Redoing the guest room...

Starting this week, we will have company in town for the next 40 +/- days. Lately the guest room has become a dumping grounds for all my ebay, etsy, craigslist and sewing projects. Knowing that bed will be used soon, I've begun to clean it out. (Side note to my guests...please don't look through the closet, its a bit scary!!!) Anyway. I've never LOVED the curtains in there and let's not get started on the fact that we've been here for 2 years and there are STILL no pictures on the walls. Anyway...I'm trying to get the finishing touches on some rooms before baby #4 comes because after that...nothings getting done around here! :) So, I'm blog hopping one eve and I come across The Nester and immediately *heart* this site! After reading about window "mistreatments" I decide I HAVE to change one of my windows...and this was an easy one to do!

The iron hooks just happened to be on sale at Hobby Lobby last week, so of course I grabbed them! Can't beat $5 a piece!!! I already had the curtains, but had sewed a rod pocket into them to hang on the rod I had originally put up. Honestly, the hardest part of putting these all up...ripping out the seams! :) I already had the clippy-rings leftover from who knows what! (See honey...I really will use the things I keep!)

After I got everything up, the window still needed a little something. I was going to make a sign, but at my weekly trip to HL this week, wall decor was on sale (again) so I grabbed that cute sign and just put it up. (Babe...I'm hearing you when you say "stop making things and just buy them!"...but just this once!) I love how it all turned out...and I already have a place to reuse the curtain rod...which I'm sure I'll be posting as soon as its done!

Now I'm on to the girls valence to try another type of "mistreatment." Then I'll hit the master bath, then....oh never mind....you get it!

Is this a Pottery Barn ad?

I wish! Nope. It's just our backyard. Its FINALLY starting to come together. Those of you who know me, know that I've been on a year long search for chaise lounge chairs. Its taken that long because 1) we live in "the middle" 2) I'm very picky, and 3) there's a budget. (Isn't that usually the catch???) Anyway...I finally found the right style that had both single and double chaises and were affordable (I found an internet coupon for 20% off and basically got a chair for free!). But the best part??? The cushions. I have to tell you about the cushions. Cushions usually cost between $75-200, depending on style, color, depth, etc. Well, these babies...I found these guys at Garden Ridge for $30 a piece. You read that right...30 smakeroos! I'm still tickled with that one! They were on an end of the season clearance (cuz its July, you know...time to start decorating for Christmas, right???) so they were moving them out. And I found them. 4 cushions, 4 pillows, in the EXACT color and size I needed. This NEVER happens to me! But it did...so don't go asking me for any lotto numbers, cuz I used up all of my luck...on chaise cushions!

Now if I could just finally pick out a few trees to plant...

Oh, and thanks babe for putting them all together!

The Hutch

Let's just start off by saying that my husband has blocked my computer from being able to get on Craigslist. When he hears me say "I can do that" or "I can fix that" I'm sure he just rolls his eyes. (Could it be...just possibly...that I say that about everything!?!?) Anyhoo...Joe was out of town on business and I was perusing (read: wasting time) Craigslist looking for a few items...twin headboards, a dresser, a table, and a buffet/hutch. Well...I found one. They were only asking $200 OBO (of course I OBO'd them...and they took it!), I thought that was a pretty good deal. So when Joe got home, we grabbed an old friend/neighbor who has a truck and he and Joe headed to go check it out while I loaded the kids and went to the bank for cash. We just jumped in the car because it was supposed to be a quick 20 min over, so I figured we'd be home well before snack and nap time. Boy, was I wrong. After driving for well over a hour, we finally turned off the highway onto to some back country dirt roads. I was getting a bit nervous. The kids were already starting to whine and Grady had fallen asleep. This was not good. To make a long story short, the whole trip took over 3 1/2 hours, the kids were starving and tired, the guys had sacrificed their Saturday morning...and some of their afternoon, but...I got my hutch!

This is what it looks like now after some paint, glaze, new hardware...and LOTS of elbow grease. The top doors still need to be finished (I'll post pics when I get them on), but I love it!!! Joe thinks we should sell it...for more money of course! =)

Now I just need to find a dresser....

Another "I can do that" creation

This was a joint effort with my Uncle Rick. (See earlier postings about wall words.) This sign has been in my head (a few different versions) for a couple of years now. The original version was painted, but after hand painting the sign in Grady's room (another picture I should post) I decided that there had to be another way. And there is...my Uncle Rick. You see, he owns a business that cuts all the vinyl lettering for signs and cars and misc other stuff. Now, thanks to me and my bright (read: time consuming) ideas...he can do home decor as well! Ok, so the sign...another one of my "I can do that" thoughts. So easy, right? Joe cuts the board, I prime and paint it, then wait, then weather it, blah, blah, blah, trim, paint, blah...how many days later??? Good old Uncle Rick cut the lettering for me, so all I had to do was rub it on. I LOVE IT!!! Thanks Uncle Rick! I'll send pics of the other ones....when I get them done! Oh...and if anyone is oh-so-impressed by my handy work and would like to order words...just let me know and I'd be happy to help!

End note: The side says Laundry, or the Laundry, or wash room, or something like that in French. Anyone???

One room is done...

Ok, so maybe its just the guest bath, but hey, its done. Which is a feat for me considering this house didn't come with any toilet paper holders, towel bars or hand towel hooks. I had to track down the matching accessories to our plumbing fixtures, spend hours researching prices (to get the best deal, of course), order the fixtures, wait for them to arrive, then install them wearing a baby and refereeing two other small children. And I sewed the shower curtain to match the guest room bedding....cute huh??? =) I figured the best way to tackle this house...one room at a time. I've got a long way to go since I stared with one of the smallest rooms! =)