how to get rid of mold {for $2 or less} no scrubbing required

  By Karah | April 5, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , ,
29 Comments

Now, that title doesn’t really leave much to the imagination.  I was trying to come up with something fun and came up with squat.  :/
how to get rid of mold

Because seriously, when I think of mold it’s hard to be all fun and jokey and hahaha.  That stuff sucks!  There’s really no two ways about it.

But lucky for us (I’m not sure in what world this situation constitutes lucky exactly) we’ve actually had to deal with mold on more than one occasion.  So I’m going to give you a little play-by-play of what has worked really well for us in the how to get rid of mold category of DIY.

I’ll start by saying that we’ve never had to deal with mold inside.  So, in that arena we are lucky.  And that means that everything you are about to see is specific to how to get rid of mold on the exterior.

A not really interesting point of reference is that I have pretty severe asthma.  As in have been hospitalized a few times … once I was in the hospital at the same time as my 96-year-old great-grandmother and my situation was so bad she was the one who had to come visit my room.  So I’m pretty sensitive to breathing concerns, and you might know I’m a huge fan of upcycling ideas, so I’m always looking for ways to stay green.  With all that said, sometimes you just have to go with what works.   (more…)

you had to be there

  By Karah | April 2, 2013 - 7:08 pm |
30 Comments

No really.  You really did.

Because I forgot my camera.  :(

Oh, hey … hello and happy Tuesday!!  We did it!  We actually closed on the house!  Friday felt like an entirely surreal day because even though we were going through the final motions (reviewing the final HUD statement with the bank, wiring money to the closing company, signing stacks and stacks of paperwork) we were still skeptical the closing was actually going to happen that day.

I can’t even begin to explain the trials and tribulations the bank had us go through to finally close 8 days after our original close date.  And the best part is that I had another frantic call from them at 8pm Friday night saying that we needed to sign this one additional document ASAP so they could close our mortgage.

Ummmmm, hello … we just got back from closing.  Yeah, thanks!  ;)

Anywho, that is all behind us … and we have already started action plan “make someone else’s house our very own home”. (more…)

ever wonder what makes something popular? {top posts from a few faves}

  By Karah | March 29, 2013 - 10:58 am | ,
13 Comments

Hey there!  Happy Day to you!

If you’ve been following along on Facebook you know we didn’t close on the house yesterday. #whatchagonnado?  We’re pretty much (meaning totally, 100%, without a doubt, nothing we can do at this point, they’ve got us by the cajones) at the whim of the bank who seems to have no sense of urgency around actually finalizing the process.

So, I’ve been busying myself during this little transition period of ours working on this blog’s backside back end inner workings. Being a part of this post actually got me focusing on what are our top posts, analyzing what it is that you guys like to read about, tend to pin and in general have the most positive reactions to.  Which also got me thinking about what the top posts where for some of my favorite reads.

Aren’t you ever curious about what has been someone’s biggest hit and why?  Is it a drop dead gorgeous room reveal or an informative tutorial or super simple quick tip?

I am, so I thought I’d ask … and you have got to check out these great posts! (more…)

if by blue you mean grey {exterior house paint ideas}

  By Karah | March 25, 2013 - 7:08 pm | ,
41 Comments

Well, it seems as though this week is the week.  Our closing is scheduled for Thursday.  Can I get a knuckle bump?!?!

We’re pretty darn excited to get this new chapter in our journey started already.  And somewhat cautiously optimistic that this closing date will actually happen.  So maybe it’s best to hold off on the knuckle bumps until the weekend.  :) #nojinxiesplease

But if you’re in need of a little refresher about how we got to this point be sure to check out how we moved from one island to another in 23 days, how we decided whether to rent or buy knowing that we are only going to live here for a few years and see some ugly fun before pictures of our soon to be house.
exterior house paint ideas

(more…)

newspaper as a {creative wall covering}

  By Karah | March 19, 2013 - 7:08 am | , , , , , , , ,
59 Comments

newspaper as a creative wall covering
Hello, hello!!  If you happen to follow along on Instagram you saw a little sneak peek of a creative wall covering idea I worked on with my bff at one of our rental houses in Maryland.

I’m going to start by saying that I am seriously in love with how this little experiment turned out.  A $6 upcycling idea that I worked on for 2 hours with my bff and had no idea what to expect for a result … when something like that works out in the end what’s not to love, right?!?! (more…)

KitchenAid Mixer Giveaway {and 2 amazon gift cards, too!}

  By Karah | March 14, 2013 - 7:08 am | , ,
11 Comments
This giveaway is now closed.  Winners are:
KitchenAid Mixer – Cindy B
$100 Amazon Gift Card – Brandy B
$50 Amazon Gift Card – Wand B

Happy Friday Everyone!  Man, did you pick a good day to be here.  I have been convinced for a long time that I could become a master chef if I only had a KitchenAid mixer.  I don’t even know what I’d use it for, but it would look darn good sitting on my countertops, right!?!?  And today, you have the chance to not only win one in our KitchenAid mixer giveaway … but you could be the lucky winner of a $100 or a $50 Amazon gift card, too!!

The rafflecopter entry form is at the end of this post.  But first, I thought it would be fun today to do a little Instagram synopsis of my two week trip to Maryland.  If you’ve been here before you might know that we lived on the Eastern Shore of Maryland before we moved to Curacao (We’re now in Key West … confused yet?!?!) and here, my friends, is how I spent my two week action packed, all work and some fun vacation.  (To be read in quick succession, kind of like those Old Spice commercials … “I’m on a horse, now I’m in the Riviera …”) (more…)

upcycling ideas {20 perfect pallet projects}

  By Karah | March 11, 2013 - 7:08 am | , ,
30 Comments

You know, I’ve never really been much of a magazine girl.  I don’t subscribe to any, they were just never my go to for inspiration. But let me tell you … that is a changin’.  I find myself engrossed in any kind of magazine these days just looking at the pictures and gleaning inspiration for our soon to be house renovation / remodel projects.

And it’s no secret that I’m a fan of pallet projects.  And I’m finding myself drawn to all things pallet wood, or reclaimed wood, or barn wood.  The pictures just pop right out of the magazine and are just drooling with character and depth.  Pallet projects seem like such a great way to create a unique focal point in any room.

Here are 20 of my favorite pallet projects I’ve seen around lately.
20 perfect pallet projects

(more…)