We recently upgraded to a king-size memory foam mattress. After years of sleeping on a queen-size garbage mattress with a pit the size of Grand Canyon in the middle, it was long over due. I often woke with an aching back, hips, or neck and it made me depressed and annoyed. But now I wake up every day feeling like this:

A king size bed has been on our wishlist for years, and I figured if we were going to get a new mattress anyway, we might as well upgrade to a king now. I researched a bunch of the online bed-in-a-box mattress companies – Leesa, Brooklyn Bedding, Casper, Tuft and Needle, and honestly, they all seemed kinda the same. Free shipping, 100 night risk-free trials, a bevy of glowing reviews. In the end I chose Casper because, based on customer feedback, it seemed to be the softest of the bunch, which is good for side sleepers like me. It arrived in a sturdy box, just like my favorite wine, and was super easy to set up.  The mattress came compressed, so all we had to do was pull it out of the box, unroll it, and watch it expand to size. Mike D and I loved it immediately. It alleviated the soreness I was waking up with in my back and hips, which was great, but after a few nights, I began to notice some soreness in my shoulders. I made a quick call to Casper to see if they could recommend anything. The woman I spoke with was very nice and offered to send a free topper to alleviate some of the pressure on my shoulders. YASSS! So nice. She explained how the mattress is designed for an average size human, so those under 140 lbs might find the mattress a bit too firm. That explains why I (a grown woman trapped in a 12 year old’s body) had some shoulder soreness but Mike D was fine. I received the topper within a week and it totally did the trick. No more shoulder soreness, and I’ve been sleeping like a baby ever since. It’s the perfect combination of firm and soft now, and Mike still loves it, even with the new topper (in fact, he didn’t even notice a difference). This isn’t a sponsored post by the way, even though it seems like it totally is. I just wanted to share my good experience with you. Because y’all my dudes.

We sold our queen sized bed it and replaced it with this  bed in sky gray. It’s a real grown-up kinda bed – it’s sturdy, comfortable, looks nice, and you can’t beat that price! I picked up some new sheets (on sale! Hurry!) and traded in my great grandmother’s chenille bedspread for a down alternative comforter for the winter. It’s all so comfy and warm now. I just want to spend the rest of this stupid dark winter lounging about on my new mattress-in-a-box, drinking wine-in-a-box and watching dick-in-a-box.

Our bedroom is tiny, so with the addition of the king sized bed, there was room for only one nightstand. The mirrored table I had there was pretty, but I  always kept a pile of junk on the nightstand – a book, lip balm, eye cream, remote, vitamins, you get the picture, so I wanted something with storage to hide all that garbage out of sight. I looked around in stores and online, fruitlessly, before remembering I had an old nightstand from my parents house in the basement that might work. I brought it upstairs to try it in the space, and low and behold, it was the perfect size and scale. It just needed some zhushing.

Ok, fine, it was totally whacktastic. First I wiped it down with some Mrs Meyers soap and warm water, then I lightly sanded the surface to roughen it up for paint. I brushed on two coats of “Soot” by Benjamin Moore in satin finish (the same color I used on my dresser a few years back) and it was looking pretty good. Then, the pièce de ré·sis·tance – these fancytown handles from Anthropologie.

I bought 8 of them on clearance several years ago, but only needed six for my dresser. I’m so glad I held onto those two extra handles. They are bringing the heat and they are bringing it hard.

Is your head, like, totally exploding from the transformation? Just wait until you see the drawer liners I cut to size with my very own hands.

DAYYYYUM those drawers are SECK. (Like your mom).

That blanket and that dreamcatcher were totally separated at birth! Now they’re best friends and plan to bring their wayward parents back together.

That’s our sassy ghost cat. She came with the nightstand and terrorizes us in our sleep.

NO BIG DEAL.

The end!

Recently, the incredibly nice humans at West Elm invited me to share some photos of my home on their blog, Front & Main, and I was ever so happy to oblige. You can see the full interview here.

As we head into the new year, I want to thank you all for being here. I truly appreciate every single one of you who support this creative endeavor of mine. I LOVE YOU GUYZ! I hope you all have a very merry New Year spent with the ones you love! xoxo

Happy shopping! xoxo

I still have to replace some caulk, seal the grout, and hang a couple towel hooks on the back of the door, but it was time to pull the trigger on shooting it for Design Sponge so I may as well let you in on what I’ve done.

If you remember, the bathroom looked like a moldy tortilla put in a blender on HIGH when I moved in 11 years ago.

I like a lot of original 1950s tile, but that tile was U.G.L.Y. Seven or eight years ago we took the entire bathroom down to the studs, except for the tub which we had resurfaced, and installed new tile, fixtures, lighting, and drywall. In this post I talked about my “builder basic” thought process for the remodel and why I regret some of those decisions. I truly wish I had chosen a more classic/sophisticated tile, but let’s chalk it up to a learning experience, eh? Several years after that, the bathroom was ready for a refresh.

Man, was I waaaaaay over that moss green color. If I learned anything while living in this house, it’s how important it is to pick a whole house color palette.  When I first moved in, I hastily picked a different color of the rainbow for each room without considering how they worked with each other. At one point the master bedroom was blue, the kitchen was yellow, the bathroom was green, and the dining room was turquoise. If you stood in the living room you could see all the colors in one glance and it was visually chaotic and jarring. Now I understand that in a small house you want continuity and rooms that feel like they flow, not like they’re chopped up with different color schemes. I’ve been slowly repainting each room in varying tones of grey which work together without evoking that chaotic vibe. The result is that the house feels bigger, airier, and more connected. Repeating the same color in multiple rooms may seem boring, but it doesn’t have to be. You can make things more interesting by pulling in colors and textures from furniture, art, pillows, rugs, etc. And if you don’t want to repeat the exact same wall color, sliding one or two shades lighter or darker on the same paint chip will ensure your rooms will feel connected and cohesive.

And so! Back in July of last year I created a mood board for how I wanted to spruce up the loo (OMG has it really been over a year since I started talking about this?! Am I 37 or 38 now? Did I do my taxes? Is Downton Abbey back on? Where am I?).

No expensive upgrades, just a refresh with some paint/accessories/shelves/textiles. Here’s where we are now.

I wanted to bring a little personality and kitsch into the room because where’s the fun in decorating if you can’t express your inner crazy lady? I just think a cat checking out your butt (literally) is funny. And a large feminine abstract is slightly off-putting in this context.

The color I chose for the walls is Ominous Cloud by Clark & Kensington but I had it color matched to Valspar’s Zero VOC paint. This tone of grey works great in here at all times of the day. It doesn’t turn blue, purple, or brown like a lot of greys do under artificial lights. I decided to add open shelving above the toilet because look at my cute stuff! And I switched out the old mirror for a medicine cabinet with hidden storage because don’t look at my ugly stuff! The unfinished pine shelves were super cheap ($3.99 a piece) from Ikea.  I brushed on two thin coats of white stain and two coats of poly before hanging them.  I added plants and various textiles to warm up the space and to make me look like a kinder, warmer person. I’m also so glad I decided to splurge on the acrylic towel bar and toilet paper holder. I don’t know, they’re kinda glamorous. Just like you.

xoxo

Sources! shelves, white stain, brackets, moon & eye planters, nightlight, press for champagne, towel bar, hand towel, candle, tooth trinket, Turkish towel and yellow basket (souvenirs from Spain), black & white pot and incense holder (vintage), marble tray (Homegoods), graphic art print (purchased from an art show in Detroit, artist unknown).

I’m so thrilled to have my dreamcatcher DIY included in Natural Modern magazine! It’s a special interest Fall issue from the company that produces magazines like Atomic Ranch and Flea Market Decor. The magazine focuses on midcentury lines, natural elements, and a laid-back aesthetic. Inside you’ll find tips for personalized decorating from Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess, easy & stylish DIYs, a houseplant guide, a how-to for creating gallery walls, and a bevy of inspirational boho-modern ideas for your home.

You can snag a copy from your local Target, Barnes & Noble, or grocery store. You can also buy it online here. I hope you check it out!

Xoxo

I made some headway on the bathroom! Earlier this week I painted the ceiling, primed, and painted the walls. I also hung a new towel bar and medicine cabinet. Take a look!

I apologize for the dark & grainy pictures. I’m just so excited the moss green is gone! I think the new gray color compliments the warm tones in the tile and the dark hue adds some drama.

We installed the medicine cabinet in the cut-out that was already in the wall from the previous owners but the door just barely clears the light fixture. Eventually I’ll scoot the light fixture up a few inches, but for now it’s fine.

Onto the grout. Ugh. We never sealed it after our tile was installed and that was a big mistake. Over the last few years it turned dark and dingy. we have spent way more on grout cleaner than we would of on sealer. I’ve heard that baking soda and white vinegar work wonders for cleaning grout so I found a recipe online that called for 7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup vinegar. I sprayed the mixture onto the grout, let it sit for a few hours, then scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed with a stiff bristled grout brush. It worked better than I expected! I wasn’t able to get all of it done so I’ll do another round this weekend. Once it’s all sparkly and clean, grout sealer is happening. Live and learn.

What’s left?

• Paint the ceiling.
• Prime & paint walls.
• Hang towel bar & tp holder.
• Replace cabinet hardware.
• Replace the toilet seat.
• Touch up scratches on the cabinet.
• Replace the switch covers.
• Scrub grout.
• Scrub grout again.
• Seal grout.
• Paint the door.
• Replace the door knob.
• Re-caulk around the tub.
• Cut, stain, and hang shelves (I bought these shelves and these brackets).
• Add cute stuff (rug, plants, art, candles, towels, etc).

I hope to get a big chunk of those remaining items done this weekend. Wish me luck!

Happy weekend to you!

I typically wash my hair no more than twice per week to help stretch the time between colorings and to avoid drying out my hair. For years, I’ve been using dry shampoo on my no-wash days and I love it! Dry shampoo not only keeps my locks looking fresh in between washes, but also adds fullness and texture to my hair. And lets be real, sometimes I stretch my washings a little too long and dry shampoo saves me on the days that I don’t have time to wash, dry, and style my hair.

Last year I wrote about a few of my favorite natural and cruelty-free beauty products, one of which was Lulu Organics Hair Powder. I still love the stuff, but it’s quite expensive. When I looked at its minimal list of ingredients, I thought I’d try making it myself. Turns out, it’s super easy and inexpensive, so I thought I’d share the “recipe” with you!

Ingredients:

1.  2 tbsp baking soda
2.  1/2 cup corn starch
3.  2-3 drops of essential oil or perfume
4.  2-3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (for brunettes)
5.  2-3 tbsp cinnamon (for redheads)

Combine ½ cup of corn starch with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add a few drops of essential oil or a spritz of your favorite perfume (I used Nirvana White which smells divine). If you have light hair, you’re done! For brunettes, add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to darken. For gingers, add a few tablespoons of cinnamon to redden.

Store the dry shampoo in a pretty glass bottle or an old spice jar. To use, sprinkle a little powder into the palm of your hands and work it into your roots. Or, keep the dry shampoo in a shallow dish and use a makeup brush to dab it directly onto your roots.

Are you sold? Are you making this yet? Hurry!

Sometimes you have a million photos to edit, errands to run, blog posts to write, and a list of home improvement items that will make your head explode.

So you say F**K IT and make something cute. Making cute stuff is my new boyfriend.

This DIY is so easy it’s stupid. Ready?

First, go to your local Target. Flip through the bathing suits while frowning. On your way to the outdoor/patio department, put several things in your cart that you definitely don’t need. Don’t worry, you’ll probably shove half of them onto a random shelf just before you reach the register. Once you’re in the outdoor section, grab a couple of these mini concrete planters and/or these ceramic planters. Pick up a macrame hanger, too, not because it has anything to do with this DIY, but because it’s cool and you can’t beat the price ($6.99!). If you don’t have a pencil with an eraser and a fine-tip sharpie at home, grab those on your way out, too. I tried a few different paint pens, but the fine-tip sharpie worked best. Try to leave Target without spending a hundred dollars. Good luck!

Sketch your pattern onto the planter with a pencil. If you don’t like what you see, erase and start over. I was going for a hand drawn look, but feel free to use a stencil if you prefer.

Once you’re happy with your sketch, trace over it with your sharpie. Add succulents, cacti, or herbs to your planters.

Now stare lovingly upon your new works of art, like you would stare upon Jared Leto’s hair. Focus on how your life feels slightly less empty than it did before.

Optional: Knock over one of your cacti with the back of your hand and spend the next twenty minutes tweezing spines out of your skin.

Whoops! Don’t worry, the cactus is fine (but you should see the other guy).

Xoxo

You guys know I’m into Halloween. I’ve waxed poetic about Theatre Bizarre. I’ve blathered on about my annual Halloween party and my dorky Luna Lovegood Costume. These images of Eleanor Rigby dressed as a sexy devil porn star, I have laid bare.

Please, no slut shaming. She’s been listening to a lot of Katy Perry and we’re hoping it’s just a phase.

So let’s just get to the meat of this post, shall we?

This Halloween I dressed as a ‘classy broad from outer space raising her alien baby alone while waitressing at a space wine bar to put herself through college.’

As you do.

She’s a feminist minded extraterrestrial, who dreams of working her way to the upper crust of space society. But she does it all for her Glirk. The baby, after all, is her own flesh and blerve.

Perhaps I am getting carried away.

Want to create your own Classy Broad From Outerspace costume? Here’s how!

For the helmet, I used a 14″ acrylic outdoor lamp shade. With a dremel, I cut the base large enough for my head to squeeze through and added a few air holes. For the antennae, I attached wire pot scrubbers (from the dollar store) to the ends of a couple threaded rods. For the jet pack, I wired two galvanized pipe fittings together and added 2-liter bottles, spray painted silver, to the tops. I added some knobs and dials to the front and clipped on book lights from the dollar store for added space-age-iness. For the alien baby, I carved the head out of styrofoam, layered on some paper mache, and added a few coats of paint. By the way, Martha makes the perfect alien-green paint color (of course she does).

A few photos from Theatre Bizarre…

Somehow, the Theatre Bizarre crew outdid themselves again. The artistry, imagination, and talent injected into this event is bonkers. If you’re not attending Theatre Bizarre every year, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG. I’m sorry to yell, but it is the truth.

Over Halloween weekend, my friend Mish and I hosted our annual costume party at a new venue – Corktown Tavern in Detroit. The turnout was huge. Everyone danced, drank, thrillered, and time warped. I had the best time.

And now! Partially-focused Halloween photo dump in yo face! Blame the under-lit bar. Or the booze.

Only 349 days until Halloween!

xoxo

When I bought my house ten years ago, the bathroom looked like this:

I’ll spare you close-ups of the black mold, the rusted faucet, and my revolted tears. The bath tub looks tan in that photo, but trust, it was Pepto Bismol pink.

As a naive first time home buyer, I planned to fix up the house quickly (hahahaha) and then flip the house for a MAJOR profit (hahahaha). So when I gutted the bathroom, I made choices that weren’t reflective of my personal style, but instead what I thought would be considered safe to a potential buyer. And so I went the cheap and dirty route: marbled ceramic tile, an off-the-shelf Home Depot vanity, and generic chrome fixtures. I know, I know, total snoozeville. SIGH. We live and we learn, right? Don’t get me wrong, it’s not terrible, and I certainly don’t hate it, but do I sometimes gaze longingly at this photo while caressing my monitor and whispering “someday we’ll be together, sexy bathroom of my dreams.”? Yes.

Ugh. The beauty. It pains my heart.

Anywho, it has been seven years since our bathroom has seen a new coat of paint, and I’m 100% over the moss green walls. I’m not planning a major overhaul, just a little face lift. Let’s hyper-scrutinize the room, shall we?

To do list:

 
1. Prime & paint the walls, ceiling, and door.
2. Re-caulk around the tub and sink.
3. Try out some DIY grout cleaning techniques and products. I’ve heard this product works really well. Have any of you tried it?
4. Replace the knobs on the vanity.
5. Replace the medicine cabinet? Maybe? I’m not sold on this. I love the look of open shelves but I need closed storage to hide our ugly products.
6. New wall art and accessories.
7. Replace the toilet paper holder and towel bar?
8. Replace the toilet seat with a plain white one.

Here’s a roundup of pretty things I put together for the new design. A mood board, if you will.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

I think dark gray walls will play nicely with the cream tones in the tile. I’ve been looking at paint swatches throughout different times of the day, and man, it’s hard to find a good gray that doesn’t turn blue, green, or purple at night. I have it narrowed down to 2-3 swatches, so I just need to jump the gun and pick one. I’d like to bring in some plants, either on the wall or on the window sill, and incorporate some warm textiles. I already picked up those drawer knobs and door hooks on clearance from Anthropologie a while back (looks like they’re sold out now), and though there’s nothing wrong with the towel bar that we have now,  I really like those acrylic ones from CB2. Hmmm…

Ok, I’m off to buy paint!

Just kidding, it’s 11:00pm. I’m going to clarisonic my face and watch Orange is the New Black. But, this weekend! Paint! (Hopefully).