a lot can happen in a week

The last post I wrote we were stumped as to what direction we would go with the house. A matter of days later, B suggested we put an offer on the house that we kept coming back to. We love the  layout, we LOVE the neighborhood, the schools are good for farther down the road, there is work to be done, but nothing as far as gutting. More like painting, carpet, fixtures, the normal stuff.

After two days we reached a settlement and are buying a house! I mean...how does that happen? Most adult thing I've ever done. Ever. Getting married costs $75 and is a piece of paper. Having a child...well, a child can have a child (not that they should), but buying a house. Well, let's just say I had anxiety attacks for the first week we pulled the trigger. I know we are making the right decision, its just intense. Conveniently, we have friends three houses down one direction and more friends a half mile down the other. So I think we will be having a great block party!



Stay tuned! We close on August 3rd. The same weekend that I will be co hosting my best friend's bachelorette party at the river (YAY!!) and my nephew may make his debut! It will be a very exciting time!

Then we'll begin the home improvements. Future posts include: paint...the master is a brilliant TCU purple. All that's missing is the fathead of Andy Dalton. Getting rid of a little bit of popcorn ceiling, other paint choices, furniture shopping and the joys of learning to garden. We have so much to learn. 

outdoor living

As summer is WELL under way, we are melting in the 100+ degree weather. Everyone's posts of their car thermostat have loaded up facebook so just in case you forgot it was hot, someone was there to remind you. Isn't that sweet? Bless their hearts...

B and I continue our house hunt with little luck. For this being the season to buy a home, the listings are starting to be few and far between. So in the mean time, I am dreaming of our future home and all the ways I would love to create outdoor living to enjoy the evenings when the weather trys to cool itself down and we can enjoy a glass of wine while Ringo runs around in a yard. Oh, to dream!!!

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Have a good weekend, everybody! Tomorrow we are going to see Blue Man Group as a late birthday party for B. He's never seen it and I couldn't be more excited to see it again! In between celebrations I'm sure I'll be checking trulia again for new listings. Ciao!



operation: make us a home - trunk edition

This has been a long post coming. You remember my camp trunk? I finally got around to transforming it.

I started way back before the holidays. B & I went to OKC to visit my parents. They have an Annie Sloan Chalk Paint dealer near so Mom and I made a trip and picked my paint. I knew I wanted a pop of color and it needed to be different from my chairs and area rug. Too much blue mixing and it would have looked ridiculous and matchy match {my most hated decorating idea}. So, I chose Antibes Green.

Upon first look what does one see?

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The Incredible Hulk.

Look passed the brightness and know that there are techniques to tone it down.

I started with my muscle, AKA, the husband.

Since this piece had raised lettering I did have to do a little sanding so it would be an even surface. Thank goodness for B and an electric sander.

Then we moved onto the painting. Since chalk paint is so wonderful there was no need for priming. I could have if I wanted and it would have probably taken less paint, but there was no need, per say.

My assistant fell asleep on the job.

I did have to apply several coats since the red and the lettering were pretty dark but it dries so fast I still managed it all in one evening. After the painting was done, I moved on to waxing. I knew that to mask the Incredible Hulk green I would need to use more of the dark wax than I used on my chairs. 

I applied dark wax and then clear wax, using a rag to wipe away some of the dark wax. I had to do this several times to get the texture or look that I really wanted. I struggled with the look for a while. I wanted it done before Thanksgiving since we were hosting so I just got through that part quickly. It was good enough to have as my end table for the holidays.

After the holidays, I finally got back to the project. I then had to find feet for my trunk! I thought this was going to be significantly easier than it was. Mostly because I'm thrifty...I did not want bun feet. The trunk is so boxy that adding round feet would have looked so awkward. I finally found reasonable feet from Van Dykes Restorers.

I painted them, waxed them and then again turned to the muscle for assistance. B had to drill a hole through the bottom of the trunk. We then used a drill to attach the feet and such. I used some gold Rub 'n Buff on the hardware and edges of the trunk and voila!

I used some of my favorite books, a wedding photo, an artisan pot that we got as a wedding gift (I had no where to display it before) and a yummy candle to accessorize and I'm done!

I'm not sure if there are really any other projects I can do to the apartment. I guess B & I will just have to start the house hunt....what a pain ;) I jest, but ohhh man, will the house projects be aplenty when we find the right house! Until then, I'll enjoy my comfortable apartment living.



first christmas

This is it, folks! Our first married Christmas. Yay!!! I'm still so happy we will be together this holiday season. It really is awful to be away from  your love on Christmas!

In honor of our first year, I decided we should have a special ornament to celebrate. I told you I love ornaments! My parents were given a BEAUTIFUL ornament from my grandma their first year of marriage and they still have it: a partridge in a pear tree.

Isn't that a wonderful idea? It is also a daunting task. To find an ornament that will stay beautiful and meaningful forever? Till death do us part also applies to the ornament ;) So I started my hunt. I try not to be a cheesy person. It doesn't always work, but I try and that's what counts, right?

Ever google 'first Christmas ornament'? Do it. I dare you. The cheese that will erupt through your computer will astound you. Swans with their necks forming a heart, wedding cakes with the bride and groom standing atop, hands with rings. Its enough to nauseate me. Oh wait, it did. Regroup! No more googling 'first Christmas'. Plainly, that was not the avenue I needed to venture down.

My first stop was Neimans. Known for their classic and beautiful gifts all year long, I knew they would have what I was looking for, and they did! I went to a few other places but always came back to NM. We decided on the Swarovski snowflake. They create one each year and this year happened to be the 20th anniversary! Can you say SPARKLE??? What girl can resist?

Swarovski

It even has the year so when we're old and senile we can reference the ornament to remember how long we've been married. I'm very pleased, as is B. So, sorry cheese, classic won this battle.

annual ornament exchange

bippity boppity boo

There are no truer words. I hosted our Annual Ornament Exchange on Friday. Last year B and I hosted a blow out Christmas party that ended with a mouse in the house and too much indulgence. I decided hosting this for the gals instead of the whole crew was a much better idea. 12 of my closest friends from the DFW area gathered for food, spirits and ornaments to get us in the holiday spirit!

We had a great time and it was so nice for a gals night...I hate to say its been months since I've had one, and it was much needed. I ended up with this beauty from my friend Erin. She has impeccable taste! Head to her blog, The Simply Fabulous, for all of her fabulous ideas for your home, children, friends and yourself!

I have a very eclectic tree. The beads are from my childhood tree, I have lots of ornaments that are from when I was a kid too. Note: golfer for B and the cat ballerina to the bottom right corner. I have lots of glass balls from my parents coordinated tree. Sparkle, natural, child-like, I do not discriminate! I love ornaments. As long as they have a special place for you they have a special place on the tree! I always appreciate the beautiful and coordinated trees with the bows, matching balls and ribbon but I will stick to my random tree of happiness.

What's your tree like? Coordinated and classic or random and eclectic?

area rug agony: operation complete

Its funny that the week I post about having such complete agony over finding an area rug I FOUND ONE! I subscribe to One Kings Lane and Joss & Main. I stalk search it everyday in hopes of finding items to make our house a home. Not all items are affordable...I mean, we are a couple on a budget! But its fun to dream and to build a 'wish list', but occasionally I find a true treasure.

I found said rug on One Kings Lane 3 weeks ago. I knew it was perfect. I called B and was given 'the go'. There was one thing standing in my way: my thriftiness. I am my mother's daughter and will only brag about items if I find them on sale. Those who do not shop on the sale rack are just foolish. You want a good future, you plan for it! I cut corners & DIY where I can. I made the ultimate decision not to purchase the rug...but I kept thinking about it and how I wished I had bought it.

One week later, what did my wondering eyes should appear??? THE SAME RUG on Joss & Main!!!! And not only the same rug, but for $150 less. It nearly brought tears to my eyes. I ran up and down the hall of my office, arms in the air, yelling for my coworker who is also on a mission to make her house a home. After a quick call to B I decided it was a sign and bought it :)

It happily arrived to our apartment on Saturday morning. I had a girls afternoon at the pool but I have the sweetest husband in the world who set it up for me that evening. Ringo assisted in setting it up and loves it. He always moved to the carpet to eat snacks and chew on his favorite toys; now he doesn't have to. We will have to watch him though...I will be protecting this bad boy like its my job.

Ringo loves the area rug, obviously.

He's just showing off the pattern!

We may adjust the table and chairs, but its the look that matters!

We are a happy family!!! I love it, B loves it and Ringo definitely loves it. In the morning you can find the Little Man rolling on it to scratch his back. It is certainly a fabulous addition!!

flying solo

B is away this week on business. Leaving me a single mom (puppy mom, that is). Although, it IS a big responsibility I will use this time to play with the pup and write a little here. I have solved my Area Rug Agony!!! YES, that's right, we have a new addition and are one step closer to Operation: Make us a Home being complete! I can't wait to show you. Be on the look out!

area rug agony

Well, we are still on the hunt for the perfect area rug. This is a difficult task. Size, design, color, price point, there are so many aspects to consider. This rug is for the dining area so it needs to be wide enough for the chairs to be pulled out from the table and durable. I've measured and taped it out on the floor...with assistance from Ringo, of course.

I am really struggling with the design. Traditional? Contemporary? Simplistic? There are so many options! What to do? What to do? I feel like an area rug can make or break the space. I am still in the process of developing my sense of style and decor; its not an easy task. Remember, we have an awesome farm house table and redone chairs in a turquoise blue with yellow gold distressed under the blue. I would like to have a pattern or design rather than just something plain like burlap, even though I'm seeing lots of that, we just need something to create a separate eating area from the rest of the apartment that adds lagniappe. Here are a few inspiration photos.

Garnet Hill

I love this pattern and the different options in color. The coral stands out to me. I'm not a big red person, but this is in the family and still warms up the space and adds some contrast to the table and chairs.

House of Turquoise

This is all too cluttered for me, but focus on the rug. I like the pattern added to the mix. And you're not focusing on one single color.

House of Turquoise

I am hating the orange chandelier, but I kind of like the rug. I like the design a lot and the changes in color keep it interesting. 

House of Turquoise

I am seeing so many stripes, that must be the 'IT' thing for area rugs right now. I really like it too. Stripes are clean, crisp, slightly nautical, which I like, and timeless.

Thoughts? Ideas? Direction? I've done several shopping days and am just having the hardest time finding something that really strikes my fancy. Help!!!

ta da

Here they are! I am so happy with how they turned out :) Now we just need to host dinner for our friends! Beautiful chairs from my grandma, made anew. How lucky are we?

Ringo is the perfect accessory :)

Don't they look great? I'm so pleased. Operation: Make Us A Home is not complete...we're just getting started. Now that the chairs are done we are looking for an area rug, which is harder than I thought! Once that is purchased I am moving on to my next transformation:



Yep, that is exactly what you think it is...my camp trunk! Fabulous, isn't it? My mom got my us matching trunks when we went to camp. We were the only ones with them; aka Mom is the best :) Well, Mom and Dad are now trying to pawn things off on their children. And my sister has the trunk from my grandma's house so Mom and Dad brought this and dropped it off at our apartment  I decided it would be fun to take on this project. I'm going to buy some feet for the trunk to give it a little more style and change out the hardware. What Annie Sloan paint I will be using is still TBD but I will keep you updated. I feel like our home will be so much more a home when we have the rug and the trunk completed. Let the games continue.

operation: make us a home - dining room chairs

Since my Annie Sloan experience I have been furiously working to complete my perfect dining room set. While at the workshop I chose Arles as my base paint color with Duck Egg blue as the main event. They are turning out BEAUTIFULLY!

Thank goodness too...because we having been living in a disaster area since I started the project. Ugh....I believe living in discord creates discord in the rest of your life. So its been a tough week and a half! We are ready for our living space to be back to normal and new and improved!

Here's how things are going:

Base paint

It is best to flip the chair upside down and paint the underside first. That prevents missing many spots. The wonderful part about chalk paint is no sanding, no priming!!! :) I was able to start painting immediately. I started with Arles.

Sometimes you have to use two coats of paint but since you are painting another color on top it is not as important.

Top coat

Then paint directly over it with your second color. I chose Duck Egg Blue.

Distress

Once the paint is dry, you can distress using sand paper, steel wool, scot rite pads, whatever suits your fancy! I painted in the house since its so hot here in good ole' Texas but the distressing needs to be done outside because it is CHALK paint, so it comes off like chalk! duh... As evident by my hands, it is a messy process. I chose to sand through to the original wood in some places and just enough to see the yellow in others. Also, try to choose the spots you distress wisely. Think of where your hands touch the most. Do you use the top to pull out the chair? Put your feet up on the leg supports? Do what looks natural.

Wax brush

Then comes the waxing. This is the brush I bought for the clear wax. Its important to get it into all of the nooks and cranies so this brush is perfect to really work it in.

Cover the whole chair with the clear wax. It can go pretty far but you have to make sure it covers everything or else it will wear away faster.

Dark wax

I could have stopped with the clear wax but these chairs need a little something extra, a little more depth so I used the dark wax as well. It adds to the distressed look quite a bit. You really don't want to use a lot of the dark wax because it can change the whole look of a piece. If you use too much on everything it all starts to look the same. Once you put the wax on take a rag and rub it off to how you want it to look.

Add another layer of clear wax to seal it and buff it out with a rag and you are ready to go!!!

Tomorrow I will show you the finished product! And our next project...its never ending, right??