Christmas Cards 2015

I really didn't think I would be able to pull it off this year.   It's been a tough couple of weeks for me.  I came down with a bad case of bronchitis mid October and I am still suffering from it.   But I couldn't bear the thought of not sending out a hand-crafted card this year.   

So I kept it simple and worked on the cards during football:  Sunday night football, Monday night Football and Thursday night football.....

I didn't have to pull out my Cricut this year either.  I just used two snowflake punches:

I cut red and green snowflakes -- which took forever!

Then I arranged them in a wreath, added some pearls and a gold-glittered bow:

I stamped the inside of the card:

and the backside:

It took me about a week or so to get them all put together.   Then Saturday I was able to drop them at the post office:

Next up:  getting the Christmas tree up!

Recycled Wreath and another Basket

Am I the only one that loves front door wreaths?  I mean, I really love them!  I have a different wreath for every occasion and even non-occasion.   I always have a wreath on my door.    It drives my sister crazy.   In fact, she loves to mock my wreath obsession.   That does not stop me from adorning my front door with a new one at least eight times a year.   

A couple weekends ago I put this one on the front door:

It's a simple one, but lovely nonetheless.   Since I still have that painting situation going on I didn't put any Halloween decor out nor will I be putting any Thanksgiving decor out.   I'm okay with that because holiday decorating is not conducive with what's going on the main rooms right now.   But I'm not okay with having the same wreath on the front doors for months on end.  So I decided to repurpose the wreath I had hanging on the door.   And it didn't cost me a thing.  I took apart the wreath I had on the door and shopped my craft room for the rest.   After it was all done I added a chalkboard tag on it to give it the perfect finish:

 I've said it once, I'll say it again.  Little things make me happy.

And speaking of happy, remember the basket tray that I bought at Joanne's to corral my spoons and such?  I ran out that same weekend and bought another one to house the doggie treats.

I actually combined two areas.  Doggie treats (and human treats) and the key basket all in one:

Another win.   It keeps the counters clean and Sweetheart really is a good sport about respecting my love of organizing and neatness.  He just goes with the flow and pretends to really love it.  I know that he could care less but I love that he pretends.  :)

p.s.  progress in the painting situation.  I've started the primer process.....

Organizing with Trays

Little things make me happy.   Like finding a cute basket tray at Joanne's for 40% off.   And then also finding some containers to corral my spoons and utensils for 60% off.   I was inspired by a Pottery Barn catalog that sits on my desk at work.    The basket is big enough to gather everything together, yet slim enough to not look bulky.   

When I saw these white vases in the floral area at Joanne's I grabbed a tall one and a short one.   I just knew the tall one would be perfect for the stainless steel utensils and the short one would nicely house the wooden spoons:  

And because "one does want a hint of color" (that's a quote from one of my favorite movies:  the Birdcage) I pulled out a bud vase and added fresh faux clippings.  See what I just did there?  I pretended to walk into the back yard to grab clippings when what I really did was buy faux greenery at Hobby Lobby today and clipped up the stems when I got them home.   Don't judge me.   

And since the tray was big enough, I was able to combine two areas into one.   On the other side of the stove I had a small tray that held the oils and salt & pepper shakers.   I decided to add them to this tray.  And I like it.

So that I would have a smooth surface (and also to protect the basket from oil spills) I bought a picture frame to line the basket.  It's an 11x14 frame that fit perfectly into the basket.

I love the way it looks.  I love that I freed up counter space.  I love that it looks as cute as I imagined it would.   Little things.  Happy.  Me.

Gold

In case you are wondering, I still have not started the paint project.   I have had the hardest time finding just the right color.   Mind you, this project is on month ten of being at a standstill.  In the meantime, my BFF started house hunting, found a house, had the new house painted a nice cool gray, had her old home (which will be a rental) painted a nice warm beige and she is living happily ever after.   In the meantime, I sit here with tons of paint samples.   I did learn from her paint decision that I definitely want a warm gray versus a cool gray.   Ahhhhh.....progress.

So while I ignore my paint dilemma I divert my focus to the little table in the hallway.   I've always disliked the table because the legs are antiqued rubbed silver-ish.   Why I never thought of painting the legs is really beyond me.  This weekend it just occurred to me that I could paint the legs instead of replacing the entire thing.


 The 'before' with the old silver legs and the boxes I used to try to cover up the problem:

And the 'after' with the gold sprayed legs:

I have to say I like it.  I like it a lot.  It's not perfect but this is a dark little hall so flaws are nearly invisible.  And I know those flowers are out of season but isn't faux in season all year round?

On top of football, a trip to San Fransisco and the non-painting that is going on around here, my nephew got married last weekend!   Sweetheart and I were part of their bridal party and we had the best time!  We are both so happy for them!

Time

Finding the time these days to sit and upload pictures and posts updates is impossible.   It has been a great summer and I guess enjoying the moments with Sweetheart took priority over this little hobby of mine...as they should. 

I have been working on a few projects here and there.   One of my favorite ones is the DVD library we created in the mini hallway:

I have started collecting paint samples.  This has been the bane of my existence.  I've actually been working on this since January.  It's so hard to find the right color.   To add to that, the rooms I want to paint have high ceilings and I have to primer the walls before the paint and that's just too much for me to take on.  BUT, Sweetheart agreed to hire someone to come in and paint so I'm working on that this week!   In the meantime, I have spots of paint all over the walls in the kitchen, dining area and living room.   True story. 

Oh that reminds me of another unfinished project.  This cute end table that I took from the bedroom to keep in the living room.   It sits right beside the back door.  I wanted to house patio items that shouldn't be outside in the heat and extra blankets.  I want to paint it and replace the hardware.

And it's that time again!  We have our first preseason game on Saturday so I'm pretty sure that my unfinished projects will take a back seat to this:

My goal is to have everything finished by December.  Wish me luck!

Makeover

Is it just me that is constantly wondering where the times goes?  I mean, time seems to just fly by in just the blink of an eye.   Last time I was here, I was getting for Christmas.   Now, it's spring and I'm getting ready for Easter.   Speaking of Christmas, we had a wonderful Christmas season.   I am always so grateful that I am able to spend the holidays with my family in Tucson.   Sweetheart is such a good sport about the constant travel to Tucson during the holidays.  There is a LOT of travel during October, November and December and I am so grateful that he's so supportive during what could easily be a very stressful time.   Dividing holidays between his family that lives in Phoenix and my family that lives in Tucson can get complicated.   But we always manage to iron out kinks and make it work.   

This is a picture that I took the first day of the season that I was able to wear boots because I was so excited!  I wait all year long for boot season.  In Arizona, boot season starts late and ends early.  It's a very short window and one must take full advantage of it.   It was some time around Thanksgiving that the weather was cool enough to wear boots -- see the pilgrim figurines on the table?   Yep, late November.  And do you notice that it wasn't tights with boots weather.   Tights and boots weather has an even smaller window than just boots.   It just doesn't get that cold here.    It's such a shame too because I've got some cute boots with tights outfits.  I'm just saying.......

Anyway, my post today isn't about my boots but about my new project.   I finally got Sweetheart to co-sign on the living room makeover.  For the last year or so I have wanted to repaint the living room, kitchen and dining room.  It' really all one big room so if I paint one, I must paint the rest.  

After we took the tree down in January, I did my annual deep clean.  I moved all the furniture to the middle of the room and vacuumed, cleaned walls, blinds and windows.   I love cleaning just about as much as I love boots.  True story.   

The look on Sweetheart's face never gets old when he walks in to find the living room in a jumbled mess:

I took down all the drapes too so that I could have them dry cleaned:

When I was done, everything looked so clean and fresh.  If it could only stay that way forever....

My house remains in this state as of today.   I plan on buying new drapes so I didn't hang the old ones back up.   I also plan on new pillows for the couch so I didn't put those back out either.  All the pictures and decorations are still in boxes.  I won't put anything out until the paint is on the walls:

On and see that unit sitting by the back door?  I took it from the bedroom and I plan to have it house the extra DVD's that are sitting on the media center.  I am going to paint it because I simply loathe that knotty pine color.    You should have seen the look on Sweetheart's face when I asked him to move it out into the living room for me.   He's all "did you say the living room????".

I am currently trying to find the right shade of grey for the walls.  I want a pale grey with navy accents.   It's a bit intimidating but fun at the same time.   We've had the dark color on the wall for the past eight years.  It's time for a new, lighter color.  It's time for a makeover.

TTFN~
Yolanda