My alternative to the file cabinet.

UPDATE: Check out the finished version of my File Cabinet makeover <a href="http://jennasuedesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/speakers-art-and-new-friend.html">here</a>, complete with free binder printables!<br /><br />Today I took a break from the standard Saturday decorating+renovating to practice another one of my most favorite pastimes... organizing. <br /><br />I had decided not to go with the traditional lateral filing cabinet for our office when I spotted this Aspvik wall cabinet on Ikea for $100:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/aspvik-wall-cabinet-with-sliding-doors-white__78999_PE202422_S4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/aspvik-wall-cabinet-with-sliding-doors-white__78999_PE202422_S4.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I loved the look of it and immediately pictured the perfect spot for it over our desk. I hadn't really thought out the logistics of it at that point, but I knew I'd find a way to make it work. <br /><br />Whilst at Ikea, I grabbed a couple packages of these babies for just $2 each:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/flyt-magazine-file-white__18520_PE103469_S4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/images/products/flyt-magazine-file-white__18520_PE103469_S4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Can't go wrong with them at that price, right? But then came the challenging part... figuring out how to organize all our papers within these boxes. They aren't really meant for that, as they are magazine files, so I had to get creative. Then, in a moment of genius, a binder popped into my head. Inside the binder were clear sleeves, which held not only paper but all the loose miscellaneous things that often need to be filed. Bin-go! Once the idea was planted, I couldn't wait to get to Target and start browsing the aisles for all of the exciting ways to fulfill my organizational fantasies. <br /><br />So last night I get to Target... and I was underwhelmed to say the least. I remember Walmart having tons of great office supplies so I figured Target would be even better... but nope. They had one small section of binders + binder accessories, so my options were very limited. Everything was pricier than I thought, too. When all was said and done, I walked out with ten binders, 200 sleeves, 20 section dividers, 3 expanding pockets, and labels at the expense of $50. I had ten magazine boxes, so I had planned to break down all of our files into ten categories, assign each binder a category, and store them inside their own box (alongside any extra papers that may be too bulky which is what the expanding pockets were for). Here's the category breakdown for those of you wondering:<br /><br />Jenna Personal (birth certificates, transcripts, passport, licenses, personal letters/notes/keepsakes, etc)<br />Brad Personal (same)<br />Auto (broken down by car: maintenance/repair logs, insurance, titles, bills of sale, etc)<br />Medical/Health (medical bills, insurance packets)<br />Finance/Money (anything bank related, student loans, credit cards)<br />Employment (resumes, W-2's, acceptance letters, freelance invoices/forms)<br />Warranties & Manuals <br />House #1 (loan/refi docs, rental stuff, maintenance/repair bills, tax/insurance forms, deeds, etc)<br />House #2 (same)<br />Etsy (will serve as a catalog, more or less, of all my prints, with color + font sheets, financial/tax docs, etc)<br /><br />Good plan, right? I thought so. <br /><br />There was just one minor problem...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXl3hNog4SIHUMehn5la4KTA4ff4eulBEWmCSJ25kcwMmF-p9TJ3XMCHHkTnNODhpB6fTL6jUKIclRU2OxMiyj5YABx0UMVAFRwv7SjDImI9iw2Y3ydvKpnILLCNUBecRk6gQROdviO2D/s1600/IMG_3874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXl3hNog4SIHUMehn5la4KTA4ff4eulBEWmCSJ25kcwMmF-p9TJ3XMCHHkTnNODhpB6fTL6jUKIclRU2OxMiyj5YABx0UMVAFRwv7SjDImI9iw2Y3ydvKpnILLCNUBecRk6gQROdviO2D/s640/IMG_3874.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Okay, duh. How did I not even consider that. My plan B then became to ditch most of the boxes, use just the binders, line them up, slap labels on them and call it a day. I would use some boxes for bulkier items (product manuals, legal sized loan docs, etc). <br /><br />Here's the supplies all lined up, ready to get to work...<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/AVvXsEgSrgzzfyxPsOIuqwwJ1O-qztGeKKpzdW337SZIumqyJzGmvJ1lhqAO2lgUgpgXfEn6NqXfWwtXjFvMzcU7gX6tO7IZr8SgFoVmxbI9vQaMutu8_hN2OID_MmxannqiqYEKCVglkjkAA9HL/s1600/IMG_3870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSrgzzfyxPsOIuqwwJ1O-qztGeKKpzdW337SZIumqyJzGmvJ1lhqAO2lgUgpgXfEn6NqXfWwtXjFvMzcU7gX6tO7IZr8SgFoVmxbI9vQaMutu8_hN2OID_MmxannqiqYEKCVglkjkAA9HL/s640/IMG_3870.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sorry for all the blurry pics, didn't have my tripod...</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />And here was the mess of papers we've been living with since the move, in desperate need of organization for our own sanity:<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/AVvXsEjB7HGPhV7NtTPrglFiTJu3rIcBS23dsBHb7Gq194LkJHNTsDn4aXWO_LKLFqp6u17rdn5qVJGHNeWHdwOEvEdymBvTm-0McKz0didLBo72Yj1u16jr0aSwlJl6vAZLVIU45ztE7hi1truE/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7HGPhV7NtTPrglFiTJu3rIcBS23dsBHb7Gq194LkJHNTsDn4aXWO_LKLFqp6u17rdn5qVJGHNeWHdwOEvEdymBvTm-0McKz0didLBo72Yj1u16jr0aSwlJl6vAZLVIU45ztE7hi1truE/s640/IMG_3867.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>This doesn't look like much, but I swear there was ridiculous amounts of crap to sort through!</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Step #1 was to sort through years worth of junk (most of it Brad's) into ten different piles by category:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6knsihnjkVpcABAflZD-NjhFSwUpGRIPIBFSvdItbfpAvN_aSXLrQuuWJ56oO8YKksNd2pdgYQSFr9dfp0UrkmJJbQcNW31BOfmfO4fl-3Wo9EfqxNbwGSsEbkC3z6VEc3c68znNV0WP7/s1600/IMG_3868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6knsihnjkVpcABAflZD-NjhFSwUpGRIPIBFSvdItbfpAvN_aSXLrQuuWJ56oO8YKksNd2pdgYQSFr9dfp0UrkmJJbQcNW31BOfmfO4fl-3Wo9EfqxNbwGSsEbkC3z6VEc3c68znNV0WP7/s640/IMG_3868.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This was at least a two hour process, maybe three... see that stack in the back right that's a foot high? That's our first house. So.Much.Crap. Anyway... about half of everything was discarded, and then it was time to get down to business. <br /><br />I started with the easiest one first, my personal binder. Here's a peek of the finished result:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OnkUIyCvuE-CjXWxj4AdmL_87Rn7asYKmL2KZDMPtnliFi6kbqLXHX1G7jaGWST6uNNAflwWEiBStyk7XWlu3T8laoIVpYiGOu1XXp3BpNzXZ8o4HXb_2ghJN6x4nJlbb2RNNK3VxFcF/s1600/IMG_3873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4OnkUIyCvuE-CjXWxj4AdmL_87Rn7asYKmL2KZDMPtnliFi6kbqLXHX1G7jaGWST6uNNAflwWEiBStyk7XWlu3T8laoIVpYiGOu1XXp3BpNzXZ8o4HXb_2ghJN6x4nJlbb2RNNK3VxFcF/s640/IMG_3873.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />How much better is that than digging through a stack of papers in a hanging folder? I love this solution and wish I could have used it sooner. We've often had to dump out large stacks of folders in a pile to frantically search for an important paper, and that's never fun. I'll spare you shots of the insides every other folder, and skip straight to the nice and organized after shot:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhracoT4lFFJ_O1RwjosbxSF10k5vNcfqbrqJIAClkaXOUdNesEZS-lhvg5c-T6s5BVZkA-uxHujBzQhTwwMhEnQHMjI_-AsiJ87Jxo4Fwiq3ulCcM2juWsEp_0NFHVbhW2WegWmKhW4gUH/s1600/IMG_3875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhracoT4lFFJ_O1RwjosbxSF10k5vNcfqbrqJIAClkaXOUdNesEZS-lhvg5c-T6s5BVZkA-uxHujBzQhTwwMhEnQHMjI_-AsiJ87Jxo4Fwiq3ulCcM2juWsEp_0NFHVbhW2WegWmKhW4gUH/s640/IMG_3875.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs1hRL5s1fs9mwFbrhvm8_CwUfHYKDmvbcLCF5iXTYcbW1Dfd2jSY98TIXHTEZgAo412Jp7aB6ZbnT2OJauUbmwAkFQ6ynsXxTBmycnoIg2QrY9dG-RuIMBok2UEofqanE51DPVT631D5/s1600/IMG_3878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAs1hRL5s1fs9mwFbrhvm8_CwUfHYKDmvbcLCF5iXTYcbW1Dfd2jSY98TIXHTEZgAo412Jp7aB6ZbnT2OJauUbmwAkFQ6ynsXxTBmycnoIg2QrY9dG-RuIMBok2UEofqanE51DPVT631D5/s640/IMG_3878.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />If you are OCD about organizing like me, then this pic should make you breathe a sigh of relief. I know I've been for the past couple hours now that it's all done.<br /><br />Here's a shot of the other side of the cabinet, in case you're curious:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEnpyDYShMoFtnPzycBa2q7WTNJO2JYTAoxArRCvvaqpxGQpDdZVk2yQfnaNdfBK6HWnsDr2Ef2JoQzEf2-9EK0KqCSjxKfAcjblhub5nZKKcyuhJcoMfEoMzFvAudgDgOcWnFwgTJFTH/s1600/IMG_3881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEnpyDYShMoFtnPzycBa2q7WTNJO2JYTAoxArRCvvaqpxGQpDdZVk2yQfnaNdfBK6HWnsDr2Ef2JoQzEf2-9EK0KqCSjxKfAcjblhub5nZKKcyuhJcoMfEoMzFvAudgDgOcWnFwgTJFTH/s640/IMG_3881.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />It will basically just be used to hold my paper, and some packing materials once I get them ordered.<br /><br />Don't fret for the spare boxes that got left out, they are resting happily in the closet until I can find a new use for them:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24PkljVOgkGG5PwQb3XiiHTOPavLYBWh5l_XB8K2KHvdtWtnYYTuZ2GQsP6y_PmAgdmiun6CCJAJlXQtGQTlJBH0sZT6me4FC66C4VhwRL8zREOuQXyPEb5z3W3niZnq7lBKbZPS5AU6W/s1600/IMG_3882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24PkljVOgkGG5PwQb3XiiHTOPavLYBWh5l_XB8K2KHvdtWtnYYTuZ2GQsP6y_PmAgdmiun6CCJAJlXQtGQTlJBH0sZT6me4FC66C4VhwRL8zREOuQXyPEb5z3W3niZnq7lBKbZPS5AU6W/s640/IMG_3882.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So there you have it—my cheap, easy and effective file organizing system. All is now right in the world. (At least, in my world, cause there's no more boxes of junk to sort through!)<br /><br />Be back tomorrow for some fun wall art!<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" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

My alternative to the file cabinet.

UPDATE: Check out the finished version of my File Cabinet makeover here , complete with free binder printables! Today I took a break from th...

Read more »

Rug Love

Stopping in real quick today to show off our latest additions: our bedroom rug, front door mat and entry rug. <br /><br />First up is the before shot of our front door. We had been using the previous owner's mat, which of course was in keeping with the tropical-palm tree-pink motif that had saturated the home before we got our hands on it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKfj3dXpJLmScIIoZF9H6Keje461sRk8l6fqgvHmOc-Dsh7A4AIzrSwB6EWqmnUZqOQSOYQ8SaqwFKycLwP-SIqDLSjqTMp-yQQ4t2DVO0SE5cuzZYBPXy-CWoU75YYLoGClYTEnBbbJV/s1600/IMG_3852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinKfj3dXpJLmScIIoZF9H6Keje461sRk8l6fqgvHmOc-Dsh7A4AIzrSwB6EWqmnUZqOQSOYQ8SaqwFKycLwP-SIqDLSjqTMp-yQQ4t2DVO0SE5cuzZYBPXy-CWoU75YYLoGClYTEnBbbJV/s640/IMG_3852.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Very cute... if you live in Barbados, maybe. But we don't, so it was time to move on. When I spotted this cutout patterned rubber mat for just $8 at Garden Ridge, I knew it was "the one"...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgVZ2E_hIZOOlv6xM-Ht-P1U7CMmFxcQgiEy4X-FCln85fa_b647p3pCNLrEuZR_eRvJpQ0yVW5fZFK6YClMgXh8zoLC_17WPjCLAH0OqItAgzR3uOw2ShTfImuzZj4LwlNg3MsDlH0L-/s1600/IMG_3854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIgVZ2E_hIZOOlv6xM-Ht-P1U7CMmFxcQgiEy4X-FCln85fa_b647p3pCNLrEuZR_eRvJpQ0yVW5fZFK6YClMgXh8zoLC_17WPjCLAH0OqItAgzR3uOw2ShTfImuzZj4LwlNg3MsDlH0L-/s640/IMG_3854.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love the detailing on it, and since I obsess over basically anything with the cutout/brocade look, it was the perfect way for me to welcome guests in.<br /><br />Just on the other side of the doorway laid this monstrosity... no, we hadn't touched it either since moving in:<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/AVvXsEjE7yEzWcwWSk-eaRAwwhCVi-8qrIVTls6qYK9tNo089c7y9d_0ItE2zmLzVQ7sN2kPljonx5Sya0NPXuBPkGHsxlvgzhwaC1lWLxZDLhy1vWjdWhHFIpNZBWtrSLrZANj95DUPWdv0e9cf/s1600/IMG_3850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="458" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE7yEzWcwWSk-eaRAwwhCVi-8qrIVTls6qYK9tNo089c7y9d_0ItE2zmLzVQ7sN2kPljonx5Sya0NPXuBPkGHsxlvgzhwaC1lWLxZDLhy1vWjdWhHFIpNZBWtrSLrZANj95DUPWdv0e9cf/s640/IMG_3850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Oh look, more palm trees...</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Slightly embarassing. So when I laid my eyes on this beauty from Garden Ridge (also for $8), it made my day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rAMWUwUUx-Wiqv-kA7wBNt8TN7PHyMr5l87HmdnvPnfbOhfEQa6cASPUloBA9gZV8gJs1_pY-JSc90lna8c1so7J4yJwwhR2BO_zwqJPdqKUhbP8iB_N9QUPBbISAfDqkn9OjPtqVfw1/s1600/IMG_3851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rAMWUwUUx-Wiqv-kA7wBNt8TN7PHyMr5l87HmdnvPnfbOhfEQa6cASPUloBA9gZV8gJs1_pY-JSc90lna8c1so7J4yJwwhR2BO_zwqJPdqKUhbP8iB_N9QUPBbISAfDqkn9OjPtqVfw1/s640/IMG_3851.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm absolutely in love with the woven textures, it feels so cozy and homey. And the colors are perfect—this is basically the entire palette of the house rolled into one square. I also love how it brings a splash of color to the entryway, something it was previously lacking up until now. This is definitely one of my favorite things in the house.<br /><br />And now for the grand finale... our brand new bedroom rug! I've been wanting one of these for so long, so I made sure to snatch one up on our Ikea trip a few weeks back. It's the Tarnby rug, handwoven 100% jute, measuring 5'11" x 8'2", for only $100! What a steal.<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/AVvXsEh8hcWejCwTRJ-VBcXMbxkiH4yV-yJxnoOcMDp2sbFlZK5pScYu-IzGYIlhxA_KP7KGaDWaBczmSpTcXxBYP6K9xDWprsMovh5ahXACEt2GyXCW2CT-NVYMlw6nr5jUoF7dxjNawikKDTEY/s1600/IMG_3848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hcWejCwTRJ-VBcXMbxkiH4yV-yJxnoOcMDp2sbFlZK5pScYu-IzGYIlhxA_KP7KGaDWaBczmSpTcXxBYP6K9xDWprsMovh5ahXACEt2GyXCW2CT-NVYMlw6nr5jUoF7dxjNawikKDTEY/s640/IMG_3848.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Sorry, no before shot... I was too embarassed of the old stained rug to snap a pic!</em></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Of course since things that are too good to be true usually are, there is one slight problem. From what I've read and seen online... this rug is a hardwood floor's worst nightmare. Not only does it shed, but it can leave permanent imprints in the wood, even with rug pads. We were not about to let some $100 rug ruin our $5000 floors, so we tried to think of a fool proof way to protect them. I wasn't about to trust any rug pad, so we scoured the aisles of Home Depot looking for a better alternative. We immediately noticed a roll of the wood floor underlay (you know, that thin white foam that goes under your wood/laminate?) and I thought it would be perfect. But they only sold it in 100sq.ft rolls for $25. Not that $25 is a whole lot to spend, but we concluded that it was wasteful and that there had to be a better solution for cheaper. <br /><br />We moved onto the carpet section and took a look at the carpet padding, but the foam was so thick, it wouldn't have looked right.<br /><br />Finally we gave up, and came home to work with existing materials. We had a TON of cardboard leftover from all of our recent purchases, so we started measuring it out and making the cuts. <br /><br />This is what we ended up with:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPWUr1w-Y5Qiy1ICoAg78J-CeVzL-GJZy1Ie-Xjnp9mHawopZAOqr1she0tHRSvuhjz7Kl6b2Wj64eBvb72rcSJH7_7GthTIZtLEqCfCcfR_6nqHYW9nH-FOSHbpueAvyedSbOdKPA3bO/s1600/IMG_3849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDPWUr1w-Y5Qiy1ICoAg78J-CeVzL-GJZy1Ie-Xjnp9mHawopZAOqr1she0tHRSvuhjz7Kl6b2Wj64eBvb72rcSJH7_7GthTIZtLEqCfCcfR_6nqHYW9nH-FOSHbpueAvyedSbOdKPA3bO/s640/IMG_3849.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not pretty, but it gets the job done (and it was free!). No one will ever know (except those if you in blogland, but you can keep a secret, right?)<br /><br />So that's the latest happenings in our pad. I'm <em>extremely</em> excited about what's coming up this weekend. We stayed up late last night hooking up our brand new, beefed up computer and fancy schmancy new printer. Good things will come of this... and I can't wait to show you all! :) Be back in a few days...<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" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Rug Love

Stopping in real quick today to show off our latest additions: our bedroom rug, front door mat and entry rug. First up is the before shot of...

Read more »

Mirrors, Beers & Chandeliers

...Not necessarily in that order, but they were all present this weekend. <br /><br />I'll begin with the "big project", the refinishing of the mirror. I had originally scored this at a yard sale last year. It had a cherry red finish which didn't match anything in my house, so I sanded and stained it a dark espresso brown (the same stain used on the console table my dad built for us).<br /><br />It's been packed away since September collecting dust in the garage, and it was finally time to be put to good use in the dining room. 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/AVvXsEj30WjlLQseAkxCQLUFvNydEfsFR4Lmg4EPyKA-YJ6lW29qiBQW4uvz7d1peM_1pIBKmlfFFS5dNk6FiY7t-7f2SdkoHVuBDOSlWJOEeSvNQSoMiRnKrF7l7gnL7rDn3pO-zrmkr1OT92SY/s800/IMG_3766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30WjlLQseAkxCQLUFvNydEfsFR4Lmg4EPyKA-YJ6lW29qiBQW4uvz7d1peM_1pIBKmlfFFS5dNk6FiY7t-7f2SdkoHVuBDOSlWJOEeSvNQSoMiRnKrF7l7gnL7rDn3pO-zrmkr1OT92SY/s640/IMG_3766.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Still a lovely mirror, I just wasn't feeling the dark wood anymore. My goal for this house is keep things light and airy, so I weighed my options. I could play it safe and paint it pure white... but I plan on installing (white) wainscotting soon, accessorizing with white shelves and frames, getting a new possibly white dining table with more white accessories... I was worried it'd be too much white. Then I considered doing some sort of two-tone patina effect with possibly a pale aqua underneath and then a white on top. I even went to the hardware store and picked up the perfect aqua shade... but then I changed my mind. This image of pale whitewashed wood kept popping into my head and I wanted to try and re-create it. If it turned into a disaster, I could always just paint it white and call it a day.<br /><br />So I armed myself with the materials I thought I'd need..<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Aa6FpcsbzHQ49uyOa-n_VY1F4RWux0EyidQnPEO8KavZPWK8krwnvCSBAHXWnVcSvZFltmWZXoy7SN05RyhsQYUlDysqoV8GB30k6ls1Qere3FuTFcb_TSBWpe5Y7ocXI2FCZOqaEf8/s720/IMG_3767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9Aa6FpcsbzHQ49uyOa-n_VY1F4RWux0EyidQnPEO8KavZPWK8krwnvCSBAHXWnVcSvZFltmWZXoy7SN05RyhsQYUlDysqoV8GB30k6ls1Qere3FuTFcb_TSBWpe5Y7ocXI2FCZOqaEf8/s640/IMG_3767.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Turns out paint thinner does absolutely nothing to remove stain from wood. Good to know. The sanding block was pretty user-friendly, but it was a medium grit when I should have been using something more heavy-duty. This stain was in there good.<br /><br />I quickly learned this was a very messy process...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrUEZ8b0EQoCygFDNPH1bKtdouUz9kAhUePoEIt5D6PQrzrKGJhFdH6kctJrlrZ9BhhGTTbjYv8DWuG6gJ62KPVSkSPiyt4vnj8QBFLA5C3uUnMT3iPtQxActjBX43BIiixEQVaIWdcSc/s512/IMG_3768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrUEZ8b0EQoCygFDNPH1bKtdouUz9kAhUePoEIt5D6PQrzrKGJhFdH6kctJrlrZ9BhhGTTbjYv8DWuG6gJ62KPVSkSPiyt4vnj8QBFLA5C3uUnMT3iPtQxActjBX43BIiixEQVaIWdcSc/s640/IMG_3768.jpg" width="476" /></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 had to keep the dustbuster on hand to suck up the debris every few minutes. After a good 45 minutes of sanding, I had one side done...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5Qt_wCqorf9duUk8laCReQbA3AwIT7vuZXUd59TjBMTAS57-mcCyzg8xALGYwQSYU057t_F695BgrcjapshN33W9Npn97anYTVy0lEzSNDfBHKt6L-tBxbRU9t4MQv9CuE5Oy8DZSJaS/s512/IMG_3771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5Qt_wCqorf9duUk8laCReQbA3AwIT7vuZXUd59TjBMTAS57-mcCyzg8xALGYwQSYU057t_F695BgrcjapshN33W9Npn97anYTVy0lEzSNDfBHKt6L-tBxbRU9t4MQv9CuE5Oy8DZSJaS/s640/IMG_3771.jpg" width="420" /></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 my arm was about to fall off. This was more work than I remember it being the first time around. <br /><br />Another angle to show the difference:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghigOcxoTHY5FTV6ls3lRuvFZRobuWm6dczD7Gd4pKkCCZukxdQa9CBO9UbLpuwGmCBmgh3BkhliYCRBD5gubGp1wQUQOFsba6PJhPUZWnGywh8fykr0KuG7b4pL29JHc85A4mFRnWQ_xV/s800/IMG_3773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghigOcxoTHY5FTV6ls3lRuvFZRobuWm6dczD7Gd4pKkCCZukxdQa9CBO9UbLpuwGmCBmgh3BkhliYCRBD5gubGp1wQUQOFsba6PJhPUZWnGywh8fykr0KuG7b4pL29JHc85A4mFRnWQ_xV/s640/IMG_3773.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So I trekked on and pushed through it, minute by minute... hour by hour....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM7KX8_CFCQin4f6sVdS_eaN7kTDbSEzsaXU1tIVKoetEh8IfcXAkYazVTnejg5ziEo7mFTPyGbCMuqSlkpmgXnrCxwtODP9ABzKbybYmGePHbPper5-RbQNykXXxeKdlCWqbeXGCoH0T/s800/IMG_3775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPM7KX8_CFCQin4f6sVdS_eaN7kTDbSEzsaXU1tIVKoetEh8IfcXAkYazVTnejg5ziEo7mFTPyGbCMuqSlkpmgXnrCxwtODP9ABzKbybYmGePHbPper5-RbQNykXXxeKdlCWqbeXGCoH0T/s640/IMG_3775.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />At some point I had to take a break for some liquid motivation...<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/AVvXsEh7HSMgnDX9op67ernJJsLl2rac_z7-m4n_g4jL_LXx8Ph-IDbd9yJfRPuxk9z_U1se9wBEVh5Uni7FH_AlatRZsgrZH23HZvJwhr-n6lecNfYtLOGH7rUjKiANOJM_gDZxWk2Y_eb0km7T/s512/IMG_3774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HSMgnDX9op67ernJJsLl2rac_z7-m4n_g4jL_LXx8Ph-IDbd9yJfRPuxk9z_U1se9wBEVh5Uni7FH_AlatRZsgrZH23HZvJwhr-n6lecNfYtLOGH7rUjKiANOJM_gDZxWk2Y_eb0km7T/s640/IMG_3774.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />That was all I needed to make it through the home stretch...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yl6Hzx6fXSnTDKQUdYVjo2Ymg_QOPWhl3MqRcHniIFoWo-aNhxybQUcJmZMFeDwYfWBzfB2qe8XzGno7n8MaJM284xRSUOe20dzGcWOjUJQd77mYx_8-j6i0X-Faglmhbs42F-Z1b0Z8/s720/IMG_3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yl6Hzx6fXSnTDKQUdYVjo2Ymg_QOPWhl3MqRcHniIFoWo-aNhxybQUcJmZMFeDwYfWBzfB2qe8XzGno7n8MaJM284xRSUOe20dzGcWOjUJQd77mYx_8-j6i0X-Faglmhbs42F-Z1b0Z8/s640/IMG_3817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Aaaaaaand we're done! Almost. Next comes the fun part... making it pretty.<br /><br />I had no idea what I was doing, but I figured there wasn't much more to it than slapping on some watered down paint. So I gathered my materials and mixed the magic potion...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdBdatQe4IUc044rKv1DUGmsVyQm2gYWlGG3wgST9O5Ol008swaGqy1Vw0nxG7zNlIIUJ-jmp-_6OprhDa6w-wBUa5I54qdFr0V2UaC8y3eZ_Lj6V7tUuqm8gPeiQoqls5Vzan0bmfgtj/s720/IMG_3820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdBdatQe4IUc044rKv1DUGmsVyQm2gYWlGG3wgST9O5Ol008swaGqy1Vw0nxG7zNlIIUJ-jmp-_6OprhDa6w-wBUa5I54qdFr0V2UaC8y3eZ_Lj6V7tUuqm8gPeiQoqls5Vzan0bmfgtj/s640/IMG_3820.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />And lightly began to apply to the freshly sanded wood...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMFUjEOqJU1YNJHaUYfzxnOvrE1Pxu-eAvkVsXJlR7bwgcW5fC7S802HAHHMiWvZolfqZr_JcQcG5QmErogjMYSj2Z_cox8BLfPD5P1R49IJunhq1LT0gIb6q7SuK6XGkavhSRztDHp4Y/s512/IMG_3819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMFUjEOqJU1YNJHaUYfzxnOvrE1Pxu-eAvkVsXJlR7bwgcW5fC7S802HAHHMiWvZolfqZr_JcQcG5QmErogjMYSj2Z_cox8BLfPD5P1R49IJunhq1LT0gIb6q7SuK6XGkavhSRztDHp4Y/s640/IMG_3819.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />To my surprise, it wasn't looking so bad. I was using way too much water at first, and by the end it was basically a dry-brush effect with very little or no water. I wanted to still be able to see some of the grain and wood texture through the paint so I kept it very light. Here's an almost-done...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lxXc3vzW1Gddr7h_-WRszBeWUYtNAKQ_0g12rF0WtMHGo4n75hZJ7FMpN4C7OIB6bZyzvVb47KLpE-NBiOth2eOtPSrDPfNuykBc3abINpfb7U98EV5w2QCGhEnWMPEQsJspHmkS-WIO/s800/IMG_3822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_lxXc3vzW1Gddr7h_-WRszBeWUYtNAKQ_0g12rF0WtMHGo4n75hZJ7FMpN4C7OIB6bZyzvVb47KLpE-NBiOth2eOtPSrDPfNuykBc3abINpfb7U98EV5w2QCGhEnWMPEQsJspHmkS-WIO/s640/IMG_3822.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />After a few touchups, we have the final result!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0A-DX2Smmb0hq_kQKQyZ6VhcFbMRKuIRBGS-8YUeKGSsHFIImKw5Eeso8lVEXi1RjbvIS29f2J87fE5yfit5-rJK1iKawT1ykS6q9GFIlY-NMeOD5cjHeiAi336avnz57RNPXJL5F6X2/s512/IMG_3826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0A-DX2Smmb0hq_kQKQyZ6VhcFbMRKuIRBGS-8YUeKGSsHFIImKw5Eeso8lVEXi1RjbvIS29f2J87fE5yfit5-rJK1iKawT1ykS6q9GFIlY-NMeOD5cjHeiAi336avnz57RNPXJL5F6X2/s640/IMG_3826.jpg" width="618" /></a></div><br />You're probably thinking "Okay... um, this is just a white mirror" because I know it looks that way from the picture, but I promise up close it's really not. It has a weathered, faded look which was exactly what I was going for. <br /><br />Back to the not-fun part... the installation. In the past we've had nothing but horrible experiences with hanging large, heavy things. We can attribute that to the fact that we (as usual) did not have the right materials. I'm determined to break that cycle in this new house. So I dropped $15 on a french cleat from Home Depot. <br /><br />Observe:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KJHeoL7wxNGdFiEkpHhzXZLYZALEuCZKAKi3aKVOV80DcdvstJJHpLFmGWreF_FrgIOOEze1_FGmByjQAR7uDjirhzLC7SDHkPBO55Ctit7d8wLntLu6GoHhBTb790eiulJK3e7miBe2/s720/IMG_3827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KJHeoL7wxNGdFiEkpHhzXZLYZALEuCZKAKi3aKVOV80DcdvstJJHpLFmGWreF_FrgIOOEze1_FGmByjQAR7uDjirhzLC7SDHkPBO55Ctit7d8wLntLu6GoHhBTb790eiulJK3e7miBe2/s640/IMG_3827.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This one's rated at 200lbs, which I got just to be safe. The mirror probably only weighs maybe 40 or 50lbs, but I dont like to take my chances, especially with drywall. Surprisingly, the instructions said there were no drywall inserts (or studs) needed. We were both a little skeptical, but it came with fancy drywall screws and Brad thought it'd be ok. Here he is installing the two parts:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulXi0-4cU6pZ4_lych036XtKLI1uDUx6XqE1PwYanQHaxDf7E108_EsArP2wo4KSedLmqI_MYiIZ3j0LrEOhGsmqntN7gN1owQ_F9ttTxXXEpS_JO7Cmt5HHdozJTaKNOLkpfcqFOk-D/s512/IMG_3828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulXi0-4cU6pZ4_lych036XtKLI1uDUx6XqE1PwYanQHaxDf7E108_EsArP2wo4KSedLmqI_MYiIZ3j0LrEOhGsmqntN7gN1owQ_F9ttTxXXEpS_JO7Cmt5HHdozJTaKNOLkpfcqFOk-D/s640/IMG_3828.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><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftIHKyS6S-Er8jOIhYR_61wab24PLexbzRTroVuBvELPg2LQD8E9fsIBBQOBIAEUqPcCLm3g2zoJs2bHPfQJFSpT1LTrYxY5Ox9amZepk01pz1QMyQWvHLmbekfnVrbxlRrgL1wD7OX99/s576/IMG_3831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="558" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiftIHKyS6S-Er8jOIhYR_61wab24PLexbzRTroVuBvELPg2LQD8E9fsIBBQOBIAEUqPcCLm3g2zoJs2bHPfQJFSpT1LTrYxY5Ox9amZepk01pz1QMyQWvHLmbekfnVrbxlRrgL1wD7OX99/s640/IMG_3831.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />And just a few minutes later, no hiccups invoved, we had success!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3aKqodh0a1d7BAZOffkjvi6KrianWTXo2bqZq-1hzOwtEyi4GZ5-s7-5cln4TssuadrwmQWVR6SzHLu2t84pDXkxQIYuQR5uz4hPj11WbZjw3VC2Ew-8K7-guW7GbXlOjkj14Xq9cVFY/s640/IMG_3834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3aKqodh0a1d7BAZOffkjvi6KrianWTXo2bqZq-1hzOwtEyi4GZ5-s7-5cln4TssuadrwmQWVR6SzHLu2t84pDXkxQIYuQR5uz4hPj11WbZjw3VC2Ew-8K7-guW7GbXlOjkj14Xq9cVFY/s640/IMG_3834.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Best $15 I ever spent. Seriously guys, if you have something flat and heavy, use a french cleat!<br /><br />Here's a couple close-ups:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi1JuYLXTwYSUA2xgJtweGtVI6leoVHQ05vGY1XhpMY_4lHXS70poee7WJwFHEG9_WK7oFMm2PB7lhcvMiXBuS8nS4h-3bXUuiYpbFY0PO9ZrFPLisepeTCUnWs_yDAak4C0UqVYPU6AL/s512/IMG_3835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvi1JuYLXTwYSUA2xgJtweGtVI6leoVHQ05vGY1XhpMY_4lHXS70poee7WJwFHEG9_WK7oFMm2PB7lhcvMiXBuS8nS4h-3bXUuiYpbFY0PO9ZrFPLisepeTCUnWs_yDAak4C0UqVYPU6AL/s640/IMG_3835.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWGaheXk2NeMtlrt85mAxjsu98Jc_mv_hKYUnHH1dMYLEG5gtZB6693FYJP3haNY6P7dXVRKUQMhNnTMQTSBRPyzRypHkGNGm5rHygaHjgSJ64fKsWhDx2dN8telht97sIoLbuch0cmoP/s512/IMG_3837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmWGaheXk2NeMtlrt85mAxjsu98Jc_mv_hKYUnHH1dMYLEG5gtZB6693FYJP3haNY6P7dXVRKUQMhNnTMQTSBRPyzRypHkGNGm5rHygaHjgSJ64fKsWhDx2dN8telht97sIoLbuch0cmoP/s640/IMG_3837.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />With that taken care of, I was able to hang these candle lantern sconces I picked up at Garden Ridge for $20 a couple months ago:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_ohXs7VS1QKy1lPr5gHkKW9PAvXMut4fWU4YnUKiHxjQJMhKbw04FqjnDIwazl6AaEGHPCKUvSEUsUUr4Mh50WmsPOZ2UJQiBvaMc0f8v6vk7DrcEphXnkmElcpDoG5GlltQEyDncidq/s512/IMG_3841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_ohXs7VS1QKy1lPr5gHkKW9PAvXMut4fWU4YnUKiHxjQJMhKbw04FqjnDIwazl6AaEGHPCKUvSEUsUUr4Mh50WmsPOZ2UJQiBvaMc0f8v6vk7DrcEphXnkmElcpDoG5GlltQEyDncidq/s640/IMG_3841.jpg" width="430" /></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/AVvXsEj2m6z8jIlyg8Xi6egETeT97UdDTfOqd170sHhM6ABnI20TNqewBUSmvPbvV-0DrdF0vq-1YwZcmUk0XatFNM0braxerezHMU338sCaiNnOMqby-C_gy3mMpVNlU0Apx6cVNY2dP8J6FJ3_/s512/IMG_3843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m6z8jIlyg8Xi6egETeT97UdDTfOqd170sHhM6ABnI20TNqewBUSmvPbvV-0DrdF0vq-1YwZcmUk0XatFNM0braxerezHMU338sCaiNnOMqby-C_gy3mMpVNlU0Apx6cVNY2dP8J6FJ3_/s640/IMG_3843.jpg" width="470" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tzCUr7fC13lWwme_kbMjdcZPLzXji5Kb-sYukF0n9J4lQRUXKlWLHUbuPuCAErumGBMXsZZcEQmdUp-NQdlfxmUIzvclXvgwV2rtE_KKs77WY08d-dJMBJhntN2b9Iy7zPbeECaSoY7T/s800/IMG_3842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tzCUr7fC13lWwme_kbMjdcZPLzXji5Kb-sYukF0n9J4lQRUXKlWLHUbuPuCAErumGBMXsZZcEQmdUp-NQdlfxmUIzvclXvgwV2rtE_KKs77WY08d-dJMBJhntN2b9Iy7zPbeECaSoY7T/s640/IMG_3842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now our dining nook (the poor neglected space of the house) is finally starting to look like one! But no dining room is complete without a light fixture. And I'm happy to say, as of two hours ago, we FINALLY have a light. <br />Behold...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkofWRDTNeZTqceJyiDO50Ua6wXhUSNRnqUA_U3zQlB3_HkgxYZ38hSVaoNpjqbq_ijJJJzLRYKAFjC2jz7d3SGzkCAq7HSkDngSwfqjAlfY1MB3y0UQjiHUAvqfFdrUBZvfeQyfsBuo/s512/IMG_3855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdkofWRDTNeZTqceJyiDO50Ua6wXhUSNRnqUA_U3zQlB3_HkgxYZ38hSVaoNpjqbq_ijJJJzLRYKAFjC2jz7d3SGzkCAq7HSkDngSwfqjAlfY1MB3y0UQjiHUAvqfFdrUBZvfeQyfsBuo/s640/IMG_3855.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br />I picked up this wind chime at a beach shop a couple months ago, with the intention to convert it into a chandelier. This might have been the hardest project of my life. I won't even get into the near impossible process because I've been dealing with trying to retrofit it for weeks, but it's finally hanging now and that's all that matters (just waiting to hear a big crash in the middle of the night....) At least for now, as long as it stays up there, I can enjoy it, and the awesome sun/flower it projects on the ceiling:<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha53Cd-bwFhaBDcv6eFR0O1EDKsYu9AhcH4PLp0Z5k7l0mkr9E0nrNuH_sODHw1CH9GjEt9WOxbhSFZ2vX2rqC8GGtAEe85AM9NzZRI9HRnbLHseEGEUJIv1hB6BcCxb_M76jytPMswglr/s512/IMG_3858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha53Cd-bwFhaBDcv6eFR0O1EDKsYu9AhcH4PLp0Z5k7l0mkr9E0nrNuH_sODHw1CH9GjEt9WOxbhSFZ2vX2rqC8GGtAEe85AM9NzZRI9HRnbLHseEGEUJIv1hB6BcCxb_M76jytPMswglr/s640/IMG_3858.jpg" width="444" /></a></div><br />More pics... cause who doesn't love shells on a chandelier??<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6HSkXn88AJjWUF058mKSsw9_fGVCtDJne3P8qvmIcDy9BfMHP2jEvtspEEvzWOhgdeOQ9tXS3j6-gjTcoNQa2w6_bDZoKZTIsxJErmfoclZwg1HZOEr-7Q5v3WatgYZoiRgObPrNFrTs/s512/IMG_3859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6HSkXn88AJjWUF058mKSsw9_fGVCtDJne3P8qvmIcDy9BfMHP2jEvtspEEvzWOhgdeOQ9tXS3j6-gjTcoNQa2w6_bDZoKZTIsxJErmfoclZwg1HZOEr-7Q5v3WatgYZoiRgObPrNFrTs/s640/IMG_3859.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><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Hvuwc-J2zZdaBFzP7jIHUNuZ_LnAj2454I2LcZ4lDvw6XUXdMUVMrxIyt1Ii7MXMwej2R6I54PHWy_brJK6e6hZRJWE4kCBAXKAfms0Brtkswl11dE5HAC9khFA6-V1HgsILA_9HCQou/s640/IMG_3857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Hvuwc-J2zZdaBFzP7jIHUNuZ_LnAj2454I2LcZ4lDvw6XUXdMUVMrxIyt1Ii7MXMwej2R6I54PHWy_brJK6e6hZRJWE4kCBAXKAfms0Brtkswl11dE5HAC9khFA6-V1HgsILA_9HCQou/s640/IMG_3857.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ahh yes. My life is now complete. Hopefully I can show you the bottom half of this room soon, when it gets a little less boring. <br /><br />Here's something not boring though... our pool is now a light show! Brad apparently hadn't gotten his LED fix from all the yard lights we did a few weeks ago, so he went and bought a color-changing LED pool light (these things are not cheap either... hope it lasts and proves it's worth the $150 price tag...) <br /><br />Prepare yourself for this awesomeness...<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV34d1UN3V5yhocDHKKdllwxg1z1gSxXTe6bCAe8w5fq2dnpAhAVZ5hVdF4xTntQUmPuYR2ImBp3cC_v1ke81d9S01lrkRX-_vGqZ4Jh_RIhqtpSDqM2OWg17VbYDEzSyuRXiMengzuAqW/s800/IMG_3812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV34d1UN3V5yhocDHKKdllwxg1z1gSxXTe6bCAe8w5fq2dnpAhAVZ5hVdF4xTntQUmPuYR2ImBp3cC_v1ke81d9S01lrkRX-_vGqZ4Jh_RIhqtpSDqM2OWg17VbYDEzSyuRXiMengzuAqW/s640/IMG_3812.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoEeBiEZAV_WY-whCBnlGkTXhTY-IUvzCySjwTKFEIjdT2w6FZoKhnVdm4vmlpJ08KVc9aKnOqbcfZWcyZaT3OMEAIWQ3ZW8prO9iQQT1Wz7_neDN9mRY4ES2rJxs-hwWuz7-0apPJMiy/s800/IMG_3813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoEeBiEZAV_WY-whCBnlGkTXhTY-IUvzCySjwTKFEIjdT2w6FZoKhnVdm4vmlpJ08KVc9aKnOqbcfZWcyZaT3OMEAIWQ3ZW8prO9iQQT1Wz7_neDN9mRY4ES2rJxs-hwWuz7-0apPJMiy/s640/IMG_3813.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs1usRD9kBse8yy4EU0ETd0FrSQUx0Xk64CLzB6sQjNn9e009VvnaUTTwSQWxXIk-8wo2O9syHoCqh5zGxSTCfhB_aHpXLXKTT7fTFi7g-HWB-NeRSCUmnyQ7T7sfU_Bmc9-lSsmMIaDr/s800/IMG_3814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOs1usRD9kBse8yy4EU0ETd0FrSQUx0Xk64CLzB6sQjNn9e009VvnaUTTwSQWxXIk-8wo2O9syHoCqh5zGxSTCfhB_aHpXLXKTT7fTFi7g-HWB-NeRSCUmnyQ7T7sfU_Bmc9-lSsmMIaDr/s640/IMG_3814.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PREK3qLGfdGPbb3m9ikv70lJoewePtV3SD9m3ACR6lPbVUHzAzjut7cCGd4rmsIZN_8StDav2Oz23vqVvESueNzkYWGQIcfYbAk2AxLXsd6222ROCl02UxqxBnKYGWZUbmF2jYEkGY94/s800/IMG_3815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PREK3qLGfdGPbb3m9ikv70lJoewePtV3SD9m3ACR6lPbVUHzAzjut7cCGd4rmsIZN_8StDav2Oz23vqVvESueNzkYWGQIcfYbAk2AxLXsd6222ROCl02UxqxBnKYGWZUbmF2jYEkGY94/s640/IMG_3815.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCgmZ3UuN7r2pq3WzcY_JfLT0V6w49wr9uFarkwoSP71qm5YDkdINk9UUbgzx1zRj7V0XM6XX1y4n1ZfVVgCfWkx8lq48QrNWmSU4bgx0DO211S7t-jNVU75s9D7-EmcJ6G1YTzEofbwF/s800/IMG_3816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCgmZ3UuN7r2pq3WzcY_JfLT0V6w49wr9uFarkwoSP71qm5YDkdINk9UUbgzx1zRj7V0XM6XX1y4n1ZfVVgCfWkx8lq48QrNWmSU4bgx0DO211S7t-jNVU75s9D7-EmcJ6G1YTzEofbwF/s640/IMG_3816.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />...It's much more exciting in person, really.<br /><br />And on that note, I've got a date with the couch & the Grammy's in 5 minutes... more fun stuff coming in the next post!<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" h5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1ZOo4t-WmiA4eSDRQXGkIjlggfYfA4SkRFnkmfjkwnwBM0UMM7jh1uZcS64Wu6qWQhASAJ0OGeJxF4134Mlo0u60y3StchTU9_u6_2tXfY3MzPRSmTRyNMd00bGc_nt2T99Z39Csa1Cl/s1600/Signature.jpg" /></a></div>

Mirrors, Beers & Chandeliers

...Not necessarily in that order, but they were all present this weekend. I'll begin with the "big project", the refinishing o...

Read more »