DIY home projects

I've become obsessed with Pinterest, especially all the great DIY projects on there for home decorating. I usually pin things to then never look at them again, but one in particular caught my eye and I immediately wanted to give it a try. Mason jar pendant lights (the instructions are in some sort of crazy Ikea language, but fortunately the pictures are descriptive enough). I've been looking for a couple pendant lights to hang at the bar in my kitchen, but the ones I see in stores have been expensive. This was not only a cheaper solution, but I liked the look of these better than any I had seen.

Home Depot sells just the pendant light without the shade at the bottom for $15, so Mom and I set out to buy those along with the rest of the supplies I would need. I already had a couple mason jars, so all I needed was spray paint for the lids and some vintage looking light bulbs. Once we got there, we realized we would also need an adapter so that I could connect the pendant light to the existing recessed light canister (which was another $15). With our supplies, we headed back to my place to get started.

First I needed to cut a whole in the top of the jar lid. I traced a circle on the top with a sharpie, made nail holes along that line, then used wire cutters to clip it out. I then spray painted both lids.

We then removed the recessed canister lights and installed the adapters and pendant lights. This part took the longest, but once we were done with one the second went quickly since we knew what we were doing.

after removing recessed lighting

installed adapter

installed pendant light

Next we attached the bulbs and mason jars to the ends, and that was it! So easy and cheap, thanks Pinterest!

We also squeezed in time for a second project. Mom had found a cute upholstered bench at Goodwill for only $11 that would be perfect for my room. The base just needed to be painted and the fabric on top swapped out. I found a cute print that would go with my bedroom at the fabric store so we stapled that on top of the existing white fabric. We also sanded and painted the wooden base to match the other furniture I've painted for my room, and we were done!

before

after

Both the lights and bench turned out great and were fun to do, I'm already looking for my next DIY project!

Blondes have more fun

My past few visits to the hair salon have all been the same..."I want to be blonde, and I'm growing it out, so don't cut off too much" and the result has always been the same...I come home as a brunette with blonde highlights and my hair never growing to the length I want. But now that's all changed! My last visit on Saturday, I told my stylist Mizzy that she needed to go even blonder and asked for her take on hair extensions. She talked me into it (though it didn't take much convincing) and we set up a time for me to come to her house (yay for no salon fees, but shhh don't tell) and she'd put them in for me.

So yesterday, I took a break from working from home and went to her place on Mercer Island. She put on Kevin Hart's stand-up for us to watch (hilarious) and went to work as we both laughed so hard we were crying. Two hours later she was done, and my hair had magically transformed into long luxurious blonde locks.

I went home and styled my hair, and haven't been able to stop playing with it since. It has been quite the shock to my coworkers, and also to Clint (I failed to mention what I was up to), but nothing but compliments. Mizzy warned me they were addicting, and I can already see why!

home from the salon

fun with my work web cam

Book Worm

I decided that I need to start reading more. Clint got me a Kindle last year for my birthday that has been collecting dust, so I decided to put it to use again. I also thought this would be a good alternative to trashy tv, but so far it has yet to curb my addiction and I still find myself watching Catfish and Snooki & JWOWW. But, I'm almost done with my third book for the month! I guess there is time for both. My goal this year is to read at least one book a month, so I'm open to good recommendations!

Book 1: Gone Girl
Kylee recommended this one to me, and I couldn't put it down! I read it in 3 sittings, two of which I stayed up till 2am. I kinda get obsessed when I find a good book and have the need to finish it before doing anything else. The book was great, and since reading it I've heard from other people that loved it, too. I love a good mystery, and this one had quite a few twists. There's even talk about it being turned into a movie by Reese Witherspoon's production company and with David Fincher directing (who did the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo).

Book 2: Dark Places
This is another book by the same author, Gillian Flynn. Another great mystery, however it did give me nightmares after staying up late reading about murder. This one took me a little longer to read as it didn't suck me in as much as the first, but still a great book that I would recommend. This one also has been rumored to be turned into a movie with Amy Adams starring as the lead, Libby Day.

Book 3: Sharp Objects
I guess this will be Gillian Flynn month, as I have now started her third book. So far I'm about halfway through, and enjoying it as much as the first two. Again, another book about murder, so I've restrained from reading it right before bedtime.

I'll be looking for my next book to read, so feel free to send me your suggestions!

Vegas: Day 4

Saturday morning came quick, and Clint and I slept up until the last possible moment before check out. Luckily Blake and Rebecca still had their free room for another night, so we were able to move our bags and have them hold them for us there. Clint decided to keep sleeping in their room while the three of us went out to explore and get lunch.

We made our way down the strip by walking through all the casinos and taking the tram. We went through Harrah's, the Flamingo, and across the sky bridge to the Bellagio. The Bellagio was all decked out for Chinese New Year, so it was cool seeing all the decor.

Chihuly glass at Bellagio

decorated for Chinese New Year

year of the serpent

We also checked out the Bellagio's chocolate fountain, doesn't it look delicious?

chocolate fountain

From the Bellagio, we took the free tram down to the Monte Carlo and continued our way down the strip. From the Monte Carlo, we walked next door to the New York New York and stopped for lunch. We found a delicious little cafe and ordered some sandwiches (which half I saved for Sleeping Beauty back at the hotel). 

tram artwork

casino hopping by tram

After lunch, Blake and I found an electronic craps table to play at while Rebecca hit up the slots again. I had put in $100 into the machine, and started to have some bad luck. I ended up going all the way down to $30 and was pretty bummed. Fortunately I slowly started to come back, and once I hit $100.50 I cashed out...wasn't gonna risk it anymore!

From there we cabbed it back to the hotel since it was time to get to the airport. We got Clint up and gathered our stuff to leave and check out. We shared a shuttle to the airport, and said our goodbyes.

The trip was a blast, and we're hoping to make it an annual event...so I'll be back for you, Vegas!

Vegas: Day 3

Friday morning, the guys got up to go to CES again, while Rebecca and I headed out for a day of shopping and gambling. Our first stop was at a discounted ticket sales booth at the Casino Royale. We thought it'd be fun to go to dinner and see a show on our last night, so Rebecca and I were in charge of organizing. They had cheap tickets to every show available in Vegas, plus discounts for restaurants. Once we decided on a few shows to choose from, we realized the line was out the door in the freezing cold. Rebecca and I took turns waiting while the other warmed up inside before relieving the one outside. We finally made our way to the front after about 20 minutes, and with the help of the guy at the counter, we decided to see Peepshow. We knew the guys would love it, and sounded entertaining enough for us ladies as well. We also made reservations at Pampas, a Brazilian steakhouse at Planet Hollywood, the same casino the where the show was playing.

After getting our tickets, we got suckered into some gambling. I hit up the craps table while Rebecca found some slots to play. We ended up playing for about an hour before giving up when we didn't win big.

my favorite game

We then headed across the street back to the Forum Shops at Caesar's. We hit up a couple sales, and I found myself a warm coat to wear. I underestimated how cold it would be (even during the day), and didn't think to bring one. Luckily I found one I really liked for more than half off at Express. Tired from shopping, we stopped at the Cheesecake Factory and split something for lunch before heading back to our hotel.

We got back to our rooms just as the boys got back as well, so we got ready to head out for the night. Clint and Blake's cousin, Jonathan, was also just arriving in Vegas with his wife Brenda, so we made plans to have them meet us for dinner. We cabbed it to Planet Hollywood, picked up our show tickets, then had some time to spare before our reservations, so it was back to the craps table. Once Jonathan and Brenda showed up, we were ready to head to dinner.

Dinner at Pampas was amazing. I had never been to a Brazilian steakhouse before, but had heard good things. You first start off with the salad buffet, then waiters come around with meat on skewers to your table and slice it off for you right onto your plate. Once we were back from the buffet, the meat started coming and wouldn't stop...tenderloin, bacon wrapped turkey or steak, spicy chicken, even grilled pineapple. I was quickly getting full, but couldn't say no to all the delicious options. We all had a great time, and it was fun that Jonathan and Brenda could join us, too.

special Brazilian drinks at dinner

After dinner, a photographer came by to take pictures of us. She came back later and sold them to us for $5 each (or $20 if we wanted the stupid cardboard frame she put them in). Kinda fun to have a keepsake from the night, and she took a great group photo for us.

Clint and I

the whole group at Pampas

After dinner, we said goodbye to Jonathan and Brenda, and headed to our show. We got to our seats just in time for it to start. It ended up being a lot of fun and we all really enjoyed it. Lots of burlesque dancing, comedy, and singing. Coco (Ice T's wife) has taken over the lead role while Holly Madison is off having a baby, and we thought she was great.

After the show, we walked out through the Planet Hollywood mall and across the street to the Bellagio. They have their fountain show every 15 minutes, and we wanted to see it at night all lit up. We timed it so that we wouldn't have to wait in the cold long since it was so freezing, and lucked out finding a good spot to watch just as it started.

goofing around at Urban Outfitters

Bellagio fountain show

Blake and Rebecca trying to stay warm

panorama

As soon as the fountains turned off, we ran to the Cosmo to get warmed up. Clint's friends Duane and Eric had also just arrived in Vegas, and we found them there gambling at the black jack tables. Blake and Rebecca decided to call it a night, and headed back to their room. Clint and I stayed out and went to Bond, a bar at the Cosmo, with Duane and Eric for some drinks where we met up with a couple more of their friends.

drinks at Bond - a bar at the Cosmo

The guys had plans to go to XS to see Nero perform, a dustup/house music DJ, so we all hopped in a limo to go to Encore. We got right in and he was already up on stage performing. We made our way through the crowded dance floor to get closer to the stage.

walking into the club

Nero performing at XS

Once we had enough of the crowd and the loud music (man, I'm getting old), we headed out into the casino to gamble. This time I was just an observer as the guys tested their luck at black jack. It ended up being a long night as we made it back to our hotel room as the sun was rising...ah, Vegas.

pretty chandeliers at Encore, the decor there is really pretty

gardens

tile floors

It ended up being another fun-filled day in Vegas, but I was ready for sleep once we got back to our room.

Vegas: Day 2

The next morning we did some sleeping in (it was a long first day). Then the guys took off for the convention, while Rebecca and I headed across the street for shopping and lunch.

We walked around the Forum Shops at Caesars for a bit before getting suckered into a facial and cosmetic store. The guy standing out front tricked us with his free samples, and before we knew it we were being slathered with creams and exfoliants worth hundreds of dollars all with 24 carat gold in them. He finally duped us in to buying something, so we were able to leave and get something to eat. We went next door to the Mexican place for margaritas and tacos.

worth the wait

After lunch, we made our way to the casino for some gambling. Rebecca seems to have the best luck with slots. I on the other hand made twenty bucks disappear just like that. At least you get free drinks! Once we got our gambling fix, we headed back to the hotel. I went up to the room for a nap, and Rebecca stayed downstairs and proceeded to win $500 from the slot machines! Good thing she didn't give up when I did.

The guys came back from the nerd convention, and we all got ready for dinner. We were heading to Beijing Noodle No. 9, also in the shopping mall at Caesar's, so it was back across the street for Rebecca and I. We soon realized the mall was a lot more ginormous than we first realized. We had been suckered in by the gold cream guy that we really didn't get a chance to explore more. We decided we would just have to come back the next day.

brothers

spiral escalator

We stopped by an a Peter Lik gallery that caught our attention. His photographs are amazing, but it's how they're printed that really make them stand out. The type of paper he has them printed on reflects the light which makes the image look like it's being lit from behind, very cool. The lady even showed us a demo where she lowered the lights and the image looked like it was changing from day to night. But, since we didn't have hundreds of thousands to spend, we left empty handed.

Clint knows his piers, was able to guess which one this was

We made our way through the rest of the mall and into the casino at Caesar's where the restaurant is located. We put our name in for a table, and played some slots while we waited.

love the blue sky ceilings

fountain in the mall

watching them stretch the noodles by hand

Dinner was pretty good, but nothing too special. With all the great places to eat in Vegas, I might opt for something different next time. Clint and I both had pho, but still prefer our favorite spot on Broadway, Pho Cyclo.

fish tank at the restaurant - silly brothers

After our late dinner, we walked back through the casino and all the shops to make our way back to our hotel. We checked out our casino for a bit, watching the impersonators sing and everyone gambling, but decided to call it a night and headed up to our rooms.

Vegas: Day 1

Clint and his brother Blake had planned on going to CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Vegas this year, so Rebecca and I thought it would be a good excuse for us tag along and turn it into a fun vacation. So, we booked our tickets, and we were set...with the exception of a place to stay. Blake and Rebecca were cashing in on their high roller status at the Imperial Palace to stay for free at the Quad, so Clint and I decided to go slumming with them and booked a room there as well.

The night before we left I felt like a kid waiting for Christmas morning, I got no sleep. To top it off, our flight was at 6am, so it was an early morning for us. We made it to the airport and to our gate just in time to board. As we boarded, I noticed we would be flying on a brand new 737! The Boeing nerd in me came out as I pointed out all the cool features to Clint...the new lighting called the "sky interior", new overhead bins with more storage and tucked away to give you more head room, quieter, better air flow, comfy seats...ahhh, it was nice. But, like I do on all flights, as soon as we took off I fell asleep for the duration of the flight. Way to take advantage of a new plane.

we are not morning people

how awesome is that?

arriving in Vegas!

Once in Vegas, we headed straight over to get our rental car. We thought it'd be fun to make a day trip out to Hoover Dam while we waited for Blake and Rebecca to get in from San Diego that afternoon. We got ourselves a blue Mustang convertible (fancy) and headed east.

After a short drive, we made it to the dam. We first stopped to check out the new memorial bridge that was built to cut down on traffic going across the top of the dam. There's all sorts of informational signs (Clint's favorite part) explaining how the bridge was built, and you can even walk across it. This gave us a great view of the dam from above.

Clint learning about the bridge

the Nevada side of the bridge

risk seekers

Hoover Dam

us with our stylish gas station sunglasses 

After checking out the bridge, we headed down to get a closer look at the dam. We drove across it to the Arizona side and parked at a lookout spot to get some pictures.

working on the bridge, scary job

over to Arizona

Hoover Dam with the memorial bridge in the back

panorama shot

Lake Mead

We headed back to the Nevada side so that we could go on the Hoover Dam tour. We bought our tickets (opting to upgrade to the full tour - worth it), and sat down in the theater to start with the informational video. We next got introduced to our tour guide, and he let us know there were no restrictions for cameras, so to take all the dam photos we wanted.

An elevator took us down about 500 feet so that we could check out the ginormous pipes that transport water from Lake Mead to the dam's generators. The pipes transport enough water to fill 900 bathtubs each second, crazy.

penstocks (huge water pipes)

showing us how it all works

Next we took the elevator to a viewing platform in the powerplant where we could see the generators. I tuned out for a little bit at this part, but I'm sure it's all impressive.

walking through the tunnels

powerplant generators

Then it was off into the inspection tunnels. This part reminded me of when Clark Griswold goes on the Hoover Dam tour in Vegas Vacation and gets separated from the group. Oh, good stuff.

lagging behind

Tour Guide Charlie showing us how to get a good photo

air vents overlooking the dam

looking up out the air vent with my camera

watch your step

After learning all sorts of fun facts during the tour, it was time to wrap it up and head back to the top. Our tour guide let us go, and we did some more exploring before hitting the road back to Vegas.

standing on top of the dam

We made a quick stop at A&W for lunch and got burgers and split a rootbeer float, yum!

sweet ride!

mmmm

We made our way back to Vegas, and decided to hit up old town. I had never been, so it was nice to take advantage of having a car and make the drive over. I'm sure it would be more impressive at night with all the lights, but it was still fun to see. We found a place to park, and walked through the Golden Nugget Casino and out to Fremont Street. The Golden Nugget was actually impressive. I thought all the hotels in old town would be dumps, but it was decorated nice and had an awesome pool. There was even a water slide that went right through a shark tank, how cool is that?

Driving through Old Town Vegas

pool at the Golden Nugget

gambling on the pool deck

slide through the sharks

Things out on Fremont Street are pretty odd. Lots of fun people watching.

Fremont Street

Clint's new lady friends...they weren't
as cute as we thought close up

panning for gold

We watched this guy for a while and concluded that he must be the store's security camera. You can see him again in the back as Clint got his flattened souvenir penny.

Clint has collected these pennies
since he was a kid

With our fill of old town, we got back in the car and headed to the strip. It was just starting to get dark, so seeing everything lit up was pretty cool.

Clint dropped me off at the hotel so I could get us checked in while he took the car back to the airport. Fortunately, they had a shuttle for him to get back so he wouldn't have to pay for a cab. The check-in line at Imperial Palace (or the Quad) was a little ridiculous...I probably waited for an hour just to get to the front desk. But, at least they had some entertainment for me. The table dealers are all impersonators, and the each take turns getting up on stage to sing.

Green Day on stage

Our room was far from luxurious, but hey, we had a "love tub"... even though we were too scared to use it without knowing it was cleaned properly.

Once Clint got back and we were all settled, Blake and Rebecca showed up as well. We met in our room for some drinks, and then headed to dinner. They knew of a restaurant downstairs called the Hash House (a go go). They're known for their ginormous proportions of delicious food. Clint and I split the chicken pot pie (oh.my.yum!) and Blake and Rebecca split a burger with horseradish potatoes. I definitely recommend checking it out next time you're in Vegas.

biggest chicken pot pie ever!

After dinner, the boys stayed downstairs to gamble for a bit while Rebecca headed upstairs and called it a night.