WINNER!

Leah W, you're the winner of the Target Gift Card! Congrats! Email me to receive your prize. Thanks all!

Target Gift Card Giveaway!

It's been far too long since my last giveaway! Thanks to all my faithful readers. While you wait for some changes on the blog, here's a $75 Target Gift Card Giveaway.

To enter, follow me on facebook, and leave a comment on here telling me of your next home project! Easy Peasy.

*this is not a sponsored post, Target is not involved. I will announce the winner after a random draw on May 14th*

Inspiration Boards

I've had the opportunity to work online with a couple different women over the past few weeks, one from Texas and another from Maine. Here are the inspiration boards they needed:

This one was a dream one for me, because I cant get enough Navy in my life. She already had the sofa and bookshelf built in, and I suggested she paint the back a stormy gray/blue, like below. Pottery Barn and Overstock and Art.com completed the rest of the room, for an affordable price.

My Texas gal, had just bought this Pink Upholstered Bed via Amazon ( Skyline ) and had the Ikea furniture but needed assistance pulling it together for her sophisticated teen. The most costly thing was the Schumacher wallpaper, but the board and batten will be DIY on the cheap, and the accessories are Pottery Barn and Overstock I believe. The wallpaper will only be above the board batten, so she wont have to order too much.

I've been getting many inquiries lately on pricing/services/online help/skype sessions/boards etc. I'll be revamping this site to make it easier to navigate and have my packages out there so there is no mystery. Thank you!

Pottery Barn vs Marshalls!

I've had my eye on this little Pottery Barn sign for awhile now, but there's no chance I'd pay $79!!

So I was pleased to find this version ( canvas ) for $12.99 at Marshalls! They also have an "office" sign.

Not too shabby eh?

Spring is here, so are my bulbs.

Website rave. I ordered  a few bulbs from Tulipworld.com. I havent ever ordered plants online before, but they were having an insane sale, and free shipping at the time. So I thought, why not. They were diligent with telling me when it'd ship and the packaging was well done. I do have to wait a couple more weeks to plant, but here's what I ordered.

More hosta. I have a thing for hostas, and thankfully they love my yard. This is guacamole hosta.

More peonies to add to my obsession. This time, dark red...

and double whites

some autumn joy sedum, already have some, and they are easy

and these fun things. Never tried these before, but I have the perfect spot against the fence for them. Agapanthus Blue Triumphator

I got all these for under $20. They have coupon codes and sales all the time. And shipping is always 3.95

Help! Blogger Down!

Does anyone know what happened to DC metro mom blogger OneStoryBuilding?? She stopped blogging late last summer and now her site is gone. She is a favorite! Tryin to contact her on twitter but no response yet..

Disguising the baby stuff

Babies come with a lot of stuff. I didnt want it totally taking over my house, so over the years I've made hiding places that just make sense.

Instead of a cheapo plastic bottle dryer like I bought with my first kid and regretted, I went with a chic glass drying rack from world market. I also had registered for a Target basket to keep it all organized. Then when I entertain, I can use it for wine glasses as well.

My daughter is three months old and we've only used her changing pad once. As pretty as this space is, we just live downstairs most of the day.

So I have a drawer designated to baby stuff. Diapers, wipes, saline/suction bulb,extra onesies etc.

I also did an old post about hiding toddler toys here

Front Room Face Lift

I gave my front room a minor face lift.

Here's the Before, in all of its glory:

( crappy phone pic )

And the AFTER:

I framed some leftover fabric from some of my favorite client projects, and it worked out nicely

I was sick of the busyness and simplified it with 2 Ribba Frames from Ikea: ( click here, $24.99 for high gloss gray )

And I spoke too soon on my fiddle leaf post, ended up with this guy too, I cant resist. $13.

My lil Fiddle Leaf

I've been wanting a fiddle leaf tree for awhile now. Here's my post about it last year ( click here )
So imagine my surprise when my local grocery store of all places, had this guy for $7. I squealed outloud.

Can't wait til he's a tree. In the meantime, I'll be headed out this weekend to get him a companion.

Threshold at Target

And now, for my favorite Threshold finds( at Target )

Honeycomb Vases $12-19

Bench $59

Pedestal Bowl $16

Topiary $29

Captains Mirror $29

Ikat Shower Curtain $19 

Floor Pillow $24

Oblong oversized pillow $29

Weight loss and life!

What's up ya'll. This post is about to get real.

I'm a wife and a mom of two who's starting the fight to lose the final pounds I have on me. Another 35. It's daunting. It's hard. It's inconvenient, but it's doable.  I lost my baby weight, but now she's nearly 3 months old and I'm just now getting back into my fitness regimen and my good eating habits. My recovery from delivery wasnt smooth and I became angry because I could NOT work out. Now that I have the green light, I'm not getting to the gym as often as I should. This time around, it's much harder to get back into the swing of things. I lost those 50lbs so diligently that I'm being a bit harder on myself this time for not being so quick.

The point of this post is to tell the blogging world my goal to lose these last 35lbs and for accountability purposes. You dont have to comment or write me, I'm not expecting that.

And to prove that it CAN be done.

So I'm strappin on these babies ( arent they hot and obnoxious?)

and kissing these babies of mine ( because I love them, and ultimately they'll benefit from my good health)

I'll do a check in once every two weeks so it's not obnoxious :)

In the meantime, I'll get back to posting deals and decor goodies. I've also picked up a few clients in the last week, looks like people are getting in the moods to purge and revamp their homes for spring. Love it.

Cheers.

Etsy Shop is open!

I have an etsy shop that is now open. Right now I have some pretty infinity scarves up for sale, and in the coming months, I'll be doing orders for custom pillows and drapes!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/yourmaterialgirl

Trellis chairs

Cant beat $99! From TJMaxx!

Better than paying over $600 per chair for the kelly wearstler's imperial trellis!

Trip to Marshalls

Here are some fun things I found at my local Marshalls tonight!

$3 Clearance Candles

  Faux Boxwood and Succulent $8+ ( I will say the boxwood ones STINK to high heaven, it's weird, but good quality, not plastic, more papery )

 Awesome watercolor Cynthia Rowley Pillows $19 ( comes in red/browns too )

This Bone Inlay type tray was on clearance for $29, there were quite a few of them. You may see these on sites like high street market or one kings lane for well over $100

Lil Anthropologie esque bowls for $2.99

And this PB knockoff lamp... ( $149 )

$49 at Marshalls

Latest Randoms and Pins

Here are some randoms that have caught my eye in the last few weeks...

Espalier trees, I'd love these along my back fence!

Corner Trellis, what a great idea

World Market Ashton Tables $129

A built in closet ( via gilded mint)

Check out that sink ( via coastal living)

Threshold Shower Curtain $19 ( target )

Aaaaand this is genius, I need to do this. You can just hose the boots down without getting the insides soaked. Duh.

Speaking of shoes...loving neon Nike!

Spring at Target! ( i'm swooning over the milky blue lamps on the right )

PB Lamp

Totes from the Gap ( lots of colors available )

And art via Meredith Pardue

NYC eyebrow kit ( its under $3, and its a new fave of mine )..the left palette is a clear wax that shapes your brows and keeps them put, and the color stays put along with it!