For Your Viewing Pleasure....

It seems like it's taking FOREVER to finish up our bedroom and kitchen re-do. Started both projects at about the same time a couple of months ago and I'm STILL not quite finished! I'm waiting on my drapes for the bedroom, I have to make a roman shade for the bathroom, and I haven't decided where to place all my architectural pieces.....but I decided when I started these rooms I was not going to rush anything and only use things I loved. I had to wait quite a while for the headboard from Ballards, and while I was waiting on that, I had the bedroom and bathroom painted and started looking around for just the right things to use in the room.....



So here's just a little peek at the headboard with the bedding and monogrammed shams. The wall color is Sandy Hook Gray....not a true french gray but a deeper shade of gray. At first, I wasn't really sure about it but now that I'm bringing in all the shades of white and textures, it is really growing on me.



I was concerned that the creamy pintuck upholstered headboard would not blend with the all white bedding but it turned out really good. The headboard appears somewhat yellowish here but in reality it's a creamy white.





The large white mirror I got at a local flea market for $40! I'm sure it was probably a gold color at one time but the vendor had painted it gloss white. I really love it. The white lamp on the table was originally green but it got the white spray paint treatment. Picked it up at a little yardsale last summer for $5.00!

Here's a floor lamp that I got antiquing and junking with Rhoda last summer. It had a wooden base and pretty green shade....so I repurposed it for this room by spray painting it and swapped out the shade for another one on another lamp.

Added some sparklies to the shade for bling!

I think it turned out really pretty.

Here's a little bench at the foot of our bed. It had a tapestry cover on it so I just covered it in this pretty linen fabric. It will go under the windows when the drapes get hung.

And here in all their glory are my prized architectural pieces. I had planned on using the large piece over our bed but for some reason, it didn't look quite right, so I left the star mirror there. I just love this piece so I want to give it a place of honor when and where I hang it. The large white angel piece I found in a spare closet.....forgot I had it! I had already painted it white several years ago when the cottage look was coming into vogue. I'm hoping to get all these placed real soon.

I got this bracket for $2.50 and I wish you could see the color. It's kind of a washed antiqued gray and I think I will use it on the narrow wall next to the white floor lamp and hang a picture over it.

I've not jumped on the "birdcage bandwagon" even though so many of you have but when I saw this birdcage at the same place I picked up the bracket (above) I just couldn't pass it up! You can see the price, plus it was 10% off! It was painted dark green but of course, it's getting the white spray treatment. I think I might use it on my bay window in the kitchen.

Keep your fingers crossed those drapes come in soon so I can get them hung and finish up the bedroom. Then I'll post a lot of pictures!

Great Auction Finds and Faux Mirror Project

We attended a "Trade Day" auction this past Saturday which was essentially an outdoor flea-market type thing where different vendors sold various merchandise. To be perfectly honest, most of the stuff was "junk" but I was lucky enough to spot a few "diamonds in the rough" to bring home.

Here is one of the treasures I found....a wonderful floor lamp with that great aqua color! I'm really finding myself drawn to this color more and more and I am using it quite a bit in my "cottage kitchen" makeover. I will have to get a light fixture for it but I just could not resist the vintage feel of the lamp. Don't know where it will end up but never fear....I will find the perfect spot for it!

Hubby spotted this architectural piece on the ground and pointed it out to me. The way the auction was operating Saturday afternoon was that everything was staged outside. The auctioneer would go from vendor to vendor so you could bid on stuff. When we saw this piece, a guy standing nearby said "I was hoping no one else would see this....am I going to have to fight you for it?" So naturally I replied "of course." I did point out to him that it was in bad condition and he surely didn't want it......and he, being a Southern gentlemen, did not argue with me! I picked up this little beauty for $5.00! It looks like it came off the top of an old dresser. There is a little damage to it, nothing that some wood glue and clamps won't fix. Right now I don't plan to do anything to it but clean it up and then hang it over our bed.

You can see the damaged area above

She's a beauty!

Here's another little piece I picked up for $5.00. It belonged to the owner of the auction and when I spied it, I asked him how much he wanted for it.....he said $5.00 and I said SOLD!

Love all the chippy white peeling paint....this will go over my narrow bathroom window.

This piece above the bay window is certainly not an antique nor an architectural piece yet I love the way it fills up the space over the window. I bought it at Kirklands. It's a metal piece that was finished off in a bronze color.....took the trusty white spray paint and instant "architecture"!

I've always wanted some of those oversize salt and pepper shakers to put some bath salts in but I've never found any in good enough condition that were reasonably priced. Friday I went to a new flea market and found this set which were in great shape.....look at the price!

I went to my local spa (Wal Mart) and got some extravagantly expensive bath salts......

...oh yeah, it cost about $2.00 a bag!

How pretty is this? For under $5.00 I now have some "pretties" for my bathroom

At the same flea market, I picked up this urn for a little over $6.00

I wanted to get a plant to sit down inside the urn that would survive my non-green thumb. Saw this great plant at Home Depot and it reminded me of the "rabbit's foot ferns" my grandmother used to have. Now that might not be the "technical" term but that's what I've always called them. You could rub the little soft "rabbits feet" spilling out from the bottom of the plant....this brought back some good memories of my grandmother (who did have a green thumb)

If you have been reading my blog, you'll remember my posting about my friend Linda's gorgeous cottage style home. Since I was already redoing my kitchen and bedroom in a white cottage style, seeing her home really inspired me and gave me some good ideas, which I have unashamedly (is that a word?) copied! She had a beautiful aqua painted round mirror in her dining room. I spotted this one recently at T.J. Maxx and while it was not wood, it was a very reasonable price and I thought I could give it the "aqua treatment" and hang it in the kitchen.

Here's how it looked before.....(nothing wrong it the white, I just wanted to use the aqua color on it)....

First coat of paint

Although I coated it 3 times, some of the white still showed through. After glazing with Ralph Lauren's tobacco glaze, it still needed something else so I took some matte black paint and just dry brushed it on. You can click on the pictures below to see how it turned out....like the original paint is chipping off and the "old wood" is showing underneath

I played around with several vingettes on this little table in the kitchen. While I liked the sparse look (see below), I eventually settled on placing the urn on this table. I first had the urn and plant on the kitchen table but hubby complains because he has to move it so he can see the TV (hate it) so I will leave the kitchen table bare for now.

Some of you astute ladies will remember my post on Linda's house and recognize some of the same design elements here as in her dining room

I love these turquoise plates I found at Pier 1 (on sale)....they only had four so I got them all. If I find any more of them I'll add to these.....the shape and color are so interesting!

Well, that's all for now. I'm finally in the home stretch in putting the finishing touches in the kitchen and bedroom and then I'll post pictures.

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Princess In Training and Comfort Food

This past Saturday a dream came true for Taylor. She went with her mom and I to the Junior League Holiday Market held locally which kicks off the Christmas shopping season. So much eye candy! One of the children's activities is put on by a company that specializes in children's parties and features a lot of story book princesses. After the show, the "princesses" walk around and you can have your picture taken with them. So Taylor was so excited to get her picture taken with Cinderella. Unfortunately, I can't remember who the other princess was. Cinderella (the blonde in the blue dress) is a girl that graduated from high school with Shannon. She is a very sweet and lovely girl and was so sweet to Taylor!

Here she is with Ariel (the redhead) and I don't know the other "character" person

When we got back home she was tired from all the walking and shopping and picture taking so here she is with her Pop (remember this is hubby's "other woman")

I'm guessing those intense looks are from watching Auburn football!

Santamaker is featuring "no brainer" foods on her blog this week. If you haven't checked it out, go over there and see all of the "no brainer" foods that are being shared by other bloggers. Tonight it is cold here in Alabama so we are having soup and sandwiches....can't get much easier than that!

Chicken and rice soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Today my daughter Shannon "scolded" me cause I didn't say anything on my blog about her birthday this past weekend. She said I had done a special post on her brother's birthday in July but no mention of hers on Saturday! While I know she joking, let me be sure to say a very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Shannon for her birthday which was October 25th! Gotta be nice to the kids so they'll come see me in the nursing home in my old age!

All kidding aside, she is my miracle baby. I went into labor with her on Mother's Day when I was about 5 months pregnant. My husband took me to the ER where the doctor said he would try and stop the labor but if not, I would more than likely lose the baby. I was given a sedative and drifted off.....the next thing I remember is waking up in the hospital room the next morning and seeing my daddy smiling at me.....the labor had stopped! I was supposed to be on bed rest until my due date which was in late September/early October. How could I be on bed rest when I had a 2 1/2 year old running around? Finally, my doctor induced labor on a bright and beautiful Monday morning and shortly thereafter I had a beautiful baby girl! She was and is perfect in every way! She was about 3 weeks overdue and hasn't been on time since!

HAPPY {BELATED} BIRTHDAY SHANNON - I LOVE YOU!

Mom

Breakfast for Supper

We love breakfast for supper. It's quick and easy and s-o-o-o much better than those breakfast bars. A while back I discovered Breakfast Skillets by Jimmy Dean. In addition to this stuff tasting great, they've done all the work for you....chopping up the peppers and onions and adding meat and hash browns. We like the one with ham but they have sausage and bacon flavors too.

Just put in a preheated skillet with a little oil and cook for approximately 10 minutes or until done

The package call for scrambling eggs in with the hash brown combo but I usually cook them in a separate pan

And there you have it! A quick but filling meal in a snap! Oh, I also baked some cinnamon rolls with creme cheese icing instead of biscuits.....yum yum!

How many of ya'll like to fix breakfast for supper? I would love to know some of your favorite receipes.

The "Other Woman"

Well, I never thought there'd be another woman in my husband's life but he just can't hide his feelings any longer. Today he actually called me from the mall where he'd been shopping for her! Can you believe it?!?!?! I've seen her and she's beautiful.....long blonde hair, big blue eyes, killer smile, and a diva if I've ever seen one....how can I compete with that? She came into his life about 4 1/2 years ago and it was love at first sight. Of course, I have to admit, I love her too! Have you guessed who she is? It's our little granddaughter, Taylor Elizabeth! She has her Pop wrapped around her little finger. Just to show you how much, let me tell you why he called me from the mall today.

A few weeks ago, he and a few of his guy friends went to eat at the mall for lunch. He was sitting across from the Build-A-Bear store and the Hannah Montana bear caught his eye. He bravely got up and went into the store to inquire about the Hannah Montana bear. Taylor has recently discovered Hannah Montana and all she can do is sing that song "The Best Of Both Worlds" . Her ballet/tap class even danced to it last week at parent's day. She was in heaven....but let me get back to the bear story. Over the weekend, hubby was anxious to get the bear "before they sell out". So today, he went back to the mall to get the bear and here's what he did in the name of love for her:

First you pick out the bear...in this case...Hannah Montana bear.

Then you pick up a heart for the bear and here's the part I would have given anything to see:

1. He put the heart on his head so she'll be smart

2. Put the heart on your elbow (funny bone) so she'll have a sense of humor

3. Finally put the heart close to his heart, closed his eyes and made a wish then placed the heart inside the bear.

Wouldn't you have loved to be in a Build A Bear store and see this big burly man doing all that for one little girl?

So here's how hubby summed up his experience:

Hannah bear - $22.00

Sequin guitar outfit - $13.50

Silver ballet flat = $6.00

Silver gem purse - $6.00

"Best of Both Worlds" song - $5.00

Long blonde wig - $6.00

Total cost: $59.50 (plus tax)

The look on Taylor's face on Christmas - PRICELESS!

Now if that ain't love, I don't know what is!