Spoiler Alert: I have some pretty exciting backyard updates to share!!!

This blog vacation however is particularly exciting, as I’ll be spending some time on Cape Cod in celebration of my little brother getting married!!!!   In addition to what is going to be the most stunning bride and groom, the wedding is taking place at what I anticipate to be one of the most beautifully designed spots on Cape Cod, The Wequassett Resort.

I mean just look at this place!

Joe and Lindsay – I could not be happier for the two of you and can’t wait to celebrate you both so soon!

So signing off until after Memorial Day weekend.  And for those who have some time off as well – enjoy it – and see you back here soon!

Price tag was $79 each.  I love you but um, no thanks.

So instead I bought these mini succulents (bottom right) for $4/each…

And using some potting soil and a pot I already had siting around…

Put together my own version!

Best part?  You really can’t kill these.  Trust me.  If any one could, it would be me…

Nope.  Alive and thriving, and under $30 buckeroos!

I heart succulents.

Let’s talk about Visually Similar Images by Google

Not only can this tool help you locate an image’s source (hello #pinterestfails) but it can also lead you on a decorating inspirational journey… that could easily take up your entire afternoon

Alright let’s do this.

1. I recommend using Chrome as your web browser.

2. Navigate to Google

3. Click the Images Tab

4. Using a new window, pull up the image you want to use for inspiration (or for which you want to find other places it’s located on the web).

5. Drag and drop the image right into the Google search box.

6. Click the “visually similar images” link

Let the inspiration begin!

Here’s an example I tried with a beautiful nursey from Restoration Hardware:

And here are some fun results that pulled up!

Pretty neat, huh?

Thanks Google.  You never cease to rock my world.

So I’ve debated back and forth for a while now as to whether or not I want to branch out into a more lifestyle blog, especially once I become a mom and my DIYs take a back seat to changing diapers and breast feeding for a bit.  Oh wait, you DO wanna hear all about baby poop?  Well in that case….

On the one hand I’ve learned SO SO much from parenting and pregnancy bloggers, and so part of me wants to share my experiences as a way of contributing to this incredibly resourceful community.  But on the other hand, I also want to stay true to my original mission of writing about things for the home, which is something that I am truly passionate about.

So I came up with a compromise.

Instead of posting about non-house stuff, I have created a “lifestyle” corner of the blog (left hand side of the page).  Here I’ll write about all things maternity, relationships, parenting… and other life related tidbits I learn along the way.    These features will not come through your email (if you subscribe) or be posted to Facebook or Twitter, so it’s totally up to you if you feel like reading them.  To see them, simply go to the blog url (www.housefullofpretty.com) and click away at your leisure!  I may post some things to Pinterest, mostly because that’s how I found fabulous information… but that is still TBD.

This section will definitely grow, but one area that I’ve been working on behind the scenes is now live…. I call it Maternity Fashion.  My non-Kim Kardashian fashion tips.  It’s basically a lot of maternity friendly outfits and lame self portrait shots in the mirror.  I was obsessed at looking at these from other bloggers, so decided to join in on the fun.  You can see it here.

Also in this section is my Instagram feed.  Follow me, and you’ll see lot’s of pictures of food, Tony doing manual labor, and Roxy dog in cute poses.  Totally intriguing, eh?  You can see more here.

Ikea dresser/changing table before…

Ikea dresser/changing table after a trip to Anthropologie!

When you don’t spend a lot on the dresser, you can justify the splurge on the knobs

I decided to mix and match a bit with their Singular Bloom Knobs…

I’m sure baby will greatly appreciate the decor effort

Emily from Sparkle meets Pop
Katie from Bower Power
Renee from Red Bird Blue
Sherry from Young House Love

Join the challenge with me!  Full details here.

I’m on a freakin Pin to reality roll here!

I’m planning on doing a gallery wall for the nursery, so I’m always on the hunt for cute and original ideas for decor. Here is the pin I used for inspiration for this project.

Pin Source: Original Source

And now my spin!

This is all you need for the DIY!

Canvas
Paint
Glue
Wood Letters

I got a package of letters from Michaels for $3.99.  They were the perfect fit for this project too.

First lay the letters out on your canvas, to make sure they fit.  You’ll notice here that every line gets 5 letters, except for the second since the “I” is super narrow.  This works out perfectly for 5 even rows.

If you don’t want to eyeball it, you can draw some faint grid lines in pencil.  Just an FYI – pencil is hard to erase on canvas.

Next, start painting!  Yup, I went with poop brown

Here is where I DIY failed.  I orininally though I’d keep the canvas white, but it looked unfishined, so I went with gray.  Well jokes on me because the gray not only looked horrible, but with the brown letters on top, it was pretty dreary.

Fortunately I had another canvas that I went all “artsy” on a few years ago, so I decided to use that one as a backgrop instead.  Basically I funktified this project due to a painting failure

Oh, and forgot to take a pic of the painted canvas alone.  My bad.

Now it’s time to glue down the letters!
I painted on the Elmers glue so it wouldn’t be too thick.

Note: The O/Heart letter spot was a big debate in this family.  I wanted to just put a heart in (you know, I LOVE YOU) and forgo the “O” but Tony said it might confused our child and wanted the O so the alphabet was legit!  HA!

But then it would say I O U!  Not the message I’m going for, honey.

So we compromised with both and “O” and a heart.
While the canvas is a bit busy, I’m still pretty happy with the turnout.

Yes, that is that artsy canvas I made years ago over a glass of wine.  I’m not sure yet if I love it or hate it, but going with it for now.

Shout out to my BFF’s Mom Lee Aven, who wrote and gave me a signed copy of the Love Me This Way book (see photo above)!  
Check it out here!

Like so many other things in the soon-to-be nursery, I have yet to hang this piece… but for now it will reside with my baby chucks and books and await it’s final resting space on the wall.

Thanks Pinterest Challenge for the motivation!!!

If you’re looking for an excuse to actually DO one of those millions of DIYs you pinned…. come join me!  

This challenge is once again brought to you by these wonderful and inspirational bloggers:

• Emily from Sparkle meets Pop
• Katie from Bower Power
• Renee from Red Bird Blue
• Sherry from Young House Love

Here’s the scoop:

1. Find something you’ve Pinned that you want to tackle.
2. Tackle it with your own spin!
3. Blog/tweet/write a facebook status update about it!
4. If you’re a blogger…. In your blog post, link to the both the Pinterest item, AND the original source, and link back to the four Pinterest Challenge hosts above.

The party starts May 8th!  Can’t wait to participate!

This one I think is much cuter, and it will cost you under $15!

Simply buy a box of blank greeting cards (cute ones of course) at Target, or try Marshalls.  I got this adorable set of 50 chevron cards at Marshalls last week for $5.99!

And then pick up an assorted greeting stamp set.  I grabbed mine from Michaels for $8 (don’t forget to use their weekly coupons!)

Now, I can attend a wedding, shower, send a birthday greeting or thank you note without the obligatory trip to CVS!

And so 50 cards for $14 = 28 cents a pop (yeah I did the math) which means you can now spend more on the gift!  Win win

Second, does anyone have a Silhouette machine?

Third, do I need one???

This thing seems pretty bad a$$.

It’s basically an electronic cutting tool that can create almost anything you can design on your computer.  And not just on paper!  According to their website, you can use it to cut vinyl, cardstock, fabric, heat transfer material, and more.

It’s definitely an investment, with their two models ranging from $199-$299.

So my question to those who have it….
Do you use it enough to make it worthwhile?  
Or is this another neat gadget that ends up collecting dust in the closet?

I came across this adorable wall art idea on Pinterest a few months ago, and decided I needed to have it.  Well go figure, I could NOT find the original source anywhere [#pinterestpinfail] but that’s okay because the DIY version is always more fun.

Here is the inspiration:  

Love the whole room, but it’s those elephants I’m after!  Here’s another and close up version I found, also on Pinterest, with no source.  GRR.

Note:  I always try and credit the original source whenever I can, but sadly all searches lead to nothing!  If you happen to know where this idea came from, please let me know!

Project:  Hanging Elephant Wall Art

Supplies:

• Scrapbook or digital paper (printed)
• Scissors
• 1 small sheet of poster board
• 1 piece of cardboard (for stencil).  I used a manilla envelope
• Glue stick
• String

Cost & Level of Difficulty:

Cheap and easy.  ;)

Directions:

1. Find an image you’d like to use!  I found a great elephant for free on clip art, but you can use any image and shade it with black for this project.
Go ahead and print it out in black and white.

2. Trace it onto a piece of cardboard (or a manila envelope) to use as your stencil…

and again, cut it out.

3. Use your stencil to draw out the pattern on your colored paper!  Repeat as many times you as you’d like!

4. Glue the print outs onto the poster board.

5. Let dry for at least and hour, and for the last time, in the words of Full House’s Joey Gladstone: “Cut – It – Out!”

6. Arrange your items.

7. Attach string.

8. Hang.
Note:  This is not how I plan to hang them, but holding off until the baby furniture is in place.  I wanted to give you a visual though so right now, they’re just hanging from the sconce, unattached.

9. High five yourself for tacking this project for less than $10

Now where in the room shall I hang them?