Coastal Comfort

School has started back which means for all of us who don't have kids, it's time to start planning a vacation. I have been dying to go to the beach so today we are going to take a little virtual vacation. No sunscreen needed, just a glass of iced tea, sit back and enjoy the view!

First let's take a look at the scenery

Some of the main ingredients to a a coastal decor are relaxing, fresh and airy, just like the beach!

For a coastal style room, it's great to use some beachy items as decoration. For example, coral, oars or sea shells. Just don't go "overboard". A few intentionally placed items will add to the room's appearance and not make it look to themey.

White white and more white. For a beach house, the main focus is the view. A white interior will help make that view stand out and be the focal point of a room.

Here is a more modern take on beach decor. Still very relaxing.

So if you aren't able to take a vacation right now I hope this helped let your mind escape for a few minutes!

~Jessica

DIY Friday - Ordinary to Extraordinary

We all have those everyday items around our house that are necessities. Toilet paper, Cleaner, TV Remotes, Mail, etc. They are usually laying around and out for everyone one to see. Why not make them look a little more visually pleasant.

For today's DIY I am going to show how to take things that are just ordinary and turn them into an extraordinary look for your place.

First up, the bathroom. Toilet paper, cotton balls, soap and q-tips are all things that we use. Let's take these items and use them to decorate your bathroom. Functional and pretty to look at!

Fold up your towels and store them in baskets, or roll them up and put them on the shelf.

Extra toilet paper can be stored in a basket or a glass jar.

Try putting your cotton balls and qtips in a glass apothecary jar or some antique silver vases to decorate a shelf or your counter.

Second is all that junk that ends up on the kitchen counter. Mail, keys, pens and calendars become really junky looking if it's piled around and not organized.

A great way to clean all this up and make it look good is with organization boards. You can find these at Target, Pottery Barn or you can even make your own. Mix them up with bulletin, magnetic and wipe off boards. Add some cubbies for mail and hooks for keys and your junk pile now turns into something really cute to hang on your wall.

For your coffee table, simply find a cool box to store your TV remotes in so they aren't always laying out.

If you have a craft area, trying to keep it organized can be a tough challenge. One idea is use peg board to hang all your supplies and scissors and things on. Also, you can make wrapping paper and ribbon spools from a simple dow rod. Paint the peg board and rod a fun color and now you have something super functional and super cute!

Old jars make really cute storage containers. Mount a jar upside down and punch a hole in the lid and store string inside, you can just pull out what you need and cut it off, no tangles to worry about.

These magnetic spice containers make a great place to store beads and buttons. You can find these at Ikea.
For your laundry room, take from boring to brilliant with colored storage baskets for cleaner and supplies.

Putting your laundry soap in a glass jar might be going a little too far but it sure looks pretty!

A glass jar hold clothes pins. Organized and very cute!

Well I hope this post helps you to start thinking outside the box this weekend and making all that stuff lying around your house into something that actually adds to the appearance of your home! Do you have any ideas on how to turn all that ordinary stuff into extraordinary decorations?

Have a great weekend and Happy Birthday to me!

~Jessica

"What Were They Thinking Thursday!!??" - Bad Bachelor Pads

Ok guys, this post is for you! If you're a bachelor living on your own pay close attention. We do not like to come over to your place when it looks like this:

There is nothing wrong with having a nice looking place, it will not make us think you are less manly. The same goes with how you dress but we will save that for another time.

The number one thing to do is clean! We do not like to be tripping over fast food bags and dirty clothes. Clean up your place, it will make it smell better too. If you want a girl to feel comfortable in your place you must clean it up!

Secondly, it's time to get rid of that old beat up sofa from college.

Who knows what kinda germs and bacteria are living in there! I have been to a "bachelor pad" so bad that I couldn't even sit down comfortably on the couch. I just perched on the very edge and tried not to let that disgusting feeling show on my face.

Invest in a good sofa. You will take it with you wherever you move.

And finally, don't be afraid to decorate. If you don't feel confident in your own abilities to buy a throw pillow, take a friend along. PS this is a great way to spend time with that girl you've been too afraid to ask out. Ask her to help you get your place looking good.

Now, let's take a look at some really really bad bachelor pads:

College is over, it's time to get rid of the mini beer fridge!

Again, college is over, put your bike somewhere else than the dining room.

You are out of college and hopefully working and living on your own like an adult, it's time to have an adult looking place. Now let's take a look at some really nice looking bachelor pads, places where a girl might spend more time than the 5 minutes it takes to be disgusted and leave.

A great way to make your place look presentable is having a large piece of art. You don't have to hang stuff all over your walls, just invest in some art that you really like to be the focal point of the room.

Don't be afraid of having a nice looking place. It just means that if you get married someday your new wife won't have to throw away all your stuff in fear of a bacteria related disease outbreak.

~Jessica