Early Thanksgiving Tablescape

When I  was getting out all of my Thanksgiving decorations, I just could not pass up the opportunity to set the table.   You see on Thanksgiving I will have a house full of family, yeah :) It sometimes gets alittle crazy and I may not get a tablescape set up for 12 people.  So I decided to set a table for an intimate family of 4.

 I made a bouquet from two Kirkland silk bouquets from a sale last year.

 The table cloth is gold, but I could not get a very good photo without the flash. You can also see my dininig room chairs that I painted this past summer.

 The acorns and pumpkins are from last year's decorations, but the are still so cute :)

The red glasses are Murano glass that I found at TJ Maxx on clearance for $1.00 ea, can you believe it? The clear goblets are from an antique store, 12 for $3.00, oh yeah, love them.

 I mixed it up alittle and tried putting my glass salad plate on top of the white, but they were invisible in the photo, so I put a napkin underneath them to add some color?
I had some other colorful dishes, but for some reason my husband thinks you only need two different sets of dishes, so I got rid of my colorful ones :(  However, I may need to stock up again, can you say, Goodwill???

 I am not sure where the mercury glass votives came from?  I found them somewhere last year, they may not even be real, but they look great. The white dishes are from BL a few years ago, and I wish I would have bought 2 sets.

 Thank you so much for stopping by for a visit. Please leave me a comment so I know you were here and can come visit you.  I would also enjoy some photograph and Picasa tips, if you have any?

Have a wonderful weekend!
Chrissy

A Simple Door Makeover

Well, here is another project that was still on my camera card from Winter/Spring 2011.

I couldn't decide what to do with this door, since it is what you see as soon as you walk into the kitchen from outside.  It is the door that goes to the basement.

 So I decide, instead of replacing it, I would paint it? What color I was not sure, yet? I gave it a good sanding and wiped it down, then headed for Lowe's.  Guess what color I decided on?

 Chalk board paint??? that's right. Since it is in a prominent spot, it would make a perfect area for posting things. Of course, I took a break to take the picture ;) Mr. RRP is such a wonderful husband.

So there you have it. One BIG message area complete.  My daughter helped also, but did not want her picture taken :o

Thanks for stopping by, please let me know you were here,
Chrissy

Frenchy Bathroom Cabinet Upcycle.

These cabinets were to be posted back when my dad was diagnosed with cancer, so I wasn't sure if the painting thing was old news or not? Since visiting around other blogs and parties, I noticed there is still alot of painting going on, but with a better paint called chalk paint. Well, unfortunately for me, I did it the hard way???

You can see by this first photo that my vanity is black and see the leg to the cabinet over the toilet is stained cherry.

So the first thing I had to do was clean it down from all of the hairspray and dirt. Then, I started sanding, see all that grayish colored dust on the floor (yes, I had on a mask). I proceeding by wiping it down with a tack clothe and cleaning up the floor.

Next, I put on the first coat of Kilz, that was left over from another project, letting it dry between the coats. Well,, when my husband came home he removed the vanity from the bathroom. If you were wondering why this wasn't done in the first place, it is because I am not patientat all. When I get the notion to do something, I want to do it right now.

..

This photo shows you the other cabinet that I was talking about. It is a cherry cabinet so I just lightly sanded it and wiped down.

Both pieces were moved out to the laundry area to be finished with the final Kilz coat. I also had left over paint from the another room, so I used it to paint the two pieces.

As you can tell the paint was off white and I lightly distressed the pieces. The next step was to apply a mocha glaze, using the wipe on and wipe off method.

Making sure to pick up all the crevices and the destressed areas.

I think the vanity will get hit up with some more glaze down the road for a little more of a french look.  Unless, I decide to try a different color? Does anyone else change their mind, after visiting all of those wonderful blogs? I also wood appliques to add to the doors and silver knobs.

I also added a light, flowers and a book to the top. It actually turned out pretty much the way I pictured it in my head :) How often does that happen? It puts me in the mind of being in France, ahhhh :)

Well, I have to admit writing this post was alittle intimidating, but yet freeing at the same time? I am definitely going to get my new camera out and learn to take some better photos.

I am going to try and link up to some parties, let's see if I can figure that out again? Please to go over and check out the parties and get inspired for sure.

Debbiedoos Newbie Party http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
Nita at Mod Mix Monday  http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/2011/11/mod-mix-monday-23.html
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/

Thanks for stopping by,
Chrissy

Building Requires A Plan, right?

Hello everyone,  building anything requires a plan doesn't it? You see this is our deck we put on this past summer, but before we started my husband had to draw it out on graph paper. Then, he planned out the footers/holes for support, built the frame and put on the deck boards.

As you know, I took a break over the summer, due to my father's cancer. Even with his treatment, there was a plan.  He would need so many chemotherapy treatments followed by so many radiation treatments. I am very happy to report that his last radiation treatment was last week and the doctor believes my father is in remission. I would like to thank everyone that has prayed for my family throught this time of healing.

It is through these kinds of  moments in life that we find out what we are made of, so to speak.
I have thought about my blog and all of you quite often, but either not having the time or the words to say.  Now I find myself looking at my life and saying "What is next in this life of mine."

Well, one conclusion is that I want to build my blog, but how do I do that?  I have had the pleasure over the weekend of viewing some blogs and the 31 Day Challenge at Funky Junk Interiors Blog by Donna  has really inspired me to go forward. However, I have also realized I still have alot to learn. 

So back to my question? Did building your blog require a plan? Did you just start and it grew from there?  Do you ever feel like a copycat when you blog about the same things as others? Is that just how blogging is, building off one another? I really do want a blog to biz, but do I have what it takes to get there?

As you can probably tell, this whole cancer thing, has made me a little "out of sorts"?  I want to be here for my family, but yet still have a piece of me for myself. Does that sound selfish?

So  My Story for now, is to keep on learning new things with my blog, revisit Funky Junk Interiors, 31 day challange and to try and come up with how to implement the things swirling around in my head.
I would like to thank Donna for sharing all her useful information, but most of all her passion for what she does and how she does it.

Please leave me any suggestions, blogs, books etc...
Chrissy

WEATHERING THE STORMS OF LIFE

Does this look familiar to anyone? This is our back yard that has been cleared for a deck??? It also represents how muddy my life has been, at times just wanting to close my eyes.  "Into every life a "little" rain must fall."

Hello everyone,

Isn't it funny how quickly life can get so intense that you don't even realize the passing of time? When I actually realized out much time has passed since my last posting, WOW and embarrasment were the only things that came to mind.  It just blows my mind to believe that we are actually in the middle of May 2011!

My life in the past month and half has been filled with what started as shower, progressed to torrential downpours and some breaks of sunshine. I am writing this straight off the cuff, so please excuse the rambling, but as I process what I just wrote, isn't it amazing how that sounds like the past weather events. We actually had a tornado come through in this small mountain town, to our knowledge, there has never been one here before.

You see, it all started with my mother having some major health issues, that we finally did resolve. This was followed by my father having some health concerns, that led us to a diagnosis of Lymphoma.  We have finally got a definitive diagnosis and he has started Chemo to be followed with radiation. 

You know that old saying, "When it rains, it pours." Well, that is how it has felt around here, needless to say that we have a son trying to fill out college apps, a teenage daughter to keep on track and I was enrolled in a college class in Accounting.

I am not sure "why" I chose to share all of this and sorry if I bored you, but I do feel lighter in my spirit.  I can definitely say "If it wasn't for my faith in Jesus Christ and my family, I would probably be curled up in ball somewhere." Okay, maybe that is a little dramatic to some of you, but that is how I truly feel.

Now, to end on a bright note.  Some breaks of sunshine, have been my son getting accepted to college, my daughter being inducted to the Honor Society and I passed my class with an "A".  Last but not least, my family is still intacted, my faith continues to grow and we will all come out stronger on the other side :-)

I have truly missed visiting everyone and your encouraging comments. Now, that the rain seems to be slowing to scattered showers in my life, I hope to get back to posting.  Isn't it funny how the "real" weather is finally calming down and the sun will hopefully breakthrough today. YEAH!

I hope you all will come back and visit me and feel free at any time to leave me a verse or encouraging note, because I can always use it.

The Son always shines, we just don't always see it,
Chrissy

Spring is right around the corner????

This was a photo I took Monday morning, looking out my front window. That snow must have really blowing and it was very heavy and wet.

However, the weather has not been much better so far this week. We could get up to 2 inches of rain or better today and tonight, yikes. I am so yearning for
Spring to come.

What are your plans once Spring arrives? I know I have roses to plant and a garden to work on.

Thanks for stopping by,
Chrissy

Orchids, such a splendid flower.

I know I promised a photo of my Valentine's Day Orchid, but my camera was just NOT cooperating! Or could it be the operator? Oh dear me, it couldn't be, it just couldn't be little ole' me :)

Low an behold, I did manage to get one photo last evening, before my hubby came home. Well, let me back up I think I may have gotten quite a few, but I didn't have in the camera card, LOL. You guessed it that was little ole' me :). Then, everytime I went to focus in and take a shot, some kind of "jibberish" would pop up on the screen???? Well, my husband asked me "Did you check the battery, honey?" I turned around and looked at him like, battery??? What is a battery and whatever would you need one of those for,LOL?????
So Photography 101 repeated:

1. You need a charged battery.
2. You need a camera card, you know it kinda works like film, from the old days :)
3. You need the right lense adjustments or lense changed.

You guessed it! It was all just little ole' "me", having a "duh" moment.

Well, I hope this made you smile and this one photo didn't turn out too badly after all :)
Come back again,
Chrissy

Meet Me On Monday Party

Hi Everyone I am joining Java over at Never Growing Old today http://nevergrowingold.blogspot.com/search/label/Meet%20Me%20On%20Monday: Questions:

1.  Did you get any Valentine's Gifts?
   Yes, I received a purple orchid and a red enameled cast iron dutch oven :)

2.  What is your favorite topping on something toasted?
    Honey or Strawberry Jam

3.  Do you pick out your outfit the night before?
    Most of the times I do, but if I don't, I usual have an idea in my head before going to bed.

4.  What food item do you absolutely despise?
     I can't think of anything I absolutely despise? If I had to pick something it would probably be liver.

5.  Righty or lefty?
    I am a righty now, but when I was younger I used both hands. Mostly because my grandmother was left handed and I spent alot of time with her. Plus,  I broke my right arm/wrist a number of times and you all know, you have to get the homework done. {this was before computers, of course}

Well, this was posted before I could get photos this morning. I'll see if I can get a good photo of the orchid :)

This is my first posting here, so I am looking forward to meeting/getting to know all of you.

Thanks for visiting and please let me know you stopped by,
Chrissy

Thinking of warmer weather and France

Well, today was really super cold here,  it started at 6 deg and went up to 20 deg, but the sun was oh so bright and warming :0 It made me start to think of warmer weather and started plotting out a Potager (french kitchen garden). This made me start to think about some of the lovely things of France, and thought I would share a few photos from our trips there.

Walking along the water, it was just so calming and peace. I can still feel the warmth and exhiliration of actually being in France.

 The photo above is a carousel, just out in the town centre, no other amusements were there. They are so beautiful and still quite a few around France.

 This is just a closer shot of the carousel. Can you see the little boy peering up over the horse with his sunglasses on ? 

 This was a little farmer's market, it was not huge, what  it lacked in size (vendors) it made up for with selection. Look at all of these gorgeous colors.

This is just the other side of the same little market. I think they had mostly fruits?

This was just a little stroll through a town called Metz, France. It was such a beautiful place to visit and walk around.

I hope you enjoyed your visit, do come back soon,
Chrissy

Things you probably don't want to know?

First, let me thank 2 great ladies and bloggers for nominating me for the Stylish Blogger Award.  Please be sure to visit them :

Melanie (who has 2 blogs)  Lucky 7 http://mylucky7design.blogspot.com/  and Momma J and the Fashionistas http://mamajandherfashionistas.blogspot.com/ .

Terrie at Terrie Smiling http://terriekwong.blogspot.com/

I think this is a great way to get to know new bloggers. However, I am still working on the "Stylish" part of blogging still, so if my posts seem somewhat not right, please let me know and feel free to give me "help" :)

7 Things about me:

1. I am a Type A Personality. Which is good and bad, but lately more "bad". You see for some reason   lately, it keeps me from finishing something (if I don't think it is perfect), for fear of failure???? However, if I have a deadline, then it gets finished.
2. I worked for a big corporation for 10 years, and also received a certification as a CPM. Everything changed after babies and I left to stay home with my children.
3. There have been days that I wish I still had a corporate job. Although most day I am grateful that I don't :)
4. I love to shop, especially for "bargains". Shopping is "therapy" to me :) Not for my husband though?
5. I love Interior Design and have been trying to finish an on-line course. However, this proves difficult for me (Type A), not having a teacher to physically ask and look at your project. I am definitely a classroom learner in this type of class.
6. I have bins of craft stuff and interior design stuff. I am constantly looking around to see what I can change. It drives my husband absolutely crazy at times. Especially when he knows I may want to, Ummm........PAINT??? 
7. When I am determined and have a plan....Get out of my way :)

Well, I hope that wasn't toooo long winded :) Now maybe you have TMI, as my daughter would say.

I am supposed to pass this on to other blogger, but at this point everyone I know has received it or do not do awards?

So here's what I think? If you are a blogger and have not received this award, but would love to share 7 things about yourself, let me know and I will post it here for everyone to visit. I know your thinking "Oh, I could never do that."  I am telling you "Yes you can.", because how else do we get to know each other, right??? Also, if I see someone doesn't have it I may nominate them in the future:)

Thanks for stopping by and please do come back again,
Chrissy

Green Acres, is the place to be?

Joining Debbie today for the Newbie Partay, won't you come on over: http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-get-it-started-again-lets-get-it.html

First off, I probably really showed my age with that statement :) Second, oh how I wish/pray the acres were green around here :( but soon enough they will be. Well, at least that is what I keep telling myself, LOL.

I know I should have posted this sooner, but what can I say..........

Anyhooo, IKEA seems to be the place to be! I forgot my camera, but it was soooo packed I don't think I could have used it anyway?  We went to the IKEA in Baltimore. Let me tell you something "It is a great way to pass a dreary day!", but with just a few less people. It was really difficult at first to get acclimated to the store, since I have NEVER been to one before? I know "Where have you been?"

Let me just back up a minute and preface this with "my teens had to come along", yeah, imagine that, but it turned out okay. They acutally ended up finding something they want to go back and get in the Spring {grin}, means another trip for me :)

Also, remember to look at the materials being used, if you want wood {my husbands' preference} you can find some things, but you need to read how they make their furniture and see it to appreciate it. My husband came home with a different perspective on funiture.

Although I didn't get to take photos, just click on the following link http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom, rooms are set up like a furniture store and then downstairs you can find all of the "accessories" {could spend alot of time in this section}. Here are a few little things I bought:

First off, I had to buy one of these IKEA tarp bags, literally made from tarp material.

The first thing I saw, but had to wait until I got downstairs to find it, was the wooden lazy susan at $7.99.

How cute are these colorful and cutout cake plate liners. Can you guess what the silver handle gizmo is? It is a milk frother and yes it work really well, honest.

 Here is a closer pic, can you see the corkboard trivets behind them, a set of 3 for $2.99.  I have also  been looking for a sleek pair of tongs for nonstick cooking, I just love how these fit in my hand.

 I couldn't believe these cute "cupcake" liners, although their cupcake pan was deeper and skinner, I think I can use them in my regular pan??? We'll see and if not they are cute enough for a craft project at .99 cents.

This plastic bin was the second thing that I didn't find until I went downstairs. It is just great at $4.99, you can use it without the little plastic seperators or with them. I also love the top latches on the lid, you can always tell that they are securely latched.

This will give you a great idea of the store, at least the one at Baltimore, MD, next to the White Marsh Mall, which by the way is an awesome mall. Hint: Will be dropping the teens  (19 and 16),off there, so I can continue my shopping at IKEA.

Due to space being limited on this trip, because of snowboarding equipment, I am definitely planning on taking a truck for the next trip.

I am joining Debbie at Debbie Doos, for the Newbie Partay, please click here to come meet some newbie bloggers and maybe a your next BFF: http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/2011/02/lets-get-it-started-again-lets-get-it.html. I can't seem to find/figure out the button? Sorry

I want to apologize to the three ladies that have nominated me for the Stylish Blog Award,, for not acknowledging the award and participating yet. I have been hit with the flu and will post that as soon as possible.  Also, what kind of things do you all want to know about me, don't want to bore anyone :)

Thanks for visiting,
Chrissy

Hooray! I think I found something?

Well, I think I am excited, anyway? Everyone seems to be finding all of these great things while thrifting about, and I never seem to find much of anything? It all happened by accident, you see, my cousin and I went grocery shopping, in our little "rinky dink" town, while we were there we decided to have a piece of pie and coffee. As we were sitting there eating and talking we both, at the same time said "I wonder what is in that "Resale" store, because you see around here everyone usually takes all of their "junk" :) there, especially clothing.  Since we were real close to it, like next door, we decided we would sneek in and have a quick peek.  I couldn't believe all of the actual "junk", but also some treasures if you wanted to look and dig :)

Here are some items I found: 

I am pretty sure this is not vintage, but it was only .25 cents, and I thought I could make it look old.  Hey for 25 cents, painted white and distressed with a flower or two perfect in my eyes.

Now, I am not sure on how to tell real silver, but the details on this tray are just gorgeous (click to see details). Anyone else know the test for real silver? Plus, it was only $2.00, so I figured I could put a bowl in the middle for dips and crackers or use it for display.

These candle sticks where just to pretty to pass up, my daugther and I have been looking for some nice clear one too. The 2 smaller ones are a set with octogon bases and the post is like a pillar ridge - $1.00 for the set and the taller one in the middle was only .25 cents. They are probably now Crystal, but they are cute and cheap :)

So with all of my treasures put together, I spent a total of $3.50 plus tax, not bad I don't think :)

I have photo with them all together, but for some reason I can not get it select??  I did it , yeah. One less blogger things for me to figure out, like I don't have enough already :)

I am joining the Frugalicious Friday Party at Finding Fabulous for less click here to join us, there is also a great giveaway:  http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/2011/02/frugalicious-friday-giveawayswizzlestix.html

Thanks for visiting and following along on this great journey called Blogging.
Chrissy

First Mod Podge Project

My daughter had to do a memory box for "To Kill a Mockingbird", all she really had to do was use a shoe box and put 5 things about her character in the box. However, she loves to be creative (when in the "mood"), so she asked me what she could do and that she wanted it to look "old". Also the more creative your project was, the better your grade would be.

 So immediately I said "How about decoupage,?", of course her response was "What?" 
Once I showed it to her and explained what you do........

 She said "Okay, but what do we have to use for this?"  Hmmmm... I think I have just the right thing (if I can find it?) so out come the supplies.

Here is a close up:

If you look closely at the photo above, you will see the decoupage tissue that we used.  It was just like decorative tissue paper. We pulled them all out and picked out the ones we thought would give us the look she wanted. Next, we tore them in to all different sizes and mixed them up for randomness ( is that a word?) you know what I mean, right?  My daughter started to go to work on her box:

As you can tell , to right we poured the Mod Podge into a plastic cup, made for easy clean up. She used a sponge brush to apply the Mod Podge to the box and then laid her tissue on top of it.

Then she would go over the tissue pieces again with the Mod Podge.  Oh as I am looking at this, I just remembered, we thought it needed something other than the tissue. So immediately, I thought of the Graphics Fairy, click here: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-lm0ZsrXVngNzBhNTMyODYtMWYzYy00NTFjLTg3ZDctOTkwNTQzNDQ5OTRm&hl=en&pli=1, for vintage sheet music. I printed it onto beige paper and presto, just what it needed.

We painted the inside of the box black, but it just wasn't working, so she decoupage the sides and put the sheet music on the bottom "perfect touch".  She also needed to personalize it some how?

Since her character was Mayella, she really needed to think about what (5) things to put in Mayella's memory box. So she picked the famous verse about a Mockingbird, the word Hope, because the girl did have hope in the beginning and the bird symbol.

Now for inside the box she decide the first item would be a box that held the (7) nickels. The same nickels that she sent the children to get ice cream. We used the same technique to do this box, as the big box.

In the finished box you will find the rest of the items, red flower from her "garden", picture of Tom Robinson, newspaper article about the trial and a journal entry written by Mayella of how she might have felt at the end, about what she had done and how awful she probably felt.

Finally the outside of the project looked like this:

She finished it off by personalizing it a little more with an "M". We sprayed it with a thin coat of sealer

to seal the paint on the "M", it just would not dry.

Her teacher just loved it! She received the highest grade in the class :) We had some great mother/daughter time and made our first Mod Podge project together. I am repurposing the box for myself as a memory of time spent with my daughter, may be my sewing box :)

 I will get the hang of this Linky thing soon :) I know it is late in the day but I joined the following Linky Parties:  (if these links don't work try their buttons on my sidebar)

TUES: Gettin' Krafty with It at:  http://kraftykat76.blogspot.com/2011/01/gettin-krafty-with-it.html

Show Me Whatcha Got at: http://happyhappyhousewife.blogspot.com/2011/02/show-me-what-ya-got-9.html

WED: Savvy Southern Style - BTB Party at: http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

 Won't you come over and join the party with me :) even if it is just to socialize.

FRI: Sassy Sites - FFA Party at: http://sassysites.blogspot.com/2011/02/ffafriday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SassySites+%28Sassy+Sites%21%29

I hope you will come back again soon to viist,

Chrissy