birthday no. 29

A couple days ago, I celebrated my 29th birthday.  I looove my birthday because I can say, "the laundry needs to be folded…it's my birthday," "no fighting…it's my birthday," "the house needs to be cleaned…it's my birthday" - and everyone listens/does.

So, I know thirty is the new twenty - but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous for the milestone next year.

My mom posts a birthday blog for each of her kids chock full of wonderful things about each.  Mine was no exception (thanks, mom).  I'll spare you the details, but here are a few of the photos she posted.

Sometimes I was cute...

 and sometimes I was ghetto.

My second birthday.

Fast forward twenty-seven years to my 29th birthday at my favorite restaurant with my besties. (Yes I have slouching issues - don't judge).

And…because we're friends, I'll share a photo from my "awkward" stage - which lasted quite a long time.  Woah.

Be good to me, 29.

paint color: jade garden

Loving this new color.

 Benjamin Moore's Jade Garden.

a hardware hoarder

I've become quite the hardware hoarder.

These campaign style corner plaques were removed from an old coffee table I scrapped and have been on the prowl to find a great piece to add them to ever since.

Chippendale Batwing bail pulls are always nice.  (FYI: bail pulls are considered anything with a handle that hangs down in a reversed arch.)

These escutcheons have been laying around for quite some time, but I keep forgetting I have them so have yet to use them.

With a little tarnish remover these antique pulls will be great.

Hmm…so many possibilities.

vintage rattan headboard

Anyone in need of a great vintage, rattan headboard?  It's a king….

The size alone would be enough to lure me.  I can't wait until we get to upgrade to a larger mattress.  Zac is aaalways creeping over on my side.  He says he's justified because he's bigger.  Geh.  Anyone else have this problem?  

Anyway, it's up for sale in the shop.  Details there.

The paint color is BM's Misty Teal in high gloss.  The color is a bit more intense in person, but I had a difficult time getting that to show through the lens.

the storm before the calm.

Since the desert is miserably hot during the summer, anyone who can, heads out-of-town in search of better weather.  Because of this, I'd anticipated that business would be slow.  So far, that hasn't been the case.

Maybe instead of "the calm before the storm," this is "the storm before the calm"?

As proof…meet my living room.

 And my garage.

favorite images.

When I'm busy, the first indulgence to go is pinterest.  I've been missing it.  I don't know why I enjoy zoning out and staring at computer screen so much.  But I do!

So today, when I put the kiddos down for their reading/rest/nap time, I indulged.  I know a lot of these get cycled around a bit, but there are a few of my favorites at the moment.

I love this purple table!

via

A wall of antique mirrors.

via

Black and white is always nice.

 via

I love this herringbone wall.  What a great way to add a pop of color to a room.

 via

Mint and tangerine go so well together.

via

furniture dolly - DIY style

I hope you all had a great weekend!  My oldest was baptized on Saturday and that was pretty exciting for our family.  Because of that we've had extended family in town.  Mine knows Arizona well, but Zac's doesn't so it's always fun to play the tourist guide.  (Though I wouldn't say the desert is a bustling hub of awesomeness during the summer - it's supposed to get up to 110 degrees this week.  Eeek).

Some days when I get overloaded, I sort of spaz out and get a wee bit high strung.

I hope you can relate.

Zac has learned on those days, the best thing to do is ask, "What can I do to help?"  Ahh…music to my stressed-out ears.

The first thing that came to my mind when he asked this time was...furniture dollies.  I think I said something equally as loving, like, "Uhh…make me furniture dollies."  

So he did.

 His little helper.

And I love them.

But just so you don't spend your time making dollies at $25 a piece - Harbor Freight sells them for $12.  If only I would've thought to look.  Beforehand. 

thanks, white paint and ice-cream.

Thanks for all the love you sent to my new sofas!  Jilly just informed me that her upholsterer detached the legs from the frame of her vintage sofa and inserted a 5 inch piece of wood to make it taller.  Now I keep finding myself staring at mine, wondering if I could somehow do the same…?

I had a neighbor ask me yesterday why I paint everything white.  At first I was confused and then I realized that they were talking about my primer.  I guess as they drive by, more often than not, everything is white!

But it doesn't usually stay that way.  This dining set got a nice coat of black paint this morning.
But not without a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

I started using a new paint and the learning curve has been quite steep.  This morning, I finally figured out how to adjust the nozzle and pressure settings on my gun for this thinner paint.  Phew.  I'm so glad…I was really starting to sweat it and I just about quit and switch back to what I know.

My parents are in town (they moved from here in AZ to New Hampshire at the beginning of the year) and they took my older three kids to the cabin (last year's cabin photos here and here), leaving this little pip-squeak behind.

In celebration, we headed to the local ice-cream shop where they sell my childhood favorite - Thrifty's ice-cream.  Every time we go there it brings back memories of riding my bike to the local Thrifty's to get a scoop of rainbow sherbet.  Mmmmm - my favorite. 

A vintage sofa.

For months, I've been scouring craigslist for a vintage sofa to go in my living room.  One day last week, I stumbled upon these and had to have them!

They were delivered last night and I love them.  They are quite short, as most mid-century sofas are.  So we need to get creative and either add casters or new legs all together because the ceiling in that room is 22 feet high.  

The love seat is going up to my bedroom and will probably sit at the foot of the bed.

I haven't attempted an upholstery project this large…ever.  Or even half this large…ever.  

It seems overly daunting at the moment, so I guess it's a good thing they have to wait for at least a month while I crank out several client projects.

So…what do you think?

Madeline's birthday party - 8 years!

Birthday parties are a BIG deal to this oldest child of mine.  I've fought against it in the past because I don't love planning for all the hoopla she loves so much.

This year was different.  We started brainstorming and planning a month ahead so we could get all the details just the way she wanted.

It's been priceless to watch her excitement as we've prepped.  I think all the anticipation and planning will be what she remembers in the years to come.

After watching the difference it's made for her (over the usual scramble to throw something together a week before), I vow to plan a month in advance for all my kiddo's parties…starting with their fifth birthday…so we can make the most of their big day.

She loves all things crafty and wanted to have a crafting party.

The girls painted white canvas bags with brushes and potato stamps.  (Have you ever made potato stamps?  They're a lot of fun).

They also made pom-pom pens, friendship bracelets and used fabric scraps to decorate a cardboard cutout of the first letter in their name.

 It was a lot of prep, but perfect for a group of eight year olds!

In our family, when you turn eight you get to have your ears pierced.  She was quite excited and very NERVOUS, but she loves her new earrings!

Happy birthday, Maddie!  I can't believe my oldest child is eight!