We have a wonderful bay window in the kitchen. Sadly our kitchen's bay window faces the backyard so we don't get a lot of light in there, but we do get a great view of the backyard! So with that said I wanted curtains that were pretty and let light in. The ones we previously had were pretty but blocked much of the light leaving the kitchen pretty dark.

This photo was taken in January. I loved these curtains because 1. they had a pretty rich red color 2. they were balloon curtains (who doesn't lie ballon curtains?) The kids were beating on the table for cookies. They don't play when it comes to sugar!
These are the curtains I just finished today. They take about 20 min. each to make. I bought the material for $4/yd at Hancock fabric store. They are the perfect weight, pattern, & color. I spent about $25 to make 4 of these roman shades. And I got the fabulous tutorial from Little Green Notebook.

I have made some for my sons room and the kitchen so far. I plan on making some for my room next! They are so easy and customized to whatever material you want. Doesn't get any better than that.

P.S.

I am STILL working on that armoire, so stay tuned.

A Win-Win Situation

In my long gone teenage years I learned that in relationships things have to be 50/50. With that said Hubby wanted a new tv to watch his beloved sports games (tho I watch sports too, it is not important to me what size tv it is on). So I figured this would a perfect oppurtunity to negotiate for another tv stand. Knowing we needed more storage in the den I wanted a solid bigger piece, but not tooooo big. I found this buffet on CYS for $90. After some haggling I got it for $70!

I do believe it is mahogany wood. Solid wood..woohoo. Though I do love the stain, it wouldn't fit into my den colors. So I wanted to paint it black. I found a great tutorial by Jenny @ Little Green Notebook, by the way she's a genius. I only had to use spray paint, sandpaper, wipe on polyerathane, & a little primer. I followed Jenny's directions. And here ya go:

It is perfect for storing our movies, game consoles, kids art supplies, and so much more. I will post pics later with the tv on it once I finish doing my den. But I am very happy with my "TV Console".

p.s. I still haven't finished the Girls' armoire! Procrastinator much? I think so. I got out to the garage and started cleaning it out. Go figure.

Not Your Kraft Mac n Cheese Blues

Today is one of those days. With my husband always working from before sun-up to after sun-down, leaving for the month of Nov. & then again in March for another whole year, I often feel sad, angry, and unappreciative.

I am sad he is leaving again to Afghanistan. I am angry he can't stay. And I have a hard time appreciating what he does because of my selfishness. At this point I see him 11 months out of 24, and have only had 1 week with him to myself in the last 3 years. So this song is fitting at the moment.

I love Alicia Keys music. And she is even better live, and way prettier too.

No Turning Back Now

Like I said before, this project is a sloooow transformation. With the other things I am doing this week the Girl's armoire has kinda been on the back burner. Here are some pictures I took a few days ago or last week??? I can't remember. But I'll be showing it somemuch needed love today :o)
I ripped the back off, because I have some fabric I plan on puttin back there to add some prettiness so it's not so bland.

This stripper ate right through the 5 layers of paint. In order from top to bottom were a beige rubbery paint, deep mauve/purplish, and white. The previous owners laid it on THICK!

After some scraping this is what I am working with right now. Looks bad huh? After a good sanding it will probably look like a beginners building project..lol. Though I am a beginner, so it is fitting then. Be back later with more pics. I might actually get some primer, and paint on today!!

Whatever Could This Be?

Yes folks, sadly to say it's the $20 armoire I bought for my Girl's room. But I am slowly transforming it into something of beauty. I have many inspiration photos that I will share tomorrow. Right now this solid, structurally (if that's how you spell it) sound beauty is sitting in my garage ready to be sanded and stripped completely. Stay tuned for my progress report and inspiration photos. See I told you I had bunches to share. This ain't even the icing on the cake!

Mirror Mirror On The Wall...

So I'm slowly working on my bedroom, as well as every other room, and really want a round mirror to hang over my bed. The one below my mother got off of craigslist for $10. It's currently being used to hide our router from rearing it's ugly head. It is a little small (20") compared to the one I want (which is the one hanging over my mother's bed). So I want to make it appear bigger.

I really love this mirror. I can't remember where the 1st image is from, but the 2nd is from ebay.

So I am thinking I can spray paint some shish-kabob skewers gold and hot glue some different size round craft mirrors on it? Do you think it'll work? I saw where one of my fave bloggers did it and her room is STUNNING! Here is hers . Her stuff is amazing!! Gorgeous room!!

Sweet Success

How can something so easy be soooooo good!?! Last week I made some extremely heavenly got to be kidding it can't be that easy Strawberry Cobbler.

I bought some strawberries last week that just smelled so sweet, I swear I could taste strawberries in the air around them. I picked up 2 pints and went home got on Google, as I always do and found this awesome site. http://lesleyskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/08/strawberry-cobbler.html

Although I didn't use the exact recipe, because I didn't have all the extras on hand, I did use one I found in the comments section.

1 C. flour

3 Tbl. sugar

1 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder

pinch salt

1/2 stick butter

1 egg 1/2 milk

Mix dry ingrediants together. Cut in butter. Add the egg and milk, stirring until it's all blended.

"Pour" (it's rather thick) into an 8x8 buttered pan. Top with fruit of your choice. ( I used 2.5 cups of strawberries) Then drizzle on this struesel:

1/2 C. flour

1/2 C. sugar

1/2 stick butter

Bake at 400 for 35 minutes. SO GOOD! You can use other fruits too.

I'm A Barbie Girl, In A Barbie World

One thing that always stands out in my childhood memories are my Barbies. I used to dye (using red pistachios) and cut their hair. I would even sew little tube dresses for them. I would've sewn more, but I'm not very inclined in the sewing department just yet. Anywho..so now that my little girl, all 4 years old, keeps at least 3 Barbies in tow, I have decided to add it as an element in her room. She absolutely loves these shadowboxes, only because they encase cute little Barbie outfits! These were so easy to make.

I bought the shadowboxes for $7.50 (50% off) and fabric about $6 a yard (I used less than 1 yard) at Hobby Lobby. I painted the frames with liquid gold leafing and wiped on some cream craft paint for a prettier finish. Hot glued the barbie outfits, and hung them up. Eazy peazy! These will hang over the Girl's armoire.

The Pinkest Room You Will Ever See

I've been steadily, over the last year, working on my house. So far I have 2 favorite rooms. The den, and the Girls room. They're sooo close to being done. Right now I am working mostly on the girls room. It used to be shimmering fuschia & orange. So bright and fun!!



But I felt a hole in my design heart :o( That needed to be filled. So now I have been hard at work turning it completely......PINK!

Of course I still have a long ways to go until it is exactly how I want it, which is PERFECT. I am finishing my Girls armoire as we speak so it can take it's rightful place where the nighstands (which will later be stored in the garage) are. I have another chest that is a little wider to put inbetween my Girl's beds, princess pictures of my Girls to put in the 2 cream frames, and another quilt has to be added to match the other bed. I am so happy with how everything is turning out at the moment. I will be posting pics of the armoire and chest as I finish them. So much to do, so little time....whew!

A New Home.

While I still fairly new to blogging I had a hard time using wordpress, so I switched to Blogger. I feel like my new home is going to suit my needs just fine. Today I will be doing a ton of posts. I can't wait to share my DIY decorating adventures. As you will see I am a lover (addict actually) of blogs. I will be sure to list which blogs inspired me to do some of the projects I've done as I do them.