Journey

Happy 2016!

swapit-book-planter-3.jpg

Good morning, friends and happy new year!  2015 sure was a crazy year, and I have high hopes for 2016 already. I have some awesome posts in the works for you, but before I jump head first into the juicy 2016 posts, I wanted to ease into 2016 a little with a look back on the highlights of the past year.

Millie, flip house #4, I think is by far the stand-out star of 2015.  Not only is she the most exhausting, trying, exciting flip house I've done, but she reciprocated my love by selling from the very first open house.

2015 recap- Millie the Fliphouse

That kitchen still makes me grin ear to ear.

2015 recap- Millie the Fliphouse kitchen

2015 recap- Millie the Fliphouse kitchen

And how can I talk about that house without mentioning the original bathroom, which was also featured as a Room of the Day on Houzz.

2015 recap- Millie the Fliphouse bathroom

And as the year went on, the ball got rolling on my design business, Copper Dot Interiors and I shared this completed dining space from a client.

2015 recap- Copper Dot dining room

I joined an amazing group of bloggers to Swap it Like it's HOT and made over thrift store items in both the spring and the fall.  (In the interest of full disclosure, I feel that I need to mention that no, the succulents are no longer alive......not through the fault of a design flaw, but of my outright neglect, then overzealous watering)

2015 recap- swap it book planter

2015 recap- Swap it industrial lamp

I answered your Q&As about flipping and tackled a bit of curb appeal on flip #5, Dori.

2015 recap- DIY shutters

In between the 2 flips, the spotlight turned on my own house where we uncovered and refinished the 116 year old wood floors,

2015 recap- 100+ year old floors

and built a new non-eyesore of a window seat for our furry friends.

2015 recap- DIY cat perch

Phew, no wonder 2015 exhausted me!  2016 is stacking up to be even bigger and brighter.  In the coming weeks, I'll be posting about my completed TV cabinet, installing a carpet stair runner, and the mini-transformation of our rental condo kitchen.  With my plate filling up with design clients, I'm hoping to do a bit less grunt labor this year and more fun design work and creative DIYs to share with you!

Bring it on 2016!!

Choose Your Own DIY

Summer's always a bit slow over at this here ol' blog since everyone is outside playing with kiddos, at the beach, on vacation, or generally doing warm weather things that snowmageddons don't allow, so I've been getting a bit reflective. I'm having a bit of a blog identity crisis: a blog-dentity crisis if you will.  I've been blogging for so long (since 2010!!  even if it was just my mom reading back then... Hi Mom!) that it's time to shake something up a bit, but I'm not sure quite how.  A new design that will integrate better with my design business?  Switching up the post format a bit?  Different features?  Just post pictures of adorable cats (wishful thinking)?  My mind is swirling with possibilities, but since this blog would suck without you guys,  I want you to chime in!  Tell me what you love (and might not love as much) and purty please fill out a quicky survey by clicking the button below.

 

SURVEY

 

Choose your own DIY!

To thank you for your general awesomeness and for taking the time to fill out the survey you guys get to pick what DIY you want to see on Monday! Leave your choice in the comments:

Vintage Scarf Bolster Pillow

Herringbone Wood 'Tile' Headboard

Metal and Chain Picture Rail

 

Thanks for all the love!  See ya Friday for this week's flip update and check back Monday to see what DIY you chose!

Summer Reading List

Now that I've screwed my head back on and I'm out of the fog that finishing/selling a flip always ends up being, I'm on a self-improvement kick.  As the daughter of a librarian, I'm embarrassed to say that reading has fallen out of my schedule almost completely.  With the sun shining and technology screens that are unreadable outside on a glorious day, what better time to go analog and pick up a book. 1.  The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing

tidying up

Ask Hubby- I am a die-hard believer that your environment has a profound affect on your daily life.  If my house is a mess, generally, so I am I and it's not pretty.  I've been hearing people rave about this book like crazy lately and I've been eager to dive in!  I may already be halfway through this one.  While I may not necessarily agree with the author that balling my socks together makes them depressed (maybe I want depressed socks- makes it easier for me to walk all over them), she has some very poignant ideas about how to approach cleaning up your space.  Does this item bring me joy?  I 100% agree with her on the basic philosophy of this book: Clear your clutter, clear your mind.  Do yourself and your home a favor and read it.

2.  The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM)

miracle morning

I'm sure I'm not the only entrepreneur who struggles with setting a daily routine.  It's far too easy to treat every day like a lazy Sunday morning.  When you finally start being productive, half the day is gone!  I'm working to nip this in the bud and wake up bright eyed and ready for the day (more or less).  I heard the author interviewed on my fave podcast, The Lively Show and I'm sold.  Now I just need to read the book!

3.  Where'd You Go, Bernadette

bernadette

Mysteries are my favorite.  Books or TV shows (how am I just now finding out about Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries??).  So when I heard about this book I was instantly intrigued.  It seems like a bit of mystery, a bit of humor, wrapped up in a very clever package.  I would expect nothing less from an author who has also written for several successful sitcoms.

4.  The Paris Wife

paris wife

I want this book to be wonderful so badly, that I'll be disappointed if it's not.  This historical fiction is the story of the romance of Earnest Hemingway and his wife as told through her eyes.  I'm also a huge sucker for historical fiction and beautiful book covers.

5.  Let's Pretend This Never Happened

pretend

I can't explain why I haven't read this book yet.  I've been reading the Bloggess for years, so I really have no excuse.  She's hilarious and honest and addicted to weird taxidermied animals and if you aren't familiar with her, do yourself a favor and head over to her blog.  With her next book coming out in the fall, now's the perfect time to catch up!

Have you read any of these yet?  I'd love to hear about any good books you've read lately and what's on your summer reading list!