Thursday, May 9, 2013
Lake Catherine, Arkansas
2 weeks ago, we took for the mountains in Arkansas for a little R&R. Other than the boring drive, and the refinery across the lake from the campground, you couldn't of asked for a better weekend!!! This is definitely one campground we plan on going back to again!
Wow, its been a long time.....
Sorry its been such a long time since we've visited. So much has been going on between work, studying, the kids, summer around the corner, etc. I do have some projects I can share with you. Unfortunately, my photography skills are the greatest, so please bear with me. Also, this post is kinda long as I posted a few projects here.
One of the projects we tackled was repainting the foyer. Back in January, I showed some inspiration photos of striped foyers and we finally have it 95% done (still a few touchups needed). So, here is the before pictures of the foyer.
The rug was a steal at a local antique mall. The painting also came from an antique store. I love dog paintings, especially Westie's. The table came from Overstock.com. It originally was black, but with some spray paint, its gorgeous!!!! It still needs some artwork, but all in due time.
Another almost completed project is my antique bookcase that I painted when we first moved in. Its still not complete in that it needs some molding to be added to it, curtain panels on the bottom doors to hide my junk, and I can't seem to get the doors hung right, but I will give you a sneak peek of the before, in progress, & upper cabinet.
Here is the before pic, this was emptied out prior to our recent move.
The cabinet is painted in Annie Sloan Paris Grey and the back was originally done in Scandinavian Pink. After living with it for a few weeks, I just didn't love the color. So off to Lowe's I went. I purchased a sample of BM Springtime Bloom. When I got home, the color was a little too bubble gum for me, so I mixed it with the Scandinavian Pink, and I LOVE IT!!! The photographs does not do the color justice! I also used Rub N' Buff in antique gold for the handles.
Another project that is 95% completed is a photo gallery wall that was installed in the living room. I went to pinterest for inspiration, found a couple of layouts that interest me, then went out and bought the frames and started laying it out to hang. I dragged out the roll of brown paper and cut out the frame size I needed and hung them up, arranging as I went til we came to an arrangement we liked. Then, the fun happens! Going thru 14 years of pictures and deciding what to hang!!! Loved going thru all the pictures!
We dragged our old outdoor rug out, and bought the loveseat and gliding rockers at Home Depot. Its part of the Martha Stewart collection. We chose this one solely on the gliding rockers that I had to have!!! The coffee table is a whiskey barrell from Jack Daniels that Lowes is selling for $30. We flipped it upside down for now. We also put some plants into the back corner. A mixture of bird of paradise and some ferns with our St. Francis statue.
So, that is an update on the major stuff we've done. We are currently plotting and planning for face lifts 3 of the bedrooms, the living room, and kitchen. Will keep you posted when we get around the 95% completion point!!! :-)
One of the projects we tackled was repainting the foyer. Back in January, I showed some inspiration photos of striped foyers and we finally have it 95% done (still a few touchups needed). So, here is the before pictures of the foyer.
and here's the after! Again, sorry my photography sucks!
The rug was a steal at a local antique mall. The painting also came from an antique store. I love dog paintings, especially Westie's. The table came from Overstock.com. It originally was black, but with some spray paint, its gorgeous!!!! It still needs some artwork, but all in due time.
Another almost completed project is my antique bookcase that I painted when we first moved in. Its still not complete in that it needs some molding to be added to it, curtain panels on the bottom doors to hide my junk, and I can't seem to get the doors hung right, but I will give you a sneak peek of the before, in progress, & upper cabinet.
Here is the before pic, this was emptied out prior to our recent move.
This is the in progress, holding everything that was getting unpacked. I didn't care for the pink color, so that got changed.
My after shots for the upper cabinets (excuse the plaster of paris box holding my doors shut).
The cabinet is painted in Annie Sloan Paris Grey and the back was originally done in Scandinavian Pink. After living with it for a few weeks, I just didn't love the color. So off to Lowe's I went. I purchased a sample of BM Springtime Bloom. When I got home, the color was a little too bubble gum for me, so I mixed it with the Scandinavian Pink, and I LOVE IT!!! The photographs does not do the color justice! I also used Rub N' Buff in antique gold for the handles.
Another project that is 95% completed is a photo gallery wall that was installed in the living room. I went to pinterest for inspiration, found a couple of layouts that interest me, then went out and bought the frames and started laying it out to hang. I dragged out the roll of brown paper and cut out the frame size I needed and hung them up, arranging as I went til we came to an arrangement we liked. Then, the fun happens! Going thru 14 years of pictures and deciding what to hang!!! Loved going thru all the pictures!
As you can see, I have one last paper square hanging. I have the picture in the frame, but needs a certain hanger on the back of the frame and I can't get it in properly, which is where hubby comes in. I'm going to have to put that task on the "Dude, get on it" list!!!
And lastly, with the nice weather we've been having, we spruced up the back patio.
So, that is an update on the major stuff we've done. We are currently plotting and planning for face lifts 3 of the bedrooms, the living room, and kitchen. Will keep you posted when we get around the 95% completion point!!! :-)
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Almost time for a face lift!
Its almost that time of the year, where we drag out the pressure washer and clean the sidewalks, bring out the lawn mower for the first trim of the year, update the flower beds and trim the bushes and trees, and most importantly, the paint brushes!!!! My paint itch was temporarily relieved with painting the bookcase, but let's be honest, I can't stay away from the stuff!!! My list of items to paint grows on a daily basis! Unfortunately, a lack of pesos keeps me from tackling a whole lot of projects right now. So, high on the priority list is to update the front of the house. Why is it a high priority, you ask? Well, Mike wants to change the lock on the front door. With all the choices of lock colors and design, who can pick a new lock without nailing a new front door color first??? So let's re-visit the front of the house and the front door, shall we.....
We have a country blue look going on here. We went down to Cheapo Depot and came home with more paint samples and held them up outside to get a feel for what color family we wanted to go with. Low and behold, we decided to stay with the blue family! (Shocking, I know....).
Let's look at some inspiration.....
The two colors we are looking at are Deepest Aqua (the top, lightest color on door) and Peacock Blue, both by Glidden. The existing door knobs, locks and porch light is a tarnished brass type color.
Here's another view of the samples taped to the front of the house in the sunlight.....
Whatever color is chosen, we want it to go with the existing paint on the house, which is a cream color, so we don't have to change it. The brick is a reddish brown with streaks of green. Next question, for our door hardware, oil rubbed bronze? satin nickle?? distressed pewter????
So please, leave a comment and tell us which color you think looks better. This project will be under way once the icy weather is gone and we warm up some!
We have a country blue look going on here. We went down to Cheapo Depot and came home with more paint samples and held them up outside to get a feel for what color family we wanted to go with. Low and behold, we decided to stay with the blue family! (Shocking, I know....).
Let's look at some inspiration.....
The two colors we are looking at are Deepest Aqua (the top, lightest color on door) and Peacock Blue, both by Glidden. The existing door knobs, locks and porch light is a tarnished brass type color.
Deepest Aqua
Peacock Blue
Both photos via home depot
Here's another view of the samples taped to the front of the house in the sunlight.....
Whatever color is chosen, we want it to go with the existing paint on the house, which is a cream color, so we don't have to change it. The brick is a reddish brown with streaks of green. Next question, for our door hardware, oil rubbed bronze? satin nickle?? distressed pewter????
door knob pics via homedepot.com
So please, leave a comment and tell us which color you think looks better. This project will be under way once the icy weather is gone and we warm up some!
Sunday, January 13, 2013
I feel blue, oh so blue!
The itch to paint has hit me hard this past week. My requests to painting the living room has been declined, so I looked around for smaller projects that doesn't require scaffolding or a 16 ft ladder. I'm not crazy about the pinky beige color the house is painted in and debated on what small area I could paint that would have a large impact. Insert light bulb here..... I decided on painting the back of the huge built ins located in the living room.
My inspiration for color came from some fabric I've been saving for awhile that I got at an unbelievable clearance sale Kauffman Brissac Sapphire and a floral painting that I bought for myself as my birthday and Christmas present, and my love for all things blue! Out came the paint fan and several shades of blue debated on until I went into Lowe's and just pointed to what my gut decided on. Zach was off of school that day, so we tackled the project together. I taped and painted the edges and corners, he rolled the paint on. He had enough of painting after the first coat.
The color I selected is Benjamin Moore Patriot Blue. Its the same color Cam's bedroom was in NOLA. After the painting was done, Mike and I had a moment of painters' remorse. Is this too bright and bold? Are we going to be sick of this tomorrow?
We had our doubts, but once the books and knick knacks were added to the shelves, it knocked the intensity of the color down to something we can live and fall in love with. I feel like I need to start collecting some objects to put on top of the bookcase....maybe some antique globes? or ceramic jars???
Now, the question is, do we do the same color for the other built in next to the fireplace? Or should we use a fabric or mirror backing??? Decisions, decisions..... (excuse Mike's shadow in the pic).
My inspiration for color came from some fabric I've been saving for awhile that I got at an unbelievable clearance sale Kauffman Brissac Sapphire and a floral painting that I bought for myself as my birthday and Christmas present, and my love for all things blue! Out came the paint fan and several shades of blue debated on until I went into Lowe's and just pointed to what my gut decided on. Zach was off of school that day, so we tackled the project together. I taped and painted the edges and corners, he rolled the paint on. He had enough of painting after the first coat.
The color I selected is Benjamin Moore Patriot Blue. Its the same color Cam's bedroom was in NOLA. After the painting was done, Mike and I had a moment of painters' remorse. Is this too bright and bold? Are we going to be sick of this tomorrow?
We had our doubts, but once the books and knick knacks were added to the shelves, it knocked the intensity of the color down to something we can live and fall in love with. I feel like I need to start collecting some objects to put on top of the bookcase....maybe some antique globes? or ceramic jars???
Now, the question is, do we do the same color for the other built in next to the fireplace? Or should we use a fabric or mirror backing??? Decisions, decisions..... (excuse Mike's shadow in the pic).
A walk down memory lane.......
At 3 weeks since moving, the kids are finally back in school, and I'm finally unpacking the 12-3ft tall boxes, packed to the gills with breakables, knick knacks and "what nots", many of which has been packed since our move from Denham Springs 8 years ago and have totally forgotten we owned until I uncovered them! Look at how cute those baby pictures are!!!!!
I can't wait to move all my of my loved and missed items around the house, finding the perfect spot to display them! I think I may need to claim my Desert Rose china to display soon.....Road trip!!!
How we miss king cake......
Earlier last week, the boys and I were wanting a king cake, to celebrate the twelfth night (actually 13th night when we realized we missed the 12th). I am a pinterest addict, and the other night, found a recipe for a king cake using crescent rolls, cream cheese, cinnamon and brown sugar, and a homemade icing. It was made by Holly Clegg, who does a lot of cooking and cookbook writing in Baton Rouge, so I thought "it can't be that bad, Holly made it".......
Well, it wasn't bad, if you like crescent rolls with powdered sugar icing. That is exactly how it tasted. No sweet, cinnamon dough, high calorie filling, oodles of good icing and sugar. It just made us miss king cake and home even more, and realize, there is no substitute to a real king cake!
Obviously, it wasn't terrible either as we ate a good bit of it.
Excuse my dirty skillet in the picture! :)
Monday, January 7, 2013
Plumbing so easy, a 12 year old can do it!
So, 2 days before we close on the house, I wake up, go wash my hands and brush my teeth. In my sleepy state, I feel water on my feet. As I wake up some more, I notice some faucet pieces sitting on the counter top. I somehow failed to get the notice not to use the sink because the stopper thingy (for lack of the technical term) in the sink came out and water was leaking under the sink. This past weekend, we made a stop to the local Cheapo-Depot to figure out if we would repair it or buy a new faucet. Unfortunately, being new to the area, we were getting very frustrated trying to get the lay of the land in our local home repair stores. Our excursions have been lasting up to 2 hours of walking up and down the aisles trying to find the needle in the haystack we are looking for at that moment. We were unable to find the part needed to fix the stopper thingy, but could find the new faucets. Its a Pfister faucet (I threw out the box before I could write down the model). As the evening progressed, Mike found out quickly that he can not fit under the sink to do the plumbing work. Thankfully, we had a willing participate to crawl under the sink and do the dirty work! Its one of the rare times his tiny size comes in handy!
It only took about 90 minutes for Zach to be walked thru the plumbing process by daddy! He was so proud of himself afterwards!
He comes into the bathroom daily to admire his handy work! Thankfully, we have another bathroom faucet that is in need of replacing! He will be able to put his new found skill to use again!
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