House*Tweaking

I'm Relocating...

2010-01-17T17:33:00.000-05:00

After only a few months of blogging here on Blogger, I'm relocating House*Tweaking to http://www.housetweaking.com/. Yep, that's right, I got my own domain. (Not that I really knew what a 'domain' was just a few short weeks ago.) I'm definitely learning as I go in the technical aspect of having a URL. It's still pretty basic but I'll keep posting about budget decorating, do-it-yourself and cheap finds. I hope to add some fun new topics too! (One idea is "Tweak Peeks" where I go into family's/friends' homes and pick something that I totally love about their space and share it with you. Who wants to offer up their home first?!)

Please bear with me while I continue to 'tweak' my new site. Sorry, for any lost comments in the transition from Blogger to House*Tweaking. All of my previous posts can be found at the new site (with a few minor spacing issues but nothing awful), so feel free to cut yourself off from my blog here and follow/subscribe over at House*Tweaking.

Here's to new beginnings!

Airing Out

2010-01-15T12:08:00.000-05:00

It seems like at any given time between the months of October and March, at least one person in this family of four has a snotty nose or cough. Being in the Midwest, we don't get out as much during winter and germs can easily take up residence inside. They say indoor air is more polluted than outside air due to all the chemicals that are released from cleaners, perfumes, hairspray and even furniture. In an effort to keep our home's air fresh, I 'air out' the house once a week for 15 minutes. Even when it's cold outside. This simply requires opening a bunch of windows. The only thing to keep in mind is air flow. For instance, if I open a window at the front of the house, then I need to open one at the back of the house also to pull air through the house.

And don't forget upstairs if you have a second story...

With all the recent painting events that have taken place here this week, today is Ultimate Airing Out Day. I'm keeping the windows open (and putting up with the slight, temporary chill) all morning. Not to worry though, I've got my sweatpants and sweatshirt on to keep me toasty. Who am I kidding? This is my normal attire on a winter day.

Ahhhhh, I'm breathing better already.

A Painting Project for Anyone

2010-01-13T14:44:00.001-05:00

This empty storage cabinet had been sitting in the family room for a while.

It was missing a knob that was to be replaced by the manufacturer. Turns out, there were no replacement knobs because the cabinet was discontinued. (Duh, that's how I got it for cheap.) So, the company gave me $28 to buy new knobs! Awesome. The white, wooden knobs were pretty plain anyways.

I found four of these bad boys for $3 each. (That means I had $16 leftover!)

With the knobs all accounted for, I decided this little cabinet needed some 'tweaking'. (Which is what I think about most things.) Wouldn't the inside of the cabinet look great painted green? With the leftover knob money in my pocket, I snatched up some paint. Glidden's Celery Sticks, to be exact. After attaching the new knobs, I taped off the back of the cabinet and brought it to life.

It's still an empty cabinet sitting in my family room. But, at least, it's got four knobs now. I'm on the prowl for some storage baskets, boxes, printed paper and other knick-knackish goodies.

I'm in love with the fresh, springy green. It's helping me forget that it's 20 degrees outside. A little.

How's It Hangin'?

2010-01-07T17:58:00.000-05:00

This is our main floor powder room.

Nothing special but simple and quaint nonetheless. I've always had one small problem with it though. Well, not a problem... more of a small nuisance. Because I like things functional. Most days this is how the powder room looks.

The hand towel is usually crumpled up in the sink, completely wet, after my boys wash their hands because they can't reach the towel ring to hang it back up. (That is, when I can get them to wash their hands.) But one day while browsing Lowe's, I came across the perfect solution. A self-adhesive brushed nickel hook for $3. Perfect!

I easily attached it to the wall between the sink and the toilet just above the kids' step stool.

It looked great and I thought the nuisance was short-lived. Essentially, there was a place for the kids' towel and a spot for the adults' towel.

As is pretty typical around here, I was wrong. This is what the bathroom looked like after the first time Layne used it with the new towel hook. (I even made a big deal about how I put up this hook just for him, right at his height.)

Apparently, he wasn't used to hanging up his towel. Bad habits are hard to break. Especially in children. A few weeks later, we have progressed to this.

But usually the towel ends up on the floor or in the sink, soggy. I think I remember seeing white hand towels at IKEA that have loops on them to hang up. I may break down and buy a few.

HGTV Dream Home 2010

2010-01-06T08:44:00.001-05:00

I finally got a chance to tour the HGTV Dream Home 2010 online. And I entered to win it. (You're right, I probably can't afford the taxes but I still want to win it.) I'm showing my favorite pics here but, really, there's not a room I wouldn't live in.

The front door entry (this is the view I'd get when greeting my guests)...The stunner?! Those knotty wood ceilings and beams! Gorg.E.Ous. And my eyes really like those contrasting painted doors and baseboards.

The view my guests would get after entering the front door...A nice wide open hallway of sorts leading back to the great room and views of the landscape. How could you not look out those windows?!

To the right of the entry is this cozy seating area. I'm surprised by how these wingback chairs fit into the style of the home. They really do work. And just look at those beams defining (but not separating) the entry from the sitting room and dining room. So airy.

To the left of the entry is this simple, refined dining room. This may be my favorite dining room picture of all time. Usually, I don't like formal dining rooms (basically because it would be wasted space at my house) and this one is anything but formal. The slipcovers and sisal rug set the stage for a casual meal. The head-of-the-table rope chairs lend some texture along with the floor-to-ceiling drapes. Geometry in the curtain print and the streamlined pendant light both take this room from almost shabby-chic to modern. And although the wood tones are all a little different, they work together because they are all light.

Make your way back to the great room and you won't be disappointed. Livable furniture in an open floor plan... HGTV, you know your stuff. Notice, once again, the added textures (sisal rug, dried grasses behind the sofa, baskets on the wood coffee table) and geometric-printed fabrics. When combined, they really make this house 'livable modern'.

The tiled wall gives the open kitchen a background to rest against. The island pendant lights give an industrial edge without feeling sterile. (I want them.)

Who am I kidding? This kitchen wouldn't make my cooking any better tasting... but, damn!, I would look good cooking in it!

I actually enjoy doing laundry. This laundry room would be icing on the cake. Something about rustic wood and stainless steel together make me want to stare.

This bathroom has just helped me make up my mind about what color to paint our guest bath vanity. A medium sage-gray hue would look great with the white marble countertops we already have.

Last, but not least, this guest room is about as girlie as I get. (I'm not too girlie.) The grayish lavender wall color feels calm and inviting. I want to sleep here. Everything else in the room is neutral...just goes to show how paint can really carry a room.

So, there you be. Some highlights of the tour. If you want to see more or get in the running for a chance to win it, head over to HGTV Dream Home 2010. You can enter once daily up until 2/19/10.

A Tale of Two Curtains

2010-01-03T21:42:00.001-05:00

I live 15 minutes from IKEA. (Have you seen their new commercial, by the way?! It's hilarious. Yeah, the one where the wife/mother tears into the front yard with her flatbed truck full of IKEA boxes.) It's a blessing and a curse. Steve gets scared whenever I mention I'm headed there. On one of my recent trips, though, it WAS a blessing. I found 2 'damaged' MATILDA curtains in the "AS IS" section for $1 each. The only 'damage' was a few of the curtain rod loops had come unstitched. Luckily, I paid attention in home ec. So, that's at least 6 yards of white fabric for $2!!!! I ran with them to the checkouts.

Back home I had 2 black leather storage ottomans hidden in my son's closet. I totally loved the idea of them - we store board games in them - but they were pretty dark for my taste and our decor. Enter, stage left, the new 'damaged' curtains. I was sure I could make simple slipcovers for the ottomans... even though I had never attempted to slipcover anything before.

So, a few months later (yeah, this past weekend) I finally got around to making those slipcovers. First, I threw the fabric in the wash to preshrink it. I wanted the slipcovers to be totally removable and washable because, remember, I have two little boys! From the clean, shrunken, newly-ironed curtains I simply cut out 10 identical 20"x20" squares of fabric. Two squares for each top of the ottomans and eight for each vertical side.

Then I simply stitched them all together and hemmed 'em up. Here are the fresh white ottomans after $2 and 2 hours of ironing, measuring, cutting and sewing. (Yes, that's HGTV Property Virgins host, Sandra Rinomato. Now ya know what I like to watch while I sew.)

I placed them on either side of the TV console to try to soften and lighten it up a little. Plus, I think they mimic the square artwork.

To the left of the TV...

To the right of the TV...

Some textural close-ups...

They aren't perfect but I'm in love with how they turned out. More slipcovers may be in my future! For more IKEA-related decor and projects, check out IKEA FANS.

A Mini-Mudroom

2009-12-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Back in August, we were featured on Young House Love's website as one of their infamous Reader Redesigns. I was ecstatic! They declared the small renovation of our hall closet into a mini mudroom worthy of mention to the decor world. Want to see what all the fuss was about? Check it out here.

And if you just want the short of it, here are the before and afters. (Remember, I alluded to this in a recent post about my laundry room makeover... the paint color is Glidden's Gentle Tide.)

Before (well, during)

After

For specifics on products, cost and the DIY work, swap over to YHL.

Teacher Gifts

2009-12-25T15:17:00.000-05:00

Am I really old enough to give gifts to my son's teachers?! Yes, I am. This fact hit me hard and fast this holiday season. Here's what I came up with on the cheap.

$5 scented soy candles from TJMaxx (chocolate chip and sugar cookie, mmmm)...

Plus soap suds and warm water...

Equals a fresh, non-commercial canvas to personalize...

The final teacher-y gift...

Layne really enjoyed passing them out to his preschool teachers and telling them what 'flavors' they were. And we didn't go broke.

A Laundry Room Makeover

2009-12-19T23:10:00.000-05:00

This is what my laundry room looks like at the moment.

To the left of the washer...

To the right of the dryer...

Our laundry room is on the second floor which I love. I can take clothes out of the dryer, fold 'em and head straight for the bedrooms (also upstairs) to put it all away in a flash...without so much as a sock appearing in the family room. Yes, my laundry room is functional. But I got to thinking that it would be easy and inexpensive to kick it up a notch. I'm in there enough, heck, I might as well like what I see, right?! Plus with the kitchen project at a standstill (it's too cold to spray the dang doors and drawer fronts), I need a boost of confidence. Little rooms are usually a quick-and-easy fix! May I present, my first attempt at a 'mood board'.

The walls will get a coat (or two) of Glidden's Gentle Tide, my all-time favorite color to use in teeny rooms. Gentle Tide is a grayish-greenish-bluish hue that makes the walls slip away and feel like you're floating in water. Ahhh. (We used it in our mini-mudroom...stay tuned next week!) The ironing board cover is a custom Etsy buy. I could browse Etsy all day. As much as I detest ironing (seriously, I iron maybe twice a year), I'm gonna make that ironing board an artpiece! The baskets seen on the dryer will go above the cabinets for extra storage and texture. The IKEA stool seen in front of the washer will get a dark stain for added contrast. I'll bring in some white geometric mirrors (found at Goodwill) for the wall to the left of the washer. Hooks to the right of the dryer will add function and slip nicely behind the door when opened. And I've gotta little trick up my sleeve to hide all the electrical and plumbing uglies just below the cabinets.

I can see it now... a fresh room where even the wee-wee pj's and muddy socks will look good!

Table for Three

2009-12-15T00:00:00.002-05:00

If you've never heard of Young House Love, now you have. They are pretty much my idols and Steve thinks I stalk them. But seriously, they are great. I 'borrow' ideas from them all the time because 1) I like them and 2) I can afford them. They really know how to design on a budget.

Here's a little DIY inspiration from the Youngsters:

See that small pedestal table for two in the corner? It's so freakin' cute and white and all things adorable, so I totally had to have one. I ran with their idea. They bought the pedestal base from a thrift store and added a precut tabletop from a hardware store. It all got primed and painted white. Voila. A Pottery Barn look-alike for cheap. (They already had the chairs and just painted them to match.)

Well, I was starting from ground zero. I had no base, top or chairs. But one day last spring while I was scoping out Craigslist, I found my pedestal base...for $15!!!!! (Somehow I talked Steve into driving to Cincinnati in the pouring rain to pick it up for me... I must have had my fluttery eyelash thing going on that day.) I landed a tabletop from Lowe's on sale at $35 and a few weeks later scored 3 chairs for $50 from Craigslist. This is the before priming and painting shot:

The original plan was to invent a makeshift computer desk out of it all by cutting a small hole in the top of the table to run the wiring down through the pedestal base. But the more I looked at that sweet little round table, the more I didn't want a monitor on it. (I ended up making a desk out of an old IKEA console seen here.) So, it's now our card table/extra dining table/eating-Cookie Monsters-on-after-the-kids-have-gone-to-bed table.

More recently, with all of our kitchen cabinet contents residing on our real dining table...

...(aaaahhhh!!!), this little white table has served as our Taco Bell table.

At any rate, I love this YHL knockoff. (Can you knockoff a knockoff?) All for $100.

Cabin Fever

2009-12-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

My house tweaking definitely rubs off on the kids. When Layne and I play, we usually end up building furniture with Knex or drawing rooms on the dry erase board. Everett's most recent word of choice is 'hoos', meaning house. With a high of 23 degrees yesterday, we stayed inside all day and Layne busted out the Lincoln Logs. This is what he created BY HIMSELF (he's 4, mind you).

The House that Layne Built

(Note the carport for the always-present cars in our home.)

I know, a ladder leading to a second story door isn't the most practical entry but did you notice all the windows? That house would be washed in natural light. Oh, and the soaring ceilings?! And I love all the angles in the roofline. Everett (Layne's one-year-old little brother) must have approved also. He didn't try to knock it down once. Steve even got to admire it when he got home from work.

I am one proud mama.

Deck the Halls...with Balls?!

2009-12-08T23:27:00.005-05:00

I'm not a fan of blatant holiday decor. In lieu of that, I tried to keep our year-round color scheme when I decorated for Christmas a few weeks ago. I was going for green, white and natural with a hint of glitz... on a budget.

The mantle was easy. I hung a twig wreath and metal star over the mirror to add some rustic texture. Two white ceramic pillars ($5 each from HomeGoods) hold matching twig spheres while the green ribbon and greenery add hints of color. My four-year-old and I constructed the cardboard garland (made from stockpiled paper towel and toilet paper tubes). I added a thin strand of metallic icicles to the paper garland for some sparkle.

You'll notice stockings are missing. I decided to hang them from our stair railing in the foyer. I had the boys press their handprints onto them after smearing them down with glitter fabric paint. Voila! Custom stockings! Just added some glittery swags of garland to the handrail and a snowflake pillow to the bench.

I went glam on the dining console. A linen runner topped with shiny glass vases, candles, pearls, capiz and glitter twigs really sparkle against the succulent prints. (I'm thinking next year I can switch out the prints for something more wintry... like black and white snowflake prints...not in the budget this year.)

We have a live Christmas tree this year that we got for $25. It is just the perfect size and shape. I love it's slim profile and the way it tucks nicely into our front window. Topped it with white lights and gold, ivory and cream glass ornaments (we only broke 2!: I dropped one and my four-year-old dropped one). A few snowflakes made their appearance too. Then I simply spiraled wired ribbon down all sides. I think it looks peaceful.

I even did my version of a Christmas wreath on the front door and windows. (Steve says I have a ball fetish... c'mon, you know what I mean.)

So, what do you think? Winter wonderland-ish enough for you? How do you decorate for Christmas?

I'm Dreaming of a White Kitchen...

2009-12-06T18:09:00.002-05:00

I'm dreaming of a white kitchen. Just like the ones I see online.

Where the cabinets glisten and hubby listens to paint the kitchen on a dime.

I'm dreaming of a white kitchen. With every paint stroke that I swipe.

May your days be merry and bright. And may all your kitchens be white.

Big Box Reveal

2009-12-03T12:29:00.000-05:00

Remember this big box?

Well, here's what it looks like now after (awesome) Steve put it together. (I think he got tired of telling the boys to stop sitting on it.)

Even with missing a knob (one of them came unthreaded; we're getting a replacement), it's the perfect storage solution for our family room. I wanted something not too deep (this is about 13") that sat up off the ground (a register resides directly beneath it) to allow for heating/air conditioning flow. White is a great neutral color making this large piece seem not so large. And the glass doors give it an airy feel. I can't wait to scour TJMaxx and Goodwill for pretties to dress up the shelves. (Don't worry, it WILL be functional as my kids are already hiding cars in it.) I'm not sure what to do above it though... collection of pottery on top or artwork on the wall??? Both?

Here are some dressed shelves that I may mimic:

Pretty shelves make me happy.

Got Turkey?

2009-11-30T21:45:00.002-05:00

If your families are anything like ours, you have a fridge keeping some leftover turkey cold right about now. However, your turkey/mayo sandwiches and dried turkey camouflaged with gravy are probably becoming less and less appetizing. What to do? Here's what I did (thanks to Rachael Ray):

GREEN TORTILLA CHILI

•1 to 1 1/2 pounds leftover roast turkey meat, shredded
•3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
•1 large onion, chopped
•2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
•1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped
•1 rounded tablespoon chili powder
•2 teaspoons ground cumin
•1 jar tomatillo salsa (16 ounces)
•1 beer, any brand you like
•1 quart chicken stock
•4 handfuls tortilla chips, divided
•1 handful cilantro leaves
•Juice of 2 limes

Preparation:

Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Cook onions, garlic and jalapeño until soft, about four minutes.

Add chili powder and cumin, and cook for another minute. Add the tomatillo salsa, beer and stock. Bring up to a bubble and add in the shredded chicken. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, grind two handfuls of the tortilla chips and the cilantro leaves in a food processor. (Or just crush tortilla chips in a Ziploc bag like I did and chop the cilantro finely.)

Add this mixture to the chili and continue cooking until it thickens, about 8-10 minutes.

Right before spooning into bowls, add in the lime juice and serve with some whole corn tortilla chips alongside.

Mmmmmm.... now that's what I call 'tweakin' a turkey.'

Happy Wife, Happy Life

2009-11-26T21:23:00.000-05:00

I have the BEST hubby. Ever. He is always supportive of any new venture I want to take on. (Okay, well, maybe not the time I asked him if vinyl flooring could be painted. And I'm still trying to convince him...and myself...that 3 kids could be fun.) Even if it means time away from him or our boys, he still encourages me. He knows that the time I get to myself to study home magazines, pour over home decor internet 'porn' or just tweak things here and there will pay off in the end - for everyone. We are a great team. If I've got a home improvement idea that's metaphorically or literally over my head, he can make it happen. (It may take a few weeks/months but it WILL happen.)

So today, the day to be thankful for all things in life that matter most, I'm thankful for my hubby and the family and home we have created together. (And also for him not judging me by my cooking alone!)

What's in the Big Box?

2009-11-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

...that's what everyone has been asking when they come to our house lately. Not only is there a huge box sitting in the middle of our great room (it's been there for a week now), but it sat on our porch for about 4 days first. (It's heavy, I'm little.) My boys are starting to accept it and treat it as a play table.

Check back next week for the answer. Hint: it's white. (Okay, that's not a great hint but still it's a hint.)

An IKEA Makeover

2009-11-24T00:57:00.000-05:00

When Steve and I first got married 7 years ago, we 'splurged' on an IKEA entertainment console for our (then) basement. (Yes, IKEA was a splurge for us.) It suited our needs well for 6 years supporting our ginormous box of a TV and all the equipment that comes with that sort of thing. When we moved into a bigger home (the one we live in now), I gave Steve the okay to purchase a flatscreen TV... something neither of us regret. We were able to mount the new TV on the wall in our family room. Our faithful IKEA console was no longer needed, or was it?!

It sat in the middle of our living room (okay, so trying to split up a long room with a console right in the middle wasn't such a great idea) for over a year trying to find it's place in our lives again.

BEFORE

It was fulfilling a very important purpose. See those baskets? They held all our mail... one basket for each member of our family. With the console being in the room closest to the front door, it was functioning quite well as a mail sorter/disguiser. That orange birch color had to go though. So, it did...

AFTER

Since it's constructed of icky (yet inexpensive!) veneer instead of solid wood, sanding and staining wasn't an option. Instead, I tackled the 3 P's: priming, painting and polyurethaning. We already had the primer and paint (same as the wall color) on hand, so the only thing I purchased was the polyurethane for about $15-$20. I repositioned it along the wall (i.e., got it out of the middle of the room...what was I thinking?!), kept it's mail sorting use and then organized all the computer components in and on it. Gotta love hidden wires and electrical equipment! It's now a functional AND great looking way to peruse through the mail and pay bills online, on time. I would like to get a glass top cut to fit as even with the polyurethane, a few chips have surfaced on the worktop.

So, that's how I saved our IKEA console.

Hide and Seek

2009-11-20T15:57:00.000-05:00

Our house is a REAL house. We have two kiddos that come with lots of toys, books and games to keep them busy (while Mama blogs). In an effort to save my sanity, we have a system for keeping toys in check. To begin with, we don't keep a ton of toys in our home. Every Christmas, it's out with the old and in with the new. I make my boys go through their toys and pick a few things to donate. (I'll usually throw in a few more things after they're done choosing... things they don't play with.) Also, we rotate toys periodically. Most kid stuff stays in the playroom or unfinished basement. We only keep everyday favorites in the main floor living space. When they want to bring in a different item, they select a toy to go down to the basement. (I know this sounds like I'm a drill sargent but I'm really only talking about the big toys i.e. ball pit, kitchen set, pop-up house, etc.) This keeps our family room from becoming over-run with kid stuff. Plus, I find my boys are more apt to focus and have a longer playtime when they have less choices. And they get really excited when they bring in a 'new' toy from the basement that they forgot about. Half the time, we even end up playing without toys... family dance parties, rhyming games, wrestling, etc.

The playthings we do keep on the main floor are disguised. (I like 'disguised' better than 'hidden' because my kids know where their toys are.) We have dozens of bins, baskets and organizers devoted to this purpose. There is a console behind our couch chock full of toys but you'd never know by looking at it.

Our entertainment console has even more kid-friendly storage.

We have a small table in our sunroom that stores Lincoln Logs.

At the end of the day, we all pick-up together and everybody knows where everything goes. All of this makes me a happy girl at the end of the night when I'm sittin' on the couch with my hubby. Pretending we don't have kids. Until one of them cries.

What's Cookin'?

2009-11-19T15:39:00.000-05:00

I really hate my kitchen. Take a look... (Don't mind the kiddos hangin' out. I was trying to keep them busy with snacks while I took the pic.)

Don't get me wrong, it could be worse. It's a good size with a functional layout and oodles of storage. However, I despise the orangey-oak cabinets and the busy laminate countertops. Here are kitchens that I enjoy looking at...

Brown Design: lots of molding, contrast and textures

getdecorating.com: similar layout to ours...totally doable

Marin Kitchen Company: so airy and bright

DecorPad: white, grey and dainty

So, the whites have it. Our cabinet doors are coming down this weekend in preparation for a budget-friendly facelift. We may be seeing the contents of our cabinets for a few weeks, but that's okay. We're not hosting Thanksgiving.

How It All Began

2009-11-18T15:29:00.000-05:00

A little background info: Steve and I purchased our first home together nearly 8 years ago in Illinois. It was a 1950's Cape Cod with red shutters, a leaning one-stall detached garage and leaky basement. We 'practiced' a lot of home improvement in that house including painting, installing new flooring, replacing dated light fixtures, adding crown molding, knocking down part of a wall, updating a powder room to a half bath, demolishing the single car garage and building a 2.5 car garage. We eventually hired out to get the wet basement fixed. (Living in concrete dust with a 2-year-old while pregnant is NOT advisable.) After all was said and done, do you know what we did?! We sold it... By owner. In 6 weeks. In December 2007. It was a huge relief yet saddening at the same time. We put a lot into that home but decided a move back to Ohio nearer to our families was important for our growing brood.

Now, we live in a 2-year-old spec home. While this home offers lots more space and the open floor plan that we love, we have lost some of the character that our dilapidated Cod had like plaster walls, arched doorways, molding and corner windows. We knew this going into the buy. I was pregnant and we already had a toddler. We didn't want a 'fixer-upper'. Move-in ready, here we come! We could always change out the builder basics over time.

Fast-forward a year-and-a-half to the spring of 2009. Our youngest had turned 1 and we had a little more freedom. Steve and I were both feeling the itch to dig into a project again. My idea? Turn our cramped hall closet into a makeshift mudroom.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

We had an under-utilized hallway between our garage and kitchen crowded with THREE doors (garage, bathroom and closet). Unlike visitors, we enter/exit through this hallway daily. To set up digs for a mudroom we removed the closet door, widened the doorway and added recessed lighting. Eventually, we'd like wood floors but for now we patched the vinyl after Googling "how-to". Hubby used a bolt-cutter to cut the wire rack that previously hung lengthwise then hung it up in the corner. (We still need some wooden hangers.) This new room is the hardest working place in our house! We unload backpacks/lunchboxes, put on/remove shoes and even set things to 'go out' as a reminder here. In the corner on the floor is where we hide our mongo diaper bag.

Oh, and we did it for $152. That's how it all began.

Tweaking

2009-11-18T01:00:00.000-05:00

So, in true valedictorian fashion I looked up the definition of tweak... this was after I had already painstakingly chosen "House*Tweaking" as the title of my blog. Not only can it mean to adjust or fine-tune small components to improve an entire system, but unbeknownst to me it can also mean to tease or make fun of. As it is in my nature, I'll try to do a little of both to keep things interesting.

I've always been better at writing than speaking, but I feel anyone who reads this deserves fair warning. I overuse commas, parentheses (I like to include unimportant thoughts and information) and the elusive ellipsis... Also, I am NOT computer savvy. The hubby nixed my idea of handwriting my posts THEN typing them.

What is the purpose of this blog, you ask? Good question. Sure, I'd like to inspire others with my creativity, frugal decor finds and practicality, yadda, yadda, yadda. But the truth is, this blog will serve many purposes. I'm hoping it will be an outlet for the zillion ideas whirling around in my head. I'm hoping it will quiet the hubby. (He's been wanting me to do this for a while now.) I'm hoping it will feed my hunger to read and write. I'm hoping to learn something new. I'm hoping it will miraculously keep me from wanting a third child. I'm hoping it will win me a spot on Oprah. I'm hoping it will be a great way to journal our home improvements.

Happy reading! I will leave you with an image to be the next topic of conversation...