Thursday, July 14, 2011

GARAGE SALE......MINE!

Just a sampling of what's leaving my house.

Hopefully, never to return...


Please, somebody come and buy it all!


This is the craziest piece for sale.  Why?

I actually sold it last year.  A nice woman bought the entire set.
In addition, she bought a table and chairs from my neighbor
Just how many people do you need to sit at one table?

Anyway, this chair needed a little TLC
and my hubby felt bad selling it in the quasi-wobbly stage
(you know being a carpenter and all)

So he glued and clamped it overnight
and the woman thanked him and agreed to come the next day and pick it up...

Well, she never did.

So.....For Sale.....One lonely chair!

Anyone?

Monday, July 11, 2011

FRIDAY'S GARAGE SALE FINDS

Crate and Barrel cereal bowls
.25 cents each!


They are sort of a rounded square and perfect size for the kids
These are currently on sale for $4 each
I got all 8 for $2!


Pretty glass votive holders
.25 cents each!



Wrought iron wine bottle and glasses display (including 4 wine glasses shown)
$3



World Market
Insulated zippered market tote
I've seen these for upwards of $25 in various stores

$5

Wednesday, July 06, 2011

The Revealing

My July 4th Flag Cake Reveal!



See making of cake HERE

Monday, July 04, 2011

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

[compliments of my 12 year old son]

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Red, White & Blue....and lots of frosting!


Made a Flag Cake today.
I'll unveil with a few pics after July 4th

Until then...
here is the making of

AND what I did with all the cake scraps



First layers (Red) done
White and Blue layers done
(and some falling apart)



The best Vanilla Extract Evah!
and some cheap whipping cream
Priorities girls, Priorities!

So what did I do with the cake scraps from the flag cake?
(drum roll please)



Even my crumbs look Patriotic!
See cake reveal HERE

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Advice Please?

Okay, this is where I pretend to have a loyal blog following and ask for help:

I desperately need your advice!
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ECHO.......Echo..........echo......
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[cue the crickets]

Well, to my few (and I mean it in the very literal sense of the word 'few') followers:

What do you think about refinishing this desk?

Should I take the plunge?

How would you refinish it?

Some important facts to know:

1. It was originally my grandfather's so it's sentimental (aka I don't want to ruin it)
2. It's old: as young as 75 -- as old as 100 years?
3. I'm not trying to keep it original so painting it is my first thought.
4. Last and most important: I've never restored a piece of furniture, ever!



The top finish is pretty scratched up. I thought about putting a glass top on this when it's done. What do you think?


Hardware: all intact and not hideous at all.

Options:

1. Keep as is?
2. Keep original, but paint?
3. Change entirely -- to what?

I think she has pretty lines.

All the drawers need stops and could stand to glide smoother (suggestions?)

And finally, what type of finish? What color?

I'm thinking an off white, perhaps with some glazing, but am open to suggestions.

Oh and here is the matching chair. It's original to the desk.


Closeup of side detail

Back of chair.

Seat is some type of faux leather and I can see another layer of fabric under that.
To be honest, it's not the most comfy of chairs and I don't know if I'd want to sit in it for long periods of time at a desk.

So do I repurpose it for somewhere else?

Keep it with the desk b/c it's original to the desk?

See? I told you I needed your help!





Monday, June 27, 2011

Polar Opposites

The weather this spring/summer has been less than stellar.

It's not uncommon for one day to be 30 degrees cooler than the previous.

Or even drastically different from morning to late afternoon on the same day.

I knew moving to the 'country' we had our own weather climate here, but I still have a hard time getting used to it. Severe storms blow in with no real notice.

We haven't purchased a pool pass this summer and the weather lately has made me glad we didn't. Couldn't go walking this morning due to rain, and then 'Sybil' [my affectionate name for Mother Nature] decides to break out in puffy white clouds and bright blue skies. What gives?

Seriously!!!

Nothing speaks volumes better than pictures so here ya go!

8am today

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\/

And exactly 2 hours later
same day
same location
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\/
See?
SYBIL!


Saturday, June 25, 2011

Cupcakes Any-Onesie?

Made these yesterday for a friend's baby shower

What do you think?



Where do you display your American Pride?




Wednesday, June 22, 2011

First Day of Summer?

First day of summer can only mean one thing...
Tornado Warnings and Severe Weather!

This was at 8:19 pm


...and then only 5 minutes later at 8:24



This was a little later

Monday, June 20, 2011

Encouraging Words

The Nester is talking about Everyday Encouragement

I have a drawer at my desk where I keep notes of encouraging words
Right next to my chocolate stash

They both uplift this girl's spirit, what can I say?

This is a horrible picture taken spur of the moment at 6am on a dark rainy day without a flash with my phone.

I really just didn't want to show you all my best chocolate in plain view LOL.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day!


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

This is my all time favorite pic of my own dad
with my mom
I think right after they got married.

Friday, June 17, 2011

FRIDAY'S GARAGE SALE FIND

Got this today at a Garage Sale
This is actually a lady who holds about 3 sales a year and resells her flea market finds, including this antique jar from Italy

Isn't she pretty? And it's hard to tell in the pics but this is big - about 10 inches or so at its widest.

I opted for a flameless candle b/c I don't want to deal with cleaning up dripped wax


Love it even more at night!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

Speechless!
That was me when my family surprised me with

THIS

Still learning Mac vs. PC but I'm having a blast!

Friday, May 06, 2011

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Lollipop Guild Girls

Nataleigh

Lullaby League Girls

Just a 'few' of our Munchkins


Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Sneak Peek

Not sure if I'll get any other pics or video of the play b/c I'm back stage throughout, but this is my youngest, Nataleigh in one of the orange skirts on the left as a Lollipop Guild Munchkin!

Tuesday, May 03, 2011

Flowers and Headbands and Socks, Oh My!!

I'm on the Costume Committee for our elementary school production of

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

This has been my life lately




The above flowers turned into headbands for the munchkins

(we have a cast of 90!)

There was lots of 'Sock Drama' but I won't go into details
(in order to protect the innocent)

Hope to post some performance photos here later this week!

Until then..

BREAK A LEG EVERYONE


Monday, May 02, 2011

City-Wide Garage Sale Finds!

Pottery Barn Phone for my Tween Sweetie - $10

This came from the same home where I purchased the Pottery Barn Madison Book Rack and Cork Board last year. Wonder what they'll be selling next year?

Two embroidered pillows (.50 cents each)
A friend says they are also Pottery Barn?

Closeup of Pillow detail

Bombay Kids Wool Gigi Rug
This thing is huge! I could only fit it at the foot of her bed and it fills that space
This is a full sized bed - the rug is 3'x6'
I saw a brand new one sell for $220 on Ebay

I paid $15!

Who am I?

My photo
I'm a SAHM of 4 kids living in the Chicago burbs and enjoying life!

Flashy Thingies

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