Be careful what you wish for... That's a saying I heard around my house often, growing up. My beautiful mother was the eternal optimist, but she also had a very practical side. And a great sense of humor. I don't remember asking for that ugly space when I wished for a sink! So...when she wanted us to really consider the scope of what we were wishing for, that phrase was uttered in a serious tone. When she thought our wants were a little nuts, she said it with a touch a sarcasm.

The other day I was looking for something in my crafting stash when I came across this old, white, topless tin. It's the bottom half of a container that held a really yummy cake we received at Christmas from one of my husband's vendors. Too pretty to toss, I added it to the "someday I'll do something with it" pile and forgot all about it. Then in February, I stumbled upon it and decided to use the lid to make a very charming DIY clock . But that bottom was returned to the old pile again since I had no idea what to do with it. However, this time, as soon as I saw it, I knew.

Today’s the day, folks. The big day when I reveal my small kitchen makeover. It's an update I’ve waited over 20 years for...and now I'm ready to share it with the world. If you've been following me for a while then you know that when we first moved into our 1929 beach cottage, the kitchen was basically unusable for a modern family. So we put an addition on the back of the house and created a new one . And I got to design the entire room from scratch.

I'm generally a low tox kind of girl. The switch started a long time ago, mainly due to my worsening allergies. So over the years, I've become more conscious of what I choose to put in and on my body or use around the house. These are the only ants I want in my house! I don't wear perfume or use anything with a fragrance. And I clean with vinegar and lemons whenever possible. I try to find a natural solution to whatever problem I'm trying to solve...and when I can't I look for the least offensive product . Because let's face it, sometimes all natural isn't really an option, but I like to get close. That's how I found the most effective way to get rid of ants in my house.

I'm a huge fan of upcycling. There's something about taking an old, thrifted or discarded item and giving it new purpose. New form. And new life. Of course, that's not new news. I share my thrift store transformations often. However, what may not be as obvious, is the fact that, very often, the same item will receive multiple makeovers while in my possession. I get bored or come up with a fresh take and I dive in. Again.

This weekend, April showed up in all its glory in my neck of the woods. Yes, I know we were technically several days in, but Saturday and Sunday were quintessentially April. There were showers and flowers.  And Easter! When I was little, Easter was probably my second favorite holiday of the year.

I'm a big sale shopper. Especially when it comes to craft supplies.  Sometimes, I catch a promotion and buy them before a holiday, with the intention of using them to decorate right away. Other times, I pick them up on clearance, with the hopes of using them the following year. Unfortunately, a lot of times what really happens is they get added to the craft closet ...never be seen again. Well, this year, I decided it was time to remedy that. My goal is to dig into all those sale purchases and finally make the time to make the crafts . And this uninspired, plastic diorama egg is on the docket for today. It stands 10" tall and I grabbed it way back in 2023, when I made my DIY Designer Easter Eggs . It's been tucked away for 3 years, sharing space with these napkins. Too long. So I put on an old movie - The Great Lie, with Bette Davis and Mary Astor - and got busy. I started by separating the layers of my floral napkin...careful to remove both backing layers from the printed ...