Beginnings of an Addiction

Take a minute to look over on the right sidebar for my list of Blogs I Stalk. If you visit here regularly, you'll notice that it's considerably longer now than just a couple of weeks ago. Visiting other blogs is like knocking down the first domino--it leads to another, which leads to another, which...well, you get the idea.

One of the things in life I love is decorating and another is revamping something old into something beautiful and useful. The blogs listed here are a plethora (thanks, Lauren, for having to learn that word in school) of ideas for large and small projects. Some are beyond my ambitions and capabilities. But others have inspired me and set my mind awhirl.

I love yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores, Goodwill, etc. If you shop with me, be prepared to start at the clearance racks. Walking into a store and seeing those big red signs set my heart palpating, my palms sweating, and my breathing to increase rapidly! I make a beeline (no pun intended) toward those racks like a moth to a porch light. Just can't help myself.

Until recently, I haven't always been very good at looking at things with an imaginative eye. Through these new blogs, I have been encouraged to look beyond an ugly paint job to see the lines and potential beneath. To that end, I have started small and wanted to share my newfound hobby with you.

This is a planter I found at Goodwill for $2.49. Ordinarily, I would have passed it by because of its--shall we say--unattractiveness.

But in keeping with my new unbiased thinking, I took it home. Using a can of spray paint I already had, I went to town. It took a couple of coats. I wasn't satisfied with the plain look, though, so off to Wally World for a small bottle of brown craft paint which I wiped on with a sponge brush. Love it!!! This beauty now sits on my desk holding extra pens, post it notes, etc.

A Great Giveaway

No, it's not from me--sorry. Karen is celebrating her 200th post with a great giveaway. Go visit her and be sure to leave a comment! One can never get enough bloggy love!!

My Kitchen

Kelly from Kelly's Korner is hosting "Show Us Where You Live Friday" and this week we're touring kitchens, so I thought I'd finally show pictures of mine. I wanted to wait till everything was finished, but that may never happen, so this is a good opportunity.

So, here's my kitchen--still not done, but a whole lot further along. Darrell and I spent our first three years of marriage in Italy (thanks to Uncle Sam) and we love all things Italian. We've recently redone our kitchen to reflect that. Eventually we'll replace the cabinets, but this is soooo much better than when we moved in!

The kitchen is long and narrow--like 10x27, more or less--and a weird layout. I painted the walls using a frottage technique and the floors are actually stick on tiles that have fooled more than one person! These pictures are in no particular order.

This is one of my favorite finds--purchased at a flea market for $10. It houses dog food. (I know it's not Italian, but I love it!)

View from the table area. The sideboard started life as an entertainment center (I think). We bought it at ReStore (which benefits Habitat for Humanity) for $50. We painted it black, tiled the top, and added the baskets. This is where all the snacks for grandbabies hide. I'm going to redo it again this summer--not real crazy about the glossy paint. I think matte will work better. The pot rack was $25 at samsclub.com and the copper pots were an ebay find.

Wall beside the table. The mirror was my daughter's and the planter was free from a friend.


This is the opposite wall beside the table. Everything on the wall came from ebay. The pizza paddles were about $20. The poster is actually a framed menu from Mama Leone's restaurant in New York. Love Billy Joel, so I couldn't resist.

This plaque says "The kitchen is the heart of the home." Purchased via ebay from The Nevues Art Gallery.

My new light fixture--immensely better than the old one. I have another smaller one for the other side of the kitchen, but haven't gotten it up yet.

The opposite side of the kitchen. The shutters beside the window are actually bifold doors we bought at a yard sale--5 sets for $5! Over the window is grapevine, complete with bunches of grapes! My beloved china cabinet is on the right.

I want to replace the desk on the left with an old farmhouse style table or a computer armoire. Suggestions?

Baptism Day

Later yesterday afternoon, Melody was baptized. What a special day for all of us, especially her. We are so proud of her decision to be baptized. She was a little nervous about going under the water, but overcame her fear. I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I meant to. It was a crazy day. (I came home, put on my pajamas, and we ordered pizza for dinner!)

Melody and Pa

Melody and her dad

It's Your Birthday!

Last post about Melody's birthday--I promise.

Here's the birthday girl at the front door ready to greet her guests.

The Dollar Tree has loads of decorations for luaus! I spent about $50! Plates, napkins, cups. Flamingos, monkeys, leis, grass skirts, palm trees, etc, etc.
Gotta love the dollar store!!

And here are Lauren's lovely cupcakes! She went above and beyond the duties of a fabulous aunt! Helped decorate, plan games, AND made special cupcakes! They were a big hit!


We had a great time making tissue paper flowers, doing the limbo, and hula hooping
(or as Cassidy calls it "hoo-ee hooping).

Happy Birthday, Melody

Today's the day! Melody turns 8 years old.