Friday Five-ish: Christmassy shit

Happy Friday - one week left until Christmas Eve. Two weeks left in this year. A good time to dump the holiday-ish photos I've taken here and wander off into the weekend, where I have three actual event-related things to do. After so long of having nothing to do, doing a fraction of what I used to feels like so much LOL. 

Ocean City's beach trees: North Street, 11th Street, 15th Street, 21st Street, 37th Street, and 55th Street. I also went to see the secret tree on Seaspray that lights up at night but it's been so heavily misty this week my pictures are shite.

Over a week ago my Dad and Carol took us to dinner at Macaroni's. The meal was absolutely delicious, I cannot stop thinking about the brussels or the stuffed chop. Their entry tree was amazing too. Then we drove around two of the cul-de-sacs in our neighborhood to look at the lights. 

Clark Griswold finished his window after that. You can land a plane in our living room but it always looks festive and nice.

Of course we have pet photos to accompany that.

If you're not feeling it or feeling very fucking tired of the show that is 202021 - I'm just saying it together now, it's run together and it has run well amok - hang in there. I hope you get some rest over the holidays. Remember you don't have to do everything, buy everything, see everything, be everywhere. Quiet holidays are wonderful too. Or not observing them at all if you don't feel like it also works. 

I hope everyone is vaccinated and boosted, taking advantage of the warmer temps to ventilate well or be outside and in general careful out there. If you indulge in holiday spirits, do not indulge in holiday driving.

I am ill over the national threats of school shootings trending on social media. This country is beyond broken and it cannot be fixed within the systems we currently have. This is freedom? Really? Be safe out there everyone. 

Happy happy happy birthday to my very favorite little boy  - my nephew turns four today. He is smart, funny, mercurial, and gives amazing hugs. 

How to create a luxury bedroom on a budget

Enjoy this photo of a NON-luxury bedroom. Caution: changes in progress

No, that is not a luxury bedroom pictured above. None of my bedrooms are luxury bedrooms. I'm not really a luxury person. I've pretty much done everything at home and at the shore on a budget. I've loved doing it more at the shore so that house is in much better shape than my house at home right now, but I digress...the fact is that you can get a luxury feel for less.

This year at the shore I tackled the top two bedrooms on the third floor. Aside from changing bedding and some art and trim paint last year, they remained untouched. I wanted a face lift without spending a lot. I relied on paint, contact paper, some fresh bedding and art, new cheap matching end tables, new lighting, and a new mirror. We looked into getting vinyl flooring but are settling for getting the carpet replaced - we are unable to get the stains out of the current one. Both rooms up there look fresh and I'm so pleased with how they're progressing - I'll share pics after the new carpet is installed and everything is put back on the walls later this month. They're not luxury by any means, but they're coming along nicely.

But back to the topic at hand...how to create a luxury bedroom on a budget.

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If you’ve got kids your bedroom is probably the only area in your home that’s still yours. Free of toys and children’s clutter, it’s a place for you to rest and relax. That means it’s incredibly important to create a relaxing, luxurious space. However, most of your money is probably spent on the kids, so you might be working on a budget. Here are my top tips for creating a luxury bedroom without breaking the bank.

Art
Art is a great way to add luxury to any space. Framed prints can look just as good as originals at a fraction of the price. A large feature piece hanging above the bed could be the first thing you see, welcoming you into the room.

Lighting
You can add some glamor to your main ceiling light by using a large, intricate light shade and installing a dimmer switch. To add further romance and luxury to your room, include lamps, string lights or lanterns. Lighting is a wonderful way to change the mood of a room, so make sure you give yourself options.

Mirrors
Mirrors are exceptionally glamorous and can also be very effective when it comes to making a smaller space look larger. Adding a large mirror to a wall or dressing table can add a new level of depth to your room and change its focus.

Floor
Wooden floors with thick, soft rugs look luxurious and feel fantastic under your feet first thing in the morning. Wooden flooring isn’t as expensive as it used to be and there are many different options when it comes to rugs. If this is still coming up over your budget, hire a carpet cleaner and make sure your existing flooring looks its best.

Restore
Instead of buying new furniture, either upcycle what you’ve got or restore antique and second-hand pieces. Upcycling is incredibly popular now so there are lots of brilliant ideas out there. Spend some time cleaning up, painting, and varnishing existing furniture. You could even repurpose it into something completely new.

Declutter
There is nothing less luxurious than clutter and mess. Having a cluttered and untidy bedroom can lead to trips and falls and increase stress. It can even affect your sleep. Not what you want in a relaxing bedroom space. Spend some time going through your bedroom throwing away or donating what you don’t need and finding homes for everything else. When it comes to decluttering, better organization is essential. Things like DIY drawer organizers can effectively help you fit more into the same space.

Accessories
To create a calming, luxury bedroom, you need to make it look comfortable. Stack throw cushions on your bed, include extra seating if you have space, and make sure extra throws or blankets are to hand when you need them.

While decorating can be very expensive, it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of small, cheap changes you can make without spending a fortune. Experiment with some different ideas to find what works for you, reflecting your personality and meeting your needs.

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It really is about the little touches, which are typically inexpensive. And the cheapest of all things - decluttering - is free. Aside from paint, that is the absolute best, fastest, and cheapest way to change how a room looks and feels.