Finally Paint!

So, this is what has been taking me forever to get a post up. We finally painted the family room. It took me forever to get stuff out of the room and then, of course, someone would be coming by and I had to make it look normal again!

Before I even started this, I had to find the right color. This is the story of how I began to blog. My first notice of blogging is when I discovered Kelli at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/ at There is No Place Like Home blog. I googled "a spring porch" to get ideas, as I was not finding anything useful or pretty. Then I found Kelli! I had NO idea that this whole blogging world existed and I began to enjoy her posts. (you should ,too, if you haven't). You know what? I still didn't get it...I didn't know that there were others! Then I went on my paint search. I went to Benjamin Moore, where we always go but nothing was hitting me. The den was Bleeker Beige and then Stone Hearth within 5 years, but I was over them! Something was missing. Then I googled "the perfect color for a family room" (I'm not kidding) and I found The Nester at Nesting Place- http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/ -(you must go here! ) S0, it was obvious that there were others out there who thought too much about things like this -AND I WAS THRILLED! Now, I saw what this whole blogging thing was about as I clicked on comments and saw others! This was only 2 months ago and I am sooo happy to have stumbled upon all of you wonderful, thrifty, house decor obsessed, kindred spirits!

Okay, back to the paint. At The Nesting Place at this post : http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/search?q=tobacco+road+paint It was suggested that Duron's Tobacco Road was the perfect color and why wouldn't I believe that!? So I went on a mission to try and get it. It has been discontinued (of course!) and Sherwin Williams has taken them over. It seems in certain areas of the country you can still get it...or your friendly Lowe's will mix it, but not where I live. SW thought they may have it but it was not the recipe from Nesting Place post! hmmmm I explored a bit more and found some examples on the gardenweb of a similar color SW Restrained Gold. Well, lots of people raved about it and I was sold! There was a deal on their better paint (one coat), so we went for it. Here are the before and afters.

How great that you can see my paint trysies on the wall!

Well, here is the result...

What do you think? Warmer? I thought I had more pictures, but the light was not great, so I will post tomorrow-although this just took me forever to write this!!!
That brick fireplace bothers me because it look like the "70's" with the dark grout...any suggestions here? also I want to do moldings, too.

See the picture grouping on the wall -just like http://meganhoeppner.blogspot.com/2009/05/pottery-barn-lies.html in That's What She Said- and notice how they are not up in the new pic? That's because it took a whole day to do it the first time as was said at That's What She Said! So, I am waiting for a whole day free to tackle this project...or do I change it? Hmmmmm.

Show and Tell Friday

This is a Marjolein Bastin teapot from Hallmark a couple of years ago. My Mom passed away in 2005 and this was one of the last gifts that she gave to me. It is such a treasure. After seeing the little bird in the entryway pictures of our Show and Tell hostess, Kelli, I went on a hunt and found this sage green cutie at TJ Maxx. Go see more treasures at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/show-and-tell-friday_21.html.

Any ideas on what to do with this wall? Stupid A/C in full view as you walk in . This is the view from the dining room as you enter family room. Ridiculous light fixture we have had since we moved in 20 years ago. We just painted Restrained Gold (Sherwin Williams) and I love the color! I found it on The Nester. I have not rehung any pictures except the big one over the piano. It is the only place it will fit and "has" to go up. Please excuse puppy cage in corner! Help?

Winner!

You won't believe how lucky I am! I won a cute Ladybug Gardening Pin through The Garden Chick blog contest. Torchsong Studio hosted the giveaway and several blogs were involved. The message had gone to my spam and Maryanne was kind enough to resend the message! Thank you so much, Maryanne! You can see this sweet pin here at http://www.gardenchick.com/garden-blog/ and be sure to visit all the other blogs that were on on this contest!

http://torchsongstudio.blogspot.com/Torchsong Studio

Aquarian Bath

The Essential Herbal

Herbs from the Labyrinth

Patti's Potions

PrairieLand Herbs

The Rosemary House

Nature's Gift

SunRose Aromatics

Thank you again!!!

The Black Desk

Although not complete, the black desk will make its debut. It is still in the garage after another pollen dusting and then rain again for a few days. It looks favorable for completion this week! The hardware is ok, so it will say for now... So, here is the before:

And, here is the after!

I think it looks pretty good for a first try! Now I need to go to Home Goods and spend money to make it look nice. I already saw a letter holder that will look wonderful!!! I am picturing a very cute lamp that I hope to win on http://mycottageofbliss.blogspot.com/2009/05/celebrating-with-giveaway.html. So cute! My room is yellow, as that is the color that "failed" in my kitchen-so it was used in the spare room! Someday, there will be an unveiling! I will try to take some house pics to share.

Such a Sweet Etsy Shop!

If you have never visited "There Is No Place Like Home" , http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/, you must! Hers is the blog I found before I even knew about blogging! Seriously! Just a few weeks ago, I "googled" "how to decorate a spring porch" on a lark and came across her blog, which did have the prettiest porch! I continued to read her past posts and saw decorating, recipes, lessons, and crafts. Speaking of crafts, she has the nicest Etsy shop, seasonaldelights -http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5731420 where "you will find greeting cards, gift tags, journals and gifts to celebrate friendships, special occasions, holidays and the four seasons. " The prettiest things! I just received a very cute order of gifts tags that were perfect! Similar to these:

So, do stop by her store, and enjoy her very peaceful blog! Thanks Kelli! If it wasn't for her blog, I would not have found all of the rest of you! I am glad I did!

Procrastionation Project

Well, here is the project. I found a desk on Craigslist. We went to see it. It seemed ok, but it was in a tight spot and since it was my first time, so we took it for $20. I was a little apprehensive, but I, as a brand new blogger, showed a pic of it to Rhoda at Southern Hospitality and she said that I couldn't go wrong with a $20 desk and that it would look good in black. Here it is before-

A little wood glue and a good clean up and off to get paint. My husband wanted in on this so I said he could help! He wanted the glory, no doubt, after I showed him how wonderful so may of all of your projects have come out. We got the Rustoleum Universal Satin finish paint. Probably spent too much, but it was our "first time". We primed it and here we go-

Everything was on schedule, then we had rain for days and I wasn't sure of the humidity. Finally we could finish as the sun came out. Yeah! So we sprayed and stood back and were thrilled and left it to dry. So.....who knew about the pollen that was everywhere after the rainy days? The desk surface was covered, because it was the last surface painted. That is my excuse...like the dog ate my homework. We sanded the top and resprayed with the desk on its side away from the door of the garage. We think tomorrow will be a better day. Fingers crossed!

Winner!

Guess what?! I was the randomly selected winner of the Aller-Ease allergen bed cover from Lena over at Healthy Bliss at Blissfully Domestic. Congrats to me as I never win anything! I am so excited! Truly, we do have allergies in this house and welcome any kind of helpful product. I have used their pillow cases before.
If you read her post at http://blissfullydomestic.com/healthy-bliss/aller-ease-giveaway/, you will run to get those products, too! Yikes!
Thank you Lena and Aller-Ease!!

Mother's Day

Even better than a yard sale-can this be true? Last week, my son told me that a neighbor around the corner had a table out at the curb. Last year, this same neighbor had tossed ot a lovely wrought iron side table with a woven look top and ivy detail. I asked my husband and son to drive by and see what they thought....They didn't have to think...they loaded that table in the car pronto!! I could not believe it! The top is glass-completely perfect. There is rust on the center piece, but not even that bad! It weighs a ton! Can't wait to work on this beauty. I feel so lucky! But this gets better if you can believe it!

Mother's Day/ Husband's birthday...we always seem to share the day, or at least they are always the same weekend. So we were pretty busy, cooking, preparing, entertaining, when my same 15 year old son said he saw a bench around the corner. Well, I was not able to run off and see- so I said that maybe we could look tomorrow. Not thinking.

Next thing I know, my daughter says to come out front. Ok, drop everything...wipe hands...go outside. No way.....my son is coming up the driveway with the bench. This bench... which also weighs a ton!

It is in the garage because I am afraid these people will say "What were we thinking?" No, really, I just can't wait to get working on it and it is in the "spraying place". If the table is a ton...this is two tons. My son (football, shotput, 6'1'' 15yrs. old-but still my baby) said he had to put it down once on the way! Does my boy know me, or what? So, he said "Happy Mother's Day". Too much!

Thank you, Todd!

Thanks to those who have given me some tips, I am finally writing...I will have more questions for you! But, I would also take tips on what to do with these beautiful pieces, if you have a vision. My thought is Rustoleum white, but am open to suggestions!

I think I dreamt of them last night!

Please check out Kara's decor video on her blog at http://made2create.blogspot.com/ . She has a great give-away for an Anthropopogie giftcard! I hope you are all entering the Cottage Charm Charm Giveaway! Such beautiful things! It is at http://owcl.blogspot.com/2009/05/sign-up-now-for-3rd-annual-cottage.html. There are many, giveaways and many more planned! Have fun!

I just entered a giveaway on My Sweet Savannah! It is a burlap monogrammed table runner from Coastline-perfect!

check this out: http://theletteredcottage.blogspot.com/2009/05/coastline-contest.html
and this: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7044601
for a chance to win!

Our three!