I know you're so jealous.

I am going to show you something today that you will be so jealous of. You won't be able to get it out of your mind and will wonder how you can get it into your own home so your jealousy can be contained and you will once again be able to sleep at night.

Behold, I present unto you...



Our kitchen floors.

Dark blue, industrial carpet. I know! You can hardly contain yourself!!

Here, Sammy demonstrates the (almost) daily vacuuming that it requires.
If you are looking for flooring for your kitchen and your criteria is never to have to mop and never having a clean floor, this little gem is for you. Once, shortly after moving in, a dropped a new jar of peanut butter that shattered and spread it contents across this carpeted mess. It was a joy to clean. Everyone should have carpet in their kitchen. Especially if they have kids or tend to drop jars like I do.

As devastating as it is, we are planning on replacing it. We have been planning on it since the day we moved in. Shocking, I know! What to do? It changes on a daily basis. First I thought tile, but I don't want to clean grout. Then laminate tiles. Then laminate. Then dream land of installing hardwood to match the vintage hardwood currently covered in almost white carpet. Then vinyl. Then checkerboard vinyl tiles.


I think I have to come to the decision that I don't want to think about it anymore and just get it done preferably by a professional. I don't want anything to do with it. No DIY here. I tend to have too many projects unfinished to take on this one.

Suggestions?? Comments?? Encouragement?? All welcomed here.

The "oh-so-pink" room

No one can accuse Mia of not being girly enough. She loves anything and everything girly so when it came time to paint her room, nothing but pink would do. I blindly choose this color pink not knowing much of what her bedroom would look like other than the bedding that I already had. I am so happy with this color. It's very warm and not icy or too bold - it's just right.

I had all this great girly furniture handed down to my from my sister. I painted it all crisp white (okay - not the all of the desk yet - yeah -it's been a looooong time). Her room isn't very big so arranging the furniture took a while. I like the layout. Gives her plenty of room to play with her toys and friends.

I ended up using the flip side of the striped comforter Mia already had and I knew I needed some sort of color other pink and white in her oh-so-pink room when I scored the Pottery Barn duvet at Down East Home for $20. It added just enough punch that I wanted out of the room.

What girly room would be complete without a chandelier? I searched the thrift stores for over a year looking for one and never could find one. When I found this brass fixture, I figured it was as close as I was going to get at the thrift store and if it didn't work, it was only $3. Spray paint, silk flowers, beading and some new (old) shades dressed it up pretty good. I love the ceiling medallion and really want to add some of the orange fabric to cover up the chain. Jessica's husband was wonderful to come and hang this for me.

A few weeks ago, I finally decided to break open the sheet set (found on Ebay) and see if they would make good curtains. I spray painted a rod that I had on hand and stuck it up there just to see if it would look good. I pinned the sheets up and the pink curtain is a panel pinned on length wise with white pom-pom trim. I used just a random piece of ribbon to tie it up. I told myself that I just wanted to see how it looks and it has stayed that way ever since. I guess you could say that I did my own mistreatment but it needs some tweaking. I want the rod higher and it could use another coat of paint, hang the orange curtains from ring clips (which I do have), iron the fabric and find a better ribbon. It's funny how many unfinished projects I have going on in my house.

My sister had the cute idea to hang the mirror that went with the desk low so she could use it for her dress up mirror. It's a favorite for her and her little friends. I hung the little boxes with the intent of her putting her cute dress up jewelry on it. It's more of a catch all for her little treasures. I think it's cute to see the new displays that she puts there. One of her favorite figurines that Grandma gave her, a set of earrings for when she grows up and gets her ears pierced, a kitty and a smelly candle all up today, but will change tomorrow.

Over the unpainted desk there are more shelves for her latest treasures. These rocks are very special and all displayed nicely. The sweet picture above is from Jason McGrew Photography. I love it dearly! It needs to be in a better, not white frame to set it off better. That little rickety old frame doesn't do it justice.

After Mia and I cleaned up her room this morning, she and her friends had a lovely time playing and set up another desk so they could both work in their office. I loved playing office when when I was young. I thought it was too cute how they left the desk decorated when they were done.

So, there is Mia's oh-so-pink room. The room closest to be done but seems so far away still but she loves it and that is good enough for me.