Are you feeling blue?

Hopefully you are into blue!  Blue seems to be a dominant colour in Pantone's colour forceasting for  both spring 2013 and upcoming 2014. Here's how it's playing out....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObNdjYM5leZHZoQzipFifXyBt04Pb0BM1xYH765cqHR-XJrnFIViOV4z2YTprZwhs4xuHb-T-jkix5aFH3fYupn2rtGZW1EAxuIv-XnaypWYI1ufxlvhMSYDEnkzCo4TTUbs6eCwFpsHN/s1600/aae0885f88a676fbdf1c1b0d01972630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObNdjYM5leZHZoQzipFifXyBt04Pb0BM1xYH765cqHR-XJrnFIViOV4z2YTprZwhs4xuHb-T-jkix5aFH3fYupn2rtGZW1EAxuIv-XnaypWYI1ufxlvhMSYDEnkzCo4TTUbs6eCwFpsHN/s320/aae0885f88a676fbdf1c1b0d01972630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Monaco Blue (Spring 2013)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyqpqTIOGHQZply_pnTlis8PqjweWqvUUf76ZHLfOgijk5of7SdYp1czMns40NSXW4Z3JlG9lN-lZB0-A5OIjaScreTGKnOEHLG0JCrnP_SYAu0ppWQ35m7u06e9EWuslEoBXtbPm5YWa/s1600/d0094b943c86d4d83a6c3b3b31ffb0e6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyqpqTIOGHQZply_pnTlis8PqjweWqvUUf76ZHLfOgijk5of7SdYp1czMns40NSXW4Z3JlG9lN-lZB0-A5OIjaScreTGKnOEHLG0JCrnP_SYAu0ppWQ35m7u06e9EWuslEoBXtbPm5YWa/s320/d0094b943c86d4d83a6c3b3b31ffb0e6.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dazzling Blue (Spring 2014)</div><br />Two blues, but with great differences.  I can't say blue is a big favourite of mine, but I am really into Monaco blue because it is a warmer blue that is approaching navy. I don't think it is a blue that you would  catagorize as trendy. Perhaps timeless would be a better descriptor.   Dazzling Blue seems to be a colour that will not be  around for the long haul.  It is cold, quite exciting ,and lends itself well to accessorizing.   It isn't exactly a colour you snooze to.  Could you have it on a wall?  Not me, but there are those who would.   <br /><br />You could use it a little or go whole hog and saturate your space with it.  <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Welcome to the world of dazzling blue....</b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwPi19iKunuFg3h97yF4YWXQNY5yjZQLqKse9NtQeFnW5gFtto_GQFBfE-5nZA9LPX1HtZ1fmKQGrS7KQ9iwAbGzoNvIgusgGlLXqR-aq4LG3AJ9pTedkZybnJOfio9UBhVZL3E4cQ15C/s1600/4cc2179ab2f9435b3ac165578e0c6636.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwPi19iKunuFg3h97yF4YWXQNY5yjZQLqKse9NtQeFnW5gFtto_GQFBfE-5nZA9LPX1HtZ1fmKQGrS7KQ9iwAbGzoNvIgusgGlLXqR-aq4LG3AJ9pTedkZybnJOfio9UBhVZL3E4cQ15C/s640/4cc2179ab2f9435b3ac165578e0c6636.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/yvr1955/my-portuguese-azorean-roots/">source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> .... put it on the outside</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxWKcxDtlTjHpFdaID4XBmwaflzb1eoAoONJ8fXr-1M0F8bY9sMeU2nwp34ffq0mVlP7YgkUOOv2ORwB3rmYSBKETGR3fQqczMSA34R4W79XvfmP_LGe2Kwu9ZM91Ndw4GkiSZ44d_ust/s1600/8d4618d82d26d8276aa2f19cdacafbe7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxWKcxDtlTjHpFdaID4XBmwaflzb1eoAoONJ8fXr-1M0F8bY9sMeU2nwp34ffq0mVlP7YgkUOOv2ORwB3rmYSBKETGR3fQqczMSA34R4W79XvfmP_LGe2Kwu9ZM91Ndw4GkiSZ44d_ust/s400/8d4618d82d26d8276aa2f19cdacafbe7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://brabbu.com/blog/2013/11/2014-fashion-color-trends-by-pantone/">source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">on furniture or pillows...</div><br /> I really like it mixed with various grays and all that texture.  Both serve to tame it down a little.  You will notice quite a bit of colour variation in the blues above. Mixing a more vibrant dazzling blue in with "tamer" blues seems to be a good solution if you aren't into bright.  <br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yw2UuHaaPhtBgwYGUU3_ZY_ND6nhNFIXCeuqrp8o8DZV8s8f7MnQ9bb2esJJnkw6Myb2LST46EWlUMIBmcILCUeMJ0oBmUu_Vt-g5iHrjGkYPt8kahSiuQ4QaFLVlytYAsZ9yX68yK86/s1600/b89d15f6f17f788ebd466b8e155a37b7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yw2UuHaaPhtBgwYGUU3_ZY_ND6nhNFIXCeuqrp8o8DZV8s8f7MnQ9bb2esJJnkw6Myb2LST46EWlUMIBmcILCUeMJ0oBmUu_Vt-g5iHrjGkYPt8kahSiuQ4QaFLVlytYAsZ9yX68yK86/s640/b89d15f6f17f788ebd466b8e155a37b7.jpg" width="512" /> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;">on a wall.... </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Whenever I see these fresh, intense blues my mind goes to warm countries like Greece.  Since I don't live in one, it could explain why I am having trouble warming up to this selection. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKAB_mdfYD2h2YgtoG1RQ5lzQUcwcEhtmo2mBMQ_kv-d07DajDWGMq7OiF2XttENzjNBpFXwA4gVi8HZwCwgimAojVLqDxkc6CD60B0S5-qeQSVn4kGm-ajTtRea6JgA3OOA21cXuVf6j/s1600/1af4478becfe00d6af5952d68b241cc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlTqcvHBqCGL46XqiO9PACRPb38uD_C2jKAN-fuCUlZaBxgXmQH0OfU4srkzsPKDyL_JpCpsQc6jep0lWiuLB6eSlccEC6YaD7Su8spNNUvzoCOb60DfoQZm7P_ceN0vX2FmqnoDh4E4r/s1600/1d175842bee0d199a49bb5c5ba6b66ba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlTqcvHBqCGL46XqiO9PACRPb38uD_C2jKAN-fuCUlZaBxgXmQH0OfU4srkzsPKDyL_JpCpsQc6jep0lWiuLB6eSlccEC6YaD7Su8spNNUvzoCOb60DfoQZm7P_ceN0vX2FmqnoDh4E4r/s400/1d175842bee0d199a49bb5c5ba6b66ba.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.instyle-decor.com/ottomans.html#sthash.geZaKp1d.dpbs">source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">or a poof...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is a truly dazzling accent piece that could find a home in most decors. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L112C0g2g4tuZ-1FB7Kc70B76a4jtT7jf135cUbgM7PSDCRYVgA-i1oFD2UzFw6LlvnxXbZZ8jPYmAFIcglXrYUj-Vrmhq10KX2sMWEwKiS6d0OpDUsGaPmQASLndo_dGjtUS4Mm1TNE/s1600/5d87621d92fadf4c8d184d4313918a8e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5L112C0g2g4tuZ-1FB7Kc70B76a4jtT7jf135cUbgM7PSDCRYVgA-i1oFD2UzFw6LlvnxXbZZ8jPYmAFIcglXrYUj-Vrmhq10KX2sMWEwKiS6d0OpDUsGaPmQASLndo_dGjtUS4Mm1TNE/s640/5d87621d92fadf4c8d184d4313918a8e.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://sundayinbed.tumblr.com/page/2"> source</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> in glass or flowers...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXetjywhavPbpNa69uWdsHPVT82qHCfIkkzVVLZCdYRdEHTNNZMk_yO5OzFbUcwMCWEKKmLkCqjdlrusL0vs8OxTLNjHtC3mbNhidWdtgwfYkHuHkBKOvMOduuGTHIjIvx-6Lu_WXxp8A/s1600/cc4e72047967accd7a08253d47e07110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKhLSlsL_n2Une90FpfNNjkq34msJPU_zaFZzJA4fcGBvjURj15w2DFFsiFE7cURDYrPJcvSlw3-wCZiwFYczT8rsFmEW5I_AZ8iOiqR9kw_aRzTthECOnGTchcKzFmbLYvwXqdzyaSqQ/s1600/f4b253a2c4be6abbebe41fc80476d405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKhLSlsL_n2Une90FpfNNjkq34msJPU_zaFZzJA4fcGBvjURj15w2DFFsiFE7cURDYrPJcvSlw3-wCZiwFYczT8rsFmEW5I_AZ8iOiqR9kw_aRzTthECOnGTchcKzFmbLYvwXqdzyaSqQ/s400/f4b253a2c4be6abbebe41fc80476d405.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/blue/p/21">source  </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">and tile ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHwPi19iKunuFg3h97yF4YWXQNY5yjZQLqKse9NtQeFnW5gFtto_GQFBfE-5nZA9LPX1HtZ1fmKQGrS7KQ9iwAbGzoNvIgusgGlLXqR-aq4LG3AJ9pTedkZybnJOfio9UBhVZL3E4cQ15C/s1600/4cc2179ab2f9435b3ac165578e0c6636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT5eDMAbfb5iuqU38pO7lCrjdcgrA8Sgpc5A4kxFwx__RGorVJ1pqdaOQ1B4n1xhdlyGRi3vU4nG7S_n113czgpkzCrQQAdIvCCRdzcFujyYOWYYnOnp5DQYe9AdQHi2-Nn3aLkOSuFEp/s1600/8f17b23485d9840e2adfc3f2ea98705b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDT5eDMAbfb5iuqU38pO7lCrjdcgrA8Sgpc5A4kxFwx__RGorVJ1pqdaOQ1B4n1xhdlyGRi3vU4nG7S_n113czgpkzCrQQAdIvCCRdzcFujyYOWYYnOnp5DQYe9AdQHi2-Nn3aLkOSuFEp/s640/8f17b23485d9840e2adfc3f2ea98705b.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59824712@N07/5689950766">source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">on chairs ...</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpsIyvhUUYuYHfMkLOb3x_AwQiYcYAkQ0fM9Oe6QcLQ9AeJw0Jz00rWuEACn3kn1DbA3n3O9UDyCrWHigett09lqaveOq_FTJigG2Mj5UVaWAjDBU7cyHqKOkBsPRGgcZvFfimw0gmx3A/s1600/09-24-434x434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpsIyvhUUYuYHfMkLOb3x_AwQiYcYAkQ0fM9Oe6QcLQ9AeJw0Jz00rWuEACn3kn1DbA3n3O9UDyCrWHigett09lqaveOq_FTJigG2Mj5UVaWAjDBU7cyHqKOkBsPRGgcZvFfimw0gmx3A/s400/09-24-434x434.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> or bowls...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxijGLJRvRkNWJZRWPV5ZPfDI6bPF5mVeNRtphbAj6dy60d4d27mcvmZIf9Zf1b8ktcbSaL0fv-Sz7rOBDIGL5gI3Jyy-4q34_mifipXIjoovYmFnMR7ijkZNn6xKSYnaOlVOMLSotEE3/s1600/967e524c22a41d07b054731eac73d614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxijGLJRvRkNWJZRWPV5ZPfDI6bPF5mVeNRtphbAj6dy60d4d27mcvmZIf9Zf1b8ktcbSaL0fv-Sz7rOBDIGL5gI3Jyy-4q34_mifipXIjoovYmFnMR7ijkZNn6xKSYnaOlVOMLSotEE3/s400/967e524c22a41d07b054731eac73d614.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/5546892/Grand-Beach-Pillow--pillows-san-francisco"> source </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> or a pillow with lots of other fun colours.  </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuUfcEfqQ1Jtt0LLfc1D2b7fyHamIHTVEOaiFk38OOg7wfLSNUB13-tjCU4QhtajL44mMOaM0YviiH0R4zji0e-Q4PoNyH3p9h4ZOg76Ns4_0zy-KPm5eeO86rQRJU89040XH7qTgLNDW/s1600/cddf4fdc1da8f9e88c842b0fb4e24f47.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuUfcEfqQ1Jtt0LLfc1D2b7fyHamIHTVEOaiFk38OOg7wfLSNUB13-tjCU4QhtajL44mMOaM0YviiH0R4zji0e-Q4PoNyH3p9h4ZOg76Ns4_0zy-KPm5eeO86rQRJU89040XH7qTgLNDW/s320/cddf4fdc1da8f9e88c842b0fb4e24f47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/StyleSpotfall13/lisa-mende/"> source </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">And here it is with Celosia orange another Pantone selection for spring 2014. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXetjywhavPbpNa69uWdsHPVT82qHCfIkkzVVLZCdYRdEHTNNZMk_yO5OzFbUcwMCWEKKmLkCqjdlrusL0vs8OxTLNjHtC3mbNhidWdtgwfYkHuHkBKOvMOduuGTHIjIvx-6Lu_WXxp8A/s1600/cc4e72047967accd7a08253d47e07110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTXetjywhavPbpNa69uWdsHPVT82qHCfIkkzVVLZCdYRdEHTNNZMk_yO5OzFbUcwMCWEKKmLkCqjdlrusL0vs8OxTLNjHtC3mbNhidWdtgwfYkHuHkBKOvMOduuGTHIjIvx-6Lu_WXxp8A/s640/cc4e72047967accd7a08253d47e07110.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">These colours  show up on the runway too!  </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Which type of blue decorator are you?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jn3J_tkgA3mvm9zB5IvKJ8HgjYwj4Rh494aNIPU6p7q9LsuscHRnFpQiesD2GuqDghcxho4bIZE-Ij_KLGtcaW8qGeweOxyjdiI-Pz6tLH1XjL_OxDSe94ouz2gFYvEOnypXLGnylZpy/s1600/967e524c22a41d07b054731eac73d614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><br /><br />

Are you feeling blue?

Hopefully you are into blue!  Blue seems to be a dominant colour in Pantone's colour forceasting for  both spring 2013 and upcoming 2014...

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Give yourself a break

<p>So a couple weeks ago, I had one of <em>those</em> moments. I honestly don’t remember what got me so upset, but my husband had been out of town for days, I had forgotten something for the Bub’s school, I had overextended myself blog-wise and I was just feeling like a bad mom and wife in general. Just one of those days. </p> <p>I was talking to myself (I do that a lot) and lamenting all the things I had done wrong that day and really just beating myself up about it. And then I started crying (just <em>great</em>), which is not something I do often. </p> <p>So I’m standing in the middle of the bedroom, crying, and I it just hit me – I told myself (yes…out loud) to just <em>give myself a break</em>. </p> <p>My husband was gone and during the fall that was a common occurrence (he’s <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/05/bittersweet.html">retired from teaching</a> music but as busy as ever with other stuff) and you know what – like always, I was handling things by myself and doing a decent job of it. I needed to give myself a break. </p> <p>This blog is now my “job” and I love it so dang much, but there are times that it gets stressful. And then I beat myself up for even thinking that this perfectly perfect job is stressful sometimes. Like that means I’m not grateful for it. But I need to give myself a break. <em>Every</em> job has stress. </p> <p>And although I don’t feel like a bad mom often, I do hate when I don’t stay on top of things for my son. But in the end, he’s an incredibly happy, well adjusted kid. And that night he went to bed content and without a care in the world, and that is <strong>all</strong> that matters to me at the end of the day. </p> <p>I thought about all of us women – I believe the men in our lives stress just as much (you may not realize it but they do), but I think we expect every aspect of what we do to be pretty darn perfect, and our men take it a little easier on themselves. </p> <p>So, as we roll into the holiday season I wanted to remind you all to GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK. </p> <p>The past two years I’ve not had time to write out and send Christmas cards: </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UqDjNjTAXhI/UozXO7Z-2RI/AAAAAAAAjAg/7hqWoOVlMHQ/s1600-h/christmas_card_signing%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="172" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v2HgTZ6nrRQ/UozXQAJsPgI/AAAAAAAAjAo/gUYBBCc0Chk/christmas_card_signing_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="306" /></a></p> <p>It is STUPID how bad that makes me feel. Like I failed at Christmas. </p> <p>I didn’t. Santa still came. Joy was had. My friends still know we exist. :)</p> <p>I always like to hand write my cards – but this year maybe I’ll print out address labels and do the photo card. Or not. Either way, life will go on. </p> <p>I LOVE holiday traditions <strong>but </strong>they can get out of hand. There’s only so much time in the day people! So our Elf doesn’t get into crazy antics (although I enjoy seeing what he does at other houses): </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dIy6QKAoCxk/UozXQ_5QCSI/AAAAAAAAjAw/bM72FwgLnaw/s1600-h/IMG_2633_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Elf on the Shelf, my nemesis" border="0" height="480" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r4vtXO_5u4I/UozXR9cpnWI/AAAAAAAAjA0/EsjDWp0TzqA/IMG_2633_thumb%25255B1%25255D_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Elf on the Shelf, my nemesis" width="320" /></a></p> <p>And sometimes…<em>sometimes, </em>he stays in the same spot two (three!) nights in a row. Mama has stuff to do. I may not be able to pull that off this year though, the boy is getting older and smarter. (Last year was stretching it.)</p> <p>I always have grand plans for baking and cooking and trying new recipes and entertaining like a BOSS…but then the day of the party comes and I end up throwing together my <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/12/how-i-throw-christmas-party.html">cheater cookies</a> that are just as yummy and festive: </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-I0YNIxTPQ20/UozXTOjGG4I/AAAAAAAAjBA/J-DMgRkydWU/s1600-h/xmas%252520cookies%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Easiest Christmas cookies, ever" border="0" height="375" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zO2NjlHetXI/UozXUZ-lM2I/AAAAAAAAjBI/jAbV8WfdISE/xmas%252520cookies_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Easiest Christmas cookies, ever" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>And the elaborate recipe I was going to try out ends up being frozen meatballs in the slow cooker. </p> <p>But you know what? Who cares?? People are fed and it’s good. Give yourself a break. </p> <p>This is just a friendly reminder – think of me as the tiny voice in your head this holiday season. Take care of yourself. Try to take it easy. Cut yourself some slack. It will be wonderful, even if the Elf on the Shelf actually stays on the shelf. ;)</p>

Give yourself a break

So a couple weeks ago, I had one of those moments. I honestly don’t remember what got me so upset, but my husband had been out of town for ...

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Put a wheel on it

<p>Hey there! I’m back today with a super easy update that I seem to like…a lot. I started thinking about all the times I’ve made this little change to an item and they added up fast. </p> <p>I think it’s a fun detail that also adds some functionality to a piece you already have. If it needs a little something -- just do what I do…put a wheel on it. ;) </p> <p>These small castors are <em>so</em> cheap at the hardware store – I think two or three bucks for two of them. If that? You can get the plastic ones for even cheaper. </p> <p>I added them to a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/01/office-deets-and-show-off-yours.html">little shelf</a> I found at Goodwill years ago: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAO1UD_5CbPkHkCQMYxkXmzqA8YUZ7YssKGSqGkZCPfzewmt45X3DSfQmPK1zkloO2ZS9qGX729446PYBJCA1LtNsf5kh3dB64mw4RrUdnGM8velbHCJRXQ8kwI7TVs_bUSUYXvvNi5lc/s1600-h/IMG_9699_thumb%25255B1%25255D%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img alt="book caddy" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghoWIRNuX5RzxznVpXdSJPzG1maq6dubEnmbXW7UkwX21QLt-YDn2ZbNDAmcU723NDZK8iqpcIqlEnJ2ygAYnEumP9UnqA3L5WoB64E8yv2i3VkVspERe11gxiwVM2T7u7hh2ybY7c0M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="book caddy" width="400" /></a></p> <p>It’s easy to wheel it around wherever and they add a bit of height to something that may be too short otherwise. </p> <p>I got an inexpensive ottoman for our basement last year that was super functional (there’s storage space inside): </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYGjH3PIXO0DOoD4sbS8vlpxfR9NPFWgR_wGPyrUgP-kdpkrE0BPfQ1ODpWBHTHjMIXZc0HJKG5bam75tQzH0INe8-A6eENhrc4reBzDTDsoRXcUtyZBj3M-SzVc55OKE86w6OYALBAk/s1600-h/IMG_7352%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="ottoman with storage" border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44GJTO__9kZ25NTuRQD0QW6sZjL70vc5XkrlZ8BDrF-wd6a3dbUVrP5chnABNJaB8CNFlKjIvSYrb6CYrYI1rNeIb40t-sOBIp2MPTSMjbN3DNUiWlzqKtBaEoAxu-fZBUl6DCncqPbU/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="ottoman with storage" width="550" /></a></p> <p>But I wanted to be able to move it out of the way easily, so I picked up four of the slightly larger castors and screwed them into the bottom: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7iaDNogjtqhaP_O-7Lnjhgbc2Ojx4RjM0TO5-8v7q9V67Zg4NevyWiRsG6zd8trG47lsAsGSfpd8LjOZb4njhIzsoYYcvYJZPtX46ewOyZpUUo8ltKnWaogVXz1MRDcC8Y4dxKNjV-I/s1600-h/IMG_7359%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="adding wheels to furniture" border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2mOn4X8uY66oLLCNMrI_i4bvajWz6G5J3JY04joFUJVCmdcr-Zow3yK_AFSiSJe-NXntKSyJp5phYAzBbyI0tZr8WCNp5DKZVcXH1-NvCR_LyHS01rHD554gPfSd0qCkUwGtxc_Cmrv8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="adding wheels to furniture" width="400" /></a></p> <p>I love the copper color on those. :) They come in this copper color and brass. I think silver too? </p> <p>Awhile back I added them to the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/10/coffee-table-redo.html">coffee table</a> in the family room so we could push it around if needed: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_Q0Wx1-dr4ww6javyCT9E5ZxnvLV-LggG3IFHofcuZwAsma0-BfhsO6US9pX5-9RA3ddU8s8E5WfsPiX41wkvSx8eBJbzZ0YwJDY2EZHQu0X0cn6gmL1Z4iAKkfvCEbbzKrH3-OzmzE/s1600-h/IMG_3255_thumb%25255B4%25255D%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="bold graphic rug" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtJXvRlbgKZ8NMgT2COYz3Z9FbCknML_U7oBvJjEMSChae74eDia4aNXveoODkyi62gu7MHi620pJMjF3RBUr9wUEzgcaPzoWvYhWFO-AosdTr3w1Cm9JzHlTYfbks5QmqUxfRIhFbBs/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="bold graphic rug" width="500" /></a></p> <p>Still can’t believe the difference a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/new-family-room-rug.html">new rug</a> made in there. ;) </p> <p>I’ve been thinking about adding them to my next victim for awhile. A couple years ago I made over a <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2011/11/well-hello-hope-you-had-fantastic.html">clearanced caddy</a> for the kiddo’s markers and crayons in my office: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWLOIU7BhI2MN1I_7CcygAFSLKTUZD1Dcpshv3w8fim8_iVk17JM9ZDYr2hLTx_qsIarZTKVRdMTjfqgaB2eimJxkoRmmhE02zyUMdABQopIFH1t9s9sYdh8qHwymaHxUsL7G50IVkew/s1600-h/IMG_8203_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="art caddy" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttEO6Zj0mJnmr5YPGFVQdOXgyvzwuM0-atUTHKZP84a1axEctDLMhpFs4A1nfOmZscE0p8AsQytlYn0Y3lkZ9CdFvg9J1xj_s23pyVn2VOhPZH7XC6q7p-Zt4UQYoEnIN-HeTtv0QpK0/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="art caddy" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I wanted to add wheels to this too, but it was really deep underneath (the bottom wasn’t flush), so I didn’t do it back then because I’d have to add some wood to make them work. (I thought the wheels would have looked awkward because they would be so deep underneath there.) </p> <p>Well, my wheel obsession continues and I decided to make the little update to this finally. The bonus was that I found four wheels in the <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/11/most-epic-clean-out-ever.html">garage clean out</a>, so it didn’t cost me anything! </p> <p>I emptied it out (this also gave me a good reason to go through the markers that seem to multiply) and measured the length I needed for the scrap wood: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuev4-tABLhFERY_2oOkB5eDx_FBrHeGc2IOnrnj2-PWmQbAlG1iBfrFpbzEyfDCFtGr95ZjSiCzT00h6XBZFzzYJ0rFDOX0fnMM9Bp50Lwu07GaFircJdHJO6XCUNsL7QDdorEiQD38/s1600-h/IMG_7330%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><font color="#4c4c4c"></font><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDSn6jWrHkCW1UDq09GbvADvGtGTVQaGRsyDKauIy3GIxNC4Sz1fDV3fk0V8aXdkT2YPDsAnpXPehUSVrKzKV11reLHU8gO0HzB7B8bK1N4mw0eQJqyGjKJURyeuxRqOxtmHoX_rBnnY/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>See how deep that is? That’s why I wanted to make it more flush on the bottom. And yes, there’s a cat in there. There’s always a cat.</p> <p>See the paws? </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6rEH6tkykuQB-LhIaHEaox0E_6XDhwuS3bCc7VnxEJ15FviSs4Ibx67FT6hSd9iwc2DWvhadIdh2Be5HSgYTA-CVSJgJq7xdsl5X2nlSWXcBz4sbBQ-zCmV9D2GZ4O7AomNYMho_1qQ/s1600-h/IMG_7334%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJwx9kEwFEG4D0wRtAVIeYhIffP8EnYhQdkxPHTb9Kd70TBQhjd7cgqXquP_NBK7O_QIFtfsL2rJRIep7qpRF4BaEtyX5IEEIoJ-asJobNy4Krfh0XMYl1g9Vz1kNrbNgOsKTNwZYZs4/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>He likes to “help.” </p> <p>So anyway, I cut down the wood and just used wood glue to secure it to the bottom: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg94nzXKbKo-Zpyx2o-cGyiaqF073PInF-GDZ61DqeoJltFOEg_aNqlVjKJIIBrI_bWTxV7xEbXo7H4N0o8CDIullpBoJ5AzAK9ayic0ppNQE2Tf28gryii6-Ay_m8_7AWqr0MF-7WEXlw/s1600-h/IMG_7336%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQOmrAwR7tG1uPkKeY89shXfF0PPN-cW_0po6qupS87g9NFa-r4TUXzrDQf4MwxHF1ruuH8KqE9RkUEtQG9zKnB1MShhxh27MQKb1XS2OzHsTWKGxs0Pd85Bo10Lc7VWmsv_suTMncrIw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="500" /></a></p> <p>I could have used a nail gun but I didn’t feel like dragging it out and I didn’t want to risk the nails to come up through the bottom of the caddy. I couldn't tell how thick that bottom shelf was. </p> <p>Not helping: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqjVtBnP212dBKymK4sZL_sMLIFX5vvh_oPV9QL2CQA0u19FIkSFbaifkAGpb-BLKCNvG7sQdp5FIoq6JFQerX-YQugHJIneikVxses8lsU7GrQSVa_McY9t1S-EKEI1CKTH08EGbLwx8/s1600-h/IMG_7338%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="675" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTr2ahyphenhyphenQyiQhk7GGuXI2omk9IMjoEq68xohAl-HxdmQIeAwkbAAs04v0Cz9aqNtoX109WxGEHVnSUOsPWRdDEs_uYgd9GpcMiLAb1PBR9pszKR7xhH3ahCNNc0JroWlkZDpS7L8YViYw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="" width="450" /></a></p> <p>And yes, there were <strong>a lot</strong> of markers in there. </p> <p>Here’s the little castors I used: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNXwssl_0DAoA5EveSbUCc8vcVMsmnXQaK-oKkitImuRFHYBEQrxxVUSyEhQ4EHPs3cLUhxePvE-nKRXugqmIakUKPIpKMslGBC7_-DpPo_A43T1fnkbtf6qgBIu0GSMNbnh7Bwp5VUM/s1600-h/IMG_7339%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="castors " border="0" height="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOEnzRcMBT5LCoUOnYPc-35Pw2JR8Wp3RP9DdKVDmJiiLHQWtaKOR0DhvHKT9p5RiPDtKsUjj-VxOjiNrJEdjWR__G3BRcf5hHb0RVNJWS8pto3ZmE3YSJo9u8OHIyektaKHb5IHTp5c/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="castors " width="455" /></a></p> <p>They have more of an antique brass finish. Love it. </p> <p>You’ll want to make sure the spacing is fairly equal when you install – I just eyeballed them: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u2oVsLJzSRcanQ7cstBV-H__TC5SSlXZ6Ke9kSGyTS7cI3G4WDJO8FuZBHunlaKz7B_CKZw-nsYToJi9ctuCvqjoY4x01vX5GQn0rqAkkcM7wSgZCfgu2Halo_9VKixeA_uzbx9fJtA/s1600-h/IMG_7340%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Adding wheels" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYt7HSdNSr_eT8W2YSquU42pzlA6yXqHDO1-ZQLhKa4bpkzNZDwneNusTWGTWNdNE2o-NCjQVHDLCcOCePUImlr7gxbD96L75cu8QhlCbae9CtXhmiaPthBXFP2TlKRDNG3MAmUEUql9Y/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Adding wheels" width="500" /></a></p> <p>And that’s it! You just want to make sure you have some kind of wood for them to screw in to. If there’s not you can always add some scrap like I did to make it more secure:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP_ij1NU9Ap2aabtF_-3oLKc785l92DoXmuQ5QXKS5ec-4vOhzR4mK9mvX_Q9TWwThMF9jckS0ldTFl2GvYersQGEx2jfBg0QrkC_e0Y4sj2zpKhAbxA-_eJ3JKR-eKIO3e-qMPq4Qsk/s1600-h/IMG_7346%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft caddy" border="0" height="783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaY2JbT8av6A23OAHLYYM_ASVZ2Jo8NsjQvUk5AFkxF8qw6Pm-oHIHauLXRxJGfuujnJwuxe-bATStzwFdRhNxX68jJnd0FKk340hj8GeCxxoJjMvL3AZpdZ0DvaYIqseZOgeg-FyiT-U/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft caddy" width="479" /></a></p> <p>If you don’t have to mess with adding wood or anything it should only take you ten minutes or so to install the wheels. Or 30 if you have a cat helping. </p> <p>There are also locking castors so you can secure something you don’t want floating around the place. :) </p> <p>Now we can easily roll the caddy around my office: </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAl8cITRPaJsV23REXr1x6nw_LP-wMWLy0Hdd2DiCNr072GmjO31YXf58I25u8c-zwBYBrzc381guVeapIc6uW8aGt_X2FC9Eubvm8cv7L2x1rIlvANCcIxRLwPZZo_52bjyEj1e8R54/s1600-h/IMG_7347%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img alt="craft caddy with wheels" border="0" height="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL6a6wdcRteRw2N2ZIgifEQbENkoZOcv-Ldxa3UGQkWRSk9_PITt7962RJsUBVY9WycyZGW1RWQ2lCsfr0LNMIiUiA-rnznEXEPg1QM5fsqOtfAFSzjfIF_iw61ylhOWEbq3JvhNI7bN8/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="craft caddy with wheels" width="500" /></a></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Or take it all the way to the kitchen table for projects. This thing is heavy so being able to wheel it around is helpful. </p> <p>Cute eh? I think it’s a fun little detail. I’m always looking for ways to make store-bought pieces more unique and this does it. Do you ever do this in your home? It’s such an easy and cheap project!</p> <p>P.S. If a wheel doesn’t work you could always <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo">put a bird on it</a>. </p>

Put a wheel on it

Hey there! I’m back today with a super easy update that I seem to like…a lot. I started thinking about all the times I’ve made this little c...

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