Tablescape Thursday Update

October 29, 2020 by 63 Comments

Update via my phone around 8:00 pm: Unfortunately the power is still out, I'm one of about 50,000 people still without power in my area. Those 55+ mile per hour Zeta winds did a lot of damage here in the Atlanta area. As soon as the power is restored, I should be able to have my post up within about an hour. Sorry Tablescape Thursday has been delayed. :( Wondering how long the food in my freezer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



Planning Ahead for Christmas: Wreaths on Windows, Snack Center for Delivery Personnel & Lots of Holiday Inspiration

October 26, 2020 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 613th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! When my son was small, I worked in his elementary school library as a Media Parapro for five years. Unfortunately, I pretty much stayed sick with a cold or virus the entire five years since I spent my days interacting with young children all day long--handling the books they checked out and returned, reading to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, Thanksgiving Holiday Home



A Cute Retro-Style Refrigerator for My Home Office

October 21, 2020 by 31 Comments

Often when sharing an update here in my bedroom, I end up sharing this view of the room. But just around the corner and out of view is another room.   Previously this was a 4th bedroom, or 5th if counting the Bonus/Frog room, but the first owners of my home closed off the entrance to this room from the upstairs hallway, cut a big opening in the wall to connect it to the Master Bedroom and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



It’s Been a Whirlwind Month: Lots of Cleaning, Painting and the Doors Arrived!

October 19, 2020 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 612th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you probably know I spent much of summer and the start of the school year helping with my grandchildren in Ohio. School is still just 3 hours a day there so it definitely makes it challenging for working Moms and Dads. Once I returned back home, it was full steam ahead! I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Decorate for a Spooky Halloween Dinner Party: Cobwebs, Catacombs and a Model Train Village

October 12, 2020 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 611th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! For this past week's Tablescape Thursday, Jackie welcomed us into her beautiful home. There was a big surprise waiting just inside the front door!   Yikes! Jackie will be having a small Halloween dinner party this year instead of the big Halloween party she normally hosts. I love how she has … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Halloween Crafts, Halloween Decor



The Best Desk Chair I’ve Ever Had: An Update for My Home Office

October 5, 2020 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 610th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Today is going to be a busy day around here. The two screened doors for the porch are being delivered and painters will be here cleaning and painting the front porch and washing the decks and the exterior of the screened porch. The cleaning/painting was actually supposed to be done earlier in the spring but … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , , ,



There’s a New Guy in Town! Love My New Air Fryer with 2 Baskets!

September 28, 2020 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 609th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! There's a new guy in town! Do you see him there on my counter?   Each time I visit my son, daughter-in-love and grandchildren, Nancy cooks up the best meals in her Air Fryer. I've been hoping to add one to my kitchen and I finally did that this past week.   This is the one I chose. … [Read more...]

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



How Teresa Protected the Vachetta Leather on her Beautiful LV Croisette Bag

September 21, 2020 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 608th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Sorry, this week's Met Monday is going up a bit late. I'm still fighting a horrible sinus infection and pneumonia so not at my best right now. But enough of that, let's have a little travel adventure and some fashion fun for this week's Metamorphosis Monday! If you are a handbag lover, especially a Louis … [Read more...]

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



My Screened Doors are Ready and I’m Sharing the Exact Cost

September 7, 2020 by 68 Comments

Welcome to the 606th Metamorphosis Monday! I definitely had a case of sticker shock when I saw the bill for my new screened doors. Maybe I should call it invoice shock instead of sticker shock. In any case, it took my breath away! lol A few months ago I shared the damage that was done to the doors on my screened porch last winter when some very bad mice (or was it rats?) decided to take up residence … [Read more...]

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



Two Storage Upgrades, One…Adorable, Both Very Practical!

September 2, 2020 by 16 Comments

Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going great! I have a couple of small tweaks to share today. One I knew I would love because I just made the same upgrade at home a few months back, but the other one was a delightful surprise! I'm obsessed with how both turned out! You may remember a few months ago I upgraded the old flatware storage organizer I had been using for years to this clear expandable one … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage



Two Before & Afters: One a Success, One a Fail–at Least for Now

August 31, 2020 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 605th Metamorphosis Monday! My son and daughter-in-love purchased all new furniture for their living room a few months back. Now that the boys are a bit older, it was a great time to make some upgrades/changes. They purchased beautiful leather sofas, new end tables, new lamps, and donated a few things that no longer worked in the room. Two of the items they donated were a couple of old … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Gardening & Birding



Armoire-Wardrobe Transformation Including Wallpaper & Beautiful Antique Mirror

August 29, 2020 by 17 Comments

Earlier in the spring, I shared a wonderful Before and After of this old cedar armoire. Phyllis and her husband, Jerry, completed an amazing transformation!   If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Amazing Transformation: Beat Up Wardrobe Becomes a Beautiful Storage Armoire.   Shortly after I posted that beautiful armoire makeover, Franki, a BNOTP reader, shared a few … [Read more...]

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



Carpet Treads For a Beautiful and Safer Staircase

August 24, 2020 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 604th Metamorphosis Monday! Want to know when a new post goes up at Between Naps On The Porch? Subscribe here for free updates: Subscribe for Updates. A few months, back my daughter-in-love, Nancy, added a touch of pretty carpet to each of the treads of the main stairway in their 1920s cottage home.   In addition to being a pretty accent for the staircase, the carpet made … [Read more...]

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



Tomato Veggie Tortellini Soup: Great for a Quick Meal During the Week

August 17, 2020 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 603rd Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your comments on the last post where I shared one of Nancy's (my daughter-in-law) delicious meals that included Marinated Chicken Breasts, a Quinoa-Vegetable Melange and a delicious green salad. This weekend I updated that post with a printable version of the recipe. If you would like to print it out for future use, you'll find the recipe … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Recipes



Butterflies for the Wall & The 2 Screened-Door Designs I Chose for the Porch

August 10, 2020 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 602nd Metamorphosis Monday! My daughter-in-law, Nancy, recently added these adorable butterflies to a wall in the downstairs hallway of their home. She liked them so much, she decided to order two more packages. So there will be a lot more butterflies joining these real soon.   They are subtle against this pale yellow wall and sooo pretty! I love how she arranged them, feels … [Read more...]

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



Fun Updates for My Home Office: Some Additions and One Subtraction

August 3, 2020 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 601st Metamorphosis Monday! It's been ages since I shared some updates here in my home office. I put this room together many years ago, Over the years it hasn't changed a ton, but there have been some little updates and tweaks along the way. The furniture I chose for this room so many years ago was Pottery Barn's Bedford furniture. Bedford furniture was designed to mix and max to … [Read more...]

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



Add Stars to the Ceiling of Your Bedroom, Living Room or Theater Room for a Magical Experience

July 27, 2020 by 67 Comments

Welcome to the 600th Metamorphosis Monday! Last week I shared this photo of a bedroom with a star-covered ceiling. I loved the look of this so much, I ordered a few stars to see how they would look on my bedroom ceiling.   After doing a little test run with a few stars, I decided to go for it. I ordered a bunch more stars from different companies and got to work placing them on my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , ,



Starry Starry Night, Turn Your Bedroom Into a Starry Haven for Sleeping

July 20, 2020 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 599th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever ordered something and when it arrived it exceeded your expectations? That doesn't happen very often, does it? I've been wanting to create a starry sky effect on my bedroom ceiling but my first attempt didn't work out so great.   At first, I ordered one of those machines you see online that projects stars onto the ceiling. I should … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decor Knock-offs, DIY Decorating



Making a Few Changes and Upgrades, From the Kitchen to the Bath

July 13, 2020 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 598th  Metamorphosis Monday! It's funny all the things you notice when you're home a lot! I've been making a lot of small changes, little updates in both the kitchen and bath that are really long overdue. For example, a while back I noticed the wood tray I store my flatware in had somehow gotten stained over the years. I'm guessing something splashed or dripped inside the drawer … [Read more...]

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



A Front Yard Landscape Update, Green Beauty Boxwoods Growing Like Weeds!

July 6, 2020 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 597th Metamorphosis Monday! Over the past few months, I've had several requests to give an update on the front yard landscaping I completed back during Spring 2016. I've been meaning to share an update because I'm absolutely stunned how much the Green Beauty Boxwood shrubs I planted back then have grown! Here's a before photo that was taken that May not too long after I planted all the … [Read more...]

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



Ruth’s Summer Backyard Oasis

June 29, 2020 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 596th Metamorphosis Monday! How can it be summer already, where did spring go? It's all going by way too quickly. I want it to slow down so we can enjoy every moment of our warm weather days! Since we are all spending so much more time at home these days, I was thinking recently about how important it is to make those places we like to hang out during the summer as relaxing and … [Read more...]

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



This is What Happens to a Porch When You Abandon it for 3 Months! It Ain’t Pretty!

June 15, 2020 by 72 Comments

Welcome to the 594th Metamorphosis Monday! It was a long drive back home, but it actually passed quickly as I listened to the book, My Friend, Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress, via Audible. I think the book is going to be made into a movie. Actually, it would probably make a better movie than it did a book--the book definitely drags at times where I think the movie would be pretty … [Read more...]

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



How I Remove Dirt & Scuff Marks from the Corners of My Leather Handbags & Boots

June 8, 2020 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 593rd Metamorphosis Monday! It has been Birthday Central here this past week. In just a 7 day period, we've celebrated my son's birthday, my youngest grandson's birthday and today is my daughter-in-law's birthday. For this week's Met Monday, I had hoped to share some of the decorations, including some info about how I made this balloon arch, but I couldn't get all the pictures ready in … [Read more...]

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



My Favorite Bag Organizer and One So Poorly Made, I Will Never Buy It Again

June 1, 2020 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 592nd Metamorphosis Monday! A well-designed, well-made bag organizer or bag insert can be one of the best purchases you'll ever make to protect and support your favorite handbag, but a poorly designed or constructed organizer can actually do more harm than good, damaging or warping the shape of your bag. Today I'm sharing my favorite places to shop for bag organizers and one organizer I … [Read more...]

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



Beautiful Screened Porch with Seating, Dining, Sliding Windows, Even a Vented Grill

May 25, 2020 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 591st Metamorphosis Monday! One of the things in life that makes me the happiest is when I get an email from a reader saying they have added a screened porch to their home and found my previous posts about my porch to be helpful. Recently Nancy emailed to say, "As we were building our porch, we tried to incorporate the 9 things you recommended. We were able to include all 9 things plus a … [Read more...]

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



Roving Desk Organizers & Going Pink

May 18, 2020 by 45 Comments

Welcome to the 590th Metamorphosis Monday! Running a tad behind this morning due to internet issues. We changed cable/internet providers after my son's previous provider couldn't deliver anywhere near the service/speed promised. Unfortunately, the technician for the new provider arrived this morning just as we all sat down to work at our computers. We (the 3 adults in the house) are back up and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



A New Bag for Walks-Hikes, Gifts for My Son and More Summer Wardrobe Updates

May 3, 2020 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 588th Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst: I'm sharing some awesome deals I've scored on spring clothing the past few days at the end of this post, including some great shirts for the guys. So if that's of interest, check those out at the end of the post. A Bag for Walks and Hiking Whenever I visit my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, we always go hiking on the weekends and for walks … [Read more...]

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



Stunning Room Renovation: Perfect Display Space for Beautiful Transferware

April 27, 2020 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 587th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning! Hope you are staying well and enjoying some beautiful weather in your area. We've been taking a lot of walks, I think it does us all so much good to get out of the house, especially now that spring has arrived in our area. Last Monday, I shared Phyllis's amazing Before and After of the armoire below. She and her hubby, Jerry, have some serious … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Blue & White Design & Decor, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , ,



Amazing Transformation: Beat-up Wardrobe Becomes a Beautiful Storage Armoire!

April 20, 2020 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 586th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I was chatting via email with Phyllis who blogs at The Relevant Tea Leaf. She shared pictures of an amazing transformation she and her hubby, Jerry, completed. Phyllis and Jerry, were given this old cedar armoire that was in pretty rough shape. Phyllis had plans for how she wanted to use the armoire, but the original opening was too narrow for … [Read more...]

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



2 Before & Afters: How My Daughter-in-Love, Nancy, and I Work from Home

April 13, 2020 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 585th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend! I have an exciting, pretty "Before and After" to share today, actually a couple of Before and Afters! You may remember a while back I purchased this small desk to use when visiting my son, daughter-in-love and grandchildren. In the past, I always brought along my laptop. Combined with an exterior monitor, this set up worked … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Repurpose a Beautiful Chest or Dresser Into a Kitchen Island or Bathroom Vanity

March 30, 2020 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 583rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I came across this beautiful kitchen on Instagram. I was so surprised to see how they had repurposed this beautiful sideboard, turning it into an island for the kitchen. It appears they had granite cut to exactly the same shape as the top of the sideboard. I'm so happy they didn't paint over it because it's a stunning piece! If I can find the original … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After Tagged With:



Sharing All My Favorites for a “Spoil-You-Quickly” Home Office

March 23, 2020 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 582nd Metamorphosis Monday! Whenever I visit my son, daughter-in-love and grandsons, I'm usually here for a few weeks. Initially, I worked from my small travel laptop at their dining room table during my visits, but one day it dawned on me that I could fit a smallish desk into a corner of the guest room. I purchased a large monitor thinking it would help take the place of the double … [Read more...]

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



Living In Unprecedented Times…

March 16, 2020 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 581st Metamorphosis Monday! This morning I awoke at 4 AM and couldn't go back to sleep. I retrieved my phone from my bedside table and opened the tab for my e-mail. I noticed an e-mail from Delta Airlines, the airline I almost always use when I travel. It was from Ed Bastain, the CEO of Delta and it began with the sentence, "We are in unprecedented times." Boy, are we ever! I'm in Ohio … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



A Dining Room Update That’s Been a Long Time Coming

March 2, 2020 by 142 Comments

Welcome to 579th Metamorphosis Monday! Many years ago, long before I began blogging, I had the walls in my dining room papered in a pretty, yellow and blue (with touches of raspberry red) wallpaper. These pictures, taken just before a little dinner party with friends, do not do the wallpaper justice. The paper was a beautiful, elegant pattern and I loved it for many years.   Back then, I … [Read more...]

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



Planned Porch Updates & All the Deets (Including Cost) for Adding a Porch To Your Home

February 24, 2020 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 578th Metamorphosis Monday! The first day of spring is less than a month away now. I'm so excited it will soon be here! For this week's Met Monday, I'm sharing an update I'm working on, as well as linking out to some previous posts that I hope will be helpful for anyone who may be considering adding either a screened porch or a front porch to their home. I added on this screened porch … [Read more...]

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



Celebrate Valentine’s Day (and All the Holidays) with a Decorated Tree Year-Round

February 17, 2020 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 577th Metamorphosis Monday! Many years ago, I used to race to get my Christmas tree down before the strike of midnight on New Year's Eve. Growing up here in the south, I used to hear folks say, "It's bad luck to keep your tree up beyond New Year's Eve." Pshaw! Who started that rumor anyway? lol Now I leave my tree up well beyond New Year's and I'm always sad when it's time to take it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Valentine's Day Decor, Valentine's Day Holiday Home Tagged With: ,



Tips On Using a Sweater Shaver & How I Almost Ruined My L.L. Bean Boots

February 3, 2020 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 575th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope you had an awesome weekend! Before I get into my Met Monday post, I wanted to share a few thoughts I had this weekend about the sweater shaver I just purchased a few days ago. I know several of you have shared stories from the past where you used an electric shaver/pill-fuzz remover and ended up having the device cut your sweater. I used … [Read more...]

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



Fastest Way to Remove Fuzz and Pills from Winter Sweaters

February 1, 2020 by 12 Comments

Since we're deep into sweater weather where I live, I've been very tempted to try out one of the battery-operated sweater shavers, the kind that removes pills and fuzz from sweaters. I've been using a sweater comb and it does work just fine, but with the number of sweaters I have, and wear (I wear one almost every day) it can take a while to de-fuzz them all.   Recently, I ordered the sweater … [Read more...]

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



The Secret(s) to Keeping My Favorite Sweaters Looking New for Many Years

January 26, 2020 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 574th Metamorphosis Monday! A few days ago I blogged about a unique company that specializes in making beautiful cashmere sweaters at affordable price points. I loved the story behind the company and ended up purchasing several of their sweaters. If you missed that previous post, you'll find it here: Two Hilarious Videos & Ordering Cashmere from a Company with a Sense of … [Read more...]

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



8 Ways to Brighten Your Home (and your Spirits) During These Cold Winter Months

January 20, 2020 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 573rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I was chatting via email with Selma whose beautiful table setting I featured a few weeks ago. During our email conversation, Selma asked if in a future post I'd share some ways we can brighten our home during these cold winter months. I know our homes can sometimes feel a bit empty and sad after we've put away all our festive holiday decorations. One … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY, In the Garden, My Nest, Travel



How Do They Look & Which Way Is Your Favorite?

January 13, 2020 by 66 Comments

Welcome to the 572nd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope your week is starting off great! Mine has started off with an interesting twist. Unfortunately, my car left me stranded last night at the grocery store. I think it's probably a dead battery. Apparently, my battery doesn't like really cold weather. It's used to sleeping inside a garage at night in Georgia and not outdoors in Ohio. lol I've … [Read more...]

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



2020 Calendar Insert & Delightful Dashboards for an Agenda

January 6, 2020 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 571st Metamorphosis Monday! Toward the end of 2017, after years of buying a new agenda/calendar at the start of each year, I decided to make a change for 2018. I decided to purchase an agenda cover that I could refill each year. Having just fallen hard for Louis Vuitton after seeing one of their amazing antique trunks in an LV store while vacationing in Maui, I decided to go with an LV … [Read more...]

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



A Special Christmas Tea Party with a Scumptious Tea Party Menu

December 30, 2019 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 570th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year (almost) to you! I had planned to share a lamp switcheroo today but things have been so busy with the holidays, the kids out of school and weekend activities, I never got a chance to take photos in their room. I will do that soon and share how the new lamp looks with their holiday bedding.   The new lamp turned out to be not that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, Tea Party Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , , , ,



Delight the Little Ones with a Christmas Bedroom Makeover

December 23, 2019 by 64 Comments

Welcome to the 569th Metamorphosis Monday! Merry Christmas and the most happiest of holidays to you! Today I'm sharing a fun, whimsical makeover I semi-completed for my grandsons' bedroom recently. I say semi-completed because the artwork I ordered to go above their beds wasn't the quality I expected and had to be returned. I've also ordered a different lamp and will share how it looks once it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Son's), Before & After, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, My Nest Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Rug Shopping and the Art of Making Fur Angels

December 16, 2019 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 568th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever read the children's book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? It was a favorite of my son's when he was growing up and the title quickly became a common catchphrase in our home. For example, when we added hardwood flooring to our home, we instantly wanted rugs for the floors. If you buy a new handbag, you may find yourself longing for a new wallet. And … [Read more...]

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



A Christmas Makeover in the Making

December 9, 2019 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 567th Metamorphosis Monday! Pssst: If you're joining Met Monday today, please mention the Met Monday party and link back to it in your blog post so those who are participating today will have a chance to receive visits from your readers. Blog parties, including Met Monday, only work when everyone joining the party shares a link to the party in their post. Thanks so much to those who always … [Read more...]

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



Transforming My Home, Table & Wardrobe This Cyber-Monday

December 2, 2019 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 566th Metamorphosis Monday! Today is Cyber Monday! There are so many amazing deals going on right now, I had to share some of my favorites today. The ones I'm sharing will transform your home and your table for the holidays. Some will even give your wardrobe a holiday boost. Before we get into some of the amazing sales I've found, if you are starting to decorate for Christmas and will … [Read more...]

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



Super Heros in My Refrigerator

November 25, 2019 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 565th Metamorphosis Monday! I spent the entire weekend cooking, decorating and cleaning, mostly cleaning. I went ahead and made the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup that I plan to serve on Thanksgiving Day. The squash smelled so good roasting in the oven!   While it roasted, I got the onion, butter, apple and sage cooking. Ummm, I love the smells of Thanksgiving and Christmas … [Read more...]

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



Decorating for the Holidays & Ironing the Wreath Ribbons

November 18, 2019 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 564th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Are you busy getting ready for visiting family and Thanksgiving? Since I do have family coming for Thanksgiving this year, I've divided my "To-Do" list into two basic parts: Decorating and Cleaning. I spent the latter part of last week and the weekend working on some of the decorating. I hope to finish that in the next two-three days, … [Read more...]

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



The Treasures I Brought Back From England & How I’m Using Them Here at Home

November 11, 2019 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 563rd Metamorphosis Monday! No major Before and Afters to post today so I thought I'd share some random updates along with the special souvenirs I brought back from England this past summer. By the way, I decided to give having my groceries delivered from Publix a try--a suggestion left in the comments on a previous post where I shared about Dorothy Lane Market in Oakwood, Ohio. The … [Read more...]

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



Some Cozy Winter Updates That Would Also Make Great Gifts for Christmas

November 3, 2019 by 49 Comments

Welcome to the 562nd Metamorphosis Monday! I've been visiting with my grandchildren for the last two weeks but will be heading back home soon. On this trip, I brought up the chest-of-drawers from son's old bedroom visible below the top bunk in this old photo.   The chest ended up in one of the dormer windows of my grandsons' bedroom, replacing the train table that had been there. I would … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Gift Ideas, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Updating my Autumn Wardrobe, What I’m Eyeing in the Sale

October 28, 2019 by 23 Comments

Welcome to the 561st Metamorphosis Monday! The weather here in Ohio has so been so pretty! The leaves are changing and everywhere you drive there are piles of golden and red leaves. I'll try to capture some photos for you soon and post those. Unfortunately, I think I'm trying to come down with a cold, I woke up with a very sore throat. I hope you are staying well and enjoying these beautiful autumn … [Read more...]

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



Beautiful DIY Lit Pumpkin Centerpiece for Autumn

October 21, 2019 by 24 Comments

Welcome to the 560th Metamorphosis Monday! Good Morning from Ohio. I'm visiting family over the next few days and looking forward to sharing some of Ohio's beautiful autumn foliage. My Before and After for this week's Met Monday is a wonderful idea my daughter-in-law, Nancy, created for a beautiful fall table centerpiece.   She placed a pierced ceramic pumpkin down inside a gorgeous autumn … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fall Tablescapes, Seasonal Decor, Thanksgiving Decor Tagged With: , , , ,



Peeling Porch Columns & A New Tablescaping Purchase

October 14, 2019 by 35 Comments

Welcome to the 559th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy October to you! Did you have a good weekend? It's been rainy here but that's okay because we really need the rain. I wasn't sure when my Met Monday post was going to go up since I awoke to no internet this morning. Using my phone I checked to see if there was a reported outage and found this. Thankfully it came back up faster than … [Read more...]

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



A Cozy Autumn Winter Bed & A Big Sale Announcement

October 7, 2019 by 71 Comments

Welcome to the 558th Metamorphosis Monday Happy Autumn to you! I've been playing around a little in my bedroom, changing out the summer sheets for something a bit cozier for fall.   You may remember I recently ordered these sheets to pair with my winter bedding. (Sheets are available here: Woodland Sheets.)   I've never shown my bed turned down here on the blog. Do you know … [Read more...]

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



Easiest, Fastest Way to Remove Lint and Dust from Bedding and Dust Ruffles

September 29, 2019 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 557th Metamorphosis Monday~ I had meant to post this weekend but unfortunately, I've been under the weather. Thankfully I'm feeling a bit better this evening so I thought I would go ahead and get tomorrow's Metamorphosis Monday post up for you now. Update: Before we get into this post, just discovered that Mr. Pheasant went on sale this weekend, 30% off! You'll find him on sale here: … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , ,



Proof I Will Never Grow Up, As If You Needed It

September 16, 2019 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 555th Metamorphosis Monday! Remember the dinosaur bookends I bought for my grandson's bedroom...   ...when my daughter-in-law and I completed a full makeover of their room?   Yup, I'm talking about the ones there behind the dinosaur eggs. lol   I loved them soooo much when we did the makeover...   ...I decided I had to have a set … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



A Blue Painted Chest for a Beach-Themed Upstairs Family Room

September 9, 2019 by 64 Comments

Welcome to the 554th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm not sure why, but every time I order any kind of furniture from Amazon, my local UPS always delivers it busted up and damaged. Remember the multiple ordering attempts I made when trying to get cabinets for my garage? I ended up ordering them via Walmart and had them delivered to my local Walmart Market where I picked each cabinet up in my SUV and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs) Tagged With: ,



An Absolutely Ducky Idea for Shelving in a Bathroom or Linen Closet

September 2, 2019 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 553rd Metamorphosis Monday! How about a little silly fun for your Labor Day? Happy Labor Day to you, btw. I hope you are resting somewhere with your feet propped up, fruity drink in hand. Those are my plans for this afternoon! :) First off I have to state, this is NOT where I store my linens. I put this bit of fun together last night just so I could share a hilarious, adorable idea that … [Read more...]

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



Easy Way to Protect Leather Handbags from Strap Indentations During Storage

August 26, 2019 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 552nd Metamorphosis Monday! One of the joys in my life when my son married was gaining a wonderful daughter-in-law. With each passing year, Nancy and I grow closer. We were just talking last night about how awesome it is that we have such similar tastes in decorating, food, fashion and especially handbags! lol This past weekend my son was out of town for three days so it was just us and … [Read more...]

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



How I Replaced 3 Travel Toiletry Bags with 1 Awesome Hanging Bag

August 19, 2019 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 551st Metamorphosis Monday! How do you pack your toiletries for travel? In the past, I've always used a combination of things. This bag below came as a gift when I purchased a cosmetic item--forgotten what now, it may have been a Clinique product. It has always been my catchall bag holding all the items that wouldn't fit in my smallish toiletry bag.   I purchased these … [Read more...]

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



Marie’s Beautiful Screened Porch Addition with Before & After Photos

August 11, 2019 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 550th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I received an email from a Marie, a BNOTP reader. Marie saw the photos I've shared of my screened-in porch and decided to add one to the back of her home. This was the area where Marie decided to add on her porch.   Marie shared a few photos in her email showing the process of building the porch.   It appears in the photo … [Read more...]

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What If Gray Lamps…and Finally, The “Personalized” Pillow Shams Are Here

August 9, 2019 by 37 Comments

A few days ago I shared a Before/After my daughter-in-law and I completed in my grandsons' bedroom. (View that post here: Bedroom Makeover: Dinosaur Themed Bedroom for Two Dinosaur-Loving Boys.)   The week before this bedroom makeover, I stopped by my local At Home store and picked up some lamps I hoped would work with the bedding and the chest we planned to use.   The night … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Son's), Before & After, DIY Decorating



Bedroom Makeover: Dinosaur Themed Bedroom for Two Dinosaur-Loving Boys

August 5, 2019 by 81 Comments

Welcome to the 549th Metamorphosis Monday! In a previous post, I shared some plans my daughter-in-law, Nancy, and I've been working on for the bedroom belonging to my two grandsons. The boys, ages 3 and 5, were ready to graduate from their convertible crib/toddler beds to big-boy beds. I had saved my son's childhood bedroom furniture all these years, so I loaded the two beds into my SUV and headed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Son's), Before & After, DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , , , ,



Designing a Bedroom for Two Dinosaur-Loving Boys

July 29, 2019 by 76 Comments

Welcome to the 548th Metamorphosis Monday! If you've been following BNOTP for a while, you may remember when I turned my son's old bedroom into my home office. This collage below shows the various parts of the room prior to taking the beds apart and moving everything out of the room. (See how the office turned out in this previous post: Designing and Creating a Home Office.) My son was in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Son's), Before & After, DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , ,



A Beautiful Way to Hang Pictures for a Balanced, Attractive Grouping

July 21, 2019 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 547th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you are experiencing a wonderful start to the new week. Since I'm currently in England on holiday and not actively working on a "Before and After" project, I thought I'd share a striking feature in the room where I'm currently staying. There's a rather long entry hallway just inside the door of my room here at The Duchess of Cornwall Inn in … [Read more...]

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



Tree-Lined Streets, Storybook Homes, Delicious Breakfast Casserole & Backyard Fun

July 8, 2019 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 545th Metamorphosis Monday! Beautiful Oakwood, Ohio is so picturesque with its tree-lined streets. It truly feels like you've stepped back in time to a much simpler life, one where the mailman still walks door-to-door to deliver the mail, slipping it into the little slot right beside the door.   I could drive around all day just oohing and ahhing over all the beautiful … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After



Loose Ends and Answering Your Questions

July 1, 2019 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 544th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your week is off to a great start! For this week's Metamorphosis Monday, I thought I'd tie up some loose ends--a few of the topics I recently shared in previous posts. As you may recall, I've been trying to help my son/dil find a permanent solution to the prickly weed that's growing prolifically in their flowers beds. Thanks so much to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Gardening & Birding



How I Set Up a Comfortable Computer Workstation in a Small Space

June 17, 2019 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 542nd Metamorphosis Monday! For this week's Met Monday, I'm sharing a small computer workstation I set up in the guest room at my son and daughter-in-law's home. If space is limited in your home but you would love a dedicated spot for working on your computer, I can definitely recommend the setup I've created and will be sharing in today's post. A little backstory: I often plan or time … [Read more...]

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



Life in a Summer House, Step Inside a Cozy, Screened-in Gazebo

June 3, 2019 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 540th Metamorphosis Monday! This weekend was a busy one! I tend to be a home-body and will often spend my weekends at home unless a friend calls to lure me out. On Saturday, a friend picked up tickets to The Secrets Gardens of Avondale and off we went on a wonderful garden tour. That was followed by seeing Henry VIII at the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse on Sunday with another group of … [Read more...]

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



I Have Love Handles! Plus, a Little Jungle Fever!

May 27, 2019 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 539th Metamorphosis Monday! How has your Memorial Day weekend been going? Hope it has been a relaxing one spent with family and friends. A while back I shared a little problem I was trying to solve. Last summer when I carried this handbag for the first time, I worried about the canvas fabric handles becoming dirty. I tried covering the handles with a Hermes twilly, a popular method I've … [Read more...]

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



How to Keep Handbag Handles Clean & Protected from Dirt, Stains and Lotion

May 13, 2019 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 537th Metamorphosis Monday! A while back I shared a wicker bag I had purchased a year or two ago. I carried this bag quite a bit last summer and really enjoyed it, but I had one concern that I couldn't resolve.   The handles of the bag are a heavy-duty, stiff, canvas type fabric. They feel nice and sturdy but since they are fabric, I've been worried they would eventually … [Read more...]

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A Jaw-dropping Exterior Transformation: You Won’t Believe This Before & After!

May 6, 2019 by 45 Comments

Welcome to the 536th Metamorphosis Monday! A couple of months ago I was scrolling through Instagram and I came across a spectacular renovation. It was one of the most dramatic "Before and Afters" I can recall and I loved it! This beautiful home is located in Valdosta, Georgia which is very near the border where Georgia meets Florida. Here's how the home looked prior to its renovation by Wilson Design … [Read more...]

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



A Brilliant Invention & Correcting a Regrettable Decision

April 29, 2019 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 535th Metamorphosis Monday! Back around 2008-2010, I used to sit and create blog posts in the evenings after work at the little vanity desk located on the left side of this dressing room off the master bedroom. During that time I started having shooting pains down both arms, starting at my neck. That's when I realized the vanity was a few inches too short to work as a desk and made the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , ,



The Away Bigger Carry-On Bag: What Actually Fits Inside?

April 22, 2019 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 534th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm back today as promised to share what fits inside this Away "Bigger Carry-on" bag that I purchased recently.   Here's how the Away bag looks when you open it up. The left side contains a zippered mesh pocket which is where I carried my laptop to Egypt and back when I purchased the aluminum version of the Away bag. You may recall, I returned … [Read more...]

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



A Pretty Organizer for Storing My Greeting Cards

April 15, 2019 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 533rd Metamorphosis Monday! In this wide-angle view of my office, you can see a wrapping paper station I have hanging on the wall to the left. I added the gift wrapping organizer many years ago around the time I was putting this office space together.   I don't think this gift wrapping organizer is still available. They brought it back again a year or two after I purchased … [Read more...]

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



Like a Beautiful Phoenix Rising From the Ashes

April 8, 2019 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 532nd Metamorphosis Monday! Several years ago I created a blog post about this beautiful coastal home that was once located on North Carolina’s Inner Banks (River Dunes) in North Carolina. The home was designed by Historical Concepts, an Atlanta Architecture and Design firm, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Coastal Living magazine.   Historical Concepts designed the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beach & Lake Homes, Before & After



A Lamp for the Recently Added Console and a Spring Porch Update

March 25, 2019 by 38 Comments

Welcome to the 530th Metamorphosis Monday! Spring has really come to Georgia. The Bradford Pear trees are in full bloom and the daffodils are beginning to wane, having bloomed for weeks now. Spring flowers and warmer temps have a way of motivating us to get going on some of those repairs and projects we've been putting off. A few months ago I shared how mice or rats had decided to create little doors … [Read more...]

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



This $16.99 Product Changed My Life! Seriously!

March 23, 2019 by 71 Comments

I am such a happy camper right now! For years I've had an ongoing issue for which I could never find a solution. It's been so annoying, I was seriously thinking I was going to have to invent a product to fix the problem myself. I even talked about it with a sales associate a few months ago, describing a product I was thinking about creating because I'm so tired of dealing with this issue! What am I … [Read more...]

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



How to Pack a Hat in Your Suitcase for Travel

March 18, 2019 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 529th Metamorphosis Monday! Back in 2015 when I first started traveling, my very first trip was for a safari in Kenya. In reading about what one should pack for a safari, a hat was always right at the top of the list of recommendations, particularly a Tilley hat. I found one on Amazon that I really liked. The ribbon around the crown of the hat made it feel more feminine than the other … [Read more...]

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



Like It Should Have Always Been There

March 11, 2019 by 40 Comments

Welcome to the 528th Metamorphosis Monday! For last week's Met Monday I shared a console table I had ordered for storing the items I often need when taking a cycling class on my Peloton bike.   You may remember when the box arrived, there was a big gash on one side. It was the box you see below on the right. When I opened it, I found one of the shelves was badly dented. I started to return … [Read more...]

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



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: , , , ,