The (Ever Changing) DIY To-Do List

As a first-time homeowner on a just-finished-law-school budget, I'm always looking for ways to get a whole lot of bang for just a little cash. Luckily, Pinterest is chock full of DIY projects that can help me stretch my home decorating budget. Here are just a few of the projects I'm hoping to complete this year:

Install Kitchen Backsplash

Budget: $150

Materials Needed:

• Smart Tiles in "Bellagio"
• Craft Knife

Build Outdoor Fire Pit

Budget: $75

Materials Needed

• 30 12"x8"x4" Concrete Wall Blocks
• Play Sand

Stain Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets (Builder Grade to Mahogany)

Budget: $45

Materials Needed

• Minwax Gel Stain, 2 Qt.
• Soft Cloth (Old T-shirt)
• Rubber Gloves
• Painter's Triangles
• Painter's Tape
• Butcher Paper (To Protect Floors)

Custom "Built-In" Bookshelves in Living Room

Budget: $250

Materials Needed

• 3/4"x4'x8' Plywood
• Birch Stripping
• Crown Molding
• L Brackets
• Primer
• White Paint

Come On In!

Take off your shoes, pour yourself a glass of sweet tea, and stay a while. My name is Lauren, and I'm so glad you've come to visit!

Home is a little slice of farmland somewhere north of Chattanooga, where people still believe in front porch hospitality and there isn't a stop light for miles. Generations of my family have lived and died here, farming the land and building an enduring legacy of people who aren't afraid to work hard and get their hands dirty. For as long as I can remember, I've done my fair share of work by slopping hogs, sorting cattle, and mending fences, and I've loved every minute of it. Even though my career has taken me away from the farm most of the day, nothing makes me happier than coming home to two beautiful horses and pastures full of newly weaned calves.

As we get to know each other better, you'll learn that I'm something of a "Jane of All Trades." I am curious and creative, which means that I'm always up for tackling a DIY project or coming up with a clever solution to everyday problems. Hopefully, I'll inspire you to do a little creating of your own!