I’m recapping July posts and introducing my current sponsors! Hooray for being on top of things! (not really but I try…) so in case you missed something or just feel like browsing some dreamy products and organization services….this post is for you my friend.
INSIDE PROJECTS:
- Who knew chestbumping could be so violent?
- Channeled my inner girl scout and built a teepee
- Worlds collide in Will’s room
- Putting a little bit of happy in the dining room
- Painting the basement…only a year late!
- Art for the non-artist
OUTSIDE PROJECTS:
- The under-deck-patio gets a big-a table
- Weatherproofing exterior wood
- I like my outdoor tables like my men…with meat on their bones
FRIENDS & FAMILY & PERSONAL POSTS:
- Sherry & I are total Goodwill junkies.
- Our first Independence day parade
- Fireworks & Family – one hot combo
- A cure for mama loneliness
- Sunflowers are the new black
- Little Baby’s Gender Reveal (!!!)
PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN POSTS:
- I’m hooked on Instagram. Here’s when our love affair began.
- Instadump
SPONSORS:
I love our sponsors. Not just simply because they have given us money…although let’s be honest, that helps….but because 1. it validates me. I’m just as insecure as any other girl with above average thigh circumference. And having companies use me to sell their stuff, well, that makes me feel like something is working over here…and 2. it means more projects for you guys because let’s face it, DIY ain’t always cheap….and 3. I dig their stuff. I truly do. I wouldn’t place an ad on the sidebar that didn’t have something I would want in my own home….or a company that provided a service that I wouldn’t use or gift to my mom. And you know how much I owe my mother. She homeschooled me. That’s a lot of sacrifice right there in one three word sentence. Oh and I had a gigantic head. Nuff said. SOoo….allow me to introduce you to these sidebar sponsors….
Vielle + Frances has a byline of Luxury. Decor. Glamour. And seriously – that could not describe them any better. They carry trendsetter pieces. Stuff you see in celebrity homes. Things you can’t build using pocket lint, a thrift store find or with an online plan. This is the kinda thing that makes the neighbors jealous. Check em out.
I feel like the entire world knows who the Tile Shop is…but what you don’t know is that they carry way more than you think they do. They continually surprise me with their amazing selection. I want this tile for my kitchen backsplash….or maybe this one with a herringbone pattern…or this one…or this one. Like I said…go get lost in the selection.
We live in the information age. But with all our lives getting in the way, it gets harder to remember the details. Well, when it comes to your home – Home Zada is here to help. This website actually helps you track your home improvement projects, keep accounts of your stuff (perfect for insurance!) and maintain your biggest investment. It’s like having a genius living in your computer.
Scentsy! I can’t say enough about these burners. Don’t buy the cheap ones at Walmart. Someone you may know made that mistake and I, err…she regretted wasting her money. I need this burner that looks like it’s covered with doilies and Baby Ollie the Elephant? So stinking cute…not literallly….in fact, literally speaking, this is an awesome baby shower gift…it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Quality Bath gives ya exactly what the name says….quality bathroom items that wow. I love this vanity. It looks like the fancier, nicer, richer version of a cheap Ikea sink. And I love Ikea…so that’s saying something.
Couple Supper is perfect for a girl like me. I am that gal that goes to the supper market hungry and walks out with too much ice cream and no basics like bread or milk. And don’t even ask me what I can make for dinner. Our pantry is full but heaven’s knows what goes with what. So we end up eating canned fruit and Pringles…also outta a can 🙂 Well – the solution to that is Couple Supper. You have to check out all the benefits!
Patti Brown is one photographer I truly look up to. She was SOO helpful and willing to offer advice and guidance when I decided to take the plunge into the world of photography. She understands what we momtographers want and like. And besides pearls of wisdom, she also offers up some awesome photography tools that can take a good photo and make it look studio-worthy. Click here to learn more!
I’ve told y’all about Evgie’s awesome wall decals in the past – but what you don’t know is how darn cute they are. They sell 72 dots for $22 (that’s only thirty cents per dot!) and they would make awesome party decor, dorm room wall decorations or even the perfect teaching tool – just write your alphabet and numbers on em and get to hang them on the wall without the fuss!
Sentimental? Check. Cuter than a teddybear in a tutu? Check. Modern twist on a classic? Check. It doesn’t take glasses to see that these eyecharts are not for testing if you are 20/20 or not. It’s to convey a message…one much sweeter than dilated retinas. My personal favorite is the Alphabet Poster…I want one in a nursery stat!
My dear older brother has a plumbing business and I would be remiss to not at least tell ya about him. He’s honest to a fault…and hates the fact that plumbers have a bad rap for being scam artists that charge too much to snake a toilet. So as the faithful sister that I am…here is his facebook info and if you are in the Birmingham area…hopefully you can ask him to give you an honest assessment of your plumbing issue.
I am in love with the hanging globes. I also covet that Scentsy owl warmer – I am seeing it all over the place now!
So I have a scentsy burner and I love it, but the colors don’t really fit my style. Think I could spray paint it?
I love those hanging globes! They’re so whimsical.
I’m addicted to Instagram now too, dangit (follow us @ littlehousebigheart). Love following you!
I love that you gave a shoutout to your brother at the end! That is so sweet of you. I wish he lived in the Atlanta area.
I think if you paint it, the lifetime warranty is void…so I recommend that you regift that bad boy to your mom/sister/friend or continue using it by putting it behind a pretty frame or with a glass sleeve around it that has a pretty etch or paint treatment!
xo – kb
You mentioned being home schooled by your Mom, so are you going to home school Will? I was just curious cause I am in high school and have been home schooled all my life!
In my preparation for visiting the MN State Fair, I learned that Bacon Ice Cream is debuting this year and immediately thought of you. Is it sad that I consider my favorite blog authors my friends? “Katie would LOVE this!!”
Love your outdoor table project from July.
(Bacon ice cream sounds gross! Wonder where I can get some! LOL)
Hi Eliza, I actually haven’t decided. I think it’ll all come down to what he is ready for and what teachers he would have and the kind of kid he grows into being. Both of my parents were public school teachers (my mom is still a private school teacher) so I am not anti-public-or-private…just more like find-the-best-fit-for-my-kid kinda parent 🙂
xo – kb
Hey Katie! I have a question that’s completely not related to you or to this post or any other part of this blog and would really love to know your outlook. I look at a lot of home decor blogs and have noticed from time to time some bloggers will complete project they saw on another blogger’s website. Typically they give credit and link over to said blog and then give their own spin on what worked for them, etc. However, I have increasingly noticed a lack of credit given where credit is due.
Last night I came across a blog that was explaining how to stencil walls. Stencil work is nothing new under the sun. However the design and method was nearly identical to a certain popular blogger, Jones Design. Jones Design had done the treatment two years ago. I have seen the photos of her office everywhere on Pinterest and when other blogs link to her site. Furthermore, the wording in the other post was very similar to that of the Jones Design. I can’t help but to see this as plagiarism. I feel a certain injustice is done when all the comments in the comment box are gushing compliments about creativity, etc and that blogger fails to acknowledge her inspiration. It especially concerns me when people receive ad money for their site.
I have no wish to be blogger police. Ha! But, I can’t help to notice it and be bothered on behalf of all the very creative and original bloggers out there. : )
What are your thoughts?
You know I am probably with the minority when it comes to this but I truly believe that two people can have similar inspiration, similar projects and similar creative results….all without ever knowing about the other or seeing the other’s work. Instructions can be similar as well…so it makes for posts that are creepingly similar. EXACT photos, words etc…that’s plagarism…theft…whatever you wanna call it…but similar stuff? no not necessarily. I understand that there are some bloggers out there that are extremely sensitive about ‘idea theft’ or whatever…but magazines have been doing this kinda thing for ages. Ever notice that one home decor mag will feature a desk terrarium and the following month a different magazine will have the same idea but done with a few tweaks? Whether or not some one gives credit for an idea is fairly ludicrus…I mean, commercials are creative expressions but you don’t see a beer commercial crediting a granola ad at the end for it’s inspiration. In the end, work is work….and if someone puts the time in to stencil a wall per se, then you can congratulate them on putting in the time and effort and let that be that. Of course, there are a lot of people that feel that this is exactly the opposite of their view on originality so its definitely a matter of opinion.
xo – kb
Hi,
just wanted to write a quick note to let you know how much I delight in being able to come by and read all sorts of fun stuff on your blog.
You are generous with you hints, tips and joy for life and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your sharing with us all
You’re so organized doing your monthly summary! I’m loving the globes in your decor lately. Need to increase the number of globes and maps in our house. Do you have any favorite sources for finding good ones?
My favorite map is a large one that is a little rough around the edges and came with the original hanging hardware (which of course I loved because at one point I was gonna be a teacher!)…and it was from EBay…it was a risky decision but ordering something I had never seen turned out to be the best! And the globes I get at goodwills and thrift stores. nothing fancy 🙂
xo – kb
We just redid our kitchen. Well, we are still in the process. We ended up getting tile backsplash from the tile shop. Your top tile picks were some of my top ones! We ended up going with a plain white tile (to brighten up our space) in a herringbone pattern. I LOVE it. I can’t wait to see your end result! We have cherry cabinets and I am dying to paint them white, but my hubby refuses. I am hoping your final product will help convince him! 🙂