'Lil Owl Pillow/Stuffy

Owls seem to be everywhere lately and gotta say that I am totally diggin' the trend.  You may remember that I did a owl felt mobile for the nursery about a year ago.  So, in looking for possible gift ideas/stocking stuffers for my kids I came across a tutorial (they always lure you in with the "tutorials" - with all their promises of "easy" and "quick" and "simple"...) for a cute little stuffed owl pillow/stuffy.  It was a great way to once again work in a few of my fabric scraps to match the quilt my superstar mom put together for our Peanut.  And I think she's totally going to be a fan! 

I of course will be linking up to the super quick, easy, and simple tutorial  over at Make It-Love It so that you yourself can join along!  - 'Cuz you know that's why I post right??  To try and suck you into this sick little 'crafting' obsession I have with trying absolutely everything cute that I can find step-by-step directions for.  to try and make it seem a little more socially acceptable.  it is a problem.  

Next Time Won't You Sing With Me?

I spent Thanksgiving with my brother and SUPERSTAR sister-in-law - one of my very favorite people because she's awesome, super crafty and always willing to jump into a project with me.  I might add that she's also smart.  Smart enough to go 'another way' when we began this seemingly easy peasy art project! :)

I was strolling around some blogs for an alphabet idea for our playroom wall and came across my very favorite option at a blog called HowDoesShe?  I am currently obsessed with my Silhouette so it was a pretty easy sell.  However - didn't really think it all through.  the whole 26 squares, 26 mounting plywood pieces, sanding the 26 squares, sanding the 26 mounting pieces, painting the 52 squares (thankful for said superstar sister-in-law who helped!), cutting the 26 papers, glueing 26 papers, picking 26 vinyl letters, cutting 26 vinyl letters, mounting 26 boards on plywood squares, installing 26 frame mounting claws, measuring, remeasuring, leveling and hanging 26 squares onto the wall.  26.  there are 26 letters in the alphabet.  

But it looks FANTASTIC!  And I love it! :)   

I'm also looking forward to the day where I get to be the one to patch 26 little holes in the wall! :)

Make sure to check out Danae's finished project here!  (Like how I set you up there Danae? - pretty sure you mentioned you were waiting for me to 'inspire' your post....?!)

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??

it's falling time

So - my nod to Fall is gradually growing into more of a slow head spasm - not so fast that Aaron will notice the new decorations on our tight 'new homeowner' budget however....  it's all about mastering subtlety right? ;) Actually - for the most part I'm just on the hunt for free things I have around the house/yard/neighbourhood to gradually nurse everyone slowly out of summer and prepare them for the outright frontal attack I have planned for Christmas.  Ahhh - Christmas! :)  I also am not a big fan of clutter or additional random objects that my kids can relocate throughout the house so I'm keeping things simple. 


I have long been loving the white ceramic birds that are everywhere - so, my favorite little craft superstore helped me out for $5.99...

That's a pine cone, acorn and small piece of driftwood on the sand.  How very zen hey? 

and here's a few little fall moments I've created in our main living space.

Now just gotta pick up my pumpkin spice candle and find a friend who'll perhaps drop off a fresh apple pie?  Just sayin'....

fall wreath

I LOVE Fall - but that isn't to say I'm prepared to see summer leave.  However, the weather this past week has left me no choice to embrace the truth - it is quickly approaching and I shall have to once again pack in my Daisy Duke shorts for capris - K, truthfully it was probably time for me to pack in the Dukes about three kids ago (yes - I only have two kids)...


Nonetheless... waking up to the crisp Fall air, dreaming of warm hearty stews, apple crisps, cozy sweaters, and strolling the aisle's of Micheals got my little heart pretty psyched to start dreaming in - as my friend so eloquently put it -  'dead leaves, hay and twigs.'  kind of takes the "romance" out of the season hey? ....cynics...


So - here is my first nod to Autumn.

Anyone else making the jump?




Ralna

Prettying up the Kitchen Sink

I truly believe that my husband and children have a super power.  It's not one that gets a lot of hype or recognition, although I'm probably not wrong in suggesting that there is a whole army out there in homes everywhere possessing this very same unacknowledged gifting.  It's particular greater purpose or meaning I cannot say I know, but it's workings I experience on a daily occasion without provocation or warning.  The fact is however, that they cannot rest when my sink is empty.  Whether it be fifteen minutes before or after a meal, snack, or nuclear attack, the sudden urge for a drink, a snack or a cooking-palooza is unresistable when my stainless steel sink has been cleaned out and polished up.  It's a sixth sense that can awaken one from the dead of sleep or beacon from any activity from any location.  It's one of the many things that daily reminds me how "blessed" I have to have a family surrounding me who are deeply invested in my every action. :)


But - this is to say....I spend a lot of time at my kitchen sink.  And so,...it needed some love.  I was thinking maybe a waterfall, massaging chair, soothing aromatherapy, and a sound-proof ten foot bubble - but instead, went with some bamboo blinds (Mmmmm!), plush small area rug, and some smells so good I want to eat it dish soap. :)

Before-Before

Before

After

And I know you're all looking at my unfinished kickboards - but trust me,.....after a few weeks,....you barely notice them....! ;)


ps....

A Room for Our Princess

So here's the first glimpse of Claire's Room!  We finally put some things up today - still a few more to go up and need to fill the frames with pictures but,...that could be months and well...haven't done anything else I can brag about so gotta use what I have! :)  Unless you want to hear about the left-overs I tried to pass off as dinner tonight or how convincingly I talked myself out of cleaning the house today (to be honest, it wasn't that hard - so it probably isn't that impressive of a tale anyway...).

Before 

(Given I always use the before pics with the previous owners stuff -and well,....the doily count is a little high - but that just makes the the transformation between the before and after all the more I guess!)

After

My friend Barb brought over a old pine shelf she had taken down at her place.  So out came the can of white paint and my much loved and used paint rollers...and it definitely helped fill the space above Claire's dresser.  Gotta love white paint!  And free furniture! 

Hopefully, soon I can show you the other side of the room too!

Have a great night! :)

I think I'm in love.

My sad empty little dining room needed something shiny and fabulous.  And, it has been found...! :)  absolutely LOVE my pretty pretty shiny new mirror.  

Seriously - tell me you aren't in love??  ...and it was the last one in the store and on sale for 30% off???! :) CRAZY good!

Night all....

Ralna

Jaden's Room

HUGE achievements today.  Not only did I finally hang some pics in Jaden's room.....we have also almost installed the shower rod upstairs.  For that to happen Aaron had to fix the slow gradual leak in the tub which he did in about thirty seconds.  So smart that there husband of mine!  So -  I'm guessing only about another two days until I figure out the shower rod install.  K - I'm probably making it sound way more complicated than it is...but there were bolts and measuring and drilling and then on the way to the workshop for the tools there was the tv and the kitchen and Aaron made cookies yesterday and....well...now I sit here. :)

So here's the first draft on Jaden's room... knowing that it's all going to change in the next few months when we get him his big bed and bedding, not too much different than his old room, but he's happy,...and I'm happy 'cause it's done...more or less!

The Before

And the After...

beautiful beautiful countertops

YAY!  Today - first day for quite a while that I have not wanted to sell our little project house to the highest or lowest bidder....any bidder at all.....  We got our countertops installed and LOVE how they turned out!  And as happy with my laminate as if it was granite! :)  Actually, more so because this way Moe doesn't have to break my legs.

and the pendant lights are even up!  now just to get to that light above the sink, the kickboards and the crown around the top of the cabinets, and hanging the rest of the doors.  No biggie right?

And check out my pretty pretty faucets....  Aaron plans to start plumbing tonight so at some point in the future I may even be able to use them! :)

Wallpaper also continues to disappear in the guest room...  Not a fan of wallpaper, and as soon as I start to come around to the "trend" of it all....I have to take someone else's down and am once again convinced it is simply NOT worth it.  And I know it's just a border....but it's still obnoxious.

Hung the beautiful curtains that my mom sewed and blinds in our master bedroom.  LOVE them! Mom's a superstar!