Mr. Mario

I have this system for birthdays, it goes like this. You can have a birthday party every year... WITH FAMILY. i.e. Grandparents coming over, maybe one or two family friends, you know, low key, low budget kind of stuff. 

Occasionally, you can have a BIRTHDAY PARTY (WITH FRIENDS!)! Abby has received more than her allotted amount. Jaxon has had ONE birthday party with "friends" (neighbors down the street) last summer. It is tough to get a party together for someone who doesn't really have "friends." And Wade, turning 5, seemed an appropriate time to have his "FIRST" birthday party.....

Peter made the cake. Okay, he picked up a blank Costco Cake, and decorated it per our "theme" I think he did an amazing job. More importantly he did a job I did not want/have time/need to do. I am a TOTAL cake snob when it comes to eating cake, but honestly, I just don't care what kind of cake my kids get. I was perfectly happy just picking up one at Albie's. Peter was NOT. 

 Look at the precision!

 I think it was awesome, and juuuuuuuuuust after I took this picture. . . . 

 I sliiiiiiiiiiiiid the cake back away from little hands and the counter edge and BAM! My fingers went right into Wade's name. :(

 We decorated with Boo. I had to confirm with Abby the exact placement of the cones.. Are they ears? She assured me they are hands... And should be pointed down. . .  . Of course I got this idea off of Pinterest. So let it be heard.. Pinterest has indeed been in operation for probably 2-3 years now, and there will never be another original idea ever again.  However, I love thee pinterest for making my creative life easier.

 We had Papa Murphy's Mini Murph's. OF COURSE. 

And, we opened presents. We did a few games, but I had to keep it simple this year. I had several PM events this week along with the most wicked cold I have had in probably a couple of years and I had one foot in the grave by the end of this week, BUT, we did it. And today, he asked me when his birthday party is.. I swear, that is why I do NOT do these kinda things often!!!!!

A successful party and all. Now, if I have my way about it, and my plans go accordingly... He will not have another "FRIEND" party until he is 8.  (Then 12, then 16, and maybe 18... thus, I am only obligated to 5 "FRIEND" birthday parties in a lifetime... and I like it that way, thank you....)

The History of Orange

When Peter and I got married it was two separate, individual, selfish, and independent worlds colliding.
I was a 27 year old single female with a successful job (in financial planning, managing about 5 million in assets, HEY! That is great for a 2nd year advisor!). I had a condo, a car, and a lifestyle of travel and leisure, planning get-aways with friends and having a constant stream of house (condo) visitors.

He was a 27 year old single male. Had been living on his own in Seattle for several years, doing school and dabbling in the Seattle grunge band scene and trying to find his way in life. He eventually decided to enter the family business (hotel management) and was managing a hotel in Renton, WA, doing his own thing, and attending a very small singles branch.

His taste was strictly modern.
My taste was strictly my own.

We clashed in many ways (and sometimes still do) but when we moved in together after dating only LONG DISTANCE for 6 months, it was a clash of the TITANS! We both had our own furniture, and we moved into an apartment in Eugene, OR. He was working, and I was newly unemployed. A position I had not been in in several (if ever?) years. I was ready for a life of wifehood. As much as a 27 year old strong minded, independent woman can be. I was NOT ready for compromise.

I figured our house would be MY own, and I determined that I would make it that way as soon as possible.
For the most part, our things meshed together in a sort of cheap eclectic way. I had my favorite items. He had his, but since we moved frequently, things, and pieces of furniture were constantly shifting, and where I could, I would banish the unsightly (to me) pieces of modern furniture, and conveniently replace them with things of my own choosing.

Peter, for the most part, relented.

He even told me that our house was my office, and I could do with it what I want.
However, there was ONE item that I was forbidden to get rid of. 

The Orange Plastic Ikea Table.

It's first home was by our couch.
It's second home was in Peter's office.
It's home right now is in our garage.
And I am pretty sure it's next home will be to the dump. (JUST KIDDING HONEY! I WOULD NEVER!)

When I started painting my kitchen table orange a few days ago. Peter was bemused.
He chuckled, "An ORANGE table? I thought you didn't like those!"
Turns out, I didn't.
Turns out, I changed my mind.
I can remember a time where "orange" would have been a color I hate.
And now it seems, it is a color I cannot live without.

Maybe it is because I live in California now? And everything is sun and oranges? I am not quite sure what possessed me, but I am QUITE sure, I love it.
However, I am also quite sure I still don't love HIS orange table.

 But I sure do love mine.
Probably his biggest gripe.
My "florescent orange urn"
Peter can't stand it.
Or rather, just can't believe it.
He is wondering what happened to me.
And to be honest, I just don't know.

But I love it.

Click HERE to see my kitchen BEFORE it's transformation

Slumping

I am still blog slumping. There are lots of things I WANT to blog about... okay, i will blog about ONE thing. My dining room. 

 I love my dining room. 

 It is finally painted. I am sorry these pictures were taken at night, but if you want a blog post. So be it. 

 I love tulips. They are my favorite flower, and were my wedding bouquet too. Love. Love. Love Tulips. I was lamenting the other day that I can't have them here in my sunny California home. I lamented it in Arizona too, but I think I lament it every year when January and February rolls around. I always look forward to them in the spring, but here, I don't have to wish the snow was gone. . . It is a hand off. 

It makes me happy to see them. I walked into Lowe's today to finish off another house project... And they were smiling at me. It was meant to be. . . I couldn't WAIT to get them home and into my pots. My favorite addition to my dining room are these pots. They started out as Amaryllis pots at Christmas, Ala nie nie.  She plants Amaryllis every year, and I think I like that as a tradition, however, my Amaryllis were freakishly tall. I may have to try to fix that next year. ...

And now, since I posted a Christmas picture, how about a few more. I had a great time decorating our new digs this year. I love having a new slate, with the traditional decorations you have used year after year. I love how they "find a new home" in a new home. 

 There are some changes coming to this area (shown above) I can't wait to show them to you!

 I had to do a traditional fresh garland. My mom used to do it every year, and this is the first home I have had a banister in! It was fun, but messy, beautiful, but messy, smelled wonderful, but it sure was MESSY!

I know I haven't done any before and afters... and that is because I would have to dig though my pictures, which I just don't have time for right now... Just use your imagination. The home has been a work in progress, but each day it feels more and more "homey". 

On a Bender

I went on a painting bender this weekend.

Painting is hard on a body. I wasn't even painting WALLS! I was painting Abby's furniture for her room so that I can GET to my walls, because I promised...

Anyway, I got to work on her desk, and some boxes that I have had in my playroom for... hmmm.. I don't know, 7 years???? They will no longer fit in the play room, and we had designs to get a trunk for the end of Abby's bed to hold her THOUSANDS of stuffed animals, but, why buy a trunk when you have a perfectly good set of box cubes that you can paint and put in her room?

The answer to that why question is, you just don't buy a trunk, you fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without..... Most of the time.

I also have a dresser I need to paint for her, and it is not yet under way... HOWEVER,

I have taken that mirror off the dresser and it is now serving a useful purpose.... Want to see?

I took the corroded mirror off of this little mount that was attached to her dresser. This is a picture of it upside down, but you get the idea.

And I painted it up like this. .




Can you believe those little rosettes? They were fastened on to that antique wood with the oldest rustiest nail... And that is it. They were just simple little pieces of wood. So cute.

I will tell you the paint that I used for BOTH of these projects, was seriously just a sample can of paint for $2.65 at home depot. It has done both jobs, and I am nearly through with it. Can you believe that? As Wade would say, "BOOYA YOU DIE". (Ps- That is Abby's cute desk that is getting primed under that frame. Cute huh? Don't let it fool you, it was a NIGHTMARE!)

Anywho....
I grabbed a few supplies at the store, mainly Michaels, and made Abby a super cute cork board that she can put stuff up on...
Some spray adhesive, cork, and some foam core cut to back your frame. It is nice to use the foam core, because you can punch holes in it, and the cork is thin, so, it will help hold the pins in when the board is up.

Measure you cork. Spray your board generously and voila. . . .


So easy.

Then, you take a look at the handle pulls that you just pulled off Abby's dresser... Unfortunately, you are not going to be able to use them, because there were a few missing.

So you make your kids sand them.



And you take pictures of them, because they are ANCIENT, and look how darn cute they are! You can't even believe how old these puppies are...





Then you prime them, and stick tacks to them with a hot glue gun with your disgusting looking hands that are covered in paint primer, glue and spray adhesive....




And then you paint them that crazy turquoise color and suddenly they look like little candies, and you can't stand how cute they are... or at least I can't anyway.

Can't wait to put it up in her room!

Sneak Peak

I promised Abby that I would decorate her room FIRST. I have had a hard time keeping to that promise because with unpacking comes some level of decorating. But when I found myself dreaming of painting my dining room and making curtains, I recommitted myself to doing her room FIRST!!!! (I'm easily sidetracked...)

Anyway, since we moved on her ACTUAL birthday this year, her birthday was pretty lackluster. . . as was Peter's, which is a day later. My gift to her was her California room re-do. As I mentioned before, I let her pick out the bedspread, and we built from there. If you want to see my design ideas, you can go HERE.

One of the things that I acquired for her room I had actually bought probably 1 1/2 years ago. I.know. I had EVERY intention of painting it and putting it in her room, but I am SO glad I didn't... Who knows what color I would have painted it.. and since I can't take it apart, it was a COMPLETE beast to paint. And it had this high gloss finish wich I didn't exactly want to take the time to sand off. . . It sat in our garage untouched for that year and a half, and when I was outside painting it this week, I said to Peter, "Why did I not do this before!!?!?" And he said, because you would have died a heat stroke.... True. So. True. (PS- it was $10-- Garage Sale)


SO, I decided to go with a "beachy" feel.

I have been completely amazed by the blog Better After, which features big ol' pieces of wooden junk that people have refinished. I am no where NEAR at the level of ability that most of these people are. . that said, I like to think I can do just about anything. SO, I gave it a whirl.

I wanted to paint it all white, but since I am keeping the walls in her room white (for now) I decided it needed a little punch of color. THat is when things got messy, because when you can't take a shelf apart to paint indiviual pieces, you better believe there was turqoise all over that thing... Oh well, after a quick conversation with a new friend, (HI MARCIE!) she convinced me to just "knock the paint off" and forget about touch ups and antiquing. . .


I did just that, and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. . . That nice weathered look makes it feel like I just pulled it out of an old beach house. . .

You can't see them well, but the nobs are old glass antique nobs, and they look just great! You can see the cord hanging down from the shelf. It actually lights up! LOVE!

I can't show you the rest of her room yet, because it isn't finished, and I am hoping that it will motivate me to hurry up! But.. since I can't resist... I will show you her bed. . .

Cute huh? How do you like the disco lamp? Jaxon gave that to me a few years ago for my birthday, because he said it was "sparkly" and "girls like sparkly things..." So true Jaxon, so true. Since I never got a chance to return it (PETER WOULDN'T LET ME!) I kept it.... in a box... and now it has found a very welcome home. :) Ps- Someday, I am going to make Abby a new headboard with black and white polka dots! Can't wait!

Decorate on a Dime

here that I am SUPER excited to be able to decorate a house again. There is nothing like making a house your HOME. I can't wait. Three years was a long time to feel like you are living in someone else's space. I commend those of you who do it all the time.

I didn't realize all of the anxiety that living in that house was giving me... but, not having a working dishwasher for 4 months will do that to a person.. Especially after you are done hand washing dishes for 6 people.

ANYWAY... Our main issues in this house are STORAGE. It is seriously lacking... unless you are in the garage, and then there is plenty. However, if you have kids in your home and run a couple of businesses out of your home you know that you have to have some of your "storage" inside.

One of the things I LOVE doing is finding great decorations on the cheap. I kinda pride myself every time. For example. We needed a couple of new bookcases to store some books. I found one I loved in Pier One.


Behold: The Nicolina Bookcase from Pier One. $349.
Behold: The Montego Bookcase from Home Decorators Collection: $79 plus free shipping yesterday... which I got.

SQUEE!


Now for more storage in the family room. Like the look of this console... Originally $599 from Ballard Designs. Totally my favorite place for design ideas.. I tear page after page after page out of that catalog for ideas... It is on sale right now for $399.


Behold: The Essex console from Home Decorator's Collection. ALMOST the exact same thing.


$209 and Free shipping yesterday! I love it! I can't wait to show you my room re-dos!

Design Mind

Renting a house for the past three years has almost killed my design desires.

I LOVE decorating. Love. But, on our budget . . . let me just put it this way, there WAS no budget for decorating. And the fact that we couldn't paint walls or make changes was stifling to say the least. I would look at catalogs and try to be inspired for the "future" but let's face it, it just isn't the same. . .

Our "budget" hasn't really changed, yet. Probably won't for quite some time, but I am excited to start doing "projects" that can make a big difference, but not take a lot of money. There won't be any big purchases, but I am excited to be able to paint a wall, or a piece of furniture. To be honest, I don't think I have spent over $100 on ANYTHING but our couches in our house, and I am proud of that fact. Don't think that will be changing either, but as least I can do something little here and there without stressing the budget.

For Abby's birthday, I told her we could re-do her room as her gift. When you decorate, it is best if you pick a favorite piece and build around it. I wanted to try to pick out a new comforter or duvet cover to work around. Abby knows her momma's MO so, it had to be cheap, or on sale. We finally settled on this.

It was on sale in the Pottery Barn Teen Catalog. It was the only item we got from the catalog, and I had a $25 off coupon. That always helps. :) It is not my favorite color scheme (HELLO 80's!) But someone has a mind of her own, and decided she LOVES blue (my least favorite) and didn't want any more PINK! I decided I could handle this aqua color over a navy, or baby blue, and liked the beachy pattern since we are going to be oh, so, close to the beach.

We have a kid transitioning from crib, to bed, and since Abby wanted to "grow up" and out of her room, that was going to involve some purchases. I have been super inspired by THIS website as of late, and decided that I could re-do some pieces for her to make her room just the way she wanted. Just click through some posts and you will be inspired too! You will never look at an old dresser the same way again!!

I started scouring Craig's List for some used furniture and found some great pieces I thought I could work with.

I got a desk:

PRICE: $20

A dresser: Hers is going to Kaylie's room. No more changing table or crib!

Price $60

The dresser came with a framed mirror for the top, which I am going to be making into something like this:

We also got a few accessories:

A round chair, perfect for reading books: Target $29. It folds up and is going to be a perfect cuddle spot and will replace the tea party table and chairs that are currently in her room.
And this peace sign at Home Goods $9. (Notice there is one EXACTLY like it in the picture below, and I didn't even notice it before I bought it!)
It is just a start. We are still missing a bed and bed frame, but since I haven't been able to find anything I like, or anything cheap, I think I am going to do something like THIS and do it in a Black background with white polka dots. (Watch the video to get inspired!)

I am hoping that her room will turn out looking something like this:

I love the light and airy look, so, I am going to have to steer clear of any more black accents, but, I think so far, so good! I will keep you posted on project updates. I told her this would be my first priority when we got there, so, stay tuned!