Friday, October 30, 2009

Happy Halloween


Hope you all have a wonderful Halloween!

Perfect.

I've been toying around with this post for quite some time now. I have held off because it shows a side of me I'm not so proud of. I decided to write it today because especially lately, more than usual, I've seen comments and posts here and there from bloggers about their home not measuring up...not being as beautiful as the next...not as perfect.This big bloggy world is one that has brought much

Happy Halloween

Sims decided last week that she wants a Halloween party. And trust me... a week isnt enough for me to organise a party for 'her highness'... but... it was great fun... Here are a few pictures...
Welcome...

The bats had entered before you...

The bats were everywhere...

Sims idea of cobwebs... & there were witches too...

The kids were ever so amused by these spiders stuck on an IKEA lamp...

Simple dekor.... pumpkin candles...

We made the bats... and the paper lamps...
Two cups of tea... kept me sane..

The table was all set with 'hugs & kisses' for a huge treat...
Our paper lamps...

the spiders were everywhere...

The pretty muffins...

and ofcouse the traditional burgers...

and best of all.... jelly... The kids absolutely loved it!!

Some special treats...

Loot bags for the kids...
I had a great time... I hope the kids did as well... Let me know what you think of my simple decor??!!

A Last Trick and a Treat

I know that it's one day before Halloween, but if you're like me, you're tweaking things until it's time to take them down. So I thought I'd share one last trick using these bags of skeleton garland I bought at the dollar store a while back. I could never find a place for them and then it occurred to me that maybe it was because they needed a bit of a makeover---a silver spray paint makeover.With a few decorative ornament hangers and my army of silver skeletons in hand I proceeded to the dining room.They're just the spooktacular accessory that my chandelier needed.I was so pleased with their gory to glam makeover that I gave a larger dollar store skeleton the same treatment. But while the paint was still wet I sprinkled on a little glitter. Tied with a bow he guards this shelf perfectly.
Be sure to visit on Monday. I have a wonderful treat in store---an exciting giveaway!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

(Almost) free Halloween decor

I'm so stinking excited you all love my redo as much as I do!! It's GORG, eh? It just feels like "home" to me, like it always should have looked this way. ;)It hit me this week that, uhhhhh, Halloween is like, in two days and I hadn't shown you more of my decor. Maybe you can file some ideas away for next year, yes?Most of my Halloween decor -- well ALL of my Halloween decor -- was made by moi or

The Beast

I've shared bits and pieces of my family room.
You've seen the fireplace. The entertainment center that we built.There's a few walls of my collections.The thrifted side table that I painted.And the door sofa table that we built.But there is one piece of furniture that I try to avoid showing.
It's my well worn, well loved, often napped on sofa.
Let's call it "the beast!"
The beast is one reason that I don't love this room.
Sure I could replace beast with this beauty.
But I know that the beauty would soon become a beast because of the habits of my wonderful family (okay, mostly my hubby).
Their bad habits have caused the death of three couches. Fortunately, for our pocket book, two of the three came from the thrift store in like-new condition. But after the harsh treatment they received in our home no thrift store would take them ever again.
I know that it will be easier to search for another gently used sofa to replace the beast than it would be to change my family's habits. But I also realize that I let my feelings toward the beast take over how I feel about the entire room. Even to the point of not finishing other projects,
like hanging the drop-cloth window treatments I've had for almost two years on this 10 foot wide window.So I thought that maybe if I unleashed the beast for the whole world to see, it might motivate me to make a few changes. I've even given myself a deadline of the day before Thanksgiving. And as much as I love the red walls, I'm considering a new paint color----maybe chocolate brown or charcoal gray.
What about you? Do you have a beast that's preventing you from loving a room in your home? Are there other improvements you could make to help tame the beast? Would setting a deadline help? Why don't we form a club, we could call ourselves the Blogging Beast Bashers (it's not just a motivating title but a tongue twister as well). Come, join me and tackle your home's beast!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

SURPRISE!!

Well hellooooo there!! Isn't it FAB?? (If you are reading this in Google Reader you may want to click over.) I've been thinking about my redesign for AGES and am so totally, completely giddy with how it turned out!! Shannon at Eightcrazy Design is fan-freaking-tastic! She took my inspiration -- my business card I had made up about six months ago -- and ran with it. It is so absolutely cool I

Temporarily Under Construction

*UPDATE* construction is now complete!

A Follow-Up

Remember the basement apartment master bedroom I had the pure pleasure of redesigning? The cute couple sent me some new photos showing their newly purchased duvet cover and the once empty frames now filled with photos. Of course, since they're real photographers their photos are much nicer than the ones I showed. So I thought I would share them with you.
This lamp was our inspiration for the room. And those vases were thrift store finds, as was most of the furniture and accessories.
IMG_2405 by smithkabobphotos.
The large furniture pieces were painted white and the thrifted chair was spray painted apple green.
IMG_2379 by smithkabobphotos.
Isn't this duvet beautiful? It's the perfect finishing touch!
IMG_2350 by smithkabobphotos.
Along with the chandelier decal. Gorgeous!
IMG_2348 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2388 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2425 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2380 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2420 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2384 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2453 by smithkabobphotos.
A few close-ups to show the distressing I did on their newly painted furniture.
IMG_2440 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2441 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2368 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2361 by smithkabobphotos.
IMG_2406 by smithkabobphotos.
These photos are proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to have
the room of your dreams
.

By the way,
Kathy at
Creative Home Expressions
posted her interview of me.
Go there to read
5 things you didn't know about me.
THANKS SO MUCH KATHY!!!