Welcome Back! (And Our Master Bathroom)

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Victoria Vitale

Where do I begin? Hello!!! It’s been three years since I’ve written a post here, which at the same time feels not that long and also another lifetime ago. It’s so good to be back.

I thought I would start Scissors & Sage back up in hopes of using it as I originally intended: as a self-care project. Thinking about the fall and winter we are about to embark on, it is my hope that this blog will help me (and us) stay curious, try new things, get creative, and feel connected.

So much life has happened in the last three years. Last I left things, Anne and I had just moved to Chicago from Philly and we got married at her parent’s farmhouse in Wisconsin. Since then, I started a new job as a full-time music therapist, Anne and I adopted our favorite little (read: giant) dog named Joni, and we bought our first home.

We have a lot of ground to cover, and so much to reflect on as we move forward, but I thought I would start things back up again by sharing our master bathroom refresh from earlier this year. It was a lot of fun to work on together knowing that this is our home to paint however we want! We were so used to the renter mentality that this project felt extra special to dive into. The navy walls (Behr’s “Poppy”) are the before, and the green walls (Benjamin Moore’s “Creekside Green”) are the after. I hope you enjoy!

Mirror, Mirror: Part Two

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Victoria Vitale

Last year, I made my friend Caroline an apartment-warming gift for her move to The Big Apple. It was a framed sign that read, “YOU LOOK GREAT” when read via the bathroom mirror. When not read through the bathroom mirror, the DaVinci-style message appears to be written in reverse and with mirror-image letters. The trick is to hang it on a wall directly opposite the mirror so that you can read it when you’re brushing your teeth or getting ready to go out. It can be a nice way to counteract self-criticisms.

I’ve been thinking about ways to spruce up our own bathroom recently, and recalled this project. I got to thinking that I kind of wanted one, too. We have a wall in our bathroom about 3-4 feet from the mirror, so it was perfect for a similar sign. I wanted it to be subtle and unique, and quickly settled on “INSIDE AND OUT.” (As in: “You are beautiful, inside and out.”)

The steps for this project are almost identical to my first Mirror, Mirror sign. Read up on how to make either of them here. There are, however, two differences in this one. First, the two frames need to be far enough apart on the wall so that your head fits between them when looking in the mirror. They may look oddly far apart on the wall at first, but it’s worth it when you or your house guests discover the secret message! Second, the frames need to be hung in reverse order. When looking directly at the wall, the left frame must read “AND OUT” and the right frame must read “INSIDE.” Capiche?

What would you write in your own secret bathroom sign? Leave your response in the comments section below!

Mirror, Mirror

Posted on November 9, 2013 by Victoria Vitale

Ever wake up in the morning and stumble into the bathroom with one eye still closed and a bird’s nest for a head of hair? Well, this happens to me often. I reach for my glasses, and examine the day ahead of me. My outlook on life come 7 a.m. is not always the brightest, but all that changed this past summer.Anne and I went on a two-week road trip from Philadelphia, PA to Chicago, IL, with many stops along the way. We stayed in a hip hostel in Ohio City, Cleveland’s artisan neighborhood. (This was one of our most favorite places, but that’s a whole other story!) And in our bathroom that day was a framed “YOU LOOK GREAT” message hanging opposite the medicine cabinet. My heart leapt with joy!This message was a little blessing to read come morning. While it is written backwards, it appears correctly when looking at it via the bathroom mirror. Genius? I think so. No wonder Da Vinci used this method!Creating this self-esteem-boosting message (or one similar to it) is very simple! Once you have gotten your papers and markers picked out, flip your stencil so that its front face is touching the paper. All you need to remember is to write the individual words backwards, too. For example: “YOU LOOK GREAT” will be spelled “UOY KOOL TAERG.” Got it?! The last step is to find a picture frame. I used a black 5 x 7 frame from Blick.I made this particular sign as an apartment-warming gift for my dear friend Caroline. Its versatility makes it a great gift idea, or even just another way to spruce up your own bathroom.