Witch Child book review

Witch Child by Celia Rees

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this book many years ago when I was a teenager, and it has stuck with me. I mean to get back and read it again one day, because it is a truly enthralling read.

This book reads from the perspective of the main character, a young girl living in the 1600s. She is forced out of her “old world" home and travels across the sea with the Puritans to the "new world". Being from a family who is spiritually connected to the earth and magic, she is forced to try and hide her inner witch among the Puritans lest she find herself trailed and executed as a witch.

The pacing is great, and you really connect to the main character, Mary, right away. The writing is diary-like, so you are waiting eagerly to turn the pages and see how things turn out for Mary. I feel as though this is a great read for those in middle schools or above.

The book is by no means action-packed, but it aptly presents the subtle, lurking danger of those who were different during these times and how standing out could've meant death. I'd even offer that pairing this book with learning about the witch trials or Puritanical life would enhance younger readers' understanding of life at that time. I picked it up, because I have always been interested in witchcraft and its history and truly found a text that will stay with me all of my days.

If you are interested in historical fiction, witchcraft, early america, or thrillers, you should check this out!



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Black is for Beginnings (Blue is for Nightmares #5) book review

Black is for Beginnings by Laurie Faria Stolarz

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


As a fan of the "Blue Is For Nightmares" series, this was vastly disappointing. I was excited to see that it was a graphic novel - the first I'd ever read - however, it was short, disjointed, and added nothing to the marvelous universe Stolarz created in her other four novels in this series.

I would have preferred a 5th full book over this. In fact, this is the first and only time I've ever returned a book to Barnes and Noble after buying it. If you are a fan of the series, I would suggest skipping this and pretending the true end was Red is for Remembrance.



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Upcycling Old End Tables

I was lucky enough that my mom had some end tabled she was looking to get rid of. When I decided to makeover the sun room, I knew I wanted 2 of these mid century modern end tables to cap off the daybed I was putting out there.

The first step was priming. I sprayed 2 coats of Krylon primer all over these tables. This is a definite must if you are working with wood or faux wood that have a glossy finish. Paint won't stick to glossy finishes, so you need the primer to offer a rough surface for the paint to stick to.

I was especially careful about this, because I knew end tables get tons of wear, so I didn't want the paint to chip or peel.

After the primer dried, I sprayed 3 coats of Rustoleum Ocean Mist spray paint - letting each coat dry fully before re-coating. I started from the bottom up, using the principal I learned when painting the kitchen cabinets. I knew it would be okay if the bottom of the legs were a little messed up due to being on the grass, but I wouldn't want the tops of the tables to get ruined by sitting face down on the grass since they are the part of the tables that are most visible.

I then sprayed the center supports and taped off and sprayed the bottom of the legs in Krylon Gold. I did 2 coats of this, letting each coat fully dry before re-coating. 

I then had to fix the center supports. I did this by taping off the center with 1" painters tape and spraying the Rustoleum Ocean Mist over the tape and touching up where any gold paint had accidentally been over-sprayed onto the base color. Once it was dry, I removed my painter's tape, and was DONE! 

You can see here what I meant about fixing the center supports. I thought a small golden band around those would be really pretty, and it ended up working great!

Now these lovely end tables fit in perfectly with the new sun room (you can see that makeover here)!

Here's a breakdown of what I used:

• Primer ( I used Krylon, but you can use any primer you'd like)
• Primary Color (I used Rustoleum Ocean Mist)
• Accent Color (if you want one - I used Krylon Metallic Gold)
• Painter's Tape 1" (you can use larger if you like - this is just what I had and what I wanted for the center supports - additionally if you aren't doing an accent color you don't need this)
• Patience (letting all of the coats dry turns this into a full day project, but you can relax inside while this is happening)
• Good Weather (if you are going to spray outside)

Secret Vampire (Night World #1) book review

Secret Vampire by L.J. Smith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have to admit, I do judge books by their cover. I just bought this title, and the lovely hardback caught my attention immediately, then the synopsis within the cover left me knowing I had to read this book. I found the characters and pacing refreshing. As someone who has read (and enjoyed) the Twilight series, I was completely prepared for another long-winded, long-drawn-out story about a girl in love with a vampire. However, plot devices within this book expedite the story and we get to the “good stuff” within a few chapters. I flew through this book, which says something about the readability and the appeal of the story. I work full time, and I usually read right before bed. Instead of falling asleep within a few pages, I spent over an hour and a half reading without even knowing how much time had passed.

Upon doing more research about this book, I didn’t realize it was originally written in the late 90s, which is probably why I feel it isn’t as broody or convoluted. The characters aren’t absorbed in modern situations or technology, they are living simply, and that, for me, helps the book feel refreshing and lighter. There isn’t a lot of filler, and I was ultimately sad that the ending seemed to come so soon. I will definitely be picking up #2 in this series, because the world Smith creates is interesting, out-of-the-ordinary, and fun.

This book is great for paranormal romance lovers from middle school through adulthood. I just wish I had found these when I was younger, I had SO MUCH MORE free time for reading back then!



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Sun Room Makeover

Another room I decided could use a face-lift was our sun-room. It was the same "oriental yellow" as the rest of the house, and it HAD TO GO. 

Right side of the room before

Left side of the room before

I apologize for all of the mess in these photos. I was, and still am, living in box city, and are taking care of unpacking one room at a time. Since I'm trying to be as budget conscious as possible I decided to use the leftover paint from our cabinet makeover, which was Valspar "Fresh Cotton". I figured white would really open up the room, and eventually I would like to get some nice bamboo shades for the window, which will look really nice with white walls.

This is after  one coat of paint. I ended up doing 3 coats for maximum coverage.

I wanted the room to feel light, airy, and magical, so I ended up finding some really nice Harry Potter inspired artwork online, and used my Umbridge kitten plates from a previous Loot Crate.

The left side of the room after

I ended up upcycling the black shelf from the second and third photos (I'll do a separate post on how I did that soon), created custom name plates for my fur babies for their respective dining areas, and repainted their leash/harness hanger to go with the feel of the room.

 

The right side of the room after

There are still a few knick-knacks I need to put out, like my wands, a salt crystal lamp and some other fun, mystical, magical decor, but I really like the new vibe the room has. It is ultimately a room for our girls. During the day, I like to leave the blinds up, and Cassie will sit on the bed and look out at the yard or at the neighbors. It also doubles as a second guest room for visitors!

This was a really fun project, and I had several mini projects within this project that I'll be posting about soon. In total, I'd say the makeover for this room, including the mini projects, cost maybe $75-$100 total including the paint, some storage boxes, a desk fan (not pictured), and the bedding set. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to share below!

The Lost Symbol book review

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This books was utterly amazing. I love conspiracy theories, I love history, and I'm very familiar with the mystery that is Washington D.C. This book kept me interested from the first page to the last. I was always excited to pick the book back up, and get right back into the action. Dan Brown never fails to impress with the amount of detail and thought put into the setting and history he entwines with fiction. At points I found myself wondering if he has a secret "in" with the Masons and is revealing all of these well-kept secrets in the form of fiction to throw off conspiracy theorists. In all seriousness, if you love history, secret societies, and good ol' adventurous treasure hunts, don't miss out on this book!



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A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning book review

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A fairly quick read for an adult or advanced reader. I really enjoyed this book, and love how Lemony will take the time to deconstruct larger vocabulary words - this would definitely benefit younger readers by buffing up their vocabulary.



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The Devil Wears Prada book review

The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book. Having just got out of a job that made me feel similarly to that of the main character, Andrea, there are certain parts that really hit home. The ending perfectly wrapped things up, and I'm glad I read this book. I watched the movie first, and that was, and always will be canon to me, however, this really was a fun read if y hate your job or have had a job you hate. You feel like you've come home, but the great thing about this book, you can close it and set it aside if situations become stressful!



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Entryway Makeover

I've always wanted an entry way. At the old house, I had to create the illusion of an entry way (see that post here), so another box this house checked on my dream home checklist was having an actual entry way. 

Above is the listing photo of the entry way. The photo doesn't really show the color of the walls, it was a color called "oriental yellow", which I hated. I repainted the living room and the hallway with Sherwin Williams' "Accessible Beige", a color that was from the old house, but I LOVED it. I did end up using Sherwin Williams Ovation, because we painted the hallway in the old house using Ovation, and it is definitely scrub-proof (something that DEFINITELY comes in handy for an entryway that gets lots of traffic).

The first step was taping everything off. This was my husband's job. Being an engineer, he is able to get a level of precision I could never event attempt. We wanted to tape out a checker board and stencil every other square, so this way it wasn't too random,  but it also wasn't too busy if we used every square.

My husband started taping the horizontal lines first, and used a laser level to make sure they were nice and straight. THEN we started the vertical lines. About 5 lines in, my husband realized it was taking a LOT of tape, and asked me if I would be able to make it work with small pieces of tape to denote the squares. That definitely worked for me, it saved him time, and it saved us masking tape. Once it was done, it looked like the above photo.

When I was ready to start stenciling, I taped the stencil up like so. This was my first time stenciling, so I tried two different brushes, a foam brush and a bristle brush. 

I prefer the foam brushes, because even though I thoroughly washed the bristle brush, the way I stenciled caused the bristles to come out. I may have been too vigorous of a stenciler, but they just did NOT work for me. I was able to properly pick up a small amount of paint and dab it with the foam brushes, whereas the bristles seemed to get UNDER the stencil as I had to move in small circles to get the paint onto the wall. 

The first stencil came out really well. I ended up using leftover paint from the kitchen remodel (Behr Doeskin Gray - check out that project here), so this was a subtle pattern, that you don't really notice it until the light hits it in just the right way.

When I finished the first wall, I stepped back to check out my handy work. I left the small, incomplete stencils (like the ones around the front door) for last, because I was going to need the willpower, and a second set of hands to hold the stencil while I vigorously stenciled - I REALLY let out any frustration when stenciling apparently.

At this point, the stencil was getting rather gunky. Some of the paint was going onto the back of the stencil, making the lines not so crisp. I put it in the guest bath tub, covered it with water, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then gently, in one direction, scrubbed the paint off. You don't want to be too rough when scrubbing, because you can bend some of the points of the stencil, and you don't want to break your stencil half-way through.

When you've scrubbed as much of the dried/gunky paint off as you feel comfortable with, be sure to DRY YOUR STENCIL. Lay it down on a towel, and fold the town over it and gently press. Then, take the towel and meticulously get the water off of all of the stencil. The last thing you want if you're using water-based paint, is for the paint to touch the water, dissolve, and run down your wall into spaces that you did NOT intend to stencil. This almost happened to me, but fortunately I caught it in time.

The finished product is just what I wanted. The pattern is so subtle you can only catch it at the right angle in the right lighting. It gives the wall a luxurious, almost silk-like look, and definitely sparks an interest for more stencil projects. 

So, if you want to tackle this project yourself, you'll need the following things:

1. Paint
2. Stencil Brushes - Like I said, I preferred foam, but if it's your first time try both to see what you prefer for your stenciling style. They are really cheap and can be found at most craft stores or in the craft section of big box stores like Walmart and Target.
3. Painters Tape
4. Level
5. Stencil - the most important ingredient!
6. Step Ladder - if you're short like me
7. Drop Cloth - if you're accident prone like me

I've given some thought to putting a mirror or console table in the hallway, but I am not sure what I want to do with the space at the moment. I remember how crowded it was when you came into my old house, so I may just leave the stencils to be the welcoming accent to my new home!

DIY Kitchen Remodel Adventure

I love, love, LOVE my new house. However, I knew there were two big projects that would have to be done for it to be comfortable to me.

1. The master bath - I NEED a tub. I am a bath lady through and through. I have bath bombs, bubble bars, and salt soaks. Bottom line: I have to remodel to add a tub.

2. The kitchen - As you can see from the photos below, the kitchen is completely functional. I've definitely seen worse kitchens in houses I viewed, but it felt really closed in to me, so I knew I would have to open it up, and lighten it up. 

My first big step was to take down that overhang, but it was SUPER HEAVY, so I took down the absurdly low breakfast bar and cabinet doors while waiting for a friend to stop by to help. Once I got it down, the kitchen had a completely different feel to it.

Yes, that is the same kitchen. As you can see, I had to use a jack to hold up the cabinet I took down after I unscrewed it from that giant metal bar hanging from the ceiling. It left very little residue on the ceiling and wall, which was a marvelous surprise. Now, with the heavy lifting (or so I thought) out of the way, I was all set to paint the cabinets!

Painting was a lot harder, and more time-consuming that I had originally expected, and I went in expecting it to be rough. I had a little over a week before I was set to move out things into the house, and close on my old house, so I wanted to take that time to do any intensive projects that might be hindered by my two fur-babies being in the house, so painting the cabinets had a defined time limit. I didn't want dog hair tumbleweeds to find themselves forever embedded in the paint on my cabinets, so I took some time off of work and primed, painted, and sealed my cabinets.

It took 2 coats of primer, 3 coats of paint, and 3 coats of polycrylic, but the end result is LOVELY. Above you can see how the doors looked before and how they looked after. Now comes the informative part. How did I do this myself? I'm going to list it out for you right now!

Things I Used:

PREP:

1. 220 Grit Sand Paper
2. Clorox Wipes
3. Tacky Cloths
4. Zinsser Oil Based Primer
5. Purdy Brush
6. Spray Paint Primer for Knobs/Handles

PAINTING:

1. Purdy Angled Brush
2. Wood to keep cabinets off of the ground
3. Foam Roller
4. Paint (I used Valspar Signature indoor latex in Fresh Cotton)
5. 2 Sawhorses
6. Bronze Spray Paint for Knobs/Handles

PROTECTING:

1. Purdy Brush
2. Minwax Satin PolyCrylic
3. Paint Sprayer
4. 2 Sawhorses

Steps I Took:

PREP:

1. I washed all of my brushes and removed loose hairs, so I didn't have to worry about them sticking to my primer or paint later in the process. While they were drying...
2. I wiped down the cabinets and handles with the Clorox Wipes. I know this sounds trivial, but you have no clue how much gunk builds up on kitchen cabinets and hardware! Without wiping them down first, your sandpaper will gunk up and not be as effective, and you'll blow through a ton of it. Just trust me, wipe them down first. 
3. Next I sanded them. I just sanded them enough to rough them up and give the primer something to hang onto. Had I wanted to re-stain the cabinets instead of repaint, I would've had to sand down to the wood, which would have taken a lot more time and muscle. If you're looking to repaint, just scuff it up enough to give the primer something to hold onto. 
4. I then took the tacky cloth and wiped down the sanded wood. That seemed to get off all of the dust from sanding. You don't want dust in your paint if you want a pretty, smooth finish. 
5. I wiped them down again with a Clorox wipe after using the tacky cloth. I used about 1 wipe per door. I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I wanted them to be perfect and wanted to make sure all of the dust and gunk was G-O-N-E before priming.
6. I used a regular (non-angled) Purdy brush to prime everything. I started with the backs of the doors, because when the doors are being supported, you can afford some primer from the backs to smudge or be nicked when you're priming the front because the backs of the doors aren't seen often. While priming and painting I set the doors between two sawhorses, so I didn't have to bend down on the floor (I have a bad back) and could get things done standing. I did 2 coats of primer on each side, and since I worked full time, this was an end-of-the-day task I would do before going to my old house. So the way I timed it was:
•  I primed the backs of the doors (which I had set up in the garage), and then I primed the boxes/cabinets inside the kitchen while that primer coat dried. 
• I let them dry overnight.
• I did another coat of primer on the backs of the cabinets and the cabinet boxes.
• I let them dry overnight.
• I did a coat on the front of the cabinet doors.
• I let them dry overnight
• I did a coat on the front of the cabinet doors.
•  Ilet them dry overnight.
7. I Sprayed 2 coats of primer onto my hardware.

PAINTING

1. Now that everything has been properly primed, I can start painting! Using the same sawhorse technique I painted a coat on the backs of the cabinets using a foam roller, and the edges using an angled Purdy brush.
2. While the first coat on the backs of the cabinet doors was drying, I painted the first coat on the cabinet boxes. I used a mix between a 2" foam roller and a regular Purdy Brush. By the time I was finished painting the boxes, I was able to go back in and do the next coat on the backs of the cabinets.
3. My second coat on the backs of the doors was the telling coat. A lot of the other DIY cabinet painting blogs and sites I'd read, they used 2 coats, but that just wasn't crisp or white enough for me, so after the second coat dried, I realized I needed 3 coats. So after I completed the cabinet boxes, I came back and did my 3rd coat on the backs of the doors, then, the boxes. 
4. During this time I also sprayed the hardware bronze for it to dry as the doors did. 
5. After finishing that, I was then finally able to flip them over and concentrate on painting the fronts of the cabinets. I did 3 coats, waiting between each coat for the paint to dry, and I was done painting. It was late at night at this point, so I went home to catch some Zzzs and get ready for the part I feared the most - PROTECTING.

PROTECTING

1. By the time I got around to this part, I was tired, cranky, and upset I was having to use vacation time to paint cabinets. At this point, I was okay with never seeing a paintbrush or cabinet door again. However, I pushed on as I was in media res, and had 3 days until all of the furniture and fur-babies were being moved over to my house. I started on the backs of my cabinets, as usual, and worked my way inside to the cabinet boxes. The polycrylic dries fast, is clear, and (according to my research) can be the thing that makes or breaks your project. I didn't have an issue, though, so don't be afraid to protect your work!
2.  I put on a thin layer with an angled Purdy Brush, and, like when painting, by the time I was done with the boxes, it was time to do the backs again. I kept painting in this order for the next 2 layers, then it was time to flip them over, and protect the fronts.
3. i made sure to organize my hardware, so I was able to put on the hardware as soon as I was happy with the dryness of polycrylic.
4. You're done, and can breathe a sigh of relief as you put those doors back on to reveal your like-new cabinets!

I somehow managed to finish the cabinets in time, and as you can see in the photo above, the counter tops were a bit of a mess with all of my paint samples, tools, and takeout. I cleaned up all of that, and moved in my belongings and the rest of the family!

I also added a new light above the sink to go with my rustic/industrial theme. I'm VERY proud of these "new" cabinets.

The next thing I was to do was add wooden flooring to the side of the peninsula, which would add that rustic look I wanted to have in the kitchen. I used Super 90+ adhesive, and it worked like a charm! I also painted the kitchen Behr's Doeskin Gray, got a new oven and microwave, and updated the chandelier in the dining area by adding new shades. Other than new counter tops, and finishing up the coffee bar, I'm done! Here's the finished product:

It's great looking at it and knowing that you have done it with your own hands. There's no better feeling than taking care of business yourself AND saving money!! If you have any questions, leave a comment, and I'll try my best to answer them!

Harry Potter Loot Crate Unboxing (July 2017)

Oh the drama surrounding the delivery of this box! My last Wizarding World box came to my new address without issue, but for some reason the address reverted to my old address, and regardless of calling the local post office, I received notification that the box was out for delivery... to my OLD address. Fortunately, I was able to call again, and cancel the delivery. I had to leave work early and hustle over to the post office before the closed for the day, so I could pick it up. Seeing as I am actually reviewing the box, I was able to make it on time... barely. The mail person said it was good I got there, because they didn't know what they were going to do with it if I didn't pick it up that day. Uh... I mean, shouldn't they just hold it for another day? Regardless, I was able to get it, and now we can see all of the magical goodies inside! 

The theme of this box was Defense Against the Dark Arts, so the box's seal is quite appropriate. I was pleased to see that if any Death Eaters dare attempt to open my package, we have a protective patronus to stop them in the act!

The inside of the box is beautiful (and has a special purpose that I reveal further down). This box didn't seem to be packed full of stuff, regardless of the price going up $1, so I was a bit wary about the items that were included, and, for the first time, I wasn't sure if I was going to be satisfied with the box. 

I was really happy to see a quality item on top. The box is lovely, and the pen is VERY sturdy. This isn't a cheap plastic pen, it definitely has some heft. I'm not sure how long it will last, as it didn't "click" when you closed it, so I'm concerned that it might dry out, but we'll see! It's a great display piece nonetheless!

The next item was this awesomely comfortable "Counter Curse" advertisement tee. The photo shows up as a dark gray, but the shirt itself is actually a beautifully, rich heather blue with an even lighter print. See below for a photo of me wearing it that better reflects its actual color.

I wore this to work to counter any anti- productivity curses, and it was SO comfortable. As a major t-shirt junkie, the shirts I receive in this box are some of my favorite tees I own. I can dress them up, or dress them down. 

 The next item is this awesome Dumbledore's Army embossed journal. I like to keep a little journal in my car and on my person in case I need to write down last-minute notes/charms that I KNOW I won't remember when I get to the point I need to use them. I'm not saying I would do it, but this journal is DEFINITELY Horcrux worthy.

The next items are something I NEVER thought I would see in a Loot Crate, but are something I've been looking for for quite some time - BOOKENDS! These are heavy and definitely capable of holding books 1-7 tightly together on any shelf. They feature the "Guardians of Hogwarts",  and the incantation "Piertotum Locomotor", which was famously used my Minerva McGonagall to animate the statues and suits of armor (a.k.a. Guardians of Hogwarts) to fight the Battle of Hogwarts/ last battle of the Second Wizarding War. Much like they held Hogwarts, these will hold any books you set between their protection.

"Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death."

—The Tale of the Three Brothers by Beedle the Bard

This month's Loot Crate pin is modeled after Marvolo Gaunt's signet ring. Marvolo's ring was an heirloom made of gold with the Resurrection Stone inset. I'm really glad this isn't a Horcrux like the real thing, because I'd hate to have to destroy it. 

An additional surprise awaited me in this months box... as this month's box. Loot Crate sometimes creates their boxes with ulterior usage in mind. This months' box was actually a scene for a shadow-puppet Death Eater and Stag Patronus.

After following the directions, and literally flipping things inside-out, we were left with this. 

Turning off the lights and shining a flashlight at the cutout created something that I played with for quite some time. My dogs were confused, but I was just plain excited. 

Defence Against the Dark Arts
We're facing the foulest creatures and most hideous curses known to wizardkind with collectibles, artifacts, apparel and more designed to aid in the Defence Against the Dark Arts.

This Crate's Magical Loot
1.Counter Curse T-Shirt - Jinxed? Cursed? Petrified or otherwise spellbound? Defend yourself against the darker side of magic with this specially-designed tee!

2. Professor Snape's Premium Wand Pen - Take care, you now have in your possession the very wand used by the Half-Blood Prince himself! Or, at the very least, a diecast and resin replica. Use it wisely.

3.Guardians of Hogwarts Bookends - Should you find your precious books threatened, this metal bookend set can man the boundaries and guard them against the deadly forces of the Dark Arts!

4. Defence Against the Dark Arts Journal - Any good secret society requires secret plans. Keep your strategies to oppose You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters safe in this journal embossed with the Order of the Phoenix and Dumblebore's Army emblems.

5.Marvolo's Ring Enamel Pin - Tom Riddle's second Horcrux come in the form of Marvolo Gaunt's signet ring. 

 I was sad to note that Loot Crate seems to be sticking with their new insert insead of the scrolls, but in the end, this crate was VERY useful, very unexpected, but very fun! I think it's safe to say that We have everything we need to protect our person and our belongings from the Dark Arts. Well done, Loot Crate!

As always, I'll see you all in 2 months time! I'm really excited, because September's Loot Crate Theme is:

Here's hoping they include some dried billywig stings, my stash is dwindling!