Gift Ideas - Monograms

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I'm a newly wed and a southern girl. Needless to say, I love me some monograms.

These are my top 10 monogrammed gift ideas for 2013. 

 

Holiday Decor - Christmas Village

A few days ago I had this genius, super original idea to buy a Christmas village at the Dollar Store and paint it white.

And then I realized that everyone and their mother had done it.  Not original.  Not genius.  Sigh.

Anyway, this is how the magic happened.

1. Buy Christmas Village at the Dollar Store. Also buy $50 worth of other stuff because its all ONLY $1.

I already used those thumbtacks for a couple of projects. See here.

2. Find your paint.  A lot of other people used spray paint, which I'm sure works really well.  But this is Minnesota, the high on Saturday was 15 degrees, and while I told myself spray paint doesn't work so well in those extreme temperatures, the reality is I didn't want to go outside.  So I used a bottle of white acrylic paint that I have had for approximately ever.

You can buy them here and here, or just get ANY acrylic craft paint and paint brush.
Seriously, buy it at Walmart. The Dollar Store might even have some.

3. Paint everything white.

4. Go do something else while they dry.  Otherwise you will continue to touch them to see if they are dry yet.  They aren't.  It takes about 20 minutes for them to be 100% dry.

5.  Celebrate how awesome and classy you are.  You just made something from the Dollar Store look like it was worth at least $3.  Way to triple your investment.



600 Brass Thumbtacks

What do you think of when you see this?

Do you ever think, "Man, I really need 600 brass thumb tacks." or "I'll figure out what to do with them later."?  If you don't, maybe you should - because let me tell you, they are AWESOME.

I bought these when I was at the dollar store buy a Christmas village... as well as everything else in the store. I knew they were magic when I saw them, I just didn't know what sort of magic they were going to create yet.

This all started with a trip to Ikea for faux sheep skin throws for my dining room chairs.  Also throw pillows.  I am addicted to throw pillows. I've been trying to replace a certain pillow for years but Hubs won't let it go.  Its basically just two layers of fabric at this point. Gross.

 My girlfriend had never been to Ikea, so of course it was my duty to ruin her life and take her with me. Mission successful.  On the way home I jokingly (not jokingly) asked if she wanted to redecorate my house real quick.  She was totally down.  We became best friends. We did karate in the garage.  Crafts happened.

First, we gave a big cardboard "K" a makeover with a faux nailhead trim.  I'm sure measuring would be the thorough thing to do, but we just started sticking them in using the scientific "eyeball" method.  Look-it:

Then, I stuck the rest of them in some candles.

Then we pulled everything off the walls and redecorated the downstairs because that's what reasonable people do.  I told my husband to stay out late because we were in the zone.  My thumbs ached.  I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed to hang out with that friend anymore.

Here's the tally. My husband likes the "K", the sheepskins, and the new gallery wall.  He doesn't understand the throw pillows, but I'm counting that as a win because most guys in general don't understand throw pillows.  The candles freak him out a little.  That's 4 - 1.  I'll take it.



Gold Wedge Sneakers

I got a bit ahead of myself and bought something ridiculous.

 

GOLD. WEDGE. SNEAKERS.

 

$18.98 at Wholesale Shoes Bags MN.

No online shopping but if you live in the Twin Cities its your lucky day!

I absolutely LOVE them. I also have absolutely no idea what to wear with them.  They are far less tacky than they look.  Not un-tacky, just less tacky.  It seems like such a shame to have such amazing shoes, and then be completely lost on what to wear with them!

 

Typically when I am at a loss, I head on over to Pinterest (that's a link to my page) and usually get some ideas pretty quickly.  Apparently gold wedge sneakers are not happening yet, because its slim pickin's.

 

Well hey, if Beyoncé is doing it, at least I know I'm on the right track.  Now to hijack a cab...

 

I know with shoes like that, you gotta keep the rest of the outfit simple, but so far, I am struggling!

 

Any ideas, anyone?

 

 

$20 Throw Pillows - Society6

I love throw pillows, not a big secret.  But they are always so dang expensive!  Not only are there literally hundreds of pillow covers for $20/each at Society6, but I spy a ton of DIY inspiration!

Throw pillow covers for $20 a piece is pretty darn reasonable, unless I buy 600.

Home Style - Kate Spade Candle

 

I went to Macy's this weekend for a new duvet cover and somehow came home with this Kate Spade Candle.  I think it looks pretty cute with my thrifted brass birds and our wedding pictures.

 

Keeping on track with my sudden gold obsession, I used painter's tape and gold sharpie to add a metallic edge to the fronts of the shelves that hold our DVD collection.  If I ever get tired of it, I can easily just peal off the tape!

 

 

Currently Obsessing: Gilded

 

1. Chevron Placemat 2. Gold "Bubbly" Glasses 3. Dipped Gold Platter 4. Filagree Gold Plate 5. Nate Berkus Dipped Bowl 6. Gold Stemware

 

I'm really stuck on this mixed metallic thing. We got some amazing Vera Wang Wedgewood China in the pattern "Flirt" for our wedding, and I've been searching for a way to inject some gold into our formal place settings.  I think any of these pieces would play really well with our china, and keep the place settings from looking too formal.

 

Also, I defiantly see some DIY potential in that gold dipped platter. Think I might try to make myself some chargers using some cheap ornate plates and paint....