't do all those things but we did get a permanent computer home, figure out how to address the empty wall in the family room, get a new/discount/damaged stove that looked great, repair and hang the window boxes, make shutters and hang them, make our bed stuff, and enlarge a photo. Most of the stuff was done quickly because we ended up needing to sell our house fast because of a failing business, but I still got satisfaction from things being done.

This is NOT a list of things that you need to write down and feel bad about and nag your husband about, NO! This is a place where you can put your thoughts to rest. Once I wrote down my goals for the house as far as areas that needed attention or furniture I would like to have, I could stop thinking about them so much. Since they were safe in this notebook, I didn't need to keep going over the ideas in my mind.

This is my favorite page because I remembered to cross things off. The highlight of any list maker's day. As you can see, I had a general page of things in the house that I was thinking about, and then a page for each room and things I was considering. Did we do everything? Nope. I had lots of question marks after ideas.

Go ahead and start a home notebook, include your ideas and your lists, and any doodles you might like. It's nice to have everything in one place and when you see a cute zebra chair at Tuesday Morning for only $49 you will be able to think more clearly about if you actually need it or not depending on if seating was on your list.

Two years ago I bought that chair but when I got it home it didn't look quite right with my stuff. But I had just done the list and knew that I was on the lookout for seating in our master bedroom.

Do you have a goal book for your home?

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 24~Incorporate Fabric

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 11:45:00 +0000

Fabric and softness can and should be introduced into every room of your house.

window mistreatments
towels
rugs
pillows
table runners
a basket of cushy blankets
lampshades {I count them as fabricy too if they are made with fabric}
seat cushions

It can be tricky to bring fabric into your kitchen we talked about that before. Check your rooms out, can you soften any of them up with fabric?

Yard Sale :: Postponed

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:36:00 +0000

Here's the forecast. Let's try again next weekend? Hopefully I'll still have stuff to sell. I'm pulling so much out of the pile that it's disgusting. But I'm also putting more stuff in.

My husband and I need to plan ahead so at this point, even if we wake up at 6am and it's dry and sunny and 70 degrees with a rainbow and raining dollar bills, donuts and coffee, we still WILL NOT have the sale tomorrow. Don't show up at the house unless you want to help with yard work and get shot with an air soft gun.

A few photos. Don't be asking me to hold anything or how much something is. Aren't I the pleasant one? I've got "I'm-all-ready-for-a-yard-sale-and-can't-have-it because-it-might-thunderstorm-itus." It makes me grumpy.

Boxes of fabric.

And a garage full of crap. I mean really great stuff. I'm not selling furniture but for a broken legged parson's chair and a piano that I've yet to return emails about. I've got size 6-7 boys clothes and just some weird odds and ends. I hope someone actually buys something.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 23~Group it

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:45:00 +0000

Welcome to day 23 of A Better Dressed Nest. Let's jump right in with today's tip. For a bigger and better impact group like things together. It's that simple.

Group your succulents.

My boys even know the power of a good grouping.

My apothecary jars are all protected, I mean grouped in my glass terrarium.

I group pillows {bordering on layering}

Group colored dishes {layering too, hate me}

Paper lanterns look much better clumped together.

One dish on the wall is so lonely, pack them in.

If you have a collection of something, gather them all together and show them off.

I even pile all of our pretty soaps and brushes in a big bowl. They like being together.

One pumpkin on this table would be sad.

And art looks good in pairs and such as well.

What have you grouped lately?

Yard sale update will come later today, stay tuned, it seriously looks like it might rain and we'll have to postpone.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 22~ Fix Something Broken

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:05:00 +0000

A guest post from my dear, funny friend, and favorite contractor, Tim, The Remodeling Guy, we are obviously ultra cool together. Here's Tim...

Before I can really get going here, I have to take a moment to compose myself. It's just hard not to laugh whenever I come over here to The Nesting Place. The Nester is just too funny!

It also strikes me as a little bit ironic that I'm writing about how to better dress a nest! Up until a year ago, I thought nests were all in trees. Now I know better and I'm honored to be invited here for this guest post!

I'm stumped though. How, on this wonderfully written, witty, and engaging blog, am I supposed to lead into the subject matter..???

Fix Something Broken

I could just hit on the fact that we all know just how annoying those "little things" can be! How they grate on your nerves every single time you see them. Day, after day, after day. But that would be depressing and make me feel bad about my list!

I could tell a story about how my mother-in-law almost hit the floor when she tried to sit in a broken chair (ha!)... well, it's actually not broken, just three-legged. Or I could complain about the cabinet door on the cabinet that holds all my grillin' seasoning... it closes on me every single time! It'll get ya!

If I really wanted to make this a "feature length" post, I could ask my wonderful wife, Kim, a simple question..."um, dear (I don't really say dear), is there anything around here you'd like me to fix?" But let's not go there. It's not a good idea.

The fact is, I could pick any one of a number of things to take care of around here, and every single one of them would result, ever so slightly, in a "better dressed nest!" And every step, no matter how small, makes a big difference!

I've been around people's homes long enough to know that almost everybody has some of the same simple things they could fix in no time flat! Any of these ring a bell:

Light bulbs need changing
Door knob is loose
Door knob made a hole in the wall
Door needs a knob... :-)
Towel bar is MIA
Drawer front can best be described as "precarious"

You get the idea and we both know that once you do that little thing, it's a whole lot more weight off your head than you would think! I put some glue on that broken chair leg just today, and I know I'm breathing easier! Wouldn't want to damage the mother-in-law, now would I?

So, I'm really curious, what little thing do you need fixed? I bet you have some pretty entertaining little problems out there. I'd love to hear about them!

Thanks Nester for having me here again! Have fun with the garage sale!

{Tim and I seriously fixing my mistreatments, no, this is not staged, this fabric clearly needed drilling and hot gluing right that very minute, and we never look at what we are working on, we are so experienced we always just look around the room.} Be sure to stop by Remodeling Guy and check out his approachable ideas. He's also got a facebook page where you can ask him questions! You can ask a real, live contractor questions for free! And he'll answer them!

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 21~ Layer it

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:46:00 +0000

Layering is one of the easiest design techniques to copy. I find that lots of times we forget that we can put pretty stuff in front of other pretty stuff and it just enhances all of our favorite stuff.

I'm pretty sure that layering is my favorite method to work as many of my favorite things as I can into a room. I LOVE to layer!

To me layers create a cozy feeling.

You can use your much loved dishes and books and lamps and photos and art all in one place.

If you are renting, layering is a fast way to add texture and a focal point to a big empty wall.

And of course, you are never committed to one look.

Pillows can be layered.

Have you layered lately?

PS, the Yard Sale is starting at 8am NOT 7am like I told some of you. It is DARK at 7--let's wait until 8!

And again, to get my address you have to PROVE you are a real person who is normal. I am as serious as a heart attack. Giving me the school you went to here does not prove you are real. Hate me. I would just publish my address here if I could totally trust the world. IF some mean person WAS out there reading this they would make up a nice girls name and put a bible verse at the end of their email and try to get my address. I need proof people--facebook friend me {I hate to have so many rules, but DO NOT email me and ask me to search for you and friend you, FRIEND ME, Nester Smith please--thank you so much!!!}, invite me to your flickr acct, link to your blog... thank you so much for putting up with me!

Attention Locals :: Yard Sale

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:46:00 +0000

UPDATE: The sale will start at 8 AM not 7

We are having a yard sale on Saturday--weather permitting. I've got tons of wreath making materials, fabric pieces for $1 each, housewares, housewares, housewares, a bed, a piano?, boys clothes...dear God, please let it be sunny.

If you are a local {Charlotte, NC area} and can prove to me that you are not a killer {facebook/blog friend me and send me a message}--like for real I'm not giving my address out to just anyone, email me {nestergirl@gmail{dot}com} for more info, if you left your email in the comments I can't respond you need to email me!!. My husband is very strict, killers are not allowed. If you are killer, you probably have bad taste and wouldn't like anything I have anyway.

31 Day 20~ Fill in the Blanks

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:46:00 +0000

There lots of over looked spaces in our homes to hang a little loved item or feature a fun embellishment.

Here are a few ideas of where to hang an extra plate, lonely frame or apply a vinyl decal, I'm sure there are zillions more:

next to a lamp
above the curtain rod
between two windows
tie a ribbon from the curtain rod and let a mirror hang down over a window
on the front of a bookshelf
on the inside back of a bookshelf

Here are some little places I've found to embellish with plates and vinyl decals:

Where have you hung a little something to fill in dead space?

smile.

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:55:00 +0000

This is for all of you who noticed the smile in my laundry room:

and ps: please do not use American Express and go into debt, but enjoy their commercial.

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 19~ Freshen a Forgotten Space

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:46:00 +0000

In this family, the laundry room is an often used room. Too often if you ask me. Not only do I go in and out of this room 629,448 times per day, but you can also see strait into this room from our front porch if I keep the laundry door open. And usually, the floor is so full of mud caked clothes that I have no choice but to keep the door open.

The goal was to accentuate the positive and draw the eye {eyes if you have two} up, up, up. I did this by semi staging the somewhat inaccessible shelves with my yard sale bird cage and baskets full of items that we only use periodically.

It'll look even better once I bring that lamp downstairs from the closet and pop it in there.

Small improvements--like making this little forgotten but often used space welcoming, have a big affect on my mood.

What about you, do you have a forgotten, neglected space that could use some TLC?

Did you catch the weekend posts? Don't be Hatin' and Shop the House?

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 18~Don't Be Hatin'

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:12:00 +0000

You know that thing in your house that you hate? You now have permission to get rid of it forever. Do not pass go, do not ask your mother in law, do not worry that your dead aunt will be mad if you get rid of it. If you hate it, it's out of here. The end. You can thank me later.

This post was supposed to end here, but I already know what's gonna happen:

**for the sofa haters**

Every time I write about this I get the same comments "I hate my sofa, what do you want me to do, take it to the trash and sit on the floor for the rest of my life?". That's one solution. I bet in a matter of weeks you'd have a replacement. But it's probably not the wisest choice. I feel your pain. I hated a sofa for years. It wasn't until I got serious about removing all the things in my house that I hated that I could make it happen--getting a replacement that is.

I understand if you have to keep a sofa {or whatever item it is that you despise but have to use every day} around a little longer until you have a replacement Ladies, can we have some ideas on how to learn to love the sofa that you have or how to get a new one for a thrifty price? I set a goal with a date of when our ripped up 10 year old orange leather sofa would be taken out of the house. I started saving up $$ and made a budget and met the goal.

And you know, between Craigslist, bartering and the Salvation Army {I've seen two nice sofas I would have in my own home in the past month for less than $200 each!} I bet it wouldn't take long for you to find a replacement.

Have a sofa you want to get rid of? Feel free to link to it in the comments with your area--who knows, maybe someone here could use it!

What is it that you hate that's clogging up your house?

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 17~ Shop the House

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:47:00 +0000

If you've hung out here at the Nest for any amount of time you know that one of the 5 pillars of Nesting is Shopping the House. I used to feel cursed to not be able to go to TJMaxx and buy the latest and greatest adorable accessory.

Now I realize that it's the very fact that I cannot purchase whatever I want that forces me to be creative and come up with useful ideas for what I already have.
I don't see that as a curse but as a challenge.

These mistreatments have been used in pretty much every room of my house. It's worth it to me to take them out of one room and try them in another. If I don't like it, I'll just put them back.

These two frames were in my yard sale pile. I literally pulled off my own masking tape price tag just yesterday in order to paint them.

Lo and behold, if this frame wasn't the perfect size for one of my favorite paintings! I never would have tried it had I not been forced to use what I have.

This does not always happen by any means. More often than not things do not work out. But, I just learn from it and move on. I have more time than money so I don't mind a little trial and error.

I should be arrested for even thinking that this could work. But, I did figure out that this green is the perfect shade to go with the blue and chocolate in our bedroom. Now, all I need to do is find a great way to use it--I don't let it get me down, instead, I get all excited about the possibilities. The secret is to not give up and not to be afraid to make something and have it turn out ugly. You are using what you already have so you don't have to worry that you are wasting money.

Here's another work in progress. If only I had 8 mores squiggly sticks just like that one I'd be good. I'm not afraid to leave it all bare like that for the next 3-8 weeks while I hunt for super cheap sticks at Hobby Lobby or super free sticks in our neighborhood.

I've been meaning to move the sofa and mop the floor.

A good opportunity to try the big rug from my bedroom in a different place. It was a BEAR to move. While I moved it I laughed, I cried, I cursed, I might have had let some unsanitary bodily functions slip...however, I'd rather move it down the stairs to see if it works than not try it and wonder all winter how it would feel to have an 8x11 rug in snug in our family room instead of a 5x8 rug. Totally worth it.

This one actually worked too. Not the perfect color for the room but the size will make the family room so much more inviting on cold winter nights. Phew, I'm glad that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful.

Have you shopped your house today? I promise, if you don't like something, the returns are practically hassle free!

31 Days to A Better Dressed Nest :: Day 16~ Introduce Your Favorite Color

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:46:00 +0000

It seems so elementary, making sure we each incorporate our favorite color in our homes. Don't worry about what the current trendy colors are {currently purple and gray I believe} use the colors you are drawn to. I once had a friend who loved purple and she worked it into her home beautifully! I never disclose my favorite color, and I'm sure you are wondering what it could possibly be.

Your color can easily be worked into your home

use acrylic paint to repaint candlesticks, frames and baskets
incorporate fabric with a pillow mistreatment or window mistreatment
spray paint a table {spray paint comes in so many colors}
hang plates in your favorite colors

What's your favorite color to use in your home.

Halloween Enlightenment :: Bird Watching

nestergirl@gmail.com (The Nester) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:32:00 +0000

They've done it again. That team of creative geniuses over at the Curious Sofa has decked the halls with skulls that are gory. Even if you hate Halloween, you have to appreciate the attention to detail and the clever, amazing, captivating ideas..

There are about 20 thousand more photos at The Curious Sofa Diaries. Remember how it looked last year?

Also, I loved this spider web project over at Imperfectly Beautiful, I just know my boys would love to have that on our front porch.

Lastly, did you see this Pottery Barn knock off over at Living with Lindsay?

Read today's 31 Day's Post here.