Pinterest Challenge: Fire Pit

So, if you've been following along, then you know that Valerie's Pinterest Challenge ended on Sept. 30. I'm late in getting this post up, but I promise it was done well before the deadline.

As you know, I had 5 projects that I was going to attempt to complete. Really, I made it through about 3.5 of those projects. As you know...I completed the two organizing projects. I'm about to introduce you to the Fire Pit, and I've got the chairs 1/2 way done.

Anyways, onto the Fire Pit! You may remember my inspiration....

Source: alwayschasinglife.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 

Let me introduce you to my backyard.

As you can see, I have a giant brush pile. I'm lucky enough to have a big backyard, with lots of old growth trees. The problem with that is, I have lots of GIANT branches that fall out of my trees. And I have no way to get rid of them...hence the idea for a fire pit. Oh yeah, I'm a smart cookie.

 
Putting it all together was fairly easy. I just went to Home Depot, bought the stones and followed their natural curve to make the circle fire pit. Let me show you my new fire pit!

Sometimes all the wood/branches don't fit in the pit, but you know what....IT MAKES AWESOME S'MORES. I've been having little bonfires here and there, and I'm starting to put a big dent in the HUGE brush pile.

And here's a little sneak peek on the chairs...

Eventually those chairs are going to end up by the fire pit. But for now, they need another coat of spray paint and some finishing spray. I promise I'll show the end result soon.

Pinterest Challenge: Purse Hoarder

Hi, my name is Amy, and I'm a purse hoarder. Okay, I admit it, I hoard shoes too. But at least my shoes are organized. My purses are not. I'm assuming most women are like me. They love purses, love to switch often, and hate to get rid of the old ones. If your not like me, please tell me how you do it.

I have purses stashed all over my house. And alot of them are stacked inside one another, making it hard to see and locate what I want. So when I saw this idea on Pinterest, I knew it was for me. 

Source: bhg.com via Amy on Pinterest

This is what purse hunting used to look like for me. Dig through 3 closets, open up big purses to see little purses, and never ever find the one I was looking for.

Awful huh? So on the Target trip I bought a shower curtain rod (the short one made for stalls) and some double sided curtain hooks. I installed it in my closet and hung up my purses. The hardest part about all this was hunting down all my purses to hang them up.

Drum roll please.........
The final finished product.

Now I can see all my purses, and choose exactly which one I want. The cost break down on this is as follows:

Shower Stall Tension Rod from Target   $4.99
Slide Glide Shower Hooks from Target  $6.99
                                                            $11.98

All together this took me about 30 minutes to do and I was able to organize 18 purses with room for more. Yay!

Pinterest Challenge: Dirty Little Secret.

I'm going to let you guys in on a secret. A dirty secret. Underneath my kitchen sink it is a scary scary wasteland. I'm not even kidding. Whenever I wanted something it was a grab and get out as quickly as possible. No lie. When I moved into my house about 2 and a 1/2 years ago, I threw all my cleaning supplies in there and called it good. I don't think I've spent more than 30 seconds in there since. I don't even know what all I have in there. Let me give you an example.

See, I told you it was scary.

Here's a close up shot!

And now you know, the scariness that is was hiding under my kitchen sink. Sometimes, I was scared it would drag me in there and keep me forever.

As you know Val issued her Pinterest Challenge, and I've been staring at this pin for a while. I mean, look how nice and pretty it is. So fresh, so clean. So I got off my butt and got to work.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Amy on Pinterest

 I spent 30 minutes pulling everything out of the cabinet and lining it up on the counter. The trash can got relocated along with a new recycling bin. I will tell you I didn't expect some of the things I found under there. Let me break it down for you:

• 4 (yes 4) bottles of Febreeze Air Freshner
• Tick spray for the dogs
• Insect Repellent
• All purpose cleaner with bleach
• 2 bottles of Fantastic Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Mr. Clean Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Yard Guard Mosquito Fogger
• Windex
• Soft Scrub
• Cerama Brite
• Disinfecting Wipes
• Mop Head
• Dishwasher Detergent
• Carpet Stain Remover
• Febreeze (the regular kind)
• 5 sponges
• Finish Dishwasher cleaner
• Swiffer Refills
• 3 rolls of trashbags
• Charcoal Lighter Fluid
• Plastic Grocery Sacks
• Brown Paper Bags
• 6 rolls of Paper Towels
• Wet Swiffer Wipes
• One Rubber Glove

Who knew all that fit under there? Who only has one rubber glove? Where did the other one go? Did it get in a fight with the left glove and leave? Who knows...

 Anyways after about 30 minutes (ONLY 30) installing my new tension rod and organizing, now, it looks amazing under my kitchen sink. Well as amazing as an under the kitchen sink cabinet can get. Let me show you the after shot.....

Isn't it amazing...I could stare at it for all of 5 minutes, before getting bored. But I like that everything has it's place and is much much more accessible.

Let me give you a price break down...

Tension Rod @ Target   $6.84
Large Basket @ Target  $4.99
My Time (30 mins)         $0.00  
Total                              $11.83 (not to shabby)

As I'm working on more Pinterest Challenge projects, I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Pinterest Challenge -- ACCEPTED!

Do you all know my good friend, Val, the Sassy Housewife? You don't! Then find the time to pop over and visit. Oh, wait, what's that.....Val, you're my only follower? DAMN! Do you know yourself...that's silly, of course you do. Come on people, hit the "Follow" button. It isn't hard. Plus it means you'll get a semi-regular dose of ME and who doesn't like that.

Alright, let me start over. Hey Val, you know that PINTEREST CHALLENGE you issued, I ACCEPT. Little did you know, that I've already got a bunch of stuff in the works, and I'm going to BLOW YOUR MIND. Or at least make you squeal with delight, or maybe just make you say "that's cute." I don't know, but I can only hope it is the first option.

If you don't know about Pinterest yet, I like to call it crack for organized people. If you want you can come follow my boards, and get some ideas. And if you want to play along, be sure to visit Val and let her know.

Let me show you some of the ideas I've been working on/have scheduled for around the Castle Casa.

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: shannonberrey.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Amy on Pinterest

Source: alwayschasinglife.blogspot.com via Amy on Pinterest

 I've also got one more project in the works inspired from Pinterest, but it's for a certain pregnant momma, and I don't really want to spoil it for her.

I look forward to showing you my projects as they get completed, but I'm really looking forward to them just being done. :-)