DIY Hair Detangler

Baby Z's hair is getting long and with it's baby fineness, it tangles easily.

When researching spray hair detanglers--it hit me--I can make my own using what I already have!

DIY Detangler:

What you need:
Empty spray bottle
Hair conditioner
Water

Directions: Squirt a small amount of conditioner in a spray bottle. Fill the rest up with water. Shake, shake, shake! Now you've got your own DIY hair detangler!

Laundry Room Makeover

Let's face the facts: Our basement is not pretty.

Our laundry area looked like a dungeon where clothing begged and pleaded not to be left alone. Doing laundry is bad enough for most folks (I secretly enjoy it), but to have to do it down there is like being in a horror film.

The before:

This is pretty embarrassing. Sorry, Mom.

After cleaning out empty bottles, scrubbing the sink, hosing down the walls (I must have killed at least 20 spiders), sewing a sink skirt and a curtain and a minor bit of painting, the place looks one hundred times better.

The cabinet on the far wall is actually from our original kitchen. I painted it and sewed a curtain using the same material that I used on the bookcase-turned-bar in our living room.

Sink skirt is sewed from three yards of muslin and held by a dowel and two over-the-door hooks.

The plant had been broken out of the pot, so I snagged this little lady for $4 from Marshall's!

Because making things cute is fun.

Cost breakdown:
3 yards of muslin from Joann = $6
1 dowel from Home Depot = $1
2 over-the-door hooks from Target = $3
1 Plant from Marshall's = $4
2 glass jars from Marshall's= $10
1 rug from Marshall's = $10
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Total Spent = $34

This area will never be glamorous, but I certainly think it looks much better, and less like a torture chamber.

Laura, in the living room, with the candlesticks

I once read from another blogger that if you are in the store and you can't stop thinking about an item, just get it (if it's in your budget). That's how it was for me with these country crackle candlesticks.

Country crackle! These would look awesome with our aqua wing back chair, which is hiding under a slipcover

 I saw these at a thrift store for $1 each and I found myself going past them multiple times. In their original 90s state, they weren't my taste, but I loved the shape. So, in my cart they went!

They reminded me of the Harrison Black Pillar Candle Holders from World Market (which would have cost me $52 + shipping).

 Found some $0.89 craft paint in my craft supplies. Three coats later ...

Looks a bit Victorian Gothic right now. We have to cottage it up.

See the midcentury bookcase bar in the reflection?

The gold mirror will need to be replaced with something less ... gold ... and preferably round. I'm still waiting to find the perfect option in our budget.

Candlesticks = $3
Black paint = $0.89
Candles = $1.50
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Total = $5.39

Bookcase Bar Makeover

Turning a bookcase into a bar is simple.

We purchased this midcentury bookcase off Craigslist for $40. It was called a china hutch, I believe. I removed the glass doors that were once it, gave it a good scrub and added a seersucker fabric that I already had to the backing.

The Threshold Bronze Stackable Wine Rack was purchased from Target for $20. We are only using one of the two racks it came with. The wine bottle basket was purchased from Marshall's for $6.

Bottom cabinets allow for storage of table linens while the little drawer stores bar accessories. 

Midcentury bookcase into a bar.

Wine bottle basket for $6 holds open bottles of wine.

Everything you need for after-dinner drinks.

Lower cabinet stores extra glasses and table linens.

See that red spot? This is why you don't store open wine on its side ...

My grandmother's gold rocks glasses.

 

Bookcase = $40
Wine rack = $20
Wine bottle basket = $6
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Total = $66

Now I just need to score a sweet deal on an ice bucket and we'll be all set!

Glider Makeover: Before and After

Gliders are an essential part of a nursery, or so I heard. For Baby Z's room, we were on a strict budget, so we had to get creative in order to add a glider to her room. Thus, a DIY glider makeover was in order.

We found this beauty, with ottoman, on Craiglist for $20, and J was kind enough to pick it up:

It  may look alright from a distance, but it was pretty stained. This is after it was washed in hot water and bleach:

Thanks to some JoAnn coupons, I was able to buy new fabric and thread for about $40 total. To keep costs down, I opted for a plain fabric on the reverse side of the cushions. 

Of course, I completely forgot to document making of the cushion covers, but this is how the final product came out:

All the cushion covers are completely removable for easy washing.

My favorite part is the little pocket on the armrest -- it's come in handy to store our tablet for late-night feedings (i.e. late-night Internet shopping) and extra pacifiers for emergencies.

For $60, I am pretty happy with how it turned out and it looks great in her room:

What sort of DIY projects did you undertake for the arrival of a new baby?