Sally, Ry, and LaLa

In the Works...

2012-01-30T23:32:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, I know. Lots of things are in the works for the next couple of months, so please hang in there with me. While my goal is to get back to blogging, for now, you can keep up with me via facebook. Check out the link in the sidebar to the right.

You know you're in this business when....

2011-09-20T11:18:00.000-04:00

one of your son's homework sentences reads,"Will I go to the barn with you?"

Empire State of Mind (Part II) 9/11 Tribute

2011-09-13T21:55:00.000-04:00

The events of 9/11 have been weighing heavily on my mind this week. I'm sure many of you can say the same. If you haven't seen this touching tribute, please take the time to view it. Be sure to turn up the volume.

THIS is my New York.

Friday Finds and a Guest Blogging Gig

2011-09-07T00:57:00.001-04:00

This past Friday, my youngest and I hit the roads looking for treasure. We hit a couple of barn sales and an estate sale, concentrating on finding smalls for Wild Rose and the upcoming barn sale at Chartreuse & Co. Here's a peek at some of what we found. Check out the wooden tool box with the leather strap handle, the ironstone pitcher and bowl, and this pair of incredible baskets. I am so tempted to keep the baskets. I am envisioning them on top of a pair of chippy cabinets or bookcases.

In other news, head on over to Wild Rose & Company where I am guest blogging today. Be sure to follow along as each vendor will be introducing themselves in the coming weeks.

at the shop

2011-08-18T06:51:00.002-04:00

Just a quick post today....sharing some photos of my space at Wild Rose. Check out the slide show in the sidebar to see what's at the shop now.

I wish I had a wall in my kitchen big enough for this hutch!

Perfect for displaying my collection of vintage kitchen scales and other weaknesses!

Check out this vintage wire horse muzzle:

I am also carrying a new selection of lined wire baskets.

Today I'm busy getting ready for our once a month tag sale at Chartreuse & Co. If you are in the area, or up for a road trip, it would be a great weekend to check out both locations!

funnel cake, elephant ears, or zeppoles?

2011-07-04T22:42:00.001-04:00

It's carnival season in these parts, quite appropriate as I started reading Water for Elephants over the weekend. So far, it is an excellent read. It drew me in right from the start.

Looking forward to the carnival this week. Before leaving, we usually let the kids pick one treat- ice cream, cotton candy, funnel cake, etc. They almost always pick cotton candy, but I never pass up a funnel cake. This year what I'm really craving are zeppoles. I wish I could find them around here. I love the fact that we live in the land of fire house carnivals and county fairs, but it is a bit different from my New York childhood of church bazaars and street fairs.

In other news, we just got back from a weekend in the Catskill mountains. Lots of campfires and family time. I even had a chance to go out picking! Can't wait to show you what I've found, but for now I'm just checking in to wish you a safe and happy 4th of July!

So tell me, what's your fried dough of choice? Funnel cake, elephant ears, or zeppoles?

Chalk Paint Giveaway over at Molly's!

2011-06-20T15:29:00.001-04:00

Be sure to head over to Molly's blog for an awesome chalk paint giveaway with Wonderfaux Studio! Today is the last day!

Even if you're not the giveaway enterin' kind of gal, be sure to check out her beautiful work! I was able to catch a peek at some of her latest work coming in to Chartreuse & Co. yesterday.

Gorgeous pieces! So head on over and check her out!

Outdoor Spaces

2011-06-10T14:50:00.001-04:00

Have you discovered Pinterest yet? If not, you can thank me later ;) Be prepared to spend time, I mean like the equivalent of when you first discovered facebook kinda time......

Source: urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.com via Christine on Pinterest

Every summer I vow to myself I am going to spend more time outside, enjoying our yard. Nine times out of ten, the dishes in the sink, the laundry, or one or all of my children, are calling my name. Gone are the days when I can truly relax. Maybe, just maybe, this summer will be different.

Source: urbanfarmgirlandco.blogspot.comvia Christine on Pinterest

Source: baygelbites.blogspot.com via Christine on Pinterest

Source: google.com via Christine on Pinterest

Source: bleubirdvintage.typepad.com via Christine on Pinterest

Happy Weekend!

Lucketts Finds

2011-06-06T23:31:00.000-04:00

As promised- here are my finds from Lucketts. It's probably a good thing I had limited space in the truck coming home because I would have ended up spending a whole heck of a lot more!

These were for my husband- he's been after some old seltzer bottles for a while now. A set of six, with the crate, for an awesome deal.

I didn't have to walk far for this sweet piece by Cassie of Primitive and Proper.
It's part of an old vanity. The drawers would be perfect for holding papers; they're about 8 1/2 x 11 inches, probably slightly larger. I was on the fence trying to decide if I would keep it for myself or give it to the girls for their trinkets. Well, as you can probably guess, it's now in the girls' room. They played tea party with it for a while, and now it sits on their dresser....so pretty!

Check out this spool of wired "pearls" from Findings at Summerhouse.
I can't wait to create with these:

Remember this post? Well, look what came home with me....
filled with ice, perfect for serving cold drinks at a backyard party:

I've been out picking this past week, so I'll be sharing some more finds with you soon!

Lucketts

2011-06-02T15:47:00.003-04:00

Here are some shots from the Wild Rose tents at the Lucketts Antique Market:
(you should be able to click on each photo to enlarge it)

This was the left side of our tent.

Those chairs (a set of four) almost didn't make it to Lucketts. I hated to part with such solid Ethan Allen chairs. I finished them while we were revamping our dining room, but I needed a third side chair, so I decided to go with a set of shield backs. I'm glad I did because the woman who purchased these had driven all the way from Ohio and was thrilled to find these chairs. It made me feel a whole lot better about selling them!

This hand painted French Market hutch by Wendy and Lindsey got ALOT of attention!

This was the right side of our tent, and to the right of this tent was Cassie of Primitive and Proper and Emily of Misadventures of a Furniture Fairy. They are so sweet! I'm not sure why I didn't take any photos with them! I'm sure it had something to do with my allergies kicking in late Saturday, and by Sunday I was a sneezing, sniffling mess!

This reproduction Swedish clock deserves a whole 'nother post in itself. It turned into a labor of love for my husband and me. Another piece I wasn't sure I wanted to part with, but I was glad to see it go to an adorable couple furnishing their first home.

We were diagonally across from the Chartreuse & Co. tent, which worked out well since a number of us from Wild Rose had items for sale there as well.

It was so much fun getting to hang out with all of the Wild Rose girls; it's not very often we are all in the same place at the same time!
Ifinally got to meet Jami of Freckled Laundry, but as I said, by SundayI was a sniffling, sneezing mess, so I'm sure she wasn't tooimpressed! Sarah, The Thriftress, stopped by our tent too! And of course we got to catch up with Marian, a.k.a. Miss Mustard Seed.

I'll try to post pictures of my Lucketts finds soon! I'm hoping to get over to the shop tonight for wine & cheese Thursday....

Catching Up

2011-05-31T23:51:00.009-04:00

I know....it's been a while. Again. I have good intentions, really, I do. Hopefully now that the whirlwind of the month of May is over, I will be able to blog more regularly. I feel really bad about not monitoring comments, because I recently logged on and saw I had comments from my last post I hadn't approved yet! One of which was from one of my best friends from college. I had NO IDEA she was reading my blog. We haven't seen each other in waaay too long, but ours is the kind of friendship where we can pick up right where we left off. Well, maybe not exactly. Like I probably would pay the pizza delivery guy with bills this time, rather than with handfuls of pennies. Her pennies, not mine. I just did the dirty work. Yes, we're talkin' that kind of friend. One of the few people I'd be willing to do that for.

Sooo....back in business. Sort of. I have lots of pictures to share, but I am having a hard time with my photo editing software lately. Working on a solution.
In case you were wondering, I accomplished everything on that list in my last post, and then some.

My daughter's First Communion was lovely. Had family visit from out of town, finished painting the family room and kitchen, and even gave the dining room a total makeover, minus paint. Compromised with my hubby on the gallery wall in the family room, and we are both happy with the results. Cleaned out the tupperware cabinet, and it is actually staying organized. Cleaned out the scary closet, but it is already back to scary. It's just that kind of closet.

On the business side of things, Wild Rose & Co. had a tent at Lucketts, so we were incredibly busy preparing for that. The weekend of Lucketts coincided with a big change for Wild Rose at Chartreuse. Our space has not only moved downstairs in the barn, but it's doubled in size! We were extremely busy with preparations for the weekend, but it was definitely worth it!
I can't wait to share pictures from Lucketts, along with my finds. Stay tuned.

Lynette has started a new blog to keep you up to date with store happenings. Be sure to check it out: http://wildroseandco.blogspot.com/

list and a link

2011-03-31T00:47:00.000-04:00

Trying to accomplish a few things in a few days....

pick a new paint color for the family room and kitchen....open floor plans stink when it comes time to paint. The family room desperately needs a paint job, but unfortunately, the family room and the kitchen are only separated by a knee wall, which means this project is snowballing. The ceilings in both rooms also need to be painted, which means I will end up painting the ceiling in the main hallway leading out of the kitchen as well......
choose portraits and frames for a gallery wall over the sofa.....this idea needs to pass the committee's inspection (aka my husband). Hopefully this won't take too much convincing because I am tired of looking at the two nails sticking out of the wall. Did I tell you I left the Christmas wreath hanging way longer than I should have, just so I had something on the wall?
clean out the scary closet in the kitchen, as well as the scary tupperware cabinet....
paint the sideboard and china cabinet sitting in the garage....
find the perfect First Communion dress for daughter #1,which both girls will most likely end up wearing.
help hubby finish up a major project which just needs some finishing touches, but those little details will make or break this piece.....can't wait to share....and, no, it's not a farm table.
take out the Easter decorations.

So........these are ambitious tasks for an indecisive gal like myself.......chances are, this list will not be completed by Sunday, but a girl can dream.....

Oh, and here's that link- in case you haven't seen this- a great way to envision paint colors you may be considering for your home: http://www.favoritepaintcolors.blogspot.com/

Handcrafted Farm Tables

2011-03-23T09:52:00.001-04:00

Here's a look at some of our handcrafted tables:

These chairs were finished by Wendy and Lindsey of Beans and Buttons, another vendor at Wild Rose & Co.

They looked great with the blue washed table below:

This tapered leg table recently sold to a local family. The table top has a gorgeous grain pattern.

The table below is currently at Chartreuse & Company. It has incredible 5 inch turned legs:

In the coming weeks we plan on revamping our dining room. We'll be building a pine table similar to the table below.

The table below is one of my favorites. It sold within 30 minutes of putting it out on the floor. I think it was 7 or 8 feet long, and it had a great worn finish. The family who purchased it had planned to use it for an Oktoberfest. Another customer was considering using it as a desk along with some industrial elements for organization- wheeled crates for storage below, metal bins on top, etc.

A weathered table like this is perfect with some long benches for backyard gatherings.

Hmm......with the warm weather coming, we may just have to get to work on one of these tables for our own yard....

new year, new look

2011-01-05T14:37:00.001-05:00

I'm back for 2011! Notice the new banner, and a link in the sidebar for store hours and info. As I'm sure you've noticed from my last few posts, my little "mommy blog" will continue to take on a whole new direction this year. While I'm sure tidbits from my family life will be infused somehow, this business endeavor of mine will most likely steer the course of the blog. I know it's been a while, but stay tuned for more frequent postings!

Chartreuse & Co. Holiday Preview

2010-11-04T23:41:00.002-04:00

In an effort to help spread the word about our shop in Walkersville, Lynette asked Marian and I if we would like to share her space at Chartreuse & Co.

Chartreuse is a monthly vintage decor tag sale held in a barn over in Buckeyestown, Maryland. The tag sales are usually held the third weekend of the month, with extra weekend openings around the holidays.

Last month was our first joint effort sale at Chartreuse (a.k.a. the barn), and it was a great success.

We've been busy getting our holiday decor and gift items ready for tonight's 1st dibs holiday party. I went over this morning to help Lynette bring in a china cabinet, but I really just wanted to get another peek at all of the beautiful holiday items throughout the barn. It was like walking into a winter wonderland!

Take a peek at our space:
*You should be able to click on each photo to enlarge it.

I am loving Lynette's china cabinet and the
garlands and sheet music wreaths handmade by Marian.

This vintage Wolf dress form is one of my latest scores:

The space really came together easily as the three of us were on the same wavelength with creams, golds, and silvers.

Check back within the next few days as I will be posting pictures of Wild Rose & Co. Marketplace. We've all been busy sprucing up the store!

Lineberry Carts

2010-10-10T08:56:00.001-04:00

Do you ever feel like certain things just find you? I seem to have a knack for finding galvanized tubs and blue Ball jars. Okay, so maybe the Ball jars are not that hard to find, but it's almost comical- after a day of hunting, I never come home without one.

On Friday I went on a trek for Lineberry carts. These are the same factory carts Restoration Hardware sells for $795. Lineberry carts were once used by the railroad for transporting trunks, and furniture factories used them for moving furniture. I saw an ad on Craigslist for a warehouse sale and these carts were listed. I thought for sure by the time I got the kids on the bus and drove out there, they would be gone. As luck would have it, they were still there. I purchased two carts at a fair price, then I continued on my hunt.

I hit a barn sale on the way home, and lo and behold, they had four Lineberry carts for sale! Their prices were waaay better than my first stop. I couldn't pass them up. I had enough money and room left in the truck for one.

Yesterday my husband and I went back for the rest, and wouldn't you know it, their prices went up! I was able to bargain with the seller a little bit, and in the end we got the rest of them.

I was anxious to finish one right away. I sanded the top using the belt sander, then stained it. Once the stain dried, it was waxed and buffed.

This one cleaned up fairly quickly, some of the others need a little more tlc.

Here's a peek at the cart after we put it in the store:

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

French Gray Sideboard

2010-10-04T11:18:00.001-04:00

When I first started treasure hunting for my space at Wild Rose, one of the first things I asked Lynette was, "How do you part with the really good finds?" She assured me I would get over it quickly. Well, I'm not too sure of that. This is one of those pieces that will haunt me when it sells.

I am giving myself a timeline. If it doesn't sell by a certain date (this date keeps changing the more I think about it!), I am bringing it home to begin the snowballing process of transforming our dining room.

I found this beautiful 1930's sideboard at a barn sale. It was in need of some tlc, but I couldn't resist the beautiful details of this piece.

Parts of the veneer were peeling, or completely chipped off.

Some of the decorative trim was about to fall off, and it did, the moment I began to clean the sideboard.

As you can see, the top was quite damaged. It's hard to see in the photo, but these rings had to be sanded out.

Thanks to these imperfections, I didn't have to ask the mahogany gods for too much forgiveness once I decided to paint it.

I used the orbital sander to get it ready for priming. I probably only needed to sand the top, but it really cleaned it up, and hey, power tools are fun.

The detail work was caked with dirt. It took a screw driver, some Murphy's spray, and q-tips to clean out the grooves and reveal the beautiful detail at the base.

I used stainable wood glue to repair the loose veneer, then I used clamps to hold it in place until dry. I used wood filler where the veneer was totally gone. Once the wood filler dried, I sanded it down. It wasn't a totally perfect patch job, but that's okay since I was distressing this piece.

A small portion of the base of one of the doors was worn through so that when the door closed it did not catch on the stopper. Instead the door pushed inward. I had my husband put a length of shoe molding just inside the cabinet doors to act as a stopper.

I used a gray spray primer before painting the sideboard a nice French gray. The gray base added nice depth to the detail work so that I didn't have to go crazy when painting with the French gray. You do have to be careful if you choose to distress a piece that has been primed gray. If not, you will end up with black scuff marks.

After distressing it with sandpaper, I used just a little antiquing glaze over the entire piece. I wiped it on with a damp cloth, concentrating on the distressed areas and the detail work. I used just enough glaze so that it took away the freshly painted look.

For the most part, the interior was in great shape. It drives me crazy when I come across a beautiful piece of furniture only to open a drawer and find gum or who knows what stuck to the drawers.
This time I really just had to vacuum out behind the drawers and I wiped down the shelves with pledge. There were a few spots right when you opened the cabinets that needed a little sanding. As far as the interior goes, the silverware drawer needed the most attention.

This drawer wasfelted in purple. It was stained and dirty. I vacuumed out the drawerand recovered it in black adhesive backed felt found in the craft aisleat Walmart.

It really transformed the drawer.

As a final touch, I applied clear Briwax to the top as a protective coat. I used a clean rag, applying the wax in a circular motion. It does not appear glossy, it just gives it a little bit of protection. We use Briwax on our farm tables, too. It is sold in a can, and you can find it at many antique and furniture stores.

With the exception of a minor mishap with a spilled bottle of antiquing glaze, this was a fairly painless transformation.

I will be linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday and Furniture Feature Friday.

Wild Rose & Co.

2010-10-02T02:24:00.001-04:00

Last weekend marked the grand opening of Wild Rose & Company Marketplace. It was a smashing success! Thank you to those of you who came out to support us!

I have been trying to get things back to normal around here now that things have calmed down a little. Getting the house back in order, and trying to get back into a better routine. (I hate to admit it, but with all that's been going on, we've had more than our fair share of takeout these past couple of weeks!) I also have quite a few projects waiting for my attention out in the garage. Stay tuned!

Here are some photos of the shop:

(You should be able to click on each photo to get a better view.)

There are six spaces, but we try to mix things up a little bit to help make it all come together. For instance, Wendy and Lindsay placed their table and chairs with Lynette's hutch to create a welcoming display.
check out Marian's goodies displayed on Gail's chicken coop table:

Don't you just love the way Wendy and Lindsey of Beans and Buttons set up their space pictured below?

Here's my space, with Gail's gorgeous chalkboard sitting atop my 1930's sideboard. You can spot Miss Mustard Seed's wares to the left.

The pine farm table, coffee table, and blue cabinet were handmade by my husband. (He's quite the catch!)

I love how Gail pulled her space together. I have my eye on the shoe rack pictured above on the left. She has also inspired me to get moving on the slipcover for my wing back chair!

Gail, Lynette,Marian, and myself

Lynette did an incredible job pulling it all together. This is turning out to be bigger and better than we had imagined!

sneak peek

2010-09-25T01:33:00.000-04:00

Here's a sneak peek at my space at Wild Rose & Company Marketplace. It still needs a little tweaking, but I was anxious to get a picture up. Our Grand Opening is tomorrow, so if you are in the area, please stop in and say hello!

Wild Rose & Company Marketplace

21 West Pennsylvania Avenue

Walkersville, MD 21793

Hours:

Saturday: 10 am until 5 pm

Sunday: 11am until 3 pm

Tuesday-Friday: 10 am until 6 pm.

Opportunity Knocked

2010-09-09T01:52:00.006-04:00

I know you've been wondering where I've been.

Hanging out at estate sales, barn sales, and even an auction house. Throw in some time in the garage and a bunch of time in front of the computer. All in preparation for my new venture.

I will soon be one of seven vendors at the new Wild Rose and Company Marketplace in Walkersville, MD. The shop will be a collaboration of seven women selling antiques, home furnishings, and accessories.

The Marketplace is the brainchild of a wonderfully creative and talented woman, Lynette Hasselgren of Wild Rose Home Decor. (She's not one to toot her own horn, but her home has been in Better Homes and Gardens!)

When Lynette first approached me with the idea, I was excited, but hesitant. Would this really work? Would the amount of time I would need to put into it pay off? I am not a risk taker. In the past, I probably would have talked myself out of it and chalked it up to something I would do "someday," but it dawned on me that this was the time. This was the opportunity I had been wanting. This was the sort of thing Ihave always dreamed about. A creative outlet and a way tohopefully earn a little money doing something I enjoy. Allwhile being able to be home with my children. So, I went with it, and I am so glad I did, because this is turning out to be something bigger and better than I ever imagined.

Lynette has put together an amazing ensemble and I am honored to be a part of such an incredibly talented group of women:

Wild Rose Home Decor

Serendipity

Beans and Buttons

The Kramer Angle

Molly Susan Strong

Miss Mustard Seed

We will be opening on Saturday, September 25th! Needless to say, I will be very busy in the coming weeks, but I will do my best to keep you updated!

Finding Balance

2010-08-22T23:55:00.006-04:00

These days I am finding my life to be more about balancing than juggling. While the children and our home keep me busy with day to day stuff, my biggest challenge is to find a balance. To look out for my own interests and dreams, not just those of my husband and our children. To remind myself that giving so much of myself for the benefit of our family should not mean I abandon my other dreams in the process.

I am so incredibly grateful to have a husband who gets this.

On another note, two-thirds of our offspring go back to school this week. I'm sure I will have some melancholic mornings as I send them off to school, but I assure you, I will get over this quickly. ;)

I am looking forward to posting more regularly, and getting you caught up on all that we've been up to around here.

* The scale pictured above is my favorite find from our getaway to Maryland's Eastern Shore. I will be sharing more about that trip in the near future.

Still Here

2010-07-29T16:25:00.000-04:00

I apologizefor my lack of posting these days. It's been non-stop busy aroundhere. Thankfully all good things.....and even more good things in theworks.
I just wanted to check in and let you know I'm still here. :)

covered bridge

2010-07-15T23:26:00.000-04:00

Love At First Sight

2010-07-14T23:59:00.000-04:00

photo from Country Living

I am in love with this whole set up......the tufted chair, the burlap covered ottoman, the ruffled pillow.

*Go here to see more of designer Lauren Ross' home.

no luck with lenses

2010-07-14T00:45:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the motor went out on my camera lens. Rather than spend the money on having the lens repaired, I was thinking of replacing, or even upgrading, to a better lens. I totally lucked out when a friend of mine offered to send me her 18-55mm Canon lens as a replacement.
I had already spent some time researching lenses, so I decided I wanted to branch out a little and try some additional lenses. Ritz Camera no longer carries Canon product, so I had to drive about 40 minutes to get to an actual camera shop that does. I am happy with the 18-55mm, but I would love a little more zoom for soccer, tee ball, etc. I also wanted to check out some of the fixed lenses. There were a couple of lenses I liked, but they will have to go on my wish list for now. I opted to buy the 50mm fixed lens. It was reasonably priced, and I thought it would be a good way for me to start getting my feet wet.
I was excited to bring it home and play around with it. I took some garden shots (see above), and then after dinner we took the kids for a drive. I took some shots of them on the playground, and then we drove over to a nearby covered bridge. When we got home, as I was getting out of the truck, the flap on my camera bag opened up and out dropped my new lens! The glass did not break, but the thing split into two pieces! UGH! I hadn't even owned it 8 hours! This was not my week for camera lenses.
My husband was able to snap it back together, and it seems to be taking okay pictures, but I am not totally convinced it's as good as new.

_______________________________________

As I'm writing this, I'm watching some DVR'd episodes of American Pickers. I am amazed at the restraint these guys use when they walk into these treasure troves!

Captured

2010-07-11T23:50:00.002-04:00

These photos were taken over a week ago, before the autofocus on my lens stopped functioning. I have about a hundred shots of this same butterfly. It would flutter around, fly away, then come right back. Isn't it beautiful?

Behold! The Bruxguard.

2010-07-08T23:30:00.008-04:00

This is where my blog gets personal. TMI, if you get my drift.

I had to go to the doctor yesterday to pick up this:

Appears to be a handy dandy case for something uber-personal. Yes, it is. Meet my new method of birth control- the bruxguard:

I will refrain from posting a picture of me actually sporting this contraption. Just envision a gawky preteen with head gear. Or, as the love of my life put it, "You now have that stigma that goes along with those dogs that wear those cone things around their heads." Nice.

For those of you unfamiliar with the bruxguard, it is a device which is meant to help prevent bruxism. You see, apparently I am under alot of stress. Therefore, I grind my teeth. Not sure how that can be. I mean, really, all I do is watch Oprah and eat bon bons all day.

____________________________________________________________

As I was getting ready to go to the dentist, my daughter opened the garage door in anticipation of this much talked about outing. As a result, in flew a giant wasp. I heard screams and doors slamming. I came out of the bathroom to find 3 children hiding in a bedroom and a wasp bouncing off of my kitchen walls. Armed with a roll of paper towels, I took a few good wacks at this thing. Surely that would smoosh him. Not. It made him angry. I swear he flew right at my face, but somehow I dodged his anger. He landed in the dog dish. I did what any mom would do. I took the dish and threw it out the back door.

After coaxing a confused dog back into the house, we were on our way. I was cursing that wasp most of the way there, thinking we would be lucky to make it to the appointment on time.

Then we hit traffic, and I realized someone was watching out for me, for us. For if that wasp had not flown into the house at that moment, perhaps we would have been involved in that car wreck up ahead causing the traffic jam.

I could stand to be a little late.

__________________________________________________________

As the dentist is making sure the guard fits properly, he explains to me that it should fit snuggly. Patients have woken up in the middle of the night to find their guard across the room. Not sure what he meant exactly. I am envisioning a violent sneeze, sending this bruxguard across the room. Or waking up in the middle of the night, extremely uncomfortable, throwing the guard across the room in a fit of rage.

So, I try it out before bedtime. It's tight, feels a bit weird. I make sure I'm good and tired before I even attempt to fall asleep with this thing in my mouth. No problem. I fall asleep easily, all is good.

Hubby wakes me up at 5 am to say goodbye. My bruxguard is not in my mouth. So what do I do in my sleepy stupor? I look across the room. Not there. Next, I wonder if I swallowed it. Nope. Too big, I would've choked on it. I look on the floor on my side of the bed. The dog looks at me. Oh no. I pray he did not chew that thing which was not 100% covered by our insurance. Hubby and I tear apart the bed looking for it. Phew! Found it! I must have taken it out of my mouth while I was asleep. Weird because it does not come out too easily. I put it back in, and fall back to sleep for a couple of hours. Despite losing it for part of the night, I woke up feeling great. My face actually felt relaxed and not as if I had been clenching my jaw all night.

Maybe next time I'll be able to keep it in my mouth until morning.

Wow. Who knew a bruxguard would prompt such a lengthy post?

sounds of summer

2010-06-30T18:49:00.002-04:00

Letting the breeze in through the windows today. I have grown so accustomed to air conditioning, that I am missing out on those sounds I love. Birds chirping, cicadas singing, the water trickling through the fountain. It's the cicadas I miss the most. That sound brings me right back to city summers....yes, there are cicadas in Queens......and we do have yards there. (One of the first questions my husband asked me when we first met was if I had a backyard or a fire escape. I think he envisioned all of Queens looking like Eddie Murphy's neighborhood in Coming to America.)

We didn't have air conditioning growing up. Summers were hot. and sticky. We had fans, but that didn't even seem to help most nights. When I was very young, my bedroom was on the first floor of the house. With the windows open I would hear my older brothers and their friends running between the houses playing Ring-a-lario in the dark. Ring-a-lario 1-2-3! Ring-a-lario 1-2-3! I would hear Mister Softee's jingle and wish I could get a chocolate cone with rainbow sprinkles.

As I got older, my room was upstairs in the back of the house. There was lots to hear through those windows.....

The grandmother around the corner yelling at Mister Softee to lower his music. I can still hear her shrill voice, and you can too, if you imagine Edith Bunker yelling, "QUIET! The baaaby's sleeping!!!!!"

Drag racing on the strip almost a mile away.

The occasional crash.

Sirens.

Voices from the television in the family room down below passing up through the steamy air into my window.

Cars driving down the side street, booming music.

Crickets. Always crickets. Even amongst those other sounds of summer.

And in the morning.....cicadas and sprinklers.

L is for...

2010-06-23T23:14:00.000-04:00

Lemonade

Lightning Bugs

Laughter

Love

Grain Sack Camp Stools

2010-06-22T00:35:00.000-04:00

Over a month ago I picked up an old wooden camp stool dirt cheap. It was in pretty good shape, but it needed some cleaning up. I couldn't decide if I would leave it as it was, or paint it and recover it with a cute patterned fabric. So, there it sat, like so many other projects of mine I have yet to get to. Until this weekend.

I came across another similar camp stool at an estate sale. I also picked up some grain sacks. As I was sifting through the grain sacks, I was stacking them on top of the stool, and then it hit me - a sort of "happy accident" - these would make great seat covers for the stools!

I machine washed the grain sacks in Oxy Clean, then I ran them through another cycle with regular detergent. There was a little bit of shrinkage, but not too bad, and the graphics faded a little bit. A few of the sacks still have stains, but the ones I chose for this project were pretty clean.

I removed the old canvas covers from the stools. I was able to remove the staples fairly easily, but one of the stools had tacks that were not so easy to remove. I was able to pull the canvas off while leaving the tacks in place.

Then I hosed down the stools and let them dry in the sun. Once dry, I wiped the stools with Pledge. They probably should have been sanded a little, but I just wasn't up to the task.

I only used one side of each sack for the seat covers. I will use the other sides for some other projects.....because now my wheels are turning.

I ran a quick machine stitch along the edges, and attached the seats to the stools using a finicky staple gun. The ends of the fabric were wrapped around and tucked under, so the staples don't show. When I get a chance I think I may reinforce it with some upholstery tacks.

This was a pretty quick and easy project. The hardest part was placing the grain sack in such a way that I didn't lose any of the cool graphics. I also had to make sure the fabric was taught, as it seems to have quite a bit of give to it. If I were to do it over again, I would probably reinforce the grain sack with some heavy duty canvas as a backing. Right now it is probably fine for the kids, but I'm not sure how sturdy the seat is for an adult.

Now I am on the prowl for three more stools, so we can each have a seat while we roast marshmallows this summer.

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

love her style

2010-06-18T08:30:00.005-04:00

photo courtesy of Jenni Bowlin

A while back I took an online scrapbooking class with Jenni Bowlin. The class focused on using vintage finds in your creations. The thing I loved about this class was that it gave me an excuse (like I really needed one) to head out and find vintage ephemera like old valentines, sheet music, ledger paper, etc. Quite honestly, I never really accomplished much in the way of tangible assignments, other than posting my great finds in the class gallery. I loved being able to come home, share my finds, and have others with similar interests appreciate the coolness factor.

Anyway, Jenni has an incredible sense of style. She is in the midst of decorating her newly built home, and every so often will share snippets of it on her blog. Her recent post about her keeping room has been keeping me up at night trying to figure out how I can replicate this exact room in my own home. And her kitchen? Take a peek:

photo courtesy of Jenni Bowlin

So inspired, I am going to attempt to head out with the kids today.....perhaps a barn this morning and P.B. outlet in the afternoon? Perfect combination of old and new.

2010-06-02T23:36:00.001-04:00

Today I Learned:

My seven year old would rather not be seen with me at school events. Perhaps I should start wearing those silly bands on my wrists instead of buying them for her. Maybe then I would be cool enough.
My husband forgot to tell me he signed me up to bake brownies and my famous chocolate sheet cake for tomorrow's office BBQ. He must have mentioned this slip up to someone at work, because this coworker called me, informed me of the situation, and begged me to bake the office's favorite chocolate cake. Which I have told them countless times is either Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake box mix. I can't even remember which mix I use; that's how super secret my recipe is. Apparently I am the only one who can make such a delicious chocolate cake. I really don't mind, I just think it's funny they all rave about my chocolate cake. from a box mix. in the baking aisle. of any grocery store.
It is not possible to "run into Target" for just three things. (I kinda already knew that.)
My dog has really impressive bladder control. He refused to go outside this morning, choosing to lounge around instead, probably assuming we were just taking our usual quick trip to the bus stop, not realizing we were attending a school function and taking a ~~quick~~ half day trip to Target, along with a few other stops. We did not get home until almost 2:00. Which means he had not been outside for at least 17 hours. I know, I am horrible for not rushing home to let the poor thing out to relieve himself. Yeah, umm, there is something I should let you know. I have a condition known as "Mommy-brain." I forget things. alot. The fact that the dog had not been out crossed my mind around noon. Then something must have happened to distract me, like a tantrum, or a little person potty emergency. So the potty emergency of the canine variety was put on the back burner until we pulled into the driveway, rushing to the front door for yet another little person potty emergency. Then I remembered. He came through, like he always does. Licks and jumps and love, and no puddles anywhere.
School functions and sporting events must fall under a different code. She loves me again. Wanted me to play in the parents vs. players soccer game today. So I did.
There is a reason why the recommended age on the Slip-n-Slide box is 5-12 years. While trying to bank some cool mom points, I landed on my bottom and literally heard my neck crack. I am feeling it in my back. Right now I am afraid to go to bed because I am not sure if I will be able to actually lift my body out of bed tomorrow. I am feeling very old and not very cool.

2010-05-31T23:25:00.005-04:00

This Memorial Day I am grateful.

Grateful he made it home to us almost one year ago.

Grateful for those who have served, grateful for those who are serving.

Thinking of those families who did not get the homecoming they deserved.

fresh from the garden

2010-05-22T23:00:00.001-04:00

Early this morning, outfitted in pajamas and flip flops, we all went out back to pick strawberries. This is the first time Ican remember getting this many before the bunnies got to them.

Three dozendelicious strawberries. Fresh from our garden.

rainy day goodness

2010-05-18T14:29:00.004-04:00

I used to love rainy days.....snuggling up on the couch with a good book, watching movies, napping......then we got a dog. A wet dog tracking in mud is not my idea of fun. But then, we had children. Children who have restored my love of rainy days. They see a rainy day and cheer, "Hooray! We get to build blanket tents in the basement! And play with flashlights!"
All is good.

Yesterday I picked up some new paint for the kids. Based on their reactions, you would have thought it was Christmas. So instead of blanket camps, they made pictures. Plenty of pictures. Pictures that sadly will have to go into the recycling bin when they are not looking. Or get mailed out to a few hundred of our closest friends. There are quite a few keepers in this batch though.

Mommy, look, here's Daddy grabbing you a flower!

Here's Daddy grabbing you another flower!

Then there's this one. I painted a sunshine and a stem to get my two year old started. I suggested she paint a pink or purple circle on top of the stem. This is more like what she had in mind.

A beautiful sunflower, which then morphed into a beautiful garden.

The rain continued for a second day and so did paint-a-palooza. I literally had to drag the little one away from the table to eat lunch and dinner.

Those yellow circles under the rainbow? That's sunshine. Because as you know, you can't have a rainbow without it. :)

2010-05-10T17:55:00.020-04:00

This has been a crazy, hectic week. Mother's Day events at school, baking for said events, tee-ball, soccer, dance......you get the idea. Hubby just called to say he will be a little late, go ahead and feed the kids dinner without him. Of course this call comes in while I have a roast beef in the oven along with some yummy sweet potatoes. This is one of the few nights this week we would actually be able to sit down and have a real dinner as a family without rushing off to one activity or another. Oh well. Such is the glamorous life of an Army wife. It isn't all homecoming celebrations and formals, you know ;)

While I am waiting for the roast to finish, I am sitting here getting lost in a few blogs I have recently come across.

I am loving Patina White. Every Wednesday Beth showcases a part of her home," a corner of her world." I particularly like her laundry room and entryway. The plans for the house were derived from a plan from an early 1900's book of builder's plans. How cool is that? Very.

Ticking and Toile had me at hello with her post on Swedish style in America.

My French Country Home had me at bonjour. I am in love with that house.

Time to carve the roast and feed the troops. Take care....

Shabby Chic Dresser and Mirror

2010-05-03T22:33:00.003-04:00

I am linking this post to Metamorphosis Monday over at Between Naps on the Porch.

This dresser seemed to be the never-ending project. We bought it back in January for $40. It was painted black, with black wooden knobs. Here is a picture of it after it had been sanded, without the drawers:

Since it was too cold to take it outside and spray paint it, I decided to paint it in the basement. Notice the reddish tint in the photo above? Even after three coats of primer, and at least four coats of white paint, a hint of PINK still came through. My father seems to think the dresser is made from red maple; my husband thinks it's made from some kind of fruit wood. All I know is it took a heck of a lot of paint to make it actually look white. The first nice weekend we had, I took it in the yard and spray painted it. I wish I had done this from the start. Spray painting it gave it the best coverage.

Just when I thought it was nearly done, and I could get my daughters' clothes in order, we realized the drawers had swelled, and we couldn't fit them into the dresser! (It wasn't from all the coats of paint.) My husband had to take the drawers out to the garage and trim them down. They needed another coat of spray paint after that.

On top of this, one of the new drawer pulls had broken. UGH!

Last week, I found this mirror at the Kirkland's outlet, and I spray painted it white to match the dresser.

Once I painted the mirror, I decided I wanted to paint the drawer pulls as well. Now it has more of a shabby chic feel, rather than the Gustavian look I was originally going for, but I am happy with the result.

dinner be damned

2010-04-28T14:38:00.016-04:00

Wondering where I've been? "Somewhere near the cool shadows of the laundry room. Past the litter box and between the plastic yard toys."
If you must know, my parents have been visiting and I have been taking advantage of the built-in babysitters. Although the back of the bottle gives a pretty good description of our basement laundry room, minus the litter box:

"Somewhere near the cool shadows of the laundry room. Past the litter box and between the plastic yard toys. This is your time. Time to enjoy a moment to yourself. A moment without the madness. The dishes can wait. Dinner be damned. Mad Housewife Merlot."

I guess here is where I admit we pick our wine purely by label. Like red truck or red bicyclette.
Thank goodness we came across this one, or who knows what our next label may have been? "Red RV" perhaps? Forgive me, that was lame.

Anyhow, my hired help has left me, so I am back to the deep, dark recesses of the laundry room, doing the dishes, and damning dinner all to myself again.

p.s. My mother laughed when she read the line, "Dinner be damned." She said, "Ha! That's you!" Not sure how I should take that.
p.p.s. The boys got their truck. Sally cried, but quickly got over it.
p.p.p.s. Please note, I have not yet tried Mad Housewife Merlot. I am still admiring it's cool packaging. So please do not consider this a recommendation. (Nor do I recommend hiding in the laundry room with a bottle.)

this made me smile

2010-04-19T13:06:00.003-04:00

Maybe he was onto something with the baseballs:

Photo from Blondie 'N' SC

Right Now

2010-04-17T10:30:00.006-04:00

I am in awe of my oldest and her nurturing ways with the youngest. I fully expected jealousy from this one, but instead I get help and understanding when she needs to wait on me while I tend to #3.
Daddy is pushing BIG TIME to get a truck- because "every family needs a truck." So of course, the boy is all about wanting a truck too. I, on the other hand, am not so quick to want to run out and get one. We already have two perfectly good vehicles. To which the boy said, "We can just yard sale the blue car."
The boy has a really cute barn jacket I purchased on sale in Gymboree, if that gives you any idea how absolutely cute it is. Anyway, for some reason, he thinks it's "puffy," and doesn't like wearing it. Yesterday he advised, "We should have a yard sale for that puffy jacket." Yes. I agree. A yard sale, for that puffy jacket alone.
I am starting to recognize the influence my tastes have on the youngest. This week she declared Oreos to be her favorite cookies. Not only was I impressed she said the word "favorite," but I am immensely proud of her wise choice.
I have to admit, when certain songs come on the car radio, I turn up the volume and I sing. I also have to admit, these days I like country music. (Where I grew up, one does not publicly admit to such a thing.) Anyway, this song gets the kids moving every time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ujS1er1r0 I usually catch #2 in the rear view mirror playing air guitar and snapping his fingers. #3 bops her head and kicks her feet. Only now she is starting to sing the words! At first she would just sing the chicken fried part. Today she starting singing, "Friday night!!!" Then- it happened- she expanded "Friday night" to "BEER on a Friday night!" Hysterical, but worrysome.
While we are on the topic of the Zac Brown Band, this is one of those songs I wish had been written for me (by my husband, of course):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBfcBVt6Etk&feature=channel

I am contemplating a complete switch to Mint Milanos and classical music.

2010-04-16T22:57:00.002-04:00

Here are my finds from this last weekend's shopping trip. Check out the pillow. I'm on the prowl for some more to mix and match. I also brought home this luggage stand:

I have been looking for one of these luggage racks for a while now. A few years ago we purchased 2 old wooden bread trays, the type of tray used to deliver bread to a store. For a while I kept one on the porch with baskets of mums, but I always had this idea in the back of my mind.

There's a story behind these bread trays. Soon after we moved into our house, we took a drive to the same antique shops we went to this past Sunday. We decided to take a back road- lots of farms, horses, etc. There on the side of the road was a sign for an estate sale. This man was selling the contents of his grandmother's home and an old soda shop/ general store-type building that had been boarded up for years. Apparently the big sale was the next weekend, and he had just pulled some stuff out of the shed and store. My husband bought some old yard tools, and we checked out the old store building- totally stepping back in time, as the building truly had been boarded up for a few decades. As we were about to get into the car, I spotted these two boxes. You can't see it in the photos, but along the side of the box were the names of the old bakery and the town where we live. (At the time, we were not exactly close to home.) I asked how much he wanted for them. The man seemed shocked I would want some filthy old wooden boxes. I paid $2 a piece for these boxes! Definitely needed some cleaning up- still do after sitting in storage.

See the date stamped on the box? 7-52.

Anyway, we are in the midst of sprucing up the family room, changing things up a bit, and I thought this would work as an end table. As it turns out, the stand was taller than we realized.

We ended up removing the straps and replacing them with some jute upholstery webbing. This enabled us to open the rack further in order to lower it.

I think it's going to take some getting used to. I'm not sure if it will stay there. I still have lots of work to do on this room. I need to find a lamp, and a few things to hang on the wall. I also need to have the carpet cleaned. Oh yeah, and umm, paint.

Sunday Drive

2010-04-14T12:04:00.001-04:00

This past weekend we loaded up the kids and took them for a drive. Outlet shopping, IHOP, and some antiquing too! Can't get a much better day than that! This is something we don't do very often because the ducklings usually don't have the patience for an entire day of shopping.

My husband was awesome. He dealt with the kids so I could look around and try on clothes. Not much luck in that department, but that's okay. It was nice just hanging out as a family, and having someone with me to give an opinion.

We left the outlets by lunchtime. The kids were ~~arguing~~ trying to decide on Burger King or McDonald's for lunch, when we spotted an IHOP! Problem solved. I think the lunch break was the perfect way to get us through the next few hours. We headed to a couple of our favorite antique stores. The littlest bug had fallen asleep, and the two oldest were distracted by all the pebbles in the parking lot, so my husband and I took turns going in and looking around.

We parked right in front of these old double wash basins:

The one on the right would look great with a fresh coat of blue paint. I would take either one, but I fell in love with the one on the left. Wouldn't it be perfect for beer and soda at our next backyard gathering? I had looked at these before, but I have never seen one in such good shape. I told my husband I would host parties more often if we had this ;) I even swore I would clean up our dungeon in the basement laundry room to find a place for it in between parties. Wouldn't it look great in a bright laundry room with bead board walls?

I just may have to go back for it. If it's not there, then it wasn't meant to be.

Pigeon Carrier

2010-04-13T23:59:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I found this neat basket in a local antique shop. The nice thing about this particular shop is that they carry large quantities of each item. So if you find something you like, you have your pick of the pile. I actually went in there looking for a dough bowl, but this basket caught my eye because it was all alone, kind of left in a weird spot. It didn't have a tag on it, so I took it to the salesman and asked three questions: What was this used for? How much does it cost? Do you have any more I can look at? No, this was the last one. The price was okay. He thinks it was used as a pigeon carrier.

Hmm. My first thought had been an artillery basket, but then I realized it was probably too small. I think he was right. I don't know about you, but I can't say I'm a fan of pigeons. The nice gentleman must have sensed I was turned off by his description, so he continued. I have to give him credit- he certainly knew how to put a good spin on it. Yes, World War I, maybe World War II, France, definitely France. (Isn't that what every housewife wants to hear? An old basket from France!!! Oh, I must have it! ;) Anyhow, he went on to explain how people would ride their bicycles with their pigeons in the basket on the front.

It needed some cleaning up, but I really wanted it, and I abandoned the idea of a dough bowl for now.

Garden Visit

2010-04-13T01:21:00.002-04:00

Yes, another garden post. This time of year, the yard changes so quickly, I just want to capture it all. Remember the budding flowers from a few days ago? My husband has already given the children permission to pick them!

I've discovered I like taking pictures of flowers. They are not moving targets like my children. They are, however, fleeting. As quickly as these flowers bloom, they seem to disappear.

I can't wait for the azaleas to bloom. Unfortunately, they don't last more than a couple of weeks. Then we can look forward to the black-eyed susans.

Yarn Bombing!

2010-04-12T10:43:00.001-04:00

Just a few minutes ago, I caught a segment of Martha Stewart's show with Queen Latifah. Queen Latifah mentioned something called "crochet bombing," where women go out during the night and crochet things around cities, like leg warmers on statues, etc. I had never heard of this! I googled it, and apparently, it's becoming quite the rage. Check this out:

http://yarnbombing.com/

There are lots of great pictures and links.

I especially liked this story:
http://carolhummel.blogspot.com/2010/02/yarn-bombing-in-nepal.html

I really need to learn how to crochet!

In Bloom

2010-04-07T16:32:00.002-04:00

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T00:08:00.000-04:00

Reality

2010-03-22T23:52:00.021-04:00

I try. I really do.

However, tee ball season is upon us.

Someone put the baseballs in the apple bowl while I wasn't looking. And by "someone," I mean the other adult in the house, not one of the kids. I think it bothered the little ones more than it bothered me. One by one, as they noticed, they each came running to tell me. Like it was some catastrophic event.

I've left the baseballs for now. For some reason they make me smile.

Playroom

2010-03-17T14:28:00.003-04:00

This weekend we finished up a little corner of the basement playroom/family room as an arts and crafts spot for the kids. This table had actually been a long computer table/desk. My husband cut it down and built some benches to go with it. The legs of the table had once been black, but he painted them yellow. He painted a piece of paneling with chalkboard paint, then framed it out with molding. The ledge has a groove for the chalk. The easel is from Ikea (we've had it a few years, but I recently saw it on sale for $15!), and the blue buckets I found in the dollar spot at Target, but I think they were actually $2.50 each. We may eventually hang some hooks on the wall for the buckets, but this has been working out for now. They are perfect for crayons, markers, etc. Oh, and that cute blue chair was purchased while we lived overseas. I think I spent about $12 on it a store in South Korea called Home Plus....similar to Target.

I don't know why we waited so long to put a kids' table downstairs. It's so nice to keep the kitchen table free of their arts and crafts messes!

amish friendship bread and more tulips

2010-03-15T15:00:00.002-04:00

Last week I was over at a friend's house, and I noticed the ziploc bag on her counter. The one that sits there for 10 days while you mash it and mush it, so on the 10th day you must stop everything to make this bread. I asked if she would be willing to part with a bag of the starter mix once she divided the batter. Soooo.....this bag of goo has been sitting on my counter for over a week. Today was the day to mix it, bake it, and divide the mix to pass along to anyone willing to make the commitment.

This recipe was a little bit different than the one I have made in the past. It called for applesauce, and brown sugar with cinnamon for the topping instead of sugar and cinnamon. Still tastes very similar, just a little more coffee cake-like.

I hate to admit, this is not the first time I have nearly stalked someone for a starter bag of batter. Either it's really good stuff, or the thought of not being able to make it whenever I feel like adds to the hype.

And yes, I do realize how good I have it that I can stay home and bake bread and take pictures of it. I'm just making up for all the bon bons and Oprah I didn't get to enjoy today. ;)

more neat finds

2010-03-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Vintage Flashcards

2010-03-10T23:29:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago I came across these vintage flashcards in one of my favorite shops. I can't even tell you how much time I spent sorting through the stack, trying to whittle my pile down to one I could afford without guilt.

Maybe I'll framea couple of them for the playroom. Maybe I'll use a couple forscrapbook pages. Maybe even a mini album. Maybe I'll just leave them ina basket to admire.

Mixed in with the flashcards must have been some old game cards. I couldn't resist:

A couple of nights ago Sally herself asked me why I liked antiques so much. Because baby doll, you can't snatch up finds like these in Walmart.

2010-03-08T00:31:00.003-05:00

Meet Mr. Flapjack

2010-03-07T12:53:00.002-05:00

Last week the boy had pajama day at school. In preparation for the festivities, the class made paper bag puppets. Meet Mr. Flapjack. Note his bacon smile and sunnyside up eyes. And of course the spatula hand and red mitten. :)

The Blue Cabinet

2010-02-25T12:07:00.002-05:00

This cabinet is one of many projects we have taken on over the past few weeks. Today my goal is to finish painting the interior shelves. This has taken way too long to complete! With three little ones underfoot, I find it hard to find time to devote to projects such as this.

Friends of ours own a local antique shop. Most of their furniture has been beautifully refinished to look like new, but every so often we come across a piece that needs just a little t.l.c. About a month ago, we came across this piece in one of their outbuildings. Believe it or not, this cabinet came from one of the Senate office buildings in D.C. It had a dark finish, but needed some cleaning up. Part of the trim above the glass doors was missing, so my husband replaced the trim.

The molding at the top was already there, my husband replaced the smaller molding a few inches below. Before, it was just a plain strip of wood trim.

    My husband was too quick to get started on sanding and replacing the trim, so I did not get a "before" shot with the doors on. He is very ambitious, hence the many projects we have going on.
My parents thought we were crazy to paint this piece, but it definitely needed something. I was originally thinking of a creamy white china cabinet to go along with the living room decor, but once we came across this piece, I thought it would look good in a Gustavian gray or blue. The first coat of paint was done in Martha Stewart's Milk Pail, but that had a hint of green to it and wasn't quite the look I was after. I ended up repainting it Behr's Ozone and the interior is a creamy white, Behr's Polished Pearl. It turned out a little more blue than gray, but I kind of like it.
I hate to tell you how long we've been looking for some kind of display cabinet for this space, but we'll talk about my indecisiveness another time.

Valentine Lollipops

2010-02-16T08:00:00.022-05:00

This year my daughter wanted to make valentines for her class. I found heart-shaped cherry lollipops and we made matchbook type covers for them. She was in charge of punching the hearts, gluing them onto the covers, and signing the backs. I folded the covers, punched holes for the lolly sticks, inserted the lollipops, and tied the ribbon. We spent a good part of the day putting these together. We were almost done, when I decided to actually read the back of the bag the lollipops came in:

While I'm pretty sure there aren't any students with allergies in her class this year, I had visions of trades on the bus ride home, and EpiPens being drawn from holsters. Not wanting to send the lollipops containing every allergen but latex into school, we opted to take the adorable covers apart, cut them in half, and use them as tags for valentine pencils.

2010-02-08T23:03:00.021-05:00

This is what our yard looks like in the Spring with the Azaleas in bloom...

This is what it looked like Friday evening....

This is what we woke up to Saturday morning....

I'll take it either way.

one of those moments

2010-01-28T00:13:00.011-05:00

today was one of those lego-helping, ring around the rosie dancing, chili-making kind of days when not much else gets done around the house. while i was cooking dinner, we had the music playing and i looked up into the family room to see the two big kids looking at a book together and laughing. the littlest goose was spinning in circles to the music. simple. but perfect.
sometimes you have to look beyond the mess to see the joy.

bosco

2010-01-25T09:16:00.012-05:00

a good part of my childhood was spent in department stores with my mother and grandmother. yes, this is an exaggeration, but there is some truth to it. anyhow, my grandmother would start talking to complete strangers, and before we knew it, she was sharing more of her life, and ours, than she should.
recently, i find myself striking up conversations with random people while out and about. usually it's to ask their opinion on something i'm thinking about buying, or i may tell them how much i like what they are looking at, or i may strike up a conversation with another mom on the playground, etc. then I catch myself. i have become my grandmother.

so here i am. talking to people i don't even know.
i'll try not to reveal anything too personal.
oh,and if you can figure out why the title of this post is what it is, we'll get along just fine. :)