jessysblindstyle.com

At least that's what came to mind when I discovered this company that will turn your photographs into a custom lamp shade.  I know my mom would absolutely love a lamp made from pictures of her grandchildren.  Most moms get a kick out of things like that -- you see mugs and t-shirts and keychains and calendars made from photos all the time.  I've never seen a photo lamp shade, though!

Now I'll just need to take some time and compile my favorite pictures of the kids.  That shouldn't be hard since I already had a calendar made for my mom and my boyfriend's parents for Christmas.  If nothing else, Mike can laugh even more about my mom's ever growing "shrine" to her grandkids when she adds a custom lamp shade to her massive collection of pictures! 

jess @ 10:56 | comments(0) | Permanent link

Measuring for custom blinds to be ordered online is not particularly difficult, nor is installing the blinds when they finally arrive.  However, it can be a bit nerve-wracking if you've never done such a thing before.  For that reason, GuaranteedBlinds.com has introduced a referral service so that you can get your measurements and installation performed by a local technician.

When you use a referred professional blind technician to measure your windows, you can feel comfortable knowing that the window coverings you order will be just the right fit.  Using a professional installer will ensure that your blinds or shades are mounted correctly, centered just right, and secure on your windows.

Why not let GuaranteedBlinds.com save you some time and effort by giving you a great referral?           

jess @ 07:35 | comments(2) | Permanent link

We've decided to take our house off the market and stay put for awhile.  We have some wonderful friends in the area, and getting our house ready to be listed actually made us appreciate it more than we had been!  What does this mean for you, dear readers?  More house projects!  We're going to be getting back into painting and decorating and all that good stuff!

The front porch is going to be our first project.  We have a beautiful back entrance -- we actually joke that it's too nice for the house!  But the front is in terrible disrepair.  Mike will be responsible for the siding and most of the construction, and I'm responsible for decorating.  As such, I'm looking for new outdoor wall sconces. 

I'd like something bright and simple.  Mike likes anything and everything contemporary, and this outdoor lighting site has a lot of really unique and modern styles.  I am thinking that we'll put up an exterior wall sconce and then match our door knobs and knockers to the same style of chrome used on the sconce.  I really like everything to match that way!

I am a bit weary of giving up all the free time we've had as a family to get back into house work, but I do think it will be for the best.  Maybe this time, we'll be able to strike a good balance between work and leisure time!     

jessy @ 08:52 | comments(3) | Permanent link

Yet again, the holidays have left my house feeling cluttered.  We have too much stuff, and not nearly enough space.  I was really loving my pre-xmas house.  It was clean and organized, and while I still enjoyed getting out of the house every day, I also felt good about coming home to a pleasant environment.

I am starting to seriously consider using the self-storage facility down the street from my house.  It would take no more than a few kid-free hours to pack up the unused toys, baby furniture (yeah, baby never ded get the memo about sleeping in a crib), and other junk that we've collected over the past five years.  

Simplifying your life can make such a difference in your mental health.  Using self-storage ensures that you still have access to your things, if ever you should need them, while still allowing you to live in an organized home.

Storage Concierge will help match homeowners up with local storage facilities.  The new year is a great time to de-clutter!   

P.S. It's also a great time for college students to think about decorating.  Here's another page written by a university student friend of mine. 

jess @ 09:22 | comments(2) | Permanent link