Updating Living room and Spare Bedroom/Craft room

So, one of my top projects for the year was to change up our setup in our Living Room, and in-turn changing up our Spare Bedroom/Craft Room.

 I am so happy to have more organization in my crafting space now!

First off- it all started with the living room. We both wanted a space to put our computers in here, since we kind of live in this room.

This was the Living Room before:

2 large bookcases on either side of our TV stand (with all our Xmas cards we received hanging).

Slightly low view from the couch.

And here is the living room after:

Yes- that is Grey's Anatomy- my HUSBAND's favorite show. (Not mine- I prefer more sci-fi fantasy shows).

Now all the computers have a spot.

More lighting on this side of the room now...

View from my hubs' seat by his computer.

They had the square organization units at Wal-mart for $37.95 each- each unit has 4 squares- so we got 3 units- so roughly $114 for this setup. My hubs just turns the one chair around while he is on his computer (dual screen with the big screen) and I just pull up a chair to my laptop. The old TV table that was in the center, we plan to turn into a mini bar whenever we remake our shed into "the man cave" that my hubs has been begging to do.It's amazing how low bookcases open up a living room. Now to try and find something to put on that bare wall!

We removed our big 2 bookcases from the living room and moved them upstairs into our spare bedroom/my craft room. This gave me a boat-load of more storage space. I also removed my one drawing table that is broken, and shifted the "sewing space" to where my Cricut was on a mini tv cart. The Cricut is now underneath, since I tend to use it on the floor anyways, when I do use it. I removed the metal rack I had in here (its out in the shed now) so the room really has so much more storage. The desk was moved to the corner, and overall re-arrangement of furniture. I also went through a LOT that was in the closet- throwing out 2 huge garbage bags full of junk. Luckily I had picked up a bunch of red bins from the dollar store in my first attempt at fixing this room up and finally got to use them all!

Craft room Before:

Organized Chaos...

Craft Room/Spare Bedroom After:

Don't mind the Chandelier sitting on top of the bookcase. lol. Things are still a little chaoic and mis-matched furniture, but there is SOOO much more room to walk around now.

Now there is much easier access to the sewing machine and other craft equipment.

I know it isn't as super-fab color-coordinated and pretty as those snazzy home decor magazines, but hey- we're on a budget. Until I can afford to buy all matching furniture and stuff, it will do.

So much more organization!

Paper rack and closet-hidden.

Yay for easier access to the tools I ACTUALLY use next to my craft table.

Eventually our queen sized spare bed will go in this room from the other spare bedroom, but not until we end up having a kid (which we are not even going to start trying till earliest the end of the year).

The Futon setup (and I came across a 2 drawing and a caricature I did when I used to work at Dorney Park (the 3 center ones on the wall) and 2 caricature that old co-workers drew of me (the black and white on the left, and the one on the far right).

It's another spare bed or reading chill spot (and display of my nutcracker collection.)

Next on the order of operations for the DIY home projects- turning our shed:

... into a man cave.

*sigh* Heaven help us. We have to a) clean my closet so we can get better access to our attic for storage, b) clean out our coat closet, closet that holds the water heater and spare freezer, clean out above the laundry closet (so 3 closets downstairs to be cleaned out) and d) fix up the mini side shed for the lawn mower and bikes- all before we even START to make the big shed into my husband man cave/bar. But at least it would get all the "bar" stuff out of our dining room- so I can have a pretty dining room again. Also, luckily our friends like hanging out at our place- so they are willing to help and we already have someone lined up to give us a mini fridge and a mini pool table.
My dreams are to continue fixing up the patio to be a more livable chill spot, but hubs is set on the shed fix up first. We shall see what is in our budget- because I refuse to give up our winter trip for a bar shed.
First things first though- the snow needs to melt. Haha.
Anyways, Have a great day!
-M

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Getting started on Project Life

Ok. So I got the Becky Higgins Project Life Cherry collection from my mom as a present for hitting my goal weight while on Weight Watchers (lost 63 lbs since October- you can read more about my weight loss adventure over at my Food/Weight loss blog: http://www.steppingwithsmiles.blogspot.com/ )

ANYWAYS,
So I went through and set up the basics for the intro page and back page, though I'm pretty sure the amount of sheet protectors I have will last me only each month, as opposed to each week- like I'd like to do if I can.
So far I printed out a few of my pictures to start it off the week before I got the project life in the mail, and started writing down the basic events that happened for that week and this week (and wrote down what events I knew would be happening in the future).

My question to anyone out there is what is your system for Project Life? Do you do it per week or per month? Or do you just do it with whatever you feel like it? Do you have a spot in your craft room just for that? What's your favorite products or freebies that you use in your Project Life?
I know I'm full of questions, but this is something new and I'd love feedback.
I did start a Pinterest board here just for inspiration and freebies for Project Life, so if you want to follow (or contribute- just ask me) I'd love it! If you want to follow all of my Pinterest boards, please do! Just forewarning, I'm kind of obsessed with Pinterest. Right now I'm at 51 boards and 8,026 pins!

Anyways, when I get week one started, I'll show it off to you all. :D
(I hope I can get to start working on these on Mondays, since that's my next day off!)

Other things: My mom sent me a rolodex card she made for a swap using my Frenzified Spooks and Scares Set. Don't you adore it!?

Also, another question if anyone knows the answer.
Do you all remember this lovely tv stand I got at the SalVal for our future home?

Well I acquired 2 bookcases like this (imagine light wood):

What do you all suggest? Should I stain the bookcases to try to match them, or paint all 3 something?
I want our future living room to have this scheme,

  but I'm not sure the best route to take on this bookcases/tv stand.

Now we haven't got the house officially yet, though it is looking promising with the most recent events. That being said, I'm trying to figure out what I can paint furniture wise ahead of time, so any input would be awesome! Including, what Black paint would be the best to paint this lovely?:

We are crossing fingers that the date we were told is actually the true closing date- as we still haven't gotten the paperwork back (darn you Short Sales for taking so long), but this time the supposed closing date was given to us by the Sellers bank, so we hope it is true this time! *fingers crossed*

I hope to get some feedback from you all!
Anyways, Happy crafting and DIY-ing!
M

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