All My Favorite Cleaning Products, Including One That’s Great For Polishing Jewelry

March 27, 2023 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 739th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was a great one! We've been having the nicest weather lately and I've so enjoyed all the sunshine! This weekend it was so nice, I backed my car out of the garage, blew out the few leaves that had blown in, and gave the garage floor its first official mopping since it was installed last summer. There were just a few spots here and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,



I Found A Solution, But You May Not Want To Read This Post! Spoiler Alert!

March 20, 2023 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 738th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I mentioned I had purchased The Happy Isles puzzle from the Magic Puzzle Company. I didn't know a lot about their puzzles, or this particular puzzle, when I purchased it, only that there's a bit of a magic trick at the end that reveals a surprise twist to the story of  The Happy Isles. Before we go any further into today's post, if you've purchased … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Puzzles Tagged With: , , , ,



Have You Ever Been Inspired By The Decor You Saw In A Great Movie House?

March 1, 2023 by 39 Comments

Not sure what got me thinking about this, but a few days ago I was thinking again about how much I loved the home in the movie, Home Alone, and how it had made such an impression on me when I first began buying furniture and decorating my own home. That sent me down another rabbit trail wondering what else have I done in my home that was the direct influence of something I had noticed in a movie … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, My Nest Tagged With: , , ,



When Is It A Collection, Or Is It Just Hoarding? ;)

February 15, 2023 by 76 Comments

Do you remember when your interest in decorating first began? I have the worst memory in general, especially when it comes to dates, but I definitely remember what kicked off my borderline obsession with home decor. My love for decorating really took off when I discovered two magazines: Colonial Homes and Traditional Home. I could hardly wait for each issue to arrive in my mailbox! I poured over those … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Sometimes It’s The Little Tweaks That Make Life Better

January 2, 2023 by 28 Comments

Welcome to the 727th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy New Year to you! I hope your 2023 is off to an awesome start! Apparently, I'm trying to repeat the start of 2018 as I began the year with a yucky virus. I came down sick on Saturday and I think I'm finally past the body ache and fever stage. Unfortunately, I had to postpone the drywall work that was supposed to start in the basement tomorrow. So I don't have … [Read more...]

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



It’s Finished! Welcome to My Cozy Bookstore Book Nook

December 16, 2022 by 31 Comments

I should have known when I purchased a book nook kit I wouldn't be able to leave it alone until it was finished. I'm the same way when doing a puzzle. I'm always so eager to see it completed, it calls my name and haunts me until it's done. When I last shared this Bookstore Book Nook that I had just started, it was only this far along: a few pictures and a couple of shelves on one side wall, and a cute … [Read more...]

Filed Under: BNOTP Library, Christmas Crafts, DIY Crafts & Sewing Tagged With: , , , ,



Building An Enchanting Book Nook

December 12, 2022 by 26 Comments

Welcome to the 724th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I got a bit of disappointing news on Friday--the drywall company that was supposed to start the drywall process in the unfinished side of the basement this week is putting me off for a couple of weeks. At the last minute, he had a huge job come in, a customer who is having him smooth out all the ceilings throughout her whole home. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, BNOTP Library, DIY Crafts & Sewing



Lots of Fun Updates from Decorating to Organizing to Filling Up a New Freezer

November 28, 2022 by 37 Comments

Welcome to the 722nd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you started or completed your holiday decorating? I got my wreaths up a few days before Thanksgiving, but that's about as far as I've gotten. If you would like more info about how I hang my wreaths each year, you'll find a post where I share the details here: How to Hang Wreaths on Exterior Windows.     So, it took me a while but I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



Buying My First Freezer, Crazy About This Rail-Basket Organizing System!

November 21, 2022 by 61 Comments

Welcome to the 721st Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I hope you had a fabulous fall weekend! I was busy making the most out of my recently updated storage room. I brought down more centerpieces/decorative pieces that had been stored in my laundry room cabinets so they would all be together in one spot.   I still had so much available space on the floor below the shelves, the … [Read more...]

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



A Basement-Terrace Level Reveal, Sharing All 3 Spaces and How They Look Now!

November 14, 2022 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 720th Metamorphosis Monday! I am so excited to give you an update reveal on the basement area. As you look at these pictures, please keep in mind that the basement is still not complete--I have many more plans for this space! You may remember when I first started this process a few weeks ago, the basement stairs looked like this. Not sure why, but when this home was built in 1982-83, the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basement/Terrace Level, Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,



Not Your Usual Tablescape Thursday Post, Lantern-Centerpiece Storage

November 10, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 737th Tablescape Thursday! Lots going on here today, I have an electrician here installing a second outlet on the unfinished side of the basement. I moved my workbench from the semi-finished side of the basement to the unfinished side. The unfinished part of the basement only has one outlet. I may eventually add a smallish chest freezer to that space, so I needed an additional outlet for my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday



New Tablescaping Goodies, Attractive Storage Idea & the Room I’m Renovating Next

October 15, 2022 by 30 Comments

I'm headed over to Home Depot today. I have a project I'm working on in both the unfinished, the semi-finished, and the storage area of my basement. I will share a lot more about that on Monday for Metamorphosis Monday. In the meantime, I wanted to share a couple of table purchases I just made recently, as well as a few photos of the semi-finished part of the basement at the end of this post. The fall … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, My Nest



The Garage is Finally Done, Landscapers Who Hide Things & Very Hungry Bees!

September 24, 2022 by 26 Comments

How is your weekend going? I've been tidying up lots of odds and ends around here. The painter came back today to finish painting the plantation shutters in the garage. The first painter really botched them with drips and runs everywhere. The painter that came today had previously been out and sanded off all the drips and today he came back to paint them. They are once again in the windows of the garage and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes



How to Stop a Gas Lantern From Blowing Out On Really Windy Days

September 17, 2022 by 10 Comments

I have a gas lantern in front of my home that I had installed 20+ years ago. When I first had it installed, the lantern company estimated the cost to run it would be around $12-14 per month--and it was. Definitely worth it for the ambiance it adds to the front of my home.   Years later, when gas prices went up drastically, I turned it off for much of the year. I was also having an issue with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , ,



Fortnum & Mason Hamper As a Side Table, Great Place to Hide Throws & Pillows

September 12, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 711th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! I hope your week is off to a fabulous start! A week or so ago I shared the arrival of a Fortnum and Mason Hamper I had purchased, along with the goodies that I chose to go inside. I ended up creating my own bespoke hamper to get the size hamper and the contents I really wanted.   When I first placed my order for one of their hampers, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs) Tagged With: , , ,



What’s Inside All Those Storage Cabinets? I’m Throwing Back the Doors!

September 1, 2022 by 50 Comments

Welcome to the 727th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're taking a peek inside the nine storage cabinets I have here in my garage to see what's stored inside and how it's all organized. I hope this little storage tour offers up a few ideas for your storage needs.   Let's start with the cabinets here on this side wall of the garage. Before we throw back the doors … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Garage, Tablescape Thursday



Is it True? Will LED Light Fixtures Cause Your Garage Door Opener to Malfunction?

August 31, 2022 by 16 Comments

Over the past few weeks as I've shared the updates I've been making here in the garage, one question I've been asked in the comments a couple of times was if the new LED lighting I had installed would create any issue with my garage door opener.   During the renovation process, one of the things I had done was the replacement of the original seal on the garage door. Sometime over the past 40 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Garage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



It’s Done! The Cabinets are Back and All Systems are GO!

August 29, 2022 by 53 Comments

Welcome to the 709th Metamorphosis Monday! It was a long time coming but I finally have all the cabinets back in the garage and filled back up. Before I share the "After" here's a little reminder of where we started. The garage walls were in need of a fresh coat of paint and much better lighting than the builder-grade lights that had been here for 40 years.   Previously, I had 6 dish … [Read more...]

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



Garage Storage Cabinets, Progress Has Been Made But There’s Been a Few Glitches

August 22, 2022 by 36 Comments

Welcome to the 708th Metamorphosis Monday! As I type this, I'm waiting for the second garage door repairman to arrive. Hopefully, I can get this post up before he arrives. I will have to create a post sharing all the things that have had to be done and redone multiple times so you'll know life isn't all rainbows and unicorns up in here. Ha! Seems like every project I embark on has had a major glitch (or … [Read more...]

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



Not Again! Unfortunately, yes! Again! Plus, Sharing a Handy DIY Hack

August 20, 2022 by 12 Comments

So remember when the garage looked like this?   Well, it looks like this again. Arggh! :( I'll explain more on Monday but basically, the original painter the company sent out did a terrible job of fixing a couple of places on the ceiling where the sheetrock tape that was used 40 years ago was starting to loosen in places. He really botched it. So the painting company has sent out a much more … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garage



A New Addition for the Office & How I Track Down Studs

August 17, 2022 by 13 Comments

Back around 2010 when I put my home office together and purchased an office desk chair, one of my top priorities in choosing a chair was its appearance. Of course, I wanted it to be comfortable and great for day-to-day use, but I also wanted it to be pretty and to work with my home office interior. Over the years and many desk chairs later, I have pretty much given up on worrying about how it looks and if … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



A Small Addition to the Garage That I’m Absolutely Loving

August 15, 2022 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 707th Metamorphosis Monday! Over the last week, I've been sharing the dramatic makeover my garage went through recently. (See that makeover in full here: Dramatic Garage Makeover with New Lighting, Fresh Paint, and New Flooring.) This weekend I shared over two posts, the 2-day process of how the flooring was installed. A painter will be coming out to complete a few touchups on the back … [Read more...]

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



Garage Flooring Installation, Day 2–All Done and So Worth It!

August 14, 2022 by 22 Comments

In yesterday's post, I shared the first day's process of having a new floor installed here in my garage. You may remember we ended here with the garage door left a few inches open to prevent the door from damaging the newly installed floor. The flooring was left to dry and set up overnight during which time the colorful flakes that had been broadcast out over the floor, would have time to meld with the … [Read more...]

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



Garage Flooring Installation, Day 1–Here’s How They Did It!

August 13, 2022 by 17 Comments

Imagine that you regularly visit a gym for a full workout, but for some reason, you don't go for 3 months. After a 3-month break, you go back, but instead of starting back slowly, you dive full-in doing your old routine as if you've never missed a day. That's how I feel today, every muscle in my body feels like it's had a full workout to the max! I don't think there's a single muscle that's not feeling the … [Read more...]

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



Where Did You Store All Those Cabinets & Beautiful New Flatware for a Bargain

August 11, 2022 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 724th Tablescape Thursday! Before we get into today's Tablescape Thursday, for those who have asked for it, I've added a printable version of the recipe I shared recently for these delicious Crunch Wraps to that recipe post. You'll find that post here and the printable version of the recipe is right at the end of the post: Crunch Wrap Recipe.   Soooo, though the garage is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Garage, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , , ,



A Super Stressful Friday (Self-Inflicted) and Choosing a Wall Color for the Garage

July 16, 2022 by 23 Comments

Wow! Yesterday was a day and a half around here! I had a mini disaster occur. I was trying to do too many things at once (a bad habit of mine) and while calling a local tire place to schedule having my tires rotated, I managed to spill a lot of water onto my keyboard. While trying to wipe off (and shake out) the water from the keyboard, I didn't notice a small amount had also splashed up onto one of my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating Tagged With: , , , ,



Lots of New Upgrades, Plus I’ve Chosen New Lighting for the Garage

July 10, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 702nd Metamorphosis Monday! Are you familiar with the children's book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? In the book, the cute little mouse asks for a cookie. The cookie makes him thirsty, so then he asks for a glass of milk. I've forgotten now what the glass of milk leads to, but each request leads to another and another and another.   This garage project I've embarked on is … [Read more...]

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



Garage Flooring Has Been Chosen & A Back-Saving, Step-Saving New Purchase

July 6, 2022 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 719th Tablescape Thursday! A few days ago I shared plans to have my garage's concrete floor prettied up. I was trying to choose between two flooring systems: Epoxy vs Polyaspartic Polyurea.   After getting estimates for both methods, I've decided to go with the Epoxy system which is also finished off with a topcoat of Polyaspartic. I know several of you asked that I share in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Garage, Tablescape Thursday



Planning a Garage Makeover, Here’s the “Before” and the Plan!

July 4, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 701st Metamorphosis Monday! For many, many years I've been itching to spiffy up my garage. I've always hated this concrete floor. It's so depressing to look at and never really feels clean.   Last week I got a quote for having Epoxy flooring installed. Tomorrow I'll be getting a quote for another type of flooring that is also very popular called Polyaspartic Polyurea. I … [Read more...]

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



Sneaky Squirrels and Rascally Raccoons–Hoping This Will Be the Solution!

June 8, 2022 by 40 Comments

Ever since my son and daughter-in-love moved into their home several years ago, they've been in an ongoing, full-scale battle to keep the critters with whom they share their yard, out of their trash cans. Regular trash cans didn't even slow down the raccoons who visited their home and their neighbor's homes every single night. It's not a great way to start the day--walking out the door dressed up nicely for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds



It’s Been Almost 4 Years Now, So How Did It Work?

May 30, 2022 by 9 Comments

Welcome to the 696th Metamorphosis Monday! How do you store your silver jewelry? Over the years I've purchased a few Tiffany & Co. silver necklaces, bracelets, and rings They are inexpensive, as jewelry goes, and always so sparkly and beautiful. I especially love their enamel and silver pieces. Of course, Tiffany jewelry always comes in their signature blue jewelry pouch that helps prevent … [Read more...]

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



Peloton Bike: Add a Handlebars Adjuster to Move the Handlebars Closer

May 15, 2022 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 694th Metamorphosis Monday! I have a dressing room right off of my master bedroom. Many years ago that room was a 5th bedroom but the first owners of my home walled off the door in the hallway to that room and cut a big opening in the master bedroom wall into that bedroom next door.   I sometimes wonder if when I move one day, if the future owners of this home will turn that … [Read more...]

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



Will the Green Drapes and The Governor’s Party Painting Still Work for Summer?

May 9, 2022 by 66 Comments

Welcome to the 693rd Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I got a bug in my bustle and decided to finally add some art to the wall behind my bed.   Adding this beautiful Chuck Pinson Giclee made such a dramatic difference to the room, I decided to keep going and finally added some beautiful "worn velvet" drapes to the windows. They aren't heavy-looking in person, as velvet drapes could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating



Louis Vuitton Inspired Agenda Calendar Refill Inserts & To-Do Lists

April 30, 2022 by 5 Comments

Quite a few years back I splurged and purchased a Louis Vuitton Large-Ring Agenda in the GM (A-5) size. I had never had an agenda before and wasn't sure how I would like it and if I would really use it. It turned out to be a great purchase! I absolutely love having an agenda and find I use it a lot! My agenda stays open on my desk full time and I refer to it on a daily basis. Whenever I travel, it always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , ,



1950s Bathroom Gets a Beautiful, Luxe Makeover! It’s Wonderful!

April 11, 2022 by 29 Comments

Welcome to the 689th Metamorphosis Monday! In a post a few weeks back, I mentioned that I was starting to think more about renovating my two upstairs bathrooms.  I was finding it difficult to motivate myself to begin the planning process. Bathrooms typically don't excite me, at least not like travel and handbags! Ha! Then I received an email that definitely upped my level of excitement ten-fold! Sam, … [Read more...]

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



An Easy Way to Store and Display Your Summer and Winter Scarves

March 21, 2022 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 686th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you love wearing a scarf--a woolly warm scarf for winter, or an airy, bright scarf in the spring or summer? My winter scarves tend to get worn a lot more than my summer ones, probably because this girl can't stand being cold for even a minute. lol I think I would wear my summer scarves a lot more if I had them displayed in my closet where I could actually see … [Read more...]

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



Pretty Ways to Store & Display Your Favorite Dish Patterns

March 17, 2022 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 703rd Tablescape Thursday! (Update: If you were interested in the Burberry Bag I shared that sold out so quickly on Tuesday, it's back in stock. I've added a link to it at the end of this post.) Happy St. Patrick's Day! Do you have anything special planned for today? I was thinking of setting a St. Patrick's Day table to share, but since I just did that last week, I thought it would be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Tablescape Thursday Tagged With: , ,



Visual Motivation Tools to Help Me Reach My Goals

March 14, 2022 by 15 Comments

Welcome to the 685th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Did you weather the time change okay this weekend? Are you loving these longer daylight hours? I do like the longer days but I had a lot of trouble falling asleep last night--but then, I pretty much have that problem every night. For as long as I can remember, I've always been a night owl. My sister was the exact same way. Left to our own doing, we … [Read more...]

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



Art for the Upstairs Hallway: The Beach Girls by Hilarie Lambert

March 7, 2022 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 684th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years back I added a little blue chest to this corner of my upstairs living room.   This room has a beachy/nautical feel because of how it's decorated with lighthouse prints and shells collected while vacationing in Captiva, Sanibel, and Hilton Head Island many years ago. Though I loved the chest here, I eventually moved it to the hallway … [Read more...]

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



It Finally Arrived and I Love How It Looks and Works!

February 12, 2022 by 21 Comments

Back just before Christmas, I succumbed to temptation and ordered this awesome Home Alone LEGO house. The house in the movie, Home Alone is one of my favorite movie houses of all time, so I just couldn't pass up on this fabulous LEGO build. (Take a tour of the home as seen in the movie in this previous post: Tour the Home Alone Movie House.)   It was a pretty big undertaking with 3,955 pieces … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, TV & Movie House Fun Tagged With: , , , ,



Changing All My A/C-Heating Ceiling Vents for Better Airflow

February 7, 2022 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 680th Metamorphosis Monday! Not the most exciting Before and After but I am currently in the process of changing out all the air vent covers throughout the upstairs part of my home. I've been meaning to do this for a while. My home is almost 40 years old and some of the original vent covers are looking very tired. I've started with these two here in my bedroom. It has always bugged me … [Read more...]

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



How I’m Protecting My Car Seats from Denim-Jean Transfer Stains

January 31, 2022 by 21 Comments

Welcome to the 679th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope you are snuggled down inside somewhere this morning, keeping nice and warm. This morning I have a little update I've made that I hope you'll find helpful if you sometimes struggle with denim transfer on your car seats. A while back I shared this awesome cleaner that is pretty much a miracle cleaner in my eyes. When I got blue jean/denim … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds Tagged With: , , , , ,



An Idea That I Hope Will Work–What Do You Think?

January 26, 2022 by 33 Comments

A week or two ago I ordered these black jeggings during an awesome sale. I loved them the moment I noticed the beautiful button detail on the side near the bottom of each leg.   I've never seen jeggings with a decorative button detail like this and I love it! (Jeggings with jewel button detail are available here on sale: Bejeweled Jeggings. All jeans and jeggings currently on sale can be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Crafts & Sewing, Fashion & Beauty, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



IKEA Hemnes Bookcase Review & Sharing Its One Design Flaw

January 17, 2022 by 51 Comments

Welcome to the 677th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had an awesome weekend! We had a mini-snow storm on Sunday. It was short-lived but pretty while it was coming down. Did you see any snow in your area over the weekend?   In a previous post a few months back, I mentioned the bowing issue I was having with the Ikea Billy bookshelves in my home office. Two lovely BNOTP readers suggested I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, BNOTP Library, DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , , ,



How I Trick Myself Into Doing Things I Really Don’t Want to Do

January 12, 2022 by 30 Comments

We all have 'em--those dreaded chores around the house that we just don't want to do. We delay, finding other stuff to do that makes us feel productive while those "other" things wait, mocking us like the proverbial elephant in the room. Okay, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but I thought it would be fun today to share a few of the ways I trick myself into doing those non-fun things I don't feel like … [Read more...]

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



A Small Upgrade That Functions Better & Looks More Professional

December 12, 2021 by 10 Comments

I made a very small change recently here in the upstairs family room and thought I'd share it in case you have a need for something similar. A while back I shared a new lamp I had just purchased for this room.   You can see the new lamp there on the left atop the old, book-bound Macon Telegraph newspapers my sister, Glenda, gave me many, many years ago. To read more about the new lamp and how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: ,



Repurpose Your Old Record Albums Into Unique, Exciting Wall Art!

December 5, 2021 by 15 Comments

When I visited with my friend, Teresa recently, this was the bedroom where I stayed. I was absolutely enthralled with how she had decorated above and around the bed!   Instead of tossing out or donating her old record albums from yesteryear, she turned them into exciting wall art!   Do you still have all your old albums from days past?   I love this idea so much! … [Read more...]

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



Handmade Christmas Ornaments, Inspired by the Colors of a Beautiful Peacock

December 1, 2021 by 16 Comments

I have a wonderful Christmas DIY decorating idea to share with you today. Norma, a lovely BNOTP reader who has become a friend over the years, makes the most beautiful handmade ornaments and flowers each year at Christmastime.   You may remember Norma from this post when I shared a beautiful table setting she created for friends where she decorated the entrance to her French cottage to look … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, DIY Crafts & Sewing



I Think I Finally Found the Perfect Frame, What Do You Think?

November 17, 2021 by 28 Comments

Last November, now a full year ago, I was hot on the pursuit of a frame for this beautiful Chuck Pinson painting named, The Governor's Party. The painting depicts the Governor's Palace just as guests are arriving for a Christmas party. I remember touring the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg many years ago. It was a wonderful experience and I would love to visit again and see it dressed this way … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating



How Have I Not Ever Noticed This Before?!

November 15, 2021 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 668th Metamorphosis Monday! Last night I finally got around to changing from my spring/summer bedding...   ...to my tartan fall/winter bedding. I'm slow getting it done this year, normally try to make the switch in early October. I think I delayed this year because I was still really enjoying the summer bedding--but it was time. One of the things that always drives me … [Read more...]

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



Taking All the Stress Out of Halloween Night

October 20, 2021 by 18 Comments

If you live where you have a lot of Trick-or-Treaters stopping by on Halloween night, you know how hectic it can sometimes be. I'm like a Jack-in-Box on Halloween evening, popping up every minute or two to answer the door. I love seeing the little ones in their costumes. Halloween and Trick-or-Treating with friends is one of my fondest childhood memories. Back then, we didn't buy fancy costumes, we wore … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Halloween Crafts Tagged With: , ,



Finally Sharing All Those Photos, Ideas and Tips That I’ve Been Saving

October 11, 2021 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 663rd Metamorphosis Monday! Throughout the year, I'm always taking photos of things that I want to share with you that I think you'll enjoy. I've been going through photos this morning, and I thought it would be fun to share an assortment of random pictures and ideas for this week's Met Monday, especially since one of two of these are Before/After ideas. Hope you enjoy! During one of my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Gift Ideas & Awesome Finds, Inspire



I Had My Car Windows Tinted: Here’s How They Look & How Much It Costs

October 8, 2021 by 30 Comments

Have you ever had your front car windows tinted? I have never had that done with any car that I've owned, but I decided to do that with the car I purchased recently. My main goal in having the two front windows tinted was to get some of the sun that streams in through the windows off of my arms. That's the one part of my body that I think has suffered sun damage over the years. As with most things we do … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods Tagged With: , , ,



I Can’t Live Without This Thing–Keep Finding New Ways to Use It!

September 25, 2021 by 12 Comments

In the past, I've shared this awesome little desktop vacuum with you. It is amazing! I like it so much, when I set up a desk in the guest room at my son's home, which is also a great workspace for my oldest grandson when I'm not there, I immediately purchased a second one since I use it so much at home.   I use it at least once a week to vacuum my large desk mat that does double duty as a … [Read more...]

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



Another New Lamp for the Upstairs Living Room

September 13, 2021 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 659th Metamorphosis Monday! Looking at this older photo of the upstairs living room/bonus room/frog makes me want to move the grandfather clock back to this room. I may do that today, I miss seeing it here. But that's not why we're in this room today. Notice the large brass lamp at the end of the sofa.   Here's one more photo taken from the opposite end where you can see the … [Read more...]

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



A New Bookcase (and Bookcase/Picture Light) for the Guest Room

September 11, 2021 by 19 Comments

And just when you thought there wasn't room for one more thing in my guest room... A few weeks back I mentioned in a post about a sagging/bowing issue I've had with the Ikea Billy Bookcases here in my home office.   In the comments of that post, a few BNOTP readers mentioned that Ikea had come out with an all-wood bookcase that was quite similar to the Billy. Thanks, Magdy and Kim for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage Tagged With: , , , ,



Musical Lamps

August 30, 2021 by 42 Comments

Welcome to the 657th Metamorphosis Monday! Did you ever play the game, Musical Chairs, when you were little? Well, it's been like musical lamps around here lately. lol I may end up with one odd lamp out in the end, not sure at this point. Last week I shared a new lamp I had purchased to use in my home office. It turned out to be much larger than I had expected so not a good fit for the office. Lesson … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Living Room (Downstairs) Tagged With: ,



Going Waaay Outside My Comfort Zone

August 29, 2021 by 27 Comments

So I did something a little crazy today. See that white shelf on the right wall of the guest room? I ordered a new picture for that spot.   I also moved the trunk out of this room that had gotten shoved over onto that wall when I added cabinets down the opposite wall. I moved my vintage dress form from the office back to that spot, although it's not visible in this photo except for a small … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), DIY Decorating



After I’m Gone, Will Someone Keep and Treasure This Piece?

August 25, 2021 by 31 Comments

Recently when I shared a new lamp I had purchased, you may have noticed a large, colorful bowl that was sitting nearby.   I collected that bowl several years ago during a trip to Morocco when we visited Poterie de Fes, a place where they hand-make and paint tiles that they create from their local clay. The tiles are then used to make beautiful pottery and lovely fountains for gardens. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Travel



2 Beautiful, New Lamps–Unique in Color and Size, Crazy About Both!

August 23, 2021 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 656th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your input on Friday's post! Appreciate all of your suggestions so much! After three weeks in Ohio, I'm back home now. The weekend was spent unpacking, going through mail, washing clothes, and all the catch-up stuff that usually needs to be done after a few weeks away from home. The two lamps I ordered prior to my trip arrived and I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Guest Room), Bedroom (Master), Before & After, DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods, Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs)



When I Move One Day, These Are Going With Me

August 18, 2021 by 46 Comments

Many years ago when I used to go out antiquing almost every weekend, I ran into a good friend in a local antique shop. I was so surprised to see someone I knew in this large, but kinda off-the-beaten-path shop. She was headed out the door with a big brass chandelier in her hands. I complimented her on her awesome find, it was a beautiful chandelier! As she made her way toward the door, she shared that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dining Room, DIY Decorating, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Bow Lipstick Case Repair & A Tale of Two Throws

August 16, 2021 by 20 Comments

Welcome to the 655th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years back I shared these absolutely gorgeous lipstick cases by the House of Sillage. I think I first came across them in a post on Instagram and I was smitten!   House of Sillage periodically comes out with new additions and they are always beautiful. Over the last few years, I've added to my collection and I use them all the time. I use … [Read more...]

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



Is it Time to Ditch Those Floral Valances in the Guest Room?

August 4, 2021 by 117 Comments

In some of my recent posts, we've been playing here in the guest room a lot. In one post I shared a new lamp I had purchased for this room. (See that post here: New Lamp for the Guest Room.)   A week or two later, I added some Ikea Oxberg cabinets down one wall as a fun, attractive way to corral all my handbags into one area. The guest room is so rarely used since family prefers the larger … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



Lorelei’s Beautiful Laundry Room Makeover

August 2, 2021 by 33 Comments

Welcome to the 653rd Metamorphosis Monday! Last year, just before Christmas I shared some wonderful updates Lorelei made in her home shortly after moving in. Lorelei transformed the entry and her dining room with all new paint and the result was beautiful! If you missed that previous post, you'll find it here: The Magic of Paint: Lorelei's Dining Room and Entry Transformed.   Recently, … [Read more...]

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



How are My Ameriwood System Build Kendall Cabinets Holding Up 3 Years Later?

July 21, 2021 by 34 Comments

If you've been following BNOTP for a while, you may remember approximately 3 years ago I set up these cabinets in my garage so I could corral all my dishes into one place instead of having them spread out over several cabinets/closets. My fine china is still stored inside, but these cabinets have worked great for my everyday dinnerware. (See that previous post here: The Great Dish Storage Experiment, Plus … [Read more...]

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



How to Gain Back Inches If You Shrink a Linen/Cotton Tablecloth or Napkins

June 21, 2021 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 647th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Have you ever accidentally shrunk something in the wash or while drying? Cotton and linen seemed to be especially prone to shrinking. Recently Elena shared with me an awesome trick she discovered online for regaining some of those inches that can be lost when a cotton/linen item gets shrunk during the washing … [Read more...]

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



How I Use 3 Monitors to Work and Play in My Home Office

June 14, 2021 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 646th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Over the years, my monitor/desktop setup has changed several times. I've been using two monitors for many years. When I'm traveling and working from my laptop, I really, really miss having two monitors. Many years ago when I had cable TV, I purchased a Smart TV to place above my monitors thinking it would give … [Read more...]

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



Have You Ever Had Your Roof Cleaned?

June 5, 2021 by 46 Comments

Have you ever had the roof of your home cleaned? In November 2019, I shared this photo of my home shortly after adding wreaths to the windows for the holiday season. When I took that photo, I think that was the first time I had noticed some blackish streaks on the roof.   I figured the streaks were some type of staining caused by the trees that surround my home and I wondered if there was a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes Tagged With: , ,



Do You Ever Move the Furniture Around in Your Home?

May 15, 2021 by 31 Comments

Do you ever move furniture around? I was texting with a friend recently who was moving furniture into different places in her home and she asked me that question. I replied back that I rarely ever did because in most of the rooms in my home, the furniture really only fits in the room one way. I have to eat those words because I ended up doing exactly that, moving some things around. One minor change made … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating Tagged With: ,



Problem Solved: Hide Those Not-So-Attractive Toothbrushes and Toothpaste

May 11, 2021 by 25 Comments

Earlier this week I shared some new additions to my master bath. I'm hoping to fully renovate at least one of my baths next year but in the meantime, I'm appeasing myself by adding little improvements and touches that make my heart happy. For example, I ordered this adorable birdie-themed tissue holder for the counter here in my master bath. Apparently, it's my favorite tissue holder since this is the … [Read more...]

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



How to Make Whimsical, Floating Teacups for an Alice in Wonderland Party

April 19, 2021 by 22 Comments

Welcome to the 638th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! A few weeks back I shared this wonderful table setting Elena created for her daughter's birthday. Elena went with a whimsical Alice in Wonderland theme, a favorite of her daughter's.   As part of the decorations, Elena created these beautiful, magical floating teacups.   Every … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Children's Tablescapes, DIY Crafts & Sewing, Tablescape Thursday, Tea Party Tablescapes Tagged With: , , ,



The Most Beautiful Vignette–So Much Inspiration!

April 13, 2021 by 22 Comments

I love, love, love when I get an email from a lovely BNOTP reader letting me know that something I have suggested has worked well in their home, too! That makes me so happy! Recently, after sharing my spring porch makeover where I mentioned how much I was loving these realistic-looking, faux tulips, I received an email from Sam.   Sam said, "Once again your recommendation was spot on! … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, Seasonal Decor Tagged With: , , ,



A New Way I’ve Found for Storing Silver or Silverplate to Slow or Prevent Tarnishing

March 26, 2021 by 15 Comments

A couple of months back I shared this wintery-themed table setting for Tablescape Thursday. The centerpiece for this table setting was two silverplate ornament trees purchased from Ross Simon around 20-25 years ago.   View this table in detail in this previous post: A Beautiful Bird-Themed China Pattern for Wintertime.   Since the ornament trees are silverplate, they have a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes



A Salvaged Mirror Becomes a Memory-Filled Travel Bulletin Board

March 22, 2021 by 16 Comments

Welcome to the 634th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! A few days ago I was chatting in the comments with Cyndi, a lovely BNOTP reader, and now friend, about how much we were looking forward to traveling again in the future. Cyndi mentioned she was so looking forward to it, she had created a “travel bulletin board for posting snapshots of former vacations to remember … [Read more...]

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



Toni’s Elegant & Practical Solution to Upgrade Her Desk Space and Closet Storage

March 10, 2021 by 7 Comments

Last year, while I was staying with family and helping with my grandsons for a couple of months, you may remember that I purchased a desk to work at while I was there. I actually purchased a couple of desks during that time. The first one turned out to be a bit too shallow for my needs so I ended up purchasing a second one. My daughter-in-law and l were both desk shopping around the same time and I sent … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



My Favorite Products for the Best Shiny & Clean “Afters”

March 8, 2021 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 632nd Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Over the last couple of weeks, I've received several emails from BNOTP readers asking about the various cleaning products I use and have mentioned loving in previous posts. Since it's almost time for some serious spring cleaning, for this week's Met Monday I'm sharing all the products I love and use in my home. … [Read more...]

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



The Weirdest Thing, A “Shocking” Experience & How I Finally Solved It

February 6, 2021 by 55 Comments

So I've had the weirdest thing going on the past few months. At first, I thought it was a fluke but when it wouldn't stop I had to seek out a solution. I thought it was worth sharing because 1. It strikes me as kinda funny now looking back and 2. In case you've experienced this, maybe this weird little tale and how I solved it will help somehow. Update: I'm getting a lot comments asking if it's an … [Read more...]

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



10 Favorites, Must-Haves, & Time-Savers for the Kitchen

February 3, 2021 by 31 Comments

Carrying on in the theme of Monday's post where I shared some changes I've made that have enhanced my life in both small and big ways, I thought I'd share a few more tips/ideas I use on a daily basis that I've found to be super helpful-- only this time we're in the kitchen. Some of these I have touched on in previous posts but with all the staying in we're doing more right now, this seems like a good time … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, Favorite Fashions & Home Goods



3 Changes I’ve Made: 2 Time-Stress Reducers and 1 Just for Fun

February 1, 2021 by 47 Comments

Welcome to the 627th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! From time to time as I'm working around the house, I will see or think of something that I think would be a great little idea or tip to share with you. Often it's not anything that's worthy of a full post, but just an idea I think you may like or find handy. I've been thinking about writing this post for a … [Read more...]

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



Best & Easiest Way to Save or Preserve a Puzzle Without Using Messy Glue

January 25, 2021 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 626th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Over the last few weeks I've had several questions about what I do with all the puzzles I complete and if I ever save them. In today's post, I'm answering that question and also sharing exactly how I preserve a completed puzzle that I wish to keep. Typically when I complete a puzzle, if it's one I especially … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes



Two Beautiful Transformations, All Through the Magic of Paint

January 4, 2021 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 623rd Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! A few weeks back I shared how Lorelei transformed her dining room with paint. Lorelei liked the color I used in my dining room, Benjamin Moore, Raspberry Truffle and decided to use the same color in her dining room.   Beautiful transformation!   Here's a picture showing Raspberry … [Read more...]

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



So Whatever Happened to Those Peeling, Bubbling Columns…

December 28, 2020 by 25 Comments

Welcome to the 622nd Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Last October, I shared some photos of my front porch columns and the developing issue I've had with them over the past year. It has been quite a few years since the porch was last painted. Trying to remember--I think I may have had it painted once since it was added on in 2008, but maybe it was just pressure … [Read more...]

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



The Magic of Paint: Lorelei’s Dining Room and Entry Transformed

December 21, 2020 by 19 Comments

Welcome to the 621st Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I have a wonderful transformation to share with you today for Metamorphosis Monday! Lorelei, a lovely BNOTP reader, recently shared a big change she made in two of the rooms in her home. Before we go inside, I have to share how beautifully Lorelei has decorated the exterior … [Read more...]

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



Sometimes Small Changes Can Make Your Heart Happy

December 11, 2020 by 37 Comments

A few weeks ago I shared a little addition to my office space. If you look closely, you can just see it there to the side of my left monitor.   I'm not sure how, but I came across this clear tissue holder online and loved it. I liked how modern it looked, which is surprising since I normally don't care for modern decor pieces. I liked that it didn't fight the other patterns/colors in the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Bedroom (Master), DIY Decorating, DIY Organization and Storage, Living Room (Downstairs), Living Room/Bonus (Upstairs), Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Two Small Updates That I’m Loving!

November 16, 2020 by 27 Comments

Welcome to the 616th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! I'm running behind this morning. I have painters here to do some touch-up work on the front porch columns that were painted recently. They are also going to be painting the new screened doors that arrived a few weeks back. Then it will be time to get those installed.   Two New Purchases: Small but … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Organization and Storage



A Dead Computer & The 2 Things That Made The Power Outage Bearable

October 31, 2020 by 50 Comments

Finally, the power is back on. You know, it's amazing how fast our brains adapt to a new situation. I was working on a puzzle and listening to a book on Audible when a loud snap sound happened from the direction of my computer and the lights came on. It felt so weird to have electricity at my fingertips again, to be able to just flip a switch and have light in a room! lol I know that sounds weird but it was … [Read more...]

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



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



How I Protect My Cashmere-Wool Scarves from Moths & Other Dastardly Bugs

October 6, 2020 by 22 Comments

As you know if you've been reading BNOTP for very long, this girl doesn't do cold weather. Not. A. Fan. However, over the years I've come to discover that winter isn't near so bad if you have the right gear, i.e., quality coats, Uggs, warm sweaters, Uggs, woolly scarves, Uggs, wool socks, Uggs--you get the idea. ;) Next to woolly Uggs, my other favorite cold-weather gear is soft, wool or cashmere … [Read more...]

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