Another Failed Project & Projects in Process

So I’ve been a bit MIA this week.  I actually have a post written for a little lamp makeover that turned out to be another miss like my kitchen table makeover.  So now I’ve got two makeovers to makeover.  My little lamp was suppose to get the golden touch, but it looked more like when you try to get sun-kissed blonde hair and it turns orange instead.

 

With school starting next week, I’ve also been on the organization bandwagon.  I may have found a system to keep my clutter counter at bay.  Yes, I know, I am the key to any of the systems I try, but this one may just stick…I hope.

I am happy to say that I’m typing with both my hands right now!  I got my cast off on Monday and have slowly been trying to get back in the groove.  However, yesterday I may have overdone it a bit.  I was a little excited to start doing things and spray painted a lamp, washed, sanded and painted a door, cleaned counters and did dishes with my gimp hand.  Needless to say, there was an ice pack wrapped around my hand by the end of the day and two unfinished projects added to my list.

Against my better judgment, I will finish painting that door today because I need it done before school starts (more on that soon).  But I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend with my family before the hustle and bustle of school starts.

Last weekend checked off two major things off our summer to do list.  Enjoyed a day at the zoo in honor of my dad at the Walk Against Alzheimer’s.  Proud to say we raised over $2,000 for the cause!

And we finally had a lemonade stand, which my daughter has wanted to do since the snow melted.

We’ve checked most everything off our list except camping.  So I’m thinking we may have a tent in the backyard this weekend!  Enjoy your last weekend of summer!

Kim

Family Room Refresh Project

As mentioned here, I’ve decided to follow Sarah’s linky party schedule to give you a tour of my house.  This month…family rooms.

So, just thinking out loud here.  My family room and kitchen really don’t get along.  They aren’t a horrible match, but I really want to marry the two spaces better than they are today.  When we moved into our house 6 1/2 years ago, I was fixated on the brown and blue craze.  It’s not that I don’t like it anymore, but when I picked the paint color, I didn’t pick well.  The blue in there is a bit too“baby” blue.  Maybe it was because I was 9 months pregnant when we moved here, I don’t know.  I do know that it’s not working for me anymore.

Anyhow, I’m currently onto the grey craze.  I’m thinking a very light grey will work well with the cream walls in the kitchen creating a better flow.  I’ve been going in circles in my head about this little refresher for the family room and have changed my mind a few (million) times about the vibe in there.  One thing is for sure, it needs some contrast.  There’s a whole lot of brown going on in here.

Brown, brown and more brown!

I could go on and on about the ideas flying around my head, but instead of going in circles about my indecision, I’ll just give you a peek of what it’s like today.  And if I get my act together, there may even be some updates to share by 2013.

Pictures above the TV are taken out of an old calendar.

I’m a Target girl and it shows…pillows, throws, curtains, poppy art print, candlesticks, bird and even the area rug are ALL from my favorite one stop shop – Target!

And of course we had to add some family in the family room by adding these large framed photos of the kids.

We chose leather couches for its easy maintenance.  I love that it will just look better with age and any mishaps simply wipe off.

As usual, rocks from our vacations on Lake Michigan make an appearance.

That’s it for now.

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My First Annie Sloan Project: A Hit & a Miss

Before our last vacation, I decided it was the perfect time to finally repaint our kitchen table.  I mean who wouldn’t paint instead of pack?  Do you do that too?  Find other things to do besides the thing you are suppose to do?

There was actually some logic behind it.  Painting it and leaving it for a week, would give it time to cure.  See I wasn’t completely avoiding my packing duties.  It made perfect sense.

The plan was to do a grey driftwood look to tie it into my family room better.  I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen and Old White.

First, I did a dry brush of the French Linen thinking that would be enough, but it wasn’t.

Then, I added Old White mixed with water.  Too white.

So I did a French Linen water wash over that.  Much better.

HIT:

Loved how it turned out!

MISS:

Doesn’t work in the room.  Something’s just not right.

Is it the wrong grey with this red?  The wrong red with this grey?

Or are the black chairs not meshing quite right with new look?

It may just be the wrong color for the table altogether.

I sat on it for a week to see if I’d change my mind.

But no, it’s just not doing it for me.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

paint chairs white or back to all black or repaint table

CHOSEN SOLUTION:

repaint table – white/cream, all chairs black

Every time I see black and white spaces, I adore them, so why was I straying away from that?  Go with it.  Turns out, I need to repaint anyhow because I only did a haphazard wax job before we left and there are already scrapes  and scratches.

Once this cast is off, that will be my first project!  Somehow, I think you’ll be hearing that a lot from me.  We’ll see what I actually tackle first.

Appreciation for a Broken Hand

The Silver Lining to Breaking My Hand

I didn’t have to make breakfast for the kids the morning it happened.

The kids HAVE to step up to the plate more (as they should anyhow, this helps force the issue).

This is only temporary.

I get to practice concise writing.

I don’t have to do the dishes.

I get more help in the kitchen.

I might lose weight because it’s harder to eat with my left hand.

I might get some awesome biceps in my left arm.

I might strengthen my inner thighs from holding jars with them while twisting lids off with left hand.

 

   People can sign my cast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And since breaking my hand a couple weeks ago, I’ve gained a great appreciation for many things…

elastic waist bands

sports bras

pumps on shampoo bottles

finger food

less typing, more reading

less texting, more good old fashioned phone calls

slip on shoes

“it is what it is” hairstyle

my left hand

my elbow, I’ve decided it’s a very under-rated body part

a chance to reassess how I do things

help from others

my husband tying my shoes and making me dinner

my kids rising to the challenge

visits and lunch with family

my friends

kind words and well wishes

dinner brought over by a friend, not once, but twice!

a listening ear

picking my son up from camp

having my kids for play dates

swapping broken bone stories with friends

I appreciate everything around me AS IS (although I can’t help my wheels from spinning).

Even the tiniest things play a huge part in everything (in my case, a very small bone).

It’s okay to get frustrated, even though it could be FAR, FAR worse.  I’m only human.

I have an immeasurable amount of respect and appreciation for those living with physical challenges with smiles on their faces and “can do” attitudes day in and day out.

I could really go on and on.  A while back I started a wall of thankfulness with my kids to help them realize that even on the worst days, something good was there.  At dinner, we would each write something we appreciated that day on a sticky note and stick it to the wall.  My goal was to compile them in a book to look back on at the end of the year.  After a couple weeks, it fell by the wayside, and this just reminds me, we need to start doing that again.

Join me in Living on Love’s August Challenge: BE THANKFUL.

Going for the Gold

It’s not the Olympics that’s got me thinking about going for the gold.  This idea’s been dancing around my head for a while.  I’ve kind of caught the vintage brass bug.  We aren’t talking about the builder’s grade, shiny brass from way back when here.  It’s more of a brushed, vintage feeling.  Softer.  Warmer.  I’m lovin it BIG time.

Recently, I’ve seen a few posts that have reignited the fire in me to make this happen in my home.  These brass cornered frames stopped me in my tracks.  Check them out at My Fifth House and A Thoughtful Place. 

My mantel is screaming for this gold LOVE art from Made By Girl.

I just got this table from my friend looking to purge before she moved and it’s got that brass detailing on the corners that I’ve been seeing all over bloggy world.

A fresh coat of paint and this baby’s going to add some zippity do dah to my home.  Part of me really wants to do a pop of color, but the colors I’m thinking of don’t really work in my space.  So white it is.  And I do love a crisp piece of white furniture every time.  Hopefully it’s neutral color will move along with my ever changing ideas so I won’t need to repaint it again… at least for a while.

These candle holders may get a brassy makeover.

And perhaps the changing table I still have will turn into a bar cart after all…perhaps a gold one?  Then again, I don’t want to go overboard on what may be a quickly passing love of all things gold and brass.

My family room is up for a bit of refreshing so you may be seeing some gold moments coming to life there.  However, by the time I get to it, I may be on to another obsession.  We’ll see…. I’ll keep you posted.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Kim

Enjoy the View

If you follow along on facebook, you already know I had a little mishap last week on vacation.

Ouch. 

Even though this happened…

 

…I still enjoyed this….

I LOVE LAKE MICHIGAN!