Life @ 1710

Entry dresser

2011-11-24T14:31:00.000-08:00

I found this beauty on Craiglist earlier this year. I paid a whopping $40! A steal! I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it when I got it, but I loved the shape and the fact that it is real wood and sturdy. I need storage everywhere so she landed in my entry way.

Here she is for the first 4 months...I love her!

Even though I loved her, I wanted a contrast between the dark floors and the piece. I have been craving some excitement so I decided to paint her green~ Annie Sloan Antibes Green. It is so easy! No priming, no preparation....just easy peasy painting. I started at 4:30 p.m. and she was completely ready to be revealed by 7:00 p.m. I applied the Annie Sloan clear wax and then, gave her a coat of dark wax. Pure beauty.

My family isn't quite sure if they like her. The green throws them off, I think.

Craft Room Reveal

2011-11-19T13:16:00.001-08:00

When we bought this house, we couldn't decide what to do with a little room right off the master bedroom. It's odd because you have to go through the master to get to it so I knew I didn't want it to be a computer room or office- it would be weird to me to have everyone going through my room to get to the computer, etc. Here are a few before photos:

I came across Beneath My Heart's desk...I was sure I could make it work in the room and I could have a CRAFT room, yippee!!

I spent several weeks contemplating the area and decided exactly how I wanted to use the room, drew out the plans, measured the walls and the space. I spent that time corralling all the paint in the house, the glue guns, the scrapbooking items, and the massive amounts of photos shoved in each and every drawer. I knew quickly that I wanted a peg board and a cork board and lots of space to use my cricut, to wrap presents, a place to keep all my ribbon and store all my goodies on lots and lots of shelves. Then, I approached Jerrod with the plans. I knew I needed help with the trip to the local hardware store and the cutting of the wood. Turns out, he was just as excited (read: he can't stand clutter in and around the house) and graciously offered to help me get the clutter under control!

This is the room in progress:

An old standing file cabinet that I decided to paint navy and I enlisted the girls to help with the staining of the desk. The desk is an L shape and is 30 inches wide on the left side and 20 wide on the back wall. We used 2 by 4's for the legs.

For the record, I was not impressed with the Valspar spray paint. It came out splotchy and even after many coats and 3 cans of spray, there are still areas that do not look even.

Here is the room now:)

Totally usable and organized! By creating this room, we were able to completely empty an armoire in our bedroom which in turn, opened up more space for our clothes. Imagine that!

Pumpkin Fun

2011-10-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

I try to keep things fun and attractive around here. I want my children to remember the way the house was decorated for the holidays and the smells that are associated- cookies, candy corn, cinnamon....yummy. This Halloween is no different. While they are trying to figure out what they are going to be and how to spend Halloween night (in particular, Emma keeps asking to make a haunted house here, at our house, at this home...um, not happening) and all are concocting parties on the street and making plans with friends.

I'm thinking how to decorate, as usual. I try to find things that can be used for both Halloween and Thanksgiving (fall decor) and I started back at the beginning of the month. If I am going to go all out, I try to get the most out of my time. I want to be able to enjoy it, too!

Every year I try to change things up some. Here is some of the fun we have going on in our house:

Our Porch:

Our Entry:

I made this banner last year on my cricut, but didn't have a place to put it. This year I made it work with black, brown and orange tulle and raffia. I am so glad it made it's presence- it reads, "Just treats, no tricks".

Our Mantel:

I got these little candlesticks pre-kids at the dollar store. I use them every year so I have definitely gotten my money out of them.

I got these paper poms at Tarjay for $2! What a steal and what an impact they make! My kids love them.

This owl was purchased this year from Hob Lob. He's stacked with candles I've had around the house for years.

I always have a basket full of holiday books- this Halloween is no different!

Our kitchen has seen this ghostly platter for years. It still has the Marshall's sticker on the back- it was a whole $12 dollars :) A steal!

This is the part I really enjoy...the paper goods. I try to always have seasonal paper goods and I found these straws at HG this year. I could pass these suckers up for $3.99.

Look what my girl gave me this week! This will meet a frame fo-sure next year :)

My Entryway Before and After

2011-09-21T14:22:00.000-07:00

I remember standing in this house when we looked at it the first time thinking, "this is b.a.d.". It was seriously the only option we had. It was during a down time in the market and houses weren't moving very quickly in this neighborhood. It was listed really low (the only home within reason) and needed some serious love. So we gave it some. Some serious love.

We had lovely* white* shiny* tile throughout and oh, it was cracked everywhere. Like big cracks....slice your foot and ER visit cracks. I had the contractor tear up the tile throughout and replace it with hand scraped luscious hardwoods. I also had them tear out the scummy carpet throughout and put in these oak stair treads. The carpet was covered in stains, paint drips, and a little bit of carpet here and there. It was scary to walk on- I am frustrated because I can't find the proof, urgh. I did snap photos and had big plans for before and after. Later, eh?

Our money tree in the backyard stopped producing money wink, wink so we were left with the unfinished stairs for 5 months and just recently got them finished.

Here is the new and updated Entry. Always a work in progress, but I do LOVE it now.

I love the chocolate goodness on my stairs now. I so totally copied one of my favorite blogs- Centsational Girl- on the stairs. I followed her steps to a T so no need to reproduce them here. Go give her a visit and see her beautiful home. It's inspiring!

Up next for "before and after" is the littles playroom.

Whatcha think? I'd love to hear!

Our house to HOME.

2011-07-20T22:30:00.000-07:00

So here I go. I've been panicking because I am realizing that I am so far behind on blogging and all the "advances" that I have missed out on these last few years. I've got a lot to learn and so much to catch up on. I guess I've got to start somewhere so here I go.

It's been frustrating and invigorating all at the same time. I've always loved learning new things and challenging myself, but jeez....when you have little ones asking for lunch or pulling on their brothers hair (never happens here)- you get sidetracked. I'm sitting in the dark (if I turn a light on the littles may think I'm awake) and spending good quality time reading tutorials (love the tutorial and the blog btw!) and than I move to reading articles about how to fix the problems that I'm having as I get going again and I started to think, "this is life". Really. It is. Tough. Challenging. Always changing. Never dull. Always moving.

My age is showing, I think. We recently celebrated 18 years of marriage kinda sorta (hubby golfed bright and early that morn and we spent the rest of the day at our children's swim team banquet) and we've seen a lot those years together. We've moved several times, had 4 children, job changes, job losses and challenges through it all.

I would say that the last few years have been the hardest for me. We lost our primary income- my husband's business, a home that we loved, neighbors that we adored, discovered health issues and spent 2 solid years looking for employment. Tough? Challenging? Dull? Of course. Would I change anything?

Nope.

I can honestly say that I would go through it all again to see what I have today. We are back to building a future and creating memories as a family. The relationships are stronger and "things" can be taken from you but memories remain. Those things are just that- things.

We are starting anew in a new house. It's ours. WE couldn't be more excited! It's the smallest house we have ever lived in but again, it's ours for keeps. I'm learning how to paint (silly, huh?), work with what I have, purge and organize, decorate on a small budget, shop craigslist for deals on furniture, and maintain a budget. Again, it's challenging and down right tough to do...for me. The house we live in today is a home.

So tonight as I sit and work on this blog, I have made a commitment to myself: I will embrace the challenges as I blog and the tough times that will come my way...making my family the best it can be and making our house our HOME.

Welcome!

2011-07-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

I've missed this. I've missed this outlet. I've missed sharing with family and friends and doing what I love! It's been almost two years since I've taken the time to share on my family blog and so here I go again.

I can't wait to get started.

It's going to be a little of everything here. I am keeping it light hearted and chocked full of great information to help you with your home: living life to the fullest, decorating, parenting, cooking, planning, organizing, designing, teaching and we can't forget...redesigning. Life changes constantly so we have to be willing to redesign our life and home all the time :) Let's have fun!

I hope to link to other great blogs that have inspired me to start this one. Check out the blog roll on my side bar for a few of those. There are some talented writers and inspirational people to meet in this crazy land of blogging. I hope to introduce you to a few of them along the way.

My immediate family is large- I have 4 children and I can't forget my hubby! They are precious to me. As I know you are, I am always striving to provide them with great things. Great food, great outings, a great home to come home to and experiences to enrich their lives. I want to share with them how to be responsible and caring human beings that love the Lord. It's a work in progress, but worth the time and effort I am putting into it. I'd love to share some of the plans I have for my family.

I am a self proclaimed decorating addict with ADD. I organized to re-organize. It's a sickness. My days are organized (with lists), my errands are organized, my home is organized and it's never good enough. It's ALWAYS a work in progress. Just when I think I am done, I am starting over again.

Follow me on this journey. I can tell you from experience that life happens. It changes. It is challenging and frustrating at times, but then we can be surprised by God's grace and His ability to make everything just perfect for us and those we love with His divine plans for us all.

You are going to love it, pinkie promise.