back entry decor

The second of my four summer projects is completed! Not too much of a DIY to share, but thought I'd document it here so you guys don't think I'm a slacker.

I've been needing an area at the back door to collect our keys, reminder notes, KJB's yard shoes, and the items that I need to take to church every week. It was a really simple project and I already had everything I needed, except the wooden crates. JoAnn Fabrics had theirs on sale over Independence Day weekend, so I picked them up for around $9 each. They might get a coat of paint later, but for now I like them raw.

The coat hook shelf was a wedding gift, made by a former co-worker. Three years later it found the perfect home beside our back door. I just love handmade gifts!

Easy Sliding Door

Our bathroom is tiny. Don't believe me? Check out our recent remodel here. I'll wait.

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See? Told ya. To help give us more space, I wanted to switch out our door with a sliding door. We had plenty of wall space on the bedroom side, so it was the perfect solution. It was inexpensive and quick, so it was my favorite kind of DIY.

The sliding door was the first one of my four summer projects, and since it's already July, I'm feeling like it's time to crack down if I want to finish everything else on my list.

Ready to start? The first thing you will want to do is determine the length of your pipe. My door was small at just 24" inches so I needed a length to cover a minimum of twice that size. On my wall I measured 24" from the opening, on the side where the door will slide. From there I used my stud finder to determine the next closest stud, beyond the 24 inches. Mark the wall where the sides of the stud should be. Now, find the stud on the opposite side of the opening. Mine was right in the corner, so my door can only slide one way. If you have wall space on either side of the opening, you will need to determine how far you want the door to slide to the opposite side. Mark the stud on that side, just like you did on the first side. A little graphic is below; hopefully this explains it for you visual people.

Now, measure the distance from stud to stud on either side of the opening. That distance will tell you how long your galvanized pipe should be. Your entire shopping list is below.

Supplies:                                                                                     Tools:
Hollow door slab (I reused the existing door)                            Stud finder
1 - 1/2" galvanized pipe, cut and threaded to length*                Pencil
2- 1/2" galvanized 90 degree elbows                                         Drill + drill bits
2 - 1/2" galvanized pipe nipple
2- 1/2" galvanized floor flanges
2- rigid casters**
2- eye-hooks***
8- screws

*The pipe comes in various lengths. Choose the one closest to your length, then have a sales associate cut the pipe and thread the end for you. I know that Lowe's will do this for you, but I'm not sure about  other stores.

**Make sure your casters are not wider than the thickness of the door. They will have to be rigid casters, not swivel, because you want the door to just slide back and forth, not every other direction.

***The eye on the eye-hook needs to be big enough to fit over the 1/2" pipe. Try it out in the store to make sure it fits.

If you are reusing an existing door, you will need to remove the hinges from the door and the door jamb. Some additional supplies will be needed if you are going this route. Skip to the bottom and I'll explain how to patch in the hinge pockets.+

First, use four screws to attach your casters to the bottom of the door slab.

Next, drill two holes in the top of the door to fit the eye-hooks. Screw them in, making sure you keep them consistent heights.

Now you can pass the galvanized pipe through the eye-hooks. Attach an elbow to each end of the pipe, then screw the pipe nipple into the elbow. Next you will screw the floor flange onto the pipe nipple. The floor flange will be the piece attached to the wall.

Have someone hold the door in place while you position the flanges over your studs. Since you marked either side of the stud earlier, you can line up the flange so that two of the holes are vertical with your stud. Your flange may need rotate on the pipe nipple, but you will want to do this so that you can get both screws into the stud. Mark your holes on the wall on both ends, move the door out of the way, and drill your holes. Replace the flanges over the holes and screw them into place.

Pretty easy, huh? It gives our bathroom more breathable space and looks cool. And for around $30, it has been the biggest change we have done to the house, for the smallest amount of money.

+If you took down an existing door, you will probably want to patch the hinge pockets and the door strike. One of the easiest ways to do that is to purchase wood lattice moulding (see here). You can cut pieces to size and attach them in using wood glue and wood filler, then paint them, or you an apply the entire strip top to bottom of the frame, covering the old holes. (Sarah from Thrifty Decor Chick has a tutorial on the second option.)

Busy Day Outfits

Recently I had a jam-packed day with a bridal shower and a wedding back-to-back. I literally had less than thirty minutes to change up my look to go from casual to wedding appropriate. To do that, I knew the best way was to swap out accessories.

Start off with a simple dress. I chose a comfortable, yet structured dress that would allow me a lot of versatility. You can't go wrong with a little black dress - just find one that compliments your body type. I like this one because the fit and flare style is super girly, and the white stripes freshen it up for summer.

Day
This dress has a higher neckline, so I skipped the necklace and went for an ear jacket. These have a feminine flare to them, so I knew they would compliment the dress. An arm party is perfect for day because it can give off a more casual vibe. I started off with the black and gold one because I knew it would be a great stand-alone option for night. Then I added my go-to spikey bracelet, and for color, chose the cuff with braided threads. Simple jeweled sandals and a bright bag finished off the look. I loved this outfit for a summer day event.

Night
The first simple change was the earrings. By removing the ear jacket and replacing it with a standard back, you have a simple look that is a little less girly. (But, by all means, leave the jacket on if you like it paired with a statement necklace. It's all about what you're comfortable with!) My statement necklace above is gold with clear crystals, which makes it really easy to mix metals. Whatever necklace you choose, go with something that looks good with your dress neckline. My higher neckline needed something with a pointed shape, as apposed to a rounded/scoop neck (you'll see another option in the video below, but that necklace is no longer available). Then I removed my two bracelets, leaving just the gold and black one. The clear crystals on that bracelet also really helped to mix metals, so I felt like my silver and crystal stackable rings, worked well with it. A pair of black heels and a small black handbag and I was good to go!

my summer face

It's been awhile since I shared my favorite beauty products with you, so I figured summer was as good a time as any. Products all listed below!

1. Physician's Formula Argan Wear BB Cream has SPF, moisturizes, evens out my skin tone, and is paraben-free. All wins, in my book.

2. I like simple products, like the L'oreal Brow Artist pencil. Creamy formula, perfect color, and love the spoolie on the end.

3. Just a touch of the Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit, and my dark circles are no more. I love to use the Beauty Blender to really give the concealer and the BB Cream an airbrushed finish.

4. I bring some color back to my face with my current favorite blush, Hervana by Benefit. Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess gives the best 'day in the sun' glow.

5. Urban Decay's Naked lipstick is a natural, easy-to-apply product that gives a finished look every time.

6. The Urban Decay Primer Potion has been my go-to for years now. It keeps my oily lids from ruining my eyeshadow; they stay right where I put them all day.

7. Lorac's Pro Palette is another go-to. The variety of colors and finishes allow me to have lots of different looks. The matte black shadow on the end doubles as eyeliner.

8. My mascara changes almost weekly, as I push to find the best product for my hooded and oily eye area. Right now the Stila Mile High Lashes has my attention with it's shiny gold packaging. What can I say? I'm a sucker for anything gold.

9. To keep everything in place and keep oil at bay, a few sprays of the Nyx Matte Finish.

Find all these products for purchase here.

weekend photos

The huz and I put in a new kitchen island, so of course I had to dress it up. This succulent garden is my new favorite and will be around for a long time, guaranteed.

We also threw a little baby shower for my cousin, who is expecting her first baby at the end of July. She wanted a "little gentleman" theme so we decorated with bowties and mustaches. His name is Mason, so of course we had to play that up as well! (printables for the party, including banners and games, will be in the shop soon!)

My nephew Cameron fell asleep on my mom's shoulder and it was the most precious thing. :)

Finally, we wrapped up our Saturday with a trip to our favorite local spot for dinner. Their fries are delicious and even more mind-blowing is their house-made ranch. We both got a burgers and totally indulged! And lucky for me, the conversation was even more satisfying than the meal. One-on-one time with KJB always makes my heart happy. 

June is off to a great start. :)

where to find the best desktop wallpaper

This morning I'm sitting at my desk watching my desktop wallpaper roll through like a slideshow every few minutes. Ok, I'm also working, but my second monitor is currently blank, allowing me to see the background. But whilst watching it, I realized that most of them came from the same place, and I thought I'd share the source with you.

Bri from DesignLoveFest has been one of my favorite bloggers for several years now, and back in 2012 she started a series called Dress Your Tech. Artists submit their wallpaper designs to her and the favs are featured on the site. I have a particular love for the florals and watercolor designs, but there are lots of options. The artists website is always linked too, which means you can visit their site to see more of their work. Visit DesignLoveFest to browse the Dress Your Tech series. 

(all images above via DLF.)

summer projects

planter photo  /  mudroom photo  /  sliding door photo  /  garage door photo