The Simple Solution For Ruined Chairs

When we first purchased our house, I was going through a very gray phase. I had seen some cool homes that were very monotone and I liked the idea of purchasing neutral furniture so that I could add any color through my decorating. I figured, if I had gray furniture, I could add some colorful rugs, throws, pillows, etc. and swap them out for the seasons. But I mean… everything I got was gray. And I mean EVERYTHING. Couches, chairs, curtains, even the wall colors! It was never-ending and earned my home the nickname “50 Shades of Gray”. I couldn’t even be mad at that nickname… I’d earned it and within just a couple of months, I started to hate all the gray in my home. 

I sat there for 3 years, dreaming of a day when we could re-decorate. Getting all new furniture wasn’t in the plans so I just had to wait. In the meantime, I loathed my home and my furniture, especially my dining chairs. You see, we have 3 cats who were very well behaved in our apartment. They never scratched anything. However, as soon as we moved into our home, they decided they loved to scratch. Their top choice? My brand new (very grey) dining chairs. Within a few months, they went from pretty, fancy-ish chairs to destructed Western chic. My cats had shredded the edges which looked like bad fringe. Some of the chairs even had the foam sticking out! 

Once again, I planned for a day when I could replace the chairs I had JUST spent several hundred dollars buying. And every time I would walk by that table, I would think about it. One day, I was perusing Amazon for a couch cover since our dog Lexie had been getting our (gray) couch super stinky, and that’s when I stumbled upon these awesome chair covers. I was so excited- I could get new chairs, without having to buy new chairs?! WHAT?!! The price was right, the style was perfect, and now I just needed to pick a color. 

Oh, I forgot to mention the reason why my house was gray. You see, I went through a period where I was afraid I’d regret picking something in a specific color. I vividly remember it starting one time in college. I was trying to figure out which awesome iPod nano color I wanted, only to settle on the gray one because I was too afraid I’d end up regretting the blue. It only got worse from there, as I always picked a neutral color from then on. It was almost a way that I hid myself and my childish nature. The truth was that I loved colors, I just lacked the confidence to pick one.

Fast forward to the chair covers. I didn’t know which way to go. Did I choose gray again? But ugh… how about aqua blue, like the rest of our home? Meh. White? Taupe? Nothing in my house is taupe. So, I bookmarked it and put it aside for later. Here’s the thing- these chair covers are easily removable and affordable. So you know what I did? I BOUGHT THE FREAKIN PINK ONES. I thought they were so pretty and I imagined my husband being annoyed but I did it anyway. I figured, worst case, I can buy another set later to replace it with. I thought the pink would be SO cute with all my holiday decor!

When the covers first arrived my husband was a little confused by the pink. But, once they were on, he said that it already looked so much better than before. No longer did we have shredded chairs that informed everyone that came to our door that we had 3 naughty cats. Instead, we were classy folks again.

These chair covers are machine washable, easy to put on, and come in so many colors. They’re really affordable (about $8/chair) and so soft! I no longer have to worry about guests coming over and dripping on the chairs, or having Hailey wandering around with her sticky fingers. If a cat lays down on the chair and covers it in fur? Eh, that’s ok too! I feel like I not only got a new look for my dining room, but I got some peace of mind too. If one cover gets horribly ruined, I can replace it. Much cheaper than if a chair gets ruined!

I love our “new” dining room now. I’ve been covering our black Ikea table (that I also hate!) with a sequin tablecloth which is breaking up some of the darkness over there too. Slowly but surely, I am making changes to our home with a small budget. Although I may dream of having my amazing, Pinterest-worthy home some day, I can make small steps to improving the one I have. I guess from seeing everyone overhauling their furniture regularly, it made me feel like that was the only way to get a new look. Turns out, I could find my own way. A much more affordable way ;)

PS- You can find the DIY table runner here and the floral pumpkin DIY here!

I do plan to go back and smooth out some of those wrinkles, since I think I pulled them down a little too much which left a bunch of excess at the bottom. But overall, I’m SO happy with how they look! And, I love that I can give my living room a new look with ease.

So what do you think of these chair covers? Will you be getting a set for your chairs? They’re honestly great for cat owners and parents!

DIY Mean Girls Tote Bag

It’s Mean Girls Day! In case you’re wondering why today of all days is Mean Girls day, it’s because of this scene. As a total Mean Girls fan myself, I couldn’t let this day pass by without doing a fun DIY project! It’s so fetch. Before we begin, I want to encourage you to see what I did last year, because even with a 5 day old baby, I had to celebrate! How cute was teeny tiny nose-picking Hailey?! I can’t handle it.

I created not one, but FOUR different Mean Girls quotes that you can put on a bag! This project is perfect because you can carry these bags all year long to show off your love for Mean Girls. You can do pretty much any quote you want to, but I picked four of the more iconic ones. And I made a template so it’s super easy for you to do it, too!

*This post contains affiliate links.

You will need:

Pink tote bags (here)
White iron on vinyl (here)
Cricut (here)
Standard grip mat (here)
Cricut tools (here)
Iron (similar here)
Cut template ( this link or this link)

Directions:

1. You have two options for the template, for a total of 4 quotes. To see them, go to this link or this link for your cut files.

2. Load your vinyl and cut the quote(s) for your tote. For a more in-depth post on how to cut iron-on vinyl, go to this post for the full directions. Don’t forget to mirror them!

3. Weed your vinyl to remove the excess. Do this carefully so you don’t end up ruining any of your letters.

4. Center the decal, then iron it onto your bag. Make sure you wait for it to cool completely before trying to peel it!

Now, go shop til you drop with your new totes! Or, give them as a gift to a fellow Mean Girls lover with a bottle of Rosé inside and a pack of popcorn. Pop in a copy of the DVD if you don’t think they have it! Also, be sure to go watch Mean Girls on this most joyous of holidays. It’s the grool thing to do.

Pink Disco Ball New Year's Eve Party

I absolutely love disco balls, glitter and sequins, so it’s no surprise that New Year’s Eve is one of my FAVORITE parties to plan for. It’s the one time of year that you can dress up in glitzy glam from head to toe, and not seem like a weirdo. Last year, I left my New Year’s plans to the very last minute, and ran to my local dollar store to grab some items. While it came out really cute in the end, this year I wanted to plan it out a whole lot more. I wanted it to be PINK. And SHINY. AND DISCO BALLS. Gimme allllll the disco balls! And, since Christmas can be super pricey (goodbye, money!) I wanted this party to be affordable. So, I ran around my house and collected a few items, while also investing in some pieces I can use again and again. I have to say I’m really happy with the results. Can I live in this party permanently?!

Since this party has a whoooole lot of stuff going on, I wanted to make it easy to get a list of all the supplies. It's all here in this excel sheet, right down to the confetti! You'll know exactly what I used and how much to order, in case you want to re-create the party, or to purchase a specific item. It'll come straight to your inbox in just minutes!

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future! 

To dress up your party, opt for an elegant white tablecloth instead of the usual plastic ones. This one is made of polyester and resists stains, so it’s perfect for popping it in the washer after the party is done! It’s also affordable too, just in case you end up with stubborn stains that just won’t come out. 

Every New Year's Eve party needs as much sparkle as possible! These glasses are dressed up with some basic and inexpensive star wire, and I think they’re so worth it! Because pink + tinsel + champagne = perfection. Top them with a disco ball stirrer and you’re in business, baby!

For a fun party favor your guests are sure to love, grab a pack of disco ball cups! I have one I got on a Carnival cruise a few years back and I use it at almost every party I throw. It's the BEST for using on New Year's Eve!

For the table setup, I grabbed a bunch of white and pink items, and created a disco ball table runner! It was super easy, since all I had to do was scatter some disco balls down the center.

I also set up a bar in the corner to hold all our supplies. It acted as both a champagne bar and a confetti bar! All I had in this corner was a black desk, so I covered it up with a giant silver sequin tablecloth and some pink velvet to match the theme.

I also wanted to create a little "lounge" area, so I gathered some ottomans and pillows to make it comfy. I set everything up in the corner, and added a small table for everyone to set their drinks on. My zebra tray was the perfect addition. This little lounge didn't cost any money and looked super cute!

These balloon animal dogs got to make their debut once again. They make me so happy.

While we were ready to party the night away, Roger snuck in and explored before having a rest under the table. Maybe he was impersonating the zebra so he wouldn't be seen?!

Woohoo! And just like that, another year came and went. It's past New Year's Eve now, but if you're itching to have this party, I think it would make a great birthday party, bachelorette party, or even a Valentine's Day party! Be sure to request the excel sheet now, so you can get the full list of supplies in a handy excel sheet!

The printable is available in my resource library, which you can get totally FREE access to, just by signing up. What exactly do you get? Access to all my printables, including party planning guides, checklists, and my projects. By signing up, you'll have access to all projects- past, present and future! 

Gift Guide for the Barbie Girl

Are you a Barbie girl, in the normal world? It's a pretty dull place to be, when your head is full of dreams for pink homes, great fashion, and trendy accessories. Alas, there is a way to bring your Barbie World love back into the normal world. And that's by grabbing as many pink items as you can!

1. Sneakers 2. Makeup Brushes 3. Barbie Necklace 4. Barbie Backpack 5. Pink Sunglasses 6. Barbie Purse 7. Pink VW Beatle 8. Lip Stickers 9. Dog Bone Bowls 10. Pink Glitter 11. Dog House 12. Fling Tumbler 13. Bow Heels 14. Pink Planner 15. Heart Hangers

Sneakers- We all know Barbie loved her shoes. Unfortunately, she usually did it Cinderella-style, because we somehow managed to lose one them. With these sneakers, it's almost as if you found those missing doll shoes. Plus, this counts as wearing heels, right?

Makeup Brushes- Barbie wore a lot of makeup over the years. With these brushes, you can have that flawless look too! They’re perfecting for trying out the newest trends. I don't know how well they work, but they sure are pretty! 

Barbie Necklace- Since nameplates and Barbie were all the rage when I was younger, this seems like the best of both worlds. Wear it when you need a pop of color, to show your affiliation with the Barbie brand, or to convince creepy bar guys that your name really is Barbie.

Barbie Backpack- A teeny pink Barbie backpack to hold all your cool essentials. I remember the days when tiny backpacks were the “in” thing. They need to make a comeback! We don't need half the things we carry in our oversized purses. Who do I talk to about this?!

Pink Sunglasses- These sunglasses are so ridiculous to me because they really remind me of the cheap plastic sunglasses that came with Barbies in the 2000’s, and I love it. I had several pairs of sunglasses with funky colored lenses, and I wore them until they weren’t cool anymore. Ah, the good old days.

Barbie Purse- for those of you that aren't willing to embrace the tiny backpack trend, try this purse! It’ll hold all your essentials, and then some. It’s got a girly shape and sporty stripes, so it’ll match with any outfit, plus it adds a pop of color!

VW Beatle- I think Barbie cemented our tweenage desire to own a VW beetle. This car was THE car to own back in the days. Now you can commemorate it and enjoy the beetle without, you know, having to drive it everywhere. 

Lip Stickers- Barbie is known for her iconic pink lips, and now you can be, too! Just place these stickers on everything and everyone you interact with and they'll be sure to remember you. 

Dog Bone Bowls- What else would your purse pooch eat from? This has one bowl for food, one for water, and one very cute bone-shaped tray to keep your floors clean. Because although Princess is adorable, she’s pretty sloppy sometimes.

Pink Glitter- Everything is better when it's covered in pink glitter. That is a fact! Use this pink glitter to add a little sparkle to note cards, tea light holders, and just about anything, really.

Dog House- Barbie has had lots of pets in her lifetime, but I imagine her favorite must have been some sort of small puppy. With this, your pampered pooch can have her own Barbie Dream House. Dream car not included.

Fling Tumbler- since Barbie is getting married to Ken every few years, I bet she would love this tumbler. She puts the Kardashians to shame with the sheer quantity of weddings she’s had. Oh Barbie… never a bridesmaid, always a bride.

Bow Heels- Barbie loves her heels, and so do we! They’re pink and have a bow, which is all you need in my book. Plus they’re Kate Spade! I mean, if Barbie could walk in heels with her disproportionate body, you can too, right?

Pink Planner- This planner is perfect for jotting down all your hopes and dreams, like Barbie and her very many career paths. I feel like if Barbie taught us anything it’s that you can have any job you set your mind to, and look damn good doing it!

Heart Hangers- These hangers are amazing because they remind me of some doll ones that I had way back in the day. Barbie would clearly hang her clothes on these! It might be a little much to get a whole closet full of these (or not) but I think hanging your party clothes on it would be a perfect use for them.

So which one of these items do you like the best? Do you have any items you own that stem from your Barbie collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Painted Corkboard and Barbie Push Pins

I have a sliiight obsession with desk items. I've got a whole bunch of pens, some cute tape dispensers, and even a cute felt cactus on my desk. Hoarder is one word that can be used to describe me, but I prefer collector. Luckily the differentiator between a hoarder and a collector is how your items are presented and stored. As long as it's neat, there's nothing to worry about, right? 

I tend to hold onto papers and fortune cookie fortunes that are all too relatable, so I needed somewhere to keep them where I could actually see and use them. In addition, I wanted to have it be something really fun! In what is one of my easiest tutorials to date, I'll show you how to make your very own painted cork board and Barbie push pins!

You will need:

Corkboard/magnetic whiteboard combo (here)
Small magnets (here)
thumbtacks (I used gold, but these are nice too!)
E6000 glue (here)
pink paint
toothpick
painters tape (here)
Barbie Shoes (authentic vintage ones from Ebay, or similar here)

Directions:

1. Tape off the sides of the corkboard.

2. Paint the corkboard pink. I used Martha Stewart Satin Paint in Pink Dahlia.

4. Peel off the tape while the paint is still kinda wet. Touch up the paint and use a toothpick to remove any extra paint from sides.

5. Space out your magnets on the whiteboard and place a small glob of glue on each. Let cure for 2 minutes (or according to instructions) then place the shoe onto it. Hold for 30 seconds, then let dry for 24-48 hours. Please note that not all whiteboards are magnetic, so make sure you find one that is!

 I did the opposite for all the thumbtacks, putting a small glob of glue onto the shoe itself, then placing a thumbtack on after it cured. Hold for 30 seconds, then let dry for 24-48 hours.

Related: Barbie Shoes Tote Bag

Now, gather up all your cutest photos and postcards, and hang them up!

You can also scribble notes on your whiteboard, like dinner dates and brunches with friends!

If you want more Barbie fun, be sure to check out my Barbie Shoes Tote Bag and Gift Guide for the Barbie Girl!

I know I'm way too old for this, but I still really love Barbies. I peruse the doll aisle at Target every once in a while to see what they have. This cork board is a fun and nostalgic way to show off your Barbie love. So what do you think, will you be making one of these for your desk? Did you love Barbies as a kid, or were you over her faster than you can say "Barbie Dream House"? Do you still have a soft spot for her? Let me know in the comments below!