MadeByGirl

February 7, 2010

My DIY home office renovation begins.....

Below is the BEFORE pic of my home office...not so pretty huh? I also have a production studio as well, but you'll rarely see pictures of it....It's very plain & boring! For now, let's stick to my main home office (below) where I look forward to creating a PRETTIER & more presentable workspace! I truly believe it's important to have an office that INSPIRES you....& that it is why I chose to take on this project. Wish me luck!


images: Jen Ramos of Made By Girl


To be Continued...


  Are you currently renovating a space in your home? If so, which area?


February 4, 2010

My $200 wedding dress....

This may be hard to believe but, choosing my wedding dress was the easiest part of the wedding. You see, before I got engaged, I had been dreaming of getting married. (like most girls, right?) So, I had already seen this particular dress & it was saved onto my hard drive.  Well, it was saved along with 10-13 others I liked.... Anyway, I knew with the whole ECONOMY being in shambles that it probably wasn't a good idea to SPLURGE on my dress, plus that isn't my style.

Finally, I jumped on the internet (a few months before the wedding) & took a deep breath....and clicked the 'buy now' button- (the entire dress buying decision took about 5 minutes).  I know some of you women are thinking, "OH MY GOD, how could she buy her wedding dress online without even trying it on?" The answer was simple..... I had a few months till the wedding, I wasn't going to stress out about it.




Fast forward a couple weeks and my dress arrives.....a pretty off-white, size 4.  I went to try it on.... (BIG TIP: Make sure you have absolutely no makeup or lotions on while you try on your dress) ........and the dress fit! I wanted the waist to be a bit more snug so I went to Nordstroms seamstress department. They did a miracle cutting the dress open and tightening the waist about half an inch. It's a miracle because it's NOT easy working with pleats I hear!



Now, to the good stuff....My Wedding dress is by Calvin Klein & cost me a mere $200. That's right, $200! In fact, my shoes cost more.....but that's another post. Oh, & did I mention I was wearing SPANX underneath my dress?!? I highly recommend those, they definitely do their job! All in all, I'm so happy that I decided on this gown. I got so many compliments and no one would've guessed the price! My mindset has always been,'why go broke trying to look good, if you can look gorgeous for less!'

My bouquet was wrapped in a paper towel, so the water wouldn't drip all over my dress. I didn't realize how silly it looked until after I saw these pics. However, the trick works, no water on my dress!

image top: Jeannette Ramos
image bottom: Jen Ramos of Made By Girl


Ok, so what about my accessories?? My cake? My bouquet? Shoes? etc.


To Be Continued.....


Neomi of Kedvenc Otthon - Home Tour....

Neomi from Kedvenc Otthon blog (meaning 'Favorite home' in Hungarian) is opening the doors to her stylish & kid-friendly home to my readers! I love her dining area, the turquoise wallpaper accent brightens up the space along with the 2 mini chandeliers! For all of you moms out there, what do you think of an entire CHALKBOARD wall for your kids??  So cleverly done!  By the way, you can see & read more of Neomi's home in Otthon Magazine, the mag chose her home as 'favorite home of 2009'!  

Thank you Neomi for reading my blog & sharing your home in Budapest, Hungary with all of us!  

images: Neomi

February 3, 2010

Food on Etsy? that's right!

Did you know you could sell food via Etsy??  I had no idea until a few months ago!  In my mind, Etsy has always been a handmade place to shop for handmade items like artwork, handbags, clothing, paper good etc. Well, apparently that's not the case.  Yesterday, I came across The Cupcake Mint,  (and I wasn't searching for food) but,  I was really impressed! 

The food looks delicious & the fact that they have nice bright pictures helps a lot....SMART.  I instantly smelled frosting & could almost taste the dessert in the pics! Congrats to The Cupcake Mint for making food on Etsy successful! Below are some of the ones I'd love to try!

How about you, were you aware people could sell food on Etsy? Would you consider buying food on Etsy?


images: the cupcake mint


How about you, were you aware people could sell food on Etsy? Would you consider buying food on Etsy?


February 2, 2010

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching....

The first thing I think of is how grateful I am to be in a relationship!  I remember I used to hate when V-day came around & I was SINGLE.......argh! Nothing against single people, that's just how I felt!   In a relationship, you should try to make it V-Day as often as you can....very important.  I recently got married to my guy, but before that, we were together for 11 YEARS!  I'm not going to lie, it hasn't always been wonderful & romantic.....& it takes a lot of work.  

One of the things I enjoy the most in our relationship are the notes he leaves for me around the house. The note you see in this post,  he gave to me when he proposed.   In no way am I a relationship expert, but having been in one for so long, I definitely know the things that have kept us together & in love!


So for this Valentine's Day, here are a couple of suggestions: 
  • Send him/her flowers to their job
  • Make an effort to get his/her clothes ready for work once in awhile
  • Leave love notes in unexpected places
  • Send a a text message saying 'you're thinking about him/her' while he/she is at work
  • For the ladies, send a picture of you in some pretty lingerie! (This one they really like)
  • Tell him/her you love them before bed time
  • Make him/her their favorite meal/dessert before they come home 
  • Do date night every weekend, even if you don't go out, sit at home together & watch a movie.
  • Make sure to always say thank you to show your appreciation for the things they do
  • Do activities together. My husband & I do yoga together & we love it!
  • Always take time out to hold hands, talk & hug each other
  • Do little things for him/her
  • Sit with him/her while they're watching TV—even if the program doesn’t interest you.
  • Work to keep yourself in shape in every way


Is there something you do in your relationship that you believe keeps you in L-O-V-E  and together?


Amy Atlas: Valentine's Day inspiration



Is there something you do in your relationship that you believe keeps you in L-O-V-E  and together?
 

Sabbe Home Tour....

I'm delighted that Stephanie from Sabbe Interior Design blog has decided to share her home with Made By Girl!  She has an interesting decorating style as you can see from her DIY chevron wall in her living room! The black & white artwork over her mantle is engaging, don't you think?  So, what do you think of her style?  I've thought about doing a chevron wall after seeing Stephanie's home, thank you for the inspiration! Enjoy!
(Click on the photos for the super duper size)



Always trying to learn more..




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

February 1, 2010

Looking to Remodel your Kitchen??

Before remodeling, ask yourself these questions:

 "Is there anything I can do as a DIY to save money?" 
If you really feel you and your significant other (or a good friend) can install cabinets, tile, back splash or any other, then go for it. My husband installed all of our kitchen cabinets. He saved us a ton of money and we were happy with the results and the savings!  However, the one thing I wouldn't recommend installing is electrical/lighting in your kitchen. Electrical work can be dangerous so it's best to leave that job to a professional.

" Should I hire someone who quotes me a cheaper price even if they don't have a license?"
Always make sure you check references or their website before you hire a contractor. You don't want to end up with a kitchen DISASTER & then not be able to do much about it! We experienced this once, as we were short on funds and tried to save money.  BIG mistake. It turned out for the worse and we ended up having to pay double and take time off work to complete the reno ourselves! All in all, you are better protected if you hire someone who is licensed. 

 "Is my renovation realistic & within my budget?"
Always set a budget. Examine your space & make sure you plan your kitchen layout prior to hiring anyone.  Research online or at your local store for the cabinets you want. Try to choose kitchen cabinets that fit into the style of your home so your house will remain attractive to future potential buyers.

" Should I hire a contractor that has been recommended by a friend?"
I would say that you should definitely consider hiring someone that comes highly recommended by a friend. If you've seen their work before, you will have a better idea of what to expect in your renovation.

 Here are some of my FAVORITES from the House to Home UK  website.   



January 29, 2010

Upcoming DIY project - My Home Office

I've always felt that re-designing a space in your home can bring about inspiration, especially work-related.  So, that is why I've decided to revamp my home office!  After noticing so many pretty Parsons Desks on other blogs,  I decided to go for it!  I took my butt straight to West Elm & went crazy shopping.....told the salesgirl, " 2 desks, 1 lamp, 3 storage bins..." and so on!

Here is my DIY list:
  • Painting all the walls white (current color, 'Mercer' by Ralph Lauren Home)
  • Adding this Graham & Brown wallpaper to one or two walls
  • Removing the yellow and white Urban Outfitters sofa & placing it elsewhere
  • De-cluttering the walls and adding less to each area
  • Removing all shelves and keeping only a few
  • Placing more items into bins and closed storage
  • framing some of my press pages & hanging them (finally)!
I'm sure the list will be longer as I move along this DIY (home office) project.....but for now this is where I am at. For those of you who aren't familiar with my home office, you can find photos here.



images above: 
Unplggd

Enjoy the weekend! 

January 28, 2010

Plenty of LOVE to go around...

Looking for something sweeeet this Valentine's day? Maybe for yourself, your guy or your girlfriend? Below are some pretty selections to consider!  

7. dedee 
8. simag