A Big Change!

Okay friends. I am really nervous about this post. But I am going to do it anyway. You only live once, right?? Please no one be mean...

This is about to get really personal. But its a pretty major change that I am trying to make, so why not get an extra almost 200 people supporting me! Here's the deal, not that I am super overweight or anything, but I am not what I would call in shape. And I have been feeling very low on energy and just downright crappy lately. Our sermon on Sunday was about not listening to the voices that tell you that you can't. (You can listen by CLICKING HERE)Why do I always tell myself that I can't be fit and happy with my body? I get so bogged down in what I can't...that I forget that I can!

So I decided on Sunday that I am going to make a change in a big way. I am going to start working out more and eating better. I asked my hubby to take a weekly progress photo of me and I will share it on here. I may also rant about wanting cake...we will see :)

Here is this week's photo. This is the very first and what I hope is a dramatic "before." The lighting is terrible. Its really not a good picture of me at all. I was about to start my workout. But here it is in all of its honest glory! This picture was taken on Sunday.

And here are my tools of choice (for now...I want to get P90X eventually but its not-so-budget-friendly). That video....I know the name is a little silly but it is an AMAZING workout! Ladies for real! Go to Target and buy it. And give it a few tries. It is intense but once you figure out the moves its so good. You are sweating within minutes! The jump rope is for cardio, since I don't always love to run :) Jumping rope can burn just as many calories! Betcha didn't know that! And the magazine..I have been subscribing for a year now and picking up little this' and that's along the way. I decided to start reading it cover to cover to keep me motivated! 

 And the trusty shoes! I mowed in them the other week, thus giving them green toes :( But they are great.

I really am so excited about this guys! I am only 4 days in and I already feel 100 times better! I can really feel the change starting. I have been trying to stick to a high fiber/protein diet (most through hard boiled eggs) and totally avoid sodas. I also have been eating lots of broccoli which is supposedly great for your intestines. Anyways...I know this is not cute house stuff related, but I am going to share this on here anyway! Why not!?!? If you notice me not posting about it for a while...leave me a gentle "how's it going?" comment, would ya?! Does anyone want to start this healthy change with me?? I would love a few blog friends to track progress with!

I will post a progress picture this weekend hopefully! Love you guys!

I Like 'em White!

This is probably my favorite project that I have done in a really long time! I have been dying to do it and now I finally have and I can share it with you! Don't you love the projects that are huge transformations, but don't cost you a penny?? I already had everything that I needed to do this little activity. All it took was a couple hours of my time and it turned out amazing! Here are the stairs before....

And here they are after!

 I love how much brighter that they look! And the rich stain of the treads really stands out now.

I can't get over how much of a difference that a little glossy trim paint makes when you paint the risers! It only took about two hours of my time and a very careful taping job. Every time that I walk down the stairs I have to turn around and admire them! I love that feeling. My goal is to feel that in every single room of our house. :)

De-magnifying the Fridge

Our fridge is really only accessible from one side. The other is up against the pantry. And the front is plastic-y and magnets don't stick well to it. So we always stick them on the side, which you see right when you walk into our door! Well, the problem has spiraled out of control lately. We had this unsightly mess:

 Two notepads, several notes, blockbuster movie codes, a million Liberty Football magnets, another million magnets, a bottle opener magnet, Christmas cards, Thank you notes, a measurement conversion magnet (which really is very handy!) and a neighbor's phone number that is already programmed in my phone! Whew! What a nightmare!

The other day, I had this wild hair that I needed to organize this mess. I took it all off. Then I started putting things back based on what needed to be there, what cold be stored elsewhere, and what could be thrown out. I must say, it looks MUCH better now! :)

The Bathroom is Complete! (for now)

So this little bathroom downstairs has been in limbo for a while. The other night I had the urge to finish putting it together. That little ledge shelf was a Ross purchase for $2 a couple of months ago. I finally gave myself the kick in the butt to hang it. And then I just threw a couple of random objects from around the house to finish it off. Whether or not I will change it, who knows. For now it looks great!

 And then there is the beautiful artwork that I labored over! I really do like it in this room. It adds the bit of visual interest that the room needs.

There are a few very minor things that we still need to do in here, but none of them are super exciting. We need to hang the toilet paper holder and possibly add some moulding. Anyway...everything is starting to come together!

Fleur de Lis art!

Remember how I told you I had stocked up on canvases from AC Moore? Well even if you forget...I did! And I just used another one for some more custom art! I found this foam stamp at Michael's for 25 cents! Yep! you read that right! And I love it! This is actually something I have been planning to do for quite a while.

I painted it with brown paint and stamped it in somewhat of a pattern all over my canvas. The pattern started off really well but then began to get off track so I just kinda went with it.

Here is the finished product! I really really like the way that it turned out! It has a vintage look to it as the fleur de lis are not all solid but have a slightly distressed look to them.

Bet ya can't guess where this is hanging! Kudos to whoever knows it! (Don't worry....I'll show you soon!)

Laundry Room is Coming Together!

I think that I may be done with the laundry room! (At least for now!) I found this awesome vinyl wall art on Amazon for $3.99! And I had an Amazon gift credit so it was fa-ree! I have seen this same vinyl on other websites for up to $30!

 I really think it adds so much to the room! I have been told that I have hit my limit for vinyl in the house though. :( I guess there is such thing as too much of a good thing. But this one is perfect for our room.

 Here is the hanger art in its original place. I hung it with command strips since that wall is cinder block and really hard to drill/nail into. I thought this was a great solution.

 ...until the command strips didn't stick to the textured walls!

 I have had this ball jar forever. I mean literally, I saved money for prom in it! And I wanted to use it in the laundry room. So I took some faux callas that look super real from my cousin's wedding and put them in the jar. This is where it started out.

 Then it moved to the top of the dryer to add a little class.

 I really loved it there. But then I remembered the need to pile clothes on top of the dryer when taking them out of the washer.

 So I moved it over to the ill-fated canvas hanging area. Risky business I tell you.

 But it looks so good there!

I know.....you are thinking that the picture is going to fall down and break my jar. That was not the case! I happened to be in the room when the picture fell and I caught it before any harm was done! Actually though, I really like it better just leaning up against the wall. It brings everything down to one level but still has dimension.

My poor jar did, however, plummet to its death. I hung one too many shirts on the poorly anchored shelf and down it went. My beautiful jar shattered to a million pieces all over the ceramic tile floor. :( Sad day in my life! Luckily, I had a small makeshift jar that will do for now. But I will replaced my Ball jar! I just have to find another one that is that big and lovely. Thus, another exhibit of my glass breaking skills. I will have to compile a list someday. Maybe I should start photographing this phenomenon...

A Better Solution to the Soap Box

I buy powdered Laundry Detergent because it costs less and lasts longer than liquid. At least in my personal experience. The only problem is that the boxes that the soap comes in are not cute. In fact they are usually a little on the tacky side. The colors don't match our decor and I just don't love it. I know, I know...not really a big deal. But why not make it cute if you can?! So I went to WalMart the other day and got a clear plastic canister with a lid for $2.

 I had big vinyl letter stickers that I used to write the word "SOAP" on the canister.

 This looks so much better on the shelf! Now if only I could think of something cute to do with that bleach I would be all set. I am really loving the way that this room is coming together!

Does any body else feel me on the soap boxes? I really wanted to do a glass canister....but glass and shelves are a bad combo for me. That's another story for another time....