New Breakfast Room Light!

YAHOO!  Gone is our breakfast room brothel chandelier!

Why brothel?  

Well it wouldn't have been bad, but it was bedazzled. 

Everywhere.

There were crystals hanging from it.

And over each of the lightbulbs, like a little net of crystal beads.

So. Not. My. Style.

In came this little beauty from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Not exactly attractive in the builder special bronze that you find in every house.

But for $15.00?  

Oh I can so make that work.

Enter Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint.

Swoon.

This is hands down the best spray paint.  Ever.

I want to paint everything with this.

And have started Chris on another project with it.

I had to go get two more cans today!

Now?

Voila!

A classic black chandelier, with simple linen shades.

The shades were the most expensive part - $3.33 each at Lowes, and I needed 6.

I've looked up similar style chandeliers online.

This from Ballard Designs.

$199.00, with no shades.

Those are  $13.00 each.

So the total for this one would have been $277.00, plus shipping.

Pottery Barn offers this Architectural Salvage Chandelier.

For $299.00, without shades.

Shades?  3 for $39.00.

Total for the PB light?  

$377.00, plus shipping.

Price breakdown of mine?

$15.00 for the light fixture.

$7.50 for the spray paint.

$19.98 for the shades.

Total?  $42.48.

Less than the shades at Ballards or Pottery Barn.

Next up? Revamping the globe fixtures in the breakfast room.

And replacing the dining room ceiling fan with another DIY chandelier.

I'm linking to Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

House To-Do- List

Are you ready for this?  It's a big one.  Thankfully we have the next thirty-ish years to get it done. . .

Kitchen

• Paint
• Backsplash
• Install garbage disposal
• Under cabinet lighting
• Secure toe kick trim
• Finish restoring island
• Flip laundry room door to open into Laudry room
• Stainless fridge?
• Farm sink?

Breakfast Room

• Install bead board and trim
• Repair cracks in wall
• Paint
• Paint hutch
• Farm table
• Repair threshold
• Replace chandelier light fixture
• Paint globe light fixtures
• Repair/Replace cracked window
• Replace back door?
• Add storm door
• Upholstered seating on one side of table?

Living room

• Weather strip for door
• Paint vents
• Repair phone jack
• Hide cords
• Touch up crown molding
• Drop leaf table
• Find another drum table for the other side of the couch
• Reupholster chair cushions
• Replace coffee table with ottoman
• Family tree art/project for big wall

Dining room

• Paint vent covers
• Install crowm molding
• Rug?
• Recover chairs

Master Bedroom

• Paint
• Build out closet
• New bedding
• Paint wardrobe
• Artwork
• Do something with the fireplace surround.  Paint?  Strip?  Tile?
• Repair floor by window
• Replace window pane.  (Ahem, Chris. . . )

Entry/Staircase/Computer landing

• Hang mirror by front door
• Reupholster bench
• Bookcase under stairs
• Paint
• Replace doorbell
• Small rug for computer area
• Address chandelier. . . clean crystals, replace bulbs, clean fixture without killing myself

Small downstairs hall

• Paint
• Make shelving a bookcase
• Paint inside wall of bookcase
• Replace light fixture

Playroom

• Paint
• New curtains
• Organize closet
• Clean rug
• Recover loveseat (replaced it instead)
• Make/Hang chalkboard
• Add another bookcase
• Hang art display system
• Clean out/donate books

Boys' room

• Paint
• Organize closet
• Add a dresser
• Hang photos
• Matching bedding
• Bedskirt for David's bed
• Rug?
• Hang wall lighting
• Replace overhead fixture?

Guest room

• Address fireplace.  Convert to gas?
• Strip/paint/tile/something fireplace surround
• Hang mirror over fireplace
• Clean transom
• Paint
• Curtains
• New bedding?
• Rug?
• Art?
• Closet shelving and hanging system
• Lampshade for black lamp
• Cushion for window seat
• Add crown molding
• Fix loose outlets

Laundry room

• Cabinets over washer and dryer
• Add a cabinet for linen storage
• Paint
• Hanger for brooms, etc.
• Reroute pump to outside
• Install back door
• Clean/paint light fixtures

Patio

• Rug
• Figure out the light.  Make it work.
• Paint concrete?
• Rework the seating to make it more of an outdoor room
• New patio furniture
• Paint the flower stand
• Paint candle holder/lantern thingy
• Add a stair?
• Add concrete planters?
• Hang flower holders
• Window box

Exterior

• Side the remainder of the house.  Yikes.
• Paint.
• Repair trim above front windows
• Replace upstairs windows
• Gutter/French drain system
• Reinsulate crawl space
• Repair loose roof panel(s)
• Pressure wash porch
• Paint porch floor, stairs, and rails
• Re-do porch columns?
• Replace front light
• Clean weeds off of front of house
• Make crawl space opening larger
• Clean/paint lattice under porch. 
• Trim out lattice
• Add back door to laundry room

Yard

• Fence back yard
• Cut down tree?
• Massive yard clean up
• Remove kennel after fencing is put up
• Weed killer on front walk
• Prune bushes
• Plant a garden
• Add two more bushes along the side of the porch
• Electricity to the shed

Dream List/Far in the Future

• Build a detached garage
• Finish the attic and add another 1000+ square feet
• Add a second bathroom

Hike Anyone?

Our weather yesterday?  Positively GORGEOUS!  What a wonderful change, considering the start of the week was freezing, icy, and we had a snow day.  Saturday?  Nearly seventy degrees.  We had the windows at our house open and were loving it!

We My children woke up early.  As in, before the sun early.  Clearly they were excited to get a jump on the fabulous weather.  I packed some snacks for us, not really knowing where we would head, and we left in the new swagger wagon.



I'm not really sure what happened to this picture.
I'm bummed because it was my favorite from the day!

Since we haven't lived in this area of Middle Tennesse for long, we don't really know what there is to do for family-ish outings.  I'm all about some inexpensive things that will get us out of the house.  We headed to Manchester, TN.  I have a client who lives there, and he's told me there are several waterfalls in the area.  I knew the boys would be into that.  (And so would Chris and I!)  First we went past the Normandy Dam.  I don't know what we were expecting, but I thought it would be bigger.

We ended up in Manchester at the Old Stone Fort Archaelogical Park.  It was great!

There's a 1.25 mile hike around the park, and three waterfalls.  The. Boys. Loved. It.  And, surprise, there was really minimal complaining by anyone.  (Note, we are precipitously close to the edge to take this picture. . . I was quietly dying inside picturing my boys being swept away by the falls.  And they wanted to get closer!

This was the largest, most dramatic of the falls.  And I suspect the one that made David tell me when he went to bed, "This was the best day ever!"

It was really pretty there, and a very easy hike around. 

*Well, it would be if you stay on the trail.* 

We will definitely go back. 

It was a wonderful morning, and even Jack did well on the hike. 

He had some shoulder rides, but overall did a great job.

Pretty sure David didn't think it was the "Best day ever" while he was standing at the bottom of the hill crying and fussing because I wouldn't carry him to the car. 

He did amuse several of the other people there. . .

The Making of a Superhero

At Jack's Batman birthday party we made superhero capes.  I got the template at Puking Pastilles.  She has a great tutorial, but I didn't want to do any sewing.  I bought seven yards of fleece at Hobby Lobby when it was 50% off.  Seven yards cost $12.00.  I would easily spend $12.00 on party favors for 15ish children.

In an effort to make the huge amount of fabric easier to work with, I first cut down my fabric into the individual lengths I would need for the capes. 

Next I cut each on the fold. I was able to get fourteen capes out of the seven yards. 

I folded my square, and traced the template from Puking Pastilles with chalk, extending the length to the bottom of the square of fabric.  (This is a key step, or you will end up with a bib, not a cape. . . just trust me.)  When it was opened up, this is what it looks like.

Next I used some self-adhesive velcro tabs and stuck one pair together. 

I stuck one side onto my fabric, and put the next tab over so I could see how it closed before I adhered the other side of the velcro.  

Once I had it where I wanted it, I removed the plastic and adhered it.  I will tell you that next time I would use a glue gun, because the adhesive doesn't stick well to the fleece. 

To decorate, I bought self-adhesive felt stars and self-adhesive sheets of felt. The kids did their initials, hand prints, etc. on them, and they were adorable! (And I of course failed to take any pictures!)

The kids seemed to really enjoy decorating them, and if you catch a sale or use a coupon it's a relatively inexpensive craft/party gift.  I debated about making them, because I thought it would be a lot of work, but it was SO easy.  I probably cut them all down in less than 30 minutes.  Definitely worth it!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Happy Birthday Jack!

Little Jack turned three on Wednesday.  I cannot believe this child is three years old.  On the morning of his birthday, we had a little cake (purchased from a grocery store bakery, and I put the toys on.  Please.  I can't make him more than one cake in a week!) and he opened our presents.  I will be the first to admit I pretty much let my kids do whatever they want to on their birthday.  Cake for breakfast?  SURE!  Cake for lunch?  Absolutely!  Ice cream for dinner?  You bet!

Jack could not wait to get his hands on that cake.  We had to wait for David and Henry to come downstairs, and he stood guard at the cake the entire time.

He certainly enjoyed his "breakfast".  And I have to confess, I liked the Kroger cake better than I liked the one I made.  It was great!

 

Next he opened his presents.  For some reason, he is really into babies right now.  I have no idea why, or how this obsession started, but he's all about a baby.  We got him the Baby Alive Better Now Baby , and some Batman pajamas.  He named his baby "Baby Ms. Angie".  (Ms. Angie was his daycare lady!) 

He was very excited to take care of his baby. . . he's quite a little daddy.

He was most excited that you can feed the baby some water and she pees. . . he had to quickly examine where that pee comes from.

We had his party on Saturday, and had forty people at our house.  I was excited, because it was the first gathering we've had since we moved.  Jack was beside himself with excitement.  We had brunch foods (mini quiche, mini muffins, cinnamon buns, fruit, danishes, and omlette casserole.)

His cake was a white cake on the top, yellow in the middle, and chocolate on the bottom.  I sent LOTS home with people!

It was so nice to have plenty of room for everyone, which was so NOT the case at our old house when we had birthday parties. 

We had a Batman theme, so we made some Superhero capes.  We also had a Batman pinata, but that process took about 13 seconds and I took no pictures!

Everyone was so generous, and Jack got lots of wonderful gifts.  We now could certainly challenge any Toys R Us and their collection of Batman toys.

Jack got another baby. . .

And continued his obsession with babies by stalking KJ's sweet boy Griffin.

We had such a great day with Jack and all of his guests.  It was so nice to share Jack's birthday and our new home with everyone who came.  

And I can't party like a three year old anymore.  I needed a nap! 

More Snow Show

The snow is still here.

We went sledding with our neighbors.

Who had a sled, which was nice.

Because we don't.

The boys LOVED it.

They've been out of school since January 10. 

And will go back January 18.

Because we got six inches of snow.

And the temperature hasn't been above freezing all week.

I'm sorry - where do we live?

We did get some great pictures though.

And had a LOT of fun.

And now I'm ready for the snow to melt, thank you very much.

New Year's Resolutions and a Giveaway

Do you have any New Year's resolutions?  I have a couple:

1. Take a lunch break at least once a week (trust me, this is an issue for me).  And a lunch break where I actually leave my office. 
2. Put the laundry away as soon as it's folded so we don't a crazy laundry back up.  All. the. time.
3. Spend more time taking care of myself, not just everyone else around me.
4. Lose 25 pounds.  I'm down 6, so I'm making a good start.  Hellooooo Weight Watchers. . .

My sweet friend KJ can help with your New Year's resolution to work out - she has a giveaway for an iTunes gift card and a Dick's Sports gift card.  Go check her blog out!  And, other than the giveaway, she's got good recipes, funny stories, and fabulous clothes.  You'll love her - I promise.

Snow Day

We woke up this morning to SIX inches of snow!  SIX INCHES!  This is virtually unheard of here.  (Global warming?!)  I couldn't get to work, and we're having a snow day.  We were outside playing at 7:00 this morning.

This is the most snow I've seen since I've lived here!