Did you know?

I logged on to my Pinterest account this morning and while browsing around for some inspiration I saw this...

I was curious, but at the time my desire to see images that evoked happiness and creativity was stronger. After finishing on pinterest I decided it was time to catch up on some of my favorite blogs. That's when I saw Kristin's post and the same image I saw earlier on Pinterest.

I don't know about you but I can barely afford to pay my OWN bills let alone anyone else's.

Are you curious? Did you know?

Stop by My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia  to find out what I'm talking about. And while your there, check out some of Kristin's past posts. She's got a great sense of style and eye for decor.

Angie

P.S. Stop back by here tomorrow- I am finally doing my Sidewalk Sunday post that should've happened last weekend. And the best part? This one will be x's 2! You won't want to miss it. Promise!

Makeover Monday- Just in Time....

PHEW! I  am cutting this one close aren't I!?!  It's a long story and I'll spare you all the details but it basically boiled down to no knobs at my Hobby Lobby and having to call in a favor. Thanks Loni!!

So I showed you this guy in yesterdays post but here's a refresher just in case....

I literally have had him in my garage for at least two years. I would say you can read about it "here" (insert hyperlink) but I am to lazy to sift back through and find the original post. So- take my word for it, he's been here a while.

I decided to use some left over muted turquoise blue/gray/green paint I had.
(You'll see in a minute why I described the color like that.)

Then I decided (even though it's been done a thousand times already) to add numbers to the drawer fronts.

 I had never done it myself and always wanted to.  I grabbed my stencils,some leftover black paint and got started...

At this point I had a pretty clear vision of  what I wanted the end result to be.

I even tested out the knobs that I originally got for Lil' Red's dresser.

After lots and lots of distressing, a top coat of minwax and a trip to my MIL's for the remaining knobs, the end result was....

I'm really happy with how it turned out.

The only problem?  I am a horrible photographer and the lighting in my home, mixed with the wall color really make it difficult to capture the true color of this piece. 

In fact, even though in all the photos above the dresser looks, gray, sometimes green, it really is...

more of a muted turquoise,blue, gray.

 The photo above is the closest I can get to it's true color.

 Either way I really love how it turned out.


Angie

P.S. He's available for purchase if you're interested.

Sidewalk Sunday!!

It's been a while since we've had one of these!

 Partly because I'm lazy and partly because I haven't scored a ton of freebies lately.

This piece actually wasn't a curb find but a freebie just the same.

My good friend Val has been cleaning out some of her late Father's belongings and asked if I wanted it.

Ummmm YA!!!!

Here's another angle....

Sorry they are rotten cell phone photos but lets face it-

rotten cell phone photos are better than no photos at all right?

Who's with me??

Alright, you're right- no excuse for crappy photos. 

Anyhow, remember this guy??

I got him quite a while ago and the poor thing just sat in my garage waiting for the day inspiration hit.

Well that day was yesterday (and today- oh and most likely some of tomorrow).

 I have been hard at work transforming this baby.

Stop by the FB fan page and check out some of the progress.

Final reveal was supposed to be tonight but judging by the loss of feeling in my ring finger from sanding, I'm thinking it's a safe bet tomorrow will be the day. Promise- no cell phone photos of that one!


Angie    

Everything happens for a reason...

It all started Thursday before new years eve. I was suffering from a fever and an upper respiratory infection that was certainly getting the better of me.

Final score:   ANGIE  0 /  U.R.I. 1 

It definitely had the home-field advantage.

Friday wasn't going any better for me and it was looking like we weren't going to be ringing in the new year at any parties. Finally the day came and I was feeling well enough to join the festivities at the Nelson family who happen to live up the street from us (makes driving home on New Years Eve soooo much safer).

 We started off the night by Mr. Treasures showing off his mad pizza skills...

And ended the night with celebratory horn blowing and silly string fight...

 

But It was the middle part that dictated the title of this blog post. Some where in the middle of this amazing friend filled evening I met Lori.

Lori is a fellow furniture fan who once upon a time owned her own store here in town. She has an eye for design and also worked for many years as an event planner locally.

 If I am being honest, we met briefly a week before but it was late at night and only casual hellos were exchanged.

 It was on this night, the night of endless possibilities, that Lori started to tell me her vision for 2012.
Actually, she started to tell me my vision for 2012.

 We spent the rest of the night scheming, plotting, pinteresting ( how long before this will be a word in the dictionary?)  and browsing past projects.

  At one point Mr. Treasures even joked " I think you found your soul mate".

  Lori's enthusiasm was in full force, something I've needed more of for quite some time.

 Before parting ways at 12:01 January 1st, we exchanged phone numbers. The afternoon of January 1st, she had already joined Treasures Facebook page (All My Treasures) and sent me a text wanting to go treasure hunting.

I had just sat down to watch a movie with Lil' Red so I could not partake, but made plans for the following day.

Somehow in the excitement of all things new, extra time with my kiddos and medication for the previously discussed chest cold, I managed to forget our plans.

 Around noon today I saw the text that Lori had sent several hours earlier, reminding me of our treasure hunting plans. Sadly at that point I was knee deep in supervising "The Great Backyard Cleanup of 2012".

As I began making new plans (that will not be broken promise Lori!!) her enthusiasm became infectious.

 For the first time in a very long time, I painted.  

 And while I waited for the first coat to dry, I decided to see how the new knobs would look....

Aren't these "Pull" knobs cute?!

 I still need to paint the second coat, add a little black to the inset of the drawer fronts and distress the whole piece but I'm liking it so far.

 The best part?  While adding the knob I found something written on the inside....

Money.

I am finally out of my funk and 2012 is looking pretty bright. 

Thank you Lori. I am really looking forward to our business venture.

Yep, everything happens for a reason.

Angie

P.S. The desk was previously owned by a friend of my M.I.L's. She sold it to me for $10.00. What her friend probably doesn't know is that I had to steal it from my M.I.L. after I bought it. HA!

 Anyhow, the desk is going in Lil' Red's already very colorful room. I asked the FB Treasure fans to vote on white or black. 

I'll give you three guesses which color won.

P.S.S.  Here's a before photo in case you are interested.

I'm Still Here....

Hello all!!

  I've really missed blogging and chatting with everyone!!  I've also missed working on projects but sadly life has been a little too hectic and my creativity has been a little too nonexistent.... Same story, different day right??

Well- here's hoping it changes soon!

   In the meantime, I am thankful for my family, our home and our health and am looking forward to spending lots of time with them the next couple of days.  I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving with your family!!

  I am lucky enough to have never and I do mean never cooked a turkey or hosted Thanksgiving so I do not have a table setting of my own to share. Instead of leaving you high and dry I decided to share with you My Sweet Savannah's set up. You'll love it, promise!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Ah-mazing....

Do you know Edie from Life in Grace? She lost everything material in a house fire. They have been rebuilding for quite a while now. I'm sure you know the story but just in case you don't, start by going here and check out the Ah-mazing kitchen she now calls her own. I would never really want to experience the fear and devastation she did- but I am a tad jealous of the new kitchen :)

P.S. Happy Halloween!!!

Still looking for my mojo....

I  tried painting a little last weekend which was a nice change from my normal as of late,  uninspired weekends. (If you follow along on the fan page you got to see the sneak peek photo)  That being said, it was still a bit of a creative effort rather than a creative flow. It has a lot to do with time, energy and $$$ but it could also be a bit of a creative block based on my surroundings. Which is why I plan to spend some time today following Miss Mustard Seed's organizational advice. My painting space, aka the garage is still packed to the rim and in disarray, even after unloading 80% of my inventory. I would show you a photo but it really is that bad and without an "after" to accompany it, I'm afraid your opinion of me would change. So for now you will have to use your imagination.  I am on a bit of a time crunch since I've already agreed to host a Treasures sale on November 12th. Which is a good thing. For starters, it will hold me accountable (which I seem to need lately)  and the money from the sale will help finish Operation Game Room.  Which is oh so close to being complete!!

This doesn't have anything to do with this post but I found it strangely enough while blog "stalking" and thought it was an amazing inexpensive idea. Something I definitely want to try!! Check it out on Design Stocker!



Angie

Have you heard?

It looks like Hobby Lobby is coming to California!! If you are like me, you have heard about this great store on many of your east coast blogging buddies sites and dreamed about being able to rummage through this great store for fabulous deals (I'm not alone on this one- right?)

I work in the Commercial Real Estate industry and was doing my usual prospecting research online when I stumbled across this article about Hobby Lobby and their expansion. Best part for me? One of their new locations will be less than 5 minutes from my work. That's going to perk up my lunch time routine for sure!!

Can't wait!

Angie

The Game Room is on it's way...

Our game room/ wanna be craft room has been stagnant for quite some time now. Between my multiple decor personalities, lack of time and of course there is always that budget thing, not much has gone on in this room. When we first purchased the home in late 2007 it looked like this....

I was feeling very "Tuscan" in 2007 so before long it looked like this..

(Try not to be distracted by the Lil' Man and his buddies rockin' out)

I'd love to show you a staged photo of what the room looked like but I never thought to take one B.B.
That's "Before Blogging"

These next photos are the closest your going to get.

A little vignette on my old desk showing some of my thrift store finds.

A shot of our video game area. Even though the color looks horrid in this photo it was perfect for the Tuscan look and appeared much nicer in person.

This was my little craft corner. I loved the way it looked but it wasn't enough storage.

Well since then the room has survived quite a few of my "color of the moment" phases.

And so has Mr. Treasures.

We finally settled on a cream color for the walls and hung the Cost Plus curtains!

The red hutch now sits between the windows where my desk once was.

(still need to hang the second set of cost plus curtains)

If you follow along on facebook you'll know that this is the 5'8' Jute rug from Cost Plus World Market that was originally $149.00 marked down to $45.00. If that wasn't good enough? The always friendly Mr. Treasures managed to get another $10.00 off! We can put that towards the pile of bills you see in the photo! HA!!

Along the other wall is a Sidewalk Sunday special....

That will soon hold wicker baskets full of crafty goodness similar to this photo

from Atlanta Homes by Erica George Dines

 Did you see the HUGE bubble gum machine?

We scored that from Grandpa Treasures. Just need to fill 'er up!

Yep, It is safe to say that the Game Room is on it's way.


Angie

A little peek...

Here's a small peek at what I've been up to lately...

First up was the trout release program at Lil' Red's school. They raised them from eggs till it was time to release them. More on that to come.

Then there was our first crack at homemade doughnuts. 

Ummm it might be our last crack at it as well.

There was a little painting for both Lil' Red and I.

Along with a little gardening. Very excited for our Dwarf Lemon tree but I see we already have little critters!!

Also shopping for pillows and paint for this area as well as trying to talk myself into painting the 3 sets of French doors and 3 fixed windows. 

So far, I'm not doing a very good job at it. 

If you're wondering why there is no mention of the Lil' Man, well that's because he's almost 13 and unless I pin him down, I'm finding it very hard to keep him around!!!

What have you been up to??

Angie

Sidewalk Sunday

There was a HUGE local yard sale event happening in our town this weekend. There were over a 100 homes participating and in the best downtown neighborhoods, dripping with charm.

  So it wasn't a big deal that I didn't find anything to buy. I still got the chance to get up close and personal with homes I normally admire from my driver side window at a speed of 35 (okay maybe more).

 Think I remembered to bring my camera and share them with you?

Of course not! 

That will have to be another trip, perhaps the Vintage home tour that will be taking place in May!!!?!

I was a little disappointed at what was offered. It was either clothes or furniture with ridiculous price tags.

That's why, when we made a wrong turn and noticed a woman standing next to THE perfect chairs for Lil' Man's room, we didn't even stop.

 That is, until she waived at us to come back.

Curious, we turned around and pulled up just as she was pinning the "FREE" sign on them.

Now, they need to be recovered of course, and in case you're counting, that makes 5 chairs and I haven't a sewing bone in my body.

This SHOULD be interesting!



Angie

Makeover Monday...

Today's Makeover Monday is a special one. Lil' Red came to me a few weeks ago and asked...

"If I clean and take really good care of the club house, can I paint it?"

Now, for others, this might warrant the same enthusiasm given the choice between PB & J or Turkey sandwich for lunch.

But for me?

This was the best thing ever!  She was able to see "outside" the box.

She believed in her self and she knew she could make it better!

And above all, she felt creativity and acted on it.

Dramatic? 

 Maybe just a tad, but outside of blogland, I see creativity squashed all around us.

Young or old, I rarely see it nurtured. 

So of course my answer was "Yes!"

She stuck to her word and cleaned the entire club house
(never mind the fact that it took her approximately 40 swiffers and a bottle of pledge)

Thus the Clubhouse Makeover began!

She brought her supplies up...

Opened them up...

And got started...

She choose to do one wall in 2 shades of blue..

Another in pink and red, while the third in pink and blue....

And the last wall in a variation of all shades...

How fun is that??

She and her friends are so excited for the clubhouse makeover!

Now that the paint is almost done, they are on the look out for bean bags and floor pillows.

Something tells me I'll be getting hit up for an allowance soon!!


Angie

P.S.- I was so proud of her that I wanted to give her a chance to talk about her "creative" process during the club house makeover. Stop by tomorrow to see my interview with Lil' Red!

Treasure Thursday!

It's late so I need to keep this short. I haven't had the time, money or energy to do a lot of Treasure hunting lately. Which is disappointing to say the least. It certainly feeds my soul in only a way a fellow junker can relate.

Since I'm not able to get out, I've really enjoyed taking part in Leslie's 31 day challenge. If you don't know about it, stop by here and check it out at Words of Me. It's not to late to start!!

On to the latest Treasure....

Mr. Treasures is the one who spotted this baby on the morning we were headed to Tracy Porter's store.
I fell in love with the shape and at $15.00 I couldn't even bring myself to haggle! I have NO idea when I'll actually get around to having it covered in new fabric so for the time being here's how she'll stay....

Don't you just love her curves???

I know I do.


Angie