Greetings Planter DIY

First off, you know I love a good planter...

When we bought our house, the front porch was completely closed in and guests entered from the side.  Which makes one question "What's up with that?"  It just didn't function the way we wanted it to.  Since moving in, we've opened up the front porch and just recently moved our mailbox from the side to the front.  So much better! However, the side entrance was starting to feel a little naked.

Enter this Greetings Planter!

The house number planters that you see all over the internet are totally my jam. But we really didn't need house numbers on the side of our house, and although they are super beautiful, they are super pricy.  Since this isn't our main entrance, I wanted something simple and inexpensive.

Supplies
-2 pieces (1/8 in x 4 x 12) of birch plywood
-1 piece of 3/8 x 12 x 12in birch plywood
-Wood letters
-Succulents or cacti
-Plastic container to plant succulents in
-X-acto knife or dremel
-Ruler
-Sandpaper
-Wood glue
-Wood fill
-Spray paint
-Weather protecting varnish
- Hooks to hang planter
 *All can be found at Michaels or your local hardware store

Measure two 3" pieces for the sides of the box. Mark and then score with your knife. I found that you could score the wood about halfway and apply pressure to break it in half.  The excess will be the front of your planter box.  Make sure and label your pieces, just in case!

Here's the lazy way to figure this out- take your front piece and butt it up next to the piece of plywood. Then mark that bad boy. This will be the bottom of your planter.

Sand all pieces including your bigger piece of plywood.  Sometimes during the cutting process, your measurements get a little skewed. Sanding helps even things out and get a better finish when spray painting.

Use the wood glue to adhere the pieces together.  Rest the pieces next to a box so the pieces dry straighter.  Wait about an hour in between pieces.  When I glued my sides, I rested a heavy book on top of them to help with pressure.

After the box is dry, cut the excess off of the back using your x acto.  I didn't do this step in the beginning because I wanted to make sure all the edges would meet up.  If you are super precise, then you can totally do this step when you are cutting your pieces.  If not, it isn't hard to just cut and sand the existing part off! #winning

Glue your box to the plywood. Place a heavy book to apply pressure while drying.  I would wait overnight, just to make sure it's really solid.  After drying, apply wood fill to all of the cracks and crevices. Once the wood fill is dry you can sand it off to make it look smooth.

* If you get thicker plywood, you can nail your pieces together after they are all dry. I did this with the first planter box I made, and it worked great! It's just an extra step, and it's harder to cut the thicker plywood with a knife. Plus the plants aren't super heavy, so I decided to skip that step for the tutorial.

Spray your planter and letters! After spray painting, I lightly sanded the planter because I didn't want it to appear overly glossy. Glue your letters down.  This is where you can really add personality to the project! I really thought about adding "Wazzzz up" because I feel like that should've never went away.  But ultimately, Bonjour won.

After the letters are dry apply your varnish. I skipped this last step because I have a covered entryway.  However, I am going to go back and apply it because weather is crazy here in Missouri!

Add your hooks to the back and then plant your succulents.  I used a tupperware container (that I found at Michaels in the dollar section) to plant my succulents. That allows you to just pull them out of the planter when you water them.

Hang that bad boy. Then do a jig because this thing is awesome and so are you!

This is such an easy and cheap project to do that adds so much fun to your entryway. Overall the materials cost me around $30!

I am already thinking about all the fun things I can add to it when the season changes! Mini Mums?! Holly?! The opportunities are knocking at my door...Sorry. That joke just needed to happen.

Happy planting!

Us in the Summer

I thought it would be fun once in a while to share what we are up to and into as of late. I mean this blog is a time capsule after all!

He is Learning:
How to refret a guitar. We flew to Chicago earlier this month so he could take a class. So, really he has already learned it!

He Watches:
The WWE Network. Always and forever.

His Album:
Haim-Days are Gone.

He Wears:
Newsboy Hats. Even though his head is naked in this picture!

He Eats:
Tomato Basil Soup from Panera.



She is Learning:
Guitar and Yoga. Since graduating, I have really made an effort to continue learning new things. And I love it! I can play chords and am working on my first song.

She Watches:
Mysteries at The Museum.

Her Album:
Alt-J-An Awesome Wave. Over and Over.

She Wears:
Overalls. And drives Him crazy asking if it's too hot for overalls? Because it's Summer in Missouri and it's always too hot for overalls.

She Eats:
Eggs Benedict from anywhere.

Master Bathroom Redo

Behold! Our master bathroom is an eyesore. I can hide it no more. It's been like this since we've moved in. Hideous. Neglected. Our very ugly, bathroom duckling.

I always hated when people would run up to use our bathroom.  Oh, the downstairs bathroom is occupied?! Cut to me embarrassingly cleaning and apologizing for it's creepy gross feeling.

So I am sorry to all my friends and family. Seriously, I am sorry... Let's bathroom shame me some more with those before photos we all know and love.

 Toothpaste on the mirror? Check. Really beautiful outfit that deserves it's own blog post? Check.  Really bad paint color picked by yours truly 4 years ago? Check.

I've got plans for this little beasty.  The first step happened today when that old gross green laminate top met it's demise and a fresh, oh so clean, white marble top replaced it.

Here's the plan for this little dream boat.

1. Paint--I just really like a crisp, white bathroom. Not only that, but this space is small and the dark grey makes it feel smaller. 

2. Vanity--I decided to keep the existing vanity because A. it's in great shape. B. the space in the bathroom is a little awkward city so it actually works really well. C. if we did replace it we would lose out on so much storage.  I am thinking of either staining the wood darker or painting it. But I haven't really decided yet.

3. Mirror/Wall-- The plan is to install two round mirrors. Possibly with a medicine cabinet? That would allow me to do my makeup on the right while Evan stands in front of the other mirror and plays guitar. Because this is my reality. He will stand right in front of me while I am getting ready and play. So I need to accommodate him...And my sanity. It sounds like a good plan.

We are going to do some kind of accent wall. Maybe completely tile? Maybe a really sleek, modern wood? 

4. Lighting--I want to for sure put some can lights in and then maybe sconces in between the mirrors? The fluorescent light kills me. We have it downstairs too, so they both will get tackled at the same time. 

5. Tile- For sure the floor. I would love to go all the way up to the ceiling, but we will see what happens...

I am so glad the ball is rolling on this project! The marble top has already brightened the space so much. I love a really dramatic before and after reveal. But, this time around, I really wanted to show the step by step progress.  Do you guys like the step by step better than just a before and after? I would love your feedback! Plus I still haven't revealed our downstairs bathroom because I still have to pick out art and lighting for it. Sheesh!

P.S. How do you organize your makeup and hair stuff? One huge goal of mine is to get that stuff off of the counter. How do you deal with all your girly thangz?!?

Big Apple Bovees

A week before Evan came home from tour, I woke up to find an exciting email from American Airlines.  He surprised me with a trip to New York!  Which is huge because the past 6 months he has been legit around the world and traveling would probably be right up there with a root canal.

 What a guy!  I have always wanted to go there.  I've actually had a reoccurring nightmare where I am supposed to meet him on top of the Empire State Building and I loose my ticket.  Forever lost from my husband.

So we jumped on a plane and headed to the Big Apple.  Home of street meat.  And hot Garbage.  And    awesome.  We hadn't rode on a plane together since our honeymoon which was FOUR years ago.  That alone made the trip.  He never lets me carry any luggage and I got to take ridiculous sleeping pictures of him.  They are pure gold.

The first day we went to Central Park and walked around for 6890 hours looking for that dang carousel which we never found.  I mean is it always there? Where the heck is it?! I never realized how huge the park actually is! I loved looking up in the trees and seeing little pops of skyscrapers.

Of course we had to go to the Empire State building to stop the nightmares. The view is incredible. You really could see everything which is nice because you can't actually do/see everything in one trip.  That night we had dinner with a friend and walked to a dock and saw the city all lit up at night. Cities at night are my favorite.  I mean I HAD to go to the Empire State Building. Had to.  And the same with Willis Tower.  But that dock at night was beyond beautiful. And the night view from the women's bathroom at the John Hancock building kills it.  So if you ever need to take a pee in Chicago, you know where to go ladies...

The last day was filled with subway rides, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and the Museum of Natural History.  We were so worn out from walking that we had to take breaks to "view" the exhibits. Ha!

It was one of those vacations that totally wear you out! We walked over 40 miles while we were there.  The city is incredible.  There is so much energy there.  New York, I love you.  I really do! But I think our next vacation involves the beach and a hammock.

P.S. if you want to see more photos, go to Instagram and search #bigapplebovees . And follow me! I am @caseybovee .

Keep it Cool, Man

I never really liked herbs, until this year.  All of a sudden, I can't get enough Basil.  And mint? Forget about it. I want to eat it on everything. Now if only I would start liking tomatoes… We have a shady past.

Anyway, I thought I would put my new found love for herbs to work and make some "infused water" or "Spa Water" or for us who are less trendy (me) "flavored water".  I stored the water overnight so the fruit/herb taste would be stronger.

My favorite was probably Strawberry Basil, because it's just a weirdly good combo.  Strawberries and Basil were meant to be infused.  True love, if you will?   For everyday flavored water, for sure the blackberry chocolate mint.  Have you heard of chocolate mint before? Seriously, so good! I got mine at a local nursery, and sometimes I just go to the back porch and inhale it's heavenly scent.  The watermelon mint was also super tasty.

I can't wait to try some more combos and see how tasty they are! Orange Mint? What about Plum Chocolate Mint? Cheers to hydration!

Peg Board Planter

For my senior show, I used framed pegboard to display all of my projects and had a lot left over.  I really loved the look and function of it and didn't want all that hard work to go to waste, so I started thinking about how I could use it in my home.

Herbs have been my jam lately, so I thought the pegboard would make an awesome vertical planter to display them.  Super awesome and functional? Sign me up.

The back porch has been neglected (much like this blog!) and it needed a little love.  The pegboard is just framed with stained lumber which gives it a nice modern contrast.  I picked up cheap plastic planters from Target and drilled a hole in them for the peg hooks.  Our porch is covered, so heavy moisture won't get to it that easily, but I am going to try and waterproof it just to extend its life.  I just take the plants down when I water them to avoid any excess moisture.

Our back porch still needs a lot of tlc, but this planter makes it look a little more pulled together.  I decided that I am going to try an achieve a beautiful, weed free lawn this summer.  I just want bare feet on soft green grass going on all the time.  Is that even possible? Any tips from the lawn obsessed?

Bad Blog Mom

Life has been jam-packed lately.  In between my best friend getting married, visiting Evan on tour, and finishing up my senior show and just school in general this blog has been hard core neglected.  Neglected like I forgot to pick it up at school and only remembered it when I was at home. Poor guy.  Now that school is winding down (2 more weeks until graduation!) I promise not to sit in front of the tv like a zombie and watch Flipping Out.  I swear.  It's over Jeff.

So stay tuned! I just ordered a faucet for my master bathroom so things are about to get 100 times prettier. I'm thinking white penny tile and giant round mirrors.

*Also I was lying about it being over with Jeff from Flipping Out.  I can't quit him, but I can dvr!