Inspired Fridays

Happy Friday! I love Fridays. I know I've said that before but, I still love them so you get to hear about it. Here, have some great ideas with your Friday!

Holly Mathis Interiors

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I adore this little boy bedroom. Ideas for the Little Man's big boy room...

Apartment Therapy

And that chalkboard wall! 

Remodelando la Casa

A great tutorial if your curtains are just a tad too short. I have a couple that need fixing myself. And I love that light fixture. So cool!

View Along The Way

Just a hilariously awesome post by Kelly at View Along The Way detailing what goes on behind the pretty pictures!

Design Fluff

I have to find a spot for this in my house. Frog tape and Rub 'n Buff? Seriously? I'm trying to think of non-textured surfaces in my home that I could do this too. This is gold done right y'all! 

Oh why am I leaning more towards gold things? I've been on a no gold kick for the last year or so{even though it was a main feature at our wedding?}. I think it has to do with my hate/hate relationship with my kitchen and all the dated gold throughout my house. There is definitely a right way and a wrong way to do gold. 

Be inspired!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

How NOT To Paint A Ceramic Lamp

This, my friends, is my post on how you are not supposed to paint a ceramic lamp. I thought this to be a simple spray painting job. Oh no. Apparently, I'm quite the impatient spray painter.

This was my victim.

I found this lamp at a thrift store for 50% off of $3.25. It started out this loverly shade of electric purple. Perfect for all you one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people eaters out there{seriously, can you think of anyone else this lamp would be more perfect for?}.

Anyway, I decided that I would change it. I would make it look like the box it came in. Sort of.

This is what I used:

• Spray primer{not in the picture but I used Krylon brand}
• White gloss spray paint{Krylon}
• Gold metallic spray paint{Rustoleum}
• Clear gloss spray paint{Krylon}
• 220 grit sandpaper
• Painter's tape

First I taped off the cord and the socket so I wouldn't get paint on it. Then I sanded it to rough up the smooth surface and primed it with the spray primer. Next came the white spray paint.

And therein lies the tale.

The most important thing{besides good ventilation} is to actually follow the directions on the can! There are some things that are forgiving if you over spray, like picture frames. Smooth spherical ceramic is not one of those things.

Second coat and I ended up with awful drips. So, more sanding. I was pretty careful after that with the paint but if you look close, you can still see the drip marks under the layers of paint. I got impatient with sanding too.

Finally, the painting was done. Or so I thought. I started on the gloss and, first thing, drips everywhere. So now I have to sand the gloss and repaint.

Fast forward and I'm taping the newly finished white lamp off so I can spray paint part of the socket. I guess I didn't do the best job because I ended up with a few gold speckles on the white lamp. Then, when I went to touch up the white, I got white speckles on the gold. Finally, after quite the back and forth, the lamp was completely painted and top-coated.

Here is my finally finished product! It isn't perfect, but hey, what is?

I splurged on this lampshade from Target. I was afraid that if I covered or painted the original shade the purple would still show through and make it look funky. Plus this shade is pretty. I've loved it for some time.

Hubby likes it too. Score!

So now I know. Be patient. Don't spray one spot for long, keep it moving. Actually hold the can 12 inches away. Those directions are actually worth something after all.

In spite of all my efforts to ruin it, I think it turned out anyway.

I win, lamp. Muahahaha!

Any DIY horror stories to share?

Picking Branches

We went out to pick branches a while back. Because all the cool bloggers do it. Picking branches is cool.

We've all seen them. Shapely vases overflowing with lovely blooming branches from backyards. It's a great cheap way to bring some new life into your house after the winter. It's amazing how much some simple leafy branches can change the feel of a room.

Little Man decided to play in them. Goodbye blooms from the quince bush. But he had fun and that's what matters. It matters much more than branches in a vase and how well my house looks.

Today we are planning on being outside a lot again. Both our upstairs and downstairs a/c units are being replaced. And some old ceiling damage is being fixed in the kitchen and upstairs bathroom. I'm planning on craziness, no nap, and picking more branches.

Branches that will be swung around, squashed, and have the blooms knocked off.

Imperfectly perfect, just like my home. Just like life.


Because of our trip, house guests, yesterday's migraine, and the aforementioned work being done around here today, my DIY project is waiting around to be posted until tomorrow. Why tomorrow? Um, well, actually, it isn't quite done yet...

Memorial Day

Today is the day, in the USA, that we remember our fallen soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines.

Today I am remembering by grilling outside and hanging out with my extended family. I am thinking of my Papaw who was wounded during WWII in the Pacific. I am thinking of a friend from high school whose husband was killed in Afghanistan. I am remembering a guy that graduated from college with my brother who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan recently.

I'm thinking of my own brother who is currently in Afghanistan. He hasn't met his son yet. I am praying like crazy for him to come home safe.

So while we are all having fun today, let's remember the ones that have died. They aren't just numbers. Remember the ones that are living in danger every moment. Pray for their safety and strength for their families.

Have fun and be safe today y'all!

How To Perk Up A Medicine Cabinet

And now, I will reveal my secret bathroom update: the medicine cabinet perk up. Using a paper tablecloth.

Being Back Home And Future Projects

We just got home from our trip last night and I am seriously zonked. It's a rainy day and it makes me want to curl up on the couch with some coffee, turn on a Jane Austen movie, and go to sleep. If anyone ever figures out how sitting on your bum in a car can be so exhausting, please let me know the answer to this phenomena. We did figure out that, contrary to what would make sense, Little Man is a better traveler during the day than at night.

In other recent news, the upstairs air conditioner is dead. Very DEAD. At least it isn't July.

I have a few projects I've been working on lately and the end is in sight! Projects take so long when I'm working around nap times, weather, and money. But it will be worth it when I have the finished project!

I'm also planning on painting our office/music room the same color as our living room. I'm very much hoping that having paint on the walls will kick start my cleaning and organizing. I so struggle with that when a room is unpainted. Maybe next week?

And I think it's time for the Great Purge! Let's see how much of my stuff I can let go of! I have so much junk laying around that is good stuff. It's just not great stuff. And it's not my style.

So now that I've given you a peek of my plans, I have to actually do it! This is one of the reasons I love blogging. It keeps me motivated. Procrastinating perfectionist that I am, I need all the help I can get to keep me on track.

This short and sweet post is my "recovering from a road trip" post. I'll be back tomorrow with more to share! 

In Georgia

Hey y'all! Today I am posting from Georgia{and from my phone so it may look odd today}. Our little family is down here for a wedding. Hubby's cousin is getting married today so we are in the process of decorating and admiring the atmosphere.

This was my favorite stop on the way down. Starbucks. Especially when you only got 3 to 4 hours of sleep the night before. And you're driving. Yes, my friends, this is good stuff.

Inspired Fridays

The Thrifty Rebel~DIY Beach Mat Blind

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Since my About Me page is still a work in progess, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things with you{insert Julie Andrews singing right here. You will now be singing that song for the rest of the day. You're welcome.}

 And I will do it with pictures{Julie Andrews singing, and my, ahem, talented photography. Double your're welcome.}

This is my favorite guy. Isn't he handsome? Hubby and I met at church I don't even know how long ago. First person ever that I could talk to for 4 hours straight. Even on the phone{talking on the phone is not on my favorite list, just in case you were wondering}. We have been married over three years now. Best of friends.

Update On The Upstairs Bathroom

I thought I'd take some time to update you on our upstairs bathroom. I've been at total loss with this bathroom since we moved in. Bubbling paint, bad ventilation, and odd colored old tile are just a few of the things that make this room "interesting"

Hubby and I have a joke about this. When we were dating, he would ask what I thought of something and my reply would be "interesting." Upon inquiring whether this was "interesting good or interesting bad," he would get a "just interesting." I think with this bathroom though, there is a lot of interesting bad.

It definitely needs work.

I'm pretty positive that the bubbling paint is the result of painting latex over oil-based paint. We've had this problem with the trim upstairs too, with the exception being that instead of bubbling, the paint just peels right off. The ventilation issue is contributing to a mildew problem{along with our hard water} and rust on the light fixtures. The tub and surround are cracked, and there's a serious lack of storage space.

And it needs a way to lock the door going in to the side of the bathroom that's connected with the master bedroom.

Inspired Fridays

This week has been a crazy week for us. My Mother-in-Law came down Monday so I could work on ripping the {evil}wallpaper out of the the kitchen this week. I now have 1/4 of the room de-wallpapered! Yay!

Little Man and Hubby got sick too. I'm pretty sure I'm not too far behind. I'm usually the last to catch stuff around here. Because they were sick, and because it's been raining, I haven't really had a chance to work on any little projects to share this week. Hopefully this weekend I can work on some stuff!

Here's a few things that I've been diggin' lately:

Four Generations One Roof

Planting The Garden

On Saturday we started our garden.

I've never been too keen on gardening. You have to get all dirty, it's hot, you're hot, and there's bugs. But now I am a gardener. Or on my way to becoming a serial garden killer.

I've already killed my seedlings. This means I have to go out and buy little tomato and pepper plants. Not that I mind. I've never bought a plant before. It will make me feel special.

Pretty sure our soil isn't approved for containers. Oops.

So far, we have planted carrots, lettuce, and a few strawberry plants. Tomatoes, bell peppers, and possibly onions are left on our list. I'd also like to get some herbs growing too.

So there we are! The beginnings of our container garden. And as much as I dislike being dirty, I actually enjoyed getting my hands in the dirt. Not so much the manure smell though.

Favorites From April

Today I decided to take a break from Inspired Fridays and, instead, put together my favorite posts from the month of April. It's been fun to see some of the projects and fun things that have been happening around here. So often I feel like I'm just stuck in a rut so I need reminders like this that things are actually moving forward!

Two Hour Guest Room Redo

DIY Framed Jewelry

Lingerie, Road Trips, and Swedish Meatballs

{Small} Guest Room Updates

Master Bedroom Re-do

I'd love to hear your favorites. Please do share! 

Paper Napkins Become Bathroom Art

This week I've been working on a few projects for our upstairs bathroom. I wasn't planning to. It was the room at the very bottom of the list.

Even though it wasn't on my do-this-stuff-very-soon list, I was keeping my eyes open for inspiration. And one day, as I was wandering through Target, I chanced upon the party supply section where...*cue the dramatic music*

I saw these pretty navy and white printed napkins and tablecloth. I had picked up these unfinished 8.5x11 frames for $0.45 each at the thrift store a couple weeks ago and as soon as I saw that navy print, I knew it was meant to be. And it determined once and for all the color scheme that was going in that bathroom.

Our bathroom has been pretty sad. One of the first things we did after we moved in, was hang these floating shelves {from Target, of course} above the toilet. The only storage space was under the sinks and I just loved floating shelves so much. They still sit crooked and I do need to fix that but they make a big architectural difference.

But now we had big blank spaces on the other walls. And nothing worked with the blue tile. I am a total neutral girl so I was originally planning to stay with the light blue and white, but add in some beige/tan. Being a firm believer that color schemes should flow through each room in the house, I didn't want anything too out of the ordinary and most of all, I wanted it to be US.

That idea never really spoke to me though. I decided to jump outside my usual and think about brighter, bolder colors and prints. It was the right idea.

The navy grounds the lighter blue tiles and adds interest to an otherwise boring bathroom. As much as I love neutrals and the simple, uncluttered look, this bathroom needed more. A lot more than I thought. And since I have blue throughout the house, the navy doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

And I took the opportunity to spruce up the shelves a bit. And frame more napkins.

So now that I know the direction to go, I can budget for the items that will make this bathroom pop! Like a new shower curtain and bath rugs. New hardware. Maybe some new towels. I have my eyes on a few things already.

And so, a $3 pack of paper napkins becomes art to liven up an old bath.

Don't be afraid of going bold if that's what your room needs. Don't dismiss it immediately. I did that for over a year. Just keep the feel you want and stay with a color and print that you love. And you don't need to go bold everywhere. Just a touch can make the difference.

You might be surprised by how much you come to love it!