3 Easy Ways to Update Old Frames

Winter gives me a serious case of the blahs. 

No color, no flowers....no SUN. It's enough to make anyone cry.

So when I get the urge for bright, happy days, I start looking for something around the house that I can brighten up. Picture frames are some of the easiest updates you can make, and here are three easy ways to make those old frames into new beauties. 

1. Pick up a unique frame from the thrift store and paint it a bright color.

This cute double-frame used to be brown. Plain, boring, brown. I used a pretty blue spray paint to give it a facelift, and sanded the detailing to bring it out.

2. Use Mod-Podge and patterned fabric to give a plain frame some interest. 

Paint your frame with Mod-Podge, then carefully apply the fabric. I used a rotary cutter to trim the edges. A fabric-covered frame is a unique piece you don't see everyday, plus the billions of fabric choices mean you can customize it to look however you want.

3. {and this is the easiest} White paint!

Updating frames doesn't get any easier than this. The outside of this block used to be black. Which wasn't bad, but it definitely darkened the whole thing up. All I did was paint it white---and doesn't it look so much brighter? 

So, ta-da! There are three easy ways to brighten up your winter blues {and your decor}. 

I can't wait for warm days again. Can you?

There's a First Time for Everything

Since I'm still working out how to post my pictures from Photobucket {that site is NOT happy with me}, I decided to do a little Q&A for you. I saw this on another blog and I think it's kinda fun.

You're fascinated already, I can tell.

1. First thing you do when you wake up in the morning:

Blink like a madwoman {why are mornings so bright?}.

2. First thing you do when you get home from work:

Honestly? Usually I have to pee.

3. First kiss:

I thought it was incredibly romantic-- it was in the rain. Although, technically, we were inside. Eh, but who cares! It was my first kiss. ;)

4. First home:

The first house I remember growing up in was a duplex in Bountiful, Utah. My first home after I moved to college was in Cedar City, Utah.

5. First car:

The awesome little '93 Honda Accord that now belongs to my brother! Yep, she's still running.

6. First car accident / traffic violation:

My first ticket was on the freeway heading home one weekend from Cedar City. It was totally unfair.

7. First thing you wanted to be when you grew up:

The little mermaid! Baha!

8. First choice of beverage:

Orange juice. Deeeeelicious.

9. First choice of dessert:

Now that's a tough one. Mmmm....at the moment I'm feeling Mountain Dew Cake.

10. First choice of restaurant:

For fast food: Taco Time. For sit-down, Olive Garden.

11. First song that comes to mind:

Two Black Cadillacs, Carrie Underwood.

12. First major purchase:

Its happening this week! The Christopher and I are buying our very first brand-new washer!

13. First job:

I scored the glamorous job of sales associate at Old Navy.

14. First time you flew on a plane:

I think it was for the choir trip in high school. New York, baby! Wait...maybe it was San Francisco...

15. First real "grownup" job:

Copywriter! I was super lucky to score my first freelancing job last year; this year I'm working on my second! It makes me very excited.

Well, there you are. Fifteen firsts. Did you learn something new?

DIY Apothecary Jar Filler

I have this wonderful glass apothecary jar sitting on my piano. It cost me a whole of $4 {downeast was having a crazy sale}. I've wanted to put something in it forever, but I've been coming up short on ideas. 

BUT THEN.

Over Christmas my mom & I went to see Gardner Village--a collection of cutesy, boutique-y shops that are all ridiculously over-priced {but fun to browse}. In one shop, they had a glass vase that was filled with antique-looking rolls of sheet music, all tied together with a pretty ribbon. Voila!

Since the holidays have ended, I finally have a little more time to myself. So yesterday morning I dug through my huge uneeded stash of sheet music and found a book that I could tear pages out of.

I think it's a book from when I used to teach piano. If not that, then I have no idea where it came from.

I tore out 7 nice-looking sheets. Then I used blue paint to give the torn edges a little interest. 

Using old fabric scraps, I cut long, small lengths to use as bows.

I rolled the pages up, tied the bows, and ta-da!

I think it looks pretty cute, don't you?