It is hard to believe that it is almost Thanksgiving. When looking for Thanksgiving tablescape inspiration for 2023, I came up with two different themes. I love them both, but only one will be my family’s tablescape.

My initial idea was to create a farmhouse table consisting of neutral colors (whites, beige and black) and upcycling items I had around the house and some simple DIY creations. But visits in early October to Michael’s, HomeGoods, and The Dollar Store inspired a more traditional take on my Thanksgiving tablescape.

However my table ends up looking, it becomes the Thanksgiving Tablescape Inspiration for our family celebration, but on a much larger scale. I won’t say which table won out because I love them both.

A Seasonal-Inspired Thanksgiving Table

I used the same disposable tableware for my farmhouse table and a more fall-traditional table. Sophistiplate is my go-to for many of my tablescapes. I have used their products for several years. They hold up well. And they are perfect for holidays when you don’t want to contend with the cleaning.

This year, I went with their Buffalo Check Table setting. It worked out perfectly for both ideas. I ordered enough for 24 guests, but they are available for as few as 8. The sets include the buffalo check dinner plates, salad plates, cocktail napkins, guest towels, gold appetizer/dessert bowls and paper chargers, black & gold assorted plastic cutlery, and black chevron paper straws (they are sold out of the baking cups).

The black and white floral paper table runner and dessert plates came from Etsy. The plates are sold out, but Sophistiplate includes gold ones, so that you can substitute those.

Fall  Harvest Traditional Tablescape

While assembling a Halloween charity project, I encountered some fall-colored and white velvet pumpkins at the Dollar Store. I grabbed the green and orange ones from several locations. The white pumpkins came from HomeGoods. They do not have the exact ones I purchased last month, but Amazon has velvet fall harvest colors here and here.  (#commissionsearned)

For the seasonal-inspired table, I used fall leaves garland from Michael’s. I also added some eucalyptus leaves for some color. I had these from another tablescape. Florals can upcycled for many holidays. The bushel basket came from Michael’s. I filled it with this white and orange velvet pumpkin & leaf stem and fall green velvet pumpkin & leaf bush from Joann. My mom actually had painted pinecones, which were perfect to add to the theme. You could use these decorative ones too.

You could use a natural floral arrangement in fall colors, too. Finally, I included grateful, blessed, and thankful wood words, items I bought several years ago.

Farmhouse Tablescape

For this tablescape, I used the same table settings. The difference was the use of neutral colors. For the bushel basket, I substituted some white wood florals I bought last year at Trader Joe’s, cutting them down for the height I needed. If they do not carry them, you can find some on Amazon. These look similar to the ones I had. Add in some pampas grass and dried flowers for more of that farmhouse, boho feel. (#commissionsearned)

For the florals down the center of the table, this white berry, eucalyptus, and pinecone garland will work for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The white pumpkins’ material is felt. Check out Joann, Michael’s, or HomeGoods. You can find plenty of options at any of these retailers. JoAnn has cream velvet pumpkin picks and fall white pumpkin & berry bush. Michael’s sells the ones I used, a white fabric pumpkin pick. Amazon also sells fabric white ones.

Thankful for my Friends & Family

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to count our blessings and show gratitude for all we have. This year, I am gifting each guest/family something small to show gratitude for having them in my life.

I enjoy crafting with Mason jars. My inspiration for this year’s Thanksgiving cookie Mason jar gifts came from the blogs Lil Luna and Capturing Joy. Both provide free PDF printouts. I designed hanging tags for my traditional table since I used smaller jars and halved the recipe. You can print out a PDF of mine for free.

I used her labels for the Farmhouse tablescape, purchasing the peel-and-stick labels from Amazon. (#commissionsearned)
 

Supplies:

Mason jars – you can use a pint, ½ pint, or quart size

thanksgiving tags

Ribbon – This Fall wired ribbon (#commissionsearned) worked great on the pint-size jars. For the Farmhouse tablescape mason jar gifts, I used buffalo check wired ribbon.

Cookie ingredients

Directions

• Clean your jars and let them dry completely.
• Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 tsp. Baking soda, 1/s tsp. Baking powder, 1/2 tsp. Salt and add to the jar.
• Next, add 1/2 cup brown sugar, followed by 1/2 cup sugar.
• Then add 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• Top off with ⅔ cup M&Ms. I went with the Fall bulk candy colors.

One final recommendation. There will be leftovers. Grab these Thanksgiving-themed food containers for your guests. (#commissionsearned)

I hope these tablescapes give you inspiration for your 2023 table, and may your holiday be filled with gratitude, blessings, and thankfulness

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This year, Hanukkah begins early, on December 7, 2023. It feels different. Much light is needed for this festival of lights. My 2023 Hanukkah decor scheme is gold, white and light. I had already decided on this color scheme before October 7th, which reaffirms my choice.

Celebrating Hanukkah and putting up decorations is complicated. With Israel at war and antisemitism at an all-time high, it’s complicated to be decorating and preparing to celebrate when so many are hurting. I’d challenge all Jews to consider the wisdom of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks when he states:

“There always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and full of tears. We can curse the darkness, or we can light a light, and as the Chassidim say, a little light drives out much darkness. May we all help light up the world.”

That is my motivation. To bring as much light into my home. Scroll to the bottom, where I share additional quotes about Hanukkah lights.

Hanukkah Tree

This is my fourth year putting up a Hanukkah tree. What started during the pandemic in 2020 to bring extra joy, love, and light is now a part of how I celebrate the holiday. It brings light and happiness into my home, which we can desperately use during these unsettling times.

Carrying the gold and white theme, I used my tree and pulled out the gold and white ornament collection. I also added in some gold glitter ribbon and new Hanukkah ornaments.

• Artificial tree
• Star of David Tree Topper White and Gold
• Tree lights, 33 ft.
• Golden glitter ribbon
• 12-piece Hanukkah ball ornaments
• Handmade velvet ornaments in gold glitter, champagne and gold-taupe
• White tree skirt
• Champagne Ball Ornament Pick by Ashland®
• Blue & Gold Star of David Ornaments – I only used the gold ones
• Silver Shalom Accent, which I spraypainted gold
• Place & Time Christmas white and gold ornaments
• Glass Jewish Dreidel ornament from Kurt S. Adler
• Glass Menorah ornament from Kurt S. Adler

Hanukkah Tree 2022

Hanukkah Table

My Hanukkah decor 2023 also includes my tablescape. The table incorporates my gold, white & light theme. I’ve added in lots of tea votives, which I link below (#commissions earned)

Michael Aram Botanical Leaf Menorah is a new addition to my home. I love the craftsmanship.

Star of David Votive Holders– set of six. Over the years, I have purchased two sets of these candles. Check out Peace Love Lights shop. They have updated and contemporary Jewish decor and jewelry. A portion of all sales will be donated to the Anti-Defamation League in support of their mission to fight antisemitism and all forms of bigotry.

Gold vintage ribbed glass tealight votive candle holders. They hold standard tealight candles.

For added dimension, I include a set of 3 candle stick holders in brass gold, adding gold tapered candles.

Gold Classic Stripe runner

Place Settings

13” Gold charger plates

Sophistiplate Gold & White Table Setting Kit – I ordered for eight guests. It Included the charger plate, dinner plate, salad plate, appetizer/dessert bowl, guest towel, cocktail napkins, and flatware in white/gold handle. They are sold out of some of the items, but I did find them on another website. A trendy item this year. I am linking the Sophistiplate dinner plate, salad plate, and appetizer bowl. You could purchase all the pieces above on this website as well. They are offering 10% off first orders.

Wrapping Of Hanukkah Gifts

The Gold & white color scheme made finding wrapping paper easy. I used Jam Matte Gold, Gold Dots gift wrap, Gold pattern on coated white paper, gold, and white twill, and JAM white matte paper.

I’ll use Ashland® Glittery gold coil pick as an embellishment and gold and white ribbon in various textures for dimension. My smaller gold and white ornaments will be used for texture. Joann and Michael’s are my go-to stores for ribbons and holiday picks.

I found Happy Hanukkah satin ribbon over the summer. It is no longer available at Joann, but I did find two spools on eBay and one on Mercari. EBay had it for over $13 with shipping, but it’s two spools. I’ve never purchased anything on Mercari, so I cannot vouch for them. I did go through their purchasing process. The ribbon was only $4, but shipping was over $4.

Zazzle has many different Happy Hanukkah ribbons. There are blue, white, gold, and some non-traditional ones. This is the closest to my exact ribbon. But I will look for an actual Hanukkah ribbon after the holidays and throughout next year. If you are lucky enough to find one, it’s a limited edition.

Gift tags

I love creative gift tags for Hanukkah. You can make your own on Canva. Sometimes, I do that, but if it is a project that will take me hours and hours and I can get them reasonably, I’m buying them. Last year, my tags were minimalistic, simple … uncomplicated.

Before making a tag this year, I found one I loved on Etsy in a different color scheme.

Hanukkah Star of David Gift tags– I worked with JCapCards shop owner Janeen, who made these up for me in white and gold glitter after I messaged her to change the colors. She shipped them out the same day. I highly recommend checking out her other Hanukkah and Christmas gift tags and cards.

My Favorite Hanukkah Quotes

“May the lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all humankind”- Unknown

“This is the season when people of all faiths and cultures are pushing back against the planetary darkness. We string bulbs, ignite bonfires, and light candles. And we sing.” – Anita Diamant

“There always were two ways to live in a world that is often dark and full of tears. We can curse the darkness, or we can light a light, and as the Chassidim say, a little light drives out much darkness. May we all help light up the world.” – Rabbi  Jonathan Sacks

“Sometimes, a flame can be utterly extinguished. Sometimes, a flame can shrink and waver, but sometimes, a flame refuses to go out. It flares up from the faintest ember to illuminate the darkness, to burn in spite of overwhelming odds.” – Karen Hesse

“The darkness of the whole world cannot swallow the glowing of a candle.” – Robert Altinger

Wishing You All A Very Happy Hanukkah

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I’ve been testing out various Hanukkah recipes for this year’s holiday. Do I stick with tradition? Do I try some modern takes on recipes? After a week in the kitchen, I came up with a balance.

Main dish

Although I am a pescatarian, my kids are not. Plus I have a few extra guests that are not Jewish. For that reason, I really want to give them the full traditional Hanukkah food experience combined with some non-traditional options. I prepare my brisket in advance and then freeze it until the day before. My recipe is a traditional Brisket With Caramelized Onions.

Latke Charcuterie Board

This year, if you’ve read my other Hanukkah blogs, I am going all out. My inspiration for a latke charcuterie board came from the blog Ain’t Too Proud To Meg. It would be perfect for displaying the various latkes I made. Of course, there would be classic potato latkes. But I also love trying new variations. I know asparagus latkes sound off putting, but they were quite good. I will add in zucchini latkes for my next board.

It would be the perfect vehicle for displaying various latke Hanukkah recipes. My latke charcuterie board included:

• Potato latkes
• Cauliflower& potato latkes
• Asparagus latkes
• Sweet Potato Parsnip Latkes
• Sour cream
• Applesauce
• Chopped egg yolks and egg whites
• Lox
• Capers
• Caviar
• Chives
• Sliced apples
• Sweet potato chips
• Bagel chips
• Pomegranate seeds
• Whitefish salad
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers

For those that thrive on creativity, using a cutting board as your canvas filled with colorful and delicious traditional and not-so-traditional Hanukkah foods allows for your own artistic take.

The board that Ain’t Too Proud To Meg used was more rectangular than circular. I ordered my 19” circular board from Sur la table. In retrospect, I will use a rectangular board when I recreate the board for Hanukkah.

My thought is I need additional real estate to work with. Furthermore, when I assemble it again, I will omit the apples and sweet potato chips and add in more lox and bagel chips. The other items were visually appealing adding texture and color so if you are looking to create something more artistic, then keep those items.

Vodka Hanukkah Recipes

Again, my daughters are grown which allows for a different take on our celebration. So to add in the traditional Hanukkah colors of blue and gold, I decided to make some adult beverages.

Hanukkah Gelt Cocktail – Made with vodka, chocolate liqueur, and Goldschlager liqueur. The drink was good but next time, I am going to rim the martini glass with gold sanding sugars.

Hypnotiq cocktail with vodka – This was also a fun drink. Next time, I will rim the martini glass with silver sanding sugar.

Dessert Charcuterie

Keeping with the whole charcuterie board theme, I had a local business, The Hodge Podge Baking Co., make up my board. It had chocolate pops, white chocolate dipped Oreos with blue sprinkles, Rice Krispie treats dipped in blue chocolate and decorated with white fudge, and the most amazing white chocolate-coated graham crackers… complete chocolate and buttery sugar goodness. Last year, I also ordered from this business and it included chocolate bombs.

I also included Hanukkah Marzipan Sufganiyot from Peace, Love, Light. Personally, baking is not my forte but if you are a baker, there are plenty of options. Ain’t Too Proud to Meg also has a Hanukkah recipe for a dessert board.

You could also get Hanukkah chocolate-covered Oreos, and hot cocoa bombs, and add in mini marshmallows. Amazon has many options including blue and white M&M’s, candy canes (which I hung on my Hanukkah tree. Most local grocery stores are also selling Hanukkah-themed cookies. Don’t forget jelly donuts a tradition at Hanukkah.

Hanukkah greetings for love, peace, and happiness!  

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What is a Vision Board? It is a physical representation of what you are searching for in your life. I believe in manifesting. Often, my vision changes throughout the year. With the Jewish New Year in late September, it was the perfect time to redo my board.

Vision Boards From the Past

I bet many of you already know how to create a vision board. You may not have realized that you made them when you were younger. We did not call them Vision Boards; we were calling them collages or dream boards. Think Jenna Rink’s Poise magazine board in the movie 13 Going On 30.

At the risk of aging myself, I remember making shellacked lunchboxes. My mom would give us magazines, scissors, and a metal lunchbox (now referred to as retro or vintage lunchboxes).  We would cut out pictures and words and glue them on the metal box. Last, we applied rubber cement clear glue. I remember my excitement to show off my lunchbox at school.

Today’s Vision Boards

This is similar to today’s vision boards. The benefits include keeping you focused on your intentions. They can include photos, words, and/or pictures. You can make them three-dimensional if you want to get creative. A board can include visuals of your personal or work life, health and fitness goals, travel, finances, and even food.

Last year, a group of my girlfriends got together and made Vision Boards. All of us brought magazines. The creatives in our group purchased stencils and borders. I had some leftover cork from some flooring that was installed. I cut them into large squares to give everyone a base.

The supplies you need are scissors, magazines, and glue. Your board can also be made using a poster board, a pinboard, or a corkboard. Since I redid my office this year, I chose to up my Vision Board and purchased a plain canvas from Minted. I love how it looks in my bedroom, so I am more apt to look at it often.

What I Love About Vision Boards

I believe in thinking positively and mentally focusing on what I need. When I was first widowed, I needed strength, focus, and a way to move forward. By waking up each morning and setting an intention for that day, I found it easier to make it through that day. And that day turned into another day and another day. I wish I could say all my days were better; they were not. But I did find myself taking time in the morning to ask for something I needed that day.

When I am feeling anxious or stressed or just having a bad day, and it seems that nothing is going right, I look to my vision board to refocus.

Virtual Vision Board

Another great option is to create a virtual vision board. You can do this through Canva using one of their many Vision board templates. You could also choose a Mood Board template or a collage layout that suits your needs.

What I love about Canva is that you can add text, whether an affirmation or a goal statement. Perhaps there is an inspirational font. I save mine as a PDF and then print it at my local Walgreens. This is one of several vision boards I created.

I use Shutterstock to pick high-quality stock images. Other sites to use for free images and royalty-free stock images are pixabay or Pexels.

Manifesting Your Visions

Your board can be simple, or you can go all out and add embellishments.  Maybe you are not into making a big production. Letterboards work just as well and are easy to change. If you prefer not to print out your Virtual board, make it a screensaver on your desktop or background on your smartphone. This is a subconscious reminder whenever you look at your phone or your background.

As long as it is in a place where you will see it every day, you will be able to focus on your goals.

Have you made a Vision Board this year? I would love to see yours.

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In Pursuit of Happiness

“The Happiness of Your Life Depends Upon the Quality of Your Thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor

I’m not naive to the notion that happiness is hard to achieve for many people. It is often a work in progress. I am not referring to those whose mental and physical struggles make it challenging just to be happy. But, if I have learned anything from being widowed is that being able to find happiness again requires controlling my thoughts.

A Shift In Perspective

If you were to ask those that have experienced loss, they would state that they had a shift in perspective. Suddenly the more minor annoyances in life seem less annoying. What angers many people is trivial. I’m talking about the small stuff like a car cutting you off. Or losing your keys. Minor irritation stuff. Once you realize how fragile life is, you can be happy knowing you are able to move on and appreciate life. Because you have learned how fragile life is.

Happiness Comes From Within

To be happy, you have to be happy with yourself. Are you a kind person? Virtuous? Do you live your life with grace and gratitude? I’d be lying if I said that I’ve spent my entire life being happy. It has taken me many years to understand that to be happy with external influences starts with being happy with yourself. And only then can you find happiness in the company of others or through travel, shopping, and other concrete objects or experiences.

Find Reasons to Be Happy

There was a time when I did not believe I would laugh, smile, or be happy again. But through family and friends, therapy, meditation, prayer, family, and affirmations, I began to find reasons to be happy. Mainly, I was alive, and I still had plenty of life to live. One quote I read, and believe me, I was on Pinterest ALOT, was “Happiness is not the absence of the problems. It’s the ability to deal with them.” That comes from Steve Maraboli, a decorated military veteran and philanthropist.

So I started to compartmentalize the overwhelming noise in my head and broke my day into moments. If I found five minutes in an hour to be happy, I celebrated those moments.

A Happy Home

Normally, I am a very calm person. That changed after I became a widow. I found myself experiencing anxiety and malaise. Sure, I was dealing with a lot, but I knew I needed to create a happy space at the very least. It was crucial for the place I spend most of my time to be peaceful, balanced, and happy.

That involved moving and eliminating much of the clutter from our old home. I am a minimalist by nature; my husband was not.  I focused on using natural colors and soft tones. First, I did a remodel of my new place. This was the very first home I owned by myself. I scoured Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. Next, I incorporated some color. Blue & green are soothing colors. Blues were used on pillows, candles, and vases. Green plants added to the calmness I needed.

And you will not find any clutter in my home. By creating this zen space, I accomplished a happy home.

Add in Happy Thoughts

Throughout my home and in my wardrobe, you will find symbolic ways I find happiness and tranquility. From the many bracelets, to my happy socks from Yllw the Label, dressing for happiness is a state of mind. It is a fairly simple expression of the self and can alter your moods. Although most of my wardrobe is monochromatic, I add yellow, blues, and greens. You will also find framed affirmations and artwork throughout my home.

I recently started following Nikki Miles on IG. She is a British illustrator and author and the publisher of Be Kind, be Cool, Be You!! It is a little book of happiness filled with over 150 pick-me-up and inspirational messages. Ignore the age 5-8 yrs part. I framed some of the messages and gave them as gifts to my daughters and my niece. There is no age limit to inspiration.

If you purchase a floating frame like the one I purchased, you can use two different messages. I purchased a black and white 8 x 8 floating frame. That gives the recipient, or myself, several uplifting messages.

Helping Others Find Happiness

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” – Booker T. Washington.

To live a life of service to others is to live a life. I recognize that even though my journey has not always been happy, helping others brings happiness to me. Sometimes it is random acts of kindness, and sometimes it is more purposeful.

Studies show that giving to charity makes us happy, especially when choosing what or how much to give in both time and money. Sure, I do indulge in purchases for myself that make me happy. But I also temper that by helping others.

Don’t Worry. Be Happy

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The current real estate surge favors sellers, with demand exceeding supply. We’ve all heard stories of multiple offers made for an above-listing price. As a result, homes in desperate need of a facelift are getting snatched up. At the same time, supplies to remodel are in short supply and at escalated prices. Whether your current home or a new home, if you are ready to remodel your home, I am here to share my tips on remodeling a home, including mistakes made and lessons learned.

Renovation Plans

My home required an update. When I purchased my home, it was outdated, having had no updates since 2004. So I knew I wanted to replace the floors, paint the entire unit, and remodel the kitchen and bathrooms.

Before remodel

After remodel

My Two Cents Word of Advice

• Put Together a Realistic Budget – My budget was based on current home appraisals. I looked at my purchase price and the current price of recent sales of renovated units and used that as my budget. I did not want to invest an amount that would put me significantly above what I could sell my place for. Build-in +/- 10% as a cushion.
• Do Your Research – There are delays in products and finding suppliers and higher prices for building materials. I researched the average cost of remodeling my kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring because these would be the higher ticket improvements. For me, that meant this was a one-and-done. There was no option to redo the project if I did not like how it turned out. While not inexpensive, I could repaint, which would not impact me too terribly; I had one chance with a complete bathroom and kitchen remodel.
• Figure Out Your Style – Spend some time figuring out your design style. Is it a traditional, transitional, modern, contemporary, minimalist, bohemian, or modern farmhouse? Mine was a mix of modern farmhouse/rustic and transitional. Looking at designs that match your style helps to pinpoint color schemes, tile selections, bathroom hardware, and more.
• Look Online – I looked at galleries on retail sites and Instagram for inspiration using hashtags such as #kitchens and #bathrooms. If you know what style you seek, do a more specific search, such as #transitionalkitchens. Obvs, the broader the search, the more results. It can be overwhelming.
• Some good resources to look at on IG include @flooranddecor, @bedrosiantile, and @vivirdesign. Additionally, check on IG sites like @Houzz, and @magnolia @housebeautiful, for example. I love Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, and West Elm, which all have galleries on their website and IG.
• Will You Be Living in Your House During Renovations?– This is huge. Because I lived there while undergoing the renovations, I spread them out over a year. I started with painting the house and redoing the floors. At one point, my kitchen was completely sealed off in plastic, rendering it useless. I moved a toaster oven into my breakfast nook. They did give me access to my refrigerator. Was it annoying? Absolutely but this only went on for a few days.
• Consider Using a General Contractor – I am not a DIY’er, and after my kitchen misstep (see below), I hired a general contractor to oversee the bathroom renovations. These were my most expensive renovations. My rationale was that he would oversee all the labor and suppliers if anything went wrong. Yes, there is a markup when you use a GC, but in my opinion, it was worth the cost.
• Consider Buying the Materials Directly – I purchased the product for some of the materials, including the kitchen and bathroom hardware and tile. I made one mistake because I had my heart set on a specific wall tile for the smaller bathroom. I ordered from a smaller distributor because I could not find them at bigger retailers. The price of the tile was within my price range, but the shipping was exorbitant. In hindsight, I would look further to find a similar product.
• Shop Around – I bought my bathroom tiles from Bedrosians Tile & Stone. Honestly, I was unfamiliar with them until I discovered their product on another company’s IG page. I researched the company only to discover they had a showroom in my area. After multiple trips to their showroom, I fell in love with the tiles for my master bathroom. Interestingly enough, their product is sold through Wayfair, Lowe’s, and Walmart, so conduct price comparisons.
• Repurpose – I chose to have them painted because the kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities were in excellent condition, high quality, and still in style. Just make sure you ask for extra paint in case it chips. Over time, I have noticed chips from a vacuum cleaner hitting them. So all I did was change out the hardware I ordered from Rejuvenation.
• Use Your Credit Card Rewards – Check your major credit cards monthly for any offers, including bonus points or money back. For instance, I accrued points on several of my credit cards which I then used to purchase gift cards at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wayfair, Target, and Pottery Barn. In addition, my GC worked with me to help me pick out the products from these stores.

Mistakes Made

My current home is the first home I have owned by myself. I attempted to educate myself about remodeling costs because I was determined to stay on budget. Unfortunately, that led to a few missteps and mistakes that I would do over if given the opportunity. They include:

I decided to lay the engineered wood floor over the ceramic tile, on the advice of my installer,  rather than have all of the tile removed from my house, on the advice of my installer. I knew I would need to move out if I lifted the tile, significantly increasing the cost.

In hindsight, I would have lifted the tile for several reasons. First, it has made the floors harder on my feet. I used to walk around barefoot, but now the flooring is much less giving.

Order extra flooring. I had just enough to do my entire job. Unfortunately, my refrigerator leaked water and caused the wood to buckle. My flooring was discontinued, so using the scraps we had and the flooring that didn’t get damaged under the refrigerator, we were able to fix it. However, if there were to be a pipe break or anything that could damage my floor, I would have to rip up all existing floors because there is nothing left to match.

The major problem was installing the bathroom tile. It became self-evident that the threshold between the bathroom and the wood flooring was extremely uneven in many areas, including over an inch. The installers did use mud to even out the flooring from the bedroom to the living room. Because there is no door between the bedroom and the bathroom, the only solution, besides redoing the wood flooring and mudding the whole room, was to slope the tile.

I was not too fond of the raised kitchen bar, which was original to the house, built in 2004. The breakfast bar needed to be lowered to counter height to install the new quartz countertop. I called a few carpenters to get prices for hiring it out. One was almost double the cost of what the company renovating my kitchen cabinets offered to charge. It did not seem like a difficult job.

The subcontractor he hired to cut down the bar chopped it unevenly and did not pull the wires through properly. When the countertop company came to install the quartz countertop, they explained they could not do it because the top of the kitchen island was completely uneven. I had to pay extra to reframe the top part of the wall. Had I gone with the person the countertop company recommended, it would have saved me money, time, and aggravation while it seemed expensive.

End Result

I love how everything came out. Once I added soft decor, it tied the rooms together and gave them an updated transitional style.

Kitchen

Master bathroom

Guest Bathroom

I will address each room remodel and link some of my purchased products.

Obvs were I to buy a new place in the future, my preference would be to remodel before moving in. Having workmen at home five days a week for a month or more was not always easy. There were days the water was shut off, or I had to use the kitchen sink as my bathroom sink.

Since I love to cook, not having access to my kitchen for two weeks was difficult because it meant taking out food, going out to dinner, or eating ready-to-eat meals. But having a wide-open kitchen with more counter space to prep was definitely worth the hassle.

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With the start of the new year, I am ready to do more organizing. I thought I’d tackle my craft storage bins which were sitting in a hallway. My inspiration came, of course, from Instagram. There I saw a white craft cart that matched my office. How complicated could it be to build a craft cart?

How It Started

My craft bins date back to when my girls were young. I love to craft. At one point, it was creating scrapbooks of family vacations and celebrations. Then there were the girls’ school and camp projects. Now it is more about holiday crafts and tablescapes. What resulted is a chaotic mess.

Inside my craft bins, you will find a disorganized array of

• Paint & Paintbrushes
• Glue sticks – tbh way more than I know what to do with
• Glue guns – does anyone need more than one or two?
• Ribbons & Bows
• Felt
• Stickers
• Feathers (why?)
• Styrofoam
• Colored pipe cleaners
• Tissue paper
• Scrapbooking paper

The Honey-Can-Do Craft Storage Cart

The craft cart I saw was from Bed, Bath & Beyond. Right away I knew this would be perfect for my disorganized craft boxes. Oddly enough, I forgot about saving it so when I needed to find it, I had to do a new search.

But even I was surprised by the results. The identical cart was available at several retailers but the price points were all over the place.

Bed, Bath & Beyond has it for $125.99. Macy’s has it for $239.00. Amazon has it for $77.01. There are in excess of 20 retailers that carry it include Overstock, Wayfair, and of course the manufacturer, Honey-Can-Do. Even Pottery Barn carries an identical-looking one (and possibly the same one) but for $169. If you have coupons or gift cards, you’ll need to do the math. I purchased it from Amazon because of its price and its fast shipping. Four days later, I was ready, and excited, to organize my craft collection.

Who Writes These Instructions?

Once I saw the size of the box, I knew I would need to build the craft cart myself. What I did not expect were the instructions that came with the cart. They were virtually pictures with tiny letters of each piece of the cart. I am familiar with the memes about Ikea’s instructions so this was pretty much the same.

Since the instructions stated that two people could build it in half-hour, my mathematical skills figured one hour of assembly. If you zoom in on the pictures of the assembly instructions, perhaps you could understand why that did not happen. First, the pictures of the screws (3 different types) are hard to differentiate in the photo. The three-dimensional pictures did not help at all. And the two main sides literally had about ten holes for the various screws.

The last image did me in. I mean 3D images are great but my pieces were laying flat on the floor. And, as a solo assembler, there was no way I could stand everything up to try to make sense of it.

Thanks, YouTube

After the first fifteen minutes of trying to figure out what went with what, I turned to YouTube. Thankfully, the manufacturer had a short video that definitely helped me out. I did have to stop the video for each step.

After more than two hours, I finally had the cart built. There was one faux pas. As I went to celebrate not being defeated by this cart, I noticed one of the shelves was assembled backward, thus showing an unfinished side.

I had a choice. Disassemble the cart and start all over or leave it be. I am certain you can guess that I chose the latter. I can paint it white so it doesn’t stand out as much. It’s just a craft cart, not a major piece of furniture. And, I bought two great wooden bins to hold loose items so they will be barely visible.

Complicated Instructions

Why is it that having a college degree is not near enough to understand some of the instructions to assemble furniture? Should you have to have an engineering or architecture degree? Or hire someone else to do it? Trust me, after the first half-hour, I actually looked up the cost on Task Rabbit. But being a determined person, I refused to give in.

Perhaps companies can simplify it for us DIYers and include a thumb drive with an assembly video, or at least a link to step-by-step instructions. This would save on the paper instructions (we can have the option of printing it out ourselves). That would certainly have uncomplicated my attempt to build a craft cart.

What have you built recently that you thought required a degree in civil engineering?

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When you purchase a home, as I did, hopefully, you’ve built in any renovations that need to be done. I bought my house knowing that it needed a makeover. A bathroom makeover is costly. But I was determined to update both bathrooms. My kitchen remodel was challenging enough to coordinate on my own. Having one person to oversee this project and the subcontractors were based on the cost. Because it would be my most expensive makeover, I viewed it as a one-and-done project. It is why I spent about six months looking at the trends and combing through Instagram and home remodeling websites for inspiration.

Before

Both bathrooms were very outdated. Because I know absolutely nothing about permitting, plumbing, tiling, and architectural reviews when it comes to a bathroom makeover, I decided to wash away my troubles by hiring a general contractor. Both bathrooms were complete tear-outs. Being a second-floor condo meant there would be many inspections to make certain everything was up to code. After a few mishaps on my kitchen remodel, this seemed the best way to go.

The Master Bathroom Specifics

My master bathroom opens to my bedroom with no door so it would have to flow from each room. My color choice was to use white and blue hues. For me, I wanted a space that provided tranquility. The other inspiration for my tile and decor came from a trip to Greece. I love a clean, white space with pops of blue.

I had seen several vanities that I loved but I realized that I could have mine painted and glazed. I did replace the knobs with polished chrome from Rejuvenation. For the vanity top, I installed a white quartz countertop that was built for two square basins.

The basin hardware came from Pottery Barn. I went with the Sussex Lever Handle Widespread Bathroom Sink Faucet in chrome. The shower hooks and toilet paper holder also came from Pottery Barn. I am impressed with the quality of the hardware. Tip: If you have a credit card with rewards, you can redeem them for digital gift cards. Because I had accumulated a lot of points from my kitchen remodel and buying the tile for the bathrooms, I had an abundance of points that I used toward Pottery Barn gift cards.

For the shower, my GC recommended going with a frameless shower door that measured 7’”, much higher than what had been there. I also selected a more modern fixed rain shower head in chrome and a separate wall mount handheld shower wand.

Bedrosian Floored Me with Their Tile

Looking for tile inspo was overwhelming. I looked at Floor & Decor, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Wayfair. During one of my deep dives on Wayfair, I found a tile I loved made by Bedrosian. Lo and behold, I discovered that Bedrosian had a showroom in my city. Rather than go through a third party, I went to their showroom.

Their designer was able to give me some suggestions but I wasn’t ready to make a decision. On a third trip, I found a tile on their counter that I fell in love with. The designer helped me select the shower floor and wall tiling and we picked a blue square tile for the shower niche. My floor tile was somewhat bold and risky but I decided to go with my gut and order it.

Master bathroom floor tile – Villa Azul 10″ x 10″ Matte Porcelain Tile in Blue

Shower floor tile – 360 3/4″ x 3/4″ Penny Round Matte Mosaic Tile in White

Wall tile – Hedron 4″ x 5″ Matte Ceramic Flat Wall Tile in White

Niche Tile – Cloe 5″ x 5″ Ceramic Tile in Blue

I ended up using the extra tile for one of the wall cutouts in the dining room.

Be Our Guest

The second bathroom doubles as a guest bathroom. With limited space, it was more challenging to give it a big bathroom makeover.  The idea was to keep it somewhat on the brighter side and add elements like a floating shelf to create more space.

Because the vanity was high-quality and in good shape, I decided to have it repainted and put in a new vanity top and fixtures. However, I was replacing the bathtub and toilet and adding shower doors and shower fixtures. I also decided to add a niche in the shower to hold my daughters’ bathroom products.

For the wall tile above the vanity, I chose Boliche Mosaic Tile Honed Asian Carrara Dark E Marble from Whole Tiles. The shipping was a little more than I liked but I had seen this tile in an Instagram guest bathroom post and knew this was exactly what I was looking for. The shower wall tile came from Home Depot (and yes, I used gift cards) going with Nature Calacatta 12 in. x 24 in. Glazed Porcelain Floor and Wall Tile.

For the guest bathroom floor tile, I went with their Palazzo 12″ x 12″ Decorative Tile in Antique Cotto Florentina.

Like the master bathroom, the hardware came from Pottery Barn.

Finishing Touches in Bathrooms

The guest bathroom is somewhat small. In order to add some depth and composition, I added the Hang Anywhere Shelf Duo. Here you can add a candle, plants, or some soft touches. Rather than use a rectangle mirror, I chose a Vintage Round Mirror in warm bronze. Above it, I used a wall sconce for soft lighting.

In keeping with a Mediterranean style decor in the master bathroom, I selected vanity mirrors and a floor mirror that was made with textured textiles. The touches of summer-sky blue to a mostly white background were in keeping with the overall aesthetic.

As for the bathroom towels, I love the Nordstrom Hydrocotton towels; bath sheets for showering, and hand towels. I chose blue vintage, white and grey sphere for contrast. I am very picky when it comes to towels; I will only use a towel that is ultra-absorbent, thick, and soft. Nordstrom puts them on sale during their annual Anniversary sale which is when I stock up.

Living With A Bathroom Makeover

If given the choice, I would have preferred to have the bathrooms done while not living there. It meant workmen in and out of my house for about six weeks. They were very respectful and laid paper on the floor throughout the house. But there was so much dust from lifting up the old tile. Since the shower and bathtubs required inspections, they did the bathrooms consecutively.

It was definitely an exercise in patience navigating the use of a bathroom during the remodeling. At one point, my kitchen sink became my bathroom sink.

The Results

I love how both of my bathrooms came out. The total cost to makeover both bathrooms was just under $35k. But I built the remodeling costs into the purchase of the home. Should I decide to sell my place in the next five years, the bathroom makeover will add value to my home.

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My kitchen is my happy place. So when it came time to design exactly what I wanted,  I went looking for kitchen inspo. One of the first remodeling projects I took on myself was the kitchen remodel. I wanted this kitchen remodel to be seasoned with love.

I rented my current condo for two years before buying. My decision to stay was predicated on the selling price as the condo desperately needed updating. It had not been updated since 2004, almost 15 years prior.

Before

As someone who loves to cook, the lack of kitchen space prep areas was challenging. But, when you live in a condo, there are not a lot of structural changes you can make. I managed to remodel my kitchen and stay on budget.

My Vision

My initial vision for my kitchen remodel was to get rid of the raised kitchen bar. This would give me more kitchen counter space. A white kitchen remodel would give me the desired aesthetic. To break up some of the starkness, I decided to use gold knobs and pulls. For the kitchen island walls, I offset the white with brown to tie it into the rest of the room. The countertops were redone with white and gray quartz. It also meant replacing the sink.

Average Cost for a Kitchen Remodel

Researching the average cost of a kitchen remodel helped me in setting a reasonable budget. I had seen average kitchen remodel prices from $12k to $35K. This meant finding ways to give the kitchen an updated look while making it functional for my needs.

Since I knew replacing the cabinets would eat up a big chunk of my budget, I opted to have them painted white using a high gloss finish to give a polished, modern look. My cabinets were high-quality wood and had not aged at all. By having it painted, all I did was replace the knobs and the pulls.

The cost of having the kitchen repainted and removing the breakfast bar came to approximately $3900. If I had opted to replace all of the kitchen cabinets and install a new kitchen island, it would have been at least double.

Additionally, I changed the backsplash utilizing subway tiles installed horizontally. I went with a 3″ x 6″ Ceramic Bright White Subway Tile. The cost came to $420. I used a glazed tile because I knew the potential for food splashing while cooking. Another tip is to use a darker grout so that any food splashes do not leave a stain.

Living in Your Home While Renovating

Obviously, it is always preferable to have any and all remodeling done while not living in your home. Because I went from renting to buying, that was not an option. The job was expected to take two weeks. But that’s the thing with expectations. When all was said and done, it took four weeks from start to finish.

They removed all the front facings of the cabinets and the drawers to have them painted off-premise. Then the entire space was sealed off so they could spray paint the boxes.

During the remodel, plan on having no use of your oven, stove, dishwasher, and any appliances in the kitchen. I strongly recommend setting up a “kitchen” in a nearby room with a toaster oven, coffee maker, and paper plates since I could not use the dishwasher either. During this final stage, I ended up having take-out or prepared meals. That was the most difficult for me since I don’t tend to favor that style of eating preferring to make my own meals.

Extras

I chose brass 6 ¼” center bar pulls and brass cabinet square knobs from Wayfair. I strongly recommend ordering extras, which I did, as when I added my spice drawer this past year, I, fortunately, had extra matching knobs.

For esthetic purposes, I hung two pendants over the island. The room needed some texture to create a partition from the rest of the areas. I chose the Wicker Nest Pendant Lamp from World Market. That created a visual separation between the kitchen and the other areas in my great room. Make sure you order the light kit. Additionally, because they are handcrafted, there may be some color and appearance variations. To avoid this, I ordered an additional two lights so I could choose the two that most resembled one another.

I found a similar one on Etsy. Again, I would order several so the variations aren’t dramatic. Don’t forget to order a light kit.

The only appliance change I made was ordering a new refrigerator/freezer since mine had broken several times in the past. I do intend to replace the oven, stove and dishwasher when they stop working since they are the original appliances.

The End Result

Luckily, all my remodeling was completed before 2020 so I did not have to face product shortages or increased prices. The only change I would have made was working with one general contractor rather than handling all of the subcontractors myself. But, in the end, by updating my space and keeping up with current trends, should increase the resale value.

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Living in South Florida has its benefits. It means you can enjoy patio weather nearly every day. My patio is a second-floor, small screened-in space. I love being outside. Coming from a house with a huge backyard, it was quite different. I was determined to create a tranquil patio space.  My goal was to create a space that I can use for destressing, at-home workouts, meditations, reading, hanging with friends, and enjoying a meal. Fast forward a year, and it’s almost complete.

How to start

Looking to create your own outdoor patio space? It is a very simple task once you have a vision in place. My idea in particular was somewhat of a boho and laid-back theme. The patio is about 240 square feet. Since I need a multi-use space, I divided it into three separate areas… a sitting area, a dining area, and a workout area.

I started with hanging string lights around the perimeter of the patio which allows day and night enjoyment. This is especially great for having a few people over on the weekends or for a glass of wine after work as you’re outside and all social distanced.

Sitting Area

When you are working with a small enclosed area, you have to try to This allows the colors to blend together and completes a boho dining area. For additional seating, I have a Britanna patio loveseat with natural color pillows and two wicker chairs. The natural tones of the furniture complement the neighborhood foliage that is visible from the patio. The use of nesting tables allows more dining space or workspace if a change in scenery is what you need.

To tie it all together, I added a colorful rug and pillows.

Dining Area

For my dining area, I added a small bistro table with two wicker chairs along with a small woven rug.  When there are more than two of us eating outside, we either pull the chairs over from the sitting area or I use the table to hold the food and we eat on the loveseat. It is one of my favorite places to sit in the morning with a cup of coffee.

At-Home Workouts Reimagined

To add to this year’s theme of the at-home workout, I added a few yoga mats, hand weights, ankle weights, a kettlebell, and tension bands in the center. This allows for a big enough area for multiple people to participate, and who doesn’t love a nice workout in the sunshine?

Last, but Not Least

Go Green! I definitely suggest having plants that can hang from the wall or in a floor pot.  My patio is still a work in progress. Looking for ideas or inspo?

I have to say having an outdoor space has really been great for personal time and entertaining (with a small group of people), and would definitely recommend adding it to your list of at-home projects.

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