Dressing Room Update is Complete and a Dharuma Hydrangea Update

May 14, 2019 by 23 Comments

Before I share my recent dressing room update, I thought I'd share a small garden update. Back in the summer of 2014, I planted a Dharuma Hydrangea behind my mailbox. I was told that they do well in full sun and are fairly low-growing. I didn't want a big shrub in this spot since space was limited. Do you see the little Dharuma there just behind the mailbox?   Here's a photo of it a few weeks … [Read more...]

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



No More Groceries Rolling Around in Back!

April 30, 2019 by 22 Comments

Have you ever had that, "Oh great, not again!" feeling driving home from the grocery store? As you turn a corner, you hear all the grocery bags in back turning over. That's normally followed by the sounds of can goods and jars rolling around crashing into each other. You get home and find the bread squished and the bananas in the corner buried underneath a can of peas. Ugh. To solve this issue, this … [Read more...]

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



A Tip From the Inventor: Car Handbag Holder Used with a Center-Open Console

April 24, 2019 by 28 Comments

About a month ago I shared an awesome product that solved an ongoing problem I've been dealing with forever: trying to keep my handbag out of the sun when I'm out running errands or on trips AND trying to keep it out of the floor whenever I have to stop suddenly.   This awesome car handbag holder (purchased HERE) has been working beautifully despite the fact it's really designed to work in a … [Read more...]

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



This $16.99 Product Changed My Life! Seriously!

March 23, 2019 by 70 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: , , ,



My Absolute Favorite Cleaner for Removing Denim Transfer Stains

February 19, 2019 by 28 Comments

A while back I shared a big issue I was having with denim transfer on the leather seats of my car. Since my leather driver's seat was so badly stained, in desperation I tried several products that normally you wouldn't use on leather after various leather cleaning products failed to work. The cleaner that worked the best at that time was Formula 409, but again, I wouldn't really recommend that for leather, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: ,



Oh, The Surprising Things You’ll See Through a Ring Doorbell!

December 18, 2018 by 50 Comments

Back on November 28th, I blogged about my intentions to add a Ring Doorbell to my home for increased security and convenience. If you missed that original post, you'll find it here: Finally Doing It-I'm Adding a Security Camera to my Front Porch. Today I'm sharing how the installation went along with one hiccup I encountered and how I solved it. If you have any questions after reading this post,  leave … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Entry/Foyer, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , ,



Why My Laptop’s Built-in Camera Has Been Covered for the Last 10+ Years.

December 5, 2018 by 32 Comments

Many years ago, before I had ever heard of blogs, I took my then computer laptop to a computer store to have it repaired. When I placed it on the counter inside the repair shop and opened it up, I was a little embarrassed. Before leaving home, I had forgotten to remove the folded up yellow Post-it note I had taped over the camera. I hastily removed it, mumbling something about having heard you could be … [Read more...]

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



Finally Doing It–I’m Adding a Security Camera to My Front Porch

November 28, 2018 by 46 Comments

I've been thinking about adding a security camera to my front porch for a long, long time. Fortunately, I've never had a package or anything go missing from my porch, but a camera could come in handy for that, as well. The main reason I've been wishing to add a camera is in hopes of avoiding unnecessary interruptions. So often when I'm working in the office or somewhere in the house, I'll hear the doorbell … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Gift Ideas, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches Tagged With: ,



12 Cleaning Products I Would Never Want To Be Without

September 18, 2018 by 49 Comments

A few days ago I received an email from Jane, a lovely BNOTP reader asking about the furniture polish I use on my furniture. Today I thought I'd do an updated post sharing a lot of the products I use around my home for cleaning, maintenance and such. The ones I'm sharing are all products I truly love and enjoy...dare say, couldn't do without! This is the furniture polish I've been using now for several … [Read more...]

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



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

August 6, 2018 by 37 Comments

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

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



A Few Porch Updates & A Garden Seat Makeover

July 9, 2018 by 45 Comments

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

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



A Mini-Lifestyle Improvement

April 2, 2018 by 51 Comments

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

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



How I’m Preparing for Stormy Springtime Weather

March 24, 2018 by 27 Comments

I always look forward to spring each year, but there's one part of spring that I don't especially enjoy--the stormy weather we experience as the warm temps move in and clash with the cold that's already here. In years past we would get a lot of tornados during the months of March, April and May--peak tornado season. I'm not sure why, but thankfully, we haven't gotten that many the last few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Inspire Tagged With: , ,



How Did Those Brown Deck Railings Hold Up This Winter? An Update!

March 14, 2018 by 41 Comments

Last summer I shared an issue I was having with my white painted deck railings. I love having a white porch and loved my white deck railings, but...   ...I was not at all happy with how the tops of the deck railings were always looking. Even after having them freshly painted, they would be back looking like this in no time at all! Argggg!   It's pretty much impossible to keep … [Read more...]

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



A New Toy in My Cleaning Arsenal & Bunny Plates for Easter

March 10, 2018 by 52 Comments

I follow a few kitty Instagram accounts and they keep me in stitches daily. One account that I follow (bonnieclydekitties) shared the coolest tool for helping keep hardwood or tile flooring clean. I don't have pets now, so I don't have to worry about fur as she does, but I do have a lot of hardwood flooring to keep clean. My whole house is hardwood flooring now, except for one room, my upstairs family … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Organization and Storage, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, Porches & Decks Tagged With: , , ,



Frame a Hermes Silk Scarf with Museum Glass for Maximum Protection and Clarity

February 24, 2018 by 44 Comments

This is definitely another "Instagram-Made-Me-Do-It" project. So, I was minding my own business one day, checking out a fave Instagram account when I came across this picture below.   I immediately recognized that infamous Hermes orange and the iconic brown ribbon Hermes uses to tie all of their wonderful packages.   I had never seen this particular scarf before and loved … [Read more...]

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



Chevron Walls Turn a Home Office Into a Beautiful Nursery

February 19, 2018 by 15 Comments

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

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



Denim Transfer, The Bane of Handbag Lovers Everywhere

January 29, 2018 by 109 Comments

Welcome to the 470th Metamorphosis Monday! Update: I found a much better product that has worked for removing denim transfer from my car's leather seats and from my office chair. I've linked to it at the very end of this post. I fell in love with wearing denim jeggings this past fall, those and the "ankle-slim" pants have become my faves. Unfortunately, having never worn really dark denim jeans in the … [Read more...]

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



Preventing & Healing Split Fingertips In Winter

January 17, 2018 by 82 Comments

The snow has decided to stay a while here in Ohio. It snowed every day for 3-4 days in a row and the temps have stayed quite low. I'm not used to seeing this view out my windshield when driving.   All the neighborhoods look like this one. The snow plows have been coming through several times a day, so the roads are in pretty good shape.   I was amazed how quickly my car started … [Read more...]

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



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

October 30, 2017 by 41 Comments

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

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



Door & Deck Progress and A2 Milk Finally Reaches Georgia

October 16, 2017 by 69 Comments

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

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



Running Away From Home & A Dragon Finial

October 3, 2017 by 120 Comments

Stain decisions...Ugg. I'm running away from home. Today. How I dislike making these type decisions, but it's time and it has to be done. I visited a Sherwin Williams store today near my home to choose a stain color. Shockingly, they didn't have a single stain-chart brochure that I could take back home. They told me they were all out and so were all their other stores. Not one Super Deck sample stain … [Read more...]

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



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

September 25, 2017 by 62 Comments

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

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



My New Mopping System and Is This Door Too Short?

September 16, 2017 by 104 Comments

How is your weekend going? I've been working on a lot of things around here and I thought I'd share some of them with you in case they are helpful. Remember this door that I shared recently in a post? It's located in a small hallway...   ...that's right off my living room.   The door leads down to my partially-finished-in basement...just needs paint and flooring. I had the … [Read more...]

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



The Mysterious Case of the Greasy Glass

August 9, 2017 by 76 Comments

That title kinda sounds like a Nancy Drew Mystery story gone wrong, doesn't it? Ewww! Yeah, I think I'll pass on that book! lol Before we get into today's post, I am happy to announce that CabinetGate is officially a wrap. I had one door that arrived damaged and a replacement door is being shipped, but other than that and some possible shelf tweaking, the garage cabinet storage project is all finished. … [Read more...]

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



A Beautiful, Colorful Porch Makeover for Summer

July 24, 2017 by 24 Comments

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

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



How To Clean Fingerprints Off Stainless Steel & Leave a Lustrous Shine!

June 6, 2017 by 43 Comments

A few years back I decided it was time to do something about my pitiful tool storage situation. I had a small, red tool box that was overflowing with tools and it would take me forever to find a tool when I actually needed one. I headed off to Home Depot and brought home a nice looking, standing tool chest. I shared the chest and the process of assembling it in this previous post: Getting … [Read more...]

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



A Handy Mobile Phone Mounting System for the Car

June 5, 2017 by 18 Comments

Welcome to the 436th Metamorphosis Monday! A while back a YouTuber I follow mentioned a hands-free option for using a cell phone in the car. I try to not use my mobile phone in the car while driving, but I do love listening to books on Audible via my phone. Unfortunately, I have an older car and my car's Bluetooth will not work with the current phones of today, so typically I use a small Bluetooth … [Read more...]

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



Washing an Hermes Silk Scarf & Madame Paulette

May 8, 2017 by 32 Comments

Welcome to the 432nd Metamorphosis Monday! This past weekend I shared an older Hermes scarf I had purchased from a seller on eBay about 1-1/2 years ago. (See that post HERE.) When I bought the scarf, the eBay ad stated it was in perfect condition with no stains, tears, etc... Several months after purchasing it, I pulled it out to look at it again and noticed several stains near one … [Read more...]

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



Would You Hand-Wash an Hermes Silk Scarf?

May 6, 2017 by 47 Comments

A year or so ago, not long after returning from a trip to Kenya (see posts about that trip here: Africa) I was stalking Hermes scarfs on eBay and came across this beauty. The listing said that it was in perfect condition, no stains, tears, pulls, etc... I think the seller said it had belonged to his Mother. I'm a big fan of Hermes and their gorgeous scarves, and this one completely stole my heart. I … [Read more...]

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



How Shout Color Catcher Saved My Favorite Shirt

April 24, 2017 by 78 Comments

Welcome to the 430th Metamorphosis Monday! This is not a sponsored post, I just had to share Shout's amazing Color Catcher product because it literally saved me from having to throw away one of my favorite shirts. Hope this proves helpful if you ever find yourself in a similar situation. A few months ago I purchased this adorable polka-dot shirt after seeing it online in this ad.   My … [Read more...]

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



A Cute Footstool with Storage Gets a New Look

April 4, 2017 by 38 Comments

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

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



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

February 20, 2017 by 61 Comments

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

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



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

February 6, 2017 by 216 Comments

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

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



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

August 30, 2016 by 87 Comments

Now that's a strange twist, isn't it--blogging about projects I'm not going to do instead of a project I plan to do. lol  This topic is fresh on my mind right now because I just got back from visiting a large, hardware store near my home. I was there to scope out a project I was considering doing but have decided against. Once I get an idea in my head, it's really hard for me to let go. But I've learned … [Read more...]

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



Case-Mate & Invisible Shield, Two Great Products

August 15, 2016 by 30 Comments

Welcome to the 394th Metamorphosis Monday! BNOTP is on Instagram! I usually post there twice per day. If you'd like to check it out and follow, you'll find BNOTP here: BNOTP on Instagram. Saving $$$ Feels So Good! Recently I learned something that ended up saving me around $65. That's a lot of $$$ to waste unnecessarily so I thought I'd share this experience with you in case it ends up saving you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes



Taper Tipper: Easiest Way To Trim Down the Base of a Candle

August 8, 2016 by 43 Comments

Welcome to the 393rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I shared this summer table setting for Tablescape Thursday. Thanks so much for all the lovely comments you left on that post--appreciated those so much!   The centerpiece for that table was all about candles, lots and lots of candles. (Tablescape can be viewed here: Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch)   In that post I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Fall Tablescapes, Spring & Summer Tablescapes, Winter Tablescapes Tagged With: , ,



How to Remove Deteriorated Rug’s Latex Backing Stuck on Hardwood Flooring

June 28, 2016 by 117 Comments

When updating or making improvements to your home, do you ever feel sometimes like you take three steps forward, only to take two steps back. You get a few things done and start to feel like you're making some headway, while unbeknownst to you little gremlins are at work messing something else up. I tell ya, home ownership is not for weenies! Recently, I had hardwood flooring installed in my guest room. … [Read more...]

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



After 8 Years, It’s Time!

May 9, 2016 by 60 Comments

Welcome to the 380th Metamorphosis Monday! It was a busy weekend around here. The porch that normally looks like this...   ...and like this...   ...looks like this today. Ruh-roh! Something's up!   The hutch that was full of dishes, now looks like this.   All the dishes are here on the breakfast table. What is going on around here?! After 8 … [Read more...]

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



Decorating and Dressing in Blue & White

May 6, 2016 by 22 Comments

I'm a big fan of blue and white, just find it so beautiful. I've used a lot of that color in my guest room.     Well, no one does blue and white better than the Dutch! When I was touring this outdoor village that I shared in this post: Zuiderzee Museum, I got a wonderful surprise when I walked into one of the buildings there.   The entrance of the building and this room … [Read more...]

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



Granite That Looks Similar To Carrara Marble: Bianco Romano

April 1, 2016 by 33 Comments

Thanks so much for all the awesome suggestions and information you left on Wednesday's post about the bathroom update/renovation I'm starting to plan. It has been so helpful! If you're thinking of updating a bathroom anytime soon, I really recommend you check out the comments on that post because there are tons of great ideas and information about what to avoid in that post. You'll find that post here: … [Read more...]

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



Some Kitchen Updates: A Moen MotionSense Faucet and Soap Dispenser

March 22, 2016 by 24 Comments

I think spring fever has gone to my head! This week I'm getting estimates for tons of things I've been needing to get done. Not sure what all I'll try to do right away and what will have to wait, but tomorrow is the start of a few of the updates. The first update is here in the kitchen. The Grohe faucet I had installed back in 2001 when I completed a modest kitchen renovation, has been acting up over the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Kitchen & Breakfast Area, My Nest



I’m Steaming! Steaming Happy, That Is!

March 21, 2016 by 34 Comments

Welcome to the 373rd Metamorphosis Monday! Several years ago my sister gave me a My Little Steamer, steamer. She had a very generous and loving nature and often when she saw something advertised on TV that she thought I could use, she would buy it and surprise me with it on my next visit to her home. At the time she gave me the steamer, I wasn't sure how I would use it, but I thanked her and tucked it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Living Room (Downstairs), My Nest



How to Clean Encrusted Mineral Deposits From Inside a Humidifier

March 18, 2016 by 92 Comments

Lately I've been a cleaning fiend around here. I understand now why you hear so much about "spring" cleaning. When winter begins to fall away and the days start getting longer and warmer, something inside you just makes you want to clean and freshen up everything in sight. It's kind of fun to put up away some of the things I've been using this winter, a sign that winter is pretty much a thing of the … [Read more...]

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



How to Repair a Woodpecker-Damaged Roof of a Lazy Hill Dovecote Birdhouse

March 7, 2016 by 72 Comments

Welcome to the 371st Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings! How was your weekend? Hope it was great! Mine was productive and I'm happy to report that I was able to successfully repair the damaged roof of my Lazy Hill Dovecote and restore it back to the garden in time for the spring nesting season. You may remember a woodpecker (we suspect a Pileated Woodpecker) drilled a huge hole into the roof almost two … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes, For the Love of Birds, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , , , , ,



Ballard Designs Speaks & A Lesson in Drapery Clip Rings

January 29, 2016 by 40 Comments

Happy Friday and Happy Weekend! When I awoke today, I was in the mood to move forward on the drapery project I recently started here in the family room. You may remember this photo where I had draped the green, velvet draperies I found recently in a Ballard Designs Outlet over the tops of my plantation shutters to get an idea how they would work in this room.   The Velvet Dilemma: Ballard … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dining Room, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest Tagged With: , , ,



How To Get Your Car Out of the Mud: A Roadside Service Fail

January 5, 2016 by 132 Comments

Last Monday I went through one of the worst experiences I've ever had while traveling. In fact, I would say this ranks as the worst. Grab a cup of coffee or hot tea because this story is a bit long. I hope it saves someone from experiencing what I went through a few days ago on a long trip back home. I've had car insurance and roadside assistance with the same company for over 35 years. My insurance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes



DIY Hot Cocoa Sign for a Hot Chocolate Bar: A Tutorial

December 25, 2015 by 37 Comments

A couple of days ago I shared a Hot Cocoa bar I created out on my screened porch. The bar area included a sign I made that was inspired by a sign I had seen floating around blogland a few years back. After not having any success locating a similar sign, I decided it was time to head downstairs to my basement workshop and make my own. (Inspiration sign and detail views of the Hot Cocoa Bar can be seen in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Table Settings, Christmas Tablescapes, DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decor Knock-offs, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Winter Tablescapes



An Adrenaline-Charged Morning

October 24, 2015 by 75 Comments

I'm back home! Whew! Let me tell you folks, 11 hours is a long, long time to sit in one small, cramped spot. I was never so happy to get off a plane! I was all set to write a post today sharing some helpful tips on how I survived those 11 hours in the air with my sanity still intact, when something happened that I thought was way more important to share. I hope this will save you major heart-ache down … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes



How To Refurbish A Rusted Old Bistro Set

October 5, 2015 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 349th Metamorphosis Monday! This cool fall weather has me itching to get outside and do a little sprucing up. Lately I've been noticing the bistro table I love to use for outdoor dining was starting to show its age.   I normally use a tablecloth when dining here but the rest of the time the table is uncovered for everyday use.   This set is made of metal. When … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Decorating, DIY Photography, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Porches, Porches & Decks



How To Save Or Frame a Jigsaw Puzzle Without Using Messy Glues

April 15, 2015 by 79 Comments

If you're a jigsaw puzzle lover, chances are you'll occasionally work a puzzle that you'll want to keep and frame. I completed one a couple of weeks ago that I knew from the beginning I would want to keep and possibly frame for sentimental reasons. Nancy Drew and I were best buds when I was around 8-11 years old. I wanted to to be just like her when I grew up! ;) I've never framed a puzzle so I did a bit … [Read more...]

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



Froggy Fountain Repair and Makeover

April 6, 2015 by 48 Comments

Welcome to the 323rd Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Spring! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I spent part of the weekend bringing the plants I had wintered over in the garage, out onto the deck. I'm pushing it a bit since the rule of thumb here is to always wait until after April 15th to plant annuals since there's always a possibility of a freeze before that date. What is the first date recommended for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , ,



My New Addiction, Why Didn’t Someone Warn Me?!

March 24, 2015 by 122 Comments

When was the last time you did a puzzle? I think I was probably 10 years old, maybe younger. Recently I shared some of the whimsical artwork of Charles Wysocki, a talented artist I just recently discovered. While visiting the online store his family maintains since his passing a few years ago, I discovered several of his paintings had been turned into puzzles. I thought to myself, "That's nice." That's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Repairs and Fixes



How To Remove Odors From A Bag, Purse or Tote

March 16, 2015 by 101 Comments

Welcome to the 320th Metamorphosis Monday! Earlier this past winter when I was working on my winter bedding and was deep into all things plaid...   ...I came across this picture of the Pendleton Weekender bag. It was love at first sight! There was just one problem. The bag hasn't been available for over two years. It was last sold in stores back in 2012. Drat! Don't you hate it when you … [Read more...]

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



How To Tighten Or Repair Loose Louvers On Interior Plantation Shutters

February 27, 2015 by 53 Comments

Plantation shutters have been a popular window treatment for many years. They offer lots of great benefits like sun control and extra insulation, which really comes in handy when the weather turns super cold like it has been lately. If you've ever shopped for plantation shutters, you probably know that they are usually made of either wood or a man-made product like vinyl or plastic, sometimes referred to … [Read more...]

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



How To Repair Chipped or Missing Window Glazing

February 23, 2015 by

Welcome to the 317th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years ago I had the exterior of my home painted, actually it's been about 6 years now. Wow, time has flown by! I was outside filling up my bird feeders recently and noticed something hanging down above one of the windowpanes in the bay window of my breakfast room.   On closer inspection I could see the glazing had cracked away from the … [Read more...]

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



Ready For Spring Planting

January 19, 2015 by 46 Comments

Welcome to the 312th Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all the comments left on my last post. I read each one, not just once, but several times. Your prayers, encouragement and individual stories have been a true blessing and they have brought me much comfort over the last few days. So many of you well-know the heartache of losing someone very close to you. I'll be returning to that post to read … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garden, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, My Nest



Replace Your Old Doorbell For The Upcoming Holidays

November 7, 2014 by 24 Comments

Happy Friday! Got any special plans for the weekend? Will you be doing any DIY projects around the house or maybe decorating for the holidays? Speaking of DIY projects, about a month ago I completed a small upgrade that I'm super excited to share today. I've noticed from time-to-time over the years that my doorbell was looking pretty decrepit. I tell ya, doorbells get no respect. lol They get installed … [Read more...]

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



How To Repair A Large Hole In Sheetrock Or Drywall

July 14, 2014 by 75 Comments

Welcome to the 285th Metamorphosis Monday! Last December I shared the story behind a mystery alcove located just outside my master bedroom doors. That previous post can be found here: If These Walls Could Talk: A Mystery Alcove. I've always been glad this little alcove was here because it has been the perfect spot for a chest that was once was a changing table for my son when he was a baby. When I … [Read more...]

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



Has To Get Worse Before It Gets Better

July 11, 2014 by 63 Comments

That woman you see, the one walking around muttering and looking distracted...yeah, that's me. I know it has to get worse before it gets better but I still don't especially like it. The porch that normally looks like this...   ...currently looks like this. I just keep reminding myself, chaos is a sign progress is being made. The porch has weathered well for the past six years despite being … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden, My Nest, Porches, Porches & Decks



Keep Bats & Critters From Entering Attics With Screening

June 16, 2014 by 72 Comments

Welcome to the 281st Metamorphosis Monday! Guess where we are? We're in the attic. Hot up here, isn't it? Well, it is June, ya know. See that brown thing over there? Know what it is? Yup! It's a bat.   About a week ago I went up to the attic to check on something and that's when I spied Mr. Bat. When I first saw him hanging there under the small gable window in my attic, I thought … [Read more...]

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



I Broke The Number One Rule Of Container Gardening

June 9, 2014 by 82 Comments

Welcome to the 280th Metamorphosis Monday! I never did much "container" gardening until I added on a screened-in porch.  My old deck was hotter than the hinges of...well, you know. The west sun beat down upon it every single afternoon making it impossible to sit out there. Forget sitting, you couldn't even walk barefoot out there without risking 3rd degree burns on your feet!  And then there was the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Garden, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , , , ,



Jazzing Up a Porch For Springtime Enjoyment

May 5, 2014 by 41 Comments

Welcome to the 275th Metamorphosis Monday! I love, love, love how the days are getting longer. Okay, the days aren't really getting longer but you know what I mean. The daylight is staying with us more and more and I just love it! With more daylight hours for playing, it's time to get out there and spruce up our outdoor spaces and that's exactly what Mary and Dave from Front Porch Ideas and More did … [Read more...]

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



A Cure for Sagginess

April 28, 2014 by 103 Comments

Welcome to the 274th Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? Hope it was grand! I spent much of my weekend pouring through One Man's Folly, a book I had pre-ordered and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. I rarely pre-order a book but this one sounded like it was going to be amazing from the articles I had read online. Oh, my gosh...is it ever! Such a wonderful book! I have so enjoyed every … [Read more...]

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



Coolest Woodworking Video Ever: This One’s For the Book Lovers

March 28, 2014 by 36 Comments

Happy Friday! What do you do when you have too many books and not enough bookshelves?   Imagine if a woodworking shop came to life. Even if you're not into woodworking, you'll like this 7-minute video. It made me laughed out loud a couple of times. The clamps were my favorite. Eee-eek, eee-eek, eee-eek. That will make sense in a minute. :) The video below was made by Frank Howarth from … [Read more...]

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



A Workbench for the Basement

March 26, 2014 by 76 Comments

I've been hold-up in the basement for the last few days, working on a project that reminds me of the time I decided to teach myself to knit. It went something like this: Gee, I think I'd like to learn to knit. Ummm, what should I knit first? I know...gloves! Yeah, you can imagine how that turned out! Later on, an experienced knitter told me that a glove is one of the hardest things you can ever knit. … [Read more...]

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



The Best Way to Protect & Care for Outdoor Wood Furniture

March 10, 2014 by 85 Comments

Welcome to the 267th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a great weekend! This weekend I was busy adding a bit of protection to the Pottery-Barn-Inspired potting table I made recently. I'm hoping to move it up to the deck soon for spring planting and summer parties and I really don't want to see it become weathered and damaged over the years.   I've never before had to worry about protecting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Gardening & Birding, In the Garden Tagged With: , , ,



Mr. Rooster Grows a New Tail

January 20, 2014 by 62 Comments

Welcome to the 260th Metamorphosis Monday! So, I'm kind of late in sharing this, like a whole year late. The pictures vanished into never-never land in my computer but I came across them this weekend and thought this may be helpful if you have a ceramic something-another hanging around your home in need of repair. About a year ago I purchased a large white ceramic rooster online. Unfortunately, when … [Read more...]

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



How to Paint Doors Like a Pro

November 4, 2013 by 68 Comments

Welcome to the 249th Metamorphosis Monday! One of the most basic DIY jobs we face at one time or another is painting. We've all painted a room or two in our time, haven't we? Paint truly has the ability to transform a space taking it from so-so to sooo beautiful! I've never been afraid to paint walls but doors have always been a bit of a mystery for me. More than once I've painted a door to … [Read more...]

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



Make a Lamp from a Beautiful Vase or Figurine

October 30, 2013 by 49 Comments

Recently Vikki who reads BNOTP, emailed me and shared a wonderful DIY project she had just finished. Vikki came across this blue and white porcelain vase in Goodwill for just $7. Vikki said, "When I saw the vase I knew immediately what I wanted to do with it." What Vikki decided to do was make it into a beautiful lamp! Isn't it wonderful?!  It's just perfect against the blue and white toile … [Read more...]

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



Prepping a Room for Paint: It’s Easier Than You Think

October 9, 2013 by 23 Comments

I have always loved the almost instant makeover paint can give a room. But before the painting, there's always the part that we tend to dread--the prep work.  It reminds me of gardening, all we really want to do is plant pretty flowers, but if we don't prepare the soil first, chances are the flowers are not going to look pretty for very long. I used to be intimidated by the idea of repairing a hole or a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Office/Craft/Sewing Room



Goodbye Mildew and Mold, Hello Shiny Clean Porch!

October 7, 2013 by 63 Comments

Welcome to the 245th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I shared an update to the front porch area of my home when I added two boxwood topiaries on either side of the porch. From a distance the porch looked pretty clean in the photos. If you look closely though, you'll see grayish streaks on the columns and the molding around the door. This spring and summer has been the wettest I've ever known … [Read more...]

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



Paint Your Porch Ceiling, Haint Blue

September 20, 2013 by 90 Comments

When I added a screened porch onto the back of my home five years ago, I was very tempted to paint the ceiling haint blue. For years I had seen homes all over the south with porch ceilings painted a soft, sky blue. I ultimately decided it wouldn't work for my porch because of the gable ceiling. You  may remember this home from our tour of Isle of Hope just outside Savannah Georgia. It's sporting a … [Read more...]

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



Paint Your Front Door Heritage Red or Peacock Blue

August 7, 2013 by 66 Comments

Recently, I had my front door freshened up with a new coat of paint.  The final coat of paint went on day before yesterday.  We ran into a little problem but finally found the solution...more on that in a sec. I stayed with my beloved, Benjamin Moore "Heritage Red."  I still love that color for a front door. Since the front door was being repainted, I decided to make a few changes.  I decided to remove … [Read more...]

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



Erasing the Messy Parts of Life

July 29, 2013 by 125 Comments

Welcome to the 235th Metamorphosis Monday! For this MM, I have a small "Before and After," something that made me a happy girl this weekend. I'm probably the last one on earth to discover this, but I thought I'd share it today in case it's helpful for you. Do you ever get these annoying little scuff marks on your walls?  They just appear, don't they? There must be little gremlins running through the … [Read more...]

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



Outdoor Outlet Switcheroo and A Brown Mulch Decision

July 23, 2013 by 62 Comments

So, I have this outdoor outlet that's been bugging me. When ever I take pics of the front porch for zay blog, it always sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb. The outlet that was original to the house had quit working. When I purchased a new outlet, I thought a white outlet would be a nice change and look good with the white porch. Bad idea. I now realize I basically want the outlet to just … [Read more...]

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



My Fave Yellow Paint Colors: Duron Sugar Cookie and Duron Tea Biscuit

July 19, 2013 by 73 Comments

One of my fave paint colors I go to time and time again is an old, old Duron color called Sugar Cookie.  There's a little story how I first discovered this color. Many, many years ago, through a job I had at the time, I met a delightful lady who was the wife of a professional coach for a local university.  I can't remember now if he was a footfall or basketball coach.  Anyway, when I visited their home, … [Read more...]

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



8 Months of Procrastination Finally Ends

May 6, 2013 by 70 Comments

Welcome to the 224th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a wonderful weekend.  This was one of those weekends where I had a long list of things I really wanted to get done but Mother Nature had other plans.  It rained "monsoon style" all day long on Saturday, but being the determined, crazy woman that I am, I dragged the tall urns from the deck onto the porch and replanted those as I had planned. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Repairs and Fixes, For the Love of Birds, Gardening & Birding, Nature Tagged With: , , , ,



Don’t Throw Out Those Dead Christmas Tree Lights

December 3, 2012 by 89 Comments

Welcome to the 202nd Metamorphosis Monday! Georgia is a crazy place to live, weather-wise.  If you have a convertible you're pretty much guaranteed a few days every single month, even during the wintertime, when you'll be able to throw down the top and enjoy the warm breezes. We're in one of those periods right now.  This was the scene in my kitchen yesterday.  The door to the porch was wide open and it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, Christmas Crafts, Christmas Decor, Christmas Holiday Home, DIY, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, The Holiday Home Tagged With: , ,



Show Your Colors and Showcase Your Fabulous Before and After

October 5, 2012 by 35 Comments

Greetings!  It's Friday!  Have any projects around the house you'll be working on this weekend?  Any painting projects?  If so, I have a little sumpin', sumpin' to get you inspired and raring to go! In March, I shared about an exciting new site by Glidden called My Colortopia.   My Colortopia was especially designed to help us DIYers when we're agonizing over finding the right paint color … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Dining Room, DIY, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest Tagged With: , ,



How to Age, Antique or Distress Furniture, Signs or a Wood Flag

August 13, 2012 by 44 Comments

Welcome to the 186th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I was chatting via e-mail with Nancy,  a talented DIY reader of BNOTP.  Nancy was inspired by a tutorial I posted a while back detailing how I made a wood flag for Independence Day. I had been inspired by this one in the Pottery Barn catalog.   Since I had a big cookout planned for the 4th, the flag was the finishing touch for my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Before & After, DIY Crafts & Sewing, DIY Decor Knock-offs, DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, Independence Day Crafts, Independence Day Decor, Independence Day Holiday Home Tagged With: , , , , , ,



My Image Inspiration: What Inspires You?

March 16, 2012 by 28 Comments

A few weeks ago I shared My Colortopia, a fun site created by Glidden Paint to help take the scary guesswork out of choosing a paint color.  Using the tool, My Life, My Colors, you answered 7 fun questions to reveal colors you would enjoy having in your home. Often when we freshen up a space in our home with new paint, we'll have an item that's serving as our inspiration.  It could be a particular … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes



20+ Products I Can’t Live Without

February 3, 2012 by 117 Comments

I've been working on this post in my head for months.  Every time I do or use something here in my home that I love or can't do without,  I have thought about this post.  It isn't written to endorse any particular brand, although that's invariably going to happen just because sometimes it's a particular brand that does the job just the way I want it done.  If I really prefer that brand, I'll mention it in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Repairs and Fixes, Inspire



Repairing String Lights on the Pergola

October 31, 2011 by 55 Comments

Welcome to the 145th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years ago I purchased some outdoor string lighting from Hobby Lobby.  It was perfect for my deck(s) because it was white and the decks are painted white.  I spent several hours one afternoon, running it around the top of the pergola to the right of the screened-in porch and under the arm rail of the deck to the left of the porch. Within the year, … [Read more...]

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



Hiding Ugly Scratches on Furniture

September 28, 2011 by 32 Comments

Monday, I was playing with the mantel in the family room, creating a fall mantel seen here: Fall Mantel.   I looked over and noticed a few scratches on the armoire in the corner.   Do you see the little dents/scratches in this pic below?   Over the years, this armoire has accumulated small scratches from everyday use.   I thought I'd share a few products I've … [Read more...]

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



Painting the Closets and Office Trim

August 24, 2011 by 55 Comments

How's your week going? I've had so much fun reading the comments you left about your past excursions to IKEA. One tip I wanted to share about the best times to visit IKEA to avoid crowds:  try to go on a week day, if possible.  If you do need to go on a Saturday, get there early, as soon as they open, or late in the day like around 5:00 PM.  I noticed it was a lot less crowded come evening/dinner … [Read more...]

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



A Paint Panic Attack

April 9, 2011 by 116 Comments

Update: Home Depot has changed the paint formulas again so ignore the formula further down in this post: You'll find the correct formulas in this post now:  My Fave Yellow Paint Colors: Duron Sugar Cookie & Duron Tea Biscuit Does this ever happen to you? You finally decide on a paint color, go to the paint store, buy the paint, come home, start painting and then, PANIC! It happens to me every. … [Read more...]

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



Repairing Damaged Walls from Wallpaper Removal

March 21, 2011 by 25 Comments

While we continue enjoying all the wonderful links for yesterday's Met Monday, I thought I would share some of the progress I made in the office, today. I covered everything up.   I put "you-know-who" on the screened-in porch so he wouldn't be breathing in all the sanding I'd be doing. He wasn't too thrilled about Mom staying inside while he was out, but he eventually found a big puddle of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: DIY Decorating, DIY Repairs and Fixes, My Nest, Office/Craft/Sewing Room Tagged With: , , ,



Best Wallpaper Remover

March 7, 2011 by 74 Comments

Welcome to the 111th Metamorphosis Monday! Guess what this is.   It's the last of the wallpaper!   The evil wallpaper is GONE, GONE, GONE!   Thanks to this stuff...Safe and Simple. You'll find their website HERE and in case you're wondering, I'm not being compensated in any way for recommending this product.  I'm just sharing the good stuff, when and where I … [Read more...]

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