Hanging the Lights...

...that stay up all year!  I decided to change out the light covers and bulbs in the nursery to make them more feminine. 

Before...

After...

 Of course I would love to hang a chandelier in her room, but I'm a paranoid Mom that listens to all the guidelines to prevent SIDS.  So for the next year we'll keep the fan in her room and go from there. 

Lights covers were $2 each at Lowes!  Well worth it to me!

I also changed out the bulbs for the round, clear ones to give it a glassy look.  Inexpensive way to change the look of the light fixture!

I think I'm just about ready to finally reveal this room!  We sent the crib off for painting and it should be done next week!  Be looking the week after Christmas!  (I'm sure I'm more excited to show you than anyone else is...just humor me :)

Summer Nights, Summer Lights

I love entertaining in my backyard in the summertime.  Nothing sets the mood better, than some outdoor party lights.  I found these at Target.   They are a strand a 25 lights for $10.  I bought 4 strands and hung them between my tree and two posts from Lowes that were $3 each.  I bought $2 worth of chain and screwed the chain into the posts.  I also bought a strand of 100 mini lights and wrapped the chain and posts.  This is a great purchase to make at the end of the Christmas season when lights are on clearance.  I love mine and can't wait to host my welcome to summer party!



Lighting Bargains

This beautiful light is from Pottery Barn for $399.

I found this beauty from Home Depot for $109.  I love this and think it would be beautiful in a master bath above a stand alone bathtub.  

 This is the Celeste chandelier from Pottery Barn for $299.

This is the one in my dining room from Overstock.com for $198.  Again, thanks Pottery Barn for the inspiration, but look elsewhere for the bargains.  They are out there!

The Perfect Outdoor Lantern

 I love entertaining in my backyard in the summertime.  Nothing creates the ambience better than a grouping of lanterns with candles lit.  Here are two sets from Pottery Barn ranging from $39-$149.

Here are some that I bought from Ikea for $7.99.  They are 11" tall and 6" wide.  The larger version is 17" tall and 9.5" wide and sells for $14.99.  They also come in black.  Ikea is my favorite place to shop for high-quality, inexpensive items.  If you need help navigating the Ikea maze, call me.  I love to go there and know where to find the gems!

Outside Lighting

One of our favorite followers, Jodi, updated her outside house lights with this beauty found at Lowes.  Jodi paid a sale price of $30 for each light!

It makes such a difference from the standard builder lights.  Thanks for the great inspiration Jodi.  Because of you, I re-did the lights at my house.  Here's a step by step tutorial for how you can change your lights as well.  Yes ladies, I did it by myself.  You can too. 

Step 1: Turn off the breaker for your outside lights.  Your breaker box is in your utility room in the basement.

Step 2:  Remove the wing nuts on the front of the light and remove light from bracket.

 Step 3:  Disconnect the wires, ground wire, and remove old bracket plate.

Step 4: Attach new bracket plate.

Step 5: Attach copper wire from light to copper wire coming out of socket and wrap around green bolt labeled "gnd".

Step 6: Attach white wires to white wires wrapping exposed end around wire from socket.  Cap with eletrical cap.  Twist cap until tight.

Step 7:  Repeat with black wires.

Step 8:  Screw wing nuts on to front of light until snug.  Will need to use an adjustable wrench to get them tight.

Step 9:  Insert light bulb.

Step 10:  Restore power by turning on breaker.

I love how these look.  I purchased them at Lowes for $23 each. 

$70 was money well spent to enhance my home with new lighting.  This really is an easy update for anyone to do.  Simply, follow the steps above and trust that you can do it!

And the Lighting Winner is:

Option 3 was the clear winner for our voters and for me!

Here's before:

 And here's after!

I love, love, love this light and the ambience it now creates in my dining room!  I got it from Overstock.com and paid $180.  That is a great price.  Davy and I hung it on Saturday (For a lighting tutorial, click here)  I encourage you to look around, find what you want and then buy it online.  You will save a ton of money!

A New Chandelier

If any of you are like me, you have a builder's grade light fixture over your dining room table.  While it provides ample light, it is not at all attractive.  I am ready to replace mine with one with more pizzaz.  So get ready to cast your vote for your favorite.  I have a simple chandelier category and an ornamental.  Please vote for your favorite from each group.  Once the votes are tallied, I will purchase the winner and unveil the before and after. 

Simple Option #1:

Simple Option #2 

Ornamental Option #1

Ornamental Option #2

Ornamental Option #3 (Without the shades):

Can't wait to see what your favorites are!  Happy voting!