Kitchen Spruce-up

I'm NOT afraid of color. I'm not! Just look at what i did seven years ago when we reno'd our kitchen. COLOR!

Yep, i know, it's a bit much. Once i started painting the kitchen this granny smith apple green, i was determined to love it.

And i do! Only... it's grown to be a bit much.

Time for a change. While i still love this color, i decided to keep it as an accent color on the hood and chandelier shades.

Here's one more shot of the wall color and my sad attempt at a window treatment (yes, it's been like that for seven years- the shame.

I painted the walls and bead board "Buttermilk" from Vaspar. I love the creaminess it takes on later in the day. I also found the deal of the day at Ikea with these linen panels. I used two, together. I gave them the usual treatment- wash and dry with mega dryer sheets.

I pulled this picture for inspiration from either Ballards or Pottery Barn, choked on the price,

and then found these decals at JoAnn's! Woo hoo! Love me a good cheap copy!

I blinged up an old lamp shade with rick-rack and buttons,

and covered these,

with this mod green and white fabric, and black ball fringe.

Fun!Well, that's about as far as i've gotten. I still need a window treatment over the sink, and chair cushion covers. I've cleaned out the cupboards and edited the shelves. With this job done {almost} i'm feeling better about the 'list'. It taunts me, it causes me to lose sleep, i hate the 'list'. I want it gone.

Soon enough!

I'm off to Washington tomorrow to see the cherry blossoms. Can't wait!

Have a beautiful weekend!

There's Been a Cover-up

The culprits:

Feet.

Bare feet, flip flop feet, Ugg feet...

and dog feet. Flip flopped dog feet. Don't ask.

The victim: The orphaned foot stool from our short lived chair- and- a -half -days.

The cover-up. A nine dollar drop cloth from the depot.

Washed, dried with six, yes, count them, six fabric softener sheets, to make it soft and rumpled.

I pinned the cloth to the top of the foot stool, and trimmed and sewed. Easy {and lazy} that's how i roll. {and sew}

Cut strips from the rest of the cloth, made a loose pleat, a sewed it to the top, and...

...the crime is concealed!It's not perfect, but it's a good crime stopper! Now when the perps {that's crime talk} victimize the foot stool, it's a simple trip to the washer, and all is forgiven.

I've been working on my to-do list. It seems to grow every time i check something off! Hopefully by the end of the week i can show you the changes i've made to my kitchen.

One month from today is Ms. A's Bat Mitzvah, oy! We have our dresses, our shoes, all the important things! Now, to get that Hebrew memorized!

Let's talk soon!

Happy Wednesday!

Finches and Friends

All winter long, we've been feeding the finches. We hung a feeder in the tree outside the laundry room window, since i seem to spend a lot of time there. I keep binoculars nearby so i can zoom in on their beautiful colors. I hope the neighbors don't see me peeping out my window-probably wouldn't go over very well!

Yes, that's a dusting of snow in the background - snow has become a four letter word with me, lately- the bad kind of four letter word. We attract mostly golden finches, however every now and then we get a wine colored finch. See it on the left, there? Isn't it sweet?

Here is a shamelessly cute dog picture. See the paint can in the background? Proof that i'm actually working, not just taking cute pictures!

There's too much cuteness. And i'm not ashamed.

Max and Rylee made a new friend. Goodness knows where this little guy's been hiding all winter...actually, i don't want to think about it.

Rylee brought him over to introduce him to Max. "Max, allow me to introduce you to my new best friend, da bug. He is not a nom nom. He is my friend"

"Um, you're getting kind of close, bug friend"

"Eewie, ewie, ewie! Get this hideous thing off me!!! HEEEELP!!!"

Rylee's new best friend the bug now living happily in the garage amongst its own kind... we don't mention the word "bug" out loud anymore.

Have a great Wednesday!

Got Girdles?

♫ We've got girdles, how 'bout you? ♪

♪ We've got girdles, we bought two! ♬

Ms. B and i, marched ourselves off to the Vintage Clothing and Jewelry Show in Bloomfield Hills, MI this past weekend. It's our favorite. We've been going for years. Ms. A just isn't that into the vintage thang... she lives in the now...like the Gaga-Glee-Bieber-i'vegotspongebobtowatch-now.

Any who, when we saw these vintage girdles, i knew they had to go home with us. { Yes, the minute we got home and in the door, we both tried on our finds...she looked darling in hers, and i...let's just say, it may become a daily addition to my wardrobe! }

Before we left for the show, i gave Ms.B a couple of victory rolls- isn't she cute? Gotta get your vintage on!

My vintage girl picked up this gen-u-ine bullet bra- it's the funniest thing i've ever seen! So pointy! I don't think she'll be wearing this out of the house. Just sayin'.

I bought this lacy bed jacket with the thought of tea dying it a bit. I think it would be cute with faded jeans, a velvet cami and cowboy boots.

Sweet 'lil bow closure ♡
Also, this dreamy robe.
So floaty and sheer.

But, the best find of all, is this mother of pearl carry-all. For years i've looked at these with lust in my heart- and dust in my wallet. For what ever reason, this one was just the right price and in fabulous shape. Woo hoo!

Inside is a mirror, a lipstick holder {never used}, a comb with pouch and a small tank for powder. If there ever was a powder puff, it doesn't live here anymore.

All the goodies inside.

The mirror swings down to reveal a stash for mad money...originally, probably used for cigarettes.
I love that this cutie has a wrist chain. So smarmy! on my arm-ie...oh, that was bad...

Now to find her a comfy spot to hangout, with the rest of the girls.

Thanks for sharing our awesome vintage day!

Got girdles?

First Picks of the Season

You can smell it in the air! Estate sale season! Yeah, spring is on her way, but i don't think she's quite ready to commit. There is no stopping a good junkin' season. Last weekend i pryed myself away from my project list for a few hours, and found a cute little sale just waiting for me : )

I got this cute stash of dice for .50￠

I love old office supplies, too.

This old address book was a dollar. All the phone numbers start with letters- so "Leave It To Beaver"

This ledger isn't that old, but i love the fabric cover and the old clip board? i'll put that to good use for sure.
These books are the best! I own several and etiquette of the day never fails to amaze me. I wish we could bring some of that back...

...especially this chapter. I'M JUST SAYIN' !

Happy treasure hunting!

Nightstand and Table Make-over

Last summer {good grief, last summer? } I started the re-do of Ms. B's bedroom.

{confession: It's still not finished, but it's close!}

We've had this little set of drawers in the family forever, and they've been every color of the rainbow. Time to change that.

Ta da! All done! Just kidding, this was such a messy project that i didn't get and in between photo's! I bought several yards of this fabric, knowing i'd use it somewhere else in her room, laid the dresser down in the fabric to make a sort of pattern. I cut out the pieces and painted Mod Podge on the dresser, pressed the fabric in place, and smoothed out the wrinkles. It really was easy, although really messy {let's not talk about the globs of Mod Podge in my hair. Ok? Ok.It's in it's temporary place next to her bed, soon to move into her closet to make way for the Ikea piece that i'm trying to put together without to much swearing : ) It's not a pretty process.

Here is another quick make-over the i made with one of those cheapie round tables that we've all had at one time or another.

I cut the legs down by about a third, then cut a piece of foam for the table top. Glued it on with spray glue- warning, don't do this inside without a drop cloth...don't ask me how i know, i just do...I covered the foam top with the fabric and stapled it down.

Trimmed it up, re-attached the legs, and made it a skirt.

I tacked the skirt on with silver upholstery tacks, and there she is!

This lil' stood cannot support the weight of a 14 year old girl, again, don't ask me how i know...i just do : ( However, it stands up just fine to the weight of books and clothes and anything else that's laying around...and there usually is

Hopefully soon i can show you the full reveal. It's on my list. Really!

Have a great weekend.

Happy Spring!