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iphone in the house!

I'm really always the last to be with the latest gadget....my kids seem to have the latest {except we do not have an Xbox or Wii} they first had ipod nanos in green and pink which got passed down to me so I can listen to music while on walks.  First the pink one {Kenzie's} then the green nano {Madisons} when they each got the Ipod touch either for a birthday or Christmas. 

So how did I come to own an iphone{after years and years saying I wanted one?} About two weeks ago I asked my "handy dandy" Mr. Incredible to hang a shelf in our entryway hallway so I can hang my purse up when I walk in from the front door.  This is my purse...

Yes from Anthro a few Christmases ago and boy does this baby hold a lot...lots of pockets and nooks and crannies.  I usually carry my camera in there too.  Mr. Incredible hangs the shelf  but "his" side of the garage is so unorganized  and just plan messed up he can't even find the proper nail.  I don't dare go clean up because I don't know a wrench from a ratchet and I would end up throwing away something that is worth something.  He decides to take the easy way out and find the easiest to find nail to hang the shelft to shut me up, it barely had a head on it.  A few days later after he hung the shelf, I was repositioning some knick knacks on top of it and about 20 minutes later Snickers Barbara takes off after the cat and the shelf went kaboom!   I did not realize it at that time it wasn't until the next day at lunch when I went to get my phone out of my purse but the screen was cracked.  I tried switching my daughters screen out since she washed hers a few months ago and she got a new phone for Christmas.  Nope that did not work.  So I had to get another one, {insert happy face here} After much pleading with my "non"techie-lazy-ass husband Mr. Incredible we decided we would use my allowance to pay for my new iphone, it wasn't so much as the price of the phone it was the added data plan that was killing Mr. Incredible.  Yes, I do get an allowance and I'm almost 50!  My "non"techie-lazy-ass husband Mr. Incredibles' parents have done this for years, they each get an allowance each week and it works great. No guilt on whatever you want to spend your money on.  This has worked for us fabulously. I was having a problem with "guilty" spending and now I don't have that monkey on my back anymore.  So Mr. Non-techie-lazy-ass husband Mr. Incredible relented to my wish and now I'm the proud owner of a White iphone.  

Let's just say "I'm LOVING IT!"  Now I can't decide what kind of protective case I want.  This one is calling my name... 

this one is really up my ally...ya?  so cottagy cute..or this one from zazzle.com

this one in pretty aqua damask....

 

or getting it personalized might be kind of neat.  My co-worker ordered hers from zazzle.com  and she loves it, it is a soft cover and she has dropped it a few times and it did not break to bits.  Or should I be a "do it yourselfer" and use up some of my scrapbook paper that is just sitting in my closet?  

 Here at Nest for Less she shows you how to customize them to suit your mood, your wardrobe or make it seasonal.  Choices, choices, what is a girl to do?  What would you do?

Something to look forward to in 2012! French General

French General is coming out with a Paper Crafts Line through EK Success!  I used to be an avid scrapper back in the day.  I still make my own cards and I craft gifts, some of the time.  So when I heard about this I had to head on over to Kaari Meng's blog to check it out for myself.  Michaels will be carrying the line ...I'm so excited.   It has been along time since I've been excited about Crafty stuff.... I've gone to French General a couple of times, what a neat store.  I love the notions and and Textiles.  I have a few of Kaari's books, would love to take a "field trip with her to France"...would that not be the trip of a lifetime!  A girl can dream so I guess going to FG is like the next best thing..well not really but it is a fun little shop to go to, in the heart of Los Angeles.

Here is a Scrapbook Page done years ago with my Scrapano buddies when we went.   I think another trip is in order.....

House of Horrors!!

Last year the Middle School Music Program hosted a Harvest Festival and House of Horrors for the first time.  My partner and I were in charge of the Haunted Music Room..I was able to snap up a few pictures of it between frights...

When you walked into the room this is what you saw..dead pianist playing a scary tune....

The Scary people in the frame....yep those are my ancestors, now I know where my big ears come from!!



The haunted Violinist fiddling a scary tune.....

Wall decor....fit for a music room.....and finally......

The Ghostly Conductor.....it was a blast creating this room..

This year I'm doing double duty because I have  The Harvest Festival's Food booth and the Haunted Medical room and Morgue in the House of Horrors to put together.  Yikes...Holy Vampire BATS!!  I've been "pinning" away at Pinterest all the scary ideas and surfing the web for ideas...Here is a great blog post on a Mad Scientest theme...The Scientist has gone MAD!!  posted a Brooklyn Limestone who really knows how to get into the Halloween spirit!! Check out her Halloween Decorated Home in 2008 , she lives with her husband in an Historic Renovated Brownstone..I love it!!

  Not only is her Haunted Brownstone eerily decorated for the Trick or Treaters she throws a "to die for party"!! If you are not inspired yet....here is some more.....to get your juices or blood flowing...here are some more ideas for you...

Pickled brains by "Ms. Martha"...

Hope you all are getting into the spirit and stayed tuned all be posting some picture of the House of Horrors on Cullen St....no I'm NOT talking about my garage...it really is a horror in there!

Yipee ka yay!!!

 
                            {roses picked from my new garden}

 It is official we are homeowners of the Cottage on Cullen St!!   I'm so very excited!! You have no idea!  My whole life I have waited for this, this is my very first time having a home of my very own....  I have dusted off my white adirondack chair, plopped my seaside pillow from Target and put out the ivy plant on the brick porch.  Now the "real work" begins...

This weekend we begin testing and selecting paint colors...for the "Cottage on Cullen St." 

 
You can see from the built in, that is the living room it has a real cottage feel to it.....we hope to paint first but not likely how it will work and then have all the floors redone next.  So I have a gazillion paint chips spilling out of my HOME..Be Inspired Binder and I've browsed several painting blogs  like this one and blogs with paint colors I'm drawn to.  I'm thinking  since I have lived with white walls for a long time I would now finally like to add some color to my new home.  Here is where and what I'm leaning towards...{now to convince Mr. Incredible it won't look like a tissue box}

In the family room....I love the look of this grayish green color......

 
 
This is Owl Gray by Benjamin Moore and it seen on the blog For The Love of A House blog...it looks very greenish gray here in her pictures but on the paint chip it looks more gray than green. 

Next...I'm thinking of going one shade lighter for the Living room, where the built in is located in the above photo, on this paint chip scale, here it is on my friends wall on her cabinet.

 
The paint is called  Blustery Wind by Dunn Edwards and the color I'm thinking of going with is Spy Glass which is one shade lighter then this one on the paint chip scale. 

 
This is called Quiet Moments by Benjamin Moore.  I love the blue green color and it will match our bedding perfectly....

Madison is going with a more soft aqua in her room as not over power her desk that we painted last year in pretty deep color blue.  She had white everything and was complaining her room was too white! 

MacKenzie...has vacillated from "green and black stripes" on her wall to multi-colored polka dots on her wall.  She has a few pink pieces so I'm trying to have her tie it into those colors.  I think we are going to go with an Aloha Hello Kitty theme in pink, browns and pops of lime green!!  Stay tuned...this you won't want to miss. Last time we went to the paint store she pulled a colonial blue, deep dark red and a forest green paint pallet together and a lady walked by and said to me, "I wouldn't be letting my daughter choose those colors for her room".  I did agree with her but hey lady, mind your own business!  So it will be interesting to see what we come up with! 

I know they all seem very similiar but they have small variations in them...I do hope I can color match them at Dunn Edwards so I can buy all our paint in one store...

V-Day!

 That special day set aside for showing your loved ones you care is upon us.  If you are like me and are quite the procrastinator....you still have time to whip up some cute crafties for your home....

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

What are you up to on this day of love? I plan on making some heart shaped pancakes like last year ....and relaxing with my girls, {Mr. Incredible has to work} and plans for dinner are still up in the air.....
 
{first 3 pictures from Better Homes and Gardens and the next two from Martha Stewart, last picture with white doily sachet, source unknown}

Cath Kidston...I love your style...

  The house hunt continues.....we currently have two bids out on houses.  One has a very cute porch and nice curb appeal with a beautiful brick fireplace.  The second is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath house that has an all brick interior family room with huge beamed ceilings.  This house has an extra room for a craft-room.  Which brings me to this post....Right now I share a corner of the "man cave" with my craft table tucked in one part of the room. Mr. Incredible is not too fond of it there..he thinks "it" should be relocated to the garage!!!!  Yeah right..it is freezing in the garage in the winter, I know I sound like a wimp being from California and all.  It really bugs him when I'm working on a project and I leave everything out between all my household chores...{he does not like clutter at all}..and I'm sort of a clutter-bug...just a tad!  So for him having that fourth bedroom for crafting is a win-win.  As I think "if" we were to get the house on Hayward {4 bedroom house} I dream...how would I want to decorate my craft room...and I'm leaning toward Cath Kidston Style...

 
I think it would be fun to have it in fun and bright colors....

 
while shopping at.....

 
I came across this line of pottery...and it looks just like Cath Kidston..style..which I love!

 
Here are some of the things I would love to get for my "dream" craft room from CK...

 
How cute is that pin cushion?!!!

 
cute!cute!cute!

 
I could put pretty glitter in this shaker....

 
 
 
 
I could label all my ribbon jars with these cute labels! 

 
Well...I guess these are not technically for the "craftroom" but wow...wouldn't I look cute in garden with these?   Or if they came in Wellies...{rainboots}, like the Britts say....or this young crafty Britt...has some simple ideas to make a craftroom/or office or both...just had to share a few things that have been occupying my thoughts and time..I just {heart} Homegoods and CK, don't you?

Fresh Coat Vanity

Hello fellow Cottage Lovers...

a few months ago a friend of a friend of a friend who knew someone that might be selling an antique vanity at a garage sale..... called me and let me in on this little secret.   Well...you know I had to follow up on this piece of "trash to treasure" find because she was just going to take it out to the trash and NOT sell it at a yard sale..so I got it for FREE!! How lucky is that?  Here is the before shot...

I liked the little wood casters on the fluted legs. 

and here is the after....don't look to closely...you can see where I missed...

Left side....

 
and....Right Side......

I loved the carved details on this piece, not too much and not too little....but just right...

I changed out the top knobs to some hexagon crystals from my local Lowe's.  They had a huge selection of cottage style knobs but I liked these ones best.  It matches my Mothers' old crystal lamp that sits so pretty on the Vanity.

It did not come with a mirror, you can see where it was, so I'll be on the look out for one of those. But for now this oak mirror will do, I spray painted this last year in my favorite can of Heirloom White.   I loved the detailing on this piece too so I think it sort of matches.  What have you painted lately?  It is amazing what you can transform.... with some paint and a little bit of elbow grease.

I'm hookin' on to Fresh Coat Fridays Life in the Fun Lane with Holly, painter extraordinaire from Canada

 
AND Cindy at A Romantic Home's 1 year SHOW and Tell Fridays.

   

Thrifty Treasures Found!

I haven't been very good at going to yard sales this past year but I have been hitting my Goodwill regularly when I go to the bank and then some...the bank is located across the street.   Here are some things I've managed to cart home with me in the last several weeks.

This cute fall-colored, paisley purse.  I thought the colors would be great for the upcoming season and I liked the details on it on the leather and silver.

I don't know who Rosetti is......I have never really been a name-brand kind of gal..I like what I like and if it doesn't look cheap I buy it.  It has a back pocket on the side of the purse perfect for your keys so you don't loose them in the big abyss of the bottom of your purse. 

I don't know who Mrs. Kensington is either, I'm sure she was a very nice lady.  This very heavy, very large platter just spoke to me.  I loved the fonts on it and not sure where I'll put it but for $3.99 it's the right price.  I do have a couple place in mind though.

 
  This very sturdy wicker chest is for shoes.  I have it outside in the backyard now and the girls are putting all their outdoor toys in it for now.  I would like to paint it, maybe a black or I might go a little crazy and paint it Chocolate brown...Wow that's livin' on the edge!  It was in very good shape and I went back to look at it 3 times, that means I went home and came back 3 times.  It was only 14.99.   What color do you think I should paint it? 

Now this dresser did not come from the GW but from my BFF {since I was 5} garage.  It was her sons and was taking up space so she said I could have it.  I was going to put it in my bedroom.  I planned on painting it a cream on the bottom and staining the top a dark wood color but my Madison said she wanted it and she wanted me to paint it turquoise. 

So off to the paint store we went and picked up her color, she said her room was too white and needed color...okie dokie then.  The other color to the left is a soft greenish blue grey, the same exact one my friend has on her walls .  I had it colored match and was going to paint my legs of my sofa table but now I'm painting these shutters with it...

I got a set of 8 shutters, they were by the curb waiting for the trash man.  I have had them in my garage for over a year.   I have painted them that green grey blue color and will distress them to give them a weathered look.  I'll  join 6 of them together and hang them over my bed as a backdrop for art.  I have no idea what kind of art but I'll find something.  It drives Mr. Incredible cRazY...that I keep all this stuff in the garage for maybe "some day" that I'm going to do something with it.   He thinks that I'm going to end up on that show..."Being Buried Alive"....about Hoarding.....he is completely serious!  I don't see the connection....at all.  Well,  I'm an organized Hoarder!  

This was my across the street neighbors and it was a rusty, dull grey.  {I forgot to get a before picture.}  I decided to go crazy and paint it black {if you know me I usually paint everything Heirloom White, or some version of that} I thought it would make a great potting "shed" or shelf for my gardening like in the past post.  Didn't it turn out cute?  I think maybe Mrs. Kensington's Platter {in the above photo} would look cute up hanging up on the trellis or maybe some twinkling lights.   Or some water pitchers...the possibilities are endless....I also could plant it with moss and have succulents or flowers hanging out of it.  What do you think I should do?   Leave it as is or do you have another idea?

I'm hooking up with Rhoda, over at Southern Hospitality for her Show and Tell of Thrifty Treasures.  If ya'all...like to mosey on over there, {Rhoda is from the South and they talk like that down there so I'm using my best southern drawl to get you in the mood} You'll find lots of treasures all over the good ole' USA......and what great things can be found.  Now go on and git!

Won't you be my Valentine?

Last year you might of remembered this i rock valentine ,  they were such a great hit!  So this year Madison made them for her Teachers.   BUT....my darling girl has been sick this whole week with a horrible nagging cough.  She has had this cough for 2 weeks.  We went to the Dr's. {and saw a Nurse Practitioner} not her normal Doctor.  She basically told me what she didn't have but not what she had.  She told her to suck on some Halls.   She never got better except her fever went away.  I made an appt. to see her "real" doctor this morning and she has Walking Pneumonia....yep..that's what the girl has.....

So...she was not able to pass out her Ipods {tic tac} valentines to her teachers...AND we had a Valentine Dance to go to tonight for her Band AND WE {all us girls} got NEW dresses for the occasion and NEW shoes...AND it wasn't cheap the tickets so we are out of a lot of dough....sheeesh!!  I'm thinking maybe we should just go anyway and just give her the Meds with codeine in it.....{is that being a bad Mom?}  Well I guess that isn't the responsible Mom thing to do....meanwhile I'm trying to recoup the $$$$$, it was close to $100.00 dollars for the tickets...!!!!!! OK....I'm letting that go...

Oh Valentines....Well Ms. Kenzie is all robust and healthy so she got to go to school and give out Valentines....every year I try to talk her into making these but she insists on doing the Dum Dum flowers as seen below... 

Maybe you'll be luckier than me and twist your kids arm behind their back  talk your kid into making them because I think they are so darn cute, easy peasy to make AND it would be perfect for this Valentines Day which also happens to be the same day as Chinese New Year!!!!!   No, no, no, my  knows what she wants, stubborn independent, child would rather make these..
 

Kenzie changed hers up a bit and wrapped the Lollipop part up in scrapbook paper, which ya know I got a ton of that!!  You can see here how to make them. They would be great for Mother's day too! 

Oh I think these are cute...I do.....but I've had my heart on the Chinese Cookies...Oh I have an idea....I think I'll make them and give them out to my family has my Valentines to them.  I think I'm on to something...I can make a few for each family and have each family member write one thing on the strip of paper what they "love" about their dad, mom, sister and put it into the cookie and then box up all the cookies for each family member and then they can up them up at our Valentine Dinner and read what each "fortune" about a characteristic of each family member....Wow...I think my Oatmeal is finally kicking in....and restoring some brain cells I lost in radiation!!   yep..that's what we'll do. 

Top Ten countdown of projects of 2009...

 Top 10 count down like I have done here and here .  Boy..my projects have been a bit lackluster....this year what happened?  Did I get absorbed in the black whole abyss of blogdom, getting inspired but not really doing anything with that inspiration. I think so. Maybe I need to start making more lists and sticking to them in the new year, let's put that at the top of my Resolution List.  It is not for the lack of things that need to be done...I guess I'm a bit of a slowpoke or the blogasphere has hijacked my brain, how sad is that?  Note to self:  Get off computer and start doing something in the year Twentyten!

I did a pretty good job at the beginning of January {last year} to organize my garage that house my  plastic bins and bins of stuff.  I slowly have been buying those tall metal rolling shelves from Costco and boxing and shelving my "crap"  stuff in them.  I also have been getting rid of all my cardboard boxes and replacing them with clear plastic boxes, I really like seeing what is in them and I also label them with the items as well as putting cute stickers on the boxes.  I have a ton of school stuff when I used to teach full time and really have gotten rid of lot of school crap   items but still have quite a bit that I'm keeping for the "one day" when I go back to teaching full time, maybe when I'm 80 at the rate I'm going!!

Top 10:  Garage Organization

 

 

Top 9: Chicken Wire Curio cabinet
Here is a before...
 

and an almost after...

 
 I got this cabinet at the Goodwill and wanted to do a patchwork quilt design our of wall paper remnants, to kind of match the Doll Quilt on the bed.  I would wallpaper the  inside back and a haphazard sort of way.  I have a few but would like to get more in the designs that cordinate with the"shabby chicish" or "cottagey" ones I already have.  Here are the few samples I have picked up thus far.  Need to hit some more Flea Markets to get some old fashioned wall paper then I can officially say I'm done and not almost done.

Top 8: Kenzie's Pink Chandelier

Top 7: Fall's Glittered Pumpkins

Top 6: Painted Adirondack bench with green damask cushions from TJ Maxx

 
Top 5 :  Mop Bucket Planter and repainted Cottage Lover sign got the idea how to do it here

  Top 4: Initial Frames

I don't think I posted about this one. I got the frames from Target, you can see they are plain white and I got a can of apple green spray paint from Joann's with 40 percent coupon of course.  I have a ton of scrapbook paper and a scalloped oval punch.  Bam...you get a cute decor item for your very cute girl's room.    I couldn't stop there I had to go back and get more frames and make some for Miss Kenzie's room...to match the style of her room.

 {come back tomorrow and I'll show you where I put the cute frames with the dresses in them, I have been rearranging the girls room all last week like a MAD woman} 

Top 3:  Cushion   

I had this stripey cushion made for my bead-board bench that sits next to the front door.  As I look at this peeling paint of the bench in this photo I'm feeling it needs another paint job, maybe in a fun Robin's Egg blue..what ya think?
 

Top 2: Pillows

Pillow for my family room couch that I hand stenciled the Chez Moi with fabric paint. Mistakes and all!!  The paint bleed through the stencil and now I'm thinking what and how should I fix it.  Maybe but a rosette flower over the top.  Don't know.  The kid was a creation done way back in 2000...so she doesn't count.

Hand embroidered pillow made out of Pottery Barn Placemats.  Here is another mistake I should of used a bigger pillow form to fill it out more but I did learn one think while sewing up this pillow....the slipstich!!  Yea me!! 

 I would like to get one more of those Ruffly white pillows on there along with a down comforter to make our bed all comfy cozy for cold winter nights and mornings.  Yes it gets cold here in California People!!   Like in the 60's and I think that justifies needing a down comforter.  

Top 1:  Organized Recipe Binder

Over the years I have tore out recipes from magazine or printed them from the different websites.  So I made a binder with different sections  in it and put all the "tear outs" into individual plastic sleeves.  This was one thing on my to do list that felt so good to cross off my list.  What have you done this past year I'd love you to share yours of what your going to accomplish in the year Twentyten....