This stuff is goooood.

Stay with me till the end for the Bomobob giveaway winner! :)<br /><br />Speaking of Bob, I had to brag about my advertisers <em>yet again</em>, cause you know -- they RAWK.<br /><br />My newest advertiser, Amanda at Imperfectly Beautiful, has the caaaaa<em>utest</em> Etsy shop you ever did see. When I saw these on her blog, I had to have them. They were even packaged so sweetly when they arrived, I could just die:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343612311767778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5M02oUgoDz8mWIEc8H2YqQnoKMlFfWmXDabgHbRHmCrWAYH6sVnQLorn7OpWxJqteqXHSqIF481xwyz3kezmb3wZLQ0woH4UJsF8uAEYwWrFKrMyK4JJc2lp0_eptIbhDGPQmei5YWA/s400/DSC01362.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Squeal! I did! I squealed! YES, they are Christmas decorations. YES, I am going there. It's only <em>FOUR</em> months away peeps. That's like, only a third of a year. Geez.<br /><br />The blocks were much bigger than I thought they would be. I love all the details -- some of the paper even has sparkles (hard to see here):<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CcgMb-04UHckUNblUPv3aT-zD31OyZhgHYxqiaFSV5ywKxJ-efpE8O9ZZaePMm5i2I_o2LwbiTRt6Kw196W3kofMPsexVPh-nGfjiYpXm3CejEUP4DPS7VDMymNpqiQjKH3eKd7Zm5E/s1600-h/DSC01369.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343633798290690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CcgMb-04UHckUNblUPv3aT-zD31OyZhgHYxqiaFSV5ywKxJ-efpE8O9ZZaePMm5i2I_o2LwbiTRt6Kw196W3kofMPsexVPh-nGfjiYpXm3CejEUP4DPS7VDMymNpqiQjKH3eKd7Zm5E/s400/DSC01369.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Squeal! <em>Sparkles!</em><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq7bhkubtnKhEzRg6qqFY6xjvUW_5X0WgVE8X5EPdwxki3NCbFBBYQIT1r-dccUJcWrFlfb0atTrRZQpVICJ9PO4_RjQ4BjVgsJglZKX2Y6Q7gqISjwCZk8f2Rg8HycwnUzbMRwWlCLw/s1600-h/DSC01368.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343620218015682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIq7bhkubtnKhEzRg6qqFY6xjvUW_5X0WgVE8X5EPdwxki3NCbFBBYQIT1r-dccUJcWrFlfb0atTrRZQpVICJ9PO4_RjQ4BjVgsJglZKX2Y6Q7gqISjwCZk8f2Rg8HycwnUzbMRwWlCLw/s400/DSC01368.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div><div>I can't tell you how pleased I was when I opened this up. Amanda does a great job, you must go check her out <a href="http://imperfectlybeautiful.etsy.com/">here</a>. She's working on an upcoming giveaway for you lovely folks too:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343640086529474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgbjUsryibO3L1j0VS_jwa5xZPKDwO_zCEz2OfE_KqzP5PHeZwUWhw6NfQFhkeKMVO3D5dXHdo04Tzuv8BdC7HCPjMzhE7EPpYMUsW-zxDTVNvOInveJPktucM6JhUVK3fnG1jADCSLs/s400/DSC01377.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />And at Cara's giveaway post for <a href="http://www.sheetboutique.com/">The Sheet Boutique</a>, I told you how I bought the EzzzySleep fleece sheets. </div><div></div><div><br />They came super fast and uh. my. gawd., they are they most amazing sheets we've ever had!:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343650373614338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOit2-uzc5LSuxIC_5eD9v6YoF2PRODUViT2QoT8AgbPD1_qeGeJVci7FifTT8gtgXe0LT3TtpkRCjnwJtkWi5RjvuAmSWuYiJePRamDa67uPpb_915O9PfQIdcWXVx2OkF5fkQ0jBAw/s400/DSC01370.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I know the picture doesn't convey how comfy these are. They are so soft, I'm not even kidding. When I opened them up I was a little worried they would be too hot, but they are so comfortable, even though it is still fairly warm around here. I am <em>SO thrilled</em> with this purchase. Like sleeping in a fluffy cloud.<br /><br />The winner of Bomobob's fantastic giveaway is (randomly picked) <strong>Erin from Home is Where the Heart is</strong>! Erin, e-mail me and I'll get you connected with Bob!</div><div></div><div><br />Come back tomorrow -- I have some fun little projects to share. :)</div><div></div></div>

This stuff is goooood.

Stay with me till the end for the Bomobob giveaway winner! :) Speaking of Bob, I had to brag about my advertisers yet again , cause you know...

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Open letter to a new Momma

Today we celebrated the upcoming birth of a new baby boy. The mom-to-be is one of my last friends to have their first child, and there is something so incredibly special about that. Something so special you just don't <em>get</em> when you are pregnant with that first baby. You wonder why everyone has constant big goofy smiles, fluffing all over you and can't keep your hands off your belly. :)<br /><br />And then you have that baby. And you know.<br /><br />So Momma B., this is what I hope you remember over the next few weeks:<br /><br />For at least the new two years, probably more, you will have very little control over your life. It starts with labor -- you can't plan it (I know, it killed me too!), you can't tell that little one how or when to come, and you can't control how the labor will go. All you can do is relax, let go, breathe, and realize you have to give it up to the people that know best...the nurses, your doctor, God.<br /><br />After the baby is here, you will have zero control over your life because that itty bitty patootie will rule. your. world. You will feel exhaustion like you've never known. You will want to give your right arm for a few straight hours of sleep. You will have to plan to leave the house well ahead of time. And when you do leave the house, it will be 30 minutes later than you had planned.<br /><br />Speaking of sleep, even the best sleepers (ours slept through at FIVE weeks) will drive you absolutely mad at times. They will sleep three hours at a time for a few nights...sleep for six one night...you will get on your knees thanking God...and then that next night they will will wake up every two. It is a bit maddening. There are also nights when they just don't want to sleep, thank you very much. They would rather just lay there staring at you, thank you again.<br /><br />Because of this, there may be times you will look at your child at 3 a.m., begging him to PLEASE JUST GO TO SLEEP. You may not even like him much at those moments. YES -- I said it, there are times you just are not nuts about them for being itty bitty and helpless and ruling your world (at 3 a.m. nonetheless).<br /><br />And then that moment passes, and in the middle of the night, you will look at your baby's sweet eyes in the dark, rub his tiny head and you may just cry because you are <em>so incredibly blessed</em> to have this child. To be rocking this child at 3 a.m. You will realize there is no place you would rather be, <em>ever</em>.<br /><br />You will be overwhelmed at how people love your baby. Yes, you know your friends love you. But you will realize you didn't have a <em>clue</em> how much they love you until you see the way they love your child. You will realize how much you mean to the people around you, because of the way they love your baby. It will overwhelm you, the love you will feel in those first weeks.<br /><br />A few weeks after that sweet bubby is born, you will start needing a little somethin'. Just a little -- a little something in return for all that feeding, loving, feeding, smooching. And then. THEN, your child <strong>will smile at you</strong>. YOUR CHILD. He will smile at you like you are the sun and the moon and the stars and it will be one of the best moments of your entire life.<br /><br />You will spend the rest of your days trying to get your child to smile at you like that again.<br /><br />One of the biggest changes I noticed after our son was born was the new "weight" of being a Mom. It's the best way I can explain it. It's like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, in a good way. You now have a life to look after, and that is a really big deal. Sometimes that weight is really noticeable. You will feel it all the time -- but mostly when you leave the baby with Daddy for an hour. Or with Grandma for an evening so you can go out with friends.<br /><br />From the day that baby is born, you are ALWAYS, ALWAYS thinking about them, worrying about them, wondering about them. You may not realize it, but it's always there. That weight lessens as they get older, but it's only because you get used to it. You are now a Mommy, and that comes with so much wonderful responsibility.<br /><br />Your life is about to change for the better. You will never be the same. You will come back and read this a few months from now and have a whole new appreciation for these words. And when someone you love has their first baby, you will try to express to them the crazy, indescribable love they are about to feel, and you won't be able to put it into words for them either.<br /><br />You are about to meet the love of your life, and I am so happy for you.

Open letter to a new Momma

Today we celebrated the upcoming birth of a new baby boy. The mom-to-be is one of my last friends to have their first child, and there is so...

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I can tile?

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374467368547988882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLff24bgEPJi9pkx_MaFfDarlOfVrC1WCWbLlkH3BZCbvS0F1txfVLXDUNcS7w4mgjEyu7_8hg9KIqMyw3k6aiTLuonkN5rGw16mmX6dIxyHnei2FnEd7Nm9GUQTF0wvG1peL6aOs0es/s400/DSC01346.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I pose that title as a question because the answer is questionable. The walls haven't come down yet, so I think I was successful. Maybe, YES, I <em>can</em> tile.<br /><br />There are a few large projects in our home that I have avoided because of FEAR. Plain, good old, I-am-a-big-huge-sissy fear. One of them is the marble that surrounded our tub. It has bothered me for over a year now, since I added the molding to the walls around the tub <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/05/more-examples-of-my-obsession.html">here</a>.<br /><br />The marble is a creamy color and the walls are bright white. For normal people this would not be a big deal, but it made me twitch a bit, cause as you know, <em>I'm not normal</em>. I have been wanting to take off the marble surround and replace it with tile for<em><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">eva</span></em>.<br /><br />So Saturday morning, I thought, what the heck, I'm going to go for it! What's the worst that could happen? Uh, believe me, the "worsts" were running through my head.<br /><br />Sister helped me take off the marble -- I used razor and a pry bar, being careful not to dent the wall as I took off the marble:<br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHBOMMcNjaYlEATxOZvFtO7UFgzX726OBxk0SCHmQvg5GIFHvn3OQwOtdUDD-Dzb_YOmDAbafe6hC0OmzC0d7wJSWdgNlX9haPoNBTh7DdZBW2roF6vMqQdZPaCvdZSPhXmw7IR03zjM/s1600-h/photo1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374467384914633554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHBOMMcNjaYlEATxOZvFtO7UFgzX726OBxk0SCHmQvg5GIFHvn3OQwOtdUDD-Dzb_YOmDAbafe6hC0OmzC0d7wJSWdgNlX9haPoNBTh7DdZBW2roF6vMqQdZPaCvdZSPhXmw7IR03zjM/s400/photo1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This house was built very well, but we have found the one thing they skimped on -- all the tile in the house was glued down, instead of mortared. Makes an easier job for me, so I'm cool with it. Hubby was working downstairs and I didn't even mention this little project was going to happen -- he didn't know about it until he walked in and saw the mess. There was just a brief flash of complete panic on his lovely face, but God bless this man, it didn't last long. He has faith in me. :)</p><p>I didn't take pics of the installation part of this project, because I was working like a crazy mad woman to get it all done before my son woke up from his nap. You basically take the mortar and mix it like the directions say -- water and the mortar, mix it up -- that's it! Make sure to do this outside with a mask on.</p><p>The directions say to put the mortar on the surface and the back of the tile, but I did a couple with the backs covered and quickly found it didn't need it -- there was way too much and it was spilling through the tiles. </p><p>You know how on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">HGTV</span> when they mortar, they just slap it on the walls and it goes on like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">butta</span>? Yeah, it didn't work like that. I would swipe it on and it would pretty much just fall right off. It was fab. Next time I won't put quite as much water in as the instructions call for. </p><p>This is how it looked before the grout:</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAJJp_yXD0KnE1Zfa3a0g337Mb-96Yb4ZGS7DBxmiPpW352sMQX11s_tWm5fqqoC3R7d3G2JqnTIM6Z9jM8KwOAjvWeYfr7TvBm-21xAeAJKsZCKumxDhqyXeQ7H37ZlKOaTzscmU7PE/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374467377291945378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdAJJp_yXD0KnE1Zfa3a0g337Mb-96Yb4ZGS7DBxmiPpW352sMQX11s_tWm5fqqoC3R7d3G2JqnTIM6Z9jM8KwOAjvWeYfr7TvBm-21xAeAJKsZCKumxDhqyXeQ7H37ZlKOaTzscmU7PE/s400/photo.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> One thing I have learned about tiling is you can't judge it until you have grouted. Grouting just makes all the difference in the world:<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXb7qzwzcuS2OFRSXooQYK7zqqXvLDB9iB99bUEI_CxR2xfBT0TvbZxY3ipv8Q5xD2ql_qhZXeijTLtr1OurR4QwTAHXDqxbC9mY-CsZbcZvkiIVXi0f01UEiG4-KLkRsXWoX4RdDoSw/s1600-h/DSC01350.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374467352624281826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXb7qzwzcuS2OFRSXooQYK7zqqXvLDB9iB99bUEI_CxR2xfBT0TvbZxY3ipv8Q5xD2ql_qhZXeijTLtr1OurR4QwTAHXDqxbC9mY-CsZbcZvkiIVXi0f01UEiG4-KLkRsXWoX4RdDoSw/s400/DSC01350.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> To grout, you use the same mixer thing that attached to the drill and water or grout enhancer. I got the enhancer ($5) because it's supposed to help reduce the possibility of mold:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtkHGUKCEjpe8GeabYNInZcwjYVpP-PtFr5kqh77vE6GJ8-4yYnnwn9Fk3wOOjdlKrCkWhA6aNUIvSKsWzpZ3JuN6LMlVRQlg6sQtpVuO9wLSNSgyl8xxdYNMqLr-yk7hGUjsjrKzL3E/s1600-h/DSC01267.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374467343763941090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtkHGUKCEjpe8GeabYNInZcwjYVpP-PtFr5kqh77vE6GJ8-4yYnnwn9Fk3wOOjdlKrCkWhA6aNUIvSKsWzpZ3JuN6LMlVRQlg6sQtpVuO9wLSNSgyl8xxdYNMqLr-yk7hGUjsjrKzL3E/s400/DSC01267.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> This part was much easier then the mortar:<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARijdVaBPvFj7n3O_iJHk_sayckxGxlzRoyyTf6zNdQO5oQPpv7jobSRo-a6-3axstDbDM66slPPvkhBhnGf8XufZMuTJ_3TXtOTap9Xh9tkwtDA4Yruyd7uk-4XO3WUSBTa73pzOmCA/s1600-h/DSC01270.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374465962213439186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARijdVaBPvFj7n3O_iJHk_sayckxGxlzRoyyTf6zNdQO5oQPpv7jobSRo-a6-3axstDbDM66slPPvkhBhnGf8XufZMuTJ_3TXtOTap9Xh9tkwtDA4Yruyd7uk-4XO3WUSBTa73pzOmCA/s400/DSC01270.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> My back was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">keeeeeeling</span> me at this point, so I tried to sit for most of this part, but it didn't work out that way for long:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIUrtFW3TqvEluPsWAMf_QhNcyEYfQacoF7LNkp6YOg9-zTkTxFtZHriIkVWGu0guicrmgKz6W3CB5EW5hQUfyWnb4RW8dMkVPtPtRwi9HeQS1jkgHYWAGBqlcabBgnBw3EzTLTQViNU/s1600-h/DSC01272.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374465954851937666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIUrtFW3TqvEluPsWAMf_QhNcyEYfQacoF7LNkp6YOg9-zTkTxFtZHriIkVWGu0guicrmgKz6W3CB5EW5hQUfyWnb4RW8dMkVPtPtRwi9HeQS1jkgHYWAGBqlcabBgnBw3EzTLTQViNU/s400/DSC01272.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> (See the Pepsi and popcorn? Sister was trying to give me energy food.) You'll notice I taped off the area around the tub with paper -- this was a life saver both during the mortar process and the grouting. It made for much easier clean up! The hardest part of this WHOLE process was wiping down the tile after grouting -- it felt like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Groundhog's</span> Day -- over and over and over. (And over.)<br /></div><div></div><div>I still have some paint touch ups to do and some caulking, but for now, it is done:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcsZC4YaSv2JphpVBxEAY-l236dDIGtQOTY0UBdquGq6jFv8FbUWe-Tgj2i1HQhljeBJnylbMjUgVSZMC_PpMzAJpOvcKQmp48YGsmal4igVi5eRNyxi0n6XEMVkWcZquPxe34ZDOXug/s1600-h/DSC01276.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374465947788531778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcsZC4YaSv2JphpVBxEAY-l236dDIGtQOTY0UBdquGq6jFv8FbUWe-Tgj2i1HQhljeBJnylbMjUgVSZMC_PpMzAJpOvcKQmp48YGsmal4igVi5eRNyxi0n6XEMVkWcZquPxe34ZDOXug/s400/DSC01276.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">wouldn't</span> have done it quite so tall, but some of the drywall tore of as we took off the marble, so I had to go a bit higher than expected:<br /><div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374465004177972434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCHgeXPwWlnOwKdJl4VB9EY1_oZecwA6_molyvuOquMJeRWHZ_mxU_FcyETTJZgFZvSbp1_rB9eUnLCsKKbwnlKllUqep5bLAnJ3eHlWj60-uNI5qZJwyDIS4mvf9Xyx0GPAIpL6dJRzU/s400/DSC01335.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> I love how it ties the creamy of the marble tub, the white of the walls, and the green accent color all together! Yes, I am a happy crazy woman.<br /><br /><div>And yes, that's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">beadboard</span> around the tub -- I just glued it right on the marble a while back. LOVE it! Here's the before before, from a couple years ago:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374482482425385410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiGvV3-wxuO4Knt3mW6fyQpnfBLpu1Z5-hvYVa97D4VxNlLngXS3Vktnw0hrZJkpsa3CkJFNZpxQf8wsNmMPYM2Pg1Q8N-twEz52lFKp1ZCZVKyMHbOCszrb-s7e9W7bQoSuddJM5cs8/s400/before.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div><div>Here it is today. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">YAY</span>!:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374465029928347538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDgwWWH5dfDVvPLg9aIMDfL7q7hZdBB7Aa8oB9godAAODX9eLrSlk8FQ-RFDnRrdKFU8C9kW5AXdK40WHIP2ZsfdYjr_rtHybDowZvAuEDxQ8kCyq_HVujGskaRyykNdclEqQbs1RuXA/s400/DSC01344.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I'm going to do a little accent of this by our sinks to tie it all together, and I'll take pics of that process start to finish -- I won't be so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sceered</span> next time. Then, I want to rip out the shower surround and tile that whole thing, then the floors, then, then, then... Now, if I can just get those fixtures on the tub replaced, I'd be in heaven. </div><br /><div>If you haven't seen my interview at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">houzz</span>.com today, go <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5812/list/Houzz-Interview---Sarah-s-Thrifty-Decor-Chick#comments">here</a> to check it out! Make sure to comment there for a chance to win the Ballard pear! (See previous post.) Your comments over there are making. my. year. by the way. I am so honored to inspire you. I can't thank you enough for your support. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

I can tile?

I pose that title as a question because the answer is questionable. The walls haven't come down yet, so I think I was successful. Maybe,...

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Interview at Houzz!!

I am just thrilled, honored and humbled that <a href="http://www.houzz.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">houzz</span>.com</a> has decided to feature little '<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ol</span> me on their site. I did a brief interview with them and when I went over this morning to check it out -- there are pics of my house on their front page!!<br /><div></div><br /><div>Go <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/5812/list/Houzz-Interview---Sarah-s-Thrifty-Decor-Chick">here</a> to check out the interview. </div><br /><div></div><div>If you do, and you comment at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">houzz</span>.com, you can win this beauty from Ballard Designs (the big one!):<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374259486861522178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKDLpVJ8b79AK4aNoqlM3vFancvV5EjLU83ZBEjvivaXr9K5NnVzYclwfp81vPPU07wzx0OKZ51oC-u6mdjBzgtSBiWq38YO8f63mCEDYKt1v8QXGIruzcX7dOGPtfH5veFvrqwiUu2E/s400/pears.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><br /><p><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Awwwww</span> yeah, I told you this was awesome! Go over and check it out when you have a second! </p><p>Thanks again to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">houzz</span>.com!!</p>

Interview at Houzz!!

I am just thrilled, honored and humbled that houzz .com has decided to feature little ' ol me on their site. I did a brief interview w...

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A (cedar) chest redo.

I had to throw the "cedar" part in there -- you know what I'm sayin'? (Hang in there till the end for the winner of The Sheet Boutique giveaway!) Remember this lovely I found last week for <em>$40</em>?:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXCNAIWW-O1tTaMByHkGptc9gWzHUAwhS1iGuCBwzNqQErLRen-amo2q3DaBoEK1sAqBea2sm_mOBPijTxiK2JohUEINizdU6TsDk974pwd11NC8wsYM9TGOu7smrCrtipoyJv3AmkeU/s1600-h/DSC01211.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373604723697542818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXCNAIWW-O1tTaMByHkGptc9gWzHUAwhS1iGuCBwzNqQErLRen-amo2q3DaBoEK1sAqBea2sm_mOBPijTxiK2JohUEINizdU6TsDk974pwd11NC8wsYM9TGOu7smrCrtipoyJv3AmkeU/s400/DSC01211.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>At first glance, it was perfectly lovely on it's own, but the lid had a yellowish paint on it, drip marks and a really awful stencil. I think the person that painted it put too much poly on top that yellowed the paint and made the stencil bleed all over the place.<br /><br />All I needed to do was sand down the paint and the stencil a little and then paint over it. Easy project right? Ummm...<strong>NEVER</strong> say those words out loud peeps. Karma comes around <em>every. time</em>.<br /><br />The person who had painted it before did not prepare it well before painting, so as I was sanding the paint started peeling right off:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgDHh1jgcowATQMn1w_h4Q0PpK6yiRYpXfn_P3yXtQ_KfVvpz73htIH_RaVrw79K8rdNKdbStMMnnKHrovCUHPi6gKnCTHgEwiM3DS2TiK_FsGu5FLjDweKPDTIfcppJypJXeF5u3aCk/s1600-h/DSC01224.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373604718568152386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgDHh1jgcowATQMn1w_h4Q0PpK6yiRYpXfn_P3yXtQ_KfVvpz73htIH_RaVrw79K8rdNKdbStMMnnKHrovCUHPi6gKnCTHgEwiM3DS2TiK_FsGu5FLjDweKPDTIfcppJypJXeF5u3aCk/s400/DSC01224.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I could just pick at it and peel off strips. Nuts. This meant one thing -- I had to strip the whole thing down. (Oooo I am going to get some interesting searches off of "chest" and "strip" in the same post.)<br /><br />I haven't had to use paint stripper for years, I avoid it if I can. This time I used water-based stuff and I really liked it:<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxfkNuy1vCk794cU_0QEAG6qPp_xe_wBpHR7NDXiY-o32_TNNf_oE9ZwPVOaq34N0qkWcAIrXqSlZvYgrSM4JW4BbMprWCsJfgR-eZKOE1r497wf9PeUsLsF95dZ2ldtRSDMdLZakk54/s1600-h/DSC01228.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373603954065943602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxfkNuy1vCk794cU_0QEAG6qPp_xe_wBpHR7NDXiY-o32_TNNf_oE9ZwPVOaq34N0qkWcAIrXqSlZvYgrSM4JW4BbMprWCsJfgR-eZKOE1r497wf9PeUsLsF95dZ2ldtRSDMdLZakk54/s400/DSC01228.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The instructions say you can even use this inside, but I wouldn't recommend that. It's super easy to use though -- just glob it on. </div><br /><div>If their are only one or two coats of paint, it should only take one or two applications. If there are about eleventy billion, it will take a couple hours and a few more applications: </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DcGIjLShCr9QJwB99dnrMxLJZPnMV3IOX2h2wiulS6uctiszgBqt_VmP9UvqV30DgCK5SI_T9F_Qd6OBgdPe6RY9lFvveShPWIZxXKTHuTS65aNY3eok4dUozcmyI-_5VfGVLTq356w/s1600-h/DSC01230.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373603947950376130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DcGIjLShCr9QJwB99dnrMxLJZPnMV3IOX2h2wiulS6uctiszgBqt_VmP9UvqV30DgCK5SI_T9F_Qd6OBgdPe6RY9lFvveShPWIZxXKTHuTS65aNY3eok4dUozcmyI-_5VfGVLTq356w/s400/DSC01230.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Gah. If you ever need to do this, use fine steel wool to get the paint out of the detailed areas.<br /></div><div><br />Then, I put on a couple coats of primer and then about five coats of paint, because the wood was quite literally sucking it right up. This is when one of my little painting tricks comes in handy: </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJT0uegKzqTIcrq83wgYrjsLyPJwyp8G4U9-PEo9eKPNoTr-7PCbDVgjz4jZtYxeOfOxs1QNGqd_hwEtGaVdFa6pvjY4GH2wfZBqkziyLk-CwSWKfcH8vmPy7LOAuETNZK8Yup_gVOVs/s1600-h/DSC01237.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373603938114651714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJT0uegKzqTIcrq83wgYrjsLyPJwyp8G4U9-PEo9eKPNoTr-7PCbDVgjz4jZtYxeOfOxs1QNGqd_hwEtGaVdFa6pvjY4GH2wfZBqkziyLk-CwSWKfcH8vmPy7LOAuETNZK8Yup_gVOVs/s400/DSC01237.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> You can keep a brush or roller without cleaning it for quite a while if you just bag it up.<br /></div><br /><div>This was the result:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wl9jh2_MTe0rEbXTlAFKOfL4TZYiZDn6_i8I83OEy7bcv68RNPC2GSERWjlIcwgpoaxnPRONa5wenW4f0Pm2e_6nGlPEBtE0Yx-1uRPw5KEsNQv6UKaoioRmi4-fodnmAmbh8vbBlLw/s1600-h/DSC01243.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373603927706375826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Wl9jh2_MTe0rEbXTlAFKOfL4TZYiZDn6_i8I83OEy7bcv68RNPC2GSERWjlIcwgpoaxnPRONa5wenW4f0Pm2e_6nGlPEBtE0Yx-1uRPw5KEsNQv6UKaoioRmi4-fodnmAmbh8vbBlLw/s400/DSC01243.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>It still needed somethin. Think Sarah, think.<br /></div><div>Oh yes, the poor (wo)man's custom cushion: </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602976909831602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioBWGqpvT4Jkgexa4JEY4Fi8Hb0OK8revJW-7SC7zIHoM-WM8nEx2-PCcys5QI-x80kAqGM-eQS-NuRXqor8qqBGQLoBFKp6_-Koe6f6jsJVvet4kYHUHL7lQRV7OrCTyDIGjPlJ58rcc/s400/DSC01283.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Yet again, I just wrapped the fabric around the foam and hot glued it. Serious folks. When I get an extra $100 for thicker foam, more fabric and a professional, I'll get it done for reals.<br /><br />Here is Stink Eye Sister modeling it: </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602986598117138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF5Vmawu-mKNOpyZ1Qx8SampXsGjPM3KHW2OxNZTfk4Ae7AS8lrqwy7fPkYi5MX-chWUtM_6ChWFcktgcjXVSvvs9MQX56PvqT27gcIMXEvxfNvROrtThFOuUPhB6QbnyoN-l9Ox9ds6A/s400/DSC01256.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Oh yeah, did I mention she's <em>baaaaaack</em>?? </div><div></div><div>It still needed something, so I held my breath, crossed my fingers and distressed it just a bit: </div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602965960818610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDJHTtKTUIzXeV8C4rc8oje_KM2R1x3wfZPzHP0tbgYQoBm-lxxRVYGe7BFR7U0ZlYC5WM5WBRoZFtToj9_AP9Sn0MYEXFo3skRCxXuXtMelJpz2IPZ1Y_Tj3LBOj9fV1nrw1PiFuMTk/s400/DSC01326.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div align="center"><strong>LURVE!!!</div></strong><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373724523176795234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILsSykdHH7JRvgt2b_ekIos1rwRDHuWTTEgg6irrZnespZYo9f_Mipv5CCyYFvjv4sfS5K3Hx4DkMsJdkizPgo-FVE9WGzkrmno7OsZj5Fez4v5bZa9eKf2celwvbNQkvhXe3LPnMvtU/s400/DSC01329.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I had a hall table in this spot before, but had been contemplating moving it down more into our foyer anyway. I did some rearranging and really like how it looks now:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373611017699245890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxS2xcXXPNt__Rj5mjK1hft1LrUV3lTKN9BAX6qifkuLn2uZGW5El-TjFVxWgqLZ8QrHeOHdpphc2IBzwXynpbUo7k8rPR1WM72c8zE3g0MKfJiTSEanThTj7JPqKB9h5TnH1agyaqOY/s400/DSC01241.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Now we have a "real" foyer set up and it's so warm and cozy! It's a little more in that spot than I'm used to there, but I love it. I thought about moving the art around but like how it works for now -- it may not stay for long:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFeIS9NccgpkBfEpfK1rZJZ8PJzpqyfDVtXfmmxStis4JfRCTqopPiaNdtvM27BR0yYp9IQ5k2OZGIx4V9Si8w9bhpvYPfqSzlJKWbVDxzljx66pNkSHiKKpaAwBGHc7pI5AuZpHnPOw/s1600-h/DSC01321.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373602947070587074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFeIS9NccgpkBfEpfK1rZJZ8PJzpqyfDVtXfmmxStis4JfRCTqopPiaNdtvM27BR0yYp9IQ5k2OZGIx4V9Si8w9bhpvYPfqSzlJKWbVDxzljx66pNkSHiKKpaAwBGHc7pI5AuZpHnPOw/s400/DSC01321.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> The chest is now the perfect spot to sit, and it will be great during parties -- everyone seems to congregate out in this room. I need to install some safety hinges and then it will hold all this too:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373612560181531794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPrRrZlczM6EN1SDBG7MI2ki78n6Z3Rb3t1YI2taLQzgTUVHZTckdnr7lWnnOjaVDwVtxOCsNWFCaGFeF_-__5vrom4gMc56kdSvENNi4vXzpc6l3cVHxJzDD3NgzZUlawWOjg7tgDumo/s400/DSC01322.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Well, not the cat. All the toys. Gotta love that. :)<br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">The randomly picked winner of The Sheet Boutique pillow giveaway is Julianne Hendrickson!! Julianne, please e-mail me and I'll get you in touch with Cara!</div><div align="left"><br />Next up -- my tile project! I love it! And I am honored to be featured at a great site tomorrow -- stay tuned! </div></div>

A (cedar) chest redo.

I had to throw the "cedar" part in there -- you know what I'm sayin'? (Hang in there till the end for the winner of The Sh...

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DIY weekend

This weekend resulted in a LOT of do-it-yourself projects I hadn't even planning on doing.<br /><br />They involved a few hours of this:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiiJPUdP5qRD4n8U8_XUD8fJoiamDR28UiS9695hVIyMo6ubqVZ9YLQgiO1LuipJcM7kAGVSknOMIPRZzchtekgSD0Occ7D8vfxn8QPbhrnb4zv9To7RsYhOlJGjHAIKqaFAX3Pip3n0/s1600-h/tile.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374657785095874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiiJPUdP5qRD4n8U8_XUD8fJoiamDR28UiS9695hVIyMo6ubqVZ9YLQgiO1LuipJcM7kAGVSknOMIPRZzchtekgSD0Occ7D8vfxn8QPbhrnb4zv9To7RsYhOlJGjHAIKqaFAX3Pip3n0/s400/tile.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> A lot of this:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMOIlTBPwy7bPbnf-3n4hfErNgFcDPwObTX82-RyWWusHkEx34lZmKf0mLfQUqfkC2YTfdfovsjZS_G4vz0M3KDsMX6IYuA_cOPlfYr148cfTvLfd0zM-KC2dIL7CXfvGJJqSffExNa8/s1600-h/strip.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374651937871346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMOIlTBPwy7bPbnf-3n4hfErNgFcDPwObTX82-RyWWusHkEx34lZmKf0mLfQUqfkC2YTfdfovsjZS_G4vz0M3KDsMX6IYuA_cOPlfYr148cfTvLfd0zM-KC2dIL7CXfvGJJqSffExNa8/s400/strip.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> An insane, I-never-want-to-touch-sand-again-in-my-life amount of this:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsLuzW1qNhodewXK4tmD_OL4EKh70XtxwYOYn8K40tulqrmyUKAlXzda8GpVUI9TZC5Q7wGjQmOdCGg7xhnk-S7WB8eGtKD5xq6y8mWdU19i_jGrMZv95-P18DDFpS5qqOnG4YCCAMv0/s1600-h/sand.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374641293040866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzsLuzW1qNhodewXK4tmD_OL4EKh70XtxwYOYn8K40tulqrmyUKAlXzda8GpVUI9TZC5Q7wGjQmOdCGg7xhnk-S7WB8eGtKD5xq6y8mWdU19i_jGrMZv95-P18DDFpS5qqOnG4YCCAMv0/s400/sand.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 259px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Which resulted in a lot of this:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374784209795938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_92bRmAm_IGQpZmOnwaJy249HlNebx4RYHcxKIzVL72EK-3kMCSaShVSpCXhr_3Ua52nOqj36U2-h0px8yNJxyBSodEJAEK-gHDI5bOP7UnrYTrtQNy3mWtbq9WdpEerIfWBwCTuvk4/s400/untitled.bmp" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />No, that's not me. But I feel like it could be right now. </div><div></div><div>So bear with me! I'll announce the winner of The Sheet Boutique pillow (contest is now closed) tomorrow, and will share the first of my projects.</div><div></div><div align="left">For now, this:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373375337302829298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNtLvtG2wjiP07MWN0n0181wYKP2UV0GM_iyy-8MjHPFrFN66Ae7ty1KiLXsVm60Lv3SJsfkr72JH5IEaBRl0dj3xOQWriXOKEx68J3_wPUrQytpOyRWpK1JRvN0qS_6lnxAtrDRehg8/s400/hot.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Will be joining me in bed with this:</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1MMtcTGt92NEHQvgACAlhETurLBvHGVqxLWkbNdOu5go4Kp_EU_9Zxggg8CkFWn3xtHK5fCfoiCdIDAavkONkPV2WAn9dXuRl1KrhsIcS-g5En4ug6ScQ28aecZBmaZ7mIlePLrx0mA/s1600-h/take+5.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374633183259106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP1MMtcTGt92NEHQvgACAlhETurLBvHGVqxLWkbNdOu5go4Kp_EU_9Zxggg8CkFWn3xtHK5fCfoiCdIDAavkONkPV2WAn9dXuRl1KrhsIcS-g5En4ug6ScQ28aecZBmaZ7mIlePLrx0mA/s400/take+5.gif" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 208px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a><br />And this:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YenANV6GVbF7Pk7I0AfQ1RJMHuy6KmCXNUfRwwQyOIHvpFMXUhCa7ZStiqTGAwdVbvlAsOLbqcKTSFRVh9Z4w6kP2wXnXdgT-bXL-N8WRutDgX_IXRu_RBistfg4tqKkeg6rPNWgsZ8/s1600-h/pepsi.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373374626809108386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7YenANV6GVbF7Pk7I0AfQ1RJMHuy6KmCXNUfRwwQyOIHvpFMXUhCa7ZStiqTGAwdVbvlAsOLbqcKTSFRVh9Z4w6kP2wXnXdgT-bXL-N8WRutDgX_IXRu_RBistfg4tqKkeg6rPNWgsZ8/s400/pepsi.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 380px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 336px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>YES, it is midnight. I cannot even tell you how much I don't care right now -- I want to do what makes me happy. <em>Much</em> pain Squeezies. </div><div></div><div><div>I'll holla at cha tomorrow!!</div></div></div></div>

DIY weekend

This weekend resulted in a LOT of do-it-yourself projects I hadn't even planning on doing. They involved a few hours of this: A lot of ...

Read more »

Rewind: Kitchen Island

I thought it would be fun to "rewind" every once and a while and show you some of my earlier posts and projects and then the updates I've made since.<br /><br />If you've been with me for about five minutes, you've seen my kitchen island. But it's one of my favorite changes rehabs I've done in our home and is also one of the <strong>cheapest</strong> and <strong>easiest</strong>.<br /><br />It started way back when, when all five of my friends read my blog. I mean, I have more than five friends, there were only about five reading this blog back then.<br /><br />I swear -- I have more than five friends. For real.<br /><br />My <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2008/05/laminate-is-indestructible.html">very first post </a>was about how our kitchen was turning into a sea of cherry wood -- floors, cabinets, island, table and chairs:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA3-naYPwxdQJGkBzhgw2AMeEbsFXANpB3YxFveMNWeXPrYYYlrwXDMe6l_GvTUhOKIEDLu2tfPaJDqLHuK8v6XnsSt_KuZnlTd_hHOZk49SZPEq0mI4l-trCVyspyFutSnbleL7FLjg/s1600-h/DSC03572.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860997444036210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQA3-naYPwxdQJGkBzhgw2AMeEbsFXANpB3YxFveMNWeXPrYYYlrwXDMe6l_GvTUhOKIEDLu2tfPaJDqLHuK8v6XnsSt_KuZnlTd_hHOZk49SZPEq0mI4l-trCVyspyFutSnbleL7FLjg/s400/DSC03572.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I really love islands that look like furniture, so I thought I would change it up and decided to add molding:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0X4brtkVDpU-gm6N-c3XtAHMLefz4kPtDVKiPJZZzuajUQDBHNe3DbElcv3CRrj-NEePaZv62gmREwes1BOkLqSmvvV4PZpmptIeHJH65MNS9LmKn9dbRURPs8phCf9EQt_ebYL2qjc/s1600-h/DSC03590.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860987039706114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0X4brtkVDpU-gm6N-c3XtAHMLefz4kPtDVKiPJZZzuajUQDBHNe3DbElcv3CRrj-NEePaZv62gmREwes1BOkLqSmvvV4PZpmptIeHJH65MNS9LmKn9dbRURPs8phCf9EQt_ebYL2qjc/s400/DSC03590.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I added faux panels to the sides and back and painted the whole thing out in black. This began my deep-seeded hatred of laminate. Laminate and I are not bffs. I actually had thought of doing beadboard, but I think it was impatience that got the best of me at the time.</div><div></div><div><br />After the redo, all the sudden the chairs had to go (isn't that always the way?). So I went to Garden Ridge and found new chairs for the table and island for a steal -- buy one get one get one half off:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860878533821474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktt7jPVCJu0yPxswgYce4qqj7cAMydOme87r-u-eCQDqUif-Ad0sgMeASFcESIrMIs_pSno74NCv9c43J6AVFA9FnKsvk6jIUnAEWpO5aBJ7J1cNBm-yKY-AuljpdrOiGB1oDUdbbAe0/s400/71520e66-aba1-43bb-8afd-f7b9c5174014_player.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />(The flash makes the island look grey in these pics.) As you know, I love me some beadboard, and I got an itch a few months ago to <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/beadboard-kitchen-island.html">redo my redo </a>with it:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd6cM6Up-EmenHPdwnRUkg-qyzBFe7x6US30yj1hCPeaLdqkOxC9hhdoviJP-ELhaNy3PclMSRqReYLZf2e60W08oE3zsarrLl_3Ltjj3HKLBlV1ApLgeKWrC6R0OKeafedw4bhWnTxA/s1600-h/DSC09770.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860884342952722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHd6cM6Up-EmenHPdwnRUkg-qyzBFe7x6US30yj1hCPeaLdqkOxC9hhdoviJP-ELhaNy3PclMSRqReYLZf2e60W08oE3zsarrLl_3Ltjj3HKLBlV1ApLgeKWrC6R0OKeafedw4bhWnTxA/s400/DSC09770.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> Sigh. You just can't go wrong with beadboard -- really. Reheheally. The addition of corbels finished off the furniture-look I was going for:<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSMD5sDqJiMo77qyjiPxNrl8uKrCC0D_Yek9DpWfW7fiLigUkJXB8x9UFnSvqXm3yu6J51KxktmIRWVKz12nR1SN4LEeFpaP8fcfDLXP9_mp0U_YNt3mN1RaV97t10fC7d320DCIRNqk/s1600-h/DSC09855.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860867829843922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSMD5sDqJiMo77qyjiPxNrl8uKrCC0D_Yek9DpWfW7fiLigUkJXB8x9UFnSvqXm3yu6J51KxktmIRWVKz12nR1SN4LEeFpaP8fcfDLXP9_mp0U_YNt3mN1RaV97t10fC7d320DCIRNqk/s400/DSC09855.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> And then cut down the chair legs by two inches with my compound miter saw (they were too tall) and <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/upholstering-unupholstered-chair-and.html">upholstered my chairs</a> to add a pop of color and cush for the tush:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmrTgOTkhbq-FEBvTvedLzlnIfN4KvDJytcpe7v5qdLQoQfS9EK7qtwM5rZ4EV0XIr2HYimAUGFd9RH1jEpfkLi-3mtnZj4aFMwB72SDjrPjKSYBp_9JOF5aEu4Yf98Q7OJ6d2dTnIMk/s1600-h/DSC00475.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371860860722118818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmrTgOTkhbq-FEBvTvedLzlnIfN4KvDJytcpe7v5qdLQoQfS9EK7qtwM5rZ4EV0XIr2HYimAUGFd9RH1jEpfkLi-3mtnZj4aFMwB72SDjrPjKSYBp_9JOF5aEu4Yf98Q7OJ6d2dTnIMk/s400/DSC00475.JPG" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I lurve my beadboard island! I know many you have already redone your island or are planning on trying it -- you will love it! <div></div><div><br />Thanks for joining me on this island trip down memory lane. :) </div></div></div></div></div>

Rewind: Kitchen Island

I thought it would be fun to "rewind" every once and a while and show you some of my earlier posts and projects and then the updat...

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A Ballard Pear

Wow, you guys love a giveaway! I love me some vinyl, glad you do too! Hang in till the end and I'll announce the winner. (I'm mean like that.)<br /><br />So for at least five years, probably more, I've admired these Ballard Designs pears:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSalY4oiZJGkKOSjH8YqqYXxCmWeFulVMlXBEMDUXAKfQ_mOkZs9-uL5akZ077E2I7nMBV65M7_3VH81gI54tOFPNKxL-v1_xmlPca-S99M-Yo9-4R2UbUVMOHN3r_SryAtDSSsE0gzG0/s1600-h/AA646_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370772090326053506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSalY4oiZJGkKOSjH8YqqYXxCmWeFulVMlXBEMDUXAKfQ_mOkZs9-uL5akZ077E2I7nMBV65M7_3VH81gI54tOFPNKxL-v1_xmlPca-S99M-Yo9-4R2UbUVMOHN3r_SryAtDSSsE0gzG0/s400/AA646_1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I don't know what it is about them, but they make my heart all a-flutter. You know I love <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-fruity-kitchen.html">all things fruity</a>, so it's probably just a personal thing I need to work out. But I think these are just classic and timeless. Oh, and <em>adorable</em>.<br /><br />Months and months ago, I found a pear -- same size, same shape (uhh, that would be pear shape) at the local thrift store. It was only $7 and I snatched it up. It is a stone material and was grey -- like cement -- when I bought it.<br /><br />You know I have issues with painting things black, and without really thinking about it, I spray painted it black:<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKvAlTb95tZ77_pSK8KQmdMIUIHfQTXz85bJ4F4zfw1jFT0nENjLNAqUmu-EC8VNsWTm9wCLfYFRVdHpRgFrAL8d5zKX99LLKhjftWyNEXxQeIQknsDUYNQI7VJ9gEblr86du1QmYTFU/s1600-h/DSC08600.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370770572108123474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmKvAlTb95tZ77_pSK8KQmdMIUIHfQTXz85bJ4F4zfw1jFT0nENjLNAqUmu-EC8VNsWTm9wCLfYFRVdHpRgFrAL8d5zKX99LLKhjftWyNEXxQeIQknsDUYNQI7VJ9gEblr86du1QmYTFU/s400/DSC08600.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Umkay. Who? <strong>Who</strong> wants a <em>black </em>pear in their kitchen? I don't know what the heck I was thinking. Grody. So a few weeks ago I was on a mission to transform it from an old moldy pear to a bright, green, ripe one. </div><div></div><div><br />I found green craft paint I thought would work, (called Houser Light Green), and my trusty Burnt Umber, which I use for <em>everything</em>. It is a fabulous color:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jz73kxCt3TjM7kCqWEkdTmjjVIaJgy0RrycbYjnyFdsD7qBCH5ebM8Ytf3X0W2UnBqxOEzunmCpMZtInQdo03ZR7wKJ0OVBY5CwurBBYZwmPP9QaTVZdxvTEukrH19JPAp4VqIPewXQ/s1600-h/DSC01180.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768522326927874" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Jz73kxCt3TjM7kCqWEkdTmjjVIaJgy0RrycbYjnyFdsD7qBCH5ebM8Ytf3X0W2UnBqxOEzunmCpMZtInQdo03ZR7wKJ0OVBY5CwurBBYZwmPP9QaTVZdxvTEukrH19JPAp4VqIPewXQ/s400/DSC01180.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I used my sponge brush to paint the whole thing green, and wooee, was it green! I am not good at "faux" or distressing, or anything that involves going back over a perfectly good painted item and very possibly ruining it, but it was just too green. </div><div></div><div><br />I looked at a real pear, looked at my inspiration pear from Ballard, held my breath, and started painting on the brown here and there:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768500200732770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqOQMcaBgIEZ9McNB-SYd7Zk9BAs10QLoTxG-Ad8QGhZEQSmnQdDDND838t4F9WI3Ic8EWmuLu7VyuoTPg_NfXxMVD36SHpOYigiqQNMw9VAGFXRFYOA7V9z_a6OC12My2bmqgkWxtms/s400/DSC01171.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />I got a paper towel slightly damp and just rubbed the brown around as I worked, while it was wet. I <em>loved</em> the result!:</div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW143-8FGeZmwl98T8MdBs5BHBiJ20z4ZxXoMNQMfSAcSqv0IOlnbn9IRyX_uB8T-OiK_OrZWXIxsNDa6DCp-rmWnIJHndGOvcnoUy1q_wzjmlB_u5w8IeDCzMCtAQw3ISyXkq6Ne-TF4/s1600-h/DSC01167.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370768490211803570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW143-8FGeZmwl98T8MdBs5BHBiJ20z4ZxXoMNQMfSAcSqv0IOlnbn9IRyX_uB8T-OiK_OrZWXIxsNDa6DCp-rmWnIJHndGOvcnoUy1q_wzjmlB_u5w8IeDCzMCtAQw3ISyXkq6Ne-TF4/s400/DSC01167.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> <em>Helloooooo</em> -- the real Ballard pear is $49.00. Mine was a total of $8. My pear is the same exact size as the real one too. Can it get any better? Could this pear <em>be</em> any cuter? (Please tell me know you what show <strong>that</strong> is from!!) <div></div><div><br />For more of my Ballard inspiration projects, like my jute:<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771390758922498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRLUIfVzAjQs9AHeV_jVoJJM4DY49hmQEj_wK4j2G0iUuM9fe4xTB70LUB5ifNqNICnM-c9A6SA00V-ee7fcbMS5tvH8Rti9Wd9bGCX1lzCv9rZyM8syoDGADrpsEvahNeU9HvTvec7k/s400/BT200_1.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/using-ballard-as-inspiration-to-make-my.html">here</a>:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771407873390498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBy5_2xgwi_gTKVu1dbqIkIwwsfnYU9We33PcPXUCmiThBpAFUkVRhLI91PIcCsQBxT8Hb_UjGOTxr5iewRFSytisil6Q64chnKhIm_HFE8BxosJSo4SIk-r7ng4STgqOD7LkidVqDrE/s400/DSC08411.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> And <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/03/five-dollar-spring-projects.html">here</a>:<br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771399660820770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXwbzYBS0_hxrmprjPY00i8ygrP_pC6Go26vQQnM7B38IlGz8wH2eFjWVdgr_dWadnWLg7qz1p_C3aZFh4XN2C2uaJk1lctWMv6C6qPy5jwW9dd-YF5QbZRN6RWQeA1MfMdklu1OQYL4/s400/DSC08864.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p>And to see how I copied this wall art:</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771371741653970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisw1WLQRI1C34eonysA1-XdD1vd4h8XkPO-8JTxOHgo9mFJdBAVIOHon4eR8zlSJ0vD77R21PCcac15BJ8Li4ZzjdNUnHgGNcNjqiNPMVFiW6LY1y5O7h9pYIieaCYVByWOD6ecOs3uI0/s400/ballard.jpg" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 368px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 368px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></p><p>Go <a href="http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2009/05/using-ballard-designs-as-inspiration.html">here</a>:</p><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370771380042023042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoh9d948Q5utsRJaniQoaE7JWGCow_eYnp0L24bOFZ4WkGBAWL7Wr3fT6J3wNm-8DPssjtesO0EZH_3W6nc10iHjeHa-FBxCN1VaVyaPy_usqTznF3tsZJtAnKzjm8vo8LH2lZPPqKdkM/s400/DSC00066.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />OK, the winner (picked by Random.org) of E.A.D Design's vine wall art is Rameelin from Raising Redheads!! If you can e-mail me, I will get you in touch with Emily! Congrats!!</p>

A Ballard Pear

Wow, you guys love a giveaway! I love me some vinyl, glad you do too! Hang in till the end and I'll announce the winner. (I'm mean l...

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