tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14113075132501867842024-03-13T07:39:17.966-07:00As For Me and My {Rented} HouseThe blog on which I {lovingly} document my DIY home decor adventures.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-38362994560158543702011-02-15T13:16:00.000-08:002011-02-15T13:16:19.295-08:00We're moving (literally)!So. The title of this blog is a little misleading these days. Mainly because our <i>rented</i> house is no longer the peanut butter to my bread. Actually, I'm not sure if that analogy even makes sense, but since sandwiches are not the point of this post, I will carry on nonetheless.<br />
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In just a few weeks, we move out of here and into <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2011/02/88-signatures-later.html" linkindex="84">our new house</a> officially. This warrants a blog name change if I've ever heard it, so from now on I'll be posting to our brand new little blog, which you can access <a href="http://his-and-hers-blog.blogspot.com/" linkindex="85">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://his-and-hers-blog.blogspot.com/" linkindex="86">The new blog!</a></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It's still a work in progress, but I'm itching to move on from life with a landlord, so the new blog is up and running. I'll see you there from now on! :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-76223986877092590152011-02-13T17:41:00.000-08:002011-02-13T17:45:30.936-08:0088 signatures later......we are now officially responsible for a mortgage. And we could NOT be any happier about that fact. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOMhtWsqJqw/TViHew3OtaI/AAAAAAAAAm0/8Vyzf_kdfNA/s1600/Picture18.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="51" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EOMhtWsqJqw/TViHew3OtaI/AAAAAAAAAm0/8Vyzf_kdfNA/s640/Picture18.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Our to-do list is about 43 miles long, and we've already changed some things since these pictures were taken (let's just say that both Rick and I have gotten quite chummy with things like crowbars and tack removers), but here is the grand-ish "before" tour.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THE OUTSIDE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Obviously.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I forgot to get a picture of the backyard and the pool, though you can sort of see the pool just behind the house. Maybe when there aren't 4 ft of snow in the backyard I'll take the time to traipse back there and get some better shots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-XKTHTwYJs/TViHqN-7nLI/AAAAAAAAAm4/zDLYIapl_R4/s1600/Picture19.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="52" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y-XKTHTwYJs/TViHqN-7nLI/AAAAAAAAAm4/zDLYIapl_R4/s640/Picture19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>ENCLOSED PORCH</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure what Rick was doing in this picture--probably trying to get <i>out </i>of the picture, actually.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACpSAX0EIHA/TViB4jQqRXI/AAAAAAAAAmw/lJc151H0rLI/s1600/Picture17.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="53" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ACpSAX0EIHA/TViB4jQqRXI/AAAAAAAAAmw/lJc151H0rLI/s640/Picture17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>FIRST FLOOR HALF BATH</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Someday, this will be a full bath. For now, it's just...for the birds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9tERfcv2xJA/TViB2WgR3kI/AAAAAAAAAms/x5AsmZO5ZWs/s1600/Picture16.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="54" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9tERfcv2xJA/TViB2WgR3kI/AAAAAAAAAms/x5AsmZO5ZWs/s640/Picture16.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>KITCHEN</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">That carpet sorta gives me the willies. But we're dealing with it for now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nzpPUDpf5Y/TViB1VSvDAI/AAAAAAAAAmo/tagzD_hau98/s1600/Picture15.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="55" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--nzpPUDpf5Y/TViB1VSvDAI/AAAAAAAAAmo/tagzD_hau98/s640/Picture15.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>DINING ROOM</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Er-the built-in <i>hutch </i>in the dining room. Somehow, I failed to take a picture of the rest of the room. Check back soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-K9x-UxxcQ/TViB0eyq-9I/AAAAAAAAAmk/j1eS5KxfFTw/s1600/Picture14.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="56" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a-K9x-UxxcQ/TViB0eyq-9I/AAAAAAAAAmk/j1eS5KxfFTw/s640/Picture14.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>LIVING ROOM #1</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bay window = major selling point. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cYMdtmgY3c/TViBzX0t-vI/AAAAAAAAAmg/kkrbYygbRJg/s1600/Picture13.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="57" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cYMdtmgY3c/TViBzX0t-vI/AAAAAAAAAmg/kkrbYygbRJg/s640/Picture13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>LIVING ROOM #2</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hardwood floors = another major selling point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-baTWZEizY3Q/TViBxRP7WxI/AAAAAAAAAmY/n7mU6JsJ8mM/s1600/Picture11.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="58" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-baTWZEizY3Q/TViBxRP7WxI/AAAAAAAAAmY/n7mU6JsJ8mM/s640/Picture11.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>OFFICE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">You can't tell from this picture, but there are eight outlets in this room. Eight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dF3GS5XfLn4/TViByb6BTkI/AAAAAAAAAmc/8HK-uD3CfvY/s1600/Picture12.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="59" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dF3GS5XfLn4/TViByb6BTkI/AAAAAAAAAmc/8HK-uD3CfvY/s640/Picture12.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>MAIN STAIRCASE</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a sneaking suspicion that they left behind their garland because it was holding the banister together (note the missing spindles), but, happily, we managed to unwrap it without anything falling apart. Yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkW5OKQl4Hg/TViBwdoXrcI/AAAAAAAAAmU/Jpli8K04fM0/s1600/Picture10.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="60" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MkW5OKQl4Hg/TViBwdoXrcI/AAAAAAAAAmU/Jpli8K04fM0/s640/Picture10.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>BEDROOM #1</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvim1FTlkFY/TViBve5JhaI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/FFmo_KBZkiA/s1600/Picture9.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="61" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zvim1FTlkFY/TViBve5JhaI/AAAAAAAAAmQ/FFmo_KBZkiA/s640/Picture9.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>WALK-IN CLOSET FOR BEDROOM #1</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> </b>My mom says she plans to live in this closet when she is old and we have to take care of her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGAsxtQStXw/TViBubnVbFI/AAAAAAAAAmM/yZRzzg5oS54/s1600/Picture8.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="62" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YGAsxtQStXw/TViBubnVbFI/AAAAAAAAAmM/yZRzzg5oS54/s640/Picture8.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>BEDROOM #2</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EraTlFcmhE8/TViBtdbxx6I/AAAAAAAAAmI/nsrbuXIIsxg/s1600/Picture7.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="63" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EraTlFcmhE8/TViBtdbxx6I/AAAAAAAAAmI/nsrbuXIIsxg/s640/Picture7.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>BEDROOM #3</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The fact that there are plenty of rooms for multiple sets of twins = major selling point for our moms.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z76vTIdgloY/TViBqLlHWMI/AAAAAAAAAl4/hHZjcekxi4A/s1600/Picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="64" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z76vTIdgloY/TViBqLlHWMI/AAAAAAAAAl4/hHZjcekxi4A/s640/Picture3.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SECOND FLOOR COMMON AREA (OR BEDROOM #4)</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nice floor, right? I already have paint swatches lined up to fix it...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3w2aTTziuOk/TViBsoBz99I/AAAAAAAAAmE/1wgh4txY1U0/s1600/Picture6.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="65" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3w2aTTziuOk/TViBsoBz99I/AAAAAAAAAmE/1wgh4txY1U0/s640/Picture6.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>SECOND FLOOR FULL BATHROOM</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b> </b><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xczWl4Rf_iY/TViBqyZNePI/AAAAAAAAAl8/XaJfst1DECQ/s1600/Picture4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="66" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xczWl4Rf_iY/TViBqyZNePI/AAAAAAAAAl8/XaJfst1DECQ/s640/Picture4.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>BACK STAIRWAY/ ACCESS TO THE ATTIC</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oM27pU6-btc/TViBorh-vSI/AAAAAAAAAl0/aw57WOcfB-8/s1600/Picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="67" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oM27pU6-btc/TViBorh-vSI/AAAAAAAAAl0/aw57WOcfB-8/s640/Picture2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>FINISHED ATTIC</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxb6D64QISg/TViBoFhEBpI/AAAAAAAAAlw/TbliVSG0ddo/s1600/Picture1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="68" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hxb6D64QISg/TViBoFhEBpI/AAAAAAAAAlw/TbliVSG0ddo/s640/Picture1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">So there you have it: our big house that we have even bigger plans for. Believe me, there are very few feet of the 2500 it came with that we don't plan to completely transform. And, like I said earlier, we're already well on our way...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-72469806210378125842011-02-05T07:16:00.000-08:002011-02-05T07:24:50.629-08:00The post in which we dance and sing "Kumbaya."Rick and I have this little event coming up soon called "Closing On a House." {<i>Insert spastic celebratory dance here that may or may not be to the tune of "Omigod You Guys"--Legally Blonde: the Musical.} </i><br />
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Virgin house buyers that we are, we have no idea who will be in attendance at this auspicious occasion, what it will look like, where it will occur, or what we will do. Well, I know what <i>I'll</i> be doing: I'll be spastically dancing. And Rick will be pretending that he bought the house with someone else, perhaps even someone whose dancing experience exceeds prancing across a stage wearing a faux elephant head and a pink tutu while "Baby Elephant Walk" rumbled in the background.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TU1pTD7r1OI/AAAAAAAAAls/88Ssn5Q608c/s1600/elephants.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TU1pTD7r1OI/AAAAAAAAAls/88Ssn5Q608c/s640/elephants.jpg" width="451" /></a></div><br />
Since we don't know what to expect, then, we've amused ourselves by coming up with unlikely possibilities. Here's what we picture The Closing looking like:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><i>* * *</i></div><i>We (us, our lawyer, their lawyer, our realtor, their realtor, the soon-to-be non-owners, our parents,my first grade teacher, and my cats) all gather around the house and hold hands. Our lawyer will ceremoniously present us with the title of the house swathed in grosgrain ribbon, then give an elaborate toast to our victory. The realtors will sing a duet (we're torn between "Kumbaya" and "People (Who Need People)") while I do an interpretive dance with scarves in the background. The crowd will cheer jubilantly as the song comes to a close, and not because they're glad my dancing was over. We'll then go around the circle and say one thing we loved about the closing ceremony before making snow angels in the yard. </i><i>Finally, we'll invite them all inside for cannoli and raspberry chai, which we'll dine upon until we have to fork over <strike>our life's savings</strike> our down payment, at which point we'll pry uneaten cannoli out of their hands since that's all we'll be able to eat for the next several months.</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>* * *</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div>Yeah. With the exception of the money-changing-hands part, we know The Closing is not going to happen that way...unless by some strange chain of events our realtor morphs into Raffi or Barbara Streisand, in which case the odds would be much greater.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUx55Kl_DbI/AAAAAAAAAlo/thwxV-dtJSE/s1600/Barbra+Streisand++4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="365" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUx55Kl_DbI/AAAAAAAAAlo/thwxV-dtJSE/s400/Barbra+Streisand++4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weirdly doctored photo courtesy of too much time on my hands and <a href="http://imageworldblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/barbra-streisand-pictures.html" linkindex="25">this website</a>.</td></tr>
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</a></div>Anyway, until That Happy Day when we finally learn what exactly is entailed in this mysterious event, we'll just keep entertaining ourselves with visions of cannoli and snow angels.<br />
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And oh--if you happened to have stumbled on this page by googling the real answer to "What is closing?" I sincerely apologize. May <i>your</i> closing be much less dramatic than my fictitious one.<i> </i>Please do let me know, though, if Barbara Streisand shows up to yours. I'd like an autograph.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-13401446334392949702011-01-30T15:06:00.000-08:002011-01-31T13:31:44.391-08:00The post with the--wait, I can't decide."Mind changeitis." It's what I suffer from. Please don't analyze that disease name too closely; you'll find that "inflammation of the mind changing" really makes no sense, which your nearest friendly pharmacist will readily point out to you. If my local friendly pharmacist was currently lurking over my shoulder instead of watching Norm Abram install pocket doors on <i>This Old House</i>, I'm sure he would have already informed me of my error.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXs3QyECsI/AAAAAAAAAkw/ZSvqbTsliuM/s1600/whitecoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXs3QyECsI/AAAAAAAAAkw/ZSvqbTsliuM/s640/whitecoat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I did give myself the ability to read his mind in the above picture. One of those perks of being a woman, you know. <br />
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Anyway, this problem of mine has resulted in me spending many minutes trying to locate some receipt that I put in a Good Spot (must do something about that) and then more minutes in some return or exchange line, with the following questions running through my mind:<br />
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<i>"When has green and red plaid <u>ever</u> been a good option for my couch pillows?"</i><br />
<i>"What do these stores <u>really</u> pump in via those halogen bulbs?"</i><br />
<i>"How long will Rick roll his eyes at me this time?"</i><br />
<i>"Was it the 70% off sticker that made this snowman statue end up in my cart?"</i><br />
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Fortunately, I've learned of my problem and have been coping with it ("Hi, I'm Erin, and I'm addicted to changing my mind"), just in time to make some serious purchases for our house. How devastated would I have been if I bought some gorgeously red couch only to wish I didn't have to look at its face a couple months or even years later? They don't make return lines for stuff like that. And let's face it, not every color goes with red. Just ask Anne of Green Gables.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXnVs7YCKI/AAAAAAAAAkk/3mXaV8L805g/s1600/anne.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXnVs7YCKI/AAAAAAAAAkk/3mXaV8L805g/s640/anne.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mrs. Hammond told me that God made my hair red on purpose and I've never cared for Him since." </td></tr>
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So, in my quest to encourage my habit rather than eradicate it (yes, I'm an enabler: please don't tell the administrators at my school), I've decided to go with classic white for our new comforter. I've been doing some investigating and my qualms about white bedding have vanished since discovering that a little bleach will make a white comforter as good as new. Therefore, this West Elm duvet cover that I've been <strike>stalking</strike> keeping my eye on will soon be arriving at our door, thanks to a gift card and a 20% off sale:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXpn8KPShI/AAAAAAAAAko/eZyNDXg1DOI/s1600/comforter.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TUXpn8KPShI/AAAAAAAAAko/eZyNDXg1DOI/s640/comforter.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/9243247/?catalogId=26&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=9243247&bnrid=3902401&cm_ven=Shopping&cm_cat=Google%20Base&cm_pla=ProductFeed&cm_ite=AllProducts" linkindex="26">'Til death do us part. I promise, this time. And my fingers aren't even cleverly crossed behind my back. </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
That is, it will be arriving as soon as I'm able to convince that friendly pharmacist of mine that I won't be trying to sneak it onto Craigslist within the year. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-76987500355382243872011-01-24T14:19:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:27:15.249-08:00The post with the butterfly shadowbox.Guess what happened to me today?<br />
<br />
Clue #1: My employer called me at 5:33am.<br />
Clue #2: I did a happy dance at 5:34am. <br />
Clue #3: I'm still in my pajamas at 3:58pm. (Don't judge. They happen to be very warm and comfy.)<br />
<br />
This surprise COLD day meant that I had plenty of time to clean the apartment, catch up on grading, and read for my grad classes. And I did do some of that...but I also made this paper butterfly shadowbox:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT355S5-58I/AAAAAAAAAjw/Ow2wKpc5W-0/s1600/butterfly3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT355S5-58I/AAAAAAAAAjw/Ow2wKpc5W-0/s640/butterfly3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This is yet another Cricut and <a href="http://www.craftedge.com/index.html" linkindex="28">Sure Cuts a Lot</a> project. The software for SCAL makes it so easy to cut out any. shape. you. want. without buying an expensive Cricut cartridge. I could even cut out the shapes in this picture:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT37UDYWdfI/AAAAAAAAAj8/O5q_ZsAVVm0/s1600/gbis.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT37UDYWdfI/AAAAAAAAAj8/O5q_ZsAVVm0/s640/gbis.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
But I don't know why I would want to do that. So I won't.<br />
<br />
For the shadowbox, I found a free vector image of a butterfly, traced it with SCAL, then cut out nine winged beauties in different coordinating papers.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT34CbCwY_I/AAAAAAAAAjo/pyHiPBbjSGg/s1600/butterfly1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="30" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT34CbCwY_I/AAAAAAAAAjo/pyHiPBbjSGg/s640/butterfly1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These colors are the real colors--this was the only picture taken in actual daylight. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I inked the edges of the butterflies with leftover ink from <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/09/post-in-which-we-display-gratitude-on.html" linkindex="31">this gratitude project</a> to give the edges a slightly more textured and dimensional look. It helps the wings pop a little more on the white background.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT34JMH6RpI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Hq8X9f9nOVY/s1600/butterfly2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="32" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT34JMH6RpI/AAAAAAAAAjs/Hq8X9f9nOVY/s640/butterfly2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Then all I had to do was arrange them in a way that looked right, attach them to the white background (I used this rare adhesive product called Scotch tape), and fold up the wings to make them 3D.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT36c3A3EfI/AAAAAAAAAj4/OZpVrYmlp-8/s1600/butterfly5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TT36c3A3EfI/AAAAAAAAAj4/OZpVrYmlp-8/s640/butterfly5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I like that no butterflies were harmed in the making of this project. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-86528672116560988602011-01-22T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-25T14:27:33.104-08:00The post with the pharmacist pillow.If I wanted to decorate my house in a way that would constantly remind me and announce to all who entered that I was a teacher, I would need only go to the nearest craft fair and visit maybe two booths. Wooden apples, yardsticks that say "Teachers rule" (har har), crayon/glue/chalk fabric out of which trendy clothing apparel can be fashioned...we've got all of our decor and fashion needs covered.<br />
<br />
How often do you see home decor, though, that proudly announces, "There's a pharmacist in this house!"? I have seen nary a wooden pill anywhere. And fabric with medicine on it? Pffhht. Of course, this seeming void may have something to do with the fact that a wooden pill would not look very attractive sitting on your bookshelf. And I'm pretty sure that there is not a market for vests with Lipitor and Cymbalta printed on them. That would sort of be like a walking HIPPA violation.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's why I am so excited to have made this pillow for Rick:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTsDdRD2xII/AAAAAAAAAjc/HDp1VdOxJ9k/s1600/pillow9.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTsDdRD2xII/AAAAAAAAAjc/HDp1VdOxJ9k/s640/pillow9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
It started out as this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQcnGX5AI/AAAAAAAAAjA/jqXFo8vmsnM/s1600/pillow5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQcnGX5AI/AAAAAAAAAjA/jqXFo8vmsnM/s640/pillow5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Then morphed with the help of an old beige curtain so that the rusty fabric wouldn't show through the burlap:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQmicJblI/AAAAAAAAAjE/KXM3STpZCFI/s1600/pillow3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="30" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQmicJblI/AAAAAAAAAjE/KXM3STpZCFI/s640/pillow3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Then morphed again when covered with a hot glued burlap pillow form:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQ02hDhQI/AAAAAAAAAjI/TIDn3ASv8oo/s1600/pillow6.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="31" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToQ02hDhQI/AAAAAAAAAjI/TIDn3ASv8oo/s640/pillow6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Then was finished off when I used a black permanent marker to doodle on the design, inspired by <a href="http://www.westelm.com/products/glass-decoupage-trays-c053/?pkey=gjason-polan" linkindex="32">these trays</a> that I spotted while touring West Elm's new arrivals. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToRAB7FR_I/AAAAAAAAAjM/nRf7SCCDjhc/s1600/pillow7.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TToRAB7FR_I/AAAAAAAAAjM/nRf7SCCDjhc/s640/pillow7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTsDyU6VEjI/AAAAAAAAAjk/uY7nAqJGTrE/s1600/pillow10.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTsDyU6VEjI/AAAAAAAAAjk/uY7nAqJGTrE/s1600/pillow10.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
I hoped that the appearance of this pillow would help Rick hurdle the complex he's developed due to his career of choice being so pitifully under-represented at Joann's, and good news--he loves it! He was actually so inspired that he asked that my next project be a Hydrocodone pantsuit, but I gently reminded him that A) that might be interpreted the wrong way by the less-legal drug dealers of the world and B) I really can't sew anything except straight lines.Oh, well.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-50190358007848488632011-01-17T07:06:00.000-08:002011-01-17T07:10:17.019-08:00The post with the melting dough ball/couch.I don't intend to buy much brand-new furniture for our new house. This fact explains the arrival of <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2011/01/post-about-taking-apart-frumpy-chair.html" linkindex="23">this chair</a>. We prefer to spend time, not money, and I've realized recently that I like this approach for three reasons:<br />
<br />
<b>1. It allows us to be good stewards with our finances.</b> Since we aren't spending all of our money on these material things, we can tithe our 10% each week as we are called to, and are free to give to other people who need it more than we do. God is so good with His blessings.<br />
<br />
<b>2. It keeps what might otherwise end up in a landfill...well, <i>out</i> of a landfill. </b>Like <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/post-in-which-i-hang-ladder-on-wall.html" linkindex="24">this ladder</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTRXvxnKHZI/AAAAAAAAAi0/dfL3vpSPmc4/s1600/ladder+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTRXvxnKHZI/AAAAAAAAAi0/dfL3vpSPmc4/s640/ladder+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>3. It gives us lots and lots of PROJECTS!</b> <i>(Insert spastic interpretive happy dance here, and then insert Rick giving me a sidelong glance and reminding me not to quit my day job.)</i><br />
<br />
A couch, though, was one of the items that was on the top of my "Things to purchase straight from a store and not a store named Goodwill" list.We ended up at a Raymour and Flanigan Clearance Center and not only met our future couch, but also a completely bald little salesman named Gary who brought us complimentary bottled water and took off his shoes so he could jump on couches in a real-life demonstration of their strength and resilience.<br />
<br />
I demonstrated how to not wet my pants from all that water because I was laughing so hard.<br />
<br />
Blatantly disregarding the fact that I couldn't take any more laughter because I was about to have an extreme accident, Rick began finding the weirdest pieces of furniture (a dime a dozen in a clearance center, let me tell you--have you ever seen a couch upholstered in red terrycloth?), plopping himself down in them, and then posing with a face that he apparently deemed to be appropriate for the given piece of furniture. For example, we affectionately began referring to one sad leather couch as "the ball of dough." It was a nondescript, saggy thing with little beige "dough balls" as armrests. It seriously looked just like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTRafRxAm_I/AAAAAAAAAi4/gYXI5jsSvRk/s1600/dough+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTRafRxAm_I/AAAAAAAAAi4/gYXI5jsSvRk/s640/dough+ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Only with a price tag on it.<br />
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Unfortunately, since I failed to bring along my camera (who knew that couch shopping could provide such photo-rich opportunities?), I'll have to leave Rick's "dough ball" pose and face up to your imagination. <br />
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We did manage to move beyond the dough ball to find and purchase a couch that met our requirements of:<b> </b><br />
<ul><li><b>comfort</b> (my sister-in-law said, "I'll spend the night on this anytime!"),<b> </b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b>quality</b> (Gary did, after all, successfully and without injury jump on the base and the arms, which bodes well for all those future sets of boisterous twins that our mothers plan on us having), <b> </b></li>
</ul><ul><li><b>size</b> (we squished 7 people on it when our families came to gaze upon it after church yesterday--which also bodes well for all those twins),</li>
</ul><ul><li> <b>attractiveness</b> (I wanted something classy with nice lines),</li>
</ul><ul><li> <b>color </b>(light blue-gray for something neutral but not boring), and </li>
</ul><ul><li> <b>price</b> (we paid about $600 below retail and $300 below our budget (!) by A) purchasing a couch that has a you-practically-need-a-microscope-to-see-it-on-the-back-corner-of-the-couch tear, B) avoiding delivery fees by picking it up ourselves, and C) asking our friend Gary "Is this the best price we can get?" to which he responded, "Well, I'll give you $50 off, but only if you let me jump on your couch one more time.")</li>
</ul>I kid. He<i> actually </i>offered to throw in the dough ball for free, as a kind of BOGO deal. We graciously declined.<br />
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I don't have a picture other than the grainy one on my cell phone, but this is our new couch (except not the right color) that is currently residing in the maintenance room at church because we have no other place to put it:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TTRTdbFDfvI/AAAAAAAAAiw/BRjPwRCenEI/s400/couch+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.raymourflanigan.com/catalog/details.asp?Cat_ID=9&ID=9699" linkindex="27">Our new couch!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Today, I'm praising the Lord for providing the means to buy a brand new piece of furniture as well as providing a day off, thanks to MLK Day: His timing (as always) was perfect to have a long weekend follow a rough week. It was just what I needed. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-3971489514481506742011-01-13T15:23:00.000-08:002011-01-17T05:14:07.913-08:00The post in which I pause.This week has been stressful, and that stress is 100% due to my job. When I went to school to become a teacher, I didn't sign up for the girl who speaks to me in a way that would have made <i>my</i> 14 year-old self sooner curl up and hide in the corner of my room for the next 18.5 months. I didn't sign up for the FAQ of "Do we really have to read books in English?" I didn't sign up for the parent who chooses to believe their child's story rather than mine, despite the fact that said child's story has changed more times than I have changed my mind about what colors to put in our future living room.<br />
<br />
No, I didn't sign up for any of the above, but they come with the territory. Duh, Erin. Even the biggest sigh of exasperation won't change the fact that teaching is a difficult and trying job. I try to stay positive, praying every morning for patience, a sense of humor, and wisdom about the right way to deal with anything that crosses my path, and I try to focus on the kids who make me laugh and the parents who are the strongest of allies. Unfortunately, despite my best intentions, weeks like<i> this</i> happen, and all of my commitment to optimism dissolves faster than the commotion of students when they realize just how angry they have made me.<br />
<br />
It's weeks like this that really put life in perspective for me. Without these bumps and problems, life would seem too perfect. It would be too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that we are self-sufficient beings, and that life on earth is the best thing we have going for us.<br />
<br />
But it's not. And weeks like this remind me that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom and goodness, will plant these obstacles and frustrations to remind us that we can't do this life thing alone, that we need to rely on Him for our <i>every need</i>. It is so comforting to know that He has already anticipated the events that make me question my sanity and my choice of career, and knows just how He will use it to make me grow as a stronger person and teacher, all the while teaching me to lean on Him like crazy, and to be grateful for these setbacks that he is using to set me up for being a better teacher and human being. Do I<i> like</i> the problems my job presents? I'd be lying if I said "YES! BRING ON THE DISRESPECT AND IRRESPONSIBILITY!". I'm getting better, though, at being grateful for these inevitable facets of my job, rather than resenting them.<br />
<br />
Weeks like this also make me realize, in the grander scheme of life, just how insignificant a new mirror is, and how meaningless couch shopping is. Don't get me wrong: I still get ridiculously excited about spotting 80% off signs, sifting through fabric swatches, and testing every couch in Raymour and Flanigan with saleswoman Marcia close behind (OK, well, maybe I wasn't so excited about Marcia being close behind). And I probably always <i>will </i>get excited about these things, because these things all are linked to the gifts and abilities that God has given me. The Lord wants us to enjoy our gifts and blessings! I just want to enjoy them with a greater sense of gratefulness, without getting sucked into the material and temporal nature of this crazy world.<br />
<br />
So here's my goal for the new year: I am still going to blog, and I'm still going to blog about my house. But I am going to do it all with the clear understanding that the truly greatest treasure can't be found on any clearance rack, magazine page, or home decorating blog. I am going to do it without forgetting that these earthly treasures are just that: earthly. I am going to give every last ounce of glory to the One who has allowed me to have the means to buy the things that I enjoy.<br />
<br />
Hold me to it!<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="woj">“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.</span> <span class="woj">But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.</span> <span class="woj">For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="woj">Matthew 6:19-21 </span></i></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-3615710187469044932011-01-05T15:01:00.000-08:002011-01-17T05:13:46.339-08:00The post about taking apart a frumpy chair.Some people buddy up with Ryan Seacrest, noisemakers, and Budweiser on December 31st.<br />
<br />
We buddied up with some pliers, screwdrivers, and disintegrating foam.<br />
<br />
Yes, that's right: we spent our New Year's Eve taking apart this frumpy but one-of-a-kind $20 Craigslist chair:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTq2qMYwdI/AAAAAAAAAh8/_NFQtyf68EM/s1600/chair1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTq2qMYwdI/AAAAAAAAAh8/_NFQtyf68EM/s640/chair1.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTrCZgTq5I/AAAAAAAAAiA/56YsuLlTaAw/s1600/chair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="37" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTrCZgTq5I/AAAAAAAAAiA/56YsuLlTaAw/s640/chair2.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />
With some new fabric, cushions, and paint (which we haven't selected yet because I'm not sure yet where I want the chair to go in OUR NEW HOUSE), we'll be able to transform this ugly duckling into a swan. Or at least a more attractive duckling. However, due to the lack of weather temperatures that allow us to paint outdoors without going frozen from the waist down (name that Christmas movie) or indoors without acquiring a perpetual paint-fume headache, this frumpy duckling is, right now, more like a....well, a dismembered frumpy duckling.<br />
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That last statement was rather graphic. I promise no animals were harmed in the dismantling of this chair. See, our head project supervisor Gingerbread approves of our work:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTrNy-ZRFI/AAAAAAAAAiE/WoKVyUUiqmY/s1600/chair3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="38" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTrNy-ZRFI/AAAAAAAAAiE/WoKVyUUiqmY/s640/chair3.jpg" width="360" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Well, she at least approves of the fact that we created yet another new nook for her to explore and take up residence in. </div><br />
Anyway, we tackled this chair the same way we tackled <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html" linkindex="39">the zebra one</a>. Our process is fairly straightforward:<br />
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1. Snap way too many pictures of the chair from every angle...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTt-DaWKwI/AAAAAAAAAiI/c-8DZluv7Ps/s1600/chair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="40" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTt-DaWKwI/AAAAAAAAAiI/c-8DZluv7Ps/s640/chair4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2. Remove all staples and tack strips, bemoaning the person who used these nasty metal tack strips when they put the chair together in the first place...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTvko_lbuI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/gLcfwRAW8LE/s1600/chair6.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="41" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTvko_lbuI/AAAAAAAAAiQ/gLcfwRAW8LE/s640/chair6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> (In that poor soul's defense, he probably never expected that anyone would spend their New Year's Eve taking his hard work apart.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">4. Take off the fabric one piece at a time and make a list of the order (putting the new fabric back on will happen in the reverse order)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTw1UW5FvI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F-OCKpQZr_4/s1600/chair7.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="42" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTw1UW5FvI/AAAAAAAAAiY/F-OCKpQZr_4/s640/chair7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">5. Notice that this chair's olive velour fabric is reminiscent of the gold velour fabric we removed from <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html" linkindex="43">this chair </a>and wonder during exactly what era gold and olive velour chairs were popular...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">6. Keep the vacuum handy so our entire living room doesn't become covered in 60-year old disintegrating foam (alas, we didn't give it a chance to ring in a 61st year)...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTuCYLKkbI/AAAAAAAAAiM/D4ilOY9GS60/s1600/chair5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="44" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTuCYLKkbI/AAAAAAAAAiM/D4ilOY9GS60/s640/chair5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
7. Sand the chair's frame when we're blessed with a balmy 44 degrees on January 1st (the only part of this process that we didn't complete before Dick Clark's countdown)... <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTyq7QW05I/AAAAAAAAAig/Lf0cG8iDObU/s1600/chair8.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="45" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TSTyq7QW05I/AAAAAAAAAig/Lf0cG8iDObU/s640/chair8.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />
8. And last, not not least, pile the pieces into the empty corner of the living room where the Christmas tree stood just a mere 24 hours before and pretend it's some newfangled modern art sculpture (hey, if a urinal on a slab of concrete can make it to the MOMA, I say our chair can, too) until we have the supplies, plan, and weather to finish the project once and for all.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TST3GrHehAI/AAAAAAAAAik/Y80H2IffZ4U/s1600/chair9.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="46" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TST3GrHehAI/AAAAAAAAAik/Y80H2IffZ4U/s640/chair9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Take that, frumpy duckling. We'll turn you into a swan yet. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-48312549302672671842010-12-30T10:01:00.000-08:002010-12-31T15:18:29.258-08:00The post about 2010.My little blog has not yet celebrated its 1st birthday, nor even its half birthday, but I thought I'd participate in <a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/top-projects-of-2010/" linkindex="38">Southern Hospitality's 2010 round-up</a> just for fun anyway. So without further ado: <i>The Top 5 Things Erin Learned about Decorating in 2010. </i>I was going to take on a Top 10, but David Letterman must have more list-making stamina than I.<i><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><br />
<b>5. Reupholstering is not a one-day gig.</b> A mildly "duh" epiphany, I know, but we have always been overly ambitious/impractical, whichever way you want to look at it. <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html" linkindex="39">The makeover of this hideously gold velour chair</a> was mostly accomplished in one day, but slid to a grinding halt when a mildly serious battle with the sewing machine impeded our progress. Not to mention that it was past midnight when we finally looked up from our tack strips and fabric. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRyzyMrvEGI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/jVGpY1DbGO4/s1600/zebra+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="40" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRyzyMrvEGI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/jVGpY1DbGO4/s320/zebra+13.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy1esFHbLI/AAAAAAAAAhU/0eJPFOMpP40/s1600/zebra+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="41" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy1esFHbLI/AAAAAAAAAhU/0eJPFOMpP40/s320/zebra+1.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
<b>4. Flat paint is a bad idea on furniture</b>, unless you never plan to clean and/or dust said furniture. I never wrote about this desk that Rick repainted as a display for our wedding photos and mementos (I think it occurred BB--Before Blog) but the nasty gray streaks ground into the formerly white finish (which I couldn't, sadly, adequately capture on camera) will haunt me forever. Or at least until we repaint it. Whichever comes first.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzH1IfL-JI/AAAAAAAAAh0/IyhUJssUz0M/s1600/desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="42" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzH1IfL-JI/AAAAAAAAAh0/IyhUJssUz0M/s640/desk.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br />
<b>3. It's perfectly acceptable to hang garbage on the wall. </b>Not that you should take your packed Hefty bags, however, and mount them above your fireplace. I do, in all seriousness, love <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/post-in-which-i-hang-ladder-on-wall.html" linkindex="43">this perfectly weathered ladder</a> that <strike>I</strike> Rick dragged off the curb. I'm pretty sure it is going to join us at our soon-to-be new house (!) as long as I can smuggle it into the moving truck without Rick noticing. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy4-XcEQ3I/AAAAAAAAAhc/93oPAlm8pKc/s1600/ladder+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="44" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy4-XcEQ3I/AAAAAAAAAhc/93oPAlm8pKc/s400/ladder+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And those bottles were dragged off the curb, as well, before being coated with some fun aqua and pear spray paint.<br />
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<b>2. My Cricut can be used for more than just cards and scrapbooking. </b>I made this <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/09/post-with-dear-little-deer-art.html" linkindex="45">die-cut frame</a>...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzE9nvansI/AAAAAAAAAho/BUuKmxVBr5s/s1600/deer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="46" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzE9nvansI/AAAAAAAAAho/BUuKmxVBr5s/s640/deer+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
...these silhouettes...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzFp7JPVjI/AAAAAAAAAhs/SlhVJAnAPy4/s1600/silhouettes.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="47" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzFp7JPVjI/AAAAAAAAAhs/SlhVJAnAPy4/s400/silhouettes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
...and the accents for <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/post-in-which-i-glue-mirrors-to-baskets.html" linkindex="48">this basket collage</a> that I hung on the wall...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzF_ENs75I/AAAAAAAAAhw/z7wu84SHAec/s1600/basket+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="49" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRzF_ENs75I/AAAAAAAAAhw/z7wu84SHAec/s400/basket+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
...all with my Cricut. Who knew<b>?</b><br />
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<i>And the number one thing I learned about decorating in 2010:</i><br />
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<b>1. I couldn't do any of it without my wonderfully patient partner in crime.</b> I think he's even learned a few things himself, like what I mean when I say "good lines" and "trust me." He may have also learned that <b>you shouldn't attempt to reconstruct a couch unless you know what you're doing.</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy7ESw0swI/AAAAAAAAAhg/Zh3ML7j38vQ/s1600/couch.jpg" linkindex="50" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy7ESw0swI/AAAAAAAAAhg/Zh3ML7j38vQ/s400/couch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Fortunately, this particular couch was a freebie hand-me-down that A) we didn't want and B) had already been loved a lot, so we didn't feel too bad about putting its sad dismantled skeleton out for garbage day after completing taking it apart and realizing we were about as clueless as the student who asked me, with utmost seriousness, how to spell TV. No, that is not a joke. Yes, I teach ninth grade, aka 14 year-olds who have seen TV spelled for approximately, well, 14 years. Yes, I did have to refrain from laughing and/or fleeing from the room in despair.<br />
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Anyway, back to a less disturbing topic: Rick sporting his super stylish safety goggles and gloating about how he had just used his brawn and sweat to remove the rusty springs from the couch. When I consider how triumphant he looks in this picture, I figure that all was not lost.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy7xgIb2MI/AAAAAAAAAhk/IjRV1qZyw0k/s1600/couch.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="51" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRy7xgIb2MI/AAAAAAAAAhk/IjRV1qZyw0k/s400/couch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">See what I mean? Couldn't function without him. They didn't teach me how to remove springs from couches in Girl Scouts.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"> * * *</div><br />
So, that wraps up a sampling of our experience in 2010. Happy New Year, and here's to another year of learning and laughing!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-58828804867169170972010-12-24T12:05:00.000-08:002010-12-29T17:06:21.064-08:00The post on Christmas Eve.We've had a busy Christmas Eve day, full of centerpiece arranging...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT7txbxufI/AAAAAAAAAg0/vJQeOUV2VBI/s1600/christmas+decor+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT7txbxufI/AAAAAAAAAg0/vJQeOUV2VBI/s400/christmas+decor+013.JPG" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT79b8kxZI/AAAAAAAAAg4/s70Qb7CWh6o/s1600/christmas+decor+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT79b8kxZI/AAAAAAAAAg4/s70Qb7CWh6o/s400/christmas+decor+011.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8NS3qjZI/AAAAAAAAAhA/vLgaNzT_b-k/s1600/christmas+decor+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8NS3qjZI/AAAAAAAAAhA/vLgaNzT_b-k/s400/christmas+decor+012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
...chocolate cover pretzel making (I swear we didn't intend for them to come out looking like they would glow if we held a black light over them)...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8XBFPKII/AAAAAAAAAhE/B8xtRdMs-kc/s1600/ew+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8XBFPKII/AAAAAAAAAhE/B8xtRdMs-kc/s400/ew+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
...final gift creating (more on the latter after I give it to my parents)...<br />
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...and emails about SALE PENDING! Yes, that means our offer on a house has been accepted, signed, and sent to all those wonderful people that help us through the tedious part of this process. Says our realtor: "Rick, how will you ever top this Christmas gift for Erin ever again?!" We are now 60+ days away (God willing!) from being the official owners of an amazing old house that is near our families, has enough room for several sets of twins (hi Mom), and needs some decorating TLC...which is exactly what we wanted! <br />
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This chocolate to drizzle over our chocolate-covered pretzels, however, is not exactly what we wanted:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8fyhNZMI/AAAAAAAAAhI/H1Kyn91HDWM/s1600/ew+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TRT8fyhNZMI/AAAAAAAAAhI/H1Kyn91HDWM/s400/ew+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Not sure what happened, but for some reason the food coloring made the chocolate really thick and non-drizzlable. So, I had the brilliant idea of adding milk, thinking it would thin the chocolate out. Right? <br />
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Wrong.<br />
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Garbage can, meet our latest DIY disaster.<br />
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This is why I blog about <i>crafting</i> and not <i>cooking</i>.<br />
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We're praising the Lord for our marriage, our families, all of our many blessings, food on our table that looks nothing like that mess above, and the most perfect gift that He sent us so long ago. We're doing our best to keep Christ at the center of this Christmas season, as we do in every season!<br />
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Merry Christmas!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-65086741789442516752010-12-13T17:42:00.000-08:002010-12-29T17:06:00.658-08:00The post with the wine bottle wrap.We went to a friend's Christmas party this past Saturday, and our wine gift was looking a little naked, so I made this festive wrap for it (inspired by a similar project I saw in my holiday<i> Paper Crafts </i>magazine). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbH4kL-EkI/AAAAAAAAAgY/h4yqpOgIx1c/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="22" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbH4kL-EkI/AAAAAAAAAgY/h4yqpOgIx1c/s400/015.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I started by cutting some lightweight cardstock to cover the height of the label and snugly wrap the circumference of the bottle, and then I used my Cricut to cut out circles from regular scrapbook paper in sizes between 1" and 2".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbIC0DXqhI/AAAAAAAAAgc/tl0N4LrmCbA/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbIC0DXqhI/AAAAAAAAAgc/tl0N4LrmCbA/s400/006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The next step was to arrange the circles on the lower edge of the cardstock before adding some coordinating buttons.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbILssTaWI/AAAAAAAAAgg/xV36FL4ct-c/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbILssTaWI/AAAAAAAAAgg/xV36FL4ct-c/s400/007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Then, while I coaxed the accordion fold accent into staying glued together and not coming wildly undone, it nearly coaxed <i>me</i> into breaking into the wine right then and there. Seriously, I have never tried to accordion-fold paper into a circle before, and let's just say that I was<i> almost </i>as frustrated as the day we had to learn about proofs in math class.<i> (If Fluffy is a poodle, then Fluffy is a dog. If Fluffy is not a dog, then Fluffy is not a poodle. If Fluffy relieves himself on the carpet and chews up my favorite pair of high heels, then Fluffy will wish he was never a dog <u>nor</u> a poodle.)</i><br />
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Well, that last one might not have been in my textbook. Although it would have made 9th grade math class significantly more interesting. As it was, we had to amuse ourselves by placing bets on when the dead plant in the window would spontaneously combust. <br />
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Anyway, I was feeling considerably agitated with <strike>Fluffy</strike> the accordion-fold medallion, but I did figure it out eventually. And it got easier after I did it more than once. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbIxWxs_nI/AAAAAAAAAgk/TImOreHG-ts/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbIxWxs_nI/AAAAAAAAAgk/TImOreHG-ts/s400/014.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I would try to explain the process in writing, but it would probably make even less sense than that Fluffy nonsense above. Maybe I'll make a video of it--with Rick playing the accordion in the background! Get it? Clever, right?<br />
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Consider yourself warned if you ever click on a video we produce. ;)<br />
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The final touch was tying on the wired ribbon and adhering <strike>the bane of my existence</strike> the accordion-fold medallion with double-sided foam. I also added some self-adhesive gems to the bottom rim for extra holiday sparkle. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbI7gxeNfI/AAAAAAAAAgo/oEU4PRibfQQ/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbI7gxeNfI/AAAAAAAAAgo/oEU4PRibfQQ/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Voila!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbJGDYpmaI/AAAAAAAAAgs/ggTBnLdr3ro/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbJGDYpmaI/AAAAAAAAAgs/ggTBnLdr3ro/s400/017.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
We don't deal with full bottles very often (I tend to prefer the empty ones from strangers' recycling bins), but I thought this was a fun way to dress up a hostess gift for our friends. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbJPItumEI/AAAAAAAAAgw/Yth0K0LF9Ss/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TQbJPItumEI/AAAAAAAAAgw/Yth0K0LF9Ss/s400/019.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And in case you were wondering, <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Rick <i>can</i> actually play the accordion. He taught himself, which was a process much speedier than the process by which I taught myself how to accordion-fold paper (and not full of nearly as many dramatic sighs). If you're feeling skeptical, just ask our downstairs neighbor to vouch for his musical abilities. Or Gingerbread. She takes up residence under the bed when he breaks out that particular instrument. :)</span></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-33946641224297285012010-12-07T14:12:00.000-08:002010-12-07T14:18:10.874-08:00The post with the felt poinsettias.I saw this picture in my <i>Paper Crafts </i>magazine last week and was drawn to the felt poinsettia embellishment on one of the cards. (I could not get it to scan well...hence the weird coloring.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6xFgtlo9I/AAAAAAAAAgU/VOukRj_oT1Y/s1600/poinsettia+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6xFgtlo9I/AAAAAAAAAgU/VOukRj_oT1Y/s400/poinsettia+4.jpg" width="255" /></a></div><br />
I knew it would be pretty easy to make my own, so, on <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/12/post-about-fabric-black-friday-and.html" linkindex="28">our fateful Black Friday trip to Joann Fabrics</a>, I showed up at our cart holding sheets of olive and oatmeal felt. Rick looked at me like I was mildly insane (he does that now and then) before reminding me that I wanted to make <i>poinsettias</i>. As in flowers that are typically <i>red</i>,<i> pink</i>, or <i>ivory</i>. As in flowers that are only <i>brown</i> if they are <i>dead</i>. He really shouldn't have been so confused, because, after all, we do like to keep our plants good and crispy around this place, sort of like <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/11/post-with-addams-family-plant.html" linkindex="29">this poor plant</a> that my cats like to munch on.<br />
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Anyway, I managed to smuggle the alarmingly non-traditional poinsettia colors into our cart without too much trouble. When we got home, I started cutting out petals (freehand, so as to be perfectly imperfect like a <i>real</i> oatmeal poinsettia--ha) with the deliciously sharp new fabric scissors that I had also purchased on our trip. They are definitely not your mama's safety scissors.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6usL-oS9I/AAAAAAAAAgI/tVYvMDztla0/s1600/poinsettia+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="30" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6usL-oS9I/AAAAAAAAAgI/tVYvMDztla0/s400/poinsettia+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I spent a few minutes playing around with the petals until I got them layered in the imperfect way I wanted. Then, all I had to do was hot glue them together, add the leaves and the pearl center (they're just individual beads glued on), and ta-da! My oatmeal and olive felt poinsettia was complete.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6uyZ1O6xI/AAAAAAAAAgM/lQAw9nPde18/s1600/poinsettia+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="31" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6uyZ1O6xI/AAAAAAAAAgM/lQAw9nPde18/s400/poinsettia+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I think one of these flowers would look gorgeous on an all-white stocking, which I am planning on making as soon as Rick stops guarding our generic store-purchased ones with the machete we borrowed from a house on <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/10/post-about-brownies-machetes-and-house.html" linkindex="32">our house hunting tour</a>. (Just kidding....he's only wielding a butter knife. No need for alarm.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6u8pdP-zI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/atrazMY--p0/s1600/poinsettia+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TP6u8pdP-zI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/atrazMY--p0/s400/poinsettia+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
On a serious note, though, he did say that my poinsettias were unexpectedly charming.<br />
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Those might not have been his exact words.<br />
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But, he's learning to trust my instincts. :)<br />
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I'm linking this up to <a href="http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/12/christmas-craft-link-party/" linkindex="34">Centsational Girl's party today</a>...check it out for tons more DIY Christmas craft ideas!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-26241641868323620012010-12-05T14:58:00.000-08:002010-12-07T14:17:54.579-08:00The post about the practically free Christmas decorations.Last weekend, we put up our tree. Surprisingly, there has been nary an ornament knocked off by our kitties (although several have been swinging back and forth at alarming rates), but we're fairly certain that if we had a real tree, Gingerbread would have climbed it at least, well, two or eighty times by now. So, we're counting our blessings that so far, we have not yet had to experience the holiday joy of removing sap from kitty fur.<br />
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<i>This</i> weekend, in our continuing quest to decorate our apartment for Christmas, I took a few minutes and put together the following practically free groupings. And when I say practically free in the title of this post, I mean that, since both were created exclusively with simple things that we already had around the apartment (and none of the things cost very much in the first place). The first one features <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/11/post-in-which-i-go-on-spray-painting.html" linkindex="22">the candle jar I "made" a couple weeks ago</a>, some decorative balls, and free books from a yard sale covered in festive scrapbook paper.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwV9tjEB0I/AAAAAAAAAeY/QC0KqnuqesU/s1600/xmas+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwV9tjEB0I/AAAAAAAAAeY/QC0KqnuqesU/s400/xmas+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
The other one on our coffee table features an old frame spray painted white, red and green scrapbook paper, some decorative balls, and glass bottles yanked from my unsuspecting neighbors' recycling bins.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwcnWD8YuI/AAAAAAAAAek/4GudlKPN2R0/s1600/xmas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwcnWD8YuI/AAAAAAAAAek/4GudlKPN2R0/s400/xmas+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>My recycling hunt is, sadly, on hiatus until I can wear fewer than six layers when venturing outside. No time for digging through recycling bins when I have to spend my spare minutes digging my car, driveway, and occasionally my husband from underneath a mountain of snow. :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwWHVpW5SI/AAAAAAAAAeg/UMNmaEp4szE/s1600/xmas+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPwWHVpW5SI/AAAAAAAAAeg/UMNmaEp4szE/s400/xmas+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Anyone else done anything simple and cheap as they decorate for the holidays this year? Do share. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-41263354529593219752010-12-03T13:56:00.000-08:002010-12-07T14:18:23.435-08:00The post about fabric, Black Friday, and mooing.After a great deal of begging, groveling, and promising not to spend more than four hours there, I finally convinced Rick that we should go to Joann Fabrics on Black Friday. And though we both lived to tell about it, I am still questioning my sanity. I decided that there were five glaring clues that should have told us to turn around and run madly in the opposite direction (had I been in my right mind and not a "Look at all the stuff that is 60% off and I have an additional 30% off coupon in my back pocket" trance):<br />
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Clue #1: Entering the store and being greeted not by some pleasant seasonal tunes, but, rather, the sounds of a small child perfecting his ability to make ear-splitting cow noises. <br />
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Clue #2: Pulling ticket number 126 at the fabric cutting counter at precisely the same time that shopper number 89 was being serviced.<br />
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Clue #3: Glancing nervously around the cutting area and finding ourselves in the presence of 30+ other shoppers wielding carts stuffed with approximately every fabric item in the store. <br />
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Clue #4: Watching number 103 getting her pile of fabric cut for 35 minutes straight. Her cart was like a Mary Poppins handbag, I tell you.<br />
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Clue #5: Still hearing the continuous cow noises after being in the store for 45 minutes.<br />
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We ended up putting the to-be-cut fabric back (what can I say; the deep discounts were just no match for the mooing) but did leave with $29 worth of merchandise that, had it been full price, would have cost us $85. So all was not lost.<br />
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And I, once again, got to be grateful for my ever-so-patient husband, who actually left laughing and making cow noises of his own.Thank goodness for a sense of humor, right? :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-62741295788139437302010-11-26T05:24:00.000-08:002010-12-03T14:08:32.605-08:00The post with the house hunt + a chicken.I already shared some of our house-hunting adventures in <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/10/post-about-brownies-machetes-and-house.html" linkindex="20">this post</a>, but have just one more moment of amusement to share:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2LpXXXHhI/AAAAAAAAAeM/gHhtvZ5abMI/s1600/chicken1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2LpXXXHhI/AAAAAAAAAeM/gHhtvZ5abMI/s400/chicken1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Yes, that is a chicken. Parading through the backyard of a village home (we weren't out on a farm or anything!). And yes, this is Rick strutting his stuff behind our new friend.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2LtU1rIsI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/uj0PPs5B2fI/s1600/chicken2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="22" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2LtU1rIsI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/uj0PPs5B2fI/s400/chicken2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I couldn't get a better picture because the fowl thing (ha, ha) kept moving. <br />
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We checked the MLS again, but nowhere did it say anything like<i> Exterior Features: garage door opener, patio, vinyl siding, chicken. </i><br />
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Guess we just got lucky. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-83671133728554332412010-11-24T13:51:00.000-08:002010-12-03T13:58:29.049-08:00The post with the thank you card.In honor of Thanksgiving: the thank you card I made last week?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2F3QiCoXI/AAAAAAAAAd8/Sg61Q8jXN1k/s1600/card1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2F3QiCoXI/AAAAAAAAAd8/Sg61Q8jXN1k/s400/card1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Lame connection, I know. Sorry. To be honest, I never, until this year, even considered decorating for any holiday except Christmas, which is why you find nary a fall reference on my blog, with the exception of <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/11/post-in-which-i-go-on-spray-painting.html" linkindex="26">this post</a> in which I spray painted a ceramic pumpkin. Go me. :) This mindset might have something to do with the fact that the only Thanksgiving decor I can vividly remember from growing up is a felt turkey head (complete with googly eyes) attached to a pineapple that my dad brought home as a joke. If he breaks that baby out this year, I'll be sure to snap a picture. Have I mentioned that I love my family for their sense of humor? :)<br />
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Now that I've been introduced to the wonderful world of decorating blogs, though, and I have seen with my own two non-googly eyes the tasteful and gorgeous non-pineapple ways other people bring the holidays into their homes, I am really excited for next year, at which point we will (God willing!) have our own house for me to decorate seasonally. In my anticipation, I already bought some stuff for 90% off at post-Halloween sales (fake gourd for ten cents? I'll take it!) just so I am prepared for next year. Rick only rolled his eyes a little bit.<br />
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Speaking of Rick, he's the whole reason I made a thank you card last week, and no, it was not to thank him for letting me use his credit card to buy our future fall decor. He<i> </i>actually<i> </i>needed a thank you card for his preceptor, officially marking the halfway point of his <i><u>last</u> <u>year</u> </i>of pharmacy rotations. Yes, that excessive hollering you just heard was us cheering...6 1/2 years later, he's <i>almost </i>there! :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GAYmv0ZI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ldzU-XMbxd8/s1600/card3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GAYmv0ZI/AAAAAAAAAeA/ldzU-XMbxd8/s400/card3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I've been making my own cards for several years now, a decision I made after A) working in a gift shop and learning of the racket Hallmark calls card prices and B) I realized that I liked putting my own personal touch on the cards I was giving to people. My Cricut (and the program Sure Cuts A Lot) has made that especially easy, as I am now able to cut out any word, in any font, that I want. Really unique, infrequent words, you know, like "thanks." :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GFNkG19I/AAAAAAAAAeE/VUzjc076hYA/s1600/card2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GFNkG19I/AAAAAAAAAeE/VUzjc076hYA/s400/card2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The colors are a little off in these pictures; the scheme is actually a lime-y green with crisp white and black, but the setting sun made taking a natural-looking picture nearly impossible.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GJTc-xOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/lEaWfng1CTM/s1600/card4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TO2GJTc-xOI/AAAAAAAAAeI/lEaWfng1CTM/s400/card4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So, even though this is the best attempt I can make on my blog to show a Thanksgiving-y project, that doesn't mean I am not 100% grateful for <i>so many things</i> this year. And any time I need reminding, I just take a look at <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/09/post-in-which-we-display-gratitude-on.html" linkindex="30">this gratitude project</a> that Rick and I did a while back.<br />
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Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-73933049875335645432010-11-18T14:16:00.000-08:002010-12-03T14:01:46.308-08:00The post with the sad little plant.I bought a plant this past summer. A pygmy date palm, to be exact. It used to look something like this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWhlWfh63I/AAAAAAAAAds/wn7T9g70wHc/s1600/plant_PygmyDatePalm_L.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="24" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWhlWfh63I/AAAAAAAAAds/wn7T9g70wHc/s400/plant_PygmyDatePalm_L.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The tag said it enjoyed moderate light (check) and damp soil (check check). What the tag didn't say, however, is how much it does <i>not </i>enjoy cats chewing on its frilly leaves. Maybe because that's common sense? I don't know.<br />
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At any rate, I thank God that I can sleep at night knowing the plant isn't toxic to kitties (which I made sure of after finding this <a href="http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plant-list-cats.html?print=t" linkindex="25">incredibly helpful list from the ASPCA</a>), because our cats eat that thing like it's chicken. But non-toxic or not, the purpose of having the plant (beauty, air purity, <strike>a place behind which to hide newspapers</strike>) is lost when the cats treat it as their personal grazing station. We like to spoil our furry friends, but, come on. A personal grazing station? The thing has been bent and chewed like a nervous fingernail biter competing in the national spelling bee. Take a look at our sad little<span style="font-size: small;"> Phoenix Roebelenii (can I have the language of origin on that one, please?):</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWkZpUpthI/AAAAAAAAAdw/e0-PmbpFA4o/s1600/plant3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWkZpUpthI/AAAAAAAAAdw/e0-PmbpFA4o/s640/plant3.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div><br />
Sad face.<br />
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On another sad face side note, it occurred to me today that getting good pictures is going to be difficult for a while since I now leave and come home from work in the near dark. Yay winter. :)<br />
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Anyway, this thing looks like it belongs in the Addams Family house or something. Only it's not flesh-eating. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWkhIb-C2I/AAAAAAAAAd0/xc_D2goaCEo/s1600/plant2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWkhIb-C2I/AAAAAAAAAd0/xc_D2goaCEo/s400/plant2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So here is my plea: HELP! I have 0/2 green thumbs and my resume of plant care consists of watering and, well....well, just watering. Can I keep my cats away? Is it really all their fault, or is it partly my approach to plant TLC? Shall I phone Morticia and tell her I'm sending an early Christmas present? If you're an expert or at least know how to do more than water, please share your tips. We (and our plant...but probably not the cats) would be ever so grateful. :)<br />
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And speaking of cats, here's one of the guilty members of that party now, perched so sweetly near her favorite late-night snack.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWk-A5BNkI/AAAAAAAAAd4/RUrc8ZnJoyU/s1600/plant1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOWk-A5BNkI/AAAAAAAAAd4/RUrc8ZnJoyU/s400/plant1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
She only LOOKS innocent. When we're not looking (and, actually, sometimes even when we are), she becomes a ravenous plant-eating fiend. Like <i>Little Shop of Horrors</i>. Only she's doing the plant-eating, not the other way around...<br />
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Okay, I'm done now.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-50879322297888852912010-11-16T13:42:00.000-08:002010-12-03T14:01:59.086-08:00The post in which I go on a spray painting spree.This past weekend, I went on a mini spray painting spree. The kind where I get so impulsive about pushing and aiming the little nozzle that I almost spray paint my cats.<br />
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Almost.<br />
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I decided the glossy look wouldn't suit them.<br />
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It all started when I wanted to experiment with using frosted glass spray paint to achieve the "etched sans hazardous chemicals" look. I try to save the hazardous chemicals for the member of my family that sports a white coat from 9-5 and whisks me off to dreamland with bedtime stories about loop diuretics and hypertension. (That is a true story: whenever I can't sleep, Rick volunteers to start talking medicine. Works like a charm.) My process (which, I'll assure you, is not earth-shattering ingenuity...I'm sure countless others have used frosted spray paint to achieve the same look) consisted of four <i>very</i> simple steps:<br />
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<b>1) Find glass to spray paint. </b>In this case, I used two recycled Yankee Candle jars.<b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL29lsSC4I/AAAAAAAAAdM/lzA1eTg9Fdg/s1600/jars.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL29lsSC4I/AAAAAAAAAdM/lzA1eTg9Fdg/s400/jars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>2) Tape design to jar.</b> I used regular Scotch tape on the tall one and didn't have any problems with the spray paint bleeding through. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3BiMAyAI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/IugaNdUqDzs/s1600/jar.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="30" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3BiMAyAI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/IugaNdUqDzs/s400/jar.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I would love to try this same thing with shaped stickers or custom adhesives cut with my Cricut. But I'll save that for another day. <br />
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<b>3) Spray paint jars with frost spray paint. </b>I used Rustoleum Frosted Glass.<b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPAqX-VY99I/AAAAAAAAAeU/6IjDmRu1-1g/s1600/spray+paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="31" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TPAqX-VY99I/AAAAAAAAAeU/6IjDmRu1-1g/s400/spray+paint.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
<b>4) Peel off tape. </b>Ta da! Ambiance shot:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3cuWk4uI/AAAAAAAAAdc/C1zgew2zk6A/s1600/grouping2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="32" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3cuWk4uI/AAAAAAAAAdc/C1zgew2zk6A/s400/grouping2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
That lantern in the above grouping started off like this, purchased for $.75 from the recent Ronald McDonald House Charity Sale (talk about a yard saler's paradise: this event overflowed an entire vacant Dick's Sporting Goods from front to back with donated--and <i>cheap</i>!--treasures):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3Tz61OBI/AAAAAAAAAdY/rIO2QYWtt54/s1600/lanterns.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3Tz61OBI/AAAAAAAAAdY/rIO2QYWtt54/s400/lanterns.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Clearly, it was the next victim on my serial spray painting spree, because it is now white.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3G2RFHvI/AAAAAAAAAdU/gQC72QVffUM/s1600/grouping.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL3G2RFHvI/AAAAAAAAAdU/gQC72QVffUM/s400/grouping.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And on the other side of the mantle is my subtle $1.99 Goodwill hint that it is fall, which I also spray painted white. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL6JQxuTnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/9vpGlF3xDTM/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="35" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TOL6JQxuTnI/AAAAAAAAAdo/9vpGlF3xDTM/s400/pumpkins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Spray paint=wonder paint. You'll never look at gleaming faux copper pumpkins the same way once you can picture them with a new coat of paint. And you know you talk too much about the "potential" and "possibility" in things when your husband, out of the blue, says "Hey, that vase has good lines."<br />
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I was so proud. :)<br />
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Any favorite spray paint fixes? Feel free to share or link to your work!Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-53209757773732581032010-10-29T14:48:00.000-07:002010-12-03T14:01:18.445-08:00The post about brownies, machetes, and house hunting.The following activity is no stranger to me: wandering through our apartment, wishing we had a house, humming a tune in a minor key so as to fully and accurately capture my grief over not having my own mortgage payment.<br />
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Well, guess what? I believe my tune has just changed, because Rick and I are officially looking for a house. Which is why I have been less than attentive to the ol' <i>rented</i> house projects and blog lately.<br />
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Our house hunt has been pretty casual so far, with our parents invited to tag along (my mom calls it "intruding"). It's amazing, though, the differences from one house to the next as far as how well people prepare their house for someone to look at it. In case you were wondering, this is where the brownies and the machete come in. Yes, I said machete. As in weapon. As in extremely dangerous piece of equipment. Read on for the gory details about that house and the other houses that we have given extremely clever names to.<br />
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<b>1. The house where we couldn't go into the rooms because there was too much stuff in them. </b>Seriously, we think they need to be nominated for the TV show <i>Hoarders</i>. At first, we thought, "Well, they <i>are</i> in the process of moving." And then we opened closets and drawers and found <i>more </i>stuff. NO idea where the rest of the stuff used to live. Here are some pictures for good measure:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtA5arVEAI/AAAAAAAAAdI/axYmt6QaZdM/s1600/house+hunt+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtA5arVEAI/AAAAAAAAAdI/axYmt6QaZdM/s320/house+hunt+4.jpg" width="239" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtA00sPt5I/AAAAAAAAAdE/itpYE6cFBwk/s1600/house+hunt+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtA00sPt5I/AAAAAAAAAdE/itpYE6cFBwk/s320/house+hunt+5.jpg" width="240" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b>2. The house with the cigarette pack and a dirty old highchair greeting us on the front porch. </b>The doorbell was also hanging off, to which Rick said, "Don't they have a screwdriver?" My mom and my sister and I were pretty sure that even <i>we</i>, if we worked reeeeaaally hard at it, could figure out how to screw the doorbell back to the side of the door. We like to call ourselves Lucy, Ethel, and Ethel Jr. <br />
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<b>3. The house with the machete in the attic. </b>What kind of neighborhood is this, anyway?! I am not making this up. Here's proof.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAuq1pmnI/AAAAAAAAAdA/RKQWTLqjmlM/s1600/house+hunt+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAuq1pmnI/AAAAAAAAAdA/RKQWTLqjmlM/s400/house+hunt+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>4. The house with the 100% floral tiled bathroom. </b>Enough said.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAlMMxmFI/AAAAAAAAAc8/428DhLyJb3s/s1600/house+hunt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAlMMxmFI/AAAAAAAAAc8/428DhLyJb3s/s400/house+hunt+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>5. The extremely clean and organized house with the brownies and a sign that said "Please help yourself!"<</b><b>smiley face>.</b> Of course Rick obeyed. I failed to snap a picture of him enjoying his brownie, but this is what he looks like when enjoying baked goods:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAfAfwNLI/AAAAAAAAAc4/0gcub1ctu9A/s1600/house+hunt+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMtAfAfwNLI/AAAAAAAAAc4/0gcub1ctu9A/s400/house+hunt+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I also failed to snap a picture of him sneaking Sour Patch Kids from a bowl of candy in the living room (but that would have been incriminating evidence, right?). I suppose the sign did say "Help yourself...."<br />
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We've looked at others (7 total so far), but these were the most interesting ones. Not included in the above list, though, is the one we currently like the best...but we'll save details about the house we end up with for when we actually....end up with it.<br />
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I'd love to hear your memories of house or apartment hunting, so feel free to share any stories! :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-70698742119402557962010-10-28T16:07:00.000-07:002010-12-03T14:02:19.037-08:00The post in which I wonder if I missed something.We occasionally get mail for the previous tenants, and one of our recent deliveries was in the form of a Mackenzie Childs catalog. The cover seemed harmless enough, so, over breakfast one morning, I opened it up to see what else they had to offer.<br />
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And saw this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoAoHT9giI/AAAAAAAAAcg/sVPWwPE55K8/s1600/clown+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="25" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoAoHT9giI/AAAAAAAAAcg/sVPWwPE55K8/s400/clown+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I had a little giggle at the fabric pairing on the chair and ottoman (maybe they were designed by an old man in the dark?) and the side table made of a drum/hatbox type thing (I do enjoy a good repurposing, but...) and then I glanced over to see how much those babies cost.<br />
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Good news, folks: for just $3,850, that oversized <strike>clown</strike> club chair can be yours, and for an additional $2,350, the ottoman can come along as well. I say, why not buy one for each room? (And in case you were wondering, the table is a mere $1,750.) <br />
I also am rendered speechless by this goose planter, which, at 13.5" wide, 32" long, and 22" tall, wins the prize of being larger than my cat but smaller than Rick's ideal TV. Cost: $1,050 (!). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoAt_wl4HI/AAAAAAAAAck/Z2Ia9QbYhdA/s1600/clown+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="26" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoAt_wl4HI/AAAAAAAAAck/Z2Ia9QbYhdA/s400/clown+5.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br />
And in case a simple goose planter wasn't enough of a feathery fix, you could also purchase that matching side table for $1,950.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoCG1jiRGI/AAAAAAAAAc0/_sqlywv-zcs/s1600/clown+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="27" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoCG1jiRGI/AAAAAAAAAc0/_sqlywv-zcs/s400/clown+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
And in honor of Halloween/almost Christmas, and because I'm not sure what it's supposed to be, this headless woman. Although I suppose she's not entirely headless, since she has generously been given a lampshade for her above-the-neck area.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoBRYq9O4I/AAAAAAAAAcs/lbQvpyt1lok/s1600/clown+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="28" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoBRYq9O4I/AAAAAAAAAcs/lbQvpyt1lok/s640/clown+3.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br />
I'm not sure what made me choke on my Shredded Wheat more: the cost of these things, or the fact that they make me think I'm looking at Barnum & Bailey gone undercover as home decor. All it's missing is a trapeze artist.<br />
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Oh, wait, never mind: I found one! A $19,500 one. Phew. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoBXGi4EFI/AAAAAAAAAcw/XHrZgtjPTcU/s1600/clown+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="29" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TMoBXGi4EFI/AAAAAAAAAcw/XHrZgtjPTcU/s640/clown+4.jpg" width="403" /></a></div><br />
Which leads me to my question: did I miss something? I have truly never seen anything like the stuff in this catalog. And I promise I'm not just saying that out of some deep-seated irrational fear of clowns. Please enlighten me if you have more knowledge than I. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-14055753792387689822010-10-11T08:12:00.000-07:002010-12-03T14:02:36.671-08:00The post in which I score decor points with Scrabble tiles.It recently dawned on me that Scrabble tiles could be used for far more than an afternoon spent sitting across from your husband, who is desperately trying to figure out how to make a profound word out of the letters X, G, M, U, T, R, and O and wondering why he ever married a word-game-loving English teacher. More specifically, I realized that they could be used as decoration around the house. So when I was in Goodwill one day and saw an old Scrabble game for just $3.99, I knew that I could do something with those old-fashioned wooden tiles.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMiTV0urGI/AAAAAAAAAcE/CKHnOGGv8EU/s1600/scrabble+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="31" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMiTV0urGI/AAAAAAAAAcE/CKHnOGGv8EU/s400/scrabble+8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And something I did--actually, five somethings.<br />
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The first thing I did with the tiles was make a game board of sorts using <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A22-23&version=NIV" linkindex="32">the fruits of the spirit</a> for my words, making a nice visual reminder of the attitudes and temperaments that we should be embracing every day. This took some patience (and required that I make some of my own letters using blanks and the backs of those pesky "Z" tiles), but I finally got all of the words to be arranged and interwoven in a natural way.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMi390D-uI/AAAAAAAAAcI/H2v_uEUl3eI/s1600/scrabble+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMi390D-uI/AAAAAAAAAcI/H2v_uEUl3eI/s400/scrabble+9.jpg" width="310" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>If you ever try a project like this and aren't blessed with a photographic memory, I would recommend taking a picture of your final desired arrangement so as to safeguard against sleeves scattering your work/cats thinking they can use the tiles as a bed. Yes, I learned this the hard way.<br />
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I then spray painted an old frame, made a new back for the frame out of chipboard, layered on some burlap, and then hot glued the letters to the burlap.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMi-MzDoNI/AAAAAAAAAcM/d_F2rZ05d_4/s1600/scrabble+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMi-MzDoNI/AAAAAAAAAcM/d_F2rZ05d_4/s400/scrabble+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I purposely made the letters a bit wobbly in order to A) make it look a bit more natural and B) ensure that I would not spend all morning trying to line up the tiles perfectly.<br />
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I really wanted to spell "Where's the nearest thrift store" with the leftover tiles, but I was, unfortunately, limited in my letter selection. So, instead, I decided to be romantic and spell the word "adore" on our living room bookshelf.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMhj416wbI/AAAAAAAAAb8/dOmJmuz2JJQ/s1600/scrabble+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="35" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMhj416wbI/AAAAAAAAAb8/dOmJmuz2JJQ/s400/scrabble+4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And for a little more mush...."I do" on white wooden blocks on our office bookshelf. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMfVR68ctI/AAAAAAAAAbc/Gz4XmJ6RtCE/s1600/scrabble+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMfVR68ctI/AAAAAAAAAbc/Gz4XmJ6RtCE/s400/scrabble+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
All together now: "Awww...." <br />
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I hot glued an "M" for our last name to a boring old tack, and we use it on our mini memo boards that I covered with zebra fabric (which was leftover from <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html" linkindex="37">this reupholstery project</a>). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMkiLH7U3I/AAAAAAAAAcY/CNyug_H4htM/s1600/scrabble+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="38" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMkiLH7U3I/AAAAAAAAAcY/CNyug_H4htM/s400/scrabble+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
The remaining letters mainly allow us to spell words like "rat" and "duh," which aren't nearly mushy enough for my taste, so they are currently sitting in a glass bottle on one of our end tables.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMh2_qe0xI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ZicgXHJDthk/s1600/scrabble+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="39" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TLMh2_qe0xI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ZicgXHJDthk/s400/scrabble+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I call this work "Message in a Bottle." Rick calls my work's name "corny." Oh, well.<br />
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Has anyone else ever used Scrabble letters around the house? Do share your ideas. :)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> <b>"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." A</b></i></span><b><i>nd those </i><i>who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."</i></b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Galatians 5:22-25 </i></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-48538539073363495042010-09-27T13:02:00.000-07:002010-12-03T14:08:20.806-08:00The post in which we have a good laugh in Goodwill.That's right, folks, Rick and I have a hobby, and it's not typical like jam-making or crocheting. (I tried crocheting when I was in Girl Scouts. Let's just say that "a child's blanket" ended up looking more like a potholder. I don't think I got my badge for that one.) No, our hobby is much more amusing (and doesn't involve yarn). It's name is <i>Goodwilling</i>. We like to visit the said thrift store to A) see what real bargains can be snatched up and B) have a good chuckle about some of the odd treasures that make us say, "Why would anyone want that?" But, what is one man's junk, I suppose, is another man's treasure.<br />
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Or just another man's junk.<br />
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Here are some of the treasures that we found while touring Goodwill with our camera. :)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><br />
<b>1. This ghost.</b> As if ghosts weren't scary enough: now we have them posing seductively. As you can see, Rick was particularly enamored with this little beauty. I guess I know what to be for Halloween.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDxZLzbx-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/KpZSFjkwlCE/s1600/ghost.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="31" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDxZLzbx-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/KpZSFjkwlCE/s400/ghost.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>2. This owl.</b> While I do like repurposing, there's just something about repurposing teeny shells into a sculpture that screams "Tacky Southern Tourist Gift Trap." The good news is, there was a whole collection of these fine-<strike>shelled</strike> feathered friends, so you could buy one for all of your family members!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDyJPPYJVI/AAAAAAAAAa8/6Wn1-YocmgI/s1600/owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="32" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDyJPPYJVI/AAAAAAAAAa8/6Wn1-YocmgI/s400/owl.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>3. This frumpy lampshade. </b>Enough said.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDyxCq789I/AAAAAAAAAbA/7_Wo714rhD0/s1600/lampshade.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="33" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDyxCq789I/AAAAAAAAAbA/7_Wo714rhD0/s400/lampshade.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDzP3IOrFI/AAAAAAAAAbE/EwHdWMAq1fQ/s1600/clown.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="34" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><b>4. This little boy sleeping peacefully on a moon. </b>Aww, how sweet. Wait--is he naked??<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDzsl8zMnI/AAAAAAAAAbI/poZ-VvoRB74/s1600/moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="35" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKDzsl8zMnI/AAAAAAAAAbI/poZ-VvoRB74/s400/moon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It reminds me of Maurice Sendak's<i> In the Night Kitchen. </i>If you've never read it, I highly encourage you to check it out of the nearest library. Not only does it contain stunning graphics, but also contains a great moral about why we have cake every morning.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you have a blank expression of your face, you're not the only one. Read the book. It will answer alllll of your questions. :)</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. This rabbit.</b> I tell ya, if you're looking to make your kids forget about the Easter bunny, just tell them he looks like this. I doubt they will want this guy creeping into their rooms at night to leave Peeps and chocolate eggs. And what is that thing on his chin?</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD2iymciKI/AAAAAAAAAbU/fHxQ-a4VA7w/s1600/rabbit.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="36" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD2iymciKI/AAAAAAAAAbU/fHxQ-a4VA7w/s400/rabbit.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>6. And last, but not least, these elderly painted mice. </b>Rick predicts that this will be us in 50 years. Only he says we won't be sitting in rockers <i>crocheting</i>: we'll still be marching (wheeling?) around Goodwill trying to find weird stuff.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD1ibg3nWI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vlSx6zWXxNM/s1600/mice.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="37" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD1ibg3nWI/AAAAAAAAAbM/vlSx6zWXxNM/s400/mice.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In case you were wondering if we got anything useful out of our trip, we did! We left the store with an array of cheap goodies:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD2LUWKsRI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/kimiwbOShQo/s1600/goodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="38" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TKD2LUWKsRI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/kimiwbOShQo/s400/goodies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> Exciting, right? I know they don't like like much now, but they will. Just give me time. And some spray paint. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyone else like to have fun in stores? What's the strangest or best thing you've ever found at a thrift store or yard sale? Feel free to share!</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-35305779929284906792010-09-15T13:25:00.000-07:002010-12-06T14:57:43.750-08:00The post with a tour of our apartment.Since my blog has now been alive for about a month, I thought it was time to post a tour of our apartment. Some of the pictures have popped up in posts already, but now they're all in one place. There are definitely places in our apartment that we aren't a fan of but either can't do anything about (like the trim that has been repainted WAY too many times and never sanded down or scraped in between, so there are unsightly drips and bumps everywhere) or just haven't gotten around to it yet (like our bedroom). But there are spaces that I love, like my craft room.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWu-8-KBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/aIk42MamZck/s1600/ladder+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="51" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWu-8-KBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/aIk42MamZck/s400/ladder+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
So without further ado: a walk through Rick and Erin's apartment.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b>Our front hall. </b><br />
Not much is here, mainly because we don't have anything to put there--and we're hesitant to buy lots of new items since we will just end up hauling them to our future house in approximately two years. The white corner desk was taken from my parent's attic in a friendly furniture exchange program and re-painted for a place to display some of our wedding photos and mementos. We also added a basket to wrangle some of our loose mail that was, previously, stored conveniently on the floor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIqk-Ig8wRI/AAAAAAAAAXw/uE3dkEC6t2U/s1600/hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="52" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIqk-Ig8wRI/AAAAAAAAAXw/uE3dkEC6t2U/s400/hall.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>Our living room.</b><br />
The furniture in this room was 100% put together from hand me downs <i>(the loveseat was free)</i>, Craigslist <i>(the papasan chair)</i>, and yard sales <i>(the coffee table and end tables)</i>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv1teYQbzI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ge8OTr8pwj0/s1600/living+rm+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="53" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv1teYQbzI/AAAAAAAAAYo/ge8OTr8pwj0/s400/living+rm+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I also whipped out my Betsy Ross sewing skills and made the pillow covers and curtains (although I cheated a bit and used no-sew fabric tape on the curtains because the sewing machine was just making the delicate fabric bunch and look all like some unfortunate Girl Scout project that I attempted in my youth).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEnFoSodgI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/mZkTy5thmq0/s1600/pillows.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="54" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEnFoSodgI/AAAAAAAAAZ4/mZkTy5thmq0/s400/pillows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I would love to learn how to do more advanced stuff on the sewing machine, since a straight line is about all this seamstress can handle at this particular time in her life and <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/projectdetail.jsp?pageName=search&PRODID=prod342161" linkindex="55">this pillow</a> is calling her name. <br />
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On the other side of the room, we have a fireplace and an awesome built-in bookshelf. Unfortunately, the fireplace is non-functional and mainly serves the purpose of Resident Eyesore and/or Entryway for Bats.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEnuLH7EeI/AAAAAAAAAaA/ez1j1cfFxZc/s1600/living+rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="56" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEnuLH7EeI/AAAAAAAAAaA/ez1j1cfFxZc/s400/living+rm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
We (meaning me) are pondering a way to cover it up, but haven't yet come up with something. I'm also trying to figure out a way to get the TV off of the fireplace so that it isn't functioning as flat-screen artwork, but Rick isn't going for that. In his words: "We paid a lot of money for that TV!" But I'm not worried. A little Wegmans sugar cookies here, a little bulk gummies there...I'll have that TV off of the mantle before he can say "Let's watch <i>Minute to Win It</i> in high-def." ;)<br />
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<b>Our dining room.</b><br />
Again, all of the furniture was Craigslisted (the table and chairs were purchased separately but look like they're meant to be together!) or DIYed (like <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/08/chair-in-striped-pajamas.html" linkindex="57">this chair</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEpEiGMInI/AAAAAAAAAag/nQiUeRI5RHI/s1600/dining+rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="58" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEpEiGMInI/AAAAAAAAAag/nQiUeRI5RHI/s400/dining+rm.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEous_bPeI/AAAAAAAAAaY/zkz4VTOPajY/s1600/zebra+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="59" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEous_bPeI/AAAAAAAAAaY/zkz4VTOPajY/s400/zebra+13.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
I wish we had before and after pictures of the table and chairs, as they were quite an unsightly bunch: the table was white with previous mint green paint undertones (yuck) and the chairs were--are you ready?--ivory with <i>glittery</i> gold trim. To make matters worse, the seat and back were covered with faded, stained floral fabric. We ripped off the back cushions for a cleaner look and recovered the seats with new fabric from Joann's.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEocUl6yMI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/sk4ZTFp0zDQ/s1600/dining+rm+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="60" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEocUl6yMI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/sk4ZTFp0zDQ/s400/dining+rm+2.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
<b>Our kitchen.</b><br />
We didn't do anything to our little kitchen except make <a href="http://as-for-me-and-my-rented-house.blogspot.com/2010/09/post-in-which-i-make-easy-magnets.html" linkindex="61">these magnets</a> to dress up the fridge. The room is small, but the cabinets have been updated and the tile floor is unlike any other floor that I've seen indoors. I'd like to add a bit more of "us" to the room, but counter space is limited and wall space is even more limited.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWVrW56II/AAAAAAAAAX4/0n10R8TQA4w/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="62" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWVrW56II/AAAAAAAAAX4/0n10R8TQA4w/s400/kitchen.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>Our office.</b><br />
We spend a lot of time in here, so I wanted to bring some color to the otherwise off-white room. I chose sunny yellow and some small pops of turquoisey-blue to make the dreary space come to life a bit more, and we bought tile at a local architectural salvage store to brighten up the top of the black desk. Although the room is still in progress (there's a big blank wall that we have plans for), it is definitely more cheerful than it was before.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWcBqEANI/AAAAAAAAAYA/noOsSYxO6KE/s1600/office.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="63" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWcBqEANI/AAAAAAAAAYA/noOsSYxO6KE/s400/office.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWfjWqaXI/AAAAAAAAAYI/S3b3NBYMt44/s1600/office+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="64" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWfjWqaXI/AAAAAAAAAYI/S3b3NBYMt44/s400/office+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>My craft room.</b><br />
We rescued this narrow little area from being the inevitable dumping grounds for stuff that we didn't know what else to do with by converting it to a space for my projects. Before the switch, we affectionately (and so creatively, I might add) called it "the junk room." <i>(Erin: "What should I do with these boots?" Rick: "Oh, just toss them in the junk room." Erin: (flings said footwear over the tangle of other abandoned objects and closes the door quickly). </i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWu-8-KBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/aIk42MamZck/s1600/ladder+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="65" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrWu-8-KBI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/aIk42MamZck/s400/ladder+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
This problem was solved by ditching or relocating the misfit junk and bringing in a some furniture to define the space in the room. The table and chair were both super cheap yard sale finds ($10 and $5, respectively) and fit perfectly in the space. I should add, though, that the table, when we first saw it, had been the victim of some small child's unfortunate foray into painting, as it had orange legs, a brown top, and glittery purple and silver paint stenciled all over the legs and top. It was <i>not </i>pretty. And once again, I am regretful of the fact that we did not snap "before" pictures so that the table's former look could be forever immortalized, but, alas, this switch took place B.B. Before Blog. At any rate, we like it much better in its cheerful aqua color. :)<br />
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<b>Our bedroom.</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is one room in our apartment that has gone virtually untouched--but not because we don't want to give it a makeover. The biggest challenge with this room is it's size and shape: it's actually not a room. It's the attic.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEphJxJcsI/AAAAAAAAAao/QGmsKU5hPN0/s1600/bed+rm.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="66" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEphJxJcsI/AAAAAAAAAao/QGmsKU5hPN0/s400/bed+rm.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Angled ceilings? Check. Chimneys in the middle of the room? Check. But finding a way to make it "ours" without breaking the bank is absolutely on our to-do list. We have gotten the go-ahead to paint the yellow walls off-white, which will be an improvement. The room as a whole feels a lot like a loft to us, and it really is quite a nice retreat. I am especially a fan of the two walk-in closets that the room contains so that I can hide what I recently heard a friend refer to as "a pile of indecision." :)<br />
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<b>Our bathroom.</b><br />
We like the white fixtures that were used to update this room, and the tile floor adds some character, as well. You'll have to excuse the yellow-ish pictures: the only light for the room is artificial. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrXFtC_f1I/AAAAAAAAAYY/AQCDSTUVJq4/s1600/bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="67" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIrXFtC_f1I/AAAAAAAAAYY/AQCDSTUVJq4/s400/bathroom.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
The open storage shelving (which is all that's in there other than the small medicine cabinet) was mind-numbing at first, since it became a dumping grounds for all things hairspray-toothpaste-deodorant-lotion and looked, well, like a shelf at Target after some person emptied their cart in the wrong aisle. Minus refrigerated products. I love when we stroll through, say, the electronics aisle, and find a package of cheese. You'll be happy to know that our bathroom contained no cheese. We do have certain standards here.<br />
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Anyway, to correct our issue, I brought in some baskets for organizing our toiletries and some glass bottles to more attractively wrangle some other items. Now, our open shelving train wreck is a thing of the past.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmxd4CEhI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3Nusvdw6Rds/s1600/bath+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="68" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmxd4CEhI/AAAAAAAAAZw/3Nusvdw6Rds/s400/bath+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<b>And last but not least: the polka dot room.</b><br />
Off of our bedroom, we have another room used for storage/laundry (hence the clutter) that we affectionately (and, again, quite creatively) refer to as "the polka dot room." Why, you might ask? Well, ponder no longer. The evidence is below.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmQQByhuI/AAAAAAAAAZg/mJX6ergRcZs/s1600/polka+dot+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="69" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmQQByhuI/AAAAAAAAAZg/mJX6ergRcZs/s400/polka+dot+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
Apparently, someone who lived here before had a thing for large, navy blue polka dots.They loved them so much, they even thought to paint them on the ceiling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmVIPs2WI/AAAAAAAAAZo/dwAfVPrHh-E/s1600/polka+dot+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="70" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TJEmVIPs2WI/AAAAAAAAAZo/dwAfVPrHh-E/s400/polka+dot+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
They make me twitch. It's like walking into a carnival funhouse. Only there are no mirrors that make me look like a twisty blob. <br />
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When we re-paint our bedroom, we are also going to take our rollers to the said "polka dot room"--although I'm not sure what we'll call it once it's done. "Off-white room" just doesn't have the same ring to it. And it would be confusing, since every <i>other</i> room in this place is also off-white.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><br />
So there you have it. A grand tour of our 1,500 square foot apartment. We really do think it's a neat place to live, and, since the house is so old, it has an immense amount of charm and character.<br />
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How about you? What do you like about your own living space? Have you ever faced a decorating tragedy such as a "polka dot room"? Feel free to share. :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1411307513250186784.post-58860662800107902022010-09-11T15:06:00.000-07:002010-12-03T14:03:06.658-08:00The post with the dear little deer art.Sorry, but the corny English teacher couldn't resist using homophones in the title. :) <br />
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The said "dear little deer art" below was inspired by a similar piece that I saw on the<i> Better Homes & Gardens</i> website, but I can't, for the life of me, find the page anymore. If anyone spies it out there on the world wide web, please let me know so I can link to it!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv520Ell0I/AAAAAAAAAZA/-CXFLYibHQI/s1600/deer+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="21" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv520Ell0I/AAAAAAAAAZA/-CXFLYibHQI/s400/deer+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
I simply used my Cricut to cut out 8 baby deer and one plant in different color paper (that all mesh with my craft room color scheme), then adhered them to a larger white piece of paper to go in the frame. I put my own spin on the <i>BHG</i> idea by matting three of the deer on old book pages instead of just on the white paper. The extra varied texture created by the pages is a nice touch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv6OeUnnJI/AAAAAAAAAZI/WLNEFMORS_Y/s1600/deer+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="22" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv6OeUnnJI/AAAAAAAAAZI/WLNEFMORS_Y/s320/deer+1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I could hang it on the wall, but for now, I think it looks sweet just leaning on my craft table.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv7DWngbHI/AAAAAAAAAZY/fCGgIPkt7Es/s1600/deer+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" linkindex="23" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_sAKcUv2Fwf4/TIv7DWngbHI/AAAAAAAAAZY/fCGgIPkt7Es/s400/deer+3.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><br />
You could use any shape you wanted for this particular project, but the reason I selected the baby deer is because A) they made me say "awww..." and B) Rick and his family have gone camping in Allegany State Park--where there are typically tons of deer around--just about every summer since he was crawling around in diapers and eating bugs off of the ground. So I thought it would be a sweet representation of his traditional childhood--and now adulthood!--vacations. And in case you were wondering, he no longer crawls around in diapers, but he still does occasionally eat bugs off of the ground. Oh wait, that's our cat. Sorry, sweetie. :)<br />
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So that's my simple die-cut frame project that cost me $0 since the frame had been a gift and the paper was already on hand. How about you? Any free, or close to free, projects happening lately? Any decor that reminisces on your childhood or vacations? Feel free to share! :)Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15915449639694557015noreply@blogger.com23