No scroll left behind

Am I in the twilight zone or something?  Is there a boyfriend doppelganger in my midst, one who does crazy things like make window boxes and removes iron scrolls from railings at mere suggestion?  Clearly that can be the only explanation....I'll be testing it out tonight, when I request a home cooked meal cooked by someone other than myself.

Out came the grinder.  Look at those pretty sparks fly!  Be gone, scrolls, be gone!

Yes, yes, these scrolls were very harmless, but they "fuddy duddy-ed" up the whole look of the cape to me. I feel like they scream "I'm a house made in the '50s.  Don't confuse me with anything more modern." What, you don't hear see it?

Alternating patterns of swirled and straight rods, but to me, it's better than scrolls.

Good thing there was nothing in those pots, as this was taking quite a direct hit (yes, this was done before I went on my green painting frenzy.)

Now in the backyard, we switched to the sawzall and chopped those puppies right off.  Unlike the front where the railing was still in place, we had to replace this with something.  Can't have little children falling off and wrecking my plants. Or, you know, hurting themselves.  Sure.... 

At Home Depot we got some straight rods that you just cut to your desired length and weld to your space.

A little spray paint and 36 dollars later, we're rocking a more streamlined look.  Still needs touching up, but a huge improvement over the ornate pattern that was there.

 

So yeah, you saw the cute boyfriend with the safety glasses, and there was a welding mask when that was happening, but still, he ended up with metal in his eye.  A sleepless and stressful night and an opthamologist later, the metal was removed.  It left an indentation and a scratch, and thankfully, with eye drop antibiotics, he's fine now.  No eye patch necessary, though he couldn't go to work for a few days.  The computer nor the sun would have been good for him.  The piece did not fly in when he was welding, but somehow got transferred there after, maybe when he rubbed his eye or changed his shirt. Just a word of caution.  Eyes are serious business. 

 

Zero scrolls, one afternoon, two eyes.  

 

All is well.    

 

 

 

I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power, Power of paint @ Domestically Speaking, Outdoor Extravagnaza @ Living Savvy, Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

 



Novogratz Collection at CB2 #CB2NovogratzBrasilSweepstakes

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of CB2 for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

i love the modern look of CB2's furnishings, and now they've partnered with designing couple Robert and Courtney Novogratz to feature new products influenced by their vacation home in Brazil.  The CB2 and Novogratz Collection combines punchy pops of colors and warm wood tones for a true tropical feel.  This rouge coffee table is all over the polka dot trend, which i pretty consistantly rock, although not usually in my home decor.  This piece is a fun and funky way to try it.   One more reason to love these two?  They've partnered with CB2 to give away a trip to Brazil.  Not only that, you'll be staying in the Novogratz's actual home.  Enter the CB2 and Novogratz Brasil Sweepstakes to win a week's vacation in Trancoso for you and three friends.  Make that you and 2 friends, since you'll be taking me, right?!  10 other winners will recieve a CB2 giftcard for $100 and a personally signed copy of Bob and Courtney's book, Home by Novogratz.  For a chance to win, enter at cb2.com/sweeps from now until June 3rd. To stay updated about this trip of a lifetime, follow CB2 on Twitter (@CB2Tweets) and check them out on facebook.

I got the need. The need for green.

Springtime gives me what i like to call the "itching for the greens." It's like the running of the bulls, but with a lot less goring. I get in a "what can i make green" or "where can i add green" or "man, i want more plants but my cats will eat them" mindset. I need green!

Enter free sample of paint called Herb Cornucopia.  Springy green goodness?  Oh yes. You down with OPPP? Other people's painted pots? It was time to paint some of my own.

Oh heck yeah. 

Loving this punched up view of the garage!

So why the green love?  Just look at how well these front flower beds are growing.

Not bad for someone who has no idea what they're doing, eh?

And inside, the best green space, and the best place to observe nature but be removed from it (oh yes)

Le sunroom.

Le sigh.

Anybody else get the itching for the greens?  Not to be confused with poison ivy, or anything...


I'm partying here: Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick, Pinterest Challenge @ Bower Power, Power of paint @ Domestically Speaking, Outdoor Extravagnaza @ Living Savvy, Sundays @ Suburbs Mama Craftomaniac,  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, home stories a-z, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, beyond the picket fence,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, spring into spring, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, charm of home, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   a round tuit

This weekend i was one of THOSE bloggers....

the one's whose partners OK their DIY/honey do/latest idea and get right to it.  Usually when i ask the boyfriend to help me hang or make something, it goes a little like this.

Me: I'd really like to ....insert random DIY idea here....
Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.
Me: Frowny face

OR

 

Me: Did you see, across the street, they ...insert random DIY project here...
Him: How am i supposed to finish the basement/bathroom/current project if you want me to do that?

OR

 

Me: I really want to ...insert random DIY wish here...
Him: How's it feel to want?
Me/Him mimicking me: Oh, i know exactly how it feels to want, don't you worry.

 

But this weekend-this weekend of glorious Saturday weather-it went a little something like this.

Me: I'd really love it if you built a flowerbox under the garage window.  Don't we have any wood lying around? 
Him: And what would this box look like?
Me: I'm sorry, what now? 
Him: The box, what would it look like?  Just plain?
Me: However you want the box to look, darling.
Him: What color would you paint it?
Me: White?
Him: We have extra tan paint that matches the shed, you could use that.
Me: And we could add white trim to really match the shed?
Him: Let's go, get your painting clothes on.
Me: Woo hoo!

And then there was skipping.




This was early spring last year.  Note the frustrating rate at which the hostas unevenly grow.  But don't you think that window is just calling out for a window box?  And imagine this with stucco, as i have been doing since we built this behemoth.

So while i was basking in the sun and the breeze, enjoying the fact that there are no bees out yet, and painting the trim,

S was constructing the box.

This is what the shed looks like look, so we painted it to match.

Then Lily and I watched as S hung it....

under the watchful and approving eye of the Lady of the Garden, aka creepy garden lady whose partial body we unearthed whilst building the garage.  I propped her there to keep an eye on things. 

This will look so good when i can fill it with flowers!

 Or, apparently until the time comes, gnomes. 

Me: Don't you think it would look great if we built huge flower boxes for the front of the house?

Him: Yeah, I'll get right on that.

 

Sigh.

 

What have you been up to?  Finally feeling like Spring?

Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, my romantic home, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,  power of paint @ domestically speaking, a round tuit

In the kitchen with Moen

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Moen, Incorporated for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

So let me just share something with you about my kitchen.  You've seen it.  You've seen it needs updating.  But have you ever noticed the faucet? 

Actually, let's not blame the faucet-it's not its fault that it barely reaches into the sink.  I suppose the fault lies with the sink, for having its holes on the wrong basin.  One can get a new sink, or one can get a new faucet that could hopefully have a far enough reach.  One can and will definitely do both when the kitchen gets updated.

I'd love one of those sleek high arch faucets, with the pull down sprayer, or maybe one of those ones you just touch and don't actually have to turn on.  Definitely more modern looking than the current situation. 

Have you seen the Kiran Spot Resist one-handle pulldown kitchen faucet?  Meets almost all those requirements.

 

Gorgeous. 

Come on now.  Seriously sleek.

And this?

A finish that resists fingerprints and water spots?  If only my fridge would resist fingerprints, now that would be something.

I love how Moen has something that fits everybody's taste-the sleek modern look like the Kiran or more farmhouse styles for the collected or vintage inspired look. And affordable, too.  Head to your local Lowe's to check out the Kiran and other hardware from Moen.

For more information be sure to follow Moen on Twitter (@Moen) or on Facebook to learn about new products and stay updated. 

what's your kitchen style? 

 

 

 

 

Baby, It's cold outside-Sponsored post

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of QuadraFire for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Could it BE any colder out there?  With that wind chill, i don't really think so.  It's a good time for staying inside, and staying warm by the fire. 

QuadraFire Pellet Stoves are free standing or insert stoves that use recycled materials to form the pellets that  are burned in the stove.  The stove then sends off less carbon emissions into your home, very much reducing your carbon footprint.  Take a look at the graphic to get a better idea.

I've blogged in the past about trying to be as green as i can manage, with our composter and new heating and a/c unit that we got tax credits for, and now the government has extended the tax credit for homeowner's who purchase a pellet stove until December 31st of this year.  It's a 10% tax credit that is good for up to $300...i could do a lot with $300, and i'd rather it be in my pocket rather than anybody else's.

Quadra-Fire is giving away a pen and notebook made of recycled materials to one lucky reader.  I love that this continues to highlight how being eco-friendly is important to this company.  The winner will be chosen on February 28th.

For more information on this popular heating alternative, visit them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

Twenty Thirteen

2013.  Unflippinbelievable.  Where does the time go?  Let's take a look back on the year that was, and see if we actually accomplished anything in those 12 months.

The debrownification of the living room reached an all time high when i found this Missoni ottoman on clearance.


Then i bought the realest looking fake plant to add some life and greens, and i'm happy to say the plant is still thriving.  Ha. 

Then we spent a glorious two weeks in Aruba gorging ourselves on delicious food and ideal scenery.


We installed these ikea shelves to brighten up the kitchen and finally make some good use of this big wall.

A little kitten made an unexpected home with us.

I took my maiden voyage with rub'n'buff and transformed this mirror into something i like much better.


The basement made actual visual progress

Created my most favorite tablescape of the year.


Enjoyed the holidays in a winter wonderland relaxed sort of way.

And lost a door decorating contest (boo hiss!!)


One of my resolutions this year is to actually take the time to photo edit, and i was all prepared to do so with this post-kicking it off on a successful start and all that-but for some reason no new pictures will load.  There was even a collage, people!  Talk about fancy.

The basement is 75% done, and there better be a reveal in the next few months or the boyfriend will have to deal with one pissed off partner.  Prepare to hear about the dining room again, for we have to hang the marbled papers, rearrange some art and install the new lighting that i won. 

And maybe-just maybe-we can seriously entertain the idea of a kitchen update after the basement is complete.  Here's to hoping!  And here's hoping it all looks pretty in pictures!

What do you hope to accomplish this year?


Craftomaniac, Motivate Me Mon @ Keeping it Simple, DIY Showoff, Met Monday, Anything Goes, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, Tuesdays Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, tabletop tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. sugar and spice @ 733, wow us weds @savvy southern style, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman, whatever goes weds @ someday crafts, 52 mantles, fall into fall, Transformation Thurs @ The Shabby Creek Cottage, vintage thingy thurs @ the colorado lady, Strut Your Stuff @ Somewhat Simple, hooking up @ house of hepworths, open house @ no minimalist here, share awesomeness @ 36th ave, tutorials and tidbits, simply link @ simply designing, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, happy hour @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, feature yourself fri @ Fingerprints on the fridge, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now, free for all @ 5days5ways, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, frugalicious friday @ finding fabulous, potpourri @ 2805, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove, show and tell fri @ my romantic home, overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming., shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,