Summer Home Tour

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Roeshel

Welcome to the Summer Tour of Homes Day 2! If you’re following along and just popped over from visiting Emily’s gorgeous home at Decor Chick, welcome guests!

I’m so excited to participate in Day 2 of the Summer Tour of Homes hosted by Gina at the Shabby Creek Cottage. It’s my favorite time of year! Longer days for productivity and lots of DIY.

Are you ready for LOTS of pictures? I hope so! summer chalkboard

Most of our summer is spent outdoors. We do a lot of summer entertaining, hosting BBQs and family cook-outs. So making our outdoor areas pretty is where our tour begins…

We have a bank barn which we use for storage (much like a huge garage), but the bottom part opens up into our BIG party gathering space in the summer where we can set up volley ball in the yard and sit around a bon fire.

teeny tiny scary before picture…

The barn patio area provides a covered space for setting up a picnic buffet for entertaining or a quiet place for relaxing. Improvements are still on the DIY ‘to-do’ list but you can see it’s a big improvement already. This area has been a great location for grad parties, a co-ed baby shower BBQ, a fashion photo shoot, family reunions, picnics and cook outs.

Sources: DIY painted foam playmat art tutorial, tire planter tutorial coming soon, DIY tissue paper poufs and banner, old weathered door/barrel buffet, spray-painted accessories (Rustoleum Lagoon), turquoise crocheted accent pillow (Target), red petunias, outdoor area rug (Better Homes & Gardens, WalMart), red accent pillows (Target), blue mason jar vase, red outdoor fabric table cloth (Kmart), DIY framed chalkboard.

The patio off the back of our home also got a mini-makeover last month with some cleaning, refreshening accents with some spray paint, some re-arranging, flowers and a few new decorative touches…

(see the before the patio and installation)

before

patio makeover

The patio swing was looking a little tired and inspired an outdoor swing/daybed makeover…

My hubby’s favorite hobby is cooking and having fresh herbs near the French doors to the kitchen is convenient. Decorative and functional with our free standing pallet herb garden…

One of the things I loved about the property when we purchased our home was the mature huge grape arbor. It was very rickety but the grapes were plentiful…

before

We rebuilt the framing and added a gazebo to the center…

This year we’re recycling a pile of old bricks for a paved walkway and seating area underneath the gazebo (more on that coming up this summer). Again, a work currently in progress, but check out those vines! LOVE!

It’s been a while since I’ve done a home tour. Things are mostly the same with some rearranging but here are some most recent pictures. Our house before was down right disgusting and scary but we saw past that to the potential…location, charm, character, size. But definitely a true fixer upper.

kitchen (links to kitchen before/after, more pictures, DIY door clock tutorial, spice loft, sliding ladder, marble subway tiled backsplash how-to, painting cabinets, cook book library, etc.)

before

after…

The French doors lead right to our patio. It’s so convenient for entertaining and hosting BBQs. The sun sets on the other side of the house so evenings are shaded and comfortable. Perfect for alfresco summer dining.

before…

now…

powder room before and after

dining room

before

now…

I’m always re-arranging the sitting room. It’s gets a makeover about once a month. It’s an ever changing multi-functional space. Sometimes it’s a sitting room, sometimes a dining area or mudroom.

before

This month, it’s a small office/work space…

DIY: no sew script drop cloth curtains, wall mounted pallet shelf, French doors, slate floors, pet gate, globe light fixture cover.

Our stairway landing hasn’t changed at all. I just love it the way it is. For now.

And the family room is still a work in progress so these are a bit of a reveal since I haven’t shared little things in this room before, but fun DIY art and lots of color adds a touch of summer…

Still a lot of DIY planned for this room!

headboard door pediment tutorial

DIY chevron garden sign, painted thrift store candlesticks, Today will be the Best Day sign, DIY curtains (fabric is Waverly Santa Maria Desert Flower), window/chandelier coffee table, and a DIY chandelier planter tutorial coming soon.

free standing fireplace surround with pallet shelving

Last but not least, even CocoRosie, our Italian Greyhound, enjoys the summer weather with her shaded dog bed…

Whew! Lots to see, right? Thanks for sticking around if you made it through it all! You can see more room by room before/after and DIY at the DIY Show Off Home Tour.

Are you all set for summer? Don’t forget to link up your summer home tour on Friday, June 7th at the Shabby Creek Cottage.

DAY 1 (June 3rd)

1 – Gina @ The Shabby Creek Cottage

2 – The Nester @ Nesting Place

3 – Mandi @ Vintage Revivals

4 – Beth @ Home Stories of A to Z

5 – Ashley @ The Handmade Home

6 – Kristin @ The Hunted Interior

DAY 2 (June 4th)

1 – Beckie @ Infarrantly Creative

2 – Jen @ Tatertots and Jello

3 – Chris @ Just a Girl

4 – Brooke @ All Things Thrifty

5 – Karen @ The Graphics Fairy

6 – Emily @ Decor Chick

7 – Roeshel @ DIY Show Off

DAY 3 (June 5th)

1 – Melissa @ The Inspired Room

2 – Wendy @ The Shabby Nest

3 – Donna @ Funky Junk Interior

4 – Marianne @ Songbird

5 – Lisa @ The Pennington Point

6 – Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage

7 – Brittany@ PrettyHandyGirl

DAY 4 (June 6th)

1- Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality
2- Traci @ Beneath My Heart
3-Stacy @ Not Just a Housewife
4-Jen @ Jennifer Rizzo
5-Lindsay @ Makely Home
6-Sandra @ Sawdust Girl

HomeTalk Kitchen Chat

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Roeshel

When we moved in, our kitchen left a LOT to be desired… (before and after kitchen)

A huge renovation was not in the budget, but we were able to make some changes to brighten and update our kitchen with some DIY over the years…

(DIY kitchen projects/home tour)

Interested in discussing YOUR KITCHEN? I’m excited to be joining blog friends, Heather, Jennifer, Jennifer, JB and Hometalk to answer kitchen questions and discuss all things kitchen. You’re invited to join the HomeTalk “Let’s Talk Kitchens” Facebook chat tomorrow, April 18th starting at 2 pm and an opportunity to win one of four prizes!

The official Kitchen Chat has ended but there’s always talk of kitchens (and everything home related) at HomeTalk and it’s free to join!

At the Picket Fence

Building Moxie

Four Generations One Roof

Jennifer Rizzo Design Company

The DIY Showoff

Hometalk

Pot of Gold Giveaway

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Roeshel

With Saint Patrick’s day coming up, who here hasn’t wished for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? What would you do if you had that pot of gold?

Buy a new sofa, bed, camera?!

Shopping spree?

Weekend getaway?

iPad (to give yourself a little more time on your favorite blogs!! hint! hint!)

DIY? Finish that project that you’ve been dreaming of finishing?

No matter what your pot of gold day dream is, a group of bloggers teamed up to help make it happen for one lucky reader! How about a $600 visa card, to spend on whatever you wish? Sounds good, right?

So, what do you need to do to enter? It’s simple! Heard of Instagram? A fun app for sharing that lovely real time snippet of what is going on in our lives. All we ask is that you follow each blogger below on Instagram.

Remodelaholic

What’s Cooking With Ruthie

Optional Additional Entry Follow All of Us via Pinterest:

Remodelaholic	What’s Cooking With Ruthie	4 Men 1 Lady	Decor Chick
Home Stories A to Z	DIY Showoff	Queen B and Me	My Blessed Life
Positively Splendid	The Idea Room	The Inspired Room	Just A Girl

Enter to Win a $600 Visa Gift Card.

You only need to enter once, all entries will all be collected in a central location.

Rules: You must be following all of the bloggers via Instagram. If you are not on Instagram, you can still enter once for following each blogger on Pinterest. The Winner must be 18 years or older to participate and a resident of the continental US. Visa, and or Instagram do not endorse, nor are they liable for this giveaway in anyway. The giveaway is open from February 25t through March 3rd. The winner will be selected and contacted via email no later than March 5th . The winner will have 24 hours to respond via email. If the winner does not respond within the allotted time a new winner will be selected. Your email will not be sold or shared in anyway, however participating blogs retain the right to save and use it in their email lists.

Rust-Oleum Blogger Event

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Roeshel

As I mentioned the other day, I had the fun opportunity to attend a Rust-Oleum Blogger Event. With a history and love of using Rust-Oleum products, I was super excited to accept! {and survived a touch of social anxiety too.}

I loved the opportunity to meet part of the creative team behind the innovative Rust-Oleum products, some sweet friends from Lowe’s, to see my blog friends face-to-face again and to meet a couple of blog friends in person for the first time, not to mention the chance to get hands-on with some awesome magic DIY materials and to be spoiled rotten in the process.

The event took place at the Duke Mansion in Charlotte, NC. Originally the residence of James Buchanan Duke also known as a US electric power industrialist and now a historic bed and breakfast. Think old money and lots of luxury.

::insert sexy whistle sound effect::

I was tempted to hide away in my suite. Forever. High ceilings, two sets of super tall French doors to a private screened porch, a huge bathroom filled with vintage charm. It’s by far the loveliest room I’ve ever stayed in. Mine was called the Harris Room…

But coming from snow and cold in the north, I had to just dump my overnight bag as I was lured outdoors, strolling the grounds and hanging out with pals (Sarah, Traci & Rhoda) in the 60-ish (heat wave!) degree sunny afternoon.

Next up: Greetings at the welcome reception in the beautiful lobby,

{Beth, Sarah and me with Traci}

then wining and dining at Bonterra {housed in a renovated 110-year-old church – so cool!},

dining on beef tenderloin and creme brulee, sipping wine, mingling with the others, laughing and hearing the book vs. blog experience from John & Sherry of Young House Love was a BLAST! {Also got another copy of their new book. Signed! Maybe a giveaway in the near future!}

Once we returned to the mansion after dinner, a group of us gathered in a cozy lounge and talked “shop”…er, “blog” for a while before retiring to our rooms where a bedtime snack of chilled milk and cookies awaited.

The next morning we congregated to the dining room for a delicious breakfast buffet. It’s so fun being around others who share a love of your same interests: DIY home improvement, decorating and blogging…time flies.

It was great to see Cassity from Remodelaholic again (remember the beautiful beach cottage room we designed together?)

and Rhoda from Southern Hospitality…just as pretty and sweet as always (how about our matching leopard accents?)…

Traci from Beneath my Heart and I always had our cameras on hand. I got this picture of her…

…while she got the same one of me.

After breakfast, Rust-Oleum shared a presentation of latest products, a demo using a new line fast-drying one-coat wood stains (SO many gorgeous colors).

I chose the colors weathered gray topped with ebony for a reclaimed barnwood-look. I applied one coat with a foam brush and wiped with a dry cloth, waited about 20 minutes and followed those same steps with the second color.

{Rust-Oleum Wood Care Stains are available at Lowe’s}

And polyurethanes (matte, satin and gloss finishes). Mark from Rust-Oleum shared a technique called water-popping (wiping down wood with a damp cloth to open up the pores for better stain absorption) and wood staining/sealing tips.

Then we had fun giving it a try ourselves by staining a block of oak {in the sun-drenched solarium} for attaching coat hooks. I’m saving mine for my girly dream bathroom makeover. Someday.

Here are all of the DIY bloggers in attendance:

Front Row: {Cassity} Remodelaholic, {Whitney} Shanty2Chic, {Jocie} OPC’s the Better Half. Back Row: {Kate} Centsational Girl, {Rhoda} Southern Hospitality, {Roeshel-me!} DIY Show Off, {Sarah} Thrifty Decor Chick, {Beth} Home Stories A to Z, {Ashley} Shanty2Chic, {Traci} Beneath My Heart, {Ethan} One Project Closer, {Kristi} Addicted2Decorating.

We were even given embroidered Rust-Oleum aprons to protect our clothing. Isn’t that thoughtful? So sweet. My crazy-spelled name is misspelled {no ‘c’}, but it won’t stop me from wearing it while DIY-ing.

There was voting on the new colors of spray paint up for 2013: Emerald, Pink Punch, Mint and Sapphire. For me, it’s a toss up between pink punch and mint. How about you?

I’m familiar with Rust-Oleum’s Cabinet Transformations and Countertop Transformations kits from experience but did you know there is also a Tile Transformations kit? Hurray! An awesome way for transforming ugly tile!

More fun pics from my i-phone camera: {getting to meet bloggers Jocie, Kristi, Ashley and Whitney for the first time was so much fun!}

It’s the first time I’ve heard of another product that I see in my DIY future called Restore. It’s equivalent to 10 coats of paint for protecting wood decks and concrete outdoors. Our concrete patio has settled with a few hairline cracks {Restore seals those small cracks!} and I’m looking forward to giving the area we use for entertaining and relaxing a fresh new look (again, so many color choices – a DIY’ers dream!).

So fun hanging out with blog friends:

Kate, Rhoda, Cassity, Me, Sarah, Traci & Beth

A HUGE thanks to the Rust-Oleum team for awesome opportunity to learn more about their awesome products and the super fun get-together!

ps. I was not paid or even asked to write this blog post. Just sharin’ my event experience/about the cool DIY products I love to use.

Guess the DIY Blogger Winner and Answers

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Roeshel

Did you have fun travelling back in time yesterday and laughing at all of our childhood portraits? Did you guess who I was? Mine wasn’t as difficult as others…although my feathered bell-shaped hair style was certainly awkward!

I used a ‘more recent’ photo. If I was to snap one “now”…it’d be bundled up in my pj’s, no makeup and scary hair {hibernating}. No one wants to see that. Trust me.

There were so many of you who were soooooo close to guessing all the DIY bloggers correctly, but finally one person…one blogger…one true DIY fan rose to claim victory!

Please meet the winner of the Before They Were Bloggers Contest:

Sara from Mom Endeavors

This girl knows her DIY blogs because she’s a blogger herself. Please take a minute to congratulate Sara by leaving her a comment on her blog today. She spent a lot of time holding a sick little baby yesterday and clicking back and forth to the different blogs to match all 29 faces with their blogs (she’s quite the multi-tasker!)

And now… the moment you’ve been waiting for… here are the match ups.

A. Pretty Handy Girl

B. Decor Chick

C. All Things Thrifty

D. Tatertots and Jello

E. The Lettered Cottage

F. Infarrantly Creative

G. Sawdust Girl

H. Funky Junk Interiors

I. The Idea Room

J. DIY Showoff

K. The Shabby Nest

L. Not Just a Housewife

M. Vintage Revivals

N. Southern Hospitality

O. Young House Love

P. Home Stories A to Z

Q. Beneath My Heart

R. Thrifty Decor Chick

T. The Nester

X. The Shabby Creek Cottage

Y. 320 Sycamore

Z. Just a Girl

# Makely School for Girls

@ Remodelaholic

? Miss Mustard Seed

How did you do? Were you close? Take the weekend to check out each blog because most of them will be posting a side by side photo of themselves. Feel free to laugh a little more and if you decided to post a childhood picture with your current picture this weekend on your blog, feel free to share a link in the comments.

And one more just for fun…are you old enough to remember spraying those bangs super high? Yikes!

Guess the DIY blogger Contest

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Roeshel

I’ve always wished I could go back in time…just a little, not quite this far! But, join me for a ride in a time machine to go back. Back to a time before there was Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, even the internet. Before chevron, chalkboards and ombré were hot. And specifically, before there were blogs! And just for fun: let’s pretend we are sitting at the popular girls’ lunch table… We’re going back to when some of these DIY gals were worrying about how high they could get their hair and for some, back when talking on the phone for hours meant stretching that long spiral cord beyond its limits and tying up the only phone in the house. Remember getting busy signals? Common purchases for these DIY gals may have been the latest cassette tape, neon bracelets, a swatch watch and prepping for a future in blogging with daily writing exercises starting out “Dear Diary,“. You wouldn’t catch them dead in the hardware store, totally unheard of to the max! Are you there yet? Do you see leg warmers or jelly sandals? You’re getting closer…the time machine stopped. Step out and behold… the time before blogs:

Okay, now that you’re snorting with laughter, wipe your tears before your mascara runs…can you tell which one is me?

Do you recognize any of these DIY bloggers? Do you think you could recognize them in High School, Middle School or Elementary School? For sure! These awkward youngsters will one day be the brains behind your favorite DIY blogs. And they are giving a $300 Lowe’s Gift Card to the first person who can guess which faces match with which DIY blogs.

Here are the blogs to match {you might want to click back and forth to see current profile photos for help}:

Here are the details (you must be 18 yrs or older to win):

Visit the link below where you will be able to enter your guess for each blogger pictured above. (All information will be kept private.)
The first person to correctly match all the faces with their blog will win a $300 Lowe’s gift card!
If you win, you will receive an email with instructions to reply with your mailing address. (Then your prize will be mailed to you.)
And of course, you will gain bragging rights for being the biggest DIY Blog Fan Ever! Totally RAD, right?!

Best of luck to you, should decide to take on the challenge. I’m not even sure I could get them all right.

Enter Your Answers

*Special thanks to Mandi of Vintage Revivals who bared her soul about blog puberty, (inspired the idea to “share” awkward photos with you) and Brittany aka Pretty Handy Girl for organizing this fun contest. It’s just like looking back through family albums, isn’t it? Embarrassing!

Show Off your Christmas Tree contest!

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Roeshel

Show Off your Christmas Tree Contest

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree! I’ve just finished decorating 3. If you celebrate Christmas, more than likely you decorate an evergreen tree (real or artificial) with ornaments and lights. It’s a Christmas tradition in our home. Throughout the day, the Christmas tree stops me in my tracks. It’s a moment when I’m reminded to Rejoice! I’m celebrating the birth of my savior. When the days are short and evening arrives early, there’s just something happy about twinkly lights on a Christmas tree that lifts my spirits and warms my heart this time of year. I’m a “do what you love” decorator. Classic, modern, French country, rustic, vintage, farmhouse. See what I mean? Our old farmhouse doesn’t have an open floor plan, so rooms aren’t all the same theme and color. I love so many different styles and our home reflects my indecision…I mean: appreciation for a variety of decorating styles. Here is a look at the trees in the DIY Show Off home:

The family room Christmas tree is a white. I love how it glows and the fun bright colors are perfect for the eclectic vibe in this room. Trimming the Christmas tree is such a fun part of the holidays!

Our traditional red and gold tree in our living room:

{tips for decorating your Christmas tree – can you tell lights are strung vertically? I create a faux root ball to give our 7.5′ tree another foot of height.}

A peek from traditional into bright and eclectic through the French doors…

Our dining room tree is decorated with thrift store treasures, burlap ribbon browns, golds and a grapevine wreath star. Base is an old trunk and an old crate which give the tree some height {and charm}.

{More dining room Christmas decorating details and Holiday Home Tour coming this week!}

and a little DIY tomato cage Christmas tree in the sitting room:

How to show off your Christmas tree:

Share your Christmas tree photos and blog posts by linking up. Show it off in the party below by adding your picture and linking to your permalink blog post. I just ask that you link back to this post to help share the love. Here’s a convenient html code to add to your blog post:

<div align="center"><a href="http://wp.me/p27VkY-1Ru" title="Christmas Tree Contest" target="_blank"><img src="http://diyshowoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Christmas-Tree-Party-button.jpg" alt="Christmas Tree Contest" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Christmas tree with the most “likes” {you may want to share with your friends to “like” your tree!} wins $100 Visa gift card for some after-Christmas sales shopping or for a first DIY project of 2013.

Contest starts now and ends December 25th at midnight EST. Winner will be announced shortly after. In the event of a tie, another blog post will be written and DIY Show Off readers will choose the winning tree. DIY Show Off may choose the final winner if necessary. Non-bloggers may submit a photo to thediyshowoff@gmail.com with “Christmas Tree” in the subject line {DIY Show Off will link your photo and reply with your entry #}. Open to US and Canadian residents 18+ only.

Remember to “vote” by visiting some pretty thumbnail links and clicking “like”!

Christmas Tree Inspiration:

Facebook

Miss Mustard Seed – “Inspired You”, inspired me {review and giveaway}

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Roeshel

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. Winners will be contacted via email.

Congratulations to Jessica and Gena!

If you’re a blog reader, love pretty decorative accents or painting furniture, it’s likely that you “know” Marian from Miss Mustard Seed. I’ve “known” Marian for years and her amazing story and inspiring talent are a reflection of the kind heart behind the Miss Mustard Seed blog.

From the moment I returned from the Haven 2012 conference, my entire summer was spent renovating a small apartment and oh, joy! It was a blast. Nearly everyday warm (my favorite time of the year) and spent doing something I love to do…DIY and decorating. And as the renovation came near to completion (there are still a few things left to do including taking “after” photos), we enjoyed a much needed vacation. No DIY, no work. All relaxation and spending time with family. And you’d think one would return all well rested and ready to jump back into routine. But when I returned to a home that had been neglected all summer with the fast approaching holidays, shorter days, colder temps, gray skies and an empty nest, I suddenly felt overwhelmed and stressed and had no idea where to even start in my cluttered unfinished surroundings.

This past week, my copy of “Inspired You” {Inspired You: Letting God Breathe New Life Into Your Heart and Home} arrived and because I’ve been moving from one little thing to the next {although with little motivation and accomplishing next to nothing}, it sat on the dust covered coffee table for a few days. Then giving into my lazy mood one day {well, honestly, most days}, I took a moment for myself and brewed a cup of tea, propped up my feet and opened my book. I.could.not.put.it.down.

So truth be told, a moment turned into a couple of hours (it’s 200+ pages) but it’s not all tutorial style. It’s Marian’s stories, her ideas and thoughts sprinkled with a few tutorials to refer back to and beautiful photos of her adorable home and inspiring vintage, thrifted, hand-made decorating style. I found myself looking up and around my home, pondering what works best for our family, what we do like, what we don’t, what’s not working, sometimes clarity, a spark of motivation. Marian’s thoughts are similar to my own but seeing them through her eyes, the gentle reminder of what is important, well, it gave me a fresh new perspective and several times, I set the book aside and walked around my home from room to room. I was inspired to grab my notebook, write down a few comments or a to-do list for a certain area, goals. And I was inspired to look at one task rather than the entire huge overwhelming picture which helps me realize that if our house is comfortable enough to mess up, we’re happy.

Basically, when I agreed to review our friend’s new book (because not only am I a Miss Mustard Seed fan, I love promoting my blog friends and share their excitement in fun opportunities and success of hard work)…I had no idea that her book would do just what the cover says. It helped me let God breathe new life into my heart and into my home. My house is not perfect. It never is perfect. It never will be and at this moment when my house is far far away from perfect, I finally found peace and motivation to start somewhere, anywhere to work towards my goal.

So, if you’re looking for a ‘decor’ book for your holiday wish list, collect home decor books like me or need a talented friend to hold your hand and encourage you to make what you already have something you love…this book is for you. It’s not one you’re going to pick up, only flip through pretty pictures or refer to for a furniture painting tutorial. It’s one that you won’t be able to put down and it will inspire you to start an enjoyable satisfying journey to making your house a haven for your family.

And the happy ending to this story: I walked away truly inspired. And motivated. And thankful. With a fresh perspective, I got my butt up off the couch and dove headfirst into “letting God breath new life into my heart and my home”.

“Inspired You” GIVEAWAY

And I have the opportunity to share “Inspired You” with two {2} lucky DIY Show Off readers in a lovely giveaway this week! How to enter:

Leave 1 comment about what you would most like to change about your home.
Share this giveaway via Facebook, Twitter, G+, Pinterest, etc. and leave a comment about each share. {Thank you!}

Giveaway starts today and ends Saturday November 17th at midnight EST. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after. Open to US and Canadian residents only.

Marian, Miss Mustard Seed with me at Haven 2012…at the end of a LONG crazy day. Seeing blog friends’ dreams come true is so exciting! You can visit Marian at her inspiring blog, Miss Mustard Seed.

Update for Hurricane Sandy Relief ~ Socks for Sandy

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Roeshel

Socks for Sandy

UPDATE: 11/9 - PLEASE DO SEND UNDERWEAR – ALL SIZES AND ALL AGES; AS WELL AS SOCKS FOR ALL AGES.

What do we send?

Warm socks, gloves, mittens, and winter hats - for all shapes and sizes of people, from babies to the elderly, and everyone in between.

New packages of underwear - again for all shapes and sizes of people, from babies to the elderly – are desperately needed too.

SOCKS FOR SANDY FAQ

I don’t know about you but I love the feeling I get when when my cold feet are warmed by a pair of fuzzy socks and I just feel worse when my hands and head are cold. Wearing gloves and a hat makes being cold more tolerable. It’s heart warming. That feeling of warmth and comfort is something I sometimes take for granted. For the victims of Hurricane Sandy, it’s a reality. I just want to wrap my arms around those suffering from this natural disaster to warm them up. There is a way to help warm those who’ve lost so much from this natural disaster:

Laura, blog friend and member of Hometalk who lives in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, was fortunate that her neighborhood was spared with only minor damages. But just a few minutes down the road, entire areas were wiped out and just across the bay, families also suffered extraordinary damage just as every barrier island and shore town up and down New Jersey’s once-beautiful coastline has.

Laura couldn’t stop thinking about something her sister-in-law (volunteering at the local hurricane shelter) told her: that people were walking around barefoot and just wanted a pair of socks. Even as donations started to pour in to the shelter, Laura couldn’t get the idea of warm socks out of her head. Her idea of Socks for Sandy was embraced enthusiastically with offers of help to make her idea reality.

So here we are. Our mission is a simple one. And has a super fast turn-around time too.

We want to provide socks to warm one’s feet, gloves to warm one’s hands, and winter hats to warm one’s head. All to warm one’s soul. Now.

You can help us gather up some warmth to share by collecting socks, gloves and winter hats, and sending them to:

Socks for Sandy
P.O. Box 520
Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087

Please mail by Friday, November 9, since the need is urgent.

This can be a great project to involve your kids in, because it all comes down to giving a bit of warmth to someone in need.

Laura will receive all packages and immediately take these to the local hurricane shelter. Any excess will be given to the other hurricane shelters up and down New Jersey’s coastline.

What started as an idea has blossomed into warmth. And it is simple to get involved.

Another option:

Donating directly to the Red Cross is still the fastest way to get your money into the hands of those who need it the most.

DIY upholstered tufted ottoman tutorial {Wayfair DIY Challenge}

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Roeshel

Remember, oh I don’t know, 10 years ago (Just kidding. It feels that way!) when I started our family room makeover? Then we got sidetracked with an apartment renovation but since we’re wrapping up the last minute details there, the family room makeover is back on my DIY schedule. Of course that means a lot of DIY projects, decorating and furnishing and on that list was a DIY upholstered tufted ottoman.

Challenge: Have you heard of Wayfair.com? It’s the largest online retailer of home furnishings and decor, with millions of products for the home that fit any style and budget. They believe that getting crafty with your decor is one of the best ways to add a unique personal touch to your home. That’s why they created the DIY Blogger Challenge. I was invited to participate and had the option to choose from a coffee table, book case or pendant light. All fun products but I took one look at the coffee table and knew I wanted to create an upholstered tufted ottoman.

And as I found many tutorials and inspiration on Pinterest, I’m joining the Fall Pinterest Challenge as well. I have built an ottoman in the past {see my tips for building an ottoman} but tufting is a new experience to me and one I’ve been wanting to try for a while now. My ottoman upholstery/tufting experience:

Here’s what I did:

Furinno Espresso Coffee Table
4″ foam (This can be pricey. Use coupons or try foam from an egg crate twin bed cushion.)
batting
fabric (I purchased 1 1/2 yards. 1 yard for the project, scrap for button covers)
spray adhesive
tools: scissors, Sharpie, yard stick, drill, electric knife, felt tip pen, screwdriver

I started by laying the coffee table top on my foam and measuring just a little bit bigger (about 1/2 inch).

Using an electric knife, I cut out my piece of foam.

With a yard stick and measuring in halves, I made a grid on the foam with a Sharpie. Then decided where I wanted my button tufts to be located. I did 3 rows totaling 11 buttons (4 buttons, 3 buttons then 4 buttons).

I poked a hole where I wanted my button tufts using a screw driver. Then flipped my foam and poked through that side as well.

The screwdriver pushed out the foam, creating a small hole all the way through the foam.

I flipped my coffee table top back side up, laid the foam on top and using a felt tip pen pushed into the holes, I made a mark on the table top where I’d want to drill holes for tufting.

I drilled the marks, then flipped the table top over and cleaned up that side of the drilled holes by drilling through them again.

Next I used a spray adhesive to attach the foam to the table top.

Then covered the foam with batting (cut just a half inch longer than the edges of the foam and table top).

I covered the batting with my fabric. Again, measuring and cutting just enough to pull onto the underneath for stapling.

Tufting:

fabric scrap and button kit (or buttons for tufting)
upholstery needles
wax covered button thread
anchor buttons
staples
tools: stapler, scissors

I put together the fabric covered buttons I wanted to use on the top of my ottoman for tufting.

Then, I threaded the largest upholstery needle with the waxed button thread. (I had no idea what this was for when starting but learned through use that the wax helps hold the tufted button when the waxed thread is pulled tight.) I attached the fabric covered button to my threaded needle and started at the center of my upholstered table top. Locating the hole is tricky (I did lift my batting to help guide my needle). Find the tufting hole and poke the needle through the fabric, batting, foam hole and into the hole in the wooden table top, pulling the needle out the bottom of the table top.

Thread an anchor button onto the needle. Thread the needle back through a second hole in the anchor button and back up through another hole one more time. Push the button down towards the hole in the wooden table top. Pull tight.

While thread is pulled tight and anchor button is secure against the wooden table top, staple thread onto the wooden table top a few times using a zig zag pattern.

Leaving enough thread to tie a knot, cut the thread and put the needle aside. Tie a knot in the thread.

Repeat. I worked from the middle out. Note: I used random anchor buttons I already had on hand.

The front will look like this:

Move completed tufted table top to an area where it can lie flat. Pull the fabric tight around the sides of the foam to the under side of the tabletop and staple into place. Start in the middle of each side and smooth batting and fabric as you go.

Then work on the corners. Wrap them like a present. There is no wrong way, just try to create a smooth corner. Staple into place on the bottom of the table top. Be sure to stay clear of the pre-drilled holes for attaching the legs to the table top!

All done! For added security, I covered my buttons and thread with duct tape (not shown). Flip and admire your upholstered tufted ottoman cushion!

Assemble the rest of the coffee table as per instructions. Attach newly upholstered tufted top just as you would the regular top according to the directions. Assembly was extremely easy.

tools: screwdriver, rubber mallet

Accessorize: What I loved about this coffee table is that it has two bottom shelves and comes with bins! I gave the bins a little makeover using FrogTape and fabric paint and added chalkboard labels that I had on hand.

Now I have an upholstered tufted ottoman for the family room!

What do you think? Pretty easy and affordable. Visit wayfair on facebook here or on pinterest here.

Facebook

Disclosure: Thank you to Wayfair for the coffee table and the challenge and to Giftcards.com for providing the gift card for my project materials. This post was also partially sponsored and brought to you by FrogTape. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience and project results may vary.

Linking up:

and more about the Fall Pinterest Challenge from these sweet friends hosting:

Katie from Bower Power Blog
Sherry from Young House Love

Sarah from Ugly Duckling House
Carmel from Our Fifth House

Socks for Sandy: Helping Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Roeshel

Socks for Sandy

So here we are. Our mission is a simple one. And has a super fast turn-around time too.

We want to provide socks to warm one’s feet, gloves to warm one’s hands, and winter hats to warm one’s head. All to warm one’s soul. Now.

You can help us gather up some warmth to share by collecting socks, gloves and winter hats, and sending them to:

Socks for Sandy
P.O. Box 520
Little Egg Harbor, NJ 08087

Please mail by Friday, November 9, since the need is urgent.

This can be a great project to involve your kids in, because it all comes down to giving a bit of warmth to someone in need.

Laura will receive all packages and immediately take these to the local hurricane shelter. Any excess will be given to the other hurricane shelters up and down New Jersey’s coastline.

What started as an idea has blossomed into warmth. And it is simple to get involved.

Another option:

Donating directly to the Red Cross is still the fastest way to get your money into the hands of those who need it the most.

Announcing the Lamps Plus Best Home Blog Sweepstakes!

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Roeshel

Okay. Just learned something awesome to share! Did you know that Lamps Plus is now a fabulous source of MORE than just lamps and lighting? YES! HOME DECOR! As part of the celebration for the new Home Collection, Lamps Plus is having a $5,000 sweepstakes for the best HOME, DIY, or family blog. The sweepstakes started Monday, October 15^th and runs through November 15^th. When YOU nominate your favorite, YOU are entered for a chance to WIN BIG too! Woo hoo! Check out all the prizes here.

You nominate/vote and are entered to win! and the blog with the most votes wins too! A chance for both of us to win? Wouldn’t it be fun to team up and decorate together? After renovating an apartment, it’s time to move on to the family room makeover I started a while ago and I sure could use a little help! My wallet is empty! With over 40,000 products with great prices, even budget friendly items, I’ll definitely keep Lamps Plus on my go-to list. Take a look complete Home Collection catalog here. What are you waiting for? Nominate your favorite home decorating, DIY, or family blog {why yes, I’d LOVE your nomination!!! Please. Thank you!} in the 2012 Best Home Blog Sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 in total prizes!

Lamps Plus wants to award the Best Home Blogs that are making everyday homes a little bit better. A company that shares our same goals. Awesome!

Sponsor Thank You and Winners

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Roeshel

In order to pull off THREE giveaways of this magnitude {I mean almost $15,000 of prizes doesn’t happen every day, right!?!?}, we teamed up with 16 amazing bloggers to knock your socks off and pull together the biggest giveaway in DIY blogger history. It was a lot of fun!

Without further adieu, do you want to see the WINNERS!?!?

If you are a winner, you should have received an e-mail from allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com.

We each contacted our favorite companies and are so grateful to those that participated. Let’s show them just how amazing they are for sponsoring these events! Please visit their websites to show them our appreciation!

Thank you Silhouette for sponsoring our DIY giveaway and generously including two Silhouette CAMEOS in our prizes. If you don’t have a Silhouette craft cutting tool, it should definitely be on your list for Christmas. It is amazing!

Big thanks to LoveFeast Table for supporting the blogging community by providing such an awesome prize for this epic giveaway! We adore you and your shop and want to send lots of love right back to you!

A huge thank you to IKEA for sponsoring this amazing giveaway! Who doesn’t dream of winning a $500 gift card to IKEA {The Life Improvement Store}? Congrats to Mike. Have fun on your shopping spree

A big, huge thank you to AZ Faux Beams for a generous gift of $1,000 worth of Old Timber or Sand Blasted beams! AZ Faux Beams is a leading provider of decorative polyurethane architectural products. Their beams are virtually maintenance free, have deep, crisp detail and add market value to any home. They are easy to install and provide dependable solutions to architects, builders and homeowners.

As the #1 faucet brand in North America, Moen offers a diverse selection of thoughtfully designed kitchen and bath faucets, showerheads, accessories, bath safety products and kitchen sinks for residential and commercial applications each delivering the best possible combination of meaningful innovation, useful features, and lasting value.

Thank you to Payless Decor for their generous donation of a $500 credit to their site. Payless Decor is the internet’s premiere source for window blinds and rugs. They are committed to provide you with the highest quality home decor products at an affordable price through dynamic customer service, knowledgeable staff and exceptional value. With their free samples and free shipping, affordable window coverings will always be in style.

A big thank you to Flow Wall Systems, the leading seller of flexible home storage systems. Get your home and life organized with a FREE Flow Wall plan. They are on a quest to organize the world one room at a time! For both RST and Flow Wall the coupon code is: GIVETHANKS

Good for 15% off the entire order through October 31.

And RST Outdoor, your source for quality and attractive outdoor furniture at affordable prices. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Add onto your home by making over an outdoor space with quality outdoor luxury.

Finally, thank you to Royal Design Studio, the premier source for home decor stencils. Why wallpaper when you can avoid the glue and mess with beautiful Royal Design Studio stencils at a fraction of the cost. They carry a wide variety of high quality stencils and are sure to have a design that meets your style.

Dremel has been a name I have known since childhood, and in my own family we’ve had a Dremel rotary tool in our DIY arsenal for 10 years now! It is great for various projects around the house. Now that the rotary tool is cordless the ease of using it has simply skyrocketed! Currently the tool that I am coveting in their Sawmax, compact and easy to use for cutting virtually any material! I am putting that on my list of awesome products to buy! Thanks Dremel for providing the great rotary tools for this giveaway!

-Cassity of Remodelaholic

Thanks for the $500 donation for lovely home decor products from Kirkland’s! They have even been more generous to offer an exclusive blogger discount just four our readers! Use code BLOGGER at checkout for:

20% off entire order of $150 or more
Online only
Valid 10/24-10/28

Online coupon is not valid in stores. Qualifying purchase must be $149.99 or greater before shipping and taxes. One coupon per customer. Not valid on previous purchases. May not be combined with an employee discount, designer advantage discount, any other coupon or applied to the purchase of gift cards. No cash value. Checkout code BLOGGER is valid on Kirklands.com only. Offer valid Wednesday, 10/24/2012 through Sunday, 10/28/12 at 11:59pmCST.

Thank you to Leen the Graphics Queen for giving away a $200 gift certificate to her online store. Leen the Graphics Queen.com is the place to find hundreds of designs, from fun children’s decals to elegant, meaningful wall sayings, from decals to help with home organization, to beautiful monogram and name decals. They also now offer wrapped canvas wall art and Fabric Wall Decals!

Thank you to PSA Essentials for giving $250 in stamps and accessories!

Homes.com inspires you to dream big. Through every phase of the home-buying process, from buying your first home to upgrades,DIY projects and more, Homes.com is thrilled to help you pick the perfect home and create the perfect living space for you and your family. Browse their idea gallery for inspiration tips on home decor, entertaining, improving your home’s value and more!

Thank you to Shaw Floors for generously giving away an HGTV area rug!

Utah Truffles are the BEST chocolates I have ever, EVER had in my life. You will get addicted I promise. I want to thank them for sponsoring this giveaway. Winning $100 worth of chocolate would make anyone’s day

A big thank you to Worth Home Products for a $500 credit towards any of their products which include a wide array of stylish pendants, drum shades and chandeliers that you can install anywhere you currently have a recessed light. Simply screw it in and slide up the decorative canopy to hide the recessed light. It’s as easy as changing a light bulb.

Karran Sinks was the first to introduce a complete line of acrylic sinks that could be undermounted to laminate. They are the first, and only, company to develop a line of stainless steel sinks that could be seamlessly undermounted to laminate and solid surface.

Black and Decker is one of my favorite companies, I am so glad they helped sponsor this giveaway. Not only are the employees kind and fun to hang out with, but there products are fabulous and their prices are so friendly! The very first tool purchase for our first home was a Black and Decker skill saw… and the first time I used it, was to begin the remodel of our first kitchen… ah those were the good days! Now, few years later, ahem, I have tried several of their tools and one of my favorites their gas free mowers. Be sure to check out their great selection of tools!

-Cassity of Remodelaholic

Thanks so much to D. Lawless Hardware for supplying such great gift certificates. D Lawless is a great source for affordable hardware, from a cut glass drawer knobs to drawer slides for your homemade furniture. I found them almost 2 years ago when working on our built-in storage project and because of their great prices we were able to get both the hinges and the pulls that I wanted for a steal of a deal. The product that I am dying to buy is their Kitchen Aid lift kit…. great price and SO cool!

-Cassity of Remodelaholic

Many thanks to Glidden for participating in this epic giveaway! We appreciate their generous support and presence in the blogging community and encourage all of our readers to check out Glidden’s great line of paint when you start your next project! Also be sure to check out the My Colortopia site for helpful painting tips and ideas from the My Colortopia bloggers!

BIG thanks to FrogTape for the generous basket of FrogTape products and a $500 Visa gift card to one lucky winner who has the opportunity to create an awesome DIY paint project! FrogTape is the only painter’s tape treated with PaintBlock Technology. A DIY must to have for keeping paint lines sharp and inspiring creativity in DIY painting. Need some FrogTape project inspiration? The FrogTape blog squad shares DIY ideas, “like” FrogTape on Facebook or follow FrogTape on Twitter. ~Roeshel

Huge thank you to HomeGoods for their $500 giftcard. We are constantly inspired when we walk into their space. Make sure you check out their incredible pin boards for things to inspire and excite you when you are inside your own space

Thank you to Rustoleum for giving away a countertop transformation kit!

Thank you to Dee from Red Letter Words for giving away $350 worth of product (excluding custom orders) to her beautiful online store. Dee’s hope is that her faith inspired art connects people to the unchanging truth of God’s word and reminds them just how much God loves them. Red Letter Words takes its name from the words spoken by Jesus in the New Testament, which appear printed in red in some editions.

Thank you to Mirror-Mate for participating in this giveaway by providing 3 frames. Mirror Mate allows you to Transform your bathroom mirror in minutes with a custom fit frame frame. They custom cut the frame and send you a complete kit. It’s easy! It’s the 20 Minute Mirror Makeover™ that gives your whole bath decorator style.

Joss & Main Curator’s Collection is LIVE!

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Roeshel

Joss & Main recently invited me to curate a collection (dream-come-true!). You’ve likely seen several blogger’s collections this year…it’s such a fun sales event!

I worked hard to create a collection of items I have in my own home or that reflect my style, even items on my wish list. {dear Santa….}

On occasion I’m asked where I found a certain item. Today, I share some of my favorite decorative items in my Eclectic farmhouse Elegance collection.

If you’re not familiar with Joss & Main, they’re a member’s only online shopping site offering top brand and designer merchandise for your home well below retail prices. Up to 70% off! Membership is FREE and you can join Joss & Main here.

I look at the collections and sales and find something I love nearly every day. It’s a great source for inspiration for decorating too! And every time you refer a friend who makes a purchase, you earn credit for shopping! I know! That’s awesome, right?

For a limited time at Joss & Main, I’m sharing some great decorative accents and furnishings {some that you’ll actually see in our home!}. To achieve a similar look, my eclectic farmhouse style, you’ll find items like our dining room chairs and a lot more…

See if you can spot some of the accents I’m going to be using in the apartment reveal that’s coming up too! Yep, they have some amazing prices and irresistible deals.

You’re invited! Head over and take advantage of the FREE membership so you can shop for some amazing discounted home decor for your next room makeover and I’d love for you to take a look at the DIY Show Off Joss & Main Curator’s Collection for a limited time. Thanks, friends!
Facebook

I’m in the {HomeTalk} Bloglight today!

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Roeshel

Hello friends! I am SUPER excited! Guess what? I’m in the HomeTalk Bloglight today! If you’re new to DIY Show Off, welcome! {I’m Roeshel, blog author of DIY Show Off. It’s nice to e-meet you!} You may want to visit the DIY Show Off home page to catch up on all of the awesome things going on this week. I don’t usually talk much about myself and in person, I’m usually at a loss for words but warning – writing comes A LOT easier for me so this is a long one {see * below}! You can usually find me wearing paint covered cloths, no make up and working on a DIY project…

and if we’re already friends…thanks for sharing my excitement today {and all week}! You’ve already seen me at my worst and you’re still here! Blogging = true friendships, I tell ya.

I’ve actually been a long time member at HomeTalk (since May 2011) and love the community that supports everything “home” related. If you’re not familiar, HomeTalk is a site dedicated to DIY, home improvement, home repair, home maintenance, gardening, decorating – with so many ideas, inspiration and a place to ask for advice, collect inspiration and pretty much just talk about home {“Home+Talk”}! Oh and a place to share and ‘show off’ – my kind of hangout! You can find DIY Show Off on HomeTalk here.

I had the pleasure of meeting this super sweet woman from HomeTalk at the Haven Conference this past summer. Miriam is such a supportive and encouraging friend to many HomeTalk members and DIY/home bloggers. {Thanks, Miriam!}

Being in the Bloglight means I get a virtual trophy, cash prize and tiara, I think. Just kidding! It means I get to share a few things about my blogging experience. I always feel shy about doing so. I’m not an expert, but here’s my story:

About me…

How did you first get into blogging? While I still feel like a new blogger a lot of the time, I wrote my first blog post in 2007. Yep, five years ago. I’m still loving every minute of it. {Well, minus crashed blog pages, html coding or those types of things…enough to drive a technically challenged blogger mad!}. My blog was actually a diary, a journal of what was going on in our lives. No introduction, no “hello world”, no grand launch – I didn’t really think anyone would actually read it. Back before the days of social media, it took NEARLY 1 YEAR before I had a real comment that wasn’t spam. And yes, I read and commented on other blogs too. It just took a while for things to warm up. Can you imagine waiting that long? I didn’t really think much about it at the time because I didn’t expect that anyone was reading. Things have changed since then. It’s been a long journey of ups and downs. Don’t give up! In 2007, we purchased this old neglected farmhouse and as you can guess, a lot of my blog posts discussed our projects, our before and after transformation, our DIY.

After a couple of years of writing my personal blog, I found that others online shared my passion for DIY, home improvement and decorating and DIY Show Off was born. I’ve been writing about DIY for over five years. I’m often asked what I will write about when our home is complete. Um, I think we have projects to last us 20 years and during that time frame and to infinity and beyond I’ll be starting over, changing my mind, rearranging my home. It’s something I’ve always loved to do.

How did you decide on the name for your blog? There are books filled with baby names and dog names and cat names. I think I’m going to write a book filled with blog names. It’s HARD to choose a blog name! After blogging for a couple of years and discovering that the topic I enjoyed writing about most was DIY, I decided to create a new blog dedicated to do-it-yourself. I started focusing on sharing our home projects and giving others (bloggers and non bloggers) a place to share {SHOW OFF} their DIY home improvements and decorating, with links back to their blogs. I love recognizing a DIY job well done and helping other blogs grow too!

It’s a place to Show Off DIY. So…”DIY Show Off” it became after a sleepless night when I couldn’t stop thinking about a name. Some of you might remember my first look and my tag line…

Which project has brought you the most traffic to date? It’s a toss up between my painted foam playmat (which I now use as outdoor wall art because it turned out too cute to step all over)…

and my last minute idea to for a “using what we have” stair landing makeover with FrogTape…

By far, our home tour has been the most popular page and is my favorite post to update. Because if I’m editing that home tour page, it means we have progress, baby!

Since I’ve been a member of HomeTalk for quite a while, most of my posts are before the HUGE growth HomeTalk experienced this year. I invite you to check out my HomeTalk posts {here}. To date, my most popular HomeTalk post was my super easy DIY yarn pumpkins {yarn+pinecones}. Shared 1.6k times! Woo hoo! And yes, that traffic trickles down. Blogging can sometimes feel lonely. HomeTalk is a place where you can meet new friends who share your DIY and decorating interests, a great tool to help grow your blog too. If you’re not a member of HomeTalk, it’s free to sign up!

Do your friends and family read your blog? Yes! My daughters read my blog. Bri reads it regularly and Ali has been reading more, especially since her apartment reveal is coming up! And Mr. DIY? He catches up on posts regularly. He loves reading comments. His favorite DIY blogger comment was that our marble subway tiled backsplash is ”to die for”.

Hearing words of praise and approval are so encouraging! We’re like blog dogs. The more “good job” comments we get, the more we want to do it again!

I know my mom and sisters check in on occasion and I have at least one friend who tries to read every day. And if I get excited about something and share on my personal Facebook page, all of my family and friends are very supportive. Outside of that, I’m lucky if someone knows what a blog is which is so hard to believe. Stuns me every time I’m asked. I probably say the word “blog” 100 x a day and some people don’t know what it is?! It’s an everyday part of my life.

How has keeping a blog changed you? The changes I’ve experienced through blogging have all been positive. Home projects are more fun when I can share. I’m still amazed that what I do inspires and helps readers. Knowing I’m helping and encouraging others to create a home they love encourages me. It’s also a huge help at keeping me focused and seeing projects through to completion. It’s helped me stay focused. Blogging sometimes makes me more confident, then turns around and makes me more humble too. Discouraging days happen and hanging in there during those takes makes me stronger. And the best part by far has been the friendships and relationships I’m making. Connecting with other DIY lovers has changed my social life!

How I blog…

*Do you stick to a strict posting schedule? How do you keep track of when and how often to post? I prefer to keep things low pressure. My blog linky parties are the only strict scheduled posts at DIY Show Off. The DIY Project Parade is creeping up on it’s 150th post!

Other than that, I post when I have something to share and when a feature by another blogger or reader is submitted that is a good fit with the topic of DIY. DIY Show Off is 99% DIY related but I’m trying to incorporate a little more personal and lifestyle posts. I enjoy blogging. My posts aren’t always planned, my schedule isn’t super strict. * I find that if I put too much planning and scheduling into my blogging, I change the post 20 times and add enough details to compete with the longest novels {ahem…this blog post is the perfect example of a planned in advance blog post. I rest my case!}. The most I’ve worked ahead is by one week and although it does feel good and like I’m all organized, I then get lazy and start back over with writing the day before I post or the same day. Besides, when I finish a project, I want to share ASAP, not store it in draft for weeks.

What are your favorite types of posts to read/write? Well, let’s see. I think you know the answer to this one! I love posts related to DIY, decorating, thrifting, repurposing. But I also enjoy posts about fashion, crafting, blogging, photography and lifestyle.

DIY!

What advice would you give to other bloggers that you wish you had known when you started blogging? I wish someone had told me that even though I would approach blogging with a casual attitude, that there is the potential for it to become a HUGE important part of my life. {It’s contagious and addictive!} That even though I love blogging, even though I’m passionate about my topic and excited and all motivated, there will be times of doubt, lack of confidence and discouragement. There are highs and lows. There are smiles and tears. It happens to everyone. Blogging looks easy and positive enough and it is! But it also portrays an organized, beautiful, mostly always happy life where everything is perfect, going well and positive. Most times, Blog life isn’t true reality, it’s an edited airbrushed version of reality. We never know what’s going on behind the scenes. We see what others want us to see. If you’re a new blogger or just a blog reader, I’m grabbing your hand, looking you in the eye and stressing…

Blogging is time consuming and a lot of work and in most cases, something else {less important} is being put on hold or neglected. If you find you love blogging but feel discouraged or overwhelmed, don’t give up. Step away from the computer. You’re a blogger! You make your own schedule! Real life and good feelings are the priority. The worldwideweb won’t explode if you don’t post or take time off. Find a balance that works for your real life and realize that growing a blog takes a lot of nurturing, hard work, learning and dedication…but real life comes first.

I’m doing something I’m completely in love with…making our house a home. If I allow it, weeks can go by tied up in projects, taking and editing pictures, writing tutorials, proofreading, hitting “publish” and starting again. A lot of hours go into just one project for one blog post. Add blog maintenance, fun opportunities {some even paid}, blog friendships {there are so many inspiring friends/blogs that keep me on the computer for hours before realizing I missed lunch!} and social media to the mix and you have time to eat and sleep. It’s important to set time aside for real life. When blogging becomes a full time career, it means the potential to work double time. And while it’s a lot of work, I love it and it’s a good fit for my life. Growing a blog takes time, patience and work but your content is out there. Someone, somewhere, sometime is going to be reading what you’ve written and be inspired.

dream.create.share.inspire

Making new friends is so much fun! Thanks to HomeTalk for the awesome feature and letting me share a little about myself today! Thanks for stopping by! I’d love for you to stay in touch by following DIY Show Off…

Facebook

Thanks for enduring 4 blogs posts within a 48 hour time frame! There’s just been so much good to share this week with the 3 HUGE giveaways, DIY Fall Festival linky party, today’s fun HomeTalk Bloglight feature and my Joss & Main Curated Collection later today! And I promise that after today, you won’t hear a peep from me until Sunday…where I’ll be hosting the regularly scheduled DIY Project Parade from a warm and sunny vacation US destination. I.cannot.wait!

Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} giveaway!

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Roeshel

Happy Wednesday, friends! What better way to start the last half of the week than with an awesome HUGE giveaway! 16 blog friends have been working together to bring you, our readers, followers and friends a chance to win some fabulous prizes as a “thank you” for all of your support and encouragement. (It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!) Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily fromDecor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany fromPretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

(It’s still not too late to enter the others if you haven’t already: “Everything AND the Kitchen Sink” giveaway or “The PIN-acle of DIY Goodness” giveaway – we don’t want you missing out on any chance to WIN!)

Today’s giveaway brings more FABULOUS prizes.

Grand Prize A: Value $1,600.00

A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles.
MSRP: $100.00

$150 gift card to D.Lawless
Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00

$500 Gift Card to Kirkland’s. MSRP $500.00

$500 Gift Card to Payless Décor MSRP $500.00

$350 Gift Certificate to Red Letter Words. MSRP $350.00

Grand Prize B: Value $1469.98

$200 Gift Certificate to Leen The Graphics Queen MSRP $200.00

Two Black and Decker Platinum
20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP:
$149.99 each

$500 gift certifcate to Worth Home Products. MSRP $500

$220 gift certificate to LoveFeast Shop MSRP $220

$250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00

Grand Prize C: Value $1472.54

One Cordless Dremel tool from
Dremel. MSRP: $139.99

One Countertop Transformation Kit from Rustoleum MSRP $250

A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP:
$482.55

A $100 shopping spree to Royal
Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100

Do we know how to go out with a bang or what?!

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is like the incredible sponsors’ Facebook pages:

And for an additional entry add us to your Google+ circles by visiting one of these blog friends and clicking the “G+” icons:

…and then validate your entry by answering the question below {click “do it”}. In order to see the question, you need to click “do it.”. I’ve had a few readers also say that you need to also click “log in to Facebook.”
PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget above, come back later. Thank you for being patient!{Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi friends! Did you have fun with yesterday’s Everything and the Kitchen Sink Giveaway? We sure did! In fact, we had so much fun that we decided that we just couldn’t stop there.

So today, this group of 16 DIY and home decor bloggers are back with a second amazing giveaway. This time, you’ll have a chance to win some jaw dropping DIY prize packages. You know you are just itching to get started on some new projects or {ahem} actually finish the ones that are already in progress. Are we right?

You already know the group of gals that are bringing you the chance to win the DIY goodies. But just in case you need a reminder, here they are:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show Off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals.

Ready to see the prize packages? Let’s get started!

Grand Prize A:

A $500 gift card to national off-price Home Fashions retailer HomeGoods! Click here to find your inspiration! MSRP: $500.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: $149.99 each
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00A $500 Visa Gift Card
Frog Tape Gift Basket filled with FrogTape goodies for your next DIY project from FrogTape. MSRP $550.00

Grand Prize B:

One 8×10 HGTV HOME Flooring by Shaw area rug, Grandeur collection (this includes: Exotic Journey, Luna de Luna, Nirvana, Nomadic Elegance, Good Karma, A Stitch in Time and Zybra). MSRP: $1299.00
A $150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00

Grand Prize C:

1 custom stamp, 3 Peel & Stick packs, 2-color ink, 1 color ink and 3 boxes of note cards from PSA Essentials. MSRP is $250.00
$1000.00 gift certificate to AZ Faux Beams. Good toward Old Timber or Sandblasted beams (can include shipping).
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100.00
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

How to enter, you ask?

Mandatory entry: Follow all 16 bloggers on Pinterest…{Yes, this means clicking over to Pinterest 16 times, after all the prizes are worth it!!}

PLUS you can get two optional entries by completing the two other tasks. Don’t forget to validate your entry in the Rafflecopter Widget.

Also, Rafflecopter has had a few issues keeping up with the high demand of this giveaway So, if you don’t see the widget below, come back later. Thank you for being patient! {Not a Pinterest User? Alternate entry available by sending your entry e-mail to allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com}

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook or Pinterest. Winner will be notified by email on 10/23/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings. Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink Giveaway {nearly $5000 in prizes!}

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Roeshel

Good Morning, DIY friends!!! Get excited! Today is a great start to an awesome week! 16 blog owners are teaming up to bring you the most exciting giveaway that we’ve ever seen! We have worked hard to put together INCREDIBLE prize packages and the best part is that the fun has just begun! Today our first giveaway will begin, and tomorrow there will be a new one! THEN, if that’s not enough we will have ANOTHER one on Wednesday. Yep, three days of different giveaways with fun prizes just for YOU.

If you don’t recognize the bloggers above {I’m sure you already know most of them}, here is a list starting from the top left:

Brooke from All Things Thrifty, Traci from Beneath my Heart, Emily from Decor Chick, Roeshel from DIY Show off, Beth from Home Stories A to Z, Beckie from Infarrantly Creative, Melissa from The Inspired Room, Lindsay from Makely, Stacy from Not Just a Housewife, Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl, Cassity from Remodelaholic, Sandra from Sawdust and Paper Scraps, Rhoda from Southern Hospitality, Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage, Jen from Tatertots and Jello, and Mandi from Vintage Revivals

Let’s get to it! Want to see the prizes? Of course you do!

Grand Prize A:

One Moen Lindley Kitchen Faucet MSRP: $482.55
$150 gift card to D.Lawless Hardware for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls. MSRP: $150.00
A Mirror Mate kit MSRP: $250.00
One under-mount sink with install from Karran MSRP: $750.00

Grand Prize A Total MSRP: $1632.55

Grand Prize B:

A $500.00 gift card to IKEA. MSRP: $500.00
A $100 shopping spree to Royal Design Studio for stencils and supplies. MSRP: $100
A $250.00 Paint Prize Package from Glidden. MSRP: $250.00
Two Black and Decker Platinum 20V Max* Lithium Ion Flex Vacuums {one for you and one for a friend}. MSRP: 149.99 each
One Silhouette CAMEO™ electronic cutting tool. MSRP: $269.99

Grand Prize B Total MSRP: $1419.97

Grand Prize C:

One Cordless Dremel tool from Dremel. MSRP: $139.99
One Dream Chair Swivel Chaise Lounge from RST Outdoor. MSRP: $499.00
One Flow Wall Garage and Hardware Storage System. MSRP: $499.00
A $100.00 gift card to Utah Truffles. MSRP: $100.00
A $500.00 Visa gift card from Homes.com. MSRP: $500.00

Grand Prize C Total MSRP: $1737.99

How to enter you ask? Well, all you have to do is Like all 16 Facebook pages below: {you’ll need to visit DIY Show Off if you’re viewing in a reader or email to be able to enter}

And then answer the question below to enter officially: {your entry automatically enters you into all three prizes} {If you don’t see the question box below, Rafflecopter is experiencing technical difficulty…but please check back if that’s the case! Thanks for your patience!}

a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This giveaway is in no way affiliated, administered or endorsed by Facebook. Winner will be notified by email on 10/22/12 and will need to respond within 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. Winner must be 18 years of age or older and a US citizen in order to win. Winners are responsible for paying any necessary taxes on winnings.
Alternate entry email: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com with entry information. All prizes will be mailed by the sponsor and all participating blog owners are not held responsible if the prize is not fulfilled. A list of winners may be requested after the giveaway has ended. Questions and additional information can be requested by emailing: allthingsthriftyassistant@gmail.com
Facebook

Joss & Main {Curator’s Collection}

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Roeshel

Joss & Main recently invited me to curate a collection (dream-come-true!). You’ve likely seen several blogger’s collections this year…it’s such a fun event.

I worked hard to create a collection of items I have in my own home or that reflect my style, even items on my wish list. On occasion I’m asked where I found a certain item. Tomorrow – I share some of what we already own or items to achieve a similar look, my style. I hope to see you this thurs. afternoon {today or tomorrow…depending on when you’re reading this} at the BIG sale! In the mean time, check out the fun sales going on now…and be sure to take advantage of the FREE membership so you can shop for some amazing discounted home decor for your next room makeover!

Ginormous Giveaway Alert!

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Roeshel

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

I have an awesome announcement to share, DIY readers! A teaser. Something to look forward to. A great way to start the week! What do you get when a group of DIY blog friends plan a fun “thank you for your encouragement and support” event?

3 days.

3 giveaways each day.

Total value of combined prizes? Over $14,000.

You.don’t.want.to.miss.this!

Monday 10/15

Tuesday 10/16 – The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Wednesday 10/17 – Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} Giveaway

Wait until you see all of the fabulous prizes ! It’s an awesome giveaway highlighting some of our favorite home improvement and home decorating brands, companies we all LOVE! It’s HUGE likeohmygoshiwanttowinthissobad! And since I can’t, I sure hope you do! Hope to see you here Monday for the start of the ultimate DIY giveaway!

Enjoy a wonderful weekend!

You’re invited to these fun fall parties!

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Roeshel

Hi DIY Friends! Mark your calenders for these upcoming autumn related blog linky parties you won’t want to miss:

COUNTDOWN TO FALL

Starting today, MaryAnn from Domestically Speaking {LINK UP TODAY!} kicks off the Countdown to Fall series with this adorable project…a baker’s twine apple! So sweet!

Over the next few weeks, I’ll remind you when to visit Kim from Sand & Sisal who will share her festival fall front door and Cheri from It’s So Very Cheri who will share a yummy fall recipe and on September 28th, I’ll be sharing my fall mantel.

OCTOBER FEST OF FUN

Then! Coming up in October ~ MORE fun! I’ll kick off sharing an easy DIY fall craft. Shannon from Fox Hollow Cottage will share her inspiring autumn mantel, Kristin from My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia will be inviting you to a beautifully decorated fall table with the grand finale of Debbie from Debbiedoo’s fall home tour!

and as always, the DIY Fall Festival runs every week Wed-Fri for sharing your fall related DIY… show off, be inspired and get pinned!

Lots of fall fun going on and would love for you to join us in celebrating all things fall!

Cue the confetti and balloons! DIY news and a giveaway!-

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Roeshel

226

Do you remember me telling you guys that I won the Purdy grand prize at the Haven Conference earlier this summer? Well, my prize arrived! Inside the box was this..

$1000 worth of Purdy products!

OH MY GOODNESS! I’m the luckiest DIY girl in the world today. I won’t have to buy paint supplies for quite awhile. Awesome!

Want to see what $1000 worth of Purdy looks like?

It looks Purdy awesome. Imagine the projects I can complete with this stash of goodies!

~*~*~*~

And if that wasn’t exciting enough? I have more fun news. Some of you have noticed and have sent me tweets, FB notes and comments. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Seriously…I’m on cloud 9! And your thoughtfulness has made me feel so special the last couple of days. Thanks for noticing, thanks for taking the time to tell me you’ve seen it!

It’s no secret that I use FrogTape a lot. A LOT a lot. (with the apartment renovation: almost every day!) Well, I recently had a dream come true opportunity to promote FrogTape, a product I do believe in and use in real life – in an advertisement! Woo hoo! You can see an ad in…

Country Living, September 2012

House Beautiful, September 2012

~*~*~*~

Thanks so much to FrogTape and Purdy for making my DIY and painting projects so much easier. Amen, right?

~*~*~*~

DIY SHOW OFF favorite product giveaway…

Prize: So, what’s the giveaway? NOT $1000 worth of Purdy but, well, two of my most favorite DIY tools in the whole wide world, of course. I’ll share a bit of my duplicate Purdy products and stash of FrogTape with one DIY Show Off friend. It’ll be just like it’s your birthday too!

How to win? Winner is open to US residents only. Giveaway runs today through midnight EST Sunday, August 12th, 2012. Good luck! Simply leave a comment for each of the following:

Just leave me a note in the comments below. Maybe about when/how we met or what your working on or what DIY has inspired you lately or what makes you happiest or just “hi”.
Share this news/giveaway link on Facebook.
Share this link to this post on G+.
Share this link on Twitter.
Pin this post.
“Like” Purdy on Facebook.
“Like” FrogTape on Facebook.

Thanks for sharing my excitement, thanks for letting me share my excitement! Thanks for tolerating me while I ‘show off’ on my online journal.

Disclosure: I did not get paid to write this post. I’m sharing two products that I truly do love and personally use.

I Love Thrifting Day – fun, finds & friends

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Roeshel

#ilovethrifting

Groups from all over participated in I Love Thrifting day this past weekend. As you know, I had the pleasure to organize and host the North Pittsburgh event.

Our group was small, consisting largely of family sprinkled with a few friends

and the opportunity to meet 3 local blog friends!

Kim {Reposhture} and me. Love her creativity. I’ve featured her before. We just didn’t know that we were practically neighbors. Now I can ‘borrow’ her ski pole lamp or have her professionally DIY a piece of furniture for me!

I don’t know why I didn’t get my picture with Susan from Oh My! Creative {so many fun crafty features}, but you can see her in her green/white striped shirt in some of the photos. Love her and can’t wait to get to know her a little better. I have local blog friends!

And dear sweet, Jessica who I actually met last year. Jessica’s a local pet sitter at Sittin Paws, providing an awesome alternative to kenneling. Now I can consider getting a dog {I miss Niski} because vacations won’t be a problem with a friend like Jessica in the neighborhood! She’s also blog author at Craft Frau Times…but she’s lacking the ‘time’ to blog right now.

Our scheduled was as follows:

9 a.m. we arrived at the North Hills Goodwill.

Lots of thrifty treasures!

Next up was Wexford GoodWill. It’s a more intimate store (not a donation center) but packed full of treasures and the service was a little more personal.

At this point, our entire group of lucky #13 was gathered…

Pittsburgh 2012 #ilovethrifting

Yep – there’s my aunt, my cousin, my GRAM! My sister, niece, daughters and friends!

We also had a scavenger hunt at each store. Just a piece of paper with one word. The more hideous, the better.

A little prize was awarded for those finding their “thing”. Ali won $5…

Some really fun finds…

Next up, we headed to Cranberry Twp. to another GoodWill and more shopping! If I had room in the vehicle, this would have found it’s way to Ali’s tiny apartment where I would give “painting a loveseat” a little DIY trial. It was like new!

Time for lunch! Place: North Park Lounge ClubHouse where seating was limited for a small group, but booths were all in the same location. Food was good. Company was amazing.

Last stop: Gibsonia GoodWill.

It was a long HOT {104 degrees} day…we shopped til we dropped…

Some of us headed to my house for a little thrifty show and tell…

What did I come home with? Surprisingly, very little, but LOVE

my thrifty treasures:

A pouf! Price: $15.
An old clip board for filleting fish – $2.99.
Target shower curtain $11
$2.99 ticking bed skirt for me to cut up for a project.
Garden gnome. A little pricey at $9.99 but I couldn’t resist his cuteness.
Picnic basket $4.99.
Pitcher – I don’t remember. Maybe $1.99.

A special thanks to Rashon at Mr. GoodWill Hunting, the brains behind #ILoveThrifting day. Remember, we finally had the chance to meet a few weeks ago at the Haven Conference.

And a special thanks to GoodWill of Southwestern PA for the discounts! If you’re local – the Butler GoodWill store is having a fun event this Saturday! I might even gather my friends and where our shirts and partake of some refreshments and sales!

Joining the party at Rhoda’s: Check out all of the fun thrifty treasures’ links. You’ll want to see her latest progress in her new home too!

Happy 4th! {and news/updates}

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Roeshel

Happy 4th, friends!

I hope you have a fun memory filled day with family and friends!

There’s a few reminders and things I want to share with you:

1. I shared about

a few weeks ago. You’ll want to pop over to see the winner chosen by Brittany Pretty Handy Girl. AMAZING outdoor kitchen by The Logan’s Landing and watch to see who Traci from Beneath My Heart chooses on Saturday.

Get the details on how you can enter!

2. The winner of the Granite Gold Cleaning Kit + $50 Bed, Bath & Beyond Gift Cards is….

Chance @ Designed by Chance - “I have slate and it needs help. It was sealed when we got it, but that sealant is getting sticky and messy. I just don’t know how to fix it.”

Congratulations, Chance!

granite gold products Bed Bath & Beyond gift card

3. I LOVE THRIFTING DAY IS THIS SATURDAY!

Counting down the days! You can participate from anywhere and share/follow along on Twitter using #ilovethrifting. I’m hosting the N. Pittsburgh location and already looking forward to possibly getting together with local non blogger and blogging friends like these super talented blog friends:

Jessica from CraftFrau Times - I met Jessica last year and we had a great time thrifting together!
Kim from Reposture - Kim is so talented. You’ve likely seen her amazing DIY pallet table recently…
Nan from Playtableful Decor – so many fun DIY ideas!

We’d love to meet you too if you’re local! Blogging not required – only a love of thrifting. You can see the North Pittsburgh schedule here.

4. Show off your DIY in this week’s ongoing DIY Project Parade!

5. I’ve redone our HOME TOUR page! I’d love for you to pop over and make yourself at home. Friends welcome! We’ll update the page as we complete more room renovations…

DIY Show Off Home Tour - barn patio DIY Show Off Home Tour - gazebo, grape arbor DIY Show Off Home Tour - patio installation

6. I’m very late in acknowledging this, but so honored that Desiree from The 36th Avenue gave me this sweet sticker for our summer mantel:

DIY chevron sign

7. And finally, a HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our little girl. I’m hoping that turning two doesn’t mean “terrible twos”!

Happy Birthday, Lalka!

DIY Show Off ™ – DIY Decorating and Home Improvement Blog

Budget Friendly Do-It-Yourself Home Improvement and Decorating blog

Category Archives: Blogger Events

Summer Home Tour

DAY 1 (June 3rd)

DAY 2 (June 4th)

DAY 3 (June 5th)

DAY 4 (June 6th)

HomeTalk Kitchen Chat

Pot of Gold Giveaway

Rust-Oleum Blogger Event

Guess the DIY Blogger Winner and Answers

Guess the DIY blogger Contest

Show Off your Christmas Tree contest!

Miss Mustard Seed – “Inspired You”, inspired me {review and giveaway}

Update for Hurricane Sandy Relief ~ Socks for Sandy

DIY upholstered tufted ottoman tutorial {Wayfair DIY Challenge}

Socks for Sandy: Helping Victims of Hurricane Sandy

Announcing the Lamps Plus Best Home Blog Sweepstakes!

Sponsor Thank You and Winners

Joss & Main Curator’s Collection is LIVE!

I’m in the {HomeTalk} Bloglight today!

Shut the Front Door {to keep it all in} giveaway!

The PINacle of DIY Goodness Giveaway

Everything AND the Kitchen Sink Giveaway {nearly $5000 in prizes!}

Joss & Main {Curator’s Collection}

Ginormous Giveaway Alert!

You’re invited to these fun fall parties!

Cue the confetti and balloons! DIY news and a giveaway!-

I Love Thrifting Day – fun, finds & friends

Happy 4th! {and news/updates}