Do you swap?

I am planning a Sip n' Swap party again this year and I am waaaay excited. 

Last year we had 10 ladies get together and do a clothing swap in the spring for summer fashions. What a hit! A few of my girlfriends even held their own swaps after that for fall they were so inspired!

This year, I am giving lots of notice (to beat people's urge to purge and garage sale season) to all my ladies so they can start to declutter and build their pile of items to swap. This year it is Home Decor.

I am sending the invite over 5 months in advance to allow them the time to glean through their homes, investigate closets, dig in basements etc. and create a pile of decor / home items (pictures, mirrors, drapes, pillow covers, rugs, art, lamps, clean bedding, small tables/ chairs, coffee table books, knick knacks, paddywhacks - whatever they can carry) to bring to the.....

"Friendsgiving Home Decor Sip n' Swap in July"!!!

If they have a larger piece of furniture, they can bring pictures and we will consider it added to the pile, the donor and the new owner can arrange pick ups smile emoticon

So far I have about 10 pictures, 2 lamps, unused kitchenware, small decorative shelves, a rug or two, decorative boxes, vases, draperies, barstools, outdoor hangers for plants....you would be amazed once you start your pile!!! So if they were thinking garage sale....I say don't do it! 

I am reminding everyone that it is important to be able to truly let go of the items they bring and not to be hurt if the pieces don't have a new home by the end of the evening. Any and all leftover items will be packed up, carted away and donated lovingly to a local Children's Assistance Program for their new store on (where Boy#2 volunteers)

Redecorating your home with new-to-you pieces can and should be inspiring. What's more inspiring than girl time???

Thanks for diving in with me - Dharma

From SPAZ to Spaaaaaaaaaaah with only $80

So here is the thing. I am a cheap Scot. No, really. Cheap.

I like a bargain but mostly I don't buy anything because even fabulous bargains have that horrible part of the process where I actually have to lift my wallet out of my purse. If you opened my change purse the Queen would squint from not seeing the light of day in weeks ;)

When I decide to "redux" a room, I always challenge myself to do it as cheaply as possible with the biggest TADA for every dollar.

I feel like I hit this one out of the park, yo!

Here is where we started.

10 year old paint job in BM's Straw Hat, fabulous green laminate and some quite decent cherry-ish builders cabinetry. Not HORRIBLE but not awesome. Not "rustic modern beach cottage"...like my inspiration shot.

So, like all cheap, albeit inspired, Scots....I started planning. The plan started with reusing all my former paint and transformation materials and we got to the point where the green counters were now black ala Rustoleum's Countertop Transformations and the cabinetry was going Old White (ASCP).

Greg busted out and completed painting the whole room BM's Cloud White, which is now going to be the Casa's signature colour (listen for the Steel Magnolias drawl there y'all) and then it stopped.

Like a needle on the record. Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeech.

I had the inspiration, I knew what I wanted but how is a girl like me, a.k.a CHEAP, going to achieve that look for NO MONEY? So far, I was in it to win it at $75.

So, I started shopping the house for my accessories, hoping I was only going to have to incur the cost of the paneling for that wood look I wanted behind the sink. I found an old tin Spongebob tub at the Salvation Army ($2) that I painted up and distressed, I printed out a sailor/ mermaid pic for the frame I wanted to use, knew I was going to finally hang our brass door knocker and I located the spa rug and slat.

The shower curtain was reversible to a nicer, softer colour so....I almost had it. I found more shells, a few nautical IKEA lanterns I had bought years ago and a cool stainless basket for the mags I like to have nearby. Switch out the garbage can with the one from the downstairs loo, bring in the $3 table I distressed a few weeks ago and BAM. I am good, right?

Yes, grasshopper....but what about the paneling?

Cue the light tinkling of bells in the background, cause I think this is where someone's (me) Guardian Angel finally came in from having her smoke outside and realized I needed a hand. Friday night, out at a friends for bevvies and I see this ripped up building leaning against his shed. Apparently this is an old hottub enclosure that is about to be firewood....being nosey I go take a gander. As I approach the pile of crud.....I smell it. No, not that. I smell CEDAR. Yards of tongue and groove red cedar slatting jammed into the framing of this pile of walls leaning, waiting for their demise on the bonfire.

"OMG! BILL! CAN I HAVE SOME OF THIS?"

Bless my husband down to his wee boxers, he and I were up and pry barring, removing screws and hauling 3 piles of slats the next morning. I think he may have woken up to me sitting on him, clapping with glee to get going at 8am....and not the way he probably would have liked that to have worked out LOLOLOL

So, Dharma busted out her old friend Chomper. Because these slats were pretty rotted at some ends. You can see that.

Chop, saw, chop, saw, measure, chop, saw, measure, screw, chop, measure, saw, chop.

C'est FINIS! I have never liked one of my redux more than I like this one. $80, I did it myself, I got someone else to do the painting on the walls and I reused all my own beachy stuff I have hoarded around my house forever. The room feels like it grew 3 sizes that day (Grinch shout out).

I am verra proud of this lass, she did her Scots Grandad proud.

C'mon you knew there was going to be a mermaid somewhere!

Thanks for diving in!

Showing off at:

Seeking Lavendar Lane

A Stroll Thru Life

A Bowl Full of Lemons

Vintage Inspiration Party @BlissRanch

Wow us Wednesdays @SavvySouthernStyle

Flaunt it Friday @ChiconaShoestring

A round for the whole bar!

....or a new bedroom for everyone? I pick new digs for each of the boys. Mostly for selfish reasons though. :) The upstairs of our backsplit was changed when we blew out a wall and connected two small bedrooms to create the Master. The old master bedroom was given to the youngest at the time.

With the eldest off at University, his bedroom with its adjoining bathroom has been handed down. The college-boy gets the basement lol. Actually he has some pretty sweet digs down there. Do not pity him.

So we had a redux for the downstairs room. We went from this:

To a fresh new navy, cream and lime palette for this guy...

We have been busy upstairs too. Remember that old master bedroom that the kid just got evicted from? Wait until you see what happened in there!

The best part about this project? Only $80 in paint. The rest of the room was shopped from the house. Go me!!

Are you ever done?

No seriously. For decor-addicts….that is the question on deck. Are you ever done? Is there ever a corner of your house you are not squinting at and thinking….. I can do better or do you catch yourself wondering if that new rug you bought for the kitchen wouldn’t look better over there…
Enter one of my favourite rooms to blog about, sweat over and redecorate again and again and again.The master bedroom. We have blown out walls, built closets, bought new and used furniture. I’ve painted and rehab’d pieces and have changed the drapes I think 4 times now. That being said, I think I’m done. No really. I think I may have finished.
Now, don’t get all excited and send me flowers just yet. I still have some linens to pick out for the bed and of course some accessories but you know, I think I AM DONE. Don’t tell my husband. I like him to live on the edge!!!!
So how did I get there finally? Believe it or not it was a stencil that pushed me over the cliff. I ordered an all over trellis stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils about 3 weeks ago. The shipping was quick and the product was great. I watched a few videos online at their site for tips and gathered my supplies. They say this is a ‘Beginner’ stencil and that’s pretty fair and accurate. It is easy to match the pattern and it goes up quickly. I used the trim paint to make sure it matched in the room.

Two words to the wise though….level + measure. A lot.
…and VOILA!

The other side of the room is jealous but I have some lovely accessorizing to do there etc. So he won’t be mad long



This room has had aqua, teal and now chocolate accents. It has been tie-dyed, floral, silky and strange. In the end it has turned out very neutral and I think very grown up. The colour story in this room is left to the wall colour (Cricket by Behr) and it does a nice job of keeping the room sophisticated. Like I said some linens and some art & accessories but ladies and germs….. I’m done.

Release the hounds....

....tooth.

See, I am unhappy with the general Gramma vibe going on in the front livingroom where my menthings have claimed said area for all things gaming and PC. I want this room to be fun with a big 'F'.

So I see some funk coming to a loveseat or sofa near me soon...

The green machine in the foreground needs a sweater.

I am thinking something along these lines.....on sale at Sears for $150. Cheaper than new furniture and washable. Have I mentioned I have sons? That they have lots of friends? That boys are sticky in general?

What say the Divas of Design on this one?

A match made in....

....you decide. What if HE met SHE:

...they took their skirts off and came to live together in my livingroom? THOUGHTS? Bheuller?

FFA Challenge #1

So, Mandi over at Vintage Revivals has started a club. The FFA is "Fearlessly Finding Awesome". This is not a "clubby" club, we won't be raving into the wee hours, sucking on pacifiers and dancing to trance music...or will we? Nope, this is about being fearless in your home. Fearless in decor, challenging you to make your space more "your space" and less like everything we see online or in magazines. First challenge is to Catch a Dream or to define your style "FEELING". Not with the traditional decor words but how you want your home to FEEL. What makes you, you? You know?

So in answering that, I think we all want our homes to feel and look like US. As in, your new friend walks into your home for the first time and says "OMG, this is exactly what I thought your house would look like. It's sooooo you!" To say I am outgoing is a bit of an understatement. I'm totally THAT girl. I've been described as too loud, too funny, too much my whole life. Now, translating that personality into a home could possibly make my place feel like Ringling Brothers had decorated it but there are other things about my personality that I do want to bring into my house. I am very maternal. I love being a mother and I love that my house is that house. The one where the boys' friends come and hang and feel comfortable. I like worn, comfy looking things that I don't have to shriek over. I have never yelled "Do not put your feet on that!". I am funny. Irreverant actually and I say exactly what's on my mind about 99% of the time. In my design style, I'd like more whimsy, humour and things that make you stop, look and laugh. You may have figured out that I love water. Duh. I'd like people to walk into my home and be reminded of beach days or a summer cottage trip. Not that I'm into stringing fishing nets from the ceiling (that makes us mermaids nervous) but I want that vibe. I love, love, love to entertain. I'd like for my guests and family to feel welcome. WELCOME. Open spaces, fun decor, colour and a beachy vibe. Comfortable, hey you - put your feet up....or help me make the margaritas kinda thing. What can I getcha?

To Die for or Tie Dye For?

Busy morning today. Up at 7:30 a.m. to go to the Zumba class at the YMCA, Quinn was leading a set today and he was pretty stoked. The class was all ages so I got to "rumba and zumba" next to Grammas and 2 year olds :) It was an awesome way to start my day. Not to mention, the Class Instructor was sooooo cute doing his choreography to "Dynamite"....



After that, Mr and I headed out in driving snow to retrieve a little something that I thought had been sold out from under me, but NO! It was mine today :) All mine. More on that to come.

Here's a hint....

I found this version online HERE and no I did not pay over $3000 for it!!!

This afternoon, I rearranged my master bedroom to make some room for the new find, but as many times as I made the bed I just couldn't stop staring at the fugly cream coloured bedskirt I have been stuck with cause I am cheap using. It just didn't sing with the new comforter set I scored at Marshalls last fall :( All that lime, olive and teal....gone to waste because of a cream bedskirt.....

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....I know!

Walmart = $4.99

Now before you start laughing, my inspiration was Anthropologie-esque in that I knew if I could pull off the same tones and colours, this would be genius....but that's the trick isn't it? I love this bedding from the Anthropologie site and was thinking of this for inspiration.

So, what to do when your project could possibly be a disaster and you don't want to shoulder all the blame? Enlist minions, then you can share the shame.

I am pretty pleased with our results, the colours are muddier than the crisp pattern on the quilt but I kinda like the contrast. If you peek to the left you can see my new find.....a little teaser :)

So, thoughts and opinions.....do I keep it or start shopping now? Truthfully, it was a fun project for Q and I and we only ended up with blue and green hands for the trouble.

Showing off:

Turning the light on the Mermaids....

...or leaving a light on for Susi from Arcadian Lighting. A true "wannabe mermaid"! She's dropping in from points down south from my chilly Canadian burg, bringing you a guest post here in blogland that brings Mermaid-Inspired decor (featuring Arcadian Lighting's line) and other ideas to getcher mermaid selves out there.

Experimenting? I'm in....so take it away Susi!

Hi, I'm Susi a blogger for Arcadian Lighting, a great resource for ideas and inspiration for light fixtures and design inspiration. I love the Wannabe Mermaid blog and am excited to be a guest blogger here today. My post is about mermaid inspired interiors. I decided to focus on the mermaid's tail and those gorgeous fish scales. Enjoy!

How gorgeous is this wall of mermaid inspired fish scale tile? The colors are those of the sea. It's so perfect for a mermaid's bathroom.

This gorgeous fish scale wall is made with a stencil called Mermaid. How perfect! The gorgeous fish scale pattern could be custom colored to fit your décor. The blues in the wall color, bedding and glass lamps are beautifully reminiscent of the ocean.

Another version of the Mermaid stencil is done in black with a matte and gloss finish that shimmers like real fish scales. What a gorgeous pattern for a bedroom or powder room.

A fish scale pattern on an area rug makes for a wonderful graphic pattern for the floor. This pattern in blues and greens would look even more like a mermaid's tail.

Gorgeous shimmering fish scale walls in purple feel like a mermaid's tail. I love the purple mermaid wall in a foyer or in a mermaid inspired girl's bedroom.

I love the shimmering surface of the fish scale tiles in this shower. The soft sea inspired colors of blue and aqua have an iridescence that recall the mermaid's tail.

Shimmering gold scales look gorgeous in a frame. Imagine an entire wall covered in this cool DIY idea that uses layers of circles make the fish scales.

Like the gold fish scale art, this wall is a DIY project. For the mermaid look, paint the circles a range of blue, aqua, green and purple. Careful positioning of lighting fixtures accent this creative wall. It's gorgeous!

If you loved these mermaid inspired interiors and are craving more inspiration, check out Arcadian Lighting Blog. You'll find the best tips on bathroom lighting and more for your home. Who knows, you could even find inspiration to create a mermaid inspired room for your home too!

Image Credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Arcadian Lighting is the best source for lighting fixtures and accessories at discount prices. Arcadian Lighting has been in the lighting industry for over 15 years selling decorative home lighting fixtures and lamps online, and has become one of the top Internet retailers for home lighting products.

Thanks Susi and Anna (my contact at Arcadian Lighting) for the fantastic post. I'm going to be looking all over my house now to see where this mermaid can hang her scales. I have yet to try and/or review one of their products....but I think I'll do that and let you know all about it. Shall I?

I'm just teasing....

...but someone has a Guest Poster coming up. Here at the Mermaid...about mermaid inspired design.........written by mermaids (OK that one might be a lie). But never the less watch for a post early next week to getcher mermaid on!

A hint? Geez, you guys are so nosy....

Candy! Candy! Candy! Oh yeah....

We have been busy, busy, busy! Lots of printing out fantatstic labels for our spooky treats and drinks at this past Saturday night HALLOWEEN TEEN SCREAM (now I'm going to have to remember where I got some of them....)

Check out Centsational Girl and feel free to download away from the super cool LoveManor

I'm dressed as "Satan's Mistress" today for the office :) getting ready for tonight's festivities.....

Happy Halloween everyone!