Well, Poop.

Rat poop that is. And rat poop only means one thing – rats. I realize that I have yet to dive into my rat saga here in blogland. A saga that deserves it’s very own blog post but believe me when I say that the saga is not over. I started today with the simple goal of hanging a single air plant in the corner of my laundry room. An air plant that, when all was said and done, I don’t even like in the corner of my laundry room. I went for my trusty drill and started drilling a hole. There was the usual mess: dust and dirt, but then there was something else. A literal shower of rat shit rained down upon me (and all over my clothes hamper I might add). I stood there for a moment in disbelief before I quickly cleaned it up as this is just the sort of thing my cats would love to make an even bigger mess out of. As I walked from the laundry room to the shower I became angrier and angrier with each step that these evil varmits had once again penetrated my walls and were back. Then, as if the rat shit shower was the final straw, the floodgates opened. As I stood in the shower furiously scrubbing hantavirus off of me, I sobbed. I cried tears for the return of the rats but also for everything else that has (or hasn’t) been going on in my life lately and I thought, “Why can’t this girl catch. a. break. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!” What did I do in a previous life to anger the gods so badly!? Once the crying started to subside I tried to think of what someone’s encouraging words might be to me in a situation like this, you know, to pump myself up a bit. All I could think of is what I’ve heard so many times before…”Yes, but you have a house.” And then I started to cry again. You think I don’t know I have a house?! I am aware. Thank you. As a matter of fact, me having a house is the whole reason for this pep talk you are giving me in which are telling me I have a house. Please. Don’t remind me. I digress, but you get the point. Sometimes I just feel like this house is getting the best of me.

I’m sure all of this will look so much better in tomorrow’s light but today it just feels, well…shitty.

Within These Walls // Valentine Decor

It’s been pretty quiet here on the blog lately and to the 3.1 people that actually read this, I apologize. There has been way too much going on lately to manage but I think I’m finally getting it under control and I’m back with some blog content I’ve been wanting to post for a while now – Valentine decorations! Despite the chaos I actually got around to crafting/decorating for the holiday a couple weeks in advance so I was able to enjoy it. I just focused on my mantel this year and it seemed to be the perfect amount of decor and color.

I made some garlands with my red and white baker’s twine and of course, gold. Have I mentioned here yet that I love gold glitter? Because I do. Can’t. Get. Enough. For the “LOVE” garland I just cut the letters out of the card stock and did a couple layers of Mod Podge and gold glitter. Once that was dry I flipped them over and hot glued the twine to the back.

I swear that mantel is going to get finished soon. Ugh.

The heart garland took a little more planning as I had to cut the heart shapes out of Sculpey and then bake. I think this might be my first successful Sculpey project ever. So, pretty excited about that… I had seen this garland a while back and decided it would be fun to make the perfect V-day decor with hearts instead.

The little pennant flags were so easy to make and ended up being my Superbowl craft. I just cut the triangles and hearts out of felt and blanket stitched the heart on the pennant. While I was doing that the skewers I painted gold were drying and once everything was sewn and dry I cut two tiny holes in the flag and put it on the skewer. I think they look so cute waving out from little house plants.

The piñata was made at the Craft with the Bloggers event held at Crafted. My friend Liv and I went and had a great time making Valentine’s goodies. I wish it hung a little better from my dear deer but it works nonetheless.

I hope you and your loved ones are having a fabulous day filled with lots of X’s and O’s. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Inspiration // Escaping With All White

I may or may not be dealing with a ladybug infestation that I discovered last night. Seriously, who does that happen to?! Only in this house, I swear. So in order to not deal with the multiplying ladybug situation that is currently wreaking havoc in my kitchen I thought I’d mentally escape to some seriously dreamy rooms. It’s no secret around here that I love all white interiors and the more texture the better. I did a little Pinterest round-up and found these gems. I would happily move into anyone of them. I wonder if any of these rooms have ever seen a ladybug. Probably not.

ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE // SIX // SEVEN // EIGHT

I love how these interiors instantly calm me. Does white have the same affect on you? I’ll keep you posted on those mangy ladybugs.

Latest Obsession // Tiny Houses

My house came with a backyard. A really big, ugly backyard. I love that I have it, I’m just at a complete loss as to what to do with it. Well, that’s not entirely true. In a perfect world I know exactly what I would do but I live here, in this world, without enough money to so much as buy a plant, let alone an entire backyard of plants.

The one thing I want more than anything is a tiny house. I would use it as a backyard retreat and guest house and it would be wonderful. My mom sent me a link to this blog today and I think it might be the most perfect tiny house that ever was.

I of course love it because it’s all white. It feels so clean – I’m not sure why my white house looks a bit more dingy but that’s for another blog post.

It seems like so many people are converting sheds into tiny backyard houses these days, which seems like the more cost effective approach but when all is said and done, I wonder if it really is. Does anyone have any experience with this? These two from Costco seem like they would be great options but are very tiny. It would be nice for guests to not open the door and already be in bed.

// The Aston

// The Everton

These two are absolutely insane. Like someone crawled into my head and stole my tiny house dreams.

// Images via

This seems like a great source if you have a bit more cash to throw around. I would kill for one of these. Kill.

I get really excited about converting a shed and all reason and sensibility goes out the door. I think about the prices of the Costco sheds and feel as though I could TOTALLY save my money or do some extra freelance and afford it. But then I think that it needs electricity and insulation and then probably drywall and then paint and light fixtures and all of my dreams die.

Maybe one day.

Maybe one day my backyard won’t look like someone is squatting in it (I didn’t show you the picture with the discarded sink). I was sure HGTV would be knocking down my door to offer me a fabulous backyard makeover, complete with tiny house, but no word yet. I’m here HGTV. Waiting…

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SOLE DWELLING

Well, Poop.

Within These Walls // Valentine Decor

Inspiration // Escaping With All White

Latest Obsession // Tiny Houses

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