Money Talks: Those Darn Joneses

Anytime I indulge in a little magazine devouring, Pinterest trolling, or blog reading, I see folks undertaking expensive renos, splashing out on pricey furniture, and/or shop-shop-shopping for lots of gorgeous accessories (or craft supplies, to make gorgeous home accessories) - and rarely, if ever, with the accompanying hand-wringing and stress I feel when spending money.

Renovating and decorating (or even crafting) can be frustrating because it seems like I never have enough money (or time).  I try not to compare my life or spending to someone else's, but although budgeting and planning may be done in the logical part of my brain, the feelings about money do not originate from the same part.  I remind myself that choices Hubby and I have made (that bring us so much joy), like buying a more expensive house so we can live lakeside, or paying cash for our truck, changed the game for us.  If we had bought a small home somewhere else, kept our affordable car, didn't have our lovable Szuka (vet bills! food!), things could be different - but I wouldn't want to trade any part of my life.  A part of my brain gets this.  But the pang of, "oh hey, I want that," the whiny little voice complaining, "it looks so easy for them," or the creeping feeling of doubt: "am I doing something wrong if I can't afford this bath reno and a holiday?" aren't always easy to shake. 

I figured that I can't be alone, so I wanted to be open and honest about how stressed I am about renovating the bathroom, and spending money on the house in general.  I want to paint a more realistic picture of what's going on behind the scenes and just admit: sometimes I can't afford to do, buy or even make the things I want.  Plain and simple - no shame. 

This isn't a pity party for me at all, because I think that being able to chat about any of this - renovating, decorating, even budgeting - is a luxury, when many people are barely scraping by, or worse. 

But you should know that embarking on this bath reno has definitely made me nervous, especially because the estimates we calculated were a little optimistic...

So, we're in a mini spending lock-down until the dust settles.  We're scrimping and saving to top up our "bath reno fund" - now, instead of a Mustang in my wallet, I've got the photo above.  We've already made a few larger purchases from our savings, like closet doors for the bedroom and some fabric for drapes, but it looks like other changes will have to be put on hold until we come out the other side of the bath reno.  Meanwhile, I'm trimming our grocery budget a bit.  I'm trying to avoid the Siren Song of the thrift stores.  I'm finishing up neglected projects - and using supplies we have on hand.  And, other than a quick trip to visit family, vacationing is out of the question for now. 

Truthfully, it isn't just the bathroom reno that has me nervous about spending money.  I started thinking about money differently, and re-prioritizing a bit, after the loss my family experienced.  The funeral home created a photo slideshow for us, which had us pouring over dozens of photo albums.  It made me think about my own life, and finding the right balance of fun and responsibility - especially when it comes to money.  As we flipped through photo albums, no one said, "he had such a great home with a beautifully renovated bathroom," but instead they said, "man, he sure loved to be outside".  Meanwhile, Hubs and I had a truckload full of cabinet samples for our impending bathroom renovation.

I panicked.  

After the funeral, we returned the cabinet samples.  Staring glumly at a stack of wood doors, I turned to Hubby and said, "I don't care about a bathroom reno.  Let's use the money to travel instead.  Let's do stuff".  That night I got stuck inside our space portal shower, which is starting to fall apart and smells like a monkey's butt, no matter how thoroughly and vigorously I scrub it.  Hubby freed me and, naked and freezing, I relented, "okay, maybe a renovation isn't such a stupid idea".

Hubby and I feel very privileged.   Not only do we benefit from certain unearned societal privileges, we have a roof over our heads, warm stew in our bellies at night, our health, and the complete luxury of choosing how to spend our savings.  Should we save the money instead?  Should we blow it on a huge trip?  Retire earlier?  How much interest could we earn?  Mortgage balloon payment?  What if we die tomorrow?  What will be important?  What if we live to be 100?  Man, I'll really hate our current bathroom by then... Should we spend more and get quality?  Why do laminate counters get the cold shoulder? 

Whew.

ALL decadent choices.  Still, I find it very stressful to think about spending a good chunk of change on our home, and yet I wish we had more to spend.  I have a laundry list of things I'd like to change, update, switch up, and improve.  I just have to be patient, and understand that while in some cases we have to wait, we might never have the money for certain things.  That's just life.  And it's a good life!  What we have is enough, everything else is just icing.

I've been getting into the habit of taking some time each day to really appreciate my life, and my loved ones, and to just be grateful.  Truly, I'm so grateful.  And, to be honest, I feel it immediately when I just disconnect a bit: tear my eyes away from Instagram, power down the computer, and close the magazines - when I get away from the daily deluge of inspiring room makeovers, crafty projects, and the endless lists of things bloggers and magazines think we should buy.  Right away I feel my priorities, and my brain relaxes.



I always think of that saying, "yesterday I didn't know it existed, today I can't live without it".

This post in my (very infrequent) Money Talks series is noticeably devoid of any meaningful money-saving tips or tricks but, with this reno looming, and talk of fancy walnut cabinets and quartzite counters, I just didn't want to contribute to any illusion that spending this money on renovations is easy (or necessary). 

The Puffy Coat is the Fashion - Framing Vintage Posters as Art

When I purchased my 1960s posters from Hungary - which first found a home in the townhouse kitchen, and then moved to the master bedroom in the lakehouse - I intended for the poster with the girl in the tweed suit and the poster with the green hat to hang side by side.  When a weirdly high outlet threw a wrench in my plans to hang two posters side by side in the kitchen, I ended up hanging all three posters together to hide the outlet. 

 
Quite frankly, I didn't look at them all that much because normally I had my back to them while I was cooking.  When we moved to the lakehouse, I hung all three together again - almost out of habit. 

Once the posters were positioned across from the bed, I looked at them a lot more.  Every morning and every night, I contemplated the arrangement.  I no longer liked the three together because the two figural ones really competed for attention.  But two alone seemed too skimpy (I like big art, or big groupings of art).

I started casually shopping for another poster.  Then, a few months ago, I received an email from the seller from whom I bought my posters when I was in Budapest.  He was having a sale and some of his posters were marked down.  Lo and behold, a poster I had admired while I was in Budapest - but had deemed too spendy - was 50% off!  I thought it would be the perfect piece to shake things up, so I ordered it and had it shipped here - much to my Mom's chagrin (it was one of her favorites too).  When it arrived, I had to wonder why I didn't scoop it up in the first place.  What was I thinking?  The design is so cool and the colours are really vivid - plus I still love a good houndstooth.

I recently got it back from the framer - was it ever tricky trying to find the exact same frame as the others - and I'm so happy!  I am really quite besotted with the new arrangement.  Each one has a really different scale and style, but the styles seem to jive better than the previous arrangement, and the colour green unifies them all.

Here's a better look at the new addition.  It says, "The Puffy Coat is the Fashion". 

For now, please ignore the new furniture.  I've mentioned that some bedroom changes are on the horizon and I'll spill the beans soon - you know how one change sometimes has a cascading effect?  For now, here's one sneak peek at what's to come. 

One small detail I overlooked: where to hang the displaced gal with all of her parcels??? 

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DIY Beaded Napkin Rings - Easy Tutorial + Video

There are so many things to love about this beaded napkin ring project: it's easy, conducive to messy crafting (it doesn't need to be perfect to look good), and potentially very thrifty (you can snag beads on clearance or cut apart old jewellery and scavenge the beads).  Plus it works as a cute DIY cuff bracelet, according to Vanessa - who suggested that this handmade napkin ring could be a fun take home favor for a casual dinner party with girlfriends.

Read on for step-by-step instructions with photos, or take a peek at the video below for quick instruction for making these napkin rings (and my dip dyed napkins.)

Supplies:

• A spool of 24 gauge wire (makes four, for six you'll need a spool and a half)
• A spool of 16 gauge wire
• Needle nosed pliers (2 pairs makes this easier)
• Wire cutters
• Beads (see below for links)**
• Bottle (empty, full - doesn't matter, it's to shape the cuff)

**A note about the beads: mine were drilled through the end, while most beads are drilled end to end. You can use any style or kind or bead you like, but to create the sea anemone feel, the end drilled beads stand up nicely.  Check your local craft stores, but if you're striking out, I did find some similar looking end drilled coconut shell sticks online, in aqua and blue, that would look really beachy.  These shell beads are also similar, but in a much more natural colour palette. 

Steps:

To begin, cut about 14-16 inches of the 16 gauge wire and gently form a circle, wrapping the wire back on itself to secure the shape.

Take the circle you've created and flatten in a bit, so you've got a really elongated oval.  Flatten the twisted ends a bit with your pliers, because you don't want them sticking up and poking your linens (or wrist).  This is where two pairs of pliers come in handy.

 
Gently wrap the oval around a bottle to form a cuff shape.  You can re-shape it later, so it doesn't need to be perfect.  Make as many of these forms as you need and set aside.

To start wrapping, anchor the 24 gauge wire by wrapping it around one side of the cuff shape a few times.  Flatten any pokey ends with the pliers.  Wrap the 24 gauge wire once around one side of the 16 gauge wire cuff, then bring it across to the other side, wrap around the other side - back and forth.  Because I was on a budget and happened to fall in love with the most expensive beads ever, I didn't wrap the beads all the way around.  The bottom and sides are wire with a few turquoise beads here and there, while the dyed shell beads are really lush and full on the top.  You can arrange the beads however you please and can start adding the beads anytime in this process. 

Because I used beads with a hole drilled at one end of the long shape, I decided to "lift" the beads up a little and give them life so that the finished product has an organic feel - like some sort of sea anemone.  To achieve this look, in the midst of wrapping the wire back and forth across the cuff, I grabbed a bead, twisted the wire, and kept wrapping.  Every now and then I stopped to adjust the beads, twisting them a bit and nudging them into facing random directions.

This was my first time doing wire work like this, and my wraps aren't perfect but because I wanted a napkin ring that felt relaxed and organic, I am going to vehemently argue that the imperfections add to the casual, beachy look.

;)

This was a great craft project to do while my brain was otherwise engaged - perfect for in front of the television.  Actually, I was dyeing a pair of jeans while I made one of these.  I had to stay by the washing machine to keep setting the cycle back to ensure the jeans were agitated in the dye bath for a full half hour.  I set my supplies on the washer and whipped one of these up standing in the laundry room. (Multi-tasking for the win.)

I love how these beaded napkin rings turned out!  They catch the light beautifully and add the perfect beachy, seaside feel to a summery tablescape.

Here's another look at the napkin rings paired with the dip dyed napkins I made.  I loved the beads because they tied together the blue and aqua accessories perfectly.  

For more photos of my tablescape with Canadian Tire and CANVAS, and some awkward videos of me, check out all of the posts about my "Backyard Oasis".  This was such a fun collaboration!

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DIY Dip Dyed Napkins Tutorial + Video

Yesterday I shared photos of the backyard oasis I created, plus the beautiful pictures from my Greek honeymoon that served as my inspiration.

Today I'm sharing the tutorial - with video! - for my DIY dip dyed napkins.  Read on for my "how to dip dye" tutorial - plus tips, tricks and troubleshooting advice.



Dip dyeing is really easy - the hardest part was finding a basic white linen napkin!  Most white napkins were "stain resistant," which I figured would resist the dye.  In a pinch, you could whip up some inexpensive ones using this cloth napkin tutorial, but I chose to drive around, wild-eyed, to every store in town instead.  Success!

Because I was dyeing six napkins, I tried a shortcut that I don't recommend!  I created a dye bath in a huge plastic tub and then hung each napkin on a pant hanger.  I placed all of the hangers on a long rod and my Mom helped my dip them all at once.  I thought this would create an even look, but dye rubbed off some onto others and there was unfortunate splattering - I definitely recommend just doing one at a time!  It really doesn't take long to dip dye a napkin.

To learn how to do it the right way, you can read the dip dyeing tutorial below, or check out my dip dyeing video!


Supplies:

• 2 Bottles of Rit Dye (I chose Royal Blue and Navy)
• Large plastic tub
• Hot, hot, hot water - I mixed a kettle of boiling water with super hot tap water
• Stir stick
• 1 cup of salt
• Rubber gloves 
• An apron to protect clothing
• White linen or cotton napkins (this set seems nice, as does this one)

Steps:

• Wash the napkins and set aside (do not dry)
• Cover your work surface with drop cloths and put on rubber gloves
• Create the dye bath, following the manufacturer's instructions (using only the Royal Blue)
• Add a cup of salt to the dye bath and stir
• Dip in the still-wet napkin to the highest point you'd like the dye
• Lift the napkin and dip again, to the same point
• Keep the napkin moving in and out of the dye bath, until the first "level" is as dark as you'd like it
• Keep dipping, but this time don't dip it so deep in the dye bath - dip, dip, dip
• Dip each "level" for about 3-5 minutes - remember, it will fade after the first rinse & wash
• Keep repeating this process, gradually raising the height of the napkin
• When you have only the very bottom left to dye, add the Navy
• Hold the bottom of the napkin in the darkened dye bath for 3-5 minutes
• When the dyeing is done, rinse the napkins in cold water - running the water away from the white
• Launder as usual, but beware the dye may tint the white a pale blue

The Best Tip for a Beautiful Dip Dyed Project:

Continually moving the napkin up and down helps the gradient to be more subtle - and also keeps the Rit dye from being splotchy (it likes to be agitated during the dyeing process).  Continually moving the fabric creates a softer look than just holding the napkin in the dye bath at various heights, but if you'd prefer harder lines (like Anu's gorgeous dip dyed curtains, below), you can just dip and hold:

I also have a tutorial for these beachy DIY beaded napkin rings! 

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Canadian Tire + My Honeymoon in Greece

Last year I partnered with Canadian Tire and created festive DIY projects to help launch the CANVAS line of holiday ornaments and décor.  It was such a fun challenge, so I was thrilled to be invited to collaborate again!

In January I spent a whirlwind weekend with Jen, Christine, and Vanessa - and the awesome folks at Canadian Tire.  The four of us got an early look at the CANVAS line of patio furniture and outdoor accessories, showed off our DIY prowess, and were totally spoiled thanks to on-set hair and makeup provisions (hello, curls!)

The CANVAS line is about expressing your personal style and making your home and outdoor spaces feel undeniably "you".  Jen, Vanessa, Christine and I were invited to give the CANVAS products our own spin.  We each devised a theme for a backyard party, chose pieces we liked from the new CANVAS line, and paired them with some easy DIY projects (small enough to fit in carry-on luggage!)  It was such a treat to spend a weekend in a studio that felt totally springy - especially in the middle of a blustery snowstorm - but it made it that much more difficult to return to winter.  I had to keep reminding myself, "it's still winter, this isn't real, you'll have to put your boots back on".

Here's a closer look at my table setting:

Because Hubby and I are spending money on renovations this year and travel is likely out of the question, I wanted to create a backyard oasis.  I was really inspired by our 2008 honeymoon to Greece (specifically, Athens, Santorini, and Crete).  It was December, so we didn't have the typical beachy holiday, but Greece was no less beautiful.  Two of my degrees are in philosophy, and I took many Greek philosophy and mythology courses, so I was just excited to set foot in the places I'd read about - no bikini required.  Our trip was full of the nutty, can't-believe-we-didn't-end-up-on-the-news kind of adventures that make the best stories.  And our photo albums are packed with beautiful photos showcasing saturated colours and rich history.

The CANVAS line has great pieces, like a blue and white outdoor rug, a turquoise solar lantern (swoon), and bright white melamine plates that made it easy to recreate the feeling of my honeymoon.  I also created dipped dyed napkins in rich cobalt hues and made napkin rings out of shimmering turquoise shell beads.  I was adamant about getting some sliced lemons or oranges to line clear glass flower vases because citrus fruit was everywhere in Greece:



My CANVAS table setting transports me back to that holiday.  The mix of saturated blues and yellows, bright white plates, and rustic modern furniture make me want to reminisce. 



You can have a better look at my styled table by visiting the Canadian Tire website, where you can also check out the backyard festivities dreamed up by Vanessa, Jen, and Christine.

 
Tomorrow I'll share the tutorial for the dip dyed napkins (along with some useful Do's and Don't, learned the hard way as always) and then Thursday I'll share the tutorial for the beaded napkin ring.  For now, enjoy two videos - including a painfully embarrassing video shot with a selfie stick.  My gift to you...(although maybe you owe me - for not showing you all 1268 photos from the trip).

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