It can't all be DIY

So in my continual effort to find storage alternatives, I knew I needed something for our shoes.  I'm the kind of snob who doesn't like shoes just lined up somewhere (unless it's hidden in a closet) and so my mind started thinking about all the different yet awesome storage benches we could make, and I had to stop myself.  We are awesome at making cool things over here but we already have SEVERAL items on the list.  I decided I was going to just buy something basic, so I did.  I went the easier way and I don't regret it a bit.

It actually comes with shoe pockets velcroed to the sides.  And it fits every single pair of both our shoes (it looks crammed but there's actually a little room to spare)  Awesome!

DIY Ladder

I've been wanting for some time now to find an old ladder to hang towels on in my bathroom, much like other pinterest addicts.  Well I never could find a decent priced ladder that worked.  But then the other day I stumbled upon this and I told Chaynce DIY means he runs power tools.  He only has complained for a week and made claims that he does the most chores and is the absolute best, but to his credit he whipped it out real quick.  I basically just followed her tutorial other than 1x3's seemed a little bigger than I wanted so I went with 1x2's and a 1" dowel.

Here it is post-stain.  I forgot to get many "before" pics.  It's the same stain we've been using on everything around here, dark walnut by minwax.  After the stain dried I watered down some white paint and roughly applied that and wiped it off with a rag in an attempt at some sort of aging. 

 Here is the "pretty" corner of my bathroom.  It's technically still a construction zone in there.  We still have a few things to finish in there, not counting buy towels that actually match and aren't old and bleached.

This is me pretending we have towels that match.  And that is how we store our TP.  I got that basket at DI several years ago pre-Chaynce and I always like to use it to hold spare rolls of TP.

Chalkboard Calendar

I made a chalkboard calendar for the kitchen.  I found the idea here and ran with it.  I found a 2x3 "chalkboard" thingy at home depot for about $6.  I had Chaynce cut it down to 21" long with only minor complaining!  I picked up a white paint pen at Joann's for a few bucks and it was awful.  I don't know if I lucked out and got the broken one or if that's just how they work??  With some practice I could make the squares ok but any writing was a mess!  I needed a new idea, and inspiration hit in the form of scrapbooking stickers.  I looked and found a font I liked but they were black, but I wasn't worried I had some leftover white spraypaint at home.

Ok it's just primer, but it works just fine.

 

This is the finished product.

 

Here it is hung on the wall.  I need to practice my penmanship with chalk so I won't embarrass myself with pictures of it all filled in.

Status symbol: walk-in closets

I dream about walk-in closets.  It's not that I'd ever really NEED one but it is such a sign of luxury to me in my mind right now.  I'm pretty minimalist for a girl in that I don't have a million shoes/purses/clothes I never wear.  I very regularly clean out my closet and donate but just the thought of someday having the space to have a few more fun shoes instead of just the basics, it thrills me.  I've already put closets on the need list for the next place we live, but if we luckily enough find a place with walk-in closets, I'm going to think that we're some crazy kind of special!