All About Cosmetics // Mini-Series 1 of 3 "Nail Polish"

Today marks the day I begin my mini series dedicated to cosmetics. I will be sharing 3 mini posts about cosmetics: nail polish, makeup, and hair products. I will be explaining how to store your cosmetics, where to look for expiration dates (and when to throw things away if it doesn't have an expiration date), and the importance of keeping up with organizing, repurchasing, and purging your cosmetics. Today, will be all about NAIL POLISH! 

Below is a photo of how I store my nail polish. I used a similar tutorial like this to create my nail polish rack (it was super easy!). You can also purchase acrylic nail polish racks here - I just opted for the cheaper route since it was going to be hidden in our closet. Before I took this photo, every single shelf was FULL of nail polish, and I even had a few that were just balancing on the edge since there was no room for more. But then I sorted through all the polishes, got rid of more than half, and only chose the ones I would really, actually wear. I also got rid of ones that were expired, dried up, or almost gone. 

I always keep my polishes in rainbow order so I can see what colors I have (or don't have), starting with reds and going all the way to purples. I separate out the glitter polishes and the nudes, pinks, creams, and neutrals. All of the base coats, top coats, and cuticle oils are at the bottom. This is just what works for me, but I highly recommend this system. I also leave spaces for new polishes. I will only purchase a new polish if I know one will be running out in the near future, or if there is killer sale on my favorites. 

As for expiration dates, MOST cosmetics have an expiration date. In the photo below, you will see a little symbol in the bottom-right of the bottle of nail polish that looks like a jar with the lid off and a number inside. That is the expiration date. This one says "24M," so this nail polish is good for 24 months. I've only had this polish for about a year and half, so I'm going to hang on to it. I would recommend writing the date of purchase with a Sharpie on all your nail polishes so you know when to throw them away. Or keep a spreadsheet nearby with the dates of when you purchased each polish. Here is a good option.

Storing nail polishes this way is super easy, convenient, and good for the actual polish. They should be stored upright, and not laid down on their side. (And having them visible always motivates me to use them.)

Let me know how you store your nail polishes, or better yet, take a photo and post it in the comments below! Happy painting!!

 I will be explaining MAKEUP in the next mini post... so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!

Plumbing Pipe Shelves

Happy New Year to all of you... I hope this year brings you many blessings, love, and most importantly, DIY projects to complete. Our holiday season this year was one for the books. We actually made it through without any snow, which is unusual for Indiana at this time of year. It was about 50 degrees on Christmas Day {what?!}. We had a great time with family, despite the fact that my husband had to leave at 9:00am Christmas Day to help restore power in Michigan. It comes with the job. New Years Eve was spent in Cincinnati, OH with great friends. It was fun and something we have never done before. My favorite part was the firework display at New Years. So, now starts a new goal for 2016 for this blog... to complete a post every month (but, I'm shooting for more). I want to do more than just DIY projects though. Maybe some recipes, maybe some other things too, and that's where you come in. I need some suggestions on what you would like to see more of on here. Leave me a comment below this post of things you might like to see. But, nonetheless, I'm excited to start 2016 with a bang. So here we go...

To begin, we (because, yes, this was a project I needed help from the hubby) used stud wood from another project. It was just white stud wood. I had him cut me 2 shelves, one at 24" and one at 18". The other dimensions of the boards are 2" x 6". But you can make your shelves as long/short, thick/thin as you want.

Next, I used this stain to make them look weathered. I also applied a light coat of gray wood stain over the weathered stain, and then once it was completely dry, I added Minwax finishing wax to the shelves to ensure they were sealed for the bathroom.

Now comes the part where the hubs helped out. We bought the plumbing pipe at Menards. We picked up 4 - 1/2"x 6" black pipes that had threading on both ends, the caps to match, and the floor flanges to match. It's pretty simple, but if you need help at your hardware store, don't hesitate to ask. :) We figured out where we wanted the pipes to be attached to the shelves, then attached them with pipe straps.

Next, we held the shelves up to the wall and made marks of where the holes were to be drilled for the flanges. Then, hubs just attached everything together and to the wall.

This was one of the more simple projects we completed, but it makes a huge impact. It also showcases our style more. I love them, don't you?

3-Foot Distressed Clock

Have you seen those huge, 3-foot clocks around town? You know, the distressed, rustic-style, vintage-looking clocks. Well, we (my husband and I) decided instead of spending upwards of $150 on one of those, we would build our own... for $50 tops! This was the first time I ever distressed brand new wood to make it look worn and old. This was the first time my husband ever made something out of wood, this big. And this was the first time a project worked out in general. I am so pleased with it, even if it isn't "perfect". We didn't follow any plans - since it's pretty much a simple circle - we just went for it. Here is the complete list of tools, items, and wood you will need for this project as you see it.

The main tools you will need:

Other tools you will need:

- Mider saw or circular saw (either would work)
- Hole bit
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- A spare nail (long enough to go through a 2x4" and into another board slightly)
- Sander
- Sand paper

The wood you will need:
- 2 2x4" stud length boards
- 2 2x6" stud length boards
- spare piece of 2x4" at least 18" in length

To finish the clock:
- Clock mechanism (from Hobby Lobby)
- Clock hands (from Hobby Lobby)
- Strongly brewed tea (8 tea bags per 2 cups of water)
- Homemade stain (click here for recipe)
- White primer or paint
- Roman numeral stencil (I made my own out of cardboard)
- Black chalkboard paint
- Paint brush or foam brush
- Stiple brush
- Sand paper
- Steel wool (optional)
- Wire brush (optional)
- Wax (optional)

Yes, there are a bunch of tools you will need to finish this project, but don't worry if you don't have every single piece of equipment - ask a friend, relative, or even at your local lumber & hardware store to see if they can make the cuts for you.

Ok, so for step 1, we cut the boards in half and laid them out in the order we wanted for the clock.

After that, we flipped all the boards over to trace a circle on the backs for a guideline to cut the clock out with. To create the "compass" for the circle, we used a nail, a piece of scrap 2"x 4", and a pencil. In the scrap piece of board [guide board], we drilled a hole at one end big enough for a pencil to fit through, and at the other end, a smaller hole for a nail to fit in. We made sure to find the dead center of the boards, and hammered a nail in that spot. We slid the guide board over the nail and slid the pencil in the hole at the other end. Finally we traced the circle onto the all of the boards, being careful not to shift any of them since they weren't secured together. 

Once the circle was traced on the boards, we attached the boards together using the pocket jig. This allows boards to fit together without the sight of nails (except for on the back side). It's an ingenious invention if you haven't seen it yet!

After the holes were drilled and the boards were attached together, we cut the clock out using the jigsaw. (And by we, I mean my husband! :))

Once the clock was actually cut out, the "pocket", for lack of better terms, was chiseled out of the back for the clock mechanism compartment. This is a must, so the clock sits flush on the wall.

Using a "hole bit" to cut out the hole and chiseling out the remainder to make it smooth.

Now it was time for the finishing process. And of course, I had a wedding to go to, so my amazingly-awesome hubby, applied the tea and vinegar-steel wool stain for me. (Just make sure to let each coat dry before applying the next one. He just applied 1 coat of each). 

After everything was completely dry... and a few weeks later, since we are really busy right now... I got to finish this piece up. I first applied a white primer that we had leftover in our basement - any white primer or paint will work. I let it dry completely and then distressed it with steel wool, sand paper, and a steel brush. 

Finally, I created roman numerals out of cardboard and painted them on the clock. I used black chalkboard paint to insure it was a matte finish. After that dried over night, I, then distressed everything again, and added some matte polyurethane for protection. 

Final step: adding the hands!

And here it is, finished and hung on the wall...

{P.S. Don't mind my OITNB on TV. Bonus points if you can tell me what season and episode this scene is from.}

DIY Weathered Wood Stain

Here is a quick and easy stain recipe for that weathered, rustic look that is trending the world right now. It's super easy, super cheap, and looks great and takes little effort.

What you will need:

- Extra fine steel wool
- Vinegar (each type will produce a different color - I used distilled white vinegar)
- Glass jar with a metal lid (mason jars work best)

Break up pieces of the steel wool and place them in the glass jar, or put the entire spool in (like I did here). I can't give specific amounts because my steel wool came in a pack with a bunch of separate spools. I used one spool per jar. I poured the vinegar in the jar making sure to cover the steel wool and adding just a little bit more. Again, no specific measurements. Put the lid on LOOSELY. (I learned this the hard way... just recently actually. My steel wool wasn't dissolving, and I just stared at it like, "What the heck? Why is this crap not dissolving?" Well, I loosened the lid just thinking maybe it would help, and let it sit like that all day and BAM, it was dissolved and a dark grey/black color.) Shake it every so often, but make sure to tighten the lid first! After about 24 hours, you should be able to use it, but if you let it go longer, it wouldn't hurt it. Mine has been sitting in my garage for about 2 months and it's still perfectly fine.

The first time I did this, my steel wool did not dissolve completely in 24 hours, but it was able to still be used. I tested it on a scrap piece of board before using it on other projects... I definitely recommend this since it produces different colors depending on the vinegar type. Make sure to stain the wood before using this vinegar stain with dark, DARK tea or coffee. This gives the wood more tannin to react with. After all the stain has dried, lightly sand it to even out the stain color, and apply any type of sealant.

Until next time.

Christmas 2014 - Pinterest Projects Galore

It's here. It's finally here. We got through Thanksgiving, survived Black Friday, gearing up for Cyber Monday, and decorating for Christmas Day. I can't believe where the time has gone. It seems like yesterday I was decorating for Christmas 2013. I just can't comprehend where the time goes. *Slow down, time, slow down* So in our household, we don't do anything Christmas-wise (except shopping) until after Thanksgiving. We don't believe in it. We never have. If that's what you and your family does, that's totally fine, just not what we do in our neck of the woods. We like to take the time during Thanksgiving and really be thankful for what we have, and focus on only that. Then, afterwards, we get started for Christmas. Our tradition - or my tradition, rather - is to set up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. I have for the last 5 or 6 years of being on my own, so it's just something I want to keep up with. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday and time of the year. And YES, I do love winter and snow! (I know, I'm crazy. Maybe I should just move to Colorado or something. Yes. Colorado!) I think my love for Christmas came from my grandmother (my mom's mom). She loved Christmas too. She always had the best Christmas decorations... and gave the best presents - ahem! (But we all know that's not what Christmas is truly about.) I loved going over to her house and spending time with her. I really do miss her - it's been almost 10 years since she's passed, so I guess in my own little way, I feel like when I celebrate Christmas by decorating, cooking, baking, wrapping, writing, etc., I make her come alive again for a few short weeks. (Is that weird? Maybe it is, but that's how I feel.) Ok, on to our Christmas-decorated house. And like the title suggests, I completed a TON of Pinterest projects for this year's theme. I will give the links, I promise! Our theme this year, because I do have to have a theme every year - did I mention I have problems with control? - is rustic and simple. I tried to keep things very simple and traditional, but rustic and outdoorsy at the same time. (DISCLAIMER: My house is a work in progress, even though we did build it. I have a few things I would like to change, especially the furniture, so bare with me on that aspect) Here is an overview of our living room...

Here are a few of the detail shots of the tree, with the corresponding Pinterest links I have...

I used 2 types of burlap. I think the 2 types give it more texture and design (I personally love the snowflake burlap the best!) The snowflake burlap is from our local Meijer superstore, and the regular burlap I purchased from Hobby Lobby, as well as the berry filler stems. The red and green ornaments were purchased at Meijer, and the reindeer ornaments were purchased at Target.

The pinecone ornaments are my own take on these. I LOVE this idea, and it was super affordable.

This ornament was a project we did last year for presents for all the grandmas and grandpas, from Riley. Here is the post that inspired this treasurable gift. (This ornament was my grandmother's (my dad's mom), she passed away a few months ago, and I definitely didn't want this thrown away. Snatched it up right away!) My only advice for this project is to use plastic ornaments. The glass ornaments are colored differently than the plastic ones, so the color of the ornament bled through the white paint and turned it all pink by the time it dried. We had to do all them over again. UGH! But I like the way these turned out anyway.

And our star is what started the entire theme for this year. It's from Target...

Here's our TV cabinet and stockings (Nope, no fireplace in this house. Something we had to forgo to be able to include other things - you know, budget, budget, budget)...

Here are a few close-ups...

Not sure where these are from, I got them so long ago.

My dad got this nativity set for us a few Christmas's back, so I'm not sure where it's from. I also have a Lenox nativity set that was my grandmother's, the one I mentioned in the beginning of this post, and I treasure it so dearly. I will only put that one out in our basement, but since the basement isn't finished yet, it stays safe in its box for the meantime. It's absolutely beautiful though. Just take my word for it. :)

Here's a little purchase I made this year for our theme from Hobby Lobby. There's another one of these somewhere in this post...

Of course we have to set up and set out the milk-cup and cookies-plate for Santa! (This used to be mine and my sister's.)

And then I just added a few small touches around the rest of the house. So here is an overview of our kitchen at the moment...

Just a couple, cute, traditional candle holders...

The Charlie Brown tree is a MUST!

And here we have the other tree. The urn was purchased from Hobby Lobby as well...

I even decided to change up the design of our monogram on the chalkboard wall in the kitchen. This post on Pinterest is what I followed to create my own look... (yes, all freehand)

Here's what I added below the cork board...

And last, but certainly not least, the outside of our home...

I still need to change out the rug for Christmas, I just haven't found one I liked yet. The planters next to the door will have something in them soon... DIY-blog-post-worthy, so keep checking back!!

Here is the wreath. So simple, and so pretty. Burlap was purchased from Joann Fabrics. Wreath is from Hobby Lobby.

So as the holiday season approaches, I hope you and your family have a wonderful time decorating a tree, baking cookies, sipping hot chocolate, or just spending time together. Take the time to do something nice for someone else this year, it will really make a difference. Until next time...