tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88191140895284506482024-03-05T17:20:41.338-08:00Life...Upcycledno longer simple, no longer my own...but definitely better than ever...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-6061704002746977852011-03-29T10:58:00.000-07:002011-03-29T10:58:12.103-07:00i had better start stretching...my pointer finger...i bought can after can of spray paint at home depot this weekend for some of my projects. i told the Rep that it will be a painting extravaganza at our current abode this weekend so i can get some of my pieces done prior to moving.<br />
on the agenda:<br />
a magazine box that was custom made, solid wood that i picked up at a yard sale and intend to paint and antique...color yet to be determined...<br />
an old urn that i am going to paint a metallic nickel color as my ode to the pottery barn photo i saw including one as an umbrella stand which i can't find now for the life of me.<br />
the student desk that will be my student desk in a lovely shade of turquoise<br />
a document organizer that i picked up at a yard sale that is solid wood and will be perfect to put in the office to separate school papers, bills, mail, etc...i believe i am going with black.<br />
i also, really, really wish i could find these or something like them on the uber cheap:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Uep97rBOubCtHmIeHIbooETO6F1QxtKBtLXgUFVI-92E2YDuwytgBRs2j1oCCEeSr-gtzi_PEr0JBfZi2MMVV4mUcjlXxitDUuJzit_rqGIev-8iat8FBket8xxyZaTm1n9JGqaSkpl/s1600/stella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4Uep97rBOubCtHmIeHIbooETO6F1QxtKBtLXgUFVI-92E2YDuwytgBRs2j1oCCEeSr-gtzi_PEr0JBfZi2MMVV4mUcjlXxitDUuJzit_rqGIev-8iat8FBket8xxyZaTm1n9JGqaSkpl/s320/stella.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
i am on the hunt for a chair for my sewing room that i will have in the new, old house. i also need an armoire for Ro-Ro's room and a dresser for the guest room. oh- and a chandelier for the dining room. it never ends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-65466672916962827752011-03-27T20:32:00.000-07:002011-03-27T20:32:35.122-07:00New site I loveI stumbled upon this site and I signed up for roughly 30 free samples. You should too! The new, old house will soon be buried in samples.<br />
Told you I am cheap! :)<br />
<br />
Www.myfreeproductsamples.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-92077473058301599032011-03-26T15:46:00.000-07:002011-03-26T15:46:05.662-07:00looky looky<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTBFossEwFkvCHX4Ap3hOkMa44MSXTJsvKLouH58-J13YVrNWxlwqRr5FcL-oinJvuXa1k5fN4uEBFWMt6VdgjwQrA5GvksXs5X_Sup0Y4EtFlZxyBMaP6WtSeb_VEsnng1eHZxeui_zm/s1600/shamrockearrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTBFossEwFkvCHX4Ap3hOkMa44MSXTJsvKLouH58-J13YVrNWxlwqRr5FcL-oinJvuXa1k5fN4uEBFWMt6VdgjwQrA5GvksXs5X_Sup0Y4EtFlZxyBMaP6WtSeb_VEsnng1eHZxeui_zm/s320/shamrockearrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">so, in an incredible streak of luck, i won a stella&dot jewelry giveaway on st. patty's day. these incredible earrings arrived today. i mean, really? could they be any prettier? my iPhone photo doesn't even begin to do them justice. not even close. i can already picture them with a black top or dress. or a white tank and my AG boyfriend jeans this spring/summer. i clearly need a babysitter so i can go out and wear these lovelies. i am also probably going to order them in the other color. because they rock that much.</div>you know what also will look fantastic with my white tank and boyfriend jeans? and also with a suit to work? and a t-shirt and shorts? and a black dress? this little beauty...<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytp0sQ_z2J2sATODFQ27zXL4I6-TnzZNK5NUvfyQOrt_4KZPXjWYDKIP72vvSPwkhxTP3WED_naY6vHwa3LZOEs-qB4e6nasKmI2dGMkkUUkBjmQQ6hRD_zmw_7Z6wpA1F9n_fFrtouRS/s1600/revivalnecklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytp0sQ_z2J2sATODFQ27zXL4I6-TnzZNK5NUvfyQOrt_4KZPXjWYDKIP72vvSPwkhxTP3WED_naY6vHwa3LZOEs-qB4e6nasKmI2dGMkkUUkBjmQQ6hRD_zmw_7Z6wpA1F9n_fFrtouRS/s320/revivalnecklace.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">it is long and fantastic and again, i can't do it justice with my photography. i will try to get a shot soon where i am wearing it (which might have taken place today had i thought about it because i have been sporting it about town). in the meantime, you should 1) get really excited for the stella&dot catalog show that i am going to be doing after the move to the old, new house; and 2) go right now and like <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Annette-Warnick-Independent-Stylist-for-Stella-Dot/112202085480319">annette warnick's</a> facebook page so you can get some fantastic jewelry. then come back and tell me which pieces you like the best! </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-40003120518983041042011-03-24T06:53:00.000-07:002011-03-24T06:57:18.493-07:00a little divine of mine thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcL1H3vcKwn_jTSlAxJuegA80gFtCaXEJX_aY61-75xi_GEzGWpGcXDJ_PaNWQ0oyc6ZunOFl5tsB5IlfsYtVGYyuaYvJZ1MGGeP7OxVg7QK66fPc9RB-lyZNegCg-FZ-nyFqHWGTFDQ/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pcL1H3vcKwn_jTSlAxJuegA80gFtCaXEJX_aY61-75xi_GEzGWpGcXDJ_PaNWQ0oyc6ZunOFl5tsB5IlfsYtVGYyuaYvJZ1MGGeP7OxVg7QK66fPc9RB-lyZNegCg-FZ-nyFqHWGTFDQ/s320/photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>excuse the fact that this image isn't great...it is from my phone. this is the chandelier in Ro-Ro's room. it hangs in the corner and is really the focal point of the room. i picked it up in broad ripple when we were actively on the waitlist for ethiopian adoption #2 (before we ever knew that Ro-Ro or the option of Ro-Ro even existed). the Rep actually spotted it in the store window and pointed it out to me as something he thought would be great in our little girl's room. and it is. it is one of my favorite items in our home. it was not overly pricey and when it is turned on, it brings life and light to the room. i certainly consider it to be a little divine of mine. what do you have in your home or life that you think is divine? an old photo? your dog? a pair of jimmy choo stilettos? a cold beer in the fridge? i want to know! comment or link and share!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-30941926075323362892011-03-23T10:09:00.000-07:002011-03-23T10:09:50.387-07:00missing in action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopngDTfNCEalo9Qq4YApwfR12fFspf2UBHaJv8WsNY0d1cTwvNO4xUCDAOD2vbsvPBpz8H7CSILXXjoIvWQakWutE0cP97ap5tKMtNL0Qg56kZIl5tlg6EbrsDsjiNp6Ppcy5q1Gmoss-/s1600/stressed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopngDTfNCEalo9Qq4YApwfR12fFspf2UBHaJv8WsNY0d1cTwvNO4xUCDAOD2vbsvPBpz8H7CSILXXjoIvWQakWutE0cP97ap5tKMtNL0Qg56kZIl5tlg6EbrsDsjiNp6Ppcy5q1Gmoss-/s320/stressed.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>i have been missing in action for the past few days. i am back to work full time now and busier than ever. plus, the Rep is out of town for business this week. so, i have been juggling both lovely children and work AND the odds and ends to get our home closing lined up (tentatively scheduled for april 5 with possession absolutely on april 15). i feel like i am about 2 seconds shy of a mental break at times this week (see the photo of me above. ha). at other times i think what a great job i am doing juggling this while the Rep is gone. someone once told a former co-worker of mine who is also a mother, that at some point she was going to have to choose between being a good mother and a good lawyer...the person who said that was of course a man. there are moments when i think this might be true- but this week, i say WRONG. i am doing a nice job of doing both. Babydoll loves daycare. it is more of a school environment and he thrives there. Ro-Ro is spoiled by her teachers since OBVIOUSLY she is the cutest one in the class. she is also the youngest- so that helps. i don't feel as guilty because they don't cry at drop off and i know they are cared for. plus, i get a little break for social interaction sans babies, even if it is at work.<br />
<br />
one the Rep gets home i am going to post my yard sale find "before" pictures from this past weekend. i have to take said pictures, download, resize and then upload. so, you can see why i might want some reinforcements on the home front. i must say i am very excited about a desk i picked up for $15 that will become my sewing/crafting desk. i hate that word "crafting"...but i digress. then as i get to work on my projects i will post the end results. since my chalkboard project has gone by the wayside for now until i get the materials on the cheap, i can move on to things like my desk and the other super cool items i picked up.<br />
<br />
tomorrow is "a little divine of mine" thursday. so, if you would please comment and share something in your life that is divine in your eyes on tomorrow's post- i would LOVE IT. you can link to a photo or a blog post or simply leave it in the comments. it can be anything. last week mine was salt shakers for cripes sake. it can be your children. furniture. a loaf of bread. something that you made. your television remote. your running shoes. i just want to see what you think is divine in your life. we all need to be thankful more often for the little things we have. even if they are owl salt shakers ;) check back tomorrow please!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-80623860593636598332011-03-18T20:49:00.000-07:002011-03-18T20:49:57.528-07:00cheap. skate.that is me. so the Rep and i closed on the sale of our house today and since the children were being cared for and we had a few hours after, we went to plan out some of our renovations, pick out a stove and check out some chandeliers (insert massive clip art of a beating, love filled heart). i also wanted to grab the supplies to convert my old window to an organization center of the most awesome order. we picked out a stove, 30% off. we picked out the hardware for the kitchen cabinets and priced some other items that we are going to need. then we went about gathering the supplies for the window conversion. um, here is the deal. each item i needed was $5. by the time my bill was going to be close to $25, i put it all back. though i clearly won't get it done this weekend, i am simply not going to just buy all of the stuff for more money than i could have paid to just buy a cool, old shabby chic chalkboard. so, plan b. i still plan on doing the project, but i am going to find what i need a lot cheaper as i can, or even free. so, you will have to wait for the results. but what can i say? i am thrifty. or cheap. whichever. <br />
to prove this, i spent the last 45 minutes planning out my yard sale route for the morning. i will have an infant child strapped to my chest as i peruse the junk of others that i plan to turn into some treasures. i. can't. wait. and i don't have to for long, because i have to leave the house at 6:30 a.m. :)<br />
i will report the results of my yard sale-ing tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-33089676277091586582011-03-17T18:33:00.000-07:002011-03-17T18:33:37.074-07:00a little divine of mine...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8halY93tCmc41hlySII5O4ikEZ3oE6R_b6vd1IktCKm_lLAO6Gigk_v5Vvn5FyR7GgWn-7Gn1rIh8PfFlYyIvSzSo5fu5DzIbn6-RkkkR1JM-6wuTIya0Ekya2HVdaoaXoiTtYqfW8P9C/s1600/owlshakers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8halY93tCmc41hlySII5O4ikEZ3oE6R_b6vd1IktCKm_lLAO6Gigk_v5Vvn5FyR7GgWn-7Gn1rIh8PfFlYyIvSzSo5fu5DzIbn6-RkkkR1JM-6wuTIya0Ekya2HVdaoaXoiTtYqfW8P9C/s320/owlshakers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>while i sit here sinfully devouring my mint oreo blizzard (completely breaking my lenten vow to give up sweets as part of my trifecta of evil- fries, sweets and cussing), i was looking at my cute, cute owl salt/pepper shakers. due to their fantasticness, i wanted to share this little bit of divine in my kitchen...i am thinking of making this a weekly thursday event and ask everyone to share a little divine of theirs on this blog and i will post the photos/links. any thoughts on that? i think it is a good idea :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-72968064895511296802011-03-17T06:49:00.000-07:002011-03-17T06:49:37.347-07:00check it outlast night i stumbled upon the blog <a href="http://www.nestnestingnested.blogspot.com/">nest, nesting, nested</a>. emily has some great ideas and is super, duper handy and creative. since we have lots of things to do in the new, old house, i am going to start stalking emily for her tutorials and ideas. she also has her first giveaway on her blog now. i am entering. i. want. that. tiny. bird.<br />
check her out! <a href="http://nestnestingnested.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-first-giveaway.html">http://nestnestingnested.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-first-giveaway.html</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-3604618331197401862011-03-16T14:06:00.000-07:002011-03-16T14:06:53.975-07:00a little obsession of minei admit it. i am a chandelier-aholic. i can't stop looking at them. which is good, because our new, old home (i clearly need a nickname for this property) is outfitted with new, but very masculine, craftsman style lights. not only do they not really go with the traditional styling of the home, um, i hate them. as in, one night when i was particularly emotional and freaking out about the impending move, i was crying over the light fixtures and how we likely had made a horrific mistake in purchasing the home because the lights were not pretty. yep, i did that. so jody promised me lovely chandeliers and new light fixtures wherever i want them. there are 2 places where they just have wires hanging out of the ceiling and no lights up, so we are going to take what i call the "boob lights" from two rooms and put them in those spots, since they are fairly inconspicuous locations. *a boob light is one of those round, frosted glass lights that sits close to the ceiling with a finial in the middle that looks ever so slightly like a nipple. hence, boob light. but i digress.* so, since that time, i have been immersing myself in the world of lighting. and, frankly, lighting on the cheap. i plan to hit the yard sales starting this weekend and see what i can upcycle and refurbish by way of lighting but also for other parts of the house- stay tuned for that. but, i also have some pottery barn gift cards burning a hole in my pocket and i purchased a front porch light on ebay (the pottery barn mayfair sconce but ebay pricing). so, i am going to be getting this little diddy for above the kitchen sink:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPFdTIJpRtOVqClgVNR9YVF1u9-ga2GcCQQqc9gSi8TKzY3dhZhdH3AtsX8YJQtWFVAwgY-Mjz35kfzDE_kNFV-aJQAsSHyy6m6cvzN_h4RKU-K63JbcPrlxf32NdVZ9ypB6QS1SCUHf8/s1600/light1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPFdTIJpRtOVqClgVNR9YVF1u9-ga2GcCQQqc9gSi8TKzY3dhZhdH3AtsX8YJQtWFVAwgY-Mjz35kfzDE_kNFV-aJQAsSHyy6m6cvzN_h4RKU-K63JbcPrlxf32NdVZ9ypB6QS1SCUHf8/s320/light1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>and this gorgeous ball of glory for the breakfast nook:<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaC47s46VQCxYk5CsZV_AGlBIQso0WO3leoX1M-37EOJ1bY8JuFeMPRIclMcsdFN7MG-Y8t-h6wj_Ced0zLVFcNxjSWeGf9Ngy38uQzyNjA8qimMSGa6jQQ9twKP9ik-P7zopGW3eVKZg/s1600/light2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaC47s46VQCxYk5CsZV_AGlBIQso0WO3leoX1M-37EOJ1bY8JuFeMPRIclMcsdFN7MG-Y8t-h6wj_Ced0zLVFcNxjSWeGf9Ngy38uQzyNjA8qimMSGa6jQQ9twKP9ik-P7zopGW3eVKZg/s320/light2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i love you, pottery barn. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">i am still searching for something for the dining room, which is the main dining area. so while i want something chandelier-ish and not too traditional, i don't want it to be too fancy. i am trying to get something a little shabby chic if possible. we also would like to eventually get one for our bedroom as well since it is currently outfitted with a ceiling fan with the world's dimmest light kit (boo, hiss) and it has to go. we may end up switching out the light kit until we find the perfect black chandelier for the bedroom, but that remains to be seen (i.e., can i wait that long). i already have my favorite chandelier in Ro-Ro's room:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin43PRAGZr9T9BdO8PTauwOJ3uFO3g79qAKXxPBX1W4AyCZ2Fu8SGaPkYlP-af1NKo2Yyr533-mBfcdLuVMRuyCzSs2eJ065TP2C7Usxe5pUapKp2uiBy_klJ8uxO5XHHlk1oNz7ZQBhZX/s1600/islaroomchand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin43PRAGZr9T9BdO8PTauwOJ3uFO3g79qAKXxPBX1W4AyCZ2Fu8SGaPkYlP-af1NKo2Yyr533-mBfcdLuVMRuyCzSs2eJ065TP2C7Usxe5pUapKp2uiBy_klJ8uxO5XHHlk1oNz7ZQBhZX/s1600/islaroomchand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin43PRAGZr9T9BdO8PTauwOJ3uFO3g79qAKXxPBX1W4AyCZ2Fu8SGaPkYlP-af1NKo2Yyr533-mBfcdLuVMRuyCzSs2eJ065TP2C7Usxe5pUapKp2uiBy_klJ8uxO5XHHlk1oNz7ZQBhZX/s320/islaroomchand.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">do you love a certain chandelier or light fixture? send it my way...i might just put it in my house! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">ooohhhh and i must say, i picked up an old 4 pane window from a consignment store that i will be turning into a chalkboard/corkboard combo unit for the new, old house. i start this weekend and i will post the before and after on here. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8819114089528450648.post-6837127947987128592011-03-15T19:13:00.000-07:002011-03-15T19:18:09.503-07:00welcomesince i didn't have enough to do in my life (dripping with sarcasm), i felt like a new blog was a great idea. the scoop: i am a full time attorney, full time wife to the best husband ever (the "Rep"), i have a 3 year old boy ("Babydoll") and a 9 week old baby girl ("Ro-Ro")...i just traded in my pimpin' escalade for a used mini van and we just sold our new house for an old, antique house with more space, higher utility bills and an impending kitchen renovation attached to it. but, i wouldn't change it for anything. we blogged about the adoption of our children, and i feel that blog should be dedicated to just that. so i will still post there about the kids, about ethiopia, about adoption and about an impending additions to our family. here, in this spot, i will wax on about my renovations, my revelations, all of my "projects" (i actually do upcycle virtually anything i can get my hands on and i dabble in sewing), things i love, things i hate and of course, life as a mama. i am pretty sure the next year of my life will play out like a season of "this old house"...with screaming children in the background. if that is not enticing, i don't know what else would make someone want to follow along...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0