Homemade Ornaments

It's all of a sudden that time of year again and it's hard to not get into the holiday spirit. This year, instead of the traditional Christmas cards, we decided to send everyone something they could use and keep instead, a Christmas tree ornament!

Check out how we made our felt reindeer ornaments below. What you'll need is some colored felt (red, brown, tan), ribbon, some adhesive crystals, a good pair of scissors, a hot glue gun and a sewing machine.

You can also order these custom made from my newly-created Etsy store or send these for your holiday cards as well! http://www.etsy.com/shop/Ithinkyoupretty

DIY Couch Arm Rest

I stumbled upon this great wooden arm rest on Etsy and decided to enlist the help of my brother, his saw and his craftiness to help build one for us on our last trip out to Seattle.

Since our couch didn't have room on either side for a coffee table, this type of arm rest felt like a perfect solution for us.

After my brother cut the 3 pieces of plywood and pre-drilled the screw-holes for us, we flew it back to NYC for some final preparations and staining.

Putting the piece together was easy. Only needed some wood glue, a screwdriver and some sandpaper. Staining, however, was a different story and probably the hardest part.  I still have one more round of sanding and staining left to go, but overall we're pleased with the final result and it only cost $20 vs. the $250 listed online.

Hopefully this shall be the first of many wood projects to come..

Check out some pics below!

Making Jam

We discovered concord grapes growing like crazy in our new backyard so naturally we had to make some grape jam last night. Check it out!

Here's the recipe I followed:http://www.thehungrymouse.com/2009/09/21/concord-grape-jam/

Light 'em Up

Colorful, unique and modern chandeliers and lamps can bring so much character to living and dining rooms. Here are some that recently caught my eye.

Mason Jar Chandelier

Teal Blue Glass Chandelier

Recycled Doily Light

Need a baby jacket?

Walked by this outside a store in Brooklyn last week and wasn't sure if this was cool or creepy. You decide.

Why, yes- please renovate us!

Lately, it feels like all I ever watch is home-makeover shows on TV. From Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis to Property Brothers to Income Property to Yard Crashers- they all make it seem so easy and the end result is always pretty remarkable. Who wouldn't want the help of professionals to design, budget and do all of the reno/building for them in half the time?

Let's just say that if Mr. P and I ever find a fixer upper, you better believe that I'm applying to be on every show on HGTV. 

If you could pick your favorite TV home-makeover designer, who would it be? 

This is ours:

Yes, they were on 9 by Design on Bravo for one season

Unique Patterns

Modern & Sleek designs

The Ultimate Open Concept Kitchen

Alternative Day Bed

Getting your patio ready for the warm weather? Here's an awesome DIY idea from Prudent Baby for how to build an outdoor day-bed using wooden pallets.

DIY Pallet Day Bed

Wooden Pallets- sand & paint 

Casters for an easy roll 

Pillow Love

Changing the look of a chair, couch or ottoman can be as simple as adding some colorful pillows for a little flair, but often the problem is actually finding the right pillow fabric to match your decor. That is why I would recommend creating your own pillows/covers. In doing so, you get to choose exactly what you want, in the size that your searching for and in the style that fits your needs.

Personally, I have spent many endless hours in the fabric district obsessing over finding the right design but it can easily become very overwhelming since the fabric options are seemingly endless. However, when you do find the right one, the final result is always worth the time spent.

If fabric stores aren't for you but you are still looking for a simpler way to find some great fabrics, check out SpoonFlower. It's this really awesome online store where you can find really unique, modern patterns and the best part is that you also get to choose the type of fabric it gets printed on. If you are even more daring, you can create your own custom printed designs on the fabrics of your choice.

Check out some of my pillow fabric picks for this week:

Color Block

Spring is in the air and color is back on the racks. There are bold and bright looks everywhere from JCrew to Tibi to Ann Taylor and what can I say? It makes me happy.

JCrew #2 Pencil Skirt with green sequins

Ann Taylor Neon Mix & Match

Ann Taylor Cropped Jeans

 Tibi Arizona Long Dress

In the market for a bench?

 Who knew it was going to be so hard to find an entry way piece for our apartment? After many searches for something to replace our old shoe rack and many trips to good old C&B and West Elm, we ended up going with a custom reclaimed wood bench from The Zen Artist on Etsy. Can't go wrong with something a bit more unique, custom made and one that we'll hopefully be keeping for a while! It comes in 18 days and we can't wait- thank you again Etsy for coming to the rescue. 

Fleur D'amour

Valentine's day is around the corner and nothing beats a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

With so many flowers styles to choose from, it can be a tough decision, so here are a few of my personal favs for a hue of inspiration. Tip: Quality vs. Quantity makes all the difference when it comes to flowers and it doesn't mean you need to break the bank. Instead, make your own DIY arrangement with some slightly nicer stemmed flowers from your local flower district and create your own homemade painted vase for that special touch. *see below for instructions and good luck!*

Petite but sweet Ranunculus

The ultimate romantic and gorgeous fluffy juliet rose.

Big and bold Dinner Plate Dahlia

Create your own color painted vase starting with a simple clear glass..

..and then fill with some beautiful buds

Which room would you choose?

Living in NYC, one becomes accustomed to living in smaller quarters and only dreaming of simple luxuries such as outdoor space, washer/dryer, extra bedrooms, more than one bath, closet space...the list can go on forever but what if you had the chance to choose 1? What would you put on the top of your list?

Here are some of my own dream rooms that I'd die to have any of. My #1 would have to be a huge kitchen with room for an island. I mean....how awesome would that be?

Walnut Kitchen Cabinets

Walk in Closet

Private Washer/Dryer

 Outdoor Space

2012 Soaring limits

Did the end of 2012 just fly by or was it just me? I know what you are thinking. Yes, I've been slacking a bit on posting but I'm baaack! New year, new me, new posts. A fresh start has always felt nice, don't you agree? This year marks a special one for me because it's not only the new start of a new year all together, but I've also officially entered into a new decade of my life.. the dirty 30's. Ok, not really dirty but it rolls off the tongue easier.  In a way it feels refreshing. Like I'm starting a new chapter in the book. Not exactly sure what to expect but excited to find out. And speaking of books and totally unrelated.. have you read the Hunger Games series or am I the last person to read them? I just finished them and can't wait for the movie. If you haven't yet, trust me.. it's a for sure must. 

So here's to starting the new year off right and feeling good. Happy 2012!

Can't get enough

Just signed on for Fab.com and am already a big fan. Think Gilt meets MOMA gift shop meets Etsy. A combination of cool, unique items at discounted prices- what's not to love? Bookmarking it to my rotation of online-shopping sites now.

Check out their 100+ Best Gifts Under $100 here:

More than a dog

Everyone needs a Boo in their lives...or at least one a stuffed replica of him. If you don't know who this is, watch one of his FB videos and you'll get hooked. He's so cute I could eat him.