A Pinterest "Meh."

I love me some Pinterest.  I'm AWESOME at pinning all sorts of things, but my execution is lacking.  Being that it's summer and I am a lazy bum haven't been motivated for major projects, I decided to try an easy project that popped in my mind.

The post I saw showed a flat paint with a same-color high gloss paint as a contrast.  Knowing my patience level and tendency towards the OCD, I thought it would best to keep it simple.  To the foyer I went . . . well, after Home Depot!

Before.

I considered doing chevron striping, and I'm sssooooo glad I didn't.  It would've sent me into a compulsive leveling and straightening from which I might never recover.  Instead, I did two wide stripes.

Taped off and first coat of paint.

Then I didn't like two big stripes & taped off/painted a smaller stripe in between.

 The tape came off much easier than I thought, and I was thankful for that.  There just isn't much of a difference in the two paints.

After.  Not much of a difference, huh?

Kinda looks like shadows, but Todd said it's not too bad.  So - it stays.

Overall it was an easy project - maybe 2 hours total.  I only wish it wasn't so "meh."  Oh well . . . off to find my next Pinterest project!

Sprucing Up for Spring

A few weeks ago, I noticed (yet again) that the rockers we have on the front porch were definitely looking more than ragged.  It was time for a fix.  Thanks to Pinterest, I learned about an awesome sprayer gun thingy for spray paint cans.  I found one at the local Wa.lM.ar.t for less than $3!  I got my favorite Rust-oleum Painter's Touch Ultra Cover 2x in black, slipped on my spray gun, and got to work!

Have sprayer, have paint, have dingy chair - will paint!

Chair before (front) and chair after (back).  So much better!

FINISHED!  It was so easy, so fast and looks so much better.  Best of all - there was NO paint on my hands or really anywhere but on the chair!  How did I survive all these years without my easy spray gun????

Need to put my Cricut to work and monogram the chairs again.

Now I'm going through the house and getting ready to paint anything that needs it or is not nailed down.  :)

(**Note: I am not being compensated for my opinions or handiwork.  I just like sharing great stuff!)

Spring Has Sprung!

My first plantings!  I bought the plant stands at an estate sale a few blocks away, painted them, then added new pots with new flowers.  Now if I can just remember to water them . . .

Next up is our front landscaping.  Can't wait to show you how great it's beginning to look!

Oh, Christmas Tree

Our tree has been up for two weeks, but I finally got around to attempting a bow tree topper.  Even after watching a youtube video on how to make tree topper bows, I still really needed my Mary or Aunt Rita to do it for me since it's a pretty scary looking bow.  Oh well, the tree is READY!

Time to wrap the gifts, wait for Santa, and celebrate Christmas!

Updated - Photos

I had a major fail with my last post about the Guest Suite because the slide show wasn't working.  Come to find out, Picasa changed my default settings so all of my albums were visible to only me.  Oops.

The photos have been updated in the post, so go check it out!

Summer Project 2011: The Guest Suite

Did you ever see the episode of FRIENDS where Monica & Rachel lose their apartment in losing a game to Chandler & Joey?  Monica moves all of their stuff into the guys' apartment, decorates, has everyone over for snacks and drinks, and Monica falls asleep once they get there?  That is me.  Todd went out of town, and I finally got started on my summer project!  


Remember my 2010 project was the family room?  And in 2009 I did the laundry room before our home was torn apart and put back together again?  Did you forget that in 2008, I redid an old rocking chair after IKEA-hacking and setting up my scrapbook armoire/craft area?  Have you been paying attention? :)


Our guest suite is what some call a "mother in-law suite," whereas we have a bedroom and full bath in its own hallway separate from the rest of the living quarters.  Unfortunately, after I sold the bed in that bedroom, it had become a functional bathroom and storage room.  You could walk into the guest room, step over a few things to get to the closet and leave.  It seriously looked like a scene from the show Hoarding: Buried Alive, except things weren't piled quite as high as an insane person's room.  Embarrassing, yet true.


In just over two days for my 2011 project, I cleaned out our guest bedroom, closet and bathroom.  With bunches of help from my mom, I painted the walls, spray painted almost anything in reach, and redecorated the whole thing.  I bought new bedding, removed old and added new furniture, removed shutters and installed blinds, cleaned out everything, made a couple of trips to Goodwill, set out a few loads for bulk trash, reorganized the closet, drawers, cabinets, and more.  I won't tell you what the rest of the house looked like in this process, but it was BAD.


Exhaustion and pride are the only two words I can think and feel at this point!  I have during and before shots, but I'm really too tired to find them right now.  So here is the after:




The walls look a lighter blue than IRL because the color has more of a gray tint to it.  I love it though!  Still to do: curtains, new lamps, paint doorknobs & shower door frame, organize gift wrap into underbed storage boxes, take MIL's clothing, furs, bags, & shoes to resale, send photos off to be scanned, and more I can't think of right now.

Goodnight.

All Hail Breaks Loose

We had quite a storm last night!  Lots of lightning, thunder, pouring rain & hail.  Thankfully lightning doesn't strike the same place twice.

I took of our disastrous back patio on my cell phone.  It is dark, but you can hear how loud it was.  Notice that you did not hear our dogs outside barking!  Probably because they were inside panting and hiding under the bed.  :)

Spring is Springing

It is getting warm in Texas, and my daffodils and tulips are emerging.

Guess Who is Grounded?

One hint:  It's not Todd, Mindy or me.

Dear Santa,

Please bring throw pillows for the couch for the dogs humans.  One stuffed and one with feathers would be great.

Love,
Todd & Kristin

Is that a squash . . .

or is Todd happy to see me?

I think it's a bit of both.  :)  Apparently, my gardener husband did such a good job ignoring his garden that it produced from the 5-lb. squash plant!  This photo cracks me up just because it is Todd beeing goofy.

We have both been completely overwhelmed with work/school.  Maybe if things ever settle down (and something in our lives happens more than work-related stuff), I'll have more to say!  Until then, we are counting down the days until the Thanksgiving break and holiday.

HOME Work

My mom came over today, and we got to work!  I swear we worked for about seven hours, and I am wiped out now.  However, all of the work was worth it.

Project #1: Reupholstering chairs. 

These lovely flamestitch chairs are great, but unfortunate looking, chairs.  We love to sit in them during the winter and enjoy a warm fire.  Sometimes we chat, sometimes we stare, but this is a comfy place.  Mom and I worked on patterns today, and now we need to shop for fabric.

 

As you can see the chenille throw has a purpose.  Enter Exhibit B - Steve was quite a busy puppy.

Project #2: Removing extra slats from blinds.

Let me preface this project by telling you one very important thing I learned today.  Never believe your mother when she says, "Let me show you this real quick.  It's easy"  (My mom now agrees with that statement.)

As we were getting ready to work on Project #3, my mom noticed that the wood blinds in our den had several extra slats that could be removed.  So (since it would be "real quick"), we began cutting strings and all sorts of things.  Two hours later - for two blinds - we were finished.  Real quick my ass.

They do look better now, but if you come in to my home and try to inspect them, I will swat you away like a runaway fly.  :)

Project #3: Hanging curtain rod and curtains in den.

This I was excited about getting done!  About six weeks ago, Target had window treatments on sale & I was in a shopping mood.  I found awesome lined panels on sale.  They are originally $30/pair, but they were mismarked for only $19.99!  Score!  With May sucking and Todd swamped with grad school work, they've just been sitting.  And waiting.  And sitting and waiting some more. 

Well, today the new rod and curtains were finally hung and they are awesome!!  (You can also see the difference from the pic of the blinds above.)

Before:   

After: 

I loooove it!  So much better!!!  The red is actually deeper, but my excited photographing didn't encourage me to set my camera up first.


Project #3: Rearranging some things.

When you first walk into our home, you see straight into the den and through a huge (now-curtained) window to the back patio.  Below the window were two huge crates for our two huge dogs.  Again, see the picture from Project #2. 

We moved the crates into our (now very informal) front room, which could serve as a formal living and dining room if we were formal kinda people.  You'll see in the pics that we draped the crates with blankets and added some decor on top to help a bit.  (Ignore the broken pendulum on the clock that needs to be fixed, the papers that Todd is sorting through on the table, and the double lamps that we need to figure out!)

Then we moved an ottoman from the front room and a chair from the guest room into the den.  I love repurposing things in the home!  Things in the den look more open, and I think we'll like it since we spend more time in there than any other room in the house.

After from the front door:

 

From the corner of the den:

The curtains and rearranging of things have made a huge difference to us.  Luckily Todd liked it, too, as he was holed-up in his office working on a mid-term and came out to a new look!

Steve wasn't too interested in it all, but he would get off the couch every now & then and stick his nose into our business.

Next projects: Redecorating the guest room (paint, linens, furniture, etc.), cornices for the windows in the front room, picking up & cleaning out the front room, and cleaning and organizing my closet and a couple of other closets in the house.  Here I go!

Summertime!

It's finally summer!  That not only means that we are out of school, it also means that we can get some things done that are typically neglected.  Yesterday, we worked out back for a little while and I finally got to set out the new outdoor rug.  Gotta love a sale! :)

You'll be able to see some of the new siding, windows, paint, and gutters.  The patio isn't finished yet.  We still need to hang our outdoor lighting, get a new umbrella, do a few fix-ups, and eventually get new patio furniture.  Here it is for now, though:

Progress!

Our home renovations are still a work in progress. Weather in the Dallas area has been strange with temps during Thanksgiving week in the 70s to highs in the 40s the weeks after. Between freezing temps, and rain, the work isn't quite finished. While I want it to be DONE, I want it to be done RIGHT. As with all work, patience is a virtue. Overall, we are thrilled so far!

Work completed so far:

- all windows replaced

- new windows that I wanted replaced were installed (new ones were solid pane that didn't open, so I wanted ones that did open)

- new sliding glass door installed

- repair to sliding glass door (and now I want them to redo it again)

- paint around door frame

- all siding removed

- new siding installed

- all gutters removed

- old, rotting columns removed

- old, rotting columns put back since the wrong ones were delivered

- shutters painted (1st coat)

- siding, doors, and rest of house painted (1st coat)

Still to do:

- touch up work that I want done

- interior framing around new sliding glass door repaired/redone/touched up

- paint

- complete painting of siding, house, and doors (2nd coat)

- gutters installed

- columns replaced and painted

Here is a before and after shot of the front of the house so far. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my black shutters. If you've seen our house before, you may notice the landscaping beds that Todd set this summer. We also have a new storm door.

Before (taking on a misty, foggy morning):

After (forgive the sago palms covered in pillowcases!):


The painters began stripping and puttying the columns before they found out we are replacing them.

Also, you may or may not be able to tell that almost all of the leaves on the large maple tree behind the house are gone. Leaves are everywhere but on the tree!

And I leave you with a pic of the small sign I made that hangs by the front door. (Idea from Laurie!) :)

Black Friday

As you know, we've been doing (well, hired people to do) some home renovations lately. And yes, there are photos coming after the project is finished. With all of the racket that went on around here Thanksgiving week, there really wasn't much rest. One of my favorite pasttimes, sleeping in, was not to be found.

Enter Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving Day here in the States. For those of you not in the US, Black Friday is the day when retailers across the country offer amazing deals on typically higher-dollar products in order to help the consumer get their books back in the black before year's end. I think it's probably a fabulous idea, but being that one of my favorite pasttimes is sleeping in, I have no desire to get up before dawn to join the bajillion people fighting for this year's latest product craze. Until this year . . .


Todd leaves at 4:30am with his circulars and list in hand, ready to get some of the great deals that Black Friday has to offer. Since I can't sleep, I head out just a little after 5:00am with no make up on and my hair barely pulled up in a ponytail. (For those of you who know me personally, you know I don't leave the house without makeup.) I leave in the dark before dawn with one stop in mind. Conn's Appliance & Electronics Center is the only place I want to go. As I pull into the parking lot, I notice a (thankfully) short line and figure out that they don't open until 6:00.

Being one to help our lagging economy (and being one who did not want to wait outside in the cold), I decide to head across the street to Wal-Mart. Lord have mercy, I have never seen such chaos in my life. TONS of shopping carts, people, TVs, skateboards, crock pots . . . you name it . . . they were all moving. And quickly. I walked around in amazement. This was my first Black Friday experience. And possibly my last. That was just crazy.

I leave and decide that waiting in line outside in the freezing cold was a much better idea. I head back across the street to Conn's and wait. And wait. In a light jacket. I'm cold. When the doors open at 6:00am, the smart people of Conn's decide that they'll only let small groups in at a time. I made it in safely with the third group because I attached myself to a group of youngsters and told them that I was with them if I got cut off at the line's end. Then I -- you guessed it -- waited in line some more. I finally sat down with a sales rep and he got me all hooked up. I completed the sale for my first - and possibly last - Black Friday experience. I present you . . . .



(Using my best Price is Right voice)


My NNNNNNEEWWWW LG Front-Loading High-Efficiency Washer and Dryer with Pedestals!!! Don't they look pretty in my lovely, recently redone Laundry Room?




Todd thinks they look HUGE - which I suppose they do. He said, "It looks like we have a time machine in there." Guess it'll take some getting used to, huh? I love them! I just wished I loved doing laundry, too. I will say that they do make the experience more enjoyable.


So, what about you? Did you score any Black Friday deals?

And It Continues

The house is already looking much better. All of the windows are finished, some of the siding has been removed and replaced, more siding is being done as I type, and painting, gutters and columns to come!

However, the noise is continuing. Here is a very rough video through the blinds (did you think I'd be outside in that?!). It comes with sound (for free!) and will give you an idea of how our days have been spent this week. Notice that our back patio has become a graveyard of lumber passed. It's a disaster!




Even though the noise and racket and dirt are quite annyoing, all of our renovations will be so worth it! It better be.

Silencing the Beasts

For the past two days, a crew has been here tearing out and replacing all of our windows. The dogs did great! Even the big dogs, who had to be crated for a long time yesterday, were awesome.

Today we have several new men replacing siding, columns and gutters on our house. Apparently, the big dogs don't like this new crew. There has been barking and running around and whining and more loud barking, and it's been loud. I crated both Pippin and Steve, and the loud barking continued. I covered their crates with their blankets (like parrots!), and it got a little better. Still random, loud barking continued.

So, enter the magical big bones. They are now silent as church mice. Well, other than the snapping sounds of bone. Ew. Notice that their tails are wagging but Pippin refuses to look anywhere than at her bone. ;)

Let It Begin

Sitting outside our home right now are workers, trucks, trailers, and a huge dumpster. Only one major character in this play is missing right now. The windows.

We are getting all new windows installed this week . . . but the windows aren't here! After the windows are finished, we will have new siding installed on the back and sides of the house where there is not brick. Hopefully a truck full of windows will arrive any minute now.

Until then, I shall enjoy the peace. I know it will be noisy, chaotic, and full of dog mayhem once it begins.

Before photos coming with follow up of after shots when we're finished!

Around Here

We have a lot going on around here lately.

Today, I bought us two new sets of sheets. I love hearing about good deals online! Aren't they pretty? We really hope they feel as good as they look. We hate scratchy sheets!

I've survived the H1N1 flu and made it back to work. That swine flu is AWFUL. Really really bad. I'm swamped at work but just looking forward to next week off.

Can you believe next week is Thanksgiving? That's crazy! I've already started menu planning and deciding what I'll cook when. I just love turkey day.

We have lots of photos to share - new landscaping beds out front, new storm door & coming next week: new windows & siding! It will be a loud and busy holiday week!

COMPLETE!

Todd will be home his trip to Atlanta in about an hour, and the laundry room is finished! I don't know what I was thinking, but the whole task of painting & organizing in there was MUCH more work than I had imagined. MUCH MORE!

It's a fairly small room as you'll see, so it was a bit hard to get good photos. Good photos or not, I'm done.



Coming soon - photos of the new rocking chairs on our front porch, new landscaping beds out front, way late pics from Todd's surprise birthday party, and whatever else I need to catch up on before heading back to school. I'm so tired that I need a vacation now! :)