diy dresser with rustic wooden top

Ready for the sequel to the nighstand project? This one is my personal favorite! Perhaps because I now have a new dresser for the first time in my life! I love that I can picture this dresser sitting in an overly priced home store with a gigantic budget-busting price on it. But it's not from Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Anthrolopie or West Elm, we transformed it! It might have taken some time to complete, but the finished product is exactly the look we were hoping to create!

Here's a look at the before picture - your standard 70s dresser ready for a makeover!

Dresser step-by-step:
1. Clean the dresser and drawers with a cloth and remove the old hardware. Do you think anyone will buy the hardware at a garage sale??
2. Apply a coat of Behr Hazelnut Creme on the dresser and outside of the drawers and let it dry overnight. Note: not the best idea to paint in the grass on newspaper, but spring fever was calling...

3. Apply a second coat of paint.
4. Lightly sand the corners and edges of the dresser and drawers and remove any sanding dust. Use a fine grit paper.

5. Apply a coat of Zinnser Clear Shellac Traditional Finish and Sealer (the same shellac we used in the nightstand project).

6. Replace the old knobs and pulls with new hardware from Home Depot.

And the icing on top of the cake - the dark rustic wooden top:
1. We picked up two 2x6x10s and had the Home Depot man cut them in half for us.
2. We wanted the wooden top to hang over the original dresser top by an 1 1/2" on each side, so we cut the 2x6s to be 53" long. And by "we," I mean my dad and hubster - I draw the line at super fast spinning metal blades. I'd like to keep all my fingers...
3. One board was also cut to be 3 1/2" wide so  it would sit flush with the back of the dresser against the wall.
4. After making the cuts, remove all the sawdust. Leftover sawdust + stain = not the best idea
5. Then apply a coat of Old Masters Spanish Oak Wiping Stain to the boards. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes then remove most of the stain with a cloth. Turn the boards over after they are dry to touch and coat the other side. Allow the boards to dry overnight.
6. Apply a coat of shellac to all sides of the 2x6s (flip the boards after a half hour to coat the other side).
7. Use a biscuit cutter and wood glue to attach the four boards to each other. The biscuits allowed us to attach the boards to each other without any visible nails or screws.
9. Place the 2x6 board on top on the dresser. It's currently resting on a drawer liner we bought at the dollar store to keep it from scratching the top of the dresser. If you have kids and are thinking about doing this project, you might want to screw the boards into the dresser.

I absolutely love the rustic top mixed with a sleek dresser. Can't wait until we get to work on our headboard and footboard in a few weeks! I promise I'll try to capture each step in the diy process next time!

P.S. If you liked what we did with this dresser, check out how we upcycled an old dresser into a kitchen storage cabinet for our tiny kitchen. 

diy rustic nightstand

After four Saturdays of painting, staining, sanding, and shellacing, we've finally completed our two furniture projects! The nightstand and dresser had been waiting in storage for someone to dust them off, pretty them up, and use them again. Along came some semi-frugal sort-of-newlyweds who desperately needed some bedroom furniture in their abode and the rest is history. 

Today, let's talk about this nightstand:

The color is a little off in the first picture, but you get the idea - it's dated and desperately in need of some tlc.

Here's what we did:
1. Dusted/cleaned with a rag.
2. Applied a coat of Silver Strand Behr paint. We actually bought two little samples in flat and barely even needed the second sample. Tip: buying samples instead of a quart saves precious $$!
3. Applied a coat of Zinnser Clear Shellac Traditional Finish and Sealer
4. Sanded in areas of typical wear on "old" pieces
5. Removed the sanding debris
6. Applied a coat of Old Master's Spanish Oak Wiping Stain. Let it sit for five to ten minutes then wiped most of it off. Let it dry overnight.
7. Applied another coat of Zinnser Shellac.
8. Added a new drawer pull (not sure the name/model, but we got it Home Depot) and viola! Done!

Lessons learned:

1. Have some sort idea of the overall look you want to achieve in the end. Ask the experts for help- there's no way we would of known which products to use without the help of my brother! If you want to see what a real master can do with wood, paint, and stain, check out his website and prepare to be amazed!
3. Sand carefully and with the grain. I got a little overzealous a few times...
4. Don't expect perfection on your first try! I can see some of the places that need a bit more stain, but no one else is going to notice unless they get down on the floor scrutinize all its flaws (and if that's the case, then you probably don't want them in your bedroom anyway!)
5. The most expensive item to buy was the wiping stain ($20). Thankfully, we also used the wiping stain and shellac for our dresser. and there is still plenty left for future projects!

I really love having a nightstand for the first time in my life! Yes, that's right. The first time in my life! I've always had a basket, desk, or hutch next to my bed, but now I feel like I'm officially an adult! If only we could find one for the hubster's side of the bed - this weekend we begin our yard sale search!

Coming soon: the dresser's transformation! 

Easter weekend: a trip to Shenandoah and how to travel frugalishly

Happy April, friends! Last week the hubster and I celebrated spring with a little getaway to Shenandoah National Park. It was a bit snowier then we expected, but the views were incredible! If you like mountains, hiking, and beautiful vistas this is the place for you!

lots of scraggly old trees on the ridge

We suggest grabbing a sandwich or picnic dinner in town and heading back into the mountains for sunset. Pick one of the many overlooks that face west and spend the evening marveling at God's handiwork.

We stayed at a beautiful old B and B in Luray, VA, South Court Inn Bed and Breakfast.  If you are looking for delicious food, comfortable accommodations, and welcoming hosts in the Shenandoah Valley, we highly recommend you stay here.

Our favorite feature (besides the incredible breakfasts and complimentary snacks) was the morning coffee delivered outside your room by 7am. Sipping a cup of locally roasted coffee while watching the sun rise over the Blue Ridge mountains from bed...now that's a morning routine I could get used to everyday!

On our second day in the valley, we decided to brave the cold and explore the park on foot. Our first try was a little adventure up an old fire road in Big Meadow...it wasn't a very long walk. The wind was cold and strong, but I snapped this picture while attempting to not blow over. Even the clouds look cold! We turned around when the snow had drifted so high that snow shoes were necessary.

Then we went for a little stroll through the woods on the Limberlost trail (named after the swamp that's in the two children's classics The Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles). I love both of these books and was just a bit excited to be walking in a Limberlost Swamp of sorts...

Our tips for traveling frugalish:
- set a budget for your trip including gas, accommodations, food, and activities
- pack your own snacks (granola bars, trail mix, fruit) and drinks (or just fill up a ton of water bottles)
- eat a big breakfast - the goal is to be full enough so lunch isn't needed and the nutritious snacks you pack can hold you over until dinner
- research restaurants online (we love tripadvisor) - find the highest rated restaurants in town and then choose the one that fits within your budget
- remember tourist attractions cost big $$ - skip them (unless you have wiggle room in your budget) and choose the free activities instead
- take advantage of off-season accommodations and special packages


It was lovely trip! We have happily checked another national park off our list. If you're interested in traveling to Shenandoah, we suggest visiting in the fall to see the foliage or (later) in the spring for the blooms and red buds. One perk of a cold, windy, snowy park - the crowds were non-existent. So if you prefer wide open spaces to yourself, visit in the winter or early spring.


We ended our weekend with a very wet outdoor Easter egg hunt on the farm and a family cookie decorating party (our decorating skills need a little help!).  Hope you all had a wonderful Resurrection Sunday!

adventures in bread making

Portugese Broa Bread  -  a rustic bread made with cornmeal. The hubster's favorite!

Remember back when I made some frugalish resolutions a few months ago? Well, I'm human and my sewing machine might still be forgotten and forlorn, but my pizza/bread stone is well-loved! I've used a lot of flour and yeast these past few months, but I've also saved quite a bit by cutting out store-bought bread.

My favorite bread recipes thus far come from the Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day book. I had a copy out from the library for nine weeks (don't worry I renewed it twice!), then I decided I raid mom's cookbook library and borrow hers. She's worried I'll keep it forever. Don't worry mom - just until I can put it on my birthday list!

what you might not be able to see is that this bread is slightly lopsided, but it still tasted almost! perfect sourdough flavor!

The five minute method is multi-stepped, but relatively simple. Once you get the hang of the basic process, bread making is super easy!

Here's the basics:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Allowing it to rise for about 2 hours at room temperature
3. Put it in the refrigerator for baking another day in a covered, but not air-tight container
4. Bring the dough out the fridge and dust the surface with some flour
5. Pull out a one pound ball (grapefruit size). Shape it quickly then let it rest on the counter (the amount of time varies based upon the type of flour used in the recipe)
6. Pop that little dough baby in the oven with a pan of hot water steaming on another shelf and let it bake until it's nice and golden. Don't open the oven door until it's pretty much done - usually after about a half hour of baking.
7. Let it cool on a rack before cutting
8. Use for a paninis, dip in soup, or slather that baby with butter and enjoy!

buttermilk bread: perfect for paninis and french toast (smothered in a maple peach sauce and whipped cream, of course! I'm sorry that the picture is missing...I inhaled instead of taking the time to drool over it through the camera lense...whoops)

the way dinner is meant to be!

Why do I love this method? It's easy, requires little effort, but yields the most delicious bread with crisp crusts, tender crumbs, and perfect flavor. I can mix the ingredients together, go run some errands, come home, and pop the bowl in the fridge for baking for another day. Then when I'm ready to bake, I pull the amount of dough out that I need, form it into a ball, let it rest, and then stick it in the oven. I especially love that one recipe yields enough dough for three to four loaves. If I get really ambitious and have a free afternoon, I'll make a few loaves and then freeze them. Then when I want fresh bread for dinner, I just pull it out in the morning and it's ready to be warmed for dinner that night. Homemade bread does require some planning, but it's totally worth saving $2-$5 a loaf. Plus there aren't many things as satisfying as dipping a chunk of homemade artisan bread into bowl of warm and comforting tomato soup on a rainy day.

And because I recently had a request for step-by-step photos I'll be back next week with a photo breakdown of the bread-making process in my kitchen. Until then check out the blog of the two creators of these wonderful recipes. Hats off to them for creating a homemade bread process that's accessible to busy home cooks!

news from the book nook: spring favorites

Even though the weather doesn't agree with the calendar, it's spring!! And so we must celebrate! How? With children's books, of course!

As I had originally announced in this post, here's the first edition of news from the book nook! I hope you find some old favorites on this list and maybe even some new ones to check out the next time you stop by the library or book store.

In no specific order a few of my spring faves...

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! by Candice Fleming
This book held the attention of one hundred squirming and excited kids before an egg hunt in the library last spring. No small feat for any book! Mr. McGreedy plants a garden, but finds that naughty bunnies are eating his veggies each night. He saws, cuts, and hammers his way through the book trying to protect his precious garden. One of my personal storytime favorites for preschoolers and kindergarteners! P.S. The bunnies are back in Tippy-Tippy-Tippy, Hide!

An Egg Is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston
Beautiful watercolor illustrations compliment nonfiction writing at its finest. The perfect book for a morning spent observing the inhabitants of the nest in your backyard. It's geared towards the early grades, but any bird-lover or animal aficionado will be enchanted by this book. In fact, I'd love to have some of the watercolors hanging on my walls! It would go lovely with our tree theme...but that's a topic for another day...

Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
A classic! If you didn't befriend Frog and Toad as a child, please consider doing so right now! Early chapter books wouldn't be the same without this series of books about their quirky, fun friendship.

This particular book has a lovely little chapter about spring. Wake up, Frog! Wake up! It's Spring! This quote still pops into my head somewhere around February or March when the birds start singing, the bulbs begin to bloom, and the air smells of mud and flowers. Proof of the power of the written word and that what is read to a child stays with them for the rest of their life.

Feathers for Lunch by Lois Ehlert
The classic cat and mouse bird story with a twist. Another great option for introducing scientific terms to preschoolers and kindergartners through an accessible, bright, and fun book. If your child like this one, try these other great reads also by the same author: Planting a Rainbow (perfect for talking about flowers and their names) and Waiting for Wings (caterpillar into butterfly story).

Rabbit Inn by Patience Brewster
Sadly, out of print, but a personal childhood favorite. We found a copy a couple of years ago while on vacation and bought it on the spot. It's a sweet little story about a rabbit inkeepers getting ready for their babies to arrive with the help of the inn guests. My mom must have read this to me hundreds of times when I was little!

Bugs by the Numbers by Sharon Werner
Perfect for any boy (or girl) who love creepy crawlers, numbers, and facts! An inviting format that provides interesting bug information. I often suggested this one for those kids that tear through nonfiction animal books or the world record books.

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Gorgeous Caldecott-winning illustrations and simple text. Green is the color of spring and this book is a wonderful way to talk about the concept of color and all the shades that exist within one color.

Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis
A book that brings out the imagination in a child. It's the sequel to another one of my favorites: Not a Box (a perfect rainy or snowy day book and activity). Our little friend in the book has a stick, but it's not a stick! It's a sword. A fishing pole. A horse. Read this one with your preschooler and then head outside to find out just what a stick isn't!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
What spring reading list would be complete without the perennial favorite! I especially love reading the story with props (holla to all you felt board lovers!) and giving each child a chance to have a part in the story. It's wonderful for teaching the concepts of a story, numbers, vocabulary, and the butterfly life cycle. No child is ever too young to be introduced to that very hungry caterpillar who eventually turns into a beautiful butterfly!

Stay tuned for the next edition of news from the book nook featuring things that jump and croak!