For The Home- My 'ReStore'd Powder Room

I just LOVE going in to Habitat For Humanity's ReStore when looking for items for my home.

They carry building supplies, lighting, plumbing...anything you can think of. It is all donated- most of it is used, but some is new- and all of the proceeds go to Habitat For Humanity. Love that.

So naturally, when I needed some things to 'beautify' my downstairs powder room, that's where I went.

My powder room was what I referred to as my 'sauna bathroom' when I first moved in. It was entirely made up of an orangey-oak-coloured wood paneling with blue peel-and-stick tiles on the floor. Can you picture it? Yep, it was that hideous. I didn't want to invest a lot of time or money into it, however. I'm thinking down the road I may turn it into a full bath.....perhaps.....

Here is how the ReStore helped me get a very pretty Powder Room that I now love:

Adorable mini chandelier- $40 Restore 

Wallpaper- $7 Restore
Towel rack- $2.99 Value Village

 Flooring- leftover from doing my Living Room

White paint- leftover from doing all the trim in my home (I notice the baseboard needs a touch-up since I put in the flooring :S ) 

Teal paint- $4/qt ReStore

Hardware for doors- $1 each ReStore

Shelf- I've had forever

Decorations for mirror- $2 ReStore

Vintage lamp- $4.99 Value Village
Silver outlet cover- $0.25 ReStore

So other than a new-to-me sink that I'll be continuing to look for, I'm pretty happy with how my pretty little Powder Room has turned out.

Thanks for reading, and if you need anything home improvement related, be sure to check out the ReStore.

You get to save money AND help Habitat For Humanity build homes for people who need them. It's definitely a win-win.

Peace.

Hair Post- Considering A Lob

It was considered the "IT" hairstyle for 2013. Soooooo, I guess that means that I am a year late to the party.

But I am now considering a Lob Haircut.

The term "Lob" refers to a long bob. A Lob should be shoulder-length or slightly longer. It should be relatively blunt at the bottom (or at least, those are the ones that I prefer), with very little layering throughout. You can have a Lob with bangs or without.

Considering my hair right now is halfway down my back (or a bit longer than that), I need to give it a bit more thought. 

I also need to consider my laziness and lack of time (but mostly laziness) when it comes to keeping up a haircut. Right now I cut my hair every few months, but with a lob, I would need to cut it every 8 weeks or so to keep it's shape.

Whether or not I take the plunge and actually cut my locks, the Lob is definitely my favourite hairstyle right now.

Here are some of my favourite Lobs:

Straight Lobs

Wavy Lobs

Curly Lobs

What do you think? Are Lobs a hit or a miss in your opinion?

I'll be sure to update with a photo IF I do cut my hair....If it's in good-enough shape- I'm hoping to donate it......

Thanks for reading.

Peace.







UPDATE:

I actually ended up hacking at it myself the next morning.

I figured if I waited, I would lose my nerve.

My pile of cut hair. Unfortunately it was too processed/ not quite long enough to donate. :(

After my hair was cut, I put some waves in with a 1 1/4 inch curling iron.

After- my bathroom selfie. ;) 

After- with my sister's professional camera  

Loving the Lob so far. Hoping I can keep it up.... I've already decided that it WILL be long again, though. ;)

A Life Well-Lived

I attended a "Celebration of Life" service this afternoon. It was for a woman from my church. The service was one filled with laughter, tears and fond memories of a life that was well-lived.

I've been writing recently on how much my 'community' has meant to me in the recent months, and years. How, when I feel like I just cannot possibly go on, I know that I can rely on my network of friends, family and church community to keep me going.

This service was for one of those women who kept me going. 

This woman stopped in with Mac & Cheese for us shortly after my youngest was born a few weeks ago. She made sure to sit down with me, to share a hug- to talk to each of my boys and to make sure they knew that they were loved and a part of our church family.

She was a whirlwind of compassion that left almost as quickly as she arrived (so as not to disturb our evening) and I will never forget that time.

As well, every Sunday morning since, she has asked if there was anything I need or if there was anything that she could do for me or for the boys. She always had other people's emotional as well as physical health on the forefront of her mind.

She was a retired nurse that never retired from caring for others.

Why do I share about her?

Because I never made it clear to her how much that casserole dish of  Mac & Cheese meant to me. And yet she kept asking if there was more that she could do. I thanked her, of course, but I don't know if she realized the impact that she had on me.

Maybe I never realized that impact myself- until this afternoon.

I expect that she didn't know fully how she had affected so many of the people that were sitting in that service today. But sadly, that's usually the way isn't it?

I believe she knew she was making a difference. But her 'reward' wasn't an earthly reward. She knew this. She understood why community was important. She knew how to love 'the least of these' well.

WHY do I share about her?

I suppose to encourage you to let people know if they've been a positive impact in your life. To let them know how much their actions or words mean to you. To be a person of encouragement to THEM- and to keep THEM going when they feel weary. 

Why else do I share about her?

To encourage you to BE one of those people of compassion to others. To feed the people around you if they are hungry. To spend time with the lonely. To visit those that are shut-in. To listen to the ones who feel that they don't have a voice. 

THAT was the person that Muriel was.

That is the person that I strive to be.

There has been a phrase said many times in the last few days since her passing. By many people. That is because all who knew her are sure that it must be true.

There is NO DOUBT in anyone's mind that when she reached the pearly gates of heaven she heard those words, "Well done- good and faithful servant".

May it be so for me.

May we all strive to live a life as well-lived as she did. 

Blessings.

Great Wet-Hair Styles For Summer

Summer is FINALLY here!!!

This is the season for splash-pads and pools. For oceans and lakes. For jumping out of the shower and styling your hair without the heat of a dryer. 

That is why I LOVE these quick and easy hair tutorials for wet-hair styles from Hair Romance.

Here are my favourites:

The Fishtail Ponytail

(Click here for tutorial) 

The Fishtail Bun

(Click here for tutorial)

The Loose Triple Bun

 (Click here for tutorial)

The Side Twist Bun

 (Click here for tutorial)

I hope you try these styles out and love them! 

They should be fabulous for running out the door with wet hair and still looking great!

And the absence of a blow dryer is just better for our world, as well. :)

Peace.

The Perfect Kijiji-ed Birthday Gift

For my 3-year-old's birthday present, I watched kijiji for a few days.

Right now (and pretty much since the day he was born), he is into all things superhero.

I picked up this bag of various superheroes for $10. Pretty good score, huh?

It included a few Batman's,  Robin, Aquaman, Penguin, Gorilla Grodd , Joker, Riddler, and many others. :)

The same day, I popped into Talize to see if they had anything I could add to the gift. I found a DC Super Friends book for 99 cents. It was perfect.

 It had a spot in the back that I could put the figurines.

He loved it. :)

I threw in a swimsuit for $3.99. He loved THAT almost as much. Haha.

Getting a gift for my kid that he loves for $14.99 total- I LOVE that.

I realize that there MAY come a day when my kids beg me for something brand new. But until then, I will try to impart my views of thrifting and buying second-hand, and to explain WHY I believe that it is important.

Try thrifting your next birthday gift. :)  The earth will thank you. 

Peace and blessings.

Three's A Crowd

(Capturing Imagination Photography)

Since my littlest man has come into my life, I feel I am constantly running short on free hands, free time, free space.

The old saying that "three's a crowd" is definitely true.

When we sit down for dinner, the table is a little more crowded than it was before. More than that- my chair is more crowded as it usually seats two of us now.

When I drive anywhere with my sister and brother-in-law in the car as well- the stroller has to go back into the house because there is simply no room for it. 

My bedroom is no longer my own and is constantly home to mountains of laundry- mine, as well as piles of sleepers, onesies and receiving blankets.

My living room that used to be somewhat clutter-free now has a baby swing, a vibrating chair, countless blankets and nursing accessories all strewn about.

My life is more crowded. Absolutely.

But my life is more full.

During the long nights, as I have my quiet one-on-one feeding time with my son, and he caresses my skin with those tiny fingers, I am so thankful that for now my bed is a bit crowded.

When I sneak into my other sons' room after they are supposed to be asleep and my middle child hears me and asks to cuddle, and proceeds to kiss and hug me over and over and tell me he loves me- I am so thankful that I don't have free space in my home. Every room in my house is filled with family- what a comfort that is to me.

When I sit down to help my oldest with his homework and am blown away by this baby that I once held in my arms, now able to read and write... When I watch him from the sidelines of his soccer games- his face lit up with excitement... I am thankful for my lack of free time.

Yes, my life is more crowded. Lacking in free time, space and hands.

But again- it is more full.

My home is more full of life.

My heart is more full of love.

My spirit is more full of hope.

Blessings.

S-weet Ideas For S- Hooks Around The Home

The other day I was rummaging through my tool-bench - which is really just a mish-mash of screwdrivers, screws, nails, and a hammer- and came across a bag of S-hooks.

I'm not quite sure where or when I purchased these hooks. Most likely I acquired them at the ReStore or at Reuse Center on one of my visits.

I decided to check Pinterest for some ideas of how to use these hooks around my home and I found some really fabulous ones.

For Your Bedroom Closet:

These hooks are great for keeping purses,

 scarves,

jewelry,

and belts organized.

I also love this idea of attaching bars to the underside of shelving and hanging hooks from there. Its a great way to utilize some unused space.

For The Kitchen:

I really like this idea for hanging mugs so that they are right where you need them. I think that this idea would look as cute with mismatched mugs as with a matching set.

How wonderful is this idea for a hanging herb garden? All you need is a tension rod and you can grow these herbs anywhere.

I love, love, love this repurposed ladder into pot/ pan holder. Seriously cute.

For Play:

These hooks are a simple way to hang dress up clothes and costumes for the kids.

 And what a great way to keep craft supplies and hardware organized.

For The Front Hall Or Closet:

They are an easy and clutter-free way to keep everything you need on your way out the door close at hand.

 I love this idea for keeping shoes organized. I could see boots held together with a binder clip or something similar hanging on these hooks as well.

Just a few ideas to encourage you to think of new ideas for old products.

I love that you can find similar bars to these (to hang the hooks on) at any thrift shop for a few dollars in with the bathroom supplies. You can find various colours, or spay paint the bars to be any colour that you wish.

Happy thrifting/ repurposing!

Blessings