DIY Dreaming

I am a huge daydreamer when it comes to almost anything. Travel, romance, what food to cook – but especially, how I want my house to look when Mr M & I decide to build or buy our first home. I have said forever and a day I want a huge house always filled with family and friends with delicious meals cooked in a huge kitchen, and lot’s of bedrooms so guests always have a bed to stay in. I can’t wait to fill said house with all my own little style ideas and designs – including personalised themes for each room. With that always in mind I was so excited to find this amazing little website that had 34 DIY headboards for you to get inspiration from. These are my favourite ones all of which I could easily see fitting in to my own daydream home. 


25 beauty tips reusing household items

I always love finding new ways to use old things for practical use so when I found an article on Elle website I couldn’t believe my luck. The article went through ways to use household things for things you may not have otherwise thought to have. I have already used some of their ideas (including the button idea and the dryer sheets that you will see below) so I knew someone else out there might benefit from these handy hints also.
Extraordinary use of household items
1. Old Buttons
Repurpose spare buttons by using them to keep pairs of earrings together: Most buttons have at least two holes in them, so simply place an earring in each opening to neatly store when not wearing.
2. Dryer Sheets
No time for a shampoo? Rub a dryer sheet on your hair to tame flyaways and make your hair smell shower fresh.  
3. Flat Iron
A hair straightener works great for ironing between buttons on your shirt, where a regular iron doesn’t fit. You can also use it for minor wrinkles on your blouse when you’re in a hurry.
4. Vinegar
Considered a natural bleach and powerful cleanser, vinegar (just a dab) can reduce the blueness of bruise. This kitchen staple can also be used in your bubble bath to help prevent yeast infections. Tip: Try apple-cider vinegar for a less pungent smell.
5. Yogurt
If you burn your forehead using a curling iron, slather plain yogurt on the wound—the coolness will help with swelling and the yogurt will reduce redness and speed the healing process.
 6. Toothpaste
Have yellow nails? Scrub them with toothpaste to remove stains and add shine. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice for extra whitening; it’s a natural bleaching agent.
 
7. Clear Tape
Remove dry skin from lips by pressing the sticky side of tape to your pucker, or see what a nail polish color will look like without the mess by placing a small piece on your nail and doing a quick test.

How To: Organise your Beauty ‘stuff’

If you all haven’t heard of StumbleUpon then first and foremost, go and check it out…you’re welcome. I have the app on my phone and adore flicking through all kinds of websites it provides me with when I have spare moments here and there. I find amazing quotes, fantastic DIY’s and lots of odd bod websites I never would have found on my own. I stumbled upon (get it?) this amazing little DIY the other night though and knew I had to share it. So enjoy these little easy and creative ways to store your jewllerly and make up.
Coffee bean brush holder

This simple project keeps your makeup brushes upright and organized. Plus, your bedroom will smell like coffee every morning. Yum.

What you need:
• small, clear plastic tub (one side should be open)
• coffee beans/ small grains, etc.

Instructions:
1. Take the clear tub, and fill with coffee beans and/ or small grains (whichever you prefer)
2. Stick your brushes into the coffee beans, brush side up.

Rake organizer

Sure, you can buy little hooks to hang your necklaces, but we like this rustic, shabby-chic take on jewelry organization. And it’s so easy …

What you need:
• old rake
• screw and screwdriver
• sandpaper (optional)
• Rustoleum (optional)

Instructions:
1. Unscrew the handle from the old rake.
2. If the rake is rusted, sand off the rust or cover the metal with an anti-rust spray paint like Rustoleum.
3. Drill the screw into the wall/ door of where you’d like the rake to hang.
4. Hang the rake on the screw, rake prongs down. Arrange your necklaces on the prongs.
Magnetic makeup board

Is your makeup strewn all across your bathroom counter? Do you spend 30 minutes digging in your vanity drawer for your favorite blush? If so, you’ll love this magnetic makeup board. Not only does it keep your makeup organized, but it also looks super cute on your wall.

What you need:
• old picture frame
• acrylic paint
• spray adhesive
• metal sheet or baking sheet
• piece of fabric
• mini magnets
• strong glue, like E-6000
• old, empty pill bottles

Instructions: 1. Find an old frame, and remove the glass. Paint the frame a fun color.
2. Take the frame to the local hardware store and ask them to cut a piece of metal to fit inside the frame, or use an old baking/cookie sheet if it already fits.
3. Cut a piece of fabric to the size of the metal sheet, and attach it to the metal sheet with some spray adhesive.
4. After the spray adhesive has dried, attach the metal sheet to the frame.
5. Line up all your makeup products — blushes, bronzers, eyeshadows — and attach a mini magnet to each item. Use a heavy duty glue to attach the magnets.
6. Take an old pill bottle and throw away the top. Paint the bottle. Once dry, attach a few magnets to one side of the bottle. Fill the old pill bottle with brushes, eyeliners, or mascaras.
7. Place each makeup product on the sheet, as well as the old pill bottle.

Pinterest Loves

I had the perfect weekend by relaxing standards. There was lots of sleep catch up, long walks, Europe bookings and quality couch time with Mr M, topped off with a BBQ last night with good friends and cold cider. I had wanted to sink my teeth in to some little DIY projects Ive been dying to get around to but it seems finding accommodation for our upcoming Europe trip took the priority spot again. As we head in to another week full of unknowns, to do lists, meetings and dinner dates, here is what is catching my eye this week on Pinterest.

It’s starting to get colder here in Perth (by my standards anyway) & I can’t wait to start rugging up in warm winter knits and furs (faux of course)
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I would love to do my room in all white with pops of colour only coming from beautiful fresh flowers displayed near big window sills
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I read this over the weekend and fell in L.O.V.E – it gave me immediate inspiration to stay strong with all my big hopes and dreams and turn my own cants in to cans
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Ever since my Bali getaway and my daily morning banana pancakes I crave them constantly
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I saw this dainty hearts garland and immediately knew I have to add this to my DIY ‘to do’ list. I would use the pages of an old love story
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Pinterest Loves

I am going in to today after having the most incredibly fun past 4 days. We just had our long 4 day Easter Weekend and I made sure I filled it with a good mix of going out, staying in, yummy baking, fun adventuring, catching up with friends and having some quiet moments with Mr M, some of which will be shared on here over the next few days. As my quest of finding the perfect balance in life continues I seem to be getting more inspired than ever with cute DIY’s (dying to do the wallpaper frames for my office), recipes I can bake over weekends and quotes that inspire. Here are the 5 things that are currently catching my eye this week.

I’m crushing any/all things knit at the moment but this outfit inspired me to no end with it’s seemingly warmth and gorgeous pastel colouring. I need to add all of these pieces to my wardrobe LOVE!
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I’m constantly looking for aqua inspired design ideas for my own office at home and this just made me fall madly in l.o.v.e
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There is never any harm, ever, in reminding yourself that you should be and deserve to be chasing the life exactly like you imagined. I know I am
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Being new to my sweet tooth the first thing I have mastered to eat is cheesecake, this, coupled with my current obsession with cooking/presenting things in jars I am dying to give this recipe a go
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I am doing some of my own DIY wallpaper at the moment but saw this pic of framed wallpaper and loved the idea to brighten up our lounge room wall
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Pinterest Loves

I had a crazy week last week with work and life in general so didn’t get to post much – if at all! I’m back this week with lots of posts to share. Something I do always have time for however is finding inspiration in all things Pinterest. Here is my weekly round up of favourite things right now. From braided up do’s to home decor I would love to have or do all of these things below.

Loving this up do braid – my next go to style for a wedding or big event 
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 I have always wanted to do this when I own a home 
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Words I think we all need to be reminded of sometimes 
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I have been meaning to make ice cream for months, and so when I saw this photo of coffee ice cream, well I just knew I’d found my recipe
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A little DIY I am going to be enlisiting the help of Mr M with (to use the drill of course) LOVE this
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My minds organised mess

I have resisted for as long as hard as I could, but alas, my crazy organisational urges have given in. I’m talking about Pinterest people. I heard about it middle of last year, and thought there is no way I need one more online ‘thing’ to occupy my spare time that is already split between my business, blog, and other social media sites. I resisted, I really did. Sure I used it, constantly, for inspiration, ideas, pretty pictures, but I never wanted my own account where I would see my hours slip away. That all changed a few weeks ago when I couldn’t resist any more. I know we all love Pinterest, so I thought I would start a weekly segment where I put up my favourite ‘finds’ in 5 categories – Fashion, Home Decor, Quotes, Recipies and DIY’s. This is my first week so from one Pinterest fan to another, here are 5 things I’m currently l.o.v.i.n.g.

I love everything about this picture & need that bright orange clutch and divine fur coat
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Mr M & I have just bought a blackboard for our kitchen, so I’m loving this inspiration for my future kitchen
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I fell in love with this quote as I realised me wanting to give up on my big dreams sometimes isn’t a sign of weakness, just a sign that they are big.
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I have to make these – Caramel Brownies, I found a good recipie here
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I’m making these for my office at home & loved finding colour inspiration. Step by Step DIY here