A weekend of Projects brings me happiness!

For the past 2 years now over the Thanksgiving Holiday we (I) decide to take on a pretty big project in my house.  It's like tradition now, so this year was to be NO different!

I was happy when I explained to the Hubby what I wanted to do this year and he was on board with it.  (In the past that hasn't been the case)
I have been searching out the perfect outfit of moldings for our windows and I finally came across one I loved on Pinterest (I am obsessed with this site btw and if you need an invite I'll help you out!)

This was it:

courtesy of caitlincreer.com

So I gave the picture to my hubbie and he worked his magic.  I have two windows in my MB that I wanted him to give it a go on...and he sure did!

Here is the before and after:

 Before:

 

After:

The picture quality is not the best but you get the idea right?  Those blinds are a for sure BYE BYE, but I left them in for the picture so they would add some dimension because everything is white :)

AMAZING what a little window love will do, don't you think?

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.  I sure enjoyed the company I was with this year.  Everyone had harmony and there was a lot of acceptance and love around.  Just as it should be. 

I took a lot of great pictures of the food and fun, but this one happened to be my favorite. I love the way I feel when I look at this picture, and it pretty much sum's up my feeling of Thanksgiving.

I just made some Ornaments for my tree this year, and I'll be posting that in the next couple days. 

Stay tuned :)

Loves, 

Jill

Recycled sitting bench...P1

When I was in 3rd grade I had a friend (Chandy Beebe now Olesen) who did the coolest thing.  In her garage she had some bins that were labeled with: Plastic, Paper, and Glass.  And every time anyone in her family had that type of garbage they would put it in the bins and then Charlene (mom) would take them to the recycling place.  This was my first introduction to recycling.  And I have always recycled since.  (Thanks Chandy!!)

Did you know that today is National America Recycles Day??
To honor the day, I thought I would post this bench that I just refinished!
Here's the story of the cute little thing...

I found this sitting bench at a garage sale last year.  It has a straw netted sitting part that I had removed by this point.

I decided I wanted it to go right in front our bed that I refinished back in April. More on that post HERE.
Since the color of this wood is not my type of styling preference, I was excited to do this transformation and turn it into the piece that I know it could be :)

I decided to do something risky.  I had a can of gray paint, (that I used to redo my main bathroom, which I posted yet so I'll do that soon) but I had one problem with it.  It was TO gray.  I wanted it a lighter, closer to white gray.  So I decided to mix the gray paint color with my white primer.  Then I painted the peice with two coats of the newly created paint. And this was how it ended up.

It turned out fine and I feel like the "created" paint did the trick just dandy!
Here you can see the contrast in the wood color to the gray color...

I was happy with it, but it was a solid gray color and was to perfect.  I like perfectly, imperfect pieces so I decided to give it the lightest ever whitewash (just a watered down white paint) and then give it a good sanding to give it that perfect vintage look... here is the whitewash, very small change...

And then here is some of the detailing work...

 I sprayed 2 coats of Poly on it to protect it from moisture and make it easier to dust.

Now all that I have left is to get my sewing machine out and cover the current seat with a fabric, that I haven't found yet.  This week I will be finding that fabric and should have a finished photo soon!

I also have a bigger piece that I have been working on (refinishing) to hang out in my master bedroom too.  Hopefully this weekend I will finish the painting on that piece, cause I can't wait to have it in my house!!!!

I'm so happy I could save this piece's life and find a way to make it work in my home...Here's to National America Recycle's Day!!

Loves,
Jill

The Chandy is done!

It is done! It was a fun project and now is so happy in my Master Bedroom (and we are so happy to finally have a light in there again!)

This is what we had before.  Not to bad, and great for air circulation, but had to bail on it, cause it was definitely not in the ultimate plan!

I found this baby at a garage sale for $15.  I have been looking for a loooong time for a Chandy that I liked.

So I got to work!  I primed it three times with a spray paint primer that I already had in the garage.

I then bought the "Heirloom White" spray paint from Home Depot, and sprayed it 2 times.  I realized that I loved the color, but not in my master bedroom (or house, really).  The color is more of an off-white color, and I am drawn to more of a true white (especially in my Master).  So, I went back to the store and bought a White spray paint, and went at it again.  I waited a day or so in between each coat, so it has taken me awhile to get this project done! Especially with all the fun summer stuff we've been doing.
After I got it painted the white that I liked, something still wasn't right!  It was just to perfect for my liking.  So I started to antique it.  I got a fine sandpaper and sanded every edge to see a little bit of the previous color pop through.

Here it is before the sandpaper technique:

 

And here it is after:

  

 Here she is after and hung!

 And here she is again! I know, I still have those stinking drapes and dark blinds.  

They will be gone someday soon! 

All in time right??

School starts tomorrow! And my 9 yr old is finally excited!

Loves, Jill

A glimpse into Zumba, and what I'm working on.

I am a huge FAN of the new fitness craze ZUMBA.  It actually has been around for 10 years now, but its finally to the point where just about everyone has heard of it.  I remember when I went the the IDEA Fitness Convention in 2006 and I walked by the ZUMBA booth.  I stopped, sat there and stared at the 3 beautiful presenters, and thought to myself..."My hips do not move like that!  I am through and through fitness."  
BUT...did I leave...nope.  I.stood.there.watching.  I was inspired, and I actually wanted to run right up there and join in. To be honest, if there was a crowd gathered I probably would have, but that was back when no one knew what Zumba was and most everyone who walked by that both at that Fitness Convention probably thought exactly the same thing I did.

I try not to let myself think of how great it would have been if I would of jumped on the wagon back then and how much further along I would be in my journey of ZUMBA etc etc. O'Well right??? Some times cold feet hold us back.  Well not anymore.  I jumped in and this year I got certified and I have been including Zumba in my classes! And I am having just as much fun as those 3 instructors were having that I passed by 5 years ago.
Check out this clip about Beto, the creator.  I love his story.
http://www.realamericanstories.com/the-zumba-fitness-craze/

SO, in my DIY life I am working on the chandelier that is to go in my Master Bedroom.  I bought it at a garage sell for $15 bucks a couple months ago.  Here she is all taped and ready for primer:

 And here she is after two coats of Primer.  The final color will be white, but I have plans to cover the chain and get her hung and turned on here in the next couple of days :)

Now its time to get my workout in.  Today...ride the bike; 30 min of Zumba; then finish with ABS and probably shoulders.
The kids and I are going horseback riding with Grandma Nicole and a whole bunch of cousins.  Can't wait for that!
Loves,
Jill