Better After: October 2012

Fall Style Guide

Oct 31, 2012

Even though Halloween is just about over, that doesn't mean the party has to stop. It's still fall, ya'll! I truly look forward to this season all year. What is there to not like about fall? Nothing, that's what.

That's why I'm so excited to announce today that I've been asked to be a part of The Home Depot's Fall Style Guide Blogger Network.

Have you heard of The Home Depot's Style Guides? They are amaaaazing. It's kind of like a free magazine full of seasonal project ideas, trends in decor and home design, plus exclusive Home Depot savings and offers, for free! Did I already say free? It's just that they really are so chock-full of great content, it almost seems like a crime not to be paying.

Here is my favorite feature from the current edition: how optical illusions can make your bedroom seem bigger and brighter, and just ... better! Behold:

It's the same room, no joke. Watch the whole transformation HERE.

If you subscribe to the Style Guide, you'll receive updates each time a new edition is released, plus there's even an iPad app, (of course there is!) so you can enjoy browsing project ideas and plan for home improvements wherever you go.

I can't wait to share more in the next couple of months, including a few of my own projects inspired by the Fall Style Guide.

Maybe if I get super motivated, something like this ridiculosly rad snowman wreath? We'll see!

Home Depot can be found:

Online at www.homedepot.com
On Facebook at www.facebook.com/homedepot
On Twitter at twitter.com/homedepot
And find the Style Guide iPad app here.

The Home Depot partnered with bloggers such as me for their Fall Style Guide Blog Network. As part of this program, I received compensation for my time. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about any product mentioned in these posts. The Home Depot believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. The Home Depot’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Halloween Tricks and a Treat!

This post is a Halloween favorite, so here it is again, with a couple new pics added. Enjoy!! (originally posted Oct. 30th, 2009)

Here's a little Halloween trick for you. You know what else is "better after?" Anyone! After some serious Photoshopping, that is.

Do you despair when you see makeup ads featuring pore-less faces? Or smirk at the Victoria Secret models splayed across the catalog, like, do they even NEED push-up bras? Ever wonder why Madonna, at age 54, barely looks a hair over 21? Well, she doesn't.

Whatever you do, don't let some pretty picture in a magazine get you down, because only about 5% of the images we see in the media have any sort of basis in reality. I just made that statistic up. But it's probably true.

Tyra: not flawless, but still fierce!

Mariah: Riiiiiiiight.

Jessica Alba is so slender and well-lit in the magical land of Photoshop! Even the wrinkles on her clothes disappear!

If you want to be on the cover of a magazine, prepare to have half of your arm shaved away. Isn't she good enough as-is? I think so!

Hi Britney! Have you had some ... work done?

I don't know who this girl is, but she either has a case of Photoshop-itis or secretly hates her glossier, perkier, symmetrical-ier twin sister.

Kim Kardashian is a pretty gal, no question. Her top half doesn't seem to be altered much, but her bottom half sure does.

This one really irks me. Look how much of Kourtney's post-partum belly they've removed! Talk about giving women unrealistic expectations.

Koy asked "Mom, is that you?" Ha! I should be so lucky. My after shot couldn't live up to Naomi Watt's before!

Look, Photoshop can even take away your scowl and replace it with a sexy smirk! Not to mention your years of hard partying!

Or take decades off your face AND boobs!

And no, the men aren't immune to it either.

Hellooo magazine editors? Mick Jagger is 45 billion years old, he's supposed to look like it.

Oh, Justin, don't be mad at me. You know I love you.

Rowr.

Happy Halloween!

Animal Instincts

Oct 30, 2012

This blog is straight up haunted today. It reposted something I had posted like, three years ago, all by itself! I was so confused when this ancient post started getting comments, and then lo and behold, there it is at the top of my blog?! Spoooooooky. Anyway... speaking of old things, look over there on my sidebar! I posted a new picture of myself for the first time in two years! Woo!

--Back to your regularly scheduled post.--

There was an animal living inside this dresser. Which reminds me of my favorite KE$HA song! (Oh, shut up, you have one too). It's called Animal on her I Am The Dance remix album. Go download that shiz right now. You will LOVE. IT. or your money back.*

*this blog is not responsible for giving you your money back.

But seriously, you will like it.

I predict that you will also like this dresser makeover from Jade, Anna and Terra, the girls behind the blog Re-New. Beneath its fading coat of maroon sadness, they uncovered some beautiful quarter-sawn oak, AKA tiger-oak! I love how they played it up by keeping the frame and hardware simple and black. It's better than good, it's grrrrrrreat!

Transforming and Heart Warming

Amy at Style By Design recently had a chance to makeover a room for a brave little 9-year-old girl named Jojo who is battling more than any child should ever have to face. Jojo had already been chosen by a charity to receive a new playground, but because of her Spina Bifida, leg braces, brittle bones and older age, Amy knew that she would benefit more from a fabulous bedroom makeover.

Before, her room was so cramped and the bed so uncomfortable, that Jojo didn't even sleep there. Amy and an army of volunteers took her bedroom from little girl to grown-up glam in a mere 28 hours, which included demo'ing the closet, adding built-ins and plenty of special touches. Check out Amy's blog for all the details and to see Jojo's reaction to her surprise room makeover. My heart, it has been warmed!

Tuft as nails. (Or staples).

Oct 29, 2012

How many times have you seen these asian-style coffee tables on Craigslist or at Goodwill? Like, all the time. I tripped over four of them the last time I was at Goodwill. Not really, my Goodwill stinks. (Literally and figuratively).

But they ARE easy to be found, and easy to turn into a tufted ottoman! No, really! I didn't think tufts were easy either; I thought there were giant needles and big muscles involved, but Sammy's tutorial on her blog Renew Redo shows us that's not the case. She just used a staple gun and hot-glue! I'm trying it. Next time I run into one of these.