Jamaica Bay...

If I can't go to the ocean, I figured I would bring the ocean to me.   A while back I decided I wanted to paint our dining room and kitchen.  My favorite color is red, but I am currently really digging turquoise and teal.  And since Tim is such a wonderful husband, he agreed.  :)  Tim and I had gone up to Home Depot over a month ago and picked out the perfect color, but July has been sooooo busy (I love my clients) that we just got around to painting.  Last weekend we welcomed "Jamaica Bay" into our home and yesterday we put up our new chandelier.  I must say....I'm in love.  Just wanted to share a few :)  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and happy August!

I'm so bad with "before" pics...I know I took one but don't know where it is. 

Just imagine the room a light beige and a large brass chandelier.

This is after.....still need to get more light bulbs :)

Chunky goodness... :)

PS:  I am on the hunt for gray and white pin striped curtains and table mats. 

If you see some, holla at your girl ;)

Have a great week!

DIY- Master Bedroom

So DH and I recently decided to "tackle" our master bedroom.  We had originally painted the master bedroom when we moved in, thanks to our friends Chris and Megan.  It's not that I disliked the color, but wanted something brighter and more colorful.  So.......then I got the bright idea of painting it purple.  Tim was not so keen on the idea of purple, so it took a little um...nagging.  Hehe...for the last few months I have been trying to "persuade" Tim on purple.  "Not like grape tacky bright purple, more like cool calm awesome purple!"  Well finally Tim just gave in and a purple bedroom was born.  I win! :)

Before

Our original bedding was black, then we got married and got new bedding which didn't go with anything in the room.  The original paint color was "Earthy Cane" by Behr.  The room just looked blah and nothing matched.  Please excuse Gracie's tail...

Then we bought paint samples.  I usually don't buy paint samples, but for some strange reason I decided to this time around.  AND I'm SO glad I did.  The first "color" I picked is on the right and it's called "Lavender Sparkle."  Tim just liked to say Sparkle....  When it dried it was horrible!  A very pale/white purple.  Um no.  So then we went back and I chose "Lilac Bloom" which is the color on the left.  Much better.

After

Lilac Bloom.

I still need to put our duvet cover back on, but for now am enjoying the crisp white down comforter. 

What do you think?  YES I still need to decorate, hang pictures, etc....but I am liking the color a lot.

Oh and we also painted our furniture.  This 3 piece set belonged to my parents from back in the day.  I've had it for years and years.

Before (removed all the brassy knobs)

After

Please excuse the flash....it was 11:00pm when I took this....don't judge... :)  Doesn't it look better???  I still have to find knobs, I'm wanting some chunky glass or white knobs.  They (Hobby Lobby) have chunky white knobs with fleur di lis.....so we'll see... :)

That's all for now.  As soon as I finish decorating, replacing the ceiling fan, and doors I will share a "grand finale" pic.  I just like to say grand finale.... :)  OH and DH loves the purple.  Told ya so....
Have a fabulous day!

Tremendously Terrific Tuesday! SHOUT OUTS!

Hello everyone!  Yesterday's Cardinal Rally was lots of fun!  Here is a pic I wanted to share with you all.. :)

Keiner Plaza- Downtown St. Louis

(taken with my blackberry- don't hate)

They dye the fountains red!  Love it.... :)

I would like to give a big shout out to Mere and her fabulous blog Idle banter!  Thank you so much for nominating me for the Sunshine Award!  SO sweet of you!  Thank you Mere!

Everyone please make sure to check out Mere's Blog!!

The rules of the award are:

1.  Put the logo on your blog within your post.

2.  Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.

3.  Link the nominees within your post.

4.  Let them know they have received the award by commenting on their blog.

5.  Share the love and the link to the person from whom you have received this award.

AND the nominees are....in no particular order....

...It's Simple Love...

Life in Dawleywood

A Little Slice of Domestic Bliss

Fashion Daydreams

From Here to Zerr

My Heart Sings

Sweet Laura Photography

Bunny Days

Nuestra Vida Dulce

The Cat Said Quack

Veranda Interiors

Tatertots and Jello

With that said, ALL of my favorite blogs are listed to the right!  I know a lot of fabulous bloggers/ladies have already been nominated for this award (Anh, Andi, Veronika, Andi, Steph) but yes all of my FAVS are listed to the right. (To the right...to the right...to the left...to the left...)

Finally, I would like to give a huge shout out to Ana of Knock Off Wood for featuring my "Herb" Bench on her fabulous blog.  If you have not checked out her ADDICTIVE blog yet, then please head on over to Knock Off Wood! Thanks so much Ana!  LOVE your blog! :)

That's it for today!  Looking forward to a busy week...and...GLEE starts back up tonight! :)

Have a fabulous day!

                            

First DIY Furniture Project...

So in case you didn't know, there is this wonderful, fabulous, AH mazing blog out there that shows you how to build furniture, gives you all of the plans, AND all of the ideas are affordable AND pretty.  What?  You didn't know about this blog?  WELL....let me just warn you, you will be addicted.  Knock Off Wood is one of my favorite blogs.  The gorgeous and fabulous Ana White builds her own beautiful furniture AND gives you step by step guides on how to build your very own.  There are SO many projects on my "list" thanks to Ana, and the other day DH and I decided to check one of those projects off the list.  Of course I plan (want) to build an armoire, kitchen island, and our children's beds (when we have children) but for now we decided to start out with something small, cute, and useful.  We decided (I decided) to build this cute little bench.  DH and I like to do projects together (quality time) and I got to "play" with power tools!  Woot woot!  Thanks to my friend Dana for introducing me to this fabulous website! :)

All you need....oh and some nails and paint....please excuse DH's golf clubs...

I'm a hand saw pro!  NOT....My dad used to let me "cut a few" years and years ago, but I was way out of practice.  DH encouraged me to step up to the plate.  I love a good challenge...

"Give me that!....get out of my way....punk..." :)

I don't think "sawing" barefoot is a safe idea....

*Kids- do not try this at home*

I didn't want DH to feel left out....so I handed over the saw....

(actually I just wanted to take pictures!)

And we would have been there ALL DAY if he hadn't taken over...

(Ah look at all the dust, ouch that's hot, oh crap it's not straight, look at the squirrel..)

It's starting to look like a bench!...success...

That black thing on the ground is called a clamp...did you know that?  I did...(not)...

Time for some nails...which means another fun power tool!

After the cutting and sanding was finished, it was time to paint! 

I could sit in the garage and paint all day long...need something painted?

Drying.....a hair dryer helps speed up this process....

My version of a freehanded fleur de lis....it's def. not perfect but whatever...

Some scroll on the front....

 

TAH DAH!  Our new "herb" bench!  :)

Now on to our next project.  Make sure to check out Knock Off Wood

Have a fabulous day!  And I just wanted to say THANK YOU to everyone who reads my blog and leaves such nice comments!  I REALLY appreciate it!  :)

                                                                               

Easter weekend....

This past weekend I relaxed and ventured out to a few antique shops.  Even though I go to the same antique shops all the time, I never get bored.  Yes, they always have the same "inventory" but it's always nice to see the new items...and to try and figure out which items have found a home.  I just wanted to share with you all a few pics from this past weekend.  Enjoy! :)

This little beauty....1960's black purse.  It instantly reminded me of "Jackie O" and I loved the textured look. 

Just a little fact...A "Jackie O" style purse does not collapse when you set it down, it maintains its shape..

Like this little beauty. :)

LOVE the texture....they also had an alligator purse but it smelled horrible.  I hate when that happens....

I also found this gorgeous 1960's Amber Pitcher.  I guess I was in a 1960's mood that day?  I thought it would be perfect for a lemonade pitcher... :)

Love the circular details...AND guess what?!?!?!?  They have a cake stand to match!  SO guess where I'm headed next payday?......Please please please still be there....   Now all I need is 4 glasses to match!  OH and 4 little amber dessert plates...see what happens....(I'm addicted). :)

Oh so vintage....And speaking of lemonade, that's exactly what I did!

Here is the lemonade recipe I used...

I do not have a juicer...so I had to use my own two hands. 

My hands were killing me, but it was very tasty! :)

Then we sat on our deck and enjoyed our Easter dinner, sipped some lemonade, and enjoyed some blueberry sour cream coffee cake.  And enjoyed the view of our blooming trees...this one is my favorite. 

(And it's purple!) :)

So pretty... :)  Hope you are all having a great week!

STAY TUNED!  I'm working on a project...

Is that a saw in my hand??? That must mean I built something....right? :)
(Dang I am so pale...practically blend in with the wall.....hehe...)-

Have a great day!