Cat Proof Christmas Tree

This was the first year that I braved buying a REAL Christmas tree due to The Mayor's mischievous behavior.  Last year I opted for a "cat safe" tree.  I had looked online for an alternative way of having a tree and getting in the holiday spirit.

There is always the strand lights on the wall to create a tree idea.  However I love my ornaments and this doesn't really allow me to hang them.

I also had stumbled upon this article on Apartment Therapy that actually gave me the idea to try out a pallet Christmas tree.  I know that everyone makes everything out of pallets but this one was easy.  

1. Go and pick up a free pallet (they are super easy to find, espcially on craiglist.)

2. Use a circular saw and make 2 cuts.  

3. Decorate

4. You are done!

(If you cut from the middle out the beam stays in tact and everything stays together)

Last year I ran a strand of lights zig zag up the tree.and hung my ornaments on nails.

It was super easy, cat proof, and looked adorable!!

chairs, chairs, chairs

I've been eyeing a chair for a while for my sewing station.  When I first moved into my apartment I bought a couple of cute teal stools from Ikea.  However I think these stools were made for children. The legs kind of buckle and the seats bend (and I swear I'm not that heavy!).  I haven been waiting for quite sometime to purchase a more permanent chair.  I had been looking at the stylish clear acrylic chair everyone has but after Virginia over at LiveLove DIY said that it was the most uncomfortable chair I decided maybe it wasn't for me.  I finally bit the bullet and ordered a chair last week! It's pretty darn cute and sturdy!  I just need to get a little pillow for it and it will be a lot mroe comfortable.  The chairs below all gave me a little inspiration... if only I could afford any chair below.

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who doesn't love the mail man?!

I haven't had much time for DIY stuff but I apparently have had time to online shop.  During summer (conference season) I have to wear a uniform shirt at work so people can easily identify me.  At the end of this week I get to start wearing my own clothes again (YYAAAAYYY)!!  This just made me feel like I was allowed to back to school shop.  Some how everything showed up in the same week. So excited to wear some of my new purchase.

I ended up picking up two of these skirts.  The fit so well and I couldn't resist the polka dots but the black I can wear all the time.  Since they are from Old Navy it didn't break the bank!

I got these and was a little unsure when I tried them on in the store but when they finally came in the mail I loved them.  I think the lighting in Banana's dressing rooms is super unflatering.  I can't wait for it to be cool enough to wear these!

I also ordere this sweatshirt from Kate Spade because it was so bright and fun online!  However when it came it looked like the below color...  I'm super bummed that it will be going back to the store.

I've been working a lot lately but somehow fit in some tailgating this past week for both the Coug game and the Hawks game.  I'm pumped it is football season!!

-M

Upholstery Fabric Spray Paint

 I finally ordered another couple of bottles of upholstery fabric spray paint from Amazon so that I could finish my $20 craigslist chair.  I had done research previously and ended up purchasing Simply Spray in navy.  I had read that you had to buy a lot of this stuff to make it stick but I didn't think that I needed 6 BOTTLES for this one chair!

Mid Project when I ran out of paint... 

     

My new cozy reading corner!

The navy ended up covering really well after going through all 6 bottles.  The fabric is a little stiff but I think it is because I was painting a crushed velvet chair.  A different fabric might not stiffen the same.  If you look closely you can definitely tell it was a DIY but for a chair that is going to sit in a corner for reading it will be perfect.  I'm not sure if this is the route that I would take for another piece of furniture and will just invest in a chair I like from the beginning... someday...

Office Inspiration

I love my apartment in capitol hill but as rents rise in Seattle I think logically this will be my last full year in my first adult apartment. Although I'm super bummed about this I'll be moving into a house that is owned by my family and will give me tons of space to play with.  I still have another 10 months before I move but my mind has been going crazy with the space and freedom I will have! I can't wait for all the projects :)  The new (to me) house will have 2 extra rooms... I'm thinking of turning one into a wardrobe room and the other a guest/office.  There is tons of inspiration for feminine, glamorous office on the internet these days.  I don't want to wish away the rest of my time in the city but I can't wait!

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Gold & Glitter

A couple months ago I picked up this great rams head at Retrofit on Capitol Hill.  I can't go into that place with out buying something. However with how beige and white my apartment is (mainly because I love all things nuetral) it looks a little washed out on my wall.

I've seen some recent pins of similar heads that you can purchase pre-gold, mint, etc etc... but apparently I didn't notice those when I bought my all plain white one. 

Time for a DIY Gold & Glitter project.  Luckily I don't need to go out and buy too much stuff when I have project like this since I already own all the different gold paints you can.

First I taped everything off that I didn't want gold.

Spray and Dry

Don't forget to wear gloves like I did!

Next I purchased some gold glitter and spray adhesive.

Unfortunately for me when I do things like this everyone that walks by my apartment building looks at me like I'm some crazy person as I throw gold glitter on a rams head while sitting on the ground...

I'm going to find glitter every where for months!

Voila! He's a little more flashy, now he just needs a name!

M

Robin's Egg Blue

For a long weekend I thought I would get a lot more checked off my apartment to do list. I just had too much fun.  I decided I would work on a quick 20 minute project so I would at least feel productive.

 I have had this mirror since my first apartment after college and originally it was a dark brown.  I then went through a phase of painting everything white, including this mirror.  However in a beige hallway  surrounded only by white trim and cupboards it seemed boring.

When I was at JoAnn's this weekend I came across this "tool" for  $4.00 (I think this was the best $4 I have ever spent).  Maybe some of you already own one but I didn't know how wonderful a spray paint gun could be! Sometimes its the simple things in life.

I picked up a Robin's Egg blue.

And of course painted the raised portion with my favorite metallic gold paint.  You can never have too much gold right?

 

The entry hall looks way more cheery now and I feel productive for getting a DIY off my to do list.

-M