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Worked on this yesterday. Planning to take it to the shower this weekend for a wall decoration. I don't sew - and this has lots of boo-boos, but it turned out pretty cute. Thinking about table decorations now -

A new laundry room

When we moved into this new house - we were surprised to see a closet in the garage - sitting too high to utilize and without a step. It was supposed to be a place for the water heater, but this house has a basement, so it was installed down there instead. So, we asked, can't we eliminate the closet and enlarge the laundry room on the other side? And we did! It doubled the size of the laundry room and my husband even let me have some beadboard in there to dress it up a little. This room is off the kitchen, so it is handy! I LOVE having a utility sink! My first!

Here we are in mid-process. The beadboard is up and painted and the sink and the floor is patched. You can tell by the wall marks where the old wall was and also the YUCKY wire shelf. Yuck.

I used a jadite green color for the walls, Greg hung a cool light fixture with the jadite trim. I am really happy with the results - now, for the next room . . .

Pretty color

My buddy and friend, Stephanie, (aka Incredimom), wanted to change up the looks of her kitchen. (Another Lucy Ricardo like idea . . . )

She picked this gorgeous color. We had great fun painting her 2 toned blue walls into one tone of Shenandoah Valley by Glidden.

She has a stained chair rail going around her eat in area and it was light blue on the top and darker blue on the bottom - now it is a calming happy green. We brightened the room by putting up white sailcloth balloon shades with ties - the colors work so well with her new countertop, stone backsplash and tile floor. Just beautiful. We were a little happy with ourselves because we accomplished the entire project while our hubbies went to an overnight convention. We had some serious help from her parents - they delivered great food to the hungry workers and lots of moral support. What a blessing to have friends to share work, play and good times. (Another Lucy scheme with a happy ending . . . luv ya Steph!)

Sweet things

Valentine's Day. Another holiday. Already. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE holidays. Love, love, love them. Especially ones that include lots of chocolate. But, you barely put away one and there is another one. I read these wonderful blogs of women that create and beautify their homes continually and I am boring enough to just want to stop and enjoy something beautiful for a LONG time. There are still Christmas items sitting on my kitchen counter because I hate the idea of putting them in storage - they are so sweet and they make me smile. A long time ago a friend gave me a plug in bubble snowman light. I simply adore it. It will go away the next time company comes - but until then, it's Christmas in my kitchen and heart. OK, so back to Valentine's Day. After Christmas deals are so fun to me especially when I find an item that isn't all Christmas and I can enjoy it all year. Well, I found these two items, 80% off at Hobby Lobby, that fall into that category - but they look more like the love day than Christmas anyway. The tray is pink pink and the plastic bowl with it's striped plastic ribbon - are just happy. (It'd help if there weren't candy canes in it, huh?) I do enjoy pulling out my collection of vintage valentine's cards. I bought a huge stack from ebay (a seller worth watching!) and when they were finally perfectly arranged and the glass placed, it cracked putting it in the frame. (hey, you can't even see it in the picture. cool.) No matter - until I find another frame it stays and it is still adored.

Did you notice, hmmm? I did change my header for Valentine's Day! That took some work too - it doesn't matchie matchie the rest of the blog, but it is a nice change for a change. (I may need to buy a Thesaurus to sound and look more intelligent.)

Dreams that seem so real!

Last night I attended our college & career Wednesday Bible Study - they meet at 8 pm and go pretty late, and with an 11 yr old at home, I don't usually get to go. They are going through the Tommy Nelson Daniel DVD Bible study. It was an awesome lesson on the prophecy given to Daniel in chapter 9 regarding the 490 years. As a Christian, it gives us the validity of God's Word, the accuracy and the occurrence of this prophecy is amazing. My main observation was Daniel's role, having a first name basis with an angel from God, trusted with an important message to be given to future generations. Amazing stuff. Anyway, this was all heavily on my mind when I went to sleep and during the night I had a vivid dream where the heavens opened and Jesus was there taking me home. Exciting it is.

Haven't mentioned much on the renovation lately - it is slowly coming along. We actually did some work in the master bath so I feel like I am holding up many spinning plates, maybe too many. :) While in NJ I stopped at a thrift store and found some beautiful things - a crystal cake plate that now holds the towels in the down bath and an old teapot - repurposing again - and loving it!

So, a new issue is the cabinets - they need new paint desperately. The 20 year old oil based paint is almost yellow now. I purchased this pretty Charleston color from Sherwin Williams - it is a much brighter white than we had! I also painted the brass drawer pulls - trying to update the whole look. Any thoughts?

Renovation update

Most of the hard work is done - except - the - toilet. That has developed into a huge problem. I asked my dd if she would mind just using that hole in the ground and she gave me the most horrified look. It's still nicer than an outhouse! Anyway, I helped my dh carry a 2000 pound (well, maybe not that heavy) toilet up the sidewalk, the porch, the stairs and down the hall. He opened the box to install it the other night and . . . it was broken. He held up a piece of porcelain for me to see. The whining started. You mean I (oh and the attitude too . . . who cares about him, he is supposed to do this stuff) have to carry this thing back to the car and then carry another one back up here!!! It was not pretty to listen to or see. (great example mom and helpmeet, NOT!) My sweetie drug that heavy thing down the stairs by his sweet self. Half the work of half the work is partially done. (stop whining now) Anyway - see? there is progress in this room. More pictures if it ever gets done when it is put together.

Daisy a day . . .

My daughter's ballet and tap dance teacher is getting married this summer. The director of the school gave two teachers a combined wedding shower and made the hall so beautiful - I took pictures of the details. Don't you love the simplicity and beauty of a daisy?

One down!

My first "mis"treatment - I took a table runner and tablecloth and tried to make it a curtain! I loved the color and texture of this fabric - and the tassels added a neat touch. Thanks to The Nester for her great advice and encouragement! This was formerly the yellow bathroom - downstairs - now it is the blue bathroom.

Some Pooh advice . . .

When taking on a renovation project . . . remember this wise advice from Pooh Bear.

...until suddenly, OW! - and there he was, sitting in his chair with his feet in the water, and water all around him!

He splashed to his door and looked out . . .

"This is Serious," said Pooh. "I must have an Escape."

Some progress . . .

Well, I can't stand it. I have to share a peek. The glass tiles are the prettiest things . . . there is no grout in yet and they won't let me stand on the new floor - but it is coming together very nicely. The picture of the sink is from the downstairs bath - can you make out the blue paint under the tile? That is the color I bought for the walls in that bathroom, any thoughts? While at Home Depot I picked out a more gray color (yes dad, battleship gray!) and not sure if that would be better than this blue/gray. My dd wants the upstairs bath to have an Eiffel Tower/French soft pink look - hmmm. (why does the faucet look gold in this pic? it is brushed nickel)

Renovation time!

Decided to do some renovation on the bathrooms - they are all in pretty bad shape. This is the downstairs bathroom before - right now it has a new countertop and no mirror - but it is getting there!

Upstairs bath - before . . . you don't want to see it right now! Floor is gone, mirror is gone, wall is cut into, no drywall around tub - it looks bad!! Gotta look bad before it looks good. So far we have added a new tub and countertop. I'll share more as the work goes on.

Excuse me, my ignorance is showing . . .

So, first we bought a ton of this . . .

And then I said, oh, I like this! and we bought a bunch of that.

But wait, this is so cool! 20 boxes piled high . . .

This looks really clean and nice . . . put that in the car!

AAARGH! and all of that. I say on occasion that I would like to be an interior decorator when I grow up, but I am cured now. No more of that boy. We were going to do this simple update of two bathrooms, not 3, just two. Just replace the countertops & sink downstairs and the same up with the additional floor and tub. No biggie. HA. I laugh at myself. So, in the beginning, I was giddy with excitement, shopping for tile - so much fun! Well, weeks later, it ain't so much. The second guy came to give his quote and input for the work, and he wants me to take back all my thought out purchases and start over. Hmmm.

Decorating ideas?

Dh and I work with the college and career class at our church - it is a huge blessing. The church just gave us the former mission house to use as our meeting place and we are thrilled! It was simply decorated when we got it - but much too "flowery" for our young crowd. We have been tossing around ideas - our C&C minister is thinking Starbucks style interior but it is called the Cabin - since it has wood walls and rustic front. One of the gals suggested a cowboy theme. My dh wants to put up a mounted deer head! We have limited (like none) funds for a while - so right now I think paint and simple curtain panels. It would be cool to use some of that magnetic/blackboard paint to have a huge wall for notes and events - frame it with some molding. Sure would love to have some feedback/help! I am thinking a trip to IKEA is needed.