Fireplace Re-Surround

So, the previous owners of our house, ...they built a fireplace surround for the electric insert and, well....

'nuff said.  Yes.  That's actually wallpaper.  AMAZING.


So, be it that we can't afford to replace it at this time and we like having the extra heat for the basement -  this is my quest to prettify it.

Since the wallpaper revealed a mixture of odd lumbar, drywall, and panelling - they obviously had "wallpapering" in mind - none of the sides were flat.  So, I boxed it in with some MDF for a little more interest and put solid plywood panels on the side so it was paintable.  I then primed the sides and front columns.


And my amazing husband laid ceramic tile around the insert.

The top had had been tiled and trimmed with wood baseboards.  Mmmmm.


So - we put a new top on it and just painted out the insert with black flat paint.  and now...

and this is where I'm stuck.  it looks deceiving finished from the front but the moulding is just currently tacked...cause,....turns out....I SUCK at cutting crown moulding.  thus, the sides don't line up with the front - which incidentally was cut too short - ummm,... twice - and thus is remains the view from the sides.  SO SAD.... :(

so - back to the store for yet another six foot piece of moulding - happy I picked the cheap stuff..... :)

Claire's Kindergarten Registration...

So - yesterday was the day that we registered Claire for kindergarten.  Yes - I wept.  My eyelids seem to be retaining about three pounds extra fluid today and no doubt will burst again at any moment.  Such a suck I am.  And the actual event is still eight months away!  It's hard to be to appreciate that I am NOT the first mom to go through this - and that these countless others have actually made it through.  I guess in all fairness I seem to be processing her leaving highschool and moving away at the same moment as her beginning kindergarten and in reality I will probably be blessed with a few moments in between!  It just seems like the time is going so fast and as I walked her up to the school, with her mess of curls in a ponytail on each side of her head and beaming in excitement, looking up to me for assurance and direction, it just struck me how scared I am of her drifting away - wondering how much longer I have until she stops showering me with hugs and kisses, when the day will come she no longer thoughtlessly reaches up for my hand as we walk down the street.... 

It's hard not to be selfish with our kids - to want to keep them little and dependent, try to hold on to the time where we are the center of their whole world and get to share a part of every detail of who they are, to remember that God has designed them with a bigger purpose that to remain my own little private blessings to enjoy...  

But I am also looking forward to enjoying her as the woman she is going to become - watching with pride as she walks across the stage to get her diploma, to see her as a beautiful bride, and to watch her hold her own precious baby in her arms for the first time as her heart explodes to spaces she never knew she had.  

The Island

It has been about six or seven months in the coming but look at this...

that's right folks - my prep sink is plumbed in and is finally more than a built-in stainless steel storage bin!  How exciting!  I'm pretty much the Queen of England now with my fancy two sinks in one kitchen.  :)


Also - my favorite type of project - in that I had very little to do with it! :)  And keeping with that tone.... Aaron gets all the credit for this sparkly gorgeous little number...

...and the finished grouted beauty -  :)

and times that by about eight and that's how much tiling is left to do our counter backsplash on the rest of the kitchen.  ugggh.....  - Listen to me complain....As if I'll be doing it! ;)  Aaron - you're a rockstar! I need to bite the bullet on the hardware too - so chicken to drill holes in those doors....

Dining Room Progress

SOOO - SUPER excited to show you the new additions to our dining room!  it's lookin' so pertty!  :)  Stopped by the Brick today and found these attractive little floor models on clearance....

upscaling our pathetic little too-short stools to a sleek little leather number that actually allows you to reach the island countertop!  Nice little bonus feature for a bar stool! :)  Beyond excited....

Before...

After
(the third chair comes today - I was just impatient...!)

And before Christmas I found drapes - that could not be a closer match to my kitchen wall color - for our patio door (which right now I would prefer if you would squint and imagine as beautiful garden doors opening out on to my meticulously manicured garden terrace instead of the sliding challenged, energy inefficient, locking incapable, sliding steel doors leading to the brown barren deck.  seriously, these patio doors - I have no words.   we're not friends.  Anyway- got the drapes 50% off which was thrilling for me because I was having zero luck with my limited access to fabric stores.

And the fancy little clock in the corner was a Christmas present! - LOVE it!  :)

Put up the matching bamboo blinds to the kitchen window over the sink and that helped a lot in tying everything together!

But what do you think?  Suggestions?  Comments??

Tickle Trunk Project

So - now that Christmas is over and the surprises have all been told - I thought I would share some of the things I have been working on the past few months!  We decided to try and put together a dress-up trunk for our kids from us this year - something that we can add to over time! :)


One of their favourite games of late is to line up all the kitchen chairs and pretend that it's a long train and they are the conductors.  I found a cute little pattern on Mushroom Villagers and tried to do my own little version of conductor hats and then just eye-balled an interpretation of a vest.  Not perfect but cute! I found a train whistle to go with it - a fact I may or may not be now regretting! :)

I also sewed them each a cape to replace the blankets I am frequently having to tie and retie around their necks every three seconds when they save the planet.  I picked up a cow and fireman costume after Halloween for $5 that has been a huge hit for Jaden!  And a Safari hat and magnifying glass that has already equipped them on countless explorations.  A cowboy hat and bandana to wear as they run around riding the swiffer and a empty cardboard box - and of course everything princess and fairy that you could ever need or desire!  Wish the magic wand could clean up rooms as quickly as it changes stuffed animals to coachmen though.... :)

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Ralna

Nursery Canvas Painting

So now that the Christmas decor has been put away it's more than time to start finishing up/starting some fun new projects around here.  Our good friends had a little baby girl before Christmas - pretty much the tiniest little bundle of loving I've ever held at six and a half pounds - being that my babies have been, umm....less tiny. :)  Anyway - she is absolutely beautiful and we could not be happier for the new happy family!  They asked me to paint a canvas for her nursery to match their bedding and I finally sat down and finished it up this afternoon.   So - here she be...  

I used the decorative pillow and tried to freehand somewhat of a duplicate version for the wall.  I think it turned out cute and I'm super excited to see it in the nursery... K - mostly I just want an excuse to go get some more new baby cuddles.... MMm...... :)

I love projects that can be done in a few hours!  Instant gratification! :)  Anyone else have some easy new projects on the go?


Ralna