I’m Pretty Sure I Hold the Title for the Most Botched Furniture Deliveries

March 4, 2019 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 527th Metamorphosis Monday! If they were giving out awards for the most botched furniture deliveries, I have no doubt I would be in the running for first place! So though I don't have a finished project to share, at least I can share a solution I have in mind for a small ongoing problem I've been experiencing.   Just off my master bedroom is a small dressing room. It was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After Tagged With: , ,



After All That Garage Dish Storage, What’s Left Inside?

February 18, 2019 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 525th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope you had a great one! It rained here a lot so I mostly stayed inside. One of the questions I'm often asked in comments is where I store all the dishware you see me using in table settings for Tablescape Thursday. If you've been following BNOTP for a while, you may remember that back during the summer of 2017, I added several cabinets … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, My Nest Tagged With:



Valentine’s Day & The 50 Greatest Love Letters of All Time

February 11, 2019 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 524th Metamorphosis Monday! Years ago I had a bunny-painted window hanging atop the windows in the upstairs family room.   After a while, I began to crave seeing the windows in their wide-open, natural state, so I took Miss Bunny down.   She now stands guard in the garage over a potting bench. I may move her back to the bonus room one day, but for now I really … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, BNOTP Library, Valentine's Day Decor, Valentine's Day Holiday Home



This Was Not How I Wanted to Kick Off Spring

February 4, 2019 by 66 Comments

Welcome to the 523rd Metamorphosis Monday! I'm dreaming of spring and some porch time.   But before spring arrives, I'll need to fix this thanks to a very bad mouse. Either a mouse or rat, not sure which, decided to chew his way in through one of the screened porch doors. In an effort to stop the intruder from getting onto the porch and decks again, my pest control guy blocked the hole. He … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



Looking Forward to Less Ironing and More Playing This Summer

January 28, 2019 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 522nd Metamorphosis Monday! A few months back, I purchased this fabric/clothes steamer pictured below. I've always wanted a floor-standing steamer. I wear almost nothing but cotton and linen clothing during the spring and summer months. I love how cotton and linen fabrics feel against my skin and how they breathe during the hot, humid days of summer. I don't even mind the wrinkles that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



Handbag Storage Idea: Protect Your Bags, But Keep Them Visible

January 21, 2019 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 521st Metamorphosis Monday! Do you collect anything? Is there something that you truly love and are always on the lookout for when you're out shopping or antiquing--like rare stamps or first-editions of your favorite books? I know someone who used to collect cute pig figurines until everyone in her family caught on and she became inundated with them. lol My mother-in-law used to collect … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



An Ornery Weather Station

January 14, 2019 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 520th Metamorphosis Monday! Unfortunately, I'm still sick with some kind of virus. My throat is still really swollen. If I'm not better in the next day or two, I'm going for a strep test.  I don't really have a Before and After to share since I spent much of yesterday (when I felt up to it) doing boring stuff like putting wreaths back into storage under the eaves in the upstairs family … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: ,



Easy Storage for Winter Boots, Keeps Them Upright-No Slouching or Falling Over

January 7, 2019 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 519th Metamorphosis Monday! Whooo, I'm back home. I got in quite late last night after the always-long drive home from Ohio. The drive went by relatively fast since the weather was awesome (no rain!) and I was listening to a really good book all the way home. The book I was listening to via Audible was, Influenza: The Hundred Year Hunt to Cure The Deadliest Disease in History by Dr. Jeremy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries Tagged With: , , , ,



Keep Silver Jewelry Visible, Yet Tarnish-free While Stored Away

December 31, 2018 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 518th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! Any exciting plans for New Year's Eve? I have something I just discovered that I'm super excited to share with you for this week's Metamorphosis Monday! Over the past 20 years, I've collected or have been given as a gift, several pieces of silver jewelry. Some jewelry, like the silver jewelry from Tiffany & Co., comes in a little … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,



A Wreath Switcheroo: Staying With a Natural Green Wreath From Now On

December 17, 2018 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 516th Metamorphosis Monday! A week or two ago I shared how the porch was decorated for Christmas. You may remember I wasn't thrilled with how this ornament wreath looked against my red door. I'm using it elsewhere, it looks great out on the screened porch.   So, here's how the porch looks now.   I was a little worried at first about the performance of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Porches, Porches & Decks



Pottery Barn Inspired Christmas Garland: Bigger and Better Second Time Around

December 3, 2018 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 514th Metamorphosis Monday! I had hoped to do an update on the installation of the Ring Doorbell today, but I need one more part to fix an issue it's having. Hopefully, the part I've ordered will arrive this week, then I'll be able to complete that final post. So watch for that coming up real soon.   Pottery Barn Inspired Christmas Garland Gets an Update Many, many years ago … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Gift Ideas Tagged With: ,



A Family Christmas Mantel & The Best Cyber Monday Shopping Finds

November 26, 2018 by 24 Comments

Welcome to the 513th Metamorphosis Monday! My sweet daughter-in-law, Nancy, has been sick the past few days with a yucky cold, but this weekend she was feeling much better and started pulling out the Christmas decorations. It was so much fun seeing my grandson's reactions to the trees, lights and pretty decorations. There were a lot of Ooohhs and Ahhhs and WOWs! One of the areas that saw a makeover … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Gift Ideas, Thanksgiving Decor



Easily Add Lighting to Attics, Closets & Sheds & A Wallet Update I Just Made

November 19, 2018 by 39 Comments

Welcome to the 512th Metamorphosis Monday! I have two quick updates to share for this week's Met Monday. Hope you find these helpful! I store the majority of my Christmas decorations here in the upstairs bonus room eaves. As seen below, there are little doors that lead to that storage area.   That area can be quite dark, especially when all the wreaths I hang on my exterior windows are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , ,



Great Storage Idea for Handbags Or Collectibles & All the Details To Create It

November 12, 2018 by 21 Comments

Welcome the 511th Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been reading BNTOP for a while, I know you're familiar with this view of my home office.   On the other side of my office, there's a cozy, little reading corner.   Several years ago I hung a Bucket List Travel Map above the chair here in the office, hoping it would keep me inspired and focused on seeing more of our big, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



As Requested: Instructions & Resources to Make a Beautiful Colonial Williamsburg Fruit Fan for Christmas

November 5, 2018 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 510th Metamorphosis Monday! I awoke this morning around 4:00 am. I would say I'm still on Egypt time but I was doing this even when I was in Egypt. I wonder if that's why I got sick, not getting enough sleep. I don't know what's up with my body wanting to wake up so ridiculously early every day, but I wish it would stop. I'm still sick but feeling better each day. Thankfully, the fever … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , ,



Thinking Ahead to Christmas: Colonial Williamsburg Style Door Idea

October 22, 2018 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 508th Metamorphosis Monday! I had an interesting start to my morning! I awoke around 4 am Egypt time and was laying in bed thinking about my Met Monday post when the power went out. I noticed it immediately because the A/C stopped and everything went very dark. It's a weird feeling to be on the top (5th) floor of a hotel and have all the power go out. Fortunately, I knew where my phone … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, DIY Crafts & Sewing Tagged With: , , , , ,



10 Halloween Crafts for the Home and Table

October 15, 2018 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 507th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm leaving for Egypt today. I plan to post a good bit while I'm away. Hopefully, I'll have some fast WiFi in the hotels where we'll be staying. I'll also be posting a lot to Instagram while I'm away. Instagram is the easiest and quickest way to share in real time, so be sure to look for updates there each day. If you would like to follow my adventures … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Crafts, Halloween Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , ,



Protect Your Suitcase from Scratches with a Pretty Luggage Cover

October 8, 2018 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 506th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? This is a long weekend for some folks since today is Columbus Day. It's also Thanksgiving for our northern friends in Canada. Happy Thanksgiving, Canada! I spent the weekend getting some things done I've been putting off--like spiffing up the screened porch for autumn. I haven't done any decorating on the porch, yet--but I did take time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,



The Away Bigger Carry-on Bag: Lydia and Instagram Made Me Do It!

October 1, 2018 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 505th Metamorphosis Monday! Over the past three years as I've traveled abroad, this adorable bag has always been my carry-on bag. There are many things I love about it, including its two interior pockets. One is perfect for carrying a laptop and the other, a zipper pocket, is great for smaller items like electrical cords, mouse, Rx, etc... I always get so many comments/compliments on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Travel Tagged With: , , ,



Cozying Up The Office with Dept. 56 Lit Houses and a Few New Bookcase Additions

September 17, 2018 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 503rd Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I thought I'd give you a quick update on what I've been up to with the bookcases here in the office. There have been a couple of additions but also quite a few subtractions.   Can you tell I've reduced my collection a bit? I took a huge stack (probably a shelf's worth) to Goodwill this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , ,



A Fun Lighting Update for My Home Office

September 8, 2018 by 49 Comments

Welcome to the 502nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy weekend to you! I hope you're having an awesome one! I know it's not Monday yet, but I have an appointment on Monday so I thought I would go ahead and put this post up now. Before we dive into a mini-project I'm working on in my office, if you're a Talbots credit card holder, Talbots is having a big sale right now sitewide. (I got this yesterday, so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , ,



The Perfect Spot for Leaf Peeping & A Creative Way to Repurpose Vintage Crab Pots

September 3, 2018 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 501st Metamorphosis Monday! Did you have a great weekend? Hopefully, you have today off and are enjoying a long, 3-day weekend. I usually post during the weekend, but this weekend I gave myself the full weekend off and worked on some things here inside the house...mostly just a lot of organizing and cleaning. I guess that's not exactly taking the weekend off, now that I think about it. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Porches Tagged With: , , ,



Celebrating Our 500th Metamorphosis Monday!

August 27, 2018 by 82 Comments

Welcome to the 500th Metamorphosis Monday! We just celebrated 500 Tablescape Thursdays a few weeks ago. This week we've hit our 500th Metamorphosis Monday! I was thinking back this evening about how Met Monday first began. Our Met Monday party began a few weeks after I shared Before and After photos in a post on January 2, 2009 of a change I had made in my dining room. (See that post here: Dining Room … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



A Plain Brick Home Gets The Most Beautiful Transformation! Love!!!

August 20, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 499th Metamorphosis Monday! Ever pass by a beautiful home, a home that's solid and well-built but just feels like something is missing? Here in the south we have a lot of clay soil, so brick homes are everywhere. You'll find entire neighborhoods filled with homes made of brick in many different shades and colors. Sometimes the brick will vary greatly in color and add so much interest and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With: , , ,



A Visit to the Newbridge Museum of Style Icons

August 13, 2018 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 498th Metamorphosis Monday! I've been away the past few days visiting family. As I was thinking about what I might share with you today, I remembered a fascinating stop we made during my trip across Ireland last year. I think it was on the same day we visited Blarney Castle. As we were heading back to our manor home for the night, we stopped for a little shopping excursion inside the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Ireland, Travel Tagged With: , , , , , ,



It Took a Year to Get It Right, But Finally This Makeover Is Complete

August 6, 2018 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 497th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments on Saturday's post. It was so heartwarming and encouraging to read your comments and stories! You shared so many of the same thoughts I have and I truly appreciate each and every comment. I was so surprised by how many of you had actually had the opportunity to visit A Classy Flea in person! I know a lot of folks … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Living Room (Downstairs) Tagged With: , , , ,



Genius Ideas To Make Travel A Lot Easier

July 16, 2018 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 494th Metamorphosis Monday! I don't have a typical "Before and After" to share this week, so I thought I'd share some products that could definitely transform the way you travel, making your travels a lot easier. Recently Zenda left this comment below on this post: My 5 Essentials for Traveling Internationally. Susan, I wanted to thank you for recommending the anti-theft travel bag. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Travel Tagged With: , ,



A Few Porch Updates & A Garden Seat Makeover

July 9, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 493rd Metamorphosis Monday! Did you go out of town for the July 4th week? This past week always seems like a big week for travel. This weekend has been a productive one for me as I've worked on a few things I've been putting off for a while. One chore I had been procrastinating on was giving the wicker seating group a good cleaning. I've had the two chairs and the settee (all made of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , ,



Tour this Beautiful Victorian Home Decorated for the 4th of July

July 2, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 492nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! It's the start of a brand new week, looking forward to sharing it with you! On Saturday I shared a few photos of how Marie's beautiful Victorian home is decorated in celebration of this year's Independence Day.   Let's go in and see how she decorated inside!   The family room was very festive! I bet the mantle is so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Independence Day Decor, Independence Day Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , ,



Aloha!

June 11, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 489 Metamorphosis Monday! I made it! This was the view from my side of the plane as we were flying into Maui. You can see the shadow of the plane which I thought was kinda cool. This evening I was reading more about Maui online. I find it fascinating how this island was formed! Wikipedia states: Maui's diverse landscapes are the result of a unique combination of geology, topography, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Hawaii, Travel, United States



Deck Updates, Great Deck Cleaner and a Little Garden Whimsy

June 4, 2018 by 57 Comments

Welcome to the 488th Metamorphosis Monday! Last week I shared some deck updates I was working on. In between all the big storms we've been having this past week, I've been working on spiffing up the deck for summer. Before In this photo from last week, you can see the decking was super dirty from all the yucky stuff that had fallen from the giant tree whose trunk you can see there at the end of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garden, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , ,



A Bottle Tree Makeover for Summer & A Bit of Furniture Re-arranging

May 28, 2018 by 57 Comments

Welcome to the 487th Metamorphosis Monday! For this week's Met Monday, I have more of a "Before and Middle" than a "Before and After." See the bottle tree that's out on the deck in this photo below? (View this beach-themed table setting here: Beach-themed Tablescape.)   I love bottle trees, love their folklore and whimsy. If you've never heard of bottle trees, they have an interesting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garden, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , ,



Home Water Softeners, Whole House Filters, De-Stressing & A Few Shopping Finds

May 21, 2018 by 53 Comments

Welcome to the 486th Metamorphosis Monday! This past week while I was out of town was definitely a challenging one. It all started when I had a plugin update appear on the dashboard of the blog that turned out to be a bad update. You may have noticed some issues last week with Between Naps On The Porch. In the process of trying to fix the issues the bad update caused, my hosting company actually … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, My Nest, Porches & Decks



A Scam for Free Advertising

May 7, 2018 by 63 Comments

Welcome to the 484th Metamorphosis Monday! I've had to remove today's post. Sadly it appears to have been a scam to get free advertising. If you're a blogger, here's how this scam worked: I received an email a few weeks back that purported to be from a reader of BNOTP. The email was signed, Brenda and Bruce. In the email, Brenda and Bruce shared the makeover of their screened porch to a three season … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With: , ,



Home-Made Salsa Recipe: Delicious & Easy to Make

April 16, 2018 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 481st Metamorphosis Monday! I have a yummy treat for you for this week's Met Monday! My friend, Linda, a native Texan, makes a fabulous salsa that's always a big hit with all of her friends and family. Whenever there's a get-together in the works, she always gets requests to bring her delicious salsa. Recently when Linda made it for a party, she took some photos of the process so I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Independence Day Holiday Home, Independence Day Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: , , ,



Tips for Cleaning Pollen Off a Screened-in Porch & A Feeder for Dried Mealworms

April 9, 2018 by 67 Comments

Welcome to the 480th Metamorphosis Monday! Yesterday I had a comment from Mark who said: Have a similar porch to yours and we love it already. It is coated in pollen. Do you ever hose yours off??? What is your cleaning routine? We are in NC and the pollen is 3 ft thick 🙂 There is not an easy way for water to run off, like yours, but wondered what you normally do. Normally when I'm using the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, My Nest, Porches, Porches & Decks, Seasonal Decor Tagged With: , , , ,



A Mini-Lifestyle Improvement

April 2, 2018 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 479th Metamorphosis Monday! Good morning! Hope you had a great weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I thought I'd share a mini-lifestyle improvement I made recently. You may recall me mentioning in an earlier post that I ditched my cable TV a while back. I rarely ever watched TV since there was never anything on that really interested me. I just couldn't justify the expense when my cable … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: ,



The Hunt for a Pretty Spring Wreath

March 26, 2018 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 478th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I was watching a YouTube video where the vlogger had just purchased a large, floral wreath for her front door. It had huge hydrangea blossoms all around it, and I loved it. Update: It may have been peonies now that I think about it!  I checked to see if I could order one online for my front door, but was unable to locate the shop. The vlogger had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches, Porches & Decks, Seasonal Decor Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Little Spring Update for the Porch

March 19, 2018 by 73 Comments

Welcome to the 477th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning! Sharing a mini-Met today that may be opening a big 'ol can of worms. I'm good at that...opening up cans of fat, wiggly worms! See those striped cushions on the chairs in this older photo taken back around the 4th of July?   They were never quite what I wanted for the porch, but worked in a pinch a few years back when I couldn't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



The 7 Hair Products I Couldn’t Live Without, Plus a Bonus Tip!

March 12, 2018 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 476th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I shared a new tool I'm using for de-frizzing/curling/styling my hair. This thing is amazing, don't know how I ever lived without it! If you missed that post, you'll find it here The Best Hair Styler Tool I've Ever Used and this styling tool is available here: Styling Tool.) For this week's Met Monday, I thought I'd share the other products that I've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: ,



A Handbag Organizer for the Hermes Evelyne Bag, or Other Narrow, Thin Bags

March 5, 2018 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 475th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you use an organizer in your handbag? I just became aware of bag organizers a couple of years ago and love them! Bag organizers are often designed for larger totes to help make better use of the large space those bags afford, as well as to keep things better organized. After surviving my "near-death experience" in Germany, as I jokingly and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, Fashion & Beauty Tagged With: , , , ,



A Safari, Travel-Inspired Bedroom Guaranteed to Delight Any Guest

February 26, 2018 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 474th Metamorphosis Monday! Delphine enjoys traveling and has collected some wonderful memorabilia over the years. When she designed her guest room, she was inspired to decorate in a delightful travel/safari theme What a fabulous idea for a guest room since anyone lucky enough to sleep here would most likely love all things, travel.   For this travel-themed bedroom, Delphine … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Before & After, DIY Decorating, Travel Tagged With: , , , , ,



Chevron Walls Turn a Home Office Into a Beautiful Nursery

February 19, 2018 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 473rd Metamorphosis Monday! Before I get into today's fabulous Before and After, wanted to let you know of two awesome sales that are currently going on but about to end at two of my favorite shoppes. Talbots has a huge pants and jeans sale going on, pants that are normally $95 and up are currently on sale for $19.99! That sale ends today. You'll find all the pants that are included in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , ,



Easy Way to Remove Pills and Fuzz from Cashmere & Wool Sweaters

February 5, 2018 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 471st Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you had an awesome weekend! For this week's Met Monday, I have a great little tool to share, something I've been meaning to share all winter. At the start of fall this past year, I noticed a lot of my sweaters were covered with little pills here and there, especially my light-weight cashmere sweaters. I have a battery-operated pill-remover … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , , , , ,



The Perfect Mudroom Hall Tree with Bench, Drawers & Cubbies

January 22, 2018 by 56 Comments

Welcome to the 469th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your input on which bag to go with in yesterday's post! I need to tally up the votes but reading through all the comments, I'm pretty sure the Prada bag came out the favorite, followed by the Chloe Drew. Based on your comments, I went ahead and ordered the Prada bag that night. I will compare it with Chloe bag that I had already ordered … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Laundry Room, My Nest



Nature-Themed Woodland Makeover for a Beautiful Paneled Study

January 15, 2018 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 468th Metamorphosis Monday! The last few days I've been away visiting family. A week or so ago, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make this trip since I was still quite sick. But the antibiotic worked so well, I was fine to make the drive to see family and celebrate a late Christmas with my grandchildren since we weren't able to be together at Christmastime. The weather turned snowy so I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor



Making Progress & A Favorite Sweater Is On Sale

January 8, 2018 by 96 Comments

Welcome to the 467th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm still sick, but getting better. When I visited Urgent Care last week, the doctor said to call her if I wasn't better by Thursday and she would call in an antibiotic. I was still not getting any better when Thursday came around, so I called the next day on Friday. My breathing has been terrible and all I have wanted to do is sleep--all day and all … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Christmas in Cologne, Germany

December 24, 2017 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 465th Metamorphosis Monday! Merry Christmas! Since Met Monday falls on Christmas Day this year, I'm putting this post up a bit early. I guess my Before and After this week is a travel one since I'm spending Christmas in a way I've never done before: floating down the Rhine River stopping every so often to visit the Christmas Markets and historic sites we find along the way. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Germany, Travel Tagged With: , , ,



A Whimsically Decorated, Fantasy Porch for Christmas

December 18, 2017 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 464th Metamorphosis Monday! I'll be leaving soon to visit the Christmas Markets in The Netherlands, Germany and France. I plan to post some while I'm away provided the ship has WiFi that will let me upload photos to a post. The biggest issue I've found when traveling in the past is that it seems everyone on the ship tries to access the wi-fi at once, which pretty much brings it to a crawl. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



A Decorated Tree & Whimsical, Fun Gift Wrapping Idea

November 20, 2017 by 65 Comments

Welcome to the 460th Metamorphosis Monday! The tree is decorated, all except for a pretty topper. The star that I've been using is literally falling apart, plus it has always been a pain to position since it's so heavy. I know the tree probably looks rather simply done, compared to the way trees are decorated in magazines these days. I just prefer a simpler look that let's you see more of the tree. It … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Bears in Sweaters and A Winter Sweater Wardrobe Metamorphosis!

November 13, 2017 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 459th Metamorphosis Monday! I've been on a major flannel shirt and sweater kick this fall. Actually it started last fall when I went through all my sweaters and donated those that were too big or just not my taste anymore. I hadn't realized it until lately, but in the past I've had a tendency to buy sweaters that were really about a size or two, too big for me, thinking that was necessary … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Closet & Door Updates: Small Storage Bench for Putting on Boots and Shoes

November 6, 2017 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 458th Metamorphosis Monday! So what do you think? This door was a struggle! I'll spare you all the details, but here's the final finish.   This was the "Before" with a cat door that was no longer needed and the other side badly scratched up by a previous home-owners dog.   The new door was installed, and unfortunately cut too short by the installer. So sadly, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



How to Get a Sample of Any Paint Color, Even Older Colors No Longer Available

October 30, 2017 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 457th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever come across a great paint color online, perhaps on a blog or on Pinterest, only to discover it's an older color that's no longer available? I often get emails or messages from BNOTP readers asking how they can get the color formula for the yellow paint I've used in so many rooms of my home.   This yellow is an older Duron color … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Dining Room, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Entry/Foyer, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs), My Nest Tagged With: , , , ,



Deck “Before And After” with “Lodge Brown” Solid Stain for the Deck and Railings

October 23, 2017 by 69 Comments

Welcome to the 456th Metamorphosis Monday! Sorry this is going up a bit late. The painters are here finishing the staining of the basement door so I've been downstairs working with them this morning. The makeover of the two decks on the back of my home is complete. I like the brown railing a lot more than I ever thought I would. The stain color is Sherwin Williams, Lodge … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , ,



Door & Deck Progress and A2 Milk Finally Reaches Georgia

October 16, 2017 by 69 Comments

Welcome to the 455th Metamorphosis Monday. During the summer of 2016, I visited my son and daughter-in-law in Ohio. While shopping in a nearby grocery store I learned all about A2 Milk and gave it a try, not expecting it to really "work." A2 Milk comes from cows that naturally only produce the A2 protein in their milk and not any of the A1 protein. From what I've read, milk from cows who naturally … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks



A Belleek Castle Lamp Gets a Major Makeover: The Before & After

October 2, 2017 by 112 Comments

Welcome to the 453rd Metamorphosis Monday! When I was in Ireland the last week of August, I visited the Belleek Pottery Factory. After a tour of the factory (see that tour HERE) we shopped inside the gift shop where I fell in love with this castle lamp and placed an order for one. The lamp would be built and delivered to my home in approximately 6-8 weeks. While I was still in Irleand, I shared the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , ,



Plant Stand Makeover, Forever-Dirty Deck Railings and a Mopnado Update

September 25, 2017 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 452nd Metamorphosis Monday! I've made a decision about which company I'll be using for cleaning and staining the decks. They will also be pressure washing the exterior of the house and staining the door that was recently replaced inside. (Read more about that HERE.) Unfortunately, the door may hold up the deck cleaning since the replacement door was cut too short and will have to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



Laundry Room Renovation: Workroom Becomes a Beautiful Laundry Room

September 18, 2017 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 451st Metamorphosis Monday! Martha had always dreamed of a new laundry room. Her existing laundry was cramped and tiny. Space was super tight so her cookbooks had to go across the very top of the cabinets where they were difficult to reach when needed.   Martha said, "Our washer and dryer used to be in a tiny little spot with two double cabinets and one single cabinet. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , ,



Update for A Frye Campus Tote Organizer & Irma’s Knocking On My Door

September 10, 2017 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 450th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm putting this post up early (Sunday evening) in case we lose power in the morning, compliments of Hurricane Irma. The bathtub is full of water, have plenty of bottled water, groceries, lanterns, batteries, phone back-up batteries and other supplies. The latest forecast for Atlanta shows tropical storm force winds of 30-45 mph with gusts to 55 mph starting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , ,



A Beautiful Bedroom in Ballynahinch Castle

August 27, 2017 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 448th Metamorphosis Monday! It's very late as I type this, so again will keep the wording in this post brief. I'll be heading back home very soon and can't wait to share photos of the wonderful castles and manor homes we've stayed in during this trip across Ireland. In the meantime, for this week's Metamorphosis Monday I thought I'd share what has thus far, been my most favorite castle, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Ireland, Travel



Tour Historic Dunboyne Castle, A Beautiful Irish Castle

August 21, 2017 by 31 Comments

Welcome to the 447th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning! It's 7 AM here and I'm writing this on my second morning in Ireland. The first is a bit of a blur since I didn't sleep at all on the plane ride over. Rather than bore you with that, how about a tour of  the lovely castle where we stayed on our first night in Ireland. This is the older section of Dunboyne Castle. I'm not sure if they have actual … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Historic Homes, Home Tours, Ireland, Travel Tagged With: , , , ,



Trip Preparations and A Bit of Shelf Tweaking for Met Monday

August 14, 2017 by 24 Comments

Welcome to the 446th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I've started some preliminary packing and will soon share what I'm taking on this upcoming trip to Ireland. I plan to take my computer in hopes of creating a few blog posts while there, but for real time postings you'll want to check Between Naps On The Porch on Instagram here each day: Between Naps On The Porch. If you're … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



CabinetGate: Progress Has Been Made

August 7, 2017 by 88 Comments

Welcome to the 445th Metamorphosis Monday! When I last left you in the saga of what I'm now dubbing CabinetGate, ;) I had just two of six cabinets in place, the other four having been completely destroyed during delivery.   Little recap: After assembling the two cabinets that arrived in good shape (they were delivered by a different delivery company) I filled them with napkin rings, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



Answering Your Questions

July 31, 2017 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 444th Metamorphosis Monday! As I've been blogging about adding storage cabinets for some of my dishware down one wall of my garage, I've received a lot of questions about this project. I thought this Met Monday would be a good time to answer those all in one post. If I miss one, feel free to ask it in the comments and I'll add that question to this post. As you may recall, these are the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Closets & Pantries, DIY Organization and Storage



A Beautiful, Colorful Porch Makeover for Summer

July 24, 2017 by 24 Comments

Welcome to the 443rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently Brenda wanted to update her front porch. It had been a few years since she last decorated this area and felt it was past time for a makeover.   This bench was still super cute, just needed a bit of TLC and some updating.   The chairs, though still comfortable, were really showing a lot of wear. I love the built-in side … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,



Flatware Storage, Delivery Fails and Invisible Splinters

July 10, 2017 by 96 Comments

Welcome to the 441st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope you had a great one! Mine was really good, though it started out a bit discouraging. On Friday I was expecting the delivery of one of each of the cabinets pictured below. I've ordered two of the cabinets shown in the photo on the right below, let's call it the "drawer cabinet" for the sake of this post since it has drawers. And I've … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Attractive Storage Cabinets for Home, Garage or Basement

July 3, 2017 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 440th Metamorphosis Monday! Around a year ago I shared a post about five projects I had thought about doing in my home some day, but for various reasons figured I never would. (Read that post here: 5 Projects I Want To Do In My Home, But Probably Never Will.) I guess I should never say never because I did add a small refrigerator to the upstairs part of my home and now it looks like I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , ,



Decorating Ideas, Games & Party Favors for a Festive Bee-Themed Party

June 26, 2017 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 439th Metamorphosis Monday! There's 1 day left to enter the giveaway for a $500 Shopping Spree Credit to Noritake China! If you still haven't thrown your name in the hat, you can do that here: $500 Store Credit to Noritake China. Each year Debbie, a BNOTP reader, hosts a "My Favorite Things" Party. In case you missed it I shared her 2017 party in this post: Breakfast at Tiffany's Party … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , , , , ,



3 Adorable Bee-Themed Wreaths for Spring

June 19, 2017 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 438th Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst: There's still time to enter the $500 Shopping Spree Giveaway from Noritake, you'll find the giveaway here: $500 Shopping Spree. A couple of weeks ago I shared Debbie's wonderful "Tiffany" themed party. (If you missed that event, you'll find it here: Breakfast at Tiffany's Brunch.) The Tiffany Brunch was Debbie's third year of hosting her annual "My … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing



The Safest Way to Clean a Silk Scarf

June 12, 2017 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 437th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your week is off to a great start! For this week's Met Monday, I thought I give an update on whatever happened to the Hermes scarf I bought on eBay, the one that arrived sporting an ugly, oily looking stain in one corner. In a previous post I shared this photo. (See that post here: Washing an Hermes Scarf and Madame Paulette.) This was the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , , ,



A Patriotic Porch & A Refreshing Drink for Summer Gatherings

May 29, 2017 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 435th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you've had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Mine was busy, but fun! This weekend I finally took time to reattach the covers over the swing chains.   I had taken them off this spring to wash once the pollen attack was over, and had just never gotten around to putting them back on. It requires climbing a tall step ladder which always yields … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Independence Day Decor, Porches, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , , , , ,



A Beautiful Screened Porch Addition With Not One, But Two Porches!

April 10, 2017 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 428th Metamorphosis Monday! I absolutely love it when you share your "Before and Afters" with me! Recently, I received an email from Eric and Denise who said, "Having followed your site for several years I hesitated to share but thought the time was right to share a small change we made to our second home in NC.  When we bought the house as a foreclosure we knew the moss-covered decks on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches Tagged With: , , , , , ,



A Cute Footstool with Storage Gets a New Look

April 4, 2017 by 38 Comments

A couple of months ago a large tree fell in my back yard, gently laying itself down across the length of the yard.   I'm beginning to think I may have a tree jinx going on because I was on the porch a few days ago and discovered this below! In talking with my neighbors and others in this area, I learned that we had a big storm with 70 mph winds come through about a week before I returned home … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Denim Do Over, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, In the Garden, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Hat Storage That’s Both Functional and Decorative

April 2, 2017 by 56 Comments

Welcome to the 427th Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I purchased this adorable sunhat pictured below. After it arrived, I liked it so much I ordered a second one in the navy-ribbon style. With my hat collection rapidly growing, I decided it was time to find a better way to store them other than just tossing them onto the top shelf of my master bedroom closet where they were impossible to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , ,



Camping in the Sahara Desert, A Moroccan Adventure

March 26, 2017 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 426th Metamorphosis Monday! It's Sunday evening in Marrakesh. As I type this, I find myself perched on a tiny stool in the corner of my hotel room. The hotel is lovely, but like all the hotels we've stayed in during out time here in Morocco, sans one, the concept of providing patrons with a proper desk, chair and WiFi fast enough to do anything other than access email and Facebook (and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Morocco, Travel Tagged With: , , ,



Decorate a Porch for Spring-Summer Relaxing and Dining

March 19, 2017 by 8 Comments

Welcome to the 425th Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst: I'm posting Met Monday a bit early (Sunday evening) since I'll be traveling much of Monday. Thanks for all the comments you've been leaving on the pictures I've been posting from Morocco on Instagram. If you've missed those, you'll find them all posted here: BetweenNapsOnThePorch on Instagram. Instagram is the easiest and fastest way to share photos, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches Tagged With: , , , , ,



The Safe Way to Wash Wool & Cashmere Sweaters & A Great Book!

February 20, 2017 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 421st Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I purchased this navy and white shirt-jacket online at J. Crew. I loved it sooo much, I searched and found last year's version in a different color on eBay. Then I turned right around and purchased a second navy/white one because I was worried I'd never find it again when the first one eventually wore out. That's how much I love this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Much Wanted Shirt Is Found & Spring Wardrobe Updates

February 13, 2017 by 57 Comments

Welcome to 420th Metamorphosis Monday! Did you hear a crazy woman screaming on February 5th? If you did, that was me having a happy fit when Elaine, a reader of BNOTP, e-mailed to say she had seen the birding shirt I've been trying to find forever for sale on Etsy. I leapt over to Etsy and couldn't believe my eyes!  The ad stated that it was brand new and had never been worn. I think it will fit based on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , ,



No Tub for the Master Bath: Good Idea or Regrettable Trend?

February 6, 2017 by 239 Comments

Welcome to the 419th Metamorphosis Monday! A few weeks ago when I was replacing all my surge protectors around the house for new ones, I discovered an outlet in my office wasn't working. I called in an electrician to fix it. While he was here we started talking master bathroom renovations. During our discussion, he told me something really surprising. Did you know that some folks who are renovating … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baths, Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , , , ,



A Small Beverage Cooler for the Upstairs

January 23, 2017 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 417th Metamorphosis Monday! I've often thought about adding a small refrigerator to the upstairs for those times when I'm in the mood for a cold drink but reluctant to stop working to go downstairs. Also, going downstairs makes it a little too convenient for snacking, one of the dangers of working from home. Adding a Peloton Cycle to my dressing room just off the master bedroom, gave me … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, My Nest



Revisited: 5 Projects I Want To Do In My Home, But Probably Never Will

January 16, 2017 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 416th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes and comments on Saturday's post. You are amazing and I truly feel so blessed by your lovely words! As I always say, YOU are the very best part of BNOTP! A while back I wrote an unusual post where instead of sharing some projects I hoped to do in my my home, I shared five projects that I was pretty sure would never … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, My Nest Tagged With: ,



Brad Nailer for a Small Gate Repair & Deer Ate My Violas!

January 9, 2017 by 112 Comments

Welcome to the 415th Metamorphosis Monday! I've been on a mission the last several months, really going all the way back to last summer, to clear out anything and everything that I don't use on a regular basis. That has included going through all the closets in my home. There are 12 closets in this house: 10 upstairs and 2 on the main level. That's not including the eve storage off the upstairs living … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garden, In the Garden, My Nest, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , ,



A Winter Wardrobe Metamorphosis

December 19, 2016 by 55 Comments

Welcome to the 412th Metamorphosis Monday! I have a wardrobe update/metamorphosis to share for this week's Met Monday. Recently I added this cute navy and white J. Crew Buffalo-Plaid, Wool and Cotton Shirt-Jacket to my wardrobe and oh my gosh, did it start something! I've enjoyed it so much, I decided to do a little shopping to see what else was out there that I was missing in my winter … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,



‘Twas The Night Before Christmas, A Visit from St. Nicholas

December 12, 2016 by 72 Comments

Welcome to the 411th Metamorphosis Monday! Light Repair Tip, In Case It's Helpful You know how you hear about those people who are always causing electrical things to break? I'm starting to think I'm one of them. Seriously! Last year, the tree I normally use here in the living room, had an entire string of lights go out. I spent many, many hours trying to fix it, including using one of the light … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , , , ,



Home & Decor Updates: The Good and The Not-So-Good

November 7, 2016 by 77 Comments

Welcome to the 406th Metamorphosis Monday! I have several small Before and Afters updates I've been wanting to share, so I'm grouping them all together in one post. Before we get to those, a couple of folks emailed and messaged me recently to let me know the Better Homes and Garden dishware that many of us have been collecting over the years, is back in stock again. (Thanks for that!) They have added … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, For the Love of Birds, Garden, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Erma Bombeck Would Have Loved This!

October 31, 2016 by 84 Comments

Welcome to the 405th Metamorphosis Monday! Imagine you arrive home one evening an hour or so before nightfall. As you pull into your driveway, you glance over and see something rather shocking. Your next door neighbor is outside in her front yard, merrily vacuuming the lawn while grinning and laughing maniacally. Do  you: A. Smile, wave and act like everything is normal Or B. Call the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Garden, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , ,



Deck Makeover: A Covered Porch & Room for Dining and Entertaining

October 17, 2016 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 403rd Metamorphosis Monday! A while back I shared a great idea Terry and her hubby Mark had come up with for their deck that would allow more time spent out doors. Sometimes the summer heat can just be too much and forces us to abandon our decks and patios and head inside. But Terry and Mark found a way around that by setting up a screened, tent-like structure on their deck . It created a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Porches Tagged With: , , , ,



Decorate Your Porch for the Autumn Season

October 10, 2016 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 402nd Metamorphosis Monday! Linda has a beautiful 3-season porch that I've shared before here at BNOTP. It's so much fun seeing how she decorates it for the seasons and holidays. When we last visited Linda, her porch was all set for summer, decorated in a wonderful navy and white nautical theme. (See that post here: Nautical Decor & Tablescape)   With the arrival of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Porches, Seasonal Decor



Decorate Your Porch for Autumn & Halloween

October 3, 2016 by 58 Comments

Welcome to the 401st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your first weekend of October? When the calendar says "October" I guess there's no denying fall is here. Everything is still lush and green here in Georgia but I know that's about to change. Blog Update This weekend I had a big update come across for my blog. After the update had completed, the slider that's normally at the top of the blog was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Halloween Decor, Halloween Holiday Home, Seasonal Decor



A Recycle-Upcycle Idea and a Limelight Hydrangea Update

September 19, 2016 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 399th Metamorphosis Monday! If you follow Between Naps on the Porch on Instagram, HERE or have subscribed to Postcards from the Porch, the free BNOTP newsletter, you'll have seen this photo shared from a recent visit to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Currently they have a delightful Chihuly exhibit in place all throughout the garden and it's beautiful. Every corner you round reveals a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, In the Garden Tagged With: ,