Epic Fail

Yikes, I had my first major project upset today.  wah, wah, wah, wah (that's the sound of my disappointment)

It started with these ugly old sconces that I scored from my mom for free.

My plan was to paint them blue in the middle and then spray them white around the outside so it was a cool two-color number.

First step after the priming was to paint the whole front surface blue. I was using the same color that I used for the vase in the dining room. (These were supposed to hang on the wall in the dining room!)

Then, I taped off the middle with some Frog Tape so I could spray paint the rest a glossy white. I then painted a light layer of white - taking extra care to do it in short strokes and not globbing it on. I have read several blogs teaching the correct way to spray - much different than my glob it all on in drippy strokes!

This week was a particularly hot week in the DC area, so I waited extra days in between coats to really allow the coats to cure and stick. Man, I thought I was doing everything right this time!  I scratched and roughed them up, primed them, sprayed them in even strokes and did several coats. But, unfortunately, I think the heat and humidity over the past week just beat me. The Frog Tape stuck to the paint and when I pulled it off, it left a layer on there. And then on the second one, it pulled off everything with it! Doh!

Here is how it should have turned out, sort of:

Unfortunately, you can see the extra sticky-ness that was left over on the blue from the tape. Not sure what happened there.

And, here is what happened with the second one.

Yikes, everything just pulled right off! Gross. So, it looks like it is back to the drawing board on this one. My next adventure with these sconces will be with a brush and paint so I can do it inside. Maybe I will try that Chalk Paint I hear people talking about. But, I need to take a break from these bad boys for a little while. On to something else for now...

I am Maturing...

Here's a shout out to the man in my life...We have had this goofy little horse picture for-ever!

He has had it since he was a little boy. Apparently this little guy belonged to his Poppy's aunt or  cousin or something. Legend is that this lady was not the nicest and never liked anybody and apparently no one ever liked her either. Hubs took a liking to this pic and low and behlod the little old lady gave it to him.

Truth be told, I never liked the pic. I thought it was silly and cheesy and ugly. It sat in a box for many, many, many years! But, in an effort to mature and grow up a bit, (and to show Kate that I like colors other than blue (kinda)!)  I added it to the wall above the family room couches. The area needed a little punch and  some more interest and this little guy was the right call.

I am working on a little something to go over the shelf on the left, it just isn't finished yet. 

Next week, maybe?

Oh, and maybe you notice this adorable little picture. It was my Mother's Day present from my daughter. She made it at school. It says "This is Mommy cooking." I'm not gonna lie, I cried when I opened it. Well, if you know me, you know that me crying is not that much of a stretch, but still! And, you know I am a sucker for kid art! It definitely needed a place of honor in the family room.

The importance of cleanliness

No, I am not a germ-o-phobe, I just really liked this picture from Three Men and a Lady

So I made one of my own!

 Found this frame at HomeGoods over the weekend (love that store!!!)

 Primed it:

 Sprayed it several times. I forget the color but it was just some left over that I had used for a vase in the dining room.

Added the print-out (Michelle's reader Emily provided a template for people to use if they wanted.Thanks ladies!)

Here it is altogether

 Another shot without the glare from the flash. The picture with the flash is more true to the color.

Of course, I don't have the correct hardware to hang the frame in the bathroom. But, I have been waiting days to show it off so I am goin for it without it being in the bathroom. I will post pictures when it is actually in it's proper place!

UPDATE:

And now, that I have finally gotten around to hanging it in it's intended place...

Sea Shells Sea Shells by the Seashore

I love the beach. It is my favorite place in the world. If I could live there, I would. If my house could look like a beach cottage (like the house in Something's Gotta Give, I DIE!!) I would have it look like that in a heartbeat.

I am loving all of the beachy details I am seeing lately at Pottery Barn: the coral, the shells....

  

My smart momma reminded me of my intense shell collection from when I was little (I had them all displayed on a shelf in my room for a LONG time.) Last time I saw her, she brought me all of my little treasures. I decided to add them to my living room built-ins. They give just the touch of beach my heart yearns for!!
Here's the lonely built in area before:

 These are a few of my prized shells:

 And, here they are in place:

My own little beach oasis and I didn't even need to head to Pottery Barn, er, the Cape to find 'em.

Finding a new home

My chevron table made it's way back upstairs over the weekend. I brought it back upstairs into the dining room for now.

Here are some new pics:

I moved the bar over to the wall next to the kitchen. I have some thing in the works for the wall in the area. Just waiting for the weather to cooperate!!

Living Room: The Early Years

The other week I mentioned the painting that is forthcoming in the living room. The vision is to paint the room, stairwell and upstairs hallway a coordinating/lighter gray than the dining room. We think we settled on Benjamin Moore's Harbor Gray.

Anywho...(I actually hate when people say anywho, not sure why I just did!) I digress. My point is that I have never really shown pictures of the whole living room. So, I thought I would go for it, finally. I know, I know, you just can't stand it.

I haven't done too much creative/crafty in this room in terms of furniture choices and arrangement. Except for a few crafts, the room is a blank slate, calling out to be helped. ("Help me, help me!" Can you hear it??)

Here are a few things that I have managed to cobble together to give the room a little pizzazz.

And, now here are some pics of the actual room.

These top two pictures are what you see when you walk into the house.

This is the stairwell wall.

This is the area directly to the left of the front door.
I thought about cleaning up the bags, but that is what it really looks like on a daily basis.

This is the view from the stairs. Into the dining room on the right and the playroom through the french door.

A closer up view into the playroom.

And, finally, the view from the dining room.

So, there you have it. Our humble living room. I've big plans baby! Tomorrow, I will show you a quick little update that I added over the weekend. Thanks for indulging me. (I think I'm just talking to you, Mom. And maybe you too, Di!)

P.S. Every time I typed went to type living room, I actually typed dining room. I think I have written ONE too many posts about the d.r.!

I am linking to Houseography's Room by Room House Tour.

I'm a Winner

No, that's not my daily affirmation, although maybe it should be. (Hardy, har, har...) But, no, seriously, I am a winner! I never win anything. I entered one of Cassie's giveaways (she reached over 1500 followers. WHOA!) She was giving away an awesome photo charm necklace from Sodderbug. Take a look at some of Janelle's awesome designs:


 

I am so excited to wear a cool new, photo charm. Now, what to put on it! When I entered the contest I had to say what I would get if I won. I said I would probably get something with my girls on it. But, now I am not so sure! First off, I don't have a great picture of them since my friend and fabulous photographer Kate did a shoot of the girls when the littlest sister was born. 18 mths ago! I suppose that would be a sweet photo.

Or maybe something more graphic and just as meaningful like our anniversary or conglomeration of important dates in our lives like this:

All photos courtesy Leo Reynolds on flickr.  What do you think???