The Best Way To Remove Tape Residue From Hardwood Flooring

Welcome to the 815th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday! Hope your weekend was awesome! I have a house full of painters here right now, they are working on finishing up the painting in the kitchen and the basement.  I'm still anxious and nervous about how the kitchen desk restoration will look in the kitchen once that is completed. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out. Today, I'm sharing a smallish … [Read more...]




When Am I Selling My Home & Moving? Answering All Your Questions

Ever since I shared in a post that I had purchased a home near family in Ohio, I've received quite a few questions via comments and emails. Today, I thought I'd try to answer some of those questions, although I'm not sure I have all the answers myself. Before we jump into the questions, let me give you a little background about how I came to find the home I've come to affectionately call the "Dollhouse" due … [Read more...]




Luxury Bathing: A 1938 Cinderella Bathtub, Plus Knob Upgrades For 2 Laundry Chutes

Welcome to the 814th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm back in Georgia and work will start back up again in the kitchen next Monday. I'm glad to have a week to get caught up before work begins again. Hopefully, they will be done this next week with the painting and the rebuilding of the desk. A week or so ago I shared how I had the unique and unusually-shaped tub in the Dollhouse master bath reglazed. I could … [Read more...]




So Many Lighting Updates, Plus A New Console Table For the Upstairs Hall

Welcome to the 813th Metamorphosis Monday! When I first moved into the Dollhouse, it was a dim, dark place! I didn't have any lamps, yet, and a lot of the lighting either wasn't working properly or contained dim, low-wattage bulbs. For example, the master bedroom has an overhead ceiling fan with a light attachment, but one of the bulbs was physically shattered and the other bulb was a 40-watt bulb. I was so … [Read more...]




How To Remove Tape & Sticky Glue Residue From A Painted Door, You’ll Never Believe What I Used!

See that closet door on the other side of the room here in the office? All the closets in this home badly needed to be painted, but that particular closet had another issue, and I'm not just talking about the bare bulb light with the pull-string that hung right in your face when you opened the door. Thankfully, that's gone!   On the inside of the door, someone had stuck tape on the door and … [Read more...]




A Look at My New Expandable Flatware Organizer, Great For Wide Kitchen Drawers

A few days ago, I shared about this wide drawer that is located in the kitchen of the dollhouse, and how I had found it with the center bottom of the drawer busted downward, held that way due to a large bolt that had somehow become wedged between the back wall of the drawer and its bottom. I discovered it was that way the first time I placed something in that drawer and immediately heard the item fall out … [Read more...]




So Many Updates For The Dollhouse, & More To Come!

Welcome to the 808th Metamorphosis Monday! Whenever I'm here at the Dollhouse, I always feel a lot of pressure to get stuff done, and get it done right now! That's because my time is always limited since I have projects going on back in Georgia, too. The minute I pull into the driveway, I'm on the go. I usually have appointments set up with repairmen or tradesmen starting the very next day, so there's no … [Read more...]




Removing The Sticky, Deteriorating, Residue From Tool Handles, Surfaces, & Devices

Years ago, I noticed the handle on my hand mixer had become super sticky. Washing it with soap and water didn't help, it's as if the rubbery surface of the handle was dissolving. The mixer still worked great, so I didn't want to replace it. Over the years, on the rare occasion when I needed to use it (I normally use my stand mixer) I always wrapped a paper towel around the handle, otherwise it was way too … [Read more...]




Gotta Leave Now, So I’m Staying In A Big Canoe TreeTopper—Plus, A Fabulous Dress!

Welcome to the 805th Metamorphosis Monday! I am looking forward to a few slower days sometime soon. Right now every day is jam-packed. I just got back from donating some things to Goodwill, including some of the mirrors that I had down the front staircase wall. I'm preparing to have the upstairs hall painted so it was time to remove everything along this wall.   The boxes are growing in the … [Read more...]




2 Mysteries In This 1938 Cape Cod: 1 Marked Solved, 1 Still Unsolved. Any Ideas?

Welcome to the 804th Metamorphosis Monday! Buying a 1938 Cape Cod has been an interesting, intriguing, and sometimes challenging experience. Some days are days are challenging, and some days are filled with mystery and intrigue. In a recent post, I shared a mystery electrical switch that I discovered in an unusual spot in the master bedroom. If you look closely at this picture of the room when the home was … [Read more...]




How To Save Your Favorite Jacket When It’s Ruined From Color Bleed In The Wash

Welcome to the 799th Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever had a favorite top or outfit ruined due to color bleed in the wash? My friend, Teresa, loves to travel, and one of her favorite jackets that she often takes along when she travels is a Tommy Bahama jacket in a nice neutral color. Having just returned from a trip, her hubby, Frank, was trying to be helpful by washing some of the clothes they wore … [Read more...]




Hope This Tip Will Save You A $149 Electrician Visit—Still Can’t Believe It Worked!

Thanks so much for your helpful comments and suggestions yesterday. I am much, much better today and feeling right back to normal, thank goodness! No more wall paper stripping without a mask on! So, I have to share this crazy "lighting" thing I just discovered in case you ever run into this issue. Hopefully, it will save you from having to call an electrician and pay a troubleshooting fee, as I just had … [Read more...]




Covering Edges Of Melamine Shelves & What Happened To My Fave Wallpaper Remover

Welcome to the 797th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you had a fabulous weekend! I've been working on a few bathroom projects this weekend. One of the tasks I worked on involved the shelves in the closets of both upstairs baths. When this house was built many years ago, I'm not sure why, but the closets were built with wood boards inside for shelves. I think they were 1 x 12s or something like that. There are … [Read more...]




The Upstairs Living Room Window Seat Just Got A Much Needed Update

A few days ago, I made a small update/repair here in the upstairs living room, aka the bonus room or FROG.   It turned out so well, I thought I'd share it in case you find it helpful. When I moved into this house so many years ago, the upstairs living room already had window seats under all the windows.   There's storage built in under each of the window seats. The two dormer … [Read more...]




All My Favorite Must-Have Tools Gathered Into A Single Post

Welcome to the 793rd Metamorphosis Monday! Last month, Pam left this comment on a post where I shared a photo of my tool chest in my garage. Over the years, as I've completed a few DIY projects around the house, I've gradually accumulated quite a few tools that I really enjoy using. I have too many to try and list them all in a comment, so I let Pam know I would work on a post sharing my favorites, those … [Read more...]




How I Plan To Stop My Car From Being Stolen While Pumping Gas

Have you been hearing about this latest issue where people are having their cars stolen literally right out from under their noses? Yesterday, I saw a video about this particular incident below that happened a few days ago. A woman had just finished pumping gas into her SUV and was replacing the gas cap when a thief jumped into her vehicle and drove off with her SUV, her handbag, and everything else she had … [Read more...]




How I Repaired A Loose Strap Keeper On My Pochette Metis Hand Bag

Welcome to the 789th Metamorphosis Monday! Almost six years ago, in August 2018, I purchased a Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis bag in the Reverse Monogram style. This bag has been a workhorse! It's the bag I wear during the fall/winter months the most, especially on days when it's pouring rain and I have a ton of errands to run. It's impervious to rain, and when wearing it crossbody it somehow becomes one with … [Read more...]




A Bee-utiful Solution For My Tool Chest & Other Dinged or Dented Stainless Appliances

Thanks so much for all your great suggestions in the comments of Monday's post! If you missed that post, I was troubleshooting possible solutions for getting rid of a really noticeable dent that somehow appeared on the front of this large tool chest here in the garage during the time the garage was being painted.   One suggestion made in the comments that, unfortunately, wouldn't work in this … [Read more...]




My Absolute Favorites For Spring Cleaning The Porches And The Garage

Update: Just noticed that Talbots has made their 25% off sale even better with 40% off any one item and 25% off everything else. You the code SPRING40 to get 40% off any one item. If you missed my spring favorites post, you'll find it here: Getting a Jump on My Spring Wardrobe, Everything is Currently on Sale. You'll find the Talbots spring sale here: Talbots Spring Sale. The temps here this week have … [Read more...]




A New Addition To The Garage For The Rainy Days

Welcome to the 783rd Metamorphosis Monday! Thanks so much for all your amazing and much-appreciated comments on our 800th Tablescape Thursday post! I can't wait to see what the next 15 years holds. If it's half as fun as the first 15, I know it will be awesome! If you missed the Tablescape Thursday post, you'll find it here: Celebrating 800 Tablescape Thursdays & Looking Forward to Many More. No … [Read more...]




Would You Have The Nerve To Do This? Yikes!

Mr. Gingerbread Man and his many stories live on! Hahaha! During November and December, whenever I shared about this adorable Kate Spade Gingerbread House bag, the emails, pictures, stories, and comments I received from BNOTP readers, friends, and my daughter-in-law were the best! This fun bag stole the show and was always the topic of conversation everywhere it traveled. I could write a blog post doing … [Read more...]




How To Make A New Candle With Wax Left In The Bottom Of A Candle Jar

Welcome to the 780th Metamorphosis Monday! Do you love candles? Have you ever had an issue with a candle creating a well down the center of the candle as it burned? I've read so many tips about how to avoid that issue, the main one being to let the candle burn allllll the way out to the edges of its container the first time you light it. That, along with keeping the wick trimmed to a normal height, is … [Read more...]




Love This Idea For Keeping Valuables and Collectibles Safe

Since I'm a crazy, handbag-obsessed woman, I like to occasionally watch YouTube videos of handbag unboxings or handbag reviews. In one particular video I watched recently, the YouTuber shared how she secures her expensive handbags and jewelry when she's away. She hinted that there had been an issue in the past, saying, "If you know, you know." I'm not sure what she was referring to but it sounded like she's … [Read more...]




A Wonderful Dollhouse Before & After: The Restoration Is Complete

I'm back today with Part 2--the reveal of Elena's wonderful dollhouse renovation/restoration. If you missed yesterday's post, check it out first so you can see the condition the house was in before Elena worked her magic. You'll find Part 1 here: A Wonderful Dollhouse Before & After: The Restoration Begins. If you remember from yesterday, the railing and balusters of this porch area were broken and … [Read more...]




A Wonderful Dollhouse Before & After: The Restoration Begins

Welcome to the 769th Metamorphosis Monday! When I was growing up, I never had a dollhouse. Did you have one when you were little? I never even remember seeing a dollhouse when I was little, I guess none of my friends had them, either. I didn't really become aware of dollhouses until I was much older, but once I did become aware of them, it made me really wish I had had one growing up. One day many years … [Read more...]




New Blinds For The Basement & A Minor Repair You May Find Helpful

Welcome to the 768th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday--how was your weekend? I hope it was awesome! I have two Before and Afters to share for this week's Met Monday--one is kinda small, but will hopefully, prove helpful, and another one that was a bit pricey but I'm glad to have completed.   Let's start with the pricey one--if you've been reading BNOTP for the past year or so, you know I've … [Read more...]




This Miracle Trick For Removing Pen & Ink Marks From Leather Saved My Handbag

Recently I discovered an amazing little trick that I never knew about! I had a mini-disaster occur with one of my handbags. There's a barbecue restaurant about 15 minutes from my home. I'm rarely in that area so when I do find myself near the restaurant, I'll sometimes go through their drive-thru to order one of their BBQ plates. On my last visit a few weeks back, when I reached the window where you pay … [Read more...]




How To Adjust The Size Of The Grind On A Salt Or Pepper Shaker

This is probably one of those, "everyone in the world knows this but me" things. lol I love this salt and pepper shaker that I purchased a few years back--except for one thing. Over the past few months, the pepper shaker puts out these huge pepper chunks when I grind a little pepper into my eggs in the morning. This morning, after it happened once again, I started thinking I was just going to have to look … [Read more...]




La Fermière Yogurt Pot–How to Remove Adhesive Off The Rim + A Yeti Tumbler Hack

Welcome to the 774th Tablescape Thursday! I was visiting family in Ohio for the past 9 days and just got home around 6:30 last night after a long 9-hour drive. So though I don't have a table setting to share, I have two things that are table-related that I hope you'll find helpful. Yesterday, I shared these delicious yogurts I discovered during my time in Ohio. As mentioned in yesterday's post, this … [Read more...]




Sometimes It’s the Little Things That Can Make Life A Lot Better!

Welcome to the 753rd Metamorphosis Monday! Have you ever had something annoy you for a long time, then one day that final straw hits and you realize you have to do something to fix it, or at least find something that works better? That's what finally happened to me with these super annoying tape dispensers I've been using for ages. The red one normally lives in the basement and I have another one just like … [Read more...]




Finally Did It–Had The Roof Cleaned! What Do You Think?

Welcome to the 750th Metamorphosis Monday! Two years ago, in June 2021, I shared a post where I mentioned I had noticed the roof on my home was looking kinda dirty. In this older 2012 photo, here's how the roof looked when it was still relatively new. It was around 5 years old at that time.   Looking back at older photos like the one below, I can see now that over the years a bit of staining … [Read more...]




Easy Solution For “Fixing” & Hiding Beige Outlets In A Room With White Trim

Welcome to the 749th Metamorphosis Monday! Last year I had the "almost finished" side of the basement painted. The walls were painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove and the trim was painted in Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace. Chantilly Lace is a bright white with an LRV of 92.2.   Though this basement is a daylight basement with 5 good-size windows and two French doors, I wanted to keep the room … [Read more...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




Sometimes It’s The Little Tweaks That Make Life Better

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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 the bedroom next door.   I sometimes wonder if/when I move one day, if the future owners of this home will turn that … [Read more...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




IKEA Hemnes Bookcase Review & Sharing Its One Design Flaw

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 look … [Read more...]




A Small Upgrade That Functions Better & Looks More Professional

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...]




How Have I Not Ever Noticed This Before?!

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




Bow Lipstick Case Repair & A Tale of Two Throws

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




Have You Ever Had Your Roof Cleaned?

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...]




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

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...]




A Salvaged Mirror Becomes a Memory-Filled Travel Bulletin Board

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




Two Beautiful Transformations, All Through the Magic of Paint

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...]




So Whatever Happened to Those Peeling, Bubbling Columns…

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

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...]




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

Welcome to the 608th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters! If you are a handbag lover, especially a Louis Vuitton handbag lover, you are going to love today's Before and After! Recently my friend, Teresa, purchased a beautiful Louis Vuitton bag from the LV boutique. You may remember me mentioning Teresa before here on the blog. Teresa and I met through the blog when she … [Read more...]




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

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...]




Armoire-Wardrobe Transformation Including Wallpaper & Beautiful Antique Mirror

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




Carpet Treads For a Beautiful and Safer Staircase

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




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

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




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

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




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

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




Fastest Way to Remove Fuzz and Pills from Winter Sweaters

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




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

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




How I Clean My Travel Tote and Protecting It From Damage on Future Trips

When I traveled to England earlier this summer, I had an experience while going through security that sent me on a search. Whenever I fly domestically, or even sometimes when traveling via car, I use this blue and white bag as my travel tote. It holds everything I need and is the perfect size to be my "Personal Item" when flying. I decided to use it on an international trip for the first time when I … [Read more...]




Easy Way to Protect Leather Handbags from Strap Indentations During Storage

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




Dramatic Luggage Before & After & The Best Amazon Prime Deals, Including iPads!

Welcome to the 546th Metamorphosis Monday! Update: While I'm in England, I'll be posting photos frequently on Instagram. It's the fastest way to share the beautiful cottages and gardens of England since WiFi may be iffy for writing blog posts. Follow Between Naps On The Porch on Instagram here: BetweenNapsOnThePorch. If you haven't joined Instagram, it doesn't matter. Just bookmark that link above and … [Read more...]




Getting a Wave or Wrinkle Out of a Silk Tie

Recently I purchased a couple of Hermes ties for my son for his birthday.   When he opened them a few days ago, one of the ties had an odd, little wave effect going on toward the bottom of the tie.   Each tie had been packaged in its own box, and the boxes had been standing up vertically in the bag. I guess this particular tie slipped down and sorta crumpled up a bit in the … [Read more...]




All My Cleaning Favorites Together in One Post!

Over the last couple of weeks, I've gotten several emails from BNOTP readers asking about a particular cleaning product I've shared in the past in a previous post. In today's post, I'm pulling them all together in one place, so this will be a great post to bookmark for future reference. These are my absolute favorites, the ones I use every day and always meet my high expectations. Hope you find this post … [Read more...]




Dressing Room Update is Complete and a Dharuma Hydrangea Update

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...]




No More Groceries Rolling Around in Back!

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...]




A Brilliant Invention & Correcting a Regrettable Decision

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...]




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

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...]




This $16.99 Product Changed My Life! Seriously!

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...]




My Absolute Favorite Cleaner for Removing Denim Transfer Stains

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...]