Trip to the Habitat ReStore

As you may know, this past weekend, we did a little shopping. But it wasn't just at Target. We also made a little trip to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

We've been going here for the last few years. Not too often, just every once in a while when we want to check out the new stuff, or when we get a crazy project idea. We've picked up some bifold doors, and some flooring. Both of which we have yet to install! But they were really good deals, and we'll get to those projects eventually...

This weekend we were in search for a ceremony backdrop for the wedding. We were thinking about making an arch or an arbor, out of some rustic, solid wood doors. We want to DIY something that we can maybe use again in the backyard. Since the wedding is outside, we also thought it would be cool to have a doorway with a couple of matching doors on both sides, at the beginning of the aisle, not just at the end. Kind of like this. It's like bringing a piece of the inside, out. These doors would have worked well I think:

They were $60 each though, and before we purchased anything out of the blue, I wanted to be sure that we were for sure going to use them and that we had a clear idea for them. I wasn't sure about these. So we continued looking...

We found this archway which, if painted, would definitely be a statement piece at the end of the aisle. It might be too "grand" though, for what we're looking for.

A lot of doors I saw would work if there was a matching set. There were several single doors that I liked, hard to tell what we could do with them though...

This one was just $40. Not too bad, if we could think of a good use for it!

We thought we could also put together a ceremony backdrop with old windows. So we browsed the window section...but they were mostly newer windows. Nothing too old or vintage looking.

Then there was this. I loved this window. We could have made an awesome backdrop with it. But it was $210! Too bad. Probably because it would have been snatched up right away if it was under $100. The detail in the glass is pretty awesome.

After searching the ReStore, we still didn't end up finding anything for the backdrop. So the search continues. There were some pretty chandeliers, though. All priced around $200. Luckily we already picked up a couple at a flea market last year for a good price. These were very glamorous, though, and would all look amazing.

After our trip to the ReStore, it was clear we needed a drink. So we got these amazing and yummy margaritas at Texas Roadhouse. Oh yea, and we ate there too.

But the margaritas were definitely the highlight of the day. Even if they were bigger than my head.

In other news, I can't believe how many episodes of House Hunters have been taking place in the QC lately. Last month it was Bettendorf, and just the other day they came to Davenport! Quad Cities, represent! It doesn't happen every day, so when it does it's always quite exciting.

Props again to Haley for letting me know. I don't know how she always finds these things...

Happy April Fools Day by the way..did anyone get fooled yet today?!

Yard Work Has Begun

It's not quite summer yet, but it's been feeling and looking more and more like spring lately. So I'll take it. Sunday was still a little chilly, in the 50's and windy, but it was sunny for a majority of the day, which allowed for us to start on our first outdoor project this year: The walkway! I'm super excited to start on this and have been wanting to get it done for a while now. It will be a nice paver and rock path from the front door to the driveway. And will definitely beat walking in the dirt (sometimes mud), and through the lawn.

Trent spent a few hours getting started on it Sunday afternoon. First he outlined where the edge of the walkway would be with some stakes and string.

It starts from the front porch and wraps around, along the edge of the landscaping, to the driveway.

The grass has been patchy here for a few years now, since we walk this path everyday on the way to our cars and back. Things aren't looking that green yet either, being March still and all!

The path is about 2 1/2 feet wide in the front, and after it curves around, it's about 3 foot wide. It goes slightly down a slope, so we're planning on carving out some stair steps into the path, too.

 

After he laid out where the path would be, he tilled the ground, which really made it start to take shape. We could definitely start to envision what the new walkway would look like.

Since there's a slope on the side of the house, Trent had to level out the ground at the bottom but leave it tilted just a tad, and leave a slight hill for drainage to run down. We'll probably build some kind of additional retaining wall between the landscaping and the walk path.

Here's where the steps will be:

Trent kind of carved them out with the dirt, but our plan is to build them with rock and concrete forms. The concrete will help to hold them together and keep them sturdy.

It's really hard to capture on camera, but there would be 2 or 3 steps there, depending on how you look at it!

So we've got a start on our first outdoor project of the year. I'm pretty excited for the nice weather and to get lots of things done outside this summer.

And, while Trent was laying out the future walk path, I planted our first flowers for the garden. Since it's best to wait until April or early May (after the final frost) to plant them outside, I thought I would get a start early and plant some in containers inside. Then on nice days like we've been having this week, I'll set them out on the porch to soak up the sunlight.

I used what I already had on hand for containers. So classy, right? Styrofoam cups, filled with soil in cardboard containers. Whatever works!

I just filled all the cups, poked a hole in the bottom of each for drainage, then planted a few seeds in each cup. Then I put a teaspoon of my organic fertilizer in each one.

I didn't have very many containers, or I would have planted as many flowers as I could. But I only had 16, so all I got through was one packet of Mini Zinnias. I don't know really how "mini" these are, so it will be cool to see what they look like when they bloom!

I wish I could have planted the large ones too, but this little packet went quite a ways. The back of the packet says it only takes 5-10 days to germinate, so we could see some seedlings coming up pretty soon! Though they don't bloom for 36-60 days. So technically, we won't see any flowers probably until May or June.

In a month or so we'll transplant them into the garden out back. And plant our other seeds and bulbs. I'd like to get some more containers to start my other flowers inside, too. I'll either have to pick some up or get creative again! We'll see what happens...

Target..For All of Your Animal Decor Needs

I'm seriously obsessed with all the new spring decor at Target right now! We shopped for a little bit on Saturday, and it had been a while since I've checked out all the decor at my favorite all-stop shop. I was pleasantly surprised to see some amazing and stylish items, and lots of animal decor goodness! Let's take a brief little tour, shall we?

I was especially smitten with this gold turtle box. That's right, the top (shell) opens up and inside is a little catch-all. So adorable! If I knew what I would do with it, I'd have no problem "shelling" out $15 for it. I guess I'll have to think about it a little longer....

Maybe I was just attracted to all the hot pink items. With pink being my favorite color, there was definitely plenty of it to go around.

I was also obsessed with all the GOLD! The gold trays were especially awesome, though I do already have a similar one from World Market.

I don't know what I'd do with these bright yellow ceramic lemons, but they sure are cute.

 And then there were these...ceramic octopus tentacles. Enough said.

And - my favorite - peonies! Bright, beautiful orange ones. I need a place for these, now.

There were also so many cute jewelry holders. Like these animal-themed ring trays..how cute is that mouse? Too bad I already have a giraffe one! (Also from World Market...sensing a theme here!)

This jewelry rack was so unique though! I don't think I've seen anything like it.

One thing I'm loving about all of the Target decor this season is just how bright and colorful everything is. I always like to decorate with neutral staples, then bring in pops of color in the accessories, and Target has the prettiest colorful accessories right now! Even the candle holders are adorable. And, look, more animal themes!

If I needed a cheeky but glamorous tape dispenser, this would totally be perfection...

I was literally dying with all of the gold eye candy going on... And that gold trinket box. Swoon.

I'll leave you with some glorious Easter bunny goodness. I Instagrammed this pic over the weekend. It made me die and go to bunny decor heaven. Seriously - look at those little bunny Place card holders!

Underneath those were these candy dishes...wish I had a place for all these lovely items!

I didn't go home with anything, but there's a chance I may come back for something...something gold.. in other words, I think a gold trinket box is definitely in order for the coffee table! Don't you think?

...And More Flower Seeds!

OK, I think I have all of the flower seeds we'll need for the garden now. At least I hope. I shared the other day the flower seeds and bulbs I got to start out. Then I got to thinking, 'I don't know if this will be enough for all of our wedding centerpieces.' Granted, we'll only probably have around 25, but if I need to make similar arrangements for each table (and use the same kinds of flowers throughout), I'm a little worried I might not have enough to work with. So when we were in town yesterday, we stopped at Lowe's and I picked up some more seeds so I had a little bit more variety.

Again, each packet averaged around $1.50-$2, and the bulbs were just a little more. I picked up several more Zinnia packets, because I want at least one or two flowers that will be displayed throughout the reception. And Zinnias come in lots of pink colors, and they look large enough to fill enough of the vases. I got some of the "State Fair - Giant" variety, and then some mini ones. I also got some poppy seeds, some Sweet Williams, Carnations, and some pink pastel Achillea.

I thought I would also try some Ranunculus, because I love this flower - it says that it blooms from spring to summer, so I don't know how long that will be, or if they last until August, but I'm hoping they will! And I have no idea how many flowers will be produced from the bulbs and tubers I have. We'll see I guess. Crazy to be doing this having never planted flower seeds or bulbs before, but hey, there's a first time for everything! My latest flowers cost $20 altogether, so that brings my total flower spending to $50. If we can do everything for that, I think we're good.

In addition to the new flowers I picked up, I forgot that I also have a bag of organic garden fertilizer that I got for free at the organic farming conference I attended for work. Another thing I know nothing about, but the directions are all here, and they're supposed to make the colors of your flowers more vibrant, so I'm excited to try it out.

I got a free packet of organic Ox Eye Sunflowers, too. I don't know if those will go with the rest of our flowers, but we'll see! Looks like we'll definitely have a variety of flowers at the reception. I'm going to try to make the centerpieces look as consistent as I can, though! The decor is really important to me, and so is getting every detail just right.

Getting anxious to start getting the garden ready and planting! So when is the last frost?? That is the question! Clueless first time flower gardener right here...