How to find a Christmas Tree

When it comes to picking out that perfect tree,  it can get a little tricky.  Especially if your wife is 9 months pregnant and sends you out on your own to get it.  That is exactly the situation I found myself in last year.

I dont make those kind of decorating decisions without her,  but she had no interest in walking around outside for hours tree shopping.

Ultimately,  I got one,  after returning to the house 2 times saying I didnt think that I could do it.

This year with a 1 year old,  we decided to go with the small table tree that he cant pull on or try to eat.

The thoughts of that fateful shopping trip still run through my head though,  and that is where this video stems from.

How to Decorate with Poinsettias

So here they are in the van.  I was pretty excited about getting them home and seeing how my wife integrated them into her holiday decor that she had been working on.  There is one key problem with Poinsettias though (aside from pronouncing them)  They almost always come in this hideous foil wrapping around the pot!

While in the lobby of a corporate building,  or in a business window display this may work ok,  it is not really part of our style.  I mean I am all for shiny gold,  but in a different format entirely.

So I love the plants, but hate how they look,  and dont really want to just remove the foil and leave the plain plastic pot either.  The good news is that all hope is not lost.  We grabbed a roll of wrapping paper that has an old print pattern on it to look like a book or newspaper.

 Cut it to size, pull the sides up over the pot,  and wrap with a string.  You could use a rubbber band here as well.  Given that we have 2 elementary age boys in the house,  rubber bands are never hard to comeby here.  I will say though,  you will need a bigger one than the kind everyone is making jewelry out of.  but a piece of string will do just fine too.

And there you have it.  a piece that fits the decor,  without breaking the budget!

The Personality of Paint

Paint can be colored and go on a wall
or paint can be primer you wont see at all
it can warm up a room on a cold winter night
or cool off a sun porch to make it just right.

brushes and rollers large spots and trim
a color for her, and a color for him
so pull out your paintbrush and manage a way
find a color you love, and paint something today.

How to restore furniture / The Upcycled Dresser

In my opinion, there is a difference between refinishing and restoring furniture.  In fact what I enjoy most actually doesn't fall into either category.   I like to give old furniture new life,  maybe even re-purpose or upcycle,  so the terminology of the project,  is really not as important as creating something that you love.

In this case,  I saw a craigslist add for a free dresser,  no picture,  and it was sitting curbside.  I thought,  "hey,  if I can cram it into the back of my Mazda 3,  this may be fun." On a side note,  a Mazda 3 with the seats down,  functions a lot like a pickup truck.  Not as convenient,  but I did get the dresser home.

This is what it looked like out of the car

First I removed the drawers

The back was in rough shape,  so it was removed as well

Part of the original plan was to create a new back,  I traced the old one onto a new piece of wood,  filling in any missing corners with proper right angles

Then PAINT PAINT PAINT

The top "drawer" is actually a fold out shelf which I thought was really cool. so I left it.

I thought it could use shelves where the drawers used to be.

A nice walnut stain can really transform a piece of wood

now its starting to look like something new

This is the inside of the fold down top.  It needs to be painted

I used chalkboard paint,  as I thought if it were a bar, one could store recipes there

Something had to be done about the knobs though,  they didn't really work with the piece anymore

There thats better.

So for me, restoring this piece meant giving it a new purpose and life.  Refinishing it too, or upcycling.   but like I said, as long as you love the process,  and like how it comes out,  what you call it is not all that important!

What does the Fox Say - Halloween Costume

So did you just get invited to a Halloween party,  and need a witty costume?  Or just haven't thought of the perfect idea for the kids,  and don't want to do witches and ghosts AGAIN!  Fear not,  While you don't need the full fur costume,  making you or your child look like a fox,  then hold a handmade question mark speech bubble,  will definitely be an instant hit!

See here if you have been living under a rock for the past few months. (I'm kidding) 

Click here to buy the costume in this photo (sign not included)