Monday, May 31, 2010

Making Progress...

The other day I wrote this post about creating a picture wall above our sofa in our living room and doing some painting and making some window treatments.  Well, somewhere in between quitting diapers cold turkey with Aidan and searching for a new car for Adam, I managed to get some of that accomplished this weekend.   I really wanted to get all the frames on the wall before I decided if I was going to paint and I lost steam on making window treatments this weekend so maybe that will happen this week.   Here is what I have done so far...

I took quite a few pictures and not one really looks like it does in real life but I tried...
What I spent on frames:
The chunky silver one I bought at Hobby Lobby. It was originally $27 but every other week their frames go on sale so it was 50% off!
Same goes for the black frame below it.  It was $30, 50% off.  They were both open back frames, so I spent $16 on glass and backing.
The white frames I bought at Home Goods.  For those of you that live in Charlotte, they had tons of them in Blakeney. The three smaller ones were $4.99 each and the 4x6 in the center was $5.99. 
The black resin Fleur de lis looking thing was also 50% off of $15 at Hobby  Lobby.
I just barely spent less than $65 and I am really happy with the result.
I obviously decided not to buy the candle sconce from Pottery Barn.  It was way too expensive and I have enough candles going on here.

The chalkboard was a framed painting of a cheetah (maybe leopard) from my bedroom at our beach house.  I painted the frame with ivory craft paint and scraped away a couple of layers in some areas to make it look worn. I just ended up painting the chalkboard paint right on the glass.  I did three coats of the chalkboard paint.  I would recommend using a good quality paintbrush only because I didn't and there are lines on my board. No one else will notice but I do.
Instead of doing the FREE gallery wrapped canvas that was going to be close to $30 because of shipping, I just decided to have this black and white photo of Aidan blown up at Wolf Camera and it only cost me $8 (in large black frame in bottom right corner).  The other four frames have just a few random snapshots from our wedding and one picture of Aidan in his vintage fire truck.  
I think it will look even better when I paint the walls a new flat paint color and get my window treatments up.  Our living room is the only room we have not ever painted in our house. 
I wasn't really feeling the one word idea that I had originally come up with so I drew this tree, added the owl to entertain Aidan and drew our initials on the trunk like they are carved there. I think it turned out pretty cute.   Adam keeps calling it the Tree of Life.  He is mocking me in a loving way. Haha.
Holy hard project.  I thought doing Aidan's silhouette would be a breeze.  Yeah right.  Although once I figured out what I was doing I could now be considered a pro.  I did the original on a piece of notebook paper then traced it to this black card stock, cut it out and just used a glue stick to glue it to this blue piece of paper and cut it to fit in the frame!
This is my ledge with the mason jars.   I am definitely going to paint the shelf I am just not sure how yet. I already had it so it didn't cost me a thing.  The tall green mason jar is full of corks because I didn't want to attempt to light a candle way down in it.  The white rose I had hanging around the house from an old floral arrangement. I just snipped it close to the top and stuck it in that mason jar.  I also threw a few small votive holders on there.  I am happy with it.  My dream shelf was going to be a little bit to big for the area so I just stuck with this one.
Just a cute pic of Spike sleeping while I work.

You can find my pillow covers here, here and here.  The paisley ones I have never been able to find anywhere on their website. Do yourself a favor and if you have a Pottery Barn outlet near you, go there to buy throw pillow inserts. They are so much cheaper than in store/catalog/website.

The throw you see in this picture you can buy here.  We have two of them in ivory and we love them. I have had them for almost 5 years and they look and feel exactly the same as they did the day I bought them.

My mason jars I bought at our local grocery store (Charlotteans Harris Teeter) and the medium sized ones we were using as drinking glasses.  They come in a 12 pack and they are the wide mouth mason jars. The small fat ones I already had candles in outside. They come in a four pack. The tall green one was left over from a friend's wedding.

So there you have it. Now you can create this look at your own home if you want.  I will definitely update you when I start to work on window treatments.  Adam has informed me that the wall between our living room and dining room is scheduled to come out this week or next so I may be waiting to paint until then but I will post pictures of that as well when it happens. 

Happy Decorating and more importantly Happy Memorial Day!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Disappointed in Charlotte



Let me start off by saying, I am a HUGE, I mean HUGE Sex In The City fan.  I didn't start watching until late in the series (when my mother thought it appropriate) but I caught up and have been hooked ever since.   I own every season on DVD and my mom and I waited in line to see the last Sex In The City movie.  Well, I don't even know if the sun was up it felt so early for a Saturday this morning we ventured out, coffees in hand, to the theatre to satisfy our SITC craving at the 10 am showing.  We grabbed a popcorn and plopped down in our seats like two excited teenage girls about to see a boy band. 
Carrie's story line as usual was the best and Samantha was so obnoxious with her sexcapades, I couldn't even deal with it.  And that my friends, says a lot!  Being an old married mom fabulous wife with a beautiful 3 year old, I suppose I related some to Carrie but mostly with Charlotte and Miranda.  I don't want to tell you too much because I know some of you will go and see it but I would love for you to come back and tell me what you thought afterwards.
One thing is for sure, the best part of the morning was spending 2.5 uninterrupted hours with my mother. 

This review, sadly, is pretty spot on.
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2010/05/27/f-sex-and-the-city-2-review.html

Friday, May 28, 2010

Show Us Your Favorite Things

This week on Kelly's Korner the topic of Show Us Your Life Friday's is Show Us Your Favorite Things, Things That Make You Happy.  The list could go on and on.  Here's a glimpse in to what makes me happy...

Before it was the two of them, it was just him.  Adam.  He is my favorite thing.  Now, it's the two of them that make me so happy.


My family and my friends.

Our beach house on Folly Beach, SC.  Any beach for that matter.


The Red Sox and Fenway Park.  Did you know Massachusetts is where I'm from. The whole state makes me happy.


Manicures and Pedicures make everyone happy right? 

And a few more things...
Riding in the car with the windows down, singing at the top of my lungs can change a day around for me.
Interior design makes me really happy. Especially when I am spending someone else's money while doing it.
Kittens and puppies.
Seeing people do nice things for no reason.
New babies.
And lastly, Blogging. Duh.

 Just so you know, I asked Adam if he had to name 5 things that made me happy what they would be, he said
Him, Aidan, my Parents, DVR and my Blackberry.   Pretty close babe.

I can't wait to read what makes everyone else happy!!! 

TGIF

Hello it's the weekend! This week flew by! Anyone agree?  This is the first weekend in a million that I haven't had a single thing to do and I don't know what to do with myself.  My mind is racing with things I HAVE to do but honestly, I think I am do for a WANT weekend.  Ya feeling me?  One thing that must be addressed, my hubby needs new flip flops and I am on a mission to get him a pair.  Besides that, this weekend the world is my oyster. 

Ok, so I wasn't going to do it, but I have to. Did you guys see RHONY last night?  Kelly Bensimon is coo coo right?  Seriously.  Maybe mental help needed coo coo?  For a long time I just thought she was different, like she just wanted to be unique now I worry the producers of this show are more worried about ratings than they are about someones mental well being.  She's had a lot going on especially when she got in trouble for beating up her boyfriend.  On to happier things...I would love to see Bethenny and Jill kiss and make up.  I'm a sucker for happy endings.  Ramona, Bethenny, Alex and Sonja are my absolute favs.  Luann is almost non existent. 

I was reading on Kelly's blog today that her husband Scott commented on what she wearing.   He complimented her on a day she thought she didn't look as good as she does on other days.   I could totally relate.  I have to ask you, does this happen to anyone else?  My husband, Adam, seems to always like me in the simplest of things.  He prefers me in flip flops and a maxi dress with my hair wild and little to no make up.   Those are the days, I probably shouldn't leave the house.  Now don't get me wrong, I am lucky enough to have a hubby that compliments me ALL of the time no matter what I'm wearing but I think he takes more notice when I'm in a dress (no matter the style) and when I am a little more natural. 

Alrighty, I'm getting in to bed to watch Dear John with Adam.  I saw it in theatres but Adam hasn't seen it and his sisters best friend Adrienne's little boy Braedan is Alan the autistic child in the movie.  Did you get all that?  Cool huh?  I also love that it's taped on the Charleston beaches and since we have a house there, it's cool to see places we've been!

I hope everyone enjoys their three day holiday weekend! 

P.S. I read every one's advice on blush and I'm going to run to the mall tomorrow to test the colors out. I'll let you know what I come up with. Thanks for the help! xoxox

Thursday, May 27, 2010

MAC Blush

I'm in the market for a new blush.  I had a blush that I was in love with from Stila and they don't make it anymore.   I have never bought anything from MAC but I know people LOVE their stuff. So, I got online to check it out and I found something similar that I think I would love.  The color is Prim & Proper from their Liberty of London collection.   It is sitting in my cart on their website, I just haven't made the final purchase.  The coolest part of this whole story though...tonight I was on Facebook and one of my best friends, Natalie modeled for the launch party for the line.  How cool and totally random.  She's gorgeous.  Nat, I hope you don't mind me posting this pic! I miss you and love you.  xoxo


pic via Natalie Warren

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

I Wish I Could Call Y'all

My girlfriend Amanda is my go to girl when I need to vent about everything and everything but she goes to bed at about 9pm every night.  This creates a problem for me when I need someone to talk to after those hours.

Tonight's issue...our cat Uncle Bentley.  A few weeks ago, I noticed a little spot where he had missing fur and a little boo boo (Aidan terms) on his chest.   I put some hydrogen peroxide on it and haven't noticed it since.  Well tonight, I caught a glimpse of the spot and holy bad word, the little spot is a giant abscess now.  Gross I know.  Reason for freaking out...we love the cat and I would never want him to be in pain (and I don't really think he is) but honestly I see an expense to fix this that we are totally unprepared for.    That stresses me out to the max!!!

I did what I always do and googled what I should do.  Aidan My trusty assistant and I cleaned it up with some hydrogen peroxide and we put a band aid with Neosporin on it.  We then realized Uncle Bentley wasn't having it and tried to take off the band aid. Soooooo we wrapped him loosely in an Ace bandage.  I know it sounds goofy but it will save me from making a trip to the Animal ER tonight.  Hopefully some of that Neosporin will help it out.

He is snoozing on a pile of pillows right now and is totally unfazed by the bandage but I still feel so bad for him.   Say a prayer for our furry little friend. 





Design Daydreams-A Project For Tomorrow

I have a blank wall in my living room that needs some love.  A couple of months ago, I decided I hated my window treatments, so I tore them down and gave them away.  On the same day, I took down our abstract piece of art and ledge holding some candles and tossed them as well.   I have now been staring at this blank wall for MONTHS and I can't take it anymore.  So this is what I'm going to do.  First I'm going to run to Ikea and buy their Lack shelf in white. I love those shelves!  Then I'm going to take this blank wall and make it in to a picture wall. Well sort of.  I have an old picture in a black frame of a cheetah from my bedroom at the beach house.  I'm going to paint the frame heirloom white and take the glass out and paint a piece of thin plywood with chalkboard paint in stick it in the frame.  So it will look little like this...

Except I am probably going to hang mine horizontal.  I am thinking I will write something simple like on it like
Dwell or Laugh or Grow or Family.   In big letters.
 I know everyone has heard about the free 8x10 canvas you can get and I have never bought mine, so I am going to have this picture made in to an 8x10 gallery wrapped canvas to hang there.  I might even splurge and spend the $9.99 and upgrade to an 11x14 and make it black and white.


Then I am going to ATTEMPT to draw our Silhouettes from pictures and frame them in a row.  Similar to this but in square frames.  I will probably matte them with a color I pull from my pillows on my sofa.


I am going to buy this guy:

I have a bunch of random sized mason jars around my house as well that I would like to place on the shelf and put small votive candles in. 

I want to paint the walls Sherwin Williams Favorite Tan and make some window treatments in a dark khaki horizontal stripe like these (haven't decided if I will actually sew them or fabric tape them yet).


My rough placement of picture wall:


I may or may not do the candle sconce from Pottery Barn. That would literally destroy my budget of doing this project for $200 or less.   I have two small Ikea frames that don't have anything in them and I may type up short love poems on textured paper and frame them and hang in it's place.   I am not planning on lining the drapes to they should be relatively inexpensive to make. We will see.

I really, really, really want to find a way to make this shelf from Pottery Barn and use it in place of the Ikea shelf.  Lucky for me, Adam can probably do it.  I will beg him to try and see what we come up with.  Obviously, I am not going to get this all done tomorrow but I would at least like to have the paint bought and the pictures prepped to be hung.  Window treatments will probably have to wait until this weekend.  And no I haven't forgotten that I just said a few days ago that I wanted to re do my bedroom! I am a decorating overachiever!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Baby Shower Palooza 2010



I promised you all pictures so here they are.  I hope you can get a little glimpse of how beautiful it was...

When you walked in the foyer we had these tissue paper flowers hanging down.  In the background you can also see Candace's future SIL taking pictures of Candace, her mom, her MIL and her Aunt Kathy.
Our Lemon Heads Binky Tree.  Can you see the home made Binky leashes hanging down?
The whole shebang.   We also had the tissue flowers hanging to the left and right of the fireplace.
Diaper Cake #1

Diaper Cake #2
We put this little guy on the window sill.  He will make his permanent home on the wall when you walk in the door of Cole's nursery.
Clothesline.  We displayed our hand sewn onesies here.
It's a Boy Banner. 
Fiji Mum Floral arrangement.
Coffee Table.  Elephant shaped Cucumber Sandwiches and bath toys floating in a blue bowl.
Melissa burned lullabies on to a CD for all of our guests to take with them.
The cake. Isn't it amazing?
Cake Detail
The Elephant sitting on the top.
The beautiful Mommy to Be. Doesn't she look amazing!!!
Again. Her dress was so cute.
Melissa and Candace=Sisters <3

I led Can to believe I had just bought her a few outfits and some blankets.

Humidifier.  Great thing to have.
One of the outfits from my mom and I.
My mom and I surprised her at the end with a Coach diaper bag.
I got emotional for like 30 seconds before I gave it to her.  It was so silly.  I think I just got excited for her and sentimental because she bought me my Coach diaper  bag and now she's having a baby and gets her very own!!!

We had a great time and everything was beautiful.  Melissa was a perfect co host.  Candace has several friends that are pregnant right now so it was so fun to talk about babies all afternoon. 

Although Melissa is Cole's true Aunt, I can't wait to meet the little man and be Auntie April.  I feel like Candace and I have been daydreaming about having kids for so long and it's finally happened.  I feel like just yesterday we were crazy 16 year olds with our entire lives in front of us.  Here we are 10 plus years later and Candace is just months away from holding her whole life in her arms. 

Thanks to everyone who helped make today perfect. Love you! xoxo