Browsing Category: Projects

Mother’s Day 2021

HELLO!!

Yes, I am shouting!  It feels so good to have to a moment to do something fun and kinda meaningless… ah, old life, how I’ve missed you.  About two weeks ago my boys went back to half days at school and WOW, does it make a difference to have 3-4 hours of uninterrupted time.  My friend recently asked me how it was going and all I could say is that I felt like myself for the first time in a REALLY, REALLY long time.  I tell ya, these lungs were not meant for that much hot air and my brain was not meant to stand-in 24/7 as a dictionary.

So, Mother’s Day.  The day that pops up outta nowhere and makes you scramble for the perfect way to show mom you care.  Well, now that I’ve been a mom myself for over 11 years, I can say that mom doesn’t need a whole song and dance.  She just wants to feel appreciated, relaxed and well-fed.  I figured I’d share a few items that have piqued my interest the last few weeks and that would be super fun to use in the coming warm months.

Heck, I may just snag a few myself if they don’t magically appear on Sunday… especially since I’ve dropped hints at other ideas I love like indestructible, purple plants for my hillside, a comfy, new pillow or even a spa certificate (which how crazy is it that I’m thinking of going to the spa?!).

No matter what, I’m just so happy that life feels almost normal again.  At least, I’m feeling normal.  Shoot, there may even be a few home updates I can finally tackle.  Fingers crossed!!

As for these fun things, I’m so curious to try these shower bombs and The Ordinary line is very intriguing.  It’s so affordable.  What’s up with that?!?  As you know, I’m obsessed with t-shirts and hats, so obviously I need more of those and pj’s paired with indoor shoes are so up my alley these days.  I even added matcha, because like, is it time that I finally get on that bandwagon?  OH!  and if you have tried the pink LED wrinkle mask, you must email me!!!  You must!  Does that thing work?

That’s it for now!

I’ve missed you all and can’t wait to share more soon.

Happy Mother’s Day, to all the women who have literally saved the world this year!!  WE ROCK!

The Ordinary Skin Care, LC  Top and matching Shorts Set, Matcha Tea Powder, Ungrateful Children T-shirt, Baseball Mom Shirt, Ray Ban Sunglasses, Dermalogica Cleansing Set, Pajama Set, Shower Bombs, Indoor House Slippers, Magazine Subscriptions, Straw Fedora, DKNY Purse, LED WrinkLit Mask

Some Progress and I’m Still Here!

Hello Friends!

Time is flying by, amiright?!  Strangely, it feels like we jumped from March right into August and I, for one, don’t have too much to show for it!

Can you believe I’m still working on these gosh darn doors?  Truth be told, I have taken several months long breaks… but still!!  It’s like enough already!  The funny thing is that I’ve messed up SO many times and I’m just really annoyed with myself.  I literally look at the doors and shake my head.  Now I truly understand why some people would rather NOT do-it-themselves.  Lol!

The last time we chatted, I had tested the technique on one door and couldn’t figure out if I liked the color or not.  Guys, I freaking stared at that door for so long!  Ultimately, I did what any normal person would do and I sanded it to start over.

The thing is, that I KNEW I wanted it darker.  I just didn’t want to have to go into a crazy Home Depot to get darker paint.  So I waited and waited and waited… until I had to go to a crazy Home Depot for something else and THEN I got the paint.  I’m a disturbed person.

I had them add even more black to the already Frankenstein paint I was using.  This would be easy, I told myself…. new paint, some sanding, no. big. deal.

I got to work.  I painted all the doors this time, cause this was it, I tell ya!  And then I noticed there were areas where the paint did not adhere properly.  Ok.  So my dumbass didn’t sand properly??  Alright, alright.  I sanded AGAIN, then repainted AGAIN and then (drum roll) the F%$! paint did not adhere.

Oh hell no.

This may seem so obvious to you right now.  Why it was not obvious to me can only be explained by delirium or lack of brain cells or plain stupidity.  I don’t know what was going on with me, seriously!! Why did I not prime this mutha?!?!  Whhhyyyyyy!!?!?!?!?

Ok. Breathe.  Life sucks right now.  Deal with it.

Prime that shit.

I did.  Then I repainted AGAIN.  For the 4th time, I might remind you.  You can all relax, because the first coat finally looks good!  Hooray!  Hallelujah!  I can be taught!!

I’m letting it cure and hopefully, next week I’ll start with the black treatment.  With any luck, I’ll be done by Christmas.  Ha!

In other news, I made myself a spray painting tent!!  I have been working on reupholstering a 50’s patio set and fixing up some rattan pieces, which requires some painting and I’m trying not to stink up the neighborhood.

This peacock chair is now for sale in my shop and needed a repair on the leg.  This is pre-painting, obvs.

I mean, guuurrrllll, look at that weaving!  Oh la la!  My husband said, “I didn’t know you could fix that stuff.”  I responded with, “I didn’t either.”  But now I do, y’all!!  It’s pretty relaxing actually.

Then…. there’s some stuff going on in the back, back part of our yard.

We have this long, thin area behind the tennis court with a hillside that doesn’t currently have a purpose.  I have been pondering a sculpture garden on the hill and finally, I found my first piece!!  Omg, I’m so excited!  I’ll tell you more about it and show you photos when it’s in, but you can see that we’ve already started planning for it.

It is a set of 3 tall pieces that I’m putting together to form one shape.  My father-in-law suggested we use buckets filled with cement to install them – So freaking genius!  You can see the buckets there and the purchase of cement is what led to me getting darker paint.

I can also tell you that bright 4×4 tile has been purchased, but I have no idea how I’m going to install it.  I want modern, artistic.  What that means and translates into is still marinating in my brain.  If you have any ideas, please shoot them my way!!

Well, that’s it for now!  Nothing finished, but progress is happening and I guess I should feel pretty proud of that.

Faux Bois Musings and Attempt Part One

Hi Everyone!

Remember when I was inspired to turn my master bedroom boring doors into this?

Well, the process has begun and you guys, I REALLY NEED YOUR ADVICE!

I started by sanding the doors and darkening up some paint I had in the garage that wasn’t working for anyone.  (I did the paint fixeroo before the whole lock-down thing.)  Here’s where I started…

I think you already saw this.  Anyway, about a fortnight ago, I started taking my sweet ol’ time painting the base and that’s when it happened.

Friends.  I got really scared.

I started thinking that I was going crazy and that this wasn’t going to look good at all.  So, I painted one door, figuring that one door wasn’t too bad to fix up if I hated it later.

Right?!?!?

Not that anyone wants to redo crap 1000x’s.  Sigh.

Finally (after much hemming and hawing) I mix-up the topping, Black Magic from Home Depot, in there premier satin with clear glaze, and then I DID IT.

Oh ya!  I did a few tests first, which turned out surprisingly cool, and propelled me to take on more.

I only did the back of the door, because again, I am a weak, little sissy.

I got SOOOOOOO SCARED!

But what do you think??

The men in my house think it’s awesome and that I should keep going.  But what say you, my decor friends??

I did some cut and paste for fun… here’s the motif on the main front doors…

Here is an option on the right if I darken it a tad…lower the contrast a bit?

GAH!  I’m so torn as to what to do.

I think I like it… though there are a few things I will do differently, (like pull the tool longer before making knots, since it looks a little too pine-y), but should I stay with the lighter gray that I have or risk it all to get a darker gray base paint??

I think you know where I’m leaning, and less contrast would be a bit more modern but (hahahaha delirious laughter) our friend Corona is standing in my way.

Then again… contrast is bold!  The indecision is real.  And I feel like after two months of quarantine, my will to paint is less each day.  (That’s only because most of my energy is going into strong arming my kids to do classwork each day!!)

What to do, what to do?

Help!

PS  Hang in there!!  And don’t lose that sense of humor =)