{Interior Design} 9 Easy Ways To Give Your Home a Mini Makeover

If you're anything like me, you may constantly sometimes have the urge to update your living space without breaking the bank.  I'm always wanting to change things up, but for the sake of J's sanity, I try to do this minimally or when he's out of town. If I lived alone? I'd probably be re-doing rooms every other week. Anyways, I've been having an urge to change up our living room (haven't told J this...surprise!) & was thinking of easy yet effective ways to give the room a little facelift.  I've put together the following tips along with my favorite stores to find such items.  If you have any suggestions or a favorite stores, I'd love to hear about them!

#1 Rugs

Buying a rug in a bright and/or bold pattern can really refresh a room.

If you aren't big into color like I am, perhaps something more subtle like the two below.

Source: West Elm



Source: Domino

Now, I know you're thinking rugs can be expensive, but I've gotten some great deals from:

Rugs USA (they are currently running a 55% deal) Overstock & Shades of Light.

#2 Decorative Lamps

I love love love lamps. LOVE. They are a great way to add some personality to a space. If you're still rocking the $19.99 black/silver floor lamps from Bed Bath & Beyond, please do me a favor & get rid of them NOW.

Source: Urban Outfitters

Source: BHG

Source: The English Room

Source: Home Bunch

My Favorite Spots for Lamps: Lamps Plus, Home Goods, Threshold/Nate Berkus for Target

#3 Throw Pillows!!
OK so if there's something I love more than lamps. it's throw pillows! Just ask J...he told me no more. Good thing he hasn't checked my car or our storage closet. Throw pillows can be fairly inexpensive & can add such a pop of color or texture to any room. The best part, if you get sick of them? Toss them in the closet or buy covers for them.

I love mixing & matching colors & patterns. Who says they all have to be so match-y?

Also, I'd die for this couch.


Source: I Suwannee

Source: Hi Sugarplum!

Source: Rue Mag

My favorite affordable places to find throw pillows:  Home Goods, PB Teen, CB2, & Festive Home Décor (Etsy shop) 

#4 Plants

Some people might steer from plants saying they don't have green thumbs, or will most likely kill it.  If that's the case, then I recommend getting an Aloe plant, or a Bamboo plant or a succulent .  They are almost fool proof! I do NOT have a green thumb & my aloe plant is 4 years old & currently taking over my kitchen.  If I can keep it alive, so can you!

Source: Hub Pages

Source: BHG

#5 Add a Bar Cart
Bar Carts have become somewhat of an essential phenomenon, & who WOULDN'T want one?? Just about anything can be turned into a bar (I'm currently using what once was my TV console) & can be very fun to stock :)

Source: Guest of a Guest

Source: Carla Aston

Source: Honestly WTF

Best places to find cheap bar carts: Ikea, Target, & Flea Markets

#6 Organize with Trays

I love trays. I know, I've been saying love a lot during this post, but it's true! Trays are so fun & a great way to add personality to a space. I have trays on my bar, coffee table, end table & nightstand. What can I say?!

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: Mom Toob

Source: The Every Girl

Source: The Glitter Guide

Favorite places to find trays:  Home Goods (I know I know), Pencil Shaving Studio, Z Gallerie, Flea Markets!

#7 Change your Curtains!

I adore curtains.  (See what I did there?? Didn't say love!) Whether you go with bright & bold colors, or more subdued solids, curtains really impact a room & can change the entire feel of a space.  Remember, when hanging your rods, you want to install them as close to the ceiling as possible, unlike some of the photos below. They will instantly make your room taller! (See guide)

Source: House & Garden

Source: Dwellers without Decorators

Source: House Beautiful

Favorite place to find curtains: Urban Outfitters, So Sarah Sews (etsy shop), Overstock & Ikea

#8 New Bedding

There is nothing better than diving into a fresh set of bedding. Every time I move I buy new bedding.  Now that we're going to be in our place for a bit, I have a feeling I'm going to be changing up the bedding more often. My love affair with throw pillows does follow me into the bedroom, except they tend to spend more time on the floor than our bed. Whatever.

Source: Decorative Bedroom

Source: Uncovet

Source: wayfair

#9 Add Metallic Accessories

If you've been following me lately you know I've been digging gold. It's been fun finding ways to incorporate it into my home.  The easiest is with accessories, pillows & poufs. I just bought the gold Moroccan poof for my office & to say I am obsessed wouldn't even come close to my feelings for it.

Source: Style Me Pretty

Source: Centsational Girl

Source: All Things Thrifty

 Favorite places for metallics: Z Gallerie, Home Goods (yes, again) Thrift Stores & Flea Markets!

 Some of my other favorite home haunts include: Joss & Main, Wayfair & One Kings Lane,

Have any other tips? I'd love to hear them!

Please note, this is NOT a sponsored post. All thoughts/ideas are mine & I was not compensated for mentioning any of the above stores/sites. I only wish I was cool enough for that to happen.

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

So, this recipe is kind of weird…good…but weird. I know that's not exactly what you're looking for when reading reviews about a recipe, but I don't know how else to describe it.  I like buffalo sauce just like any other person, but I don't know if it should be used in lasagna. J on the other hand is OBSESSED with this dish;  he also LOVES buffalo sauce.  If you're a lover of all things buffalo, this recipe is for you.  If you think it's good with wings but don't think it's the greatest thing ever, then make at your own risk. On the bright side, it's a Weight Watchers friendly recipe…surprising right?!?!  The other weird thing was the chicken was cubed. I think if it was shredded it would have blended a bit better. One more warning, depending on the buffalo sauce you use, it has a pretty good kick. I'm such a chicken, but I think I handled it pretty well. Thank you to Recipe-Diaries for the recipe! 

Serves: 8

Cook Time according to me: 1 hour 45 mins

How difficult was this for me? Not too bad!

9 whole wheat noodles

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, shredded

3 cups spaghetti sauce, cheese blends are best

1 cup Texas Pete Buffalo-style Wing sauce

1.5 cups water

15 oz nonfat ricotta cheese

1/2 cup egg substitute

1/2 cup blue cheese crumbles or pepper jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Spray 9x13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil & place chicken breasts for 8-10 mins until fully cooked through.

Meanwhile, in a mixing bow, combine ricotta cheese & egg substitute.

In a different mixing bowl, combine water, spaghetti sauce & wing sauce.

When the chicken is done, shred it (ignore my cubes) & mix it into the spaghetti sauce mix.

Spread approx. one cup of the sauce/chicken mix across the bottom of the pan.

The original directions say to lay 4 noodles over the sauce. 4 noodles wouldn't fit, so I got creative.

Spread a layer of sauce over the noodles. Then spread a layer of the ricotta mix over the sauce. It is a tad difficult, do your best…you won't really notice when eating if it isn't completely even.

Add another layer of noodles & repeat the process until you end with a layer of just sauce & chicken mix. 

Cover with aluminum foil & bake for 1 hour.

Remove from oven, sprinkle cheese on top & bake uncovered for an additional 15 mins.

Remove from heat & let dish sit for about 10 mins. 

Serve & Enjoy!

Lately Loving: Tasteful Tile!

J & I recently attended the most BEAUTIFUL wedding in Santa Barbara.  Our best friends got married (finally) & the entire weekend was just perfect.  Originally, we planned on staying at The Hyatt, where we've stayed before. It's a really nice hotel & faces the ocean. Who can complain about that? However, through a small mishap with the bride's mom, we ended up moving over to The Four Seasons - The Biltmore while only paying a Hyatt rate. BEST MISHAP EVER.  I've been to bottomless mimosa Sunday brunch twice at The Four Seasons before, but I'd never been in any of the rooms.  I was absolutely blown away.  The accommodations were simply stunning & have inspired a post about it.   



The bathroom had the most vibrant tile I've ever seen in a hotel bathroom & I fell in love. I've always been drawn to a more modern feel (could you tell by our bathroom remodel?), but if I ever own a Spanish style house, I am incorporating tiles like this or the ones below somehow!

Source: House Beautiful

Source: House Beautiful

Source: Interiors by Studio M

Source: Justina Blakeney

Source: The French Eye

Source: CoCo Kelly

Source: Apartment Therapy

Source: California Home & Design

Source: That Truett

Would you believe these "tiles" are actually decals?? Such a fun way to incorporate the design in a more affordable way.

 Source: Bleu Coin

Would you ever incorporate this look into your home?