New Favorite LOVE the Rustoleum Paint Pen

New Favorite LOVE the Rustoleum Paint Pen

This goes under the heading, "Why didnt I think of that?" I needed something to spruce up the old garden sign. I used a sharpie black permanent marker and in only a few days it faded.

Walking down the paint aisle at Menards (Midwest home improvement store), I came across this Rustoleum American Accents Decorative Paint Pen. It came in a bunch of basic colors including black which was the color I needed. So I decided to give it a try!

Well lo and behold - it is totally wonderful! It worked like a charm! It has a chisel tip so you can make fat or skinny lines and you have complete control and freedom of movement. It goes on just like magic marker but with the durability and saturation of paint.

I can see it for monogramming pillows, signs, furniture touch-ups, calligraphy, the uses are endless!


New Favorite LOVE the Rustoleum Paint Pen

Fantastic Outdoor Benches Choose Your Favorite Outdoor Bench To Accent Your Cherished Garden

Fantastic Outdoor Benches Choose Your Favorite Outdoor Bench To Accent Your Cherished Garden

Have you ever thought of purchasing a fabulous outdoor bench for your garden or patio? If not, then with their fabulous look, and so many options, you may see outdoor benches in a whole new light.

Outdoor benches are quickly gaining in popularity. And outdoor garden benches are only one member of the family of outdoor benches that are not an exception to this. The main reason for the popularity of outdoor furniture is its various features that make it unique, such as being beautiful, elegant, natural looking.

Besides, most are also resistible to the things such as insects, moisture, chlorine, water containing salt, etc. It is well built and retains the features of being comfortable as well as durable for quite long time.

Now a days outdoor garden benches give not only comfort, but style to your home. With so many different varieties, you can choose benches with or with out armrests as well as giving you the choice of a bench with or without a back. You can see how it would be possible to do a number of activities such as reading a book, enjoying your favorite drink, taking a rest on this bench. So, one can pass his time quite easily while sitting on these benches.

You can choose from a number of benches to suit your style, requirements and personality. There is a wide variety of outdoor benches; teak benches as a whole in different natural-looking colors and styles that are available in the market. Some styles give you the option to show off your gardening skills with attached planters.

As far as painted colors of these benches are concerned, there is a wide variety of the same. The colors of these are resistible from being faded. You can choose from different colors such as white, sand, hunter green, dark teak, black, etc.

Another advantage of buying these benches is that generally they are available at a comparatively reasonable price. Therefore, you can purchase these benches of various styles within your budget.

Though prices of these teak outdoor benches may be slightly higher in certain cases, that should be considered immaterial since it is a lifetime investment that enables you to make your house look more beautiful.

The one thing is sure that you will be proud of yourself for making such an excellent choice.


Dont start that project before you visit us for more info on Garden Shed Plans and other Storage Building Plans. The right plan for you is key to the job.


Fantastic Outdoor Benches Choose Your Favorite Outdoor Bench To Accent Your Cherished Garden

My Favorite Moments of 2011

My Favorite Moments of 2011

One last post about 2011.  I really want to thank some women who have influenced me and my blog. When I started my blog, I had no idea what to expect.  I just shared some of my projects and hoped someone was reading about them.  Eventually, I gained some followers which was very exciting.  I began linking my projects to various link parties - and found more success.  I have been featured over 60 times on other blogs.  Which still surprises me.  It is such a thrill to see one of my projects selected.  Most of my readers have come from these link parties.  This begs the question - how did you find me?  Heres a list of my top five referrals -

5) Funky Junk Interiors - If you havent been to this blog - go there now!  Donna is awesome.  Not only does she have amazing talent, but she is probably one of the sweetest women on the web.  I linked my Homemade Art during her get out of your comfort zone challenge.

Making my own art definitely took me out of my comfort zone.  Id never done something like this before.  And I was shocked when Donna left a sweet comment on my post.  She has a huge blog but she stopped over to see my little art project.  Wow.  I have also had a few interactions with her in email - she could not be nicer.  And she is so creative.  I just love looking around at all of her projects.

4) Apartment Therapy.  Yeah - I cant believe that either.  But one day, I noticed my stats going crazy.  I wondered what was happening.  Oh just my Homemade Headboard on Apartment Therapy.  NBD.  Crazy!!!

I love AT but never expected to see one of my projects there.  Thats the kind of stuff that happens to other people.  You know, people who have been doing this stuff for years - not weeks.  But there it was.  And my stats went through the roof.  And while I still love this $10 headboard made from an old door, I cannot believe it was on AT.

3) My Romantic Home - Cindy has a great blog - and a huge link party.  I receive so many visitors when I link projects over there.  Its a fantastic place for inspiration.  I could look around there all day.

2) Knock Off Decor - I love a good knock off.  So this site is perfect for me.  I read it every day.  And I have had a few of my projects featured here.  One of my favorite features is my Buffet Lamp Transformation-

I found these lamps at Salvation Army and gave them a makeover.  They are so much cheaper than the Pottery Barn lamps that I had been eyeing.  Beckie at Knock Off Decor features tons of these cheap imitations - its a great resource for decorating on a budget.

1) Young House Love.  Well what more can I say.  Sherry and John have one of the best blogs out there.  They knock out excellent projects faster than any other humans on the planet - all while raising a toddler, caring for their dog, writing a book, and contributing to a magazine.  I get tired just thinking about their schedule.  But I love their blog.  The writing is entertaining, the pictures are incredible and the DIY detail is really helpful.

Who else sent readers my way?  Laurie at Tip Junkie featured my Homemade Dance Floor -

Yeah - one day I logged on to FB and there was my dance floor - on Tip Junkie (I follow TJ on FB - and you should too!).  That was a huge surprise!  

Katie at Bower Power Blog invited her readers to link up projects a few times.  And can I just say - I. Love. Her. Blog.  She is so funny - and real.  She isnt afraid to show you the mess on her kitchen counter or her goofy redneck family picture (you really need to check that out - you will love it).  She is also an incredible photographer (I really need to work on that for this blog).  And I just imagine that if we lived closer, we would be the best of friends.  Not in some sort of crazy stalker way either.  But we have a lot in common - like our love of bacon and our sad social skills (yes - I too have trouble making adult girl friends.  I just get awkward in social situations).  I do believe that bacon and awkwardness can bring people together.  So maybe someday..

Lets see, what else did I do in 2011?  I was a guest blogger on a number of sites.  How fun is that?  Its such a great opportunity for me - and a great way to introduce my new blog to more people.  Thanks ladies for inviting me over - I truly appreciate it!

I was lucky enough to do a couple of giveaways - which is a fantastic way to thank all of you for visiting my blog.  I hope to set up a few new giveaways this year as well.  Stay tuned!

I was also selected to be in a craft competition on One Month To Win It.  Today is the last day to vote in round one.  I would love it if you stopped over and voted (hopefully for me - but all of the projects are good so its tough to choose).  I am really hoping to make it past the first round.

I was given the Versatile Blogger Award three times!  Wow!  That was completely unexpected - thanks ladies!!

I started a series called My Friday Five.  This sort of grew out of my love of Pinterest.  I figured that if I spent countless hours some time looking around that site, I should share some of my favorite inspiration.  I know I cant do all of the projects I find, but maybe it will inspire you to try something new.  And it also gives me an excuse to look around on Pinterest.  Without the guilt.  Because its for my blog.  I mean the laundry can wait, right?  Of course it can...

So that pretty much sums up 2011.  Im sure I have left some things out - its been a very eventful year.  Tomorrow, I will have my first My Friday Five post for 2012. And Monday, I will share some of the things I hope to accomplish in the new year.  I have some big plans (which may be ambitious) so stop back to check them out.  

And thank you.  

My Favorite Moments of 2011

My New Favorite Site And a Reminder

My New Favorite Site And a Reminder

I had a completely different post planned for today but...

I have found a new site that I just LOVE.  And, according to my daughter, its been around for a long time.  But as usual, Im a little late to the party.  :-)  Ready?  Have you heard of Polyvore?  Its a website that allows you to create virtual outfits.  I made a few last night -

Youve probably seen these "style boards" all over Pinterest.  Yesterday, I took the plunge and opened my own (free) account.  And it is awesome. Its sort of like paper dolls for grown ups.  Not only does the site have thousands of images (usually with brand name and price info attached) but you can add a "Clip to Polyvore" button on your toolbar and add your own images.  Which of course I did.  I clipped a couple of images from Old Navy (like the sweater and flip flops below) - 

Its fun putting outfits together - and finding your style - for free.  Or, if you dont want to waste spend hours looking through images of awesome clothes, you can choose to follow other peoples collections.  (In case youre interested, Im kristenmycoveredbridge).  Ive also added my outfits to Pinterest (you can find me at Kristen @ My Covered Bridge - just click the button on the sidebar).   Head over to see my other virtual outfits!  

So, why do I like this site so much?  A couple of reasons.  Its a great way to see what goes well together - without even leaving your house.  And it can be used as a reminder of items you want to buy (when they go on sale of course!).  Sort of a pre-made shopping list for your next mall trip.

Btw, I have no affiliation with Polyvore and have not been compensated in any way for this post.  Im just a fan.  (But, if I could find some way to make "spend endless hours putting cute outfits together on Polyvore" my full-time job, Id be a very happy camper.  Are you listening Polyvore??  Call me...)

On a side note - this is the LAST day that Google Friend Connect will work for non-blogger blogs (I am a blogger blog, so, for now, you can still follow me through GFC.  Rumor has it that GFC will be going away completely soon.).  If you have other favorite blogs that you want to keep up on, you need to follow them in some other way.  I will be spending a good amount of time today signing up to follow my favorite blogs on BlogLovin.  I started using it last week, and it works well for me (you can follow My Covered Bridge on BlogLovin by clicking on the link on my sidebar).  I think that this is the easiest way to search through new posts.  Its a simple, user-friendly dashboard.  Right now, its my number one choice for following blogs.  Of course, there are other options - Facebook, Linky Followers, RSS feed, and Email to name a few.  But the important thing to remember is that time is running out.  Dont leave your favorite blogs behind!

My New Favorite Site And a Reminder