Thank you and a real estate re-do

Thanks for the support peeps, you're the best!

I had a hard time writing that last post because I seriously LOVE blogging (and reading

blogs). It's kind of an internal struggle for me and I just came to the point where I

 was spending too much time invested in my blog/others blogs/pinterest etc. instead of in

 my family and myself. It really made me stop and think about what am I teaching my boys

 by doing that. Not anything good, that's for sure!

Kati from so happy home made a great point too:

 "Doesn't it feel like so many blogs/bloggers are pushing you to buy something new, or to

constantly produce new looks/vignettes/trends, etc.? It's hard to keep up with the pace being set on social media et al."

It's so true!!

So, thank you my dear readers for your emails and comments and general awesomeness!

 Obviously it's been a while since I've done a proper post because I can hardly figure this all out anymore, sorry the text is all screwy! Ok, moving on.  :)

I love real estate. If we weren't so busy on Sundays I would go to open houses every 

week. I'm that crazy lady who likes to drive slowly by awesome houses at night just to 

sneak a peek through the lighted windows!! When we lived downtown Stanley and I would 

go on evening walks in the summer. His goal was to get out of the house for a while and get 

some exercise, mine was to snoop. Our new neighborhood is less than spectacular in the 

awesome house department but I still look online. It's a habit I've gotten in to after buying 

(twice) and selling our house(s). When I look through the listings I can't help but 

think about what I would do if it were my house. A friend once told me that she never saw the

 potential in our current house like I did, so I understand that it's a hard thing. 

I saw this vintage gem a few weeks ago and automatically the wheels were turning, so 

whether or not this is helpful for anyone it sure is fun!


This is a great split level house, 4 bedroom, two bath, great neighborhood, huge yard, 

a little over 2300 sq ft., AC, SS and a heated attached garage-listed at $199,000. This would

 be a great family home!

So, if I had a $320,00(ish) budget this is what I would do:

New exterior paint and a little landscaping would do wonders for this house! I would also probably remove the iron railing at the bottom of the landing. It's not really needed and removing it would really open up the front entrance.

Easy, beautiful and timeless!



Let's go inside now.....

You can see that there is some mid mod tile in the entryway and as long as it isn't an awful color I'd keep it. Paint out that paneling, throw down a rug and a basket for shoes and you're done!

Upstairs there is an open concept living and dining room. Since the carpet looks to be pretty old I'd rip it up and install hardwoods in the living, dining, hallway, bedrooms and kitchen (which is off to the left of the dining room). I would paint the entire upstairs a creamy white, all windows would have bamboo roman shades and I'd add some built ins in the living room most likely with closed doors on the bottom and shelves on top.

Last but not least, the dining room.

Come back next week to see the rest of this house, next up is the kitchen.

Have a great weekend!

My Living Room

DONE.

Happy Weekend!!

Round these parts...

Thanks for the breaky break peeps, I needed it for sure. 

The creative juices were dammed up behind a lot of stress and I didn't feel like posting crap truth be told. After giving up taking a break from working out (going to the Dr. 10 weeks into a VIGOROUS exercise program/diet change and finding out that you haven't lost any weight will do that to you) I'm back in the game. Vanity aside, I function better, as a wife and especially as a Mom when I get a work out in. Stress relieved (for the most part), heart and body and Mommy healthier and happier. 

5:30 am comes way too early though!

I don't have an amazing comeback post unfortunately (just some random stuff), but I need to post something because looking at those pictures of my baby all wired up every time I come to check my blog roll is KILLING me!

Told you, they make me super sad to look at.

Onward and upward!

Last week I cooked up two of my favorite pizza's for the hubs and I. 

Thai Peanut Chicken and Caramelized Onion, Pear and Blue Cheese.

They are sooooooo good!!!! 

Too good not to share.......

I made mine on whole wheat naan this time around but you can use whatever crust you like.

The Thai Peanut has peanut sauce, duh, grilled chicken, dry roasted peanuts, cilantro and mandarin oranges. You can also add red bell pepper, which is good but gives me major heartburn so, no bueno.

For the other, caramelize some sweet onions in a pan. Layer those with some sliced pears, more grilled chicken (I had a bunch left from the other pizza but this is just as good without it) and blue cheese, drizzle with a good quality olive oil. I like to add pine nuts too but didn't have any on hand.

I topped both with mozzarella cheese but you can use whatever you like, provolone would be good too. I also use sliced cheese instead of grated, I don't like a ton of cheese and the slices melt thin and perfect.

Cook and enjoy!

I've made some changes in the dining room over the past few weeks.

New light fixture (old one is going in the stairwell by our back door).

Brass and acrylic beauty....$20 on Craigslist.

Also here is my new free dining set.

^ Buzz Lightyear's down for the count

Vintage parsons beauty my uncle gave us and vintage brass Chromcraft  Breuer style chairs, new upholstery soon, from an old church friend (thanks Sandy!!!) 

LOVE!!!!

I've been working on getting the living room painted this week, one wall at a time. Anyone else  do that? I usually clear the room and just knock it out but I can't do that when I'm home with all three boys. So, I've been blocking one side of the room off with furniture and painting. It's been chaos but it's slowly getting done.

I also painted the bookshelf in question, the white is the wall color (Swiss Coffee by Behr) and the black is high gloss oil based Rustoleum.

 Nice non styling huh? 

I especially like the sunglasses that a certain one year old threw up there. 

Art is changing, shelves will be properly styled but it's progress none the less. 

(See my wicker mini peacock chair? It was fifty cents at a garage sale :)

I'm still, still, STILL not done with our bedroom.

Headboard needs nail head trim, art needs some tweaking and nightstands need some love but I still love the color-Billiard Table in high gloss by Behr.

I really, really love the way our crappy shutter closet doors look painted! 

I think if I had the chance to swap them out for solid panel doors I wouldn't.

Remember the ottoman I made? I'm working on making two for a friend of mine and I'm going to take some pictures and show you the whole process......soon. I also need to make another one for myself, sold that one. :)

Hope you are having a great week!

It's good to be back.

PS- I just watched Atonement this week. 

Have you seen it?

How have I not until now?!??

Absolutely amazing and I totally did the ugly cry at the end. 

Watch it!!!

Bookcase Paint

Okay, quick......black bookcase with white shelves/back

or white bookcase with black shelves/back? 

Or color on the back:

It will be going on a white wall behind this pair of blue chairs.

This gives you an idea of what else is going on in my living room.

Pretty sure I'm going with black frame and white shelves/back. 

You might be able to persuade me though, so spill it....which one would you choose??

Budget finds

I've been sourcing some sofas for a friend, here are my picks under $1200.

1. $799 plus $145 for shipping
2. $899 Free shipping
3. $99 plus $185 for shipping
4. $1165 plus $49 for delivery
5. $899 plus $299 for shipping

Updating for spring and a curtain trick

FYI this is the post of stolen Facebook photos and crappy iphone pics, you've been warned.

Over the last few years I've been helping my parents update their house. They gave the exterior an overhaul before moving to the  inside. The kitchen and bathrooms were next, along with new flooring and paint for the whole house. (I swear I will have it properly photographed someday because it has turned out beautifully!!) 

Here is a before photo, that I stole off of Facebook. Cedar ceiling, blue carpet, blue paint, oh and blue furniture.

It's Christmas.....don't we look happy. 

 This was shortly after the painting was done and the new furniture was delivered but before the new carpet was installed. We also added that mantle/shelf because there was none. This is another stolen FB photo, sorry!

New flooring, new area rug (from Sam's Club!) and new curtains.

Congrats to my brother who graduated from college.....last year ;)

The pattern on those curtains is great but it's a little too dark for spring. 

 Much better!

My Mom also picked out a new lamp and throw pillows (these are all from Ross and Target- here, here and here.) 

Pouf from Target, here.

So pretty and so easy.

 The curtains (both the old and new ones) are not curtains. They are actually tablecloths from Target held up with drapery clips. When it comes to drapes (and most anything) look outside the box. It can pay off big time!