2012 Top Posts

Wow! What an awesome year, y'all!! 

By far, the best part of my year was the arrival of Boog Boog.

 

Even though she decided to make her appearance well remembered, it was well worth it. 

Now, on to the top posts of 2012.....drum roll, please........

The #3 Post:

Thrifty Christmas Decorations

Most of my Christmas decorations are either made by me or purchased from Goodwill, thrift stores, or after Christmas sales. You can read all about my decorations here. You can also go here for all my posts about Christmas!

The #2 Post: 

Kitchen Reveal

My husband and I bought a 1960s brick rancher foreclosure in 2011. The kitchen got a total overhaul and was finally complete in 2012! You can read all about the total makeover here.

And the #1 Post:

Built-In Bathroom Shelving

 

My bathroom needed some extra storage, so built in shelving was the answer. These were simple and fast to make. Read all about them here.

There is much more to read about each post via the links included! These summaries here are just the tip of the iceberg, y'all! 

What were your best of 2012s??!!

Coke Crate Tie Holder

I wanted to share with you guys how we store my husband's ties. 

It's very simple, decorative, and creative!

 

  We use old Coke crates!

I must admit, this was not our idea. A friend of ours uses this method and showed us. 

That Ponder is a genius. But, don't tell him I said that! 

As you can see, he also uses it for his belts. 

How does your hubby store his ties?

Liebster Blog Award!!!

Katie, over at Fun Home Things, has nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award! I am so pumped!

If you don't know what the Liebster Blog Award is, I have borrowed Katie's description from her blog:

 "The Liebster Blog Award is an award given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers, most of whom have less than 200 followers (or have been blogging for less than 6 months). It is to show newer bloggers that they are appreciated, and to help spread the word about new blogs. It was created to promote appreciation and recognition among the blog world. Liebster translates to “dearest” (or favorite/best) in German. It is also known as the Love Blog Award."

Yay! What an awesome award to receive! 

Guidelines:

1. You must post 11 random things about yourself.
2. Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
3. Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
4. Choose 11 new blogs you love and link them in your post.
5. Please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you!

My 11 random things:

1. I was born in a small town on a farm. I'm in the city now, but my roots (and part of my heart) are still in the country.

2. When my husband and I got married, instead of "I do," we said "Si" Spanish style. We were married in the Dominican Republic by a Spanish priest. Sometimes, I wonder if was even legit?!!

3.My husband is a basketball coach and I love every minute of it. He is an amazing coach and coaches some pretty amazing kids. There are a few that I claim as my own and will forever be my babies.

4. My musical taste is incredibly varied. Any given playlist on my iPod may contain Conway Twitty, Miranda Lambert, Fleetwood Mac, Poison, Eric Church, and Frank Sinatra. I told ya. Varied.

5. My hero is my Pap (my grandfather). To feel closest to him, I cuddle up in his old farm coat, that is at least 3 sizes too big for me.

6. My husband and I have one child, a daughter. We call her Boog Boog. Like a booger. We are a one child family. One and fun! I applaud those parents out there with more than one! However, it is not for us!

7. I create nicknames for my friends by using alliteration or rhyming. Example: Git Low Whitlow or Liquor Lovin' Lindsay. Unfortunately, I probably shouldn't put other examples on here. I can sometimes have the mouth of a sailor.

8. I have a dance party with Boog Boog at least once a day. She loves to dance.

9. I am slightly OCD. I do not like for things to be left uncompleted and constantly worry about whether or not I left the straightener plugged in and will check it three times before I leave the house. Can we say crazy?

10.My favorite food is fresh picked cucumbers or tomatoes straight from the garden.

11.I find it amazing how quickly life can change in the course of a year, or even a few months. Really, think about it sometime. And since it can change so quickly, I am always incredibly thankful to God for this amazing life I have, but don't deserve. 

Eleven questions my nominator set for me:

1. When and why did you start blogging?

I started blogging in August 2011. I started blogging because I wanted to share all of the cool DIY and crafty things I could do with others. At least, I thought they were good enough to share. I also had a lot of friends who were super impressed with things I did, so I thought, hell, if they are impressed, maybe others would be too!
2. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

What didn't I want to be?! It changed multiple times: dance instructor, interior designer, model, teacher....
3. What is your favorite holiday?

This is a tough one. I can't narrow it down to one. I absolutely love Halloween and Christmas. Because they are so similar, right?! Haha! I love Halloween because you dress up, tell ghost stories (I am a sucker for ghosts, witches,etc.) and get to make your house look really creepy. I love Christmas because I love buying gifts for people and getting together with family over the holidays. Its a very "together-ness" holiday. I am also a sucker for Christmas decorations. As I'm sure you can tell from recent blog posts.
4. Do you work outside of the home or are you a stay at home mom?

I am a teacher, but would love to be a stay at home mom one day!
5. If you could meet a famous person, alive or dead, who would it be?

Once more, a tough one!! Here are a few: Princess Diana, Julia Roberts, Chris Noth, Nick Saban, Rick Bragg.
6. How old were you when you went on your first date?

I have no idea. I don't even know that I remember what my actual first date was! Hmmm....maybe 14?
7. What is your favorite book?

All Over But The Shoutin' by Rick Bragg. If you love the southern life, read his books. They are amazing. He writes with an incredible voice.
8. What is your favorite song and why?

Your Love by the Outfield. Its my and my husband's song.
9. Do you have a blogging schedule or do you blog when you feel like it?

I don't have a set schedule. I just try to do 2-3 posts a week.
10. Are you a city girl or a country girl?

I live in the city now, but grew up in the country and part of me is still there.
11. What do you love most about your family?

 There are so many things I love about my little family and my whole life! My husband and I make a great dynamic duo when it comes to just about anything. We tag team with Boog Boog when needed and work great on DIY projects together. Most of all though, I just love that we all love each other so freakin much, and just want to have fun every second of the day. 

11 blogs I nominate:
A Blossoming Life

Pink Polka Dot Creations

Family, Home and Life

Design DNA

The Cape on the Corner

What Meegan Makes

I Gotta Try That

Sunshine and a Summer Breeze

Lindsay and Drew

Creatively Living

Clean, Organize, Decorate

11 questions for the nominees to answer:

1. What is your dream home?

2. What is your favorite song and why?

3. What's your family like?

4. What is your favorite blog post you have ever done and why?

5. What are your favorite blogs and why do you love them?

6. How long have you been blogging and why did you start?

7. Who is your hero?

8. What is your favorite memory of all time?

9. How do you want to be remembered?

10. Who is your favorite author?

11. If you could meet anyone in the world, who and why?

Nominees: Please leave me a comment below with your Liebster post, so I can read up on you! Also, please leave a link back to this post on your blog.

Can't wait to read your posts!!!

Don't forget to decorate the buck!

One of my amazingly awesome friends has loaned me his mounted buck head. He says I have to give it back when he buys a place....I'm super excited just to get to borrow it! I hung it on my chalkboard wall. Let me tell you, it looks UH-mazing!

Isn't it great?! 

Simple Christmas Decorating

Isn't it great how something so simple, can be so beautiful?

I clipped some branches from our huge evergreen tree in the yard and added them to my "white spot" in the house.







I love the white and green contrast.

What's your simple, but beautiful decoration?

Craigslist Cane Chairs Makeover

I. Love. Craigslist. I spread the word often about the power of Craigslist. You can buy or sell ANYTHING on Craigslist. About three months ago, I found these jewels there.



There were six of 'em. Two with arms, four without. For $25. Yep, only $25 for all six. The mini-me and I immediately loaded up and drove 45 minutes to get them. I was a little scared at first, as the fella did not want to meet me and I had to drive to his house out in the boondocks. But, it was all good.  Definitely not one of my crazier Craigslist experiences.

All except one were the color above. Tragically, the previous owner decided to try and re-stain one a cherry color. And it was, well, tragic. But, really, the original finish was in poor shape anyway, so they all needed to be painted.

So, I picked up some off white spray paint at Lowe's and a clear spray finish and went to work. First, I scrubbed them down really well, they were gross. It took four cans of paint. I had originally bought two. Seriously?! Needless to say, another trip to Lowe's was made since I hadn't accounted for all the little nooks and crannies the lattice pattern made.

The hottie hubby made me some chair bottoms and even cut the foam and covered it with batting for me while I cooked dinner. Then, I re-covered them. They are now gorgeous, extra seating in the living room! I just don't know if I should leave them with or without pillows though! Thoughts?

I went ".com" on ya!

That's right! Now, you can just type in www.rainonatinroof.com and its me!! Whoot! Whoot! I'm pumped! And proud!

By the way, if you don't already follow along on here or Facebook, I would LOVE it if you did! Just go right on over there to the right of the page and follow along!

Thanks!!

Thrifty Christmas Decorations

Thought I would share with you some of my Christmas Decor. I am way cheap, (surprise, surprise) so I buy most of my decorations at thrift stores or at after Christmas sales! 

 

The white pearl-y, garland stuff around my chandelier was purchased from Goodwill for $1! The "Jingle all the Way" sign and Christmas trees were after Christmas sales, all less than $5 each. The silver pitcher was another Goodwill find as were the vintage ornaments and swirly silver things in it.

I scored these super cute Santa boot candles for $3 each at an after Christmas sale!

All the ornaments were Goodwill purchases.

The stocking hanger was an old thrift store find my husband converted to the stocking hanger for me. It was about $5. The Noel sign came from the Target (love my Target!) $1 spot. The angel stocking came from an antiques store for $4.

I made that adorable elf ornament tree. You can read about it here. All the ornaments and elf came from Goodwill. I bought the Santa prints from an antique store and framed them. You can read about those here.The icy garland was an after Christmas sale purchase for $5. 

More Goodwill vintage ornaments. I just love filling containers with vintage ball ornaments during the season. So simple and beautiful. They just don't make colors like they used to!

I use an old vintage ladder I bought at a thrift store to hang my Christmas cards and Advent calendar. All I did was tie twine around it and used clothespins to secure the cards! It is one of my favorite things! Here are a couple more pictures of it...

I like to prop it against my chalkboard wall for some extra pop! You can read about the chalkboard wall here!

The rustic wooden crate was a $1 yardsale find. Santa came from an antiques store for $3. The candy canes were purchased at Lowe's after Christmas sale for $0.50 each!

See that gorgeous vintage ceramic Christmas tree??!! I LOVE those trees! My Grannie had one when I was growing up and when I put mine out each year, I think of her and smile. I scored it at Goodwill for $5. The Merry Christmas sign was another after Christmas sale. Both the standing Santa and the picture of Santa were finds from antique stores for less than $5 each. 

What are your thrifty decorations???!!!

Armoire and Dresser Makeover

I did these pieces a few months back and have already sold them, but thought I would share with you anyway. I got both pieces off Craigslist. The befores....

The afters.....

I just did a basic sand and paint job on both pieces, top coating each with Polycrylic. Then, I spray painted the knobs.

 I love the dresser color, French Country Blue. And its lovely curves are gorgeous.

Yay for Christmas Wreaths!!!

I am a wreath makin' fool! The yarn wreaths are SO easy to make that I just keep whippin 'em up! 
This is my latest (and probably most favorite) wreath creation to date.

I just love the little elf. He was actually a Christmas ornament that I bought at an antique store for $1. I used felt to make the poinsettias. It's Christmas-y, but not too Christmas-y.

This is one I made for my mother-in-law. Please excuse the photo quality - had to use my phone!

It's very simple and classy with the just the white poinsettias - like her.

This is actually one I made last year, for a friend. 

And I'm sure many of you remember this one I made last year. You can read more about it here.

Happy Wreathing!!

The little dresser that could....

This Craigslist find was definitely a diamond in the rough....

Whoops...I forgot to take a picture of all the drawers actually in the dresser. You get the idea, though. Bright red, in fact, layers and layers of paint. Red, and blue was underneath that. And it was gross. No, it was disgusting. Lots of lovely grime on it. And did you notice, there are three drawers? But, there are four openings, so it was missing a drawer too. Lovely. 

So, it got a thorough scrubbing and then I mixed up some DIY chalk paint. I am a cheapy and refuse to pay nearly $50 a quart for something I can make myself and it is just as good! I wanted to go with two tones on this piece so I picked some colors, mixed a little unsanded white grout with the paint and brushed it on. Whoops...I forgot to take during pictures. Sorry, y'all. Serious slacker here. But after the paint, I used a dark glaze I have and brushed it over the piece and finished with a clear wax. 

End Result:

I (ok, really my husband did it) did the whole Pinterest-y thing with the missing drawer and made a shelf with leftover hardwood flooring. 

What do you think? I want to hear from you!