Aqua Piano

My new friend Juliette just moved back into the neighborhood and hired me to refinish her piano as a Christmas present to herself. Isn't she thoughtful? How did she know that's exactly what she wanted?!?

Here's a crappy iphone before picture.

She wanted to paint it white but I talked her into doing this great aqua color. I'm so glad I did, it's so much more "her". She is very colorful when she talks and totally cracks me up. And with all of the neutral walls I thought a huge pop of color would make things interesting.

This next picture is actually a truer representation of the color. The stain I used over the top gave it a gorgeous green hue. 

Then I was Christmas shopping and spied these UH-mazing pillows at TJ Max. They had all the colors in her room which never happens. And I just happened upon it. Lucky.

We're going out of town for Christmas so I'm going to be MIA again for a while. Sorry, but Merry Christmas to everyone!!!

Front door holiday decor

I was so happy with my last front porch vignette that I decided to keep most of the elements and just update a few items. I bought some fake poinsettias from Goodwill for a couple dollars and added a little Christmas tree from Target to the metal stand. That's all! It's amazing how different something looks just by changing a few accessories.

Christmas party

I was asked a while ago to host a Christmas party for all of the women who I go to church with. I jumped at the opportunity to design something temporary, easy and fun. My husband was just glad that I might actually deep clean the house this year.

After finding some over sized, over ugly ornaments from Goodwill, brainstorming with my sister, and searching on Pinterest, here's what we came up with.

I needed enough seating for 40-50 people, have them all in the same room, and be able to see the t.v. My husband hung some branches from the ceiling. I'm not sure if you (or I) knew this, but my husband is apparently an expert angler. Which came in handy because if the fishing line didn't hold, I would ultimately be responsible for maiming someone. That's a lot of pressure.

After a quick can of heirloom white spray paint, the once gold ornaments were looking very festive. I tied them to the branches with red and white bakers twine from Hobby Lobby and called it a day.

It was really fun to host this years enrichment dinner for my church. I have to say, my tile floors took quite the beating from food and chairs and they are still looking fantastic. I really love how easy they are to clean. Here's one more of some of the awesome women who came.

Let's see how long my house stays clean. My money is on 9 hours. And mostly because my kids will be asleep for the next 8.

It's ok though. I kinda miss the semi-permanent blanket fort in the living room.

House for sale

We will be listing our rental home for sale in the next couple of days. If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing out here in San Tan Valley, please give our Realtor, Chris Wilson a call at (480) 440-1559 or e-mail him at thewilsonadvantage@gmail.com to schedule a showing. Here's the listing.

Big things are in store for our family and I'm excited to share them with you when it happens! Here are some pictures of the house...

Ready to party?

Because I'm not. I'm hosting a dinner for the women in my church at my house and I have a long ways to go. I was messing around with some artificial greenery around my antique chandeliers. I love the look, but I'm slightly concerned about my house burning to the ground.

On a scale of 1 to a fork in the microwave, how flammable do you think this is???

Anyways, I thought I'd just let you know. If you don't hear from me for the next couple of weeks don't even worry. I'm just painting, cleaning, and rearranging to try and fit 60 people in here for an evening of fun, spiritual, Christmas cheer.

Oh Christmas tree

I decided to simplify my Christmas tree this year with minimal ornaments and decorations. And I love it. I also decided to get rid of my tree skirt and jump on the galvanized bucket band wagon. It's my favorite part of the tree now.

To make the bunting banner, I ordered an antique atlas and made some color copies of one of the pages at Staples. The book had to be made before 1923 for the copyright to be expired so I could legally make the copies. Did you know you could do that? I had to argue with the guy at the copy center for half an hour before he gave up (they always do...)

Just a little burlap ribbon, an antique measuring stick and some mini chalk boards from World Market and I was done. In record time.

If I was into elf on the shelf I think I would have him erase some of the chalk boards and draw the word fart on them or something. The... uh... kids would think that was totally hilarious. Not me, I'm way more mature than that ;)

Speaking of World Market, do you remember my Christmas present hint to Katie? Well, a couple of my AMAZING readers pointed me towards World Market for the least expensive, most similar drying rack I've seen.

Here's the link to it. SOOOOO inexpensive! It now proudly sits on my counter so my kids can reach their koolaid holders. Boy am I glad people still read this thing. You saved me a ton of money Wendy and Jodi! Thanks again!

And lastly, I have some sad news. I found an amazing stocking on pinterest that I wanted to try and make. I bought some fabric for them and realized after I had sewn two that I didn't have enough fabric for the lining for the other two. I went back and they didn't have anymore of the grey linen look left! They also didn't have it at the other 3 Joann's I went to. I'm going to have to seam rip the one I had finished and use different fabric for the lining. Rat fink. Oh well. Here's the lone stocking I was able to finish.

Sad, sad day. I hate when I have motivation to finish a project and logistics get in the way. Lame. Hopefully I'll figure out a solution and finish them soon. I'd love to tell you how I did them. It's a really neat trick using wax paper.

Happy turkey day.

Katie corner

Sometimes I tell my kids to go to Katie corner. This usually happens after one of them dumped out the shampoo I just bought all over the floor in the bathroom and the other one locked me in the chicken coop. I have to separate them during time out or they think of punishment as a mandatory party. One of the time out zones is right here....

The reason why I call this one Katie corner is because my best friend Katie Marie bought me those wreaths last year for Christmas. And the reclaimed frames are made from salvaged wood I got on our trip to Savannah this past year. And because when I go to get them from time out, I am reminded that somebody, somewhere, loves me even if my children aren't acting like it at that particular moment.

If you lust after these wreaths, Ballard Designs still have them for sale. You can find them here.

Thanks again for the present Katie, I don't know how you're going to top it this year. Oh, here's an idea! Just kidding. Kinda.

Also, if you think that my sweet, beautiful children couldn't be capable of such destruction, feast your eyes on what an entire box of Nesquick looks like after the kids find it's super secret hiding spot...

I love the heck out of these little turds.

Trip to ikea

I went to Ikea to buy new slipcovers for my couches and they had some new Christmas stuff out. I bought a couple of wreaths and some mini trees for next to nothing. They are just the right amount of shabby and look completely real. My husband even asked how I was planning on keeping them alive.

I'll show him...

I hung the wreaths with some rope I had in the garage. I love how they look next to all my white dishes. I may have a small obsession with white dishes. Don't even worry though, I'm getting help. Here's one of the trees in a rusty bucket in my guest bath.

sorry for the horrible lighting...

I also bought that mirror at the same yard sale I got the door at. It weighs more than me so I had my husband help me hang it. He told my kids it was a magic mirror that showed you monkeys when you look in it. My 3 year old was laughing all morning.

Here are the other two trees I bought. I'm thinking of going back fore more. I really can't get enough. I covered the bases of these ones in burlap.

I'm waiting for an etsy purchase before I can finish my tree and mantle. I can't wait for it to get here so I can show all of you!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

For any who know me personally, you will be shocked to hear that I am turning over a new leaf. In years past I haven't decorated for any holidays, much less Christmas. Well, this year I have been ravened by the Christmas bug and already have up a lot of my decorations. I have much more to do including my mantle and Christmas tree but here are a few shots of what I've been up to since the 1st of November.

I wanted to make something to hook back packs and the like for my front door area. Right now it's great for the kids junk so they don't just chuck it on the floor right when they walk in. When the kids are on winter break I'll use it to hold my stockings I'm planning on sewing.

I found the giant yard stick and hooks at Merchant Square in Chandler. I love that place. They have so many vendors I almost always find what I'm searching for.

I went yard sale-ing with my friend Reanne last Saturday and we stopped by the most adorable old man's house. He had gorgeous antique furniture and was using an old door as a table. I told him it was awesome and my friend asked him if he'd be willing to sell it. He said he couldn't take any less than $10. SOLD! Here it is nestled behind my Goodwill chair in my front room.

I also spray painted an old trunk and hand painted a grey red cross symbol for the coffee table in this room. I added some casters for height and so my kids can use it as a battering ram. I'll post more pictures of this room when the Christmas tree is done.

Come back on Thursday for more!

Last of Kalli's house

Today are her two little boys rooms and bath. She said she got her inspiration for her guest bed from the talented ladies at Me and Jilly. Here's the link with really simple photo instructions. It is one of my favorite beds in blog land and Kalli's version is just as inspiring. I love that they added a head board to the design.

Here's the babies nursery. My old crib looks Uh- mazing in there if I do say so myself.

Don't worry. I already dibs-ed those lockers when she wants to sell them. Here's her tiny bathroom. I had to be a contortionist to get the pictures, but I did it!

That's all for now. I hope you enjoyed her home, I know I sure did! I'll let you know the progress in her master bedroom as it happens.