Weekend Projects!

I love a good weekend project as much as the next girl, but my weekends have been booked full lately!  I'm not complaining...they've been awesomely fun (yes, I just said "awesomely"...live with it) but our apartment is not quite complete and we definitely need a few more chairs around the kitchen table.

My incredible deal-finder of a roommate Craigslisted this slightly used DOCKSTA Table and two URBAN Chairs for a mere $35 just a short drive away from our place!  We tipped the guy $5 for hauling all three pieces downstairs and helping us pack them into our tiny Los Angeles-sized cars like a life size game of Tetris.  If you're not as well-versed in the IKEA Catalog as we are...that's a retail value of $279.97 for just $40, Bob.  Cue the happy dance!

We're trying to figure out how to introduce a small, but standout pattern into our mostly neutral white and gold palette and maybe something like these DIY folding chairs will do the trick.  Featured on Poppytalk's 10 Summery Weekend Projects these Drab to Fab Folding Chairs are to die for!  I mean, come on...burlap with gold polka dots!?  See the full DIY's on Whipperberry and My Fabuless Life.

Mood Board: Bedroom Inspiration

My roomie and I are finally settling down in our Silver Lake apartment.  We're more familiar with the neighborhood, the restaurants, and (obviously) the bars.  Now that our living room and kitchen are almost completely decorated, I spent a little time on my bedroom this weekend.  Before I make any holes in the walls, I decided to put together a Mood Board for some inspiration and to clarify what look I was ultimately going for.  I settled on substle pastels with gold and pink accents and I can't wait to get started!

1 Ung Drill frame - IKEA

2 Verserum frame - IKEA

3 Botanical Prints (free download) - PoppyTalk

4 Simply Shabby Chic Drawer - Target

5 Pressed Glass Floral Tie-Back - Urban Outfitters

6 Emelina Knopp Bedding - IKEA

7 Tea Cup Succulent - Apartment Therapy

8 White Willow - Behr Paint

Weekly Writing with MDP

My latest Weekly Writing with More Design Please took form after observing more than a couple people in my life attempting to "stay friends" with an ex.  I, on the other had, prefer to "hit it and quit it"...okay not really...but in terms of exes this is true.  I cut all ties ASAP to avoid those heart crushing, stomach twisting, crazy bitch inducing moments of seeing an ex's picture pop up on your Instagram feed having the time of his life while you're drowning in a bucket of Ben & Jerry's and two (and a half...WTH, Trader Joe's?) buck Chuck.  Even if that ex was a complete jerk and you're 100% better off, those moments still suck.  I hope you enjoy The Ex Factor!



$75 Giveaway: Uncommon Goods & MDP

My lovely friend, roommate, and avid blogger over at More Design Please is hosting an Uncommon Goods $75 Giveaway!  We recently moved into an apartment in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake and after DIYing as much as we could, decided to add some extra (and affordable) touches.

ALL IMAGE SOURCES FOUND HERE

Not only is Uncommon Goods a great place to get fun gifts for yourself, it's perfect for birthdays, graduations, housewarmings, Shark Week...anything, really!  And with our Mad Men themed housewarming coming up soon, you bet we'll be sending our friends our Wish List!

  

So head over to MDP and enter the Giveaway!  One lucky winner will be chosen on Friday, August 9th.

Weekly Writing with MDP

It's no secret...dating sucks.  And in a world where the good old-fashioned rules of courtship are disappearing, what's a girl to do?  I still want to be pursued and wooed, but it's becoming evident that most guys in the year 2013 are playing some kind of Dating Roulette.

Weekly Writing with MDP

I'm a little behind on posting my Weekly Writings!  Life has been very busy in the best way possible lately...please forgive me!  Enjoy!

Sometimes, even good girls need a little bit of sweet revenge...

All of a sudden I realized I was on a double date...whoops!

Weekly Writing with MDP

We've all been there...trying desperately to play it cool and remain calm while our insane female brains are running a mile a minute.  Read about it in my Weekly Writing over at More Design Please!

Weekly Writing with MDP

Here is my latest Weekly Writing with More Design Please...Wake Up and Smell the 'I Don't Want to Talk to You'.  And check out the fancy new link to the right to find all of my weekly writings!

Who, Me?

Writing about my dating antics is a fairly new hobby for me.  I'm still getting over the shock that people think I'm funny.  I love being featured on my beautiful friend Summer's website More Design Please and hope that I continue to find inspiration for my writings!  As long as there are bad dates, boyfriend woes, and embarassing moments, I'm sure I'll have nothing to worry about.

I was so excited when another one of my lovely and talented friends (I do have many) emailed me about her newest endeavor.  She knows I've dabbled in the world of online dating and asked me to share some of my stories for a webseries she's creating!  I told her yes, of course...I just hope my stories are interesting enough.  I'm meeting up with her today and can't wait to share more updates as they come up.



New Adventures by Kelli Murray



Succulent Succulents

If you need a houseplant murdered, I'm your girl!  You can trust me with your pets, your kids, and your house, but please don't leave your greenery under my supervision.  The downside to this huge character flaw is that I adore flowers and plants indoors!  There is something about a fresh (live) plant brightens my day.  My inability to garden aside, I also only have a small amount of space that I can dedicate to long-living plants.  I did however manage to find a spot for these daffodils I picked up at Trader Joe's for a buck twenty-nine a bunch!

My good friend Summer suggested I try my hand at succulents.  They are nearly impossible to kill, conserve water, can be potted in almost any medium (reuse & recycle) and have become increasingly trendy which means DIY tutorials are easy to find!

Here's a roundup of some of my favorite succulents.  Add them to my DIY to-do list!

1. Mini Air-Plant or Succulent Planter - Old and Board Etsy Shop

2. Succulent Gardening, California Style - Apartment Therapy

3. Tea Tin Succulent Planters - Apartment Therapy

4. Turn a Trusty Typewriter into a Succulent Planter - Besserina

5. Score & Solder Terrarium - Wit and Wistle

6. Carly & Chip's Resourceful & Refined Home - Apartment Therapy House Tour

7. How to Make Your Own Book Planters for Succulents - Apartment Therapy

8. Succulent Favors - Martha Stewart
 

Other useful links

4 Tips for Growing Great Succulents & Cacti

How to Care for a Succulent Plant

Weekly Writing with MDP

I used to pride myself on really having my shit together (for a lack of a better phrase)...I had my college degree and teaching credentials at 21, was in a long term relationship that I thought  was going somewhere by 23, and although I was struggling to find a permanent, full time teaching job, I was still making ends meet with two part-time positions.  Very abruptly though, my fantasies of a perfect and easy life were curb-stomped and I was faced with the reality that I was not Charlotte York from Sex and the City.

Head over to More Design Please to read my latest Weekly Writing, Lies Sex and the City Told Me.  Enjoy!

Weekly Writing with MDP

This is my third official Weekly Writing with More Design Please and I am having so much fun stretching my writing muscles!  I hope you enjoy The Truth About Spidey Senses!



Weekly Writing with MDP

Happy Friday!

Here it is...my second official Weekly Writing with More Design Please.  Enjoy!

Weekly Writing with MDP

Happy Monday!

My very lovely friend, Summer, has been kind enough to feature me on her site More Design Please as a semi-regular guest writer and I could not be more excited!  I will be covering whatever happens to inspire me that week.  Friday's entry was about my very first adventures in online dating.  Have a read!

Photo by: More Design Please

If you love art, DIY, decor, food and design, then take a peek at MDP...I'm certain you'll love it!