Projects spiffed up... and one more "complete"

I have only fessed up to a few what this cake stand started out as before it became what it is...I think I have a bit more work to do on the process, but it's really cute and a few more tweeks and I'll be in LOVE with it.

One that DID get a tweak tonight was this one:

Finally using my robo for my OWN projects again :)

They come in three's... is a LIE

Bad things don’t come in three’s they come in a mob… in my case the mob has grown to 5 and counting.

Car A/C, House A/C, Pool Pump, Big screen in LR, and now the washing machine… what the CRUD????

Sigh.  Are we done yet, or can I look forward to one more to make it a nice even 6?

Please, please, please say we’re done!

Angela's "new to her" bed

One of the things Angela kept talking about for her birthday was a daybed with trundle.  I had put her off and put her off until right about her birthday and SCORED on this find at a local thrift store.  I got the bed frame and the trundle for $50 total.  I put about 2 cans of white spray paint into the project - getting rid of the brass accents.

Today was clean the room and get ready for the bed to be installed....

 The beginning of the setup - putting the frame together

 It's all put together and awaiting the final touches to make this "her" room again!  Thanks Natalie for the cute bed skirt it worked out WONDERFUL!

 Everything put back in place and ready to call it "home" again!

What happened to "things come in three's?"

No, seriously, what happened to that saying?  I think that God is playing some cosmic trick on us - or telling Butch and the girls to get out of the living room... our TV is now broken. :o(

The week in review...

After going to load the picture of ONE project I discovered I have done a bit more... so will share them with you now...

What is this?  THIS is the STACK of games that came out of the bottom of our linen closet in the hall - ALL the games.  Why are they on my dining room table???  Because they are being sorted through and taken to the consignment store!!  Why, oh, Why can't family live CLOSER when I'm in a culling mood???

 This is the side that went to the consignment store... the left side above is the side that stayed.  Of course the reality of games is that we tend to only play ONE game at a time... domino's for a while, then it was/is Push the Dummy.  We go in fits and spurts!  We did have one substitution and Scramble was rescued and Operation went to the consignment store instead.

 Funny thing is I messed up and when bagging these to be shipped out, forgot the Chinese Checkers AND the lamp - drat it!  They are still at the house waiting for the next drop off.

Project time!!
This looks silly in progress.
The idea comes from this:

but first and foremost this is where the idea was born:

full instructions on HOW to: http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/04/pickle-jar-project.html

I had actually seen a black set done similar to the white originally, but can't find them.. could be the black one shown above, but don't really think so.  There are a few variations on the black one to include Christmas as well. (http://theautocrathaley.blogspot.com/2010/11/fall-apothecary-jars.html and http://theautocrathaley.blogspot.com/2010/12/apothecary-jars-joy.html)

Again, I forget to take some of the core "before" pictures - like the raw glass candlesticks.  Sigh.  So forgetful sometimes.  I did take a picture in the middle of the epoxy part however

 Butch's scuba weights came in handy :o)

And finally on the mantle - not filled, but in place on the mantle now...
next up filling them with fall things.  I saw a cute one with little pine cones and acorns...

Cost?  Hum - $2.50 total with paint and glue as I've not used all the paint or glue.

 And last, but not least... I went to do something out by the pool and one of my succulents is in bloom - how cute is that?

Put a fork in me...

I’m done…  as in – “put a fork in me, I’m done”

I was doing well until yesterday… then it was the beginning of football season (did you hear the crescendo in the music?)  Yes, that means that I’m in Concessions again.  The first night was last night – not thrilled with Thursday night games AT ALL.  I’m dragging bootie this morning.  I think I spent 6 hours between taking Liz to the game, getting to the concession stand, getting things set up and organized for the first game…. And having said first game against a rival in the next town didn’t help as we had a lot of folks in the stands to support their team!  Ah, well, made the night go fast if nothing else!

Our team stocked and cleaned as we went, so we were able to get out of there before the game was over – 99% of the food was sold out and folks had stopped coming in. The downside to Liz not getting her license yet?  I had to then go to the school and wait for her – I could have gone home, but really?  Just to get comfortable then have to go back and get her, not really thinking it would be best… zzzz ha!  So just under and hour was driving to the Hight School and waiting for the busses to get back and kids to file out… and Lucky Liz had Theatre cleanup – that’s where they meet before and after the games, so I’m sure it was a bit trashed…so it took longer than it will on the next Thursday game.

Angela was “honored” to be placed in the football band this year.  It’s typically reserved for 8^th grade and only those 7^th graders good enough to be “honored” to be in it.. why the quotes?  Ha!  I don’t see it as an honor.  It’s more work, less time for homework and a lot of work.  However, Angela does see it as such, so I’m trying my best to put on a smiling face and support it.  Sigh.  Her first game was Wednesday – yes mid week – however, I was sooo glad it didn’t conflict with High School games.  That could have been a fiasco and the first thing I checked was the schedule for conflicts as I simply can’t be in two places at once!  Good news?  They don’t conflict.  Bad news?  They don’t conflict – ha!  They’re always on Wednesdays.  Oh, this could be fun.  The child who’s strugging with some classes will now miss a night of homework mid week.  Hum…. Yes, she’s “honored.”

Other than that, the week has been full of painting and doing projects.  The primary project being a daybed that Angela has been dying for (begging for) is still in the works, and almost finished.  If I’m really lucky and don’t sleep all weekend, will get done and posted J  I did finish one project Wednesday that will be posted shortly as well… so it’s not like the week was a total loss and spent doing Kids stuff, but it was close. 

Oh, and an update on the “breakage” at the house for those who know about it all.  I had the pool pump go out on Sunday the 14^th of August – just quit working with a poof of smoke – literally.  I heard a funny noise and thought “oh, they must be using the log splitter next door” and went to the kitchen for a snack.  When I looked at the pool through the window, I noted that the fountain wasn’t working.  It’s not a typical thing for me to have the blinds open, so very lucky they were open.  I had this thought of “OH NO” I had a thought of what that noise was now.  Yes, you’re correct - not the neighbors after all.  Sigh.  So I dashed out, saw a bit of smoke, pulled open the switch and turned it off.  Smoke in both the motor and the switch – fun.  Sigh.  Then Tuesday the house is again getting tooo hot to handle and I keep insisting that there is somethings wrong with the A/C and being told it’s just a heat pump, they can’t keep up with super high heat.  It’s 84 in the house and only 95 – 98 outside.  Yeah, something is wrong with the HOUSE A/C.  Sigh.  I’m hot and miserable and have to go take Liz to band practice and my Car A/C isn’t working either – nada, nothing.  What the CRAP??  I’m Not happy about any of this and seeing dollar signs at every turn!

So – Wednesday is the “fix it” day for the pool pump.  We opted to replace the whole motor with a quiet one.  $600, but on the plus side the guy who did the work did more than promised for the same price quoted.  Can’t beat that – he took care of some stupidity from the installer where they put the Polaris feed line before the filter – so our poor Polaris would always get gunk in it and clog from time to time.  So, now that is fixed.  Wednesday I also got my car A/C fixed to the tune of $288.  The house A/C was on the “can’t convince husband it’s really broken” mode still. After another weekend where the temps soared in the house to the low to mid 80’s everyone’s on board and the house A/C gets fixed.  Twice to the tune of $390.  Yes, you’re correct… we’re now broke.  Sigh.  The good news?  We should be good on these things for another 5 to 9 years.

Project - done.

Where IS my mind lately?  I totally spaced getting the before pictures of this one.  I had seen it at my favorite thrift store.  It was a yellowing white rubberized job with holes in some of the corners that were rusting and just looked HORRIBLE.  Anyone else would have looked at it and thought "NO WAY"... I looked at it and saw this:

ONE less thing on the floor in there to deal with :)

Project done.

The pedestal bowl

 I had to patch a whole in the middle of it

 After - all dolled up and holding fruit in my breakfast area.

Just to put this in perspective, I started this one on the 14th - however that's NOT the day I bought the piece.  I think I bought it on or around the 8th and finished it on the 20th.  So, although I am now trying to put all projects with the before and after... I'm trying to lump them into one post... not one long drawn out, have to reference back to see what it looked like end post..

In Three's....

OK, things come in three's right?  Well, the house A/C has been having issues "keeping up" in the heat.  The car A/C went out the same day the inside air decided to let it be 80 in the house AND the pool pump went out on Sunday.

Sigh.
Today the car had it's A/C fixed and the Pool Man was to come this morning... well, after much delay, the new pump is IN!
This after an initial greeting of "uh...." and a that ain't right.  A discussion on the Christan merits of the past builder (*yes, I did clarify that the situation he left us in does NOT qualify him as a GOOD Christian in my books).. and further discussions of "that's not right"... der... ya think?

BUT on the plus side, he didn't charge me any more than the first quote for the pump - so the Polaris is now feeding from the correct location AND I have a nice quiet pump for the pool.  Yeah me!

AND the car A/C is fixed as well - all by 6pm.  Not a horrible day considering I got to go to lunch with Mom too :o)

Wild Hairs and Organization

Don't ask, I have NO idea what is WRONG with me lately... but I am compulsively cleaning and organizing and doing projects.  Yes, I know, I know.. STOP.  Right?
Well, I was walking through Lowe's to get some spray paint to paint Angela's new "to her" daybed (project pictures to come in time) and found some nice heavy duty containers and had a thought to organize my coat closet.
i really should have taken a before picture, but didn't.  this is 10000 times better.  All for $25 in bins.  I need to go through the closets in there, but that's next.  There were a few things in the closet that are going to the thrift store next week (some candles and candle holders that I just can't see using anymore (the wire ones that hang the candles).... then watch someone will come up with a cute craft project and I'll think "I had those in the closet and sent them to the thrift store -that was dumb"  ha.  A chance I'll take, thanks!

Next up was the pantry today.  Yep, another case of "what is WRONG with me!"... however, you have to admit it looks wonderful (and yes that is TWO packages of Oreo's you're seeing there!)  Note also I'm just showing you ONE shelf ;o)  The rest is still fairly trashed!  I did go through the rolling bin at the bottom and get some of the older jellos and stuff that we NEVER make out of there... Now to just keep on top of it will be the trick...

Birthday parties Oh, MY!

it's a little late in coming, however with school starting on the 1st, it's hard to commit to a bday party RIGHT after school starts.  My theory is to get her to make some new friends and THEN have a party.  it worked to some extent with ONE new face in the crowd - so that's a great thing!

Roxanne, Angela, Sydney, Grace, McKayla, Marina

 Opening presents

 Blowing out the candles on the cake

What happens when Mom turns her back for TWO seconds...

Lord have mercy - 12 going on 2?

Project completed

Well, here it is in it's beginning glory.  Where I failed was the before picture.  It was about the same color as the lamp started out.  Brownish/bronzie color. 

 A little antiquing to take out the BRIGHT red factor

 regretfully, I don't like the red on burgundy look this has so it's been since moved out of this bathroom and placed on the edge of the tub with a bright red vase instead.  Hum... bad color combo - note to self, put reds together before committing.  I think what I'll do is paint it BLACK and then distress it to have some red/bronze show through.  What do you think?

Rain!!!

Over the last two days we have had some LARGE thunder storms with a lot of lightning and quite a bit of rain!!

We had .7” on Monday (8^th) and 1” on Tuesday (9^th)

Now the only issue I have with this, as we really need the rain, is that it comes in a HUGE downpour and we get all that rain in about an hour then there’s not a drop after the deluge!

I guess beggars really can’t be choosy about it, eh?

Lamp Project done.

Much more "teen girl" than the one that was in there before.

My FAVORITE!!

This one is by far my favorite project so far.  the original had a piece of metal attached to the finial that I removed.  Looks like it used to have a 4 sided glass shade that bit the dust ages ago.  The base is ornate and pretty - just HATE the color!!

Oh, so pretty in white...

I'll post when I get a cute shade for it!  it's going in Angela room for her dresser....

there may be a few things that get a bit of a makeover in her room. 

A jewelry box is SCREAMING for a bit of paint :) 

Used to be that I would vinyl everything -

now beware, I could PAINT you if you stand still too long!!

Now some of you are probably wondering just WHY do I do these things?  Well, I just don't know... I felt the need to surf the net last week, found a bunch of stuff on the DIY pages with Pintrest so I was hooked.  There are soooo many cool ideas of things to do with Goodwill finds.

It all started with a wooden bowl... but have I done MY bowl project yet?  Nope.  That one requires a drill with a countersink.  I'm just not worked into doing that one just yet... but I'm getting there!!

What is the cost you ask?
For the three projects you have seen so far and two more you have not:
Thrift store cost: $11.00
Paint: $8.00 (estimated becasue I can NOT find that receipt - but two spray cans of paint)

So - who can say that they have gotten a lapbase for less than $19.00 that would have THIS much character?

One more!

Dirty little thing, isn't it?

I'm sure it was used for condiments in ages past...

 Now it's used as my catch-all for keys and box tops for education, tape and receipts.

 May need a little depth added - what do you think? 

Antique it or leave it as is?

The necklace tree in the bathoom...

One more project down

well, it started out the natural wood color:

 This paint is the one that matches the girls bathroom.  It's a very (and I stress VERY) light lilac color:

What do you think??

First day of school

Angela

Entering 7th grade

In her own words, now in the MIDDLE of the food chain!

 Liz

Entering 11th grade

Scary that my "baby" is now a Jr! 

 The only time they're together now for school is the bus ride in the morning.

 What LIZ really feels about this whole "summer is over" business!

Day 5 post - op and almost back to "normal"

Not too happy after a HOT day on the band practice field to catch up on what she missed with the tooth removal.

maybe she won't flub it all tomorrow at "official" band practice?  Hum... follow the leader Liz, follow the leader!

Inspirations and projects

well, after spending three work days home two of which timing ice packs, so not really having time to settle in and DO much, I started surfing blogs.  I found the following inspirational blog: http://thespeckleddog.blogspot.com/p/good-eats.html  She does some phenominal work... so I got to thinking about an item in my house that doesn't quite "fit" in the color it currently is...

In my burgundy and brown room, this one is just too WHITE to fit in properly, so the seeds of the idea were struck.  and the transformation began! 

First painted red to be more in fitting with my room:

Then antiqued and put in place: