Did you know?

Did you know that cheap drapes can be made into a bed skirt?  Yep, that's what I did.  Here's why.  MRP and I registered for these green drapes and ended up not really knowing where to put them.  Because really, let's face it.  No one knows what they really need until a few years into marriage and you've defined your styles.  So we tried to return them because we didn't really like them on the windows.  Well, the drapes had been "pennied out" and were only worth 1 cent.  I was pretty sad because I didn't know what to do with them.  But, we kept them anyway. 

While hanging out with my sister she casually mentioned that I could just tuck the drapes under our mattress and use them as a bedskirt!  GENIUS I tell you!!  This was 3 years ago and to this day, I have not been tempted to change it.  It was the best idea yet! 

MR.P and I are headed to the lake with some friends.  They are 25 weeks pregnant and I CANNOT WAIT to meet this baby!!  It's soo exciting.  Thankful to have some time with them this weekend.  They live in Nashville, so we don't get much time with them.  Looking forward to our weekend!!

Guest Post: Interior Designer Stephanie from Moxie Maley!

Good morning blogger friends!  A few days ago, I "met" Stephanie over @ Moxie Maley!  She is an amazing Interior Designer in Mississippi.  Once we connected I couldn't wait to have her guest blog for me!  Here are her top 10 do's for decorating inexpensively!

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Hi Design A-Peele readers and fans! I have recently become acquainted with Beth through this amazing design world and am honored to be a guest on her fabulous blog! So thank you, Beth, for giving me this opportunity. You are a doll!

When asked to post about inexpensive ways to decorate, I really had to sit back and think about it. There are so many approaches one can take, but here are my top 10 tips for staying on budget when decorating:

1) Less can be more! Invest in fewer, larger pieces rather than many smaller pieces. Such pieces may include armoires, display cabinets or hutches.

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2) Need pattern and color? Wallpaper one wall for an accent and paint the rest!

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3) Use expensive materials judiciously. Purchase pre-made drapery panels and bedspreads and use the pricey textiles to add trim, throw pillows, bedskirts and shams to create your custom look! Or try stenciling a pattern onto your favorite textile.

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4) Don’t have the money to invest in expensive paintings or artwork? Enlarge special photos and have them printed on canvas, frame unique pieces that you may otherwise hide in the closet, create a collage on the wall with framed magazines or inexpensive artwork or better yet – create your own masterpiece!

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5) Make the most of what you have and decorate with old items from your attic – like a suitcase or trunk. Don’t be afraid to go digging. You never know what you may find!

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6) Decorate with your books and magazines instead of spending money on new accessories.

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7) Reupholster an old piece rather than throwing it out and buying new.

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8) Combine simple, inexpensive items to create centerpieces – such as glass vases and fruit or flowers from your garden!

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9) Always choose labor over expensive materials. Finery is found in the details!
10) Remember that your ultimate goal is to make every money-saving method count. If you do your own painting and paperhanging, there will be more dollars remaining for the furnishings.



I hope you can use a few of these tips on your next decorating project and even save a few pennies. Most importantly, though, enjoy your journey!



Thanks again, Beth, for allowing me to be a guest on your site! --Stephanie
 
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Thanks Stephanie for guest blogging!!  These are great tips and I know they've helped everyone out!  They definitely helped me to organize myself a little and focus on a few different key areas in my house :)  Happy Thursday everyone!

Hair Styles That Make Life Easier For Me

I have a love hate relationship with long hair.  It's soo nice that I can just throw it up in a bun if I don't feel like fixing it.  But, it's hot in the summer.  So I put together some of my favorite hairstyles that help me not to run to the hair salon and chop off my hair!

1.) The braid into a ponytail. 

First off, I love Reese.  She's one of my favorites.  Secondly, she braids her hair thinly into a straight pony tail.  You could also curl your hair, put in a pony tail, and pin the hair up into a messy bun straight in the back or on the side.  I usually like the side because it shows off your hair well.  I occationally do a thicker braid too.  Either one works!  I usually do this when I have to get ready for my day, but know I am going to the pool or the lake.  That way my hair is out of my face and don't have to worry about it.  Just don't forget to put sunscreen in your part or you'll have a sunburnt head!

2.) Wavy - short or long!

Short is soo cute.  Definitely takes time though.  It's not easy getting those short hairs in the back.  Just being real ;)

Medium length is perfect for waves.  If you need a tutorial on how to do the wavy look, just google and find one that suites you.  It's easy, you just need patience!  Also, I've found that you can buy a cheap curling iron.  You don't really need a quality one.  Just one that heats up well!  I think I bought mine 4 years ago.  Got it for free from Kroger because they had the price tagged wrong!  Oh, also, go for a medium barrel.  You don't want your curls TOO curly.  Just medium.

3.) Straight

This is my usual daily fix.  I am not always creative at 7:00 in the morning.  BUT, I do have a tip.  Everyone always told me that you need an expensive hair straightener.  Thankfully, I didn't believe them.  I went to Target and found the perfect one. 

Anyway, the reason for this post is because I have a haircut tomorrow.  I am having a rough time convincing myself not to cut it all off!  I think I'll just go for a nice medium length to take a little weight off!

Peele Anniversary Vacation of 2010

MR.P and I had a great time on our vacation.  We headed out on Wednesday to see our friends who live in Orlando.  They had a sweet baby boy about 6 months ago and we wanted to get some good time with them!  Jack is precious!

Isn't he soo cute??  I just love his little face!  We soo enjoyed getting to hang out with him for an extended amount of time.

Our first day at the Regal Sun Resort we enjoyed lunch at the pool and some nice down time.  This was about the only down time we had.  We were go go go the entire trip!

We went to Islands of Adventure with our friends.  MR.P and Katie were the Harry Potter nerds of the trip, so here's a pic of them :)

Matt has been friends with Katie and Derrick since freshman year of college.  Once I started dating Matt I was able to get to know them better too!  Fell in love with Katie and have had a few fun trips with the 4 of us :)

MR.P and I in front of the new Harry Potter ride.  It was pretty cool.  Although, Derrick threw up 3 times during the ride.  GROSS!

Here's Katie and I drinking our butterbeer.  It was AMAZING!!!  Soo good!  Totally worth it.  I am no Harry Potter nerd, but I would be for some free butterbeer!!

This was the candy store.  I thought it was going to be amazing.  Full of all the candy in the movie, but it just had a few...the chocolate frogs, jelly beans, etc. 

Sadly, this was all the pics we took.  We did have a marvelous time going to the outlets, spending time with each other, eating, and sleeping in a little bit.  I am so glad we did a little vacation for our 3 year anniversary.  It was really special for us to do something together.  Special thanks to bookit.com for helping us find a place to stay that was 70% off!! 

Turner Celeste Clark

My friend Katie had a precious little baby girl yesterday!  I feel so priveledged to be a part of her life.  I went to the hospital as soon as I could to meet baby Turner. 

She was precious!  She kept her eyes closed most of the time, but I could already tell she has her mother's sweet disposition and calm spirit.  I cannot wait to play with her more!! 

This is the new Clark family!

Once I got home I saw the cutest thing in the world!!

MR.P baby sitting my nieces :)

They were watching Bolt, reading books, and playing.  I about died.  I am so thankful that the Lord has given me the joy of nieces.  If I didn't have children AND nieces then life would be pretty sad. Thankful to share in their lives!

Yard Work

MR.P and I are doing a major overhaul of our yard...I think I mentioned it once before.  We are simplifying everything!  The previous owners had such green thumbs and I just can't keep up.  At the moment we are working on the front yard.  That consists of the following:

* First we pulled out the 2 dead bushes :(

Here are the culprits!

Some how rocks and such got right next to the roots and they died :(  It was very sad.  BUT, while MR.P was out of town my sisters-in-law came over and helped me pull them out and plant new ones. 

Here are the newly planted bushes.  I sure hope they grow fast!

And from a distance. 

This made the yard look TONS better.  Unfortunately it didn't stay that way. 

* Secondly, we tore out the day lillies on the side (circled in photo below)...the yard does NOT look as pretty as it in this photo above.  Wish it did.  Dirt is now covering the circled part :(  Day lillies are soo pretty, but only for a few weeks.  And for my simplistic style it was just TOO much for me to handle.

* Now our plan is to buy this stuff and put it over the entire front beds.  We don't want any flowers in the front beds, so this stuff will do the trick to make sure we don't get tons and tons of weeds!  I am a much bigger fan of potted plants :)  Now lets just see if I can keep them alive.

Then we'll add bark to give the front yard a really clean/simple look. 

I normally don't like yard work at all.  But I think I am starting to enjoy it because I am seeing some results! I am seeing a direct correlation to yard work and my own life.  I want so badly for someone else to do my yard work for me.  I hate digging and hard work...just like in life, I want someone else to fix anything that's wrong.  This realization has made me want to do my yardwork myself ALL THE MORE!  It's a great therapy for myself. 

I think once we finish our yard overhaul we are going to allow ourselves to get some patio furniture.  I haven't wanted to buy any because sitting out their just stresses me out because I see all that needs to be done! 

I would love to find some Adirondack chairs for around $50 each.  Not online...don't want to pay shipping.

  As I've been searching, I can't seem to stay away from RED!  But I would love to do something different.  Lots of the accents in my house are red.

Maybe just a simple pair.

I would add these pillows.  All 3 :)  Love the orange and blue color scheme!!

Then I would add a little table, so MR.P and I can sit and drink lemonade on the back porch.  And get a good book.  And just hang out!  It will be our little getaway! 

We also have a hammock back there.  That thing is Heaven...unless you open your eyes and you see all the weeds ;)  So Really, it's not worth buying anything for back there until we get this yard work done!  Our goal is to finish right before fall.  That way, once it gets a little cooler we can enjoy the back yard :)

Anna Hatcher Design

My sweet friend Katie Clark is having a baby...any day!  She was due on July 12th.  I secretly wanted her to have the baby on July 13th so we would share his or her bday and our anniversary! 

In June some friends and I gave her a shower.  I wanted the invitations to be just perfect!  Katie has a simple, classy style and I wanted it to reflect just that.  Anna Hatcher Design is a friend and she does amazing work!  I contacted Anna and told her my vision for the invitation.  She got it perfect on the first try! I absolutely fell in love with the invitation.  So much so that it's still hanging on my fridge!

See for yourself!

I just love the print that she chose.  I can't wait to have her do some art for a baby room one day :)

Here are some pics from the shower compliments of Annslee!

The beautiful table.

The mommy!  They haven't found out what they're having, so I am VERY anxious for this baby to arrive!  I have my bets on a GIRL :)

We used the invitations as decorations too :)

Writing down all the gifts she was getting!  She got some great stuff :)

And lastly the hosts with the Mommy.  Fun was had by all :)

Katie, can't wait to see this baby and pray over him or her.  I am excited to see you be a mom!

Sharpie

"Don't be afraid to take a Sharpie to your wall.  It's your house, not a museum!" - Canning Zest

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This quote hit home with me.  I really feel like you can do whatever you want to your home to make it what you like.  Especially when that thing requires no money!  Just a little creativity.  Even if you aren't an artists, find something online, print it out. Trace it then go back over it with a sharpie!

Wallpaper...yes? no?

Aesthetically I am a definite yes!  But definitely a no when it comes to the maintenance. 

I love the demension that wallpaper prints add to a room.  It just gives such character!!

Can you imagine if this room just had blank walls?  It would definitely take away the vintage feel to the room.

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If I was going to use wallpaper I would just do one wall to accent a room.  That way I am meeting in the middle.  I get the detail in the room I want without having to maintain and take down all 4 walls.

Love this dressing room.  I like that the wallpaper is a bold print, but in a very simple color so it doesn't overwhelm you! (Love that chandalier too!)

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This one is bold, but I REALLY like it.  Love the bike accent.

Ok, and lastly Carrie and Big's apartment from Sexy and the City 2.  It's just too pretty not to post!

OR you could just paint stripes as a good alternative!   These stripes just make everything in the room POP!  Love the way the pink flowers really just bring the room together with that black frame!

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And this one...I love the simplicity! And we all know I LOVE me some chalkboard paint! (looks like gray is the way to go with stripes)

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Love the pop of red in the chandalier!

 

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Even though stripes make us think modern, I think you can give them any look you want. Modern, classic, vintage...anything!  It's all about the accesories and colors you add to make the room your own.

Another alternative to wallpaper would be a back drop like the one below. 

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Not sure what magazine this actually comes from, but it looks like it's shudders covered in fabric.  You could choose a bold fabric to really make a statement or something that will blend in, but add a little color.  I love this idea :)  It even doubles as a headboard!

Wallpapering can be expensive and time consuming.  Painting is something you can do on your own with just a little bit of help. And covering shudders with fabric is EASY!  These are all 3 great ideas to add some spiff to your room maker.