Miss Matched and Marvelous

Trophy Husband Party

2011-06-07T19:46:00.006-05:00

Many of you know that my Husband & best friend in the whole world had Gastric Bypass at the end of December. With it are all kinds of obstacles, big and small. It was a big risk to make. But he made it for us! His family. We love him, support him and are so incredibly proud of all that he has accomplished!...We decided a party was in order!

TROPHY HUSBAND PARTY!
I invited our closes friends and family to join us for a bonfire to celebrate the beginning of summer and under the disguise that I wanted them here to share my birthday as well. At least that is what I told Tim! lol. I had been preparing this party for MONTHS in my head. This brain was full of so many ideas, some I found from inspiration in other parties, some of my own. He was clueless until about 20 minutes before we were expecting company. Here he is after he JUST realized what was going on.

Here is what he found!

THE SPREAD. We were in the back yard, and the garage was the back drop. I see now i needed something more colorful for the background so the banner would show better. But it was late in the game. Oh well, now I know for next time!

THE BANNER: term I use loosely. I just painted chipboard letters in black and white. Very sloppy. I wanted it to take on a tarnished pewter look, like a trophy. So I literally dipped my pain brush in both blackand white at the same time and just slopped it all on. Wrapped with copper wire and considered it done!

MOOD LIGHTING: I bought these old rusty springs at Junk Jubilee in DesMoines this spring, for this exact reason. Dropped in a couple of small jelly jars and a tealight, hung them by copper wire!

CUPCAKE TOPPERS: I want to appologize right now, I know I found the download online somewhere, but for the life of me can't find it now. If its yours, please leave a comment and I would love to give credit! I did edit it a bit to show the date we got married. 1998. wow, 13 years already. dangaloo! oh, and remind me to share the recipe for those cupcakes. SUPER easy, Low on Points for those on weight watchers and soooo delish!

KEEP CALM: Hahahahaha! This sign cracks me up. I think I found it by googling signs for men or something of the sort. Scarey thing, is that I'm pretty sure that Tim has said this, or something very similar at some point in our relationship. Yeah...I'm just that lucky! lol

COOLTOWN: Ok, another fantabulous sign. This will remain framed and in the basement in his mancave. Lucky for me, he doesn't sport the mullet. However, I did hear more than one comment about the sign and refrences to past boyfriends or long lost family members! What a hoot!

SMORE'S FIXIN'S: Another google search produced these fabulous pictures for the marshmallow stabbers! Love the retro look to them!

And who coulf forget the TROPHY?

Oh wait...thats not him.....let me look again

There he is! Amazing he is! Down 135lbs since December 22nd. And he's not done. And even without the weight loss...he's an amazing man, amazing father, amazing friend, son, brother. I'm sure I've forgotten something else he's incredibly awesome at. But he truley is a Trophy Husband!

Somewhere over this Rainbow!!!

2011-03-09T19:00:00.007-06:00

I can't believe that our Becca is 5! Sooo much I could say about this little girl, but words just wouldn't do it justice! I did however, want to style a perfectly bright and cheerful party, that would make you smile, just as much as she brings a smile to everyone's face that meets her!

Guests were met with Rainbow Balloon Wreath! WE recived sooooo many compliments about this wreath. I have to tell the truth. It was up for about a week before the party, and neighbors stopped to tell us how much they loved it!

Rainbows Rainbows EVERYWHERE! I used the bay window as the presents staging area and of course it needed to be topped with ROYGBIV!

The Birthday Banner!

Style me Rainbow!

Rainbow Wands for everyone! Made of simple dowel rods and ribbons...what little girl doesn't want to dance around with one of these?

The kids craft table had a rainbow assortment of bubbles to add to the take home bags. We also painted each child's initial and made sand art bottles!

The food was a huge assortment of sweets...and of course this momma thought a little selection of fruits and veggies were necessary as well. To my surprise, fruits and veggies went first! Rainbow Cake (both inside & out), white chocolate dipped marshmallows (with sprinkles...which make everything better), giant lollipops, gel-dyed sugar cookies, Skittles, veggies, fruits, and water bottles!

Last I heard...allllllll kinds of dreams come true! Happy 5th Birthday Becca!

Linking to the following blog parties! Check them out by clicking on the buttons and seeing all the fabulous work thats been done!

Fresh Start

2011-01-10T12:42:00.006-06:00

My goodness! As much as I love the holidays, decorations, cheer and hustle and bustle, I was sooo over it much earlier than normal this year! So, needless to say, Christmas came down as soon as I could find the time...which still wasn't as early as I wanted it to be! Then it took me longer to normal to take it down after my Grandpa Don passed away and family dropped everything to do what we could from 1400 miles away!

I've been so inspired by Donna's style of natural, unfished or weathered textures over at Funky Junk Interiors, that I wanted to add a little of my own. I started with our entry that has been a little empty and not quit finished as I have envisioned since we moved in last fall. Here is a picture after the move and the addition of our monogram!

There was absolute Z.E.R.O. change made from that time last November, to this Christmas! So many other areas of the house to pay attention to! However, I added a bit at Christmas time with these super deals I found at target the day after Christmas last year! The pre-lit tree was on clearance for $14 and the large red tub for $12! That makes this girl happy!

I made the garlandfor the tree myself with just some cream embroidery floss, 1" punch and some two sided tape! Super simple and was easy to do infront of the tv!

This weekend however, I was able to gather some of my favorite pieces and
make a small natural vinette!

The large crate on the floor is something I snagged when a local grocery store when out of business. Picked a couple of the best ones that weren't rotten on the bottom and added some antique glaze too it to darken it up a bit. The lantern on top was the same one that housed aqua and silver christmas balls durring the holidays here. The other crate on the floor is a Planter's Peanut crate. It is completel closed up, never opened....except by the mouse that gnawed its way in. I should take a picture of the hole!

The egg print might be a litte springy for January, but I needed something that was neutral but heavy enough to balance everything. My husband's fishing hat joins the group in the upper left hanging from the coat hooks.

The two light green architechual pieces came home with me from a fabulous store in downtown Des Moines. I added an iron scroll piece to one and a chipboard stencil to the other. I put several layers on the chipboard to help it appear bronze like the frame and letter N below it. I think it turned out pretty swell if I do say so myself.

I'm very happy with it and even then spread the love to the livingroom bay window!

Natural makes me happy!

Upcycled Magazine to a Christmas Tree!

2010-11-27T19:50:00.009-06:00

So I was flipping around the internet and came across a video of Martha (yes that Martha) making Christmas Trees by recycling magazines! Hmmm. I sat and awe at the ease of this project (although time consuming) and decided I would use up one of the hundreds of magazines laying around.

This is a close up of the finished project, with the tutorial following! I will take a daylight photo and add it tomorrow!

Here is a prep-step: Bend the spine of the magazine so that it loosens up a bit. Push the pages back a couple at a time so that the book doesn't automatically close on you anymore. This will help your tree be full all the way around.

Step One: Starting with the cover, take the upper right corner and bend down and towards the spine. Continue through the entire magazine.

This is a picture of a completed step 1 on all pages. A big bushy tree.

Step Two:
The long edge of your angled page needs to be brought towards your spine again. Crease well.

Step Three
Turn your page (as shown below)

Take the extra piece at the bottom (I have no technical term for this floogy, other than floogy and then Im not even sure how to spell said term) and fold it up into ad under the previous folds.

Here is what it should look like after all folded in.

This shot was taken 1/2 way through the magazine on step 4!

Next, I sprayed it with my favorite Catalina spray paint and doused it with silver glitter. It took about 3 coats of spraying to cover. However I was honestly tempted to stop at just 2.

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Give it a try. This is a great project to complete while sitting infront of the tv!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

2010-11-22T19:07:00.005-06:00

Last week I slowly got out my tabletop decorations and spread a little Christmas cheer around my house. *disclaimer...don't ask my husband...he's a grinch!*

Here's a bit of what I did! The tree is going up this week!

I made a flag bunting with some scrapbook paper and ribbon I had on hand. The picture is a little dark. Which is exactly why the entertainment center needed something ele. Its a dark walnut stain against a dark brown wall which was the previous owners choice. I like it one my one wall, but in time I hope to change the wall color. There are lights in the towers on the sides, however because there is mirror in it as well, it was better for picture taking to have them off.

Here is my hutch in the dining room. I'm forgoing the traditional green with red and sticking with my white, red and blue that is in the rest of the house. I love this. The snowman plate gives me the vintage/retro feel that I want to lean towards in my kitchen and dinningroom.

The large lantern on the antique school desk was gift I received last year. I knew immediately I was going to fill it with clearance christmas ornaments that I got at 75% off the day after Christmas last year. All those balls for only $5. Love it.

Ok, confession. This is not a Christmas decoration, and not new to the livingroom, but it realy pops against the white on the shutter tha my dad made into a flower box for me.

The 3 ceiling tins needed something additional to add more contrast. Added this old (and rather ratty) wreath and added some white to it as well for just more texture.

And this is my entry tree. Just a little bitty one, but again, got for 75% off the day after Christmast last year. Great buy for just $7.50 prelit! I placed it in a large read metal tub I found on clearance a couple of months ago in the kitchenware section at Target. Placed an old stained cream table cloth around the base of the tree and made my own garland (tutorial coming). Had to include both daylight and night time captures here! lol.

Hope you enjoyed! Stay warm and dry and watch for a tutorial on a couple more christmas projects!

I've linked to the following parties! Check them all out! Lots of ideas and inspiration out there!

Book Bags for Sprout Preschool!

2010-11-17T15:24:00.006-06:00

I've been busy with a lot of organizing bookfairs, fundraisers an event I will be holding called Kids Night Out and now book bags! In the weeks since surgery this is how I have assumed my pose! lol. This is my life. Foot up, wrapped and itchy! Laptop near buy and either crusinin this wonderul web for inspiration, or keepingup with by besties!

So yesterday I finalized my design that would be stenciled on the canvas bags and today, while my punk was at school...got busy!

I started with the "Sprout" which is the logo of our church's preschool...by the same name! I wanted to incorporate our logo in with installing the love of reading into our children. Here is what I came up with just on Microsoft Word because I don't have any of the fancy photo editing software. Old school I tell ya!

I got out my freezer paper which I've been hearing all over blogland works like a charm for making stencils. I traced my pattern, then using a craft knife carefully cut it out!

I used my iron on a cotton setting to adhere the freezer paper shiny side down to the canvas bags, then proceeded to paint on the fabric paint!

10 Bags later, here they are!

I'm very happy with them and believe they will be a fun addition to the classrooms at Sprout Preschool!

I was featured!

2010-11-01T17:42:00.002-05:00

What a wonderful suprise and honor to hear from Rachel at http://www.oneprettything.com/ That my Enchanted Forest Baby Shower would be featured on her latest baby shower round up!
Yesterday was the day! Mark it...Sunday, October 31st...I made it big! Ok...tiny lie. Tiny exagerated. Tiny wishes I suppose! lol, but hey! I will take what I can get!

Thank you, Rachel for featuring my post! For everyone else, you simply must go to
http://www.oneprettything.com/ and check out all the amazing talent oozing from all the features! I'm honored to be in such company!

Kids Night Out !

2010-11-01T16:33:00.004-05:00

Quick note: The bunion on my right foot surgically removed last Thursday. For the mean time...I'll be sitting on my back side for the next 4-6 weeks. yep...this is me

I will say that means a lot of frolicking around this web of amazing talent and fabulous finds to get inspiration and of course Christmas ideas! I really should have no excuse for not getting any amount of crafting and party styling done in the next few weeks.

I am taking on yet another adventure of loving what I do and doing what I love!
I'm so enjoying styling parties, that I can't get enough. Literally. After the last one, Tim says, " no more projects, no more parties. Rest and rejuvenate! "
Although I must say it all sounded nice...I kinda laughed and rolled my eyes at him too!

Within a week, I have found not only a project, but a project involving a party!

KIDS NIGHT OUT!
I will be hosting an evening for children with themed activities, crafts, snacks and games. It will be sooo much fun! For 5 hours, the kids will hang out with me, keeping busy and have a blast, while their parents are out running errands, having date night, girls night, poker night, renovation night...whatever they want to get done without having the kids underfoot! If you are in the area and would like your children to have a great night...message me and we'll get them signed up for December 6th! Our first event!

So...with that said...I have to get busy with finding activities, games, crafts and take homes for the kids to keep busy with!

I'm so excited about this! I hope you are too!

I love fall and all that comes with it!

2010-10-21T11:30:00.001-05:00

Fall has arrived on Dyrnan Drive!

So I posted about Junk Bonanza and how incredibly awesome it was. Seriously. The atmosphere, the people, the junk,the deals, the laughs. Did I mention the junk?

Here's the junk that was in my trunk when I came home! Well, at least the biggest peice of junk. Not sure what it was or what it was meant to be...but its mine and
its F.I.N.E fine (to borrow from Aerosmith).

Here she is...in all her galvanized goodness...naked from the inside. Well, except for sand to keep it from blowing over.

And now with some dried Switchgrass, seed heads and twigs from the yard painted red.

From goodness to glorious-ness! (is that a real word?)

Once I get my other peices out and into their new homes from the Junk trip, I will post those also! Thanks for visiting! I've linked to Shabby Chic Cottage's Transformation Thursday! Check out the rest of the amazing projects out there!

Enchanted Forest Baby Shower

2010-10-17T20:36:00.009-05:00

This baby shower for my great friend Aubrey was not only a great time to spend celebrating with great friends, but I had sooo much fun planning and styling this party!

Aubrey and Eric found an adorable Eddi Bauer Enchanted Forest bedding set for their Red & Tan nursery that is just the cutest neutral thing ever! All the tiny little forest critters include, rabbits, hedgehogs, squirels, fox. So I decided to run with the theme and add a little feminin touches to boot!

I decided instead of doing a traditional cake or cupcakes for the dessert, we would do S'mores on a Stick...you know, to keep with the theme. I will be doing a tutorial on these later!

Couldn't have an Enchanted Forest without some little Toadstools! These will be included on the tutorial as well! Super easy...and got LOTS of giggles, oohs and ahhhs!

Pasta salad, veggie pizza and some Critter Crunch (aka..homemade carmel corn made by my girl Karla). It was a simple, inexpensive and unexpected spread that was a hit!

This was my first BIG baby shower as a party stylist. I'm not sure which was more work...the baby shower, the wedding or the benefit I've been doing since summer! lol. There are so many things I loved about each of them! Makes me get out there and want to get more! Need a party stylist? I can even do online consults for those that are not local! Leave a comment and I would love talk about how to style your party!

I've linked to the following parties! Check out the other amazing projects these talented ladies have been up to!

Sneak Peak into the forest

2010-10-04T12:43:00.005-05:00

I've been planning a babyshower for my girl Aubrey since the day I found out the first couple of weeks in April! Needless to say, thats a lot of time to gather materials for this "Enchanted Forest" theme. Aubrey found an adorable bedding set with the theme and figures I was going to run with it!

I've been wanting to use a lot of natural elements, maybe a little pinch of magic and some little woodland creatures.
The baby girls nursery will be in reds and tans, so I'm running with that also. Add in a bit of white to add feminity and we're all set.

For the first time since my brain took over and started coming up with all these ideas, i spread out all the bits and pieces to see what I had to work with. This is minus the serving peices! lol. Good thing I have a large table!

Im excited to add a couple of "nature" inspired treats to the table as well. Can't wait to see it all come together!

Just another 2 weeks and I'll have pictures to show of the party! Stay tuned!

Svoboda/Krizek Wedding

2010-09-11T21:07:00.005-05:00

Congrats to one of my best girls, who just happens to be my cousin, Katie and her husband Jason! It was such a priveledge to be asked to help with decorations and create special peices for you and your perfect day! What a beautiful bride you are!

I've been waiting for a long time to post some pictures of the peices i've been working on. I know I've been sharing my excitement with many of you...so here ya go!

100 yellow tissue flower napkin rings and 100 blue scallops with yellow K's!

Cupcake stand used for 300 mini cheesecakes after dinner. We filled the crystal bowls with chex mix and mixed nuts for snacking while the wedding party had photographs after the ceremony.

12 Aisle Markers on stakes for the outdoor wedding at Fox Ridge Golf course.

Crystal Trees from Hilltop Gardens on the reception tables, uplit to make them sparkle. She also decided on tall pilsner's with yellow calla lilys and diamonds.

Just married sign! This was just the circle banners, however this blustery day required some extra support so they didn't flip and flop so much in the wind! We made it work and still looked great.

This was so much fun to participate in! Thank you again,Katie and Jason for inviting me to be part of your special day! Here's to many many memories to be made!

Crafty Birthday for Ms Brynn!

2010-09-06T20:50:00.004-05:00

Ms Brynn is turning 11 and had a super fun crafty party for her friends today!
I created several Tissue Paper Flowers for to hang above the table where the kids but on their own creative touches on some projects! Brynn wanted yellow, pink and purple and we ran with it!

I made a banner for her in her colors to hang above the supply table that Brynn so cleverly set up! She's got quite the knack! I may have competition very soon!

The girls covered and decorated clipboards, pencils, gift bags, little flowers on stems, and I taught them how to make their own Tissue Paper Flowers!

They all had a blast and I am so appreciate being asked to be a part of Brynns special day! Thank you Bengstons! Lets do it again!

Things are Sprout - ing up!

2010-09-02T00:11:00.004-05:00

One of my many prayers was answered earlier this year when a good friend from High School (and daughter of our Sr Pastor at HVC) that the church would be opening a Preschool this fall! I was so incredibly excited! I've been wanting Becca to be in a Christ centered environment to help Tim and I guide her and help teach her the basics. God loves her and is her friend. Along with that, I wanted her to learn some basic values that Tim and I may have teaching in a way that her very curious and impressionable brain would grasp. Thank you God for hearing our prayers.

I was super motivated to help get things ready and Abbi has been generous and kind in allowing me to be involved. The last two weeks we have been crazy busy, rearranging, decorating, hanging, cleaning, cutting and organizing. Soooo much fun and makes me sooooooo happy!

Here are just a couple of pictures that I took today. We are not done by any means. But we are very close!

Becca can't wait until Tuesday for her 1st day! I've got to remember to have my camera batteries charged and ready that morning. (or i will ever hear the end of it!)

2010-08-29T21:11:00.006-05:00

WOW! Its been forever since I've been on and made my announcement! I think it be very possible that I've lost any followers that I may have had in the first place. But I promise to post more updates. They may not be lengthy, but they will be there! Sneak peaks of what I'm working on and then the final reveal of the events I've styled!

So my goodness! Here are some shots of the Benefit I did for one of my besties, Lori Gerst. I apologize for the pictures. It was hard to capture anything without old orange knotty pine paneling or hunting/fishing themed decor in the background from the Isaak Walton League we had the party at.

Here is the outside of the event. We strung up bras to go with the "Supporting Lori" theme we had going!

The table tops had vases with pink or multicolored daisies and a "bra". Extra bras were scattered on the tables for added color and personality.

Another bestie helped by making a "Cancer Sucks" sucker tree, to add to the bake sale table.

We had many compliments on the idea, however, not many suckers sold. Shoot. Good idea, better luck next time though, huh?

Another swag of support for Lori!

On to a birthday party and wedding! Posting pictures this next week!

God has spoken!

2010-07-29T00:10:00.003-05:00

So let me just say that I've missed blogging soooo bad! But I've been crazy busy being creative and working my fingers to the bones doing some party decorations for my best girl Lori's Breast Cancer Benefit this coming Saturday. I've had.a.blast. creating the "Support Lori" theme. I'll share more on the theme and decorations that I've created with some great help from my friend Aubrey! I'll post pictures after the event, but I'll give ya a sneek peek with this...

Along with this, I've been asked to help with decorations and styling my cousin Katie's wedding and reception. She had some great ideas, colors and sense of style already in mind, so we reached into the corners of our sightly crazy brains and came up with the perfect combination of simple and handmade. Loving every second of this process and am so honored to be asked to help.

3rd on this list is a baby shower I have coming up in October that I simply cannot wait for! I can barely contain myself! My previous mentioned super friend Aubrey & her husband Eric are expecting their first long awaited little bundle and I'm so excited to celebrate this baby with an Enchanted Forest shower theme! I have a close full of props and decor already. hmmm with 2 months to go...I'm liable to go a bit over board! But whooooo cares? I'm loving it and can't wait to style this party!

So...if you can't tell, I'm extremely pumped about all the creating and partying I'm gonna be doing very soon! So much so, I have been contemplating the market for such a service. Not so much a party planner. I don't want to plan a whole event....you know, location, food, entertainment, etc. I don't want that....but I want to decorate and theme your party! But its all about class. Style. Thats it...I want to style your party! Make it fabulous and memorable!

But I've had my serious doubts about just how far I could go with this. How far do I WANT to go with this? I've been very prayerful about it, talked to my family about it and have left it in God's hands to bring the need to me, or show me the path.

So thats where the title of this post comes from.
Last Sunday after church, a young man came up to me. I've never seen him before, and found out later he was with a youth group from Aurora, Il. So this young man said to me that he believed he had a phrophetic word for me. Now...for those of you that may not have ever experienced this, seen it happen or maybe don't understand it...Don't be affraid of it. It is simply amazing to hear God's heart spill out in words from a another believer.

So he says to me, " I'm seeing you standing in front of a huge blank canvas...and God told me that he has put a paint brush in each of your hands. He sees you painting like crazy, but he wants you to know that he has not yet provided all the colors yet. There is more to come, but he wants you to push on with what you are doing". Insert me bawling and snotting all over myself at this point.. Simply amazing. He was right on, it filled my heart with confidence and took away any doubt I had about moving forward knowing that God sees what I'm doing and hears my prayers, and will provide for me.

So here it is...

I've created a Facebook page for MissMatched & Marvelous Party Styling, along with some of my styled event pictures!

I may post some teasers now and again, but I will never post a clients full spread until after their event. But let me tell you! I get sooo excited while creating, its hard not to share right away!

Things are happening!

2010-07-28T18:31:00.001-05:00

Ladies and gents (if there are any of you out there that follow)...there are things happening around here! Exciting things, New things, Fantabulous things!

I will be posting an announcement soon! So sorry for way I've been neglecting blogland lately. Busy Busy Busy!

Check back soon for exciting things!

I have a new crush! Cupcakes!

2010-06-20T21:16:00.002-05:00

I've found and fell in love with a new blog. Kimberly at Attempting Creative is a genius in everything she does. Cooking, crafting, sewing...heck even at being just plain adorable! She may not know me from the other 100+ followers she has, but I am now consider myself loyal. Kinda like a kid asking over and over "are we there yet?" I find myself checking her blog throughout the week wondering when the next post will come! Maybe i'm a bit of a blog stalker? First step is admitting it...right?

So go check her out. She's got a Cupcake Carnival with oodles and gobs of good receipes and amzing photos to get your mouth watering and sweet tooth begging for mercy! Click on the button below!

Graduation party decorations

2010-06-02T13:54:00.004-05:00

I was asked about a month ago to help with and make decorations for a friend's daughter's High School Graduation party! I am so excited to help! So after putting together some ideas, it was decided to go with pinwheels for decorations on the tables and as cupcake toppers! School colors are red and black and Ally (the graduate) wanted to throw in some bright pink as well! At first I was worried at how the three colors would come together...however, after my first trip to Hobby Lobby to grab paper for the projects, I was S.O.L.D!

I made 30 pinwheels for the table tops, spray painted soup cans filled with play sand. I put the pinwheels on small dowels painted white and called it done! It was a lot of time spent cutting, punching, taping and painting. But all in all, it was very easy and very inexpensive! Easy enough to do infront of the tv! lol. My kind of craft!

I also crafted a penant banner spelling out Congratulations in the same paper colors and sewn directly to a ribbon. This was hanging on front of the food bar. I'm having a hard time getting a good picture of it. This was the best I got. But let me tell you! It was soooo cute!

The cupcake toppers are a mix of pinwheels and some cut outs I made. Of course the foil cupcake wrappers put a little "bling" on the plates as well!

Now...onto the next paper crafting project for a friends benefit!

GW lamp, GS shade

2010-05-16T16:15:00.009-05:00

So after seeing sooo many good GW finds in everyone else's home in blog land, I've started to frequent the store more often. I've found some little glass dishes and candy bowls that I love, a framed canvas pictured that I bought just for the frame (I'll cover the canvas and do my own bit) but this lamp was my gem! Well, doesn't look like much to begin with, but for $4...I could risk it not working!

Here is my end table in the livingroom with the old lamp. Too spindle-y and not enough "GERTH" if ya know what I mean! Something chunky, something a little more...me!

So because the wall behind my couch is chocolate brown, I knew I would need to paint it. I have alot of white and cream accents with my big lantern, newel post, ceiling tins on the wall and my shutter with the flower boxes in them. So it was only right to continue with the cream.

I roughed it up with some sandpaper, and used my Warm Scones sample from Ace Hardware and threw two sloppy coats on this baby! It already had some pits, cracks and knicks in it, so I just made ure that the paint did not fully cover those!

Um! Super happy with it...even without a shade. Gotta find a shade! So yesterday while out snooping around garage sales, I found this pretty little thing! Vintage, retro, original...LOVE HER! I prayed the whole way home hoping it would be the right size for the lamp! But at only $2 there was no way of passing her up!

So whatch think? Is it a right fit? Look at her details! I. love. her. Yes...Its a her! Just the right amount of whimsy with the vintage, rusty, chippy accents in my livingroom...and even the more modern couch!

I'm linking up to the following parties! Click on the buttons below and check out the other great ideas! You'll be sooooo inspired!

Pencil Holder & Note holder!

2010-05-11T12:43:00.005-05:00

I had this super spectacular idea to come up with a crafty and cute, yet handy caddy for pencils to help my Mom organize her desktop for Mother's Day. She is super helpful and always helping my family and my sister to cart around kids before and after school, helping me while I recovered from knee surgery and getting herself, My dad, and me to Dr's appointments the last couple of months. With all the appointments and responsibilities it became difficult to keep track of all the schedules. This homemade gift would be a perfect compliment to the Day Planner that I also got her for Mother's Day!

I started with a clean jar, cork, jute, fast drying craft glue and for something a little extra, a little picket fence!

Now...I apologize, as I am horrible at taking "in progress" pictures. But the steps are pretty easy to follow.
Measure the height of your jar you are covering. Cut the cork to that measurement and roll the cork around the jar, glueing as you go. I did two layers to give plenty of depth for pins/tacks to stick into later.

I have to admit. I wanted to just leave it with the cork only. However, I was so excited to get going that where the lip of the jar was smaller than the rest, it left a void between the cork and the lip and looked funny. So...what to do next? How can I fix this flub up?

JUTE! Wrapped it all in jute, then Hot glued the little picket fence around the container. I'm including two pictures of the finished product. Plain, and with Mom's "REMINDERS" to help her keep track of her day! Pretty enough to set on the kitchen counter, desk top or next to her chair with her pens and paper!

I hope you enjoyed! Click on the buttons below to visit other sites and more great ideas!

Banana Cream Sandwhich Cookies

2010-05-08T13:00:00.012-05:00

First thing is first!
Happy Mother's Day to all the selfless, dedicated, and wonderfully perfect Mommas out there!

This year we decided to pass on the big elaborate meal and save some moola and eat treats instead after lunch! Eat...thats what we do best in my family!

I've been inspired by so many wonderful posts out there in blogland with tempting treats, and decided to make my own!

This particular recipe was inspired by the packaging of Bakerella's Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies and the melt in your mouth flavor of the Banana Cream Frosting recipe from Kara's Cupcakes! These two ladies have outstanding sites that share thier creativity and passion of all things sweet and fun! Check them out if you haven't already!

Now...I just hope I do the inspirations proud! Try out the recipe and share your successes...or flops for that matter! Cause I have more flops than I can list and would love to be comforted by yours! lol. Oops Did i just say that?

I'm starting off with the following ingredients that you probably already have in your cupboards...ok, maybe not the Banana Extract. But it was less than $2 Walmart.

1 yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp banana extract
powdered sugar for decoration

Combine and blend the cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and banana extract. (disclaimer..picture below shows lemon extract from a previous recipe with same steps. Saving space on my computer from uploading another pic)

Drop teaspoonsfuls of dough in to a bowl of powdered sugar. Roll around until they are lightly covered.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6-9 minutes in a preheated oven.

The bottoms will be slightly browned on the bottoms and slighlty chewy on the inside.

FANTABULOUS BANANA CREAM FROSTING
1/4 cup butter room temp
4 oz package of cream cheese room temp
1/2 of a 1 lb box of powdered sugar
1/2 box banana cream pudding mix

In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and vanilla.
*This is where my mixer died...sniff sniff!
Gradually add sugar and pudding mix until smooth

Turn one cookie upside down, and spread your frosting as thin or as thick as you like before the guilt sets in! Place another cookie on top!

This recipe is just enough for 10 sandwhich cookies. And actually, unless you are serving a ginormous crowd, that should be plenty, cause these little cookies are delicoulsy sweet. However, If you wanted to double the frosting recipe, it would be just enough to top all 20 of the cookies individuly rather than as sandwhiches!

Let me know if you try them!
I'm linking to the following parties! Click on the buttons and check out the other wonderful decorating, partying and cooking ideas!

For the love of all things louvered and weathered!

2010-05-03T17:02:00.009-05:00

First of all... Kudos to my mom for the idea and to my Super fab Dad that put it together!

Dad tore down a barn several years ago and salvaged these out of the rafters I believe! Not knowing what to do with them at the time, but being smart enough to know not to toss them...he keeped them in the rafters of his own rafters. They are now lining my fence on the side of our house giving extra texture, height and color to my most shaded spot! But wanting to do more than just lean them up against the fence Mom came up with this idea.

Dad used 2 shutters, and cut them each midway up. He nailed them together at the corners and used a small block on the inside of the frame.

This is so we could put a false floor in the bottom (we put 2 bricks in the bottom incase a strong wind threatened to blow the piece over) and again about 6 1/2" from the top rim. (that measurement is so that I could place the fern pot down inside without seeing it. You could change this measurement to fit your containers. Both floors have a hole drilled for drainage as shown.

This is the finished peice! the height is just right so that if I wanted to hang something above it I still can!

Yep...thats me in the reflection!

I'm linking to Funky Junk's Saturnight Special! Click on the buttons and check out the other great projects! There is a whole section just for awesome shutter ideas!

Dreaming up more ideas!

2010-04-16T09:32:00.003-05:00

Sitting on my backside for the last 2 weeks has provided me PLENTY of time to dream up more projects to keep us busy. That is once I'm able to put weight on this leg of mine and can move a little better!

So I've said from the day we moved in, that Tim and my bedroom is the least attractive in the whole house. However it would be the very last room we would touch because no body would ever need to see it. Its on the 2nd floor and there is no reason for company to see it or be upstairs, unless we're showing it off!

Currently, it looks very Swiss Chalet style. Dark 70's paneling on the bottom of the walls, and dark brown furring strips trimmed out on the top portion of the walls every 16" or so all the way around. Very original to the 1975 date they built the house. But to take off the paneling, and tear off the strips of trim would leave a mess of the popcorn texutred walls and ceiling. So why not cover it up again!?

I've found my inspiration! Wide plank horizontal paneling!

I love the look. Very cottage-y. I think it would make our bedroom look more like an attic conversion than an after thought!

The painted finish is yummy too! Love this blue/green. Not sure on color scheme. Heck, by the time we finish all the other projects and are ready to tackle the bedroom, I may change my mind completely. But today....this is what I want!

Whatcha think? Yes, No? How to go about it? Paint the planks before installing? Or after they are up and attached?

My Crush on Restoration Hardware

2010-04-09T15:23:00.003-05:00

birdcage memory board.

star print.

floating butterfly art.

Ah! Something bit me!

2010-03-28T21:00:00.008-05:00

It musta been the craft bug! Remember the file holder I had a crush on a few weeks ago?

I was sooo excited when I went to Mom and Dad's after a rough physical therapy session this week, and found Dad cleaning out his garage. He had some wire hanging organizers that thought hubby would like for his work shop. And in with them magazine/file holder.Do you hear my heart pitter patter?

So now to find some file folders to house the oh so ugly bills that frequent my kitchen island. I have seen some out and about. But really only needed one. Not a pack of 3 or 5 and really didn't want to spend the $10. But with an overflowing accordian file of scrapbook paper...I knew I could come up with something more tuned to my taste and the decor of our home.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the paper that looks like burlap. So realistic looking, and not so itchy! And it won't unravel! The turqouise has alot of depth to it. Its almost jewel like!

I unfolded a used manila folder I had on top of my 12x12 paper. Knowing it wasn't going to cover the complete folder, gave me some flexibility to play with accessorizing it also!

I traced the outline. Cut to size and then used my scrapbooking GLUE DOTS to adhere the paper to the folder. Did the same to the other side with the turqouise.

I wanted to fancy up the unfinished edge so got out some of my ribbons. I loved them all.

But went with this!

And here it is all together!

I'm linking to the following parties! Check them all out! There are some amazingly creative people out there!
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Yummy spring time cookie goodness!

2010-03-21T16:20:00.004-05:00

While checking out the newest in spring decorating goodness last week at Calico Hen House, Becca and I sampled a wonderfully delish Lemon Cookie. Now...I'm not one who's very fond of lemon anything! However Becca and Grandmpa were raving so much about this cookie, I decided I must indulge also! Soooo glad I did! I'm sharing the recipe with you! Its fast, its easy and a perfect way to end a meal or enjoy a snack with a refreshing lemon goodness!

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

1 okg lemon cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp lemon extract
powdered sugar for decoration

Combine and blend the lemon cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil and lemon extract.

Drop teaspoonsfuls of dough in to a bowl of powdered sugar. Roll around until they are lightly covered.

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 6-9 minutes in a preheated oven.

The bottoms will be slightly browned on the bottoms and slighlty chewy on the inside.

Perfectly lemon! Perfectly delish!

I'm linking to DIY Day at Soft Place to Land. Check out the other great entries and leave comments! Its a party! join us!

Backyard Mysteries

2010-03-15T13:27:00.005-05:00

This week is literally the first time we've seen grass at this house! Exciting!

So with the new house, comes a new back yard! Of course a new backyard means unknown discoveries. The thrill of seeing whats coming up and the mystery of what it will be! So here are my findings. If you have ideas of what they may or may not be! Please share your knowledge.

This little thing as a 4-leaf clover look to it. Stems are purple, as well as the sprouts that are coming up also!

I have a feeling that this yard will get A LOT if mostly shade once the trees leaf out. We bought the house the end of November and all the leaves were off the trees, but about 1 foot deep in the yard instead! I will be a newbie to shade gardening! But loooooove the idea! We've only ever been where it was full sun with absolutely no shade at all!

So many ideas, not enough time....or mayyyyybe...

2010-03-13T11:51:00.004-06:00

Well, I'm happy to report that I've gotten my first laptop. Yes...I've joined the rest of the world in being able to run around internet hap-hazardly and blog from the convenience of where ever I want to be! So happy about this! Although, just as I discovered that it is all too easy to shut the door to the basement and leave the toy mess behind when we moved in to this multi level home...Its also all to easy to have this computer attached to the end of my finger tips and sit on my already too large back side to catch up on the list of blogs I frequent. Oh well. Such is life!

But in all honesty it will be a blessing to have after my knee surgery and not willing to travel to the basement to turn on the computer!

I've found more inspiration to share with you. Love these sweet thigns from
.

Love this idea. Its got that Industrial Farmhouse Chic that I like, and I could still keep my bill center in the kitchen, and looking cute in modgepodged file folders. Gotta find something similar to this, or bite the bullet and just order it for the $39 they are asking. Nope..I have to find a less expensive way.

This is make-it-yourself-for-a-lot-less idea! Find an old unused frame, or re-purpose a garage sale find...take the back off...add some picture hanging wire or twine for a more rustic look. I could do without the chicken details on the clips, but clothes pins would even be adorable. Paint them, or buy the little tiny ones you can get at the craft stores (by the crafts sticks). Easy cheesy! We could do this project for next to nothing! This will be something I want to use in my Craft Room. Use it as my idea board to post up ideas to use in my creative works!

The last two findings are also from Wisteria. Another easy DIY project.

Can't wait to add some personality to Becca's play space in the basement. Right now there is plenty of color with all the bajillions of toys she has. However..it just looks unfinished compared to the rest of the house. So...paint, burlap and more garage sale frames. I've even been on the look out for clearance canvases for future projects I have on my list.

What things are you finding that inspire you?

Happy Birthday Becca!

2010-03-08T23:45:00.003-06:00

Becca turns 4 Years old on Tuesday! I can't believe it. She has grown into the most adorable, polite and hilariously funny little girl I have ever known. She is tender hearted, compassionate and most times honest (unless of course I ask her how this juice box got behind her bed, behind the tv, under her pillow, in the closet or in the storage room in the basement. Yoda would be heard saying..." Sneaky, you can be! "

But so anyway. We celebrated with family and very close friends that we consider family on Sunday with a small gathering at our house! I love that we have enough space to do so! We had a Candy Land theme that was so much fun, and really, very easy to do!

My favorite of all? The "game pieces" that we made for cupcake toppers. Ask anyone, we're very proud of them! But I can not take credit! I found them at Hobby Lobby, and within days handed them off to my Mom to paint. I was running out of time and energy to do them on my own, and she was more than happy to help! Thanks Mom! I truly think these made the party!

These are simply craft sticks..but large ones, like tongue depressor size. But they had little paper doll/gingerbread shapes on one end! I sent home craft paints in the primary colors like the game pieces in the Candy Land game, and she finished them up! The faces are drawn with a fine tip Sharpie and the "frosting" was dabbed on with white glue. The bottom portion we left unfinished, as they would be in the cupcakes, and the craft paint was not food safe. Mom did do a clear coat of ModPodge just to give it a finished look and a little shine. Adorable! Here they are in the cupcakes.

We had extras, so I immediately put 4 aside for her Scrapbook. Can't wait to get that page done! That will be fun also! There were 8 more that we put outside in the snow, leading the way up the sidewalk to the front door. Theme starts outside...right?

The rest of the decorations, literally, was CANDY! About $30 worth (that is being not so truthful!) I filled all the clear glass jars, vases and dishes I could find with Jelly Beans, Sixlets, Smarties, Licorice, Starlight Mints, Orange Slices and Red Hots. I also used a couple movie theater boxes of candy to display around. I found some VERY LARGE lolipops at the Dollar Tree and stuck them in some foam as flowers.

I did find some easter eggs at Hobby Lobby that were actually shaped like Jelly Beans, so I filled a glass container with those also. On top of the hutch (which my awesomely talented wood working genious Dad built) is a set of gift boxes that came nested together in all kinds of colors! I simply wrapped them in clear cellophane to make them look like hard candies. All of those (14 all together) was only $9.99 ! Awesome! I will be reusing them for storage in my craft room (if that ever gets organized and finished painted! Gotta heal first)

Tim decided (I'm giving him credit only because he "thought this up" when actually, I forgot to bring it out in the hurry of things) to display the Candy Land box, game board and cards on the table to bring it all together. It was fun!

Becca said during her party...totally unprompted "This is the greatest party EVER".

Mission accomplished.
Until next year.

This has inspired me

2010-03-03T22:50:00.003-06:00

I frequent a site called www.oneprettything.com that is full of ideas..new ideas..DAILY from the blog world of crafters. Some are large projects, some very small and easy. But this project and the artists collection of art has inspired me to try to do something similar. I've lost her website. So I apologize...if you know where or who she is, please let me know! I want to give credit where credit is due!

Anyway, she uses acrylic paints, stamps, and scrapbook paper...and her amazing talent to make beautiful art for the home! This is soooo on my list to do while I'm most likely going to be laid up after reconstructive surgery on my ACL. Lovely I know...but honestly! Looking forward to some time to do what I can at home and not be rushed with schedules!

2010-02-12T09:08:00.006-06:00

Well, I had hoped to post pictures of a beautifully painted craft room, in Mellow Mood by Ace Hardware...to reflect the color and feeling I got when I looked at the cover of my latest Country Living (ps...thanks mom for the subscription!)

I love the Blue, I love the white, i love the pop of yellow, and even though the only pink actually in the room is a small vase of flowers, I love it as an accent as well.
Let me remind you what the room looks like now...Yep! Chocolate Brown, Fushia Pink and Crush Orange.

But that is not the end of the story. As took of outlet and switch cover plates, there is evidence that this room was at one point, the most shocking fluorescent green! It is very clear to me that the TWEEN that lived in this room before we bought the house, was given free creative rein! Wowy!

So...on Tuesday, I started to prime...and half way around the room, my step ladder (yeah, the one folded up against the crush orange wall in the pic above) tipped on me! As the step ladder tipped, I thought " I'm only 2 steps up. No biggy " So I quickly stepped off the ladder from 2 steps off. Figured I would step off rather than fall with the ladder and save the tray of white primer I had in my hand.

*INSERT HOMER SIMPSON'S......D'OH *

Yeah, I'm not as small as my mind's eye image of myself, and my Goddess Size body weight was too much form me left knee to handle from 2 steps up.

*INSERT SLOW MOTION PICTURE FRAMES*

My knee quickly wanged (is that really a word....spell check doesn't think so) out to the left and I went down hard on the floor. My torso landing in a tote (one of the many in the pictures)my left leg completely crippled and a tray full of white primer down the front of my head.

Luckily Tim had come home by chance right before this happened. After assessing the situation for about 10 minutes, got me up off the floor, but not before we had determined that it was necessary to make our way to Urgent Care. After Xrays we were lucky to not find any broken bones, however they did put me in an immobilizer until swelling goes down and they can do more tests on Monday.
I did take two days off work to get used to wearing and walking with the immobilizer and let the pain subside a bit. But when I went back in yesterday to work, I found this on my desk! My coworkers love me and I love them! I'm amazed at the accuracy of their re-enactment!

New lights for the basement!

2010-02-05T13:32:00.002-06:00

Getting rid of the "boob" lights that are currently in the basement! Yahoo!
these will fit the decor and style much better!

Sconce for the stairway!

Ceiling fixutre x 3

Floor Lamp

In the mood.....booo-oy!

2010-02-04T12:50:00.002-06:00

Ok, not really. But we're setting the stage for a Valentine's party Becca and I will be hosting next week! I've done a very similar craft last year for Easter if you have followed my other blog for that long. Easy peasy...

Here's what we used:
Clear contact paper
craft paint
embroidery floss
ribbons
buttons
stickers
paper scraps

Here's what i did:
I took off the backing from the contact paper, and taped the contact paper to the table using blue tape. Sticky side up. Let'er loose! Becca painted with a passion, used scraps to just decorate and have fun. When she was finished decorating, and she was out of the room (her help was more of a hinder at this point!) I cut another piece of contact paper the same size, took of the backing and then laid it down on top of the first. Sticky side down.

I then took the creative liberty (or maybe it was the adult scissoring skill) to cut hearts out, punch holes and tie ribbon/thread and hang in our dinningroom! Great sun catchers (where there is sun), But it turns out the blinding light from the snow does the job also! lol.

My promises are real! I promise!

2010-02-03T09:58:00.002-06:00

Ok, so its been a month now that Becca started Preschool 3 days a week. You would think that I would have time to blog! Well...some times I do at times have a moment...but mostly its spent making this house our home!
My living room furniture came! Here are some pics in a mini tour...but come see it for yourself instead! Pictures don't do it justice!
ENTRY

LIVING ROOM

DINNING ROOM

Here it is, in all its glory! The long awaited dinning room table! Its ready for 6 at all times, but we can add another leaf and fit 8 very easily! I love it! And I love my hutch being a center piece like it was meant to be when my very talented Dad made it! I love that it will forever be in my family and will be Becca's when I'm gone. I still need to find some spring-y green for the basket on the left, but I'm happy with the effect I'm getting already!
This is a shot looking from the dinningroom/kitchen into the living room. Mom had this perfectly blue window that she no longer wanted to use and knew it would be perfect right here! She was right! Why do we doubt her? lol.
PLAY ROOM

Thank God for storage! Let me say that ALL of this was in my entertainment center at the old house. How.in.the.world? This is not how it always looks. Give Becca just 30 minutes in her playroom after we pick it up and you might find 5 things left on the shelves. MIGHT.

This is her play area across for the shelves. She is found here playing in her kitchen playing restaurant or being a creative genius at her easel!
BECCA'S ROOM

This vinyl wall art was ordered from UpperCaseLiving. Very cool stuff. Styles, words, designs, colors...all your choice. You can even create your very own!
The beautiful little frosted mirrored knobs on her dresser popped off during the move. These knobs were the perfect finishing touch on her nursery when she was a newborn. They were exquisitely girl-y. I do think now that something a bit more lively is in order for this punk! Exquisitely girl-y is just not her anymore! It really hadn't been added to my "Project" list yet. However, seeing this picture has changed that!

Ok, so thats what I've got for you at the moment!
The family room is complete now also, however a little monster with name the starts with B and ends in ecca has made a mess of it. So pictures will come soon.
The craft room is my next big project. I've finally gotten things put away or unpacked and into more permanent homes and ready to paint the "tween" right out of that room and make it a "clean and creative" space!

Wow! Did you think I forgot!?

2010-01-10T20:12:00.002-06:00

Its been so long, I almost have!
It has been crazy busy since the last post. I can't believe that its been a month since I posted last!

The basement furniture actually came the week then expected it! Two days before Christmas! I was absolutely amazed. And then equally amazed when it fit down the basement stairs! I had some serious doubts it would. You would have thought everything was rubbed down with butter the way it just slid perfectly down the stairway!
Decorations still are not in place yet, but we have some wall art that is on its way and will make the whole thing just right! I have a project I need to get busy on with some old vintage Field & Stream magazines from the 60's that will become part of the art on the wall as well! Can't wait for that to come together either!

My dearly loved blue couch is not here yet. Was supposed to be in last week, but I haven't been called yet. I will be making the call now! lol.

Christmas came and went with wonder and amazement in watching Becca this year. She'll be turning 4 in March and I can't imagine life without her! She's my sunshine, and I reminder her everyday...several times a day actually!

I've loved being home with her during the day time, having that one on one time. However, starting tomorrow, she will be starting Preschool! I have so many mixed emotions about this! For starters...I'm having the same anxiety about leaving her in someone's care other than my own...just like when we took her to daycare when she was 4 months old! Silly I know! But Tim and I are both super excited that she will once again have some interaction with some friends her age. I think as much as she likes being home, she has also missed having friends her age.

She will be going to the Casa Montessori preschool in Cf. I am very interested and intrigued by the methods and manipulatives used to help the children learn at their own pace, rather than the pace a teacher may be forced to teach them because of curriculum rules.

Anyway. I promise to pay more attention to my blog again. Alot happening here and I will have pictures coming soon.

We're in!

2009-11-30T23:23:00.002-06:00

We're sooooo happy to be in our new home. Thanks to all the help we got from family and friends! You were all super great and we appreciate each of you very much!

All the important stuff that we use day to day is out of boxes and put away. Not saying its where it will remain...but at least I was able to empty 21 totes so far! And I've sold just that many also! Made some friends a deal and got rid of some of them. The rest I think I plan on keeping, cause who doesn't need totes? Right?

I'm anxious for the furniture to get here so I can start to decorate! Its driving me bonkers! Most of my pretties have been put away since putting the house on the market. I'm dying to get some of it back out! Basement family room furniture is ESTIMATED to be here the week of Christmast...I'm not expecting it then though. Not getting my hopes up. I just ordered my blue couch today, and its estimated arrival will be after January 1st. Thats ok, we have stuff to live on until then. I'm just antsy!

We walked away with more $ than expected after both closings, so we're spending it! On the furniture of course. But since we needed to replace the dishwasher that was here, we decided to splurge a bit and get ALL new stainless steel appliances. Dishwasher is coming tomorrow and the rest should be here next week! Not often you can go out and buy all new appliances and a couch and pay cash! That will never happen again! But it feels good to know its not another "debt" that we'll be paying on! Love it!

Pictures to come soon! This week, I'm going to focus on making Becca's room HERS. Her's is about the only one that I can decorate right now!

Preview of new house/super long post

2009-11-12T12:27:00.007-06:00

So there is this couch I found yesterday! Want it! Going to order it right after closing...like, watch me race to the store to order it to have it in time for Christmas! lol. Not sure how the color shows on your monitor. But its a robin's egg blue that makes me fabulously happy!

Ok, its not really the one I fell in love with, but it will work the same, still sleek lines, and a little more contemporary than we are used to. But this will go in my CHOCOLATE brown living room, with my 3 CREAM tin ceiling tiles that I got for an amazing $30 total! They look most like the top left picture if you click on the link. Very simple, not over done, vintage/flea market-y style with just a touch of rust. Pulling my contemp sofa with my very traditional entertainment armoir and end tables together.

I have been stocking up a little bit at a time, super finds on the clearance shelves some items that will receive a mini make over via a little friend named Rustoleum Spray Paint, to accessorize the new living room! I sooo can't wait. I can't wait even more so...to share the finished pictures with you once we're in and the space is presentable. So here now...is the befores of our most public spaces! (items in the picture are of the seller...although her taste isn't horrible!)

My Livingroom looking right from the front door.

My entryway looking left from the front door. Can't wait to Pottery-Barn it!

The Kitchen ! I have an island! I'm going to dance around it...no promises that I won't dance on it either! These two walls are brick faced. I will be painting those a white/off white. The 2nd picture is my inspiration. not sure If i want to go distressed, or completely covered. What seems more cottage-y to you?

And the Basement family room! Right now it is gray & silver sponge painted. Soooo not us, although I will say, of all the sponge painting I've seen...they did exceptionally well. This will be changed to a tan. New furniture is ordered..shown in the 2nd picture.

11 days!

2009-11-09T12:39:00.005-06:00

We are living in a see of totes and boxes. Pretty bland...gray and brown everywhere you look. All the pretties are down off the walls, pretties off the tabletops, shelves and hutch are down. Becca packed / of her toys and most of her books, so there is less mess from those. We're all a little out of our element. But the excitement far surpasses the odd feeling of walking into a room with stacks and stacks of totes...like this..

They great you as you pull into the garage.

They welcome you at the back door.

They look over your shoulder as you work on the computer in the dinning room.

And tell you goodnight as you drift off to sleep!

423 Drynan

2009-10-23T12:33:00.002-05:00

I've determined that this blog needs a new purpose. As much as I would like to spend time finding just the right capture in my lens...I'm far to busy packing and getting ready to move!

Thats right! We're moving! This blog will now become a journal of all things "New to us" as we make our new house our forever home!
Come along and join us as we enjoy the ride!

Monochrome Monday

2009-04-13T13:09:00.003-05:00

This is a shot from my parents old house again. Actually, at the curb where I used to watch the river of melting snow flow down the hill, bringing with it all the leaves, sticks and debris it would pick up along the way, just as it did this day.
See more Monochrome shots here! Join the fun!

Ruby Tuesday

2009-04-06T17:47:00.004-05:00

Valley Junction is a destination shopping spot in Des Moines, Ia...with unique little gift, antique, bead, craft and scrapbooking stores in a historic little strip. At the end of the strip is the old Train depot,a long with its Ruby TuesdayCaboose!

Monochrome Monday

2009-04-05T12:05:00.004-05:00

I've been absent for the last two weeks, busy moving the stepson out. Time to get back to my passions.
Come see more Monochrome shots here!

Ruby Tuesday

2009-03-23T18:03:00.004-05:00

So this is not so much my creative eye, as much as it is my daughters.
This was her first attempt at decorating cookies. And for a 2 year old (at the time) i think she did fabulous!

However, I can't show you the finished product without showing you how they got that way...just for fun!
To see more Ruby Shots click here!

Monochromatic Monday

2009-03-23T17:29:00.003-05:00

This was the tree I climbed as a child that aged in our backyard. The very old garage with it's shabby shingles was the neighbor's. The somber color color fit my mood as my parents moved out of the only childhood home I knew, just last year.

Click here to see Monochrom Maniac views!

Watery Wednesday

2009-03-18T07:26:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately, I don't have anything this beautiful in my yard just yet this year. This shot was from last year of our pond...errrrr...puddle in the back yard. Can't wait for the rest of the ice to melt in it this year! lol.

Ruby Tuesday

2009-03-16T18:41:00.002-05:00

This guy starts singing at 6:05 EVERY morning for the last 3 weeks. Who needs the alarm clock? He then starts singing around 5ish again in the evening. Ok, so maybe its not the same bird. But they are definitely persistent, so I decided to be as well, looking for him daily. I found him this weekend!
Find more RubyTuesday shots here

Monochrome Maniac & Macro Monday

2009-03-15T17:10:00.006-05:00

Ok, this is my first time for Macro Monday, but decided to combine it with my Monochrome as well. I'll also provide the color, to show the difference. I can't decide which I like better.

To view more Monochrome Maniacs, click here, and for Macro shots...here! Thanks for visiting.

Skywatch Friday

2009-03-12T19:23:00.004-05:00

Its that time already. This was a last minute shot on the way in the house after work today. Its my magnolia tree, getting ready to bloom. In the next couple of weeks, the little pussywillow-like buds will open up to a beautiful pink flower. I will post those again once that happens.

To see more breathtaking skys, go to SkyWatch

Watery Wednesday

2009-03-10T18:23:00.005-05:00

I've had plenty of opportunities to catch some "watery" shots this last week. However, the planning and getting ready for my 3 year old's Birthday party took up that time. However, I noticed this very transparent (from all the rain this week) leaf stuck in the winter spout. Nothing extraordinary for sure, but its my world!
For more amazing watery shots, visit here!

Ruby Tuesday

2009-03-09T21:13:00.004-05:00

My first post to Ruby Tuesday. Playing with the macro setting on flowers from my husband on our 10th Anniversary.

To see more Ruby shots, click here

Monochrome Monday

2009-03-08T20:43:00.002-05:00

My antique False Indigo Baptisia, with a garage sale find bench in the background.
Click here to view other Monochrome shots from around the world.

SkyWatch Friday

2009-03-05T20:42:00.002-06:00

This shot was taken at dawn last September while in the middle of a reed bed on Little Boy Lake, Mn.

My second post to Skywatch! Check out other sky's here!

Watery Wednesday #1

2009-03-03T18:40:00.003-06:00

My first Watery Wednesday post, taken of a loon on Lake Alexander, Minnesota. The loon's call is such a lonely, eerie call anyway, and I think this shot captures that as well thruough the rolling fog on the water that morning.

To see other Watery Wednesday images from around the world, click here.

Getting around to it.

2009-03-01T13:09:00.003-06:00

Wow. I soo didn't get into this as quick as I thought I would. Or for that matter, keep busy doing the things that once preoccupied my mind.
However, just as my meanderings go, I have once again found something that I want to try. I have stumbled across several photo blogs, in my search for inspiration. I love photography. Love landscapes, texture, nature, contrasts and capturing a moment in a life that will be gone in a split second, if I don't get in on my camera.

So I've been challenged. Challenged to capture those things that I love. Every day, something different. It may be a different object, idea, portrayal, or word.

In the proccess...

2008-10-09T11:55:00.000-05:00

of taking lots of pics of the stuff that keeps my hands busy and my mind preoccupied!
I will be back shortly with it all! Stay tuned.

Miss Matched and Marvelous

Trophy Husband Party

Somewhere over this Rainbow!!!

Fresh Start

Upcycled Magazine to a Christmas Tree!

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Book Bags for Sprout Preschool!

I was featured!

Kids Night Out !

I love fall and all that comes with it!

Enchanted Forest Baby Shower

Sneak Peak into the forest

Svoboda/Krizek Wedding

Crafty Birthday for Ms Brynn!

Things are Sprout - ing up!

God has spoken!

Things are happening!

I have a new crush! Cupcakes!

Graduation party decorations

GW lamp, GS shade

Pencil Holder & Note holder!

Banana Cream Sandwhich Cookies

For the love of all things louvered and weathered!

Dreaming up more ideas!

My Crush on Restoration Hardware

Ah! Something bit me!

Yummy spring time cookie goodness!

Backyard Mysteries

So many ideas, not enough time....or mayyyyybe...

Happy Birthday Becca!

This has inspired me

New lights for the basement!

In the mood.....booo-oy!

My promises are real! I promise!

Wow! Did you think I forgot!?

We're in!

Preview of new house/*super long post*

11 days!

423 Drynan

Monochrome Monday

Ruby Tuesday

Monochrome Monday

Ruby Tuesday

Monochromatic Monday

Watery Wednesday

Ruby Tuesday

Monochrome Maniac & Macro Monday

Skywatch Friday

Watery Wednesday

Ruby Tuesday

Monochrome Monday

SkyWatch Friday

Watery Wednesday #1

Getting around to it.

In the proccess...

Preview of new house/super long post