Changes, rebirth, and retooling

A lot is going on in my life right now, not the least of which is that I am working on retooling this blog and simplifying my message and find a clear direction.   My platform may change, I haven't decided yet.  I am working on a redesign, something I have never been completely satisfied with, through the years.  I want to make navigation easier as well.  I am also intent on improving my picture quality. I am going to invest in a great camera soon but until that happens, I will be using my digital camera starting Monday.  It is a point and shoot so don't get too excited. 

 I also have my personal laptop fixed and ready to go.  Up until now, I have posted mostly from my phone.  Getting my laptop clean took several days at Geek Squad since, even though I don't use it, the thing had almost 3000 different malware and virus' on it.   How does that happen when it is never hooked up to the internet anyway?  (Yes, I had virus protection it and it didn't work, so I changed to a new program.)   With that in mind, I ask that you stick with me a little longer and I will have a great new layout and plan ready soon.    I am putting an extra lot of thought into this so that I finally get it right.   

In the meantime, I thought I would share with you a little bit about what I have been working on the last few weeks that I haven't blogged.   First is the desk from hell.   I have never worked so hard at prepping a piece of furniture in my life.   That includes the antique dresser I had to basically rebuild drawers on last summer.   This piece will finally be ready for refinishing this weekend and there is a chair that I am going to paint to match and recover with fabric for my almost teen.   I can't wait to share with you the finished piece.   

I have been sick for the last two weeks and been on antibiotics and steroids.  In fact, 2 weeks ago, I was in the ER trying to get better. It hasn't worked.  This delayed my work on the desk more than once not to mention that I was too sick to work on the blog.  I apologize to everyone who missed me.  Did anyone miss me?

My chickens are going to be a big part of the remodeled blog.  I wanted to share this picture I took last night.  This is what happens every single time I walk out the door.   They come running up to me in anticipation.   Yesterday morning I gave them some grapes and if you have never seen chickens with grapes, well just suffice it to say, chicken football is better than the puppy bowl! 

I have also been working on the yard and spring is finally showing it's beautiful face in North Texas.  Finding plants my chickens won't eat is a challenge.   Luckily, I have managed to salvage a few from their hungry little beaks.  

Last year we planted fruit trees in the front and back.  The peach, pear, and plum trees are in bloom and while they won't bear any fruit for another year or two, they are making the yard simply beautiful.

I love just looking at the blossoms and enjoying the beauty of nature.   Finding happiness in the simple things in life is my major goal right now and a big part of my future.  (Hint, hing!) 

My bulbs are starting to bloom as well.   I can't take all the credit for the plants in my front yard as the previous owner did a really good job starting the yard off.  I am adding roses and more chicken friendly bulbs and plants.   This is a huge challenge and something I will share more about in future blogs.  

I am also in the process of removing a lot of weed barrier in the front flower beds.   The weed barrier probably seemed like a good idea to the previous owner but two things about it make them have to go.

First and most importantly is that it does nothing to stop the weeds from growing.  In fact, last year I spent a good amount of time trying to kill the weeds that simply planted themselves on top of the weed barrier and grew down.    Second and almost as irritating is that I can't plant more flowers without cutting through the stuff.   I know you can't tell in the picture above, but this flower bed is huge and while there are lovely plants already in the garden, I am in the process of adding to them to make a more English garden feel.  I will be posting some better photos when I get this thing worked out.   The garden has a good start but there are too many empty spaces.   The flowers above are something I planted last weekend and I was thrilled to see they are already starting to bloom.   I also planted some lily bulbs.   I am hoping they take because halfway through I realized I planted them upside down.  Bulbs are new to me.  I planted only tulips in the past, my favorite flower.   The problem with tulips in North Texas is that you don't get a cold enough winter for long enough to actually grow them without giving them an artificial winter.   As much as I want to plant a ton of tulips in my flower beds, I also realize that I have no desire to dig them up every fall and put them in the fridge for weeks on end.  

For Valentines Day my husband bought me rose bushes.   I laughed that, with him love comes with work, but instead of getting roses for a few days, I will have them for the rest of my life.  You can see just one of the 5 bushes I planted a few weeks ago.  

I am excited for spring and the rebirth of nature.   I have come to realize with everything going on in my work life lately (more on that some other time, it is depressing), that finding your happiness is about the place you feel most at home.   For me, it is my old, sprawling, 1970 ranch house in the country with a yard full of chickens and dogs and flowers surrounding me.  Peace comes with finding shelter from the storm that brews from things you can't control.   There are a lot of things that I can't control and a few things that I can.  Staying positive is my main priority right now.  Being surrounded by so much beauty in my home centers me.

So where is your happy place?   Where do you escape to when life throws you curve ball after curve ball?   Do you have any 'favorite' things I blog about?  What would you like to read more about?  Chickens, DIY, Crafts, recipes, gardening, being a step parent?   Give me a shout out and tell me what you are most interested in.

DIY Day: Ugly 1970 End Table Makeover Amazing Transformation

Really ugly old 70's tables after I started sanding 

I spent all weekend working on a couple of projects, this being one.  My grandmother had some of these tables when I was a kid.  I think maybe she had square ones but I remember loving opening the doors.  Anyway, because I have that 1970 house, I have been dying to add just a touch of period piece to the home.   Nothing crazy like green shag carpet or orange counters.  I am not going for the Brady Bunch, just a little nod to the homes time. These tables were perfect! They were ugly dark and perfect.  Originally I thought I wanted to stain the tops of these but the more I started working with them, the heavier they felt and the more I realized I wanted them light and airy feeling because of how heavy they feel.  Something about these tables and the thick, carved, dark wood that made me feel weighted down. 

Light and airy!

So normally I mix my own chalk-like paint.   I usually use a flat latex and add calcium carbomate which is chalk and some water and get the perfect chalky finish but I had some wonderful Maison Blanche paint on hand and I LOVE Maison Blanche paint because Annie Omar who is the creator of the brand lives in Frisco, Texas which is a hop, skip and a jump from me and the lady I buy my paint from, the wonderful Melissa AKA Dumpster Diva  is always so helpful when I go in with a problem.  (Just wait until I blog my second project, nothing but a problem!).

Hardware back and finishing  touches in works

So the paint I used from Maison Blanche for this project is Creme De Menthe and Franciscan Gray for the base, mixed in about a 2-1 ratio and the top is Maison White.  I used a polycrylic top coat to seal it and then I added brown wax to antique both the top and the base.   I am going to be honest here, the doors on this piece were a pain but aside from that, this project was easy peasy.

So adorable!

These tables are in my *formal living room and my only regret is that somehow I lost one piece of the hardware when I was working on the tables in my garage and I am going to have to crawl around on my hands and knees until I find it so I can hand the final knocker.  Yes, people, I lost my knockers!

So what do you think?   I love the tranformation.   My tables turned out so adorable.   These were so simple.  The project I am going to share later on maybe this week has been a royal pain by comparison and the piece turned out amazing but it isn't mine. ;( 

I know I say this all the time but I just love turning old and ugly into knew and pretty!!!

*By Formal Living Room I mean the space we don't have a TV.  This room has the fireplace and originally my thought was 'reading room' but it is right next to the family room and the TV and honestly, very rarely does anyone sit in there.  In fact, when I was changing out the old glass and metal tables I had for these, I noticed a layer of dust on the sofa.  No, I am not even kidding. :)

Have a Pinteresting Wednesday: #1

Yes, I changed my Wednesday blog hop up a little but that is mainly because I found a great blog hop on Thursday's which similar to What I'm Loving and I love the hop so WILW lost out.  That's okay because I used to do a Wednesday hop about Pinterest so I will just focus on that.

And away we go!

Crafts:

Source

A version of this is happening in my bathroom.   I love this and I am so tired of having my travel bag on my counter...not to mention my clutter!

Source

I had already decided to do something like this for my bathroom however as much as I love rustic, it won't fit my bathroom so it is going to be something a little fancier but definately a His and Hers towel holder!

Source

I have a theme going here...Ball Jars.  Ah well....too CUTE!!

Quotes: 

Source

I honestly thought to myself "This is marriage, no wait, this is parenthood, no wait, this is my relationship with my mother!"   I am pretty sure this is every meaningful relationship in life.

Source

Amen!

Recipies: 

source

Well, they look good!

Source

Admit it Walking Dead Fans, you want Carol's cookies every time she bakes them.  I know, I know!

Furniture:

It really wouldn't be a blog by me if there wasn't paint or furniture or both.  BTW, pray for me, I am going to try Milk Paint next and I can't wait! 

source

This is a painted or stained surface with milk paint.  I ADORE that chippy look!

source

This is the same type paint on raw wood.  It looks AMAZING!!!

Alright, that's what I have been pinning!  What about you?  Anything knock your socks off?

Link up below and join in the fun! 

What I'm Loving and Have a Pinteresting Wednesday

Link up below 

It's Wednesday again!  I love this blog hop because it's so fun. 

What I am loving:

-Friend and Family time: 

Not only did I get to hang out with friends  on Saturday but I got to see my nephew and two of my triplet nieces Sunday.  The third was in Houston for a volleyball tourney.  My step-daughter and I hung out at softball practice and had a great time.  I love seeing the kiddos getting along. 

-Mckinney, Tx:

It is constantly in the top 10 of the best place to live in the US.   When I lived in other places nearby I didn't get it.  I do now. There is so much to do and so much always going on.  Last weekend was Mckinney Trade Days and Old Red Lumbaryard (ORLY) Sale.  I only made it to ORLY and plan to make it to Trade Days next month but it is just so fun to have the options and the Old Doentown area is so vibrant and alive with shops and cafes.   I can't get over how small it feels at times, right in the DFW metroplex. 

-Craft time with my step-daughter: 

She had a craft project for me,   This was all her idea so I was just along for the ride.

We made plastic bowls!  They turned out really cute.  

Speaking of my step-daughter she "made" me redo her bathroom countertops.  Kind glad she did. It looks really great and now I want to frame the mirror to give it a finished feel.    

What I am pinning:

Source

I have made several of the potato receipes on my potato board and I think these fries are the next try.  They are baked, not fried! Healthy is always better.  I love sweet potato fries but my family won't eat them so I am constantly looking for ways to make white potatoes a little better for you.

source

I love this and it is made from old pallets.  It is way beyond my carpentry skills which are just short of  "Hello, this is a nail and I can hit it with a hammer".....but I am going to try and make something with some pallets so stay tuned.

source

I actually think with my hubby's help I might be able to pull this off and I would love to do this for our family room.  

We decided to start the carpet removal in family room first because it has concrete floors so we are putting a totally new surface in that room.   Because it is the room with the dog door and the feel of it is much more rustic, we aren't going to try and match anything, we are going with different floors altogether. We can get away with this because the room is on a different level from the rest of the house.  It is an addition, a converted garage and therefore, you have to step down into it.  We are thinking of something along these lines:

source

I love the rustic feel, we just have to agree on what we want to put on the floor, since it is going to be the room that gets the most use and the washer and dryer and the garage are both off this room as well as one of the doors to the outside deck.   I love this idea of starting in this room, my husbands not mine.  I have a thought that once this room is done, I will feel better because there will be at least one finished room in the house!

So what are you loving and pinning this week?

What I'm Loving & Have a Pinteresting Wednesday Blog Hop

Link up with Simply Me the Way I see it

What I am loving:

*This video....It is so funny and who doesn't love Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart and Jimmy Fallon.  I can't pick my favorite.

*Speaking of the Super Bowl, I loved Katy Perry.   I know some people weren't that impressed but I thought the effects were amazing and I have to tell you, if she actually was singing and not lip sinking all of that while hopping around like a bunny in high heels and doing all that crazy choreography, then I am amazed.

*Sweet Potato Chips.
Goodness, I may never eat a potato chip again!  I actually love sweet potatoes that are spicy so when I indulge in a chip with salsa, I am picking sweet potatoes now.  For some reason, I have convinced myself this is a healthier choice.

*Crafting
Okay so there is a project that is literally driving me crazy and when I finally get it done, I will be blogging about it but I am totally in love with my sanders, paint, and the incredible amount of dirty I have been lately.

*That my husband let me pick out my own Valentine's Day gift.  Sometimes he will buy me jewlery but most of the time, like with my engagement ring, he let me pick my own out.  I love that he doesn't fuss too much about me being a girlie girl when it comes to this stuff even if I haven't worn much jewlery other than my wedding rings since we got married.

*Coffee
Just expect me to love this every week and you won't be surprised.

*My husband's smoked chicken.
Have I mentioned before that I married a man that can cook?

*All the blogs I have been reading.
There are some amazing and talented writers out there and I have been reading a bunch of new blogs since joining The Blogging Elite.

*Speaking of The Blogging Elite, what a wonderful and supportive group of bloggers!

Have a Pinteresting Wednesday:



Source

I want to do a built in entertainment/electronic fire place in my family room so much!  I love this because it has shelves everywhere and I could hid my vast DVD collection.


Source

I see old armoires everywhere at second hand stores and for CHEAP but I never know exactly what to do with them since I have an amazing one in my bedroom already which I have clothing in.  This I totally love.   I am so doing this.



Source

I want a buffet for my dining room but I do not want to pay the $3000 it would cost me to have the kind I want so I am thinking of trying to make my own, with the help of my hubby.  Don't tell him yet though since I have only asked him to show be how to use the saw! :)



Source

I am really trying to figure out how to encorporate metalic painted furniture in  my country home.  It is so upscale and way more New York than I am but I totally love it!



source

I would litterally kill for this piece. It is very ornate and completey perfect for my dining room which is going to have a teal and red table soon.




source

My step-daughter is obsessed with potatoes.  Seriously, my mom made twice baked potatoes for Thanksgiving the first time I met my step-daughter and I am not completely convinced she doesn't want to be with us in the hopes that we will have twice baked potatoes every week.  These look so good, I may have to try them!


source

If there is one thing about my husband that drives me crazy (and there are actually many) it is that he is kind of picky about his food.  He doesn't like sauces unless he makes them.  You would not believe the battle we have over spaghetti sauce.  I like mine, he prefers his.  When we have spaghetti, we have two sauces.   He also doesn't like anything sweet  or creamy on his meat.  This means any sweet and sour or BBQ is probably not going to fly.   To me, this Chicken Dish looks amazing. Unfortunately, I like sugar....a lot!

Okay, your turn to in the Blog Hop fun now!!!  Add your link below!

Being Crafty

I made a deal with myself before the new year that I was going to start salvaging "junk" and reclaiming pieces raft others have given up on. My goal was to salvage at least one item a month. So far I have failed unless you count the ugly white plastic chairs that I painted green. They do look so much better but not exactly what I had in mind.

So this weekend I started following a few (dozen) craft blogs. I am looking for inspiration not ideas. I have a ton of ideas.

For example my neighbor had this old wagon wheel. I saw it and immediately knew I wanted to make it a pot rack. Just one problem...my house has no room for it. So I have the wheel and am awaiting the right kitchen!






Simply,
Laura
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone