This is going to sound weird, but...

<span lang="EN"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...our house has a theme song. If these walls could talk... they would actually sing. And it would sound a little something like this (turn up your volume to </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">get the full effect). </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yes, that is the beautiful sound that is Christopher Cross's <em>Sailing</em>. I've loved this song since the day I heard it as a child, and for some reason it's always popped into my head as I've been contemplating the decor direction of our home. It has become a reference point when I'm stuck on something or seeking new inspiration for a room... all I have to do is play the song in my head, and the visions come to me (ha ha). Well maybe not that dramatic, but really, it's happened. Hence the abundance of blues and whites.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's like a disease and I can't help myself... but I don't want to. This song embodies my vision for our home. I want to live inside this song and experience that feeling every time I walk into the house.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">To help fulfill that dream, I decided to make this song an official part of our home. So I made this little print with the </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">lyrics. Now I have an official shrine to the song, and its spirit will be with me whenever I walk by. Love it.</span></span><br /><br /><span lang="EN"> </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVmY0_yM-nGEBw21tyac0cGAeT03PdqNHoMVC7TUODr8v7WZLHyRtvVj4UtBm6nNNOn2kGAUN6XrRCww9CPR_gk0sco5lT_WvYsDOzBzAhEPyZDVeMz-tTGou7ILeUkJHbBpLJMXEqu09/s1600/ScriptQuote-Framed1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVmY0_yM-nGEBw21tyac0cGAeT03PdqNHoMVC7TUODr8v7WZLHyRtvVj4UtBm6nNNOn2kGAUN6XrRCww9CPR_gk0sco5lT_WvYsDOzBzAhEPyZDVeMz-tTGou7ILeUkJHbBpLJMXEqu09/s1600/ScriptQuote-Framed1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">　</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Funny story... and I wasn't even going to post this because it's slightly embarassing, but I told Brad I'd make him his own lyric print for the man cave. I was expecting him to pull a verse from some awesome Zeppelin song or recite his favorite Pink Floyd line... but nope, he wanted the theme song of his favorite cartoon, Aqua Teen Hunger Force. So instead of something cool, we have "Meatwad make the money, see. Meatwad get the honey's, G." Good thing this font isn't extremely legible from afar, lol. </span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nww7YkRv3P0h-fK80IcFRKxJeM4YU7EzM6qLiJMee8iqf4_6IWSucLKDknTl923RNjbjfhO08U4swPaEhAWAm-SZ3Y2u62ZVQOVsvs8QkzAdXdqHeq-19ccYcb-JEviTQPo2HQKX7Y9-/s1600/ScriptQuote-Framed2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Nww7YkRv3P0h-fK80IcFRKxJeM4YU7EzM6qLiJMee8iqf4_6IWSucLKDknTl923RNjbjfhO08U4swPaEhAWAm-SZ3Y2u62ZVQOVsvs8QkzAdXdqHeq-19ccYcb-JEviTQPo2HQKX7Y9-/s1600/ScriptQuote-Framed2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now that I've weirded you out enough... I gotta know, I can't be the only one who is this oddly obsessed with music, right? Does anyone else's home have a "theme" song? Any song that gives you a vision of what you want your home to be and feel like? Relates to your decorating style? Or maybe just a song that reminds you of home and family? I'd love to hear your take on it! :)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><em>{P.S., since music is just as much a part of me as my home, this lovely little player will be a permanent fixture on the blog. Don't worry, it won't be an Enya-fest every time, I'll mix it up...}</em></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

This is going to sound weird, but...

...our house has a theme song. If these walls could talk... they would actually sing. And it would sound a little something like this (turn ...

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DIY Abstract Painting

Back again today to show you all a painting I spent most of the day making! A little backstory... painting was my favorite hobby as a child/teenager... but I've just been so busy with "life" since college that I haven't picked up a paintbrush in years (other than to paint the house with). So as I was deciding on what to put above the TV, I thought it might be fun to try my hand at a large painting. I chose abstract, because I figured you really can't go wrong. Plus I wanted something basic and subtle, in ocean blue hues. I had an idea of what I wanted, but nothing I was trying to replicate exactly.<br /><br />I found this painting online and it was probably the closest thing to what I was picturing in my head:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i51.tinypic.com/1z9nit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="http://i51.tinypic.com/1z9nit.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>So I went off to Michael's to purchase some supplies. They were having an incredible sale on art supplies—40% off canvases, plus I had an additional 20% off coupon, plus 40% off paints and brushes. Score!<br /><br />The type of painting I wanted to do really works best with oil paints, but I didn't want to deal with all the turpenoid and messy cleanup. Plus I didn't want to wait a day to be able to hang it up, so I kept things simple and went with acrylic.<br /><br />I ended up finding four 18x24" canvases that I would arrange into a square. I also picked up plenty of white, blue and yellow (as you can make virtually any shade of turquoise with those colors). I also grabbed a nice brush, a palette, and some gel retarder to extend the drying time of the paint.<br /><br />With the sale price and coupons, I paid under $7 for each canvas, and all the paints/accessories were only around $35. That makes this project only $60, not bad!<br /><br />Here was my arsenal of goodies:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiL4Svem52LiUTIKBCnwglD-HFzVQgvbXQvlw64rgQGB7Wopi2IOBroeV90EYyYYhdtY9SZZWW9gYiwRmI0SQH5jywe6x-954RxweQ7hpA-w7a8_WJqjSb4E_juR5w_RF6GrByh0ZGlVt/s1600/IMG_4020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="430" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiL4Svem52LiUTIKBCnwglD-HFzVQgvbXQvlw64rgQGB7Wopi2IOBroeV90EYyYYhdtY9SZZWW9gYiwRmI0SQH5jywe6x-954RxweQ7hpA-w7a8_WJqjSb4E_juR5w_RF6GrByh0ZGlVt/s640/IMG_4020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Since it was such a gorgeous day outside (84 degrees!) I set up my workstation outside by the pool.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtizXfk9B0HdcbTKluWcBdpmTef4PhjL4HUP5s65LSTv7XlrN2jJgwSprTjydIYZNDw16NJrzKLYhf6ouz7z84qi_yCf06PYs8QpsHdMEM-TtF3HJgTiGnn0Bp4xjFP1qrjY8hEAKAVoV/s1600/IMG_4023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="460" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrtizXfk9B0HdcbTKluWcBdpmTef4PhjL4HUP5s65LSTv7XlrN2jJgwSprTjydIYZNDw16NJrzKLYhf6ouz7z84qi_yCf06PYs8QpsHdMEM-TtF3HJgTiGnn0Bp4xjFP1qrjY8hEAKAVoV/s640/IMG_4023.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I added generous amounts of paint to my palette..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1RcTS7LLedfYgeyQR7ne0N1aGg7vb7kaurLuUtaEM3w3BS3UwyxV0Lu9eIaFDQ1kVZ0Dxkar2s3VZg-wo3StKgkG1UavsV5BdTmiPi_II6XFZPtNzsiy_qxWck0tgqJ3iknqojlyYDQC/s1600/IMG_4026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic1RcTS7LLedfYgeyQR7ne0N1aGg7vb7kaurLuUtaEM3w3BS3UwyxV0Lu9eIaFDQ1kVZ0Dxkar2s3VZg-wo3StKgkG1UavsV5BdTmiPi_II6XFZPtNzsiy_qxWck0tgqJ3iknqojlyYDQC/s640/IMG_4026.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>...and mixed some retarder into each color (which was especially helpful since I was working outside in the sun).<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjGd8Zmx8jD0YWK3pAcRBiP8FKvifwibo7ni-96u4wzfElY-6xFPI2xYdzp4AogYiGkTkWlTZvTcl027LWSW1yzo8q4LrACWMR1KT64YGLt3XmVqIhrh7rQ6-1Ca6gle6FaIGV25YrBsI/s1600/IMG_4027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjGd8Zmx8jD0YWK3pAcRBiP8FKvifwibo7ni-96u4wzfElY-6xFPI2xYdzp4AogYiGkTkWlTZvTcl027LWSW1yzo8q4LrACWMR1KT64YGLt3XmVqIhrh7rQ6-1Ca6gle6FaIGV25YrBsI/s640/IMG_4027.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I really had no plan in mind when I started to paint. I figured I'd just make the brush strokes and let whatever happens happen.<br /><br />Here's a little action shot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDIOlg6UO94mSUTeGPgCc1FbJZgcntq3L25eDxMzfCmB8UXNsKSpC2ykEsShrbCorHUIkLv8Pq48J0UmQXCdpzRxMV5itj2NgahjZqB6ZwGn-aPMD5Fmudvn5XfXdpADH7tpczQwr5-w1/s1600/IMG_4028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDIOlg6UO94mSUTeGPgCc1FbJZgcntq3L25eDxMzfCmB8UXNsKSpC2ykEsShrbCorHUIkLv8Pq48J0UmQXCdpzRxMV5itj2NgahjZqB6ZwGn-aPMD5Fmudvn5XfXdpADH7tpczQwr5-w1/s640/IMG_4028.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />First quarter completed...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wzgf6sePtn4QkZb6vTfrGwnBKBLWyrEeW8vSYfs0ARKoJVaJB47dU69Cq9lJGHfZGmk43O5PW2N0Ky331An0QUincMKNXeMlLday3J_nHzKHyxPej-mPi8tqoKUluY5i38GUhXQvU5kJ/s1600/IMG_4029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wzgf6sePtn4QkZb6vTfrGwnBKBLWyrEeW8vSYfs0ARKoJVaJB47dU69Cq9lJGHfZGmk43O5PW2N0Ky331An0QUincMKNXeMlLday3J_nHzKHyxPej-mPi8tqoKUluY5i38GUhXQvU5kJ/s640/IMG_4029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Fast forward maybe 45 mins later and the canvas was full:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeiM1HRjrr6xRbVzGWsB_0NpEWo5yk5_YqLX0HfT3wfaeiGORg7Ush5R2nfW_OM6uVv6raFsbR8vEo6igSAzbz0T07uKMyPrbRrpuKw8pS-MLNYxD09O_3I-finf0w6aoJK34O926_ceQ/s1600/IMG_4031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFeiM1HRjrr6xRbVzGWsB_0NpEWo5yk5_YqLX0HfT3wfaeiGORg7Ush5R2nfW_OM6uVv6raFsbR8vEo6igSAzbz0T07uKMyPrbRrpuKw8pS-MLNYxD09O_3I-finf0w6aoJK34O926_ceQ/s640/IMG_4031.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I went back and made a few tweaks, smoothed some things out, and ended up with my first finished canvas:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILQU485a1LciYl1DIkXXxGru5uQ3HbBwPnnbSmigEocfuh2u2ZCtZpPrtI0ISNOKRcePohRmvzwGf9SlM3TUso1Jp8DO2ZgRF8jqwxDuLWw5NYQv5ei0bu8PUFcHHpJqVZerc7C7ZguIV/s1600/IMG_4032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILQU485a1LciYl1DIkXXxGru5uQ3HbBwPnnbSmigEocfuh2u2ZCtZpPrtI0ISNOKRcePohRmvzwGf9SlM3TUso1Jp8DO2ZgRF8jqwxDuLWw5NYQv5ei0bu8PUFcHHpJqVZerc7C7ZguIV/s640/IMG_4032.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This first one took a good hour, at least. By #2 I was getting the hang of it and cut the time down significantly. Here's how the second one turned out:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE-C_hicjeUJsBeXCWvp27pYjQV0mxhdlqSQo2oaDHwlMFZn43h8IObDl6Jq-Ovkuh2gP2qnQiEyEvYvSWbufTWuJ0NiLRnMJ3kBoJJ1jC7I8feUH5UUC14UTFl4FYgmyk-sMXvd2_1DX/s1600/IMG_4033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgE-C_hicjeUJsBeXCWvp27pYjQV0mxhdlqSQo2oaDHwlMFZn43h8IObDl6Jq-Ovkuh2gP2qnQiEyEvYvSWbufTWuJ0NiLRnMJ3kBoJJ1jC7I8feUH5UUC14UTFl4FYgmyk-sMXvd2_1DX/s640/IMG_4033.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And the third...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6NG85wA72Sj8xh0qkQRoDExePLyLM3sDU7X16LMEMEC5pMX2PYlUIGSG6tD3vNSL92QIH0OlTbnfgZR1I7-lv1CP5JEYGCnz1qLUIAZ8vyatdZ2bpAJQv7GlZ48uGJqmThVcikVsSTsU/s1600/IMG_4034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6NG85wA72Sj8xh0qkQRoDExePLyLM3sDU7X16LMEMEC5pMX2PYlUIGSG6tD3vNSL92QIH0OlTbnfgZR1I7-lv1CP5JEYGCnz1qLUIAZ8vyatdZ2bpAJQv7GlZ48uGJqmThVcikVsSTsU/s640/IMG_4034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And finally, #4:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe71KWi_eHp8FISNeIhVxdKeK2tNYqBQWFhtHJGWed5mtHE2ZMPCGg9qZlLusn4jCaDQCv8DG2bOCMOhCapxk9nmPALqUmqhdx7mqXbdWP9SK9uC6Q5W-3nyDqc1J30BOC6PAZa5q5Xmr/s1600/IMG_4036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe71KWi_eHp8FISNeIhVxdKeK2tNYqBQWFhtHJGWed5mtHE2ZMPCGg9qZlLusn4jCaDQCv8DG2bOCMOhCapxk9nmPALqUmqhdx7mqXbdWP9SK9uC6Q5W-3nyDqc1J30BOC6PAZa5q5Xmr/s640/IMG_4036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Whew! All in all, it was probably about four hours from start to finish. I had plenty of paint leftover (I was worried I'd use it up at first), so now I'm all set if another painting project comes up.<br /><br />Oh, and we had a visitor stop by to sunbathe by our pool:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6xNPn4KJc2JwQpjIEntdhPbrAh2ILfqHUYjvwK7ToJKehlhohPA9AFpoltrwSWC8hfhq0duOkjkdp1C4jl_zuZWFVf-Y5ZbtV3Twq2bA6rEERAWgcvf-16G83bIjud7u9zRq9MP35C0r/s1600/IMG_3991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp6xNPn4KJc2JwQpjIEntdhPbrAh2ILfqHUYjvwK7ToJKehlhohPA9AFpoltrwSWC8hfhq0duOkjkdp1C4jl_zuZWFVf-Y5ZbtV3Twq2bA6rEERAWgcvf-16G83bIjud7u9zRq9MP35C0r/s640/IMG_3991.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>His name is now Harry the Heron.</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />I fed Harry some ham.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDiBfF0hyscEdCIjJFOvqWqaG9AiCQNzZZ5uL5CMfYBS34qSIyriR7O7-JsHQwjWd78uRB7D4TDDjniJVEfbLS10HMkCqAqscoK3P0-LxYGCxu6_dTrCXDqFS5r5mYl4gnwWNuiEoUwq5/s1600/IMG_3988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDiBfF0hyscEdCIjJFOvqWqaG9AiCQNzZZ5uL5CMfYBS34qSIyriR7O7-JsHQwjWd78uRB7D4TDDjniJVEfbLS10HMkCqAqscoK3P0-LxYGCxu6_dTrCXDqFS5r5mYl4gnwWNuiEoUwq5/s640/IMG_3988.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And then he went and found my stick stash (where I find all the cool sticks to decorate with)...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPdJtwovhxpIjPe-ICrrdXCzVC4FnG8VOmpnafW_g51lMs0HwWrBtjaINlSCjTpiBpgRhc3P4SU8J7VWTj-mFrpEDWsnxuInI7R05MLgrJNgm8Lp-_h068nckf_hjShCjUKX3MVec3fnG/s1600/IMG_4001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPdJtwovhxpIjPe-ICrrdXCzVC4FnG8VOmpnafW_g51lMs0HwWrBtjaINlSCjTpiBpgRhc3P4SU8J7VWTj-mFrpEDWsnxuInI7R05MLgrJNgm8Lp-_h068nckf_hjShCjUKX3MVec3fnG/s640/IMG_4001.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Apparently he has a stick fetish like I do! I can only assume he took it back to his place to decorate his mantle or use it as a centerpiece. They are some sweet sticks, afterall. Harry, if you're reading this, you are more than welcome to come back for more.<br /><br />Anyway, back to the paintings... <br /><br />Here's the official before shot:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYdwXnerxac0X3EuEsQN_IOJOPLfcH4rGqWlpMmkELPdJDy6W3QaIYhgZ2pLA8oYd5svMz41vzFv4cJskYbbF45ViDrRjzqfFSMHLkjfcchm7KRGOGriatt__UCoTOkui_cGVx9ardTlo/s1600/IMG_4038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYdwXnerxac0X3EuEsQN_IOJOPLfcH4rGqWlpMmkELPdJDy6W3QaIYhgZ2pLA8oYd5svMz41vzFv4cJskYbbF45ViDrRjzqfFSMHLkjfcchm7KRGOGriatt__UCoTOkui_cGVx9ardTlo/s640/IMG_4038.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>And here they are, doin their thing, injecting some life into the room:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw6JDcjdsYCjdTRWXbKrVPf1X96PtjfPtocfopdCvTDfDwmECDBXpIuvLtuXYaUPpI-Ri7otzb3-WGYhUQg2wbmbf2tK4OSa4F2lScz4NjCvGkyV1cv_vyZkt7h2rrreYESTHa2Oo6aWs/s1600/IMG_4044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw6JDcjdsYCjdTRWXbKrVPf1X96PtjfPtocfopdCvTDfDwmECDBXpIuvLtuXYaUPpI-Ri7otzb3-WGYhUQg2wbmbf2tK4OSa4F2lScz4NjCvGkyV1cv_vyZkt7h2rrreYESTHa2Oo6aWs/s640/IMG_4044.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH3fiRfRFh8yv0Kr4EPScpQUPxWvyvZa81ji19nRHGMOoQ1fiMa8EXk1t0waHlEFZKeG8rpyvKVxdCJ3imsc0572hnrGdwWKVx0edkYFiW6zhTeeF32n9MpheQPdYXaGgxoL_lTiVenvn/s1600/IMG_4047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH3fiRfRFh8yv0Kr4EPScpQUPxWvyvZa81ji19nRHGMOoQ1fiMa8EXk1t0waHlEFZKeG8rpyvKVxdCJ3imsc0572hnrGdwWKVx0edkYFiW6zhTeeF32n9MpheQPdYXaGgxoL_lTiVenvn/s640/IMG_4047.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJBxGFCzSezFferKExypB6GFM2kgdfG-rtBO_USmTuhQwVOg14_UYc2Yd_NgFvhCOYe2G0CIfj-q5wEtZnPvfR8wFgIjWl5CItZtPaqWKzodno1k_Biw2nDChM2b7EY5lGcNJCxsY48Ks/s1600/IMG_4049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJBxGFCzSezFferKExypB6GFM2kgdfG-rtBO_USmTuhQwVOg14_UYc2Yd_NgFvhCOYe2G0CIfj-q5wEtZnPvfR8wFgIjWl5CItZtPaqWKzodno1k_Biw2nDChM2b7EY5lGcNJCxsY48Ks/s640/IMG_4049.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Yay for color! Our house is getting more colorful by the day. I promise I won't go overboard though... I'm stickin with the palette. <br /><br />Hopefully this can serve as inspiration/motivation for you guys to get out there and make your own painting! The worst that can happen is you paint your canvas white and start over. No biggie. I would recommend an abstract like this if you're just starting out, and stick with acrylics. It's easy and fun, sometimes even therapeutic (and cheap if you shop during sales!)<br /><br />Off to watch the Oscars... have a great Sunday night everyone!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

DIY Abstract Painting

Back again today to show you all a painting I spent most of the day making! A little backstory... painting was my favorite hobby as a child/...

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Speakers & More Art.

<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Music is huge in our house. You'll find it playing in some form at any given time... we really can't get enough. So Brad and I were anxious to install the in-ceiling speakers we bought for each room, and all the parts had just arrived in time for a weekend install.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I dream of the soothing melodies of Christopher Cross's <em>Sailing </em>and Enya's <em>Caribbean Blue</em> filling the house, on repeat, all day and all night...that's my version of heaven, I tell you. Although Brad probably doesn't share these sentiments, so I'll have to allow some Rush tunes to break it up from time to time. And of course we'll have to rock the Pandora trance channel for some crazy summer night dance parties.</span><br /><br />So we kicked off our weekend with Brad in the attic Friday night, drilling speaker holes and fishing a network of wires to his receiver (located in the hall closet). We bought a pair of speakers for each room (garage included) along with some poolside rock speakers. He completed the garage and kitchen that night, while Saturday was spent on the office, living room, master bedroom, and pool (today he's working on the sunroom and man cave). <br /><br />It was a fairly simple (but messy) process. <br /><br />First he gets in the attic while I stand below, directing him on placement. He drills a pilot hole, comes back into the room, and cuts the hole with his "Hole Pro" cutter, and secures the speaker.<br /><br />Here's the process in pictures:<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2nQF1NotTv4ALoAa7PZzhts2vXCoKMjncZv6SJUbGr1pHuceoeSDoaTjUOeCwQs3VdV6Z-uQ2_pOd5drD4Yial5bISbexMzNueMcnSFSVJMW8bkSCoYBIMGEwSL1lxfhCCZtyjNgql-d/s1600/IMG_3948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2nQF1NotTv4ALoAa7PZzhts2vXCoKMjncZv6SJUbGr1pHuceoeSDoaTjUOeCwQs3VdV6Z-uQ2_pOd5drD4Yial5bISbexMzNueMcnSFSVJMW8bkSCoYBIMGEwSL1lxfhCCZtyjNgql-d/s640/IMG_3948.jpg" width="566" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Hole Pro in action</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbMpG6IfA5GK_YM1NXy2C4f5FVgoXMdFwgAiBFCJm9Mgl-eTRZMIpuh92KbHsJZG3Q2sheDYXDxGqAtcGbp8UaeEVcUwPKgVvlt7aDCfuRGwzq1WaeXYuM6p1bDV-XoCGBiQNICLp2SRn/s1600/IMG_3928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbMpG6IfA5GK_YM1NXy2C4f5FVgoXMdFwgAiBFCJm9Mgl-eTRZMIpuh92KbHsJZG3Q2sheDYXDxGqAtcGbp8UaeEVcUwPKgVvlt7aDCfuRGwzq1WaeXYuM6p1bDV-XoCGBiQNICLp2SRn/s640/IMG_3928.jpg" width="628" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMShaa3VVFSNjlPFLFVFpFNZep3v0IICNw4FArlKrVXWA5qqyEyXsaTtvyp3cX_K-3TSU7O6yHW8vpNR_4nm0RLqZ_CDs99ntx8bybU_eGcZUXAwi7T8HBph3p1bvNTyXRoensGUA_2Hc/s1600/IMG_3958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQMShaa3VVFSNjlPFLFVFpFNZep3v0IICNw4FArlKrVXWA5qqyEyXsaTtvyp3cX_K-3TSU7O6yHW8vpNR_4nm0RLqZ_CDs99ntx8bybU_eGcZUXAwi7T8HBph3p1bvNTyXRoensGUA_2Hc/s640/IMG_3958.jpg" width="544" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mounting the speaker</em></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHly9Qi577gKejfoVQCvG_o3Fp-HoLzaYSgwAYVh5-IOkgcGjTyvWBERdAfSSl4sujHKxLMk1fdXNNAzqY9ilZLbhXpNzxqr31nEpHaa6HiVGwM-oxKQ1eXGchKmTVD1apGlMnikIlLTL/s1600/IMG_3960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHly9Qi577gKejfoVQCvG_o3Fp-HoLzaYSgwAYVh5-IOkgcGjTyvWBERdAfSSl4sujHKxLMk1fdXNNAzqY9ilZLbhXpNzxqr31nEpHaa6HiVGwM-oxKQ1eXGchKmTVD1apGlMnikIlLTL/s640/IMG_3960.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttKyDwOHpeSUYfSmUY9PDMS5Iiu-ZhsvO3TlUTNSmeoXmbE_vAPjNal9A0iM7m1zowNU7FEUpIK46yjW2reMwLBvKHEcp6KMd3m9E00if6lMk9nZ1k8BPvuGPqjDCq_DapgeeLEjikcQH/s1600/IMG_3961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttKyDwOHpeSUYfSmUY9PDMS5Iiu-ZhsvO3TlUTNSmeoXmbE_vAPjNal9A0iM7m1zowNU7FEUpIK46yjW2reMwLBvKHEcp6KMd3m9E00if6lMk9nZ1k8BPvuGPqjDCq_DapgeeLEjikcQH/s640/IMG_3961.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Snapping the grill into place</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4biPHda6l7Ev65EmJrv2vJwLL_ZVhqrka9uu_o3U-cQYIMDAfinps7EPZbbJlQmPMZFZ3F53DELZJTqAJoMp0ihXqB-vRmGwaiNUtUsz1XgnFKIJKJAtX76nkUs_VmZhOhnJPaddXa24v/s1600/IMG_3962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4biPHda6l7Ev65EmJrv2vJwLL_ZVhqrka9uu_o3U-cQYIMDAfinps7EPZbbJlQmPMZFZ3F53DELZJTqAJoMp0ihXqB-vRmGwaiNUtUsz1XgnFKIJKJAtX76nkUs_VmZhOhnJPaddXa24v/s640/IMG_3962.jpg" width="596" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Ta da!</em></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MrO5RHXFOdpToqpkRgc3BBFdOiY-0YBLl31Nz3jtfk0oB9Xf6tkQAy2KhtAvCf-mB7PeoYRNapNoNNjS-IWqAA85E0EtZm5EY0sMD6_WnobpnsILvIFTmDoOluRSQN_oBS_rr0FEvq_x/s1600/IMG_3956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MrO5RHXFOdpToqpkRgc3BBFdOiY-0YBLl31Nz3jtfk0oB9Xf6tkQAy2KhtAvCf-mB7PeoYRNapNoNNjS-IWqAA85E0EtZm5EY0sMD6_WnobpnsILvIFTmDoOluRSQN_oBS_rr0FEvq_x/s640/IMG_3956.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Finished living room</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So there you have it. Stereo sound in every room, gotta love it! We can switch each room on/off through the switchbox in the closet, and listen to music from virtually any source (radio, itunes, TV music channels, pandora internet radio). These speakers will get some good use. <br /><br />Here's what every room looked like while Brad was still trying to get the hang of the hole pro:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQBaCzYtzSXLjCKxDxQj9a6-t8QBZVxylEmHoa_WJtlU2KzgDt7ax8xX2B9qV8xATnEeYOrHv-i7HOSA-1V-y5TW6RCOGNb3ucTZCqRZy22oRC6gUQk1N8QX5p_bkQPmsSq9Rmz9f6CCP/s1600/IMG_3955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQBaCzYtzSXLjCKxDxQj9a6-t8QBZVxylEmHoa_WJtlU2KzgDt7ax8xX2B9qV8xATnEeYOrHv-i7HOSA-1V-y5TW6RCOGNb3ucTZCqRZy22oRC6gUQk1N8QX5p_bkQPmsSq9Rmz9f6CCP/s640/IMG_3955.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Small price to pay for music, right? :)<br /><br />And here's one of our rock speakers, facing the pool:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9unZb8b57kIL67hcdWH5M7TLfwl2-q2GViIoX3TmuTrzElQfX4_48uEcNQMUeyTb40qZRURBouqnIx9O2fwIA2FX38nR9Umn2uX8OFyRfX6yZF1DpzlZw0-eBIJf5tvjLckvbOWJC_cL6/s1600/IMG_4009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9unZb8b57kIL67hcdWH5M7TLfwl2-q2GViIoX3TmuTrzElQfX4_48uEcNQMUeyTb40qZRURBouqnIx9O2fwIA2FX38nR9Umn2uX8OFyRfX6yZF1DpzlZw0-eBIJf5tvjLckvbOWJC_cL6/s640/IMG_4009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>While Brad was in the attic, I had some downtime to finish some projects.<br /><br />Like the office. <br /><br /><a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/my-alternative-to-file-cabinet.html">A week ago</a> I had dumped our old filing "system" and opted for a streamlined binder and box organization method. I was loving the new setup, but felt like it needing some sprucing up. <br /><br />Here's a reminder shot of how it looked last week:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs1hRL5s1fs9mwFbrhvm8_CwUfHYKDmvbcLCF5iXTYcbW1Dfd2jSY98TIXHTEZgAo412Jp7aB6ZbnT2OJauUbmwAkFQ6ynsXxTBmycnoIg2QrY9dG-RuIMBok2UEofqanE51DPVT631D5/s640/IMG_3878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs1hRL5s1fs9mwFbrhvm8_CwUfHYKDmvbcLCF5iXTYcbW1Dfd2jSY98TIXHTEZgAo412Jp7aB6ZbnT2OJauUbmwAkFQ6ynsXxTBmycnoIg2QrY9dG-RuIMBok2UEofqanE51DPVT631D5/s640/IMG_3878.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And here it is today:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1q-1-U_gLZOYtUsj2zJVE8LHwhUgazqy7PQyIyZtHUKHI_O63KmHZ-nSyHz9vgpvJir1JkSFUlw136WdxDgSBHp62dt3b0XYbKI0gTgunk_IjuiBB9GRuIVzOC-k3afxEwYVHGEncqnw/s1600/IMG_3949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1q-1-U_gLZOYtUsj2zJVE8LHwhUgazqy7PQyIyZtHUKHI_O63KmHZ-nSyHz9vgpvJir1JkSFUlw136WdxDgSBHp62dt3b0XYbKI0gTgunk_IjuiBB9GRuIVzOC-k3afxEwYVHGEncqnw/s640/IMG_3949.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I picked a color palette, made some patterns, added the text, measured out the sizes I needed, printed and cut them out. Much cheerier, right?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislkJZrHBUxRPFaAShO71q8ruiTUwoH4yf0e9VX5hMhmp6rO9yREZLvL9ZIpMlmOYXrkLwGDsm5ij9Y92m4KB2ekNsDwgYiJ25CuXMFBpYIEt-mi27i0jWbVIAv5OIcLyRs2KhwUOBr6mH/s1600/IMG_3953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEislkJZrHBUxRPFaAShO71q8ruiTUwoH4yf0e9VX5hMhmp6rO9yREZLvL9ZIpMlmOYXrkLwGDsm5ij9Y92m4KB2ekNsDwgYiJ25CuXMFBpYIEt-mi27i0jWbVIAv5OIcLyRs2KhwUOBr6mH/s640/IMG_3953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I leave the cabinet door permanently open now because it just makes me happy to look at it. And I get excited anytime I need to look something up. Now that's how filing should be!<br /><br />UPDATE: I've added free binder printables <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/04/printable-binder-templates-for-your.html">here</a>!<br /><br /><br />While I was working on the project, the UPS man came and delivered a package I had been waiting on from the Container Store. It was my new wall file!<br /><br />I've been needing a way to organize all my loose papers on my desk, and when I discovered this <a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10029554&N=&Ntt=brocade">brocade wall file</a> online, I thought it was perfect (if you know me and my love for anything white with a cutout pattern). So you can imagine my excitement when I go to order it and discover that it's on sale ($10 off!) making it around $25 shipped. I would still consider that a splurge for something so basic, but it's already paid off in the amount of happiness it brings just looking at it.<br /><br />I picked up a set of colorful file folders at Walmart for $3, and here's the end result:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeLVnoET_Z-4WJ3gSCGDHLJ-50vHvl-SnZ78t5_2FE_cDFLq41EM-GwbFN_2B7lXntr2Jf_GJTDJ9AGR_mH3BtofTg7YqjikdJY9kb5cFKAtslvjEtSvPKl2Uhl7Bf0iLmzJretQnZZ4R/s1600/IMG_3977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeLVnoET_Z-4WJ3gSCGDHLJ-50vHvl-SnZ78t5_2FE_cDFLq41EM-GwbFN_2B7lXntr2Jf_GJTDJ9AGR_mH3BtofTg7YqjikdJY9kb5cFKAtslvjEtSvPKl2Uhl7Bf0iLmzJretQnZZ4R/s640/IMG_3977.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBXFCSPM5NpFGiyZLuPOf3dOxYiaKRpc8HeX0CTgUbTgSKip6N-RnML9mVzqM3aVgWXW7fcnkmBUr8XfrbwdXugEqOaIJO9ncMMJoUxS1S672jo8np-BlTNmizNxda5vEkxDQNTIq2aQa/s1600/IMG_3978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBXFCSPM5NpFGiyZLuPOf3dOxYiaKRpc8HeX0CTgUbTgSKip6N-RnML9mVzqM3aVgWXW7fcnkmBUr8XfrbwdXugEqOaIJO9ncMMJoUxS1S672jo8np-BlTNmizNxda5vEkxDQNTIq2aQa/s640/IMG_3978.jpg" width="508" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqea_tvg7A2iG2E5B60WKG-K4_VfPpmm-cEaVUgCU5A8vdWIOTFjmZvQkaz3AUYimTMB3N1LJUhlUOHPGO8gD49s9tOH_6kQnxvvHHaxCKUluYPxEgnH-bSAPcrzf-9lE_wd2xFTLazI/s1600/IMG_3976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmqea_tvg7A2iG2E5B60WKG-K4_VfPpmm-cEaVUgCU5A8vdWIOTFjmZvQkaz3AUYimTMB3N1LJUhlUOHPGO8gD49s9tOH_6kQnxvvHHaxCKUluYPxEgnH-bSAPcrzf-9lE_wd2xFTLazI/s640/IMG_3976.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Love this detail!</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />So that's how the office is shaping up. A few days ago I purchased this rug in 5x8 for it:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.rugs-direct.com/rug_gallery/00328/12992/97010/152544/s_280_lapalmalimegreen-limegreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="http://images.rugs-direct.com/rug_gallery/00328/12992/97010/152544/s_280_lapalmalimegreen-limegreen.jpg" /></a></div><br /><br />I'm thinking it will match the color scheme I've got going on quite well. Let's hope so! Pics as soon as it's in.<br /><br />And finally... we've got some more art on the walls.<br /><br />Starting with the foyer art I finally hung. I went out and bought some command strips, since these particular frames have a flat back and the hook and nail made it stick out from the wall. It all worked out in the end:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCeK51g69zGJIDay6vkDIi0wwUHy46-TfiV41x9ZqYm7O_aDJQASEvW_FMu9Peu8_8pFf1DVsfsVJwH-weraidq2rzLPTkixp2hLSNWmwv-bHGCmwss_NVusuN-h2WtCGA68juBKRb_cm/s1600/IMG_3965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOCeK51g69zGJIDay6vkDIi0wwUHy46-TfiV41x9ZqYm7O_aDJQASEvW_FMu9Peu8_8pFf1DVsfsVJwH-weraidq2rzLPTkixp2hLSNWmwv-bHGCmwss_NVusuN-h2WtCGA68juBKRb_cm/s640/IMG_3965.jpg" width="444" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are 12x16 prints inside Ikea's $17 Virserum frames, found <a href="here.http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00174769/">here.</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq8KJQsDVLws2gxMACVgYjGLDWleKugw5AfuMo1HGN7wXYNPlNA5jbF0ng7XTd7_hr34t80AlUXMDTevtuXV2xtW1CTb4dOVmE_kIW2R9bFSdhyphenhyphenr_Aj883Hsr_KVZmF23MNsiKqB1I7GB/s1600/IMG_3963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJq8KJQsDVLws2gxMACVgYjGLDWleKugw5AfuMo1HGN7wXYNPlNA5jbF0ng7XTd7_hr34t80AlUXMDTevtuXV2xtW1CTb4dOVmE_kIW2R9bFSdhyphenhyphenr_Aj883Hsr_KVZmF23MNsiKqB1I7GB/s640/IMG_3963.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbKhVHm3NFfwXFp_zVF9-DyEUUEqfPJaHbXJiaQrVdc-8stwfch7UH657YNSpk_8Mw3VRJOD4XcA6764LwJF00khqDuCaTuEHT0JnAj6W4VdRVSOLXB6MdCaN5t-yvdpdgauZZLXY09qv/s1600/IMG_3967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbKhVHm3NFfwXFp_zVF9-DyEUUEqfPJaHbXJiaQrVdc-8stwfch7UH657YNSpk_8Mw3VRJOD4XcA6764LwJF00khqDuCaTuEHT0JnAj6W4VdRVSOLXB6MdCaN5t-yvdpdgauZZLXY09qv/s640/IMG_3967.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The prints can be customized and purchased in any size, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70350417/welcome-to-our-home-art-print-choose">here</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70345283/custom-house-number-art-print-choose">here</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Just around the corner, I printed and hung these:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisOjwESfxq8SCcE5v6FZqzE7XH1zXlZRxkMwNq26bWvqa3zqsaJ4vsvad3UrjE-8cpROYmKqdTW6B4vH7neF2gxQS1MilulnRdDb6bOW0EdzEiucBsb0yOGXMoavnhb6jj9wAM44EJCWg/s1600/IMG_3933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisOjwESfxq8SCcE5v6FZqzE7XH1zXlZRxkMwNq26bWvqa3zqsaJ4vsvad3UrjE-8cpROYmKqdTW6B4vH7neF2gxQS1MilulnRdDb6bOW0EdzEiucBsb0yOGXMoavnhb6jj9wAM44EJCWg/s640/IMG_3933.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZfAOBog2-LuatUsGRDbYjShk9Deia_pXBLpL6nGpyyiSVQRLUd3yOs1mPTZbRhrm54UZqbfsE80uQT6m0N-HG7pDIhaHIZAH89mDQDdaaN7NOGB1kRNATzAsQvJjmHfu1kqSqxTGNajE/s1600/IMG_3936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZfAOBog2-LuatUsGRDbYjShk9Deia_pXBLpL6nGpyyiSVQRLUd3yOs1mPTZbRhrm54UZqbfsE80uQT6m0N-HG7pDIhaHIZAH89mDQDdaaN7NOGB1kRNATzAsQvJjmHfu1kqSqxTGNajE/s640/IMG_3936.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>These are 11.5x11.5" prints, framed inside Ikea's $20 Virserum frames, found <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60174766/">here.</a> Prints can be customized and ordered in any size, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/77484625/custom-script-quote-or-lyrics-art-print">here</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/91826722/no-place-like-home-art-print-choose-your">here</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNmkqi2ug_XQC_8ntGMpBybR55HS4FlXjfg0zTY4ZDWTGt4vZNgHMICMTTAvaYvnDr40e43rORv0yaR-nioS6QZV32AOv9HocLj9GQJzvrT6CVNu7lVdbJ9xzogOc8HpF29gJl4PJlDPE/s1600/IMG_3970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNmkqi2ug_XQC_8ntGMpBybR55HS4FlXjfg0zTY4ZDWTGt4vZNgHMICMTTAvaYvnDr40e43rORv0yaR-nioS6QZV32AOv9HocLj9GQJzvrT6CVNu7lVdbJ9xzogOc8HpF29gJl4PJlDPE/s640/IMG_3970.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall Color on left: Valspar's Magic Spell. Wall Color on Right: Valspar's Bonsai.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally getting some finishing touches in the house feels great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wanted to add a little something to our bare hallway wall, so I decided to make a couple maps that had significance for us. I chose our birth cities of New Orleans (Brad) and San Francisco (me):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKDDd8mU7WfMxEpMlQgvRezZJPMlgXitAbzz9ok3j-6R5QRVP_E1X8MrE01-rwAiznhIGBT-n6vmtyFLz1dmR5c2aaY4s74lj2mDlwKnaimNJ5SV0K1dhFivM4qdzoCGqiVWaUnJYoh_P/s1600/IMG_3984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKDDd8mU7WfMxEpMlQgvRezZJPMlgXitAbzz9ok3j-6R5QRVP_E1X8MrE01-rwAiznhIGBT-n6vmtyFLz1dmR5c2aaY4s74lj2mDlwKnaimNJ5SV0K1dhFivM4qdzoCGqiVWaUnJYoh_P/s640/IMG_3984.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><a href="http://jennasuemaps.etsy.com/">City maps found here</a></em> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />Here they are framed and hung:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV1AobcmYKlKGzWD_AQ8NZKyMtDwj_CCsEeS5ncOVYfCZeXOFanffRmOKSPu2ySmzjWj4bEqb2kMX5oGnLoV4K6nYU3jn98v4CeJhX_65f5_9FPqYvtzaX8igzlxjNYEIXbQ1-RdfbVAW/s1600/IMG_4007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicV1AobcmYKlKGzWD_AQ8NZKyMtDwj_CCsEeS5ncOVYfCZeXOFanffRmOKSPu2ySmzjWj4bEqb2kMX5oGnLoV4K6nYU3jn98v4CeJhX_65f5_9FPqYvtzaX8igzlxjNYEIXbQ1-RdfbVAW/s640/IMG_4007.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now we have a happy hallway :)<br /><br />And finally, Brad's "man cave" art is finished (...for now):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpgIX6FbwAOWii_L_DSm6Sq0kjMPLvwkalWo8pBkVl_ZxRnba5tAGrz1LXCxobbcKkY___IqY0IakGLt1go6fxZ-2gp7RXqvtbb9Xn81ZY3Xayy3rlfUQnU3kfAnZ6Ni4nRmgfjtsfKUo/s1600/IMG_4016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpgIX6FbwAOWii_L_DSm6Sq0kjMPLvwkalWo8pBkVl_ZxRnba5tAGrz1LXCxobbcKkY___IqY0IakGLt1go6fxZ-2gp7RXqvtbb9Xn81ZY3Xayy3rlfUQnU3kfAnZ6Ni4nRmgfjtsfKUo/s640/IMG_4016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGE_9yJdS804PxTxlL5Z1rmbNRfYK1BaHPLoxDUj9mlkv_7jV9KC6qyqa49sMokqlVkO1XmPANMzngjSYI4KawM_f-JPTNWIvYUalbzfKU_KAXXExzyH10Vc38_n0mHzaPF34slHxPCYO/s1600/IMG_4018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGE_9yJdS804PxTxlL5Z1rmbNRfYK1BaHPLoxDUj9mlkv_7jV9KC6qyqa49sMokqlVkO1XmPANMzngjSYI4KawM_f-JPTNWIvYUalbzfKU_KAXXExzyH10Vc38_n0mHzaPF34slHxPCYO/s640/IMG_4018.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><br />Gotta run, Brad's breaking stuff in the ceiling and needs my help... be back later today!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Speakers & More Art.

Music is huge in our house. You'll find it playing in some form at any given time... we really can't get enough. So Brad and I were ...

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