Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label home. Show all posts
Friday, December 6, 2013
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
New rug, new perspective
On Saturday morning I did something I never do. I shopped. Online. I splurged. Big time for me.
I've been wanting a foyer runner for ages, but wasn't sure what color and I didn't really want to shell out $150+ for one.
Finally I settled on a color direction: black and white. This was after seeing a black and white stripped Ikea rug that's no longer available. {so disappointing when I went}
But then I saw a black and white chevron rug on Target's website when I was showing a friend a rug I eventually want for Vincent's room. I had blinders on. I wanted that rug. I have been working hard on some freelance writing, so I decided I had earned it, but that I should also shop around. Wouldn't you know it but Home Depot was having a sale on a similar rug, was $15 less {$130 total}, and also had free shipping. I didn't think. I just bought.
It arrived today. In hindsight I should have measured my foyer. I know I have a long foyer, but it really puts it in perspective when a 7ft. rug manages to look short in it.
To counter the shortness {because I'm not returning this gem}, I centered it. If I were rich I would keep looking for one that fits better but then I worry when we move at some point I'll end up with a runner too long to go anywhere.
The runner makes me want to style my foyer better, buy new light fixtures {not in the budget}, paint, and hang up mirrors and more art. I have this grand idea of hanging decorative mirrors on the wall the stairs are on in hopes of a)reflecting light since it tends to be dark and b)making them seem like windows. I'm kicking myself that that was one of the design changes I didn't take time to consider. 
Please ignore all the crap sitting out in the foyer. I'm in the process of going through some of my baby stuff to loan to a neighbor.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
What I missed while I was gone
I can't tell you how excited I was to get home to my boys. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed my time away and hanging with some family, I couldn't wait to find out how much Vincent missed me. Or not.
I walked in the door and the first thing he asked, "Where's Tami (my sister) and the doggie?" Wow. Mom's home and he barely notices.
In the week I was away it seems like Vincent learned more words and is speaking in longer sentences. He told me all kinds of things and coherently.
The thing I did forget: how exhaustive it is to stay present and engaged with Vincent. It took less than a day for the magic of my vacation to wear off. I do feel more patient in his melodramatics.
This morning he flipped out over the flax seeds in his oatmeal. The oatmeal he has eaten every morning, stuffing it in his mouth as fast as possible. So I calmly took him out if his seat while Dad threw waffles in the toaster. After Vincent had inhaled a couple of waffles, getting some food in his system, he was calmed down and ready to take on those pesky flax seeds.
Oh the dramatics!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Our paver patio is done
Break open the bubbly! Do some shots! Put on your flip flops and head over because our patio is done!
We actually need to finish doing the sand to fill in the gaps and maybe leveling a few pavers that settled a little, but nothing a good whack with the mallet can't fix.
If you remember we had one row left to do. But before we could finish it we had to buy one more piece of edger. While the in laws were here on Sunday and could watch Vincent, we quickly plowed ahead and put down the final pavers.
The moment was more anticlimactic than I wanted it to be. Maybe because we needed to hurry and go eat because dinner was ready. I wish we would have reveled a little longer in completing a long, sweaty project that took a year to complete. Instead it was swept away with the next moment. It's a project that marks two wildly different summers for us.
Last year was bitter hot and Vincent couldn't walk, so entertaining him was impossible without help. This time last year we were certain he was autistic. Jonathan was needing surgery and we had to stop early on in the summer and on the project to tackle that. This summer: The weather has been mild and cooler; Vincent's not only running around the place, he owns it. He's happy; he talking and counting, and asking all sorts of curious questions and making crazy cute statements. Jonathan is all healed and no longer in discomfort. In hindsight, it's amazing we even had the willpower to tackle such a big project last year. I'm proud we did it, but I'm not sure we'll be doing it again. I owe you a final amazing picture. Standby because, to me, summer has only just began!
Monday, December 31, 2012
She saw the art her world needed and hung it
One of my most favorite gifts this Christmas was from my sister. These wonderfully inspiring sayings for women. It's a fitting gift not only because 2013 is said to be the era of the feminine, but I'm a work in progress. Isn't that all women? I don't think men continually take stock of their lives the way we do. But back to the art work. My sister gave me five framed prints. I'll have to ask where she got them in case they inspire you too.
To hang the wall collage of prints, I took newspaper from my recycle pile and setting the frame on top, I cut fairly rough shapes of the frame. Then I flipped the frame over, lined the paper up with it, and then using a pen, punched a small hole through the paper where the nail hanger was at. That way I could just use that hole to hammer my nail into the wall once I got my newspaper templates right where I wanted them. I used frog tape on the back so I could adjust the arrangement without to much fuss. It's the best but less exact method to hanging picture collages. I'm in love with the end product.
I still need to paint the walls a deep gray and hang my gallery wire above the collage.
To hang the wall collage of prints, I took newspaper from my recycle pile and setting the frame on top, I cut fairly rough shapes of the frame. Then I flipped the frame over, lined the paper up with it, and then using a pen, punched a small hole through the paper where the nail hanger was at. That way I could just use that hole to hammer my nail into the wall once I got my newspaper templates right where I wanted them. I used frog tape on the back so I could adjust the arrangement without to much fuss. It's the best but less exact method to hanging picture collages. I'm in love with the end product.
I still need to paint the walls a deep gray and hang my gallery wire above the collage.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Want to accomplish
I always have a running want-to-accomplish list in the back of my dusty brain. Here's my top 10 house want-to-dos. Maybe publishing them here will be a spark of inspiration!
1. Find more frames at garage sales and on Etsy to spray paint as part of my wall collage in my foyer. I'm doing all black frames since my walls are the color of putty and white makes the putty look garish.
2. Create art for some frames. I want to do a mix of signs, pictures, and meaningful things. Hopefully it won't become the Museum O Vincent. But could you blame me?
3. Possibly repaint the white desk in the foyer that I'm currently using as a foyer table. I'm thinking black, but maybe I should be more bold and do something unexpected. Like navy blue or tea?
4. Spray paint some wooden airplanes that were Jonathan's when he was a boy and hang them from the ceiling in Vincent's room. He's starting to be more aware so I think he'd like having something to look at over his changing table. I'm just going to paint them white to go with his furniture.
5. Make some signs to go in Vincent's room. Right now he only has his "I love you to the moon and back" print that I made him. His nursery is so boring, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. And anymore I realized I hate rooms that are too themed. I want his room to be eclectic.
6. Sew couch pillow covers.
7. Sew curtains for the dining room.
8. Shop around for some new things to put on the mantel.
9. DIY things to put in the mantel apothecary jar.
10. Organize the pantry.
1. Find more frames at garage sales and on Etsy to spray paint as part of my wall collage in my foyer. I'm doing all black frames since my walls are the color of putty and white makes the putty look garish.
2. Create art for some frames. I want to do a mix of signs, pictures, and meaningful things. Hopefully it won't become the Museum O Vincent. But could you blame me?
3. Possibly repaint the white desk in the foyer that I'm currently using as a foyer table. I'm thinking black, but maybe I should be more bold and do something unexpected. Like navy blue or tea?
4. Spray paint some wooden airplanes that were Jonathan's when he was a boy and hang them from the ceiling in Vincent's room. He's starting to be more aware so I think he'd like having something to look at over his changing table. I'm just going to paint them white to go with his furniture.
5. Make some signs to go in Vincent's room. Right now he only has his "I love you to the moon and back" print that I made him. His nursery is so boring, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it. And anymore I realized I hate rooms that are too themed. I want his room to be eclectic.
6. Sew couch pillow covers.
7. Sew curtains for the dining room.
8. Shop around for some new things to put on the mantel.
9. DIY things to put in the mantel apothecary jar.
10. Organize the pantry.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Channeling Candice Olson
never ever in this world thought my first home would be brand-new, or for that matter that I would want it to be brand-new. I like things with history. But apparently history in a home only means one thing: old. Old AC, old appliances, old roof. Old, old, old. Yes, most of it I figured we could pay to update. But when you're married to Mr. Dose of Reality, why buy old when you can buy new for the same price if not less? You get peace of mind and the opportunity to pick out everything yourself. And pick we did tonight. I felt like I was in a Crayola store of patterns, textures, and colors. In a dizzying number of choices. I tried my best to think about the things I'm attracted to in magazines. And then I did my best to channel Candice Olson. Here's how my house came away:
Kitchen: It's pretty damn close to my dream kitchen. I got my white cabinets. It was an upgrade (if you're keeping track, that's upgrade number two). Just a small amount to get what I really wanted. On the walls: Sherwin-Williams Harvester. We didn't even explore granite right now so we could stay within budget. We were able to find a Formica pattern we liked called Sand Crystal. Our appliances will be white.
Dining Room and Great Room: I stuck with the Harvester color throughout just to save time and to create flow from this one larger space. I realize that I could have done variations of the same shade and still made it work, but better safe than sorry. My fireplace (upgrade number one) will have a raised hearth (no buried fireplace here! it's going to be a great focal point) with a stone-looking ceramic tile with mantel that's trimmed in beige.
Through the foyer, dining room, and great room will be Kenya oak hardwood floors. Hardwood floors. Another dream come true.
Bedrooms: Only the bedrooms and the stairs will be carpeted. We chose to stick with the standard carpet in Fossil, but upgrade the carpet pad to an 8-pound pad versus the 6-pound pad. (That's upgrade number three. Our last upgrade. Not too shabby.) The rooms will be painted in Beige, which we can change later, choosing to play it safe for now.
Bathrooms: Again, we stayed away from the upgrades. The vanities will be chestnut oak with a stone-looking vinyl on the floors. The master bathroom has a shower so we opted to go with the clear glass door. (Hello peep show.)
Exterior: By far the hardest choice was the exterior. This is permanent decision. Luckily none of the selections were too crazy. (Except for maybe the light china blue color, which one of the houses our our cul de sac has already selected.) I stuck with a gray-brown color called Tuscan Clay with trim in Colonial Ivory and gutters in Pebble Stone Clay. The stone work will be Centurian Castle. (Doesn't that sound fancy?) Our front door and garage will be white. The hardware will be Venetian Bronze.
Add in a little love. A lot of waiting for this moment and you get a dream home made for Jonathan and Jessaca. How divine.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
We're (almost) homeowners
e went and looked at a couple of houses today, and ended up purchasing a home yet to be built. Come February I will be the proud owner of a brand-new home. It has my fireplace (it was an upgrade), and Jonathan gets peace of mind knowing that everything is brand-new. Now I can do some serious home decorating daydreaming.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
There and back again
Home from my week-long stay with my sister. I was so sad to leave. Leave the smiles, the hugs, the giggling, the newborn snuggle loving, the Thomas-watching (Okay, maybe not so sad about that). I'm was also glad to be home and see Jonathan. I missed him so much. He bought me flowers and candy. Guess I was missed too. The week was a success. Baby Abby is a little charmer. She loves to be held close and rocked—not to mention she loves to eat. Not sure Mom got much rest with Abby being so hungry. AJ has gotten so big, and so independent. I can't decide who I'll miss most, but I guess I don't have decide. I love em all so much. I'm so lucky to be able to have spent time with the little family. Not sure when I'll be able to see them again. Good thing there's Skype! Now I need to make plans to see my new nephew. I'm a busy aunt!
Friday, May 23, 2008
The ants go marching
one by one. Hurrah! Hurrah!
You may wonder why I have this song in my head, and that's because the ants are literally marching one by one into our kitchen. A couple of weeks ago we told out apartment manager, who said they would spray. Spray they did. But did it help get rid of these pests? Nope. We bought some ant things with poison for them to crawl into, grab some food (poison), and carry it back to their queen. So far it doesn't seem to have worked. The ants continue to march in all kinds of numbers into our kitchen via our kitchen window. This means that I'm on constant dish-washing duty, where I keep the Windex bottle at the ready—my weapon of choice for the ants are too far away from the traps to reap the poison. There's some satisfaction being able to watch those little suckers die and get swept into the trash.
I really don't understand why the "Ants Go Marching On" is so upbeat. Not "hurrah!" It's more like, "Dammit! Dammit!" But the song is catchy anyhow. Both Jonathan and I have taken to singing it to keep ourselves from being driven mad.
Side note: I'm not sure why my posts this week have been violent; first the key fob, and now the Windex. I'll try to start writing about fuzzy stuff. Jonathan and I are going to try to make it to an arboretum and go see the new Indy flick this weekend. I'll try to take pictures of the trees and write an upbeat post so as not to drag done the mood of this blog.
You may wonder why I have this song in my head, and that's because the ants are literally marching one by one into our kitchen. A couple of weeks ago we told out apartment manager, who said they would spray. Spray they did. But did it help get rid of these pests? Nope. We bought some ant things with poison for them to crawl into, grab some food (poison), and carry it back to their queen. So far it doesn't seem to have worked. The ants continue to march in all kinds of numbers into our kitchen via our kitchen window. This means that I'm on constant dish-washing duty, where I keep the Windex bottle at the ready—my weapon of choice for the ants are too far away from the traps to reap the poison. There's some satisfaction being able to watch those little suckers die and get swept into the trash.
I really don't understand why the "Ants Go Marching On" is so upbeat. Not "hurrah!" It's more like, "Dammit! Dammit!" But the song is catchy anyhow. Both Jonathan and I have taken to singing it to keep ourselves from being driven mad.
Side note: I'm not sure why my posts this week have been violent; first the key fob, and now the Windex. I'll try to start writing about fuzzy stuff. Jonathan and I are going to try to make it to an arboretum and go see the new Indy flick this weekend. I'll try to take pictures of the trees and write an upbeat post so as not to drag done the mood of this blog.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
My favorite things
Got the idea from Chance. I'm not as much of a shopper and packer as she is, so my favorite things list is rather shorter.
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