design for home

I've been going to a deep, dark place...

<div align="center">It's down here...</div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327628343046546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvcHbHaNs4bh3PzPl5v33ZA7obEgSAP8X5cGcUdTUSPQX9OBivSULaYEjChBSC_I5gVdSabp-3YhMR5prksLTAMyu-8U-Aw9ZD3YKYI4t-7CCuN4srs6ZFW7k3GExbVK7LsW_nsIJablK/s400/DSC08201.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center">It's got floors like this -- <em>EWWW</em>!:</p><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327633951399762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRVqKn4biQoCQiFnilgwsL0EtA-EqRfV4NQIV20vhyG6ekkVKWdaxmw-bqKbn3LLr7WGTabDzPA96PObVUIQIAYRrO3ZMfIv6Xbpl_uaudn-cBGyJVttzP3-lpFx6xGrQjUcMsOXw3qPW/s400/DSC08206.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />There's usually a lot of this going on:<br /><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327642427566514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrcOAo5zZSqfsRN_mN6ULyV3qrxBIYx1EHI6Xt0X70kxKc63B2zNCDjVCRE36ZyAPJs0TXa8B_7LXSu-NTN907OQ2pZyL2_Vm_-sZWezqfPdm52XdFyUxdpbrc1w7y16gyvP4moRO2s6J/s400/DSC08210.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Hide your eyes...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">it's scary...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">this is the worst part:<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2Kd5ZMeoCQqQrjNkm__i6WZslZf64VTOmQyjfWiY5eWczVzYal4Sxjk5yU977_lixW3GNb4hndkpgDdJE8GOwWKl27CPfnTzNeK9NMUtvW15TEw_S3P4MWitfjT4qY4CBe8UvWFVPuN0/s1600-h/DSC08216.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327650636620338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2Kd5ZMeoCQqQrjNkm__i6WZslZf64VTOmQyjfWiY5eWczVzYal4Sxjk5yU977_lixW3GNb4hndkpgDdJE8GOwWKl27CPfnTzNeK9NMUtvW15TEw_S3P4MWitfjT4qY4CBe8UvWFVPuN0/s400/DSC08216.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>AHHHHHH!!!!! I <strong>know</strong>!!!<br /><br /><div align="center">God Bless blogging...but it has created a bloggy butt on this Chick. Seriously...I say I've gained ten pounds in the past year...</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />But really. It's only been since, maybe October, when I really got into the blogging stuff. That's what, <strong>FIVE MONTHS</strong>? </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br />Sick, I tell you. So this is how I spend <strike>20</strike> <strike>30</strike> 35 (!!!) minutes most nights now. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>It's time to get my butt back.</strong> </div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327834525081522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgua4kOyMS9uq00R0fLxnEFmMfRUfjNzMJHTS-X0xr_FLpQkM03_rH8Bv9Wi4YgSfLSQbk5mwQ2gcc1ky4SA6NOYfIeiyRIUrLW1IUpEJNr_O4OtgsaSfdzOwHwLoKV8PyPVyV4AqxeAkNe/s400/DSC08225.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><strike>Baby</strike> Toddler monitor? </div><div align="center">Check.</div><div align="center"><br />Remote? </div><div align="center">Check.</div><div align="center"><br />Phone? </div><div align="center">Check.</div><div align="center"><br />Ipod playing NKOTB?</div><div align="center"><em>Check.<br /></em><br />Next week, I start on this monster again:</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307327652429027970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYgGTUqFhQa7yjz9jk5FG8yaqXaCS_7py1euS7_0H-fNy94nuEyqFsOBCVFj91zzi00PoByoGaxgQRaXhKSVtATTIk_f8zwcCHwPirxz0YkOsnGRHYpEhxGo3XyG-UtkoH5Sw2UqapTZZ/s400/DSC08215.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div></div><p align="center"><em>I'm sceeeeered</em>!!!</p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center">P.S. Your comments on my last post made ME all weepy. So sweet!!</p><p align="center">P.P.S. I met one of my bloggy friends today! I can't wait to tell you about it. I also picked up an Easter/springy craft I will show you this weekend.</p>

I've been going to a deep, dark place...

It's down here... It's got floors like this -- EWWW !: There's usually a lot of this going on: Hide your eyes... it's scary...

8:19 PM

In this chair.

<div align="center">Before my son was born, my best friend told me she had something special she was going to give me <em>after</em> he arrived.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">It was the book <strong>Love You Forever</strong>. She wanted to wait till after his birth because she knew it would have even <em>more</em> meaning then. She knew. I would hold his teeny tiny body in this chair, reading it to him, tears running down my face. </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVc2f8cI3TviUm94HYjp-zcxiwolleTy7TxFcZCIr1nRxufK8yKRC-Py7bNJu1f5q3lUv9dpoJ04LDfrqTgpKum77k0cQlkzp5N-QkaUkHrLAfhwB5vvoiH7kU_iJbpMHpeWFUcgBtkSk/s1600-h/DSC08179.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306444038103074898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVc2f8cI3TviUm94HYjp-zcxiwolleTy7TxFcZCIr1nRxufK8yKRC-Py7bNJu1f5q3lUv9dpoJ04LDfrqTgpKum77k0cQlkzp5N-QkaUkHrLAfhwB5vvoiH7kU_iJbpMHpeWFUcgBtkSk/s400/DSC08179.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>It's about a Momma who picks up her baby while he sleeps, and rocks him back and forth,</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">back and forth</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">back and forth</div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">And she would sing, </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I'll love you forever,</div><div align="center">I'll like you for always,<br />As long as I'm living,</div><div align="center">my baby you'll be.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4P2MbKC_EM5hZALRGrw39I_omuE59Nf7WVNBuDa0El9EFjDREWh6mDThNFraOzlFN8mgdIAvCf7847R1ZmlefFFy2E7BtDlJq4qOyj96vU3yS7cc97r31VntaBxpqSMqWBvjiYIOy6N2/s1600-h/DSC08175.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306444035222185970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4P2MbKC_EM5hZALRGrw39I_omuE59Nf7WVNBuDa0El9EFjDREWh6mDThNFraOzlFN8mgdIAvCf7847R1ZmlefFFy2E7BtDlJq4qOyj96vU3yS7cc97r31VntaBxpqSMqWBvjiYIOy6N2/s400/DSC08175.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> I don't even know when I started doing it, but it's been a long time. It's a special treat just for me. I don't even know if my husband knows I do it. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">I'll pick up my sleeping boy, sit in this chair, and rock him back and forth,</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">back and forth</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">back and forth </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t6FP82iKsiMeEbFjFYaqZm8i9O2oGns3SHxtlzRt4VKvPoznuNlrCn3hqxowE-DC0H3SJHNPmNbJB27HF25uI4nlxGbdeLlFyFxsXTu5JcirrEV4P0mLBWuEriWmeNfabJxIMHoFN-Cr/s1600-h/DSC08173.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306444034063747618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5t6FP82iKsiMeEbFjFYaqZm8i9O2oGns3SHxtlzRt4VKvPoznuNlrCn3hqxowE-DC0H3SJHNPmNbJB27HF25uI4nlxGbdeLlFyFxsXTu5JcirrEV4P0mLBWuEriWmeNfabJxIMHoFN-Cr/s400/DSC08173.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Last night I realized how hard it is getting to get sleeping two-year-old out of his crib. He still bends his arms behind his head and arches his back and stretches, just like a baby. Do you know that stretch? He still does it. And then we settle into the chair and I rock him back and forth. </div><br /><div align="center">I stare at him in the dark, and every single time I do it, I remember sitting in this chair when he was days, weeks, months old, staring at that same face in the dark. I sit and stare and time just stops.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDtqmPbMR-cOV2hKu8GTH7W6AudTeRnFvPiezeJQVgUD35BIzZRx2plB0aYwbdcPOXooJ_OkW1-F7Au0EF5On_jUNm8_H2Dqtc6oDSa7e5HO8hVUfTmEnLo19IYrexNaQagbrjBB4_oQf/s1600-h/DSC08169.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306444026345325378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDtqmPbMR-cOV2hKu8GTH7W6AudTeRnFvPiezeJQVgUD35BIzZRx2plB0aYwbdcPOXooJ_OkW1-F7Au0EF5On_jUNm8_H2Dqtc6oDSa7e5HO8hVUfTmEnLo19IYrexNaQagbrjBB4_oQf/s400/DSC08169.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>Once in a while, his eyes will barely open, a huge smile will come across his face and he'll say clear as day whatever he's dreaming about -- usually Dadda, choo choos or Ho Ho Ho (Santa). I'll laugh so hard and he'll keep smiling and then he'll fall back to sleep. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKo2wfuoATkP3PalkL24M38moAtBKQJSXz28pF3KtAERMBkqyarlO_be6cyUVokcWejVMssDRsgTrVKHm0RghjGd7losvMmj5FWcbUnCPMOrOieSnwkQkrkKt2hhm27XJ5xseouUdltBU/s1600-h/DSC08164.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306444027812557602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWKo2wfuoATkP3PalkL24M38moAtBKQJSXz28pF3KtAERMBkqyarlO_be6cyUVokcWejVMssDRsgTrVKHm0RghjGd7losvMmj5FWcbUnCPMOrOieSnwkQkrkKt2hhm27XJ5xseouUdltBU/s400/DSC08164.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a>I sit and wish I could have him back as a baby, just for one day, one hour, one minute. Just to remember. All the while, I'm in the moment, memorizing his face, the weight of his body, his smell. So I don't forget. </div><div align="center"><br />But I know in two years, when I'm sitting and rocking my four-year-old, I will think back to when he was two, and I will have forgotten. Don't you wish you could bottle it up?</div><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306446356883957554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggzQ1bgaoPTEY5ScGBTWKmTFnRACZ94vgpriv-lmpbjODpEIHaRR-6sOY3a1_Uo4mYLwt_iGKA_OPPKh6QSXQgwzKz6wS7p_iSJGLxkSYdDRd8Tf41tF8TDoE6c_f_DnKY-H8DuAIA3ul/s400/DSC08179.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <p align="center">So I'll just continue my ritual, grabbing my sleeping boy, sitting in this chair, and rocking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.</p><p align="center">I'll love you forever,<br />I'll like you for always,<br />As long as I'm living,<br />my baby you'll be. </p>

In this chair.

Before my son was born, my best friend told me she had something special she was going to give me after he arrived. It was the book Love Yo...

11:09 AM

Where I write witty, brilliant things...

HA! Stop laughing! My friend <a href="http://thetwinsmama.blogspot.com/">Ellie Mae</a> tagged me to show where I blog...well, I usually blog on the laptop, which is all over the house. But I do a lot of <em>looking</em> at blogs in our office, does that count?<br /><br />I painted the office last weekend. I was going for a rust color the first time I painted it and for about three years, I walked in every.day. and HATED the color. It wasn't right -- too orange, not enough rust. I took advantage of the Behr sale to <strike>break my neck</strike> <strike>break my back</strike> paint the whole room again -- ceiling included. Oooooh yeah, I said ceiling. I redid it in a darker, brick color that I <em>think</em> I love. (It wasn't sunny out today so the walls look a little orangy in this light):<br /><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824553382116130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNNnzKFwCJOPyFvYRjgjjaldKNwKUf4hjNJ3YzM_VdV8mDPGXcpxcQhLX3aswCB2a9iKnvisbqVMESMPt8gBKqrft2cm9rEn1FqaYQjcB8kYxAfQwqs44auw-DSMd7X59r1Cyr4LT3JMc/s400/DSC08089.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />Drapes are half widths of fabric, hemmed with hemming tape. Custom, long and EASY!:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimwogtlTtcpdkzS_H8ruEWO0uuUBOI0g-YEoMJBo6lZO_P7VnA_zbIn3wvI2zok0fb4H_rQG5c9iEVorpvfeukW4tInlOXe5m8_b0n2kL1Q-N3UvI1ZFsdaF7xkltXYPDOEewOiJMf9ee1/s1600-h/DSC08090.JPG"></a><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305823514086593618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2PB0ZLISLL6GRbLkuQp-_ZCWdehrWfwSobVY1VeUN27HtfdDkCOB_Ar1MNItU99qnepMK4gbhILc1C00zuGIkM0Rm5EXyEXNPfae-pTnRTDOIQGm2p0t9LGmqqmoNI5LEnkz81N2XMn3/s400/DSC08081.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305823510136183490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-G0bvaxIoSeFR3ACznFd5xhIZTn2tLWYbwuYlcI2lpHnT37uXFoUiB2VdWXf1qDm0gJ00HKKQjAipn8aR2Dk4VLjJAGih7xcZ1cqxwKyEWr4hxpSYT2Q95YrA8mNDaFpNhd8wuy0g3er/s400/DSC08075.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />I got rid of the $20 office chair I bought years back and found this parson's chair at Kirkland's for $60 last year. LOOOOVE it! <em>And</em> it's comfy!:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nA5mB-Q1MOucWR__XwbWKbYvodoH52eACdh4avgY6xBM62K8ypJeLs52tIRrcb9qhtFvxUts3cZIEZ4Y-GFHBlgGWWYlhm79DQcwPubhKPwr75USxk9B2RFFJGEKJvsT-fpCaMfzI3dE/s1600-h/DSC08094.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824541238062338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nA5mB-Q1MOucWR__XwbWKbYvodoH52eACdh4avgY6xBM62K8ypJeLs52tIRrcb9qhtFvxUts3cZIEZ4Y-GFHBlgGWWYlhm79DQcwPubhKPwr75USxk9B2RFFJGEKJvsT-fpCaMfzI3dE/s400/DSC08094.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>We have a lot of pieces from our travels in here. These my hubby got for me while in Japan:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824018286098178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_4B6bPsF7Fgvyb7AZlabv7yj4BuYWOy6aDw8fz5LxC4EAqZQWYSpoiI_X35km4eTaQDzi3XRtF2wlxCeni0ua6O5EDKGh5yoMEbHzsksEwSh4ODkCNQ4hLRNuHen5XzFttXRRq-mHsVV/s400/DSC08087.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div><div>The kitties mean good luck:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305823515602228002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUfjAxq06fj2aIc6c7OwhCIFaiXz0A3YADMb2JhgrbRp_o7IGWj0U76gmfpD4keceRUzGsyw_heMH-6UIed9tQxxAfZ_aHD9IFIXcNwE4pux_sO-r2csFg4XWvSWjkItW9OtNHFDzW_rm/s400/DSC08083.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div><div>The top art piece has our favorite place to eat in NYC in it, the middle is a poster I framed of the skyline, and the bottom is a pic I took at Ground Zero just a few months after 9-11:</div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824013648553490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigda_Kgm6r6YGXgnHvOyzzNqwzbpH551f8iP41j6QEdqquaVH8S9uL1SrL2cwPOagBeuuNUgbmKg8IztOkVb3DJniX2QSgwggADxz3a8Pcjzex47UUdaDhmHZ6Hix9ddpNWQRqLidOsbUJ/s400/DSC08085.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />Told you I painted the ceiling! :) More about that later. The print up high is a picture of the Statue of Liberty in the dock in Paris, getting ready to come over to the U.S. Such a cool picture:<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRSZg3sM9szbeO1KJ_04lknUVE2a58uyFqVej_tF7QKyvEIxl1UruwsYxDmZVmdO1ceAqs_S1QdN8C2ti0uLZ6jtdABAlKkv6pEPaq0H_BiFgPF_WpP7a8Li2ZQ7-ZUbW2m-Buk3qM4Cf/s1600-h/DSC08100.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824540663763842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRSZg3sM9szbeO1KJ_04lknUVE2a58uyFqVej_tF7QKyvEIxl1UruwsYxDmZVmdO1ceAqs_S1QdN8C2ti0uLZ6jtdABAlKkv6pEPaq0H_BiFgPF_WpP7a8Li2ZQ7-ZUbW2m-Buk3qM4Cf/s400/DSC08100.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> I'm a freak about Kleenex boxes. They have to match and I about squealed when I saw this one. Problem much?:<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqdtBYpklFYTpz67FrD_PdRoQUz99iENixXeVBFCfWYrsuZSC9TxgrwhUiangh0jYAnGCN1jAU-nZf13F1rFauJfp3TV0dy6YyS-sCNMLb8IMfHKQ876N0yU4AY7lcdqMRNi7LEEknLfH/s1600-h/DSC08088.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824025480390898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqdtBYpklFYTpz67FrD_PdRoQUz99iENixXeVBFCfWYrsuZSC9TxgrwhUiangh0jYAnGCN1jAU-nZf13F1rFauJfp3TV0dy6YyS-sCNMLb8IMfHKQ876N0yU4AY7lcdqMRNi7LEEknLfH/s400/DSC08088.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Ya'll know I love cigar boxes for storage in here, and my sweet friend <a href="http://bella1104.blogspot.com/">Bella</a> sent me this one to add to my collection! It's perfect!:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305823523059291474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hqWchKeQixcgwF0DGRWy3qXJSzAeoRuPGRaBTGu5aConzlsyN_YGRHgXrj-c6MNq5N-itt-isAJ0Bojhde9ZZe1JAv8HNvofV1qwfRCsilYXj69uRftbJ9JKj_PsbCPUvhySYh18aE8W/s400/DSC08084.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />I moved most of my son's toys to our loft and LOVE IT. There are still a few toys in here, of course. :) The two larger bins were $5 (total!!) at the consignment shop -- on sale and with my credit. Whoohoo! The basket was white-washed and I painted it black:<br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CQe1treI63xT-qA7MMhFlJHbsSNiLhmQSkHQk14Eqofr2h9ahBDValS6UGd6AzSNKFcREiTkDuBhxqFGR_7HrSRwcTII1WwLaJITOtEEFDkm9GHewU1KTH8JCJiVCBsBDxuqN5R_xdJu/s1600-h/DSC08142.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305824015742914066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CQe1treI63xT-qA7MMhFlJHbsSNiLhmQSkHQk14Eqofr2h9ahBDValS6UGd6AzSNKFcREiTkDuBhxqFGR_7HrSRwcTII1WwLaJITOtEEFDkm9GHewU1KTH8JCJiVCBsBDxuqN5R_xdJu/s400/DSC08142.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>ACK! Look at those cords!! Hidden behind the trash can at least. Bleh:<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo33Uc6jXc7gH98UaHiDLeSZgHyIJ1oWkD1ntWotj2r0oPYf8s7NrJ83lwP5L0g9mtLg7zohkHPgI8PxJADv0VliU2js92BcteRJy46qxr-P_PXsgpeNbVA31SY5y4sRqTx2273F4itnG/s1600-h/DSC08072.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305823502559593922" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglo33Uc6jXc7gH98UaHiDLeSZgHyIJ1oWkD1ntWotj2r0oPYf8s7NrJ83lwP5L0g9mtLg7zohkHPgI8PxJADv0VliU2js92BcteRJy46qxr-P_PXsgpeNbVA31SY5y4sRqTx2273F4itnG/s400/DSC08072.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />My son wanted Bear to be in a picture:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305831126073448642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMGSVGUkgCLLfSE94YuJIQ2TjPNkuvg6n2Q4jp0nj8-RzhrxduAO4UPf1u-7QoiH-zWZaqhkiBIliFndeg8GuxTvl5QyD81ByV3kyJAXm4d7hx_-HsFam5b3I3-_MeonRsAW03H7RlkwI/s400/DSC08104.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> See those little hands, waiting so patiently....<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305831112953608050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZEzr4gt2VVgUoW3cTGftHQJgXi4FftZe_7hn1BC-YKJLxRZ4eDn0w2NIbLlO9j1jDqPOANdj4ziKabKxt0xkd1WauvrbYWGdmLgFAXt3J6eEaMK7X_pKgbsSB026RwAKm8WSPOeJCrL-/s400/DSC08110.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305831132672153042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBEt5NCJtoGP9gfPU1JCdjsdIrMtG_deESQH2I1jMT0rngqOvZBmxqbzjTKCErfg89STpdj9GNzOvqYgu85DLZNsbClvTQrTG7V3F6Dc2y5HtdsI-CvYMzM9PxGMOeujgbVQkKS1d2u81/s400/DSC08111.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /> Not so much. He would reach for him RIGHT as I took the picture EVERY TIME. He is so sweet, I could eat him UP. He finally just held him there...so he wouldn't have take his hands off of him. He loves that bear, just a little. :) <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305831133157199074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoGpbEkR5d_Gaf_U6PNtfHFIie1dSA5DVEfFVAg8zClQne6ydRehhQIygyIzcLDcfJX5uRQbWNTSLwQJsCpS4qrFV0Awvj36zvXpt2F7esR9KOFuPvyFi9BgTkJ-dXeLlEEucou5xUfuE/s400/DSC08120.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /><br />OK, no more office pics for a while, I'm sure you are officed-out. <br /><br />

Where I write witty, brilliant things...

HA! Stop laughing! My friend Ellie Mae tagged me to show where I blog...well, I usually blog on the laptop, which is all over the house. Bu...

7:01 PM

International Pick: Naladhu, Maldives

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzTF5mZvZvI_u9DAoefjhIdewSBg2felJ16YoVMMVTOAFU36PZFyH1aT0PDh5pVFQCstJqSMgcbUn0LVWWQomirn-EPGAiPmyJo2RgxvLjlT0uTqjYmhnAvBC1LrCY5E1NIoHkjtVugbG/s1600-h/mal11.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306561737280916898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzTF5mZvZvI_u9DAoefjhIdewSBg2felJ16YoVMMVTOAFU36PZFyH1aT0PDh5pVFQCstJqSMgcbUn0LVWWQomirn-EPGAiPmyJo2RgxvLjlT0uTqjYmhnAvBC1LrCY5E1NIoHkjtVugbG/s400/mal11.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a>Today's post is all about images that transport you to a paradise where senses are pampered, body is relaxed and mind is in a state of bliss.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitk6j1XNrRe5gq1FXXlugCrbWYMD4Xf1E_yKhCO5LgAhTeTTHW_2je-1lxBX_NOyP2b7CBlodTdkXLFdoyFgJstob1ZkWduszUZb3KRG3Fk7WHgwcO6WJXUQhsnyDntguJAEyO9XfaDgk6/s1600-h/mal6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306554041929413986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitk6j1XNrRe5gq1FXXlugCrbWYMD4Xf1E_yKhCO5LgAhTeTTHW_2je-1lxBX_NOyP2b7CBlodTdkXLFdoyFgJstob1ZkWduszUZb3KRG3Fk7WHgwcO6WJXUQhsnyDntguJAEyO9XfaDgk6/s400/mal6.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a href="http://www.naladhu.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Naladhu</span></a> is a luxury resort  located in the islands of South Male Atoll, Maldives.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB_lUi3WPh9aCtW7Y9eu7rqyupNb40AZYkOoNWtOhEDtljBg-a-n3HPyt88MsEC7GntXjjWbo7-rt_KXGXtQwKS5sET_vNdUXO6efbzmjlKXSB-ZiYKVGTvY069IsJnuZdGmZB2vKltQN/s1600-h/mal8.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306554042354628850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiB_lUi3WPh9aCtW7Y9eu7rqyupNb40AZYkOoNWtOhEDtljBg-a-n3HPyt88MsEC7GntXjjWbo7-rt_KXGXtQwKS5sET_vNdUXO6efbzmjlKXSB-ZiYKVGTvY069IsJnuZdGmZB2vKltQN/s400/mal8.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a>There are 19 private colonial-styled houses with ocean views.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb2r2amUc9b_vh305kxeLTecjqRjyRjbwrwesu9eqfoZPS-aWZtuj9k5YsqcBNsYtj6Aj-SQsQSNGVdWYj7dv0Oy5y5lrM2-9ZbFtyi1CxkQixVuIMPhK23ivfsXZOXA_ON3m0sGRdUp5/s1600-h/mal5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306553698378577138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb2r2amUc9b_vh305kxeLTecjqRjyRjbwrwesu9eqfoZPS-aWZtuj9k5YsqcBNsYtj6Aj-SQsQSNGVdWYj7dv0Oy5y5lrM2-9ZbFtyi1CxkQixVuIMPhK23ivfsXZOXA_ON3m0sGRdUp5/s400/mal5.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYWdtVyDDzCEZZByZ1NAlGkuH4O_uWbflzVU3C9PjQ42qCD_8RaPcyveVfwdTHnLoOzks970qljtQop7lZfcvYbt4FQWxDJyLxF3K7Zg0hBFDSIbBMpP_v3XE2kgKnOjBqiXiRQc4FWQ1/s1600-h/mal3.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306553700968376178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYWdtVyDDzCEZZByZ1NAlGkuH4O_uWbflzVU3C9PjQ42qCD_8RaPcyveVfwdTHnLoOzks970qljtQop7lZfcvYbt4FQWxDJyLxF3K7Zg0hBFDSIbBMpP_v3XE2kgKnOjBqiXiRQc4FWQ1/s400/mal3.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27aVozR62AIgnqQ_nYl1MqIqlusMI2BL9OhjGD9Ikiddh51IcQYzxeKmExgtaZ8Xa1_ECNeND_ujo1xXJ9G_WldcesAx-0hTA9QBmFZ-ixa09le7lU0suVm1z4fJM2VQPqRm6KR0w8qMe/s1600-h/mal9.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306554052586592162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi27aVozR62AIgnqQ_nYl1MqIqlusMI2BL9OhjGD9Ikiddh51IcQYzxeKmExgtaZ8Xa1_ECNeND_ujo1xXJ9G_WldcesAx-0hTA9QBmFZ-ixa09le7lU0suVm1z4fJM2VQPqRm6KR0w8qMe/s400/mal9.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-83_Cq2xydRmDvXIqFU3V4TYXqY3er04lck4TF3iUIxx_pp2hFpyYvFEOM8y9pYm2fzM0-Mft1rXqVv-znlq0E6F2SsAGDDfgOyZmvMjK8NVwp5AtI6vIDlRZmsfPsNX-vgX1XHsnNfUR/s1600-h/mal2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306553701488267794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-83_Cq2xydRmDvXIqFU3V4TYXqY3er04lck4TF3iUIxx_pp2hFpyYvFEOM8y9pYm2fzM0-Mft1rXqVv-znlq0E6F2SsAGDDfgOyZmvMjK8NVwp5AtI6vIDlRZmsfPsNX-vgX1XHsnNfUR/s400/mal2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Just love how the outdoor and indoor spaces just blend into each other.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQyhlWG9XCHalFdbQswZUmv4VQOZxmPR1xAzNEjCtnkMRQfduxHLWLPl4cMLJTbIU23bs0c1DZk8hM9wwqABwAujZOXbmwMfIaHvZHiGhINIs3iYvHnQSda_7E6qMbA1KyyVFMiWZ18Xq/s1600-h/mal7.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306554042260876194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQyhlWG9XCHalFdbQswZUmv4VQOZxmPR1xAzNEjCtnkMRQfduxHLWLPl4cMLJTbIU23bs0c1DZk8hM9wwqABwAujZOXbmwMfIaHvZHiGhINIs3iYvHnQSda_7E6qMbA1KyyVFMiWZ18Xq/s400/mal7.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1TLs81DAKNhI5ofjMpBIdSsxKXLppOKGbZSPpvL_m3pDD35oPNzyzwh_oQsJEcLIiWgGeEQiXdqjfjIkcBBU2d5meDrlZKQLxUgtQsW7gC7sCN3MPMgEHvD9TdPZzPNEaLO6cizGE7dP/s1600-h/mal4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306553699278123602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1TLs81DAKNhI5ofjMpBIdSsxKXLppOKGbZSPpvL_m3pDD35oPNzyzwh_oQsJEcLIiWgGeEQiXdqjfjIkcBBU2d5meDrlZKQLxUgtQsW7gC7sCN3MPMgEHvD9TdPZzPNEaLO6cizGE7dP/s400/mal4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a>Rich coloured fabrics juxtaposed with cool white washed timber panels in the rooms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_ca9Qoq8xL5jXoovdqdJG9-CNhWDIwCbpWBnZkmFHwOKT_Zs6YmIC8eD2x292dIwKUHVY08at1LcITtEqm_ywAIZMqu1qx0M1ySSdsEhs665uwYejfCDLQKPsjdl0JUvskmM6Ly0qhH/s1600-h/mal1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306553695095659954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5e_ca9Qoq8xL5jXoovdqdJG9-CNhWDIwCbpWBnZkmFHwOKT_Zs6YmIC8eD2x292dIwKUHVY08at1LcITtEqm_ywAIZMqu1qx0M1ySSdsEhs665uwYejfCDLQKPsjdl0JUvskmM6Ly0qhH/s400/mal1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1wq2jJJub1jN4NdMTrLlOKAMraybv_-3IRhBhosYQznj6hryA7ZQk4A3Zk3mfTkqaKYkyf2KQXq4SflbFs3astImHT74zEeP7O9tk7f0MsINoOHh4_GWj2yYExc0dhDdBfoAc8OPsO0f/s1600-h/mal10.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306554055889285858" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1wq2jJJub1jN4NdMTrLlOKAMraybv_-3IRhBhosYQznj6hryA7ZQk4A3Zk3mfTkqaKYkyf2KQXq4SflbFs3astImHT74zEeP7O9tk7f0MsINoOHh4_GWj2yYExc0dhDdBfoAc8OPsO0f/s400/mal10.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" /></a>Enjoy the eye-candy, do click on<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.naladhu.com/"> this</a> link to know more about this paradise and start planning your summer holidays:-)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">( images from Naladhu.com)</span></span>

International Pick: Naladhu, Maldives

Today's post is all about images that transport you to a paradise where senses are pampered, body is relaxed and mind is in a state of b...

7:09 AM

Ten minutes to a room you'll love...

with fabric! <a href="http://nestingplacenc.blogspot.com/">The Nester</a> is having a party that I almost completely missed. ME, miss a party? No way Joe-se.<br /><br /><div>So thought this would be the perfect opportunity to show you all a few more of the quick, cheap updates I've made to our office. </div><br /><div>Earlier this week, I showed you the difference fabric made to the bookcase: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlQ6IIvIQrLD7qP-7yK4cQ7GeOHdGp6cn5Uyg6S-GjfhEFXFsY4_hHnbszckF6v5pEqNHW4Xt4rV635Rw8Ge1dqR3e2ImXWFGybO_i9qJ6DbrvjtI6kjqbx56jkavjvLMDPFzHDiEpUc1/s1600-h/DSC08017.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710757597831186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlQ6IIvIQrLD7qP-7yK4cQ7GeOHdGp6cn5Uyg6S-GjfhEFXFsY4_hHnbszckF6v5pEqNHW4Xt4rV635Rw8Ge1dqR3e2ImXWFGybO_i9qJ6DbrvjtI6kjqbx56jkavjvLMDPFzHDiEpUc1/s400/DSC08017.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> STILL can't find more of that fabric. Grrrr....I know they can order more, but I don't have the number for it? What do I do?? Anyway, I have used fabric a few other places in this room too. Ya'll know my hatred for cords. I mean....uck, splooey, spit, scrunched-up-disgusted-face, HATE THEM. </div><br /><div></div><div>I fell in love with this desk years ago (I miss you Bombay Company! Sniff.) and love it, but it also shows everything, including the nasty cords:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710018844067410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIbj7YU6WtVbnK7UN-gD0tMjwB-HeeLTNqIzygsVbx0RRBolrlyY1ZvUwuYOhQGyqO5iCQIzHkV3YO8wpcD-gPpzCbRXOl4v9mlIE-5w7LPbsz-8oYpRS2asA24yC8ODjmkw8QgPaVt3A9/s400/DSC08025.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />That box is one everyone needs -- I throw every single random thing in that when people come over. And it serves as my foot rest. :) So I got $5 of fabric, squeezed my bootay back in the corner and hot glued the fabric to the back:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710028995973282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsMOz4PXnhY-fTX8aE1XUSHkVc3_CwPbVFbhfWyM68_R_D_XXOTC6PaslanJ2bHVXInssq_ML16rsDFj_AOkVFKeNQJGez_LC_MoZHZn0lG9ev9SLwFWOJDynCDmQDDsu0VS11ji1ut6o/s400/DSC08034.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Awwwwwww yeah baby. Buh <em>bye</em> cords: </div><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710745993414178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotT6WMdAHZxBuzPDEOAw86fLtAKKhACR5kHmNGrFRebyBIE5u-dLZoemZfKggbwKvB5M9u1umndIc8gXbhA3Z3hRfoMG7aVcAyG7dNMUwxV62_LOTB-FI1tJf_4-uDhBDmelT0xA6UL9-/s400/DSC08028.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>A few weeks ago I spoke to a local Moms Time Out group. (Hell<em>ooooo</em> ladies!) They were so fun and were way too kind and sent me gift cards to two of my favorite places -- Hob Lob and Joann's. They know me, they do. So I got this little storage chest/ottoman at the Lob but hated the fabric. </div><br /><div></div><div>I mean, grody:<br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710022612556258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJ0kgFgDb80lhce4Z-Iywih2FgiXBl1vDleCFEzEpR-hzgvDPIPORxbLWk1jVRyx2rPiRl8iqH7zdyP9m-V1UIXzbLrSBxgnMq9-rEyuOoxwdukyz4oaszy7ozzwWVX8K5bPfZPJ2V1E9/s400/DSC08023.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Well, I guess if you had it in the right room...it might be OK...<br /><br />Nope. GRODY.<br /><br />So I covered it with my <strike>gorg floral fabric</strike>, OH that's right, IT'S <strong>GONE</strong>. I covered it with my cheap olive fabric I found:<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304713608177786674" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Li_eqh1is9eiHCvMdsUa97Cvl7rM24N4g1fA1f4wYBpFJ7wt4Axw2WERK0XasHB88Cx-rYzILLoxRU9jad-mDfSrppnGvg5B3_e7DdLo9XkpJLgis9Qjs2WVL6i2DDObdTrEdbE7rEwx/s400/DSC08035.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> The goldfish are the added bonus you get when you bribe your two-year-old with them so you can finish this ten minute project. (This one really does take ten minutes!)<br /><p>Viola! Perfect as a side table, ottoman, and to house big toy trucks:</p><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaY7irpWFYnVT-5_bgIQcOSQqtOE4O75iAonrgYVZn3D-gOoR49sfqgJQbpwU5tbBwkxhC0STOM0VpoG6xFnN8SHWrX5sd6jW7ZRcXqFMF4wsJv-uYcBEM4YONiFo2_payV6du5hkKv43/s1600-h/DSC08039.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710032264990098" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaY7irpWFYnVT-5_bgIQcOSQqtOE4O75iAonrgYVZn3D-gOoR49sfqgJQbpwU5tbBwkxhC0STOM0VpoG6xFnN8SHWrX5sd6jW7ZRcXqFMF4wsJv-uYcBEM4YONiFo2_payV6du5hkKv43/s400/DSC08039.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a> Won't it look awesome with that floral fabric? Sniff.<br /><br />Finally, what do you do when you repaint the whole room and the cushion you bought to match the old room doesn't work anymore?:<br /><br /><p><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710755339573730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAmYbbIN4hFupFv4xOYrHBYQTJJVQOL0B5vrJa1V6pWk1tR4Av_gMSDW-A3ZEwMhdXDzS6EaWtR-dAdRsk4x89kY4XV4OFjr-VK7U8xC5dLUEWXYEjAUFKxKpAoHBTixIFOS3Ofy2UMnH/s400/DSC08042.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> Huh. In the picture it matches perfect. Imagine that. Anyway...you buy fabric and wrap it around the cushion till you get it sewn!:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304710754074369586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ckEyIjXXC7-Xz_mXgHVzMHkcimztcnkgrbIm_AnaoJ5iehMupwM16AyXGhNxg4xb5_cbZ3f2JiAB4HFgGL3tWWSpxOuVw4kk1P6pZk8th4zjUREOYrTZ19RKH-_fiaeZnVlVihp9uC9M/s400/DSC08047.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> There you go, each project took less than ten minutes, and what a difference they have made! This weekend I'll show you the entire room...I'm waiting on one more project to dry. :)</p><p>OK, so if you asked me a question last weekend, here I go with some of the answers:</p><p>Sav: YES, shelving sounds like a great option! If you have a more modern space, try the floating shelves. If it's more traditional, try the molding shelves. Try layering some framed pics on all of them, it will be a nice distraction from the TV! (Just don't make it too busy.)</p><p>Jen: Ohhh, that fabric for my roman shades was from the shop I work for. We have two shops as well as the decorating end of it, and the owner gets A-<em>mazing</em> fabric "short ends" that are a steal. I found the fabric in one of the fabric books once and it was something like $160 a yard or something crazy like that. I can't even remember the brand of fabric now! Sorry!!</p><p>Anonymous: You are freakin' kidding me with this, because your exact question is my next project!! Shannon over at <a href="http://thedavisfamilynwa.blogspot.com/2009/01/fabric-project-2-master-bath.html">Bless our Nest</a> posted the same project she did just as I was thinking about doing it -- she hung the fabric very high and it looks great. YES, I would do it, even with a shorter shower, go for it. I bet hubby will be wrong-O! :) I hope to finish mine this weekend. </p><p>Knittingknirvana: Good question! First of all, you have to <em>live</em> in your house while you are in it. Your husband's comment is not the first time I've heard it. But you can't live in your home like you're about to sell it...unless you are about to sell it!! It will take two gallons of paint and a few hours to cover up chocolate walls when you do move someday. I disagree with that notion about resale anyway. Someone may walk in and fall in LOVE with your chocolate bathroom!! My husband loves what I do 99 percent of the time. If he doesn't like it, I don't do it, because it's so rare that he has the opposite view as me. :) I think it would be hard if you both have strong opinions -- just tell him I'm the tie-breaker!!</p><p>I'll answer the rest soon, have a great weekend!</p><p></p>

Ten minutes to a room you'll love...

with fabric! The Nester is having a party that I almost completely missed. ME, miss a party? No way Joe-se. So thought this would be the pe...

7:01 PM

Twenty minutes and ten bucks!

<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303605748921275730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUi6zPAxkqsLFJN_9Na5INL9pd5Vjc44kl-JM01aporx7lU8V_sLX5jRShDBwzSw76e_-h5ncHu3Vt5qd_40ci7HAlsszecbe4VrOBWMGSkLSCXV75NLmVDc7ACG5QJekc8q1u5CbXT7R/s400/DSC08008.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 243px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> I finished off the XOXO! Just in time to pack them up for next year! :)<br /><br />So...did you get some paint? Huh? Did ya? Yeah, I know, flat paint sucks. I have my own theory on flat paint I'll talk to you about soon. I did buy some paint to repaint our den -- one gallon of flat for the ceiling and another in eggshell for the walls. I have a growing obsession with painting ceilings and I'll show you that soon too!<br /><br />I hope your Valentine's Day was GREAT! Hubby was out of town, but sent me these:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303606598692275042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHRJTM20mL0-er9kyOnnHGmtd2GqczgMna7cLM9IXVY4emi1hmaCrY4xl1ZsvuvgFhP4OHCGJEd1BuYb6Gp9WJCx-5A51kvdS6qL51aVXaCj5z7FwrJp-8EcFqWhVj7eRKrM8-W09AyxV/s400/DSC07987.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />Awwwwww! I know! The problem with roses, plants...any live, green, growing things in our house is this guy:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303606603846747730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilt7LPFEO4ON7wxsrsRs6VLewZ7hywGOE_vVwkk35y6f_N6PElANPXCmAGEhJnV5raHEktztlAVnyDGH4XEet4kJLmkG84IsFzR7HuQi-E__OsnW8vaF1nJYgU_Mdwt54Yc9zUdsNG56yl/s400/DSC07998.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" />The little poop. I swear he was supposed to be a bunny. He can't get enough of leaves. And lettuce. I can't have a plant in this whole house because of him. Good thing he's cute. He also likes to eat these:<br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303616107924396738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguel4azDWPeWYNwhWvOUcpPkxKdYGg81G0ErWPmZf5QnfT_zxPHcMqOnjITDPQ63bL89RhqxvexL4GN1bFo14VQCCGtI94E3MjwRRSKSTuVe5ehBUevC3x4wLzWRsh3O1inDmKUXjJ40jX/s400/DSC07997.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9R_hqnA-7MJsmzsuc7gbX4V6QYodW2rHJjqqD4Cqo6jkNComMzvQ4zZmr1U-93Mhl9hZywM3gRfH8laqw1bj2mAA2VK1zlm65ZXkzp9f-UPym2GL2mVwKUy4YA4Tpxnse4b4blRgUDg4w/s1600-h/DSC07997.JPG"></a>This cat has about 35 lives instead of the regular nine, I swear to you. He loves to eat ribbons and hair ties. Gah.<br /><br /><div><div>Since hubby was out of town, I had to spend the evening with my other man -- my Bub. He took me to McDonald's and Babies R Us. Never been on a date quite like it. He made me pay <em>and</em> drive, but I'm still keeping him. :)<br /><br />I did a quick project in our den over the weekend, in between breaking my neck painting the ceiling and destroying my back painting the room. I recently moved most of my son's toys to another room in the house, and I'm <em>thrilled</em> with the change. (I'll show you that soon too!) Since I am enjoying having our office back so much, I've been trying to think of easy ways to update what we already have in there, and my first project was these shelves: </div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303605735879823778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuePVuJs7UlZDUPVMil5ztXxPUSk4DNRrUhz_9tjSFQ3U7Y9MTqL_M_53WitOL38OiBB-caaN15sp-xlLZNnsUg-PqAqRqqPVbNCDstUU0fs31z978sPI1E1-6cswdo48wYfuH4N_-yFvE/s400/DSC08001.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /> <div>I bought foam core board at the dollar store and measured the backs of each shelf. I marked them off and then cut them out using my level as a straight edge and my exacto knife:</div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303605742483641634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7w1NnJbLSG3kgqooKIdGg_JG1CFkqboCPxLpxdudTFPNh3mLJDRW0Q4lZPj7n9AciIkiBvm3eS0TNlBCtTv5mNhYIz8DtgUzXKIZPxbkDiZ0GIbip3bEBL5H4kV4xFmLqG7DTTuwL5JD/s400/DSC08004.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Then cut my fabric and wrapped them like a present, using hot glue to secure the fabric:</div><br /><div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303605746745852194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vYSHDtl42L8ehCz3TUdOCjJ9X4sMWg4xWf6hF38OXocXEsAcGwU_M3sRUYwwGt71vlxaB2CjuLfUNcWa-EySLolspiywlWDRjoNag6IHU_es9qV486IctZlIXGqM4VghJn7Leb1JhCJ6/s400/DSC08005.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></div><div>Just popped them into the back of the shelves and voila!:</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESNr0MFwW2Hn3qI2GPHODlTqBnpzj2K_ohGwBOmSxYSl7QITndcNtBhmcxuQqUnqvJ9TIEsOPT6cDBtBmfZkb0noWd1hla1OvZbw9chpmdw4aUdlqFzVBRVN-ABlNJwxNnHzpydO3EdvY/s1600-h/DSC08017.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303605753852694130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhESNr0MFwW2Hn3qI2GPHODlTqBnpzj2K_ohGwBOmSxYSl7QITndcNtBhmcxuQqUnqvJ9TIEsOPT6cDBtBmfZkb0noWd1hla1OvZbw9chpmdw4aUdlqFzVBRVN-ABlNJwxNnHzpydO3EdvY/s400/DSC08017.JPG" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 316px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" /></a></div></div><p>Ack! That fabric! I could just DIE. I. love. it. I have gone back to Joann's TWICE and it's GONE!!!!!!!!!! Who out there took it?? Who? I will find you. <strong>I must have more.</strong> </p><p>The foam board was three bucks for three boards, the fabric was about $5 for a yard of the fabric. Try it on your shelves or built ins! I love to make the back of built ins pop by painting them, but I think I may like this fabric idea even more! </p><p>P.S. Actually, the title of the post is a little misleading. It will probably take about 40 minutes. But "Forty minutes and ten bucks!" doesn't sound nearly as good. </p><p>P.P.S. Ah! I haven't forgotten about the questions! I'll answer them this week, I swear! </p>

Twenty minutes and ten bucks!

I finished off the XOXO! Just in time to pack them up for next year! :) So...did you get some paint? Huh? Did ya? Yeah, I know, flat paint ...

7:37 PM