Sneak Peek....

Here are some of the sneak peek pictures of the projects in the dining room....

Dresser complete! Woo! Also, see that blue lamp? Andy and I rewired it last night... It would have been easy except I forgot how the darn thing went back together there for it took more time. Tune in tomorrow for all of the projects and big reveal :).

In other news I ran into Joanns today to pick up some stuff and got lost in the fabric! I found some AWESOME stuff. I should have bought a few yards but I didn't, Andy should be proud.

Miracles

Yesterday I got some news that made me hit my knees and give thanks to the Big Man. My friend, who is not "supposed" to be able to have children IS PREGNANT! It truly is a miracle. I got so excited and as a result had all this crazy energy... So what to do with this energy? Start decorating the baby's room! lol. So this post is for you baby miracle, enjoy.



To start off with, I know we both love us some Sarah Richardson so here are two nurserys done by her...

This 

This first one was featured on "Sarah's House" on HGTV. I LOVE the alphabet boarder that they did with wooden letters cut in different fonts, so fun and a learning tool. Also, I'm partial to those curtains because they are the same ones I have in my living room. I know this one kind of screams "BOY" but I think with a few touches you could make it gender neutral.

Now this one is Sarah's nursery for her own child... Hmm, BEAUTIFUL! I love the orange, what an unexpected color for a nursery. I also think this one could be gender neutral by just removing the wall decal and putting family photos or another kind of decal up. By the way, that crib is awesome.

The next is a room I found and I'm extremely in love with. The red and blue color scheme is neutral and also if Baby Bear and Miracle Baby will be sharing a room it would be awesome for that. Added bonus all of the fabrics in this room are SHEETS! Awesome!

 How cool is that?! It's like a grown up baby's room. It's sophisticated but still a little whimsical and fun. See that changing pad? It was a pillow case! My no sawing side is in awe.

This next one is still in the red and blue color scheme but it shows how to have a shared room for two children. I really love this one too.

I love the sign over the crib. I think at 4:30 in the morning you need to remind yourself to keep calm. Anyway, this room is so fun and all of the details are located here.

Next up are some cool things that I've found that could work, but really I just really like them and wanted to share.

I think this is super cool. And would look awesome in that first room I showed. Or in my living room...

Aww! Over a crib this would be so cute.

I'm really into tree decals right now. I feel they are very fitting for a nursery. (How cute is that little guy?)

Isn't that wall AWESOME?! You could spell out names, alphabet, or a prayer or just Miracle. Fitting? I think yes.

Fitting for where we live and where you got engaged. Super awesome.

Anyway, those are some thoughts. Let me know when you are ready to tackle the nursery, I'm ready to help! On a side note, I do believe you are having a girl. Just a feeling... And I've never been more happy for two people in my entire life.

I demand a do-over!

I thought for sure 2011 was going to be good to Andy and I, apparently I was completely wrong. As most of you know, my car was totaled about 2 weeks ago from a tow-gone-wrong and yesterday our basement flooded! So in light of these occurrences, I demand a year do over. We are only 2 months in so I'm thinking it shouldn't be that hard to arrange, so what government office should I start calling constantly? Homeland Security? The White House?

Andy vacuuming up the last of the water last night. Demo Complete.

Anyway, I'm done complaining. Back to the reason you are probably here... PROJECT WEEK! I had to take most of yesterday off to deal with the basement disaster but I did get a few things done. I have 4 of my 6 chairs primed and ready to be painted, the dresser frame is primed, and I am on the very last drawer front. So I decided to show everyone why these darn drawers are taking so long... Here is the reason...

Double punch outs!

So each one of those bad boys has to be painted with a tiny brush by hand. It's killer but so worth it! Don't you love the 1970's wood grain going on here? Lovely! Here are a few more pics...

One finished next to an original.

Two finished drawers. I just have to put the paper in behind the cut outs and they are done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Have a great day!

Tacky Glam

I went to my favorite thrift store today (like there was a doubt?) and as I walked down the lighting aisle my eyes were accosted by these lamps. I don't even know what to say about them other than; where on this planet did they come from? Have you ever seen something so tacky it's Glam? I think I did today. If lady GaGa was a lamp she would be one of these with a sweet spikey shade :)

And it begins...

Last week was supposed to be "Project Week" but that didn't actually happen because recovering from surgery took a little more effort than I thought it was going to. Anywho, this week has now been dubbed "Project Week Redo". I'm starting off strong! My side table/night stand is almost done, I just have to polish the hardware and put it back together.

Here is the "before". See the top? I need a replacement!

Then I need to figure out a top for it... When we bought it, it had a black slate top. But when we brought it home and took it out of the car... The top feel off and broke in the drive way. Hmm, solutions?

My "before". I love this thing! The red parts are just paper! Endless possibilities!

Next up is my sweet dresser I got at a thrift store. I started painting the drawers at the end of last week, and it is proving to be a difficult task. Each drawer front takes at least 4 coats of paint; 2 with a regular paint brush and 2 with a very small paint brush. If anyone ever denies my dedication to detail I will think of this dresser and laugh. Anyway, I have 2 drawers done, 3 very close to done, and one to start, then it's the frame which (fingers crossed) will be easy. Pictures to come, promise.

Love these!

Dining room chairs! I'm so excited to start on these! The chairs themselves are beautiful and with a fresh coat of gray paint, I think I will love them even more. I'm still waiting for my sweet indoor/outdoor navy blue fabric to come in from Calico Corners so I can reupholster the seats. But as soon as that happens, these chairs are getting tackled!

Soho Outdoor, but in navy instead of orange.

 Other projects include:
My framed painted wall... Something like this:

littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com

But different. Our house has a very open concept but I wanted a pop of color in the dining room, so this is where I got my inspiration... I actually went to hobby lobby and bought a HUGE (3ft x 4ft) damaged frame for $45 (originally $255). There truly was nothing wrong with it just a small scrap that is easy to hide. So the plan is to hang the frame then paint the wall inside of the frame a pretty navy then hang photos on top of that.
I have a few things on my list to buy still but I have found a super awesome thrift store that is helping me do this on the cheap. I actually found a mirror like this one:

For $20 at this place! I'm thinking about buying it tomorrow, I won't lie. There is also a ginger jar lamp there for $8 that might be coming home tomorrow too.
I think I have a problem... But it feels so good!


 

Sink or Swim

"Just keep swimming, just keep swimming"

I have recently decided that I am among the a group of people that I refer to as the "unhirables". We are the people that went to college (like all good middle class kids are supposed to), did our "time", graduated with a super interesting degree, then realized "interesting" means nothing in the real world. We are hopeless wondering the world of job boards, classified sections, and resume writing seminars. I picture all of us in a boat going out to sea with no real direction and littering the ocean with resumes and cover letters.
I feel like this has been a discovery process for me.. Kind of like how people go to AA groups and say "Hi, I'm Stacie and I have a problem". Well I am Stacie, and I do have a problem, I need to take some actions to make myself more marketable in this crazy ocean of resumes and cover letters. But first I have to figure out what I want to do! In 9th grade I was sat down by my guidance councilor and told to pick a "career path". Really?! How foreign a concept to a 14 year old and now still incredible foreign and daunting to a 24 year old. Way back then I thought, hands down, I will be a teacher. I had wanted to teach from the time I was 5 and up until I actually worked with children and their parents, which happened my senior year of high school. At that point I realized how much I hated working with kids and that parents are, sometimes, completely awful. I quickly decided "to hell with people, I will be an engineer". We all know how well that turned out (boo, physics!). And ever since I can't stay firm with a career path. At one moment I think, "well that's cool, I could do that", then the next I think I should do something else. It feels like an endless cycle. So in the end graduating with a degree in psychology with no real job prospects really is a horrible idea, just in case anyone out there wants to try it out for themselves.
Now I'm about to turn 24 and I've been out of work for almost 2 years (go me). So I've been brainstorming jobs that sound interesting to me. I love the idea of working with a nonprofit or an organization that helps people. Here is my list so far...
Higher Education in Student Life/Affairs
Volunteer Coordination (which I think a degree in public policy would help out with)
Adoption Agent (Degree in Social Work or Public Policy)
Woman's Health Advocate
Event Planning
Interior Decorating
Fundraising Coordination
Teaching
And finally, beach bum.
Hi, I'm Stacie, and I need help. So please from the bottom of my heart, help me.

Why can't I just find an opportunity like this?

Let the projects begin!

Some how I have wore Andy down enough to the point that he has begged me to start the projects that are killing me around the house (!). So what do we have on tap? New night stand for the guest room down stairs, and new dining room chairs! So ridiculously excited! Tomorrow is prime and paint.
Pictures will be posted of my progress as it happens. Stay tuned.