tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61042056388818501172024-03-14T00:21:55.654-07:00Rocky River FarmhouseAdam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-25192784728613313892011-06-27T06:08:00.000-07:002011-06-27T11:58:14.095-07:00Greta and Will's New BedroomWe have a baby due August 3rd so my big kids (4 and 2.5) are moving on up in the world. More specifically, across the hallway. I've been working on transitioning this room from a guest room to a gender-neutral shared space for the past few months and have been really pleased with how it all came together.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622889379468275890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5leGAPeNtS4/TgiEGWqF8LI/AAAAAAAAHb0/XCN9xbVoDK8/s400/June%2B2011%2B084.JPG" /> Almost everything you see in this picture has been <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">thrifted</span> or given to us with the exception of a few things. Everything began with the rug that was given to us by some friends. It's kind of washed out in this picture, but you can see a clip of its multi-colored glory in the corner of the picture below. It really set the tone for drawing in all the colors so I didn't have to pick any one gender-neutral color. The antique spindle beds were bought on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Craigslist</span>. They were originally a dark brown wood and I spray painted them gray. The end tables were given to us a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">loooong</span> time ago and I refreshed them with some cherry red spray paint from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Walmart</span>. I've owned the quilts for a long time but the blue quilt originally came from Target and the patchwork quilt on left came from Land of Nod. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">step stools</span> and buckets came from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">IKEA</span> yesterday and the blue darkening drapes were on sale recently at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Lowes</span>. The kids silhouettes I traced, painted on burlap and framed them in the embroidery looms that I already had. It was our latest craft in craft club and my kids love them as much as I do.</div><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622889386943425458" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqEK5h0mPM0/TgiEGygTq7I/AAAAAAAAHb8/7v1jsGRSrDU/s400/June%2B2011%2B078.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622909424359005186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1AT9crbVLlo/TgiWVHsdXAI/AAAAAAAAHcc/-qkiQFK8E2c/s400/June%2B2011%2B106.JPG" />This is the corner of the room as you walk in to your right. The white <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">armoire</span> was a hand-me-down given to us by my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. We house all of the outgrown baby clothes in there since we are so limited on closet space in this house. The little vanity was 12 dollars at Goodwill and the bookshelf was 5 bucks at a pharmacy going out of business sale.</div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622889395772397698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5vBqtPln1cM/TgiEHTZTGII/AAAAAAAAHcM/kwUaZfLFIW4/s400/June%2B2011%2B112.JPG" />This is the corner of the room as you walk into it on your left. The dresser is one we bought a long time ago on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Craigslist</span> for $100 and refinished it. The mirror was $12 at Goodwill and the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">PBK</span> beanbag moose was Will's Christmas gift when he turned one.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622894401155336754" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ioIwq-TGVY8/TgiIqp5lijI/AAAAAAAAHcU/ZTB3N-nAEGk/s400/June%2B2011%2B100.JPG" />Greta kept sneaking in the pictures. :) Both kids slept in their new bedroom last night for the first time and Greta has told me twice this morning that she loves her new room. Success!<br /><br />There are still a few <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">IKEA</span> nightlights to be mounted (pink flower for Greta and a blue star for Will), a light fixture over the naked bulb in the middle of the room (any cheap or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">DIY</span> ideas would be appreciated!), a few unbreakable, bulletproof, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">wipeable</span> accessories for their dresser to cute-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">sy</span> it up a bit and then we'll be done!</div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-25200576122314208522011-05-31T18:06:00.000-07:002011-06-01T10:15:23.340-07:00I Heart Maps<div>I saw this <a href="http://flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/valentine-book-wreath.html">wreath tutorial </a>the other day on <a href="http://www.flowerpatchfarmgirl.blogspot.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Flowerpatch</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Farmgirl</span></a> and decided to try my hand at it using an old atlas I recently picked up in a freebie box.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613069551667439426" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iV2jn3KOhKE/TeWhBJay50I/AAAAAAAAHbo/xFrsRob6LA8/s400/June%2B2011%2B082.JPG" />I used a combination of pennies and copper furniture brads as the centers of the flowers. I just hand cut out a bunch of hearts and didn't have a heart punch like the tutorial had used.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613065775811366802" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OPc6-FR2Z58/TeWdlXQjj5I/AAAAAAAAHbY/YR15ZJQ8vY8/s400/June%2B2011%2B053.JPG" /> Here it is all tied up with burlap on my newly painted (<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Mediterranean</span> blue by <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Valspar</span>)<br />shutters! I salvaged some shuttered <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">bi fold</span> closet doors from a friend's neighbors garbage. Adam was embarrassed. Is he embarrassed now? I think not.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613065778312720802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KWYpTwi9ylw/TeWdlgk7MaI/AAAAAAAAHbg/LVa5Zc7GmUs/s400/June%2B2011%2B074.JPG" /> Lastly, I put some little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ikea</span> plants in an old apple crate on top of a wooden box I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">hot glued</span> some sawed off yardsticks to the front of. I think it looks kind of patriotic in a flag sort of way. Perfect for summertime!<br /></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-69198833075926240112011-05-31T10:49:00.000-07:002011-05-31T17:51:25.803-07:00French Curvy DresserFor a while there, I was determined to get some organization in my hallway. I originally had some PB <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">cubbies</span> with plastic dollar store baskets that you could see all of my <s>"haven't found a place for" things</s> junk and it was overwhelming to say the least. After reading the <a href="http://www.thenester.com/?s=organization">31 Days organization series</a> from <a href="http://www.thenester.com/">The Nester</a>, I was inspired to gain my hallway back using a dresser. I found this on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Craigslist</span> listed for $75 after using words in the search engine like "french" and "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">provincial</span>" and it had 12 drawers! Perfect for my junk. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612975125670672178" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6eHsnVU6ZWo/TeVLI1K0NzI/AAAAAAAAHao/T67Qx6xT_MA/s400/March%2B2011%2B421.JPG" />Love those legs...<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612975117814619890" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ckmG5KTkwvI/TeVLIX5yXvI/AAAAAAAAHag/cfW6zPHmnUM/s400/March%2B2011%2B424.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><div>And after a light sanding and some glossy white spray paint, I had this!</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613031911310112610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9SfVaok9OAw/TeV-yMKSN2I/AAAAAAAAHbI/r0k_jVaumGs/s400/June%2B2011%2B108.JPG" />I distressed it lightly afterwards wherever there were paint blobs that didn't even out. Distressing stuff, even lightly, helps take some of the pressure off of being perfect when spraying. Usually I'm doing it on a napping-kids-timeline or kids-touching-my-newly-painted-things-timeline so either way, I don't have forever to be a perfectionist about paint blobs.<br /><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612975139436063010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gAFXszNnspQ/TeVLJocvaSI/AAAAAAAAHa4/f9tYSbZr_gI/s400/June%2B2011%2B109.JPG" /></div><br /><div>Close-up of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">thrifted</span> mirror collection. I love the gold and silver ones as is, but I'm not sure what to do with the wooden ones. Any color advice? The big white one is newly painted so I'll keep it that way.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 267px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613042323867170530" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wciF5B_yrmM/TeWIQR9V9uI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/xH7-9xA3IIE/s400/June%2B2011%2B042.JPG" /></div><br /><div>A little twist on a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">DIY</span> sunburst mirror. I <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">superglued</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">hotglued</span> old keys on some old <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Walmart</span> candle holder mirrors I've had for a long time. Superglue worked best by the way.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612975144438269378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tb-6kbZQb3Y/TeVLJ7FXBcI/AAAAAAAAHbA/eARUUUw8-yc/s400/June%2B2011%2B113.JPG" /></div><br /><br /><p>To the left of the mirrors, above our bedroom doorway, I wanted to show you my Valentines Day present from Adam. He stayed after work a couple nights and welded up our anniversary date, 6-5-04. We celebrate 7 years on Sunday! :)</p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612975132063649426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uXPj8QtDkhI/TeVLJM_BTpI/AAAAAAAAHaw/04tTN0i4U7w/s400/June%2B2011%2B104.JPG" /></p><br /><p>On the right hand side of the dresser is an old bucket lamp I spray painted cherry red and copied <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">someones</span> idea of their lampshade I found on a blog. All it took was removing the fabric and leaving the wire frame for the more industrial look. I like the funky look of it, but my energy efficient light bulb is not that pretty. I do love the open lighting it offers though in a dark hallway.</p><br /><p>I've been working on a few other things including a summer mantle which I'll be posting later so maybe I'll be back in my good blogging graces soon. :)</p>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-77731629469116231312011-02-25T06:16:00.000-08:002011-02-25T07:13:09.822-08:00Craft Night!<div>Once a month, there's a group of girls that get together to do a craft. We have a different hostess each month who chooses, organizes and teaches the craft. So far we've done fabric rosettes, glass painting, wreaths, and this month was button bracelets!</div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577635084270692466" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7EU1iI4IMU/TWe9jry16HI/AAAAAAAAHaQ/_9uMOm_x8v4/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B123.JPG" /> Beautiful girls and sisters, Katie Beth and Meagan. First timers of craft night and first timers of button sewing! It's what craft night is all about! Learning stuff for the first time.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgZCgyqPu0o/TWe9jc23H7I/AAAAAAAAHaI/EIGo2pQaF-Q/s1600/Feb%2B2011%2B124.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577635080261017522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fgZCgyqPu0o/TWe9jc23H7I/AAAAAAAAHaI/EIGo2pQaF-Q/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B124.JPG" /></a>(l-r) Dena, Holly (hostess), Ezra (Dena's baby) and Tiff getting their elastic and thread ready.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577635072859067234" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqQmA7hjPGo/TWe9jBSGU2I/AAAAAAAAHaA/bdfmeQrMq_0/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B126.JPG" /></div><div><div><div> The fun part of picking out the buttons. Holly had it all arranged in beautiful glasses and bowls all separated by color so you could easily pick what scheme you wanted to come up with. I don't have a picture of mine, but I did mostly gold and navy with bits of yellow.<br /><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577635073296566194" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WrFV0KoaDwY/TWe9jC6aB7I/AAAAAAAAHZ4/bjlvXBZdICo/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B127.JPG" />We had about 14 girls total including 6 first-timers. So fun. The way we arranged the night was Holly had pre-bought all of the buttons on Ebay and elastic which we divided the cost and paid her accordingly, about $8.00 a piece. </div><div> </div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577635069237739762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xXfvkSAmI0/TWe9izytQPI/AAAAAAAAHZw/X1SRP5l_R9E/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B125.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577639441298502690" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMi0D964EzI/TWfBhS_ONCI/AAAAAAAAHaY/3FqbiTdfsuQ/s400/Feb%2B2011%2B128.JPG" />The finished product! Well, at least 2 of them. If you wanted to make your own, you need about 2-inch wide elastic and about 30 buttons. Cluster them closely as you sew them on so there is little to no empty space in between. They look like they came straight from a boutique!</div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-15876170001029335862011-01-10T05:22:00.000-08:002011-01-10T05:29:42.525-08:00A Blog Without Pictures...Fellow friends and reader, my camera has officially kicked the bucket. You won't be hearing from me very often because a blog without pictures is just not as cool. So unless I have something really intelligent to say or some amazing links to post, this might be it for a while. In the meantime, maybe I'll be crafting up a storm behind the scenes and will have lots to show you when I enter back into the blogosphere with a new camera in hand!Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-83332109673380101892010-11-30T12:16:00.000-08:002010-11-30T13:02:27.188-08:00Coconut Flakes, Turkey Feathers and Pink Window PanesI had so much fun decking my Christmas mantle this year. It was fun to play around with different things I had around the house to make it all come together.<br /><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545442594018684770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVeqILN72I/AAAAAAAAHYA/D7m0iY6NtC0/s400/December%2B2010%2B475.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545442518507677986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVelu3_aSI/AAAAAAAAHXw/v4wReJep6Fw/s400/December%2B2010%2B484.JPG" /> I'm sure you can deduce that coconut flakes mentioned in the title is what I used for the fake snow sprinkles. The letter N came from my picture gallery in the master bedroom and the other "letters" I just gathered from around my house.<br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545442521805349298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVel7KN4bI/AAAAAAAAHX4/JjFs0USzFPk/s400/December%2B2010%2B473.JPG" />Here is my pink window pane. Which started out as white. Then I painted red. Then I painted gold. Then I distressed it. Pink is what became of it.<br /><br /><div><br />I was trying to make it like this from PB...<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 344px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545445718658509122" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVhgAXZ6UI/AAAAAAAAHYI/mEK0yGHFYGc/s400/pbframe.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545440871841094610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdF4kFW9I/AAAAAAAAHXI/1aW_2bRGXkk/s400/December%2B2010%2B488.JPG" />You can't see them in the pictures, but their are strings of twine in between each pane that I nailed in to clip card on. These are just some of my favorite vintage-y ones I've received or collected over the years.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVekz5C2TI/AAAAAAAAHXo/NTHChtdejS0/s1600/December%2B2010%2B511.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545442502674405682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVekz5C2TI/AAAAAAAAHXo/NTHChtdejS0/s400/December%2B2010%2B511.JPG" /></a> Stockings hung by the chimney with care. The garland came from the cypress trees in my backyard. I made some for the windows too in the living room. They were a cinch to make, but a week later they are crumbling under the slightest touch!<br /></div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdHSPK-II/AAAAAAAAHXg/yyLGg0Q1Hjg/s1600/December%2B2010%2B482.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545440895912573058" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdHSPK-II/AAAAAAAAHXg/yyLGg0Q1Hjg/s400/December%2B2010%2B482.JPG" /></a> Some bottles I recently numbered from 1-6 with glass paint. The 2 and the 5 were perfect to use as we prepare for the 25<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> of December. Can you spot my turkey feather in the vase? The other day I looked out my back window to find 5 or 6 wild turkeys in my backyard! I was so excited to find proof of their visit!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdG4NiDDI/AAAAAAAAHXY/r9ewKEoJlTo/s1600/December%2B2010%2B478.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545440888926374962" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdG4NiDDI/AAAAAAAAHXY/r9ewKEoJlTo/s400/December%2B2010%2B478.JPG" /></a> Those giant stars are gigantic versions of what my Aunt Ramona taught me how to make while she visited a few weeks ago. I have 7 dangling above my head as I type away in the living room right now. I thought I was making snowflakes, but everyone that sees them talks about how they love my stars. So stars they are.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdGS-KVnI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/nA2sBf5-G1M/s1600/December%2B2010%2B487.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545440878929794674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdGS-KVnI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/nA2sBf5-G1M/s400/December%2B2010%2B487.JPG" /></a> Maybe one day we'll have our fireplace wired up for gas logs (the chimney is capped off so it can't be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wood burning</span>) but in the mean time we can simulate a roasting hot fire with a bunch of tapered candles.<br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdFvgaTXI/AAAAAAAAHXA/5ZBS1yftpYI/s1600/December%2B2010%2B490.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545440869409770866" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPVdFvgaTXI/AAAAAAAAHXA/5ZBS1yftpYI/s400/December%2B2010%2B490.JPG" /></a> Merry Christmas! I'll be linking up to <a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/holiday-home-linky-party-our-christmas-mantel">The Lettered Cottage "Merry Mantle Party"</a> today so if you need any ideas, these girls are the ones to check out!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a title="The Lettered Cottage" href="http://theletteredcottage.net/holiday-home-linky-party-our-christmas-mantel"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none" alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Blog/Holiday_Home_Button_Layla.jpg" /></a></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-19194072882341717782010-11-30T05:54:00.001-08:002010-11-30T06:13:31.251-08:00Free Christmas Cards from Shutterfly!I agreed to do a little blog write-up in exchange for 50 free Christmas cards from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shutterfly</span>! We are on a super tight budget and I considered forgoing cards this year, but this was a deal I couldn't pass up!<br /><div></div><br /><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Shutterfly</span> has <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">sooo</span> many options of their c<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">hristmas</span> cards </a>and h<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">oliday</span> cards </a>to choose from. This was the one I liked best!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 289px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545342420980259202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TPUDjShu2YI/AAAAAAAAHW4/_LQW6ukOpb4/s400/shutterfly.jpg" />My brother-in-law snapped some family pictures of us in my husband's new (yet old and "distressed") 1969 black Ford pickup so I thought the whole retro look of it all with this card would tie together nicely. Normally, back in the good <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">ol</span>' have hours of time to craft days I used to make all my Christmas cards. Alas, it doesn't really save any money and of course you spend tons of time putting them together. Mind you, I consider it a hobby, so it was a task I enjoyed, I just have too many things now that I want to enjoy! These photo cards are the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">epitome</span> of easy and thoughtful. </div><div> </div><div>We've also given <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars">calendars</a> to grandparents and my parents complete with pictures for each month. They're always a hit!</div><div> </div><div>By the way, if you are a blogger, you can participate too! Check it out <a href="http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/">here!</a><br /></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-29360250413798653802010-09-23T05:25:00.000-07:002010-09-23T06:30:25.971-07:00Fall Mantle, Sitting Room and PB WallFlipping through the Fall Pottery Barn catalog was just the inspiration I needed to fix up our sitting room. Here's the picture that made me swoon...<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtOa5AIjkI/AAAAAAAAHTA/HzQcRgslgyE/s1600/potteryb1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 313px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520091992157621826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtOa5AIjkI/AAAAAAAAHTA/HzQcRgslgyE/s400/potteryb1.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>Okay, and here's mine...<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520085714016552530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtItdGqRlI/AAAAAAAAHSY/DcBiWvi0eME/s400/September+2010+043.JPG" />Ha ha. Well, it looks a bitttt different. I promise though, if I had a fancy camera like theirs, it might look a smidge more like PB. I really loved how linear all their pictures were and tried to model that, but I had such a big wall to deal with that I had to spread things out a bit. PS- that tv is only there TEMPORARILY!<br /><br />Here's another copy-cat attempt...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 360px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520091992121933250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtOa43n_cI/AAAAAAAAHS4/SprKZGsPnso/s400/potteryb2.jpg" />I saw these modular storage crates being sold in the catalog for about 30 bucks a piece! Well, I have a ton of old pine boards left over wall demolition and put those to good use!<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520085698074879170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtIsht3pMI/AAAAAAAAHSA/H1_yqgL2v10/s400/September+2010+045.JPG" />Baddabing.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520085716182020210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtItlK8sHI/AAAAAAAAHSg/Sggtvdu0Zyo/s400/September+2010+040.JPG" /> And here's my fall mantle...<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520085702000608274" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtIswV1hBI/AAAAAAAAHSI/rMtYoFnrExM/s400/September+2010+047.JPG" />With a little close-up...</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520087221606840578" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtKFNUMeQI/AAAAAAAAHSo/9DM4BAT3Pf8/s400/September+2010+041.JPG" />I still would like to add a little homemade pennant banner that says "Happy Fall" out of burlap fabric that I saw and want to copy from someone's blog and hang it from the mantel.<br /></p><div><div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520085706462964450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtItA9vquI/AAAAAAAAHSQ/W9CHh24Gw7o/s400/September+2010+046.JPG" />Here's the piano with my new chair! I'm hoping to find a cheap filing cabinet on Craigslist to put to the right of it so I can get rid of the three plastic filing boxes!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520089171909971922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TJtL2uwsj9I/AAAAAAAAHSw/kMzOLpqbpKo/s400/September+2010+050.JPG" /> And here's my favorite spot in the house. Love this for my morning quiet times. Would love it more if I had a nearby outlet to plug in the lamp and actually see what I am reading. :) Oh! And I almost forgot to mention my new galvanized metal magazine storage. I got this one and a smaller one (pictured on the other wall) on Craigslist for 25 bucks!</div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-69507319026470253792010-09-23T03:57:00.000-07:002010-09-23T04:06:28.248-07:00Written About on About.com!A writer for the website, about.com, contacted me a couple days ago to see if she could write about my <a href="http://rockyriverfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2010/06/old-fashioned-birthday-party.html">Old Fashioned Birthday Party</a> I threw for Greta, specifically the party hats I made. It's kind of cool seeing my picture on a real live website! :) You can see it <a href="http://kidsparties.about.com/">here</a>! Thanks to Megan Cooley for the shout-out! She has some great ideas for kids parties in general so I would definitely check her out next time I throw a party!Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-13941872964307770792010-08-16T07:18:00.000-07:002010-08-16T07:25:54.453-07:00$1.00 Garage Sale TreasureLast summer, I picked this old wooden folding chair up at a church yard sale. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGlJPj3dzNI/AAAAAAAAHRk/2gU9UILm3TI/s1600/August+2010+001.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506012551111888082" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGlJPj3dzNI/AAAAAAAAHRk/2gU9UILm3TI/s400/August+2010+001.JPG" /></a><br />After a little spray painting in the color "jade" and a little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">reupholstering</span> with a little acorn fabric curtain I made for my son's nursery in our old house, I have a new and updated chair!<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGlJPdHVlII/AAAAAAAAHRc/CwjPl-ylgLY/s1600/August+2010+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506012549299410050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGlJPdHVlII/AAAAAAAAHRc/CwjPl-ylgLY/s400/August+2010+008.JPG" /></a> I think it'd be really cool to paint something on the backrest...like a distressed number, chevron stripe, monogram, etc. I haven't quite figured out where to put the chair, but I think I'll wait to personalize it until it's found it's home.</div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-89883914992233536232010-08-10T04:46:00.000-07:002010-08-10T10:51:48.407-07:00Playroom/Sunroom Before & AfterSorry I've been MIA for a while. It began with a three week trip to AK, broke my camera against a rock while hiking and dove head first into projects once I got back. And one of those projects is "finished". Well a good-enough-for-now-kind-of finished.<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503754503950367186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDj6rq-dI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/eYXozks_06Y/s400/June+2010+002.JPG" /><br />Before<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503754508931877794" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDkNPWy6I/AAAAAAAAHRE/kXtqTjpDEbo/s400/August+2010+005.JPG" /><br />After<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503754494689032002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDjYLmN0I/AAAAAAAAHQ0/7kgYyv9Ueb8/s400/December+2009+039.JPG" /><br />Before<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503754514758129682" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDki8cWBI/AAAAAAAAHRM/2PAgwGh8dug/s400/August+2010+001.JPG" /><br />After </p><p>*You can see the chalkboard paint that I used on the longest wall. The other walls that are painted is the same color in the adjoining room, Hazel by Sherwin Williams.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDk2gLSaI/AAAAAAAAHRU/T5HeJossS2I/s1600/August+2010+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503754520008280482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TGFDk2gLSaI/AAAAAAAAHRU/T5HeJossS2I/s400/August+2010+006.JPG" /></a> The red at the bottom of the picture shows how we just painted the sunroom and not the entire porch. It's a massive improvement and hopefully my daughter will stop referring it as "the dirty room". Ha ha. :)</p>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-88348885160747089252010-06-15T04:18:00.000-07:002010-09-23T05:16:03.155-07:00Tutorials for an Old-Fashioned PartyI know a lot of that birthday post meant nothing to you seeing a bunch of kids and people you don't know, but I wanted to remember it all. Here are a few notes for those interested about the crafts I made for the party.<br /><br />Party Hats: I bought the fabric at Hobby Lobby.<br /><a href="http://kidsparties.about.com/od/diyideas/ig/Make-Party-Hats---/Make-Party-Hats--Supplies.htm">kidsparties.about.com</a><br /><br />Dress: I didn't do the waistband<br /><a href="http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-shirt-dress.html">Dana-Made-It</a><br /><br />Pom-Poms:<br /><a href="http://rhonnadesigns.blogspot.com/2010/02/weekend-craftingdiy-coffee-filter.html">Rhonna Designs</a><br /><br />Cupcakes:<br />Darn it, I can't remember what magazine I saw them on...they're supposed to be for 4th of July and look like cherry, blueberry and lemon pies out of M&M's. I didn't follow any recipe, just copied what I saw and used a yellow cake box mix. Once baked, spoon out a little cake to make a concave hole and drop some M&M's in there being sure to flip them over so you don't see any M's. Then, frost a tic tac toe pattern on top and a circle around it and voila...a mini pie. :)<br /><br />Streamers: No tutorial, I just copied.<br /><a href="http://elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com/2010/05/some-more-favorites.html">Dear Lizzy</a><br /><br />Pinwheels:<br /><a href="http://www.createstudio.blogspot.com/">Create Studio</a>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-57362635094360084622010-06-14T12:03:00.000-07:002010-06-15T05:25:22.755-07:00Old-Fashioned Birthday PartyOur little girl turned 3 and we celebrated her birthday old-fashioned style. We held it outside in our backyard in 95 degree weather and thick humidity with 34 people all together. It was a blast, but <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">definitely</span> more comfortable inside than it was outside!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjBLCSCXI/AAAAAAAAHOU/k-pBeZGExiQ/s1600/June+2010+174.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482959943140247922" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjBLCSCXI/AAAAAAAAHOU/k-pBeZGExiQ/s400/June+2010+174.JPG" /></a> Most importantly, this girl had a great party with all of her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">besties</span>. She's standing in front of the gift table we set up out of a great old blue door that was in our outbuilding on top of a couple sawhorses. I put those shutters behind it just for fun.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjAwcbYDI/AAAAAAAAHOM/0xZo1bAvpPk/s1600/June+2010+175.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482959936002154546" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjAwcbYDI/AAAAAAAAHOM/0xZo1bAvpPk/s400/June+2010+175.JPG" /></a> She's also modeling the dress I made for her out of a men's Polo shirt. I never could quite figure out how to make the sleeves quite right, but she was a champ and wore it anyway even though I knew she didn't like it. When I was in the process of altering, I would have her try it on and she disliked it so much she'd say, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Noooo</span>, I can't because I have to go back to bed." (nowhere near bedtime) In the end, she was asking for it back though, so that made me feel better.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjAYUZvAI/AAAAAAAAHOE/WI3wniss664/s1600/June+2010+180.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482959929526041602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdjAYUZvAI/AAAAAAAAHOE/WI3wniss664/s400/June+2010+180.JPG" /></a> All ready for the party with her Great Aunt Pam. You can see the coffee filter pom poms and streamers that I made in the background. These were a hit with Greta. Before her nap that day, she prayed and thanked God for her flags (streamers) and her coffee pots (pom poms). Just like her mama, she loves the details! That made me feel special that she noticed.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdi_9pbkbI/AAAAAAAAHN8/BxG7HPX_swY/s1600/June+2010+181.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482959922366484914" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdi_9pbkbI/AAAAAAAAHN8/BxG7HPX_swY/s400/June+2010+181.JPG" /></a> All of the other kids were noticing this little (giant) contraption borrowed from the grandparents. It was a hit.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482959913822257762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdi_d0VAmI/AAAAAAAAHN0/oDwLaizyZ2M/s400/June+2010+182.JPG" />The dilemma in setting up was were to put it, however. I wanted it so the parents could watch the kids all in one area, near the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">playset</span> and we're we were all eating in the backyard. The only problem is we don't have grass back there yet and Adam kept insisting it would turn into a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mud pit</span>. And it did.<br /><br /><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482952889243302194" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdcmlOMeTI/AAAAAAAAHNs/l9FMNYpl2wo/s400/June+2010+183.JPG" />Whoops. The bigger boys would cause tidal waves that created a giant <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">mud hole</span>. Look at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">CJ's</span> back as he walks away.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482952886555749554" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdcmbNbrLI/AAAAAAAAHNk/p9zYhg2hDWc/s400/June+2010+185.JPG" />I also made these party hats that I thought turned out so cute. Even better, most of the kids left them behind, so you'll probably be seeing these again for my son's birthday. They were an easy concept, but I made 16 just a couple hours before the party and it was a little intense trying to get them done between food prep and trying to get myself ready too.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdcl_R_RrI/AAAAAAAAHNc/blBPMq4SadY/s1600/June+2010+191.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482952879058667186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdcl_R_RrI/AAAAAAAAHNc/blBPMq4SadY/s400/June+2010+191.JPG" /></a> My mother-in-law was great for watching my little guy while I was tending to all the "big" kids.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482715076063786418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaEUCF19bI/AAAAAAAAHMM/8BkAAN2GsiI/s400/June+2010+208.JPG" />Expressing his disgust about the mud on his toes. I know, I know! I already said I'm sorry! ;)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482952867722834930" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdclVDUM_I/AAAAAAAAHNU/KBEmQT1aJeQ/s400/June+2010+193.JPG" />Some of our other great family, Uncle Frank and cousins, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Treacy</span>, Grant and Alison.<br /><br /><div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723538277544994" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaMAmS0tCI/AAAAAAAAHM0/6RbBqFgg_es/s400/June+2010+195.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723533683767298" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaMAVLlOAI/AAAAAAAAHMs/mGZx61Cq5iY/s400/June+2010+199.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723524832204562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaL_0NNFxI/AAAAAAAAHMk/tHb6GBCNhT0/s400/June+2010+200.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482715107179205330" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaEV2AVktI/AAAAAAAAHMc/GytflUrF-i8/s400/June+2010+202.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482715083717355298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaEUemmJyI/AAAAAAAAHMU/GQFrZh2gjU8/s400/June+2010+207.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482715065577737746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaETbBxjhI/AAAAAAAAHME/hOTsCfm582M/s400/June+2010+215.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482715054289680242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaESw-fd3I/AAAAAAAAHL8/_9ljZYLJu4k/s400/June+2010+226.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482710695749592546" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaAVEJjpeI/AAAAAAAAHL0/jfi1_ZTd2F0/s400/June+2010+229.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482710672415502210" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaATtORr4I/AAAAAAAAHLs/0cYaoJpOvl0/s400/June+2010+233.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482710663087716002" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaATKeW9qI/AAAAAAAAHLk/XRA5FLrnAq8/s400/June+2010+234.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482710656587934290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaASyQsKlI/AAAAAAAAHLc/WUNH_rYBpQ4/s400/June+2010+243.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482710644725032802" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaASGEWp2I/AAAAAAAAHLU/qaeuNy00v0A/s400/June+2010+244.JPG" />Steve, Audrey and Dena sitting so cute as a family on the front porch.</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482708655062501074" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBZ-eR_1xtI/AAAAAAAAHLM/jFZqVTPwoC4/s400/June+2010+248.JPG" />Dena diving in past the kids for some candy. ;) She is eating for two though!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482708650369419394" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBZ-eAg7CII/AAAAAAAAHLE/NyX1YjXVBYo/s400/June+2010+249.JPG" />So glad our friend Kristen, Aaron and baby Noah got to join us too!</div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482708644720535762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBZ-dreH6NI/AAAAAAAAHK8/ITdUFJFOlz0/s400/June+2010+253.JPG" />(l-r: Brady holding Grant, Jake, Seth, Greta, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">CJ</span>, Anna Cate, Avery, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Saige</span>, Audrey)</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482708638654998050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBZ-dU3_JiI/AAAAAAAAHK0/eop0Oh0PZoo/s400/June+2010+255.JPG" /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Saige</span> showing me her pinwheel she got to take home as a party favor. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482708626197713698" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBZ-cmd8EyI/AAAAAAAAHKs/LtQ66FpZjRE/s400/June+2010+256.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723551764460370" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaMBYiWs1I/AAAAAAAAHM8/JojXLiuq2WA/s400/June+2010+290.JPG" /></div><div> </div><div>As we were cleaning up after the party, the sun started setting over the back field and I took some pictures of the beautiful sunset.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482723557169030658" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBaMBsq55gI/AAAAAAAAHNE/yp8muOwqMS0/s400/June+2010+276.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482952861035148354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TBdck8I2NEI/AAAAAAAAHNM/r_Tc5KbKXmI/s400/June+2010+271.JPG" /> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-61326537926139190422010-06-09T04:46:00.000-07:002010-06-09T05:26:39.346-07:00Fry Basket ReinventedInspired by the vintage wire baskets at Pottery Barn, and not so inpired by the $24.00 price tag, I decided to recreate the look. (Mind you, 24 bucks for a great decorating object is not <em>that</em> bad to me, however I needed more than one.)<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-FEcopxvI/AAAAAAAAHIU/QF-DgJzz3AA/s1600/basket.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 383px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 344px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480745582985856754" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-FEcopxvI/AAAAAAAAHIU/QF-DgJzz3AA/s400/basket.jpg" /></a> Love these. These are the ones from PB and I'd been looking for just the thing to house all my "above the cabinet" items. I'd been struggling with what to do with such items because heaven knows I just can't get rid of the dozens of mason jars from past canned salmons and strawberry jelly and enamelware given to me by friends and family. So there they were, cluttering up together the tops of the cabs and just.looking.plain.messy. Some people tried to cheer me up saying it looked more cottagey that way, but I couldn't give up on my plans for uniformity some how.<br /><br />Enter the fry basket.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B-NE1eqI/AAAAAAAAHIM/5-y4kTbQHPc/s1600/May+2010+088.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480742177194998434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B-NE1eqI/AAAAAAAAHIM/5-y4kTbQHPc/s400/May+2010+088.JPG" /></a> That's right, folks. For a mere $2.82 each, I found 3 fry baskets at a thrift store that got my ticker tickin'.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B6kWoE6I/AAAAAAAAHIE/Q-hbtgErT98/s1600/May+2010+090.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480742114724156322" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B6kWoE6I/AAAAAAAAHIE/Q-hbtgErT98/s400/May+2010+090.JPG" /></a><br /><br />All I did to pretty them up was to cut two Trader Joe's bags (any paper grocery bag will do, I just like to rub it in that there's one near me :)) to line the baskets and hide all the unmentionables. And here's what we have today.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B58rVZpI/AAAAAAAAHH8/mZo2MmUJ5I0/s1600/May+2010+135.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480742104073594514" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B58rVZpI/AAAAAAAAHH8/mZo2MmUJ5I0/s400/May+2010+135.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B5VzGWII/AAAAAAAAHH0/B5imQAGq8Do/s1600/May+2010+136.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480742093637179522" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/TA-B5VzGWII/AAAAAAAAHH0/B5imQAGq8Do/s400/May+2010+136.JPG" /></a> Not a great picture with the messy countertops, but you get the idea. Now, I get that much more storage and I can still use the enamelware for my daughter's "old-fashioned" birthday party this weekend when she turns 3. I'll make sure to post those pics too.<br /><br />*If your nearby thrift store doesn't have weird stuff like fry baskets, try a used kitchen equipment warehouse. They sell everything from ice makers to Viking ranges and you just might find some deep fryer baskets there.</div></div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-59151496476801952152010-05-26T12:46:00.001-07:002010-05-26T13:24:44.818-07:00Kids Bathroom Sneak PeekOur kids/guest/upstairs bathroom has been a long drawn out project. Probably more than it ought to be but with Adam's long work days and me staying home with the kids all day, we are beat by the time we put them down. So, we usually save any work up there for the weekend. In an effort to try to speed the process along since I don't know how to grout tile (we just have a little area around the toilet), unclog toys from the toilet (she says she flushed 2 and attempted 3) and am tired of trying new ways to remove stains from cast iron (CLR doesn't work, any other ideas?), I decided to get a jump on decorating.<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475668780471492130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17vpezHiI/AAAAAAAAHFU/IdDH7SlzxUg/s400/May+2010+002.JPG" />Yesterday, I got out my husband's jigsaw for the first time.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17vbNM8vI/AAAAAAAAHFM/_bXyfnE1whE/s1600/May+2010+006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475668776639591154" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17vbNM8vI/AAAAAAAAHFM/_bXyfnE1whE/s400/May+2010+006.JPG" /></a> I've really loved all these whales I've been seeing on the internet and attempted at making my own. After drawing the whale on the board using chalk, I just sawed it right out! It was so easy!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17u7BE0qI/AAAAAAAAHFE/hjv0GuTOX98/s1600/May+2010+017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475668767998792354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17u7BE0qI/AAAAAAAAHFE/hjv0GuTOX98/s400/May+2010+017.JPG" /></a> I then applied two coats of blue, a darker shade first and lighter on top and sanded it down to show all layers including the white base that I started with. We also painted the wall up top Filtered Shade by Valspar, the same color in the kids room.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17ujzrpBI/AAAAAAAAHE8/XL77aEtrhRU/s1600/May+2010+018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475668761768600594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17ujzrpBI/AAAAAAAAHE8/XL77aEtrhRU/s400/May+2010+018.JPG" /></a> I'm trying to be kid-friendly but also decorate this as a not-too-tacky guest bathroom too. I'm gonna hang it up on the wall once I attach some hardware to the back of it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17uIXVIfI/AAAAAAAAHE0/e_cBzLgw3Os/s1600/May+2010+020.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475668754401927666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_17uIXVIfI/AAAAAAAAHE0/e_cBzLgw3Os/s400/May+2010+020.JPG" /></a> So there's your sneak peek! Hopefully, blogging about this will keep us motivated to finish soon and I'll post more when we're done!</div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-25640312647645450072010-05-18T04:49:00.000-07:002010-05-18T10:00:45.037-07:00Painting the Town RedI read on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">someones</span> blog recently as they were gussying up some dishtowels a quote that they loved, "Whenever possible, make the ordinary into <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">extraordinary</span>." Here is our attempt at that.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_0JA_sjI/AAAAAAAAHDE/V4eHvV-dbyM/s1600/May+2010+104.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472577030958592562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_0JA_sjI/AAAAAAAAHDE/V4eHvV-dbyM/s400/May+2010+104.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_z1PJ5SI/AAAAAAAAHC8/vuQL3QqOFkg/s1600/May+2010+105.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472577025649272098" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_z1PJ5SI/AAAAAAAAHC8/vuQL3QqOFkg/s400/May+2010+105.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_zX3kzVI/AAAAAAAAHC0/Hh_xuVFzxJk/s1600/May+2010+133.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472577017765743954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S_J_zX3kzVI/AAAAAAAAHC0/Hh_xuVFzxJk/s400/May+2010+133.JPG" /></a></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-50343712537949866642010-05-15T03:36:00.000-07:002010-05-18T10:00:30.015-07:00Playroom, New Friends and Art ShowsI actually attempted to take clean up the playroom before I took this picture. However, whatever I show "interest" in, my kids are right behind me and want to do it too. I sweep, they want the broom. I empty the dishwasher, they want to stand on the door. I go to the bathroom, they want to watch me. I want to check the mail, they run straight for the road. In this case, I just touch a toy to pick it up and they automatically want to play with all of them. So, this is what you get. At least you can see it in it's practical glory while it's being used.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471446659533448770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57v3T9JkI/AAAAAAAAHB8/L5g6LbKMRXg/s400/May+2010+099.JPG" /><br />I have leftover yellow fabric from the <a href="http://rockyriverfarmhouse.blogspot.com/2009/11/bring-in-sunshine.html">kids bedroom curtains</a> that I would love to use on a cornice board in here although I'm not sure how that would work. It seems kind of long to do one across 3 windows so I might have to resort to a little valance. I really don't want to cover up much of the windows view at all, but I do want to hide the blinds while they're up, especially the annoying one on the right that refuses to be cinched up all the way. If you have any thoughts or advice, let me know. I'm all ears!<br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471446669143253490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57wbHHIfI/AAAAAAAAHCE/EW8A1VkZIfM/s400/May+2010+098.JPG" />The adorable little alphabet cards are from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.landofnod.com">Land of Nod</a>. I originally ordered them for baby shower gifts. For a great price of around 20 bucks for the box, I would take the baby's initials and frame them in 3 separate picture frames. It worked for about 2 people before I started running out of letters. It would've been perfect if I knew a baby named Quinn <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Xylophone</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Unevercall</span>. Plus, being flowers and fairy's I was somewhat limited to girl babies too. Anyway, the leftovers found their way into the playroom and I plan to replace the missing ones with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">modpodged</span> letters from the craft store.<br /><br />NOW, onto one of my original reasons of this post...did you notice the beautiful circle rug in the playroom? It is so incredibly soft and fits the space perfectly with it's multi-colored goodness. The best part? It didn't cost a dime thanks to these two people below on the left.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471446676555102242" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57w2uO-CI/AAAAAAAAHCM/C5QMrg3FfqM/s400/May+2010+053.JPG" />Chuck and Glenda, some new friends of mine and old friends of my in-laws (pictured on the right,) invited us to their house nearby to give us some things that they weren't using anymore. One of those things was that gorgeous rug. They've been following my blog for some time and could appreciate the house renovation since they were in the middle of their own! They had a beautiful house filled with distinguished furniture, a gorgeous wooden curved staircase in their entryway and meaningful artwork. That last one was my favorite and Glenda shared a great tip with me about it. I wish I had taken pictures of them now, but 2 pieces of artwork that stood out to me happened to be painted by high-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">schoolers</span>. She used to work in a school and approached the art teacher one day to find a talented artist in the class that needed some encouragement or a nudge in the right direction. She showed the selected student a picture she had taken of a nearby river and asked if they could do it in the style of Monet and then gave them whatever specification she wanted: size, color, etc. When the product was finished, she got a large beautiful oil painting to the tune of $25.00 and the high school student probably made his first ever sale. Both parties win!<br /><br />And speaking of student artwork, I was asked to judge a local Christian school's art show last week to which I responded with an enthusiastic, "Are you sure?" Of course I love any art show, but as to my qualifications, I wasn't sure they had the right person. I was paired up with another local school's art teacher to co-judge with and I went about judging from the "appreciation" point of view and for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">her's</span>, it was more technical. We made a good team. I can tell good art when I see it and I thought I'd show you some of their stuff.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471447224295400578" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-58QvNspII/AAAAAAAAHCs/zT7YAZLVmCw/s400/May+2010+003.JPG" />This was some of the 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> graders work. Amazing stuff, huh? They made their designs on the paper using glue and then once it dried, they oil painted the rest. I'm a sucker for anything birds (as is the case with much of the blogging world it seems) so I loved that little bird on the bottom right.<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471447219430068562" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-58QdFtkVI/AAAAAAAAHCk/btaRnEHPA1k/s400/May+2010+010.JPG" />I also loved this bouquet of flowers created by a 4<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> grader! I thought it looked very "Van <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Gogh</span>."</p><p><br /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471446690081524546" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57xpHLy0I/AAAAAAAAHCc/aYUGE6rShvI/s400/May+2010+011.JPG" />This was part of the high school exhibit and we kept looking at it saying, "This is not high school work." It was a tough competition, but this piece was one of my favorites and ended up winning 1st place. It was a collage of painted paper cut out to create the image on the print. I so want to hire this girl to do a collage of my house.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57xS77S_I/AAAAAAAAHCU/ILXC295rhhM/s1600/May+2010+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471446684128726002" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-57xS77S_I/AAAAAAAAHCU/ILXC295rhhM/s400/May+2010+012.JPG" /></a> The same girl also did this church (bottom right) which was also so very impressive with the shading. I seriously felt as if I were standing on the front lawn watching the sun rise over the steeple.</p><p>So there you have it! You never know what kind of talent could be in your neighborhood. Might be worth checking out sometime!</p>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-59854923567372199102010-05-11T12:42:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:59:18.389-07:00Is it a branch...Is it a snake?<p>If you were inspired by my new necklace holder, be careful on the next hunt for yours...<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOFlYuljRKgo39SEHQSldCO0sHvHy0MbfmDA3muuYmaN3TADEsQDnN2Inb5gfPVAjiymfqyJSWDaEy91bGbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy67ulUHdz7-1VzHWcXKJcDnLZi7QOUi6IWtcZ_4JC_3Sul7F2QlQStKGogzigqMWUBU__k266POWPjiyahSQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-41750440670149984972010-05-07T18:20:00.000-07:002010-05-07T18:43:29.838-07:00Master BedroomYeah, it could use some color in the pillows, but I'm working with what I already have. Plus, it's clean so it's definitely worth documenting. Notice my new jewelry holder. I saw a lady at a craft fair displaying her pieces on a branch so I've jumped on that boat. Talk about working with what you have!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706284087957906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S_ZBQCWZI/AAAAAAAAHBc/wMlg6Hd7XiQ/s400/May+2010+045.JPG" /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S_Zxq8HWI/AAAAAAAAHBk/6QtE73C7svg/s1600/May+2010+026.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706297085697378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S_Zxq8HWI/AAAAAAAAHBk/6QtE73C7svg/s400/May+2010+026.JPG" /></a> Notice the terrarium housing all my lotions on the right?</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S_YnQJ1NI/AAAAAAAAHBU/klmm_TU71DI/s1600/May+2010+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468706277109126354" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S_YnQJ1NI/AAAAAAAAHBU/klmm_TU71DI/s400/May+2010+029.JPG" /></a> A trunk from Craigslist that I bought for 40 bucks serves as a perfect end table and storage area. It smells like glue inside, but I just dropped a tupper tote of maternity clothes in there. My hope is that the tote seals them off enough so they won't smell like glue either!</div><div> </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-EVy54xI/AAAAAAAAHBM/UHJo5eB_m2c/s1600/May+2010+011.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468704829314032402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-EVy54xI/AAAAAAAAHBM/UHJo5eB_m2c/s400/May+2010+011.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-D8QLSMI/AAAAAAAAHBE/L5oM8J1LoI0/s1600/May+2010+046.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468704822457485506" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-D8QLSMI/AAAAAAAAHBE/L5oM8J1LoI0/s400/May+2010+046.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-DN-JdXI/AAAAAAAAHA8/pYgmwkmnQBc/s1600/May+2010+032.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468704810033837426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-DN-JdXI/AAAAAAAAHA8/pYgmwkmnQBc/s400/May+2010+032.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-Cah7xKI/AAAAAAAAHA0/neRVxRP9GDg/s1600/May+2010+022.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468704796225291426" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-Cah7xKI/AAAAAAAAHA0/neRVxRP9GDg/s400/May+2010+022.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-Boi2ONI/AAAAAAAAHAs/NhyX5InmNVc/s1600/May+2010+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468704782807349458" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S-S-Boi2ONI/AAAAAAAAHAs/NhyX5InmNVc/s400/May+2010+035.JPG" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-43315127117313103472010-04-27T06:20:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:58:55.867-07:00Re-Purposed Drying RackEver been to a home goods swap? Since moving to Charlotte a year and a half ago, I have met some great budget friendly gals that have hosted clothing swaps and home goods swaps. Basically, the gist of it is to bring some stuff around your house that you don't use or isn't your style anymore but is in good enough condition to go to someone else . It's a great way to get rid of stuff that you love, but just don't have a place for. I love seeing someone else I love being able to use it instead of just donating it to Goodwill (which would be the next best option unless you thought you could make a buck on Craigslist :) ) In return, you get some great stuff from others! In general, the way we played it is if you brought 5 items there, you could bring 5 items home. There were certain rules that if you'd be interested in hosting one, I'd be happy to e-mail you how we did it. Well, my friend Meghann couldn't go to the party and asked me to take a few of her items along . I was happy to oblige, but I forgot one thing in the back of my car.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464807592586892066" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9bljTn_0yI/AAAAAAAAG6k/aCZYVrxSX4U/s400/April+2010+026.JPG" />The lone dish drying rack. Now, what am I supposed to do with it? The party had come and gone and Heaven knows I don't hand wash dishes. If I have to for my stoneware or silpat, though, you would catch me wearing <a href="http://adamandnat.blogspot.com/2009/05/not-your-mamas-rubber-gloves.html">these.</a> I'd like to take this opportunity to give a big shout out to my Jenn-Air dishwasher. It's the bomb and I never have to pre-rinse or scrape crusties out of my drinking glasses. Anyway, the rack got me to thinking about something else I've been wanting. A spice rack.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464807608421131746" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9blkOnLJeI/AAAAAAAAG60/uQx-94x71LA/s400/April+2010+029.JPG" /> I just unscrewed the two pieces and layed one down in the drawer. It's perfect for the spices to nestle in between the rods and then they don't rattle and twist around. Plus I don't have to spin the turn table 189 times before I find the parsley.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9blj6EKyAI/AAAAAAAAG6s/saG9M6gQXzg/s1600/April+2010+031.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464807602905597954" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9blj6EKyAI/AAAAAAAAG6s/saG9M6gQXzg/s400/April+2010+031.JPG" /></a> How's that for the cost of 0 dollars?</div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-61504658945698881622010-04-26T18:18:00.000-07:002010-04-26T18:32:41.963-07:00Bird EggsWe have a ton of birds on our property and now we are about to have 6 more. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464622036638801618" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8yh2gntI/AAAAAAAAG6M/wJdYl5S-pZI/s400/April+2010+201.JPG" />In the fern on the far right were these 5 little guys...<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464622030303960338" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8yKQKnRI/AAAAAAAAG6E/LjruPve7VuY/s400/April+2010+204.JPG" />About a week ago, I checked on them just a few days after discovering the eggs and was so surprised to see they had already hatched!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8z6_lWYI/AAAAAAAAG6c/A9yS-zGEqUo/s1600/April+2010+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464622060567615874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8z6_lWYI/AAAAAAAAG6c/A9yS-zGEqUo/s400/April+2010+029.JPG" /></a> There are now these fuzzy four little guys. There were five, but sadly one had fallen out of the nest.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8zWf-s5I/AAAAAAAAG6U/K-sfER07Y_I/s1600/April+2010+033.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464622050771383186" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S9Y8zWf-s5I/AAAAAAAAG6U/K-sfER07Y_I/s400/April+2010+033.JPG" /></a> In the far left fern there are these two little guys. I haven't checked on them recently but I started to last night and the mama bird was sitting pretty on them so I didn't disturb. It's so fun to have National Geographic happening on my front porch. :)</div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-73465221624014907852010-04-14T18:29:00.001-07:002010-05-18T09:58:35.285-07:00Behr Premium PaintHere's the thing. I bought some expensive paint recently for the island. It was Behr's Premium Plus paint the kind that has primer in it and all. Normally, I'm just a basic Valspar cheapest kind of paint you've got kind of girl, but Behr's color was the one I liked the best on the sample card so I just went with that one. I actually just found out a couple months ago that you can buy paint in other brands using shades from their competition. I had NO idea! Anywho, back to Behr, being the first time I've used them and all I have to say I was HIGHLY impressed. This stuff goes a LONG way. I seriously maybe lost 1/4-1/2 inch of paint total in my bucket. Since it had primer already in it, I only needed one coat and I painted the entire piece and still have a full gallon of paint to show for it! It was probably 10 bucks more? (I have no idea since Adam bought it) but after painting the island during one naptime, I can highly recommend this to those who are short on time. I also applied poly before I painted in case I wanted to distress the island, it would show a more finished product underneath. Any thoughts? To distress or not to distress? <div><br /></div><div>I commented below, but just in case you missed it the color is Behr's premium ultra plus (something like that) Carmine Red with 2 extra ounces of white in it. I had to take it back to make it a titch more muted and that's all they had room for. So there you have it! </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and don't buy Walmart's $1.00 cans of spray paint. They've been tried and have been proved to not be true.</div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-23362581711202822392010-04-08T05:57:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:58:19.355-07:00Kitchen IslandI haven't shown you our kitchen island yet, but here it is uncovered in all of its natural untouched glory. It's been sitting in our outbuilding covered by a tarp for a couple months until we were able to take some time to paint it and bring it inside. Isn't it beautiful? We paid Adam's old co-worker from Raleigh to custom make one for us and he did an awesome job! It even has a place for a microwave with a hollowed out leg for the cord to run down through. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73XA066lrI/AAAAAAAAGwI/V89QHzBAWkA/s1600/March+2010+061.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457754732648634034" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73XA066lrI/AAAAAAAAGwI/V89QHzBAWkA/s400/March+2010+061.JPG" /></a><br /><div>This picture below is the very first one I saved in my "inspiration" folder as a color palette for my kitchen. Love those muted neutrals, striking black and that pop of red.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73VdyxVu7I/AAAAAAAAGwA/fz4PLK1fMvE/s1600/01_large.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457753031264549810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73VdyxVu7I/AAAAAAAAGwA/fz4PLK1fMvE/s400/01_large.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div>And I loved this rug I had picked up last summer in Raleigh at a garage sale with it's grays whites and muted pinks and greens.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73ThfpKQ7I/AAAAAAAAGv4/EcPCwz24tJ4/s1600/April+2010+318.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457750895826191282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73ThfpKQ7I/AAAAAAAAGv4/EcPCwz24tJ4/s400/April+2010+318.JPG" /></a><br />So after bringing home a gazillion sample cards of red home from Home Depot, we came up with this!!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457750878860333490" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73TggcL0bI/AAAAAAAAGvg/MRK_h8F_QvU/s400/April+2010+323.JPG" />I just love it. It's just the perfect pinky red that I was trying to achieve. I wanted something to tie in the brick fireplace, but not be too dark or dreary and give us that pop of color from my original picture. I mulled over the colors for days wondering if I should do the awesome-ly distressed gray that people are doing or a striking black, but when I got stumped that's when I pulled out my inspiration folder and remembered what I really wanted initially.</div><div></div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457750883846436082" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73TgzA9tPI/AAAAAAAAGvo/vMc0evPaliI/s400/April+2010+329.JPG" />I can't wait to get my microwave back too! We've just kept ours in the box until we could put it in its rightful home. I don't know about you but stirring around leftover mac n' cheese in a frying pan to warm it up gets kind of old... </div><div></div><div>Oh yeah, did you notice my cows on the wall. Here's a close up.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73ThLUsWZI/AAAAAAAAGvw/IWWULNhxBHI/s1600/April+2010+330.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457750890371635602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73ThLUsWZI/AAAAAAAAGvw/IWWULNhxBHI/s400/April+2010+330.JPG" /></a> I love them too. But what I love even more is hearing my 17 month old do his best cow impression, "Ooooooo," every time we pass them. :)<br /><br /><div><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73TgE1g8RI/AAAAAAAAGvY/5Kd_U_CJ3mE/s1600/April+2010+327.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457750871450382610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S73TgE1g8RI/AAAAAAAAGvY/5Kd_U_CJ3mE/s400/April+2010+327.JPG" /></a> We plan to top it off with butcher block too. </div></div></div></div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-73188745236784904082010-04-02T17:58:00.001-07:002010-05-18T09:57:30.124-07:002 Frying Pans and a Coat RackSince we've moved in January I have been missing 2 frying pans and a coat rack. Well, being the kind of family to walk in and throw your coat up on the rack, we couldn't do the formal coat closet much longer. It's nice to have for the winter coats and rain jackets, but everyday stuff had to be easy to put away and easy to find with two little ones. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455711585557241010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUyA4fXLI/AAAAAAAAGuQ/62MYr5D2CAg/s400/March+2010+032.JPG" />Using this picture as my inspiration, I decided to give up on the missing coat rack and start fresh.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUzBkobZI/AAAAAAAAGug/CiQ2FViMHQ4/s1600/March+2010+102.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455711602922253714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUzBkobZI/AAAAAAAAGug/CiQ2FViMHQ4/s400/March+2010+102.JPG" /></a> Lucky for me, I found these hooks soon afterwards at Hobby Lobby at 1/2 price! I took them home and sanded them down to give them a distressed look and let some of the silver metal shine through the white paint.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUyqIXbqI/AAAAAAAAGuY/5KjTSAuURfQ/s1600/March+2010+121.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455711596629683874" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUyqIXbqI/AAAAAAAAGuY/5KjTSAuURfQ/s400/March+2010+121.JPG" /></a> I <em>did </em>love that white on white look from the magazine, but I had an old naturally distressed shelf in the outbuilding that was too weak structurally to keep as a shelf so I took it apart and used it for mounting my hooks.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUxoXqzII/AAAAAAAAGuI/MpQI6-FSMFA/s1600/March+2010+029.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455711578977127554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7aUxoXqzII/AAAAAAAAGuI/MpQI6-FSMFA/s400/March+2010+029.JPG" /></a> And there you have it! It fits perfectly!</div></div></div>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6104205638881850117.post-88116179641020650922010-04-02T10:29:00.000-07:002010-05-18T09:56:53.852-07:00Easter ShrineWhat do you get when you combine an old entry way table and...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YsJKq992I/AAAAAAAAGuA/N1r6Qqdj2XE/s1600/February+2010+310.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455596534600955746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YsJKq992I/AAAAAAAAGuA/N1r6Qqdj2XE/s400/February+2010+310.JPG" /></a><br /><br />a thrift store mirror...<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YrgvO5YvI/AAAAAAAAGt4/-pE4h3hGPck/s1600/March+2010+052.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455595840040690418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YrgvO5YvI/AAAAAAAAGt4/-pE4h3hGPck/s400/March+2010+052.JPG" /></a><br />and a can of black spray paint?</div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594980015232658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YqurY2VpI/AAAAAAAAGtg/s8IM86WLXHg/s400/March+2010+031.JPG" />An Easter shrine of course! Well, er, not really a shrine...but it's a hall table decorated all Eastery and really doesn't serve any other purpose but to just let me get creative in a small amount of space. So, check it out because that's the only reason it's there.</div><div></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YqvcckPhI/AAAAAAAAGtw/2MARxNqqUU8/s1600/March+2010+035.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594993184161298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YqvcckPhI/AAAAAAAAGtw/2MARxNqqUU8/s400/March+2010+035.JPG" /></a> (l-r) African violet in my Ikea lemon planter, crate found in the attic that says "to Charlotte via Charleston" and has something about pansies printed on the side, a stack of metal tart tins I picked up for $1.50 at Habitat ReStore, stuffed chick on Easter clearance last year at Target, old flashlight found in pansy crate in attic holding Dollar Store daisies, decorative sconce that I acquired last month at a home goods swap (have you been to one of those?! They're awesome!).<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YqvJnIjlI/AAAAAAAAGto/uHnSVKaKP4c/s1600/March+2010+034.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455594988128210514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sed6W5nujVg/S7YqvJnIjlI/AAAAAAAAGto/uHnSVKaKP4c/s400/March+2010+034.JPG" /></a> And let's get a good look at that flashlight. What else do you do with an old flashlight that looks to cool to throw away but serves no other purpose in it's current state? I was pretty proud of myself. :)</div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Happy Easter everyone!</div><div></div><div></div></div></div><br /><em>Romans 6:5-11 </em><br /><em></em><br /><em>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.</em>Adam and Nataliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09936783430930924258noreply@blogger.com0