Mirror, Mirror on the wall....

It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to post some of the progress of the balcony. I won’t lie, I’ve been procrastinating, turns out even being frugal and saving money at every corner you still want to not spend money. Or at least since my trip I’ve been thriftily trying to cut corners to save even more money. So that’s meant a lack of spending in the balcony department.

Have no fear! I have good news blog readers that I can share  with you, I Michael being of sound mind and semi awesome waves have completed a project of a lifetime (for under 6$ to boot!). Wondering what that project is? The sad mirror...

There it is in all it’s glory, lonely, queue IKEAS sad song for the lamp in the rain. -> Was I the only one that watched that commercial and actually felt sorry for the lamp? <- now you may be asking yourself now... what could he possibly do with this cheap hand me down mirror? Let me tell you! (alas I did not photo the project because well that might have been a smart idea grrr)

Step 1: Remove mirror from old frame (which was surprisingly harder than I had anticipated)

Step 2: Cut new frame out of 1x4’s so that its slightly smaller than the mirror. I made it simple by using those 90 degree angle cutting cubes that you can get at WALMART or HOMEDEPOT that we already had here from doing the sectional.

Step 3: Put the pieces together, I used regular carpenters glue for the corner, several screws from every angle and a nail, believe me those bad boys aren’t going anywhere.

Step 4: Connect mirror to the frame. So simple, I used mirror anchors, the kind that people use to hang mirrors in there bathroom.

Step 5: Super glue. **insert mohahah here** I rounded the frame with gorilla glue just for that added security and so it wouldn’t move around at all. No one wants 7 years bad luck!

Step 6: Stain, and spray on finish. Which I’ve put in one step since it took a full day to do but really took no time at all.

And after all that hard work (use your mind to in vision the process) we finally come up with this new fabulous mirror that really adds a special something to the outside!

So that’s one small step for the balcony and one giant step closer to completion! What’s next? Well we are finishing up the frames and getting ready to add them to the walls, then we are done line dinner!

A Poof by any other name?

Happy birthday party day! Well I wanted to post a quick little something because I have something exciting to share with you. This year most of the things at the party were handmade (except for the flowers... I’m not that talented yet). So I found these “Pom Pom’s” all over the web... the thing is that you can find them at Martha Stewart or Michaels for like 8 bucks for 3.... which is pretty pricy for something  that is a simple pimple to make. How you ask?

You just take a regular piece for tissue paper (I found 8 was a good number) and you accordion fold them.

So once you’ve done accordion folding it, then it’ll look something like this: see! So simple! And that’s really the hardest thing, then you just separate the paper pulling it towards the center on both sides to get a full wonderful ball!

And the great thing is you could make as many as you want, hang them from the roof of even have them all over the floor! – and guess how much each one costs to make? 50 cents for the big ones and 25 cents for the small ones.... you could really make as many as you want!

So here’s some in a group! Or you can have them alone! I made one massive one, but net party I’d see how big I could actually make one... A gigantic sized one? Hmmm!

As for right now, I’ve baked some almond shortbread cookies and have some teas steeping! We’re pretty ready for the party tonight! Now just to add guests!

"Old Fashion Birthday Party"

When I was growing up one of the fondest things that I remember about my youth is spending the summers in Ontario with my grandparents. The beautiful lakes, the wonderful cooking that my grandma would always prepare (something Ukrainian smothered in sour cream) and the camp side fires beside a small lake outside of Kenora called blue lake. A particular summer the weather hot, the sky blue and the lake cool. During the afternoon I remember coming up from the lake to the camp site parched. When I arrived at my grandparent’s camper I was greeted by the familiar smile that my grandmother always had on her face, pleasant and welcoming. She had a tray of glasses filled with ice tea, the funny thing is at this moment where I grabbed the glass of the tray and began to sip on my cool tea (yes I said thank you) I remember the glasses, covered in blue stripes with sail boats and a large sunset. The funny thing is I’ve been trolling the web trying to find the exact glasses to show you all the inspiration to my birthday party this year. I loved the colourful bright cheeriness of the summery vessels (not to under appreciate my amazing BLACK AND GOLD themed party last year). So here’s what a love for old school cups and a fresh wonderful memory can offer a “Good Old Fashion Birthday Party”.

I actually did have a few hiccups on the way of design awesomeness. These fans actually were originally meant to hang from the ceiling.... which became a really big problem when I found out that living in a concrete building with a concrete roof might hinder sticking pins up on the ceiling to hold them up. So there came an idea: I used sticks and taped them to the sticks to create sunny flowers/sunset bursts (not bad right?)

Since I believe even like with decor in a home you need to have a focal point you need to have a accent wall which came out perfect in the form of a streamer wall. Call me old fashion (haha get it?) but I think there isn’t anything as beautiful as a good streamer wall.

Something that I’ve always been told by my roomie (the lovely and talented Karen) is that I tend to go crazy and hate the idea of everything I pick out then have an intense calm and love it after it completed – It’s what she calls “my creative process” Lets take a full look at the room

And some more lovely pictures of the hallway right as you enter the house and go to the main room.

At this point you might be asking yourself “Where are the people?” Yes I am one of those people that decorate a day early. If there is anything that I’ve learn it’s that the best way to have a wonderful birthday is to prepare everything in advance that way you yourself can enjoy the whole night with your friends playing games and relaxing (A tip that my wonderful mother had taught me – the ultimate party planer)

So here I am for the rest of the night, in a party ready room asking myself – Why can’t my birthday be right now? After all I’m ready. I guess the moral here is that I’m 100% prepared to wow my guests tomorrow with a buffet of amazing food and a fun packed evening with a low budget of 40$ Stay tuned! Party stories and meal menu to follow!

Amazing Patio

Remember how a few days ago I was telling you about that surprise that I was going to have finished? Well I have finally put on the last coat of finish so it’s nice and smooth and it’s ready to see. You had probably noticed in all of our pictures that we had created a side piece for the DIY sectional (for more info on how to make your own check this link out!) despite the fact that it looked a little out of place it served 2 purposes 1. It made a nice place to lean up against that wasn’t railing 2. It gave us a smidge more privacy from the office building across the street (hi guys!) So lets take a sneak peak at the before:

And a new look at the after (et voila!):

Now I’m not bragging but I was pretty pumped about the mini green pillow (as you know Karen and I love all home decor that’s green) which was an awesome super cheap find at superstore for a total of 5$... not too shabby right?

I’ll be the first to admit it’s a love hate relationship, I actually find that I love the colour itself... I just don’t know if we are in love with the idea of that colour there. So what did we do the night that we got it all set up? Well we put on some brazillian jazz (if you haven’t heard it try it you’ll love it for the next summer party you host) had a big glass of red and ate strawberries till about 1 in the AM... despite the fact that we both love going to bed early every once and a while you have to take advantage of a beautiful downtown view, with red and a sparkling candle lit party.

So lets take a look at our list to go:

Finish side thingy

Get bigger pillows/possible bum cushions

Finish building frames for back wall

Do mirror project for old mirror

Get unique piece of something for beside bench

Talk to plants

Find pendant lantern (or build)

Find another banana fiber rug

Almost done I can feel it. So tomorrow it’s off to home depot, than possible value village and of course one last little thing – it’s almost my birthday! – who’s happy? It’s me!