Sunday, December 25, 2011

It was a very merry christmas!

Julia eating candy and loving her new doll house.

And, she loves to dress up.

Computer guru, Jackson, got a DS and thinks "it's the best Christmas ever!".

My pretty girl with her new butterfly necklace.

Cool guitar!

Jackson wants to be an artist! What a smart santa!


Even Cody wasn't left out!

Here's the family!


My third kid!

Geez, Julia, please just smile once!


Thanks Jackson!


Merrry Christmas!!!!

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Escape to Sweetwater Lake

I've been missing in action for many reasons. One reason is because we took our summer vacation to Indiana to see my husband's family. For the past 4 years, we've been meeting up at his aunt and uncle's lake cottage - it's adorable! She's an interior designer with great taste! Here's some snap shots from the trip.


Julia being cute....I noticed I've added more pictures of her in this blog than Jackson. I think 3 is an adorable age. They just act different!

PJs, paci, and princess shoes.... the perfect combo!

Julia with her cousin, Avery.


The kid crew! Missing one...the new baby, Ellison.

The beach at the lake

Seaweed... eeew!!

Julia is taking it all in.

A must of our vacation is to venture over to the Apple Works. It's an apple orchard with a petting zoo. The grounds are beautiful!

Plus, there's ice cream!


And, there's Ellison... sweetpea!


Always good to see family and escape from reality.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Another Deb chair redo

The before

The After

It's spectacular! I have it in my guest room. It's not a forgiving fabric choice but it's beautiful. Deb is very talented and patient - white duck isn't very easy to work with.

And, my kiddos, they can't stand not having their picture taken when the camera's out.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

A Big Reveal....not of my own doing....

If you've been reading my blog, then you already know I have a partner in redecorating crime, Deb, that is self taught in reupholstery. Did you get that - self taught, like never took a class!!! She does amazing work!!! I really need to do more of her before and afters. We traded talents. I got a new chair for my neverending bedroom redo while she is getting a dresser painted for her girls room (more to come on that). Above is the before - awful peach velvet chair and below is just ......AMAZING!!! I have a hard time not jumping up and down literally!!! It's beautiful!!!

After - it really is the same chair people!

And, it's nestle across from my bed. I've got some ongoing ideas to finish the space which I'll save for another post because the chair is just "ENOUGH said"!


Big kudos and hugs to Deb - I love your talent and drive! You keep us moving forward in our adventure!


Sunday, July 3, 2011

Julia's 3rd Birthday

Birthday princess

One of her princess friends

The prince, Jackson

Everyone had a great time


The Cinderella cake (by Amy Lerner in Richmond)

Make a wish

Julia adored her cake

Present frenzy


Flying Buzz Lightyear

Happy Birthday to my precious daughter!!
You make our lives full of happiness!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Looking for inspiration for little boy room

I'm consistently thinking about how to better rooms and get organized. One room I think about is my 5 yo son, Jackson's bedroom. He has this hutch/changing table that is suppose to convert to storage but it's huge. And, of course he can't reach the upper cabinets. I've been back and forth with built in drawers/shelves that flank the window in his room. And, a desk or a sitting bench to go under the window. Here's a few inspiring designs:

1. I think this one is my favorite. Looks so cozy! The drawers would serve as his dresser for clothes to eliminate the need for a space taking dresser.
boy's rooms - ivory roman shade black ribbon trim blue bench cushion built-ins window seat cabinets shelves blue striped rug yellow walls paint color blue boy's playroom

2. I like this one too. Interesting to have open shelving under the sitting area. Could use it for easy to reach books or baskets for toys.

girl's rooms - Lotus Flower Pendant white roman shade ribbon trim daybed blue green yellow zigzag pillows blue gray silk pillows brown bench cushion built-ins window seat shelves cabinets sophisticated girl's room

3. This one is more fancy and I'd simplify the lines. I'm more looking at the wood boarding above the window (I'm sure that has some name.) I think it makes the built in seem more of a unit but maybe a bit too much.

girl's rooms - glass-top desk chocolate brown headboard green blue pillows white built-ins window seat green cushion green blue striped roman shade blue walls ceiling

4. I like the book style shelves. I could do one side of the window in this style of shelving. But, will that carry to the teen years?

girl's rooms - playroom white blue striped ticking rug white blue zigzag chevron herringbone pillows red checkered pillows pink cushion white built-in window seat bookshelves roman shade

5. Obviously, this is way girlie. It's the only one I could find with a desk under the window instead of a sitting area.

girl's rooms - pink walls chocolate brown velvet headboard pink piping brown bed skirt pink green duvet pillows bedding white nightstands pink lamps built-ins desk shelves pink shag rug pink crystal chandelier

What your favorite? Desk or sitting area? It'll be there FOREVER! I need it to carry though his needs now and future. Thoughts?

Monday, June 20, 2011

Planning a party....hooray!

I'm taking full advantage of my daughter's 3rd birthday on July 2nd! What an awesome time of year for a birthday...my son asks me often, "why does Julia get fireworks for her birthday?" Poor guy with the middle of harsh winter February birthday... although he was due on Valentine's day but he was just to coozy and stayed 6 extra days! But, onward to the party planning:)

Tomorrow I'm meeting up with some very special gals for dinner at Baker's Crust which just so happens to be at our super mall. So, I'm taking full advantage and going early for some much need party supplies. I plan on hitting Crate and Barrel for these:
Food Tent

Set of 4 Pop Flower Plates

Party Tub













Food tents, super cool save the environment plates, and party tub for adult beverages

Then, head to pottery barn for my drinking dispenser or 2
Mason Drink Dispenser

Looking forward to fun shopping and great dinner!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Blogging adds to my to-do list

I haven't been blogging lately. I think we all go through spells that just need to take a break so I did. I still find that I'm compelled to read my blog roll daily. I even get excited to see what everyone's doing. But, it does come at a cost! I usually spot things that I mentally filing into my to-do list. So, I thought I'd share that list...

1. Wine barrel planter. Centsational Girl is amazing!!! I don't know where she finds the time to do all the things she does but this one speaks to me! It's probably because I'm a fan of wine and flowers:) Can you believe she made this!

kates tiered recycled barrel planter

2. I can't really blame a certain blog but I'm going to stencil a back splash in my kitchen. I was going to tile but my husband is convinced that we'll redo our kitchen and layout in the next few years. So, why waste the money but why wait to make this the way you want them. Stenciling is my compromise. I'll use the existing deep tan wall color and then pull another lighter beige for the 2nd color. Here's a preview in blue.

Moroccan Stencils: Endless Moorish Circle

3. Also, I going to stencil my downstairs 1/2 bath. It's a nice neutral that I just painted (it was a green color called thyme which I have upstairs). I'm debating on using a light tan as the second color so it's a soft look or go bold and use a dark brown. I worried about the dark brown because of the size of the bathroom. Here's a preview. I have the same print on my ottoman in the ajoining family room so I thought it'd pull things together. Yes, I'm obsessive!!

Moroccan Stencils: Large Marrakesh Allover Trellis

4. Ok, this isn't a project but more of a treasure hunt. I have a dining room with a large window and I'm looking for two corner cabinets to flank it. I'll have extra storage - bonus! and it'll help make the room cozy. Miss Mustard Seed has them in her dining room.


5. Beefing up the porch for party time:) I've move our old eat-in kitchen table to the porch and have bought a bench to accompany it. I found these retro cast iron chairs that I was going to sell. But once I painted them red, they're staying! Here's some must haves:
Mason Drink Dispenser
Pottery Barn
Casa Noel Chili Pepper Lights
Fun chili pepper lights - this was actually my husband's added touch

Cheswick Console Table, Mahogany stain
Outdoor drink/food buffet. This ones from PB has the right look but I'll hopefully find a more rustic, cheaper piece.

So, that's my inspired to-do list. It's fun to have this kind of list! What's on your list?



Saturday, June 4, 2011

Vintage vanity turned distressed desk with chair

I completely forgot a before of the chair but it was just boring brown with ugly fabric and now it's fabulous floral:) I like it pairs beautifully with the desk I distressed. The desk was an auction find and has and attachable trifold mirror to serve as a vanity.

Before

Before... I do love that nature distressed look.

After

After of that one side... looked amazing with the paint. Love me some chalk paint! Used old white chalk paint by Anne Sloan and sanded the top and stained it dark walnut. And, of course, clear wax on it all.

After with some dark wax to make the key holes and pulls look well used.

Paired with the chair

The pulls were amazing untouched.


For a finishing touch, I lined the drawers with decorative contact paper. This is in our space and it's looking for a home:)