Archive for 2010

Let’s talk resolutions.

You know, the big list you make once a year… the infamous

New Years Resolutions.

I’m not doing it. I refuse to sit down and make a check list of things I should do this year. I mean, seriously! I forget my resolutions list within the first 3 days of making one, so what’s the point?!

But just for grins and giggles, what resolutions do most people put on their list? What would I put on my list if I actually made one?

The very first thing that comes to mind:

Lose Weight.

Ya, we all want to lose weight. I’ve been on a “diet” since I was 14 and I’m still overweight. What’s the point of adding this to my list? So that I’ll just let myself down again for the 16th year in a row?

(This is Not me!)

But I really do need to lose some weight.

So even though I’m not making any official resolutions, I’ll just add this to my list of goals I want to accomplish in the year 2011.

What next? Hmmm….

Exercise!

Everyone adds exercise to their New Years Resolutions!

Can you get any more generic than Lose Weight and Exercise?

But wait, I’ve actually been planning for a week now that starting January 3rd (the day the kids go back to school) I’m going to hit the ground treadmill running and get healthier. It’s easier to lose weight if I’m exercising too.

Crap. My post about how I’m not making resolutions is sure starting to sound like a New Years Resolution, isn’t it?!

What else do people resolve to do starting January 1st each year?

Eat Healthy!

Ya, that’s so lame! What a generic thing to add to your resolutions list.

Well… I really should start eating healthier this year. Less sugar, more veggies. I’m 30 now and should probably be more aware of what I’m eating to try to avoid getting diabetes which runs in my family.

Okay, so I won’t make an official New Year’s Resolution list, but I’ll just go ahead and add this to my to-do list as well. But it’s not a resolution!

This anti-resolution post is sure starting to sound like a resolution post.

Well, for the sake of the post, let’s continue, shall we?

Debt Free.

Everyone wants to be debt free, right?! What an obvious thing to add to a Resolution list.

But it would be nice to get that last bit of debt paid off this year…

Maybe I’ll just slip this “goal” into the back of my mind to work on this year….

Organize!

Yes, people love to organize!

As do I! And it would be really awesome if I could once in my life tackle the paperwork laying around that threatens to swallow me whole.

This is sure sounding like a Resolution list, isn’t it?!

What other stuff do people like to add to Resolution lists? You know, generic stuff that everyone adds?

Family.

Everyone wants to make more time for family.

Well, isn’t that the reason I moved back to Austin in the first place? To be near my sisters, parents, & in-laws who also all live here in Austin? To let my children grow up knowing their grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, and cousins?

I would love to add that to my to-do list… Spending time with Family is a great resolution, er, goal.

Hmmm, I’m stumped. Let me Google it and see if I can find any other things that most people add to their resolution lists. (Click the link. It’s funny!)

Here’s a good list! Thanks Google!

Okay, moving on…

Quit Smoking.

Done! Never started smoking, so that was an easy one!

Enjoy Life More.

How is that even a resolution? It’s not even measurable. I guess I could say, “Get off the anti-depressants this year.” That’s measurable, right?

I mean, assuming you are actually making a resolution list, “getting off anti-depressants” would be more measurable than “Enjoy life more”.

(*This is a JOKE. Please DO NOT stop taking your meds!)

Next on the list,

Quit Drinking.

First off, Why? Secondly, … nope. No secondly. That’s all I got.

And finally, the 10th of the top 10 New Years Resolutions…

Learn Something New.

That’s an easy one. I thrive on researching stuff and learning new things. But it’s NOT a resolution for me because I don’t have a resolution list, remember!?!

So there you go! The top 10 basic Resolutions most people add to their New Year’s Resolution list.

And like I said before, I’m not wasting my time creating New Year’s Resolutions. There’s no point.

But I am glad I wrote down all the things I want to accomplish this year.

Happy New Year, my friends!

Have a safe and fun weekend. Do you have any resolutions, or are you anti-resolution too?

(Thank goodness for lists though!)

* If you host a LINK PARTY please add it to my new link party list! Yay!*

If you missed last weeks party, you can see it at Hookin’ Up with HoH #29!

You guys seriously never disappoint! I’m grateful so many peeps want to link up their projects! I also hope that these parties are beneficial to all the readers out there looking for inspiration!

Here are a handful of projects that I thought were especially awesome.

Home Hinges painted an old desk and made it beautiful!

Turley Times gives a great tut on how to makes these yummy mulling spice bags to use in a surprising variety of ways.

Creative Mommas shares a tutorial on how to make your own adorable baby wipes cases.

Rosy Red Buttons made this beautiful lampshade.

Not Just a Housewife not only hand-painted the beautiful shade, but she also made the entire lamp.

Cottage Hill shows how to make your very own glitter letter banner (and you know how much I love me some glitter!

The Little Brown House shares this yummy Gingerbread Chocolate Cupcake recipe. Doesn’t this cupcake look delish?!

Smile Monsters teaches us how to make these stunning glitter ornaments.

Can’t Stop Making Things made these really cool deserts.

Signal Hill Interiors made this toy box with a chalkboard and chalk holder on one side.

If you’ve been featured grab a button and tell everyone!

But wait, there’s more…

* Hookin’ Up with HoH will be posted tonight, but not at 8pm CST like usual. It will be up by 9:30pm CST. *

Lettered Cottage (love her!) is having a link party called

A Few of My Favorite: Room Re-Do’s 2010

I’ve compiled all the room overhauls I’ve done this past year for you to enjoy in one easy to find location (’cause I’m nice like that. And ’cause I want to link it to Layla’s awesome party!)

Most of my renovation posts are from our previous home (now on the market if you want a home in Dallas, Tx!). Here are all our Duncan Drive home renos:

Master Bathroom renovation (in our previous home)

Before & After
  

Before & After

(I did ALL the tile work – and everything else you see – 95% ALL BY MYSELF. I’m more proud of this bathroom than any other room I’ve ever tackled.)

Family Room renovation:

We took our family room from this to this:

Before & After:

And we also added new chunky baseboards to the family room:

I also patched some tile from the kitchen to the family room that previously was carpet:

Before & After:
  

Update the 2nd Bath:

Before & After:
  

Update the Closet with Paint:

Before & After:
  

Remove a wall and cabinets:

Before & After:
  

At the beginning of August we moved into our new home in Austin, Texas!

So far, since we’ve moved into the new house I’ve…

Obsessed about remodeling our stairs
(haven’t done it yet but I’m gearing up for it)

Somewhat decorated my Family Room
(still working on it!)

Fixed a water leak and patched a hole in the closet

Hung pictures on my staircase wall

And my favorite renovation in our new house…

Added moulding to our piano room

There you have it! My Room Re-Do’s for 2010!

She’s having several parties, so get ready to see A Few Of My Favorite: Room Re-do’s, Tutorials, Thrifty Tips, & Blog Posts over the next week or so.

Thanks Layla for the small kick in the booty that I needed to sit down and write this round-up post.

xoxo, Allison

Tags : Lettered Cottage, Link Party, room reonvations