We had reggae day at work yesterday in honor of 4/20. Not that I honor smoking illegal substances in any matter, I just like a good dress up day as the next fun person. 

We wore red, green and yellow and had yummy snack foods "munchies" all day. 

One my coworkers posted up signs around work the day before saying that today was "REYGAY Day" he literally thought that was how you spelled it... so that is why it is spelled funny on the picture... hope you enjoy!

The ombre look

So I haven't had my hair professionally died since I was pregnant with Chloe... yes, I am one of those people that have no problem with my hair getting dyed while pregnant. usually I just do a touch up from a box color at home. However, I want something fun and different. 

I was thinking about going back to blonde.... which is a HUGE change for me. I have been dying my hair dark brown/black since I was 18 (almost 10 years now) and I wanted something drastic and different. Not to mention Chloe is an adorable little blondie and I every time I look at her it reminds me of when I was blonde. 

I was picture ashy blonde with lots of lowlights... so it still looks blonde, but not too Barbie-ish. 

Something like this:

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Well, I made the appointment and just had a color consultation. Lets just say the stylist talked me out of dying it totally blonde. Not that it wouldn't look good, but because it would be very high maintenance to keep it up, going every 6 weeks to get root touch ups AND it would take about 3 different times (over the matter of a couple months) to get the look I want since my hair is so dark now.  Being that I am of pretty low maintenance and will definitely not have the time when baby E is here, I opted out for something that I don't know for sure I would be able to keep up (not just time wise, but money wise too since maternity leave is only half my regular pay).  Then she mentioned OMBRE. She described it going from darker to light shades from top to bottom and she would throw in subtle highlights around my face. It would take only 1 sitting and it would be low maintance. perfect! I never really thought of that hair style before, but I think I could pull it off and if I end up deciding I don't like going lighter, it is easier to dye it back to a darker color and less damage on my hair. 

So ombre it is. 

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Apparently, I really like Hilary Duffs hair stylist. 

So my homework until my official appointment is to find ombre looks that I like... I need your help finding inspiration! Every time I Google image the look, the same 4 or 5 actresses come up, but I want to see more variety!  What do you all think of the Ombre look? I am not 100% sure about the whole, looks like you have been growing your roots out forever look.

If you could comment with links with cute ombre hair.. that would be greatly appreciated! 

Repurposed inspiration - Tires

Chloe's school uses re purposed tires all over the playground. They have a giant tire pyramid for the kids to climb, they have tire flower planters, and they have tires just laid on on the ground for the kids to jump in or sit in. They painted them all sorts of fun colors and it really is cute. 

I think the most known recycle for the tire is the tire swing

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Here is a DIY project of a tire wall planter.

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These tire planters sit on the ground and are the ones similar to the ones at Chloe's school

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These planters are adorable! This idea can also be used to make little tire seats!

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You can take an old tire and make a cute cushion for it

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My friend made some tire seesaws for her son's birthday party. 

They were cute. You can find a DIY instructions post on how to make one here. 

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This is an interesting bird bath, garden decor

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Here are some eco chic seats and side tables made from the company Tyred.

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Oh and by the way... if any of you are in the San Diego area... you should check out the HUGE Earth Day Fair at Balboa Park.... 75,000 people went last year... and James and I have to work a booth there... so you could come say HI!

Repurposed inspiration - Mason Jars

I LOVE mason jars. I even told James that if we were to ever have a son, I think I want to name him Mason. 

They are just so fun and whimsical to me. We have tons around our house and use them for all sorts of things. The best thing is that you can find these all over garage and estate sales and even thrift stores. Sometimes even in fun colors like blue. 

Here are some creative ways to use them besides the obvious use of canned fruits and jellies:

Love this planter. You can even use recycled wood for the backing. 

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Not only does this idea work for plants, but for organization as well

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We drink from mason jars all the time

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You can even make the drinking glasses turn into fancy goblets

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you can use these just like you can with the light bulbs as a terrarium

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You can use them for little love notes. I made James a box one year that had 365 reasons why I loved him typed on little strips of paper with a funny picture on each one so he could read one for each day of the year.  It wish I would have thought of putting them in a decorated mason jar...

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You can make your own candles with them

And of course, my favorite thing to use them for: lighting. I just love the way they look as a chandelier or light fixture. Here are some instructions from instructables on how to make your own. 

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Here is a tutorial on how to make hanging mason jar candle holders. 

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I never had thought about using them as photo displays, but it is so cute!

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Super easy and chic vase for smaller stemmed flowers

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Here is a tutorial on how to make the jars blue if you can't find them already that color:

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I really want this for my house. I would put one in every bathroom and the kitchen. 

And maybe even a lotion dispenser for the rooms. 

Go here for the DIY instructions. 

If you don't want to make your own, you can buy them here and here. 

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And the yummiest idea I found was desserts in a jar. Like this rainbow cake. 

Instructions found here.  

What are some of your ideas to use this oh so versatile jar?

Repurposed inspiration - Light Bulbs

These incandescent light bulbs are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Most of us now use CFL bulbs. 

James and I love the look of the incandescent bulbs and even though they may not be the best to use around the house for lighting, we can use them in many other ways...

like an adorable terrarium:

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 These hanging vases are my next project. I want to hang them on our porch with some fun (fake) flowers and maybe even one or two that just has water to create rainbows on the floor. 

You can find instructions here.

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Seriously, this is the most adorable valentine project EVER. 

I might have to do this for James to put on his desk at work.

Instructions on how to do this here. 

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You can use it in your office as well for a pen holder

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You can use them for tiny aquariums too  

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This is a pretty cool take on the ship in the bottle

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And here is the instructions on how to make them into salt and pepper shakers:

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And these cuties would look great in a child's room. 

If your kids are old enough, they can help decorate them!

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Please, share any more ideas you have about using these old light bulbs!

Haha...

In case you were wondering just how much Chloe likes to take pictures with me....

Repurposed inspiration - Headboards

Cool and unique headboards can really add to a room. For many bedrooms, the headboard is a statement piece. I really love all these headboards and the fact that not only do they look awesome. They are all repurposed from something else!

How about this fun headboard made from painted book covers. You can find step by step instructions on Instructables (James' favorite website)

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Here is an easy peasy headboard made from reclaimed wood. You can find a wood pallet anywhere these days... usually behind the grocery store. 

All you need are some nails, a little paint to add some cute touches and some clear varnish. 

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I like the fact that these oars create a central theme of the room. So creative and fun! I never would have thought of this.

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Then there are headboards you can make with things found around a house.... something you can use that you already own, or that you can find at a garage or estate sale. You can create something fantastic from everyday ordinary items, like the headboards below.

This headboard is just a shabby chic room divider.
I think the "quiet" unique letters make it all that much more sweet.
It definitely has the cute repurposed look to it too.

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Another fun room divider that was painted a modern color:

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Not only do room dividers make good backdrops, but so do old wooden shutters...

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All you have to do is add a clear coat, lean against the wall and put your bed up to it and Voila!

This website as well as this one, tells you how to make your own headboard like these from start to finish if you can't find any used ones.  Although, I feel it is best to "go green" and try and find these at your local sales or thrift shops. You can even repaint and shabby them up a bit yourselves. 

A very common door was used for these headboards.
You can even add some fun paint, crown moulding or spindles to make them stand out a bit more.

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You can use old gates too:

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And we can't forget repurposed windows as headboards, these are my favorite type of headboards.
With the one below, they just added some pretty fabric behind the glass.

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and for a really powerful statement piece... you can go for a salvaged mantel:

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Okay, so I may have went overboard on all these headboards, but they are all so pretty and fun and can be made using repurposed items!