Add Color to Your Space Without Paint and a $100 Giftcard Giveaway~

You may recall that I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger! As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

Apartment Guide's AG Blog is full of great posts on a wide range of topics from finding the right apartment, to learning about local attractions across the country, to decor and more. My favorite posts are the decorating ones (of course.)

Today I wanted to share how I took one of those posts and applied it to my space.  This particular post was about how to add color to a space without the commitment of paint.  This is definitely a dilemma that many renters face.  But these tips can also be applied to homeowners who are commitment-phobic or who just like to switch things up every once and a while.  And since many apartments (and homes) are builder beige, finding an easily reversible way to bring in color is always important.

The first tip shared in the post is to add large scale art.  This is one of the best ways I have found to liven up any space.  I love to add large scale artwork to a boring space.  Not only does it bring in color, but it gives people an instant insight into your personality. 

Here is one of my favorite pieces of large scale art in my home.  It is black and white, but black is a color, r
ight?  ;-)

How to Stain Deck Furniture and a Giveaway~

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Flood Wood Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
I don't know about you, but I have always been a little intimidated by the idea of staining.  It turns out, however,  that if you have the right products and the right information, it's not nearly as hard as you might think.
Today I'm going to share the process I used to stain a cute little serving cart for my parents' deck using Flood® Wood Care.
Here is list of the supplies needed for a project like this:

Frugal Friday~

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday!

As promised, this week's Frugal Round-up will be double-sized to make up for the fact that I was too busy having fun at Haven to work on my round-up for last week.

But first, the Fan Favorite for last week was this DIY PB-Inspired Door Mat shared by Inspiration for Moms!  Love me a monogram!!

Kiwi Crate~

This last week, the kiddos and I had the chance to test out a fun new product.  I get the chance to review a lot of products on the blog...and I never post a review of a product I don't actually like.  But I didn't like Kiwi Crate craft kits.  I LOVED them!!  Like, reaaally loved them.

Haven Recap~

I am still trying to get back into the swing of regular life after my fabulous trip to Haven last week!
So while it is fresh in my mind, and while I'm still reeling from the amazing-ness of it all, I thought I'd share with you some photos from my trip...

Haven was just plain wonderful...or as I've heard other bloggers say...Haven was Heaven.  It's true!  The thing that I loved so much about this conference was that it was focused on DIY bloggers!  I was thrilled to see so many of my blogging buddies that I've met before...and ecstatic about meeting so many that I have "known" online and getting to hug them and chat in person!  I also had the chance to meet some amazing new bloggers who I'm sure will be making a splash in the world of DIY blogging in the future. 

Frugal Friday~

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday!

I am currently in Atlanta at the Haven Blog Conference so I haven't been able to go through all the great links from last week's party.

I promise to post a double-size version of the Fan Favorite and my Frugal Round-up next week.

So without further ado, let's get this party started.

Small Town Big Fun~

You may recall that I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger! As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

At the beginning of the month I shared some of my go-to tips on  how to make your summer guests feel at home, and I mentioned that later in the month I would share a few of my favorite local fun spots with you....the same ones I would share with my guests. 

So here it goes...

Ombre Tulips~

My favorite flowers are tulips.  So for my birthday last week, the hubby brought me home a big bouquet. 

When I was prepping them to put them in a vase, I noticed that he had purchased three varying shades of tulips...white, pale pink and dark pink.  I smiled to myself and thought,  "Self, I'm going to arrange these tulips ombre-style".  Okay, so I'm not sure if that's quite the way to say it, but you all catch my drift, right?

So I proceeded to place all the white flowers on one side of the arrangement, the pale pink flowers in the  middle, and the dark pink flowers on the other side.  And there you have it, my friends, Ombre Tulips. 

Our Master Bedroom is Half-way Finished! ~

I realized the other day that I have never shared photos of our master bedroom on the blog.  I also know the reason...it's not finished.  I don't know why it is, but my master bedroom always seems to be the last room that I decorate.  It's about half-way finished now, so I decided to share what I have been able to get done just in case I don't get it all the way done for a while. :-)

So without further ado...

Here is the bedroom before....this is right before we started painting so everything is piled on the bed (no, that's not how we normally live.  Lol!)

Frugal Friday~

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday!

Let's start off the party by getting to the good stuff...

Last week's Fan Favorite was this adorable  DIY Outdoor Rug  posted by Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss.

Since this is my birthday week, I thought it would be fun to share a few birthday/party related posts for my Frugal Round-up this week.

40~

Today I turn 40.  Yep.  The big 4-0.  Not sure exactly how I feel about that.  ;-)  So as I thought about what I wanted to post today, I was thinking about my birthday post from last year.  It is one of my favorite posts I've ever done on the old blog.  39 bits of wisdom that I'd gained over the years... and I shared them with you.



via One Charming Party

Vtech's Switch & Go Dinos~

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of VTechKids for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
My boys have some new favorite toys!
We recently had the chance to try out these great new toys from Vtech...the Switch & Go Dinos!  My boys could not have been more excited when the package arrived.  The Switch & Go Dinos are like two toys in one because they can transform from a dinosaur to a car and back again.  The transformation is really easy...even my littlest one could do it without any problem!

Haven Conference~

I'm so excited!

Next week, I'll be on a plane heading to Atlanta for the Haven Conference!

Haven is a blog conference for DIYers!  It's being put on by a group of some of the most talented DIY Bloggers in blogland.  The line up of sessions is so great including some of my favorites...like  John & Sherry from Young House Love, Ana White, and Layla & Kevin Palmer from The Lettered Cottage just to name a few - you can check out all the great speakers here.  I can't wait to see some of my favorite DIY blogging friends again...and  to meet (and become friends with) many that I haven't had the chance to meet before!

And I'm even more excited because I am attending Haven on behalf of Apartment Guide! I will be representing Apartment Guide and talking about ways bloggers can partner with them on lifestyle-themed challenges and engage with them on their social media pages.

Of course, Apartment Guide is a great resource if you're looking for or living in an apartment.  But, what you may not know is that Apartment Guide provides an array of home decor and design tips and ideas for people in any sized home. You can find articles at http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/.   Check out this great article on how to Decorate on a Dime for example - good things to think about whether your decorating an apartment  - or a house. 

You can learn more about how Apartment Guide works with bloggers and how to make the most of your space by following Apartment Guide on all of the social media outlets...here's a handy dandy little widget to make that easy for you...

Happy Monday: It's a Lisa Leonard Designs Giveaway~

Happy Monday Everybody!!

I'm so excited today because I'm hosting a giveaway from one of my very favorite online shops....Lisa Leonard Designs!

I have loved Lisa's beautiful jewelry (and her lovely blog) for years.  And I know that many of you feel the same way.

Lisa recently sent me her beautiful dewdrops necklace, and I am completely smitten. 

Frugal Friday~

Welcome to this week's edition of Frugal Friday!

I have lots of fun features to share with you from last week's party. So let's get to it...

First up, The FAN FAVORITE from last week's party was this fun laundry room reveal shared by Inspiration for Moms! 

Now on to my Frugal Round-up...

My Repurposed Life shared how she made her faux barn doors.  Great tutorial!  I just love barn doors!

Next, Jacolyn Murphy shared a clever s'mores candle hostess gift.  So cute!

Home Is Where My Heart Is shared her fabulous kitchen redo.  I just love me a white kitchen!

I may be just a bit addicted to gallery walls.  I adore them...and this corner gallery wall shared by Little Things Brings Smiles is awesome.  I'm filing this idea away on my to-do list!

And last but not least, I wanted to share this bright and happy bedroom redo by Johnny in a Dress...so many cute ideas in this room!

Now it's your turn...

You know "da rules"...

1. Please link directly to your post and not just to your blog.

2. Please link back the Shabby Nest (you can use the pretty new button on my side bar to make it easy.) I only feature projects in my Frugal Round-up that link back to The Shabby Nest. I have passed up some great features because they didn't link back..so please use common courtesy and return the link! MWAH!!

 3. Please visit other participants and leave them comments! Help them feel "the love!" And don't forget to "like" your favorite posts so they can become the "FAN FAVORITE!"

  

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Tips to Help Your Summer Guests Feel at Home~

You may recall that I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Decor Blogger! As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles and ideas for exploring your space, city and style.

Seems like summer at many people's houses is a big a time for house guests.  And we're no exception.  Making those guests feel comfortable in my home is one of my priorities, so today I wanted to share with you a few of my go-to tips for helping house guests feel welcome!

1. Give Your Guests Their Own Key.  Allowing guest to come and go when they please is one sure fire way to make them feel at home.  Giving guests their own key will help them to feel like part of the family.

2. Give Them a Place to Put Their Stuff.  Clear out a small section of a closet, or keep a drawer available.  It's nice for guests to not have to live out of a suitcase.

3. A Stack of Clean Towels is a Nice Touch.  My sister-in-law always made sure we had clean towels on our bed when we arrived at her house for a visit, and that is something that I've taken to heart.  Leaving a stack of fluffy towels for your guests is always a welcoming gesture.  I like to tie a house key with a note around a rolled up towel for  my guests - makes them feel a little bit like they're staying at a bed and breakfast.

4. Leave Them Some Goodies.  A basket filled with late night stacks, magazines, perhaps a book or a bottle of water is a great way to continue that bed and breakfast feeling for your guests.

5. Show Them Where to Have Fun.  One good thing to include in your goodie basket is a list of local attractions including good restaurants, fun shopping, movie theatres and other fun destinations.  If they are new to your area, including a local map is also a thoughtful gesture. 

Later this month I'm going to share a few of my favorite local fun spots with you (the same ones I'd tell my guests about.)  So stay tuned for that fun post!

These easy-to-implement tips will really help your guests feel loved and appreciated!  Just a warning, though...if you are this hospitable, they might never want to leave.  ;-)

· Whether you're living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space on http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/.

· “Like” Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook.com/apartmentguide, follow them on Twitter @AptGuideand “circle” them on Google+ for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space and living on a budget.

· If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect apartment community.

Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

  

Model Home Inspiration~

Hello Lovelies!

Do you like to look through model homes? Not because you are in the market, but just because?  I love to!! And even the Princess (age 9) loves to tour a good model home.  She asked me just last week if we could stop and tour a model home not far from our house.  The girl has the makings of a great interior designer.  :-)

Anyhoo, today I thought it would be fun to share some photos of model homes that I have toured recently.  They are all taken with my phone, so they're not the best quality, but each room has some great inspiration/ideas...so enjoy!

The first house was still in the process of being decorated, so I didn't get to take many photos, but I loved the master, and I snapped a couple (even though you'll notice one of the art pieces is still waiting to be hung.)

The Nate Berkus Show~

Early in May, I was featured in a House Proud segment on The Nate Berkus Show! 

I filmed the segment the second week in January, so I was on pins and needles to see the segment when it finally aired on May 7th.  I have been wanting to share all about it here on the blog for the last 5 months!

The reason it's taken so long to post about it is because for some reason, the video of my segment is still not up on the Nate Show website.  But, as I'm sure most of you have heard, sadly, the Nate Show is no longer in production.  And, as a result, I don't know if my segment will ever join all the other house proud videos on the site.  So if you didn't happen to see the show when it aired on May 7th, you might never get to see it.  Sad, I know.  ;-)  Ah well, that's show biz.

Edited to add: I guess I'm not very good at explaining because I've had a few readers who thought that the segment never aired on TV.  It did air on the May 7th episode,  the segment just hasn't been added to the videos on the Nate Show website, so I have nothing to link to for those who didn't catch it on TV.  Hope that is a little more clear. :-)

May Monthly Recap and Top 5 Referrers (and a couple of giveaway winners!)~

May was a fun month here at The Shabby Nest.

I started the month out by appearing on a local lifestyle TV show here in Utah, Studio 5.  I shared an easy DIY on how to create your own upholstered headboard.  If you'd like to see the segment, you can watch it here.

I shared a couple of easy organization projects including...