Are you wanting to update your bathroom or ensuite on a budget? Keep reading to find out how I refreshed our bathroom on a small budget (under $500) and did it all by myself over 3 days!

We built this house over 6 years ago and I originally loved the wall colour, tile, and style. But fast forward to 2021 and to be frank, I was getting sick of looking at it. I wanted a freshen up and to go in a different direction with style and colour, however, I didn’t have a lot to spend or want to make structural changes. And considering everything was still reasonably new and in great condition, it seems extremely wasteful to rip it all out and start again.

So what did I do? I made small, easy to manage changes and totally transformed the room from a bland, lackluster space to something bright and fun. It has certainly become somewhere I am happy to get ready in every morning.

Make sure you read to the end to see all the final photos and watch my Tiktoks at the end ……..

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Where to start?

When planning a makeover or reno project, there are a couple of options you can choose from. You can keep it basic and straightforward with just a visual guide and some notes with measurements and what you need to buy. Or you can delve into more depth and write down all the information that is needed to successfully complete the project, including a to-do list, create mood boards, and list exact products required and costs. Either one of these options is recommended before you make a start as otherwise, you may find you are going off in all different directions. You then tend to lose momentum and usually spend a lot more than you originally wanted to or make costly mistakes as you didn’t spend enough time planning it all out.

OPTION 1 – VISUAL – CREATE A MOOD BOARD

I often find so many images on Pinterest and Instagram that I love but I end up getting totally overwhelmed with options and mash-up too many styles as I want it all!!! So I find creating a mood board, no matter how basic is a great way to gather your thoughts and see what works well together.

You can make mood boards in so many ways. You can start a Pinterest Board just for that project (be careful not to add too many pins as you will be back to square one). Or, you could print out images and cut and paste onto paper. You could also try my preferred way which is a digital mood board. I use a combo of Canva (click on link for a coupon), StyleSourceBook and even Microsoft Word if I just want to do it quickly.

Canva is great because it has an option for a background remover (for Pro users) and I find this the quickest way to create a professional looking mood board.

Here is my bathroom mood board :

Now remember a mood board is simply that, a way of creating a image of what you would like. It does not need to be followed to the letter of the law, it does not need to be exact and it certainly does not need to look perfect. Just add things until you get a good feel that you are on the right track and then you can narrow it down and start making decisions.

OPTION 2 – DETAILED PLANNING – USE A ROOM MAKEOVER PLANNER

Being a procrastinator and often overwhelmed with so many ideas, I needed something to ground me and help me focus. So I created a printable ROOM MAKEOVER PLANNER. This planner covers most things you need to decide on and plan in order to complete a successful room makeover.

Now, you can keep it basic and use a notebook and pen and just take some notes, however, I tend to misplace those or write about other things on the pages and it becomes a hot mess! So I like to keep it in one document that is easy to use and focus on. It’s also great to keep in a home binder in case you need to refer back to items for warrenties, instructions, or paint colours and brands.

Some of the things to consider taking note of if you are just writing it down in a basic form are, the room measurements, paint colours and flooring details and your budget and estimated costs.

You can purchase my printable Room Makeover Planner here.

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How I Did It

After finalising my plan, I set to work. Here is a step by step overview of what I completed.

Step 1 – Prepare and Paint Walls

• Removed all items attached to walls including hooks, screws and I also remove the surround plates of powerpoints and lights to ensure a neat finish
• Wiped down everything with hot water and sugar soap (very important if you want a good finish) and let fully dry
• Taped edges where needed (I use Bear Green Painters Tape) This is a place where spending money and getting a good product is important for a crisp edge, trust me, you will regret going cheap on this
• As our wall panels are pine we did have some areas bleeding thru so I covered those specific areas with B.I.N Primer as an undercoat
• Painted three coats of paint using Haymes Ultra Premium Expressions Interior in the colour Dulux Lexicon Quarter

Step 2 – Prepare and Paint Cabinetry

• Remove draws and knobs
• Wipe down with a good Degreaser (this is important especially for shiny surfaces, our cabinets are from Ikea and have a sheen and you want paint to adhere to it well)
• Tape where needed to keep crisp edges
• Undercoat using B.I.N Primer (I used a small brush for corners and a high-density foam roller for the flat areas). Wait 45 minutes before applying the first coat of paint. Don’t wait any longer as you need it to be a little tacky and help adhere the paint colour.
• Apply 2 – 3 coats of paint. I used Haymes UltraTrim Acrylic Enamel in the colour Haymes Native Essence . Wait the listed time on paint between coats and ensure a roller is used to achieve a smooth finish. Enamel hardens more than standard interior paint so it is best to use it to achieve longevity of the finish.
• Wait 24 hours until you return draws to ensure they have dried and add knobs or pulls. I choose these beautiful wood and crystal ones from Etsy.

Step 3 – Finishing Touches and Extras

• We had existing silver wall lights but wanted them black so we got out the trusty Matt Black Spray Paint and it made a massive difference. Don’t forget to spray screws to match, I punch them thru some thick cardboard so they stand upright and give them a quick light spray to get good coverage
• We also added some wall art in a large A1 frame and a smaller 5 x 7. The prints are my own creation and available to purchase. The large Hello Sweet Cheeks and smaller No Selfies. I got the frames from Officeworks. Don’t be afraid to add art to a bathroom or toilet

Last Step – Stand Back and Enjoy Your Hard Work!

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@amoreliveablelife

Sneek Peek at the Ensuite Update. I have just about finished. #bathroomdecor #bathroomrefresh #bathroommakeover #aussiemum #updatebathroom #budget

♬ Level Up – Ciara

@amoreliveablelife

Ensuite Bathroom Makeover for under $500 details on blog! #bathroomdecor #bathroommakeover #homeimprovements #aussiemum #paintikeacabinets #realhomes

♬ My House (Challenge Version) – Flo Rida

So what is your next room makeover or project? I would love to hear about it and feel free to reach out on social media to let me know or share you page as I love seeing home improvement and projects!

Can you be TOO OLD for Tiktok?

Ask any Gen Z or Millennial and they will immediately shout Stay Off !!! Stick to Facebook you Boomers. But let me tell you my experience as an over 40 using the Tiktok app.

I have always tried to stay up to date with technology and trending social media. I truly believe it is a great way to stay young at heart and to ensure you don’t lose connection with what your kids are up to.

Our daughter Miss 9, had been asking to get Tiktok. There were other kids at school who had accounts and apparently it was the cool thing to do. So off I went to check it out and what I found surprised me in more ways than one!

What is Tiktok you may ask?

TikTok is a social network for sharing user-generated videos, mostly of people lip-synching to popular songs. Users can create and upload their own videos where they lip-synch, sing, dance, or just talk. You can also browse and interact with other users’ content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles

Initially, I found the platform to be very entertaining. I literally found myself laughing out loud (or LOL for the youngsters) within watching the first few videos.

I had found my tribe!

It was totally up my alley and I immediately watched it non stop. However…… it was NOT child friendly.

Swearing (heaps and heaps of it), sexual innuendo, provocative dancing, and adult themes. And of course a lot of “perfect” girls that make you feel bad and ask yourself why you look like Yoda with a hangover compared to them.

I had to explain to my daughter that she was not allowed to download the app on her phone. Which is is my ancient Samsung Galaxy which basically is a glorified tablet and only works on the home wi-fi). This was met with the obligatory cries of “Mum everyone else has it”, “I am going to be left out” and my personal favourite “You don’t understand!”.

Did I Just Get Called A Boomer?

So I gave it a few more weeks and watched the app regularly (just for research of course) and even started making a few videos to see how it all worked. Which by the way was very confusing at the start. It is quite a complicated app for us “oldies”.

After uploading my first video, I got a couple of likes and felt like a million dollars and then got my first comment. And let’s just say the comment was not exactly what I was expecting. I got a BOOMER comment……yes I got called a FRIGGEN BOOMER!!

Well, I immediately lost my mind and wanted to tell the little shit (who looked like a 12-year-old) to google boomer and apologise. However, being the more mature person (in theory) I just let it slide and kept scrolling.

I continued creating more videos and had some hits and misses. After all, you cannot be funny every time and the algorithm is really hard to figure out. But I gained confidence and followers and was having a fat old time.

My Most Popular Video

I even hit over 360,000 views on the easiest one I created and have over 40,000 likes and 200 comments!! See below for how simple it was, I was even wearing my pj’s and no makeup!

@kellybelly1978

#truth #facebookisboring #bitch #australian #aussiemum #momsover40 #aussiemum #boring #cupoftea

♬ original sound – aurelia_azza

What I Like About Tiktok

The thing I really like about it is, you can spend 3 mins making one or 3 hours depending on how much effort you want to put in. I only use my phone camera and a tripod that I have had for years.

As I got more experienced, I created this one with costume changes and a long script. It is one of my favourite skits. So when I saw they had the sound byte for it, I lost my mind and had to recreate immediately!

@kellybelly1978

My favourite skit of all time #aaron #hilarious #over40club #fyp #yourpage #tookforever #over40mum #aussie #humour #funny #schoolteacher #teacher

♬ original sound – kellybelly1978

Anyway, my obsession with Tiktok continued and I made more and more videos. I learned so cool tricks and shortcuts courtesy of Youtube and Google (which I will share in a future blog). However, this did not solve the problem of what to do with my daughter.

The Agreement I Made With Our 9 Year Old

As I got used to the app I saw that you could have a Family Paring account. Intrigued I Googled and saw that it is a good way to introduce Tiktok to kids without them being exposed to the big scary world of seeing it in full. It allows you to control the settings and have access to their account so you can monitor what they are uploading and doing.

So I made a compromise with Miss 9 and said how about we try the Family Paring account and see if that works. I laid down VERY STRICT rules, which included

• Not allowed to scroll or watch the FYP (For You Page Feed where they suggest content based on your likes and comments)
• No uploading videos showing your face or voice (she is only allowed to upload videos with music – which I have first approved – and use Star Stable videos clips)
• Privacy setting must be set to PRIVATE and I need to approve your friends
• A general rule of, Mum can change the rules at any time and remove the app from her phone if I feel necessary

Luckily for us, we have a very honest and extreme rule follower child. The type that tells me off if I steer the car with one hand, or say “Shit” every now and then. So she is trustworthy and if anything over the top with telling us everything she does.

So we are 3 months in and she has made a lot of videos (pretty much 100% Star Stable music clips – seriously she is obsessed with the bloody game). We have experienced no negative issues and she is still following the rules. And we have navigated thru a difficult stage of figuring out if social media is suitable for her.

The Bottom Line About Tiktok

The bottom line is, Tiktok is certainly not an app that I would allow kids to roam freely on. There are rude, sweary, dodgy adult topics being shown and some people cannot help but make negative nasty comments on your videos. However, with the Family Paring account, you at least have some control and can monitor best you can.

UPDATE: At the start of Sept 2020, there was a terrible video uploaded onto many social media platforms including Tiktok. It was a live stream of suicide. Someone had screen recorded the live stream and then purposely uploaded onto social media.

Apparently they even create an innocent start with a kitten to lure kids and unsuspecting adults into watching. It then switches to the sad and gruesome scene.

Now I have not seen this video nor will go looking for it. However, it highlights the importance of monitoring social media for your kids (and yourself). You must ensure they do not have open all-day access to it without your supervision.

@kellybelly1978

#lovingtiktok #mynewlife #over40blogger #40pluswomen #aussiemum #aussieblogger #suckitfacebook #facebooksux #oldiestiktok #thisis40 #realmums

♬ original sound – yungtoiletwater

Do I Recommend Tiktok For Over 40’s?

For the over 40’s I highly recommend getting on and having a go. Don’t freak out about China getting all your info as let’s face it Google already knows it all. Just enjoy some lighthearted good laughs. Remember don’t take life too seriously all the time….

Make sure you follow me on Tiktok and to watch my videos CLICK HERE. Let me know if you want a tutorial on how to create one, and I would love to hear your thoughts if you try it out.

@kellybelly1978

#mumlife #momlife #40pluswomen #over40mums #womenoftiktokover40 #clubbing #parenting #umbrella #rhianna #bignight #aussie #aussiemum #fyp

♬ sonido original – vale_cr77

Are you on Tiktok? Message me below with your handle and your thoughts on the platform as I would love to hear.

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In the last few years, we have been bombarded with movements and causes to save the environment. And while I acknowledge and believe in them, it often becomes overwhelming.

You get suffocated with information and get told what to do or what not to do and of course, then comes the inevitable “guilt trip” associated when you accidentally accept a plastic straw with your cocktail and potentially kill a dolphin (slight exaggeration but you get the idea).

I believe in looking after the environment in simple, practical ways that you can easily implement into your daily life. With little to no cost, no real stress, and of course no additional time taken.

So here are my 5 Simple Changes you can make to help save the environment

1. Swap Tea Bags for Loose Leaf Tea

If you are a lover of your morning cuppa like me then this is a really easy change you can make. Simply swap your teabags for loose leaf tea.

All you need is a strainer. You can get one here and a box of loose leaf tea. I like to use Madura Black Leaf Organic Loose Tea.

Loose leaf tea comes in a cardboard box or reusable tin, with some plastic wrap on the outside to keep it fresh which is hard to avoid in this day and age. However, you will just have simple tea leaves left, no staple or bag lining and you can easily compost the leaves when done making your tea. And you have the added benefit of reducing any micro-plastics you might be ingesting which have been found in some products.

2. Use Refillable Hand Wash Containers

Well, 2020 certainly proved how important it is to wash your hands properly! Most people have the pump foam handwash in their homes. I actually have one in all 3 of our bathrooms, the laundry, and the kitchen #overkill.

But a good way to reduce plastic and also save some coin is to buy it in bulk and refill the pumps. You can even get pretty glass pumps like this and leave the plastic out altogether.

Another step further would be to make your own foaming handwash. I have tried this and it did work, however, to be frank “Aint nobody got time for that!”

3. Swap Dish Tabs to Dishwashing Powder

Most people use dish tabs daily (and even laundry pods) and while they are convenient they may contain microplastics and have highly processed packaging. They are also more expensive when you work out the per wash cost.

An alternate is Dishwashing Powder. It is very economical, has simple packaging (sadly some are still in plastic but you can find some in cardboard) and does the exact same job.

I keep mine in a simple glass jar and use an old scoop from an old measuring set. You can also check out bulk supply companies like The Source Bulk Foods who sell not only in larger quantities but also totally package free. Simply take your glass jar to the store and get it weighed with how much you want.

I find the cleaning power is exactly the same and have not had any issues with residue or streaks.

4. Buy In Bulk

Bulk buying has so many benefits. It’s usually way cheaper, has less packaging and another benefit is that you have to go out and buy it less often. (In case you were unaware I hate going to the shops)

Most products come in some sort of bulk option. Things like toilet paper, paper towel, rice, pasta, flours, cleaning products, shampoos, coffee and tea, and more.

A great supplier of bulk toilet paper is Who Gives A Crap, you can check them out here.

There are of course stores like Costco that really take it to the next level but don’t forget to check out the usual places like Woolies and Coles, Officeworks, eBay and Amazon.

Next time you want to purchase something, do a quick Google Search and you may be surprised at what you can get in bulk and at a much better price per unit.

5. Recycle Soft Plastics

In Australia, there is an awesome soft plastic recycling program called Redcyle.

Anything that is soft plastic, think of bread bags, plastic shopping bags, cheese wrappers, chip packets, chocolate wraps, produce bags, etc can all be recycled into new items such as park benches, seats, and more.

Simply collect your (clean) soft plastic and drop off at any Coles or Woolworths designated bins. They are clearly signed and usually right out the front or near the service desk.

It amazes me how much soft plastic I can collect in a week from a small family of three. Imagine how much you can save from landfill every year but doing this one simple change.

To find out more about the program or what you can and cannot recycle click here.

So what small changes will you make?

I would love to hear your ideas and your experience swapping items in your home and if you have any other great suggestions. Just comment below or message me on social media.

Well, here I am a forty-something mum sitting in front of a screen not knowing what the hell I am doing. Wanting to make changes in my life, both small and large, not sure exactly how I am going to do it. Wanting life to slow down, be less stressful. Be able to enjoy the things I love and not take my good fortunes for granted. As I type these words I wonder if any of this will make sense to people? Will people feel the same way? Will anyone care about what I have to offer? Will people say it is a mid-life crisis?

Then I remind myself……I am doing this for ME, not anyone else. Turning 40 sparked something in me that I had not felt before. A sense of needing to be true to myself. To stop caring about what people think of me, to be truer to myself, and acknowledge my needs and wants out of life.

Now this by no means was an overnight epiphany, but instead a slow realisation. Taking place over many months and if I am honest with myself probably years.

I look back at my life and see a big difference over the decades. The changes in how I approach, live and enjoy life.

UNDER 20 – I was free from everyday stresses of money and long term financial commitments. I worked full time but never took work home with me and enjoyed my free time having fun. Met my partner Rick and fell instantly in LOVE. Felt semi-confident in myself and looking back wish I wore a bikini more often.

MY 20’s – We bought our first house and I changed my career path. We had no money and rarely went out, had personal loan debt but worked hard. We sold our first house, built again, and then sold that as well. We started getting financially stable however I hated my job and felt destined to do something more. I was nowhere near ready to start a family and we didn’t travel like a lot of my friends. I just never had the desire (or the money) so lived a pretty boring life.

MY 30’s – We built another house (as an owner-builder and was so bloody hard). We then sold that house and built another one! Yes, FOUR!! Rick started a new business and we become more financially secure. After many discussions, we decided to start a family, and then BOOM 6 weeks later I was pregnant. We had a beautiful baby girl and were so happy. However, I had a hard pregnancy and birth and lost myself in motherhood and really struggled for a few years. I felt invisible, unhappy with my looks, and felt I had many failures as a parent.

MY 40’s – Just before I turned 40 something inside me changed and I wanted more for myself. Not in a selfish way but in a “Kelly is Back” way. I am not sure what it was that triggered it. It might have been being financially secure, having a child start school, and getting some more time back for me. Maybe it was just maturing and getting “old” that made me change the way I look at myself. I did the superficial things like bought new clothes, starting getting my hair cut and coloured more often, got my nails done regularly and generally felt happy with my looks. But also small day to day changes, like getting more focused and organised, enjoying my family time, or just going out to dinner because I enjoy it. I started learning new skills online, joined Tiktok (check out my profile HERE) and made a fool of myself, and started saying NO to the things I just didn’t want to do.

I craved a slower-paced life where we could enjoy the things the hard work in the early years had paved the way for.

However, it is not that easy to change your life and it’s something that I am still working on. So I am constantly re-evaluating, making different choices, learning new things, and setting boundaries in the hope of improving and creating a simpler life.

This blog will be full of all different and exciting things. Including how to make changes that matter, getting the confidence to be YOU, everyday cooking and recipes, simple home decor and improvements you can make, easy wearable fashion for the everyday women, family life, and of course steps you can make to create a more Liveable Life!

I hope you join me on this journey and would love to hear your story and what changes you are making to your life….

Thanks,

Kelly