Sore. So sore.

Usually when I have a deadline (big boutique at the end of the month) I can't seem to focus on the project at hand. (You know, make a billion things to fill my booth so I can actually pay for the costs of the boutique.) But my work space, it just wasn't cutting it. Imagine a room where a bomb of crafting, scrapbooking, tasseling, reading and computering stuff has exploded. Now times that by ten and you may have a visual of our room. I couldn't stand it anymore. It had to be cleaned. It had to be a space that I could work in.

I had spent the morning complaining to Kem that I should really be doing XYZ but all I wanted to do was project overhaul. Mid-conversation, I wonder why I wasn't going to do it and decided that I could. I'm tough, right? Right?? Fast-forward to me moving all of the furniture myself and cursing my weak little self for not waiting for the muscles to help. Why was everything so heavy? I realized something very important about myself:

Tough I am not, determined I am.

Finally, after hours of moving, removing and moving one more time, stopping for a parent-teacher conference, visiting teaching visit and babysitting for the night oh, and forgetting about a meeting, I figured it out. A new work space that is looking like it might function a lot better than the old one. Feels much better than the bombed room that it was even though it still sports throw up carpet, wood paneling and pink and blue floral wallpaper. The pretty it up part is going to have to wait. I am too sore from moving all that furniture!

So are you wondering where the big reveal pictures are now?? Sorry, no pictures today. Still working on Mission Organization. Need something to look at?? Visit Megity's Handmade and see my primer white mantel! Oh, and some fun Easter tassels too.

Too Many Ideas, Too Little Time

I tend to overwhelm myself with ideas of projects that I want to get done. Whether you live in a brand new house or a 50 year old house like mine, it's hard not to let the wheels turn and start dreaming. I wish that I had more time and energy ideally without kids running around. It's so very easy for me to get overwhelmed.

For example, this is what I have running around my head today.

• Laundry, laundry, laundry! The laundry room is now like the grand mountains of Utah and not the rolling, flat plains it should be.
• Cleaning of course. It's a never-ending given.
• Ordering business cards.
• Paint the mantel downstairs.
• Paint the mirror for the mantel. (Which BTW, I started on Saturday and then it snowed. Wah!)
• Work on the never-ending-because-it's-never-really-started-and- worked-on bathroom spruce up that I can't stop thinking about.
• Maybe actually finish painting my kitchen from a really, really long time ago.
• The upcoming boutique and all the stuff that I need to make for it.
• Not knowing how much to make for the boutique.
• Curtains for my bedroom.
• Whole look for my bedroom.
• How 'bout just getting my bedroom cleaned?
• Oh, and can't forget the kids!
• Etc,etc,etc,etc.........

Cute Layla form The Lettered Cottage (love!) had the best post about her Ta-Dah list. I love this girl style and she wrote about how easily it is to get overwhelmed by the amount of remodeling that she wants to do. So, instead of focusing on what she has left to do, she started focusing on what she has done. Her list is impressive. Mine? Well...

• Kids are still alive and kicking. Feed too. Other than the fact that Mia's three pairs of pants have been buried in the avalanche called the the laundry room, she is still relatively dressed acceptable.
• I have painted most of the house by myself. That's a pretty big task!
• I have made and sold well over 150 tassels since November.
• Been making a list to get done for the boutique and cards in the process of getting done.
• The bathroom is clean.
• The laundry is going.
• The bedroom can wait. I don't want to put up just anything. I want something that I love. And Ryan likes too.

That is something and today, that is what I am trying to focus on and not let myself get overwhelmed. Layla's post has stuck in my mind for the last few weeks and her quote was good too.

"Be happy with where you are and, at the same time, eagerly and optimistically anticipate the thrill of the next great adventure." - Kate Corbin

Here's to being more content!

Project install dishwasher complete.

Meet the new hired help. My neighbor Kem came by to congratulate us on our new addition. She's fun like that.

I know, I know. A dishwasher? Not that exciting but it is very exciting when you haven't had a dishwasher for three years! In fact, in the ten years that we have been married, we have only had a dishwasher for four years of it.

To get a dishwasher put in it required more work then we thought. First of all, it was a solid bank of custom built cabinets. The cabinet had to be reworked. Then the electrical had to be redone. Then the easiest part, the plumbing. After all the bids I got, we lucked out on finding the right contractor for us right in our own neighborhood. Right in our own ward. I found him when he came over to give me a new calling. A new calling and a dishwasher. Sounds great to me!

All the workers were great! They were friendly and quick and by the end of the day, we had ourselves a new dishwasher. Lucky for us, we didn't have to replace the counter tops since they had a fairly large (and odd) overhang on that side. It looks better than it did before. Like it has always been there. Love that! I bought a white dishwasher even though I really wanted the stainless steel one, but, all of our appliances are fairly new so really, it would never match.

Tonight, it took it's maiden voyage. Ryan and I stood hand in hand as we watched our baby take it's first steps. So quiet and lovely. We are so proud and I am very thankful. Thank you honey Ryan!

Now, on to the next project. The FLOOR! Washable, easy to clean floor. Then the backsplash and maybe some bead board, a new pendant light, repaint and finish painting from the first time around, a window covering and paint the kitchen table and chairs oh and new countertops would be nice. And also a built in microwave while we are talking. (Sorry hon, I know my list drives you bonky. Still love ya!)

Hint #4

I won't be needing this so much anymore.

Hint #3

We are keeping this smashing carpet! (At least for the time being.)

Hint #2

Not a whole lot got done since I posted the first hint. Ryan and I weren't home much this weekend. Hoping, praying and crossing my fingers that it will all be done this week!

Second hint:

I've spent roughly $517 so far. Yikes! I have lots of dreams and hopes and wants for my whole house. It drives Ryan nuts because he doesn't understand why my list is so long and unnecessary. Silly boy! But really, when it comes down to spending the money for it, it's hard! But fortunately for us, I have been working hard and saving for a while!

Projects, projects!

Anyone who knows me knows that if they dare step foot in my house, I am going to ask them their opinions on 15 billion projects that I am working on or dreaming about. Started a project today that I think will make a great improvement on the house.

Here's a hint: Can you guess?

Baby it's cold INSIDE!

Our furnace is not agreeing with us. I guess it's too tired and sleepy to wake up from it's summers rest. It just doesn't want to stay lit no matter how many times we light it, he just poops out. And ya know what, it's COLD! Ya know why?? Baby, it's SNOWING outside!

Brrr.....

For now, we are huddling around our tiny space heater, planning on cooking lots of warm food today to eat all snuggled up in our blankets. Now I really, really wish that I would have bought those $15 fireplace logs so we could at least have a fire downstairs but thankful for the gigantic hot chocolate I bought this week.

Aww shucks.

Lucky me got some love from Young House today for my new front room. Aww shucks. They are so nice. *blush*

Go check them out and leave them some love.

An evolution of a room

For months, I have been tweaking my front room trying to get it close to something that I like. I think it's lookin' pretty spiffy and even though I am not done with it, I am starting to really like it.

First of all, the room is really centered around this print that I love. My Mom bought this print several years ago on a trip to Italy with my sister Sharmyn. It's an architectural rendering of the cathedral in Florance. Mom framed her several years ago and found that she had an extra print that she gave to me. I stored it for years while we moved around hoping to frame it someday. Finally several months ago, I took the plunge and got 'er all fixed up. I found an amazing vintage frame for a mere $3 (or was it $5?) that was perfect for it. I drug my Mom with me to the frame shop and had her pick out the mats for it. I am thrilled with the results! I love it! (It's hard to photograph - lesson learned - always request non-glare glass.) Of course, I emailed Sharmyn with the finished results where I learned that it was actually her print! They both had bought the exact same print but Sharmyn never got hers. Mom wonder why she had an extra but never thought to ask Sharm. Thankfully, she let me have it so I could forgive myself for being a thief.

Of course I bought this fantastic rug last February. It's perfect for impromptu dancing parties for a ballerina, a princess and a break dancer. I slapped some brown curtains up and added few brown pillows and called it good for a long time. It just needed something though. It was too brown.

I scored these vintage tables a few weeks ago. I had seen them at the D.I. before and loved their lines, but thought they were too short for side tables. The next week they were still there (and marked down!) when I realized that they would make a very cool, original coffee table. They work perfectly and I love them! They are sturdy and large making a perfect make-shift homework/art spot and support the weight of the wild child who thinks that they are jumping off onto the sofa tables. I may paint them someday, but for now, I am liking their original look. Now if I could just figure out how to decorate them?

While browsing last August, I am came upon these fantastic blue silk curtains that perfectly pulled the blue out of the print and rug and added the much needed brightness to the room. LOVE them!

One of my favorite blogs is This Young House . They are a super fab, home decorating on a budget duo and if you don't read them, you should. Anyway, they hung bamboo shades on their big picture window in their front room and I thought it look super-de-dooper and set out to copy them. Love the texture and it does make the windows feel taller just like they said. Fantastic idea Young House!! I even hung them myself because I am awesome like that.

The sofa got a makeover too. I would really, really love a new sofa, but that's not in the picture right now (doesn't stop me from looking however). I retired the old hardworking slipcover for this chocolate linen one, added a few warm gold throw pillows and the cute striped one from Target and ta-da! New and much improved room!

I have lots left that needs to be done and I can't wait to pull up the not so white anymore carpets to refinish the hardwood. And there is the minor detail of not having a front room closet to store all of my coats and junk. Lots of inspiration from Young House and Sharmyn was the best at helping me with this room. What's that you say? She doesn't live in Utah? Why would that stop her from helping. She was sweet and patient with me as I sent her weekly e-mails about my ideas, my finds and what do you think about this? And of course the fantastic print. So thanks Sharm! But that aside, what do you think?? Is it fab and swanky or just not your taste? (Yes, I just stole Young House terminology.)

Just call me Joy...

***************************************

Sorry, posted wrong link on Nester's 10 minute change.

Go here!

**********************************

While talking on the phone today, I somehow decided that it was the perfect time to spray paint my fabulous finial find from the D.I. about a month ago. I was too busy chatting to take a before pic plus, I wasn't sure how good it would turn out. Just imagine forest green...

When Joys of Home posted this post about some finials that she made into beautifully aged garden finials, I knew that's what I wanted to do with mine. So, just like Joy, I spray painted it with gray primer. Then, just like Joy, I dry brushed some white acrylic paint over it. And to my surprise, it worked! It wasn't hard at all. I like it very, very much and have been busy auditioning it in different places in my home.

Today, Joys of Home is having a spray-painting party. I had a post about my lamps that I recently finished on her list already but I can't help myself for quickly throwing this un-planned project on the list too.

Thanks for the inspiration Joy!!

Lamps Revamped

Isn't that an original and creative title? Wowza! I sure amaze myself.

Remember my spray painting project gone wrong? Well, I fixed it. It's not perfect, but it's good enough! I sanded some of the grit off and sprayed with another brand of paint. That paint worked much, much better. If I would of taken more time to sand, it probably would have looked even better.

I am super pleased with how these lamps turned out. They were such a bargain! The lamps were $5 each from the DI, new lamp harps on clearance for $3.48 each, the brand new lamp shades were a score from a yard sale for $1 each, $3 for spray primer, $3 for gritty spray paint, then $3 more for another try. Cheap, cheap, cheap and I think they look pretty good! Today, I added a dollars worth of ribbon to see how I like it. What do you think? With or without?

Home Week

I formally declare this week Home Week on my ol' bloggity-blog. For the next week, let's enjoy all things about making a house a home, decorating, decorating links and home-y blogs I enjoy.

Let's start off with the outside. I really want this house to have a nice curb appeal. It's already a lot better than our old house, but it could be soooooo much more. I just don't know how to do it but I am trying.

My mother-in-law gave me these nice planters for my birthday last year. They were planted with pansies that were so beautiful but have now died from the heat of the summer. I was looking for something pre-made to replace them so they would be full to start out. I found these planters at a local nursery for only $5 each. Score! I liked the height and the drapiness of them. I hope that I don't kill them, but for now, it added some much needed greenery.

That petunia basket was only $5 too. I love the fullness and color of it. I was in a hurry and just stuck it up on that hook in the front. I was meaning to hang it in the back, but kind of like the color it adds to the front.

I never did much with the curb appeal at our old house. I really wanted it to look cottage-y but didn't invest the effort. It was a very difficult yard to deal with. I never got past the weeding very often but I do have one picture that I love from the front door. I was taking pictures for listing the house (yet again!) and the kids wanted in on the action. The lighting wasn't the best and you can see my shadow but I just love Jake's boots and his expression and my round cheeked Mia.

Looking back, I wish that I would of added some shrubs and flowers, painted the front door something bold like red or even yellow and added the stone walkway from the carport. It doesn't seem like such a big deal to do now. We did add shutters, installed a new door and hardware, installed a new light and painted the wood fence white. That was a good start at least.

Mary, Mary quite contrary, How does your garden grow?

Quite pathetically actually.

Here is a picture of the best petunia I have in the garden. It's quite the show stopper since it has two blooms on it and a whoopin' 4 inches high.

I thought that I was the only person in the world that couldn't grow petunias until my fantastic sister came over yesterday and said that she couldn't grow them either. So sad, it obviously runs in the family. I genetic trait that makes it impossible for me to grow petunias in my garden.

United We Stand

Keeping the patriotic theme alive, how about these cute USA letters I recently finished. These letters are for sale at my work. They did a class to make them and had some extra letters left over. I snagged myself a set and picked out some papers and laughed that I might not actually do them before the 4th. My co-worker, Christy, said that she would check in on me to make sure that I got them done so I had to get 'er done. Pretty simple. Sand, paint, modge-podge, embellish. The pattern's are pretty busy. I am not sure that I would do them as bold again, but overall, it's pretty cute. Three cheers for the USA!

Feeling Patriotic

So today, I was supposed to go and do this. Things just didn't work out in my favor. So sad. So instead, I have to make it a better day and get something crossed off my list that has been on there for too long.

I painted my front door.

Yes, I did. I have had the paint to do it for several weeks now. Like several as in two months. So after not going to have fun with these guys, I donned my painting clothes and was in luck for a perfect day and time for painting. It wasn't too hot, Sammy was sleeping the whole time and the kids were playing with the neighbors. It was meant to be.

Hmmm.....white, scratched and boring. Needs some sprucing up. I think I will paint it blue.

Uh....interesting denim-like texture, but still, not what I had in mind.

All done and not sure about it. I had a granny door to start with and I now I have a brightish blue granny door. It's a nice color though.

On the upside, I am feeling awfully patriotic with my red, white and blue house, just in time for the holidays.

Lookin' for my own personal decorating committee

***This is now my cheater post for Nester's challenge IDHTBPTBB - It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful. Don't know who Nester is?? You should!! She is funny and down to earth. She's got great decorating ideas and all of them are budget and kid friendly. Anyway, I thought that this worked well into her theme as the mirror is always reflecting our l"lived-in" status of our home. My mother-in-law always says that it's not messy - it's lived in. Good words to live by! ***



I am queen of buying something and then not figuring out how to make it work and then returning it. Really, I am made fun of often. I can't seem to make my own decisions and I can't keep working with something to make it work. I am talented!

Here is some amazing photos of my new shelf. Really, I should be a professional photographer. Watch out Jason McGrew - I'm out to take your business. And Jessica, your photographer eye is nothing compared to mine. Hah! Really...

First lovely picture up - the view from my galley kitchen. I do like the shelf. but I think that I want different stuff on it. Cool, kitchen-y stuff. Where do you find that kind of stuff? Oh, and I really want to paint my table and chairs.


Second picture is from the front room. I hung the big mirror that used to be over the table . I didn't like the mirror over the table because it reflected my less than stellar kitchen. It's much better here because now it really reflects my kitchen mess much better.
Look in the mirror and you will see the dishes I just did on the counter and the junk pile in the corner. It also reflects the kid art shelf that is sooooo pretty.

Sammy's high chair is usually over by the mirror. I know, ain't pretty but so very practical so it's staying until he's not so messy and can be invited to sit at the table with that cool IKEA chair thingy. Yes, that's a technical term.

Finally, there are my make-shift curtains. I haven't had anything on this window since for over a year and we were really needing the privacy. We don't have a fence and the neighbor's window looks right into ours. So, I took a tension rod and some ring clips and hung some cute tea towels. It moves easily out of the way in the morning and it's nice because it still lets in light and lets me keep decorations on the window seal. I am sure that I could much better for curtains there but I am so stumped. Any suggestions??

Before and After:
So there you have it. My kitchen/front room. Do you like the shelf? Do you like the mirror?? Shelf and mirror?? Should I take it all down and move? Help me!

Satisfying day

Today has been one of those satisfying Saturdays that I always want to have but don't always get. Busy, but not to busy and nice and somewhat productive. Today we:

• Went yard selling with my Mom. We did pretty good too. I bribe the kids to do their work in the morning quickly by giving them a dollar to spend at yard sales. Mia got Ken and Barbie. She is so into Barbie's right now. She was thrilled to get a boy Barbie. Jake got a brand new Cranium Hullabaloo game and Sammy got a touch and feel kitty book. He has a thing for kitties. I got a nice big black shelf, a plate rack, fancy tin wall decoration thingy, two black bathroom mats for my soon (crossing my fingers!) black and white bathroom. Mom came home with a great decorative rooster that my dad loved.
• I put up the new shelf I bought when I went on a decorating super shopping spree with my sister Teryn and my niece-in-law Angie. I had to put in toggle bolts and it was my first time doing that. I did an awesome job! It's level, but maybe would be a bit better more to the left.
• I finally scrapped more wallpaper off in the kitchen. It's been how long? Oh yes, this long. That's a really, really long time ago. I think it's high time to finish. *groan and whine*
• Kids played and played and played some more with good friends.
• We enjoyed SEVERAL rounds of Cranium Hullabaloo.
• Made breakfast and dinner but got to eat out for lunch.
• Cleaned up said meals AND washed the dishes. I don't love doing dishes by hand but it is sort of relaxing as long as baby is happy. Sam happily splashed in the soapy water.
• Cleaned the house and vacuumed up then sent the kids to the shower.

It's so nice being at the end of a Saturday with happy, clean and well fed kids and a few projects finished. Now it's time to decide if I like the shelf in the kitchen.

My thumbs are turning green

I am not one to garden. I hardly did anything with the tiny little bit of garden beds at our old house. There was no secondary water so it was sooooo expensive just to water our yard. I did a horrible job at it. We had a few perennials and a few petunias that never did well. There was a nice little area for a garden too. I just never really wanted to deal with it. Just seemed too expensive and overwhelming.

When we moved in last year, I had so much work going on inside. Sam was still so little and it was all rather overwhelming to me. I had no desire to get out and clean up the yard. So we spent the Summer watching to see what our yard did. It was fun to have surprises like when the Poppies bloomed, but really knew that the yard would need some cleaning up.

This year, I really wanted to clean up the front of our house and maybe add a plant or two. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good either. One side of the planting bed in front of our house had a huge overgrown Forsythia bush that was as tall was the second story of our house and the other side had a sad little mini rose bush that didn't amount to much last. In between, nothing but Bishop's Weed. I knew I could do a tiny, little bit of work.

For my birthday, my fabulous sister VaLynn gave me her consultation time and $20 worth of flowers. She suggested pulling out the Bishop's Weed and adding the perennials. "Naw," I thought. "There is no way I would pull out the only thing living in the front of the house. I don't have a green thumb!" We went on our way to the nursery and picked out $20 worth of flowers and I added another $25 myself. VaLynn said that she would help me place the flowers the next week. I took out the rose bush, trimmed down the Forsythia, found a huge rock buried in the garden but still, would not take the Bishop Weed out. Weeks passed and I amazingly kept the flowers alive in their little plastic pots, occasionally thinking about that Bishop's Weed.

Such a big job. I am so wimpy. I don't want to start it. I won't have any help. I don't want to do it all myself.

Lots of excuses. I am good at those! If you look up excuses in the dictionary, you will see a picture of me! Mind you, it's not that big of an area. I am just not a gardener.

Apparently, I was bit by the gardening bug because last Saturday, I spent the better part of the day tearing out the Bishop's Weed. I am sure that I didn't get it all and will probably battle it for a while but, I did it myself. I didn't have any help, unless you count Sammy throwing the dirt. I am wimpy and my hands are sore, but I made it through. I started it AND finished it! Yeah me! Even better, VaLynn showed up this morning and helped me plant the flowers and even though they are all soooo small it looks pretty good! I have a long way to go as far as acquiring more plants and flowers and shrubs, but it's a start and an amazing one for me!

I was so pleased with the front that I planted a few petunia's on the side of the rock patio. Amazing what a little cleaning up can do. So everyone give me an virtual pat on the back and hope that I don't kill all those flowers!

Speaking of cleaning up, the side of the house is badly in need. Ahh!!

FOUND!

FINALLY! After a year of searching the thrift stores, I finally found a chandelier for Mia's room. Isn't it purty??

Big bucks spent on this little gem. A whole whopping $3. Needing inspiration, I emailed chandelier collector extraordinaire Sarah and she sent back tips and a link to the best chandelier ever! Seriously cute! I so wish that I could do green, but I finally decided on just white and flowers and beads and gems and lots of girly goodness.

I am so excited to get started on this project! It will be so fun in her room. I hope it's not too big in there. We really are going to have to hoist it up high so Ry-Ry the big guy in the house doesn't knock himself out on it. I have been reading up on the how-to install a chandelier.

First step finished! Cleaned and primed.

Did I mention that I am so excited?